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Hi Guys,
I am about to buy Galaxy Note.But from reviews from my friends,Galaxy S2 is much better than Galaxy Note.
Please Help me to choose Galaxy Note or S2.I know this thread might be repeated,but all those reviews where when the Galaxy Note was Just launched.
Hope you would share your views on both.
Thank You!
SGS2 has a pathetic battery, if you can deal with that, then go for SGS2. If you like the big screen and SPEN then the note is for you.
Also SGS2 has a strange greenish hue in the camera pictures, while pictures from the note is perfect.
I have both. I am going to sell my S II though. In my opinion:
1. In terms of OS optimizations S II is better. But it is quite normal as Note has just arrived. And with every firmware update Note is getting better.
2. Battery life on S II is not 'Pathetic'. With right setting and optimizations you can easily enjoy more than a day's service with a single full charging. However with similar usage you will get better battery life in Note.
3. Screen in note is wayyy better than S II (I bet you know that already!).
4. GPS on Note is better here in Bangladesh. I went India last month My note's GPS was very very good. SII was ok.
5. One hand operation in note is quite troublesome. But you can do things with this big screen which are impossible in S II.
6. Stock apps in Note and S II are pretty similar. However some apps have more features in Note.
7. In my experience camera in both devices are very similar. I did not have any problem with my SII camera.
Both are very good devices. You wont regret with any of these. If price is not a factor and if you feel comfortable with the size, go for the Note.
BTW, stick to Xda-Developer. Without the goodies you'll find in Xda no matter what android device you get, it is destined to suck.
Thank you.
Hackerboi sums it up quite well.
Mostly it is a matter of what you want your phone for:
1. Note: if you want to write/sketch, do business related work on a large screen, watch videos on large screen, read on a large screen
2. GSII: if you need a phone in your pocket with which to text, engage in social media, music, navigation and other general smartphone stuff.
Is Note not pocketable?
aalokraj said:
Is Note not pocketable?
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Click to collapse
Quite pocketable. Not a problem for me at all. Check this video-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItUPm3xMUb4
Dude go for the note it's way better than anything in the current market in my opinion.
galaxy note is todays version of yesterdays galaxyS2...
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
I have both, the SII and the Note. I much prefer the Note. If you don't mind the size that is. It's not as optimized (OS wise) YET. and I really mean YET. My SGSII wasn't the greatest the first day either, it took a few updates. I haven't had any crashes or anything like that on my Note. Battery life is SUPERB. Last night (after a full day, mostly working, admitting I didn't use the screen a lot) I had 75% battery left when I went to bed. I woke up and still had 60% with wifi, 3g, bluetooth on, and actively syncing. So I know today, Saturday, I'll get through another day with the battery. I'm hydrating up now to go for a run (with the Note) and use Endomondo, which is a great app.
Screen is FANTASTIC on the Note. The screen is also good on the SII. They're both good devices, but they're also very different. GPS on the Note is REALLY good, SGSII is OK. It takes a little to get a lock. Screen size on the note is the best. S-pen helps me out a lot. I use it to jot down notes super fast. The screen size also helps with typing (a lot less guessing on behalf of the phone).
I'd go for the Note, but be warned, it's big and comfortable one handed use is out of the question. I can make a call, read emails and browse sites with one hand, but ANY form of real interaction is also out of the question.
zkyevolved said:
I have both, the SII and the Note. I much prefer the Note. If you don't mind the size that is. It's not as optimized (OS wise) YET. and I really mean YET. My SGSII wasn't the greatest the first day either, it took a few updates. I haven't had any crashes or anything like that on my Note. Battery life is SUPERB. Last night (after a full day, mostly working, admitting I didn't use the screen a lot) I had 75% battery left when I went to bed. I woke up and still had 60% with wifi, 3g, bluetooth on, and actively syncing. So I know today, Saturday, I'll get through another day with the battery. I'm hydrating up now to go for a run (with the Note) and use Endomondo, which is a great app.
Screen is FANTASTIC on the Note. The screen is also good on the SII. They're both good devices, but they're also very different. GPS on the Note is REALLY good, SGSII is OK. It takes a little to get a lock. Screen size on the note is the best. S-pen helps me out a lot. I use it to jot down notes super fast. The screen size also helps with typing (a lot less guessing on behalf of the phone).
I'd go for the Note, but be warned, it's big and comfortable one handed use is out of the question. I can make a call, read emails and browse sites with one hand, but ANY form of real interaction is also out of the question.
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Thank you.But is it comfortable while making a Call?Many have said it looks so WEIRD!
aalokraj said:
Thank you.But is it comfortable while making a Call?Many have said it looks so WEIRD!
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Yup, which is why i use those hidden stereo wearable Bluetooth headsets
aalokraj said:
Thank you.But is it comfortable while making a Call?Many have said it looks so WEIRD!
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Click to collapse
I don't see why it's uncomfortable. Well, since the phone is wider, you need to know where to place your ear, after a few phone calls you'll instinctively know where to put it. I guess it does look weird from the point of view of an iPhone user, or a Blackberry device. This phone is HUGE. Check out this link with some comparison pictures of other phones I have around the house.
Frankly, I'm comfortable with it. It doesn't bother me. The experience of the large screen is everything I could ever ask for in a mobile device:
Great battery life
Large Screen
Great camera
Easy typing experience with keyboards
I hope I've helped.
It can be a little awkward making a call using the note at first but trust me I had no issues at all in a couple of days. It seems like the perfect size for me now. Apart from the size factor the note beats the s2 in many ways. Go for it, you wont be disappointed.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
aalokraj said:
Thank you.But is it comfortable while making a Call?Many have said it looks so WEIRD!
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Click to collapse
The vast majority of people who say that haven't really used the phone for any signifigant period of time.
My guess would be, the 'getting used to it' hump is probably 1 week. After that, if you are still happy with the size of the phone, then the phone just gets better and better after that.
