Not impressed by Note 10 - Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Guides, News, & Discussion

Not impressed by Note 10 - Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Guides, News, & Discussion

I know there is someone who always has one post like this for every new model released, so this time I couldn't resist to post this.
Samsung removed these features that were available on Note9 from Note10:
- MicroSD slot
- Headphone jack
- Higher res display
- 2nd selfie cam
- Heart rate sensor
- Bixby button(thank you)
This is in addition to removal of:
- IR blaster in S7 and later models
- Iris unlock in S10 and later models
- Notification LED in S10 and later models
- Removable battery in S6 and later models
- Locked bootloader in North American S7 and later models
This looks like a downhill slope, copying other companies' business model and increasing prices at the same time. I do not see how anyone would be excited with these new iterations.
The only advantage you get from newer models is faster CPU/GPU and in some cases faster radio that's about it.
Samsung should remember what happened to NOKIA's phone business. I hope the US Note 10 at least comes with dual SIM slot since they got rid of microSD in smaller Note 10 version. Also I can't believe we need to buy the 45W charger separately and that is only available on the + model!

VICosPhi said:
I know there is someone who always has one post like this for every new model released, so this time I couldn't resist to post this.
Samsung removed these features that were available on Note9 from Note10:
- MicroSD slot
- Headphone jack
- Higher res display
- 2nd selfie cam
- Heart rate sensor
- Bixby button(thank you)
This is in addition to removal of:
- IR blaster in S7 and later models
- Iris unlock in S10 and later models
- Notification LED in S10 and later models
- Removable battery in S6 and later models
- Locked bootloader in North American S7 and later models
This looks like a downhill slope, copying other companies' business model and increasing prices at the same time. I do not see how anyone would be excited with these new iterations.
The only advantage you get from newer models is faster CPU/GPU and in some cases faster radio that's about it.
Samsung should remember what happened to NOKIA's phone business. I hope the US Note 10 at least comes with dual SIM slot since they got rid of microSD in smaller Note 10 version. Also I can't believe we need to buy the 45W charger separately and that is only available on the + model!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They also introduced UFS 3.0 storage which has to be much faster than UFS 2.1

Yes that is a welcome addition. I think S10 5G also has UFS 3.0
Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

I can understand why some people aren't so blown away by the new Note 10, but in reality the Note 10 plus is the real successor to the Note 9.
Since the Note 8, the Note series has been a slight iterative upgrade of that years S series flagship, so again, someone coming from the S10+, may not see a need to ditch that for the Note 10/plus.
However, I'm upgrading this year from my 2 year old Note 8 to the Note 10 plus 5G, and I couldn't be happier. What's not to like about this device?
Im getting a vastly improved camera experience, as in, low light shooting, wide angle lens, better stabilisation, new depth sensing with the TOF module, which now allows me to carry out 3D mapping and modelling, a feature previously only available on very expensive specialist cameras.
I get faster storage that's been increased 4 fold, double the RAM memory, more resilient hardware with a stainless steel instead of aluminium frame, and Gorilla glass 6 instead of 5.
I get an improved S pen with added functionality which will increase my productivity, sure, some of it seems gimmicky at the moment, but will surely be expanded on by developers in the future.
DeX has been improved, allowing greater and more seamless integration with my laptops and PC's, and we've still to see if any improvements have been made to Linux on DeX, but the increased RAM and faster storage won't hurt.
As for gaming, the improved cooling system, the additional RAM, faster storage and integration with a PC are not to be sniffed at.
And last but not least, I'm doing my bit to save the planet. Because the small iterative changes that Samsung and other manufacturers are making to their devices means that I keep them longer, my upgrade cycle has increased from 1 to now 2 years, possibly moving to 3.
It's all good.

The frame is aluminium. Samsung updated their website. It did say steel originally.
The Note 10+ does have micro sd, QHD display etc. It only lacks the headphone jack which is inexcusable, as it just so they can up sell their galaxy buds.
Yes the smaller and cheaper Note 10 does have several downgrades to the Note 10+, but it’s cheaper.
My view is Samsung is trying to make the Note range more appealing to a more wider audience. Tech geeks represent a small market share.
And specs don’t mean everything. It’s the user experience. I’m sure this will be a great phone in real usage. Look at that screen, with a stylus too that has added functions.
There are many phones with better specs in some areas, but that doesn’t meant it equates to a better phone. Software matters too.

gavinfabl said:
The frame is aluminium. Samsung updated their website. It did say steel originally.
The Note 10+ does have micro sd, QHD display etc. It only lacks the headphone jack which is inexcusable, as it just so they can up sell their galaxy buds.
Yes the smaller and cheaper Note 10 does have several downgrades to the Note 10+, but it’s cheaper.
My view is Samsung is trying to make the Note range more appealing to a more wider audience. Tech geeks represent a small market share.
And specs don’t mean everything. It’s the user experience. I’m sure this will be a great phone in real usage. Look at that screen, with a stylus too that has added functions.
There are many phones with better specs in some areas, but that doesn’t meant it equates to a better phone. Software matters too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree on all of this sans the headphone jack. I know we each have opinions but in reality one less hole for my pocket lint is a good thing and frankly the dongle thing isn't that bad given the wireless charging. I'm sure someone also sells adaptors that allow charge and 3.5mm.
I just don't get why it's such a big deal. Also isn't the DA usually better via the C port?

jackdforme said:
I agree on all of this sans the headphone jack. I know we each have opinions but in reality one less hole for my pocket lint is a good thing and frankly the dongle thing isn't that bad given the wireless charging. I'm sure someone also sells adaptors that allow charge and 3.5mm.
I just don't get why it's such a big deal. Also isn't the DA usually better via the C port?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the best wireless headphones and earphones. But you cannot beat wired headphones for quality. Also wired don’t need charging.
The biggest inconvenience for me is external mics. Bluetooth adds latency and usb c adapters aren’t perfect either.

Charkatak said:
They also introduced UFS 3.0 storage which has to be much faster than UFS 2.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no UFS 3 storage on Note 10 or S10 5G

shollywood said:
There's no UFS 3 storage on Note 10 or S10 5G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://wccftech.com/galaxy-note-10-ufs-3-test/
https://mspoweruser.com/samsung-gal...er-smartphones-in-terms-of-read-write-speeds/

Charkatak said:
They also introduced UFS 3.0 storage which has to be much faster than UFS 2.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Charkatak said:
https://wccftech.com/galaxy-note-10-ufs-3-test/
https://mspoweruser.com/samsung-gal...er-smartphones-in-terms-of-read-write-speeds/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting, as nowhere has it been stated that it includes UFS 3. Nor did they mention it in the release show? Thats great info thanks

shollywood said:
Interesting, as nowhere has it been stated that it includes UFS 3. Nor did they mention it in the release show? Thats great info thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesnt even mention it on sammys website either which is odd.
However pretty much every you tube video does mention it. Guess Samsung didnt figure it was that big of a deal but its definitely a nice to have.

VICosPhi said:
I know there is someone who always has one post like this for every new model released, so this time I couldn't resist to post this.
Samsung removed these features that were available on Note9 from Note10:
- MicroSD slot
- Headphone jack
- Higher res display
- 2nd selfie cam
- Heart rate sensor
- Bixby button(thank you)
This is in addition to removal of:
- IR blaster in S7 and later models
- Iris unlock in S10 and later models
- Notification LED in S10 and later models
- Removable battery in S6 and later models
- Locked bootloader in North American S7 and later models
This looks like a downhill slope, copying other companies' business model and increasing prices at the same time. I do not see how anyone would be excited with these new iterations.
The only advantage you get from newer models is faster CPU/GPU and in some cases faster radio that's about it.
Samsung should remember what happened to NOKIA's phone business. I hope the US Note 10 at least comes with dual SIM slot since they got rid of microSD in smaller Note 10 version. Also I can't believe we need to buy the 45W charger separately and that is only available on the + model!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say get a Galaxy S6 or S7 to get back all the features you lost. Win win and it's cheap!!!
Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

kxdaorbit said:
with a stainless steel instead of aluminium frame, and Gorilla glass 6 instead of 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might want to double check the stainless steel thing... It's actually aluminium.

The real reason for dropping the headphone socket is the obsession with thinness. It allowed them to make the 10 thinner than the 9.
I'd rather have the phone a mm or two thicker - keep the headphone socket and room for a bigger battery.

Downhill slope? I say Samsung hit on the head with the Note10 and Note10+ I know so many people who want the stylus but not the "size" of a Note. The Note10 is significantly small in hand feel and in dimensions but with just a .1 inch smaller screen size. The plan was for me to get a Note10+ while wife and kid would get the S10+ and S10. The second they saw the Note10 in person and realized they can have a stylus in a smaller phone they passed up on the S10 phones...
They do not care for the SD card and any user who does care for it would go for the Note10+ anyways.

The above is my experience too. My wife needed a new phone, her ZX1 Compact was getting a little old. She likes small phones.
I thought she might like the S10e, but when she saw the Note 10 she wanted that.

