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Why not Super AMOLED Plus!!! (Coming from GT 7.7)

The story so far: I've had just about every Galaxy Tab 7" - from the Original, to the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus, to the GT 7.7. I also have a Galaxy S3 and a Note 2. I love the Note 2 and when it was announced there would be a Note 8 I was excited that I'd be able to go to one device that was the 8" and have the phone capability that would work w/ my smartwatch and headset. They had to make a worthy successor to the 7.7, so I picked up the 8 the other week.
I am on the fence whether I keep the Note 8 or not - when I use my 7.7, I can't help but feel that the 8 could have been so much better.
That 7.7's Super AMOLED Plus screen has sex with my eyes, the Note 8 screen is ok, but it's strikingly obvious when you hold them side by side. Let's face it, on a tablet, the screen is a major factor of your experience/enjoyment and even though it would have been nice to have a higher resolution, I really miss the deep black for contrast to the vibrant popping colors. Also miss the battery savings from AMOLED when using dark backgrounds and UIs. Plus the 7.7 screen didn't have the pentile problems of other AMOLED screens.
The build quality, metal back, and thinness of the 7.7 was actually pretty nice for its generation. So many people overlooked it and now that Samsung has gone to the all plastic back like their phones it just feels less nice (not as important as I cover with a case anyway).
The 7.7 was just on the upper boundaries of fitting in some of my jacket/back pockets - the 8 definitely no longer fits in some of them and sort of hinders my use of being able to stick it in a pocket and not carry around a tablet bag (man purse).
What I was hoping for with the 8 was the current OS, stylus, HW guts of what they released but kept the build materials/quality and screen of the 7.7. Also wish they released the phone capable one on my carrier Verizon in the US - that would have been everything I wanted.
Has anyone else come from the 7.7 w/ the Super AMOLED Plus screen?

My path is 7.7->note 10.1->note 8
I agree the 7.7 display and build are at a higher level, but it also was very expensive +50% above note 8 here. The 10.1 and 8 have so many other features I don't mind the display regression.

Those 2 devices mixed would be an incredible device. If it had a good display (just equal the 7.7 even) and 3g/4g I'd sell my note 2 and be completely device satisfied.

I agree that the Tab 7.7 was/is a great device and display, and Samsung's best overall build-quality in a mobile device to this date. Unfortunately, Samsung priced it WAY out of the market to be considered by the general public and iPad users, and even very few of us geeks considered it because of the price alone. I also wish that they had the foresight to have slimmed down the long side bezels (like the iPad Mini) so that it would still fit in my pocket like the original Tab 7. At the time, the size and pocketability, and 3g/phone capabilities, were major advantages to me over the 9.7" iPads.
When the 7.7 came out I was ecstatic about the SA display and the build quality, but I was like, "Nooooooooooooooooo" when I found out the width and that it would no longer fit into my pockets. The original Tab 7 could and would go with me everywhere! The iPad 9.7 and Tab 7.7 would not.
Having used the Note 8.0, I agree about the display (as compared to the Tab 7.7), but it's not really that bad or noticeable unless you compare them side by side. You can also dim the screen on the Note 8.0 so it is barely lit for night viewing/reading in the dark. I also love the weight, balance, and bezels on the Note 8.0 because it is the most comfortable Tablet I've held to date. However, I would love to see how it feels (ergonomically) in hand and in day-to-day use with slimmer side bezels, so it might be possible to fit in my pockets!

I guess I don't think about price too much if the device meets my needs. I got the 7.7 for the same price I bought my Note 8 on a company discount, but there are still many people that think the $399 usd they want for the Note 8 is too high. There are rumors of a higher end successor to the 7.7, but without the stylus, I'm afraid I'd be again disappointed from having an "almost perfect" device.

bbfoto said:
However, I would love to see how it feels (ergonomically) in hand and in day-to-day use with slimmer side bezels, so it might be possible fit in my pockets!
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Looked at the GN8 Wi-Fi today, and where my Galaxy Tab fit easily into my pockets, the GN8 just barely squeezed into it. Add a case and I doubt it will fit. Which is a big shame.
I do wish they had slimmed down the bezels. Doesn't really need to be so big =/

rEVOLVE said:
I guess I don't think about price too much if the device meets my needs. I got the 7.7 for the same price I bought my Note 8 on a company discount, but there are still many people that think the $399 usd they want for the Note 8 is too high. There are rumors of a higher end successor to the 7.7, but without the stylus, I'm afraid I'd be again disappointed from having an "almost perfect" device.
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^Agreed. Personally, I don't think that the $399 price is too much for what the Note 8.0 WiFi offers. But I think in the general public's eyes, $399 IS too much. They don't understand the unique features, they just think, "it's an 8-inch tablet with a bunch of icons/apps" and they are probably more familiar with iOS apps.
First thing they see when comparing at the store...the build quality compared to the lower priced iPad Mini. In their head..."why should I pay more for the 8-inch Hyundai when I can have a beautiful 8-inch Porsche for less?" The iPad Mini is thinner, it's smaller overall, and sleeker. It's an Apple. Oh, and it's $70 less.
$330 and $400 are a big difference in the consumer's mind. Again, they don't compare the unique features, they are both just 8" screens with icons. (We know know the real difference.)
I think $349.99 would have been the better price for the Note 8.0. It's still quite a bit below that psychological "$400" mark. And then people could rationalize that, "okay, I'll get a slightly sharper screen and a stylus for just $20 more than the iPad Mini. Cool." But then there's that build quality/premium feel of the iPad Mini. Is the S-Pen enough to make a difference? "Hell, the kids will probably just lose the stylus anyway!" So iPad Mini it is.
Unfortunately, at least in the stores, Samsung doesn't do a good job of making the unique features known.
Research shows that A LOT of people use their tablets while watching TV. If a store display (especially at Best Buy where they sell a boatload of HDTVs) demonstrated the Note 8.0 IR Blaster as the [email protected] Universal Remote that it is, I think that a lot of people would have that "Holy Sheit" moment..."this is awesome, we could get rid of all of our stupid remotes!"..."just wait 'til the guys see this at our next Monday Night Football GTG!" And how many of us have TVs in our bedroom, and also use our tablets to read while in bed? Just another use case scenario.
...anyway, I would LOVE to see a 1080P, non-pentile Super-AMOLED Plus display in a Note 8.0 with thinner side bezels! Samsung, are you listening?
---------- Post added 26th April 2013 at 12:45 AM ---------- Previous post was 25th April 2013 at 11:53 PM ----------
leginag said:
Looked at the GN8 Wi-Fi today, and where my Galaxy Tab fit easily into my pockets, the GN8 just barely squeezed into it. Add a case and I doubt it will fit. Which is a big shame.
I do wish they had slimmed down the bezels. Doesn't really need to be so big =/
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Yeah. Sorry, mate. It's frustrating because it just needs to be trimmed by 5mm or so.
I suspect the extra bezel all around is to fit more battery...which is important, but...

