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Hi guys,
I've used Android for a long time, and my last phone was a Nexus 5 (which I sold recently). As the iPhone 6 finally got a larger screen, I thought I'd try it out to see how I feel about it. In all honesty, the iPhone is a great phone with a solid OS, however I'm finding that I'm missing Android. I loved being able to have widgets on multiple home screens that gave me information without needing to launch an app, and I miss the way I was able to make the device unique to me. My iPhone home screen looks the same as everyone else's iPhone.
Now, coming from a Nexus 5 (which admittedly, felt cheap) the iPhone immediately feels like a premium smartphone, and I know that the Xperia Z series also have a premium build quality. I feel like the Z3 will be the perfect device to get me back to Android as I want something that is aesthetically great as well as powerful.
My main gripes with my Nexus 5 were that the build quality was cheap-feeling, and the N5 was known to have a really weak cell radio. In fact, I used to think my carrier wasn't great, but realised from having the iPhone that it was the fact that the N5 had a crappy radio. My iPhone has strong reception even in weaker coverage areas, and good signal is important to me - does the Z3 have good cell reception? Also, I travel on the London Underground to work every day, and when I would get above ground my N5 would take ages to lock onto a signal whereas my iPhone locks on immediately. How good is the Z3 at locking onto signal when you emerge from a no-coverage area?
Another thing, I know that the Z3 has a 20.7MP camera which is great, but I'd rather shoot in 8MP for smaller file sizes. Is it possible to change the resolution in the camera app? I was able to choose different resolutions with my N5.
One last thing - I've noticed that the iPhone screen is significantly brighter than my N5 screen was, and doesn't drain battery as quickly on higher brightness as the N5 did. How bright is the Z3 screen? Does the battery suffer significantly when the brightness is cranked up?
Sorry for all the questions. Would really appreciate some input guys.
I carry both a Z2 and an iPhone 6 on a regular basis, here are some answers, keep in mind this is comparing the older Z2 though.
- The reception on the Z2 is good but not great, the iPhone 6 edges it out but not by a whole lot
- Z2 seems fairly good on picking up a signal after it has gone out of range. I really don't think there's anything in it between the two devices here.
- Both the Z2 and Z3 have a "superior auto" mode which downsamples to 8MP. This is the mode you will most likely shoot in most of the time. Manual mode also has a range of MP choices and not just 20MP.
- The Z2 screen is rated to be dimmer than the Z3 screen so it's tough to say here, but I will say that if I were to set both my Z2 and iPhone 6 to equal perceived brightness, the Z2 would still have much greater screen on time than the iPhone 6 would, by a lot. I believe the Z3 would only be better in this department. It's not even close.
Thanks for your input
Does anyone else have any advice too? Maybe someone else that has also switched from an iPhone?
Coming from the Nexus 4, I only have good things to say about my Z3.
Reception is generally a lot better than my old N4. In areas where I used to have no service, I would still have service on my Z3. Picking up the signal again after going from somewhere with no coverage seems a lot faster than my old N4 (think seconds compared to a minute or two).
The Z3 shoots in 8MP using the default mode. You have to switch to manual if you want to pick different MPs. The time it takes to take pictures is a lot slower than the iPhone though, but that's the problem with a lot of Android phones which will be fixed with Android L.
The Z3 is pretty bright. I was able to get 6-7 hours of screen on time with full brightness all day, while listening to about 4-5 hours of music, watching 45 minutes of video, playing 2-3 hours of games and browsing the internet during the other times. If you're not doing too much CPU-intensive stuff, you can expect to get around 10 hours SOT give or take an hour. I wouldn't worry about battery life.
Overall the Z3 looks great and definitely feels like a premium phone.
Slightly different point of view here: I don't need a phone. I need an Android device.
What I currently have is a Galaxy S2 GT-i9100 and a Nexus 7 (2013). What I use them both for is games (80% of the usage), music, internet, pictures, and pretty much everything that is not calling people.
I've been looking at videos of the Nexus 5 but all worthwhile ones are of the 4.4 release version, which I already know was quite terrible, so I wanted to ask - after so many updates, are the camera autofocus, battery and other major flaws fixed? What current weak points does it have (anything you think sucks)?
My budget is not that high so Nexus 6 and 9 are out of the question.
