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Get the pixel or not

I like this phone but I don't know if i like it enough to have it for 2 years. With the iphone 8 and the Samsung s8 or note 8 coming next year makes me want to wait. I don't like how it doesn't have wireless charging and it doesn't have the camera stabilizer for taking pics, also no water protection. So with the people that have this phone please tell me what you think of it. Thabks all.

Wait. You are setting yourself up for a disappointment with all that you see wrong with the device before even buying it. And the price will drive you nuts with those shortcomings you find objectionable.

racer0018 said:
I like this phone but I don't know if i like it enough to have it for 2 years. With the iphone 8 and the Samsung s8 or note 8 coming next year makes me want to wait. I don't like how it doesn't have wireless charging and it doesn't have the camera stabilizer for taking pics, also no water protection. So with the people that have this phone please tell me what you think of it. Thabks all.
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Here's a suggestion - make up your own mind instead of relying on other people. Not everyone has to like the same things for the same reasons.

Come on guys, I think you're being unfair. All of us who have bought the phone ought to write a review every time somebody is thinking about buying one and can't be bothered to read the comments and reviews already posted here and on youtube.

Realistically every phone is going to have certain shortcomings, and to me the Pixel looks like first-generation hardware with a top-tier asking price. After seeing the Pixel, I decided to buy the iPhone 7. That's when I found out Apple doesn't provide anything like an LED or ambient display to indicate waiting notifications. That one issue is worth the cost of a return for me, but apparently it's also acceptable to the people that bought the billion previous iPhones. The Pixel checks a lot of items off my interest list, and it misses some. Like other phones available today and in the future, there are areas where the Pixel does and does not compare favorably with other options. Ultimately I think it cost me $35 to find out that an LED notification is more personally important than waterproofing, image stabilization, or wireless charging.

I've been with Android since the HTC Droid Eris. Things are advancing so rapidly now, it is worse that trying to buy an up to date PC back in the day...by the time you got home someone had the specs of your brand new toy beat. It seems even worse now with smartphones. I find myself getting ever closer to a phone that tick all my wants. However, when that starts happening, everybody will keep the phone they have for two years instead of getting a new one every year. That won't help the sales plateau smartphones seem to be in. Today you have to be prepared for the phone you buy today to be one tier behind in a very short time. Just the way it is.
I have to say my new Pixel is the best smartphone I have ever used and it is not even close. I retired an LG V10. The V10 is about as far behind the Pixel as the Galaxy S4 was behind the V10. No it is not perfect, but no other top tier phone today is perfect either. If the Pixel is judged to be too expensive, then so are the rest of the top tier brands.
I'd say get it. Be careful with it and return it if you have some issue.

I have read tons or reviews but here is the thing, those reviews are a lot of the time done by people that wrote for a living and not the average person that is going to use this phone. Most of the time they write these reviews because they get all new phones shipped to them for free and not the average person that gets a new phone once every 2 years. I guess in all, I know what the reviews say and the YouTube videos look like but I wanted to know what the average person says about the phone. Not the expert says about the phone. Thabks.

racer0018 said:
I like this phone but I don't know if i like it enough to have it for 2 years. With the iphone 8 and the Samsung s8 or note 8 coming next year makes me want to wait. I don't like how it doesn't have wireless charging and it doesn't have the camera stabilizer for taking pics, also no water protection. So with the people that have this phone please tell me what you think of it. Thabks all.
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Youre gonna wait every 6 months... Pixel 2 next year..
Personally I hold out until the next phone I buy has significant upgrades..
I went from Nexus 4 to Nexus 6 to LG G4 to LG v10 (I fell for the 2nd screen gimmick, but it wasnt anything more over the G4), skipped LG G5, skipped Nexus 6p, considered One plus 3, but Pixel Xl filled a few of the most important boxes for me.
Hype, bandwagon, fantastic screen that turns iPhone/samsung owner's heads, accessories, accessories, super active community, fast, fast loading camera ready to take a picture, unlimited cloud, build quality, looks and balance.
I'm hoping assistant, gps and navigation will work well as I use them a lot and most phones have worked ok, but fail..
Im still waiting on my preorder....