People, the bezel size is to combat erroneous touches while holding the device. Seriously, its one of the BIGGEST gripes about the iPad Mini, and I, for one, greatly welcome smartly sized bezels. There is literally no reason to slim the bezels on a tablet.

bbfoto said:
^Agreed. Personally, I don't think that the $399 price is too much for what the Note 8.0 WiFi offers. But I think in the general public's eyes, $399 IS too much. They don't understand the unique features, they just think, "it's an 8-inch tablet with a bunch of icons/apps" and they are probably more familiar with iOS apps.
First thing they see when comparing at the store...the build quality compared to the lower priced iPad Mini. In their head..."why should I pay more for the 8-inch Hyundai when I can have a beautiful 8-inch Porsche for less?" The iPad Mini is thinner, it's smaller overall, and sleeker. It's an Apple. Oh, and it's $70 less.
$330 and $400 are a big difference in the consumer's mind. Again, they don't compare the unique features, they are both just 8" screens with icons. (We know know the real difference.)
I think $349.99 would have been the better price for the Note 8.0. It's still quite a bit below that psychological "$400" mark. And then people could rationalize that, "okay, I'll get a slightly sharper screen and a stylus for just $20 more than the iPad Mini. Cool." But then there's that build quality/premium feel of the iPad Mini. Is the S-Pen enough to make a difference? "Hell, the kids will probably just lose the stylus anyway!" So iPad Mini it is.
Unfortunately, at least in the stores, Samsung doesn't do a good job of making the unique features known.
Research shows that A LOT of people use their tablets while watching TV. If a store display (especially at Best Buy where they sell a boatload of HDTVs) demonstrated the Note 8.0 IR Blaster as the [email protected] Universal Remote that it is, I think that a lot of people would have that "Holy Sheit" moment..."this is awesome, we could get rid of all of our stupid remotes!"..."just wait 'til the guys see this at our next Monday Night Football GTG!" And how many of us have TVs in our bedroom, and also use our tablets to read while in bed? Just another use case scenario.
...anyway, I would LOVE to see a 1080P, non-pentile Super-AMOLED Plus display in a Note 8.0 with thinner side bezels! Samsung, are you listening?
---------- Post added 26th April 2013 at 12:45 AM ---------- Previous post was 25th April 2013 at 11:53 PM ----------
Yeah. Sorry, mate. It's frustrating because it just needs to be trimmed by 5mm or so.
I suspect the extra bezel all around is to fit more battery...which is important, but...
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It's really time to drop all of the Ipad Mini price comparisons. For starters, the Note 8 is not an Ipad Mini competitor and was never intended to be. If you are going to use the automotive comparison, then the iPad mini is a car and the Note 8 is more of an SUV. Two different vehicles that serve 2 different needs, but can overlap if necessary.
If Samsung wanted the make an Ipad mini competitor, they would have, but the Note 8 is in it's own category. As far as the price, you have no idea about the actual profit margins of the Note 8, so you can't possibly decide the appropriate price point.
To put it simply, if all you want is Youtube and Angry Birds, this tablet is not for you. This tablet is only for people who have use for the Wacom stylus and can justify the price point for it. It is not going to steal any sales away from the ipad and was never intended to.

bbfoto said:
First thing they see when comparing at the store...the build quality compared to the lower priced iPad Mini. In their head..."why should I pay more for the 8-inch Hyundai when I can have a beautiful 8-inch Porsche for less?" The iPad Mini is thinner, it's smaller overall, and sleeker. It's an Apple. Oh, and it's $70 less.
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But what if the Hyundai actually has more horsepower and more features? The iPad Mini only has 512 MB RAM compared to the N8's 2 GB. And of course the N8 has the pen digitizer and removable SD. Not important to everybody, but these features are really important to others.
And of course its a completely different OS and ecosystem. The iPad, any iPad, was never a serious contender to me. Ever.
Now of course many of your points are right when talking about the average Joe (who could probably care less about what I just said, if they even understood it at all). But the N8 is pretty clearly aimed at a niche market of enthusiasts, not the masses. If average Joe just wants a cheap gimped device as an introduction to the tablet world, they can buy a Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. The N8 is aimed at those that want more.
---------- Post added at 09:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:24 AM ----------
sputnik767 said:
It's really time to drop all of the Ipad Mini price comparisons. For starters, the Note 8 is not an Ipad Mini competitor and was never intended to be. If you are going to use the automotive comparison, then the iPad mini is a car and the Note 8 is more of an SUV. Two different vehicles that serve 2 different needs, but can overlap if necessary.
If Samsung wanted the make an Ipad mini competitor, they would have, but the Note 8 is in it's own category. As far as the price, you have no idea about the actual profit margins of the Note 8, so you can't possibly decide the appropriate price point.
To put it simply, if all you want is Youtube and Angry Birds, this tablet is not for you. This tablet is only for people who have use for the Wacom stylus and can justify the price point for it. It is not going to steal any sales away from the ipad and was never intended to.
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Well put. We are clearly on the same page.
---------- Post added at 09:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 AM ----------
As far as the title of this thread, not everyone likes AMOLED. I've seen many folks on XDA comment that they find the artificially saturated colors and contrast on AMOLED screens nearly unbearable, and can't stand AMOLED (and actually avoid it on purpose). Of course, its a matter of individual taste and preference. I personally don't feel strongly either way, and think the screen on the N8 is just great.
As for "why", I assume that Sammy saved a few bucks using TFT instead, to offset the price of the pen digitizer and keep the price where they wanted it.

