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I've recently purchased black HTC ONE. Although at first look device looks great (design is near perfection), I am really disappointed with its quality.
Build quality: both sides of the phone have rough edges - skin gets caught leaving white residue most of the time. Upper left edge of the screen is not fitted well - raised above the speaker grill
Really hot! It gets uncomfortable hot after few minutes of browsing over wifi - the screen gets warm as well! I also have GNote 2 and Iphone 4s and they get to such temperatures only after havy use when charging.
Camera is no good! (and yes I know how to take a picture) - pictures are noise (in relatively good light) and contain pinkish tint in center when focusing on white surfaces
Pixel grid (horizontal and vertical) is quite visible on the screen when jts turned off (this does not bother me), or on a mid day light and even indoors under some angles (and this is f-ing bothering me!)
I dont know did I get a really bad unit or this device is all looks and no quality...
ssasa said:
I've recently purchased black HTC ONE. Although at first look device looks great (design is near perfection), I am really disappointed with its quality.
Build quality: both sides of the phone have rough edges - skin gets caught leaving white residue most of the time. Upper left edge of the screen is not fitted well - raised above the speaker grill
Really hot! It gets uncomfortable hot after few minutes of browsing over wifi - the screen gets warm as well! I also have GNote 2 and Iphone 4s and they get to such temperatures only after havy use when charging.
Camera is no good! (and yes I know how to take a picture) - pictures are noise (in relatively good light) and contain pinkish tint in center when focusing on white surfaces
Pixel grid (horizontal and vertical) is quite visible on the screen when jts turned off (this does not bother me), or on a mid day light and even indoors under some angles (and this is f-ing bothering me!)
I dont know did I get a really bad unit or this device is all looks and no quality...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bad unit, get a replacement. There seem to be quite a few (I'm waiting for my second - because of a borked plastic cut) but I've also seen perfect examples...
Don't have any of those problems, Black One, build date 27th May Tierra del Fuego sub-contractor (FA)
Just send it back. Obvious.
so u expect ur first wife to be all sweet and caring and lovey dovey and makes a sandwich every morning?
get real
shiningarmor said:
so u expect ur first wife to be all sweet and caring and lovey dovey and makes a sandwich every morning?
get real
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So how many wives do you plan on trying to get?
That overheating issue you're facing is not normal, I believe. I have had a Galaxy S3 which got really hot after minimal usage, and the HTC One is great when it comes to that in comparison. You have to understand that aluminium soaks up the heat from the internals of the device, which is a good thing and a bad thing; it is perhaps bad because it can get a bit uncomfortable to hold while playing games, for instance, but at the same time it is good because it preserves the internals of the device and prolongs their life.
I have the a silver one and I do not face the problem with the edges. I read that the black one has a coating on it which makes it more prone to scratches, dings and chips than the silver one, so maybe that is the problem you're facing? I have also read that some of the earlier versions had gaps (like the screen not being fitted well, as you mentioned) but I am not sure about them. If you feel uncomfortable about the device, just go to the HTC service center and talk to them about it, perhaps they can sort you out a replacement if you're under warranty.
I cannot comment on the camera because I am by no means a photographer or even have a lot of experience with them, but it is suffice to say that I love the camera and I feel it is much better than my S3, sister's 4S and Dad's iPhone 5.
Yes I do expect here to be exactly as you've described. Maybe this is why my relationships does not last more than a year
I am also thinking of asking for another unit. But in my cowboy / banana country this really a hassle...
Nippero said:
So how many wives do you plan on trying to get?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe 3 xD
ssasa said:
Yes I do expect here to be exactly as you've described. Maybe this is why my relationships does not last more than a year
I am also thinking of asking for another unit. But in my cowboy / banana country this really a hassle...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hahaha
ot : ur unit isnt normal. get it replaced
TarekElsakka said:
That overheating issue you're facing is not normal, I believe. I have had a Galaxy S3 which got really hot after minimal usage, and the HTC One is great when it comes to that in comparison. You have to understand that aluminium soaks up the heat from the internals of the device, which is a good thing and a bad thing; it is perhaps bad because it can get a bit uncomfortable to hold while playing games, for instance, but at the same time it is good because it preserves the internals of the device and prolongs their life.
I have the a silver one and I do not face the problem with the edges. I read that the black one has a coating on it which makes it more prone to scratches, dings and chips than the silver one, so maybe that is the problem you're facing? I have also read that some of the earlier versions had gaps (like the screen not being fitted well, as you mentioned) but I am not sure about them. If you feel uncomfortable about the device, just go to the HTC service center and talk to them about it, perhaps they can sort you out a replacement if you're under warranty.
I cannot comment on the camera because I am by no means a photographer or even have a lot of experience with them, but it is suffice to say that I love the camera and I feel it is much better than my S3, sister's 4S and Dad's iPhone 5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not chipped or scratched. It looks quite nice really. However you can feal its edges scratching when you hold the phone. Nothing dangerous just bloody annoying - due to hype about build quality I had my expectations set high.
I am no photography expert I just take pictures with steady hand and in fair light - if my subject is the white wall, the pink tint is all over the middle of the picture
As others said probably very bad unit. I'll try to replace it on monday.
Definitely defective. I've been using the phone for the last hour browsing the net and checking email. Still cool to the touch. Not sure what the sharp edges are...
mine got pretty hot the first week i had it and the battery life wasnt very good but after having it for a while it seemed to have settled down and battery life is very good now
Itaintrite said:
Definitely defective. I've been using the phone for the last hour browsing the net and checking email. Still cool to the touch. Not sure what the sharp edges are...
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Click to collapse
Cool to the touch? Do you have massive calluses on your hands that are impenetrable to heat? I don't know if I've read of anyone else describing this phone as cool to the touch when being used.
As for the OPs phone. Return it. I've got black One and it is so damn nice. If you aren't fully enjoying it, something must be defective. The casing certainly sounds like it is. The camera: I recently took a short trip and only brought the phone as my camera. Before, I didn't like the camera so much. After spending time with it, I grew to like it quite a bit. It isn't an amazing camera, but it still gets pretty good shots. Maybe your settings need some tweaking, or you got a really bad unit and the camera is defective as well.
Anyway, take it back. Get yourself a perfect One. :thumbup:
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
ataft said:
Cool to the touch? Do you have massive calluses on your hands that are impenetrable to heat? I don't know if I've read of anyone else describing this phone as cool to the touch when being used.
As for the OPs phone. Return it. I've got black One and it is so damn nice. If you aren't fully enjoying it, something must be defective. The casing certainly sounds like it is. The camera: I recently took a short trip and only brought the phone as my camera. Before, I didn't like the camera so much. After spending time with it, I grew to like it quite a bit. It isn't an amazing camera, but it still gets pretty good shots. Maybe your settings need some tweaking, or you got a really bad unit and the camera is defective as well.
Anyway, take it back. Get yourself a perfect One. :thumbup:
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, then fact that I'm in a room with AC probably helps too. But yeah, pretty cool to the touch. Not even warm.
Please don't feed the trolls
----------------------o('_')o----------------------
Sent from an HTC One with using xda app:
TrickDroid ROM 5.6
Bulletproof 1.10
ssasa said:
Yes I do expect here to be exactly as you've described. Maybe this is why my relationships does not last more than a year
I am also thinking of asking for another unit. But in my cowboy / banana country this really a hassle...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think a lot of us forget that not everyone has the opportunity to just walk in store and get a replacement.. There's a lot of downsides to ATT and Tmobile, etc. upsides are they will most likely exchange them until your happy. At least you dont have to accept a bad one..Keep mentioning zero gap til they bring one that applies I got lucky i guess and my first one is nearly perfect.
