Related
Here's my basic bullet review.
I've had the Xperia mini pro 2 for a few days and want to share my initial opinions. All the good and bad in one short list.
Pros:
1: Size: What I was waiting for in a smart phone, I really dreaded the idea of carrying around a large phone on my belt.
This phone allows me to keep it tucked away in my pocket.
2: Quality: General build quality is pretty good. The slide out tray is solid and secure. The keys feel like they can stand the test of time. I only wish the exterior wasn't plasticy, maybe 3rd party can step in to provide a more robust feel.
3: Decent ergonomics: Some complain about them, but given the size of this thing I think they're great. Ergonomically, for anyone planning to do a significant amount of typing, a keyboard is a must. Having a keyboard with a device of this size is what convinced it could be usable as well as compact. I'm not a fan of the buzzing feedback on a touch screen, as far as I'm concerned it's just a waste of battery power. I do like the rubberized exterior, it helps keep a grip on the phone.
4: Features.
+ 5MP Camera works pretty well, not too slow. Dedicated shutter button.
+ 720p video, very nice, not perfect but better than the less than idea video formats of most cell phones.
+ Slideout keyboard.
5: Decent free apps.: Not sure how many other androids provide free apps, but the Moxier and Office Suite are nice to have for a professional who is dependent on e-mail.
6: Speed/hardware: The thing is just snappy, no significant lag. Great choice of hardware, it uses the same video chip designed to drive a higher resolution screen, resulting in silky smooth graphics.
7: Hotspot/Tether options. This is really great, don't need a dedicated hotspot device.
Cons:
1: Battery life: Yeah, there are things you can do to improve, but wish an option for a nice extended well designed one was available.
2: Flickering screen: Annoying and disappointing coming from Sony, noticeable when the screen brightness is low. Using a light sensor app to turn off the light sensor function may help.
3: Sub par camera sensor: Low light photo/video suffers
4: Case protection: Would be nice to add a rubber bumper around the screen. Maybe a 3rd party will provide a nice case for us, I dread the day I drop it.
5: Video buzz: Gratefully I haven't had this issue, but many owners having it is a cause for concern. The more happy users the better chance they'll make more accessories.
6: A bit fat: The price you pay for the keyboard.
Time will be the true test for this device, but ATM I'm happy with my Android choice.
Mike
Note: the new mini pro is not in the x10 series
Sent from my Xperia Mini Pro using the Internet
Neat review, sums up my thoughts excatly. Except maybe the screen flickering, I don't get that?
a-k-t-w said:
Neat review, sums up my thoughts excatly. Except maybe the screen flickering, I don't get that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The flickering is not a very high level of flickering, it's a subtle looks like the screen is dimming flicker. Flicker may not be the right way to describe it, it's more like the screen has difficulty keeping a consistent level of white.
I normally don't notice it unless I'm looking at a mostly white screen. Also, I have my phone set to less than 50% brightness to save on battery. When the screen is at a higher brightness, the flicker goes away. I'll have to observe this more over time.
Another Con I forgot to include is the tactile response/buzz you get from the back and menu soft keys. of all the buttons, these are probably the ones that need this feedback the least. They should've included an option to turn off the buzz.
Mike
You can actually turn it off. Goto settings > sound > haptic feedback. Although it will turn off the vibrating for all phone interactions.
Thanks, I thought I had turned that off. I'll have to make another revision.
Regards,
Mike
Post what you think are some good, bad, or good/bad (depending on the person) features in Lg's UI/Phone and explain similar to how I have it on each point. Comparing competing Operating skins/Phones/Pure Stock Android as far as the latest and greatest goes. Keep in mind this is mainly for the versions without removable back. I am just copying and pasting so some are not mine. Tell me if you don't agree with any points you see
GOOD:
1) Separates Bluetooth volume from media volume
2) Nav bar hidden when locked, normally not used on lock screen so to me nice addition
3) Stock launcher installed gives option to change App Icons
4) Software buttons customization
5) 1080p Full HD display
6) 13mp OIS camera up to 1080p 60 fps video (4:3 max aspect ratio at 13mp)
7) 2.26 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 Quad-Core Processor
8) Double tap for screen lock or unlock "Option" (can disable if you do not like it)
9) Sapphire crystal Camera Lense, arguably the strongest glass put on smart phones to date
10) Can be configured to pull up a list of apps when the headphone jack is used or it's placed in a dock/charging
11) Seamless notification for muting Calls while playing a game or using a Application when wanting to ignore, but letting call ring out
12) IR blaster integration with "Quick Remote" App/Drawer Widget that can be accessed in the notification Drawer
13) Wireless charging (Verizon only)
14) Thin bezels (allows for larger screen in a 'smaller' package) 5.2in screen to be exact
15) Excellent battery life for size, even with the large screen and fast processor (this is mainly due to the G2's 3,000 mAh battery and GRam)
16) No physical buttons (I personally love having soft buttons that are on the main display itself)
17) Weather animations on lock screen (I like little visual enhancements like this - If it's raining you get water drops on your screen, if it is sunny out you get sun rays, etc.)
18) Device unlock animations (there a 5 different animations to choose from for when you swipe to unlock the device and each one of them shows a glimpse of what is running underneath which I thought was pretty slick)
19) Newest hardware ahead of all competitors will keep the phone current for a long time, even at the end of next year for the form factor packed inside
20) Bright RGB notification light (Nexus 4 is much weaker)
21) YouTube movies look great on the big screen which has the correct proportions for HD video, thus the videos occupy the whole screen unlike on other phones where you can see black bars on either the sides or the bottom
GOOD/BAD:
1) All hardware buttons on back of the device close to where fingers land/Non traditional placement of hardware buttons
Volume Down, Volume Up, Power button
2) Non removable back to keep form factor thinner and high build quality/no micro SD card port or removable battery and back panel
32gigs of storage only with 3000mAh/32 gigs up to 96 with 64gb micro sdcard with any size, type, and back battery replacement is non existant
3) Kernel makes certain colors pop to imitate AMOLED displays and creates a hybrid reproduction of it and LCD/Not naturally accurate
High quality IPS LCD that is bright and semi accurate/No AMOLED with really good contrast for blacks
4) 2 gigs of Ram/2 gigs compared to Note3 and it's 3 gigs of Ram
5) Knock-On - This is an excellent approach of how to go about waking up a phone (especially one that doesn't have any physical buttons on the front or sides). However, as others have reported there is a consistency issue around LG's implementation of this feature. In my experience I have found that it works properly about 4 out of every 5 times
6) FM Tuner - The G2 has a built in FM Tuner which is great, but it's not available on all variants... looking at you Verizon
7) QSlide - Feature that allows the ability to run certain apps on top of the currently running app (calculator, calendar, phone, messaging, videos, etc.). This has been done in the past on other Android devices and I think it is a nice feature, but for me the verdict is still out on it as I have not used it much yet
8) Slide Aside - This is another multitasking feature that allows you to save up to 3 apps at once and quickly jump between them with a 3 finger swipe. Again the verdict is still out on this one as I have not used it much and have had some issues with it being finicky
9) Quite Mode - This allows you to schedule time frames during each day of the week where the phone will automatically silence incoming calls, text and notification sounds (i.e. from 11PM to 7AM every night). I really like this feature however, I would like if there was an option to also disable the notification light on the front when Quite Mode is enabled (that way the random emails I get during the night won't light up my bedroom while I am trying to sleep)
BAD:
1) Old version of Corning Gorilla Glass (Gorilla Glass 2)
2) Not water proof
3) If screen cracks, touch screen will be unusable most likely
4) Tiny soft speaker (mono speaker compared to the HTC One Dual Stereo)
5) Speaker easily muted by hand when playing games
6) 4.2.2
7) Gloosy - Slippery back attracting fingerprints
6) Gets hot when pushed and Throttled when too hot
Can disable feature that throttles when too hot in secret menu
7) More hemes and other UI customizations for the stock launcher. A custom rom or different launcher would obviously address this and would allow tweaking things further (hooray Android!) but I enjoy and appreciate a rich stock experience that you get right out of the box
8) Built in ring tones and notification sounds (again this isn't a big deal and can be easily rectified)
9) Poor camera performance in low light (both stills and video)
10) A bit bland in appearance because of the average build quality, though not ugly
11) Cannot be used with one hand in some scenarios, like when walking depending on size of hand
12) You can't remove the quick access buttons and sliders from the notification drawer (but when rooted you can)
I'll leave the rest to you guys!
2 gigs (compared to 3 gigs that Note 3 has)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Standard RAM amount for current flagships constitutes it as "Bad" just because a Phablet has 3GB? wat?
WhiteZero said:
Standard RAM amount for current flagships constitutes it as "Bad" just because a Phablet has 3GB? wat?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Comparison..
Love the Ram that's given but just not the "best"
WhiteZero said:
Standard RAM amount for current flagships constitutes it as "Bad" just because a Phablet has 3GB? wat?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lmao agreed.
2 gigs is fine im just waiting for 4 plus before i change the thing that the only bad part is no removalble battery and no sd card it would put it head over heals better than everything if it had thoes 2 some people say they like no removable battery i think they are stupid why have less features its like buying a iphone for christ sakes lol
Good: can be configured to pull up a list of apps when the headphone jack is used or it's placed in a dock.
Bad: Issues with Microsoft Exchange
---------- Post added at 11:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:10 AM ----------
TehJorge said:
Comparison..
