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Note 4 is getting kind of old and G5 seems like the only feasible upgrade since it has sd card slot, ir blaster, unlocked bootloader (H850), removable battery. You think it is worth the upgrade? Seems like these types of phones will not be made again in favor of boring iphone clones (I don't really care how the phone looks since i always put a case on it anyways, even metal and glass will scratch if dropped). If I wanted an iphone clone, I would just buy an iphone. I don't want to the v20 because of locked bootloader and the US996 variant doesn't support all the ATT bands I need.
Note 4 Pros:
- Camera lens doesn't crack like g5 (not sure if overplayed though), no bootloop issues (again I think over exaggerated compared to g4 which I had) but does have emmc issues.
- Larger screen (I can live without, g4 screen was big enough and g5 is similar)
- AMOLED (can be a con also)
- S pen, I hardly ever use it honestly.
- build quality is probably better
- micro usb (g5 has type c which means more cable adapters but is the future honestly)
G5 Pros:
- Faster and newer cpu
- 1GB more of ram
- Supports Andriod 7
- Better camera (plus wide angle camera)
- Better IR Blaster (able to learn codes)
- More LTE band support
Can I expect the same longevity out of the g5 compared to note 4? I have had my note 4 in a case with tempered glass, few drops no issues. Replaced battery once and still going strong. I like to root but run stock rom.
I would get the h850 variant, seems there are actually variants of the h850, how can you tell if it is Europe h850 vs some other? Thanks for any feedback.
+1
I'm actualy thinking the same thing. N4 to G5. My phone before the N4 was a nexus 4 and I've grew to hate the touchwiz interface in favour of a cleaner android experience. How's the G5 regarding this?
I am not going to sugarcoat anything for y'all. Depends. How much you spending? I know it various for place to place. I am waiting for Note 8 myself. I'd say the G5 is the best bang for your buck flagship right now. But be careful this phone has issues.
Bad*
Notorious GPS issues-
Screen ghosting-
Build quality crap-
Few others-
Good*
Great price-
Good Specs-
Great camera-
Pretty good development-
Few others-
If money is not an issue for you wait and go with note 8. If it is then maybe g5 or OnePlus. Don't waste your money on galaxy S8 or G6 overpriced no true upgrade.
Only issue I've had is screen ghosting. If you do buy g5 get a newer issue manufacturer, less issues.
I will be buying used. I paid $200 for note 4 tmobile version a year ago and see the prices of G5 near $300 h850 at least. Harder to find of course. I use ATT towers (cricket and h20 mainly) so looking to get the international version since it has unlocked bootloader. I may be able to get away with tmobile g5 version but I don't like they stripped away the fm radio and added some other things/took other things away. I miss the good ole days of google play edition phones. Andriod 7.0 has almost matched samsung touchwiz now in terms of features with multi-window apps, etc. Back in the day samsung and lg software had a lot more features but now the difference is almost zero with of course andriod vanilla being much smoother.
My note 4 had gps issues, very weak antenna and I had to adjust it a few times. Fails to lock sometimes though, only negative I have to say. Also there are some others note 4 people starting to have memory and motherboard issues so pretty much no different than g5. Do the g5 camera lens really fracture easy, if so best way to protect it? I run a dual layer case on my note 4, hard plastic outer shell with tpu inner and tempered glass on front. The case is really thin, not otterbox thick.
I plan on using the g5 for the next 3 years or so until they start phasing out lte compatible bands and forcing upgrades. I can probably get like $125 for note 4 so g5 would only be like $150-$175.
To answer other guys question about touchwiz vs sense, sense seems less bloated at least it did when I had the g4. I think samsung has optimized touchwiz a lot over the years and is probably pretty fast on the s8 but then again they don't have to add so many custom features like multi-window/etc since andriod 7.0 comes with it now standard.
How do you tell if the phone is newer manufactured and what is the cut-off date to avoid ghosting issues on the g5?
Mr Joegernaut said:
I will be buying used. I paid $200 for note 4 tmobile version a year ago and see the prices of G5 near $300 h850 at least. Harder to find of course. I use ATT towers (cricket and h20 mainly) so looking to get the international version since it has unlocked bootloader. I may be able to get away with tmobile g5 version but I don't like they stripped away the fm radio and added some other things/took other things away. I miss the good ole days of google play edition phones. Andriod 7.0 has almost matched samsung touchwiz now in terms of features with multi-window apps, etc. Back in the day samsung and lg software had a lot more features but now the difference is almost zero with of course andriod vanilla being much smoother.
My note 4 had gps issues, very weak antenna and I had to adjust it a few times. Fails to lock sometimes though, only negative I have to say. Also there are some others note 4 people starting to have memory and motherboard issues so pretty much no different than g5. Do the g5 camera lens really fracture easy, if so best way to protect it? I run a dual layer case on my note 4, hard plastic outer shell with tpu inner and tempered glass on front. The case is really thin, not otterbox thick.
I plan on using the g5 for the next 3 years or so until they start phasing out lte compatible bands and forcing upgrades. I can probably get like $125 for note 4 so g5 would only be like $150-$175.
To answer other guys question about touchwiz vs sense, sense seems less bloated at least it did when I had the g4. I think samsung has optimized touchwiz a lot over the years and is probably pretty fast on the s8 but then again they don't have to add so many custom features like multi-window/etc since andriod 7.0 comes with it now standard.
How do you tell if the phone is newer manufactured and what is the cut-off date to avoid ghosting issues on the g5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get a good case aka outter box, bulky but that thing can take a beating. I've dropped mine a million times and device looks new.
Ghosting issues seem like a guaranteed to happen. There's filter apps that help with it. The newer built issues seem to have less of the other issues GPS and few others. Well because your buying it used might not have original box. But it says it on the box far as manufacturing date. You could also ask the seller, they may know.
Consider LG V20.
Csetoue said:
Consider LG V20.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would of mention that op says he's not interested because of locked bootloader.
Hi, I'm now on a Galaxy Note 3 and would like to upgrade to the G5, since it has the specs I'm looking for.
