Asus Zenfone 2 Review USA Spec 4gb/64gb version - ZenFone 2 General

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In this review i am looking at Asus’s flagship phone for 2015 the Zenfone 2 complete with 64gb of storage and 4gb ram (most in any phone to date). As a flagship it is going up against some stiff competition such as the Galaxy S 6, the LG G4, and the One M9. With the specs Asus’s top version of this phone boasts it fits well into that crowd but there are areas that they did need to “skimp” on in order to reach that magical $299 unlocked price. There is a lower spec’d version of the Zenfone 2 for $199 unlocked but it does come with a slightly slower processor and 2gb of ram. We shall be focusing on the higher end one here.
Look & Feel​
As you can see from the pictures i was able to grab the red version of the phone. i’m a huge fan of red so any phone released with a red option already gets a bit of an edge in my mind but i won’t let that come into my decision here. I do like that they left the front of the device all black so all you can see in the front is the small chrome speaker grill, chrome Asus logo and the hardware keys. I think it looks rather tastefully done and it does have the premium look that many seem to want these days.
The back of the phone is plastic but they do a good job hiding that a bit with a “metallic” finish with a bit of texture that help in keeping a grip on what is a large phone. It is not a fingerprint magnet by any means. In my opinion it feels even a little better in hand then last years LG G3 even is the Zenfone 2 is a bit taller thanks to those hardware keys. I personally am not a fan of these but many are...all comes down to your taste. Taking more design cues from LG the Zenfone 2 has its volume rocker is on the back. They did opt to put the power button in my opinion the worst spot on such a large phone... Dead center on the top of the device. Not only that... It's also quite "mushy" giving little to no tactical response to let you know you actually pressed it. The Zenfone 2 does have double tap to wake and sleep function as well but it did not work as intended to me all of the time.
The device’s dimensions are 152.5 x 77.2 x 10.9 mm (6.00 x 3.04 x 0.43 in) and weighs in at 170g (6.00 oz) It is a bit thick but the sides slim down to 3.5mm which make it much nicer to hold. What i will say is where the front glass on the phone meets the small “chin” below the hardware keys there is a very noticeable sharp lip. Not enough to hurt but enough to become annoying in my short time with the phone. Overall it’s a well designed phone and for the price.
Under the Hood​Under the back cover you will find a micro SD card slot for up to 128GB of expandable storage and 2...count them 2 sim card slots. This is a bit strange to have in a phone in north america but very common in other areas of the world. I did test this out and switching between phone numbers was easy enough but only sim slot 1 can handle 3g and LTE. The second slot is only for 2G and Phone calls. Inside you will also find a 3000mAh battery but this is not user removable which is a bit of a shame but that’s the way most phones seem to be going. Do note that this phone comes with Intel’s version of quick charge and the $299 version of the phone comes with a high amp quick charger. It does work with all chargers with Qualcomm’s Quickcharge 2.0 spec as well.
User Interface​The Zenfone 2 comes out of the box running Android 5.0 Lollipop which is nice to see. I did receive an OTA right after turning on the device but the version number stayed at 5.0. Everyone is now waiting on phones to get 5.1 but Asus am an interested to see how up to date they keep their not flagship. I will say that this phone as the most “bloatware” I have ever seen on an unlocked device. Even comes running Cleanmaster out of the box...classy. Asus is nice enough to let you uninstall much of it but for the review I wanted to keep most of it intact. I did uninstall Cleanmaster as it was just too annoying to deal with. I do however like that almost all of the phones apps live in the Play Store and can be updated without having to wait for a full firmware update. Nice moves.
Over all Asus stuck to the material design aspects of Lollipop with its revamped ZenUI. The menus are in list view and are easy to navigate. The notifications pulldown is close to stock with few differences but the quick toggles have been completely re-skinned and are customizable. I actually like the way this works and give you a quick brightness slider and access to some of the tools you may use most often on your device.
The only part of the UI i really have a problem with is the one you see most often...the launcher. To get into Google Now you must long press the home button then swipe up... not the most intuitive or the best implementation of this feature. There is also no google now hotword support built into the launcher. It took me about a day to install the Google Now Launcher and all is well.
Performance​ One word can describe the performance of this device...Fast! With 4gb of ram to work with i would expect nothing less. Couple that with the Intel Atom Z3580 clocked at 2.3GHz (Intel Atom Z3560 1.8 GHz in the 2gb version) and this thing is a screamer. I have had Zero slowdowns or stutters since i started playing with it and that is also after loading it up with all of my personal apps and having all of my accounts syncing all of the time. Pretty great!
On the graphics and video handling of this device it was again very good. Running the PowerVR G6430 (same as the iPhone 5s) it has no problems playing some of the most intense games. Its pushing a 1080P screen so not as many pixels as many of the other 2015 flagships. I do not run benchmarks on my phones but can tell you that you will not be disappointed.
Display​ The phone boasts a 72% screen to body ratio which is not too shabby. It comes with a 5.5 inch 1080p IPS display which come out to be 402ppi and to my eyes it is perfectly adequate. Images look sharp and its 3 built in screen modes. Comes set on the balance mode out of the box but has a Reading to cool things down and a Vivid mode which really makes colors pop like on the GS6, even a mode to let the user make their own settings. I left mine on balanced. Where the display does not do well is with readability outdoors. It does not get bright enough to overcome even an overcast day. At the same time does not get dark enough when trying to watch a video or read a website in pitch blackness...my eyes did feel strained. The display is just fine but it is clearly one of the areas that Asus had to give a little to keep the price down.
Camera​ In the press and at the US launch event this is the one area Asus spent the most time talking about. Asus is very proud of this camera and they should be...it is quite good. Lets start out front where the Zenfone 2 is rocking a 5 Mega-Pixel, Fix Focus, Wide View, camera with Asus’s PixelMaster tech. It takes decent selfies and has many modes to help you tweak them to your liking. Out back is a 13 Mega-Pixel camera with Asus’s PixelMaster tech. While the mega-pixel count may seem low for a flagship phone today it actually takes some good shots. In good lighting it did very well. It does not has the optical image stabilization of some of the more expensive phones but it even does well in dim to low light situations. Not the greatest camera but one the best i have seen at this price point for sure.
Battery Life​ One of the most important specs in any mobile device and I am happy to report that the Zenfone 2 delivers in the battery life department. I an not easy on my phones battery. I have all of my social media as well as 4 google accounts and 8 other email accounts constantly updating in the background. While testing i kept the phone on auto brightness. With its 3000mAh cell I was always able to through a whole day with some to spare. As mentioned before it does not have a removable battery but the quick charging is definitely a plus if you have really been hammering on it for a few hours.
In Conclusion​ Asus really wants to make it clear that they are coming to play. The Zenfone 2 delivers in many areas and ticks all the right boxes for what most would want out of a flagship level device. With that said even though Asus is comparing this phone to the likes of the GS6, I am much more comfortable comparing it to the 2014 flagship phones from all of its competitors. The GS5, the LG G3, the HTC One M9, let’s even throw the Oneplus One in there… all still cost more when purchased new and unlocked then the Zenfone 2 at $299 for the top model. I think that is the biggest win here for Asus. Lets not forget that it starts at just $199 unlocked! That is what most flagships smartphone cost for their lowest spec model on contract.