Love the Ram that's given but just not the "best"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would it change your mind if you knew that the additional gig was there for the s-pen. Not sure if it is solely reserved for the s-pen as I've heard conflicting reports. But it would suck to buy a 3 gig device only to find out only 2 is actually usable.
crashN2u said:
Good: can be configured to pull up a list of apps when the headphone jack is used or it's placed in a dock.
Bad: Issues with Microsoft Exchange
---------- Post added at 11:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:10 AM ----------
Would it change your mind if you knew that the additional gig was there for the s-pen. Not sure if it is solely reserved for the s-pen as I've heard conflicting reports. But it would suck to buy a 3 gig device only to find out only 2 is actually usable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dreamlogix said:
lmao agreed.
2 gigs is fine im just waiting for 4 plus before i change the thing that the only bad part is no removalble battery and no sd card it would put it head over heals better than everything if it had thoes 2 some people say they like no removable battery i think they are stupid why have less features its like buying a iphone for christ sakes lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TehJorge said:
Comparison..
Love the Ram that's given but just not the "best"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WhiteZero said:
Standard RAM amount for current flagships constitutes it as "Bad" just because a Phablet has 3GB? wat?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, ok... I'll change to good/bad lol
crashN2u said:
Good: can be configured to pull up a list of apps when the headphone jack is used or it's placed in a dock.
Bad: Issues with Microsoft Exchange
---------- Post added at 11:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:10 AM ----------
Would it change your mind if you knew that the additional gig was there for the s-pen. Not sure if it is solely reserved for the s-pen as I've heard conflicting reports. But it would suck to buy a 3 gig device only to find out only 2 is actually usable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What exactly are the issues with Microsoft Exchange?
TehJorge said:
What exactly are the issues with Microsoft Exchange?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No issues here.
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk 2
moonjak said:
No issues here.
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same, I use this for my Job. Very convenient when I'm on the go or away from the office.
TehJorge said:
What exactly are the issues with Microsoft Exchange?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently, there may be an issue with how the G2 handles data with exchange. I set mine up last night and it worked fine until this morning. I started thinking it was my work's server, but other people are having similar issues using different server types (my work uses outlook, others use internal). Also, I wasn't having the issues on my other 2 phones. Regardless, it appears to be working fine now.
I think you hit most of the main ones so I'll just add a few more and/or expand on some of the ones that you already mentioned. I really don't have any major cons as the only things I can think of are pretty small and nit-picky.
Good:
1) Wireless charging (Verizon only)
2) Thin bezels (allows for larger screen in a 'smaller' package)
3) Excellent battery life, even with the large screen and fast processor (this is mainly due to the G2's 3,000 mAh battery and GRam)
4) No physical buttons (I personally love having soft buttons that are on the main display itself)
5) Weather animations on lock screen (I like little visual enhancements like this - If it's raining you get water drops on your screen, if it is sunny out you get sun rays, etc.)
6) Device unlock animations (there a 5 different animations to choose from for when you swipe to unlock the device and each one of them shows a glimpse of what is running underneath which I thought was pretty slick)
Good/Bad:
1) Knock-On - This is an excellent approach of how to go about waking up a phone (especially one that doesn't have any physical buttons on the front or sides). However, as others have reported there is a consistency issue around LG's implementation of this feature. In my experience I have found that it works properly about 4 out of every 5 times
2) FM Tuner - The G2 has a built in FM Tuner which is great, but it's not available on all variants... looking at you Verizon
3) QSlide - Feature that allows the ability to run certain apps on top of the currently running app (calculator, calendar, phone, messaging, videos, etc.). This has been done in the past on other Android devices and I think it is a nice feature, but for me the verdict is still out on it as I have not used it much yet
4) Slide Aside - This is another multitasking feature that allows you to save up to 3 apps at once and quickly jump between them with a 3 finger swipe. Again the verdict is still out on this one as I have not used it much and have had some issues with it being finicky
5) Quite Mode - This allows you to schedule time fames during each day of the week where the phone will automatically silence incoming calls, text and notification sounds (i.e. from 11PM to 7AM every night). I really like this feature however, I would like if there was an option to also disable the notification light on the front when Quite Mode is enabled (that way the random emails I get during the night won't light up my bedroom while I am trying to sleep)
Bad:
1) Would like to see more built in themes and other UI customizations for the stock launcher. A custom rom or different launcher would obviously address this and would allow me to tweak things further (hooray Android!) but I enjoy and appreciate a rich stock experience that you get right out of the box
2) I was not a fan of many of the built in ring tones and notification sounds (again this isn't a big deal and can be easily rectified)
crashN2u said:
Would it change your mind if you knew that the additional gig was there for the s-pen. Not sure if it is solely reserved for the s-pen as I've heard conflicting reports. But it would suck to buy a 3 gig device only to find out only 2 is actually usable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even after the s-pen 1 gig resources, the note 3 has to allocate about 600mb of additional ram to the CPU and GPU as well. Just like our G2's which have the same chipsets btw. The 3 gigs on the Note 3 is not what it seems, after most of the ram is eaten up by these resources the phone will have about 1.4 gigs of free ram roughly. And users will have about 1 gig available for system and apps, and that's way more than plenty for any device running android. A phones superiority isn't made by its Ram, but it's easy for people to get sucked into believing that if they don't understand how ram is managed in android. People still believe more ram means faster phone and that's so far from the truth. No Ram is wasted Ram.
My "Good" list:
- Knock-On feature. I will not get a phone without this ever again. (not only hugely convenient, but my Nexus One button broke over time, and my Nexus 4 button is also giving me problems lately)
- Large capacity battery but also with additional hardware (GRAM) and software power optimizations
- Largest screen in its class (unlikely to be beaten from a same-size phone very soon)
- Newest hardware ahead of all competitors will keep the phone current for a long time, even at the end of next year.
- Bright RGB notification light (Nexus 4 is much weaker)
- FM Radio and IR feature.
- LG added software features (call window does not block the current app, separate volumes, easily accessible quick settings)
- YouTube movies look great on the big screen which has the correct proportions for HD video, thus the videos occupy the whole screen unlike on other phones where you can se black bands on either the sides or the bottom.
My "Bad" list:
- Poor camera performance in low light (both stills and video)
- A bit bland in appearance because of the average build quality, though not ugly
- Slippery (but there are some nice cases for it)
- Cannot be used with one hand in some scenarios, like when walking
- You can't remove the quick access buttons and sliders from the notification drawer
jordache16 said:
I think you hit most of the main ones so I'll just add a few more and/or expand on some of the ones that you already mentioned. I really don't have any major cons as the only things I can think of are pretty small and nit-picky.
Good:
1) Wireless charging (Verizon only)
2) Thin bezels (allows for larger screen in a 'smaller' package)
3) Excellent battery life, even with the large screen and fast processor (this is mainly due to the G2's 3,000 mAh battery and GRam)
4) No physical buttons (I personally love having soft buttons that are on the main display itself)
5) Weather animations on lock screen (I like little visual enhancements like this - If it's raining you get water drops on your screen, if it is sunny out you get sun rays, etc.)
6) Device unlock animations (there a 5 different animations to choose from for when you swipe to unlock the device and each one of them shows a glimpse of what is running underneath which I thought was pretty slick)
Good/Bad:
1) Knock-On - This is an excellent approach of how to go about waking up a phone (especially one that doesn't have any physical buttons on the front or sides). However, as others have reported there is a consistency issue around LG's implementation of this feature. In my experience I have found that it works properly about 4 out of every 5 times
2) FM Tuner - The G2 has a built in FM Tuner which is great, but it's not available on all variants... looking at you Verizon
3) QSlide - Feature that allows the ability to run certain apps on top of the currently running app (calculator, calendar, phone, messaging, videos, etc.). This has been done in the past on other Android devices and I think it is a nice feature, but for me the verdict is still out on it as I have not used it much yet
4) Slide Aside - This is another multitasking feature that allows you to save up to 3 apps at once and quickly jump between them with a 3 finger swipe. Again the verdict is still out on this one as I have not used it much and have had some issues with it being finicky
5) Quite Mode - This allows you to schedule time fames during each day of the week where the phone will automatically silence incoming calls, text and notification sounds (i.e. from 11PM to 7AM every night). I really like this feature however, I would like if there was an option to also disable the notification light on the front when Quite Mode is enabled (that way the random emails I get during the night won't light up my bedroom while I am trying to sleep)
Bad:
1) Would like to see more built in themes and other UI customizations for the stock launcher. A custom rom or different launcher would obviously address this and would allow me to tweak things further (hooray Android!) but I enjoy and appreciate a rich stock experience that you get right out of the box
2) I was not a fan of many of the built in ring tones and notification sounds (again this isn't a big deal and can be easily rectified)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done! and.... Done
New update to my Microsoft Exchange issue. My yahoo email is also giving me the errors so it has to be a problem with either the phone or the email app. Hope I didn't get a lemon....
I'm only on Day 3 of my LG G2 experience, but I'm a power user and so far the only (minor) negative comment is that the soft Nav/Home keys take up screen real estate.
Everything else about the G2 has been nothing but first class for me. As always, YMMV.
Autohide softkeys works great.
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk 2
moonjak said:
Autohide softkeys works great.
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is their a mod for this
Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk 2
I have only on complain with that phone and its the camera software that need more work,when this is fixed then i got no other complains about it.
Please use this thread to discuss devices other than and any comparisons with other devices on or about the GS 5 in this thread and any other off-topic issues that are not needing a new thread.
Post with respect, this is a helpful community, hope we all learn from this stuff in here.
How likely is it for the T-Mobile s5 to have a locked bootloader like att and verizon s4?