However, I felt like asking you guys if there's any better option I should consider, or any defects that are not worth risking for (bootloping?)
Thanks a lot in advance
totalnoob34 said:
Hi, I'm now on a Galaxy Note 3 and would like to upgrade to the G5, since it has the specs I'm looking for.
However, I felt like asking you guys if there's any better option I should consider, or any defects that are not worth risking for (bootloping?)
Thanks a lot in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The price and specs are great. The rom/root community is okay size. Build quality is trash. Don't buy this phone. With a little more money you could buy the One Plus 3T or One Plus 5. Better specs, build quality, rom/root, etc.
My next phone is Note 8 or One plus 3T or 5. I am not trying to bash phone. Just giving you an honest opinion. Look through the threads you will see tons of people with GPS, Backlight Bleed, bootloop issues, etc. I love LG, but will be my last LG phone for a long time.
Sent from my LG-H830 using XDA Labs
I'm looking to get the H850 for my mom since it is only $300CAD if I get my friend to bring it back from Hong Kong. Can't find any another phone in that price range that would be better than the LG G5 H850...
Hardware and price are amazing, especially the model RS988 that covers the most weirdest bands that are available in areas like Canada. Unfortunately, the root/bootloader on the rest of models are bringing tons of problems, if its rootable/unlockable at all. Custom firmware choice is very poor, and they are raw even after 1 year of release. What it means is that you basically can't use NFC on most of custom roms (if not all). The stock firmware on the other hand is very well made and stable. I'm using it with Magisk without issues. So far the only problem is stock kernel doesn't seem to be energy efficient, so battery flies away in a day or two of use. However, battery is replaceable, what is offered in not that many flagship phones nowadays.
I can't agree about bad quality of build. I would say its very good comparing to what else you can meet nowadays.
Other than that, it's one of the best phones available for 250$ on B&H (Titan) if not the only good one.
Yeah not sure about other countries, but in Canada it's hard to beat the LG G5. OnePlus 3T/5 are $600/$650CAD+tax respectively and the G5 can be found for $330-370 all in. Even 2016 mid-range phones like the Axon 7 and Honor 8 are $400-$500+tax.
Build quality isn't up to par with other flagships, but it's not terrible IMO. At least it's better than most mid-range phones.
It is a lottery phone.
damiloveu said:
It is a lottery phone.
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Click to collapse
I would have to agree with this statement.
Build quality is pretty bad guys sorry. I've had plenty of low/Mid/High end of phones. I've never seen this many issues as this one. When I see GPS and backlight bleed threads filled with countless complaints. Yeah that's bad build quality.
Damiloveu statement pretty much sums it up right it's a lottery phone. 50/50 hit or miss, be for warned potential new g5 buyers. GREAT phone if no issues. And if it does have problems many headaches await you.
Sent from my LG-H830 using XDA Labs
dimon222 said:
Hardware and price are amazing, especially the model RS988 that covers the most weirdest bands that are available in areas like Canada. Unfortunately, the root/bootloader on the rest of models are bringing tons of problems, if its rootable/unlockable at all. Custom firmware choice is very poor, and they are raw even after 1 year of release. What it means is that you basically can't use NFC on most of custom roms (if not all). The stock firmware on the other hand is very well made and stable. I'm using it with Magisk without issues. So far the only problem is stock kernel doesn't seem to be energy efficient, so battery flies away in a day or two of use. However, battery is replaceable, what is offered in not that many flagship phones nowadays.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would install Fulmics on the LG G5 if I can get it for my mom, so the RS988 is out of the question for me. I just cannot buy phones if I cannot install custom ROMs on it. I hate being at the mercy of manufacturers for software updates.
I'm so confused as to why manufacturers cannot just sell one or two variant of the same phone. Making dozens of variants seems so stupid.
coming from P9.
Maybe my most complain bout this device is the GPS as i always use gps for ingress, second is battery and the rest is the design and build quality though I dont have the screen retentention issues yet.
Thanks a lot, everybody. I think I'll get this phone, it features literally *every* feature I need on a device.
cheeze.keyk said:
coming from P9.
Maybe my most complain bout this device is the GPS as i always use gps for ingress, second is battery and the rest is the design and build quality though I dont have the screen retentention issues yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got a used AT&T H820 and it had the GPS issue, especially worse when cloudy and rainy. However, I returned the AT&T one and got an unlocked RS988 and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
totalnoob34 said:
Hi, I'm now on a Galaxy Note 3 and would like to upgrade to the G5, since it has the specs I'm looking for.
However, I felt like asking you guys if there's any better option I should consider, or any defects that are not worth risking for (bootloping?)
Thanks a lot in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you need a hot swappable battery, the G5 is great.
If you game a lot, and want the ability to do so without remaining plugged in and burning up your phone, then the G5 is perfect for you.
As far as performance, no issues whatsoever.
Battery life is average, but with the ability to swap out new batteries and charge dead ones outside the phone in a charging port, you honestly don't have battery downtime. It's just always up.
That's the biggest advantage of this phone.
If you're looking for a better deal, you don't need unlimited battery life, or you're looking for a rich featureset, I would look elsewhere.
The gps is absolute wank and I don't have the time or inclination to do a hardware fix. I did a quick comparison with my friend who owns an OP3 indoors; his had gps lock with 15 seconds but mine was still searching after several minutes. In fact, I have almost missed turnings when driving a few times because of this POS. I never replace my phone until it has had 18 months usage but for the G5, I will make an exception.
I have LG G5 since April 2016 after my Note 3 : no root or anything, LG updates regulary.
I never have problems with it.
-No bootloop, no GPS bugs, a better reception with the same carrier...
-Camera is really good, especially the large wide-angle.
-Battery life: a day with a little use (waze to go work -one hour/day) wifi on, "always on display" always activate, some internet at evening : Facebook, Twitter, insta, mails...
-IR for soundbar, tv is really good !!
But no SPen ? So I will get the Note 8, really great for work, with the camera options easier than LG suit.
And finally, i prefer Samsung environment, even if G5 is really a good phone.
