Related
I've been in several discussions with users that have come from (or previously owned) the 5 inch HTC Advantage. I see Dell Streak users have a thread to compare/contrast to the Note, so I thought I would do the same for the Advantage. This may help some to decide to move from the Advantage to the Note - or not.
For those that don't know what the Advantage is, it came out 5 years ago - the first phone with a 5" screen. It also included a detachable keyboard, stereo speakers, video port, stylus/pen, and a 8 GB hard drive when most SD cards at the time were below 2 GB. It had its problems, too. Since it was so far ahead of its time it was fairly bulky and heavy even with the keyboard removed. It didn't have a private speaker for phone calls. It had room for a vibration motor internally but it was never implemented even in later models, presumably because it caused problems with the hard drive. The other references in the thread title are the development name, and model names/numbers used by various carriers. Here is the XDA forum for the Advantage: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=351
My personal reaction, as I've told several already, is the Note is by far a better phone. Physical stats, operating system, having things like a private speaker and vibration which the Advantage should have had, all add up. Not to mention that the Note costs 1/3 of what the Advantage did so you have far less to loose. The Note/Android has its deficiencies. I've had to install a half-dozen apps to add features which were built into Windows Mobile - things like incremental ring volume, ability to get more than a single system notification for things like texts and calendar appointments (miss the first one and you've missed your appointment!), or keeping the screen from timing out when it is plugged in or for specific apps. But at least you can extend/improve the OS with apps without unlocking/rooting or flashing to a whole new OS. Which many Advantage owners did including me.
All that said, the Advantage held a special place in my heart. In the 4 1/2 years I used mine, I often told my wife it was the best gadget I had ever owned and I meant it. Which is saying a lot with all the gadgets and computers I've owned since 1984. But the Note is so good that if IT had come out 5 years ago, I'm sure I would be saying the same thing about it right now. Buy one.
I have a x7501 for a few years, but haven't been actively using it in the last few years also (went to iPhone, Android etc). I am interested in the Note, but haven't decided to get one yet.
But I think one fundamental difference is that the Athena is a keyboarded device (you can use it without, but you also loose the stand at the same time). Its stereo speakers and other positioning makes it a mainly landscape orientation device.
I really don't care about its thickness, it's not that bad. It is a bit thick w/ its leather case, but it does that to any other devices anyway.
What I don't like about the Athena: battery life, speed (I'm shocked reviews that said it's fast), photo taken with camera (rear) has off (red) colour (no ROM can fix that). Especially the last piece, it's unforgivable for a $1,500. USD product! The 8GB HDD is both slow, and battery eating, and cannot be turned off.
I just can't say I like it as much as some of you do. I don't hate it, but I don't think it was worth the $1,000. I paid for. If I had paid $1,500. then, I'd have sued them (just kidding).
I lugged the keyboard around for 1 1/2 years, but finally left it on my work desk permanently. Only used it there when I was streaming XM.
I never had a problem with battery life, it would last me much longer than the 12 hours I would go between unplugging in the morning and plugging it back in when I got home. Never had a problem with the camera, either. Good colors all around, not that the quality was that great.
I think you'll like the Note, all the advantages (pun intended) of the 7501 and none of its problems. After you add some apps to tweak the downfalls of the OS.
i'm one, see my siggie
i've had still have that gigantic heavy monstrous HTC 5" for the longest time
still trying to get Android installed on it someday
I had the x7501, then the x7510, and the note is 1/2 as thick, has a "phone" speaker, and besides all of the obvious spec advantages, is lighter and easier to hold. The screen is far more responsive than the old tft pressure technology without the inaccuracy of the iphone/android capacitive blunt-object to write/draw with issue.
all thumbs up for the note... though the Advantage was WAY ahead of its time.
I don't understand these threads. I get that the advantage was way ahead of its time, but it's 5 years old. 5! Would anyone seriously pick the advantage over the note?
I sold my x7501 long ago. Good times, lol.
nstong said:
I don't understand these threads. I get that the advantage was way ahead of its time, but it's 5 years old. 5! Would anyone seriously pick the advantage over the note?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess sometimes people can't let their old devices go.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
This isn't about keeping the Advantage. Its about comparing one to the other for those that are familiar with the Advantage and loved all of its features.
I think it is not about keeping the Advantage / Athena, may be it's partly nostalgia, partly comparing what's missing on current devices (bad things are not missed, I'm talking about things that users might like or prefer):
1. Stereo speakers. How hard can that be? But so far, iPhone doesn't have it, none of my Android phones up to 4.65" have it, my Tablet P by Sony has a tiny mono speaker. Only the Playbook (once had, now sold), and the Samsung Q1 have stereo speakers and good sound.
2. The metal case has pros and cons. It can get dented and discolouring when bumped / scratched, but it made it more sturdy as it is metal. But at least it is unique, and also makes it feel more premium (until it gets dented, like mine, from dropping, that is). Now everything besides iPhones are just plastics.
3. Magnetic keyboard. Now, no more, never seen and all give way to on screen ones, except a few. But those few, including Blackberry, do not want to do a magnetic keyboard, may be it's the cost, or fear of bad contacts. But again, this is very unique and hasn't been replicated. The see thru window to mimic the status bar on it makes it even cooler.
4. External connections for: USB host (only very lately, there are USB OTG for Android devices, before this, support was very poor, mostly only HID stuff), VGA out, cellular antenna, GPS antenna. Granted, the last 3 are not as needed today, and some Android devices have HDMI outputs that replace VGA more or less.
right now, few Android phones can stand on a desk unless with a kick stand case (which is usually the kind I buy, as I want it stand similar to what Advantage can do w/ the keyboard).
I think some clamshell MIDs like UMID / Viliv had come close to the design of Advantage but physically not as cool, no magnetic keyboard etc.
I guess the problem with modern design is that nobody would make a $1,500. device unless it is for industrial or military use, so they have to save cost and won't engage in fancy design and materials. In the case for Advantage, it's HTC flagship product, so they went all out.
Looking at current HTC products now, there aren't anything really special (I'm talking strictly from the physical point of view, since operating systems are all the same across the manufacturers anyway).
People are often amazed when I tell them that the Note is my third 5" phone. I loved the Advantage and the Dell Streak I had before the Note. No way I can go to a smaller screen. Very happy that the rest of the world is catching on to the benefits of a large screen device. And there are things I miss from Windows Mobile. I found it easier to flash ROMs and change the look and feel of the device.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
New updates on review are in the 2nd post. Thanks for reading!
Hey everyone! Many of you know me from other threads or some Q&A, but I wanted to share my experience with the Nexus 6P. I do have a thread where you can ask me anything to try or test out on the device, to help answer some questions. I am a front end developer, UX/UI designer, and business owner. This review is based on how I use the phone and where the phone either shines or fails to perform to my needs. The #hype is real on this device and I am hoping to provide you some feedback that removes the bias of #hype and focuses on the device. Hope you find this helpful and thanks for reading!
Introduction
The Nexus 6P is probably the one device I was so excited to get since the iPhone 4. From reading every possible hands on review, watching every YouTube video, and being on the forums trying to calculate shipping dates. This phone has generated so much buzz that I finally felt so excited to get a device. Compared to last year, nothing was "omfg must have". The Nexus 6P filled that hope.
