Database Users

[Q] Are we really that blind?

I've seen a ton of Android users bashing "iSheep" over the years for their undying loyalty and "sheepism" (if there is such a word) for the way that they foam at the mouth for every new Apple product that gets released. It seems that no matter what the reviews or competing products show them, they run out and buy that new iProduct as soon as it hits the shelves.
I've started to wonder if us Nexus fans aren't exactly the same.. here we have a brand new Nexus 4 coming out, and let's be honest most of the reviews are not on the positive side. I've seen the numerous justifications about how the test phones weren't running the most "optimized" software, how the reviewer(s) were Apple fan boys, how the final product won't be anything like the test phones..
However, when I started recounting my experiences with the Nexus brand, I have to say I think we are putting our blinders on due to the excitement of having a new Nexus with decent specs. Case point:
When I decided to buy the Galaxy Nexus I was extremely excited to finally get my hands on the "Pure Android Experience". Coming from the Galaxy SII, I had some high expectations of what I top notch smart phone should be - but I also had high hopes given the Gnex specs. When the day my Gnex arrived, I couldn't get the box open fast enough! Then low and behold - the phone was DOA. Wouldn't even power on, nothing. No long press, multiple press, extended charging, nada. Quickly called Google and was sent a replacement two days later.
When the replacement arrived, it powered up just fine (thank God..) and I began getting it all set up. Almost immediately I noticed it didn't seem as responsive as my Galaxy SII. The touch screen lacked the sensitivity of the SII, but I thought to myself, I can deal with that - hey, it's a Nexus! The colors seems a bit off to me, but I thought "it's probably just the auto-brightness". It was only after setting the phone up completely that I noticed the urine-colored whites and the muted colors. I thought to myself, "well, everyone says the Galaxy SII is over saturated anyway.." although I wasn't too convinced. It just didn't seem to have the "WOW" factor the SII had. Still, I carried on - after all.. it's a Nexus!
Three weeks later and I'm starting to get pissy about the Gnex. Reception just wasn't as good, seemed to run things slightly slower than my SII, DL speeds were slower than my SII, the touch screen responsiveness (or lack thereof) had simply become annoying. That coupled with the so-so screen quality and everything started to get to me. Dissatisfaction was growing at this point..
Finally I couldn't take it anymore. Sold my Gnex on XDA for $350 shipped and guess what? The very next day it drops to $350 in the Play Store. Felt really bad for the guy who bought mine, but since I keep my phones pristine I'm sure he was OK with it. Plus he saved tax + shipping.
So I immediately went out and bought the Galaxy SIII on release day. OH. MY. GOD. I had my phone back. It was like the SII only bigger. Better. Faster. Touch screen responsiveness and screen was simply amazing. Everything flew on this phone, no matter what I threw at it. Fell in love with Android all over again.
Three weeks ago I went and bought the Nexus 7. I thought, surely the reports of the QC issues are slightly exaggerated since XDA is such a small portion of the consumer population.. they're just a little more anal, a little more OCD about their devices (at least this is what I am reading by the members aggressively defending the Nexus 7). I'm sure it will be fine!
My first Nexus 7 has such bad light bleed I immediately returned it. Bad luck, I thought. I'm sure this isn't the norm. After all, I didn't have any screen lift.. right? My 2nd Nexus 7 - Ahh, perfection. No light bleed, no screen lift, everything looks great. Well, except for the slightly washed out colors and over saturated whites. But hey, it's LCD so what do I expect right? Besides... it's a Nexus!
Sure enough, here I am three weeks later, and the same light bleed in the lower left corner has manifested, along with a slight screen lift on the upper left hand side. I haven't removed the back to check for missing screws yet, but I am sure I will find it is the same as others have reported.. I won't be returning this one as I have decided to live with it even though it aggravates me every time I see it.
So here I am at the impasse.. I have the Galaxy SIII, which is what I consider the best phone on the market (besides perhaps the Note 2) running CM10 Jellybean 4.1.2 flawlessly.. and yet the Nexus name is calling to me again.
WHY IN THE WORLD should I expect things to be different this time? Why would I choose to ignore the reviews and believe other Nexus fan boys who say it's the "test phones" and software that is "not optimized", and that it's not the "final product"?
There's only ONE reason I can think of. Because I am a God damn Google fanatic that keeps ignoring reality in the hopes that everyone is wrong and this will be the best Android phone ever. But we all know that it won't... don't we?
I'm giving Google one last chance to impress the hell outta me. After this, if things turn out like they have in the past, I'm sorry to say it but... I will be a Samsung fan from now on. Yes, they did make the Gnex.. and it was inferior.. but honestly it's probably because they were putting everything into their Galaxy S line to steal the show, which IMO they have done quite successfully.
Don't let me down Google. Make me a Nexus believer again.
Anyone agree with me?

TL;DR, lol.

Nexus 4 will be made by Samsung. Should've called it the SGS4.
I disagree.
SGS2 owner.

locsplitter said:
Nexus 4 will be made by Samsung. Should've called it the SGS4.
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Uh... OK.

The Nexus 4 is made by LG. Not Samsung.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

Thats a lot of writing man, my eyes hurt

johnbyebye said:
TL;DR, lol.
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This.

Some things can't be properly conveyed in a short paragraph.
Not that I expected any actual responses in a Nexus forum.
I'm not saying that I'm not all in on the Nexus 4.. just saying I don't hold high hopes that it will be everything Google claims..

