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There seems to be a lot of people talking about issues with the Nexus 4 and ways to fix them, etc. While that's completely necessary and appropriate, wouldn't it be nice to just have a thread where we talk about how much we like our brand new device? I think so and hopefully the mods will too. Anyway, in the spirit of this thread I'd like to begin with how much I'm liking my Nexus 4:
Things I like:
Screen - The screen is really nice. Even though the screen on my One X had much warmer colors, I'm not at all opposed to the more natural colors of the Nexus 4 (yes, I do believe that the SLCD screens saturate colors, though it's much better and acceptable than the saturation of AMOLED screens).
Call Quality - Call quality is better and louder than that of my One X or Galaxy S II. Though there is a little bit of noise, it's not at all distracting.
Camera - The camera, while not the best on the market, produces quality images. My One X has trouble producing decent pictures using an AOSP ROM, so it's a definite upgrade in this department. Pictures on the Nexus 4 are good to great quality probably 80% of the time.
Things I love:
External Speaker - The external speaker is absolutely wonderful. My first Android device was a Motorola Atrix and, while not the greatest phone I've ever had, I've yet to have a device that beats the loudness of its external speaker. Well, the Nexus 4 is the closest I have found. I was able to still clearly make out the lyrics to songs when I was in a room about thirty feet and two open doors away from the room where my Nexus 4 was sitting. Plus, it sounds very clear even at the loudest volumes. I definitely have no complaints in this area.
Build Quality - The build quality is fantastic. Everyone can rave about the quality of HTC's phones which I do believe are well made, but this device simply feels premium. One thing I admit defeat to with Androids vs iPhones is that iPhones (4/4S, and 5) easily beat any Android device in build quality. This can be argued with HTC devices and possibly a few Motorolas, but I'm entirely convinced that the Nexus 4 has blown the iPhone 4/4S and 5 out of the water. What really has surprised me is how solid the glass is. There is no give like there was on my HTC One X, Galaxy S II, or Atrix. The weight feels very nice in the hand, the metal strip on the side is a nice additional aesthetic, the buttons being the same color as the metal strip is a nice touch, and I really like the feel of the rubber material on the side. Oh, and that wonderful design on the back really grabs attention. Of course, it's very depressing that I have to have a case over it at all times due to the glass back, but I'm confident that a nice bumper and a back screen protector (if that's what it's called) will work wonders.
Android 4.2 - Pure Android is a big reason to buy a Nexus device and the Nexus 4 doesn't disappoint because, well, it's a Nexus device. Android 4.2 is really great. Though it's not a huge improvement over Android 4.1, it doesn't really need to be because 4.1 isn't that old and it's sort of fine with me to just enjoy the awesomeness of Jelly Bean until next summer when we'll hopefully get a glimpse of Key Lime Pie. But it's not like Google to not give use new features with a new Nexus device, and they definitely didn't skimp out. The camera software is pretty great and very much needed. It's just better all around and much more intuitive than in previous versions. I'm also loving the crop options Google has given us and the filters are a nice touch that I've used a few times already (I'm getting into Instagram, apparently).Though PhotoSphere is gimmicky, it's fun as hell and everyone who I've shown the final product to has said something along the lines of "You did that with your phone?" One of the biggest small things I've noticed is the animation when switching between apps. It's ridiculously smooth. I can't remember if this was in a previous version, but I never noticed it on my Nexus 7, so I don't think it was. I don't want to go too in depth here, but all of the Android 4.2 features such as home screen widgets, Daydream mode, and many others, while not being detrimental, are certainly welcome.
So, there you go. I just think that a place where we can all appreciate our Nexus 4 is a great idea, so I made one . No one needs to go as in depth as I did, but if you'd like to, feel free.
We were married on the 29th, but I haven't bought the ring yet.
Sent from my Nexus 4
10 'hearts' of N4
1) I <3 my awesome battery life
2) I <3 the crystal reflective process
3) I <3 the screen clarity
4) I <3 vanilla jellybean
5) I <3 the start up/reboot time
6) I <3 the amazingly "fast to lock on" GPS
7) I <3 the sturdiness of the microUSB port
8) I <3 my downloads speeds (18-23 mbps avg, Tmo)
9) I <3 the fact that it NEVER gets "sluggish"
10) I <3 that I don't have any issue that many others are having
This phone is just so amazing. I knew that HTC's build quality was good (Sense sucks), but this had even better build quality and SMOOTH STOCK ANDROID!!!!
Zero complaints with mine. Coming from a Note II and a S III...still think it's my best device yet. I've had it 10 days already.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
The wife and I have both been enjoying ours for two full weeks now and not looking back. We jumped ship from sprint and are saving nearly 100 bucks a month and getting much faster data speeds on T-Mobile prepaid. This is an awesome android experience device without any bloatware and the Dev support that is around in such a short time is simply amazing
Build quality is better than gs3 as far as I'm concerned and I really liked mine, I just couldn't justify paying so much a month anymore for 3g. Win win all around for us!
Sent from my Nexus 4
Me love my N4
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
I love how smooth the screen is. It feels like there's a layer of butter between the screen and my finger, but when I go to clean it, there's no butter on it!
