Related
UPDATE! Unfortunately my note 4 took a fall and landed on a jagged rock (serves me right for holding it in my mouth using the flashlight) - Anyway, I ended up finding a (like new) LG V20 for $300 USD (It's big but I had to make a sacrifice) It was very hard to decide over the mate 9, oneplus 3t and the V20. Because I got it at a reasonably low price it won't be much of a loss at resale if I decide on something else, especially as something is always right around the corner.
UPDATE COMPARISON BETWEEN LG V20 AND NOTE 4
Impressions about the LG V20 after 2 weeks in comparison to the Note 4.
What is better?
Performance is snappier on the V20 (for obvious reasons)
The screen looks more detailed and sharper (even though they both have the same resolution I think the LCD tech is better in this instance IMO)
The device is easier to hold (I really didn't think a small reduction in width could be so noticeable)
The second display is very useful for launching recent apps and using it to launch flashlight while the screen is off is very handy
Battery life is very similar (I average 5 hours of SOT over 24 hour period) - This is a tie but considering people would constantly rant about poor battery life I had to mention it
Although I don't use headphones often you really can tell the difference when using high level cups
The cameras are much better for enthusiasts. You also have a lot of options that are usually only seen in actual cameras (focus peaking, advanced manual modes etc)
What is not?
Loudspeaker and earpiece are deeper but sound less detailed and clear (even after removing the speaker grille from the chin). If you rely heavily on listening to podcasts or anything else where plain vocals are concerned than this will be a bit of an adjustment for you
There are so many different model variants that development is far less than I originally read in to (almost to the point where I am prepared to look for another phone)
I really do miss having physical keys (I am getting used to it, though)
Overall I am not disappointed in the actual device or it's capabilities in comparison to the Note 4. I could definitely forgive the little things I don't like if it had a stronger community. I will see how it goes over the next few months
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I'm really struggling to replace my note 4. Don't get me wrong, you can get better handsets, but not a big enough leap for me to make the switch. For example I will list the features that I require in a list from most important to least important features.
1. Community/company development
2. Screen size to body ratio (NON CURVED) (Critical. I want a smaller phone but with still at least a 5.5" display)
3. Capacitive/Physical buttons. (Heavily preferred but open minded to change if everything else is perfect)
4. Large removable battery (Open minded to change)
5. Micro SD and IR Blaster (These aren't deal breakers)
Obviously the rest of the phone would need to have higher internal specs etc, else it wouldn't be an upgrade!
The closest i can find is the
Oneplus 3T (But it unfortunately is a similar size with smaller screen)
LG V20 (Quite bigger than Note 4)
Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus (Little bit taller than Note 4 and unsure about future dev)
Mi Mix (Much bigger and poor camera but this type of design really caught my eye)
Without reducing screen size it's really hard to find anything that ticks every box by a large enough margin to make it feel worth it to me. What are your thoughts? Do you have any advice or do you feel the same way?
I'm kind of in the same boat. I think I'm gonna go with the One Plus 3T, I like how the community looks and One Plus also look like a decent company. Another Samsung isn't an option for me as this will be my last.
My Note 4 has developed the lag, freeze and reboot issue that many have reported, so it's either stick with the workaround of the partial wakelock which hammers the battery life or get a new phone (struggling to find replacement mobo's here in the UK). My last 3 phones have been Samsung and all were bought used but this is the first that's developed a major problem.
So I'm with you guys in wondering what to go for. Something around 5.5 inches with an sd slot a removable battery and a solid camera are my main concerns.
Ideally I'd like a removable battery as it's amazing when I'm travelling (and I travel a lot). What would be the best alternative_A powerbank with quickcharge 2.0?
woldranger said:
My Note 4 has developed the lag, freeze and reboot issue that many have reported, so it's either stick with the workaround of the partial wakelock which hammers the battery life or get a new phone (struggling to find replacement mobo's here in the UK). My last 3 phones have been Samsung and all were bought used but this is the first that's developed a major problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unexpected reboots/shutdowns can be due to degraded/dying battery,
freezes/lags (tried to flash from 0?) due to the EMMC is about to fail.
i'm in the same boat, but i want at least:
a 6-6.2 inch screen with minimum to no bezels,
635 CPU with 6GB (to be a substantial upgrade)
removable battery.
our note 4 fits 6.4 inch bezelless display (sacrificing home button), so it's perfectly viable.
i guess, we should wait 3 more months till S8 and other options will come out, that promise to be bezelless. Xiaomi Mi Mix did the job, now everybody wants such a phone. At the moment, i see no options to buy either.
lisbon2004 said:
unexpected reboots/shutdowns can be due to degraded/dying battery,
freezes/lags (tried to flash from 0?) due to the EMMC is about to fail.
i'm in the same boat, but i want at least:
a 6-6.2 inch screen with minimum to no bezels,
635 CPU with 6GB (to be a substantial upgrade)
removable battery.
our note 4 fits 6.4 inch bezelless display (sacrificing home button), so it's perfectly viable.
i guess, we should wait 3 more months till S8 and other options will come out, that promise to be bezelless. Xiaomi Mi Mix did the job, now everybody wants such a phone. At the moment, i see no options to buy either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got 3 different batteries including an Anker one that's only a couple of months old so I dont think it can be that.
What did you mean, flash from 0?
I'm using this Note 7 rom based on aurora 3.1
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/general/note7-port-n910f-standm-aurora-base-t3500338/page1
Before I installed it, I flashed the latest stock rom with odin to get updated base and modems (sammobile) for 910F version.
After that Flashed twrp, did three consecutive wipes in twrp (incl data to clean internal memory) and then flashed the note 7 rom.
Did take a very long time to boot, but that's normal.
If roms don't boot, it's probably because of the bootloader or base not compatible with rom.
Used a couple of kernels, and the best one so far is the latest Xceed test build (N910FG-MM-Test-bld4k.zip) and set it on conservative for food battery.
Absolutely love the rom, no problems at all for me. Makes the note 4 look up to date again.
sebas_tytn2 said:
I'm using this Note 7 rom based on aurora 3.1
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/general/note7-port-n910f-standm-aurora-base-t3500338/page1
Before I installed it, I flashed the latest stock rom with odin to get updated base and modems (sammobile) for 910F version.
After that Flashed twrp, did three consecutive wipes in twrp (incl data to clean internal memory) and then flashed the note 7 rom.
Did take a very long time to boot, but that's normal.
If roms don't boot, it's probably because of the bootloader or base not compatible with rom.
Used a couple of kernels, and the best one so far is the latest Xceed test build (N910FG-MM-Test-bld4k.zip) and set it on conservative for food battery.