TechSilver13 said:
I'd say get a Galaxy S6 or S7 to get back all the features you lost. Win win and it's cheap!!!
Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would if Samsung updated those to Android Pie, but they only copy Apple when it comes to eliminating useful features like removable battery and a headphone jack

TechSilver13 said:
I'd say get a Galaxy S6 or S7 to get back all the features you lost. Win win and it's cheap!!!
Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would if Samsung updated those to Android Pie but they are no Apple to provide updates to all of their flagship phones, they only copy Apple when it comes to eliminating useful features like removable battery and a headphone jack
AndroidUser00110001 said:
Downhill slope? I say Samsung hit on the head with the Note10 and Note10+ I know so many people who want the stylus but not the "size" of a Note. The Note10 is significantly small in hand feel and in dimensions but with just a .1 inch smaller screen size. The plan was for me to get a Note10+ while wife and kid would get the S10+ and S10. The second they saw the Note10 in person and realized they can have a stylus in a smaller phone they passed up on the S10 phones...
They do not care for the SD card and any user who does care for it would go for the Note10+ anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
liquidguru said:
The above is my experience too. My wife needed a new phone, her ZX1 Compact was getting a little old. She likes small phones. I thought she might like the S10e, but when she saw the Note 10 she wanted that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that is one positive step and even I like the Note 10's size. The issue however is that it does not retain the flagship features. It comes with a lower-res display and lack of microSD and ToF camera, should have called it Note 10-

VICosPhi said:
Yes that is one positive step and even I like the Note 10's size. The issue however is that it does not retain the flagship features. It comes with a lower-res display and lack of microSD and ToF camera, should have called it Note 10-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with this, but the wife doesn't care about those features.
I do, like big phones, so got the 10+
Win win

Note 10 was debloated ? just like you remove crap from software, they removed crap from hardware. I personally dont care about any of the stuff they removed. And I would also get rid of tele camera

Related

Are you getting one?

It's pretty clear that the Galaxy Alpha is not being positioned "above" the Galaxy S 5...it's just different. It's smaller, much thinner, but has a lower resolution display (720p vs 1080p) and a smaller battery (1860mAh vs 2800mAh).
So who is this phone for? Would you consider it over the Galaxy S 5, or even the Nexus 5/HTC One M8 for that matter?
Sound off! :victory:

Nope although I love that form factor it lacks some of essential features such as full HD and SD card support.
Also I think the price tag is way too high for the mentioned features.
The mentioned one's aren't alternatives I'll be waiting for the g3 with the snap Dragon 805 maybe they are going to release a smaller one too
The phone is for iPhone users coming over from Apple and direct compression for the z1 compact.

I personally think this is the best looking Samsung phone ever and I want it baaaaadddddd, I know the 720p screen and tiny battery are major drawbacks for most people but I can deal with it, I am by no means a power user. I just think its a great looking powerful phone that's perfect for me I just really hope it has some sort of development here

kayslay21 said:
I personally think this is the best looking Samsung phone ever and I want it baaaaadddddd, I know the 720p screen and tiny battery are major drawbacks for most people but I can deal with it, I am by no means a power user. I just think its a great looking powerful phone that's perfect for me I just really hope it has some sort of development here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"B***h, please", you tell those "most people". I challenge your eyes to see single pixels with pixel density above 300 ppi. Also, the less pixels to push around = the GPU has it easier = it's easier on the battery... and battery is STILL bigger than any iPhone battery to date. And with the coming of L, battery life is expected to rise even more.

sirobelec said:
"B***h, please", you tell those "most people". I challenge your eyes to see single pixels with pixel density above 300 ppi. Also, the less pixels to push around = the GPU has it easier = it's easier on the battery... and battery is STILL bigger than any iPhone battery to date. And with the coming of L, battery life is expected to rise even more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Considering this is using the Exynos 5430 using 20nm, it should have have battery life between the 801 and 805 if it was 1080p/1440p. if it's only 720p This device will last more than a day easily.
For that reason alone I'll be picking it up. and the fact I hate QHD on phones.

I would get one only if i dont have to throw a extra penny on xchange wid my 1month old nexus 5...
Comparing it to nexus 5
Pros
Slimmer
Metallic body
Better camera
Touchwiz ui (lol pro??)
Better gpu (yes its btr than a330)
Better battery (newer 20nm )
Cons
Touchwiz
Not full hd (i don't give a **** as i find display of 720p grand 2 to be same as that of my n5 wid naked eyes)
Expect late updates and poorer custom rom support.
I would make the sacrifice wid my n5 only if L doesnt makes it a overkill
Considering @svetius ' interest in alpha i guess he would get one tooo...

svetius said:
So who is this phone for? Would you consider it over the Galaxy S 5, or even the Nexus 5/HTC One M8 for that matter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ummm... me. I'm trim and of average height, not tall or big-boned, etc. I don't have huge hands. I wear 501s much of the time. The S5, G3 and One M8 are a bit too large for my pocket and for one-handed use. A phone is like a sidearm; while the zealots always want bigger and more powerful, if it's inconvenient to carry or use, and so you don't, it's no good even compared to an old flip phone.
But... the Alpha lacks a microSD slot, so it actually fails my requirements. Don't tell me you're selling me a Porsche - small, powerful, expensive - and then cut out the top gear. Charge me another $100 and put in the top gear, and call it a Porsche Xtreme or something silly like that.

As per a report it costs $689 dollars...
Plz throw it in the dustbin ...i am happy wid my sexy nexy...:silly:

I'm interested in getting it. The lack of a microSD card slot (and the price, too, I guess) is a bit of a bummer but who knows...

Deletive said:
Considering this is using the Exynos 5430 using 20nm, it should have have battery life between the 801 and 805 if it was 1080p/1440p. if it's only 720p This device will last more than a day easily.
For that reason alone I'll be picking it up. and the fact I hate QHD on phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People say that QHD displays are just a gimmick but my g3 is hella crisp and as for battery life its fantastic, easily last all day.
Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app

generalkrank said:
People say that QHD displays are just a gimmick but my g3 is hella crisp and as for battery life its fantastic, easily last all day.
Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No SD card support..... I'd rather get the G3.

I will get one, if the battery is good enough.

Alpha is almost there
Wotta said:
Ummm... me. I'm trim and of average height, not tall or big-boned, etc. I don't have huge hands. I wear 501s much of the time. The S5, G3 and One M8 are a bit too large for my pocket and for one-handed use. A phone is like a sidearm; while the zealots always want bigger and more powerful, if it's inconvenient to carry or use, and so you don't, it's no good even compared to an old flip phone.
But... the Alpha lacks a microSD slot, so it actually fails my requirements. Don't tell me you're selling me a Porsche - small, powerful, expensive - and then cut out the top gear. Charge me another $100 and put in the top gear, and call it a Porsche Xtreme or something silly like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I am in a similar situation -I am what you would call a Power User and need the Phone and nice
Camera for Business but am athletic, active and need the smaller form factor.
I want an Alpha Pro which is thicker with a larger Battery and Larger Camera Sensor like Note 4 ,SD Card for $ 100 more.
Alpha is a fashionable Device.
Alpha Pro would be for Note 4 types who don't want a huge phone.
The "Thinness Race" is surprising to me - I would MUCH prefer a thicker phone with SD Card and larger Battery and less breakable.
This size about 5.2" Tall with 4.7"
screen is perfect for me- and this Camera will be very good for Interior Designers , Real Estate Pros, Artists etc. not replacing a DSLR, but very useful.
Larger screens to me are impractical to carry and more likely to break, but I love the power of a Laptop in my pocket.
The Alpha is close.
The Sony Z3 Compact is close.
I prefer a removable Battery.
If Devs can create an APP that allows direct Storage to USB Stick ,
I could live without SD Card.
Two to Five Millimeters thicker and the Alpha Pro could be the Flagship Compact.
Remember you put a Rigid Case on a 5.6" Tall S5 and it's large and still fragile.
Put a rigid case on the Alpha and it's still pocket sized and less likely to break .
I don't know why it needs to be only 6.7 mm thick and 4 ounces-lol.
Give me the thicker Alpha Pro- a Device I am making up in the hopes it happens....

720p on 4.7" is decent. Even iPhone 6 doesn't have 1080p on their 4.7".

Hmmm I'm divided! I just had the S5 mini for a few days, and the screen on that one is bad. I meen the 720p resolution just doesn't cut it! Even thou the screen is small. It's just as bad as the S4 Mini. You can't read small fonts or read Web pages without zooming.
Soooo....... Does the Alpha has the same problem? I would guess. Even bigger screen with the same resolution. I hope I'm wrong and that Samsung just used a sub par display in the S5 mini. But I'm sceptical of course.
Also not sure if I want to live without the brilliance of a IR blaster in my phone. I use it everyday.
And then finally there is the potential issue about the battery size. Maybe it will be fine, if Sammy has optimized the Alphas HW correct.
So bottom line, I really want to get one, but I'm not to sure! LOOOOOOVE the esthetics!