Comparing to my previous nexus one, this phone is much much much better. All I can say is awesome! From one core to quad core, 512MB ram to 2GB, a much bigger screen. What else can I complain? Moreover, I spent almost 600 on my nexus one but now only 400 on nexus 4! Overall, I love this phone for sure!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
aaronuser said:
Zero complaints with mine. Coming from a Note II and a S III...still think it's my best device yet. I've had it 10 days already.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
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Ditto on both devices. Ditto on the N4 being the best of the bunch.
Zero complaints. Phone is the best they've done so far. I like every aspect of it.
Awesome device! No issues so far! It's a big hit with the AVN girls!!
Easily the best phone I've had. Its ridiculously smooth UI is great, and the screen is lush.
Also, on got this out my pocket in the pub last night and people were like "OMG is that a Nexus 4?!" You've got to love that effect...!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
sungrad said:
Easily the best phone I've had. Its ridiculously smooth UI is great, and the screen is lush.
Also, on got this out my pocket in the pub last night and people were like "OMG is that a Nexus 4?!" You've got to love that effect...!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
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This, ladies and gentlemen, is what this thread is all about.
Not us giving the Nexus 4 compliments, but us telling stories how the Nexus 4 has fetched us compliments :good:
As for me the only thing I had happen was while I was unboxing my phone, I went to test the camera outside. I leave the box there. When I get back my roomy is pacing around the house saying "WHO GOT THE NEXUS?! LET ME SEEEE IT!" lol.
Agree with all the above. This is my 7th Android device and easily the best I've ever used. No issues whatsoever. Forgot this was an LG device. I swore never to buy another product from them after the G2X and here I am...
As far as compliments go, what I've been hearing is "Gorgeous/sexy device!", "The back is so cool" and last but not least, "I'm still trying to figure out how the hell you got one when they sold out so quickly" lol
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
This is absolutely my favorite phone I've ever owned hands down. Its so fast and that's what I wanted the multitasking blows any smartphone I've ever played with away. I can't wait till everyone has there phone cause I think we are gonna have one hell of a community here.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
I have no complaints whatsoever. The one thing that niggled me initially- the buttons taking up room on the bottom of the screen- I'm getting used to. Just a brilliant device through and through.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Yeah I am more than happy with mine. Makes the nexus 7 that I am posting this on feel seriously sluggish and coming from an i9100 which was by no means struggling I cannot believe how slick this thing is. I have got the ear piece buzzing problem but it is so quiet I wouldn't call it an issue.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
Phone is slick. Can't put down. Need help.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium HD app
Love my Nexus 4, I've only 'liked' other phones as they've always had a weak spot that has niggled me.
This beast however doesn't have anything that I don't like, and thus I love it.
Also, it's already a whore. I was the only person in the office of geeks (I work for a software development company) that managed to get one due to the wonky launch. Suffice to say it's been passed around and for all I know jizzed on many times! lol
I was out with some friends the other night and I whipped it out and one of the lasses with us commented 'That's a sexy phone, looks like someone gets paid too much!' the same person also said 'It feels so nice to hold' ... 'insert smart remake here'
Phil
I was really set on the One, but started reading about all the issues people were having with the screens and gaps and speaker noise. I started reading up on the S4 and thought maybe a change would be nice, since I've been with HTC since the Hero days. I would like to hear some personal experiences and feedback. I got some hands on with the One and it was smooth as can be, but haven't had a chance to play with the s4 yet. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
I have the one and the build quality is second to none. The screen is exceptional and I have never had a phone where the speakers sound so good. I love my One and am happy with my purchase.
Sent from my Android Powered Device.
cniels01 said:
I have the one and the build quality is second to none. The screen is exceptional and I have never had a phone where the speakers sound so good. I love my One and am happy with my purchase.
Sent from my Android Powered Device.
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I can 2nd that
Metal>Plastic
BoomSound>Traditional Speakers
469ppi>441ppi
Sense>TouchWiz
durandetto said:
I was really set on the One, but started reading about all the issues people were having with the screens and gaps and speaker noise. I started reading up on the S4 and thought maybe a change would be nice, since I've been with HTC since the Hero days. I would like to hear some personal experiences and feedback. I got some hands on with the One and it was smooth as can be, but haven't had a chance to play with the s4 yet. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Go buy a gs4
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app
I am a hardcore perfectionist and had VERY high expectations for the One.
I will tell you that i have an almost-noticeable-with-the-bare-eye cluster of about 4 stuck pixels (at 450+ dpi you really have to look hard to see it), a 1mm gap in the middle of my zero-gap-construction device, and a home button that isn't as sensitive as it should be (which I know will be getting fixed in the next OTA).
Even being a hardcore perfectionist and demanding a LOT from this phone, I LOVE IT AND WOULD NOT TRADE IT FOR ANY OTHER PHONE. It is without a doubt the most amazing piece of technology I've ever owned.
If you've been with HTC for awhile, now is not the time to bail out. This is the best phone they've made by a mile. Sense 5 is sick and the look and build quality is iPhone level. If you've held a GSIII, you know how the GSIV is going to feel. Not in same league imo.
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app
I'm also trying to decide between the s4 and one. I listen to music a lot so the one def wins on that respect.
