Too boxy, too heavy? (Plus) - Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Questions & Answers

Hi,
Had a Note 9 but picked up a dirt cheap S10+. Planned on selling once I got a Note 10 + but... I much prefer the S10+ form factor and especially the weight. It's just so much nicer to use.
I don't consider the Note 10 worthwhile for me (screen/battery) so I think the Note 10+ is going back. Love the S-Pen but just don't like holding the device.
Anyone else struggling with the size? It' is just about manageable- and had I come from the Note 9 direct I suspect I'd be fine - but the S10+ feels like perfection.

RealEvil said:
Hi,
Had a Note 9 but picked up a dirt cheap S10+. Planned on selling once I got a Note 10 + but... I much prefer the S10+ form factor and especially the weight. It's just so much nicer to use.
I don't consider the Note 10 worthwhile for me (screen/battery) so I think the Note 10+ is going back. Love the S-Pen but just don't like holding the device.
Anyone else struggling with the size? It' is just about manageable- and had I come from the Note 9 direct I suspect I'd be fine - but the S10+ feels like perfection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't like big phones and that is why I did't get Note9, but when Samsung made Note10(not the +), I was happy. Even my Note10 is a bit heavy for my taste and does have some sharp edges. I put in in the case, which made it better to hold, but the heft went up a bit

Love the size. I do not have big hands. Only time it feels a little heavy is when im in bed, on my back (ooo) and holding it with one-hand. A rare occurence.

Darkestred said:
Love the size. I do not have big hands. Only time it feels a little heavy is when im in bed, on my back (ooo) and holding it with one-hand. A rare occurence.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah in bed is where I notice the size/weight. It's just not as nice to use as the S10+ for me.

Never had any issues with size and weight..especially when in bed

I love the size, the bigger the better.
Like my Note 10 plus way better than my S10 plus, prefer the more square design as well.
Go big or go home!

Note 9 is thicker and heavier than the 10+....

Related

note edge or note 4 buying advise

got a note 2 want to upgrade it to laest model
confused between note 4 and edge ,
which one would you recommend from your experience
.can you post some comments from your experience .
thanks
I guess its all come down to whether u want something different. For me i really like the edge with that unique side pannel. Also i find even though screen is similar....the edge is more natural in colour...while note 4 is brighter. Least but not last...if you really love custom rom...the note 4 seem to have better support..For me im very happy with my edge.
Sent from my SM-N915G
I am on VZW, so when the Note 4 came out I got one. Love it. Note Edge came out, got one too.
Was hard to make a decision since I love them both but I ended up choosing to keep the Edge.
They are almost identical and completely different at the same time. For example:
Note 4.
Little bit bigger display (I noticed this specially on the keyboard, the keyboard a bigger on the Note 4)
Feels more natural in the hands, more like a phone if that makes sense.
Battery life is a little better
I think the Note 4 may get updated sooner than Note Edge and will probably get better support from developers
Note 4 has a better feeling, feels more premium, more solid.
Note Edge
Feels a little thinner, I'm not sure if it really is
With the edge, I was able to put most icons there and not my home screen is clean. I love that.
Seems silly, but the edge looks more futuristic, modern and I really like that. More people ask about it...
Today, I'm very happy with the Edge, love it. Don't regret my decision.
Edge is it...
I also own the N4 & the Edge, to sum it up I Swappa'd my N4. Dispite the locked bootloader I love this Note Edge device. Battery is not bad but nothing like the N4, I cant wait for the next Note Edge generation.
My reason for buying was to support real innovation. I feel like Samsung stepped it up with the Edge display and metal materials while still retaining the removable backplate.
But if you're a VZW customer, I recommend waiting for the Note Edge Developer edition.
http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SM-N915VMKEVZW?CID=AFL-hq-mul-0813-11000279
If you have small hands, Note Edge is not suitable for you IMO. Because it's wider than Note 4. My fiancee can not handle it with one hand. She's got Note 4 and happy with it. Yes Note Edge looks weird at the first look. But it's bright. And thinner than Note 4.
The notifications, the night clock, the quick access to apps, the way it handles calls, the tool bar, and the extra edge programs makes it a hands down winner to me. If the screen size and battery were the exact same the note 4 probably would have only been released in limited edition instead of the other way around.
Sent from my SM-N915P using Tapatalk
I've had my Edge (AT&T) for 6 days, and today and left it at home in favor of my Note 2. I think it will go back to the store this weekend. Side by side, for normal daily tasks, my rooted Note 2 is actually quicker and more responsive than the stock Edge. If the ATT Edge could be rooted, I'd probably think more highly of it, but my other complaint is that when I hold it in one hand, my finger tends to fall on the edge panel causing the main screen to ignore my thumb input. Also, the sharp edge at the top of the phone is uncomfortable when I press it up to my ear.
It's kind of disappointing because I watched this phone from the day it was announced, and counted the days until I was upgrade eligible. I'll continue to rock my beater Note 2 until the Note 4 gets rooted, then probably switch to that. In the meantime, the recently released Ditto Note 4 ROM has given me a newfound appreciation for my Note 2.
Feels like the Edge is curved the wrong way for holding it like a phone, the exact opposite of Motorola's nice curved backs and definitely less ergonomic than the Note 4. Plus it's wider making it that bit more exaggerated. If you factor in dev support it's an easy decision.

Do I like it or not?

