Database Users

do I need a new phone? or is it nexus 4 forever?

Ok so I've been rolling my N4 for just over 2 years now and although I love it I can't help feeling I'm getting left behind. I'll just say that its been the best phone I've ever owned. Everything works out of the box. Google maps and nav for example. Simple, free and every other phone I've launched in anger at the necessary to me but total garbage navigation apps they provided. Nothing the N4 does I dislike.
I thought I liked the 'development' side. I played a lot with my HTC hd2 and ran that on android until it died but since moving to the nexus I'm a vanilla convert. My life is too busy to go rooting. Some may say I'm a iPhone wannabe owner but thats another blood boiling story so we'll skip that. I just love the updates, the simplicity the support and how much nicer android is over the competition.
So I ask. If I want or need a new phone, where do i go?
As I said I love the google updates/support
Size is important. The N4 to me is almost the perfect size. I'm not a phablet fan at all. The N6 launch was hugely disappointing for that reason.
Not sure how I'd cope with bloatware and a different interface like touchwiz coming from a vanilla android handset.
I suppose the reasons for a possible upgrade is LTE. Its getting more widespread in the UK.
The N4 has started to show some gremlins. Nothing bad but makes me question how long the handset will last.
Camera is utter ****. I'm not too bothered by breathtaking quality. Its still only a phone and if I want a proper pic I'll use my SLR, but convinience rules and the n4 camera is slow, unreliable and makes me look a fool who misses that important moment.
& I suppose storage. I like some music. Have a lot of pictures. & apps take up a lot of space. I don't see myself needing expandable storage but 16gb absolute minimum is a must.
So where do I go from here. New nexus? When will that be along?
Nexus 5? Or is that too old as well?
Or are there any other good android experiences from other manufacturers?
Interested to see what others have upgraded to and how they found moving on.
Cheers

I have a nexus 4 . I am Walting the next nexus (7) . I hope in a 5 inch and a waterproof device. Becaus of. The last update (5.1) of its lire. good chiose friend

Same problem here. Tried a Fire phone, too may issues . Saw in several articles that they are going to made a 2015 version on the Nexus 5 . The Nexus 6 is too expensive
Gary
Sent from my cm_tenderloin using XDA Free mobile app

Galaxy Alpha with CM12

I still love my N4 but it's definitely time for an upgrade. I'm holding out for the nexus 5 2015 (assuming the rumors are correct obviously). I've been rooting and flashing roms on the N4 since I got it, at the moment I'm running the Chroma ROM with hellscore kernel and it's probably running better than when I first purchased it. Because of this I can easily wait for the next nexus release, there is no other device that would suit my needs to be honest.
Sent by neural subspace transceiver node.

Well, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact has official Cyanogenmod 12.1, although it's still in "testing". Or you could leave it stock, but it wouldn't be vanilla Android. Sony doesn't go too crazy with their UIs though, and you can always use Nova or whatever launcher to give it the AOSP feel. The Z3C is a significantly smaller phone than the Nexus 4, but only sacrifices .1" in screen size. Plus you'll get like double the battery life or more. And front-facing speakers, 128gb expandable storage, waterproofness, etc.
Or you could wait for the Saygus V2. It's not out yet, but it's basically an Android enthusiast's wetdream. Think of every cool feature on all the different flagship phones, and cram them all into a single device, and you get the V2. 5" 1080p screen, front-facing speakers, IR blaster, wireless broadcasting, waterproof, removable battery, fingerprint scanner, 20mp OIS camera, TWO microSD slots, 64gb built-in, 3GB RAM, dual boot capability, rooted (or rootable) out of the box, and damn near every LTE band on the planet.

No, the Nexus 4 is NOT forever device. I'm back to using mine as I sold my M8 (needed the money) and it's SO slow compared to the newer phones out there. Plus the lack of 4G is a bummer

EddyOS said:
No, the Nexus 4 is NOT forever device. I'm back to using mine as I sold my M8 (needed the money) and it's SO slow compared to the newer phones out there. Plus the lack of 4G is a bummer
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I sold my M8 too, but not because I needed the money, I much preferred my Nexus 4.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Is the 6P a worthy upgrade from the One Plus One?

Can you please suggest me, what is going on in this country?

rajarshi10 said:
Can you please suggest me, what is going on in this country?
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Click to collapse
hell yes

Hmmm....

jaythenut said:
hell yes
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Hell yeah...I had the oneplusone before my 6P have had it now for hmm nearly a month and am super happy with my Nexus 6P.
Rooted it and have now Viper4Android on it with Beanstalk/Marshmellow Runs like a dream!!

Nah I would wait for the ZTE AXOM MAX or the HTC A9

icem8n said:
Hell yeah...I had the oneplusone before my 6P have had it now for hmm nearly a month and am super happy with my Nexus 6P.
Rooted it and have now Viper4Android on it with Beanstalk/Marshmellow Runs like a dream!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And that's why I said yes it is a good upgrade