Just a couple notes --- you can reach Google now by holding down the home button for a moment and swiping up. Discovered this through serendipity [emoji14]
And it's odd how everyone talks about the screen being hard to see in sunlight, since I have absolutely no trouble seeing it in direct sunlight with my transition glasses. I must have weird eyes or something [emoji14]

jerflash said:
The only part of the UI i really have a problem with is the one you see most often...the launcher. With no swipe up from home to reach google now you are relegated to using Asus’s google search widget. There is also no google now hotword support built into the launcher. It took me about a day to install the Google Now Launcher and all is well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can pull up to Google Now from the home button. Press the capacitive home for a second and Google Now icon shows up. Just slide finger to it once it does. And from Google Now, you can set the 'OK Google' keyword to be used from any screen.

richard_rsp said:
You can pull up to Google Now from the home button. Press the capacitive home for a second and Google Now icon shows up. Just slide finger to it once it does. And from Google Now, you can set the 'OK Google' keyword to be used from any screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey thanks for the tip i did not come across that at all while using it. still not very intuitive or the best implimentation

TOT_tomdora said:
Just a couple notes --- you can reach Google now by holding down the home button for a moment and swiping up. Discovered this through serendipity [emoji14]
And it's odd how everyone talks about the screen being hard to see in sunlight, since I have absolutely no trouble seeing it in direct sunlight with my transition glasses. I must have weird eyes or something [emoji14]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those are some special glasses lol

Interesting! I use transition lens myself and this is good news! Still waiting for my phone to arrive though. ?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Free mobile app

