Hey guys, friendly, neighborhood, T-Mo Sony (Z3) enthusiast here. Congrats on the Lollipop!
So, the wife and I have been going back and forth over her wanting to leave for Verizon (because, she suffers from unreliable reliability?). Between my bias for Sony and T-mo's features (I listen to music all day at work w/o data restrictions), I'm reluctant to leave. (Note: the back has started to peel off so I'm on borrowed time with this Z anyway)
If I WERE to leave, I can't tell if Sony/Verizon relations have deteriorated after the Z4v debacle where they won't get the X, or if I should look at the Nexus 6P, the new LG, or the :shivers: S7 Edge (I've been avoiding Samsung, but that VR tho). I'm afraid of both, getting stuck with Verizon and without a new Sony phone for a while (or forever?).
A few days back, I'd told the Mrs. I could cheaply get a Z3v online but then read the complaints on these forums and backed up/out. You wouldn't believe the eye-roll I got when I said I might look at the Z again after the update, lol. So what do y'all say? Is it worth staying in the Sony ecosystem (I rarely use but enjoy the PS4 connectivity), should I look at other Verizon phones, or just stick with T-Mo and get the X later?
Thanks for reading.
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It really depends on what you're looking for. The Galaxy S7 is hailing great remarks because it's now very refined in its premium body, expandable storage and waterproofing returns. For the average consumer nowadays, they just want the latest and greatest tech.
It's impossible to really tell if Sony isn't going to release anymore phones Verizon. The chances are highly slim, but who knows what they have in store about the new X series. So you may grab this phone for cheap on eBay, but you're only going to get as far as you can in playing around and customizing to an extent until it gets a bootloader unlock. I don't know if you're interested in that, but that's it now for a phone that Verizon isn't going to do much more for it.
Be aware that the USB door has problems with seal tearing, and camera in camera/video mode will overheat in hotter ambient temperatures (sometimes for no reason) and shut down, other than that nice phone.
Like the rest, don't see the Z3v getting anything past Lollipop unless it gets an unlocked bootloader, although some articles say it will see Marshmallow.
Flaps aren't a issue with the z3v because you can just wirelessly charge. Limiting wear on them. And yes I think add of right now this phone will easily hold me over another year. I'll see about the X when it comes out.
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I'm getting close to just pulling the trigger on the Z3v. I figure, its cheap enough that if something miraculous happens between Sony and Verizon, OR if Sony's next phones DON'T accommodate CDMA, it won't feel like such a financial hit if I move on, in either direction.
Now, I just have to find a good, clean, reliable version of this device. ...And possibly some way to cover that obnoxious "Verizon" logo up top.
TracerBullitt said:
I'm getting close to just pulling the trigger on the Z3v. I figure, its cheap enough that if something miraculous happens between Sony and Verizon, OR if Sony's next phones DON'T accommodate CDMA, it won't feel like such a financial hit if I move on, in either direction.
Now, I just have to find a good, clean, reliable version of this device. ...And possibly some way to cover that obnoxious "Verizon" logo up top.
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It's a great phone, nonetheless. For how undervalued this phone is priced at, it's a great buy for a compatible phone the largest network in the US and it's a flagship spec phone from 2014, not some midrange phone.
GigaSPX said:
It's a great phone, nonetheless. For how undervalued this phone is priced at, it's a great buy for a compatible phone the largest network in the US and it's a flagship spec phone from 2014, not some midrange phone.
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Yea, that's the message I'm getting here in the forums. My wife is dumbfounded at my love of Sony. But she'll be pleased when my Z3v comes in the mail, later today(!)...
The sacrifices I make, amirite?
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I have a cheap wireless charger ($10) from Amazon, so I never open the flap for charging. OBVIOUSLY, opening and closing the rubber flap every day is going to wear it out. Because it's . . .
-rubber.
I have a high end (as fast as Sandisk currently makes) 200GB micro SD in both of my z3vs. I have the rooted lollipop release from this site (with brighter led thanks to GigaSPX), which gives me a great variety of customization options (Xposed framework), VIPER4Android FX for INCREDIBLE sound customization, enabled the internal FM radio, updated camera (which I don't recommend yet until it's refined better), etc...
But no matter what, people seem to always want more. I liken that mentality to people camping out in cities at Apple stores awaiting the iPhone 5c. What a let-down THAT was. LOL!
This phone is an incredible device on it's own merit, in both capabilities and craftsmanship. Add just a few tweaks via root, and it serves as the penultimate "best bang for the buck" phone out there.
I got my first one on contract (line renewal) for just $99. It sat there, unloved, unattended, while people were surrounding the iPhone 6s like it was the second coming of Christ or something. I went home and did my research, and I went back the very next day and got it. I bought a second one off Amazon recently for over $300 (NIB) because to me, an average cost of $200 is still a bargain for the z3v (rooted w/ Lollipop, that is). Add 200GB to each one for an additional 100 bucks each, and still, for an average cost of $300, this phone is amazing.
Is the z3v still worth getting? IMO, Yes. Look at the hardware specs plus the camera. If you can pick one up for $250-300, add 200GB to it for $100 (Amazon), root it and upgrade to Lollipop, and pledge a few bucks to encourage complete unlock for custom ROM development, it's still a fantastic deal.
HIGHLY recommend a wireless charger to keep the flaps water tight.
A big downer is the lack of case choices out there. No argument there.
Yeah, I got one (refurbished) coming sometime today, along with the Incipio case, Sony's wireless portable charging pad, and an Illumisheild. I already have a 64gb micro SD, but maybe I'll look into a larger one. Its been a while since I've done any rooting or whatever on my own, so I might wait a bit. Seems like more than enough to hold me over 'til the next best thing from Sony drops. Its honestly a lateral move from my T-Mo Z3. I'm gaining wireless charging and I'll have yet to see if the T-mo treats (unlimited data, free music streaming, wifi router) will be missed.
Related
hi guys im coming from a droid 3 and i want a bigger screen but costs no more than $300 and a great dev community. is it worth getting a thunderbolt off of ebay for $300. i also want 4g and miui. thanks.
You can get one on ebay for $200 or less in very good condition,so yeah its a good deal for $200
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Ok thanks i think ill get one end of febuary. Another question, how does the screen compare to others specifically brightness and colors?
