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I've had my Note since November 2011 (well a Note as I lost one and proceeded to buy another one). I still love the phone, the screen size is great and the white Note still gets a lot of attention over a year later (most people call it or actually think it's the mini ipad). Well I just successfully ordered a 16gb Nexus 4, now I am trying to decide if I will give it as a gift and keep the note or try something new. Does anyone have both and can tell me the pros and cons?
I like the Notes screen size, sd card slot, TW and honestly that it's still a unique device however I like the specs on the Nexus 4, NFC, wireless charging, and LED light. I feel the note is actually better looking than the Nexus and although I heard the Nexus has great build quality it will just got lost in the sea of black phones versus my white Note. I am not too concerned with the 16gb, I used to have a 16gb iphone and never ran out of space. I honestly am torn, I am not sure if some of the new features outweigh the screen size, uniqueness, and TW? Any other opinions? I realize they will be bias in the Note section.
Also any comparison on cameras, I love how great the pictures come out on my Note in the dark. My friends with iphone 4 and iphone 4s always want me to use my camera since it takes such better pictures than their phones when the flash is on, I wonder how the nexus 4 camera compares to the original Note camera?
BTW don't care about removeable battery or the spen, I barely ever use it.
I suffer from a severe upgradeitis, and since Nexus 4 is actually affordable (which couldn't be said about the GNex), I am jumping ship and getting myself one. I will probably suffer because of the smaller screen (I really got fond of Note's size), and I loathe the lack of microSD slot, but I love everything else about the N4.
I am with the N4...
You'll suffer for:
smaller screen
less vivid colors
lower quality of the camera
spen (if you use it frequently)
You'll like:
Google updates
smaller screen (will let you use it with one hand)
your wallet
led notifications
project butter full compliancy
impressive response
PolishDude said:
I've had my Note since November 2011 (well a Note as I lost one and proceeded to buy another one). I still love the phone, the screen size is great and the white Note still gets a lot of attention over a year later (most people call it or actually think it's the mini ipad). Well I just successfully ordered a 16gb Nexus 4, now I am trying to decide if I will give it as a gift and keep the note or try something new. Does anyone have both and can tell me the pros and cons?
I like the Notes screen size, sd card slot, TW and honestly that it's still a unique device however I like the specs on the Nexus 4, NFC, wireless charging, and LED light. I feel the note is actually better looking than the Nexus and although I heard the Nexus has great build quality it will just got lost in the sea of black phones versus my white Note. I am not too concerned with the 16gb, I used to have a 16gb iphone and never ran out of space. I honestly am torn, I am not sure if some of the new features outweigh the screen size, uniqueness, and TW? Any other opinions? I realize they will be bias in the Note section.
Also any comparison on cameras, I love how great the pictures come out on my Note in the dark. My friends with iphone 4 and iphone 4s always want me to use my camera since it takes such better pictures than their phones when the flash is on, I wonder how the nexus 4 camera compares to the original Note camera?
BTW don't care about removeable battery or the spen, I barely ever use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking about getting one, but i don't like the hardware. Smaller screen and it's actually thinner than the Note, but it looks like a damn brick. Most of you don't care about these things, but i do
My Nexus 4 arrives December 10th. For me, I'm going to miss the screen the most on the Note which I still think is one of the nicest to look at. My wife has the One X which everyone tells me is the best display on a phone, but we both prefer the colours and general impression of the Note, even if they are unnatural.
Biggest reason for the purchase is that I'm tired of Samsung's BS with software updates and closed-source platform. I want the latest version of Android when it's released, not months later. I use aosp anyway, have never liked TW.
Things I expect to like about the Nexus are the smaller size (I don't know why but after a year of having the Note I'm starting to find its size prohibitive more often than I used to) , LED notification, proper Butter, software updates and general speed.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
None of you is bothered by the lack of an SD card slot? To me, this is definitely a showstopper along with the non-removable battery (iPhone style for the lose).
My main concern about the Nexus 4 is that it is just generic Android. I don't like the bloat around the other implementations such as TouchWiz, but there's a couple of dealbreaker bugs in stock Android that Samsung, HTC etc have fixed. I don't know why Google haven't.
In particular the Email client can't work with Exchange when offline. Deleting emails on the device leaves them all on the server still, even after connection is established and sync run. Makes it pretty useless for managing emails on a commute. Samsung, HTC and even Motorola have fixed this problem, but it's still in the base Android and has been since at least ICS and possibly HC. Google don't seem interested.
It gets even worse with Imap, where it puts all the emails you've deleted back on the device once you sync. Again HTC and Motorola have fixed this, although Samsung has this problem.
Seems a basic issue, but means I won't recommend these devices for corporate use until it is fixed.
Nick
I don't care about non-removable battery, I only take out my battery if I need to access my SIM or SD card, so not a big deal for me.
Lack of SD slot and puny internal memory is a bummer for sure, but I've decided I can live with that. In return, I get stock android experience without the need of using custom ROMs (and let's face it - while CM10 for the Note is awesome, it has its issues), I'm always up to speed with new Android releases (instead of waiting for CM to catch up), awesome hjardware, and great looks. Fair tradeoff in my opinion. I will mourn the lack of SD slot and lack of FM Radio, but I'll deal with it. I got my Note last year only because it was carrier-subsided, and I couldn't afford to buy an unlocked GNex.
Got the phone in, so far I rooted it. I need to play around with it for a bit before I decide which phone I want to keep.
Yes I bought 3 nexus 4 mobile phones really amazing phones hyper fast feels good gonna rom it rip it root it to the max.... This baby will blast off!!!!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
I too have the nexus 4
Sold my galaxy note
And yes there's a difference in size but you get use to it
It's amazingly fast and already with 4.2.1
I'm rented by the price but lack of micro sd ruins it. Out of the 16 gig you will be lucky to have access to 11gig, as with other phones. I love my music and have a lot of roms on board so 11g is nothing.
From the man in your attic...
Can I just ask around a question, real quick. What's all that speed for? (casual) gaming?
Nexus 4 for me is the Android version of an iPhone, and unfortunately I am not meaning it as a compliment. As someone already stated in this topic, no sd card, no removable battery just means that if you want to take lots of pictures, videos, get your off-line Navigation with the entire Europe Maps (about 3.7GB) on your device there is not much left for anything else. I have seen a review where they state that only 12,3GB are available for the end user. That might be OK for some people, but I am not one of them.
Another thing is that if you want to use it a gamers phone, with this storage and HD games now available you will be able to get 3, maybe 4 big games in it, which is not something I would call ground breaking.
Last but not least, the battery in the phone will loose its charge over time. I am not a type of person to carry with me extra batteries and swap them around, but after some time everyone notices that their battery is not what it used to be. Specially when you want to buy / sell a second hand phone, being able to change the battery for a new one and enjoy your phone as when it was unpacked is something that Nexus 4 users will not be able to experience without getting their hands dirty and probably voiding the warranty of the device.
Sound Problems?
