Face ID - Google Pixel 4 Questions & Answers

Face ID - Google Pixel 4 Questions & Answers

Since Pixel 4/XL will starting using Face ID as security measure, will they do it differently than Apple? Personally, I don't think Face ID will be secure enough, especially when I tried it with my identical twin brother on the iphone XR, it immediacy unlocked the phone. In this situation, how can they say Face ID is more secure than finger print (yes, identical twins has different finger prints!)

I think there's always exceptions to this. For the vast majority of people, Face ID is probably fine security wise. There's never a full proof solution to privacy.
I don't personally think Face ID is better than a Fingerprint Reader, but I think it's an acceptable form of "security." I personally don't have much on my phone that I care much for Face ID or Fingerprint Readers other than the convenience of it.

I was against dropping the fingerprint reader.
But if they say the phone automatically unlocks at even a fast speed (so before you finish grabbing the phone), then I don't think I'll have a problem
However, I hope anything that support face unlock is draining extra battery life. Every extra % matters.

I wouldn't say it's more secure as a fingerprint reader, but probably on par. The true problem with the Pixel's Face ID is that right now it can unlock your phone while your eyes are closed. This needs to be rectified purely from the standpoint that someone can unlock your phone while you're asleep.

A FP reader can also be used with opened or closed eyes. ? Not sure about the commotion on this.

radlink14 said:
A FP reader can also be used with opened or closed eyes. ? Not sure about the commotion on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They want to commit that it's unsecure because it can be used without you wanting it. Like when you sleep.
But all the arguments I've heard so far are also valid for fingerprint security, it can also be used while you sleep. :silly:

ptr_hamilton said:
They want to commit that it's unsecure because it can be used without you wanting it. Like when you sleep.
But all the arguments I've heard so far are also valid for fingerprint security, it can also be used while you sleep. :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But again, won't have issue with FP reader for twins! I tried the Pixel 4 yesterday with my identical twin brother and it unlocked immediately.

Related

This is why the Nexus 6 can't match the Note 4.

It doesn't take advantage of all that screen real estate. No multi window support, one handed mode etc. No real features that make use of the larger screen. Google tends to just plonk bare minimum stock Android onto their devices without really optimizing it for that specific screen.
Am I still getting the N6? Of course, I am. I can't stand lag wiz and I enjoy fast and latest updates. I'll just have to look into the Play Store for apps that make help me take advantage of the bigger screen and hopefully, some ROMs come out that do the same.

Okay.
There's already a thread for this.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I think the onus is on the app developers to implement these things. I have multi window and one handed operation on my Note 3 and tried both....once....then realized I didn't want to do anything on half of a 5.7" screen.....and can use the phone with one hand fine when needed. The one handed Samsung feature defeats the purpose of having a large screen to begin with.

We have a thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/note-4-vs-nexus-6-t2906800

I think this might be the first time I've heard this argument /sarcasm

People actually care about multi window ?

htowngator said:
People actually care about multi window ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some apparently do. I couldn't stand it. There is nothing I do on my phone that can't be put away in order to do something else. These screens are already tiny. I couldn't even really do multiwindow on a pc effectively until 24" or larger monitors came around.....

chancy319 said:
It doesn't take advantage of all that screen real estate. No multi window support, one handed mode etc. No real features that make use of the larger screen. Google tends to just plonk bare minimum stock Android onto their devices without really optimizing it for that specific screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you should get the Note 4. From your statement above you are bagging on stock Android which is why you buy a Nexus to begin with.

Multi-window seems a bit stupid on a screen 6" or smaller anyway. On a computer is one thing. But having two windows open that aren't even 3 inches tall.... what's the point?
And one-handed mode.... is what people call a mode for those too lazy to USE THE OTHER HAND! If you're in a situation where your other hand isn't free to do something on your phone... then i'm pretty sure that's not a situation where your phone should be a priority.... like DRIVING.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/1...-early-multi-window-explorations-for-android/

Multi-Window...
I have had the Note 1, 2 and 3. I think the only time I ever use Multi-Window is to show off. My son uses the stylus to draw and yea, its a media device 90% of the time.

Please use the existing thread HERE

MIX as primary device since November. Thoughts.

Coming from an LG G Flex 2 (hailed a failure amongst devs for the device, but mine ran stable and smoothly all the time just by following the stickies here; IMO original G Flex showed so much potential ). Running global 6.12.8, with some xposed tweaks. I haven't touched a thing since I got that setup. I run the device continuously, with no reboots, and its respectably stable at any given moment. Let me know I'm missing out on anything huge by letting the weeklies go by.
The screen size upgrade was much appreciated - I have big hands, I can Swype reasonably fast using the thumb of the hand I'm holding the phone with. Heft and size plus added reach make two hand usage more comfortable, nonetheless.
Screen itself is absolutely stunning (and tbh, I've never really qualitatively observed any quality problems with 1080p on mobile devices); colors are brilliant.
TLDR: The display is enjoyable to look at
No need for a stylus here. I once rocked an iPad mini as a full fledged phone using GV voice (when it was so simple), and had a stylus for that. Carried that for a while during undergrad. Never cared for styluses since.
Phone camera does what phone cameras do. I'm no expert in cameras (well kinda - Optics PhD student), so I choose not to count too much on the numbers/specs provided. I get good shots that contain all of the information necessary in a phone camera image.
I cheated a bit. I use Nova Launcher. Have settings locked down to a science since LG launcher fail in the original Flex.
No complaints. Everything is quick and fluid. I also have a neat trick that enables knock ON/OFF, so the phone behaves itself and gets locked (one way or another).
The softkeys and accessibility button provide more than enough shortcuts to do whatever you need to do is. Fingerprint sensor is right where it should be, and recognizes my fingers at any given time.
I have a Google voice number, so I switched my default dialer and incoming call receiver to Hangouts dialer. NO COMPLAINTS. I used the regular phone app to make calls plenty before I realized I wasn't actually dialing out through GV (MIUI issue, afaik). VOIP sounds better through the phone's screenspeaker than does a traditional voice call. My carrier tallies my data usage to a ridiculously low number every month, so I don't think VOIP phone causes trouble.
Battery life is a must for me. I'm OCD perfect with battery management of my devices, but I need to know I can take my phone to work every day a and use it for lots of real stuff and/or leisure. 8-9 hours of work a day sets me back to the realm of ~65% battery life. I could come home and play nintendo DS on 400% speed for hours on that kind of juice. 4400 mAh was a major selling point for me, and that's paid off.
Speaker quality is surprisingly good for what the speakers look like sitting there at the bottom.
Once you've rooted and used Lucky Patcher to block ads, you've got one smooth, slick, stone to carry around that will not fail you; cavemen would be very jealous.
Concerns:
Dropping. The case provided makes for a really nice grip. I have never once almost dropped the phone. It's slid out of my pocket once, but short fall = no damage.
Features I miss:
IR blaster. I love them. They make owning entertainment centers even lazier.
Not much else.