I read it and here's my take on the Nexus 4.
I may not be as technical as most people on XDA, but I try to read up as much as I can. I think what makes MOST (not all) Android users different from MOST (not all) iPhone users is that we actually take the time to research a product before be buy it. They buy their products because it says "Apple" on the box. We have countless different devices to choose from. We HAVE to do the research before we buy. This isn't just about buying a Nexus, this is about buying a new Android phone and having to choose between what's currently on the market.
For me, I'm over my current phone (T-Mobile G2x) and want to get a new one, but I'm still on contract. I don't make enough money to drop $600+ on a new phone. Hell, even if I did make enough money, I wouldn't be comfortable dropping that much money on a phone. Buying a phone from Google means I can buy a nice phone at an affordable price without forcing me to extend a contract that I never wanted to be on in the first place (I originally only switched from Virgin Mobile to T-Mobile because I wanted a better phone at a decent price and signing a contract used to be the only way to do that). My original plan was actually to buy the Galaxy Nexus to hold me over until my upgrade was available and then, from there, decide if I wanted to stick with Android or try out Windows Phone 8.
Then the Nexus 4 was announced and for the same exact price as the Galaxy Nexus. It's a better phone, at a better price.
Like I said, I may not be as technical as the rest of you, but what I see is a phone that is equivalent to each heavy hitter currently on the market (Galaxy SIII, One X, iPhone 5, the various upcoming offerings from Windows Phone 8). The only difference is that this phone is half the price of all of those. That's what I see when I look at the Nexus 4. I see an affordable upgrade for my current phone that is cheaper to every other comparable phone on the market and that's why I'm going to buy it (after consumer reviews of course, but it's almost certain that I will be ordering this phone before the month is over).
Now, the thing I do not understand is why people with the above mentioned phones would seriously consider this. Yes, it's a Nexus. Yes, it will get updates faster. But why should that all matter? All of us here on XDA are probably running rooted phones and we've all probably flashed multiple ROMs. My G2x is currently running Jellybean 4.1. It may not be 4.2, but I'm sure a clever dev will make it happen at some point. If not my phone, all of the above mentioned phones (minus the iPhone and Windows Phone 8 obviously) will get it at some point. Our vanilla Android experience isn't going to be vanilla for too long out of the box.
Maybe it's because I'm not made of money, but I wouldn't be able to justify dropping another $350 if I already had a $600+ phone. I don't buy into brands (part of the reason why I refuse to use Apple products). I'm happy to be a future owner of a Nexus phone, but I'm not buying it because it's Nexus (although that is nice). I'm buying it because it's cheap and, to my untrained eyes, more or less equal to the best phones on the market.

To each their own. To me, Nexus 4. All there is to it

I agree. I am buying the nexus 4 strictly for these reasons:
1) I need a new phone, currently using Samsung captivate on aokp jb milestone 1.
2) don't want to spend an arm and a leg for a new phone
3) want a phone that will be supported with software updates immediately
4) Want a phone that has great specs so that it can support future software updates down the road
I am not expecting this phone to be a savior. As the old saying goes, if it seems too good to be true it usually is. To buy the most powerful "best" phone and only pay 359$ for it brand new? That seems too good to be true IMO. I just need a huge upgrade from my captivate and the nexus is more than that.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda app-developers app

Obagleyfreer said:
The Nexus 4 is made by LG. Not Samsung.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
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Not according to this retailer. http://www.popularelect.com/LG-Nexus-4-Unlocked-Smartphone-p/Nexus4.htm?gclid=CKm_ksGpu7MCFcaDQgodClkAow
Source discussion http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1977196

I can see your point though I don't agree with some of your reasoning. At times there are levels of excitement that are disproportionate to reality, but I don't think this is representative of the majority of users.
As for the "negative reviews" take a look at the screenshots that show kernel and baseband versions - on at least three of the sites they are different versions. It is highly likely that software improvements will address these issues. The fact that many of the reviews did not make note that the software on their review device is a pre-release version is either disingenuous or ignorant. Making note of this as a consumer does not denote fanboyism.
All products will have build quality issues, this is just how things are. I returned my first Galaxy S2 because of problems with the screen and my first Nexus 7 as well. I know people who have had problems with iPhones and other Android devices which required RMA. Does that mean that an LG product will now have flaws because it has Google branding on it? Hardly. There probably will be issues and we'll hear all the whining and moaning, we wait and see.
tl;dr - it's just a phone, people need to chill the **** out. Only time will tell if it's a great phone or not.

comminus said:
I can see your point though I don't agree with some of your reasoning. At times there are levels of excitement that are disproportionate to reality, but I don't think this is representative of the majority of users.
As for the "negative reviews" take a look at the screenshots that show kernel and baseband versions - on at least three of the sites they are different versions. It is highly likely that software improvements will address these issues. The fact that many of the reviews did not make note that the software on their review device is a pre-release version is either disingenuous or ignorant. Making note of this as a consumer does not denote fanboyism.
All products will have build quality issues, this is just how things are. I returned my first Galaxy S2 because of problems with the screen and my first Nexus 7 as well. I know people who have had problems with iPhones and other Android devices which required RMA. Does that mean that an LG product will now have flaws because it has Google branding on it? Hardly. There probably will be issues and we'll hear all the whining and moaning, we wait and see.
tl;dr - it's just a phone, people need to chill the **** out. Only time will tell if it's a great phone or not.
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Why, when other phones are reviewed, are they not on some sort of "pre-release" software?
I don't remember reading reviews of other high end Android phones and seeing people say they were "misleading" or that the "software wasn't optimized"
I mean c'mon, all of the sudden reviews are completely bogus and software isn't up to par?
I don't care of they were running GB, the phone either flies or it doesn't.

OP, I'm really glad you made this thread. I've never had a Nexus and I also am over my current device (myTouch 4G) and chomping at the bit to get a new one. I had no idea there were that many problems with either the gnex or the N7. This worries me. I have some thinking to do...
Also, have a thanks.

ingenious247 said:
Why, when other phones are reviewed, are they not on some sort of "pre-release" software?
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If the software is not released or finished, then they are by definition running 'pre-release' software.
ingenious247 said:
I don't remember reading reviews of other high end Android phones and seeing people say they were "misleading" or that the "software wasn't optimized"
I mean c'mon, all of the sudden reviews are completely bogus and software isn't up to par?
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I never said the reviews were completely bogus, in fact I mentioned how it was obvious that there was different software on at least three review devices and that It is highly likely that software improvements will address the issues. Note - I am acknowledging that there are issues
Again, it's just a phone. If you are concerned it wont meet your expectations wait until it's been out for a while to see what happens; some people will love it, others will call it a flop.