Does anyone here suffer from the Earpiece Defect in Nexus 4 that got mentioned in Mashable?
http://mashable.com/2012/11/25/google-nexus-4-defect/
Kortxero said:
None of you is bothered by the lack of an SD card slot? To me, this is definitely a showstopper along with the non-removable battery (iPhone style for the lose).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know the OP doesn't care, but for me this is the showstopper (which would only change if a reasonably priced 64gb model came out). As others have said, this is the iPhone of Androids, and not in a good way. The lack of removable battery gets me as well as I use my phone so much that I need either two batteries or an extended battery.
But the pros are Butter, good updates etc. But personally ill stick with the Note until the Note 3 (or something better arrives), mainly through choice than cost.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
iyousif said:
Does anyone here suffer from the Earpiece Defect in Nexus 4 that got mentioned in Mashable?
http://mashable.com/2012/11/25/google-nexus-4-defect/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I have a the distortion going on. Like, for the quality of the speaker to be good and not have any type of audio artifact, I need to keep the volume at 30% at all times. Anything higher, and certain pitches starts distorting/cracking. I guess one "fix" for this would be to change the kernel code to restrict the volume range of the speaker so that the maximum would be much lower. It could be the case that the kernel is actually overdriving the speaker module which results in the distortion. Whatever it is, it is definitely annoying to hear the edges of a person's voice gets distorted.
It's like they opted to use the cheapest POS speaker module they could find with an extremely limited range. The speaker on the Galaxy Note is a world better.
I have both....the screen size is something to get used to without a doubt. It is so tiny, but it is bearable. The constant updates from Google makes this phone worth it seeing how Samsung is a POS when it comes to releasing sources.
I'm also seeing some banding on the screen. Not sure if it's because of the screen or due to the image used (low bit).
I have an RMA on the way soon and will compare how the newer unit fares.
As NickC42 pointed out, I don't like stock Google android for few of these nitpicking stuffs -
1. Does not support speed dial? Hello Google!!??
2. Email/Calendar clients are white background black text. Why can't they have optional reverse color?
3. Oh I didn't know about those Exchange Email annoyances - total dealbreaker.
Sent from GNote.
willstay said:
As NickC42 pointed out, I don't like stock Google android for few of these nitpicking stuffs -
1. Does not support speed dial? Hello Google!!??
2. Email/Calendar clients are white background black text. Why can't they have optional reverse color?
3. Oh I didn't know about those Exchange Email annoyances - total dealbreaker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1.Install custom rom/mod
2.Install inverted gapps
3.No single issue with exchange.
All this can be solved in 10 mniutes. This is Android. Want everything out of the box? Buy iPhone.
My reasoning was why I do not like stock Android aka Nexus. If I have to install custom ROM, it defeats purpose of buying a Nexus device.
Edited: Ask yourself ahalford why do people buy Nexus device? Because they get update from God Google on day one. What is use of that update if it never fixes few of the basic things?
Edited 2: Maybe you have iPhone hidden inside your secret stash and know it enough to recommend to other people. How about giving us out of the box experience one gets from iPhone?
Sent from GNote.
The S6 is a fast and fluid phone by all means and doesn't lag often -but it does. And until Samsung (under AT&T's crippled control) comes forward with some firmware updates we can expect less than optimal software. These steps seemed to help keep performance smooth and lower the frequency of any stuttering for the time being.
Step 1
Disable Bloat
AT&T Bloat - AT&T FamilyMap, AT&T Hot Spots, AT&T Live, AT&T Locker, AT&T Locker, AT&T Mail, AT&T Mobile Locate, AT&T Mobile Transfer. AT&T Navigator, Caller Name ID, Device Help, DriveMode, Milk, Milk Video , Smart Limits (Why is there so much!?!)
Samsung Bloat - S Voice, Keeper, Lookout, Hancom Office 2014,
Other Bloat - OneNote, Skype, Uber, YP, Hangouts, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon
You can disable more or disable less, but honestly the bulk of the bloat comes from AT&T.
Once you disable everything restart your phone. It is important to make sure all of the applications are not loaded in the RAM, and a reboot should guarantee this. Of course, if you root you can delete the applications instead of disabling them - it's your call.
Step 2
Disable Sensors You're not Using
NFC
Motion and Gestures - Direct call, Smart alert, Mute, Palm Swipe to capture
Bluetooth
Themes (These may not actually affect performance, only time will tell)
Account Sync
GPS
Wifi - Network notification, Always allow scanning
News Briefing
Step 3
Stay up to date
System updates
Google Play App updates
Galaxy App updates - new users may not know to check this application for system updates
That about does it for now. Time to wait for both ROMs (if the bootloader is ever unlocked) and firmware updates.
Hippoman13 said:
The S6 is a fast and fluid phone by all means and doesn't lag often -but it does. And until Samsung (under AT&T's crippled control) comes forward with some firmware updates we can expect less than optimal software. These steps seemed to help keep performance smooth and lower the frequency of any stuttering for the time being.
Step 1
Disable Bloat
AT&T Bloat - AT&T FamilyMap, AT&T Hot Spots, AT&T Live, AT&T Locker, AT&T Locker, AT&T Mail, AT&T Mobile Locate, AT&T Mobile Transfer. AT&T Navigator, Caller Name ID, Device Help, DriveMode, Milk, Milk Video , Smart Limits (Why is there so much!?!)
Samsung Bloat - S Voice, Keeper, Lookout, Hancom Office 2014,
Other Bloat - OneNote, Skype, Uber, YP, Hangouts, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon
You can disable more or disable less, but honestly the bulk of the bloat comes from AT&T.
Once you disable everything restart your phone. It is important to make sure all of the applications are not loaded in the RAM, and a reboot should guarantee this. Of course, if you root you can delete the applications instead of disabling them - it's your call.
Step 2
Disable Unnecessary Sensors
NFC
Motion and Gestures - Direct call, Smart alert, Mute, Palm Swipe to capture
Bluetooth
Themes (These may not actually affect performance, only time will tell)
Account Sync
GPS
Wifi - Network notification, Always allow scanning
News Briefing
Step 3
Stay up to date
System updates
Google Play App updates
Galaxy App updates
That about does it for now. Time to wait for both ROMs (if the bootloader is ever unlocked) and firmware updates. Samsung is known for laggy launch software and that is what we're dealing with, folks.
I would appreciate feedback and input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, this is almost laughable. You literally have everything on the device disabled? Turn off WiFi Bluetooth GPS??? Why don't you just run your phone in airplane mode since you're only one step away from it....
Even more laughable that you think its "laggy" and not the fastest phone on the market.....
Even MORE laughable that you're actually waiting for the bootloader to get unlocked.... check with the S5 people who bought their phones a year ago and see how that's going for them...
You should just delete Steps 2 and 3 from your list since step 2 is just rediculous, and step 3 is just common sense.
TechSavvy2 said:
Lol, this is almost laughable. You literally have everything on the device disabled? Turn off WiFi Bluetooth GPS??? Why don't you just run your phone in airplane mode since you're only one step away from it....
