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I've read alot of the threads and it does seem like alot of mixed reviews about it... i'm coming from a s3 so i'm hoping i'll be impressed besides the screen (sorry i love amoled)
i hope the problems everyone been talking about is gonna be fixed by google updates or what not
you're coming from an S3?
Prepare to have your pants blown off by a pure google experience.
spitefulcheerio said:
you're coming from an S3?
Prepare to have your pants blown off by a pure google experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well i broke my s3 a couple months back and been with the bb9900 but i did vow to buy the next google flagship
ahahah i've been with the google expirience from roms but not from a nexus maybe it'll be a difference
there is a difference. Something you'll learn quickly: pure google developed by thousands of people for a certain device will always be smoother than a port done by a small group of people.
I came from an S3 myself, I ran AOKP on it most of its life. IMO, the N5 easily tops it in all aspects. The screen is ridiculously sharp, and color reproduction is great compared to the S3's pentile display. The camera works SO MUCH better in lower light scenarios that it's not even funny. Actually, it works better in every scenario that I've tried so far. HDR+ is also quite nice and can really make for some great shots. Battery life I can't really comment on since I just got it today, but I've already gotten more screen on time out of it than I ever managed with my S3, and the N5 came out of the box at 80% charged for me.
So, two big things to remember:
1. The people most prone to posting experiences online are going to be those with either an overwhelming positive or negative experience, and based off of my admittedly personal observations, negative reports almost always outweigh positive ones in terms of passion (if not quantity) - regardless of the quality of the product. In other words: one or two frustrated people tend to make infinitely more noise than ten to twenty happy ones; consequently, that doesn't mean the product in question is a dud.
2. This is the inaugural batch of hardware. There are going to be a few minor kinks in this first batch that will be fixed with the next production runs from the factory. Usually this is very minor. Unrefined edges, very slight chassis tweaks, etc. Part and parcel for impatience and immediate gratification is the roll of the dice that you might get a unit that is... a bit alpha
All this being said, the answer to your question is...
Absolutely not.
Mine is going to be delivered tomorrow, but there have been enough variances in the reports and reviews for me to definitely believe that most units are of excellent quality, and any "lemons" out there are well within the bounds of what is to be expected from an initial hardware distribution. Plus, it also helps that almost all gripes seem to be more software related than hardware - and will be fixed by Google in the coming weeks.
if there's something wrong with it, dont be afraid to RMA it immediately. especially on a first batch of hardware. put it throw all the tests you can at it, i bet you could google this and find out a great set of apps to run on it as soon as you get it. i like cpu and gpu benchmark apps as well as a flashing color screen testing apps(to check for bad pixels), plus any testing that you yourself will be doing. like extended periods of gaming or youtube watching or even just browsing, even if you dont plan on every playing a game for 2 hours straight, do it and see if there's any hiccups.
From my experience and research, if you get one with no defects than your in great shape.
If you do get one with a defect like me (speaker defective causing massive distortions in phone calls and most audio) then you had a really bad day.
neok44 said:
From my experience and research, if you get one with no defects than your in great shape.
If you do get one with a defect like me (speaker defective causing massive distortions in phone calls and most audio) then you had a really bad day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bro why not just call google and get a replacement before its to late =D
Im also really unsure with my decision buying the N5.. Im coming from an Xperia Z which is IMO a good Phone, but not really that smooth.. Do you think it will be a big step up?
Sent from my C6603 using xda app-developers app
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I’ve been quite a fan of Xiaomi products ever since I used the awesome little Mi 2S. Till date, the phone is among the most favourite ones that I’ve ever owned!
Come 2014, and I was tempted by more releases… iBuyGou sent over a Xiaomi Mi 4, and although I got to use a lot of phones this year, the Mi 4 and the OnePlus One remain to be among my favourites. And I’m a littlleeee skewed towards the Mi 4 thanks to my preference for smaller phones. Basically, phones that fit in my pocket.
I do a lot of traveling on the motorbike and prefer to have the phone in my pocket than anywhere else. 5.5 inch phones haven’t gotten to a level where they’d fit (in thee sitting position), and therefore the Mi 4 pretty much hits the bullseye as far as size is concerned.
Unboxing video
Form factor… and feel
The Mi 4 looks a lot like another popular phone. The latest edition of that ‘popular phone’ is known for a very unique feature, i.e., bending. However, the Mi 4 looks more like a mashup of the previous versions of the phone. If you are a sucker for original design, you should totally stay out. If not… let’s talk!
The bezels are extremely thin, thinner than any other phone I’ve ever owned. This is really what makes the 5-inch phone in a pocket a possibility, really. A lot of other phones have slim bezels, but the top and bottom part of these devices really makes up with abnormally large chunks of bezel. The Mi 4 however doesn’t do anything of that sort, and offers a very one-handed-usable experience.
The edges on the device are chamfered… or tapered if you like to call it that. This is more noticeable on the part that blends into the front than the rear. Not only does it give the Mi 4 a lovely visual appeal, but also makes the device easier to use… and your hands harder to slit.
Xiaomi phones traditionally featured buttons on the right, with the ability to change the look and feel because they’re attached to the rear cover. This changed with the Mi 3, which didn’t offer a removable rear at all. The Mi 4 does a bit better and does give you the liberty of taking off the rear… if you have a suction cup handy. And even if you do, you do not have the ability to swap the battery which is a bit of a shame. A bit. User replaceable batteries are overrated!
