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I was one of those guys who didn't know what the Asus Transformer was untill two days before the launch. At that point I wanted it, and was planning on getting it and was even awake when Bestbuy still had units, but I was going to wait untill I got to a computer and had more time. Man, was that a mistake !
Anyways i always have dissmissed the Acer A500 as a cheap tablet that has issues, and doesn't feel high quality. But I went into the store and checked it out for a few minutes and liked it. Seemed to feel nice and solid (Maybe a little too solid), and it has a USB port (With the new 3.1 update soon!). My concerns now are with the screen (Quality/Durablility), seems a bit portly (Doesn't look like an iPad ) , and still software issues+GPS. And then I have heard about their costomer support and I worry as I have bad luck with gizmos .
I have looked briefly at the new Galaxy Tab coming out and I like the way it looks, the screen should be of great quality, ect ect. But there is no USB, or any connectivity!
I have TERRIBLE patience (HATE waiting) and I want a Tablet soon, but I don't want to buy and have a bad tablet and regret it. So any thoughts on 1, 2 or all three tablets would be greatly aprieciated.
I'm pleased with mine, but still have a month or so before my return period is up to decide. I'm waiting to see if the next month or so of updates beef up the A500, or take the TF101 to the next level. Whichever one it is, I'll go for that one.
oh dear, not another one of these.
either buy it or don't.
I like it a lot and will stick with it!
I like it a lot and will stick with it!
gidgiddonihah said:
So any thoughts on 1, 2 or all three tablets would be greatly aprieciated.
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You know, there are at least 10 of these questions in both the TF and the A500 thread, you might want to search.
Anyway, my answer is wait. You're going to look for each and every problem you've read about the Acer and Asus, so I'd wait for the Galaxy Tab and start with that. If you don't like it, return it and get either the Asus or Acer. If you don't like any of them, I'm sure someone else will be just around the river bend.
Each tablet has their strength and weakness and at this point it's all about the build quality and the software.
Do you want a keyboard dock + more juice? The Asus is for you.
Do you want a USB Host port or need flash for your camera? Acer's the only one.
Do you want the best guarantee in getting software updates quickly and a super thin+light tablet? Samsung's got your back.
You've read about the issues.
The Asus is plagued with perceived light bleeding (not everyone), will possibly have a creaky backplate (not everyone), has no flash and has no usb host. Some people report freezing and rebooting, but this is true of Honeycomb period, so this is more than likely beyond the brand. The keyboard dock as of right now is buggy at best and most people report freezing/lockups while using it (known fact) and the battery in it runs all the time whether it's docked or not (known fact) so right now it doesn't live up to it's purpose unless you keep it plugged in.
The Acer's software is unrefined. We've had everything from people reporting they can't use gps without wifi (likely due to faulty hardware, not a general issue), the screen lighting up randomly (doesn't happen to everyone all the time) and the micro sd card isn't accessible from a PC while it's in the unit (known fact). The cell standby process is also running in the wifi only unit, an occurrence not found in the Xoom or TF afaik.
Some people report freezing and rebooting, but this is true of Honeycomb period, so this is more than likely beyond the brand.
The build quality for some, is lacking. 2 people have claimed their camera covers to be lifting, some people claim the side(s) creak and I've even read one person being worried about the charging port loosening up over time.
The Samsung isn't even out officially. You can read as many reviews as you want, you'll never get the dirty details until it hits the GENERAL public. The TF looked so good with it's limited release abroad, but when it came stateside en masse (sort of, anyway), we're reading about all these issues with the unit.
So I'll tell you what I tell anyone who asks. If you can, just WAIT. Obviously you can't wait forever, but wait until you can try what's just around the corner before you prematurely get something your subconscious mind more than likely dislikes anyway.
I was one of the early adopters of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7", which Samsung promptly abandoned after just a couple of months time.
Left a very bad taste in my mouth, if you get my drift. Hopefully I wont be singing the same sad song about the Iconia. Fingers crossed.
I started trying to get my hands on a Transformer but after Asus not being able to bring enough and days of trying to get one i finally gave up on it.
After days on reading and watching videos on the Acer Iconia the more i watched the more i like it and i decided that's what im gonna buy since it offers the most outta the box, I really didnt want the Keyboard dock on the TF so not having USB on the tablet became an issue for me the ips display is nice but its not like the A500 display is bad. at some point i kinda wanted to wait for the Samsung galaxy 10.1 but after seeing the white ones they gave out in Google IO yesterday it finally confirmed Acer A500 is the right tablet for me. i cant imagine not having Micro SD/SD card or a USB it seems Samsung mimics Apple too much that thing looked too much like an ipad 2 no ports only a proprietary port on the bottom.
so im going tomorrow to pick up my Acer ill root it and wait for 3.1
nice quick explanation babyboy. you touched on main points and your simple arguments made complete sense.
I was finally able to order a TF and while I've been waiting, I've been in store playing with the Acer. Most of my observations have been on the surface and I just can't get over the camera location on the Acer.
After seeing the IO Sammy, I had the opposite reaction in terms of aesthetics because I'm one of those that do like the look of Apple products. Functionality-wise though, you hit the nail on the head. SD cards and USB are a must since I'm transitioning from an Ipad.
Few things:
Build: Not sure how the Acer's build is an issue, since it is more solid and not creaky like the Asus (still great device).
Camera: Cameras on tablets do not seem practical to me and invites mobile handling that may result in a dropped device.
Weight: I still find it funny that folks get up tight about the one ounce weight difference between them, but have no issue getting the keyboard, which adds more bulk and one pound more weight than the Acer. How does that make sense to people?
I prefer the build of the Acer and like the USB connectivity on the tablet, so expect it to weigh a little more. The new Toshiba is the same or slightly heavier.
The A500 is a very good tablet and most consumers posting at Best Buy and other places seem to agree.
I caved and got the a500, and am very pleased. Weight is a non-issue for me, it just feels more solid. Quite happy about the USB slot, I read that in 3.1 you will even be able to connect a 360 controller to one of these! Can anyone say N64 emulation
Besides from aesthetics, it's likely the Samsung 10.1s will be identical in specs. I may take this one back, but oh boy, HDMI and USB...big plus for me.
