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I was a huge fan of the GS2 look when it first came out. So much so that when the GS3 was unveiled, I thought it was the ugliest thing ever with the egg shaped looking curves and the pebble blue. I was so disappointed with the unveiling and so impressed with how Sexy the Xperia S videos and felt that it was a natural evolution of the GS2 look so I got an Xperia S instead. Then everyone started saying how nice the One X looked and I gave it a chance but never liked the look or the performance really. So I bit the bullet and got the GS3 since the look was sort of growing on me and was shocked that I loved the blue and the GS3 looked a lot less humpty dumpty in person than it does in the pictures. So, I thought my impressions would change and I would say the Xperia S is the nicest looking phone after the GS3 honey moon period ended.
Fast forward to now and every time I look at my phone I am saying to myself damn it looks nice but brushed it off.Then when I went to Bestbuy the other day for fun, there I saw the GS3 dummy model right next to the GS2 dummy model and it really sunk in to me. The GS3 looked light years better and now I even think the GS3 looks better than the Xperia S.
Anyone else come full circle from thinking that the GS3 was butt ugly but now think that it is the nicest looking phone ever?
In all fairness iPhone is the best and most sexiest and elegant smartphone LOOKWISE ...after iPhone Id say Evo 4G LTE....then Galaxy Nexus.
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dieselfatal said:
In all fairness iPhone is the best and most sexiest and elegant smartphone LOOKWISE ...after iPhone Id say Evo 4G LTE....then Galaxy Nexus.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
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Lol. I actually have all your choices well below except the IPhone but that is top 5 at best. The EVO and the Nexus, nowhere near my Radar.
Best looking look wise to me would be.
1. GS3 blue
2. Xperia S Black
3. GS2
4. Xperia P
5. iPhone 4
6. Meizu MX
Galaxy Nexus would be like last and same with Nexus S. lol
The LG Prada looks quite nice too.
It is nice, but not nicest. Most elegant is iPhone IMO
Agree I phone defiantly sleekest
But I totally get the Samsung design it's simple yet beautiful and very functional and comfortable.
If only it was made out of aluminium and Kevlar like the razr now that would beat the iPhone but I ain't complaining love s3 to bits!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Fall in love on GS3 on first sight
IPhone 4S is a nice looking device also but is outdated.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
It's something you grow to love over time and that's what happened to me
dieselfatal said:
In all fairness iPhone is the best and most sexiest and elegant smartphone LOOKWISE ...after iPhone Id say Evo 4G LTE....then Galaxy Nexus.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
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I'm sorry but no dude, I understand that's your opinion and the iPhone looks nice but not the best looking, not at all. I think the HOX is the best looking smartphone EVER.
I will give the pebble blue S3 the second best looking phone ( this year). It looks stunning and classy.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Imo the HOX and the iPhone looks better, but the sgs3 feels better in hands and looks ok.
barondebxl said:
I'm sorry but no dude, I understand that's your opinion and the iPhone looks nice but not the best looking, not at all. I think the HOX is the best looking smartphone EVER.
I will give the pebble blue S3 the second best looking phone ( this year). It looks stunning and classy.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
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Totally agree.....the iPhone is just tired now....I find it the least appealing phone on the market.....
The SGS3 no way.....its nice.....that's where I draw the line....in fact I am a huge samsung fanboy have had a Vibrant, Captivate, SGSII, Note.....just not feeling this phone at all....its a weird Nexus....
I will give my vote to the H1X....say what you will about the thing but it sure does look sweet and overall build and feel blows the SGS3 away....
IMO
Sent from........Somewhere In Time
For it to look good it would have to be of better durability. I don't even know how mine got a small scratch after two weeks, my (previous) 3months old Nexus is pristine and I abused it with keys in same pocket and throwing it.
But the performance is excellent thats half of what matter, the other is developments.
I enjoy the look of the Nexus S and Nexus most with the curve screen. Thats include the way the screen look, coming back to flat screen is strange afterward.
Idk, I dont find HOX as half as appealing as SGS3....but this is personal preference I guess:
1. Pebble blue S3
2. HOX
3. Samsung galaxy note
4. LG optimus 4X HD
5. Samsung galaxy Nexus/nexus S
6. iPhone
Why no xperia series? Dont like their design at all, especially not xperia S (darn they are so ugly). And yes didnt like S3 at all first, but its great looking once you see it live
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
loved the S3 when it was shown off in London in May at the unpacked event. The day it came to stores in Germany I went to get it..as soon as the guy opened the box to show me the phone, I LOVED IT!!!!!! :highfive::highfive: best looking phone...Iphone is just a boring brick shaped paperweight
s3 is a true beauty... I like it much more than the old idevice.
For me GS3 is the best looking phone atm in the market!.. I dont know.. Iphone 4 and 4s..same design and when it came out it was nice...But now among other phones it just looks like a piece of brick for me.. And heavy one as well..lol
My list =
1. Gs3
2. HTC ONe X
3. Arc S
4. Galaxy Nexus
5. G Note
6. Sensation XE
For me best looking device is HTC one x.
I can't believe you guys think the HOX look better than the S3. It's an abomination in comparison.
