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I'd like to ask those who own the new Nexus 6 device:
1. Which features does the Nexus 6 have that other devices don't have?
For example, on the hardware part, I've noticed that it has front speakers and also double tapping to wake the device (while its screen is turned off), but are there any other goodies that I've probably missed from articles?
2. Which features do you miss from other devices?
I find it a bit disappointing that for a large screen, Google didn't add features that can take advantage of it (like the Note series) .
I'm just curious about your opinions, and also about what special features it got (other than long support, like other Nexus devices) .
Double Tap to Wake is not an existing feature.
For me the key selling points are the Moto X form factor, qHD display, 3GB of RAM and the size of the device paired with Android 5.0 and the 805 chipset.
Im sure Ambient Display will be a nice touch to the amoled screen and the new smart lock feature of lollipop for those with trusted bluetooth or nfc devices.
Sent from my One using Tapatalk
IR Blaster. I used that all the time on my M7. Not a huge deal, just convenient.
Have no idea until we get the Nexus6 in our hands...
Donjuanal said:
Double Tap to Wake is not an existing feature.
For me the key selling points are the Moto X form factor, qHD display, 3GB of RAM and the size of the device paired with Android 5.0 and the 805 chipset.
Im sure Ambient Display will be a nice touch to the amoled screen and the new smart lock feature of lollipop for those with trusted bluetooth or nfc devices.
Sent from my One using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Double tap isn't available?
I thought it's there, as this website says:
"Where supported by the hardware, your device will wake up as soon as you pick it up or tap the screen twice"
Odd. Maybe it's a hidden feature, or something that will be possible via root?
AndroidDeveloperLB said:
Double tap isn't available?
I thought it's there, as this website says:
"Where supported by the hardware, your device will wake up as soon as you pick it up or tap the screen twice"
Odd. Maybe it's a hidden feature, or something that will be possible via root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its available for the Nexus 9 because its made by HTC. It was confirmed via google by the original review that Double Tap to Wake is not an implemented feature for this device. It was ambient display kicking in when it sensed the phone moving.
Sent from my One using Tapatalk
for me:
disadvantages
1. 64gb maximum storage space. ok, i get it...no sdcard slot. then at least offer a 128gb option. because sticking in a 64gb sdcard to a device was already pretty standard ...a couple years ago. these days people are using 128gb cards. and this doesn't even count the phone's internal storage.
even apple has bumped up to 128gb. i get that 64gb is more than what was originally offered on nexus phones...but the nexus6 also costs a heck of a lot more to the end-user.
2. questionable availability of wired hdmi mirroring. lots of speculation on this...but if it doesn't have it...
i can accept the lack of other device-specific features...like active stylus, ir blaster, heartrate monitor, various camera functions...but something as basic as large storage capacity and wired hdmi mirroring (possibly) should be in line with a "vanilla" flagship phone.
Advantages:
*Optimized software. A big plus if coming from a Samsung galaxy device. Like a HUGE plus.
*Fast updates
*Completely unlocked (bootloader included) if buying form GP. I can't think of a reason why anyone would buy from their carrier?
*Motorola signal quality. Their devices always have the best signal reception.
Disadvantages:
*Lack of Super AMOLED? I don't know, maybe this is just a gripe?
*No SD card slot. Yeah this sucks.
con_ritmo said:
for me:
disadvantages
1. 64gb maximum storage space. ok, i get it...no sdcard slot. then at least offer a 128gb option. because sticking in a 64gb sdcard to a device was already pretty standard ...a couple years ago. these days people are using 128gb cards. and this doesn't even count the phone's internal storage.
even apple has bumped up to 128gb. i get that 64gb is more than what was originally offered on nexus phones...but the nexus6 also costs a heck of a lot more to the end-user.
2. questionable availability of wired hdmi mirroring. lots of speculation on this...but if it doesn't have it...
i can accept the lack of other device-specific features...like active stylus, ir blaster, heartrate monitor, various camera functions...but something as basic as large storage capacity and wired hdmi mirroring (possibly) should be in line with a "vanilla" flagship phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for #2... with the Nexus 4 and 5 supporting SlimPort HDMI output.... i'd find it very odd if the Nexus 6 didn't. GSMArena also shows it supporting it.
As for #1.... not everyone finds that to be a disadvantage. The only people i can see using 128GB of storage, be it built-in or expanded, are those who either love to have a library of music on their phone at all times, or those who horde EVERYTHING (Apps, pictures, etc...) on their phone. For me, i would have liked to have been able to order the 64GB model... but seeing as i've been getting along just fine with my 16GB Nexus 5 for the past year.... 32GB isn't a bad idea either, and wasn't going to pass up on the opportunity of ordering one simply because of storage space. And if i NEED storage.... well.... that's what a 64GB USB-OTG flash drive is for.
MattMJB0188 said:
Advantages:
...
*Completely unlocked (bootloader included) if buying form GP. I can't think of a reason why anyone would buy from their carrier?
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought all the versions (Play & T-Mobile) of the Nexus 5 were unlocked?
Way too many advantages so I won't list any, lol.
As for disadvantages:
No SD slot (but that was expected...),
No Super AMOLED (also expected as Samsung wouldn't hurt their own sales-Note4),
No IR (I have smart TVs, my Note 3 is able to control them over both IR and WiFi since they are Samsung TV also)
No cool accessories at all! All those (SLIM) wallet cases and digital ink cases for Samsung and HTC devices, plus things like Gear VR
No physical camera button... I mean... with a phone that size... I'm pretty sure they had enough space for a camera shutter button...
Not completely waterproof certified, it annoys me because it seems like all they had to do was block the open ports (Charger and headphone)!!
I know that seems like a lot of disadvantages but I was just thinking of The Perfect Phone...which will never exist, lol. All in all, I am very excited to get my hands on the Nexus 6
Joshnor713 said:
IR Blaster. I used that all the time on my M7. Not a huge deal, just convenient.
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Click to collapse
Yup what he said^ That is my biggest want in the N6 that it does not have.
Unconn said:
I thought all the versions (Play & T-Mobile) of the Nexus 5 were unlocked?
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Click to collapse
I hope they are. I was also referring to sim locked, which we know AT&T will do.
I have a harmony hub setup. No need for IR
MattMJB0188 said:
Advantages:
*Optimized software. A big plus if coming from a Samsung galaxy device. Like a HUGE plus.
*Fast updates
*Completely unlocked (bootloader included) if buying form GP. I can't think of a reason why anyone would buy from their carrier?
*Motorola signal quality. Their devices always have the best signal reception.
Disadvantages:
*Lack of Super AMOLED? I don't know, maybe this is just a gripe?
*No SD card slot. Yeah this sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Afaik super amoled is just a marketing term from samsung and it does not make a difference...
Summarising my thoughts on the device in comparison to other flagships:
Pros
- Android 5.0 & guaranteed timely future updates
- Large 6" screen in a decent slim bezel form factor
- Always on voice commands
- Dual front facing stereo speakers
- Build quality
- Great developer support
Cons/could have done better
- Mediocre-average battery life (especially for a phablet)
- High res screen comes at the cost of battery life, brightness and colour accuracy without tangible benefits over 1080P for most people
- Average middling camera
- No Snapdragon 810 = less future proofing and no 64bit android. Misses out on the 20nm processing which promises 40-50% better battery life with 50% better performance. S805 is old tech – last of the 28nm series which has been around since 2013. Heck with the availability issues anyway I'd much rather it launch in Jan-Feb and get S810.
- No SD storage
- Price – Google sold out to the US carriers which needed premium pricing to get it on their subsidised plans. Screws the rest of the world over though.
- Availability
- Nano sim – hardly the standard in the android world. Makes it hard to change between/from other devices/tablets
- Lack of Phablet customisations in the UI with no 3rd party alternatives currently through xposed.