Even more laughable that you think its "laggy" and not the fastest phone on the market.....
Even MORE laughable that you're actually waiting for the bootloader to get unlocked.... check with the S5 people who bought their phones a year ago and see how that's going for them...
You should just delete Steps 2 and 3 from your list since step 2 is just rediculous, and step 3 is just common sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Coming to terms with lag is hard. Especially after you spend your hard earned money on a new Samsung® Phone. EVEN more so for someone who cries under a guide made for inexperienced users. You sound like you know what you're talking about - why are you here?
I don't have everything disabled. I said Disable Unnecessary Sensors(I changed it for you). If any of them are necessary to you, leave them on. Are you still confused?
The phone IS laggy. Every Android phone is to different degrees and your new, shiny Galaxy S6 is no different. ESPECIALLY the AT&T variant. I said the bulk of the bloat comes from AT&T, so other versions of the S6 are probably faster and what you read about. Not this one.
The bootloader might be unlocked, or maybe not. Assuming it definitely won't be is laughable.
There's no need to freak out on a guide for inexperienced users. A TON of people bought the S6 and don't know how it works. You certainly do, so don't waste your time.
This is a good guide and starting point, thank you for taking the time to post it here. As always, other users should take all guides as such; a starting point to customize "your" rig for what "you" use. Take what you like and leave the rest aside. :good:
S6 making more problems than S5
My S5 Goes better then the s6 Egde
I opted to get the iPhone 6+ a chance,,and I don't regret it. with the 8.3 update is just buttery smooth, I was going to get the S6, but will all that bloat and no root in the near future the decision was easy. Now just wait for the LG G4 to come out and see what it brings....
The M9 is just out of the equation since I really hated that bezel when I had the M8
eortizr said:
I opted to get the iPhone 6+ a chance,,and I don't regret it. with the 8.3 update is just buttery smooth, I was going to get the S6, but will all that bloat and no root in the near future the decision was easy. Now just wait for the LG G4 to come out and see what it brings....
The M9 is just out of the equation since I really hated that bezel when I had the M8
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yay for you. Who cares?
Sent from my SM-P900 using Xparent Red Tapatalk 2
Well the M9 display and camera are quite poor compared to the S6 and iPhone. It's really unfortunate.
The new iPhone is only 5 months away, so enjoy your phone while it's relevant. I've played around with iOS 8.3 and it really is killer, I just don't like iPhones lol.
Hippoman13 said:
Coming to terms with lag is hard. Especially after you spend your hard earned money on a new Samsung® Phone. EVEN more so for someone who cries under a guide made for inexperienced users. You sound like you know what you're talking about - why are you here?
I don't have everything disabled. I said Disable Unnecessary Sensors(I changed it for you). If any of them are necessary to you, leave them on. Are you still confused?
The phone IS laggy. Every Android phone is to different degrees and your new, shiny Galaxy S6 is no different. ESPECIALLY the AT&T variant. I said the bulk of the bloat comes from AT&T, so other versions of the S6 are probably faster and what you read about. Not this one.
The bootloader might be unlocked, or maybe not. Assuming it definitely won't be is laughable.
There's no need to freak out on a guide for inexperienced users. A TON of people bought the S6 and don't know how it works. You certainly do, so don't waste your time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do people always relate bloat to lag? Do you realize in reality it has almost nothing to do with lag, if at all?
It's like saying "my computer is slower because 70% of my hard drive is full instead of 50%" . It's pure rubbish and simply not true.
So please, I understand you are trying to help but please don't steer people in the wrong direction.
It's just a common XDA myth that everyone jumped on without doing their own research.
WizeGuyDezignz said:
Why do people always relate bloat to lag? Do you realize in reality it has almost nothing to do with lag, if at all?
It's like saying "my computer is slower because 70% of my hard drive is full instead of 50%" . It's pure rubbish and simply not true.
So please, I understand you are trying to help but please don't steer people in the wrong direction.
It's just a common XDA myth that everyone jumped on without doing their own research.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're joking, right?
Many bloat apps run in the background and consume CPU and RAM. They don't just sit there dormant in the storage.
WizeGuyDezignz said:
Why do people always relate bloat to lag? Do you realize in reality it has almost nothing to do with lag, if at all?
It's like saying "my computer is slower because 70% of my hard drive is full instead of 50%" . It's pure rubbish and simply not true.
So please, I understand you are trying to help but please don't steer people in the wrong direction.
It's just a common XDA myth that everyone jumped on without doing their own research.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are an idiot.... Because on physical disk drives (HDD's not SSD's) being fuller does mean slower. That is that the drive will take longer to seek data as the way that the disk writes/reads data it would have to move the heads back an forth much further/more often. as I drive gets fuller it also fragments data more often. his is why a SSD is superior at seek times as it does not have to seek data on a physical level, especially as they get closer to full utilization of capacity.
Beyond that, a HDD writes from outside edge of the disk inward. This is because at the same rpm, each revolution that the disk makes it is able to pull more data on the outside of the disk than the inside. Density of data is uniform so it simply passes more data. Think of a car that has a tiny (diameter) tire vs a large one (same car). At the same rpms in a given gear, the large diameter tire will be moving faster. Why? The outside edge has a higher velocity than the inside of the tire as it spins. The further a spinning object reaches from center, the faster it will be spinning at an outside edge vs inner.
I agree this guide is bs...Just as your understanding of computer storage architecture is.
There really isn't much lag. That may be b/c I disabled everything first thing after unboxing, but I disabled b/c I dont want all those apps downloading updates. Not b/c I noticed any lag. Touchwiz is definitely snappier than the GS5.
I'm running my HTC M8 GPE (just wiped it clean). The M8 is a tad bit quicker/responsive, but the S6 is very, very close. M8 GPE is still an awesome phone
The camera and added software features like multi-window, quick camera access, etc. make the S6 slightly better in my opinion (for me at least).
My main concern with the S6, and why I'm considering returning it and waiting for the Note, is the battery life. So far it just hasn't been good. Probably 3.5hrs of screen time. And I can't replace the battery, so after a year the battery life is going to be bad. It does charge fast, but I don't want to have to worry about that.
brushrop03 said:
There really isn't much lag. That may be b/c I disabled everything first thing after unboxing, but I disabled b/c I dont want all those apps downloading updates. Not b/c I noticed any lag. Touchwiz is definitely snappier than the GS5.
I'm running my HTC M8 GPE (just wiped it clean). The M8 is a tad bit quicker/responsive, but the S6 is very, very close. M8 GPE is still an awesome phone
The camera and added software features like multi-window, quick camera access, etc. make the S6 slightly better in my opinion (for me at least).