I am happy with T-Mobile giving a 325 dollar credit for this phone, so it's totally worth it for me.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA-Developers mobile app

Yup it is missing those, but if these bother you then don't buy it because it is an expensive phone and if you are not 100% satisfied with what it is offering then yep wait for the next big thing.
For me currently this is the best phone out there satisfying all my needs and desires, and also it was time to replace my aging Nexus 5. Loving the pixel

I'm in a boat whether to buy this phone or not.. Between pixel, oneplus 3 or xiaomi mi note 2. Not sure how roms will be for the pixel, so will wait and see how that pans out and reviews for the MI note 2

LPHS said:
Yup it is missing those, but if these bother you then don't buy it because it is an expensive phone and if you are not 100% satisfied with what it is offering then yep wait for the next big thing.
For me currently this is the best phone out there satisfying all my needs and desires, and also it was time to replace my aging Nexus 5. Loving the pixel
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See that is a worthwhile upgrade. I went to an n5x so the pixel is not worth the cost. It just depends on where you're coming from.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using XDA-Developers mobile app

chrisinsocalif said:
I am happy with T-Mobile giving a 325 dollar credit for this phone, so it's totally worth it for me.
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Same here! I was going to pass on the Pixel because of the price but with that promo, I ordered two for me and the missus. A Pixel for $325 is an amazing deal!

bobby janow said:
See that is a worthwhile upgrade. I went to an n5x so the pixel is not worth the cost. It just depends on where you're coming from.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using XDA-Developers mobile app
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Exactly what I thought, I almost purchased a 5x but decided to wait for the next nexus, didn't know that time that it was going to be a pixel, but yeah for me it is worth the upgrade. If i had purchased the 5x then I am pretty sure I would be in the same boat as you, lol for me even the freakin fingerprint scanner is an upgrade

To the op and others undecided. I think some have already covered it but I'll put in my $.02
I'm different than most that posted here. I like to buy/sell when new devices come out. There is no perfect phone for anyone. I also am not biased towards android or apple.
I have recently used moto x, moto x 2nd gen, htc m9, sony z3 compact, oneplus3, iphones 5s,6,6s,&7/7+
I'm currently using the oneplus 3, iphone 7, and just got the pixel yesterday.
All these phones have there advantages/disadvantages as previously mentioned.
There will always be something better around the corner. If you keep waiting, you'll be waiting forever. If you need a phone right now, best options in my opinion are the pixel, oneplus3, iphone 6s or 7, but that depends on your needs too. If you don't need a phone right now wait it out till you do.
Phones are somewhat similar to pcs right now. They are not really getting any faster for typical use, just better cameras typically and a few different options in the os.
The oneplus 3 imo is the best 5.5" android phone for the money. It's almost perfect for my needs but comes with some minor bugs and not the best speakers for music. $400, can't be beat by any phone and is the fastest android phone out i believe. It is faster than the pixel.
Pixel is a great phone. Fingerprint sensor location takes some getting used to. Android 7 and pixel launcher are nice but come with some bugs and lack of options. Phone can be laggy at times during normal use. Great deal if you get in on the t-mobile promo. I don't like the big top/bottom bezels but i can live with it. With future updates, this could be my new close to perfect phone.
IPhone 7 is nice but overhyped. Iphone 6s is just as good. Iphone 7 speakers and camera slightly better, maybe slightly faster but nothing like Apple claims.
You need to decide what you really want then pick the phone that best fits for the price you want yo pay.
If you want a cheap avg android phone, go with the oneplus 3. It's a great price and competes with the high end phones extremely well. Otherwise pony up. There are limited choices for a decent priced phone anymore and definitely typically come with drawbacks that I'm not willing to sacrifice.
Best of luck

I currently have the Samsung s7. I'm on Verizon. I ordered a pixel from Google because with the financing you can pay it off early. On Verizon Device payment plan you have to pay monthly or just pay the entire phone off at once.
I've been reading reviews and got impatient and ordered the phone from Verizon. I saw were you could get 20% off with the Save20 code but it didn't work for me because of my corporate discount. However, Verizon is giving trade in value for any phone. If I traded in my S7 I could get $300 but I want to keep it in case I don't like the pixel.
What I did was buy an iPhone 4 from ebay for $30. Verizon gave me a $200 credit for that phone and I ordered the 128gb pixel. So I got that phone for 750-200+30=$580. I think I paid $650 for my Nexus 6P 64gb last year.
Options that Verizon and tmobile offer make it a no brainer to get this phone. I think if Google had released this phone to all carriers or when they do you will have many people buying and loving this phone. That is the problem. Not what the phone is missing it's because people don't want to pull the trigger because of the price.
Sent from my SM-G930V using XDA-Developers mobile app

andyfoster said:
Come on guys, I think you're being unfair. All of us who have bought the phone ought to write a review every time somebody is thinking about buying one and can't be bothered to read the comments and reviews already posted here and on youtube.
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LOL. Thanks mate, you made my day!

I'm am average user but love pure android and had nearly all the Nexus phones and coming from the 6p to the pixel, have to say love it. Great camera, faster better in low light, phone is bonkers quick with excellent battery life and very crisp clear screen. Also easier to handle than my 6p. Very expensive but worth it? Just about.
Sent from my Pixel using XDA-Developers mobile app

Overall love

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Samsung Galaxy Note FE, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Samsung Galaxy Note FE is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!