Related

Galaxy Note review

Sorry for my choppy English, I'm not a native speaker.
When we first reviewed the mighty Galaxy S II back in June, we called it the best phone ever. But when the Galaxy Note was announced in IFA this september, we thought that it will be the new best phone ever. As it turns out, it wasn’t, and here’s the explaination why.
Design
Galaxy S II already was a huge phone. 4.3” might be too much for some people (usually for iPhone users). Keeping that in mind, try to imagine what were the initial reactions when we first took a glance of Galaxy Note in our hands. An unstoppable stream of many swearwords was ended by „...how big!”. And, if we look at the competitors, there is no surprise why it feels so big – Galaxy S II, Sensation and RAZR – all of them are 4.3inchers, Dell Streak is using 5” screen, but the smallest of tablets are sporting 7 inches. After two weeks of Note usage, almost every phone looks very small.
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Image courtesy of GSMArena.com
Samsung itselves are calling this device neither a smartphone, nor a tablet – it is in a segment of its own. It is in a planet of its own. Of course, the big screen is comfy for Internet, Angry Birds or HD movies, but using this device as a, umm, phone, is a bit tricky. You see, operationing with one hand is pretty much impossible, because the finger can’t touch this. Or that. Or every corner. (Hello MC Hammer!) To reach a control, you must change your grab, and it is not only unconvienient, but a bit dangerous too, since there is a possibility to drop the device and shatter your 700$ on the floor.
Apart from that, you must forget about tweeting and messaging with one hand, because it’s impossible to reach the keys in the other side of the screen. And when I was too lazy to use both hands, I figured that using my nose to touch the controls I can’t reach is good enough. Of course, that sort of device is bought by people who know they will confront with some inconveniences like these, and they just deal with it, knowing that 5.3” screen is included in their needs (architects, IT admins etc.) And, of course, the mighty experience of browsing Internet on screen this big is absolutely magnificient.
Galaxy S II users will recognize many familiar shapes, because the front of Galaxy Note is made by a single piece of Gorilla Glass, which is covering the big screen, a home button, and two illuminated capacitive Back and Menu controls. However, the distance between them is too big, and I can’t reach them with one hand. There is Samsung logo in the top, a speaker, sensors and frontal camera. The proximity sensor leaved us with a bit of disappointment, because its job was to lock the screen down during the call, but all it did was flicker the screen.
Image courtesy of GSMArena.com
The back is more flat on the Note than it was on S II, it hasn’t got the curve that was on the bottom of S II. The back cover is made from black plastic, which, although it isn’t as rough as it was on S II, feels a bit cheap. It is very thin and light. The phone also is very thin and light. Anyway, there are lens on the top, which is companioned by LED, but on the bottom there is Samsung logo and very weak speaker.
Fortunately, the lock button is on the right, and, if you think about it, putting it on the top would be more than insane on a phone this big. On the left we find a volume rocker, which is too high, but on the top is 3.5mm jack and noise-cancelling microphone. There is S-pen stylus and microUSB on the bottom.
Design rating – 8. The design and ergonomics are very well fitted for a screen this big, and, even though it is very inappropriate to think about Note as a phone for daily usage, and it’s too small for being a tablet, as a golden compromise it’s very good.
Hardware
Even though there are many phones that have claimed its title, the mighty Galaxy S II still is the king of smartphones. Its hardware is very great and powerful, and it’s the closest definition of the word perfection. And Samsung thought: If we have such a great piece of hardware, why should we bother of making new one, if the old hasn’t been broken? Indeed, they did transplant it from S II to Note. For example, the chipset is the same (Exynos), the GPU is the same (Mali-400MP), and the ARM-Cortex A9 based dualcore processor (although it has been a tiny bit overclocked to 1.4GHz), is the same. Even though this configuration was initially launched in February, it is still one of the most powerful yet.
The device is powered by 2500 miliamperhour battery, which is huge, measuring it after phone standarts, and, once again, mediocre as a tablet battery. Assuming it is more of a phone than tablet, we will measure it after phone standarts. Even though Samsung is promising cake, magnets and unicorns with its battery life, we didn’t actually get more battery life than from a normal phone, for example, S II. That said, it is very good indeed, meaning that you’ll end up with 20% of battery life at the end of a really busy day.
As we said earlier, the front is occupied by 5.3” SuperAMOLED HD display. Of course, it’s an AMOLED, what would you expect from it to do? Indeed, it has very great and vivid colors, deep blacks and high contrast. It has 800x1280 resolution, which is very popular among laptops, not phones. Its DPI is 285, but we aren’t sure if it’s any better than Galaxy S II which has much lower DPI rates. Prepare for James May mode, because I’ll explain why.
See, SuperAMOLED Plus is better than the original SuperAMOLED, because it has RGB pixel layout instead of Pentile, which means it has the same amount of green subpixels, as it has red or blue subpixels, making it total of 12 subpixels within a pixel. However, SuperAMOLEDs are using PenTile rather than RGB, which means a lower amount of subpixels, making it a total of 9. That’s because AMOLED technology isn’t advanced enough to put enough subpixels in such high DPI, or, let’s put it the other way round, RGB AMOLED pixels are too big to make enough DPI – that’s where Pentile comes in. That’s the reason why Galaxy S II has only 217DPI.
Image courtesy of GSMArena.com
Of course, in daily usage you’ll not notice it. Only, viewed close, yes, you can say it’s PenTile. And, displaying very small text shows up all the disadvantages of PenTile. But, yes, that’s the mark against AMOLED – we hope that until the release of Galaxy S III, which, if all the rumors are true, has HD display too, Samsung will have resolved thi issue.
This phone, being a flagship, doesn’t lack everything in connection departement, and it sports WiFi b/g/n with DLNA and WiFi Direct, 3G HSPA, GPS, NFC in some regions, Bluetooth 3.0, USB-to-go and other familiar things. It has 16/32GB storage, which can be expanded with microSDHC card. It’s possible to connect the device to the big screen with MHL audiovideo cable.
The device has 8MP camera, which is the same as on Galaxy S II. Of course, it can capture HD video. Image quality is very good and you can think of it as a replacement of point-and-shoot cameras.
Hardware rating – 9. The device is very well equipped. Of course, you would demand a RGB screen, but that’s not a big deal – just a little disappointment. Everything else is just great.
Software
Note has Android 2.3.5, which is topped by Touchwiz 4.0. The device’s ROM is very well optimized and the battery consumption is handled nicely, bounding CPU frequency between 200MHz and 1.4GHz. The max frequency is used only 5% of time. Of course, this being XDA, you wouldn’t be interested too much in the stock ROM, but this is one of the best stock ROM’s I’ve ever seen.
The TouchWiz itself is very colorful and flash. Many will dislike it, but we loved it. It’s very functional and easy to use, and, because of the big screen, it has been made possible to put 5x5 icons/widgets on desktop or menu.
Software rating – 10. TouchWiz 4.0 is great, the ROM is optimized very nicely, and it’s a very nice gesture from Samsung to have the bootloader unlocked.
To buy or not to buy...
Amazon has put Note’s price circa 700 dollars.... I would say – not to. Of course, if you aren’t the sort of person who especially wants a big screen – then, and only then – Note is a great buy. But, if you are a normal bloke who wants a great phone with a big screen, you wouldn’t want more than Galaxy S II. It has the same hardware, but a smaller screen, which would be more comfortable in everyday usage. It also is cheaper, more popular and with a better screen (SuperAMOLED+). If you want something smaller than Note but bigger than the pack, you should take look at HTC Titan/Sensation XL, but, because it is more expensive than it’s really worth, and, has the specs of 2010, we wouldn’t recommend it either. That’s the conclusion – if you want a Galaxy S II on steroids, buy Note, but if you are fine with the S II, why should you not take it in the first place?
+ Huge screen
+ Great performance
+ Nice camera
+ Android 2.3.5 + TouchWiz 4.0
+ S-Pen stylus
- Cheap plastics
- Price is too high
- Too huge screen
- Pentile ruins the party
CTRL.lv rating – [9/12]
(Galaxy S II had 11/12)
wow great review! although the note is beautiful, i though the screen might be a little too big, as well.
Thank you!
Thanks for the review. I have added it to the note review sticky. So no need to keep this thread open now.
Thread Closed​

What would you like to see on the Galaxy S5?

