Dell Venue Pro Reviews - Venue Pro General

The reviews are coming now that the phone is out, it would be easy for future refrence to have them gathered here.
Pocketnow: http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/dell-venue-pro-review
PROS
+ Windows Phone 7 runs buttery smooth
+ Curved glass display looks and feels great
+ Great battery life
+ Super high build quality with great attention to detail
+ Fantastic hardware keyboard
+ Excellent on-screen keyboard
+ Loud speaker
CONS
- Windows Phone 7 still lacks key features
- Heavy and bulky
- No user-accessible microSD storage
- Keyboard slider can't be used to answer/end calls
- Awkwardly-placed power button
- No HSPA+ for T-Mobile
CONCLUSION
We mentioned early in the review that the slick form factor of the Venue Pro comes at a cost. That cost is size and weight. The phone is a scale-tipping 180 grams. As a frame of reference, the iPhone is 137 grams, and the Nexus S is 129 grams. In terms of size, the phone, with keyboard extended, is about 50% taller than the iPhone, which can be uncomfortable if you're trying to tap onscreen elements while keeping your fingers on the keyboard. Fortunately, the on-screen keyboard of the Venue Pro is one of the best we've ever seen, so it's not neccessary to retract the keyboard but for times when you need to write long messages.
The build quality of the Venue Pro is remarkable, and we hope this is a sign of things to come from Dell. The mixed used of glass, metal, textured plastic, and rubbery plastic makes for a very high-end feel. That, coupled with the weight of the device, and you've got a commanding device that feels ready to do whatever you ask of it.
If you've been waiting for Windows Phone 7 and wouldn't mind the bulk of a heavier device, the Venue Pro might be the phone to get. With an AT&T version passing the FCC, more people may soon have access to this terrific device.
We rate the Venue Pro a 4.5/5.
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# Reserved #

good review. I was also expecting a review like the ones in gsmarena. unfortunely it does not have this device.

PhoneArena has their review up.
Conclusion:
First and foremost, the Dell Venue Pro is one of the most beautifully designed smartphones in recent memory as its unique looking industrial design radiates a sense of polish at every angle. However, its overall performance is mediocre at best in specific categories like battery life, camera quality, and calling quality – and not to mention the gleaming issue we witnessed with signal bars dramatically dropping. Regardless, the Windows Phone 7 experience is no different from everything else out there on the market. And when it's priced at $99 for the 8GB version ($150 for the 16GB one), it's more than a steal when you factor in its impressive set of features. So, if you've bypassed all other Windows Phone 7 devices to date, you'll surely come to appreciate what the Dell Venue Pro has to offer.
PROS
Beautiful and solid design
Usable physical portrait keyboard
Responsive platform
Fairly inexpensive
CONS
Hefty in size & weight
Fluctuating signal strength
Muffled sounding voices
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2 totally opposite views on battery life which is very odd. Then again, battery life is something you should judge over more than a few days so none of them can really be trusted on that point.

Peew971 said:
2 totally opposite views on battery life which is very odd. Then again, battery life is something you should judge over more than a few days so none of them can really be trusted on that point.
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i want someone to have wifi and bluetooth and zune playing all day and see how much battery life you get.

Related

Droid Pro 2 - What would you like to see?