It is simply the MOST beautiful thing... Sometimes I find myself just staring at it.
I need a life.

Estetically astonishing, an amazing swansong for the pre "infinity display" desing language at Samsung. If it weren't for all that crappy bloatware. If only I were brave enough to root it. If only i could have one N935F just released in some asian markets like Malaysia.

Much love
The FE just became available here in Manila so i quickly pounced on one. I really liked the Note 7 when it came out and was sorely disappointed when it ended so badly
This phone is magnificent, I have the N8 as well but the FE fits in my hand better and is easier for me to handle. Sort of the difference between an S7 and an S8 overall but very happy to add to my collection. This one is a real keeper here as resale is nil and barely anyone know about it.
Also important for me it's a dual SIM version!

Definite love
Great phone! Dimension, FP reader position, battery life are all to my liking. Top notch phone! Accessories are much cheaper too! lol!
Price of phone could have been slightly lower though.
4.5/5 for me.

note fe is very good, similar to note 8, the price is also affordable, if we talk about the hardware also still able to survive at least 2 or 3 more years (I think)

I just love it too, seriously. Although not being able to root it (for now I hope!) makes me a bit frustrated.. Overall, I agree that the price could have been a bit lower but it's a Note so that's quite understandable...
I'll keep it and keep loving it until there's a really more appealing phone released which I think, won't be released soon as this Infinity-whatever trend of Samsung of the newest devices is just awful to me..
I highly prefer my capacitive navbar and the 16:9 ratio lol

I'm considering buying one. But with shipping and import...that'll be at least 600 EUR, probably more towards 650. The Note8 is already sold at 750, even Dual-Sim. Is it worth shelling out that much (I actually only hate the S8/Note8 because of the rear-mounted FP sensor).

treysis said:
I'm considering buying one. But with shipping and import...that'll be at least 600 EUR, probably more towards 650. The Note8 is already sold at 750, even Dual-Sim. Is it worth shelling out that much (I actually only hate the S8/Note8 because of the rear-mounted FP sensor).
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The Note FE is the last of his kind, physical front home button, 16:9 ratio.
It's not a bad thing so I ordered one instead of the Note 8 even if price is almost the same.
This phone is made for the Fan only

Hm, I thought about ordering a few so as to minimize my costs. But looking at prices for Note8 on ebay, I doubt this will be a success, if you can buy a European dual-sim Note8 with local warranty for only 50-100 Euros more. Would really need someone who appreciates the front FP as much as I do.

i just traded my s7 with the fe. reasons:
1. i skipped s8 and newer ones because i really despise having to pickup the whole phone from table just to securely unlock it. i trust biometric as far more secure, accurate and convenient compared to password, pin or pattern. the fingerprint scanner must always in the front, ready on your command only by using 1 finger. i readily accept last year hardware performance for this, i really don't mind since they are already powerful enough
2. the design is simply gorgeous and i luv it for still giving my finger some space to grip it on landscape mode because i enjoy watching video on my phone quite a lot during travel/commute. newer phone designs barely give anything to grip
i really wish the design trend will reverse but if it doesn't i think this will be the last time i upgrade my phone. lol

The main issues for me are a) no AOSP/LOS/RR (can't stand Touchwiz or Samsung Experience), b) not much community/official/3rd party development/support, and c) I just can't find it anywhere near me or I would have bought it (despite the curvy edges and non-replaceable battery).

Bought the blue dual sim Note FE about 5 months ago. Always wanted a Note device but choosing this one over the newer models, is due to the consideration of the smaller size and the much more beautiful design (imo) the the front fingerprint sensor. Kinda disappointed that the custom scene is not big, but at this moment in time and considering how stable and good the phone has been so far, rooting it will be enough for me.
Reading though about losing some samsung apps is worrisome though. Apart from the samsung pay (don't care at all as I don't pay through the phone), knox, what else won't work after rooting? Is there a list somewhere?

Feregorn said:
Bought the blue dual sim Note FE about 5 months ago. Always wanted a Note device but choosing this one over the newer models, is due to the consideration of the smaller size and the much more beautiful design (imo) the the front fingerprint sensor. Kinda disappointed that the custom scene is not big, but at this moment in time and considering how stable and good the phone has been so far, rooting it will be enough for me.
Reading though about losing some samsung apps is worrisome though. Apart from the samsung pay (don't care at all as I don't pay through the phone), knox, what else won't work after rootinng? Is there a list somewhere?
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Hi i was thinking the same as you till month ago . But believe me no need at all , first now we got Android 9 with all new look. Second you can install rootless substratum with andromeda , you will find many themes.
Third now there are many apps that will cover your needs instead of rooting . Just dig in xda
Finally Samsung firmware is very complicated. I used to root my note 3 . It was rootable . It works ok but with some bugs . But now i think that any custom rom will give you a hard time fixing bugs especially with latest version of samsung note .
And all custom rom will not be friendly with s pen features.