It sounds like yours is bad enough to do whatever you gotta do to get it replaced. Good luck,
Pixel grid? Do you mean you can see the digitalizer layer? This is quite normal on capacitive touch mobiles with thin glass
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Premium HD app
Recently my N5's screen cracked after a fall. I love the N5, but couldn't justify spending $200 to fix a $400 phone. (In Australia. Not sure how much it is to fix in other countries). Besides, the GPS is near useless, even after the fix.
I considered getting the M8 due to the aluminium construction, but the massive bezels and weight really put me off. It has a 5inch display, yet is the same size as the Z3. Shame.
I really like the Moto X (2014), for its shape and size, but for its price here in Aus, $700, it isn't an upgrade from the N5, and the battery sucks. Maybe if it was <$600, I would seriously consider it.
The Droid Turbo is everything I want in a phone, but at over 11mm thick.......No thanks.
Then I noticed the Z3. It is perfect, especially in copper. It is the only phone that gets everything right. The battery life is fantastic, the screen looks brilliant, it has an SD card slot, the camera is great, it feels fantastic in the hand, front facing speakers, etc.......It just seems like the perfect handset.......until you hear about all the QC issues.
Screens cracking, waterproofing not working, very poor reception (in AU at least), chassis creaking noises when pressed, dodgy camera buttons, inconsistent screen calibration, inconsistent picture quality.
The reception issues alone are a massive put off. I was in the Telstra store today, the big one in the city, (Melb CBD), and the Z3 that was on display was bouncing between 4g, 3g and, surprisingly, 2g. It spent most of the time on 3g/2g and least time on 4g.
All this while my N5 was solidly on 4g with 3 bars the whole time.
Pretty piss poor. Especially considering that that store has its own in building cell, so it should have full 4G at all times.
I've noticed one person on this forum is onto his fourth handset!
What's going on?
Can any long term users put my mind at ease? Should I get this phone, or should I stay away?
Any input is greatly appreciated. I really want this phone, but these QC issues really leave a bad taste.
I am that guy with the 4th handset lol. Don't be put off, even many iPhone 6s are being returned to TMO, it happens as the device is new and sometimes there is a bad batch. TMO got dumped a bad batch, just go to store and check there if it has issues they will open another one and you can get a good one. Remember even the the HTC M7 had issues with purple cam etc and the G3 with cracks near the mic, for some batches, no company is immune. Mostly people with defects are vocal on forums and those without issues generally don't come on forums to praise so obviously on forums talk will be skewed towards the problems/defects.
Its a good phone, but if you think you may be careless the M8 is better as its more impact resistant as corners of LCD are protected by a much thicker metal frame.
Overall though the Z3 has better battery life, camera, and speakers are "almost" as good as the M8, and as you mentioned before its not as bulky. Waterproofing is also a plus.
abhinav.tella said:
I am that guy with the 4th handset lol. Don't be put off, even many iPhone 6s are being returned to TMO, it happens as the device is new and sometimes there is a bad batch. TMO got dumped a bad batch, just go to store and check there if it has issues they will open another one and you can get a good one. Remember even the the HTC M7 had issues with purple cam etc and the G3 with cracks near the mic, for some batches, no company is immune. Mostly people with defects are vocal on forums and those without issues generally don't come on forums to praise so obviously on forums talk will be skewed towards the problems/defects.
Its a good phone, but if you think you may be careless the M8 is better as its more impact resistant as corners of LCD are protected by a much thicker metal frame.
Overall though the Z3 has better battery life, camera, and speakers are "almost" as good as the M8, and as you mentioned before its not as bulky. Waterproofing is also a plus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very encouraging indeed. Im on my 7th day, 2nd phone replacement due to screen gap and some bugs. So far, im "ok" but not 100% yet, I hope ? everything's gonna be alright AFTER the 14th day(exchange/return period)
abhinav.tella said:
I am that guy with the 4th handset lol. Don't be put off,.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your upbeat attitude towards this phone is very encouraging. Funnily enough just as you were posting this, another user on whirlpool (Australian based forum), reported another crack.
I might wait it out and see if they make changes to resolve these issues.
Has anyone else here come from the N5 or moto x 2014? Do you like the change?
cubic25 said:
Your upbeat attitude towards this phone is very encouraging. Funnily enough just as you were posting this, another user on whirlpool (Australian based forum), reported another crack.
I might wait it out and see if they make changes to resolve these issues.
Has anyone else here come from the N5 or moto x 2014? Do you like the change?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came from a G2 which is basically a Nexus 5+, its a good upgrade, though I still love the G2 as well. G2 (6-7Hrs SOT) gets pretty close battery life to the Z3 (7-8.5 Hrs SOT), but N5 (3-4Hrs SOT) and Moto X users will see a night and day difference in battery life as the Z3 is that much bettery in terms of battery life.
cubic25 said:
Recently my N5's screen cracked after a fall. I love the N5, but couldn't justify spending $200 to fix a $400 phone. (In Australia. Not sure how much it is to fix in other countries). Besides, the GPS is near useless, even after the fix.
I considered getting the M8 due to the aluminium construction, but the massive bezels and weight really put me off. It has a 5inch display, yet is the same size as the Z3. Shame.
I really like the Moto X (2014), for its shape and size, but for its price here in Aus, $700, it isn't an upgrade from the N5, and the battery sucks. Maybe if it was <$600, I would seriously consider it.
The Droid Turbo is everything I want in a phone, but at over 11mm thick.......No thanks.
Then I noticed the Z3. It is perfect, especially in copper. It is the only phone that gets everything right. The battery life is fantastic, the screen looks brilliant, it has an SD card slot, the camera is great, it feels fantastic in the hand, front facing speakers, etc.......It just seems like the perfect handset.......until you hear about all the QC issues.
Screens cracking, waterproofing not working, very poor reception (in AU at least), chassis creaking noises when pressed, dodgy camera buttons, inconsistent screen calibration, inconsistent picture quality.
The reception issues alone are a massive put off. I was in the Telstra store today, the big one in the city, (Melb CBD), and the Z3 that was on display was bouncing between 4g, 3g and, surprisingly, 2g. It spent most of the time on 3g/2g and least time on 4g.
All this while my N5 was solidly on 4g with 3 bars the whole time.
Pretty piss poor. Especially considering that that store has its own in building cell, so it should have full 4G at all times.
I've noticed one person on this forum is onto his fourth handset!
What's going on?
Can any long term users put my mind at ease? Should I get this phone, or should I stay away?
Any input is greatly appreciated. I really want this phone, but these QC issues really leave a bad taste.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I ordered my Sony Xperia Z3 this week after browsing the forums for some time. I was previously using the S5 which worked great, but I wanted a phone that was more stock and aesthetically pleasing. After careful consideration, I realized that I could do with the QC and ordered a white d6603 Xperia Z3 from eBay. It just arrived today and I have to say that it is perfect. I don't have any screen gap, pink lens, nor misshaped cover flaps. While you do read a lot about the problems, do consider that this is a small portion of the total consumers of the Z3 and it does not affect everyone. Currently, I've been using this phone for a day and have had only one problem. I activated google now for all screens and I get this camera message saying "Recording in progress in another app. Cannot record error." A simple google search fixed my problem as it seems there is a bug where google now will cause that message to pop up.
Overall, its a great phone. Although the camera is not as great as my previous S5, I can live with it. I just wish I had gotten the black because the white gets dirty pretty quick. I'd definitely recommend this.
Funny enough, when I sent in my first for a replacement I cancelled the online reorder as they had no stock. Ironically yesterday I get a notification that "your phone is one the way". I had to call T-Mobile and tell them to pull it out of UPS, otherwise I would now have a 5th phone as well lol.
I have now 3 EIPS that I have to pay because they still havent verified my returns, because apparently they are too busy handling a large number of defective iPhone 6s lol, according to a rep.
I have Z3 for 3 weeks now and it works perfect. No flaws in design too. Only thing I regret is that I did not get some other color. I got black, but it was the only option get here.