Hate to say it because of all the hype surrounding the release of the Note 7 but this phone is not impressing me so far. Sure the waterproofing and edge screen is pretty nice but besides that what do we have above and beyond the Note 5 or even the Note 4? The 7 seems a bit heavier, the edge screen is much easier to damage in the event of a screen down drop, battery life is terrible compared to the Note 4 I'm coming from, Bluetooth connections are not reliable at all with any player I have, speaker sound is not the greatest, and I find the touch screen to be not sensitive enough to the point I have to double and sometimes triple press the screen to select something. Really trying to like it but I don't know?
On the other hand, my wife got the S7 Edge and side by side there's not a huge difference in screen size. Also, her phone is much more responsive to touch input, no Bluetooth issues, bigger battery, and at the moment $150 cheaper than the Note 7 (2 year deal @ Best Buy). I'm contemplating a return to get the S7 Edge and put some cash in my pocket or returning it to wait for the new iphone 7 coming out in a few weeks? Or better yet reactivating my Note 4 which felt pretty good in my hand today when I fished it out of the drawer.
Just felt the need to post my concerns with this new wonder phone and see if anyone else is having second thoughts about their purchase?
I agree. The screen sensitivity is a real issue. Always accidentally selecting stuff when swiping and other times it's hard to select things.
dvdslw said:
Hate to say it because of all the hype surrounding the release of the Note 7 but this phone is not impressing me so far. Sure the waterproofing and edge screen is pretty nice but besides that what do we have above and beyond the Note 5 or even the Note 4? The 7 seems a bit heavier, the edge screen is much easier to damage in the event of a screen down drop, battery life is terrible compared to the Note 4 I'm coming from, Bluetooth connections are not reliable at all with any player I have, speaker sound is not the greatest, and I find the touch screen to be not sensitive enough to the point I have to double and sometimes triple press the screen to select something. Really trying to like it but I don't know?
On the other hand, my wife got the S7 Edge and side by side there's not a huge difference in screen size. Also, her phone is much more responsive to touch input, no Bluetooth issues, bigger battery, and at the moment $150 cheaper than the Note 7 (2 year deal @ Best Buy). I'm contemplating a return to get the S7 Edge and put some cash in my pocket or returning it to wait for the new iphone 7 coming out in a few weeks? Or better yet reactivating my Note 4 which felt pretty good in my hand today when I fished it out of the drawer.
Just felt the need to post my concerns with this new wonder phone and see if anyone else is having second thoughts about their purchase?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree 100%
The blutooth issue is my biggest dislike with the phone. I'm giving Samsung/Sprint 14 days to hopefully push out an update to fix some of these problems otherwise it's gonna be the Galaxy S7 Edge for me.
LouRock said:
I agree 100%
The blutooth issue is my biggest dislike with the phone. I'm giving Samsung/Sprint 14 days to hopefully push out an update to fix some of these problems otherwise it's gonna be the Galaxy S7 Edge for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just returned from Best Buy with my old Note 4 re-activated and I seem happier now. It was tough not getting the S7 edge with the $199.00 deal BB has right now along with free gear watch or sd card but I'm going to hold out for the new iphone 7 and see what apple brings to the table before I decide.
dvdslw said:
I just returned from Best Buy with my old Note 4 re-activated and I seem happier now. It was tough not getting the S7 edge with the $199.00 deal BB has right now along with free gear watch or sd card but I'm going to hold out for the new iphone 7 and see what apple brings to the table before I decide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Each person has his/her own experience. At launch, it is tough to say what issues will last and what won't. The note7 has been great for me, and I'm not experiencing any of the lag, touch screen, bluetooth, or battery issues I've heard others complain of. If you can be happier with a cheaper phone, though, I always say, go for it!
mhill1986 said:
Each person has his/her own experience. At launch, it is tough to say what issues will last and what won't. The note7 has been great for me, and I'm not experiencing any of the lag, touch screen, bluetooth, or battery issues I've heard others complain of. If you can be happier with a cheaper phone, though, I always say, go for it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same for me, its been fine for the most part. I didnt like the keyboard so downloaded google keyboard and that fixed typing problems. BT I've only used my headphones with no issue. Battery has been better that my note 4.
I use Nova launcher, package disabler, google keyboard and SD maid to keep it clean. So far its been good. I put animations at .5 from 1 and turned on force 2D GPU.
For me, battery life has been great and I've had no issues with bluetooth after 5 days of use (so far I've only connected my LG Tone to bluetooth). I'm coming from a Note 3, as opposed to most of you probably coming from a Note 4. I normally would've upgraded to the Note 5 following a 2 year pattern, but didn't for many reasons. It was an internal struggle for me to pull the trigger on the Note 7, but ultimately I couldn't resist. If my current phone was a Note 4 I probably would've waited for the Note 8 2017. At least Micro SD is back with the Note 7. And I'm surprisingly impressed with battery life, although I'm still very skeptical about it's longevity. I would've easily paid the same amount for the phone if they just put in a removable battery. The Edges do nothing for me except make me worry more about dropping my phone. I don't like the fact that it's narrower in width. I realize Samsung is trying to sell more units and suck in as many people as it can, but the Note was made to be a specialty powerhouse device. I personally feel that the regular S series phone should be the main flagship, the S series Edge should be the 2nd fall flagship that battles the Iphone, and the Note series should be geared toward the power users who truly appreciate the phone for it's function and not for it's gimmicks and style. I'm keeping the Note 7 for now, but I'll probably pick up a Note 4 just in case. Do I like it or not? It's still too early to tell, but the cons seem to outweigh the pros. FYI, if you're unhappy with the direction the Note series has been going the last 2 years, let Samsung know about it. I've been sending them suggestions since before the Note 5 was released, requesting a Note Classic version. It would build on from the Note 4 with the highest quality current hardware and software, completely unlocked, etc...

Note 8 vs S8+

Question for @norbarb and @Venom0642,
(or anyone else who has, or had both....)
Both of you have mentioned having both the S8+ and Note 8. Nearly every review I have read says something like "except for S pen and camera the Note 8 has no advantages". Do you(s) agree with this assessment? Any other observations? I ask, because I'm on the fence about upgrading, and I wouldn't use the S pen, and don't use the camera very much. Thanks, in advance...
My opinion
My wife got a Note 8 the week before my 8+ arrived, both unbranded, unlocked from Samsung. After seeing both, regular daily use for a month...I have to admit, hers seems snappier, more responsive opening apps and navigating around on the phone. She has 7.1.1 and I'm on 8.0 beta 3. Maybe the extra RAM, I don't know for sure. I also thought I would not use the pen enough to pay the premium but, in hindsight the Note would have been a nicer phone.
This is a nonscientific evaluation, she was like "you shoulda got a Note" from day one. If I had to replace my 8+, I know what the choice would be. I did pick the Note for her considering her job, she does take notes on hers. She is a MSN Charge Nurse of the OR and really needed the productivity features of the N8. On my job its just messaging, taking pictures and the basics.
cam30era said:
Question for @norbarb and @Venom0642,
(or anyone else who has, or had both....)
Both of you have mentioned having both the S8+ and Note 8. Nearly every review I have read says something like "except for S pen and camera the Note 8 has no advantages". Do you(s) agree with this assessment? Any other observations? I ask, because I'm on the fence about upgrading, and I wouldn't use the S pen, and don't use the camera very much. Thanks, in advance...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cam30era said:
Question for @norbarb and @Venom0642,
(or anyone else who has, or had both....)
Both of you have mentioned having both the S8+ and Note 8. Nearly every review I have read says something like "except for S pen and camera the Note 8 has no advantages". Do you(s) agree with this assessment? Any other observations? I ask, because I'm on the fence about upgrading, and I wouldn't use the S pen, and don't use the camera very much. Thanks, in advance...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Completely agree, I have the Note 8 and S8+ and AFAIC the pen is the only difference. Don't use the pen that much but since I was a previous Note 7 owner I got the Note 8 for $424.00 plus tax, couldn't pass on that.
Have the S8+ than Note8 ... after 7 days back to S8+. Why ? because changed Note8 for S8+ + 300 euros (insane)
Note8 have S-Pen (didnt use much) little just little better camera , screen is very sharp / brighter then S8+ , overall smooth just a little better (6gb RAM) on Note8 . But battery is way better on S8+ and basically its 90% same phone with insane price difference , ... will see what is goin on with Oreo on both devices or just waith february / march for S9 .
I like my Note 8 more personally...
The extra 2 gb does go a long way to improve the experience and though I don't use the S-pen all the time sometimes it is just too good at replacing my ham-fists when I want to do something precise...
If you have the money to spend I would consider it over the S8+...
I had Note II and I NEVER used that pen. Seems like a great idea but in practice NOBODY uses it. Or if they do, they do just to show off, any task is faster done without that s-pen. So, since the screen is just 0.1" bigger... no real advantage IMHO. Camera should be a little better as well, but who knows. IT all comes to personal preference, whether you like more curved edges (S8+) or less curved phone edges (N8)
The reason the System UI is snappier and apps are opening faster is the new version of Samsung experience. Just flash a Note 8 ported ROM on your S8 and it's as quick as the Note 8. You can instantly feel the difference. The 2 gigs more RAM may keep more apps open in the background but it doesn't really affect the smoothness of the UI. The S8+ also feels a lot more comfortable in your hand. The Note 8 feels huge compared to the S8+.
reppi said:
The reason the System UI is snappier and apps are opening faster is the new version of Samsung experience. Just flash a Note 8 ported ROM on your S8 and it's as quick as the Note 8. You can instantly feel the difference. The 2 gigs more RAM may keep more apps open in the background but it doesn't really affect the smoothness of the UI. The S8+ also feels a lot more comfortable in your hand. The Note 8 feels huge compared to the S8+.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point. But I'm in the US, with only the Snapdragon version. Hence, bootloader is unlockable = no ROMs for us. But thanks for the observations, anyways.
And thanks to all who've posted here. Much appreciated.
dalanik said:
I had Note II and I NEVER used that pen. Seems like a great idea but in practice NOBODY uses it. Or if they do, they do just to show off, any task is faster done without that s-pen. So, since the screen is just 0.1" bigger... no real advantage IMHO. Camera should be a little better as well, but who knows. IT all comes to personal preference, whether you like more curved edges (S8+) or less curved phone edges (N8)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought the same thing too about the pen but she is not a show off and does scribble notes on the screen quite a bit, she added. I am experienced with roms coming from past phones but no desire to root this 8+. Beta testing is enough for me. As far as size difference, ya'll are nuts. We both use ugly pelican cases because dropping phones really happens (all glass, really?) and we are constantly picking up each others phone, size and shape are so close. I dont understand all the crying about the finger sensor, I guess my hands are big and its easy to find...i don't see what all that whining is about. Its all about preference. Since I flashed 8.0 v3 the 8+ has really been trouble free, just a couple of apps need updates.
I'm very happy to have NOT gotten Pixel2xl's...no regrets there. I cancelled my orders twice and there is no looking back.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Thinking about selling my z fold 2(not a sale post)