The one thing holding me back from getting the HTC one is that the aluminum back I'm guessing will be much more susceptible to scratches. I like to run my phones caseless, so just wondering if any current one owners could comment on how their phone is holding up so far? I went to sprint and the display model already had a chip on the back so had me worried.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Sent from my Galaxy S2
Honestly, its all about personal preference. The One and the GS4 really are two totally different devices, the one really is a more polished device in my opinion. As I sit here and type this I have an HTC One and a GS4 sitting right next to me and after using the One for over a week then switching to the GS4 there is a big difference in performance. Now the truth is that out of the box the GS4 basically has more features than any other phone on the market but at the expense of performance. To me the One simply does everything faster, whether opening and closing apps, switching between apps, accessing the camera....etc..... the one simply does it with virtually no lag where as the GS4 stutters ever so slightly. I have gone as far as turning off every feature I could and even though that did help, its still no where near as responsive as the one and because of that I will stick with the One. Sorry but touchwiz for whatever reason is a bloated mess of a UI filled with features that are impractical which also hinders the performance of the device. I really wanted a 5" device and even with the plastic build it still a pleasant device to look at and hold but the performance simply falls short. Also, I know I can root the device but in the age of quad core devices with at least 2 gigs of ram, rooting shouldn't be the only way to increase performance.
One>S4
That's all
themuffinman said:
Honestly, its all about personal preference. The One and the GS4 really are two totally different devices, the one really is a more polished device in my opinion. As I sit here and type this I have an HTC One and a GS4 sitting right next to me and after using the One for over a week then switching to the GS4 there is a big difference in performance. Now the truth is that out of the box the GS4 basically has more features than any other phone on the market but at the expense of performance. To me the One simply does everything faster, whether opening and closing apps, switching between apps, accessing the camera....etc..... the one simply does it with virtually no lag where as the GS4 stutters ever so slightly. I have gone as far as turning off every feature I could and even though that did help, its still no where near as responsive as the one and because of that I will stick with the One. Sorry but touchwiz for whatever reason is a bloated mess of a UI filled with features that are impractical which also hinders the performance of the device. I really wanted a 5" device and even with the plastic build it still a pleasant device to look at and hold but the performance simply falls short. Also, I know I can root the device but in the age of quad core devices with at least 2 gigs of ram, rooting shouldn't be the only way to increase performance.
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Thank you, this is exactly the kind of responses I was looking for.
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Even the provided headphones sound top notch if your into high bass
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app
I tell you what, with the exception of maybe one person on these forums. The One forum is way more pleasant than the s4. That alone is almost enough to persuade me to go with my first choice.
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Atrix HD for sure.!
Sent from my MB886 using xda app-developers app
pelon90005 said:
Even the provided headphones sound top notch if your into high bass
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app
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I wouldn't say "top notch", but saying they are better than any other pack-in headphone would still be a disservice to these.
I'm pleasantly surprised by how good they sound. You could buy better, but I doubt you'll ever get a free pair better than these again.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2
I love my One. I was set on getting the S4 at first when the argument seemed to be aluminum vs plastic, because the S4 seemed more powerful, but the One really is more than just an amazing looking device. I love the camera, I don't understand why people feel they need to zoom in on pictures, because if they don't, 4 MP is actually perfectly fine since it's a higher resolution than 1080. Pictures with the One are amazing no matter what the situation, which is very rare with cell phone cameras, I found myself being excited about having a cell phone camera for the first time since my very first flip phone. I tell people comparing the One and the S4's cameras is comparing quality to size, and I always prefer quality. Besides that the screen is amazing, but you probly won't be able to tell too much difference with the pixel density since they're both so dense. The speakers are also amazing, I've thought sound was coming from my computer speakers a few times that was actually coming from the phone. The call quality is great too, I can hear people much clearer that I used to have problems talking with on my evo 3d. It doesn't come with much bloatware and I haven't had any bit of lag yet, even with lots of apps running at once and playing graphics intensive games. I have also been very impressed with the battery life, I've used it constantly since I bought it and have not had it go under 10% before the end of the day, so I can actually play games on my phone now without worrying about the next time I need to plug it in.
My only gripe with the phone is the capacitive buttons, they only work when you press on the white part, so it's much less surface area than I'm used to, but it's not such a big deal, just a small annoyance to get used to. Sense isn't an annoyance on this phone, and any annoyances like blinkfeed or no quick settings in the notification pulldown can be easily solved.
They're both great phones, but when I did my own comparison of the two, I thought the S4s new features were more software gimmicks than improvements to me. The One has software gimmicks like Zoes and blinkfeed, but it has quite a few hardware improvements that were powerful enough to impress me.
Reading Anandtech's review of topped me over! They also have part 1 of the S4 review.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6747/htc-one-review
Convince you the one is superior? What do we work for htc? Read the reviews ffs. Brian Klug from Anandtech wrote 17 pages about this phone. You may want to start there.
Edit: can this thread be locked? He has this in both forums. Stop cluttering up the forums.
Sent from my HTCONE using xda premium
I'm not gonna convince you to do sh!t you do the research, not my job to babysit you or do your homework
Sent from a Tweaked Out HTC ONE
I have been doing my own research I just want others people's opinions to help me make my final decision. Just when I thought the s4 forum was the one full of deuches. Thanks to all of those with actual feedback though, it's really appreciated.
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Was just wondering if anyone had tried the S4 for awhile only to now reconsider going to the HTC One...
What's an HTC One? Never heard of such a device that has the expanding configurable capabilities that the S4 possesses.
oohaylima said:
What's an HTC One? Never heard of such a device that has the expanding configurable capabilities that the S4 possesses.
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Lol. I havent played with it - so I have no idea what the features are on that phone.... I'll have a look this weekend.
Before buying the S4, I gave heavy consideration to the HTC One. I watched videos and reviews from multiple sources.