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
abhinav.tella said:
Funny enough, when I sent in my first for a replacement I cancelled the online reorder as they had no stock. Ironically yesterday I get a notification that "your phone is one the way". I had to call T-Mobile and tell them to pull it out of UPS, otherwise I would now have a 5th phone as well lol.
I have now 3 EIPS that I have to pay because they still havent verified my returns, because apparently they are too busy handling a large number of defective iPhone 6s lol, according to a rep.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So that's why my EIP didn't come off yet
You will find problems with every single phone. There are no perfect devices.
Buy the Z3 if you like it - if there is anything wrong with it, just replace it - that's why we have warranties, that's why we have consumer laws.
Really happy with my Z3:
"Screens cracking, waterproofing not working, very poor reception (in AU at least), chassis creaking noises when pressed, dodgy camera buttons, inconsistent screen calibration, inconsistent picture quality."
No cracks on mine, waterproofing works just fine, reception is at least 2 bars better than my iPhone 6 in most places, no noises, camera button works just fine.
Coming from a Nexus 5, I've spent a lot of time analyzing what would be my next Android phone. I considered the Moto X (2014) as well but what was turning me off was the battery life and camera performance though I love the feel of Motorola phones and their Android skin is the best this side of the Nexus phones. As my main gripes with my Nexus 5 were battery life and screen brightness outdoors (not the camera which I actually liked), I just can't go back to a poor performing battery so the Moto X is out.
I picked up a Z3 and had it for few days and I have to say the battery life was great and the screen was really bright so my two Nexus 5 issues were addressed.
I can't say I liked the performance of the speakers (no where near as good as my Z30) but definitely better than the Nexus 5. Camera performance didn't do much for the few indoor tests I did but I didn't try it enough to put it through its paces. I also can't say I liked the feel of the phone in my hand. I'm used to larger phones but it just didn't seem to fit right (again, not as nice as a Motorola phone or my Z30).
In the end, while 'technically' proficient, I just didn't 'love' it so I returned it. But in many aspects, I think it is one of the best Android phones you can buy right now as it does many things well, just not in a package that suits me. I can't see going for a HTC One M8 right now as there will be a new one in... what... 4 months? Not to mention that the battery life with the M8 wouldn't be as good as the Z3. Since an Android phone is a secondary phone for me, I can live with waiting a while longer before committing to something but if I had to buy today, I'd probably go with the Z3 despite my issues with it. Afterall, no phone is perfect.
Fr3lncr said:
Coming from a Nexus 5, I've spent a lot of time analyzing what would be my next Android phone. I considered the Moto X (2014) as well but what was turning me off was the battery life and camera performance though I love the feel of Motorola phones and their Android skin is the best this side of the Nexus phones. As my main gripes with my Nexus 5 were battery life and screen brightness outdoors (not the camera which I actually liked), I just can't go back to a poor performing battery so the Moto X is out...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was exactly how I felt about the Z3, also coming from the Nexus 5. A lot of improvements coming from the Nexus 5, mainly the battery life and screen, but I think I expected a lot more from the camera. This is where it is weak.
So do you guys think the droid turbo, despite being 11mm thick, might feel better in the hand? I remember holding the z2 and instantly hating the way it felt. It was like holding a slab of glass. I thought the z3 would be better due to its thinness and curved edges.
EDIT: Watched a few more clips about the Droid. No one has mentioned how thick it is. In-fact, most commented on how nice it was to hold.
I think I am going to jump ship from the Z3 and get the Droid. I also like that it will be more drop resistant.
Thanks for the input from everyone. Greatly appreciated.
deleted
For those that came from nexus 5, how is the performance of the z3 compared? Is it just as fast?
jamespat93 said:
For those that came from nexus 5, how is the performance of the z3 compared? Is it just as fast?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's faster than nexus 5.
Root and ubl could only increase the gap of performance
jamespat93 said:
For those that came from nexus 5, how is the performance of the z3 compared? Is it just as fast?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a N5 and then M8. To me they are all around the same speed. You probably couldn't tell unless you did a side by side comparison
How is reception vs LG devices(N5/G2/G3)?
As good if not better than my LG G2, on par with my moms' IPhone 6.
cubic25 said:
Recently my N5's screen cracked after a fall. I love the N5, but couldn't justify spending $200 to fix a $400 phone. (In Australia. Not sure how much it is to fix in other countries). Besides, the GPS is near useless, even after the fix.
I considered getting the M8 due to the aluminium construction, but the massive bezels and weight really put me off. It has a 5inch display, yet is the same size as the Z3. Shame.
I really like the Moto X (2014), for its shape and size, but for its price here in Aus, $700, it isn't an upgrade from the N5, and the battery sucks. Maybe if it was <$600, I would seriously consider it.
The Droid Turbo is everything I want in a phone, but at over 11mm thick.......No thanks.
Then I noticed the Z3. It is perfect, especially in copper. It is the only phone that gets everything right. The battery life is fantastic, the screen looks brilliant, it has an SD card slot, the camera is great, it feels fantastic in the hand, front facing speakers, etc.......It just seems like the perfect handset.......until you hear about all the QC issues.
Screens cracking, waterproofing not working, very poor reception (in AU at least), chassis creaking noises when pressed, dodgy camera buttons, inconsistent screen calibration, inconsistent picture quality.
The reception issues alone are a massive put off. I was in the Telstra store today, the big one in the city, (Melb CBD), and the Z3 that was on display was bouncing between 4g, 3g and, surprisingly, 2g. It spent most of the time on 3g/2g and least time on 4g.
All this while my N5 was solidly on 4g with 3 bars the whole time.
Pretty piss poor. Especially considering that that store has its own in building cell, so it should have full 4G at all times.
I've noticed one person on this forum is onto his fourth handset!
What's going on?
Can any long term users put my mind at ease? Should I get this phone, or should I stay away?
Any input is greatly appreciated. I really want this phone, but these QC issues really leave a bad taste.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The M8 betters my Z3 in almost every single aspect. And in a fall, i'd take the M8 any day. I made a mistake getting the Z3. It's a good phone, but the M8 it replaced walks all over it.
Don't expect good build with the Z3 because mine started perfect, but is slowly starting to creak shall we say...
As for speed, the M8 is faster, at most things, unlocking, scrolling, opening apps, camera etc etc.
OK my short review from having the LG G4 for 6 days now! Just as background, I luckily got the phone through a workmate i know in South Korea so the one i have is the South Korean model. Also, the South Korean version gives you something that is a bloody lifesaver and just so useful and you wish you'd always had one: an extra battery. More on that later.
So I have been using the Nexus 6 since launch and love it. To me at least it's been great – big screen, big development on XDA (I love custom roms/kernels and flashing in general) and over all a phone that i have loved. The only issues i have had really are: the screen is ok but could be better, the camera is ok and could be better and it is heavy and hefty so I use it one-handed but only just. It's a monster!
So last few months have been looking for something not quite as big with a better camera and better screen. I tried both the S6 and S6 Edge and sold them within a few days. Mostly because i think they are just too small and poky or something. S6 Edge was too sharp for me.
Along comes the G4! And if you don't want to read the boring detail below then in short: I love it and haven't really seen any faults at all.
Boring Detail:
Battery:
Here's a tricky one as i have always had decent battery on all phones i get. And all i do is read the same thing over and again on battery threads everywhere: 'i get only 2 hours Screen on Time help!' and then 'i get 7 hours Screen on Time and i'm amazing!'. The problem is the same: every person's usage pattern and apps and mobile reception is different so this all accounts for differing Screen on Time. So – FOR ME – i am getting consistently around 5 to 5.5 hours Screen on Time which is perfectly fine. So i reckon on MOST of the current flag ships you'd be getting pretty similar SOT.
