What would be in your dream smartphone for 2018? - Off-topic

If you could have your perfect dream phone in 2018, what would it be? I'm not necessarily thinking in terms of phones currently on the market (although if one of those is so absolutely perfect you don't think the manufacturer could have done any better you're free to say so), but rather if you could take all the currently available (or soon to be available) features and tech and put them into the perfect phone for you, what would it look like?
Here's what I've come up with:
Hardware:
Display: 5.7" 120Hz 2560x1440 IGZO (from Razer phone) with Trivex NXT polyurethane instead of glass (i.e. pretty much indestructible while still having great optical quality)
SoC: Snapdragon 845
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB (plus microSD)
Speakers: Quad front-facing
Connectivity: 2x USB C, 3.5mm headphone jack with high quality DAC, USB-C to 3.5mm can be used to get a 2nd headphone jack (or let me charge the phone and a second USB-C device at the same time)
2.4/5 GHz dual MIMO wifi
Bluetooth 5
Radio: Global, dual active sim (2nd sim slot NOT shared with microsd card)
Battery: 5,000 mAh removable with fast and wireless charging
IR blaster
FM radio
Slide-out landscape keyboard with 5-way dpad/trackball (would be closely tied with a slide-out gamepad and shoulder buttons like the old Sony Xperia Play had)
Active digitizer and stylus (like the Galaxy Note phones)
IP68 rating
Dual front cameras (one color, one monochrome/IR for very low light and facial recognition if I want it)
Triple rear cameras (two color (one with 4x zoom), one monochrome/IR for very low light), RAW file support for both cameras, no camera bump (extra thickness would be for battery)
Case material: carbon fiber with titanium endoskeleton
Buttons: power, volume rocker, two additional customizable buttons (camera, voice assistant, etc), hardware tactile navigation buttons below screen (not capacitative), fingerprint scanner in home button
Software:
Unlockable bootloader (no OEM code, just fastboot oem unlock and done)
TWRP-like stock recovery
Near-stock android, minor tweaks with a few extra customization options and toggleable root in developer settings (no need to unlock bootloader and install magisk/supersu)
Pretty much what I want is a big, powerful phone with the latest, greatest features and some features that manufacturers have sadly abandoned (removable battery, slide-out keyboard). Thickness and weight aren't really a concern (the carbon fiber over glass will keep the weight reasonable anyways) and smoothing out the back instead of having an annoying camera bump will give some extra volume for a properly large battery.
I abhor the notch abomination that Apple has unleashed on the world of smartphones, so the top and bottom would have bezels (the sides would have some slim bezels as well to make room for cases to hang on, provide a place to actually hold the phone from the front, and give a bit more room for hardware). The corners of these bezels would make room for the quad speakers (which should be nice and loud, although maybe not quite as over-the-top as the razer phone with how much space those took up), and the top bezel would also have plenty of room for front-facing cameras and light sensors. The bottom bezel would have the tactile navigation buttons.
The slideout keyboard would be similar to what the old Droids had with 5 rows (numbers on top, 3 rows of letters, bottom row with spacebar/special keys) and the d-pad/trackball would be similar to what the old HTC Desire Z had. It would be backlit with variable colors (controlled through an app).
Appearance wouldn't be anything too crazy, I envision it looking somewhat similar to the Razer phone (although with black carbon fiber or gold kevlar) with a textured finish so it's not going to slide out of your hand. It should be very durable (if I get a case, should just be a slim rubber thing to prevent scratching and scuffing) so if I fumble my phone and it tumbles on concrete, should have minor cosmetic damage at worst. The device should be water and dust resistant (even if I have to keep the keyboard closed to keep dust out of the slider), and I should be able to clean any dust out of the mechanism by rinsing the phone under a water tap. This would likely be the biggest challenge, but should still be possible if electronics are properly treated and given proper coatings. Case should be easy to open with a screwdriver, no glue or plastic clips. Battery doesn't have to be quick swap as long as it's easy to replace by just removing screws.
Anyways, that's my dream phone. What's yours?

eric.clay42 said:
If you could have your perfect dream phone in 2018,...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see why new threads regarding the Dream Smartphone and similar is needed when the following 2 threads already covers this topic...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475908
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1491271
Just my Member opinion...
or should I state "My Dream Thread Topic" Opinion... LMAO!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I DO NOT provide support via PM unless asked/requested by myself. PLEASE keep it in the threads where everyone can share.

Thanks for sharing those threads, but the first one looks like more of a list of existing phones people want (which wasn't really what I was going for) and the other is 6 years old.
The point of this thread is to see what people would want in a smartphone if they could effectively design it themselves using modern hardware.

eric.clay42 said:
Thanks for sharing those threads, but the first one looks like more of a list of existing phones people want (which wasn't really what I was going for) and the other is 6 years old.
The point of this thread is to see what people would want in a smartphone if they could effectively design it themselves using modern hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm, there's this current dream phone thread as well, just a few threads below yours,
https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/off-topic/imaginary-dream-phone-t3538365
I'll close this one. :good:

