Related
Will the screen bleed get worse? Is this a universal problem with all tabs? My case also has a slight pop/crack when I hold it on the top/left side. Thinking of trading it in for the Samsung, unless their build quality is the same.
I exchanged my first tf because there was 4 light bleed spots on it, my new one has only 1 very minor lightbleed spot that is not noticable unless you search for it but the right side bezel is a bit off, so theres a gap of about 1/2 milimeter which in the end translates as a similar gap at the same spot on the back where the plastic is meeting the bezel. So if you look at my docked and closed transformer you'd see the two bezels are not perfectly aligned, as one is slightly curved outwards... I don't know if I am going to return this one yet.
It depends if I manage to fix the video playback, even 360p videos on youtube are sluttering unless they are put in full screen... And I am on the lastest firmware with the lastest flash version + factory reset.
Another strange issue is that randomly, when I press the touchscreen the tablet emits a little and faint "beep" very very faint and with an irregular tone, and this is even with volume all set to 0, it makes me think the static electricity is messing up with one of the speakers or something, but meh it's not bothering at all.
If I can't manage to fix the playback issue & the gtab10.1 or 8.9 is an exynos dual core (I have it in the galaxy S2 and this soc is a BEAST, it runs circles around the tegra2 in flash video playback or responsiveness) by then i'll just get a galaxy tab and give the TF to my girlfriend since I don't need a keyboard at all for the stuff I wanna do on a tablet.
The extra battery from the dock is so sweet tho, i used it all day long and it is still at 100% charge lol.
I just think the first batches of transformers are terribly and randomly flawed, just RMA it to asus or keep exchanging until you get a decent one.
If the gtab ends up with tegra2 I don't see any point of getting it, the transformer even with its flaws is still light years ahead of the gtab in terms of connectivity & docking.
jideay said:
Will the screen bleed get worse? Is this a universal problem with all tabs? My case also has a slight pop/crack when I hold it on the top/left side. Thinking of trading it in for the Samsung, unless their build quality is the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well when i bought it, it had very minor light bleed but now it has amped up a bit. i looks like with daily use, it'll get a bit worse and peak out and stay there for the rest of its time.
too early for me to confirm that theory though but i like that if it gets unbearable within the year, asus will take it and fix it for you
I've actually grown attached to my TF, and can probably live with its issues. Just don't want it to get worse, and I'm afraid to trade it in, getting a refurb instead of a new one...
I also have some light bleed issues with mines I got it 2 weeks ago. its not bad for me its just in the left hand corner and on some spots along the side and bottom nothing more than what I see on a smart phone.
If it does get worse, you have 1 year of warranty through Asus.
i like my transformer so far, but the replacement from amazon is coming. Mine apparently had really bad light bleed. There were 3 spot from the bottom left that had a big sploch and 2 medium size one 3 small one on the bottom and another one on the right.
Hi guys,
I'm on my second transformer in a week and going back and forth between keeping it or going for another replacement. Let me address my question though.
Can those of you with this device confirm whether or not you have a perfectly constructed Transformer? What I mean by that, for the most part, is that it's devoid of the various hardware defects that people are complaining about. These include poor touch response on the screen (having to double touch, or it doesn't work at all), speaker balance issues, light bleed, and screen-to-bezel separation.
My first TF from Amazon had the speaker issue where the right was much louder than the left. However, that was the ONLY problem with it. There was no light bleed and the screen, from what I can remember, did not have any noticeable separation.
My replacement came from Newegg, and the good news is that the speakers both work great. The bad news is I have a SLIGHT light bleed down in the UI menu at the bottom of the screen when in landscape mode, and I would say a moderate issue of the screen being separated from the bezel. A lot of people seemed to not notice this second issue until they starting looking closer at their own TFs. Basically, run your finger around that little black line that links your screen to the case. Is it seamless with the glass or does it stick out?
I'm beginning to question my OCD at this point, but if people really can confirm for me they have 0 light bleed and seamless screens I think I will keep returning until I can get what I would consider a perfect replacement.
All feedback appreciated! Thanks!
ria_drizzt said:
Hi guys,
I'm on my second transformer in a week and going back and forth between keeping it or going for another replacement. Let me address my question though.
Can those of you with this device confirm whether or not you have a perfectly constructed Transformer? What I mean by that, for the most part, is that it's devoid of the various hardware defects that people are complaining about. These include poor touch response on the screen (having to double touch, or it doesn't work at all), speaker balance issues, light bleed, and screen-to-bezel separation.