I love this device . Best phone I ever owned . opening up to a tablet still feels like magic after months of owning it .but I'm thinking about selling it .why you ask ? Because I just had to pay 150 to get the inside screen replaced . I opened it up a week ago with a crack going down the left side of the screen .no issues with the lcd just the thin glass was cracked .I baby this phone .I don't take it out the house often .never gave dropped it or abused it in any way . And honestly would have felt better about the crack if I knew how it happened . But there it was and a week later I'm getting my fold 2 back tommorow . Now what to do ? Keep using it for who knows just for it to" magically "crack again and have to pay over 500 dollars to get it fixed again . I'm tempted to just trade it to someone for another phone plus cash . thoughts ??
I fully understand your thoughts. I think the novelty and excitement of having big screen at hand anytime I want is now gone. I am finding myself cleaning the inside screen every night, even if I didn't open the screen at all that day, I am just paranoid just to see the dust sitting on it. And there is dust all the time. The constant cleaning of fingerprints makes me mad. I did dropped my phone already when I had it for just 2 weeks, from about 2 feet to carpet floor!!! and the front screen cracked in the corner immediately. I have dropped my phones from that height before and nothing ever happened. Samsung replaced the screen next day for $130.00. I have owned every single Note phone from Note 1 and never was so scared about dropping the phone, scratches on the body or dust on the screen. I am really getting tired of it. Right before the Z Fold I bought Note 20 Ultra that I still keep just in case. I do compare the 2 phones often, and I do miss the S pen a lot. So, I think of selling the Z Fold as well. On top of this, there is no good protective case for the Fold at this time and given the design, I don't see good working functional case in the future. I am using Leather Flip Cover now, it's ok, but not perfect.
I have Book cover on the Note and it works much better. The size of the screen on Note 20 Ultra is not that much smaller than opened Z fold screen anyway. And the seam in the middle of the inner screen has now developed 2 weird bumps that starts to bother me. Well, tough decisions, since it looks like Samsung will probably kill the Note line in the future and go the Fold way anyway..
Update . Traded my z fold for a OnePlus 8 pro and a iPhone 12 pro max today so far no regrets and I'll get another fold one day . Fun device while I had it
Very difficult to go back to the regular screen for me personally
Me using 12 pro max too. So dont regret anything
juggamonkey said:
Update . Traded my z fold for a OnePlus 8 pro and a iPhone 12 pro max today so far no regrets and I'll get another fold one day . Fun device while I had it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The oneplus 8 pro is the bomb. I've had one for a while and keep going back to it over my Note 20 Ultra. I've just recently re-entered the Fold 2 community because samsung is offering $1000 for my old Note 10 plus. Couldn't turn it down, lol.
juggamonkey said:
Update . Traded my z fold for a OnePlus 8 pro and a iPhone 12 pro max today so far no regrets and I'll get another fold one day . Fun device while I had it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope you adapt to and enjoy your new device.
The Sammy Fold series continues to be a disaster. Betaware that forces the customer to suck up Samsung prototyping experimental issues of their imperfect folding technology.
Plus no SD card support, not water or dust proof and as a bonus it spontaneously self destructs, a real masterpiece (as Pappy Boyington would have said).
I don't fault you one bit for bailing; a wise move.
carlitos66 said:
I fully understand your thoughts. I think the novelty and excitement of having big screen at hand anytime I want is now gone. I am finding myself cleaning the inside screen every night, even if I didn't open the screen at all that day, I am just paranoid just to see the dust sitting on it. And there is dust all the time. The constant cleaning of fingerprints makes me mad. I did dropped my phone already when I had it for just 2 weeks, from about 2 feet to carpet floor!!! and the front screen cracked in the corner immediately. I have dropped my phones from that height before and nothing ever happened. Samsung replaced the screen next day for $130.00. I have owned every single Note phone from Note 1 and never was so scared about dropping the phone, scratches on the body or dust on the screen. I am really getting tired of it. Right before the Z Fold I bought Note 20 Ultra that I still keep just in case. I do compare the 2 phones often, and I do miss the S pen a lot. So, I think of selling the Z Fold as well. On top of this, there is no good protective case for the Fold at this time and given the design, I don't see good working functional case in the future. I am using Leather Flip Cover now, it's ok, but not perfect.
I have Book cover on the Note and it works much better. The size of the screen on Note 20 Ultra is not that much smaller than opened Z fold screen anyway. And the seam in the middle of the inner screen has now developed 2 weird bumps that starts to bother me. Well, tough decisions, since it looks like Samsung will probably kill the Note line in the future and go the Fold way anyway..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im using Spigen thin armor pro for protection... best case i had so far and super sturdy... costs $90 tho.
I have a a Note 9 and I've been spending a lot of time debating the Note 20 Ultra vs the Fold 2 but can't make my mind up, I'm not considering the S21 since it loses micro SD and integrated S-pen but doesn't have anything like the folding screen to make up for it. Some users seem to find the appeal of the Fold 2 wears off but others find they can't go back to normal phones.
I've always loved the idea of the Fold and can live with the higher cost if I like the phone but it makes it pricey if I change my mind plus I lose the sd slot and spen and I am concerned about durability as there's a few posts about damaged screens like this one. I do appreciate that problems on forums are going to be exaggerated though.
I'm keen to hear on any other Fold 2 experiences.
Johnmcl7 said:
I have a a Note 9 and I've been spending a lot of time debating the Note 20 Ultra vs the Fold 2 but can't make my mind up, I'm not considering the S21 since it loses micro SD and integrated S-pen but doesn't have anything like the folding screen to make up for it. Some users seem to find the appeal of the Fold 2 wears off but others find they can't go back to normal phones.
I've always loved the idea of the Fold and can live with the higher cost if I like the phone but it makes it pricey if I change my mind plus I lose the sd slot and spen and I am concerned about durability as there's a few posts about damaged screens like this one. I do appreciate that problems on forums are going to be exaggerated though.
I'm keen to hear on any other Fold 2 experiences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note 9 is a good phone; I'm considering getting one.
The whole Fold series is problematic at best; born to die for sure.
The technology is far from where it needs to be.
A pretty thing if you can afford it and the high maintenance it will incur plus the sad lack of the SD card slot.
The 10+ running on Pie was Samsung's last good Note offering. The 512/12 4G is a rock solid platform with good battery life.
Problem is they're hard to come by and holding their value a bit too well.
At first I was irritated by the fixed 60hz display but now feel it is a blessing as the display is huge, drop dead gorgeous and as easy on the battery as a display this size can be.
I find no worrh while incentive to upgrade in hardware or firmware for the foreseeable future.
Pie is superior to Q in a number of ways. Both 10 and 11 are Android platforms I wish to avoid.
I'm not willing to take the performance hit or part with some of my favorite overlay apks.
Screw 10 and 11... and as for Goggle I want to deep six ditch them worse than FB.
Johnmcl7 said:
I have a a Note 9 and I've been spending a lot of time debating the Note 20 Ultra vs the Fold 2 but can't make my mind up, I'm not considering the S21 since it loses micro SD and integrated S-pen but doesn't have anything like the folding screen to make up for it. Some users seem to find the appeal of the Fold 2 wears off but others find they can't go back to normal phones.
I've always loved the idea of the Fold and can live with the higher cost if I like the phone but it makes it pricey if I change my mind plus I lose the sd slot and spen and I am concerned about durability as there's a few posts about damaged screens like this one. I do appreciate that problems on forums are going to be exaggerated though.
I'm keen to hear on any other Fold 2 experiences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can only tell you from my experience, the fold 2 is a terrific phone IF:
- You are OK with dealing with a thick device
- You will need a case. Its glass and expensive, and with a lot of actual opening and closing maneuvers there is always a chance of slipping out of hand (well only happened twice for me, but still)
- Formfactor hinders case designs, I am using the slim armor pro which has awesome protection rating but 2 main Issues. One, it's expensive and difficult to find in my country and 2, it makes the phone bulky still.
- front screen is narrow but then that makes it easy to reach with one hand. I really don't have a problem here.
- no SD card support, I used to use a 400Gb card with my note 20 ultra, to store pics and videos. But with fold 2, I just realised I have almost 140GB free from a total of 256GB. No gimmicky 8k Video here (I never really enjoyed it in note 20 U, 4k with stabilisation was far superior). I also used to offload apps onto the micro SD card but each time the app updated, I had to manually move the apps again. I think 512GB Would suffice if you really need an sd card. It's my use case and yours could obviously be different.
But all things said, I love the phone. Every single person notices it and goes "WHAAAAATT??? AWESOME"... Some relate it to the Nokia communicators though (being narrow and thick)
About the fragility of the phone, well after I have started using the slim armor I have never babied the phone... heck I even dropped it more than a couple of times (in closed position). I have realised that the phone really isn't that flimsy... may be I got one from a good batch coz I hear horror stores, but that's where the warranty comes in ( well in my country samsung warranty is a lengthy process BTW).
Foldables and rollables will be a thing soon but they will remain top of the line for a few years.
I am an artist myself, I use the S pen to sketch and draw and for me spen is super useful, it's a shame that fold 2 can't use it. But I have a Samsung tab s4 just for that (was cheap and serves my purpose). IF you can wait for a few more months, I hear the fold 3 will support spen and if s pen is really important to you, why not get the note 20u now (prices have dropped) and get the fold 3 later? You could be saving quite a bit.