I'll be honest.
I dont own a Acer yet..
but i did own a Asus transformer which i returned.
People were telling me to keep it., but Asus has dropped the ball a bit on quality isssues.
Around the screen there is a black adhesive that holds it close to the bezel, and let me tell you
Someone drunk probably but the adhesive in place, it wasn't even straight, and made it looks out of place.
and not only that, around the adhesive there is a gab between the LCD and the adhesive and dust and crap was getting in there... others have reported the same issues.
I like the ICONIA that i saw at bestbuy because the screen was flush across the unit .. thumbs up!
edgie168 said:
oh dear, not another one of these.
either buy it or don't.
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Yea, I saw, exept everyone I looked at had like two posts... But maybe I didn't see them. Sorry 'bout that!
I went back to play around with the Iconia some more and I love it. It just seems like the screen has nothing on the iPad/Asus (IPS) but I never got to really test the screen with a movie and it seems a bit heavier. I LOVE the USB port, and with 3.1...
Any word on Acer Support? I really have bad luck with devices and don't want to be stuck without help.
Thanks for all the posts and unless people have horror stories about their support I might order one on Amazon as I don't think they will charge me tax ...
(Edit) They do charge tax... And since the tab doesn't look like a viable option for me, the Iconia looks like the best thing out there that is in a price range I can afford.
I got the Iconia after Asus refused to say anything about the Transformers expected release(Maybe I wasn't trolling their FB page enough?)
I like the camera, unlike some of the others here posted. My cell phone has an awful camera on it, and I generally have my Iconia with me, so it's nice to be able to pull it out and take a good quality snapshot or record a video.
I haven't noticed the issues with the GPS, but I haven't used it more than once, just to play with it.
So far, I've been using the USB port a lot, I got a mini usb keyboard I've been using for dosbox(Wolfenstein 3D!)
I haven't noticed any issues with the build quality; as far as I can tell, I could drop this thing down a flight of stairs and it'd be fine, though I think I'll leave that to someone else to test.
I had an issue with the wifi refusing to join ad-hoc networks(phone tethering), but that was easily fixed by rooting and replacing the problematic files.
My take on the Transformer (from reviews) is that it seems to be a good concept, but a poor implementation of it. It seems to be shoddy construction, like Asus wanted to get their foot in the door and rushed it too much. The software issues on it are driving me away too.
A dock seems rather worthless when you have a USB port, as soon as 3.1 comes out, that is.(USB mouse ftw!)
The galaxy looks blah to me, I don't think I want to have anything to do with it. I wasn't impressed with the older galaxys.
netham45 said:
The galaxy looks blah to me, I don't think I want to have anything to do with it. I wasn't impressed with the older galaxys.
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Just looked at the Tab on cnet.com. They didn't say anything about microSD, and when they did a close up around the device it looks like it comes without. Their model didn't come with the new Samsung icky thing over honeycomb? Without even microSD, the tab is out. It looks really nice, but without any expansion ports or USB, its not for me. And from a few people in here the Asus is looking less and less appealing. Hmmmm...
As the title says:
I was so utterly disappointed with the 10.1
The first one I got Friday Morning had dead pixels on the black status bar at the bottom of the screen. I returned it a couple hours later to Best Buy.
The second one has dust under the middle of the screen. You could see black spots while surfing the web.
Finally, the third one had 8 pieces of dust under the right side of the screen.
I decided to return it and wait for a rumored Nexus Tab or Ice Cream.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE Android. I have the Nexus S 4g, and I have always had android phones. I had the Xoom, but it was too heavy and large. I really had high hopes for the Galaxy Tab. Yet, its sad that the build quality is lacking..
And... lets be honest, Honeycomb needs a LOT of polishing. Its laggy, and has none of the media consumption apps people crave(i.e. netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, etc.)
If you like the Tab do yourself a favor and try not to look at the screen too close.. I fear that there are imperfections on most of them... which is inexcusable
Sounds like you may have had a string of bad luck with the devices. Remember stuff like that gets shipped in bulk so it may have been just an issue with the one shipment to that Best Buy.
I haven't had any issues with build quality on mine. Was worried about the plastic backing but it doesn't dent in like the aluminum on my iPad so it's actually a plus (and it makes the thing lighter). I won't disagree with the Honeycomb needing polish however. For the most part it works fine but there is a significant lack of tablet optimized apps out there and the input lag in the stock browser is annoying at best.
Word...
I just got frustrated man. when you are dropping that much cash on a tab it should be flawless. ya know
Flawless is debatable... there is no such thing.. my $80k car (AMG C63 if anyone cares) is far from flawless, my house.. far from flawless. I have purchased $100+ software/hardware packages (Arcsight.. ridiculously expensive), far from flawless....
If you had asked me 10 or 20 years ago, then I would have agreed, but these days, everything is released with flaws and bugs, it is just how it is these days, and you will have to accept it, or you will never buy anything again..
Yeah man, I understand. I'd be pretty pissed to if I had to return my brand new shiny three times. But it's what all early adopters have to put up with; higher prices, untested technology, new waters and the like. It's what makes it fun,
This would be more shoddy QA than shoddy build quality wouldn't it? I actually quite like the build quality on the thing but could see getting pissed off if I had dust under the screen.
My experience that some people who are hyper-sensitive to "flaws" in devices are those that were truly unsure about their purchase in the first place. When they experience buyer's remorse, they suddenly find "flaws" in the device rather than admit that they made a poor purchasing decision. This bad behavior is unfortunately reinforced by the return policies of the retailers that charge restocking fees except in case of defects.
I'm not saying this is the case with OP. Just an observation.
jvanbrecht said:
Flawless is debatable... there is no such thing.. my $80k car (AMG C63 if anyone cares) is far from flawless, my house.. far from flawless. I have purchased $100+ software/hardware packages (Arcsight.. ridiculously expensive), far from flawless....