IMHO the Nexus 5 is the best possible Android experience for the money. Its butter smooth. On optipop the battery isn't amazing but its definitely reasonable. (I get 5 hours of SoT)
I've never had any issues with the camera to be honest. All things aside, no device is perfect and while the n5 has flaws, it is truly a work of art.
JayR_L said:
IMHO the Nexus 5 is the best possible Android experience for the money. Its butter smooth. On optipop the battery isn't amazing but its definitely reasonable. (I get 5 hours of SoT)
I've never had any issues with the camera to be honest. All things aside, no device is perfect and while the n5 has flaws, it is truly a work of art.
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I've never had the chance to check out a Nexus phone, but on the N7 2013, the camera's autofocus is (my own opinion) pretty terrible even compared to phones from 2010 when it comes to video...how is there any constant focusing (or lack of focusing) issues on the N5? Or frame-lag when recording in 1080p?
A year later the N5 is still one of the best phones on the market. It is still blazing fast, smooth as silk, and gaming on it is awesome. I go through Android phones like they are disposable, usually selling them to offset the cost of the new one. Every so often a phone comes around that I just can't bear to part with even though I've since upgraded. The N5 is one of those phones. I'm currently using a 2014 Moto X and an iPhone 6 as my primary devices, but there's just something about the N5 that is preventing me from selling it and I will likely keep it forever. And like JayR_L said, it's easily the best Android experience for the money.
TL;DR- Yes, it is absolutely worth buying.
You should try the Nexus5 and see what you have been missing!
The battery will drain fast when playing games also the phone heats up, don't know if anyone else is experiencing this
KingUsman said:
The battery will drain fast when playing games also the phone heats up, don't know if anyone else is experiencing this
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The same can be said about any phone.
_MetalHead_ said:
The same can be said about any phone.
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It drains faster than any other phone
KingUsman said:
It drains faster than any other phone
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That's hardly the case. Sure, there are phones with better battery life, but the N5 is certainly not the worst.
That said, any phone will drain faster and get pretty warm when playing games. You said that like it's a downside to the N5 but it's a fact of life for every smartphone on the planet.
_MetalHead_ said:
That's hardly the case. Sure, there are phones with better battery life, but the N5 is certainly not the worst.
That said, any phone will drain faster and get pretty warm when playing games. You said that like it's a downside to the N5 but it's a fact of life for every smartphone on the planet.
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Well for me, it is one of the worst battery life compared to other phones that I have used.
My nexus 5 heats up quickly when playing games, not all phones heat up this fast, my moto g doesn't heat up at all.
I would like to say the same, the nexus 5 is the best experiencie u can get from a android, Excep for the battery and about the heat playing games u guys should see the xperia z2, I'm sure that the battery will last a less twice but that if u aren't afraid of your phone became a fire ball.. I like @_MetalHead_ still having my nexus 5 even when I got the xperia z2, its just hard to sell a phone which have been so amazing and for that long.
KingUsman said:
Well for me, it is one of the worst battery life compared to other phones that I have used.
My nexus 5 heats up quickly when playing games, not all phones heat up this fast, my moto g doesn't heat up at all.
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You cant compare the Moto G to the N5. It has a much weaker processor than the N5 and as a result it won't get nearly as hot. More power generally means more heat. I've used all the major FLAGSHIPS this year and all of them heat up. The OnePlus One gets so hot you can almost boil an egg on it. Even my 2014 Moto X gets pretty warm with extended gaming sessions.
And again, everyone knows that battery life is not one of the N5's strong suits. Compromises had to be made to offer such a powerful phone at such an affordable price point. Just like compromises had to be made with the Moto G in order to sell it so cheap. If you want raw power, and just ok battery life, go with the N5. If you want a budget phone with great battery life and don't care about processing power, RAM, or screen resolution then save a little money and get the Moto G. Both are great devices for their targeted markets.
I switch from S4 and my wife switch from Note 2, both didn't look back at all.
If you compare to other phone release at that time frame N5 is just perfect, the battery does a little bit weak if compare to current generation (2300ma vs 3000ma+), but you also got OIS, which is really useful and I will say that is a must have.
Talk about heat, N5 got the snapdragon 800, you can expect it generate the same amount of heat with other phone using it, if you found other phone running cool and not as hot as N5 (such as G2, or even G3 but new cpu) that just because they clock down the CPU speed and limit it, LG G2 was known for this, and the G3 my mother using will lock the max cpu speed even when just charging using wireless charge and do nothing.