Now that the Galaxy S4 is out, lets speculate on the Galaxy S5?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
No lag
Make breakfast for me.
A non-laggy Touchwiz with updated UI (read: not looking like Gingerbread) would be nice too.
A built in taser that automatically shocks the user anytime they start a thread already speculating about next years version
I will like to see the unbreakable/bendable screen used but straight as it is now and not bended in any way. The breakable screens are the biggest issue with todays smartphones i believe and Samsung is about to change that. Also fix all the amoled issues like: burn in, tint, ghosting etc.. I will still like to see plastic being used for the device just more premium texture used, as plastic is more durable, flexible, scratch resistant and shock absorbant than say aluminum and glass... Other than that i believe Samsung is doing everything else right.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app
Galactus said:
No lag
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
10 core Exynos processor in development to fix that lag
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Really guys? I'd think it would be beneficial for everybody, especially Samsung, for them to release source so the developers can bring out the true potential of the hardware, rather than Samsung pulling an apple on us and limiting our options with the software.
my gnote2 is bigger than your puny iPhone.
Galactus said:
No lag
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
or at least, S Lag should be user customizable in settings menu (i.e. S Lag [Enabled/Disabled]), like it is for menu animation speed
other nice features:
- one, world unified CPU/chipset platform with support for developers,
- I want FM Radio back!!!,
- feature for easy/safe uninstallation all extra software which user don't want/need, without risking instability,
- wireless charging receiver built in by default or back cover available/orderable on day 1,
- dual SIM available on every market,
- USB 3.0 (faster transfering files from/to PC),
- notofication LED placed on the edge of screen, so it would be visible from the top and from the side (even if the flip case is closed),
- lanyard hook,
- switch to the nano SIM (if it would help decrease size/weight),
- separated (independent form micro USB/MHL) micro HDMI port,
- xenon flash lamp,
- small (i.e. 1mm height) foots on the front and back, protecting screen and back cover from scratches when placed on the table,
- rubber cover for the mini jack port fixed to the chassis, protecting this port from dust when port is not used,
- speaker placement or construction eliminating its attenuation when phone is placed on the table,
- stereo speakers,
- Wolfson DAC on every version,
- FM transmitter,
- full support for UHS-I flash cards (speeds above 20MB/s),
- 3.5 mini jack port with dual headset compatibility (Android/Apple) selectable in setting menu,
- S View cover 2.0 with transparent window for WHOLE screen (not only small one) or just transparent Flip case,
- HD Voice indicator in dialer,
- call recording option in stock dialer,
- warranty status info in the settings menu (sale/first run date, how long left, country limitations, repairs). It would mean that buying it from second hand would be more safe, so it would better keep its price like it is for iPhone.
- tripod screw hole on the bottom,
- changed idea of fixing S View/Flip case to the phone. Right know it is hold by replaced back cover, which means that we can't have flip case and extended battery (or wireless charging) option in the same time. S View/Flip case should be fixed to the side phone frame by two small screws, so it would be independent form back cover.
- implemented eCall (it is a European initiative intended to bring rapid assistance to motorists involved in a collision anywhere in the European Union) feature. When S5 sensor detect excessive shock while it was running with car speed during last 15 minutes, it should trigger notification for user. if user would not cancel this notification during 2 minutes, it should call emergency services and provide them GPS location.
- S bullet proof vest - voice command service working in the background should be able to detect sound of gun shots and call the police.
- S Health 3.0 should support RFID human chip implants (body temperature, heart rate, blood presure, intoxicated/sober, pregnant/not pregnant...),
- S Beam feature (sending data through NFC by touching two phones) should be enhanced to allow sending battery charge in that way (you could borrow 20% of battery from friend when you are running out of it),
- fart gas sensor with immediate notification posts on FB, tweeter and Samsung ChatOn,
I believe, that S5 will be the right moment for Samsung, to start selling them directly to customers through Samsung website, with extra customization (i.e. flash memory size, extra Samsung uSD card, Samsung apt.x headset, cover, ext battery, etc.). With exact availability and delivery date. Worldwide. I don't want any more mess with dozen retailers who have no idea WHEN, Exynos or Snapdragon, LTE or NOT...
I hope that somebody from Samsung product development team is reading this thread and some of our proposals will come true.
Headphone jack on the bottom.
Galaxy S5 must have
1. S-Slap(Smart Slap): While watching video, you looks elsewhere , and a Hand pops out of the screen and slaps you for negligence.
2. Tongue Scrolling(Enough with Hand movements, and Gestures made through hands and Airview).Time to get something new with Tongue.
3.S-Gun : A feature to shoot videos (Over 1 GB ) to friends with an embedded trigger from Samsung .
4. S-Travel: Minimises the effort to walk and just plug in you phone to your shoe Pocket(And it would show u direction without thinking of the address).
5. S-Handle: With SAMSUNG making phones over 6 inches in 2013, we will soon have a phone with 1 feet screen and 64TB HDD , with 32GB RAM .
(To keep such a Huge Phone in pocket would not be wise, Hence S-Handle).
You will have a Belt Pouch , to keep your Phone.
Implementation Shown Below.
6. S-Shield : Inorder to protect your Phone from Icoming Virus Attacks(Must be sold as an Accessory).
7.S-Sex: You can have the option to enjoy sex with your wife while on Office Travel (Using 6G services).
8. S-Zoom : With S-Zoom, we can watch the topography of the Moon , or other Planets by just zooming our
Camera Lenses .
9. SAMSUNG ..... What's Next ?
GET US A GOOD DEVICE LIKE YOU GAVE US GALAXY SII , I m pissed off with my SIV due to Over heating Issues.
CANT EVEN BEAR ME THE TIME TO CHECK MY FB STATUS, IT heats up to 50Degrees and I bought it for Rs.41,500 .
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---------- Post added at 05:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:13 AM ----------
Mandatory Accessory with Galaxy S5 : S-Helmet
After you pay up for your 1 feet Mobile at a Hefty Price, Wearing this helmet will let you forget what you paid and wasted ........
PICTURE DIRECT FROM SAMSUNG LABS.
Fix TW, it's ridiculous with lag on the most powerful phone on the planet Just make i smooth, less memory and cpu hungry and make all your inventions work like they should...
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awesomedeals88 said:
Now that the Galaxy S4 is out, lets speculate on the Galaxy S5?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I heard from reliable sources that the S5 will go back to 4.8 inches with 1080P non pentile super AMOLED HD display, still 13MP camera but with a 5 mp front facing camera, 2900mah battery ( sealed this time) and a Ceasar salad with extra croutons and the dressing on the side.
Id like to see a 64gb version with 32 gb bloat pre installed
Tw 6.0 in which hands come out and slap you if you fall asleep in front of the device
16 cores -> 8x cortex a15 and 8x cortex a7 and 4 gb ram but it should still lag
And last but not the least it should like similar to s4/s3 following sammy's 'why fix it if it ain't broken ' - design principle
#nooffense
---------------------------------
Still confused between Samsung Galaxy S4 and 10 acres of land in London
Yep. This thread is stupid and a good reason why Samsung doesn't take customers and clients seriously.
my gnote2 is bigger than your puny iPhone.
To be serious i would love to have dual sim plus 32gig as standard model, 16 is to small when half is full of the OS. I love the SD but for application i think 32 should be
the lowest model.
No "internal SD."
Sent from Spaceball One.
No 16GB version. The S4 for a lot of people is a modern day G1, when correlating app size then to now. 32GB should be the minimum option.
Better audio mics and wider fov in camera
@rbiter said:
Yep. This thread is stupid and a good reason why Samsung doesn't take customers and clients seriously.
my gnote2 is bigger than your puny iPhone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A stupid statement, from a stupid person, congrats.
Sent from my GT-N7105
cheaper price + develop a x86 or x64 to fit in the phone. fully open source. bootloader should be grub. pocket pc linux with a phone app to call and sms would be cool =) lol
if your going to find the best selling point for a phone. well.... that would be it.
==================================
Atrix 4g rooted w/ epinter cm10.1
Samsung galaxy s4 rooted w/ official status.
==================================

My Note 3 is here (ask me anything)

