Hope you're not going to hate me for this question, but I'm torn and really could use some advice. Where I live I can get the OP6 or LG V30 for a similar price.
OP6: I really like the design of the device (even the notch) and I like OP's take on Android (the skin; additional features such as more options when taking screenshots or the reading mode). The mute slider seems cool. From what I could read, OP releases software updates more frequently and faster than LG, which would be important to me. The camera for the most part is praised in the reviews. It's a newer phone, so better processor, more RAM, but I doubt it will matter much if I mostly use my phone for browsing the web, Spotify, Netflix and taking pictures on the go.
LG V30: I like the idea of having a wide-angle camera and better audio quality on headphones. Also, the SD card slot will make transferring data from my current Galaxy S7 easier (and I won't have to ever worry about running low on space). The camera seems to be attracting quite a lot of criticism, however, and I want my phone to just work out of the box - I don't want to have to install the Gcam to take good pictures. Don't care about the video capabilities - never shoot videos. Don't take a ton of selfies, but if the front facing camera is as bad as they say, that would be a real bummer.
What's your opinion guys?
i would say go for OP6. You already has listed pros of OP6 + it has latest hardware + hell of XDA support. Most importantly OP is in the 2 place when it comes to delivering updates!!
I have both. I've had the v30 since launch and have tried to switch to other phones and just can't see to like another phone enough to leave it. I have the OP6 right now and as I use it I'm wanting to switch back to the V30...but promised myself I'd give it until the weekend. it is snappier/faster but the v30 is just such a great phone all around and I love the wide angle lense.
here are some photo comparisons in auto mode. I prefer the v30 in most shots.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=MWxlc052bFJVcTNIVjlKd0I1SDBPaE1tbEZmSHl3
Another thing to ask your self is if you have interest in running custom ROMS. You are on this forum so I will say that you may at least have an interest in doing so or possibly desire for root. If I am not mistaken, to-date, the only version of the V30 that is capable of being unlocked and rooted is the LGUS998 which is LGs carrier free Unlocked version. No carrier version has been able to be unlocked and rooted as of yet. Thus you will be limited to what updates LG provides and any apps that don't require root.
That said, the LG V30 is indeed a nice phone. I contemplated buying this myself but I absolutely need root. Was going to get the unlocked version however, I believe with the difficulty / not being able to unlock any other model, development support has been low. Thus lost interest in it personally. Also, price was kind of high at the time with mediocre performance in comparison to other phones (S8, S9, OP5T, etc). To me if the price is the same for both OP6 and LG V30, then it's a no brainer and go with OP6. However, if you can get the V30 for at least $100 cheaper, then I might steer to the V30 as it's a nice phone. However for same price. OP6 all the way.
I like the OP6 more than the V30 so far. The OS on the OP6 has a lot more customization and is more stock. It's a little faster feeling. If your headphones are "normal" headphones you probably won't notice a huge quality difference. If I were to rate the audio quality on recent devices it would go like this:
Exynos S7 Edge < Pixel 1 < Pixel 2 dongle < OP6 < V30. The OP6 sounds really good to me.
That's with 1More dual driver IEM's, Sony XBA-A3, Audeze iSine 20. I can't speak to trying to drive full size or higher impedance headphones.
I like the camera quality better from the OP6 in my environment, and the camera app performance is much better than the V30. The low viewfinder framerate on the V30 made framing stuff annoying. Right now, you have the option to use GCam on the V30 and it works decently. Currently there isn't a working port for the OP6.
bitwiser said:
I have both. I've had the v30 since launch and have tried to switch to other phones and just can't see to like another phone enough to leave it. I have the OP6 right now and as I use it I'm wanting to switch back to the V30...but promised myself I'd give it until the weekend. it is snappier/faster but the v30 is just such a great phone all around and I love the wide angle lense.
here are some photo comparisons in auto mode. I prefer the v30 in most shots.
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Click to collapse
Thank you! I saw your pics in another thread and was also surprised to like the V30 photos better (surprised because of all the criticism that V30 is getting for stills performance). What is it that you like about the V30 so much that you find yourself going back to the device? What worries me is that here on Xda, V30 seems to have rather low ratings in the "Real Reviews" section, so clearly many people are not in love with the phone.
cstark27 said:
I like the OP6 more than the V30 so far. The OS on the OP6 has a lot more customization and is more stock. It's a little faster feeling. If your headphones are "normal" headphones you probably won't notice a huge quality difference. If I were to rate the audio quality on recent devices it would go like this:
Exynos S7 Edge < Pixel 1 < Pixel 2 dongle < OP6 < V30. The OP6 sounds really good to me.
That's with 1More dual driver IEM's, Sony XBA-A3, Audeze iSine 20. I can't speak to trying to drive full size or higher impedance headphones.
I like the camera quality better from the OP6 in my environment, and the camera app performance is much better than the V30. The low viewfinder framerate on the V30 made framing stuff annoying. Right now, you have the option to use GCam on the V30 and it works decently. Currently there isn't a working port for the OP6.
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Click to collapse
Thanks! I use A-Jays for headphones, which are supposed to be good, but not audiophile headphones for sure. I am happy to hear that you're satisfied with the audio output quality on the OP6. Judging by software tours on YouTube, I was also leaning more towards the OP6. Choices, choices!
jaqubp said:
Thanks! I use A-Jays for headphones, which are supposed to be good, but not audiophile headphones for sure. I am happy to hear that you're satisfied with the audio output quality on the OP6. Judging by software tours on YouTube, I was also leaning more towards the OP6. Choices, choices!