Also, the iPhone. Way too much bezel on that phone. As much of the face of the phone as possible should be covered by the screen.
But I do agree with you OP, when the S3 was announced I was also disappointed: the phone looked absolutely horrible. But it has since grown on me so much I now regard it as the best looking phone there is.
Pff, HOX better looking, what a joke...
I see most of users say that SGS3 is on first place.
What about color, blue or white?
I gonna bye it for 10 days, but i am thinkin about color.
I have seen white, its nice. I dont have seen blue, just on pictures...
Suggestions?
I guess i can ask that on this topic ...
Am I the the only one who thinks the camera bulge on the back of the hox is terminally ugly, and also incredibly stupid as far as making the risk of scratching the lens very high?
I love the way this phone feels in my hand.
Before seeing both in a shop, I definitely thought the HOX was significantly better looking. But in the shop, in person, my opinion changed. I like both.
What I find is that the GS3 fits in my hand super well. And compared to my Droid X, it's actually easier to use one-handed.
I was never a fan of the GS2 home button or back camera. Something about it felt out-dated, squarish, and lacking refinement. I prefer both on the GS3-- smaller, less bezel on those parts, less protruding looking.
I love the front and side view of the white GS3. I think the front, particularly the proximity sensor/camera/earpiece area looks nicely arranged. I'm less thrilled looking at the GS3 face-down, where the big, white, back looks more plasticky and cartoonish-- particularly the rounded corners/bottom edges.
I find the blue GS3 pretty ugly. The semi metal, shiny, purply-blue pseudo-brushed metal look just doesn't appeal to me. Though my GF prefers it to the white. So go figure. Personal preference, like all these things go.
So yeah, ultimately I find it a pretty attractive phone. I worry that the white will wear on me over time though. And if a real black had been available... I may have gone in that direction (white is a nice change for me, but not sure how it'll hold up both physically and in my opinion over time). Either way, I don't care thaaat much what my phone looks like. Usability and features weigh much more heavily in my decision making process; I probably wouldn't have even looked at/considered the GS3 if the HOX had micro SD and a better battery (removable doesn't matter that much to me if the battery is outstanding)... but I'm glad I did. Both are excellent, good-looking, phones.
My digitizer just died on my HTC One X and bought it out right and looking to get a new phone. I found out I was approved for a concession line at work so I am looking for a new phone on Verizon. The Motorola Maxx HD just came out, the S3 has been out for a while, and the Note 2 just came out. I am trying to decide between each, and are wondering yall’s recommendation. I like the S3 and its size, and how there is a lot of development of it. The Maxx HD has epic batter life and I like the design and materials used and the note 2 I love the screen size. I am trying to decide between which. Give me your comments!
seandidk said:
The Maxx HD has epic batter life and I like the design and materials used and the note 2 I love the screen size. I am trying to decide between which. Give me your comments!
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The Note 2's battery is barely smaller than the Maxx HD, so you'll have close to the same battery life as the Maxx HD.
If you like the screen size and good battery life, the Note 2 is what you want.
-BoneZ- said:
The Note 2's battery is barely smaller than the Maxx HD, so you'll have close to the same battery life as the Maxx HD.
If you like the screen size and good battery life, the Note 2 is what you want.
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Just because the batter is about the same size doesn't mean you'll have the same battery life. The Motorola will likely get better reception on average based on other Motorola phones, and it also has a screen that is almost 1" smaller diagonally, both of which will help the Moto get better battery life.
imnuts said:
Just because the batter is about the same size doesn't mean you'll have the same battery life. The Motorola will likely get better reception on average based on other Motorola phones, and it also has a screen that is almost 1" smaller diagonally, both of which will help the Moto get better battery life.
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Of course the Maxx will have better battery life, that's why I said "close". Reading people's battery usage, it's close enough.
I have the s3 now and its gotta be one of the slickest phones I've ever had. Its quick and smooth and I've had no problems. I ordered the note 2 yesterday because I want that GIGANTIC screen (and all the specs of course) but if the big screen is too much for you IMO id definitely go with the s3 then.
Tap'n
There's only 2 phones on Verizon I would consider before years end. That is the Note 2 and HTC DNA. I would not get a Razr HD over the S3 and I would not get an S3. The S3 is a good phone but I have a personal policy of getting phones right when they're released. Super phones have such a low life span and when you see the S4 in a few months you will have a feeling of regret. That's why I'm picking the Note 2 because of it's software enhancements, specs, S-Pen, removable battery, sd card and the fact that the phone will not be replaced for at least a year. The HTC DNA sounds good on paper but it's missing a lot of features that the Note 2 has. The Note 2 is the best all around package on the market if size does not bother you.
Note 2! Multiscreen is amazing!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Signal stuff is just speculation, feel free to ignore that for now. If it's important to you wait and see is the only answer there.
Development is much the same boat, as Note will likely be locked and take a while to resolve that, Maxx is locked, the HTC DNA/DLX will likely be locked...so, yeah, welcome to Verizon. haha.
Personally not a fan of Motorola's design chops so I ruled them out, and waiting to see how the Note/HTC devices look after coming out.
