Question ZF9 - I love it so far, but... - Asus Zenfone 9

First time I got a phone right after launch. My OnePlus 3T, whom I still dearly love, has started to give up on crucial tasks so I had to look around for a new phone after 5+ years.
After pinning the OnePlus 10 Pro against the Pixel 6 Pro and spending way too much time debating whose weaknesses would be more tolerable, I discovered the Zenfone 9.
Been using it for a few days now and loving it so far. Cameras are Pixel-like (haven't tried any GCams yet, that should make them even better), battery life is amazing, software is clean (RIP OxygenOS), speakers are quite good, charging speed is decent enough. I thought I'd lost the three-finger snapshot and double power tap for opening apps, but both are present in this phone as well.
Only the double tap on the back to open an app is wildly inconsistent and frustrating to use. Is that just me?
Besides that, everything's looking swell so far. Excited to see what the community will come up with for this one, especially after two years when the software updates are supposed to stop coming.
Cheers!

Did you try usb transfers?, is it usb 2 or 3 speed?

NisseGurra said:
Did you try usb transfers?, is it usb 2 or 3 speed?
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Click to collapse
ALso really interested in this one, since most outlets don't really state it. Storage itself should be UFS 3.1 though

NisseGurra said:
Did you try usb transfers?, is it usb 2 or 3 speed?
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Click to collapse
It's unfortunately only USB 2.0 (just tested myself using a usb 3.1 cable).

What transfer speed did you get?

NisseGurra said:
What transfer speed did you get?
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Around 38-40MiB/s over MTP. For comparison I get around 220-230MiB/s with my Pixel 6 which supports USB 3.1.

gnayug said:
First time I got a phone right after launch. My OnePlus 3T, whom I still dearly love, has started to give up on crucial tasks so I had to look around for a new phone after 5+ years.
After pinning the OnePlus 10 Pro against the Pixel 6 Pro and spending way too much time debating whose weaknesses would be more tolerable, I discovered the Zenfone 9.
Been using it for a few days now and loving it so far. Cameras are Pixel-like (haven't tried any GCams yet, that should make them even better), battery life is amazing, software is clean (RIP OxygenOS), speakers are quite good, charging speed is decent enough. I thought I'd lost the three-finger snapshot and double power tap for opening apps, but both are present in this phone as well.
Only the double tap on the back to open an app is wildly inconsistent and frustrating to use. Is that just me?
Besides that, everything's looking swell so far. Excited to see what the community will come up with for this one, especially after two years when the software updates are supposed to stop coming.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Confirm the inconsistent back double tap and also the good things. I Love the form factor (coming from an iPhone 13 mini).

gnayug said:
First time I got a phone right after launch. My OnePlus 3T, whom I still dearly love, has started to give up on crucial tasks so I had to look around for a new phone after 5+ years.
After pinning the OnePlus 10 Pro against the Pixel 6 Pro and spending way too much time debating whose weaknesses would be more tolerable, I discovered the Zenfone 9.
Been using it for a few days now and loving it so far. Cameras are Pixel-like (haven't tried any GCams yet, that should make them even better), battery life is amazing, software is clean (RIP OxygenOS), speakers are quite good, charging speed is decent enough. I thought I'd lost the three-finger snapshot and double power tap for opening apps, but both are present in this phone as well.
Only the double tap on the back to open an app is wildly inconsistent and frustrating to use. Is that just me?
Besides that, everything's looking swell so far. Excited to see what the community will come up with for this one, especially after two years when the software updates are supposed to stop coming.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I've also noticed the inconsistent back double-tap feature. It seems to register more often when the phone is unlocked, perhaps due to power-saving features. You could instead use the double-click on the power button to open the app you want it to.
Also, does anyone have a loose volume rocker? Mine rattles when shaking the phone around or when it vibrates on the table.

Aqryllic said:
Yeah, I've also noticed the inconsistent back double-tap feature. It seems to register more often when the phone is unlocked, perhaps due to power-saving features. You could instead use the double-click on the power button to open the app you want it to.
Also, does anyone have a loose volume rocker? Mine rattles when shaking the phone around or when it vibrates on the table.
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Click to collapse
Oh damn. Didn't notice until you mentioned it. Hopefully it won't become an issue further down the line.
I think the double tap on the back is intentionally set to only register when the phone is unlocked. Otherwise there'd be too many accidental triggers.

You're lucky, I'm still waiting for my order

Battery life is insane on the Zenfone 9, getting 10+ h sot on wifi and 8-9 h on 4G (dual sim)

NisseGurra said:
Battery life is insane on the Zenfone 9, getting 10+ h sot on wifi and 8-9 h on 4G (dual sim)
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Click to collapse
Hey mate, someone on this thread mentioned a loose volume rocker when shaking the phone....do you have that issue. Can you checks please mate?? Thank you

Maxgrey said:
Hey mate, someone on this thread mentioned a loose volume rocker when shaking the phone....do you have that issue. Can you checks please mate?? Thank you
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I would not call it loose, it moves a bit but no rattle.
Very distinct press so no issue for me.
The slight movement is needed for function.

NisseGurra said:
I would not call it loose, it moves a bit but no rattle.
Very distinct press so no issue for me.
The slight movement is needed for function.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for that mate. Appreciated.

Maxgrey said:
Thank you for that mate. Appreciated.
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Did you guys get the global or UK edition? I'm in the UK and just ordered the 16/256 version in black. But people are selling the global edition which comes with various ram amounts in 8-12-16 which gives people the option. Is the global made elsewhere to the UK version, does anyone know?

I have the swedish edition, not sure where its made

How's the battery? How long the phone works after 100% charged?