My only guess why the Droid Pro hasn't taken off like it should have is the somewhat low resolution screen that sits recessed in the bezel. HTC screens usually sit nice and flush with the front of the phone and are of higher resolution.
What would you like to see in the Droid Pro 2 that isn't in the Droid Pro?
1. Higher resolution screen
2. Slightly larger screen with less bezel around it
3. Front facing camera
4. Better battery life
I think it does exactly what it has to do, be a business/corporate phone. It is def not a developer phone like many of the HTCs but is pretty good as whats its supposed to be.
Ask yourself, as somebody in an corporate environment would you really need a higher res screen? I give you the longer battery life, but I assume it will spend most time hooked up to a in-car charger or connected to a power-supply at work anyways. You dont really need it a front-facing camera either, I cant think of any application of that in the corporate world..
Btw, it will be a long while till there will be a new Pro 2.. Motorola just announced to offer the Droid Pro as the Motorola Pro in Europe with exactly the same hardware (as far as the news go)...
vivid22 said:
I think it does exactly what it has to do, be a business/corporate phone. It is def not a developer phone like many of the HTCs but is pretty good as whats its supposed to be.
Ask yourself, as somebody in an corporate environment would you really need a higher res screen? I give you the longer battery life, but I assume it will spend most time hooked up to a in-car charger or connected to a power-supply at work anyways. You dont really need it a front-facing camera either, I cant think of any application of that in the corporate world..
Btw, it will be a long while till there will be a new Pro 2.. Motorola just announced to offer the Droid Pro as the Motorola Pro in Europe with exactly the same hardware (as far as the news go)...
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Well by that logic, you don't really need a color screen, a camera, or side volume keys.
Even the screen on the Legend looks better . I'll still be keeping my Droid Pro with its physical keyboard until a better model comes out either from Motorola or HTC.
@Class said:
My only guess why the Droid Pro hasn't taken off like it should have is the somewhat low resolution screen that sits recessed in the bezel. HTC screens usually sit nice and flush with the front of the phone and are of higher resolution.
What would you like to see in the Droid Pro 2 that isn't in the Droid Pro?
1. Higher resolution screen
2. Slightly larger screen with less bezel around it
3. Front facing camera
4. Better battery life
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3.3 inch screen
720x480 resolution
HD video recording
Front facing camera
rafeee2 said:
3.3 inch screen
720x480 resolution (at least!) ++
HD video recording ++
Front facing camera +++
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Yes yes and more yes!
$50 price tag
Definitely agreed on the larger screen with less bezel, providing opportunity for higher resolution.
I'm not so concerned with the front-facing camera or HD video recording, but I certainly wouldn't oppose such improvements
Agreed on battery life
I would also tolerate a taller phone if it meant incorporating some kind of directional keys - be it a four-way rocker, or maybe they could fit a blackberry-style touch pad in the middle of the capacitive android buttons, negating the need for making the phone taller.
So we all agree that the Droid Pro 2 needs a higher resolution screen with less bezel and better battery life.
I don't necessarily see the need for the front facing camera or the HD recording (cell phone cameras aren't going to produce good recordings regardless), but I wouldn't be opposed to those improvements, either.
A higher resolution would be nice, but more importantly, bettery battery life. It would be nice if they included the extended battery instead of the stock one.
Also, I'd love to see the Menu, Home, Back, and Search buttons become hardware buttons, with a directional pad in the middle of them. That's one thing I really miss from my Treo. Hardware buttons would be harder to accidentally hit while typing, would give the phone a more professional feel, and wouldn't necessarily call for a taller phone if the buttons were sized right.
@Class said:
Well by that logic, you don't really need a color screen, a camera, or side volume keys.
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I always thought someone should realease a "true" business android phone. A highly efficient black and white low power screen. scroll wheel. no camera or at least a very basic camera that is optimized for scanning documents and business cards. Huge ass battery. No bloat, just stripped down awesomeness.
There are still many many folks out there using the original blackberrys.
email and battery life are the #1 and #2. Everything else is just gravy. Imagine a business phone that worked globally, woked well for phone calls, had a good keyboard, rock solid email and calendar functionality. dream...
Plus it needs to be thin and small. no business man wants to cary around a giant iPhone. I thought my droid pro would be smaller but its still to big.
Definitely higher res screen, less bezel, better battery life, ffc, dual core processor maybe
I'd like to see automatic dialing implemented so that I can just start typing on the number keys to dial instead of going directly to search. i always search text never numbers so if im inputting numbers it should know to bring up the dialer. this is definitely software scope but to be done right it'd have to be done at the OS level I think.
This should apply to any phone, and especially those marketed as a business phone, but fix the damn exchange email sync....
if/when they provide an update to the current Droid Pro that fixes the corporate exchange push sync lag I will be perfectly happy with my Pro...
personally i don't care for the business functionality. but since it IS a business phone it should have excellent email exchange.
the first thing i'd like is if the 480p video camera was upgraded to 720p. i don't mind 5mpx because i think the photos look good as they are (the samples i've seen online). besides, the iphone's 5mpx is superior to any phone i've seen with the same amount of pixels.
secondly i'd like the battery issue to be fixed. it should be sold with a higher capacity battery to last around a week with general use. it's sad hearing reports of the battery only lasting a few hours before dying completely.
thirdly i'd like a dedicated camera button. while there's probably an app for that, it should come with a convenience key and camera button or the option to switch the convenience key to whatever function i'd like.
fourthly i'd like the option to open the landscape keyboard whenever i hold the options softkey. the droid x does this, and i guess it would be useful if the phone didn't know when to bring the keyboard out. ALSO i'd like default swype on there just in case i wanted to use that keyboard one-handedly. i know most people complain that i should just buy a slideout phone, but honestly i use the portrait keyboard 90% of the time and landscape the other 10%.
fifthly, a higher resolution wouldn't hurt. while i don't mind the subpar quality that the droid pro offers, a lot of people are concerned about the clarity of their screens.
sixthly, i heard the speakerphone was on the back. should be on the front.
seventhly, a brighter led light notification thing
eighthly, a front facing camera might be a nice touch (apparently it's good for business people's phone meetings).
finally, i'd want none of that verizon/motorola bloatware crap. they're out of their minds to think i'd actually pay for cityID or whatever apps they're trying to drain my money of. the phone should come clean with basic necessary apps.
size and screen size is fine as it is. basically all i want is a better camera and a good battery. oh and GINGERBREAD! or the most recent update. the other stuff is just nice extras.
hsy317 said:
secondly i'd like the battery issue to be fixed. it should be sold with a higher capacity battery to last around a week with general use. it's sad hearing reports of the battery only lasting a few hours before dying completely.
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A week? Really? Its a business phone yes, but far from magical.
Im sorry but this made me giggle. It will get a day at best. If you could get past the bootloader the best devs could maybe get you 2 days with a GB rom and decent UV kernal. But a week is asking the impossible, of any android device.
well, i wanted a better battery. 7 days may seem outrageous to you but there are phones that last for weeks before dying and for android phones i'm sure in the future improved batteries will allow the devices to last longer.
The only phones that last a week without dying are dumbphones, and even then, that's only if you don't use them.
freak4dell said:
The only phones that last a week without dying are dumbphones, and even then, that's only if you don't use them.
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Exactly you wont see a week if battery life anytime soon. And if your are looking for long battery life a locked down moto device wasnt the best choice.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
ugh, i'm not arguing with the fact that at best a smartphone only lasts a few days. in the future, i'm SURE smartphones will have battery lives comparable to regular phones.
i can argue with the fact about "dumbphones". i use mine moderately (which is extremely simple) everyday for calling and mostly texting and it lasts me a week. i love it
if you want a realistic answer (because honestly, all the features i listed on the droid pro 2 aren't very realistic considering how the device will prob never exist) i'll just say a solid 2 days. maybe 3.
New way to navigate and select Text!!
Navigating through text is a nightmare using the touch interface. The little magnified version is a bit of a help but its still not a good way to navigate text using a thumb that is half an inch thick to navigate between characters that are millimeters thick. Bad design.
Also not all text is easily selectable. Need to figure out a better way to highlight text in emails (not drafts), webpages, etc.
i would appreciate some call/end buttons. i know most people don't care about that but for me its easy and quick (after all its main functionality should be as a phone). the surrounding 4 soft keys could be placed like those on the acer betouch e210 if there's not enough room.
i think someone said before that they'd like the phone to come up as soon as you dial the number row. or there should be an option to switch from universal search to that generic phone number input regular phones have when you press the number keypad.
hmm. as evanstein has said, its hard to edit mistakes on the touch screen. maybe if they incorporate arrow keys on the side of the space bar (like the sony ericsson xperia x10 mini pro) it would be easier. i wouldn't mind if the pro was a few millimeters wider.
yeah.. i'd really like a droid pro 2. ): anyone hear any word on that yet?