Should be getting mine this coming Saturday, but stuck deciding what colour to go for...
---------- Post added at 03:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:12 PM ----------
robertkoa said:
Yes. I am in a similar situation -I am what you would call a Power User and need the Phone and nice
Camera for Business but am athletic, active and need the smaller form factor.
I want an Alpha Pro which is thicker with a larger Battery and Larger Camera Sensor like Note 4 ,SD Card for $ 100 more.
Alpha is a fashionable Device.
Alpha Pro would be for Note 4 types who don't want a huge phone.
The "Thinness Race" is surprising to me - I would MUCH prefer a thicker phone with SD Card and larger Battery and less breakable.
This size about 5.2" Tall with 4.7"
screen is perfect for me- and this Camera will be very good for Interior Designers , Real Estate Pros, Artists etc. not replacing a DSLR, but very useful.
Larger screens to me are impractical to carry and more likely to break, but I love the power of a Laptop in my pocket.
The Alpha is close.
The Sony Z3 Compact is close.
I prefer a removable Battery.
If Devs can create an APP that allows direct Storage to USB Stick ,
I could live without SD Card.
Two to Five Millimeters thicker and the Alpha Pro could be the Flagship Compact.
Remember you put a Rigid Case on a 5.6" Tall S5 and it's large and still fragile.
Put a rigid case on the Alpha and it's still pocket sized and less likely to break .
I don't know why it needs to be only 6.7 mm thick and 4 ounces-lol.
Give me the thicker Alpha Pro- a Device I am making up in the hopes it happens....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get what your saying I thought about it too, but something draws me to this device it just looks good and I think its a combination of the thinness and metal frame, anything thicker here I think would detract from its appeal. As long as I can get from 5am to 11pm with some juice left if I need it im happy

No but I would have if a) I was an at&t customer rather than t-mobile customer (for an on-contract deal) or b) it wasn't $192 more to import than the Xperia Z3 Compact. Who knows, if their resale values converge, I may end up having a green Alpha.
I like the style of the phone and hope Samsung uses this as the inspiration for all of their android devices over the next 6 months. I hope the phone sells well as the future of powerful sub 5" androids depends on this and the Z3C succeeding. I really look forward to seeing a January 2015 Tab Alpha 8.4 with the corners like this (and a snapdragon 810 or intel Broadwell). Similarly, I hope the Alpha sets the stage for a different direction for Samsung's phones (Android 5.0 should be more power efficient in a way that makes smaller batteries more viable).

The Alpha is coming to AT&T this Friday
The Alpha is coming to AT&T this Friday ,
And I'm getting one. I'm looking forward to the form factor, but I especially like, that it is not as huge as most phones out there and still has decent specs. I really wish I could have it all. Until then, I'm looking to have a new toy.

In my eyes, The Galaxy Alpha is Samsung’s most beautiful phone ever. Much more beautiful than the galaxy s5, but the size of its 1,860mAh battery worries me. In conclusion, I will choose the HTC M8 as my next flagship phone.

I sold my S5 for the Alpha a couple of days ago and don't regret it at all! It's a small and very powerful phone and probably one of Samsung's better in many years IMO ☺
Skickat från min SM-G850F via Tapatalk

Galaxy A3 2017 experience after 2 days

Hi Everyone,
I thought I'd share some thoughts on this device after having purchased it yesterday afternoon.
I bought this phone because I felt it was the first device that gave me what I had been craving for a long time - an Android version of the iPhone 6s. I like the size, build and feel of the iPhone 6s/7, but not the software or the price.
I think I am in the minority of people who prefer a smaller handset, and even though Android devices tend to fit a lot more screen real estate into smaller bodies, I still feel that the 4.7in screen size is ideal for me.
The only phones that run Android of that size have been the Xperia compact line, and the Galaxy Alpha/A3 2016 models. There have been others, but only these have come close. Unfortunately, they have suffered compromised designs and specs that have left me wanting (I have owned them all, and this is my opinion which others are free to disagree with).
This new handset, however, has me ticking a lot of boxes.
- Size is fantastic. Just a little smaller than the iPhone 6s, and feels great in the hand. Premium materials, solid build quality, great ergonomics, clicky buttons, no camera hump.
- The display is good, not awesome, but vibrant and colourful without being too over the top. Can be tweaked to each user's preference, and gets both very bright and very dim.
- fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate.
- Camera is good, not amazing. An iPhone definitely trounces this setup, but I paid £280 sim free and my usage is not too demanding so it's absolutely fine for me. Daytime shots are actually very pleasant and I think here it punches above its weight; low light is where it struggles, but I feel that most shots at night are not too important for me so it's a compromise I'll happily make.
- Call quality is very good and it holds onto signal well in my area.
- Sound quality out of the side mounted speaker is actually surprisingly good, at least as good as an iPhone 6s. Headphone performance is also excellent .
- Performance has been nothing short of excellent. I feel we have reached a point where there are not that many tasks that we do that actually need a Snapdragon 821 to run smoothly - granted, some 3d games need serious power on tap to run at their highest settings on a quad HD screen, but with a 720p screen, the A3 2017 runs pretty much anything at best quality without delay or hiccup. And everyday operation is smooth as butter without any lag or slowdowns. Granted, this is very early days, but I am hopeful this will continue.
- Battery life is astounding. I charged it on Saturday night and hit 100% at 10.20pm. I took it off charger and only put it back on at 2% while writing this review and I had nearly 9 hrs and 30mins of screen on time over 1 day and 3 hours. That includes 64 mins of voice calls. Please note that I was home all day on Wifi, but still, I have never seen times like that, not least from a 2300 odd mah battery. Awesome. It also charges pretty fast.
- Other stuff - water proofing is great, finally have USB-C, charges really quickly with the included adaptive charging brick, finally has a blue light filter.
And now for the balance of the review:
- Slippery despite its size, so a case or a skin is advisable.
- 16gb of internal memory nearly broke the deal for me, but a 64gb card and some transferring of apps has left me with 3.8gb left to play with internally. Definitely not ideal and a very cheap move from Samsung, but I'm also hoping Nougat brings adoptable storage soon which will eliminate this as an issue (here's hoping!).
- No notification light is something I have to adjust to, but the always on display does help *somewhat* ( I prefer the light as it's something that alerts me from afar, whereas the display is on regardless of whether you have a notification or not).
- Camera as described above has some shortcomings.
- Usual Samsung software compromised with bloatware - lots of useless stuff on here that eats into that 16gb that I cannot delete (Microsoft suite, Samsung junk, usual duplicate apps that we all use the Google version of). I'll keep trying the usual routes to rid the phone of this but I may have to wait a while.
Other than these points, I am really pleased. It feels nice to have paid relatively little for a device that feels so premium. I know there are other phones at relatively low prices that kill this on specs (OP3, Axon 7, Honor 8, etc) but they are generally much bigger handsets, so for anyone looking at something smaller, this is a great buy.
TL;DR, it's great, buy one if you like small phones ?

I always wanted a phone with an small amoled screen and water proofing so i jumped ship from the huge mate 8 to witch i am comparing. I agree with your pros but i found: 1-the camera is average and lacking OIS (need very stable hands), 2- cannot use sd card as default storage (very handy on mate 8), 3- phone very slippery, 4- Design and Screen of a3 2016 seemed better (personal opinion), 5- no stutter but little slow (comparing to mate 8). Only lacks IR blaster to check all boxes but we can't have everything.

Great feedback, thanks guys.
You mentioned not display is good but not awesome, could you elaborate? Is issue clarity or something else? Thanks.
Sent from my Moto X using Tapatalk

mario24601 said:
Great feedback, thanks guys.
You mentioned not display is good but not awesome, could you elaborate? Is issue clarity or something else? Thanks.
Sent from my Moto X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Coming from a larger phone with a quad HD screen, it's never going to look as dazzlingly sharp, but on a 4.7 inch screen 720p still looks great and it is perfectly sharp and clear - if you've ever seen an iPhone screen, this feels much the same. Colours can be adjusted to your preference - I prefer accurate rather than punchy, but you can set it to either or somewhere in between.
I've had everything from a galaxy s6 which has crazy high pixel density to a Moto x, and personally I prefer the 720p smaller screen because it's far more efficient and I don't notice the pixel density difference after an hour or two.
Hope this helps.