However the one big bloody glaring thing about the South Korean model is that extra battery and that right there should solve pretty much ALL battery issues. So I just have the extra battery in the charging case attached to a USB cable on my computer. If I have gotten low on a day where i have the used phone a lot then 38 seconds later i have swapped batteries for the new 100% one! How good is that! Do yourself a favour and get a spare battery! No doubt they will be available shortly.
Two things that reviews are singling out as ‘cons’ which I think is just silly.
Wireless charging. I love wireless charging and until you use it a lot you don’t realise how convenient it is. I also have two Tylt Vu chargers and they are expensive so i want a device that uses wireless charging! Ok so the G4 has wireless charging CAPABILITY meaning that you need a different back than the one that comes with it and it will work.
Already LG has said that the G4 circle case will have that. So all I will be doing is waiting for the inevitable Shenzen rip off sticker that you stick inside your case that gives me wireless charging. I will give it 4 weeks max before they are on Ebay for $5.
Quick charging. There’s this boring debate that the G4 did not include Quick Charging 2.0 even though Qualcom have it in their chip. Big deal! What you do get is the 1.8 Quick Charge which isn’t quite as good but is still perfectly acceptable! In my testing it charges a bit over 1% per minute. Which is just fine.
Feel:
Sorry about the pretentious term ‘feel’ but it’s the best way of describing a major kick ass thing this phone has! It is just the BEST weight, feel and hold of any phone i’ve owned. It’s not light, it’s not heavy. It’s not small and it’s not phablety big. It is juuuuuuuust right. Dunno what it exactly is – maybe the slight bend? But it’s great.
Leather. I would never in a squillion years think i would own a leather phone or that the leather would work. But it does. Looks good, feels great, is great. Photos do not do it justice. I got the black weather which i love but if i was to buy it again the brown/tan i think could be the pick. If you get the plastic to save a few bucks then, um, don’t!
Camera:
Not going to go into detail because every review already has and i am not a manual camera person. I am Mr Point and Shoot. Suffice to say it takes very good photos. Had it over the weekend at Adelaide with relatives and photos turned out great.
Lag/Stutter/UI Blah:
Ok so on EVERY phone i own i remove the stock launcher and install an aftermarket one because guess why? They’re better. Don’t understand why people cry about the OEM launcher when the aftermarket ones are installed within 16 seconds and are better anyway.
Stutter/lag – again this is another topic that i don’t understand. I really haven’t had a phone that suffered at all from this. I ALWAYS change the animation three options to 0.5 in Developer Options and this often is more than enough. Don’t need to be rooted and takes 14 seconds – why wouldn’t you do it? In general though, i have not had stutter or lag in this phone at all.
The Knock Code to turn on screen. Sorry but every phone that doesn’t have this should get that as a ‘con’. It is just soooo convenient. Love it.
Notification shade works well. Lots of options, lots of shortcuts to choose.
Notification light – a no brainer and dunno why the Nexus 6 didn’t have it and i had to install a custom ROM to get it. It works and works fine.
Ability to change nav bar buttons around and add a couple more. Love this as i always like my back button on the right not the left.
These little customisations are what really makes the UI i think. So handy.
Display:
Great. Bright and similar when i had the S6 as a stand out. Reviews have covered it pretty well too – is an excellent colourful display. LG got it right.
Sound:
Decent! I just don’t use my phone to listen to stuff except for headphones but is loud and ok. Not as good as HTC but good for a phone.
Weird big bloody LCD density:
Here’s a weird thing which no review has mentioned which is the only thing that really annoyed me: the density is 620! Meaning that things are huge! Everything looked like a huge fonted behemoth! And without root i wasn’t able to use the easy way of changing the density via build.prop and eventually had to do it via hooking it to the PC and using Android SDK tools and change it to 540.
Overall:
Found a phone that for me at least satisfied most of what i want in a phone very well. And i haven’t even missed using a custom rom because you can’t root it yet! Never thought i’d say that. So once everyone has it in a month then hopefully development will mean it is even better!
Oh and get the effin leather purlease!!
Thank you for this nice review! Really appreciate it
That was a bloody useful review. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. I'm on a GN4 but as usual itching for my 6 month change...
Q how is the speakerphone? GN4 is excellent. Is it loud? I was a little disappointed by the g3.
The.pixel density issue is interesting. I loved the g3, but for some reason I found it difficult to read text. Even when I changed the size. Partly it's my middle age eyesight but it's not an issue i suffer from with the galaxy note series or even s5. Could never figure out why I found the g3 difficult to read. Perhaps it's that pixel density.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using XDA Free mobile app
ekerbuddyeker said:
That was a bloody useful review. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. I'm on a GN4 but as usual itching for my 6 month change...
Q how is the speakerphone? GN4 is excellent. Is it loud? I was a little disappointed by the g3.
The.pixel density issue is interesting. I loved the g3, but for some reason I found it difficult to read text. Even when I changed the size. Partly it's my middle age eyesight but it's not an issue i suffer from with the galaxy note series or even s5. Could never figure out why I found the g3 difficult to read. Perhaps it's that pixel density.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the speaker is definitely loud. It is on the back of the phone though and is just one speaker. I wouldn't say quality is great but definitely loud.
Yes so weird about the LCD density! But yeah if you like big text then all good.
Great review, we are all hopeful we get root, bootloader unlock and Roms as well.
After installing the alternative home launcher, have you had any issues with the Knock On or Knock Off feature?
.: Sent from an optimized 'ANDROID til I die' device :.
legend221 said:
Great review, we are all hopeful we get root, bootloader unlock and Roms as well.
After installing the alternative home launcher, have you had any issues with the Knock On or Knock Off feature?
.: Sent from an optimized 'ANDROID til I die' device :.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope knock on/off works great still with alternative launcher.
I have read in only 1 review the leather is kind of poorly attached to the plastic back. How nice is the leather attached? Does it wrap around the edges and conceal any plastic back? Clean install?
Lock-N-Load said:
I have read in only 1 review the leather is kind of poorly attached to the plastic back. How nice is the leather attached? Does it wrap around the edges and conceal any plastic back? Clean install?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously it's great. Photos don't do it justice though. It's hard leather but looks and feels really sturdy and just matches the phone.
It doesn't wrap around all the edges though.
poczynek said:
Seriously it's great. Photos don't do it justice though. It's hard leather but looks and feels really sturdy and just matches the phone.
It doesn't wrap around all the edges though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what does it do? I must wrap all the way around the edges of the plastic back it is attached it? if it does not, it would peel up. I am talking about wrapping around all of the edges of the plastic back so NO plastic back is seen along the edges. Not wrapping around the entire phones back
poczynek said:
Nope knock on/off works great still with alternative launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is great news thank you for confirming this, appears that owners of the G3 and G2 were forced to use 3rd party apps to enable one or both of those features when using an alternative home launcher. Im assuming you are using Nova Launcher, I have also always installed that stable application on top of whatever manufacturer I buy.
What is something that has surprised you the most about the G4?
Any feature or something unique from that phone that reviewers or users have not thought of bringing up?
Lock-N-Load said:
So what does it do? I must wrap all the way around the edges of the plastic back it is attached it? if it does not, it would peel up. I am talking about wrapping around all of the edges of the plastic back so NO plastic back is seen along the edges. Not wrapping around the entire phones back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok just took a photo
legend221 said:
This is great news thank you for confirming this, appears that owners of the G3 and G2 were forced to use 3rd party apps to enable one or both of those features when using an alternative home launcher. Im assuming you are using Nova Launcher, I have also always installed that stable application on top of whatever manufacturer I buy.
What is something that has surprised you the most about the G4?
Any feature or something unique from that phone that reviewers or users have not thought of bringing up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surprised is definitely me loving the leather when I thought it would be too garish.