It's a TFT display which is standard nowadays. S-LCD and IPS are better but I have no complaints. Also the pixel density isn't bleeding edge but that matters a lot less unless we're talking about pentile amoled (see: droid razr, YUCK).
The phone itself is a great device. It's big and it's heavy but the 4g standby is unmatched and the dev community, though now slow, has an enormous catalog of good software. So if you're renewing a contract I'd say get something newer but if you're buying outright online get a thunderbolt.
Not sure of your location but here in Houston there are several Thunderbolts listed on Craigslist ranging between $150 and $175.
kujayhawks77 said:
Not sure of your location but here in Houston there are several Thunderbolts listed on Craigslist ranging between $150 and $175.
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When i was in houston over new years, i got great 4g speeds on my tbolt! Love this phone!
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If you can't afford a Nexus and want an LTE phone with lots of development done already (compared to the charge, bionic, etc), then yes, I would get it.
It's the only now cheaper LTE phone out there that will have Cyanogen.
Request serial numbers (ESN/MEID) before buying any phone on craigslist. Go to a Verizon store and all them to check if it's reported lost or stolen. You can get seriously ripped off on craigslist if you're not careful.
willis936 said:
Request serial numbers (ESN/MEID) before buying any phone on craigslist. Go to a Verizon store and all them to check if it's reported lost or stolen. You can get seriously ripped off on craigslist if you're not careful.
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+1 to that. Lots of shady cmda phones out there and if it's cheap, be even more skeptical.
The battery life sucks. The only real "fixes" are:
1. Get the LongLife battery and make a large heavy phone even
larger/heavier.
2. Root the device and install a better ROM/Kernel (Voids warranty).
3. Keep a spare battery around you at all times and swap them when
the first battery dies. (You'll spend $40+ for one worth the time. They
come with a back-plate that accommodates the larger battery, but
if you get a cheap one, the plate usually will not fit 100% correctly,
thereby disabling the antenna built into the back-plate, killing your
reception)
4. Turn off half the features that make this phone worth buying.
5. Buy a different phone.
I also hope you're not big on updates. At release, the Bolt
was Verizon's Flagship phone and it came with Gingerbread 2.3.5.
ICS is allegedly coming for T-Bolt in mid to late 2012, but considering
HTC/Verizon's track record on releasing updates for T-Bolts, I don't
suggest holding your breath.
Its by no means the worst phone on the market, but it has some issues.
Were I buying a phone, I would likely pick a different one.
As always, YMMV.
Good Luck!
sonicanatidae said:
3. Keep a spare battery around you at all times and swap them when
the first battery dies. (You'll spend $40+ )...
I also hope you're not big on updates. At release, the Bolt
was Verizon's Flagship phone and it came with Gingerbread 2.3.5.
Good Luck!
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IIRC, the bolt came with Froyo at launch, not GB. I'm positive mine did, so it was updated to GB already. When it comes to updates, HTC is best among the big boys.
I got two Rezound batteries from Verizon for about $20 each. They were selling all 4G batteries half off, and they may still be.
That said, yes, the battery life is atrocious. There is no sure fix for that.
Sent from my BAMF'd Bolt.
Why not just get the rezound?
I personally like the phone. I came over from the Incredible which I loved but we just got 4G in my area and needed to have it.
Battery life is horrible except when I bought mine on craigslist for $100 (already rooted) it came with an extended battery as well as the stock battery. I think I got a steal.
Now I can wait to use my upgrade on "the next big thing" or at least till the Nexus is a little cheaper.
sonicanatidae said:
The battery life sucks. The only real "fixes" are:....
...Its by no means the worst phone on the market, but it has some issues.
Were I buying a phone, I would likely pick a different one.
As always, YMMV.
Good Luck!
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As you say, your mileage may vary..
But you over looked another option to the battery issue... The LTE batteries are still 1/2 off. That makes the stock Rezound 1620mah battery $19.99 (got one for my wife Tuesday night). That battery makes a difference compared to the stock TB 1400mah battery, and it fits under the stock covers! (so no unsightly bulge).
Also, the External "battery only charger" was being sold for like $3.99 and lower (you need to provide your own "wall charger" for it). So you can leave the 1620 battery in the phone, and charge the stock 1400 as a "spare" outside the phone in case you ever need to carry a "spare" with you.
I have only 3 issues with my TB....
1. Bluetooth Phone book Access Profile (BT PBAP) doesn't work with my car's built in system when using the stock Verizon ROMs. (It DOES work with the leaked Open Mobile firmware.)
2. GPS can still be a little slow at times to lock onto my location more accurately than "within 10 meters" in Google maps. (sometimes its about 5 seconds to be "accurate within 3m", other times it can take up to 15 or 20 seconds, I haven't tried any of the fixes in the forums for this).
3. 3G/4G hand offs can still be slow, and during that transition, I loose data connection. Unlike the Bionic, when the 3G/4G hand off is done, data comes back automatically on the TB. I think hand offs were better/quicker with the MR2 radio, or one of the leaked radios before 2.11.605.9 got pushed out. But its still quicker/better than when I got my TB back in March.
I would recommend this phone and I am selling mine as I can't afford the data plan anymore. If you want to pm me we can discuss it further.
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Do it jump !!! you will not be sorry its fast, sexy, and you can talk n surf what better can you ask for, really all there is left is a 4g hack... suks that clear wire faded out i loved the free wimax addys.. Rumor is clear wire and Lte are joining forces, seems logical sense sprint owns %50 of the shares and there going Lte as well, will c..
I wouldn't not recommend it. You can certainly do worse. If you tend to type one-handed or own pants with smaller pockets, it's not for you.
On the other hand, the screen isn't bad, the 4G screams, the kick stand is more useful than you'd think, and it feels very solidly built.
For $200, it's a great deal off-contract on Craigslist, but if you're due for an upgrade you can do better.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
HTC Thunderbolt - Used - 30 Day Return Policy - $140
I ordered my thunderbolt from cowboom and my galaxy tab as well. Both came in really great condition. The Galaxy Tab was flawless; including retail packaging and all accessories.
