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View Full Version : Upgrading my Samsung phone, on-x use for hunting, debating on which model



Little Dutch
06-14-2022, 11:58
I'm still using my Samsung Galaxy S8 and the battery life is getting poor. Two of the hunting tags I drew (moose and deer) are in areas I'm not totally familiar with and I think on-x software is probably a good idea this season.

I was initially looking at a used, mint condition, Samsung Galaxy S21 for $428. But a co-worker just got a company phone and offered me his Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 (256 gig model) for $800. $800 is more than I've ever spent on a phone, but it's got a lot of screen real estate for on-x maps. I'm with T-Mobile and my co-worker had his Fold 3 on T-Mobile. I was told it was unlocked, but I don't know if/who the original carrier was.

I'm looking at the battery life numbers using Toms Guide.
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/galaxy-s8-battery-life,news-24900.html
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s21-battery-tests
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-3-battery-life

The S21 has a 4000 mAh battery.
The Fold 3 has a 4400 mAh battery.
My old S8 (current) has a 3500 mAh battery.

Tomsguide says the battery life, with continual web surfing, is:
Fold 3 - 7:52 and 6:35 with adaptive display on (sales to 120 hz).
S21 - 9:53 and 6:31 with adaptive (60 hz).
S8 - 10:39 (no adaptive). I no longer get anywhere near that number.

I've never cared much about having an expensive phone so am not up to date in any way, and the numbers vs real-world use may not matter as much as I'm thinking they do. Or maybe they are all acceptable and I'm just used to an old dead battery.

I'm soliciting opinions on this. Anyone used the Fold 3? Thoughts in general?

Little Dutch
06-14-2022, 12:12
The S22 can be had for $586 new right now. TomsGuide says it lasted for 7 hours and 51 minutes — 2 hours worse than the average smartphone. Just something else to throw in the mix. Same listed battery life as the Fold 3, half the screen size, $214 less expensive than the used Fold 3.

def90
06-14-2022, 14:05
My phone is a couple years old now, a Motorola Moto Z4, and if I put it in airplane mode and turn the brightness on the screen down it will last a day and a half while I'm hunting and actively using OnX without issue. Also make sure that bluetooth is turned off, that is a big battery hog on my phone.

TheSparkens
06-14-2022, 20:06
I use On-x and found that a solar battery charger is the ticket. I use the type that fast charges electronics. One of the things I would look for is plenty of memory for off-line maps.

Little Dutch
06-15-2022, 18:23
I reached out and a guy I know offered an S21 plus with 256 gig for a conservative price. Should be good to go if the phone condition is as good as stated. Thanks for the heads up / advice everyone.
I found where on-x recommends, vaguely, "as much storage as possible" to run correctly.

whitewalrus
06-15-2022, 21:23
Offline maps require 100-400 MB depending on the size and how much you want. Count on a few to get a whole GMU as it?s limited depending on what scale you want.

I recommend downloading them when home before you head out. You can also save your settings for the map and download/delete as needed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Little Dutch
06-16-2022, 06:56
Offline maps require 100-400 MB depending on the size and how much you want. Count on a few to get a whole GMU as it?s limited depending on what scale you want.

I recommend downloading them when home before you head out. You can also save your settings for the map and download/delete as needed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Valuable info, thanks.