Ergonomics & Hardware
There is no need for me to get into the specs, we all know them or they are easily available elsewhere. This review is about how the specs of the phone play to the hardware and software to make OUR experience the best. The Nexus 6P has some amazing hardware. I got the 32gb Aluminum (long live #aluminati!) version. It is such a delight to hold. The device feels fantastic in my hands, and I have average size hands for a 5'10" individual. I am coming from a Moto X Pure, Note 5, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPhone 6, and Nexus 6 over the past year. Yes, I change phones frequently...mostly for entertainment or variety. Unlike the iPhones, Note 5, and Nexus 6 - The 6P feels stable in my hands, easy to hold, my thumb can reach across the screen without slipping and the weight of the device does help me balance it for one handed use. Where iPhones were so light and thin, the ergonomics sucked to hold; the 6P thickness actually helps in one handed use. The width of the device is not so wide, like the 2014 N6, that one handed use is easy and 2 handed use works just fine as well.
Slippery - Or should I say, lack thereof? The metal on the phone has a slight grip to it. Similar to that of the Moto X Pure (minus the rubber), but it stays in my hand. Those of you worried about the metal frame and possibly being slippery like the iPhones or even Nexus 6; have no fear.
Metal & Screen - Every version (color) will probably differ. I can only speak for the aluminum version. I have barely put the device down and I have zero fingerprints on the back. Oils do not absorb into the metal to look dirty. The only area where fingerprints are obvious is where they should be...on the screen. Which brings me to the glass of the screen. The glass, in the first hours, felt good but over the ongoing use it has been a little tough for me to slide my fingers over. Could be me or maybe I just need to put the damn phone down. The glass is beautiful and seems strong, but I ordered a glass screen protector to help with fingerprints and always feeling smooth to the touch.
There is a lip around the edge. The metal lip seems to be that of 0.2mm, give or take. It's extremely subtle, but obvious it is there to the touch. If that is something that would bother you, the glass screen protectors seem to hit the correct dimensions in thickness to flatten the surface out entirely. I can imagine the lip probably makes applying a glass screen protector even easier due to form fitting vs aligning.
Buttons and Fingerprint Sensors
The buttons are metal and solid. They don't wiggle around, which drove me insane on my iPhone and Moto X Pure. You can tell they were built well. The home button has a texture to identify easily and works quite well. The click in on volume and home buttons have a easily identifying feedback so you know you are pushing them. As silly as it may sound, the Moto X Pure failed in that area. Where the buttons were so easy to push and lack of feedback on press, there were nights where I would watch a YouTube clip and accidentally click the volume in and piss off the lady.
The fingerprint sensor is like every other reviewer has put it. Extremely fast and reliable. I programmed my index and middle fingers on both hands to the fingerprint sensor. I love that I can pull my phone out of my pocket and its ready to go without awkward thumb bending on the front to reach. Only gripe here on the UX is the inability to unlock the device with my fingerprint when it's laying on my desk. It's not a huge deal to some, but I am at a desk non stop. There is a solution, in Android Marshmallow for this though. I setup certain areas as my "trusted" areas. My car, for example, is a trusted connection and the phone does not require to unlock. I did the same for the bluetooth on my work desk. Solves the issue, but leaves the phone open to access if that worries you.
Notification Light
I love notification lights. This one is simple and great. Not buried into the speaker. Obvious pulsing and colors. Just make sure you turn it on! My phone had it disabled. To enable, go to settings > Notifications > Pulse Notification Light. This is one of my favorite features, for as simple and dumb as it may sound.
Speed and Battery
This phone is lightning fast for me. It was built to work fluidly with Android M and it does exactly that. I haven't ran into any hiccups, crashing, issues and everything just...works! Not sure when I was last able to say that about an Android device. This is the first Android I don't have the "want or need" to begin installing greenify, sleep, and other apps that help chill the phone out and not drain the battery. App switching is smooth, RAM usage has stayed consistently at 1.5gb and the camera opens without stutter or lag for me. I frequently find something I wish to take a picture of and it just opens without delay. More on the camera further down.
The battery is great. The synergy with Android M, Doze, and the Nexus 6p - the battery life for me has been phenomenal. It's too early to reveal screenshots, but just in my general use today I have only used 9% of my battery. I have sent numerous emails, taken some pictures, showed off the device, used Google Maps for navigation, and listened to a Play Music Radio Station on the drive to work. I am happy to say that I am sure battery life won't be a big complaint amongst users. If you use your device so intensively, the rapid charging is rapid. Not as fast as my Moto X Pure, but pretty darn fast. It won't let you down.
Battery life screenshots attached in this post. I am impressed by the battery on this device.
Camera
I ****ing love this camera. The pictures are beautiful, detailed, and vibrant with colors. I take a lot of pictures with my devices and generally, my family will ask me to use my phone (whatever it may be at the time) to take those perfect shots. The focus, ISO, exposure and color has not let me down at all. I was able to get some amazing night shots, with the improved camera here. Lack of OIS isn't missed much on pictures, but at 4k video recording it would have been very helpful. In general, the camera is reliable and great quality. The pictures you may want to take at a bar or night environment will probably come out better than that of any other phone...with or without a flash. Samples attached of a couple night shots I posted elsewhere.
I did install a camera app called FV-5. It gives you far more control over the camera and has made some pictures really incredible. I have to tinker with it more and learn about some settings, but the face detection, focus and more on the app really allows the hardware to shine. Hopefully they update it quickly with more support for the 6P camera hardware features.
Connectivity
The most important part of the phone. I have Verizon and some areas in my house or office will be weaker than others. Where my Moto X Pure wasn't getting the best signal, I do see a slight stronger signal on the 6P. Nothing much though and wouldn't bank on it improving your past experiences substantially. WiFi speeds are great. I attached a screenshot of my speeds at home, on WiFi, with the 6P.
Bluetooth and Car
I use my phone in the car all the time. If this one aspect of a phone is flawed, then it goes back. I was concerned at first, because the phone and car would not connect. I was worried it was related to Android M. After I turned off bluetooth and turned it back on - it connected and paired, finally. I was most worried at this point.
Since then, I have gotten in and out of my car and the transition and connection to bluetooth has been seamless and quick. Where my Moto X Pure and iPhones took about 30 seconds to finally connect to the car and have a 3s gap where I miss conversation; The 6P seems to connect and transition the audio instantly. I hope it stays that way!
In the End?
I love this phone. It does live up to the #hype. Without any bias to my excitement to have it, this phone has pretty much hit every aspect of feature I would want out of a mobile device. The best part is IT JUST WORKS. That used to be my argument for Apple devices, but I can now say the same for Android. Sorry if that disappoints some of you... This is also the first android device where I don't feel the need to unlock or root. I will unlock and root because it's a Nexus and I like to develop/test ROMS out. However, those of you who felt you had to rely on unlocking and rooting to tinker settings, you may find that you won't have that urge to do so anymore. If anything, I'll do it for TWRP.
Where I would normally plan on switching devices every few months or 6 months, I can see myself keeping this device for a year to 2 years. Just won't tell the lady that or else I'll hear it when I want to upgrade to next years Nexus line...
Lastly, in the day using it, I have had many people ask me, "Hey, what phone is that?". While I don't care for being known to have the latest and greatest, it's fun showing it off. I can't wait to see some Frosties or Graphites in the wild, but for you folks with #aluminati...stand proud and shine. I hope this helped provide some honest insight and answer some questions.
Thanks folks!
Note: The only changes I made to the pictures was reduce the size of them. They were too large to upload, but no post edits were done for enhancements.
***UPDATES***
Blue Tint / Hue: I got our second device today and first thing I looked for was the blue tint/hue. I am surprised to say that there really isn't much of one on the second device. It's the exact same 32gb aluminum. That being said, I still never notice it on the first device and personally don't find it worth the effort to replace.
Bluetooth Issues: Some bluetooth connectivity issues have began to show their faces. I think it has to do with Android 6.0 and NOT the 6P, but we'll see.