Envoyé de mon LG-H850 en utilisant Tapatalk
It's not worth the broken GPS sensors which are a known hardware defect. They'll fix it for you, but it's never the root of the problem so it will come back. I've sent mine in 3 times, GPS works for a couple days, then ceases to work again. Terrible quality control, by far the worst phone I've owned. My Galaxy S4 was better.
totalnoob34 said:
Hi, I'm now on a Galaxy Note 3 and would like to upgrade to the G5, since it has the specs I'm looking for.
However, I felt like asking you guys if there's any better option I should consider, or any defects that are not worth risking for (bootloping?)
Thanks a lot in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, looks like i'm not the only one who migrate from Galaxy Note 3. let me tell you my short little story
I upgraded since my Note 3 were exynos version which didnt support 4g band. i was looking for cheap second hand devices with LTE support :laugh: ( dont judge me, bussines is low here in indonesia i cant afford phone more than 250$ - on indonesia currency and prices of course)
so i search all available markets, online and offline. some guys recomended 3 phone. LG G5 h860, xperia z5, and HTC m9 ( all cost about 200-250$ here, second handed) so i spent about 3 days on google comparing all 3 phone. i kick z5 out from my list since i had a bad experience with sony devices ( heat issue, poor audio quality, you name it) so it just m9 or g5. m9 is a good phone, its the cheapest one, had official support for lineage and SlimOS. solid built, and dual speaker. the drawback were its photo quality, its much worse than my note 3 even with 20mp camera. but at that time i cant find g5, the only available one were g5 SE version which is downgrade one ( 3gb ram and qualcom 625) and it cost about 299$!! hell no, so i pick the m9. but as i said before, i'm not really satisfied. the main advantages comparing my old note were: better sound, better network 4g, better official OS ( Lollipop vs nougat) and custom, and fast charging. but thats the only option i got that time. after several months some guys here sold his g5 h860 on low prices, i dont need to think twice so today my g5 finally arrived. still looks good for a second hand devices, the ony issue were the screen ghosting when the devices getting hot. but it would dissapear after some minutes, i can live with that. BUT, comparing to my m9 the battery drains faster, no root option, no custom recovery or rom. so for answering your question, IF i moved from note 3 directly to G5 i would be really happy as it has more advantages. but since i got my hand on m9 first i still feel little dissapointed . i cant stop comaring 3 of them. note 3 has bigger display and spen support, m9 has the best custom rom suppot and great battery, while g5 has the most awesome camera and screen resolution :cyclops: .
alldine345 said:
well, looks like i'm not the only one who migrate from Galaxy Note 3. let me tell you my short little story
I upgraded since my Note 3 were exynos version which didnt support 4g band. i was looking for cheap second hand devices with LTE support :laugh: ( dont judge me, bussines is low here in indonesia i cant afford phone more than 250$ - on indonesia currency and prices of course)
so i search all available markets, online and offline. some guys recomended 3 phone. LG G5 h860, xperia z5, and HTC m9 ( all cost about 200-250$ here, second handed) so i spent about 3 days on google comparing all 3 phone. i kick z5 out from my list since i had a bad experience with sony devices ( heat issue, poor audio quality, you name it) so it just m9 or g5. m9 is a good phone, its the cheapest one, had official support for lineage and SlimOS. solid built, and dual speaker. the drawback were its photo quality, its much worse than my note 3 even with 20mp camera. but at that time i cant find g5, the only available one were g5 SE version which is downgrade one ( 3gb ram and qualcom 625) and it cost about 299$!! hell no, so i pick the m9. but as i said before, i'm not really satisfied. the main advantages comparing my old note were: better sound, better network 4g, better official OS ( Lollipop vs nougat) and custom, and fast charging. but thats the only option i got that time. after several months some guys here sold his g5 h860 on low prices, i dont need to think twice so today my g5 finally arrived. still looks good for a second hand devices, the ony issue were the screen ghosting when the devices getting hot. but it would dissapear after some minutes, i can live with that. BUT, comparing to my m9 the battery drains faster, no root option, no custom recovery or rom. so for answering your question, IF i moved from note 3 directly to G5 i would be really happy as it has more advantages. but since i got my hand on m9 first i still feel little dissapointed . i cant stop comaring 3 of them. note 3 has bigger display and spen support, m9 has the best custom rom suppot and great battery, while g5 has the most awesome camera and screen resolution :cyclops: .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, first off, thanks a lot for the detailed feedback. I actually appreciate it when people put a little effort in helping others online.
I ultimately settled for a G5, since a replaceable battery is more important to me than a bigger one, and also because I could really use those extra 0.3" on the screen. Moreover, you were unlucky in getting an h860 variant, because the european h850 has some decent support over here.
Lastly, I am not getting another HTC device again, I had an HTC Desire S. Let me tell you something about that phone: you could *not* remove the battery with the device on, risking a total brick. Yup, you heard me right. A flimsy plastic clip was all that kept your precious phone from mayhem and destruction. The best part is that it was a hardware defect, obviously ineligible for warranty replacement, and I don't recall HTC ever acknowledging the issue, let alone provide the user with some kind of compensation. Also, HTC always was a pain in the ass to customize, and the HTCdev program is a joke.
Nonetheless, thanks a lot for the feedback man. Have a good one
totalnoob34 said:
Ok, first off, thanks a lot for the detailed feedback. I actually appreciate it when people put a little effort in helping others online.
I ultimately settled for a G5, since a replaceable battery is more important to me than a bigger one, and also because I could really use those extra 0.3" on the screen. Moreover, you were unlucky in getting an h860 variant, because the european h850 has some decent support over here.
Lastly, I am not getting another HTC device again, I had an HTC Desire S. Let me tell you something about that phone: you could *not* remove the battery with the device on, risking a total brick. Yup, you heard me right. A flimsy plastic clip was all that kept your precious phone from mayhem and destruction. The best part is that it was a hardware defect, obviously ineligible for warranty replacement, and I don't recall HTC ever acknowledging the issue, let alone provide the user with some kind of compensation. Also, HTC always was a pain in the ass to customize, and the HTCdev program is a joke.
