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I recently went out of my way to purchase a 5x (MDA89E) by driving 40 odd miles to a carphonewarehouse store that I knew had it in stock (after having called them). Yes I'm crazy, but I just LOVED the nexus 5, even though I had my main gripes and complaints and issues with different production models etc, I did eventually manage to obtain a model that was perfect.
But anyhow, I have been thoroughly excited since the news of the 5x. But once having used the device for the most part of 2.5 days, I'm hugely disappointed.
The same magic android experience I felt immediately with the nexus 5 just is not there with the nexus 5x. It feels incredibly cheap and plastic, and the finish is not as precise or robust feeling as the Nexus 5. The black model doesn't have the same matt back as the nexus 5.
I am very pleased with the screen and the finger print sensor is rapid and the camera is better than the nexus 5, but apart from that, everything else is sub bar.
This is the first ever google android device that I have EVER owned whereby I have experienced a laggy experience and lag in general.
I never experienced any lag on the nexus 4, nexus 5 or the nexus 6. But the 5x, I am experiencing strange frequent lag, even whilst just generally surfing the net using chrome.
The webpages stutter, the scrolling from top to bottom on a webpage frequently lags and I am completely unsatisfied with the experience as a whole. Switching between certain apps like the camera app and the snapspeed app, I experience a strange delay for a few seconds.
I have compared this to the same apps on my nexus 5 and my nexus 6 and unfortunately I am yet to experience any lag at all. Not a single experience.
My second major complaint with the handset is the Audio.
Google and LG should be embarrassed with the Audio they have incorporated into the nexus 5x, and to be quite frank, it is unacceptable. The Audio is incredibly tinny and low powered, even worse than the nexus 5.
Plugging in headphones makes it even worse. My nexus 5 is louder with headphones plugged in.
Again, let me reiterate that this is completely unacceptable, considering handsets like the Motorola moto g (2015) and the moto x play have superb audio and are also priced cheaper. (I know the screens arent as good as the 5x and they don't have a finger print sensor, but my family members have both, and the android experience on these handsets have been sublime). Though incredibly underpowered compared to the 5x, they run smoother after a comparison last night!?!??!!!
I know this 5x is classified as a cheaper alternative to cater to the budget market, but £340 is not cheap, when the moto g is priced at £149.99 and the moto x play priced at £279.99 (argos).
I really feel google is not catering to the main element of owning a smartphone, and that is the media experience.
And I will also add that they aren't even catering to the main functionality of a phone itself, which is the actual call quality, which again, is abysmal and unacceptable for a device that is priced at £340.00. I can barely increase the volume enough to hear the other person in a call, and everybody I have spoken to during a call has asked me why i sound muffled??
I'm sorry to be sounding negative, but I was expecting a step up from the nexus 5, Not a step down with a better screen and an added fingerprint sensor.
This is unacceptable and I am contemplating returning the device. Hugely disappointing and totally unexpected from google.
When the nexus 5 was released, it had, at the time, the best specs at an extremely competitive price.
The 5x is mid range specs, a good screen and a finger print sensor/camera, but a regression in usability and functionality. I cannot use this phone for media. To watch or listen to music and videos etc during my daily commute or to have important telephone conversations in a public environment. If Im in a closed room with no other noise around, then yes, it is just about acceptable, but even low for smartphone standards.
I guess I wouldn't complain as much if everything was flowing utterly smooth like I expect from a google stock android device, but it isn’t. It doesn't. I have no idea why.
withdrawn said:
I recently went out of my way to purchase a 5x (MDA89E) by driving 40 odd miles to a carphonewarehouse store that I knew had it in stock (after having called them). Yes I'm crazy, but I just LOVED the nexus 5, even though I had my main gripes and complaints and issues with different production models etc, I did eventually manage to obtain a model that was perfect.
But anyhow, I have been thoroughly excited since the news of the 5x. But once having used the device for the most part of 2.5 days, I'm hugely disappointed.
The same magic android experience I felt immediately with the nexus 5 just is not there with the nexus 5x. It feels incredibly cheap and plastic, and the finish is not as precise or robust feeling as the Nexus 5. The black model doesn't have the same matt back as the nexus 5.
I am very pleased with the screen and the finger print sensor is rapid and the camera is better than the nexus 5, but apart from that, everything else is sub bar.
This is the first ever google android device that I have EVER owned whereby I have experienced a laggy experience and lag in general.
I never experienced any lag on the nexus 4, nexus 5 or the nexus 6. But the 5x, I am experiencing strange frequent lag, even whilst just generally surfing the net using chrome.
The webpages stutter, the scrolling from top to bottom on a webpage frequently lags and I am completely unsatisfied with the experience as a whole. Switching between certain apps like the camera app and the snapspeed app, I experience a strange delay for a few seconds.
I have compared this to the same apps on my nexus 5 and my nexus 6 and unfortunately I am yet to experience any lag at all. Not a single experience.
My second major complaint with the handset is the Audio.
Google and LG should be embarrassed with the Audio they have incorporated into the nexus 5x, and to be quite frank, it is unacceptable. The Audio is incredibly tinny and low powered, even worse than the nexus 5.
Plugging in headphones makes it even worse. My nexus 5 is louder with headphones plugged in.
