MOTO X has a worse camera than ONE S - HTC One S

Since most of us chose the ONE S for the good performance in a smaller form factor, I figured the Moto X would be a natural upgrade from the ONE S (rather than the ONE Mini, which is not much of an upgrade, with its 4.3" screen and 1GB RAM). I was right - the Moto X is great for one-handed operation and is superior in every way except one: the camera.
Even with the negative press about the camera, this is surprising, because you expect technology to march on. What I didn't expect was how much better the HTC camera in the "obsolete" ONE S is versus Motorola's.
This is mostly evident in low-light shooting, such as indoors. The HTC is much better at capturing detail, and usually exposes correctly. The Motorola introduces washed-out colours and grain, even after the so-called "update" that was supposed to fix these issues.
The pluses of the Moto X are many: better reception and call quality, better loudspeaker, LTE, bigger screen with 720p, nicer curved design that sits naturally in your hand, and updated software (though if you flash a ROM the last one doesn't matter).
Not that the ONE S is bad in any of these areas (it's not), but Motorola is known for its radios and call quality, and they continue that tradition.
The ONE S is still a great phone and I was planning on keeping it for another few months at least, but there was a recent price drop for the Moto X. Because I use my phone for emails and browsing first, as a phone second, and as a camera a distant third, this is still an upgrade for me. I am disappointed that Motorola/Google dropped the ball with the camera though.
If you use the camera often, keep the ONE S!

ChrisAG said:
Since most of us chose the ONE S for the good performance in a smaller form factor, I figured the Moto X would be a natural upgrade from the ONE S (rather than the ONE Mini, which is not much of an upgrade, with its 4.3" screen and 1GB RAM). I was right - the Moto X is great for one-handed operation and is superior in every way except one: the camera.
Even with the negative press about the camera, this is surprising, because you expect technology to march on. What I didn't expect was how much better the HTC camera in the "obsolete" ONE S is versus Motorola's.
This is mostly evident in low-light shooting, such as indoors. The HTC is much better at capturing detail, and usually exposes correctly. The Motorola introduces washed-out colours and grain, even after the so-called "update" that was supposed to fix these issues.
The pluses of the Moto X are many: better reception and call quality, better loudspeaker, LTE, bigger screen with 720p, nicer curved design that sits naturally in your hand, and updated software (though if you flash a ROM the last one doesn't matter).
Not that the ONE S is bad in any of these areas (it's not), but Motorola is known for its radios and call quality, and they continue that tradition.
The ONE S is still a great phone and I was planning on keeping it for another few months at least, but there was a recent price drop for the Moto X. Because I use my phone for emails and browsing first, as a phone second, and as a camera a distant third, this is still an upgrade for me. I am disappointed that Motorola/Google dropped the ball with the camera though.
If you use the camera often, keep the ONE S!
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One S rulez !

If you spend time to read reviews before you buy, you'll know the camera on Moto X isn't that great. Most folks on Earth tend to think HTC camera bad which is very wrong, HTC camera isn't perfect but always give you surprised result.
One S camera is equipped with 8M 1/3.2" BSI, f/2.0, 28mm and most importantly an imagechip. The spec. is still at top-tier after two years from now, don't think Moto X could beat it easy. I want to upgrade my phone but most mid-end phone nowadays their camera is still behind One S but flagship model is just too expensive to me which made me continue to stick with One S, might be one more year til 2015. Very bad.
I'll look for M8 mini and Galaxy S5 mini later.

TheEndHK said:
If you spend time to read reviews before you buy, you'll know the camera on Moto X isn't that great.
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I did read the reviews, but thought the bar had been raised across the board since 18 months separates the release of the phones. This may be true for some manufacturers, but not others. Plus, a recent software update claimed to improve the camera, but evidently not enough. Hopefully a further update will improve things, but I'm not holding my breath.

ChrisAG said:
I did read the reviews, but thought the bar had been raised across the board since 18 months separates the release of the phones. This may be true for some manufacturers, but not others. Plus, a recent software update claimed to improve the camera, but evidently not enough. Hopefully a further update will improve things, but I'm not holding my breath.
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The main problem on Moto X is no dedicated ISP(imagechip) and it can't be improved simply though some software updates. The ISP performance inside Qualcomm CPU is always very poor.

Related

If you had to change phones soon...

