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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...
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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.
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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
Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
besides color, i think everything else is what i looked for in a phone.
I love it!!
Compared to my S6 Edge+ I am just not feeling it
Came from S6E+ - everything is better (especially microsd and camera focus)
I really like the feel and look of this device. Reminds me of the days when the first iPhone 4 came out (yeah that feeling)
First phone in ages that got me realy exited, and after a week of usage,, still amazed!
LOVE IT !
I hate to say it but I'm actually not that much in love with the s7 edge. Coming from a note 5 I can't tell the upgrade. Maybe I'm just a note fanboy but something seems to be missing for me.
Coming from a Note 4, this thing feels great (but Note 4 was nice). This is an upgrade in everyway, except for no S pen, which i did not use too much. This phone should last me a while, lovin it.
chavist said:
I hate to say it but I'm actually not that much in love with the s7 edge. Coming from a note 5 I can't tell the upgrade. Maybe I'm just a note fanboy but something seems to be missing for me.
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Is it the S-Pen, maybe?
I am loving it. In fact I haven't felt this way about an Anrdroid Phone since the HTC EVO 4G back in 2010.
have the stealth black 935F version, really nice! the only thing I would change is the Samsung logo under the grill.
of course you will really love it! its a $870 phone
The only thing impressive about this phone is the battery life. Not feeling the love.
Coming from a Nexus 6p,it is a good phone. I would actually change and go with the regular s7 but I don't want to give up the 600mah in battery life. This battery is bigger than the 6p but it seems to last longer than the 6p.
I don't love it yet, but there's a definite attraction that could develop into something over time. Then of course after a while the excitement will fade and everything will just seem stale and mundane. Maybe I should get another phone to see on the side to keep things fresh.
I may be writing this prematurely, as mine is on order and should be here early next week. But I've been using the S6 for the past year, and the S7 edge seems to solve the few problems I had with the S6. I've read all the reviews I could find, and my needs for a larger battery and the SD card make this phone almost perfect.
Getting mine on the 18th,kinda feel excited seeing more positive. Yay.. hope i wouldn't get the lemon though.. lol
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
subcon959 said:
I don't love it yet, but there's a definite attraction that could develop into something over time. Then of course after a while the excitement will fade and everything will just seem stale and mundane. Maybe I should get another phone to see on the side to keep things fresh.
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This is always my fear. I already have a iPhone 6S as my daily driver that gives me no problems and a Nexus 6 that I rarely use because the 6S is so much faster. I'm afraid that if I get the S7 and compare it to the 6S speed wise I'm just going to be disappointed with the purchase. To be honest I've played with the S7 like 4 times at different stores and every time my 6S feels faster but I miss Android and the S7 Edge looks so much better. Just today I almost walked out the door with a S7 Edge at Target only because I was told that I could stack a $100 upgrade giftcard with the $100 preorder giftcard and Gear VR. I guess they figured out that you can't stack the giftcards so I walked out the store empty handled. $200 in Target giftcards and Gear VR would have sealed the deal.
So now I wait to see the G5 (I want the IR blaster, on screen buttons) is any good but it all depends on price. Then you have the HTC 10 but I'm not holding my breath. If those disappoint it looks like iPhone 7 and maybe a Nexus towards year end. The current Nexus 6P is dropping now but I already have a Nexus 6.
I LOVE THIS PHONE. Even TouchWiz, I can't believe it. I actually love TW now.
Coming from the Note 4, the width of this Galaxy S7 Edge is near perfect. Still features a big beautiful display but it doesn't feel like you're palming a small tablet. On top of that it's a beautifully crafted device. Easy to pickup and a joy to hold in your hand. Not to mention it's fast. Everything is fast. Opening the camera is fast. Multitasking. No lag. The app drawer snaps open. The camera hardware / camera app and fingerprint scanner also score high marks in my book. Camera pro shooting mode is the camera app I've hoped Samsung would have given us for some time. I suppose better late than never. Fingerprint scanner is every bit as nice as Apple's. I hated having to swipe down on the button and I ruined my first prints because I still thought that was how it was done. I realized you just set your finger down and it reads it. Done. Whether it's to unlock the phone, input a password or use Samsung Pay it's easy the way it should be. Special shoutout to the guys who brought back the S5's expandable MicroSD and waterproof exterior design. Aside from root, this beast covers all my bases.
