So my phone and iPad are on their last legs and I have been thinking about cutting the old cable cord. Anyone out there have any recommendations for a phone and tablet combo that work well together and may satisfy my streaming urges?
Edit: I will add that I have an iPad and am not committed to Apple in any way, possibly anti-Apple now.
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I've been using a Kyocera Cadence LTE for about 6 months now, and it's been great.
I'm a big fan of my Galaxy S9 phone. Good screen size for streams, depending on the apps, you can do like texting and streaming at the same time (not sure how common this is now, I'm not much of a tech person).
I really liked my old Moto X from 2013. Switched back to it for about 9 months when my Moto Z battery died after just less than a year (a fairly common issue from what I've seen). I've since moved into the Pixel 2 XL, which is a wonderful phone that I got on sale for $450 this past spring, and I would highly recommend it if you can still find it and don't mind not having the absolute latest, greatest phone (the Pixel 3 is out now but is pretty expensive). It may not be quite as new but it's just about as fast and doesn't have the dumb notch in the screen.
Got a Samsung S8 and Samsung Tablet and both are far superior to my kids apple crap that were gifts from grandma. So much more user friendly and longer lasting in my experience.
I've always had apple products, and I upgrade because I want new features (like more memory), not because they don't last.
I started buying them in 2005.
My wife has a Toshiba that is missing half it's parts. (A laptop, not a pad).
I have a suface book and i really can't be more pleased with it. I had a surface tablet before as well and it was also quite good. Highly recommend.
I still use my Surface Pro 2 from 2013, that thing is a tank.
I am using a Surface 3 at work and it's chugging along quite nicely. The original Surface 1 was a brick but this 3 is pretty nice. I am like three or four generations behind, my company keeps on asking me if I want to replace it, but I am totally content with using this for software development and data science. It gets a little hot occasionally and the battery life isn't too delightful but that's usually my company's software's fault, not the OS or device.
The Surface Book is an absolute unit. Those things are gorgeous.
I got the first surface pro with the performance base......and returned it. I loved the design, but I had WiFi connectivity issues and even with the performance base, it wouldn't run my recording DAW program reliably (which surprised me.)
I ended up getting a custom laptop with more power.
But....now, I'm needing a 2 in 1 for work/home so I think I'm gonna try the surface pro 2.
Their design is gorgeous, and I'm not an apple guy.
I loved my Razor and sometimes wish we could all go back to them, but that's just old man yelling at cloud. That being said, I had a Galaxy S4 for like 3-4years and used the shit out of it and loved it. Got an iPhone 7 now and like it more. Better picture quality (I'm sure the newer androids are on par now), and the ultimate kicker: fucking group chat. Life changer in group texts for like golf trips and stuff holy moly.
Your Galaxy S4 didn't have group text? My S3 did...
Also, yes, the picture quality among all the major "flagship phones" these days are comparable and also significantly better than 4 years ago.
I have a Nexus 7 tablet and used to use it all the time. Since getting a Pixel 2 XL I have barely touched it as it really isn't too much smaller in screen size. Now I find myself using the Surface or Chromebook more when not using the phone. But mostly everything I need to do can happen on the phone now.
If you want to stream from your phone then go bigger. I think samsung has the best displays of any phone right now.
I've got the ipad/iphone combo.
You overpay for Apple, but the stuff works well, and works well together. Mine use the same power and connection cords.
Yes, but most Android phones use the same power connectors as other electronics. At least, before everyone started switching to USB-C, I was able to use the same charger for my phone, the Xbox, PS4, and Switch controllers, and all sorts of other things.
Eventually USB-C will be just as ubiquitous. Though I think I heard that the newest iPad is charged through USB-C, which means Apple may finally be giving up on Lightning?
First, answer these questions:
Based on how you answer these questions, I'd say the following:
I'm hesitant to recommend the Google Pixel 3. Don't get me wrong, I love my Pixel XL, and I absolutely love Project Fi after years of overpaying for Verizon, but....
The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL only have 4GB of RAM. The same as my Pixel XL, during a time when other high end devices are moving toward 8GB of RAM. If you're a heavy app user, or need your phone for work, its not inconceivable for your phone to be hitting the upper limits of your memory capabilities within 1-2 years, which is absurdly unacceptable for a top end device. Its the primary reason I'm really on the fence about upgrading or waiting for the 4.
I have been on Fi since it started and I will never go back. It's also great when abroad. And it's about 1/4 of what I used to pay on Verizon.
What's the Fi, and how does it help when abroad?
Google's Project Fi
Mobile data plan. Works off Sprint, TMobile, and USCellular towers. $10/GB (pro-rated) after a $20/month ($15/month per additional line) fee. Pay only what you use. So if you use 4.5 GB in a given month, your bill is $65. (though they cap payments at 6GB for 1 person, 10GB for 2 people while not restricting data... their version of unlimited data).
