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CES brought with it a few good contenders in the 5-inch phone battle. Only a month ago, the Butterfly/Droid DNA from HTC was the only game in town. In the next couple months, the Sony Xperia Z, Oppo Find 5, ZTE Grand S, and Huawei Ascend D2 will be popping their heads up for your consideration. MWC might even bring more 5 inch goodness, but any phones announced then will still be a ways off. The rumored 5 inch Galaxy S4 is still a good half a year away also.
The 5 inch size seems to fit the bill very well between a manageable and pocketable phone and one that is too big to use and impairs walking. It fits my requirements perfectly. I've owned a Galaxy Note that's 5.3" before and the 80+mm width and 140+mm height was cumbersome and bulky for me. However, the Galaxy S III at 4.8" was almost imperceptible in my pocket and very easy to hold. Most of the 5 inch phones currently releasing are about the same size, especially those with onscreen buttons. Some like the Xperia ZL are even smaller.
Here's a rundown on my thoughts of the current crop:
Xperia Z: The sides and power button are stylish. It's thin at under 8mm. The back is too plain and that plainless allows fingerprints to shine very easily and nastily. Front is pretty generic. The screen seems to be a bigger version of the Xperia S/T screen. That is, the viewing angles and color aren't the greatest. The 13MP camera seems to take great low light shots with very little noise, and the HDR video is also stellar. Sound capture could use some tweaking. IT's also water/dust resistant, but that doesn't factor much into my decision.
Xperia ZL: The internals and screen are identical to the Z, however Sony tried to squeeze the dimensions a bit and the height and width is actually smaller than a Galaxy S III. The thickness, however, is less impressive. There is a godawful butt flap on the back, especially noticeable on the white one. The textured black one is too Samsung-ish and cheap looking to me. The lower right front facing camera, similar to the one on the Nokia N9, also drives me nuts because I always notice it. Not on my shortlist.
Oppo Find 5: This is the one I'm enamored with. I've always liked the way the Xperia Arc looked, minus the cheap looking plastics. This one is matte and soft touch instead. It is sleeker and more streamlined than the curvaceous and fluffier, less hardy looking One X and Droid DNA polycarbonate shells. The screen is supposedly the same one as the Droid DNA, which is the best 5" 1080p on the market. The camera is also 13MP and possibly has HDR video and a 120fps mode. This phone already has a release date of 1/29 in China, with many more countries following after. Most important of all, it's been stated that they will sell it unlocked in the US for $500 online. Hassle-free. Close to release and fully unlocked are big pros in my book. The name Oppo is also very endearing.
Huawei Ascend D2: Probably the ugliest and most generic of the lot. The front seems identical to the Galaxy S II from 2011, and the back is just cheap shiny plastic with generic budget phone design. There's also an iffy homemade SoC inside. The screen might be the same as the Droid DNA/Find 5 however. There is also a sizeable 3000mah battery.
ZTE Grand S: The design looks a lot like the HTC One series. At 6.9mm, it is also the thinnest. The screen seems to have varying opinions. Some say it is good. Others say it is washed out with poor colors. The only thing I can gather from the videos is that the default brightness isn't very high and it always looks rather dim. The large raised dais that the camera sits within doesn't look very elegant. It is a fingerprint magnet and contrast sharply with the matte of the rest of the phone.
Droid DNA: This one is actually out and available. I don't know about the Butterfly or international variants, but it is on Verizon in the US and can be easily unlocked for GSM networks. It has the best 5" 1080p screen in the market, and the colors are not overly warm like the One X. It also has the same fluffy pillow look of the One X, but with some fun red stripes on the sides. It is quite light for its size, but on the thicker side for modern smartphones. There is a woefully small battery. The camera is a transplant from the older One X, and is only 8MP compared to the other 13MP shooters. The quality is decent, but it tends to be overly dark and oversharpened. The video capture is also not very good.
at some point phones can get too big. I have fairly big hands, but still I do not want to be stretching out my thumbs every time I need to click the back button.
well........
in my opinion, 5" is the ideal size, any bigger than that, the phone would be hard to handle as a phone atleast for people like me.
i have my fingers crossed for my next BIG phone , already expecting a Nexus-4 soon, and hopefully get a HTC Butterfyl or Xperia-Z soon.
:fingers-crossed:
Next "BIG" thing ... hehehe
the irony!
But serious I'm also an owner of rather big hands and I think I could handle a 5" phone, especially if it had a 1080p display.
it is good if phone has 5 inch screen display but phone should be comfortable in hands, now a days most of the mobile companies trying to launch big screen phone because big screen phone are very famous in youngsters.
I would choose the Sony ZL from that list for these reasons:
-Smallest surface for a 5 inch phone (for now)
-On screen buttons, very modable like Nexus devices once rooted
-Sony UI are lighter and more tolerable to me than sense and even touchwiz
-The camera, sound quality and durability should be good to excellent which is a trend with Sony devices from what I see, quite important factors
-It has removable storage which the DNA does not, this is a big deal for a 1080p device. They go hand in hand.
-It have bigger battery capacity than the Z and DNA.
-Base on so spec charts, it is 3G pentaband, a huge plus, you can bring it to any GSM carrier in the world. With LTE too.
If you read the spec charts, the DNA and ZL thickness is .1mm apart, if that is enough of a concern than you deserve the 11gb storage space and overpriced CDMA contract. Though the Z is 2mm thinner, it is 8.4mm longer with big empty space below the screen.
But probably I won't buy it due to the price and my preference of Nexus devices.
Still depends on the size of your palm.
bigger screen is better to use, but the issue is the pocketable size, I m a guy and i dont carry a purse with me.... if u put a 5" in ur front pocket, its hard to bend or kneel down, and u risk sitting on the phone if u put it on ur rear pocket, especially for those who wear tight jeans
i guess its fine if u use a purse or a belt hanger or clothing with big pockets
5.0 Screens
I was concerned my 4.3 inch screen would be too large, not so. Now with the bevels disappearing a 5.0 inch screen is workable for an average sized hand. The long term issue for all this larger screens with all the added functionality is going to be battery life. Sony's White Magic integrated white pixels into the screen to help reduce battery consumption, not sure if it did. They are also introducing a new deep sleep mode that is suppose to reduce battery drain, further. I think the Sony Z and ZL are extremely nice. I have an Xperia Arc S, but we will have to see what Google's X phone is...
It could be a leap in development and one would assume it is a 5.0 screen.
As you see everyone have own opinion. I think 4.5-4.7" is max size. So it's good when we have many option to choose.
I like 4inch phones :/
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Phew! I have a phone so small that the resolution is cut off sometimes when I play a game. 5 inches would be massive thing to handle casually, and I like to be able to handle my phone from hand to hand easily. Not giving it a death grip afraid it'll be too big for my hands!
Nice.........I don't think 5 inches will be that bad.........looking at the note 2 and then going back to my phone is night and day lol
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I will bei getting a Xperia Z or Ascend D2 depending on availability in Germany/Switzerland....5 inch is perfect for my long fingers and Huawei impresses me already with my second phone (G615).
Mmx canvas 2 superphone A110
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Send From My Samsung Galaxy Note 2 N7100,
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LIFE! It's what you make out of it!
Many people also forget 1 very important thing.