Other top phones (SIII, etc.) aren't reviewed with pre-release software because they use an established version of Android, aka SIII shipping with ICS, whereas the Nexus 4 is shipping with a brand new version of Android, 4.2, which has not been as widely tested and established, and which Google is probably still working on. If 4.2 were completely ready today, the Nexus 4 would probably be released today, rather than the 13th.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app

To me it is a matter of price. I'm stuck with Xperia mini, and I want to upgrade. At the same time the Nexus 4 is released, and it is insanely cheap, at least from foreign countries like Germany (which use the same power plug as Sweden). The price is what makes this phone so very interesting, if it weren't for that there would have been a lot of other phones in question. In Sweden the Nexus 4 isn't something out of the ordinary, when you can buy a Galaxy S3 for about the same price. But if I import this phone from Germany, I save about 150 euros, that is why I'm very interested.
The fact that it is a Nexus is positive, but not the main factor. I've read some bad reviews, but for this price, it isn't a dealbreaker. The same criticism at swedish prices would be a dealbreaker however.
Regards,
rodstrom

I need a new phone, I have always preferred vanilla android, and I've had two nexus phones before my current non-nexus phone.
I am ready to be back on a nexus phone, between the quick updates, and being free from a contract, the nexus 4 is extremely enticing, AND at an amazing pricepoint.

I agree with the OP on many counts. Even though I myself have had no problems with my GNex and felt that it was THE most beautiful phone I have owned (maybe second to the LG Prada), the whites were jaundiced and sickly looking. And even though kernels like Trinity fixed it to a certain extent, Google needs to realize one thing - the phone needs to be working without problems out of the box. I think what is happening is an over dependency on devs and a complacency thinking that people will overlook glitches in nexus devices because, hey! after all this is android. The devs can fix everything, right?!
A trend I am seeing with the N4 is that no matter what the issue is, many people go, 'well its just 350, so its ok'! No its not! Its not like we asked Google to make an inexpensive device, so they were compelled and thus had to resort to faulty and low quality hardware to cut costs. The price was their decision. I as a consumer want my phone problem free - $350 or $650
That said, I hope as much as the next guy that the problems so far are indeed related to pre-release firmwares and kernels. But then, it was absolutely ridiculous and insane of Google to send those devices for review. Might as well have no reviews than have tons of negative ones. Sure, people here on XDA are 'techy' enough to know that the test firmware is not final and most of the issues might be wrinkled out by release date. But a common man sees the review and goes 'oh crap! i don't want a headache, lemme just get something that everyone says works i.e. iPhone'.
-end rant-

Why are people dissing my decision to get the Nexus 4 ?

I just picked up my Nexus 4 last week, and really like it. Rooted with Xylon 4.2.2 ROM, and Matrix kernel v7.0, I am averaging around 16 hours or so total battery life, and like 5 hours On Screen time every day, the past three days since on this combo.
I post on a lot of different tech forums, everyone telling me I am crazy for buying the Nexus 4, should have gotten the Note 2 #1 ( Actually which I had, and returned it two weeks later, great phone, amazing battery life, but 5.5" screen, is just too large for my every day phone ) For that same price, I also picked up a Nexus 7 tablet, and the Nexus 4, same price as my Note 2 out of contract full price.
On these other tech forums, said the Galaxy S3 is better, the One X is better, and that the Nexus 4 should be like the 4th option to go with. WTF ?
My smartphone history goes like this; iPhone 1, iPhone 3G, MyTouch 3G, Nexus-One, EVO 4G, Nexus-S 4G, Galaxy S2, Galaxy Nexus, HTC One X, Note 2, Nexus 4.
Out of all those phones, I have to say I felt the most comfortable with my Nexus phones, to quote that classic line "It just works", I prefer the minimalistic design of the Nexus line, not too flashy, or fancy overdone UI's, but a smooth and simple design, that I feel most comfortable with. Sure I know the Nexus 4 is not the most powerful smartphone available today, and maybe not the best screen tech, but I am happy with it, and battery life isn't as bad as the nightmare I read.
Plus once Android 5.0 KLP is released possibly this Summer, the Nexus 4 will get it right away, good luck with your new HTC One, or Galaxy S4 getting 5.0 KLP anytime soon, it will be a very long wait, even custom ROM's for non Nexus phones will have a long wait to get 5.0.

theyre just jealous. plus, everyone always thinks that the device that they have is the best, regardless of the truth. i love my n4, and wouldnt give it up for those other devices.

simms22 said:
theyre just jealous. plus, everyone always thinks that the device that they have is the best, regardless of the truth. i love my n4, and wouldnt give it up for those other devices.
Click to expand...
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The device I have really is the best
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

simms22 said:
theyre just jealous. plus, everyone always thinks that the device that they have is the best, regardless of the truth. i love my n4, and wouldnt give it up for those other devices.
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A few people that did respond, said they are on Verizon, and if the Nexus 4 was available, and had LTE for Verizon, they would get it right away. Personally I hate Verizon, super expensive, but they are the biggest carrier in the U.S., I think the Nexus-Five will have LTE, and Google would be smart to have a CDMA version to work with that carrier, could be a ton more sales.
Rumors point to Google announcing Android 5.0 "Key Lime Pie" at this May's Google I/O show. And possibly a release this June / July. Would Google also release the Nexus-Five then this Summer, the first phone with 5.0 KLP ? Or just give the Nexus 4 Key Lime Pie, and hold off on the Nexus-Five to the typical Nov/Dec release ?

