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So I made an expensive mistake, thinking that I could live with a locked down device and grabbed a Pixel XL through VZW and I've reached a point where my inner flashaholic is screaming for his fix. I am considering other devices and am curious if there is anybody here with a 3T that had previously had one of the Pixels, and their personal opinions on how each device stacked up against each other.
I haven't got a Pixel, but I've used it extensively through work (I'm a web developer, so we used various devices for testing websites with).
The camera is much better on the Pixel, but otherwise the OP3T is just simply better. More RAM, same CPU, more storage (at least, cheaper) which is as-fast, same GPU. Overall better performance (as seen in benchmarks). And, it's unlockable and customisable. It's also brick proof (software brick, not house brick!). So is the PIxel, but your VZW is locked down as you know.
I just traded my pixel XL for a 3t a few hours ago. Time will tell. Will come back to update possibly. Camera is absolutely noticable.
Returned my Pixel for a 3T, too. IMO, the blazingly fast 3T is superior in every way except camera. All I want in a phone camera is for it to take good still shots. Couldn't care less for all the advanced crap. 3T's camera is good enough for me. A 1440p screen would be nice, but 1080p works. I also use an iPhone 7+, so am used to the screen size/pixel density.
MattBooth said:
I haven't got a Pixel, but I've used it extensively through work (I'm a web developer, so we used various devices for testing websites with).
The camera is much better on the Pixel, but otherwise the OP3T is just simply better. More RAM, same CPU, more storage (at least, cheaper) which is as-fast, same GPU. Overall better performance (as seen in benchmarks). And, it's unlockable and customisable. It's also brick proof (software brick, not house brick!). So is the PIxel, but your VZW is locked down as you know.
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It makes me wish the camera had the same tech as the flagships because i wouldn't upgrade my phone for anything. I have a feeling oneplus will start making flagships not flagship killers though because lets face it the 3t is like 90% there already. The should release a 5T and 5B (budget), T for people like me who want the best available but don't want to go to samsung, and the B for people who just love the drastically cheaper price and quality phone which is also me .
See it's funny as I was looking to go the other way. Get a Pixel as I tend to change my phone every six months or so. I loved having the pure Android phones with the latest OS.
Are the Pixels difficult to unlock and root? I assumed they'd be as easy as OP3T. I think sometimes I forget how decent the OP3T is! Ian already thinking of getting the Xiaomi mi6 plus until the OP4/5 is released.
The 1080 pentile display on the 3T kills me, I hate it. Apart from that and the poor camera it's better than the Pixel.
Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk
The display on the 3T is fine and pentile isn't an issue at all. Also 1080p is just fine and looks sharp. High res screens on phones look silly and are barely noticeable. They also consume more resources to run.
white43 said:
See it's funny as I was looking to go the other way. Get a Pixel as I tend to change my phone every six months or so. I loved having the pure Android phones with the latest OS.
Are the Pixels difficult to unlock and root? I assumed they'd be as easy as OP3T. I think sometimes I forget how decent the OP3T is! Ian already thinking of getting the Xiaomi mi6 plus until the OP4/5 is released.
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Honestly, it's a pain. TWRP is not reliable. There are a few versions but none can do backups or restore. Basically when something happens you need to plug it in and ADB and/or fastboot. Both SU and magisk (unofficial only) can also get aggravating.
OT while the 3T is fast and is great in many ways. I decided to list mine this week. The camera can get rough as I have a nearly full blurry album from the other night.
Thinking about waiting a month or 2 or diving straight to the Mate 9, still undecided.
ikenvape said:
Honestly, it's a pain. TWRP is not reliable. There are a few versions but none can do backups or restore. Basically when something happens you need to plug it in and ADB and/or fastboot. Both SU and magisk (unofficial only) can also get aggravating.
OT while the 3T is fast and is great in many ways. I decided to list mine this week. The camera can get rough as I have a nearly full blurry album from the other night.
Thinking about waiting a month or 2 or diving straight to the Mate 9, still undecided.