Need buying advice on a new Android device

Hello everyone.
Just skimmed through separate forums for Asus Nexus 7 2013 and LG Optimus G Pro on XDA. I had my eyes set on the Nexus 7 2 tablet considering its big, full HD display, awesome gaming performance and high end battery. However, upon reading about a number of software issues that new Google updates have incurred AND some talk about defective units here on XDA forums (apparently, many have been having serious hardware issues out of the box) I have been made to think twice about purchasing this. I also began thinking that messaging (only using thumb like on a smartphone) in landscape would be a bit of a hassle for such a big screen and the portability might well be an issue.
LG Optimus G Pro, on the other hand, seems to sport the exact same screen quality but a smaller size instead. Do you believe this phone is an excellent alternate to the tablet and that the 5.5 inch screen isn't a BIG difference compared to new Nexus 7's display (considering the screen estate isn't exactly 7 inch with that really thick bezel)? Is the battery better and is the gaming performance and other performance related areas equally excellent in your honest opinion? Finally, do you feel that the build quality is such that makes the phone slip in the hand and that home button feels cheap (as some reviewers say so)? If there are any known issues that I should be aware of, kindly do let me know.
Just so that it's out there, I am looking for a device that is anywhere between 5 and 7 inches, has a FullHD display, sturdy build quality, excellent, lag-free performance, 2GB RAM and really long lasting battery. My primary use with the phone would be to check email, FB, Twitter, read e-books and occasional gaming. I did consider SONY Xperia Z but it seems to have washed out colours and the screen and battery timing is easily trumped by that of LG Optimus G Pro.
So then, enlighten me folks.
WranglerHuss said:
Hello everyone.
Just skimmed through separate forums for Asus Nexus 7 2013 and LG Optimus G Pro on XDA. I had my eyes set on the Nexus 7 2 tablet considering its big, full HD display, awesome gaming performance and high end battery. However, upon reading about a number of software issues that new Google updates have incurred AND some talk about defective units here on XDA forums (apparently, many have been having serious hardware issues out of the box) I have been made to think twice about purchasing this. I also began thinking that messaging (only using thumb like on a smartphone) in landscape would be a bit of a hassle for such a big screen and the portability might well be an issue.
LG Optimus G Pro, on the other hand, seems to sport the exact same screen quality but a smaller size instead. Do you believe this phone is an excellent alternate to the tablet and that the 5.5 inch screen isn't a BIG difference compared to new Nexus 7's display (considering the screen estate isn't exactly 7 inch with that really thick bezel)? Is the battery better and is the gaming performance and other performance related areas equally excellent in your honest opinion? Finally, do you feel that the build quality is such that makes the phone slip in the hand and that home button feels cheap (as some reviewers say so)? If there are any known issues that I should be aware of, kindly do let me know.
Just so that it's out there, I am looking for a device that is anywhere between 5 and 7 inches, has a FullHD display, sturdy build quality, excellent, lag-free performance, 2GB RAM and really long lasting battery. My primary use with the phone would be to check email, FB, Twitter, read e-books and occasional gaming. I did consider SONY Xperia Z but it seems to have washed out colours and the screen and battery timing is easily trumped by that of LG Optimus G Pro.
So then, enlighten me folks.
Click to expand...
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If you are not going to use Calling features more, you can go for the Nexus 7!
Else get a Nexus 5...
For videos, reading, or gaming, the difference between a 7" and a 5.5" diagonal is a lot more than you'd think. It's comparable to the difference between a 3x5 notecard and a mass market paperback.
For me, the N7 2013 is the perfect size. It's thin enough and light enough to easily hold in one hand and it easily fits in my inside jacket pocket
As to reliability, speed, etc, I've never seen the optimus pro, but my N7 is the best android device I've used.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
The N7 will do what you need and more; I use mine for reading and the screen is great. I doubt a smaller screen would work for reading any length of time and the battery life in the smaller devices will suffer from the long screen on time.
The 7" screen is a perfect size as it fits in a pocket easy enough. Its built well; I keep mine in my back pocket frequently, same as with the original N7, and after sitting on it many times (not recommended) it hasn't given me a problem. It's a Nexus so its easy to root and unlock, you can load custom OS and receives OS upgrades quickly. with other devices you have to wait for the OS to be released, then hope the manufacturer is going to upgrade the device, then wait months to get it.
The only other one I'd consider is the Samsung Note with the S-Pen as that looks like it would be useful for taking notes on a job site.
I haven't seen the LG. I have the N5 made by LG and based on that I'd consider their other Android products.
xdhall said:
For videos, reading, or gaming, the difference between a 7" and a 5.5" diagonal is a lot more than you'd think. It's comparable to the difference between a 3x5 notecard and a mass market paperback.
For me, the N7 2013 is the perfect size. It's thin enough and light enough to easily hold in one hand and it easily fits in my inside jacket pocket
As to reliability, speed, etc, I've never seen the optimus pro, but my N7 is the best android device I've used.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
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This. You have to remember, it's the people having problems who are most likely to post those problems, people like me who have never had issues just use it and enjoy it. As for the difference in size, I have an s3 and while it's a great phone and easy to use 1 handed I will go to the 7 inch screen any time I have a chance. Much more user friendly, and if you like playing games there's no comparison at all between the 2 sizes, the bigger screen is just great.
I have the Galaxy Note 2 and the 2013 N7. The Nexus dwarfs the 5.5 inch note! I now only text with the Note, everything else is done with the Nexus. Build, display is just awesome! :good:
5.5" and 7" may sound like they are in a similar league, but they really aren't. The Nexus 7 is large enough to handle everything I want it to (minus excel spreadsheets ), but small enough to travel everywhere with me. I still have my 4.7" Galaxy Nexus, but it looks like a dwarf. A Note 3 I compared it to was better, but that would be still too small for my usage now after having used the Nexus 7 so much.
As for the issues: what the other guys said. The people with problems are the loudest and there are no perfect devices. Make sure to buy from a seller that is known for handling returns well. That goes for everything above 100€ for me.
If you want something between a 5 and 7 inch device then,
For s pen functionality - Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (5.7 inch)
For music and premiumness - HTC One Maxx (5.9 inch)
For the largest phablet in market - Sony Xperia Z Ultra (6.4)
If you want the most portable tablet for a reasonably good price get the N7 2013 of course :good:
I love sharing my opinions/experiences in these types of threads, but everyone else pretty much hit the nail right on the head.
N7.2 is recommended by myself, and pretty much everyone else in this thread. But to add my two cents, get a warranty if you have the money. I got a 2yr warranty on my 16gb from Radio Shack, and it covers EVERYTHING, just as long as the device can still be physically recognized as a N7.2. I ended up returning it after a few days for the 32gb version, because 16gb just isn't enough. And if you intend to playba lot of games, download videos/movies, or put music on it, get the 32gb. Trust me.
And the best thing about the warranty is that the device holds its FULL value for the 2yrs. So I can easily exchange it for a new device and still get the price that I paid deducted from the new device.
_______________________________________
Phone: HTC EVO 4G LTE
Stock, S-On
Tablet: ASUS Nexus 7.2
Rooted, Stock Rom & Kernel