- Frank
Thinking of getting one of these. Glad to see the pocketability is good. Since I don;t buy cases this should not be an issue. I would imagine an Otterbox on this would put it it in "man purse" territory LOL
Just waiting for more optimization and lower used price points because I intend to keep the SGS II as a back up until I am sure the Note is better. Alos am concerned about losing my MediaNet UL data plan...Not sure I want to pay $220 more a year for 600MB of Carrier data I use over the 200MB plan.
tbong777 said:
I would imagine an Otterbox on this would put it it in "man purse" territory LOL
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hahahahah !! Man purse ... i once saw a guy yapping on a Galaxy Tab, it looked as if he was talking on a laptop.
Galaxy note still looks like a phone though
Where do you put the note when running?
What headset do u use?
P.s. One handed operation is somewhere between ****ty and impossible. But i can live with that. Get note, sgs2 cant compare if you need a mobile internet gadget. For calls and fast sms get s2
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
aalokraj said:
Thank you.But is it comfortable while making a Call?Many have said it looks so WEIRD!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it looks awesome The worst thing that people might think about you is that you are the geekiest geek in the place
I was very excited about this phone when AT&T announced that they would be adding it to their lineup but now I'm starting to have some reservations because of its size. I've seen some videos on youtube comparing the size to the SGS II, Nexus, Skyrocket, etc. It looks freaken huge.
I know the HW wise the AT&T version and the European version are different. I don't care about that, I only care about the size. Does anyone find the phone to be too cumbersome or bulky?
deeken said:
I was very excited about this phone when AT&T announced that they would be adding it to their lineup but now I'm starting to have some reservations because of its size. I've seen some videos on youtube comparing the size to the SGS II, Nexus, Skyrocket, etc. It looks freaken huge.
I know the HW wise the AT&T version and the European version are different. I don't care about that, I only care about the size. Does anyone find the phone to be too cumbersome or bulky?
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Click to collapse
In my honest opinion, no. It's big, no doubt about that, but I have never felt that it's too big. I have slightly larger hands than normal, but many of my friends have tried it and none of them complained about it being too big to hold. My girlfriend on the other hand can't even hold it in one hand, so it's probably not a good phone for people with small hands.
It's thin so it goes down into my normal sized jeans pockets without any problem.
My recommendation: If you have normal sized hands and pockets, buy it, you won't regret it.
i find the size to be perfect, in fact, i would happily go up to 5.5inch or even 5.7 if they made it! after a day, you wont notice any difference and you'll wonder why you never had a huge screen phone before (because no-one made one, but thats not the point).
deeken said:
I was very excited about this phone when AT&T announced that they would be adding it to their lineup but now I'm starting to have some reservations because of its size. I've seen some videos on youtube comparing the size to the SGS II, Nexus, Skyrocket, etc. It looks freaken huge.
I know the HW wise the AT&T version and the European version are different. I don't care about that, I only care about the size. Does anyone find the phone to be too cumbersome or bulky?
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Click to collapse
The only way to find out is to try it out your self. I remember thinking my sgs2 was too big until I actually held it. But it does boil down to personal preferences. Also I don't think anyone here will tell you it's too big(It's NOTE FORUM)
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Akerskuuug said:
My girlfriend on the other hand can't even hold it in one hand
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Click to collapse
Lol, that can't be a bad thing
Sorry couldn't resist above comment.... On a serious Note (pun intended), you will probably get used to the handset within a couple of days after seeing everything on a larger screen and then wonder how you got by all this time with smaller screens.
Just to be clear the screen size is 5.3 inches but the phone from top to bottom is 5.8 inches correct?
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
yeap that's correct. I had doubts Note would be too big for me but after i get used to the large screen now i'm really happy with dimensions. It's big but not bulky and heavy. It's actually very light and slim. I didn't know that galaxy tab 7" plus has phone capability on honeycomband os. I thought to myself after i learnt it today if 7" would be even better. But i checked the technical spesifications and learnt that it is twice heavy (360g) with lower cpu power (1.2 GHz) and wider chasis around screen. So i'm pretty happy with weight and dimensions for now. Just longing for ICS official release to take full benefit of the hardware and use tablet mode like HC software wise.
I was using S2 and when Note launched , I thought what the hell is this ?
thought it's too big! one day I was shopping with me mate, he after the Note and he got it.
putting my S2 aside his newly acquired Note, My S2 was like a toy and was amazed by how much the screen looks better than my S2 .
Then we go back to the shop to get myself a Note as well.
Its big, obviously but after 3 days of use, I found the size is perfect.
except for sometimes one hand operation is virtually impossible.
it is awkward at best as a one handed since you can't reach the far Corners or the other edge of the screen. but outside of that it's fantastic
I just received my white note literally 2 hours ago and when I opened the box and first saw it sitting there I said out loud "wow"
I played with it for an hour and then put it on charge, while i do some work I need to do
I have since made and received 3 or 4 calls and I am used to it already and I do not consider it too big. But I am a person who always considered phone screens to be too small for anything useful, and until this phone haven't been motivated to change my HTC Touch HD. yeah I know sort of out of the arc.
Also I was considering buying a tablet, purely for aeroplanes and trains as to use my 18.4 inch laptop in a plane etc is a bit inconvenient. (but needed for how I use it generally). now i shall no longer buy a tablet as even with my short play i can see it can do what i was considering a tablet for.
But you really need to go and hold one and try it for yourself as other peoples and my opinion is always going to be from our perspective, which may not suite yours
seeya Ian
p.s the call quality was superb just like a phone should be and as far as I remember better than all my other phones
Thanks for the opinion guys. I'm getting real excited about it now. Only a few more days before we can pre-order. I know the specs aren't the same but I hope the AT&T version performs just as good as the international.
I was like you and had some concerns about the size, but I ordered the international version anyway. I've had it for about a week now and I find the size to be a non factor.
I have small hands. I can still use the phone with one hand with some maneuvering, but I don't find it too distracting. Sometimes the bottom of my thumb joint hits the applications button by accident when I try to reach for something in the far left top corner but I learned to adjust to it.
I love the phone and its size. I got used to it very quickly and don't even think about it now. It fits fine in all my pant pockets. The screen is beautiful and makes reading, watching videos such a joy. I don't think I'll be able to go back to a phone with anything less than 5" now.