Nonetheless, thanks a lot for the feedback man. Have a good one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeep, my biggest regret were i didnt read much about lg g5, infact i read too many about it so i skip the most important things. from what i gather around the web, g5 has 2 version. G5 and g5 SE. the g5 has snap820, 4gb ram and single sim, while g5 SE had snap 625, 3GB ram and dualsim. i use 2 simcard one for main use and another for data connection. and h860 has both advantages from 2 g5 version, snap 820/4gb ram and Dualsim support. i didnt bother to check on XDA for root method as i though it just the same as samsung or HTC, even with many varian usually all of them has the same exploit. i never though i would be so wrong on my life . and for the HTC part, well what can i say, here in indonesia we didnt have official HTC service centre so if we had a malfunction devices we just need to fix it on our own . same goes to LG G5 since the only one that they sold here were g5 SE, some friend of mine already bought g5 from singapore last year and when his screen broke he sent it to LG centre but they refuse it, they said the only accept g5 SE. so i'm totally aware when i bought those devices, i cant rely on warranty or official services. and its not the first time, usually lot of devices which sold here were downgraded version comparing to international one. like
note 3 on international version they had snap801 and lte support while official one the had stupid exynoss and 3g only. same goes with Note 5 snapdragon inter vs exynoss local, and also xiaomi devices, huawei, and many other brands which i dont remember anymore. thats why, many people here usually bought new/second hand devices from another country because they want to feel the real experience while also acknowledge they cant bring it to official service centre when it broke later.
Hell no.
(Not sure whether this belongs here or in the "real life review" section somewhere; mods, please move it if you think best.)
Ten days ago my wife and I moved from our venerable Nexus 5 phones to new G6 US997 carrier-unlocked phones. After living with them for a while, here are my impressions.
Things that are better on the G6:
- The display. Blacker black, more saturated color. The tall display ratio doesn't bother me, and the benefit is that we're getting a 5.7" screen in a phone only 2mm wider than the 5" Nexus 5.
- Battery life. My train ride to work would routinely take my battery down below 65% from a full charge; the G6 is usually comfortably above 90% after the same ride.
- Audio. Wasn't even expecting this, but the G6's audio sounds better.
- Build quality. The N5 is utilitarian compared to the slick G6.
- Camera. Much, MUCH better, and the camera app is better too.
- Fingerprint sensor.
Things I miss about the Nexus 5:
- A notification LED. I never realized how much I had come to rely on it.
- The developer community. There were about six times as many ROMs available for the N5 as there are for the G6. Right now a lot of ROMs seem to be in a holding pattern waiting for Oreo to drop. I realize the G6 is a relatively new phone, and the N5 community was old and well established. But I think that's affected by the next point:
- Unified hardware platform across carriers. The N5 had just two versions, an international and a US version, and they differed only in the radio bands. The G6 has all sorts of different versions, most not unlockable unless you get a carrier-unlocked US997 or an H870. I think this is going to curtail the developer community from attaining the N5's level.
- Relative ease of developer modes. Compared to the N5, it's a lot harder to get to the point where you can flash things on the G6.
I've already tried a few different configurations to see what I like best. I flashed Fulmics ROM for a while to try it out, but switched back to rooted stock rom today because it just seemed faster and more stable. Gave the LG stock launcher a fair try, but I'm back to using Nova now. I'll probably stay with this configuration until I see a stable Oreo ROM with LG camera support emerge.
I like the phone, I just wish it were a little bit more developer-friendly.
I absolutely agree with you. The g6 has amazing hardware but everything else does not follow. I'm coming from a op3t and a nexus 6p before that so I do know what SILKY SMOOTH fast performance is, and the g6 is just isnt as smooth. I'm personally waiting till november for the oreo update hoping it will very much improve the g6, otherwise I will never ever even entertain the idea of getting another non google (stock-ish) phone again !
Both the wife and I also came directly from Nexus 5s. The Nexus 5s started to slow down and mine would not charge on the wireless pads anymore. We got Unlocked T-Mobile phones, which came with an unlocking app. We are both on T-mobile so it doesn't really matter anyway. Very happy with the phones and T-mobile is pretty much keeping up with the security patches.
patruns said:
Both the wife and I also came directly from Nexus 5s. The Nexus 5s started to slow down and mine would not charge on the wireless pads anymore. We got Unlocked T-Mobile phones, which came with an unlocking app. We are both on T-mobile so it doesn't really matter anyway. Very happy with the phones and T-mobile is pretty much keeping up with the security patches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mo had a killer buy-one-get-one deal for $500 plus the tax and fees on the second phone, but I passed on that and bought carrier-unlocked from B&H instead. Cost more, but I can root them.
NOTilyass said:
I absolutely agree with you. The g6 has amazing hardware but everything else does not follow. I'm coming from a op3t and a nexus 6p before that so I do know what SILKY SMOOTH fast performance is, and the g6 is just isnt as smooth. I'm personally waiting till november for the oreo update hoping it will very much improve the g6, otherwise I will never ever even entertain the idea of getting another non google (stock-ish) phone again !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would absolutely have bought a Pixel if it came with wireless charging.
I'm considering making this jump too (Nexus 5 to G6). I really appreciate this review!
Is there any reason you didn't go with the pixel 2? I'm currently trying to decide between the G6 and the Pixel 2-- especially due to that missing headphone jack on the new pixel!
penguinyaro said:
I'm considering making this jump too (Nexus 5 to G6). I really appreciate this review!
Is there any reason you didn't go with the pixel 2? I'm currently trying to decide between the G6 and the Pixel 2-- especially due to that missing headphone jack on the new pixel!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wireless charging. That's a must-have for me. The headphone jack would probably have been a deal-breaker too, but the real reason was that the G6 has wireless charging.
You're going to chafe a little bit coming from the N5. I haven't installed any AOSP-based G6 ROMs yet, only the stock-based ones, and they're a little bit limiting compared to the wide range of choices you had available on the N5. But the G6 hardware is really, really nice, and the ROM support is coming along. It'll be interesting to see what happens when Oreo drops.
penguinyaro said:
I'm considering making this jump too (Nexus 5 to G6). I really appreciate this review!