Absolutely love the rom, no problems at all for me. Makes the note 4 look up to date again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry, but I'm a tad confused as to how this relates to the "new phone" in this topic. If it's how you fixed the Lag/restart debacle then I'm in your debt....
woldranger said:
I'm sorry, but I'm a tad confused as to how this relates to the "new phone" in this topic. If it's how you fixed the Lag/restart debacle then I'm in your debt....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah I posted in the wrong thread
Welcome on board. Have the same problem. My contract ends now and I've completely no idea where to go now. List of phones which I could get isn't too great. Huawei P9, Samsung S7, HTC 10 or Sony X. Naah. In the end I will probably just buy something but still it's hard to find for me a decent replacement for Note 4. Thought about Pixel but a quick look at the price tag and bam we are far,far away.
On another hand, LG looks interesting. G5 or V20. Especially the G5 with add-ons capability, but I'm not sure would it be an upgrade or just simple change.
woldranger said:
I've got 3 different batteries including an Anker one that's only a couple of months old so I dont think it can be that.
What did you mean, flash from 0?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
from scratch, with complete full wipes before/after, and using a service ROM (with everything included).
Yoshiktk said:
Welcome on board. Have the same problem. My contract ends now and I've completely no idea where to go now. List of phones which I could get isn't too great. Huawei P9, Samsung S7, HTC 10 or Sony X. Naah. In the end I will probably just buy something but still it's hard to find for me a decent replacement for Note 4. Thought about Pixel but a quick look at the price tag and bam we are far,far away.
On another hand, LG looks interesting. G5 or V20. Especially the G5 with add-ons capability, but I'm not sure would it be an upgrade or just simple change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a tough choice between those handsets!
uppon2 said:
That's a tough choice between those handsets!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did spend like whole Sunday looking at different phones, Youtube vids, reviews etc. but still don't see anything claiming the top spot to replace Note. In the end I did just order new battery and Ill just wait till 2017 to see what will show up.
A perfect replacement for a Note 4 is a Note 4S, better spec with a decent fingerprint scanner, LOL if only Samsung thought of that. You guys should wait till after CES 2017, it's in February (CMIIW) there should be new phones out afterwards. The only worthy replacement thus far is either the S7 Edge or V20 IMHO.
This rumoured smaller Mi mix looks interesting. Next year will be the year they perfect screen to body ratio! http://m.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_mix_nano-8439.php
uchihakurtz said:
A perfect replacement for a Note 4 is a Note 4S, better spec with a decent fingerprint scanner, LOL if only Samsung thought of that. You guys should wait till after CES 2017, it's in February (CMIIW) there should be new phones out afterwards. The only worthy replacement thus far is either the S7 Edge or V20 IMHO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mobile World Congress in February is another one to watch for
uppon2 said:
Mobile World Congress in February is another one to watch for
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sweet mother of God, MWC is actually the one on February (27 - 2 Mar) and CES is on the 5 - 8 of January. Wow gotta save up some cash for mid March.
Yoshiktk said:
Welcome on board. Have the same problem. My contract ends now and I've completely no idea where to go now. List of phones which I could get isn't too great. Huawei P9, Samsung S7, HTC 10 or Sony X. Naah. In the end I will probably just buy something but still it's hard to find for me a decent replacement for Note 4. Thought about Pixel but a quick look at the price tag and bam we are far,far away.
On another hand, LG looks interesting. G5 or V20. Especially the G5 with add-ons capability, but I'm not sure would it be an upgrade or just simple change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thought about that this morning...being a huge LG fan in the past, I have to say I'm quite disappointed with the G5.
V20 is a beast I've heard but don't know if the G5 would be that big a leap from your Note 4.
I'd probably say the Oneplus 3T or hold out for S8 Edge
---------- Post added at 01:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:00 PM ----------
Yoshiktk said:
I did spend like whole Sunday looking at different phones, Youtube vids, reviews etc. but still don't see anything claiming the top spot to replace Note. In the end I did just order new battery and Ill just wait till 2017 to see what will show up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doing the exact same thing lol
I guess that's a great problem to have...Samsung overbuilt the Note 4 in 2014....now its hard to find a replacement lol
Thats true. For me personally Note 4 is so well made and tailored that I would be happy to stay with it forever. Ticks all the boxes, and thats the problem for me.
Lg G5 is nice but lacks something to convince to change. V20 on another hand is tempting. I really like the idea with second wide angle lens. If nothing jumps till march I will give Lg a go.
Yoshiktk said:
Thats true. For me personally Note 4 is so well made and tailored that I would be happy to stay with it forever. Ticks all the boxes, and thats the problem for me.
Lg G5 is nice but lacks something to convince to change. V20 on another hand is tempting. I really like the idea with second wide angle lens. If nothing jumps till march I will give Lg a go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
don't forget about the EMMC time bomb, and it's low performance (read/write speed).
also, it could be time to upgrade to a faster, more efficient chipset with a modem of a higher LTE Category, and more bands.
lisbon2004 said:
don't forget about the EMMC time bomb, and it's low performance (read/write speed).
also, it could be time to upgrade to a faster, more efficient chipset with a modem of a higher LTE Category, and more bands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine just started showing the EMMC issue's. No luck at the end of year. The only option for me is S7. The best choice from what I can get from my provider, not much too choose from.
I've lately been looking at the Mi Mix, and must say it it much more appealing than the S8 that one will be seeing everywhere shortly.
If ordered, it will probably be used with the Epic rom or similar. English or Norwegian language.
This in mind, which version should one order, and from where? I see many advertising with "global rom" and "multilanguage" etc. but I assume this does not matter if a custom rom will be used anyway?
The 256gb 18k is the one that's interesting.
s.hafsmo said:
I've lately been looking at the Mi Mix, and must say it it much more appealing than the S8 that one will be seeing everywhere shortly.
If ordered, it will probably be used with the Epic rom or similar. English or Norwegian language.
This in mind, which version should one order, and from where? I see many advertising with "global rom" and "multilanguage" etc. but I assume this does not matter if a custom rom will be used anyway?
The 256gb 18k is the one that's interesting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It depends on what you will do with the device, how app-intensive is your day in the context of the number of apps you have open at any one time.
At this point though, there is little to no reason not to go for the 6Gb RAM/256Gb Storage version.
The Mix has good roms now (RR, Lineage) with no bugs, so if you're thinking about going that way, then the stock rom doesn't matter.
I would recommend going for having the Global rom when you're buying. Why? Because all devices are factory flashed with the chinese roms, but if you want a global one, then the vendor will take care of unlocking the device & they usually leave it that way, without bothering re-locking it again.
This means that you can flash from day 1 & don't need to bother applying for unlock permissions.
adwinp said:
It depends on what you will do with the device, how app-intensive is your day in the context of the number of apps you have open at any one time.
At this point though, there is little to no reason not to go for the 6Gb RAM/256Gb Storage version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My apologies for not being specific in my original post. I'll be getting the 256gb Mi Mix, and was attempting to refer to which rom version to choose.