For some people 5" might be/seem to big, why is it too big? Most people use both hands when they operate their phones anyways.
And the important thing I was talking about is:
The eyes!
The bigger the screen, the less eye problems you'll have once you become older.
So think about it, don't just think in the now, but also try to think about your own future.:good:
Dsteppa said:
Many people also forget 1 very important thing.
For some people 5" might be/seem to big, why is it too big? Most people use both hands when they operate their phones anyways.
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Click to collapse
Most? Perhaps. Certainly not everyone. I use my phone with one hand most of the time.
I really only use it with both hands when playing games or writing a really long SMS. And that's not even certain.
Playing Puzzle or rotation games(Like Mega Jump) is easier with just one hand.
I could not for the life of me want to drop your bag or tossing your smoke just cause you have to answer a call. 2 Hand phones really should be a hassle.
I will wait abit till theres a durable, fast speed 4.5" (maximum) phone.
For years everything has gotten smaller I think making them bigger is really a step backwards.
Dsteppa said:
And the important thing I was talking about is:
The eyes!
The bigger the screen, the less eye problems you'll have once you become older.
So think about it, don't just think in the now, but also try to think about your own future.:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm only 19. When I'm 80 with eye problems (which probably by then has a magic cure), Phones probably wont even have screens or some crazy stuff.
I like the 5-inch phones, but I am just worried where I am supposed to keep them since they will barely fit in my pocket. I currently own a Galaxy S3 and I have trouble keeping that in my pocket. I'll have to purchase custom pants if I want to get a 5-inch phone
I think 5" is really the acceptable limit. Anything over that would be too uncomfortable to use as a phone.
It'd make more sense to get a tablet if you need anything bigger.
After using the Note 2 for a while, the biggest thing I don't like is the fact that I don't want a smaller screen for my next phone. I have average sized hands and don't find it cumbersome hardly at all. 5 inches would be the smallest id consider. The DNA is certainly a lot easier to manage though. 5 inches would be the minimum for me and 5.5 the max. I will say that I've lost count of how many times I've dropped the Note 2 on my face when laying down
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So far all the leak photos make the s8 look quite cheap and plasticky IMHO. I also think the G6 looks a lot like the Note 5.
How does glass looks cheap and plastic?
I like actually like the G6 better, and because it actually has flat screen, I use S7 edge now and it pain the the ass sometimes with my big meat paws, and the S8 looks too tall and skinny. doesn`t look right. lol
after today its not clear which is better
I agree, Samsung is forcing high price Curved only model, millions of people might be stay away when they know S8 available only with curved screen
Nothing wow'd me about the S8 so I'll stick with my S7 Edge.
I am S7 user and I loved flat screen front and curved back, I don't see any technical advantage of having curved screen, also as always UK and maybe Europe version is NOT available with Snapdragon 835, another bad piece of design is position of fingerprint scanner, iris is ok but not a huge advantage, I have doubt that 3000 mAh battery will be not be class leading or better than S7, Bixby is completely gimmicks, Camera review is not out yet but on specs wise it's same apparatus & pixel size and I doubt that Samsung will try to make same old hardware better by optimising and twining software only, No sound DAC, PC attachment is also nothing new as we seen it already, I will wait for full review and see how S8's camera and battery perform, compare with £689 price range Huawei P10 plus, LG G6 or Oneplus 3T 128GB, Dual SIM Midnight black 'limited addition' is also a looker, Best of luck guys
I was on the fence of getting either the G6 or S8. I'm not a big fan of the edge screen. I had the S7 edge and my big hands always touched the screen. With that said, I'm going to order the S8 over the G6. For the simple reason is price and newer specs. If I don't like the curved screen I'll just sell it or return it if Verizon offers the free restocking when our based online.
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It clearly looks better than the G6 to me
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Neither is great tbh. But the S8 has then "edge" for now. I'll wait and see the weeklong ownership reviews before I decide. Who knows, the note 8 might be the phone to get when it drops this year, but when?
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The S8's could win beauty contests including Victoria's Secret! : cool:
I prefer the one that doesn't have curved screen.
Currently have the G6 and it is a fantastic phone. Never used a phone with an 835 SOC as have neither of you so I cant say which is Faster. But the G6 is certainly smooth, and that flat screen is Awesome for glass screen protectors. But, IMO the LCD panel (which looks good) is nothing compared to the Oled samsung panel (subjective, yes). It seems im turning the brightness up to 60%+ just to feel comfortable using it, Its too dim otherwise. Previous phones Ive been able to keep the brightness on 30-40% and been happy (inside of course) Having had the 6P, S7 and OnePlus 3T with the amoled panels, this LCD on the G6 just doesnt do it for me. I personally even think the LCD on the iPhone 7+ looks better and Im not an iPhone fan. Also, and maybe this is over critical, I feel like the edges of the G6 display all leak a bit of light, especially the top. For some reason it just drives me crazy (OCD? ) So Im giving the G6 to one of my kids and getting the S8+
bamfsig45 said:
Currently have the G6 and it is a fantastic phone. Never used a phone with an 835 SOC as have neither of you so I cant say which is Faster. But the G6 is certainly smooth, and that flat screen is Awesome for glass screen protectors. But, IMO the LCD panel (which looks good) is nothing compared to the Oled samsung panel (subjective, yes). It seems im turning the brightness up to 60%+ just to feel comfortable using it, Its too dim otherwise. Previous phones Ive been able to keep the brightness on 30-40% and been happy (inside of course) Having had the 6P, S7 and OnePlus 3T with the amoled panels, this LCD on the G6 just doesnt do it for me. I personally even think the LCD on the iPhone 7+ looks better and Im not an iPhone fan. Also, and maybe this is over critical, I feel like the edges of the G6 display all leak a bit of light, especially the top. For some reason it just drives me crazy (OCD? ) So Im giving the G6 to one of my kids and getting the S8+
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Click to collapse
Same thing here the G6 might look nice compare to older models but is not doing for me.
I've been to my local VZW store and they are both on display. While I like them both, I feel the S8 is the better of the two. The sleekness of the S8 is amazing. It feels better than my pixel in my hand. The display is awesome. I'm ordering mine tonight from Verizon. There is not a restocking fee when you order on line. So if I don't like it back it will go. I'm pretty confident I'll love it. The only thing that will ruin it is poor battery life.
Sent from my Pixel using XDA-Developers Legacy app
bamfsig45 said:
Currently have the G6 and it is a fantastic phone. Never used a phone with an 835 SOC as have neither of you so I cant say which is Faster. But the G6 is certainly smooth, and that flat screen is Awesome for glass screen protectors. But, IMO the LCD panel (which looks good) is nothing compared to the Oled samsung panel (subjective, yes). It seems im turning the brightness up to 60%+ just to feel comfortable using it, Its too dim otherwise. Previous phones Ive been able to keep the brightness on 30-40% and been happy (inside of course) Having had the 6P, S7 and OnePlus 3T with the amoled panels, this LCD on the G6 just doesnt do it for me. I personally even think the LCD on the iPhone 7+ looks better and Im not an iPhone fan. Also, and maybe this is over critical, I feel like the edges of the G6 display all leak a bit of light, especially the top. For some reason it just drives me crazy (OCD? ) So Im giving the G6 to one of my kids and getting the S8+
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Click to collapse
I went from a S7E to a V20 and the first thing I noticed was the huge downgrade in screen quality. I'm happy to go back to Samsung.