The front of the Mi 4, as I said before, will remind you of ‘the other phone that shan’t be named’. On the top there’s the earpiece in a little slot of its own. I like it when earpieces are at the same level as the body, they otherwise tend to be dust magnets. Anyway.
On the left of the earpiece you see a little back spot which hides the proximity and light sensors, on the left to which sits the famous Mi logo. On the extreme right, you can see the impressive 8MP camera.
Below the screen, there’s the usual set of buttons -- overflow, home and back. Depending on what OS you’re running (MIUI V5 or MIUI 6), the leftmost button will act as either the menu button or the recent tasks button. In my case, it is the latter… because I love the look and feel of MIUI 6.
The chin of the Mi 4 makes home for the reinforced micro USB port and of course the machine drilled speaker grill. Before talking about the sound of it, let me tell you that it looks pretty kickass
Nothing on the left besides the camouflaged SIM slot. The right edge is where you access the power and volume buttons, all covered in great-feeling metal.
The top is where it gets interesting… because not only do you see the standard 3.5mm earphone jack here, but also an IR sensor which is a first for Xiaomi. It is extremely useful as a feature, but unfortunately the range isn’t as much as you’d have liked, on the Mi 4.
Display
Out of all the phones that I’ve had a chance to use and play with, the Mi 4 sits right on top with the other 5 incher… the OPPO Find 5. I totally loved that device but had to let go of it earlier this year to fund another purchase. Anyway, the Mi 4 does look as good as the Find 5 on screen quality terms. Like I’ve said before, 5 inches of screen is the maximum I can handle, and displays like the one used on the Mi 4 really make it worthwhile. I have another phone for YouTube and video, but that phone is increasingly becoming obsolete due to the presence of the Mi 4!
MIUI (6, in my case) lets you choose between 3 color modes and 2 saturation modes. I usually like to have a very balanced and consequently natural display, but on the Mi 4 it is the ‘cool’ color mode I use everyday. To be very frank, the ‘warm’ mode is on the verge of being called yellow; standard and cool are the only modes you will ever choose in between.
Saturation has a couple of modes -- Brilliant and Standard. The difference between these two modes isn’t as pronounced as the ones between the color modes. I use my Mi 4 in Standard mode, Brilliant gives it a tinge of warmness. Comes down to personal preference, imo.
Backlight bleeding is something Chinese phones have been suffering from for a long, long time. Thankfully, it isn’t the case here. Minus a little part. There’s a slight bit of backlight bleeding on the right edge (bottom), which is hardly noticeable and definitely QC-able. You can certainly live with it and it’s far from a deal breaker.
In a nutshell, I’d rate the display a healthy 9/10, at par with the OPPO FInd 5!
Camera
If anything, smartphones from 2013 to 2014 have progressed leaps and bounds on the camera front. There’s of course difference in performance, but it isn’t as significant as the difference (read: improvement) in camera tech.
I LOVE the Xiaomi Mi 4 as a camera phone. It might not have the most number of pixels, or even the most features (it lacks a substantial slow shutter mode, for one), but the Mi 4 does a very good job at capturing moments for you. It’s all about the right timing, and thanks to the super fast focus mode on the Mi 4, I am able to take a lot of pictures at the right time. On terms of camera performance, I would rate the Mi 4 second only to the mammoth OPPO Find 7 (which surprisingly uses the same IMX214 sensor as the Mi 4! But it turns out, there’s a lot more to picture quality than just the sensor )
The Mi 4 carries a lot over from the Mi 3. As in, it features the same ‘vivid’ sort of a picture tone with a little bit of exaggeration; but it’s definitely less than the Mi 3, making pictures seem a lot more real. MIUI 6 might also be a bottleneck as far as hardware performance is concerned, but even then I’m pretty satisfied.
During the initial days with the phone, it had a naggy issue where the camera wouldn’t focus during macro shot attempts. This has since been solved thanks to a multitude of OTA updates (the perks of being on a beta channel…)
The camera app does lack a bit of functionality though, which I hope will be added with future OTA updates. Xiaomi are usually pretty quick in pushing new updates -- weekly, most often.
The camera also does 4K, but it isn’t relevant to me. It isn’t to you too, if you don’t have a 4K aka UHD television!
Another interesting feature is 'Refocus'. As the name clearly suggests, it allows you to focus on parts of an image AFTER clicking. I'm happy to report that it works wonderfully well.
Curious, I wanted to know how it worked. Xiaomi advertised a 0.3 second focus duration, so it wasn't all that difficult. Snooping around the phone's file system told me that the device actually takes multiple photos (4 if I remember right) with different points in focus so that you're able to achieve the magical refocus feature later on. Intelligent, I must say! (HTC had to add a whole another sensor to achieve this )
Battery
I’m very satisfied with the battery life on the Xiaomi Mi 4. It isn’t as good as the OnePlus One, but it falls short only by a shade. On the upside, I get a display that’s way more vibrant and an absolute treat to look at. And according to Android, I look at it about 6 hours before it the phone needs another trip to the wall socket. Speaking of wall sockets, make sure you use the bundled Xiaomi Mi 4 charging adapter. Or be prepared to give it a good few hours of charging (4-5). The stock charger charges up the Mi 4 pretty darn fast; any other charger (even the 2A ones) take way way longer for some reason. Xiaomi don’t advertise anything like VOOC so I’m assuming its some secret tech they’re employing here to get the battery charged fast (unless it is Qualcomm’s fast charging, lol).