I was set on buying the Note 2, but I have changed my mind and will be buying the HTC DNA because its more powerful, better screen, and unique. It will be nice not seeing every other person using the same phone as me. I am hoping HTC puts in a 2500mah or larger battery. I will be jealous of the Note 2 5.5in screen, but when I am looking at the DNA 5in 440ppi lcd3 screen I will forget all about that extra .5 inches.
Chaoticjerkface said:
I was set on buying the Note 2, but I have changed my mind and will be buying the HTC DNA because its more powerful, better screen, and unique. It will be nice not seeing every other person using the same phone as me. I am hoping HTC puts in a 2500mah or larger battery. I will be jealous of the Note 2 5.5in screen, but when I am looking at the DNA 5in 440ppi lcd3 screen I will forget all about that extra .5 inches.
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Keep in mind that any extra power that the DNA might have is being wasted on the 1080p display, and also that display will send its small battery to hell, and it lacks any S-Pen features. If you're okay with those drawbacks (I assume you're also fine with the non-removable battery/SD card), then go for it.
Personally, the 1080p display isn't worth all of those other problems.
Chaoticjerkface said:
I was set on buying the Note 2, but I have changed my mind and will be buying the HTC DNA because its more powerful, better screen, and unique. It will be nice not seeing every other person using the same phone as me. I am hoping HTC puts in a 2500mah or larger battery. I will be jealous of the Note 2 5.5in screen, but when I am looking at the DNA 5in 440ppi lcd3 screen I will forget all about that extra .5 inches.
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at $300 even with a 2 year contract, you won't be seeing every other person with a gn2. trust.
htc = nice hardware on a undersized battery since forever...
zentech said:
at $300 even with a 2 year contract, you won't be seeing every other person with a gn2. trust.
htc = nice hardware on a undersized battery since forever...
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Between the iPhone 5/S3, I bet you will barely see people with a Note2. Simply put, the Note2 is a niche market.
Don't forget that the note 2 will have potential burn in issues
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
I can't decide either...
Note2 - Stupid hard home button...really pisses me off, gNex is so much easier than the gs3,
HTC DNA - Stupid power button on top, are u serious??? Why just why, and HTC battery life....
Cant we see a Nexus Note with soft buttons, and a power button on the side... I would be sold
OneSlickDeal said:
I can't decide either...
Note2 - Stupid hard home button...really pisses me off, gNex is so much easier than the gs3,
HTC DNA - Stupid power button on top, are u serious??? Why just why, and HTC battery life....
Cant we see a Nexus Note with soft buttons, and a power button on the side... I would be sold
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Click to collapse
If you really want to pick between these two phones, I would advise trying to distinguish between the other major features of the phones. Do you absolutely need/want the S-pen? Do you want the split screen? Is the .5" too much of a difference to fit in your hand or pocket? Do you like SAMOLED more than SLCD? Do you like Sense over Touchwiz? How big of an issue is the battery to you?
Adapt or die! jk If the power button really bugs you, you could use a flip case and an app that uses the proximity sensor to turn the phone on and off.
Being realistic I highly doubt you will see a new Nexus device on Verizon until engineers get the LTE band issues worked out.
If the on-screen softkeys could be enabled for the SGS3, I'm sure you can do the same thing on the Note 2 if you wanted to.
Chaoticjerkface said:
I was set on buying the Note 2, but I have changed my mind and will be buying the HTC DNA because its more powerful, better screen, and unique. It will be nice not seeing every other person using the same phone as me. I am hoping HTC puts in a 2500mah or larger battery. I will be jealous of the Note 2 5.5in screen, but when I am looking at the DNA 5in 440ppi lcd3 screen I will forget all about that extra .5 inches.
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The screen will be nice on the DNA, but I personally wont be sold unless there are some features unique to the device. While the processor is said to be killer, I have a feeling the screen and Sense may take away from that power, as well as eat up the battery....but thats just my own assumption of course. Personally, the multi-window feature and the S-Pen features make the Note 2 more appealing to me.
Hi Nexus fans,
I love the specs of Nexus 10 esp the awesome display plus the fact that - NO Touchwiz
But its the design (looks) which is troubling me, cant Google/Samsung do better than this?
I am not Apple fanboy but when I see iPad n Nexus 10 side by side in any video, its the iPad which stands out better !!!
sent from the "BE"a"ST" Galaxy S3
in my opinion the design is okay.. not awesome not bad its just well, okay
I agree with deluxxe. It isn't horrific. It just isn't great.
Yeah I definitely think they could have done better as well.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
it's not as beautiful as LG nexus 4 but i think i love the design of it. I've been waiting for the grippy plastic material for a tablet rather than steel or aluminium.
i love the front facing speaker design and overall i think it's quite beautiful. but then, i haven't see the actual product just like most of us. So i think this is too early to decide.
Not overly impressed with it, it looks too much like the Galaxy Note 10.1 to me.
back looks ugly :/
wis it was more like the n7
Looks fine to me.Should be easy to hold and is still light weight.Gives an impression of durability.
I am much more concerned with the way it works than the way it looks.