I've had the Oneplus One, moved on to the Oneplus Two, and finally settled on the Nexus 6P. I was actually pretty happy with all three devices but there are definitely strengths and weaknesses for each one. What tilted the decision in favor of the 6P was definitely the camera. I was expecting good things from the Oneplus Two, but its implementation left me disappointed.
Oneplus One:
+ Battery Life
+ Robust community for custom roms
- Plasticky external build quality
- Weak Camera
- Lacks fingerprint sensor
Oneplus Two
+ Dual Sim, a useful feature for me since I'm often travelling
+ Excellent external build quality
+/- OxygenOS isn't as bad as what others make it out to be and works well mostly
- Poor fingerprint sensor implementation (doesn't recognize my finger half the time)
- Camera can be further improved (keeps adjusting focus during video capture)
Nexus 6P
+ Best camera of the lot, even with the lack of OIS
+ Marshmallow: Doze has been phenomenal so far
+ Fingerprint sensor is consistently fast and accurate
+ Gorgeous screen and outstanding build quality
+/- Mixed feelings about Ambient Display for now, potentially useful but Android Wear supersedes its value
- DT2W not available on stock rom
- Bluetooth audio constantly skipping if Android Wear is connected concurrently (YMMV)
- Does not work with certain earphones without workarounds, e.g. Xiaomi Pistons

I'm assuming the OP is not a rhetorical question.
I owned a OnePlus One briefly and I currently have a OnePlus Two. Neither holds a candle to the Nexus 6P. Everything about the 6P, from the build to the display to the camera to the SoC to the fingerprint sensor, is a step up from the OnePlus Two, let alone the OnePlus One, which is getting long in the tooth at this point.
The lack of out-of-the-box double-tap to wake (which, frankly, is a huge pain-point for me since I love the feature and I don't think it'd tax Android too much, frankly -- Windows 10/8.1. has it, for crying out loud -- it doesn't cause much drain on lesser hardware so I don't know why this isn't a stock feature of Android's) is one the few minuses for the Nexus 6P.
I've not had issues with other things like connectivity (6.0.1. apparently introduced some LTE issues for some users), or popping glass or bending chassis. I suspect there are things behind those stories (except the LTE issue, which is quite fixable) than the reports suggest.
Let me use an analogy to answer your question. The OnePlus One is a nice little Volkswagen Beetle (emissions issues aside). Reliable, affordable, fun to drive, nice to look at, etc. Meanwhile, the Nexus 6P is a 5 series BMW. An elegant, high performance machine that also projects a certain level of means. They're in different classes of cars so comparing them is like comparing apples and bananas. At the end of the day, while you'll always love your Beetle, if you can afford to get a 5 or 7-series BMW, you should definitely get one. The same thing can be said for the OnePlus One and the Nexus 6P.

^good analogy! Why drive a car if you can fly First Class! Nexus6 P ftw

rajarshi10 said:
Can you please suggest me, what is going on in this country?
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Click to collapse
FWIW: My OPO died at 14 months and OPO refused to do anything about it saying that it was out of warranty so I was out of luck. You can draw your own conclusions.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I just came from a opo, its not as big of an upgrade as you might think. The in hand feel is nice, but the opo feels sturdier, performance is nice, but not that much better than when I was running sultanxdas marshmallow release. The battery does not last as long on my 6p, but the camera and upcoming band 12 support are the reasons why I switched. That's about it. Oh the fingerprint reader is cool, but I used smartlock so I rarely needed to unlock anyways.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

So I guess, sticking to my One Plus One isn't a bad idea after all.

Is the Nexus 6p (and other nexus devices) overrated

So I've been seeing alot of posts saying the nexus 6p is "the best android phone ever". Well I, for one, don't quite agree. Yea, it runs stock android which makes the UI alot smoother compared to say samsung . But still the camera is only average. Processor isn't on the real high end build is unique but not a sexy phone. So what are your views?

It's all about perception
For me the one word review is
SATISFACTION.
Cheers ?
Sent from my Purified NexusixP
If someone helped you don't just say thanks hit the thanks button

Actually the camera on this phone is very good and not just average.
http://www.dxomark.com/Mobiles/Google-Nexus-6P-review-Serious-contender-for-mobile-photography
Very satisfied with this phone. Android pay works with root, speedy and very good battery life for me. I can use different carriers. No bend for me as that is usually from non average handling and I always use a case.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Loser.lon said:
So I've been seeing alot of posts saying the nexus 6p is "the best android phone ever". Well I, for one, don't quite agree. Yea, it runs stock android which makes the UI alot smoother compared to say samsung . But still the camera is only average. Processor isn't on the real high end build is unique but not a sexy phone. So what are your views?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Overall as a total package it is the best Android phone I have used. The battery life is a bit disappointing as I was expecting iPhone 6S Plus type battery but I'm still overall very pleased.

It's a very good phone IMHO, but with the bending issue, noise on the headphone jack and no Android pay with Xposed I feel pretty dumb for buying this instead of a oneplus 2. I have a oneplus one and that phone is solid. I skipped the op2 because of nfc and now I have a bent 6p and still no Android pay. Might not be such a big deal but the 6p costs so much more for similar specs.
Yeah the 6p has a "better" display, but I can't really sus out a big difference unless I'm really looking for it. The camera is also a bit better(mostly in low light).

