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Anyone here have a tablet?

I'm considering getting a new/first tablet. However, I'm not quite sure which one I want to get. I'm curious if anyone here has an android tablet or is getting considering one. If you do have one, what is it and how do you like it?
I'm looking at everything but currently the tablets I'm eyeing the most are:
- Transformer Prime: Sounds like a beast. I do worry it will be a bit expensive and I'm not sure when it will make its way to Canada. I'm also not sure I really even need that kind of power for what I want to do on a tablet.
- Motorola Xoom: Has similar specs to pretty much every other tablet on the market right now. It also will probably be the tablet with the most dev support for quite a while I imagine (until a "nexus" tablet comes out). +it's price point shouldn't be too bad at this point and it's scheduled for ICS update
- Xoom 2: Kind of like the design of this (even if the specs are only a small update to the Xoom). Problem is I have no idea if this will come to the states, let alone Canada anytime soon. Also seems kinda "blurified".
- Sony Tablet S: Available in Canada, but not sure how good of a price I can get on this (compared to the Xoom which has near-identical specs). I really like the design and am a big fan of Sony products in general.
Any tablets you guys eyeing or own?

Tablets are just as particular as phones. When you got your XT, I bet you thought it was the top of the heap. I did. Then I found out about all its little issues and problems, but also about the really good things it has. No way I could have known then. From what I can gather, tabs are the same thing. I have seen Galaxy tabs rocking it, but then in some people's signatures on XDA I see "Nook running CM7". In the states you can get a Nook for pretty cheep, easy to root and then put a stable CM7 on it a go with it.
Now RAM and memory are something I don't know anything about. Not even sure how much small RAM would be like our meager 256 on the XT. I actually would be interested in knowing that. With our current locked bootloader situation, I would stay away from the Xoom, even though I think there is a leak. I will never buy a Motorola again b/c of their user policies. I see the Bionic and actually laugh to myself b/c I already know it will be a locked bootloader (but the average person will think it is the best phone ever made. You know that most people don't even know what XDA, root or evena custom ROM is?).
Personally, my wife and I have talked about it and really don't understand the attraction to tabs. If you have a tab running CM7, with flash, email, skype,...it is extremely similar to just having a bigger screened phone. One caveat is that HP discontinued their global personal computer operations (now they are exclusive to technical management solutions- or some crap like that). But suspending their personal computer options does have one benefit for you and me. Their tabs dropped from $699us to $99/139us, but everyone with an online credit card picked one up a few months ago. Bestbuy just sent back all 250,000 they had in stock, so you might be able to still pick one up on the cheap (not android os though).
And finally, Rev is in one of my G+ circles and he posts a fair amount of tablet info, so you might want to PM him and find out his thoughts.
p.s. he changed his avatar from a priest to RevTV with an android. Sorry for the long reply but I have been looking at these for some time now.

Woodrube said:
With our current locked bootloader situation, I would stay away from the Xoom, even though I think there is a leak
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Click to collapse
Actually, although it pains me to say this, the Xoom is a Google developer device and can be easily unlocked by users (i.e. it's like the OG Droid). I think you're thinking of the leaked Atrix unlock. I would assume Xoom 2 is probably wearing a chastity belt until proven deflowered.

Woodrube said:
When you got your XT, I bet you thought it was the top of the heap. I did.
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Click to collapse
Nope. I got mine quite a bit after it came out. I didn't really understand the RAM issues and other issues it had though... (was still pretty new to Android).
I would stay away from the Xoom, even though I think there is a leak.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has unlockable/relockable bootloader and most likely the biggest developer community of any tablet atm and for a while (it's like a nexus phone I'd say).
Personally, my wife and I have talked about it and really don't understand the attraction to tabs.
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I actually felt much the same way until recently. I do have uses for a tablet, though I've been thinking of the "it's a bigger screened phone" bit as well. There are certain things that I want to do that I can't do on the smaller screen of my phone (i.e. productivity stuff such as writing down lecture notes and working on essays, video chatting on a larger screen etc...). But some of the functionality on the tab is definitely duplicated by a phone. That's why I really love concepts such as the Padfone... (but that's not coming out for quite a while I believe...). I don't really love the idea of having both tablet and phone (superfluos in some ways), but I want something that combines the functionality of both...
Thanks