Battery life is very good, best i ever had in a smaller phone. Getting 10 hours screen on

How are the haptic feedbacks? Good quality? Sharp?

gnayug said:
Been using it for a few days now and loving it so far. Cameras are Pixel-like (haven't tried any GCams yet, that should make them even better), battery life is amazing, software is clean (RIP OxygenOS), speakers are quite good, charging speed is decent enough. I thought I'd lost the three-finger snapshot and double power tap for opening apps, but both are present in this phone as well.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you noticed any overheating issues while charging, video recording etc...?
How is the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance overall? Geekbench 5 score?
Thanks!

Related

A couple of pre-purchase questions

Like many I am waffling between the Hercules and the Amaze. I really like the Amaze. It is a great looking phone and I like Sense 3.0 (looking forward to 3.5). The biggest thing holding me back from pulling the trigger on the Amaze (besides the fact that it isn't actually out yet on Telus) is the seemingly widespread reports of poor battery life.
First question: Is the poor battery life universal or is it only some people who are experiencing it while others are getting good battery life?
Second question-kind of a strange one. I mount my phone in my car with a holder which squeezes the phone from the sides to hold it. My concern is that with the usb on the side it cannot be plugged in while in the holder. Also, I am concerned that the holder will squeeze against the camera buttons and activate the camera. Does anyone have one of these types of phone mounts and does it work ok with this phone?
Thanks
Nobody has on opinon?
I've had mine for 5 days now, so I'll help out.
- Battery life is horrible. If you text a lot, your battery will drain faster than I've ever seen in my long life of Android phones. Not to mention taking pics, streaming stuff, checking email, etc... It's awful.
- Camera is good, but not amazing as people would have us believe. It's definitely better than anything out at the moment, but I have a feeling the Galaxy Nexus camera is superior to this one, even at 5mp.
- Having issues with my soft buttons. They don't light up when they should (touch the screen). They only stay on occassionally when unlocking the phone, but it's random, doesn't always work. Hard to navigate in the dark when they don't light up.
- Laggy. Like, really laggy. The Sense is nice, but it is 3.0 with no guarantees of getting 3.5 The cosmetics of Sense really bog this down, even with the dual core processor. I get irritated with lag on these Android phones, and this is no different than the others.
My advice, wait. The Galaxy Nexus is coming to T-Mobile according to my source at Samsung, who just happens to be very high up in corporate in regards to the Samsung/T-Mobile relationship. Be patient and don't waste money/extend the contract when the best phone to date is coming out very soon. I'm returning my Amaze in a couple days.
Battery life - Use juice defender Ultimate + SetCPU. Get HTC Evo 3D or HTC Sensation 1900mAH battery
Camera - Arguably the best on android
Soft Buttons - Works just fine here. Light up in the dark. Stays off in bright environment
Lag - Absolutely no lag. Dual core processor + 1GB RAM. This is not HTC Hero, It's the Amaze
Galaxy nexus - Hmmmm, a great device. Should you wait? that's up to you mate.
I'll just comment on battery life, mine hasn't been that bad at all, I routinely get through a full day without needing a charge. I use JuiceDefender, but other than that I don't change too much.
Thanks for your replies. As for battery, I'd like to get a full day (charge overnight, not have to recharge til next night) out of my phone without having to jump through hoops to make it possible.
As for Nexus, who knows if Telus will ever get it. The haven't exactly been leading the pack with getting the latest phones.
Any issue with accidentally triggering the camera with the side buttons?
It does not matter which you get, dual core devices eats battery.
spiz516 said:
My advice, wait. The Galaxy Nexus is coming to T-Mobile according to my source at Samsung, who just happens to be very high up in corporate in regards to the Samsung/T-Mobile relationship. Be patient and don't waste money/extend the contract when the best phone to date is coming out very soon. I'm returning my Amaze in a couple days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's because you don't have a source at HTC. That's what makes you a fan boy. Battery is about the same as long as it runs the same course of use. Really. Then again, that rumor is coming from a unreliable source. You! Let me hear your long Android history. I bet I got you beat hands down.
Sense 3.0 is much more responsive than Touch Wiz 4.0. How do I know this? I spend about 30+ hours in a T-Mobile show room a week. That's weird. Do I randomly through out the day try to load the same webpages on both phones? Yes. Does the HTC load full sites faster than the SGSII consistently? Yes. Have I carefully watched the battery and repeated the exact same tasks on both devices? Yes. Is the battery that much far off? No.
So is the battery life going to be that much better? Is it going to be significant enough to wait and get the Samsung Nexus? Probably not.
marleyfan61 said:
Any issue with accidentally triggering the camera with the side buttons?
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Click to collapse
Haven't had it happen so far, and doubt it will with the way the buttons are made.
thoseareZs said:
Haven't had it happen so far, and doubt it will with the way the buttons are made.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hold my phone with my right hand so the buttons are kind of awkward, where my thumb would normally go but I've adapted. They have to be held for a bit before they are triggered so I've never accidentally triggered it.
Spovik said:
I hold my phone with my right hand so the buttons are kind of awkward, where my thumb would normally go but I've adapted. They have to be held for a bit before they are triggered so I've never accidentally triggered it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I stated in my first post, I'm more concerned with the car phone holder pressing against the buttons. I guess nobody else uses one of those. I'll have to bring the holder in with me and try it I guess.
Thanks for everyone's replies.
I have one of those types of car holders and don't have an issue with triggering the camera or charging the phone.
Can't comment on battery life yet, just got it Friday.
Do you happen to have a pic of your holder or the make/model? I don't know anyone who's used a side grip-style for a long time so I can't picture it.
I'm planning on getting an Arkon Slim Grip eventually and with the adjustable feet, it should work fine for any phone.
spiz516 said:
I've had mine for 5 days now, so I'll help out.
- Battery life is horrible. If you text a lot, your battery will drain faster than I've ever seen in my long life of Android phones. Not to mention taking pics, streaming stuff, checking email, etc... It's awful.
- Camera is good, but not amazing as people would have us believe. It's definitely better than anything out at the moment, but I have a feeling the Galaxy Nexus camera is superior to this one, even at 5mp.
- Having issues with my soft buttons. They don't light up when they should (touch the screen). They only stay on occassionally when unlocking the phone, but it's random, doesn't always work. Hard to navigate in the dark when they don't light up.
- Laggy. Like, really laggy. The Sense is nice, but it is 3.0 with no guarantees of getting 3.5 The cosmetics of Sense really bog this down, even with the dual core processor. I get irritated with lag on these Android phones, and this is no different than the others.
My advice, wait. The Galaxy Nexus is coming to T-Mobile according to my source at Samsung, who just happens to be very high up in corporate in regards to the Samsung/T-Mobile relationship. Be patient and don't waste money/extend the contract when the best phone to date is coming out very soon. I'm returning my Amaze in a couple days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You got a lemon. My experience since launch day has been the EXACT opposite of what you just posted.
Battery=good
Camera=awesome (look into your settings)
Soft buttons=awesome. BEtter than my old Vibrant
Lag=none, not even when stock un-rooted
Your "source" means nothing.
Spovik said:
Do you happen to have a pic of your holder or the make/model? I don't know anyone who's used a side grip-style for a long time so I can't picture it.
I'm planning on getting an Arkon Slim Grip eventually and with the adjustable feet, it should work fine for any phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the one I have - arkon(com)/megagrip/megagrip-windshield-car-mount.html
Liking that slim grip you posted though. Might replace mine with that.