Overall I'm pretty disappointed as it could have been so much more from both a HW and SW point of view. Definitely not a day 1 purchase for me, maybe in the future if the XZU 4 doesn't materialise/disappoints and we see more of a price drop.
Starting to lean towards waiting for maybe a Sony Xperia Z4/Z4 Ultra & other S810 device's announcemenst at CES 2015...
Don't have the phone yet, but for me,
Advantages: QHD screen, 3GB RAM, pure stock Android, Wireless Charging, Very easy to root
Disadvantages: 6" Screen. Just a little bit too much for me. The sweet spot for me is 5.2"-5.5". (But I'm sure I'll get used to it), front camera is still 2MP, and battery is 3220 mAh, but people are saying it only has around 5 hours of on screen time.
Advantages:
- Stock OS
- 3GB RAM
- Snapdragon 805
- 5.95inch screen
- No physical home buttons
Disadvantages:
- Relatively average battery (should've been 3500-3900mh ideally; it would've fit)
- Screen is ok, but nothing special (not as bright or vivid as iPhone 6+ or Note 4)
- Too thick (10.1mm at the thicket point), should've been thinner (7 to 8mm would be great)
- Cameras are average, an improvement from last year but nothing to write home about.
- Not 64-bit despite all the work that went into making the OS 64-bit ready (understable though due to processor releases).
- The fact that the Nexus 6 will not hold its ground as well as the Nexus 5 (which is still a good phone a year after release; the Nexus 6 will not likely be able to maintain the same longevity as the Galaxy S6 is out soon expected Snapdragon 810, 3-4GB RAM, even better display and cameras + bigger battery).
I don't yet have the device, but my initial thoughts mirror many on here. But I'd like to add two more disadvantages - no removable battery (surely this was expected, though). As a current G3 owner, having a spare battery with me when I know I'll be using my phone a lot while away from a charger is great. Also, current availability MUST be listed as a disadvantage. I'm ready to buy the 64GB model right now and the longer I have to wait the better the chance is I'll move on and wait for something else.
While the V² may end up being an amazing phone, some of us can't wait for it to be released. (If it ever will be.)
This thread is for those who are looking for a phone with similar specs to the V².
Please keep this thread clean. Let's all be kind and respectful of others' opinions. :good:
Cullenator said:
While the V² may end up being an amazing phone, some of us can't wait for it to be released. (If it ever will be.)
This thread is for those who are looking for a phone with similar specs to the V².
Please keep this thread clean. Let's all be kind and respectful of others' opinions. :good:
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Click to collapse
I have been looking and looking and looking. There isnt one. This is my dream phone:
- LG G2 sized, so 5.2" with small bezels.
- Removable, high capacity battery (3000mah+)
- Removable storage or affordable 64gb size
- Built in wireless charging
- 3gb+ ram
- Newer SoC
- Good camera with OIS
Thats it. Not asking for the moon. I can find some of those things in huge 5.5" + phones like the G4. I guess I will be getting used to a big phone again.
---------- Post added at 01:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:46 PM ----------
This is probably as close as I am going to get if the rumored specs are true: http://www.androidpit.com/nexus-5-2015-price-release-date-specs-features
shaxs said:
I have been looking and looking and looking. There isnt one. This is my dream phone:
- LG G2 sized, so 5.2" with small bezels.
- Removable, high capacity battery (3000mah+)
- Removable storage or affordable 64gb size
- Built in wireless charging
- 3gb+ ram
- Newer SoC
- Good camera with OIS
Thats it. Not asking for the moon. I can find some of those things in huge 5.5" + phones like the G4. I guess I will be getting used to a big phone again.
---------- Post added at 01:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:46 PM ----------
This is probably as close as I am going to get if the rumored specs are true: http://www.androidpit.com/nexus-5-2015-price-release-date-specs-features
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear ya, dude; I'm hoping the V2 makes it, but I can't wait unfortunately; my S3 is nearly dead. So yeah, we'll see. The G4 looks close, but it's way too big for me. Maybe the new Nexus will be almost as awesome as the proposed V2? We'll see.
Here are the features that made me pre-order the Saygus V². These are in particular order.
5" 1080p sunlight viewable screen. 2.5K resolution is overkill and just eats battery and I don't like phones with screens larger than 5".
Large removable battery.
Small bezels. This means the phone doesn't have a large footprint for it's screen size like the iPhone or Sony Z series.
64gb built in storage.
microSD slot. Dual wasn't important to me but having expandable memory was.
Optical image stabilization. It was nice that both cameras have it but I really wanted it in the main camera.
Waterproof.
Snapdragon 801.
3gb RAM.
The closest thing to this is the upcoming Galaxy S6 Active except the screen size is slightly large for my taste and it has 2.5K resolution. I can live with the built in battery if it's 3500mAh.
I was really hoping that Google would make a new version of the Nexus 5 with basically the same specs as the Nexus 6 except with a 5" 1080p screen. The only drawback to the Nexus series is that we almost definitely won't see one with a microSD card slot. I'm still surprised that Google didn't get someone to build an updated Nexus 5 yet, especially with the launch of Project Fi.
<rant>I wish the Android smartphone manufacturers (i.e. LG, OnePlus, etc) would realize that the majority of people don't want a screen over 5.5" and larger. How do I know this? Because Apple make the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus which have almost the exact same specs except for the screen size and resolution and based on this article 80% of the iPhone 6 models sold are the 4.7" version with the other 20% being the 5.5" version. If customers really wanted a smartphone with a really large screen then they'd be buying the 5.5" iPhone 6 Plus more than the 4.7" iPhone 6.</rant>
I originally was going to buy an S6, against my better judgement, until I found I could not buy a 128GB version, even from the AT&T store. I've considered the S5, but I can't find an unlocked 32GB version that works on 4G. I considered the Note 4, but I really don't want a phablet, and that's a lot of money to spend on a phone I feel I won't like due to its size. Also, it frustrates me that two of the main alternatives to the S6 I considered due to the S6's lack of expandable storage and removable battery are both Samsung's, so even if I did go with one of them, I would still be giving them money. Before any of this, I was looking at the Sony Xperia Z4, until that turned out to be a letdown, and then the Sony Xperia Z3, but again there is no 32GB unlocked version. Despite my hatred of Motorola, I even considered the Droid Turbo/Maxx, until I realized it lacks expandable storage. The G4 looks ok, but it's a bit large for my taste (though supposedly not as bad as other 5.5" phones), I really don't think I'd like the buttons on the back, and there are no real reviews yet of it. Not to mention it irritates me they're releasing two other "G4" versions that are nothing like the G4, but rather are stripped down junk. The Zenphone 2 is big and just seems cheap, which I get it is a cheap phone, but still. The S6 Active may end up being the closest thing to perfect, but I don't know how I'll like the physical buttons, and I think I'd rather it be less bulky so people that want the extra protection can use a case, but leave that up to the individual. I've pre-ordered the Elephone P7000, which looks like a really good phone for the price, but again, no 32GB version. Still, for the price, I can live with that for a few months until something better comes out. So many phones that are almost great, but fall short. I've been searching high and low for the past 2-3 months and it's getting tiresome. I'd love some other ideas, but I doubt anybody can point me to something I don't already know about.
My ideal phone matches up very much the same. If Samsung released a plastic body S4 v2 with more RAM, more built-in storage, updated CPU, 5" 1080p screen with otherwise S6 qualities, UFS 2.0, etc., while retaining the S4 size/weight, removable battery, and SD slot, I'd have little hesitation buying it, even if it cost the same as the S6. Doooosen't look like they're going to do that. A phone's looks don't matter to me, and I actually prefer the plastic body for weight and toughness factors. Doesn't have to be Samsung, but I've had an S4 for two years and having handling many phones, I find it gives the best fit in my hand while having an adequate sized screen of any phone yet.