Just make sure you get the 32GB version, as the system reserve a pretty larger amount of storage.
OP, make your own decision, don't ask random people over the internet, because what you want is different to what we want.
i just bought nexus 5 and thinkimg to get nexus 6....then i watch speed comp on youtube. nexus 5 won with 6-1 check it out.
apelamod said:
i just bought nexus 5 and thinkimg to get nexus 6....then i watch speed comp on youtube. nexus 5 won with 6-1 check it out.
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That's just because data encryption is enabled by default on the N6... The latest Nexus flagship is overall better than its "predecessor" (a word that doesn't fit perfectly the N5), hardware-wise. The only weaker point is, in my opinion, its screen, with its insane resolution but disappointing brightness and color accuracy (even compared to other AMOLED screens).
BTW, our N5 is a great phone indeed. I have been using one as my daily driver for more than one year now, and still I wouldn't like to replace it with any other phone.
Display is great, all apps and the o.s. run fast and smoothly, camera is very good, partly because of the OIS, partly because the software optimizations improved its performance and speed a lot. The only flaw of this phone is its battery, which isn't terrible but just "average". What I really miss is the possibility to replace it when it gets old.
I'm thinking of replacing my N5. Is One plus one, any good? I like the slow motion camera on it.
Thinking of geting the HTC M8 (if S-Off can be achieved) or the Note 4.
JayR_L said:
IMHO the Nexus 5 is the best possible Android experience for the money. Its butter smooth. On optipop the battery isn't amazing but its definitely reasonable. (I get 5 hours of SoT)
I've never had any issues with the camera to be honest. All things aside, no device is perfect and while the n5 has flaws, it is truly a work of art.
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5 hours!?!??! How?? Tell me your ways!
DOBBY0 said:
5 hours!?!??! How?? Tell me your ways!
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4-5 hours is average.
Hi there.
Currently owning the z5. I intend to upgrade to a sd820, I know, minor upgrade but I am tired with this phone getting hot. (it gets hot whenever updating apps from play store, syncing my photos to the cloud and even chrome browsing, I won't even mention any camera related activity).
So I am choosing between Sony..again, the xperia x performance and the one plus 3.
I care most about battery performance and as I said the device not getting too hot (which, in turn can negatively affect the previous battery life). Then I'd like to have a useable camera (photos mostly). By the way, z5's photo capabilities are good enough for me, however I hated how the camera overheats and stops sometimes. Finally, audio performance is also important.
From what I can gather, oneplus 3 battery life is only marginally better. I also heard that xperia xp occasionally gets hot? Camera performance seems to not be a deciding factor, however I was only looking at some picture samples I found, I rather prefer the Sony's but it might be just me being used to z5's color/saturation?
Could anyone that had exposure to both these devices help me with deciding between the 2 on these aspects:
Battery life
Photo quality
Audio
Overall performance (as in everyday use)
Thanks
Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk
millicent said:
Hi there.
Currently owning the z5. I intend to upgrade to a sd820, I know, minor upgrade but I am tired with this phone getting hot. (it gets hot whenever updating apps from play store, syncing my photos to the cloud and even chrome browsing, I won't even mention any camera related activity).
So I am choosing between Sony..again, the xperia x performance and the one plus 3.
I care most about battery performance and as I said the device not getting too hot (which, in turn can negatively affect the previous battery life). Then I'd like to have a useable camera (photos mostly). By the way, z5's photo capabilities are good enough for me, however I hated how the camera overheats and stops sometimes. Finally, audio performance is also important.
From what I can gather, oneplus 3 battery life is only marginally better. I also heard that xperia xp occasionally gets hot? Camera performance seems to not be a deciding factor, however I was only looking at some picture samples I found, I rather prefer the Sony's but it might be just me being used to z5's color/saturation?
Could anyone that had exposure to both these devices help me with deciding between the 2 on these aspects:
Battery life
Photo quality
Audio
Overall performance (as in everyday use)
Thanks
Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk
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Sorry I can't be of use when choosing between the two phones but I would just wait until Sony bring out their next generation of handsets and you can decide if it's good enough or not.