Question about Vibration Strength

Hey everyone,
How is the vibration strength for notifications on the new Moto 360?
I've got an Huawei Watch and I love it, but the vibration strength is pretty weak IMO. A lot of times, I hear the vibration rather than feel it.
If it's stronger on the new Moto360, I may switch.
Thanks!
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
ajamudc said:
Hey everyone,
How is the vibration strength for notifications on the new Moto 360?
I've got an Huawei Watch and I love it, but the vibration strength is pretty weak IMO. A lot of times, I hear the vibration rather than feel it.
If it's stronger on the new Moto360, I may switch.
Thanks!
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello there,
I got mine yesterday, I am loving so far. The vibration was one of my worries, and I am glad to say it is ok, not great but ok. I have not tried the Huawei but I have heard the exact same comments over and over that you could actually hear it but not feel the vibration. I can assure you that this is not the case with the new Moto 360. I have tried deferent notifications, and I clearly felt them with a subtle noise, I have tried it in my pocket as well and felt them too!
it would have been nice if you can control the intensity, but may be for the next update.
Thanks.
has128 said:
I got mine yesterday, I am loving so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the answer - I had been wondering about this too. Can you also comment on the mic sensitivity - how close do you have to hold it to your mouth for it to pick you up? Does it consistently pick you up correctly? I'm trying to decide between the Moto 360 42mm and the Huawei and have heard that the Huawei mic is a bit hit and miss. For example, Lisa from MobileTechReview had difficulty getting it to pick her up in her review - see it here: https://youtu.be/H_ISBzY96M0?t=5m43s
EDIT: Also curious how long charging from empty or almost empty to 100% takes on the wireless charger.
Kinsman-UK said:
the Huawei mic is a bit hit and miss.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From my initial test yesterday, it is indeed a hit or miss. I had to repeat couple of times to get it right. It was always confusing breath with Breeze or What's up with Whatsapp where I was trying to send a whatsapp message with voice command. But honestly that was within my expectation, especially with 'tricky' words or commands.
I will do another test tonight and see, I will also check wither I have to hold it closely to my mouth, it was natural to get it closer every time I used it!
Kinsman-UK said:
EDIT: Also curious how long charging from empty or almost empty to 100% takes on the wireless charger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will test that too. The watch had around 70% when I opened it. it took a while to fully charge but it was going through the initial setup.
Kinsman-UK said:
EDIT: Also curious how long charging from empty or almost empty to 100% takes on the wireless charger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It took almost 2 hours to charge from dead to 100%! way much more than expected. The good news is that it charged almost 50% in the 1st half hour. Anyway, i will be charging it overnight from now on, so its no biggy.
i currently have both watches and the moto vibrator is stronger. and i keep my watches relatively tight so they dont slide around and the huawei is definitely weaker. i can see how people who keep it loose may not feel it.
has128 said:
It took almost 2 hours to charge from dead to 100%! way much more than expected. The good news is that it charged almost 50% in the 1st half hour. Anyway, i will be charging it overnight from now on, so its no biggy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - is there any way to turn off the display, or the entire watch, while charging? Just thinking this might speed up the process, and reduce heat build-up. I seem to remember reading that there is a setting in the developer options in Android Wear for this.
Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I'm still on the fence on this one because I really like the Huawei. I'm going to go to Best Buy and check out the Moto in person.
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
ajamudc said:
Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I'm still on the fence on this one because I really like the Huawei. I'm going to go to Best Buy and check out the Moto in person.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out the thread next door: http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-360-2015/general/360-t3220206
I'm in the same position as you, but I don't have anywhere local to go and see these watches. I had actually settled on the Huawei and made my decision, but with reading over the past few days, watching video reviews and asking some questions on forums I've now swung in completely the opposite direction and am back to buying a Moto 360 42mm again!
I decided to stick with the Huawei. I just like the look of it better especially the ambient screen. My issue was small and really hasn't proven to be a big deal. Thanks again everyone for your feedback!
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
I was curious about the vibration strength as well.. I think my V20 has a weaker vibration motor so I seem to miss a lot of SMS messages and calls... my hope was if I get a watch, i'll be able to easily feel the vibration on my wrist... I read a few people saying the vibration was weak.. but seems to be on here most say its decent. Thanks!