Thanks for your impressions. I ordered mine from Light in the Box two weeks ago, and am (im)patiently awaiting.
Quick question on MIUI; I started with Samsung phones, then had a Nexus 6, so full Android all the way. Do you feel like there's a learning curve, getting around MIUI? I love tech, but don't like change too much; I'd love to get this phone working as close to AOSP as possible.

jeromekobriger said:
Thanks for your impressions. I ordered mine from Light in the Box two weeks ago, and am (im)patiently awaiting.
Quick question on MIUI; I started with Samsung phones, then had a Nexus 6, so full Android all the way. Do you feel like there's a learning curve, getting around MIUI? I love tech, but don't like change too much; I'd love to get this phone working as close to AOSP as possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kinda why I opted for a Launcher I was familiar with (it's MIUI themed though, so I get points for trying). I've never found there to be more of a different learning curve from one Android device to another. You figure out what your device can and can't do, you set up your shortcuts, gestures, other personal accessibility options, and then you use it. When you find something about it you don't like, you fix it.
I could give you an enormous list of XPosed tweaks and small things here and there that I've changed, but that might not do you any good because it's personalized to me.

Good to know, thanks. I haven't played around with MIUI yet, so wasn't sure just how different it might be. Xposed on the other hand; that was my bread and butter on my Note 3 and Nexus. That'll go a long ways.
Thanks!

No calls on Verizon.
I have date and text working, no voice calls going thru. Have updated the apn as per the site here. What am I missing. Would appreciate any help.
Thank you.
bigcc32 said:
Coming from an LG G Flex 2 (hailed a failure amongst devs for the device, but mine ran stable and smoothly all the time just by following the stickies here; IMO original G Flex showed so much potential ). Running global 6.12.8, with some xposed tweaks. I haven't touched a thing since I got that setup. I run the device continuously, with no reboots, and its respectably stable at any given moment. Let me know I'm missing out on anything huge by letting the weeklies go by.
The screen size upgrade was much appreciated - I have big hands, I can Swype reasonably fast using the thumb of the hand I'm holding the phone with. Heft and size plus added reach make two hand usage more comfortable, nonetheless.
Screen itself is absolutely stunning (and tbh, I've never really qualitatively observed any quality problems with 1080p on mobile devices); colors are brilliant.
TLDR: The display is enjoyable to look at
No need for a stylus here. I once rocked an iPad mini as a full fledged phone using GV voice (when it was so simple), and had a stylus for that. Carried that for a while during undergrad. Never cared for styluses since.
Phone camera does what phone cameras do. I'm no expert in cameras (well kinda - Optics PhD student), so I choose not to count too much on the numbers/specs provided. I get good shots that contain all of the information necessary in a phone camera image.
I cheated a bit. I use Nova Launcher. Have settings locked down to a science since LG launcher fail in the original Flex.
No complaints. Everything is quick and fluid. I also have a neat trick that enables knock ON/OFF, so the phone behaves itself and gets locked (one way or another).
The softkeys and accessibility button provide more than enough shortcuts to do whatever you need to do is. Fingerprint sensor is right where it should be, and recognizes my fingers at any given time.
I have a Google voice number, so I switched my default dialer and incoming call receiver to Hangouts dialer. NO COMPLAINTS. I used the regular phone app to make calls plenty before I realized I wasn't actually dialing out through GV (MIUI issue, afaik). VOIP sounds better through the phone's screenspeaker than does a traditional voice call. My carrier tallies my data usage to a ridiculously low number every month, so I don't think VOIP phone causes trouble.
Battery life is a must for me. I'm OCD perfect with battery management of my devices, but I need to know I can take my phone to work every day a and use it for lots of real stuff and/or leisure. 8-9 hours of work a day sets me back to the realm of ~65% battery life. I could come home and play nintendo DS on 400% speed for hours on that kind of juice. 4400 mAh was a major selling point for me, and that's paid off.
Speaker quality is surprisingly good for what the speakers look like sitting there at the bottom.
Once you've rooted and used Lucky Patcher to block ads, you've got one smooth, slick, stone to carry around that will not fail you; cavemen would be very jealous.
Concerns:
Dropping. The case provided makes for a really nice grip. I have never once almost dropped the phone. It's slid out of my pocket once, but short fall = no damage.
Features I miss:
IR blaster. I love them. They make owning entertainment centers even lazier.
Not much else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Pointmanipo said:
I have date and text working, no voice calls going thru. Have updated the apn as per the site here. What am I missing. Would appreciate any help.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately I've never messed with CDMA networks (Verizon is still considered CDMA, right?); my cell service has always been GSM based.
I use Hangouts to handle all of my phone calls now, mainly because I did have a few issues getting Google Voice to play nice with MIUI, so I'm probably not the right person to ask. I'd suggest making a new thread - increasing your chances of getting the answer you're looking for (it is a legitimate issue, so it's worthy of a new thread).

bigcc32 said:
Unfortunately I've never messed with CDMA networks (Verizon is still considered CDMA, right?); my cell service has always been GSM based.
I use Hangouts to handle all of my phone calls now, mainly because I did have a few issues getting Google Voice to play nice with MIUI, so I'm probably not the right person to ask. I'd suggest making a new thread - increasing your chances of getting the answer you're looking for (it is a legitimate issue, so it's worthy of a new thread).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes thank you for your reply.

Love mine as a daily driver too, have had it since January or so. Got a transparent tpu case for grip and off i went. I have everything working data wise and software wise, even got my Samsung gear s2 to sync up and run well.

Nicolfa said:
Love mine as a daily driver too, have had it since January or so. Got a transparent tpu case for grip and off i went. I have everything working data wise and software wise, even got my Samsung gear s2 to sync up and run well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many have reported that due to the case, the piezoelectric speaker doesnt work as intended giving a very low volume during calls, could you comment on your experience while making or receiving calls with ur tpu case on? is it that low? or perhaps you dont notice cos use earphones or bluetooth earphones??
Please if you could be detailed it would be much appreciated.

Calls and volume have been fine as long as your holding the headset like a phone and not at odd angles or other methods I've seen people do when talking on the a cell phone.

mp3elv said:
Many have reported that due to the case, the piezoelectric speaker doesnt work as intended giving a very low volume during calls, could you comment on your experience while making or receiving calls with ur tpu case on? is it that low? or perhaps you dont notice cos use earphones or bluetooth earphones??
Please if you could be detailed it would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, I use hangouts for all my voice calls, and it seems as though Hangouts has a significant volume boost over the standard phone app.

bigcc32 said:
Again, I use hangouts for all my voice calls, and it seems as though Hangouts has a significant volume boost over the standard phone app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do u use a case on your phone? a tempered glass? or just naked, it seems these addons affect the sound from the piezoelectric device

mp3elv said:
Many have reported that due to the case, the piezoelectric speaker doesnt work as intended giving a very low volume during calls, could you comment on your experience while making or receiving calls with ur tpu case on? is it that low? or perhaps you dont notice cos use earphones or bluetooth earphones??
Please if you could be detailed it would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mp3elv said:
do u use a case on your phone? a tempered glass? or just naked, it seems these addons affect the sound from the piezoelectric device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got a tempered glass screen protector on right now. I haven't noticed any degradation of call quality.