For what it's worth:
I was uncomfortable foraging into experimental phones again as I had the Note Edge. Tons of "nay sayers" then and it transformed future phones...
I am pleased I own this device!
There have always been voices against innovation as it begins its assent until it proves worthy in their personal experience.Same with the Z Fold 2...
Yes it's an expensive device, not as fragile as expected, bulky and heavier than my N10+, no "attached" Spen, though an absolute joy to use as it fits my needs: leaving ALL devices behind save this one for business and pleasure.
It's been in the 2-piece best designed case i could find since I pulled it out of the box (heard good things about Spigen though didn't want m o r e bulk) and have been using a wonderful stylus that duplicates most of the Spen without the cool tricks. I use a ring holder device stuck to the back which absolutely helps with weight and balance. Don't miss the SD card as got weened off dependancy owning a Note 5; great for convenience though many solutions abound (using a 1TB external drive). Since enrolling in Samsung's Device Buy Back Program this phone is more of a "lease" until the Z Fold 3.
Maybe I am blessed with no issues in the first month of ownership though most issues with phones are "operator errors" I've found in my experience owning mobile phones since 1991. Your mileage may vary... good luck. Peace
Thanks for posting your thoughts.
I can manage without an SD card and an S-pen but they are handy features and I have to accept I'll lose the notification light and headphone socket but it makes paying a good chunk of money for a new phone a bit less desirable when losing these. I'm generally happy with the Note 9 and the reason I'm considering these phones is to get the ultrawide lens, I was about to buy one for my camera at around £1300 but then started thinking maybe the money would be better spent on a phone with an ultrawide lens instead. I tend to find I like to leave the super telephoto lens on the camera and then just use the phone for normal wide angle shots since they tend not to benefit so much from the dedicated camera and I have a slightly older ultrawide setup I can use for property shoots or whatever.
Johnmcl7 said:
Thanks for posting your thoughts.
I can manage without an SD card and an S-pen but they are handy features and I have to accept I'll lose the notification light and headphone socket but it makes paying a good chunk of money for a new phone a bit less desirable when losing these. I'm generally happy with the Note 9 and the reason I'm considering these phones is to get the ultrawide lens, I was about to buy one for my camera at around £1300 but then started thinking maybe the money would be better spent on a phone with an ultrawide lens instead. I tend to find I like to leave the super telephoto lens on the camera and then just use the phone for normal wide angle shots since they tend not to benefit so much from the dedicated camera and I have a slightly older ultrawide setup I can use for property shoots or whatever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man... the cameras on this device are good though the Note 10+
Johnmcl7 said:
Thanks for posting your thoughts.
I can manage without an SD card and an S-pen but they are handy features and I have to accept I'll lose the notification light and headphone socket but it makes paying a good chunk of money for a new phone a bit less desirable when losing these. I'm generally happy with the Note 9 and the reason I'm considering these phones is to get the ultrawide lens, I was about to buy one for my camera at around £1300 but then started thinking maybe the money would be better spent on a phone with an ultrawide lens instead. I tend to find I like to leave the super telephoto lens on the camera and then just use the phone for normal wide angle shots since they tend not to benefit so much from the dedicated camera and I have a slightly older ultrawide setup I can use for property shoots or whatever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man, here's hoping you create the perfect lens set up for yourself! ;-) I don't know if it's my eye or the zf2 camera specs, seems my N10+ was a better shooter. Oh well...
BTW, I had spoken with ZF2 concierge regarding Edge Lighting +, (Good Lock and selfie camera light notifications), and he said with the new update coming it would be turned on for the unlocked Samsung devices. Hmm. We'll see. Peace
From what I've read that sounds right about the Fold 2's camera not being quite as good which also should really point me more towards the N20 Ultra.
Johnmcl7 said:
From what I've read that sounds right about the Fold 2's camera not being quite as good which also should really point me more towards the N20 Ultra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have both note 20 U and zf2, I don't know why people think note 20 ultras cameras are better, quality wise?.. IMHO, they both are neck and neck.. ofcourse you miss 5x zoom, totally useless 24fps 8k and the ever so lovely DOF from the 108mp camera but that's it... quality wise they are both great... you would find it difficult to vote one over the other in a blind test..
Here, have attached few pics from one of my vacation trip recently taken with zf2.. the pickup one, increase brightness and go into a dark room... look at the stars.. I think these are good results..what do you think?
The Note 20 Ultra has better camera sensors than the Z Fold 2, I assume it was one of the compromises made on the Fold to keep the already high cost down. The dark shots posted don't really show much as they're severely underexposed which avoids using a higher iso setting which is an area the Note 20 is better at.
Johnmcl7 said:
The Note 20 Ultra has better camera sensors than the Z Fold 2, I assume it was one of the compromises made on the Fold to keep the already high cost down. The dark shots posted don't really show much as they're severely underexposed which avoids using a higher iso setting which is an area the Note 20 is better at.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dark shot wasn't shot in night mode, I used pro mode. I opted for that look. Yes you are correct n20U has bigger sensor but I don't care about the technicalities here. As a user who owns both (uses both with no partiality AT ALL, After all I paid for both), I don't see any perceivable difference except for the ones I mentioned in my previous post. All I am trying to say here is, if camera quality is your criteria then let it not be. There are other things I noticed while using both. One, the fold is a thick boy and you will notice it
in your pocket. And the weight is also much more than note 20U (your pinky finger will feel it on extended use when closed).. but the inner screen kind of makes up for it. Second, there is always this thought of fragility associated with fold2. I mean I know by now that it is pretty robust, still if I am passing it to a friend to look at, I tell them to be careful with the inner screen. Third, the cases for the zf2 are very very limited, I didn't have a case for 2 months and I can't tell you how scared and careful I was. and lastly, not many people will tell you this, but if you are watching anything more wider than 16:9, note 20 has the bigger picture than zf2 as note 20 u is taller than zf2 so in landscape mode, the almost square zf2 is restricted by the screen width in the x axis.
I use both the phones on a daily basis, and Let me tell you my honest opinion, as a phone n20u is awesome, but the moment you open the zf2 you are in bliss.
OP I respect the fact that you sold your phone and got a device that made you feel more comfortable. For anyone else interested, I'm coming from the OG Fold that I babied for months until I got comfortable with it. After having for almost a year, I was using Dex and upon disconnecting the HDMI cable the edge hit my screen and killed a few pixels. I should have had it folded shut and it never would have happened. I ended up getting it replaced under warranty as there was no other damage to the phone. They concluded it was just some dead pixels even though I told them what happened.
So now I've had my Fold 2 for a month. I love it even more and I do not set it down unless it's folded! But I will keep the insurance on my phone for the first time in many years. This is one of the few phones that it may actually be worth carrying the insurance, and that, along with the durability of the first Fold for over a year of use, gives me the piece of mind to carry this phone as a daily driver.
Johnmcl7 said:
I have a a Note 9 and I've been spending a lot of time debating the Note 20 Ultra vs the Fold 2 but can't make my mind up, I'm not considering the S21 since it loses micro SD and integrated S-pen but doesn't have anything like the folding screen to make up for it. Some users seem to find the appeal of the Fold 2 wears off but others find they can't go back to normal phones.
I've always loved the idea of the Fold and can live with the higher cost if I like the phone but it makes it pricey if I change my mind plus I lose the sd slot and spen and I am concerned about durability as there's a few posts about damaged screens like this one. I do appreciate that problems on forums are going to be exaggerated though.
I'm keen to hear on any other Fold 2 experiences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've owned both, N20U and Fold2 at the same time. I traded in my Note 9 for an N20U. At the time, I was daily driving my Note 10 Plus. I traded in my Note 10 Plus for my Fold2. The battery life on my N20U was actually shorter than my Note 10 Plus. Disappointingly so. At 1440 or 1080 with adaptive, I was averaging 4.5H of SOT whereas I was averaging 6H on my Note 10 Plus. Anyhow, I ended up buying a Fold 2 for the novelty of it.
Pros
The folding and unfolding does not get old. It is magic each and every time.
Battery endurance (I'm averaging 5.5 to 6.5H of SOT at 1440 adaptive within 20-24H of usage in between charges).
Camera's are good.
Cons
Inner display cover is gross. It almost feels like you are using an old Windows phone with a resistive touch screen.
Camera's are not Sammy's best (N20U) and for the cost of the Fold, you want the best camera possible.
Dumb aspect ratios.
Fragility of design will always plague your mind.
I gave my N20U to my wife and she loves it as much as I love my Fold2. It is far from perfect, however it works for me and I am genuinely pleased with my overall experience.
I daily my Fold2. I've dropped it face down, closed and onto my hardwood floor without injury. I put it into my linty jean pockets with no issues. I'm not careless with it, however I've stopped babying it weeks ago and it is holding up just fine.
Hope this helps
I spotted a good deal on a brand new fold 2 and decided to give it a go, so far I absolutely love it. I'm still getting the hang of using apps on the outside and inside but it's such a lovely device to use when it's open it's worth the compromises.
Thanks for posting all your opinions on the two devices.