It's just a wonderful phone.
Had the Galaxy Note for 4 days and it gets smaller by the day.
I'm on my second day with the Note, and am still adjusting to the size. By no means do I regret getting it, but it does mean that I need to walk a bit more carefully with it in my front jeans pocket (yes, they're a rather slim pair). I wouldn't dare sit with it in that pocket.
This is the first phone that can legitimately replace 98+% of my need for a laptop on-the-go, so I'll gladly live with that sacrifice.
Was doubting the purchase until I first inserted the battery, oh the gorgeous screen!
Nope, its the perfect size (this is 3 months into owning one).
Best phone I've ever had. (and I've had quite a few)
Seems large at first, but now! Now I get my iphone friends asking to see videos on my phone-"cause it looks better"
Size you get used to!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
Yeah it was BIG the first time ... now everything else is just too small
lol
On a serious "note" .... The 5.3' Screen size is amazing. So much on screen real estate for browsing, gaming drawing. There is a reason Samsung is selling so many Galaxy Notes. I was just typing something on my iPhone 3GS (Which i use for iPod purposes in the car) and damn that screen felt like a calculator hahah ...
deeken said:
I was very excited about this phone when AT&T announced that they would be adding it to their lineup but now I'm starting to have some reservations because of its size. I've seen some videos on youtube comparing the size to the SGS II, Nexus, Skyrocket, etc. It looks freaken huge.
I know the HW wise the AT&T version and the European version are different. I don't care about that, I only care about the size. Does anyone find the phone to be too cumbersome or bulky?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can always check out the device when it stocks arrive, Initially I thought it was very big for a mobile phone but after testing out the dummy phone I found that its actually a perfect size for a mobile phone for either landscape or portrait use.. I use it mainly in portrait. Also going back to a smaller phone might be hard for me which Im going to do eventually.
hackerboi said:
Yeah it was BIG the first time ... now everything else is just too small
.
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Click to collapse
+1 jajajaja
Galaxy Note it's not too big, the other phones are too small. Screen size on the phones have been increasing for years. I remember my Nokia with a 2" 176x220 screen, and thinking that you can really read some text there (previous phones had monocrome, 2 text lines screen). Then it went to 3.5" screens (the same as the iPhone, jajaja, it has the same size I had in 2006).
I remember the times when people said that 4" was too big, and now only the iPhone has a screen below 4" (and it will be solved on the iPhone 5). So 4.3-4.5" is normal for many people. 5.3 just makes it better, more glass and more pixels to work with. I can type in portrait mode without pressing 4 keys at the same time. Playing a 720p video on this screen impresses everyone.
It took longer than I thought it would considering its Samsung but I read an article announcing their working on a second generation of the tab s. There wasn't much info nor were there any specs so I didn't post the link. Hopefully this one will fix all the minor issues. Considering what the original was this new one should be the top dog for awhile. Has anyone heard any other info?
Moto X 2014
Yes. Article in Android Authority. 9.x" and 8.0" Tab S2
They're gonna be 4:3 ratio which sucks for media.
Sigh, please be a rumor with this 4:3 crap! What are we reverting to a simpler time?
Grrrrrrrr!
4:3 is very good for everything else besides watching movies, but I guess if you use your tablet for watching movies mostly then yeah it's going to suck.
What I want is better speakers (probably not gonna happen) and I want less air gap between the glass and screen to make the screen look even better.
Better speakers would definitely be nice but I'm not sure how good they'd be in a slim casing. New tab will most likely get the toned down tw. I couldn't wait to root and get rid of tw, its the #1 that keeps me away from Samsung phones. I love the note 4...
Moto X 2014
Im pretty sure its going to have the new exynos chip. Like the ones made in korea that had a tad newer chip then the ones we have now. And probably a fix on the overheating issue.
DUHAsianSKILLZ said:
Im pretty sure its going to have the new exynos chip. Like the ones made in korea that had a tad newer chip then the ones we have now. And probably a fix on the overheating issue.
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Click to collapse
+1 on the over heat issues, been having it all day(playing hearthstone)
I'm very happy with my 10.5 and looking forward to 5.0.1. It helped reduce lag on my note 4 considerably - its virtually non existent now, and the battery life is better so I can't wait to receive it on my current tab s - hoping it will kill the lag. I don't think I'll upgrade this time round to be honest. It all works well (side sync and throw to my samsung UHD TV works a treat).
Ok, perhaps it would be a change of pace having a smaller screen but.... I really hope they offer this tablet in 32 or 64gb (128, yeah right) this time and kill 16gb once and for all.
No tablet should have 16gb in 2015. I paid extra to buy the 32gb 10.5S just on principle.
Here are some leaked specs....rumored.
http://www.sammobile.com/2015/02/19...y-tab-s-2-8-inch-and-9-7-inch-specifications/
I think 4:3 would be an improvement. As some others have said, 16:10 is good for movies. For everything else 4:3 is better.
I think I'd actually prefer 3:2, but either that or 4:3 would make me upgrade from my Tab Pro 10.1. I can't really get used to 16:10, it only feels right when watching movies.
I felt the same way. I would absolutely positively never use a device with 4:3 aspect ratio.
Then I got a nexus 9. Figured I would hate it. But I found that movies were actually fine on it. It is more a psychological thing about unused screen space I think, because I found it no more distracting than 2.35:1 aspect ratio on 16:9.
But what made me really love it was having books, magazines, textbooks and comic books fill the screen completely. Very comfortable if one does a lot of reading.
And the strangest thing: I found myself surfing the web in portrait! Caught myself one day... though...whoa...when did I start doing that? Didn't even think about it. Its strange but 4:3 makes a web page feel like you are reading a book.
As a disclaimer, before someone gets on my case for daring to mention the nexus 9 on a Tab S forum: I own a Tab S 8.4 and a Tab S 10.5 so I do have a basis for comparison.
And for what its worth, I still watch most movies on the Tab S because the Amoled screen is unparalleled for movie watching.
A new 4:3 Tab S with Amoled I think I would be a remarkably versatile tablet and in retrospect I think I would be fine with the idea.