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Click to collapse
Yep, more than satisfied with the headphone jack quality! I was contemplating getting one of those new LG Q7+ because it would be cheap and has the Quad DAC - I'd just leave it at work as a dedicated player. But I would have no desire to do that now with the OP6. It closed the gap between the Pixel 2 dongle and the V30 a pretty good amount. I do miss GCam though.
jaqubp said:
Thank you! I saw your pics in another thread and was also surprised to like the V30 photos better (surprised because of all the criticism that V30 is getting for stills performance). What is it that you like about the V30 so much that you find yourself going back to the device? What worries me is that here on Xda, V30 seems to have rather low ratings in the "Real Reviews" section, so clearly many people are not in love with the phone.
The main thing for me is the wide angle lens. I can't tell you how many times I use it in a week. I could maybe get by without it but it would be inconvenient. I really don't see why LG is the only one doing this with the second camera. Google has proved you can do portrait mode with one lens and a 2x zoom is really nothing/pointless. Second is the screen to body ratio. It is the best feeling phone in my hands with the largest possible screen. I also love the power button and FP sensor in one of the back but I know LG is changing that and many others don't like it. I just think the less buttons you put on the sides the better. I can tell you I never accidentally press the volume button when going to power off (or vice versa) like I have on so many other phones. LG also has always on display and I just prefer how they display their clock better than any one else (I use it by my bed at night). Wireless charging and IP67 is a big plus as well.
On the downside (keeps me looking at others). Speed of the phone and updates. It is not a slow phone by any means but when you use the OP6 you notice a feeling of speed between screens. V30 won't be getting "P" this year OP 6 will. Selfie camera on V30 is bad. I don't take many selfies.
So for me the cons outweigh the pros on the v30 more than any other phone.
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Click to collapse
Thanks guys for all your comments and suggestions. Really appreciate it.
In case anyone is interested what I've decided and why, I went ahead with the LG V30, figuring that if I hate it, it will be easier to return. Also, the wide-angle camera and SD card support were important factors. I already have a 128GB SD card from my old Galaxy S7, so switching to V30 was a breeze.
In addition, living in a non-euro country, I would have effectively paid 50 euros more for the 256GB OP6 than for the 64GB LG V30, because of the fees that PayPal/banks are charging when translating currencies. And with V30, 64GB is enough, because of the SD card I already have. So that's that.
But so far so good. V30 seems like a good phone with its own share of nice little features (especially like the quick controls in always on-display - don't know if that's LG or standard Android).
Related
Hi everyone,
So I've been looking at the mate 8 as my next purchase, and Some reviews state the camera quality isn't good due to software/firmware issues. Other reviews state the camera quality is really good. I was wondering what owners opinions are? If it does have exposure and focus issues, are they sorted if you use a different camera app? I don't know if different apps can alter issues that might be related to firmware?
Thanks
Ian
I wouldn't consider myself a power user but I'm very happy with the camera so far. I would mostly be taking pictures of friends and family etc and quality is just fine for me
I'm the same, mainly I'll be taking pictures of the family and scenery, that kinda thing. I'm not what you'd call a professional photographer by any means. But it is said the best camera you have is the one on you at the time, so I just want to make sure it's a relatively good one
Thanks
Ian
Camera was bad with the first update
But with latest update it became better
But if you are seeking for great camera go for lg or sam
If you wanna a power horse phablet go for mate 8
That's the thing, I've had both Samsung and LG phones before, and while the cameras were good I wasn't keen on the phones themselves. I've had a G3, a Note 4, an S6 and a Oneplus One. I was half considering a Oneplus 2, but only because of the price. £249 is cheap for a high spec phone. I'm not keen on the nexus line of phones either. I know they are popular, and you probably think I'm mad. But they are just a bog standard android phone. If I'm paying more than £400 for a phone I want it to do more than the straight forward stuff, straight out the box. Other wise id just get an iPhone. Half the stuff on the Mate 8 I'll probably never use I admit, but the fact its there is what I like. Does that make sense?
Has anybody tried a different camera app from the play store to see if that improves the pictures, or isn't it as simple as that? I'm not sure how apps, firmware, API's and hardware all tie in together, so I apologise in advance if that was a stupid question.
Thanks
Ian
The camera is a so and so in my eyes. It's ok, but very soft, in daytime but I wouldn't pick it to take pictures of kids indoor. Right now the best all around camera I have is the Nexus 6P, mostly because it will do really good indoors and most of my pics are indoors. I read that there will be a upgrade for the camera after 162 firmwarewize. Otherwise, it's a really good phone. Apps doesn't do better than stock camera.
Skickat från min HUAWEI NXT-L29 via Tapatalk
The camera is fine. It's not the best camera out there in terms of image quality when you zoom in on the pictures but it does the job. It has good colors and good exposure. It's fun to shoot with. I think quality should be able to be fixed with software update. I find that some indoor night shots almost have the same amount of detail as some of the ones shoot in daylight. The processing seems to heavy creating artefacts in images taken even in daylight.
The Mate 8 is pretty much the perfect phone in every way except the camera is not top notch. Excellent screen that is more clear and has better contrast than the screen on my iPhone 6S Plus. The battery life is the best you can get on any phone now. The build quality is fantastic. Audio quality in headphones is top notch, best I've every heard in any phone the dynamic range and clarity is amazing. Even better than my Meizu Pro 5 that has an internal DAC and amplifiers in it. It is super fast and has a very smooth and responsive UI.
Thank you for your input. You guys have confirmed the fact that the mate 8 will be my next phone just got to wait for it to come into stock again now!
Thanks
Ian
http://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-8/general/post-camera-picture-t3303629
next time just use ForumSearch
I m using galaxy series from galaxy 2 can i shift to oneplus 7 pro or go for latest s10.... need help
Bro get the Op 7
Op7 Pro for the win...
Oneplus 7 Pro will destroy the S10 series.
Michealviens said:
Oneplus 7 Pro will destroy the S10 series.