You did however answer that as well, which is much appreciated. Then I'll be looking for one with the global rom.
Have anyone ordered from Goldway on Ali? Lots of places sell these, but I'm not sure which are legit.
If you're in the USA I have an extra new 256Gb version I have decided to sell, was keeping it as a back up in case my daily Mix failed but have since decided I'd rather not have the money tied up in two Mi Mixes.
I'm in Norway, but shipping across the pond isn't that bad with USPS. Send me a PM with model details and a price if you're still interested in selling.
s.hafsmo said:
I see many advertising with "global rom" and "multilanguage" etc.
The 256gb 18k is the one that's interesting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
global rom supports multilanguage, google play etc
6GB /256GB ... get an untampered one with the Chinese rom, unlock it your self and root it yourself then choose the rom YOU want. There are many complaints here and there about Vendor roms with adds and malware etc. Best way to avoid those is go in stock [Chinese] and do the work yourself to root and rom it.
Thanks! Would you be able to recommend a site where I could acquire one? I see most on Ali (recommended sellers) have the global rom.
I'm also looking to get one, what site do you guys recommend and how much should it be going for these days?
romors666 said:
If you're in the USA I have an extra new 256Gb version I have decided to sell, was keeping it as a back up in case my daily Mix failed but have since decided I'd rather not have the money tied up in two Mi Mixes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey romors666, I'm interested in your mi mix. I'm in the state. pm me for detail, thanks
I bought mine on AliExpress, including shipping to UK for 256GB model ￡430.08. I got sealed, don`t want anybody to install any ROMs on my phone. I`m not waiting for 72hrs to pass so that I can unlock bootloader and install Global ROM.
rbs_uk said:
I bought mine on AliExpress, including shipping to UK for 256GB model ￡430.08. I got sealed, don`t want anybody to install any ROMs on my phone. I`m not waiting for 72hrs to pass so that I can unlock bootloader and install Global ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you like it so far? I wish it had nfc so i could use Android pay
I`m loving it. Side by side with S7, S7 looks like garbage. Its like Ford Fiesta vs Bentley
It has NFC and Android Pay in the Global ROM.
I paid £435 from geekbuying no other fee to pay amazing phone this one is a keeper for sure a iconic phone.That screen is just in your face it will turn heads.
I can only agree with above. Whoever sees this phone, they all are wooow, what is this ?! Who makes this, Apple?
Best phone I have ever owned purely due to quality of screen. Switched to EE network from Vodafone - zero issues with data/internet, quite fast.
I'm in the US, just purchased mine off Swappa. Hardware is incredible, but software is pretty bad. Miui lacks a lot of features I've grown to expect from Nougat phones (safetynet, split screen, double click recent to go to last app, nav bar that doesn't look awful, quick reply inside notifications, ambient display, etc).
Resurrection Remix is very close to being done. Only real issue left is a 2 second delay between when you click power button/double tap to wake/hit fingerprint sensor until screen turns on. MIUI is lightning fast, so it's definitely just software issue that can hopefully get fixed. Everything else is rock solid on RR, and it even passes safetynet. Once this wakeup lag gets fixed, phone will be perfect.
xxBrun0xx said:
I'm in the US, just purchased mine off Swappa. Hardware is incredible, but software is pretty bad. Miui lacks a lot of features I've grown to expect from Nougat phones (safetynet, split screen, double click recent to go to last app, nav bar that doesn't look awful, quick reply inside notifications, ambient display, etc).
Resurrection Remix is very close to being done. Only real issue left is a 2 second delay between when you click power button/double tap to wake/hit fingerprint sensor until screen turns on. MIUI is lightning fast, so it's definitely just software issue that can hopefully get fixed. Everything else is rock solid on RR, and it even passes safetynet. Once this wakeup lag gets fixed, phone will be perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 2 seconds delay is not likely to be addressed so just get it anyway lol
Will this device work on Verizon, if it does will I be able to get 4glte? I live in KY.
CyanogenMOD 6.0.1
Render Kernel= Insane Battery Life
Time to buy something much newer than I had, but I'm not spending four digits. I'm strongly considering the Note 9 but don't know about its longevity at this point. Do you think the Note 9 still has plenty of mileage left?
I just bought an Ocean Blue Exynos 512GB Note9 2.5 months ago. Had an S5 for 5 years before it. The phone's amazing. I'd advise you to get the 512GB version as that model comes with 8GB RAM instead of 6. I constantly have 15 to 20 open apps in memory and unless the app is designed to refresh after a certain period of time, I never have app refreshes caused by low memory or Android killing my apps.
On Android 10 OneUI 2.0 I can safely get 8 hours of screen on time without any attempt to save my battery life. All my apps and system are with dark mode turned on though but I don't consider this an attempt at saving battery life as I've always preferred dark themes over lighter ones anyway.
Games like Asphalt 9 run with no issues at all, just the battery temperature rises to 40C if you play it for 1 hour nonstop. I'm not a gamer so that doesn't bother me at all as I rarely play it.
Finally, the Note9 gets monthly security updates and it will get OneUI 2.1 in June. That will most likely be its last major update though but if you don't really care for having Android 11 it's no problem at all as the phone is full of features anyway.
If you have any questions feel free to ask here and I'll respond. If you don't mind telling, what phone did/do you have?
One and only answer is -
Yes. Absolutely. Yes.
After one year with the N9,a great device without problems,i would buy a Note 10+....
O's said:
Time to buy something much newer than I had, but I'm not spending four digits. I'm strongly considering the Note 9 but don't know about its longevity at this point. Do you think the Note 9 still has plenty of mileage left?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Few more months we will have note20. At that time note10/10+ will lower the price. If it were me, i would wait...
yaibakt said:
Few more months we will have note20. At that time note10/10+ will lower the price. If it were me, i would wait...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But the Note9 is better than the Note10. It has more features.
koragg97 said:
I just bought an Ocean Blue Exynos 512GB Note9 2.5 months ago. Had an S5 for 5 years before it. The phone's amazing. I'd advise you to get the 512GB version as that model comes with 8GB RAM instead of 6. I constantly have 15 to 20 open apps in memory and unless the app is designed to refresh after a certain period of time, I never have app refreshes caused by low memory or Android killing my apps.
On Android 10 OneUI 2.0 I can safely get 8 hours of screen on time without any attempt to save my battery life. All my apps and system are with dark mode turned on though but I don't consider this an attempt at saving battery life as I've always preferred dark themes over lighter ones anyway.
Games like Asphalt 9 run with no issues at all, just the battery temperature rises to 40C if you play it for 1 hour nonstop. I'm not a gamer so that doesn't bother me at all as I rarely play it.
Finally, the Note9 gets monthly security updates and it will get OneUI 2.1 in June. That will most likely be its last major update though but if you don't really care for having Android 11 it's no problem at all as the phone is full of features anyway.