Overall, these are the reasons why I chose and will continue to stick with the S4:
- Battery Life - Our battery is much better than the HTC One. I compared it to a friend who has the HTC One and he was averaging about 2hr 45 min on screen time on a typical day where I've been getting close to 5hrs screen on time.
- Latest Android Software - I know it probably doesn't make a huge difference, but I really like 4.2. The lock screen widgets come in handy. Being able to check my Falcon Twitter and Gmail without even unlocking the phone is a huge plus.
- It's Samsung - What this means is that our phone will still be receiving firmware upgrades all the way into mid 2015. Not saying that the HTC One won't, but HTC is in real trouble, and if they go out of business, that my make things very complicated for current HTC users. Plus, even afloat, I've heard awful things about timeliness of firmware updates from HTC.
So yeah, I bought the S4 and I'm not looking back.
Came from the HTC One. I liked it a lot but the S4 works a lot better for me.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Nope! I will gladly take a 5" 1080p screen over a 4.7" 1080p screen anyday.
Worrying about pixel density in screens this small is silly, I rather have more useable screen real estate.
mjs2011 said:
Before buying the S4, I gave heavy consideration to the HTC One. I watched videos and reviews from multiple sources.
Overall, these are the reasons why I chose and will continue to stick with the S4:
- Battery Life - Our battery is much better than the HTC One. I compared it to a friend who has the HTC One and he was averaging about 2hr 45 min on screen time on a typical day where I've been getting close to 5hrs screen on time.
- Latest Android Software - I know it probably doesn't make a huge difference, but I really like 4.2. The lock screen widgets come in handy. Being able to check my Falcon Twitter and Gmail without even unlocking the phone is a huge plus.
- It's Samsung - What this means is that our phone will still be receiving firmware upgrades all the way into mid 2015. Not saying that the HTC One won't, but HTC is in real trouble, and if they go out of business, that my make things very complicated for current HTC users. Plus, even afloat, I've heard awful things about timeliness of firmware updates from HTC.
So yeah, I bought the S4 and I'm not looking back.
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^^ This
Plus, after having previous HTC devices that lost all official support after 6 months or less I will never buy HTC again.
CCallahan said:
^^ This
Plus, after having previous HTC devices that lost all official support after 6 months or less I will never buy HTC again.
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Yep. One of my buddies asked me to root his Evo about 6 months ago and I was shocked to have to settle for a Gingerbread ROM. I had thought for sure there would be some stable ICS roms available but every ICS or JB rom had at least one major flaw that my friend wouldn't have been able to live with.
Hell, even my my old LG Optimus V has a stable JB rom.
No removable battery + no expandable memory = no thanks
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
SAShady said:
No removable battery + no expandable memory = no thanks
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
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Absolutely
I love the 90s. Good times.
I had a One for about a week. It's a great phone and a really good attempt by HTC. I still miss a couple things from it but everything already described here outweighs everything it has to offer. I always end up back with Samsung.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Also had the One for a week. It was a seriously great phone. The design of the phone is just gorgeous. Also the weight of it was really nice.
Sense looked and worked great but is not nearly as customizable as tw. And as good as the design and materials seemed, it was not durable or built well in the least. A 2" drop caused some severe corner rash and even a dent. Battery life was excellent but during my first full day with this device, im on track to destroying the htc as far as battery life.
Was def a great attempt and design, but the overall quality of construction and materials is severely lacking. Ill take my new slippery plastic cheap looking s4 over the one all day every day.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
---------- Post added at 08:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:57 PM ----------
Also the screen wasnt totally flush with the body of the phone. And the top and bottom trim was perfect on the right side, and both hella gapped on the left side. Like I said, great design, poor build quality.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
SAShady said:
No removable battery + no expandable memory = no thanks
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
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^^^ This. Until such time that every manufacturer switches to this unreasonable design thereby forcing me to accept it, I will never purchase a phone (especially at full contract price as I buy most of my devices) that doesn't offer removable battery and expandable memory. I very much dislike having to rely on cloud storage to house the things I want access to at all times.
Having said that, I admit I considered it, because I loved my OG EVO so much (which of course offered both removable batter and expandable storage), until I read a multitude of reviews (mostly positive) but there are some build defects that would absolutely drive my OCD tendencies through the roof, so I opted to stay with the brand I know. Now if they'd just move the power button to the top of the phone I'd be thrilled. lol
I gave this a lot of thought and spent quite a bit of hands on time with both devices before settling with the S4. Every time I think of the HTC One I quickly remind myself of the poor software, camera, ergonomics, and lack of support that HTC provides for their phones. I simply don't trust HTC as a company and the Google S4 helped keep me with Samsung that much more. The minor issues with the S4 will be fixed soon enough and then it won't really be a competition as far as I'm concerned. I'm really curious to how many Ones have been sold compared to the almost 10 million S4s, which came out what, a month after the One. And I actually use the "gimmicky" features of the S4. The other day I was working on my car, hands filthy black, covered in grease and dirt. My dad called instead of missing the call waved my hand over my phone and spoke to him. I don't use these features always but if I'm at work or doing something were I will get dirty I turn them on. I couldn't do that type of stuff on the One. There is also things like the One not supporting quick charge even though it has the same Qualcomm chip? Maybe the metal was getting to hot on charge so they disabled it? Anyway I'm totally content with my S4 and I feel time will just keep reassuring my decision to stick with Samsung. :thumbup:
Sent from my SPH-L720
SAShady said:
No removable battery + no expandable memory = no thanks
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
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Nice big screen, lightweight and slim, plus what Shady said, not a chance!