Is there any reason you didn't go with the pixel 2? I'm currently trying to decide between the G6 and the Pixel 2-- especially due to that missing headphone jack on the new pixel!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for me pixel 2 is a get go if u want all rounder better experience in android. my previous phone is nexus 6p and oneplus 3, now I using g6 with some sacrifice laggy software.
why I still prefer g6:
1. wide angle camera
2. flat screen!! curved screen hard to find a perfect tg glass
3. my version is dual sim, because I often travel. my primary sim number used for many security access. so I need a convenient phone that can disable enable my primary sim.
4. the overall design so elegant
imam88 said:
for me pixel 2 is a get go if u want all rounder better experience in android. my previous phone is nexus 6p and oneplus 3, now I using g6 with some sacrifice laggy software.
why I still prefer g6:
1. wide angle camera
2. flat screen!! curved screen hard to find a perfect tg glass
3. my version is dual sim, because I often travel. my primary sim number used for many security access. so I need a convenient phone that can disable enable my primary sim.
4. the overall design so elegant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My previous phone was a Nexus 6P.
I sold it about six weeks ago and bought the LG G6.
I had to pay an extra $25 (sold the 6P for $425) I also bought the extended warranty through SquareTrade for $99.
The warranty was a wash since the 6P was going out of warranty and I would have had to buy SquareTrade for it.
I got the unlocked US997 from B&H.
Anyway. It smokes the 6P on all fronts except stereo speakers.
I never listened to the speakers anyway.
The flat screen is awesome. I will never buy a phone with a curved screen.
I changed to the V30+ from my Droid Turbo after ChazzMatt had a thought where he would go to after the Droid Turbo got old. The V30 was a great choice even we knew LG is real crap with system updates.
I have the V30+ almost for two years and had several thought to change it in the last half a year. I'm on rooted stock oreo. I'm not a heavy user, but battery time is getting on my nerves by now.
I did all that is possible with the stock system. I see that some has 5-6hrs os SOT with limiting frequencies, using the lowest light settings all day, and who knows what other mods with cutting functions.
Nope, I don't make compromises. I did not buy a premium phone to cut back frequencies, to try to read the low light screen in bright sun... I did all the optimal settings, but screen time is around 3hrs in a day use.
Deepsleep was always a high consumer. 3-4% per hr with all the non-used apps turned off. My Mi5 does this with 0.3%, and my DroidTrubo also does that.
So my question where to go from the V30+?
I've been looking the LG V50 for quite a while, but my fear is, that staying on the LG-train means the same ****ty system updates, badly optimized battery management... and absolutely no developer background, no root.
I'm fine with the factory system as I need all cameras, so probably would survive that I can not root.
I went all other possibilities, and there is no other choice but the Samsung S10+, if you need water resistance and sturdiness. Everything votes for the Samsung, but build quality.
Same cameras, more RAM, same battery, smaller size... can be rooted, has decent developer background.
I had Samsung before and swore not to get one again. But there is no other choice.
What do you think everybody? @ChazzMatt, I really would like to know your thoughts also...
Thanks for all the useful comments!
stirlitz99 said:
I changed to the V30+ from my Droid Turbo after ChazzMatt had a thought where he would go to after the Droid Turbo got old. The V30 was a great choice even we knew LG is real crap with system updates.
I have the V30+ almost for two years and had several thought to change it in the last half a year. I'm on rooted stock oreo. I'm not a heavy user, but battery time is getting on my nerves by now.
I did all that is possible with the stock system. I see that some has 5-6hrs os SOT with limiting frequencies, using the lowest light settings all day, and who knows what other mods with cutting functions.
Nope, I don't make compromises. I did not buy a premium phone to cut back frequencies, to try to read the low light screen in bright sun... I did all the optimal settings, but screen time is around 3hrs in a day use.
Deepsleep was always a high consumer. 3-4% per hr with all the non-used apps turned off. My Mi5 does this with 0.3%, and my DroidTrubo also does that.
So my question where to go from the V30+?
I've been looking the LG V50 for quite a while, but my fear is, that staying on the LG-train means the same ****ty system updates, badly optimized battery management... and absolutely no developer background, no root.
I'm fine with the factory system as I need all cameras, so probably would survive that I can not root.
I went all other possibilities, and there is no other choice but the Samsung S10+, if you need water resistance and sturdiness. Everything votes for the Samsung, but build quality.
Same cameras, more RAM, same battery, smaller size... can be rooted, has decent developer background.
I had Samsung before and swore not to get one again. But there is no other choice.
What do you think everybody? @ChazzMatt, I really would like to know your thoughts also...
Thanks for all the useful comments!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid I am going to have give up root to keep top tier specs (headset jack, Qi wireless charging, QHD 1440p display).
If not LG V50, then yes Galaxy S10 (6.1") or S10+ (6.4"). Here are specs comparing all three phones. I'm not a Samsung fan either, but I'll consider them because that series still had headset jack. (The "all three" comparisons only show up on computer screen, not app screen.)
Right now LG is on some strange LSD trip, where they are reverting back to 1080p, using mid-range Snapdragon, and trying to force us to use multiple displays.
I have a mint LG V35 ready for my wife to use, but she isn't rooted anyway. No notch, 6GB RAM, basically a V40 in a V30 case. THAT was how LG should have continued.
ChazzMatt said:
I'm afraid I am going to have give up root to keep top tier specs (headset jack, Qi wireless charging, QHD 1440p display).
If not LG V50, then yes Galaxy S10 (6.1") or S10+ (6.4"). Here are specs comparing all three phones. I'm not a Samsung fan either, but I'll consider them because that series still had headset jack.
Right now LG is on some strange LSD trip, where they are reverting back to 1080p, using mid-range Snapdragon, and trying to force us to use multiple displays.