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My OP3T is now on EBay. I was gonna hop to Xiaomi Mi6, but there doesn't look like a plus version now - and I don't want 5.15", so maybe not. Perhaps the OP5?
I would like to try something else. Huawei seems kinda expensive for what it is.
white43 said:
My OP3T is now on EBay. I was gonna hop to Xiaomi Mi6, but there doesn't look like a plus version now - and I don't want 5.15", so maybe not. Perhaps the OP5?
I would like to try something else. Huawei seems kinda expensive for what it is.
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Oh the Plus is coming http://www.phonearena.com/news/Xiao...apdragon-835-powered-phablet-incoming_id93266
Perhaps the OP5, I feel the design is going to be great.
Eh, Mate 9 on swappa. I have seen as low as 450ish. I see it as a potential trade for the 3t is around the same rate.
ikenvape said:
Oh the Plus is coming http://www.phonearena.com/news/Xiao...apdragon-835-powered-phablet-incoming_id93266
Perhaps the OP5, I feel the design is going to be great.
Eh, Mate 9 on swappa. I have seen as low as 450ish. I see it as a potential trade for the 3t is around the same rate.
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I wouldn't hold my breath for OP5. My bet is that OP5 shipments will be a nightmare. Way worse than previous shipment issues of OnePlus devices. Leaks are saying that OP5 will come with Snapdragon 835. Samsung already reserved the first batches of 835 making even traditional OEMs to have hard times to get their hands on new SoC.
vladimir_carlan said:
I wouldn't hold my breath for OP5. My bet is that OP5 shipments will be a nightmare. Way worse than previous shipment issues of OnePlus devices. Leaks are saying that OP5 will come with Snapdragon 835. Samsung already reserved the first batches of 835 making even traditional OEMs to have hard times to get their hands on new SoC.
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Eh who knows. 835 supply should be fine during the summer. You have so many flagships waiting. You have to keep in mind the demand could only be for so long.
ikenvape said:
Oh the Plus is coming http://www.phonearena.com/news/Xiao...apdragon-835-powered-phablet-incoming_id93266
Perhaps the OP5, I feel the design is going to be great.
Eh, Mate 9 on swappa. I have seen as low as 450ish. I see it as a potential trade for the 3t is around the same rate.
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I'll take it back - the Huawei phones for what you get is a lot more powerful than what is out there. The Huawei Mate 9 Pro is particularly good value stacked against the Pixel/Samsung S8 or iPhone 7 Plus.
However, bang for your buck the Honor 8 Pro/V9 seems to be very good value for money.
So alot of people (especially in the UK) will be coming to the end of contract and life cycle on the p20. The question is....what next.
Do we go p40 without Google services or look at something different?
Iv loved the p20, it's been reliable and solid, but I'm a Google loyalist. I use the services and apps and the idea of losing apps iv paid for already on Google play just seems a step to far.
Iv found updates painfully slow to arrive through O2, months and months behind. So definitely an unlocked from carrier handset next.
But what one?
Samsung
One Plus
Or something completely different?
I love my phone, but unfortunately i came to get too annoyed with the software.
I will be switching to either Xiaomi, oneplus (doubt about oneplus but i'll see).
Until Huawei releases harmony os, i will not buy their stuff anymore. Great hardware, **** software.
The Restless Soul said:
I love my phone, but unfortunately i came to get too annoyed with the software.
I will be switching to either Xiaomi, oneplus (doubt about oneplus but i'll see).
Until Huawei releases harmony os, i will not buy their stuff anymore. Great hardware, **** software.
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Yes. This mi 10 pro seems like a decent upgrade.
If you want updates to your phone, you have 2 choices. Iphone or pixel.
OnePlus is super easy to unlock the bootloader and will not void the warranty. Then just use lineageOS.
I had enough of of the Huawei software. I was expecting Android 10 by now, but nothings been said about that release for a while now.
Add locked bootloaders and no development, made a rather boring phone. It was the only Android phone I've ever had which didn't even get a working TWRP after 2 years!
I went for the Pixel 4XL yesterday, and I'm very happy with it. Bootloader unlocked, rooted and GPay working fine
forever_lol said:
Yes. This mi 10 pro seems like a decent upgrade.