My usage often greatly varies from day to day. Most days, I’m left with a good 50% charge at the end of the day, with the phone unplugged for around 18-19 hours along with 3 hours of screen on time. I think this is pretty respectable for a small phone with a 5-inch display, and one that’s so bright.
It might be worthy to let you know about the apps that I use the most, so you get a clearer image about battery life: feedly, Chome, WhatsApp, Pocket, Gmail and a couple other apps that keep changing depending what season it is
All in all I’d give the battery a decent 9/10. Please keep in mind that it took the device a good few weeks before the battery life got to this point; it was far far worse when I started off with using the Mi 4. It could also be the MIUI 6 ROM, but I suspect it has got to do with the hardware itself.
MIUI 6
Its hard to miss what the Mi 4 runs on. Not only because its pretty beautiful and even more functionally useful, but also because of the fact that the media loves to hate the MIUI ROM; at least that section which hasn’t ever used a Xiaomi phone. And I don’t blame them for that. The MIUI ROM does leave an impression of being a bit of an iOS lookalike, but there’s much more to MIUI than that. Calling MIUI a lookalike of iOS is like speaking only one side of the story… if you know what I mean.
Controversy aside, MIUI is pretty useful and handy, but it takes a while to get used to. Especially when you’re coming from another Android smartphone that runs a more closer-to-vanilla ROM.
While I’m yet to come across any significant functional improvements on MIUI 6 compared to the previous iteration of the ROM, I do very much like the look of it. A lot of the settings previously near-unreachable are now easier to get to, which does leave a good impression in the mind of the user. You can now easily switch launchers and other default apps, in a very steamlined manner unlike earlier.
Conclusion
I’ve had the privilege of using a lot of phones this year, including the HTC One M8, OPPO Find 5, Find 7, Xiaomi Mi 3 and of course the OnePlus One besides this… but guess which phone I like the most? Yeah you got it right. Of course this is a very subjective topic, since a lot of smartphone users these days tend to pick phones with displays larger than 5 inches. But I guess I’m just too old skool.
The way the Mi 4 is performing for me right now, I think I would be happy to use it as my main phone for a good one year. Like I mentioned before, battery is a very important component on a smartphone for me, and the Mi 4 hits the sweet spot. It almost lasts as long as the Mi 2S with a 3200mAh battery! (keep in mind that the Mi 2S has only a 4.3 inch 720p screen).
Stuff like an IR sensor (which needs a decent English language app at the moment) make the Mi 4 a real worthy smartphone for the money. I'm waiting to see how it performs in the market when it's available in more countries than just China, especially India. Untill then!
I would like to thank iBuyGou.com for shipping the phone. Go get the phone from them!
A great review! Thank you for your effort. You described most aspects of the phone but everything you wrote was positive. I am iterested in buying that phone so I really need to know things that you disliked.
Usually people that buy a phone and will use it in their everyday life tend to "hide" the flaws so after ALOT of effort I concluded that the weak points of Mi4 is the camera and audio quality. You seem satisfied by the camera but what about the sound?
Thanks again.
mi4 Google
hello
I'm Abhi from mumbai, 00919867788773
I buy mi4 from china last month. All box pack from reputed internet website official paid money.
I have trouble that, I'm not able to start any Google application. Like no Google play store a gmaps and so not able to download any app.
it alwa'ys show warning
No internet access, and security warning that ur Not access to Google application.
I can receive emails And well connected withe wlan and also will sim data.
Have gone in mi market and done all download for Google by Eric...
Also installed all Google framework
But not able to start Google play store and any Google appilcation.
Please give the solutions , how do I star Google play store to download all Apps.
Uninstall and reinstall the play store. Or flash the international version of MIUI at Xiaomi.eu
Sent from my Xiaomi Mi4
ioannis_n said:
A great review! Thank you for your effort. You described most aspects of the phone but everything you wrote was positive. I am iterested in buying that phone so I really need to know things that you disliked.
Usually people that buy a phone and will use it in their everyday life tend to "hide" the flaws so after ALOT of effort I concluded that the weak points of Mi4 is the camera and audio quality. You seem satisfied by the camera but what about the sound?
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, thanks for the comment and sorry about the late reply.
The sound from the built in speaker is honestly disappointing. Other phones like the OnePlus One give a much better output. That said, the Mi 4 lacks mostly only on the volume. Quality is rock solid -- but volume is often insufficient.
@yash3339 how is the signal strength, 3g on the indian networks?
Good review!! :good:
I totally agree with this review cos I myself own a MI4 and its been one month since I'm using it and I can say its a power house without burning a lot of money... Outstanding phone... Can't wait for it to get the official Lollipop update
whosaysjohn said:
@yash3339 how is the signal strength, 3g on the indian networks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Signal is perfect. Been using 3G on Airtel without any issues
Krahe8 said:
Good review!! :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! Glad it helped.
sidzcool said:
I totally agree with this review cos I myself own a MI4 and its been one month since I'm using it and I can say its a power house without burning a lot of money... Outstanding phone... Can't wait for it to get the official Lollipop update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, you got it spot on. Even without Lollipop MIUI 6 is plenty interesting!