Car: Mazda3 2014 Grand Touring, updated to most recent software
Symptoms: "Google Now" isn't working when connected. It seems that the device is depending on the vehicles microphone for any input and the vehicle microphone only triggers on button press. My other devices in the past year did not have this problem, including iPhone's "Hey Siri".
Resolution: Pending
Speakers: This is purely based on opinion, but I love the speakers on the 6P. I find them to sound rich and some great tones for a phone. I DO prefer them to my Moto X Pure, don't shoot me. Really though, speakers are great. I watched a movie last night from the device, for about 30 minutes, and no pops, crackles, stutters at all. Was pleased.
I did notice on speakers, that the volume range is a bit wonky. The low to mid setting for speakers in media playback was quite hard to hear. At 75% it was what I expect at medium. At 100% it was too loud. Food for thought, but hopefully this is addressed in software updates or use Viper.
What accessories are you using?
I love to accessorize my devices. I usually run my phone naked, to display all of it's beauty and engineering. Project Fi did send me a 50% off the ADOPTED case, which I ordered. Can't beat $10.81 with free shipping on a Google official case.
Screen Protectors:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016XZLFD6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014UNPYEE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01
These haven't arrived yet. One gets in Tuesday. I will test it out to make sure it does not block any sensors along with making the lip feel flush. Will report back on these.
Car Charger:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0146FK3G0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01
There is a great thread, somewhere in accessories about Car Chargers. If you have lots of questions about it or need specifics, most have been answered there. I will say that RAPID CHARGING from this charger DOES WORK. Confirmed. I was able to charge up from 60% to 100% on a short drive home. It works great and the spare USB slot is appreciated.
Extra USB-C Cable:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010VFFSL4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
Braided, heavy duty and feels very solid/premium. Length is great and I am using it with a Moto X Pure charging block. Rapid charging works and it's a great cable.
Car Mount:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VEAF6SG?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00
This is the first car mount I have tried. I am picky about how things are in my car and I like it clean. Since my CD slot is at the bottom of the front dash, this fits quite well. It doesn't shake much and gets the job done.
Con: The piece that holds the phone expands and snaps back to default when you remove the device. It's not the easiest to use. You also can't center your device because the "arms" that hold the phone will press the volume/power key. This thing looks like it was built for an iPhone or LG G3+ type phone. Food for thought.
SPEAKERS VOLUME VIDEO:
***UPDATE TO OP 11/03***
Hey everyone! So after a week of use, I have some updates to the review. I have pasted the updates below, so you don't have to jump back to OP.
Battery
This seems to be one of the most discussed topics and quite a sensitive one! Some users are experiencing incredible SoT while others are not. Ultimately, it will boil down to what apps you have installed along with your connectivity. If your LTE connection is weak, your phone's battery will reflect that. There are many factors to take into consideration with battery, so please understand it is literally per individual basis!
Disclaimer: I haven't received any OTA updates yet. There have been 3 thus far and probably address some of the issues I have.
Over the weekend, I noticed my battery life not lasting as long as I would like. Almost seemed that every 5 minutes I was on the phone, I would lose roughly 3%-5%. This raised some questions so I started diving into the possible issues.
Symptoms:
Phone near fingerprint sensor would get warm during phone calls
Bluetooth constantly scanning
WiFi active during Doze/Sleep
WiFi scanning
GPS on
Solution:
Disabled Bluetooth and WiFi scanning passively
WiFi Advanced settings, disabled WiFi on during sleep
GPS was set to battery saving, but wasn't working. Simply turn off GPS, turn it back on, and check battery saving (this was an odd one)
With those adjustments, I have now noticed my battery in DOZE would lose roughly 2% over 4 hours. I'll get some screenshots and update the OP when they are available. Still testing. Battery life after the fixes are substantially better, however, my device is still getting warm while on calls where our second 6P does NOT. Due to this, a replacement has been overnighted to me. When that arrives, I will be unlocking/rooting to have some more fun with reporting to everyone.
VEHICLE BLUETOOTH
So, either this is new in Android M or my car is losing it's AI mind (or lack thereof), but I have figured out what it's doing. When placing a call through the device or the car, the phone will go into a "dialing" status. While it's in "dialing" status, the car will continue to play my music. When someone on the other end of the call picks up, the audio will switch to the phone. It hasn't been easy adjusting to this and I do wish I would just hear the dial tone, but everything else works great in car.
SCREEN PROTECTOR
I just received one of my screen protectors. I will apply it this evening, record it and share the link here for everyone to see. First impressions are that it misses the "edge to edge" by a slight amount. There is a lip on the edge of the device. My hope was the glass would extend from lip to lip. Not the case here, but still worth a shot. The glass DOES protrude above the lip. Glass thickness is slightly thicker than the other posted above, according to specs. That one arrives today, hopefully!
If something like that will bother you, I don't recommend the Yoozon glass. Video will come soon and you can see for yourself and decide which may be best for you, if any.
FINGERPRINT SENSOR
Still works like a charm. I hope they have an update that allows you to use a little more of the edge of your fingers, similar to Sammies or Apple. Other than that, it's reliable and fast even if your finger has moisture. Good stuff Huawei.
More to come soon, but hope this provides you more info and helps!
Thank you for the excellent review.
Excellent review and agree with everything you have said this is one of the best phones I have owned and I have owned a lot of them.
Thanks for the review! I'm currently test-driving a Moto X Pure, and have a week or so left to return it, which means if I want to get the Nexus 6P I'll have to go back to my old LG G2 for several weeks until Huawei gets its butt in gear and starts pumping out more 64gb models. What's your take on the 6P vs. the X Pure?
Chief85 said:
Thanks for the review! I'm currently test-driving a Moto X Pure, and have a week or so left to return it, which means if I want to get the Nexus 6P I'll have to go back to my old LG G2 for several weeks until Huawei gets its butt in gear and starts pumping out more 64gb models. What's your take on the 6P vs. the X Pure?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! Seeing that I literally just came from the Moto X Pure to the 6P, I can say that I have not looked back or regret doing so. I gave my X Pure to my business partner (he was on a 2014 model still). There is a noticeable height difference, but I like it. It actually places the volume rocker and power button in the right spot for my thumb. Unless you did Moto Maker and like that super unique look, I'd pick the 6P hands down.
Great review! Thanks for sharing.
tehpud said:
Hey everyone! Many of you know me from other threads or some Q&A, but I wanted to share my experience with the Nexus 6P. I do have a thread where you can ask me anything to try or test out on the device, to help answer some questions. I am a front end developer, UX/UI designer, and business owner. This review is based on how I use the phone and where the phone either shines or fails to perform to my needs. The #hype is real on this device and I am hoping to provide you some feedback that removes the bias of #hype and focuses on the device. Hope you find this helpful and thanks for reading!
Introduction
The Nexus 6P is probably the one device I was so excited to get since the iPhone 4. From reading every possible hands on review, watching every YouTube video, and being on the forums trying to calculate shipping dates. This phone has generated so much buzz that I finally felt so excited to get a device. Compared to last year, nothing was "omfg must have". The Nexus 6P filled that hope.
Ergonomics & Hardware
There is no need for me to get into the specs, we all know them or they are easily available elsewhere. This review is about how the specs of the phone play to the hardware and software to make OUR experience the best. The Nexus 6P has some amazing hardware. I got the 32gb Aluminum (long live #aluminati!) version. It is such a delight to hold. The device feels fantastic in my hands, and I have average size hands for a 5'10" individual. I am coming from a Moto X Pure, Note 5, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPhone 6, and Nexus 6 over the past year. Yes, I change phones frequently...mostly for entertainment or variety. Unlike the iPhones, Note 5, and Nexus 6 - The 6P feels stable in my hands, easy to hold, my thumb can reach across the screen without slipping and the weight of the device does help me balance it for one handed use. Where iPhones were so light and thin, the ergonomics sucked to hold; the 6P thickness actually helps in one handed use. The width of the device is not so wide, like the 2014 N6, that one handed use is easy and 2 handed use works just fine as well.