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Click to collapse
On some levels Id say OP7 pro is better for sure. Faster internal storage, faster overall user experience, faster updates, no camera hole, 90 hz screen. Its definitely cheaper as well if that matters
But the cameras (front and rear) won't match the S10, no external storage, only 256gb of internal storage compared to 512 and 2tb on S10. No wireless charging, no IP rating (bucket of water hardly counts) lol.
It will certainly not destroy the S10 that's for sure.
Samsung wins in the camera department by far
Now it depends what do you prefer
force70 said:
On some levels Id say OP7 pro is better for sure. Faster internal storage, faster overall user experience, faster updates, no camera hole, 90 hz screen. Its definitely cheaper as well of that matters
But the cameras (front and rear) won't match the S10, no external storage, only 256gb of internal storage compared to 512 and 2tb on S10. No wireless charging, no IP rating (bucket of water hardly counts) lol.
It will certainly not destroy the S10 that's for sure.
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Click to collapse
Yes I agree, The camera part of the Oneplus is a bit weak compare to the S10 series.
TL;DR: Go for OnePlus 7 Pro. Easy choice.
Personally I think Samsung's flagship devices are a waste of money. Before you read on! I'm not fully updated on all of what I'm going to complain about, so it might've changed!
To me, Samsung has nothing unique to offer, yet their devices are almost as expensive as an iPhone. Which in my opinion is insane. Samsung offers a ****ty version of Android that looks **** (think it actually looks better now than it did before), full of bloat; it doesn't even let you uninstall Instagram. Personally I'm not a huge fan of their self-made apps either. In my opinion, it would be better to spend that money on an iPhone, which at least offers something unique (being iOS).
When it comes to OnePlus. They seem to have a great vision when it comes to how they do things. One of the things I really like with them, is that you're allowed to root the phone, and you won't void warranty. Though, to lots of people, rooting isn't very major. However, their version of Android is very nice. It is close to stock Android, has close to no bloat. The bloat that it has, you can uninstall (with root). Their hardware is very nice, and now more than ever with their new OnePlus 7 Pro (OP7P). Then the price you pay is less than any other phone with same specs.
When it comes to camera, there might be better options. However, OP7P has a very decent camera, and when someone ports the Pixel camera app to work on OP7(P), it will (probably) improve the camera greatly.
I own both the 7 Pro and the S10+
This is coming from someone who hasn't owned a Samsung since the Note 4 and has owned almost every OnePlus device.
While the 7 Pro is a really good phone the S10+ is just better. The only things better on the 7 Pro is the screen scrolling, OnePlus gestures (best Android gestures hands down), UFS 3.0 storage, and screen off gestures.
The fingerprint reader is faster on the 7 Pro but the fingerprint reader on S10+ works when your fingers are wet, and you don't need to wake the screen to use it.
I do like the size of the 7 Pro (I like bigger phones) but in-hand the S10+ feels better, 7 Pro is thicker than the S10+.
Samsung's new One UI is nothing like the old Touchwiz. The S10+ has so many customization option it's not even funny. I have found no reason to want to root the S10+ (coming from someone who has rooted every single phone they have owned).
7 Pro camera is ok but the camera on the S10+ is good if not great (not Pixel great).
I had the s10 and returned it. The finger print sensor on it was not working consistently. Samsung has too much bloatware for me and didn't see a major difference from my pixel 2 xl. Only good thing about Samsung is Samsung pay. Op 7 so far I'm loving it. It depends on what you are looking for. I don't really care for camera and I'm not worried about getting some water on the phone. Also i don't use wireless charging. The specs on op7 are ridiculous for the price. Plus op7 will get the latest updates including Q faster than Samsung phones.
I have a one question.which the op7 display quality compare the s10+?
Andy_1337 said:
I had the s10 and returned it. The finger print sensor on it was not working consistently. Samsung has too much bloatware for me and didn't see a major difference from my pixel 2 xl. Only good thing about Samsung is Samsung pay. Op 7 so far I'm loving it. It depends on what you are looking for. I don't really care for camera and I'm not worried about getting some water on the phone. Also i don't use wireless charging. The specs on op7 are ridiculous for the price. Plus op7 will get the latest updates including Q faster than Samsung phones.
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Click to collapse
OP7 is water proof though, they just didn't care to pay for the IP-certification.
I have the ceramic 10+ it is lovely but I will say that the 7 pro looks terrific, Oxygen OS and the fast updates are tempting and I am not expecting Q anywhere near the 10+ until 2020. The camera edge is probably still just with the 10+ and the expandable storage too but other than that the 7 pro is a compelling package for sure, well almost…..
….For me though an always on display and wireless charging are important features, I could probably do without wireless charging but with them marketing it as a pro model it really should have been included IMO. As for the always on display with so many OEMs offering this now that there is no reason for me to consider OP until they do too. I get that some people do not rate this feature but me it has fast become a must-have.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
arsenal74 said:
I have the ceramic 10+ it is lovely but I will say that the 7 pro looks terrific, Oxygen OS and the fast updates are tempting and I am not expecting Q anywhere near the 10+ until 2020. The camera edge is probably still just with the 10+ and the expandable storage too but other than that the 7 pro is a compelling package for sure, well almost…..
….For me though an always on display and wireless charging are important features, I could probably do without wireless charging but with them marketing it as a pro model it really should have been included IMO. As for the always on display with so many OEMs offering this now that there is no reason for me to consider OP until they do too. I get that some people do not rate this feature but me it has fast become a must-have.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
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How does the 10+ camera compare to your Pixel 2 XL? I've just come from a Pixel 2 XL to the 7 Pro and the difference is huge, there is a lot of hope riding on GCam turning this camera around - i've got a 15 day window to return the 7 Pro and it will be going back if there isn't progress on the camera front (and then possibly going the S10+ route if the camera is any better).
mrlynch said:
How does the 10+ camera compare to your Pixel 2 XL? I've just come from a Pixel 2 XL to the 7 Pro and the difference is huge, there is a lot of hope riding on GCam turning this camera around - i've got a 15 day window to return the 7 Pro and it will be going back if there isn't progress on the camera front (and then possibly going the S10+ route if the camera is any better).
