Welcome to this week’s edition of the Android Authority Q&A! As always, we try to answer as many of your great questions as possible, and this week, we tackle questions related to flexible displays, mid-range devices, the Samsung Galaxy S4, and enhancing battery life. Let’s get started!
Question 1
Will Samsung Galaxy S5 be released with flexible OLED near future? – Kannan R
Answer
For now, there is no credible rumor that suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S5 will feature a flexible OLED display. Of course, Samsung has demonstrated that the technology is available with the Samsung Galaxy Round, which was later announced to be just a prototype. The debate over the practical use and necessity of a curved display is ongoing, but with the technology available, hopefully we will be seeing it on their new smartphones sooner rather than later.
While the Galaxy Round is just a prototype, LG officially announced its curved display smartphone, the LG G Flex. Boasting great specifications, and a smartphone that can actually flex (even though we’re not sure if that’s safe or not), the stand out feature is the back of the display, which is apparently made of a “special protective film” that can fix itself “within minutes” after being scratched. So while the curved display may be considered gimmicky by some, there’s a lot to look forward to with the upcoming advances in display tech.
Question 2
I am a teenager and I am a huge tech fan. Since I can’t afford the best smartphones in the market, what mid-range device would your recommend? – Francisco Rocha
Answer
We assume that by mid-range, you’re looking for a smartphone under $350 off-contract. With the recent announcement, the Google Nexus 5 is the best choice for anyone looking for a smartphone with great specifications at a mid-range price point. At $349 for the 16 GB version, the Nexus 5 is an absolute steal.
Unfortunately, the Nexus 5 isn’t available everywhere yet, and so, our recommendation for a good mid-range device would be the Sony Xperia L, which is currently available for around $250.
Question 3
I am thinking of buying the Samsung Galaxy S4. What are the common problems with the phone? Thanks! – Peter
Answer
The biggest issue (and cause for major debate) with the Samsung Galaxy S4 is the plastic build material of the smartphone, which some people have complained to feel like poor quality, considering the premium price you have to pay for the device. Another issue users have faced is that while the phone itself is very fast, it has been known to be quite slow when uploading its gallery, a problem compounded with the microSD card, that is, the more you have on the card, the more the phone has to parse. Finally, we know about all the cool features of the Galaxy S4 such as AirView, gestures, Smart Scroll, and many more, some people have complained about these features being overly complex and, marring the overall simplicity of Android.
Question 4
I have a battery question. For example, if it was at 70%, I would charge it back to 100% before work. My question is, is it bad on the battery or the phone to charge it that often? Normally I only charge it at night when I sleep. I’m just curious on how often I should charge it. Thank you for your help and time. – Adam
Answer
A great question, and something I’ve been wondering about too. The surprising answer is that we should avoid fully charging, or fully discharging our phones. Avoid fully discharging your device, because, unlike Nickel-based batteries, Lithium-based batteries are designed to be charged early and often, and letting the battery run out too often may damage it. With Li-based batteries, shallower, frequent charging is said to prolong battery life, according to independent tests done by Gizmodo and Battery University.
Don’t forget that the Android Authority Q&A exists because of your great questions, so keep ‘em coming! Fill out the form below, and we’ll try to get you the answers you need in our upcoming weekly shows.
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