My brother has the Asus Transformer and its a beast!! He has had it since day one and everytime I go over there I got to get my sticky lil fingers all over it. He bought the keyboard dock to which makes it twice as good + the full HDMI mirroring makes it awesome. Its also unlockable. He's running one of the newest prime roms with the o/c and there's no waiting for anything. Theres a pretty big dev comunity for it. Plus it has the ips display, which is the same as ipad. If I were you tho I'd wait for the quad cores.... then by a dual core, they will be way cheaper then.(hopefully) :/ lol who needs more than 2 cores in a tablet anyway.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

I bought the Acer A500 when Walmart has them for $299 ($399 but you get a $100 gift card free), but my biased opinion says it is a bit on the big/bulky side. I felt that 10" is not very easy to handle given my small Asian hands. It is also not the lightest, and when I am reading in the bed my arm would get tired from just holding it up. Nonetheless even the Xoom or Galaxy Tab isn't that much lighter so I think maybe it's just me nick-picking.
Long story short I returned it but am very interested in the new 8.9" tab... That may be my sweet-spot on size. Same resolution screen, smaller/lighter to handle, but I will need to see how it's battery life fares.
W.

I read a great review on Android Police about the Galaxy tab 8.9 and they said battery life was awesome. They hated on the touch wiz ui tho. They said it made everyday tasks sluggish.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

easye420 said:
I read a great review on Android Police about the Galaxy tab 8.9 and they said battery life was awesome. They hated on the touch wiz ui tho. They said it made everyday tasks sluggish.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
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Well, that's good to hear! I was secretly hoping the smaller screen will mean less battery drain (since I believe the 8.9's battery rating was lower). Regarding the UI... I can always wait for a custom ROM to show up here at some point! I just started playing with MIUI for my XT720 and I love it wwaaaaay better than any of the other UI I've used before. Gotta love the development community on Android!!
W.

Hello i have an hannspree SN10T1 it s a 10,1 inch Tablet with an Dualcore Tegra2 Chip and the best think it cost only 169 Euro and its perfect.
Greeting

[Q] Xoom Advice?

Hello Xoom owners!
I am considering joining your crowd, and unfortunately, I cannot get in with the Staples deal. Would you mind answering a few questions for me ?
1) How is ICS official release shaping up for you, any nagging issues or lost functionality?
2) I've found a used Xoom (wifi, ics) at the same price (~$330) as a new Transformer TF101. There are dozens of comparisons, I know, but I can't get over the fact that the local B&M's seem to have more than a few open box asus returns due to issues. That being said should I consider getting the xoom at this point?
3) Have any of you experienced any long-term reliability issues? I've searched and searched, and it seems somewhat few and far-between. Big things I am after is stand-alone GPS performance, and screen with minimal light-bleed.
4) Forget xoom completely, and wait? But for what?
Many Thanks

notjustforshow said:
1) How is ICS official release shaping up for you, any nagging issues or lost functionality?
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Click to collapse
So, one of the big perks with the Motorola Xoom is it's easily unlocked bootloader. This gives you the obvious advantage of NOT having to run the stock software. If just running stock is more what you're into, I would look at other options in the field, personally.
Current ICS based roms, however, have fleshed out very nicely for our device. There doesn't appear to be any lost functionality or issues and I've been quite happy since I started flashing them. Speed seems as good, if not better and my fantastic battery life just keeps getting better.
2) I've found a used Xoom (wifi, ics) at the same price (~$330) as a new Transformer TF101. There are dozens of comparisons, I know, but I can't get over the fact that the local B&M's seem to have more than a few open box asus returns due to issues. That being said should I consider getting the xoom at this point?
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Click to collapse
Can't say I'm crazy about the Transformer, but that's just me. The only real selling point it has over the Xoom, as far as I can see, is the ability to attach the keyboard. Personally, if that's something I really needed, I would have looked into an Apple Air (or a beefy netbook).
3) Have any of you experienced any long-term reliability issues? I've searched and searched, and it seems somewhat few and far-between. Big things I am after is stand-alone GPS performance, and screen with minimal light-bleed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Long term, no. I was a day-one 3g model adopter and some of those fresh off the assembly line models had some questionable build issues. Mine, for example, would made this odd creaking noise if you applied any pressure to the left side of the screen and the seam between the speakers/camera and the component cover was a little squishy if I were to press it the right way.
So I took mine back to Verizon and my replacement was flawless That is, until I dropped it in the fountain the atrium at work while trying to avoid hitting some kids running around, and the thing stopped working. Thankfully, Verizon sorta had my back and we hopped on a call with Motorola and the Verizon CSR more or less strong armed Motorola into giving me a free replacement.
4) Forget xoom completely, and wait? But for what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't say what to wait for, but you are looking at picking up a device that has been discontinued. It has, in my experience, great performance and I don't personally plan to replace mine for at LEAST another year or more. If you're OK with that, you'll be getting a lot of tablet for the $300 mark, even if it's not the top of the line model.
My guess is the Xoom will still be a solid option for another 12-18 months for those who don't need to have the super-duper top of the line everything. Sure, there will be a few games that will work better on new hardware, but the core of what you would use a tablet for would likely not benefit from newer models in that time frame.