If you have any questions feel free to ask here and I'll respond. If you don't mind telling, what phone did/do you have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All great to know. I'm coming from Note 4.
It seems the Note 9's reached root finally, while the Note 10 hasn't. I don't see virtually any ROMs in the N10 forum. That's another reason I'm leaning N9. I'd bet it'll get Android 11 thanks to devs here.
manne48 said:
After one year with the N9,a great device without problems,i would buy a Note 10+....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, for what reasons?
yaibakt said:
Few more months we will have note20. At that time note10/10+ will lower the price. If it were me, i would wait...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm still a corded headphone user, so the Note 9's 3.5mm jack really calls to me. Also, if I went Note 10, I'd want the 5G variant for futureproofing, and by then I'm still approaching four-digit pricing, even with the N20 coming. But I might still get the 10. Tell me: Keeping in mind that specs don't mean as much now as they used to, what makes the Note 10 better aside from just being one generation newer?
koragg97 said:
But the Note9 is better than the Note10. It has more features.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? Please elaborate.
Personally, I don't think I'd recommend a Note 9 in mid 2020. With the device already 2 years old, who knows when Samsung will stop supporting it (in otherwords, sending out security updates). Furthermore, we also don't know what the last Android version is that we as Note 9 users will see. Lets say we're not eligible for an Android 11 update, we're screwed. The US variant's bootloader is locked, therefore we're unable to load any custom ROMs, much less an Android 11 (or higher) based ROM.
Now if you only want a device that works just fine, well, my Note 9 works just fine and two years later, still handles everything I throw at it. I just wish I could root it, throw on a custom ROM and still use it as a daily driver. There's one particular app I want to use (Viper4Android), that fixed my Bluetooth issues in my former device (Note 4), but the issue (being audio quality) still plagues my Note 9. Too bad my Note 4 was in such sad shape and barely able to run because of outdated hardware, otherwise I would still be on it or the root access.
O's said:
Really? Please elaborate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note9 has iris scanner, heart rate monitor, no hole on the front, has a headphone jack, has a LED notification light, the speakers are better than the Note10's (this is proven, can't give link now though), the power button is on the right side and the rear design, for me, looks way better than the newer models. Oh yeah, also the physical fingerprint scanner is way better than the in-screen one. Not to mention that you can get the 512GB storage version for half the price of the 512GB storage version of the Note10+. Force home press is also there on Note9 only.
---------- Post added at 10:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------
JOSHSKORN said:
Personally, I don't think I'd recommend a Note 9 in mid 2020. With the device already 2 years old, who knows when Samsung will stop supporting it (in otherwords, sending out security updates). Furthermore, we also don't know what the last Android version is that we as Note 9 users will see. Lets say we're not eligible for an Android 11 update, we're screwed. The US variant's bootloader is locked, therefore we're unable to load any custom ROMs, much less an Android 11 (or higher) based ROM.
Now if you only want a device that works just fine, well, my Note 9 works just fine and two years later, still handles everything I throw at it. I just wish I could root it, throw on a custom ROM and still use it as a daily driver. There's one particular app I want to use (Viper4Android), that fixed my Bluetooth issues in my former device (Note 4), but the issue (being audio quality) still plagues my Note 9. Too bad my Note 4 was in such sad shape and barely able to run because of outdated hardware, otherwise I would still be on it or the root access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the OP doesn't think that updates are the most important thing in a phone (which they're definitely not), then I don't see how that's a problem. If from all of the current Note9 features he doesn't see anything that he may want missing then updates don't matter for him. And why would we be screwed if we don't get Android 11? Note9 has had Android 8.1, Android 9, Android 10 OneUI 2.0 and soon it's getting Android 10 OneUI 2.1. I'd say that's quite a lot + it seems like Android 11 is not a major update so no new features as of now.
I'm talking about the international unlocked Exynos version btw, it has root, bootloader is unlocked and there are many custom ROMs. My advice - never buy a career branded phone. That's when you'll be really screwed xd
---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 AM ----------
About root and custom ROM stuff, it's not worth it anymore in my opinion. You lose more things than you gain. If you root you lose Secure Folder and Samsung Pay and maybe Samsung Health forever. Even if some of those can be brought back, it's a hassle. The stock OneUI ROM has many of the root-only features from the past built into it. Also I was very surprised that thanks to Dolby Atmos I didn't need nor want Viper4Android anymore I've been using V4A on both my S3 Mini and S5 before, I also rooted the S3 Mini very early after having it and the S5 on the same day as I got it so you could say I was a tinkering kind of guy But with the Note9 that changed as it has everything I'd ever want out of the box.
I bought the last 2 new note 9 from Samsung directly through there Ebay store one still in the box never opened both for 349 each let's just say I got a good deal for the price I had note 10+ for 3 days and returned it didn't care for it much. Quality isnt the same and that hole punch is obnoxious to me.
As a Note 9 user, I would say YES. But not the 6GB variant, although it is sufficient for daily use but 8GB variant is the ideal choice. With 4000mAh battery, Iris Scanner, No punch hole display, I would say if is worth to buy unless you prioritize OS updates .
fun4357 said:
As a Note 9 user, I would say YES. But not the 6GB variant, although it is sufficient for daily use but 8GB variant is the ideal choice. With 4000mAh battery, Iris Scanner, No punch hole display, I would say if is worth to buy unless you prioritize OS updates .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree with the above!!!:good:
I would. I have a N960U Special Edition with 512GB internal storage and 8GB Ram. I have recently downgraded the OS from Android 10 back to Android Pie due to the fact that Android 10 has issues with the Secure Folder. Which I have tried very hard to resolve. But couldn't...
I'm buying it. Looking forward to it, especially coming from a Note 4. Appreciate the advice, all.
O's said:
I'm buying it. Looking forward to it, especially coming from a Note 4. Appreciate the advice, all.
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You'll love it as I'm coming from the S5 which is a bit worse than the Note 4 in terms of specs but still same year models I didn't have money to buy Note 4 in early 2015 so now I got the best Note9 there is
I got mine month a go....never looked back.... no mid range for 350 can match it...and it has jack...
Its a no brainer...i say go for it...
O's said:
I'm buying it. Looking forward to it, especially coming from a Note 4. Appreciate the advice, all.
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I jumped from the note 4 to the 8 and quickly to the 9. Its amazing compared to the 4. I rooted all my phones and see no need now. The cameras are awesome. Hell this phone is more powerful them my laptop. Oh and dex is cool and getting better.
Note9 512GB.
I think its well worth it. If you don't plan to get the Note 20 absolutely. And I am sure they can be had for a decent price. Good luck. Don't know where you plan to buy it from. But I have helped several people over the past few weeks that have got Notes off Ebay and they had numerous issues, some were even fake. When I have purchased off Ebay I always ask seller to email pics of the actual device along with the about phone screen. Not all that buy off Ebay have issues but I know some have. Again hope you find what you're looking for.