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Exactly. Sadly that it is kinda expensive and doesn't bring water resistance, but still it's pretty great!
The Restless Soul said:
Exactly. Sadly that it is kinda expensive and doesn't bring water resistance, but still it's pretty great!
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According to current information it's 4999 yuan which is more expensive than previous releases but it's still cheaper than OnePlus 7T Pro, not to mention Samsung or Pixel and iPhone. I am afraid it'll be more pricey in Europe though. Lack of IP rating is bad but I think I can live without it if the price is competitive.
forever_lol said:
According to current information it's 4999 yuan which is more expensive than previous releases but it's still cheaper than OnePlus 7T Pro, not to mention Samsung or Pixel and iPhone. I am afraid it'll be more pricey in Europe though. Lack of IP rating is bad but I think I can live without it if the price is competitive.
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If it is at least splash proof, then i am happy either way. Better that than nothing. Besides, MIUI is really good in terms of looks and customization. I don't know about the system apps and country-features restrictions. Let's see how the phone will perform.
Personally, the non-pro version is better than the pro, but let's wait first.
Oneplus is good too but still skeptical about them, after they got called out many times due to their software backdoors and insecurity.
The Restless Soul said:
If it is at least splash proof, then i am happy either way. Better that than nothing. Besides, MIUI is really good in terms of looks and customization. I don't know about the system apps and country-features restrictions. Let's see how the phone will perform.
Personally, the non-pro version is better than the pro, but let's wait first.
Oneplus is good too but still skeptical about them, after they got called out many times due to their software backdoors and insecurity.
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It's supposed to be splash proof. Regular mi 10 has bigger battery but pro version has better camera.
If you care about software on any level - don't go with Xiaomi. They are even worse than Huawei with updates and their camera software is probably the worst on the market.
I think the "what's next" really depends on the personal preference and needs.
I personally would never go with anything without Google services. Software wise - Pixels lead, OnePlus are probably the second choice right now. Camera wise it's probably Pixel/Samsung. If you want to keep the price low, Xiaomi is probably the way to go but you will sacrifice things. I would say OnePlus is the most balanced, but if I wouldn't care for the price I would go with Pixel.
I've never owned Xiaomi and frankly speaking I am bit curious, especially that this year they claim they won't compete with other flagships with price factor only. I guess I'll order it online, use it and return it within 14 days if I don't like it. Samsung is not an option to me as I want a handset with SD 865 and my region is "blessed" with their Exynos. Pixel is overpriced on the other hand and designwise...just horrible. I'd rather go for OP if their quality check is improved this year.
arty_a said:
If you case about software on any level - don't go with Xiaomi. They are even worse than Huawei with updates and their camera software is probably the worst on the market.
I think the "what's next" really depends on the personal preference and needs.
I personally would never go with anything without Google services. Software wise - Pixels lead, OnePlus are probably the second choice right now. Camera wise it's probably Pixel/Samsung. If you want to keep the price low, Xiaomi is probably the way to go but you will sacrifice things. I would say OnePlus is the most balanced, but if I wouldn't care for the price I would go with Pixel.
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I mean, since many xda nerds advertise xiaomi (second place, top being oneplus) as the best company that supports custom roms, i suppose a custom rom with gcam can fix all the issues Xiaomi phones have. I guess?
The Restless Soul said:
I mean, since many xda nerds advertise xiaomi (second place, top being oneplus) as the best company that supports custom roms, i suppose a custom rom with gcam can fix all the issues Xiaomi phones have. I guess?
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True if you are willing to do all that. Last time I checked xiaomi.eu stopped supporting GCam ports on their official forum because they worked pretty terrible. I guess you can find some ROM like LineageOS that works with GCam, I didn't really look into it since I don't own a Xiaomi phone anymore.
If you just want to buy something that works out of the box they are not the best choice.
arty_a said:
True if you are willing to do all that. Last time I checked xiaomi.eu stopped supporting GCam ports on their official forum because they worked pretty terrible. I guess you can find some ROM like LineageOS that works with GCam, I didn't really look into it since I don't own a Xiaomi phone anymore.