I have a mint LG V35 ready for my wife to use, but she isn't rooted anyway. No notch, 6GB RAM, basically a V40 in a V30 case. THAT was how LG should have continued.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you decide to move on to another phone, please let us know.
I'll be right behind you.
Sony just announced a new flagship that looks interesting. It has most of the same features we loved in the V30, more memory, and the latest processor. Software support couldn't be worse than LG. Seriously, except for the anemic battery, my wife's XZ2c has been great. It was purchased from BHPhoto the same day as my V30S and has received regular updates including A10 months ago.
Thoughts?
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/202...50-flagship-smartphone-with-a-headphone-jack/
cmrntnnr said:
Sony just announced a new flagship that looks interesting. It has most of the same features we loved in the V30, more memory, and the latest processor. Software support couldn't be worse than LG. Seriously, except for the anemic battery, my wife's XZ2c has been great. It was purchased from BHPhoto the same day as my V30S and has received regular updates including A10 months ago.
Thoughts?
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/202...50-flagship-smartphone-with-a-headphone-jack/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1080p. I'm not downgrading. All my phones since 2014 have had 1440p. Why can't they give me QHD 1440p AND headset jack?
But the rest of the specs sound fantastic.
cmrntnnr said:
Sony just announced a new flagship that looks interesting. It has most of the same features we loved in the V30, more memory, and the latest processor. Software support couldn't be worse than LG. Seriously, except for the anemic battery, my wife's XZ2c has been great. It was purchased from BHPhoto the same day as my V30S and has received regular updates including A10 months ago.
Thoughts?
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/202...50-flagship-smartphone-with-a-headphone-jack/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
$950 = me sticking with my V30
ChazzMatt said:
1080p. I'm not downgrading. Why can't they give my 1440p AND headset jack?
But the rest of the specs sound fantastic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's also no wireless charging on that one afaik
I heard samsung was considering bringing back headphone jack with next S series phone, let's see how that goes
tech_infinity said:
There's also no wireless charging on that one afaik
I heard samsung was considering bringing back headphone jack with next S series phone, let's see how that goes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like the 2019 Galaxy S10 (6.1")/S10+ (6.4") -- both of which have QHD 1440p, Qi wireless charging, IP68 and headset jack. Plus stereo speakers. The S10+ has a 4100 mAh battery.
https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=9535&idPhone2=9536&idPhone3=9607
If Samsung adds headset jack back for 2021 and later, I'll be OK.
Qi wireless charging, QHD 1440p, even headset jack are "lines in the sand" for me I will not cross (do without). My 2014 Moto Quark (Droid Turbo/Moto Maxx/Moto Turbo) had all three. When I found the V30 in 2017 during a year long search to replace my phone, those were the attributes a new phone for me and my wife needed.
At the time only Samsung and LG were still doing Qi wireless charging. Even Google had given it up, even though they pioneered it with their Nexus phones (20012 Nexus 4, 2013 Nexus 5, 2014 Nexus 6). But then Apple started doing Qi wireless charging and Google then added it back because their Pixel team worships Apple. If Google had kept it the whole time, they would have gotten credit for being the trend setter.
ChazzMatt said:
Like the 2019 Galaxy S10 (6.1")/S10+ (6.4") -- both of which have QHD 1440p, Qi wireless charging, IP68 and headset jack. Plus stereo speakers. The S10+ has a 4100 mAh battery.
https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=9535&idPhone2=9536&idPhone3=9607
If Samsung adds headset jack back for 2021 and later, I'll be OK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah Snapdragon S10 is still a good option and ticks most of the boxes
Sadly we've only the Exynos variant of s10 here
ChazzMatt said:
Like the 2019 Galaxy S10 (6.1")/S10+ (6.4") -- both of which have QHD 1440p, Qi wireless charging, IP68 and headset jack. Plus stereo speakers. The S10+ has a 4100 mAh battery.
https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=9535&idPhone2=9536&idPhone3=9607
If Samsung adds headset jack back for 2021 and later, I'll be OK.
Qi wireless charging, QHD 1440p, even headset jack are "lines in the sand" for me I will not cross (do without). My 2014 Moto Quark (Droid Turbo/Moto Maxx/Moto Turbo) had all three. When I found the V30 in 2017 during a year long search to replace my phone, those were the attributes a new phone needed.
At the time only Samsung and LG were still doing Qi wireless charging. Even Google had given it up, even though they pioneered it with their Nexus phones (20012 Nexus 4, 2013 Nexus 5, 2014 Nexus 6). But then Apple started doing Qi wireless charging and Google then added it back because their Pixel team worships Apple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with your lines in the sand except for the 1440p, that doesn't matter to me. My only question is whether the S10 or the V50 are boot unlockable?
ldeveraux said:
I agree with your lines in the sand except for the 1440p, that doesn't matter to me. My only question is whether the S10 or the V50 are boot unlockable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't kept up so much with the Samsung variants, but as far as I know for the LG V50 only the Europe variant (LMV500EM) has true bootloader unlock through the official LG unlock code. Our V30 LOS dev also is dev for V40 and V50 and he owns one. And by "true", I mean permanent. There's a temp root method for other V50 variants, but it's lost every time you reboot. The last time I looked on eBay for V50, I couldn't find any Europe variants, only "carrier unlocked" Sprint variant. (Hint for others: if the eBay listing says "unlocked" they are usually talking about SIM card unlock/network unlock, not bootloader unlock.)