Sent from my SM-N770F using Tapatalk
Have both the Note 9 and the 10+.
Both are excellent phones, though I do see a speed difference in the them. The Note 9 is, in my opinion, noticeably slower than the Note 10+, especially if I've been using the 10+ for a while. This is only noticeable for a short while until I get used to the 9 again but it certainly makes you fall in love with the speed of the 10+ again.
Both have their pro's and con's, most noticeable is the iris scanner, 3.5mm headphone jack and heart rate sensor on the Note 9 with the ToF camera, 12gb of RAM and newer updates of Android on the 10+. Also the 10+ has fast charge and is able to wirelessly charge other devices too. For every upgrade there is a loss but that works both ways...
I have both in the Exynos variant as I live outside the US so both rootable.
Overall, the Note 9 still holds it's own against most flagship devices (hell, the Note 10 lite has the internal specs of the Note 9 so you should be able to get Android 11 from there if a dev is happy to to do that), it is still a viable option if you want a flagship phone for a reduced price but just remember that there are going to be fewer updates for it and they are no longer a priority.
Hunteres said:
I got mine month a go....never looked back.... no mid range for 350 can match it...and it has jack...
Its a no brainer...i say go for it...
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Click to collapse
macgyver40 said:
I jumped from the note 4 to the 8 and quickly to the 9. Its amazing compared to the 4. I rooted all my phones and see no need now. The cameras are awesome. Hell this phone is more powerful them my laptop. Oh and dex is cool and getting better.
Note9 512GB.
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The day has come. The Note9 arrived. Before I set it up, anything I should know about why I should/shouldn't update right out the box? Should I update to Android 10 right away, or is there any reason to do something else?
I am trying to compare the specs of the "Pixel 5" and the recently released "Samsung S20 FE" and would actually want to know, why Pixel 5 and not the S20 FE?For the reference, GSMArena comparison here.
Currently i see the following pros and cons comparing those devices:
S20 FE pros:
SD card slot
Bigger battery
Better SoC
Better GPU
120hz scree refresh rate
Front fingerprint sensor (debatable, but definitely my personal preference)
More cameras and (hopefully) better camera sensors (but not better camera software)
Available (unlike Pixel 5, that is still on pre-orders)
Pixel 5 pros:
More RAM
Better camera software
Less bloatware
Direct updates from Google
Usable eSIM (none of the S20 series have their eSIM enabled on US models)
Unlocakble bootloader (just an assumption, but the QC based S20 FE is unlikely to have it's btl unlockable)
Missing SD slot (which a find to be a pretty big deal) and a somewhat weaker SoC/GPU/battery make me lean toward the S20 FE, yet there seem to be a pretty big fan base on the Pixels those days, and i want to know why. So, what Pixel 5 pros did i miss?
Thanks in advance for replies.
You might not care what I think but I'm gonna reply anyway. Im using a Note 9 now.
The reason the P5 beats any Samsung phone, again this is IMO, is because it runs STOCK ANDROID OS. One UI is trash, TouchWiz was trash. Samsung can make a great, beautiful, crazy spec'd phone every time but it still runs a trash OS. And plz dont try to tell me its not that bad. It is and my wife has a Note 20 5G and its trash on there too even with the newer updates. This one thing is the reason I will never buy a Sam phone again.
And do I have to get into the bloat ware. Oh MY God! I have like 25-30 apps. When my phone updates, its says its optimizing 450+ apps. WTF. And forget about removing them cuz u can't UL BL to debloat. EVER.
Also don't let Sammy fool u with this quick monthly security updates. When it comes to new Android versions they still lag behind, especially if your device is a year or more old.
TokedUp said:
You might not care what I think but I'm gonna reply anyway. Im using a Note 9 now.
The reason the P5 beats any Samsung phone, again this is IMO, is because it runs STOCK ANDROID OS. One UI is trash, TouchWiz was trash. Samsung can make a great, beautiful, crazy spec'd phone every time but it still runs a trash OS. And plz dont try to tell me its not that bad. It is and my wife has a Note 20 5G and its trash on there too even with the newer updates.
And do I have to get into the bloat ware. Oh MY God! I have like 25-30 apps. When my phone updates, its says its optimizing 450+ apps. WTF. And forget about removing them cuz u can't UL BL to debloat. EVER.
Also don't let Sammy fool u with this quick monthly security updates. When it comes to new Android versions they still lag behind, especially if your device is a year or more old.
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I actually do agree on that, yes, the crap on Samsung stock ROM is pretty bad, but is it THAT bad? On a carrier branded CSC - yes, absolutely. Just a """"clean"""" (yea, i know, i know) stock Samsung - bad, but not THAT bad. And thats the main factor that makes me lean toward Pixel indeed.
Latest and greatest Android? Well, i can live without that. Heck, i am typing it from an Android 8 device right now, lol.
But... lower specs, and ESPECIALLY, the SD card slot do bother me. I've got Nexus7 FHD tablet, bought it more or less a few month after its release, still using it sometimes, and one damn feature i've missed every single time i've boarded a long flight is having an SD card slot! I don't know why the heck Google hates SD cards so much, but thats definitely bothers me.
In any case, i did mention "less bloatware" in my pros list, guess i should have called it "clean android". Do i turst it to remain totally clean? NO! Don't get me started on Google, their platforms, and ****loads of ads, some blockable, some may soon be less so. Just a few things to list on that topic, though - YouTube midroll ads (that drove me to finally start using alt client) and Android TV leanback launcher update with a huge ad on the top 1/3 of the screen (which has forced me to disable apps updates, cause on a TV Play market its all updates or no apps update).
I'm sorry. I do not agree. OneUI is far worse than u think. Im using it now. Go try for yourself. And I dont mean go to the store and look at it. Actually use a phone with it on it and u will want to throw it against a wall.
I have a 400gb mem card in my phone now. There is nothing an it. I used to need it for music but now everything is streaming. Photos and vids get backed up to cloud. I dont think I need a mem card anymore and I was a firm believer in them.
Please dont ever compare Google with Sam in terms of bloatware. It makes you look like u have no idea what u are talking about. Its not even a competition. I mean Sammy tried to put ads to our lockscreens at one point. If u think the Pixel has bloatware, go look at an app list on a new Sam phone. The Note 20 is an absolute joke.
I'm in the same debate as you... Pretty sure p5 wins due to unlocked bootloader. My p2 stands up still to processing power, I suspect I'll get 3 years out of the p5 since I've always found more ram is more important than more processing power and the 765g does hold up next to the p4 865.
