Database Users

Review of Chinese Pebble clone.

So I have been living with this little guy for over a week and I believe it's time to write up a review on it.
I wont deal with unpacking as it came in an OEM unbranded box containing only the watch and usb cabble.
I have been using it paired to my Galaxy Note 2 running the official 4.4 update.
Specs :
* Sharp Memory LCD 1.26" 144x168 resolution
* Dimension: 37x55x12.7mm
* 10 days or more standby time
* Weight 98 grams
* Supports Android ( iOs support coming soon )
* IP67 rating
* Pedometer / Accelerometer
* EFM32 Gecko Cortex-M micro-controller
* Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0 BLE
Latest Android Companion App ( I will post newer ones as I receive them from the manufacturer ) : https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_0tZLvAcbvCR1pZcWw0OHdxcWQxQUt2bUFJczNRSXdtV3A0/edit
*Watch pictures : http://imgur.com/a/XE6EN
The watch looks like the illegitimate child of the Nike Tomtom GPS watch and the Pebble. It is a bit on the chunky side and made entirely out of a very rubbery black plastic that feels nice to touch and doesn't feel bothersome around the wrist.
The screen is protected by a glass lens that I'm pretty sure isn't scratch resistant. As for being able to view it in bright light , nothing can beat Sharp's Memory LCD. It's crisp and has a nice contrast. With the back-light ( blueish hue ) on it's perfectly usable at night too.
Button layout is identical to that of the Peblle and they are also mapped in the same way. One on the left for back. Three on the right , top one is up , middle is select and bottom is down. They are nicely textured and require a bit of pressure to click making accidental presses less likely.
The charging port is magnetic with an almost identical connector to that of the Pebble. It comes with an usb cable but no charger. The connector is held in place well and has an little key to make sure you won't inverse the polarities by mistake.
* Charger : http://imgur.com/53LSyqc
The first screen you will see is of course the watch face , it comes with four different ones to choose from : http://imgur.com/a/ASc8D
Pressing the select button opens up the menu with a nice side scroll animation. Here you will see a list of the watches features and a small info bar at the top that shows battery charge , time and if you are connected to your phone.
Menu pictures : http://imgur.com/a/NYat1
Features are as follow :
1. Call notification that will show the phone number and contact name , if such exists , and the ability to mute the incoming call.
1. Ability to read a newly received SMS.
1. Music player remote control. Sadly enough it lacks volume control , only having pause/play , next and previous. Artist , album and song name are displayed.
1. Next we have the camera remote shutter. It works even with the phone locked. The screen doesn't turn on when you take a picture but it still makes the camera sound when triggered.
1. This is followed by weather which displays the current and max temperature for a chosen location plus a little icon that illustrates the current conditions.
1. The find phone feature triggers an alarm that uses the same ringtone as a call and has to be manually disabled on the phone screen after you unlock. This means if you have an unlock pattern there is no way to stop it until it is used. The watch also vibrates if the phones gets far away enough to loose Bluetooth connection.
1. There is also a Running feature which basically is a pedometer. It shows how many steps you took , how many calories you burned , distance traveled , average speed and time. All this info is synced on the phone where you can see the hole history and charts. The pedometer requires you to set your height and weight. It can be turned off to save battery.
1. In the settings menu we have :
1. Bluetooth where you can turn on or of the radio module or activate the power saving feature.
1. Alarm where you can set simple alarms. This is pretty useless as you can choose to receive alarm notifications from your phone. I supposed this makes sense if you are using the watch alone.
1. Date and time settings which are also pretty unnecessary as the watch constantly syncs with your phone for the current time so no need to ever set them manually.
1. Back-light has three settings : off , always on or automatic which means it turns on when you press any button.
1. As language support goes it only has Chinese and English.
1. The about window will display the firmware version , the device ID , Bluetooth status and battery status.
1. Power of turns the watch of .. surprise surprise.
As battery life goes it is at least on par with that of the Pebble if not better. Now it really depends on how many notifications you receive and how often you flip around your songs. I got with quite the use about 5 days and a half on the charge that came from the factory , around 50%. I'm now on my first full charge.
The watch for now has only an Android companion app so no support for iOs.
The app allows you to choose what notifications you want to receive , this works with notifications from absolutely any android application. Basically the watch screen becomes a second notification bar where you can scroll through all of them in the order they are received.
Within the app you also set the location from where to receive weather updates , the units used and the refresh frequency.
Here it's also the place where you can view the synced pedometer data.
Currently the app is at version 1.03 and the manufactured claims they issue monthly updates.
Screenshots : http://imgur.com/a/OUB2K
So now for the big question , how is it to live with the watch ? Well it does everything it's supposed to and haven't discovered any issues since I updated to 1.03 ( 1.02 would have occasional Bluetooth interrupts ). Being able to check all my notification without ever having to take out my rather large phone ( Note 2 ) makes it all worth it , that and the music control app. For 58 usd , 83 with DHL express shipping , it's pretty hard to find a down side to this little guy. Yah it isn't the greatest looker but it does feel sturdy and the fact that it is water resistant is a great plus , dare I say a must . If you are looking for a basic smart-watch you should definitely give it a look.
The supplier I used : http://imesmart.en.alibaba.com/prod...mart_watch_blue_tooth_iphone_smart_watch.html