I disagree. Tablets are more for media consumption than anything else and 16:9 is the standard so anything closer to that would be better for me. I owned ipads and would upgrade every year up until the ipad air with I owned for a week and returned it. The black bars watching movies made the 9.7" screen feel a little bigger than my note 3! Switched to a note 10.1 2014 and it was so much more immersive because the video occupied more of the screen. On flights all the ipad people I sit beside usually ask about my tablet and the fact that the video looks so much bigger on my device than theirs, so I'm hoping the new device will be 16:10 and include an SPen, as it is so much more useful on a tablet than on a note device.
Digital Man said:
But what made me really love it was having books, magazines, textbooks and comic books fill the screen completely. Very comfortable if one does a lot of reading.
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Click to collapse
Regarding comics, the resolution used by Comixology digital comics is 1988 x 3056 which is quite a bit closer to 16:10 than 4:3.
The thing with movies is depends on the software you can just zoom in and fill up the screen. Sure you are not getting the whole movie frame and not seeing the movie as the director intended, but nobody intended you to watch their movies on a little phone or tablet either [emoji20]
on the other hand, with non movies stuff things feel more proportional on a 4:3 screen. If you're browsing the web, in landscape you have wide space horizontally that may be unused and at the same time you see less of a page vertically and have to scroll down more to read. In portrait it's too narrow and text maybe too small.
With apps like Gmail or tapatalk where you have a split pane in landscape mode, again it is too wide horizontally so the space is a bit wasted but too short vertically so you see fewer messages. In portrait mode, split pane is just too narrow and awkward so they end up using a pull out drawer design instead. Thus you have basically turned your tablet into a giant phone. Take the on screen keyboard. On the 4:3 screen, it has roughly square keys like a real keyboard, as opposed to rectangular keys like the infamous chiclet keyboard on the IBM junior. (In dating myself lol)
When I moved from iPad to android tablet first thing I noticed was most apps are just phone apps on a big screen and not really taking advantage of a large screen. I think 16:10 has something to do with it. If you look at lollipop, Google didn't even bother to do anything different on tablet. The settings app for example doesn't even fill up the screen.
Of course a great deal depends on your use mix, but I think some people just reflexively hate 4:3 because Apple uses it and they haven't had much experience with it.
I'm going yikes at the choice of the 5433. My feeling was always that we got shortchanged in getting a 5420 after SGS5 released with a newer version. I can see myself passing to wait for a Snapdragon 810/Exynos 7420 processor so that my tablet is not outclassed by my phone.
As to the 4:3 vs 16:9, I'll try anything once. Sadly, post Nexus 9, I can see a world where 16:9 tablets cease to exist (apple has a majority of the tablet market in the 4:3 factor so other than Google's insistance, as a competitor, that's the way the world will work.
I got a Dell Venue 7840 (because I will try anything once). I can feel the speed bump. It doesn't impress me otherwise relative to the Tab S (screen is same to slightly worse, dimensions are within 10% on thickness and 2% of length/width and it weighs more. Post having that and playing at the store with a Nexus 9, I feel like samsung could take the tab s, do nothing but replace the processor and have a 2015 flagship.
My concern is that the rumor mill says the battery will be only 3800mah. My T705 has 4600. Battery efficiencies are always improving, so Samsung should be striving for as big a battery as possible, not just rely on newer chips and a lower resolution screen to save power. Better, bigger batteries are super important for all mobile devices. Just getting by is a mistake. Do you get that Samsung?
Itchiee said:
Here are some leaked specs....rumored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sure am hoping the Tab S 2 leaked specs are indeed just made up for clickbait! The screen - the one outstanding feature of the original Tab S and the main reason people (inc. me) bought it - sounds like it will be far worse. It will be shrunk, have a worse resolution and a 100% media-hostile 4:3 aspect ratio.
Having used my Tab S (with CyanogenMod of course) for a while now, I'm convinced that the quality of the screen is the most important aspect of a tablet (far more so than CPU/GPU/RAM specs) and if Samsung make the screen worse like the leaks claim, then they're not onto a winner in my books.
rklrkl said:
I sure am hoping the Tab S 2 leaked specs are indeed just made up for clickbait! The screen - the one outstanding feature of the original Tab S and the main reason people (inc. me) bought it - sounds like it will be far worse. It will be shrunk, have a worse resolution and a 100% media-hostile 4:3 aspect ratio.
Having used my Tab S (with CyanogenMod of course) for a while now, I'm convinced that the quality of the screen is the most important aspect of a tablet (far more so than CPU/GPU/RAM specs) and if Samsung make the screen worse like the leaks claim, then they're not onto a winner in my books.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've learned not to pay leaks any mind especially when it comes to samsung. They've hurt a lot of feelings over the years with expectations. They know they hit a hr with the tab s display it would be a shame and a death sentence to lose a products main feature.
Moto X 2014
Hi,
I'm considering buying a tablet for media consumption (reading, browsing, emails, videos and movies) at home mostly but also for occasional travel.
I have ruled out the S3 as it's too expensive, too heavy, I don't need stylus support, and I really don't like glossy or glass finishes. I love the soft touch plastic finish of the S2 and it's incredible low weight especially the 8.0" version. The AMOLED display is stunning as well. I'm also considering the Huawei MediaPad M3, some Asus models, and maybe the iPad Mini 4 (but I have never used iOS before). I'm struggling to decide on two things:
1. 4:3 or 16:10 display?
2. 8" or larger?
Although 4:3 is great for reading it's worse for videos, and I watch a lot of video. I used to own the Galaxy Tab 7.7 (16:10) and I loved it. Great battery, lovely display and a nice size. Would watching standard widescreen (16:9) on the S2 8.0" give me at least the same video size as watching on the 7.7" (assuming no cropping and native aspect ratio)? Are there any links on the internet that show it with video playing? I have read a lot of reviews but none seem to show it playing movie clips. I just want gauge how large the letterboxing will be.
The second point is probably related too the first. I would go larger if I choose a 4:3 tablet.