I'm using the reliance network here and speed is not that bad... Battery life with wifi is superb
With 2g its almost similar but with 3g due to network strength theres a battery drain, this is a network issue though so its not the fault of the mi4. But hands down this the most powerful device available at this price range. Don't feel uncomfortable when ur friends say its cheap chinese. Just in case if ur friends make fun of ur device, jus laugh back at them cos they have no clue wat they r getting into ..
But Y these devices are priced so low is that ( this is jus my opinion) they dont sell much out of china and advertising is very minimal. yeah i know the mi3 and 1s got great ads in flipkart but stocks were limited and thats y the price is so low. U r paying for wat u actually want rather than wat the manufacturer wants.. But this is my opinion... opinions for me or against me are most welcome
sidzcool said:
I'm using the reliance network here and speed is not that bad... Battery life with wifi is superb
With 2g its almost similar but with 3g due to network strength theres a battery drain, this is a network issue though so its not the fault of the mi4. But hands down this the most powerful device available at this price range. Don't feel uncomfortable when ur friends say its cheap chinese. Just in case if ur friends make fun of ur device, jus laugh back at them cos they have no clue wat they r getting into ..
But Y these devices are priced so low is that ( this is jus my opinion) they dont sell much out of china and advertising is very minimal. yeah i know the mi3 and 1s got great ads in flipkart but stocks were limited and thats y the price is so low. U r paying for wat u actually want rather than wat the manufacturer wants.. But this is my opinion... opinions for me or against me are most welcome
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They have not launched Mi 4 outside of China as yet...xiaomi phones are always priced low...they dont make much from phone but make up through services...
---------- Post added at 10:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 PM ----------
yash3339 said:
Signal is perfect. Been using 3G on Airtel without any issues
Thanks, bought it a week back...working good so far...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
whosaysjohn said:
They have not launched Mi 4 outside of China as yet...xiaomi phones are always priced low...they dont make much from phone but make up through services...
---------- Post added at 10:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 PM ----------
yash3339 said:
Signal is perfect. Been using 3G on Airtel without any issues
Thanks, bought it a week back...working good so far...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to know its working fine for you
sidzcool said:
I'm using the reliance network here and speed is not that bad... Battery life with wifi is superb
With 2g its almost similar but with 3g due to network strength theres a battery drain, this is a network issue though so its not the fault of the mi4. But hands down this the most powerful device available at this price range. Don't feel uncomfortable when ur friends say its cheap chinese. Just in case if ur friends make fun of ur device, jus laugh back at them cos they have no clue wat they r getting into ..
But Y these devices are priced so low is that ( this is jus my opinion) they dont sell much out of china and advertising is very minimal. yeah i know the mi3 and 1s got great ads in flipkart but stocks were limited and thats y the price is so low. U r paying for wat u actually want rather than wat the manufacturer wants.. But this is my opinion... opinions for me or against me are most welcome
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, you got a point there... but I've been using Chinese devices long enough for my friends to truly realize their real value
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey I've been using device for 2 months and I feel that this device is worth its price.. Thats all..
Notification LED
Nice review Yash, addressed most of the queries the prospective users would have.
Hi MI4 users,
I would like to know if the MI4 has a notification LED.
In one review on youtube (I think, Ash's), he did mention that it has a notification LED which lights up to show the phone is charging.
What I want to know is if the LED blinks to notify unread notifications (missed calls, sms, emails, IMs, etc)? Is it a single color LED or does it light up in different colors as per the category of notification.
AP
Hi there,
The led does blink for notification such unread messages (texts, what's app, emails) calls even your clash of clan notification
Actually mi4's led does work as would work any regular led on other phones
Edit : it does light up in different colors as per category
Sent from my MI 4LTE using XDA Free mobile app
By the way, here's how my mi4 lte is doing on a French wireless operator using lte band 3 (1800mhz)
Sent from my MI 4LTE using XDA Free mobile app
This Device so far... is Awesome
Xiaomi Mi 4
Nice review indeed. Thanks a lot for sharing with us.
Recently xiaomi has released another great product xioami Note, which I personally think is cool and better than Mi 4 in many sense. Hope you will write a review on Mi note.
Any more comments on the Battery drain on 3G? I'm switching from a Nexus 5 to Mi4, I don't want to fall into the same low battery trap again :/
cyanide911 said:
Any more comments on the Battery drain on 3G? I'm switching from a Nexus 5 to Mi4, I don't want to fall into the same low battery trap again :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll be fine the mi4 has a much bigger battery. And my mi3 gets good battery life too : p
Sent from my MI 3W
I've either cognitively dissonated myself into loving this phone, or it is really quite good. The official camera fix did some good and leaves open the good possibility that further refining will yield a great result, or I'll stick with the progress being made on the GCam port and use the native app for great monochrome shots (I love the B&W sensor and it is EXCELLENT). That said, no cases... I guess no problem - I ordered some SquareTrade insurance coverage today - if it drops or dies, they'll replace it for a hundred beans - I can handle that kind of coverage...
