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Trading my Z3 for an M8?

Hey guys, a friend made me an offer. He's brand new HTC One M8 for my Z3 (also brand new). I'm a bit confused, I like the M8 design more but can't decide. The M8 is slightly more expensive but I can't decide. I really like the M8. [emoji17]
Sent from my D6603

M8 Pros
1. Better build, impact resistance
2. Better speakers/audio output is cleaner and louder for aux.
3. Sense UI is generally considered best looking Android UI
4. Free LCD replacement from drops etc in first 6 months
5. More available cases, accessories and they are sold in more places.
6. Faster OS updates (My dad's T-Mobile version already received Android 5.0 Lollipop)
Z3 Pros
1. Good Speakers/aux audio out (not as good as M8 but close)
2. Bigger screen
3. Brighter LCD though color temp is off
4. Camera is way better, probably the best after Nokia (need to use manual mode for good pics)
5. Better battery life
6. Thinner & lighter Phone
7. UI close to stock Android
I made my dad get an M8, so these are my conclusions from actual use of both.
I think the M8 looks better and tougher, but overall I like the Z3 better as it's more well rounded in all aspects. If not for the stupid HTC bar space in front and the Ultra Pixel gimmick I think the M8 would have been better.

Really a great comparison from abhinav.tella, I must agree with him but I want to stress the fact that from the battery point of view the m8 is a step backward ( it's not so bad, but only a little bit over the average ).
For sure the htc section is full of devs and you could gain in modding and choice of customizations, but since the root exploit has just come out and lollipop is coming soon I would give it time for the development to grow.
I switched from z3 to m8 about 3 months ago ( there were no chances to root at that time without unlocking the BL ) and I was quite satisfied, but now since we have root I just came back to the z3 and I can guarantee that I'm actually at peace with the world

Me and that friend will meet at a café in a few hours. There we'll see what we will do. Gonna post. ☺
Sent from my D6603

I've had HTC and first thing was always get rid of sense can't stand that ui

Also remember, battery life decreases over time for any phone. It will be at around 75-80% efficiency after 300 charge cycles. So that is another thing to think about when getting a used phone as both do NOT have a replaceable battery.

I just moved from a M7 to the Z3. I have to say the phone is superior in every aspect except for durability and sound quality. The M8 is not too different from M7 (except for upgraded hardware which is still inferior to the Z3). If the two aforementioned factors matter to you more than all the rest, by all means, switching to the M8 wouldn't be unwise.

Do you really want a worse camera, worse battery life, smaller screen, less RAM in exchange for better sound?

Jiyeon90 said:
Do you really want a worse camera, worse battery life, smaller screen, less RAM in exchange for better sound?
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Click to collapse
The m8 doesnt nid 3gb of ram to run smoothly... Specs isnt everything.
---------- Post added at 07:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:06 PM ----------
abhinav.tella said:
M8 Pros
1. Better build, impact resistance
2. Better speakers/audio output is cleaner and louder for aux.
3. Sense UI is generally considered best looking Android UI
4. Free LCD replacement from drops etc in first 6 months
5. More available cases, accessories and they are sold in more places.
6. Faster OS updates (My dad's T-Mobile version already received Android 5.0 Lollipop)
Z3 Pros
1. Good Speakers/aux audio out (not as good as M8 but close)
2. Bigger screen
3. Brighter LCD though color temp is off
4. Camera is way better, probably the best after Nokia (need to use manual mode for good pics)
5. Better battery life
6. Thinner & lighter Phone
7. UI close to stock Android
I made my dad get an M8, so these are my conclusions from actual use of both.
I think the M8 looks better and tougher, but overall I like the Z3 better as it's more well rounded in all aspects. If not for the stupid HTC bar space in front and the Ultra Pixel gimmick I think the M8 would have been better.
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Click to collapse
I wouldnt say the m8 is more impact resistance. There will be dents on the metal if you dropped it but the z3 most probably would not.

Jumaqidi said:
The m8 doesnt nid 3gb of ram to run smoothly... Specs isnt everything.
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Click to collapse
RAM doesn't have anything to do with performance in terms of smoothness or speed. More RAM simply allows you to keep more applications running at the same time, nothing else.

melogray said:
RAM doesn't have anything to do with performance in terms of smoothness or speed. More RAM simply allows you to keep more applications running at the same time, nothing else.
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Click to collapse
Ram is related to performance in terms of smoothness. Do you actually think ur phone will be smooth with low ram?
Sent from my D6653 using XDA Free mobile app

Jumaqidi said:
The m8 doesnt nid 3gb of ram to run smoothly... Specs isnt everything.
---------- Post added at 07:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:06 PM ----------
I wouldnt say the m8 is more impact resistance. There will be dents on the metal if you dropped it but the z3 most probably would not.
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Click to collapse
I never said the m8 wasn't smooth, in fact it's one of the smoothest devices out there, ram however is still important for better multitasking and loading heavy pages. On the iPad air with 1gb when I go to a particular forum with lots of gifs the browser crashes every time, when I go from 1 app to another, it usually refreshes..
I got the z2 and z3 tablet and both handle these tasks flawlessly, no crash, no reloading. So yeah more ram will handle multitasking and heavy stuff much better.