General Just got my pixel 7 pro. Here are my first impressions

Hey guys, received my pixel today and thought I'd share some first impressions for those interested or who haven't received theirs yet.
I use a 21ultra as my daily and run a 14 pro max for work so I have a broad spectrum to judge the new pixel against. I'll try and break my impressions into bullet points.
1. New pixels design is nice, feels good in the hand, I went for obsidian, looks good, the rear is a total fingerprint magnet.
2. The haptics are very good, different to the iPhone but not better or worse, which is impressive because iPhone haptics are usually the benchmark of good vibration for me.
3. One thing I don't love is the weight, both the iPhone and the s21 are quite a bit heavier at 229 and 240 and it makes the pixel feel less premium somehow. When you tap the screen on the pixel to type it almost feels and sounds hollow whereas the Samsung for example is much more firm. Its a personal preference but of the three phones the pixel feels the cheapest in the hand.
4. The camera are very good, coming from the exynos s21 where I always hated the video, pixel 7s new video is really impressive. Looking forward to getting to use it a bit more.
5. The speaker is good and loud but it's a little on the tinny side on comparison to the Samsung and the 14 pro. It crackles a little higher up the volume.
6. Looking forward to trying out some of the pixel features that are sprinkled throughout the ui, like the call screening, text to speech etc
Will report back once I use these for a prolonged period.
7. The pixel 7 pros sound and haptic integration is top notch and can be adjusted to your liking on the settings. Each activity that includes a vibration now let's you chose the intensity as well.
8. The screen is less curved which I love as I much prefer flat screens and this feels like a step in the right direction. The edges of the phone and indeed the screen are much less rounded too and makes the Samsung look a bit silly with its super rounded corners.
9. Fingerprint scanner being an optical one is another little disappointment for me, having found the ultrasonic in the Samsung to be unbelievably fast and reliable. Something about the white light under your thumb each time you try to unlock feels cheap and a bit silly when ultrasonic is an option.
10. Which brings me to the last feature I like, face unlock. While not quite as reliable as the iPhone it works well and is much faster than previous android phones I've used. Theres a nice little vibration and animation when it unlocks as well, which makes it feel well thought out and well executed. Hopefully it stays as reliable as its been so far.
Overall I'm pretty impressed. I'm a little disappointed at the over all feel, it's not bad, for me the iPhone still feels like a much more premium phone, and at about 350 quid more it ought to be I suppose. Software wise it looks promising and it has some of the best cameras and haptics of any phone. If anyone who hasn't gotten one yet would like to ask anything about it please feel free.
Bar
Nice review details! Kudos
Thanks for sharing, I find myself in a somewhat similar situation. I have an S21U for personal use and an iPhone XR for work that I traded in for the Pixel 7 Pro.
I can definitely relate to the weight difference. I didn't like it at much first but now I've noticed it's a bit easier to hold laying in bed on my back. I'm always dropping the S21U on my face
I've never used an optical fingerprint scanner before so right now the light is oddly amusing /fun for me, but it will probably get old after a while.
So did you keep your iPhone or did you trade it in?
early days here and teething problems I think will be worked out. screen is definitely an improvement over the 6. my main concern tho is the tele lens. so far i'm finding it not as good as the 6p tele lens, which I absolutely love.
Love your review thank you first one I read
does it do usb-c to hdmi output?
Bxperiaz3 said:
Hey guys, received my pixel today and thought I'd share some first impressions for those interested or who haven't received theirs yet.
I use a 21ultra as my daily and run a 14 pro max for work so I have a broad spectrum to judge the new pixel against. I'll try and break my impressions into bullet points.
1. New pixels design is nice, feels good in the hand, I went for obsidian, looks good, the rear is a total fingerprint magnet.
2. The haptics are very good, different to the iPhone but not better or worse, which is impressive because iPhone haptics are usually the benchmark of good vibration for me.
3. One thing I don't love is the weight, both the iPhone and the s21 are quite a bit heavier at 229 and 240 and it makes the pixel feel less premium somehow. When you tap the screen on the pixel to type it almost feels and sounds hollow whereas the Samsung for example is much more firm. Its a personal preference but of the three phones the pixel feels the cheapest in the hand.
4. The camera are very good, coming from the exynos s21 where I always hated the video, pixel 7s new video is really impressive. Looking forward to getting to use it a bit more.
5. The speaker is good and loud but it's a little on the tinny side on comparison to the Samsung and the 14 pro. It crackles a little higher up the volume.
6. Looking forward to trying out some of the pixel features that are sprinkled throughout the ui, like the call screening, text to speech etc
Will report back once I use these for a prolonged period.
7. The pixel 7 pros sound and haptic integration is top notch and can be adjusted to your liking on the settings. Each activity that includes a vibration now let's you chose the intensity as well.
8. The screen is less curved which I love as I much prefer flat screens and this feels like a step in the right direction. The edges of the phone and indeed the screen are much less rounded too and makes the Samsung look a bit silly with its super rounded corners.
9. Fingerprint scanner being an optical one is another little disappointment for me, having found the ultrasonic in the Samsung to be unbelievably fast and reliable. Something about the white light under your thumb each time you try to unlock feels cheap and a bit silly when ultrasonic is an option.
10. Which brings me to the last feature I like, face unlock. While not quite as reliable as the iPhone it works well and is much faster than previous android phones I've used. Theres a nice little vibration and animation when it unlocks as well, which makes it feel well thought out and well executed. Hopefully it stays as reliable as its been so far.
Overall I'm pretty impressed. I'm a little disappointed at the over all feel, it's not bad, for me the iPhone still feels like a much more premium phone, and at about 350 quid more it ought to be I suppose. Software wise it looks promising and it has some of the best cameras and haptics of any phone. If anyone who hasn't gotten one yet would like to ask anything about it please feel free.
Bar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good info, shared. Thanks.
Could you crank up the brightness to the max, use the phone for some 15 mins like that and share the battery drain experience? Various reports like THIS ONE suggest that under direct sunlight the battery drains abnormally.
Bxperiaz3 said:
Hey guys, received my pixel today and thought I'd share some first impressions for those interested or who haven't received theirs yet.
I use a 21ultra as my daily and run a 14 pro max for work so I have a broad spectrum to judge the new pixel against. I'll try and break my impressions into bullet points.
1. New pixels design is nice, feels good in the hand, I went for obsidian, looks good, the rear is a total fingerprint magnet.
2. The haptics are very good, different to the iPhone but not better or worse, which is impressive because iPhone haptics are usually the benchmark of good vibration for me.
3. One thing I don't love is the weight, both the iPhone and the s21 are quite a bit heavier at 229 and 240 and it makes the pixel feel less premium somehow. When you tap the screen on the pixel to type it almost feels and sounds hollow whereas the Samsung for example is much more firm. Its a personal preference but of the three phones the pixel feels the cheapest in the hand.
4. The camera are very good, coming from the exynos s21 where I always hated the video, pixel 7s new video is really impressive. Looking forward to getting to use it a bit more.
5. The speaker is good and loud but it's a little on the tinny side on comparison to the Samsung and the 14 pro. It crackles a little higher up the volume.
6. Looking forward to trying out some of the pixel features that are sprinkled throughout the ui, like the call screening, text to speech etc