nesoor1230 said:
Hi i was thinking the same as you till month ago . But believe me no need at all , first now we got Android 9 with all new look. Second you can install rootless substratum with andromeda , you will find many themes.
Third now there are many apps that will cover your needs instead of rooting . Just dig in xda
Finally Samsung firmware is very complicated. I used to root my note 3 . It was rootable . It works ok but with some bugs . But now i think that any custom rom will give you a hard time fixing bugs especially with latest version of samsung note .
And all custom rom will not be friendly with s pen features.
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Thank you for your response. The biggest reason that I want root is to install an ad blocker like adaway and ad-free YouTube as ads can be really annoying to me. But I will surely check the substratum that you mentioned.
Sent from my SM-N935F using Tapatalk

still worth buying Pixel 2? [June 2018]

I need a new phone. I've been on a Note 4 for a while now, and it has reached its end-of-life. Done tons of research, and even when compared against the latest-and-greatest, the Pixel 2 still reviews well. It seems to be exactly what I am looking for. Even though the announcement of the Pixel 3 is right around the corner, it will mostly likely be late Oct / early Nov before consumers can get them in hand anyway. Five months is a long time, and I'm kind of ready to make a move now.
Is the Pixel 2 still the way to go? Do I have to bite the bullet and get another Samsung and get an s9? (I'm on AT&T btw, and I'm really really sick of having a carrier locked phone and waiting on AT&T to add bloatware to all the updates).
Would I be stupid to get the Pixel 2 today? Talk me into it / talk me out of it.

You'd be stupid to go Samsung again, that's for sure.
The Note 4 was arguably Samsung's peak for the Note line, and the S7 Edge the peak for their S line. Sure the new designs are fancy, but are fragile, and Samsung are horrendous when it comes to updates.
I'd suggest looking into a OnePlus 6 especially if you're sick of being carrier locked. Cheaper and more powerful than the Pixel 2, better in every way aside from speakers and camera if they are important to you.
That being said, I miss my Pixel 2 XL for the software as it's so damn smooth, but I do not miss the abysmal screen (Note 4 screen is better). So if you go Pixel 2, definitely get the smaller one with the nicer Samsung screen.

As opposed to what ? Samsung ? Pixel 2 still had several years of guaranteed updates and a smoother software interface with less bloat. I could understand MAYBE if you said an iPhone as most businesses are starting to use iOS and Apple supports their software for several years but against a Samsung that's just a joke.

My $0.02., develop your own pros/cons list as no one knows what's more important to you, than you. Example, I absolutely hate lag in software, probably an unhealthy amount... I also enjoy a headphone jack, but that's less important than software to _me_. At the end of the day, no phone is better at software and camera than the Pixel 2 (I have non-XL, coming from a Samsung Galaxy S3) and that's what I think ultimately creates the Pixel appeal because literally every time you use your phone, in an app, to take a pic, etc, you get that top-of-the-line software experience. How much does Samsung's superior hardware matter when apps lag or freeze and frustrate the user or they're running a 6-month old security patch level?
Also got mine 50% off during Verizon's Black Friday deal last year, figured the savings was worth the locked bootloader. Then we got an unlock method anyways in December so win-win, half price + unlocked BL now. Is the P2 worth full price to you? Who knows. But good luck whatever path you choose!

istrikerx said:
You'd be stupid to go Samsung again, that's for sure.
The Note 4 was arguably Samsung's peak for the Note line, and the S7 Edge the peak for their S line. Sure the new designs are fancy, but are fragile, and Samsung are horrendous when it comes to updates.
I'd suggest looking into a OnePlus 6 especially if you're sick of being carrier locked. Cheaper and more powerful than the Pixel 2, better in every way aside from speakers and camera if they are important to you.
That being said, I miss my Pixel 2 XL for the software as it's so damn smooth, but I do not miss the abysmal screen (Note 4 screen is better). So if you go Pixel 2, definitely get the smaller one with the nicer Samsung screen.
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I love my Pixel 2, but honestly the reason I bought it was because of the camera and because I thought there would be more rom development by this point, but mostly for the camera. I came from a oneplus 3t and I loved that phone so much. The development community was large and very active, and the phone's hardware was awesome.
If it wasn't for the Pixel 2's camera, I would've much rather upgraded to a newer oneplus device or even stuck with my 3t. But seriously, imo forget samsung and there locked ass bootloaders and stupidly overpriced phones.

I ditched Samsung (S6) finally last month and got the Pixel2. I am not much of a ROM flasher but root is very important to me. I was dreading going down in resolution but haven't regretted it once.

Is there any reason NOT to get the Pixel 2? What other phone is popular enough to receive continual updates, and easy to find accessories? Gives fast performance without lag-inducing bloat-ware?