I'm not seeing the same quality defects others are reporting with their handsets (light bleed, TMOB signal issues, etc.) so either I got a keeper or others are being overly sensitive (nothing personal guys).
I asked for and will likely receive a return package, but I think I'll be sending it back empty. Sorry for the trouble Essential, but you are in my daily carry category now - my S8+ will stay ready for outdoor action as needed (water resistance, etc).
The aesthetics are what has done it for me... Maybe you feel the same? The feeling I get holding and using the Essential do indeed remind me of the first day with the OG iPhone - only ten years better. Hell - I still have some great pics I took with that lousy 2MP, fixed focus, no flash shooter from 2007 on my drive.
Anyway, just one man's changed opinion. If it grew on you too, please post your thoughts. I'm interested to know how many others have now caved.
rootdude said:
I've either cognitively dissonated myself into loving this phone, or it is really quite good. The official camera fix did some good and leaves open the good possibility that further refining will yield a great result, or I'll stick with the progress being made on the GCam port and use the native app for great monochrome shots (I love the B&W sensor and it is EXCELLENT). That said, no cases... I guess no problem - I ordered some SquareTrade insurance coverage today - if it drops or dies, they'll replace it for a hundred beans - I can handle that kind of coverage...
I'm not seeing the same quality defects others are reporting with their handsets (light bleed, TMOB signal issues, etc.) so either I got a keeper or others are being overly sensitive (nothing personal guys).
I asked for and will likely receive a return package, but I think I'll be sending it back empty. Sorry for the trouble Essential, but you are in my daily carry category now - my S8+ will stay ready for outdoor action as needed (water resistance, etc).
The aesthetics are what has done it for me... Maybe you feel the same? The feeling I get holding and using the Essential do indeed remind me of the first day with the OG iPhone - only ten years better. Hell - I still have some great pics I took with that lousy 2MP, fixed focus, no flash shooter from 2007 on my drive.
Anyway, just one man's changed opinion. If it grew on you too, please post your thoughts. I'm interested to know how many others have now caved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really want to like it, I'm trying real hard.
The performance sucks and is not faster than a Moto Z with a Snapdragon 821.
This phone does some really aggressive thermal throttling.
This bothers me.
I really want to like it.
I kind of came to the same conclusion the other day. Software can always be improved with updates, and there's not another phone out there built with better materials. It looks, feels, and is, an upscale phone.
tech_head said:
I really want to like it, I'm trying real hard.
The performance sucks and is not faster than a Moto Z with a Snapdragon 821.
This phone does some really aggressive thermal throttling.
This bothers me.
I really want to like it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm interested to hear what you know about thermal throttling. I'm a power user and I play Royale like an idiot and I haven't even felt it get warm, nor do I see the incredible battery drain I see with other devices I've played on in the past (the Pixel XL was the worst for that power drain). Do you have CPUZ installed on it and can get some screenies of the throttling b/c of overheat conditions?
rootdude said:
I'm interested to hear what you know about thermal throttling. I'm a power user and I play Royale like an idiot and I haven't even felt it get warm, nor do I see the incredible battery drain I see with other devices I've played on in the past (the Pixel XL was the worst for that power drain). Do you have CPUZ installed on it and can get some screenies of the throttling b/c of overheat conditions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see/feel the phone get hot. That's the point, before it even gets hot the CPU gets throttled.
If I artificially cool the device or I'm in a cold environment; I can run Antutu and get close to the Qualcomm numbers for their reference platform in the 178k range. I can do that only in a cold environment. If the device is in a warm room the performance drops to 160k or so. If the room is hot or if I try to run again the performance can drop to 150k. I have seen the results drop to below 120k.
Geek bench scores are somewhat better but not great.
1900 single core and 6000 multicore.
The renderscript score is about 8000. Which puts in 33% behind an iPhone 7.
The software grew on me as more mods and ADB tweaks come out...but every time I decide to keep it and slap a skin of the back I find new scratches. Now I even have a scratch on the finish on the titanium. No clue where any of these came from. I haven't had a scratch on a phone in years... I upgrade every few months and always sell my phones mint on Swappa. I've had this a week and it's already scratched to ****. I love the look and feel and I'm happy with the software now but man..it's getting destroyed.
NeutronBomb said:
The software grew on me as more mods and ADB tweaks come out...but every time I decide to keep it and slap a skin of the back I find new scratches. Now I even have a scratch on the finish on the titanium. No clue where any of these came from. I haven't had a scratch on a phone in years... I upgrade every few months and always sell my phones mint on Swappa. I've had this a week and it's already scratched to ****. I love the look and feel and I'm happy with the software now but man..it's getting destroyed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. Mine still looks like it just came out of the box, and it even took a 4 foot tumble to my bathroom floor the other day.
So I hope the new update improves performance.
Right now if the phone gets to an internal temp of 44C it will throttle to less than half the maximum frequency.
This puts the performance, when warm, behind and LG G4, Samsung Galaxy S6 and my old Nexus 6P.
Not happy.
I'm battling the decision now. I'm still in that 15 day return window, and like others am trying really hard to want to like this device.
