KF HD Screen wins the 7" tablet shootout - 7" Kindle Fire HD General

http://www.displaymate.com/iPad_mini_ShootOut_1.htm#Conclusion
Our Overall Assessments based on all criteria
Current Overall Display Grade
Kindle Fire HD A–
Nexus 7 B–
iPad mini B
:good::good::good:

I guess we have to win at something.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using XDA Premium HD app

We win at lots ... hdmi out, screen quality, audio quality, wifi.
We lose at not vanilla android .. yet, and slower processor than the Tegra 3.

I spent ages looking at the Kindle Fire HD reviews and finally decided to take the plunge and buy one. I'm quite impressed with it overall, especially for the price. I've got most of the Google apps working and the only thing I'm unsure about is the screen which I thought would be better in regards to viewing angles. Mine seems to have quite a large variation in brightness when moving the tablet just a few degrees in any direction. Is this normal?

chockimon said:
I spent ages looking at the Kindle Fire HD reviews and finally decided to take the plunge and buy one. I'm quite impressed with it overall, especially for the price. I've got most of the Google apps working and the only thing I'm unsure about is the screen which I thought would be better in regards to viewing angles. Mine seems to have quite a large variation in brightness when moving the tablet just a few degrees in any direction. Is this normal?
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Can't say that I have a problem with mine. What sort of angles are you moving it through ?

That was amongst what was tested.
New leader in the clubhouse now is the nook hd. Superb!

As someone that owns both the Kindle Fire HD, and a Nexus 7, the only thing I find to be superior on the Fire is the sound quality from the speakers.
Judging screen quality on displays that boast the same specs becomes highly subjective. Personally, I can't see really any difference in quality when viewing HD content.
If I had to choose between keeping one and selling the other, I'd keep the Nexus 7.
Luckily, I don't have to make that choice.

Related

Thinking of buying a nexus 7

So I'm thinking of buying a nexus 7 for school but I would like to hear some opinions from the people who own it.does it have many bugs? I am quite into android so I am going root it/install rooms so hows the development on it?
Sent from my LG-P920 using xda premium
I use mine for school book text. Works great nut a 10 inch screen would be better for reading.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
no bugs. none that i experience with stock (only spend 2 hours in stock, straight root after that), there are some bugs in certain custom rom but nothing dealbreaking or annoying. The UI is the smoothest ever from android and you will love it.
I am also thinking about buying it or the Asus tf300 or not.
Is there any problem while using the 7" tablet for the school? Or a 10" tablet us better?
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Z715e using xda app-developers app
Its a great all around device. Reviews have been mostly positive but you have to use it to see for yourself. As for me, I love the thing lol. Use it for notes and emails. For school it works great. Gaming is great when I get a chance do get my gaming fix! Media usage is superb and I can't complain one bit about it. I have had no issues with the screen defect that has been reported by some. Screen is a tad washed out when comparing it to my one x but the one x is the best screen in the market in my opinion at least. For what that is worth. (Nothing) lol. Size wise I find it perfect for school and everything else. I use the new iPad at work everyday because it was provided by the company( I have to, not that I want to lol) and I just prefer a 7 inch form factor. Overall I'm super pleased with it and would recommend it to anyone who asks. School, games,media and with it being an android device, there is not really anything you can't do on this tablet. (Within reason lol)
Sent from my Nexus 7
Saenzscene said:
Its a great all around device. Reviews have been mostly positive but you have to use it to see for yourself. As for me, I love the thing lol. Use it for notes and emails. For school it works great. Gaming is great when I get a chance do get my gaming fix! Media usage is superb and I can't complain one bit about it. I have had no issues with the screen defect that has been reported by some. Screen is a tad washed out when comparing it to my one x but the one x is the best screen in the market in my opinion at least. For what that is worth. (Nothing) lol. Size wise I find it perfect for school and everything else. I use the new iPad at work everyday because it was provided by the company( I have to, not that I want to lol) and I just prefer a 7 inch form factor. Overall I'm super pleased with it and would recommend it to anyone who asks. School, games,media and with it being an android device, there is not really anything you can't do on this tablet. (Within reason lol)
Sent from my Nexus 7
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Is it really good performance for playing games? I heard some games aren't have a good performance
No any complain about the nexus 7 ?
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Z715e using xda app-developers app
I was actually thinking of buying the nexus 7 also. However, it's completely sold out everywhere and have no idea when these places are getting a new batch... I also wanted to wait until they get the imperfections out of the way and it's a good solid device with no hardware defects. Anyone who bought the first wave, is there any hardware problems you notice? I heard alot about the screen popping out a little
Buy one ASAP! The best tablet on the market right now. Can't best the price point and the power you get(Tegra3). Plus its running jelllybean. Then if you into rooting, unlocking, flashing custom roms & kernels, then nexus 7 is where its at. Android tablet scene doesn't get any hotter/more popular than nexus7 right now. Battery life great also. IT has a great display and very light.
Stop the contimplating. GET IT NOW! lol
I am comparing the nexus7 and samsung galaxy 7.7(P6810), seems P6810 has good monitor and size(7.7 inch ) and nexus7 has better CPU and stock JB OS. Could anyone tell me which one is better?
rankman2004 said:
I am comparing the nexus7 and samsung galaxy 7.7(P6810), seems P6810 has good monitor and size(7.7 inch ) and nexus7 has better CPU and stock JB OS. Could anyone tell me which one is better?
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Nexus 7 better all around. Plus for the price, the 7.7 not worth it compared to what you getting with the nexus 7. Nexus 7 has a great display also. It may not be Amoled but its high quality ips with 720p resolution and the colors won't be oversaturated and cartoonish looking like on Amoled. Pound for pound, nothing beats the nexus 7. Especially another tablet in similar size range. Nothing comes close. Nexus7 leads all the benchmarks right now. Plus we have sick developement. All the best custom roms and kernels. All the hard hitting developers have one and developing for nexus 7. Or if not, they already said they planning on it.
well, when ipad2 and 3 came out, plenty of problems, battery, eat, screen ....
second batch is corrected.
so if you buy it now, i think u will get a second batch, people getting model in july, got less lucky, i think models coming in august and beyond will have a better rate of non defective units.
view the number of defectives units reported by asus, they have figured out what to look at before units go into their box.
stil li think there is less 1% chance that your item got some defects. view the millions already sold, and people telling to purchase it with blind eyes.
Well i was looking at getting one but wanted to sell my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 first. But after getting to see it today and mess with it some i came straight home and got on the play store and ordered one. Can't wait until it gets here, i guess in the mean time i will just have to try and sell my other tablet. Haha.
Very nice device. It makes an excellent e-reader which pretty much was the difference for me.