I've said my piece about the screen several times, it is what it is and not good enough for my needs, but for those mentioning hand feel/weight I'd highly suggest picking up a demo at the store. I think that's one of the best things about it. It's weighted about perfectly for a device like this. Any more pocketable and you're basically back at the note 2.

sputnik767 said:
It's really time to drop all of the Ipad Mini price comparisons. For starters, the Note 8 is not an Ipad Mini competitor and was never intended to be. If you are going to use the automotive comparison, then the iPad mini is a car and the Note 8 is more of an SUV. Two different vehicles that serve 2 different needs, but can overlap if necessary.
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No No your completely wrong, the ipad mini is like a set of directional summer tires rated vr with some cool tread pattern and the extended road hazard warranty. The note 8.0 is like a big set of nobby mud tires, maybe 35's.
That explains the difference perfectly........
OH wait, no its more like the ipad mini is a strawberry ice cream cake, with flowers on it, and maybe a little toy on the top, and the galaxy note is more like a chocolate shake, with sprinkles and whipped cream....
No, wait I have a better one.......
The ipad mini is like my roommate Ernies rubber ducky, and the galaxy note 8.0 is like my pet pigeon Bernise.

chakra said:
No No your completely wrong, the ipad mini is like a set of directional summer tires rated vr with some cool tread pattern and the extended road hazard warranty. The note 8.0 is like a big set of nobby mud tires, maybe 35's.
That explains the difference perfectly........
OH wait, no its more like the ipad mini is a strawberry ice cream cake, with flowers on it, and maybe a little toy on the top, and the galaxy note is more like a chocolate shake, with sprinkles and whipped cream....
No, wait I have a better one.......
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I can see this new device forum is already shaping up with some comic relief!
Always a good things, as these discussions can often get a little too serious . . .

^Your One X (and now the HTC One) have one of the best displays I've ever seen. Being a photographer, I ultimately prefer neutral & natural color balance, and a wide color gamut. But some days the deep blacks, contrast, and color of my Captivate, SGS2, Note1, Note 2, and Tab 7.7 screens wow me.
LOL at the responses. You guys are a passionate group, and for good reason.
As stated in my posts, my comments were clearly regarding the Average Joe consumer and how it relates to Samsung's and Android's market share and perception in the general consumer marketplace. We here at xda are a different breed.
I'm an Android user through and through. My last iDevice was the iPhone 3G. I have way more beefs regarding Apple products, and that's why I am here. But Apple does some important things right that Samsung would do well to pay attention to (if they expect more attention and market share from the general public, and increased admiration from us).
Being that the Note 8.0 and the iPad Mini are the only 8" tabs in the marketplace, I would argue that they are if fact competitors. Yes, the IPM and N8 are aimed at different users, but do they have to be? The N8 can do everything and (way) more compared to the IPM, so if the pricing and build quality were more comparable, there would be no reason to buy the Apple product. I'd like to see Samsung succeed.
I spent many hours over several DAYS at Best Buy comparing the Note 8.0 and all of the tablets. I planned to drop some serious money for the International 3G (phone) Note 8.0, and I wanted to be sure that it would be the right choice beforehand. It is.
But it was interesting watching the other shoppers going down the line of tablets on display, and how much time they would pause at each model for a minute or two before ultimately settling at the iPad table for 5-10 minutes or more. The Note 8.0 probably received the least screen time. A lot of people stopped, played, and looked, but as soon as they saw the price tag, off they went.
I love all of my Samsung products. They are far more useful, versatile, and productive for me. But like many, I yearn for better build quality for my money.
Just my observations. I'll leave the dead horse be now with the IPM comparisons. Thanks for all of the responses...ALL good points!
Oh. @chakra, you should be pleased, I do QUESTION EVERYTHING.
---------- Post added at 11:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:06 AM ----------
guthrien said:
I've said my piece about the screen several times, it is what it is and not good enough for my needs, but for those mentioning hand feel/weight I'd highly suggest picking up a demo at the store. I think that's one of the best things about it. It's weighted about perfectly for a device like this. Any more pocketable and you're basically back at the note 2.
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I completely agree regarding the weight/balance in hand. And given its resolution, I was actually quite impressed by the screen.
How about this? Just make the bezel narrower or very minimal ON ONE (long) SIDE, so the screen is offset to one side...Get rid of the capacitive and home buttons altogether...put them on the screen so they rotate with the device's orientation, or just use gestures instead.
That way if you are left- or right-handed you will always have a comfortable bezel to grip in portrait mode, and it won't matter in landscape. The FFC might be a slight issue, but it could "auto-rotate" as well.
I absolutely love the 8" screen size, and the weight/balance of this device. But I also prefer a device that can go with me everywhere without any extra work to carry it. Just my opinion, of course...trying to get down to one device.

bbfoto said:
But it was interesting watching the other shoppers going down the line of tablets on display, and how much time they would pause at each model for a minute or two before ultimately settling at the iPad table for 5-10 minutes or more. The Note 8.0 probably received the least screen time. A lot of people stopped, played, and looked, but as soon as they saw the price tag, off they went.
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Of course price is a factor. But the Apple brand is a big one, too. I have no doubt that many (or even most) of these folks you're talking about would still have opted for the iPad Mini, even if it cost more than the Note 8.
Average Joe probably weighs brand reputation and price over everything else, by far. They usually don't have the knowledge to even understand the features, specs, or even difference in build quality and screens. But they will often just buy a brand they know has a good reputation. Apple very much wins in this category. Although Sammy is gaining traction. I'm finally starting to hear people mention "Galaxy S" more and more in casual conversations about smartphones, instead of just "iPhone iPhone iPhone".
I'm with you on the build quality, or what some call industrial design. Sammy's penchant for plastics has turned me off to their products for a long time. Their build quality is still very good. I'd even still consider the Note 8 a premium look and feel. It would just be a whole league greater if they used higher quality materials (but also probably heavier, and maybe thicker). The aluminum body on my old HTC Flyer is probably the only thing I miss about it, versus the Note 8. But HTC is staying out of the Android tablet market for now (I'm hearing they are planning Windows 8 tablets), which is one of the primary reasons I've gone to Sammy.