(I'm worried because the Xperia Z1s from T-Mobile wasn't unlockable even though sony devices usually are... So are locked bootloaders T-Mobile's new policy?)
Anyone think there will be a chance for a GPE? It seems like the M8 will be getting one according to the HTC gallery description in the Play Store. If so, I would prefer the S5 GPE over the M8 version.
The migration begins soon
Been mostly a lurker on the S2 forums, but I've placed my order and now the long wait for Christmas morning.
Ha ha
Christmas morning in April huh?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I'm coming from a Note2... I love the device, but honestly its slightly larger then I'd like for 1 hand holding. I'm not looking forward to adjusting to a smaller screen. lol
Metro Pcs Gs5 with a T-Mobile sim? or visa versa?
hey do any of you guys know if the metro pics GS5 can be used wit a T-Mobile sim or does it need to be unlocked? I know that metro uses T-Mobile towers now I'm wondering if it will be the same model
Backordered?
Just ordered GS5 from t-mobile and got an email saying back ordered, anybody else order one and receive the email? I wonder if its just because its not available.
Yeah
All of them show up as backordered.
That is how their system handles backorder
TheArtiszan said:
Ha ha
Christmas morning in April huh?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Christmas eve now! Mine is in the Twin Cities and will be delivered tomorrow!
I have an S5 being delivered today, but I kinda sorta want to try something new and go with the HTC One M8, but a year to a year and half of something new may be regrettable.... blah
nm
nm
hmm think I may Jump from LG G2 thanks to T-mobiles destructive kitkat recovery lockdown.
G2 is a mess after update GS5 here I come
Just upgraded from an s2 and man I'm sure glad I did this phone is so much faster!
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using Tapatalk
sikaros said:
Just upgraded from an s2 and man I'm sure glad I did this phone is so much faster!
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bet it is
I purchased a couple hours ago pretty happy with it so.
Signal . Wifi , data strength & call quality is stronger then LG G2 which is a good sign.
Hopefully battery life provides positive results....I will give it a couple charge cycles.
If all is well I will be rooting this bad boy next week & building some goodies.
Anyway good to be holding a Samsung device again.
Can anyone explain the decision to stick with 2 GB ram - same as it was going back to the SIII? The Note 3 had 3, and I realize its a faster processor- but S3 and 4 already are snappy enough which handling whatever you do on screen, its the background processes and heavy multitasking with lots of apps working where the phone starts to hang and start to feel sluggish.
~ sent from my tin can attached to a string ~
I bought the Samsung GS5 and HTC One M8. Now I have to return one. Help me decide which one!
I purchased both phones to use simultaneously for a couple weeks. I was confident that at the end of the two weeks, I’d have a clear answer about which phone was best for me – but I’m still torn.
I do think I have my mind made up about which phone is better in specific categories, and maybe some things people don’t think about when writing reviews.
Camera image quality on good shots: GS5.
Outside M8:
Outside GS5:
Auto settings. I upscaled the M8 image to 16MP. I think IMGUR might automatically downscale. My overall impression is that the M8 takes in too much light. It’s difficult to avoid, even when playing with exposure settings. Once you zoom, the GS5 16MP really comes into play. You can be the judge on which images are better, and by how much.
Camera consistency: M8. 50% my shots with the S5 end up a bit blurry. 75% of my M8 shots are in focus. That’s with still imagery.
Which is more important? Overall quality on excellent shots, or consistency?
Handfeel:
The S5 is easier to hold, especially when laying down in bed. The S5 is lighter and weighted in a way that feels like my hand is simply connected to the device. It doesn’t put strain on my wrist or make me feel concerned about dropping it at all. My confidence level holding the device without a case is extremely high. On the other hand, the S5 has a filmy/slimy feeling that makes it feel dirty. It always feels like the back of the S5 was rubbed on a slice of pizza. I feel confident holding it, but I don’t enjoy it. It’s very uninspiring.
The M8 feels amazing in the hand. I consistently want to pick it up for no other reason than to hold it. It has a nice cool temperature that is very welcoming. I don’t think the M8 is more slippery than the S5. I think it’s how the device is weighted. It’s harder to hold because it feels screen side heavy. When I’m holding it in bed, I always feel like the device is going to slip out of my hand and fall on my face. Not because the case is more slippery, but because of the weight. I am constantly reinforcing my grip on the phone out of fear of dropping it. It’s a strange mix of wanting to pick it up, and being afraid to pick it up.
I did use a GS4 and a Galaxy Nexus prior to that. I wonder how much of this is because I simply feel comfortable with Samsung devices? From a practical standpoint I feel the S5 is the better phone here. From an emotional standpoint I like how the HTC makes me feel.
Turning the device on and off:
The S5 can be turned on with the home button or power button. I’ve found hitting the home button is easier than double tapping. I’ve been able to use the fingerprint scanner with about 80% accuracy with one hand and my thumb. Accessing the camera from the lockscreen produces a second or two of lag.
The M8 is double tap or the top power button. The power button is my least favorite option, it’s recessed and actually fairly difficult to push. Double tap works when you hold the device, but not as well when the device is laying on a surface. For example, if I’m playing music and want to change a song, double tap doesn’t recognize my input 50% of the time. I have to keep double tapping or eventually pick the device up or hit the power button to turn the screen on.
On a positive side with the M8, tilting the device to the side and hitting the volume up key does instantly bring the M8 camera on. And it’s fast. Very handy.
Turning the devices off, there’s always a moment when reaching up to the power button on the M8 that I’m consciously concerned about dropping the device. Side power buttons are better.
Buttons:
Am I the only one that thinks it makes sense to have the back button on the right side like Samsung does it? I use the back button with my thumb 95% more than the current apps button. I don’t enjoy reaching across the screen on the M8. I also tend to prefer the Samsung home button, even though it’s an additional point of failure. I like being able to click a button to turn the screen on or go home. The tactile feel helps very much. I’m often hunting around on the M8 for the onscreen buttons, because the “HTC” bezel throws me off. What a waste of space.
Screen:
The S5 auto brightness is darker than the M8. With AB off, it’s easier to read text on the S5. With it on, it’s generally easier to read text on the M8. S5 is more vibrant with pictures, but the M8 has better contrast. I love the extra screen real estate due to the lack of screen buttons on the S5.
Touchwiz vs Sense: No preference.
How long will I keep the device:
I feel that the M8 will be gone in a year, because the M9 will have a better camera that make it a worthwhile upgrade. I can see myself holding onto the S5 for two years, it really is maxed out with specs and just works. On the other hand, the uninspiring nature of the S5 will probably make me want to ditch it in 2015.
crazeco said:
I bought the Samsung GS5 and HTC One M8. Now I have to return one. Help me decide which one!
I purchased both phones to use simultaneously for a couple weeks. I was confident that at the end of the two weeks, I’d have a clear answer about which phone was best for me – but I’m still torn.
I do think I have my mind made up about which phone is better in specific categories, and maybe some things people don’t think about when writing reviews.
Camera image quality on good shots: GS5.
Outside M8: [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Pk8jEUw.jpg[/IMG]
Outside GS5:
Auto settings. I upscaled the M8 image to 16MP. I think IMGUR might automatically downscale. My overall impression is that the M8 takes in too much light. It’s difficult to avoid, even when playing with exposure settings. Once you zoom, the GS5 16MP really comes into play. You can be the judge on which images are better, and by how much.
Camera consistency: M8. 50% my shots with the S5 end up a bit blurry. 75% of my M8 shots are in focus. That’s with still imagery.
Which is more important? Overall quality on excellent shots, or consistency?
Handfeel:
The S5 is easier to hold, especially when laying down in bed. The S5 is lighter and weighted in a way that feels like my hand is simply connected to the device. It doesn’t put strain on my wrist or make me feel concerned about dropping it at all. My confidence level holding the device without a case is extremely high. On the other hand, the S5 has a filmy/slimy feeling that makes it feel dirty. It always feels like the back of the S5 was rubbed on a slice of pizza. I feel confident holding it, but I don’t enjoy it. It’s very uninspiring.
The M8 feels amazing in the hand. I consistently want to pick it up for no other reason than to hold it. It has a nice cool temperature that is very welcoming. I don’t think the M8 is more slippery than the S5. I think it’s how the device is weighted. It’s harder to hold because it feels screen side heavy. When I’m holding it in bed, I always feel like the device is going to slip out of my hand and fall on my face. Not because the case is more slippery, but because of the weight. I am constantly reinforcing my grip on the phone out of fear of dropping it. It’s a strange mix of wanting to pick it up, and being afraid to pick it up.
I did use a GS4 and a Galaxy Nexus prior to that. I wonder how much of this is because I simply feel comfortable with Samsung devices? From a practical standpoint I feel the S5 is the better phone here. From an emotional standpoint I like how the HTC makes me feel.
Turning the device on and off:
The S5 can be turned on with the home button or power button. I’ve found hitting the home button is easier than double tapping. I’ve been able to use the fingerprint scanner with about 80% accuracy with one hand and my thumb. Accessing the camera from the lockscreen produces a second or two of lag.
The M8 is double tap or the top power button. The power button is my least favorite option, it’s recessed and actually fairly difficult to push. Double tap works when you hold the device, but not as well when the device is laying on a surface. For example, if I’m playing music and want to change a song, double tap doesn’t recognize my input 50% of the time. I have to keep double tapping or eventually pick the device up or hit the power button to turn the screen on.
On a positive side with the M8, tilting the device to the side and hitting the volume up key does instantly bring the M8 camera on. And it’s fast. Very handy.