My first TF from Amazon had the speaker issue where the right was much louder than the left. However, that was the ONLY problem with it. There was no light bleed and the screen, from what I can remember, did not have any noticeable separation.
My replacement came from Newegg, and the good news is that the speakers both work great. The bad news is I have a SLIGHT light bleed down in the UI menu at the bottom of the screen when in landscape mode, and I would say a moderate issue of the screen being separated from the bezel. A lot of people seemed to not notice this second issue until they starting looking closer at their own TFs. Basically, run your finger around that little black line that links your screen to the case. Is it seamless with the glass or does it stick out?
I'm beginning to question my OCD at this point, but if people really can confirm for me they have 0 light bleed and seamless screens I think I will keep returning until I can get what I would consider a perfect replacement.
All feedback appreciated! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't exchange right away. Wait till the last minute (of your return period) so you'll get the latest batch.
You know it is a file config fix for the speakers? You may be kicking yourself if that was your only problem and you now have one with lightbleed!
Paradaz, I found that out after sending it back to Amazon. :-(
I am kicking myself and doing it pretty hard.
I also found out I get the pleasure of paying shipping costs because I bought my second one through Newegg (Amazon was out so could only refund at the time).
I have decided the screen separation is making me too nervous, so here's to hoping the 3rd time is a charm.
Mine should arrive tomorrow or Tuesday I bought it through Wal-Mart .com. I'll report back if I see any issues mentioned. These things are selling like hot cakes though, it pretty amazing.
Mine should show up from Amazon tomorrow and I am all paranoid by everyone having issues so either I will be back and sobbing about it or I might not be heard from for a week.
I got my third from New Egg a week or so ago and so far it is virtually flawless. I say virtually because there is the tiniest bit of light bleed along the bottom but it is so slight that its unnoticeable unless pointed out (even on a black screen).
I'm on number 3 also. build is tighter than the other 2, but the first was tight in the beginning too. still has bleed and speaker balance issues. I've done the tweaks and used volume+. my only fear is blowing a speaker now.
hoping I have a keeper this time.
Mine seems perfect to me. I must be one of the rare lucky ones.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
No issues here, have owned my TF for a week now.
-No random SODs
-No light bleed
-No speaker issues
-No touch response problems
-No creaky bezel issues
Guess I lucked out?
Each time I think I've finally convinced myself that I am going to keep my current Transformer, I stumble upon one of these threads. As much as I love the device, my OCD has me looking for defects whenever I have it in my hands. I received mine from Newegg Friday and this is what I've noticed so far:
- Minor light bleed along the bottom when in landscape mode. Nothing too serious but definitely noticeable when in a dark room and the bottom of the screen is black. I tend to think this is going to be the case with all these screens.
- Right speaker louder than the left. Seems almost universal. I ran a Left/Right speaker test and, although it isn't an overwhelming difference, the right is clearly louder. Perhaps this is simply a matter of the openings/slots on the right side?
- One speck of dust under the screen in the upper left corner an inch below the Asus logo.
- What appears to be a dead/stuck Pixel in the right corner. Didn't notice this initially as it only appears clearly against certain backgrounds. When I ran a pixel test, there was a black dot about the size of a pin point against bright blue backgrounds in that spot. Very hard to notice against other colors.
- Screen separation: I notice no defect on that front. Maybe the slightest separation on the right side where the mini HDMI port is... the main problem is me looking like a moron every time my girlfriend walks in the room and I'm intently starting at a turned off tablet.
I'm debating returning it to Newegg but then I worry that it is mostly a matter of me obsessively looking to find fault and that I'll end up with a worse one if I exchange it. I haven't returned anything to Newegg in years - you said they required the buyer to pay shipping?
Pisugtooq said:
the main problem is me looking like a moron every time my girlfriend walks in the room and I'm intently starting at a turned off tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol when i read that i laughed hard
had a scare with mine, couldnt recharge it. But I was rooted, maybe it had something to do with it. The charger itself might have had a problem, but its ok now. Everything else is perfect. I've had mine for almost 3 weeks and it still works flawlessly. I show everyone my device and they are amazed
Pisugtooq said:
Each time I think I've finally convinced myself that I am going to keep my current Transformer, I stumble upon one of these threads. As much as I love the device, my OCD has me looking for defects whenever I have it in my hands. I received mine from Newegg Friday and this is what I've noticed so far:
- Minor light bleed along the bottom when in landscape mode. Nothing too serious but definitely noticeable when in a dark room and the bottom of the screen is black. I tend to think this is going to be the case with all these screens.