No Touchwiz means no dual view which I find extremely disappointing. I would love to true multitask some things on the tablet.
in times where apple sues you for a rectangular shape this is the result for trying to avoid any legal issues...
I think it is not too bad, can live with it..
Yeah well, it definitely won't win style awards, but it also definitely looks like being designed to be pratical... And I like that!
Gesendet von meinem LG-P990 mit Tapatalk 2
Scared27 said:
No Touchwiz means no dual view which I find extremely disappointing. I would love to true multitask some things on the tablet.
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Maybe this isn't the tablet for you.
But to answer OP's question; I think the design is okay, I wouldn't be embarrassed to be holding one. But next to tablets like the Transformer Infinity and even the iPad. It looks not so good.
nexus 4 looks more nice
The whole 'not trying to look like iPad' thing isn't really an excuse for it to look ugly. The Nexus 4 does not look like an iPhone 5, nor did the Galaxy Nexus look like a 4S. Yet they both look amazingly sleek.
If Google let Asus design the Nexus 10, instead of Samsung, I am pretty sure it will look much much better. Of course, Samsung needed to tweak the design, so Apple won't sue them. That's the reason Samsung come up with this design starting with Galaxy Tab 10.1N, then Note 10.1, so design carried over to Nexus 10.
I agree that Nexus 10 does not stands out like iPad, but believe the specs and pure Android 4.2 will be the biggest selling point.
I am still debating whether or not should grab Nexus 10 since already have Nexus 7 (loving it!). But considering how good Nexus 7 is, I might not stop myself and order one!!
im sorry i dont like it hehe
im prefer sony
Looks to me are pretty much irrelevant. I'm not saying it is ugly or pretty or anything like that. I just don't really care, so I don't think about it. Function is what matters to me. How something looks and what others think about those looks is the kind of thing Apple fans tend to obsess over (and no I don't mean that as a dig toward the original poster).
Those kinds of things just don't really matter to me. It's function/usability does.
I will say this about the design: I like the high resolution display but really wish they hadn't gone quite that far in the pixel count unless they were going to put an even faster CPU/GPU in. I also wish they had added microSD. I will wait to pass judgement on the shape until I've had a chance to use one since I don't know if I will like how this shape works for me yet. I do like the 16:9 aspect ratio.
To me it's borderline ugly The strip to attach a back cover is atrocious. But if it has great performance and bright crisp display i'm willing to look past the design.
2560*1600p screen is better than my 23" lol !
Harry GT-S5830 said:
Maybe this isn't the tablet for you.
But to answer OP's question; I think the design is okay, I wouldn't be embarrassed to be holding one. But next to tablets like the Transformer Infinity and even the iPad. It looks not so good.
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Thing is, ever try to USE the Prime/Infinity for long periods? That metal gets uncomfortable fairly quickly, and those whirls in the back retain an unsettling amount of biological matter in a short period of time.
I have a Tab 8.9 LTE, which has a soft touch back (looks to be much the same stuff they're using on the N10), with rounded corners, and it's comfortable for hours. Granted, it's not a brick like a 10" Transformer Infinity (and the N10 will weigh about the same), but the materials used go a long way towards making it more comfortable.
Not to mention letting Google/Samsung sell it at a competitive price, because machining aluminium or magnesium is far more expensive than injection molding plastic, especially on a device the size of a tablet.
You want a more premium device, hold out for the next-gen Samsung or Asus tablets that are sure to show up at CES early next year.
25x16 IPS/PLS screens will be commonplace, Samsung will quite likely have a quad-core Exynos 5 ready by then, Asus will be using something like the S4 Pro or Tegra 4. And they'll be "sexier", made out of more costly materials.
But they won't be stock AOSP, they will be more expensive, and they're several months off, not a week and some change.
If Google let Asus design the Nexus 10, instead of Samsung, I am pretty sure it will look much much better.
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And if Google let Asus design the Nexus 10, it would have light bleed, screen lift, and just about every other problem that's been endemic to the Transformer (and N7) line. I love my N7 for what it does, hate the fact that I'm on unit #4. I've owned every model of Transformer (OG, Prime, Pad, Infinity) and had to either RMA, return, or sell every one of them. Same with their Zenbooks. Asus makes sexy looking devices, but they can't control quality at ALL.
Samsung's industrial design wins no awards for beauty, but they build their devices MUCH better than Asus. My two year old original Galaxy Tab is still rock solid, as is my year-old-and-much-used Tab 8.9 LTE. And the Tab 10.1 I bought last year and gave to my sister is also holding up great.
Here is my LONG and slightly biased review of the 3 top devices right now.
I had a DNA, Nexus 4, and Note 2 all at the same time and here is a summary of my thoughts on how they compare.
The DNA and Note 2 were my personal phones, the Nexus 4 belonged to my company and was purchased for a tear down analysis. I got to use it for about a week.
I have been following the HTC J Butterfly ever since it was announced in Japan. Although I was 100 percent satisfied with my Note 2, I was quite intrigued with the phone's full 1080 progressive display. So many pixels crammed in 5" of screen real estate must be amazing I figured. I wanted to see if this phone would give me second thoughts and sway me away from my beloved Note 2.