N10 or N7????

I will be getting a Nexus tablet this Xmas, it will either be 32gb N7 or 16gb N10.
I'm very torn to which I should go for.
I currently have an iPad and I'm happy to be leaving IOS but I'm not sure how I'd 7" display on the N7.
My gut feeling is N7 due to the size but I'm not sure due to the size!!!
I know indecisive but that why I'm asking for your opinions.
Thank you in advance.
Sent from my HTC Sensation mEMBER's Choice using xda premium
I also have a iPad and going to transfer over to the N10.. I believe you have to think about what you going to do with the device the N7 is more portable to take on the road with you .
One thing I've in the past is that once you have a large screen and you've gotten used to it if you go to a smaller screen it will feel inadequate and "too small".
I owned a Nexus One before buying the Galaxy Nexus and when I went to use my N1 again just to factory reset it, it felt like a toy.
I would say get the Nexus 10 since you were on the iPad. You'll be very much satisfied I hope! I know I'm getting the N10!
Glennfoot said:
I will be getting a Nexus tablet this Xmas, it will either be 32gb N7 or 16gb N10.
I'm very torn to which I should go for.
I currently have an iPad and I'm happy to be leaving IOS but I'm not sure how I'd 7" display on the N7.
My gut feeling is N7 due to the size but I'm not sure due to the size!!!
I know indecisive but that why I'm asking for your opinions.
Thank you in advance.
Sent from my HTC Sensation mEMBER's Choice using xda premium
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Well the one advantage is that the 7 is sold in most tech stores, Currys/PC World, Comet (well for a while!) even tesco's sell it over the counter so go have a look at it, they are normally right next to the ipad so you can compare,
MikeBuck said:
Well the one advantage is that the 7 is sold in most tech stores, Currys/PC World, Comet (well for a while!) even tesco's sell it over the counter so go have a look at it, they are normally right next to the ipad so you can compare,
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Yep I've been in to those to have a good hands on feel, and I'm impressed. Is the N10 going to stores or is direct from Google only?
Sent from my HTC Sensation mEMBER's Choice using xda premium
Glennfoot said:
Yep I've been in to those to have a good hands on feel, and I'm impressed. Is the N10 going to stores or is direct from Google only?
Sent from my HTC Sensation mEMBER's Choice using xda premium
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I heard it will be sold by WalMart, best buy, office depot and stores like that on the 14th.
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shimp208 said:
I heard it will be sold by WalMart, best buy, office depot and stores like that on the 14th.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
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I'm in the UK so not sure where it will be stocked here.
Sent from my HTC Sensation mEMBER's Choice using xda premium
I think you are right on with the size of the N7 being one of its biggest advantages and also one its biggest disadvantages.
The cost is also something to consider, as N10 is twice as expensive as the N7.
My gf and I have a N7, also a (1G) ipad. For home use, I find the size of the ipad better. Even on the go, the screen size on the N7 is a nice step up from a phone. However, if you are like me and will always have a phone on you, the N7 for what I need to do isn't worth hauling around. The N7 is "more portable" then the N10 or iPad, but both devices can often be a pain to haul around anyway. The iPad's screen size however makes a big difference. I think I remember calculating that my GN had about half the screen area of the N7, and the N7 had about half the screen area of the iPad.
Also, the screen quality on the N7 is solid, but the screen on the N10 will obviously look much better, and will be twice as big.
In my opinion, I would go with the N10. Since you came from using the ipad, I think you would miss the size.
drcujo said:
I think you are right on with the size of the N7 being one of its biggest advantages and also one its biggest disadvantages.
The cost is also something to consider, as N10 is twice as expensive as the N7.
My gf and I have a N7, also a (1G) ipad. For home use, I find the size of the ipad better. Even on the go, the screen size on the N7 is a nice step up from a phone. However, if you are like me and will always have a phone on you, the N7 for what I need to do isn't worth hauling around. The N7 is "more portable" then the N10 or iPad, but both devices can often be a pain to haul around anyway. The iPad's screen size however makes a big difference. I think I remember calculating that my GN had about half the screen area of the N7, and the N7 had about half the screen area of the iPad.
Also, the screen quality on the N7 is solid, but the screen on the N10 will obviously look much better, and will be twice as big.
In my opinion, I would go with the N10. Since you came from using the ipad, I think you would miss the size.
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That's awesome feedback, real world application, which is the most important. I'm thinking that if I was getting my 1st tablet then it would be a N7 but as I'm replacing an iPad then it will have to be the N10.
Sent from my HTC Sensation mEMBER's Choice using xda premium
Finally made my decision, N10 is on its way, had confirmation of shipping last night.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium
I'm having a similar decision problem. Being a college student I'm always on the go and thought that the nexus 7 is for me. My problem is the size of my phone. The HTC EVO 4g LTE is pretty mondo sized (4.7in) and I'm trying to decide if I should just skip the 7 completely. Another problem is the price difference and practicality.
I read a lot of PDFs (take notes from them as well), and watch a lot of YouTube lectures. I've been looking around for the 10 just so I can get a hands-on experience and comparison, but can never find a demo.
Thanks so much for the help so far on this thread! :good:
dm41nes said:
