Database Info

Build/Design Quality?

What do you think of this phones build? Initillay I thought it was great and solid... After some use Im starting to think its worse then I thought.
Why:
Screen Scratches and Cracks easily.
Power Button is sinking in.
Light Leaks
Bottom Lip Peals?
Location of charging port (Kinda Stupid)
Battery Life... (Not really build quality but still)
Kickstand Coating peels?
What do you think?

Lucky I havent come across those problems yet... So i say its good minus the tiny crevice around the screen, they could of designed it to be one solid piece....

mitchell4500 said:
What do you think of this phones build? Initillay I thought it was great and solid... After some use Im starting to think its worse then I thought.
Why:
Screen Scratches and Cracks easily.
Power Button is sinking in.
Light Leaks
Bottom Lip Peals?
Location of charging port (Kinda Stupid)
Battery Life... (Not really build quality but still)
Kickstand Coating peels?
What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
me personally, i have not had any of these issues. I had the light bleeding issue real bad, and exchanged my phone and have been issue free since.

Yeah, I have no idea what your talking about? I don't have any of these issue, and I happen to think the build quality of the phone is fantastic!

i'll see if i can get any info about warranty exchanges for any of these issues since launch from VZW. i haven't heard anything about any of these issues prior to today when i read about kickstand "paint" peeling, but it seems to me that it's a metal finish. i don't see paint on mine at all.

I agree 100% with your statements about the charging port and the light leaks on the bottom buttons but I haven't really had any of those other problems.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

Thanks for the replies lol. Im having all of these problems except for the bottom lip thing.

I think that HTC must have issues with the quality control of their manufacturing. The MT4G had all sorts of issues ranging from good/bad screen displays, light leaks, off center FFC, creaky buttons, etc, and I switched my EVO once due to light leak issues as well
Sent from my Thunderbolt using Tapatalk

Off Set FFC? I definitely got that lol. I thought it was like that on purpose.
I just called them about all these things and they didnt want anything to do with me. They told me to go to the store.

The thunderbolt doesn't seem to have as good of build materials as some other phones HTC has made recently. Desire, nexus one, and desire s in particular. But its still decent enough, just not top notch.

The only problem i've noticed is the power button sinking in. If it gets to be a big problem hopefully there will be a recall
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App

The ffc isn't supposed to be offset?

My only real complaint is the kickstand/usb configuration.

one major design flaw i dont like is the placement of the LED, being inside the ear piece makes it difficult to see sometimes when you have a notificiation, espeically at an angle.

digitalscars said:
one major design flaw i dont like is the placement of the LED, being inside the ear piece makes it difficult to see sometimes when you have a notificiation, espeically at an angle.
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thats not really a flaw, they did the same thing with the evo

The Front Facing Camera IS SUPPOSED TO BE a little to the Right with black on the left. ITS MADE LIKE THAT. Google Pictures of it and you will see they are all like that.

mitchell4500 said:
What do you think of this phones build? Initillay I thought it was great and solid... After some use Im starting to think its worse then I thought.
Why:
Screen Scratches and Cracks easily.
Power Button is sinking in.
Light Leaks
Bottom Lip Peals?
Location of charging port (Kinda Stupid)
Battery Life... (Not really build quality but still)
Kickstand Coating peels?
What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the volumbe buttons are terrible they get stuck some times and become untactile and sink in.
Also on three different thunderbolts I have had issues with the headphone jack losing sound to the left speaker if the the plug turns to a certain point or is pushed gently to the right. Driving me nuts.

mitchell4500 said:
What do you think of this phones build? Initillay I thought it was great and solid... After some use Im starting to think its worse then I thought.
Why:
Screen Scratches and Cracks easily.
Power Button is sinking in.
Light Leaks
Bottom Lip Peals?
[*]Location of charging port (Kinda Stupid)
[*]Battery Life... (Not really build quality but still)
Kickstand Coating peels?
What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The two bolded ones are the only biggies I have had. The former much worse than the latter. I have slight light leaks, but honestly if I had never seen a post about it I would have never even known it was there. The only thing I would add is the speaker location, or at least put holes in the kickstand. I still kinda miss my HW keyboard, as I am much slower with the OSKB. But really that is just a preference issue that LTE more than makes up for. I do kinda wish it had a builtin HDMI, but still LTE makes up for that too. The only thing that really aggravated me was the kickstand direction/charging port location. Personally I wish they would just put the usb on the bottom like the evo. But that is just me. That's really about all I can add.

nosympathy said:
me personally, i have not had any of these issues. I had the light bleeding issue real bad, and exchanged my phone and have been issue free since.
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I did this too and the phone I got doesn't bleed much...but the vibration motor is ROUGH (feels like it vibrated loose) and the plastic chin piece is pretty much just hanging there. I'm going to a more helpful Verizon store this time and making sure I get a good one. If I pay this much for a phone, it better be built pretty well.