If you had asked me 10 or 20 years ago, then I would have agreed, but these days, everything is released with flaws and bugs, it is just how it is these days, and you will have to accept it, or you will never buy anything again..
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totally OT: $80k for a C63??? how cheap are those cars in the states?? for a normal configuration we have to pay at least about $95k (~67k €).
The 2011 C63 AMG starts at < $60k in the US (though realistically, $70k is the cheapest you'll find it). I'm not sure what the differences are vs the euro models.
rmmorse81 said:
As the title says:
I was so utterly disappointed with the 10.1
The first one I got Friday Morning had dead pixels on the black status bar at the bottom of the screen. I returned it a couple hours later to Best Buy.
The second one has dust under the middle of the screen. You could see black spots while surfing the web.
Finally, the third one had 8 pieces of dust under the right side of the screen.
I decided to return it and wait for a rumored Nexus Tab or Ice Cream.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE Android. I have the Nexus S 4g, and I have always had android phones. I had the Xoom, but it was too heavy and large. I really had high hopes for the Galaxy Tab. Yet, its sad that the build quality is lacking..
And... lets be honest, Honeycomb needs a LOT of polishing. Its laggy, and has none of the media consumption apps people crave(i.e. netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, etc.)
If you like the Tab do yourself a favor and try not to look at the screen too close.. I fear that there are imperfections on most of them... which is inexcusable
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Ice creams starts at 59 cents
Berner said:
I'm not saying this is the case with OP. Just an observation.
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My experience has been that some people who try to insinuate that any issues someone may have with a product are actually problems with the person rather than the device, are actually just trying to defend their own purchases.
I'm not saying this is the case with you. Just an observation.
hebbe said:
totally OT: $80k for a C63??? how cheap are those cars in the states?? for a normal configuration we have to pay at least about $95k (~67k €).
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They are definitely cheaper in the US then in most other places (even DE.. which is odd since they are made there...)
Base model runs around 60k, once you start adding options.. it goes up fast, I have everything but the Performance Package, and the number I through out is the avg for a model configured as mine, I did not pay that much (who ever pays MSRP anyways), as I picked mine up used (Certified Pre Owned model from MB).
You want horrible.. check out the C63 in Australia.. they run almost $200k AU. Half of that is I believe a luxury tax penalty....
jvanbrecht said:
Flawless is debatable... there is no such thing.. my $80k car (AMG C63 if anyone cares) is far from flawless, my house.. far from flawless. I have purchased $100+ software/hardware packages (Arcsight.. ridiculously expensive), far from flawless....
If you had asked me 10 or 20 years ago, then I would have agreed, but these days, everything is released with flaws and bugs, it is just how it is these days, and you will have to accept it, or you will never buy anything again..
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Come on now - the GTab and C63 have a lot of stuff in common - especially their use of copious amounts of cheap plastic. At least for the Tab, it's only $500
matt310 said:
Come on now - the GTab and C63 have a lot of stuff in common - especially their use of copious amounts of cheap plastic. At least for the Tab, it's only $500
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Yeah.. and it rattles alot.. drives me nuts.. granted that may have something to do with the monster V8 they shoehorned into the little C class.. but still, at the price point, they should have used better materials. At least in EU, and most of the rest of the world, you can get the option of leather dash/console/etc which replaces much of the plastic.. but that is not available on the C class for US AMG models, it is on the E and up classes though.
jvanbrecht said:
Yeah.. and it rattles alot.. drives me nuts.. granted that may have something to do with the monster V8 they shoehorned into the little C class.. but still, at the price point, they should have used better materials. At least in EU, and most of the rest of the world, you can get the option of leather dash/console/etc which replaces much of the plastic.. but that is not available on the C class for US AMG models, it is on the E and up classes though.
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The rattles are caused by a combination of low-profile tires, punishing suspension, and clips that hold dashboard components in place instead of screws. Also, the torsional rigidity of the C isn't as stiff as the E so when you go up driveways and the chassis flexes, that eventually takes its toll on tight tolerance components. Sometimes covering them with leather helps; sometimes not.
The greater concern to me is why MB didn't include an LSD with that car as standard equipment. It's part of the P30 package or a $2,000 standalone option, which to me makes next to no sense. All that power needs a way to get it reliably to the pavement!
rmmorse81 said:
As the title says:
I was so utterly disappointed with the 10.1
The first one I got Friday Morning had dead pixels on the black status bar at the bottom of the screen. I returned it a couple hours later to Best Buy.
The second one has dust under the middle of the screen. You could see black spots while surfing the web.
Finally, the third one had 8 pieces of dust under the right side of the screen.
I decided to return it and wait for a rumored Nexus Tab or Ice Cream.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE Android. I have the Nexus S 4g, and I have always had android phones. I had the Xoom, but it was too heavy and large. I really had high hopes for the Galaxy Tab. Yet, its sad that the build quality is lacking..
And... lets be honest, Honeycomb needs a LOT of polishing. Its laggy, and has none of the media consumption apps people crave(i.e. netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, etc.)
If you like the Tab do yourself a favor and try not to look at the screen too close.. I fear that there are imperfections on most of them... which is inexcusable
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Sounds like you had really bad luck. Did you exchange them from the same place? It might be the batch the store received was the problem, either tampered in production or in transportation. Overall, people seem to be happy with the build, including myself, so it seems you're case was exceptional, and you may give it another try at a different store or vendor.
Nexus Tab/Ice Cream are at best Q4, which can be 4-6 months away, and I wouldn't be surprised if they only came out next year. Honeycomb will definately improve before then, especially in a few weeks we should have custom ROMs too.
Dead pixels AND dust under the screen! I agree 100% with the OP. If you really got three in a row with screen defects that is not acceptable. You can ignore virtually any nick, ding or scratch on the body of a tablet, but it's really hard to ignore screen defects. Especially central ones. In many respects a tablet IS the screen. It's what you interact with all day long.
I'm not that surprised. Samsung sometimes has quality control issues. I ended up returning three Samsung projection TV's in a row once. One of them actually had a picture that was physically tilted so that one side was higher than the other - can't quite understand how that got past quality control. And then there is the recent GPS disaster with the Galaxy S phones - I had one of those and finally ended up getting rid of it because It was impossible to navigate with it.