The Saygus, if it proves to be the real deal, it's actually in the right size range and is loaded with so many features (2x SD is my favorite) that it has no real competition for my needs. As it stands, I'm most likely going to have to hold my nose and get a 128GB S6, which for me has no real competition as Plan B. I have no regrets with my S4 or S2, to me they were clearly the best phones for me on the market at time of purchase. But I want to vote with my wallet against the S6 because the removal of (to me) major features, but I might not have a suitable option. Also, I'm on TMOUS and most of the decent non-carrier devices won't work with their LTE bands and I'd lose WiFi Calling, so it's pretty much between Samsung, LG, Sony, HTC, Alcatel, and Nexus. The S5 and M9 look like the next best options. The Saygus is the only outside phone under consideration at this point.
hella356 said:
The S5 and M9 look like the next best options. The Saygus is the only outside phone under consideration at this point.
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Click to collapse
I have the LG G2 and at less than $200 for a new off contract phone it really is hard to beat. I considered the S5 only because it can have wireless charging added fairly easily, but the ROM support for the S5 isnt as good. But if they offered the S5 with 3gb ram, I think I would be in.
shaxs said:
I have the LG G2 and at less than $200 for a new off contract phone it really is hard to beat. I considered the S5 only because it can have wireless charging added fairly easily, but the ROM support for the S5 isnt as good. But if they offered the S5 with 3gb ram, I think I would be in.
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Click to collapse
Thanks, the G2 might be the best short-term option. TMo has refurb G2s for $228 & no money down & $9.50/month. It's the other end of the spectrum in price with the S6, amongst phones without SD and removable battery. Only 32GB is a big step down from my S4, but for daily usage it would probably be fine. Having lots of extra storage and batteries is brilliant when needed, like spending the day in an airport and having tons of locally stored music/movie choices, but most of the time as a DD can be lived without. Other negatives: a little larger and heavier, and non-AMOLED screen. On the plus side, it's got a bit better CPU and larger screen size than the S4. And a lot cheaper than the S6, S5, M9. If it had SD and removable battery, it would be a no-brainer.
I broke my S4 screen and replaced it myself with a $6 piece of glass off ebay. It's worked great considering the price, but it's more reflective and the touch input is far from perfect. It's still functional, but annoying, & $9.50/month is pretty light, so I think I'll give that a shot. They have a 15 day trial period, too. In the long run, worst case scenario, I end up with a spare phone / mini WiFi tablet that only cost $228.
vertigo_2_20 said:
I originally was going to buy an S6, against my better judgement, until I found I could not buy a 128GB version, even from the AT&T store. I've considered the S5, but I can't find an unlocked 32GB version that works on 4G. I considered the Note 4, but I really don't want a phablet, and that's a lot of money to spend on a phone I feel I won't like due to its size. Also, it frustrates me that two of the main alternatives to the S6 I considered due to the S6's lack of expandable storage and removable battery are both Samsung's, so even if I did go with one of them, I would still be giving them money. Before any of this, I was looking at the Sony Xperia Z4, until that turned out to be a letdown, and then the Sony Xperia Z3, but again there is no 32GB unlocked version. Despite my hatred of Motorola, I even considered the Droid Turbo/Maxx, until I realized it lacks expandable storage. The G4 looks ok, but it's a bit large for my taste (though supposedly not as bad as other 5.5" phones), I really don't think I'd like the buttons on the back, and there are no real reviews yet of it. Not to mention it irritates me they're releasing two other "G4" versions that are nothing like the G4, but rather are stripped down junk. The Zenphone 2 is big and just seems cheap, which I get it is a cheap phone, but still. The S6 Active may end up being the closest thing to perfect, but I don't know how I'll like the physical buttons, and I think I'd rather it be less bulky so people that want the extra protection can use a case, but leave that up to the individual. I've pre-ordered the Elephone P7000, which looks like a really good phone for the price, but again, no 32GB version. Still, for the price, I can live with that for a few months until something better comes out. So many phones that are almost great, but fall short. I've been searching high and low for the past 2-3 months and it's getting tiresome. I'd love some other ideas, but I doubt anybody can point me to something I don't already know about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went through a similar decision making process except I never considered getting the Galaxy S6 after they got rid of the microSD slot, reduced the battery capacity and made it built in and didn't make it waterproof. Back in 2014 when the Galaxy S5 was released, I was also waiting for T-Mobile to release the 32gb version (even though it has expandable storage) because I was worried about running into storage issues for apps (because many apps can't be moved to a microSD card with KitKat) but none of the US carriers ever released the Galaxy S5 with 32gb. AFAIK only the international version was released with 32gb storage. Then after I learned that T-Mobile was rolling out LTE on band 12 (700 MHz block A) and the Galaxy S5 didn't support it then I wasn't interested in it anymore. Then I looked at the T-Mobile version of the Sony Xperia Z3 (which supports LTE on band 12) but those huge bezels really bothered me. It's a phone with a 5.2" screen that's almost as big as the Galaxy Note 4 which has a 5.7" screen. I decided to wait for the Xperia Z4 hoping that it would have optical image stabilization but unfortunately it didn't. Most recently I considered the HTC One M9 because it IMHO had the perfect screen size/resolution 5" 1080p, top of the line Snapdragon 810 processor, 32gb storage, microSD card slot, decent size battery but unfortunately no optical image stabilization in the camera. The Elephone P7000 looks interesting for the price but it looks like it's basically an upgraded OnePlus One but a 5.5" screen is just too big for me.
Options
The ZTE Nubia Z9 Mini looks like a very good option for those of you that are running current devices that are a couple of years old, but I don't think it offers enough of an upgrade from my Z3 Compact for me to consider. But, given the expected price and general specs I think this would be a great choice for most people. There is a little bit of me that is tempted to go for this device just to scratch my 'must buy a new phone' itch!
The Nubia Z9 (not Mini or Max, confusing nomenclature!) also looks like a well specced device, but there seems to be uncertainty about whether this has an SD card slot, plus it runs the Snapdragon 810 which seems to be a rather tainted SoC from what I read everywhere.
The Sharp Aquos Xx also looks interesting, 84% screen ratio but again Snapdragon 810 and I've no idea whether Sharp make decent phones or not...
Any options with dual boot phones
For me the main reason to order Saygus V² was the dual boot option, with the possibility to boot from microsd card. Is anyone aware of other smartphones with this feature?
hella356 said:
I actually prefer the plastic body for weight and toughness factors.
I want to vote with my wallet against the S6 because the removal of (to me) major features
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on both counts
lukec36 said:
The ZTE Nubia Z9 Mini looks like a very good option
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Click to collapse
Not for me. Non-removable battery, which I would be willing to overlook if all else was good and it had Quick Charge, but it does not (of course, all else being equal, I will always choose the phone with the removable battery, and if I were to buy one without, it would be a temp phone until a different one with a removable battery came out). Also, only 16GB internal memory is NOT enough. 32GB is minimum for me. The ONLY reason I ever got rid of my EVO 4G was because I was constantly getting low memory errors, and I don't want to deal with that again. I don't want to settle for a phone with less than 32GB internal and less than 96GB total memory, even a temporary one. At least the P7000 is very cheap and has otherwise good specs and a removable battery, so the internal memory is the only big sacrifice. Unfortunately, it looks like that one is out, too, and I need to cancel my order, because it doesn't work on AT&T's LTE.
Thanks
Thanks for this thread. As much as I can't look away from the train wreck that is Saygus, I really do need to replace my outdated phone and leave the Apple compound and koolaid behind.
You'd think it would be easy to buy a decent phone with a swappable battery and expandable storage.