Samsung deleted my review

I posted a review at Samsung.ca for the Tab Pro 8.4.
And of course Samsung deleted it...
The irony was, I gave it 4/5 stars and praised its features. I guess I shouldn't have mentioned any of the minor issues with it.
When manufacturer's provide a space for the public to post a review and then delete those they don't like (and mine was pretty positive), what exactly is the point?
RobilarOCN said:
I posted a review at Samsung.ca for the Tab Pro 8.4.
And of course Samsung deleted it...
The irony was, I gave it 4/5 stars and praised its features. I guess I shouldn't have mentioned any of the minor issues with it.
When manufacturer's provide a space for the public to post a review and then delete those they don't like (and mine was pretty positive), what exactly is the point?
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Click to collapse
They only want super positive?
Why did you knock a star btw?
This is the first Sammy that I would rate 5 stars to.
Goes to show how dishonest Samsung can be. The reviews are not real and are rigged. To me Amazon has the best review system. You have to own and bought the product from their website and they don't filter the negative feedback except profanity.
scrosler said:
They only want super positive?
Why did you knock a star btw?
This is the first Sammy that I would rate 5 stars to.
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Click to collapse
I only decked it a point for a couple of reasons.
Price. To me it's not overpriced but realistically it should be a $300 - $350 range tablet. With the N7 sitting at $250, the LG G Pad sitting at $250 and the Mini Retina sitting at $400, it should have been somewhere in the middle. Don't get me wrong, I have the Mini Retina and much prefer the Samsung but for those who know nothing about tablets (my mother for example), it is very hard to sell against the Mini retina at the same price point. I showed it to my mother and she was asking why it was the same price as the Mini (which I bought her, sigh) was so much nicer...
Also I mentioned battery life compared to the Mini (that's what probably got the review deleted). Battery life is pretty good for an Android tablet (Better for sure than my G Pad) but compared to the Apple tablets, it's about 5 hours short. That's a big delta.
I also mentioned that the black version was not available in Canada. Why would they launch both colors in the US but only give Canada the god awful ugly white version? I hate white tablets and I'm stuck with one.
I also suggested that for the price point, the Tab Pro should have mini HDMI out. There are plenty of much cheaper tablets (like the Dell) that have this feature. This is being touted as a "Pro" device. Why do I have to hunt around for an MHL HDMI adapter (I've already bought and returned 2 that do not work) so that I can connect this device to a display? It would be great for powerpoint decks at clients (which I currently do with a Surface Pro). For $400, this feature should be a no brainer.
Despite the above, they are all minor concerns as I emphasized that it was the best Android tablet I have owned.
I guess I provided too much accurate info...
I think it's pretty obvious why they deleted your review, you mentioned your a Canadian
Sent from my Nexus 10 using XDA Premium HD app in Toronto
I think I'd probably go with a 3.5 for as it comes out of the box, pre loaded with lots of uninstallable crap, iffy/average build quality and poor battery life.
Once the bloat is removed, its a different beast, but then you have no warranty, so 3.5 stars is fair I reckon.
If they did a google play version, on the other hand, it'd be a 4.5 :good:
RobilarOCN said:
Despite the above, they are all minor concerns as I emphasized that it was the best Android tablet I have owned.
I guess I provided too much accurate info...
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Fair enough! I agree with your statements!
Monkey Chops said:
I think I'd probably go with a 3.5 for as it comes out of the box, pre loaded with lots of uninstallable crap, iffy/average build quality and poor battery life.
Once the bloat is removed, its a different beast, but then you have no warranty, so 3.5 stars is fair I reckon.
If they did a google play version, on the other hand, it'd be a 4.5 :good:
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A google play version, black 32GB, would be an instant buy for me (despite already having one).
It's a fantastic tablet, just a few minor things keep it from being perfect.
I also own a Mini Retina 128GB and the battery between the two isn't even close. That is one area that would make a big difference.
If I wrote a review it'd probably never going to be published on Samsung's website so I will do a review here.
I got the 12.2" and used it out for a week now, I would give it a 2.5. The only thing I like about it is the large screen and the clarity of the display. Other then that I too think it's overpriced compared to hundreds of other Android devices out there.
It's heavy and holding it with 2 hands for 30 min my wrist starts to feel uncomfortable. The bloatware is annoying and some of them you can't even be disabled. Of course I could do the root it and delete method it but that would void my warranty. That's a risk I'm not going to take cause I'm not sure if I'm keeping this. There should be a law like in Korea that a user should have the option to remove bloatware easily as they wish.
For a 9500 mAH battery, it sucked bad. Samsung claim you can watch 8 hours of continues movies but the most I've gotten is 3.5 hours. The sound and speaker is horrid because half the video I played has cracking and popping noises in the background. Also some 1080p videos I tested jitters and motion lags at times. For clarification, these videos I tested have no problem playing on my 6 years old MacBook at all. Magazine UI looks cool back in January when they demoed it but once you get to it, it feels incomplete and it is an awful experience. Couldn't remove it either.
Also I got the Black version and it came with an odd white usb cable and charger. Little missed details like that could annoy owners.
The next tablet I'm going to try is the Sony Xperia Z2. In the mean time, this isn't a winner for me so I'm probably going to return it soon. I really tried hard to like this tablet and was anxious when Samsung announce it but it is big let down for me.
NixxonExxo said:
If I wrote a review it'd probably never going to be published on Samsung's website so I will do a review here.