I've only seen the G6 online and in videos, so I can't comment on the hands-on take, just yet anyway. I was honestly a lil concerned when I saw that the S8 was ONLY going to have a curved display, as I'm used to my flat display on my S6. Feeling the S8 firsthand, it honestly doesn't feel bad at all to me. Feels very similar to what holding my S6 feels like. Unlike the older Edge models, the sides aren't pronounced, like they don't feel as thin. For instance, the S6 Edge was too thin and not that comfortable to hold, and while the S7 Edge improved on it, the flat variant felt better.
From what I've seen with the G6, it doesn't look like a bad phone and it probably doesn't feel bad in the hand, but Samsung pushing the curved displays on both their regular and plus variants this time around, seems a bit more innovative and honestly, look way more sleek and futuristic. Flat displays are the standard as we know it since the first smartphones hit the market, so they all start to look the same -- I mean, how much can you really innovate on a flat display?
If your frame of reference for feel and usefulness of curved screens is the S7 Edge you are in for a welcome surprise. I have big hands and was frustrated from day one by the occasional (several times a day) false edge screen touch on the S7 Edge. Luckily (and unluckily) I broke my S7 Screen. When I took it in for replacement, they offered me the Note7 for the same cost as a S7 Edge. So I got the Note 7. Night and day difference in the feel and false touch rejection with the Note7. In the month or two I had a Note7 i think I got accidental edge activation a couple times. On the S7 it was multiple times per day. The phone also feels better in the hand, curved front and back feels so much better than curved front and flat back. My guess is that the S8 will be even better than the Note7 in feel and false touch rejection. And that will be a great thing.
Sold my G6. It's not that great of a device imo. Ready for the S8+. Device of the year until the Note 8 comes out.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
bamfsig45 said:
Currently have the G6 and it is a fantastic phone. Never used a phone with an 835 SOC as have neither of you so I cant say which is Faster. But the G6 is certainly smooth, and that flat screen is Awesome for glass screen protectors. But, IMO the LCD panel (which looks good) is nothing compared to the Oled samsung panel (subjective, yes). It seems im turning the brightness up to 60%+ just to feel comfortable using it, Its too dim otherwise. Previous phones Ive been able to keep the brightness on 30-40% and been happy (inside of course) Having had the 6P, S7 and OnePlus 3T with the amoled panels, this LCD on the G6 just doesnt do it for me. I personally even think the LCD on the iPhone 7+ looks better and Im not an iPhone fan. Also, and maybe this is over critical, I feel like the edges of the G6 display all leak a bit of light, especially the top. For some reason it just drives me crazy (OCD? ) So Im giving the G6 to one of my kids and getting the S8+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The LCD is specifically the reason why I went with the S8. I don't think I can go back after having 2 back to back phones with OLED.
I m using galaxy series from galaxy 2 can i shift to oneplus 7 pro or go for latest s10.... need help
Bro get the Op 7
Op7 Pro for the win...
Oneplus 7 Pro will destroy the S10 series.
Michealviens said:
Oneplus 7 Pro will destroy the S10 series.
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Click to collapse
On some levels Id say OP7 pro is better for sure. Faster internal storage, faster overall user experience, faster updates, no camera hole, 90 hz screen. Its definitely cheaper as well if that matters
But the cameras (front and rear) won't match the S10, no external storage, only 256gb of internal storage compared to 512 and 2tb on S10. No wireless charging, no IP rating (bucket of water hardly counts) lol.
It will certainly not destroy the S10 that's for sure.
Samsung wins in the camera department by far
Now it depends what do you prefer
force70 said:
On some levels Id say OP7 pro is better for sure. Faster internal storage, faster overall user experience, faster updates, no camera hole, 90 hz screen. Its definitely cheaper as well of that matters
But the cameras (front and rear) won't match the S10, no external storage, only 256gb of internal storage compared to 512 and 2tb on S10. No wireless charging, no IP rating (bucket of water hardly counts) lol.
It will certainly not destroy the S10 that's for sure.
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Click to collapse
Yes I agree, The camera part of the Oneplus is a bit weak compare to the S10 series.
TL;DR: Go for OnePlus 7 Pro. Easy choice.
Personally I think Samsung's flagship devices are a waste of money. Before you read on! I'm not fully updated on all of what I'm going to complain about, so it might've changed!
To me, Samsung has nothing unique to offer, yet their devices are almost as expensive as an iPhone. Which in my opinion is insane. Samsung offers a ****ty version of Android that looks **** (think it actually looks better now than it did before), full of bloat; it doesn't even let you uninstall Instagram. Personally I'm not a huge fan of their self-made apps either. In my opinion, it would be better to spend that money on an iPhone, which at least offers something unique (being iOS).
When it comes to OnePlus. They seem to have a great vision when it comes to how they do things. One of the things I really like with them, is that you're allowed to root the phone, and you won't void warranty. Though, to lots of people, rooting isn't very major. However, their version of Android is very nice. It is close to stock Android, has close to no bloat. The bloat that it has, you can uninstall (with root). Their hardware is very nice, and now more than ever with their new OnePlus 7 Pro (OP7P). Then the price you pay is less than any other phone with same specs.
When it comes to camera, there might be better options. However, OP7P has a very decent camera, and when someone ports the Pixel camera app to work on OP7(P), it will (probably) improve the camera greatly.
I own both the 7 Pro and the S10+
This is coming from someone who hasn't owned a Samsung since the Note 4 and has owned almost every OnePlus device.
While the 7 Pro is a really good phone the S10+ is just better. The only things better on the 7 Pro is the screen scrolling, OnePlus gestures (best Android gestures hands down), UFS 3.0 storage, and screen off gestures.
The fingerprint reader is faster on the 7 Pro but the fingerprint reader on S10+ works when your fingers are wet, and you don't need to wake the screen to use it.
I do like the size of the 7 Pro (I like bigger phones) but in-hand the S10+ feels better, 7 Pro is thicker than the S10+.
Samsung's new One UI is nothing like the old Touchwiz. The S10+ has so many customization option it's not even funny. I have found no reason to want to root the S10+ (coming from someone who has rooted every single phone they have owned).
7 Pro camera is ok but the camera on the S10+ is good if not great (not Pixel great).
I had the s10 and returned it. The finger print sensor on it was not working consistently. Samsung has too much bloatware for me and didn't see a major difference from my pixel 2 xl. Only good thing about Samsung is Samsung pay. Op 7 so far I'm loving it. It depends on what you are looking for. I don't really care for camera and I'm not worried about getting some water on the phone. Also i don't use wireless charging. The specs on op7 are ridiculous for the price. Plus op7 will get the latest updates including Q faster than Samsung phones.
I have a one question.which the op7 display quality compare the s10+?
Andy_1337 said:
I had the s10 and returned it. The finger print sensor on it was not working consistently. Samsung has too much bloatware for me and didn't see a major difference from my pixel 2 xl. Only good thing about Samsung is Samsung pay. Op 7 so far I'm loving it. It depends on what you are looking for. I don't really care for camera and I'm not worried about getting some water on the phone. Also i don't use wireless charging. The specs on op7 are ridiculous for the price. Plus op7 will get the latest updates including Q faster than Samsung phones.