Help in evaluating new reno 10x device for all possible issues (both software and har

Hi,
I have bought a new Oppo Reno 10X device.
I would like to know all possible issues to check for on a new device. Both hardware and software related
I Have a 10 day window for replacement and wanted to make sure that the device is perfect.
Kindly help me with the same. I have bought the Reno 10X Zoom, 128 GB Indian Variant.
Thanks in advance
AthulPrasad said:
Hi,
I have bought a new Oppo Reno 10X device.
I would like to know all possible issues to check for on a new device. Both hardware and software related
I Have a 10 day window for replacement and wanted to make sure that the device is perfect.
Kindly help me with the same. I have bought the Reno 10X Zoom, 128 GB Indian Variant.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check general responsiveness and battery life. Charge to 100% and use as you would normally use your phone. At around 20%...check how long that's lasted.
Be happy. You have an amazing phone dude. Only issue I'll ever have is Oppo's update policy. No problem with the device itself as it's a big brand flagship killer. Or at least up there with the big boys.
Enjoy
moozer said:
Check general responsiveness and battery life. Charge to 100% and use as you would normally use your phone. At around 20%...check how long that's lasted.
Be happy. You have an amazing phone dude. Only issue I'll ever have is Oppo's update policy. No problem with the device itself as it's a big brand flagship killer. Or at least up there with the big boys.
Enjoy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
Can I just ask if there are issues with dust accumulating on camera? Also if hearing mic volume being low during calls. Saw them on the internet.
AthulPrasad said:
Thanks.
Can I just ask if there are issues with dust accumulating on camera? Also if hearing mic volume being low during calls. Saw them on the internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The camera does accumulate some dust. It's inevitable due to it's design I suppose, but it's minimal. I always wipe it down every now and then with a microfibre cloth. Not a big deal.
As for low Mic...not getting anything like that. Not heard of this issue either. A quick search on the internet brought nothing, so not sure where you've seen that
moozer said:
The camera does accumulate some dust. It's inevitable due to it's design I suppose, but it's minimal. I always wipe it down every now and then with a microfibre cloth. Not a big deal.
As for low Mic...not getting anything like that. Not heard of this issue either. A quick search on the internet brought nothing, so not sure where you've seen that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot man. I saw the mic issue among the reviews posted in online shopping site. Maybe its an isolated issue. None the less, appreciate your help. ?
AthulPrasad said:
Thanks a lot man. I saw the mic issue among the reviews posted in online shopping site. Maybe its an isolated issue. None the less, appreciate your help. ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only thing I've negatively experienced during calls is hands free calling Mrs Moozer. Suddenly she will be unable to hear me but I can hear her. Only seems to happen on calls to her on hands free. Regular calls are fine. She has a P30 Lite, so I'm banking on that being the issue, not my phone !! Lol
AthulPrasad said:
Thanks.
Can I just ask if there are issues with dust accumulating on camera? Also if hearing mic volume being low during calls. Saw them on the internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, as I live in India, dust do get accumulate quite quickly! But that's too micro-dust, I guess that kind of dust we inhale everyday!
a swipe from MicroFiber cloth works perfectly, but it has to be done very carefully, because the dust while cleaning can be pushed further into the body! (I hope not much should have accumulated already in my device, I can't open and clean it!)
Guys,
Urgent help
Got the device. Everything looks awesome.
But there seems to be serious issue with the battery drain. 100% to 2% in almost 6 hours. And yes I used it during these hours for watching movies and internet was on. But Is this normal?
Power usage shows the apps I used as the culprits. Mx Player Pro, Whatsapp and Browser. So is this like normal or an issue with my device?
AthulPrasad said:
Guys,
Urgent help
Got the device. Everything looks awesome.
But there seems to be serious issue with the battery drain. 100% to 2% in almost 6 hours. And yes I used it during these hours for watching movies and internet was on. But Is this normal?
Power usage shows the apps I used as the culprits. Mx Player Pro, Whatsapp and Browser. So is this like normal or an issue with my device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've changed your mind... your other post says 100% to 5% in 7 hours
Which is the real one? 100 to 5 in 7 hours or 100 to 2 in less than 6 hours?
moozer said:
You've changed your mind... your other post says 100% to 5% in 7 hours
Which is the real one? 100 to 5 in 7 hours or 100 to 2 in less than 6 hours?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Just wanted to say thanks. The issue is solved. There was a battery drain issue but now it's solved.
Thanks for your time