- Right speaker louder than the left. Seems almost universal. I ran a Left/Right speaker test and, although it isn't an overwhelming difference, the right is clearly louder. Perhaps this is simply a matter of the openings/slots on the right side?
- One speck of dust under the screen in the upper left corner an inch below the Asus logo.
- What appears to be a dead/stuck Pixel in the right corner. Didn't notice this initially as it only appears clearly against certain backgrounds. When I ran a pixel test, there was a black dot about the size of a pin point against bright blue backgrounds in that spot. Very hard to notice against other colors.
- Screen separation: I notice no defect on that front. Maybe the slightest separation on the right side where the mini HDMI port is... the main problem is me looking like a moron every time my girlfriend walks in the room and I'm intently starting at a turned off tablet.
I'm debating returning it to Newegg but then I worry that it is mostly a matter of me obsessively looking to find fault and that I'll end up with a worse one if I exchange it. I haven't returned anything to Newegg in years - you said they required the buyer to pay shipping?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would return this in an instant. The dust and stuck pixel would drive me insane!
Each time I think I've finally convinced myself that I am going to keep my current Transformer, I stumble upon one of these threads. As much as I love the device, my OCD has me looking for defects whenever I have it in my hands. I received mine from Newegg Friday and this is what I've noticed so far:
- Minor light bleed along the bottom when in landscape mode. Nothing too serious but definitely noticeable when in a dark room and the bottom of the screen is black. I tend to think this is going to be the case with all these screens.
- Right speaker louder than the left. Seems almost universal. I ran a Left/Right speaker test and, although it isn't an overwhelming difference, the right is clearly louder. Perhaps this is simply a matter of the openings/slots on the right side?
- One speck of dust under the screen in the upper left corner by the Asus logo.
- What appears to be a dead/stuck Pixel in the right corner. Didn't notice this initially as it only appears against certain backgrounds. However, when I run a pixel test, it is visible against certain backgrounds.
- Screen separation: I notice no defect on that front. Maybe the slightest separation on the right side where the mini HDMI port is... the main problem is me looking like a moron every time my girlfriend walks in the room and I'm intently starting at a turned off tablet.
I'm debating returning it to Newegg but then I worry that it is mostly a matter of me obsessively looking to find fault and that I'll end up with a worse one if I exchange it. I haven't returned anything to Newegg in years - you said they required the buyer to pay shipping?
hauj0bb said:
No issues here, have owned my TF for a week now.
-No random SODs
-No light bleed
-No speaker issues
-No touch response problems
-No creaky bezel issues
Guess I lucked out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine too, and I'll add no battery drain issue.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
madsquabbles said:
I'm on number 3 also. build is tighter than the other 2, but the first was tight in the beginning too. still has bleed and speaker balance issues. I've done the tweaks and used volume+. my only fear is blowing a speaker now.
hoping I have a keeper this time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on number 4. Just got another 1 replacement from amazon yesterday, the build quality got better from the last 2 i got but this new 1 has worse light bleeding out of the 4 i got. I'm still thinking if i should keep the 3rd one i got and return the new one i just got from amazon or just return everything and get the samsung. Hard decision because i really like the transformer but the light bleeding is kind of annoying
ria_drizzt said:
Hi guys,
I'm on my second transformer in a week and going back and forth between keeping it or going for another replacement. Let me address my question though.
Can those of you with this device confirm whether or not you have a perfectly constructed Transformer? What I mean by that, for the most part, is that it's devoid of the various hardware defects that people are complaining about. These include poor touch response on the screen (having to double touch, or it doesn't work at all), speaker balance issues, light bleed, and screen-to-bezel separation.
My first TF from Amazon had the speaker issue where the right was much louder than the left. However, that was the ONLY problem with it. There was no light bleed and the screen, from what I can remember, did not have any noticeable separation.
My replacement came from Newegg, and the good news is that the speakers both work great. The bad news is I have a SLIGHT light bleed down in the UI menu at the bottom of the screen when in landscape mode, and I would say a moderate issue of the screen being separated from the bezel. A lot of people seemed to not notice this second issue until they starting looking closer at their own TFs. Basically, run your finger around that little black line that links your screen to the case. Is it seamless with the glass or does it stick out?