Only a few phones can currently use it because of the need to switch between other carriers. Pixel phones are built for it, but they also can exist on Verizon. There are others that work as well.
Big perk, Google has agreements through major carriers in 160+ international countries where your plan will work without extra cost. I was in the Netherlands and Belgium last year, and I could text/call/browse just like I could at home, and it didn't cost me anything extra.
I'll give you the contrasting international data story. I have Verizon, and traveled (by bike) from Amsterdam to Bruges and then Paris last year. I bought the Verizon international plan. I forgot to turn off roaming data and burned my international data allowance the first day just with my apps, while not even using them. Not great, Bob.
Then I had to carefully only use my phone when I was on wifi. The only thing that's worked for me lately is buying a chip while in Europe. Works great, but nobody has my number then. I definitely need to consider your method.
I can tell you with 100% certainty that Project Fi works in Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels. It was nice, even on top of the Bruges Belfry. I literally just walked off the plane in Amsterdam, turned airplane mode off, my phone said 'Welcome to the Netherlands, did you know Project Fi works here', or something like that, and I was good to go.
Speaking of which, just watched In Bruges over the weekend. Kinda glad I waited to see that until after I had been there.
I love that place. Too many tourists, but mostly during the day. Some great restaurants there. Works better if you plan on spending money for good food and chocolate. Rains too much but the beer is good.
Have you seen In Bruges?
Its a fairtale town, isn't it? With all those canals and bridges and cobbled streets and those churches, all that beautiful f-ing fairytale stuff, how can that not be somebody's f-ing thing, eh?
Yes. Good movie, and I can relate to it having been there.
It amused me that they had Ralph Fiennes in it, and his name was Harry.
I mean, they had Voldemort, Mad Eye Moody, Fleur Delacour, and Percival Graves (who ends up being Grindelwald)
And they named the guy who played Voldemort Harry
Similar to Fi...I've been using Republic Wireless for about 5 years and I LOVE it. Same concept, just contracts with different cell towers/providers. They have a base price of $15 and then add $5/GB. Pretty simple.
RW doesn't have agreements with international carriers though, so that may be a deal breaker for some - but I'm fine with just using wifi when traveling for calls/texts/data.
So multiple PC laptops that are barely used, iPhone7 from work, Motorola Droid personal phone, iPad 2 used mostly for web browsing, apps, and email. I don't use the camera a ton, mostly for on the spot stuff, otherwise I have a nice DSLR. I would like to be able to type email and TKP posts faster than with my apple tablet (even thought I have a Bluetooth keyboard, just am rarely sitting at a table to use it and its not easy to balance tablet and keyboard on my lap). Sounds like the Surface may have some of the laptop functionality with the convenience of the tablet.
As far as streaming device, the wife and I have not chosen, I am leaning toward YouTubeTV (thanks to the TKP reviews on the topic) she is leaning toward Firestick. I was hoping to find out there was a combo of phones, tablet, and streaming devices that all integrated well with each other.
The apple products work great together.
I like the ipad for travel. Lightweight, good battery life, easy to use, cord compatible with iphone.
But I'd guess that other families of products are the same. There is some synergy among related products.
UPDATE:
Another plug for apple is that if anyone has apple TV, it's very easy to broadcast anything on your ipad (Like a VT game on your personal Cox/ESPN account) at someone else's house when they don't have cable, so you can watch the game. I've done that twice now, that's gold, Jerry.
Yup. I currently have the iPhone XS (upgraded from the 6S), iPad Air 2, and ATV 4K. I spent a few years with Android, but my LG G4 (had the Droid Bionic and Samsung S4 previously) melting down aboard the Yorktown in the Summer of 2016, brought me back to Apple & iOS.
If you are going to go Android, I would probably stick with a Pixel device. The Pixels get the Android updates first, while pretty much every other phone/carrier will customize it for their device before rolling it out. I have friends with Samsungs and LGs that get the latest updates 6 months to a year after I do.
I like my hand cranked wall phone.
Add me to the list of iPad/iPhone users. I love my iphone, it's just really easy to use. Also, do not feel like you have to splurge on the ipad pro. I have last-year's cheapest model ($2-300ish) and it is solid. The connections between the ipad and iphone make it really seamless to go back and forth on each.
If you want a more laptop type feel and full windows OS though, I've only ever heard good things about the surface lineup.
Same here iphone/ipad, however I have Dell Inspirionpieceofshit laptop (I do not recommend at all), wish I would've forked out the extra cash for macbook
i like my Pixel 2 phone. the great thing about it is that it does not come with the pan-full of bloatware as do the Samsungs. if you like Android, you can't go wrong. you get updates to the latest Android first. and they work. i use it as my only Internet (hotspot) here near Staunton VA. it works great. good reception and good performance. the *only* issue that i've had so far is that i cannot get it to screen-cast to my Sony TV.
i used to have an S8. good phone. hotspot was incredible. and i could hotspot and still talk at the same time. not so with the Pixel. and the S8 can screen-cast no sweat.