I really like the screen of Note 8 even the contrast isn't unlimited as Note 2, but it does not have "burn in" problem.
In addition, Quadrant is good as Note 2 and the battery is pretty decent.

^^Well said, redpoint73, and agree on all points.

I'll take LCD over the psuedo-HD Pentile AMOLED screens anyday.
Unless deep contrast (at the sake of true color at times), LED just doesn't match LCD. Just like the big displays, LED is still behind LCD & plasma in overall quality of picture & clarity.
It is great for battery life, LED, but I use the Note 8 in sunlight frequently & while it does not have quite the brightness control of the Note 10.1, it is still pretty good.

GSLEON3 said:
I'll take LCD over the psuedo-HD Pentile AMOLED screens anyday.
Unless deep contrast (at the sake of true color at times), LED just doesn't match LCD. Just like the big displays, LED is still behind LCD & plasma in overall quality of picture & clarity.
It is great for battery life, LED, but I use the Note 8 in sunlight frequently & while it does not have quite the brightness control of the Note 10.1, it is still pretty good.
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Don't compare this AMOLED to others you might have seen - have you even seen the Super AMOLED "PLUS" screen on the 7.7? The "Plus" means it was the only implementation of AMOLED at the time that was not prone to the pentile issues observed on many other AMOLED displays. Do some web searches and you'll see that claim backed up if you can't get in front of one. Everyone who's seen that screen in real life loves it and "over saturated" is a complaint made by no one that's used or owned it. Everything looks more "lush" on this screen and if the Note 8 display looks drab in comparison.
I've been carrying both my Note 8 and 7.7 around and have put them both up for people to compare and it's the 7.7 screen preferred every time. If they really were trying to sell a device that would compete and sell well with regular users, all they would have to do is put that same screen as the 7.7 in and put it side by side with the competition - regular folk who haven't fallen for the "over saturation" sheepspeak would agree the screen was better.
Also I have a mount on my dash for the tablets and you can definitely tell that the 7.7 is easier to read n the full sun than the Note 8.

rEVOLVE said:
Don't compare this AMOLED to others you might have seen - have you even seen the Super AMOLED "PLUS" screen on the 7.7? The "Plus" means it was the only implementation of AMOLED at the time that was not prone to the pentile issues observed on many other AMOLED displays. Do some web searches and you'll see that claim backed up if you can't get in front of one. Everyone who's seen that screen in real life loves it and "over saturated" is a complaint made by no one that's used or owned it. Everything looks more "lush" on this screen and if the Note 8 display looks drab in comparison.
I've been carrying both my Note 8 and 7.7 around and have put them both up for people to compare and it's the 7.7 screen preferred every time. If they really were trying to sell a device that would compete and sell well with regular users, all they would have to do is put that same screen as the 7.7 in and put it side by side with the competition - regular folk who haven't fallen for the "over saturation" sheepspeak would agree the screen was better.
Also I have a mount on my dash for the tablets and you can definitely tell that the 7.7 is easier to read n the full sun than the Note 8.
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I cannot speak for the 7.7, but as for just about every other LED Samsung has released including the GS3, washed out blues & unnatural white or lighter pastel type colors is in fact my opinion, which is not based on what anyone else may say or think, but what I have experienced with the multitude of devices at my disposal.
Also, I said "deep contrast" & "at times at the sake of true color", not washed out, just unnatural color, like you see on the S3 vs the HTC One X. I don't know what in the hell you mean by "fallen for the sheepspeak", but what I said is exactly my experience with the devices I have or have had. One last bone of contention, who the heck says "sheepspeak"? I only see cobbled together words like that in Apple/Android rants by fanatics, folks that think Jesus will flood the world if everyone doesn't repent & swear allegiance to the giant Android/Apple deity. ,,!,,

Is It worth switching from the pure to the 6p?

I am thinking about switching to the 6p. 808 has been a letdown for me and I am worried about future updates because of lenovo.

osiris970 said:
I am thinking about switching to the 6p. 808 has been a letdown for me and I am worried about future updates because of lenovo.
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Of course it is the worth, 6p is a much better phone than mxp but it costs more (obviously) and the thing that i dont like about it is the glass camera frame (so ugly)

Personally, I wouldn't switch to a nexus. Its a great phone, sure, but I like having an SD card slot. That and the price of the 6p.
If that doesn't sway your decision, I'd say go for it otherwise.

This video is pretty interesting... Especially around 6:30 when both phones are nice and hot and he runs Antutu benchmark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvCM1McR42Q

I just made the switch about 3 weeks ago. For me it was especially worth it since I could sell my X for the same purchase price of a refurb 6p. But Even if there were a price difference, it's a worthwhile upgrade for me. The only thing to keep in mind is Google is probably going to pump out a new nexus phone or two this fall hopefully with Snapdragon 820's onboard. THe 820 is leaps and bounds above the 810 in the 6p and the 808 in the X and I'm looking forward to my next phone having one. It really comes down to your willingness to wait with an admittedly great Moto X for the new Nexus or jump up to a fantastic experience from the current offering.
Pure nexus on 6p vs MotoX is a much smoother experience in my opinion having run them side by side for a few days.