My main concern with the S6, and why I'm considering returning it and waiting for the Note, is the battery life. So far it just hasn't been good. Probably 3.5hrs of screen time. And I can't replace the battery, so after a year the battery life is going to be bad. It does charge fast, but I don't want to have to worry about that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah the battery has been a disappointment so far coming from the g3... but I only had the g3 for a month and had a nexus 5 for a year before that so I'm kinda used to it. Still a buzzkill tho
I feel like each and everyone of you shouldn't be surprised by any of this. It happened on S3, S4, S5 and the note devices why would the S6 be any different. Until we start putting our foot down(never going to happen) as consumers it's safe to assume that the S7 won't be any different.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using XDA Free mobile app
LeKtRiCzzz said:
I feel like each and everyone of you shouldn't be surprised by any of this. It happened on S3, S4, S5 and the note devices why would the S6 be any different. Until we start putting our foot down(never going to happen) as consumers it's safe to assume that the S7 won't be any different.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was by no means surprised. I saw the size of the battery before I bought it. I know it's a quality screen that will also impact it. I'm surprised it gets the same kind of battery life as the nexus 5 tbh
This is honestly so dumb. There is no lag...
DigitalUnderground said:
I was by no means surprised. I saw the size of the battery before I bought it. I know it's a quality screen that will also impact it. I'm surprised it gets the same kind of battery life as the nexus 5 tbh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm only disappointed in the fact that we finally get a Samsung battery efficient processor, but then they make the battery smaller than the S5 and seal it. I could see myself keeping this phone for 2 years, but I would need to replace the battery at some point.
brushrop03 said:
I'm only disappointed in the fact that we finally get a Samsung battery efficient processor, but then they make the battery smaller than the S5 and seal it. I could see myself keeping this phone for 2 years, but I would need to replace the battery at some point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can understand that... but remember the device's footprint is smaller and more compact than the s5. There's only so much room. Once you've owned a nexus 5, u learn to keep a charger at the office in case of emergency and a car charger in the center console outlet.
DigitalUnderground said:
I can understand that... but remember the device's footprint is smaller and more compact than the s5. There's only so much room. Once you've owned a nexus 5, u learn to keep a charger at the office in case of emergency and a car charger in the center console outlet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I have a 2A charger at work and in my car. So i'm usually not far away from a charger. But the more you charge, the faster you wear the battery life. If I could replace the battery, not a big problem. But they sealed it!!! arghh!! wth Samsung?!
brushrop03 said:
Yeah I have a 2A charger at work and in my car. So i'm usually not far away from a charger. But the more you charge, the faster you wear the battery life. If I could replace the battery, not a big problem. But they sealed it!!! arghh!! wth Samsung?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never replaced a battery in any phone I've had and I don't use microsd so I actually like the device being sealed. It adds to the build quality and the sturdiness. You couldn't have the glass back if it was removable
Just picked up my GS6 Active. I held out due to the smaller battery in the GS6. Coming from a GS2 rooted running pure CM, this thing is filled with bloat. Anyone else get one?
Anyway to root this thing to install TiBkup and freeze the bloat?
Considering it just came out today, I'm going to go out on a limb and say no.
Sent from my Galaxy S6 using Tapatalk
You need to be like me and rush out and get one. Since I was on a 4 year old GS2, I couldn't wait any longer.
Jackal2001-
I'm in the same boat; since the GS2 (which I'm still using), this is the first Galaxy S* that's made me want to upgrade. I'm going to (try to) hold off for a week or so though, and see what people's experiences are.
AoN.
I actually skipped the Active this year on purpose. I Just ended up getting a 64GB S6 and putting it in a case. I came from an AT&T S4 Active (SGH-i537) and was disappointed by how restricted it was and how difficult it was to find support in the development community. I waited to get an S6 until a couple weeks ago, until I was sure it was rootable and flashfire was working.
I also didn't want to give up the fingerprint sensor which was a feature that was very attractive to me on the S6. I am now quite happy. I might not be able to shower with the phone now, but the tradeoffs were too big to get me to consider the Active this time around again.
kuaka said:
I actually skipped the Active this year on purpose. I Just ended up getting a 64GB S6 and putting it in a case. I came from an AT&T S4 Active (SGH-i537) and was disappointed by how restricted it was and how difficult it was to find support in the development community. I waited to get an S6 until a couple weeks ago, until I was sure it was rootable and flashfire was working.
I also didn't want to give up the fingerprint sensor which was a feature that was very attractive to me on the S6. I am now quite happy. I might not be able to shower with the phone now, but the tradeoffs were too big to get me to consider the Active this time around again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm with you. I much prefer the regular S6 to the Active. I've got a regular S6, gold, 64 GB AT&T model and I love it.
Got one today as well. I believe the kernel is too new to use PingPong Root.
I am actually not that worried about it. I just disabled the apps and done. I'm actually tired of romn' phones and doing all that jazz anymore. If they come out with a one step root I may do that.
I'm more concerned with battery life and don't care about fingerprint scanner. Waterproofing is just a bonus.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using XDA Free mobile app
How much of the 32GB storage is available to the user?
I have 23gb free but I installed some stuff
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using XDA Free mobile app
Pictures?
It is an awesome phone! I wanted the built in weather proofing, and the larger battery is great so I waited patiently! I did not care that the battery could not be easily swapped out, but I did want to be able to replace it myself when it needed it as well as do other minor repairs. At the very least I did not want to mail the phone off but take it in to a nearby repair center. I cannot find unboxing videos or detailed pictures. Can anyone post some especially of the port on the bottom and back? I was set to get this, but it is my understanding that it is going to require a heat gun to take the back off too just to replace the battery or even replace the charging port door--something I can easily do with the regular s5 model? If I had a Samsung repair center near me like an Apple center, I may have still considered this phone. There is still a small part of me that is still hoping against the odds that this thing is not glued together, but I am told it is. Why could they have not just tucked the sides under the metal flaps to hold the back down better and just screwed it down. They have screws there anyway for looks????
I am still trying to decide on getting this or getting something else like maybe the s5.
I am not sure about being limited to the 32 GB storage either, but I think I could get by with an OTG adapter for special events when I needed to record them. Wish there would have been a 64 GB option.
I also do not like the lack of MHL support as our Internet here is slow and not good for Chromecast.
For anything else I for go for pink, frilly looks (I am a middle-aged mom), but I just wanted a phone that I could use without worrying about day-to-day use. So this phone in an Otterbox (the black or gray it is going to come in) is just fine with me!
Thanks for any information for those who went out and got this. I have the feeling I am going to going with another phone though
PinkPower said:
it is my understanding that it is going to require a heat gun to take the back off too just to replace the battery or even replace the charging port door
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just so you know there is no door on the S6A, all the ports are just open.
I have it too. So far so good. Upgraded from an active 4.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using XDA Free mobile app
I spent an hour playing with one in the "flagship store" in Boston. I finally decided that I wanted to buy it and the sales guy says oh we only have it in Camo white.. I wanted regular grey. They had 4 display models on the floor. I guess I'll have to order it online..
So I just did an overnight battery test. I have GPS disabled and WiFi set to turn off (more data useage) when it goes to sleep. I have NFC disabled as well as the LED on the front, etc. Overnight for 10 hours the battery dropped 6%. For me that is pretty damn good for a bloated factory image.