Related

Keep or Cancel my pre-order

As the title says!
Ordered a Z1 a wee while ago, and now, after having read some reviews am considering cancelling it - Are the reviews a load of cobblers, what do folks think.
Negatives (from reviews)
- Poor battery life
- Camera that fails to live up to expectations, over zealous post processing leading to poor, over compressed images
- Scratches very easily - does it even have Corning Gorilla Glass front/back?
- Nasty Sony UI overlay (not to bothered about this, I'll choose my own shell)
- Massive bezel compared to competition
- Bezel raised at edges meaning front surface not flat, difficult to clean + a dust magnet
- Rear glass is a finderprint magnet
- Screen issues - not good in bright sunshine (worse than AMOLED), viewing angles not great (image washed out at an angle)
Positives (from reviews):
- Good build quality
- Waterproof
- dedicated camera button
- performs well in low light
- Bundled with geeky smartwatch
- powerful processor
- Takes a micro SD
- Speaker seems half decent
If I do cancel then a Galaxy S4 is the other option. Ruled out LG G2 due to no micro SD card slot, ruled out HTC One for no SD card slot, and low megapixel camera (I like to have an image that's big enough for cropping).
Comments?
Nigel
I change my s4 for z1, i think only screen and weight os better in s4, but touchwiz in very bad and cyanogem for my octa never be good much bugs.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda app-developers app
I have seen sample which were beautiful. About the fingerprint magnet and bezel. You should have known about this design before preordering. Not a negative at all. It called design preference. And there's no issue with the screen. It's definitely make brighter than AMOLED.
You must be reading too much CNET. I suggest you read the preview from GSMArena. Much more fair and balanced.
Z1 very good
lee480 said:
I have seen sample which were beautiful. About the fingerprint magnet and bezel. You should have known about this design before preordering. Not a negative at all. It called design preference. And there's no issue with the screen. It's definitely make brighter than AMOLED.
You must be reading too much CNET. I suggest you read the preview from GSMArena. Much more fair and balanced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, the above was a summary of what I had read from MANY review sites - and yes, CNET was one of them, and the most negative, but if it aint apple they don't like it anyway!!
I like the look of the design, fingerprint magnet can be fixed by adding a case, but the device is already pretty bulky.
I'm just not sure why they went for glass front/back when other manufacturers have moved away from it. The back on the zperia Z tablet looks just as classy as glass IMHO, and the HTC one is way more classy, esp in black, and that has an alu back.
HTC One best fits my design language, but does not fit my need for a decent megapix camera and an SD card slot. At the moment, Z1 comes the closest to delivering all my wants, and Samsung S4 second, but I don't like £450 plasticated phones! Like all devices, one weighs up the pro's and con's and buys the one that ticks the most boxes.
I'm told that mine wont be delivered until 1st Oct (due to the accompanying watch being delayed). I will have a chance to play with one in a shop before then.
Nigel
cancel the preorder, go play with the device once it hits the store and then decide. Reviews are just for reference, and every one preference differs. I did not pre order as i want to see the device once and play with it for sometime, and see. I want to do the same with G2 and then will decided between one of the two. S4 has an old proc i would rather suggest Note 3 to you.
veletron said:
Actually, the above was a summary of what I had read from MANY review sites - and yes, CNET was one of them, and the most negative, but if it aint apple they don't like it anyway!!
I like the look of the design, fingerprint magnet can be fixed by adding a case, but the device is already pretty bulky.
I'm just not sure why they went for glass front/back when other manufacturers have moved away from it. The back on the zperia Z tablet looks just as classy as glass IMHO, and the HTC one is way more classy, esp in black, and that has an alu back.
HTC One best fits my design language, but does not fit my need for a decent megapix camera and an SD card slot. At the moment, Z1 comes the closest to delivering all my wants, and Samsung S4 second, but I don't like £450 plasticated phones! Like all devices, one weighs up the pro's and con's and buys the one that ticks the most boxes.
I'm told that mine wont be delivered until 1st Oct (due to the accompanying watch being delayed). I will have a chance to play with one in a shop before then.
Nigel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you tell other reputable smartphone site that said the items above?
Sent from my LT28h using xda app-developers app
lee480 said:
Can you tell other reputable smartphone site that said the items above?
Sent from my LT28h using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/review/2293595/sony-xperia-z1-review
And the comments re viewing angled come from several youtube reviews comparing S4 with Z1 screen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJPiIiEMBs4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBFMVPNpoHc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu5H4U4A8U8
Nigel
veletron said:
As the title says!
Ordered a Z1 a wee while ago, and now, after having read some reviews am considering cancelling it - Are the reviews a load of cobblers, what do folks think.
Negatives (from reviews)
- Poor battery life
- Camera that fails to live up to expectations, over zealous post processing leading to poor, over compressed images
- Scratches very easily - does it even have Corning Gorilla Glass front/back?
- Nasty Sony UI overlay (not to bothered about this, I'll choose my own shell)
- Massive bezel compared to competition
- Bezel raised at edges meaning front surface not flat, difficult to clean + a dust magnet
- Rear glass is a finderprint magnet
- Screen issues - not good in bright sunshine (worse than AMOLED), viewing angles not great (image washed out at an angle)
Positives (from reviews):
- Good build quality
- Waterproof
- dedicated camera button
- performs well in low light
- Bundled with geeky smartwatch
- powerful processor
- Takes a micro SD
- Speaker seems half decent
If I do cancel then a Galaxy S4 is the other option. Ruled out LG G2 due to no micro SD card slot, ruled out HTC One for no SD card slot, and low megapixel camera (I like to have an image that's big enough for cropping).
Comments?
Nigel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Battery life is ok
camera is good... use manual settings for better shots
Sony ui is simplistic.. and you can get replacement home screen from playstore
The retail unit has god display so do not worry there.
other issue can be minimised by using a good front and rear screen protector..
jos_031 said:
Battery life is ok
camera is good... use manual settings for better shots
Sony ui is simplistic.. and you can get replacement home screen from playstore
The retail unit has god display so do not worry there.
other issue can be minimised by using a good front and rear screen protector..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really not a fan of screen protectors - always end up with at least one lump of dust under the screen - make it look naff! Current phone is a Galaxy Note 1 (almost 2 years old). Never had a screen protector, in daily use on my commute, and screen is perfect. I expect the Xperia Z1's screen to be no less durable than this. If I am going to have to cover this up to protect it from scratches then gone is its beauty - and I might as well have bought an S4 and stuck that in a TPU case!
Nova is my favoured UI. I use it on my Galaxy Note 8. Owning the Note8 is why I am not in the market for a note 3. The 8" screen on the note 8 makes the stylus far more useful than it is on my Note 1.
Nigel
veletron said:
Really not a fan of screen protectors - always end up with at least one lump of dust under the screen - make it look naff! Current phone is a Galaxy Note 1 (almost 2 years old). Never had a screen protector, in daily use on my commute, and screen is perfect. I expect the Xperia Z1's screen to be no less durable than this. If I am going to have to cover this up to protect it from scratches then gone is its beauty - and I might as well have bought an S4 and stuck that in a TPU case!
Nova is my favoured UI. I use it on my Galaxy Note 8. Owning the Note8 is why I am not in the market for a note 3. The 8" screen on the note 8 makes the stylus far more useful than it is on my Note 1.
Nigel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems like you don't underdstand the fact that Sony installs a shutter protector with Sony logo imprinted on their screens. It is not the screen that scratches but the protector.
Additionally Sony will not replace the shutter protector as they treat is as partbof the screen. It is much easier to apply an extra protector for 2 eur on top and change it when you need. You can remove the shutter protector (you will loose sony logo on the front) and have just glass which will be much more scratch resistant.
The back has also got an antiglare layer on glass so it is the one that shows scratches.
Being an Xperia Z owner I would highly advise using a screen protector but it is up to you. I have found that the protector does not impair phone functionality in any way and if you have difficulty with application just buy a few until you get it right or get one applied in a phone shop.
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 4
veletron said:
As the title says!
Ordered a Z1 a wee while ago, and now, after having read some reviews am considering cancelling it - Are the reviews a load of cobblers, what do folks think.
Negatives (from reviews)
- Poor battery life
- Camera that fails to live up to expectations, over zealous post processing leading to poor, over compressed images