Are there any tablets with 3:2 display or similar? I only know of the MS Surface tablets and the Pixel C.
Thanks
szqnl said:
Hi,
I'm considering buying a tablet for media consumption (reading, browsing, emails, videos and movies) at home mostly but also for occasional travel.
I have ruled out the S3 as it's too expensive, too heavy, I don't need stylus support, and I really don't like glossy or glass finishes. I love the soft touch plastic finish of the S2 and it's incredible low weight especially the 8.0" version. The AMOLED display is stunning as well. I'm also considering the Huawei MediaPad M3, some Asus models, and maybe the iPad Mini 4 (but I have never used iOS before). I'm struggling to decide on two things:
1. 4:3 or 16:10 display?
2. 8" or larger?
Although 4:3 is great for reading it's worse for videos, and I watch a lot of video. I used to own the Galaxy Tab 7.7 (16:10) and I loved it. Great battery, lovely display and a nice size. Would watching standard widescreen (16:9) on the S2 8.0" give me at least the same video size as watching on the 7.7" (assuming no cropping and native aspect ratio)? Are there any links on the internet that show it with video playing? I have read a lot of reviews but none seem to show it playing movie clips. I just want gauge how large the letterboxing will be.
The second point is probably related too the first. I would go larger if I choose a 4:3 tablet.
Are there any tablets with 3:2 display or similar? I only know of the MS Surface tablets and the Pixel C.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, my experience is that watching videos without headphones is dreadful due to the dire sound quality of the device. Hope this helps!
StrangerWeather said:
Hi, my experience is that watching videos without headphones is dreadful due to the dire sound quality of the device. Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I got that impression from all the reviews that I have read. They really didn't even try with the speakers. What's the audio quality like with headphones? I'm worried that there maybe a difference between the Exynos and Snapdragon versions. There seem to be a lot of different models around.
I found a really good comparison between the Tab S 8.4 and Tab S2 8.0 on YouTube. The letterboxing isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I think I can live with that. Trying to find a good deal on the S2 8.0 Wifi version now. Seems as though only the LTE version is available in Asia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-ZaifGOV2U
szqnl said:
I found a really good comparison between the Tab S 8.4 and Tab S2 8.0 on YouTube. The letterboxing isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I think I can live with that. Trying to find a good deal on the S2 8.0 Wifi version now. Seems as though only the LTE version is available in Asia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-ZaifGOV2U
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Why not consider the Tab S? Still has the best display for video.
I wouldn't be looking at the 8.4 for media consumption the larger screen of the 10.5 makes all the difference.
ashyx said:
Why not consider the Tab S? Still has the best display for video.
I wouldn't be looking at the 8.4 for media consumption the larger screen of the 10.5 makes all the difference.
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That was an option but it's quite old now and not for sale anywhere where I live. I don't like to buy second hand electronics, at least not without testing it first in person. As for size, I'm not sure yet. I have a 5.1" smartphone and 12" laptop so anything between 8-10" should fit nicely. I need to spend more time playing around with display units.
szqnl said:
Th As for size, I'm not sure yet. I have a 5.1" smartphone and 12" laptop so anything between 8-10" should fit nicely. I)
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why you need something in between?
My Tab S2 does a fine job with video, and it really doesn't look bad at all when it letterboxes (which is practically all video these days). I will concur that external speakers or headphones are practically required, though. The built-in speaker is good for little more than notifications and background music.
claudioita said:
why you need something in between?
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Don't need, just want
I like to use a "smaller" smartphone in my daily life but it's not great for watching movies or extended browsing/reading. The odd YouTube clip is fine. The Windows laptop I use for work, both at home and when travelling. It's non-touchscreen. I love it and I currently use it for watching movies and browsing/reading at home, but it's not that convenient for media consumption on a casual basis.
A lightweight portable tablet (10" or less) for use around the home and on long trips would be nice. It's definitely not essential which is why I'm looking for a cheapish tablet but I don't mind spending a little more for a quality display. That's why I'm looking for a discounted S2.
Samsung S2 will make a charm
szqnl said:
Don't need, just want
I like to use a "smaller" smartphone in my daily life but it's not great for watching movies or extended browsing/reading. The odd YouTube clip is fine. The Windows laptop I use for work, both at home and when travelling. It's non-touchscreen. I love it and I currently use it for watching movies and browsing/reading at home, but it's not that convenient for media consumption on a casual basis.
A lightweight portable tablet (10" or less) for use around the home and on long trips would be nice. It's definitely not essential which is why I'm looking for a cheapish tablet but I don't mind spending a little more for a quality display. That's why I'm looking for a discounted S2.
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I would go with Samsung S2. Works well for me. Plus, if you want to hook up a hard drive or speakers to your tablet, you can use accessory called SimulCharge USB (aka TL-002). It provides a simultaneous access to USB devices and charging for the tablet and peripherals in the same time. Now, you can watch all night movies
szqnl said:
Don't need, just want
I like to use a "smaller" smartphone in my daily life but it's not great for watching movies or extended browsing/reading. The odd YouTube clip is fine. The Windows laptop I use for work, both at home and when travelling. It's non-touchscreen. I love it and I currently use it for watching movies and browsing/reading at home, but it's not that convenient for media consumption on a casual basis.
A lightweight portable tablet (10" or less) for use around the home and on long trips would be nice. It's definitely not essential which is why I'm looking for a cheapish tablet but I don't mind spending a little more for a quality display. That's why I'm looking for a discounted S2.
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I see.
I am in a (little) better position.
I have a 5,7 inch smartphone and a Surface Pro 3, 12 inch. The last is good for watching movies, although not optimal as laptop (but ok).
I was wondering if going a different route:
- (keep) the 5,7 inch snartphone
- (buy) a tablet in the 10 inch range
- (buy) a laptop in the 13-14 inch range.
Or just stay as I am ...
claudioita said:
I see.
I am in a (little) better position.
I have a 5,7 inch smartphone and a Surface Pro 3, 12 inch. The last is good for watching movies, although not optimal as laptop (but ok).