I'm not impressed with Z5's to be honest (I have a Z5 Compact) but loved the design. It's a bit thick (hard to hold) and a bit heavy though.
I wouldn't buy Sony again after my Z5 experience. They've fixed most things now, but given the price I would expect a lot more. One+ looks great
I would suggest you a HTC 10. Bought one for my Mother a few weeks ago. Its really great!
im with EDGN htc 10 upto 50% faster from Z5 and better sound
dont know about picture and battery
and im also not gonna buy SONY anymore... sony X is about same as Z5+-,,, and Sony XP maybe faster but same audio, same lens.. (without the 4K filming, only if rooting)
also lots of bugs not the same service and quality
To be honest, I paid $800CAD for my Z5 when it came out last year and it's finally a phone I can enjoy (took Sony almost 12 months to come up with a decent firmware though, and everything before .224 has been nothing but trouble for me: poor battery life, bluetooth disconnecting, phone freezing, laggy/choppy UI)... the Z5 now has a pretty good stock firmware and is a reliable device, but at this point, I don't feel it was worth all that money. The OnePlus 2 I almost purchased last year instead of the Z5 finally wasn't an inferior phone by any means, but it was a lot cheaper.
The only phone I would maybe be be willing to pay $800+ for at the moment is the Note 7 (because well, like Samsung or hate it, the Note 7 is the ULTIMATE Android phone), but realistically my next phone will most likely be a ~400-500$ phone I'll get next year (OnePlus 4? I liked my OnePlus One a lot, so there's a chance). Flagship specs for the asking price of a mid-range phone is appealing.
Considering flagship Sony phones are well built but are also very expensive (some may say overpriced), my next phone won't be a Xperia. I'm not impressed at all by the new Xperia X series (same old hardware, build quality isn't worthy of Sony and the Z series, same old camera sensor/optics, etc.). From now on, a phone will have to be VERY special to justify a $800+ price tag as far as I'm concerned.
If I were you:
#1: Keep your Z5, it's still a good phone, wait for the OnePlus 4 or next year flagships, at least they will be a worthy upgrade (the 820 isn't THAT faster than the 810. I doubt you can even notice the difference in day to day usage)
or
#2: If you can deal with the Samsung firmware (it's not that bad anymore), absolutely want a new phone and have some cash to spend: Sell your Z5 while it's still worth something, and go get a Note 7 (now that's a significative upgrade from the Z5. The SoC isn't that faster, but more memory, better/bigger display, better battery life, better camera, USB-C + wireless charging, etc.)
I don't see the point of replacing the Z5 for anything else beside the Note 7 at the moment. The current flagship phones (Galaxy S7, HTC10, G5, name them all) aren't enough of an upgrade imo versus the Z5 you're using at the moment
My 2 cents, and sorry for my less than pefect English (Not my primary, and not even my secondary language )
What about one plus 3? I believe it's worth the upgrade since you won't spent much after selling your z5. Full Manual camera settings, 4gb ram, crazy fast charging and the flawless oxygen os.
I'm actually thinking about it but since our z5 is the last z and my emerald green is a jewel I'm having drawbacks. Battery life is the problem on my z5 I never get more than 4 hours SOT.
Sent from my E6653 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Just a follow-up on this..
So I gave up the z5 and bought the note 7 that I am using for 1 week.
In case anyone wanna know about the transition to samsung (my last samsung was the s2 awhile ago).
The reason I gave up the z5 was, I have mentioned before, the overheating issue, especially while operating the camera but there were some other instances.
In spite of this I kinda liked the z5 camera. Also, the battery life, when not overheating, I would get up to 6 hours sot in a full day. I also liked -- still do - some other
features of the z5, such as many elements of its hardware/software design, so normally I would've prefferred to move to a newer xperia iteration.
Anyways, I am on this samsung note 7. The device has been praised quite a bit so although initially I wouldn't consider it (reasons: samsung, touchwiz, edge screen) in the end I pre-ordered it.