Re: Battery, I've spent the whole weekend fiddling with it and syncing all my data so I'm not even thinking about battery life, screen on time, etc. At the end of the week I'll have a better idea of how the battery fares. For now, way too early to call.
Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 8, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
Love this phone best phone I have ever owned.
Love the phone, AT&T/Samsung bloatware I can live without, especially Touch Wiz UI!
I had an IPhone 7 Plus, then a Galaxy S8+, now the Note 8.
Dear me, this is one gorgeous phone. I got my iPhone out the other day to prepare it for sale and damn I didn't miss it at all. It felt far less premium than the Note does, for me at least. This is the most beautiful phone I think I have ever owned.
are you finding that the screen gets scratched easily? mine has the samsung led flip cover and there are still small scratches along the edge.
IUnkn0wn said:
are you finding that the screen gets scratched easily? mine has the samsung led flip cover and there are still small scratches along the edge.
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My screen hasn't scratched but the framing around the back camera already looks like it was dragged on concrete (not really, but is is very noticable). There were a few days I had this phone before I had a case for it. Not sure got it got marked up so much. Must be delicate.
Regardless, this phone is by far my favorite I've ever owned.
Absolutely love this phone! Using it is a joy. And taking out the pen to jot something down or do a quick sketch, just confirms every time for me why I love the Note. For me, it's the most useful device that fits in my pocket. It baffles me why so many others seem to be rushing to remove features and make these things we all carrry around less useful, but the Note series is still a throwback to the opposite approach. Long live the Note!
Lag/Stutter/Jank whatever you call it, single handedly ruins this phone for me, why in 2017 do we still have framedrops? its the only reason I even consider iPhones, as they have far less of it.
Its great all around. I miss the IR blaster, and the fingerprint reader on the back is annoying. But its super fast, has the SD card slot, has great features and a great camera and a great battery life.
So far fantastic.
The regular sized Pixel 3 is so small, narrow and light. I have small hands and it was uncomfortable to type. I was expecting it to be a similar footprint to the iPhone X. Nope.
Felt like an iPhone 5. Narrow, thin & light
Thats what im worried about now. I really want the smaller one. I love everything in XL but i want to step away from two hands use. My hands are small and S8+ was not fun to use with one hand, and! S8 isnt as wide as 3xl either.
What bothers me with Regular 3, ppi is very fvcking low. Im rocking S7 edge for now and ppi is higher in this old phone than new pixel 3.
Sold my s8+ and now regretting it as I dont want to go for XL due to size and I feel like ill be unhappy with Regular one because knowing my ocd ill be looking at the screen and constantly comparing it...
damn google.
not sure what to do. I went to few Verizon stores today to see the phones but they were not there for the display. ..
16:9 vs 18/9 aspect ratio
they should have kept 5.5inch screen at 16/9 it's more useful
5.5 inch screen at 18/9 is to narrow, to thin,
umbrokhan said:
16:9 vs 18/9 aspect ratio
they should have kept 5.5inch screen at 16/9 it's more useful
5.5 inch screen at 18/9 is to narrow, to thin,
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I have been using Samsung PHOnes - Note 9 - S9Plus - but I thought the Pixel 3 might be a refreshing change - ordered it - arrived today - man, It is so small - (at least to what I am used to) strongly considering returning it and getting an XL - pretty sure that is what I am going to do. Don't get me wrong, I love everything else I have seen about this phone - but I guess I am spoiled by the larger screen sizes of the Samsung phones I have used - I really didn't think it would be that big of a deal - I was wrong...
Geekser said:
I have been using Samsung PHOnes - Note 9 - S9Plus - but I thought the Pixel 3 might be a refreshing change - ordered it - arrived today - man, It is so small - (at least to what I am used to) strongly considering returning it and getting an XL - pretty sure that is what I am going to do. Don't get me wrong, I love everything else I have seen about this phone - but I guess I am spoiled by the larger screen sizes of the Samsung phones I have used - I really didn't think it would be that big of a deal - I was wrong...