- Scratches very easily - does it even have Corning Gorilla Glass front/back?
- Nasty Sony UI overlay (not to bothered about this, I'll choose my own shell)
- Massive bezel compared to competition
- Bezel raised at edges meaning front surface not flat, difficult to clean + a dust magnet
- Rear glass is a finderprint magnet
- Screen issues - not good in bright sunshine (worse than AMOLED), viewing angles not great (image washed out at an angle)
Positives (from reviews):
- Good build quality
- Waterproof
- dedicated camera button
- performs well in low light
- Bundled with geeky smartwatch
- powerful processor
- Takes a micro SD
- Speaker seems half decent
If I do cancel then a Galaxy S4 is the other option. Ruled out LG G2 due to no micro SD card slot, ruled out HTC One for no SD card slot, and low megapixel camera (I like to have an image that's big enough for cropping).
Comments?
Nigel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I preordered mine and laid down 20% non-refundable deposit, so I can't cancel my order. But if I were you, I'd get Note3 or wait out for Z2. I wouldn't get S4, it's too "old".
I will try to answer this one by one:
veletron said:
As the title says!
Ordered a Z1 a wee while ago, and now, after having read some reviews am considering cancelling it - Are the reviews a load of cobblers, what do folks think.
Negatives (from reviews)
- Poor battery life
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None of the reviewers has a production set yet so there is no basis to this at all. reviewers need at least 1-2 weeks of using the handset daily before they can really tell the difference.
veletron said:
- Camera that fails to live up to expectations, over zealous post processing leading to poor, over compressed images
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, no one has the final production firmware yet to test this properly. so it is hard to conclude camera. but so far from all the reviews I saw, low light pictures are amazing.
veletron said:
- Scratches very easily - does it even have Corning Gorilla Glass front/back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Screen protectors fix this, and if possible dont install it yourself, get one from a store and let them install. it will cost a few dollars more but it is worth it. I have been using screen protectors on my xperia S for more than 1 year and I barely notice that it is there.
veletron said:
- Nasty Sony UI overlay (not to bothered about this, I'll choose my own shell)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree, sony UI is the fastest, most elegant and simplistic non-nexus phone out there. if you have tried an LG or Samsung phone you will know what I am saying. if there is a criticism, it is that the UI has too few enhancements.
veletron said:
- Massive bezel compared to competition
- Bezel raised at edges meaning front surface not flat, difficult to clean + a dust magnet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one is something you have to try yourself. most of the time, when you have placed the phone in your hand, it changes your opinion right away. most of the reviews I have read, watched are saying that Z1 is one of the most premium feeling and comfortable for a flagship android phone there is.
compare this with LG G2's plastic back, with back buttons (barf), and Note3's "Leather back (really is plastic)" back panel.
veletron said:
- Rear glass is a finderprint magnet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is true.
veletron said:
- Screen issues - not good in bright sunshine (worse than AMOLED), viewing angles not great (image washed out at an angle)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not true at all, Xperia Z1 Screen is the brightest of all. trust me it is bright! and nothing is worse than AMOLED.
Also IMO, who uses their phones at weird viewing angles? but if being used dead on, Xperia Z1 is the best. specially at watching movies.
check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VXFuMXu-SQ
---------- Post added at 03:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:18 PM ----------
Another thing, Samsung's Amoled display deteriorate in time. it will deteriorate by almost 10% within 1 year.
I compared my friend's 1 year old Note 2 to 1.5 year old my Xperia S, clearly shows the difference.
shem2409 said:
Seems like you don't underdstand the fact that Sony installs a shutter protector with Sony logo imprinted on their screens. It is not the screen that scratches but the protector.
Additionally Sony will not replace the shutter protector as they treat is as partbof the screen. It is much easier to apply an extra protector for 2 eur on top and change it when you need. You can remove the shutter protector (you will loose sony logo on the front) and have just glass which will be much more scratch resistant.
The back has also got an antiglare layer on glass so it is the one that shows scratches.
Being an Xperia Z owner I would highly advise using a screen protector but it is up to you. I have found that the protector does not impair phone functionality in any way and if you have difficulty with application just buy a few until you get it right or get one applied in a phone shop.
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TS, you should Read this post by shem2409. ALL sony xperia handsets came with the shatterproof sheet. It is safer for human when the shatter proof sheet is applied. When glass breaks or shatters, there will be lots and lots of small tiny shards coming off. The shatter proof sheet is to hold the shards together so that you won't hurt yourself.
Just apply a good quality screen protector and you will be fine. Or you can go to a shop,buy screen protector from them and they would apply for you. They have experience on apply screen protector and most of the time, they applied it perfectly for me.
The screen is ok on the Z1. Screen protector will protect it further. Viewing angles are fine on the Z1.
The only valid point is camera quality. At present the S4 which has had 6 months to be optimised takes better quality shots. But it doesnt have the 800 chip that can do more camera tricks like the Z1. Also the S4 has 9gb free internal. The Z1 11.7gb approx.
veletron said:
As the title says!
Ordered a Z1 a wee while ago, and now, after having read some reviews am considering cancelling it - Are the reviews a load of cobblers, what do folks think.
Negatives (from reviews)
- Poor battery life
- Camera that fails to live up to expectations, over zealous post processing leading to poor, over compressed images
- Scratches very easily - does it even have Corning Gorilla Glass front/back?
- Nasty Sony UI overlay (not to bothered about this, I'll choose my own shell)
- Massive bezel compared to competition
- Bezel raised at edges meaning front surface not flat, difficult to clean + a dust magnet
- Rear glass is a finderprint magnet
- Screen issues - not good in bright sunshine (worse than AMOLED), viewing angles not great (image washed out at an angle)
Positives (from reviews):
- Good build quality
- Waterproof
- dedicated camera button
- performs well in low light
- Bundled with geeky smartwatch
- powerful processor
- Takes a micro SD
- Speaker seems half decent
If I do cancel then a Galaxy S4 is the other option. Ruled out LG G2 due to no micro SD card slot, ruled out HTC One for no SD card slot, and low megapixel camera (I like to have an image that's big enough for cropping).
Comments?
Nigel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I currently have the S4 and I am in love with it. The only flaw to me is I wish the speaker was on the bottom so it wouldn't matter how I put the phone down and also the camera. The camera is good but not for low-light photography. I am upgrading to the Z1. Also, I would prefer people to save their comments on the Z1's camera until they actually see it in person. In an honest sense, I hardly see anything wrong with the Z1 besides the large bezel at the bottom (most likely due to the hardware design) and the lack of OIS.
Keep that in mind, my octa have only 8.79 gb for use and I stop more than 50 apps with titanium backup. Is really good device but touchwiz is bad, i give a try with Sony now.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda app-developers app
These phones are fingerprint magnets but as other OP's have stated, a back shield isn't noticeable at all. I always cover my phones with skins from Phantomskinz including my XZ. I found a glass oleophobic screen protector from Brando for my XZ and loved it. Am (im)patiently waiting for them to get one for the XZ1! Feels much better to the touch than the regular screen protectors.
gavinfabl said:
The screen is ok on the Z1. Screen protector will protect it further. Viewing angles are fine on the Z1.
The only valid point is camera quality. At present the S4 which has had 6 months to be optimised takes better quality shots. But it doesnt have the 800 chip that can do more camera tricks like the Z1. Also the S4 has 9gb free internal. The Z1 11.7gb approx.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally disagree! The Z1 samples I've seen so far reflect its overall image quality to be much better in comparison to S4 or any other android smartphone so far. Have a look at the gsmarena Z1 camera samples (20 mp ones) & compare them to S4's, you'll know what I mean. I do agree that the image processing on Z1 could be better (which hopefully should only improve with retail firmware & further updates). But the Z1 sensor captures way too much detail compared to S4 to be called of inferior quality ! Low light imaging too seems a lot better.
On a side note, I noticed that the gsmarena Z1 review camera samples show blurring out of images ONLY on the right side (about 1/3 part), which might probably be due to dirty lens or defective unit.
Hi
Well, I did cancel my order. I shall wait for some real user reviews of retail units before deciding whether to get one. I note that several UK vendors have had it listed as 'in stock' from today so those real user opinions are not far off.
Might just keep my Note One for anither 6 months and wait for the Z2!
Nigel