lgstoian said:
Currently the app is at version 1.03 and the manufactured claims they issue monthly updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for your efforts, very informative. I know its not been a month yet, can you let us know if there's any software or apps update please.

lgstoian said:
So I have been living with this little guy for over a week an.....
Specs :
* Sharp Memory LCD 1.26" 144x168 resolution
* Dimension: 37x55x12.7mm
* 10 days or more standby time
* Weight 98 grams
* Supports Android ( iOs support coming soon )
* IP67 rating
* Pedometer / Accelerometer
* EFM32 Gecko Cortex-M micro-controller
* Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0 BLE
The supplier I used : http://imesmart.en.alibaba.com/prod...mart_watch_blue_tooth_iphone_smart_watch.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the sensors are not the same as the pebble.
Pebble Sensors:
3D accelerometer
e-compass capable (with future software updates)
Ambient light sensor

This watch looks interesting.
I'm looking for a smartwatch, but want a e-ink or similar display so the time is always readable and I want one that I can track my sports activities with.
Does this watch have a option to link it with an Android app so you can read your speed and distance with it?
I saw it has a pedometer but that that's not what I'm looking for.
Could you give us some pictures of notification from e-mail or text messages?
Does it show the whole message, only the topic or does it only let you know you received a mail?
Did you order one piece or a batch?
Interested in your future dealings with the watch, so please keep us posted!

I ordered a single piece. The app does track the number of steps you take , distance and calories burned in a chart.
It only shows the subject and a small part of the message / email / notification. If it is a small sms or hangouts message it will be shown completely.

lgstoian said:
I ordered a single piece. The app does track the number of steps you take , distance and calories burned in a chart.
It only shows the subject and a small part of the message / email / notification. If it is a small sms or hangouts message it will be shown completely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply.
I assume it's not possible to check upcoming calendar appointments with this watch?

List your 'small' things that make this phone great.

Well it's not even out for sale yet but we've all seen plenty of reviews & videos giving us a taster of what's in store when we get our hands on one. Of course we're all well aware of the headlining specs - 20.7mpx, waterproofing, small form factor etc. but what about the lesser known bullet points, the small things that may have escaped attention or been quickly glossed over but still contribute to making this a great device. If you have any, share em here. Here's my three -
F2.0 camera aperture - great, nice & big
Dust proof - yes, not just dust resistant like other phones, this is fully dust proof.
Smart window case available - I'll be having one of these. Smart window with smart orientation, awake on opening, and phone still fits in the charging dock when folded back.

For me it came down to the battery life and a quality camera. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

I like how the percentage is inside the battery icon. It saves notification space. I like how they removed the consumer logos from the back of the phone and hid it inside the phone. It looks cleaner.