Screen:
1. DNA
2. Note 2
3. Nexus 4
The crown jewel of the HTC DNA is the display, while quite amazing in person, it reminds me a lot of the iPhone 5's Retina display, just bigger. I know the DNA has a much higher ppi density, but in reality you really can't tell the difference once the resolution gets so high in a 4-5" screen. Only situation where I could clearly distinguish the difference was in text, and when zoomed all the way out and the texts are all microscopic but still legible if you put a magnifying glass to it.
The novelty of the 1080P screen wears out QUICK. I showed a few of my co-workers and friends/families and they couldn't really see what the big fuss was all about. They say their iPhone 4S/5 ect. looks the same. Oh well, I should have brought with me a magnifying glass to brag about the difference I suppose. Once the novelty wears off, the beautiful screen becomes more of a curse. A LOT of games/apps don't work right with the 1080p display. I know developers will eventually update their apps, maybe, to support the 1080p resolution but in the meantime it's a waiting game. I hate waiting...and it seems like I'm missing out on a lot of good games and apps while other phones get to enjoy it RIGHT NOW.
Next, The high ppi count combined with HTC sense lags this phone. You can tell it taxes the GPU/CPU pushing all those pixels. If you claim your DNA doesn't lag, then you either don't know what lag is, or never experienced a phone that is lag-free. The iPhone 5 is lag free, the Nexus 4 and Note 2 are "almost" lag free but those two still offer much smoother UI performance as a whole than the DNA.
The Nexus 4 screen is "nice" but it's nothing to write home about, nor is it super uber amazing like some Nexus fans might lead you to believe. The viewing angles and resolution are above average but the color is quite disappointing. Everything looks washed out and drab on the screen next to the DNA and Note 2, no real pop or anything to make it stand out. It reminds me a lot of the display on my LG G2X, just higher resolution.
Note 2's screen, don't be fooled by the "only" 267ppi count. This screen is by far one of the best displays I've seen on a smartphone, and I've had pretty much most all high end smartphones due to the line of work I do and frankly, my addiction. The lame background that Samsung loads on this phone default from the factory does not do the phone justice. I can see how a person would think the screen isn't anything special when they first turn it on. Com'on Samsung, load a high resolution default background to show off that beautiful screen, not some low resolution, plain blue background with a feather in the back.
This display is not like the other Samsung AMOLEDs of the past like the Note 1, Galaxy S, Nexus, Galaxy S3. Those are all Pentile matrix. Those are not comparable to the Note 2's screen.
The Note 2 is an RGB matrix OLED HD NON-PENTILE display, the highest resolution one that Samsung has ever put on a phone. And it's a spectacular display, which blows the other Samsung SuperAMOLED's out of the water. Everything looks sharper on a non-pentile display. Don't be fooled by the ppi count on AMOLED's when comparing pentile to non-pentile, the S3 might have a higher ppi density but the Note 2 offers a superior viewing experience. Text, images, ect. all look much more clear, sharper and cleaner on the Note 2.
It doesn't quite match the DNA's overall brightness and resolution but it's a solid, high resolution beautiful screen. Better than the Nexus 4's screen by far.
Camera:
Camera quality wise I would rank them as follows.
1. Note 2
2. DNA
3. Nexus 4
The Note 2 takes the best pictures in all light conditions, the DNA takes good pictures in good lighting but they produce a LOT of noise and it gets worse as the lighting drops. Noise is very apparent when you blow the picture up to 100 percent crop. The Nexus 4 is last place, I could not take a decent picture with that thing especially low light. The Note 2 takes really high quality pictures without a lot of noise, I am very impressed with it.
Build:
Build quality and feel.
1. Nexus 4
2. DNA
3. Note 2
I got to hand it to LG and Google on the Nexus 4, this thing feels like a million bucks in your hand. Glass front and back, rubber surround between. It just feels very premium. Like German Engineered. =) It just feels really good in your hand. Just don't drop it.
The DNA feels... Japanese. Very well built, gives the impression that it should last for a long time and fare well in drop survival . Doesn't quite match the Nexus for that extra premium feel. Very ergonomic to hold, I think it was my favorite thing about the DNA. It felt really nicely balanced in your hand for it's size.
Sadly the Note 2 feels like a GM product. Plastic, plastic, plastic. Even the simulated metal surround is just painted plastic. Upside is it's relatively light for it's size but don't expect it to have a premium feel to it, it's not bad, it's actually very solid but just not premium feeling like the other two. Feels better in the hand than the Note 1, which was kinda ridiculous and shaped more like a tablet. The Note 2 feels like a phone, just a large one. Not the most comfortable phone to hold for a long time one handed but definitely not that bad.
Software.
1. Note 2
2. Nexus 4
3. DNA
The Note 2 is on a whole different planet when it comes to functionality and software. I know many people scoff at Touchwiz and Sense, or any UI overlay that messes with the pure Android experience. I too was one of those people. My mind was blown when it came to the Note 2. It's been a month since I had my international Note 2, and about a week with my T-Mobile Note 2. I am still finding out new incredible things the software and S-Pen can do on this phone. Touchwiz is truly great on this phone, also it is butter smooth in operation. I can't believe I'm saying this but Touchwiz on the Note 2 makes pure Android 4.2 on the Nexus 4 seem rather lame and boring. It seems like Samsung really took their time, did their homework to really optimize the operation of their UI on this phone. Rooting and Installing custom roms is as easy as they get on the Note 2. Flash 1 simple file, and bam you got a custom recovery. Root and install custom roms and kernels till your hearts desire!