Again, let me reiterate that this is completely unacceptable, considering handsets like the Motorola moto g (2015) and the moto x play have superb audio and are also priced cheaper. (I know the screens arent as good as the 5x and they don't have a finger print sensor, but my family members have both, and the android experience on these handsets have been sublime). Though incredibly underpowered compared to the 5x, they run smoother after a comparison last night!?!??!!!
I know this 5x is classified as a cheaper alternative to cater to the budget market, but £340 is not cheap, when the moto g is priced at £149.99 and the moto x play priced at £279.99 (argos).
I really feel google is not catering to the main element of owning a smartphone, and that is the media experience.
And I will also add that they aren't even catering to the main functionality of a phone itself, which is the actual call quality, which again, is abysmal and unacceptable for a device that is priced at £340.00. I can barely increase the volume enough to hear the other person in a call, and everybody I have spoken to during a call has asked me why i sound muffled??
I'm sorry to be sounding negative, but I was expecting a step up from the nexus 5, Not a step down with a better screen and an added fingerprint sensor.
This is unacceptable and I am contemplating returning the device. Hugely disappointing and totally unexpected from google.
When the nexus 5 was released, it had, at the time, the best specs at an extremely competitive price.
The 5x is mid range specs, a good screen and a finger print sensor/camera, but a regression in usability and functionality. I cannot use this phone for media. To watch or listen to music and videos etc during my daily commute or to have important telephone conversations in a public environment. If Im in a closed room with no other noise around, then yes, it is just about acceptable, but even low for smartphone standards.
I guess I wouldn't complain as much if everything was flowing utterly smooth like I expect from a google stock android device, but it isn’t. It doesn't. I have no idea why.
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Click to collapse
I find it interesting that your review of this device is different from all the reviews I have heard. Maybe you could have a faulty device or preproduction OS? Just seems odd, I will keep my eyes out for more people to confirm but I have heard the opposite from so many people.
Thanks for the review
Thanks for the update.
If the call quality is really like this, then I will be also considering returning it... Most of the reviews were saying that the call quality is OK, I think I found one that were complaining about it...
I have ordered the 5X and cancelled more times than I am going to admit. Right now I am waiting. It seems like maybe this device would be good if you're coming from a Nexus 4 but if you currently own a Nexus 5 or 6 it really isn't much of an upgrade...certainly not worth $430. Hopefully Google goes with a smaller premium model next year.
Evo_Shift said:
I have ordered the 5X and cancelled more times than I am going to admit. Right now I am waiting. It seems like maybe this device would be good if you're coming from a Nexus 4 but if you currently own a Nexus 5 or 6 it really isn't much of an upgrade...certainly not worth $430. Hopefully Google goes with a smaller premium model next year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You too? Mine is more than a dozen
But my last order locked into processing right away, and ill have it tomorrow. Going to be comparing it with my 96gb Moto X Pure.
My order is currently cancelled (for "only" the 2nd time) and I have been wary about the published reviews that are lukewarm at best. I guess what I'd really like is a 6p the size of the 5x. Have to wait and see more reviews on the forums...
joshuadjohnson22 said:
I find it interesting that your review of this device is different from all the reviews I have heard. Maybe you could have a faulty device or preproduction OS? Just seems odd, I will keep my eyes out for more people to confirm but I have heard the opposite from so many people.
Thanks for the review
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Click to collapse
Droid Life compared the 5X to the 6P on their podcast, and said the 5X was noticeably more laggy than the 6P, and when double tapping the power button the launch the camera, it took significantly longer to do so on the 5X. They also mentioned battery life is average.
Maybe i could have a faulty unit. I remember the nexus 5 early production units had a few screen issues etc.
But i never remember ever experiencing lag on any previous nexus devices. This doesn't feel like a nexus buttery smooth device. It feels more similar to a device that is using a marshmallow stock rom.
I don't mean to be super critical, but the nexus 5 was a really amazing pure android butter smooth rapid fast lag free experience. I still love that phone, even to this day! Just because of the responsiveness and speed, it sort of cancelled out the negatives of the poor battery life etc
But my experience with the 5x isn't the same. It's not smooth and stutter free like how I've come to associate nexus devices to be.
Do you think I should request an exchange to see if it just isn't my unit or should I run a full reset and install everything again. This is the third day with the device, but frankly, I just feel a bit let down.
Maybe I should have been patient and just waited for the 6p, but the form factor of the nexus 5x is what i find hugely appealing.
I won't deny, the finger print sensor is first class. It's so rapid and class leading. The screen is vibrant and nice. Colors appear in great contrast, but not over saturated and vivid compared to the nexus 6 amo screen.
The camera is a huge step up.
But, for example, the vibration motor is really weak. They should have improved this. They should have improved the audio/media sound quality and the call audio quality. It makes sense if other cheaper alternatives can, why cant google?
Even lg's budget lg g3s and g4s have really decent audio and sound/call quality, as do the moto g, and moto play and especially the moto style.
Audio is hugely important, as is sound quality and call sound quality. This is what makes the media experience immersive when using a smartphone. I don't expect htc m8 or nexus 6 speaker quality, but then i don't expect quality so sub bar, that it's neigh on embarrasing, for a handset valued by google at £340.
I have just read a thread about using the phone with the charger plugged in causes lag.. I have been doing this but only in the morning and the evening. Not during my commute.