Samsung is a strange company. They produce cutting edge products that have lots of rough edges. But when you finally get one of Samsung's devices that works correctly, they are sometimes really good. When I finally got a working TV from Samsung, after my fourth try, it lasted forever - superb picture and no problems. Love my Tab 7. And even the Galaxy S was a great phone, as long as you didn't have to get anywhere on time.
I'm surprised that Best Buy didn't give you a hard time with the dead pixels. Every once in a while you get a smart-assed salesman who likes to quote a dead pixel rule: "we can only exchange it if there are 5 or more dead pixels. Just because there's a big black one dead center in the middle of your screen isn't sufficient cause for an exchange!") Had circuit city try this with me on an LCD TV. Course stuff like that is probably the reason they went bankrupt.
This is one reason I prefer buying from brick and mortar stores with items like this. If Best Buy gave you no trouble with 3 returns, thats really commendable on their part. They would get my repeat business just for that.
jvanbrecht said:
Flawless is debatable... there is no such thing.. my $80k car (AMG C63 if anyone cares) is far from flawless, my house.. far from flawless. I have purchased $100+ software/hardware packages (Arcsight.. ridiculously expensive), far from flawless....
If you had asked me 10 or 20 years ago, then I would have agreed, but these days, everything is released with flaws and bugs, it is just how it is these days, and you will have to accept it, or you will never buy anything again..
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??? You have got to be kidding, right ? You may have low expectation and willing to take flaws, but not me, not now, not ever. Doing so just tells the manufactur we will accept the flaws and be done with it. Goodness, accept it ? No way
rmmorse81 said:
As the title says:
I was so utterly disappointed with the 10.1
The first one I got Friday Morning had dead pixels on the black status bar at the bottom of the screen. I returned it a couple hours later to Best Buy.
The second one has dust under the middle of the screen. You could see black spots while surfing the web.
Finally, the third one had 8 pieces of dust under the right side of the screen.
I decided to return it and wait for a rumored Nexus Tab or Ice Cream.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE Android. I have the Nexus S 4g, and I have always had android phones. I had the Xoom, but it was too heavy and large. I really had high hopes for the Galaxy Tab. Yet, its sad that the build quality is lacking..
And... lets be honest, Honeycomb needs a LOT of polishing. Its laggy, and has none of the media consumption apps people crave(i.e. netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, etc.)
If you like the Tab do yourself a favor and try not to look at the screen too close.. I fear that there are imperfections on most of them... which is inexcusable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you clean your glasses before you inspected the tablet?
(J/k I returned one due to back light bleeding)
OP, if you got all of those from the same place, I suggest giving it one more shot and buying it somewhere else.
This is my 5th Android tablet. The first Transformer had gone directly back to Best Buy due to terrible light bleed. Transformer Prime sold in a month. It had its obvious problems plus a screen problem: when you press a little harder on the right side of the screen it would flicker into white. Probably a faulty one. This is my 3d transformer and it is not that impressive. Surprisingly there is no light bleed at all, but the Prime was much better in every way. I sense and hear a squeaky sound when I press the right side of the back camera just under the power button as though it was not fitted well. I pressed all the sides and corners of the tablet, only this spot gives that sound. There is an emptiness there. It really is annoying. I still think I will keep it but wait for the new Samsung. MY GTAB 7 and 10.1 were also made with plastic but they were sturdier and far better in build quality. Asus keeps disappointing me.
Cool story bro.
Perhaps your expectations doesn't match the design specs and price tag of this machine? To me it seems they opted for better guts then exterior and screen.
Thats very true. ASUS wanted to give a nice device to those who couldn't meet the price tag. Everything comes at a cost, this tablet is plastic :T
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using Tapatalk 2
Firstly, I am not quite sure why anyone would want to press the back right side of the tablet next to the back camera? If it squeaks, don't press it, no function on this tablet requires that part pressed, nor is it near anywhere near where one would hold it.
This is my 3rd tablet as well.
First, I had a Prime. I disagree the Prime was better in every way. No GPS, poor wifi signal, micro sd card slot poorly placed so the card kept popping out, micro hdmi port was loose - cable kept coming unplugged. Is the prime sexier, sure, but the aforementioned problems made it quite non-functional.
Second I had an Acer A510. Great tablet, just a bit bulky and had a terrible heat problem where the back of the tablet would reach over 100 degrees when 3D gaming...could not hold it anymore it was so hot. Also, due to low sales volumes, the tablet does not have much developer support, still don't have their own forum with similar launch date to this tablet.
I have had none of these problems on my TF300, it works amazingly well. I actually don't mind the plastic, it is comfortable to hold, and looks much better than I thought it would. The sound is great for a tablet, I had the a510 and believe this is comparable, even without the speaker separation. Is this tablet perfect, no: Battery life could be better and they could have used Gorilla glass, but those are minor nuisances compared to what I have dealt with on my other 2 two tablets and I don't think any tablet is perfect. I am not a budget buyer and purchased this tablet originally to check it out, but it is so good compared to anything else I have used, I plan to keep it and enjoy it.
I did press to get it out from its keyboard dock. Thats how I realized it was not fitted well. Do we really have to accept something with its flaws because it is cheaper? ASUS is a brand name I respect. I had more than 6 laptops, netbooks and now an ultrabook which I LOVE!!!! But we have to accept that Asus is less attentive when it comes to Android. We will see how they will try hard this fall or next year with their Windows 8 tablets and stuff.
I honestly think the build quality is great with the 399 price tag. I have no issues with light bleeding, creaking or loose parts. So far my experience is great and have no complaints.
Love my tab after unlocking and installing cm9. How much more could you ask for with a guad core processor and 399.99 price tag for a 32 gb! all the tablets I see are dual core for 399.99 for 16gb.
Asus, in my opinion gave us a budget tablet and then some. The realm of this tablet was to cut cost so everyone could afford Tegra 3 without buying a 700$ unit. I love my tablet
Sent from my VS910 4G using xda premium
Great, cheap, tablet.
