Related
I've either cognitively dissonated myself into loving this phone, or it is really quite good. The official camera fix did some good and leaves open the good possibility that further refining will yield a great result, or I'll stick with the progress being made on the GCam port and use the native app for great monochrome shots (I love the B&W sensor and it is EXCELLENT). That said, no cases... I guess no problem - I ordered some SquareTrade insurance coverage today - if it drops or dies, they'll replace it for a hundred beans - I can handle that kind of coverage...
I'm not seeing the same quality defects others are reporting with their handsets (light bleed, TMOB signal issues, etc.) so either I got a keeper or others are being overly sensitive (nothing personal guys).
I asked for and will likely receive a return package, but I think I'll be sending it back empty. Sorry for the trouble Essential, but you are in my daily carry category now - my S8+ will stay ready for outdoor action as needed (water resistance, etc).
The aesthetics are what has done it for me... Maybe you feel the same? The feeling I get holding and using the Essential do indeed remind me of the first day with the OG iPhone - only ten years better. Hell - I still have some great pics I took with that lousy 2MP, fixed focus, no flash shooter from 2007 on my drive.
Anyway, just one man's changed opinion. If it grew on you too, please post your thoughts. I'm interested to know how many others have now caved.
rootdude said:
I've either cognitively dissonated myself into loving this phone, or it is really quite good. The official camera fix did some good and leaves open the good possibility that further refining will yield a great result, or I'll stick with the progress being made on the GCam port and use the native app for great monochrome shots (I love the B&W sensor and it is EXCELLENT). That said, no cases... I guess no problem - I ordered some SquareTrade insurance coverage today - if it drops or dies, they'll replace it for a hundred beans - I can handle that kind of coverage...
I'm not seeing the same quality defects others are reporting with their handsets (light bleed, TMOB signal issues, etc.) so either I got a keeper or others are being overly sensitive (nothing personal guys).
I asked for and will likely receive a return package, but I think I'll be sending it back empty. Sorry for the trouble Essential, but you are in my daily carry category now - my S8+ will stay ready for outdoor action as needed (water resistance, etc).
The aesthetics are what has done it for me... Maybe you feel the same? The feeling I get holding and using the Essential do indeed remind me of the first day with the OG iPhone - only ten years better. Hell - I still have some great pics I took with that lousy 2MP, fixed focus, no flash shooter from 2007 on my drive.
Anyway, just one man's changed opinion. If it grew on you too, please post your thoughts. I'm interested to know how many others have now caved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really want to like it, I'm trying real hard.
The performance sucks and is not faster than a Moto Z with a Snapdragon 821.
This phone does some really aggressive thermal throttling.
This bothers me.
I really want to like it.
I kind of came to the same conclusion the other day. Software can always be improved with updates, and there's not another phone out there built with better materials. It looks, feels, and is, an upscale phone.
tech_head said:
I really want to like it, I'm trying real hard.
The performance sucks and is not faster than a Moto Z with a Snapdragon 821.
This phone does some really aggressive thermal throttling.
This bothers me.
I really want to like it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm interested to hear what you know about thermal throttling. I'm a power user and I play Royale like an idiot and I haven't even felt it get warm, nor do I see the incredible battery drain I see with other devices I've played on in the past (the Pixel XL was the worst for that power drain). Do you have CPUZ installed on it and can get some screenies of the throttling b/c of overheat conditions?
rootdude said:
I'm interested to hear what you know about thermal throttling. I'm a power user and I play Royale like an idiot and I haven't even felt it get warm, nor do I see the incredible battery drain I see with other devices I've played on in the past (the Pixel XL was the worst for that power drain). Do you have CPUZ installed on it and can get some screenies of the throttling b/c of overheat conditions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see/feel the phone get hot. That's the point, before it even gets hot the CPU gets throttled.
If I artificially cool the device or I'm in a cold environment; I can run Antutu and get close to the Qualcomm numbers for their reference platform in the 178k range. I can do that only in a cold environment. If the device is in a warm room the performance drops to 160k or so. If the room is hot or if I try to run again the performance can drop to 150k. I have seen the results drop to below 120k.
Geek bench scores are somewhat better but not great.
1900 single core and 6000 multicore.
The renderscript score is about 8000. Which puts in 33% behind an iPhone 7.
The software grew on me as more mods and ADB tweaks come out...but every time I decide to keep it and slap a skin of the back I find new scratches. Now I even have a scratch on the finish on the titanium. No clue where any of these came from. I haven't had a scratch on a phone in years... I upgrade every few months and always sell my phones mint on Swappa. I've had this a week and it's already scratched to ****. I love the look and feel and I'm happy with the software now but man..it's getting destroyed.
NeutronBomb said:
The software grew on me as more mods and ADB tweaks come out...but every time I decide to keep it and slap a skin of the back I find new scratches. Now I even have a scratch on the finish on the titanium. No clue where any of these came from. I haven't had a scratch on a phone in years... I upgrade every few months and always sell my phones mint on Swappa. I've had this a week and it's already scratched to ****. I love the look and feel and I'm happy with the software now but man..it's getting destroyed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. Mine still looks like it just came out of the box, and it even took a 4 foot tumble to my bathroom floor the other day.
So I hope the new update improves performance.
Right now if the phone gets to an internal temp of 44C it will throttle to less than half the maximum frequency.
This puts the performance, when warm, behind and LG G4, Samsung Galaxy S6 and my old Nexus 6P.
Not happy.
I'm battling the decision now. I'm still in that 15 day return window, and like others am trying really hard to want to like this device.
Love the display. Don't mind that it's not AMOLED - I still get 5-6 hours SoT with moderate-heavy internet/call/text on wifi w/bt connected. No light bleed issues or lifting of panels for me, everything seems in order there.
There are some problems with the software that make me wonder if the problems I have are hardware or software. The micro-stuttering during scrolling (only while touching the screen during scrolling) could be a hardware problem, could be throttling, or could be OS optimization for this device in general. It's smooth as butter as long as I flick-scroll. Even if I slow finger-scroll vs slow flick-scroll the difference is noticeable, goes from stutter to butter. Finger-on-screen lag is like that of a bloated EVO3D trying to flip homescreens.
Then there are the definite software glitches that are present even after a full wipe of the phone (I really wish you could wipe the cache partition on this thing). This includes the occasional 10 second freeze while scrolling, the microstutters mentioned above, having to press back twice when in a conversation in the default messaging app, random screen presses when not touching the screen, regularly having to tap the screen repeatedly to get response from buttons.
And then there's the support - it takes a very long time to get response. I realize they are busy and trying to be responsive, and I am really trying to support this new company... One of the biggest problems I have is for solely existing as a consumer communications device manufacturer, they have some terrible consumer communication processes happening (or complete lack thereof). All I really want to know is that they are aware of and are working on the specific issues. Maybe I have control issues, but the dark is not a friendly place to be with 700 bucks on the line!!
I'm going to leave myself undecided for a few days and see where things go. If I don't see some kind of a software update addressing many of the issues some of us are experiencing I may have to reconsider... Despite all of the short-comings the new company has had as a baby, it's a beautiful baby. Let's just hope it learns fast I'm really hoping the screen issues I'm having are software related, but without confirmation from the company I can't say that I have high confidence right now. I love the feel and design of the device itself, though! *torn*
I am really trying hard to like this device. In terms of overall feel it's immaculate. They did very well on the design of the the phone. My issues come with software and future development. Right now there's clear software bugs and other optimization that needs to be done. If they can work on some of those things the experience on this phone would improve tenfold. Also once they get the source code and kernel out then we can start seeing more Community Development. We could also get things such as custom recovery and root. I'm hoping that in the coming weeks this phone and the community support will improve. I think I'll keep my device for while to see if that happens if not I may be lookin at a Pixel 2.
theandroidbot said:
I am really trying hard to like this device. In terms of overall feel it's immaculate. They did very well on the design of the the phone. My issues come with software and future development. Right now there's clear software bugs and other optimization that needs to be done. If they can work on some of those things the experience on this phone would improve tenfold. Also once they get the source code and kernel out then we can start seeing more Community Development. We could also get things such as custom recovery and root. I'm hoping that in the coming weeks this phone and the community support will improve. I think I'll keep my device for while to see if that happens if not I may be lookin at a Pixel 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There isn't a massive amount of development on the pixel in relation to other Nexus devices likely due to the A/B partitions so I'm dubious on the pixel 2 at the moment
spotmark said:
Interesting. Mine still looks like it just came out of the box, and it even took a 4 foot tumble to my bathroom floor the other day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can the QC really be that hit and miss? I have zero scratches as well on front or back.
rootdude said:
Can the QC really be that hit and miss? I have zero scratches as well on front or back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. The one thing I absolutely love is the build quality. It looks exactly as the day it arrived.