Zorachus said:
A few people that did respond, said they are on Verizon, and if the Nexus 4 was available, and had LTE for Verizon, they would get it right away. Personally I hate Verizon, super expensive, but they are the biggest carrier in the U.S., I think the Nexus-Five will have LTE, and Google would be smart to have a CDMA version to work with that carrier, could be a ton more sales.
Rumors point to Google announcing Android 5.0 "Key Lime Pie" at this May's Google I/O show. And possibly a release this June / July. Would Google also release the Nexus-Five then this Summer, the first phone with 5.0 KLP ? Or just give the Nexus 4 Key Lime Pie, and hold off on the Nexus-Five to the typical Nov/Dec release ?
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typically with google its a year cycle for the nexus releases. they might announce klp at i/o, but i dont think that it would be out until later this year.
---------- Post added at 05:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:52 PM ----------
Exodian said:
The device I have really is the best
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
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no it's not, mine is

simms22 said:
theyre just jealous. plus, everyone always thinks that the device that they have is the best, regardless of the truth. i love my n4, and wouldnt give it up for those other devices.
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I concur. Everyone has a preference. Forget those fools. Just enjoy your device and make yourself happy.

scream4cheese said:
I concur. Everyone has a preference. Forget those fools. Just enjoy your device and make yourself happy.
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I do. I really like this Nexus 4. Just surprised people look at it like a cheap low end Android device. I think it's easily one of the top phones out there today. Better spec'd than the Galaxy S3, way better than the One X, sure the Note 2 might be better, but that's too large for my tastes. Not sure why so much hate for the Nexus 4, maybe because it's not a Samsung or HTC made Nexus ?
This LG Nexus is much nicer than my old Samsung Nexus, nicer screen, way better build quality, not even mentioning the better hardware, but that's a given with a one year newer device.

It's interesting that there are fanboy groups within fanboy groups. It's like fanboy Inception.

El Daddy said:
It's interesting that there are fanboy groups within fanboy groups. It's like fanboy Inception.
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Samslut has a huge following. I just went to a T-Mobile store. Every single employee had a Samsung phone.
Every. Single. One.
One of them, I know for a fact, had ordered a Nexus 4 back in December. Hater.

Most people equate price with worth. If something cost more it must be better. If something cost less it must be worse. Look at all apples stuff. Cost an arm and leg for their "premium" junk. Cost more, must be better.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

Exodian said:
Most people equate price with worth. If something cost more it must be better. If something cost less it must be worse. Look at all apples stuff. Cost an arm and leg for their "premium" junk. Cost more, must be better.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
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Well, their hardware and build quality is top notch. Mind you, they leave out things for a while like LTE, NFC, etc.
It's just the software... :shudder:
Also, that elitist mentality based on ignorance that seems to come with the device kind of blows.

estallings15 said:
Samslut has a huge following. I just went to a T-Mobile store. Every single employee had a Samsung phone.
Every. Single. One.
One of them, I know for a fact, had ordered a Nexus 4 back in December. Hater.
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With the exception of the N4 there really isn't a much better option on T-Mobile than the S3 for high end phones. Everything else there is mid-low range.
I think Samsung's success comes from:
1: They are a household name. They make everything. People can relate.
2: They advertise the crap out of their phones.
Most people aren't tech savvy. When they see non-stop apple and samsung commercials they believe that they are the best things out there. They just don't know any better.

El Daddy said:
With the exception of the N4 there really isn't a much better option on T-Mobile than the S3 for high end phones. Everything else there is mid-low range.
I think Samsung's success comes from:
1: They are a household name. They make everything. People can relate.
2: The advertise the crap out of their phones.
Most people aren't tech savvy. When the see non-stop apple and samsung commercials they believe that they are the best things out there. They just don't know any better.
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Absolutely. I couldn't agree more.
That just goes to show you that advertising works. It's OK, all the haters can suck it.

I own a nexus s and I've recommended Samsung to everyone I know for about the last year or so....when I told my friends I wanted the LG Nexus they all looked appalled that I would recommend one manufacturer to everyone, then suddenly choose a device for myself from another. Some people just don't understand that not everyone cares what brand an item is. I picked a Nexus 4 because I wanted to stay with the Nexus family for its open nature and amazing development community. I pick devices for my needs. My needs are not the same as any one of my friends. They all like to buy a phone and keep it unrooted, etc. And that's fine. But I like to mod the living piss out of mine. If I could have remotely unlocked the bootloader while it was on its way to me I would have lol
This is what makes android so great, and it is why iOS will become known as an epic fail. Variety is the spice of life If they keep shoveling crap in front of people and expect them to just choke it down without even considering the fact that they may not like the same thing as the person next to them, they will eventually fail.

estallings15 said:
Absolutely. I couldn't agree more.
That just goes to show you that advertising works. It's OK, all the haters can suck it.
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Yeah it's all about the advertising.
iOS advertising is condescending. People see the commercials and think they are elite for owning one.
Samsung ads have been more of the attacking/put down variety. People carry the bashing to the real world. Even if it means bashing other Android devices.
Advertising is a powerful tool...especially to the layman.

I had the option to pick whatever phone I wanted and went with the Nexus 4 because I can't stand touchwix and the note is just too big for my taste.
I didn't want an S3 knowing that the S4 is around the corner and not knowing when the S3 was getting future updates.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Couldn't be happier with mine. Just switched from the one s, nobody was making any Roms for the the US one s and got tired of waiting on tmo to release their jellybloat. This is my first nexus phone. Well i take that back the first one had a defect in the screen that looked like a dimple in the pixels.

I'm surprised HTC doesn't have more of a cult following as their phones have some of the nicest build quality among the phones I've used. Samsung phones are nice too but I just can't get over the overly plastic feeling in their designs. I prefer a heavier phone for some reason; something that doesn't feel hollow behind the screen. To each their own at the end of the day... those same haters are gonna be the cry babies in the Samsung forums wishing they had the fast Android updates and Google support we receive with our Nexus devices. Tell them to have fun with their Samsung source code and move along.

negroplasty said:
I'm surprised HTC doesn't have more of a cult following as their phones have some of the nicest build quality among the phones I've used. Samsung phones are nice too but I just can't get over the overly plastic feeling in their designs. I prefer a heavier phone for some reason; something that doesn't feel hollow behind the screen. To each their own at the end of the day... those same haters are gonna be the cry babies in the Samsung forums wishing they had the fast Android updates and Google support we receive with our Nexus devices. Tell them to have fun with their Samsung source code and move along.
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HTC has a few things against them
1) They put out phones slowly.
2) Slow software updates. It takes forever to update Sense.
3) Almost no advertising or other aggressive marketing.
4) They just don't have the funds or clout that Samsung has.