The M8 excelled in drop tests, the speaker grills and thick bezel protect the LCD. The Z3 is nowhere nearly as armored, almost guaranteed to shatter the LCD as glass is edge to edge. As for RAM the M8 runs smooth with 2GB it's no different than the Z3 I have both. The iPhone evens survives with 1GB, why? Memory management. I doubt I need so many apps cached in RAM at once but to each his own I guess.
All OP needs to worry about is the stuff I listed earlier and based on that which device suits his needs.

I doubt my z3 would survive the amount of drops the wife's m8 has had, yeah it's strong enough to take a good drop test but the htc is flipping unreal at durability.
Btw, just for info even she prefers the z3 tho.

melogray said:
RAM doesn't have anything to do with performance in terms of smoothness or speed. More RAM simply allows you to keep more applications running at the same time, nothing else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does. When you have no more free ram for new apps to use, the device would have to close other apps and that would affect the performance for SURE. I agree with you on the second point but not the first.

The only pro i can think of in favor of the M8 are the speakers. Worse battery, worse camera, worse bezel(longer), smaller screen, and to top it off, not waterproof. I was in the same dillema, and decided to stay with the Z3.
Sent from my D6653

How do you like this coming from a Nexus 6p?

I'm curious what you folks who came from the Nexus 6p think about this smaller phone. Are you regretting going with the smaller option? Loving it? I've ordered a Pixel for me and the missus (thanks to the TMo promo) and am fully expecting to have a love/hate relationship with the smaller phone. I mean, I totally miss having a reasonable size phone (my N6p is HUGE!!) but boy is it nice to have a large screen when I don't care about my phone being small.
I'm still a week or two away from getting our Pixels but trying to decide whether I should change my order to an XL or not.

I'm loving my Pixel. So much easier to handle. Battery life has been great. Camera is amazing. The only thing I miss are the front facing speakers. However, the Pixel speaker is plenty loud and sounds really good despite it being one speaker on the bottom of the device.

daewond3r said:
I'm loving my Pixel. So much easier to handle. Battery life has been great. Camera is amazing. The only thing I miss are the front facing speakers. However, the Pixel speaker is plenty loud and sounds really good despite it being one speaker on the bottom of the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the feedback! Oddly enough, I don't think I'll care much at all about the speaker. The N6p has great speakers but I never use them - almost always have better audio options available (7 Chromecast audios at home, B&O Bluetooth speakerphones that also sound great for music, car integrated Bluetooth, & a Bluetooth stereo headset). I think the last phone I has that wasn't too large was the OG Moto X. That was a long time and many phones ago!

The smaller phone is hugely liberating. Finally feels normal and just right. Heck, I wish it were smaller. I guess I never did adjust to the phablet madness. Now it fits in my pocket, cup holders, anywhere I can think of. I tend to worry less about it. It's less of a thin flat large slab that may bend. One handed use is so underrated. 4.5" would have been perfect though.
Okay, so the things I don't like are the price, it is definitely not hundreds of pounds better than the 6P, which was IMO 2015's best smartphone and the 6P held its own right up to now.
Then there's no 64gb option.
Then the design itself is also rather ugly at the back. Face looks awesome.
It hasn't added much to the 6P. It took a few things away from the 6P. The small size and the marginal speed performance differences made my mind up really.
It's not better than last year's. It's just a different phone. Because it HAS no last year model to compete with.
I have compared the camera on both and the camera is over hyped. It produces the same stills as the 6P does. However, focussing is better in video and stabilisation is finally here. Not forgetting to mention that it can do macros closer up. That's it really.
Sent from my Pixel using XDA-Developers mobile app

subhani said:
I have compared the camera on both and the camera is over hyped. It produces the same stills as the 6P does. However, focussing is better in video and stabilisation is finally here. Not forgetting to mention that it can do macros closer up. That's it really.
Sent from my Pixel using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to admit the quality is not leaps and bounds better than the 6P. However, another important factor with the Pixel camera is speed. I had to settle for subpar pics with my 6P many times because the first snap wasn't great then I had to wait for HDR+ to process before I could snap another one. The Pixel allows me to snap pictures much quicker giving me more opportunities to get the shot I want.