Sunil_Kaura said:
Coming from a larger phone with a quad HD screen, it's never going to look as dazzlingly sharp, but on a 4.7 inch screen 720p still looks great and it is perfectly sharp and clear - if you've ever seen an iPhone screen, this feels much the same. Colours can be adjusted to your preference - I prefer accurate rather than punchy, but you can set it to either or somewhere in between.
I've had everything from a galaxy s6 which has crazy high pixel density to a Moto x, and personally I prefer the 720p smaller screen because it's far more efficient and I don't notice the pixel density difference after an hour or two.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
Sent from my Moto X using Tapatalk

Thanks for sharing this. I am also very happy with this phone so far. It's my second day with it, the battery is at 39% with 4h45 sot and 1d3h total since unplugged. In a night of 9 hours, the phone just lost 3%.
I have noticed though that wifi is constantly detected as running by betterbatterysats, even if it's turned off. Any idea how to fix this?

patci32 said:
I have noticed though that wifi is constantly detected as running by betterbatterysats, even if it's turned off. Any idea how to fix this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you checked in Settings -> Connections -> Location?
There are some wifi settings behind it (in location method and improve accuracy) you can deactivate.

F157 said:
Have you checked in Settings -> Connections -> Location?
There are some wifi settings behind it (in location method and improve accuracy) you can deactivate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, I didn't know. Thanks, I hope this works.
---------- Post added at 01:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 PM ----------
F157 said:
Have you checked in Settings -> Connections -> Location?
There are some wifi settings behind it (in location method and improve accuracy) you can deactivate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, could you please tell me if you use other settings to improve your battery life?

patci32 said:
Indeed, I didn't know. Thanks, I hope this works.
---------- Post added at 01:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 PM ----------
Also, could you please tell me if you use other settings to improve your battery life?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mm, nothing special yet, as I'm really happy with battery life so far.
What I did in the past with other devices is for example use the app greenify (needs root) to hibernate apps you don't want to run in the background.
Also, something that really helped me with my old s4 mini was to set mobile network to 2g, and only switch to lte once required.
And as always, use wifi instead of mobile network as often as possible, disable Bluetooth if not needed, etc.

£280?!?! That's highway robbery for a device with 720p, small battery and everything in budget-range. You get this, all the bells and whistles for £150 with a well known Chinese brand. Now I know why I'd never ever get a Slamsug.

iMaterial said:
£280?!?! That's highway robbery for a device with 720p, small battery and everything in budget-range. You get this, all the bells and whistles for £150 with a well known Chinese brand. Now I know why I'd never ever get a Slamsug.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please could you elaborate on one of these phones that you can get for £150? I'm pretty clued up but if I've missed something I'd be keen for you to share what you've found for myself and the community - my mother needs a new phone so if you've seen something better than the A3 for less I'd love to buy it

Sunil_Kaura said:
Please could you elaborate on one of these phones that you can get for £150? I'm pretty clued up but if I've missed something I'd be keen for you to share what you've found for myself and the community - my mother needs a new phone so if you've seen something better than the A3 for less I'd love to buy it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which stats are you looking for? Battery? Screen res? SoC power?
Compare, with €150 phones, battery, res, SoC, well anything really part from 10 mm in size.

iMaterial said:
Which stats are you looking for? Battery? Screen res? SoC power?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm referring to your comment that you could get a better phone for £150, so I guess I'm wondering what phone you are saying is better for that price...
The battery life of the A3 is epic, the PPI is still perfectly decent (720p on 4.7 inches is still perfectly usable and arguably 1080p is unnecessary) and the SoC is both fat and frugal.
So really I'm wondering whether you can get something the same or better for less money

I'd be happy with an alternative with same form factor. Any recommendations? The A3 still not available in US.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

mario24601 said:
I'd be happy with an alternative with same form factor. Any recommendations? The A3 still not available in US.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4.5 to 4.7" screen, 720p res. 2015 - today, only 4-5 options comes up.
http://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2015&nHeightMax=135&nDisplayResMin=921600&fDisplayInchesMin=4.5&fDisplayInchesMax=4.7
Only A3, Sony X and Z5 compact, Xiaomi Redmi 2 Pro has enough RAM, battery and goodies. LG Spirit and Alcatel Idol 3 only has 1 GB and 1.5 GB RAM, not really a viable option.
Sunil_Kaura said:
Well I'm referring to your comment that you could get a better phone for £150, so I guess I'm wondering what phone you are saying is better for that price...
The battery life of the A3 is epic, the PPI is still perfectly decent (720p on 4.7 inches is still perfectly usable and arguably 1080p is unnecessary) and the SoC is both fat and frugal.
So really I'm wondering whether you can get something the same or better for less money
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Redmi 4 Pro can be had for €150 and its battery life is Epic also, the Redmi 3 Pro is way better than A3 and Redmi 4 Pro, with 720p but alas 5". Redmi note 3 is also really good, for even less than €150. Samsung is priced at least £100 than it should, but the same can be said about Sony and Apple also.

iMaterial said:
4.5 to 4.7" screen, 720p res. 2015 - today, only 4-5 options comes up.
http://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2015&nHeightMax=135&nDisplayResMin=921600&fDisplayInchesMin=4.5&fDisplayInchesMax=4.7
Only A3, Sony X and Z5 compact, Xiaomi Redmi 2 Pro has enough RAM, battery and goodies. LG Spirit and Alcatel Idol 3 only has 1 GB and 1.5 GB RAM, not really a viable option.
The Redmi 4 Pro can be had for €150 and its battery life is Epic also, the Redmi 3 Pro is way better than A3 and Redmi 4 Pro, with 720p but alas 5". Redmi note 3 is also really good, for even less than €150. Samsung is priced at least £100 than it should, but the same can be said about Sony and Apple also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree the Xiaomi phones are compelling - my main issue is the fact that they are all grey imports - many purchasers have reported that they do not get any warranty support whatsoever, they generally require a more experienced android user to side load the Google play store, and they have sketchy android skins which have also been reported to spy on their users.
Don't get me wrong, Touchwiz (or Grace UI as it's now known) is not exactly great, but I'd rather know I can walk into a Samsung store and get a problem fixed than rely on a Hong Kong based website for support.
I think it's only fair to compare this phone to what can be had in Europe, and in that regard, it blows the Sony X Compact, Alcatel and others out of the water.
And given its build quality and design, it's good value compared to phones that retail for double this cost.
Also, most Xiaomi phones don't come with NFC (no android pay), some don't have scratch resistant glass, no quick charging, etc
The A3 also uses a processor built on the 14nm process which is up to date technology, whereas the Xiaomi phones at that price point use outdated processors like the 650 and 616.
The 14nm process is what gives the A3 it's great battery life without needing a 4000mAh battery and heavier construction.
A final point - check out the videos of the Redmi note 3 bend test - not encouraging! (I will add the Redmi 3 pro did significantly better though which is good progress).

Sunil_Kaura said:
I agree the Xiaomi phones are compelling - my main issue is the fact that they are all grey imports - many purchasers have reported that they do not get any warranty support whatsoever, they generally require a more experienced android user to side load the Google play store, and they have sketchy android skins which have also been reported to spy on their users.
Don't get me wrong, Touchwiz (or Grace UI as it's now known) is not exactly great, but I'd rather know I can walk into a Samsung store and get a problem fixed than rely on a Hong Kong based website for support.
I think it's only fair to compare this phone to what can be had in Europe, and in that regard, it blows the Sony X Compact, Alcatel and others out of the water.
And given its build quality and design, it's good value compared to phones that retail for double this cost.
Also, most Xiaomi phones don't come with NFC (no android pay), some don't have scratch resistant glass, no quick charging, etc
The A3 also uses a processor built on the 14nm process which is up to date technology, whereas the Xiaomi phones at that price point use outdated processors like the 650 and 616.
The 14nm process is what gives the A3 it's great battery life without needing a 4000mAh battery and heavier construction.
A final point - check out the videos of the Redmi note 3 bend test - not encouraging! (I will add the Redmi 3 pro did significantly better though which is good progress).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Redmi 4 Pro that I bought for a friend in Jan has the 14 nm Snapdragon 625. I can agree that it might lack a few finishing touches, but I could buy it for €150 inc shipping from aliexpress and get it in 7-9 days. But it's half the price, and I know the Adreno is a better GPU than the Mali.
Both on the Xiaomi and the Slamsug, first thing I would do it TWRP and LAOS ROM, they can keep their crap TW and MIUI, can't stand it.
Never the less, it shouldn't be 2x the price for something that is almost inferior in some points and better on others. Esp not in 2017, maybe some years ago, but every day there are better and better phones for under €200, like the Moto G5 and such, only problem is they are so damn big, and big phones are 99/100 new that are coming out, these days, sadly.

iMaterial said:
The Redmi 4 Pro that I bought for a friend in Jan has the 14 nm Snapdragon 625. I can agree that it might lack a few finishing touches, but I could buy it for €150 inc shipping from aliexpress and get it in 7-9 days. But it's half the price, and I know the Adreno is a better GPU than the Mali.
Both on the Xiaomi and the Slamsug, first thing I would do it TWRP and LAOS ROM, they can keep their crap TW and MIUI, can't stand it.
Never the less, it shouldn't be 2x the price for something that is almost inferior in some points and better on others. Esp not in 2017, maybe some years ago, but every day there are better and better phones for under €200, like the Moto G5 and such, only problem is they are so damn big, and big phones are 99/100 new that are coming out, these days, sadly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't disagree there - it's frustrating how few phones there are under 5 inches available.
I will say though that besides the Xiaomi phones which look to have a nice build, the Moto G4 is very cheap feeling, as are most of the other phones available here in that price bracket, so I would happily pay a little more for a nice looking and premium feeling device.
If the Samsung we're £220 I think it'd sell by the bucket load as £20-40 above phones like the G4 would likely tempt many up, but at £280 I agree that it's a harder sell for the lay person.
I'm looking at from the other side - it's a mild compromise from an S7 or a iPhone 6s/7 , but it's half the price, rather than double that of a cheaper device.
And it absolutely looks and feels as good as a £5-600 phone.