Love the display. Don't mind that it's not AMOLED - I still get 5-6 hours SoT with moderate-heavy internet/call/text on wifi w/bt connected. No light bleed issues or lifting of panels for me, everything seems in order there.
There are some problems with the software that make me wonder if the problems I have are hardware or software. The micro-stuttering during scrolling (only while touching the screen during scrolling) could be a hardware problem, could be throttling, or could be OS optimization for this device in general. It's smooth as butter as long as I flick-scroll. Even if I slow finger-scroll vs slow flick-scroll the difference is noticeable, goes from stutter to butter. Finger-on-screen lag is like that of a bloated EVO3D trying to flip homescreens.
Then there are the definite software glitches that are present even after a full wipe of the phone (I really wish you could wipe the cache partition on this thing). This includes the occasional 10 second freeze while scrolling, the microstutters mentioned above, having to press back twice when in a conversation in the default messaging app, random screen presses when not touching the screen, regularly having to tap the screen repeatedly to get response from buttons.
And then there's the support - it takes a very long time to get response. I realize they are busy and trying to be responsive, and I am really trying to support this new company... One of the biggest problems I have is for solely existing as a consumer communications device manufacturer, they have some terrible consumer communication processes happening (or complete lack thereof). All I really want to know is that they are aware of and are working on the specific issues. Maybe I have control issues, but the dark is not a friendly place to be with 700 bucks on the line!!
I'm going to leave myself undecided for a few days and see where things go. If I don't see some kind of a software update addressing many of the issues some of us are experiencing I may have to reconsider... Despite all of the short-comings the new company has had as a baby, it's a beautiful baby. Let's just hope it learns fast I'm really hoping the screen issues I'm having are software related, but without confirmation from the company I can't say that I have high confidence right now. I love the feel and design of the device itself, though! *torn*
I am really trying hard to like this device. In terms of overall feel it's immaculate. They did very well on the design of the the phone. My issues come with software and future development. Right now there's clear software bugs and other optimization that needs to be done. If they can work on some of those things the experience on this phone would improve tenfold. Also once they get the source code and kernel out then we can start seeing more Community Development. We could also get things such as custom recovery and root. I'm hoping that in the coming weeks this phone and the community support will improve. I think I'll keep my device for while to see if that happens if not I may be lookin at a Pixel 2.
theandroidbot said:
I am really trying hard to like this device. In terms of overall feel it's immaculate. They did very well on the design of the the phone. My issues come with software and future development. Right now there's clear software bugs and other optimization that needs to be done. If they can work on some of those things the experience on this phone would improve tenfold. Also once they get the source code and kernel out then we can start seeing more Community Development. We could also get things such as custom recovery and root. I'm hoping that in the coming weeks this phone and the community support will improve. I think I'll keep my device for while to see if that happens if not I may be lookin at a Pixel 2.
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Click to collapse
There isn't a massive amount of development on the pixel in relation to other Nexus devices likely due to the A/B partitions so I'm dubious on the pixel 2 at the moment
spotmark said:
Interesting. Mine still looks like it just came out of the box, and it even took a 4 foot tumble to my bathroom floor the other day.
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Can the QC really be that hit and miss? I have zero scratches as well on front or back.
rootdude said:
Can the QC really be that hit and miss? I have zero scratches as well on front or back.
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Same here. The one thing I absolutely love is the build quality. It looks exactly as the day it arrived.
Mine looks like the first day. I'm very impressed with the build quality.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
No issues with mine fr a build standpoint. Fell a few times and no scratches. I'm using a glass screen protector even though there is a halo. Rather that scratches than the screen. The update that came out today is probably the software the phone should have shipped with initially... but we were all in a rush to get it. I'm keeping this device for sure! I also like confusing the heck out of ppl... I'm running the Arrow Launcher, blackberry keyboard and I use the iPhone sms sound for text notifications..
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
My only complaint really is I think they went too small. Most smarts phones are a little larger.
hoopsdavis said:
My only complaint really is I think they went too small. Most smarts phones are a little larger.
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I think it's refreshing. I mean I love big phones, haven't used a small sized phone in years, but after using this phone for several days, I love how reasonably compact it is with this screen size. I should rephrase, I love big screen size, not necessarily big form factor. So to have this screen size packed in a smaller form, I think it's awesome.
hoopsdavis said:
My only complaint really is I think they went too small. Most smarts phones are a little larger.
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Click to collapse
The "small" form factor with big screen is the the biggest reason this phone came into my radar
flakko86 said:
The "small" form factor with big screen is the the biggest reason this phone came into my radar
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Click to collapse
Same with me and many others. The big screen in compact size is among the major pros for buying this mobile. Besides that, I was also attracted to the clean design/material used and the pin port for 360 camera and other gadgets.
But I'm still waiting (impatiently) for how the Huawei Mate 10 pro turns out to be before I buy the essential phone. Hoping the Mate 10 pro is as compact and well built as well, combined with supposedly beast new Kirin 970 and improved dual camera, and maybe some new features like AI, Graphene battery, 3D Face recognition (all already introduced on Huawei's Honor magic). It would be the only contender to essential phone on my list. If Mate 10 pro disappoints then by that time Essential phone would be ready to ship out with 360 camera and charging dock in one go.