I liked the Charge, but having non stop issues day after day. Extremely poor call quality when the phone gets below 20%, M$ Exchange email doesnt work, calendar wont sync, data always disconnects, etc.
Made about a dozen calls and finally got a hold of a regional manager that is willing to help me out, or so he says. Told me he would be able to get me an early upgrade price so trying to decide what route to go.
Prior to being an android user, I had the iPhone from the first version and dropped the iPhone 4 back in July for the 4G device. Saved me some money from having to buy a 4G hotspot and a phone, plus iPhone was limited and couldn't handle a few things that I needed. Seems to be better, but its still a 3G phone.
New Nexus looks pretty good, but heard some things not so good about them. Is it better to wait as it seems new phones come out every week, or better to pull the trigger on the Nexus now?
bossku69 said:
I liked the Charge, but having non stop issues day after day. Extremely poor call quality when the phone gets below 20%, M$ Exchange email doesnt work, calendar wont sync, data always disconnects, etc.
Made about a dozen calls and finally got a hold of a regional manager that is willing to help me out, or so he says. Told me he would be able to get me an early upgrade price so trying to decide what route to go.
Prior to being an android user, I had the iPhone from the first version and dropped the iPhone 4 back in July for the 4G device. Saved me some money from having to buy a 4G hotspot and a phone, plus iPhone was limited and couldn't handle a few things that I needed. Seems to be better, but its still a 3G phone.
New Nexus looks pretty good, but heard some things not so good about them. Is it better to wait as it seems new phones come out every week, or better to pull the trigger on the Nexus now?
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TBH if it were me I'd just wait for the next big smartphone of Q1/Q2, they'll be as good or better spec-wise than the Nexus however you'll be missing out on the pure AOSP experience and timely updates... its not that important to me so I'll be doing this, I'm gonna probably pick up the next HTC superphone (a little tired of samsung now though I love their hardware)
I have the Galaxy Nexus right now and its the best phone I've ever had. Sure they're some minor problems with it like with any new device. But nothing at all that makes it unusable or annoying.
I wouldn't wait for phones that come out at CES 2012 because they won't be available until Q2 at least. Plus all the Quad Core phones will all have problems working the kinks out since they'll be brand new. Much like the Thunderbolt, Charge, Revolution, and the (first) Bionic.
So my advice is to go with the Nexus. Better experience, faster updates, best phone I ever came across. Makes the iPhone 4S look puny and not fun at all IMO of course
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
If you have to change now, go for the Nexus. If you can wait some months, then wait.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
Best phone for flashers = Galaxy Nexus
Best phone for stock users = Droid Razr
its simple really...
blarrick said:
Best phone for flashers = Galaxy Nexus
Best phone for stock users = Droid Razr
its simple really...
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Why do you say the RAZR is better than the Rezound for stock users out of curiosity? I could have had either as my displacement and went with the Rezound because it appeared to be the better phone overall based on what I read.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA App
The Nexus is still better for stock users because it's the only one with ICS. The OS is far more intuitive and coherent than Gingerbread, and that's exactly what matters the most for those users.
The only pluses in general for the Razr versus the Nexus are its thinness (and it's not even a huge difference compared to the Nexus, it's much more noticeable compared to the chunktastic Rezound) and less-plasticky/more durable build (kevlar back, splash-proof coating, not made by Samsung).
With what I know from reading -- I'd go for the Nexus. ICS cannot be ignored, and couple that with the amazing AMOLED screens Samsung uses and you have a winner.
I believe ALL the phones have some quirks, you just have to make sure you can live with them.
The Charge was not considered a successful phone, it was the baddest mama jama when I bought mine in early June and though its not perfect, it got a breath of life when GB was released for it. Fixed most of my issues!
anoninja118 said:
TBH if it were me I'd just wait for the next big smartphone of Q1/Q2, they'll be as good or better spec-wise than the Nexus however you'll be missing out on the pure AOSP experience and timely updates... its not that important to me so I'll be doing this, I'm gonna probably pick up the next HTC superphone (a little tired of samsung now though I love their hardware)
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Hes actually right. If youre getting a new phone just wait for the next big phone. We have Tegra 3 coming to smartphones in Q1 and just look at the 12mp camera/quad-core phones running ICS coming just in the first 3 months of this year. Wait it out bro.
Nexus is the best phone out there right now. As for the issues you're having, if you want full Exchange support, get a Windows Phone, otherwise get Touchdown as that is the only way to have reliable Exchange support on Android. Really though, I think you'll find problems with your next phone too just based on the OP.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