Always fun to see how people can differ.
Some like the building quality and others think everything is cr*p. I think this is purely what you expect of it and what you want to spend. If you buy an IPad it is not comparable to a Asus because as the manufacturer is different the buildingprocess is different.
I think you (the topicstarter) just want to get a almost undestructible tablet. But tablets are just fragile and if you have a technical problem with one you just bring it back to the shop because you have warrenty.
At this point in time there is no better tablet to buy, yes i had the cash to get a prime, but i need good wifi coverage, which the prime has not, so i bought this one. I don't want older technology , and surely not at the same price (all other tabs are dual core at maximum)
I just didnt feel the thrill I felt when I held my Samsung 10.1 for the first time or even the TR Prime. TR Prime just for a couple of days.... But I agree with most views here. It is a very good tablet for its price. I like the battery usage. I havent charged it for more than 2 days now. Unnoticeable light bleed, etc... Just that squeaky sound
BTW. No Riptide onboard was a bum!
I think mine is fine, besides some uncomfortable cracking I tend to hear with the keyboard dock. Then again, I was not very impressed by my Asus laptop in terms of build quality either. I feel weird buying another Asus product after that laptop but there is nothing else that compares as far as I am concerned when it comes to tablets. I deal with it.
Well I was greeted with a busted pixel upon opening package still gave a try then started to have small bleed then by third week serious bleed, then when I hold on certain spots in landscape and portrait at different angles I get this blur like bleed as if im pressing to hard felt like if I held any looser I would drop it, also can barely see in the sun light other than that it works like heaven which really bugs me because I want it but dont believe it will last so im sending back and waiting for the reviews for the 700 when it releases after atleast a month has passed till then I will be pad less...........
bigwalt12 said:
Well I was greeted with a busted pixel upon opening package still gave a try then started to have small bleed then by third week serious bleed, then when I hold on certain spots in landscape and portrait at different angles I get this blur like bleed as if im pressing to hard felt like if I held any looser I would drop it, also can barely see in the sun light other than that it works like heaven which really bugs me because I want it but dont believe it will last so im sending back and waiting for the reviews for the 700 when it releases after atleast a month has passed till then I will be pad less...........
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I have none of those problems. You must have a defective unit, try exchanging for another one before final judgment.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA
I honestly love this pad but I see im not the only one experiencing this only bought this because the wifi issue with prime if the 700 solves this without a dongle with a better and brighter screen then I will get that one instead. I have a good relationship with amazon hate returning things multiple times I dont want to take another risk but you guys got a great pad for the price that is if you got a good one. Im gonna miss this pad but im hoping the 700 is worth the wait?????
Psyloid said:
At this point in time there is no better tablet to buy, yes i had the cash to get a prime, but i need good wifi coverage, which the prime has not, so i bought this one. I don't want older technology , and surely not at the same price (all other tabs are dual core at maximum)
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You nailed it! The only other tablets to compare to this one is the prime (poor GPS and wifi at $500) and the Acer a510 (no keyboard dock, overheat issues stalled sales at $450) and the Toshiba excite( screen issues, OS issues for I think $500- $550).
NO BRAINER to me.
Even if I dont thing 400 is cheap, it is a very good Pad. I dont have any dead pixels and not one other Problem. Wifi is is even better than my last tablet (Hannspad ). Would recommend it at any time.
The 300 is pretty much built the same way as the 101 plastic back..
Hey guys I came across see guy locally that is VERY interested in trading his Essential for my Pixel XL, I must admit that I'm intrigued by this phone but very worried about all the negativity surrounding it. Can you guys give me your honest opinion since you guys are current users?
Jess813 said:
Hey guys I came across see guy locally that is VERY interested in trading his Essential for my Pixel XL, I must admit that I'm intrigued by this phone but very worried about all the negativity surrounding it. Can you guys give me your honest opinion since you guys are current users?
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I love it...it's compact and super sturdy. Built well. I have no issues with the camera...they've updated it several times and I'm not a professional photographer. It comes with an unlockable bootloader and they said during their AMA source will be released in the next week or two. Development will be there. For such a unique device I have no qualms with it at all.
I came from the Pixel XL and dont regret it at all. I'm really excited about the future of this device. Although Essential had some issues on launch they have really stepped things up regarding customer support, communication and updates. Having them involved in the community (Reddit AMA) says a lot about how they feel about us, the customer. The build quality is superior to anything I've ever held and I change devices about every 6 months. It will take a lot from a future device to get me to switch from this. Since the updates I've had really good luck with the camera, even at night. If I were you I'd go for it!
I have a Pixel XL and an Essential - while the build quality of the Essential is top notch (feels really well weighted IMHO) and the edge to edge display really impresses, there are a few things that really annoy me.
- Placement of the hardware buttons (I keep reaching for the power button only to hit the volume buttons)
- Touch sensitivity is all over the place. Many times it does not register when I press on the screen, forcing me to do this multiple times. Given the amount of time we spend interacting with our phones, this can get pretty frustrating.
- General stutters & slowdowns. For a near-stock Android phone, this phone is really laggy when performing certain actions. It just grinds to a halt for a second or two. My Pixel XL or OnePlus 5 do not ever do that.
- Buggy software. I've noticed that the camera app will randomly freeze, forcing me to close it and reopen. I've noticed the same thing when interacting with the system settings.
- Camera: The Pixel XL camera (and app) blows this away. The Essential one is slow to focus, slow to switch modes etc. And the image quality is not comparable to the Pixel XL.
I know most of these issues could probably be fixed with tons of s/w updates, but I am not sure people want to wait and be the beta testers for this phone. For now, IMHO, Pixel XL > OP 5 > Essential PH-1. Having said that, the phone shows a lot of promise but we will need to wait and see if they can deliver on their promises.
rajeshr said:
I have a Pixel XL and an Essential - while the build quality of the Essential is top notch (feels really well weighted IMHO) and the edge to edge display really impresses, there are a few things that really annoy me.