Thanks all! You're helping me feel better with my choice of the smaller version. I'm not worried about the aesthetics since it'll be in a case most it's life. I'm really excited for this phone even if it's not a huge upgrade from the N6P. Definitely looking for that faster camera most of all!

i have both and ive come from the 6p..i love the smaller phone..fast photos..compact..i loved the 6p..but love my pixel more
Sent from my sailfish using XDA Labs

Jaxidian said:
I'm curious what you folks who came from the Nexus 6p think about this smaller phone. Are you regretting going with the smaller option? Loving it? I've ordered a Pixel for me and the missus (thanks to the TMo promo) and am fully expecting to have a love/hate relationship with the smaller phone. I mean, I totally miss having a reasonable size phone (my N6p is HUGE!!) but boy is it nice to have a large screen when I don't care about my phone being small.
I'm still a week or two away from getting our Pixels but trying to decide whether I should change my order to an XL or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My suggestion if you have a Best Buy or Verizon store near, is go and play with both for a couple hours. It's kind of daunting to come from a 6-inch screen to a 5-inch screen. You might find it that mrs. Prefers the 5.5 inch where you find yourself happy with the 5-inch or vice versa.

subhani said:
The smaller phone is hugely liberating. Finally feels normal and just right. Heck, I wish it were smaller. I guess I never did adjust to the phablet madness. Now it fits in my pocket, cup holders, anywhere I can think of. I tend to worry less about it. It's less of a thin flat large slab that may bend. One handed use is so underrated. 4.5" would have been perfect though.
Okay, so the things I don't like are the price, it is definitely not hundreds of pounds better than the 6P, which was IMO 2015's best smartphone and the 6P held its own right up to now.
Then there's no 64gb option.
Then the design itself is also rather ugly at the back. Face looks awesome.
It hasn't added much to the 6P. It took a few things away from the 6P. The small size and the marginal speed performance differences made my mind up really.
It's not better than last year's. It's just a different phone. Because it HAS no last year model to compete with.
I have compared the camera on both and the camera is over hyped. It produces the same stills as the 6P does. However, focussing is better in video and stabilisation is finally here. Not forgetting to mention that it can do macros closer up. That's it really.
Sent from my Pixel using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the camera side of things - from the reviews I have looked at online the low light performance is superior on the Pixel when compared to the 6p, or any other phone camera for that matter.

I have the same situation too. I find 6P is too bulky..I kind of miss the Nexus 5 feeling. My biggest concern is the battery life because how significantly smaller the battery is compared to 6P.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I've found the move fine, pixel easier to handle, battery life not an issue. Camera is much faster and definitely better in low light, screen colours are better too making things look crisper. Excellent piece of kit.
Sent from my Pixel using XDA-Developers mobile app

Jazd71 said:
I've found the move fine, pixel easier to handle, battery life not an issue. Camera is much faster and definitely better in low light, screen colours are better too making things look crisper. Excellent piece of kit.
Sent from my Pixel using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please see here. I compare the Pixel and the 6p
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=69434548
Sent from my Pixel using XDA-Developers mobile app
---------- Post added at 07:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:14 PM ----------
digitheatre said:
I have the same situation too. I find 6P is too bulky..I kind of miss the Nexus 5 feeling. My biggest concern is the battery life because how significantly smaller the battery is compared to 6P.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found the Pixel to hold its charge better than the Nexus. Still early days so may degrade over time.
Sent from my Pixel using XDA-Developers mobile app

Loving it!
So I'm a bit of a junkie. I switch phones every 6-12 months, going back as far as the HTC Desire HD.
I've been bouncing between Nexus and HTC Flagships for the last couple years, having had every HTC One and both the Nexus 6 and 6p.
While I AM still a huge fan of the large form factor of the 6p (I still haven't sold it yet, so I have been doing a lot of direct comparisons), I decided on the Pixel instead of the XL and I don't regret it. It's so comfortable, so fast, the battery is AMAZING, the camera is AMAZING, it's just so good. What I was most surprised with is actually the speaker quality! It is very clear and full sounding, especially for a single bottom firing speaker.
I don't know what else to say, I thought this would be more structured but it turned into a bit of a rant.

RyanTX said:
On the camera side of things - from the reviews I have looked at online the low light performance is superior on the Pixel when compared to the 6p, or any other phone camera for that matter.
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Click to collapse
It's good I sub low-light but when it's really low light ois or manual is needed. Great camera otherwise,so much faster then stock 6P (there is now a hacked one in the 6P forum). I Have a pixel, this iPhone and a Huawei P9 and can't decide witch one to stay with but the pixel is really really good.
Skickat från min iPhone med Tapatalk