^ Thank you, that is what I wanted to hear.
I don't see much value in the latest and greatest thus far, and though it feels like I am overpaying at this point (considering other member deals), I do feel the reliability and community support is there.

And the stand-alone GPS is fantastic.

I am looking to get into this tablet as well any tips I should know before buying ???(I have a hook up at staples getting the display )
Sent from my HTC sensation 4g using Tapatalk

dislplin01 said:
I am looking to get into this tablet as well any tips I should know before buying ???
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Click to collapse
Like I said above, the biggest think to remember is that you would be buying a device that has been discontinued. So in very short order, it will be extremely hard to find chargers, docks, cases, etc as most places will have liquidated their inventory. My tip would be to make sure you buy anything you even think you may want for this thing when you buy it.

The only thing that I don't like in the Xoom is the screen which has some ghosting effect with some colors.
Compared to my Galaxy S2 screen it has a lot less quality, but at least it doesn't hurt eyes of you use it for a long time (amoled screens seem more tiring to me).
Materials are very good, it is very solid and ICS is amazing.
If you have ever seen a tablet with Honeycomb... forget about that! Ice Cream Sandwich is a lot faster, smother and stable.
Asus Transformer has a better screen (as far as I know, I have never seen it) but worse materials.
And not only it has not official ICS. It doesn't even have a decent ICS custom ROM.

If you are lucky to get Xoom for a good price it's awesome, ICS feels so smooth

One thing about the Transformer 1 is that the screen is better except for a huge amount of light bleeding. I returned mine for that reason and got the Xoom. Very happy with it.
Consider the Samsung Galaxy or the Transformer Prime. I got the Prime and its good, quad core, thin and a very good screen with no light bleed. Best buy here has them in stock.
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium

[Q] Am i too late to the party?

Hi, I am looking into getting myself an Android tablet next week and had my heart set on a Motorla Xoom, simply because the price (£279) appears to be the best value around for the spec of the tablet.
One thing that is starting to put me off is alot of people are telling me that the Xoom is 'really heavy'. Now i've read the weight compared to other tablets etc but it doesn't really tell me if the weight is a turn off.
I appreciate if you guys could comment on whether you find the weight of the Xoom to be a hindrance, do you worry about dropping it? is it uncomfortable to hold for browsing the net etc.
Where is the extra weight coming from? is there a bigger battery?
many thanks in advance, the alternate option i have at the same price level is the Galaxy Tab 8.9 which is at the opposite end weight wise, but lacking in storage/screen size etc.
cheers
K

Stillkrazy said:
Hi, I am looking into getting myself an Android tablet next week and had my heart set on a Motorla Xoom, simply because the price (£279) appears to be the best value around for the spec of the tablet.
One thing that is starting to put me off is alot of people are telling me that the Xoom is 'really heavy'. Now i've read the weight compared to other tablets etc but it doesn't really tell me if the weight is a turn off.
I appreciate if you guys could comment on whether you find the weight of the Xoom to be a hindrance, do you worry about dropping it? is it uncomfortable to hold for browsing the net etc.
Where is the extra weight coming from? is there a bigger battery?
many thanks in advance, the alternate option i have at the same price level is the Galaxy Tab 8.9 which is at the opposite end weight wise, but lacking in storage/screen size etc.
cheers
K
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh - I Love my Xoom, but in answer to your questions....
Yes, the Xoom could be considered "heavy" as compared to some other
tablets.
Xoom - 708g
Galaxy tab 10.1 - 565g
Acer Iconia Tab A500 - 730g
I don't find it heavy but it feels solid for sure. Has mostly a sturdy aluminum body
Maybe not a one handed tablet but I for one appreciate its build quality - a big factor in me buying it.