First impressions:
1. The display is much more beautiful and improved (than the Note2)
2. I didn’t see the ugly effect of Pentile (grainy, bad text edges) that used to be in my Note1
3. It’s feel good in the hand (lighter than the Note2), although the corners are less rounded (a little bit less ergonomic, it thinness helps to compensate the effect)
4. It’s look good (front and back), better than what the photos shows
5. I can play 4K videos smoothly (I enjoyed the full 48 Minutes of TimeScapes without any issues)
6. It took me a while to locate the microSD slot (it’s stacked on top of the microSIM slot)
7. The front panel edges is raised a little above the display level, that makes any touch gestures from the edge a little bit less ergonomic (i still didn’t get used to it), although the raised edges may help better protect the display .
8. The new S Pen is good, writing and drawing with the pen much improved (more smooth)
9. The speaker is not loud enough as i like,the sound quility not the best in a smartphone (still good though), the speaker new postion (on the bottom) have it pros and cons.
10. The new MicroUSB 3.0 is not as ugly as it looks in the pictures, but still it’s weird looking and add level of complexity and difficulty when you want to plug your cable.
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+
BTW: Moga Pro+Note3= Awesome experiences
Nova?
Would you mind installing Nova Launcher or any other launcher and seeing what features no longer work?
I believe on the N2, TW widgets don't work, but I'm curious if any of the new or updated features are App based or TW based and if any functionality will be lost using another launcher. I haven't owned a Note before, so I'm not sure what features are App or TW when it comes to all the gestures, S-pen, and all the dragging and dropping of items from one window to another.
If by chance root doesn't come quickly or at all, I'm hoping at least with Nova, I could get the look I'd like, but don't want to lose many things that make the Note such a great device.
can you run like 5 apps and tell us how much available ram there is, and then switch between all the apps and tell us if any pages reload
supers2k said:
can you run like 5 apps and tell us how much available ram there is, and then switch between all the apps and tell us if any pages reload
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes this! It's always annoying to "alt-tab" back to a page that you were looking at on Chrome and it reloads it
How are the radios?
AFAIK Samsung hasn't had any problems since the Nexus (which I had, and it sucked) but call quality is #1 for me.
Is it easier to hold and talk on than the N2?
When you say speaker not loud enough - the external speaker or the ear speaker?
TIA
For use as a phone
How is the phone for calls and signal strength?
How much internal memory does it have new? I know it's 32GB but when formatted with the stock software what is it? Thanks! I'm still waiting on my Note 3 from Verizon!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
I need to ask about the pentile display. I see that you said it is improved and cant see the grainy text but i have a question about horizontal areas. I got rid of my s3 in 2 days because I could actually see the blue pixels on any high contrast area that was horizontal, such as the image for the gmail app or play store. I am near sighted and I could see those pixels to the point where i gave up and upgraded to the note 2 (ended up being the best phone i ever used) but I was glad that they got rid of the pentile display on the note 2. Then the s4 and note 3 come out with a pentile display again. And once again I look at my girlfriends s4 and even though it has a great pixel density I can see the damn blue pixels on horizontal, high contrast areas. Please, oh please tell me if it is better on the note 3 because it would be a HUGE deal breaker to the point where I would cancel my pre-order.
Allein8 said:
Would you mind installing Nova Launcher or any other launcher and seeing what features no longer work?
I believe on the N2, TW widgets don't work, but I'm curious if any of the new or updated features are App based or TW based and if any functionality will be lost using another launcher. I haven't owned a Note before, so I'm not sure what features are App or TW when it comes to all the gestures, S-pen, and all the dragging and dropping of items from one window to another.
If by chance root doesn't come quickly or at all, I'm hoping at least with Nova, I could get the look I'd like, but don't want to lose many things that make the Note such a great device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using action launcher at the moment but have also set-up nova as well. I haven't noticed any problems other than not being able to use some of the Samsung widgets.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
Allein8 said:
Would you mind installing Nova Launcher or any other launcher and seeing what features no longer work?
I believe on the N2, TW widgets don't work, but I'm curious if any of the new or updated features are App based or TW based and if any functionality will be lost using another launcher. I haven't owned a Note before, so I'm not sure what features are App or TW when it comes to all the gestures, S-pen, and all the dragging and dropping of items from one window to another.
If by chance root doesn't come quickly or at all, I'm hoping at least with Nova, I could get the look I'd like, but don't want to lose many things that make the Note such a great device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Apex and all widget works.
supers2k said:
can you run like 5 apps and tell us how much available ram there is, and then switch between all the apps and tell us if any pages reload
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(random 5 apps) 1.1 of 2.38GB , pages didn't reload when switch back to chrome
TrojanDroid said:
How are the radios?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
droidobsessed said:
How is the phone for calls and signal strength?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
5 bars and fast HSDPA+ (still didn't activated the 4G on my network), the same i get with the Note2
TrojanDroid said:
Is it easier to hold and talk on than the N2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Same
TrojanDroid said:
When you say speaker not loud enough - the external speaker or the ear speaker?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the external speaker
harosxcomp170 said:
How much internal memory does it have new? I know it's 32GB but when formatted with the stock software what is it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
about 25 GB if i recall correctly.
monkey10120 said:
I need to ask about the pentile display. I see that you said it is improved and cant see the grainy text but i have a question about horizontal areas. I got rid of my s3 in 2 days because I could actually see the blue pixels on any high contrast area that was horizontal, such as the image for the gmail app or play store. I am near sighted and I could see those pixels to the point where i gave up and upgraded to the note 2 (ended up being the best phone i ever used) but I was glad that they got rid of the pentile display on the note 2. Then the s4 and note 3 come out with a pentile display again. And once again I look at my girlfriends s4 and even though it has a great pixel density I can see the damn blue pixels on horizontal, high contrast areas. Please, oh please tell me if it is better on the note 3 because it would be a HUGE deal breaker to the point where I would cancel my pre-order.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't notice any issues with blue pixels horizontal, high contrast areas, your mileage may be different though
can i have it? LOL you said ask me anything
Hi. Please post some results of brightness comparison with S4 if possible. If not possible, then atleast please let us know how the screen holds up in direct sunlight, compared to your older note(s).
Also, please tell us about the flash light brightness and picutre difference due to flash light.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda app-developers app
Can we see how the sd and sim stack?
Hi, I was wondering if you could test to see if the Note 3 suffers from the same audio drop-out problem as the Note 1 does (described at the link below). Basically, if you listen to any audio at very low volume (3 or less) and the audio goes very quiet, then the audio just drops completely as if the device were muted. It's best to test this using headphones. Thanks!
Code:
https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=35861
Can I have it?
Hi, I was wondering about the "space" where you write text with the s-pen. is it possible to change the background from a white space to black? also what color is the keyboard? - black letters on white keys or white letters on black keys? my impaired vision make it difficult to see black text on bright white backgrounds. thanks.
Did you notice any lag while browsing, scrolling or using the phone? how's the battery with heavy usage?
and did you notice any frame rate drop?
last one, how's the screen responsiveness?
thnx..
blu ray rips, uncompressed?
Can you see if it will playback a 20+GB uncompressed bluray rip made using makemkv.com?
I have a thread here on the topic, but no confirmation:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2453368
Will it blend?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Could u see if you can use the internet while on a phone call on 3g? Thats my biggest pet peeve of the otherwise awesome note2
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app

