Hey All,
I have been out the scene for a couple of years having historically modded a number of devices from pixels, xiaomi and LG's. I'm ashamed to say I went to the dark side for a while, but am getting frustrated with being told by "the man" what I can and can't do. Mainly in terms of emulation....... therefore I'm hoping to get back into it and was wondering what my best choice of device is.
Relative ease of flashing custom rom's or good compatbility with GSI's
I need to be able to root with magisk, but keep access to banking apps
I want to use a custom rom like lineage, (used to love resurrection) but still retain good camera compatibility with gcam or the manufacturers app, or even a 3rd party app
Not get caught up in things like knox and stay away from devices where the bootloader cannot easly be unlocked (i.e. huawei or LG T-mob).
The latest and greatest isn't important to me, but a good camera potentially with an optical zoom would be ideal. Every device I look at seems to have some caveat. I was looking at the Galaxy s10, but there doesn't seem to be a gcam mod that supports all lenses. I don't have loads of money so newer flagships are out at the moment. I had really bad luck with Pixel 1 and 2 having all sorts of hardware issues, but a 3a was on my radar even if it only has one lens.
I realise this might be pie in the sky but figured I'd ask. Love to hear your thoughts.
Edit: just realised I should have put this in the sticky. Sorry about that...... feel free to delete.
Related
Somebody just offered to trade me their Pixel XL with Daydream headset for my S7 Edge, which is a very tempting offer.
I like the gimmicky AOD and water resistance (never use it, because I'm scurred and have heard it's not perfect), but I don't need either. I hate the capacitive buttons and loathe the home button. But the camera.... I love the fully featured app, although again, I rarely use most of the features. I could do without TouchWiz too, always having been a fan of vanilla Android and of Roms with the customization.
I haven't used a Pixel yet, but what are others opinions? It's this trade an up- or downgrade...
What would you do and why?
I say you do it. You can always sell the Pixel XL and return most of the value, because the S8 is coming out in 2 months so prices will begin to drop on the S7 edge. Plus the Pixel XL is a great device all around.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Most people here will tell you to keep the S7 but then again you are in the S7 forum. Likewise, ask this on the Pixel forum and they will tell you that Touchwiz is a fat bloated mess etc etc. It all goes down to what "YOU" want.
Now for me personally, the capacitive buttons do not bother me at all, nor does the home button. I like good audio. The S7 has better sound from the headphone out than the Pixel. I love a bright clear screen. Again, the S7 wins here. I think the Pixel looks boring compared to the S7. Cameras are about even though, but yes software wise the S7 is more packed in the camera department.
The pixel of course has clean software, timely updates and is smooth as ****. No comparison here, the Pixel is very well optimised, battery life could be better though. Are you not able to use the Pixel before you go for the trade?
Make your own checklist and see what you actually value in a smartphone. I would call it a side step/possible downgrade just based on features alone. Then again, some people need stock Android at all costs.................
Thank's for the replies. I will go to the local tech shop and have a play with the Pixel so that I can get a feel for the software and the device. That said...
I am thinking much along the lines of daniel, where I can just sell it if I don't like it, but now they are asking for $100 AUD (~76 USD) on top. Would still likely be in my favor if i had to sell; and if the s7 is doing to drop in price soon, then it is only going to lean more in that direction over the coming months.
I didnt realize the s7 had better audio. That is a HUGE factor for me, but can the quality not be equalized with Viper, etc.? Also had the thought that, if I am going to lose the camera software anyways, I may as well just flash one of the AOSP roms floating around, which I imagine will continue to get better.
Still point 1 above means that I might stand to make money, or at the very least, not lose any, if I opted to return to the s7.
edan1979 said:
Wow...this guy has the most annoying voice ever. Every sentence ends like a question. Brutal.
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jewnersey said:
Thank's for the replies. I will go to the local tech shop and have a play with the Pixel so that I can get a feel for the software and the device. That said...
I am thinking much along the lines of daniel, where I can just sell it if I don't like it, but now they are asking for $100 AUD (~76 USD) on top. Would still likely be in my favor if i had to sell; and if the s7 is doing to drop in price soon, then it is only going to lean more in that direction over the coming months.
I didnt realize the s7 had better audio. That is a HUGE factor for me, but can the quality not be equalized with Viper, etc.? Also had the thought that, if I am going to lose the camera software anyways, I may as well just flash one of the AOSP roms floating around, which I imagine will continue to get better.