I'm beginning to question my OCD at this point, but if people really can confirm for me they have 0 light bleed and seamless screens I think I will keep returning until I can get what I would consider a perfect replacement.
All feedback appreciated! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've received two units that I've opened (the others were sold unopened).
Both units have no issues beyond *extremely* minimal light bleed that is normal on any tablet screen, and not obtrusive in the least. One has a very slight gap at one short point in the bezel, barely twice the width of a human hair, if that.
You'd have to be beyond OCD to be unhappy with build quality on either of my tabs. And I didn't return any to get them.
But frankly I think plenty of people *are* beyond OCD, and expect a level of perfection that's simply not realistic.
It seems to be quite an issue, with the defected hardware. my came with a problematic power button which got worse with every use. now I can't lock/unlock the screen, can't turn it off and If I do manage to turn it off the only way to boot it would be to connect it to power. Today hopefully I will get it replaced.
Mine is perfect. I had a light cracking on the right side the first weeks, but it is gone now. I am very happy with my transformer. Browser scrolling could be better .
Nothing to complain.
I went to HH Gregg yesterday to check out a Transformer. It was on display next to a Galaxy Tab 10.1". The Transformer was running 3.0 and trying to download the 3.1 update (severe storms had their routers going off and on) and the Galaxy was on 3.1. I was tempted to try tethering my SGS Vibrant to the Asus so that update would finish... Here's what I observed:
Audio
1. No noticeable issues with Left and Right audio balance when holding the unit up to my ear. Keep in mind that I was in a store with a fair amount of background chatter.
2. L and R back vibrates when the volume is raised up which may not bother me.
3. Noticeable distortion at full volume when playing notification sounds in Settings.
Video
I couldn't get YouTube to play due to the router issues mentioned above.
Display
The display seemed bright and crisp, until I turned on the Galaxy Tab. There were differences at that point. I don't know the specs on either display other than I suspect the GT uses an S AMOLED display; It was incredibly crisp, just like my SGS Vibrant. I navigated to one of my websites to see how it looked on each machine and while the GT was noticeably crisper/sharper, the colors were definitely over saturated, appearing to almost sort of bleed. The Transformer rendered the colors nearly perfectly. However, the text was somewhat fuzzy until zooming in slightly. Zooming in just the slightest amount made the text very sharp. The text rendering on the GT was incredibly crisp at the default zoom level (both machines were set to the same default settings). Are my observations regarding the display due to the different Honeycomb versions? Beats me.
Look and Feel
The Transformer definitely feels less than "solid" because of the back of the case. Picking up the GT on the other hand had me quickly doing the math and trying to convince myself that the $100 price difference wasn't really all that much of a difference. The Transformer case does indeed squeak and creak which brought back fond memories of my very first Android device, the G1. All of you G1 owners out there know what I'm talking about.
Thinking back, while the G1 could easily double as a sound prop for a scary movie, it was also a very capable phone that took a Hell of a beating and is still in my backpack today, always ready to jump into the game should my SGS break down.
rjscott2005 said:
The Transformer case does indeed squeak and creak which brought back fond memories of my very first Android device, the G1. All of you G1 owners out there know what I'm talking about.
Thinking back, while the G1 could easily double as a sound prop for a scary movie, it was also a very capable phone that took a Hell of a beating and is still in my backpack today, always ready to jump into the game should my SGS break down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is actually good to hear because my brother JUST replaced his G1 so that means, despite the creaking, I shouldnt worry too much about longevity.
The price was ONE factor, the keyboard and micro SD card were the big ones.
I also chec both. For me no Sd, no HDMI and no USB were the key factors for not getting the GTab. It was not so much thinking I will run out of space but I would not be able to put things in the tablet / get them out without using a computer.
Regards.
There are a lot of scattered reports that the B6O revision is better than the B5O revision.
Of those of you who have the B6O revision:
1. How many of you notice any of the issues such as creaking or backlight bleed?
2. How many of you actually have another revision unit to compared it to?
There are some people here saying they are considering selling their B4O or B5O at a loss to get a B6O. I'm trying to compile a source with which these people can make an educated choice. Is it really that much better or is it all just their imagination?
I have a B60 unit. I don't have any previous revisions to compare it to, but I can tell you that...
- Yes, mine creaks. The aluminum bezel is actually separating from the unit slightly in the bottom-right corner.
- Yes, there is backlight bleed. Several spots along the bottom and right edges of the screen.