Why do we run Pixels? Stock android, superior experience, no/limited bloat, reliable updates, and superior camera performance. But, you likely knew that already, and you came here to discuss specs. It's not the specs; it's the real world performance. You ever run a Windoze comp with a fresh install? See how snappy and smooth the performance is? Well, that's what a Pixel is like all the time. You're basically asking the PC equivalent of asking a tech forum "should I buy an Acer (or Dell or whatever) or build my own?" The answer will likely be build your own or reinstall Windoze and upgrade what you have. Look man, I was a Samsung lover for many years. But their bloat is intrusive and very poorly implemented, and I got sick of it. To complete the analogy: if you want a Dell (even if it is an Alienware) running the latest Intel, go ahead. I'll build my own AMD machine that rocks its socks off.
Come down to long term experience for me.
Pixel phones have been great to use and continue to feel great after a couple of years. Samsung phones haven't faired so well. Lots of slow down, lots of duplicate apps, lots of clutter.
It's personal preference of course, some love Samsung apps over Google apps. For these people, pixel comes full of bloatware!
mrkhigh said:
I'm in the same debate as you... Pretty sure p5 wins due to unlocked bootloader. My p2 stands up still to processing power, I suspect I'll get 3 years out of the p5 since I've always found more ram is more important than more processing power and the 765g does hold up next to the p4 865.
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Unlocked bootloader is sadly, becoming less and less useful as the time goes. TBH, i am sick and tired to try & look for yet another way to hide root from apps, while i find myself actually customizing the system less and less using that root. Add Widevine dropping to L3 and all the streaming apps that use it going below HD, and you get yourself one more reason not to unlock.
Is slightly more RAM more important than slightly more CPU/GPU? Yea, i think it is. Is it massive, either way? Nope, probably not.
Again, one big thing that turns me away from P5 is the SD slot. From the other side, 2 pretty big things that pull me toward it are cleaner Android and eSIM.
dudeman1st said:
...It's not the specs; it's the real world performance...
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The specs are the very first thing that affects real world performance. Yes, you can bog it down to a crawl with junk, but is it so? If you look at the Samsung side of XDA, i don't see that many complains about it, so realistically, in the real word words, i honestly don't know.
I've used an OG Pixel XL, and Pixel 3 XL as well as a OP 6T.
T-mobile had a "too good to pass up" trade in deal for the S20 FG and I received it on Friday. It is an awesome phone. The telephoto lens is neat, but the wide angle is awesome. Samsung's awful OS and lack of BL unlocking are really the only faults of it lol. Pixels got me over the need for an sd slot, although the lack of free unlimited storage since the Pixel 3 has me concerned. With that said, I'll be buying a Pixel 5 assuming there's some kind of a deal on black friday.
InfX said:
The specs are the very first thing that affects real world performance. Yes, you can bog it down to a crawl with junk, but is it so? If you look at the Samsung side of XDA, i don't see that many complains about it, so realistically, in the real word words, i honestly don't know.
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Fair enough, if specs are your measuring stick, sounds like you want the Samsung with the 8-series ARM. Go for it. I wouldn't shame you at all.
If you want to really understand what I am saying, try running a 3 or 4 year old Samsung (an S7 or S8) on Sam's version of Android 11 (if that's even possible) and then run Google's Android 11 on a Pixel or Pixel 2. I haven't tried it, but I know my old Samsungs ran like crap after just one or two updates, including severely reduced battery life. I am guessing that the Sams will run horribly for one reason or another. I know that Pixels run great on 11.
I run a Pixel (2 XL) stock, don't have to root it, don't have to monkey with flashing unless I want to try, don't have to constantly be looking for updated modems/ROMs/recoveries/kernels . Sure, most phones can be rescued with a good custom ROM, but you run the risk of bricking and voiding warranty. I used to love that hobby, and I loved my experience flashing with other phone hobbyists. But, I don't want to monkey with my daily driver anymore. I only flash my old phones.
jsbeagle said:
I've used an OG Pixel XL, and Pixel 3 XL as well as a OP 6T.
T-mobile had a "too good to pass up" trade in deal for the S20 FG and I received it on Friday. It is an awesome phone. The telephoto lens is neat, but the wide angle is awesome. Samsung's awful OS and lack of BL unlocking are really the only faults of it lol. Pixels got me over the need for an sd slot, although the lack of free unlimited storage since the Pixel 3 has me concerned. With that said, I'll be buying a Pixel 5 assuming there's some kind of a deal on black friday.
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Those are definitely not the only faults of it .Less RAM isn't exactly a good thing. If you look at the he S20 FE forum here, you'll immediately notice a "touch issues" thread, which is worrying. The eSIM being disabled on US CSCs, while Pixels, iPhones and even their own Fold got it is one heck of a turn off, too.
InfX said:
Those are definitely not the only faults of it .Less RAM isn't exactly a good thing. If you look at the he S20 FE forum here, you'll immediately notice a "touch issues" thread, which is worrying. The eSIM being disabled on US CSCs, while Pixels, iPhones and even their own Fold got it is one heck of a turn off, too.
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What are you doing that you actually need eSim?
Considering T-mobile and Samsung are essentially giving me the S20 FE, plus $60, plus $70 Samsung store credit for my Pixel 3XL, I'll take it and let my kids use it as a hotspot. T-mobile also gave me another completely free line a couple weeks ago in an unrelated deal.
jsbeagle said:
What are you doing that you actually need eSim?
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I don't "need" eSIM, but its a useful feature assuming the dreaded COVID19 is eventually going to end, so one could travel again. It allows you to get and install a local plan in a different country without having to physically get the SIM card, a feature i'd actually like to have on my next phone. Not a must. But definitely a bonus. And most definitely a turn-off to get a device with the actual hardware being there, but having it disabled because Sammy and the carriers told so.
InfX said:
Unlocked bootloader is sadly, becoming less and less useful as the time goes. TBH, i am sick and tired to try & look for yet another way to hide root from apps, while i find myself actually customizing the system less and less using that root. Add Widevine dropping to L3 and all the streaming apps that use it going below HD, and you get yourself one more reason not to unlock.
Is slightly more RAM more important than slightly more CPU/GPU? Yea, i think it is. Is it massive, either way? Nope, probably not.
Again, one big thing that turns me away from P5 is the SD slot. From the other side, 2 pretty big things that pull me toward it are cleaner Android and eSIM.
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I agree on root becoming less and less important.
However the ability to update the device after it's eol is handy, and installing a custom rom is often nice as well.
Pure Android is where it is at for me, plain and smple. I might go for another non google device now and then if the bootloader is unlockable so I can end up flashing a pure android rom but I always end up back on a pixel. It is a shame that samsung has not allowed bootloader unlocking lately, especially on a so called "fan edition". What a joke!
Physical size of the device. Sure the size of the screen on my current phone is bigger and show more but it's also physically a larger phone.
That one of the main selling points for me. I also look forward to having the FP reader on the back again, current phone is under display and I'm not a fan!
---edit---
Another selling point is vanilla android vs having to find a reliable custom rom for my Mi 9T (pixel experience is good though).