I got the 12.2" and used it out for a week now, I would give it a 2.5. The only thing I like about it is the large screen and the clarity of the display. Other then that I too think it's overpriced compared to hundreds of other Android devices out there.
It's heavy and holding it with 2 hands for 30 min my wrist starts to feel uncomfortable. The bloatware is annoying and some of them you can't even be disabled. Of course I could do the root it and delete method it but that would void my warranty. That's a risk I'm not going to take cause I'm not sure if I'm keeping this. There should be a law like in Korea that a user should have the option to remove bloatware easily as they wish.
For a 9500 mAH battery, it sucked bad. Samsung claim you can watch 8 hours of continues movies but the most I've gotten is 3.5 hours. The sound and speaker is horrid because half the video I played has cracking and popping noises in the background. Also some 1080p videos I tested jitters and motion lags at times. For clarification, these videos I tested have no problem playing on my 6 years old MacBook at all. Magazine UI looks cool back in January when they demoed it but once you get to it, it feels incomplete and it is an awful experience. Couldn't remove it either.
Also I got the Black version and it came with an odd white usb cable and charger. Little missed details like that could annoy owners.
The next tablet I'm going to try is the Sony Xperia Z2. In the mean time, this isn't a winner for me so I'm probably going to return it soon. I really tried hard to like this tablet and was anxious when Samsung announce it but it is big let down for me.
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Click to collapse
You raise some good points.However, you can't really complain about the size and weight. It is thinner and lighter than anything else in its size class. If it's too heavy, you should have bought a smaller tablet. I mean, how can you complain about the weight when you chose that size? The 10.1 Pro weighs almost 300 grams less.
I am surprised at your battery results. The 8.4 is good for about 7 hours of video (I've tested it several times on flights). I expected the bigger versions to be better given the higher rated battery.
RobilarOCN said:
You raise some good points.However, you can't really complain about the size and weight. It is thinner and lighter than anything else in its size class. If it's too heavy, you should have bought a smaller tablet. I mean, how can you complain about the weight when you chose that size? The 10.1 Pro weighs almost 300 grams less.
I am surprised at your battery results. The 8.4 is good for about 7 hours of video (I've tested it several times on flights). I expected the bigger versions to be better given the higher rated battery.
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Click to collapse
I'm not complaining about size, it's perfect and I enjoy the large screen estate. I'm complaining about the weight. It feels super light when you carry it around but supporting it long term with your wrists are two different things. Maybe I will wait for the 2nd or 3rd generation to see if Samsung improves the weight and hopefully to be under 1 pound is ideal.
My battery result is what it is. I have it on auto brightness and it's not even that bright at all. The videos I played are standard avi, 720p and 1080p.
RobilarOCN said:
You raise some good points.However, you can't really complain about the size and weight. It is thinner and lighter than anything else in its size class. If it's too heavy, you should have bought a smaller tablet. I mean, how can you complain about the weight when you chose that size? The 10.1 Pro weighs almost 300 grams less.
I am surprised at your battery results. The 8.4 is good for about 7 hours of video (I've tested it several times on flights). I expected the bigger versions to be better given the higher rated battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bigger screen easily offsets the bigger battery compares to 8.4, because (in normal cases) the screen is always the biggest consumer of battery, the size of the screen is huge on 12.2, so I'm not surprised by the poor battery life it has.
RobilarOCN said:
You raise some good points.However, you can't really complain about the size and weight. It is thinner and lighter than anything else in its size class. If it's too heavy, you should have bought a smaller tablet. I mean, how can you complain about the weight when you chose that size? The 10.1 Pro weighs almost 300 grams less.
I am surprised at your battery results. The 8.4 is good for about 7 hours of video (I've tested it several times on flights). I expected the bigger versions to be better given the higher rated battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree 100% with everything nixxon said about the 12.2, I got it a few days ago and will be returning it soon.
The screen is gorgeous but it sucks battery like crazy even on low brightness, also the weight becomes uncomfortable quickly when you rest it on your chest (ie reading in bed).
The weight issue is tricky because I have laptops which are heavier but still comfortable to use in bed, what makes the 12.2 so uncomfortable is that all its weight gets exerted on a small area of your body vs a laptop where it's more spread out.
CPU bound tasks seem very quick but graphics intensive tasks feel sluggish compared to my note 10.1, I'm sure that could be improved with an optimized kernel/rom.
Still on the fence over whether to trade for a note pro 10.1 or wait for something else
sefstrat said:
Still on the fence over whether to trade for a note pro 10.1 or wait for something else
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh boy, when it comes to Samsung software, waiting is the most traitorous thing ever. They have a very poor track record of OS and in house apps update ever. Take for example, the Note 10.1 2014 edition has been out since October, has the exact same identical internal spec as the Note pro 12.2 and it hasn't gotten the latest KitKat upgrade yet. They could have easily and inexpensively take the Note Pro 12.2 software and tweak it to work on the Note 10.1 but they still haven't done so.
Samsung doesn't take care of their customers after. They just want to make a quick buck on the hardware moving forward. They don't look back on supporting older devices because it's not profitable.
Haw dare you impede on Samsung's marketing scheme! Shame on you. Aren't you aware their devices are immaculate and faultless in every way?
Those looking at 10 inch you might want to wait for the SM T800.