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Click to collapse
OP7 is water proof though, they just didn't care to pay for the IP-certification.
I have the ceramic 10+ it is lovely but I will say that the 7 pro looks terrific, Oxygen OS and the fast updates are tempting and I am not expecting Q anywhere near the 10+ until 2020. The camera edge is probably still just with the 10+ and the expandable storage too but other than that the 7 pro is a compelling package for sure, well almost…..
….For me though an always on display and wireless charging are important features, I could probably do without wireless charging but with them marketing it as a pro model it really should have been included IMO. As for the always on display with so many OEMs offering this now that there is no reason for me to consider OP until they do too. I get that some people do not rate this feature but me it has fast become a must-have.
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arsenal74 said:
I have the ceramic 10+ it is lovely but I will say that the 7 pro looks terrific, Oxygen OS and the fast updates are tempting and I am not expecting Q anywhere near the 10+ until 2020. The camera edge is probably still just with the 10+ and the expandable storage too but other than that the 7 pro is a compelling package for sure, well almost…..
….For me though an always on display and wireless charging are important features, I could probably do without wireless charging but with them marketing it as a pro model it really should have been included IMO. As for the always on display with so many OEMs offering this now that there is no reason for me to consider OP until they do too. I get that some people do not rate this feature but me it has fast become a must-have.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
How does the 10+ camera compare to your Pixel 2 XL? I've just come from a Pixel 2 XL to the 7 Pro and the difference is huge, there is a lot of hope riding on GCam turning this camera around - i've got a 15 day window to return the 7 Pro and it will be going back if there isn't progress on the camera front (and then possibly going the S10+ route if the camera is any better).
mrlynch said:
How does the 10+ camera compare to your Pixel 2 XL? I've just come from a Pixel 2 XL to the 7 Pro and the difference is huge, there is a lot of hope riding on GCam turning this camera around - i've got a 15 day window to return the 7 Pro and it will be going back if there isn't progress on the camera front (and then possibly going the S10+ route if the camera is any better).
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Click to collapse
Well the main sensor is pretty good on the 7 pro, we don't know about the other sensors (wide, tele) though. It might get better in the future, because the main sensor is pretty good and the weakest part seems to be the software for now. Also, you can't film with the wide angle lens on the 7 pro, and we don't know if that will be possible in the future. That's the reason why I will wait 1 more month until I decide which phone I will buy. The worst case: I have to wait until Google releases their pixel 4 because I can't stand the design of the pixel 3 XL.
I have the S10+ and have a OP7 in the box right now, probably switching over.
S10+ still lags if not rebooted every couple of days for me.
Exynos camera is meh and so is standby time.
I like the S10 but it didn't live up to the hype, want a phone I don't have to baby
Snapdragon is a different story from what I've read
The OS and notchless screen are huge selling points for me.
Won't really miss wireless charging too much, don't use the SD slot as I have 2 Sims.
Agree, being shortchanged with the exynos has left a sour taste this year.
I'm just not sure I could lose an AOD, especially as the is no led. I tried before and it bugged the hell out of me. I am though still very tempted!
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---------- Post added at 07:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:57 AM ----------
mrlynch said:
How does the 10+ camera compare to your Pixel 2 XL? I've just come from a Pixel 2 XL to the 7 Pro and the difference is huge, there is a lot of hope riding on GCam turning this camera around - i've got a 15 day window to return the 7 Pro and it will be going back if there isn't progress on the camera front (and then possibly going the S10+ route if the camera is any better).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S10 is more versatile but the main camera in the 2xl is imo better.
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I caved and purchased the OP 7pro so now have both and 2 weeks in and I am conflicted on the OP7 vs the S10+.
The OP is a beast and I have found it more of a burden to carry and use than my S10+, it also makes an iPhone Xs max look small! I have also missed the always on display, wireless charging a little but no big deal. I’d also say that outside the extra brightness of the Samsung makes it easier to see, again no biggy. I prefer pretty much everything else about the OP7 Pro though and one thing I have noticed (and have posted this over on the S10 forum) is how much better the radio performance is on the OP7, I think this may be more down to the S10+ being bad than the OP7 being really good but at my work for example the S10 clings to 1 bar of 4G and often drops to 3G whereas the OP7 is rock solid on 3 or 4 bars of 4G all day. I have also installed Gcam and it works really well.
I won’t comment too much on the FPS, both work ok with the OP being quicker and the S10 being maybe more convenient on account of not having to wake the screen first. I do though still prefer a rear mounted sensor like the Pixel which is IMO just a better, quicker and easier option.
Re the AOD I read that OP have said they are working on this but are still citing battery concerns, given how good and polished oxygen OS is I just do not get why OnePlus are finding it so hard to provide a proper always on display? Lots of other OEM’s have managed it, LG even managed it on an LCD screen. Anyway fingers crossed they are at least on the case now.
So overall it is a seriously good device, I do though wish it was just not quite so big.
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Nozemi said:
TL;DR: Go for OnePlus 7 Pro. Easy choice.
Personally I think Samsung's flagship devices are a waste of money. Before you read on! I'm not fully updated on all of what I'm going to complain about, so it might've changed!
To me, Samsung has nothing unique to offer, yet their devices are almost as expensive as an iPhone. Which in my opinion is insane. Samsung offers a ****ty version of Android that looks **** (think it actually looks better now than it did before), full of bloat; it doesn't even let you uninstall Instagram. Personally I'm not a huge fan of their self-made apps either. In my opinion, it would be better to spend that money on an iPhone, which at least offers something unique (being iOS).
When it comes to OnePlus. They seem to have a great vision when it comes to how they do things. One of the things I really like with them, is that you're allowed to root the phone, and you won't void warranty. Though, to lots of people, rooting isn't very major. However, their version of Android is very nice. It is close to stock Android, has close to no bloat. The bloat that it has, you can uninstall (with root). Their hardware is very nice, and now more than ever with their new OnePlus 7 Pro (OP7P). Then the price you pay is less than any other phone with same specs.
When it comes to camera, there might be better options. However, OP7P has a very decent camera, and when someone ports the Pixel camera app to work on OP7(P), it will (probably) improve the camera greatly.
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Why does it have to be unique, I don't care about that? I care about it being a good phone, a well rounded one at that. It's hard to pack a lot of features into a cheaper phone, and often results in some corner cutting and that's what happened. The pop up camera is a DISASTER and all over China one plus has had to offer an apology and a slightly extended warranty, I'd never trust that and it collects a whole lot of dust around the top of the camera port when sitting in your pocket and such, regardless of the waterproof red ring on the top.
One UI is great, I bought the s10+ and never received Instagram, and not much bloatware at all, oneUI has almost no issues besides Bixby, which Samsung even lets you disable. OneUI has been garbage, but its great in this new phone, just look at what most reviewers have to say. The s10+ is way more well rounded then the op7 pro, which has some standout features but some pitfalls top. 90HZ is great but still isn't a huge difference and the battery life is quite poor on the OP 7 pro, I went to t-mobile and didn't notice much of a difference if at all, I did notice a difference with the 120hz razor phone though, maybe if you slow the phone down by 5x the 90 hz will have a big difference.