If you just want to buy something that works out of the box they are not the best choice.
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I'm sure you're right about previous releases. Thank you for your feedback. It's good to hear some critical voice before the final decision is made. However there are already camera comparisons between mi 10 pro and s20 ultra and these pics/videos looks pretty good. Mi 10 pro camera is supposed to be revolutionary and able to compete with other flagships. Well we'll see.
Oneplus 8 pro. Nothing comes close unless you want to spend £1200 on a pixel 5. If money isn't a problem then the latter would be comparable and the only phone that is.
Why do you need to upgrade? I'm holding off here in the UK until 5G becomes a reality and decent phones are available. New phones for 2020 so far (and into the Q2) don't really offer anything above what I currently have hardware wise. The phone works fine for me, battery lasts > 1 day even after 2 years.
dladz said:
Oneplus 8 pro. Nothing comes close unless you want to spend £1200 on a pixel 5. If money isn't a problem then the latter would be comparable and the only phone that is.
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I'm thinking the one plus but it looks like it's network exclusive to ee
dlevick said:
I'm thinking the one plus but it looks like it's network exclusive to ee
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I am with EE, by far the best in London, Liverpool and Manchester for all the places I visit, getting expensive now but that fits perfectly for me...
What gives you the idea that EE will have the OnePlus , as in the new one?
That is the one I want.
For me oneplus would have to show incredible improvement in keeping their promises regarding coming improvements and their cameras. I can't trust reviews 9n them anymore and would want to see it first hand. Shame as otherwise their hardware is blinding fast and updates/rootproof warranty are great
Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
blufreak said:
For me oneplus would have to show incredible improvement in keeping their promises regarding coming improvements and their cameras. I can't trust reviews 9n them anymore and would want to see it first hand. Shame as otherwise their hardware is blinding fast and updates/rootproof warranty are great
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Honestly for me so long as ois is on the camera and it's got "some" development, the screen is 90hz or over..I'm in.
The rest is a bonus.
Oh and I miss that DND hardware switch
Apparently waterproofing, wireless charging is all on its way.
My only problem will be the price if they're all added, personally I couldn't care less about wireless charging, not when it idles so well and charges as fast as it does..maybe if I started using it I'd become a fan but I can't see it at the moment.
Time will tell.
Plus if they don't have the 8 pro on my carrier I ain't getting it lol.
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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Click to collapse
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
Greetings to Pixel 5a owners from Ukraine!!
I was a happy Pixel 4a owner for some time, but battery life upset me. The battery replacement didn't help, so I switched to a mid-range Realme.
I am missing the Pixel experience and looking forward to rejoining the Pixel family. Pixels have never officially sold in my country, and since the war started, it's become even harder to find one on sale.
Luckily, the local retailer has brand-new Pixel 6 and Pixel 5a for a reasonable price (~$600 and ~$400 with taxes included), especially considering how our local currency is losing its value each day. I'm choosing between these two models.
Would you say it's safe to buy a Pixel 5a right now? I am excited about its battery life; at the same time, it's not that large and heavy. However, I'm a bit concerned that it has only 6 GB of RAM, and the Snapdragon processor might be not too future-proof, as Google might save some features for their Tensor-based models. What do you think?
Best,
Andrii
JetVoz said:
<SNIP>
Would you say it's safe to buy a Pixel 5a right now? I am excited about its battery life; at the same time, it's not that large and heavy. However, I'm a bit concerned that it has only 6 GB of RAM, and the Snapdragon processor might be not too future-proof, as Google might save some features for their Tensor-based models. What do you think?
Best,
Andrii
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Click to collapse
Currently I only use my 5a and 6 for testing.
Between the two, I prefer the 5a and plan on switching to it as my daily use phone.
I am still using (and like) my 3a as my daily-use phone.
The 5a is very close in size and style.
Between the camera style and positioning, a dedicated fingerprint sensor, ..
Might be why I prefer the 5a.
Cheers.