Its definitely a bit heavy, can't deny it. But i love it and it doesnt put me off it. Plus for that price its by far the best option

Yes it's heavy but I personally like that feel from my units.
The only knock on the weight is you will find it difficult to prop it up without some sort of stand or case that supports it.
But considering it is a google experience device, has an unlocked bootloader and is now cheap as far as tablets go I wold buy another one today if I was buying my first tablet!
The only knock I have with the unit has nothing to do with the unit at all!
I just can't for the life of me understand why the HD Speaker dock has every port but a USB on it! Has Power, and HDMI but no USB sync port!
The only other unit I have reccomended was the Transformer series for those who want the laptop experience but the ability to have the tab experience as well!
Asus did a good job on that design but the locked bootloader was a no go for me!
Other less savy folks it's fine but since your posting on XDA I would assme you want to make it into a coffee maker as well! LOL

thanks very much for the replies!
it seems that owners of the Xoom don't have buyers remorse then with regards to the weight of the product , which is the only drawback i could see.
I also thought it very strange that the dock(s) dont have usb connections, strange decision that from Moto, especially since it appears the dock uses the micro usb port when its lining up.
All in all the Xoom appears to be more than value for money, and with the standard dock (£18! on amazon) and keyboard (£20) at such low prices aswell, i could see them combining to replace my laptop.
thanks again, be on the lookout for a Xoom n00b hitting the forum next weekend

its not heavy for me at all.my sister has a galaxy tab 10.1 and it has very small difference in weight.i love its thickness and weight.

I was in the same boat this tablet is awesome and I am glad I got it good build quality and as easy to play with as my galaxy nexus. I wish the front facing camera quality was a little better other than that this is an amazing tablet and I love it. Battery life is good too even clocked at 1.5 GHZ

Heavy...come on...don't be like the others be a real man!
My weakling of a wife has no complaints...humans adapt...
sent from LG OPTIMUS LTE using Tapatalk

I will say the device is heavy but I always have it on my lap etc so it doesn't bother me. You will get use to it.
Now I will also add in that this is by far the best tablet to own period. I've rooted/rom'd a lot of different android tablets for co-workers and I can say that NONE have as good of a development community as the Xoom does. Fast roms, kernels, backtrack 5, ubuntu, even the USB "camera" adapter can be used for a keyboard/mouse/USB WiFi, USB thumb drives etc. Basically anything with a USB port will run on this thing.
Xoom for life dude.

I also had the same questions before I got my xoom... It's a great device to have and very customizable.

I'm convinced, picking mine up next Saturday
Thanks everyone.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA

Stillkrazy said:
I'm convinced, picking mine up next Saturday
Thanks everyone.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA
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Click to collapse
Good choice!

Yep they are good! - I thought I was a bit late getting one with all the new tablets coming out, but the Xoom does everything I want... as far as weight, it is a little heavy but it doesnt bother me... my mrs and my (almost) 3 year old son use it no problem without a grumble...
Still wondering wether to root it or not... not sure what it would actually gain me

thanks everyone, collected my Xoom from Argos today
great so far.
Should i have registered the same google account as my galaxy s? i didnt, i used a different one, but wondering if i should have used my main one.
thanks
K

If you use the same account, you can purchase apps once and use on both devices.

Stillkrazy said:
I'm convinced, picking mine up next Saturday
Thanks everyone.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome to the DARK side!

Geeba said:
Yep they are good! - I thought I was a bit late getting one with all the new tablets coming out, but the Xoom does everything I want... as far as weight, it is a little heavy but it doesnt bother me... my mrs and my (almost) 3 year old son use it no problem without a grumble...
Still wondering wether to root it or not... not sure what it would actually gain me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No ads.
10char

Well, two days in and I've flashed the US from and been upgraded to ICS and I'm absolutely thrilled with the Xoom!
I need to find some good tablet apps though, and looks like I'll have to root it to get the BBC apps (should have realised that, lol)
I've not touched my Galaxy S since I got the Xoom.
For anyone reading later, I would say that, yes, the Xoom is on the heavy side, but the build quality and battery life easy make the trade off worth it. Still can't believe I only paid £279.