I'm having a similar decision problem. Being a college student I'm always on the go and thought that the nexus 7 is for me. My problem is the size of my phone. The HTC EVO 4g LTE is pretty mondo sized (4.7in) and I'm trying to decide if I should just skip the 7 completely. Another problem is the price difference and practicality.
I read a lot of PDFs (take notes from them as well), and watch a lot of YouTube lectures. I've been looking around for the 10 just so I can get a hands-on experience and comparison, but can never find a demo.
Thanks so much for the help so far on this thread! :good:
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I have both units now and each suits a different need.
But in a one-size-fits-all showdown, I think you're going to find the N7 is too small to really deal well with most PDF files, you'll be spending a LOT of time zooming. 3 inches of extra screen real estate and twice the pixels makes the N10 great for PDF viewing (well, as great as a 10" device can be with the PDF format).
Thanks for that feedback! As for the portability of the N10 would you say it's practical to take the $400 plunge to lug around everywhere?
dm41nes said:
Thanks for that feedback! As for the portability of the N10 would you say it's practical to take the $400 plunge to lug around everywhere?
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I'd say it's worth it to get the Nexus 10, the nexus 10 is surprisingly light for a 10.1 inch tablet while still being well built, it's also pretty thin so think of it as carrying around a small notebook (Paper notebook). In reality it's not going to be that much more tablet to lug around then the Nexus 7, and the Nexus 10 would certainly be lighter and easier to carry around then even a comparable ultra-portable laptop of comparable size.
I was trying to decide between a Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 a short while ago... went as far as making cardboard cutouts of both just to see how they would fare with general usage. Ended up choosing the Nexus 10
I own a N7 & 10 and believe me you wanna go w the 10!!! I had probs w/ my "2" 16gb Nexus 7s.(so did tons of other ppl) Defective first and now speakers pop on mine and my sons. I take care of my devices.. Never turned volume up past 1/2. I still have 1 my son uses and if your in a room and its night time or very quiet , you can hear a pop coming from the speakers. Very annoying!! N10 has been flawless for me thus far. I have not seen any of the issues others have. No reboots...etc. I'm sure the devs will fix all that in time. Open source rules!!:
Sent from my d2spr using Aokp +Kt747 kernel
You guys are great at marketing, I hope I have no regrets with this choice
I'll dive for the 10
Sent from my EVOLTE
Well, maybe I'm too late but .. here are my thoughts:
Since you write that you're always on the go .. the N10 is not a tablet you quickly grab from you bag, use it, and put it back in a few seconds. It's made for the full couch experience. If you intend to mostly use it while you're sitting in the cafeteria or in a lecture etc. .. that would be not a problem at all. If you need more mobility the N7 would be the right choice, I think.
As an engineering student ill be doing a lot more sitting and reading, but I know what you mean it was a tough decision. But now I wait :thumbup:
Sent from my EVOLTE
Here are my thoughts as I am running both an N7 and a N10.
The 7 was my first tablet and though it was the first generation, I did get the one with the loose screen. As I'm a computer geek by trade and lifestyle, i had the tools to pop it open, tighten a few screws and put it back together. The N7 has never come loose since. I keep it in a case that I originally bought for my 1st gen B&N Nook and it actually fits perfectly.
As for it's use, i have used it for everything from playing Angry birds to using it as a map for getting around Europe. It tethered to my Galaxy S3 with 0 issues and works very well and the battery life is impressive. I can get 3 full movies back to back without charging and still have enough juice to read for a couple hours. I have to say i have been thoroughly impressed by it. The N10 would have been a huge pain to try and use as a map around Europe. and it would have been a large target for thieves and muggers as well. The 7" looks like it could be anything from a tablet to a little hand written notepad esp when you are trying to find your way around somewhere. I will agree with everyone that the PDF functionality does suck and as the only thing i keep in PDF are manuals, then yes having the N10 would be better and yes the 1st gen did come with a loose side but as i said i'm a computer geek and it was an easy fix for me. And i do still use it to read books lol. My gf also bought herself one and uses it daily for ready, games and internet, she loves it.
As far as an overall rating the only downs being the screen and the pdf issue. I give it a 9 out of 10 because i don't see these issues as major things. I also never had any speaker issues.
Now as to the N10 I only got it last night and so i haven't had time to do much more than root, unlock the device and add a few things too it. But this morning i was able to show it off the a MD of the company I work for and show him how well it works as well as buy an "office suite" for 99 cents and be able to build files that were already MS office 2010 compatible. The quality of the screen is beautiful and the ability to read comic books as well as pdf is nice. I also intend in time to use this to replace my 1.5 year old laptop. (though nothing wrong with it) i can run citrix through Android and all i really need is a working keyboard. (though I would like a usb to BT transmitter, never seen one though) because i love my ergo split keyboards, hate typing on regular ones.
As for the N10 functionality, so far it's used all the stuff i have on both my S3 and my N7 without question (minus stickmount). I'm going to see if my Sirius satellite radio app works and that way i can use the company wifi to list to my radio account like i do on my phone. So far it's pretty good but but i'll give you more thoughts when i have used it.