I personally noticed the light leak the night I got my thunderbolt, which is the night of the launch, and it's really getting on my nerves. Coming from an eris, I'm used to the light leak from the lights behind the menu buttons at the bottom, but my thunderbolt has extra light leaks around the bottom casing. My only thought is that if light can get through, so can water. Being a daily swimmer, I want my phone to be as waterproof as possible. I bought a silicon case and screen cover for the phone, mostly to cover up the light leak and atleast for me, the bacl cover creaks ever so slightly... I dont know if thats just because it's on wrong or what... I'm afraid to take it off again cause it's so tight. Having just dropped $300 and signed my soul into another 2 year contact, I want my phone to be as perfect as possible, and I truly think I found this in the thunderbolt. Has anyone had these problems in later models (were they just early manufacturing defects?) I'm contemplating returning my thunderbolt for a new one. Also... Did I mention I'm an android developer and that's where the money came from to buy my thunderbolt?? Haha
Sent from my rooted s-off Thunderbolt

[Q] Creaky creaky!

I hate to nit-pick and I'm generally happy and relieved that I simply even got a unit, but both my left and right side are now creaky.. even the bottom is starting a bit.
I still have a week left, what should I do? Should I just return the unit and wait it out? Do anything think theres a way to stop the creaking?

Mine does the same, I am going to just accept it as others have this issue as well.

define creak? Mine has some flex in the back but no actual sound accompanying it.

docangle said:
Mine does the same, I am going to just accept it as others have this issue as well.
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Click to collapse
Ya I've read that it's fairly widespread, but does yours creak on 3/4 of the sides? or just the left side?

seshmaru said:
define creak? Mine has some flex in the back but no actual sound accompanying it.
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Click to collapse
definitely with sound. it clicks

Nope none of that.
PS: I've had it for 2 weeks now.

Mine creaks on the 3/4 of the right side. That is if i press it/hold it hard enough. Usually I'm cradling it with both hands or having it attached to the keyboard dock, so it's not that big of a deal for me.

And we wonder how they got this tablet down to $400 Mine creaks on the upper right if I apply a little pressure (like if I hold it with one hand on that side), but it's not like it creaks enough to drive me crazy, or even drive me irritated. You sacrifice build quality for hitting that magic $400 price point, it is what it is.

If there is flex, then there means that there is empty space. If that's the case, why isn't the TF slimmer?!

dfin13 said:
And we wonder how they got this tablet down to $400 Mine creaks on the upper right if I apply a little pressure (like if I hold it with one hand on that side), but it's not like it creaks enough to drive me crazy, or even drive me irritated. You sacrifice build quality for hitting that magic $400 price point, it is what it is.
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I'm sorry but that's simply false
My European HTC hero back cover creaked from the start and that thing has only seen torment for the past 2 years (7 ft. plus drops multiple times a week, don't ask ;_; ) and it's in full working order, undamaged. Creaky plastic does not signify build quality.

Mine creaks on the right hand side but I generally hold it with my left hand on the back of the unit or rest it on my stomach when in portrait mode, feet up sitting in my La-Z-Boy.

Had mine for 2 weeks and don't have any creaking in any orientation.

I have quite a bit of creaking as well, along with a gap on the left-hand side of the screen. I'll probably swap mine out before my 30 days is up with Amazon, and when stock is more available. I'm hoping that's how it works out, anyways.

seshmaru said:
I'm sorry but that's simply false
My European HTC hero back cover creaked from the start and that thing has only seen torment for the past 2 years (7 ft. plus drops multiple times a week, don't ask ;_; ) and it's in full working order, undamaged. Creaky plastic does not signify build quality.
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Click to collapse
And neither does light bleed, gaps, dust under the screen, or sharp edges, I guess Look I'm fine with some cut corners, it's what you have to expect when something seems to affordable too be true. I'm not saying that the Transformer is going to fall apart in your hands, but creaky build quality is usually a result of cutting corners.

dfin13 said:
And neither does light bleed, gaps, dust under the screen, or sharp edges, I guess Look I'm fine with some cut corners, it's what you have to expect when something seems to affordable too be true. I'm not saying that the Transformer is going to fall apart in your hands, but creaky build quality is usually a result of cutting corners.
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Click to collapse
Not everyone has lightbleed and even the iPad and iPad 2 had lightbleed issues, I doubt those were because of shoddy manufacturing.
Also the sharp edges are part of the design, I can't really relate to anyone complaining about the "sharp"corners since the angular bezel edge design really isn't that bad on your finger tips or hands.
Also my HTC hero has a dust spec under the screen, just because something isn't perfect in design doesn't mean it's shoddy manufacturing or cutting corners in manufacturing, it's just a flawed design.