Loser.lon said:
So I've been seeing alot of posts saying the nexus 6p is "the best android phone ever". Well I, for one, don't quite agree. Yea, it runs stock android which makes the UI alot smoother compared to say samsung . But still the camera is only average. Processor isn't on the real high end build is unique but not a sexy phone. So what are your views?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you serious? 810 was the best SOC at the time from Qualcomm, nothing better. This is the newest Super AMOLED from Samsung. Uses larger pixels for camera, best in class for all situations which often are low light. This is so successful Samsung took note and reduced 16mp to 12mp for larger pixel and sensor. Only Moto X Pure has better speakers. Add that with the excellent battery and software, there is little doubt Nexus 6P was the best Android Phone of 2015. No other phone provided the full package. The fingerprint is icing on the cake, Google's imprint is the best fingerprint solution on any smartphone to date.
For custom roms, 6P is heaven. I used Purity in the past, not available for 6P, but I am using it anyway. Building roms for 6P for either CM/AOSP/OMNI based roms is an absolute breeze.
As for quality issues? No idea since I haven't seen any Nexus 6P in the wild that aren't in pristine condition and well perfect.
For those complaining about Android Pay and they rooted for Xposed? That is hilarious...
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

zymphad said:
Are you serious? 810 was the best SOC at the time from Qualcomm, nothing better. This is the newest Super AMOLED from Samsung. Uses larger pixels for camera, best in class for all situations which often are low light. This is so successful Samsung took note and reduced 16mp to 12mp for larger pixel and sensor. Only Moto X Pure has better speakers. Add that with the excellent battery and software, there is little doubt Nexus 6P was the best Android Phone of 2015. No other phone provided the full package. The fingerprint is icing on the cake, Google's imprint is the best fingerprint solution on any smartphone to date.
For custom roms, 6P is heaven. I used Purity in the past, not available for 6P, but I am using it anyway. Building roms for 6P for either CM/AOSP/OMNI based roms is an absolute breeze.
As for quality issues? No idea since I haven't seen any Nexus 6P in the wild that aren't in pristine condition and well perfect.
For those complaining about Android Pay and they rooted for Xposed? That is hilarious...
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Android pay issue is not the phones fault but it's worth noting that in my case I went into it after having used Google wallet for years with exposed on multiple devices. I didn't want the op2 because no nfc, little did I know that it wouldn't matter with Android pay since it locked down the ability to use with root.

I'm not going to get into a war that neither side can win since it's our opinion... But in my opinion, they are insanely overrated, 6P included. I will just leave it at that.

Actually it's underrated and keeps getting better with time & xda! :silly:

If your heavily invested in your mobile OS, and want everything to work, buy an iPhone.
If you prefer Android, and still want everything to work, Nexus is your best bet. Otherwise, you risk OEM skins breaking things (AA, Wear, etc.), and possibly never seeing a firmware upgrade that gets things right.
Glad your OPO worked perfectly for you; it did not for many.
This is of course just how I see things, but it is due to years of experience with my ear very close to the ground. (C;

WizeGuyDezignz said:
I'm not going to get into a war that neither side can win since it's our opinion... But in my opinion, they are insanely overrated, 6P included. I will just leave it at that.
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Yes we know, you spend all your time on XDA trying to stop folks from buying Nexus and buying a Galaxy phone. It's very clear from your post history you don't actually contribute anything to XDA other than negativity about the 6P.

Is the Nexus 6p Overrated? ....................A IPhone is Overrated. Honestly I would have to say NO, you cant even go to a carrier and pick one up yet. Here is my reason for a a Nexus device:
-Service
Supports CDMA, GSM and Voice over WI-FI, Great for me since I have Verizon and it also would make it easy for me to drop Verizon and go somewhere else without spend 700$+ on their new phone.
-Price to performance
For 499$-649$ now compare to the Samsung S7 edge 800-900$ and performing nearly the same and difference are in the 1-3 sec range (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smY4FOeVdvs)
-Pretty Great display
It's a Samsung AMOLED Display, only thing you don't get is a super bright mode for the outdoors.
-Great Camera
It not the best camera but it’s a great camera. It’s able to take great picture at night and during the day. 1080p and 4k recording is great when not moving. But I notice EIS work with 1080 but it disables somehow with 4k. I don't have a 4k display yet so I don't really use 4k feature. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMHeX8gGy3k)
- Metal build
I'm still wondering how in the world people are bending their phones. It seems like a lot of people watching YouTube these day a little too much. I guess I’m a lucky person who never had that issue. I loved the build but i do rock a case on it, the metal does make it feels like it worth its price.
-Finger print scanner
Best thing that could happen to a smartphone. but it need to be integrated in to more app other the android pay.
-Front facing speaker
Only one other phone that could come close to this level of sound quality is a HTC device with boom sound.
-Battery
This is one of the hardest subject because we all don't use our phones the same. More you play games and watch video faster your battery goes down. Usually on an 8 hour work I get to 83% with light (email, phone call, text message, Facebook). Come home and play games and watch YouTube for 4-5 hours and get to 20% -15%
-No bloatware (include carrier software)
-You know you are get a next Android Update
-Google provides a monthly security Update
-Most active developer community on the internet
-Knowing that you will be able to unlock your bootloader
-Having ROMs and Kernel

It definitely isn't overrated, its extremely reasonably priced in comparison to hilarious outrageous prices charged by Samsung and Apple, its a premium phone without the premium price tag with the best software experience around on a mobile OS. Also the camera definitely isn't average.