The only thing reviewers haven't brought up was that annoying LCD density!
poczynek said:
Ok just took a photo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok yeah.... as I had expected and hoped.. it does wrap around the edges of the battery door. So, you do not see the leather end and then some plastic of the back battery door. And, agreed, and as expected, it does not wrap leather up around the edges of the phone, just the battery door - so it is a nice clean finish.
---------- Post added at 02:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:02 PM ----------
poczynek said:
Surprised is definitely me loving the leather when I thought it would be too garish.
The only thing reviewers haven't brought up was that annoying LCD density!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you expand a bit on how you addressed the density? I know you said "hooking it to the PC and using Android SDK tools and change it to 540.". I would modify in build.prop as you mentioned, but no root so no way so I am not so sure what you mean here how you accomplished this tweak.
Lock-N-Load said:
Ok yeah.... as I had expected and hoped.. it does wrap around the edges of the battery door. So, you do not see the leather end and then some plastic of the back battery door. And, agreed, and as expected, it does not wrap leather up around the edges of the phone, just the battery door - so it is a nice clean finish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh right sorry yes wasn't understanding what you were saying as driving and reading.
Lock-N-Load said:
Ok yeah.... as I had expected and hoped.. it does wrap around the edges of the battery door. So, you do not see the leather end and then some plastic of the back battery door. And, agreed, and as expected, it does not wrap leather up around the edges of the phone, just the battery door - so it is a nice clean finish.
---------- Post added at 02:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:02 PM ----------
Can you expand a bit on how you addressed the density? I know you said "hooking it to the PC and using Android SDK tools and change it to 540.". I would modify in build.prop as you mentioned, but no root so no way so I am not so sure what you mean here how you accomplished this tweak.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes this guide shows:
http://android.wonderhowto.com/how-...creen-resolution-without-root-access-0160439/
poczynek said:
Yes this guide shows:
http://android.wonderhowto.com/how-...creen-resolution-without-root-access-0160439/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great thanks.. IF the opportunity arises, it would be cool to see a before and after photo of your text size density.
Can the G4 turn Chrome into a free floating window?
Great review, very informative.
I passed on the G3 after really liking the G2 mostly due to the locked BL. I hope LG provides the ability to unlock it this time around like Sony and HTC do.
Or someone here cracks it much faster than it happened on the G3 which took what seemed like forever.
Sent from Canada via my Nexus 6, Note 4,3,2 or S3
poczynek said:
Yes this guide shows:
http://android.wonderhowto.com/how-...creen-resolution-without-root-access-0160439/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the link. Do the dock and lock screen icons work on stock launcher using this method. On the G3 they didn't scale correctly?
What buttons can you change/add to the nav bar? Can you add a menu button?
Is there any sign of the lollipop memory leak?
Ps: big text incoming... I should write novels not Internet forum posts! Bear with me pls.
I've been kinda wanting to replace my Nexus 5 for a while now.
Things that annoy me are the battery that doesn't last that long - doesn't make it through the day if I happen to use it a bit more than the occasional message and photo. And the camera... I have taken freaking fantastic photos with this phone! Even though so many people complain, and fore sure there are way better cameras, Google Camera's HDR+ works wonders!
However.... Quite frequently I loose quick shots because the phone takes forever from 0 to Photo-snap! Focus is slow and unreliable...
Other than those two things, I really can't complain! Specially for the price! 400€ 32gb bright red model. Kinda cheap and unique as **** as you don't really see many screaming bright red phones around.
Still.... I want a reliable camera and a battery that lasts the day even when I use the phone at will.
So I started looking...
Galaxy S6 => awesome hardware! (even though the battery is kinda iffy) but failWiz makes it a no go for me!.. I was nearly going for it when I found out you can't even use alternative keyboards freely because Samsung's ram manager keeps pushing them out.
LG g4.. Meh camera ain't that fantastic, just has a great manual mode.
Nexus 6p ... Seems cool! But it's too big, and now that it's seemingly crappy internal structure design has been revealed... I'm not looking forward to pay over 630€ for a phone whose design had corners cut.
So I considered the 5x. Even though I hate the fake front speaker grill
It kinda checks all boxes.
But today, to my surprise I found one on exposition on a local electronics shop. First I was like "wow cool!" then after playing around with it for a while and comparing it to my N5 I was more like "Meh... Not paying 530€ for this."
The camera looks awesome, even though it didn't seem to snap pics that fast (was in low light ambient)
But it doesn't really perspire quality.
If it'd cost here the same it costs in the states, sure. Good deal!
But for this price... Doesn't seem worth jumping from the Nexus 5 to the 5x.
Did I miss something? What makes this phone fantastic?
I wanted to love it....but I walked away far from in love.
Yeah... Unless your N5 is crapping out, you really have no reason to replace it.
Only reason why I'm thinking the 5x is because after two years, it has some light wear and tear that drives my ocd nuts, as do a couple of hairline cracks at the sim tray and the volume rocker.
All I would expect from the 5 to the 5x is an improved camera, maybe slightly better battery, slightly improved SoC... And nexus imprint... Other than that, its the same phone. Which isn't a bad thing. The N5 was/is a great device, and if u add the above mentioned features, its worthy of a slightly bumped up price from it's predecessor
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Yeah mine is all cracked too (the plastic around it) and none of the cracks apparently related to falls o.o
First one was the between the audio-jack and the screen. One day... there was a crack there!.. awesome lol
Now there's another one bellow the volume rocker and one next to the sim-tray as well. Top notch built quality!! xD never complained cuz of the price...
The thing about the price bump is that the price bump in Europe isn't because of extra hardware, otherwise it would have the same bump in the States. No - it's most probably because google felt like joining the bandwagon of ripping off ppl in Europe! lol... Taxes? Sure there are more taxes here and import taxes, but not to cover that much difference in price I don't think.
So it makes it kinda hard to justify the price even if I was shopping for a phone from scratch, not for a swap.
If you want a fingerprint scanner and a better camera, but that's about it. Larger screen too. I really like my 5X, it replaced my S6 edge and I'm much more pleased with the 5X. My old man is using my original nexus 5, so I couldn't take that from him, but he's pleased with it.
I got used to using a fingerprint with the S6E and since Android pay wants a secure lock screen, it just made sense for me to get the 5X over finding another 5. But I'm in the States and it's cheaper here, so that helped with the decision too.
SrPintas said:
Yeah mine is all cracked too (the plastic around it) and none of the cracks apparently related to falls o.o
First one was the between the audio-jack and the screen. One day... there was a crack there!.. awesome lol
Now there's another one bellow the volume rocker and one next to the sim-tray as well. Top notch built quality!! xD never complained cuz of the price...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah... I have the one by the audio jack too lmao.
Nobody ever claimed the n5 had good build quality. It's always been described as feeling "cheap" and "plastic". I always thought mine might have came from minor drops until I read that virtually everyone has them lol.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
It's like an N5 that's improved in every way IMO. The downsides being it's physically larger and a bit more expensive.
Biggest improvements are battery life and the camera image quality.
However some examples of the more unexpected improvements that you notice once you start using the device for a while:
Charge speeds. I've not charged over night even once yet as a 30 minute charge is enough to get through a day (roughly 50%).
Skin temperature. This device stays much cooler than the N5 especially during lighter usage such as Streaming Netflix and browsing. Battery temperatures remain consistently cooler than the N5 at all times, especially gaming.
Fingerprint sensor and ambient display: Together make it feel like you're interacting with the device in a whole new way. No need to use the power button ever.
How does the battery fair on a daily basis?
N5 is terrible even dose working it's magic while the phone is idling is not enough for it to make it alive in the evening if I use it a fair amount at some point during the morning.
SrPintas said:
How does the battery fair on a daily basis?
N5 is terrible even dose working it's magic while the phone is idling is not enough for it to make it alive in the evening if I use it a fair amount at some point during the morning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's awesome. I don't need to disable a single thing and my run times are similar to my N5 that had just about everything disabled.