I have an AT&T brand Note 8 and i really like the phone (wish i would have bought the unlocked version). But i like to root and flash roms occasionally and I'm pretty limited on the Note 8. Lucky me my work takes me all across Texas and i just happen to be where AT&T don't have service so i bought the Pixel 2 direct from Google and I'm loving it. I'm running it on Verizon. Super easy to unlock bootloader and root. I've only had it for about a month now and have only did one update (the June update) that got a little confusing but i figured it out (i downloaded it myself from Google instead of doing the ota). Personally, i think the camera on the Note 8 is better than the Pixel 2 camera, but i have both phones so i can always take pictures with the Note and it syncs to my Google photos and i have the pic on both phones. I do feel like the Pixel runs a lot smoother than the Note though. If you buy a Pixel, I'd suggest buying straight from Google so you don't have to worry about the bootloader, although i know carriers bundling things in makes it hard to pass up.

I believe it is still going strong and worth a buy.
Personally I don't the notch design which everyone is copying from Apple now.

In fact I bought one three weeks ago and I'm very happy with it. It's already running Android P DP3. I have considered a Huawei P20, but in the end went with the Pixel 2, mainly because of the fast updates and stock Android (I came from a Nexus 5X)
No regrets!

Meh not that many accessories...
mellojoe said:
Is there any reason NOT to get the Pixel 2? What other phone is popular enough to receive continual updates, and easy to find accessories? Gives fast performance without lag-inducing bloat-ware?
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Well, gotta disagree a little with you on the bolded section. The P2 just isn't sold in large enough numbers to get the choices in accessories like the mainstream iPhones, S9, etc. Otterbox Defender series only has 2 colors for crying out loud...
Edit: a word

It could be a winner for you if that's what you want...luv mine!

Personally I would wait and buy a cheaper, last year's phone in the meanwhile.
Pixel 2 series is great, but you still have to make hard compromises. If you want the 2018 screen quality, go pixel 2; if you want a 2018 battery life and screen size, go XL. But to me these 3 things are essential to a phone (ok maybe not the screen size). Considering the price being top of the lines even compared to an iPhone, and it is a 2017 phone (sort), I would wait.
Plus I got a feel that Pixel 3 may come with wireless charging and other technologies that would make using a phone more convenient. While Pixel 2 is just, with great camera. Not an important factor to me personally.

I just got it coming from a Huawei mate 10
Honestly its a great phone . I got the small version cuz I have a U11PLUS plus as my daily big screen phone. And it's awesome they have all these goodness in such a small phone can be handled one hand
At the moment u11plus plus 128gb and 6gb ram is going for 600$ ish on eBay. If u don't care about updates I would advice u to go with it. The camera with gcam performing better than the pixel believe it or not and the battery is the best in the market. Colours of amazing silver or red are phenomenal, nothing else comes close even the copycat p20 pro

Absolutely! I would recommend the Pixel 2 to anybody who asked I haven't even had any reason to want the XL - I've just got the 5" Pixel.
The software is essentially bloat-free (if you use the Google apps) and the experience is as polished as that of the iPhone.
(I'm not a fan of the iPhone but anybody who's used an Android can't deny on most phones the platform is bloated and a little half-assed in places.)
Plus, if you're big into getting the latest Android versions - we get the Android betas first (and they're supported for 2 years.)
And, once the 2 years are up, if you haven't got a new phone by then, I'd imagine there would be a ton of custom ROMs and such for the phone.
I'm planning on developing some ROMs for the Pixel 2 but I haven't for the moment because I have no reason to; the software is the best I've experienced, so I have no reason to mod the phone. (This is probably why there isn't much in the way of development going on for the phone)
In my opinion, the camera is excellent; I don't use it that much but when I do, it's fast, the quality is fantastic and I have trouble faulting it.
Finally, the battery life is great. As a student, I don't use my phone all day but relatively speaking, I'm quite a heavy user and I get about 3 hours more screen time than most others. Plus, as the phone charges to upwards of 80% in about 45 minutes, battery isn't really an issue. (5-10 minutes at an AC outlet can usually get it up to 20%.)
TL;DR: Particularly if you buy a phone for utility (rather than as a fashion statement), this phone is brilliant. It's the best Android device I've ever owned and, I think, one of the best on the market.
If you want something that looks a bit more flashy, I'd suggest the Pixel XL, though.