Mine looks like the first day. I'm very impressed with the build quality.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
No issues with mine fr a build standpoint. Fell a few times and no scratches. I'm using a glass screen protector even though there is a halo. Rather that scratches than the screen. The update that came out today is probably the software the phone should have shipped with initially... but we were all in a rush to get it. I'm keeping this device for sure! I also like confusing the heck out of ppl... I'm running the Arrow Launcher, blackberry keyboard and I use the iPhone sms sound for text notifications..
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
My only complaint really is I think they went too small. Most smarts phones are a little larger.
hoopsdavis said:
My only complaint really is I think they went too small. Most smarts phones are a little larger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it's refreshing. I mean I love big phones, haven't used a small sized phone in years, but after using this phone for several days, I love how reasonably compact it is with this screen size. I should rephrase, I love big screen size, not necessarily big form factor. So to have this screen size packed in a smaller form, I think it's awesome.
hoopsdavis said:
My only complaint really is I think they went too small. Most smarts phones are a little larger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "small" form factor with big screen is the the biggest reason this phone came into my radar
flakko86 said:
The "small" form factor with big screen is the the biggest reason this phone came into my radar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same with me and many others. The big screen in compact size is among the major pros for buying this mobile. Besides that, I was also attracted to the clean design/material used and the pin port for 360 camera and other gadgets.
But I'm still waiting (impatiently) for how the Huawei Mate 10 pro turns out to be before I buy the essential phone. Hoping the Mate 10 pro is as compact and well built as well, combined with supposedly beast new Kirin 970 and improved dual camera, and maybe some new features like AI, Graphene battery, 3D Face recognition (all already introduced on Huawei's Honor magic). It would be the only contender to essential phone on my list. If Mate 10 pro disappoints then by that time Essential phone would be ready to ship out with 360 camera and charging dock in one go.
I have really grown to like this device. I have been using as my DD since the update, no significant issues and certainly no scratches or signs of wear. The size of the device is a key factor for me, I love the form factor.
I have a Moto Z Play at the moment and as much as I like it, it is still on Oreo and is not up to date security-wise, which is a worry for me.
I was very set on a Pixel 3a which I can get for £299 with a £50 mastercard giftcard as a freebie. I have since seen a few posts on forums saying they get really slow after a few months and lag a lot, which is strange because my Moto Z Play still mostly performs fine, bit for stutter, but for a cheap phone it is fine.
I am wondering if I wait for the 4a to come out and spend maybe £400/£429 (whatever they price it at) for that, or just get the 3a, with the view that if I don't like it, I can return it in the first 2 weeks.
I don't really want to spend £400 on a phone ideally, as I don't really see the point.
Could some users of the 3a for a while give me some idea of how it performs after time?
I use my phone for YouTube, Chrome, Netflix, new apps and emails. Never play games on my phone unless it is a basic casual one that i'll play for 10 minutes and then delete.
(I know the new iPhone SE is out for £419 and will be worlds better than both of the Pixels' but I prefer Android overall and would rather not be locked to iOS.)
I'd appreciate any help, thanks
Edit - Just an insight in my phone history... i did have a OnePlus 6 for a while, but decided I preferred the Moto Z Play, so I sold the OP6. The performance difference didn't bother me and with my usage, didn't seem very noticeable. I just want mostly smooth and reliable.
Hello,
I've had mine for about 10 weeks now and I couldn't be happier with it - came from almost exclusively Samsung S range (3,4,5,7) and a moto x style in there as well.
'pure' android is a delight to behold. Still quick and responsive - boot time is about 2 seconds slower than when it was brand new. I've just checked and I currently have nearly 80 apps installed so that's to be expected.
It's a bit like a car/bike/desktop/whatever in that occasional maintenance is your friend ? I use Ccleaner and Greenify paid version. Rooted, EXKernel Manager, no twrp as on android 10 and it doesn't work on 10 yet. Took a little bit of adjustment to not having twrp as I liked to take a weekly backup but no big deal in the grand scheme of things - I'm still in love with the 'pure' android experience and not having all the extra **** bundled in from Samsung.
Few advisories I'd point out is that: I would have bought a 3XL if I could have afforded one, and the modding scene is pretty quiet but I have gathered 2 main learnings on that. Firstly, that'll probably change when the twrp devs get it up and running on android 10, and B, there is actually very little need to mod as the 'pure' android is just lovely as it is.
I've had no errors, no restarts/bootloops etc and re-rooting after updates is simple. I get a day battery no probs with moderate use, no games and using EXKernel Manager to alternate between Performance and Power saving settings as required. Camera is lovely. Wired headphone volume is a bit quiet but stick Viper4android on it and problem solved.
Happy to answer the odd question or 2 if you have any ?
captain sideways said:
Hello,
I've had mine for about 10 weeks now and I couldn't be happier with it - came from almost exclusively Samsung S range (3,4,5,7) and a moto x style in there as well.
'pure' android is a delight to behold. Still quick and responsive - boot time is about 2 seconds slower than when it was brand new. I've just checked and I currently have nearly 80 apps installed so that's to be expected.
It's a bit like a car/bike/desktop/whatever in that occasional maintenance is your friend I use Ccleaner and Greenify paid version. Rooted, EXKernel Manager, no twrp as on android 10 and it doesn't work on 10 yet. Took a little bit of adjustment to not having twrp as I liked to take a weekly backup but no big deal in the grand scheme of things - I'm still in love with the 'pure' android experience and not having all the extra **** bundled in from Samsung.
Few advisories I'd point out is that: I would have bought a 3XL if I could have afforded one, and the modding scene is pretty quiet but I have gathered 2 main learnings on that. Firstly, that'll probably change when the twrp devs get it up and running on android 10, and B, there is actually very little need to mod as the 'pure' android is just lovely as it is.
I've had no errors, no restarts/bootloops etc and re-rooting after updates is simple. I get a day battery no probs with moderate use, no games and using EXKernel Manager to alternate between Performance and Power saving settings as required. Camera is lovely. Wired headphone volume is a bit quiet but stick Viper4android on it and problem solved.
Happy to answer the odd question or 2 if you have any
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that.
Would you say it has gotten any slower after 2+ months?
Most of the reports I have read have said that it lags on the keyboard a lot and lags a lot in general. I wouldn't expect flagship performance, but I do want something that is mostly smooth and will browse the web without being a stuttery mess all the time.
Nah no lag for me but I use a 3rd party keyboard (SwiftKey) instead of Gboard. I use a lot of voice recognition for typing as well as the on screen keyboard.
---------- Post added at 09:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 AM ----------
For Internet I mostly use Opera mini and AdAway and my browsing is fine
captain sideways said:
Nah no lag for me but I use a 3rd party keyboard (SwiftKey) instead of Gboard. I use a lot of voice recognition for typing as well as the on screen keyboard.
---------- Post added at 09:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 AM ----------
For Internet I mostly use Opera mini and AdAway and my browsing is fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Decided to just order one. It'll arrive tomorrow. If I don't like it I have 2 weeks to return it.
Best way to decide if it is any good for me is to use it!
Indeed that's what I did as well, let us know how you get on ?
gman88667733 said:
Decided to just order one. It'll arrive tomorrow. If I don't like it I have 2 weeks to return it.
Best way to decide if it is any good for me is to use it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had a 3a since I got rid of the 3 XL in December. I don't notice any slowdowns or performance difference even with games to the 3 XL I had. I take care of my devices though and remove unused apps and keep caches/storage clear as needed. Cloud storage is your friend. Most ppl just install dozens of apps and games and complain their device got slow but don't actually maintain their device. If you maintain your device it will perform well for you. I also get in the habit of factory resetting devices once or twice a year to freshen them up it literally takes 10 minutes if you keep backups of apps and data.