Had mine since november and absolutely LOVE it. I have treated it so carefully, and yet I managed to bring it out with me while partying saturday. Got drunk which I rarely do these days and smashed it in the pavement. I immediately ordered another one. It simply cannot get here soon enough.

I have been using my Mix as a daily driver for a month now running Epic ROM. Glass screen protector and case and no problem with quality of sound. Probably the best phone I have ever used(been using Nexus 6, OPO and OP2 before). When I will miss stock Android I will flash RR or Lineage OS. But for the time I like something different and EPIC Rom (MIUI ) is good for a change.

benziii said:
Had mine since november and absolutely LOVE it. I have treated it so carefully, and yet I managed to bring it out with me while partying saturday. Got drunk which I rarely do these days and smashed it in the pavement. I immediately ordered another one. It simply cannot get here soon enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to hear about that.
Are you getting a better price this time?
IDK what you paid previously,but, I'd imagine pricing is a little bit better than when it first became available.....
Sent from my Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 using XDA Labs

KOLIOSIS said:
Sorry to hear about that.
Are you getting a better price this time?
IDK what you paid previously,but, I'd imagine pricing is a little bit better than when it first became available.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Paid 780$ last time (4/128). This time around 620$ (6/256). Could probably look around for an even better offer, but I was still buzzed and freakin out hehe.

Got mine today (6/256);
I need to agree with 1 simple fact; pictures & videos are not able to do this device justice. I can safely say that this is THE most premium (excluding the likes of Vertu) device I held.
Amazing. (but slippery AF).
I just finished setting it up with my apps & will report usage after a while.
All in all, apps run super smooth.
The only issue I encountered till now, is the slow transfer speed via USB. I get 2x-3x higher speeds on the same PC with my other devices.
I need to isolate the issue - whether it's the cable, or the handset itself.
#EDIT 2017-05-05
- Still need to underline how slippery it is ;]
- call volume is quite low, even on the highest settings
- the USB cable is thin, so I am expecting needing to buy a replacement after a short time

It has rendered my laptop as useless, haven't turned it on since owning the mix just don't need it with this screen size.

Pixel 2 - terrible Android/software experience

Pixel 2 is my first Google phone and I bought it as I thought it would be the best android experience there is, based on all the review in major web tech outlets. I was very wrong. I am experiencing bugs on daily basis and there seems to be hundreds of people with same issues, yet nothing is fixed months after phone release. Could XDA look into this a publish an article that would hopefully be picked up by other sites so Google owns the issues?
I am on Jan security patch, we are over 3 months in from the launch and not much improvement.
Current issues:
- missed screen inputs/taps. In Photos/Camera double tap won't zoom in until several tries.
- double tap to wake is hit and miss, many times after multiple tries I have to use power button to wake up the phone
- difficult to swipe away notifications from lock screen or swipe up to unlock
- getting camera fatal error message and camera app freezes, factory reset and update to 8.1 helped with frequency but not fixed permanently
- home screen widget never shows any upcoming events if created on web or though another account like exchange - super stupid
- Bluetooth is totally unusable. Dropped connections in a car, audio that won't go neither in connected Bluetooth device nor phone speaker itself, disconnecting bluetooth headsets in the middle of the call etc.
- the audio dongle to connect wired headset rarely works and requires phone reboot with it connected to work
There is hundreds posts on Google product forums with these issues, yet no fix. I have reported these issues multi times, no one ever reached out to me. To some issues from the above Google actually admitted to them with only saying there will be a fix in a future fix, no ETA or what they are doing about it.
It is a joke for a phone that is over $700 with tax. The 8.0 seemed like a beta version pushed on people, I am tired of this practice. I had a Blackberry Priv which was BB's first Android phone and the OS had way less bugs than Pixel. You would think that Google's software would be perfect given their resources and that they basically write the OS.
I love the camera on the Pixel and it was pretty much the only reason I bought it. We have a baby and it takes great pictures super fast in all light conditions. But once others catch up with the imaging tech I think I will never go back to Google.

kloubik said:
Pixel 2 is my first Google phone and I bought it as I thought it would be the best android experience there is, based on all the review in major web tech outlets. I was very wrong. I am experiencing bugs on daily basis and there seems to be hundreds of people with same issues, yet nothing is fixed months after phone release. Could XDA look into this a publish an article that would hopefully be picked up by other sites so Google owns the issues?
I am on Jan security patch, we are over 3 months in from the launch and not much improvement.
Current issues:
- missed screen inputs/taps. In Photos/Camera double tap won't zoom in until several tries.
- double tap to wake is hit and miss, many times after multiple tries I have to use power button to wake up the phone
- difficult to swipe away notifications from lock screen or swipe up to unlock
- getting camera fatal error message and camera app freezes, factory reset and update to 8.1 helped with frequency but not fixed permanently
- home screen widget never shows any upcoming events if created on web or though another account like exchange - super stupid
- Bluetooth is totally unusable. Dropped connections in a car, audio that won't go neither in connected Bluetooth device nor phone speaker itself, disconnecting bluetooth headsets in the middle of the call etc.
- the audio dongle to connect wired headset rarely works and requires phone reboot with it connected to work
There is hundreds posts on Google product forums with these issues, yet no fix. I have reported these issues multi times, no one ever reached out to me. To some issues from the above Google actually admitted to them with only saying there will be a fix in a future fix, no ETA or what they are doing about it.
It is a joke for a phone that is over $700 with tax. The 8.0 seemed like a beta version pushed on people, I am tired of this practice. I had a Blackberry Priv which was BB's first Android phone and the OS had way less bugs than Pixel. You would think that Google's software would be perfect given their resources and that they basically write the OS.
I love the camera on the Pixel and it was pretty much the only reason I bought it. We have a baby and it takes great pictures super fast in all light conditions. But once others catch up with the imaging tech I think I will never go back to Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you for your honest impressions / thoughts
I want to spend the time and comment on your issues:
- missed screen inputs/taps. In Photos/Camera double tap won't zoom in until several tries.
- double tap to wake is hit and miss, many times after multiple tries I have to use power button to wake up the phone
- difficult to swipe away notifications from lock screen or swipe up to unlock
three points are related to the touchscreen. I have never experienced a single one of them and i am pretty sure there arent a lot of complaints in the www
In my honest opinion, why didnt you use your waranty ? This seems to be a defect on your device.
- getting camera fatal error message and camera app freezes, factory reset and update to 8.1 helped with frequency but not fixed permanently
I have never experienced this issue, and dont know about any reports
- home screen widget never shows any upcoming events if created on web or though another account like exchange - super stupid
It is clearly stated that this widget works with google account ... you can call this a stupid a choice but it is not a bug
- Bluetooth is totally unusable. Dropped connections in a car, audio that won't go neither in connected Bluetooth device nor phone speaker itself, disconnecting bluetooth headsets in the middle of the call etc.
my bluetooth connection in my car, bluetooth headset and even kde connect works flawlessly
- the audio dongle to connect wired headset rarely works and requires phone reboot with it connected to work
well, its an audio dongle ... going for a smartphone without the headphone jack, you should have bt headset or usb type c headset ...