The only "problem" with the Thunderbolt was that the top of the battery cover (where you use your nail....or a penny it seems in my case...) where you take it off is a bit dinged up. Otherwise, it functions perfectly and it allows you a 30 day window to decide if you like it or not.
They also have a Droid Charge, X2, and LG Revolution for around the same price on their.
I know this is a Xperia Z Ultra forum, but with the Nexus 6 being around the corner, and heavily rumored to being a 5.9in phone I was wondering if anyone was going to make the switch? Since there isn't an announced true successor to the Ultra I find myself compelled to head back to the Nexus experience. I am a little bummed the phone isn't bigger, but I think I can do without half an inch of screen. What are everyone's thoughts on the Nexus 6?
Couldn't and WOULDN'T!
I was actually tempted to THINK about the possibility of making such a (IMHO) foolish thing too! But then I realized I could never give up my 6.44" screen! Sure it's going to be a killer device...faster, qHD, more memory, stock Android, the works. But I then realized this is all I'll ever need in a device anyway and it's as close to vanilla Android right out of the box.
So I actually ordered another XZU (not the GPe) from Expansys! They dropped the price again to a new record low of $314.99. I live in Indiana so I get it the next day for the fee of standard shipping and pay no tax. This puppy is STILL A BEAST and at $314.99 it'd be crazy to throw money at another device that'll be most likely obsolete in 2 to 3 weeks anyway. At the current rate manufacturers are releasing devices how can any device remain current more than a month???
When, if ever, they were to announce a true successor to this beast that's when I'd seriously think about upgrading. For right now...for the time being...this is still a perfect solution. People are snapping these up as fast as they get them in stock.
The kicker for me is my wife wants the older one! When the one I ordered gets here Wednesday afternoon I'll be rooting that bad boy by Wednesday night. I bought a lot of the Sony accessories anyway, so I'd most likely go with the closest thing to an XZU update as possible if and when that ever happens in the future.
Of course that's just my .02¢.
http://www.expansys-usa.com/sony-xperia-z-ultra-c6833-unlocked-lte-16gb-black-251963/
TheFamilyMan said:
I was actually tempted to THINK about the possibility of making such a (IMHO) foolish thing too! But then I realized I could never give up my 6.44" screen! Sure it's going to be a killer device...faster, qHD, more memory, stock Android, the works. But I then realized this is all I'll ever need in a device anyway and it's as close to vanilla Android right out of the box.
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well said........
I'm afraid that I'm in the opposite camp.
While I love my Ultra when I'm using it, the sheer size means that it's a pain when I'm carrying it around (whether it's in trousers or coat pocket). Even finding somewhere in my cars to put it is a challenge.
So I've just agreed to buy a Nexus 6 - picking it up this evening. I'll hold on to the Ultra until I'm sure that the N6 meets my needs, but I think that I'm willing to give up that small amount of screen real estate for the convenience of having a smaller phone to carry around.
I hate Apple products with a vengeance, and would never own one, but I will admit that they often get it right on ergonomics, and the iPhone 6 Plus (which is about the same size as the Nexus 6) seems to hit the sweet spot as far as the size/screen convenience/functionality balance goes.
Plus the Nexus has better speakers than the Ultra (I make most of my calls on speakerphone and the Ultra is pretty poor in this respect) and supports Qi charging, which is nice.
I'm looking to move on from the Z3v in the near future. I'm curious what phones others have moved on to. I'm looking at the Moto G4 Plus possibly with 4GB RAM and 64 GB on board.
I'm trying to keep my budget to <$300. Any ideas?
tbtregenza said:
I'm looking to move on from the Z3v in the near future. I'm curious what phones others have moved on to. I'm looking at the Moto G4 Plus possibly with 4GB RAM and 64 GB on board.
I'm trying to keep my budget to <$300. Any ideas?
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I moved onto the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, but that was because of a BOGO deal last year.
Are you locked down to Verizon or do you have another carrier? If I were you being on Verizon, I'd take advantage of this offer today: https://www.verizonwireless.com/smartphones/moto-z-play-droid/
The Moto Z is a truly modular phone that LG failed for its G5 to become. This is the Play version, but I'd rather much prefer the Force version as it has a bigger battery, better camera, and shatterproof screen tech. Either version comes with 32GBs, which isn't a problem to deal with when you can have expandable memory. It's not waterproof like the Z3v, but it's still splash resistant so I think streaming it in the sink won't do any harm if you want a quick clean. lol
GigaSPX said:
I moved onto the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, but that was because of a BOGO deal last year.
Are you locked down to Verizon or do you have another carrier? If I were you being on Verizon, I'd take advantage of this offer today: https://www.verizonwireless.com/smartphones/moto-z-play-droid/
The Moto Z is a truly modular phone that LG failed for its G5 to become. This is the Play version, but I'd rather much prefer the Force version as it has a bigger battery, better camera, and shatterproof screen tech. Either version comes with 32GBs, which isn't a problem to deal with when you can have expandable memory. It's not waterproof like the Z3v, but it's still splash resistant so I think streaming it in the sink won't do any harm if you want a quick clean. lol
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Appreciate the response. I have an S7 for work which I really like, and I'm tracking the Edge on Swappa. I do like this phone. Unfortunately, I am locked to VZ, and that Moto Z Play Droid offer, which I was on the verge of ordering yesterday, is for new lines only...so regular price is $17/mo ($408 total) and that is just too rich for what I consider a "compromise" phone. I can get a mint condition S7 on Swappa for $330 or so, which is clearly superior.
tbtregenza said:
Appreciate the response. I have an S7 for work which I really like, and I'm tracking the Edge on Swappa. I do like this phone. Unfortunately, I am locked to VZ, and that Moto Z Play Droid offer, which I was on the verge of ordering yesterday, is for new lines only...so regular price is $17/mo ($408 total) and that is just too rich for what I consider a "compromise" phone. I can get a mint condition S7 on Swappa for $330 or so, which is clearly superior.
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Oh, it's always those fine print words that gets you. I forgot to even think that you have to get a new line to take advantage of the discounted price. If I read and knew about it, I wouldn't have recommended it to you.