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Click to collapse
Well the main sensor is pretty good on the 7 pro, we don't know about the other sensors (wide, tele) though. It might get better in the future, because the main sensor is pretty good and the weakest part seems to be the software for now. Also, you can't film with the wide angle lens on the 7 pro, and we don't know if that will be possible in the future. That's the reason why I will wait 1 more month until I decide which phone I will buy. The worst case: I have to wait until Google releases their pixel 4 because I can't stand the design of the pixel 3 XL.
I have the S10+ and have a OP7 in the box right now, probably switching over.
S10+ still lags if not rebooted every couple of days for me.
Exynos camera is meh and so is standby time.
I like the S10 but it didn't live up to the hype, want a phone I don't have to baby
Snapdragon is a different story from what I've read
The OS and notchless screen are huge selling points for me.
Won't really miss wireless charging too much, don't use the SD slot as I have 2 Sims.
Agree, being shortchanged with the exynos has left a sour taste this year.
I'm just not sure I could lose an AOD, especially as the is no led. I tried before and it bugged the hell out of me. I am though still very tempted!
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---------- Post added at 07:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:57 AM ----------
mrlynch said:
How does the 10+ camera compare to your Pixel 2 XL? I've just come from a Pixel 2 XL to the 7 Pro and the difference is huge, there is a lot of hope riding on GCam turning this camera around - i've got a 15 day window to return the 7 Pro and it will be going back if there isn't progress on the camera front (and then possibly going the S10+ route if the camera is any better).
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Click to collapse
S10 is more versatile but the main camera in the 2xl is imo better.
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I caved and purchased the OP 7pro so now have both and 2 weeks in and I am conflicted on the OP7 vs the S10+.
The OP is a beast and I have found it more of a burden to carry and use than my S10+, it also makes an iPhone Xs max look small! I have also missed the always on display, wireless charging a little but no big deal. I’d also say that outside the extra brightness of the Samsung makes it easier to see, again no biggy. I prefer pretty much everything else about the OP7 Pro though and one thing I have noticed (and have posted this over on the S10 forum) is how much better the radio performance is on the OP7, I think this may be more down to the S10+ being bad than the OP7 being really good but at my work for example the S10 clings to 1 bar of 4G and often drops to 3G whereas the OP7 is rock solid on 3 or 4 bars of 4G all day. I have also installed Gcam and it works really well.
I won’t comment too much on the FPS, both work ok with the OP being quicker and the S10 being maybe more convenient on account of not having to wake the screen first. I do though still prefer a rear mounted sensor like the Pixel which is IMO just a better, quicker and easier option.
Re the AOD I read that OP have said they are working on this but are still citing battery concerns, given how good and polished oxygen OS is I just do not get why OnePlus are finding it so hard to provide a proper always on display? Lots of other OEM’s have managed it, LG even managed it on an LCD screen. Anyway fingers crossed they are at least on the case now.
So overall it is a seriously good device, I do though wish it was just not quite so big.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Nozemi said:
TL;DR: Go for OnePlus 7 Pro. Easy choice.
Personally I think Samsung's flagship devices are a waste of money. Before you read on! I'm not fully updated on all of what I'm going to complain about, so it might've changed!
To me, Samsung has nothing unique to offer, yet their devices are almost as expensive as an iPhone. Which in my opinion is insane. Samsung offers a ****ty version of Android that looks **** (think it actually looks better now than it did before), full of bloat; it doesn't even let you uninstall Instagram. Personally I'm not a huge fan of their self-made apps either. In my opinion, it would be better to spend that money on an iPhone, which at least offers something unique (being iOS).
When it comes to OnePlus. They seem to have a great vision when it comes to how they do things. One of the things I really like with them, is that you're allowed to root the phone, and you won't void warranty. Though, to lots of people, rooting isn't very major. However, their version of Android is very nice. It is close to stock Android, has close to no bloat. The bloat that it has, you can uninstall (with root). Their hardware is very nice, and now more than ever with their new OnePlus 7 Pro (OP7P). Then the price you pay is less than any other phone with same specs.
When it comes to camera, there might be better options. However, OP7P has a very decent camera, and when someone ports the Pixel camera app to work on OP7(P), it will (probably) improve the camera greatly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why does it have to be unique, I don't care about that? I care about it being a good phone, a well rounded one at that. It's hard to pack a lot of features into a cheaper phone, and often results in some corner cutting and that's what happened. The pop up camera is a DISASTER and all over China one plus has had to offer an apology and a slightly extended warranty, I'd never trust that and it collects a whole lot of dust around the top of the camera port when sitting in your pocket and such, regardless of the waterproof red ring on the top.
One UI is great, I bought the s10+ and never received Instagram, and not much bloatware at all, oneUI has almost no issues besides Bixby, which Samsung even lets you disable. OneUI has been garbage, but its great in this new phone, just look at what most reviewers have to say. The s10+ is way more well rounded then the op7 pro, which has some standout features but some pitfalls top. 90HZ is great but still isn't a huge difference and the battery life is quite poor on the OP 7 pro, I went to t-mobile and didn't notice much of a difference if at all, I did notice a difference with the 120hz razor phone though, maybe if you slow the phone down by 5x the 90 hz will have a big difference.