So, how this note7 experience compares to z5:
battery: pretty much same battery experience, after having disabled some bloat (but only really a few so far, I think there's still room for improving further); I was hoping for more then 6 hours sot in a day considering the battery size but also, just like in the case of z5, I am using pretty much all the features, bt low power constantly on for my fitness/notification tracker, lte/wifi depending on location, all location scanning on, brightness half-way etc. I think the z5 standby time was better though.
overheating: no overheating so far, it's still warm outside (sometimes up to 30 deg Celsius). Yay!
performance: pretty much on par with z5, can't say the note is much faster as it should be perhaps.
screen: I am using the basic mode, brightness even at halfway is much more brighter than z5. Overall, the screen is fine and it's nice to see the actual deep blacks on it.
camera: I was afraid of this aspect. I am actually impressed by the camera performance, to resume, it seems to be just another generation really. The most impressive thing is how fast is it, even in low-light conditions. The only negative or positive if you will, the lens is less wide.
sound: another important factor, for me at least. Fortunately, samsung delivers here too. The wired or even bt sound compares well to the z5, to my non-audophile ears it sounds
much much better than sony's. The system equalizer actually works and makes a world of difference.
Other things note 7 I like: always on display, blue light filter, fingerprint works now all the time, the led cover view
What I miss from z5: xperia keyboard, fm player, double tap to wake, glove mode
Oh, and I received right away the August 1st security update (when I started it on August 22). Hopefully they keep up the momentum on this apsect.
Sent from my SM-N930W8 using Tapatalk
I was so excited that my Pixel 4a arrived yesterday, been shopping for a new phone for quite some times. My old phone is HTC U11, which I still love a lot, but it's getting a bit unreliable, and the picture quality is a bit lacking compared with phones these days.
So, my first impressions:
1. It is so small, almost too small! It's good and bad. Screen size on paper is bigger than my U11, but Pixel 4a screen is narrower, so it's taking some times to get used to.
2. The screen color is a little warm (yellowish) to my taste... I hope there will be tweaks in the future to fix that. Also, the brightness of the screen is not as strong as my U11. I need to set it to around 75% even indoor...
3. The Android 10 gesture navigation needs some getting used to as well. I run an app called "All in One Gestures" on the U11, it allows me to launch 3 different apps of choice on both edges of the screen, swiping in at different directions. So, I don't want to use the Android 10 gestures which take up the side edges for "back" function. Anyway, "All in One Gestures" keep crashing on Pixel 4a, I think maybe it needs root access, or it just won't run on Android 10... I found another app that is similar in functionalities that seems to work ok for now, it can run 4 apps (2 on each side, depending on short vs long swipe). So, I still prefer the traditional 3 button navigation.
4. I wish they have in screen fingerprint sensor, or power button fingerprint sensor, I usually have my phone lay down on a table and I want to unlock it.
5. I miss the edge sense on U11 - squeeze to launch cam, squeeze again to take pictures. I am ok to work with double-tab power to launch camera, but then there is no convenient way to take picture (like squeeze), have to press the shutter on screen. (Edit: just found out can use power down button to take picture, seems quite convenient...)
So sounds like a lot of negatives, but after setting it up to my taste, I am starting to like it. Every good things you heard from the Internet are true. Night mode cameras are magic. I weighted camera as an important feature and so I am expecting that the good camera would greatly offset the other negatives I listed.
My only complaint is the screen brightness. Anything less than 80% and stuff just starts dissapearing on the screen. At the lower levels you can't even tell the screen is on. Just going to have to turn adaptive off and set it to 100% brightness full time.
hmm... Comin from a op7pro, the screen brightness to me seems totally fine out of the box really. maybe 10 or so percent higher than what I kept the 7pro on, ~60% instead of ~50% but don't need it maxed or anything crazy. High brightness is a bit less than HBM mode on 7pro but it works, I also like how they alter the screen colors to help visibility when in direct sunlight. The OP devices don't do that.
My 4a screen looks pretty well calibrated, doesn't look too warm or cold at all to me. No tint issues at low brightness.
Audio quality is actually pretty good, especially for such an inexpensive device, I was having flashbacks of nexus devices and no, this 4a is better than those.
Not seen any stutter or lag at all really, maybe 3 times for a split second during all of phone setup/installing ~80 apps.
Camera takes pics fast, no lag on snapping to seeing the pic. Haven't tried with HDR+ but regular HDR for sure is quicker than anything else but other pixels. The camera preview is indeed garbage, not so much in good lighting but especially in dark/night shots, the picture you get looks a million times better than what the preview showed before you took it.
I got my 4a on 20th, Aug.
I don't have enough time, I haven't tried much yet.
But it's very smooth and fast. Good for me.