I really need to decide whether i should exchange or just return.
But overall, this doesn't feel like the usual nexus magic I've become so used to.
geoff5093 said:
Droid Life compared the 5X to the 6P on their podcast, and said the 5X was noticeably more laggy than the 6P, and when double tapping the power button the launch the camera, it took significantly longer to do so on the 5X. They also mentioned battery life is average.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All reports that I've seen show that opening the camera on the 5x is laggy. Everything else seems to be smooth.
robstunner said:
You too? Mine is more than a dozen
But my last order locked into processing right away, and ill have it tomorrow. Going to be comparing it with my 96gb Moto X Pure.
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Click to collapse
4 times
I can also tell, even by looking at the 6P, that all the emphasis on design, software, user experience etc has been directed towards this model as opposed to the 5x, which is a total shame. Its like those who prefer the small form factor are literally ostracized and classed as second class citizens with a marked down substandard experience.
The 6P will undoubtedly offer the truer next gen nexus android experience. I can tell, it will be totally smooth as silk and lag free
Coming from an S6 edge, I don't have any complaints about my Nexus 5X not being smooth and feeling fast.
OMEiAM said:
Coming from an S6 edge, I don't have any complaints about my Nexus 5X not being smooth and feeling fast.
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Click to collapse
That doesn't surprise me! touch wiz is just generally awful. Any nexus device would be a huge improvement on that front!
But can you honestly say you're not taken back by the lackluster sound quality/audio and the call quality of the 5x in comparison to the s6 edge? the quality of the vibration on the vibration motor?
Hi
withdrawn said:
Maybe i could have a faulty unit. I remember the nexus 5 early production units had a few screen issues etc.
But i never remember ever experiencing lag on any previous nexus devices. This doesn't feel like a nexus buttery smooth device. It feels more similar to a device that is using a marshmallow stock rom.
I don't mean to be super critical, but the nexus 5 was a really amazing pure android butter smooth rapid fast lag free experience. I still love that phone, even to this day! Just because of the responsiveness and speed, it sort of cancelled out the negatives of the poor battery life etc
But my experience with the 5x isn't the same. It's not smooth and stutter free like how I've come to associate nexus devices to be.
Do you think I should request an exchange to see if it just isn't my unit or should I run a full reset and install everything again. This is the third day with the device, but frankly, I just feel a bit let down.
Maybe I should have been patient and just waited for the 6p, but the form factor of the nexus 5x is what i find hugely appealing.
I won't deny, the finger print sensor is first class. It's so rapid and class leading. The screen is vibrant and nice. Colors appear in great contrast, but not over saturated and vivid compared to the nexus 6 amo screen.
The camera is a huge step up.
But, for example, the vibration motor is really weak. They should have improved this. They should have improved the audio/media sound quality and the call audio quality. It makes sense if other cheaper alternatives can, why cant google?
Even lg's budget lg g3s and g4s have really decent audio and sound/call quality, as do the moto g, and moto play and especially the moto style.
Audio is hugely important, as is sound quality and call sound quality. This is what makes the media experience immersive when using a smartphone. I don't expect htc m8 or nexus 6 speaker quality, but then i don't expect quality so sub bar, that it's neigh on embarrasing, for a handset valued by google at £340.
I have just read a thread about using the phone with the charger plugged in causes lag.. I have been doing this but only in the morning and the evening. Not during my commute.
I really need to decide whether i should exchange or just return.
But overall, this doesn't feel like the usual nexus magic I've become so used to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It always surprises me how people complain about the audio on smartphones. It is impossible for any smart phone to have good audio when you have a speaker the size of an M&M, it's simple physics, they are all just degrees of rubbish really. That's why they have a headphone socket and Bluetooth, so we have options to stream to a speaker that stands some chance of providing full range sound :good:
In terms of performance, worth trying a reset, but you may have a faulty phone, could you try one in a phone shop and see how they compare? I can see no difference in performance between mine and the older 5, the speed is mostly governed by the animations and both phones are slowed down enough navigating around by the "smoothness" that CPU speed differences really isn't noticeable in use. You could have a super computer running Marshmellow and it would still be the same speed due to the animations. If you really want a performance boost pop into Developer settings and turn of the animations, it's miles faster then, but then the 'butter smoothness' is gone. Funny how Google have made slowing down the UI something we perceive as better performance.
Hope you get your issues sorted out.
Regards
Phil
OMEiAM said:
Coming from an S6 edge, I don't have any complaints about my Nexus 5X not being smooth and feeling fast.
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Click to collapse
PhilipL said:
Hi
It always surprises me how people complain about the audio on smartphones. It is impossible for any smart phone to have good audio when you have a speaker the size of an M&M, it's simple physics, they are all just degrees of rubbish really. That's why they have a headphone socket and Bluetooth, so we have options to stream to a speaker that stands some chance of providing full range sound :good:
In terms of performance, worth trying a reset, but you may have a faulty phone, could you try one in a phone shop and see how they compare? I can see no difference in performance between mine and the older 5, the speed is mostly governed by the animations and both phones are slowed down enough navigating around by the "smoothness" that CPU speed differences really isn't noticeable in use. You could have a super computer running Marshmellow and it would still be the same speed due to the animations. If you really want a performance boost pop into Developer settings and turn of the animations, it's miles faster then, but then the 'butter smoothness' is gone. Funny how Google have made slowing down the UI something we perceive as better performance.