Zinguy said:
Thanks for this thread. As much as I can't look away from the train wreck that is Saygus, I really do need to replace my outdated phone and leave the Apple compound and koolaid behind.
You'd think it would be easy to buy a decent phone with a swappable battery and expandable storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's the crazy part, I still want the V2 because of the features. I'm shocked that more people aren't worried about support after the sale from Saygus though.
Zinguy said:
Thanks for this thread. As much as I can't look away from the train wreck that is Saygus, I really do need to replace my outdated phone and leave the Apple compound and koolaid behind.
You'd think it would be easy to buy a decent phone with a swappable battery and expandable storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is most mainstream manufacturers seem to be heading towards sealed unit phones, and the majority have given up on SD support on flagships. Sony is a noticeable exception but their in life care leaves a lot to be desired - the official Sony phone forums are full of threads on issues that Sony refuses to officially acknowledge.
A lot of the 'cheaper' phones from Chinese manufacturers interest me, but there is always a compromise there. Honor's cheaper phones have non-backlit capacitive buttons. Meizu and Xiaomi seem to shun SD. Elephone seems a little left field. Most Chinese flagships are 5.5 inch.
What we all seem to agree on is that the V2 offered the fewest compromises, and everything else has at least one glaring black mark that we realistically are not able to swallow. Which makes the apparent train wreck of the V2 that much harder to take and ultimately is responsible for the sometime over emotional outbursts by the various pro/anti Saygus camps.
lukec36 said:
The ZTE Nubia Z9 Mini looks like a very good option for those of you that are running current devices that are a couple of years old, but I don't think it offers enough of an upgrade from my Z3 Compact for me to consider. But, given the expected price and general specs I think this would be a great choice for most people. There is a little bit of me that is tempted to go for this device just to scratch my 'must buy a new phone' itch!
The Nubia Z9 (not Mini or Max, confusing nomenclature!) also looks like a well specced device, but there seems to be uncertainty about whether this has an SD card slot, plus it runs the Snapdragon 810 which seems to be a rather tainted SoC from what I read everywhere.
The Sharp Aquos Xx also looks interesting, 84% screen ratio but again Snapdragon 810 and I've no idea whether Sharp make decent phones or not...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually the ZTE Nubia Z9 does look pretty amazing. Only issue for me is no wireless charging and the price seems high. The Sharp Aquos Xx doesnt have a speaker. Not sure how I would like that.
This is an interesting alternative I saw on BGR but I doubt it will be available with support for US networks. It's made by a Chinese company called Innos and it has a 5.2-inch 1080p display, a Snapdragon 615 1.8GHz octa-core processor, a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 3 GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and Android 5.0 Lollipop. The most interesting thing about it is that has dual batteries with a total capacity of 6000mAh, an internal one that's 2480mAh and an external replaceable one that's 3520mAh. I don't think it has a microSD memory card slot but if someone can read Chinese then the second link will have all the specs. I tried Google translate on the page but it didn't translate much.
http://bgr.com/2015/05/22/best-smartphone-battery-innos-d6000/
http://www.innos.com/yiluo/product.php?lang=cn&class2=168
Sam K said:
This is an interesting alternative I saw on BGR but I doubt it will be available with support for US networks. It's made by a Chinese company called Innos and it has a 5.2-inch 1080p display, a Snapdragon 615 1.8GHz octa-core processor, a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 3 GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and Android 5.0 Lollipop. The most interesting thing about it is that has dual batteries with a total capacity of 6000mAh, an internal one that's 2480mAh and an external replaceable one that's 3520mAh. I don't think it has a microSD memory card slot but if someone can read Chinese then the second link will have all the specs. I tried Google translate on the page but it didn't translate much.
http://bgr.com/2015/05/22/best-smartphone-battery-innos-d6000/
http://www.innos.com/yiluo/product.php?lang=cn&class2=168
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Click to collapse
Wow that looks really cool!
If someone knows of another phone with a reasonable screen size, removable battery, waterproofing, front facing speakers, expandable storage, a durable body material (i.e. not aluminum, something that doesn't need a case) and a fingerprint reader, I'd like to know about it.
Or at least most of those things.
MikeyMike01 said:
If someone knows of another phone with a reasonable screen size, removable battery, waterproofing, front facing speakers, expandable storage, a durable body material (i.e. not aluminum, something that doesn't need a case) and a fingerprint reader, I'd like to know about it.
Or at least most of those things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Galaxy S5 meets most of your criteria. The only thing it lacks out of those is the front-facing speakers. I know, some people would argue it also doesn't have a "durable body," since it's made out of plastic, but I 100% disagree. My S4 was tough as hell, despite being plastic (and I actually think partly because of it, since plastic flexes and also weighs less, so less impact force when falling). I've thrown it so many times, to the point the case came off and the battery flew out once, and it never so much as got a scratch that I saw. And the only reason I put a case on it was because it was too thin and felt weird in the hand, and the case I used was a very slim one, so it didn't add much to the phone, just a tiny bit of extra thickness and a better grip. As much as I dislike Samsung right now, the S5 would be my next phone if it were available unlocked with 32GB internal memory.
It would be great to know about Mi 3 . I have heard about this company last year in December. This company producing affordable smartphones but some peoples has created blunders such as phone stuck, battery, heating and touch not working properly. so anyone there who has been using this phone or used before Kindly, explain about pros and cons in detail ?
I have been using this phone for the last 1 year, and so far it has been exceptional for its price, it has all the specs of a 2013-2014 flagship. There are MANY reviews of Mi 3 on YouTube so I am not gonna elaborate much, you could watch one by a reviewer 'C4ETech' he as great reviews and comparisons on this.
Bottom line: Great screen, good camera (Same sensor as Moto X 2014), great performance (Same CPU as Nexus 5), unique design, great battery life.
Its camera is made by Sony, Screen by LG, Battery and memory probably by Samsung, so all internals are quality parts.
The heating issues etc. have been faced by n00bs who don't understand what it means to have s CPU like SD800 in phone and to what extent these are software issues that can be fixed. I really couldn't expect any part of it to perform better than it does.
The only downside I've felt is that the device seems a little fragile, My friend's S4 has faced some really bad drops from his bike and survived, I don't think my Mi 3 would have been able to survive that, dropped it 2 times and there were significant dents, the screen has no lip covering it and I feel had I dropped it at an odd angle, it would've broken its screen, so use a TPU cover on it. Also the phone did get hot while using 3G data, GPS and Google Maps, though I think every phone would do the same. Still it gets warmer than it should with just Mobile Data on.
Also, sound quality isn't that great, its fine if you use earphones, but I use ATH M50X headphones with my devices, and the difference in sound quality is clear when comparing it to my older Xperia SP.
It is the first phone which I was fully satisfied with, because it was my first experience of a 'flagship phone' and that too for a price in my budget.
Xiaomi is a great company, I have 6 of their devices at home including their tablet, and after using Mi 3 for 1 year I upgraded to Mi 4. Their service center isn't in my city and I've seen more negative reviews about its service than positives, so I can't comment about that. It had no problems while it was with me.
PROS:
1) Cheap
2) Good value for money
CONS:
1) Screen quality is very cheap
2) After sale service pathetic
3) OS Upgrades are weekly but still running on Kitkat
4) Xiaomi does not release full Kernel sources on time, resulting in buggy third party ROMs
PROS:
1) Cheap
2) Good value for money
3) nice screen colors
4) nice battery life (better than my n5)
5) 64 gb-no sd slot
CONS:
1) no sd slot
2) plasticky
3) a grid of dots on the screen
4) android 4.4 (easy to fix just install CM)
5) touchscreen problems when charging
6) huge, bulky but I have small hands
Would I buy it again? Too bulky for me, I'd go for mi4 32gb. Other than that great phone for a great price.
Pros have been fairly well explained but I'll add some more cons to the list.