kloubik said:
Pixel 2 is my first Google phone and I bought it as I thought it would be the best android experience there is, based on all the review in major web tech outlets. I was very wrong. I am experiencing bugs on daily basis <snip>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IF you're not trolling, why would you keep a device like this? Sell it and take maybe a $100 hit and get a device you like. The amount of effort and time you put into this rant would have paid for itself. You need to prioritize.

infamousvincci said:
Get an iphone. You are the only one complaining about lots of issues. To be honest, theres a lot of things u can do, read, try fixes, or RMA your phone. Amazing how you can post this long but cant effort on trying to RMA it.
Get an iphone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is clearly not true. There's hundreds of people on google product forums with same issues. I have tried all suggested fixes, clearing cache, app reinstalls, even factory reset.
What is RMA going to do with software issues as everyone suggests? Nothing! There is so many people who went through multiple RMAs and all issues are back, since it is all software issues.
As I said, the camera is super important to me and at the moment there is not anything better than Pixel camera (with maybe iPhone X being equal but I will never buy iPhone). If Galaxy S9 delivers in camera department I will for sure get rid of Pixel.
Just to open your eyes for those who say I am the only one with these issues:
Camera fatal error:
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/phone-by-google/FYGdgPya_Vs
Headphone adapter not working:
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/phone-by-google/-p-F-7Rgtak
Swipe issues:
http://www.androidpolice.com/2018/0...id-8-1-lockscreen-swipe-issues-pixel-devices/
Btw, I have the verizon version with non-verizon SIM. If I did not sideload updates manually I would still be on Sep 17 security patch. Another issue that Google admitted to and said they don't intend to fix.

kloubik said:
This is clearly not true. There's hundreds of people on google product forums with same issues. I have tried all suggested fixes, clearing cache, app reinstalls, even factory reset.
What is RMA going to do with software issues as everyone suggests? Nothing! There is so many people who went through multiple RMAs and all issues are back, since it is all software issues.
As I said, the camera is super important to me and at the moment there is not anything better than Pixel camera (with maybe iPhone X being equal but I will never buy iPhone). If Galaxy S9 delivers in camera department I will for sure get rid of Pixel.
Just to open your eyes for those who say I am the only one with these issues:
Camera fatal error:
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/phone-by-google/FYGdgPya_Vs
Headphone adapter not working:
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/phone-by-google/-p-F-7Rgtak
Swipe issues:
http://www.androidpolice.com/2018/0...id-8-1-lockscreen-swipe-issues-pixel-devices/
Btw, I have the verizon version with non-verizon SIM. If I did not sideload updates manually I would still be on Sep 17 security patch. Another issue that Google admitted to and said they don't intend to fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OP does have some valid points. I've noticed a few of these issues as well. Most notably the missed touches, hit or miss dt2w and the swiping problems from the lock screen.
It's an awfully expensive device to be having issues with.

I can partially understand the OP's frustration. This is supposed to be the smoothest Android experience and I've personally ran into more bugs in the past month of ownership than in the past 3 years of using Sony and Honor devices. Apps crash almost daily, the fingerprint reader is significantly slower than my Honor 8, and the double tap to wake feature has always required 4 or more taps.
That being said, I've never felt this phone was a bad purchase or unusable. If the OP feels that way, then he or she should simply have Google replace it. It's under warranty and this thread won't solve these issues.

PuffDaddy_d said:
I can partially understand the OP's frustration. This is supposed to be the smoothest Android experience and I've personally ran into more bugs in the past month of ownership than in the past 3 years of using Sony and Honor devices. Apps crash almost daily, the fingerprint reader is significantly slower than my Honor 8, and the double tap to wake feature has always required 4 or more taps.
That being said, I've never felt this phone was a bad purchase or unusable. If the OP feels that way, then he or she should simply have Google replace it. It's under warranty and this thread won't solve these issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. Posting this is useless. RMA it or deal with it. Lol.

kloubik said:
This is clearly not true. There's hundreds of people on google product forums with same issues. I have tried all suggested fixes, clearing cache, app reinstalls, even factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the point of your OP? You are obviously not asking for help. It is just a rant with no point other than to trash the device from what it looks like. So I ask again, why are you here and why did you post this?
---------- Post added at 09:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:42 AM ----------
infamousvincci said:
Correct. Posting this is useless. RMA it or deal with it. Lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree, you beat me to it. lol Forget RMA, he should just sell the device and go to the Sammy forums. Hmm.. now that I think about it..

bobby janow said:
What is the point of your OP? You are obviously not asking for help. It is just a rant with no point other than to trash the device from what it looks like. So I ask again, why are you here and why did you post this?
---------- Post added at 09:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:42 AM ----------
Agree, you beat me to it. lol Forget RMA, he should just sell the device and go to the Sammy forums. Hmm.. now that I think about it..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is your issue? This section says News & discussion. I wanted to bring these issues to light as I'd like to have these issues fixed so I can use the device without daily bugs.

I agree with the OP. What's the point of having a discussion forum if we can't just discuss things that are on our mind. Even if it is a rant.

I agree most of the point, except the title...

OP has a point. Feel free to criticize him all you want, but the point remains valid. You can see clear evidence in the Google Support Forums. I myself have struggled with BT connections dropping everywhere. The only solution that works for me is clearing BT app data as soon as my connections start to drop every few seconds. Pretty annoying issue for a $650 phone if you ask me.
Yes, I could RMA. But for me right now it isn't worth the hassle. Not all of us live in the US where you can RMA and have a nice new phone by the end of the week. I choose to live with the BT issue for now because I seriously love everything else about the phone. But that doesn't mean that Google hasn't made some mistakes with it.

jascolli said:
I agree with the OP. What's the point of having a discussion forum if we can't just discuss things that are on our mind. Even if it is a rant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because this is not a discussion at all. Every attempt at help has been shot down as not acceptable, even RMA. So I ask again what is the point of this rant other than to trash the device? Got to call a spade a spade and acknowledge you don't really want help.
And yes the title of the OP is well... Not something that attracts sympathy or support. If help was really desired this thread would have a completely different tone.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using XDA-Developers Legacy app

redsmith said:
OP has a point. Feel free to criticize him all you want, but the point remains valid. You can see clear evidence in the Google Support Forums. I myself have struggled with BT connections dropping everywhere. The only solution that works for me is clearing BT app data as soon as my connections start to drop every few seconds. Pretty annoying issue for a $650 phone if you ask me.
Yes, I could RMA. But for me right now it isn't worth the hassle. Not all of us live in the US where you can RMA and have a nice new phone by the end of the week. I choose to live with the BT issue for now because I seriously love everything else about the phone. But that doesn't mean that Google hasn't made some mistakes with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now this is a discussion. I've heard about BT issues for years now so I guess it's not quite fixed. It's odd because I have no issues whatsoever as many others. But then there is a group of users like yourself that have problems. What is the answer, RMA? I know it's not worth it to you but is that the answer anyway? Also when did it start happening? After an update or from the get go? It seems the OP has decided that it's software since he won't RMA the device, but is that the case?
When I hear of BT issues I always wonder if it's the other end that causes issues. Like maybe the stack doesn't talk right to the device. I mean a way to check would be to connect to another device or let those of us that have no problems try to connect to a device identical to yours. Nonetheless, take a look at the OP again and tell me he wants help or discussion. I think not, it's just a rant plain and simple. It's almost like he went out to find every possible issue that anyone was ever having with the Pixel 2 and listed it as his own. I've seen so many posts like that by people who are fans of other devices and just either are paid or fans of the company. I'm not saying that's the OP but it just seems odd that he wouldn't return the device if he has all those issues. I wouldn't keep it for 5 minutes no less 5 months.