Slippery - Or should I say, lack thereof? The metal on the phone has a slight grip to it. Similar to that of the Moto X Pure (minus the rubber), but it stays in my hand. Those of you worried about the metal frame and possibly being slippery like the iPhones or even Nexus 6; have no fear.
Metal & Screen - Every version (color) will probably differ. I can only speak for the aluminum version. I have barely put the device down and I have zero fingerprints on the back. Oils do not absorb into the metal to look dirty. The only area where fingerprints are obvious is where they should be...on the screen. Which brings me to the glass of the screen. The glass, in the first hours, felt good but over the ongoing use it has been a little tough for me to slide my fingers over. Could be me or maybe I just need to put the damn phone down. The glass is beautiful and seems strong, but I ordered a glass screen protector to help with fingerprints and always feeling smooth to the touch.
There is a lip around the edge. The metal lip seems to be that of 0.2mm, give or take. It's extremely subtle, but obvious it is there to the touch. If that is something that would bother you, the glass screen protectors seem to hit the correct dimensions in thickness to flatten the surface out entirely. I can imagine the lip probably makes applying a glass screen protector even easier due to form fitting vs aligning.
Buttons and Fingerprint Sensors
The buttons are metal and solid. They don't wiggle around, which drove me insane on my iPhone and Moto X Pure. You can tell they were built well. The home button has a texture to identify easily and works quite well. The click in on volume and home buttons have a easily identifying feedback so you know you are pushing them. As silly as it may sound, the Moto X Pure failed in that area. Where the buttons were so easy to push and lack of feedback on press, there were nights where I would watch a YouTube clip and accidentally click the volume in and piss off the lady.
The fingerprint sensor is like every other reviewer has put it. Extremely fast and reliable. I programmed my index and middle fingers on both hands to the fingerprint sensor. I love that I can pull my phone out of my pocket and its ready to go without awkward thumb bending on the front to reach. Only gripe here on the UX is the inability to unlock the device with my fingerprint when it's laying on my desk. It's not a huge deal to some, but I am at a desk non stop. There is a solution, in Android Marshmallow for this though. I setup certain areas as my "trusted" areas. My car, for example, is a trusted connection and the phone does not require to unlock. I did the same for the bluetooth on my work desk. Solves the issue, but leaves the phone open to access if that worries you.
Notification Light
I love notification lights. This one is simple and great. Not buried into the speaker. Obvious pulsing and colors. Just make sure you turn it on! My phone had it disabled. To enable, go to settings > Notifications > Pulse Notification Light. This is one of my favorite features, for as simple and dumb as it may sound.
Speed and Battery
This phone is lightning fast for me. It was built to work fluidly with Android M and it does exactly that. I haven't ran into any hiccups, crashing, issues and everything just...works! Not sure when I was last able to say that about an Android device. This is the first Android I don't have the "want or need" to begin installing greenify, sleep, and other apps that help chill the phone out and not drain the battery. App switching is smooth, RAM usage has stayed consistently at 1.5gb and the camera opens without stutter or lag for me. I frequently find something I wish to take a picture of and it just opens without delay. More on the camera further down.
The battery is great. The synergy with Android M, Doze, and the Nexus 6p - the battery life for me has been phenomenal. It's too early to reveal screenshots, but just in my general use today I have only used 9% of my battery. I have sent numerous emails, taken some pictures, showed off the device, used Google Maps for navigation, and listened to a Play Music Radio Station on the drive to work. I am happy to say that I am sure battery life won't be a big complaint amongst users. If you use your device so intensively, the rapid charging is rapid. Not as fast as my Moto X Pure, but pretty darn fast. It won't let you down.
Camera
I ****ing love this camera. The pictures are beautiful, detailed, and vibrant with colors. I take a lot of pictures with my devices and generally, my family will ask me to use my phone (whatever it may be at the time) to take those perfect shots. The focus, ISO, exposure and color has not let me down at all. I was able to get some amazing night shots, with the improved camera here. Lack of OIS isn't missed much on pictures, but at 4k video recording it would have been very helpful. In general, the camera is reliable and great quality. The pictures you may want to take at a bar or night environment will probably come out better than that of any other phone...with or without a flash. Samples attached of a couple night shots I posted elsewhere.
I did install a camera app called FV-5. It gives you far more control over the camera and has made some pictures really incredible. I have to tinker with it more and learn about some settings, but the face detection, focus and more on the app really allows the hardware to shine. Hopefully they update it quickly with more support for the 6P camera hardware features.
Connectivity
The most important part of the phone. I have Verizon and some areas in my house or office will be weaker than others. Where my Moto X Pure wasn't getting the best signal, I do see a slight stronger signal on the 6P. Nothing much though and wouldn't bank on it improving your past experiences substantially. WiFi speeds are great. I attached a screenshot of my speeds at home, on WiFi, with the 6P.
Bluetooth and Car
I use my phone in the car all the time. If this one aspect of a phone is flawed, then it goes back. I was concerned at first, because the phone and car would not connect. I was worried it was related to Android M. After I turned off bluetooth and turned it back on - it connected and paired, finally. I was most worried at this point.
Since then, I have gotten in and out of my car and the transition and connection to bluetooth has been seamless and quick. Where my Moto X Pure and iPhones took about 30 seconds to finally connect to the car and have a 3s gap where I miss conversation; The 6P seems to connect and transition the audio instantly. I hope it stays that way!
In the End?
I love this phone. It does live up to the #hype. Without any bias to my excitement to have it, this phone has pretty much hit every aspect of feature I would want out of a mobile device. The best part is IT JUST WORKS. That used to be my argument for Apple devices, but I can now say the same for Android. Sorry if that disappoints some of you... This is also the first android device where I don't feel the need to unlock or root. I will unlock and root because it's a Nexus and I like to develop/test ROMS out. However, those of you who felt you had to rely on unlocking and rooting to tinker settings, you may find that you won't have that urge to do so anymore. If anything, I'll do it for TWRP.
Where I would normally plan on switching devices every few months or 6 months, I can see myself keeping this device for a year to 2 years. Just won't tell the lady that or else I'll hear it when I want to upgrade to next years Nexus line...
Lastly, in the day using it, I have had many people ask me, "Hey, what phone is that?". While I don't care for being known to have the latest and greatest, it's fun showing it off. I can't wait to see some Frosties or Graphites in the wild, but for you folks with #aluminati...stand proud and shine. I hope this helped provide some honest insight and answer some questions.
Thanks folks!
Note: The only changes I made to the pictures was reduce the size of them. They were too large to upload, but no post edits were done for enhancements.
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You have a fantastic cat sir
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
I think it is a very good review. Granted, I have only had my phone for just now 24 hours and only completed full set up early this AM.
Can't speak about the battery yet as it is too early to tell and it has been on and off charger. I anticipate tonight forward I can get a better read.
Camera is one of the best and I REALLY like the Moto X 2015 Pure. I think N6P may trump it as a few low light pics came out great. At very least is on par with Apple 6S Plus which I also own.
Fingerprint scanner is phenomenal and IS faster than Apple 6S Plus, which I thought was fast. N6P trumps it.
Now, I don't necessarily agree with connectivity on LTE: I STILL think MOTO has better radios and at work I have very sketchy connectivity. I do notice my Nexus 6 and even when I owned the Moto X 2015 Pure, it would grab a weaker signal and have faster data connections moreso than the Nexus 6P. I had to keep toggling airplane mode on the Nexus 6P to get signals. So, I think it is OK but MOTO still has better radios IMHO.