Question Pixel 6 Thread for supporting OP6T (and similar OP) users

Hi folks,
Reading through a lot of the threads here I see that the Pixel 6 is very popular with the OP6T phone set. As the OP6T has ended official support I expect more and more of its users will be getting Pixel 6 phones. I just got mine yesterday and am getting used to it. I thought it might be nice to have a thread where folks used to the OP6T and similar OP models could discuss transition issues while we get used to our new Pixels.
I'll start with one big question:
I'm dying without the physical ringer switch. I knew I was giving it up, but I'm struggling. On the OP6T, I would use it maybe 20 times a day. Incoming Teams call from the boss? Set phone to silent. Ad pops up without volume control while playing a game? Slam the phone to silent. And so on.
Whjat's a quick way to switch between normal / vibrate only / silent mode on the P6?
Would love to hear other experiences, learnings, and questions!
One thing that i did not know initially is that volume keys and the ability from there to switch sound modes works also on lock screen. Just press volume up or volume down and use the button above the volume bar to switch sound modes.
Yeah I found that. It's slick but still takes more than just shoving a slider.
I wonder if there's a setting to like double tap a volume key to toggle modes?
Another thing I'm getting used to is the thickness of the device. I saw it in the specs before I ordered, but wow it feels like a brick. On the other hand, it's got a beefy battery and if a thicker phone is the price for longevity, I will get used to it gladly.
Overall I'm trying hard to run it stock Google to get the experience. However, I may be going back to Nova Launcher for my home screen; I'm not loving the stock google launcher due to lack of customization so far. Time will tell.
Alert slider was iconic feature for oneplus but now even they are dropping it in the newer devices that are not flagships. I am a little bit cursed regarding experiments with new brands. I bought LG V10 and liked it but it had the dreaded bootloop problem and after that LG went down. I bought HTC u ultra and liked it but after that htc went down. I bought oneplus 7 and really liked it but after that the merger with oppo started and everything that i liked in oneplus started to gradually vanish. Now i like the pixel 6 despite the initial problems and hope that situation will only improve in future.
What drives me nuts is manufacturers remove useful features that I love.
For example the multicolor notification LED. Used almost zero power and with proper app could blink color/rate variably depending what was going on. Silent, discrete in meetings, but told me what I needed to know. But now extinct.
Also I don't get the design choice of slick/fragile phone backsides. I used to by more rugged backed phones to go without a case. No more, phones are now more expensive due to glass back plus I need to buy a case adding cost and bulk. Sigh.
Frankenscript said:
What drives me nuts is manufacturers remove useful features that I love.
For example the multicolor notification LED...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, there's a way around this though - aodNotify makes the hole punch a bit less useless, flashing basically a notification LED around it. I've been loving it since I've started using it in Nov and can highly recommend.
neptun2 said:
Alert slider was iconic feature for oneplus but now even they are dropping it in the newer devices that are not flagships. I am a little bit cursed regarding experiments with new brands. I bought LG V10 and liked it but it had the dreaded bootloop problem and after that LG went down. I bought HTC u ultra and liked it but after that htc went down. I bought oneplus 7 and really liked it but after that the merger with oppo started and everything that i liked in oneplus started to gradually vanish. Now i like the pixel 6 despite the initial problems and hope that situation will only improve in future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
January update fixed all of the remaining issues for me, YMMV ofc.
Nezorflame said:
True, there's a way around this though - aodNotify makes the hole punch a bit less useless, flashing basically a notification LED around it. I've been loving it since I've started using it in Nov and can highly recommend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this!
I've bought the pro version, and did some basic setup. One feature it seems to lack that I'd really like, which I will communicate with the developer on, is to make the color settable not just per app, but per email account sending the notification. Maybe this already exists in the "contact" section. I'll have to play with it some more this weekend. I have three email accounts on the phone, and it would be nice to get differential notifications for "family email" versus "personal email" versus "commercial email" accounts. Also have to see if there's a way to have the time/date stuff off... I'd prefer a fully black screen except for the flashing notifications, when present.
But all this is just me picking nits. This looks like a great piece of software that fills a gap, and I appreciate the introduction to it!!
neptun2 said:
One thing that i did not know initially is that volume keys and the ability from there to switch sound modes works also on lock screen. Just press volume up or volume down and use the button above the volume bar to switch sound modes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One more not on this: I learned the hard way that the silent mode applies onlybtonringer and notifications. It doesn't silence the phone like the OP phone sliders do. Media sounds remain enabled, so this mode doesn't silence ads which is the main thing I wanted to use it for. I'm experimenting to see if these modes remember the media volume last selected within the mode. Sometimes it seems yes, but sometimes they seem to reset.
Hi folks,
After about two weeks with this phone I'm pretty settled in and liking it.
My biggest single issue was the lack of physical audio switch which I'm delighted to report is entirely deprecated by using the wonderful Button Mapper app by @flar2 . That app let me map a single down-volume tap to silencing media sounds, which was exactly what I needed.
I've gotten used to the increased thickness/weight of the phone, which of course there is no remedy for other than time and familiarity.
I'm pleased by its snappy responsiveness, and very happy with the built-in googleness of it, including the benefits of its dialer and call screening and visual voicemail which is better than the ATT equivalent. There are also a lot of assistant features I plan to dig into, gradually, that are better on pixels than other phones. It's nice to know I'm "on board."