From a development point of view, the Xoom is second to none. I've had more fun developing on the Xoom than any other android device ever. Also, running ICS and a bleeding edge. 39 kernel, you have access to mobile technology nobody else has yet, such as WifiDirect. Truly, the xoom is at the forefront of android development, and Eos will continue to push the boundaries of Android reality.

Hmm sounds tempting
Sent from my MIUI'ed Atrix

Looking to buy a Xoom. [Q] about build quality.

Hello.
I'm looking to possibly buy a Xoom this week and I've just got a few questions.
I used to have the iPad 1 but sold it a few months ago to buy an Android slate.
Last week I picked up a really cheap Sony Tablet S. Initial impressions were ok but I just hate the plastic feel of it. When you press the centre of the screen you can feel the hollowness inside. I really miss the solidness of my iPad. Can you good people tell me does the Xoom have the same solid feel as the iPad? Is the back of the Xoom made out of metal?
Second question is about the screen. I've read its not IPS but normal TFT. How would you rate the screen in the tablet?
Third question is about ICS. Has it been released for the United Kingdom yet? That is another issue I have with the Tablet S - ICS has been pushed back to the end of May
I have just ordered the Xoom into my local Argos store. It should be available to pick up this Friday. I'm 50/50 at the moment whether to splash the cash or not.
I really like the Galaxy Tab 10.1 but after trying the Tablet S I'm worried it may feel too plasticky as well. I'm looking for solidness like my iPad 1
Cheers.

the xoom feels solid i have the silver wifi 3g version and is aluminum in the back, it feels slightly heavy but its fantastic, reminds me of an ipad

Warren_Orange said:
Can you good people tell me does the Xoom have the same solid feel as the iPad? Is the back of the Xoom made out of metal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a very well-built device, if that's what you mean. I've had mine since Day One in Feb 2011, and I use it daily, it commutes with me every week from Southern to Northern Cali, and I've even brought it along to 3 countries.
What exactly is "solidness" anyway?

Cool thanks.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Solidness

Warren_Orange said:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Solidness
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Click to collapse
Really?!
Insults to folks' intelligence aren't a way to win over the users around here.

Listen mate. I used lots of tablets. Ipad, galaxy, toshiba and xoom. Without second thought I would say xoom is the best amongst them all for a very simple reason. It is easy to root and then you get the best ics customized rom ever from eos nightlies builds. I can direct you how should you need to. So go ahead with the xoom
Sent from my MZ601 using Tapatalk 2

kcrudup said:
Really?!
Insults to folks' intelligence aren't a way to win over the users around here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't understand your question whether you were being serious or jokey so I replied in a matter of fact way.
If I have caused offence I apologise.
@wesamothman - thanks for your reply and thanks for your offer, that's very kind of you.
I think I'm almost certain I will buy the Xoom - Roll on Friday!

good stuff you made the right decision

Warren_Orange said:
I didn't understand your question whether you were being serious or jokey
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem, then. But the question still remains- what does "solidness" mean (to you, that is)? IOW, do you just care that it doesn't fall apart if you look at it too hard, or if you expect it'll fall every now and then (mine has- never glass down on concrete, but it's my understanding we have Gorilla Glass so it's pretty durable), or ...? I only ask 'cause the aluminum back of your previous iDevice seems to be a selling point for you, but I'm sure some (like me) couldn't care less about it (esp. since I've put on an Incipio back cover on mine) as long as it doesn't break during normal usage.
But when you do buy a Xoom, you should consider unlocking it, then using a Custom ROM on it (I'm partial to the "Team EOS" ones, as I work on their kernels). It'll make your tablet better as they tend to use the latest releases from Google, have modified kernels and are far beyond what you'll get from the carrier (if that applies).

kcrudup said:
No problem, then. But the question still remains- what does "solidness" mean (to you, that is)? IOW, do you just care that it doesn't fall apart if you look at it too hard, or if you expect it'll fall every now and then (mine has- never glass down on concrete, but it's my understanding we have Gorilla Glass so it's pretty durable), or ...? I only ask 'cause the aluminum back of your previous iDevice seems to be a selling point for you, but I'm sure some (like me) couldn't care less about it (esp. since I've put on an Incipio back cover on mine) as long as it doesn't break during normal usage.
But when you do buy a Xoom, you should consider unlocking it, then using a Custom ROM on it (I'm partial to the "Team EOS" ones, as I work on their kernels). It'll make your tablet better as they tend to use the latest releases from Google, have modified kernels and are far beyond what you'll get from the carrier (if that applies).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So is the xoom worth buying for?? its my.first time to have a tablet??.. bcoz i waited for some good deals to come out? And here.it is at argos uk?? Reserve one at my local store for pick up thursday...wil i not be disappointed with my decision? ICS IS OUT IN THE US,FOR THE XOOM,,HOW ABOUT THE UK ...WHEN??;???BY THE WAY ITS THE WIFI ONLY AND 32GB MODEL THAT I RESERVED? THANKS....
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Z715e using xda premium