- Placement of the hardware buttons (I keep reaching for the power button only to hit the volume buttons)
- Touch sensitivity is all over the place. Many times it does not register when I press on the screen, forcing me to do this multiple times. Given the amount of time we spend interacting with our phones, this can get pretty frustrating.
- General stutters & slowdowns. For a near-stock Android phone, this phone is really laggy when performing certain actions. It just grinds to a halt for a second or two. My Pixel XL or OnePlus 5 do not ever do that.
- Buggy software. I've noticed that the camera app will randomly freeze, forcing me to close it and reopen. I've noticed the same thing when interacting with the system settings.
- Camera: The Pixel XL camera (and app) blows this away. The Essential one is slow to focus, slow to switch modes etc. And the image quality is not comparable to the Pixel XL.
I know most of these issues could probably be fixed with tons of s/w updates, but I am not sure people want to wait and be the beta testers for this phone. For now, IMHO, Pixel XL > OP 5 > Essential PH-1. Having said that, the phone shows a lot of promise but we will need to wait and see if they can deliver on their promises.
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I also don't think everyone is experiencing all these bullet points.
I agree it took a little bit to adjust with the volume and power buttons, they are flipped unlike my Nexus.
Touch sensitivity, I mainly only notice that on the border of the screen. I'm assuming this is setup this way so your hand doesn't accidentally touch things when holding the phone since the borders are so minimal.
Personally I haven't noticed any stutters or slowdowns. It runs butter smooth.
Software has pretty much been fixed on my end since their last few updates.
Again, this is maybe just my experience, but I wouldn't assume everyone is seeing the same issues. There are quite a few happy campers from reading through the other threads.
I think you will enjoy the phone a lot. Coming from a Nexus, your phone will feel way less clunky with these screen borders.
Jess813 said:
Hey guys I came across see guy locally that is VERY interested in trading his Essential for my Pixel XL, I must admit that I'm intrigued by this phone but very worried about all the negativity surrounding it. Can you guys give me your honest opinion since you guys are current users?
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Click to collapse
I would be a bit skeptical of the source of the phone.
I'd trade but you want to know source.
He would still be inside the return window.
He could sent the Essential back and get a PXL and have change back.
Personally I would do it. The Pixel XL will be replaced in a couple weeks and therefore will be harder to sell if you want to upgrade. Also, I have asked for an RMA and then changed my mind twice on this darn Essential phone because every time I feel this strange connection with it. I want to root for Essential. This sounds silly, of course. I have the S8, have had the G6 and all the other flagships before, but this phone is to me the Nexus device of 2017. I had the Pixel and Pixel XL and while I loved the software and camera, once you hold the Essential phone then the Pixels will have laughably huge bezels and will feel five years old in your hand.
So, the camera. I have taken some awesome outdoor shots and I have also taken some that look like they were from a 2014 Moto X. There is no consistency with this camera. I want to believe in it and I have seen what it is capable of, but when I reach for my S8 the experience blows the Essential away. The camera app freezes on the Essential and is extremely slow. If anyone disagrees, then I completely respect that but I will ask if you have compared it to the best of 2017 devices? That said, the best compromise I have found is this: install the Google Pixel camera and set the power button quick launch to launch that camera. Then leave the default camera app icon in the normal place. So now, I can quickly launch the fool-proof Google camera when I need to snap a quick image, but I can take my time with the Essential camera when I have that time to give. I have a 7 month old son and trust me, he ain't waitin' for that damn Essential camera to load!
TL;DR - I would make the trade.
-Collin-
Man, I'm thinking about returning my Pixel 2 XL for an Essential. Wanted the Essential but then all the bad reviews of the camera and what not turned me away. It is literally half the cost of the P2XL with the price drop. It's nice to have one of, if not the best camera, but I feel silly paying $1000 for this phone when I can get a brand new phone with similar specs for half the cost. Not to mention the disappointing screen issues.
I like to run custom stable ROMs which is why I'm looking at these two phones and the P2XL will certainly have more development. I'm not even sure if the Essential has sold enough to have any decent development. I would hate to be stuck with a phone that ends up getting no development. I guess that's what makes the Pixel worth a grand. I never buy brand new phones and always look for deals on Craigslist but this time I thought I'd pull the trigger on something brand new.....the experience was meh.
I am in a similar boat as you (except I have a pixel). If this phone get done development I might pull the trigger. Partly because at least for me, the whole rom game on the pixel is just a nightmare thanks to the two boot slots. I REALLY miss the simplicity of the nexus. But I get it that having the two slots makes things great for stock users but I have soft bricked this phone so many times. If this phone can be simple like the nexus days (once the images come out) I am really tempted. Also depending on when oreo gets dropped
My previous phone was a LeEco Le Pro 3, bought it last year during a black friday sale, it was released almost 2 months before that sale. No roms or any development at that time, but a couple months later a bunch of great roms were available. I think is just a matter of time, be patience, also, we have stock android, why the hurry to flash a new rom?
b316kane said:
I am in a similar boat as you (except I have a pixel). If this phone get done development I might pull the trigger. Partly because at least for me, the whole rom game on the pixel is just a nightmare thanks to the two boot slots. I REALLY miss the simplicity of the nexus. But I get it that having the two slots makes things great for stock users but I have soft bricked this phone so many times. If this phone can be simple like the nexus days (once the images come out) I am really tempted. Also depending on when oreo gets dropped
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The PH-1 has two boot slots just like the Pixel.
I don't remember hearing that. Are they doing the automatic updates too? I figured it was unique to pixels
I am sending back a Pixel 2 XL and getting the Essential
30 day return policy from Amazon right? I'm just gonna get an Essential use them both for a week and make a decision
I have an Essential. It is a solid phone and performs well. However (and this is going to sound strange), it is an unbelievably slippery phone. I took their word that it was made of space-age materials and was drop-resistant, and I didn't get a case. It slipped out of my pocket the second day I owned it while I was sitting down. Screen cracked and it is $200 to replace.
There are really no quality cases available, so I would wait to see if there is going to be any aftermarket support before buying an Essential.