I personally think the 4a will be the better choice in the long run if you intend keeping your phone for a while, that being said the Pixel 3a is still a great phone I got rid of my Samsung S10e couple of weeks ago & picked up another Pixel 3a & i have no regrets at all coming back & downgrading somewhat spec wise, I still may pickup a 4a when the deals are on at some point later this year.
Also the release of the iPhone SE 2020 could be a good thing for future deals on the Pixel 4a.
Got the 3a with me now.
So far, so good! An added bonus is that it has WiFi calling, which I thought it did not.
Display is nice, size is good. Feels nice without a case on, but not sure I'm brave enough to run it without a case!
Speed seems fine, smooth and quick enough for me so far
Similar question...
I'm a Sony fanboy, have nearly all flagships since 2011 here, more or less good maintained with custom fws, i donated devices to devs here at xda, i'm a supporter.
My provider offers me to get a Pixel 3A or a Pixel 4 when i extend my contract for 2 years, the Pixel 3A would cost 11,50 € per month, the Pixel 4 20,00 €, in both cases the the mobile belongs to me after this 24 additional months. I really dunno how to decide, i read and read and read about the pros and cons, the results are all the same - take the 3A, says the tests and suggestions in the www. I'm not a gamer, no facebook, taking not much photos, not involved in social networks, i need pure functionality, navigation, good battery life, playing only CoC, NFS no Limits. The only advantage in the Pixel 4 which i see - it is newer. It's really hard for me to decide - any opinions are welcome. Thanks in advance. At least the fact that i dont really NEED a new phone, my 2 daily drivers are an Xperia Z3 and an S5Neo, both active ( private and business device ) with LOS 16 rock stable, smooth and fast systems. LOS 17.1 is coming for these 2 devices, i think with official status too.
So, that's all, please enlighten me.
_________________________________
Well, whereas I am quite happy with my 3a, my rule for buying (any) tech stuff is to but the best that you can afford at the time. I got my 3a cos it was the best I could afford at the time but if I'd had the money, I would have gotten a 3xl or a 4. Sorry if this isn't helpful, just thought I'd share a bit of my process. I guess the conclusion would be if you can afford the 4, then get the 4
---------- Post added at 10:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 PM ----------
gman88667733 said:
Got the 3a with me now.
So far, so good! An added bonus is that it has WiFi calling, which I thought it did not.
Display is nice, size is good. Feels nice without a case on, but not sure I'm brave enough to run it without a case!
Speed seems fine, smooth and quick enough for me so far
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you like it, I prefer to have mine in a case as well (clumsy) so I just got a gel tpd case and screen protector on ebay. Screen protector covers the entire front including the bezels. It's done a stellar job so far - I keep lots of stuff in my pockets and there isn't so much as a scuff on my phone if you'd like I might be able to link the screen protector if I can find it in my ebay history ?
Link to screen protector:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143284267215
I have a caseology parralax case and a generic glass screen protector now, feels much safer!
So far the battery life on this is incredible, took it off the charger at 8pm Sunday evening, I still have 45% left at 3 hours of SOT.
That's will very weak/no reception for a lot of that too.
Given how small the battery is, it's really quite impressive
Really impressed with this phone so far.
The only issue I am having with my 3a is that I have always used Messenger lite (Facebook) for my messaging app. For some reason, a lot of the time the notifications don't show up after the phone has been locked for a while, until I go into the phone and it picks it up or sometimes until I go into the app.
I have notifications turned on and see no reason for them not to always come through and be visible on the lockscreen. Is this just the Doze feature being a bit too aggressive?
Ah I can't answer that, sorry. I use greenify to sleep my apps, including
social media apps. I only want to use them when I want to use them, you know?
So mine stay asleep until I open them manually.
That is okay. It doesn't do it all the time, I think it's mostly when the phones been sat idle for a while.
captain sideways said:
Well, whereas I am quite happy with my 3a, my rule for buying (any) tech stuff is to but the best that you can afford at the time. I got my 3a cos it was the best I could afford at the time but if I'd had the money, I would have gotten a 3xl or a 4. Sorry if this isn't helpful, just thought I'd share a bit of my process. I guess the conclusion would be if you can afford the 4, then get the 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. And believe me, your post IS helpfull.
Greetz,
0LDST4R
_-_-_-_-_
gman88667733 said:
The only issue I am having with my 3a is that I have always used Messenger lite (Facebook) for my messaging app. For some reason, a lot of the time the notifications don't show up after the phone has been locked for a while, until I go into the phone and it picks it up or sometimes until I go into the app.
I have notifications turned on and see no reason for them not to always come through and be visible on the lockscreen. Is this just the Doze feature being a bit too aggressive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can exclude the fb messanger app from doze (battery optimization) in settings, its in apps and notifications -> special app access, in batter optimization choose to ahow all apps.
Maybe that helps. But could also be an fb bug.
Cheers. Glad you like that phone, for ne it's the best phone i ever had, it just works.
For some reason this second charge has started off worse. I suppose it'll take a few days to fully settle and let the adaptive battery feature set up.
gman88667733 said:
Got the 3a with me now.
So far, so good! An added bonus is that it has WiFi calling, which I thought it did not.
Display is nice, size is good. Feels nice without a case on, but not sure I'm brave enough to run it without a case!
Speed seems fine, smooth and quick enough for me so far
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gman88667733 said:
The only issue I am having with my 3a is that I have always used Messenger lite (Facebook) for my messaging app. For some reason, a lot of the time the notifications don't show up after the phone has been locked for a while, until I go into the phone and it picks it up or sometimes until I go into the app.
I have notifications turned on and see no reason for them not to always come through and be visible on the lockscreen. Is this just the Doze feature being a bit too aggressive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gman88667733 said:
For some reason this second charge has started off worse. I suppose it'll take a few days to fully settle and let the adaptive battery feature set up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will settle in a day or 2, youve got to remember that in the first few days of a new toy there's all the setting up/copying data/etc as well but the battery will learn your normal usage. Here's a screen grab from my Better Battery Stats, it's a pretty good %pH.
The annoying thing currently is that I've just changed my bedroom in my house, there is currently no cell or WiFi reception in it, so it dropped 15% last night because it was searching for them all night. Hoping to sort the WiFi in a few days
I'm just about to pull the trigger on this beautiful foldable, the only thing I'm worried about is that I use my device the most for watching movies, youtube and twitch.
That black bars kinda bother me.
The other thing is about the durability over time of the screen because I think it will eventually brake after some years of folds. Am I wrong?
Please help me decide beetween this and Oppo Find X2 pro. (I don't care about the price tag as I want to keep the new device for at least 4 years and enjoy it the most)
About my second choice is because I want to fully enjoy a QHD 120hz display and I'm not worried about the battery life for many reasons.. (I had that device and was perfect for me but I experience some pink tint issues so I asked for a refund)
I don't really like do the lottery and hope for a better screen with Oppo or Oneplus screen.
I hope someone can help me.. thank you in advance,
Alessio
You're going to get black bars because of the screen ratio of the device when unfolded. You get smaller black bars when watching in landscape unfolded, but then the camera hole punch cuts into the video content. In portrait you get bigger bars and smaller content, but the hole punch is within the top black bar.
As for durability, I've read Samsung have tested for a certain number of folding/unfolding which equates to opening the device 100 times a day for 5 years. I can't remember where I read this and can't find anything when Googling.
It's supposed to be rated for 200,000 folds. Check out the Fold 1 Forums and ask folks about durability. The Fold2 is supposed to be a lot better.
Sent from my SM-F916U1 using Tapatalk
I've had mine for 2 days now. My previous phone was a Galaxy S20 Ultra which I'm now putting up for sale. Before getting the Z Fold 2, I also bought a Surface Duo, used it for a day and hated it, so I returned it.
It has been a learning curve with the Z Fold 2 because it's such a different device. Still not sure I love it but it's definitely growing on me. The weirdest thing was getting used to the small cover screen but I am now used to that.
I will say that the hardware is fantastic although it is a more fragile phone because of the folding screen and lack of water and dust proofing.
I don't think I'm going to have issues with the screen as long as I don't fold with something in it or press it too hard. The black bars don't bother me - that's just a result of the screen having such odd aspect ratio. The screen is a beauty. I still can't believe Samsung pulled this off. Yes the crease is there but really not an issue.
The only other issue I have with it is how slick it is since my case hasn't arrived yet but I expect that to not be an issue with a case.