Cons:
1. Radio is rather weak in these phones. I often times get no signal or it likes to sit at the 2 to 3 bar spot in my area on average.
2. They try and cram to many phones into the same rom causing loss of confusion and frustration in both the user and devs sides.
3. The speaker in this phone is really weak so don't count in hearing a call in your pocket unless you tweak the kernel or mixer_paths.xml which is going to make your phone distort listening to music.
4. Phone vibration is extremely weak as well and you won't feel it in you're pocket at least I can't even after cranking it up in a custom kernel.
I could list more but I don't really feel I have to.
Could I have done worse for $300? Yes I could have.
Would I buy it knowing what I know now? Probably not.
For $300 I would probably get the 64gb zenfone 2 or the oneplus one.
I just bought my brother a 64gb oneplus two and despite all the negative reviews I love that phone compared to this 1 as I do not ever want nfc and 64gb with otg support is more than enough. The speaker in the oneplus two isn't great either but it's louder than this one and if you just download a couple of louder notifications and ringtones it's great. The radio also runs circles around this phone giving 4 to 5 bars compared to my 2 to 3 bars of service. Oneplus also beats it in battery life compared to my phone.
Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk
a.broken.star said:
PROS:
1) Cheap
2) Good value for money
CONS:
1) Screen quality is very cheap
2) After sale service pathetic
3) OS Upgrades are weekly but still running on Kitkat
4) Xiaomi does not release full Kernel sources on time, resulting in buggy third party ROMs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed :good:
PROS:
1) cheap
2) camera isnt the worst
3) easy to root
4) decent battery life
5) 64gb max
CONS:
1) no gorilla glass
2) camera can record slow motion, but the quality is [po op]
3) i personally think miui is ugly, miui is still in kitkat and xiaomi dont wanna release full kernel source
4) phone is hot when using
5) no sd card slot
I am wondering why anyone, who has a OP5 or OP5T would upgrade?
My OP5 with the 835 CPU and 128Gb ram works great. OK, a couple of foibles, but there is no guarentee that they are fixed in the new one.
A new one has a slightly faster processor, OIS on the camera and a larger screen. Is that sufficient to change?
I'm curious - it's not a financial issue (I'm not broke), but I would need persuading.
Alan
It doesn't make sense.
1. With the speed upgrade what can you do or achieve in those split seconds.
2. Are those extra inch of display worth the price.
3. No comments on camera. Definitely those too are going to suck.
Wait for 7, I'm going to.
alan sh said:
I am wondering why anyone, who has a OP5 or OP5T would upgrade?
My OP5 with the 835 CPU and 128Gb ram works great. OK, a couple of foibles, but there is no guarentee that they are fixed in the new one.
A new one has a slightly faster processor, OIS on the camera and a larger screen. Is that sufficient to change?
I'm curious - it's not a financial issue (I'm not broke), but I would need persuading.
Alan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why ask us? It's your money, buy it or don't buy it.
Well a few reasons. I'm coming from a 5 not a 5T, so this makes a difference.
1. I sell my current phone after a year to get maximum
value back. That keeps my or of pocket for a new phone
usually at $100-$150.
2. With free money through new car test drive rewards, I
have $220 in rewards added to my paypal account
making the $579 OnePlus 6 just $360. With the sale of my
OnePlus 5, I shouldn't have any money out of pocket and
may make$20 or $40
3. The processor and new band 71 support for TMobile is a
nice feature.
4. The camera is certainly better in comparison tests to the
pixel 2 and s9+. The 19% size increase of the camera pixel
and OIS make for much better low light photos and
video capture.
5. The screen is larger. Not a notch fan but it's smaller then
most and you can hide it. So if I don't like who cares it's
gone.
There may be a few other reason I'm missing but to me those are what stick out right now. Oh and with glass, better reception and 4x4 MIMO (Gigabit LTE)
Edit: I wasn't sure but just read that the 128gb and 256gb storage options will both have UFS 2.1. I previously thought it was just the 256gb storage option. That will be huge speed increase in storage.
If I were you, I wouldn't "upgrade" to the OnePlus 6, nothing new besides OIS, larger screen and new CPU. Just a waste of money
Khaos said:
If I were you, I wouldn't "upgrade" to the OnePlus 6, nothing new besides OIS, larger screen and new CPU. Just a waste of money
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely disagree. 4x4 MIMO for Gigabit LTE, UFS 2.1 storage (OP5 eMMc is 400mbps and UFS 2.1 is 1.5gbps), OIS plus 19% larger pixels for better low light pics, band 71 for TMobile users, bigger screen and more power efficient SoC.
It may not be enough for you to upgrade but certainly not a waste.
Eric214 said:
Definitely disagree. 4x4 MIMO for Gigabit LTE, UFS 2.1 storage (OP5 eMMc is 400mbps and UFS 2.1 is 1.5gbps), OIS plus 19% larger pixels for better low light pics, band 71 for TMobile users, bigger screen and more power efficient SoC.
It may not be enough for you to upgrade but certainly not a waste.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OP5 has also UFS 2.1 storage.
I will wait for next Gen UFS 3 Smartphone.
Kallmeidroppe said:
OP5 has also UFS 2.1 storage.
I will wait for next Gen UFS 3 Smartphone.
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Click to collapse
Ahh I stand corrected, thought it had eMMc. All good. The rest is correct and still more then enough to upgrade from the 5, maybe not the 5T though.
Buy OP6 if you want that notched and back-shattering experience.
Considering that there is a 99.9% chance the 6T will be released in November, I'll hold onto my €600 and see if anything actually worth while comes on it that justifies spending the money compared to the 6.
I wouldn't bother. True the processor (I hear) is 30% faster but you have to balance that with the highly not-durable all glass body (front and back) and the minimal improvements. Too much risk to justify buying a new one.
Now that I think about it, there actually is one big improvement - project Treble.
lunafag said:
Now that I think about it, there actually is one big improvement - project Treble.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a huge improvement, actually.
OnePlus dev community is one of the best and the 5 and 5t should receive many Android upgrades after OnePlus discontinues their support.
Also, with the latest OpenBetas, they've made changes to the partitions and the Camera Hal. Everything points to future Treble support for the 5 and 5t: https://forum.xda-developers.com/pr...opment/discussion-guide-oneplus-5-5t-t3776358
Cuz why not?
imo you should wait for 6T to release. People always buy non-T phones and get nervous after few months when OnePlus releases an upgraded version for the same price.
The reason why I would not move to OP6 from OP5 (no T)
- fingerprint on back (as also OP5T) is to me the biggest problem, considering I'm keeping the most of the time the phone on a desk
- camera: it's from OP3 they are saying it way better than before... but nothing (of few) has changed. If you buy OP, Camera it's not your nr 1 need
- is way bigger than a OP5 (of course, also OP5T)
- price !!
Here some reason why I would move:
- bigger screen (even if that notch...)
- 256GB possibility (but what a price !)
- Support to LTE Cat 13 and the 2x2 MIMO WiFi
Honestly I will stay on 5 until 6T and then let's see (if the will use fingerprint below screen)
I have been a pretty progressive one+ buyer. Daughter has one+3, wife has 1+3plus and I have the 5. Of course we've sold couple of oneplusone's and x. Since the 3 came out, everyone has been super satisfied with our devices. No root/custom ROM was required. Why do I upgrade? Because that's what our family do. It has definitely helped with keeping the cost down and everyone happy. I'm pretty sure other than cosmetics, not too much difference will be noticeable with 6. All of our one+ devices are in great working condition and still fast! Can't really tell the phones apart from the other. I try to upgrade every year. So does everyone in the family.
Basically , only because i have 64GB and to upgrade to 128 or 256
Just wait for T version, buying this mobile if you have oneplus 5 is pointless, even with T could be still pointless, it is just smartphone and almost exactly as previous one. Bigger screen is not 'life changer'
bullooka said:
It doesn't make sense.