f4rell09 said:
So is the xoom worth buying for? its my first time to have a tablet
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Click to collapse
Nobody can answer that question except you- what do you want to use it for?

kcrudup said:
No problem, then. But the question still remains- what does "solidness" mean (to you, that is)? IOW, do you just care that it doesn't fall apart if you look at it too hard, or if you expect it'll fall every now and then (mine has- never glass down on concrete, but it's my understanding we have Gorilla Glass so it's pretty durable), or ...? I only ask 'cause the aluminum back of your previous iDevice seems to be a selling point for you, but I'm sure some (like me) couldn't care less about it (esp. since I've put on an Incipio back cover on mine) as long as it doesn't break during normal usage.
But when you do buy a Xoom, you should consider unlocking it, then using a Custom ROM on it (I'm partial to the "Team EOS" ones, as I work on their kernels). It'll make your tablet better as they tend to use the latest releases from Google, have modified kernels and are far beyond what you'll get from the carrier (if that applies).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I get what you were asking now. I didn't understand at first.
After using the Tablet S I miss the weight and heft of my original iPad. The aluminium backing of the iPad I supposed helped in giving the tablet a solid premium feel to it. The Tablet S (while being well designed) seems too insubstantial and lightweight. Plus the use of plastic over all the body doesn't chime with me. It feels hollow when you press the screen. Some people might love it because its lighter but to me its a turn off. It feels too much like a toy.
I'm looking forward to getting that substantial feel back with the Xoom

f4rell09 said:
So is the xoom worth buying for?? its my.first time to have a tablet??.. bcoz i waited for some good deals to come out? And here.it is at argos uk?? Reserve one at my local store for pick up thursday...wil i not be disappointed with my decision? ICS IS OUT IN THE US,FOR THE XOOM,,HOW ABOUT THE UK ...WHEN??;???BY THE WAY ITS THE WIFI ONLY AND 32GB MODEL THAT I RESERVED? THANKS....
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Z715e using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I have read it looks like its one of the top Android tablets.
I'm getting it from Argos too this Firday. I ordered it last night for store pickup.
Please update this thread and tell me your impressions when you get it

I'm in same boat except I get mine delivered on Weds. I was pondering whether to get the Samsung tab 7.0 Plus which is 234 quid from Expansys (EU version). I'm a bit worried about the screen, there's conflicting reviews on its quality in terms of viewing angles and contrast levels.

Me too. I have read positive and negative opinions about the Xoom screen.
One of the positives for the Tablet S is that the screen is a nice IPS screen.

Not sure how I'm going to cope after being spoilt by the SGS's AMOLED display.
But yeah, it's confusing how some review sites claim it has good contrast ratio and viewing angles but there are others which state complete opposite?!?

I've just been looking at the Xoom 2 but with no ICS and no way to put custom roms on it I think I'll pass. The screen does look nice though

This review says the Xoom screen is amazing
This one says the contrast ratio is sub standard. I know that there will be variation in measurement but 750:1 and 2000:1 is a huge difference. So who's got the real readings?

It's a matter of personal taste.

I don't think you understand, the Contrast ratio should be a fairly stable constant no matter who measures it (obviously different techniques yield different results) but the above two quoted websites are opposite ends of the scale; from being amazing to below average...

Should I buy this phone?

Hi Everyone
I'm looking to upgrade from a Oneplus 3. Previously it was a great price for good specs.
I noticed the magic 3 whilst looking at YouTube and the specs look amazing.
1 - Interested to know of those who have had it for a while would you recommend getting it?
2 - what are the main annoying factors about the phone?
3 - Are there any others in the price range I should consider? I mostly play pubg, do retoo gaming and watch films with my existing phone
Many thanks in advance
Jamie

1 - Difficult to answer....if you're not into rooting and customizing,but happy with a basic Android experience and raw power,you should buy it......otherwise,if you want 100% flagship bells and whistless for half the price,you'll have to search futher,as this phone does not 'has it all' for just €479.
2 - For me,the most annoying thing is that there's much more to squeeze out of the camera,if Nubia's app would match the capabilities......but hopefully, there will be a working Gcam release in the near future.
3 - Xiaomi Mi 9....but I fell for the RM3.....