Turning the devices off, there’s always a moment when reaching up to the power button on the M8 that I’m consciously concerned about dropping the device. Side power buttons are better.
Buttons:
Am I the only one that thinks it makes sense to have the back button on the right side like Samsung does it? I use the back button with my thumb 95% more than the current apps button. I don’t enjoy reaching across the screen on the M8. I also tend to prefer the Samsung home button, even though it’s an additional point of failure. I like being able to click a button to turn the screen on or go home. The tactile feel helps very much. I’m often hunting around on the M8 for the onscreen buttons, because the “HTC” bezel throws me off. What a waste of space.
Screen:
The S5 auto brightness is darker than the M8. With AB off, it’s easier to read text on the S5. With it on, it’s generally easier to read text on the M8. S5 is more vibrant with pictures, but the M8 has better contrast. I love the extra screen real estate due to the lack of screen buttons on the S5.
Touchwiz vs Sense: No preference.
How long will I keep the device:
I feel that the M8 will be gone in a year, because the M9 will have a better camera that make it a worthwhile upgrade. I can see myself holding onto the S5 for two years, it really is maxed out with specs and just works. On the other hand, the uninspiring nature of the S5 will probably make me want to ditch it in 2015.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude first of all thanks a lot for a very informative post, really appreciate it.
I'm interested yo know your input about the performance of both devices. If you don't mind, can u give a detailed opinion about the performance like you did about the rest on your post above? Thanks! Want to see how the S5 does compared to the M8.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
barondebxl said:
Dude first of all thanks a lot for a very informative post, really appreciate it.
I'm interested yo know your input about the performance of both devices. If you don't mind, can u give a detailed opinion about the performance like you did about the rest on your post above? Thanks! Want to see how the S5 does compared to the M8.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I addressed some of this in the above, I made the following post in the HTC forum and thought this might answer your question on "performance":
I used the M8 and S5 side by side for over a week. I really wanted to keep the M8, but I couldn't.
Basic inputs:
It actually takes longer to use the M8 for basic inputs, turning the device on, and turning it off. The Samsung turns on a bit faster with just pushing the home button. Fingerprint scanner unlocks more quickly. Side power button is far superior.
Double tap on the M8 is NOT perfect. Neither is holding the device in landscape and hitting the volume key to activate the camera (doesn't work on the first try about 30%). Double tap takes you to the first lock screen. Then you have to slide the icon of what you want to use and input your pin. This can be mitigated by utilizing swipes instead of double tap. It's still not faster.
Buttons:
I often found myself constantly hunting for the onscreen buttons on the M8. The empty HTC bezel throws you off. It's very hard to have muscle memory when you have a big empty row where you think the buttons are. It also takes a moment for the buttons to simply appear. S5 doesn't have this issue due to the hardware home button.
Screen Off:
However often we turn the screen on, a lot of us are also turning it off. It takes longer to turn the screen off on the M8 than it does the S5. Every time I turned the M8 off with one hand it required maneuvering the device in a way that made me fear dropping it because the power button is on top and the device is long. I generally used my other hand to hit the power button just for that reason. That's not necessary on the S5.
Screen on with Music:
I LOVE the M8 speakers. I love playing music on this device around the house, while I'm in the shower, etc. If I am playing music on the M8 and have the device on the counter, and I want to change a song, it's not designed to register a doubletap when laying flat. With the S5, I hit the home button and it brings the screen up. It takes significantly longer to either find a way to hit the top power button or repeatedly tap the screen until it registers on the M8.
Speed:
In day to day use, after disabling bloat on the S5, the devices are equally as snappy. In fact, the S5 is more accessible for the reasons mentioned above. That's all that matters, because all of us here are capable of tinkering and optimizing.
Everyone wants to talk about microseconds worth of lag, what about basic functions, like turning the screen off. It's little things like that, things I do often, which should be taken into consideration when you talk about how long you have to wait for things between devices. If we are going to argue about tenths of a second, these things matter.
I decided to get an Alpha as the prices in Switzerland, where I live, are fairly low for unlocked, brand-new devices, and my ageing Nexus 4 was in a dire need of replacement. Today I received my brand new, unlocked "dazzling white" Alpha!
This is my first non-Nexus android. I decided not to install the Google Now launcher on it immediately and give TouchWiz a try, just to see what it's like.
I've been playing with it for a couple of hours, and setting everything up, so here are my first impressions and troubles.
1. It looks lovely, it's so thin, metallic frame, beautiful soft back plastic. Great stuff.
2. The phone is obviously much more capable speed-wise than my Nexus 4, but it's not as fluid as the Nexus 4 (which had Lollipop 5.0.2). Some apps are really choppy, such as Hangouts. It's a strange overall experience: some things load very quickly, but it's not polished and the choppy-ness can be fairly annoying, especially when it causes it to miss touch inputs.
3. Certain apps cannot be uninstalled (e.g. Dropbox, which I don't use). They can only be disabled. On a bright note, Facebook is not installed and while the phone has some bloatware, it's not excessive. So far I ignored all the pre-installed apps (none seem useful at a glance), but I'll look at them more in detail when I get a chance.
4. The fingerprint scanner is not anywhere as bad as I believed it would be. Ok swiping is not as convenient as simply pushing the button, but otherwise it recognises my finger in one or two attempts. So far never worse than that.
5. The battery is obviously very small and I think this phone will last through a full day only with light use. I'll report back after a few days, but so far it went from 56% to 12% alarmingly fast - also, of course, I was installing and setting up stuff on it.
6. The camera seems ok. Indoor shots are so-so. The live-view in HDR more is nice, the focus indicator is nice, the interface is simple and clear. Overall colour balance is good. While I personally use a DSLR for anything more serious, the phone's camera is good to have for impromptu situations. For that, I think it would be adequate. It's certainly better than the Nexus 4 camera.
7. I'm not mad about the colours used by TouchWiz, especially that dirty green, and the drop-down settings are a bit too busy for my liking. This is fairly minor stuff. Otherwise everything seems to work by and large similarly to a Nexus phone.
8. I cannot find a method to swipe away all the notifications. Which is strange, especially since TouchWiz does have a way to close all the recent apps, which is very useful (and not even Lollipop has this feature).
9. I quite like the Samsung keyboard. It's got a little row of numbers on top, which I find very useful. The word suggestions are good. The best feature - I configured two languages on it, and if you "code-switch" (i.e. mix languages when typing) it will display suggestions and corrections appropriately. Without manually changing the language. Great stuff, very Blackberry-ish.
10. It doesn't work with the "Android file transfer" OSX application. At all. It's as if the phone is not connected, and there's no "enable USB file transfer" option on the phone, as on a Nexus device. I'll try later on Windows.
11. Bluetooth is off by default when booting the phone, and it doesn't remember the last enabled state. I don't understand why.
12. It has a lot of horrible "music" ringtones and just one that sounds remotely like a phone.
13. It was a pain to connect it to my LG watch. It just didn't work - reboots, reinstalls, re-pairs etc did nothing. That is, until I factory-reset the watch, then it worked.
14. I thought I wouldn't like the hardware Back and Recents buttons, and I thought I'd like the Home button. It's the other way around - got used pretty quickly to Back/Recents, but I'm not impressed with the Home button. It's a bit fiddly, it moves around a little and doesn't feel as precise and satisfying to press. The side buttons (power/volume) are great though.
15. The call quality is very good, better than the Nexus 4.
16. The screen is great, with good colours, great blacks and contrast level. It's punchy without being in-your-face. My previous OLED screen experience was with the Nexus Galaxy (also made by Samsung), and the Alpha definitely has a better screen, mostly because of the better white (still just a bit blue-ish) and no obvious residual pattern on a uniform background. The resolution is good. I can see the fine-graining on the display if I focus on it (pentile? or diamond?), but it doesn't bother me. Outdoor visibility in bright light is ok but not great, as in, adequate to make a phone call but not ideal for browsing the web for extended periods of time.
I'll post an update in a few days, once certain things such as the battery life are clearer. So far, the phone is above expectations.
It a great phone, you gonna love it.
For clearing all notifications there is a button named clear all that appears on the bar above them.
Sent from my SM-G850F
tileeq said:
For clearing all notifications there is a button named clear all that appears on the bar above them.
Sent from my SM-G850F
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah thank you so much, now I see it
Completely unrelated to the notifications - I got to play today with the new S6 and S6 Edge. They are very nice but I don't regret buying the Alpha (for half the price of the 32Gb S6). The one thing I like more about the Alpha is, weirdly, the back panel. I just love the soft plastic on the Alpha. The glass on the S6 seemed quite slippery and I wasn't so sure about its aesthetics. From the front and side though, they look fantastic - in my humble opinion, better than the iPhones. Well done Samsung!
To add to my initial impressions: the fingerprint reader on the Alpha is actually quite excellent, at least with my fingers. The huge majority of time it will unlock from the first attempt. I'm quite impressed, considering that, given all the comments and the reviews, I never expected to use the feature.
I played some more with the camera and it's actually quite decent. Up to dark-ish scenes, where the noise just takes over.
One small gripe with the "blocking mode", which is very useful to me (I used to install Bedside Buddy when I had KitKat on the Nexus, and then Lollipop introduced a similar feature): the LED notification is still shown even when otherwise the phone doesn't (correctly) make a notification sound. Yes, easily fixable by leaving it face-down on the night stand, but it seems like an oversight. Or perhaps I didn't configure something correctly?
symphara, Ive been there, My nexus(4)? was fading fast so i went for the Galaxy Alpha in December. i know I have not rgretted it
at all. For the battery thats in there it will give me 2 days on one charge. but, yah..I agree with all the points you've given
Galaxy Alpha 850W gets two thumbs up. im still gonna look into the 2500 mAh battery though
As promised, here's an update to my original post, having used the phone for a couple of weeks now.