I was wondering if going a different route:
- (keep) the 5,7 inch snartphone
- (buy) a tablet in the 10 inch range
- (buy) a laptop in the 13-14 inch range.
Or just stay as I am ...
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Click to collapse
Yeah, I understand. I thought about getting an SP4 before I bought my laptop. Would have negated the desire for a separate tablet. But in the end I decided to get a traditional laptop for usability as I would be using it the most and I found 2-in-1s to be a little awkward to use as a laptop and too heavy for extended tablet usage.
Maybe wait until the SP5 or updated Huawai Matebook are announced to see what they offer. Also, if you are ok with Android and Samsung, wait for the Note 8 that will likely feature a 6.4"+ display.
No perfect solution, there's always going to be a compromise. I drive myself insane sometimes trying to think about what combination of devices would be best for me and end up buying nothing. :silly: In the end I decided based on convenience and usability of the most important aspects, working and connectivity.
Really want a tablet now though
AMOLED vs IPS.. very simple answer: get the s2 Tab!
It's cheap and the display is stunning. Audio is grand with headphones.
Niii4 said:
AMOLED vs IPS.. very simple answer: get the s2 Tab!
It's cheap and the display is stunning. Audio is grand with headphones.
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That's good to know, thanks. Don't really care about the speakers but the audio quality via the headphones needs to be high.
Once you go OLED screen for videos you never go back.
IPS backlight glow is a bad joke.
StrangerWeather said:
Hi, my experience is that watching videos without headphones is dreadful due to the dire sound quality of the device. Hope this helps!
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The ostracised frustrating thing for me is that the device has stereo speakers, but there are pointing in the same direction, a really terrible waste.
DShot92 said:
the device has stereo speakers, but there are pointing in the same direction, a really terrible waste.
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The speakers are chiefly for the LTE version of the s2 Tab. Namely phonecalls.
Seriously, who watches videos/movies on speaker while en route?
It's just wonderful in every sense. I take it with me in my back pack everywhere and I truly love it. I have a wonderful galaxy s5 too which is also great but when I have time to read and surf the web I take the tab and it's so great and light and fast that I doubt there's anything better in the market. I am writing this from the park in the grass. I use the 8" for the lightweight and comfort of holding it with one hand. I also have a very light 1kg laptop that I only use when I need to type long stuff. For bed and street always the tab s2.
pxp3 said:
...I use the 8" for the lightweight and comfort of holding it with one hand...
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That's exactly why I'm inclined towards getting the 8" version of the S2. It's incredibly light at 265g. You can literally hold it for extended periods with the fingertips of your thumb and index finger alone. The soft touch plastic back is a refreshing change to metal and/or glass. Much easier to hold and looks better in my opinion.
It's also a really comfortable size. I was a little worried about videos being too small due to the display ratio and subsequent letterboxing but it's actually ok. The AMOLED display is gorgeous as well.
An S-Pen would make this perfect! Not important for me though.
I have pretty much decided to get this now. Just waiting a while because I sense a price drop coming when the S3 becomes available here. Although I get the impression Samsung may keep the Tab S2 series going at the same price due to the S3 not really being a direct replacement.
Thank you to everyone for your comments and input
I was a little worried about videos being too small due to the display ratio..
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It is definitely a sub 8" experience with movies that have only x800 something vertical pixel (e.g. 1920x816) so I prefer x1080 videos. But still, the display is the very best on the market; for its price.
I would not wait for a price drop.. it may very likely rise or worse be sold out soon, once people recognize its value.
Hey guys,
I wanted your opinion regarding the Pixel 5. How happy are you with the aesthetics of the device? How does it feel on hand and how does it feel in the pocket?
This year I've tried a bunch of phones and I want to switch to something smaller and that has good camera and good battery life. Currently I have a s21 Ultra which is a good overall phone but this thing feels like a brick, it's heavy when you carry it and if you have a good case the phone is even bigger and heavier. Tried a regular S21 but that again was a bit bulky and heavy when used with a good thick case.
I've been reading about the Pixel 6 (all rumors at this point) but it seems like they are going to increase the size in the 6 series. The smallest upcoming Pixel 6 you can get will be 6.3~6.4 inches and even though it will have upgraded cameras and better specs I think I would just avoid buying it because of the size.
What do you recommend? Should I just buy the Pixel 5 now or maybe wait until the 6 series are released and then make a decision ?
Absolutely NOTHING wrong with the Pixel 5. I LOVE mine.
That being said, no XL version. I didn't like that. I came from P2XL. I like bigger screens. I'll probably get the 6XL
xunholyx said:
Absolutely NOTHING wrong with the Pixel 5. I LOVE mine.
That being said, no XL version. I didn't like that. I came from P2XL. I like bigger screens. I'll probably get the 6XL
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Im trying to stay at a maximum screen size of 6". And I want the weight to be reasonable. Another phone that's getting my attention is the asus zenfone 8. Seems like the ergonomic king of all androids powered phones right now. But it's a tough call between the regular supported software of pixel vs Asus.
paul_cherma said:
Hey guys,
I wanted your opinion regarding the Pixel 5. How happy are you with the aesthetics of the device? How does it feel on hand and how does it feel in the pocket?
This year I've tried a bunch of phones and I want to switch to something smaller and that has good camera and good battery life. Currently I have a s21 Ultra which is a good overall phone but this thing feels like a brick, it's heavy when you carry it and if you have a good case the phone is even bigger and heavier. Tried a regular S21 but that again was a bit bulky and heavy when used with a good thick case.
I've been reading about the Pixel 6 (all rumors at this point) but it seems like they are going to increase the size in the 6 series. The smallest upcoming Pixel 6 you can get will be 6.3~6.4 inches and even though it will have upgraded cameras and better specs I think I would just avoid buying it because of the size.
What do you recommend? Should I just buy the Pixel 5 now or maybe wait until the 6 series are released and then make a decision ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I'm someone who shares somewhat similar views / opinions. Just changed from an lg v40 to a pixel 3, very happy with a smaller screen and less weight.
It absolutely is an individual thing, of course. Some constantly use their device, gaming, video's etc etc, and a bigger screen (read heavy) outweighs (punny) other aspects.