Many thanks for the reply, I don't mind rooting if necessary.
Also happy with a basic android experience as my oneplus was pretty much that when it first came out.
Thanks for the suggestion I will look into that also ??

Jamie.bshop.1982 said:
Hi Everyone
I'm looking to upgrade from a Oneplus 3. Previously it was a great price for good specs.
I noticed the magic 3 whilst looking at YouTube and the specs look amazing.
1 - Interested to know of those who have had it for a while would you recommend getting it?
2 - what are the main annoying factors about the phone?
3 - Are there any others in the price range I should consider? I mostly play pubg, do retoo gaming and watch films with my existing phone
Many thanks in advance
Jamie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can tell the battery backup is awesome. Only problem I have is the gaming buttons are too annoying when playing a video.

I have it unrooted without gapps and IMO its better then some flagships. Reason is the big screen and the big battery and the stereo sound.
Also I prefer metal over Glas backside. And NO Notch.
The camera is better than that on my Xiaomi mi mix 3.

this phone is amazing, the only bad thing i see it had is not hdmi usb-c to support

I would wait for two main reasons:
1) Asus is going to announce their new ROG phone at the end of this month. While it will probably be a good deal more expensive, It might have some cool features
2) Nubia just announced they are going to release an 855 Plus version of this phone.
Sent from my Note 9 using XDA Labs

Thing is,no matter how long you wait ,there will always be something better on the horizon after your purchase.......no matter which device you've bought...

Hi,
Considering the price and the specs, I think the Red Magic 3 is about the best phone you can have nowadays.
If you buy it, you should consider two things :
- Chinese UI has a lot of features but is ugly and themes are mostly paid ones ;
- Europe/US/Asia ROM has ZERO features.
Once I recovered from the disappointment, the second solution was clearly what I was looking for.
So here is my advice :
- take the Europe/US/Asia version and flash it to your device (if it doesn't ship with that as stock)
- unlock the bootloader
-root your phone.
All this is done in like 4/5 minutes...
Once done, install all apps to add the required features.
You will have a phone that has ONLY THE FEATURES YOU WANT.
No bloat, no unnecessary stuff...
A dream come true
Of course, it comes with a price : once rooted, you will get OTA notifications but won't be able to install them...
Regards.

roadworker said:
Thing is,no matter how long you wait ,there will always be something better on the horizon after your purchase.......no matter which device you've bought...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True

If you live in North America, I'd steer clear of this company.
I ordered one of their phones last week. I still have yet to receive my shipping notice. I ordered it with priority shipping, and according to their website, it should have shipped within 24 hours of payment.
4 days after it failed to ship, I contacted support, and was told "Be patient". Ever since then, they've stopped responding to emails. They won't give me any sort of clue as to when my order will ship. Apparently this is a frequent occurrence with Red Magic.
They're one of those companies that are only interested in getting devices out to reviewers, everyone else is to fend for themselves.
The support page on their website doesn't work. Apparently they didn't pay for it. Nubia cannot give any answers either, they just argue back in forth in the support email with several of the employees arguing about who's job it is to deal with.
If you ever receive a phone from them, and have an issue, good luck with that. Their current company (if you can call it that) shows that can't deal with supporting their devices. They can't even deal with fulfilling orders.
Stay far far away from this company, for you own good.

Is there likely to significant difference between the 8gb and 12gb ram? I think I'm going to get it but wonder if it's worth the extra money. Also just seen they mentioned the magic 4 by the end of the year. So maybe prices will come down

Well I'm in N.A. and I bought it from the site day it released. Great phone, few bugs at the moment and its a gaming phone at heart with stock Android, easily customizable. Honestly any game task you throw at it handles like a boss. It's an emulation dream with built in buttons. My controller and case should arrive the 22nd and I'm sure it will be great. I can tell you any Bluetooth controller works well on it too. The choice to buy is up to you, basically do you want a gaming phone or something else.