Moto X Pros/Cons IMO

Moto X Cons/Pros IMO
Hi, this can be a base for new Moto X users coming from other smartphones.
Pros
1. Moto X has one of the smoothest and fastest Android experience you'll have with any smartphone today.
If you're coming from a non-nexus smartphone, you'll definitely feel that. Everything just works in Moto X. It's the smartphone with the nearest experience of an iPhone in terms of speed and smoothness.
2. Moto X feels great in hand. It has the perfect size for a smartphone.
3. Screen size is perfect, you can reach every corner without a hassle.
Although some users might feel the difference coming from a bigger screen, you'll definately get used to it in no time.
4. Good materials, it feels like you're holding a really well made product. Not just plastic stuff.
5. Twist to fast access to camera is great.
I'm still getting used to it, but accessing the camera without even touching the screen is very handy. I thought it would be too much of a hassle to do that movement every time, but it turns out you get used to it very fast, and that's pretty easy.
6. Touchless Control.
Although it's almost useless here in Brazil, I'll include that because is it's really useful for the main languages that it includes. I still use it to showoff though. :victory:
7. The speaker is one of the best I've listened so far.
It's one of the loudest, its quality is pretty good. Basses are good too.
8. Battery life is superb.
It lasts for your entire day and even a little bit more. Compared to my last phone, a S3, I can really feel the difference.
9. Battery charges really fast.
Within 2 hours or so, my Moto X charges from 0% to 100% with stock wall charger. Considering its battery time, it's an amazingly fast charge: 2 hours charge for a 24h+ usage. My S3 used to charge in 5h+
10. Fast updates.
This is not something that will certainly happen, but it seems Motorola is committed to bring us Android OS updates and improvements updates really quickly. Although it has not been released for my Moto X here in Brazil yet, it's been released for the Moto X faster than the Nexus devices. Let's hope they keep it like that for some years, and not just because it's the momentum smartphone.
11. Active Notifications.
The best thing invented after the wheel, don't have to say anything about this.
Cons
1. Onscreen buttons takes too much space.
Although Moto X screen size is perfect, its virtual buttons takes a lot of that space, and you might feel a big hit when coming from a 4.8/5" phone that has its entire dedicated screen.
2. Camera is terrible.
Coming from a S3, I definitely felt a big hit here. Camera takes a big time to shoot photos; it takes too long to focus; it takes pics with different tonality every time, it's even hard to shoot 2 similar photos from 2 different angles. Below is an example of that.
Camera software is not the best aswell. We don't have night mode, quality/px choice, effects, and so on.
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Those 2 pics are not edited and were shot with the Moto X camera in practically the same moment.
3. Touchless Control doesn't work everywhere.
For example in Brazil, not all the commands are available and it's just useful to call for someone and check weather predictions. Despite using it to call for someone, we don't get audio feedback for any of the commands.
4. Too thin for 2 hands usage?
That's a real real personal thought, but although Moto X has the perfect size for a one-hand feel, I'm really having a hard time typing in the keyboard and I wouldn't blame if it was a little wider. The phone is thinner than the S3, that I used to rest both hands and type, and wider than a smartphone that we can rest one hand and use the other sidewards.
But I'm really sure it's something I'll get used to within some time.
5. No sdcard slot.
I'm yet to see if this will be really a down vote to me on Moto X, but at least in my old S3, I had to use a 16gb sdcard to store some extra musics and pics. The default 16gb was not sufficient.
Well, that's it. It's a really great phone and it was for sure a great improvement coming from a S3. I do miss S3's camera and physical buttons, but despite that and the listed above, there's nothing else I can blame this phone for.
Feel free to add your own opinions, cons and pros.
I plan on getting this phone ?
Did you update your phone already? I've heard it does improve the camera picture quality drastically!
Sent from my Nexus 7
Royalfox said:
I plan on getting this phone ?
Did you update your phone already? I've heard it does improve the camera picture quality drastically!
Sent from my Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm using the lastest Jelly Bean OTA update and the lastest camera update from the Play Store.
I've added 1 item to the con and 1 to the pros that I forgot to mention.
Royalfox said:
I plan on getting this phone ?
Did you update your phone already? I've heard it does improve the camera picture quality drastically!
Sent from my Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used a demo at the store (one had kitkat and one didn't), and the kitkat one was SO much better. I think this camera really competes with the other flagships now.
dicarli said:
Yes, I'm using the lastest Jelly Bean OTA update and the lastest camera update from the Play Store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He means Kitkat i think.
@op great pros and cons list.
My pros:
- active display
- great feel in hand
- touchless control is really impressive (even works when the phone is in your pocket and you have headphones plugged in)
- battery life
- speaker
- performance
- call quality
- twist to launcher the camera
Cons:
- display is way too over saturated
- phone is heavier than I thought
- The camera is probably the worst I have used from all the other flagship phones this year, it really is a joke.