However, while I have bought "international" phones in the past, I'm wary right now with the coming U.S. carrier VoLTE lockdown. By 2022 on AT&T I'll need a phone/firmware that gives me AT&T VoLTE. Verizon and T-mobile users will need it by the end of this year. That topic discussed here:
All U.S. V30/V3O+/V30S will need stock firmware, not LOS-based custom ROMs. When?
ldeveraux said:
I agree with your lines in the sand except for the 1440p, that doesn't matter to me. My only question is whether the S10 or the V50 are boot unlockable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some V50 have temp root, you could check about it on v50 xda
S10 exynos has good development, not sure about the snapdragon variant though
Best thing to do would be to visit the xda sub-forum for each device and see how everything is
tech_infinity said:
Some V50 have temp root, you could check about it on v50 xda
S10 exynos has good development, not sure about the snapdragon variant though
Best thing to do would be to visit the xda sub-forum for each device and see how everything is
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never heard of temp root but it sounds awful. I didn't want to research new phones after finally getting the V30 the way I wanted it. I'll just wait for Chazzmatt to upgrade, then I'll copy him!
ldeveraux said:
I've never heard of temp root but it sounds awful. I didn't want to research new phones after finally getting the V30 the way I wanted it. I'll just wait for Chazzmatt to upgrade, then I'll copy him!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, this part:
By virtue of being a “temp root” method, root access will be lost as soon as you reboot your phone. Moreover, Android Verified Boot 2.0 may kick in and brick your phone if you try to make permanent changes to protected partitions such as boot, system, and vendor without an unlocked bootloader. That being said, the exploit is currently available in its compiled form, while the developer will soon release the source code. The executable should be invoked from a regular ADB shell or a terminal emulator, and it should show the following message after successful privilege escalation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the old Motorola Droid Turbo, towards the end of development after Motorola tried to patch the Sunshine exploit, a one-time temp root was necessary for Sunshine to run to unlock the bootloader. But this is different. It's a continual cycle of "temp root", which you have to implement every time you reboot the phone.
For the S10/S10+ only the Exynos and Hong Kong Snapdragon variants can be bootloader unlocked and rooted, to my knowledge. For Hong Kong, it uses Snapdragon and Samsung puts easy bootloader unlock switch like with older T-mobile phones. But U.S. Snapdragon variants are hard locked down due to carrier demands. Exynos chips are used in other parts of the world and have bootloader unlock.
This thread claims you can get a U.S. S10+ bootloader unlocked and with TWRP installed from Chinese hacker.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/s10-plus/how-to/g975u-discussion-root-bl-unlock-t3929385/page23
StoneyJSG said:
The forum user here Moriatier supposedly has a U.S. Galaxy S10 that is rooted and twrp installed. He said some hacker guy in China did it. Not sure how legit or true this is, but he claims he has root with twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But other than that, seems impossible for regular people.
XDA article from this weekend indicates that Snapdragon s10 can be bootloader unlocked.
https://www.xda-developers.com/samsung-galaxy-note-20-ultra-root-us-unlocked-snapdragon-865/
That link is for the galaxy note 20 ultra. 1 or 2 US phones can be rooted like the sprint S10 5G version. The S10 line is mainly locked down. The S9 just got root a few months ago.
StoneyJSG said:
That link is for the galaxy note 20 ultra. 1 or 2 US phones can be rooted like the sprint S10 5G version. The S10 line is mainly locked down. The S9 just got root a few months ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read the article, it states that it is also for other models, which it lists the S10 as one.
Well holy crap! Someone leaked a Samsung tool that unlocks the bootloader, nice! $150 though...
mac62 said:
If you read the article, it states that it is also for other models, which it lists the S10 as one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you'll find ~1 person on XDA willing to pay for BL unlock.
mac62 said:
If you read the article, it states that it is also for other models, which it lists the S10 as one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. But $150?
Magisk Hide is still letting SafetyNet pass, so things like Google Pay work without issue. I can (and have) installed Magisk modules without any issues, and now I’ve got the experience I wanted, with full US compatibility and a proper warranty.
Interestingly, this isn’t even an exploit. The root process makes use of internal Samsung tools.
It’s also not free. I paid quite a bit to unlock my phone. Not $550-$700-worth, but still a good chunk of change. But for me, it was worth it. Now my phone is my phone, and since Samsung has a bootloader unlockable variant that uses the same Snapdragon 865+, I have access to plenty of development work. Again, though, it’s not free, and you’ll be paying up to $150 to get a bootloader unlock. Compatibility is also currently limited to the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S20, Galaxy Note 10, and Galaxy Note 20 series.
If, for whatever reason, you’re interested in this, I’ve put together a super simple Android app that answers a lot of questions about the process, and then allows you to request your own unlock. Check it out on XDA Labs. The app itself is free, so there’s no investment for investigation besides your time. You can proceed if you are still comfortable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I've had Moto phones like the Razr-i, G4 Play, and G7 Play but am growing unhappy with their limited security updates. I worry more about being up to date with security patches as there is always more news about exploits. I'm not familiar with OnePlus. Are they consistent about security updates? I see a claim of more years of support, but wonder how it works in practice for the budget models. In my experience, Moto has been pretty lackluster in pushing updates even before the 2 year window expires.
Has anybody here also used budget Moto phones and already switched to the N200 5G? How much difference would I find using this phone?
As my username says, I am a light user of Android. I mostly use it to glance at the Google Calendar, Slack notifications, and calls and SMS. I use desktop and laptop computers for most of my regular email, web browsing, etc. But, I've noticed that it is hard to read web pages on a 720 pixel wide screen because it is fuzzy if you scale so that the whole page fits. I also see it stutter, and assume this is because my current phone only has 2GB RAM.
I disable the Google assistant and actually want a phone to be more like an idle pocket computer, not a busy bee trying to be clever and annoying me with suggestions, integrations, etc. I have been able to configure the Moto launcher to be boring like that. Can that be done with the N200 or would I need to install Nova launcher or something?
I use Mint, a T-Mobile MVNO and care about stability for calls with both VoLTE and WiFi Calling. I don't really care about 5G speeds vs LTE but would hope it makes the cell connectivity more stable rather than less?
Thanks for any feedback or real world review!
You'd rather get a pixel 4a for that kind of usage and concerns about security patches, not a oneplus.
Huh... you don't think the N200 will get regular updates? Or are you saying OnePllus doesn't provide good security even if it is up to date? Do you think OnePlus is less secure than Moto or the same?
I feel like the pixels are in a different price bracket.
I'm just gonna point out that OnePlus is a Chinese company, and uses an Android OS variant made in China.
Chinese companies are not exactly known for keeping other countries (or their own) personal data secure (quite the opposite).