I think if you decide to go for this phone, you'll like it a lot as long as you are willing to go through the learning curve of the new form factor. Worst case scenario you can always return it for a refund.
I saw it as a brilliant yet highly flawed device when I got it. Now I cant use a regular phone anymore, they're completely ruined for me. I would have preferred the device be wider because I still don't like the front screen to this day and a little wider would be all it takes to fix it. That inner screen though, shes a beauty. The internet is so much easier to browse in that format, games look fantastic, videos are unfortunately not as good as they could be thanks to the idiotic placement of the inner camera. Yeah, I know why the decided to put it there and I disagree with the decision. This phone is all about that screen and the stupid placement makes videos smaller than they should be or puts a hole in them. Neither should have been happening because it hurts the phones best attribute. As I said; flawed. I cant however go back, regular phones seem ridiculously limiting now.
I upgraded from the OG Fold and love the 2, Marked improvement all over.
The hinge is also a lot stiffer with the added functionality in the Fold 2
Watching content doesn't bother me, you get used to the black bars and it's still a much bigger viewing area than a regular phone.
My only concern is you wanting to keep it for 4 years, this is obviously new technology so no one is going to be able to say whether it can last for that length of time. I had the fold one near 9 months and never had 1 issue with it, no issues with the screen or folding.
I go with a Note. They will last 4 years and are dust/water sealed, add a good case and you're good to go.
If you charge the battery wisely (40-65% charges) you may get 4 years out of it too.
The 10+ is a proven performer and comes loaded with Pie if you prefer that OS as I do. It's got 2 OS upgrades so it should take it to 11 at least.
The 20U may have some minor issues but it seems like a solid Note.
Both support massive SD cards and are fun, fast, responsive machines with drop dead gorgeous displays.
Samsung has over extended its self both technically and financially on the Fold devices I think to spite all the glowing reviews.
Browse the forums of other current Samsung models here to get a better idea of just how small the niche is for this device. Its novelty alone will make it harder to get online tech support for. Samsung online/phone support sucks; some of the worst I ever experienced.
I blew off upgrading to the 20U because Samsung didn't give me anymore bang for the buck than my 10+.
In addition to that was Android Q with its scope storage is a performance hit not seen with Pie. It will also render legacy apks I use a lot most likely unusable.
If the Notes don't provide enough real estate, the Fold 2 be your only choice for now. The next generation should be better.
Lol, Samsung claims the conformal coating on the Fold 2's PCBs are it's waterproofing. Pure hogwash; all the switches and micro connectors are vulnerable.
I would never even consider a smartphone without water and dust sealing. Even my ancient first flip phone had them.
10 years latter it's still functional...
blackhawk said:
I go with a Note. They will last 4 years and are dust/water sealed, add a good case and you're good to go.
If you charge the battery wisely (40-65% charges) you may get 4 years out of it too.
The 10+ is a proven performer and comes loaded with Pie if you prefer that OS as I do. It's got 2 OS upgrades so it should take it to 11 at least.
The 20U may have some minor issues but it seems like a solid Note.
Both support massive SD cards and are fun, fast, responsive machines with drop dead gorgeous displays.
Samsung has over extended its self both technically and financially on the Fold devices I think to spite all the glowing reviews.
Browse the forums of other current Samsung models here to get a better idea of just how small the niche is for this device. Its novelty alone will make it harder to get online tech support for. Samsung online/phone support sucks; some of the worst I ever experienced.
I blew off upgrading to the 20U because Samsung didn't give me anymore bang for the buck than my 10+.
In addition to that was Android Q with its scope storage is a performance hit not seen with Pie. It will also render legacy apks I use a lot most likely unusable.
If the Notes don't provide enough real estate, the Fold 2 be your only choice for now. The next generation should be better.
Lol, Samsung claims the conformal coating on the Fold 2's PCBs are it's waterproofing. Pure hogwash; all the switches and micro connectors are vulnerable.
I would never even consider a smartphone without water and dust sealing. Even my ancient first flip phone had them.
10 years latter it's still functional...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you actually own a Z Fold 2?
The render legacy apks unusable was laughable, that's for sure. He does not own the phone, he's been here trolling for quite a while.
krabman said:
The render legacy apks unusable was laughable, that's for sure. He does not own the phone, he's been here trolling for quite a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Q renders (or soon will) many legacy apks unusable not the Z. Not so funny if you're running Q...
It's a prototype. I build prototype$ not buy them.
I am however fascinated in this product in more ways than one... Samsung gro$$ly overextended themselves on this product line and the game they're playing isn't low poker.
TheMountain said:
I'm just about to pull the trigger on this beautiful foldable, the only thing I'm worried about is that I use my device the most for watching movies, youtube and twitch.
That black bars kinda bother me.
The other thing is about the durability over time of the screen because I think it will eventually brake after some years of folds. Am I wrong?
Please help me decide beetween this and Oppo Find X2 pro. (I don't care about the price tag as I want to keep the new device for at least 4 years and enjoy it the most)
About my second choice is because I want to fully enjoy a QHD 120hz display and I'm not worried about the battery life for many reasons.. (I had that device and was perfect for me but I experience some pink tint issues so I asked for a refund)
I don't really like do the lottery and hope for a better screen with Oppo or Oneplus screen.
I hope someone can help me.. thank you in advance,
Alessio
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry i'm late to the party!!! So i came from a Find X2 pro to the Fold 2 and honestly i love the fold 2. I work at a Machine shop and my fold 2 has been perfectly fine (im not saying its the most durable phone on earth , but it definetly feels like its gonna be just fine). if there were any major drawbacks id say the lack of cases that protect the hinge spine , and the crappy rubber inner screen protector (which has been removed),and the cameras (comparing to the Find x2 pro directly) .
overall the black bars while watching youtube i can live with cause it has so much real estate on the inner screen that it quickly became something i dont notice anymore.
The cameras are good not the best but good, the find x2 pro camera was fantastic.
My main issue has to be cases, i currently have 6 cases (araree bonnet wallet,spigen thin fit,gkk thin fit,2xchinese "leather back" cases,ringke clear) and the Araree bonnet is the only one that protects the spine yet its awkward to use when folded(back of case digs into finger when holding 1 handed and cover hanging is a minor annoyance) when open the case is ok. all the other cases yeild the same result , when closed they protect the front & back but leave the spine exposed when folded. so its a catch 22 in the case department.
I also applied a Dbrand teardown skin "ultramatte" and its awesome cause the black back of the phone was a fingerprint haven.
So im sure ive rambled enough haha, but i would honestly say overall even with the drawbacks id take the fold 2 over the find x2 pro if i had to choose again.
also i ordered the Spigen Tough Armor (which seems like it will be a good case protecting the spine/hinge and not being "in the way"when used folded like the araree bonnet)
Either way both phones are really good im sure you'll be happy with either
krabman said:
The render legacy apks unusable was laughable, that's for sure. He does not own the phone, he's been here trolling for quite a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds about right. He doesn't own one and is here just trolling away.
I'm not sure what the point of going to a sub section and complaining about a phone you don't own and aren't going to buy is but it happens often enough here. I completely understand the posts where people say they are disappointed about a device as it comes out, are moving elsewhere, and the why. These posts can be useful to those on the fence. To go back to this device I still think while flawed it's an amazing piece of kit and more than any other phone I've ever encountered; one you really have to use to fully get. It's unfortunate the entry fee is so steep as to make test driving one unreasonable for most.
Honestly I have had every note that Samsung has made and my secondary device is a note 20. I am now spoiled I have had my zfold 2 a month and I can't go back to a regular phone ever again. I'm a fold loyalist from now on
randy2 said:
Honestly I have had every note that Samsung has made and my secondary device is a note 20. I am now spoiled I have had my zfold 2 a month and I can't go back to a regular phone ever again. I'm a fold loyalist from now on
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Click to collapse
Well said... I had the fold1 and now the fold2 and can't imagine going back to a "normal" mobile phone again... regardless of brand.
randy2 said:
Honestly I have had every note that Samsung has made and my secondary device is a note 20. I am now spoiled I have had my zfold 2 a month and I can't go back to a regular phone ever again. I'm a fold loyalist from now on
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Click to collapse
I'm a Note loyalist but I've been playing with the ZF2 at Best Buy and am in love with it. Can't decide if I can give up my SPen though.