Sunil_Kaura said:
Can't disagree there - it's frustrating how few phones there are under 5 inches available.
I will say though that besides the Xiaomi phones which look to have a nice build, the Moto G4 is very cheap feeling, as are most of the other phones available here in that price bracket, so I would happily pay a little more for a nice looking and premium feeling device.
If the Samsung we're £220 I think it'd sell by the bucket load as £20-40 above phones like the G4 would likely tempt many up, but at £280 I agree that it's a harder sell for the lay person.
I'm looking at from the other side - it's a mild compromise from an S7 or a iPhone 6s/7 , but it's half the price, rather than double that of a cheaper device.
And it absolutely looks and feels as good as a £5-600 phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are so many on this forum and in other places that airs the same frustration, so few options for a mobile ca 130mm lenght and 4.5 - 4.7" screen (720p at least), that I'm starting to wonder if we should do something about it, maybe talk to so manufacturer to make at least 1-2 phones under 5"
The Redmi 4 Pro I used for a few weeks felt no worse in build than the Iphone 6 or 6S I have tried a few times, both in metal around 140 - 145mm size. But for €310 I can get a Xiaomi Mi 5 with 820 and have €100 in change over. I have never held a Moto G, last Motorola I have tried was the 4.3" Razr Maxx and it felt solid as a rock.
The J5 goes for around €180-190 here and I see no reason why this smaller, entry level A3 shouldn't be priced in a similar fashion. These days due to deaths in the family and such I'm so poor that €100 is more than I can spare and my Android mobile that I have now is from 2012 or so, single core with 512 MB RAM and I hate every minute when I'm using it. I'm lucky to have been given a 2009 Sony Ericsson C901 as my main caller.
Just my 1¢ (It used to be 2¢, but due to the recession I've had to make cutbacks)
---------- Post added at 07:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:16 PM ----------
What annoys me a lot is also that this A3 is bigger than the A3 (2016) and the battery is only 50 mAh bigger. They could easily have put a 2500 - 2800 mAh battery in this one, just like the Sony Z3, Z5 or X compact, which is 5 mm smaller.

My last perfect phone was the original moto x. I still use it. I am not a power user but the X just needs lil more power but on cm13 it's not bad.
I don't even mind going with old phone as long as has some custom roms to improve performance.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

V30 vs. Note 8 (A current V30 user)

Hey All,
Firstly, thanks in advance for the wisdom, advice, and support.
I need some advice. I am a historic Galaxy Note user - from the Note 2 through the Note 5, I've had and loved them all. I recently switched to the V30 last week after my Note 5 just wasn't making it anymore. The V30 appealed to me as a multimedia powerhouse with the unique 10 bit camera, cine log, etc. (I create multimedia - video/photos/social media on the daily for my job - the have since given me a iPhone 7+, but I still prefer creating on my android). The Note 8 appeals because it seems to be more comforting considering my history, is a powerhouse as well in so many ways, and a telephoto lens, among other things.
After returning my first Verizon V30 for terrible screen banding, I got another one that has a pretty good screen with the exception of brightness uniformity issues and crushed blacks in low light. I've read, watched, and researched as much as I can, and I can't decide what to do. I'd love your input and advice on what to do. Here's my pro/con list in no particular order:
V30:
+ DAC
+ Cine Log
+ Size in hand
+ $200 card + daydream VR
- Screen in low light (uniformity + crushed blacks)
- Wide angle cam
- 4gb ram
Note 8:
+ S pen
+ Samsung Pay
+ Telephoto camera
+6gb Ram
+ $150 credit (best buy promotion)
- Size
- Fingerprint location
Advice is much appreciated!
Thank you!

Etemchin said:
Hey All,
Firstly, thanks in advance for the wisdom, advice, and support.
I need some advice. I am a historic Galaxy Note user - from the Note 2 through the Note 5, I've had and loved them all. I recently switched to the V30 last week after my Note 5 just wasn't making it anymore. The V30 appealed to me as a multimedia powerhouse with the unique 10 bit camera, cine log, etc. (I create multimedia - video/photos/social media on the daily for my job - the have since given me a iPhone 7+, but I still prefer creating on my android). The Note 8 appeals because it seems to be more comforting considering my history, is a powerhouse as well in so many ways, and a telephoto lens, among other things.
After returning my first Verizon V30 for terrible screen banding, I got another one that has a pretty good screen with the exception of brightness uniformity issues and crushed blacks in low light. I've read, watched, and researched as much as I can, and I can't decide what to do. I'd love your input and advice on what to do. Here's my pro/con list in no particular order:
V30:
+ DAC
+ Cine Log
+ Size in hand
+ $200 card + daydream VR
- Screen in low light (uniformity + crushed blacks)
- Wide angle cam
- 4gb ram
Note 8:
+ S pen
+ Samsung Pay
+ Telephoto camera
+6gb Ram
+ $150 credit (best buy promotion)
- Size
- Fingerprint location
Advice is much appreciated!
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure what exactly you are asking....
I can tell you that I had the Note 8 for 2 weeks and took it back. It's BIG. HEAVY and I didn't use the S-Pen after the first couple of days. The Camera was phenomenal. I returned it and used a flip phone for two days, then bought the V30 on release day at AT&T. I did it that way so I could return it for the Note 8 if I didn't like it.
So far, so good. My screen is good. The brightness is weird, sometimes it seems brighter than others, but as of yet it has not been a big deal. It is NOWHERE near as bright as the Note 8, but no phone is. I do miss that about the 8. I do not miss the zoom lens. It was a gimmick. It helped some with macro photos, but the digital zoom on the V30 is AMAZING.
Battery life is about the same, and the LG charges faster then the Note. The LG fits in pockets better and seems right in my hand, whereas the Note seemed way too long. You really notice that the LG is nearly 40 grams lighter, but it does not feel cheap. Also, the manual mode on the LG Camera is so much better than the Note. It has much better tactile control on it's slider. That makes all the difference in the world. And the sound, whether through a cord or bluetooth is MUCH better in my car!
I have until Thursday to make up my mind about trading, but I think I'm going to be very happy with the LG.
I hope that helps

the note 8 is better. smoother has bettet screen , feel more premium. owning both right now the note 8 is going back and is just because of how tall and heavy it is. the v30 is just much more comfortbale devices. Botj phone are awesome.

Thank you all for the opinions!
I appreciate your feedback and and still conflicted although am leaning toward keeping the V30. One of the original reasons I chose was the size and it sounds like the 8 is just too huge. Just wish the V30 had Samsung Pay and a better screen experience, but I think the V30 checks all the right boxes.
Thanks again!

Etemchin said:
Thank you all for the opinions!
I appreciate your feedback and and still conflicted although am leaning toward keeping the V30. One of the original reasons I chose was the size and it sounds like the 8 is just too huge. Just wish the V30 had Samsung Pay and a better screen experience, but I think the V30 checks all the right boxes.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was debating between those two also and had to go with v30 I've owned note phones before but never used the spen but cant deny note8 looks beautiful but I'm a music guys and prefer the camera set up of the v30 and so far no issue with the v30 screen loving it

If the op is concern about size then the v30 is the right choice. I am also a note user, dating back from the original phablet note. The note 8 feels Right at home, if anything the note 8 is actually easier to hold vs note 5 and back. Starting with the note 7 which was quiet nice to hold also. I suggest the op go play with the note 8. If the v30 screen is not your cup of tea, the note 8 has the best screen right now.
Sent from my MI MIX using Tapatalk

Etemchin said:
Thank you all for the opinions!
Just wish the V30 had Samsung Pay and a better screen experience, but I think the V30 checks all the right boxes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why the preference for Samsung Pay? (I use Android Pay but have never used the other.)

Nay Tyzon said:
Why the preference for Samsung Pay? (I use Android Pay but have never used the other.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unlike android pay. samsung pay work anywhere u are able to swipe ur card, even if it doesnt take electronic payment. it sents a magnetic signal to the credit swipe machine just like if u are physically swiping ur credit/debit card register in the app. works 100% of the time. unlike other electronic payment like apple or android pay.