- locked boot loader.
This phone does the phone functionalities extremely well though I must say.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Please explain how are you cooking those hot dogs. They look delicious.
Sent from my XT1056 using xda app-developers app
barondebxl said:
@op great pros and cons list.
My pros:
- active display
- great feel in hand
- touchless control is really impressive (even works when the phone is in your pocket and you have headphones plugged in)
- battery life
- speaker
- performance
- call quality
- twist to launcher the camera
Cons:
- display is way too over saturated
- phone is heavier than I thought
- The camera is probably the worst I have used from all the other flagship phones this year, it really is a joke.
- locked boot loader.
This phone does the phone functionalities extremely well though I must say.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if the S3 boot loader is locked aswell, but we had a lot more hacks, mods and roms to use/test on the S3 than o the Moto X.
EVOSerb said:
Please explain how are you cooking those hot dogs. They look delicious.
Sent from my XT1056 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was my GF actually. I shall ask to her how she cooked that
Please do ask. Now just to find the one for my self that will cook like that LOL.
Sent from my XT1056 using xda app-developers app
Tottaly agree! Mostly in the voice commands, in Brasil is not useful like in the US
Sent from my XT1058 using xda app-developers app
Thanks OP for sharing your experience. I'd just like to elaborate on the design.
I don't really quite know how to summarize my idea, but the emphasis on user experience is so great, it's borderline criminal, and it's easily the most understated feature of the Moto X. The texture of the back feels extremely wonderful to hold that doesn't feel like cheap plastic nor cold hard aluminium. The contours (?) of the phone is curved in such a way that feels absolutely comfortable - I wouldn't be surprised if Motorola took the palm/hand profiles of many people and designed the back with it. In conjunction with that, the buttons are positioned well enough to allow me to reach for them whenever I need it. And that dent on the back cover! My finger now gravitates to that point to get a solid grab on the phone. _Finally_ I have a phone that doesn't have to depend on aluminium for that premium feel, or worse still, give UX design a middle finger and design a pile of manure (*coughsamsungcough*) for use.
I was really pleasantly surprised to find out for myself how good the speaker was. It's loud, but distortion is hardly noticeable at maximum volume. (Coming from a Galaxy Nexus, I suppose I get a bit too excited. heh) The camera's been improving steadily, thankfully, but it could use more repairs. I would appreciate it very much if I could take photos faster - the idea of twist-to-camera is kinda wasted on a slow-responding camera like this.
I have friends using the Nexus 5 beside me, and in all honesty I don't feel like I'm missing out on much. Then again, I paid a bloody premium for the phone . But seriously speaking, no regrets. At all. If I had to make the decision all over again, I'd still shoot for the Moto X. Never mind that there's no support for LTE in Malaysia or Singapore (I alternate between these two countries most frequently), or that the SD card slot is missing. I have not been so contented with a purchase in a very, very long time.
For me the biggest thing missing is wireless charging inbuilt.. the port for charging is terrible.. tests my patience every time i try to plugin charger
sravanz said:
For me the biggest thing missing is wireless charging inbuilt.. the port for charging is terrible.. tests my patience every time i try to plugin charger
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. Coming from the Galaxy Nexus, the plug doesn't seem to go in as firmly as the GNex did. I would have loved wireless charging, as well.
sravanz said:
For me the biggest thing missing is wireless charging inbuilt.. the port for charging is terrible.. tests my patience every time i try to plugin charger
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TheKaz said:
I agree. Coming from the Galaxy Nexus, the plug doesn't seem to go in as firmly as the GNex did. I would have loved wireless charging, as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe a member is working on making it work on his in the accessories section.
What are the chances of a QI case being released? I would be all for that.
Cannot believe incipio decided to make a powermat charging case... WHO USES POWERMAT!?
My biggest and only real complaint about the Moto X is the camera. It does not feel like it matches up to even some 2011 phone cameras.
Nice Article.
I'm loving my Moto X 'Argentina Edition' (no root yet ).
On the 'Cons 4' section I swipe a lot, and never again hold my phoine with 2 hands
While driving I can text with the mic, not sure on portuguese, but spanish works great!
OK Google Now
is so much more sensitive in 4.4. I'm using the nexus 5 gel and my phone is constantly beeping and googling my last few words. Kinda strange
I'm still on 4.2.2 but I would have to say the camera, the smaller screen size, and the color saturation of the screen.
I bought a nexus 5 earlier this month and switch between the two phones all the time. {Google apps sync everything} and those would be my main complaints. Obviously the screen size is completely subjective, but I much prefer the n5 screen. I do like the battery life, but I usually have a charger at work and at home, and both phones seem to give me more than acceptable battery life.
The biggest complaint I have is the lack of accessories, cases and screen protectors for it.
I also would like our Canadian carriers to hurry up with the 4.4 updates.
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