10.1.2014 versus Sony Xperia Tab Z

I've seen lots of discussion comparing with the various iPads, but not much discussion on the Sony Xperia. I was pretty much sold on the Note originally as I LOVE my S3 phone, but I must admit I do see the reason behind all the negative Samsung reactions in terms of bloatware. Man do they put a bunch of junk on there! Luckily I have my S3 rooted and have successfully turned off bunches of bloat, and the phone is now massively faster . . . . . even on the stock ROM.
The more I play with the Xperia and read the reviews, the more I like it. The biggest 2 drawbacks in comparison are (1) lower screen resolution and (2) no S-pen. Neither one of those are deal brakers for me, but they do factor into the overall decision.
So, I know I'll get lots of pro-Samsung comments given the forum I'm in, but I'd like some honest feedback. Has anyone had lots of time with both tabs that can give some user level insight as to which way they would recommend? I have no doubt both are quality devices. Just trying to make a smart spend with my hard earned $. :fingers-crossed:
Thanks in advance.
~Vol
P.S. The new Kindle HDX is sneaking into the discussion, too. It has a *whopper* of a set of specs at a great price point. Root and install a well-built custom ROM, and maybe it kills all of them??
Vol4Ever said:
I've seen lots of discussion comparing with the various iPads, but not much discussion on the Sony Xperia. I was pretty much sold on the Note originally as I LOVE my S3 phone, but I must admit I do see the reason behind all the negative Samsung reactions in terms of bloatware. Man do they put a bunch of junk on there! Luckily I have my S3 rooted and have successfully turned off bunches of bloat, and the phone is now massively faster . . . . . even on the stock ROM.
The more I play with the Xperia and read the reviews, the more I like it. The biggest 2 drawbacks in comparison are (1) lower screen resolution and (2) no S-pen. Neither one of those are deal brakers for me, but they do factor into the overall decision.
So, I know I'll get lots of pro-Samsung comments given the forum I'm in, but I'd like some honest feedback. Has anyone had lots of time with both tabs that can give some user level insight as to which way they would recommend? I have no doubt both are quality devices. Just trying to make a smart spend with my hard earned $. :fingers-crossed:
Thanks in advance.
~Vol
P.S. The new Kindle HDX is sneaking into the discussion, too. It has a *whopper* of a set of specs at a great price point. Root and install a well-built custom ROM, and maybe it kills all of them??
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I love the resolution and feel of the 10.1 2014 but hate lack of root (0x0) and the physical button. S-Pen is a must for me or I would probably just go with the upcoming Nexus 10 refresh.
I really just wanted to say.....GO VOLS
Are you saying root and custom Roms won't be possible on the 2014? THAT would be a deal breaker for sure! Haven't looked much at the N10, but I guess I should. When is refresh product due out?
And on the Big Orange, I firmly believe Butch is the man to get it done. Our true freshmen have shown some "sparks" here and there. Just don't have the exp or conditioning to bring it for 60 solid minutes. I remain big time optimistic we are finally headed back up. Goodness knows we mist definitely bottomed out over the last few seasons. Wow.
ckelly33 said:
I love the resolution and feel of the 10.1 2014 but hate lack of root (0x0) and the physical button. S-Pen is a must for me or I would probably just go with the upcoming Nexus 10 refresh.
I really just wanted to say.....GO VOLS
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what refresh? as far as i know nothing has been announced and rumors say there wont be another 10 inch nexus this year
The Xperia Tab Z was my first choice was as I have an Xperia Z1 phone, however I ended up returning the XTZ after a couple of days and getting the new Note 10.1.
The biggest issue with the XTZ for me was the video playback quality. When viewing 1080p movies it seemed to be dropping frames, and as well Netflix and Youtube playback was no where close to my iPad. I didn't want a situation where I was only able to use the tablet for some things and then had to go back to using my iPad for watching movies or reading ebooks. There is also the issue of the Bravia engine on the XTZ which seemed to be putting too much contrast and sharpening into all of the videos and images. I can understand why they are using Bravia as it does give the illusion of a slightly higher resolution display, but it's no where near iPad quality.
The XTZ is a great tablet though, and if the Note 10.1 didn't exist it would be the Android king without a doubt.
The best thing for me about the Note 10.1 is that it is capable of doing everything with pretty much state of the art quality. I've had a few jaw dropping moments with it where the display truly give the illusion of looking through a window. It's fantastic for video playback.
It's been a long time coming to finally get an Android tablet that matches or exceeds the iPad and I'm so far pretty thrilled with my 10.1.
30Seconds said:
It's been a long time coming to finally get an Android tablet that matches or exceeds the iPad and I'm so far pretty thrilled with my 10.1.
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What are your comments on the bloatware and all the built-in Samsung apps? Did you delete or disable a bunch of those? And I doubt I'll be doing much movie watching on the tab, but I do like to play some of the higher end games every now & then. Currently read a lot of e-books on a rooted Nook Tablet, but hoping the new device will ultimately replace that as well. And I agree that one of your obvious goals is one of mine. Use 1 tablet for pretty much everything outside of phone & texting with my S3.
I also remember now why I punted the Nexus . . . . . no SD card. That plus constantly changing connectors plus the "do it our way or not at all" mentaility is the main reason I moved away from Apple products. I used iPhones up through the 4 models, and then made the Android switch. Haven't looked back on that particular decision!
30Seconds said:
The best thing for me about the Note 10.1 is that it is capable of doing everything with pretty much state of the art quality. I've had a few jaw dropping moments with it where the display truly give the illusion of looking through a window. It's fantastic for video playback.
It's been a long time coming to finally get an Android tablet that matches or exceeds the iPad and I'm so far pretty thrilled with my 10.1.
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Truth. The display is the best I've ever seen on a tablet. At full brightness it's absolutely incredible. The functionality of the SPen was the main draw for me with this tablet though. If you're a student or work in a setting that demands a lot of note taking then this tablet is the way to go. If I didn't need these functions, I would have waited for the new Nexus 10, which I'm sure will be superb as well. The ability to use this tablet as a virtual notebook for all of my classes made this the right choice for me though, even though it was quite expensive.
I currently own both of these tablets Samsung better screen better speakers and its faster I would go with the Samsung myself but the Sony is a nice tablet I have it running pacman ROM and it is very smooth
I am going to China on the weekend and was actually thinking of returning my samsung taking the Sony with me and then trying to find the 10.1 LTE version in Hong Kong on my way home so on a side note does anyone know how much the LTE version will cost in Hong Kong and a good place to buy it thanks
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium HD app