So how's the cell signal strength so far? Curious since it's got a different type case as opposed to metal and glass.. Also how's screen look. Solid white background have pink tint?
beaverslayer said:
So how's the cell signal strength so far? Curious since it's got a different type case as opposed to metal and glass.. Also how's screen look. Solid white background have pink tint?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see no pink hue, looks solid white to me on a google screen.
If I let this page sit on high brightness, http://jasonfarrell.com/misc/deadpixeltest.php?p=2, I can see either a slight pink tint toward the bottom of the screen or it is me going blind from staring at it.
I don't travel a lot so cell strength seems normal to me.
jackal2001 said:
I see no pink hue, looks solid white to me on a google screen.
If I let this page sit on high brightness, http://jasonfarrell.com/misc/deadpixeltest.php?p=2, I can see either a slight pink tint toward the bottom of the screen or it is me going blind from staring at it.
I don't travel a lot so cell strength seems normal to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you checked to see where it was assemble (Vietnam, Korea, etc...) and what type of camera sensor it has? Isocell vs Sony? Sorry for the 20 questions just wondering how it compare to regular S6.
I made sure it was made in Korea. How would I find the camera sensor info
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using XDA Free mobile app
See if this works. Copied from techtrikz and written by Kannan.
How to identify the camera model on your Galaxy S6/S6 Edge
1. Open phone dialer and enter the below code
*#34971539#
2. This will open the ‘Camera Firmware Standard’
3. Tap on ‘ISP VER CHECK’. This will show up the rear and front camera make.
4. For Sony sensor, it will be ‘SONY_IMX240_FIMC_IS’ and for Samsung Isocell sensor, it will be ‘SLSI_S5K2P2_FIMC_IS’.
Hiya tech-mates !
I'd love to have your opinion.
I just asked myself, if my (underestimated)beloved Shamu needs to be replaced tomorrow, for any reason, (hope he won't, at least few years)
which phone could be as good as N6 was (and still is) nowadays ?
I.e. our shamu is being old little by little but still in race yet imo..
Got it since 2 years from now, and the more time passes, the more I like N6 !
-32/64bits transition is in a good way and almost finished (flagships). I think new SoCs (even more powerful) are still not as efficient as SD805 is. (without filling RAM with useless data or using an 32bits-adaptator which waste ressources)
-Cameras are quite better now
-Fingerprint scanner is a classic feature now (if you need it)
-Stock ROM "outdated" and security patch ends soon
-better StB ratio (not that much)
IMO, there's no device yet which beat the Shamu considering overall characteristics. And buying a new one will make me loose some beloved features I guess (screen size/type/quality, awesome dualspeakers, software fluidity, xda ressources/ROMS, Qi, LED)
If I need to buy a new phone today, I'll surely take a brand new N6 but i'll think about waiting for a OP5 or maybe chinese devices P10+/Mi Mix2/Mi 6+.
Which one would you choose ? (do your own suggestions)
(excuse my english, he's dirty)
I would recommend either waiting for the OP5 or getting the OP3T. I used to own the N6 but it ended in a tragic fate. So I decided to get the OP3T. Love it! Super fast, great camera, great battery, I love the fingerprint scanner, and the notification LED. The only downfall IMO is the speaker. It can easily be covered up and block sound. Other than that I would definitely recommend the OP3T or the OP5 if it it any good
Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk
baeren131 said:
I would recommend either waiting for the OP5 or getting the OP3T. I used to own the N6 but it ended in a tragic fate. So I decided to get the OP3T. Love it! Super fast, great camera, great battery, I love the fingerprint scanner, and the notification LED. The only downfall IMO is the speaker. It can easily be covered up and block sound. Other than that I would definitely recommend the OP3T or the OP5 if it it any good
Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any phone which have a speaker as good as the N6s one ?
So hard to leave that speaker :S
mesco38 said:
Is there any phone which have a speaker as good as the N6s one ? [emoji14]
So hard to leave that speaker :S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can only think of the 6P or the pixel... (If you don't get one with the glitched out speaker...) But sorry. I can't think of anything, but I know what you mean. I definitely miss that
Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk
The new Google phones are to expensive .
OnePlus 3T or LG G6 are acceptable priced.
But my N6 - debloated and decrypted - is still fast and smooth.
I can wait...
mesco38 said:
Is there any phone which have a speaker as good as the N6s one ?
So hard to leave that speaker :S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Axon 7 has very good sound, stereo speakers.
mesco38 said:
Is there any phone which have a speaker as good as the N6s one ? [emoji14]
So hard to leave that speaker :S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pixel XL speaker is much weaker (hah). Clear but sounds muffled compared to the venerable Shamu. Also only one speaker so the only stereo is through the headphone jack. Other than that, the Marlin is nice.
I read an article recently that Nokia (Yeah, read that correctly) wants to push the Nexus line back into existence. Or at least as close as possible, replicating the Nexus experience of little to no bloatware, and fast updates. My N6 is chugging along just fine right now, but I hope that Nokia follows through, because that just might be my new phone..
I've been watching for one, but there just aren't a lot of options if you like larger phones. What I need to see...
5.5" minimum screen size. 16:9. Might have to reevaluate if the ratios change much more. 1080p or better.
AOSP builds supported, no locked bootloader.
Better RAM/CPU/storage specs than the N6.
SD card. I don't care if the phone comes with 1TB internal, I want the damn SD slot. The manufacturing cost is about 20 cents, just put it in.
Forward facing speakers that sound decent.
Decent reception on TMobile LTE bands. Ideally supporting all US carriers, but Sprint/VZW are annoying.
Ideally, TMobile WiFi calling enabled.
Ideally, 4000+ mAh battery or user removable so I can get a bigger battery.
Ideally, flat screen so I can use tempered glass screen protectors.
Max price $500 US.
Oh yeah, no spontaneous combustion.
Axon 7 is the only one close. Flat screen and battery are not there, but the price is nice and performance is good. AOSP builds are fully functional now, thanks to the devs over there.
I know it's not a nexus-killer, but I just ordered a Note 5 to replace my Nexus 6. There's nothing that quite matches the beauty of Samsung, plus I just miss the S-Pen. Plus it'll be just enough smaller, thinner, and lighter enough that it won't feel big and bulky in my hand, as well as it being nice and balanced unlike the N6 which is noticeably bigger and heavier on the top than on the bottom.
The only things I'll really miss of the N6 are 1) 100% carrier compatibility 2) Stereo front speakers (oh man, no phone beats these) and 3) plain stock os, although that's starting to lag behind on speed (even though it gets faster antutu than lineage). Anyway. I'm pretty excited. And again, definitely not a nexus-killer in any way, but the Note 5 just has things I value more than getting a vanilla experience.
Besides, if Google is going to turn Apple and make an iphone-clone and also make it so I have to be unrooted/locked anyway in order to pass safetynet, I might as well move back to what's comfortable to use. Just my 2c.
NLBeev said:
The new Google phones are to expensive .
OnePlus 3T or LG G6 are acceptable priced.
But my N6 - debloated and decrypted - is still fast and smooth.