I have really grown to like this device. I have been using as my DD since the update, no significant issues and certainly no scratches or signs of wear. The size of the device is a key factor for me, I love the form factor.
Guys, i am really insecure if i should buy this Phone, I heard the camera is just meh, which i could live with (but only if that means medicore) and Software-OS is a huge Letdwown, can someone Tell me how realistic it would be that there will be custom roms? can it also be possible that there will never be custom Roms? and do you think this Phone could be Future proof (Talking about 2-3 Years) I do not want to regret it if i order it since it is a fair amount of money
currently using a nubia 717 mini and sick of it
This phone will never have a custom rom. Better wait the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 that will launch in october, Xiaomi release kernel sources few weeks/days after the launch. And Xiaomi's camera quality is not bad now
Wahoux said:
This phone will never have a custom rom. Better wait the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 that will launch in october, Xiaomi release kernel sources few weeks/days after the launch. And Xiaomi's camera quality is not bad now
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Thank you, would you consider the mi mix 2s an alternative, i do not want to wait for a very long time
Night shots is average
Indoors shot is below average
---------- Post added at 01:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:00 AM ----------
Fingerprint not usable with my right hand but working with my left hand
Agalamagugu said:
Thank you, would you consider the mi mix 2s an alternative, i do not want to wait for a very long time
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I used the mix 2s and it was a good experience but that LCD display was a let down and i could never live with that horrible selfie camera. Also, apps tend to hang and crash alot, at least when i used it. LCD was bad because of JDI manufacturers, same idiots who supplied oneplus with the displays in their oneplus one models which had the infamous yellow band at the bottom. If you're not OCD and can live with it go ahead. Cant fault that amazing 845 SD
Agalamagugu said:
Thank you, would you consider the mi mix 2s an alternative, i do not want to wait for a very long time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes.
Agalamagugu said:
Guys, i am really insecure if i should buy this Phone, I heard the camera is just meh, which i could live with (but only if that means medicore) and Software-OS is a huge Letdwown, can someone Tell me how realistic it would be that there will be custom roms? can it also be possible that there will never be custom Roms? and do you think this Phone could be Future proof (Talking about 2-3 Years) I do not want to regret it if i order it since it is a fair amount of money
currently using a nubia 717 mini and sick of it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
coming from a glitchy, lagging Samsung S7 Edge with a pink line defect...
The camera is pretty meh. Hardware wise, it should have the oomph, but the software doesn't seem to optimize it. My 2 year old S7 seems to take slightly better pics from stock. Front facing pop up is more of a novelty but I like it.
The lower PPI screen is apparent compared to pixel rich Samsung phones. I'm not talking about the color, I can almost see the pixels. It's like going from a 4k tv to a DLP.
The on-display fingerprint reader works 9/10 times for me on the first try. I don't understand why people are having issues with it. Maybe they have dirty screens or dirty fingers. If it doesn't register it the first time, i give it quick rub with my finger and press down again and it get's it 100% on the second attempt. There might have been one time it wasn't working when my finger was wet. You can also register more fingers, so.....more chances to get it right.
I actually love the FunTouch OS because it is like iOS. Despite android having 10 million themes, iOS may be bland but it just works. Having FunTouch is like going back to that familiar comfort without resorting back to Apple.
I think it's too early on to say NEVER but it will depend how tech savvy you are messing with software internals, and comfortable with the risks associated with bricking your phone. This is not the phone to get if you want to do custom ROMs unless you want to be a pioneer.
No phone is future proof, and that's a good thing. Every year, new innovation inspires better designed phones. Of course, with daily use it will last you a good few years if handled with care. The most current software should also last at least 2 years even if Vivo doesn't get any further updates, as most app developers write programs going back at least one generation of software.
I bit the bullet, knowing well of the NEX's shortcomings but after going through Samsungs S7, S6, and Apple's 6, 5, 4, 3, and OG phones, I wanted to try something else. I wasn't impressed by the latest Note 9 and the upcoming iPhone X successor leaks are not promising as well. Having gone through the NEX and tweaking it to my liking, I am very pleased with this phone. I don't know if it's because I set the bar low, but it definitely surpassed my expectations, despite the negative reviews.
So I'm deciding between this and another phone or two. I had been concerned about the bugs people have been facing with this phone. My question is, has it all pretty much been resolved with December's update? I've read all about it on here except for any comments on actual improvement.
Other 2 phones I'm considering are the 6T and the Mi Mix 3. Yes, I know those two are much bigger, but for whatever reason don't want the 3XL.
I didn't experience the bugs that were reported, but I have noticed app switching is much better, so it appears background apps aren't being killed as they were before, which I believe was the memory management bug. What's encouraging to me is that Google has addressed and reportedly fixed the bugs so quickly. So even if some new ones show up there's a good chance they'll be fixed as well. I had a Samsung phone previously and would wait months for an update. Being first in line is as good as it gets.
I used to have the Pixel 2XL and wanted to upgrade to the 3.
I COULD NOT stand the 3 XL notch. It annoy me a lot. I also realized that the perfect size for me was the 5.5". So I bought the Pixel 3 for Black Friday. (Nomad Leather Case makes it feel so good too).
The only issues so far was Bluetooth no connecting correctly to my Honda and calls over speakerphone were bad. People was not listening me correctly.