For a mint condition S7, that's pretty good for $330. The flat version allows you better accessorizing like tempered glass and more variety of cases. Definitely make a go for it.
I tried out the LG G6 for a week. Then, I got on Ebay and I ordered a new, in box Z3v. Why? Because this phone cannot be beat. I'd move to AT&T and get a newer Xperia if it wasn't such a hassle or cost so much. After my screen kept registering a touch (after 3 years of working fine) I had to replace my original Z3v. I could keep the LG G6. It just wasn't $600 worth of improvement. In fact, the lack of the front facing stereo speakers was so annoying that that's what did it in for me. Maybe it was faster (I couldn't notice). Maybe it was on a newer Android version (There were a few neat improvements there.) Maybe it had a better camera (Again, after using Xposed to set my default auto to 20MP - I couldn't notice it.) Maybe it has better resolution (It must just be me but I couldn't see any improvement from full 1080 on the Z3v versus the LG G6. Maybe my eyes just can't see pixels any smaller than 1080).
So - to make a long story short- I walk into to Verizon to turn in my LG G6 before I couldn't and they were like "why?" And I was like because it's worse than what I replaced. I got what I had had on Ebay for $120 and I'm perfectly happy with it. They were like "What was it?" And I said a Sony Z3v and they were like "Yeah, you Sony people love your phones, don't you."
Yes, yes we do.
The front facing stereo speakers, flawless performance and still excellent battery life are hard to walk away from. Keeping it until another phone with stereo front facing speakers is available. Too bad people gave this phone such a bad rap an Verizon didn't support it. It was/is the perhaps the best phone Verizon possibly ever carried.
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pchain said:
The front facing stereo speakers, flawless performance and still excellent battery life are hard to walk away from. Keeping it until another phone with stereo front facing speakers is available. Too bad people gave this phone such a bad rap an Verizon didn't support it. It was/is the perhaps the best phone Verizon possibly ever carried.
Sent from my D6708 using Tapatalk
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I'm a bit surprised you haven't moved on yet. Battery life still holding up as great as what you had before?
GigaSPX said:
I'm a bit surprised you haven't moved on yet. Battery life still holding up as great as what you had before?
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Actually I'm surprised I haven't moved on yet too! The battery life is still good... I'm still getting about 5 hours screen on time. My phone is no longer waterproof however as a couple of the flap/covers are missing...lol. My options are a little limited on Verizon for a replacement... don't like Samsung curved edge devices and Moto mods are not my thing. G6 looks OK but my Z3v still works perfectly fine so I'm not sure I want to give up yet. Hoping the Pixel 2 or Note 8 will trip my trigger. What do you have now?
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pchain said:
Actually I'm surprised I haven't moved on yet too! The battery life is still good... I'm still getting about 5 hours screen on time. My phone is no longer waterproof however as a couple of the flap/covers are missing...lol. My options are a little limited on Verizon for a replacement... don't like Samsung curved edge devices and Moto mods are not my thing. G6 looks OK but my Z3v still works perfectly fine so I'm not sure I want to give up yet. Hoping the Pixel 2 or Note 8 will trip my trigger. What do you have now?
Sent from my D6708 using Tapatalk
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I have the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The S8/S8+ curves are perfection because the S7 Edge's are way too curvey, but I guess I'll wait to upgrade later.
That's pretty great you still have 5 hours of SOT. I'm not getting anywhere near that unless I just watch movies on my S7 Edge because of how poorly optimized Samsung is with their software. I only find it problematic that the Z3v can't go into Marshmallow because the 801 chips are supposed to be able to do it. Doze mode is really helpful with that.
The Note 8 is a definite must with all its bells and whistles. The Pixel 2 is something I would have to see when they announce it because the Pixel 1's design language looks bland. The G6 seems like the reasonable upgrade from the Z3v, but the UI is different for my taste and you have to be weary of LG's bootloop issue.
I've moved on to the Note 8.
I have the S8+, but the edges and corners are too rounded. The extras, like the dual camera, more RAM and the Spen are great. I definitely love the form factor of the Note 8 over the S8+.
I am NOT a fan of the beveled edges! And the lack of stereo speakers is tough to take on such expensive models that are otherwise so feature rich.
Meanwhile, I am buying new batteries, adhesive gaskets and glass backs for both Z3Vs, which are in brand-new shape.
AddictedToGlass said:
I've moved on to the Note 8.
I have the S8+, but the edges and corners are too rounded. The extras, like the dual camera, more RAM and the Spen are great. I definitely love the form factor of the Note 8 over the S8+.
I am NOT a fan of the beveled edges! And the lack of stereo speakers is tough to take on such expensive models that are otherwise so feature rich.
Meanwhile, I am buying new batteries, adhesive gaskets and glass backs for both Z3Vs, which are in brand-new shape.
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Aha, I've moved onto the Note 8. Once on the Note, I don't think I could ever go back to another smartphone. The S Pen is a jewel and the form factor is definitely a step up above the S7 Edge I had before and the S8/S8+. Albeit it is quite a tall phone though.
My Z3V is just sitting on my desk, reverted to factory image and all. Why buy new parts in repairing it though?
The batteries have crapped out. To replace them is a nightmare that involves removing the glass back with a heat gun. On videos I've seen, the adhesive gasket is unsalvageable. And since the back is glass, I figure there is a good chance of breaking it.
The parts are cheap, and both of my Z3Vs are in perfect shape with their boxes.
I'm fondly recalling my z3v while I enjoy writing this post with the S pen on my Noto 8. Ressurection of the Z3V is really all about the stereo speakers!
I feel my Z3TC is coming to the end of it's useful life, the battery isn't what it was and it looks like development has stopped / slowed on the ROMs (I am rocking the AICP ROM) which is amazing and has easily given me another 2 years with it. I would say there is no chance of Pie, which while on it's own isn't enough to get rid of it but with the battery...
I am looking to replace it, I would like something with an active ROM community and just wondered what people had switched too? My current choice is the Mi Pad 4 which looks like it would be a really good fit and the community looks like it will be active.
Thoughts please people!
If you don't mind not having waterproof and NFC, I would say that's the sweet spot. SD660 is a top mid range performer although I would prefer a SD710.
Also screen quality and sound might be a step back (I'm just guessing Sony is better).