I am happy with my LG made Nexus, at the end of the day, I don't care, I mean all these phones are mainly Korean made, and LG is no slouch or small mom and pop shop.
But I will admit, that HTC has been making some really good designs lately, the One X in my opinion was the best looking Android phone of 2012, and the new One phones looks really great. I would love to have HTC back on the next Nexus. But if the Nexus-Five is another LG produced phone, that won't stop me one bit from buying it.

HTC One Only Phone for 2013

According to Phandroid, HTC will only have one phone for the year of 2013. Article can be found here: http://phandroid.com/2013/02/26/htc-one-flagship/
This is a smart move on HTCs part instead of having multiple versions. Hopefully software updates will come a little quicker because of this move.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

I've been think about this lately. HTC isn't as big as as its competition. If they're going to launch the same unit globally they will need to focus their resources on it to be able to fill orders. Especially if it takes off.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2

I really do hope that's the case. I've always thought HTC is mad for releasing so many variants and what not in a short amount of time. Its about time HTC came to its senses (lol). I've been wishing this would happen and cursing HTC for the One line (X,S,V,X+) etc the one S was the better one out of all in my opinion overall but lack of a 32gb model I had to hold on to my sensation for longer. Hopefully the One will change that. Seems good by reviews so far. Let's see
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium

My question would be:
Is it truly a good thing they only release one device a year? Assuming the M7 is top spec for when it is released (which it is) -what is so wrong with releasing a M7+ at the end of the year with S800?
Why would people get offended or pissed off by this?
Personally I have absolutly no issue. If people want to purchase a M7 body with S800 (or whatever) in 6 months, I don't see a problem so long as its financially feasible for HTC.

Maedhros said:
My question would be:
Is it truly a good thing they only release one device a year? Assuming the M7 is top spec for when it is released (which it is) -what is so wrong with releasing a M7+ at the end of the year with S800?
Why would people get offended or pissed off by this?
Personally I have absolutly no issue. If people want to purchase a M7 body with S800 (or whatever) in 6 months, I don't see a problem so long as its financially feasible for HTC.
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People deserve to have the latest smarphone from a particular OEM, for at least an year, and everyone can't buy new device for ~700$ every six months.

As to why this is good news for some people, it is sort of the way your top end automobile companies work (most for that matter).
Whether BMW, Mercedes, Audi, or whatever company: you have an expected timeframe of how long they will keep a car relatively the same without a major facelift (5-7 years). When you purchase an automobile from one of these companies, you know for an x number of years the car won't be different in any major ways (of course there are the yearly upgrades and all, but you guys know what I mean).
Well when you compare that to mobile devices-where it seems (and has really been set by Apple) that many companies give their flagship device a one year span, HTC doesn't. They have been doing refreshes half a year within the release of their flagship devices which makes some people feel like they paid all this money for a device that was outdated by the same company too quickly. Whereas Samsung and Apple have been on a one flagship a year schedule.
For most people who do upgrades and purchase a phone every two years, it is really irrelevant whether there is a refresh later in the year or not. But for others who purchase the devices unlocked and are smartphone addicts, it could lead to you purchasing from another company.
Sent from my EndeavorU using Tapatalk 2

NiCk.JaY said:
People deserve to have the latest smarphone from a particular OEM, for at least an year, and everyone can't buy new device for ~700$ every six months.
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Click to collapse
But again... why exactly do people need a new device every 6 months...? I still fail to understand this.
Lets say HTC makes a great device for H1. People purchase this device.
They later refresh 6 months later with a superior process (best H2 can offer).
What do the people who purchased the H1 device loose? Perhaps resale value, but other then that, they don't loose anything.
Again, I fail to understand what is wrong with HTCs model. If anything it is BETTER for consumers because it means better tech is being pushed out earlier, and new devices are cheaper, allowing more people access.
The car model isn't a valid comparison imo... The price difference, combined with the fact that between model years- little changes in terms of performance (whereas cell phones will not refresh without a power upgrade) , makes cars and cell phones too dissimilar to compare.
Apple releases 1 device a year because it maxamizes profit. Consumers are stupid enough to believe that this is good for them, which is something I disagree with.

nvm, /delete post pls.

Ive read rumours before the m7 was announced about a m4 and q2.
So basically m7 high end, m4 middle, g2 low end. (all code names obv)
That to me is the perfect model htc should follow
http://htcsource.com/2013/02/new-images-reveal-a-familiar-looking-htc-m4/
http://htcsource.com/2013/02/htc-m4-and-g2-models-to-follow-the-m7-release/

I think so, this can creat a strong brand
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

The one surely is a great device and has lot's of buyers but is it really good to release just one ultra-high-end device for around 600 euros? I don't know many people (except of me and some of my friends) who will pay this much for a phone or would like such a big screen (even if there are phones with bigger screens around) so i think htc should release at least a mid class model with for example a 4" screen and maybe a low class model too..

matthiaswtf6 said:
The one surely is a great device and has lot's of buyers but is it really good to release just one ultra-high-end device for around 600 euros? I don't know many people (except of me and some of my friends) who will pay this much for a phone or would like such a big screen (even if there are phones with bigger screens around) so i think htc should release at least a mid class model with for example a 4" screen and maybe a low class model too..
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Click to collapse
They will release lower/mid end devices for sure. I think they just want to release one HIGHEND device per year.