People around me think it's overrated (and way overpriced) too, but that's just because I'm in China where no one appreciates the simplicity and speed of AOSP-based Android. The camera is even better with the aid of apps like Camera FV-5 (e.g. macro), and finger scanning speed beats iPhones to it. They like the new MI 5 for instance, but they've never been able to get their hands on one
But yeah, I hate the looks the more I look at it. I don't want it to look like a Huawei phone, lest look like a Mate 7.
Sent from Google Nexus 6P @ CM13
[WARNING: XDA One have not implemented "mark forum as read" - do not use]

zymphad said:
Yes we know, you spend all your time on XDA trying to stop folks from buying Nexus and buying a Galaxy phone. It's very clear from your post history you don't actually contribute anything to XDA other than negativity about the 6P.
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I spend all my time trying to stop people from buying this phone? Good job making up stories. I never once told someone not to buy it to my knowledge. I've given my opinion like you, but never flat out told someone not to buy it.
I have a right to my opinion that it's overrated. I've said this from the minute I became obsessed with Android phones years ago... People grossly overrate stock Android, hence Nexus phones as well.
For a small and quick example... The 6P is the first Nexus which doesn't have a downright embarrassing camera, yet people still said Nexus was the best. Camera is just one example. Let's not forget the laughable screens on the Nexus 4 and 5, and the color issues with the 6 and 6P.
Anyhow, glad you like your phone. You should if you're using it each day. Everyone has their own needs. I'm happy for you as much as you won't believe it lol. Remember, there is no wrong choice.

WizeGuyDezignz said:
I have a right to my opinion that it's overrated. I've said this from the minute I became obsessed with Android phones years ago... People grossly overrate stock Android, hence Nexus phones as well.
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Your arguments don't make much sense since Nexus phones were introduced as what Google meant android to be and as a development platform for app developers and for those who contribute to the AOSP project.
Nexus phones were advertised as the best stock android experience and that is true, this is as google meant android to be. Obviously a lot of folks want the Samsung/LG/HTC etc experience. It is ludicrous to say that is overrated, no brand of phone does stock android better. Anyone buying a Nexus device should know what it is they are buying.
Nexus as a mainstream device only came about because a following developed for the stock experience. Camera would not have been high on the list, promoting Android, and helping some manufactures gain brand recognition and growth was. It wasn't until Nexus 5 Google saw Nexus as a brand to go head to head with Apple. Nexus 6 first attempt, and Google managing to provide this level of camera experience and overall feel at $450 one year later is amazing.
Despite the amazing hardware and refinements, I still see Nexus phones as the best way to introduce someone to android on a budget. It comes with great hardware, 810/806, good battery life, fingerprint, monthly security updates, an open platform to use device as you wish (rooting, development), and a great simple point and shoot camera for all lighting conditions. I do not see how that is overrated.
If one wanted the absolute best camera, materials, quality controlled and tested build, and the prestige or popularism, Nexus clearly not the phone. Best to look at an iPhone frankly...

Loser.lon said:
So I've been seeing alot of posts saying the nexus 6p is "the best android phone ever". Well I, for one, don't quite agree. Yea, it runs stock android which makes the UI alot smoother compared to say samsung . But still the camera is only average. Processor isn't on the real high end build is unique but not a sexy phone. So what are your views?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the LG G4 for 6 months, sold it and now am happily using a Nexus 6P. I missed my Nexus 5 and the "development" side of things, so going back to the Nexus family makes me happy.

Nexus is perfect for a specific type of user.... The smart ones! Besides the 6p has better low light camera response than g4/v10, which was best from last year.
It's a highly customizable device. Doesn't compare to Samsung or lg in this department. IPhone isn't even on the same planet, its the opposite of customizing.
Also the 6p's 810 v2 has received over 120,000 antutu benchmarks consistently without getting hot or rapid battery loss.
Lastly it will be current for at least 3 to 4 years (maybe more) with a custom ROM.

markwebb said:
Actually the camera on this phone is very good and not just average.
http://www.dxomark.com/Mobiles/Google-Nexus-6P-review-Serious-contender-for-mobile-photography
Very satisfied with this phone. Android pay works with root, speedy and very good battery life for me. I can use different carriers. No bend for me as that is usually from non average handling and I always use a case.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha sorry I was wrong when I said average camera. Better then average but maybe not up to s6 standard?

Everyone has different uses for their phone. Some likes phones with better camera who doesnt watch videos or play games... Some enjoy playing games and dont really use the camera. Some like to listen audio or surf the web.. Some who are rich and just needs a phone.
There is no 1 phone that is the best for everything. If it existed, it woudnt be cheap.. Just look at the 2 biggest players, Apple and Samsung.. their phones still has flaws and cost much more then Nexus devices, even though the nexus devices over the past years are getting up there... This device is just as good as any Samsung or iPhone (of the same year) IMHO...

Will you move to Nexus 2016 soon after its launch?

This poll is to determine and estimate how much the new nexus (2016) is anticipated in nexus 6 community.

Used to be YES! But not if the front speakers are gone. Sticking with n6.... Looking at ZTE axon 7 as bootloader is unlocked and twrp plus good hw and cheaper price, good speakers seems worth a better look.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA-Developers mobile app

I see moving to a 5.5" screen as a downgrade.