I have had this for two days in the USA and I love it. Usually I have buyer's remorse and would be looking for a new phone by now so I can say it really is great. Battery life is better than my S9 with a Mophie pack so far. Even with playing with it constantly I can't kill it in one day and usually my S9 needs to be plugged in by late afternoon. I have not rooted it yet, and may not. I love a clean version of Android. Not sure why people think that is bad. All the random customization sometimes comes with a speed cost. This phone is just plain fast. Usually I root to get rid of crap so you can see where I stand. If you hate big heavy phones, don't buy it. That is the negative. I had a ZTE Axon 7 and updates were slow so that's another negative. Other than that, super fast, great screen, great battery, strong data signal...it's a buy. Reminds me of the original OnePlus, or the Axon. Phones that were surprising values, but were big and heavy.
Sent from my NX629J using Tapatalk

I'm coming from the OnePlus 3(T) as well, looking for a new device. What I didn't like at the Oneplus were the original ROM (luckily Lineage helped a lot) and the sound and position of the speaker. I loved the front facing stereo speakers of my HTC One (m7) years ago.
So I'm thinking of purchasing the RM3, but at the moment there are no alternative ROMS. Another device I'm looking at is the Black Shark 2, but situation with ROMs and support seems to be even worse.
For the RM3, I have concerns, if a fan inside a mobile will really last for some years, or break down at some time...

I also had the 3T and 1 and the 6T obviously this is just a better phone due to the increases in tech. No way to tell on the fan, I will say...and not sure how ZTE vs it's company Nubia will work, but my Axon 7 had a couple of screen issues due to my dropping it and the speaker stopped working, not sure if it was due to that and ZTE fixed it every time free of charge within the first year. I was very happy with their service on that phone. ROM support will be lacking but it's a clean version of Android so I prefer that
Sent from my NX629J using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 10:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 AM ----------
To me...a clean, lean ROM, which the US version is, rooted with Magisk and other mods I choose myself is always the best option. Some custom ROMs can get pretty bloated themselves
Sent from my NX629J using Tapatalk

NexusPenguin said:
Hi,
Considering the price and the specs, I think the Red Magic 3 is about the best phone you can have nowadays.
If you buy it, you should consider two things :
- Chinese UI has a lot of features but is ugly and themes are mostly paid ones ;
- Europe/US/Asia ROM has ZERO features.
Once I recovered from the disappointment, the second solution was clearly what I was looking for.
So here is my advice :
- take the Europe/US/Asia version and flash it to your device (if it doesn't ship with that as stock)
- unlock the bootloader
-root your phone.
All this is done in like 4/5 minutes...
Once done, install all apps to add the required features.
You will have a phone that has ONLY THE FEATURES YOU WANT.
No bloat, no unnecessary stuff...
A dream come true
Of course, it comes with a price : once rooted, you will get OTA notifications but won't be able to install them...
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It depends on what you are looking for an what you want to do?
If you are a person who is happy with stock ROMs an just leaves cellphones in the state they are in out of the box then yes buy it.
However if you are a person who likes tinkering modifications an custom ROMs the please do not buy this cellphone.
I tried to install TWRP over 2 months ago an got stuck in a fastboot bootloop. Every xda suggestion to fix this plus paying a cellphone repair center an trying heaps of suggestions an it's still non functional.
It has horrible software an is rediculously sensitive to any and all attempts to FLASH ANYTHING.
If red magic 3s break you might never be able to fix them at a software level.
Mine lives in a bag by my bed to remind me not to bite off more than I can chew.
I have a xiaomi Mi9 now an have no real issues with it.
Good luck with your decision

So the options are to buy on Ali are with a stock Global Rom or a Chinese ROM. I see some other posts about people flashing to the Chinese one. Is that the best option to choose? I take it you can still select the language as English and support here etc? Thanks for everyone's responded it's been really helpful. I was thinking of holding out for the 855plus but not sure if I can afford which will be most likely an additional cost for it.

I also have the same question but mine is a bit different. Im convinced i am going to buy it but...
Should i buy it now or wait for the 855+ version? Idc if its gonna be a bit more expensive

xorphaz said:
I also have the same question but mine is a bit different. Im convinced i am going to buy it but...
Should i buy it now or wait for the 855+ version? Idc if its gonna be a bit more expensive
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would of thought it would be more expensive as they still have the original to sell. Probably will stick another £100 on it or so I reckon ?