I have updated the title to better reflect my post.
Also, I tried pretty much every suggested solution I could find to fix the problems I'm having, save for the RMA. I am not convinced it will fix the issues as others confirmed issues remain after receiving new units. I will try one more factory reset after Feb patch is released.

bobby janow said:
Now this is a discussion. I've heard about BT issues for years now so I guess it's not quite fixed. It's odd because I have no issues whatsoever as many others. But then there is a group of users like yourself that have problems. What is the answer, RMA? I know it's not worth it to you but is that the answer anyway? Also when did it start happening? After an update or from the get go? It seems the OP has decided that it's software since he won't RMA the device, but is that the case?
When I hear of BT issues I always wonder if it's the other end that causes issues. Like maybe the stack doesn't talk right to the device. I mean a way to check would be to connect to another device or let those of us that have no problems try to connect to a device identical to yours. Nonetheless, take a look at the OP again and tell me he wants help or discussion. I think not, it's just a rant plain and simple. It's almost like he went out to find every possible issue that anyone was ever having with the Pixel 2 and listed it as his own. I've seen so many posts like that by people who are fans of other devices and just either are paid or fans of the company. I'm not saying that's the OP but it just seems odd that he wouldn't return the device if he has all those issues. I wouldn't keep it for 5 minutes no less 5 months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are absolutely right. This post sounds like RANT more than seeking help. This gives android community bad impression. Like i said to the OP, get an IPHONE lol.

infamousvincci said:
Get an iphone. You are the only one complaining about lots of issues. To be honest, theres a lot of things u can do, read, try fixes, or RMA your phone. Amazing how you can post this long but cant effort on trying to RMA it.
Get an iphone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong,
I am I experiencing the exact same issues he mentioned

Colday96 said:
Wrong,
I am I experiencing the exact same issues he mentioned
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So can we identify any common factors amongst devices that suffer these and devices that don't? Unless it's something simple like "VZW devices with non-VZW SIMs" that might be hard, and there may not be a common factor, it might be random bad luck. But put together the facts that it's clearly only a minority suffer these issues and yet some people report the same with replacement devices, and that suggests the possibility that there might be some factor that correlates with it (don't have the statistics to work out whether that's a warranted possibility of not).
(For the record, I've had none of the problems mentioned, though I only used the Google headphone adapter a few times so can't speak with huge confidence on that one, and am not a big BT user though it has always worked for me when I do use it. Non-carrier phone in the UK, unmodified, January 5th security patch on 8.1.0)

Overall love

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the OnePlus 7T, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the OnePlus 7T is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!

Hello to all OnePlus 7T owners out there! I don't know if this is the right place to ask but what is your favourite thing about this phone and what is the thing you want to complain about, even if it is totally subjective? I am looking forward to your answers! Cheers

Super fast, the first phone or tablet I've seen that opens Pennsylvania's 20+MB hunting digest PDF and scroll perfectly...
The speaker.. omg super loud and clear who needs a Bluetooth speaker now!?!
Rugged case selection in stock shipping from an American warehouse is really poor..

Insane device. Also love the new camera bump as the design is a little bit fresh

uberjon said:
Super fast, the first phone or tablet I've seen that opens Pennsylvania's 20+MB hunting digest PDF and scroll perfectly...
The speaker.. omg super loud and clear who needs a Bluetooth speaker now!?!
Rugged case selection in stock shipping from an American warehouse is really poor..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's clearly, I have not been impressed with the speaker, did you do anything with your settings or Dolby to get it working better?

Cowbell_Guy said:
it's clearly, I have not been impressed with the speaker, did you do anything with your settings or Dolby to get it working better?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope nothing different haven't even messed with Dolby

Buyer beware of the rear glass and OPs handling of what is clearly a design defect...very easily scratched deeply

chazman1117 said:
Buyer beware of the rear glass and OPs handling of what is clearly a design defect...very easily scratched deeply
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Luckily they may screen protectors for this about 6 USD for a 5 pack on Amazon
---------- Post added at 08:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:01 AM ----------
Amazing phone! Stacks up with the super brands all day long at half the price .

I should be getting one of these today unless FedEx decides to do some more creative routing. The phone has already traveled about 2,300 miles to get to me from an origin point about 150 miles away. New Jersey to New York via Memphis, Tennessee. And I paid extra for that.
The only things I really care about in a phone are the processor, GPU, RAM, connectivity, basic call quality, and GPS. The rest falls under the heading of "stuff I never use." I'll be back with my narrowly-scoped observations on those aspects within a few days, the good Lord and FedEx willing.

Okay, here are a few preliminary impressions.
Setup: Painless.
GPS: Surprisingly good. This is an important feature for me because I do mapping work. I almost didn't buy this phone because of all the complaints about the GPS that I read. But then I realized that literally every other phone in the phone-using world had just as many or more complaints about GPS, so I decided to try it for myself.
Bad GPS would have resulted in my returning this phone, but it actually did quite well. With all four systems in use, I tool it for a roughly 20-mile drive through an area that practically all GPS receivers have a hard time with because of the topography. It maintained a 3D fix with 3-meter accuracy for the whole length of the trip, which is outstanding. :good:
I also tried to test it with Magic Earth, but being your basic idiot, I forgot to download the offline maps first; so that report will be forthcoming.
Overall Design: I'm probably not the one to comment on that. I'd use a brick phone if it delivered the best performance.
Call Quality: Seems okay when talking to myself from one of my other phones. Maybe a tad tinny, but not horrid.
Bluetooth: I can hear the GPS voice over my car's Bluetooth system, which is all I care about.
Signal Strength: Three bars on ATT, which is about average for where I live. I'll check the actual signal strength later.
WiFi: 5GHz works well anywhere in my house, which was all I tested.
So far, no deal-killers. :fingers-crossed:

LTE speed isn't bad for the boonies: 82.69 Mbps down, 6.50 Mbps up. That's on AT&T prepaid.