I've ditched 6p for MXPE for a couple of reasons.
The main reason for this was this awful AMOLED screen. It has a lot of issues and even if you are lucky enough and won't get any pink spots or greenish tones to your screen, you'll still get awful ghosting of dark objects with black backgrounds and small letters will fall apart while scrolling. This was driving me nuts and just after a week of using this crappy screen I've sold 6p and bought MXPE. Oh, and also, just in a week, there was a lot of noticeable burn-ins around navbar and status bar. I just don't want to know, what will happen to this screen in a year.
So, here are my personal reasons to choose 6p over MXPE:
1) Amazing camera. MXPE has awful camera, it is usable only in perfect conditions and despite having 21 mpx it just doesn't deliver such great pictures, as 6p does.
2) Performance. Even though I've thought 6p was a little slower then Nexus 5, MXPE is really disappointing. Snapdragon 808 can't cope with QHD screen. Stutters all over the place, scroll is nowhere as smooth as it was back in 2014 with Nexus 5 and Oneplus One.
3) Community. After a couple of years with Nexuses, I can't understand, why there are so few people trying to develop something for this phone. With open-sourced kernel, opened bootloader, such low price and near-stock official firmware I thought MXPE would gather a lot of developers. But still, after more than half a year after release, there is still no fully-functional Cyanogenmod ROM, for instance.
4) Technologies. Type C interface and Nexus Imprint are nice, but they are not necessary.
But, as well, I can mention, why MXPE is better, than 6p:
1) Design. This is not a huge deal, for me both of these phones look and feel great. I just preferred a little more roundness in Motorola, as well as textured back cover. It's nicer and a lot more grippier, than aluminum in 6p.
2) Screen. As mentioned above, this was a deal-breaker for me. IPS is a lot better technology, than AMOLED. IMHO, of course. But never again, AMOLED just won't work for me unless engineers figure out, how to make every single pixel (LED) operate at 60+ Hz frequency for smooth transitions.
3) Speakers. Even though 6p also has front-facing speakers, Motorola's speakers are way nicer. They sound amazing.
4) Build quality. 6p feels a bit tender and weak. It feels like it can be broken in half easily. Motorola is built to last, it feels sturdy. I am pretty sure it will survive a couple of drops. Even in water, according to IP52 resistance. Of course this certificate means that it'll survive a rain, but I am pretty sure it can survive a couple of seconds in water in case of accident.

First Impressions about HTC U11

Hello, everyone!
I watched few reviews about the phone...And really sorry to say it but I'm not much impressed, but I definitely will upgrade to from htc one m8. Big htc fan here . I like the style, screen, colours ..Can't really say about the camera probably will be good.The new sound should be awesome + the headphones... But when come to the software..... For one year they didn't touch the sense? Really ? Even TouchWiz is changing, can't understand why htc decided to stay at sense 8, or like is now just "HTC Sense UI" . In the whole review, I generally see - The colours, squeeze (I think they too much depending on this new feature which we still didn't know how it will work after month or two of using it), How google OK works that was fun tho , wasn't working the first few times and the 3d sound...And exactly how they said - simple. And I wasn't disappointed like this from quite long time .I expected something more "brilliant". They just made a review on software app - the edge stuff, htc companion and OK Google They even didn't mention htc sense, which didn't move much from 2015. Isn't this little bit pathetic to you? I want to hear your thoughts on that. Did you expect more, like me? Anyway, I'm still considering buying it when the sales start in my region.

Well having been able to hold it in my hands and play with it for a few hours I can say the following:
First of I really like the Edge Sense feature as it worked really well on my review unit. In combination with a deeply integrated Goggle Assistant and Amazon Alexa it will be a well done upgrade if new ways of using your phone. Sense has made a large step in the last year and continues in debloating with regard to reducing HTC Apps that are redundant to Google Apps, as well as tweaks regarding performance done under the hood, and last but not least integration of the above mentioned Edge Sense.
Camera is top notch, achieving highest DxOMark - 90 Points - rating of a Smartphone thus far.
Audio has come one step further as well. Only thing to name here, as it will already suffice, is the implementation of Active Noise Cancellation with the In-Ear Headphones coming in the box, and USB-C-to-3.5mm-adapter that brings an integrated Amplifier as well an an 24bit DAC.
The display, though some might dislike the design of the front, has really deep blacks and good colours - especially if compared to an AMOLED.
Ah and IP67 of course is a great step forward.
Those are just my 2 cent of a first impression coming from a personal hands on. Mire will follow once I receive the U11 myself and go to some more time to play.
Sent from my htc_pmeuhl using XDA Labs

How black is black? The G6 came close to AMOLED with a 0.228 cd/m2 and the HTC 10 logged in at 0.29 according to the GSMArena review.

jpmiv said:
How black is black? The G6 came close to AMOLED with a 0.228 cd/m2 and the HTC 10 logged in at 0.29 according to the GSMArena review.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Screen noticeably better than on 10. U11 is a "must update" for anyone holding prior to a 10. For 10 owners, not mandatory (but definitely better in several ways).

anyone listened to the headphones is it the same loudness of of htc 10 ?

Huge ugly bezels and only 71.4% screen to body ratio.
Looks very much like a pixel from the front which had a very "dated" look from the front and that was months ago in 2016. This being 2017 now this large bezeled design looks even more outdated.
HTC failed in this aspect and really should have shrunk the bezels and made the screen larger as 5.5" is just too small and large bezels are an eyesore.
Other than that the phone seems really great on paper to me and has some very desriable specs.
Sent from my S8 plus, Note 7, S7 Edge or S6

5m4r7ph0n36uru said:
Well having been able to hold it in my hands and play with it for a few hours I can say the following:
First of I really like the Edge Sense feature as it worked really well on my review unit. In combination with a deeply integrated Goggle Assistant and Amazon Alexa will be of a well done upgrade if new ways using your phone. Sense has made a large step in the last year and continues in debloating with regard to reducing HTC Apps that are redundant to Google Apps, as well as tweaks regarding performance done under the hood, and last but not least integration of the above mentioned Edge Sense.
Camera is top notch, achieving highest DxOMark - 90 Points - rating of a Smartphone thus far.
Audio has come One step further as well. Just One thing to name is the implementation of Active Noise Cancellation with the In-Ear Headphones coming in the box, and USB-C-to-3.5mm-adapter that brings an integrated Amplifier as well an an 24bit DAC.
The display, though some might dislike the design of the front, has really deep blacks and good colours - especially if compared to an AMOLED.
Ah and IP67 of course is a great step forward.
Those are just my 2 cent of a first impression coming from a personal hands on. Mire will follow once I receive the U11 myself and go to some more time to play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is good to hear. I'm a big fan of HTC and this device seems a step in the right direction for them. I put my pre-order in and am very excited. I've also always liked HTC for their willingness to let users unlock as they please, dev friendly. This phone has me pretty excited.