After spending the price of two laptops on my N6 (£549) I expect it to last more than a couple of years. I like new toys, but there's a limit imposed by common sense. Newer processors may give an infinitesimal improvement in performance, which no doubt can be measured by benchmarks, but the N6 is plenty fast enough for me. The screen may not be the best around these days, but every time I watch a video I think "Wow, this is an amazing quality picture", so again, good enough for me.
No point in squandering resources, is there...?
("I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Best)

I'll stay with Nexus 6, it's the best phone I ever had, even if it's not my daily phone because it's too big, it's really wonderfull with big screen, nice resolution (ready for carboards), enought RAM, 25Go is enought for me, nice photos/videos, good stereo sound with front speakers, fast charge... :good: I still love it

The Nexus Marlin and Sailfish will indeed not be true Nexus devices. It has been announced that Google is rebranding the Nexus brand, rumored at the moment to just be called "G"; and it will not feature a stock version of android, rather there will be G-only features built into the ROM. No word of bootloader yet.
(source: http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/30/12712722/google-new-nexus-phones-brand-name-change)

If there is no Nexus device then maybe I will get the One Plus 3

Outatime67 said:
I see moving to a 5.5" screen as a downgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too, not going to happen as long as there are decent 6" or bigger phones available. It's a pain trying to type messages or emails on such a small screen.

I really want a 64 bit mobile to develop my rom, but the 6P might break if I think about it too hard. So I'll check the new ones, but if they are too expensive here in Europe, and the early reviews are negative, then I'll just keep my N6.

I still love my N6 but I cracked the screen a bit in the corner.
I also want to finally make the move to Project Fi so I'm hoping for a bundle deal.

If what is in the leaks is true. I rather buy note 7. Back design too ugly for me.

There are a lot of reasons why people buy a Nexus device. The 2 most common reasons I always see is either the simplicity of the device (dare I say, bare bones of what a phone should do/have) and stock skin of Android or on the other side, the complex and customisable options that is possible with the fact that Nexus devices are easy to tinker with combined with the support of the developer community who are constantly providing support for devices for years even after they reach their sell by date(shoutout to all the devs btw )
Combined with this I guess its safe to stay for the most advanced users and beginners alike it all depends on if they're specific needs are still being met for them to stay with Nexus 6 or any other device for that matter and if not then it's time to upgrade.
Personally I will probably stick with Nexus 6 for as long as it lasts me or if a phone gets released with everything the Nexus 6 is and hopefully more ( Preferably a phone such as the Xperia Z5 Ultra , if Sony ever release it )

The price is too high for me. No front facing speakers, "just" a 5.5 Inch screen etc etc. For the moment my N6 is fast and stable enough to use it for the best part of the next year as well.
Bottom line, I would rather buy a OnePlus 3, than a "New Nexus" at this point.

Did they unviel it yet? I have my credit card ready. But i love my n6 to much lol
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA-Developers mobile app

I've grown to the size of my phone and cant seem myself owning anything smaller.

Since first buying the Nexus 6 a couple years ago or so I've had a Moto X Pure, Huawei Mate 7, OnePlus 3, and now I'm back to the Nexus 6. This phone just has everything I want in a phone. 6 inch screen (which for me is the perfect size), simple, clean design, great development, stereo speakers, and good battery life. No point in updating to a newer phone for minimal gains in speed at the cost of at least a couple of the N6's great features.

More than likely I'm going to upgrade. My N6 will be paid off in October.

I'm ready for a smaller form factor, unless they completely **** it up and the design is completely underwhelming, I will be getting one, I'm not gonna get it on launch day like the Shamu though , gonna take my sweet time waiting for reviews to make a final decision, there is a chance I will be sticking with this device for another cycle, we'll see
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Outatime67 said:
I see moving to a 5.5" screen as a downgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too, I wish they would make another Nexus with a screen this size! They did it once and never again! I LOVE my N6!

I'll be keeping my N6 or getting the One Plus 3 if what I have heard and read about the new devices is true. I just love my N6, has everything I've ever wanted (minus a removable SD and/or battery which I really don't miss). Got my son a OP3 and it is really nice, I really liked my OP1. OnePlus is as close to a Nexus as you can get and unlike recent Nexus they are still inexpensive.
Nexus 6

Advice whether to still buy the Axon 7 in 2018

I have been looking to buy a new mobile phone since my LG G3 bit the dust a few months ago. The one that piqued my interest is the Axon 7 due to the audio hardware (dual DAC and stereo front speakers) which is the one thing I use my mobile for above everything else. I have been looking at the LG G6 with its quad DAC also but the cost difference is hard to ignore especially if the Axon can give me what I am looking for.
I realise that ZTE have discontinued the manufacturing of the Axon 7 but they are still available from some vendors and rumours have arisen about its successor appearing soon. ZTE is allegedly also releasing Oreo to the 7 in April.
So due to an eventual show of the 8, do you think I would be better waiting through January for the Axon 8 or just pulling the trigger on an Axon 7 right now?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

What's your budget? If you're willing to go higher than $400, I'd say get one of the OnePlus phones. Released this year. They have an exceptional dev community (not that ours is bad but theirs is just incredible), and the phones are remarkably solid, especially given the price.
If you're on a budget, then yeah, get the Axon 7 or one of the older OP devices (OP3/3T). You wouldn't have the amazing audio you get with the Axon, but the phones are really, really good.
The Axon 7 is still getting dev support, which is great, but I don't think we'll get to see Android P on our device. Many devs are already losing interest and some people in the community are driving the ones that are left away.
Another option to consider is a used LG V20, which had amazing audio as well.