And you're acting like iPhones are a similar value, the hardware of iPhones in general doesn't even compare to Samsung, they're GARBAGE. Unlocked right now is a s10+ and a XR for around the same price, 880p LCD vs 1440p 4k OLED display, 18 watt vs 5 watt charger, 4100 mah battery vs 3200 mah, wide angle + telephoto lens, no giant notch and a bigger screen, slightly curved edges, headphone Jack, expandable storage, way more ram AND storage. Gtfo saying these phones are close in that regard, apple is only for iOS, why would you rather buy an iPhone. Without nova launcher, Samsung offers LOADS of customization. Also real world pricing is 29$ for a OP 7 pro a month with t-mobile which is the only seller in the US, sprint is 25$ for a s10+ with upgrade plan and all, which makes a lot more sense then spending way more to buy a phone outright vs only paying half price then upgrading to the latest and greatest phone of your choosing, keep in mind most people use carrier plans so this is the more realistic example. Oh and no wireless charging with the OP 7 pro, IP rating, headphone Jack, expandable storage, etc.
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S10Ben said:
Why does it have to be unique, I don't care about that? I care about it being a good phone, a well rounded one at that. It's hard to pack a lot of features into a cheaper phone, and often results in some corner cutting and that's what happened. The pop up camera is a DISASTER and all over China one plus has had to offer an apology and a slightly extended warranty, I'd never trust that and it collects a whole lot of dust around the top of the camera port when sitting in your pocket and such, regardless of the waterproof red ring on the top.
One UI is great, I bought the s10+ and never received Instagram, and not much bloatware at all, oneUI has almost no issues besides Bixby, which Samsung even lets you disable. OneUI has been garbage, but its great in this new phone, just look at what most reviewers have to say. The s10+ is way more well rounded then the op7 pro, which has some standout features but some pitfalls top. 90HZ is great but still isn't a huge difference and the battery life is quite poor on the OP 7 pro, I went to t-mobile and didn't notice much of a difference if at all, I did notice a difference with the 120hz razor phone though, maybe if you slow the phone down by 5x the 90 hz will have a big difference.
And you're acting like iPhones are a similar value, the hardware of iPhones in general doesn't even compare to Samsung, they're GARBAGE. Unlocked right now is a s10+ and a XR for around the same price, 880p LCD vs 1440p 4k OLED display, 18 watt vs 5 watt charger, 4100 mah battery vs 3200 mah, wide angle + telephoto lens, no giant notch and a bigger screen, slightly curved edges, headphone Jack, expandable storage, way more ram AND storage. Gtfo saying these phones are close in that regard, apple is only for iOS
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Click to collapse
Biased much?
I currently use an OP5 which i am pretty happy about (great performance, fast charging and no bloat), except for the rear camera (using stock camera app). It sometimes mess up skin tones creating a water pastel kind of effect and i find its low light performance questionable. I mostly take pictures of my kids, and it is frustrating when this happen since usually its not a posed photo where you can just try again.
I am considering upgrading to the OP7 Pro, but i am really confused about the camera performance. DxoMark has it scoring very high (using a different firmware?), and many reviewers also rank it among the best, while several others complain about horrible performance.
So, what i want to ask is:
1. Is the OP7 Pro camera a significant upgrade over the OP5?
2. Has the new firmware been released, and has it addressed the photo quality concerns?
3. Is the OP7 Pro rear camera on par with P30 Pro and S10+ ignoring zoom capabilities?
The camera is okay, I'd say it's better than my lg g6, so it should be an upgrade over the op5. It has the potential to be just as good as my s9+ camera, and sometimes it is just as good, sometimes it's just not.
Personally I'd say if camera performance is more important to you than price, unlockability, or bloat, go with the s10. If you want something that feels like a better op5 go with the op7p, but the camera will most likely not be able to compete with the s10. I'd also say avoid the p30 pro because I don't think you should spend $700-800 on something that will only get updates for a few more months.
Camera performance for me is fine, I never really use my camera, when I do I'm not trying to take artsy shots, and every time I take a picture its good enough to get my point across.
It's definitely an upgrade over the op5i had and it's an upgrade over my op6 camera as well.
I upgraded from OP5 to OP7Pro and honestly, it is a big upgrade. After tweaking the gCam stuff for a while, while there are times that the stock camera has better results, the gCam team have done an outstanding job pushing the camera hardware to their fullest.
The display alone is worth it. Complete eye candy.
explosivequack said:
Personally I'd say if camera performance is more important to you than price, unlockability, or bloat, go with the s10. If you want something that feels like a better op5 go with the op7p, but the camera will most likely not be able to compete with the s10. I'd also say avoid the p30 pro because I don't think you should spend $700-800 on something that will only get updates for a few more months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really dislike the Samsung software, it is significantly more expensive and it has a front-camera in the display (i prefer a pop-up because i only rarely take selfies and because i prefer fingerprint unlock), so it would have to a significant difference in camera performance.
Why will the P30 Pro only get updates for a few more months? I had considered it, but disliked paying more for a somewhat slower device.
ziphnor said:
I really dislike the Samsung software, it is significantly more expensive and it has a front-camera in the display (i prefer a pop-up because i only rarely take selfies and because i prefer fingerprint unlock), so it would have to a significant difference in camera performance.
Why will the P30 Pro only get updates for a few more months? I had considered it, but disliked paying more for a somewhat slower device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
samsungs one ui is a lot better than it used to be, the front camera on the s10+ is probably significantly better than the front camera of the op7p because it doesn't focus. Back camera probably won't be as significant as the front.
The United States has stuff going on where companies can't do business with huawei, including google. They have a 90 day thing going on so for 90 days Huawei will continue to get updates, but if the trade ban isn't reversed in 90 days Huawei will only be allowed to use aosp, and not use any of googles goodness.