I found a Bug(?), NFC cannot ON/OFF by pressing NFC icon in QS Panel.
(NFC can be turned ON/OFF by following the setting menu)
a few functions I've confirmed:
aptX music playback with Bluetooth Headset (w/ Shure RMCE-BT2)
LTE Carrier aggregation by "4G+" sign
VoLTE (call and receive)
I will try various things from now on.
First evening of using. I agree with points already mentioned. But the one thing bothering me most I'm noticing is the adaptive brightness constantly jumping around. Anyone else with adaptive brightness issues?
More thoughts after 1st full day of use (work from home due to COVID-19):
1. Battery barely lasted my full day at home. I think my phone usage is less while working from home compared to a"normal" day at work. So a little disappointed, probably need to charge mid day.
2. I love the call screen function, it's so useful, can read what the other party on the line has to say.
I think it's too early to decide/discuss battery life.
At this moment, as you say, it feels like "keep one day".
But I don't think it's right for now.
I think that Currently the "Screen On Time" is longer than in normal(usual) use.
my previous phone (Motorola Moto G5 Plus) was kept for about 3 days with one full charge.
I would like to expect the same for my 4a....
About "Adapitive Brightness"
no problems found. my pixel4a looks like working properly.
andyshinn said:
First evening of using. I agree with points already mentioned. But the one thing bothering me most I'm noticing is the adaptive brightness constantly jumping around. Anyone else with adaptive brightness issues?
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Yes! This has been driving me crazy. I can't always reproduce it but it seems to be the worst in a dimly lit room.
I am loving the phone so far. I was previously using a OnePlus 3T so this is my first new phone in 4 years. It's much snappier than the 3T (obviously) and I'm not having any problems with the apps I've migrated over. The only complaint I have is a lack of a pulsing notification light. I've seen a few alternatives that add a ring around the camera but would prefer to wait for an official app made specifically for the 4a.
Quick question,
I have the pixel 3a XL. I am looking for an overall smaller phone, and do not use the phone for gaming, etc. Am an average user at best, really use the phone more as a phone than a multimedia unit, etc.
on paper, the pixel 4a seems to meet my needs and is an upgrade in ram / memory, etc. I enjoy the simplicity of the pixel experience and appreciate the security update schedule.
I did pre-order and still have two / three weeks before they start shipping in Canada so am tracking feedbacks and issues reported. My intention is not to cancel the order with Google, but.....
Based on first impressions - would anyone see an immediate reason to not go ahead with the purchase ?
thanks in advance,
Sent from my coral using Tapatalk
I gave the battery a good test today. Constant Spotify pass through to bluetooth + constant GPS program running and tracking movement for 7.25 hours. The screen was off for most of this time, though screen-on time was ~40 minutes. Battery was at 50% and 18W car charger then charged it at about 1%/minute. My previous phone, a OnePlus 5, with a slightly larger capacity and running at three-years old, exact same setup running A10 except for a custom kernel that underclocks the CPUs and GPU, was giving me about 35% remaining several weeks in a row under the same usage. So, Pixel 4A was draining at 7%/hr and the OP5 was draining at 9% with an underclocked kernel.
HolyAngel said:
hmm... Comin from a op7pro, the screen brightness to me seems totally fine out of the box really. maybe 10 or so percent higher than what I kept the 7pro on, ~60% instead of ~50% but don't need it maxed or anything crazy. High brightness is a bit less than HBM mode on 7pro but it works, I also like how they alter the screen colors to help visibility when in direct sunlight. The OP devices don't do that.
My 4a screen looks pretty well calibrated, doesn't look too warm or cold at all to me. No tint issues at low brightness.
Audio quality is actually pretty good, especially for such an inexpensive device, I was having flashbacks of nexus devices and no, this 4a is better than those.
Not seen any stutter or lag at all really, maybe 3 times for a split second during all of phone setup/installing ~80 apps.
Camera takes pics fast, no lag on snapping to seeing the pic. Haven't tried with HDR+ but regular HDR for sure is quicker than anything else but other pixels. The camera preview is indeed garbage, not so much in good lighting but especially in dark/night shots, the picture you get looks a million times better than what the preview showed before you took it.
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I have the 7 pro and thought about getting a 4a. Does the 4a feel more like a side step or an actual upgrade? I can't imagine it's faster than the pro, but Google support would be nice.