Hope you get your issues sorted out.
Regards
Phil
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Click to collapse
When I'm talking about the sound quality, I am literally talking about the quality of headphones plugged into the device. Its so embarrassingly low on the 5x its unbelievable that google and lg would see this as fit for purpose when it obviously is not.
I just got mine and I am superbly disappointed of it comparing to my Galaxy S6. Anyone compared the 5X to the 6P yet in terms of OS performance, speaker quality, camera, etc?
Syn Ack said:
I just got mine and I am superbly disappointed of it comparing to my Galaxy S6. Anyone compared the 5X to the 6P yet in terms of OS performance, speaker quality, camera, etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you disappointed with? The S6 is a much higher level phone than the 5X so I would expect it to be a downgrade in almost everything but software. I don't think Google has shipped at 6P's yet to end users to compare.
It's kinda funny that people are saying it feels and looks cheap. People must forget what others said about the nexus 5 when it came out.. That it looked boring, cheap, that nothing about it stood out.. I mean after the beautiful nexus 4 people were expecting a 5 that was premium like the 4.. And look what happened... That became the most loved nexus of them all so far..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk
graffixnyc said:
It's kinda funny that people are saying it feels and looks cheap. People must forget what others said about the nexus 5 when it came out.. That it looked boring, cheap, that nothing about it stood out.. I mean after the beautiful nexus 4 people were expecting a 5 that was premium like the 4.. And look what happened... That became the most loved nexus of them all so far..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me when I say that the phone is hard plastic. Like literally.
The moto X play feels more premium and that's a cheaper handset.
The nexus 5 wasn't as aesthetically pleasing to the eye like the nexus 4, but holding the nexus 5, it felt nice, especially the soft touch matte back.
The 5x is just straight up hard plastic.
Evo_Shift said:
4 times
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Click to collapse
4 times here too, and twice with the 6p. Still have the 6p coming through......unless I cancel again [emoji4]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Im looking to upgrade from a Nexus 6 to either a 6P or Mate 8. I just found this phone this morning and looks interesting. What do you think of this phone vs the 6P? Thanks for your opinions.
I have both. I came from a nexus 6. They're both great phones. My only sadness with this phone is lack of aosp or cm ROMs. As much as I really hate that, I can't put this phone down. Battery life with heavy use I'm still putting down average 6-7 hours screen on time. The 6p is pretty solid of a phone too but I'll be giving it to my gf since the mate 8 serves more than enough of its purpose.
Hopefully one day maybe we get an aosp ROM
nighthawk626 said:
I have both. I came from a nexus 6. They're both great phones. My only sadness with this phone is lack of aosp or cm ROMs. As much as I really hate that, I can't put this phone down. Battery life with heavy use I'm still putting down average 6-7 hours screen on time. The 6p is pretty solid of a phone too but I'll be giving it to my gf since the mate 8 serves more than enough of its purpose.
Hopefully one day maybe we get an aosp ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would like an aosp/CM rom as well. my problem with my N6 is battery life. i heard the 6P is better and seems like this is even better than that. i have been reading on here about issues people have been having with the phone being in chinese and issues with notifications and such. guess i need to decide if the lack of aosp with the other issues will be something i can live with for now.
No problems with notification for me and no Chinese problems either. People probably bought a Chinese model and are complaining about Chinese being on it. Go figure. And also coming from a nexus 6 I only have up due to screen being broken and unable to repair it at the moment, this fits even better in hand than the nexus 6. Solid as hell. Like I said, my only complaint is lack of aosp or cm ROMs. So far I'm able to live with it. If it gets too much, I'll serve my nexus 6 back to the States for repair. Not necessary though considering the hell of an upgrade this phone is
well, most issues and complaints here actually arise because people are too lazy to read as for custom roms, the ball started rolling on that we already have twrp, unlocked bootloader, decrypted boot image and root capability. first dev is also already working on a custom rom, so im pretty optimistic for the near future
sure, development will never get as expansive as with the nexus 6P, but hey, its a nexus
u gotta decide whats important to you: mate 8 trumps everything concerning cpu performance (even upcoming s820 according to benches thus far) and battery life. if gpu performance is important to you though, the 6P is definitely more performant, although not massively due to the higher screen resolution vs. the mate 8.
another important point: screen vs body ratio! iphone 6s plus / nexus 6p / mate 8 are all the same size, give or take 1-2mm. difference being:
iphone 5.5 inch display
nexus 5.7 inch display
mate 8 friggin 6 inch display
coming from the nexus 6 ull be surprised to have such a "small" device sport the same screen size at way smaller dimensions
and i can say the screen is super sharp, has great colors and is briiiight as heck, everything u can want in a good screen
just my 2c on the matter...
Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10 using Tapatalk
jbmc83 said:
well, most issues and complaints here actually arise because people are too lazy to read as for custom roms, the ball started rolling on that we already have twrp, unlocked bootloader, decrypted boot image and root capability. first dev is also already working on a custom rom, so im pretty optimistic for the near future
sure, development will never get as expansive as with the nexus 6P, but hey, its a nexus
u gotta decide whats important to you: mate 8 trumps everything concerning cpu performance (even upcoming s820 according to benches thus far) and battery life. if gpu performance is important to you though, the 6P is definitely more performant, although not massively due to the higher screen resolution vs. the mate 8.
another important point: screen vs body ratio! iphone 6s plus / nexus 6p / mate 8 are all the same size, give or take 1-2mm. difference being:
iphone 5.5 inch display
nexus 5.7 inch display
mate 8 friggin 6 inch display
coming from the nexus 6 ull be surprised to have such a "small" device sport the same screen size at way smaller dimensions
and i can say the screen is super sharp, has great colors and is briiiight as heck, everything u can want in a good screen
just my 2c on the matter...
Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not looking for ETA's or anything but does the dev have a forum post or place where we can follow him?
just keep an eye out on the development section
this is the guy btw:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=64985353
Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10 using Tapatalk
Another 2 plus points for the Mate 8 that people don't give much importance but for me are relevant are the fm radio and sd card slot.
yes! i was pleasantly surprised to see the fm radio functionality
I have both and hands down the mate 8 is the winner. I got the mocha brown 64GB 4GB ram and it flies. Had notification issues with the Chinese Rom so I just converted to international and now no problems. I listen to a lot of music and this goes a lot louder and quality is much clearer. Camera seems good but I'll be testing it more over the next few days. 6p is going on eBay.
Sent from my NEXT using Tapatalk
Hi All,
I have a simple question (but im struggling).. I have a Nexus 6p 32GB and im happy with it, the only contra side is that is limited with 32GB.. If i sell this phone and buy a AXON 7 ZTE will it be a good move... or....
Thanks for your advice.
Wait
My advice, wait. Things are changing fast and 6p is great phone.
Next year will be the move to 4k. As you are already on a 6P which has QHD and all and is a great phone, wait until next year, only 3-5 more months and you'll be in for a hefty upgrade.
I sold my 64gb Nexus 6P back when the Axon 7 was first announced (a month, or so, before the release). I've had it now just over 2 months, while I LOVE it... I miss some things on the 6P.
Axon 7 pros -
Speakers - Yes, these are the BEST sounding smartphone speakers I've ever heard! Beats any HTC offering as well and is as lound as, or louder than my laptop speakers.
Better battery - I can go 2 full days and occasionally 2.5-3 days in extreme cases, without kicking on any battery saver - and that's with 4hrs of SOT
The skin isn't that bad - It's not pure Android, but it's not overly bloated
Very smooth
Nexus 6P pros:
Nougat 7 (faster upgrades)
Pure Android
Fingerprint sensor is more reliable
The actual Android lockscreen and notifications on the lockscreen (Axon 7 "bell" is horrible)
The whole reason, well one of the reasons, I wanted the Axon 7 over the 6P may not be reason's anybody else did?
1) Obvious reason, the speakers... Since my first HTC One M7 with stereo speakers, these are a must for me
2) Not as much development.. Enough to keep me satisfied, not too many to occupy my every waking second thinking I must flash every ROM available! When I had my 6P, I probably flashed a different ROM every other day, sometimes two or three a day fro a couple weeks when new updates/features came out. Slower development bothers me, but keeps my OCD in check! I have my custom font and emoji's and a couple themed apps, that's all I really need. I have the ability to install Xposed, but don't need to yet.
My $.02 worth of advice? If you are a flasher, you won't like the Axon 7. If you want better speakers and better battery life and can handle slower updates, the Axon 7 is a good buy for $400. But, we are at the end cycle of several phone models, with new ones coming out in the next few months. The 6P isn't a dinosaur by any means and is still very relevant and will be for another couple years. So unless you just have to have the newest toys, the 6P will do you just fine. If you like having new toys, the 6P is still bringing decent money on the used market and it's a good time to sell.
Nice explanation.. Thanks for the help, i think i will stay @Nexus 6p and buy end 2017 a new phone.
Hello.
I'm looking for a new phone, my budget is around 350 USD and therefore Axon 7 (specifically the A2017G variant) has really caught my eye. I'd like to ask a couple questions.
1. Are there any known issues / defects regarding the device? Is it easy/hassle-free to unlock the bootloader?
2. I plan to have this device for a longer period of time, around 3-4 years. Is the Axon 7 a viable choice? Will it be able to hold off for that long, in terms of ROM support and general performance/usage?
3. I was also thinking of buying a Zuk Z2 Pro because it looks and sounds like an absolute beast for a very affordable price, but I'm being dubious about it. There aren't that many reviews about the phone, and it seems to be weak in terms of custom ROM support, comparing it to the Axon 7 or the likes of OnePlus. How do you think the Zuk Z2 Pro compares to the Axon 7?
4. What's up with the big black bars between the screen and the rest of the front side of the phone? Do they serve any purpose?
5. How satisfied are you with your phone? Would you recommend it to me?
Thanks in advance.
1. For the device as a whole, no. I saw some people saying their Axon had really loose volume keys... A couple people with gorilla glass problems. But, these are rare cases.
2. Unfortunately I don't expect ZTE to support the Axon 7 past 2017, but I personally think it has a really good shot for lasting that period of time for custom ROMs.
3. idk
4. The capacitive buttons are embedded in that black area on the bottom, of course. On the top the LED and proximity sensor and all that are embedded in the black bit. Personally, like it. A larger glass area looks nice to me, even if it's not being used for the screen.