The give-a-friend 15% offer is making this pracitcally a no-brainer for me. That brings a brand new direct from Google Pixel2 to $550. That's basically the same price as low end or older model phones. Looks like I'll be picking one up. Thanks for the advice.
Feel free to add any more thoughts, tho, cause I'm sure as we get closer to the launch of the 3, more people are going to be asking for opnions on the 2 as a budget-friendly option.

jerryhou85 said:
I believe it is still going strong and worth a buy.
Personally I don't the notch design which everyone is copying from Apple now.
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Let me correct you sir. Copying from Essential ph-1, not apple. Apple copying that design from Essential ph-1. Get it right.

ivanov13 said:
Let me correct you sir. Copying from Essential ph-1, not apple. Apple copying that design from Essential ph-1. Get it right.
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Ahh, I see. Learned that recently, thanks.
This year Pixel 3 should be the choice if I want to change my phone again.

edwinek said:
In fact I bought one three weeks ago and I'm very happy with it. It's already running Android P DP3. I have considered a Huawei P20, but in the end went with the Pixel 2, mainly because of the fast updates and stock Android (I came from a Nexus 5X)
No regrets!
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me too, I bought my pixel 2 (128GB) using a 20% coupon, used to have a nexus 5x, huge improvement

Should I....

....go and get the Note 20 Ultra now? Should I wait for the next Note? The Huawei Mate 20 X isn't cutting it. I have never had a straight out of the factory stock phone. I always had either a rooted or jaibroken phone.

Get it
Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

If your current phone is going to last another year I would wait at least for a good deal.
I have a 10+ and though I'm eyeballing the 20U, Google and Samsung haven't given me enough incentive to upgrade.
I'm running Pie and Q isn't an upgrade with its scope storage crap.
5 G still isn't fully implemented.
Both models lack the latest bluetooth chipsets and codecs.
In fact the bt audio on the 20U is the same as the 10+.
Sammy dropped the ball twice on it's most expensive flagship phones ever.
So... will Android 12 and 13 be better or has Android gone MS insane too?
Maybe with the next generation of Sammy's they will be more motivated and less fractured with their offerings.
As for me the 20U has many improvements over the 10+ including faster RAM but there been a fair number complaints with the display.
The 10+ is a very capable phone and still fast by any standard plus I like Pie much more than Q.
Very little bang for the buck for me to upgrade to the 20U.
For you it be great fun but you may miss out on a future model that you'd like more.
Tough call, but waiting costs nothing if you current phone isn't costing you profitability and is reliable.

shoeprano27 said:
....go and get the Note 20 Ultra now? Should I wait for the next Note? The Huawei Mate 20 X isn't cutting it. I have never had a straight out of the factory stock phone. I always had either a rooted or jaibroken phone.
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Mate 20X was such a great phone for its time, one of the best and its still a pretty great phone. The Note 2o Ultra has been the only phone that has helped me forget my love for the 20X...you wont be disappointed unless you really loved the flat display of the 20X but I do think the 20 Ultra is now the sexiest phone on the market. I am eyeing the Fold 2 though.

My philosophy is if one always waited for what's new out around the corner one wouldn't end up getting anything at all !
Enjoy the journey.

Wait until next year. Or better still the following.

Should I buy one now

Hi All,
I was wondering what you guys think of the phone now 8 months down the line. I am getting this at a good price around £650 for a good condition used phone on ebay. I was wondering if you guys think most of its problems have been fixed by now.
Just to give you a background, I currently have a note 9 and frankly I am very happy with this phone but it is old now and I am itching to upgrade to something newer, primarily for the cameras and 120hz refresh rate. I did buy the S21 ultra on pre-order but was really disappointed with the camera performance as I found the images my exynos variant produced to be very soft and noisy and not as sharp/clear as my note 9 and overall the phone felt like a big compromise (no s-pen, no sd card, no headphone jack) after paying £1300, so I sent it back. The camera and screen are the primary reasons for me to upgrade and I expect at least decent battery life (maybe 6-7 hours SOT with youtube abd browsing). I do use the S-Pen every now and then and think it would be a good to have. I know the note 20 ultra doesnt support WQHD+ and 120hz at the same time but at the price im getting it at i think this is a compromise i am willing to make since i mostly use my phone at FHD+ anyway and I can barely tell the difference.
I know there was talk about the exynos variant being bad when compared to the SD 865+ version but frankly I am not a gamer and dont need my phone to be ultra powerful. But what i would like to know from you guys is whether the software updates over the past 8 months have fixed most of the issues with battery life and camera performance. Those of you coming from the s10 range or the note 10+ / Note 9 etc. How would you say the camera is on the Note 20 U? Do you guys think its a good buy now? Or should I just give it a miss and hang on to the note 9 till they stop the security patches? Any advise is appreciated.

I have a mate who upgraded from the Note 9 to the Note 20 Ultra. He was VERY impressed with the differences...
He has the Exynos variant but when there is no other phones to compare but what you already have he's happy...
It all comes down to you, go to a store, play with a demo version and make up your mind.