Will report back once I use these for a prolonged period.
7. The pixel 7 pros sound and haptic integration is top notch and can be adjusted to your liking on the settings. Each activity that includes a vibration now let's you chose the intensity as well.
8. The screen is less curved which I love as I much prefer flat screens and this feels like a step in the right direction. The edges of the phone and indeed the screen are much less rounded too and makes the Samsung look a bit silly with its super rounded corners.
9. Fingerprint scanner being an optical one is another little disappointment for me, having found the ultrasonic in the Samsung to be unbelievably fast and reliable. Something about the white light under your thumb each time you try to unlock feels cheap and a bit silly when ultrasonic is an option.
10. Which brings me to the last feature I like, face unlock. While not quite as reliable as the iPhone it works well and is much faster than previous android phones I've used. Theres a nice little vibration and animation when it unlocks as well, which makes it feel well thought out and well executed. Hopefully it stays as reliable as its been so far.
Overall I'm pretty impressed. I'm a little disappointed at the over all feel, it's not bad, for me the iPhone still feels like a much more premium phone, and at about 350 quid more it ought to be I suppose. Software wise it looks promising and it has some of the best cameras and haptics of any phone. If anyone who hasn't gotten one yet would like to ask anything about it please feel free.
Bar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey there. Nice review. I totally agree with you on two points. I managed to fiddle with a 7 pro at a local target store (a day before launch if you can believe that they had the demo station set up).
The hollow feel while typing on it's screen is something I'd never felt before. It made me send back the 6pro last year and keep my OnePlus 8 pro as it felt like a more solid device. The 7 pro felt the same. I wonder why the hollow feel? Is it possible that it's a feature? Maybe the screen has more give so that it's less susceptible to cracking if dropped? Who knows...
Also agree about the speakers. I blared some YouTube music on the demo phone in the store like a weirdo (Motown) and wasn't exactly impressed. Especially when compared to the 14pro (wife's phone).
I want to love the new 7 pro but am shying away. OnePlus isn't exactly wonderful right now and my 8 pro is aging but I feel like I need more to make the jump
For me it was simply time to make a change from my Note 10 Plus. It's a 3 year old phone and it shows, particularly the camera which wasn't the best when the phone was released and is well behind the times now. I fully expect the feel of the 7 Pro to be less premium (one aspect in which the Note 10 Plus shines and still does) but it looks to me like this is the best Android device out there right now, especially for this price. And I hate iPhones.
Bxperiaz3 said:
Hey guys, received my pixel today and thought I'd share some first impressions for those interested or who haven't received theirs yet.
I use a 21ultra as my daily and run a 14 pro max for work so I have a broad spectrum to judge the new pixel against. I'll try and break my impressions into bullet points.
1. New pixels design is nice, feels good in the hand, I went for obsidian, looks good, the rear is a total fingerprint magnet.
2. The haptics are very good, different to the iPhone but not better or worse, which is impressive because iPhone haptics are usually the benchmark of good vibration for me.
3. One thing I don't love is the weight, both the iPhone and the s21 are quite a bit heavier at 229 and 240 and it makes the pixel feel less premium somehow. When you tap the screen on the pixel to type it almost feels and sounds hollow whereas the Samsung for example is much more firm. Its a personal preference but of the three phones the pixel feels the cheapest in the hand.
4. The camera are very good, coming from the exynos s21 where I always hated the video, pixel 7s new video is really impressive. Looking forward to getting to use it a bit more.
5. The speaker is good and loud but it's a little on the tinny side on comparison to the Samsung and the 14 pro. It crackles a little higher up the volume.
6. Looking forward to trying out some of the pixel features that are sprinkled throughout the ui, like the call screening, text to speech etc
Will report back once I use these for a prolonged period.
7. The pixel 7 pros sound and haptic integration is top notch and can be adjusted to your liking on the settings. Each activity that includes a vibration now let's you chose the intensity as well.
8. The screen is less curved which I love as I much prefer flat screens and this feels like a step in the right direction. The edges of the phone and indeed the screen are much less rounded too and makes the Samsung look a bit silly with its super rounded corners.
9. Fingerprint scanner being an optical one is another little disappointment for me, having found the ultrasonic in the Samsung to be unbelievably fast and reliable. Something about the white light under your thumb each time you try to unlock feels cheap and a bit silly when ultrasonic is an option.
10. Which brings me to the last feature I like, face unlock. While not quite as reliable as the iPhone it works well and is much faster than previous android phones I've used. Theres a nice little vibration and animation when it unlocks as well, which makes it feel well thought out and well executed. Hopefully it stays as reliable as its been so far.
Overall I'm pretty impressed. I'm a little disappointed at the over all feel, it's not bad, for me the iPhone still feels like a much more premium phone, and at about 350 quid more it ought to be I suppose. Software wise it looks promising and it has some of the best cameras and haptics of any phone. If anyone who hasn't gotten one yet would like to ask anything about it please feel free.
Bar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.3 I've noticed the same thing. When tapping the screen it makes this hollow sound as if you were tapping a plastic cup (thw white one to be precise). The screen on Galaxy Tab S8 makes the same sound but Galaxy S20 doesn't. Maybe the screen panels on Pixel & Tab S8 are of lower quality?!
No. 9 Fingerprint is really fast and more reliable than on S20 (I always had to try multiple times before it finally worked).
No. 10 Face unlock is very fast, even in dim light.
Here are other things I've noticed:
1. Status bar is extremely thick 0.6 mm and therefore unnecessarily wastes too much space when screen resolution is lowered.
2. When in standby screen often doesn't react to taps or the power button being pressed. Screen just doesn't wake up and you have to try 2-3 more times for it to lit up.
3. Sometimes the screen suddenly gets so dim that you can barely see anything but the position of the brightness slider doesn't change at all when it happens. No idea what's causing it.
innit said:
2. When in standby screen often doesn't react to taps or the power button being pressed. Screen just doesn't wake up and you have to try 2-3 more times for it to lit up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Pixel 6 Pro did that all the time, its annoying.
One thing i have noticed it my P7P runs much cooler than my P6P did.
galaxys said:
Nice review details! Kudos
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
grangermoch said:
Thanks for sharing, I find myself in a somewhat similar situation. I have an S21U for personal use and an iPhone XR for work that I traded in for the Pixel 7 Pro.
I can definitely relate to the weight difference. I didn't like it at much first but now I've noticed it's a bit easier to hold laying in bed on my back. I'm always dropping the S21U on my face
I've never used an optical fingerprint scanner before so right now the light is oddly amusing /fun for me, but it will probably get old after a while.
So did you keep your iPhone or did you trade it in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to have it on my one plus 7 pro and I loved that but after the speed of the s21 s sensor I'm a bit disenchanted with optical sensors for now. My iPhone is for work so that's staying but the main question is will I be upgrading from my s21 ultra or returning this new pixel. So far I'm not fully sure..
whatsisnametake2 said:
early days here and teething problems I think will be worked out. screen is definitely an improvement over the 6. my main concern tho is the tele lens. so far i'm finding it not as good as the 6p tele lens, which I absolutely love.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I must check that out and see what it's like. What are the differences? Was the 6p wider?