The camera can be inconsistent. But the hardware is up there with the best and can come out with comparable results. Just still some software and processing to be tweaked
Stock is horrible. It destroys fine detail with poor post processing and forget about wide angle or panorama shots. Gcam helps a lot with detail but colours aren't great.
Sent from my GM1913 using Tapatalk
May be an unpopular opinion but if your main concern is camera, the Pixel 3a might be worth looking at.
I only say 3a to also save some money. The Pixel 3 XL could be an option too, if you are willing to pay more. I just couldn't stand the notch and some performance issues that were reported by others as well.
As for the 7 Pro, the camera definitely isn't the strong point of this device, but I'm sure it does a better job than the 5. Even if software hasn't improved much, the hardware upgrade should be good enough to get better quality pictures compared to the OP5.
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
Click to expand...
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.
Hi guys. I bought an A52 4G for myself a few weeks ago and here is my brutally honest review. As you will see, there are some things I wasn't satisfied with but I needed a phone quickly and for my budget and availability, I thought I'd give Samsung a chance.
Pros
1. Lots of QoL services by Samsung like always on display and apps like Gallery by Samsung can be more useful than Photos by Google. I also mapped the double tap power button to start the flashlight.
2. The 720G chipset along with a 90hz display feels plenty powerful especially for those coming from an older midrange device. However, it's not as fast and instantaneous as stock Android or OxygenOS. Also, you will face lots of stutters and bugs if you enable animation to .5x. At default 1x, animations are too damn slow.
3. Stereo speakers. Sound quality is average though. I don't use it much so I don't care.
4. Water resistance. It's nice of Samsung to bring this feature to a midrange device.
5. The macro camera can be useful for taking pictures of very small items like coins. The selfie camera seems alright.
6. The display, despite having kind of inaccurate colors is actually a lot better looking than most Chinese brand (OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Realme, etc) phone displays. Most Chinese brand displays tend to have a washed out, pale look to them despite having high refresh rates.
7. Battery life is pretty decent. If you don't use it much, it'll last a couple days easily. Of course, battery will degrade over time so a few years later, you might need to change the battery or the phone itself.
Cons
1. Sound quality output through the 3.5mm jack is very bad. My previous phone (Moto G5s Plus) had a much better built-in DAC. But at least the jack is there so I guess it's better than nothing but I'd suggest you get a good type-c to 3.5mm converter and use that instead if you're looking for decent audio.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very inaccurate and kind of pale. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Also, the amoled screen can be fatiguing to your eyes. Not everyone faces this but personally I have this problem.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. It would be better if Samsung didn't provide this crappy 15 watt charger and made the phone cheaper so I could buy a 25 watt charger myself. I don't see the logic in this. The phone supports 25 watt charging but Samsung includes a 15 watt charger in the box.
4. The lightly colored matte plastic back looks awesome in the beginning but with some mild use, the colors are already starting to fade and become yellowish. So put a case or skin on it if you wanna preserve that awesome color.
5. The colors and details of the main camera are not very good for an upper midrange device in 2021. I saw some reviews on YouTube with review units provided by Samsung that showed much better camera quality than what I'm getting with my retail unit. Especially after you take a picture, if you zoom in on a person's face for example, the details are just not there. Also, the colors are inaccurate and not life like. Hopefully, someone can make a good GCAM for this phone. Otherwise, expect to live with an average camera.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions. EDIT: Luckily, it stopped doing this.
7. If the bezels were a bit narrower especially the sides and top, it would have quite a flagship killer look. Even the A51 has narrower bezels on the side. But I know Samsung did this on purpose so their more expensive S series phones would look more special than the A series.
8. It's a bit on the heavier side if you compare it to the A51. Putting a case and tempered glass on it will only increase the weight further. I find myself having to put the phone down on a table or bed to use it. I can't hold it in the air for long due to its weight.
Bugs1. "Force dark mode" option in developer settings automatically turns itself off whenever you restart your device.
2. If you set animation to .5x instead of the default 1x, and cycle through your recent apps, there's a weird stutter.
Conclusion
If you can live with Samsung's annoying OneUI stutters or slow animations, this isn't a bad phone especially if you can get it for around $300 USD. I'd call this a good phone for moms/dads and grandmas/grandpas. If you're a young millennial trying to live on the cutting edge, I'd pass on this one and get something that's a little faster, maybe the new Nord CE (it has a more washed out display than the A52 though).
Well! My phone have just arrived. I'm switching from an S7 edge that I've been using for the last 4 years. So far I find that the screen is pretty good! Better than the S7E. The speed is excellent and of course, the ONE UI 3.1 is superb. I've already uninstalled some unwanted apps. As regards the camera, haven't tested it yet. But obviously, the GCAM will make it better.
LanguageSoez said:
Well! My phone have just arrived. I'm switching from an S7 edge that I've been using for the last 4 years. So far I find that the screen is pretty good! Better than the S7E. The speed is excellent and of course, the ONE UI 3.1 is superb. I've already uninstalled some unwanted apps. As regards the camera, haven't tested it yet. But obviously, the GCAM will make it better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it'll be better than a 4 year old phone lol. If you think one UI is superb, try using stock android or oxygenos, you will be blown away.
I got A72 and the picture quality coming out from the stabilized Sony IMX 686 sensor with pixel binned 16 MP pictures is superior to Samsung HM2 108 MP giving just 12MP images ... So is A52, I don't believe your "honest review" ....
neoxcool said:
I got A72 and the picture quality coming out from the stabilized Sony IMX 686 sensor with pixel binned 16 MP pictures is superior to Samsung HM2 108 MP giving just 12MP images ... So is A52, I don't believe your "honest review" ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A72 is not A52. Specs are one thing, software is another. You don't have to believe anything. As I said in my review, you should experience the phones in person preferably from friends who bought it and then make a decision.