1. With the speed upgrade what can you do or achieve in those split seconds.
2. Are those extra inch of display worth the price.
3. No comments on camera. Definitely those too are going to suck.
Wait for 7, I'm going to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Good points. It is pointless to upgrade to OP6 as there is no amazing feature that stands out.
I currently have and use a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. I love the phone but it feel it's time to upgrade and I'll add this S20 to my pile of phones to play with. So far I like the S21 Ultra better because of the build quality over the S20 Ultra. I like the metal around the camera lens over the glass of the S20 Ultra. I also like the bigger fingerprint scanner behind the screen. Mine bugs out occasionally and can be irritating. The screen is phenomenal on the S20 Ultra and even better on the S21 Ultra. So should I upgrade or wait for an S22 Ultra? Or should I branch away from Samsung? I was a long time HTC user and switched fully to Samsung back at the release of the Galaxy Note 5. I've used and played with many Nexus, Motorola, OnePlus, LG and other phones and I'm stuck on Samsung. Hell I even went back to an iPhone XS Max because my family all has them, and let me tell you, that didn't last long. So I'm just wanting your guys opinions, worth the upgrade now? Wait? Branch away?
Not sure I'd upgrade but my upgrade span is normally two years. But the facts are that the camera is far better, the chipset is far better (regardless of region), it has S-pen support, the screen is better and it looks better.
If you think that's worth the price then go for it.
Check the video below for a more in depth comparison.
Beefheart said:
Not sure I'd upgrade but my upgrade span is normally two years. But the facts are that the camera is far better, the chipset is far better (regardless of region), it has S-pen support, the screen is better and it looks better.
If you think that's worth the price then go for it.
Check the video below for a more in depth comparison.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do agree that it's a better handset all around. I love my S20, but I hate it at the same time with all of its quirks. I guess I haven't looked yet, but I'm sure they are planning the S22 very soon, and it might be worth me waiting for that. I've just had small minuscule issues with my S20 Ultra, like currently waiting on my replacement since my screen quit entirely as well as all the rear camera sensors. I'm using my spare Galaxy A20 that was brand new in the box until my new S20 Ultra gets here. This A20 is super disappointing in terms of performance so I'm trying to not use it as much as I dont have to.
KaydenMcCurdyTech said:
I currently have and use a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. I love the phone but it feel it's time to upgrade and I'll add this S20 to my pile of phones to play with. So far I like the S21 Ultra better because of the build quality over the S20 Ultra. I like the metal around the camera lens over the glass of the S20 Ultra. I also like the bigger fingerprint scanner behind the screen. Mine bugs out occasionally and can be irritating. The screen is phenomenal on the S20 Ultra and even better on the S21 Ultra. So should I upgrade or wait for an S22 Ultra? Or should I branch away from Samsung? I was a long time HTC user and switched fully to Samsung back at the release of the Galaxy Note 5. I've used and played with many Nexus, Motorola, OnePlus, LG and other phones and I'm stuck on Samsung. Hell I even went back to an iPhone XS Max because my family all has them, and let me tell you, that didn't last long. So I'm just wanting your guys opinions, worth the upgrade now? Wait? Branch away?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not going to be a night and day differnce. Cameras are definitely better and focus issues are fixed. Screen is only a minor upgrade in terms of quality - unless you want to leverage the new processor to run it a WQHD+ at adaptive refresh rate. Even that is barely discernible against the FHD+ with VRR. At least to my eyes.
Is it worth it monetarily? No. It doesn't make any financial sense dropping that kind of money every year on a handset. THe S21U is definitely better than the S20U, but not $1000 better
Is it worth it as a shiny new toy for playing around (provided money isn't that big a concern for you)? Hell, yeah.
Depends how you define "worth" and what your yearly budget is for gadgets.
enigmaamit said:
It's not going to be a night and day differnce. Cameras are definitely better and focus issues are fixed. Screen is only a minor upgrade in terms of quality - unless you want to leverage the new processor to run it a WQHD+ at adaptive refresh rate. Even that is barely discernible against the FHD+ with VRR. At least to my eyes.
Is it worth it monetarily? No. It doesn't make any financial sense dropping that kind of money every year on a handset. THe S21U is definitely better than the S20U, but not $1000 better
Is it worth it as a shiny new toy for playing around (provided money isn't that big a concern for you)? Hell, yeah.
Depends how you define "worth" and what your yearly budget is for gadgets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I don't feel its worth dropping $1,000 every year, maybe every 2, sometimes 3 years. I actually paid $1,500 for my S20 Ultra right when it came out. I've just only started to get bored of it or irritated with little issues. But really, I think I'll wait it through and get the next Galaxy that jumps out ahead of competition in relation to specs. They usually wait to see what Apple will do, and try and get a couple steps ahead of them, not just 1 or the same. Sadly enough, Apple is competing side by side now with their new chips and they aren't doing too bad. I'm kind of wanting to try the 12 Pro Max but that would go against my religion.
KaydenMcCurdyTech said:
Personally I don't feel its worth dropping $1,000 every year, maybe every 2, sometimes 3 years. I actually paid $1,500 for my S20 Ultra right when it came out. I've just only started to get bored of it or irritated with little issues. But really, I think I'll wait it through and get the next Galaxy that jumps out ahead of competition in relation to specs. They usually wait to see what Apple will do, and try and get a couple steps ahead of them, not just 1 or the same. Sadly enough, Apple is competing side by side now with their new chips and they aren't doing too bad. I'm kind of wanting to try the 12 Pro Max but that would go against my religion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it's a sensible decision to wait for the next galaxy, especially since you have a "relatively" recent device already. Who knows, you may fall for the Z Fold 3 ?
Don't wait for Samsung to copy Apple too much though.... next thing you know, they'll stop including the phone in the box
enigmaamit said:
I think it's a sensible decision to wait for the next galaxy, especially since you have a "relatively" recent device already. Who knows, you may fall for the Z Fold 3 ?
Don't wait for Samsung to copy Apple too much though.... next thing you know, they'll stop including the phone in the box
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I very well could fall for the Z Fold 3, but who knows, I really am not sure I like the folding or flipping phones. I tried that a few times, even sliders, and they just weren't for me. I had every generation of Motorola Droid with the slider since first introduced, actually still have them lol, but the slider I wasn't a fan of. I had a Palm Pre Plus, and I had a Kyocera Echo. Cool concept and way ahead of it's time in 2013/2014, but was glitchy and cheap. I like a solid build. Probably the only flipping or sliding I liked was the original Motorola Razr V3m/or VE20. The Palm slider was nice though.
And you're not wrong on the Apple part . Thanks for the laugh. I think in terms of new phones, Samsung has had the cat in the bag for a long time.
IMHO the decision to upgrade or not comes down to value. By the time the S22 is released the S21 will be a better value and from rumors online it doesn't look as though the S22 Ultra (or whatever it's labeled) will have enough improvements to justify the additional cost. I'm thinking Samsung released the S21 Ultra earlier than previous devices because the S20 Ultra had some issues and it didn't generate sales volume they anticipated. As far as the Fold goes I see only one advantage, it can fold for a larger display. When one compares features with the S21 Ultra it's nowhere near the value especially if the focus is on features. I kinda feel sorry for users who dropped a bundle of money for the S20 Ultra, it's a bit of a tweener who's features were eclipsed in a significant way by the S21 Ultra.
varcor said:
IMHO the decision to upgrade or not comes down to value. By the time the S22 is released the S21 will be a better value and from rumors online it doesn't look as though the S22 Ultra (or whatever it's labeled) will have enough improvements to justify the additional cost. I'm thinking Samsung released the S21 Ultra earlier than previous devices because the S20 Ultra had some issues and it didn't generate sales volume they anticipated. As far as the Fold goes I see only one advantage, it can fold. When one compares features with the S21 Ultra it's nowhere near the value especially if the focus is on features. I kinda feel sorry for users who dropped a bundle of money for the S20 Ultra, it's a bit of a tweener who's features were eclipsed in a significant way by the S21 Ultra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't agree more. Now the S20 Ultra is a significantly better phone than the iPhone XS Max I used shortly before it, and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge I was using before the iPhone. I had the Galaxy S8+ before going back to the S7 Edge, but that phone the first day I got it, it was dropped not even 3 feet onto a carpeted floor and cracked the screen. I immediately sent in for a replacement and not even 6 months of using it, it died. So I dug the trusty S7 Edge out of my drawer and put it back to use.