I hope Sony will develop a new version of the Z3 Tablet Compact, XZ2-3 Tablet Compact maybe? But it seems that Sony don't develop any tablet anymore? In not into the TV-sized tablets, 7-8" is good enough for me, but most tabs seems to be pretty huge IMO.
I moved on to the Huawei Mediapad M5 (in part because it's a phone and has the LTE bands I need). It is not as compact but is otherwise a suitable replacement and improvement. The dev community is larger than it might seem, as all Huawei devices share core things in common.
Lenovo's 8" tab is another option
As for the Z3TC - I recently ordered this battery. I haven't received it yet, and I think it is off-brand. I'll update once it is installed.
Hi, I've only just joined this forum as I saw this thread on Google. I have two Z3's, an SGP621 bought roughly five years ago, and an SGP611, bought just over a week ago as a refurb on eBay. Both are running Android 6.0.1. The battery on the older SGP621 is driving me nuts, as the charge gets down to between 50-60% and a minute later the tablet turns itself off, stating that the battery is flat. It's put on charge and literally minutes later, the charge is showing 70-80%.
Looking on YouTube, there are videos of people putting a new battery into an Xperia phone, but the only videos that I have seen on there for a Z3 tablet are of people literally dismantling one and putting it back together. I don't feel confident enough to start melting the glue around the front of my tablet to change the battery (i'll probably end up ruining it anyway), but not certain whether the problem IS the battery, or whether the tablet is just telling porkies and there isn't anything wrong with the battery, more the system? The rumour mill is stating that Z3's are no longer for sale new in the UK, which makes sense as I had to buy a replacement USB dust cover (a tiny piece of plastic, as you all probably know) from Germany recently and it cost including postage, nearly £20. Sony's UK website states that Z3's are no longer supported in the UK, which is as much use as toothache.
As this thread says, I still love my Z3TC but.......which is exactly how I feel at the moment. Literally, any advice that you guys could give me would be much appreciated. I have asked a local mobile/computer repair company (which is closed at the moment, due to lockdown) whether they would a) be able to fit a new battery in the tablet and b) how much it would cost, so I'm not committed to anything, just waiting for them to reply.
Thank you so much for even reading this rant,
Linda
I'll start with my final thoughts, the LG G8X is a mid tier phone with a flagship design, spec wise its on the lower end of the "flagship" phones. Without the second screen the G8X would be a easy pass.
I've had the phone for about a month now, design wise its not premium, its not smooth or fluid around the edges front to back, the buttons sticks out a bit too much IMO, compare to my S9 plus its about the same thickness maybe a 2mm thicker front to back. it feels ok in the hand, I would never want to drop it, unlike all the other major brands I could not find a case or screen protector from Amazon Canada that was not shipping from China. I end up going to ebay to find a case, even the retailer could not find a case, this is how far LG have fallen.
Costco no longer carry LG phones nor does Rogers and best buy since the G7. Back to cases, it seems in other regions LG gave a case and headphones with the phone, for that frak you LG that was a shyty thing to do, for now I have to keep the phone in the dual screen case to protect it. Not including a case to all market is a disappointing move on LG part. (update) I just sold my S9 plus, the buyer was surprised the phone was used because of the condition the phone was in, zero scratches anywhere on the phone because I had a screen protector and various cases on the phone since day one ( Our secret don't tell the buyer I dropped that phone at least 5 times ). I finally received 2 case I bought from ebay as I could not find any local retailer with any LG G8X accessories.
Before I forget, the charging cable needs to be longer its too short to use with the magnetic adapter, it looks really cool on youtube, that's because its super light weight but once you plug the cable in depending on where or how far your plug is it will not work, the weight of the cable going down my side table have caused the phone to not charge because the magnet came loose which led me to buying a new wireless charger because the G8X did not work with my was current wireless charger.
On to the important stuff, the second screen works (yeah), it turns on sometimes by itself when I don't want it on or it turns off and will not turn on until you disconnect the phone and reconnect it, I've had to power down the phone a couple times to get the second screen or the outside info screen working again. As for software, many of you already know its sucks, first off out of the box the unit was not working properly I had to a factory reset twice not a big deal but I never had to do this with any other brand new phone in the last 10 years. I tried using the the LG keyboard but had to change it to the GB.
I've notice I have to hit the back button 2, 3 times for anything to happen, same with the home button, I know I pressed it from the taptic feedback, sometimes there's just a delay either way we should not have these kind of issues on 2019 major brand phone "flagship" at that.
To conclude again the LG G8X is not a flagship phone design and software wise, the idea is great and somewhat refreshing but it is not a game changer in its current form. Software aside if this phone with dual screen cost $10 to $100 more it would be a major pass for me, without the dual screen it would be a major major major major pass at its current price, it would have priced lower than the one plus phones. New G8 can be had for $400 Cad so there you go.
I just got mine and i only got it as a second phone. This phone is a novelty to me. I think that any tech enthusiast buying this phone will buy it with extremely low expectations. This is an LG after all. The same company that hasn't turned a profit since Q3 2014
It's regrettable if you thought you would get flagship performance from this phone. I got it for the party tricks.
Other than that everything you said was spot on and i agree wholeheartedly.
Yeah, I had to disable things like Mini-View and Floating Bar, just because they don't work reliably enough. There are just lots of little things like that. The Samsung equivalents on my Note 8 works much more reliably and has better UI/UX.
It has much promise and potential, but they gotta work on the software and make the UI/UX more cohesive. Now, it's just too rough around the edges.
I think you have buggy phones. I have not had any issues with the duel screen turning on or off. For gaming (Call of Duty) the dual screen is amazing! Wide View is rubbish though as the case is too thick, but works ok for Facebook, seems to add to the experience not detract. Even if you end up reading from only one screen, knowing from peripheral vision what is coming next actually enhances the viewing experience.
I will admit the phone is a bit laggy at times but fingers crossed LG will release Android 10 and we'll get some improvements.
inzimam said:
I think you have buggy phones. I have not had any issues with the duel screen turning on or off. For gaming (Call of Duty) the dual screen is amazing! Wide View is rubbish though as the case is too thick, but works ok for Facebook, seems to add to the experience not detract. Even if you end up reading from only one screen, knowing from peripheral vision what is coming next actually enhances the viewing experience.