And you're acting like iPhones are a similar value, the hardware of iPhones in general doesn't even compare to Samsung, they're GARBAGE. Unlocked right now is a s10+ and a XR for around the same price, 880p LCD vs 1440p 4k OLED display, 18 watt vs 5 watt charger, 4100 mah battery vs 3200 mah, wide angle + telephoto lens, no giant notch and a bigger screen, slightly curved edges, headphone Jack, expandable storage, way more ram AND storage. Gtfo saying these phones are close in that regard, apple is only for iOS, why would you rather buy an iPhone. Without nova launcher, Samsung offers LOADS of customization. Also real world pricing is 29$ for a OP 7 pro a month with t-mobile which is the only seller in the US, sprint is 25$ for a s10+ with upgrade plan and all, which makes a lot more sense then spending way more to buy a phone outright vs only paying half price then upgrading to the latest and greatest phone of your choosing, keep in mind most people use carrier plans so this is the more realistic example. Oh and no wireless charging with the OP 7 pro, IP rating, headphone Jack, expandable storage, etc.
Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
S10Ben said:
Why does it have to be unique, I don't care about that? I care about it being a good phone, a well rounded one at that. It's hard to pack a lot of features into a cheaper phone, and often results in some corner cutting and that's what happened. The pop up camera is a DISASTER and all over China one plus has had to offer an apology and a slightly extended warranty, I'd never trust that and it collects a whole lot of dust around the top of the camera port when sitting in your pocket and such, regardless of the waterproof red ring on the top.
One UI is great, I bought the s10+ and never received Instagram, and not much bloatware at all, oneUI has almost no issues besides Bixby, which Samsung even lets you disable. OneUI has been garbage, but its great in this new phone, just look at what most reviewers have to say. The s10+ is way more well rounded then the op7 pro, which has some standout features but some pitfalls top. 90HZ is great but still isn't a huge difference and the battery life is quite poor on the OP 7 pro, I went to t-mobile and didn't notice much of a difference if at all, I did notice a difference with the 120hz razor phone though, maybe if you slow the phone down by 5x the 90 hz will have a big difference.
And you're acting like iPhones are a similar value, the hardware of iPhones in general doesn't even compare to Samsung, they're GARBAGE. Unlocked right now is a s10+ and a XR for around the same price, 880p LCD vs 1440p 4k OLED display, 18 watt vs 5 watt charger, 4100 mah battery vs 3200 mah, wide angle + telephoto lens, no giant notch and a bigger screen, slightly curved edges, headphone Jack, expandable storage, way more ram AND storage. Gtfo saying these phones are close in that regard, apple is only for iOS
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Biased much?
S10+ is about €50 more expensive so it's basically in the same league price wise.
I'm currently using Note 8 but I'm sick of Samsung. However, battery life is important and I read that OnePlus 7 Pro doesn't have a good battery life.
I had an s10+ (that I returned) and found battery life to be very similar between the two.
I'm enjoying the 7pro a lot more because I value the notchless screen, performance, and software. That said, the cameras on the s10 are definitely better.
it just depends what you care about more, for me personally camera and wireless charging is a plus for s10 but the notch less display, a bigger display, a fingerprint scanner that works a lot faster, Oxygen OS outweigh the benefits from S10 but I barely ever take any pics and found alternate solutions for wireless charging.
The S10 has a much better camera experience, IP rating(if that matters to you) and Wireless charging.
Oneplus has a better overall software experience. Not saying Samsung is bad because it is not, Samsung has come a long way from touchwiz and oneui is enjoyable. Oneplus's oxygen OS is just very smooth and fast especially with the 90hz screen
Rooting is easy with Oneplus. Not so much on the S10
Updates ate quicker and more frequent on Oneplus devices.
I usually find my sim card in the s10 because of the wireless charging and better camera.
Oneplus has better system software for the most part, S10 is going to beat it in nearly every other category hardware wise. At the same price the s10+ would be hard to pass up and get the Op7
Same price, S10+ for me no questions asked (this is coming from someone who as owned almost every OnePlus device and not had a Samsung since the Note 4). I own both phones and the S10+ is my daily driver, 7 Pro is my backup.
It really depends on what you're looking for in a phone. While the 7 Pro feels a little faster (not much) OneUI on the S10+ offers a lot more options (and is so much better than TouchWiz was). Really the only thing the 7 Pro has over the S10+ is the 90hz screen, screen size, no notch/hole punch, charging speed, and 3.0 memory.
Does Samsung still offer unlockable bootloaders? Dual Sim?
larsdennert said:
Does Samsung still offer unlockable bootloaders? Dual Sim?
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They do on the international variants...
I switched from the S10+ to the OP7 Pro because I was hating the punch hole but to be honest I'm thinking on returning the OP7 Pro.
Choppy scrolling on all browsers I've tried, completely opposite of smooth. S10+ was way smoother. Extremely poor LTE signal on T-Mobile, can't stream anything over 480p. Chin bigger than in advertisements/renders. Can't play any video on anything over 1.5x, have a lot of audio cut offs and too many dropped frames. 90% of my use is web browsing and watching videos at 2x so these are deal breakers for me.
I'm also struggling to give up Always on Display and wireless charging and I prefer S10+ screen's colors and the subtle curves with much less glare I just hate the punch hole so not sure what to do yet.
Performance wise are similar but animations are smoother on OP7 Pro. I could not go back to Note 9 since that one is now too slow for me.
vwite said:
I switched from the S10+ to the OP7 Pro because I was hating the punch hole but to be honest I'm thinking on returning the OP7 Pro.
Choppy scrolling on all browsers I've tried, completely opposite of smooth. S10+ was way smoother. Extremely poor LTE signal on T-Mobile, can't stream anything over 480p. Notch bigger than in advertisements/renders. Can't play any video on anything over 1.5x, have a lot of audio cut offs and too many dropped frames. 90% of my use is web browsing and watching videos at 2x so these are deal breakers for me.
I'm also struggling to give up Always on Display and wireless charging and I prefer S10+ screen's colors and the subtle curves with much less glare I just hate the punch hole so not sure what to do yet.
Performance wise are similar but animations are smoother on OP7 Pro. I could not go back to Note 9 since that one is now too slow for me.
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Turn on HD Streaming in t mobile app. I literally hit 170mbps down on speed test yesterday on t mobile
vwite said:
Extremely poor LTE signal on T-Mobile, can't stream anything over 480p.
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I haven't noticed this, you are sure you aren't getting throttled to 480p but the network? If you have ONE but not plus you will be throttled to 480p.
vwite said:
Notch bigger than in advertisements/renders. Can't play any video on anything over 1.5x,
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What notch?
Easton999GS said:
Turn on HD Streaming in t mobile app. I literally hit 170mbps down on speed test yesterday on t mobile
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Do they charge extra for that? I only found one that said "HD 24 Hours Pass" and it costs $3 per day.
It may be my area though, when I had my sim on the S10+ it had no problems at all streaming 1080p or even 2k videos at all.
OP7 Pro starts streaming at like 360p and I have to manually change it to at leats 720p but it stops A LOT to buffer.
---------- Post added at 03:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:45 AM ----------
_Dennis_ said:
I haven't noticed this, you are sure you aren't getting throttled to 480p but the network? If you have ONE but not plus you will be throttled to 480p.
What notch?
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Lol, sorry I meant the chin.