WinterApocalypse said:
So I'm a bit of a junkie. I switch phones every 6-12 months, going back as far as the HTC Desire HD.
I've been bouncing between Nexus and HTC Flagships for the last couple years, having had every HTC One and both the Nexus 6 and 6p.
While I AM still a huge fan of the large form factor of the 6p (I still haven't sold it yet, so I have been doing a lot of direct comparisons), I decided on the Pixel instead of the XL and I don't regret it. It's so comfortable, so fast, the battery is AMAZING, the camera is AMAZING, it's just so good. What I was most surprised with is actually the speaker quality! It is very clear and full sounding, especially for a single bottom firing speaker.
I don't know what else to say, I thought this would be more structured but it turned into a bit of a rant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This ia precisely how I feel. The small form factor, the power and speed. The camera and battery life sold me. The price was high. I think no phone should ever cost this price. It's a phone and a social media toy. A camera even. That's it.
But as the market rate goes, this is the best phone for the money. RIP phablets. If more top end hardware was available for smaller handsets, I would wager phablets would be dead in quick succession.
One plus 3 really is the wild card of smartphones... It throws a spanner in my perfect Pixel world.
Sent from my Pixel using XDA-Developers mobile app

The one thing making my decision difficult is reduced resolution. I'm ready for smaller form factor but I've had qhd for such a long time that I'm not sure I'm ready for the compromises when going down to HD.
Can anyone please elaborate on their experience (gaming and multimedia) coming from higher resolution display?
I'm mostly concerned with Vainglory.

Bruce lee roy said:
The one thing making my decision difficult is reduced resolution. I'm ready for smaller form factor but I've had qhd for such a long time that I'm not sure I'm ready for the compromises when going down to HD.
Can anyone please elaborate on their experience (gaming and multimedia) coming from higher resolution display?
I'm mostly concerned with Vainglory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never game on any of my mobile devices (I have a gaming PC 980ti, i74790k, 1440p display with Gsync). However, I do have the 6P and the Pixel side by side. I can't say I can tell the difference at all. I think you really have to go looking for the difference and squint to pick any minute details.

I've now had my Pixel 5" for 24 hours and I'm loving the size!

Bruce lee roy said:
The one thing making my decision difficult is reduced resolution. I'm ready for smaller form factor but I've had qhd for such a long time that I'm not sure I'm ready for the compromises when going down to HD.
Can anyone please elaborate on their experience (gaming and multimedia) coming from higher resolution display?
I'm mostly concerned with Vainglory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm the OP of this thread so I obviously came from a N6P, which is 1440p @ ~5.8". With that background, I can say that I love this screen even more than I loved the N6P screen. The drop in resolution isn't noticeable to me at all (my main monitor on my computer is 4k, so I get it and demand resolution).
The only situation I can imagine where the Pixel 5" resolution would be a problem would be with Cardboard/Daydream where the pixels are magnified. That's VERY secondary for me and I'd never change my phone decision because of that. Simply put, 1080p on this phone is pretty amazing! Don't forget that this is much sense of a DPI than any Apple phone.

Went from the 6p rooted and heavy use of xposed to a 2 week test of a stock 5x to see how the smaller phone felt...Definitely liked the smaller device, but that phone is under powered .. Got the 5 inch pixel last week and it is fantastic.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

OnePlus 7 Pro or Pixel 3a XL

Hi guys,
I'm currently using OnePlus 3T and after almost 3 years it's about time to buy new phone.
I'm not a gamer and I mainly use the phone for taking pictures, web and navigation.
Picture quality is the first thing I look for - it must be superb
I know that this is OP thread but I believe many of the users here switched from pixel to op.
what phone would you recommend? pixel 3a spec are outdated but maybe its still good enough for my usage for the next 2-3 years.
Do you think that OP can improve the software to match the quality of the pixel?
I've heard about the gcam porting but still the picture quality is not as good as taking photos with the pixel.
Or maybe should I wait to October where Google announces the pixel 4 and maybe the pixel 4a
Your help will be highly appreciated
Thanks

Go for OnePlus
OnePlus 7 is good, or 7 Pro if you don't mind curved edge. (I hate it)

Wait for the Pixel 4 XL since it is so close to being released. Tho i do love my OnePlus 7 pro. Pixels have the best camera.
---------- Post added at 08:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:05 AM ----------
Chanbingo said:
OnePlus 7 is good, or 7 Pro if you don't mind curved edge. (I hate it)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got use to the curved glass thanks to the Galaxy S8/9/10, just use a case and usually solves the accidental touches

pixel 4 would cost x1.5 for sure, don't want to spend too much
I really like the OP 3T so upgrading to 7 plus seems like the right choice.
What do you think about 7 vs 7 plus? the plus worth the extra penny?