Not sharp corners, sharp edges -- run your fingers along the back edge of the tablet and you'll see. Look, I don't care much about the build quality, it's satisfactory to me, but some of you are in denial

dfin13 said:
Not sharp corners, sharp edges -- run your fingers along the back edge of the tablet and you'll see. Look, I don't care much about the build quality, it's satisfactory to me, but some of you are in denial
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Click to collapse
Not denial, my point is it's flawed design, not build quality.

Sharp edges on plastic, enough to cut if you were the careless type, are not bad design, it's cutting corners, which is build quality. Exposed plastic like that would normally be dulled so as to not be so sharp, but leaving it raw like that is a cost-cutting move, and is a build-quality issue. So is light bleeding, screen dust, and creaking.
I can't poll every Transformer owner to see if they all have the same build quality issues, but I bet if a good number ran their fingers along the back edge to check for sharpness, applied pressure to the case to hear it creak, or checked for light bleeding, they'd have one, if not all three. Things to be expected during a first run, and definitely expected when you've undercut the competition by so much. My position is if those things bother you, return it. I'm keeping mine.

dfin13 said:
Sharp edges on plastic, enough to cut if you were the careless type, are not bad design, it's cutting corners, which is build quality. Exposed plastic like that would normally be dulled so as to not be so sharp, but leaving it raw like that is a cost-cutting move, and is a build-quality issue. So is light bleeding, screen dust, and creaking.
I can't poll every Transformer owner to see if they all have the same build quality issues, but I bet if a good number ran their fingers along the back edge to check for sharpness, applied pressure to the case to hear it creak, or checked for light bleeding, they'd have one, if not all three. Things to be expected during a first run, and definitely expected when you've undercut the competition by so much. My position is if those things bother you, return it. I'm keeping mine.
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First off light bleeding is a fault of the LCD manufacturer. LG was at fault for the bad iPad 2 screens. Apple used both LG and Samsung, and only the LG ones had the issue quite regularly.
I don't have any plastic edges on mine. My plastic backing definitely fits inside the aluminum frame. I cannot feel any sharp edges along my back, and I'm trying to be nit picky for the sake of your argument. I have a slight creek in one spot on the right edge, that is the only build quality issue I have of all, and it is slight. My suggestion if you see separation or your plastic back is not inside the frame RMA it to Asus, or return to the store. It could be as simple of a fix of them taking it apart and putting it back together with more care.

I think the point is being missed here. I'm fine with the sharp edge -- hell, mine stays in the Asus case, I don't even feel it. The argument was whether or not build quality was compromised (and that includes parts from companies other than Asus, cost is cost), and I think it was. If you told me I could get a $400 tablet with an IPS screen, and I'd have to deal with a sharp edge and some creaking (I don't notice light bleed and I don't want to look for it because I don't want to notice it! ), I'd jump all over it. No need to get defensive, in the end it's just a piece of consumer electronics.

Creaking over time?

Hey all.
First off, I love my note 10.1. It has its issues, like anything else, but it still is the only android tablet with a true wacom digitizer and killer hardware. I've been using my tablet pretty heavily for the last 12 days. The first thing I did when I opened the box was check the build quality. It had absolutely no creaking and only very minor flex on the back panel (pretty rigid considering it's plastic). however lately i've been noticing it's starting to creak as I hold it near the pen silo and on the other metallic edge. I've ordered a case that should be coming soon so this won't be too bothersome, but I have some ideas of why this occurs.
First, I accidently inserted the Spen backwards into the silo and I think this might have wedged the case apart a bit. This did not cause any creaking however. I have a feeling that when writing with your hand weighing down tablet (like any sheet of paper that you write with) the combined pressure/body heat is distorting the frame.
So I'm wondering if any other heavy handwriting users are experiencing this aswell?

lol hit the thanks by mistake......
Anyway try putiing a skinomi skin on the back- i used a brushed metal and- it looks great, still fits in all the cases i use and - NO creaking. I guess it helps stiffin' the back enough to stop it. i did not really have alot of creaking to start..