One thing I need to know, is the earpiece speaker better/louder than the horribly quiet 10? If I'm anywhere other than a relatively quiet place I can barely hear anyone on a phone call.

yung40oz84 said:
This is good to hear. I'm a big fan of HTC and this device seems a step in the right direction for them. I put my pre-order in and am very excited. I've also always liked HTC for their willingness to let users unlock as they please, dev friendly. This phone has me pretty excited.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which colour did you pick. I went for black. Thought of ordering the Amazing Silver but they didn't have it at my carried in Germany. Those two colours are the most gorgeous ones in my eyes. Maybe black is better as on silver you can see fingerprints a lot better than on the black one. Guess this would get me on my nerves by the time anyway.
And the glas, as well as the metal edge are feeling really good in hands. Was a warm day when I used it this first time, and it had a good grip even with my sweaty hands. There was no time it felt slippery to me.
Sent from my htc_pmeuhl using XDA Labs

I'm excited to see how the device does irl, I never pre-order. The echo dots are cool, but I don't think I will use them much. Also concerned about charging and using headphones at the same time. I do that at work and on flights. I might wait for the note 8, but that is a long way off and will probably be a huge phone.
For the money, I think the U11 is the best bang/buck combo, especially because it is unlocked, will have custom roms and all kinds of tweaks that this great community will use.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

force70 said:
Huge ugly bezels and only 71.4% screen to body ratio.
Looks very much like a pixel from the front which had a very "dated" look from the front and that was months ago in 2016. This being 2017 now this large bezeled design looks even more outdated.
HTC failed in this aspect and really should have shrunk the bezels and made the screen larger as 5.5" is just too small and large bezels are an eyesore.
Other than that the phone seems really great on paper to me and has some very desriable specs.
Sent from my S8 plus, Note 7, S7 Edge or S6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get out of here Sammy fanboy. My current HTC 10 is 5.2" and it's not small by any means. I couldn't care less about the bezels on this device or mine... I'll take them over the gimmicky curved edges that cause a slew of annoyances and functionality issues. I had the S8 for a week and I took that crap back and gladly paid the $50 restock fee.

tkoreaper said:
Get out of here Sammy fanboy. My current HTC 10 is 5.2" and it's not small by any means. I couldn't care less about the bezels on this device or mine... I'll take them over the gimmicky curved edges that cause a slew of annoyances and functionality issues. I had the S8 for a week and I took that crap back and gladly paid the $50 restock fee.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah im honestly not a huge fan of the edge screens either ..gotten used to it but would prefer a flat screen for sure.
And just because 5.2 isnt small to you automatically means that everyone should think the same?
And fanboy? Takes one to know one HTC fanboy

force70 said:
Yeah im honestly not a huge fan of the edge screens either ..gotten used to it but would prefer a flat screen for sure.
And just because 5.2 isnt small to you automatically means that everyone should think the same?
And fanboy? Takes one to know one HTC fanboy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Given an option I'd like less bezel for sure but definitely not even close to a deal breaker. I have multiple phones Pixel XL is my daily driver, have iPhone 7 plus, S8+ and G6. The G6 and S8+ look great with minimal bezel but using Pixel or iPhone 7 plus doesn't bother me at all.

kirdroid said:
Given an option I'd like less bezel for sure but definitely not even close to a deal breaker. I have multiple phones Pixel XL is my daily driver, have iPhone 7 plus, S8+ and G6. The G6 and S8+ look great with minimal bezel but using Pixel or iPhone 7 plus doesn't bother me at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a deal breaker for me either im just not a fan of the aesthetics.
The 5.5 screen is something i can't deal with though ...my s7 edge has it and I hate it (although the U11 would be alot better due to the normal aspect ratio). Its mostly why i went with the S8 plus....just for the screen size.

force70 said:
Yeah im honestly not a huge fan of the edge screens either ..gotten used to it but would prefer a flat screen for sure.
And just because 5.2 isnt small to you automatically means that everyone should think the same?
And fanboy? Takes one to know one HTC fanboy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is this, high school? It's easy to assume your fanboyism based on the phones you have in your signature and the fact that you had absolutely nothing good to say about the U11... Why are you even here? What is your assumption based off of... that fact that I disagree with you? If I'm an HTC fanboy then why would I even bother with the S8? I guess you just overlooked that. You also forget that barely 6 years ago the first Note came out with a 5.3" screen and that was considered huge at the time... And even now that is FAR from small.
---------- Post added at 07:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:17 PM ----------
If a smartphone can be too thin for its own good, we can agree the same applies to bezels. I wager that people wanting less and less bezels aren't accustomed to the issues that come with them. First, a bezel adds strength... I'll let you take a guess as to what effect shrinking it would have on that. Then there's the absolutely annoying accidental touching issues... and no, cases don't help with that unless you use a really bulky case. I've never held or owned a phone and said "I wish the bezels were smaller" nor have I ever felt that bezels impeded any phone's functionality and my ability to use them.

tkoreaper said:
What is this, high school? It's easy to assume your fanboyism based on the phones you have in your signature and the fact that you had absolutely nothing good to say about the U11... Why are you even here? What is your assumption based off of... that fact that I disagree with you? If I'm an HTC fanboy then why would I even bother with the S8? I guess you just overlooked that. You also forget that barely 6 years ago the first Note came out with a 5.3" screen and that was considered huge at the time... And even now that is FAR from small. You really think that the 0.3" that your S8+ has over this U11's 5.5" display really matters, ROFL? Don't make me laugh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive owned lots of phones from various manufacturers over the years including HTC. Other than the 6P there hasnt been anything else that Ive really liked the last few years other than what sammy has delivered.
And i guess your reading comprehension is not that great as i mentioned 2 things i wasnt a fan of on the U11...and I also mentioned everything else looked great.
Im here because the device does hold some interest for me...and because I can be. Dont like what i say....move along...
And i wont bother with your silliness after this, dont want the mods in here now do we?