- Yes, the speakers are still slightly unbalanced. As others discovered, this is a software issue, not a hardware issue.
I'm going to exchange mine today in store. Hopefully I'll have better luck with a replacement... Heck, maybe there's even a newer revision.
I just picked up a B60 version from Bestbuy retail store yesterday. It, so far, does not have any build issues that I am aware of . Love it
I just got my TF . Mine is a B50. Compared to my G2x, i dont notice any bleeding. Im sure there is some because of the nature of LCDs but no complaints. I cant tell and im not looking for an issue to just drive me crazy.
The case does creak though, lol. On the left side. Only once when i first pick it up. Nothing crazy.
Audio seems slightly left justified but compared to the 1 speaker on my ipad2... stereo is welcome regardless. Barely noticable. Sounds good. No more covering 1 speaker and losing audio ha.
Im happy. Walking into this device blindly, i love it. I dont know if its the stock keyboard or the screen sensitivity but it misses a few strokes. Could be me not used to a large keyboard.
It was locked up when i grabbed it this morning after charging all night. I think this is caused by Tegra drivers cause it seems common amoung tegra devices. Luckily its a tablet and not a phone you depend on to be going 24/7.
FUN.
Asus Transformer 3.1 pwnd
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newvet said:
I just picked up a B60 version from Bestbuy retail store yesterday. It, so far, does not have any build issues that I am aware of . Love it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's because you're not looking for them yet / aren't as picky.
- Crank up the brightness and stand in a dark room.
- The creaking/weak frame you'll start to notice as you use it.
I have a B40, and have some creaks only on the lower left side of the unit, when I use it outside of the case. (I have the portfolio case PRIME)
Some minor light bleed near the bottom right side of the unit, but very minor.
Compared to the Evo 3D where the bottom of that phone has light bleed.
The speakers are un-balanced until I saw the unbalanced left speaker thread, did and the OP said there and seems to be fixed now.
Mine is B5O. Slight creak near the volume and power keys, lightbleed (see pic) and unbalanced speakers (right one is louder). I decided to RMA it only because I'm going on holiday so I won't miss it too much. Actually the more I read about other units and how Asus is handling RMA the more doubts I have if I should send it...
~David said:
It's because you're not looking for them yet / aren't as picky.
- Crank up the brightness and stand in a dark room.
- The creaking/weak frame you'll start to notice as you use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I only find any light bleed in those conditions I can live it. But a seriously weakening frame would cause me to jump ship. 13 days to make up my mind. But so far so good. Thanks for helping me take notice
I own a B50, and can report zero light bleed, zero creaks, and only a small minor scratch on the lower right frame (not part of the touchscreen, only on the frame).
Everything so far seems to be good, I even tried squeezing the sides some, no creaking!
B50, light bleed at the top left(not bad), not really creaky but the bezel does move a bit. Dead pixel about 1cm from the right side of the screen in the middle vertically. 1 dust remnant under rear camera lens.
Grumsh said:
I own a B50, and can report zero light bleed, zero creaks, and only a small minor scratch on the lower right frame (not part of the touchscreen, only on the frame).
Everything so far seems to be good, I even tried squeezing the sides some, no creaking!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 here. Except I don't have any scratches. So far, so good with my B50!
newvet said:
If I only find any light bleed in those conditions I can live it. But a seriously weakening frame would cause me to jump ship. 13 days to make up my mind. But so far so good. Thanks for helping me take notice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The backlight bleed doesn't bother me either. But people want to know if it's there, not if you don't notice it or if it doesn't bother you.
People read these posts of people saying "My transformer is PERFECT! It doesn't have any problems!" and they go nuts thinking theirs is horribly defective.
The Transformer is $100 less than the competition. They had to cut corners somewhere.
I'm only exchanging mine in hopes that it will have a slightly stronger frame (like I said, the aluminum bezel is actually coming off on mine). I'm still expecting it to have build quality issues though.
Grumsh said:
I own a B50, and can report zero light bleed, zero creaks, and only a small minor scratch on the lower right frame (not part of the touchscreen, only on the frame).
Everything so far seems to be good, I even tried squeezing the sides some, no creaking!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it does. You're just ignoring it or haven't noticed it yet.
I have a small bleed in the middle of the bottom bar.
However it locked up again while i sat it down for an hour. Like it has problems recovering from standby. Running Prime. The G2x did that until Cm7 fixed it.