Take that how you will.
Hmm, do people think OnePlus is any less secure than Moto? Moto is also a Chinese company (part of Lenovo).
I find this hard to sort out.... those factories have to be trusted to put together the hardware and image the firmware. Even the pixel phones are made there, aren't they? If you go down this path questioning it, why assume that any software update afterwards can secure it, if the origin is murky? :-/
Edit: I've wondered the same thing about used phones and how permanently someone can tamper with it. That's one reason I am buying new budget phones and wondering about the N200 versus the Motos!
I don't mean to take this away to off-topic land. Can anybody report what security patch level they have received with a retail (unlocked) US N200 5G?
And if anybody is using one with T-Mobile or Mint, do you find it to be getting stable network connectivity and calls?
yes, stables calls and connectivity in Los Angeles area with Tmobile. As of the time of this writing its on July Security Patch. If you are worried aobut exploits and want the latest patches it best to just go with a official google supported phone the like Pixel series or a Iphone as they keep up to date with security patches on their latest devices.
In my experiance if you just want it for calls and text and the like you should be ok. I just came off a pixel 3a for this phone and before that I did the samsung s thing and before that the motorola cliq series. Am I totally thrilled with the phone? No, it's a budget phone that runs better than any other budget phone I have seen, however, it is still a budget phone My hope is that as soon as we can get root that the phone will rock due to it actually having decent hardware. So it's more of an expectation thing. Sounds like it will be fine for your use case, Good readability screen and enough horsepower for what your doing.
Hey lightuser, which company are you conducting this "questionnaire" for?
If I may?
Motorola?
lightuser said:
Huh... you don't think the N200 will get regular updates? Or are you saying OnePllus doesn't provide good security even if it is up to date? Do you think OnePlus is less secure than Moto or the same?
I feel like the pixels are in a different price bracket.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im saying you want cheap and android and stable security patches? Go with the mother of it all, pixel (not the high-end ones of course).
I got the n200 because of "free" from tmo, it's not what im used to thought. This phone is weak and slow and 5G/wifi speeds suck.
If those basic functions are sooo weak and you oneplus officially said: 1 major upgrade of the OS, you just know this little weak guy doesn't have a long life in the security updates either
lightuser said:
I don't mean to take this away to off-topic land. Can anybody report what security patch level they have received with a retail (unlocked) US N200 5G?
And if anybody is using one with T-Mobile or Mint, do you find it to be getting stable network connectivity and calls?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got the unlocked variant from the OnePlus store. I got an update on August 4th with the July 2021 security patch, so that's what I have now. Before that, I had the 2021-04-01 update.
I'm going to join in and *not* recommend OnePlus for light android users. They don't have a great long-term update policy - see articles like https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/...e-commitment-is-uninspiring-yet-unsurprising/. They also anecdotally don't have a great support team, and don't deal with factory-broken hardware well (for example, the microphone issues with the OnePlus One which left many users without a very inconsistent microphone when making calls on phone speakers or speakerphone).
The reason the community likes OnePlus is not their updates, though. It's the custom ROM community: every OnePlus phone has its ROM released, and has an unlockable bootloader.
What this means is *if you're willing to install a custom ROM*, you're almost guaranteed the community - XDA forums and the like - will provide updates above and beyond the product's lifetime. With this, for example, the OnePlus One, released in 2014, still has new community-based updates today! See threads like https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...1-july-10th-lineageos-17-1-june-11th.3693223/.
This also means you get a guaranteed ability to root the phone, and thus can change and optimize the OS for your usage.
To be clear, if you're willing to use comumunity-produced ROMs, and understand the benefits and drawbocks of that, OnePlus phones are great. Lots of people will be drawn to them, similar to google phones, and you'll get software for into the future at the cost of having to rely on builds provided by strangers on the internet.
If you aren't, or have never installed a custom ROM and would rather not, don't get OnePlus. The three things they've had going for the are: custom ROMs, hardware that's specced above what you'd expect at the price point, and marketing. Software is not their strong suite.
I really like the Nord N200's hardware design, it's great bang-for-buck, and it seems quite sturdy. But people have *already* reported microphone issues when using cases which with OnePlus's track record will probably never be fixed unless you apply the fix yourself as part of a custom ROM, and you won't be happy 2 or 3 years down the road when your options are to run an outdated OS or rely on strangers online to provide custom OS builds with no guaranteed support or bugfixes, and which automatically void your warranty when installed.
enian.doda said:
Im saying you want cheap and android and stable security patches? Go with the mother of it all, pixel (not the high-end ones of course).
I got the n200 because of "free" from tmo, it's not what im used to thought. This phone is weak and slow and 5G/wifi speeds suck.
If those basic functions are sooo weak and you oneplus officially said: 1 major upgrade of the OS, you just know this little weak guy doesn't have a long life in the security updates either
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the ATLEAST "one major update" will probably be a jump to the next major android version, however the " regular maintenance updates" will be the regular security patches that they most likely roll out in a timely fashion as they are known to do usually. It sounds like it will be s supported just like any other oneplus phone in my opinion. The hardware is decent for the price and considering its free from tmobile (cant beat that), its actually runs everything fine including all the games ive played just fine (Call of Duty , CLASH OF CLANS), the only super major weak disaappointment is the camera, considering Xiaomi can make sub $250 budget phones with a impressive budget camera, it puts the N200 camera to shame. I dont know your 5G test environment but in Los Angeles where i am, if i lock onto the same 5G bands as my friends Iphone 12,, i actually get better 5G speeds than my friend who has a Iphone 12 Max. WiFi speeds seem normal to me, but then again i am only 10-15 feet away from the router most of the times.
enian.doda said:
Hey lightuser, which company are you conducting this "questionnaire" for?
If I may?
Motorola?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I'm just a user looking at my G7 Play which says "your software is up to date" and a February patch level, and finding only disappointment when I look at the available replacements and consider how soon I'll see this again...
Thanks all! I guess I am hearing the message that I need to either adjust my belief about what "budget" means (to consider Pixels etc) or accept that security is not included at the budget level...