1. Battery life is better than expected and actually good, at least for my use. So far it hasn't died on me, not even after fairly extensive daily use (navigation/web). The power saving mode noticeably reduces the power drain without worsening performance too much. To date I was never in a situation where I had to use the "ultra" power saving mode. A quick example: in 24 hours, out of which 11 were in flight mode, it went from 100% to 63%, with moderate-light use. It charges very quickly. Mine doesn't heat up, no matter what I do.
2. The fingerprint scanner works reliably only when swiping vertically. It's very unreliable if I try to register oblique swipes. This makes it impractical to use with only one hand, and unlock with my thumb. I need to hold the phone with one hand and unlock with the other. Clearly TouchID (which I tried) and perhaps the new S6 sensor (which I haven't tried) are better. TouchID for sure works in varying directions and is suitable for one-handed unlock.
3. GPS location tracking is not as good as expected. It has significant problems in cities. On the train it can get location lock only close to the window. Location updating is not smooth when moving at speed. Compared to my iPad, when used side-by-side, the difference in the quality of implementation (speed of lock, smoothness of update, precision) is very large.
4. The camera is only good in good light. The performance degrades steadily with the amount of available light, to the point where it is terrible in low light (e.g. city night shots, intimate restaurant). The camera app is very good in my opinion. I am particularly impressed with the panorama shots: easy to take, very fast processing, good stitching.
5. Performance is a mixed bag, and for me, not quite satisfactory. For some things it's clearly fast - it records 60fps full HD beautifully, it plays Hearthstone very well (smoother than the 2014 Nexus 7 with Lollipop!), it downloads and installs things very fast, etc. Other applications and use-cases are not so lucky.
Chrome frequently staggers, to the point of not accepting scroll input for periods of nearly 1 second now and again. App switching is always slow. Google Maps is fairly slow and often jerky. Performance does seem to degrade over time, so periodic closures of apps are needed. It's good that it provides a "close all" option.
The worst thing is that overall the phone does not give an even, smooth performance. In my opinion, Nexus 4 with Lollipop gives a better overall software experience even if it cannot satisfy performance-hungry applications (which the Galaxy Alpha can), but it's much more fluid overall. My wife's Nexus 5, which I think is inferior to the Alpha in terms of CPU, gives a significantly better overall software experience - it's faster to do pretty much anything, and very fluid.
I am waiting with considerable interest the Lollipop update on this phone. If it elevates the software experience closer to the level of the Nexus, it would make the phone very enjoyable to use. As it stands, the hardware feels premium but the software experience definitely gives a feel of a low-mid range device to me. Considering what I paid for it, it's still not a bad deal, but it falls well short of the intended Samsung near-flagship positioning. Interestingly, mutatis mutandis, the old Nexus 5 does almost everything better than the Alpha, including better low-light camera performance.
I forgot to mention something else. Bluetooth is terrible. I'm not sure if it's my phone, or all share this problem. Range is less than 2 (two) meters of line-of-sight. It does not work "through" me - e.g. if I put the phone in my back pocket, it will not maintain connection to my LG Android Wear wrist watch, when on my wrist. It I have the phone in my one of my trousers' side pocket, as I walk, it will interrupt headphone audio with each step. It's pretty terrible.
New updates on review are in the 2nd post. Thanks for reading!
Hey everyone! Many of you know me from other threads or some Q&A, but I wanted to share my experience with the Nexus 6P. I do have a thread where you can ask me anything to try or test out on the device, to help answer some questions. I am a front end developer, UX/UI designer, and business owner. This review is based on how I use the phone and where the phone either shines or fails to perform to my needs. The #hype is real on this device and I am hoping to provide you some feedback that removes the bias of #hype and focuses on the device. Hope you find this helpful and thanks for reading!
Introduction
The Nexus 6P is probably the one device I was so excited to get since the iPhone 4. From reading every possible hands on review, watching every YouTube video, and being on the forums trying to calculate shipping dates. This phone has generated so much buzz that I finally felt so excited to get a device. Compared to last year, nothing was "omfg must have". The Nexus 6P filled that hope.
Ergonomics & Hardware
There is no need for me to get into the specs, we all know them or they are easily available elsewhere. This review is about how the specs of the phone play to the hardware and software to make OUR experience the best. The Nexus 6P has some amazing hardware. I got the 32gb Aluminum (long live #aluminati!) version. It is such a delight to hold. The device feels fantastic in my hands, and I have average size hands for a 5'10" individual. I am coming from a Moto X Pure, Note 5, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPhone 6, and Nexus 6 over the past year. Yes, I change phones frequently...mostly for entertainment or variety. Unlike the iPhones, Note 5, and Nexus 6 - The 6P feels stable in my hands, easy to hold, my thumb can reach across the screen without slipping and the weight of the device does help me balance it for one handed use. Where iPhones were so light and thin, the ergonomics sucked to hold; the 6P thickness actually helps in one handed use. The width of the device is not so wide, like the 2014 N6, that one handed use is easy and 2 handed use works just fine as well.
Slippery - Or should I say, lack thereof? The metal on the phone has a slight grip to it. Similar to that of the Moto X Pure (minus the rubber), but it stays in my hand. Those of you worried about the metal frame and possibly being slippery like the iPhones or even Nexus 6; have no fear.
Metal & Screen - Every version (color) will probably differ. I can only speak for the aluminum version. I have barely put the device down and I have zero fingerprints on the back. Oils do not absorb into the metal to look dirty. The only area where fingerprints are obvious is where they should be...on the screen. Which brings me to the glass of the screen. The glass, in the first hours, felt good but over the ongoing use it has been a little tough for me to slide my fingers over. Could be me or maybe I just need to put the damn phone down. The glass is beautiful and seems strong, but I ordered a glass screen protector to help with fingerprints and always feeling smooth to the touch.
There is a lip around the edge. The metal lip seems to be that of 0.2mm, give or take. It's extremely subtle, but obvious it is there to the touch. If that is something that would bother you, the glass screen protectors seem to hit the correct dimensions in thickness to flatten the surface out entirely. I can imagine the lip probably makes applying a glass screen protector even easier due to form fitting vs aligning.
Buttons and Fingerprint Sensors
The buttons are metal and solid. They don't wiggle around, which drove me insane on my iPhone and Moto X Pure. You can tell they were built well. The home button has a texture to identify easily and works quite well. The click in on volume and home buttons have a easily identifying feedback so you know you are pushing them. As silly as it may sound, the Moto X Pure failed in that area. Where the buttons were so easy to push and lack of feedback on press, there were nights where I would watch a YouTube clip and accidentally click the volume in and piss off the lady.
The fingerprint sensor is like every other reviewer has put it. Extremely fast and reliable. I programmed my index and middle fingers on both hands to the fingerprint sensor. I love that I can pull my phone out of my pocket and its ready to go without awkward thumb bending on the front to reach. Only gripe here on the UX is the inability to unlock the device with my fingerprint when it's laying on my desk. It's not a huge deal to some, but I am at a desk non stop. There is a solution, in Android Marshmallow for this though. I setup certain areas as my "trusted" areas. My car, for example, is a trusted connection and the phone does not require to unlock. I did the same for the bluetooth on my work desk. Solves the issue, but leaves the phone open to access if that worries you.
Notification Light
I love notification lights. This one is simple and great. Not buried into the speaker. Obvious pulsing and colors. Just make sure you turn it on! My phone had it disabled. To enable, go to settings > Notifications > Pulse Notification Light. This is one of my favorite features, for as simple and dumb as it may sound.
Speed and Battery
This phone is lightning fast for me. It was built to work fluidly with Android M and it does exactly that. I haven't ran into any hiccups, crashing, issues and everything just...works! Not sure when I was last able to say that about an Android device. This is the first Android I don't have the "want or need" to begin installing greenify, sleep, and other apps that help chill the phone out and not drain the battery. App switching is smooth, RAM usage has stayed consistently at 1.5gb and the camera opens without stutter or lag for me. I frequently find something I wish to take a picture of and it just opens without delay. More on the camera further down.
The battery is great. The synergy with Android M, Doze, and the Nexus 6p - the battery life for me has been phenomenal. It's too early to reveal screenshots, but just in my general use today I have only used 9% of my battery. I have sent numerous emails, taken some pictures, showed off the device, used Google Maps for navigation, and listened to a Play Music Radio Station on the drive to work. I am happy to say that I am sure battery life won't be a big complaint amongst users. If you use your device so intensively, the rapid charging is rapid. Not as fast as my Moto X Pure, but pretty darn fast. It won't let you down.
Battery life screenshots attached in this post. I am impressed by the battery on this device.
Camera
I ****ing love this camera. The pictures are beautiful, detailed, and vibrant with colors. I take a lot of pictures with my devices and generally, my family will ask me to use my phone (whatever it may be at the time) to take those perfect shots. The focus, ISO, exposure and color has not let me down at all. I was able to get some amazing night shots, with the improved camera here. Lack of OIS isn't missed much on pictures, but at 4k video recording it would have been very helpful. In general, the camera is reliable and great quality. The pictures you may want to take at a bar or night environment will probably come out better than that of any other phone...with or without a flash. Samples attached of a couple night shots I posted elsewhere.