I, like many above, looked very hard at both before pulling the trigger on the S4. I'm coming off a long line of HTC phones, but my wife has had the S3 for about 6 months. I do all the tweaking of the S3, so I use it a fair amount, and had grown to like TW more than Sense. Plus, the S3 always stomped my HTC Evo 4G LTE whenever we'd be looking something up on the internet, downloading something, etc. We'd be doing it side-by-side, and the S3 was better EVERY time, and usually by a large margain. That really planted the bug to move to Samsung for me.
I've never looked back One-wise. I might have a few minutes of doubt early on while learning the phone, but I'd have just returned it and gone back to my Evo, or bought an S3. But I'm just thrilled with the phone at this point. It really works well. I'm out on the lake fishing and pull up a radar map, boom, it's there, every time. On my HTC, very hit or miss on the same lakes. And the daylight pictures are stunning, something I could never say for my HTC's.
Bottom line, the S4 works like I've always wanted a smartphone to work.
Never. Not even a little bit.
Sent from the rabbit hole.
After the review on the HTC One spoke about how awful repairing it would be and how opening the device pretty much destroys the phone I decided to pass. The S4s "lack of build quality" makes me laugh as the the HTC One's guts are awful whereas the S4 is well put together and its plastic outer materials are more reliable than the aluminum of the HTC One (denting and scratching). Also, as the others before me the unibody design of the One against the removable storage and battery of the S4...NO BRAINER! The Sprint variant also shipped with SIM card so that was a huge bonus for me (in the military so being out of country won't force me to buy a new cheapo phone). Samsung is also more likely to get updates and those updates last longer than HTCs. With a Google version on the way I am stoked as it could very well mean we will get some devs to port some of that amazingness over to the branded variants. Also, I did come from HTC Evo 3D in case you think I'm just another Samsung fan-boy.
GS4 to HTC 1
heyjoojoo said:
Was just wondering if anyone had tried the S4 for awhile only to now reconsider going to the HTC One...
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Yes.
I rooted my EVO 3 years ago in 2-3 carefully researched hours.
I'm into 2 days across macs Linux and windows exploits. Samsung: I'm not very good but if I can't get root this weekend, back it goes!
greenja said:
Yes.
I rooted my EVO 3 years ago in 2-3 carefully researched hours.
I'm into 2 days across macs Linux and windows exploits. Samsung: I'm not very good but if I can't get root this weekend, back it goes!
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Click to collapse
You do realize basically all of us have it rooted right?
Hey people. So I've been inactive for quite awhile. I used to be lurking at the Xperia Z and HTC One section. In the past year I've used tons of flagships. Starting with the Xperia Z from the iPhone 5. Soon I moved to the HTC One. Not long after, I moved to the iPhone 5s. Recently, I managed to snag myself a Nexus 5. Been using it for awhile so I'd thought its time to clean the dust off this account and be active again.
Here's my honest fanboy-free review of the Google Nexus 5. I've used various brands of phones for the past year so I hope that I can share my experiences of the Nexus 5 compared to the others.
Nexus 5 Review
The Nexus 5 is a "cheap" phone. For $349 off contract for the 16GB version, it's quite the steal. Not to mention the flagship specs! What more can we ask for a device priced this affordable?
Build Quality
Phenomenal. Call me low standard, but I think the build is great, at least for the black one. Sure, it's no HTC One or iPhone 5s, but the soft touch back feels awesome. Period. It feels great in the hand and is kinda resistant to scratches. Mine looks mint even after so much use! The build is great; it doesn't flex, and is sturdy. Did I mention how nice the soft touch back feels? It does catches fingerprints and oils from your hands though. But just wiping it off with your fingers will make it look new again.
Power Hungry
The Nexus 5 is full of power. With a Snapdragon 800, 2GB of RAM and the Adreno 330, it will take anything I throw at it. The only issue I had with performance is Real Racing 3. I have the occasional frame-rate drop on that game but other that, it runs like butter.
The UI is smooth with no lag, multitasking is a breeze. There's really nothing else I can ask for.
Pure Google
The Nexus 5 comes with the latest and greatest of Android, 4.4 KitKat. As of this review, there has been 2 updates to far to bring it up to 4.4.2.
The Nexus 5 also comes with the latest Google Now Launcher, and I love it. I've never used Google Now before as it was too much an hassle for me to swipe up to open it. Now as it's fully integrated into the launcher, I find myself using it. A lot.
The "Okay Google" hotword detection is beyond cool. I like showing it off to my friends and they all think its cool. Some people find it a waste of battery. For me, I use it a lot as I'm a student who relies too much on Google. Being able to do Google searches when eating and not getting the sauce all over the phone is useful to me.
As for hangouts being the default SMS app, I think it's a matter of personal opinion. I find it okay. Anyway, it's android! The default messaging app can be changed easily.
Sure, icons are huge. What's the big deal with that?
Eye-opening Screen
The screen is absolutely fantastic. Colors are accurate and the screen is super sharp.
It's great for watching videos and for reading books on. The screen looks like its popping out at times! In fact, I'll go as far as to call it the best screen on a smartphone. Period.