Asus Transformer 3.1 pwnd
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~David said:
The Transformer is $100 less than the competition. They had to cut corners somewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And the competition has "cut" the exact same corners, despite the higher price tag. Plenty of reports of light bleed, case creak, etc. from the Apple crowd too. They just have a higher proportion of fanboys among their userbase, who will go to any length to pretend that problems don't exist.
I've got a B50. I received three (all B50) from Newegg during the month of June. I kept #2 as it was by far the best of the bunch. As Newegg cross ships replacements, I held unto #2 until I received #3 and they let me send back the newer one since it was also defective.
It still has a couple of flaws:
Light bleed: Although it has the least bleed of the 3 I received, there are still 6-7 small spots visible along the top and bottom when I use the Transformer in the dark even at around 50% brightness. Not noticeable during the day or in a lit room. Even the largest only extends about 1/2 an inch up the screen.
Speakers: Left produces noticeably less volume than the right. This defect was present on all 3 tablets I received. I noticed this immediately and confirmed with the YouTube left/right speaker test.
Dead pixel: One dead pixel. Each of the three had at least one; the first unit I received also had a speck of dust under the screen, the third a larger discolored patch in the middle of the screen. It would be very hard to notice the dead pixel if you were not specifically looking for it. I used the Dead Pixel Test app: near the top of the screen, there is one pin point sized dot that is light grey on a white screen, undetectable on a black screen, and grey/light black on a blue or green screen. There is no dust visible so it must be a screen defect.
White Residue: Very small (third of an inch) thin line along the top of the black border on top. Able to clean most of it off although still faintly visible if you look closely. Could be partly scratched too, not sure.
On the plus side, my Transformer has no creakiness and no separation between the screen and the black border. The other two I received both had easily visible gaps.
I decided the quest for the perfect Transformer was endless and futile. NewEgg refunded me $25 for the hassle of two exchanges; with the $10 coupon I also used, I got my Transformer for $365. For the price, I'm pleased enough with the device.
Mine is also B50 and it has 2 light leaks on the bottom. It did not have creaks when purchased 1 month ago, but now it is creeking horribly on the whole left side under the volume button. IMHO, it is a faulty design. If yours is tight now, don't be surprised when it gets loose and creaky after a little while.
Great attitude: -Do you have any problems with the device? -Nothing at all. -Yes you have dear sir, yes you have!
Just bought my tablet and dock yesterday from Best Buy. B60 Tablet, B50 dock. Tablet feels sturdy but with a slight give on the screen. There is slight light bleed on the bottom left corner. I haven't noticed any speaker issues, I was actually pleasantly surprised. From what I've read in reviews I thought they'd be horrible, but it actually fine for me.
Nothing wonky about the dock yet. Everything seems to work. Overall, I'm pretty happy with it .
I have no clue what revision mine is (don't know how to tell!; but it was purchased way back in may). I can't say I have any real issues; minor light bleed; speakers are more or less balanced but so darn awful I'm not sure it matters (i normally use klipsch s4; which are great on airplanes - nearly 100% isolation). THere is minor backlighting; no obvious dead pixels. Maybe I'm just not picky but I really don't have any significant separation or creaks. Wish it had a usb port.
-
Most of my complaints are software. I have' a few weird periods were part of the screen stop responding to touch (really annoying when trying to unlock the screen and 2 of the numbers won't respond to touch) but reboot always fix the glitches.
-
I have a B40; which make sense given the purchase date.
You can check your revision from the serial number (sticker affixed to the box and under your Transformer, next to the charge port). It's the first three characters.
I got this phone because I've been waiting for a smaller Android device that doesn't treat you like a second class citizen. This is really the first one out there that does this, I found it for £360 on sale which is only £30 more than the 32gb Nexus 5 and tbh since it has a micro SD slot, I think it is a really great deal,, especially seeing as the specs are like a main flagship device.
So some thoughts...
- Really well made, feels like an iPhone 5/5s for Android.
- I've been with my Mum today and she had a go on it and said it is the first Android mobile she'd ever think about upgrading to because of the small size.
- When I put it side by side with the iPhone 5, it really isn't much bigger, just a tad wider which is better since my biggest complaint with the 5 is the screen is so narrow
- I can easily use the phone one handed and use the whole screen, I've got average sized hands and I've found all these 5inch Android phones to have just gotten too big, especially my old HTC One, I hand to slide the phone up and down my hand to use the power button.