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Ordered the phone.
Then come here and read ur post. I was in 1 Verizon store and called 5 others, to see if they have pixel but no one had any. I had same hunch as u did ,the phone will be too narrow and as much as I didn't want to go back to even wider phone. I said fvck it, and placed the order for XL.
Maybe I am just weird that I love the size of the reg Pixel 3. The XL is fine but just a tad bit too big. I think light is a good thing. I had the Essential and man that thing is awesome but it is a tank LOL. I measured my OG Pixel with the Pixel 3 and its just a bit taller and thinner but feels really great in hand.
Archangel said:
Maybe I am just weird that I love the size of the reg Pixel 3. The XL is fine but just a tad bit too big. I think light is a good thing. I had the Essential and man that thing is awesome but it is a tank LOL. I measured my OG Pixel with the Pixel 3 and its just a bit taller and thinner but feels really great in hand.
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i too had the Essential phone..both in black moon and halo grey...sold them and pre ordered the Pixel 3....i was wondering how the phone would feel coming from the essential. right now im using the OG pixel until the P3 arrives
I love the size of my Pixel 2, and I'm sure I will love the Pixel 3.
Each to their own I guess.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
umbrokhan said:
The regular sized Pixel 3 is so small, narrow and light. I have small hands and it was uncomfortable to type. I was expecting it to be a similar footprint to the iPhone X. Nope.
Felt like an iPhone 5. Narrow, thin & light
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That's disappointing to hear. I love the size of the X. That's what I was hoping for. Oh well, Mines scheduled for delivery tomorrow. We'll see. Worse come to worse I'll return it and get the XL.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have a Pixel 2 XL and got a Pixel 3. My wife has the regular Pixel 2.
It is a tad smaller vs the Pixel 2 XL, but the screen is quite a bit larger vs the regular Pixel 2. A nice "in between" for me. I do not have large hands either, so I was looking forward to a phone I can use 1 handed.
This is the first complaint I've seen about it being too small. I must disagree. Once I put a thin bumper case on it, it should be perfect
twan69666 said:
I have a Pixel 2 XL and got a Pixel 3. My wife has the regular Pixel 2.
It is a tad smaller vs the Pixel 2 XL, but the screen is quite a bit larger vs the regular Pixel 2. A nice "in between" for me. I do not have large hands either, so I was looking forward to a phone I can use 1 handed.
This is the first complaint I've seen about it being too small. I must disagree. Once I put a thin bumper case on it, it should be perfect
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I've been looking for a worthy "small-ish" phone for a long time. Pixel 2 had too much wasted space for me to overlook. This 3 is perfect!
OP = troll lol
Finally was able to play with both.
Loved both. Both have different usability to them.
I just loved how small one felt. Yet, Im sticking to my pre order and keeping XL. Typing with both hands much easier on bigger one. Typing with one hand much easier on the small one. Both screens also had dif color temp. I didn't mind the whites on XL but kinda liked the whites on Small one, however, I really was struck by how much better video and picture quality was on XL. In fairness, I didn't check what quality mode the phones were. I only turned the brightness 100 on both. So that may be the case...
Wish I could get small one but I think I'll have a love, hate relationship with it.
With big one, I already know it's big and I'm use to that. The rest is awesome.
Notch awesome, lol. I didn't even noticed the notch much until certain apps changed the top portion of the screen to a slightly dif color. I didn't. Should of stayed the same color through out but not a bigger..
Ps if you buy the small one go white!!
Lol i ordered xl in black but damn how sweet small looked in white.
---------- Post added at 04:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:00 PM ----------
Scratched all that. I had a change of heart... Sort of..
Just cancelled my order and put the same order for xl only in white now. Lmao.
This phone is doing things to me that no other phones did.