I have the Note 8 but have tested out the V30 as well.
Pros for the Note 8:
-Brighter screen with more saturated colors
-6 GB RAM helps with app management
-Better looking UI. Though both can be themed.
-Feels more substantial
-Conventional power button placement
-Headphone jack on the bottom instead of top
Pros for the V30:
-Smaller form factor, more comfortable to hold
-Audio optimization

Guyinlaca said:
I have the Note 8 but have tested out the V30 as well.
Pros for the Note 8:
-Brighter screen with more saturated colors
-6 GB RAM helps with app management
-Better looking UI. Though both can be themed.
-Feels more substantial
-Conventional power button placement
-Headphone jack on the bottom instead of top
Pros for the V30:
-Smaller form factor, more comfortable to hold
-Audio optimization
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ad to the v30.
better fingerprint location
up there with the best,faster more acurrate fingerprint around
face unlock with screen off
better battery life
phone still super cool doesnt matter what u do. note 8 doesnt get has hot like s8. but cannot compare to the v30 coolness
i had both but decided to keep the v30 just because the hifi dac, wide angle lens, the size which is 100% more comfortable and 6" of usuable screen. hated the curve screen.

For me the Note 8 was just too heavy. The curved screen registered way too many accidental touches. I don't use the S-Pen on my Note 3, so I doubt I'd use it on the Note 8. The screen on the V30 is bright bright enough for me. The camera is fine. The audio quality with headphones is amazing on the V30 too.
Overall, for me, the V30 worked out great. Now to get my first VR headset. They said I'm approved for the promotion and it'll be here in 6-8 weeks. Two year warranty was a nice added bonus as well.
Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk

Sheldor1967 said:
I am not sure what exactly you are asking....
I can tell you that I had the Note 8 for 2 weeks and took it back. It's BIG. HEAVY and I didn't use the S-Pen after the first couple of days. The Camera was phenomenal. I returned it and used a flip phone for two days, then bought the V30 on release day at AT&T. I did it that way so I could return it for the Note 8 if I didn't like it.
So far, so good. My screen is good. The brightness is weird, sometimes it seems brighter than others, but as of yet it has not been a big deal. It is NOWHERE near as bright as the Note 8, but no phone is. I do miss that about the 8. I do not miss the zoom lens. It was a gimmick. It helped some with macro photos, but the digital zoom on the V30 is AMAZING.
Battery life is about the same, and the LG charges faster then the Note. The LG fits in pockets better and seems right in my hand, whereas the Note seemed way too long. You really notice that the LG is nearly 40 grams lighter, but it does not feel cheap. Also, the manual mode on the LG Camera is so much better than the Note. It has much better tactile control on it's slider. That makes all the difference in the world. And the sound, whether through a cord or bluetooth is MUCH better in my car!
I have until Thursday to make up my mind about trading, but I think I'm going to be very happy with the LG.
I hope that helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got home from work. I have the note 8 since Friday so basically 2 days. I love the phone except that it's too big and heavy like you said. If if was 6 inches itwp ups be the perfect device. But damn it's so big. So now I'm thinking about returning it and grabbing either an S8, V30 or Z2 even.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

barondebxl said:
I just got home from work. I have the note 8 since Friday so basically 2 days. I love the phone except that it's too big and heavy like you said. If if was 6 inches itwp ups be the perfect device. But damn it's so big. So now I'm thinking about returning it and grabbing either an S8, V30 or Z2 even.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out the V30. It's a great phone. Body to screen ratio is awesome. The face detection works great. Battery life is great. A huge improvement over my Nexus 6p.

I had the Note 8 (unlocked US version) and then bought the V30...after about 3 days with the V30 I sold the Note 8.
You can see what I liked/disliked alone with camera samples from both on this thread if interested.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v30/how-to/initial-weekend-tmo-v30-t3685793

ern88 said:
Check out the V30. It's a great phone. Body to screen ratio is awesome. The face detection works great. Battery life is great. A huge improvement over my Nexus 6p.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I wish it had a notification light though
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

barondebxl said:
Thanks. I wish it had a notification light though
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True. I miss that as well. But the always on display kind of makes up for it.

ern88 said:
True. I miss that as well. But the always on display kind of makes up for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have u guys considered the regular S8?
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

barondebxl said:
Have u guys considered the regular S8?
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, my wife has the S8 and I had the S8+. I prefer the V30 or Pixel 2 XL over them. I just love the aspect ration of the V30 so much more and it feels like the perfect size phone to me. Just wish I could get rid of some of the random lag and have it snappy like the Pixel

keithleger said:
Yes, my wife has the S8 and I had the S8+. I prefer the V30 or Pixel 2 XL over them. I just love the aspect ration of the V30 so much more and it feels like the perfect size phone to me. Just wish I could get rid of some of the random lag and have it snappy like the Pixel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh damn random lag? No bueno lol. Im literally at the tmobile store about to exchsnge my note 8 for V30 or S8, still havent decided
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G Hands-On

Fellow XDA Members I was fortunate enough to have had some hands on time with the S10 5G, I thought I would share what I found with you so if you are thinking about buying one in the future or waiting for it over the standard S10 Plus, feel free to ask me any questions. I have also created a video about the S10 5G and the link is below but please read my experience with it first, VIDEO LINK HERE: https://youtu.be/dyrG-nAJFvc
Holding it in my hand I realise how big this phone is but it still feels smaller than I thought it would thanks to the hole punch camera design infact I would say it feels very similar in size to my Note 9. In a similar vein to the other S10 models Samsung has chosen to give us an aluminium frame sandwiched between two panes of curved glass with gorilla glass 6 covering the screen. I’m glad they didn’t go with a stainless steel frame otherwise it would be a very heavy device. The back has a stunning new colour that Samsung is calling Titan which has a rainbow shimmer effect but it will also be available in silver and gold.
The screen is stunning, a massive 6.7inches way bigger than the S10 plus but Samsung has also said that it is a wide Quad HD Plus screen with Dynamic Amoled technology and boy does it look good, Samsung are the kings of mobile screens. Hidden in the screen is the all new ultrasonic fingerprint sensor which works well and only needs the slightest touch to unlock the phone even when the screen is off.
Running this titan is the Snapdragon 855 the same as the other s10 models, but the difference is Samsung has included the X50 modem chip which gives it that hyper fast 5G connectivity. Of course none of this matters if the battery is not up to par and wisely Samsung has included a 4600 mah power pusher in the S10 5G. Samsung has also included the all new 25W fast wired charging capability which according to Samsung will charge the phone from 0 to 20% in just 10 minutes and to 100% in less than an hour. Just like the S10 plus the 5G has fast wireless charging 2.0 and wireless power share.
It will come with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of inbuilt storage but unfortunately it is not expandable due to lack of room within the phone.
This video wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t talk about the cameras, firstly it is obvious to see the punch hole in the screen is bigger than the one on the standard S10 plus. That is because it now houses the same 10mp f1.9 primary camera and 8mp f2.2 depth sensor but also included is an all new HQVGA 3D depth sensing camera which will be used for advanced AR features and is capable of measuring distances. This same sensor is included in the rear camera cluster alongside the 12mp variable aperture primary lens, the telephoto 12mp f2.4 camera and the ultra wide 16mp f2.2 sensor which gives a 123 degree viewing angle like human eyes.
Like the other s10 models the 5G comes with android 9.0 onboard and all the pie goodness such as night mode, the sleeker ui design, gesture controls and an overall smoother experience. So you are thinking great device I would love to own one, well I have a different opinion, now hear me out , my issue is that I don’t believe it will sell well because Samsung have said it will be released in summer. Now bearing in mind the networks won’t be fully 5 g ready by then coupled with the fact that the 5G Note 10 will be only a couple of months away, I can see consumers waiting for that instead of investing in the S10 5G.

Nice write up my friend, yeah your conclusion is the same as to why I went with the S10+ and I am happy with my choice. I will be getting the note so holding off for the S10+ 5G didn't make sense.
However I think it is indicative as to what the Note 10 will bring and boy is it going to be good....:good:

Good to hear your review! I'm going to enjoy my S10+ for a while and wait for 5G to get established...

i just not sure how I am going to afford the 5G plan in U.S.
So I am fine with Note 9 and s10

Thanks for taking the time to do the write up. I'll be looking to trade up to this once available for sure!!

Duncan1982 said:
Nice write up my friend, yeah your conclusion is the same as to why I went with the S10+ and I am happy with my choice. I will be getting the note so holding off for the S10+ 5G didn't make sense.
However I think it is indicative as to what the Note 10 will bring and boy is it going to be good....:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note 10 will be fantastic if the rumours are true, I'm looking forward to it definitely.

shollywood said:
Thanks for taking the time to do the write up. I'll be looking to trade up to this once available for sure!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not tempted to wait for the note 10?

ramheer said:
Not tempted to wait for the note 10?
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Click to collapse
Not if it's anything like the s10+. Going back to Note 9 though.

shollywood said:
Not if it's anything like the s10+. Going back to Note 9 though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand, the note 9 is still one of the best devices out

Good review

Overall love

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 Note 10+, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!