I completely disagree with the majority here. The HTC Rezound is by far the superior phone. Its 720p IPS LCD screen is *true* HD, not Pentile, and current OLED tech suffers from color inaccuracy and oversaturation. The subpixel count on the GNex is about equal to most 800x480 phones.
The Rezound's Adreno 220 GPU is also superior. The Gnex's GPU is just the Charge's PowerVR SGX 540 with 50% overclock. A nice comparison here: http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2011...htc-flyer-htc-desire-hd-and-samsung-galaxy-s/
The Rezound's camera is also better, and it has "Beats Audio" (not sure if that's any good though).
ambrar12 said:
I completely disagree with the majority here. The HTC Rezound is by far the superior phone. Its 720p IPS LCD screen is *true* HD, not Pentile, and current OLED tech suffers from color inaccuracy and oversaturation. The subpixel count on the GNex is about equal to most 800x480 phones.
The Rezound's Adreno 220 GPU is also superior. The Gnex's GPU is just the Charge's PowerVR SGX 540 with 50% overclock. A nice comparison here: http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2011...htc-flyer-htc-desire-hd-and-samsung-galaxy-s/
The Rezound's camera is also better, and it has "Beats Audio" (not sure if that's any good though).
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beats audio is garbage unless you like rap/hip-hop (thankfully the beats 'technology' doesn't kick in unless you plug in those craptastic beats headphones), the Rezound *might* have the Nexus beat in processor and camera but Nexus wins IMO screen-wise, its also unbloated/unskinned, will have first dibs on updates and with the zero lag shutter... meh its a toss-up I think, both are solid phones but I'd kinda lean toward the Nexus
Sent from my Acer Iconia A500 using xda premium
ambrar12 said:
I completely disagree with the majority here. The HTC Rezound is by far the superior phone. Its 720p IPS LCD screen is *true* HD, not Pentile, and current OLED tech suffers from color inaccuracy and oversaturation. The subpixel count on the GNex is about equal to most 800x480 phones.
The Rezound's Adreno 220 GPU is also superior. The Gnex's GPU is just the Charge's PowerVR SGX 540 with 50% overclock. A nice comparison here: http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2011...htc-flyer-htc-desire-hd-and-samsung-galaxy-s/
The Rezound's camera is also better, and it has "Beats Audio" (not sure if that's any good though).
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This post sounds like a complete HTC fanboy post. Some of those tests with the GPU were barely better than the original SGX540 GPU. It's also closer to a 100% overclock (200MHz in the Charge v. 384MHz in the Nexus), so I would think those tests would turn out vastly different if run with the Nexus GPU at the same resolutions.
Screen is debatable, and if you looked at the Nexus screen, you couldn't tell if it was pentile or not. Outdoor visibility has ALWAYS been the best on the SAMOLED screens though, and power consumption can be better with them as well.
Camera, I'd have to see to believe as I have NEVER heard of HTC using good quality image sensors. Just because it's 8MP compared to the Nexus's 5MP doesn't mean it's better. That's like saying a 16MP point-and-shoot takes better pictures than a 10MP DSLR. It can if the conditions are right, but usually, it won't.
Beats audio is also a complete sham as the audio processor in the Charge is better. You'll likely get worse audio from Beats than you would from the Nexus. Then lets not forget software upgrades and the lack of add-on apps, can you guess which one wins here? And you can probably forget about AOSP on the Rezound anytime soon as it took several months for Layher to get it on the TB, and I don't see anyone having the dedication to do that again.
imnuts said:
This post sounds like a complete HTC fanboy post. Some of those tests with the GPU were barely better than the original SGX540 GPU. It's also closer to a 100% overclock (200MHz in the Charge v. 384MHz in the Nexus), so I would think those tests would turn out vastly different if run with the Nexus GPU at the same resolutions.
Screen is debatable, and if you looked at the Nexus screen, you couldn't tell if it was pentile or not. Outdoor visibility has ALWAYS been the best on the SAMOLED screens though, and power consumption can be better with them as well.
Camera, I'd have to see to believe as I have NEVER heard of HTC using good quality image sensors. Just because it's 8MP compared to the Nexus's 5MP doesn't mean it's better. That's like saying a 16MP point-and-shoot takes better pictures than a 10MP DSLR. It can if the conditions are right, but usually, it won't.
Beats audio is also a complete sham as the audio processor in the Charge is better. You'll likely get worse audio from Beats than you would from the Nexus. Then lets not forget software upgrades and the lack of add-on apps, can you guess which one wins here? And you can probably forget about AOSP on the Rezound anytime soon as it took several months for Layher to get it on the TB, and I don't see anyone having the dedication to do that again.
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Also it took the rezound like 2 months just to receive root so their Dev community is probably pretty bare
Sent by me, for me and i love you
Just checked the Rezound forum. Apparently they already have an ICS ROM thanks to an ICS leak for the "Sensation XL", whatever that is.
As for AMOLED, unfortunately it's not mature enough yet and drains more battery than LCD as well as having inaccurate colors and oversaturation. And with a 720p pentile you won't notice the pixels but I don't think the sharpness would be as good as a true 720p RGB screen (I could be wrong, but I personally wouldn't bother taking the chance).