I loved my Z while I had it. My only complaint was that bad boy was a fingerprint magnet. I haven't yet tried a Note 10.1 2014 because there is no development for it or the Note 3.
golfinggino said:
I currently own both of these tablets Samsung better screen better speakers and its faster I would go with the Samsung myself but the Sony is a nice tablet I have it running pacman ROM and it is very smooth
I am going to China on the weekend and was actually thinking of returning my samsung taking the Sony with me and then trying to find the 10.1 LTE version in Hong Kong on my way home so on a side note does anyone know how much the LTE version will cost in Hong Kong and a good place to buy it thanks
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium HD app
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As far as I know, 10.1 2014 is not yet available in Hong Kong.
Vol4Ever said:
What are your comments on the bloatware and all the built-in Samsung apps? Did you delete or disable a bunch of those? And I doubt I'll be doing much movie watching on the tab, but I do like to play some of the higher end games every now & then. Currently read a lot of e-books on a rooted Nook Tablet, but hoping the new device will ultimately replace that as well. And I agree that one of your obvious goals is one of mine. Use 1 tablet for pretty much everything outside of phone & texting with my S3.
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So far all I have done is install Nova Launcher and turn down the animations to 0.5 in the developer settings. This makes it more than fast enough for me and I am not going to root or flash until we get a look at more finalized OTA firmwares. I know there are a lot of early reviewers that say this tablet lags, but since the first OTA update it has been running as quickly as one would expect it to.
I'm completely thrilled with this tablet, I can finally get rid of my IPad.
I've had the chance to own both for a while and there's pros and cons to each. The xperia was light, quick enough, NFC, DLNA, etc. Screen was good for movie watching. Expandable memory. Water proof. And it seemed less bloated although it really does have a crap load of Sony stuff on there. On the flipside, as one user said, it was a finger print magnet. It also felt extra long in portrait mode. Luckily it's a light tablet so it's not super uncomfortable but it does create a weird experience in portrait. Also, being a snapdragon s4 chipset, it's significantly slower during intense operations or even if you put a live wallpaper like ditalix live wallpaper on it.
The note has all the specs necessary, minus NFC. S pen is great just like my note 3. Screen in gorgeous. Relatively light in the hands. But again, as another user mentioned, the physical button is quite annoying in portrait mode and for a tablet so expensive, there should be no stuttering. Rooting is a fix for that though.
Although, neither was meant for portrait use, Web browsing feels more natural in portrait mode, much like the ipad. I still own both tablet, along side the ipad air. Note 10.1 2014 is my productivity beast at work and I travel with it. The xperia is my wife's favorite because she can read in the pool with it without a care, and takes it to the beach. The ipad is my favorite at home. Perfect for browsing the Web, chromecasting content, watching videos in bed, reading magazines, etc. Although, the note can do those things perfectly fine, it just doesn't have the same feel as the ipad for me when I'm in lazy mode.
Basically, if you u spend a lot of time outside with the tablet, xperia. If you need productivity first, note. If you want an all around great experience without all the bells and whistles, ipad.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using xda app-developers app
30Seconds said:
The Xperia Tab Z was my first choice was as I have an Xperia Z1 phone, however I ended up returning the XTZ after a couple of days and getting the new Note 10.1.
The biggest issue with the XTZ for me was the video playback quality. When viewing 1080p movies it seemed to be dropping frames, and as well Netflix and Youtube playback was no where close to my iPad. I didn't want a situation where I was only able to use the tablet for some things and then had to go back to using my iPad for watching movies or reading ebooks. There is also the issue of the Bravia engine on the XTZ which seemed to be putting too much contrast and sharpening into all of the videos and images. I can understand why they are using Bravia as it does give the illusion of a slightly higher resolution display, but it's no where near iPad quality.
The XTZ is a great tablet though, and if the Note 10.1 didn't exist it would be the Android king without a doubt.
The best thing for me about the Note 10.1 is that it is capable of doing everything with pretty much state of the art quality. I've had a few jaw dropping moments with it where the display truly give the illusion of looking through a window. It's fantastic for video playback.
It's been a long time coming to finally get an Android tablet that matches or exceeds the iPad and I'm so far pretty thrilled with my 10.1.
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Click to collapse
To echo this, I would go into Best Buy to play with the tablets all the time, coming closer and closer to pulling the trigger to purchasing but stopping. When I read the specs of this tablet, I had to bite and I've been rewarded immensely for my purchase. I've had those jaw dropping moments as well. I ask it to do so much and it's almost like it's mocking me, tackling everything I throw at it with ease.
Between the Note and the Xperia, it all comes down to the screen. The Note wins, hands down.
I do like the whole waterproof thing, and it's a touch lighter than the Note. But the large bezels really make it feel clunky and less weildy in landscape mode. Samsung's decision to trim the bezels really pays off in usability. It feels closer to the iPad in portrait mode even though it's still the same 16:10 screen.
BTW, another area where the Note wins hands down is reading comic books. It's the closest thing to the printed page. I am awed by how great comic books look on the Note, even though the pages are less resolution than the screen itself.
I was looking at buying the xperia but decided to wait for this to come out. I tried both of them in a shop and the xperia was too bezzly for me and the screen of the Note was unreal. Anyways I just got my Note about an hour ago and the screen alone makes this awesome.
I have had a Xperia Tablet Z since it was released and its very nice. My wife loves it as well. The thing that is nice is that its extremely fast and has no lag. I am very impressed with the build quality, and battery life as well. I am not a fan of the case I have on it because it is a el cheapo leather case that is not that impressive. That doesn't detract from how happy I am with this tablet.
I am going to get a Note 10.1 2014 through work in the next week or so. When that comes in, I will give my wife the Xperia since she loves it. I think the Note 10.1 is going to be better for what I do than the Xperia. I am most worried about lag or response time with this device. I am going to use Nova launcher for sure, and root the device if possible.
One area where the Note beats the Xperia hands down is remote desktop. The MS app defaults to 1280 x 800 on the Note and is very fast. It defaults to 1980 x 1200 on the Xperia and chugs along with lots of tiling with tiny touch targets. The SPen allows you to hit touch targets too small for your finger and allows you to hover over links and menus. It's a fantastic rdp implementation on the Note but almost unusable on the Xperia.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2464769