- Power button is great, the volume rocker is slightly too small as is the camera button, but they're minor flaws.
- The Sim tray and Micro SD slot I found to be really tricky to use, the Sim especially seems rather fiddly and I doubt the average user would work it out without possibly breaking the tray.
- I love the led charging light by the top speaker, I'm not sure if it doubles up as a notification light, but I hope it does.
- The loud speaker is not great, it's serviceable, will get you by, but you wont want to be listening to music or video out of it. That said I never wanted to do that from my HTC One and always used an external speaker or headphones any ways as no small speaker is that good in a phone. However if you walk the dog up the fields like me and don't like using headphones as you want to hear what is going on around you, the loud speaker isn't going to cut it, I struggled to hear it sometimes.
- The Magnetic charging is a cool touch, it really is needed as having to open that flap all the time would be so annoying. I mean I bought a Micro USB to Magnetic charge adapter for a few quid on Amazon, I'd suggest you all do the same as it is pretty necessary, I don't understand why one isn't sold with it as standard.
- Comes with a nice usb adapter so you can do stuff like plugging in your PS3 controller to play games. Maybe this would compliment screen mirroring or Chromecast gaming? I dunno, I haven't tried it, but just a nice little bonus.
- The X reality engine is ****, it just ruins the picture, usually just makes a picture too bright like it has been over exposed. The phone comes with it on by default... turn it off.
- The screen is a mixed bag for me, resolution and pixel density wise, I cannot fault it, looks as crisp as an iPhone and tbh I don't get why people care about having 440PPI when I cannot see a pixel at 340PPI, you never look at a screen under a magnifying glass. Again it is 720p, but for the size screen I just turn browse text to large and everything looks crisp and great, I really do not miss having the 1080p screen of my HTC One. Maybe if I was using a 4.7 inch+ screen again I'd want 1080p, but for this small screen 720p works, Apple have proved this as no one cares abut the iPhones resolution, which is like 640?
That said though I can see the digitizer when the sun glances off the phone, it is a downer as I never saw it on my last phone (Nokia 1020) or my HTC One before that. Though screens are a lottery it seems as they're all made from different companies, my friend got a HTC One and could see his badly.
The black levels aren't that great, neither are the viewing angles, I'm being picky here as they're totally fine, just I'm used to an OLED screen now and it is hard to go back. Black levels on OLED screens aren't perfect, they do have light bleed and a weird effect as the pixels go from colour to black, but... it is hard to adjust back to seeing more of a grey if you're in a dark room.
The colours seem fine to me, the white seems fine, I don't notice any tints, though maybe if I compared it side by side to other phones I would. However I wouldn't let this bother you as you'll never do that in real life, as long as the whites aren't so far off they're obvious.
I'm am struggling however with brightness levels, there doesn't seem to be much control like other phones. I wish there were more brightness presets, I can turn it down to the lowest on the slider and it still seems too bright, I could really make my other phones go quite dark. I dunno if it is brightness or if it is just washing out light colours in particular, but the x reality engine makes it worse... like way worse!
Overall though the screen is good, it isn't the best, but it is still a great screen that I've personally been picky on as I've owned a lot of different phones.
- The software is good, Sony don't mess around with it too much, it is a non offensive Android Skin. My only problem is I'm on 4.3 and that seems a bit weird, you'd have thought it would have a newer version by now. Some things are nice with the software as well, Sony have added some good apps of theirs and the battery stuff is cool. Everything is so fast, faster than any other phone I've used, including HTC One, iPhone 5 and Nokia 1020, omg just SO FAST! The 720p screen also probably helps it too over 1080p screens.
- On to battery, it is amazing, I don't get how they can cram so much life into such a small phone, I can say it is definitely a major step up from the 1020 and the horrible life I seemed to get from Windows Phone. It seems a step up from my HTC One as well and it performs better than my Mum's iPhone 5, though that is a year old now so the battery is probably less efficient at this point. I find it amazing how fast it charges over USB alone on my PC and through the magnetic charge, way faster than anything I've used before. Also though I was playing some games on it earlier and the battery didn't seem to go down much at all.
- The phone doesn't heat up that much, I was expecting worse since it is so small and light, but while I noticed it get hot, it wasn't bad like my Nokia 1020 and obviously since it is a plastic back it doesn't act like the HTC One, which got hot like a radiator... series that was the worst! Never get a mobile with a metal back and that isn't made by Apple, not a good idea.