As for Beats Audio, I kinda figured you wouldn't be able to get hi-fi music quality without a proprietary port.
Also one other thing that (for me) is a real deal-breaker is lack of microSD slot on the GNexus. I have no idea what Google was thinking there.
ambrar12 said:
Just checked the Rezound forum. Apparently they already have an ICS ROM thanks to an ICS leak for the "Sensation XL", whatever that is.
As for AMOLED, unfortunately it's not mature enough yet and drains more battery than LCD as well as having inaccurate colors and oversaturation. And with a 720p pentile you won't notice the pixels but I don't think the sharpness would be as good as a true 720p RGB screen (I could be wrong, but I personally wouldn't bother taking the chance).
As for Beats Audio, I kinda figured you wouldn't be able to get hi-fi music quality without a proprietary port.
Also one other thing that (for me) is a real deal-breaker is lack of microSD slot on the GNexus. I have no idea what Google was thinking there.
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Hooray for an ICS ROM that is very buggy, I know I'll use that all the time Can't wait to get a Sense'd version with as many useless apps as Verizon and jam into it. Glad to see you ignored the AOSP comment completely as well.
The screen statement is somewhat untrue as well. The issue with battery life comes when you're using bright colors or video. If you use black, you get excellent battery life as black pixels use 0 power for AMOLED screens, how much power does a black pixel use on an LCD panel? Inaccurate colors are one thing, as that depends on several factors, but it can be corrected, as can the over-saturation. Are there issues with the technology? Sure, but I'll take a SAMOLED screen over an LCD panel every day. Oh, and how about contrast ratio comparison between the two? How about comparing the thickness of a full screen assembly (touch sensor, backlight, and display) between AMOLED and tradition LCD? There are reasons that it's being used, despite how bad you think the technology is.
No MicroSD slot, now we're just nit-picking. Is it a bad thing? Kinda. However, how often do people change them? I only ever changed it out to get a faster card. The only thing I miss about having one is that I could just copy over my backed up data easily to the Nexus. Other than that, it's pointless and I don't see anyone having issues with the lack of a microSD card.
Oh, you also forgot to comment about the GPU tests and the camera. Is the Rezound a bad phone? No, but if you want long term support, I don't think you're going to beat the Nexus as it will see several updates in the future, and even if Google stops updating it, the community will keep it going. Plus, any issues you see can be fixed by the community before Google gets around to it, so you can see fixes faster if there are problems. The Rezound? It will probably see an OTA to ICS, then probably two more OTAs for bug fixes, after that, probably not much. Good luck getting AOSP on it, as that will take a long time, if ever; just see the Thunderbolt as an example. Community driven fixes? When's the last time HTC took bug fix advice from the public if it wasn't a security issue?
ambrar12 said:
Just checked the Rezound forum. Apparently they already have an ICS ROM thanks to an ICS leak for the "Sensation XL", whatever that is.
As for AMOLED, unfortunately it's not mature enough yet and drains more battery than LCD as well as having inaccurate colors and oversaturation. And with a 720p pentile you won't notice the pixels but I don't think the sharpness would be as good as a true 720p RGB screen (I could be wrong, but I personally wouldn't bother taking the chance).
As for Beats Audio, I kinda figured you wouldn't be able to get hi-fi music quality without a proprietary port.
Also one other thing that (for me) is a real deal-breaker is lack of microSD slot on the GNexus. I have no idea what Google was thinking there.
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Haha Rezound. You can keep that fat, whored-out (Beats scam, bloated up, Sense..), cheesy red colored locked-down brick. HTC is really becoming like Motorola by locking down their devices which creates delays and frustration for people like us. It will receive an update sure.. once. Until they release their new Super Amazing Incredible Orgasmic Deluxe 4G.
Also I hate the volume and power buttons on that phone, they are pretty much flush and have no tactile feel (mushy), don't even start on the horrendous battery life of HTC phones.
Sure the GNEX might not be ideal in every way, but neither is the Rezound. Just because you prefer it doesn't mean everyone else does too
I'd take SAMOLED Plus over LCD, but my personal experience with Pentile (browsing at Verizon store) has been pretty negative.
My point with the SD card was for the sake of extra storage. This is one of the most irritating aspects of the iPhone. These days there are 64 GB microSDXC cards out. The 32 GB card price keeps falling.
I'd wait too. I would want something with dev support like the Galaxy Nexus, but at least 8 MP rear-facing camera and hopefully >2 MP front-facing.
Go with the Nexus if you need a phone now....I have it and I love it. There are almost too many developers on that phone, which is a nice change coming from the charge.
The thing that annoys me most about the Rezound is the power button is on the wrong side of the phone. I use either my thumb or pointer finger of my right hand to push the power button. It's pretty awkward doing that on the rezound. Maybe it's just me lol