But if yer like me, really only use the device as a phone, take good pics occasionally, facebook a little, etc... AND carry it in your pocket always, then size and weight become prominent in the choice.
Seeing as google is going the 'bigger is better' route, I'd say a 3, 4 or 5 is where I'll be for years to come (thanks!! Lineage!). Basically, I just don't do enough screen / face time to justify a larger heavier phone.
But a 5 now? Naaah, it won't be long, with 5a and 6 becoming available, the price will drop. buy then.
cheers
paul_cherma said:
Im trying to stay at a maximum screen size of 6". And I want the weight to be reasonable. Another phone that's getting my attention is the asus zenfone 8. Seems like the ergonomic king of all androids powered phones right now. But it's a tough call between the regular supported software of pixel vs Asus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you will more than happy with the Pixel 5. It's a great device
AsItLies said:
So I'm someone who shares somewhat similar views / opinions. Just changed from an lg v40 to a pixel 3, very happy with a smaller screen and less weight.
It absolutely is an individual thing, of course. Some constantly use their device, gaming, video's etc etc, and a bigger screen (read heavy) outweighs (punny) other aspects.
But if yer like me, really only use the device as a phone, take good pics occasionally, facebook a little, etc... AND carry it in your pocket always, then size and weight become prominent in the choice.
Seeing as google is going the 'bigger is better' route, I'd say a 3, 4 or 5 is where I'll be for years to come (thanks!! Lineage!). Basically, I just don't do enough screen / face time to justify a larger heavier phone.
But a 5 now? Naaah, it won't be long, with 5a and 6 becoming available, the price will drop. buy then.
cheers
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Click to collapse
The idea of switching to a smaller phone came to me after I was hiking and traveling with some friends for about 3 weeks and most of them had bought the Iphone Mini. I was surprised by how a tiny phone like that was pretty much on par with my s21U and some other top of the line expensive android phones that some other friends were using. It took good pictures, battery life was good, and even though I had a beast on me (the S21U) when we compared pics, battery life, browsing, app switching, etc, I saw very minimal differences. The damn thing feels like a toy when you hold it but it is such a good device. Now I can not use an Iphone as my daily driver, I don't hate their products, they're just not for me. The main criteria for me has always been
1. it has to be android OS,
2. must be root friendly
3. good battery and good pictures
Carrying the S21U around is kind of a pain in the butt lol. I can certainly use it with one hand as a tall person with big hands but it's so uncomfortable just carrying it around. And for the specs it has I was expecting more out of it... so far it has simply been a good device. I can't say I am impressed or wow-ed by it.
I think I'll wait for the 5a be announced and see it in person before making a decision but I am already 60% against buying it as it seems like they will up the screen size to 6.2 inches. The camera and processor will stay the same pretty much as the pixel 5 -> but it will be cheaper than a Pixel 5 so I'm not sure if that'll be enough for me to consider it. I'm definitely not waiting for the 6 series to be released though, at this point it seems "confirmed" that all the 6 series will be at the 6.3-6.4 screen size and up.
paul_cherma said:
The idea of switching to a smaller phone came to me after I was hiking and traveling with some friends for about 3 weeks and most of them had bought the Iphone Mini. I was surprised by how a tiny phone like that was pretty much on par with my s21U and some other top of the line expensive android phones that some other friends were using. It took good pictures, battery life was good, and even though I had a beast on me (the S21U) when we compared pics, battery life, browsing, app switching, etc, I saw very minimal differences. The damn thing feels like a toy when you hold it but it is such a good device. Now I can not use an Iphone as my daily driver, I don't hate their products, they're just not for me. The main criteria for me has always been
1. it has to be android OS,
2. must be root friendly
3. good battery and good pictures
Carrying the S21U around is kind of a pain in the butt lol. I can certainly use it with one hand as a tall person with big hands but it's so uncomfortable just carrying it around. And for the specs it has I was expecting more out of it... so far it has simply been a good device. I can't say I am impressed or wow-ed by it.
I think I'll wait for the 5a be announced and see it in person before making a decision but I am already 60% against buying it as it seems like they will up the screen size to 6.2 inches. The camera and processor will stay the same pretty much as the pixel 5 -> but it will be cheaper than a Pixel 5 so I'm not sure if that'll be enough for me to consider it. I'm definitely not waiting for the 6 series to be released though, at this point it seems "confirmed" that all the 6 series will be at the 6.3-6.4 screen size and up.
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Click to collapse
I can relate, for sure. Have never tried an iPhone but sincerely doubt it would work for me either. I hate the proprietary 'you're forced to do it this way, whether you like it or not'.
Agree, the 5a and 6's are going to be too big. Only reason I'd wait for them to come out is then, the p5 will drop in price. Then I'd get the p5
I really enjoy my pixel 5. Perfect size. I did really like the S20, however, I didn't want to give up root. Also, at the time it said that on Verizon I wouldn't get 5g with the Intl version, but I do believe that I would of gotten it (not that I've seen 5g even once in my area on the Pixel 5... but that's another discussion) As for battery/pictures, I haven't owned a Samsung in recent years, and this being my first Pixel, I am really impressed with the camera. And Battery for me is wonderful. I am not a heavy user, very minimal, not many apps, no social media, no gaming, etc. so my baseline wont be the same as yours, but the Pixel 5 fairs well considering its specs.
I can't imagine using a phone too much larger than the S21. My brother recently upgraded his S20. It's so, darn, heavy. I'd get used to it with time, but going from my P5 with a slim case, to playing with his S21 is difficult. I am considering the Pixel 6/S21/S22/others/ here soon, but if I am content with the P5, I'll be on it for as long as I can make it last..
I agree to wait for the 5a to be released, even the 6 if you can wait it out, as then the deals for a new one, or someone letting go of a lightly used one should be for a good price.
I usually get the latest phone each year but if the P6 is a millimeter over 6" I might have to skip it. The P5 at 5.7" is really the largest I'd like but 6 is max. It just won't fit in my running shorts or my saddle bag and would probably fall out of my pocket in the car. They really need to rethink the larger size or just go the standard/XL route so everyone is happy.
