Any thoughts on Motorola W385 Vs LG 5300 (with analog)
Help - I'm stuck!
I've been really happy with my Motorola 325 but after almost 2 yrs it is beginning to have issues so need to replace. I hike in remote area so want something durable and with great reception. Verizon is offering Motorola W385 and LG 5300(which has analog)
Any suggestions on pros and cons of either?!
I've been really happy with my Motorola 325 but after almost 2 yrs it is beginning to have issues so need to replace. I hike in remote area so want something durable and with great reception. Verizon is offering Motorola W385 and LG 5300(which has analog)
Any suggestions on pros and cons of either?!
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personal preference is the LG product...
As of February, analog won't matter...
As of February, analog won't matter...
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some will still keep analog on from what I hear. But not worth taking a chance on buying a product based of that.
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Buuuuuuutttttt (and not the kind you like lapdog :wink🙂 .
The last few batches of 5300's were junk, complete garbage.
While I still agree with you, that the LGs are probably the best phones in general, the 385 is a better phone then the 5300.
The last few batches of 5300's were junk, complete garbage.
While I still agree with you, that the LGs are probably the best phones in general, the 385 is a better phone then the 5300.
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Wow, okay there is a difference of opinions!
Few more questions:
Lapdog - you prefer LG overall. wfine81 thinks the 5300 has issues. Do you agree? Is there another LG you'd recommend for sturdiness and coverage?
wombough - won't some areas still have analog only(for smaller carriers that don't do the big switch over) and wouldn't a phone with both digital and analog still "work" after Feb?
wfine81- you like the 385? Why? Do you think analog is risky with the coming shut down? Is there another LG you'd suggest? Is the 385 a "good" motorola?
Thanks all -
Few more questions:
Lapdog - you prefer LG overall. wfine81 thinks the 5300 has issues. Do you agree? Is there another LG you'd recommend for sturdiness and coverage?
wombough - won't some areas still have analog only(for smaller carriers that don't do the big switch over) and wouldn't a phone with both digital and analog still "work" after Feb?
wfine81- you like the 385? Why? Do you think analog is risky with the coming shut down? Is there another LG you'd suggest? Is the 385 a "good" motorola?
Thanks all -
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Before you go LG 5300 vs W385, you should know that the LG 5400 is out now, and yup, it has analog.
https://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1192 »
https://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1192 »
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With an internal antenna, I don't think the analog reception will be very good.
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robtheman said:
With an internal antenna, I don't think the analog reception will be very good.
That's possible... but my LG 8350 is internal antennae and I'm in a 850 MHz digital band area (about the same freq as analog), and my reception is very good.
I don't think internal antennaes are quite the minus they used to be. Seems like plenty of internal antennae phones these days (enV, RAZR, etc.) get pretty good reception. Maybe pull-up antennaes are better still, all else being equal, but I guess you have to be in a fringe/bad reception area to really notice.
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I notice you both are seeming to prefer the LG over a Motorola and that a you don't seem to feel a trimode is a liability going into the less analog future...
I wish there was a definitive way tocompare and know coverage.
Are the LG's sturdy? This is a feature mentioned alot with the Motorola fans.
Is there a sturdy, good coverage phone you'd recommend?
I wish there was a definitive way tocompare and know coverage.
Are the LG's sturdy? This is a feature mentioned alot with the Motorola fans.
Is there a sturdy, good coverage phone you'd recommend?
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LGs are very sturdy phones.
The reason I didnt like the last couple batches of 5300s is it had sever seoftware bugs, the 5400's that I have seen all seem pretty decent.
The motorola phones are usually VERY buggy, but the 385s havent been returned at all, seems to be a very stable phone.
We were haveing about a 30% return ratio on the 5300's that have been in the last few batches.
Analog in a phone isnt really a big deal, and as mentioned it wont be around for much longer anyways.
The reason I didnt like the last couple batches of 5300s is it had sever seoftware bugs, the 5400's that I have seen all seem pretty decent.
The motorola phones are usually VERY buggy, but the 385s havent been returned at all, seems to be a very stable phone.
We were haveing about a 30% return ratio on the 5300's that have been in the last few batches.
Analog in a phone isnt really a big deal, and as mentioned it wont be around for much longer anyways.
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wfine81 said:
LGs are very sturdy phones.
The reason I didnt like the last couple batches of 5300s is it had sever seoftware bugs, the 5400's that I have seen all seem pretty decent.
The motorola phones are usually VERY buggy, but the 385s havent been returned at all, seems to be a very stable phone.
We were haveing about a 30% return ratio on the 5300's that have been in the last few batches.
Analog in a phone isnt really a big deal, and as mentioned it wont be around for much longer anyways.
Verizon won't have it much longer, but USCC & Alltel will be keeping theirs in areas that haven't been upgraded to digital.
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dave73 said:wfine81 said:
Analog in a phone isnt really a big deal, and as mentioned it wont be around for much longer anyways.
Verizon won't have it much longer, but USCC & Alltel will be keeping theirs in areas that haven't been upgraded to digital.
True. People seem to forget that the federal mandate for analog expiring next February only means that carriers CAN turn off their analog towers, not that they MUST turn them off.