Furthermore, I also think the processor is a "tad" slower than Nexus 6. The Nexus 6 seems to fly and is speedier (both Nexus 6 and N6P are decrypted as well). Granted, I perceive no lag on the N6P, but I definitely feel a controlled movement.
Good review, but my thoughts differ from yours a bit.
My Nexus 6P just arrived. Initial impression? The screen on my Moto X Pure is better (brighter, better whites, less graininess up close). Also, the speakers on the Moto X Pure are better. The Moto X Pure is also a little smaller and easier to grip with the rubber back. My Moto X Pure has very clicky and solid buttons, so maybe that's just a flaw in your particular Moto X.
I'm actually shocked because I fully expected to fall in love with the 6P immediately and ditch the Moto X Pure based on the stellar reviews I have been seeing, but now I'm thinking this is going to be a tougher decision than I thought, and I might actually end up returning the 6P!
Chief85 said:
Thanks for the review! I'm currently test-driving a Moto X Pure, and have a week or so left to return it, which means if I want to get the Nexus 6P I'll have to go back to my old LG G2 for several weeks until Huawei gets its butt in gear and starts pumping out more 64gb models. What's your take on the 6P vs. the X Pure?
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I am in exactly same boat. Have till Nov. 13. Great review OP. You make me really want one and if they were readily available I probably would have it.
tehpud said:
Hey everyone! Many of you know me from other threads or some Q&A, but I wanted to share my experience with the Nexus 6P. I do have a thread where you can ask me anything to try or test out on the device, to help answer some questions. I am a front end developer, UX/UI designer, and business owner. This review is based on how I use the phone and where the phone either shines or fails to perform to my needs. The #hype is real on this device and I am hoping to provide you some feedback that removes the bias of #hype and focuses on the device. Hope you find this helpful and thanks for reading!
Introduction
The Nexus 6P is probably the one device I was so excited to get since the iPhone 4. From reading every possible hands on review, watching every YouTube video, and being on the forums trying to calculate shipping dates. This phone has generated so much buzz that I finally felt so excited to get a device. Compared to last year, nothing was "omfg must have". The Nexus 6P filled that hope.
Ergonomics & Hardware
There is no need for me to get into the specs, we all know them or they are easily available elsewhere. This review is about how the specs of the phone play to the hardware and software to make OUR experience the best. The Nexus 6P has some amazing hardware. I got the 32gb Aluminum (long live #aluminati!) version. It is such a delight to hold. The device feels fantastic in my hands, and I have average size hands for a 5'10" individual. I am coming from a Moto X Pure, Note 5, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPhone 6, and Nexus 6 over the past year. Yes, I change phones frequently...mostly for entertainment or variety. Unlike the iPhones, Note 5, and Nexus 6 - The 6P feels stable in my hands, easy to hold, my thumb can reach across the screen without slipping and the weight of the device does help me balance it for one handed use. Where iPhones were so light and thin, the ergonomics sucked to hold; the 6P thickness actually helps in one handed use. The width of the device is not so wide, like the 2014 N6, that one handed use is easy and 2 handed use works just fine as well.
Slippery - Or should I say, lack thereof? The metal on the phone has a slight grip to it. Similar to that of the Moto X Pure (minus the rubber), but it stays in my hand. Those of you worried about the metal frame and possibly being slippery like the iPhones or even Nexus 6; have no fear.
Metal & Screen - Every version (color) will probably differ. I can only speak for the aluminum version. I have barely put the device down and I have zero fingerprints on the back. Oils do not absorb into the metal to look dirty. The only area where fingerprints are obvious is where they should be...on the screen. Which brings me to the glass of the screen. The glass, in the first hours, felt good but over the ongoing use it has been a little tough for me to slide my fingers over. Could be me or maybe I just need to put the damn phone down. The glass is beautiful and seems strong, but I ordered a glass screen protector to help with fingerprints and always feeling smooth to the touch.
There is a lip around the edge. The metal lip seems to be that of 0.2mm, give or take. It's extremely subtle, but obvious it is there to the touch. If that is something that would bother you, the glass screen protectors seem to hit the correct dimensions in thickness to flatten the surface out entirely. I can imagine the lip probably makes applying a glass screen protector even easier due to form fitting vs aligning.
Buttons and Fingerprint Sensors
The buttons are metal and solid. They don't wiggle around, which drove me insane on my iPhone and Moto X Pure. You can tell they were built well. The home button has a texture to identify easily and works quite well. The click in on volume and home buttons have a easily identifying feedback so you know you are pushing them. As silly as it may sound, the Moto X Pure failed in that area. Where the buttons were so easy to push and lack of feedback on press, there were nights where I would watch a YouTube clip and accidentally click the volume in and piss off the lady.
The fingerprint sensor is like every other reviewer has put it. Extremely fast and reliable. I programmed my index and middle fingers on both hands to the fingerprint sensor. I love that I can pull my phone out of my pocket and its ready to go without awkward thumb bending on the front to reach. Only gripe here on the UX is the inability to unlock the device with my fingerprint when it's laying on my desk. It's not a huge deal to some, but I am at a desk non stop. There is a solution, in Android Marshmallow for this though. I setup certain areas as my "trusted" areas. My car, for example, is a trusted connection and the phone does not require to unlock. I did the same for the bluetooth on my work desk. Solves the issue, but leaves the phone open to access if that worries you.
Notification Light
I love notification lights. This one is simple and great. Not buried into the speaker. Obvious pulsing and colors. Just make sure you turn it on! My phone had it disabled. To enable, go to settings > Notifications > Pulse Notification Light. This is one of my favorite features, for as simple and dumb as it may sound.
Speed and Battery
This phone is lightning fast for me. It was built to work fluidly with Android M and it does exactly that. I haven't ran into any hiccups, crashing, issues and everything just...works! Not sure when I was last able to say that about an Android device. This is the first Android I don't have the "want or need" to begin installing greenify, sleep, and other apps that help chill the phone out and not drain the battery. App switching is smooth, RAM usage has stayed consistently at 1.5gb and the camera opens without stutter or lag for me. I frequently find something I wish to take a picture of and it just opens without delay. More on the camera further down.
The battery is great. The synergy with Android M, Doze, and the Nexus 6p - the battery life for me has been phenomenal. It's too early to reveal screenshots, but just in my general use today I have only used 9% of my battery. I have sent numerous emails, taken some pictures, showed off the device, used Google Maps for navigation, and listened to a Play Music Radio Station on the drive to work. I am happy to say that I am sure battery life won't be a big complaint amongst users. If you use your device so intensively, the rapid charging is rapid. Not as fast as my Moto X Pure, but pretty darn fast. It won't let you down.
Camera
I ****ing love this camera. The pictures are beautiful, detailed, and vibrant with colors. I take a lot of pictures with my devices and generally, my family will ask me to use my phone (whatever it may be at the time) to take those perfect shots. The focus, ISO, exposure and color has not let me down at all. I was able to get some amazing night shots, with the improved camera here. Lack of OIS isn't missed much on pictures, but at 4k video recording it would have been very helpful. In general, the camera is reliable and great quality. The pictures you may want to take at a bar or night environment will probably come out better than that of any other phone...with or without a flash. Samples attached of a couple night shots I posted elsewhere.
I did install a camera app called FV-5. It gives you far more control over the camera and has made some pictures really incredible. I have to tinker with it more and learn about some settings, but the face detection, focus and more on the app really allows the hardware to shine. Hopefully they update it quickly with more support for the 6P camera hardware features.