I'm also liking the 'smart connect' app it comes with. I plug in my headphones, it's set's the volume, opens Google play, starts playing, when I unplug headphones volume gets reset.
It's also got configurable settings for charger dock, headset and normal charger.

The stamina and ultra stamina modes - I wish those and the FM Radio could be ported to AOSP too.

Small thing but coming from exynos devices it's a blessing:
Whenever you hit the power button or double tap, the screen is on_instantly_ no lag or anything. considering how often you wake up your phone that is kinda important!

Oukitel A28 [Full Review]

[size = "6"]REVIEW POWERED BY[/ b][/ size]
Oukitel A28 SmartWatch[/ b][/ size][/ url]
​
Presentation:
At this time when all the major brands have their own Smatwatchs, Oukitel launched the A28, in order to take advantage of the attention that this type of equipment begins to arouse. Well, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the SmartWatch, and now we're back with my analysis to the Oukitel A28.
Specs
The Oukitel A28 features a 1.54 "display IPS with a resolution of 240 * 240, the processor is a MediaTek 2502A has 128mbs of RAM, has 32mbs of internal memory, and has a battery of 250mAh. The Outikel A28, uses Bluetooth 4.0 to communicate with our mobile phone. Additionally, also has a pulse sensor, Pedometer. Besides it has a speaker and a micro integrated so that we can communicate through it.
Along the packaging, have a micro-USB cable, the charging base and the manual.
Aspect
One of the most important things when buying a watch, is the look of it.
The Oukitel A28, being a smartwatch, is very light, only 58g, has its housing constructed of aluminum, I think the look is quite well done. For this, much contributes fully chromed bezel and leather strap.
The version we received has the silver bracelet with black leather strap, and there is also a version with the bezel in gold and a brown leather strap.
There is only one button which is on the right side of it, that serves to turn the clock display, and to go back to the previous menu.
At the rear we find one of the points that distinguishes this smartwatch of the other Chinese competitors, the pulse sensor.
The IP53 certification, ensures that we can use the watch normally, since this is sweat and splashes resistant, so we can wash your hands with it in place, or use it while it rains, however, must be removed for bathing.
Features
The Oukitel A28, allows us to receive and make calls, read messages, view notifications of any program me may have installed on our mobile phone, etc. Navigation through the menus is extremely simple, swipe your finger across the screen to the left or right to scroll through the menus, from the bottom up or top to go back to Clock.
Its use for calls, works relatively well, the sound of the integrated speaker is quite loud and perfectly perceptible, even in noisy environments, the micro, is not that good, for us to be understood by those who are hearing us, it is necessary to approach it to the mouth, or speak a little louder, no need to shout, but we are not that far from needing to do so.
Reading messages is extremely simple, since the message we receive is automatically appears on the screen when we turn it on, but the answers are limited, contrary to what happens to the vast majority of smartwatchs I have seen, the Oukitel A28, does not allow us to writing any type of text, instead, there are a set of pre-defined messages that can be sent in response.
Although not a device with android wear is compatible with some of the Google program, such as Fit, when connecting the smartwatch the phone, the phone automatically starts Google Fit, and monitors our movements, subsequently giving an indication of the time "exercise" or walk.
In addition to these functions, you can use the Oukitel A28 to locate your phone, as Alarm or Calendar, we can control the playback of music on our mobile phone, besides we can use the Oukitel A28 to operate the camara of our mobile phone, and We can view on the smartwatch screen what the camera is capturing. We still have the Sound Recorder, and Calculator.