InfX said:
I don't "need" eSIM, but its a useful feature assuming the dreaded COVID19 is eventually going to end, so one could travel again. It allows you to get and install a local plan in a different country without having to physically get the SIM card, a feature i'd actually like to have on my next phone. Not a must. But definitely a bonus. And most definitely a turn-off to get a device with the actual hardware being there, but having it disabled because Sammy and the carriers told so.
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Just get Fi, homie. Pay for the data you use, capped at 6 GB cost (60 bucks + 20 for the line), no international charges for phone or data, and it works almost everywhere. If it's a small country, Fi might even pick up neighboring service. I have been from Barcelona to Bratislava, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Columbia on Fi, and I had no problems whatsoever. Fi even sends you a nice little welcome text to let you know that you are in a different service area. And, no, I don't work for Google, lol. I changed because I love to travel and hate other carriers' intl fees or messing around with local SIMs.
dudeman1st said:
Just get Fi, homie...
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Thanks but no thanks, been there, done that. Yes, the international data on the Fi is definitely a plus. But:
Its expensive
I am currently on Cricket (AT&T MVNO), their lowest plan is $30 for 2gb, but before the COVID times i'd usually pay $35 for 5..10gb, slowed down afterwards, with similar plans also available directly from AT&T. My actual consumption now is close to 0, but has been somewhere in range of 2..3gb per month pre-COVID on average, so i've ended up paying $40..50, plus tax, as far as i recall, while most prepaid plans have tax included. Way too expensive just to have the same expensive data abroad, which is usually much cheaper there than it is in US.
It's coverage in US is pretty bad
In US its basically a T-Mobile MVNO. It got some contracts with US Cellular as well, i think, but its mostly just T-Mobile. I've been to many places i;ve just got NO reception whatsoever, where Cricket (read - AT&T) works perfectly fine, notably, on the ski sites in VT near #100, but this is just one example, the T-Mobile reception is generally just BAD.
Pay per use data is more annoying than i though it would be
You are basically paying $10/gb until you hit 6gb, which makes me think twice about everything i do online. Play Spotify? Nah, i don't remember if i have it downloaded, it will eat data, i'll pay for that. Watch that video on YouTube on the go? Nah, screw that, its probably 100mb in HD or so, that's $1 for a stupid video. And i absolutely hate this line of thinking. I want unlimited data which doesn't punish you financially if you go over the limit. And i don't want to pay $80+tax for that.
Sorry bro, but you DO sound like a Google sales person, lol
If you just want to text, make calls, twatter, and freakbook. Get the Samsung.
If need more independents, get the Pixel 5.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk
Hi there. I've been out of the loop for a while. Still rocking the XZ1 compact (until Sony or someone else comes out with something small, sleek, and square again). Because of my general lack of knowledge and fear of losing any of the things mentioned in the title of post... I haven't done any updates. I'm still using Android 8.0.0
As many of you likely know the US version shipped with the fingerprint reader disabled, requiring use of non-us firmware to enable it. However in order to take advantage of Vo-LTE/Wi-Fi Calling/T-Mobile band 12... you basically had to combine a couple different firmware together to both keep the fingerprint reader and have the calling features simultaneously.
Obviously if there is a way of retaining root, wifi calling (as well as Vo-LTE and band 12 support) for T-mobile USA, and functioning fingerprint reader... I would love to update this device. I'm even open to third party ROMs provided I don't lose any device functionality.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I'm not terribly well versed in all of this but have been able to root every one of my devices and unlock their fullest potential with the help of individuals at XDA.
Thanks in advance.
I am pretty sure i saw mention in one or more of the custom rom threads here specificlly mention a version for volte on the forum here u could check those threads see if someone else have had a simaller qeustions in the past.
also look for mention of the fingerprint scanner is working or not.
Sorry i am pretty new at this mysellf i am sure u will find what your looking for there.
Same thoughts here. I moved onto another phone but was thinking about updating this one to Lineage and using it again, which would require flashing a new firmware. But mine is on 8.0 with everything working (T-mobile VoLTE and wifi calling, fingerprint reader, camera via DRM patch, and Magisk with safetynet passing and Google Pay working). It's been a while but I remember having to jump through some hoops to make that all work and would hate to mess any of it up.
jrbmed08 said:
Same thoughts here. I moved onto another phone but was thinking about updating this one to Lineage and using it again, which would require flashing a new firmware. But mine is on 8.0 with everything working (T-mobile VoLTE and wifi calling, fingerprint reader, camera via DRM patch, and Magisk with safetynet passing and Google Pay working). It's been a while but I remember having to jump through some hoops to make that all work and would hate to mess any of it up.
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Yeah I love this phone (or rather I hate the look/shape/size of all the phones out today) so I'm afraid to jeopardize anything. I've debated buying another one for tinkering with.
POMF2K said:
Yeah I love this phone (or rather I hate the look/shape/size of all the phones out today) so I'm afraid to jeopardize anything. I've debated buying another one for tinkering with.
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Click to collapse
I just can't handle the size of almost anything out there today, plus I refuse to buy anything without a headphone jack until there are no more options for me. I actually dislike the square shape because it's more uncomforable to hold though. I switched from the XZ1c to a Pixel 2 because my husband got a cheap phone when we switched carriers, but I never should have given up the XZ1c. Ended up hating the dongle life and traded in the Pixel 2 for an S10e. I love everything about the S10e except it's just too big. Lately the S10e's battery has been going downhill, and I ended up getting an iphone 12 mini for work and loving the size, so I've been thinking about switching back to the XZ1c. But I tried for a few days and had a few issues with the older version of Android...and that brings me to why I'm here in the same boat with you. Hope we can figure it out.
Edit: Specifically I'm hoping to upgrade to Lineage because it seems to be the most up to date of the available ROMs. From what I'm reading, I *think* all we need is an international firmware and the ROM. Not sure if we still need to swap a file in the firmware with the US one.
jrbmed08 said:
I just can't handle the size of almost anything out there today, plus I refuse to buy anything without a headphone jack until there are no more options for me. I actually dislike the square shape because it's more uncomforable to hold though. I switched from the XZ1c to a Pixel 2 because my husband got a cheap phone when we switched carriers, but I never should have given up the XZ1c. Ended up hating the dongle life and traded in the Pixel 2 for an S10e. I love everything about the S10e except it's just too big. Lately the S10e's battery has been going downhill, and I ended up getting an iphone 12 mini for work and loving the size, so I've been thinking about switching back to the XZ1c. But I tried for a few days and had a few issues with the older version of Android...and that brings me to why I'm here in the same boat with you. Hope we can figure it out.
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I've never been a fan of Samsung build quality. But there's something to be said for the development community on more popular devices.