Forgot to add - both 6 and 5a are Japanese versions. I have found that the shutter sound can't be disabled; maybe you know any other issues or differences?
ipdev said:
Between the two, I prefer the 5a and plan on switching to it as my daily use phone.
...
Between the camera style and positioning, a dedicated fingerprint sensor, ..
Might be why I prefer the 5a.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for sharing your experience! very helpful!!
As I stated in your Pixel 5 thread, I believe you can still get the 5a new. Here are the main differences between the 5 and 5a:
Screen size: 5a is bigger but only 60Hz, 5 is 90Hz
Battery capacity: 5 has 4080MaH, 5a 4680
RAM: 5 has 8GB, 5a has 6GB
Wireless charging: 5a doesn't have it
They both use the same SoC (Snapdragon 765G), same GPU, and same modem.
There are some additional minor differences - the 5 has Gorilla Glass 6, vs the 5a only uses Gorilla Glass 3. Negligible with a screen protector. 5 is IP68, 5a is IP67.
V0latyle said:
As I stated in your Pixel 5 thread, I believe you can still get the 5a new. Here are the main differences between the 5 and 5a:
Screen size: 5a is bigger but only 60Hz, 5 is 90Hz
Battery capacity: 5 has 4080MaH, 5a 4680
RAM: 5 has 8GB, 5a has 6GB
Wireless charging: 5a doesn't have it
They both use the same SoC (Snapdragon 765G), same GPU, and same modem.
There are some additional minor differences - the 5 has Gorilla Glass 6, vs. the 5a only uses Gorilla Glass 3. Negligible with a screen protector. 5 is IP68, 5a is IP67.
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Thanks, buddy, for kindly sharing your feedback in both threads.
I am planning to purchase a new device this week and was trying to get as much feedback as possible within an extremely short period of time.
Initially, I thought about P5 vs. P5A vs. P6.
Only used P5 are in stock, so its battery life is likely even worse than the new P5A and P6. So now, I'm choosing between the latter two.
JetVoz said:
Thanks, buddy, for kindly sharing your feedback in both threads.
I am planning to purchase a new device this week and was trying to get as much feedback as possible within an extremely short period of time.
Initially, I thought about P5 vs. P5A vs. P6.
Only used P5 are in stock, so its battery life is likely even worse than the new P5A and P6. So now, I'm choosing between the latter two.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TBH I haven't handled the P6, but with the physical design and the problems many have had with the new hardware, I'd say stick with the P5a. I doubt the 2GB of RAM will make much difference for you. My wife uses hers pretty heavily for playing games and she's never had an issue with sluggishness.
If you want to be able to root, make sure you buy an unbranded Google device.
V0latyle said:
make sure you buy an unbranded Google device
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What do you mean under "unbranded"?
I saw devices sold in open boxes, and their screens are covered by a protective film like on new phones—the semi-transparent on the P5A and the solid white on P6.
I assume they might be the refurbished units. Is there any way to check it?
upd: ##786# and *#*#786#*#* do not work either on my P4A or other phones, and I assume, on P5A and P6 won't work as well
JetVoz said:
What do you mean under "unbranded"?
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Don't get a carrier branded device. But since you're in the Ukraine, I'm not sure this would be of any concern.
JetVoz said:
I saw devices sold in open boxes, and their screens are covered by a protective film like on new phones—the semi-transparent on the P5A and the solid white on P6.
I assume they might be the refurbished units. Is there any way to check it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea.
JetVoz said:
upd: ##786# and *#*#786#*#* do not work either on my P4A or other phones, and I assume, on P5A and P6 won't work as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you trying to do with that?
V0latyle said:
What are you trying to do with that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have
V0latyle said:
No idea.
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Hello, I also from Ukraine, I bought my 5a 2 month ago in stylus. Everything works fine. It's not Japan it's US model.
Thanks, @ipdev, @V0latyle, @[email protected], for your feedback
Today I placed my order for the P5A (US version), and I look forward to receiving it next week! Should I check something when in-store? I'm not confident about the seller, so it's better to find out issues before paying.