Camera
Meh. Camera quality is okay. Nothing fantastic but it does the job. I find it better than the HTC One in terms of sharpness but in low light, its just no good.
If you are looking for the best camera in a smartphone, stay away.
Speakers
Simply put, its not good. The sound quality is just not good. Sure, its no BoomSound, but still. Its not the best, but it does its job well.
Oh well, for a $350 smartphone with monstrous specs, there's bound to be compromises. I guess the speakers is one of them.
(Edit)I came from the HTC One and therefore my expectations for speakers in smartphones may have increased greatly. I think that the speakers on the Nexus 5 is sufficient, but can be better. Just my 2 cents
Battery Life
At first, it was not good. I had to bring my portable charger everywhere I went. But over time, it has improved. I now can get 6 hours on screen time! I know, crazy right? I guess I had to "break" in the battery.
Call Quality
The earphone used for calls is great, I can hear the other party clearly and they can hear me clearly.
Bottom Line
Is it worth it? Yes. Should you get it? Hell Yes. For the price, its really, really worth it! Furthermore it's from Google; guaranteed updates for the next 2 or so years. It runs great, it's smooth and I really like the Google Now Launcher. I'd choose this phone over the iPhone 5s or any other phones!
This phone really is the best android phone yet.
P.S. Please give me feedback on my review! Please correct me if there's any error! Thanks for taking the time to read this!
I think there's nothing wrong with the speakers. I don't think they're bad or anything. I went from a Note 2 to Nexus 5 and I barely notice the difference between speakers. Sure it's no HTC One-quality speakers but they work fine.
A fantastic review I must say!
Cheers mate!
Good review and you are right with all points. It's really the best Android phone.
Tapatalk Team SlimRoms
PurpleMadness said:
I think there's nothing wrong with the speakers. I don't think they're bad or anything. I went from a Note 2 to Nexus 5 and I barely notice the difference between speakers. Sure it's no HTC One-quality speakers but they work fine.
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Yes, I agree, they work fine. But maybe I'm used too high quality speakers so they sound kind of crappy to me. Its not fantastic, but they do the job well.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Great review, came from a S4 and love this phone in comparison. Pure android is the best and have had no desire thus far to load a custom ROM.
Agree with all your points but the speaker quality, its not the best but not horrible at all.
Very happy with the phone overall.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Were you undoing your review on complete stock, or are you running a custom ROM/kernel? Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
maximinus058 said:
Great review, came from a S4 and love this phone in comparison. Pure android is the best and have had no desire thus far to load a custom ROM.
Agree with all your points but the speaker quality, its not the best but not horrible at all.
Very happy with the phone overall.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
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Yes I agree. Maybe I didn't say it right. Its not good, but it still gets the job done. Maybe its because
I came from the HTC One and that probably raised my expectations for speaker quality. I have edited my original post to reflect that.
klin1344 said:
Were you undoing your review on complete stock, or are you running a custom ROM/kernel? Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Totally stock. I believe that stock Android by Google is the best ROM there is.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
PurpleMadness said:
I think there's nothing wrong with the speakers. I don't think they're bad or anything. I went from a Note 2 to Nexus 5 and I barely notice the difference between speakers. Sure it's no HTC One-quality speakers but they work fine.
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I think it depends when you bought it. Didn't they drill bigger holes for the speaker in later revisions? I know I got a day 1 order and the speakerphone is awful.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
rxnelson said:
I think it depends when you bought it. Didn't they drill bigger holes for the speaker in later revisions? I know I got a day 1 order and the speakerphone is awful.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
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Could be. I have the new revision.
I like this review simply because it has more pros than cons although in some countries it isn't really that cheap. I bought my 32gigs for almost $500.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Nice review and my thoughts exactly since November 2013!
Nice review and I think the speakers are a bit on the low side.
Sent from my LG-D950 using Tapatalk
PokerFaze said:
Camera
Meh. Camera quality is okay. Nothing fantastic but it does the job. I find it better than the HTC One in terms of sharpness but in low light, its just no good.
If you are looking for the best camera in a smartphone, stay away.
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I don't understand... I find the low light shots (with HDR+) very good !
----------------
Nexus 5 vs Nokia Lumia 1020 low-light camera comparison
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Nexus-5-vs-Nokia-Lumia-1020-low-light-camera-comparison_id49015
Pics from it are, naturally, noisier and not as detailed as from the 1020, but they seem to be as good as the ones from the LG G2, which we already pegged in our camera comparisons as one of the best Android cameras out there
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Good review. I find the speaker works just fine. It's leaps and bounds better than the one on the GNex anyways (has a much fuller sound)
Matrix_19 said:
I don't understand... I find the low light shots (with HDR+) very good !
----------------
Nexus 5 vs Nokia Lumia 1020 low-light camera comparison
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Nexus-5-vs-Nokia-Lumia-1020-low-light-camera-comparison_id49015
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For me I have to position it perfectly before it will take a nice picture in low light /:
speedyink said:
Good review. I find the speaker works just fine. It's leaps and bounds better than the one on the GNex anyways (has a much fuller sound)
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Yep. Speaker works fine. I don't have the GNex so I can't say that much but compared to the iPhone 5s which I'm using as a companion to the Nexus 5, the speakers on the Nexus 5 truly is lacking.
bushako said:
I like this review simply because it has more pros than cons although in some countries it isn't really that cheap. I bought my 32gigs for almost $500.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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I bought my 16gigs for $442 US Dollars in my country ._.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I gotta say I have the EXACT same sentiments as you when it comes to this phone.