Frustration from Note 3 to 4? Look here

Ok guys, this is all opinionated of course, but I think that a lot of people (including myself) are a bit frustrated with the announcement of the Note 4, mainly for the lack of changes.
I put together a list comparing Note 2 to Note 3, which was a HUGE upgrade, and compared it to Note 3 to 4. As you can see, the two lists are very different when put next to each other:
note 2 vs note 3:
SD800 WAAY Faster than Exynos 1.6ghz
bigger screen
1080p vs 720p, better colors, 40% brighter
completely new features like air command, USB 3, multi vision, air gesture, able to use S-pen with capacitive buttons
from S4: IR blaster, glove mode,
better camera with new features, 4k video, slomo
Design completely new, new back, flatter front, sides that mimic a notebook
32gb storage, more ram, bigger battery,
taller, thinner, lighter; new integrated camera w/flash, cleaner look; speaker on bottom
LTE Advanced, 802.11ac
gorilla glass 3 vs gorilla glass 2
accessories: s-view cover, gear, wireless charging back, wireless s-view
note 4:
SD 805 (super fast gpu (good for 4k, better thermal design = better battery life), 2x memory bandwidth, faster cpu (15%), much better image processor, up to 300mbps let-a)
same size screen
2.5k vs 1080p, adaptive display, possibly super dimming mode (unknown), "basic" mode to get true RGB color accuracy in Note4
16mp cam with ois, 3.7mp ffc with 120 degree wide angle; side-touch “button”
Design similar; new metal sides, no stitching on back, camera is now split from flash module for heart rate sensor, like note 2, curved edged (2.5d) glass like note 2, small cuts in metal frame like iphone's antenna, black phone speaker grill, ffc moved more to corner, larger home button, edge matches color of phone's front & back
new features: 30 minute super charging, s-pen 2x sensitive, MHL3
From S5:Fingerprint reader, heart-rate sensor, ultra power-saving mode, multitasking button replaces menu button
completely new features: UV+SP02 sensors, fast-charging, bring content from one app to another with s-pen, select multiple items with s-pen like a mouse, pop-up screen, split-screen w/multiple apps, use heart rate sensor for selfies
same storage options, same RAM, battery 20 Mah more but 7.5% better; same integrated microsd/microsim module as note3, not in note 2
dimensions: narrower and thinner, but taller and heavier (N3: 5.95" x 3.12" x 0.33” in, 5.93 oz N4: 6.04" x 3.09" x 0.32” in, 6.21 oz)
speaker on back, camera and flash in 2 different components
LTE-A 300 mbps vs 150 on n3, 802.11ac with MIMO, bluetooth 4.1
same gorilla glass 3 as n3, 2.5d curved edge glass from note 2
like note 3, 3 mics, but improved in note 4; can focus on sound coming from one or two directions
accessories gear vr, Swarovski backs, montblanc pens+cases, samsung ruggedized note4 case, gear s, wireless charging back, wireless s-view
design negatives: taller, heavier, speaker on back; REMOVED: USB3, temperature & Humidity sensor
missing features: From S5: waterproof, ISOCELL BSI sensor, super-dimming unknown at this point; no dual-tone flash like iphone, speaker on back like Note2, not 64bit if snapdragon
unknown:super-dimming mode, PWM for screen dimming which was in note2 and 3, if signal is as good as note2 because note3 signal was worse
sensors (from samsung website):
Note 3:
Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB, Proximity, Barometer, Temperature & Humidity, Hall Sensor
Note 2:
Accelerometer, RGB Light, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer
Note 4:
Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB,IR-LED Proximity, Barometer, Hall Sensor, Finger Scanner, UV, Heart Rate Monitoring, SpO2
I think after compiling this list, I've realized I can overlook some minor things like USB3 (even tho it was STUPID FAST!), sensors and a few other details. At the end of the day, I remember why I pick Samsung: Best-in-class screen, which is one of the biggest things about a pone, top-notch hardware, super fast, great (although sometimes useless) features, geek-friendly when it comes to expandability, removable battery/memory, customizable, etc.
That waterproof omission is going to sting tho :crying: Really was looking forward to underwater pics without a "bag", or shower-browsing online!
The lack of USB3, Isocell sensor and speaker moved to the back are all a step back, but with all these other improvements, I'm sure you wouldn't even notice it much.
Your right, the screen is being given no love, and your right, it is super important. This should be the best smartphone screen ever. Paired with the latest processor, and great S pen features, I'm in. I just hope that there is no lag like everyone said about the G3
Thanks for putting this up. I think you should add that while the Note 4 rolled back to USB2, it was upgraded from MHL 2 to 3. Too many tech sites that do comparisons forget to mention this.
The Note 3 is USB3 MHL2.
The Note 4 is USB2 MHL3.
Dat Noob said:
Thanks for putting this up. I think you should add that while the Note 4 rolled back to USB2, it was upgraded from MHL 2 to 3. Too many tech sites that do comparisons forget to mention this.
The Note 3 is USB3 MHL2.
The Note 4 is USB2 MHL3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
added to new features portion. Thanks!
My utter frustration is moving the speaker to the back.
No word yet if the sound is better on the N4 then on the N3.
My only complain is move speaker to back.
No waterproof is better if Samsung can't make slim bezel for waterproof phone, see how thick and ugly the bezel in S5.
Thanks Samsung not implement waterproof in Note 4.
I had use few waterproof Sony phone like Z and Z Ultra, waterproof is real gimmick as it won't last long and troublesome on those flip cover on nearly every single port. Please don't add in until you can give slim bezel design on it. Waterproof is real unnecessary.
Andrewtst said:
My only complain is move speaker to back.
No waterproof is better if Samsung can't make slim bezel for waterproof phone, see how thick and ugly the bezel in S5.
Thanks Samsung not implement waterproof in Note 4.
I had use few waterproof Sony phone like Z and Z Ultra, waterproof is real gimmick as it won't last long and troublesome on those flip cover on nearly every single port. Please don't add in until you can give slim bezel design on it. Waterproof is real unnecessary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also feel waterproofing is a gimmick and while this doesn't reflect every phone. A few people I know who have the Z1/2 and S4 active/S5 have issues with the water proofing whenever water touches their phones from freezing, to switching off, to black screens, to unresponsive buttons.
Dat Noob said:
Thanks for putting this up. I think you should add that while the Note 4 rolled back to USB2, it was upgraded from MHL 2 to 3. Too many tech sites that do comparisons forget to mention this.
The Note 3 is USB3 MHL2.
The Note 4 is USB2 MHL3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The note 4 when back to using a usb2.0? What the funk ? I really loved the extra fast charging of the note 3. I'm not sure what the MHL is and how it affects charging speeds but they advertised fast charging on the note 4, so we'll see.
I had Note 2 but bought S4 and then Note 3 came out and its seems no diffrent from S4 cus of the 1080p screen , so i waited for 2K and now Note 4 has it so its a 100% buy from me !
I always found that the N3 screen looked fuzzy I couldn't live with it.
The fact the screen is Qhd is reason enough for me give the N4 a chance.
RCJ89 said:
I also feel waterproofing is a gimmick and while this doesn't reflect every phone. A few people I know who have the Z1/2 and S4 active/S5 have issues with the water proofing whenever water touches their phones from freezing, to switching off, to black screens, to unresponsive buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, cause I own Z and Z Ultra before, I know it is not that effective and needed as advertise.
Att.Fan1982 said:
The note 4 when back to using a usb2.0? What the funk �� I really loved the extra fast charging of the note 3. I'm not sure what the MHL is and how it affects charging speeds but they advertised fast charging on the note 4, so we'll see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note 4 will have better chraging capabilities than the Note 3. Look what the seemingly unimportant MHL3 actually adds:
The MHL 3.0 specification capabilities include:
4K (Ultra HD): Support of 4K formats up to 2160p30
Simultaneous high-speed data channel
Improved Remote Control Protocol (RCP) with support for peripherals such as a touch screen, keyboard and mouse
Power charging up to 10W
Backward compatible with MHL 1 and MHL 2
Latest HDCP 2.2 content protection
Enhanced 7.1 surround sound with Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD
Connector agnostic – uses as few as five pins
Support for simultaneous multiple displays
The MHL Experience
Home Theater – 4K Movie-Theater Picture Quality
Watch all of your favorite content in 4K movie-theater picture quality from your smartphone to your TV or home theater system. Stop, rewind, pause and play all of your content using the TV's remote control.
Mobile Games – Zero Lag
Play all your mobile games on a 4K screen with no lag, all while the TV provides power to your smartphone for extended game play.
Office – Work Anytime, Anywhere
Transform your mobile device into a portable computer by connecting it to a keyboard, mouse, monitor (or multiple monitors), and storage device to work anytime, anywhere.
Automotive – Touch Screen to Access Music and Navigation
Interact with the smartphone through your car infotainment touch-screen display or buttons on your steering wheel to make phone calls, play music, navigate with the phone's GPS, and more, all while providing charge to your smartphone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/20/mhl-3-0/
Edit: Also, just to add, as far as I know this is a first for Samsung. The Galaxy S5 for example had MHL2.1.
Andrewtst said:
Yup, cause I own Z and Z Ultra before, I know it is not that effective and needed as advertise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's too bad...what about taking pics under-water? The Note 4 has that virtual button on it's side for taking pics. If it were waterproof, I doubt the button would work, because it's most likely capacitive. But does the touchscreen work well enough to hit the camera capture button? Or you can probably use the volume button to capture a picture, so would that work? Or does it freeze up completely?
Andrewtst said:
Yup, cause I own Z and Z Ultra before, I know it is not that effective and needed as advertise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dat Noob said:
The Note 4 will have better chraging capabilities than the Note 3. Look what the seemingly unimportant MHL3 actually adds:
http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/20/mhl-3-0/
Edit: Also, just to add, as far as I know this is a first for Samsung. The Galaxy S5 for example had MHL2.1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well 4k support is a big deal now that people are starting to buy 4K TV's to output to and content providors like netflix support streaming 4k (but probably not yet on mobile, that I don't know)
Samzebian said:
that's too bad...what about taking pics under-water? The Note 4 has that virtual button on it's side for taking pics. If it were waterproof, I doubt the button would work, because it's most likely capacitive. But does the touchscreen work well enough to hit the camera capture button? Or you can probably use the volume button to capture a picture, so would that work? Or does it freeze up completely?
Well 4k support is a big deal now that people are starting to buy 4K TV's to output to and content providors like netflix support streaming 4k (but probably not yet on mobile, that I don't know)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Newer Z1, Z2 or Z3 yes for taken under water as got shutter button. Previous model can only via time record.
Also remember due to the S Pen, really hard to do waterproof, if do then it will be troublesome in taken out the S Pen.
Andrewtst said:
Also remember due to the S Pen, really hard to do waterproof, if do then it will be troublesome in taken out the S Pen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lack of IP67 is my biggest issue with the Note 4. I also thought that it's because of the S Pen, but after reading Samsung response on the issue, I'm not sure anymore. Here's what they said when asked by Android Authority:
Unlike the Galaxy S5, the Note 4 isn’t waterproof – when we asked Samsung’s reps why, they said the Note 4 is for people interested in being productive and creative on the go, while the Galaxy S5 is a more generalist device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-note-4-hands-on-519696/
Dat Noob said:
Lack of IP67 is my biggest issue with the Note 4. I also thought that it's because of the S Pen, but after reading Samsung response on the issue, I'm not sure anymore. Here's what they said when asked by Android Authority:
http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-note-4-hands-on-519696/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Knowing that, I'm also disappointed in the note 4's lack of ip67 certification.
Dat Noob said:
Lack of IP67 is my biggest issue with the Note 4. I also thought that it's because of the S Pen, but after reading Samsung response on the issue, I'm not sure anymore. Here's what they said when asked by Android Authority:
http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-note-4-hands-on-519696/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same. I could buy their reasoning for the larger bezels on the S5 due to waterproofing, but why would the Note 4 be larger now if it doesn't even include that?
Missing water proof feature too! Maybe there will come some 3rd party cases for N4 that makes it water proof for short times. The difference in S5 is the existence of a cover for the Micro USB port and a little "strip" in the back cover.
Water proof features are what other manufacturers came up with to try to offer something..ANYTHING... to attempt to steal some of Samsung customers because they couldn't do it on the tech side of things. Forget waterproofing, as it a point of sale gimmick which fails because it needs stupid little blanking plugs ETC.
So far the biggest thing I see on the Note4 that might make my life loads easier is the fast charge which is a really handy feature.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app
How do you waterproof a phone with an S pen? I can understand the disappointment some feel but it wasn't a feature I was seeking on a Note device.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Want to upgrade from HTC One M7 to Z3 Compact, need input