Still point 1 above means that I might stand to make money, or at the very least, not lose any, if I opted to return to the s7.
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Yeah the Pixel DAC and amp combo aren't anything to write home about. A lot of people were disappointed since HTC have amazing audio and Google decided not to bother with any of their audio hardware or software features. Bare in mind I am comparing the Pixel to the Exynos S7 which has a better DAC/Amp combo vs the Snapdragon model.
I would make sure the Pixel is in top condition first, why wouldn't the person you are getting it from just do what you may do and reap a profit on top by selling the Pixel?
i gone and did it... will report back with my thoughts
edit: respond to previous post----
Yeah i was on Exynos as well. Will see how the audio quality compares after I root and install viper,etc.
This person was NOT very tech savvy, so I think I did well.
Well according to the specs s7 edge wins
But in terms of roms I'm just guessing Google pixel will have more support.
unless the restrictions for custom roms are just as harsh as it is on s7 edge making it impossible for an official CM based rom which is a let down as I was a huge CM fan
But that all said I would still keep my s7 edge mainly cuz the performance isn't lacking and better specs with no problems whatsoever why would anyone want to downgrade....
Even if google pixel may have better developer support, better hardware & specs is what I would pick
Since CM is now dead if its anything other then CM my love for custom ROMs has gone to the grave.
going to an S7 edge and asking if you should keep the s7 edge or get the pixel XL -_- do people not have common sense anymore?
S7 edge
more dev for MM
xposed with MM
Touchwiz
cooler widget from Samsung (IMO)
stereo speaker mod
Always on display
Pixel XL
latest Android
not alot of Dev
no water resistance
ugly half design back side
Vanilla Android
ambient display (uglier imo, but useful like AOD)
there u go..
Hello everyone!
I'm looking to make a switch to the Honor 8, which looks fantastic on paper, but I want to know if y'all have experienced any defects, software and hardware quirks, or any other reason for regretting buying the Honor 8.
LoneTempest said:
Hello everyone!
I'm looking to make a switch to the Honor 8, which looks fantastic on paper, but I want to know if y'all have experienced any defects, software and hardware quirks, or any other reason for regretting buying the Honor 8.
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Want a bug free (or the closest to that) phone? Get a Sony, Apple, Pixel or a OP. The best SW support either from official or 3rd party developers.
The rest is pointless as good hardware alone is useless when SW is not up to par. Check this forum, especially battery-wise.
H8 is a good phone with bad software support (optimisation and security updates), so you decide.
I'll disagree with Zinko on this one, the battery on Nougat isn't as good as Marshmallow but it's still as good or better than competitors.
Huawei messed up the Nougat release but their 2nd Nougat update has fixed the bugs. I'd absolutely buy this device over again, I recommend it online and in person to everyone.
The things that make the Honor 8 better than anything in the price range:
- The camera is fantastic, normally sub-$300 phones have iffy cameras, this is flagship quality
- The 5.2" screen, normally you have to get bulky 5.5"+ phones to get these features
- Huawei's Nougat update + user themes make the device look close enough to AOSP that I don't feel the need to run Lineage
I believe a combination of the two previous posts makes the most sense:
1. Other companies (Sony, Google, OPO) have lighter skins and the user experience is a bit smoother. However, it's not a deal breaker since the device works well for 98% of what you might need it for.
2. Yes, some users have experienced issues with Nougat, but others haven't. You'll only get forum posts from people with problems. You'll rarely see a thread started entitled, "all good here, nothing to say".
Get the phone because you want it, and don't presume there is some fatal flaw lurking in the forums. That is simply not the case.
If i can tell you my experience, i'll buy the Honor 8 again. I've used this phone in two differents ways: stock and rooted, but at the end i made a factory reset and reinstalled the stock firmware because the system is just good enough that root is not needed so much in my opinion. The OS is smooth, stable and responsive, the hardware is doing well almost all the time and i haven't found any problems, even when playing heavy games. The camera maybe could be better but for this price you can't find a better one. Overall the phone acts good and if i should find a defect, i would probably mention the overheating when using camera after some time. So far is the only thing i found. Everything else is ok
Prior to owning the Honor 8, the LG G4 was the best phone I'd ever owned. This one is definitely better.