FUN PAGE
Hello guys and gals. I have made HTC One fun page on Facebook. Feel free to join us
Admins are welcome. (just pm. me on facebook page)

Nice Device
nice device i would like to buy one

What the hell was so confusing about the HTC One family from last year? The flagship was the HTC One X. That was it. That was THE ONE. There was a supercharged one called the X+, but that was sensibly named with an extra +. Much like an iPhone that was 32GB or 64GB. It was still very much the same device. The One S was their midrange. The One V was their low-end. Three different price points, three different sizes. It was never customer confusion that caused HTC to not be as successful. It was just their crappy marketing and crappy availability. Since HTC is undoubtedly going to release lower tier phones besides THE ONE, they will be back in the same position they were in last year, meaning all this THE ONE crap is meaningless.
Samsung has a bajillion phones besides the Galaxy S III of all different sizes and specs that all have the same shiny marble rounded look and it has not hurt them in the least. In fact, the Note II and Ace are one of the highest sellers along with the GS3. The One X, S, and V were wildly more different from each other in looks. It's not a problem of confusion. It's a problem with marketing.
HTC is also driving themselves in a corner without releasing more high-end phones that cater to more corners of the smartphone space. Where is the Note II competitor? What about a small screen phone with high specs? There are plenty of people who think phones are getting to big and would want a smaller phone that has as much power as their bigger brethren. The other rather non-existent niche that no manufacturer is really pushing in the modern era is the cameraphone. Sure Nokia had the 808 Pureview, but that was more fanservice for the dying Symbian platform than anything else. HTC could delve into a competitor for the rumored Lumia EOS device. The area is fresh and fertile with almost no competitors. If they are bold enough to drop out of the megapixel race for "ultrapixels", they should be able to go bolder and say that cameras on phones are crap because the sensors are too small. For a minor bump in thickness, the phone being still very pocketable, you get a real camera! And a phone you can actually hold instead of a sliver of something that looks like it will bend in half.
If HTC can't handle just having one high-end phone, I'm really questioning their competence , considering they are still a multi-billion dollar company. Ideally they are using all the resources to make THE ONE the perfect device with perfect software and perfect hardware testing and perfect everything, dedicating more people to this one device than any other manufacturer would to their own flagships. The more cynical person would also wonder if HTC hadn't had a giant layoff after the poor results in 2012 and have just cut the teams for all the other phones. The easiest way to profitability is to fire your workers.

I think it's a very sensible move
They can focus on providing solid software updates
Nothing annoys people like buying a phone and having them release a slightly better model a few months later or even introducing a new flagship!
Sony have an issue of releasing too many phones and not knowing which is the true flagship, I think they're trying to follow a similar path this year.

quoting from phandroid
That’s not to say this will be the only high-end HTC smartphone of the year — HTC still has the mid-range sectors to target, as well as a Windows line to promote — but the HTC One will remain at the top of HTC’s totem pole.
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I just watched pocketnow on YouTube and they announced that another windows 8 device will be dropping from HTC this year. I don't think it will be a high end device though.
Sent from my HTC Mytouch 4g using xda premium

katamari201 said:
HTC is also driving themselves in a corner without releasing more high-end phones that cater to more corners of the smartphone space. Where is the Note II competitor? What about a small screen phone with high specs? There are plenty of people who think phones are getting to big and would want a smaller phone that has as much power as their bigger brethren. The other rather non-existent niche that no manufacturer is really pushing in the modern era is the cameraphone. Sure Nokia had the 808 Pureview, but that was more fanservice for the dying Symbian platform than anything else. HTC could delve into a competitor for the rumored Lumia EOS device. The area is fresh and fertile with almost no competitors. If they are bold enough to drop out of the megapixel race for "ultrapixels", they should be able to go bolder and say that cameras on phones are crap because the sensors are too small. For a minor bump in thickness, the phone being still very pocketable, you get a real camera! And a phone you can actually hold instead of a sliver of something that looks like it will bend in half.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like that too - but I don't think they could do that now, because they'd be undermining their own marketing of the One if they come out and say "all smartphone cameras are crap - including the one on our flagship phone that it's one of its major selling points".
Veering wildly off-topic , something *I* think there's a niche for is a camera-oriented dumb phone. As it stands, if you want a new phone with an even half-way decent camera, you need to buy a high-end smartphone. There are many people (I suspect) who would love to see a device that is essentially a dedicated digital camera that can, as a secondary function, also send texts and make phone calls (but doesn't do smartphone stuff). There were some old Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices like that - the N93, for example - but no one seems to make them any more. I want a Xenon flash and a proper optical zoom.

verge choose the one after s 4 review

http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/24/4257254/samsung-galaxy-s4-review
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium

they are still of bunch of ignorants in my opinion :laugh:
We’ve seen it in laptops, as companies like Toshiba finally turn away from racing to the pricing bottom and begin to build truly excellent ultrabooks; we're also seeing it in cellphones, from the HTC One and a small selection of other devices.
I don't need more cores, more gigahertz, or more software features that ostensibly help me use my phone more easily. I need a phone that feels good in my hand, looks good on my desk, does everything I expect it to, and gives me no reason to think it won't last the life of my two-year contract. I bought an iPhone 5 because last fall it was the only phone that fit that bill — now there are several Android options as well, and they’re good enough to make me want to switch back to Google’s OS.
For now, it's a choice every buyer will have to make. You can have the far better-looking phone or you can have the slightly better-performing phone — and you really can't choose wrong. If the GS III is any indication, millions upon millions will choose the GS4. Me? I think design matters. Polish matters. The Galaxy S4 is fast and impressive, but it's also noisy and complex. The One is refined, quiet, comfortable, beautiful, and above all simply pleasant. I love using that phone, in a way I haven't experienced with anything since the iPhone 5. That's why, when my contract is up in June, I'll probably be casting my lot with HTC instead of Samsung.
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he should update his HTC One review if he loves it this much, his review certainly doesnt reflect that!