Hi folks, I liked my HTC One M7, I've been using it for 1 year but recently it has to go to to repair because the camera went purple-tint and vibration motor is dead. Based on my experience local technicians has notoriously sloppy work, so I don't expect this phone will be running trouble-free until my biannual upgrade cycle. So I want to sell my One for a new phone while it still has considerable resale value.
I don't think I liked the bigger-is-better screen hip (One is my biggest phone so far), Being able to operate phone with one hand is definite must for me. So HTC One M8 and Nexus 6 should be out of picture. After a bit of research among the crowd of mini-edition of flagships I think Z3 Compact would be a good candidate.
I used Xperia Pro in the past and I liked Sony build quality mostly.
So HTC One former user, what do you miss when upgrading to Z3 Compact?
I have already thinking about a few downsides:
1. (1080p 4.7 in vs 4.6in 720p), also reportedly Z3C compact has issue with collor accuracy and viewing angle
2. Metal vs plastic -- boy I love my One metallic feel and look, but I guess tempered glass and polycarbonate plastic are classy in its own right?
3. IR Blaster - absolute gem for the lazy me. AC, TV, Stereo with One phone to rule them all (pun intended)
4. Speaker - Both has front firing stereo speakers, but it appears One gain the upper hand?
And of course a few niceties:
1. Waterproof.
2. Smaller footprint with essentially same size of screen.
3. Better processor
So what do you think folks? or should I wait for Z4C which basically will come to my country in mid 2015 (back to bi annual cycle)?
Honestly if you don't need the waterproofness then you are just as good staying with the M7 (all though the camera on the Z3C is better)...
I had the M7 for a year too and in everyday use the M7 is matching the ZC3. I like the size of the Sony better though and you will not miss the full HD screen should you choose to do the change anyways...
Put it in respective for you. I had the m8 and was unlocked and s off. Speakers where giving trouble due to work conditions with dust. Changed to the z3 compact and thought I'd miss having root and customs roms. But I'm not I love the size and feel of the phone. And I'm getting 2 days use of the phone which never happened with any android I have. I'm a heavy user though.
Cell reception and WiFi is better than the m8 as well and both are unlocked from factory
WhizzWr said:
Hi folks, I liked my HTC One M7, I've been using it for 1 year but recently it has to go to to repair because the camera went purple-tint and vibration motor is dead. Based on my experience local technicians has notoriously sloppy work, so I don't expect this phone will be running trouble-free until my biannual upgrade cycle. So I want to sell my One for a new phone while it still has considerable resale value.
I don't think I liked the bigger-is-better screen hip (One is my biggest phone so far), Being able to operate phone with one hand is definite must for me. So HTC One M8 and Nexus 6 should be out of picture. After a bit of research among the crowd of mini-edition of flagships I think Z3 Compact would be a good candidate.
I used Xperia Pro in the past and I liked Sony build quality mostly.
So HTC One former user, what do you miss when upgrading to Z3 Compact?
I have already thinking about a few downsides:
1. (1080p 4.7 in vs 4.6in 720p), also reportedly Z3C compact has issue with collor accuracy and viewing angle
2. Metal vs plastic -- boy I love my One metallic feel and look, but I guess tempered glass and polycarbonate plastic are classy in its own right?
3. IR Blaster - absolute gem for the lazy me. AC, TV, Stereo with One phone to rule them all (pun intended)
4. Speaker - Both has front firing stereo speakers, but it appears One gain the upper hand?
And of course a few niceties:
1. Waterproof.
2. Smaller footprint with essentially same size of screen.
3. Better processor
So what do you think folks? or should I wait for Z4C which basically will come to my country in mid 2015 (back to bi annual cycle)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi mate,
i "upgraded" from M7 to the Z3C. here some infos:
1) i personall find the diplay quality and resolution great with the z3c, i have no complains about the angle or colours, it looks perfect for me.
2) the z3c feels very quality, the "plastic" at the sides looks good and fits perfect with the glass front/back. if its too slippy for you, just buy a cheap rubber case.
3) i didnt need it, as i use a app via wlan for my receiver from the provider
4) the speakers from the M7 are definitely better, the speaker from z3c cant get be that good, as they more turned inside for waterproof. its its loud enough. you have an build in equilizer (the m7 just a switch for Beats Audio), with z3c you have multiple surround modes, sudio modes, effects, bass boost, profiles etc.
The Z3C seems to be more fluend in the user interface, buts that personally. i bought it because of his size.
Only buy it if the size of the M7 doesnt fit to you and keep it mind that the M7 has plenty ROMs and Kernels, but the Z3C has near nothing and you risk lose of DRM keys if you unlock Bootloader.
I would flash the Google Play [email protected]
So its not an "upgrade" its more a "switch"
Z3c is the phone that never gives you anything to think/worry about. It's just there, always ready (up to 3 days use for me) never too big to hold, never too small to read. It never annoys you with unlock lag or stutter while using it, even the camera with its dedicated button feels just good...
With my previous phones I always tried to tinker around and improve this and that. With my z3c I never had that urge. It works just the way I expect it to. If I haven't made myself clear enough: I love it.
I agree with all of them here.
Though i would not consider it a necessary upgrade as you already have a nicely running, fast phone.
In your place i would wait at least for the announcement of the new Z generation. If there is a Z4 Compact, i would take a look at the specs and see if it fits your needs. Maybe it gets a metal frame again? Maybe it will get an IR blaster?
I dont think Sony will make their compact series much bigger.Maybe thinner and lighter?
Also the waterproofness will probably stay as it is heavily advertised as such.
I own the Z3C, my roommate the M7, so ill talk about it a bit.
I cannot handle the One with one hand. So in handling and feeling the Z3C wins by far. Just using one hand and being able to do anything is just plain awesome.
720p is enough for this screen size and will consume less battery. you cant have it all . Compared to the M7 I only notice the slightly bigger screen.
The screen is bright and sharp, i dont know why anybody really cares about color accuracy on a smart phone. Hell im not doing photoshop with it. Viewing angles are okay, not the best but again , most of the time you are the sole consumer of its content. I dont find myself looking at videos with another person often enough that this may in any way pose a problem or annoy me. Only funny thing i noted is that the screen turns black when i hold my phone in landscape mode and look at it with polarized sun glasses. Funny, must have to do something with the screens technology.
Battery life is very good, like twice the One (though i dont know how his phone is configured, if at all).
Speakers are totally fine but again you have to question what you really need them for. Calls? sometimes. Gaming? Jeah but who REALLY listens to the (mostly annoying) sound when immersed in some heavy gaming. Music? Hell no, I would start to hate my own music, but ppl are different. But in the end you are right the One delivers better especially at higher volume levels.
Phone fells well made and classy, no downside to metal except the One fells more sturdy, the Z3C a bit more need-a-case-fragile. I wont do the real testing though .
As the announcement will happen in the foreseeable future, I would at least wait until you get your phone back from the repair . In my country HTC gives away new phones pretty quick under warranty repair, so maybe youll get a new one. This again could give you a nice resell value.Though i dont know if your repair is under warranty or not.
In the end if I were you i would stay with the M7 a bit and see what the future brings. The resell value of your M7 will drop but so will the price for the Z3C. The ONLY reason i see for you to switch to the Z3C is really the footprint/size and only then when it really, really annoys you. I would never go back and consider myself having found the perfect size in a smartphone with the Z3C.
Foxhunter123 said:
Honestly if you don't need the waterproofness then you are just as good staying with the M7 (all though the camera on the Z3C is better)...