Similar boat here, especially as a 3a XL can be had for £270 on EE from CeX at grade A (as new) whilst an OP7 is £500 upwards... and I do care about photo quality...
Thing is you do get much more with the OnePlus. You get IMO the better ROM - Pixel stock is nice, I've tried Pixel Experience on my old Moto G5 and it's great, but it's also quite basic. If you want things like screen recording, scrolling screenshots etc then you need third party software and have to battle with the battery saving features to stop them getting closed etc. They have a really nice balance where they add just enough genuinely useful features without turning it into bloatware. Only thing you miss out on is "Now Playing" which I must admit would be nice.
You get the in-display fingerprint reader making it way more convenient for "phone on desk" scenarios.
You get the mute slider which I've missed during my time on other phones.
You get, obviously, better and faster everything else except possibly shorter battery life (not sure, but the 3aXL is well regarded that way).
But true, there's no solid guarantee on camera quality. I know OP have a team dedicated to improving it so am having a bit of faith in it (and don't really mind installing Gcam for now if I can find a good universal install-and-forget version) but if guaranteed photo quality is of paramount importance even above all else mentioned then Pixel is the way to go. I know the dilemma very well as I've been agonising over the same thing (oh our first world problems!) but I had a 3T a couple of years ago and regret ever switching from it. It was hands down the best smartphone I've ever owned, and that past experience (plus wanting more RAM so I can e.g. keep Pokemon Go from being closed so much) is also pushing me towards the OP7, come what may. I'm not sure the camera is as 'bad' as some people make out - nerds are champions when it comes to complaining

supergear said:
Wait for the Pixel 4 XL since it is so close to being released. Tho i do love my OnePlus 7 pro. Pixels have the best camera.
---------- Post added at 08:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:05 AM ----------
I got use to the curved glass thanks to the Galaxy S8/9/10, just use a case and usually solves the accidental touches
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cloudane said:
Similar boat here, especially as a 3a XL can be had for £270 on EE from CeX at grade A (as new) whilst an OP7 is £500 upwards... and I do care about photo quality...
Thing is you do get much more with the OnePlus. You get IMO the better ROM - Pixel stock is nice, I've tried Pixel Experience on my old Moto G5 and it's great, but it's also quite basic. If you want things like screen recording, scrolling screenshots etc then you need third party software and have to battle with the battery saving features to stop them getting closed etc. They have a really nice balance where they add just enough genuinely useful features without turning it into bloatware. Only thing you miss out on is "Now Playing" which I must admit would be nice.
You get the in-display fingerprint reader making it way more convenient for "phone on desk" scenarios.
You get the mute slider which I've missed during my time on other phones.
You get, obviously, better and faster everything else except possibly shorter battery life (not sure, but the 3aXL is well regarded that way).
But true, there's no solid guarantee on camera quality. I know OP have a team dedicated to improving it so am having a bit of faith in it (and don't really mind installing Gcam for now if I can find a good universal install-and-forget version) but if guaranteed photo quality is of paramount importance even above all else mentioned then Pixel is the way to go. I know the dilemma very well as I've been agonising over the same thing (oh our first world problems!) but I had a 3T a couple of years ago and regret ever switching from it. It was hands down the best smartphone I've ever owned, and that past experience is also pushing me towards the OP7, come what may. I'm not sure the camera is as 'bad' as some people make out - nerds are champions when it comes to complaining
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Click to collapse
I totally agree, you're up for OP7 not OP7 plus? would like to hear your thoughts here as well

embedded123 said:
I totally agree, you're up for OP7 not OP7 plus? would like to hear your thoughts here as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I can't justify paying an extra £150 for 90Hz (which I don't want to get addicted to as then other screens will look bad to me and it'll end up restricting my tech purchases), telephoto lens (with so many megapixels these days, cropping or variations of AI digital zoom should be good enough for me) or wide angle lens (this I want the most and was agonising about last night, but... 150 quid.... and I can get a clip on). Other than that it's about the same device? Slightly faster charging which I'm not bothered about as Dash Charge is super fast already.
I can actually think of a couple of advantages to the non-Pro IMO. One being that the Pro apparently has quite 'aggressive' curves to the display. Now, I have an S9 currently and to be fair I think the curving on that looks quite nice and rarely notice any distortion, but from what I've seen of the 7Pro you get a more noticeable version of the greenish tint that appears from indirect viewing angles, I think it'd possibly bug me, not sure without seeing one in person.
Another being no moving parts. I'm sure the selfie camera is very well tested, but I'd rather not.
Plus... well no smartphone these days is good for one handed use, but let's say it's slightly less bad
And despite absolutely loathing notches initially, they've had this weird effect of growing on me (just as the industry is finding ways to get rid of them, lol). The teardrop actually looks quite 'cute' in my eyes.
Plus one sort of 'political' reason: I don't want to encourage OP to keep hiking prices up, or come next year they'll just be yet another manufacturer of smartphones that cost over a grand. I want to support their mid range flagship killer business.

OnePlus 7 Pro or Pixel 4. The Pixel 3a can't even compete. It also depends on how much you'd like to spend.