Connectivity
The most important part of the phone. I have Verizon and some areas in my house or office will be weaker than others. Where my Moto X Pure wasn't getting the best signal, I do see a slight stronger signal on the 6P. Nothing much though and wouldn't bank on it improving your past experiences substantially. WiFi speeds are great. I attached a screenshot of my speeds at home, on WiFi, with the 6P.
Bluetooth and Car
I use my phone in the car all the time. If this one aspect of a phone is flawed, then it goes back. I was concerned at first, because the phone and car would not connect. I was worried it was related to Android M. After I turned off bluetooth and turned it back on - it connected and paired, finally. I was most worried at this point.
Since then, I have gotten in and out of my car and the transition and connection to bluetooth has been seamless and quick. Where my Moto X Pure and iPhones took about 30 seconds to finally connect to the car and have a 3s gap where I miss conversation; The 6P seems to connect and transition the audio instantly. I hope it stays that way!
In the End?
I love this phone. It does live up to the #hype. Without any bias to my excitement to have it, this phone has pretty much hit every aspect of feature I would want out of a mobile device. The best part is IT JUST WORKS. That used to be my argument for Apple devices, but I can now say the same for Android. Sorry if that disappoints some of you... This is also the first android device where I don't feel the need to unlock or root. I will unlock and root because it's a Nexus and I like to develop/test ROMS out. However, those of you who felt you had to rely on unlocking and rooting to tinker settings, you may find that you won't have that urge to do so anymore. If anything, I'll do it for TWRP.
Where I would normally plan on switching devices every few months or 6 months, I can see myself keeping this device for a year to 2 years. Just won't tell the lady that or else I'll hear it when I want to upgrade to next years Nexus line...
Lastly, in the day using it, I have had many people ask me, "Hey, what phone is that?". While I don't care for being known to have the latest and greatest, it's fun showing it off. I can't wait to see some Frosties or Graphites in the wild, but for you folks with #aluminati...stand proud and shine. I hope this helped provide some honest insight and answer some questions.
Thanks folks!
Note: The only changes I made to the pictures was reduce the size of them. They were too large to upload, but no post edits were done for enhancements.
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Is that a Huawei watch?
bullshark888 said:
Is that a Huawei watch?
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Yup!
tehpud said:
Yup!
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I am still debating this or the 360, maybe wait for the black Friday.
bullshark888 said:
I am still debating this or the 360, maybe wait for the black Friday.
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I would wait for Black Friday tbh. I am probably going to return it and wait for the Moto 360 Sport. I already have a nice watch, but need something that I can use while I work out.
Was there really a need to start a new thread about reviews?
Now that is what I call a fantastic review
Very nice review. Thank you for taking the time and sharing. I think I know my next device after mapping this against the Moto X Pure.
Does VoLTE work on Verizon with the 6p? If not, does it have dual radios to let you call on CDMA and still use LTE data?
jmileti said:
I am in exactly same boat. Have till Nov. 13. Great review OP. You make me really want one and if they were readily available I probably would have it.
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Very frustrating! If only I could hold both at the same time...
I absolutely hate the fingerprint scanner. It's slow and always gives an error message of no match or press harder. This is even without a screen protector and with the extra sensitivity enabled. I've even watched videos on how to scan fingerprints to get a better read for unlocking. I'm thinking of eliminating the lock altogether, which is not my first preference. I read where someone reset their phone and it seemed better, but I'm really not in the mood for that - too much time invested. Anybody have anything to suggest?
I'm not an iPhone fan, but I've seen people use the fingerprint scanner on those and they fly.
Note 10 snapdragon. Fingerprint reader is stupid fast and reliable 100% of the time for me.After the September update its even better. Even with a glass screen protector, if its installed properly, it works reasonably well and is reliable.If you have problems on a naked display, either you aren't scanning the fingerprints properly or just have burnt your fingerprints lol or its a hardware problem.
I agree with @jass65, I have no issues whatsoever, furthermore I don't even use it often as I prefer the face unlock, I know its much less secure, but its secure enough for me, but when I do use it....it works with no issues.
Default screen protector and thumb scanned twice
I use facelock and fingerprint and although facelock is insecure i had to resort to it as fingerprint, on its own and in comparison to N9 one, is slow for my taste.
I have the Snapdragon version. Finger print scanner gives me issues to. But my issue is that I have dry rough hands from manual labor when I was a kid. Sometimes it just doesn't want to work. Others it's blazing fast.
It works great when I put some hand lotion on my hands... LOL My fingerprints are all pretty messed up from dryness, rough work and such. Even with the messed up fingerprints, it still works when I try a couple of times and also leaving the finger on the sensor a little longer.
Same here: works great most of the time, but gets finicky if my fingers are unusually dry. I think maybe the lower friction with dry fingers causes the finger to move a bit during scanning. If I make an extra effort to hold still against the glass, then it works.
But what I usually find myself doing is quickly moistening my finger with my lips, as people in prior centuries used to do when turning the pages of books.
Gary02468 said:
Same here: works great most of the time, but gets finicky if my fingers are unusually dry. I think maybe the lower friction with dry fingers causes the finger to move a bit during scanning. If I make an extra effort to hold still against the glass, then it works.
But what I usually find myself doing is quickly moistening my finger with my lips, as people in prior centuries used to do when turning the pages of books.
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I think you guys are right - dry skin is a problem for reader. The moistening suggestion works, but I'm not happy with that. I've re-scanned my fingerprints at least 3 times, and the last time has been the best. One difference was when scanning, I put my flat thumb down several times until finished, but without rolling it to get sides, until the second part of the scan asked for that. I feel this has produced better results.
might not matter here, but comparing speeds to my OP7 Pro (yes I know different technology) the OP7 Pro is almost instant whereas the Note takes a few seconds. Just from what i've seen.
i have registered all 4 four fingers as as my thumb ! it works just fine after that !
I'm not impressed by it (Exynos). If the fix Sansung is making to improve security and the effectiveness with use of a screen protector, wouldn't they be better selling the OE screen protectors?
Although fingerprints work initially, after 1 or 2 days they are not accurate. Exynos
So, as title is saying I would like to know do A3 users with custom roms also have slower response to FP like I saw in rrviews everywhere. Is it really a dealbreaker among with 720p display. I am in dillema between A3 and RN8T.
Smaller phone, better camera sensor, better front camera, maybe a bit better battery.
What do you think ?
I have a mia3 and my missus just bought a RN8t which will be arriving in the next couple days. If you can wait a couple days I will be able to give you a direct comparison of the two devices.
It will obviously be just my opinion but at least it's something?
garylawwd said:
I have a mia3 and my missus just bought a RN8t which will be arriving in the next couple days. If you can wait a couple days I will be able to give you a direct comparison of the two devices.
It will obviously be just my opinion but at least it's something?
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Sure mate, I cant wait, thank you.
Long post, you've been warned.
Well. I haven't installed roms, nor have a n8, but I can tell you my experience of 3 months with the thing running stock.
The thing with the fingerprint scanner is that it's a little tricky, I think it's over sensitive. If your fingers get wet or moist (sweaty), and the skin "expands" then it's gonna fail to pick your fingerprint. If you press your finger considerably harder or softer than what you did when registering the fingerprint, then it's not gonna recognize it either.
But it's a matter of getting used to, I mostly fixed it by registering my fingerprint using the same pressure that I use when normally handling the phone; also, registering the thumb I use the most in 3 of the four "slots" with different "moisture conditions" really helped. The other two slots I use for the other thumb and an index finger, which comes in handy sometimes.