Jess813 said:
Hey guys I came across see guy locally that is VERY interested in trading his Essential for my Pixel XL, I must admit that I'm intrigued by this phone but very worried about all the negativity surrounding it. Can you guys give me your honest opinion since you guys are current users?
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Just be sure the one you are trading for is not locked to Sprint, unless you're on Sprint of course.
appleguy2 said:
I have an Essential. It is a solid phone and performs well. However (and this is going to sound strange), it is an unbelievably slippery phone. I took their word that it was made of space-age materials and was drop-resistant, and I didn't get a case. It slipped out of my pocket the second day I owned it while I was sitting down. Screen cracked and it is $200 to replace.
There are really no quality cases available, so I would wait to see if there is going to be any aftermarket support before buying an Essential.
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There are a number of decent cases available. I'm using the Incipio NGP Pure:
https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Incipio-Shockproof-Polymer-Shock-Absorbing/dp/B076H16TWP
A lot of people like the Tudia cases, especially the new one that just came out with the glass back.
The complaints about the Incipio is that it doesn't work with glass screen protectors... Well 99% of the glass screen protectors available for this phone don't fit right anyways... What I ended up getting was the Incipio Plex Plus Flex... which they claim is flexible glass (I think it's just plastic) but either way, it fits with their case and is invisible on the phone. I managed to snag it on a Black Friday sale because it's kinda expensive for a screen protector, but either way, my phone is now fully protected and looks excellent. I can post pictures if you're interested.
I'm honestly on the fence..
I pre-ordered a Pixel 4 but am second guessing myself so I am curious to hear your thoughts about order the P4 rather than the P4XL.
I'm mostly worried about battery life and quite honestly the Pixel 3 felt just a tad small in the hand when I owned it.
I think my dream size would be the full size of a Galaxy S10, but that's another story..
Anyway.. help solidify my choice.
Why did you choose the Pixel 4 over the Pixel 4 XL?
I have a Pixel 3XL and I ordered a P4XL but then I cancelled and ordered a standard P4. When I bought the 3XL I was doubtful because of the dimensions but then the screen and other things convinced me. After a while my wife got a P3, the other day I realized that the screen of the P4 is slightly bigger than the 3 while keeping the same phone dimensions. I played a bit with the P3 and when I got back to my XL...well it felt huge while the 3 was fine and with the 5.7" would be almost perfect for me.
With the time I got quite ok with the XL volume but I have to admit that generally it's not really comfortable to carry and manage, it's "bareable".
Just hope the P4 battery is fine.
I just like a normal sized phone. I've always felt the Nexus 5X was like the perfect size for a phone. I like to be able to use my phone one handed a lot of the time and I can barely do that with my current phone. The Pixel 4 is shorter than my G7 and thinner (width-wise) as well. The XL is attractive only because of the larger battery but I prioritize ergonomics over that.
I've held the xl, I have small hands, I couldn't operate it with one hand effectively. I felt like I was going to drop it constantly. The regular pixel is perfect.
I really want the Pixel 4 over the XL. I currently have a Note 9, but it's just way too big for my hands to use comfortably, the XL is pretty much the same size as this. I'm just really worried about that small battery in the Pixel 4, otherwise I don't really have any complaints about it. I don't care that it can be unlocked with my eyes closed, that's a non-issue to me. 64GB is more than enough for my apps as I store my photos and videos online and losing unlimited original quality upload is also a non-issue for me. But that battery... ?? I hope they've worked some sort of magic into this Pixel Neural Core for better battery life, otherwise 2800mah just isn't going to cut it
It's the closest phone to the Moto X that I can get in 2019.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
thesebastian said:
It's the closest phone to the Moto X that I can get in 2019.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
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Exactly!
Had a play with the pixel 4 yesterday in a retailer. Compared that to the Mrs pixel 3 and my 2xl.
The pixel 4 is a nice size and to be honest, the 2xl with a military grade drop protection case is just to large.
Admittedly I've just purchased a case for the pixel 4 when it arrives with so called military grade drop protection.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
The 4XL is just too big. At 160mm x 75 mm, it's about the size of a Nexus 6 (159 mm x 83 mm) which I had and found unusably large -- the screen is too big to be operated one-handed, even without a case.
Size
I pre ordered the P4 as I have smaller hands. You can't beat pure android, no bloatwear and first to get updates.
What I don't like with the Google phones, of which I have had all of them except the P3, is when a fault with the phone happens, the Google process for returning and getting a replacement is shocking, especially when I've heard loads of instances when Google send you a refurbished phone to replace what could be your brand you faulty phone.
iPhone , which I've never owned, but family members have, do not mess customers about. If you have a faulty phone still within warranty, they either repair it in store in about 2 hours or simply give you a new one on the spot.
I've never incurred a faulty Google phone yet, I'm just dreading it ever happens. Google need to review this process. I also heard instances that it takes days/weeks for the phone to come back, totally unacceptable for this day and age.
Pixel 4...
Mines ordered.... it arrives tomorrow and I can claim a free Chromebook..!!!
But...
I do wish Nokia had got the 9.1 / 10 ?? ready for this side of Xmas..
Better light camera engine, new CPU, Android 1, 2 years of updates..
I cannot help but feel the p4 is just another incremental upgrade and not a huge leap forward.. but a huge amount of gimmicks... I.e soli.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
I'm going to be honest.
Pixel 2 and Pixel 4 are about the same size (what matters to me is the width, also the weight).
But pixel 2 is still much more easy to handle with one hand (and a thin case)
The extra bigger screen of the Pixel 4 makes it more difficult to handle.
Still Pixel 4 is much more comfortable with one hand than any XL/Phablet version.
But I wouldn't mind if Google in the future released an additional "Pixel XS" based on a 5" and smaller than Pixel 2
Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk
I love the P3 size so I went with the P4. I had the 2XL and 3XL and they just were too big overtime and I feel like the screen to body ratio is silly on them.
Battery sucked on my P3 and so far it sucks as well on my P4.
I had the pixel 2 and was great for my small hands, I bought the 3xl and I am not happy with it, screen is too big for me to reach, I ordered the pixel 4 because is the smallest flagship with Android stock on it
I'll let you know if it is ergonomic enough when I'll receive it
Size. Finger crossed for the battery...
Size
skip24ftlb said:
Had a play with the pixel 4 yesterday in a retailer. Compared that to the Mrs pixel 3 and my 2xl.
The pixel 4 is a nice size and to be honest, the 2xl with a military grade drop protection case is just to large.
Admittedly I've just purchased a case for the pixel 4 when it arrives with so called military grade drop protection.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
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I have a Nexus 6 I still use and a Moto Z2. I use the Nexus 6 at home all the time because of its larger screen on WiFi (it has no SIM card). It is rooted and running a custom ROM. I recently took both on an overseas trip and put the local SIM card in the Nexus 6 and my local one in the Z2. I probably used the Nexus 6 more than the Z2 on the trip. I had no issues with its size and my hands are not large. This is why I decided to buy the XL because 1) I can handle the larger screen size and 2) want the larger battery.
seburton said:
Size
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Same
---------- Post added at 08:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:52 PM ----------
gpvecchi said:
Size. Finger crossed for the battery...
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I've had it 24 hours.
Battery life seems ok for me, but I'm a moderate user.
152bobby said:
I pre ordered the P4 as I have smaller hands. You can't beat pure android, no bloatwear and first to get updates.
What I don't like with the Google phones, of which I have had all of them except the P3, is when a fault with the phone happens, the Google process for returning and getting a replacement is shocking, especially when I've heard loads of instances when Google send you a refurbished phone to replace what could be your brand you faulty phone.
iPhone , which I've never owned, but family members have, do not mess customers about. If you have a faulty phone still within warranty, they either repair it in store in about 2 hours or simply give you a new one on the spot.
I've never incurred a faulty Google phone yet, I'm just dreading it ever happens. Google need to review this process. I also heard instances that it takes days/weeks for the phone to come back, totally unacceptable for this day and age.
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Gosh... Hard to read that. You obviously have not the smallest clue how warranty repair works. I work in a company which sells electronics, we are ASP for Lenovo and Apple, means we are qualified to repair devices from those manufacturers. I work in customer service, hearing all sorts of nice people complaining and crying, insulting me for no reason etc. while having no knowledge how things work at all and that things often are done this way to make them satisfied. But customers, like e.g. you, always find something to complain. If you give out a replacement fast, but refurbished they complain about that. If you repair and this takes many weeks (not possible to fasten the process, it's already done as fast as possible!), they complain that it takes too long.... *sigh*
To make some things clear as you don't know (as well as most others) what you're talking about:
- warranty repair means: you can send your device directly to the manufacturer or let your seller handle that for you (which takes up even more time)
- your seller can send it to an ASP or the manufacturer, in most cases it will be an ASP and NOT the manufacturer, even with Apple
- atm waiting time in most Apple stores including ASPs here in Germany is two weeks minimum (!), not 2 hours!
At our Berlin ASP for Apple it's atm 3-4 weeks before your device is even touched the first time, same in other Apple stores there - always depends on where you live and how many other Apple users live near you - even heard from customers waiting for more than 6 weeks for the repair of their AirPods handed over directly in Apple Store (not ASP), no "simply give you a new one on the spot" - don't tell people such a crap
- most manufacturers (again: also Apple!), if not all, often hand out refurbished devices in case of warranty repair to make the process, which could easily take 6 weeks in case of a real repair of your original device, faster for the customer. This is because most customers are just constantly complaining and whining. To stop that they hand out devices FAST, which then is often, even with Apple, another refurbished device
- if some spare parts have to be ordered and then repair fails (you couldn't always predict that before), it's possible to wait a few weeks and then get a refurbished one
- pretty sure many customers think they got a new device, but got a refurbished one as you often can't tell the difference - refurbished are devices which SHOULD be this way, that you can't tell the difference... if you can it's just not well done
- think about: if thousands of people with broken devices for 1000 $ would always get a new phone while it is easily repairable in the end the costs would be higher than the revenue, they would have to stop producing as margins are already very low on devices but only high on accessories, contracts (like e.g. Apple warranty extension), paid services (like Apple Music), revenue from App Store, etc.
- ALL manufacturers handle it that way, repair time (regularly): 4-6 weeks, doesn't matter which manufacturer (not only Google, as you suggest)
- Apple grants only 1 year! guarantee (while it's 2 years with Google) - that's what I call not acceptable for this day and age! You couldn't imagine how many raging customers I have to do with because of this extremely poor service by Apple, especially when thinking about the huge prices their products are offered for. And they are totally right, that's why I do my best to help them, though often not possible when warranty is gone after only one year. Personally I'd never buy anything from Apple and wouldn't recommend those products to anyone.
- in very rare cases manufacturer or ASP decide to hand out a new device, e.g.: repair not possible, no refurbished device available or very annoying customer getting loud in the store (no joke), still always depends on the person deciding that... "Apple does..." or "Manufacturer XY does..." Sorry, but those statements are just b******* and have nothing to do with reality. You should be aware that not everything will work the way you like to, because some things are just not possible the way you wrote it on your Christmas list, even after a "review of this process" (it's hard to stay polite when reading such du... not very well conceived statements).
Got a new device instead of repair or refurbished? Just enjoy and be happy and be sure that next 100 customers probably won't be that lucky. Know one or two people who got a new device? That doesn't mean that company XY always handles it that way (except for things like hard drives or very cheap things). Most probably they got refurbished but didn't realize that as it was well done or even a device from a refund, almost untouched (but also not new).
Got some broken EarPods? I will send some new ones for free to the customer because transportation back + recycling + sending new ones costs more than just sending new ones. (Such cheap stuff won't be repaired at all.)
Oh forgot...
Chose Pixel 4 because don't like huge panels. It must fit the front pocket of my pants and easily be usable with one hand. Both not the case for XL. To add: gesture navigation is awesome, I'd never imagined that (was never a fan of gestures before)!.