Trading One S for Gnex?

Ok so I am about to trade my One S for a Gnex. And i want to know what are the pros and cons of this. And I want know if it is a good deal. I want to know what you guys think.
Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2
I also want to know if I even should trade it
Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2
only if yo want a larger screen or NFC. Other than that One S trumps Gnex in every other way. Far better performance (S4).
ipit said:
only if yo want a larger screen or NFC. Other than that One S trumps Gnex in every other way. Far better performance (S4).
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Not only bigger screen but much better as well. I have both phones and my One S just sits in my drawer. Performance isn't "far" better. Development for the Gnex is far better and JellyBean 4.2.1 is just now taking off and it is sweet! I love everything about my GNex have no complaints, can't say the same for the One S I have many complaints.
Just came to One S from a Gnex.
I liked the better build quality and speed of One S. The JB interface is smoother, but in terms of raw power, speed for opening apps, the One S is better. Also liked the camera on One S more.
Browsing websites were much more comfortable on the Gnex due to the higher resolution.
If you like to constantly flash different roms and use the newest features, the Gnex is better at that.
Personally, I wouldn't go for the Gnex now. At least go for the N4.
Camera and S4 performance (battery life as well) is much better on the One S. if you are trading in an S3 version version of the one S then its a good deal.
As I posted in another thread here the other day:
The galaxy nexus display is nice, definitely sharper/clearer than the S, however, IMO it is too dull for SAMOLED panel, the one S is the best when it comes to calibration for colour settings, whites are the best I have seen on a SAMOLED screen, view ability in sunshine is far better from my usage with both. The display isn't "much" bigger due to the on screen buttons, iirc the height is pretty much the same but the galaxy nexus is a bit wider.
Advantages of the GN over the 1S:
- far better NLED
- nexus device so will get updates fast and quick
- much better and bigger developing community
- NFC
Advantages of the 1S over the GN:
- far better audio quality
- camera is far better overall
- better build and perceived quality
- much better battery life
- much better performance overall due to having one of the best CPU chipsets there is (also don't forget that we haven't got JB yet, so when we get that, the speed and smoothness will increase again)
Software skins and design/looks is personal preference.
One S is better overall
Count me as a soon to be former Galaxy Nexus owner in favor of the One S.
I was concerned about the lower resolution but I held both phones side by side and for me there isn't much to choose one over the other, screen wise, even for reading text. Yes the GNex is larger and 720p but (as has been said) the One S has great calibration and the panel is of a newer design, quite excellent for a QHD display. The GNex also suffers from screen burn-in on the notification and button bars (visible when playing full-screen videos).
The biggest deciding factor for me is the size and feel for the device - the GNex and other 4.7" phones are simply too big for comfortable one-hand operation, and won't fit into my slim jeans front pocket. The 4.3" One S is the perfect compromise - bigger than the paltry 4.0" on the iPhone and low-end Android phones, yet not the gargantuan size of "flagship" 4.7" phones.
Other factors in my decision are the poor external speaker volume, fair call quality and WiFi sensitivity, and below-average camera. The One S is better for all four. Plus, it has a built-in FM radio which is handy if you don't have a huge data plan like me and so can't always stream radio.
Then there is the overall feel of quality. The GNex was never praised for its build quality, whereas the One S definitely feels like a premium device.
Yes the GNex has 4.2, but that isn't a big jump from 4.1, which introduced Google Now and Project Butter, two improvements that really count. The One S is already smooth (thanks to its superior processing power over the GNex) but will be even better once it gets 4.1.1 (January?). For me, this will mean the One S will be "current" until Android 5 is released next Summer (not that I would necessarily ditch the One S then either).
Unless you are a developer, or love flashing ROMs, or simply MUST have the latest version of Android before everyone else, the One S is the better phone overall.
ChrisAG said:
Count me as a soon to be former Galaxy Nexus owner in favor of the One S.
I was concerned about the lower resolution but I held both phones side by side and for me there isn't much to choose one over the other, screen wise, even for reading text. Yes the GNex is larger and 720p but (as has been said) the One S has great calibration and the panel is of a newer design, quite excellent for a QHD display. The GNex also suffers from screen burn-in on the notification and button bars (visible when playing full-screen videos).
The biggest deciding factor for me is the size and feel for the device - the GNex and other 4.7" phones are simply too big for comfortable one-hand operation, and won't fit into my slim jeans front pocket. The 4.3" One S is the perfect compromise - bigger than the paltry 4.0" on the iPhone and low-end Android phones, yet not the gargantuan size of "flagship" 4.7" phones.
Other factors in my decision are the poor external speaker volume, fair call quality and WiFi sensitivity, and below-average camera. The One S is better for all four. Plus, it has a built-in FM radio which is handy if you don't have a huge data plan like me and so can't always stream radio.
Then there is the overall feel of quality. The GNex was never praised for its build quality, whereas the One S definitely feels like a premium device.
Yes the GNex has 4.2, but that isn't a big jump from 4.1, which introduced Google Now and Project Butter, two improvements that really count. The One S is already smooth (thanks to its superior processing power over the GNex) but will be even better once it gets 4.1.1 (January?). For me, this will mean the One S will be "current" until Android 5 is released next Summer (not that I would necessarily ditch the One S then either).
Unless you are a developer, or love flashing ROMs, or simply MUST have the latest version of Android before everyone else, the One S is the better phone overall.
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Very nice explanation ! I appreciate it. Thank you I think I am staying with the One S. The S4 processor is awesome! And I really like the camera. Thanks guys greatly appreciated.
Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2