Moderator Warning,
Guys enough of the bickering please. Can we keep the posts civil. I will be keeping a eye on this thread.

5m4r7ph0n36uru said:
Which colour did you pick. I went for black. Thought of ordering the Amazing Silver but they didn't have it at my carried in Germany. Those two colours are the most gorgeous ones in my eyes. Maybe black is better as on silver you can see fingerprints a lot better than on the black one. Guess this would get me on my nerves by the time anyway.
And the glas, as well as the metal edge are feeling really good in hands. Was a warm day when I used it this first time, and it had a good grip even with my sweaty hands. There was no time it felt slippery to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually got that dark blue

force70 said:
Huge ugly bezels and only 71.4% screen to body ratio.
Looks very much like a pixel from the front which had a very "dated" look from the front and that was months ago in 2016. This being 2017 now this large bezeled design looks even more outdated.
HTC failed in this aspect and really should have shrunk the bezels and made the screen larger as 5.5" is just too small and large bezels are an eyesore.
Other than that the phone seems really great on paper to me and has some very desriable specs.
Sent from my S8 plus, Note 7, S7 Edge or S6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is a tired and worn out argument. The performance of the U11 in all ways justifies the Bezels. Samsung wouldn't be able to pull off as great as a phone with their Bezel-less gimmick. The Bezels are there for good reason.

LibertyMonger said:
this is a tired and worn out argument. The performance of the U11 in all ways justifies the Bezels. Samsung wouldn't be able to pull off as great as a phone with their Bezel-less gimmick. The Bezels are there for good reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please elaborate, Id like to see what exactly bezels...in particular top and bottom have to do with performance.
I could see before on the m7,m8 etc with the full front firing speakers but such is not the case with the U11.
And I wasnt remotely argumentative..i was merely sharing my first impression of the device as that is the thread title is it not?
Thanks.
Sent from my S8 plus, Note 7, S7 Edge or S6

One Plus 5 dropped the bezel ball

Good grief. It's got Pixel sized bezels!
The good old Galaxy Note 3 was so far ahead of its time when it came to minimal bezels.
Galaxy finally has small bezels again but no root for US phones. Or LOS/AOSP ROM's.
OnePlus 5 had a chance to swoop in but dammit if the bezels and phone with its 5.5" screen are still bigger than the old Note 3 with it's 5.7" screen.

I really don't like this bezelless trend. I've played with the G6, S8 and owned the note 2-5.
Screens are delicate enough, and good tempered glass has only become harder to find since this curved screen craze has shown up. We don't need any help with making our phones any more delicate, thanks.
Not trying to flame you in anyway, I just honestly think we do not need bezelless displays.

Bezel-less is a gimmick. Looks good from a design aspect but the functionality isn't 100% there since black bars when watching Videos/VR Apps/OS have to be made to work
Also 1+ tries to keep the cost of their devices to a minimum and in a video they did mention they'd use a bezelless display but currently wasn't in a position to do it

In future we will all have them folding phones, but till then phones should retain a minimum amount of bezel, because its more functional that way, phones like S8 are a disaster. Those who actually use it know it. At the same time the size of bezel on the Pixel is an abomination.
I don't know why OP created the OnePlus topic though, liked their first attempt, second one was cooler, third one was the best from them and now this one is simply pathetic. Not that I buy these sort of phones (brand I mean here) but still, not everyone is gonna, or should land a U11 or a Pixel anyway.

ithehappy said:
In future we will all have them folding phones, but till then phones should retain a minimum amount of bezel, because its more functional that way, phones like S8 are a disaster. Those who actually use it know it. At the same time the size of bezel on the Pixel is an abomination.
I don't know why OP created the OnePlus topic though, liked their first attempt, second one was cooler, third one was the best from them and now this one is simply pathetic. Not that I buy these sort of phones (brand I mean here) but still, not everyone is gonna, or should land a U11 or a Pixel anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use the S8+ and it is far from a disaster for my usage. That's just my opinion though.

MrWilsonxD said:
I really don't like this bezelless trend. I've played with the G6, S8 and owned the note 2-5.
Screens are delicate enough, and good tempered glass has only become harder to find since this curved screen craze has shown up. We don't need any help with making our phones any more delicate, thanks.
Not trying to flame you in anyway, I just honestly think we do not need bezelless displays.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree.
I have larger hands than most and need some surface area other than the screen to hold on to.

parakleet said:
I completely agree.
I have larger hands than most and need some surface area other than the screen to hold on to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same, I'm 2 meters tall with hands just as freakishly large, while I am no advocate for Xperia size bezels *Twitches* or pixel xl sized bezels *Shudders* I would much rather see some front firing speakers than this bezeless craze continue.
I just generally upset with where phones are going right now... I felt like last year we got so many awesome upgrades,
The Moto Z play keeping it conssitent with amazing battery life and a success at modularity.
The Honor 8 bringing dual cams in. (Even though this was not the first android phone to do this, I think the honr 8 was the first one that picked up a lot of steam.)
The S7 (I can't believe I said this, I dislike samsung, but I have to get them their credit) but water resistance, wireless charging, good camera, micro sd all in one package!
The Axon 7 filling in the gap for htc with their identity crisis, bringing the best front firing speakers with the same processor and screen resolution as flagships of that year..
The Pixel (Price way too high, I know..) but it's Google's Foray to inject their product to more people.
LG, with... Hah, wait, no they still ate it in 2016.
Then processors for 2016, I felt there was such a huge jump from the 810 to the 820. With performance and heat.. To me it seemed like manufacturers were trying to improve the usability of their phones, with this year, we are killing headphone jacks and trying to get bezelless phones that are wafer thin. I would much rather have a phone with a larger battery or more room for heat dispersion than a phone that would break if I accidentally sat on it wrong.
I'm not trying to discredit anyone's desires here, I just feel like focusing on bezels is so... Secondary.. It's aesthetics, I thought we should just leave that for Samsung and Apple to chase, (And LG to pretend they can catch up)

Smaller bezels = smaller phone. I want the smallest phone possible with a LARGE screen.
That Note 3 was just damned perfect.