I think it does. And I could not agree more. David Pierce on mobile devices is 100% reliable.

combat goofwing said:
http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/24/4257254/samsung-galaxy-s4-review
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So did Gizmodo UK though that's not saying much
Pretty much everyone who's reviewed both phones side by side has opted for the One

Bound to be differences in opinion - I can totally see why some would prefer the S4. But for me, HTC One all the way. That is if my order ever turns up! Grr.

Even if the One sucked it would have beat the S4 on the Verge. The S4 has a chance to beat the iphone in sales this year, the Verge, as iPhone fanbois, dont want that to happen. Of course, im not saying the conclusion is wrong, i do have an HTC One after all, but the point stands.

Is HTC dead?

Idk if you guys have noticed but HTC is declining at an alarming rate http://thenextweb.com/insider/2015/08/13/htc-cuts-15-of-its-workforce-as-it-battles-poor-sales/ and they're worthless http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/10/htc-is-now-essentially-worthless-and-insecure/#.lb8fpr:0sl9 . So do you guys think HTC is doomed or will they make a comeback?

Theandroidfan said:
Idk if you guys have noticed but HTC is declining at an alarming rate http://thenextweb.com/insider/2015/08/13/htc-cuts-15-of-its-workforce-as-it-battles-poor-sales/ and they're worthless http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/10/htc-is-now-essentially-worthless-and-insecure/#.lb8fpr:0sl9 . So do you guys think HTC is doomed or will they make a comeback?
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Click to collapse
LOL I read those same links and came up with a different conclusion than you..........................................
In the short term profits are non existent, but that does not mean they are down and out.
Look at most of the USA's motor manufacturers, they were in the same boat not to long back

It's funny you mention this. I was displaying something at work the other day to a coworker and a few of his friends. After the video was over, someone asked: "What phone is that?" I said "The HTC One M9". He responded with "HTC? Wow I haven't seen anyone with an HTC in a long time." The rest of the group nodded. That's when I realized that HTC is behind in the game, even if their Flagship product continues to out-pace the S6 and G4 in terms of battery life and build quality. When people think of buying a new phone the first thing that pops into their heads are either the iPhone or Samsung. Samsung is a massive company that has been saturating the market with advertisements for years. But even moving passed them, what are some other phone manufacturers that normal, non-tech savvy people would think of. LG is a familiar name. HTC? Not so much.
HTC needs to get its name out there. Its making quality devices and no one seems to care. The M9 wasn't a big departure from the M8 in terms of looks and when people buy phones they want to be noticed. A phone is every bit an upgrade to the person's communication capabilities as it is a social status. For the buyers that do research before purchasing a new device, they probably stumbled upon the slew of articles proclaiming the Snapdragon 810's heat problems. They also probably read about the lackluster camera. While the camera, after many updates, is quite good, it still doesn't have basic features like OIS. Unfortunately, we live in a society where the camera is the most important part of the phone; thanks to Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, etc. People want a phone that they can just point and shoot in any condition and take a good photo. So when I read articles like the ones you posted above, I find myself not really that surprised. HTC has struggled to keep up with the likes of Samsung, LG and Motorola. Period.
As for me, the M9 is nice, but I absolutely cannot wait for the new Nexus 5 to come out this year. The development community here has some nice content but between Sense and the lack of sources coming from HTC, I find myself missing my old N5 more and more. This will be the last HTC device I'll ever own.

Alcolawl said:
The M9 wasn't a big departure from the M8 in terms of looks and when people buy phones they want to be noticed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah because Apple totally redesign their phones every year and wouldn't possibly ship the same phone again with an S badge on it. People still queue for days down the street for it.

They're in trouble, yes. Even a killer M10 might not be enough because the market is just saturated and the margins on flagship phones are so thin. And they're going to have trouble rolling out a killer phone for the simple reason that nobody can afford to max out the specs anymore and still sell their phones at a profit. I mean, look what happened with the OP2. Even Samsung had to cut corners on the S6 (battery, sdcard slot).
Samsung is surviving on marketing and market share, but when the cheap smartphones from China start really flooding the market, things are going to change for everyone.

Despite the negation of some, HTC is at its darkest hour. If the hero product coming doesn't turns out to be a real hero, I'm afraid the M10 will be the last for them to succeed they need both to be successful, and considering the middle tier and phones like the Redmi Note 2 out there, it's gonna be really hard

In my humble opinion, HTC should try not to compete with Apple and Samsung, but move in a new direction. They should move to a more niche market, keeping the things they are good at and also creating a device that comes rooted, so people who like all the modding can have a device that would truly unique to them or bespoke.
Samsung and Apple are to big now for HTC to compete with, so heading in a completely different directions may save HTC, but the company would be a lot smaller than it is now.
Sent from my HTC One M9 using XDA Free mobile app

Alcolawl said:
It's funny you mention this. I was displaying something at work the other day to a coworker and a few of his friends. After the video was over, someone asked: "What phone is that?" I said "The HTC One M9". He responded with "HTC? Wow I haven't seen anyone with an HTC in a long time." The rest of the group nodded. That's when I realized that HTC is behind in the game, even if their Flagship product continues to out-pace the S6 and G4 in terms of battery life and build quality. When people think of buying a new phone the first thing that pops into their heads are either the iPhone or Samsung. Samsung is a massive company that has been saturating the market with advertisements for years. But even moving passed them, what are some other phone manufacturers that normal, non-tech savvy people would think of. LG is a familiar name. HTC? Not so much.
HTC needs to get its name out there. Its making quality devices and no one seems to care. The M9 wasn't a big departure from the M8 in terms of looks and when people buy phones they want to be noticed. A phone is every bit an upgrade to the person's communication capabilities as it is a social status. For the buyers that do research before purchasing a new device, they probably stumbled upon the slew of articles proclaiming the Snapdragon 810's heat problems. They also probably read about the lackluster camera. While the camera, after many updates, is quite good, it still doesn't have basic features like OIS. Unfortunately, we live in a society where the camera is the most important part of the phone; thanks to Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, etc. People want a phone that they can just point and shoot in any condition and take a good photo. So when I read articles like the ones you posted above, I find myself not really that surprised. HTC has struggled to keep up with the likes of Samsung, LG and Motorola. Period.
As for me, the M9 is nice, but I absolutely cannot wait for the new Nexus 5 to come out this year. The development community here has some nice content but between Sense and the lack of sources coming from HTC, I find myself missing my old N5 more and more. This will be the last HTC device I'll ever own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great post, I'm with ya... In my case, I miss my OnePlus One just like you miss your Nexus 5. I'm planning on getting one of the two new Nexus that are coming out in October as well, and the M9 is probably going to be my last HTC device as well.
Sent from my HTC One M9 using XDA Free mobile app