So perhaps this review might be slightly contradictory to my other thread (Samsung Giving up or....). Only way to find out is to dive right in......
So I'm not here to praise or affiliate myself with a particular brand, what I mean is that some very much love Samsung and don't like any criticism, or others may disagree and that's fine (my words are just from my perspective). Everyone has there own likes, things they find useful, basically we are all different and that is just fine. Opinions from others that may follow are to be respected as we all won't share the same experience or views.
The Galaxy Note 10 got released in two variants oh wait no make that three, and yes I think this is a good idea (although price points i am not agreeable on).
However as the title suggests this little review is based on the model I have SM-N976b that's the Exynos 9825 5G variant.
Display: What we have is a 6.8" Dynamic Amoled Display and there is very little disputing it's best in class. From the vibrant colours to the deep blacks it really is a stunning screen. The punch-hole is symmetrical and really doesn't get in the way or my enjoyment (however some might not like, and find it distracting). I tend to appreciate larger displays (having recently purchased the Mate 20 X 5G 7.2") I was particularly pleased that Samsung decided to make the Display larger on the + variant. With it being a note , that is aimed at productivity and media 6.8" was/is a delight for me personally.
Performance: The performance of the 9825 is marginal if anything above the 9820 (used on the S10, S10+). However I get tired of the complaints, yes perhaps the 855 is marginally better in certain areas, it's not a huge gulf between the two that is going to dramatically affect the user experience. I have found it to be very fast and fluid and hasn't hindered my experience. Basically it performs as a flagship processor should. Very little complaints from me.
Functionality: We have the good old S-Pen and without a doubt it's still industry leading (Perhaps because not many oem's have decided to compete) however as a productivity tool it's fantastic (wether you use it not). I am not sold on the Harry potter waving the pen around, it's just a feature that I think Samsung could have left out & focused that time and resources in another area. However I get that they wanted to add something else to the pen, but I don't think many will be using it.
You have here with the Note 10+ a device that offers up great features as in improving DeX to be used as a virtual environment on a laptop (Some may benefit from this) link to Windows to provide that ecosystem and connection with your PC/Laptop. We also have Gamelink (Conning Soon) along with all the other things like app edge, dual window. So it really does offer up that fantastic functionality.
Battery: Well I have the Mate 20 X and with the 7.2" Display (all be it 1080p) it without a doubt lasts longer than the Note 10+, wouldn't say by a huge margin, I usually and can easily get 7hrs on the note, but with the X it can be 8+, but EMUI is more restrictive in app management. I think the Note could be better optimised and I'm sure with updates it will.
Camera: The cameras on the Note all be it just little improvements over the S-Line, they perform well in most areas, fall short in others. Yes you can say the P30 Pro or pixel are better, some areas yes they most certainly are, but even they fall short in let's say the video department, so as a balanced camera then yeah it's great and that is what I look for, if you want the best if everything Also buy the P30 Pro & Pixel and carry around 3 devices
Design: I think this is where Samsung spent a chunk of time, with the Display & rearrangement, all be it most certainly Q's from Huawei but that's not a negative thing and I absolutely love what Samsung have done here. It's a stunning device.
My Honest opinion: I was complaining slightly that Samsung perhaps could of should of done more and I still stand with that in certain areas. These are in the camera software, perhaps that 90hz (yes I don't think this was possible, due to the S-Pen), but would have been a nice option, but when you look at it, its an iterative improvement, but the areas of focus have been done well, and here we have a stunning productivity device that will make many users happy, but leave some disappointed as expectation, left us without some of the little things we are seeing from others not here on the note.
After using it now for 5 days I fully appreciate a nice and solid device that covers most areas well, but like any device falls short in others. I'm very happy with my purchase and I hope you all are to
Please feel free to add to this, or add in constructive criticism, it's all appreciated, just be respectful, and don't disregard others opinions (unless they are just rediculous).

Duncan1982 said:
So perhaps this review might be slightly contradictory to my other thread (Samsung Giving up or....). Only way to find out is to dive right in......
So I'm not here to praise or affiliate myself with a particular brand, what I mean is that some very much love Samsung and don't like any criticism, or others may disagree and that's fine (my words are just from my perspective). Everyone has there own likes, things they find useful, basically we are all different and that is just fine. Opinions from others that may follow are to be respected as we all won't share the same experience or views.
The Galaxy Note 10 got released in two variants oh wait no make that three, and yes I think this is a good idea (although price points i am not agreeable on).
However as the title suggests this little review is based on the model I have SM-N976b that's the Exynos 9825 5G variant.
Display: What we have is a 6.8" Dynamic Amoled Display and there is very little disputing it's best in class. From the vibrant colours to the deep blacks it really is a stunning screen. The punch-hole is symmetrical and really doesn't get in the way or my enjoyment (however some might not like, and find it distracting). I tend to appreciate larger displays (having recently purchased the Mate 20 X 5G 7.2") I was particularly pleased that Samsung decided to make the Display larger on the + variant. With it being a note , that is aimed at productivity and media 6.8" was/is a delight for me personally.
Performance: The performance of the 9825 is marginal if anything above the 9820 (used on the S10, S10+). However I get tired of the complaints, yes perhaps the 855 is marginally better in certain areas, it's not a huge gulf between the two that is going to dramatically affect the user experience. I have found it to be very fast and fluid and hasn't hindered my experience. Basically it performs as a flagship processor should. Very little complaints from me.
Functionality: We have the good old S-Pen and without a doubt it's still industry leading (Perhaps because not many oem's have decided to compete) however as a productivity tool it's fantastic (wether you use it not). I am not sold on the Harry potter waving the pen around, it's just a feature that I think Samsung could have left out & focused that time and resources in another area. However I get that they wanted to add something else to the pen, but I don't think many will be using it.
You have here with the Note 10+ a device that offers up great features as in improving DeX to be used as a virtual environment on a laptop (Some may benefit from this) link to Windows to provide that ecosystem and connection with your PC/Laptop. We also have Gamelink (Conning Soon) along with all the other things like app edge, dual window. So it really does offer up that fantastic functionality.
Battery: Well I have the Mate 20 X and with the 7.2" Display (all be it 1080p) it without a doubt lasts longer than the Note 10+, wouldn't say by a huge margin, I usually and can easily get 7hrs on the note, but with the X it can be 8+, but EMUI is more restrictive in app management. I think the Note could be better optimised and I'm sure with updates it will.
Camera: The cameras on the Note all be it just little improvements over the S-Line, they perform well in most areas, fall short in others. Yes you can say the P30 Pro or pixel are better, some areas yes they most certainly are, but even they fall short in let's say the video department, so as a balanced camera then yeah it's great and that is what I look for, if you want the best if everything Also buy the P30 Pro & Pixel and carry around 3 devices
Design: I think this is where Samsung spent a chunk of time, with the Display & rearrangement, all be it most certainly Q's from Huawei but that's not a negative thing and I absolutely love what Samsung have done here. It's a stunning device.
My Honest opinion: I was complaining slightly that Samsung perhaps could of should of done more and I still stand with that in certain areas. These are in the camera software, perhaps that 90hz (yes I don't think this was possible, due to the S-Pen), but would have been a nice option, but when you look at it, its an iterative improvement, but the areas of focus have been done well, and here we have a stunning productivity device that will make many users happy, but leave some disappointed as expectation, left us without some of the little things we are seeing from others not here on the note.
After using it now for 5 days I fully appreciate a nice and solid device that covers most areas well, but like any device falls short in others. I'm very happy with my purchase and I hope you all are to
Please feel free to add to this, or add in constructive criticism, it's all appreciated, just be respectful, and don't disregard others opinions (unless they are just rediculous).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not too much to add here.
Really great package!

Terrible speakers
Worst cellular connection to date
Bloatware
tethering feature is broken/lags

Pretty much fantastic in every aspect, minus four:
- terrible battery life (the worst I've ever had to my opinion, compared to Mate 9, Note 4 and Xperia Z1...)
- no high refresh rate display (and still annoying OLED motion blur)
- slow/unsecure unlocking (UDFS/front camera)
- Samsung's "OneUI" software is good overall, but has still strong geographic differences (in term of app availability, see goodlock software for exemple), and doesn't allow you to tweak your terminal to the extent to it should be possible (Galaxy Theme store (yerk!) should basically be Substratum (lite) + Synergy))

darkphoenix2012 said:
Terrible speakers
Worst cellular connection to date
Bloatware
tethering feature is broken/lags
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is really amusing to see how some complain about mainly, battery, speakers, camera and signal, to the grade of "terrible", "worst" etc, I have no complain at all, I come from a note 8, which indeed was an excellent device, and this note10+ is way better, in all aaspects, I did not have the 9, but I have heard always that it was just a little increment over the 8, any way, I am really, really pleased with my note10+, the best device I have had

winol said:
It is really amusing to see how some complain about mainly, battery, speakers, camera and signal, to the grade of "terrible", "worst" etc, I have no complain at all, I come from a note 8, which indeed was an excellent device, and this note10+ is way better, in all aaspects, I did not have the 9, but I have heard always that it was just a little increment over the 8, any way, I am really, really pleased with my note10+, the best device I have had
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto x10!
Sent from my Note 10+ using Tapatalk

And would you guys say note 10+ over note 10?

tileeq said:
And would you guys say note 10+ over note 10?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as i'm concerned yes...
- battery life
- microSD
- TOF, even though still beta-like software for 3D scan, but works very well for blurring background photos (you can see it when comparing front cam and rear cam)
- larger screen, cause i love this (better for watching videos or multitasking)
I would always feel like i have a sub phone if i went note10 route but that's juste me
Downside is the weight of note10+, i find it kinda heavy in the hand.