Mr. Orange 645 said:
I'm a Note loyalist but I've been playing with the ZF2 at Best Buy and am in love with it. Can't decide if I can give up my SPen though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Next year, the fold 3 is replacing the note line and getting a Spend.
DJW35 said:
Next year, the fold 3 is replacing the note line and getting a Spend.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, I knew that was the latest rumor. It's one reason I'm considering the Fold 2 now. Might as well grab it, because it will have a higher trade in value next year when I get the Fold 3, LOL.
Add
DJW35 said:
Next year, the fold 3 is replacing the note line and getting a Spend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So they are saying.
So far the durability has been lacking and the price is higher than I pay for a laptop.
The Fold sales have been dismal thus far... if that tells you something.
Sparkling reviews, all of them.
What's wrong with this picture?
I don't share Samsung's enthusiasm and they grossly overextended themselves trying to develop this technology. Their other expensive phones suffered as a result and during a worldwide economic downturn at that. Brilliant.
The Edsel was a similar money sinkhole released during a recession. That ended well.
I call snake eyes.
Break away in a wide track Pontiac GTO... :laugh:
* And maybe tri-fold phone. Oh my... hold on to your hats:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/mspowe...old-smartphone-bandwagon-with-new-patent/amp/
Apple sounds amused, maybe nervous:
https://www.patentlyapple.com/paten...-continue-to-work-on-a-next-gen-tri-fold.html
blackhawk said:
Add
So far the durability has been lacking and the price is higher than I pay for a laptop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without a shadow of a doubt the Fold 2 is the best mobile device i have owned in over 20 years of owning a mobile. Durability is perfectly fine (for me), battery life is excellent, (i get 9hrs SOT with the 90hz app) and the main foldable screen is amazing with or without the factory fitted film protector.
The front screen is still slightly too narrow to make the device 100% perfect but perhaps next years Fold3 will resolve that outstanding issue...
I can't imagine ever going back to a "normal" candy bar style phone ever again.
Yes foldable devices are currently hugely expensive but as an early adopter I accept i have chosen to pay more than the average consumer would. Hopefully (!) In a couple of years Samsung will be able to sell a fold5 for 100 or 200 £$€ more than the equivalent S23 Ultra price.
has anyone replaced both the screen and frame? Any tips?
Can't find a video for both, only screen.
That's a lot of damage. Do you know if the mobo is still good? Don't go throwing much money at it otherwise especially if it hit on the mobo side.
I recommend observing ESD protocols when working on it. Out circuit the mobo and display are suspectable to ESD damage. A earth grounded ESD mat and wrist strap are best. At least raise the humidity of the room to 50% and wear cotton clothing.
it's a phone I've been using since I dropped it, but the touchscreen is intermittently intermittent.
I need to change the USB charge port and batt. I have a back phone, jic.
I have a wrist strap but no mat.
metropical said:
it's a phone I've been using since I dropped it, but the touchscreen is intermittently intermittent.
I need to change the USB charge port and batt. I have a back phone, jic.
I have a wrist strap but no mat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like major surgery doctor.
Good, earth ground the strape and use a bare wood surface.
Get some...
it'll either suck or work. Time will tell.
metropical said:
it'll either suck or work. Time will tell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it doesn't break the bank, go for it.
At the worst you'll have a parts queen, which is fine if your intentions are to keep using this model.
The smartphone releases this year have been nothing but disappointment. Android 11 and 12 are DOA. Next year looks bad for both as well.
I can see why you want to stick with a model/OS version you like. I'm doing the same myself.
I'll buy a Pixel 4a if the patient doesn't survive. HTC, unfortunately, has bit the dust for phones .
In US Android, there seems to be only Samsmug and Pixel left. At least the Pixel have some lineage to HTC.
One plus has not been around long enough to trust.
But I'm not buying another glass backed phone.
metropical said:
I'll buy a Pixel 4a if the patient doesn't survive. HTC, unfortunately, has bit the dust for phones .
In US Android, there seems to be only Samsmug and Pixel left. At least the Pixel have some lineage to HTC.
One plus has not been around long enough to trust.
But I'm not buying another glass backed phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using the Note 10+'s Snapdragon variant. However no 3.5 mm jack which you likely hate not having. I use the Buds+ which sound pretty good using the proprietary SSC bt codec.
The 10+ was the last great flagship release from Samsung. Fast, stable, a drop dead gorgeous display, reliable, a solid workhorse if running on Android 9 or 10... 11 not so much so.
My oldest 10+ is 2 years old, one battery replacement, it looks and runs like new after heavy usage. The glass back has been no issue and is cheap to replace. Use care though when replacing the battery removing the rear panel.
The other nice thing is the Samsung UI and its customization. Its fast, friendly and extremely customizable with hundreds of free themes, icon packs and UI apps like the Good Lock family from the Galaxy store. It doesn't look or act like a Pixel... thank god.
Always use a good case. I use the Zizo Bolt case. Without it my 10+ be a wreck. Over half a dozen 2-4 foot drops onto concrete, zero damage. However after a couplre hard corner hits I replace the case out of concerns of material fatigue. The only visible case damage is a shiny appearance at the hit corner indicating fatigue.
No headphone jack doesn't bother me. Have a Shure BT w/535. Sounds quite good.
Funny thing, never dropped a phone til the 1st month I had this. Bummer. Case too late.
But it's 3 yrs on now. Which is why I'm willing to chance the repair or replace.
What do you not like about the Pixel? To me Android is Android. The UI doesn't change much that I've seen, except for the awful LG interface that I had for a couple years before I gave up on it. This is my 3rd HTC in 10 years. They've all been good, but HTC had missed the boat a long while back when they released the 10. Many issues. The U11 has been very good even through the damaging drop.
Prior to the N10 I'd never have even thought about the Sam
I'm watching Pixel and not impressed.
No SD card slot. Android 11 and 12 are dogs.
Scoped storage isn't needed and makes it a pain to use.
Samsung has always been hit or miss. But when they're hot, they're hot. So far in my estimation the 10+/Snapdragon is their best Note overall.
I rejected the N20U because of display, 5G, battery and Android 11 issues. The 10+ isn't the best stat wise now, but it's a solid dependable workhorse that's a snappy fast, stable platform. It does everything well. A 1.25 to 1.5tb dual drive handheld PC is no joke.
At this point it be hard to give up the Samsung IU. It's nothing like a "pure" Android such as Pixel, thank god. Samsung has dozens of little system apks to take the edge off of Android 10 and make it more usable. You can mold the IU to fit your needs rather than the other way around.
My Q version Note can be made to look and behave like my Pie version. Even retaining the screen button navigation rather than being force to swipe navigate. I already use swipe control anyway with One Handed Operation + as well as Samsung Edge.
The native spen's Smart Select and bt remote shutter release are great when you need them.
My stock 10+'s are heavily optimized though. I use a package disabler and Karma Firewall. That was a steep learning curve and one of the reasons they run so well. The tools are available for anyone who wants to use them to modify the device without rooting.
It's just a fun device to use and play with... after 2 years it's still fun.
For $800 you can still get a new one and much less for a used one however as with all internet vendors you need to be careful. A lot of scamming going on right now.
I bought this U11 used off Swappa. Been very good. Don't think I'd go anywhere else. I think they have their rules in place.
After all the crappy mSD cards I've had from both Samsung and SanDisk, I think I'd rather just built in storage next time.
I just use it for music. If I seldom want to watch something, I stream from my Emby at home.
Not a gamer. Almost entirely email, text, calls, and some interwebbing.
This one is rooted as have the last couple. But the OS has become efficient enough that I don't think I'd bother.
The ads are more annoying than any other issue.
Never heard of package disabler or Karma. I'll have to look into that. Toying is fun now and then.
Package Disabler is more a Samsung targeted thing but there's a version for other devices. No clue if/how that variant works.
Karma Firewall is a freeware VPN based one with logging features if running on Pie or under. Very low battery consumption.
No issues with my latest Lexar .5tb card. It's important to format it in the phone and best to leave it there. I have over 200gb of wav and hdcd files alone so... yeah I use it.
One of the benefits of using a SD card is for backups. All critical data goes here, only the loaded apps, DCIM and download folders go on internal memory. I keep installable copies of all my apps. I can do a complete reload from the data drive. I redundantly backup the SD card to hdds as well. A may lose a little data but never all. Every PC I set up is as a dual drive even laptops. It saves pain and suffering
I already have protonVPN, not free, but available to me on all my electronic contraptions.