First impressions
New year, new round of flagships. Last year started with OnePlus 6T and it lasted for good 2 weeks. This year is the same for me.
* glass back looks matte, almost though it's plastic. Camera design is very attractive unlike iphone/samsung rectangles
* it's too heavy, can't imagine difficulty holding Mi10 or 1+7Pro
* it lacks SD, jack, QC, Qi, IP and notification diod. Lacking wireless charging is very painful as the luxury of placing mobile on magnetic Qi holder is priceless. Ambient display shows notification briefly which is great and better than AOD icons, but no AOD + no LED lights means you don't know what's up most of the time including charge status and low battery
* again nice hardware volume switch every phone should have
* display is bigger, higher frequency helps some animation blur
* night mode, reading mode, dimming mode and night theme is provided
* very fast charging but i still hate Warp as it's not compatible with myriad of chargers
* fingerprint is excellent and super fast, but you need to tap screen first
* faceunlock is also super fast but doesn't work in night unless you want to be attacked by display light
* nice classic local backup feature is gone
* fenomenal OnePlus-original hide notch feature is gone, only fake hide notch which cuts the screen is available
* animations are inconveniet for eyes, for example when switching apps the app will blink each time
* hint popups on the bottom of the screen are hard to spot, fast timeout and small size
* fenomenal Pie navigation is gone, instead xiaomi mi9 like crippled gestures are there, you no longer can scroll apps while holding pill.
* overall phone speed is incredible
3 days later
* app switching really sucks, QuickSwitch plugin doesn't work, and Nova is launched app switching is gone
* rooting is very annoying, but udating ROM is probably the easiest of all phones (just the OTA availability is great)
* this is perhaps Android Q, but i appreciate two finger up swipe gesture for magnification. This solves the longterm problem of having full screen navigation while missing zoom. Normally there are two modes in Accessibility settings: triple tap screen which delays the whole UI or navbar icon which obviously doesnt appear with full screen navigation
* i love OnePlus-original screen off gestures as before.. it's genius. Less i need hold fingerprint shortcut menu.

Three things to hate:
* minimal brightness always lower than it should be. Very annoying. Also dark mode would make screen readable even less update: solution: turn off any night mode stuff..makes phone unreadable
* cannot hold keys on the left and right boundary of the keyboard without massive delay (so there are many typos when long-pressing keys like "1", "q", "p")
* no wireless charging and a Qi pad doesn't work (works on other phones). This brand really insists people don't use the best technology in mobile phones - Qi update: also got another most capable multiformat charger, still won't charge above 8W (3hours).. commitment: i won't be buying any brand-specific chargers ever
Luckily battery is so great that charging is a rare event as documented in battery threads

Battery could have been better atleast 4000 mAh

I’ve been reading OnePlus forums all day and I’m more and more confident that I made a great choice. The second phone I have is Huawei, but he is not standing next to it))

I love mine, got it a week ago, and this phone is like lightning, I love the Oxygen OS, Dual sim, lots of HP and storage. Best phone I have ever owned. :good:

Meh, honestly I think based on what I keep hearing this may be an unpopular opinion but.... one plus devices to me have always been great due to their freedom. If you run into some problem then plop on a rom and fix it or some root app.
Unfortunately due to there not being much active development due to the temporary death of twrp, I’ve been running into a bunch of stability issues I can’t fix. I’m not sure if it’s just my phone or if people are blind due to the lower cost of the device. I’ve run into random freezes, keyboard lag, Bluetooth will sometimes just switch audio to phone speaker and won’t go back even if I’m still connected till I restart Bluetooth, the prox sensor is doing such a poor job at keeping the screen locked while I’m in a call that it’s really just comical now...I’ve ended a call to find myself looking at a screenshot my face took of the home screen and been fooled for a few seconds, or having the call ended because I’ve activated my flashlight and airplane mode...
I came from an Xs max to this phone and had a pixel before that. I’m not os brand loyal. If this phone didn’t need rebooted daily (cause I just don’t have time to fiddle around and find the issue, I have work and rebooting usually fixes whatever bug pops up) and could just hold onto its stability (I have no social media so I’m talking basic functionality here and some telegram usage) this phone has all the hardware markings of an awesome e phone.
It just falls short in knowing that we used to just plop on a hyper stable rom nd call it a day.... and now I’m just stuck.
If i wasn’t currently convinced this was just my phone, I’d give this phone a 2 but I’ll give it a 3 out of respect for OnePlus. I loved my last OnePlus device and used to not even be able to switch roms because oos was just that good.... now I’m going to Samsung of all things and holding onto this phone in hopes of a proper functioning twrp in the future, and that devs are still around when it does

igotlostintampa said:
Meh, honestly I think based on what I keep hearing this may be an unpopular opinion but.... one plus devices to me have always been great due to their freedom. If you run into some problem then plop on a rom and fix it or some root app.
Unfortunately due to there not being much active development due to the temporary death of twrp, I’ve been running into a bunch of stability issues I can’t fix. I’m not sure if it’s just my phone or if people are blind due to the lower cost of the device. I’ve run into random freezes, keyboard lag, Bluetooth will sometimes just switch audio to phone speaker and won’t go back even if I’m still connected till I restart Bluetooth, the prox sensor is doing such a poor job at keeping the screen locked while I’m in a call that it’s really just comical now...I’ve ended a call to find myself looking at a screenshot my face took of the home screen and been fooled for a few seconds, or having the call ended because I’ve activated my flashlight and airplane mode...
I came from an Xs max to this phone and had a pixel before that. I’m not os brand loyal. If this phone didn’t need rebooted daily (cause I just don’t have time to fiddle around and find the issue, I have work and rebooting usually fixes whatever bug pops up) and could just hold onto its stability (I have no social media so I’m talking basic functionality here and some telegram usage) this phone has all the hardware markings of an awesome e phone.
It just falls short in knowing that we used to just plop on a hyper stable rom nd call it a day.... and now I’m just stuck.
If i wasn’t currently convinced this was just my phone, I’d give this phone a 2 but I’ll give it a 3 out of respect for OnePlus. I loved my last OnePlus device and used to not even be able to switch roms because oos was just that good.... now I’m going to Samsung of all things and holding onto this phone in hopes of a proper functioning twrp in the future, and that devs are still around when it does
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As for the proximity sensor, the 7T uses a different type of sensor, and maybe it's settings/calibration need to be adjusted in some future ROM update.
https://www.ellipticlabs.com/2019/09/26/new-oneplus-7t-phone-uses-elliptic-labs-ai-virtual-sensor/

Guatiao said:
As for the proximity sensor, the 7T uses a different type of sensor, and maybe it's settings/calibration need to be adjusted in some future ROM update.
https://www.ellipticlabs.com/2019/09/26/new-oneplus-7t-phone-uses-elliptic-labs-ai-virtual-sensor/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah! It’s guessing, should have thought it was something like that. Instead of using a sensor it’s trying to determine via software alone which at best is an educated guess, and fake a sensor report based on its guesses.
This does mean at least it’s not a hardware fault! If they do a good enough job and don’t drop the tech it could be cool stuff. Just doesn’t feel that stable in this phone yet.
Still cool tech

igotlostintampa said:
Ah! It’s guessing, should have thought it was something like that. Instead of using a sensor it’s trying to determine via software alone which at best is an educated guess, and fake a sensor report based on its guesses.
This does mean at least it’s not a hardware fault! If they do a good enough job and don’t drop the tech it could be cool stuff. Just doesn’t feel that stable in this phone yet.
Still cool tech
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed! I've experienced it also, having a second call placed while holding my phone with the shoulder. I believe a bit of software tweaking could fix the issue. I don't know if non official ROMs or beta versions of the stock one still suffer from this.

Overall love

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Huawei P40 Pro, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Huawei P40 Pro is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!