Pedometer and Pulse Sensor
The smartwatch are aiming for the market of fitness and exercise, and the Oukitel A28 is no different, despite having an aspect that wouldn't be suitable for a gym or a jogging, it has some features that make it a good companion for such situations.
The Pedometer in the Oukitel A28, is fairly accurate, and contrary to other models is not easy to deceive, wave your arms in a chair does not make account more steps, and calculating the distance traveled is quite accurate.
Another very interesting feature is the Pulse Sensor, there are few devices that provide one, which is integrated in Oukitel A28, is surprisingly accurate, as you can see on the photo.
Bluetooth, Battery and MediaTek Smart Device
A smartwatch without connection to a mobile phone is as smart as a normal watch. So it is critical that the Oukitel can connect easily.
The A28 Oukitel using the Bluetooth 4.0 can connect the any equipment android or apple, then simply install the software from Mediatek so we can to ensure the use of all potential of the clock.
The Bluetooth connection ensures a range of about 10m without the sound start to lose quality, and until this distance you can use the smartwatch to make call without any kind of problems, more than that and we began to have some cuts both in sound we hear as the sound we send , despite continuing to be able to use the smartwatch to take pictures or to locate your phone.
The battery despite having a small size gives good length, connected to a mobile phone with a lot of use lasts about two days, more than that, only if we do not use any of the sensors, such as pedometer, or the pulse sensor, and if we only use the smartwatch for incoming calls and notifications, managed to get to about three days, but it is not exactly easy.
One of the advantages of having a small battery is that it charges quickly, it takes just 20 minutes for the battery reaches the maximum load , which is great, since it turns out to compensate for the fact that a relatively short duration.
The charging base is a necessary evil, since this is a device with IP53 certification, which is resistant to sweat and water splashes, placing a micro-USB port for charging, would create an opening in the box that let in water.
The Smart Device MediaTek is the software that we have installed in our mobile phone in order to use all the functions of the smartwatch, otherwise, is limited to being a speakerphone on the wrist, and read messages.
The Smart Device MediaTek can later install new software for these devices at this time is only possible to install the Yahoo Weather in order to see the weather in the smartwatch, Digital Clock which is another skin for the clock, and Codoon that is a program that Chinese social networks, so for us little use.
With MediaTek Smart Device installed we can also manage the type of notifications that will appear on the wrist, so the Oukitel A28 will just give the signal that we consider important.
Evaluation and Final Thoughts
Pros:
- Very good build quality with a premium appearance;
- Very precise pulse sensor;
- Connection to the mobile phone is excellent ;
- Price;
Cons:
- The lack of more skins at the clock, there are only 4;
- Failure to respond to messages with a written text, being forced to use that come pre set from factory.
If you are looking for a smartwatch with a premium appearance, with a low cost, and can offer a very good quality of construction, in addition to some extra features, this may be the smartwatch suitable for you.
I want to thank Antelife for having provided this equipment to be tested, and could share my opinion with you.
For those who are interested in purchasing this excellent machine can follow the link below.
[url="http://www.antelife.com/oukitel-a28-mt2502a-1-54-inch-ips-bluetooth-4-0-smart-watch-heart-rate-monitor-support-health-tracking-smart-reminding-silver.html"]Silver and black [/ url]
[url="http://www.antelife.com/oukitel-a28-mt2502a-1-54-inch-ips-bluetooth-4-0-smart-watch-heart-rate-monitor-support-health-tracking-smart-reminding-gold.html"]Gold and brown. [/ url]