I will admit the phone is a bit laggy at times but fingers crossed LG will release Android 10 and we'll get some improvements.
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I'll have to agree with inzimam here. I haven't had any issues with this phone as of yet. It hasn't exhibited any of the characteristics that have been complained about thus far. No lag (at least, no more lag than what is to be expected from a phone), no stuttering, no screen randomly turning off and if it is off I can always get it to turn back on.
As far as the OP is concerned, yeah, if you wanted a phone that was easy to find cases for, you should have gone with an iPhone. Or at the very least, a Samsung. Cases have been and will always be cheap and plentiful for those phones. Everything else, good luck. You are gonna need it.
atirox said:
I'll have to agree with inzimam here. I haven't had any issues with this phone as of yet. It hasn't exhibited any of the characteristics that have been complained about thus far. No lag (at least, no more lag than what is to be expected from a phone), no stuttering, no screen randomly turning off and if it is off I can always get it to turn back on.
As far as the OP is concerned, yeah, if you wanted a phone that was easy to find cases for, you should have gone with an iPhone. Or at the very least, a Samsung. Cases have been and will always be cheap and plentiful for those phones. Everything else, good luck. You are gonna need it.
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I respectfully disagree with both of you, I forgot to mention when in "dark" mode the notification is still white, how ridiculous is that, the software needs cleaning up, at least 3 times this week the second screen turned on when I unlocked the phone, I know for sure I did not have it on before. Today I got another vague update, no info other than it will make the phone work better, really LG.
You're I could've bought pretty much any other phone and found a case at locally not just an Iphone or Samsung, you bringing up 2 other popular brand is a moot point because you can find cases for Moto, Nokia, Sony, HTC, Honor, Huawei easily. Consumers voicing their opinion is the least we can do, we deserve better not just mediocre like what we got from LG.
I'm using the G8X without the dual screen case right now, I have to be honest its not a upgrade over my S9 plus, this have nothing to do with branding, I still have my G6, I'm no fanboy, I have a Android tablet and a Ipad mini, I see things for what they are..
I haven't reached yet, can anyone tell me if we can remap the google assist button, I hated it on my S9 plus I hate it the same on the G8X.
Thinking on your comment regarding the cases, only a id$#t would suggest to buy another phone if I wanted a case to protect my hard earn money that spent on this phone, finding a case was one issue but it shouldn't be one seeing that LG gave a case to other regions. The product should entice others instead companies after companies are dropping LG phones or their accessories, please leave this fanboyism out of this. LG as company could very well be in trouble, their phones are not selling as well as they should be, more and more companies are coming out with Oled panels so Lg and Sony are no longer the only game in town, in a few years LG oled TV will be meh in the marketplace.
LG needs to clean up the software on their phones, better build, stick to the innovation for at least 3 years, oh, the V50 got Android 10 why not the LGX the last phone you released?
sonspot said:
I respectfully disagree with both of you, I forgot to mention when in "dark" mode the notification is still white, how ridiculous is that, the software needs cleaning up, at least 3 times this week the second screen turned on when I unlocked the phone, I know for sure I did not have it on before. Today I got another vague update, no info other than it will make the phone work better, really LG.
You're I could've bought pretty much any other phone and found a case at locally not just an Iphone or Samsung, you bringing up 2 other popular brand is a moot point because you can find cases for Moto, Nokia, Sony, HTC, Honor, Huawei easily. Consumers voicing their opinion is the least we can do, we deserve better not just mediocre like what we got from LG.
I'm using the G8X without the dual screen case right now, I have to be honest its not a upgrade over my S9 plus, this have nothing to do with branding, I still have my G6, I'm no fanboy, I have a Android tablet and a Ipad mini, I see things for what they are..
I haven't reached yet, can anyone tell me if we can remap the google assist button, I hated it on my S9 plus I hate it the same on the G8X.
Thinking on your comment regarding the cases, only a id$#t would suggest to buy another phone if I wanted a case to protect my hard earn money that spent on this phone, finding a case was one issue but it shouldn't be one seeing that LG gave a case to other regions. The product should entice others instead companies after companies are dropping LG phones or their accessories, please leave this fanboyism out of this. LG as company could very well be in trouble, their phones are not selling as well as they should be, more and more companies are coming out with Oled panels so Lg and Sony are no longer the only game in town, in a few years LG oled TV will be meh in the marketplace.
LG needs to clean up the software on their phones, better build, stick to the innovation for at least 3 years, oh, the V50 got Android 10 why not the LGX the last phone you released?
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Hey, never said that I was right. Just that I haven't had those issues yet.
I agree with you about the dark mode notifications. I suspect that it has something to do with dark mode not officially being available for Android 9... Coming from the LG V30, I'll take any dark mode I can get though.
Not sure where you live, but where I've lived, unless you have an iPhone or Samsung, your options are to order a case online, or order a case online... The HTC One M8 is the last phone I had where cases were actually stocked somewhere in a decent selection... The HTC 10 had a pathetic offering of one case I found at Bell in Vancouver. The case on that phone was almost like Randy's kid brother Ralphie getting wrapped up by his mother to go to school from the movie A Christmas Story. The V30 had exactly double the number of cases as the HTC 10 did, and both were equally as pathetic. The better case was utterly useless after 3 months as it was falling apart. So while I may be an id#$t for suggesting purchasing another phone, it always seems to be that ic you want a decent case to protect your phone, the answer seems to be iPhone or Samsung cause i can never find anything but the cheap chinese garbage cases that wont protect anything let alone a glass sandwich.
As far as fanboyism goes, you should have seen me when Nokia announced they were gonna be purchased by Microsoft... Or when HTC sold its engineering division to Google... This isn't fanboyism... LG would need to make a product that I don't immediately want to re-skin with a third party launcher before I'd consider being a fanboy of LG. ... You know what? I'd even settle for an Android OS upgrade that doesn't drop almost 24 months since that version of Android launched. (Looking specifically at the Android 9 update for the V30 H933 model.) I don't even want a cleaned up OS... I just want a freaking update!