I've upgraded from S10e Exynos with 4,5 screen on time maximum and terrible idle battery drain to Note 20 Ultra Snapdragon. First week was thinking to give it back because it was too big for me and those rounded edges always made me typos. Then I've get used to it, set the keyboard paddings from edges and finally bought nice case (I never used any cases before) and now I'm totally happy with it. I as far as I've read it's almost impossible to get 7-8 screen on time on Exynos variant. I got around 7 on my Snapdragon version but never tested it with gaming so I can not tell yet how good the battery is. I can tell that Qualcomm modem is much better in sense of keeping good connection and speed and very good keeping battery in idle state. Considering the camera - it's much better that in my old S10e ofcourse but I don't use it often so can't say I care about it much. What I love about my new Note 20 ultra Snapdragon is I've rooted it to tweak some small things here and there and now totally feel it's mine. I've rooted my past phones around 5 years ago last time.
Not sure if anything I said will help you but if you have any questions I would be glad to answer.

Thanks guys really useful. As mentioned I don't really need a new phone as my current phone does pretty much what I need it to. But I am itching to upgrade and I don't want to end up being stuck with something that I feel is not as good as my current phone. I currently average 4-5 hours screen on time on my 2 year old note 9 which I think is good for an old phone so hoping to get more. The S21U was good battery wise I got 7 hours SOT with 10% remaining. But the cameras were a let down for the price. I might just wait a couple of months and pick one used if they fix the camera with software updates as the price difference doesn't seem that much like a barely used S21U is going for around 850 on ebay so might be worth the extra 200 vs the note 20 ultra. Especially because I heard a lot of bad things about the n20u battery in particular.

Hi, @eldrid
I upgraded (downgraded considering the cost/storage, lol) from the Note9 (512GB) to the Note20 Ultra (128GB) with Android 11/One UI 3.1.
Have you considered replacing the battery in your Note9? Maybe have the battery replaced and purchase the N20U?
I don't use the camera much, but hopefully one of the forum members will give you some feedback on the N9 vs N20U cameras.
I can hear the Note20 Ultra camera *rattle* but I think this is normal??
If you purchase the N20, you may not want to update the phone to Android 11 (scoped storage, bugs galore, etc...).
I enjoy using the N9 more than the N20U because of the OS and the apps function without issue.
I detest Android 11, ahem, and think it contributes to my attitude of the N20U. N9 is the Beast!

I haven't had note 9 earlier but for me the note 20 ultra is perfect.
We get 1080p with 120hz (sure only 1080p but battery friendly and do you even notice higher res on regular basis?)
Sdcard slot, perfect for pictures, movies, big files and so on, also very easy to swap. (cloud exist but what about vacation or if u got limited data)
Very good cameras, still one of the best out there.
Very good performance with snapdragon 865+, even the exynos one is good. Recent updates have made it better than release version.
S-pen in a slot, no ugly weird case and all functions works perfectly.
The design is also very modern and future proof, I mean the front is almost all display.
People even speculate that this could be the last note ever, so if I were u, I would really consider note 20u if u liked your note 9 and want something better.

I've had my Note 20 Ultra Exynos version since launch, and it's a lot better now than it was when it first came out in both battery life & performance, I also don't game on phone's so it's been more than fine for me.
The camera has also been on point for me as well I've not been disappointed with any pictures or videos I've taken with it.
For 650 quid i think it's well worth it for what you get.

Thanks a ton guys for the honest advice. I finally picked an almost new one for £650 on ebay. They offer a 30 day return so fingers crossed i hope it works out. I won't be selling my note 9 just yet so I will have some time to compare side by side and see what it's like. I am sure it's an upgrade in many regards. But the three key things for me are 1)screen and I'm sure that's great I don't use wqhd and will be perfectly happy with the adaptive 1080 120hz. 2)The cameras... This is one area I am not sure how it will be... This is a very subjective area but I like my images to be sharp and I noticed on the S21U the images were soft and fuzzy not crisp like on the note 9. And 3) is battery life... I still get around 5 hours from the note 9 which is great so I hope to get at least that much. Will keep you guys posted on how it goes over the next few days. I feel like @650 there won't be much to complain about. I was really upset with the s21 ultra as I had paid full price for it and it (£1300) and it felt like a downgrade. Seems like the more modern Samsung phones while powerful are compromising on the basics and are not what they used to be 2 years ago.