AsItLies said:
I can relate, for sure. Have never tried an iPhone but sincerely doubt it would work for me either. I hate the proprietary 'you're forced to do it this way, whether you like it or not'.
Agree, the 5a and 6's are going to be too big. Only reason I'd wait for them to come out is then, the p5 will drop in price. Then I'd get the p5
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how much does google discount the older phone when they release new ones usually? I've never shopped for Pixel phones so I'm not familiar with their strategy. Right now Pixel 5 sells for $699 on their website
paul_cherma said:
how much does google discount the older phone when they release new ones usually? I've never shopped for Pixel phones so I'm not familiar with their strategy. Right now Pixel 5 sells for $699 on their website
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Not positive but it should be discounted 100 to maybe 150, initially. So think about the cycle of the pixel 4, and where it is now. It was originally 799, but it's at 400 now and a 4a is 350.
Those are much more reasonable prices for the phone, imho. I have a pixel 3 and with lineage available, more than happy to use it until the price drops.
cheers
Pixel 6 is going to be a major jump in terms of design and camera hardware. I would totally wait for it.
svetius said:
Pixel 6 is going to be a major jump in terms of design and camera hardware. I would totally wait for it.
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And, playing devils advocate here, some would say the 'major jump' in design is a major jump backwards (they will be too big). Camera hardware is changing, that's a good thing always. But it's worth asking yourself; are u unhappy with the pics you get now? I mean, if you're not taking photos professionally, is this a difference (assuming there is one) that would matter to you?
cheers
svetius said:
Pixel 6 is going to be a major jump in terms of design and camera hardware. I would totally wait for it.
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Click to collapse
I'd agree with the specs and design improvements, however, the OP didn't really seem that concerned with better this or that. He was concerned about the size and bulkiness of the device, which I am in the same boat. At 5.7" the P5 is simply the right size for a lot of folks. In the 9 months I've had it I've been totally satisfied with everything about it including battery life. Looking at 6.3 is a big difference. Now if they can keep the weight down and perhaps max it at 6.1 well that's a different story. And then there's the price. One caveat is the $699 price now of the P5. That needs to go on sale for $599. Then it's a buy without waiting imo. The next couple of months should be interesting as leaks are released.
It would have been nice if they kept the screen size for one of the 6 series phones to 6.1" maximum. Looks like they are upping that to 6.4". The big screen size alone is keeping me away from wanting to get one. Also Wonder if there will be a huge difference for point and shoot or daytime pictures between the 5 and 6... we'll see when they do the comparisons.
paul_cherma said:
It would have been nice if they kept the screen size for one of the 6 series phones to 6.1" maximum. Looks like they are upping that to 6.4". The big screen size alone is keeping me away from wanting to get one. Also Wonder if there will be a huge difference for point and shoot or daytime pictures between the 5 and 6... we'll see when they do the comparisons.
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And just like that I get an alert on my news feed that the P5 is out of stock across the board. I wonder what's going on. I'm hoping that there is a P6 and a P6 XL.
bobby janow said:
I'd agree with the specs and design improvements, however, the OP didn't really seem that concerned with better this or that. He was concerned about the size and bulkiness of the device, which I am in the same boat. At 5.7" the P5 is simply the right size for a lot of folks. In the 9 months I've had it I've been totally satisfied with everything about it including battery life. Looking at 6.3 is a big difference. Now if they can keep the weight down and perhaps max it at 6.1 well that's a different story. And then there's the price. One caveat is the $699 price now of the P5. That needs to go on sale for $599. Then it's a buy without waiting imo. The next couple of months should be interesting as leaks are released.
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Click to collapse
I'm really hoping that they keep the screen size to a maximum of 6.1. From the leaks so far it seems that they are going for the big screen though. I'm using a s21U now, I like the camera, not exceptional but it's better than good imo. I really like the zoom capabilities of it also, they come in handy if you want to zoom to far away objects. But I'm getting tired of these big screen and heavy phones. It's sad that there's not many Android operated devices that have a good size and good specs and are root friendly.
paul_cherma said:
It would have been nice if they kept the screen size for one of the 6 series phones to 6.1" maximum. Looks like they are upping that to 6.4". The big screen size alone is keeping me away from wanting to get one. Also Wonder if there will be a huge difference for point and shoot or daytime pictures between the 5 and 6... we'll see when they do the comparisons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree. Google will no doubt make improvements to the camera ability. Believe I've read the high res zoom will go from 2x to 6x. Great of course. But the closer you zoom in, the steadier you have to be, thus the exposure has to be quick, meaning the ISO has to be high (grain). During a bright sunny day it will probably work well.
Me personally though, I'll stick with my 40x zoom Canon pocket camera, if I'm going out to shoot birds or something. While sure, it would be nice to have a phone with more zoom power... do you need it? how often u gonna use that?
realistically speaking, it's a 'nice to have', but certainly not something I've ever thought I needed.
cheers
An alternative suggestion - get a 4a super cheap for now and see how the 5a and 6 pan out.
I have owned 4a and 5, moving to them from the S20. Both are excellent and while the differences between 4a and 5 might look significant on paper, they are barely noticeable in use. The 4a is quite the bargain.
What I liked:
-Size. Though I personally prefer a 6.2" screen (the OP6 was perfect), having it smaller was actually really nice instead of the giant bricks most phones have become.
-Camera. Even though the hardware isn't the greatest, the software makes the Pixel 5 take some damn fine photos for the price.
-Root!!!
There's some downsides to the Pixel 5 in my opinion.
-Under glass speaker (who in engineering thought this was okay?) This is insanely annoying and I can't fathom how anyone could deal with this, and is the main reason I returned mine.
-Piss poor hardware (it's slow, and noticably so).
-God awful Haptics.
-On mine, sometimes it would actually butt-dial people even though I had a finger print set up. Or it wouldn't answer calls even if I got answer 50 times (this doesn't mean this happens to every one, I firmly believe mine was possessed)
Your mileage may vary, and you may be okay with my gripes, but if it were me, I'd wait for the 6.