Just feel a little bit let down...

Well, ive been using my nexus 9 now for a few days and i just feel a little bit let down knowing how much ive spent and the results ive got. This feeling is purely regarding the hardware as i love lollipop and all the benefits that brings.
I thought i was happy with my nexus 9, well i was until i picked up my nexus 7 2013 and wow.. So light and it felt really nice! No sharp corners and the screen is loads better than the 9. This got me thinking, ive paid double for the 9.
What i would of loved is the 7 just resizing to the 9, using the same style and design (with wireless charging) im not over bothered about the new cpu if im honest, the one in the 7 is fast enough. Plus lollipop feels really slick anyway when i tried the preview version. They would of sold bucket loads, ok a few people would of wanted more but its better that than have loads of dissapointed customers.
Ive owned the Nexus 4 / 5 and both 7's and i even sold my 5 hoping to buy a 6.. Well until they released the price, so im back using the 4 again and very happy with it.
Also to top it all off and rub salt in the wounds HTC in the USA did a 50% off sale on the N9...ok it was only for a day but surely they wouldnt do that if they were losing money on each device would they?
Needless to say my N9 will be going back as faulty for a full refund due to its screen flicker. I love the 4:3 screen ratio so im looking for a alternative.. Any ideas?
Steve
Screen is "loads better" on the N7? I don't understand at all. I've had both side by side and can't see how you can come to that conclusion.
I believe the only alternative with a 4:3 aspect ratio would be an iPad.
NaterTots said:
I believe the only alternative with a 4:3 aspect ratio would be an iPad.
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Click to collapse
Sadly, I've come to the same conclusion. Ugh.[emoji20]
posted from my N7 FHD via Tapatalk
wifesabitch said:
Screen is "loads better" on the N7? I don't understand at all. I've had both side by side and can't see how you can come to that conclusion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you do a Nexus 7 and Nexus 9 side by side video review?
I'm curious how they compare performance wise, i.e. page loads, refresh rates, stuttering, what movies look like on the N9 in the horizontal orientation etc.
tabuser said:
Can you do a Nexus 7 and Nexus 9 side by side video review?
I'm curious how they compare performance wise, i.e. page loads, refresh rates, stuttering, what movies look like on the N9 in the horizontal orientation etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll see if I have time this weekend.
Don't have a tripod, would be tough to hold the camera and perform actions at the same time on both tablet, but I'll see what I can do.
CdRsKuLL said:
Well, ive been using my nexus 9 now for a few days and i just feel a little bit let down knowing how much ive spent and the results ive got. This feeling is purely regarding the hardware as i love lollipop and all the benefits that brings.
I thought i was happy with my nexus 9, well i was until i picked up my nexus 7 2013 and wow.. So light and it felt really nice! No sharp corners and the screen is loads better than the 9. This got me thinking, ive paid double for the 9.
What i would of loved is the 7 just resizing to the 9, using the same style and design (with wireless charging) im not over bothered about the new cpu if im honest, the one in the 7 is fast enough. Plus lollipop feels really slick anyway when i tried the preview version. They would of sold bucket loads, ok a few people would of wanted more but its better that than have loads of dissapointed customers.
Ive owned the Nexus 4 / 5 and both 7's and i even sold my 5 hoping to buy a 6.. Well until they released the price, so im back using the 4 again and very happy with it.
Also to top it all off and rub salt in the wounds HTC in the USA did a 50% off sale on the N9...ok it was only for a day but surely they wouldnt do that if they were losing money on each device would they?
Needless to say my N9 will be going back as faulty for a full refund due to its screen flicker. I love the 4:3 screen ratio so im looking for a alternative.. Any ideas?
Steve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think its more your wallet that has hurt your view of it. (in my opinion) and I get that. That and lollipop is great its supposed to be faster and not just on new devices this was the goal starting from KK. So shelling out that much money when you have the N7 may hurt a bit. I like the portability of the N7 Spent most my time with the n10 though. I just prefer bigger for some tasks.
The 50% sale only lasted an hour or less and was more hype than anything. Still there is a large markup on these much like there is on every premium device.
The screen flicker i don't have but if I were you I would definitely do an exchange or just send it back.
Personally I have been enjoying it but haven't spent enough time with it yet ( one day)
I'm enjoying mine a lot. I've had both Nexus 7's and I liked the 2nd gen a lot. But it didn't feel like a tablet to much because it wasn't really much bigger than my phones (Nexus 5 and OnePlus) this is a good upgrade. I'm waiting for more performance tweaks in future updates or new Roms. It hiccups from time to time but not much to worry about.
natertots said:
i believe the only alternative with a 4:3 aspect ratio would be an ipad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
death before apple!
Just imagine taking the iPad air 2 and putting lollipop on it, best tablet ftw
The N9 screen is a LOT better than the N7's (lightbleed aside). I would go as far as to say that it has the best overall screen of any Nexus device that came before it in terms of color accuracy, fidelity, and viewing angles.
I share the thoughts of the op. I have both the n7 FHD and n9 and ive only been using the n7 since every time I grab the n9 the light bleed, loose back and over heating bothers me so much. I'm returning it for sure. Maybe I'll give it another shot once they work out all these issues.
And also, just noticed today when turning the n9 on, that it has yellowish spots when the screen is black but backlight is on (as in when turning on).
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Will they sort the QC issue out thou? Its put me off to be honest.... I'll probably wait for the next premium tablet...
Geeba said:
Will they sort the QC issue out thou? Its put me off to be honest.... I'll probably wait for the next premium tablet...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Zero issues here with mine. Every product has their issues. There is always an "issues" and "disappointment" bandwagon for the first few weeks.
richii0207 said:
Zero issues here with mine. Every product has their issues. There is always an "issues" and "disappointment" bandwagon for the first few weeks.
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Click to collapse
Exactly.
Some people think buying The Shield will make them happy. Sure, it's a great tablet, I had one before my N9 I know but check out their board on xda. It's just as littered with complains of this fault and that fault.
I've never heard of a device with ZERO complaints about something.
I am loving my N9. I have the Asus TF701T also and now that ive been using the N9 for a week the only time i pick up the Asus is when i want to play a game that is not compatible yet on my N9. I have none of the issues that others are complaining about. Feels great, looks great and works great.
That's all folks.
I am finding a LOT more reviews where they are saying the N9 was a missed chance... there is no excuse for the squidgy back and light bleed on a premium tablet...
I'm thinking Nokia N1 now... it has the laminated screen and the aluminum body the N9 should of had.
So, what tablets have similar specs to the N9, but without the issues, regardless of cost? I'm currently waiting for LTE version (though maybe I'll grab a sand one when it comes out if I decide I can live without LTE), but I'm definitely open to a better alternative. I know there aren't any that have 64 bit processors or Android 5.0 (yet). But beside those, is there any other Android tablet that's around 8-9 inches and has similar performance. I mostly will use it for web browsing, games, and testing apps that I've developed. Thanks!
Get a nexus 6
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using Tapatalk
y2whisper said:
Still there is a large markup on these much like there is on every premium device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the problem. It's a premium price sticker for a not-premium device.