Google's stock OS is lacking behind OOS. It lacks any real innovations as Google is afraid of change, evidence by the lack of dark mode in apps and OS until now (5 or 6 years after it's been available in custom ROMs).
The 3xl just can't compete with the OP 7 pro. The 7 pro is faster, another, 90hz screen faster charging, larger screen and the specs are outdated in comparison (SD855, 6/8/12 gb ram and minimum of 128gb storage). The battery in mine lasts all day with heavy use and I'm averaging 9+ hours of sot.
The pixel has a slightly better camera in low light but day time shots there is no discernable difference between the 2. It also gets updates faster but 4-6 weeks difference is nothing compared to phones like Samsung which can take 6 months or longer.
So the only reasons you should buy a 3xl is the low light camera is the most important feature you can settle for or for some reason you feel that security you're are a must the instant they are out. Or you're penny pinching and can get the 3xl cheaper.

Pixel 3a vs 3

Hi guys
I am looking to buy a phone for my gf. she doesn't want a screen bigger than 5.5inch. She is currently an Iphone user but i want her to use Pixel.
I am however, a bit confused between these two models. I wanted to know your day to day experience regarding the phone? does the 3a lags? or how has it held up in performance till now?
Her usage will mostly be light to moderate. It will mainly consist of some normal games (not too heavy), Web browsing, video calling and streaming. Can any1 please share their experience with this phone and anything i need to be worried about?

Personally I'd suggest waiting for the 4a to be released.
The pixel 3 has battery drain issues and the 3a series is great, but with the 4a right around the corner it makes far more sense to wait for that.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs

3a has an audio jack and better battery life. Currently on sale, too.

The 3a doesn't 'lag'. It isn't as quick as say a OnePlus 8 or similar, but it is most definitely not slow.
Coming from OnePlus phones and iPhones, I don't notice a crazy difference really, it never feels slow to me.
There are some micro stutters on heavier animations or processes, but on the whole it is smooth and quick.
I would buy it again given the sale price and how much I like mine.

Skittles9823 said:
Personally I'd suggest waiting for the 4a to be released.
The pixel 3 has battery drain issues and the 3a series is great, but with the 4a right around the corner it makes far more sense to wait for that.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Google is just delaying the 4a which makes me so sad!
One more question what do you feel about the ram management? Is 4gb enough?

gman88667733 said:
The 3a doesn't 'lag'. It isn't as quick as say a OnePlus 8 or similar, but it is most definitely not slow.
Coming from OnePlus phones and iPhones, I don't notice a crazy difference really, it never feels slow to me.
There are some micro stutters on heavier animations or processes, but on the whole it is smooth and quick.
I would buy it again given the sale price and how much I like mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi thanks for your response! Can you tell me now about your day to day usage? And also regarding ram management?

I tend to close out apps when I'm done, so I rarely ever notice ram issues on any phone I use.
If I open up 10 random apps, it holds them all as far as I can tell. You'll probably see issues if you're opening up lots of games, but not normal apps.
Day to day usage is perfect honestly, I would choose the 3a over the Pixel 4, the new OnePlus phones or any Samsung. For me it just works. I never have to charge it during the day, the camera is amazing, the screen is good, it is perfectly fast for me and the speakers are decent.
Plus, I get better cell reception on this than any other phone I've ever had

100rabh7791 said:
Thanks Google is just delaying the 4a which makes me so sad!
One more question what do you feel about the ram management? Is 4gb enough?
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Click to collapse
4gb is more than enough. The way ram management works on Android pretty much means any device which has over 4-6gb of ram is just wasting ram as free ram is useless.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs
---------- Post added at 04:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:07 PM ----------
gman88667733 said:
I tend to close out apps when I'm done, so I rarely ever notice ram issues on any phone I use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a heads up, that's not great for battery life. Opening apps uses more CPU compared to leaving them in memory, and android will automatically kill the most resource intense background apps whenever it needs more.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs

gman88667733 said:
I tend to close out apps when I'm done, so I rarely ever notice ram issues on any phone I use.
If I open up 10 random apps, it holds them all as far as I can tell. You'll probably see issues if you're opening up lots of games, but not normal apps.
Day to day usage is perfect honestly, I would choose the 3a over the Pixel 4, the new OnePlus phones or any Samsung. For me it just works. I never have to charge it during the day, the camera is amazing, the screen is good, it is perfectly fast for me and the speakers are decent.
Plus, I get better cell reception on this than any other phone I've ever had
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think games wise my gf will probably play ones with medium usage. Say games which will use 800-1gb ram at max.
I'm using a 2xl and the issue is if i extensively use it then i there is lag if I switch between games and browser.