I can wait...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree and will wait too until he dies
N6 debloated, even encrypted, still runs everything perfectly smoothly and still have one of the best stereo dual speakers.. Autonomy is fine too, event after 2 years he's still running 1 day and half with normal/good use (no wifi, always on 4G, no gps, using youtube with or without earphones at least 1 hour)
alresave said:
The Axon 7 has very good sound, stereo speakers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, didn't know that phone, looks great. Stock ROM excepted, he really looks like a N6 "successor" (not really sure that SD820+4Go RAM+64bitsOS runs that much better than SD805+3Go RAM+32bitsOS - your opinion ?)(I don't trust benchmarks)
Heard something about alternative ROMs with him ? Will look after some xda forums
Anything about ZTE quality/updates/after-sales ?
ttabbal said:
I've been watching for one, but there just aren't a lot of options if you like larger phones. What I need to see...
5.5" minimum screen size. 16:9. Might have to reevaluate if the ratios change much more. 1080p or better.
AOSP builds supported, no locked bootloader.
Better RAM/CPU/storage specs than the N6.
SD card. I don't care if the phone comes with 1TB internal, I want the damn SD slot. The manufacturing cost is about 20 cents, just put it in.
Forward facing speakers that sound decent.
Decent reception on TMobile LTE bands. Ideally supporting all US carriers, but Sprint/VZW are annoying.
Ideally, TMobile WiFi calling enabled.
Ideally, 4000+ mAh battery or user removable so I can get a bigger battery.
Ideally, flat screen so I can use tempered glass screen protectors.
Max price $500 US.
Oh yeah, no spontaneous combustion.
Axon 7 is the only one close. Flat screen and battery are not there, but the price is nice and performance is good. AOSP builds are fully functional now, thanks to the devs over there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agreed.. SDCard excepted, got the same requirements
Hope there's a new phone soon (pixel2 ? but they don't seem to go on this way..)
Axon 7 looks great indeed
BlockOfDynamite said:
I know it's not a nexus-killer, but I just ordered a Note 5 to replace my Nexus 6. There's nothing that quite matches the beauty of Samsung, plus I just miss the S-Pen. Plus it'll be just enough smaller, thinner, and lighter enough that it won't feel big and bulky in my hand, as well as it being nice and balanced unlike the N6 which is noticeably bigger and heavier on the top than on the bottom.
The only things I'll really miss of the N6 are 1) 100% carrier compatibility 2) Stereo front speakers (oh man, no phone beats these) and 3) plain stock os, although that's starting to lag behind on speed (even though it gets faster antutu than lineage). Anyway. I'm pretty excited. And again, definitely not a nexus-killer in any way, but the Note 5 just has things I value more than getting a vanilla experience.
Besides, if Google is going to turn Apple and make an iphone-clone and also make it so I have to be unrooted/locked anyway in order to pass safetynet, I might as well move back to what's comfortable to use. Just my 2c.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SHAME ON U
SHAME2U
SHAMU !!
What's the interest turning GPhones into Apple-likePhones ?
mesco38 said:
...
What's the interest turning GPhones into Apple-likePhones ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Money! They want us to use Android pay. Banks don't like rooting; fear of fraud.
As the Moto X Pure was a nice update of what I loved about the N6, I was hoping that the 2017 Moto X would continue that line. Unfortunately, from the leaks we have seen, it looks more like an HTC phone or even an iPhone than the logical continuation of the N6. But the price points that MotoLenova are hitting are really tempting. I even think the G5 Plus would make a nice phone at that price. I'll see what they eventually release with the Moto X before I decide. I've just gotten to a point where the Pixels of the world are too expensive for what you get.
But like all of us here in the N6 forum, I am still rocking my Shamu.
NLBeev said:
Money! They want us to use Android pay. Banks don't like rooting; fear of fraud.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMO, I don't think Android/applepay will last over time..
So insecure and new-gen credit cards are developped right now (with screen/digital pin or fingerprint scanner)
mesco38 said:
IMO, I don't think Android/applepay will last over time..
So insecure and new-gen credit cards are developped right now (with screen/digital pin or fingerprint scanner)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But I can't think of other reasons why Google makes it more difficult to get root access.
G. doesn't even manage to create a dark UI.
I am beginning to dislike Google....
Hopefully there will be soon new credit-cards.
BTw Phone paying is recently introduced here in the Netherlands.
NLBeev said:
But I can't think of other reasons why Google makes it more difficult to get root access.
G. doesn't even manage to create a dark UI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess, users who make last their phone 3+ years by rooting, installing customroms, changing screens and batteries themselves, is not worthy in this consumery society..
When you see how sheeps spend their money with iPhones, spending 1000€/years sometimes to get a 2years-late technology.. Com'on, "Think different"
NLBeev said:
I am beginning to dislike Google....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, same for me :crying:
At least stock android/G-devices
NLBeev said:
Hopefully there will be soon new credit-cards.
BTw Phone paying is recently introduced here in the Netherlands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here, in France, banks have already made an agreement among them, tu use a local payment service called "paylib". So they don't wanna introduce android pay. (but applepay is already working here..)
Fu**ing retarded country we are..
mesco38 said:
Totally agreed.. SDCard excepted, got the same requirements
Hope there's a new phone soon (pixel2 ? but they don't seem to go on this way..)
Axon 7 looks great indeed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SD is one of those things people seem to love or hate. There's no one right way, but there's also nothing saying you have to put a card in there if there's a slot. But if there's not a slot, you have no choice. As it's tiny, costs almost nothing, and harms nothing to have it, why not? Then everyone can have it however they like. Those digital packrats can have tons of storage, those who prefer not to have one just don't install one. The Axon 7 implementation is particularly nice, the SIM tray is a dual SIM and one of them can be an SD or a SIM. It can even be both, but that requires some modifications to the SD cards. IMO the only people to gain anything from it not being there are device manufacturers (sell overpriced higher capacity versions), and cloud providers trying to sell you storage.
Axon 7 is really the only device I could see buying right now. The LG G6 looks nice, but LGs history with bootloops and lack of service has me avoiding them. AOSP is not possible at the moment though, so G6 is out.
OnePlus 3T looks nice, screen is a bit small and no SD.
I really liked my Note 3, but Samsung is on a lockdown thing right now, and I won't buy a device I can't actually own. He who controls the software controls the device.
None have the removable battery, which would be nice, and all are a bit small on battery for me, but I can live with that. Nothing is perfect. I'm in no hurry at the moment, Shamu and the devs here are treating me well.
I am trying to compare the specs of the "Pixel 5" and the recently released "Samsung S20 FE" and would actually want to know, why Pixel 5 and not the S20 FE?For the reference, GSMArena comparison here.