I did overspend on the S20 Ultra sitting back and looking at it now because I wanted the newest greatest phone and I was eligible for the upgrade, so I just did it. It's little issues with the fingerprint scanner are definitely annoying and the camera was good, but not what I thought it was shook up to be. I also have issues randomly dropping service, even in full bar areas. It games nicely, and the specs are great. I hate that I spent the money I did to get the lower RAM/storage version. But they didnt have a 256 or 512gb in stock. Next one I get will definitely be a 512gb with the highest RAM option. Granted this phone has never slowed down with a bunch of apps, I just ran out of 128gb faster than I thought I would.
KaydenMcCurdyTech said:
I couldn't agree more. Now the S20 Ultra is a significantly better phone than the iPhone XS Max I used shortly before it, and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge I was using before the iPhone. I had the Galaxy S8+ before going back to the S7 Edge, but that phone the first day I got it, it was dropped not even 3 feet onto a carpeted floor and cracked the screen. I immediately sent in for a replacement and not even 6 months of using it, it died. So I dug the trusty S7 Edge out of my drawer and put it back to use.
I did overspend on the S20 Ultra sitting back and looking at it now because I wanted the newest greatest phone and I was eligible for the upgrade, so I just did it. It's little issues with the fingerprint scanner are definitely annoying and the camera was good, but not what I thought it was shook up to be. I also have issues randomly dropping service, even in full bar areas. It games nicely, and the specs are great. I hate that I spent the money I did to get the lower RAM/storage version. But they didnt have a 256 or 512gb in stock. Next one I get will definitely be a 512gb with the highest RAM option. Granted this phone has never slowed down with a bunch of apps, I just ran out of 128gb faster than I thought I would.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, with no MicroSD available some users like myself understand the 256GB (about 200GB after system use is deducted) isn't enough. Lots of users are comfortable with this available internal storage for their purposes and utilize external storage devices to compensate but I'm not one of them. I have zero faith in Cloud Storage for privacy and security concerns.
Since you're in the US, if you decide on acquiring a 512GB device the Branded Service Provider's have no 512GB units available, not sure if some of them ever did offer it. Then that leaves you with a couple of options, the Snapdragon or Exynos Global variants. Given a choice I prefer the Snapdragon 888 SoC.
I opted for the Hong Kong (CSC - TGY) 512GB device. In addition to the largest internal storage it offers no carrier bloatware, dual sim's, unlocked bootloader and faster OTA's. There are some downsides as well. It's more expensive since there's no trade-in promotion, so you'd need to sell the S20 Ultra private party if you don't want to add it to your other older units. There is a 1 year warranty but that requires it be shipped back to the original retailer. That didn't bother me since I've never had repair issues with any of my previous Galaxy devices. Lastly, certain Branded Carrier Call Features like 5G and Carrier Aggregation may not work. My device does enable 4G LTE, WI-FI Calling which are sufficient for my usage. My S9+, S10 Plus were Hong Kong variants as well and I had no issues other than what I've already shared.
A Carrier Branded device may be the best value for you based on overall costs but the internal storage constraints killed it for me, 200GB just doesn't cut it. With my S10 Plus it made sense to buy the 128GB variant at a lower price and drop in the MicroSD, problem solved! If the S21 Ultra had external memory I would have done the same workaround and saved about $400 USD. I like the S21 Ultra alot, it's the best device available IMHO, if it had MicroSD I'd LOVE IT!
varcor said:
Agreed, with no MicroSD available some users like myself understand the 256GB (about 200GB after system use is deducted) isn't enough. Lots of users are comfortable with this available internal storage for their purposes and utilize external storage devices to compensate but I'm not one of them. I have zero faith in Cloud Storage for privacy and security concerns.
Since you're in the US, if you decide on acquiring a 512GB device the Branded Service Provider's have no 512GB units available, not sure if some of them ever did offer it. Then that leaves you with a couple of options, the Snapdragon or Exynos Global variants. Given a choice I prefer the Snapdragon 888 SoC.
I opted for the Hong Kong (CSC - TGY) 512GB device. In addition to the largest internal storage it offers no carrier bloatware, dual sim's, unlocked bootloader and faster OTA's. There are some downsides as well. It's more expensive since there's no trade-in promotion, so you'd need to sell the S20 Ultra private party if you don't want to add it to your other older units. There is a 1 year warranty but that requires it be shipped back to the original retailer. That didn't bother me since I've never had repair issues with any of my previous Galaxy devices. Lastly, certain Branded Carrier Call Features like 5G and Carrier Aggregation may not work. My device does enable 4G LTE, WI-FI Calling which are sufficient for my usage. My S9+, S10 Plus were Hong Kong variants as well and I had no issues other than what I've already shared.
A Carrier Branded device may be the best value for you based on overall costs but the internal storage constraints killed it for me, 200GB just doesn't cut it. With my S10 Plus it made sense to buy the 128GB variant at a lower price and drop in the MicroSD, problem solved! If the S21 Ultra had external memory I would have done the same workaround and saved about $400 USD. I like the S21 Ultra alot, it's the best device available IMHO, if it had MicroSD I'd LOVE IT!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh my, I didn't even pay attention to them not including a MicroSD. They did that in the S8 but only the S8, and that's not okay with me. I have a 512gb SD I transfer from phone to phone for photos and file management. That's not going to cut it for me relying strictly on internal storage. Although I seen they make a type C to micro SD adapter that's inexpensive and works well, so I guess if I do upgrade I could do that. But, idk, I'm liking the Note 20 Ultra right now as well.
You should want an SD card.
Samsung's are the most customizable stock Androids on the planet... if you haven't noticed.
The only thing I would consider at this time personally is the Note 20 U or another Note 10+ 512gb Snapdragon variant. I'll wait another year to see if Samsung and Android can get recover from their high G flat spin.
Otherwise I'll default to my former choices. My preferred OS is still Pie and the 10+ is a solid, fast, stable performer. Decisions, decisions...
Samsung's offerings this year so far are weak. Android 11 is looking like another Vista.
That's 2 strikes and the 3rd strike be making the mistake of buying it
blackhawk said:
You should want an SD card.
Samsung's are the most customizable stock Androids on the planet... if you haven't noticed.
The only thing I would consider at this time personally is the Note 20 U or another Note 10+ 512gb Snapdragon variant. I'll wait another year to see if Samsung and Android can get recover from their high G flat spin.
Otherwise I'll default to my former choices. My preferred OS is still Pie and the 10+ is a solid, fast, stable performer. Decisions, decisions...
Samsung's offerings this year so far are weak. Android 11 is looking like another Vista.
That's 2 strikes and the 3rd strike be making the mistake of buying it
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I haven't had any issues with Android 11 as of yet, there just wasn't much added. Having no SD Card is a downside for me. I do love how customizable Samsungs are right out of the box. I'll probably get a Note 20 Ultra because why not. I'd get the largest variant available to me.