5. I'm pretty satisfied myself, but my recommendation for you of the Axon 7 vs the OnePlus 3T depends on whether the camera is important to you. I got this phone because I have little use for a good camera and I'd rather have these awesome front-facing speakers. I don't know much about cameras, but it's my understanding that that's the biggest area of compromise here.
Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk
MelloZ said:
1. For the device as a whole, no. I saw some people saying their Axon had really loose volume keys... A couple people with gorilla glass problems. But, these are rare cases.
2. Unfortunately I don't expect ZTE to support the Axon 7 past 2017, but I personally think it has a really good shot for lasting that period of time for custom ROMs.
3. idk
4. The capacitive buttons are embedded in that black area on the bottom, of course. On the top the LED and proximity sensor and all that are embedded in the black bit. Personally, like it. A larger glass area looks nice to me, even if it's not being used for the screen.
5. I'm pretty satisfied myself, but my recommendation for you of the Axon 7 vs the OnePlus 3T depends on whether the camera is important to you. I got this phone because I have little use for a good camera and I'd rather have these awesome front-facing speakers. I don't know much about cameras, but it's my understanding that that's the biggest area of compromise here.
Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk
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Thank you for the reply. Do you run custom ROMs? If yes, how is the speaker performance there? I heard some things like DAC not working for speakers on LOS/RR based roms. What does this exactly mean and is it a problem?
Another thing I've heard is that apparently Axon 7 doesn't have exactly the best radio out there. It supposedly has weaker wifi and radio. How was your experience with connecting to your cellular network and wifi?
Fobos531 said:
Hello.
I'm looking for a new phone, my budget is around 350 USD and therefore Axon 7 (specifically the A2017G variant) has really caught my eye. I'd like to ask a couple questions.
1. Are there any known issues / defects regarding the device? Is it easy/hassle-free to unlock the bootloader?
2. I plan to have this device for a longer period of time, around 3-4 years. Is the Axon 7 a viable choice? Will it be able to hold off for that long, in terms of ROM support and general performance/usage?
3. I was also thinking of buying a Zuk Z2 Pro because it looks and sounds like an absolute beast for a very affordable price, but I'm being dubious about it. There aren't that many reviews about the phone, and it seems to be weak in terms of custom ROM support, comparing it to the Axon 7 or the likes of OnePlus. How do you think the Zuk Z2 Pro compares to the Axon 7?
4. What's up with the big black bars between the screen and the rest of the front side of the phone? Do they serve any purpose?
5. How satisfied are you with your phone? Would you recommend it to me?
Thanks in advance.
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a2017g is crap. speaker (as there's only one playing) perform bad on custom roms. i wish i bought oneplus 3t instead of this.
ГАСООП said:
a2017g is crap. speaker (as there's only one playing) perform bad on custom roms. i wish i bought oneplus 3t instead of this.
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thats no true, With stock rom works both... thats a problem of custom roms
pelelademadera said:
thats no true, With stock rom works both... thats a problem of custom roms
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That's what I said.
I'm extremely satisfied with my Axon 7. There are little things I could nitpick, but nothing made me regret my purchase even remotely. For instance the capacitive buttons are not illuminated so they are hard to use in total darkness (like at night in your bed), the ambient light sensor is a little bit erratic (resulting in screen brightness being a bit erratic). At least that's the case on my unit. Of course it's always possible to turn off automatic screen brightness. The camera is not stellar in low light situations. The included apps are mostly crap - for instance the music app doesn't have something as basic as a search function. But of course there are 10,000 music apps available so it's no problem at all. The screen could be a little brighter (it's not particularly good in broad sunshine). The battery is OK but not stellar. That's about all I can think of off the top of my head.
I would absolutely recommend this phone to anybody. I particularly love the speakers and the sound quality and loudness on the headphones jack. I also liked that ZTE went the extra mile with this phone - a quick charger is included, and so is a clear PU case, a screen protector, and a set of headphones.
Thank you all for you answers. Unfortunately I cannot buy this phone because I can't find a deal under 350 USD for A2017G variant. There are deals for the A2017 variant though, but I can't buy that one because it's incompatible with my service provider's network.
I want to get a new phone to replace my S6. The two main options I have honed in on are the Axon 7 64GB and the OnePlus 3T. Here are the strengths of each
Axon 7
Better screen (higher resolution)
Better warranty/support
Better speakers
SD card support
OnePlus 3T
Better processor
More RAM
Physical home button.
Thoughts? Those of you have one and wish you got the other?
crcostel said:
I want to get a new phone to replace my S6. The two main options I have honed in on are the Axon 7 64GB and the OnePlus 3T. Here are the strengths of each
Axon 7
Better screen (higher resolution)
Better warranty/support
Better speakers
SD card support
OnePlus 3T
Better processor
More RAM
Physical home button.
Thoughts? Those of you have one and wish you got the other?
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Click to collapse
Honestly, processor and RAM doesn't make that much of a difference when they're this close.....Unless you're a gamer?
Other things to look at, that may make your decision.
Camera - OnePlus 3T wins
Audio - Axon 7 wins
How much space do you really need? My SD card died last week and I was all freaked out, but it all fit on my 64gb Axon 7 internal memory until my new card arrives.... If I had a bunch of movies to save, this would be a deal breaker. I even have 2100 songs and they only eat up about 7-8gb.