Skittles9823 said:
4gb is more than enough. The way ram management works on Android pretty much means any device which has over 4-6gb of ram is just wasting ram as free ram is useless.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs
---------- Post added at 04:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:07 PM ----------
Just a heads up, that's not great for battery life. Opening apps uses more CPU compared to leaving them in memory, and android will automatically kill the most resource intense background apps whenever it needs more.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks i think I'll wait for June 3 when they will probably announce the 4a as well. Let's c because at the moment if the rumours are right and 4a is 350$ and 3a at the moment is 280$ so that's not a very big difference.

I really don't think the 4a will be worth it over the sale price of the 3a for most people. For power users, maybe. But for the average consumer, I really don't think it is worth the extra.
I may be wrong and it could be revolutionary, but I highly doubt it will be. Phones these days are getting so good that the differences are very minimal unless you have both of them next to each other in a very controlled test
Plus, the price of the 3a will come down even more closer to/after the 4a comes out.

owner of both , I have to say prefer the 3a for the much better battery

Pixel 5 - Pros, Cons, what's left in between

So, according to the new store page, in comparison to the pixel 4/xl they cut
- Soli
- Faceunlock
- Pixel Neural Core (WHAT?! Why?!)
- Tele-Lens
- Highend Chipset
- Active Edge
- QHD+ Display (from 537 ppi down to 432 ppi )
- ip68 rating (ty u/kelderic, reddit)
And they 'gave' us
+ bigger battery
+ fingerprint (why not both?!)
+ 5G
+ wide (remember Google from last year? "We don't need wide, tele is good")
- Measly +2 GB Ram, still no storage available beyond 128 GB
What do you guys think 'bout that?
Compared to the Pixel 4/xl this just feels like a downgrade, even to the Pixel 3xl it's no real upgrade. Most people who think budget will not turn to this phone and the highend-spenders will not be pleased by this. I don't see googles angle hear, however they haven't shown any good angle recently anyway. And the heck did they remove the neural core? Plus getting a weaker soc.. just madnes.

Apparently neural core made face unlock work quicker so no loss there.
About the only thing I would prefer is higher ppi but I sure don't want to spend $1000 to get it.
My next phone will be 5G so pixel 4/xl aren't an option.
If it's not enough bang for the buck then just wait for black Friday and/or opt for the 4a 5G.
Google phones have never been the best phone for everyone.

Most likely the machine learning Ai stuff is included in the snapdragon 765 so no more dedicated chip is necessary. I would not worry too much

Benjamin_L said:
Most likely the machine learning Ai stuff is included in the snapdragon 765 so no more dedicated chip is necessary. I would not worry too much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it is not included. Where did you get that idea?

darkoroje said:
No it is not included. Where did you get that idea?
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Click to collapse
https://www.androidauthority.com/qualcomm-snapdragon-765-specs-1059745/
"Finally, Qualcomm’s fifth-gen AI engine is ported over partially intact, with a Hexagon 696 DSP with a dedicated Tensor Accelerator. The setup sports 5.5TOPS of AI compute."
So still I don't know what Google are using but they wouldn't get rid of it if it impacts performance much. So I don't worry

The Samsung S20FE will be competition at the same MSRP, includes Snapdragon 865, 120hz display, 4500mah battery. Appears to be on sale for $599. Of course it isn't a clean google phone.

Benjamin_L said:
https://www.androidauthority.com/qualcomm-snapdragon-765-specs-1059745/
"Finally, Qualcomm’s fifth-gen AI engine is ported over partially intact, with a Hexagon 696 DSP with a dedicated Tensor Accelerator. The setup sports 5.5TOPS of AI compute."
So still I don't know what Google are using but they wouldn't get rid of it if it impacts performance much. So I don't worry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems to be the case https://m.gsmarena.com/the_new_pixe...nt_mean_they_lack_the_features-news-45589.php

The pro is the camera will be brilliant and it's running stock android.
Pretty much everything else about the pixel 5 sucks

force70 said:
The pro is the camera will be brilliant and it's running stock android.
Pretty much everything else about the pixel 5 sucks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, good battery life, more than enough processing power for non gamers really sucks

Benjamin_L said:
Yeah, good battery life, more than enough processing power for non gamers really sucks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good battery life remains to be seen.
I stand by my original statement, however I suppose I could have made it more clear...for a mid ranger it's fine.
For a flagship (which it isnt). It sucks.
Better?

Pros:
A pure Google software experience
Fingerprint sensor is back( no more awful face unlock)
1080p screen
4080mAh battery
Aluminum back (well, mostly)
Cons:
That awful hole punch (that has me considering canceling my order)
Ultra wide camera replacing the telephoto
Too big
Slow processor
Active edge is gone
---------- Post added at 09:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:45 AM ----------
force70 said:
Good battery life remains to be seen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, we technically don't know what the battery life will be but just knowing a little bit about phone hardware and some common sense indicates that the battery life should be pretty good.
The biggest battery drain on any phone is the screen mainly due to the screen resolution. So take the Pixel 4 XL for example. The battery life wasn't too bad but not great either. Now increase the size of the battery 10%, decrease the number of pixels by 42%(that alone is huge), decrease the overall screen area by 11%, add in a slightly more power efficient processor, remove Soli and remove face unlock and you basically have the Pixel 5. The only thing really working against the Pixel 5 in terms of battery life is the 5G which I'm going to turn off anyways. I have no concerns about the battery life of the Pixel 5.