The phone works well for wifi calling with ATT after I got the IMEI added to my AT&T account (I was never able to get that to work on my 6T) and at least in my area the 5G coverage is good. I don't get super fast data speeds on 5G but the typical 30 MB/s is more than enough for my uses when I'm out and about.
I've added aodNotify to make up for the missing multicolor LED in recent phones (6T didn't have one either) and while I'd like a few more customizations, it's pretty awesome.
For the first time in several phones I stuck with Messages instead of using my beloved Textra. I'm still getting used to things (including notably less customizable font sizes) but the benefits of Messages going forward probably outweigh the losses.
The one thing I had to ditch pretty quickly was the Google Launcher home screen. I went back to Nova Launcher within days; I just couldn't handle the "basic-ness" of the built in Launcher. That's less about the phone than anything else but I mention it all the same.
One ongoing thing: the phone is usually warm. My 6T only heated noticeably when I was doing something really intensive with it. The P6 warms up just sitting there with the screen on. Still, I get good battery life so I'm not worrying about it.
Overall I'm pleased with my purchase and recommend the phone to folks coming from the OnePlus line. Not sure if I prefer it to the other phone I considered (8T, for $200 less), but I'm happy enough I'm looking forward instead of backward.
Well done Google. Now, straighten out the crap with your updates!!
Any other OPx users notice their OP-supplied charging blocks don't charge the Pixel? I have two of these. One from my OP3T and one from my OP6T. I believe them to be identical part numbers; I don't know which came with which phone as I've used them interchangeably since I got the 6T. Both charge either phone rapidly.
But, one of them slowly charges the Pixel 6, while the other just says "connected, not charging" when I plug it in. That's weird... the one that won't charge the Pixel will charge any other device, and so far all other chargers I've tried will charge the Pixel (albeit slowly).
I bought an Anker charger and an extra USBC to USBC cable, so I'm all good, I just thought this was a strange quirk and wondered if anyone else saw this.
Current OP6 user.
How "root friendly" is the Pixel6 compared to the OP6? I don't usually install custom ROMs unless for emergency purposes. Simple root + module such as Magisk, AdAway, Maxlock, XprivacyLua, YT Vanced, InstaPrefs etc. Basically modules that improves app experiences, removes ads and some battery saver while we're at it.
Software update isn't important to me as they can be easily flashed. I usually have automatic updates TURNED OFF, as having it turned on will be a mess for a rooted device.
Appreciate your feedback, if any. Thanks!
Not the most ideal fix but you could set up a Nova action --> sound setting.
kahtsin said:
Current OP6 user.
How "root friendly" is the Pixel6 compared to the OP6? I don't usually install custom ROMs unless for emergency purposes. Simple root + module such as Magisk, AdAway, Maxlock, XprivacyLua, YT Vanced, InstaPrefs etc. Basically modules that improves app experiences, removes ads and some battery saver while we're at it.
Software update isn't important to me as they can be easily flashed. I usually have automatic updates TURNED OFF, as having it turned on will be a mess for a rooted device.
Appreciate your feedback, if any. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As 'root friendly' as the OP6t was...if not simpler. Just follow the guides.
phaino00 said:
As 'root friendly' as the OP6t was...if not simpler. Just follow the guides.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to hear this! BUT I am just afraid of major software issues. What I meant was in case of a major software issue like a sudden bricking etc.. at least OnePlus provides the MSMDownloadTool as the final option available...
Ah we shall see in the coming months, since the Pixel6 is still relatively new in the market and still unavailable to purchase in my country yet.
Frankenscript said:
Any other OPx users notice their OP-supplied charging blocks don't charge the Pixel? I have two of these. One from my OP3T and one from my OP6T. I believe them to be identical part numbers; I don't know which came with which phone as I've used them interchangeably since I got the 6T. Both charge either phone rapidly.
But, one of them slowly charges the Pixel 6, while the other just says "connected, not charging" when I plug it in. That's weird... the one that won't charge the Pixel will charge any other device, and so far all other chargers I've tried will charge the Pixel (albeit slowly).
I bought an Anker charger and an extra USBC to USBC cable, so I'm all good, I just thought this was a strange quirk and wondered if anyone else saw this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My op 3 and 6t charger, 9 pro 65w charger aren't charging my other devices as well. It charges my iPad very slowly. It appears to be connected to charger in my pixel but the battery percentage will still drop with the 9 pro charger lol. It seems to me that pd is not working on op chargers.
StiggyPlue said:
Glad to hear this! BUT I am just afraid of major software issues. What I meant was in case of a major software issue like a sudden bricking etc.. at least OnePlus provides the MSMDownloadTool as the final option available...
Ah we shall see in the coming months, since the Pixel6 is still relatively new in the market and still unavailable to purchase in my country yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pixel can usually be recovered with fastboot images if you're able to get into the bootloader as long as you have the OEM unlock switch on. You can do it easily with any Chromium based browsers.
As for the root friendly ness, it's about the same if you're not going to overclock or disable thermal throttling.
StiggyPlue said:
Glad to hear this! BUT I am just afraid of major software issues. What I meant was in case of a major software issue like a sudden bricking etc.. at least OnePlus provides the MSMDownloadTool as the final option available...
Ah we shall see in the coming months, since the Pixel6 is still relatively new in the market and still unavailable to purchase in my country yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as the bootloader is unlocked, you can flash the factory images via fastboot. Of course, the platform tools need to be up to date and you need to be able to access the bootloader.
I'll hold my purchase of the Pixel 6 for now, until a stable recovery is released. God knows when it will be out, haha!
Thanks for the sharing yo!