It's hard to choose between the two because each one has its pros and cons. I have both at hand and I got to say, the only real bad thing that I can say about One S is the slightly lower res display and maybe a tad smaller screen size. other than that I prefer one S more than Nexus. I swapping my sim back and forth between the 2 and always found myself going back to One S due to it's design and overall usefulness. I wish HTC put a higher res display and maybe slightly larger screen but other than that, it would be the better choice for me.
PUTALE said:
It's hard to choose between the two because each one has its pros and cons. I have both at hand and I got to say, the only real bad thing that I can say about One S is the slightly lower res display and maybe a tad smaller screen size. other than that I prefer one S more than Nexus. I swapping my sim back and forth between the 2 and always found myself going back to One S due to it's design and overall usefulness. I wish HTC put a higher res display and maybe slightly larger screen but other than that, it would be the better choice for me.
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They did. It's called the One X.
Unfortunately, most of us on GSM networks don't get them.
Keep the One S. I had the choice today of getting a GNex or the One S. Better Camera, Faster, MUCH Better design, feels nice in the hand, better camera, better UI (genuine to opinion but I think more people would agree than disagree) better audio.
One S tops it. Only get the GNEX if you're after stock android.
I have to agree. I went from a gnex to a one s, and I'm glad I made the switch.
The build quality, camera, speed are all better on the one s. The colors on the screen are better calibrated, and I also get faster downloads with the one s.
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using xda app-developers app
Im happy i didnt opt for the gnex in july but now I wish i had waited for n4, :cyclops:
I just came from a gnex a few days ago.
my opinion.
HOS: better battery life, nice build quality, sense, nice camera.
Gnex: bigger screen, faster ota, 4.2.1,
I like HTC one s a lot, maybe I got tires of aosp
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using xda premium
PUTALE said:
It's hard to choose between the two because each one has its pros and cons. I have both at hand and I got to say, the only real bad thing that I can say about One S is the slightly lower res display and maybe a tad smaller screen size. other than that I prefer one S more than Nexus. I swapping my sim back and forth between the 2 and always found myself going back to One S due to it's design and overall usefulness. I wish HTC put a higher res display and maybe slightly larger screen but other than that, it would be the better choice for me.
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HTC did...its called the One X
Sent from my HTC One S using Xparent ICS Tapatalk 2
I just sold my GNex and picked up the One S. The GNex is still a great device but it's too big for my hands. I didn't like the big hump at the bottom. Whenever I typed, it felt uncomfortable and eventually started to hurt my hands. I have small hands, even for a female! lol. Also the external speakers on the GNex is extremely low! I used the navigation one time and could barely hear the lady. I have a new car so it's not like my car is loud. I wish Power Amp would make an app specifically for navigation. Anyways, I love the design of the One S. It looks a lot more sleeker than the GNex. Feels more solid, external speaker is louder, earpiece is louder,....As much as I enjoyed the pure Android experience, I missed Sense UI. I had a number of HTC Androids in the past. So it's nice to have one again.
Except the rest of the HTC one X sucks overall compared to the S, thank tegra 3 for that:
Advantages of the S4 over tegra 3:
- More performance per core, which is better than having an additional 2 cores as android/apps/tasks don't fully utilise the potential of dual core let alone quad. When I compare my S to the X, I notice that things are a lot snappier/more instant i.e. loading the gallery thumbnails, loading games/levels, apps, rendering maps etc. Of course, better software/driver optimisation would be a big factor here as well.
I haven't used a X with JB yet, so that difference might not be as noticeable any more. People who have got the update so far have said the improvement in performance is massive.
- Amazing power efficiency thus better battery life
The X has supposedly improved by quite a bit with the JB update, but it still wouldn't be as good as the XL or S.
- Doesn't get anywhere as hot or heat up as quickly as tegra 3, as we all know on this forum, over heating components can cause many problems.
- the audio on the S is better than the X
- smoother 1080P recording
So the X isn't the one you want, the XL is Or the X+ (bigger battery, 64GB, better front camera, jellybean on it already)
And the S has the lovely aluminium uni-body where as the X series phones use the polycarbonate uni-body.
Terminator19 said:
Except the rest of the HTC one X sucks overall compared to the S, thank tegra 3 for that:
Advantages of the S4 over tegra 3:
- More performance per core, which is better than having an additional 2 cores as android/apps/tasks don't fully utilise the potential of dual core let alone quad. When I compare my S to the X, I notice that things are a lot snappier/more instant i.e. loading the gallery thumbnails, loading games/levels, apps, rendering maps etc. Of course, better software/driver optimisation would be a big factor here as well.
I haven't used a X with JB yet, so that difference might not be as noticeable any more. People who have got the update so far have said the improvement in performance is massive.
- Amazing power efficiency thus better battery life
The X has supposedly improved by quite a bit with the JB update, but it still wouldn't be as good as the XL or S.
- Doesn't get anywhere as hot or heat up as quickly as tegra 3, as we all know on this forum, over heating components can cause many problems.
- the audio on the S is better than the X
- smoother 1080P recording
So the X isn't the one you want, the XL is Or the X+ (bigger battery, 64GB, better front camera, jellybean on it already)
And the S has the lovely aluminium uni-body where as the X series phones use the polycarbonate uni-body.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
having said that unfortunately they do not make the One S with the S4 chip anymore so a better comparison would the same be said about a One S with a S3 chip?
PulpzillA said:
having said that unfortunately they do not make the One S with the S4 chip anymore so a better comparison would the same be said about a One S with a S3 chip?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No ... they are selling new One S 64GB with S4 in Taiwan now