I am a poweruser so I tend to root my devices almost straightaway usually with magisk so I can use V4A.
I was tempted by the OnePlus 5T and it probably wouldn't be out of my budget, it looks like a really solid phone but with the reports of poor sound quality, lack of DAC and no SD card slot it just didn't fit the bill for me.
I did check out the LG v30 and the specs are an absolute beast on that but alas...so is the price being new on the market lol. The Samsung S8...ERM no...I vouched after they started the bit locking fiasco on the S4 I would never buy another Samsung.
The LG G6 is good for audio but even LG have started regionalizing features now.
These are partly the reason I decided mid to low tear was enough for me as they are easily obtainable from China sim free without ties to contracts and they have a habit of producing good value devices which compete with stupid money flagships.
I am trying to avoid going down the root of second hand devices as I am a big believer in you usually buy someone else's problems especially with manufacturer obsolescence being on the tongues of every techy these days. Its bad enough with the non replaceable batteries in devices!
Bang for buck the Axon 7 is still very desirable...its just the audio I can't ignore and for the price. Bit of a shame that the dev community is losing interest in the axon 7 though, seems a really solid device.
@Gases hope you don't think I am a whining my friend, just me obsessing about my next device lol
So do you think its worth waiting for the Axon 7's successor?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

My view from a value consious type is that the A7 is great hardware for the money and importantly, it still runs fast. Getting O may help keep a little development on it but stock is good anyway. I personally wouldn't buy an LG phone, too many successive devices with serious problems like bootloop which never seems to be fixed. LG don't want their phones to last long.
If you're not the sort of person who must have the latest, then for the price the Axon 7 is still a compelling buy.
If you only choose a phone from the list of Daydream certified devices you ensure a well rounded performance and decent sensors etc. It really comes down to how much you want to spend and nothing much can touch the A7 for value versus it's real world performance. Forget benchmarks and all that junk, it's all numbers and running an Axon keeps reliable performance unlike say, a Samsung which will get the stutters sooner or later. I'm keen to see the O update being closer to stock Android on my Axon, but even on B09N it is still smooth and responsive leaving no reason to even consider buying anything else.
All that being posted, I would like to see the next flagship Axon but like all brands, ZTE will try to grow their price tag as public perception improves. Just look at Huawei as an example. Got too expensive and now put themselves beyond my price level. Wouldn't consider Samsung, HTC and all the others keeping prices double what they should be.

beastobadness said:
I am a poweruser so I tend to root my devices almost straightaway usually with magisk so I can use V4A.
I was tempted by the OnePlus 5T and it probably wouldn't be out of my budget, it looks like a really solid phone but with the reports of poor sound quality, lack of DAC and no SD card slot it just didn't fit the bill for me.
I did check out the LG v30 and the specs are an absolute beast on that but alas...so is the price being new on the market lol. The Samsung S8...ERM no...I vouched after they started the bit locking fiasco on the S4 I would never buy another Samsung.
The LG G6 is good for audio but even LG have started regionalizing features now.
These are partly the reason I decided mid to low tear was enough for me as they are easily obtainable from China sim free without ties to contracts and they have a habit of producing good value devices which compete with stupid money flagships.
I am trying to avoid going down the root of second hand devices as I am a big believer in you usually buy someone else's problems especially with manufacturer obsolescence being on the tongues of every techy these days. Its bad enough with the non replaceable batteries in devices!
Bang for buck the Axon 7 is still very desirable...its just the audio I can't ignore and for the price. Bit of a shame that the dev community is losing interest in the axon 7 though, seems a really solid device.
@Gases hope you don't think I am a whining my friend, just me obsessing about my next device lol
So do you think its worth waiting for the Axon 7's successor?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say that you use your phone for music, what do you really mean? Hi-res, or just FLACs? With V4A or stock?
The AK4490EN is capable of like 768 kHz/32 bit, but ZTE limited to a hideous 96 kHz/16 bit...
Still it sounds much, MUCH better than a standard Snapdragon DAC. Even on custom ROMs. And even more so on custom ROMs with V4A, if you're using MP3s.
I think you have to completely avoid midrange devices. The best choice is to get a high-end CPU even if it's one generation old. The SD6xx series are a world apart in terms of performance.
Also, why do you say that the dev community is losing interest? We lost 1 or 2 devs this year. It was always rather weak, but we're a cozy community and seemingly managed to push enough to get ZTE to get a working Camera2 API and some other stuff (time will tell).

RobboW said:
My view from a value consious type is that the A7 is great hardware for the money and importantly, it still runs fast. Getting O may help keep a little development on it but stock is good anyway. I personally wouldn't buy an LG phone, too many successive devices with serious problems like bootloop which never seems to be fixed. LG don't want their phones to last long.
If you're not the sort of person who must have the latest, then for the price the Axon 7 is still a compelling buy.
If you only choose a phone from the list of Daydream certified devices you ensure a well rounded performance and decent sensors etc. It really comes down to how much you want to spend and nothing much can touch the A7 for value versus it's real world performance. Forget benchmarks and all that junk, it's all numbers and running an Axon keeps reliable performance unlike say, a Samsung which will get the stutters sooner or later. I'm keen to see the O update being closer to stock Android on my Axon, but even on B09N it is still smooth and responsive leaving no reason to even consider buying anything else.
All that being posted, I would like to see the next flagship Axon but like all brands, ZTE will try to grow their price tag as public perception improves. Just look at Huawei as an example. Got too expensive and now put themselves beyond my price level. Wouldn't consider Samsung, HTC and all the others keeping prices double what they should be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree on the LG thing, the G3 was a solid item on the outside but its internals were a different story...like I said manufactured obsolescence! Baking the motherboard on mine was its final death cry lol
Choose an username... said:
When you say that you use your phone for music, what do you really mean? Hi-res, or just FLACs? With V4A or stock?
The AK4490EN is capable of like 768 kHz/32 bit, but ZTE limited to a hideous 96 kHz/16 bit...
Still it sounds much, MUCH better than a standard Snapdragon DAC. Even on custom ROMs. And even more so on custom ROMs with V4A, if you're using MP3s.
I think you have to completely avoid midrange devices. The best choice is to get a high-end CPU even if it's one generation old. The SD6xx series are a world apart in terms of performance.
Also, why do you say that the dev community is losing interest? We lost 1 or 2 devs this year. It was always rather weak, but we're a cozy community and seemingly managed to push enough to get ZTE to get a working Camera2 API and some other stuff (time will tell).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I should have made myself clear when I said mid to low tear phone, I was talking about price not internal specs. Totally agree the SD 820/821 chips might not be the latest and greatest but they are far from obsolete and still perform great... would be nice to have say an 835 but I am not in it for the numbers anyway.
As for my audio format, its a bit of a mix...minimum 320 Kbps to lossless, it really depends on where I got the files from. The max impedance on my best cans are 40 ohms so no studio level stuff.
As for the dev community losing interest...no offence intended, was only expressing my feelings on what I was told by Gases. Cosy is a good thing, its a powerful tool, means there is a passion for the product and if ZTE are listening...even better.
BTW happy new year!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