Package disable would be redundant .
metropical said:
I already have protonVPN, not free, but available to me on all my electronic contraptions.
Package disable would be redundant .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're already rooted, it be a downgrade from what's available for a rooted phone.
If you wanted to run a stock Samsung though, it applies.
When buying a SD card review its full specs.
Some are rated to work at -13F others only 32F, wtf? Likewise view rated storage temps.
I'll probably go with a Sandisk Extreme even though it's $25 more. It has wider temperature operating parameters indicating better design and production standards.
Get a V30 rated card as well. Always stick to major name brands and avoid buying on ebay, etc.
If it doesn't format in the phone, return it as it will likely never perform properly even if you zero fill it and get it to format. I use Lexar and Sandisk flash memory, zero failures thus far in over 15 years of using them in different form factors.
I around a dozen or so.
just bought a Pixel 5 off Swappa and will retire the U11 as a back up.
So far, very nice phone.
Though the difference from AOS 9 to 13 are lots.
Hello!
I noticed there's a trade-in program at the Google Store for the 6a. I currently have a Pixel 4a. It's working fine, a bit slow and stuttery sometimes (but maybe that's because I'm using a ROM with an overwhelming amount of features), but otherwise it's okay.
I could trade it in for €275 if it was in perfect condition. I have accidentally dropped it once, so there's a tiny crack in the plastic on the top left of the phone. The screen isn't cracked or anything, it's purely aesthetic. Worst case scenario, I can trade it in for €199, which would mean I could buy a 6a for at most €260.
I've heard a lot of bad stuff about the 6a, so I'm very hesitant about this upgrade. Paying 260 euros for a new Pixel sounds like an amazing deal to me.
Is the fingerprint reader really that slow? Is the display truly choppy? Does the phone really constantly overheat even after the first few days of setting it up? Are the connectivity issues a thing for real?
Should I just stick to my 4a for another year or two, and then look at what's on the market?
I've had a great experience with the 6a. A lot of the issues that were out there have been fixed for the most part imo. Hot phone, etc. - have been fixed with the upgrade to 13, and even better with the Quarterly update if you are a beta tester. At this point most people out there say, like me, the experience is pretty damn great - even better if you get the trade in money. I upgraded from the 3a - same story - I had it rom'd out and it ran fine enough, but with the $300 trade in it was a no brainer. For me - taxes, shipping, case and screen protector - I'm out of pocket 189 for a phone that really is worth 450...can't beat that.
I've also rooted, added the MVK kernel - this can't be more snappier. Also keep in mind that development has just started so more options are on the way. GL
Take pictures or video of your old phone from all angles. Google/3rd party WILL try to rip you off any way they can. They will try to say your battery exploded or your perfectly funcioning LCD screen has major LCD damage. Crap like that. So protect yourself beforehand.
My perspective having 2 4a's trading one for a 6a and trading a OnePlus 7t for another 6a.
I have a 6 which is my backup/backup just for camera, it's a little bit larger than I like.
I kept a 4a as emergency backup. Positive stuff; faster, bigger screen will have a long support for updates. Bargain pricing.
You mentioned a different kernel / ROM so let's use the history of 4a vs 4... 4a was not supported by developers in same numbers as 4. Currently the existing resources on 6a vs 6 it looks the same, as you can see. I am hoping that just the sheer numbers of 6a being pushed into market that will change... likely depends on October new phone releases? If you need 5g well it's not a question then.
If you don't need 5g, the biggest disappointment will be battery life...No way will a 6a will compete with a 4a on absolute longevity on one charge cycle. I would guess in my use it's HALF, yes seems impossible but that's after daily use of both in same locations and usage.
I had a 4a (stock with Android 13) and I did the trade-in for a 6a. The trade-in went smoothly for me, and I got the value I was expecting for the 4a ($300). Since I have owned the 6a (stock android 13 w/Sept. update), It has improved. The fingerprint sensor under the screen has gotten better. It still misses every so often. It still isn't quite as good as the rear fingerprint sensor of the 4a. The battery life has improved a lot for me. As of typing this it is 3:34 PM and I am at 80%. I unplugged it at 6:40 AM. It is on Wi-Fi most of the day and it's fairly light usage. The camera processing is loads faster than on the 4a. It is also nice to have a wide-angle lens. The software touches with the 6a are nice, magic eraser is especially fun. The speech to text is especially good and fast. The phone itself feels a lot higher quality especially compared to the 4a. The more and longer I use the 6a, the more I like it.
mmead1143 said:
I've had a great experience with the 6a. A lot of the issues that were out there have been fixed for the most part imo. Hot phone, etc. - have been fixed with the upgrade to 13, and even better with the Quarterly update if you are a beta tester. At this point most people out there say, like me, the experience is pretty damn great - even better if you get the trade in money. I upgraded from the 3a - same story - I had it rom'd out and it ran fine enough, but with the $300 trade in it was a no brainer. For me - taxes, shipping, case and screen protector - I'm out of pocket 189 for a phone that really is worth 450...can't beat that.
I've also rooted, added the MVK kernel - this can't be more snappier. Also keep in mind that development has just started so more options are on the way. GL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kkjb said:
If you don't need 5g, the biggest disappointment will be battery life...No way will a 6a will compete with a 4a on absolute longevity on one charge cycle. I would guess in my use it's HALF, yes seems impossible but that's after daily use of both in same locations and usage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
aaronzimm75 said:
The battery life has improved a lot for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How's the battery life for you guys? I guess I get about 2-4 hours of SOT with my 4a. That of course depends on a lot of things. I travel quite frequently nowadays (usually about 2 - 2.5 hours by train/bus), so I usually listen to Spotify or watch some videos on YouTube. I guess the crappy connectivity while traveling by train + music streaming isn't always easy on the battery. Also, I use YouTube Vanced, and it does this weird thing where while watching some certain videos, the phone gets crazy hot (and obviously drains the battery quickly), watching other videos is just fine.
I use ACC, so I only charge the battery to 75%. I was at home this weekend, barely used my phone at all, it drained to like 45%, so standby time is okay, but I really have no idea what my usual daily battery usage (for the lack of a better term) is.
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smokejumper76 said:
Take pictures or video of your old phone from all angles. Google/3rd party WILL try to rip you off any way they can. They will try to say your battery exploded or your perfectly funcioning LCD screen has major LCD damage. Crap like that. So protect yourself beforehand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried to trade your device in with Google before? Can you tell us a bit more about your experience with them?
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aaronzimm75 said:
The fingerprint sensor under the screen has gotten better. It still misses every so often. It still isn't quite as good as the rear fingerprint sensor of the 4a.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How unreliable is it? The 4a's fingerprint reader has never failed on me. Luckily not even when I was out and needed to access something on my phone instantly.
Just by looking up some recent(-ish) videos on YouTube, it seems like the phone needs anywhere from about half a second to a full second to unlock. I guess it's not so much about how long it takes, but how accurate it actually is. Could you guys give me an estimate (of course it doesn't have to be an exact measurement, more just how consistent it feels to you) of how many times the phone fails to correctly read your finger so you have to re-place it on the reader?
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kkjb said:
You mentioned a different kernel / ROM so let's use the history of 4a vs 4... 4a was not supported by developers in same numbers as 4. Currently the existing resources on 6a vs 6 it looks the same, as you can see. I am hoping that just the sheer numbers of 6a being pushed into market that will change... likely depends on October new phone releases?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before my 4a I had a OnePlus 3T, rooted it on day one and soon got really fond of ResurrectionRemix. When I switched to the 4a (almost two years ago, damn, time flies fast), I hadn't tinkered with it for over a year I think. Even now, there are barely any regularly maintained custom ROMs for it. From what I can tell, the modding community is ever-so-slowly dying off. I guess it doesn't help that Google and other OEMs make it more difficult for us to tinker with out devices every year.