It got IR so hell yes it's worth it :victory:
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
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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
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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.
hello everyone, recently i had some connector-related problems with my s7edge so i'm about to buy my next phone.
i think that, in this "hardware overkill era" (personally i think that from circa 2018 the effective changes in speed became very small and unnoticeable in terms of usage; apps open just a tiny little faster ), choosing a good used it's better than ever. since i don't have much to spend (gotta apply for masters ya know) i was thinking about getting a s9plus or a OP6t. that is because i like a lot the design of both the phones and the different functions (from water resistance, qi charge, better photos and nice notch/slide-less design by s9p to the in-display fingerprint sensor and veeeery nice software of the op6t ). I really wish there was something around 250/300€ with the functions of both but couldn't find it, and since i can actually buy a still premium phone like those for just 250, probably i'll just stick with one of them. which one?
i’d really like to get a stock aosp/pixel experience with the samsung but can't find a good rom, should i choose the op6t? what is the actual modding situation from the inside?
Honestly, just as I'm looking around for info about root for Android 10 on the S9+, Its depressing me quite a bit. Seeing that this phone isn't that old, and yet, there's so little activity for it and its non + variant. It's really surprising when In the past I had far less popular and expensive phones, and there were A LOT more people working on custom ROMs and a bunch of other stuff, when they were far older than this phone currently is. Don't get me wrong, there is people working on it, but not many.
I'd definitely look for a different phone at this point if you want a new one.
ReapersDeath said:
Honestly, just as I'm looking around for info about root for Android 10 on the S9+, Its depressing me quite a bit. Seeing that this phone isn't that old, and yet, there's so little activity for it and its non + variant. It's really surprising when In the past I had far less popular and expensive phones, and there were A LOT more people working on custom ROMs and a bunch of other stuff, when they were far older than this phone currently is. Don't get me wrong, there is people working on it, but not many.
I'd definitely look for a different phone at this point if you want a new one.
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I remember the days, i have the s10+ unlocked version (U1) and i upgraded to android 10 and honestly not that hyped about it either. I still have my Note 3 and Note 4 and play with them because i miss the rooting and my freedom to do whatever i wanted with MY phone.
This trend where we can root and unlock will come to an end just like Apple killed jailbraking Samsung is slowly following Apple like a little sheep started with phone jack to locking bootloaders for them rooting is cancer that needs to be eradicated asap.
I bought the s9+ from amazon last week the G9650 and plan on rooting it later because i miss it that much but i'm staying on Pie (9) for a while longer
I wondered about this too and the most plausible explanation is that many of the great Devs aren't from 1st world nations and the phones can be pricey for them to get hold of to produce ROMs etc.
This is especially holds true since high end mobile phones are $1000+ now and their monthly pay might be a couple of hundred.
Honestly I think modding is no longer that fun like before with many security updates to android that complicates
and dicourages hobbyist developer..nowadays it will cost a lot of effort and money for developers just to come up with something..
Wanna play with admin rights and do whatever you want with a smartphone like the good old days ?
Buy a OnePlus device and enjoy.
Stay away from Samsung.
If you care about modding go with oneplus or a pixel device. Stay far away from Snapdragon Samsung devices.
Hey all, I am looking at buying a Zenfone 6 and rooting it and then running a custom rom. Is this relatively easy to do or is it more like Huawei which locks the boot loader causing you to have to contact them to unlock it? Are there any major issues or problems to be on the lookout for when buying a used Zenfone 6 now, will this phone be good as a keeper for another say 3/4 years? How is the modding scene for the Zenfone 6, will I potentially struggle with getting new software in the near future in your opinion? Thank you for all the replies!
Have a look at my thread. It was my first time doing it and I had no problems at all with installation.
Not sure which rom you're considering but in terms of LOS (LineageOS) it feels a bit risky using this phone as a daily driver due to reliability. I still haven't tested this phone to its full extent (haven't even made a call on it yet) but it's on the edge for me so far as to whether LOS is reliable enough on it.
Also if you want to utilize the front (flipped) cam's 60fps, any slow motion etc. WHILE on a custom rom; don't. There isn't a single custom cam for this phone that can do it which was one of the main selling points for me.
The phone still gets LOS nightly (weekly) updates (all LineageOS 17.1 supported phones receive it) to which I haven't been keeping updated with. Possibly the crashes I'm experiencing are fixed but I doubt it. Highly unlikely the phone will see any future main (17.1>18.1) LOS updates also.
Everything else on the custom side is pretty much dead for this phone as it was discontinued very quickly; it's rare and barely known about. No community either so don't rely on getting any help with anything. That said you do still have pretty much everything you need if all goes well and it fits your needs - just a shame about the bugs.