Honest opinions please; tell me about your experience!

Hey friends in the sub $300 range!
I'm shopping around for a new device. Currently I'm using an Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 5.5" -- it has served me well (very well) since November 2015. Unfortunately the battery seems to be failing, so it seems the time has come for me to replace my precious. I'm actually in the sub $250 range, trying VERY HARD to not go over (which is why I'm considering the Axon 7 Mini and not the full-featured Axon 7).
I've been looking at all different phones for a couple days now and I'm stuck. I'm really drawn toward the Axon 7 Mini but from the reviews I've been reading the word is that it's just not that great for a $299 phone. Is it great for a $199 phone? Should I pay the extra $50 and get the Honor 6X (which I'm shying away from because of its overall durability -- yes, yes, I know to put a screen protector and case on it but it's the what ifs that get me), or do you think I'll be satisfied with the Axon 7 Mini? Normally I wouldn't hesitate to get a phone like this because I'm no stranger to the world of root and custom ROMs, and I know the dev community is stellar in making a stuttery device smooth like butter, but I see there hasn't been much luck with this one. I feel like my Idol (and Galaxy SIII before it) have spoiled me. Both devices just WORKED. They do and did what I needed them to do with minimal fuss and absolutely no worry about installing a custom ROM. Is the 7 Mini one of those phones that you just keep saying to yourself "I know CM would vastly improve my experience with this phone"?
Or should I give up on both phones and hope my Idol lasts a bit longer to see if I can get a really fantastic deal on the full featured Axon 7?
Probably should clarify: I am not by any means a heavy user. I may have a couple apps open at the same time, but I'm not running demanding games or social media apps (unless you count Snapchat as demanding; the Idol cannot handle Snapchat for some reason and it drives me nuts).
the word is that it's just not that great for a $299 phone. Is it great for a $199 phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It depends on what you are looking for. The main reason why the reviews have been complaining is the somewhat weak CPU.
As someone who does not play 3D games on a phone, the performance has been absolutely fine for me.
Just going by the rest of the specs, it is hard to find anything that compares (without heavy compromises) at a $199 price point.
Should I pay the extra $50 and get the Honor 6X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hard to tell for me honestly. Just comparing the specs, the Axon has an AMOLED screen and better sound, while the Honor should have better battery life.
I'd go by what features you prefer. (more on that further down)
Is the 7 Mini one of those phones that you just keep saying to yourself "I know CM would vastly improve my experience with this phone"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Vastly improved? Not really. Somewhat improved? Definitely yes.
The stock system is not bad, but it has some quirks going against it. (somewhat questionable power management, bad stock UI)
If the Android N update goes well, I don't see that much need for a custom rom. It would of course be great to have, but it's not a deal breaker for me.
Overall pros/cons:
pro:
- beautiful display
- outstanding sound (both speakers and headphones)
- quick charge works very well
subjective pros:
- metal case
- usb type c
- overall great hardware design
meh:
- mediocre battery life (will get you through the day just fine, don't expect anything beyond)
- mediocre performance (will perform everyday tasks just fine, you won't be happy if you want to play demanding games though)
- mediocre camera (I don't really use it, but the pictures are unimpressive)
- updates happen every once in a blue moon, but they do happen
cons:
- no root
- no custom roms
- battery can't be swapped
- bad default UI (just using a different launcher will vastly improve your experience with the phone)
d3cay said:
Aight! Summed up nicely, the screen is actually very qualitative although the UI is a bit messy.. Right, nova or evie launcher change this to the good, honestly this is the phone I'm the most satisfacted with, didn't expect a timeless piece like this, woah! The Nubia Z17 Mini is also very nice!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=is.shortcut
http://www.nubia.com/en/presscenter.php?a=showArticleDetail&id=14
http://m.gsmarena.com/zte_nubia_z17_mini-8615.php
Check these links, nubia 17, better photography (although dslr is the queen) idk yet about the audio chip, will share it if you like. Although on 28nm, 652/653 is a nice improvement!
Screen looks great quality too!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came to the mini 7 from a broken Galaxy S6 ($300 to repair it so I figured I'd look at a newer phone). Now that I've got the performance improved (via a soft reset), I'm generally happy with the phone. Admittedly, my S6 was starting to get slow too, it probably also need a reset or cache cleared.
I bought the mini for $199. I think for that price it's a pretty decent phone.
Robnw
The Mini is easy to get for $199, most Best Buy stores stock both colors for that price (they are quite plentiful in the Minneapolis area at least)... For $199 if you don't need Verizon or other CDMA support, it's a pretty solid device.
- The display is beautiful and the sound is something you don't expect for a phone under $500.
- Performance is good for everything but heavy gaming.
- Battery is decent, pretty easy to get a full day with 4.5-5 hours SOT average in mixed LTE/WiFi
- Camera is pretty good and quick, I'll take it over my Moto X Pure edition's 21MP camera any day
- It is a very "premium" feeling phone
- The fingerprint reader is sometimes questionable (my son quite using it because it was so inconsistent, but last few updates it's better)
- MiFavor, the UI, is really disappointing and tries to be too Applish with no app drawer. And there is no usable battery stats in settings?!?!
The custom ROM and root thing is less and less important all the time, personally I don't think it will effect my next decision to get a phone at all. I'm with the previous poster CM might make it a little better, but the stock ROM isn't bad all and it wouldn't make it "amazing" or anything like that.
Add Nova Launcher and GSAM as your first installed apps and it's a good buy at $199, but if it's at $250-$300 I would skip it and get a Moto G5 Plus.
As far as the Honor phones go, I can't stand EMUI... the software ruins what would be an otherwise decent phone. Honor devices are solid hardware, but the software ruins it especially it actively prevents you replacing the launcher or using some other customizations, it's unfortunate they didn't stay with a more simple UI or even stockish Android, they would be a real consideration then.
d3cay said:
meh:
- mediocre camera (I don't really use it, but the pictures are unimpressive)
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Actually the camera is very good! Check my instagram @zteaxon7mini and get impressed by its results
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
acejavelin said:
As far as the Honor phones go, I can't stand EMUI... the software ruins what would be an otherwise decent phone. Honor devices are solid hardware, but the software ruins it especially it actively prevents you replacing the launcher or using some other customizations, it's unfortunate they didn't stay with a more simple UI or even stockish Android, they would be a real consideration then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wanted to say that with EMUi 5.0, their skin has gotten a lot better. And the Honor 6X is getting it in Q2 this year. Also they don't make it difficult to replace the launcher or anything like that. Got an Honor phone for my Mom and girlfriend and I easily got them on Nova Launcher, Android Messages, Gmail, and even the Google phone app (an older version).
In regards to OP, the Honor 6X does seem like an all around better phone, if you can stand their skin. The performance seems to be better (going by reviews), battery life seems to be better, screen quality seems to be similar. I know the Axon is AMOLED and the Honor is IPS LCD, but all of the reviews (and my in person opinion) state that it is a very capable screen, especially for the price. The Axon does have great audio quality, but the Honor seems to have better performance and battery life. The design of the two is quite similar in that it's mostly aluminum with some glass. Also the Honor is currently on a flash sale for the next few days at $220 on Honor's website. So I definitely think it's up to you, but there's another opinion for ya!