Currently i see the following pros and cons comparing those devices:
S20 FE pros:
SD card slot
Bigger battery
Better SoC
Better GPU
120hz scree refresh rate
Front fingerprint sensor (debatable, but definitely my personal preference)
More cameras and (hopefully) better camera sensors (but not better camera software)
Available (unlike Pixel 5, that is still on pre-orders)
Pixel 5 pros:
More RAM
Better camera software
Less bloatware
Direct updates from Google
Usable eSIM (none of the S20 series have their eSIM enabled on US models)
Unlocakble bootloader (just an assumption, but the QC based S20 FE is unlikely to have it's btl unlockable)
Missing SD slot (which a find to be a pretty big deal) and a somewhat weaker SoC/GPU/battery make me lean toward the S20 FE, yet there seem to be a pretty big fan base on the Pixels those days, and i want to know why. So, what Pixel 5 pros did i miss?
Thanks in advance for replies.
You might not care what I think but I'm gonna reply anyway. Im using a Note 9 now.
The reason the P5 beats any Samsung phone, again this is IMO, is because it runs STOCK ANDROID OS. One UI is trash, TouchWiz was trash. Samsung can make a great, beautiful, crazy spec'd phone every time but it still runs a trash OS. And plz dont try to tell me its not that bad. It is and my wife has a Note 20 5G and its trash on there too even with the newer updates. This one thing is the reason I will never buy a Sam phone again.
And do I have to get into the bloat ware. Oh MY God! I have like 25-30 apps. When my phone updates, its says its optimizing 450+ apps. WTF. And forget about removing them cuz u can't UL BL to debloat. EVER.
Also don't let Sammy fool u with this quick monthly security updates. When it comes to new Android versions they still lag behind, especially if your device is a year or more old.
TokedUp said:
You might not care what I think but I'm gonna reply anyway. Im using a Note 9 now.
The reason the P5 beats any Samsung phone, again this is IMO, is because it runs STOCK ANDROID OS. One UI is trash, TouchWiz was trash. Samsung can make a great, beautiful, crazy spec'd phone every time but it still runs a trash OS. And plz dont try to tell me its not that bad. It is and my wife has a Note 20 5G and its trash on there too even with the newer updates.
And do I have to get into the bloat ware. Oh MY God! I have like 25-30 apps. When my phone updates, its says its optimizing 450+ apps. WTF. And forget about removing them cuz u can't UL BL to debloat. EVER.
Also don't let Sammy fool u with this quick monthly security updates. When it comes to new Android versions they still lag behind, especially if your device is a year or more old.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually do agree on that, yes, the crap on Samsung stock ROM is pretty bad, but is it THAT bad? On a carrier branded CSC - yes, absolutely. Just a """"clean"""" (yea, i know, i know) stock Samsung - bad, but not THAT bad. And thats the main factor that makes me lean toward Pixel indeed.
Latest and greatest Android? Well, i can live without that. Heck, i am typing it from an Android 8 device right now, lol.
But... lower specs, and ESPECIALLY, the SD card slot do bother me. I've got Nexus7 FHD tablet, bought it more or less a few month after its release, still using it sometimes, and one damn feature i've missed every single time i've boarded a long flight is having an SD card slot! I don't know why the heck Google hates SD cards so much, but thats definitely bothers me.
In any case, i did mention "less bloatware" in my pros list, guess i should have called it "clean android". Do i turst it to remain totally clean? NO! Don't get me started on Google, their platforms, and ****loads of ads, some blockable, some may soon be less so. Just a few things to list on that topic, though - YouTube midroll ads (that drove me to finally start using alt client) and Android TV leanback launcher update with a huge ad on the top 1/3 of the screen (which has forced me to disable apps updates, cause on a TV Play market its all updates or no apps update).
I'm sorry. I do not agree. OneUI is far worse than u think. Im using it now. Go try for yourself. And I dont mean go to the store and look at it. Actually use a phone with it on it and u will want to throw it against a wall.
I have a 400gb mem card in my phone now. There is nothing an it. I used to need it for music but now everything is streaming. Photos and vids get backed up to cloud. I dont think I need a mem card anymore and I was a firm believer in them.
Please dont ever compare Google with Sam in terms of bloatware. It makes you look like u have no idea what u are talking about. Its not even a competition. I mean Sammy tried to put ads to our lockscreens at one point. If u think the Pixel has bloatware, go look at an app list on a new Sam phone. The Note 20 is an absolute joke.
I'm in the same debate as you... Pretty sure p5 wins due to unlocked bootloader. My p2 stands up still to processing power, I suspect I'll get 3 years out of the p5 since I've always found more ram is more important than more processing power and the 765g does hold up next to the p4 865.
Why do we run Pixels? Stock android, superior experience, no/limited bloat, reliable updates, and superior camera performance. But, you likely knew that already, and you came here to discuss specs. It's not the specs; it's the real world performance. You ever run a Windoze comp with a fresh install? See how snappy and smooth the performance is? Well, that's what a Pixel is like all the time. You're basically asking the PC equivalent of asking a tech forum "should I buy an Acer (or Dell or whatever) or build my own?" The answer will likely be build your own or reinstall Windoze and upgrade what you have. Look man, I was a Samsung lover for many years. But their bloat is intrusive and very poorly implemented, and I got sick of it. To complete the analogy: if you want a Dell (even if it is an Alienware) running the latest Intel, go ahead. I'll build my own AMD machine that rocks its socks off.
Come down to long term experience for me.
Pixel phones have been great to use and continue to feel great after a couple of years. Samsung phones haven't faired so well. Lots of slow down, lots of duplicate apps, lots of clutter.
It's personal preference of course, some love Samsung apps over Google apps. For these people, pixel comes full of bloatware!
mrkhigh said:
I'm in the same debate as you... Pretty sure p5 wins due to unlocked bootloader. My p2 stands up still to processing power, I suspect I'll get 3 years out of the p5 since I've always found more ram is more important than more processing power and the 765g does hold up next to the p4 865.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocked bootloader is sadly, becoming less and less useful as the time goes. TBH, i am sick and tired to try & look for yet another way to hide root from apps, while i find myself actually customizing the system less and less using that root. Add Widevine dropping to L3 and all the streaming apps that use it going below HD, and you get yourself one more reason not to unlock.
Is slightly more RAM more important than slightly more CPU/GPU? Yea, i think it is. Is it massive, either way? Nope, probably not.
Again, one big thing that turns me away from P5 is the SD slot. From the other side, 2 pretty big things that pull me toward it are cleaner Android and eSIM.
dudeman1st said:
...It's not the specs; it's the real world performance...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The specs are the very first thing that affects real world performance. Yes, you can bog it down to a crawl with junk, but is it so? If you look at the Samsung side of XDA, i don't see that many complains about it, so realistically, in the real word words, i honestly don't know.
I've used an OG Pixel XL, and Pixel 3 XL as well as a OP 6T.
T-mobile had a "too good to pass up" trade in deal for the S20 FG and I received it on Friday. It is an awesome phone. The telephoto lens is neat, but the wide angle is awesome. Samsung's awful OS and lack of BL unlocking are really the only faults of it lol. Pixels got me over the need for an sd slot, although the lack of free unlimited storage since the Pixel 3 has me concerned. With that said, I'll be buying a Pixel 5 assuming there's some kind of a deal on black friday.