Who cares if iets creaking. Its the only tablet i can actually draw on.:laugh::good:

Yeaaaa they should really redesign the s pen so that it can go in the slot without worrying about if its the right side or not...
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app

Yeah, my tablet was definitely silent at first but over time developed a slight creak. It probably doesn't mean too much hopefully, but it's really sad how much more solid my original Galaxy Tab 10.1 was.

Heck....EVERYthing starts to "creak over time"! Including me.....lol! Wait....that's really not too funny.... :/
Seriously, have been taking more and more notes and have yet to notice. Hopefully the build is string enough to withstand use. Adding a good screen protector that did not interfere with the digitizer was an initial concern for me.

Physical Drop & Scratch Resistance Report

Hi everyone,
The Essential company claims that the phone is very drop and scratch resistant thanks to the premium materials used in the phone, but sadly there are no official Essential drop tests available anywhere which is mainly due to all the problems Essential seems to be having with supplies and rolling out their first manufactured devices. There are also some reports surfacing from the very early adopters of the phone of some scuffs and scratches which never go beyond a mere mention.
I thought I would start this thread where people who have the phone can report about how the phone handles inadvertent drops and scratches and scuffs to the screen and the ceramic back. When posting, please also include a little bit of explanation as to how it happened and if possible a picture of the supposed damages to the phone.
Cheers.

dropped mine twice. 2 nicks in screen, but ceramic and titanium are fine.

This also came out today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9QxIvm7T90

ack154 said:
This also came out today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9QxIvm7T90
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I watched the video. Mous of 7 or better on the ceramic. The finish in the titanium can be damaged but noting like aluminum.
Forget about bending the phone. The phone is pretty tough. A case will protect th cosmetics.

https://www.cnet.com/videos/we-destroyed-the-essential-phone/
Seems like this will be a very durable device.

Ya for what its worth it is way way way better than any aluminum phone would do. This they got right but its the software and camera that hold it back

jerflash said:
Ya for what its worth it is way way way better than any aluminum phone would do. This they got right but its the software and camera that hold it back
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My only complaint is the camera software.
Other than that, I don't have any issues.
I would like a case, but only for cosmetics.

Know what really does it for me? Stock Android is a bit too stock also. I have gotten really used to how the pixel works and really like it with all it's slight tweaks to stock.
The cameras sensors are still too small to be on the level of the the other flagships too. Not only software. The Google camera does pretty well though
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

jerflash said:
Know what really does it for me? Stock Android is a bit too stock also. I have gotten really used to how the pixel works and really like it with all it's slight tweaks to stock.
The cameras sensors are still too small to be on the level of the the other flagships too. Not only software. The Google camera does pretty well though
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
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I use Nova, so Android is never really stock for me.
I use Nova Launcher because I can restore my device layout on any device.
As far as the camera, I'm not that concerned about the quality.
For me it's a case of not having a better camera and just getting the picture is important.
If I really wanted a good photo, I'd use one of my"real" cameras.

tech_head said:
I use Nova, so Android is never really stock for me.
I use Nova Launcher because I can restore my device layout on any device.
As far as the camera, I'm not that concerned about the quality.
For me it's a case of not having a better camera and just getting the picture is important.
If I really wanted a good photo, I'd use one of my"real" cameras.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happy you like it man! It's not for everyone for sure. I thought it was my dream phone but for me... It's just not their yet. The next one maybe and still super happy with what they were able to make!
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I've dropped this phone in 1 week more than I've dropped my Pixel XL in the past 3 months, just because of how slippery the little bugger is. No damage as a result of dropping it, though.
I do have some very light scratches on the ceramic back, from sliding across my desk or countertop at home, which I was *not* expecting. Both the top, by the mod indentation holes, and at the bottom left, too. I know they aren't from dropping it, as every time it's fallen, it's landed on its side or a corner, never flat on its back.