Overall love

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Nokia 8, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Nokia 8 is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
Got the phone yesterday and what can I say, it's an amazing phone.
Great to hold, the screen is world class, the camera's are fast and produce quality photo's even in low light.
The speed is amazing.
As for updates, it's had one already.
Highly recommended.
I've had the update just show up now - im installing it as we speak.
What are you comparing it to?
Great phone, but no native gallery or music apps? Ok, it is a pure android but still...
thETImo said:
Great phone, but no native gallery or music apps? Ok, it is a pure android but still...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Photos and Google Play Music.. Photos wants to upload everything to cloud, you can say no or just upload it if you are ok with cloud. Haven't checked if you get unlimited Google Photos space with this like you get with Nexus. Google Play Music will automatically add stuff you put into Music folder in the phone. Tested with few .flac files and they automatically appeared in Play Music.
Nokia 8
Pros :
Build quality
Display.. The best in price segment
Processor and and no lag at all
Pricing
Brand image
Doesn't get heated even after heavy usage
Cons:
Camera app
May be design is not 2017 model
One thing worried me from the reviews and that was the accuracy and speed of the fingerprint sensor which was supposed to be poor. Coming from an HTC 10 with an excellent sensor I was concerned. I've been glad to find the review opinions is absolute hogwash. The Nokia sensor is every bit as accurate and fast as you'd expect it to be in a flagship.
Really want to get the Nokia 8, can someone coming from the Galaxy S6 tell me two things
1. How does the camera compare to the S6
2. In the Galaxy s6 there is a private mode where some notes and pictures are hidden from view. Is there a similar facility in the Nokia 8, not interested in a different app for this.
mitchst2 said:
One thing worried me from the reviews and that was the accuracy and speed of the fingerprint sensor which was supposed to be poor. Coming from an HTC 10 with an excellent sensor I was concerned. I've been glad to find the review opinions is absolute hogwash. The Nokia sensor is every bit as accurate and fast as you'd expect it to be in a flagship.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have both HTC10 and N8 and fingerprint sensor on HTC is a bit faster and snapier.
As for my personal opinion about N8:
Superb build quality and overall specs. Camera is a bit dated but we will see what will upcoming updates bring. Pure android experience after coming from device like HTC M7, 10 is really meeeh. Lack of configuration, stock apps are just really simple. No weather app preinstalled. Google calendar is a complete **** as far as UI goes comparing to aftermarket solutions. Stock google dialer and contacts are also unimpressive.
Stock N8 launcher is also meh so I bought Nova couple of minutes after playing with the phone.
Hidden option to show percentage batter is a joke, you need to have magnifying glass to see the values *inside* the battery icon, lol.
So far the biggest drawback is lack of screen color calibration and night mode. This should be included in any moder phone. N8 screen should be a little warmer.
Overall I am really happy with this phone and my family member is happy even more. She can get used to all things that I consider drawbacks. If it would not be for a lack of out of the box config options I would actualy rate N8 higher that my beloved HTC10 which I consider one of the best devices ever made for my personal preferences like build quality, finger sensor on the front and hardware buttons below the screen.
cavist said:
I have both HTC10 and N8 and fingerprint sensor on HTC is a bit faster and snapier.
As for my personal opinion about N8:
Superb build quality and overall specs. Camera is a bit dated but we will see what will upcoming updates bring. Pure android experience after coming from device like HTC M7, 10 is really meeeh. Lack of configuration, stock apps are just really simple. No weather app preinstalled. Google calendar is a complete **** as far as UI goes comparing to aftermarket solutions. Stock google dialer and contacts are also unimpressive.
Stock N8 launcher is also meh so I bought Nova couple of minutes after playing with the phone.
Hidden option to show percentage batter is a joke, you need to have magnifying glass to see the values *inside* the battery icon, lol.
So far the biggest drawback is lack of screen color calibration and night mode. This should be included in any moder phone. N8 screen should be a little warmer.
Overall I am really happy with this phone and my family member is happy even more. She can get used to all things that I consider drawbacks. If it would not be for a lack of out of the box config options I would actualy rate N8 higher that my beloved HTC10 which I consider one of the best devices ever made for my personal preferences like build quality, finger sensor on the front and hardware buttons below the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm the opposite I prefer the pure experience. On both HTC one and 10 I ran stockish custom ROMs to keep os up to date because let's face HTC didn't. That's my hope for Nokia that maybe just maybe I won't need to do that.
I never bothered with updating every month since I was and still am running custom roms on my HTC10 and previous devices so I just wait patiently for new update and switch every 2-3 update. I think if I would run stock, for me it would be enough to have only one update before switching to new Android version. I really do not care about the monthly security updates just because I am ignorant and do not feel compromised. Having phone memory and storage encrypted + password locked device on boot and lockscreen is enough security. So I do not bash HTC for being slow and lazy with updates.
But I completely understand people, who would want to have updates as often as possible and that is why Nokia is a better choice. It is faster to update stock android rather than branded one like with HTC and optional carrier branding.
cavist said:
I never bothered with updating every month since I was and still am running custom roms on my HTC10 and previous devices so I just wait patiently for new update and switch every 2-3 update. I think if I would run stock, for me it would be enough to have only one update before switching to new Android version. I really do not care about the monthly security updates just because I am ignorant and do not feel compromised. Having phone memory and storage encrypted + password locked device on boot and lockscreen is enough security. So I do not bash HTC for being slow and lazy with updates.
But I completely understand people, who would want to have updates as often as possible and that is why Nokia is a better choice. It is faster to update stock android rather than branded one like with HTC and optional carrier branding.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my opinion HTC needed to commit to the monthly updates. For me being stuck on June update in November on last year's flagship was the last straw. Too many major security flaws in that period being left unpatched. HTC themselves made a point of being near stock for fast updates then failed to deliver. Google will eventually take over fully.
I've had the phone for 2 days. My first powerful Android phone, upgrading from BB bold 9000. So I might be biased. The overall experience is good.
So in the UK the Nokia 8 was £400, absolute bargain for a phone with THAT processor and THAT screen. But Nokia was still an unknown quantity with android. In the end I decided to buy the Nokia 8 with a 14 day exchange policy. It was too good of a price to pass over and I ain't letting Samsung and iPhone rob me for £600 plus.
The best thing is the pure stock android and overall performance it really is as fast as any android phone except the Pixel 2. Battery was good enough; you have to consider that there's that 2k screen. The 2k screen looks great for an LCD although there's really no need for 2k if it's at the expense of battery life. But yeah the pros of this phone are definitely the screen quality and performance.
On to the bad stuff. First thing I didn't like are the dimensions of the phone; I've used bigger phones but this doesn't feel right in the hand, too wide for the height imo. Next thing is the camera, I don't care for the extra stuff I just want a good point and shoot camera; this phone sucks in that regard. Really slow and really underwhelming quality considering how it was marketed. Next, the fingerprint sensor. It's just too small and it led to it misreading enough to become frustrating. Even when it reads my fingerprint it unlocks much slower than the competition. This the deal breaker for me. The quick glance screen was very basic, only showed text and call notifications no WhatsApp notifications I dunno it just annoyed me.
In the end I returned the phone and paid 100 extra to get the Pixel 2, absolutely outstanding phone but that's for another review.
To conclude the Nokia 8 is a very underrated phone and provides great value for money. But I wanted a phone that I can use for the next 2-3 years without frustration and Nokia just didn't do it for me.
junaidmatlub1 said:
So in the UK the Nokia 8 was £400, absolute bargain for a phone with THAT processor and THAT screen. But Nokia was still an unknown quantity with android. In the end I decided to buy the Nokia 8 with a 14 day exchange policy. It was too good of a price to pass over and I ain't letting Samsung and iPhone rob me for £600 plus.
The best thing is the pure stock android and overall performance it really is as fast as any android phone except the Pixel 2. Battery was good enough; you have to consider that there's that 2k screen. The 2k screen looks great for an LCD although there's really no need for 2k if it's at the expense of battery life. But yeah the pros of this phone are definitely the screen quality and performance.
On to the bad stuff. First thing I didn't like are the dimensions of the phone; I've used bigger phones but this doesn't feel right in the hand, too wide for the height imo. Next thing is the camera, I don't care for the extra stuff I just want a good point and shoot camera; this phone sucks in that regard. Really slow and really underwhelming quality considering how it was marketed. Next, the fingerprint sensor. It's just too small and it led to it misreading enough to become frustrating. Even when it reads my fingerprint it unlocks much slower than the competition. This the deal breaker for me. The quick glance screen was very basic, only showed text and call notifications no WhatsApp notifications I dunno it just annoyed me.
In the end I returned the phone and paid 100 extra to get the Pixel 2, absolutely outstanding phone but that's for another review.
To conclude the Nokia 8 is a very underrated phone and provides great value for money. But I wanted a phone that I can use for the next 2-3 years without frustration and Nokia just didn't do it for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Finger print sensor snappier after 8.1 and also i never faced any misreading. This was very strange problem you faced
Sent from my TA-1012 using XDA Labs
Toedwarrior said:
Finger print sensor snappier after 8.1 and also i never faced any misreading. This was very strange problem you faced
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had loads of misreading issues on 8.0.
8.1 fixed it.
Also, as you saying. Fingerprint sensor is twice faster on 8.1 beta.
I'm considering buying another Nokia 8 that's how much I like this phone
Pros
The display is amazing for LCD + no AMOLED burn in
Speaker is louder than my iPhone 7 plus
Battery is good
Stock android 8.1
Smooth/fluidity/fast
Price
Daytime pictures
Headphone jack
Micro SD card
Cons
Lowlight pictures
Fingerprint sensor location and odd shape/size
Vibration/haptic isn't that strong
Shape of phone (it's not so fun to hold vs say my moto g5 plus) awkward shape
Back metal doesn't feel like metal, more like plastic
Great great phone. And yes you can tell the difference between 1080p and 1440p. Even at a distance. Try changing the resolution to 1080p in adb using same way with xz premium to 4k, you will notice the fuzz from 1080p to 1440p
its a great phone when it was locked and without root, now that mine is rooted, lets see what it can do !
The fact you can get this now from carphone warehouse here in the UK for £300, like I did on Monday, is unbelievable. The absolutely blows anything else for that price and up to the OnePlus 5 out of the water. I haven't been this happy with a device in a long time and in 2017 I had a lot of devices. It's only £70 more than the Moto G5s plus. There's no contest.

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