Actually, lately I've been trying with registering only the tip of my fingerprint, and I've had good results. The tip of your fingers won't expand as much when wet, having sweaty hands, etc. So, using just one slot for that thumb works like a charm, maybe register two slots and you're gold.
Other problem with the stock fingerprint is that the animation robs around 1/2 second of time when unlocking, here in the forums is a tread on removing the animation (no root required) and the difference is noticeable, almost twice as fast.
Other thing that affects the speed is the display. If you have the option to have always on show the fingerprint icon (and/or the AOD on A10), the time for waking up the sensor and reading the fingerprint goes down around 1/4 second vs having the screen fully off. I have this feature off, because I fear having the fingerprint icon always on, might cause screen burning in the AMOLED panel, and I plan on keeping this phone for some years.
Also, the Android 10 update made an improvement in speed and accuracy of the sensor I could immediately notice it after the update.
Having said all that:
If you configure the fingerprint the way the phone likes it, and have the speed tweaks I mentioned above, the successful read rate is around 95% and the sensor speed is nearly the same as a capacitive sensor. Arround 0.33 seconds for the a3 vs an average capacitative sensor's 0.25 seconds, which is a barely noticeable difference, really.
In the way I have my phone configured, I would say the average time I spend unlocking my phone is around 1/2 a second. (screen totally off, animation removed)
Now, the redmi's sensor:
There's no discussion. That capacitive fingerprint scanner will ALWAYS be faster and more accurate than this one. But, honestly that additional 1/4th of a second is something I can live with easily.
About the screen: I'm not gonna lie, you can see the difference in sharpness because of the difference in screen resolution of the note 8 and the mi a3. But really, I don't consider it a problem as many youtubers do. I can read the small text just fine (which is what I consider most important) and because it actually affects battery life in a positive way, A LOT.
The reported average SOT of the RN8 is of 7:30 hours, I would say the average user on a mi A3 will get ~8:30 hours of SOT. Because of the lower screen resolution and blah blah blah.
(my average sot is 10 hours btw, that includes playing games and YouTube for 1+hours each. And in days with no games it comes to arround 12h with 10% left. Notice that above I mentioned the "average user". I don't feel like comparing my usage because it would be unfair; I am not an "average" user, I actually care a lot for my battery life. Screen brightness is almost always low, black amoled backgrounds, dark mode, little background apps, etc,. But. It pays off, max SOT I've had is 15H and no user on a note 8 can achieve that, I'm sure.)
Now, finally. This phone or the RN8?
Well, it's simple. If you don't care about the little camera quality drop or the Android one updates and want a phone that has no hassles, doesn't needs tweaking, and works flawlessly (fingerprint, software) out of the box, then go for the redmi.
And if you want this phone, because you know you can take advantage of its amoled display, and the subsequent battery life improvements; and are willing to "tweak" it, and to iron some software bugs yourself, well, don't look back and buy it. Most of the stock android bugs are really minor at this point, might get officially fixed soon. And if not, most can be fixed with no root.
For me, for the price I paid. I have no regrets of buying it. I really couldn't have bought anything better for that much. Knowing how to get the best aspects of the amoled panel has proven invaluable because of the battery life and since the fingerprint works like 95% of the time, I say it's OK, and don't really feel like complaining.
Plus, I'm one of those weird ones that prefers simple stock android.
Sorry for. The long post, but I feel this is what I wish someone would have told me when I was looking to buy this phone. I did a lot of fruitless research too before buying and those YouTube videos didn't say anything about the crude reality, it's clear that they don't test the phones for more than an hour.
I saw that earlier this morning .. I thought it was funny. I also like that they are starting to promote the Fold. That's usually a good sign.
It's interesting that they haven't been pushing it much at all; I was expecting more for their inaugural outing.
krabman said:
It's interesting that they haven't been pushing it much at all; I was expecting more for their inaugural outing.
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Rather weak. So you can flip it open... is that all you got? Your target market is the woke happy-happy, joy-joy California zombies? wtf?
Like all folds it's biggest claim to fame is also it's greatest liability. From normal physical wear to firmware/software that doesn't properly integrate with the large odd shaped display. Google doesn't even attempt to allay these real concerns.
I would wait 6 months to see how it pans out before buying. Then see what the users not the reviewers are saying.
krabman said:
It's interesting that they haven't been pushing it much at all; I was expecting more for their inaugural outing.
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My guess is that they were waiting till closer to the actual physical release to push it. They probably wanted to see what the pre-order sales from I/O and word-of-mouth would get them before they start pushing it
blackhawk said:
Rather weak. So you can flip it open... is that all you got? Your target market is the woke happy-happy, joy-joy California zombies? wtf?
Like all folds it's biggest claim to fame is also it's greatest liability. From normal physical wear to firmware/software that doesn't properly integrate with the large odd shaped display. Google doesn't even attempt to allay these real concerns.
I would wait 6 months to see how it pans out before buying. Then see what the users not the reviewers are saying.
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Google worked closely with Samsung on android 12L (for larger screens) and then started to incorporate it in to android 13 and now 14. I think although it won't be as polished as oneui5 it will have most of the software as the z fold(apart from Samsung exclusive). With Google now working with developers hopefully more 3rd party apps will work better on a big screen. Still can't believe Instagram won't scale properly on a folding screen
andy242 said:
Google worked closely with Samsung on android 12L (for larger screens) and then started to incorporate it in to android 13 and now 14. I think although it won't be as polished as oneui5 it will have most of the software as the z fold(apart from Samsung exclusive). With Google now working with developers hopefully more 3rd party apps will work better on a big screen. Still can't believe Instagram won't scale properly on a folding screen
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Both Google and Samsung since the release of the folds have failed to deliver firmware/software innovations for that format. This lackluster behavior continues. Samsung is a mess right now, the result of 4 plus years of poor leadership.
I don't think Google's doing any better; they've made a mess of Android in my opinion. Both got more than they bargained for with the fold project. It's been a heavy, constant money and resource drain from its inception. No end in sight just promises as their beta product slowly evolves
The whole "it folds" is the same old story, again.
No expandable storage, sky high price points and you know right where it folds is where the trouble will start, sooner rather then latter. They can warranty it but you still lose time screwing with the claim, not having it, then reloading the bloody thing. Repair downtime is not why you buy an expensive flagship phone.
This N10+ has had in its over 8k hours of operation; with one replacement battery done in 1 day, it's only repair (routine maintenance as Li's don't last forever) in almost 4 years. It's last reload was over 3 years ago, no firmware upgrades or updates in all that time.
Minimal maintenance and no malware. Personally I'm sick of Google's constantly changing platform. I don't want to be constantly chasing down gremlins and optimizing new firmware on a stock device.
I've seen a lot of hyperbole in the last 3 years from both Google and Samsung. Sorry fact is they both haven't improved SOT; just slammed bigger, heavier batteries in. 4 year old hardware/firmware shouldn't get better SOT (with a smaller capacity battery) and be nearly as fast in actual usage as a new flagship. Google's insistence on cloud storage vs expandable has became a wretched handicap that reduces reliability, redundancy and eats power needlessly.
Scoped storage is another mess they added.
So yeah, another fold offering. Same old cake with different icing on it with a few new enticing trinkets sprinkled on top. Where it folds will remain it's Achilles heel and continue to cause user issues.
TLDR: This will be my 4th folder, love em. I'd suggest they aren't for you, which is fine; takes all kinds.
As for longevity, I've broken a whole lot of rectangles. I've also had many with firmware issues.
My fold 1 was sketchy, no question about it. The 2 however is still going strong and is currently in the hands of one of my grandkids at almost 3 years old. I wanted a better form factor and switched to the X Fold which is also still going strong at 1 year and change. All of them were dropped, slept on, etc. No kid gloves.