So some will likely still remain up for awhile. Trimode ain't dead yet. And every once in awhile, it sure comes in handy. I know when I was up in Southern Oregon in late '05 with my gfriend, if it weren't for the analog on my old trimode Nokia...
(continues)
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You may be right. I've always had trouble with tri-mode phones that have internal antennas. There are a lot of people in my area that need the analog capabilities. Phones like the Samsung a870 always came back because they didn't get reception where phones with a stub antenna or pull-out antenna would.
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I remember reading that the early Samsung internal antennae phones were indeed lousy in terms of reception (and thus the reputation of internal antennaes was made).
But it doesn't seem to be like that anymore. I guess everyone figured out how to make good internal antennaes after the initial disaster?
But it doesn't seem to be like that anymore. I guess everyone figured out how to make good internal antennaes after the initial disaster?
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Not sure. The analog wave length is longer which means a longer antenna would capture the signal better. I've always had a hard time believing that an extra inch would do any good, but it's always made a difference from my experience.
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robtheman said:
Not sure. The analog wave length is longer which means a longer antenna would capture the signal better.
The wavelength difference is very little though. Analog is 800 MHz, and the cellular digital band that VZW uses in a lot of places is 850 MHz. Not enough to make much of a diff.
Though I guess if I lived in 1900 MHz digital band-land, I'd be thinking differently.
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Motorola W385 > LG VX5300
but
LG VX5400 > Motorola W385
you can't get a 5400??
but
LG VX5400 > Motorola W385
you can't get a 5400??
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PMFJI,
I cycle both road and mountain, often in fringe areas and remote areas of both CA and Hawaii. I have the Razr V3m and it works great. I wouldn't worry about analog. Motorola seems to have the best reception in phones.
I know that there seem to be a lot of anti Motorola folks here, just like anti Apple folks in a Dell or HP Microsoft based 'store'.
I have 860 Hrs of time on my phone, in about 15 months. I use bluetooth all the time. I haven't hacked my phone.
I really like the higher quality "sidetone"/real phone sound of Motorola phones. I know many folks who have Motorola phones, and other than the folks here, I've never known anyone who has had all the alleged problems that are stated on this forum.
Personally, I'd go with ...
(continues)
I cycle both road and mountain, often in fringe areas and remote areas of both CA and Hawaii. I have the Razr V3m and it works great. I wouldn't worry about analog. Motorola seems to have the best reception in phones.
I know that there seem to be a lot of anti Motorola folks here, just like anti Apple folks in a Dell or HP Microsoft based 'store'.
I have 860 Hrs of time on my phone, in about 15 months. I use bluetooth all the time. I haven't hacked my phone.
I really like the higher quality "sidetone"/real phone sound of Motorola phones. I know many folks who have Motorola phones, and other than the folks here, I've never known anyone who has had all the alleged problems that are stated on this forum.
Personally, I'd go with ...
(continues)
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The W385 does seem to be pretty nice, and apparently has been a solid phone (and one of the few Motos I'd consider), but to say that Motos don't really have reliability problems.... ugh.
I have a family member who WORKS for Motorola (yes, in their cell phone division), and even he shakes his head and laughs when we start talking about how reliable Motos are(n't).
If you don't believe me, go look at the reviews for the Moto V265, for example... a true horror show:
https://www.phonescoop.com/phones/user_reviews.php?p ... »
Again, its not about 'hating' Motorola, its about Motorola not being able to get their act together when it comes to quality assurance or software. 😲
I have a family member who WORKS for Motorola (yes, in their cell phone division), and even he shakes his head and laughs when we start talking about how reliable Motos are(n't).
If you don't believe me, go look at the reviews for the Moto V265, for example... a true horror show:
https://www.phonescoop.com/phones/user_reviews.php?p ... »
Again, its not about 'hating' Motorola, its about Motorola not being able to get their act together when it comes to quality assurance or software. 😲
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SophiaVW said:
Help - I'm stuck!
I've been really happy with my Motorola 325 but after almost 2 yrs it is beginning to have issues so need to replace. I hike in remote area so want something durable and with great reception. Verizon is offering Motorola W385 and LG 5300(which has analog)
Any suggestions on pros and cons of either?!
Well, if the remote areas you hike in only have analog service, then the W385 isn't a great option, as it is digital-only.
The LG 5300 isn't a great option, as it has been a pretty unreliable phone that is often returned, by many reports (though LG in general has been making good phones... the 5300 is an exception).
So, maybe neither is an option. ☹️
I'd take a look...
(continues)
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not to disagree, but from what I've seen, the 5300 has been exceptional. just my two bits.
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ajstrong said:
not to disagree, but from what I've seen, the 5300 has been exceptional. just my two bits.
You're the only person I've ever heard say that. 😳
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I have the W385 and it WORKS great. The reception is the best I have had on any brand cell phone and I have owned Samsung, LG and Motos. It is sturdy and easy to use. I would go with the 385!
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ditto you, buster. I've had a FEW issues with it, but overall, it was a fave of mine for the mid-level user.
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ajstrong said:
ditto you, buster. I've had a FEW issues with it, but overall, it was a fave of mine for the mid-level user.
C'mon aj, there's no way you hang out on this forum and have heard bad comments about the 5300 ONLY from me:
https://www.phonescoop.com/carriers/forum.php?fm=m&f ... »
🙄
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