That being said, I'm not considering a 6a because of many custom things there are for it. Honestly, if there was a way to limit charging speed, and set a maximum charge level, I probably wouldn't even root. I have gotten to a point in my life where reliability is much more of a priority than endless customization
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One thing I forgot to add to my original post is another reason why I'm hesitant with this upgrade:
Surely, the trade-in option helps a lot, I could essentially get a brand new phone for half its price, which is virtually unbeatable. But if I look past that, and I was about to actually need to buy a new phone, thus look at what my options are, I'm not 100% sure my choice would land on a Pixel. Definitely going to have to look into it (and do it quickly, since the trade-in is only until the 24th).
I traded my 4a in for $300 off and a free pair of Pixel Buds a too during the pre-launch sale, so 'all in' my 6a was only $50 so it'd take a LOT to make me regret the 6a. As stated already, yeah it had it's teething period at first like most new phones. Most have been sorted out tho. I don't mind the FP scanner taking a slightly 'paused' touch/release to unlock...I got used to it pretty quick thus it stopped buggin' me as well. Too help w/batt life and tweaking, I rooted and added my favs plus a batt mod or 2. Above all, besides the $300 + Buds...it knowing I have the same CPU under the hood as the P6 Pro...for less than HALF the price and even less out-of-pocket. My only wish is a 6" 90Hz screen vs. the 6.1" @ 60Hz. Here's to hoping the 90Hz o/c tweak makes it's way into the custom kernel releases sooner than later!
Lada333 said:
How's the battery life for you guys? I guess I get about 2-4 hours of SOT with my 4a. That of course depends on a lot of things. I travel quite frequently nowadays (usually about 2 - 2.5 hours by train/bus), so I usually listen to Spotify or watch some videos on YouTube. I guess the crappy connectivity while traveling by train + music streaming isn't always easy on the battery. Also, I use YouTube Vanced, and it does this weird thing where while watching some certain videos, the phone gets crazy hot (and obviously drains the battery quickly), watching other videos is just fine.
I use ACC, so I only charge the battery to 75%. I was at home this weekend, barely used my phone at all, it drained to like 45%, so standby time is okay, but I really have no idea what my usual daily battery usage (for the lack of a better term) is.
---
Have you tried to trade your device in with Google before? Can you tell us a bit more about your experience with them?
---
How unreliable is it? The 4a's fingerprint reader has never failed on me. Luckily not even when I was out and needed to access something on my phone instantly.
Just by looking up some recent(-ish) videos on YouTube, it seems like the phone needs anywhere from about half a second to a full second to unlock. I guess it's not so much about how long it takes, but how accurate it actually is. Could you guys give me an estimate (of course it doesn't have to be an exact measurement, more just how consistent it feels to you) of how many times the phone fails to correctly read your finger so you have to re-place it on the reader?
---
Before my 4a I had a OnePlus 3T, rooted it on day one and soon got really fond of ResurrectionRemix. When I switched to the 4a (almost two years ago, damn, time flies fast), I hadn't tinkered with it for over a year I think. Even now, there are barely any regularly maintained custom ROMs for it. From what I can tell, the modding community is ever-so-slowly dying off. I guess it doesn't help that Google and other OEMs make it more difficult for us to tinker with out devices every year.
That being said, I'm not considering a 6a because of many custom things there are for it. Honestly, if there was a way to limit charging speed, and set a maximum charge level, I probably wouldn't even root. I have gotten to a point in my life where reliability is much more of a priority than endless customization
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One thing I forgot to add to my original post is another reason why I'm hesitant with this upgrade:
Surely, the trade-in option helps a lot, I could essentially get a brand new phone for half its price, which is virtually unbeatable. But if I look past that, and I was about to actually need to buy a new phone, thus look at what my options are, I'm not 100% sure my choice would land on a Pixel. Definitely going to have to look into it (and do it quickly, since the trade-in is only until the 24th).
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Battery life - obviously super specific to each individual's usage, preferences etc. So I'll give you a comparison. On my 3a, a 100% full charge beginning most day's, up at 530a, workout - work etc. I'd come home at 5p at about 35-40% left on the battery. Light usage and I have wifi at the office. With the 6a, the same day I come home at about 45-50%. So it's a tich better. I notice NO performance difference with battery saver mode on (not the extreme version) and for fun, I run the phone with the same daily schedule above - I come home at like 70% battery left and honestly, I see no difference in performance. - Keep in mind I'm also rooted and running MVK.
Trade in - was slick as snot for me. I got the full $300 about 10 days after the 6a arrived. I know some people video tape the trade in phone etc - I did none of that and had no issues.
Fingerprint is working 100% with the 13 upgrade. I was on the 13 standards, then went with the Beta 13 - no issues since both upgrades. It is a tich different feel an the 3a. On the 3a the back sensor was automatic. With the 6a, you kind of "press into" the screen. But it works everytime - perfect now. It's very reliable now for me.
Customization - I'm about the same. Stock Android is pretty great these days and there's not much of a reason to rom like there was 10 years ago. I have root simply to update the kernel. I've had MVK running and the phone can't be any more snappy than it is to be honest. Other than that I'm 100% stock and have no complaints.
GL
Zaxx32 said:
I traded my 4a in for $300 off and a free pair of Pixel Buds a too during the pre-launch sale, so 'all in' my 6a was only $50 so it'd take a LOT to make me regret the 6a. As stated already, yeah it had it's teething period at first like most new phones. Most have been sorted out tho. I don't mind the FP scanner taking a slightly 'paused' touch/release to unlock...I got used to it pretty quick thus it stopped buggin' me as well. Too help w/batt life and tweaking, I rooted and added my favs plus a batt mod or 2. Above all, besides the $300 + Buds...it knowing I have the same CPU under the hood as the P6 Pro...for less than HALF the price and even less out-of-pocket. My only wish is a 6" 90Hz screen vs. the 6.1" @ 60Hz. Here's to hoping the 90Hz o/c tweak makes it's way into the custom kernel releases sooner than later!
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I have a high refresh rate monitor at home + I've used phones that have a high refresh rate display. As much as I love them, it's not a dealbreaker for me, luckily. Sure, the animations and scrolling looks a lot smoother, but at the end of the day, it makes no difference when watching videos or reading articles/browsing Reddit.
mmead1143 said:
Battery life - obviously super specific to each individual's usage, preferences etc. So I'll give you a comparison. On my 3a, a 100% full charge beginning most day's, up at 530a, workout - work etc. I'd come home at 5p at about 35-40% left on the battery. Light usage and I have wifi at the office. With the 6a, the same day I come home at about 45-50%. So it's a tich better. I notice NO performance difference with battery saver mode on (not the extreme version) and for fun, I run the phone with the same daily schedule above - I come home at like 70% battery left and honestly, I see no difference in performance. - Keep in mind I'm also rooted and running MVK.
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Notice any difference between Snapdragon and Tensor SOC? IIRC Tensor is basically just a customized Exynos from Samsung, so both performance and root-wise it should be very similar to Snapdragon, right?
mmead1143 said:
Trade in - was slick as snot for me. I got the full $300 about 10 days after the 6a arrived. I know some people video tape the trade in phone etc - I did none of that and had no issues.
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Making photos and recording a video beforehand didn't cross my mind before smokejumper's comment in this thread. I wouldn't assume Google would want to "rip me off," but I guess it never hurts to record some proof - just in case.
6a gets you security updates at least until July 2027. Your 4a, only until August 2023.
As far as trade-in, sounds like you still get a good deal - when I traded in a couple of 3as a month ago, trade-in credit was $300 ($295 with cracked display). Now it's $200/165 for both 3a and 4a, so it sounds like you currently get a better deal than in the US.
Lada333 said:
Notice any difference between Snapdragon and Tensor SOC? IIRC Tensor is basically just a customized Exynos from Samsung, so both performance and root-wise it should be very similar to Snapdragon, right?
Making photos and recording a video beforehand didn't cross my mind before smokejumper's comment in this thread. I wouldn't assume Google would want to "rip me off," but I guess it never hurts to record some proof - just in case.
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I don't notice any differences in the differing CPUs but honestly - I'm the worst person to ask I don't have the technical know-how to see nuanced advances. So no clue on comparison - but this phone is fast as ****. That's my "professional" opinion haha!
Lada333 said:
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Have you tried to trade your device in with Google before? Can you tell us a bit more about your experience with them?