I like the folding form factor. It makes it much easier to format emails and that sort of thing. Enough so that I no longer carry a laptop or tablet with me. It also works well with desktop sites which is my preferred browsing mode. They're great for consuming media. I imagine gaming is problably better but i don't game on the phone so I can't comment on it.
Bottom line with all that is that It isn't just a gimmick. You don't fold it open a few times, the novelty wears off, and you use the front screen after that. It literally makes my portable phone usage better every day, all day. That's what you're missing. The fold out into tablet mode is the game altering paradigm. It needs to do that and nothing more and you already have a win. Software better utilizing it is just the gravy that makes it all taste better.
In many respects you're not wrong though, this phone is one I'd recommend to few people. Right off the bat you need to be an enthusiast or have plenty of discretionary income to swallow the buy-in. It's also early days and better products are coming. Possibly not even a folder, it could be rollables rule the roost in the future. Whatever it is I'll be there because I'm both: I love my gadgets and I'm old and have all the coffee tables a man needs in one life.
krabman said:
My fold 1 was sketchy, no question about it. The 2 however is still going strong and is currently in the hands of one of my grandkids at almost 3 years old. I wanted a better form factor and switched to the X Fold which is also still going strong at 1 year and change. All of them were dropped, slept on, etc. No kid gloves.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was that a test of durability to see exactly how long the Fold 2 will last under the supervision of an 'almost 3 year old'?
At, not an, the subject is the phone, not the granddaughter. Lol. That one came out in the later summer and will be hitting its 3 year mark soon. That granddaughter came out 9 years ago, so past the (more) destructive ages.
krabman said:
TLDR: This will be my 4th folder, love em. I'd suggest they aren't for you, which is fine; takes all kinds.
As for longevity, I've broken a whole lot of rectangles. I've also had many with firmware issues.
My fold 1 was sketchy, no question about it. The 2 however is still going strong and is currently in the hands of one of my grandkids at almost 3 years old. I wanted a better form factor and switched to the X Fold which is also still going strong at 1 year and change. All of them were dropped, slept on, etc. No kid gloves.
I like the folding form factor. It makes it much easier to format emails and that sort of thing. Enough so that I no longer carry a laptop or tablet with me. It also works well with desktop sites which is my preferred browsing mode. They're great for consuming media. I imagine gaming is problably better but i don't game on the phone so I can't comment on it.
Bottom line with all that is that It isn't just a gimmick. You don't fold it open a few times, the novelty wears off, and you use the front screen after that. It literally makes my portable phone usage better every day, all day. That's what you're missing. The fold out into tablet mode is the game altering paradigm. It needs to do that and nothing more and you already have a win. Software better utilizing it is just the gravy that makes it all taste better.
In many respects you're not wrong though, this phone is one I'd recommend to few people. Right off the bat you need to be an enthusiast or have plenty of discretionary income to swallow the buy-in. It's also early days and better products are coming. Possibly not even a folder, it could be rollables rule the roost in the future. Whatever it is I'll be there because I'm both: I love my gadgets and I'm old and have all the coffee tables a man needs in one life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apart from both Google and Samsung still not injecting true innovation and functionality that would make full use of the real estate in both firmware and software... there's one nagging little detail.
That being no known plastics or adhesive systems are up to being bent and repeatedly full cycled 0-180° flexed at that acute of an angle. Torsional loading only exacerbates the issue as invariably the display elements bear some of this. The display is not fully isolated like on a laptop.
Flexing both the display's active matrix and some of the pixels means a higher display failure rate over it's lifespan. The fact that there's multiple laminations introduces new stress and wear factors and more complex assembly processes.
A lot more things to go wrong especially if QC is not exceptional.
The design is inherently flawed because on this.
Cool. Sounds like it's not a buy for you; nothing wrong with voting with your wallet.
krabman said:
Cool. Sounds like it's not a buy for you; nothing wrong with voting with your wallet.
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Click to collapse
I refuse to part with having a dual drive device with up to 1.5tb of storage* and a integrated spen. Not getting anything that gets worse SOT per mAh. I want less downtime and more play time.
*if used right it adds redundancy and flexibility. Every device I own is dual drive. Invariably any that were not caused issues.
blackhawk said:
Apart from both Google and Samsung still not injecting true innovation and functionality that would make full use of the real estate in both firmware and software... there's one nagging little detail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even though Google has been the leader in the field of artificial intelligence. Its AI research has led to the development of many new and groundbreaking technologies, such as self-driving cars, machine translation, and image recognition. Google's AI research is helping to shape the future of technology, but it's too bad that they haven't been able to apply that same type of energy towards the OS.
I suppose that Project Butter, Material Design and Project Treble just doesn't seem to compensate for the lusterless of said device.
rodken said:
Even though Google has been the leader in the field of artificial intelligence. Its AI research has led to the development of many new and groundbreaking technologies, such as self-driving cars, machine translation, and image recognition. Google's AI research is helping to shape the future of technology, but it's too bad that they haven't been able to apply that same type of energy towards the OS.
I suppose that Project Butter, Material Design and Project Treble just doesn't seem to compensate for the lusterless of said device.
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Click to collapse
Well that's a cheap shot.
We're not talking about all their vast corporate endeavors, just what applies to this form factor.
So let me help bring it in focus instead of all over the place like the Titan crew...
Google is well known to abandon technologies, products... and leaving the end users boned. Remember that.
Here's a not so glowing review by a user that wanted to see the fold as a viable everyday phone. That didn't go so well.
Aspect ratio continues to be an issue after multiple generations of firmware. Do you buy square computer monitors? Extra display area doesn't mean usable display area. Can't fix that; it is a problem of the actual display dimensions.
Apps that display on one or both displays continue to not fully utilize the real estate available to them. How many developers are going to want to make special apps for this niche market when even Google and Samsung have trouble doing it?
It's been a bottomless money sinkhole for Samsung that's diverted huge amounts of revenue from their other flagship lines for years.
Current sales still don't justify it. I think it's no coincidence that the N10+ was their zenith point.
After that project Samsung became increasingly fragmented and the fold project exacerbated this exponentially. Consequences.
blackhawk said:
Well that's a cheap shot.
We're not talking about all their vast corporate endeavors, just what applies to this form factor.
So let me help bring it in focus instead of all over the place like the Titan crew...
Google is well known to abandon technologies, products... and leaving the end users boned. Remember that.
Here's a not so glowing review by a user that wanted to see the fold as a viable everyday phone. That didn't go so well.
Aspect ratio continues to be an issue after multiple generations of firmware. Do you buy square computer monitors? Extra display area doesn't mean usable display area. Can't fix that; it is a problem of the actual display dimensions.
Apps that display on one or both displays continue to not fully utilize the real estate available to them. How many developers are going to want to make special apps for this niche market when even Google and Samsung have trouble doing it?
It's been a bottomless money sinkhole for Samsung that's diverted huge amounts of revenue from their other flagship lines for years.
Current sales still don't justify it. I think it's no coincidence that the N10+ was their zenith point.
After that project Samsung became increasingly fragmented and the fold project exacerbated this exponentially. Consequences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suppose that at the end of the day, the foldable market will find a small group of admirers and/or enthusiasts who might find such devices feasible in the world of daily driving.
rodken said:
I suppose that at the end of the day, the foldable market will find a small group of admirers and/or enthusiasts who might find such devices feasible in the world of daily driving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have high expectations. Samsung blew the roll out years ago. Most of the same issues persist although they fixed the hinge. I expect a flagship to last, be usable for years and to stay in excellent condition if properly cared for. If so the only repair should be the Li every 1-3 years.
Because of it's square unfolded form factor some format issues can't be resolved.