This is def an upgrade from my Pixel 3a and I loved that phone! I kinda like the smaller form and the display seems as good as or better than previous iterations. For the price point you really cant beat this phone.
I recently bought a op 7t for 400$ on sale. I really like the specs, os, and performance but prefer the headphone jack an smaller size of the 4a. How do you both devices compare in terms of performance and experience overall? I'm worried that the 4a would lag or whatnot due to its processor. What do you guys think?
nickster1 said:
I have the 7 pro and thought about getting a 4a. Does the 4a feel more like a side step or an actual upgrade? I can't imagine it's faster than the pro, but Google support would be nice.
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Compared to the 7pro, the 4a is a downgrade in every way except for maybe the camera. And if the smaller size is a plus to you or not..
I made the switch for development as I'm tired of OP's crap sources and late af updates, in that regard, this phone is totally fine. But in no way does it feel like a side-grade much less an upgrade. It's a downgrade for sure, but you'll be on latest OS updates.. The phone is definitely worth it for the money though, no argument here.
I got a mi9t but it is too heavy and too big for me. Do you think performance and autonomy will be better with the 4a ? I got 8 hours sot with lineage actually..
andyshinn said:
First evening of using. I agree with points already mentioned. But the one thing bothering me most I'm noticing is the adaptive brightness constantly jumping around. Anyone else with adaptive brightness issues?
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i'm having the same issue. adaptive brightness seems to be wonky. hopefully they will have a fix for this.
btw, don't use blokada app! it tracks your data and it borks the keyboard (it bugs out the keyboard)
overall i like it. i'm using this as an extra 'just in case' phone if needed for certain trips or need a better phone than the xs max.
comparing xs max and 4a side by side, clearly the display is better on the xs max (less blue tint, more natural colors), and brighter.
photos are much better on the 4a obviously. i like the smaller form factor. its a no frills phone so i'm content with what it can do and okay with the limitations.
Front camera is a big negative on this phone,the selfies are very very soft even with outstretched arm over 16 inches as said by Google experts,don't know why no one is highlighting this issue,this has been going on from pixel 3a ,the lens is set to infinity focus and it's so wide that face will never be in proper focus unless you use a selfie stick to hold it way further
Delete, please
I have a Pixel 2 XL, and I'll likely be getting the Pixel 5.
I usually upgrade every two years, but the 4 just didn't call to me. I've been holding out for wireless charging and I didn't want to give up my fingerprint reader. That and I've had a strong preference for the 'stock' Android that the Nexus/Pixel series gives you. So I waited last year. However, my battery is getting pretty poor so it's time to move on and the Pixel 5 seems to fit the bill for me.
However, there are a few drawbacks. It seems most of the gripes about the Pixel 5 seem centered around the CPU being somewhat mid-range. Coming from the 2XL, I don't really have any gripes about performance with what I already have for what I use it for. Why only real concerns are the screen and the speakers. I really like the front-facing speakers of my 2XL and sometimes will set my phone on its kickstand to watch a YouTube video with no headphones. (Not in public, I'm not a monster.) I feel like the 5 won't work as well in this scenario, but it's not a deal breaker.
The other drawback is the lower resolution screen. Honestly, I don't know if this is a big deal or not. How big a deal is the resolution difference? Noticeable to most? Would a higher refresh rate but a lower resolution be a net positive or net negative to most? I can't say I've ever felt like my screen was too laggy due to refresh rate but I honestly don't know if the bump down in resolution will slap me in the face or be a complete non-issue. I don't imagine I'd care or notice with video, but what about reading? Any advice from those with more experience in this area?
As long as you don't block the bottom speaker (lower right), you should be fine. Most of the phone stands I use don't block the speaker on my Pixel 3a XL now, so I don't see you having a problem with the Pixel 5.
If you pixel peep, then you will notice the lose of fidelity. Honestly with a screen this small (smartphone screens in general), it's not a huge deal for me. FHD+ is good enough. From experience, I do notice the loss going from higher density displays down to a 1080+ screen. Keep in mind, a higher resolution = less battery life. Takes more to drive that higher density screen. After a while, you won't notice it.
Thanks. I hadn't considered the battery life aspect of it. That's almost more important to me now, but that might just be because I'm running on a 3+ year old battery now.