It might only have an extra 400mAh but it feels like an extra 1000mAh. Part of that is because of Android 6.0 and Doze though.
Most of my results are in the 4-6 hours SoT range across 20+ hours. Lowest is 3 hours SoT across 20+ hours with weak signal mobile data usage and gaming. 50% manual brightness with most software features enabled.
Examples:
http://imgur.com/a/gVuT3
http://imgur.com/a/UhqdL
Sounds pretty good.
I rarely (never) see even 3h sot, much less 4 :'D
Sounds like I saw what the N5x has on offer pretty well.
The thing screwing it up is the EU price adjustment being even worse than it was with the N5
Ok, long post too... bear with me...
So, I had the exact same issues as you described. I loved my N5 and I've been using it daily for the past 2 years or so. The main reasons I wanted to change phones was battery life and the cameras, both rear and front facing. I do agree with you when you say that the N5 snapped some fantastic shots though. HDR+ really works wonders.
I considered a lot of options such as the Moto X Style/Pure, Nexus 6P, LG G4, Xperia Z5, Galaxy S6 or the OnePlus 2, but they're just too physically big. Can't carry around a phone that big. I'd have to buy new trousers because I wouldn't be able to fit it in any of my pockets
Also, Z5 and S6 are way too expensive and I find it morally wrong to spend so much money on a phone... personal thing...
After a lot of reading and thinking, I did get the 5X in the end. I'm in the UK so I paid slightly less than 530€ (£350 which is around 485€). I must say that I'm definitely happy with the upgrade.
As for the camera, when you say it doesn't perspire quality, you're completely wrong. The camera on this phone is FREAKING amazing, the quality is outstanding and the focus is lovely! The sensor captures a LOT of detail! I mean, A LOT OF DETAIL! Can't really say about the colours cause I'm colour-blind (lol), but I find them spot on (a little bit on the dark side perhaps but nothing to worry about, you can always bump up the brightness in edit mode). The aperture is quite good which makes the macro mode fantastic as well (depth of field related). Even though I got some decent shots with the original N5, this camera is on a completely different level, quality wise! As for speed, I find the camera app a little bit to slow at times but this is a software issue rather than an hardware one. The focus is fast and accurate. Most likely the app slow down will be addressed in a future app update.
Front facing camera is also quite decent. Wide angle is awesome for selfies and it also captures a lot of detail. Coming from the 1.3MP camera on the N5, this one is a welcome improvement, trust me!
As for battery life, don't get your hopes up. Don't get me wrong, battery usage is way better than the N5 and it does last a full WORKING day (which I wouldn't get out of the N5... I'm a very heavy user) but it's no Z3/Z5 compact. I'd say you can get 30/35% more usage time on the 5X. While it might not seem a lot but I've been getting a lot more Screen on Time and standby usage has also improved. I feel like doze works way better on the 5X than on the N5, probably due to the revamped hardware (note that always on sensors on the 808 SoC are much more battery efficient). Quick charge works wonders too! Charge it for 10/15 minutes and you're good for another 4/5h of usage. Perfect for when you have a night out, just charge it for 10 mins before leaving work and you're good to go!
Chipset-wise, while it might not seem a worthy upgrade, I have to say that the 808 performs exceptionally well. The 64bit architecture DOES MAKE a difference although by looking at the specs on paper you won't really tell. Even though my N5 was mostly snappy, it would lag and struggle at times. I've yet to experience that on the 5X and I have the exact same apps/setup I had on my N5. Definitely an improvement on performance too.
As for the rest, it's pretty much the same experience as the N5. Build quality, android experience, sound (no stereo speakers, bummer, but it's the same as the N5 so...), screen quality. I was happy with what I had and I'm happy with what I have now
By the way, two features I didn't care much for were the fingerprint sensor and the ambient display. While they may not be deal breakers, both things are quite a nice to have. Regarding the fingerprint sensor, its position is perfect and it works almost flawlessly! Also it's fast... like, insanely FAST! The ambient display helps battery and it works good, not great but good (doesn't always kick in perfectly). I'm guessing this could be addressed on a future software update as well. Again, it's not a deal breaker but it's definitely a great addition to an already good phone.
Sorry for the long post, hope it helps
Wow
Don't apologize for the long text! Not only I don't mind reading but that's exactly what I was hoping to find: someone in a similar situation!
I wasn't aware the price was lower in the UK! Neat... Might be worth importing if I travel or someone close does. Any chance of a insurance on purchase for damage or theft?
Oh and regarding what I wrote about it not traspiring quality. After I read again what I wrote I though it might be confusing because I didn't change subject. I meant the device itself, not the camera, when I wrote it didn't transpire quality and thus didn't feel worth the price.
Also jumping from a N5, where do you put the quality at? The one I used had a gigantic anti-theft alarm dongle glued to it's back so I couldn't really tell.
The vibration engine felt way better even though I could only test it by inputting a not-recognized finger print!
The buttons seemed very nice even though I've read bad things about them on several places
In norway you can get a carrier lock discount, witch makes the price of the phone itself the same as in the us. No option to do that where you are buying it?
SrPintas said:
Wow
Don't apologize for the long text! Not only I don't mind reading but that's exactly what I was hoping to find: someone in a similar situation!
I wasn't aware the price was lower in the UK! Neat... Might be worth importing if I travel or someone close does. Any chance of a insurance on purchase for damage or theft?
Oh and regarding what I wrote about it not traspiring quality. After I read again what I wrote I though it might be confusing because I didn't change subject. I meant the device itself, not the camera, when I wrote it didn't transpire quality and thus didn't feel worth the price.
Also jumping from a N5, where do you put the quality at? The one I used had a gigantic anti-theft alarm dongle glued to it's back so I couldn't really tell.
The vibration engine felt way better even though I could only test it by inputting a not-recognized finger print!
The buttons seemed very nice even though I've read bad things about them on several places
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the 32Gb by the way, 16Gb is £300 although I wouldn't recommend 16Gb to anyone given the fact that there's no micro sd slot...
It is possible to get an insurance, yes. I guess it's something like £12/mo but I don't know what it covers (probably 1 screen replacement, theft I don't know... check carphone warehouse for more details). Also, I don't know if you'll be able to do it since you don't live in the UK.
Quality wise, I'd say if you feel like the N5 has a cheap build quality, you'll have the same opinion about the 5X. This phone doesn't have an aluminium unibody neither it does have gorilla glass 4. It is not an iphone 6s/htc m9/6P/etc, they had to cut costs somewhere I guess. It won't win any design awards either, that's for sure. Having said that, if you feel ok with the N5, you'll notice no difference handling the 5X. If you (because you're upgrading to a new device) expect the new phone to have a more premium feel (as "they" put it and has been taunted pretty much everywhere...) you won't get that from the 5X.
Vibration engine is sometimes annoyingly loud and tbh, not quite strong. But does the job I guess, I feel it vibrating in my hand and in my pocket, I've yet to miss a call cause I didn't feel it vibrating plus, I don't think that will be a reason to/not to buy the phone.
The button are, well, buttons... I've seen people complaining about the N5 having ceramic buttons and the 5X plastic ones. My thought about that is... who cares? Because of the fingerprint sensor I'm using a power button a lot less and the volume rocker has a rather nice position as it's placed towards the centre rather on the top of the phone. I find it convenient because the headphone jack is on the bottom so, when listening to music, my phone is faced down in my back pocket and I can easily adjust the volume without hassle.
In my opinion, I don't really care about aluminium unibody bull****. It gives a premium feeling, ok that's fair enough, if you're into that. Although if you're into that, you'll probably, won't be looking at the 5X Also, I rather have a phone that won't give me an heart attack when (notice the "when" rather than "if"!) I drop it
I'm there with you.