KaydenMcCurdyTech said:
I haven't had any issues with Android 11 as of yet, there just wasn't much added. Having no SD Card is a downside for me. I do love how customizable Samsungs are right out of the box. I'll probably get a Note 20 Ultra because why not. I'd get the largest variant available to me.
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The 20U is a solid platform. Get a good case before you start using it. They are beautiful slippery fish.
The Notes wuv to corner hit and face plant when dropped. The spen corner seems to be their favorite corner to land on
I use the Zizo Bolt and the Gorilla IQ Sheild screen protector. Zero damage in 1.5+ years in spite of nearly a dozen drops from 2-4 feet onto concrete.
A SD card allows you to have a data drive.
All critical data goes here including everything you need to do a full reload including installable app copies. No Playstore needed. This drive is then redundantly backed up to at least 2 hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other. Use a V30 rated card or higher.
Lexar's work right out of the box.
The internal memory regardless of its size is the OS drive. Loaded apps and the temporary DCIM and download* folders go here.
You now have a dual drive 1+tb computer in your hand
This is how my 10+ is set up. It runs like a bat out of hell. Current load is over a year old, still running fast and stable. A complete reload takes about 2 hours to set it back up, no internet or PC required.
*transferred to data drive once vetted
blackhawk said:
The 20U is a solid platform. Get a good case before you start using it. They are beautiful slippery fish.
The Notes wuv to corner hit and face plant when dropped. The spen corner seems to be their favorite corner to land on
I use the Zizo Bolt and the Gorilla IQ Sheild screen protector. Zero damage in 1.5+ years in spite of nearly a dozen drops from 2-4 feet onto concrete.
A SD card allows you to have a data drive.
All critical data goes here including everything you need to do a full reload including installable app copies. No Playstore needed. This drive is then redundantly backed up to at least 2 hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other. Use a V30 rated card or higher.
Lexar's work right out of the box.
The internal memory regardless of its size is the OS drive. Loaded apps and the temporary DCIM and download* folders go here.
You now have a dual drive 1+tb computer in your hand
This is how my 10+ is set up. It runs like a bat out of hell. Current load is over a year old, still running fast and stable. A complete reload takes about 2 hours to set it back up, no internet or PC required.
*transferred to data drive once vetted
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Click to collapse
How big is your SD Card? I'm considering ordering a 1TB card and transferring everything over. I use my phone for editing video, photos, rendering, office, receipts etc. Which is why I haven't played with its OS and such because it just works. I have a 256gb that's nearly full. I'll get a note 20 U and buy a 1tb card and leave my 256gb in my S20 U.
KaydenMcCurdyTech said:
How big is your SD Card? I'm considering ordering a 1TB card and transferring everything over. I use my phone for editing video, photos, rendering, office, receipts etc. Which is why I haven't played with its OS and such because it just works. I have a 256gb that's nearly full. I'll get a note 20 U and buy a 1tb card and leave my 256gb in my S20 U.
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I have a 512gb Lexar V30 card ($65) and currently using about 340gb.
Thinking about upgrading to a 1tb V30 card but they aren't cheap ($180-240).
The V30 is fast enough to stream video and wav files from with no issues. The Lexar writes around a [email protected]
The 20U has a faster bus than the 10+ so it may benefit from a faster card. Not sure as it doesn't apply to me and I haven't pursued it; V30 is fast enough for what I need.
If you have a large database you'll chew up one 1tb fast. My current database is about 1.5tb; really I like to see dual SD card slots
blackhawk said:
I have a 512gb Lexar V30 card ($65) and currently using about 340gb.
Thinking about upgrading to a 1tb V30 card but they aren't cheap ($180-240).
The V30 is fast enough to stream video and wav files from with no issues. The Lexar writes around a [email protected]
The 20U has a faster bus than the 10+ so it may benefit from a faster card. Not sure as it doesn't apply to me and I haven't pursued it; V30 is fast enough for what I need.
If you have a large database you'll chew up one 1tb fast. My current database is about 1.5tb; really I like to see dual SD card slots
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Click to collapse
Now theres an idea I can get behind! I have a large database for sure. I sort everything in folders and label everything etc. My phone is my computer lol. I even run my GoPro through my phone to edit and upload video. I would love to see dual SD Cards someday. Maybe even faster cards as well. Phone already are coming out with 16gb of RAM, there is no reason they couldn't do dual storage cards. Actually I know it's possible because I have my SD card in my s20U and I use a USB c to micro USB to my S7 edge with another SD card in it to transfer data, and I set the S7 edge up as a storage drive on my s20U. So they just need to do it already. I think Nvidia needs to try and develop another mobile GPU that's insane and Samung needs to build a media based work usable phone. Like bring back the Galaxy Mega with some decent specs instead of garbage. Use a 120hz OLED panel, like 5.5-6 inches, with a 500+ pixel density, dual SIM, dual SD card, nvidia GPU, best 8 core Snapdragon, 16-20gb ram, s pen, amazing cameras front and rear and just have it blow away the competition. I'd spend 1500 on that all day. That phone would appeal to a fair amount of people. The galaxy Mega didnt sell well along side the note series because they limited it to a single carrier in the US, the specs were ehh at best, the screen was trash and no SPen support.
The Note held a niche until the battery drama and the S Series increased the size of the display. Samsung axed it knowing sales volume would be limited and it would directly compete with the S Series. It's a good device but shaded compared to the S21 Ultra. SoC, CPU, battery, cameras, bluetooth and display resolution. It's less expensive and still offers MicroSD but other than that it's second fiddle. At least you'll have the last of a dying breed. If I were to weight value for the Note 20 Ultra it would be against the A72 at half the price, not the S21 Ultra.
varcor said:
The Note held a niche until the battery drama and the S Series increased the size of the display. Samsung axed it knowing sales volume would be limited and it would directly compete with the S Series. It's a good device but shaded compared to the S21 Ultra. SoC, CPU, battery, cameras, bluetooth and display resolution. It's less expensive and still offers MicroSD but other than that it's second fiddle. At least you'll have the last of a dying breed.
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True, I would. But it's pretty comparable with my current S20U except for camera and so forth but still a great device. I've been thinking that's what I'll do instead of the s21U. I'd like to not step away from Samsung. Who knows, if dont like the Note, then I might check out the Z fold. I just know I won't like it though.
varcor said:
The Note held a niche until the battery drama and the S Series increased the size of the display. Samsung axed it knowing sales volume would be limited and it would directly compete with the S Series. It's a good device but shaded compared to the S21 Ultra. SoC, CPU, battery, cameras, bluetooth and display resolution. It's less expensive and still offers MicroSD but other than that it's second fiddle. At least you'll have the last of a dying breed. If I were to weight value for the Note 20 Ultra it would be against the A72 at half the price, not the S21 Ultra.
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Click to collapse
The rounded display corners suck. In pictures they don't seem bad but in person they look horrible compared to the modern Notes. The colors and gamma of the 10+ are spot on. The display is one of a kind and just drop dead gorgeous. I stream vids constantly on mine.
The 12 gb ram variant of the 10+ or 16gb for the 20U are needed for a power user. The Snapdragon variant is the most desirable but difficult to root.
Battery excursions were a one shot deal although any Li can fail at any time especially when degraded.
The intergrated spen can't be replaced and even though I don't use it a lot, when I need it, I need.
As I learned battery and the C port PCB are relatively easy to replace once you know the tricks. Not near as bad as the reviews rate it.
A case is mandatory or it will get destroyed... sooner or latter.
If you can swing it and are tech savvy, get a Note.
As for being dead, doubtful. Sammy loves to play that to the hilt.
Samsung needs to rethink what their customer base wants rather than dictate what they can have. If Sammy fails to do this or fidgets like LG, they will suffer badly... if you can't rock it, somebody will.
But hey, how much can you expect from a rabid box of gerbils anyway?