Torn between this and Nexus 9

As the title says I can't decide!
I currently have an Asus TF300T and was thinking of upgrading but I've gone and cracked the screen and it's no longer responding so I definitely have to upgrade now.
I was thinking of the nexus 9, it's new and supposedly fast but then I came across the nvidia shield tablet and now I can't make up my mind.
I am a casual to moderate PC gamer and have a GTX770 in my rig, and the thought of being able to stream my pc games to the shield really interests me, especially if I can put it in console mode and play the games on my living room TV with the nvidia controller, which would be great for those moments where the girlfriend complains I spend too much time in my man cave [emoji12]
Reading through the forums there seem to be plenty of posts with problems (granted people don't usually have something to say unless they are complaining), but I'm not to sure whether to take the plunge?
I may just order one and see how it works out, if I don't like it or have any issues I guess I can always send it back and order a nexus 9.
What do you guys think?
I may also unlock it and install custom firmware if there are any available as I always do with any android device [emoji4]
I was in the same boat as you. After much thought and deliberation over many factors I ended up going with the 32GB Shield and I LOVE it.
I have owned/used a couple dozen android devices over many years and none of them are even close in regards to the speed and sheer lag free smoothness of the Shield.
In the real world I don't think that there will be much of a performance difference between the N9 and the shield. I do think that the shield may be able to run under a heavy load longer without throttling itself. I've run the most demanding games on the platform and it barely gets warm. There are a lot of reports about how the Nexus 9 gets extremely hot in an isolated spot near the camera which is of some concern (maybe software updates will alleviate this somewhat, but hard to say).
If you just can't live without a 4:3 aspect ratio, get the Nexus. Otherwise I think the shield is an outstanding device. Keep in mind that the 32GB/LTE Nexus 9 is $599 while the equivalent Shield is $399.
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app
I was looking at the 32GB shield, for the price it's definitely better value than the N9.
How do you find the screen size? I'm a little worried about finding 8 inches a little small after coming from a 10 incher! Lol
Is it really super smooth and lag free? If so I'm definitely going to get one, most android devices I've used have always had a little lag, but that's because I could never afford the top of the range ones.
Although I am no artist or something, I wouln't buy any device anymore that has no stylus. Is so much easier to select text, links, play Nintendo DS emulators. And besides, using the stylus keeps the display nice and clean. I love it.
I'm torn as well, the only reason I haven't gone with the Sheild yet over the Nexus is due to the smaller screen size. I'm buying a tablet for school productivity and for entertainment, the Nexus's screen size seems ideal for both. If the Sheild was bigger without being that much heavier, I would have gone with it without any hesitation.
I'm coming from a Nexus 7 to the shield so the 1 inch difference in size feels significant to me. I came to the decision for myself that the N9 was just a touch too large/wide for holding it comfortably for extended periods.
I feel that the 16:10/1920x1200/8 inch screen is pretty much ideal for a device I carry every day.
If I had bought the N9 I think I'd be likely to leave it home more frequently as it really is quite a bit bulkier.
I like both devices but I don't regret my choice in any manner.
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app
---------- Post added at 02:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:59 PM ----------
It is BY FAR the smoothest running android device I've ever owned. My daughter has an iPad mini retina and the Shield is every bit as silky smooth as her iPad. Not exaggerating in the slightest...
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app
Stresa said:
the 1 inch difference in size feels significant to me. I came to
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel ya there buddy
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Free mobile app
Har har !
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app
So I was in a similar boat. I was hyped for the N9 as the rumors of it's specs were tossed about and I was fully in when it was rumored to depart from Nexus standard and include a MicroSD slot. I did consider the Shield as it was getting released and hung around these forums reading about how folks had various issues but it also seemed that Nvidia really stepped up and supported their product well which I was impressed with. Storage was the huge issue for me and Nexus really dropped the ball with only 32GB and no MicroSD.
I too came from the TF300T although I didn't worry about the transition on size. I've been telling women for years that 10 inches is highly overrated and 8 is much better. It (the tablet) is light weight, more comfortable to use and the screen size is amazing.
Also if you do your homework you'll likely find some folks ditching theirs on Craiglist or eBay to by new iPads and N9's and they are usually willing to part with them cheap. I bought an RMA replacement unit from a guy on CL and have been thrilled with it.
Just my opinion and thoughts but best of luck!
MG
burt_ie said:
As the title says I can't decide!
I currently have an Asus TF300T and was thinking of upgrading but I've gone and cracked the screen and it's no longer responding so I definitely have to upgrade now.
I was thinking of the nexus 9, it's new and supposedly fast but then I came across the nvidia shield tablet and now I can't make up my mind.
I am a casual to moderate PC gamer and have a GTX770 in my rig, and the thought of being able to stream my pc games to the shield really interests me, especially if I can put it in console mode and play the games on my living room TV with the nvidia controller, which would be great for those moments where the girlfriend complains I spend too much time in my man cave [emoji12]
Reading through the forums there seem to be plenty of posts with problems (granted people don't usually have something to say unless they are complaining), but I'm not to sure whether to take the plunge?