I'm an "audio" buff....So the choice was easy for me, and the camera is good enough on the Axon 7 that I can live with it and make it do what I need it to. Sometimes a little editing is needed.
Well this is my point of view, take it with a grain of salt.
ZTE:
- Better Screen (not reaaaaaally noticeable, yes it is better, but both are good enough so that you cant tell each other apart). Real difference might be appreciated with QHD wallpapers, but not much else.
- Better Speakers, and overall sound quality. This has to be the largest difference. Watching videos in the Axon vs the OP3 is like going from dial up to broadband. Plus, the Axon drives higher impedance headphones without much of a hassle.
- Better in call quality. This is a direct consequence of having better audio.
- SD Card Support. I thought I wouldn't need it too much but actually, it is a nice thing to have.
OP3:
- The fact that the screen itself is lower res, means lower battery consumption. Since I read an article from AnandTech, we might be talking maybe up to 30% less usage from the screen + cpu/gpu load.
- The camera has to be better, you don't have to work yourself out to get an awesome picture. Though, if you get it right on the ZTE you can absolutely get beautiful pictures.
- Better processor? Really? Lets suppose you actually need the difference in clocks, where the OP3 would make a difference, how long can you really keep that clock up? Maaaybe 5 minutes before hitting thermal limits where the better cpu just doesn't mean anything anymore.
- Physical button. Well this is really up to you, I prefer the fingerprint scanner on the back.
- Alert Slider. Really an advantage for the OP3, really like this feature, and if it ever becomes configurable, that would be awesome.
-6GB of RAM?? Well, I have 4GB on my Axon and never has an app crashed on me, and I was suprised to find myself having 20+ apps open without the phone even noticing and instantly switching between them with all of them loaded in RAM. So this one is up to you, but I wouldn't mind. It does make the OP3 more futureproof if anything...
- Software> the OP3s software is hands down better than the Axons and that is the best that the OP3 can pull over the Axon, by far.
About support, well I don't know how well any of them do with support so i will not comment on this.
My conclusion is then: should you care about media consumption, buy the Axon, don't even think about it. If what you want/need the best performance around and like having the best software and dev help, then get the OP3. I wouldn't look on hardware differences too much.
Not a gamer in the slightest. I will occasionally take toddler snapshots with the camera when my panny is not handy.
This is more an overall performance and form comparison.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Axon 7 has Daydream support, also.
Now that Axon 7 is getting proper sound support on LOS/LOS based roms, it is Axon 7 hands down.
A7 has better cellular connectivity support. Has more bands than the OP3/T do.
How prevalent is this Google Play bug I am seeing on the Axon 7?
I've had three OP phones and never buying them again. All above aside, they have terrible touch screen lag which makes them unusable. Axon is also cheaper.
Sent from my ZTE A2017G using Tapatalk
I have both...Also mate 9..Just bought each over this last month...I am coming from my still loved note 5..
First off...Don't think too much into 2k unless vr is your factor. I did too. But after experiencing these latest devices running 1080 with 5.5 inch to 5.9 I cannot believe I said all I did in the past...The one plus 3t is just as sharp for regular use and have not tried any VR on any device...The Axon 7 is great as well...Not as speedy as the latter but still a steal for the price...To be honest the one plus 3t and Axon 7 are both comparable however the camera is a bit better FOR ME so far on One plus but I have to say that 20mp isn't bad at all...The 1440 on the Axon isn't that noticable to me either. Really. The one plus screen looks slightly better to me I guess because of the brightness and calibration. Still miniscule ...Both perform crazy fast for their price but one plus and mate 9 are definitely smoother for me...Just flip a coin. You can't go wrong...I just could not make up my mind so I bought them all...If I have to sell one I will. But for now they are all nice and safe clean and ready for my reviews...Sort of babbling here really but if you have any specific questions I can totally help. I do not keep notifications on so I'll have to check for reply manually. I haven't been on in a year here ...But I'll be checking back for your comments. Or Inbox
Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk
You can supposedly get Google assistant on Axon 7 which won't happen on op3t
Sent from my ZTE A2017G using Tapatalk
crcostel said:
I want to get a new phone to replace my S6. The two main options I have honed in on are the Axon 7 64GB and the OnePlus 3T. Here are the strengths of each
Axon 7
Better screen (higher resolution)
Better warranty/support
Better speakers
SD card support
OnePlus 3T
Better processor
More RAM
Physical home button.
Thoughts? Those of you have one and wish you got the other?
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Click to collapse
crcostel said:
Not a gamer in the slightest. I will occasionally take toddler snapshots with the camera when my panny is not handy.
This is more an overall performance and form comparison.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
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crcostel said:
How prevalent is this Google Play bug I am seeing on the Axon 7?
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I can say I was on the same boat as you in January, when I bought my first Axon 7 and I was amazed with the device. Even when I loved it, I decided to get a Mate 9 because I heard it was a great device. I used the Mate 9 for a couple of weeks and sold it and got the Axon 7 again, I couldn't stand the media consumption in the Mate 9, because of the screen and the sound. The Mate 9 has an amazing display, but I'm used to QHD since many years ago, and somehow I could notice the difference in certain situations. About the sound, Axon 7 is clearly the winner here. The reason I changed the Axon 7 was the camera, because was average and everybody claimed that Mate 9 had a super camera. Truth is, that I didn't see too much difference between the 2 in picture quality, so better go back with the Axon 7.