Yeah, I absolutely love my note10+

I absolutely love my Note 10+. I wish I had pre-ordered, but I wasn't ready for an upgrade from my Note 8 yet.
I got the Aurora Glow (Snapdragon, Verizon US), mainly because it was the one that was readily available and I wouldn't have to wait. I thought I'd just slap a case on it and never have to look at it, but it turns out I love that crazy rainbow bastard and got a nice clear case. I'm averaging 7hrs of SOT (at highest resolution, no power savings, wifi/data, etc), I haven't had to "top up" during the day once since I got it. Sleep drain is almost non-existent...maybe 4-5% overnight (6-7hrs) with WiFi and bluetooth on. I do a lot of artwork on the fly, and this is even more of a workhorse than my Note 8 was. I do multi-layered (usually 12-20 layers) drawings in Medibang Paint at at least 600dpi and this glorious phone doesn't even stutter. AND (and I know a lot of you don't like it) I was psyched to see a screen protector pre-installed. I know it's a crappy one, but it was great to have while waiting for my "real" one to show up. Really small, but well-appreciated, inclusion. I don't even mind the loss of a headphone jack as much as I thought I would. My portable battery has the wireless charging built in (not that I've needed to use it yet), and I think the sound in the USB C headphones included is better than the ones I got with my Note 8.
My ONLY complaint is the camera. Photos look overly soft, and faces seem flattened out. My Note 8 took much better photos out of the box. At least, in my case, it definitely seems to be a software issue...because using GCam improves the photos dramatically. And it seems that Sammy has already released an update to address photo quality...I just have to wait for Verizon to push out the damn thing. I don't take pro photos or anything, 90% of my picture taking is my kids...but my Note 8 gave me much clearer photos of them running around than I've gotten from my 10+. That being said, I know there's a fix on the way so I'm not going to piss and moan too much about it. I look forward to really using the hell out of the camera once it's updated, especially night mode...I didn't have that on my Note 8.
All in all, nothing but love for this phone.

I perceive the photos to be better than those of my note8, yesterday an update mainly for the fingerprint and camera, became available for my note10+, I am yet to see what improvements it may yield

I was looking at a new Chinese flagship (Realme X2 Pro) but then got to play with Dex on a 10 - bought the Note 10+ dualSIM right there, coming from an S8+. Dex is just fantastic, on my Windows or Mac computers, with an additional 95W wall charger and a 100w USB C hub. Now the phone is fully integrated in my desktop workflow and part of the hub with other devices I own, and I love the ability to cut&paste from/to the phone from my main Windows machine. All other elements one comes to expect from a Samsung flagship are there of course, and video quality is excellent. Writing with the S-Pen on the Nebo App is enough for note taking - I can leave the iPad Pro at home for meetings. And Amazon Germany gave a unexpected $120 rebate, plus tax return from Amazon upon leaving the EU, got a great deal altogether. My S8+ lasted three years and thanks to this community is updated well, will now go to my wife.

3 Stars. The magic is lost. Nothing is special about the series anymore.
Call me jaded as someone who's owned every iteration since the Note 2, but this is not the best from the best that previous Note series enjoyed. Same cameras from S10. Would have liked a better tech that includes a seamless uninterruption of the screen. I can do without a social media whore cam or have a motorized selfie cam for those selfie whores. Also, could have used a speedier screen refresh rate found on the the cheaper One+. Otherwise, speed, battery life, features, all the best android has to offer. Nothing earth shattering and futuristic like the first time we saw the Note Edge or Note 5 or BT pen from note 9. Still has a hole in the screen. Still has a "just a refreshed design until next iteration" look. Screen size increased by a hair. Even diluted the brand by making a smaller Note. I usually go for the best but since I had the blue Note 9, I wanted something different and the Aura Blue is gorgeous but disappointed it only comes in 256gb, another ding against Samsung. Overall, 3 stars because the Note series is known for cutting edge and when you have a camera stolen from an older phone and when you decide to toss in a gimmicky AR camera that everyone used for the first minute and forget about but failed to work on the thing that everyone uses 90% of the time, the screen, like incorporate a 120 refresh rate or do away with the hole or notch, then you aren't living to the high standard that the Note series are known for and that its fanbase expects. You used to be able to say, look what my phone has that you don't. Reverse charging? woopty do. My S10 had that before you. 3 cameras? "Stereo" speakers? Well, my phone has a built in BT stylus. So, my cheaper Note 10 does too! *facepalm* We no longer have something special. Used to be we had it first and then it trickled to other devices. Now, it's the other way around.

The one and only phone, not a tablet, that has this unique feature, the spen, there is the "magic"

winol said:
The one and only phone, not a tablet, that has this unique feature, the spen, there is the "magic"
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Click to collapse
Pay attention. You're wrong. We're reviewing the Note 10+. So this isn't the only phone with the s pen. If you pay attention, the diluted note 10 also has one as well as the upcoming note 10 lite. So it still stands, the magic is lost.

As this thread is about the 10+, I am referring to the note10+, so, you pay attention

winol said:
The one and only phone, not a tablet, that has this unique feature, the spen, there is the "magic"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
winol said:
As this thread is about the 10+, I am referring to the note10+, so, you pay attention
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mod edit: removed unnecessarily rude comment

skoobz said:
mod edit: removed unnecessarily rude comment
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Please check your private messages. Remeber folks this is a fun hobby for us all. There's never a need to get fired up and taking jabs and low blows. If you're starting to get heated just log off and go do something else or keep scrolling.

Let me preface this by saying I am picky about my phones and this is one of the worst I have seen in years! If you have an old phone I can understand some of the upgrade but here are my thoughts coming well staying with a Note 10+. Never bought and returned a phone this quick. Returning before it is even released on Friday!!
Let's start with the good, well somewhat......
Screen: Once again Samsung delivers a world class screen. Best in brightness, color accuracy, etc etc everything like normal that they always produce in their flagships. Now for the downsize, the infamous 120hz screen refresh rate. Not worth it here. Smoother scrolling, sure but barely. I honestly don't even mind the 1080p and 120 hz just the need for the 120hz on a phone is overkill. Was gaming smoother sure, do I game much on my phone, no not really. The 240 touch response I can tell more of a difference and a worthy difference then the 120 hz refresh
Processing power: Phone is fast, minus animations. Photo processing, night mode shots are a big difference. Much faster in that aspect. Wish we saw little more ram and more storage though at this price
Battery: 5000 mah in this device makes it a little thicker but in my short one day of use it stood up pretty well to transferring apps and everything over and hard use for a few hours last night. Couldn't kill it
and now the bad
Camera: throw all the numbers at it and it will be great.... well not so fast. Main shooter in 12 or 108 mp mode cannot focus on anything. Piece of paper on desk in front of you, good luck. Zoom a few feet away from you, also good luck. 5x/10x/30x zoom is better then Note 10+ of course but how often are you going to use this? Everyday? Once a week? Once a month? Still not great quality (usable) at 10x or 30x really so no point in my book. 5x is crisp but falls off too much after that for me to use. Wide angle is same as note so no real improvement here. Camera also seems to make everything more saturated then I like as well almost to the point of unrealistic. The one and only thing the iPhone can do well and the note seems to be closer to that realistic representation then the Ultra.
Design: not that the design is bad but feels a tad on the chunkier side. Rounder edges do help but does not feel as sleek as nice to hold as note or even s10. Thicker as well to house that battery and camera module. Also worried about how scratched the module bump will become after months of abuse.
UI: Let me first say I hate Android 10/Samsung UI 2.0, I am still using 9 and the Ultra reminded me why. App animations are slow (yes can fix in dev options but still), quick replying to text or message in status bar is not instant like prior android generations. Don't know if this is an android 10 or Samsung UI 2.0 problem but seems like it should be an upgrade not a downgrade
Price: $1400 is a lot even for 2020. That is also only for 128 gb and 12 gb ram model. So no upgrade to ram compared to Note and a loss of half the storage compared to entry level note. Plan was to trade in note 10+ and pay $800 and it isn't worth that tp be honest. Not even close. Only foreseeable upgrades are little brighter screen and zoom lens. The rest is a downgrade to me or the same.
I will continue to use note 10+ until Note 20 maybe? Needs to have something better for the money it is going to cost though

Better Mobile App

welcome