*Д Device specific reviews Д* Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3

Welcome to the home of the Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3
Device Reviews Thread​
In this thread please post the following:
Your personal reviews
Written reviews found online
Any and all
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videos can be posted in this thread (no need for 30 different YT threads)
:good:
Lets enjoy the input of others regarding their point of view.
Not all points of view may represent your thoughts, so please do not disrespect the views of others​
PhoneArena's video review:
My quick 2-cents on this device thus far....
Pros:
- Build quality is ecstatic for such a low price. Very sturdy and no creaks.
- The screen is absolutely gorgeous. I've been using a G2 and I've enjoyed it's IPS display, but I think this Idol 3's trumps it. It's brighter and colors seem to pop out more. Can't rave enough about the screen.
- The external speakers are absolutely loud and crisp. I honestly think it's really close to the quality the HTC M series have... If the M9's speakers are a 10/10, I'd have to give the Idol 3's an 8/10. They're that good.
- Speed wise, things seem fast. I don't game much on my phone, and if I do it's those simple mobile games, but everyday tasks will fare just fine on this device.
- Love the almost stock Android feel!
Cons:
- While I love the build quality, the back plate has a very cheap feel/look to it. Though it's not really a complaint since I expected it. Granted, I'm not really the type to care about build materials but I know it matters to a lot of people. As long as the phone is sturdy, I'm happy. (My dream would be if dbrand made skins for this phone)
- Not a fan of the Alcatel Launcher or it's icon pack. (Nova FTW)
- Camera is so-so. Seems to be on par with my G2's camera, which isn't bad by any means, just not the best.... but then again, for the $199 that I paid for it, how can this be a con... right?
- For the life of me I can't get the double tap to wake feature to work... Does anyone know if it's something I have to enable in settings? I've tried to look and can't find anything. Thanks
- Can't think of any other con at the moment... I'll edit this if I find more.
So far this device is an absolute steal at at $199! What have you guys thought so far?
Double tap to wake, go to settings and it's the first setting under "device" enable slider to double to wake.
Double Tap
I have Nova Launcher installed and double tap does not work. Double tap does however work on the stock Alcatel skin. In the Nova Launcher settings you have to pay for the premium to get the double tap feature.
Don_GT said:
I have Nova Launcher installed and double tap does not work. Double tap does however work on the stock Alcatel skin. In the Nova Launcher settings you have to pay for the premium to get the double tap feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got nova prime running with double tap to wake and sleep working. You could always pin a "screen off/sleep" app to your home and tap it to sleep.
redeyss said:
I've got nova prime running with double tap to wake and sleep working. You could always pin a "screen off/sleep" app to your home and tap it to sleep.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you apply double tap to wake and sleep via Nova? I don't see it in the Gesture settings within the app.
mackster248 said:
How do you apply double tap to wake and sleep via Nova? I don't see it in the Gesture settings within the app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you have the paid version, nova prime. Download "screen off and lock" app from play store first. After installed, nova settings, gestures, assign screen off app to double tap gesture. Alternately, just double tap empty portion of screen while running nova as home and you will be prompted to allow screen off app to assume that gesture. Let me know if you get it, good luck!
redeyss said:
Assuming you have the paid version, nova prime. Download "screen off and lock" app from play store first. After installed, nova settings, gestures, assign screen off app to double tap gesture. Alternately, just double tap empty portion of screen while running nova as home and you will be prompted to allow screen off app to assume that gesture. Let me know if you get it, good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perfect. Thanks man! Works great.
So far I'll mirror mackster's review, spot on! Nice phone and quick with great screen. I crushed it while installing my apps but it didn't get hot, just a little warm, which impressed me.
I'm worried about the camera. I took about 8 shots and so far not so good. Let me play with it for a couple days and I'll get back to you. I too was using a G2 the last few weeks after selling my G3. G2 camera has ois and was pretty decent. Idol 3 reminds me of nexus 5 cam, decent but only under ideal light, which is what all the pre release reviews said. G2 seems to get a sharper image in good light.
This really looks, feels, and behaves like a $600 phone from late 2013/early 2014 IMHO. I paid $199 and I'm worried about scratching or dropping it, then have to remind myself it cost a third of a flagship phone and I'm going to use and abuse it without all the anxiety that comes with a huge price tag. Probably slap a glass screen protector on it and a skin if available but that's it!
redeyss said:
So far I'll mirror mackster's review, spot on! Nice phone and quick with great screen. I crushed it while installing my apps but it didn't get hot, just a little warm, which impressed me.
I'm worried about the camera. I took about 8 shots and so far not so good. Let me play with it for a couple days and I'll get back to you. I too was using a G2 the last few weeks after selling my G3. G2 camera has ois and was pretty decent. Idol 3 reminds me of nexus 5 cam, decent but only under ideal light, which is what all the pre release reviews said. G2 seems to get a sharper image in good light.
This really looks, feels, and behaves like a $600 phone from late 2013/early 2014 IMHO. I paid $199 and I'm worried about scratching or dropping it, then have to remind myself it cost a third of a flagship phone and I'm going to use and abuse it without all the anxiety that comes with a huge price tag. Probably slap a glass screen protector on it and a skin if available but that's it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here! I planned on not using a case on this thing... but it's so damn thin that I may have to lol. It's just hard to hold due to how thin it is. I asked dbrand if they would make skins for this phone, and their reply was "maybe". So I'm holding out for dear hope that they are. Yeah, camera does seem a little bad. And you're right about the G2's camera in great lighting conditions, it really is well above average in that aspect.
As much as I love this phone (so far), Alcatel really blew it with the name lol. I hate the "idol" name and that font at the back of the phone. If dbrand makes skins for this, I'll be fully happy.
redeyss said:
So far I'll mirror mackster's review, spot on! Nice phone and quick with great screen. I crushed it while installing my apps but it didn't get hot, just a little warm, which impressed me. !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here as well.No major issues using apps. Installed and used phone for awhile didn't get hot at all. Only performance issue I saw was closing many recent apps from recent app screen. Screen is nice and very bright. Blindingly bright. The speakers a loud and sound good. Also the sound out of the audio jack is very loud too which I'm happy about. I tried to use the stock launcher but I missed some features from Nova so I had to install Nova Prime. That's not a knock against Alcatel tho. Today I'm happy with it. We'll have to play around with it for awhile.
Guys, I'm struggling with this camera! Just did a series of comparison photos with my G2, one M8, and the idol 3. Indoor shots of my son with overcast light coming in windows behind me. Colors washed out and details soft and muddy. M8 had best color reproduction and G2 had best detail and sharpness. I switched to Google camera and results improved noticeably but not dramatically, with truer color and crisper images. I tried with and without "eis" electronic image stabilization enabled and didn't seem to make a difference. This could be a deal breaker for me but I'll keep trying, please post your results.
PS, t. Stark perhaps a photo thread is in order.
can u try camera mx or some others from appstore? been using it for sometime.
the sensor itself shouldnt be that much of a difference since its the same widely used i guess.
Sent from my LG-D838 using XDA Free mobile app
gavolo said:
can u try camera mx or some others from appstore? been using it for sometime.
the sensor itself shouldnt be that much of a difference since its the same widely used i guess.
Sent from my LG-D838 using XDA Free mobile app
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I will try camera MX but hope to hear from others so I know it is or isn't a defect in my particular phone. Yes its that bad....
redeyss said:
I will try camera MX but hope to hear from others so I know it is or isn't a defect in my particular phone. Yes its that bad....
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Did you set it to 13 megapixels? I haven't done a comparison with my g2 yet. From the little pics I took. It seems okay.
guapinoy said:
Did you set it to 13 megapixels? I haven't done a comparison with my g2 yet. From the little pics I took. It seems okay.
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Yep 13mp and played with settings. G2 has Xcam mod but still miles better. Will try and post pics later from PC.
Moved
my impressions after 2 days:
positives:
1. awesome battery life. i would guess 6+ hours screen time easy.
2. speakers are absolutely awesome.
3. the screen is very bright. wish we could reduce it (might give longer battery life to boot!).
4. no problems with wifi or other things like heat etc.
5. user experience is fast enough - better than nexus 4.
6. excellent build quality.
negatives:
1. camera (ok for the money)
2. need root desperately. to change DPI.
3. biggest negative - tmobile reception is like 10dB lower than nexus 4. at my work, where signal is poor, i used to get LTE with that phone, but now I can't. seriously thinking on returning this .
antutu 64bit score is 33000.
deepasadish said:
3. biggest negative - tmobile reception is like 10dB lower than nexus 4. at my work, where signal is poor, i used to get LTE with that phone, but now I can't. seriously thinking on returning this .
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yes, I've noticed my reception has decreased significantly coming from my HTC One M7 and even the ZMAX is getting better LTE reception. I usually get full bars at home and work but i'm down to 2.
considering returning the phone also and trying out the zenfone 2 since i'm in an area where band 12 is being used by a public tv network and wont benefit me at all.

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