And no I'm not being throttled to 480p, if I insert the sim on the S10+ I can stream 1080p or 2k without any issues. It might be my area though. I also have the international version of the OP7 Pro and I heard rumors that it didn't have band 71 but I'm not sure.
taphius said:
Oneplus has better system software for the most part, S10 is going to beat it in nearly every other category hardware wise. At the same price the s10+ would be hard to pass up and get the Op7
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S10+ beats the OnePlus 7 Pro in nearly every category hardware wise? Hardly. Best screen, OP7P. Fastest UFS storage, OP7P. Best speakers, in my opinion, OP7P. Headphone jack, obviously S10+. Cameras are subjective, especially with pending software updates, but I do believe that Samsung oversaturates their pictures way too much. Build quality is a tossup, as both smartphones are beautiful in their own right. Both feature an SD855 processor. Everything else is a tie.
Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk
I have both and it really is swings and roundabouts.
The OP is faster at pretty much everything, I prefer the near stock experience and knowing I'll get Q probably in the autumn vs 2020 on the S10+
I have the ceramic S10 and it probably is a nicer device in the hand and slightly easier to manage, I also miss the always on display and wireless charging. I would imagine the non-ceramic S10+ is even easier to manage on account of being lighter.
Sent from my GM1913 using Tapatalk
vwite said:
And no I'm not being throttled to 480p, if I insert the sim on the S10+ I can stream 1080p or 2k without any issues. It might be my area though. I also have the international version of the OP7 Pro and I heard rumors that it didn't have band 71 but I'm not sure.
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Doesn't look like the international one has band 71. Kimovil has a great and easy way to find out bands and coverage support. I use this when I get new phones because I travel to the USA regularly and want a phone that can roam well.
Kimovil's listing of the OP7P Global version
Kimovil's listing of the OP7P North American version
Global:
View attachment 4767652
NA:
View attachment 4767653
Thanks for the replies all.
The main reason 7 Pro is attractive is that notchless big screen with a 4000mah battery and easy root.
The rest is not so important.
However I think I might just wait and see what happens next year.
Note 8 is still quite powerful. Just that battery life...
Nebell said:
Thanks for the replies all.
The main reason 7 Pro is attractive is that notchless big screen with a 4000mah battery and easy root.
The rest is not so important.
However I think I might just wait and see what happens next year.
Note 8 is still quite powerful. Just that battery life...
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The big notchless screen was my main attraction to the OP7 Pro as well but I finally decided today that I'll return it and go back to the S10+. There's just too many little details (bugs and missing things) that add up and make the overall usability worse. The only scenario I've found the OP7 Pro better was when watching videos in the night because I hate the pucnh hole but other than the hole, the screen on the S10+ is better (better more vivid colors, brighter, more subtle curves and waaay less glare, better viewing angles without much color shifting, it's super amoled so glass is glued to screen and looks as if there had not glass at all, while OP7 Pro looks like if you were looking through a window, not sure how to explain it but noticed the same with my ex-Mate 20 Pro when comparing with my ex-Note 9)
vwite said:
The big notchless screen was my main attraction to the OP7 Pro as well but I finally decided today that I'll return it and go back to the S10+. There's just too many little details (bugs and missing things) that add up and make the overall usability worse. The only scenario I've found the OP7 Pro better was when watching videos in the night because I hate the pucnh hole but other than the hole, the screen on the S10+ is better (better more vivid colors, brighter, more subtle curves and waaay less glare, better viewing angles without much color shifting, it's super amoled so glass is glued to screen and looks as if there had not glass at all, while OP7 Pro looks like if you were looking through a window, not sure how to explain it but noticed the same with my ex-Mate 20 Pro when comparing with my ex-Note 9)
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Uh all oleds are that way. It's how the technology is ? it's probably the screen protector making it look different .
Usability worse? Sorry so many fanboys on these forums just looking for anything to moan about
Reuben_skelz92 said:
Uh all oleds are that way. It's how the technology is it's probably the screen protector making it look different .
Usability worse? Sorry so many fanboys on these forums just looking for anything to moan about
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Removing the screen protector of my Op7 pro was the fiedt thing I did, I hate screen protectors. It's the calibration, quality (even though both are samsung branded the one of the S10+ is more expensive even though it's smaller because of something) and because AMOLED vs glass separated from display. I don't know what you mean with "all OLEDS are that way, that's how technology is" yeah all of them have color shift and all of them are prone to burn in but color shift is A LOT less noticeable on my S10+ unless I tilt it to extreme unusable angles.
Yes usability is worse, I can get things done easier and faster on the S10+ even though animations are "smoother" and apps load 0.5 seconds faster on OP7 Pro. If I was a samsung fanboy I wouldn't even have bought the OP7 Pro, I just try to buy the best phone in the market for my usage no matter the brand and I truly though this was gonna be the close to perfect phone but they are still cutting a lot of corners. I'll try again with the OP8 Pro.
Please delete. Ain't going to waste my time
Hi guys. I bought an A52 4G for myself a few weeks ago and here is my brutally honest review. As you will see, there are some things I wasn't satisfied with but I needed a phone quickly and for my budget and availability, I thought I'd give Samsung a chance.
Pros
1. Lots of QoL services by Samsung like always on display and apps like Gallery by Samsung can be more useful than Photos by Google. I also mapped the double tap power button to start the flashlight.
2. The 720G chipset along with a 90hz display feels plenty powerful especially for those coming from an older midrange device. However, it's not as fast and instantaneous as stock Android or OxygenOS. Also, you will face lots of stutters and bugs if you enable animation to .5x. At default 1x, animations are too damn slow.
3. Stereo speakers. Sound quality is average though. I don't use it much so I don't care.
4. Water resistance. It's nice of Samsung to bring this feature to a midrange device.
5. The macro camera can be useful for taking pictures of very small items like coins. The selfie camera seems alright.
6. The display, despite having kind of inaccurate colors is actually a lot better looking than most Chinese brand (OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Realme, etc) phone displays. Most Chinese brand displays tend to have a washed out, pale look to them despite having high refresh rates.
7. Battery life is pretty decent. If you don't use it much, it'll last a couple days easily. Of course, battery will degrade over time so a few years later, you might need to change the battery or the phone itself.
Cons
1. Sound quality output through the 3.5mm jack is very bad. My previous phone (Moto G5s Plus) had a much better built-in DAC. But at least the jack is there so I guess it's better than nothing but I'd suggest you get a good type-c to 3.5mm converter and use that instead if you're looking for decent audio.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very inaccurate and kind of pale. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Also, the amoled screen can be fatiguing to your eyes. Not everyone faces this but personally I have this problem.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. It would be better if Samsung didn't provide this crappy 15 watt charger and made the phone cheaper so I could buy a 25 watt charger myself. I don't see the logic in this. The phone supports 25 watt charging but Samsung includes a 15 watt charger in the box.
4. The lightly colored matte plastic back looks awesome in the beginning but with some mild use, the colors are already starting to fade and become yellowish. So put a case or skin on it if you wanna preserve that awesome color.
5. The colors and details of the main camera are not very good for an upper midrange device in 2021. I saw some reviews on YouTube with review units provided by Samsung that showed much better camera quality than what I'm getting with my retail unit. Especially after you take a picture, if you zoom in on a person's face for example, the details are just not there. Also, the colors are inaccurate and not life like. Hopefully, someone can make a good GCAM for this phone. Otherwise, expect to live with an average camera.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions. EDIT: Luckily, it stopped doing this.