I did install a camera app called FV-5. It gives you far more control over the camera and has made some pictures really incredible. I have to tinker with it more and learn about some settings, but the face detection, focus and more on the app really allows the hardware to shine. Hopefully they update it quickly with more support for the 6P camera hardware features.
Connectivity
The most important part of the phone. I have Verizon and some areas in my house or office will be weaker than others. Where my Moto X Pure wasn't getting the best signal, I do see a slight stronger signal on the 6P. Nothing much though and wouldn't bank on it improving your past experiences substantially. WiFi speeds are great. I attached a screenshot of my speeds at home, on WiFi, with the 6P.
Bluetooth and Car
I use my phone in the car all the time. If this one aspect of a phone is flawed, then it goes back. I was concerned at first, because the phone and car would not connect. I was worried it was related to Android M. After I turned off bluetooth and turned it back on - it connected and paired, finally. I was most worried at this point.
Since then, I have gotten in and out of my car and the transition and connection to bluetooth has been seamless and quick. Where my Moto X Pure and iPhones took about 30 seconds to finally connect to the car and have a 3s gap where I miss conversation; The 6P seems to connect and transition the audio instantly. I hope it stays that way!
In the End?
I love this phone. It does live up to the #hype. Without any bias to my excitement to have it, this phone has pretty much hit every aspect of feature I would want out of a mobile device. The best part is IT JUST WORKS. That used to be my argument for Apple devices, but I can now say the same for Android. Sorry if that disappoints some of you... This is also the first android device where I don't feel the need to unlock or root. I will unlock and root because it's a Nexus and I like to develop/test ROMS out. However, those of you who felt you had to rely on unlocking and rooting to tinker settings, you may find that you won't have that urge to do so anymore. If anything, I'll do it for TWRP.
Where I would normally plan on switching devices every few months or 6 months, I can see myself keeping this device for a year to 2 years. Just won't tell the lady that or else I'll hear it when I want to upgrade to next years Nexus line...
Lastly, in the day using it, I have had many people ask me, "Hey, what phone is that?". While I don't care for being known to have the latest and greatest, it's fun showing it off. I can't wait to see some Frosties or Graphites in the wild, but for you folks with #aluminati...stand proud and shine. I hope this helped provide some honest insight and answer some questions.
Thanks folks!
Note: The only changes I made to the pictures was reduce the size of them. They were too large to upload, but no post edits were done for enhancements.
***UPDATES***
Blue Tint / Hue: I got our second device today and first thing I looked for was the blue tint/hue. I am surprised to say that there really isn't much of one on the second device. It's the exact same 32gb aluminum. That being said, I still never notice it on the first device and personally don't find it worth the effort to replace.
Bluetooth Issues: Some bluetooth connectivity issues have began to show their faces. I think it has to do with Android 6.0 and NOT the 6P, but we'll see.
Car: Mazda3 2014 Grand Touring, updated to most recent software
Symptoms: "Google Now" isn't working when connected. It seems that the device is depending on the vehicles microphone for any input and the vehicle microphone only triggers on button press. My other devices in the past year did not have this problem, including iPhone's "Hey Siri".
Resolution: Pending
Speakers: This is purely based on opinion, but I love the speakers on the 6P. I find them to sound rich and some great tones for a phone. I DO prefer them to my Moto X Pure, don't shoot me. Really though, speakers are great. I watched a movie last night from the device, for about 30 minutes, and no pops, crackles, stutters at all. Was pleased.
I did notice on speakers, that the volume range is a bit wonky. The low to mid setting for speakers in media playback was quite hard to hear. At 75% it was what I expect at medium. At 100% it was too loud. Food for thought, but hopefully this is addressed in software updates or use Viper.
What accessories are you using?
I love to accessorize my devices. I usually run my phone naked, to display all of it's beauty and engineering. Project Fi did send me a 50% off the ADOPTED case, which I ordered. Can't beat $10.81 with free shipping on a Google official case.
Screen Protectors:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016XZLFD6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014UNPYEE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01
These haven't arrived yet. One gets in Tuesday. I will test it out to make sure it does not block any sensors along with making the lip feel flush. Will report back on these.
Car Charger:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0146FK3G0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01
There is a great thread, somewhere in accessories about Car Chargers. If you have lots of questions about it or need specifics, most have been answered there. I will say that RAPID CHARGING from this charger DOES WORK. Confirmed. I was able to charge up from 60% to 100% on a short drive home. It works great and the spare USB slot is appreciated.
Extra USB-C Cable:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010VFFSL4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
Braided, heavy duty and feels very solid/premium. Length is great and I am using it with a Moto X Pure charging block. Rapid charging works and it's a great cable.
Car Mount:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VEAF6SG?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00
This is the first car mount I have tried. I am picky about how things are in my car and I like it clean. Since my CD slot is at the bottom of the front dash, this fits quite well. It doesn't shake much and gets the job done.
Con: The piece that holds the phone expands and snaps back to default when you remove the device. It's not the easiest to use. You also can't center your device because the "arms" that hold the phone will press the volume/power key. This thing looks like it was built for an iPhone or LG G3+ type phone. Food for thought.
SPEAKERS VOLUME VIDEO:
***UPDATE TO OP 11/03***
Hey everyone! So after a week of use, I have some updates to the review. I have pasted the updates below, so you don't have to jump back to OP.
Battery
This seems to be one of the most discussed topics and quite a sensitive one! Some users are experiencing incredible SoT while others are not. Ultimately, it will boil down to what apps you have installed along with your connectivity. If your LTE connection is weak, your phone's battery will reflect that. There are many factors to take into consideration with battery, so please understand it is literally per individual basis!
Disclaimer: I haven't received any OTA updates yet. There have been 3 thus far and probably address some of the issues I have.
Over the weekend, I noticed my battery life not lasting as long as I would like. Almost seemed that every 5 minutes I was on the phone, I would lose roughly 3%-5%. This raised some questions so I started diving into the possible issues.
Symptoms:
Phone near fingerprint sensor would get warm during phone calls
Bluetooth constantly scanning
WiFi active during Doze/Sleep
WiFi scanning
GPS on
Solution:
Disabled Bluetooth and WiFi scanning passively
WiFi Advanced settings, disabled WiFi on during sleep
GPS was set to battery saving, but wasn't working. Simply turn off GPS, turn it back on, and check battery saving (this was an odd one)
With those adjustments, I have now noticed my battery in DOZE would lose roughly 2% over 4 hours. I'll get some screenshots and update the OP when they are available. Still testing. Battery life after the fixes are substantially better, however, my device is still getting warm while on calls where our second 6P does NOT. Due to this, a replacement has been overnighted to me. When that arrives, I will be unlocking/rooting to have some more fun with reporting to everyone.
VEHICLE BLUETOOTH
So, either this is new in Android M or my car is losing it's AI mind (or lack thereof), but I have figured out what it's doing. When placing a call through the device or the car, the phone will go into a "dialing" status. While it's in "dialing" status, the car will continue to play my music. When someone on the other end of the call picks up, the audio will switch to the phone. It hasn't been easy adjusting to this and I do wish I would just hear the dial tone, but everything else works great in car.
SCREEN PROTECTOR
I just received one of my screen protectors. I will apply it this evening, record it and share the link here for everyone to see. First impressions are that it misses the "edge to edge" by a slight amount. There is a lip on the edge of the device. My hope was the glass would extend from lip to lip. Not the case here, but still worth a shot. The glass DOES protrude above the lip. Glass thickness is slightly thicker than the other posted above, according to specs. That one arrives today, hopefully!
If something like that will bother you, I don't recommend the Yoozon glass. Video will come soon and you can see for yourself and decide which may be best for you, if any.
FINGERPRINT SENSOR
Still works like a charm. I hope they have an update that allows you to use a little more of the edge of your fingers, similar to Sammies or Apple. Other than that, it's reliable and fast even if your finger has moisture. Good stuff Huawei.
More to come soon, but hope this provides you more info and helps!
Thank you for the excellent review.
Excellent review and agree with everything you have said this is one of the best phones I have owned and I have owned a lot of them.
Thanks for the review! I'm currently test-driving a Moto X Pure, and have a week or so left to return it, which means if I want to get the Nexus 6P I'll have to go back to my old LG G2 for several weeks until Huawei gets its butt in gear and starts pumping out more 64gb models. What's your take on the 6P vs. the X Pure?
Chief85 said:
Thanks for the review! I'm currently test-driving a Moto X Pure, and have a week or so left to return it, which means if I want to get the Nexus 6P I'll have to go back to my old LG G2 for several weeks until Huawei gets its butt in gear and starts pumping out more 64gb models. What's your take on the 6P vs. the X Pure?
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Click to collapse
Thank you! Seeing that I literally just came from the Moto X Pure to the 6P, I can say that I have not looked back or regret doing so. I gave my X Pure to my business partner (he was on a 2014 model still). There is a noticeable height difference, but I like it. It actually places the volume rocker and power button in the right spot for my thumb. Unless you did Moto Maker and like that super unique look, I'd pick the 6P hands down.
Great review! Thanks for sharing.
tehpud said:
Hey everyone! Many of you know me from other threads or some Q&A, but I wanted to share my experience with the Nexus 6P. I do have a thread where you can ask me anything to try or test out on the device, to help answer some questions. I am a front end developer, UX/UI designer, and business owner. This review is based on how I use the phone and where the phone either shines or fails to perform to my needs. The #hype is real on this device and I am hoping to provide you some feedback that removes the bias of #hype and focuses on the device. Hope you find this helpful and thanks for reading!