beastobadness said:
Totally agree on the LG thing, the G3 was a solid item on the outside but its internals were a different story...like I said manufactured obsolescence! Baking the motherboard on mine was its final death cry lol
Sorry I should have made myself clear when I said mid to low tear phone, I was talking about price not internal specs. Totally agree the SD 820/821 chips might not be the latest and greatest but they are far from obsolete and still perform great... would be nice to have say an 835 but I am not in it for the numbers anyway.
As for my audio format, its a bit of a mix...minimum 320 Kbps to lossless, it really depends on where I got the files from. The max impedance on my best cans are 40 ohms so no studio level stuff.
As for the dev community losing interest...no offence intended, was only expressing my feelings on what I was told by Gases. Cosy is a good thing, its a powerful tool, means there is a passion for the product and if ZTE are listening...even better.
BTW happy new year!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll be OK with the Axon 7's DAC -its soundstage is clearly better and it has a lower noise level. The community is nowhere near dying out since most devs maintain only a few devices. And the SD820 still works good.
I don't believe the Axon 9 (I think they'll skip 8, like 2019) will be released before at least May or June. They said absolutely nothing aside from 'there will be a successor to the axon 7'.
Happy new year

I would say yes, I bought mine in Nov last year and it was delivered in Dec. I am loving it every minute with zero issues that I am unhappy with. I bought it to replace a buggy Zenfone 3 (midrange) and I am totally pleased with it.
Cost is a major factor as I had already spent a load of money on the ZF3; it cost the same as a current midrange device (Xiaomi A1) and yet performance is twice of current midrange devices (double benchmark and QHD screen). Yes, it is nearly a 2 years old flagship, but the question is do I need that much firepower from a current flagship? My answer is not really, yours maybe different.
I do not root my phones, had a really bad experience when I hard bricked a device due to faulty instructions and then I got laugh at by the "community". So I only update my devices officially.
I also do not update my devices to the "last" update as I had bad experiences where a device became crap with the final update (likely due to it not able to handle the load?). So I update them once out of the box, and that it. My Axon 7 was updated from B11 to B09 when I got it and it is likely to stay on B09 until the day it dies, unless the feedback on future updates are very positive here. Again, you may use yours differently.

If you disregard all the numbers and technicalities and just want a good sounding phone to play your MP3 library off, you can't go wrong with the Axon 7.
I mostly use bluetooth but do plug in still.
I did this afternoon in the car. Feeding music to the car hifi by wire sounds awesome, for sure it's better than bluetooth and louder too. I just use MP3 and can still clearly hear a difference.
You don't need to be swallowing up 50Mb a song with hi res FLAC files to justify owning the phone.

I've got my Axon7 last month to replace dying Meizu MX4Pro. Few thoughts on the buy.
A7 is fantastic mid-range phone, I've managed to get it quite cheap in almost new condition (~€230).
Performance wise it is brilliant, no hiccups or anything (bear in mind I was coming from Android 5.0 2014 phone )
Now, the sound. I have mixed feelings on this. I'll tell you why.
The speakers are great, but when I say sound quality I mean the headphone out. I didn't have much time to compare it to MX4Pro and my DAP (Cayin N3 - same DAC chip as A7) but I still feel that A7 is lacking a bit. Defo less power than my old phone (or the DAP), I need to crank up the volume to get the detail and dynamics level I want. I'll be trying it with my old C&C amp to see if it will improve.
Don't get me wrong, sound quality is very good, I think it is just the power. But again, my only reference is DAP which has lot more power and one of the most musical phones that was manufactured to date (MX4 Pro has ESS9018 DAC and OPA1612 as an amp).
To sum up - lovely phone with good sound, sound is definitely better than 99% phones out there. If you can get it cheap(-ish) and don't mind 2 year old hardware go for it.