Very happy with my P40 Pro so far. I'll try to keep this short & honest.
First of all, one of the most important things: battery life. It's very good IMO. I keep my phone on FHD+ with 90hz refresh rate. Honestly I expected sub-par battery life from this device with 90hz, and I thought I was gonna switch to 60hz for sure, but I was pleasantly surprised. Like I said, battery life is not an issue on this phone. Not insanely great, but still, very solid. :good:
The camera? Oh, boy. Just look at the samples posted on the internet, or watch camera reviews on Youtube. It's just phenomenal. Low light is also incredibly good, although from my testing, some shots come out better in "photo mode" than they do in "night mode". Sometimes the opposite.
The display is also great. No QHD resolution, but FHD+ is more than enough for me. I think QHD on phones is a gimmick, but that's just my opinion.
The only thing I don't really like that comes to mind is the weight of this phone - it's kinda heavy, especially compared to my previous phone.
About the Google services issue... To me it's not really an issue. I don't NEED GMS on my phone. I can live without them. Yes I installed them, but it was more out of the urge to tinker with my phone, than the necessity of having them. Here's what I have to say about my personal usage.
My banking app is in the Huawei App Gallery. Google Calendar, I don't really use. Maps? The "Maps.me" app and Here WeGo seem like good alternatives to Google Maps. As for gmail, you can easily use AquaMail or Bluemail and add your gmail account there. The interface is a bit different though. I kinda miss Google Photos as I did have some photos saved there, but it's not that big of a deal. Out of curiosity, I just installed the Google Photos app moments ago and it seems to work fine on my P40 Pro. It detected the photos on my device and I can see everything that I backed up in the past.
I still would not recommend the P40/P40 Pro to people who are very dependent on Google apps, as I can't guarantee whether Huawei will patch this GMS installation method, or not. There's just no way of knowing that.
So, in summary, if you heavily depend on Google apps and services - DON'T buy it. If you think you can live without them, then you can give it a try. In my country Huawei lets you "try" the device for 15 days, so if you don't like it you can send it back and get a refund.
Huawei P40 Pro gets a solid 4.5/5 from me.

Review based on a European living in UK, other regions might be completely different.
You don't use any apps that use GMS:
If majority of the apps you use on a daily basis are available in Huawei store, then this phone is for you and you can stop reading, this review assumes you use GMS (Google Mobile Sevices) in some direct or indirect form.
For the rest:
Amazing piece of hardware but the third party software at this moment in time (constantly progressing) is pretty useless. Don't buy this phone if:
You want everything to just work
You are not tech savvy enough to know what adb is and have enough experience to figure out which sideloaded apps are clearly unsafe
You need an actual smartphone and rely on it for critical tasks that cannot fail using third party apps that might rely on GMS
If you are a tinkerer like myself and like messing with devices and fixing issues the manufacturer wont, don't buy this phone (locked bootloader).
Google Situation
Think of how many times a day you use third party apps on your phone. Majority of those apps (in Europe atleast) use Google Mobile Services in some form. If you are one these people, I would recommend you buy yourself a cheaper smartphone with a separate point and shoot camera, honestly you would get a more reliable and possibly pleasant experience that way. Unfortunately I rely on other, non-google apps way too much such as Slack, Delivero, Uber, DJI Pilot app, Blizzard Authenticator, Unified Remote Control etc... If you decide to side load the apps missing from its store (using Petal Search or Aurora store), be prepared that those apps will probably be broken in some shape or form. Most apps rely on Google services such as Firebase for notifications, Google location services for location and etc.
You might be able to get the side-loaded app installed and mostly functioning, but something, somewhere might be broken and you wont know until it bites you. For example Slack is installable and definitely usable, but you wont get any notifications. Apps that use google location all seem to be half broken even if you install Google services; you will open Delivero/Uber once and everything will work, and next time you open it there will be no location. You order from Delivero one day and you will get the notification that the driver is outside so you think sweet, the app fully works, but the next time you order the driver would have tried contacting you 4 times before he drives away with you undelivered food. Apparently this is fixable with an always on display and tuning the power saving of the phone. I did contact a few app developers asking if they plan to support HMS, and got mixed replies.
Other than the Google situation, here are some points:
Build quality and materials are generally amazing
Centre of gravity is slightly offset from centre, its towards the top left corner of the phone. Also the phone is PHAT, its definitely bigger than my S8 and thicker, but its the weight that's most noticeable. Not a huge deal but was a minor annoyance.
Face-ID and fingerprint scanner both work flawlessly and super fast.
Camera is superb
"Wide" camera is an insult to the term. The sensor is great but the wideness is just a smidge more than normal lens. Honestly I would call it misleading advertising and it should be called "Not-So-Wide" camera
General performance is great, no complaints. Also compared to my S8, the phone stays colder for much longer
Battery life seemed great, spent a whole day on it installing google and only drained like 60%.
The stock experience is OK, apart from any AI features. AI is in pre-alpha phase. For example the voice assistant cannot set a timer, it can only open the timer app. Oh and if you don't speak the exact accent Huawei expects you to, good luck getting it to recognise anything. You could side-load Alexa, but you cannot change the default assistant, so the 1sec press of power button will always bring Celia.
There is some weirdness in apps, for example the default keyboard (SwiftKey) gives you the option to login using your google account even though its definitely broken in stock.
The gestures work really well in most cases. The same gestures do get very annoying in some apps where you keep accidentally pressing back instead of bringing up side menus or switch drawer.
Banking is mostly broken for stock Huawei. Managed to get Natwest banking app working after a lot of work though. Contactless payment is 100% broken and will be for a long time!
Permissions: Pretty much every single Huawei app wants to have access to your calls and messaging history. Maybe nothing malicious but certainly makes you question why they need it
NM cards are more than double the price of MicroSD
Comes with loads of bloatware, but most is easily removed
The pill cutout is not bad, just wish they shoved it more in the corner of the phone more
Uncertainty if your phone will break after an update if you have google services installed
Installing Google services is not easy and seems to be a constantly evolving battle where methods change frequently
Internet forums/ youtube is filled with post from either bots or one can only assume are Huawei influencers. Also the phone is so talked about online that trying to use search to find answers to your problems usually just brings up a Forbes news story.
Locked bootloader
I admit, I made a mistake of not checking the news before buying the phone (saw a dirt cheap one on eBay). Fully expected to unlock the bootloader and install some custom ROM with GApps, but since 2018 Huawei locked their bootloaders for "security". Even so, I tried the phone for couple of days, spend a day installing google services, aurora store, icebox and the whole lot and honestly was super disappointed. Sold the phone couple days later and if you check eBay you can see dozens of people doing the same thing every day.

I stopped reading at "Software at this moment in time is pretty useless".