HTC Sense, now this is one beautiful looking UI. Unfortunately DNA is loaded to the gills with bloatware, OMG I've never seen so much bloat on a phone. You can tell the UI really taxes the phone's CPU and GPU. The performance definitely do not match the benchmarks. Don't get me started on unlocking the bootloader on this thing, have you guys seen the instructions? Seems more complicated than brain surgery with the risk of bricking your phone the whole process.
What can I say about the Nexus 4? It has pure 4.2 Android and is very smooth. On par with the Note 2. Pure Android feels sorta naked, with not much stuff to discover. It's plain jane, what pisses me off is Google decided to take out the AOSP browser and made Chrome the default browser. No flash support and performance isn't that great. I'm surprised that Chrome is actually pretty decently smooth on the Nexus 4 but still not as good as the stock AOSP browser. I did not like the on screen buttons which took a lot of screen real estate away.
I always found the S-Pen on the original Note kinda gimmicky, not so much on the Note 2. It is incredibly useful on the Note 2 and I find myself using it ALL THE TIME and I'm not a pen/tablet kinda guy. It's literally 10 times more accurate and functional on the Note 2 loaded with all kinds of great features. Air view is one of them and awesome!
Battery life:
1. Note 2
2. DNA
3. Nexus 4
Okay this is no contest. I am a HEAVY user with a lot of screen on time, I hardly charge my phones. The Note 2 gets me through the day with Heavy Usage, 10+ hours and I still have 25 percent reserve. Same type of usage, the Nexus 4 is dead in 3 1/2 hours flat The DNA is slightly better but still dead in about 4-5 hours of the same type of usage. With light to moderate use, the Note 2 got me through a weekend of camping with no charger in sight, that's with browsing the web, checking email, doing some work related stuff, streaming a few Youtube videos for my daughters. I would never attempt that with any other phone. Impossible with the Nexus or DNA. The Note 2's battery life is simply unbelievable. What's even better than the Note 2's amazing battery life? The ability to carry MORE if needed, since it's removable! The Nexus 4 battery blows! I'm at 60 percent just browsing the web on that thing for 45 minutes, hopefully with the next few updates Google will find a way to make the battery last longer.
Storage:
1. Note 2
2. DNA/Nexus 4
Again, No contest.
I had a 64GB Sandisk from my GS3, popped it into my Note 2 and now I have 80GB of combined storage. It's perfect for putting in literally my whole movie collection and mp3 songs on the go. My daughters could browse through the movie collection and find the ones they want to watch anywhere to keep them quiet, no need to plan ahead and only put in only 1 or 2 choices due to storage limitations. I could carry along more SD cards as I wish, basically limitless storage capacity is priceless to have.
After having owned and used all 3, I returned the DNA pronto.
There is absolutely no device that has satisfied me in all areas like the Note 2, it's basically the Swiss army knife of phones. It's a no contest comparing the DNA or Nexus 4 to the Note 2. They don't stand a chance. This is the ONE and ONLY device that has ever stopped my urge and yearning to try something different because I know there is no other phone out there that can measure up to it. Literally and figuratively.
I wouldn't put the fragile Nexus 4 at the top of build quality when the glass cracks easily. There's even been reports that temperature change (it being warn in your hand and then sat on a counter top) cracks it. Plastic is better build quality because it's built to last.
Thanks.. Well written comparison between the three phones and i think it's fair for the most part.
Highly biased towards the note 2 but that's your opinion
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda premium
Unless the DNA overheats or I use chrome, I don't see low framerate. I got it to overheat and used chrome at the same time today.
Wasn't pretty.
I wish people would stop calling low framerate lag. Lag is not even a relevant term.
LOL This sounded like a "Gather around kids, let me tell you about these phones, I had all 3!" "ooohhhhhhh aaaahhhhh"
Seriously though I have to agree with the OP on Touchwiz. I have a Note 10.1 tablet and I had a Galaxy SIII. I traded my S III to my sister for her upgrade so I could get the Note 2 on Verizon when it came out. Got tired of waiting and got the DNA. The DNA is a great phone, don't get me wrong, but after playing around with the S III and the Note 10.1 I found Sense to be just . . . boring. The whole 1080p thing really gets boring quick and I was just left with a skin that doesn't do all that much.
Today a friend was showing me that she bought the S III I recommended her to buy and I was showing her all these little things I liked and I kept having to say "no, my new one doesn't do that... but look at the screen!".
I carry 2 phones with me at all times. My Serious "work" phone (Verizon) because I need a phone that will work wherever I travel and my "Just for fun" phone (T-Mobile prepaid).