Introduction
The Nexus 6P is probably the one device I was so excited to get since the iPhone 4. From reading every possible hands on review, watching every YouTube video, and being on the forums trying to calculate shipping dates. This phone has generated so much buzz that I finally felt so excited to get a device. Compared to last year, nothing was "omfg must have". The Nexus 6P filled that hope.
Ergonomics & Hardware
There is no need for me to get into the specs, we all know them or they are easily available elsewhere. This review is about how the specs of the phone play to the hardware and software to make OUR experience the best. The Nexus 6P has some amazing hardware. I got the 32gb Aluminum (long live #aluminati!) version. It is such a delight to hold. The device feels fantastic in my hands, and I have average size hands for a 5'10" individual. I am coming from a Moto X Pure, Note 5, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPhone 6, and Nexus 6 over the past year. Yes, I change phones frequently...mostly for entertainment or variety. Unlike the iPhones, Note 5, and Nexus 6 - The 6P feels stable in my hands, easy to hold, my thumb can reach across the screen without slipping and the weight of the device does help me balance it for one handed use. Where iPhones were so light and thin, the ergonomics sucked to hold; the 6P thickness actually helps in one handed use. The width of the device is not so wide, like the 2014 N6, that one handed use is easy and 2 handed use works just fine as well.
Slippery - Or should I say, lack thereof? The metal on the phone has a slight grip to it. Similar to that of the Moto X Pure (minus the rubber), but it stays in my hand. Those of you worried about the metal frame and possibly being slippery like the iPhones or even Nexus 6; have no fear.
Metal & Screen - Every version (color) will probably differ. I can only speak for the aluminum version. I have barely put the device down and I have zero fingerprints on the back. Oils do not absorb into the metal to look dirty. The only area where fingerprints are obvious is where they should be...on the screen. Which brings me to the glass of the screen. The glass, in the first hours, felt good but over the ongoing use it has been a little tough for me to slide my fingers over. Could be me or maybe I just need to put the damn phone down. The glass is beautiful and seems strong, but I ordered a glass screen protector to help with fingerprints and always feeling smooth to the touch.
There is a lip around the edge. The metal lip seems to be that of 0.2mm, give or take. It's extremely subtle, but obvious it is there to the touch. If that is something that would bother you, the glass screen protectors seem to hit the correct dimensions in thickness to flatten the surface out entirely. I can imagine the lip probably makes applying a glass screen protector even easier due to form fitting vs aligning.
Buttons and Fingerprint Sensors
The buttons are metal and solid. They don't wiggle around, which drove me insane on my iPhone and Moto X Pure. You can tell they were built well. The home button has a texture to identify easily and works quite well. The click in on volume and home buttons have a easily identifying feedback so you know you are pushing them. As silly as it may sound, the Moto X Pure failed in that area. Where the buttons were so easy to push and lack of feedback on press, there were nights where I would watch a YouTube clip and accidentally click the volume in and piss off the lady.
The fingerprint sensor is like every other reviewer has put it. Extremely fast and reliable. I programmed my index and middle fingers on both hands to the fingerprint sensor. I love that I can pull my phone out of my pocket and its ready to go without awkward thumb bending on the front to reach. Only gripe here on the UX is the inability to unlock the device with my fingerprint when it's laying on my desk. It's not a huge deal to some, but I am at a desk non stop. There is a solution, in Android Marshmallow for this though. I setup certain areas as my "trusted" areas. My car, for example, is a trusted connection and the phone does not require to unlock. I did the same for the bluetooth on my work desk. Solves the issue, but leaves the phone open to access if that worries you.
Notification Light
I love notification lights. This one is simple and great. Not buried into the speaker. Obvious pulsing and colors. Just make sure you turn it on! My phone had it disabled. To enable, go to settings > Notifications > Pulse Notification Light. This is one of my favorite features, for as simple and dumb as it may sound.
Speed and Battery
This phone is lightning fast for me. It was built to work fluidly with Android M and it does exactly that. I haven't ran into any hiccups, crashing, issues and everything just...works! Not sure when I was last able to say that about an Android device. This is the first Android I don't have the "want or need" to begin installing greenify, sleep, and other apps that help chill the phone out and not drain the battery. App switching is smooth, RAM usage has stayed consistently at 1.5gb and the camera opens without stutter or lag for me. I frequently find something I wish to take a picture of and it just opens without delay. More on the camera further down.
The battery is great. The synergy with Android M, Doze, and the Nexus 6p - the battery life for me has been phenomenal. It's too early to reveal screenshots, but just in my general use today I have only used 9% of my battery. I have sent numerous emails, taken some pictures, showed off the device, used Google Maps for navigation, and listened to a Play Music Radio Station on the drive to work. I am happy to say that I am sure battery life won't be a big complaint amongst users. If you use your device so intensively, the rapid charging is rapid. Not as fast as my Moto X Pure, but pretty darn fast. It won't let you down.
Camera
I ****ing love this camera. The pictures are beautiful, detailed, and vibrant with colors. I take a lot of pictures with my devices and generally, my family will ask me to use my phone (whatever it may be at the time) to take those perfect shots. The focus, ISO, exposure and color has not let me down at all. I was able to get some amazing night shots, with the improved camera here. Lack of OIS isn't missed much on pictures, but at 4k video recording it would have been very helpful. In general, the camera is reliable and great quality. The pictures you may want to take at a bar or night environment will probably come out better than that of any other phone...with or without a flash. Samples attached of a couple night shots I posted elsewhere.
I did install a camera app called FV-5. It gives you far more control over the camera and has made some pictures really incredible. I have to tinker with it more and learn about some settings, but the face detection, focus and more on the app really allows the hardware to shine. Hopefully they update it quickly with more support for the 6P camera hardware features.
Connectivity
The most important part of the phone. I have Verizon and some areas in my house or office will be weaker than others. Where my Moto X Pure wasn't getting the best signal, I do see a slight stronger signal on the 6P. Nothing much though and wouldn't bank on it improving your past experiences substantially. WiFi speeds are great. I attached a screenshot of my speeds at home, on WiFi, with the 6P.
Bluetooth and Car
I use my phone in the car all the time. If this one aspect of a phone is flawed, then it goes back. I was concerned at first, because the phone and car would not connect. I was worried it was related to Android M. After I turned off bluetooth and turned it back on - it connected and paired, finally. I was most worried at this point.
Since then, I have gotten in and out of my car and the transition and connection to bluetooth has been seamless and quick. Where my Moto X Pure and iPhones took about 30 seconds to finally connect to the car and have a 3s gap where I miss conversation; The 6P seems to connect and transition the audio instantly. I hope it stays that way!
In the End?
I love this phone. It does live up to the #hype. Without any bias to my excitement to have it, this phone has pretty much hit every aspect of feature I would want out of a mobile device. The best part is IT JUST WORKS. That used to be my argument for Apple devices, but I can now say the same for Android. Sorry if that disappoints some of you... This is also the first android device where I don't feel the need to unlock or root. I will unlock and root because it's a Nexus and I like to develop/test ROMS out. However, those of you who felt you had to rely on unlocking and rooting to tinker settings, you may find that you won't have that urge to do so anymore. If anything, I'll do it for TWRP.
Where I would normally plan on switching devices every few months or 6 months, I can see myself keeping this device for a year to 2 years. Just won't tell the lady that or else I'll hear it when I want to upgrade to next years Nexus line...
Lastly, in the day using it, I have had many people ask me, "Hey, what phone is that?". While I don't care for being known to have the latest and greatest, it's fun showing it off. I can't wait to see some Frosties or Graphites in the wild, but for you folks with #aluminati...stand proud and shine. I hope this helped provide some honest insight and answer some questions.
Thanks folks!
Note: The only changes I made to the pictures was reduce the size of them. They were too large to upload, but no post edits were done for enhancements.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have a fantastic cat sir
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
I think it is a very good review. Granted, I have only had my phone for just now 24 hours and only completed full set up early this AM.
Can't speak about the battery yet as it is too early to tell and it has been on and off charger. I anticipate tonight forward I can get a better read.
Camera is one of the best and I REALLY like the Moto X 2015 Pure. I think N6P may trump it as a few low light pics came out great. At very least is on par with Apple 6S Plus which I also own.
Fingerprint scanner is phenomenal and IS faster than Apple 6S Plus, which I thought was fast. N6P trumps it.
Now, I don't necessarily agree with connectivity on LTE: I STILL think MOTO has better radios and at work I have very sketchy connectivity. I do notice my Nexus 6 and even when I owned the Moto X 2015 Pure, it would grab a weaker signal and have faster data connections moreso than the Nexus 6P. I had to keep toggling airplane mode on the Nexus 6P to get signals. So, I think it is OK but MOTO still has better radios IMHO.
Furthermore, I also think the processor is a "tad" slower than Nexus 6. The Nexus 6 seems to fly and is speedier (both Nexus 6 and N6P are decrypted as well). Granted, I perceive no lag on the N6P, but I definitely feel a controlled movement.
Good review, but my thoughts differ from yours a bit.
My Nexus 6P just arrived. Initial impression? The screen on my Moto X Pure is better (brighter, better whites, less graininess up close). Also, the speakers on the Moto X Pure are better. The Moto X Pure is also a little smaller and easier to grip with the rubber back. My Moto X Pure has very clicky and solid buttons, so maybe that's just a flaw in your particular Moto X.
I'm actually shocked because I fully expected to fall in love with the 6P immediately and ditch the Moto X Pure based on the stellar reviews I have been seeing, but now I'm thinking this is going to be a tougher decision than I thought, and I might actually end up returning the 6P!