The idea was: Everything works for me in my P4A, except its battery drains too fast. P5A is similar to P4A but with excellent battery life. Snapdragon SoC, 60Hz screen, and rear-mounted fingerprint are more pros to me than cons.
Bad thing with this phone is how easily overheats during warm summer days while taking pictures or having video call and gps turned on. Google really made cheapest phone they could.
Also idiots from google didn't enable VoLTE like normal company but they locked it so only "certified" carriers have it. This is my first and last pixel phone.
Battery is great, cameras are standard Google reliable and good.
Clean Android with regular updates is also good and everything just works.
predragiPredrag said:
Bad thing with this phone is how easily overheats during warm summer days while taking pictures or having video call and gps turned on. Google really made cheapest phone they could.
Also idiots from google didn't enable VoLTE like normal company but they locked it so only "certified" carriers have it. This is my first and last pixel phone.
Battery is great, cameras are standard Google reliable and good.
Clean Android with regular updates is also good and everything just works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just install custom and do undervoult for CPU and GPU it will be colder and more battery backup
[email protected] said:
Just install custom and do undervoult for CPU and GPU it will be colder and more battery backup
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Click to collapse
I am hesitant to do that since I risk lossing banking apps and payments that use nfc. Google is trying hard to disable hiding of unlocked bootloader...idiots.
Only ROM that for now works is pixel experience and rooting will again cause issues with banking and payment apps.
I don't know, magisk is hiding it perfectly
Thinking of buying it for 2023, but it was released only in like 3-4 countries so the communites for ROMs and other development could be far stronger. Rule#1 when future-proofing through custom ROMs: Make sure the phone is widely available.
eried1 said:
Thinking of buying it for 2023, but it was released only in like 3-4 countries so the communites for ROMs and other development could be far stronger. Rule#1 when future-proofing through custom ROMs: Make sure the phone is widely available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd personally say stay away. The overheating issue isn't *terrible* if you're not a frequent user of video chat, but when you do need it, your phone is going to overheat and your radios shut off. I was trying to use a telehealth visit with my doctor for a recent diagnosis using 5G on Visible, and it keep shutting off the radio and freezing the phone. I had to use my wife's iPhone instead. The doctor couldn't even call my phone because it was locked up for 5 minutes.
I'm on my 3rd Pixel 5a (due to screen breaks) they have all had the overheating issue. It won't come up for months but if/when it does come up it can be during a critical time.
I'm considering upgrading to a 10 Pro from my current 8 Pro but I'm curious if current 10 Pro owners would consider it worthwhile. I'm not having any huge issues with my phone but the back of the case is cracked pretty bad and I'm thinking about upgrading before I start to have problems.
I'm rooted but running the stock OS13 and would probably do the same on a new phone.
What's your opinion? Thanks in advance.
If your goal is just to root and run stock, then it'll be a great device for you in my honest opinion. It's really held back by a lack of true recovery tools, which has led to no true custom ROMs for the device anyways.
But the 10Pro can be rooted, unlocked, and updated just fine as long as you take the time to learn how to do it properly without flashing. It's been serving me this past year just fine, still working pretty much as brand new.
@Prant thanks for the reply. I would assume the update process would be similar, restore stock image in Magisk, update and then install Magisk again before rebooting but I could be wrong. I read that the MSM tool works for the 10 Pro now and I linked to the article below. I don't care about a custom rom as long as the stock rom doesn't get glitchy when rooted, which it hasn't so far, but a recovery tool adds a layer of comfort. Anyway, thanks again for your input.
MSM Download Tool for OnePlus 10 Pro: The Final Nail in the Coffin
In this guide, we will show you the steps to download the MSM Download Tool for OnePlus 10 Pro and then unbrick your device using this tool.
www.droidwin.com
PieceKeepr said:
@Prant thanks for the reply. I would assume the update process would be similar, restore stock image in Magisk, update and then install Magisk again before rebooting but I could be wrong. I read that the MSM tool works for the 10 Pro now and I linked to the article below. I don't care about a custom rom as long as the stock rom doesn't get glitchy when rooted, which it hasn't so far, but a recovery tool adds a layer of comfort. Anyway, thanks again for your input.