There is a lot I do like about the DNA, call quality is great, display really is amazing, I love the looks of it and it just feels reliable. So I made the decision that I'm going to keep the DNA on Verizon and instead I'm going to replace my Galaxy Nexus on T-Mobile with the Note 2. I think it makes sense, Verizon is my Reliable line and I think the DNA will be the most reliable PHONE, T-Mobile is my for fun line so I think the Note 2 will be the most fun phablet for it.
That's a whole bunch of hardware to carry around lol.
It really is an addiction LOL, I carry a manbag (IT'S NOT A PURSE!) with my Galaxy Note 10.1 and my Nexus 7 and my Bluetooth keyboard and a bunch of cables and a portable hard drive and chargers and then I carry my 2 phones around and I don't do **** with any of it. It's always a "Just in case" thing. It's that Ti and Ne kicking in.
People always slagged off Touchwiz but I tried Android on a phone in store in 2010 and I hated it, I then decided to go for the iPhone 4. When it came to the GS2 launching I had gotten so fed up of how restrictive IOS is that I sold my iPhone 4 and got the GS2 last year. It was so much better than the Android I used before and I messed around with lots of roms after people saying how stock is much better and I hated it, stock just lacked so many features that TouchWiz had. I also thought the apps Samsung had on the phone all just worked, where the stock apps felt rather dated. Then using the Note 2 in store I just the added functionality of the pen, especially being able to quickly write numbers down while on the phone without having to go through menus. PiP and the multiple windows open is just something I so badly want now and I loved how Samsung have improved TouchWiz so much since the GS2.
I would buy the Note 2 if the specs were more impressive, however the Mali 400 is a real let down, it struggled a bit on the GS2 and it would be even worse on the Note 2.
Though I've tried The Nexus 4 at work as my mate has one and I still think stock Android is **** compared to Touchwiz.
I truly appreciate this, thank you very much! I agree with everything you said as well (as far as the DNA and N2 go, I haven't used the N4). You've made the decision to return the DNA in for the Note 2 that much easier!
DNA has no screen stuttering when navigating the launcher or any of the apps... there will be some moments when its loaded up with apps that ive been using where it might have a very slight stutter but it usually corrects itself ... I personally love sense compared to anything else... the rest of my family all got GS III's and i hate touchwiz so much... the entire UI stutters from opening apps navigating screens and settings.. haven't played with a note II yet so i cant really go into detail with that...
Don't know what your whole family did to their S3's but I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in saying the S3 is quite smooth. Of course its not nexus 4 quick though
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
I had the note2 on T-Mobile for two weeks and now the DNA for one week. They are both great phones! Personally I don't care for sense or touchwiz, but then again that's why we are all here....you can get your android os anyway you like. I settled on the DNA because, I have always used HTC, even pre android, and think that they have the finest build quality in the android world. Also the note2 felt just slightly to big.
I think it really comes down to those little personal preferences when dealing with these power house phones! You won't be sorry with any of these.
I really wanted to like the S3, but nothing about it was 'woah' for me. It didn't look that good, and I didn't mind waiting to see what else was around the corner. So I got the DNA, and I'm blown away. I really don't care about comparing Touchwiz vs. Sense vs. Pure Android, because regardless of what skin I have, I'm going to either find an AOSP ROM or I'll be uninstalling all the bloat ware and using a different launcher.
The S3 is a good phone, and I would recommend it, but I love my DNA a lot more. The screen isn't a novelty for me really, its just beautiful and not Pentile.
The note2, I feel like that's not considered on the same category. I've never gotten to play with one, but if we are looking at $200 on contract, DNA is the way to go and not go to up for the Note2.
Pretty insightful, especially since I'm deciding between the DNA and Note 2. I haven't tested either phone in the store yet, but I plan on doing that soon. Swaying to the DNA because of the awesome design (IMHO) and the screen. Note 2 is looking good because of the removable battery and expandable storage. 6+GB of music will fill the DNA FAST since I can't really use cloud storage (NYC subway has no service). I have only 2 problems with the Note 2 from all the videos I've seen: 1. That sore thumb of a logo on the home button 2. Doesn't seem like the S-Pen works with AOSP roms like CM/AOKP/PA, based on what I've seen with the Note. Sort of a problem since I'm sure the S-Pen is a considerable amount of the final cost of the phone.
How clear would you say the screen on the Note 2 is? I've really only experienced the screen on my GNexus and a few of the first Galaxy S phones. I actually love my Nexus's screen, but at 5.5", I can't think of it being as nice.
Talked to a friend of mine who has tested both. He feels the Note 2 is no faster than the DNA even at lower resolution.
.torrented said:
DNA has no screen stuttering when navigating the launcher or any of the apps... there will be some moments when its loaded up with apps that ive been using where it might have a very slight stutter but it usually corrects itself ... I personally love sense compared to anything else... the rest of my family all got GS III's and i hate touchwiz so much... the entire UI stutters from opening apps navigating screens and settings.. haven't played with a note II yet so i cant really go into detail with that...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree here 100% I hated...HATED! Sense on my thunderbolt but this is a whole new sense.. I'd almost venture to say I prefer this newest sense to stock android... Just my input on that
This is very good thread, not biased at all to be honest. I was in love with the DNA display for the first few days, and guess what it wore off, lol. Now I can't tell a difference between 1080p and 720p lol. I now tell people hey you won't be able to tell after 2 days, lol.