To be honest, all the good phone makers of years gone by are in financial trouble unless they are Apple or Samsung... Nokia got sold to Microsoft, HTC sold its soul to Google, Motorola sold numerous times only to be acquired by Lenovo, and just like that relationship, the big names that are left are still here because they have massive companies backing them up. They don't have to turn a profit to stay alive... Those who did are no more, or aren't what they used to be. If memory serves correctly, Sony and LG haven't turned a profit in phones in close to 5 years. HTC is all but dead, Nokia is a sliver of what it used to be, and we know what happened with Motorola.
(Edited for clarity)
I'm gonna chime in because I've had ever single G and V series device since the G3 so I'm a big fan of LG devices.
I really tried to love the G8X. I think the price point in the us at least (albeit I'm in Canada) is spot on. The concept is fun and the screen is actually pretty nice. I liked the ui although slightly disappointed with night mode not having dark notifications. That will change with Android 10.
Theme system is still great. Actually lg has the best theme system on the market. I'm not talking about variety or quality but rather ability out of box to theme virtually anything with little restrictions.
I found battery life to be exceptionally good. I am also impressed with the sound quality of the device. It is a very loud device.
The second screen is cool and works very well. It obviously adds a lot of bulk and weight to the device. I found myself not actually using it after about a month. For me at least it just isn't needed. I don't play enough games and it just was more of something to show off to people like a hey look at this. But for my use it was impractical.
Camera is a big disappointment from what I'm used to with LG. I think they could have done better. Especially the front one. Mind you I don't do many selfies at all, but when I tested it I was disappointed.
Fingerprint sensor is absolutely horrible. I tried to pretend it wasn't crap but it really is bad. Slow and doesn't consistently work as many have complained. In the end I had to admit it just sucks. The animation for it was badass though. Having no face unlock is kinda disappointing. Even just regular face unlock would have been fine as it always worked well on other non tof devices.
What really killed me was how for at least Canadian devices for almost 2 months now LG has allowed devices to have broken LTE. November security patch broke LTE and lg simply told users to just not use lte and switch to 3g. I did find a fix and made a thread for it. Mind you my fix breaks voicemail shortcut. It does restore LTE. They still have not addressed this. That is completely unacceptable.
So I made the decision last week to sell my G8X. It pains me to say it but I feel I made the right call. It just isn't good enough. My G8 is just so much better and has better features imo.
I'm still kinda bummed about it but I did what I felt I needed to do to recover my money as best I could before the device that I just couldn't love no matter how hard I tried lost too much value.
I've had my G8X for about a month now, coming from a V30. Is it a gimmick? Sure... but it's an incredibly useful gimmick. I've had none of the issues the OP refers to. Zero crashes or second screen shutdowns. I find the fingerprint sensor to be only marginally worse than the case-back sensor on the V30, so to me it's a nonissue.
Complaining that without the second screen the G8X isn't all that is IMO a head-scratcher. The only reason to buy the G8X is for the second screen. If you're not going to use that, I don't know why you would buy this phone.
The charging issues I'm not going to address, as I have Qi wireless chargers both at home and my office, so I have yet to even try wired charging.
Do I wish the case front wasn't mirrored and a fingerprint magnet? Yes. Do I wish the front screen was more than a tiny notification screen? Yes. Since the case is a USB-C accessory, my hope is that either LG or third parties develop other second-screen options that improve the functionality and usability of the second screen case. That's the interesting thing about this approach compared to the "folding phones" model: accessory case replacements and improvements can presumably be acquired without having to replace the original phone.
Negan said:
Fingerprint sensor is absolutely horrible. I tried to pretend it wasn't crap but it really is bad. Slow and doesn't consistently work as many have complained. In the end I had to admit it just sucks. The animation for it was badass though. Having no face unlock is kinda disappointing. Even just regular face unlock would have been fine as it always worked well on other non tof devices.
What really killed me was how for at least Canadian devices for almost 2 months now LG has allowed devices to have broken LTE. November security patch broke LTE and lg simply told users to just not use lte and switch to 3g. I did find a fix and made a thread for it. Mind you my fix breaks voicemail shortcut. It does restore LTE. They still have not addressed this. That is completely unacceptable.
So I made the decision last week to sell my G8X. It pains me to say it but I feel I made the right call. It just isn't good enough. My G8 is just so much better and has better features imo.
I'm still kinda bummed about it but I did what I felt I needed to do to recover my money as best I could before the device that I just couldn't love no matter how hard I tried lost too much value.
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Sad to see you go, But I totally agree with the fingerprint scanner. It's pitiful. Pathetic. Sorry excuse for a fingerprint scanner. As far as LG software goes, well, you know my opinion on that... The worst part about being stuck on the Android 8 update was Bluetooth on the V30 was so beyond buggy it was a freaking joke... I get your frustration with their pathetic software..
heavyharmonies said:
I've had my G8X for about a month now, coming from a V30. Is it a gimmick? Sure... but it's an incredibly useful gimmick. I've had none of the issues the OP refers to. Zero crashes or second screen shutdowns. I find the fingerprint sensor to be only marginally worse than the case-back sensor on the V30, so to me it's a nonissue.
Complaining that without the second screen the G8X isn't all that is IMO a head-scratcher. The only reason to buy the G8X is for the second screen. If you're not going to use that, I don't know why you would buy this phone.
The charging issues I'm not going to address, as I have Qi wireless chargers both at home and my office, so I have yet to even try wired charging.
Do I wish the case front wasn't mirrored and a fingerprint magnet? Yes. Do I wish the front screen was more than a tiny notification screen? Yes. Since the case is a USB-C accessory, my hope is that either LG or third parties develop other second-screen options that improve the functionality and usability of the second screen case. That's the interesting thing about this approach compared to the "folding phones" model: accessory case replacements and improvements can presumably be acquired without having to replace the original phone.
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Agreed as well. What's keeping me here is I've found the second screen to be useful more than I thought I would, it's supposed to have a Quad DAC (I suspect the ESS Sabre 9218 out of the standard G8, but no one will tell me), and finally, because my pathetic phone carrier wont stock the standard G8.
atirox said:
Sad to see you go, But I totally agree with the fingerprint scanner. It's pitiful. Pathetic. Sorry excuse for a fingerprint scanner. As far as LG software goes, well, you know my opinion on that... The worst part about being stuck on the Android 8 update was Bluetooth on the V30 was so beyond buggy it was a freaking joke... I get your frustration with their pathetic software..