I gotta say the speaker location is awesome, but the speaker itself is lacking.
Atleast it wasn't placed on the rear.
Camera is good enough to capture moments. Nothing to brag about.
Other than that, everything else is awesome.
My previous phones are Note 2, Moto G, Nexus 4 , Optimus G, iPhone 5, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Nexus, Captivate, and S2
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
PokerFaze said:
Please correct me if there's any error! Thanks for taking the time to read this!
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Reviews are subjective so there isnt really any scope for error.
Please don't take this the wrong way but there are loads of reviews here and although yours may be the most comprehensive, because they're subjective - it doesn't really offer much. Take 10 reviews, all 10 may agree on 1 point and disagree on another....
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Guess it depends what last phone you had but the speaker destroys my old phone. I'd say both the speaker and headphone audio quality are superior to the average laptop as well. Compares favorably to my $900 Lenovo anyways.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Great review! I purchased my nexus 5 black from swappa for $365 32gb in good condition. I gotta say I also love the feel of the soft black skin. Its great and I totally I agree with you, however I managed to put a very minor scratch dent on the back with only having it 3 days lol. Wish I could have this phone caseless but I feel like I would beat it up due to my aggressive lifestyle. Anyway good review and I also love the phone so far.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Hey guys, I got the M8 last Thursday but am not totally convinced that it is the phone for me yet. I have some gripes with it, but overall I like the phone. First I have two questions about the S5, and then I will post the gripes that I have with the M8 that I posted in the M8 forum. After that, let me know what you think. Here are my two questions about the S5:
1. Will the Touchwiz lag from the S4 be gone? I was always a Samsung phone guy, but I just couldn't deal with the lag on the S4. It drove me absolutely nuts. I'm hearing some rumblings that the new UI on the S5 is free of lag? Has anybody played with the phone yet and can chime in on this?
2. I know the speaker won't sound as good as the stereo speakers on the M8, but will it at least be as loud? That's all I care about, I don't care about the quality. I will use headphones most of the time, but I want it to be loud enough for notifications, etc.
Ok, now on to my gripes about the M8 that I posted earlier in the M8 forum:
1. After all the constant "excellent build quality" praise that the M7 and now M8 constantly get, I really just don't see it. Based on materials alone, yes, the M7 and M8 are excellent in materials. In actual build quality, they are both quite poor in my opinion. Both of my M7's from last year had screen fitment issues where they weren't flush with the top and bottom speaker grills. It annoyed the heck out of my OCD self and was one of the few reasons why I returned them both.
My M8 has a very similar issue. On the right side of the phone, the top and bottom speaker grills are raised above the glass. So my finger snags when I'm swiping up or down on the screen. Super annoying and I'm going to exchange it for sure, if I even keep this phone in general.
2. The LED notification light....if you can call it one. Is HTC the only smartphone manufacturer that doesn't understand the importance and desire from consumers to have a bright, legible and multi-colored LED notification light? The one on the M7 and now M8 is pathetic. Might as well not even have one. It is the size of a pinhole, can only show green or amber, and it is next to useless.
To HTC's credit, the one on the M8 does seem to be a bit more visible than it was on the M7, but it could be in my head. And also keep in mind that I knew exactly what I was getting into when I bought the M8, so it's my own fault with this issue. I still wanted to mention it however as it still bothers me.
3. The camera. I will keep this one short as there is constant discussion about it and people have varying opinions. My opinion is that it's lackluster, and I never thought I would say my Nexus 5 camera is better than a premium flagship phone. But it is, and I will leave it at that.
And once again, I knew what I was getting into before I purchased the M8, but I fell for HTC's duo camera marketing thinking it might somehow make 4mp's better than 4mp's. It didn't and I'm disappointed for the most part.
4. Software....I don't know what it is, but Sense 6 feels cold and empty to me. Coming from the Nexus 5, I know this might sound like a bizarre statement, but something feels off and I can't quite pinpoint it. It feels, dare I say, boring. Yes it is fast and smooth, I will give it that. But that's about where it ends for me.
I also can't wrap my head around HTC still not addressing their messaging app oddity. On the M7, when you got a new text message and opened the app, the new message wouldn't immediately appear and it would refresh quickly and then it would show up. I don't know about anyone else, but that is super duper annoying to me. And it's sadly still present on the M8.
Some might say, "use Hangouts or a 3rd party app". And I would say "nope". I hate how Hangouts handles SMS and MMS and I don't like to use 3rd party apps for text messaging. Just personal preference.
5. The physical aspect of the phone itself....it's just too tall. I understand they had to cram amps, a bigger battery, etc into the phone. But almost as tall as the Note 3? Come on. The phone feels good in the hand however, but it's just a little cumbersome. And I still hate the top of phone power button placement even thought they moved it from the left side to right.
After all of that being said, do you think the S5 is the device for me? I'm in quite a dilemma because my 14 day return policy of the M8 expires on the say that the S5 starts shipping. So I kinda need to make a decision blind unless I can get my hands on an S5 to test before then.
Thoughts? Thanks!