"Premium" quality comes with ups and downs.
I'm a but into design so I like a good looking device just like I nice a well designed car.
However I also drop em once in a while xD Nexus has proven incredibly durable (think I'm lucky too), I doubt a S6 or iPhone would survive some of the drops the n5 did.
When i asked about quality and feeling I didn't mean to compare with the more design oriented devices. But compare it with the N5 and other plastic chassi phones. The 5x sure is plastic, but it felt more "solid" in my hand than the N5. But I can't be sure cuz of the alarm dongle that was stuck to it.
On the buttons... So what if the n5 has ceramic?... Nice touch, but they are have some play. 5x's seemed more solid even if not "clickier" like most people seem to like
HabueN said:
In norway you can get a carrier lock discount, witch makes the price of the phone itself the same as in the us. No option to do that where you are buying it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish. But so far no carrier has it or has announced anything regarding it
SrPintas said:
How does the battery fair on a daily basis?
N5 is terrible even dose working it's magic while the phone is idling is not enough for it to make it alive in the evening if I use it a fair amount at some point during the morning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried replacing your original phone battery? Mine was getting pretty bad and I replaced it with a new one bought off ebay a month ago. I now comfortably get a day and a half of moderate use. SOT time around 3.5 hours and doze is doing wonders compared to Lollipop. When kept overnight (11:00 pm to 6:00 am) the battery loses only 3% and I will take that any day!
I think people need to understand that a lithium ion battery will start falling down in performance considerably when approaching its life limit. Now comparing to the N5X I don't consider it worth the upgrade but will most likely switch to the next Nexus in October 2016.
sshariff said:
Have you tried replacing your original phone battery? Mine was getting pretty bad and I replaced it with a new one bought off ebay a month ago. I now comfortably get a day and a half of moderate use. SOT time around 3.5 hours and doze is doing wonders compared to Lollipop. When kept overnight (11:00 pm to 6:00 am) the battery loses only 3% and I will take that any day!
I think people need to understand that a lithium ion battery will start falling down in performance considerably when approaching its life limit. Now comparing to the N5X I don't consider it worth the upgrade but will most likely switch to the next Nexus in October 2016.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've thought about it. But kinda dozed off the idea when I didn't know which battery to choose =P
I replaced the battery on my N5 two months ago so I speak out of experience. It has gotten better but 5X's battery still performs better than a new battery on my N5.
Battery life is never linear as it depends on each person usage. I personally have everything on all the time... I rely heavily on Google's services like location tracking, location based reminders and I "need" a always-on data connection. Given this premise, my battery is bound not to last as long as other peoples' but I think starting to turn features off in order to preserve battery is not the way to go. I want to fully experience my phone and I'm aware that may cause battery drains. That's why I have a power bank ;pp
Regarding design, I'm very picky too, trust me. I do, however prefer minimalistic designs and both the N5 and 5X suit my design obsession. Again, this is also a matter of personal taste...
SrPintas said:
Also jumping from a N5, where do you put the quality at? The one I used had a gigantic anti-theft alarm dongle glued to it's back so I couldn't really tell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Won't ask any questions, and if u answer, I'll say I never knew u. Lol
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
H0tep said:
Won't ask any questions, and if u answer, I'll say I never knew u. Lol
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahahahah xD
It was in exposition in a major electronics shop and stuck to the counter with an alarm dongle and "chain" cable.
Didn't really use it at home or something with the dongle still attached xD
Have had a Note 8 for about 2 months now (got it 20th Sept), and I've been fairly happy with it so far.
A few annoying things about it, let's start off with the screen. It looks fantastic, it's made by Samsung, why wouldn't it? The curve however, is something I've hated since the S7 edge, not a fan of it, completely useless. Can't even get a decent screen protector to stick on it because of the stupid curves.
Up next we have the software. It's great, very fluid, works very well, but I haven't received a single software update/security patch since the day I got the phone. We're still on the August patch, and haven't received anything newer.
Then there are the speakers. One word, garbage. They suck ass, I honestly think even the speakers on my S7 edge were better. You can try all you want to cup your hand around the speakers, but that doesn't help. There's also the placement of the headphone jack, I may be nitpicking a bit, but seriously having headphones plugged in while you're trying to watch something.... is impossible. It's so uncomfortable to hold and in such a stupid spot.
So for you XZ Premium owners, I've got a few questions:
1) I've been going through some battery life related posts, and they seem pretty good, but most of the screenshots are from when you guys were on Nougat. Has the battery life gotten worse/better since the Oreo update or has it remained the same?
2) How is the camera after the Oreo update? And was the distortion issue really that bad?
3) Is the phone uncomfortable to hold due to the large bezels and overall shape of the phone? Do keep in mind I'm coming from something with virtually no bezels at all.
4) Does the adb command to stay in 4K mode all the time still work on Oreo and does it revert after a reboot?
5) Substratum working fine on 8.0, anyone tried Swift Black?
Would appreciate all replies/answers.
Thanks
murtaza02 said:
Have had a Note 8 for about 2 months now (got it 20th Sept), and I've been fairly happy with it so far.
A few annoying things about it, let's start off with the screen. It looks fantastic, it's made by Samsung, why wouldn't it? The curve however, is something I've hated since the S7 edge, not a fan of it, completely useless. Can't even get a decent screen protector to stick on it because of the stupid curves.
Up next we have the software. It's great, very fluid, works very well, but I haven't received a single software update/security patch since the day I got the phone. We're still on the August patch, and haven't received anything newer.
Then there are the speakers. One word, garbage. They suck ass, I honestly think even the speakers on my S7 edge were better. You can try all you want to cup your hand around the speakers, but that doesn't help. There's also the placement of the headphone jack, I may be nitpicking a bit, but seriously having headphones plugged in while you're trying to watch something.... is impossible. It's so uncomfortable to hold and in such a stupid spot.
So for you XZ Premium owners, I've got a few questions:
1) I've been going through some battery life related posts, and they seem pretty good, but most of the screenshots are from when you guys were on Nougat. Has the battery life gotten worse/better since the Oreo update or has it remained the same?
2) How is the camera after the Oreo update? And was the distortion issue really that bad?
3) Is the phone uncomfortable to hold due to the large bezels and overall shape of the phone? Do keep in mind I'm coming from something with virtually no bezels at all.
4) Does the adb command to stay in 4K mode all the time still work on Oreo and does it revert after a reboot?
5) Substratum working fine on 8.0, anyone tried Swift Black?
Would appreciate all replies/answers.
Thanks
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1) Battery life is improved. In nougat I was getting ~6.5 hours SoT. In Oreo I can get ~7.5 Hours SoT. But it depends on usage.
2) The camera is good, I'm quite pleased with it but when zooming on a picture it's grainy due to the post processing algorithms.. You can compare pictures taken with the Note 8 and XZP at GSMArena. The distortion was visible when taking pictures if objects with lines,and square shapes as well as a bit distortion on objects,nothing too crazy , but now it's much improved.
3) I never had a bezel-less phone, but the XZP is very comfortable to hold. The bezels aren't that bad. When I'm taking pictures with one hand, the bezels helps. Or when watching movies or gaming, it helps rest your fingers. Also the XZP has also a curved front glass, so finding a good screen protector might be hard.
4) and 5) Im sorry, I can't answer these because I don't use them.
Also the speakers on the XZP might not be the loudest, but produce excellent sound quality. And the fact that it has dual front firing speakers is very good for gaming, videos, music.
Software wise, there are monthly security updates along with bug fixes. Samsungs have more software features such as night light. But if you watch videos on YouTube, the XZP had some nice software features as well. Smart battery charging, Xperia Actions, etc.
The whole phone is super smooth and as fast as day one. The display is truly amazing. The black levels are impressive for an LCD display. There are 3 display modes to choose from ( SRG-B, Standard and Vivid).