|Z5P| Positive / Negative points

Helloo, I recently buy that phone, and I'm confused a bit, I would have your point of view about the positive / negative thing of the Z5P
To my mind I find the design awesome af, on this point there's no problem (maybe the +/- volume key are not at their better place, anyway)
Then the fact there's no other way to get root than unlock the bootloader.. Hm I don't really like that, the + is being rooted, the - is losing warranty, what to say to convince me?
It also seems development (Roms, etc.) for Z5P looks slower than other high end Xperia device.
The second point that grind my gear is the battery.. I entirely read the XDA thread about it and it seems to be such a poor battery compared to the phone spec's
I haven't confirmed on my own the SOT or battery life day (I'm still using my Z2 instead of testing Z5P, just why xD maybe Z2 > all) but in less than a hour I lost ~20% battery and I wasn't using it in heavy using, (adaptative brightness lower level, wifi, no location, 9gag a bit, installing play store apps, & kind of usual things)
So after all these points raised, I'm full of doubt, I need halp :3
Does he worth it? Let's share your feelings, your opinions in this thread and maybe it'll help me to keep / reject that ^-^
See ya o/

With 6.0 the speed improves a lot according the people..
Battery drain i hope that improves with 6.0...

Personally I think the audio quality (through headphones) is great, although the speakers are a bit low on volume IMHO.
Screen is ace, camera could be better (Had the LG G4 before this and the camera on that was phenomenal). Love the physical camera button, though. Video quality is great.
Rear glass panel isn't as scratch resistant as the front... as such the back gets scratched easily...

Overall, phone is great, screen is really nice, battery, i have seen better but it lasts me through the day, biggest downside is that damn glass rear side, making phone sooo slippery, already dropped it few times.

Thanks for replying
some of you have unlocked the bootloader ? does it really decrease photo quality ?

Pros:
- Quality display. Very beautiful and accurate. 4k is noticeable.
- Although it's 1080p upscaled to 4k it looks very sharp
- MicroSD expansion up to 200GB
- Camera takes very nice pics in Manual mode
- Build and construction is solid and feels good.
- Fingerprint scanner is fast when it works.
- Hi-Res Audio. DSEE HX is OK. Only noticeable on low quality mp3. Turn off if you listen to lossless. Downside is that you can't use an EQ along with DSEE HX bitrate upscaling.
- Support for Apple Lossless files (ALAC) ty Sony!
- X-Reality makes photos look very good in Album.
- Performance is fast and snappy. Clean ROM compared to others like LG/Samsung. I don't feel like I NEED to install a custom ROM. I am happy with stock.
- Emoji Autocomplete/Quick Typing on stock keyboard. Didn't feel the need to download Google Keyboard or Swiftkey.
- Battery life is OK. Takes me through the day without a problem. It's NOT a two day battery. For some reason, battery sucked in the beginning then got better somehow. I didn't update the phone at all it just got better over time.
- Sony gives you the tools to unlock and play with stock AOSP (Careful about losing your DRM Keys!)
- Front facing speakers are good. I never accidentally cover them so I can always hear the sound.
- PC Companion software is actually good. Didn't try Bridge for Mac but seems pretty standard.
- Sync music from iTunes via PC Companion.
- Keychain strap area!
Cons:
- DPI change without root will mess up UI. No fix unless factory reset.
- X-Reality only works on the phone. The photos don't look as nice when you export to PC or share on social media.
- Speakers could be louder, Notifications are really loud still.
- Ambient light bug (hopefully fixed in 6.0)
- Slippery surface and sides. Can get oily from fingerprints.
- Android Pay isn't working for whatever reason.
- Only 32 GB internal. Fine for most, not enough for me. (6.0 will integrate microSD as internal)
- MicroSD swapping requires phone to restart because it is on the sim port. Dual sim does not restart due to separate MicroSD port.
- Camera takes pics too slow due to post processing
- Front facing camera sucks a lot.
- Only stock camera is good, all other cameras suck on the Z5
- No 4K .MKV playback support only MP4
- Gets hot at times, but not too hot to touch
- Fingerprint scanner is sometimes too fast (not accurate). I touch it a little and it thinks I'm trying to unlock the device even when I'm not. I just wanted to see notifications on my lock screen. I hate this a lot because I graze it with any part of my hand and it says wrong fingerprint all the time. Then it says fingerprint functionality locked. Very annoying.
- Always changes orientation when I'm just using the phone. A slight tilt is all it takes. Because this is a large phone, it tilts a little in 1-hand use. And then everything goes in landscape and I have to tilt the phone back. I hate having to turn on rotation lock because I need to turn it off when I want to use in landscape.
- No way to stream any 4K over the internet. No YouTube, no Netflix, etc. Must download/shoot your own 4K videos and put it on the phone.
Things I wish it had:
- USB Type-C
- Wireless charging
- Sandblasted instead of polished metal sides. It's slippery god damnit. And make sides more flat instead of round, just round the edges.
- I wanted an all white edition (Chrome and Gold too flashy for my tastes. White is classy and professional. So is black. I have the black one.)
- Matte finish glass backing
- Wish fingerprint scanner was higher up by a little. My car mount either covers the power button or presses the volume keys.
I hope this is thorough enough for you. Feel free to add to the list.