CZ Eddie said:
Smaller bezels = smaller phone. I want the smallest phone possible with a LARGE screen.
That Note 3 was just damned perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. Not sure Samsung's goal was specifically for a bezeless phone, but more likely to put the biggest screen possible on the smallest chassis they could build. In that respect, I love the trend. I'm not fond of cutting the screen a la the essential phone to decrease phone size

I'd be happy with a phone the same size as the Pixel with the same bezels. Better battery, SD card slot, waterproof, good camera, and unlockable bootloader.

aholeinthewor1d said:
I'd be happy with a phone the same size as the Pixel with the same bezels. Better battery, SD card slot, waterproof, good camera, and unlockable bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know it's probably a lost cause but i am hoping they keep the AUX jack as well.

Besides curved edges and delicate display concerns the thing that bothers me about the bezeless design trend is that the more they reduce the bottom bezel the further down on-screen keyboard becomes. This results in more stress to my hand when swipe typing which is my primary input method on my phone. On the S8 it's not too bad since the phone is narrow and I can reach the lower corners of the keyboard fine when holding one handed but on the S8+ stretch becomes more pronounced and I suspect long stints of texting will be an issue for me.

Overall love

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Google Pixel 4a 5G, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Google Pixel 4a 5G is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!

I've been using it for a few hours, it feels faster than my OnePlus 6, battery seems great (40mn SOT, and only 5% went away), the screen calibration is spot on, for now I'm very happy with it.
The camera is, of course, absolutely great.

I finally decided to get a Pixel as I thought with 4a 5g they finally got the specs vs price ratio right. I must say I am not disappointed.

- slightly narrower and shorter than pixel 3a xl, feels denser, better for my smallish hands
- case texture is nice, less slippery
- fingerprint sensor feels more responsive, more accurate
- transitions are smooth
I just got it set up an hour ago so can't speak on screen, battery, etc but I like it so far.

Coming from Pixel 3. So all below compare to P3
- bezel is thiiiiin, awesome!
- screen is way bigger, while phone size is just a tiny bigger.
- battery is crazy good. 6 hour SOT with 37% left now. (Fast charger killed P3's battery probably)
- camera processing speed about the same.
- wide lens is awesome
- plastic feels great and less scary without a case. It's on the way.
- usb port is tighter. The P3 now will drop some cables.
- DSDS works wonder. I have Fi and Verizon

brandontowey said:
- slightly narrower and shorter than pixel 3a xl, feels denser, better for my smallish hands
- case texture is nice, less slippery
- fingerprint sensor feels more responsive, more accurate
- transitions are smooth
I just got it set up an hour ago so can't speak on screen, battery, etc but I like it so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looking forward to your updates! I am moving from the Pixel 3a XL.

Explore3 said:
Looking forward to your updates! I am moving from the Pixel 3a XL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great so far:
- faster, boots super quick
- still have 50% battery at the end of day
- loving the smaller size
- google gestures are 50% crap but got used to gestures with Dirty Unicorns so waiting on ROMs to get those back
- Magisk working well but haven't gotten ViperFX working unfortunately
- 5g is in my area but haven't given it a run since I'm always on wifi

Compared to Pixel 3XL
Has a great feel in the hand, it feels "premium" even though it's plastic.
Display is awesome, looks really good.
Have to say the buttons feel "cheap", for lack of a better word. I'm sure it'll be fine, it is a Google phone.
The buttons on the 3XL are just a different grade of quality, you'd have to have both to know the difference.
The punch hole kinda gets on my nerves.
I got the device free through the T-Mobile promotion, so really can't gripe too much about it. My wife is probably gonna steal it from me because it has a headphone jack, she's missing that on her One Plus 7 Pro. The trade off is I get to tinker with the 7 Pro
I got no complaints so far, other than the buttons, lol. Just got it today, battery still at 100% after 3 hours, but I haven't used it much. I'm sure it'll be on par with the Pixel 5, since practically the same specs. Should get the Spigen case and screen protectors first of next week. After that, it'll get some real use.

Google is offering $300 trade-in for your Pixel 3 now!

So, third time the charm, it took a long detour - after Pix4a and Pix5 I landed w/ Pixel 4a 5G, imo the best of them for many reasons. P4a felt kinda flimsy with the creaky housing and I think the digitizer had some 'touch' issues, though the camera was fine. My Pixel 5 had no gaps whatsoever, but the camera didn't produce sharp pics, maybe because of the newest software version. Didn't know about that until now so I shot some pics w/4a5g today having the camera updated to ver. 8.x.x and then I reverted that update to 7.x.x. and took some more shots. Whatever I say about any differences, it'll be a subjective opinion, I see it – other ppl may not. Uploaded couple of pics to '4a5g Photo...” thread if you're interested to see them.
I think now am gonna settle down for a while with Pix4a5G, it's a keeper, I need to have around an extra phone and this one should serve me well for many years ahead. It's my second day with it and I can't really find anything bad or wrong about this phone. Perfect size actually, 6.2” makes it only a few millimeters shorter than my Note 10+, but the width is bigger, at least feels that way because N10+ has rounded edges. Phone is very responsive, everything works smoothly, got rid of all the apps I don't need so I'm not being annoyed with Google's intrusive attempts to “helping” me operating my phone.
Great battery life, no overheating – 'cool cucumber', downloaded in one shot yesterday some 20GB of my music from Amazon, I remember other phones I've had, getting really hot at this point but not this one, couldn't believe, it stayed just lukewarm – no problem'o'.

Coming from Samsung Galaxy S7 on Verizon. Now on T-Mobile with my Pixel.
So far, about 2 weeks, the Pixel has been a great improvement. Faster, with a sharper and brighter display.
The gestures take getting used to, but I'm finding that it works better than I thought it would.
Minor things, none of them are deal breakers, that I would change of I could: 1) put volume buttons and power button on opposite sides of the device; 2) put headphone jack on bottom with the usb port; & 3) I'd make the phone a little smaller.
Still waiting to get my device unlocked so I can modify it more to my liking.