Sadly delivery date is now Nov 14 instead of 6th. Ohh well I'm more excited.
dew.man said:
I've been looking for a worthy "small-ish" phone for a long time. Pixel 2 had too much wasted space for me to overlook. This 3 is perfect!
OP = troll lol
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Agreed. Cant wait to get it (white pixel 3 64gb). Just to get the feel of it (pixel / pie) I got myself a used but in great shape pixel 2 (black) for couple hundred €, since lately i have been using xs max and got sick and tired of huge phones..its actually already quitte usable when u disable navbar and use just gestures (all in one gestures apk in combo with xda nav gestures apk), but with P3 them smallee bezzels will make it ideal in terms of comfort both in hands and pockets.
Got the Pixel 3 (black, 64mb, Project Fi) and REALLY like it. Perfect size for me. It's slippery and thin so a simple thin case makes it just right. Have over 100 apps loaded and it's lightning quick. I turn off all animations so everything is just instant. Screen is plenty good. Bright enough for sunlight, good color saturation and blacks. Speakers are a big improvement over my Galaxy S7. Slimmed down Android and first in line for updates is great. I'd like more ability to customize colors on some screens, but expect that to increase. Getting 10dB increase in wifi signal strength compared to the S7, and went from 170 Mbps to 220 on download test. To say nothing about the camera. The nav button thing takes a bit of getting used to but not a big deal at all. Extremely happy so far.
jemeljsh said:
Agreed. Cant wait to get it (white pixel 3 64gb). Just to get the feel of it (pixel / pie) I got myself a used but in great shape pixel 2 (black) for couple hundred €, since lately i have been using xs max and got sick and tired of huge phones..its actually already quitte usable when u disable navbar and use just gestures (all in one gestures apk in combo with xda nav gestures apk), but with P3 them smallee bezzels will make it ideal in terms of comfort both in hands and pockets.
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Same here! I've been waiting so long for a flagship phone that is usable with one hand! but the whole industry seems to have turned to the Asian market, where bigger is better (could think of a hundred bad jokes here...) :laugh:
Speaking of one-hand-use: For me with my Nexus 5 i really appreciate the bottom bezel to navigate one-handed. Holding the phone with one hand and typing with my thumb it would be a real stretch to reach the actual bottom of the phone. On one hand i get the whole bezel-less trend - it looks great! But in terms of usability i absolutely need the bottom bezel. My ergonomically and optically perfect phone would probably be a 5.3-5.5" version of the mi mix 2...
Also it's not even that much about the height of the phone, but more about the width. I tried holding the Nokia Sirocco, it looks small but for me it's impossible to use with one hand. So thank you google for giving everbody an option, who doesn't want a big-ass phone!! Can't wait!
I've been using my pixel 3 all afternoon, and in my opinion it's the exact right size.
I truly don't understand how everyone can use gigantic tablet sized phones.
They don't fit in your pocket worth a crap, they don't fit in your car anywhere except for a dedicated mount (no cupholder or cubby), and are just unwieldy to use.
And I'm six foot one with big hands. No clue how people with tiny hands use giant phones.
Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
JasonJoel said:
I love the size of my Pixel 2, and I'm sure I will love the Pixel 3.
Each to their own I guess.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
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I like the size of the galaxy nexus
I love the size of the Moto X 1st gen
I'm ok with the size of my Pixel 2 (as long as I use it with a Ringke Slim or some grippy + slim case)
I'm sure I'd like the size of the Pixel 3 since it's narrower.
Sent from my Pixel 2
I have both at home. 6-ft, 200 lb male. The XL is unwieldy and strains my hand. Will likely return the XL. The small one sounds better and has a warmer color temperature but I agree, it is a little too narrow. I prefer 16:9 ratio. Both are too thin. Why can't any of these manufacturers double the thickness and put a fat battery in?
thesebastian said:
I like the size of the galaxy nexus
I love the size of the Moto X 1st gen
I'm ok with the size of my Pixel 2 (as long as I use it with a Ringke Slim or some grippy + slim case)
I'm sure I'd like the size of the Pixel 3 since it's narrower.
Sent from my Pixel 2
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I guess. it is only 1.5 mm narrower than the Pixel 2. That isn't much difference.