Google no longer makes a tablet. if they did, i'd get it. i have a Galaxy Tab S3. i like it. too much crapware. the screen is gorgeous. it works well with my phone. i disabled everything "Samsung" that i could get my hands on. and their web browser is trash.
Google is coming out with a Pixel slate (you can pre-order), which is ChromeOS (yuck) but runs Android apps. i'd probably get one if i didn't have the S3. i wouldn't have a Microsoft Surface because Winders is too heavy-weight for what i use a tablet for. plus, me like Google Play.
the problem with Android is you essentially sell your soul (i.e. your info) to Google. i'm sure they steal everything that isn't nailed down. (when the product is free (Android), then you're the product.) but i am a software dev and i like being able to write stuff and just run it on MY device, without paying Apple $99 / yr, and needing a Mac, for the privilege of developing for the hardware that i rent from Apple.
I have an old Nexus 6 because it was the only phone available when Project Fi started, and I still have it. I'm not getting the latest Android I don't think, but it's still chugging along. I am overdue for an upgrade.
Tablet? I love my Amazon Fire HDX 6" and pair it with an Amazon TV, absolutely delightful. Bought my dad a new Fire Tablet (big one) when his old one was struggling.
I also have an old cheap Chromebook and a Chromecast, can't complain.
My next devices will almost surely be a new Pixelbook (yay Linux and Chrome OS on the same device! And convertible to a tablet!) and Pixel phone (Project Fi and Chromecast compatible woo!).
I'm clearly a Google/Amazon kid, take it with a grain of salt.
I had a Nexus 6 with Verizon before fi came around and I switched. But that might be the best phone I ever owned. I lost it at a wedding...
I'll sell you mine if you want it. I have grown to dislike this thing . Far too large.
Ha well I mean I am not sure it makes sense at this point being as old as it is and I have a Pixel now. I had a Nexus 5x in between that and that phone straight sucked. That boot loop thing was damning to it. I think I had 3 or 4 different ones.
And that thing was Chunky, but it didnt bother me.
I tried to trade it in for some credit towards a Pixel but Google doesn't even list it anymore. At this point I think I'd have to pay them to take it off my hands.
Worth asking. How do you like your Pixel? I think I'm going to invest in that line.
I have a Pixel 2 XL and it really did redeem that Nexus 5x by leaps and bounds. I know I called the Nexus 6 the best phone I ever had...but it's got to be this one. I like the bigger phones. The absolute only complaint I have about it I think is that it doesn't have wireless charging. Seems a silly thing to leave out, but I see they brought it back in the 3rd generation. Otherwise it is good all around. The camera in particular is just fantastic. The only downside to that is I never seem to pull out my SLR anymore.
My company pays for my cellular devices so take this with a grain of salt, but the iPhone X/iPad combo really is just superb. The X is extremely fast and responsive and I can set it down and pick up my iPad almost seamlessly. But then again I may just be another sheep in Apple's corral
I'm a big fan of Samsung. I really like how I can link my devices. It saved me for the BC game. I have Youtube TV and a Samsung smart TV. Raycom was on the CW in my area for that game, which I don't get. The game was blacked out on Watch ESPN. That left me streaming it from the ACC website. The sorry web browser that comes with my smart TV wouldn't play the video. So, I had the browser open on my Galaxy 8 and linked my phone to my TV. It actually worked great. Just had to keep my phone plugged in.
I'm very pleased with my OnePlus 3T. Although it's going on 2 years old, it's still running like new and was a great "budget" alternative to the high end Android phones at the time. It doesn't offer the same amount of features/gimmicks as the top of the line Galaxy/Pixel devices and the camera isn't as impressive, but the hardware is just as fast and the operating system is perfect in my opinion, pure Android just like the Pixel with no bloatware to speak of.
I have a Pixel 2 as my work phone, and it's a great device, but to me I'd rather spend 1/2 to 2/3 the price for a OnePlus versus a ~$1000 Galaxy9/Note9/Pixel 3.
So Google offered a deal too good to pass up on Black Friday and I ended up getting the Pixel 3 XL. $200 off the purchase price and $200 credit to my monthly bills meant I got a $1k device for $600.
My initial thoughts are that it's night and day better than the OG Pixel XL. I had countless wifi issues on my old phone which apparently were known issues and the new one is lightning fast. If you're in the market for a new one, I recommend.
I was considering upgrading both my Nexus 6 and my Toshiba Chromebook 2 to the Pixel 3 (not XL) and the Pixelbook. Now that Project Fi has changed into Google Fi, Google sent out an offer for a 'VISA travel gift card' or something like that equal to the purchase price of the phone you upgrade to (so like $800). I have no idea what this travel gift card is, and it was a one day deal, so I let it fly by without doing anything. Wouldn't have helped with the Pixelbook cost anyway, just the phone.