MSM Download Tool for OnePlus 10 Pro: The Final Nail in the Coffin
In this guide, we will show you the steps to download the MSM Download Tool for OnePlus 10 Pro and then unbrick your device using this tool.
www.droidwin.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The MSM Tool for the 10 Pro requires an authorized OPPO account to be used and no bypass has been found yet (there is an entire thread about this on XDA).
DroidWin is just a copy paste website and should not be trusted.
TheNewHEROBRINE said:
The MSM Tool for the 10 Pro requires an authorized OPPO account to be used and no bypass has been found yet (there is an entire thread about this on XDA).
DroidWin is just a copy paste website and should not be trusted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know. Thanks again.
I notice no major difference from my OP8 pro to OP10 pro.
I upgraded because my OP8's battery wasn't lasting as long. And Im not going to "settle" for the OP11.
In the end I get the following benefits:
- slightly longer battery life
- updates will keep coming for a while
- Android auto works reliably in my car.
For the last one, ever since upgrading my OP8 to Android 12 and 13 it doesn't connect to my car reliably. OP10 with Android 13 works fine.
If money isn't an issue, it's probably worth it for updates. If it hurts to drop 700 or so, then stick to the OP8. It's still a great phone.
Oh.. in the US, the OP10 isn't dual sim. I used dual sim. This is a feature I lost.
The OnePlus 8 Pro is a great phone and unless you're having battery issues, I'd stick with it. Developer support and wireless charging are huge advantages.
I sold my 8 pro to my neighbour, I took a chance on OnePlus by not checking out the 10 pro beyond its specs...
Gone is the excellent macro camera, the photocrom camera, the superb XDA dev's and the plethora of mods for it.
It has the same ability to root, a great camera, zero development, very few mods besides the one I've brought myself like center clock..
I truly miss my 8 pro, it did everything I could ask. The 10 does have a better CPU/GPU and more battery but that really is the only upside.. in regards to the phone itself you'd be hard pushed to see a difference.
My advice is this:
If you've treated your 8 pro well, you've not overcharged it and you've not dropped it then I would retain it... If you've treated it like a piece of crap then I'd say get the pixel 7 pro...it's quite cheap now and has some great development going on...
It's a sad time for OnePlus users, however we can learn from it and I hope OnePlus (oppo) learns some valuable lessons from this, they'll lose a valuable fan base who's influence goes way beyond its 1% purchase scope compared to the average users of OnePlus devices.
Time will tell I guess, but right now I would say avoid the 10 pro and the 11, they are of the same Ilk
I changed my phone from the OP 7 and I don't see any noticeable difference in speed (apps launch in the same time), and the default camera takes blurry photos when there is little light (where in the OP7 this was not the case). I wouldn't change if I were you (I would consider OP11, where there is faster memory).
For sure not i have both devices!
janekkk said:
I changed my phone from the OP 7 and I don't see any noticeable difference in speed (apps launch in the same time), and the default camera takes blurry photos when there is little light (where in the OP7 this was not the case). I wouldn't change if I were you (I would consider OP11, where there is faster memory).
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If custom ROMs are something that's needed then I'd avoid the 11 as they won't be there... Hope im wrong but I doubt it.
See some people in this thread recommending the OP11, and I can honestly say that's a terrible choice from what I've seen. The 10Pro is the last one with some semblance of recovery, from what I've been watching over at the 11Pro forums... things are even worse over there.
They even have went as far as to block calling from outside China after 30 days of use outside their home country, if you didn't activate the device in China with a china sim first. With refusal to help customers, stating things like just activiate it in china.
With the lost features, i.e. no wireless charging, less speed over USB, worse radio for USA.. I do not think we as a community should be supporting this company at all going forward, this will definitely be my last OPlus phone but I will continue to use it until it stops.
Prant said:
If your goal is just to root and run stock, then it'll be a great device for you in my honest opinion. It's really held back by a lack of true recovery tools, which has led to no true custom ROMs for the device anyways.
But the 10Pro can be rooted, unlocked, and updated just fine as long as you take the time to learn how to do it properly without flashing. It's been serving me this past year just fine, still working pretty much as brand new.