It looks like it is fixed now with December update and I don't see anything wrong. I don't see any lag,well, maybe a little. But I think it's an Android feature since you can notice that in most phones.
If you like the pixel experience, updates, Google stuff, then this is for you.
If you want something bigger, cheaper, and less photo quality then 6T is for you.
carlos_polanco said:
I used to have the Pixel 2XL and wanted to upgrade to the 3.
I COULD NOT stand the 3 XL notch. It annoy me a lot. I also realized that the perfect size for me was the 5.5". So I bought the Pixel 3 for Black Friday. (Nomad Leather Case makes it feel so good too).
The only issues so far was Bluetooth no connecting correctly to my Honda and calls over speakerphone were bad. People was not listening me correctly.
It looks like it is fixed now with December update and I don't see anything wrong. I don't see any lag,well, maybe a little. But I think it's an Android feature since you can notice that in most phones.
If you like the pixel experience, updates, Google stuff, then this is for you.
If you want something bigger, cheaper, and less photo quality then 6T is for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go in to dev settings and change Bluetooth to 1.5 or 1.6 reboot and enjoy working connections
---------- Post added at 10:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 PM ----------
I had a s9 before..and the double apps from Samsung kill me..why do I need a email app if Gmail is included..why I need a calendar app (s-planer) if you can use Google calendar..why I need a Samsung photos app if Google photos is included..i could wrote forever more examples for this..now with the pixels 3 it feels so pure and homecoming..also the updates.. everyone say why Android phones had such a bad update circle for the software..I don't understand people why they buy other non Google phones ..
Just my 2 cents
carlos_polanco said:
I used to have the Pixel 2XL and wanted to upgrade to the 3.
I COULD NOT stand the 3 XL notch. It annoy me a lot. I also realized that the perfect size for me was the 5.5". So I bought the Pixel 3 for Black Friday. (Nomad Leather Case makes it feel so good too).
The only issues so far was Bluetooth no connecting correctly to my Honda and calls over speakerphone were bad. People was not listening me correctly.
It looks like it is fixed now with December update and I don't see anything wrong. I don't see any lag,well, maybe a little. But I think it's an Android feature since you can notice that in most phones.
If you like the pixel experience, updates, Google stuff, then this is for you.
If you want something bigger, cheaper, and less photo quality then 6T is for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can remove the notch in xl through a setting to make it as a black bar across the top
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Shrinking the screen? No thanks.
The only valid notches are for the new iPhones due to Face ID.
ANDROID notches are a problem created instead of solution.
I'm happy with the pixel 3.
Thanks for the input. I'm still kind of torn. How's the real world battery life? I'd be coming from a Galaxy S8+.
Please be aware that the video and "other" capabilities on the Pixel 3 camera pale in comparison to some other phones. I love the P3, but the weak videos are frustrating to no end, especially when the photos are so incredible. Other camera capabilities are weak as well - panorama, slow motion, and a complete lack of time lapse. The P3 is probably the best (or right up there) when it comes to individual photos, especially in low light. But if you use any other camera features regularly, or video regularly, it's nowhere near the top of the pack. Because of my kiddos, probably 20-30% of my camera activity is video and goofy slow motion shots. The S9 is my other device, and I'm still within my return window on the P3. I'm on the fence b/c of these issues.
Camera aside, the P3 is an excellent experience... very smooth, solid battery life, etc. My S9 is still fast, but the P3 is just... faster. Battery life on the P3 has been comparable to the S9. I stopped obsessing over battery life a couple of years ago. As long as I'm not having to plug in before bed, I'm happy. And both phones do that for me.
And as has been stated before, if updates and "first in line" are a high priority, then the Pixel 3 is your best bet by far.
jntdroid said:
Please be aware that the video and "other" capabilities on the Pixel 3 camera pale in comparison to some other phones. I love the P3, but the weak videos are frustrating to no end, especially when the photos are so incredible. Other camera capabilities are weak as well - panorama, slow motion, and a complete lack of time lapse. The P3 is probably the best (or right up there) when it comes to individual photos, especially in low light. But if you use any other camera features regularly, or video regularly, it's nowhere near the top of the pack. Because of my kiddos, probably 20-30% of my camera activity is video and goofy slow motion shots. The S9 is my other device, and I'm still within my return window on the P3. I'm on the fence b/c of these issues.
Camera aside, the P3 is an excellent experience... very smooth, solid battery life, etc. My S9 is still fast, but the P3 is just... faster. Battery life on the P3 has been comparable to the S9. I stopped obsessing over battery life a couple of years ago. As long as I'm not having to plug in before bed, I'm happy. And both phones do that for me.
And as has been stated before, if updates and "first in line" are a high priority, then the Pixel 3 is your best bet by far.
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Click to collapse
Thanks. Yeah, I've got my first child on the way. Having a good camera is pretty important to me. Thanks for the info on the camera quality.
I have typically kept my phones a year or less until my last phone 2 phones. Wife doesn't think I need a new one that often, especially since she still doesn't feel the need to upgrade from her iphone 6s. Having a kid coming will probably help her with that crusade. My point being, updates and future support is more important for me now than in the past. If the P3 were the same price as the OP6T or even just $100 more, i'd probably have already jumped on it.