Chief85 said:
Thanks for the review! I'm currently test-driving a Moto X Pure, and have a week or so left to return it, which means if I want to get the Nexus 6P I'll have to go back to my old LG G2 for several weeks until Huawei gets its butt in gear and starts pumping out more 64gb models. What's your take on the 6P vs. the X Pure?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in exactly same boat. Have till Nov. 13. Great review OP. You make me really want one and if they were readily available I probably would have it.
tehpud said:
Hey everyone! Many of you know me from other threads or some Q&A, but I wanted to share my experience with the Nexus 6P. I do have a thread where you can ask me anything to try or test out on the device, to help answer some questions. I am a front end developer, UX/UI designer, and business owner. This review is based on how I use the phone and where the phone either shines or fails to perform to my needs. The #hype is real on this device and I am hoping to provide you some feedback that removes the bias of #hype and focuses on the device. Hope you find this helpful and thanks for reading!
Introduction
The Nexus 6P is probably the one device I was so excited to get since the iPhone 4. From reading every possible hands on review, watching every YouTube video, and being on the forums trying to calculate shipping dates. This phone has generated so much buzz that I finally felt so excited to get a device. Compared to last year, nothing was "omfg must have". The Nexus 6P filled that hope.
Ergonomics & Hardware
There is no need for me to get into the specs, we all know them or they are easily available elsewhere. This review is about how the specs of the phone play to the hardware and software to make OUR experience the best. The Nexus 6P has some amazing hardware. I got the 32gb Aluminum (long live #aluminati!) version. It is such a delight to hold. The device feels fantastic in my hands, and I have average size hands for a 5'10" individual. I am coming from a Moto X Pure, Note 5, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPhone 6, and Nexus 6 over the past year. Yes, I change phones frequently...mostly for entertainment or variety. Unlike the iPhones, Note 5, and Nexus 6 - The 6P feels stable in my hands, easy to hold, my thumb can reach across the screen without slipping and the weight of the device does help me balance it for one handed use. Where iPhones were so light and thin, the ergonomics sucked to hold; the 6P thickness actually helps in one handed use. The width of the device is not so wide, like the 2014 N6, that one handed use is easy and 2 handed use works just fine as well.
Slippery - Or should I say, lack thereof? The metal on the phone has a slight grip to it. Similar to that of the Moto X Pure (minus the rubber), but it stays in my hand. Those of you worried about the metal frame and possibly being slippery like the iPhones or even Nexus 6; have no fear.
Metal & Screen - Every version (color) will probably differ. I can only speak for the aluminum version. I have barely put the device down and I have zero fingerprints on the back. Oils do not absorb into the metal to look dirty. The only area where fingerprints are obvious is where they should be...on the screen. Which brings me to the glass of the screen. The glass, in the first hours, felt good but over the ongoing use it has been a little tough for me to slide my fingers over. Could be me or maybe I just need to put the damn phone down. The glass is beautiful and seems strong, but I ordered a glass screen protector to help with fingerprints and always feeling smooth to the touch.
There is a lip around the edge. The metal lip seems to be that of 0.2mm, give or take. It's extremely subtle, but obvious it is there to the touch. If that is something that would bother you, the glass screen protectors seem to hit the correct dimensions in thickness to flatten the surface out entirely. I can imagine the lip probably makes applying a glass screen protector even easier due to form fitting vs aligning.
Buttons and Fingerprint Sensors
The buttons are metal and solid. They don't wiggle around, which drove me insane on my iPhone and Moto X Pure. You can tell they were built well. The home button has a texture to identify easily and works quite well. The click in on volume and home buttons have a easily identifying feedback so you know you are pushing them. As silly as it may sound, the Moto X Pure failed in that area. Where the buttons were so easy to push and lack of feedback on press, there were nights where I would watch a YouTube clip and accidentally click the volume in and piss off the lady.
The fingerprint sensor is like every other reviewer has put it. Extremely fast and reliable. I programmed my index and middle fingers on both hands to the fingerprint sensor. I love that I can pull my phone out of my pocket and its ready to go without awkward thumb bending on the front to reach. Only gripe here on the UX is the inability to unlock the device with my fingerprint when it's laying on my desk. It's not a huge deal to some, but I am at a desk non stop. There is a solution, in Android Marshmallow for this though. I setup certain areas as my "trusted" areas. My car, for example, is a trusted connection and the phone does not require to unlock. I did the same for the bluetooth on my work desk. Solves the issue, but leaves the phone open to access if that worries you.
Notification Light
I love notification lights. This one is simple and great. Not buried into the speaker. Obvious pulsing and colors. Just make sure you turn it on! My phone had it disabled. To enable, go to settings > Notifications > Pulse Notification Light. This is one of my favorite features, for as simple and dumb as it may sound.
Speed and Battery
This phone is lightning fast for me. It was built to work fluidly with Android M and it does exactly that. I haven't ran into any hiccups, crashing, issues and everything just...works! Not sure when I was last able to say that about an Android device. This is the first Android I don't have the "want or need" to begin installing greenify, sleep, and other apps that help chill the phone out and not drain the battery. App switching is smooth, RAM usage has stayed consistently at 1.5gb and the camera opens without stutter or lag for me. I frequently find something I wish to take a picture of and it just opens without delay. More on the camera further down.
The battery is great. The synergy with Android M, Doze, and the Nexus 6p - the battery life for me has been phenomenal. It's too early to reveal screenshots, but just in my general use today I have only used 9% of my battery. I have sent numerous emails, taken some pictures, showed off the device, used Google Maps for navigation, and listened to a Play Music Radio Station on the drive to work. I am happy to say that I am sure battery life won't be a big complaint amongst users. If you use your device so intensively, the rapid charging is rapid. Not as fast as my Moto X Pure, but pretty darn fast. It won't let you down.
Camera
I ****ing love this camera. The pictures are beautiful, detailed, and vibrant with colors. I take a lot of pictures with my devices and generally, my family will ask me to use my phone (whatever it may be at the time) to take those perfect shots. The focus, ISO, exposure and color has not let me down at all. I was able to get some amazing night shots, with the improved camera here. Lack of OIS isn't missed much on pictures, but at 4k video recording it would have been very helpful. In general, the camera is reliable and great quality. The pictures you may want to take at a bar or night environment will probably come out better than that of any other phone...with or without a flash. Samples attached of a couple night shots I posted elsewhere.
I did install a camera app called FV-5. It gives you far more control over the camera and has made some pictures really incredible. I have to tinker with it more and learn about some settings, but the face detection, focus and more on the app really allows the hardware to shine. Hopefully they update it quickly with more support for the 6P camera hardware features.
Connectivity
The most important part of the phone. I have Verizon and some areas in my house or office will be weaker than others. Where my Moto X Pure wasn't getting the best signal, I do see a slight stronger signal on the 6P. Nothing much though and wouldn't bank on it improving your past experiences substantially. WiFi speeds are great. I attached a screenshot of my speeds at home, on WiFi, with the 6P.
Bluetooth and Car
I use my phone in the car all the time. If this one aspect of a phone is flawed, then it goes back. I was concerned at first, because the phone and car would not connect. I was worried it was related to Android M. After I turned off bluetooth and turned it back on - it connected and paired, finally. I was most worried at this point.
Since then, I have gotten in and out of my car and the transition and connection to bluetooth has been seamless and quick. Where my Moto X Pure and iPhones took about 30 seconds to finally connect to the car and have a 3s gap where I miss conversation; The 6P seems to connect and transition the audio instantly. I hope it stays that way!
In the End?
I love this phone. It does live up to the #hype. Without any bias to my excitement to have it, this phone has pretty much hit every aspect of feature I would want out of a mobile device. The best part is IT JUST WORKS. That used to be my argument for Apple devices, but I can now say the same for Android. Sorry if that disappoints some of you... This is also the first android device where I don't feel the need to unlock or root. I will unlock and root because it's a Nexus and I like to develop/test ROMS out. However, those of you who felt you had to rely on unlocking and rooting to tinker settings, you may find that you won't have that urge to do so anymore. If anything, I'll do it for TWRP.
Where I would normally plan on switching devices every few months or 6 months, I can see myself keeping this device for a year to 2 years. Just won't tell the lady that or else I'll hear it when I want to upgrade to next years Nexus line...
Lastly, in the day using it, I have had many people ask me, "Hey, what phone is that?". While I don't care for being known to have the latest and greatest, it's fun showing it off. I can't wait to see some Frosties or Graphites in the wild, but for you folks with #aluminati...stand proud and shine. I hope this helped provide some honest insight and answer some questions.
Thanks folks!
Note: The only changes I made to the pictures was reduce the size of them. They were too large to upload, but no post edits were done for enhancements.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that a Huawei watch?
bullshark888 said:
Is that a Huawei watch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup!
tehpud said:
Yup!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am still debating this or the 360, maybe wait for the black Friday.
bullshark888 said:
I am still debating this or the 360, maybe wait for the black Friday.
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Click to collapse
I would wait for Black Friday tbh. I am probably going to return it and wait for the Moto 360 Sport. I already have a nice watch, but need something that I can use while I work out.
Was there really a need to start a new thread about reviews?
Now that is what I call a fantastic review
Very nice review. Thank you for taking the time and sharing. I think I know my next device after mapping this against the Moto X Pure.
Does VoLTE work on Verizon with the 6p? If not, does it have dual radios to let you call on CDMA and still use LTE data?
jmileti said:
I am in exactly same boat. Have till Nov. 13. Great review OP. You make me really want one and if they were readily available I probably would have it.
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Click to collapse
Very frustrating! If only I could hold both at the same time...