The more interesting comparison is to the 4a. A significant price difference but both are a similar size and real world performance would be similar too.
This just leaves wireless charging, IP and maybe 90hz as the tangible differences you would notice day to day. Maybe it will feel more premium in hand too but that is hard to know right now.
I got the 4a with the intention of giving it to one of my parents with the 5 landed, I am now hesitating though as the 4a is terrific and I am not sure the 5 is £250 better.

great battery life great phone.
I have only had my pixel 5 for a week and i am super impressed with the battery life. I have been getting 3 days out of it . At the moment it has 25 % left and it's used 8 hours and 26 minutes of screen use , that's using google to simply surf the net and as I am a distribution driver i use Google Maps daily, I also make multiple calls daily and use Bluetooth all day for my vans multi media unit and my zenwatch 3 all day I am 61 years old so I have had tons of phones and I have to say i think this phone stacks up with the best including the Asus rog 3

Pros: Battery, form factor/weight, software.
Con: Price for what is being offered. The speakers are just OK. The gap issue from production quality. Luckily I was able to get my P5 for net cost of about 461 including tax after stacking a bunch of promos, etc. Also no gap issue on mine.
I'm not an iPhone fanatic so I have nothing to say about the iPhone 12. The only phone that I currently have and would recommend is the S20FE, but not at MSRP AND if it doesn't have these touch screen issues that people are talking about. Only thing with Samsung phones is that you have to spend additional time to customize to your liking and reducing bloat. I was also pleasantly surprised with the camera qualify after making settings adjustments to reduce saturation and softening in photos.

After using mine for about a week, I am kind of regretting trading in my 4XL for one reason....the ear speaker quality. It is literally the worst sounding earpiece and is extremely quiet relative to my 4XL. I was driving on the highway yesterday and could barely hear my client on the other end. Had to plug in my wired headset. Unacceptable. I will probably send in for a new unit to see if its any better, but everyone seems to have the same comment as I.
I can settle with almost every concession Google took, and I do think the fingerprint is a big welcome back feature. I hate face unlock especially with having to wear masks. Never made sense to me. The hole punch doesnt both me.

As far as Active edge is concerned. I guess, apparently the feature isn't 'official' on the Pixel 5.
Check the apps,mods section here on xda.
Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...7&share_fid=3793&share_type=t&link_source=app

toneneuewin said:
Pros: Battery, form factor/weight, software.
Con: Price for what is being offered. The speakers are just OK. The gap issue from production quality. Luckily I was able to get my P5 for net cost of about 461 including tax after stacking a bunch of promos, etc. Also no gap issue on mine.
I'm not an iPhone fanatic so I have nothing to say about the iPhone 12. The only phone that I currently have and would recommend is the S20FE, but not at MSRP AND if it doesn't have these touch screen issues that people are talking about. Only thing with Samsung phones is that you have to spend additional time to customize to your liking and reducing bloat. I was also pleasantly surprised with the camera qualify after making settings adjustments to reduce saturation and softening in photos.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've sold my FE for the Pixel. The screen issues are annoying albeit the last update seems to have sorted it, but I just cannot live with the Samsung nonsense like cannot delete Samsung photos app and playing a dance to get to Google Photos
It's a great phone the FE but not when you are Googled up for home and work and can't be bothered working around 2 of everything
Sent from my SM-G780F using Tapatalk

Davey Dual Sim said:
I've sold my FE for the Pixel. The screen issues are annoying albeit the last update seems to have sorted it, but I just cannot live with the Samsung nonsense like cannot delete Samsung photos app and playing a dance to get to Google Photos
It's a great phone the FE but not when you are Googled up for home and work and can't be bothered working around 2 of everything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Pixel 5 is great. It just works out of the box. I'm enjoying mine and it has been a couple of weeks. You can debloat Samsung, but obviously that's additional steps. It's not hard, but quite frankly I just don't want to invest time with custom ROMs, adb commands, etc. Those days are long gone lol.

No me neither, I don't even want to root phones anymore can't be bothered
The FE would be a winner of Samsung ran stock Android
Sent from my SM-G780F using Tapatalk

Davey Dual Sim said:
No me neither, I don't even want to root phones anymore can't be bothered
The FE would be a winner of Samsung ran stock Android
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A bit true..but this would never happen. Htc had 1 model with 2 versions ...one with htc software and one with google only ...