General 15 days with a ZF9 - very good so far but not in love

Hi people, a little greeting from France!
I would have liked to have some information before falling for the Zenfone 9 and i thanks @Nexr0n; I second him with my views on the phone.
Here's my review, figuring it might be useful to others who, like me, spend their time looking at online tests and searching for the best option.
Background:
I came from a Note 9 (snapdragon) but broke the screen and while it still works, the Zenfone 9 was giving me the eye.
I didn't want to change, not finding anything in the landscape that is as qualitative and meets my criteria. Namely: good screen (especially brightness, the 120hZ was a plus, the QHD too), good speakers, a mini-jack port and a good autonomy. The Note 9 has features that are now unavailable: the clickable home button hidden under the screen, the heart sensor, the rear fingerprint reader (I like it), the notification led, etc.
The new Samsung S22 didn't have any jack or SD and despite their great screens, they seemed to me to be a regression on the points mentioned above, minor of course, but which, cumulatively, I didn't like. In particular the autonomy, which everyone thinks is bad.
I had a SONY 5 III in my sights, but the lack of brightness and the price dissuaded me. I couldn't find a new S21 anywhere else than on Rakuten, so I preferred to avoid it.
I went for the Zenfone 9. The + would have been an SD port but I bought this to keep my data (movies, videos) when I need it, not being a big fan of the cloud: https://www.amazon.fr/Essential-Câble-recharge-synchronisation-données/dp/B0917DWGC6/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1348002191584416&hvadid=84250559089415&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=125745&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-84250662755975:loc-66&hydadcr=29650_2344758&keywords=budi&qid=1662197734&sr=8-1
In use:
The positive:
Ultra responsive, on par with an iPhone. Going back to my Note 9 makes me realize that this is where the gap is most pronounced.
Autonomy:
I have 4 Gmail accounts, 1 exchange account, 2 SIM cards and a company email. 2 whatsapp, 2 Facebook, 1 discord. I play between 1 and 2 hours a day (clash royale, Brawl star) and I am at 75%-80% brightness.
I oscillate between 6 and 8h of SOT (related to a 100% battery, but I use the battery saving functions by charging at 80% maximum). On average, I lose 20% of battery for 1h20 of screen on.
The fingerprint reader, fast and reliable (my right thumb, my right index (when my Asus lay on the table and my left index, when i grab it with my left hand.
The recharge :
The block is provided, the cable too, and it is appreciable. The recharge is not at the level of a One Plus or an Oppo of course, but it takes me less than an hour to go from 20% to 80%. That's enough for me.
The sound quality and its power. The Dirac profiles are ... strange, games / video / cinema do not put the voices at the same level. You have to change regularly depending on what you're listening to, but there's bound to be a profile that will fit before you even bother with the equalizer. On the other hand, what they did with the feeling of having real bass (example with " clap your hands " of Kungs is bluffing). The power with the outdoor mode is quite substantial, but I imagined EVEN more and it transforms the sound, which becomes less pleasant and immediately loses the bass.
The Medium:
The screen
I love the size, I appreciate that it is flat, but the maximum brightness is below what I expected based on the advertised numbers. Side by side, while my Note 9 is very marked (I used Waze a lot, I have a huge burn-in), I feel like the samsung is still brighter than the Asus. It is also better defined, even if the white balance is better on the Zenfone side.
As a reminder: Samsung Note 9 for GSMArena (White 100% luminosity: 367 cd/m2 and 658 cd/m2 in max auto) Asus Zenfone 9 (White: 100% luminosity: 449 cd/m2 / 831 in max auto)
The quality of the photos with the native application, oversharpeing everywhere and bad color accuracy. I prefer the Gcam rendering, but we will have to tweak the application because we are not yet at the level of the Pixel !
The power of vibrations. The Note 9 is *vastly* superior
The Software:
ZenUI is less complete than Samsung, with ALL its little cool tricks (the double broadcast of a video on the phone to show something but music on a speaker for the party at the same time! - the integrated Hiya blocker to know if you're being canvassed or if it's spam when you have a call and all the possibilities offered to power users with Nicelock, Multistar, etc. It's missing).
It's related: the brightness bar is poorly done, you have to swipe down twice to get access to it (there is an option on Samsung so that it's not the case). Moreover, the curve is badly thought out, the progressiveness is not smooth enough. The automatic management of brightness is not bad, but not at the level of my Samsung.
But all in all, ZenUI is usefull and with some cool tweaks. I like Game Genie !
Given the power of the phone, I would have liked a "durable" mode that could rather downclock the processor than prevent applications from waking up with the screen off... Asus, if you read me ...
Notifications: this is probably related to the versions of android and the QHD screen but I had a LOT more notifications on a much smaller space on the Samsung, it was really better. With the Asus, every single notification takes up half of my panel ! Is it a toy or a phone ?!
It's not very important for some, but the jack port on the top of the phone is more restrictive than the bottom, as a rule. I sometimes put my headphones on in the car to listen to stuff while the kids are asleep, the wire sticks up over my phone, it's less convenient. When you're walking around town listening to podcasts, taking it out of your pocket and having to use both hands to put it in the right direction to unlock it, that's handling that was unnecessary with the Note. Manipulations that increase the risk of dropping it.
The negative:
Stand by time:
Turning off the internet at night + having checked that nothing is running in the background, I go from 62% to 52% battery between 11pm and 8am... I'll test in airplane mode, but this loss seems huge !
When i play Genshin Impact, not even in performance mode, it runs HOT !
USB 2.0 ? really ? It was not so long to perform a transfer of my 30k photos from my samsung to my Asus but nevertheless, it was nearly painfull ! Thanksfully my 256 go are in UFS 3.1 !
All in all, I find it a bit expensive for what it is although I'm not disappointed. But if I could, I think I would have waited for a smartphone with the Snapdragon 8 gen 2.
Or go back to Samsung on the mid-range to keep a decent screen but benefit from the jack and micro SD.
What is the ideal price that you consider for this smartphone?
I think 699€ for the 8/128 go and 749€ for the 8/256go were a much better deal.
Yoodj said:
Je pense que 699€ pour le 8/128 go et 749€ pour le 8/256go étaient une bien meilleure affaire.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in any case there will always be positive and negative points.
The positive point of this phone is the compact size (that's all I can say because I don't own it)
I will sell my pixel 6 pro to buy this phone.