1. Yes. 110% gone. Dalvik to Dalvik as smooth as the stock Nexus 5.
2. It's pretty loud, sufficient enough for me when I tested it.
What area are you in? Most AT&T stores and some best buys have the S5 on display. Oh, and I'd for sure recommend the S5
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
SolarTrans said:
1. Yes. 110% gone. Dalvik to Dalvik as smooth as the stock Nexus 5.
2. It's pretty loud, sufficient enough for me when I tested it.
What area are you in? Most AT&T stores and some best buys have the S5 on display. Oh, and I'd for sure recommend the S5
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
That's great to hear! I'm in San Diego, CA.
What about the lack Of a hardware menu button? I think it's a pain having to stretch all the way to the top right of the huge screen to get to the soft menu button.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
tl;dr what's up man? hahaha I'm gonna get an s5..and you know how I am about lag. from what I'm reading, she seems so much more lag free than the s4.
you might as well get it since I am and we both seem to follow eachother
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk
AMoosa said:
What about the lack Of a hardware menu button? I think it's a pain having to stretch all the way to the top right of the huge screen to get to the soft menu button.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
M8 doesn't have an on screen menu button... But with either phone I'm sure you could change functionality if you rooted. I'm happy with a multitasking button instead of menu though. It's not too hard to reach the top for me.
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
I had the same feelings about the M8. I had actually gone to Verizon planning to buy it, but was disappointed with the phone hands on. The phone obviously looks great, but it's got some issues otherwise. It was sitting next to a G2, which actually looked much nicer in terms of the screen, and smaller bezels. The camera got terrible reviews, and as someone who doesn't listen to music from phone speakers the large speakers at the top and bottom of the phone were unsightly and make it seem longer than necessary. I also didn't like the software, and particularly the navigation bar, it felt uncomfortable to use. As a Verizon user, I also want bootloader access which is particularly tough to come by with HTC.
I haven't gone hands on with the S5 yet, but I consider the S4 to be superior to the M8...So I hope to be pleased.
S5 is miles ahead of the S4 IMO. I used it and was VERY impressed. DisplayMate said it was the best screen they'd ever seen on any smartphone.
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
outlasts the note 3
BoneXDA said:
outlasts the note 3
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+1
to me this is a main selling feature.
Hellscythe said:
+1
to me this is a main selling feature.
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Yeah the fact that this phone with a smaller battery can outlast the Note is insane! Even with a much brighter screen!
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SolarTrans said:
Yeah the fact that this phone with a smaller battery can outlast the Note is insane! Even with a much brighter screen!
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Really shows how much software optimization can do!
Touchwiz really has evolved
TouchWiz has evolved as much as AMOLED displays have XD
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Hey WizeGuyDezignz, hello from a fellow San Diegan.
I am in a similar position to you.
Either of these phones will be a quantum leap from my HTC Vivid.
Having owned HTC phones for years I really want to like the the new One.
Not having handled one, I still think that it's awkward size will bug me as will the lack luster camera (not that I usually need 16MP but it's nice to know it's there in case you do).
Things that don't having me rushing to get the S5 are
1. Touchwiz is unknown to me
2. Linked to 1. the fact that there is the Knox issue as far as rooting is concerned.
3. I think the dust cover over the charge port could be a weak point and would drive me crazy having to fiddle with it to get access every day. Specially seeing that regardless of which phone I get they will be protected by a case-mate tough case which has been outstanding for me on my Vivid.
I look forward to more hands on reviews once the S5 starts selling here.
samsat said:
Hey WizeGuyDezignz, hello from a fellow San Diegan.
I am in a similar position to you.
Either of these phones will be a quantum leap from my HTC Vivid.
Having owned HTC phones for years I really want to like the the new One.
Not having handled one, I still think that it's awkward size will bug me as will the lack luster camera (not that I usually need 16MP but it's nice to know it's there in case you do).
Things that don't having me rushing to get the S5 are
1. Touchwiz is unknown to me
2. Linked to 1. the fact that there is the Knox issue as far as rooting is concerned.
3. I think the dust cover over the charge port could be a weak point and would drive me crazy having to fiddle with it to get access every day. Specially seeing that regardless of which phone I get they will be protected by a case-mate tough case which has been outstanding for me on my Vivid.
I look forward to more hands on reviews once the S5 starts selling here.
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Click to collapse
I will 110% get the wireless charging backplate/charger from Best Buy (I'd recommend it to anyone getting this phone ).
Also, the new TouchWiz is quite intuitive IMO. It's very simple and you should have no issues picking it up.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
SolarTrans said:
I will 110% get the wireless charging backplate/charger from Best Buy (I'd recommend it to anyone getting this phone ).
Also, the new TouchWiz is quite intuitive IMO. It's very simple and you should have no issues picking it up.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
The inductive charging is a great idea but I am sure it wont work through a protective cover.
Oh yeah with a case it's unlikely to work, unless you get a wireless charging capable case. I go naked on my phones, so it's no big deal
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
SolarTrans said:
TouchWiz has evolved as much as AMOLED displays have XD
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http://www.displaymate.com/Galaxy_S5_ShootOut_1.htm
(For those who haven't seen this yet)
That would be a lot [emoji16]
i9100g user said:
http://www.displaymate.com/Galaxy_S5_ShootOut_1.htm
(For those who haven't seen this yet)
That would be a lot [emoji16]
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Click to collapse
I read that and I was very impressed with the screen specs!
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SolarTrans said:
I read that and I was very impressed with the screen specs!
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S5 may have improved upon s4's display, but I am waiting for a comparison between S5 and Z2's display.
From what i have read Z2 has a better display than M8.
So yeah i am still waiting for that[emoji6]
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