fancymans said:
Pros:
- Quality display. Very beautiful and accurate. 4k is noticeable.
- Although it's 1080p upscaled to 4k it looks very sharp
- MicroSD expansion up to 200GB
- Camera takes very nice pics in Manual mode
- Build and construction is solid and feels good.
- Fingerprint scanner is fast when it works.
- Hi-Res Audio. DSEE HX is OK. Only noticeable on low quality mp3. Turn off if you listen to lossless. Downside is that you can't use an EQ along with DSEE HX bitrate upscaling.
- Support for Apple Lossless files (ALAC) ty Sony!
- X-Reality makes photos look very good in Album.
- Performance is fast and snappy. Clean ROM compared to others like LG/Samsung. I don't feel like I NEED to install a custom ROM. I am happy with stock.
- Emoji Autocomplete/Quick Typing on stock keyboard. Didn't feel the need to download Google Keyboard or Swiftkey.
- Battery life is OK. Takes me through the day without a problem. It's NOT a two day battery. For some reason, battery sucked in the beginning then got better somehow. I didn't update the phone at all it just got better over time.
- Sony gives you the tools to unlock and play with stock AOSP (Careful about losing your DRM Keys!)
- Front facing speakers are good. I never accidentally cover them so I can always hear the sound.
- PC Companion software is actually good. Didn't try Bridge for Mac but seems pretty standard.
- Sync music from iTunes via PC Companion.
- Keychain strap area!
Cons:
- DPI change without root will mess up UI. No fix unless factory reset.
- X-Reality only works on the phone. The photos don't look as nice when you export to PC or share on social media.
- Speakers could be louder, Notifications are really loud still.
- Ambient light bug (hopefully fixed in 6.0)
- Slippery surface and sides. Can get oily from fingerprints.
- Android Pay isn't working for whatever reason.
- Only 32 GB internal. Fine for most, not enough for me. (6.0 will integrate microSD as internal)
- MicroSD swapping requires phone to restart because it is on the sim port. Dual sim does not restart due to separate MicroSD port.
- Camera takes pics too slow due to post processing
- Front facing camera sucks a lot.
- Only stock camera is good, all other cameras suck on the Z5
- No 4K .MKV playback support only MP4
- Gets hot at times, but not too hot to touch
- Fingerprint scanner is sometimes too fast (not accurate). I touch it a little and it thinks I'm trying to unlock the device even when I'm not. I just wanted to see notifications on my lock screen. I hate this a lot because I graze it with any part of my hand and it says wrong fingerprint all the time. Then it says fingerprint functionality locked. Very annoying.
- Always changes orientation when I'm just using the phone. A slight tilt is all it takes. Because this is a large phone, it tilts a little in 1-hand use. And then everything goes in landscape and I have to tilt the phone back. I hate having to turn on rotation lock because I need to turn it off when I want to use in landscape.
- No way to stream any 4K over the internet. No YouTube, no Netflix, etc. Must download/shoot your own 4K videos and put it on the phone.
Things I wish it had:
- USB Type-C
- Wireless charging
- Sandblasted instead of polished metal sides. It's slippery god damnit. And make sides more flat instead of round, just round the edges.
- I wanted an all white edition (Chrome and Gold too flashy for my tastes. White is classy and professional. So is black. I have the black one.)
- Matte finish glass backing
- Wish fingerprint scanner was higher up by a little. My car mount either covers the power button or presses the volume keys.
I hope this is thorough enough for you. Feel free to add to the list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What a review! Thanks a lot!