The OP is obviously a satisfied customer
Griping about it being water resistant is really picking at nits. It adds little cost and help to seal out dust, extending the usable service life of the device.
Charging a phone while using isn't a good idea and it should charge slow whilst using regardless of the wattage capacity of the charger brick being used.
NiceGuyIncel said:
Hi guys. I bought an A52 4G for myself a few weeks ago and here is my brutally honest review. As you will see, there are a lot of things I wasn't satisfied with but for my budget and availability, this was one of the better ones.
Pros:
1. Lots of QoL services by Samsung like always on display and apps like Gallery by Samsung can be more useful than Photos by Google. I also mapped the double tap power button to start the flashlight.
2. The 720G chipset along with a 90hz display feels plenty smooth especially for those coming from an older midrange device. It's not as fast and instantaneous as stock android or oxygenos but this is probably the fastest that Samsung OneUI has ever been.
3. Stereo speakers. Quality is average though. I don't use it much so I don't care.
4. Water resistance. It can be useful if you like to take your phone to the bathroom or live in a rainy area but I feel this feature is more suitable for flagship phones. The 4G version of the A52 really don't need this feature and it would be better if the device was slightly cheaper instead.
Cons:
1. Sound quality output through the 3.5mm jack is very bland. My previous phone (Moto G5s Plus) had a much better built-in DAC. But at least the jack is there so I guess it's better than nothing but I'd suggest you get a good type-c to 3.5mm converter and use that instead if you're looking for quality audio.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very boring and washed out. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Hopefully, the xda community will do something about this, maybe a graphics engine or some app that can tinker with the display settings more finely.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. So I really don't know why Samsung pulled an Apple with the charger.
4. The lightly colored matte plastic back looks awesome in the beginning but with some mild use, the colors are already starting to fade and become yellowish. So put a case or skin on it if you wanna preserve that awesome color.
5. The colors and details of the main camera really sucks for an upper midrange device in 2021. I saw some reviews on YouTube with review units provided by Samsung that showed much better camera quality than what I'm getting with my retail unit. Luckily, some people have already started working on gcam for this device and from what I've heard the results are much better than Samsung's default camera app.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions.
7. If the bezels were a bit narrower especially the sides and top, it would have quite a flagship killer look. But I know Samsung did this on purpose so their more expensive S series phones would look more special than the A series.
8. It's a bit on the heavier side if you compare it to the A51. Putting a case and tempered glass on it will only increase the weight further.
9. The amoled screen can be fatiguing to your eyes. Not everyone faces this but personally I have this problem.
Conclusion: That wraps up my brutally honest review of the A52 4G. I hope you enjoyed the fact that I didn't jump up and down and say this is the best phone ever like most YouTube "reviewers". They say that whenever a new phone comes out. Of course the people who are gonna upgrade from a 5 year old phone will also say this is the best phone they ever used. From their perspective, it makes sense but I believe you should thoroughly research the market and only buy what YOU like the most. I was moving to another country where phones are quite expensive so I just grabbed this cause I was in a hurry. If you have the time, research other phones and try to use them in person. That way you will know for sure what you're getting because specs can be misleading. I'd suggest you look into Poco F3, OnePlus Nord, Moto G100, Moto G60 and other similarly priced devices before going for the A52. Don't assume that just because it's a Samsung, it's gonna be a great phone. Samsung intentionally nerfed this phone so there is more incentive for people to go for the more expensive S series phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate your feedback. I'm certain most of those who are still undecided will as well.
To be frank, this device has received overwhelming amounts of good press, which, as a consumer, is a good thing.
That said, constructive criticism is a key component towards improving upon future A series models and/or polishing the current user experience.
AHE_XDA said:
I appreciate your feedback. I'm certain most of those who are still undecided will as well.
To be frank, this device has received overwhelming amounts of good press, which, as a consumer, is a good thing.
That said, constructive criticism is a key component towards improving upon future A series models and/or polishing the current user experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Paid press is always good press...
The Samsung Fold series always get rave reviews but they're expensive, fragile and limited devices. Worse I'm being kind in my criticism.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Weird, I have never encountered this.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. So I really don't know why Samsung pulled an Apple with the charger
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't mind this at all since it's already proven that fast charging does hurt your battery longevity.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very boring and washed out. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Hopefully, the xda community will do something about this, maybe a graphics engine or some app that can tinker with the display settings more finely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with this, although I prefer it for the occasional media consumption. For general usage, it might lead to some eye strain for some people which includes me.
The build despite plastic is decent enough considering the trade-offs with its other specs at this price point and an IP6X is always welcome. The camera is nothing spectacular but not bad, given that it's harder to quantify the expected degrees of quality per $ at this price range. Performance is fine for the majority of the time but there are occasional stutters or lag you will encounter. Overall, I'm very satisfied with my purchase. It's also worth noting that warranty and software support tend to get overlooked when looking at the price.
I was considering Poco F3 as an alternative before getting my A52 however, I didn't go through with the Poco F3 because of various issues and concerns that I can't be arsed to list.
This phone is on my list to upgrade from my Essential PH-1. Keeping an eye on ROM development and Gcam development. I can get it for around $354 depending on the COP to USD conversion rate in Colombia. Anyone know better deals out in the wild?
NiceGuyIncel said:
Hi guys. I bought an A52 4G for myself a few weeks ago and here is my brutally honest review. As you will see, there are some things I wasn't satisfied with but I needed a phone quickly and for my budget and availability, I thought I'd give Samsung a chance.
Pros
1. Lots of QoL services by Samsung like always on display and apps like Gallery by Samsung can be more useful than Photos by Google. I also mapped the double tap power button to start the flashlight.