Agreed as well. What's keeping me here is I've found the second screen to be useful more than I thought I would, it's supposed to have a Quad DAC (I suspect the ESS Sabre 9218 out of the standard G8, but no one will tell me), and finally, because my pathetic phone carrier wont stock the standard G8.
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Only thing I disagree with is the fingerprint scanner. It's not the best but it's definitely not horrible. Coming from the V30 which worked 10/10 times, the G8X works about 9/10 times. However, I still wish it had a face unlock. It would be nice to have it automatically unlock after opening the second screen.
I use the dual screen case about 50% of the time. Having two screens is super fun and useful but I find myself using it less and picking up my V30 more when I have it attached.
There are a few software hiccups that I do find annoying, mostly when I'm using the gestures so I just stick to the button navigation. Also pulling down the notification shade looks kind of janky so I hope they fix some of the animations.
I'm trying hard to love this phone but LG software experience is making hard. The fingerprint sensor is a 7/10 for me, battery life is a hit or miss, with the same usage, the phone in the case no dual screen sometimes I will get 6 hours screen time with 30% battery end of day but other times only 3.5 hours screen on with 34% end of day, more of the latter in my experience. As some mentioned the software is not smooth, be it flickering, delay or just not smooth, comfort view keeps turning off for not reason; lately I've been thinking about my S9+, I'm no fanboy I know Samsung had their issues but it was a better experience all around..
Anyhow hope we get android 10 soon and hopefully it fixes some of these issues, sad thing is you can pickup a G8 for around $300 Canadian, like I said if there was no second screen the G8/V50 would be a better buy if you're looking for an LG phone. I going to try a day or 2 without the dual screen case to see if I get a more consistent battery life.
I'm not hating on LG I just wish they would clean up their software before the go the way of BlackBerry. I think in the next week or so I going to post it for sale, just hope I don't lose money on it. I love the concept, idea, just from the wrong company. The LG G8X should've been released with android 10, instead LG is doing the same old thing, I would take a cleaner experience over android 10 but since I'm not getting either from LG I'll just complain and move on lol.
FYI you can turn on the second screen using the "knock on" or double tap feature.
Some of you that have issues with the screen turning on by itself could just be you accidentally double tapping that screen while handling the phone.
I was also able to find a case for it at The Source.
It's just a basic Pure Gear slim clear case, but the hard case packaging that it came in makes a great storage case for the dual screen when I'm not using it.
I personally love the feel of the phone in the hand being glass all around and not having a camera hump, but it's a slippery unit so a case is pretty necessary.
And the weight of 192 grams makes it feel like a premium device in the hand that could take some abuse (minus broken glass, but that's all phones nowadays).
I was on the fence about keeping the phone when I initially upgraded, and was contemplating returning it for an S10, but I figure the S10/S10+ are going to drop dramatically in price very shortly, whereas I think the G8X will hold it's value longer having the dual case option, and it being less expensive initially.
So far I'm having a good experience, but I may put up for sale or trade for an S10+ in the near future simply because I have zero clue if and when LG will be updating this thing to Android 10, never mind 11....
No way was I going to go for a newer Pixel with their abysmal battery life and no option for an SD card.
Also, anyone who tells me they can tell a difference between the 855/855+/865 I have a bridge to sell you...
ATRIXXIRTA said:
FYI you can turn on the second screen using the "knock on" or double tap feature.
Some of you that have issues with the screen turning on by itself could just be you accidentally double tapping that screen while handling the phone.
I was also able to find a case for it at The Source.
It's just a basic Pure Gear slim clear case, but the hard case packaging that it came in makes a great storage case for the dual screen when I'm not using it.
I personally love the feel of the phone in the hand being glass all around and not having a camera hump, but it's a slippery unit so a case is pretty necessary.
And the weight of 192 grams makes it feel like a premium device in the hand that could take some abuse (minus broken glass, but that's all phones nowadays).
I was on the fence about keeping the phone when I initially upgraded, and was contemplating returning it for an S10, but I figure the S10/S10+ are going to drop dramatically in price very shortly, whereas I think the G8X will hold it's value longer having the dual case option, and it being less expensive initially.
So far I'm having a good experience, but I may put up for sale or trade for an S10+ in the near future simply because I have zero clue if and when LG will be updating this thing to Android 10, never mind 11....
No way was I going to go for a newer Pixel with their abysmal battery life and no option for an SD card.
Also, anyone who tells me they can tell a difference between the 855/855+/865 I have a bridge to sell you...
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If you check kijiji, the G8X is selling for less than the S10 or S10+, too late to get rid of it now, you'll lose money. Even sadder is the s9 and S9+ are getting Android 10 updates while the G8x is still in wind. This is my last LG phone, I can't in good conscience support them, I don't think we the consumers are asking for much from a company that claims to produce "flagship" devices.
Like I said, the idea was a good one but everything else is sloppy not on par with a major flagship smartphone.
I wonder if LG is going to use Covid-19 as a excuse to continue delay of Android 10 update release for the G8X. I'm done with this company, they don't deserve our money.
ATRIXXIRTA said:
I was on the fence about keeping the phone when I initially upgraded, and was contemplating returning it for an S10, but I figure the S10/S10+ are going to drop dramatically in price very shortly, whereas I think the G8X will hold it's value longer having the dual case option, and it being less expensive initially.
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Without the 2nd screen, these are going for 200 USD on ebay, which is crazy for a 6 month old phone. I'm thinking about picking one up.
man this guy is a harsh critic. the phone is great. it's mid-range, so expect mid-range at a nice price point. but this thing has got several flagship features that set it it above other devices in this price range, obviously the dual screen, but also headphone jack + quad dac and surround sound, snapdragon 855, SD slot + 128gb built in, excellent cameras, insane battery life, sleek and quality design. I got it so cheap with Sprint (50% off plus free dual screen) that I can't imagine complaining about it, but maybe if you paid full price unlocked it would be different. great phone imo.