Regarding the comparison, 821 is less than 10% better than 820, so it makes no difference in real world usage. RAM neither, because most of the time I have 2GB free on the Axon 7, so why should I want 2GB more?, that is only pure marketing and never an app would require so much RAM.
In my opinion, the physical home button is a waste of space, because it only makes the device bigger with no need. I always have hated capacitive buttons, but what I love about the Axon 7 is that even with capacitive buttons, the aspect ratio is great. Is smaller than some of the 5.5" devices I have used before that rely only on software buttons.
The OP3T has a worse display, both resolution and quality, and the people who say that is because of the battery, is lying or they don't know much about technology. Display technology has advanced so much in these years, and even when this statement was true in the beginning, now the QHD screens out there have similar power consumptions. Also to point that the screen on the Axon 7 is exactly the same of the Galaxy S7 Edge, so I can say is really nice to have a display like this one.
As for the OP3T, is true that is has slightly better performance, camera and battery, but is no match for the Axon 7 regarding media consumption (sound, display, storage, etc.) and the difference is huge between the 2.
As someone suggested you, if you aim to media consumption, there is no better device than this one. If you are kind of a ROM addict or you are deep into development, get the OP3T.
:good:
P.D.: All the bugs and problems the Axon 7 (including Play Store) are fixed now with the update that came a few days ago, and I can confirm it.
P.D.2: Have you consider to wait for the OnePlus 5?
crcostel said:
Not a gamer in the slightest. I will occasionally take toddler snapshots with the camera when my panny is not handy.
This is more an overall performance and form comparison.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
If performance is your concern then look no further and buy the OP3, unless, since you are an XDA member, know a thing or two about tinkering with ROMs and flashing your phone. In that case then its an Audio vs Camera situation...
In had the oneplus 3 and returned it within 2days. Axon 7 has been the better phone for me.
It's really a matter of opinion. You won't find that much difference in the specs.
Battery - The charging speed is the same (see this), and this), battery is the same (slightly better on the a7). I use the phone a lot and I'm very happy with the battery capacity.
Screen is nearly the same (A7: 2K AMOLED, OP3: 1080p Super AMOLED).
Processor - You won't notice the difference. Seriously, the A7 has great speed.
Camera - The A7's camera is excellent in day light. Not in day light? Not so much. It's fine. But in day light you can take amazing pictures with it (which show great on the screen ). There are a bunch of camera samples online from each phone (and maybe even a camera comparison), so check that out.
You might also want to check some other stuff out like durability, speed, etc. In videos. But do keep in mind that in speeds as high as flagships phone you probably won't notice the difference.
RAM - The 4GB RAM on the A7 is enough for me. I don't see how anyone would need 6GM RAM on a smartphone. (I've also heard that OP3 doesn't use all it's RAM, I wonder if that's fixed already).
The fingerprint scanner on the back is surprisingly comfortable and it's really a matter of getting used to it. I got used to it very quickly and it's instinctive to me.
The stock ROM isn't that great but it could be replaced by unlocking the bootloader so I personally wouldn't take that into account here. Plus the A7 started getting a lot of attention from ROM makers and has LOS official support and other ROMs available.
Also the A7 is cheaper.
The audio is also excellent.
Design is also great, the phone is very pretty (suck it LG G6 )
I enjoy my phone greatly.
Axon 7 +'s
audio
warranty
OnePlus 3T
pretty wood cases
It looks like the stock ROM is probably better (built-in dark theme and accent color adjustment. Well executed)
Processor matters. Maybe not in speed but the additional features Qualcomm rolls up in the chipset can... as long as the manufacturer implements them.
For me, it came down to warranty and particularly the Dash charging is proprietary. I'd rather not buy up a bunch of chargers which charge fast only on their phones. Yes, Quick Charge 3.0 is proprietary to Qualcomm in the sense that USB-C PD is the real standard - but it's less proprietary.
My next phone must have the most standard charging available. I'm tired of this proprietary charging junk. Dicking with finding the right power adapter is annoying and just adds up in $30 and $40 costs if I want car adapters and additional AC adapters which support whatever standard.
Just think of the extra $60 you spent on extra Quick/Fast chargers for the office & car which will be obsolete on your next phone. Hidden costs are crap.
I have it on mine. Just pressed home button held it and there it is. 7.0 stock.
Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk
Thanks everyone - going to BestBuy tomorrow to get a feel for the ergonomics and then will buy from BH if it passes. Currently have VZW so I'll try to get it going and if not, off to ATT
Also worth noting that the Axon 7 can be had for almost 40% less than the equivalent 3T, which seems almost too good to pass up for an incremental upgrade.
Also, from what I understand, it only fully supports AT&T and T-Mobile in states so do beware.
With axon 7 getting proper sound on LOS and an SD card for me it's a no brainer....I like to take my movies with me when I travel so sticking everything on the 256gb SanDisk is awesome....I will never but a phone with no microSD...I don't even wanna count how many times I wiped internal storage when I was resetting for a new Roman install....Having my TWRP backups on external storage was literAlly a life saver for me personally