ZedeN said:
Review based on a European living in UK, other regions might be completely different.
Amazing piece of hardware but that's it! Software at this moment in time is pretty useless. Don't buy this phone if you need an actual smartphone. I would recommend you buy yourself a cheapo smartphone with a separate point and shoot camera, honestly you would get way better experience that way. If you are a tinkerer like myself and like messing with devices and fixing issues the manufacturer wont, don't buy this phone (locked bootloader).
If you stick with the pure Huawei experience and don't need any apps that are not in Huawei store, I am sure you would have a great time, unfortunately I rely on other, non-google apps way too much such as Slack, Delivero, Uber, DJI Pilot app, Blizzard Authenticator, Unified Remote Control etc... If you decide to side load the apps missing from it's store (using Petal Search or Aurora store), be prepared that those apps will probably be broken in some shape or form. Most apps rely on Google services such as Firebase for notifications, Google location services for location and etc.
You might be able to get the side-loaded app installed and mostly functioning, but something some where might be broken and you wont know until it bites you. For example Slack is installable and definitely usable, but you wont get any notifications. Apps that use google location all seem to be half broken even if you install Google services; you will open Delivero/Uber once and everything will work, and next time you open it there will be no location. You order from Delivero one day and you will get the notification that the driver is outside so you think sweet, the app fully works, but the next time you order the driver would have tried contacting you 4 times before he drives away with you undelivered food. Apparently this is fixable with an always on display and tuning the power saving of the phone. I did contact a few app developers asking if they plan to support HMS, and got mixed replies.
Other than the Google situation, here are some points:
Build quality and materials are generally amazing
Centre of gravity is slightly offset from centre, its towards the top left corner of the phone. Also the phone is PHAT, its definitely bigger than my S8 and thicker, but its the weight that's most noticeable. Not a huge deal but was a minor annoyance.
Face-ID and fingerprint scanner both work flawlessly and super fast.
Camera is superb
"Wide" camera is an insult to the term. The sensor is great but the wideness is just a smidge more than normal lens. Honestly I would call it misleading advertising and it should be called "Not-So-Wide" camera
General performance is great, no complaints. Also compared to my S8, the phone stays colder for much longer
Battery life seemed great, spent a whole day on it installing google and only drained like 60%.
The stock experience is OK, apart from any AI features. AI is in pre-alpha phase. For example the voice assistant cannot set a timer, it can only open the timer app. Oh and if you don't speak the exact accent Huawei expects you to, good luck getting it to recognise anything. You could side-load Alexa, but you cannot change the default assistant, so the 1sec press of power button will always bring Celia
The gestures work really well in most cases. The same gestures do get very annoying in some apps where you keep accidentally pressing back instead of bringing up side menus or switch drawer.
Banking is mostly broken for stock Huawei. Managed to get Natwest banking app working after a lot of work though. Contactless payment is 100% broken and will be for a long time!
Permisions: Pretty much every single Huawei app wants to have access to your calls and messaging history. Maybe nothing malicious but certainly makes you question why they need it
NM cards are more than double the price of MicroSD
Comes with loads of bloatware, but most is easily removed
The pill cutout is not bad, just wish they shoved it more in the corner of the phone more
Uncertainty if your phone will break after an update if you have google services installed
Installing Google services is not easy and seems to be a constantly evolving battle where methods change frequently
Internet forums/ youtube is filled with post from either bots or one can only assume are Huawei influencers. Also the phone is so talked about online that trying to use search to find answers to your problems usually just brings up a Forbes news story.
Locked bootloader
I admit, I made a mistake of not checking the news before buying the phone (saw a dirt cheap one on eBay). Fully expected to unlock the bootloader and install some custom ROM with GApps, but since 2018 Huawei locked their bootloaders for "security". Even so, I tried the phone for couple of days, spend a day installing google services, aurora store, icebox and the whole lot and honestly was super disappointed. Sold the phone couple days later and if you check eBay you can see dozens of people doing the same thing every day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? I'm using my phone as the way it was intended to be used with no Google services side-loaded and this phone does everything that my other Android phones does besides have a dedicated YouTube app. Perhaps you just don't know how to use a phone properly

ushoda said:
I stopped reading at "Software at this moment in time is pretty useless".
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Fair point, I changed the phrasing of the review.
Khonsu_ said:
Really? I'm using my phone as the way it was intended to be used with no Google services side-loaded and this phone does everything that my other Android phones does besides have a dedicated YouTube app. Perhaps you just don't know how to use a phone properly
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Maybe you live in another region where app developers don't use GMS as default, for example China? But clearly your use case doesn't depend on GMS, in that case, this phone is perfect for you. Also YouTube is the least of my problems, I have been using YouTube Vanced for years and even it is a pain to install on P40 Pro. You first have to either download "dirty" micro-g or modify the micro-g settings to stop it from using GMS otherwise you get stuck in login loop.
And thank you, I will go ahead and start learning to use my phone straight away sir, maybe Huawei should include that on the packaging as well.

Quite an emotional topic, hmm?
My 2,5 cents: I used my smartphones primarily for audio books, photos, WhatsApp, mobile navigation, YouTube and common internet applications.
The P40 Pro does all that just perfectly, better than all smartphones I owned before. With just one single exception.
I like Google Maps, I like the Play Store, I like YouTube. Sure, there are alternative applications, but I still prefer the "originals".
So I spent about half an hour and went through installing the Google services according to instructions I got from a YouTube video. Some effort, but it paid.
I now got the perfect smartphone, running all and everything I need - and doing that better than ever before. With just one exception, no, with two exceptions.
1) Still not possible to use "Hey Google" or "Okay Google" on the lock screen.
2) Fixed battery, the usual *****iness all smartphone manufacturers abuse for forcing you to discard your smartphone after about two years, or earlier if you charged your battery often to 100 % or let the battery get too warm (easy in summer in a car).
And that's it. I instantly fell in love with the P40 Pro after installing the "missing" Google services.
Two things I don't understand at all:
1) Why the heck doesn't Huawei provide unlock codes for the bootloader? Would solve that Google problem immediately. I just don't understand why they ignore that simple but effective move.
2) Why does all the world blame the Google problem on the USA, especially on Trump? It's not the USA, it's not Trump - it's Apple. Huawei sent Apple back to the lower places on the podium. The pride of the capitalism got declassified by the communists. So the rotting fruit applied pressure on the government - and there we are. It's not because of espionage (if there was any proof, they would have presented it with utmost happiness), it's to "make Apple great again" using all impure means available.

Klosterbruder said:
I like Google Maps,
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Google Maps works for me without login.
Waze is actually better.
HereWeGo is not bad either.

Klosterbruder said:
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Two things I don't understand at all:
1) Why the heck doesn't Huawei provide unlock codes for the bootloader? Would solve that Google problem immediately. I just don't understand why they ignore that simple but effective move.
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Maybe they do send data to Chinese government. ?

ZedeN said:
Fair point, I changed the phrasing of the review.
Maybe you live in another region where app developers don't use GMS as default, for example China? But clearly your use case doesn't depend on GMS, in that case, this phone is perfect for you. Also YouTube is the least of my problems, I have been using YouTube Vanced for years and even it is a pain to install on P40 Pro. You first have to either download "dirty" micro-g or modify the micro-g settings to stop it from using GMS otherwise you get stuck in login loop.
And thank you, I will go ahead and start learning to use my phone straight away sir, maybe Huawei should include that on the packaging as well.
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Click to collapse
Hey how to modify micro g settings as mine is getting stuck in Google registration too (I already have gms loaded)

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