First thoughts and camera samples

So I'm coming from S6 to this budget device due to the terrible battery life on S6. So first Impressions of play are this. Screen is sharp and looks great even when only 1080p. The experience is snappy and fluid no issues so far even when playing more intensive games. The camera has me blown away as previous Moto cameras suck but this is great. Overall I'm satisfied as hell
I'm in exactly the same position. S6 currently on ebay and now enjoying outstanding battery life
Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk
Look at those images! Day light image so far so stunning. I think it's a tad on a warmer side I just opened image in photoshop and moved kelvin (temperature) slider towards cooler so it looks probably the way it should look. Lizard is rich detail with some nice colour reproduction (natural and vibrant) complimented with bokeh effect to it naturally wrapping around. WoW
Low light is little weak but overall ok. How did you focus in low light? How do you find focus working? This phone impresses me!
White balance correct.
I just used the circle focus put it on subject and snapped. Light needed adjusted using slider but overall pretty easy and quick snaps.
Why I get impression you have the same background? Same guy? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCrUL7uZ1F4
Can you confirm whether it has gyroscope or not? Thank you!
Inviato dal mio LG-D802 utilizzando Tapatalk
Is there anyone with kids who can report on camera speed? I'm currently really frustrated with my Note 3 as it is almost impossible to get a sharp picture of my 3 year old son.
zaph83 said:
Is there anyone with kids who can report on camera speed? I'm currently really frustrated with my Note 3 as it is almost impossible to get a sharp picture of my 3 year old son.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take 1 cookie and 1 tube of superglue. Glue cookie to floor, then call son into room. You'll have plenty of time to get some snaps whilst he tries to get the cookie!
I am Legend said:
Can you confirm whether it has gyroscope or not? Thank you!
Inviato dal mio LG-D802 utilizzando Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't take Photospheres nor Panoramas with the Google Camera app, if that's what you're wondering... Just tested on my brand new X Play that I'll probably return in the next few days...
(You can take panoramas in the Motorola Camera app though!)
And in other apps like A Better Camera or Ucamera? Can those make panoramic photos?
Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk
nice samples thanx you
alenym said:
You can't take Photospheres nor Panoramas with the Google Camera app, if that's what you're wondering... Just tested on my brand new X Play that I'll probably return in the next few days...
(You can take panoramas in the Motorola Camera app though!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At least we still have the Motorola Camera app.
Why are you returning it?
I am expecting it to arrive in the next few days.
rafaelwall said:
At least we still have the Motorola Camera app.
Why are you returning it?
I am expecting it to arrive in the next few days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, thinking about returning it, that is, to be honest.
I'm kinda mad at the lack of gyroscope and gestures. Waving my hand to wake up the Moto Display was very convenient for me. The Moto X 2014 is better than the Moto X Play in all areas except battery life and camera (which I don't care that much about). Plus, it's really bigger than what I expected, coming a Moto X 2013. I had tried the 2014 and it was still cool, but the Play is even larger.
I've been thinking a lot about it, considering I only have 10 days to return it. It's great for everything I'm doing with a cellphone (except the photospheres that I do just for the lulz and show off tbh), I shouldn't miss the chop chop action too much since it wasn't even on the Moto X 2013, same for the IR sensors since the Lollipop update.
The question is: could I get better buck for money?
And I think I can, if I shop enough on ebay; I'm thinking about buying the Droid Turbo instead. Bigger battery, better specs, smaller, better software (with Moto gestures), same price. I heard it was unlocked on GSM frequencies and I'm in Canada (can someone correct me?), so I wouldn't even have to unlock it. More futureproof imo.
I'll probably get used to the physical buttons. The IPS screen is so ugly with blacks. I don't want to "see" the black bar! It's really bluer than the 2013 screen (which was yellow-ish), and it kinda feels cheap to me. But maybe it's only me. However it's much much brighter (minimum brightness on the Play is around half brightness on the 2013), so that's a good point!
I also received my Moto X Play today and am very pleased with it so far!
The only weird thing i have encountered is that i usually use procapture for my main camera but it seems stuck with 13mp. Anyone else have this app and problem?
alenym said:
Well, thinking about returning it, that is, to be honest.
I'm kinda mad at the lack of gyroscope and gestures. Waving my hand to wake up the Moto Display was very convenient for me. The Moto X 2014 is better than the Moto X Play in all areas except battery life and camera (which I don't care that much about). Plus, it's really bigger than what I expected, coming a Moto X 2013. I had tried the 2014 and it was still cool, but the Play is even larger.
I've been thinking a lot about it, considering I only have 10 days to return it. It's great for everything I'm doing with a cellphone (except the photospheres that I do just for the lulz and show off tbh), I shouldn't miss the chop chop action too much since it wasn't even on the Moto X 2013, same for the IR sensors since the Lollipop update.
The question is: could I get better buck for money?
And I think I can, if I shop enough on ebay; I'm thinking about buying the Droid Turbo instead. Bigger battery, better specs, smaller, better software (with Moto gestures), same price. I heard it was unlocked on GSM frequencies and I'm in Canada (can someone correct me?), so I wouldn't even have to unlock it. More futureproof imo.
I'll probably get used to the physical buttons. The IPS screen is so ugly with blacks. I don't want to "see" the black bar! It's really bluer than the 2013 screen (which was yellow-ish), and it kinda feels cheap to me. But maybe it's only me. However it's much much brighter (minimum brightness on the Play is around half brightness on the 2013), so that's a good point!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am also on the hunt for a droid turbo. and also i am rocking the moto x 2013 (skipped x 2014 because of the battery). really hate motorola this year. i mean i do hate everything apple but they have some sense releasing a small device and a larger one. however motorola released a larger device and an even larger one. also, they put the larger battery on the smaller device and the smaller battery on the larger device !!!.
sherif2015 said:
i am also on the hunt for a droid turbo. and also i am rocking the moto x 2013 (skipped x 2014 because of the battery). really hate motorola this year. i mean i do hate everything apple but they have some sense releasing a small device and a larger one. however motorola released a larger device and an even larger one. also, they put the larger battery on the smaller device and the smaller battery on the larger device !!!.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. I really don't like the "branding"/marketing part of Apple, but another part I really liked of them was that they weren't trying to win the specs race (à la Samsung), but instead focused on user experience and software optimization. Motorola did that when it got acquired by Google, giving birth to things like the Moto G being faster than the Galaxy S5 for everyday tasks like opening apps and stuff.
After 5.1 on the Moto X 2013 though, it became buggy, doing a full software optimization everytime I soft reset, sometimes shutdowning because of hotness (I guess?), after I plugged it into the Moto X Play charger for instance... Also the "Read SMS aloud" seemed to be activated everywhere, every place, even when I was at work where I had set silent mode and was in a meeting on my calendar (?!?!).
So yeah. I really hope it was because it's a 2 yo device and the Moto X Play will handle these features better. I'm quite happy they brought back FM Radio on a "not entry model", it has become something that most flagships lack but every entry level phones have! (Except Samsung because Samsung & Gadgets, y'know.)
ANYWAY
Back to the subject: I took many photos and some videos today (college hazings! ), and I'm quite happy with the results. Indoor quality still isn't perfect (seems nice on screen, but as soon as you zoom in you see motion blur if the subjects weren't totally still). Outdoor quality is really nice though. However, when taking videos, there seems to be a noticeable lag on screen, around half a sec. It's weird and gives the impression there's OIS. On the total opposite, one thing I'm really impressed with is the photo taking speed. The 2013 would take forever to focus, wait and snap. The X Play basically just, well, takes a live screenshot of what is on screen with no waiting at all.
The X 2013 was actually my first smartphone, so I dunno if the average is "instant photo snap" à la X Play or the "wait one sec then snaps it" à la 2013. I know the X 2013 didn't have the best camera (and it's an euphemism), but I don't care much about it tbh.
Also, as expected, panoramas suck. I dunno if you're supposed to scroll it or rotate (à la Photosphere), but rotating seems totally not working, although it was working with the Moto X 2013 and the Moto Camera app...
I'm very pleased with the camera on this device. It's the best camera I've ever had on any phone. Here's a picture of my cousin's cat that I took this weekend on my last CyanogenMod build with the stock CM camera.
The detail and overall quality are outstanding. The compression used by imgur detracts from the quality a bit at 100%, the original is even better. I give the camera two thumbs up.