Sony is supposed to be bringing back the compact line. I don't know if it will have the same clean lines but I think they learned their lesson with the "soap bar" look of the xz2. That might work for other manufacturers but I think it's safe so assume the Japanese aesthetic is what keeps Sony fans loyal to the brand.
What do you think of the iphone 12 mini? From a software standpoint I hate all things apple but I've always been impressed with apply build quality. I actually got my girlfriend one of those SE models last summer to replace her dying 7 or 8. Figured it was small and pocketable, better pics than most android phones, and with a nice small screen the battery life would be great. I even thought I might grab one for myself to play around with. Total miss on Apple's behalf. Took it back in less than a week for horrible battery life. And she is much less picky about battery life than I am.
Honestly that's why I'm still using the 3 or 4 year old Sony. I don't like phones that don't fit in my pocket, don't like overly effeminate round edges, I don't want to pay $1000 for a phone, and I really can't stand batteries that die quickly. At this point I don't even know what brands to look at. I always thought about one plus, but those are huge. Pixels are pretty ugly. So I'm sitting here with an outdated phone... but love the look and it gets the job done.
@POMF2K
Like ur reading my mind hahaha love the compact series sadlly the xz1 compact is the last of its kind.
It also saddens me how there barelly any life here this part of the forum when i see other pieces of **** phones with a gazillion pages and hundred difrent roms.
Thinking we will never see anything like this again and that rumor a couple of months ago about a new compact had a leak and looks more like there budget serie L.
Don't know how everyone feels about xiaomi but it seems the MI 11 mini is happening. If I read it right, it's still going to be close to a pixel 3/5 in size. I bought a MI pad 4 and couldn't be bothered with the MI UI but it seems most xiaomi have a ton of development support and mine even came with an unlocked bootloader(on MSM Xtended now).
I'm currently using Bliss on my xz1c and it hits all the boxes for me. Great battery life, great performance and tons of customizations. Fingerprint works and I'm rooted but I don't use Google Pay and don't have volte on my plan(Cricket) so I can't help you there.
AlexKarimov said:
Don't know how everyone feels about xiaomi but it seems the MI 11 mini is happening. If I read it right, it's still going to be close to a pixel 3/5 in size. I bought a MI pad 4 and couldn't be bothered with the MI UI but it seems most xiaomi have a ton of development support and mine even came with an unlocked bootloader(on MSM Xtended now).
I'm currently using Bliss on my xz1c and it hits all the boxes for me. Great battery life, great performance and tons of customizations. Fingerprint works and I'm rooted but I don't use Google Pay and don't have volte on my plan(Cricket) so I can't help you there.
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Yeah dont support china how people stil do is beyond me (this is not a race thing)
Bliss really that good ? have you happend to also tried other roms if yes what did u think of those?
Wish I could use Xiaomi but they never have US LTE bands. It's a shame because they make some nice devices and have good community support. I hate that they would call a phone of that size "mini" though, since the Pixel form factor is still too big. Kinda feels insulting to those of us who want an actually mini phone.
@POMF2K I adore the form factor of the iphone 12 mini. The combination of square sides with rounded corners looks unisex to me (although I'm a woman and wouldn't mind a slightly feminine look). The screen is small enough for me to reach all corners with one hand even without bezels. Gestures on iOS are pretty easy to learn and use. Dislike the notch but it's not a dealbreaker. I upgraded from my work iphone 8 and miss the fingerprint reader but otherwise prefer it for being slightly smaller (especially narrower), and the low-bezel look is quite pretty. Battery life kind of sucks. I'd say it's on par with the SE. But since it's not my primary device, I don't sweat it too much.
S10e as my daily driver has generally been good for me except slightly too big, mediocre battery life, and I can't root it. But at the same time I've come to appreciate the amount of customization possible with Samsung's UI and their own apps (Good Lock etc.). I *almost* don't miss rooting (although I miss having better control over wakelocks, apps that run at boot, etc.). So currently my plan if nothing else works out is to replace the battery and run that phone into the ground before I finally have to decide what to get next. Hard decision between the next mini iphone (if there is one) which has the form factor I want but I'd be giving up Android, fingerprint scanner, headphone jack, SD card, etc....and whatever the smallest Android phone I can find is.
mstrnemo said:
Bliss really that good ? have you happend to also tried other roms if yes what did u think of those?
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I really like it but we might have different priorities. The things that drew me to it were the GPS(was a big concern for work) and the customization. Bliss uses SODP based GPS and it works just as good as stock but faster. The ROM is also very smooth and fast and there are instructions for VOLTE users in the first few posts.
CONS: It hasn't been updated since September so I'm sitting on the 9/5/20 security patch but I don't know if that should bother me. Also, I have a UI freeze every so often if I open a text message from the lock screen but a quick UI restart from the power menu fixes it. Since changing the text app to open a quick reply instead of the full app, the freeze is so seldom I usually forget about it.
I have a second xz1c that I got a deal on so I mainly use it to test any ROM before I use it on my main, so I have that option without jeopardizing my existing setup(cheating, I know). That being said, I have used quite a few of the ROMs.
Tested extensively:
AEX Pie and Q: Q was my favorite ROM until updates stopped and the last build didn't have functioning GPS. I loved everything else about it. Stable, fast and enough customizations to satisfy me. When it stopped, I rolled back to AEX Pie and loved it as much. GPS works great and plenty of customizations. Only con with it is cell signal drops every now and then and has to be rebooted one to several times.
Crdroid Pie: was my first custom ROM. Great ROM. No complaints on this one other than I jumped on the wagon and wanted to try the new Q ROMs(didn't have 2nd phone then).
Crdroid Q: Haven't tested as a daily driver but it seems to be a very stable ROM.
CONS: I might put all Q(except Bliss) in this. There is a modem notification that activates on start up. Data won't connect if preferred is LTE but 3G works fine. There's a work around in the settings to connect in 3g on boot and automatically switch over to LTE but it hasn't been reliable for me. I'm on Cricket Wireless in western US so maybe that has something to do with it.
Havoc Q: Great ROM here as well. More customizations, very stable and great battery life. Fingerprint worked on all Q ROMs so far but Pie was so long ago, I don't remember.
Haven't tested extensively:
Lineage 16 and 17: Tried 17 briefly when I was desperate for a GPS solution. It was smooth and stable but not to my taste so I didn't stay with it.
11 ROMs: All are still on first or 2nd version. Enough draw backs that I'm not moving to them yet.
I hope that was helpful. Sorry I can't answer some of the more important questions(VOLTE, WIFI calling and data bands) but if you asked in the ROM threads, you'd probably get the exact answers you're looking for.
This person on Reddit found the proper mix of .sin files to get FP, VOLTE, Wifi calling and MMS working for the XZ1C. Its the guide I used and everything works fine. I used the US Android 9 image from Xperifirm and the 'custom UK' image for vendor and system sin files.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyXperia/comments/7433id/_/dnvum20