Neil_Armstrong_ said:
What a review! Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NP. Oh and unlocking the bootloader will disable some of the post processing in the camera so yes, camera quality suffers. I have not tried this myself, but from image sample tests in other threads I can see a very minor difference. AFAIK the biggest difference in camera quality will occur in lower light situations.

fancymans said:
NP. Oh and unlocking the bootloader will disable some of the post processing in the camera so yes, camera quality suffers. I have not tried this myself, but from image sample tests in other threads I can see a very minor difference. AFAIK the biggest difference in camera quality will occur in lower light situations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
D'oh! For photo quality!
I'm gonna pass through the Dark side of the bootloader, I'll try to do a little review

Neil_Armstrong_ said:
D'oh! For photo quality!
I'm gonna pass through the Dark side of the bootloader, I'll try to do a little review
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would wait since 6.0 is coming now, but good luck if you are still going for it. Keep in mind you also lose DSEE HX, X-Reality as well. They will show up but don't do anything.
I got my 6.0 update today. I have some changes to my review since they managed to fix a few issues.
First on that list is the fingerprint scanner. Wow it works really well now. I still get the occasional missed fingerprint but that's more on me than the device. When you want it to work, it works.
Second, the ambient light/auto brightness bug has been fixed. (Finally)
Third, Sony did not add in the ability to merge microSD with internal. I'm bummed out.
Fourth, Android Pay works now. I can finally pay for my coffee with my phone.
Some new pros:
- Doze helps save battery on standby
- Smarter Do Not Disturb mode
- Even better performance
- Better stock launcher with smaller icon size options and page transition animations (I would use it, but Nova Launcher is too good.)

my biggest complain is how they are not taking advantage of the 4K screen and screen size at all. Should be a row of 5 icons by default And youtube still doesn't do 4K video after MM update. That is like the biggest no brainer to add into the update. Right now its just basically 1 lazy version of Android OS for all the Z5 line up and they only rely on a couple of their own app to take advantage of the screen.

One Month Review [good not perfect]

Title says it all. I will keep it short and sweet.
Upgraded from an OP8. The Oppo definitely feels heavier in the hand and pocket but can attribute this to the ceramic housing. Feels good in the hand, even with the stock case. I did receive the gift pack which had the Kevlar case and that is lovely but the top, bottom and side buttons are exposed to the elements and that has put me off using and I am continuing with the stock case.
Camera - good. Better than the OP8. Better than a Pixel6 Pro? No, almost as good. I am no camera expert so I don't tinker with all the settings, I am more your regular point and shoot user. I rarely shoot video so can't comment much but again no issue, playback is nice and crisp, sharp smooth quality.
Good battery - charges quick, although I'm not convinced the wireless charger is as fast as it claims i.e. 50W.
User experience - this is where I have some gripes. On the whole it is fine and slick and snappy most of the time but...
1. Sometimes there is a moment of freeze/lag/sticks when I have tried to leave an app or switch to another app- not snappy.
2. When I am listening to YouTube via Bluetooth in the car and somebody calls me, the YT playback continues so I hear both the caller and YT. The caller does not hear the YT playback but can hear me. I have tried the various permission settings but no joy.
3. Screen sometimes wakes up with fingerprint. What I mean here is I can place my thumb on the screen and it signs in. However sometimes I have to double tap the screen to wake it up THEN apply my finger to unlock.
4. Power button - does not power down. Have to use volume up and Power button. Not a biggie but quite annoying.
5. No lockdown mode. I badly want this, but again this works in tandem with the power button.
6. No alert slider like the OnePlus range (which I hear is ditching the alert slider which means they will be using and rebranding Oppo hardware going forward). I usually have my phone on vibrate or silent, very rarely on Loud/ringtones. A helpful XDA user advised me to use the vibrate button to switch between silent and vibrate.
7. I use the Podcast Addict app. The player appears in the banner (pull down) even after I have closed the app. Annoying. This did not happen on the OP8, ever.
Appreciate 6 of the 7 above are software issues and this might be a ColorOS thing and needs tidying up. If anyone has answers to the above that can help me, please do let me know.
I like my phone. Is it significantly better than my OP8? No... better camera but on a day to day, that's it. Again this comes down to what people use their phones for. I am not a gamer so the new SD8.1 will be of use to others.
Thanks all

I trust user reviews more than the mainstream glowing it's great reviews...
All Androids need to be optimized to get the best performance. Workarounds need to be found for issues.
Try modifying the notification settings for Pod Addict. For badly behaving apps I will turn off notifications for them completely... or just take out the trash
This setting is useful to kill ads globally: