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First off, I don't want this to turn into a "best rom" "best phone" type thread.
My HTC One X recently bit the dust, and a nexus 4 is my only option. (besides sending it in for repairs at $200, and when I paid $100 for the HOX, why not just shell out another $50 for the N4?) I was planning on buying a Nexus 4 later down the road, or a Nexus device at the next generation. Unfortunately, the time has come, a little too soon for my liking. Nonetheless, I think I will be happy with the Nexus.
Anyways, the only phones I have used have hardware buttons.. I have tried the software (navigation keys) on AOKP.
I was wondering, what are they like? Will I have a hard time getting used to them.. or do they just feel right?
If any of you have ever held an HTC One X, it feels a little weird to operate with one hand.
How does the phone feel when holding it? Is it easy to grip, or a little bulky?
Again.. Just a few simple questions, hopefully you guys understand.. We are a little unforgiving in the HOX forums towards people that ask questions about best ROMs or talk about other phones, or ask something that has been stickied, etc.
You will absolutely love the software buttons^^ So much better than hardware buttons imo. You can configure them and do anything you want with them (if on a custom ROM of course)! And to me the Nexus feels great in the hand!
Ngo93 said:
You will absolutely love the software buttons^^ So much better than hardware buttons imo. You can configure them and do anything you want with them (if on a custom ROM of course)! And to me the Nexus feels great in the hand!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course on an HTC device I would naturally run aosp ROMs. But since nexus is already aosp... Might run that for a few weeks and then look at ROMs or dev my own
If I have any other questions I'll bump this thread
Ngo93 said:
You will absolutely love the software buttons^^ So much better than hardware buttons imo. You can configure them and do anything you want with them (if on a custom ROM of course)! And to me the Nexus feels great in the hand!
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Click to collapse
Its a matter of opinion. I personally dislike software keys, they take up valuable screen real estate. You can also set hardware keys to do whatever you want (much like the Viper rom for the One X). Why waste a portion of your screen on buttons?
That being said its still a great phone. Although it lacks the storage capacity, capacitive keys and LTE of my Optimus G...
I've also had the One X, and they're similar in terms of form factor and feel in the hand.
Mercath said:
Its a matter of opinion. I personally dislike software keys, they take up valuable screen real estate. You can also set hardware keys to do whatever you want (much like the Viper rom for the One X). Why waste a portion of your screen on buttons?
That being said its still a great phone. Although it lacks the storage capacity, capacitive keys and LTE of my Optimus G...
I've also had the One X, and they're similar in terms of form factor and feel in the hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why aren't you using LTE on N4 when you're in Canada?
i too came from a HOX and dont regret it one bit. N4 definitely feels more hefty than the HOX but only because of the materials used as oppsed to the plastic used on the hox, also in my opinion n4 feels better in hand than the hox, theres not too much of a weight difference overall is just a wayyyy better more premium feel of the n4 comparing it to HOX, not to say HOX wasnt premium, N4 is just above it.
and to your question on onscreen vs soft keys question.To be honest i never wanted to turn on the on screen keys on roms i ran with HOX, defeated the whole purpose of having the soft keys. transitioning to on screen keys didnt take much effort at all in fact i actually love it and prefer it over the soft keys of the HOX. To me it just seems to flow better with the Jellybean OS and overall look of stock android.
All is just opinion though but id definitely buy the n4 again no regrets
I came from a One XL with no regrets.
I find the on screen buttons to be a lot more responsive than the capacitive buttons on any phone i've used before, including the One X. And i actually prefer that they take up screen real estate since they make the usable part of the screen more or less 4.5" which is far more comfortable than a full 4.7" screen. Also, the extra empty space below the on screen keys means the keys are higher up and easier to reach, as opposed to the One X keys which are waaay at the bottom of the phone and tough to get to with my thumb.
Maybe its just me, but i always felt the One X was really awkward to hold. It was never really mentioned much in reviews before i bought it. The screen bezel was really thick, and on top of the weird angled frame on the sides, it made it difficult, if not uncomfortable to hold, for me at least. The N4 is about the same width, but the grippy flat sides make it a lot easier to hold. Not the most comfortable phone i've held in my hand, but a big improvement over the One X.
The only thing i miss from the One X is the better screen. It had better viewing angles, and more vibrant colours. Pretty obvious when you hold them side by side, but you get accustomed to the N4 screen after a while. The One X camera also captured more detail and took less noisy photos, but i don't miss the camera much since it always seem to get the exposure wrong, faces always looked orange when taken indoors.
The performance difference is pretty huge, especially with multitasking, even compared to AOKP and CM10 on the HOX.
All in all, its a much easier phone to handle.
My last 2 phones where HTC and what I did to adjust was set my navbar much like my HTC devices.
Home. Menu. Back. Search
It made the change from my doubleshot really easy. At first I was SO lost using nav keys and everything but after an hour I don't think I could use anything other than full touch.
Sent From a Freaked out Nexus 4
andyondroid said:
I came from a One XL with no regrets.
I find the on screen buttons to be a lot more responsive than the capacitive buttons on any phone i've used before, including the One X. And i actually prefer that they take up screen real estate since they make the usable part of the screen more or less 4.5" which is far more comfortable than a full 4.7" screen. Also, the extra empty space below the on screen keys means the keys are higher up and easier to reach, as opposed to the One X keys which are waaay at the bottom of the phone and tough to get to with my thumb.
Maybe its just me, but i always felt the One X was really awkward to hold. It was never really mentioned much in reviews before i bought it. The screen bezel was really thick, and on top of the weird angled frame on the sides, it made it difficult, if not uncomfortable to hold, for me at least. The N4 is about the same width, but the grippy flat sides make it a lot easier to hold. Not the most comfortable phone i've held in my hand, but a big improvement over the One X.
The only thing i miss from the One X is the better screen. It had better viewing angles, and more vibrant colours. Pretty obvious when you hold them side by side, but you get accustomed to the N4 screen after a while. The One X camera also captured more detail and took less noisy photos, but i don't miss the camera much since it always seem to get the exposure wrong, faces always looked orange when taken indoors.
The performance difference is pretty huge, especially with multitasking, even compared to AOKP and CM10 on the HOX.
All in all, its a much easier phone to handle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats what worried me. I love the colors of the screen and the camera. (I use cm10.1, which apparently doesn't have the camera quality of sense, but I prefer it anyway.) If the camera on n4 compares to aosp ROMs for the hox, then I'm in the clear. I don't have any option though as my hox is in shambles really looking forward to the n4 though
Hey guys! Just made my first impressions video on the Galaxy Note 4! Went a different route and didn't get into the obvious since it's not a full review, and just went into how it felt using the device for a short time.
Video link:
The Galaxy Note 4 - My Casual First Impressions: http://youtu.be/-FPV6Vlu0qg
Written:
The first thing you’re going to notice with the Galaxy Note 4 is it’s excellent build quality, rivaled by only a few phones. Having owned a Note 3 and being satisfied with it’s fake metal banding, once you get a phone with this kind of build quality you really realize what you were missing out on. Holding it gives you a very premium feel in your hand which is awesome. Even with the chamfered edges, it’s still comfortable to hold. I’d say it feels better and more substantial in your hand than that of the LG G3 even with it being quite a bit larger.
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The display on this is my favorite. Displaymate also says this is the most accurate display on the market today. One thing I missed from using phones with an LCD display, is when the background is black.. the pixels are still lit up. As we all know, this is not the case with samsung phones and the blacks are purely black and really make the images pop. Oh, and for all the people that complain and say the screen it too vibrant? You realize you basically have a TV in your pocket, right? Go to the settings and CHANGE it do a different mode. Cinema mode is what seems to be the most accurate.
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The back, still being faux leather, still feels very nice in the hand and personally.. I like a plastic back. When I owned the HTC One I was way to scared to set that thing down without a case because I didn’t want to either, A, mess up the screen. Or B, mess up the nice metal backing. Not to mention in the winter it can get quite cold to the touch and just isn’t worth the trade-off to me.
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Performance on this thing is just incredible. Now I don’t like stock launchers. Even with the Nexus 6 I will be putting Nova launcher on it. So all of that “touchwiz lag” people talk about, I’ve yet to see it no this phone while with my Note 3, the first day you could notice it right off that bat with certain things. Keep in mind, switching the launcher only changes your homescreen, touchwiz is still everywhere else. But.. it’s a lot better than it was.
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One thing that I’ve noticed with this phone and that can get quite annoying is the feature to minimize whatever screen you’re on. It’s a really nice feature, but I find myself accidentally activating it all the time when trying to go to my notification tray. I like to swipe down from the corner, and now that is how you minimize the app. So, I now have to adjust a bit and make sure I’m not hitting the corner exactly.
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One thing I didn't plan on mentioning with this phone was the whole "gapgate" issue. Because to me, while I could see very clearly in videos that there is some sort of gap, I figured it wouldn't effect anything on a day-to-day basis, if at all. That was until today.
I took my phone out of my pockets (it's the weekend, I'm wearing only sweats and casual clothes), and sure enough.. there was lint or something at the top of the display. So I had to actually take a receipt I had laying around to dig it out because sadly, my nails would not suffice.
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Conclusion:
Other than the small gripe I have with the minimizing the window and the.. I'm not even sure if it should be a big deal to me or not, gap issue, this phone is absolutely incredible.
However, if you're ready for an upgrade, wait until the Nexus 6 is out officially before deciding on whether you should get this, the Nexus 6, or for you Verizon folk, the Droid Turbo.
nice video
appreciate your input, good video!
Turn off multi window if you don't use it and it won't minimize window
You can turn of the swipe to minimize gesture but still keep multi window on but you'll have to activate it by holding the back button
I am most likely going to get the Essential Ph-One, but am wondering what hardware /software keeps people from going full on w/ this new E. Ph-One? Both that the phone has or doesn't and that other manufacturers do,...
I came from a long line of Nexus/Pixel devices but recently switched to the Galaxy S8 a couple of months ago. After experiencing the bezel-less life, I couldn't imagine going back to something that has large bezels like the Pixel/Pixel XL. However, I'd like to get back into something with a more "pure Android" feel. So far the essential phone looks like a very viable option.
I was going to hold out for the 2nd generation of Pixel phones, but leaks from reputable sources are pointing to the smaller Pixel 2 having massive bezels and the larger Pixel XL2 simply being an enormous phone (pushing 6.4" tall). If the rumors about the Pixel line-up are true, neither phone will work for me. From what I've seen so far, the Essential phone is more or less what I was hoping the 2nd generation Pixel would be.
However, with apps and OS features requiring more and more resources, I'm a bit nervous about the 4GB RAM in the Essential phone. I'm also a bit baffled by their decision to go with LCD when the new standard in flagships is AMOLED. I'd understand if the use of LCD was to cut costs and lower the price, but at $700 that logic doesn't hold. Lastly, the initial reviews of the camera are very "meh" with no one being overly impressed with the pictures the Essential phone takes.
Another option I am considering is the OnePlus 5. 6-8GB of RAM, pure Android experience, blazing fast finger print scanner, AMOLED 5.5" screen and a good camera. It also has a headphone jack and while I know that this "feature" is on its way out, I'm just not quite ready to let go if I don't have to. The big downside of this phone is the 2015/2016 size top and bottom bezels. However, OnePlus does make good use of the bottom bezel by putting the finger print scanner/home button and capacitive buttons in that area, which frees up screen space from the on-screen nav bar. Not to mention that it's $160-$230 cheaper than the Essential phone, depending on which model you choose.
To make matters even more confusing, the iPhone 8 is rumored to be announced on September 6th. So at this point I'll probably take some more time to see what that has to offer and evaluate further.
I no longer buy phones from a carrier.
The phone must have a boot loader I can unlock.
I need to "own" my phone. If I can't load any ROM I want, I don't own the phone.
I already bought my Essential PH-1
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 Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
I've used my phone for about a week now, and I just love it. The phone is great, quality, screen color, brightness, comfortable in the hand, great photo quality, nice sound. My only BUT is MIUI, but well, for the moment I use NOVA.
I have been using this phone for a month now but I have noticed a left-right wobble in the screen. Is that normal or I need to get it checked from xiaomi. The wobble just ruins the premium overall experience with the phone.
harmeet_randhawa5 said:
I have been using this phone for a month now but I have noticed a left-right wobble in the screen. Is that normal or I need to get it checked from xiaomi. The wobble just ruins the premium overall experience with the phone.
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Click to collapse
I think that's normal, I've seen it reported on a couple of the video reviews. That's the price you pay for a slider mechanism and no notch. A small price, imo.
After the first 12 hours, I'm very ambivalent about this phone. I absolutely love the display, it gorgeous to look at, very nearly bezel-less, and much sharper than my previous Samsung AMOLED (albeit an old one). What I don't like is the weight and the slippery surfaces. It's a bit better with the cover on, but what's the point of a flashy ceramic surface if it's only usable with a case over it? I realize this is a general problem with pretty much every high-end phone, not just this one, and I suspect that people who don't like plastic are the same ones who worry about themes.
Recieved mine 3 days ago.
I think it's good. Coming from a Mix 2, it's a refined version of the concept working pretty well.
Mine has also this left-right wobble, it's not wobbly.. you can push it to the side a little, if you push it but it makes a litte.
Been using mine for a few days now, and I'm getting used to the increased size. Using gestures helps a lot with general ease-of-use, particularly with one-handed operation. I can't see any wobble issues with mine, but the sliding mechanism is quite stiff compared to what I've seen in the videos, so maybe I got one that's a bit tighter. The speed of the thing is something to behold, booting takes a few seconds, and even running a TWRP backup is super-fast at a couple of minutes at most.
She's a hefty beast of a phone. I often use my phone to read in bed and having an oled display should be nicer for my eyes but even at the lowest brightness it is still fairly bright. The phone is quite heavy. I notice a tad wobble without a case if I am pushing the top right corner. I do not use the front facing camera. Not at all. MIUI is smooth but it has numerous bugs some of which make me frustrated. The main bug is that gboard will not allow me to use a personal dictionary. Other users on MIUI phones suffer the same bug. Still unresolved (there is a bug-ticket) Another bug includes the inability to keep Edge Gestures open. The gestures baked in are nice but being primarily bottom edge gestures it makes you(read me) hold the phone much lower and exacerbates the weight of the device.
Battery performance is excellent. The assistant button is awesome. You can map it. I find myself using google assistant way more because of it.
I will be unlocking and adding a custom ROM as those two bugs make my everyday use of the device harder than it should be. Especially the keyboard. It is incredibly frustrating when I need to type names and places in Japanese because of it.
I came from the mi mix 2 (gifted to my wife) and I also use the Redmi 4x. Both solid phones thanks to the community of developers. Xioami isn't available in my country so if something breaks I am SOL. However, I feel Xioami products are worth the risk.
tl/dr: Solid phone. Heavy. Fast. MIUI is good. But depending on the usuage bugs can be frustrating.
invisiblewave said:
After the first 12 hours, I'm very ambivalent about this phone. I absolutely love the display, it gorgeous to look at, very nearly bezel-less, and much sharper than my previous Samsung AMOLED (albeit an old one). What I don't like is the weight and the slippery surfaces. It's a bit better with the cover on, but what's the point of a flashy ceramic surface if it's only usable with a case over it? I realize this is a general problem with pretty much every high-end phone, not just this one, and I suspect that people who don't like plastic are the same ones who worry about themes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I felt the same way about using the cover, but I purchased a transparent protective film for the back and the screen, and I took away the slippery issue and allowed the phone to look like it had nothing on. It looks gorgeous!
alexisjmz said:
I felt the same way about using the cover, but I purchased a transparent protective film for the back and the screen, and I took away the slippery issue and allowed the phone to look like it had nothing on. It looks gorgeous!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you post a link to what you used? I'm now using the phone without the cover, since it makes a surprising difference when trying to wedge it into the pocket of my workout shorts, but I'm scared to death of dropping it every time it's in my hand.
invisiblewave said:
Can you post a link to what you used? I'm now using the phone without the cover, since it makes a surprising difference when trying to wedge it into the pocket of my workout shorts, but I'm scared to death of dropping it every time it's in my hand.
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Click to collapse
I used this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KN36KFM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A30R5FB6PSKP9L&psc=1
If you're looking for a hard shell, these won't do, but it will provide some grip and scratch protection. Hope it helps.
alexisjmz said:
I used this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KN36KFM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A30R5FB6PSKP9L&psc=1
If you're looking for a hard shell, these won't do, but it will provide some grip and scratch protection. Hope it helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I may well give that a try. I highly doubt the ceramic will scratch, it's harder than the glass on the front, but I definitely need more grip. Once it's on, is there any way to get it off easily?
invisiblewave said:
Thanks, I may well give that a try. I highly doubt the ceramic will scratch, it's harder than the glass on the front, but I definitely need more grip. Once it's on, is there any way to get it off easily?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's a protective film, it isn't that hard to remove.
is there a SUPER NIGHT SCENE MODE? or was that the Night Scene Mode
Is this a good phone? Happy day to day use? Is the headphone adapter decent? Does anybody LOVE this?
ToneLa said:
Is this a good phone? Happy day to day use? Is the headphone adapter decent? Does anybody LOVE this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do, now I have vanilla Android on it! The hardware is outstanding, the software it ships with I found difficult to use. Now I no longer have MIUI on it, it's by far the best phone I've ever owned. It performs like a flagship, but at nearly half the price of most of its competitors, and it's visually gorgeous. I can't comment on the headphone adapter since I don't use cables other than for fastboot operations.
invisiblewave said:
I do, now I have vanilla Android on it! The hardware is outstanding, the software it ships with I found difficult to use. Now I no longer have MIUI on it, it's by far the best phone I've ever owned. It performs like a flagship, but at nearly half the price of most of its competitors, and it's visually gorgeous. I can't comment on the headphone adapter since I don't use cables other than for fastboot operations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! I'm likely to go for a custom ROM / not MUIU myself so it's great to hear the hardware is top notch.
I think this is my next phone. Still a bit curious about how custom ROMs deal with the excellent camera and the slider, but that's not necessarily an immediate concern.
Happy to see it get some love! I might get the jade one, and put the EU ROM on it
invisiblewave said:
I think that's normal, I've seen it reported on a couple of the video reviews. That's the price you pay for a slider mechanism and no notch. A small price, imo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you better describe this "wobble"? I don't think I understand what you are referring to. I'm just curious. I have the phone since two weeks ago and don't see anything weird in the screen.
Marcelocohenarg said:
Can you better describe this "wobble"? I don't think I understand what you are referring to. I'm just curious. I have the phone since two weeks ago and don't see anything weird in the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you haven't noticed it, just forget about it. There's nothing wrong with my screen either. The hardware is rock solid, the software leaves a lot to be desired, imo.
Mi MIX 3 is the best android phone I have had so far and I went through all versions of Samsung Galaxy and Google. I am using my global version with stock launcher on T-mobile LTE with no connection issues.
1. Display is just perfect, bright and beautiful with no ugly front camera cutouts.
2. Sliding the phone by default opens the selfie camera, but customizable to any other app.
3. There is a separate button on the side of the phone (like Bixby), which is completely customizable as well.
4. I love how fast the finger print scanner works in this phone. Overall phone operation speed and app launching/operation is faster than my Google Pixel 2 XL and Galaxy note 9.
5. Always on display (AOD) works as expected most of the time (it tends to move up on the screen and turns off in low light conditions).
6. There is a small message indicator light which flashes white light.
7. There is a Edge Glow (similar to Samsung Galaxy phones) feature which is supposed to only work when you receive notifications and AOD is off. I noticed the glow on occasion with AOD on and now I am using a android app "Always On Edge - Edge Lighting" to further customize and use the feature.
8. The phone ships with a plastic phone case/10W wireless charger base/Type C-3.5 mm adapter cable.
9. Camera in this phone is one of the best in the business (especially in low light).
10. Battery appears to be on the smaller side but I have had no issues with moderate use (over 60% left from morning to bed time).
11. Ceramic back is beautiful but a fingerprint magnet ; I am still using the phone without a case, which makes it a bit slippery; I placed a back protector clear film which did not help with the fingerprints but a bit easy to hold.
12. Phone is ~10 grams heavy compared to the Samsung Galaxy note, but it has a great balance and well made feel. You will notice it in the front shirt pocket for few days after the initial use (especially with a case).
13. There is a small movement of the screen in the top left corner (when you tap), due to the slider mechanism, which is barely noticeable.
14. MIUI launcher/ software is very smooth and I never felt the need to root the phone and install vanilla android version. I just changed the defaults for the browser/text apps to google. There is a drop down menu similar to any android with a screenshot toggle.
15. MIUI gives you only two sound options Regular (audible ring)/Silent. Silent mode can be programmed to vibrate; I wish Xiaomi makes it simple with sound/vibrate/silent modes with next SW update. There is a Do not disturb (DND) mode which can be programmed.
16. The stock "vibration intensity" is very low compared to Samsung or Google phones. It is easy to miss a notification or call when the phone is inside the pocket especially with a case. I don't know if any apps can let you change the vibration intensity without rooting.
17. So far, I love everything about the phone which is made better than any other android at any cost. If I drop the phone and break the display, I may not easily find a replacement screen in the local store. For ~$550 phone cost compared to ~$900 I spent on Samsung/Google phones, I am taking that risk.
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 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
Hi as the devices are out in the German speaking countries, some initial comments from my side. I am coming from different devices including Fold 1, N20U and the one with the i, just as a background. My main daily driver in the last 12 months was the Fold 1 which I absolutely loved, that's why I ordered the Fold 2 on the first day.
- Overall a real 2.0 version of a 1.0 product I loved. A lot of improvements
- The small screen is a lot better, I was using the small Fold 1 screen quite often and liked also typing on it, as I swype heavily, and the short distances make it really quick. That advantadge is still there, but smaller, on the other side typing of words which you can't swype like passwords is easier now due to the additional screen real estate.
- The quality of the small screen has significantly improved from my point of view in terms of brightness and clarity
- I hated the small screen for only being able to arrange three apps in the permanent row at the bottom, and it is 5 now! Big improvement
- Audio is incredible, I also had the Mi10 which was the king in that category from my point of view, Fold2 equal or better. Incredible loud. Don't forget to turn Atmos on.
- I treated the Fold 1 very carefully for a couple of weeks, until I found out that nothing happens - actually my 1 year old Fold 1 is in best condition although handled like any other phone. I am in the same phase now with the Fold 2 - I am worried
- I have the Aramid standing cover and I don't like it. It looks cheap and covers only a part of the device, additionally it is more instable on a desk than without it. I am planning to switch to the leather cover
- Training the face recognition is so incredibly fast (1-2 seconds) that I think this cannot be save....
- You have to switch the large display to tablet mode in order to get tabs in the browser or multi window in outlook, this setting is only visible if you have the display open. Took me time to find it. Only then the large inner display makes real sense
- I am a heavy user of the small display and mainly use the large one for media consumption, which results in something like 60/40 usage small/big. With this setup, the battery seems to be fantastic, although to early to provide any detail. The German magazine CHIP made exactly that test and came to incredible runtime with the small display.
- The haptic of the whole thing made a big step forward compared to fold 1, especially the hinge. Real great feeling.
- Not really a dealbreaker, but strange: The flashlight is the weakest I had on a phone for years
- I am everything but an expert for smartphone cameras, more the point and shoot average user. Photo quality seems great to me, but look for better experts to talk about that. The usability is great, fast and responsive
- Generally, same comment applies to N20U and S20U, I think the OneUI made big steps forward in the last two years. Especially looking at the whole eco system with watch and earbuds, the whole user experience is now really great and close to an other phone (can' remember the name, someting with an i as far as I remember)
This are my initial impressions. I am happy with my purchase up to now.
Digging the Samsung Notes app on the big screen. Obviously doesn't support S-Pen but finger writing works surprisingly well.
Sent from my SM-F916U using Tapatalk
So after 5 days, thoughts...
First of all, the delivery was surprisingly on time, (never bought directly from Samsung Germany before) so that was a good start with the experience.
I wasn't overly impressed with the unboxing though. But still, unwrapping the warnings of was a good feeling. Then closing the device for the first time was a "wooow" moment. Coming from the Fold, that hinge feels so sturdy and worthy. I guess I played around, opened , closed the device for a minute or 2 before booting up the device.
It's screen protector in and outside are perfectly fine for the moment. The inside feels a bit "rubbery" and cheapish if I may say so, but it does the job fine.
The big screen is bright enough and clear enough for the everyday use. Regarding the flex mode, I do not give much about it. It's not mature enough yet to use it fully IMHO.
The outer screen, geez I use it a lot. I already used it quit often on the original Fold, but this upgrade is an enlightening. One hand usage, swiping my messages away. A quick look at social media is lovely, reading quickly any article is OK.
The build in general is sturdy, mature and a joy. I have the Mystic Black version. No need to tell anyone it's a fingerprint magnet. It's slippery as well.
And that's what annoys me a bit. I don't care they didn't put any extras in it this time. I mean, you just spend 2000 euro/dollar on a device. Then 60 Euro shouldn't be that big of a problem either. But they should've had it available in shops, online etc to get a case, cause you want to protect it, and this Mystic Black version is slippery as an eel.
I need a case or skin for this version.
But the conclusion is, samsung nailed it, to give us a 2000 euro experience, that feels like a 2000 euro device.
Did I need they phone? No, do I wanted the phone? Yes. But can I go back to a "normal" phone after 2 generations of foldable phones? Probably, but difficult it'll be...
After heavily utilizing my Mystic Black Fold 2 for a weekend, here are some of my thoughts below. I'll try not to repeat common things that I've read here or seen in reviews, but overall, I'm loving this device and having a pocketable large screen!
- The narrower front screen is surprisingly easy to type on, even without swiping. I have nubs for thumbs and I was shocked that I wasn't producing typos left and right.
- The visibility outside for both screens is pretty good, though the inside screen suffers from high reflectivity when outside in the sun. It doesn't affect you as much if you're looking straight on and slightly closing the hinge to angle the display helps.
- This device is so slippery it continually falls out of my pocket when I get in my car or sit at an angle. Where are you Fold 2 cases?! So far no damage but there have been a couple close calls.
- I have tried to be extra careful with this device but the inside screen protector is scratched up. I only notice it at certain angles under bright light but it makes me sad. I'm tempted to remove the inside screen protector but I'm not sure the ultra thin glass would hold up any better.
- The power button is a bit awkwardly placed for my hands and I found that I was constantly swiping up/down on it by accident which opened/closed the notification shade so I turned off that gesture.
- Speaking of that power button, it's tough to feel the button when attempting to scan my fingerprint but that could be due to me being used to face unlock with my iPhone 11 Pro and Pixel 4XL. I'm sure this will become more natural over time and the fingerprint scanner is mighty quick.
- I haven't found many widgets I like as they're not yet optimized for the screens (this includes some of the Samsung apps which surprised me). Many take up a lot of room on my homepages but then have small/compressed text/images. Hope this improves over time.
- I love the ability to be able to have multiple apps open but I initially got confused (and frustrated) with the Android split screen multi-tasking. I hope to be able to take advantage of this more as I use the phone.
- Very minor gripe but I wish there were more stock live wallpapers like how Google provides with their Pixels.
- Not sure if anyone else is encountering this but when I open to the bigger screen, there's a click that happens if I press down on the hinge on a bit. I found that opening to the larger screen by applying more pressure with the tips of both thumbs prevents this.
- Sometimes I get "disoriented" over which screen orientation I'm on when using the larger screen (i.e. is it currently in portrait or landscape?).
- When I have the device open in landscape, I like to keep the speakers on top both to project the sound a bit better and b/c the back half with the camera is a bit more grippy compared with the front screen (I took off the front screen protector).
- Haven't had any issues using Samsung Pay with this device.
- This device is amazing when you're out shopping with a significant other and need to keep the kids entertained with the large screen and loud-ish speakers!
Needs a TOTAL makeover!
I love it yeahhh!
My absolutely favorite phone is ... Nokia e90 Comunicator. I had this 3 times ln the past. Still have one Nokia e7 in perfect condition. I had also Htc Z . My first Android. I love foldables because... I love it, just love this Wow effect and of course more functionality. Bar phones looking like soaps. Even bigger and bigger Soaps!
propov8 said:
I love it yeahhh!
My absolutely favorite phone is ... Nokia e90 Comunicator. I had this 3 times ln the past. Still have one Nokia e7 in perfect condition. I had also Htc Z . My first Android. I love foldables because... I love it, just love this Wow effect and of course more functionality. Bar phones looking like soaps. Even bigger and bigger Soaps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Love the Nokia Communicator. And even flashbacks to the Psion Organiser that I still have in a drawer somewhere.