I had the M7 for a year too and in everyday use the M7 is matching the ZC3. I like the size of the Sony better though and you will not miss the full HD screen should you choose to do the change anyways...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair enough, I would take your advice if only my HTC One weren't going to repair.
snwman said:
Put it in respective for you. I had the m8 and was unlocked and s off. Speakers where giving trouble due to work conditions with dust. Changed to the z3 compact and thought I'd miss having root and customs roms. But I'm not I love the size and feel of the phone. And I'm getting 2 days use of the phone which never happened with any android I have. I'm a heavy user though.
Cell reception and WiFi is better than the m8 as well and both are unlocked from factory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, I had trouble getting a consistent signal with my One on certain sport, whereas my old Xperia pro is doing just fine. Battery would be a plus
darkarvan said:
Hi mate,
i "upgraded" from M7 to the Z3C. here some infos:
1) i personall find the diplay quality and resolution great with the z3c, i have no complains about the angle or colours, it looks perfect for me.
2) the z3c feels very quality, the "plastic" at the sides looks good and fits perfect with the glass front/back. if its too slippy for you, just buy a cheap rubber case.
3) i didnt need it, as i use a app via wlan for my receiver from the provider
4) the speakers from the M7 are definitely better, the speaker from z3c cant get be that good, as they more turned inside for waterproof. its its loud enough. you have an build in equilizer (the m7 just a switch for Beats Audio), @z3c you have multiple surround modes, sudio modes, effects, bass boost, profiles etc.
The Z3C seems to be more fluend in the user interface, buts that personally. i bought it because of his size.
Only buy it if the size of the M7 doesnt fit to you and keep it mind that the M7 has plenty ROMs and Kernels, but the Z3C has near nothing and you risk lose of DRM keys if you unlock Bootloader.
I would flash the Google Play [email protected]
So its not an "upgrade" its more a "switch"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, when I say "upgrade" it means switch to a more recent phone; built it OEM equalizer sure is nice, I have been fan of Sony's customization since the Mega Bass Era.
2mal16 said:
I agree with all of them here.
Though i would not consider it a necessary upgrade as you already have a nicely running, fast phone.
In your place i would wait at least for the announcement of the new Z generation. If there is a Z4 Compact, i would take a look at the specs and see if it fits your needs. Maybe it gets a metal frame again? Maybe it will get an IR blaster?
I dont think Sony will make their compact series much bigger.Maybe thinner and lighter?
Also the waterproofness will probably stay as it is heavily advertised as such.
I own the Z3C, my roommate the M7, so ill talk about it a bit.
I cannot handle the One with one hand. So in handling and feeling the Z3C wins by far. Just using one hand and being able to do anything is just plain awesome.
720p is enough for this screen size and will consume less battery. you cant have it all . Compared to the M7 I only notice the slightly bigger screen.
The screen is bright and sharp, i dont know why anybody really cares about color accuracy on a smart phone. Hell im not doing photoshop with it. Viewing angles are okay, not the best but again , most of the time you are the sole consumer of its content. I dont find myself looking at videos with another person often enough that this may in any way pose a problem or annoy me. Only funny thing i noted is that the screen turns black when i hold my phone in landscape mode and look at it with polarized sun glasses. Funny, must have to do something with the screens technology.
Battery life is very good, like twice the One (though i dont know how his phone is configured, if at all).
Speakers are totally fine but again you have to question what you really need them for. Calls? sometimes. Gaming? Jeah but who REALLY listens to the (mostly annoying) sound when immersed in some heavy gaming. Music? Hell no, I would start to hate my own music, but ppl are different. But in the end you are right the One delivers better especially at higher volume levels.
Phone fells well made and classy, no downside to metal except the One fells more sturdy, the Z3C a bit more need-a-case-fragile. I wont do the real testing though .
As the announcement will happen in the foreseeable future, I would at least wait until you get your phone back from the repair . In my country HTC gives away new phones pretty quick under warranty repair, so maybe youll get a new one. This again could give you a nice resell value.Though i dont know if your repair is under warranty or not.
In the end if I were you i would stay with the M7 a bit and see what the future brings. The resell value of your M7 will drop but so will the price for the Z3C. The ONLY reason i see for you to switch to the Z3C is really the footprint/size and only then when it really, really annoys you. I would never go back and consider myself having found the perfect size in a smartphone with the Z3C.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah the problem is in my country there is no such thing as "new replacement" (we have weak to non existent consumer protection law). Everything is going to be repaired if possible, even 1 weeks old item. My repair is still covered under warranty, but the problem is loca technician works are sloppy, this is not isolated to HTC, I have experienced this kind of service with various official brand-name repair shop (laptop, tv, phone). In fact my HTC one is returned with a faulty volume button, just yesterday. (I kinda have predicted something like this would happen). So I have to return it back for re-repair.
I hope you get the idea, say if If I wait for Z4 compact I'm honestly afraid if my One decided to act up again in the future (which is likely thanks to imperfect repair job). The repair cost would diminish the resale value! So better be safe than worry, get a new phone, be it lower spec but I have peace in mind.
I can't agree more with using a phone one handedly and doing another things with the other hand. That said I can handle One with one hand just fine.
It isn't terribly nice coming from a good screen to less than good screen, IMO. Regarding speakers in some emulated console game such as Pokemon and Zelda, music and FX are awesome elements.. so nice speaker is nice
--
Everyone, thanks for the input.. more or less I get the picture of the pros and cons. Anything else I should know before I bite the bullet?
I think you are good to go. I also think you wont notice the "downgrade"as regards certain aspects as screen and speakers except in described scenarios. Ignoring the Ir blaster issue of course. Get Nova launcher to get rid of the Sony ui, get a tempered glass Front screen protector a magnetic charger (the "annoying " flap opening for charging was not discussed) and a micro sdcard if you need it and you will be fine. And ensure your phone is water proof with the pressure Sensor Test right when you get your new phone. At least that's what I would do.
Would be Nice to hear your impressions afterwards (since I think you already made up your mind about the switch )
no regrets (almost...)
The M7's display is still one of the best. I definitely notice a difference, but the Z3c's is sharp enough that I dont miss the extra pixels. The Sony's DPI is better than my Nexus 7 (2013), which is more than fine for me.
Metal v. Plastic, meh, I prefer that the Z3c doesn't have the sharp edges of the M7. The Sony feels MUCH more comfortable in-hand. As for durability, just don't drop it and you'll be fine
I do miss the IR blaster, but I only used it occasionally. Besides, I have a Harmony, so I'm ok with the loss. You might not be though!
The Sony's speakers are really good, even great, but the M7's are in a different class. On my Sony, the speakers are close to if not as loud as my M7, but the M7 is definitely clearer, with more bass. However, I rarely listen through the speakers. In most situations there are others around me, plus earphones are just so much better anyway, so not a big deal for me.
For me, the SD slot of the Z3c outweighs the better speakers and screen on the M7. 16 gigs is enough for my music and apps. I use a 64 gig card for videos/photos. Feels great! I know the M8 has an SD slot too, but it's just too big for me.
Another big thing for me is the waterproof rating. With kids, being able to take pictures anytime, anywhere is a huge benefit. Now, I can do it with my phone instead of having to carry a waterproof camera.
The only regret I have after making the switch, is that the M7's flashlight app is better, with the 3 brightness levels. Seriously. That's it. For everything else, I'm loving my Z3c!