I may just order one and see how it works out, if I don't like it or have any issues I guess I can always send it back and order a nexus 9.
What do you guys think?
I may also unlock it and install custom firmware if there are any available as I always do with any android device [emoji4]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd highly suggest buying the Shield Tablet LTE over the Nexus 9. You must realize that high graphics games can take up to 5GB of space each and thus 32GB with no expandability isn't a viable if you want to actually use the tablet to the fullest. You will be out of space in no time just installing around ten games. The Nexus 9 is far more expensive in any case, so the Shield is a much better buy.
Also take in mind that Nvidia Hub game streaming should not be the deciding factor for purchasing the Shield as Limelight brings that functionality to most devices. I've used it on my TF701.
jacobnoori said:
I feel ya there buddy
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PMSL
Thanks for all the replies, I'm definitely leaning towards the shield as I think it may be better all around for me.
I don't really like the ipad look of the N9, and I think the shield would be a perfect size for me. In all honesty I sometimes found my 10 inch TF300T a little too big at times and also difficult to hold, 8 inches would be much more comfortable ? lol
I also like the fact that the shield comes with a stylus, I'm no artist myself but I actually used to be one of sorts and it's something I've slowly been getting back into, I have a wacom graphics tablet plugged into my PC, so the stylus may actually be another good selling point for me.
I'm also used to having an SD card so I don't think I could do with out one.
Gaming would be an awesome addition especially with the control pad. I was just looking at the limelight app too but unfortunately I can't test it out as my TF300T is now dead, so I have no choice but to get a new device.
I've added the shield and the GamePad to my shopping basket... but I'm away from home at the moment on holiday so I'm going to have to wait until I get a back home to actually buy lol!
burt_ie said:
I was looking at the 32GB shield, for the price it's definitely better value than the N9.
How do you find the screen size? I'm a little worried about finding 8 inches a little small after coming from a 10 incher! Lol
Is it really super smooth and lag free? If so I'm definitely going to get one, most android devices I've used have always had a little lag, but that's because I could never afford the top of the range ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came from a TF300T to a Nexus 7 2013. I can say with all confidence that I didn't miss the extra three inches, basically because the TF300T is 720p and the Nexus 7 2013 is 1080p.
Its the resolution, not the size, that matters.
Now I have the NST LTE 32GB, I can say the extra inch *does* matter. 8" is the new 7" in my opinion. Perfect for the hand still, and I can even put in in my Levi Jeans pocket (though it sticks out a bit) for temporary hands-free transport.
64bit is great and all, but until app developers start making games compatible with the architecture, you're better off getting the NST. So much cheaper, an awesome Wi-Fi direct controller supported natively, nice standard inclusions in the ROM like native screen recording and twitching.
I currently have the Nexus 9 but it has to many quirks... I ordered a shield instead hopefully i nwill be much better, the reviews seem great on it :good:
butteredmuffins said:
I currently have the Nexus 9 but it has to many quirks... I ordered a shield instead hopefully i nwill be much better, the reviews seem great on it :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you could let me know how you find the comparison between them that would be fantastic!
I'm still leaning towards the shield, and it's still sitting in my shopping basket [emoji4]
burt_ie said:
If you could let me know how you find the comparison between them that would be fantastic!
I'm still leaning towards the shield, and it's still sitting in my shopping basket [emoji4]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My shield will be here today and I still have my Nexus 9 for the time being so I will let you know for sure, cheers!
butteredmuffins said:
My shield will be here today and I still have my Nexus 9 for the time being so I will let you know for sure, cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd be interested to hear too as a currently dissatisfied Nexus 9 owner.
I can not speak for the shield as I have not had a chance to try one out yet, although I seriously considering getting one, but having played with a Nexus 9 for about a half hour the impression I was left with is that it is not worth the money. I really feel like it is a big swing and miss. I don't like the dimensions, the 64 bit chip appears to be an app compatibility issue, no expandable storage, etc. For a tablet that runs $399 for a wifi 16gb it does not feel that well put together. I don't know maybe my mind would change with longer use but after using it I felt not only would I not buy it for $399 I probably would not be that tempted to buy it at $299
Okay so I got my shield and as of right now I have decided against doing a video comparision for now, there doesnt seem to be enough interest. However I'm willing to post any kind of picture or answer any questions. So far on the shield there doesn't seem to any hardware quirks the Nexus has, its a solid feeling device. The ONLY very minor nit pick I have so far is when tap the back there is a little bit of give so it makes a bit of a clack sound, but it doesnt bother me at all. Theres no light bleed which is super nice. Its so much more comfortable to hold than the Nexus 9, the texture on the back of the device is very pleasing and very grippy(if thats even a word) the Nexus 9 doesnt feel nearly as nice to hold. I cant say too much about long term battery life but thus far its awesome, but cant comment on how it compares to the Nexus. I love the pen its very sensitive, but it doesnt have pressure sensitivity which is no biggy for me. Anyway, thats all I can think of off the top of my head, ask away!
This so much better than lackluster overpriced N9.
Also google does next to nothing to optimise or take advantage of their hardware. Nvidia on the other hand does.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

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