For the p6pro that I have had since its release I can say these following:
the phone gets hot in normal use (music, YT). I said it heats up not burns....
The photo quality is very good, a little downside as to the telefoto that for me does not make a miracle (unlike the s21 ultra)
here is a short opinion and that engages only me obviously....
Yoodj said:
All in all, I find it a bit expensive for what it is although I'm not disappointed. But if I could, I think I would have waited for a smartphone with the Snapdragon 8 gen 2.
Or go back to Samsung on the mid-range to keep a decent screen but benefit from the jack and micro SD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am really puzzled between this ZF9 and Galaxy S22. My favor is towards ZF9 but there is of course a price difference as well. So maybe i would like to hear what would you pick
A new Samsung Galaxy S22 for 630Euro or ZF9 for 760Euro (both 128GB). Cheers.
Ba-nny said:
I am really puzzled between this ZF9 and Galaxy S22. My favor is towards ZF9 but there is of course a price difference as well. So maybe i would like to hear what would you pick
A new Samsung Galaxy S22 for 630Euro or ZF9 for 760Euro (both 128GB). Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want better screen and photos in a manageable size with software which can do anything, s22.
Go for the ZF9 for really good battery life, micro jack and cool form factor with ultra snappy experience without stutter.
And if i were you... , i'd wait for the S23
Yoodj said:
And if i were you... , i'd wait for the S23
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was originally my plan, but my current phone Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact is technically dying after 5yrs so urgently need a new phone i think i would give it a try. And will see later what the S23 will bring us. Thanks a lot for you opinion.
Ba-nny said:
That was originally my plan, but my current phone Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact is technically dying after 5yrs so urgently need a new phone i think i would give it a try. And will see later what the S23 will bring us. Thanks a lot for you opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Give "it" a try... Which one?
Thanks for the shoutout, I do agree with most of what you're saying but also do have some small fixes/suggestions.
I went for the Zenfone 9. The + would have been an SD port but I bought this to keep my data (movies, videos) when I need it, not being a big fan of the cloud
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also not a big fan of the cloud, what's been working great for me is Syncthing, FOSS peer to peer solution for local file sharing, set it up on your computer or home server if you've got one and you can sync over whatever files you want to it (automatically when there's changes).
Given the power of the phone, I would have liked a "durable" mode that could rather downclock the processor than prevent applications from waking up with the screen off... Asus, if you read me ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a durable mode, even an "ultra" durable mode. You can find it in the same spot as performance mode or with the "system modes" switch in the pull down drawer.
Notifications: this is probably related to the versions of android and the QHD screen but I had a LOT more notifications on a much smaller space on the Samsung, it was really better. With the Asus, every single notification takes up half of my panel ! Is it a toy or a phone ?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a smaller notifications option, you do have to pull down the shade for quick actions (pretty seamless with the smart key gesture) but it does fix the problem.
It's not very important for some, but the jack port on the top of the phone is more restrictive than the bottom, as a rule. I sometimes put my headphones on in the car to listen to stuff while the kids are asleep, the wire sticks up over my phone, it's less convenient. When you're walking around town listening to podcasts, taking it out of your pocket and having to use both hands to put it in the right direction to unlock it, that's handling that was unnecessary with the Note. Manipulations that increase the risk of dropping it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This only really applies when not charging the phone but you can flip the screen upside down, everything dodges the hole punch well. That's what I've been doing since i agree, bottom jacks are far superior.
Turning off the internet at night + having checked that nothing is running in the background, I go from 62% to 52% battery between 11pm and 8am... I'll test in airplane mode, but this loss seems huge !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Asus seems to have every standby battery draining feature turned on by default. Once you go in and turn stuff you aren't using off it's noticeable improvement.
Nexr0n said:
I'm also not a big fan of the cloud, what's been working great for me is Syncthing, FOSS peer to peer solution for local file sharing, set it up on your computer or home server if you've got one and you can sync over whatever files you want to it (automatically when there's changes).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont' want to rely on internet for certain files i want to watch/read/enjoy. But thanks anyway for the tip !
Nexr0n said:
There is a durable mode, even an "ultra" durable mode. You can find it in the same spot as performance mode or with the "system modes" switch in the pull down drawer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha ha, you're kind. Please re-read my tought on that because I know, i'm always in "durable mode" ! I'd wanna speak about the effects of this mode.
There is a smaller notifications option, you do have to pull down the shade for quick actions (pretty seamless with the smart key gesture) but it does fix the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's not a fix at all, but thanks anyway.
This only really applies when not charging the phone but you can flip the screen upside down, everything dodges the hole punch well. That's what I've been doing since i agree, bottom jacks are far superior.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good idea, but not all apk are agree to do that, far from that... Thanks anyway.
Asus seems to have every standby battery draining feature turned on by default. Once you go in and turn stuff you aren't using off it's noticeable improvement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man, but i'm a power user, i fined tune my phone. I turn stuff i'm not using... and "do not disturb" AND "airplane mode" AND "clean memory" AND "auto ultra durable mode from 2:00 am to 5:00 am" just before i sleep ... and my Zenfone 9 keeps a pretty bad standby mode at night (~0,5 - 0,8 % /h).
Yoodj said:
Thanks man, but i'm a power user, i fined tune my phone. I turn stuff i'm not using... and "do not disturb" AND "airplane mode" AND "clean memory" AND "auto ultra durable mode from 2:00 am to 5:00 am" just before i sleep ... and my Zenfone 9 keeps a pretty bad standby mode at night (~0,5 - 0,8 % /h).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I lose 3-4% over 8 hours with just DND and Ultra Durable.
Same for me (or even less) with the update now.

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