Headphone jack on bottom

How do you guys like the movement of the headphone jack to the bottom? I've had an HD2 (bottom) and S2 & S4 (top). I prefer it to be on the top, because it's easier to handle the phone with headphones plugged in. I just got a LG G4, which I'm probably going to return for a number of reasons, the headphone jack location being one of them. When holding the G4 with headphones, I find the weight of the phone partially supported by the headphone connector, making it clumsy to hold. It also concerns me that the jack will suffer wear and tear as a result. I'm considering replacing the G4 with either an S5 or S6, but now that I look at the S6, it's got the jack in pretty much the same spot as the G4. Anyone find this problematic? The HD2 wasn't too bad because the jack was almost in the center, unlike the far left location on the G4 and S6. Thanks!
I had it on my g3 and actually prefer it on the bottom so it was a nice surprise to see samsung did it. Cord management is much easer when it's on the bottom, plus when I'm web surfing or texting while listening to music it gives my little finger a place to rest. I don't see how the jack being on the bottom changes it being supported by a cable or not, isn't that all to do with how long said cable is?
I prefer it on the bottom, because it suits my style of using the phone.
Jack on the bottom works better for pant pocket storage.
I wear pants that have a pocket on the leg that I put my phone in. The phone goes in upside down, so if I am using headphones, the jack sticks out the pocket.
Jack on the bottom works better with window mount phone holder.
I use a window mount phone holder while driving. I have an older radio, so if I want to listen to Pandora Radio I have to use the Auxiliary jack to get audio in to the car.
Muffin-Factory said:
I prefer it on the bottom, because it suits my style of using the phone.
Jack on the bottom works better for pant pocket storage.
I wear pants that have a pocket on the leg that I put my phone in. The phone goes in upside down, so if I am using headphones, the jack sticks out the pocket.
Jack on the bottom works better with window mount phone holder.
I use a window mount phone holder while driving. I have an older radio, so if I want to listen to Pandora Radio I have to use the Auxiliary jack to get audio in to the car.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point about pocket storage, it's nice to not have to change how you're holding the phone before slipping it in. I use the normal front pockets and put it in probably the same way you do with your cargo pockets.
What about a Sony Z3?
se1000 said:
What about a Sony Z3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was under the impression that the Z3 has a locked bootloader, which would make it a no-go for me.
hella356 said:
I was under the impression that the Z3 has a locked bootloader, which would make it a no-go for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does but you can root it and install TWRP without having the bootloader unlocked. Plus the stock rom is pretty close to AOSP.
se1000 said:
It does but you can root it and install TWRP without having the bootloader unlocked. Plus the stock rom is pretty close to AOSP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. The Z3 looks like a sweet rig, lots of good features. I've spent the last 36 hours using the LG G4, which I'm returning. It's the first phone I've owned that has soft keys as opposed to the hard/capacitive buttons that Samsung uses, and for me, Samsung's implementation is far superior, in an area that gets constant usage. I hadn't realized what a big selling point this is to me. And the wide expanse of custom ROMs, kernels, etc. that get developed for their flagships makes Samsung the only real option for me. So it's between the S5 & the 128GB S6; each has big advantages, including the headphone jack location. I'm hoping the more rounded corners of the S6 (compared to the G4) make the bottom jack easier to deal with. It's not a deal killer, but it's one more item in my S5 column.
hella356 said:
Thanks for the info. The Z3 looks like a sweet rig, lots of good features. I've spent the last 36 hours using the LG G4, which I'm returning. It's the first phone I've owned that has soft keys as opposed to the hard/capacitive buttons that Samsung uses, and for me, Samsung's implementation is far superior, in an area that gets constant usage. I hadn't realized what a big selling point this is to me. And the wide expanse of custom ROMs, kernels, etc. that get developed for their flagships makes Samsung the only real option for me. So it's between the S5 & the 128GB S6; each has big advantages, including the headphone jack location. I'm hoping the more rounded corners of the S6 (compared to the G4) make the bottom jack easier to deal with. It's not a deal killer, but it's one more item in my S5 column.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if you don't mind loosing removables go with the s6. I don't care what anyone says the S6 is much better than the s5 especially the camera and fingerprint sensor.
ThePagel said:
Well if you don't mind loosing removables go with the s6. I don't care what anyone says the S6 is much better than the s5 especially the camera and fingerprint sensor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those are some big things to lose, which makes the 128GB version the only sensible choice for my storage needs, which makes it $300 more than the S5. Ouch. I'll probably limp along with my slightly damaged S4 until the S6 prices drop a bit. I jumped on the G4 because of the huge freebies, but I can live with the S4 a little longer.
hella356 said:
It's the first phone I've owned that has soft keys as opposed to the hard/capacitive buttons that Samsung uses, and for me, Samsung's implementation is far superior, in an area that gets constant usage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually agree with you here, I prefer capacitive buttons and I like the back button on the right. We're both going to get kicked off of XDA. haha