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@PieceKeepr I echo Prant's statement, it matches exactly my experience and sentiments. OP10 Pro has been the best OP phone I've used, going all the way back to the 3T.
Fast wireless charging
OnePlus lock screen gestures
alert slider
excellent screen
Most importantly, easily rootable.
Those are my top priorities in a phone, and no other brand has all of those.
Also:
I really enjoy the way the phone feels in the hand, especially with the carbon fiber case from OP.
Stereo speakers are great
Camera is good/sometimes great
Performance is great
Battery life is pretty good (hungry CPU, but large battery)
the new OS is not as bad as everyone complains about, IMHO. Much of the things I don't care for are Google's fault anyways.
I have both devices and I've put the 10 Pro up for sale.
You barely notice any difference, except that the OnePlus 10 Pro version of OxygenOS 13 is abominable.
I'm still hoping for official LineageOS support hopefully soon, but...
Well I would highly recommend not buying this rubbish of a phone.
OxygenOS 13 is now a buggy piece of chinese rom that tend to crash every now and then.
The cooling in this phone is non-existant - overheating very often resulting in prompt "Your phone is to hot, we had to shut down some servces".
You won't be able to use wireless android auto while wireless charing (too hot).
The list goes on and on.
After a year of struggle with this I will be selling it next month - what a relief.
OnePlus is dead for me and damn, I have OnePlus One, OnePlus 5 (the best phone ever existed) and OnePlus 8T, so I can say I experienced myself the fall of this brand.
What do you recommend, besides a OnePlus device for custom roms? I have been looking to buy a OP9P (for the MSM tool/roms) as an upgrade to my OP6, but with the overheating and bad battery life (888), its not looking good.
If the custom rom scene is dying, I don't mind getting a OP10Pro and doing what I can with de-bloating and rooting...
mxthocc said:
What do you recommend, besides a OnePlus device for custom roms? I have been looking to buy a OP9P (for the MSM tool/roms) as an upgrade to my OP6, but with the overheating and bad battery life (888), its not looking good.
If the custom rom scene is dying, I don't mind getting a OP10Pro and doing what I can with de-bloating and rooting...
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Click to collapse
The last golden OPlus seems to be the OPlus 8 Pro if you can find one of those. Full recovery tools available and a plethora of custom ROMs. Being only 3 years old it won't fall off for the next 4 or so years comfortably.
That being said, I've never had heating issues with the OPlus 10 as other people have said. The device is really good for running stock + root imo, the battery life has also been about the same since I bought the device. Still runs PS2 games like a champ on lunch breaks. One full charge a day, and it only takes like 25 minutes to charge to full. Perhaps user device care has a play in this thread just as much as the silicon lottery.
Google Pixel is probably the best otherwise, but I'd personally be super weary using their phones as the exploits coming out of research departments are insane.
Prant said:
The last golden OPlus seems to be the OPlus 8 Pro if you can find one of those. Full recovery tools available and a plethora of custom ROMs. Being only 3 years old it won't fall off for the next 4 or so years comfortably.
Google Pixel is probably the best otherwise, but I'd personally be super weary using their phones as the exploits coming out of research departments are insane.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, I've heard good things about the 8 Pro. I borrowed a Pixel 6a for a week, thought it would be the spiritual successor to my OP6. The vulnerabilities are definitely too much for a new device, so I gave it back.
Coming from the OnePlus One and then the 6T (what a phone!), I really had to get used to the 8 Pro's curved screen. I'm still not a huge fan of the screen, but otherwise I do love my 8 Pro! With LineageOS it's such a super clean and enjoyable experience!
I also shortly tried the OnePlus 3 and 3T, which I bought for my parents when I had the 6T, and I gifted my brother the 7T Pro later. Man, what a slick, gorgeous phone! The only slight screen curve is perfect!
I think I'll stay on the 8 Pro for a while then. Maybe Nothing releases a good phone in a couple years. Or maybe OnePlus somehow decide to return to their roots and release a really incredibly specced and priced phone someday again.