liggerz87 said:
Love your review thank you first one I read
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Appreciate that thank you
apoklyps3 said:
does it do usb-c to hdmi output?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me check it out and get back to you
Virgo_Guy said:
Good info, shared. Thanks.
Could you crank up the brightness to the max, use the phone for some 15 mins like that and share the battery drain experience? Various reports like THIS ONE suggest that under direct sunlight the battery drains abnormally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah sure. I'll do that this morning
bacon612 said:
Hey there. Nice review. I totally agree with you on two points. I managed to fiddle with a 7 pro at a local target store (a day before launch if you can believe that they had the demo station set up).
The hollow feel while typing on it's screen is something I'd never felt before. It made me send back the 6pro last year and keep my OnePlus 8 pro as it felt like a more solid device. The 7 pro felt the same. I wonder why the hollow feel? Is it possible that it's a feature? Maybe the screen has more give so that it's less susceptible to cracking if dropped? Who knows...
Also agree about the speakers. I blared some YouTube music on the demo phone in the store like a weirdo (Motown) and wasn't exactly impressed. Especially when compared to the 14pro (wife's phone).
I want to love the new 7 pro but am shying away. OnePlus isn't exactly wonderful right now and my 8 pro is aging but I feel like I need more to make the jump
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you that's a good question, oddly it's something I noticed on the iPhone too, it's like theres an air gap between the sreeen and the actual panel or something so maybe the more give thing is a good call. Either way it's a very small gripe but it's one that's honestly making me consider returning. That along with the weight does not make this feel like a 1k phone to be perfectly honest.
I too want to love it.. But I just don't so far and I don't see any good alternatives left if I send it back
Beefheart said:
For me it was simply time to make a change from my Note 10 Plus. It's a 3 year old phone and it shows, particularly the camera which wasn't the best when the phone was released and is well behind the times now. I fully expect the feel of the 7 Pro to be less premium (one aspect in which the Note 10 Plus shines and still does) but it looks to me like this is the best Android device out there right now, especially for this price. And I hate iPhones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I'm fully with you on that. Part of me wishes I didn't have the s21 ultra to compare as I'd probably be less disappointed. I absolutely hate Samsungs android software, but their phones are better build for sure.
innit said:
No.3 I've noticed the same thing. When tapping the screen it makes this hollow sound as if you were tapping a plastic cup (thw white one to be precise). The screen on Galaxy Tab S8 makes the same sound but Galaxy S20 doesn't. Maybe the screen panels on Pixel & Tab S8 are of lower quality?!
No. 9 Fingerprint is really fast and more reliable than on S20 (I always had to try multiple times before it finally worked).
No. 10 Face unlock is very fast, even in dim light.
Here are other things I've noticed:
1. Status bar is extremely thick 0.6 mm and therefore unnecessarily wastes too much space when screen resolution is lowered.
2. When in standby screen often doesn't react to taps or the power button being pressed. Screen just doesn't wake up and you have to try 2-3 more times for it to lit up.
3. Sometimes the screen suddenly gets so dim that you can barely see anything but the position of the brightness slider doesn't change at all when it happens. No idea what's causing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good points! I'll be honest the status bar is also driving me mental. I'm used to full immersive everything on the Samsung so this status bar and tbh the ui in general really vexes me. The little black bar for the pill also does my head in. Why don't we have status bars that have a gradient so we know it's there but it's not a literal banner plastered across the top of the phone. Another point that I'm trying to decide if I can live with. Must check out points 2 and 3 and report back.
MrBelter said:
My Pixel 6 Pro did that all the time, its annoying.
One thing i have noticed it my P7P runs much cooler than my P6P did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a positive at least. I never had a P6P so I appreciate peoples input that ran them last year.
Apologies if it seems like I have a negative bias towards the phone having only had it a day. But the cost of smartphones Is so high these days that I don't expect perfection but there are certain things for me that are absolute deal breakers and unfortunately the pixel ticks quite and amount of those for me. Gonna run it for a few more days and see can I live with the aspects I don't like or is it time to return it and struggle on with the s21
Bxperiaz3 said:
Yeah I'm fully with you on that. Part of me wishes I didn't have the s21 ultra to compare as I'd probably be less disappointed. I absolutely hate Samsungs android software, but their phones are better build for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had an S21 Ultra but, ironically given the subject at hand, it stopped working after a fairly innocuous drop and Samsung refused to fix it because I'd previously rooted it (despite removing the root and it being back to a factory image). As a result I swore I would never buy another Samsung and I'm sticking to that, the only reason I have the Note 10 Plus is that a friend upgraded to a iPhone 13 late last year just after my S21 broke and he let me have it on a deal that was too good to refuse (£200), especially given that Samsung had just replaced the screen and battery for him so it was effectively brand new. My son is now getting it to replace his crappy old Poco M3 but I'm done with Samsung and their hateful Knox e-fuse.
I've just gotten a notification from the Royal Mail that my 7 Pro is due for delivery today rather than Monday which is a bonus.
innit said:
No.3 I've noticed the same thing. When tapping the screen it makes this hollow sound as if you were tapping a plastic cup (thw white one to be precise). The screen on Galaxy Tab S8 makes the same sound but Galaxy S20 doesn't. Maybe the screen panels on Pixel & Tab S8 are of lower quality?!
No. 9 Fingerprint is really fast and more reliable than on S20 (I always had to try multiple times before it finally worked).
No. 10 Face unlock is very fast, even in dim light.
Here are other things I've noticed:
1. Status bar is extremely thick 0.6 mm and therefore unnecessarily wastes too much space when screen resolution is lowered.
2. When in standby screen often doesn't react to taps or the power button being pressed. Screen just doesn't wake up and you have to try 2-3 more times for it to lit up.
3. Sometimes the screen suddenly gets so dim that you can barely see anything but the position of the brightness slider doesn't change at all when it happens. No idea what's causing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The display on the 6Pro and 7Pro is edge bonded meaning it's attached to the frame underneath around the edge. This makes it easier to replace but it gives it that "hollow" feel. Most phones today, Samsung etc are mid frame bonded,they're bonded to the frame half way up the display as well as around the edge also, so they don't have that air gap underneath and feel more "solid". The edge bonded display despite being easier to replace have the disadvantage of trapping heat in the phone because of the air gap.
I too am coming from a S21U and noticed the give on the screen. At first I thought I left the keyboard clicks on when I was typing and heard the way the screen sounded.
The other thing I have noticed is when I am driving there are areas where the S21 had signal yet the P7P has no signal with the same sim card.
I too am debating keeping the device or not as these are pretty minor complaints but I'm not sure if it is a truly worthy upgrade for the money.
JamesR913 said:
I too am coming from a S21U and noticed the give on the screen. At first I thought I left the keyboard clicks on when I was typing and heard the way the screen sounded.
The other thing I have noticed is when I am driving there are areas where the S21 had signal yet the P7P has no signal with the same sim card.