7. If the bezels were a bit narrower especially the sides and top, it would have quite a flagship killer look. Even the A51 has narrower bezels on the side. But I know Samsung did this on purpose so their more expensive S series phones would look more special than the A series.
8. It's a bit on the heavier side if you compare it to the A51. Putting a case and tempered glass on it will only increase the weight further. I find myself having to put the phone down on a table or bed to use it. I can't hold it in the air for long due to its weight.
Bugs1. "Force dark mode" option in developer settings automatically turns itself off whenever you restart your device.
2. If you set animation to .5x instead of the default 1x, and cycle through your recent apps, there's a weird stutter.
Conclusion
If you can live with Samsung's annoying OneUI stutters or slow animations, this isn't a bad phone especially if you can get it for around $300 USD. I'd call this a good phone for moms/dads and grandmas/grandpas. If you're a young millennial trying to live on the cutting edge, I'd pass on this one and get something that's a little faster, maybe the new Nord CE (it has a more washed out display than the A52 though).
Well! My phone have just arrived. I'm switching from an S7 edge that I've been using for the last 4 years. So far I find that the screen is pretty good! Better than the S7E. The speed is excellent and of course, the ONE UI 3.1 is superb. I've already uninstalled some unwanted apps. As regards the camera, haven't tested it yet. But obviously, the GCAM will make it better.
LanguageSoez said:
Well! My phone have just arrived. I'm switching from an S7 edge that I've been using for the last 4 years. So far I find that the screen is pretty good! Better than the S7E. The speed is excellent and of course, the ONE UI 3.1 is superb. I've already uninstalled some unwanted apps. As regards the camera, haven't tested it yet. But obviously, the GCAM will make it better.
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Of course it'll be better than a 4 year old phone lol. If you think one UI is superb, try using stock android or oxygenos, you will be blown away.
I got A72 and the picture quality coming out from the stabilized Sony IMX 686 sensor with pixel binned 16 MP pictures is superior to Samsung HM2 108 MP giving just 12MP images ... So is A52, I don't believe your "honest review" ....
neoxcool said:
I got A72 and the picture quality coming out from the stabilized Sony IMX 686 sensor with pixel binned 16 MP pictures is superior to Samsung HM2 108 MP giving just 12MP images ... So is A52, I don't believe your "honest review" ....
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A72 is not A52. Specs are one thing, software is another. You don't have to believe anything. As I said in my review, you should experience the phones in person preferably from friends who bought it and then make a decision.
The OP is obviously a satisfied customer
Griping about it being water resistant is really picking at nits. It adds little cost and help to seal out dust, extending the usable service life of the device.
Charging a phone while using isn't a good idea and it should charge slow whilst using regardless of the wattage capacity of the charger brick being used.
NiceGuyIncel said:
Hi guys. I bought an A52 4G for myself a few weeks ago and here is my brutally honest review. As you will see, there are a lot of things I wasn't satisfied with but for my budget and availability, this was one of the better ones.
Pros:
1. Lots of QoL services by Samsung like always on display and apps like Gallery by Samsung can be more useful than Photos by Google. I also mapped the double tap power button to start the flashlight.
2. The 720G chipset along with a 90hz display feels plenty smooth especially for those coming from an older midrange device. It's not as fast and instantaneous as stock android or oxygenos but this is probably the fastest that Samsung OneUI has ever been.
3. Stereo speakers. Quality is average though. I don't use it much so I don't care.
4. Water resistance. It can be useful if you like to take your phone to the bathroom or live in a rainy area but I feel this feature is more suitable for flagship phones. The 4G version of the A52 really don't need this feature and it would be better if the device was slightly cheaper instead.
Cons:
1. Sound quality output through the 3.5mm jack is very bland. My previous phone (Moto G5s Plus) had a much better built-in DAC. But at least the jack is there so I guess it's better than nothing but I'd suggest you get a good type-c to 3.5mm converter and use that instead if you're looking for quality audio.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very boring and washed out. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Hopefully, the xda community will do something about this, maybe a graphics engine or some app that can tinker with the display settings more finely.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. So I really don't know why Samsung pulled an Apple with the charger.
4. The lightly colored matte plastic back looks awesome in the beginning but with some mild use, the colors are already starting to fade and become yellowish. So put a case or skin on it if you wanna preserve that awesome color.
5. The colors and details of the main camera really sucks for an upper midrange device in 2021. I saw some reviews on YouTube with review units provided by Samsung that showed much better camera quality than what I'm getting with my retail unit. Luckily, some people have already started working on gcam for this device and from what I've heard the results are much better than Samsung's default camera app.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions.
7. If the bezels were a bit narrower especially the sides and top, it would have quite a flagship killer look. But I know Samsung did this on purpose so their more expensive S series phones would look more special than the A series.
8. It's a bit on the heavier side if you compare it to the A51. Putting a case and tempered glass on it will only increase the weight further.
9. The amoled screen can be fatiguing to your eyes. Not everyone faces this but personally I have this problem.
Conclusion: That wraps up my brutally honest review of the A52 4G. I hope you enjoyed the fact that I didn't jump up and down and say this is the best phone ever like most YouTube "reviewers". They say that whenever a new phone comes out. Of course the people who are gonna upgrade from a 5 year old phone will also say this is the best phone they ever used. From their perspective, it makes sense but I believe you should thoroughly research the market and only buy what YOU like the most. I was moving to another country where phones are quite expensive so I just grabbed this cause I was in a hurry. If you have the time, research other phones and try to use them in person. That way you will know for sure what you're getting because specs can be misleading. I'd suggest you look into Poco F3, OnePlus Nord, Moto G100, Moto G60 and other similarly priced devices before going for the A52. Don't assume that just because it's a Samsung, it's gonna be a great phone. Samsung intentionally nerfed this phone so there is more incentive for people to go for the more expensive S series phones.
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I appreciate your feedback. I'm certain most of those who are still undecided will as well.
To be frank, this device has received overwhelming amounts of good press, which, as a consumer, is a good thing.
That said, constructive criticism is a key component towards improving upon future A series models and/or polishing the current user experience.
AHE_XDA said:
I appreciate your feedback. I'm certain most of those who are still undecided will as well.
To be frank, this device has received overwhelming amounts of good press, which, as a consumer, is a good thing.
That said, constructive criticism is a key component towards improving upon future A series models and/or polishing the current user experience.
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Paid press is always good press...
The Samsung Fold series always get rave reviews but they're expensive, fragile and limited devices. Worse I'm being kind in my criticism.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions.
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Weird, I have never encountered this.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. So I really don't know why Samsung pulled an Apple with the charger
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I don't mind this at all since it's already proven that fast charging does hurt your battery longevity.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very boring and washed out. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Hopefully, the xda community will do something about this, maybe a graphics engine or some app that can tinker with the display settings more finely.
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I agree with this, although I prefer it for the occasional media consumption. For general usage, it might lead to some eye strain for some people which includes me.
The build despite plastic is decent enough considering the trade-offs with its other specs at this price point and an IP6X is always welcome. The camera is nothing spectacular but not bad, given that it's harder to quantify the expected degrees of quality per $ at this price range. Performance is fine for the majority of the time but there are occasional stutters or lag you will encounter. Overall, I'm very satisfied with my purchase. It's also worth noting that warranty and software support tend to get overlooked when looking at the price.