			
				
This one with [email protected], I assume, since HDR is on auto, the sun low at 7 pm, shining from the side onto the Cologne Cathedral, giving its gothic structures a very graphical appearance. Just the highlights are somewaht too bright. The image says it was taken with 1/120 sec, so not the top sharpness due to hand motion.
Here are some photos I took indoor, in bright artificial light however. Just did a quick snap and moved on. I used the manual exposure and focus in the stock Moto camera app (which is really annoying, no tap to focus, no shutter button).
Mostly macro shots. Getting closer than 4 cm doesn't focus.
http://imgur.com/a/ianiz

Moto X Pure VS Pixel 2 XL

So I finally switched, after more than 2 years with the Moto X Pure. I had the Pixel 2 XL for about a week, here is my comparison.
Speed: No doubt the Pixel is far quicker, snappier, but anyone would have expected that.
Screen: I prefer the display of the Moto. Now you would think the size difference 6 vs 5.7 is huge, but when you play videos it seems like the width of the Moto gives you a bit more of the viewing experience. Theres is not a lot of difference with the quality of the display, the Pixel seemed to have a bit deeper blacks.
Camera: Pixels camera is just great, it almost consistently takes great pix. Love the night shots and the portrait mode. No comparison...
Speakers: I expected the Pixel speakers to be better, but after putting them side by side I found out that the Moto X Pure has speakers that are just a bit louder, just a tiny bit. Theres no audio quality difference
Build: Both phones are built well. Both feel heavy. The Moto X is thicker and the Pixel is lenghtier.
Forgot to mention the battery. The Pixel battery is amazing. I never had a phone last this long.
I think its a perfect upgrade.
Few things that would make the Pixel even better:
1. Additional wide angle lens like on the V30.
2. Minimize the height a bit
3. IP68
4. Chop chop for light
Don't forget about us here in the forums!
As long as you're happy with it, that's what matters. Personally, going from a reasonably attractive phone (like the Pure Edition) to a comparatively ugly phone with an Oled display (like the Pixel 2 XL) would be a bit of a letdown for me. However, if the advancements made in terms of camera and hardware performance are worth it to you, don't let that stand in the way of personal progress.
Since you mentioned the speakers. They were actually a big surprise for me, when I got the X-Style.. The main reason I bought the X-style, was that it was oddly cheap here, when considering some very decent stats.. The fact that it had stereo speakers was just a bonus.. But they are really good.
I was basically shocked the first time I put on the teaser trailer for Agony, and got a good blast of, surprisingly non-tinny, music in my face =)
Overall, with the P2-XL being about 4 times the price of the X-style, I would expect the P2-XL to be better.. But so far I have been very happy with my X-style.. The only thing I can think of, that would improve the X-style, would be an Amoled display.. Like the X-Force has.. But the X-force is an ugly block, with no developer community, So here I am on the X-style board
LCD makes the phone
timmtn said:
The only thing I can think of, that would improve the X-style, would be an Amoled display..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be careful what you wish for. The Moto X Pure Edition has one of the best displays in the business. A dingy old oled panel would've been a dealbreaker for me. If you want a Pure Edition-like phone with Oled, the Droid Turbo (or possibly the Nexus 6) is it. All of this phone's successors (the Moto Z series) have Oled panels, as do most of its predecessors.
Not a Pixel XL 2 only XL
AmelFl said:
So I finally switched, after more than 2 years with the Moto X Pure. I had the Pixel 2 XL for about a week, here is my comparison.
Speed: No doubt the Pixel is far quicker, snappier, but anyone would have expected that.
Screen: I prefer the display of the Moto. Now you would think the size difference 6 vs 5.7 is huge, but when you play videos it seems like the width of the Moto gives you a bit more of the viewing experience. Theres is not a lot of difference with the quality of the display, the Pixel seemed to have a bit deeper blacks.
Camera: Pixels camera is just great, it almost consistently takes great pix. Love the night shots and the portrait mode. No comparison...
Speakers: I expected the Pixel speakers to be better, but after putting them side by side I found out that the Moto X Pure has speakers that are just a bit louder, just a tiny bit. Theres no audio quality difference
Build: Both phones are built well. Both feel heavy. The Moto X is thicker and the Pixel is lenghtier.
Forgot to mention the battery. The Pixel battery is amazing. I never had a phone last this long.
I think its a perfect upgrade.
Few things that would make the Pixel even better:
1. Additional wide angle lens like on the V30.
2. Minimize the height a bit
3. IP68
4. Chop chop for light
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found that like you that the sound wasnt as good but what i really noticed was the call and cell quality and strength were subpar to the MXPE. My XL is on its way back to google. I just couldnt justify the cost. Meanwhile my MXPE is still fine..
I just got my Pixel 2 XL a few days ago and I'm absolutely loving the Pixel. My Moto X Pure will still likely go down as my favorite device of all time due to it's specs, price, and performance. When it comes to the Pixel 2 XL, don't believe the hype on the screen issues. The screen is fantastic on the XL, the blue shift that people are complaining about is there, but it's waay over exaggerated. All oled screens have some sort of color shift. My buddy has the Samsung S8+ which is supposed to be one of the top rated screens on any phone and it has worse blue shift than the Pixel 2 XL along with an overall red tone to the screen. The curved glass is sooo cool and really makes using the phone a pleasure. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy the curved glass until owning the device. The big thing I was concerned about with going with the Pixel was the lack of an external SD slot, but I'm not really all that concerned about it now. I bought a really nice usb C adapter that holds a micro sd card in it and also has a usb A connection to hook up to a PC. When I do my Titanium/TWRP backups, I just click that in and do my backups. Nice and easy. The speakers on the XL sound pretty good, I notice little to no difference. They are phone speakers after all, but they are stereo, front firing and do their job. The signal strength on the Pixel is unmatched. I'm amazed at how strong the wifi and cell signals are compared to my MXP. The build of the phone is great, and feels like the dollar amount invested. The immediate updates are one of the biggest things I like along with firmware being posted almost immediately from Google. No more hunting down/capturing OTA's or full firmware zips. As much as I enjoyed Moto Display, the Pixels ambient display on 8.1 is top notch, has double tap to wake, and we get a notification light back (which I really missed while using the MXP).
Overall, I'm very happy with the Pixel 2 XL. Lenavo really ruined the MXP and it's unlikely I'll ever go back to them unless they go back to the way Motorola originally set up their phone's update schedules. Right now as I type this I'm wiping my MXP and setting it up as a dedicated music media player for my car to replace my current old LG-G3. My battery is still strong on the MXP and I expect to get several more years of service out of it.

Moto X Pure seen in Commercial

Just drinking coffee and spotted the good old Moto X Pure in a GoodRX commercial in 2020. Miss the design of this device.
Big Buddha said:
Just drinking coffee and spotted the good old Moto X Pure in a GoodRX commercial in 2020. Miss the design of this device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good find. I still use mine every day, so I embrace it instead of missing it. Moto X Pure Edition easily might just be the best smartphone of the decade. I still can't think of anything that can match its combination of screen, sound, features, and form-factor.
Thanks for the reminder.
Bill720 said:
Good find. I still use mine every day, so I embrace it instead of missing it. Moto X Pure Edition easily might just be the best smartphone of the decade. I still can't think of anything that can match its combination of screen, sound, features, and form-factor.
Thanks for the reminder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have mine, but my Razer Phone 1 is my daily driver. It's almost like a better Moto X Pure, minus the headphone jack... and a boxier design that can lay flat on a table without rocking.
Better, faster display. (And not OLED, so no burn in.)
Better CPU, RAM.
Front facing stereo speakers.
Larger battery.
Metal chassis, not fragile glass like modern flagships.
FanboyStudios said:
I still have mine, but my Razer Phone 1 is my daily driver. It's almost like a better Moto X Pure, minus the headphone jack... and a boxier design that can lay flat on a table without rocking.
Better, faster display. (And not OLED, so no burn in.)
Better CPU, RAM.
Front facing stereo speakers.
Larger battery.
Metal chassis, not fragile glass like modern flagships.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I considered the Razer Phone, but the screen can't hold a candle to the Pure Edition, and that seems to be the problem with just about everything I've researched. There are plenty of affordable device with good speakers that are gimped by screens ranging from crummy to only just OK (Razer Phone 2, HTC 10, HTC U11, HTC U12+, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, etc.) and just as many with great screens that are hampered by awful sound systems. Motorola figured out the formula over five years ago, so I'm not sure why still nobody is getting it right.

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