HTC for ever rip
Inviato dal mio HTC One M9 utilizzando Tapatalk

CaseyChaos666 said:
Yeah because Apple totally redesign their phones every year and wouldn't possibly ship the same phone again with an S badge on it. People still queue for days down the street for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC is not apple. Apple can afford to do that, HTC can't.

I bought the M9 on a whim (and to see if HTC got its head straight after the Doubleshot debacle) and I'm impressed with this phone. Unfortunately it's too little too late.
Sent from my toaster

I have a lot of htc devices before i buy sgs3 and then sgs5. I go for sammy because there was too many hardware issues with htc phones. But touchwiz i the ugliest launcher. I just can'tuse it. So i install cm on my samsungs. But there was always something that doesnt work as it should. Now with m9 i am very happy again. I would definitely support this copamny in future. I don't know why people are expecting so different design. Not always different is good.
Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

I hope it doesn't lose ground. I know this isn't a popular device amongst the 2015 flagships. Definitely doesn't beat m8 in terms of popularity either. Their main focus is their next phone but hope htc continues to give us timely updates and support for this device. My only concern.
It's sad that my dad even knows this company is struggling and he doesn't know anything about smartphones.

I'm hoping HTC doesn't die either, pretty much the only phone on the market I like due to the sense overlay, don't like Samsung's touchwiz and as for the rest, LG, Sony etc, well you may as well just get a Nexus, and Sony are rubbish for updates in my experience, Cant stand I don't know phones.
M9 is currently available on Virgin Mobile for half the price it was 4 months ago, sorry all those who grabbed it as soon as it came out on a 2 year contract and are paying double :crying: current price is not a good sign, still may grab one however when my contract comes up for renewal in November, maybe it will be a bit cheaper.
HTC are upsetting a lot of people at the moment with them promising updates and then not bothering, M8 just lost its August update, we now have to wait till android M release, and I can really see by the time its ready, they will use the excuse that the device is over 2 years old so no update, so still no Sense 7 unless you go custom rom, if XDA developers can do it, why cant HTC ?
HTC Mini 2 aka M8 mini, only got a year of updates, didn't even get Lollipop, not a very happy Mrs. promised by HTC then cancelled.
M7 updates got the 2 year excuse and left with a buggy Lollipop, which were fixed by Google 4 weeks later in 5.1.

I miss the HTC that made good phones like this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfSxWNOG8DQ That video gives me a nostalgia overload.

Looks like htc is digging a bigger hole for the m9 with the a9 being announced in September.
The support for this device is going to downtrend fast.

cougzzz said:
Looks like htc is digging a bigger hole for the m9 with the a9 being announced in September.
The support for this device is going to downtrend fast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they do a good job with the initial release that doesn't needs to be true; It will include the latest android version, so no need to worry about system updates probably until android M, it will include the stagefright patches, so no need to worry about that either. If it includes a good camera and gets rid of Snapdragon 810, there won't be a need of constant firmware updates and even if it includes the 810, they've improved it so much so far, so there would be no need to firmware updates, cause they passed for that with the M9 already.
Again that's assuming they're going to announce sometihng at IFA, which is yet uncertain.

Simply put...nowadays phone manufacturers don't need to build the best phone to sell the "best" phone, they just have to make it the most popular phone. People outside of XDA don't buy a phone because it has killer features, or superior build quality, or the best camera; they buy a phone because the marketing department said it was the best phone on the market, plain and simple. If HTC wants to catch up, all they need to do is change the look of the M10 and focus on marketing it heavily. HTC has been building top tier smartphones for some time now and they have lost the market game to Samsung and Apple every year.
And also, don't think for a minute that other manufacturers will not pay for negative press on competing phones. They know that public perception is what drives public reception. I am quite certain that Samsung "influenced" atleast a few of the bad review that the M9 received. I am the proud owner of an M9 and although it hasn't been the best phone that I have ever owned, it is FAR from as bad as some of the reviews made it out to be; but if you read the reviews and base your phone decision off of them, you would think the M9 was a piece of junk to be avoided.
All HTC needs to do is figure out some hip gimmicks and marketing (not for us, but for the public), and they will be just fine.

Htc is for people who don't want to go with the sheep of the phone world, plus once you've had a decent high end htc device you'll always be looking back if you switch to let's say a Samsung or an apple device. They're always really close to getting it perfect, this time round it's obviously the camera which is still good but you need to tweak it a bit, personally I'd always chose htc, they're great phones, especially since the m7.
In terms of overall sales, no they're not doing as well as Samsung and apple, bare in mind though that Apple and samsung sell lots of other devices besides phones, htc do not. A fresh approach needs to happen in terms of marketing, and a thoroughly tested flagship with every angle covered, plus I don't think it's necessary for them to release several phones per year. A flag ship and a budget phone would suffice, allowing them to optimise the devices properly. Having an E an E+ an m9 and an m9+ with desires popping up all over the place for me is far too much.
Time will tell, but I don't think they're down and out.

This is my sixth HTC phone and still happy with it. Sad though they can't keep up with the telecom market nowadays.. I would say HTC ain't dead, but it had its better days. Hopefully they strike back with a stunning 2016 flagship. They really deserve a better position or either everybody's attention like last year with the m8 in my opinion
Sent from my HTC One M9 using XDA Free mobile app