JasonJoel said:
I guess. it is only 1.5 mm narrower than the Pixel 2. That isn't much difference.
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To me it's a big difference. Just putting an ultra thin case in the Pixel 2 makes a big difference in the one handed usage.
Sent from my Pixel 2
This is the first phone I've ever returned in my life. The battery life is atrocious. There is no way on the unlocked US version to turn off 5G once you're connected to Verizon. With a full bar of 5G at my home with the S21 I was getting 57 megs on the speedtest app. I put the sim in my old phone (Note 10) and on 4G the identical test at the same location got 157 megs (Triple the speed of the crappy 5G).
The pictures felt crappy compared to the Note 10. The S21 was noticeably heavier than the Note 10 also. I looked it up and the larger Note 10 is 3 grams lighter but surprisingly it was very noticeable. Sooo, the Note 10 is made of glass, the S21 is made of plastic and the Note 10 is lighter... The S21 is also a mm thicker than the Note 10 but feels way thicker than that.
The side buttons were moved all to the right side on the S21 so if you're right handed and want to take a screenshot with the buttons, good luck. It's not easy. You have to use a gesture or switch to your left hand.
So to summarize:
1) Note 10 has larger screen and smaller battery but lasts way way way longer and is lighter.
2) The new 5G S21 is getting speeds 1/3 the speeds the Note 10 is getting on 4G at the same location on the same test.
I really wanted to like the S21, but it felt like a real downgrade.
I'm trying to return mine due to the poor camera but I'm yet to hear anything back from Samsung.
Wow. This camera is amazing, after having owned the utterly horrid S20 Ultra , and my battery lasts 1.5+ days with pretty good usage. Sorry you two aren't as happy w yours.
I didn't realize when I bought mine that the US version's bootloader can't be unlocked. Going to be returning it because of that.
OP, I feel your pain.
No SD card slot and I loathe the rounded corner display.
It be a downgrade from my 10+ in many ways.
Samsung, is that all you got?
I traded my S20+ for the S21 base for the $700 credit. I like the smaller screen little easier to use, but the screen definitely is not as nice. I did not miss the edge screen either.
I returned my S21 Ultra and picked up a Note 20 Ultra instead. The lack of SD card and no root yet killed it for me. The camera is a little better at zoom and macro shots on the S21 but that's about it. I got the Note and had the bootloader unlocked the next morning.
did you guys return all the accessories with the phone?
Misterxtc said:
I returned my S21 Ultra and picked up a Note 20 Ultra instead. The lack of SD card and no root yet killed it for me. The camera is a little better at zoom and macro shots on the S21 but that's about it. I got the Note and had the bootloader unlocked the next morning.
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The phone just came out. How can you expect it to be rooted already?
Root wasn't the main reason but it did add to my decision. I ordered the phone not expecting root. I prefer the display and storage options on the Note and yes root. Plus with rumors of this being the last Note series along with the spen support on the 21 swayed me even more to return it. No regrets here at all.
Weighed up my options after using the S21 for 10 days or so.
Coming from an S10e, at first it felt really weird, that little bit of extra height felt huge!
Starting to warm to it and I really like the adaptive refresh rate, feels so much better than the S10e.
Main concern was the display, Uniformity etc, but the unit I have looks fairly good! took me a little by surprise - Few things I'll eventually get use to, color shift and brightness shift when holding it at certain angles, but thats always going to be the case with a bigger newer OLED Display.
So no, i'll be keeping it and sending the S10e for trade.
Returning my standard S21 due to an intermitent fault.
When people phone me they can't hear me when I answer.
Samsung UK is going to send a replacement once they receive my phone back.
gumbyx84 said:
The phone just came out. How can you expect it to be rooted already?
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Yeah, I expect to be able to root a device I get on day one. Dev friendly manufacturers are out there.
Yes, I returned mine. Also first time ever that I return a phone. The battery life makes it useless... Everything else is awesome I don't know what to buy now... I want a phone with great camera that's isn't bigger. Might end up with an iPhone, but really prefer Android