2. The 720G chipset along with a 90hz display feels plenty powerful especially for those coming from an older midrange device. However, it's not as fast and instantaneous as stock Android or OxygenOS. Also, you will face lots of stutters and bugs if you enable animation to .5x. At default 1x, animations are too damn slow.
3. Stereo speakers. Sound quality is average though. I don't use it much so I don't care.
4. Water resistance. It's nice of Samsung to bring this feature to a midrange device.
5. The macro camera can be useful for taking pictures of very small items like coins. The selfie camera seems alright.
6. The display, despite having kind of inaccurate colors is actually a lot better looking than most Chinese brand (OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Realme, etc) phone displays. Most Chinese brand displays tend to have a washed out, pale look to them despite having high refresh rates.
7. Battery life is pretty decent. If you don't use it much, it'll last a couple days easily. Of course, battery will degrade over time so a few years later, you might need to change the battery or the phone itself.
Cons
1. Sound quality output through the 3.5mm jack is very bad. My previous phone (Moto G5s Plus) had a much better built-in DAC. But at least the jack is there so I guess it's better than nothing but I'd suggest you get a good type-c to 3.5mm converter and use that instead if you're looking for decent audio.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very inaccurate and kind of pale. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Also, the amoled screen can be fatiguing to your eyes. Not everyone faces this but personally I have this problem.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. It would be better if Samsung didn't provide this crappy 15 watt charger and made the phone cheaper so I could buy a 25 watt charger myself. I don't see the logic in this. The phone supports 25 watt charging but Samsung includes a 15 watt charger in the box.
4. The lightly colored matte plastic back looks awesome in the beginning but with some mild use, the colors are already starting to fade and become yellowish. So put a case or skin on it if you wanna preserve that awesome color.
5. The colors and details of the main camera are not very good for an upper midrange device in 2021. I saw some reviews on YouTube with review units provided by Samsung that showed much better camera quality than what I'm getting with my retail unit. Especially after you take a picture, if you zoom in on a person's face for example, the details are just not there. Also, the colors are inaccurate and not life like. Hopefully, someone can make a good GCAM for this phone. Otherwise, expect to live with an average camera.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions. EDIT: Luckily, it stopped doing this.
7. If the bezels were a bit narrower especially the sides and top, it would have quite a flagship killer look. Even the A51 has narrower bezels on the side. But I know Samsung did this on purpose so their more expensive S series phones would look more special than the A series.
8. It's a bit on the heavier side if you compare it to the A51. Putting a case and tempered glass on it will only increase the weight further. I find myself having to put the phone down on a table or bed to use it. I can't hold it in the air for long due to its weight.
Bugs1. "Force dark mode" option in developer settings automatically turns itself off whenever you restart your device.
2. If you set animation to .5x instead of the default 1x, and cycle through your recent apps, there's a weird stutter.
Conclusion
If you can live with Samsung's annoying OneUI stutters or slow animations, this isn't a bad phone especially if you can get it for around $300 USD. I'd call this a good phone for moms/dads and grandmas/grandpas. If you're a young millennial trying to live on the cutting edge, I'd pass on this one and get something that's a little faster, maybe the new Nord CE (it has a more washed out display than the A52 though).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I will answer this from the perspective of an Indian Millenial coming from Mi A2 (and having only used crappy Micromax and Redmi phones in the past, this is something which I think most Indian youth can relate to). Let's go point by point :
1. UI
Having used stock android and MIUI, I can confidently say that OneUI is definitely a bit clumsy, but it is easy to get used to compared to FuncTouch and MIUI. Also, *there is no Google dialer*, meaning you can safely do call recording. Also OneUI has "Link to Windows" baked right into it, which is a huge boon in my opinion as it kinda compensates for the lack of DeX support, I think this is one of the most underrated feature of Samsung phones.
2. Ads and Bloatware scene
Now this maybe specific to India only. I set the device up using GeekyRanjit's guide on "How to setup Samssung devices" on YT, and so far (1 month later) I have got no ads except wallpaper services message when I swipe from right on lock screen. Also, all bloatware can be either disabled or uninstalled (unlike MIUI and ColourOS), so no problem there. Overall it is much much better than Redmi, Poco and Realme offerings. Though here Oneplus NORD maybe better.
3. Camera
TBH I bought this phone for the camera, and consider the competition it did not let me down, sure there is a bit of over sharpening going on in most images and indoor/low light photos and videos have a ton of noise but considering the competition in 15k-25k INR, it is definitely better. I use Gcam 7.3.018 by Urynx05, and it does improve video stabilisation a lot thanks to OIS (only Oneplus NORD has OIS in this price). For night mode, stock night mode is better than night sight (much brighter and well balanced). Daylight pics, it is a mixed bag, macro camera is good but could have been better,but considering how rarely it is used, it is fine.
4. Display
Most Indian milllenials like me are currently upgrading from LCD to Amoled. I having never used an Amoled, am satisfied with the display. But yeah you are right Amoled displays do cause more eye fatigue than LCD.
5. Availability and Customer support
This is where this phone shines! Here in India, this phone is available like everywhere, in most mobile shop in any market no matter, how small or rural the area, this unfortunately is not the case for OnePlus and Redmi, POCO (infamous for flash sales and black-marketing)etc., thus Galaxy A52's actual competitors are phones from Vivo and Oppo, which are usually more pricey. Also, Samsung customer services is next to Apple.
Set your priorities before buying a phone and you won't be disappointed, my suggestion, if you want good camera hardware and reliable phone go for it, but if you want to do gaming I would suggest you to look elsewhere say iQOO Z3 for 20k INR.
I am trying to get either this phone or s10? I was leaning more towards a52 since it could get up to android 14 opposed to 12 on s10.
Which one should i get?