I was considering Poco F3 as an alternative before getting my A52 however, I didn't go through with the Poco F3 because of various issues and concerns that I can't be arsed to list.
This phone is on my list to upgrade from my Essential PH-1. Keeping an eye on ROM development and Gcam development. I can get it for around $354 depending on the COP to USD conversion rate in Colombia. Anyone know better deals out in the wild?
NiceGuyIncel said:
Hi guys. I bought an A52 4G for myself a few weeks ago and here is my brutally honest review. As you will see, there are some things I wasn't satisfied with but I needed a phone quickly and for my budget and availability, I thought I'd give Samsung a chance.
Pros
1. Lots of QoL services by Samsung like always on display and apps like Gallery by Samsung can be more useful than Photos by Google. I also mapped the double tap power button to start the flashlight.
2. The 720G chipset along with a 90hz display feels plenty powerful especially for those coming from an older midrange device. However, it's not as fast and instantaneous as stock Android or OxygenOS. Also, you will face lots of stutters and bugs if you enable animation to .5x. At default 1x, animations are too damn slow.
3. Stereo speakers. Sound quality is average though. I don't use it much so I don't care.
4. Water resistance. It's nice of Samsung to bring this feature to a midrange device.
5. The macro camera can be useful for taking pictures of very small items like coins. The selfie camera seems alright.
6. The display, despite having kind of inaccurate colors is actually a lot better looking than most Chinese brand (OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Realme, etc) phone displays. Most Chinese brand displays tend to have a washed out, pale look to them despite having high refresh rates.
7. Battery life is pretty decent. If you don't use it much, it'll last a couple days easily. Of course, battery will degrade over time so a few years later, you might need to change the battery or the phone itself.
Cons
1. Sound quality output through the 3.5mm jack is very bad. My previous phone (Moto G5s Plus) had a much better built-in DAC. But at least the jack is there so I guess it's better than nothing but I'd suggest you get a good type-c to 3.5mm converter and use that instead if you're looking for decent audio.
2. The display isn't bad (the 90hz is definitely an upgrade over 60hz) but the color calibration out of the box by Samsung is very inaccurate and kind of pale. You can switch to "vibrant" mode but it over saturates everything. The saturation is so off the charts that you have no choice but to go back to the pale "natural" mode. Also, the amoled screen can be fatiguing to your eyes. Not everyone faces this but personally I have this problem.
3. The charger provided is really weak. Sometimes I like to use my phone while it's charging. Sadly this charger is too weak to do that and can't keep up. I did have a faster charger from my previous budget moto phone and it does a much better job charging the A52. It would be better if Samsung didn't provide this crappy 15 watt charger and made the phone cheaper so I could buy a 25 watt charger myself. I don't see the logic in this. The phone supports 25 watt charging but Samsung includes a 15 watt charger in the box.
4. The lightly colored matte plastic back looks awesome in the beginning but with some mild use, the colors are already starting to fade and become yellowish. So put a case or skin on it if you wanna preserve that awesome color.
5. The colors and details of the main camera are not very good for an upper midrange device in 2021. I saw some reviews on YouTube with review units provided by Samsung that showed much better camera quality than what I'm getting with my retail unit. Especially after you take a picture, if you zoom in on a person's face for example, the details are just not there. Also, the colors are inaccurate and not life like. Hopefully, someone can make a good GCAM for this phone. Otherwise, expect to live with an average camera.
6. Random spammy apps like Dailyhunt get automatically installed every few days. I set all settings to not update anything automatically but it still does that. I even contacted customer care about this and they couldn't provide any solutions. EDIT: Luckily, it stopped doing this.
7. If the bezels were a bit narrower especially the sides and top, it would have quite a flagship killer look. Even the A51 has narrower bezels on the side. But I know Samsung did this on purpose so their more expensive S series phones would look more special than the A series.
8. It's a bit on the heavier side if you compare it to the A51. Putting a case and tempered glass on it will only increase the weight further. I find myself having to put the phone down on a table or bed to use it. I can't hold it in the air for long due to its weight.
Bugs1. "Force dark mode" option in developer settings automatically turns itself off whenever you restart your device.
2. If you set animation to .5x instead of the default 1x, and cycle through your recent apps, there's a weird stutter.
Conclusion
If you can live with Samsung's annoying OneUI stutters or slow animations, this isn't a bad phone especially if you can get it for around $300 USD. I'd call this a good phone for moms/dads and grandmas/grandpas. If you're a young millennial trying to live on the cutting edge, I'd pass on this one and get something that's a little faster, maybe the new Nord CE (it has a more washed out display than the A52 though).
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Click to collapse
Well, I will answer this from the perspective of an Indian Millenial coming from Mi A2 (and having only used crappy Micromax and Redmi phones in the past, this is something which I think most Indian youth can relate to). Let's go point by point :
1. UI
Having used stock android and MIUI, I can confidently say that OneUI is definitely a bit clumsy, but it is easy to get used to compared to FuncTouch and MIUI. Also, *there is no Google dialer*, meaning you can safely do call recording. Also OneUI has "Link to Windows" baked right into it, which is a huge boon in my opinion as it kinda compensates for the lack of DeX support, I think this is one of the most underrated feature of Samsung phones.
2. Ads and Bloatware scene
Now this maybe specific to India only. I set the device up using GeekyRanjit's guide on "How to setup Samssung devices" on YT, and so far (1 month later) I have got no ads except wallpaper services message when I swipe from right on lock screen. Also, all bloatware can be either disabled or uninstalled (unlike MIUI and ColourOS), so no problem there. Overall it is much much better than Redmi, Poco and Realme offerings. Though here Oneplus NORD maybe better.
3. Camera
TBH I bought this phone for the camera, and consider the competition it did not let me down, sure there is a bit of over sharpening going on in most images and indoor/low light photos and videos have a ton of noise but considering the competition in 15k-25k INR, it is definitely better. I use Gcam 7.3.018 by Urynx05, and it does improve video stabilisation a lot thanks to OIS (only Oneplus NORD has OIS in this price). For night mode, stock night mode is better than night sight (much brighter and well balanced). Daylight pics, it is a mixed bag, macro camera is good but could have been better,but considering how rarely it is used, it is fine.
4. Display
Most Indian milllenials like me are currently upgrading from LCD to Amoled. I having never used an Amoled, am satisfied with the display. But yeah you are right Amoled displays do cause more eye fatigue than LCD.
5. Availability and Customer support
This is where this phone shines! Here in India, this phone is available like everywhere, in most mobile shop in any market no matter, how small or rural the area, this unfortunately is not the case for OnePlus and Redmi, POCO (infamous for flash sales and black-marketing)etc., thus Galaxy A52's actual competitors are phones from Vivo and Oppo, which are usually more pricey. Also, Samsung customer services is next to Apple.
Set your priorities before buying a phone and you won't be disappointed, my suggestion, if you want good camera hardware and reliable phone go for it, but if you want to do gaming I would suggest you to look elsewhere say iQOO Z3 for 20k INR.
I am trying to get either this phone or s10? I was leaning more towards a52 since it could get up to android 14 opposed to 12 on s10.
Which one should i get?