Finally got the note20u and frankly I am quite happy with it. I am getting pretty good SOT and plus i used Bluetooth headphones for at least an hour. Considering that I think the battery life is good. Also the camera software seems to be ironed out and the image sharpness is much better than the current image quality on the S21U 1st pic is from note 20u and 2nd from s21u. Overall I think it was a good buy. I would never recommend anyone buying a Samsung phone at launch as the software is very unpolished and you pay a huge amount for an unfinished product. Comparing the experience i have with this nearly new note 20u for 650 is great compared to the ****ty experience the s21u offers for £1200 plus no sd card support or charger in the box. Very good value overall at £650

I upgraded from my still pristine Note 9 and found it a very worthy successor. From the enhanced Dex and S-pen features to the improved cameras, the Note 20 Ultra has provided me with a great user experience. Given Samsung's quest for becoming more -like and shedding features left and right, the Note 20 Ultra is the closest to what the Note line once was: the no holds barred, everything but the kitchen sink, no compromises, Note. I don't know if there is a Note 21 Ultra in the works and if there is it will probably include less features than the Note 20 Ultra offers.

Medevac1 said:
I upgraded from my still pristine Note 9 and found it a very worthy successor. From the enhanced Dex and S-pen features to the improved cameras, the Note 20 Ultra has provided me with a great user experience. Given Samsung's quest for becoming more -like and shedding features left and right, the Note 20 Ultra is the closest to what the Note line once was: the no holds barred, everything but the kitchen sink, no compromises, Note. I don't know if there is a Note 21 Ultra in the works and if there is it will probably include less features than the Note 20 Ultra offers.
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Absolutely agree. Probably why i was finding it hard to part with my note 9 as well. What a great 0 compromise device. I really hate how Samsung were originally the anti apple and a premium alternative for those that didn't want to chain themselves to apple. But now they're becoming more like apple taking away our choice.
Rumours are that there will be a watered down fan edition only this year and that the s-pen toting phone is going to be the fold from now on. If its true its a poor farewell to the note. I say they should bring back the headphone jack, sd card and pack the box with goodies. Make the whole experience of buying a premium flagship feel premium again.

eldrid said:
Absolutely agree. Probably why i was finding it hard to part with my note 9 as well. What a great 0 compromise device. I really hate how Samsung were originally the anti apple and a premium alternative for those that didn't want to chain themselves to apple. But now they're becoming more like apple taking away our choice.
Rumours are that there will be a watered down fan edition only this year and that the s-pen toting phone is going to be the fold from now on. If its true its a poor farewell to the note. I say they should bring back the headphone jack, sd card and pack the box with goodies. Make the whole experience of buying a premium flagship premium again.
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The 10+ was the last Note before Q. After Q things started going south and 11 is even worse.
Between Android and Samsung's "improvements" it's been a dismal year.
Everything's coming up psuedo Apples... and I mean that in the most derogatory way.
As for the Fold series it has been a self made disaster for Samsung. Overpriced and unreliable.
Samsung, you do know the definition of insanity don't you? Apparently not.

Late to the party here but I'm happy with my N20 Ultra 5G Snapdragon soc I imported from Hong Kong.
I wouldn't of been keen to buy a used phone from ebay due to the amount that get imei locked a few weeks / months after receiving it.

BandOfBrothers1 said:
I wouldn't of been keen to buy a used phone from ebay due to the amount that get imei locked a few weeks / months after receiving it.
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How can you avoid that from happening 100%?
Is it that common?

blackhawk said:
How can you avoid that from happening 100%?
Is it that common?
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It's something I've come across way too often throughout the years on forums.
A person sells a phone on ebay and then fraudulently claims it lost or stolen.
Auction Sites need to tighten up and introduce even more protection for the buyer as well as the seller.

BandOfBrothers1 said:
It's something I've come across way too often throughout the years on forums.
A person sells a phone on ebay and then fraudulently claims it lost or stolen.
Auction Sites need to tighten up and introduce even more protection for the buyer as well as the seller.
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Doing that in the USA be incurring multiple federal felonies.

BandOfBrothers1 said:
Late to the party here but I'm happy with my N20 Ultra 5G Snapdragon soc I imported from Hong Kong.
I wouldn't of been keen to buy a used phone from ebay due to the amount that get imei locked a few weeks / months after receiving it.
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Damn didn't know that happens. I got mine from a business seller with 100% ratings so looks like hes been at it for a while with no issues. He claims the phones are customer returns from the official Samsung store and would barely have any usage if at all. And everything looked the part it seemed brand spanking new, scratchless and even no signs wear or dust in the usb c port. Also he had a whole batch of 7-8 to sell so everything sounded legit. Let's hope everything works out well.
On a separate note. I thought id use the phone without a screen protector for a few days while the tempered glass one I ordered arrives and so removed the factory one. After a day or so i have already noticed a couple of micro scratches on the screen visible at certain angles. This is with careful use at home. I feel like this whole gorilla glass thing is just market hype.

blackhawk said:
Doing that in the USA be incurring multiple federal felonies.
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I wouldn't worry about it too much. The only reason someone would do that is to be malicious and most people are not. I doubt the seller has a personal vendetta against you. He got his money and will move on.
I have had the N20U since release and have no issues and at this point is a good as it gets functionally.