@Lazaros_K
Thanks so much for answering the questions.
I actually forgot to ask about something you mentioned in your post.
Night Light. I've been using it since Samsung included it in the 7.0 update, it's not available on the XZP? Is there an alternative that works without root?
Sent from my SM-N950F
murtaza02 said:
@Lazaros_K
Thanks so much for answering the questions.
I actually forgot to ask about something you mentioned in your post.
Night Light. I've been using it since Samsung included it in the 7.0 update, it's not available on the XZP? Is there an alternative that works without root?
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Unfortunately apps from the play store aren't as good as a native night light. Unfortunately Sony won't implement night light.
Lazaros_K said:
Unfortunately apps from the play store aren't as good as a native night light. Unfortunately Sony won't implement night light.
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That kinda sucks.
You also mentioned the screen is curved, there are a few protectors on Amazon and a few local online websites in my country are selling normal tempered glass protectors for the XZP, so I guess it should stick fine?
Sent from my SM-N950F
murtaza02 said:
That kinda sucks.
You also mentioned the screen is curved, there are a few protectors on Amazon and a few local online websites in my country are selling normal tempered glass protectors for the XZP, so I guess it should stick fine?
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I don't use any screen protector so I wouldn't know. There is a thread on screen protectors for the XZP here on XDA which might help you.
murtaza02 said:
That kinda sucks.
You also mentioned the screen is curved, there are a few protectors on Amazon and a few local online websites in my country are selling normal tempered glass protectors for the XZP, so I guess it should stick fine?
Sent from my SM-N950F
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Just sharing what I know about XZP screen protectors (I might not be 100% correct):
- Tempered glass full coverage + full adhesive protectors do not exist other than the one that uses LOCA and UV curing as seen in this thread. The seller is in Singapore and they haven't announced plans to sell overseas yet.
- Other tempered glass options either do not have full coverage to the curved parts of the screen (ugly, IMHO) or do not have adhesive on the entire screen (which causes sensitivity problems). Some claim to have full adhesive but those don't have proper full coverage or have a weird dotted adhesive pattern.
- There don't seem to be any tempered glass protectors for the back.
- TPU based screen protectors are available for full coverage of front and back but are not as hard as tempered glass and might suffer from yellowing over time or have an orange peel effect (depending on brand).
- Regular PET film protectors are the cheapest of the lot and offer full coverage but these seem to come off the curved parts of the screen easily. They usually feel smoother than TPU ones though.
I am happy with battery life on my xz premium. It holds up well. Can't wait to get the update to try oreo out. Hope it improves the battery life further
Paid off?
Is your Note 8 paid off? May be willing for a trade I wanted a note 8 but needed a new phone before it came out so got the XZ Premium instead.
e8onbreak said:
Is your Note 8 paid off? May be willing for a trade I wanted a note 8 but needed a new phone before it came out so got the XZ Premium instead.
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Already sold my Note 8 earlier today.
Got a chrome XZ Premium an hour ago.
Besides, I'm in Pakistan so shipping to you would be very difficult.
Sent from my G8142
I think if you plan on installing a custom ROM, you'll have more development on the Note8. The XZP side is pretty barren in my opinion. My last phone was a Nexus phone, the custom kernels extended the SOT geatly.
I'd keep it IMO
I rooted my phone for the sole purpose of getting a night light similar mod on my phone. F.lux has issues with oreo, so I went with cf.lumen instead.
Battery life on Oreo is pretty much the same, maybe even a bit better for standby.
For the screen protectors, I got the skinomi. It's a TPU one. Great "self-healing" thing. Scratches and "impressions" do go away on its own after a day or two. I recommend getting that. Devilcase also has a nice TPU SP called "Luster", however it's self-healing thing doesn't really work well.
Basically I stopped looking for a screen protector for the phone. Where I live, we have this phone insurance thing that covers accidental damage + water damage. I'll just send it in if ever it breaks.
Enjoy your new XZP!
Patrck744 said:
I think if you plan on installing a custom ROM, you'll have more development on the Note8. The XZP side is pretty barren in my opinion. My last phone was a Nexus phone, the custom kernels extended the SOT geatly.
I'd keep it IMO
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Not a fan of custom ROMs anymore. The XZPs stock ROM is good enough.
The Note 8 was also terrible with software updates.
iArvee said:
I rooted my phone for the sole purpose of getting a night light similar mod on my phone. F.lux has issues with oreo, so I went with cf.lumen instead.
Battery life on Oreo is pretty much the same, maybe even a bit better for standby.
For the screen protectors, I got the skinomi. It's a TPU one. Great "self-healing" thing. Scratches and "impressions" do go away on its own after a day or two. I recommend getting that. Devilcase also has a nice TPU SP called "Luster", however it's self-healing thing doesn't really work well.
Basically I stopped looking for a screen protector for the phone. Where I live, we have this phone insurance thing that covers accidental damage + water damage. I'll just send it in if ever it breaks.
Enjoy your new XZP!
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Haven't gotten around to rooting yet, not sure if I will.
The lack of night light is a bit annoying but I'll just stick to using my other phone at night. Even the lowest brightness setting on this thing is really bright in the dark.
I also forked out extra for the insurance and accidental drops and whatever, cost me a sh*t ton but hopefully it's worth it.
Sent from my G8142
@murtaza02
Please before getting root keep in mind if you unlock your bootloader to getting root access then
1- all the DRM keys will be lost forever from your phone
and with lost of DRM keys these functions will stop for you. Bionz Engine for Low light photography, OTA updates, High Res Audio, Image & Video Enhancement
2- Lost your Warranty if you have
My suggestion is that do not unlock your bootloader until there is a method available here to backup TA Partition with DRM keys without root
Right now its not available
I am also from Lahore, and want to but XZ premium, from where you get yours and in which amount ?
zohaib0001 said:
@murtaza02
Please before getting root keep in mind if you unlock your bootloader to getting root access then
1- all the DRM keys will be lost forever from your phone
and with lost of DRM keys these functions will stop for you. Bionz Engine for Low light photography, OTA updates, High Res Audio, Image & Video Enhancement
2- Lost your Warranty if you have
My suggestion is that do not unlock your bootloader until there is a method available here to backup TA Partition with DRM keys without root
Right now its not available
I am also from Lahore, and want to but XZ premium, from where you get yours and in which amount ?
my number 03314901564
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I got mine from a store in Islamabad.
76k with official 1 year warranty from Inovi (Sony's partner in Pakistan).
You can get the imported one without warranty for around 65k (new) or around 45-50k (kit).
Sent from my G8142
What do you think of the phone compared to the Note 8?
Phat-T said:
What do you think of the phone compared to the Note 8?
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It's great. Stereo speakers, on-time software updates, a newer, faster quick charging standard, what's not to like? It even manages to give me better performance than the Note 8 which had 6 gigs of RAM.
Only thing I miss from the Note 8 would be the ridiculously quick camera. That thing focuses and takes the shot in the same time the camera app of this takes to open up. Not a deal breaker though. I really like this phone.
Sent from my G8142
Phat-T said:
What do you think of the phone compared to the Note 8?
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https://youtu.be/bbZHuB05_K0
https://youtu.be/_FGBj0h26Ew
Ciro54 said:
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Lol thanks for the vids but I had this phone since June and love it. I was just wondering how he liked it after switching from the Note 8
murtaza02 said:
It's great. Stereo speakers, on-time software updates, a newer, faster quick charging standard, what's not to like? It even manages to give me better performance than the Note 8 which had 6 gigs of RAM.
Only thing I miss from the Note 8 would be the ridiculously quick camera. That thing focuses and takes the shot in the same time the camera app of this takes to open up. Not a deal breaker though. I really like this phone.
Sent from my G8142
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I've just switched from the note 8 how are you finding the display I can't make my mind up if its better or not lol