- I find the speaker position just fine, I kept hearing how it was easy to cover up... with my usage, I haven't experienced that, even when gaming and most likely you'll get a case any ways.
- The camera is a mixed bag and sadly a bit of a downer I'm afraid, I was expecting better from a phone with a larger sensor than the Nokia 1520. Auto mode seems worse than useless, every picture just looks plain bad and I have a feeling it is restricting the pictures to 8mp and there is no way to increase it. Manual mode is really the only viable way to take pictures, sadly though there is no higher res 16:9 option. Every picture though seemed to be different, I could never take the same picture twice and I ended up taking several just so I would get a good one. The good news is when the software did it's job the quality did look good, not as good as I was expecting, but I have been using a 1020 until recently, so maybe that is why it is such a shock.
My main problem with the camera though was the screen never really reflected on what the final picture would look like. Your screen would be out of focus and blurred, yet when the picture comes from, it looks fine, also all the colours and lighting would change, I could never get it to accurately display what I was going to take.
The good news though is the camera is fast and I think it uses oversampling like Nokia's Pureview when it is in 8mp auto mode. Though I'm sick of smart phones today and how they all over saturate everything, the Z1 compact is no different, even the 1020 did this, but at least with the 1020 I could use a .DNG file and open it in lightroom to get natural colours, no such raw files on this phone exist, so you have to live with it.
The Mic performance on recording video is great, unlike with most Android Phones I've had in the past (including the S4) you're able to record loud noises like a concert. I turned up my sound system pretty high with the sub woofer going and it coped as well as Nokia which was amazing for concerts.
The video quality is fine too, the software stabilization works fine, I'm not a fan of OIS is mobiles, I never thought it worked well in the 1020 or HTC One, it always made the image into a watery or dreamy effect and recording on my bicycle was impossible as a result. Yes it is a bit less stable, but tbh so was my 1020, OIS worked poorly on it, though the HTC One it actually worked ok. I'm not missing OIS, all I'm saying, yes it works on dedicated cameras, you can shake them all you like and they cope, but no mobile has managed to perfect it yet.
So the camera is a mixed bag, I'm sure it can all be fixed with software, but I dunno how well Sony do on updates?
My only question really goes out to how well the screen protector Sony put on as designed hold up. It is THE major flaw really and I can see it frustrating a lot of people who do not know it comes with it as it scratches so easily. That reason alone is why I couldn't recommend it to women who shove their phone in their handbag, the phone wouldn't hold up. If you put a screen protector over it (one comes free with in the box) then it is fine, but I just think it is stupid to put a screen protector over a screen protector. There is no protective coating on the glass under either... which means you cannot simply just take it off.
Conclusion...
I love it, looks so premium, feels so premium, has the functionality of a 5inch + screened Android phone, it is the fastest phone I've ever used, Sony's software isn't bad or intrusive like TouchWiz or some other Android skins and the camera is potentially really good but needs a firmware update to fix auto mode.
I have pointed out bad points, but I could do that with any phone, I mean I couldn't stand Windows Phone and how it has no apps and no functionality. With this Z1 Compact I've mirror'd my phone to my TV effortlessly and without chromecast, I can just screen mirror and it works every time. This hasn't happened with any other phone I've used, I could never get it to work with my HTC which had it built in either.
I really think it is THE best iPhone alternative for people who don't want IOS and I think it is finally THE handset to buy for Android if you want a smaller device without all the internals being downgraded.
My favourite Android mobile ever!
I love the colour I chose too, it reminds me of the colour of an old Adidas watch I had in the 90s...
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh316/SkyForce6/Adidaswatch.jpg
The Yellowing Green one.
http://s15.postimg.org/c6ttrs2ij/IMG_7694.jpg
+ I've never liked Sony before, it is my first Sony experience when it comes to mobiles.
Added this to the resource thread!
Great review!
I want to add that the LED light on the camera bleeds into the pictures, so it is pretty much worthless, though I've never used led flash on a mobile for anything other than a torch, Xenon is the only thing worth it.
This is probably a hardware design fault tbh, maybe fixed with a replacement back that doesn't have a see-through layer that lets the light bounce to the side? I dunno.
I used semi-permanent marker fix around the rim of the camera and it stopped the light bleed into it from the LED. My guess is Sony will do a hardware refresh on this, so maybe hold out until they've done that.
I didn't realise the rear cover was the problem until I searched fro fixes, I guess I was right about the clear part leaking light from the LED into the camera.