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It was a first time trade-in to Google for me. The phone I traded in did not boot up correctly (4a5g). It powered on. It factory reset (despite tunefs errors and able to flash it and lock/unlock bootloader) but it would bootloop to fastboot no valid slot to boot. The screen was free of cracks and scratches. It turned on. And factory reset. The back housing had peeling near the camera. The housing had no cracks or scratches. I mailed it off nearly a month ago. And 3.5 weeks or so I got email of stated value. Instead of $300 for a device with no cracks, powers on, and factory reset they gave me $260. They said Display Damage/Major LCD damage.
Now before all this I had read various threads regarding the pixel trade in on reddit and horror stories about other people's experiences. That's where I copied what many people on there had did which was to photograph/video record the phone and its condition prior to shipping it off. I was anticipating Google to screw me over the peeling back housing. But no. They decided to screw me over the Major LCD damage that doesn't exist with blatant video evidence to prove it. So I chatted and emailed them multiple times including pictures and video of the phone. And they come back with "we are unable to alter the amount". "Heres $40 google store credit". Which is useless to me. I'm waiting for another supervisor to get back to me to tell me the same thing and that they will not be able to convert that $40 store credit to back on my CC. Has been such a hassle. Such a scam. It's not the money. It's the principle of the thing. Especially when even Google's own office drones who have seen the video and pictures agreed, otherwise they would not have given me their useless store credit. Yeah I'm bitter.
Coming from a 3a myself, and because your 4a is slightly smaller even than my 3a, the size of the 6a might hit you like it did me. I didn't expect it to make much difference, but the 6a is a 25% weight increase over the 3a & 4a and wearing lighter-weight clothes it still feels like I've got a brick in my pocket. That said, its other features are an improvement. I'm using about 10% more battery per day on average compared to the 3a, but since the 6a's battery is 50% larger it makes a big difference in the time it takes to recharge in the morning (affects my morning routines ). The fingerprint sensor is behaving well now that I've learned how to best use it and I no longer miss the rear sensor.
Overall I'm pleased with it, especially since it cost me a net $150 after the $300 trade-in (which I have yet to see, but that's another thread!).
@smokejumper76 So just to be clear, you sent in a device that didn't boot (display damage possibly, loosely defined) and they gave you $260 for a phone that basically was a door stop. And you are bitter? Now think about the time spent on the phone with tech support and supervisors and email. Do you really think the bitterness is worth your time, principle or not?
And for you and everyone else in this thread having Google issues, next time bring it in to BB and they'll give you credit on the spot. Granted it was $250 not 3 bills but the phone was only $399 not $459. They didn't even charge me and then refund me, it just came right off the purchase price.
bobby janow said:
@smokejumper76 So just to be clear, you sent in a device that didn't boot (display damage possibly, loosely defined) and they gave you $260 for a phone that basically was a door stop. And you are bitter? Now think about the time spent on the phone with tech support and supervisors and email. Do you really think the bitterness is worth your time, principle or not?
And for you and everyone else in this thread having Google issues, next time bring it in to BB and they'll give you credit on the spot. Granted it was $250 not 3 bills but the phone was only $399 not $459. They didn't even charge me and then refund me, it just came right off the purchase price.
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A device not able to boot was not a condition they imposed. A bootable device is completely different from one that powers on. And they went through the trouble to clarify every other aspect of the device including but not limited to the condition of the back housing (no deep scratches or cracks.). They should have had me on the hook for that. Therefore they can't say anything about the housing. Major LCD would constitute something obvious on the display. They said major. Like huge discoloration, smudges, deal pixels,cracks, breaks, something along those lines. And yes it was completely contrary to the device I sent in. So yes, it is worth my time. The world may be damned on what it thinks are important issues (the environment, jobs, if vaginas are owned by the state,etc.), but if we cannot even have honest and fair transactions of the mundane--Russia's nukes are the least of our problems. What can I say. I'm old fashioned. I like to hold people and companies accountable. Even if I "lose" it's a reminder for me, to not trust anyone. What? Am I going to sue them? Of course not. I don't have that right. Maybe if I lauched a car in space or my ancestors owned slaves and I had an estate, maybe. And google knows that--so they can do whatever they F they want. Like most companies. Only if it gets a rich laywer's attention were $$ is involved would anything ever happen. Hell they [companies and banks] run the countries. That's how the world works. Always has. Always will--doesnt matter what color your flag is.
TLTR: It's the whole "catching them in a lie" kind of thing. And not being able to do a damned thing about it. Yeah I know: cry me a river boo hoo.
mike.s said:
6a gets you security updates at least until July 2027. Your 4a, only until August 2023.
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I'm not necessarily concerned about security updates. I'll likely flash a custom ROM waaay before OEM support ceases for the device
rochrunner said:
Coming from a 3a myself, and because your 4a is slightly smaller even than my 3a, the size of the 6a might hit you like it did me. I didn't expect it to make much difference, but the 6a is a 25% weight increase over the 3a & 4a and wearing lighter-weight clothes it still feels like I've got a brick in my pocket. That said, its other features are an improvement. I'm using about 10% more battery per day on average compared to the 3a, but since the 6a's battery is 50% larger it makes a big difference in the time it takes to recharge in the morning (affects my morning routines ). The fingerprint sensor is behaving well now that I've learned how to best use it and I no longer miss the rear sensor.
Overall I'm pleased with it, especially since it cost me a net $150 after the $300 trade-in (which I have yet to see, but that's another thread!).
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I honestly wouldn't mind the extra weight. The 4a is so light, I'm sometimes scared that the wind might blow it out of my hands.
I'm a bit sad to see that the actual device is bigger though. If I hold my 4a in my hand just the right way, I can just about reach across the screen. It truly is a shame that all budget and/or small phones are stupidly huge these days.
Happy to hear that the fingerprint sensor isn't a total flop. That was honestly one of my main concerns.
smokejumper76 said:
It's the whole "catching them in a lie" kind of thing. And not being able to do a damned thing about it.
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I do understand your frustration. I really do.
But would you be okay with receiving $260 instead of $300 if their reasoning for the deduction would've been "The back housing had peeling near the camera"? I assume you would be okay with that, right? It is physical damage. Sure, it is not a crack, by definition, but you can't blame them for not listing every possible means of physical damage that can happen to a phone, can you now?
Lada333 said:
I do understand your frustration. I really do.
But would you be okay with receiving $260 instead of $300 if their reasoning for the deduction would've been "The back housing had peeling near the camera"? I assume you would be okay with that, right? It is physical damage. Sure, it is not a crack, by definition, but you can't blame them for not listing every possible means of physical damage that can happen to a phone, can you now?
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Yes. I would have been ok with that. Granted a $40 reduction is a little harsh for a cheap plastic piece. But if they had actually straight up said that, I feel I would not really have much to say against it. But they did not. Major LCD damage is very broad. They are so specific on their trade-in details page, yet they fail to be specific when it comes to why/what failed the inspection on the traded in device.
Buy a Pixel phone & trade in your old phone for a credit - United States - Google Store Help
When you buy a new Pixel phone, you can get credit when you trade in your old phone through Google Store. Trade-in through Google Store is available in Canada, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and
support.google.com
And the fine print of the trade in makes no mention of anything other than LCD, housing, buttons, powers on, touchscreen, battery (edit see above link), hinges (if applies)...there is a bunch of things the trade in page tells you in detail that must pass inspection (note: nothing about ability to boot into OS is listed as a requirement to pass inspection merely that it powers on, factory reset, and no cracks and display works) and for them to put it under Major LCD damage when there is obviously none. Only air bubble under screen protector which I left on. My situation is exactly what others on various reddit threads about their google trade in experiences. And when I showed the video to google..I mean they would not have given me that store credit if I Iacked any credibility to my accusation. And yes I keep pressing because I know I'm right. And they admitted as such when they said something along lines of "As they found the issue from their end after the inspection"...and issues credit vs CC. And I'm like no. Put it on my card. I'm not buying overpriced/hyped earbuds. So yea. Complete waste of time but dammit I'm right. Otherwise say it was the backing or the LCD had (insert something specific) in the first place and be prepared to prove it. And the video I have which shows a blatent near pristine device (except backing..it had one of those sticky skins which peeled off a small section from back)..no. They are wrong. Does it matter?--No. Whatever right? I'm just laying this all out for others. Take pictures/video of it if you send it in, if you have to fight it out, if one even can.Good luck.
Edit: Technically one could trade in a bricked phone if it powers into rescue/download/EDL/9008 mode since technically it "powers on" and screen not "dark".