PhaseBurn said:
I've dropped this phone in 1 week more than I've dropped my Pixel XL in the past 3 months, just because of how slippery the little bugger is. No damage as a result of dropping it, though.
I do have some very light scratches on the ceramic back, from sliding across my desk or countertop at home, which I was *not* expecting. Both the top, by the mod indentation holes, and at the bottom left, too. I know they aren't from dropping it, as every time it's fallen, it's landed on its side or a corner, never flat on its back.
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Click to collapse
Stop being so rich with your diamond crusted desks and counter tops ?
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

jerflash said:
Stop being so rich with your diamond crusted desks and counter tops ?
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Click to collapse
So I actually was checking out these:
https://egrips.com
Was tired of all my phones falling out if my pockets or slipping thru my hands...

jerflash said:
Happy you like it man! It's not for everyone for sure. I thought it was my dream phone but for me... It's just not their yet. The next one maybe and still super happy with what they were able to make!
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is definitely not the phone for everyone. Build quality is for everyone.
There are some software shortcomings. I think they can sort those out.
I sold my 6P. SO I have the Essential for the long haul.

I have my replacement phone arriving today. I have gone through 2 glass screen protectors that due to the fit of them (not sticking to the edges) I have a nick in the glass at the top left and the screen is completely shattered on the bottom left, I can see gold metal under it and it has a crack running diagonally from left to right from the bottom left. I know I never dropped this phone from more than 2 feet high. I also have the scratches on the ceramic back near the mods ports. I've only used my 360 a couple of times. I'm definitely getting a case and moving to a plastic wet install screen protector.

I haven't dropped this phone yet, but I have several hairline scratches on the back ceramic. I guess I'm around a lot of minerals or dust particles that are > 8 hardness, which I find interesting.
Also on the glass I notice a patch of hairline scratches. I'm usually real careful about my phones (of course, everyone says this) but I think that's more of Corning's fault this time around. They're really small but knowing they're there bothers me. I wish I could buff them out. I'll be getting a screen protector I guess.

808phoneaddict said:
So I actually was checking out these:
https://egrips.com
Was tired of all my phones falling out if my pockets or slipping thru my hands...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh wow, those are cool

My back panel got scratched (micro scratches) that's so weird. Got ceramic Xiaomi mi2 and it was perfectly strong....not like this one.

I dropped mine screen facing the floor from about 4 feet. Screen survived, minor scratches. Not a single crack. I didn't expect the screen to survive.
-Nav

I have a step from main floor to foyer. Placed my phone near the edge and my dog pushed it down to tiles. Face down smashed!
2 line of scratches at the bottom bezel.
small dings on top left and bottom left corner display.
Sigh... thought it would survive...

The P5 is a top heavy phone

This may sound crazy, but hear me out.
Initially I was excited because the P5 was so light in comparison to other fat behemoth phones that are out there nowadays for it's onehanded usability. Now that I've been using it for a while and realizing that it's sort of fatiguing to use even at its size, I think I figured it out. The phone's center of mass is quite high. Above the middle of the phone when you're holding it. It always feels like it wants to backflip out of my hand.
I ended up taping a washer to the bottom side of the back of my case for some ballast to move the center of mass down. It really seems to help.
Juding by the teardowns of the phone, it seems like the battery is somewhat narrow and tall, instead of (nearly) the entire width of the phone at the bottom. I suspect that's the reason for why it feels off.
Am I crazy?

I can't say you're crazy but I find mine pretty well balanced. If I lay it across my finger, roughly in the middle of the phone it balances pretty good. I will say, I'm 6'4 with larger hands so perhaps in just holding it I'm holding more of the phone.... Unless you have larger hands as well.

Ducter said:
I can't say you're crazy but I find mine pretty well balanced. If I lay it across my finger, roughly in the middle of the phone it balances pretty good. I will say, I'm 6'4 with larger hands so perhaps in just holding it I'm holding more of the phone.... Unless you have larger hands as well.
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My hands are pretty big too, I just find it weird. I really notice it with this phone. I had a OP6 before. Obviously that's bigger but I never really felt like it wanted to leap out of my hand. It was just kinda hard to hit the top left corner. Maybe I just hold my phone weird. Who knows.

Gibsonflyingv said:
My hands are pretty big too, I just find it weird. I really notice it with this phone. I had a OP6 before. Obviously that's bigger but I never really felt like it wanted to leap out of my hand. It was just kinda hard to hit the top left corner. Maybe I just hold my phone weird. Who knows.
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I think it's the way you're holding it. I have my index finger under the phone, roughly in the middle and it's very well balanced top to bottom.

Me too. It seems pretty well balanced to me. I can put it across my finger pretty much central to the phone and it sits without toppling. I even have a tempered glass camera lens protector which would add a miniscule amount of weight to the top of the phone.

Coming from a OP 7T the Pixel 5 is wonderfully balanced in the hand, the 7t felt really top heavy thanks to is surfboard dimensions.