InfX said:
The specs are the very first thing that affects real world performance. Yes, you can bog it down to a crawl with junk, but is it so? If you look at the Samsung side of XDA, i don't see that many complains about it, so realistically, in the real word words, i honestly don't know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair enough, if specs are your measuring stick, sounds like you want the Samsung with the 8-series ARM. Go for it. I wouldn't shame you at all.
If you want to really understand what I am saying, try running a 3 or 4 year old Samsung (an S7 or S8) on Sam's version of Android 11 (if that's even possible) and then run Google's Android 11 on a Pixel or Pixel 2. I haven't tried it, but I know my old Samsungs ran like crap after just one or two updates, including severely reduced battery life. I am guessing that the Sams will run horribly for one reason or another. I know that Pixels run great on 11.
I run a Pixel (2 XL) stock, don't have to root it, don't have to monkey with flashing unless I want to try, don't have to constantly be looking for updated modems/ROMs/recoveries/kernels . Sure, most phones can be rescued with a good custom ROM, but you run the risk of bricking and voiding warranty. I used to love that hobby, and I loved my experience flashing with other phone hobbyists. But, I don't want to monkey with my daily driver anymore. I only flash my old phones.
jsbeagle said:
I've used an OG Pixel XL, and Pixel 3 XL as well as a OP 6T.
T-mobile had a "too good to pass up" trade in deal for the S20 FG and I received it on Friday. It is an awesome phone. The telephoto lens is neat, but the wide angle is awesome. Samsung's awful OS and lack of BL unlocking are really the only faults of it lol. Pixels got me over the need for an sd slot, although the lack of free unlimited storage since the Pixel 3 has me concerned. With that said, I'll be buying a Pixel 5 assuming there's some kind of a deal on black friday.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those are definitely not the only faults of it .Less RAM isn't exactly a good thing. If you look at the he S20 FE forum here, you'll immediately notice a "touch issues" thread, which is worrying. The eSIM being disabled on US CSCs, while Pixels, iPhones and even their own Fold got it is one heck of a turn off, too.
InfX said:
Those are definitely not the only faults of it .Less RAM isn't exactly a good thing. If you look at the he S20 FE forum here, you'll immediately notice a "touch issues" thread, which is worrying. The eSIM being disabled on US CSCs, while Pixels, iPhones and even their own Fold got it is one heck of a turn off, too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you doing that you actually need eSim?
Considering T-mobile and Samsung are essentially giving me the S20 FE, plus $60, plus $70 Samsung store credit for my Pixel 3XL, I'll take it and let my kids use it as a hotspot. T-mobile also gave me another completely free line a couple weeks ago in an unrelated deal.
jsbeagle said:
What are you doing that you actually need eSim?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't "need" eSIM, but its a useful feature assuming the dreaded COVID19 is eventually going to end, so one could travel again. It allows you to get and install a local plan in a different country without having to physically get the SIM card, a feature i'd actually like to have on my next phone. Not a must. But definitely a bonus. And most definitely a turn-off to get a device with the actual hardware being there, but having it disabled because Sammy and the carriers told so.
InfX said:
Unlocked bootloader is sadly, becoming less and less useful as the time goes. TBH, i am sick and tired to try & look for yet another way to hide root from apps, while i find myself actually customizing the system less and less using that root. Add Widevine dropping to L3 and all the streaming apps that use it going below HD, and you get yourself one more reason not to unlock.
Is slightly more RAM more important than slightly more CPU/GPU? Yea, i think it is. Is it massive, either way? Nope, probably not.
Again, one big thing that turns me away from P5 is the SD slot. From the other side, 2 pretty big things that pull me toward it are cleaner Android and eSIM.
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I agree on root becoming less and less important.
However the ability to update the device after it's eol is handy, and installing a custom rom is often nice as well.
Pure Android is where it is at for me, plain and smple. I might go for another non google device now and then if the bootloader is unlockable so I can end up flashing a pure android rom but I always end up back on a pixel. It is a shame that samsung has not allowed bootloader unlocking lately, especially on a so called "fan edition". What a joke!
Physical size of the device. Sure the size of the screen on my current phone is bigger and show more but it's also physically a larger phone.
That one of the main selling points for me. I also look forward to having the FP reader on the back again, current phone is under display and I'm not a fan!
---edit---
Another selling point is vanilla android vs having to find a reliable custom rom for my Mi 9T (pixel experience is good though).
InfX said:
I don't "need" eSIM, but its a useful feature assuming the dreaded COVID19 is eventually going to end, so one could travel again. It allows you to get and install a local plan in a different country without having to physically get the SIM card, a feature i'd actually like to have on my next phone. Not a must. But definitely a bonus. And most definitely a turn-off to get a device with the actual hardware being there, but having it disabled because Sammy and the carriers told so.
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Just get Fi, homie. Pay for the data you use, capped at 6 GB cost (60 bucks + 20 for the line), no international charges for phone or data, and it works almost everywhere. If it's a small country, Fi might even pick up neighboring service. I have been from Barcelona to Bratislava, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Columbia on Fi, and I had no problems whatsoever. Fi even sends you a nice little welcome text to let you know that you are in a different service area. And, no, I don't work for Google, lol. I changed because I love to travel and hate other carriers' intl fees or messing around with local SIMs.
dudeman1st said:
Just get Fi, homie...
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Thanks but no thanks, been there, done that. Yes, the international data on the Fi is definitely a plus. But:
Its expensive
I am currently on Cricket (AT&T MVNO), their lowest plan is $30 for 2gb, but before the COVID times i'd usually pay $35 for 5..10gb, slowed down afterwards, with similar plans also available directly from AT&T. My actual consumption now is close to 0, but has been somewhere in range of 2..3gb per month pre-COVID on average, so i've ended up paying $40..50, plus tax, as far as i recall, while most prepaid plans have tax included. Way too expensive just to have the same expensive data abroad, which is usually much cheaper there than it is in US.
It's coverage in US is pretty bad
In US its basically a T-Mobile MVNO. It got some contracts with US Cellular as well, i think, but its mostly just T-Mobile. I've been to many places i;ve just got NO reception whatsoever, where Cricket (read - AT&T) works perfectly fine, notably, on the ski sites in VT near #100, but this is just one example, the T-Mobile reception is generally just BAD.
Pay per use data is more annoying than i though it would be
You are basically paying $10/gb until you hit 6gb, which makes me think twice about everything i do online. Play Spotify? Nah, i don't remember if i have it downloaded, it will eat data, i'll pay for that. Watch that video on YouTube on the go? Nah, screw that, its probably 100mb in HD or so, that's $1 for a stupid video. And i absolutely hate this line of thinking. I want unlimited data which doesn't punish you financially if you go over the limit. And i don't want to pay $80+tax for that.
Sorry bro, but you DO sound like a Google sales person, lol
If you just want to text, make calls, twatter, and freakbook. Get the Samsung.
If need more independents, get the Pixel 5.
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