Well it is done...Axon 7 EU version is on it's way! Oooo new shiny's lol and the wait begins
And I put a sneaky order in for the BOBOVR Z5 daydream headset just to test the water with VR and daydream.
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docentore said:
I've got my Axon7 last month to replace dying Meizu MX4Pro. Few thoughts on the buy.
A7 is fantastic mid-range phone, I've managed to get it quite cheap in almost new condition (~€230).
Performance wise it is brilliant, no hiccups or anything (bear in mind I was coming from Android 5.0 2014 phone )
Now, the sound. I have mixed feelings on this. I'll tell you why.
The speakers are great, but when I say sound quality I mean the headphone out. I didn't have much time to compare it to MX4Pro and my DAP (Cayin N3 - same DAC chip as A7) but I still feel that A7 is lacking a bit. Defo less power than my old phone (or the DAP), I need to crank up the volume to get the detail and dynamics level I want. I'll be trying it with my old C&C amp to see if it will improve.
Don't get me wrong, sound quality is very good, I think it is just the power. But again, my only reference is DAP which has lot more power and one of the most musical phones that was manufactured to date (MX4 Pro has ESS9018 DAC and OPA1612 as an amp).
To sum up - lovely phone with good sound, sound is definitely better than 99% phones out there. If you can get it cheap(-ish) and don't mind 2 year old hardware go for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version of the A7 did you get? Is it on Nougat OS? If it's A2017G on Marshmallow it should improve on stock Nougat.

beastobadness said:
Well it is done...Axon 7 EU version is on it's way! Oooo new shiny's lol and the wait begins
And I put a sneaky order in for the BOBOVR Z5 daydream headset just to test the water with VR and daydream.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got mine yesterday in the post from gearbest as a reluctant replacement for my Nexus 6 .
Reluctant, as I wanted to 'upgrade' so had to be amoled, stereo speakers, qhd etc to at least match the beast of a Nexus 6.
Just been using today and smaller screen size takes a bit of getting used to, but sound via speakers is on par with Nexus 6 I'd say not yet tried plug in headphones. Screen is much better and the build quality too.
Very pleased so far.
This weekend may see me attempt boot loader unlock, TWRP, Magisk and Lineage install; although I must say the ZTE implementation isn't half bad, and thats on Marshmellow.
May I ask where you found it for sale? Seems most places out of stock now, and felt quite lucky to snap one up.

8eaker said:
Got mine yesterday in the post from gearbest as a reluctant replacement for my Nexus 6 .
Reluctant, as I wanted to 'upgrade' so had to be amoled, stereo speakers, qhd etc to at least match the beast of a Nexus 6.
Just been using today and smaller screen size takes a bit of getting used to, but sound via speakers is on par with Nexus 6 I'd say not yet tried plug in headphones. Screen is much better and the build quality too.
Very pleased so far.
This weekend may see me attempt boot loader unlock, TWRP, Magisk and Lineage install; although I must say the ZTE implementation isn't half bad, and thats on Marshmellow.
May I ask where you found it for sale? Seems most places out of stock now, and felt quite lucky to snap one up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fasttech had it listed...missed all the holiday discounts though and I think the fact that every other company have sold out has driven the price up on FT slightly but I am not really bothered...I am now hoping it slips past the folks at customs discreetly lol.
I need this to get here asap as my 5 yr old S4 is on its last legs...I think it must have caught something off my deceased LG G3 haha!
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I've had mine 2 weeks, and absolutely love it. It replaced a Sony Xperia Z4 (with the 810 which allowed the phone to double as a hot plate, foot warmer or small space heater.) The sound is everything I expected from the Sony and never got. The screen is beautiful. Battery life is amazing. The Z4 had a max of 3 hours life, and this Axon 7 has seen me through 10 hour days listening to bluetooth most of the day, with 35% batttery left. I found mine on Amazon for $317, the box was scuffed up, but everything inside was pristine and untouched. I'm rooted with WRP, Substratum and Xposed. I have not felt the need to leave stock 7.1.1 as of yet.

Stock Nougat is quite good. I find that here a lot of people are way too trigger happy on the flash custom ROM scene. I only do it if the phone needs it. Custom ROMs usually have issues.
ZTE will release an official and reasonably light Oreo for it this year too.
I think after that, good custom ROMs will follow as they released O sources to a well known dev. I personally wouldn't be bothered with any current Nougat customs seeing as O is coming.

I will probably upgrade and run the axon 7 stock for a few months same as I did with my G3.
ZTE have certainly extended the axon 7's presence in the market though bringing Oreo to it, all the major brands would have EOL'ed support to a device by now especially with it starting on Marshmallow.
Has anyone had the need to swap the battery out yet?
I know there are a couple of good teardown vids on YT and it doesn't look too bad.
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RobboW said:
What version of the A7 did you get? Is it on Nougat OS? If it's A2017G on Marshmallow it should improve on stock Nougat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its A2017G on Nougat, it starts to grow on me. I've sold my DAP already because I like the sound so much.
RobboW said:
Stock Nougat is quite good. I find that here a lot of people are way too trigger happy on the flash custom ROM scene. I only do it if the phone needs it. Custom ROMs usually have issues.
ZTE will release an official and reasonably light Oreo for it this year too.
I think after that, good custom ROMs will follow as they released O sources to a well known dev. I personally wouldn't be bothered with any current Nougat customs seeing as O is coming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With my previous (pre MX4Pro) Android phones I was first to flash custom ROMs. But with A7 I'm happy so far with stock Nougat. Miss the root for few things, but I have too much stuff on the phone and too little time to bother with unlocking bootloader and rooting it as I understand I will loose all present data.
Now, when the Oreo comes, that might change