DIY Moto Keyboard Mod

After the Livermorium keyboard mod finally failed, I got to work to create something myself, using my trusty 3D printer.
As a basis I am using an generic mini bluetooth keyboard. This thing comes under a variety of names, one of which is Jelly Comb IBK-26IM, but there are a lot of other names for this thing. Additionally to the full six-row keyboard (including dedicated rows for numbers and F-keys and keys like alt, ctrl, esc or shift) it also offers a mediocre touchpad for mouse control.
In the current iteration I only use a 3D printed clamp that connects the keyboard to the smartphone. This is a very simplistic approach but already this is a lot better than only using a touch keyboard.
I made a version that used laptop hinges from an old laptop to fold the keyboard to the back of the phone when not used (Motorola Backflip style), but the laptop hinges were way to strong. So I am currently working on a design using 3D-printed adjustible-strength torque hinges. I am thinking of making a double-hinged design that allows the keyboard to be folded both over the front (laptop style) and the back (Motorola Backflip style), so it can protect the keys and display when stored, and still be used in landscape with the keyboard out and in portrait mode with the keyboard folded to the back of the phone.
These designs I am working on will replace the back plate of the keyboard to reduce the thickness of the whole thing. I am also thinking about adding lead weights to the bottom of the keyboard to balance the top-heavyness, which is an issue, though surprisingly not a major one.
I also made a clamp to connect the smartphone with a Playstation 3 or XBox One controller.
Is anyone interested in either 3D-print files or 3D-printed parts for this? I can adjust the clamp part to work with about every smartphone.
Instead of putting lead weights.. try design it to have a kick stand.
BTW, it awesome for your work so far. Please continue and update here the improvements.
I would love to have one if all fit - slim - easy and most of all, work out perfectly...
Thanks for the interest and the feedback!
Where would you put the kickstand?
I have been using the clamp for a while now. It works pretty nicely. I am not sure if a joint is entirely necessary, since I can just pop the phone out of the clamp if I don't need the keyboard. I will build and test it though, just to see if it is an improvement.
A nice project. :good:
Though there already exists some clamshell variants like the Gemini and the Cosmo
My interest is primarily in a slider - though of course your solution is much better than touch-only.
I have my hopes up high for the "Q-device" hinted at e.g. here and until more news on that, i'm using a Snap-On keyboard for the Samsung S8- (Unfortunately it does not work completely on S9-, see this https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s9/accessories/keyboard-cover-s8-modified-s9-t3841101
ADD:
Just an Idea, depending on how the 3D-print and the hinge is joined. It could be nice if the two 3D-parts meet, and had some suitable cut-ins so it 'snapped' in place at a couple of angles. e.g. closed, open 120 degrees and open 180 degrees.
And If you can get hold of hinges like the Lenovo Yoga, it would be clever if it could bend over and stay in a couple of more angles, including 360 too...
Thank you!
The hinged version isn't actually a clamshell since it does not close with the display and the keyboard on the inside, but rather on the outside. Compared to a clamshell device this does not offer any protection for the screen and the keyboard, but it allows using the display in portrait mode without having the keyboard dangle off to one side. A double-hinged design would allow for both, closing it like a clamshell and also folding the keyboard to the backside.
I would prefer a slider as well, since it is a middle ground between both designs. The keyboard is protected and the screen is not, but you can still use the device in portrait mode. I have two problems with a slider design, though. First, I haven't found any 3D-printable (or cheap and very small buyable) sliding mechanisms. Second, because the sliding mechanism needs to attach to the top of the keyboard, I cannot build it into the back of the keyboard as I am doing with the folding mechanism. The back half of the keyboard is virtually empty and also the shape is pretty simple. So for the folding mechanism I am just going to replace that back half, thus saving a lot of thickness.
I attached renders of the backflip mechanism. Two of the renders show the device in the folded state, with the keyboard being on top, keys facing up, and the phone being on the bottom, screen facing down. The third render shows the mechanism in the opened state. The smartphone is inserted into the thin hoop part and the top half of the keyboard is screwed onto the wider flat panel on the right.
I will post pictures as soon as I'm done printing it and got it to work.
And also, thanks a lot for posting the link at the Keyboard Mod indiegogo page!
Dakkaron said:
.
.
I attached renders of the backflip mechanism. Two of the renders show the device in the folded state, with the keyboard being on top, keys facing up, and the phone being on the bottom, screen facing down. The third render shows the mechanism in the opened state. The smartphone is inserted into the thin hoop part and the top half of the keyboard is screwed onto the wider flat panel on the right.
.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah I see, only 'backflipping'
You might consider something like this they even mention that you can request a sample, But 500 for $100 that should be enough for your immediate needs
I think I will first try it with 3D printed joints, since there I can adjust the resistance. I already tried it with other laptop hinges, but they were extremely tough, so it was impossible to fold the device without breaking something. Maybe there is something like that with adjustable torque, that would be good.
The version I am currently working on will work like the Motorola Backflip, which is where I got the term from.
Edit: @eske.rahn: I just saw your edit to the first post. Cut-ins sound interesting. I'll have to see if I can get something like that to work.
Dakkaron said:
I think I will first try it with 3D printed joints, since there I can adjust the resistance. I already tried it with other laptop hinges, but they were extremely tough, so it was impossible to fold the device without breaking something. Maybe there is something like that with adjustable torque, that would be good.
The version I am currently working on will work like the Motorola Backflip, which is where I got the term from.
Edit: @eske.rahn: I just saw your edit to the first post. Cut-ins sound interesting. I'll have to see if I can get something like that to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what the correct technical term is, perhaps "Locking hinge", what I mean is something along these lines integrated, but with a limited number of positions
https://www.yeggi.com/goto/l52hmXJ/...03endmN/Qq7Sc29yaqOXKY5nh04POrrC04a_smZusqZ2W
---------- Post added at 10:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:15 PM ----------
Dakkaron said:
I think I will first try it with 3D printed joints, since there I can adjust the resistance. I already tried it with other laptop hinges, but they were extremely tough, so it was impossible to fold the device without breaking something. Maybe there is something like that with adjustable torque, that would be good.
The version I am currently working on will work like the Motorola Backflip, which is where I got the term from.
Edit: @eske.rahn: I just saw your edit to the first post. Cut-ins sound interesting. I'll have to see if I can get something like that to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might also consider a completely different approach with the two halves always parallel, and the mechanics at the ends, like this table thing.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61PZJuntwQL._SL1500_.jpg
(sort of most primtive 'slider', and if the arms got different lengths, you can get a tilt also)
This locking hinge design looks pretty simple. Should be no problem to incorporate that into my design.
A friend of mine had a smartphone a few years with this parallel-arms-design. I can't remember what it was. I think some Samsung phone. I don't think I can make this in 3D-print in the required size... I am thinking about a real slider though. Have to see if it is possible.
I tried printing the hinged design, but I don't have a good printing direction, since neither the top nor the bottom of the keyboard half are touching the floor. I need to rework this. Didn't have much time this weekend.
slider vs hinge
i get it that a hinge is easy to implement but would it not be better to try a sliding action over the hinge since it would allow for a end design
@Dakkaron If you're going for a DIY-solution, I'd suggest modding one of the many existing QWERTY-cases for the Galaxy S4, S5 and iPhone.
Several years ago I had one of those for my S4. The problem is, these are hard to come by, unless you live in the US.
I was also a backer of the keyboard mod, actually only bought the Moto Z because of that about 1,5 years go (and then had to replace it with a Z2 Play half a year ago).
As someone who was craving a keyboard smartphone for years, this is really frustrating.
In 2016 I switched to a Blackberry Priv - up until then I had an imported Droid 4 - but the lack of root and its terrible keyboard drove me away.
A few days ago I got a Gemini PDA and while it definitely has its benefits, it's not nearly as practical as a daily driver as a slider would be.
I wish I could just find one of the lucky few who got the keyboard mod and buy it from them for a hefty price.
As someone who struggles with these highly impractical touchscreen keyboards - even after 1,5 years - I'm really frustrated.
I simply don't get why many years ago smartphone producers suddenly forced keyboard-less phones on us up to the point where most people forgot about them.
It's not like people suddenly said 'we don't want a hardware keyboard anymore', they just stopped producing models with a keyboard.
But it's not like people don't want a physical keyboard!
I still know a few that just want to have a keyboard again. And everyone who's seen my keyboard phones so far immediately responded positively to them.
It's a shame that the options for people like us are so limited.
noonebikes4free said:
i get it that a hinge is easy to implement but would it not be better to try a sliding action over the hinge since it would allow for a end design
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure a slider would be better for a SPECIFIC combo, but I guess the hinge design is easier to make more general for different types of keyboards and phablets/phones.
---------- Post added at 06:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:43 PM ----------
I'm certainly with you @Shani Ace
Personally in the waiting for a real slider, I prefer the primitive snap-on solution for e.g. the S8 as an intermediate device over a hinge design (no matter what way it folds).
(and I must admit I'm getting impatient for more information of the elusive Q device. The teaser page offers so little that it's more annoyance than tease...)
@noonebikes4free: I too would like a slider best, but I just have no idea how to make one. I have taken apart the Motorola Droid 3 and 4, so I know how their sliders work, but there is no way I can replicate that in 3D printed plastic and my metalworking skills are non-existant. So it is not a case of me being too lazy to design one, but rather one of me not having any idea how to make one. If you find a good example I'd be happy to clone it.
@Shani Ace: I was thinking about these slider cases as well, but as you mentioned, they are very hard to find. Also, they are tiny since they were designed for much smaller phones. I wanted a keyboard that would be about the same size as my phone.
I too got the Moto Z Play for the keyboard mod. Quite a disappointment.
I have been using the keyboard with only a snap-on clip for the last few weeks and that seems quite practical. If I need the keyboard, I snap it on. If I don't need it, I snap it off. But the clamp on the keyboard makes it a very awkward shape to carry it around. But I think I figured out a solution that is almost as good as a slider, and that's a swivel hinge (I think they are called that way). So the phone would then rotate like a Nokia Twist, but with the joint in the center of the side of the phone and it would rotate 180 degrees. That would store the keyboard the same way as on a slider, but it would be way easier to make and sturdier. Combine that with a locking swivel mechanism and easy detachability for when you only need the phone.
What fo you think?
@eske.rahn I actually used those snap-on keyboards for a while on an S6 edge and later again with a S7.
But there were a few downsides which made me switch again:
* no backlight
* it limits screen size significantly (I countered that by reducing the DPI, but still...)
* the display ratio is wierd (some apps didn't scale that well, you have to scroll a lot)
* while the keys were definitely better than those of the BB Priv, they were still not nearly as good as on classic sliders like the Droid 4
@Dakkaron I had to fiddle around a lot with those keyboard cases (something would constantly fall apart, usually the springs) and their mechanism seemed quite simple. Although maybe that was the reason why they weren't stable enough for daily usage, who knows.
From what I remember, the pictures and campaign updates for the moto keyboard mod were quite similar though.
If you scroll down to the section titled "Sliding Mechanism" here, you can still see the pictures of it. Maybe that helps?
Personally, I'm not a fan of swivel mechanisms (also don't need to detach).
Then I'd rather go with a flip (like your current one) or clamshell (Gemini) design, but don't particularly like those either.
Problem is, the Gemini PDA is somewhat impractical when you're on the go. You can't really open it one-handed and the keyboard is so huge (and not backlit) that you end up having to look at it while typing and you need to be a real finger acrobat to input certain symbols.
I was just tempted to buy a Droid 4 or Photon Q off ebay again, but then I remembered they don't support LTE over here...
Guess I really have to wait a few more months. I just hope the q-device will actually make it to a full product.
@Dakkaron and @Shani Ace at least the snap on can be clicked on the back too. (and on the S8 even as a camera protector) But I tend to simply carry the keyboard in the shirt-pocket, as it is so light. And yes the lack of backlight is really bad - especially as they do not have a mode where the software keyboard layout is identical to the hardware one, and this really confuses my memory... It would cost virtually NOTHING for them to offer as an optional layout, and would make it so much simpler to switch, depending on the length of the text we need to enter.
Note that the S8 is much more suited for this than the S6, as the native display is so extremely elongated.
And sure the snap-on is not really a solution. But it is tolerable workaround for some months, until we hopefully get a Q-device. :angel:
(And it is REALLY cumbersome to use in real-life in Danish, the frequently used national letters are a little hard to get, and it does not interact well with the word-prediction/spellchecker - and unfortunately they are VERY common in Danish)
Oh, I thought the S7 was the last device to get that keyboard cover. Guess I mistook the S9 for the S8. ^^
But now I remember another downside: it didn work with custom roms. Has that situation improved with the S8?
If so, that might actually be worth a try, at least for a few months.
I was one of the keyboard mod backers and now I will get the same bluetooth keyboard as you have. So please keep us informed
I found a simple approach with an attachable cover. I'm thinking of adding a simple slide-out mechanism to the back of a cheap case.
Snoere said:
I'm thinking of adding a simple slide-out mechanism to the back of a cheap case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, if you're successful with that, would you mind posting a how-to or even do it for others (for money) as well? Btw I'm also from Germany, so shipping would not be a problem.
Snoere said:
I was one of the keyboard mod backers and now I will get the same bluetooth keyboard as you have. So please keep us informed
I found a simple approach with an attachable cover. I'm thinking of adding a simple slide-out mechanism to the back of a cheap case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually you can get better solutions for the aPple Iphone6. See e.g. https://eskerahn.dk/wordpress/?p=554
But BE AWARE though standard BT keyboards works on Iphones, many Iphone keyboards does NOT work on standard phones/phablets...:silly:
I know it's a little off-topic, but @eske.rahn Mind answering my question from before (I guess it wasn't really clear, my bad)?
You said you were using the S8 with the keyboard cover. Does that still limited you to stock-based ROMs or is there a solution to use the keyboard cover with other ROMs (like RR, Lineage etc.) as well?
I just got an S7 and the keyboard cover will arrive in a few days, so I'm prepping everything right now to turn it into my daily driver until the q-device is released.

Categories

Resources