I too am debating keeping the device or not as these are pretty minor complaints but I'm not sure if it is a truly worthy upgrade for the money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say the Pixel 7 Pro is an upgrade on the S21 Ultra, but not a particularly big one. A better camera (minus the 30x zoom), a little bit faster in terms of SOC speed but overall no spectacular improvements. In short, I'm not sure I'd spend money on a 7 Pro if I had a working S21 Ultra. But for me it's an easier choice, as my S21 Ultra is long gone and the 7 Pro is a massive upgrade on the Note 10 Plus I'm currently using.
Where it wins big is in comparison to the competition here and now. £850 for a phone that easily competes for everyday use with an iPhone 14 Pro Max which starts at £1200 and a Samsung S22 Ultra that starts at £1150. It loses out on a couple of things with both (battery life for the iPhone, S-Pen with the Samsung, and raw benchmarking horse power with both), but it also has advantages in comparison to both. In short it's a bargain for what you get, and the Pixel 7 even more.
I don't understand what appears to have become an acceptance that flagship phones have to cost north of £1000. It's an absolute nonsense deliberately brought into existence by Apple and Samsung for their own ends. It's good to see Google thumb their nose at it.
Beefheart said:
I'd say the Pixel 7 Pro is an upgrade on the S21 Ultra, but not a particularly big one. A better camera (minus the 30x zoom), a little bit faster in terms of SOC speed but overall no spectacular improvements. In short, I'm not sure I'd spend money on a 7 Pro if I had a working S21 Ultra. But for me it's an easier choice, as my S21 Ultra is long gone and the 7 Pro is a massive upgrade on the Note 10 Plus I'm currently using.
Where it wins big is in comparison to the competition here and now. £850 for a phone that easily competes for everyday use with an iPhone 14 Pro Max which starts at £1200 and a Samsung S22 Ultra that starts at £1150. It loses out on a couple of things with both (battery life for the iPhone, S-Pen with the Samsung, and raw benchmarking horse power with both), but it also has advantages in comparison to both. In short it's a bargain for what you get, and the Pixel 7 even more.
I don't understand what appears to have become an acceptance that flagship phones have to cost north of £1000. It's an absolute nonsense deliberately brought into existence by Apple and Samsung for their own ends. It's good to see Google thumb their nose at it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not getting truly top hardware with the Pixel though, it's only an LTPO 1.0 display for eg so there's a trade off for price.
Beefheart said:
I had an S21 Ultra but, ironically given the subject at hand, it stopped working after a fairly innocuous drop and Samsung refused to fix it because I'd previously rooted it (despite removing the root and it being back to a factory image). As a result I swore I would never buy another Samsung and I'm sticking to that, the only reason I have the Note 10 Plus is that a friend upgraded to a iPhone 13 late last year just after my S21 broke and he let me have it on a deal that was too good to refuse (£200), especially given that Samsung had just replaced the screen and battery for him so it was effectively brand new. My son is now getting it to replace his crappy old Poco M3 but I'm done with Samsung and their hateful Knox e-fuse.
I've just gotten a notification from the Royal Mail that my 7 Pro is due for delivery today rather than Monday which is a bonus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah even with the better build most new phones can't handle any sort of a drop. Nice, let us know how you find it.
Batfink33 said:
The display on the 6Pro and 7Pro is edge bonded meaning it's attached to the frame underneath around the edge. This makes it easier to replace but it gives it that "hollow" feel. Most phones today, Samsung etc are mid frame bonded,they're bonded to the frame half way up the display as well as around the edge also, so they don't have that air gap underneath and feel more "solid". The edge bonded display despite being easier to replace have the disadvantage of trapping heat in the phone because of the air gap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes perfect sense, Thanks for clearing that up. Makes me like the pixel even less now that that's been confirmed
JamesR913 said:
I too am coming from a S21U and noticed the give on the screen. At first I thought I left the keyboard clicks on when I was typing and heard the way the screen sounded.
The other thing I have noticed is when I am driving there are areas where the S21 had signal yet the P7P has no signal with the same sim card.
I too am debating keeping the device or not as these are pretty minor complaints but I'm not sure if it is a truly worthy upgrade for the money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a sim in mine yet but that would be another deal breaker. Similar to you I only have small complaints so far. But I have more than I was expecting..
Beefheart said:
I'd say the Pixel 7 Pro is an upgrade on the S21 Ultra, but not a particularly big one. A better camera (minus the 30x zoom), a little bit faster in terms of SOC speed but overall no spectacular improvements. In short, I'm not sure I'd spend money on a 7 Pro if I had a working S21 Ultra. But for me it's an easier choice, as my S21 Ultra is long gone and the 7 Pro is a massive upgrade on the Note 10 Plus I'm currently using.
Where it wins big is in comparison to the competition here and now. £850 for a phone that easily competes for everyday use with an iPhone 14 Pro Max which starts at £1200 and a Samsung S22 Ultra that starts at £1150. It loses out on a couple of things with both (battery life for the iPhone, S-Pen with the Samsung, and raw benchmarking horse power with both), but it also has advantages in comparison to both. In short it's a bargain for what you get, and the Pixel 7 even more.
I don't understand what appears to have become an acceptance that flagship phones have to cost north of £1000. It's an absolute nonsense deliberately brought into existence by Apple and Samsung for their own ends. It's good to see Google thumb their nose at it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah in a way I agree, phones absolutely shouldn't cost that much. What's a shame though is the phone feels physically cheaper and that's a bit of a deal breaker considering it was still over 1000 euros.. My s21s camera system is so poor it still makes sense to upgrade, plus a few quid back when I sell the old phone and the pixel watch but I have to say I'm still a bit let down. I absolutely despise apple software but there's no denying when I unboxed the 14 pro I was far more impressed with the quality
Batfink33 said:
You're not getting truly top hardware with the Pixel though, it's only an LTPO 1.0 display for eg so there's a trade off for price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah and it sort of shows tbh. If I could have the s21 ultra with the software advantages of the pixel 7p right now that would be the ideal hybrid.
Bxperiaz3 said:
Yeah even with the better build most new phones can't handle any sort of a drop. Nice, let us know how you find it.
That makes perfect sense, Thanks for clearing that up. Makes me like the pixel even less now that that's been confirmed
I don't have a sim in mine yet but that would be another deal breaker. Similar to you I only have small complaints so far. But I have more than I was expecting..
Yeah in a way I agree, phones absolutely shouldn't cost that much. What's a shame though is the phone feels physically cheaper and that's a bit of a deal breaker considering it was still over 1000 euros.. My s21s camera system is so poor it still makes sense to upgrade, plus a few quid back when I sell the old phone and the pixel watch but I have to say I'm still a bit let down. I absolutely despise apple software but there's no denying when I unboxed the 14 pro I was far more impressed with the quality
Yeah and it sort of shows tbh. If I could have the s21 ultra with the software advantages of the pixel 7p right now that would be the ideal hybrid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd pay the extra for a truly flagship pixel with all the latest hardware. Yes phones are way overpriced but it would be nice to have Pixel software on a phone with the quality build of an iPhone or Samsung. An Sd8+ Gen 1 (or gen 2) Pixel would be amazing.
It's arrived, and it doesn't feel less premium at all. Maybe that's me and, being an engineer, I know weight doesn't equate to more premium. I love the feel of it, solid.
In terms of opinion, I've not got much else at the moment, still setting it up.

Categories

Resources