I am about to go tomorrow to check out the note 2 and see if the narrow design fits my hands. I might switch it out but I am not going in with the mindset to pick one up, I however will be ready to exchange it if I am impressed. I am really tired of sense I like other launchers and for some reason they don't seem to run as fast on the 1080p screen.
Sense is so unproductive it looks nice but seriously why the hell do I have to go in to settings to change a wallpaper, the long press on home screen just lets you add widgets, so stupid. HTC seems to have made it worse.
I love the DNA but if I am as impressed by the note 2 I might exchange it out tomorrow.
---------- Post added at 06:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:05 AM ----------
adrynalyne said:
Talked to a friend of mine who has tested both. He feels the Note 2 is no faster than the DNA even at lower resolution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me unless your friend was a robot he wouldn't know. They are both fast phones, if someone says they can see the difference when they use it, they are most likely lying, lol.
I could be wrong but regarding battery category,
Is your Notes 2 using TMobile's network ? since Verizon's Note 2 is only available tomorrow, I guess the Notes 2 you own is GSM version.
Verizon's DNA is running on LTE.
So I would give it some kudos for running on LTE doing the heavy usage you had for 4-5 hours with 2020 mAH battery, (note 2 has a 1.5 bigger battery inside.)
Thanks for the review - and thanks for trying out phones that you know you are going to return. Helps everyone out when our carrier has to handle RMAs for people that want to try phones just to review them.
*sighs*
-D
Been using the x 2013 for some time now and its just about perfect. I dont game, my use is heavy on web, text. The problem with my X is that the microphone doesnt seem to work anymore, I have to carry a wired or bluetooth to talk on the phone...which is a pain.
I want something small, similar in size, to replace it. Ive narrowed it down to a Nexus 5 or One Plus X or Z5c. Which would you guys recommend? Anyone else make a move from the X 2013 to one of these models?
Thanks,
Mario
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
Seriously wait until mm gets released on this z5c. And listen for feedback from us users. It could be that mm doesn't fix the sluggish experience that currently the z5c provides. I would go nexus 5x if your hand ergonomics allow.
Don't buy z5c until you "potentially" hear users here praising the phone after the forthcoming mm release
Thanks, appreciate the feedback. I think I will hold off for now.
I dont have any lag in my z5 compact, the only issue I have is the auto brightness bug. Apart from that I'm very happy with the phone,
Yeah don't take one guys word as gospel. I had the z5c and sold it to try the nexus 5x. I regret it big time and I'm going buy another one. It was as smooth as any phone I've used. I also had the Moto x 2013. You'd love the z5c ..its optimization is similar and pretty close to stock Android.
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
I formerly use a moto x 2013, it still functions well even now but I switched to z5c.Actually, z5c's hand feeling can't be as good as moto x 2013, but it's small enough for a flagship and isn't bad in battery life if you don't play games on that Snapdragon 810
I recently bought few phones and don't know which one to keep to replace my old 2013 moto x. I got galaxy alpha, oneplus x, and Z5 compact. To be honest none feel as good ergonomically as the moto x. The oneplus is nice, good screen and speed but a Lil big. The z5c is really nice but darn thing si hard to hold without a case. Just way too slippery. And loli on it not very fast in my opinion. Also gets pretty warm with light surfing. Not terribly hot but the hottest of the bunch. The alpha is good all around. Nice size, weight is awesome... So light! Speed seems good. My first time using Samsung, it's not as terrible as I thought would be. I switched to Nova prime and feels good. No SD card is a bummer but not deal breaker. It's also slippery but best grip of bunch without case. Screen is good but a bit yellow and not as sharp next to oneplus.
What do you all think, which would you keep?
Thanks.
Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk
Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk
i think it all depends on the size: Z5c is now the only compact phone worth to buy for its specs.
But if you like also big phones (5 inches or more), then there's a ton better than the Z5 line
mario24601 said:
I recently bought few phones and don't know which one to keep to replace my old 2013 moto x. I got galaxy alpha, oneplus x, and Z5 compact. To be honest none feel as good ergonomically as the moto x. The oneplus is nice, good screen and speed but a Lil big. The z5c is really nice but darn thing si hard to hold without a case. Just way too slippery. And loli on it not very fast in my opinion. Also gets pretty warm with light surfing. Not terribly hot but the hottest of the bunch. The alpha is good all around. Nice size, weight is awesome... So light! Speed seems good. My first time using Samsung, it's not as terrible as I thought would be. I switched to Nova prime and feels good. No SD card is a bummer but not deal breaker. It's also slippery but best grip of bunch without case. Screen is good but a bit yellow and not as sharp next to oneplus.
What do you all think, which would you keep?
Thanks.
Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk
Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that marshmallow is here, definitely Z5c.
Updated to MM, seems to run OK. Maybe a little better but didn't notice a big change.
I think I've decided to return z5c. I like it fine but it's such a hard phone to hold. Can't put my finger on problem but it's just awkward. Seems too top heavy, unbalanced. I really wanted to like it
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