Before i begin i want to point out that I have never reviewed a device before and to be honest I'm not that great at typing but the nexus is going through a phase it has never been through before. The nexus line is at and end and the most recent nexus devices aren't even getting the full features of its predecessor as they normally would for years to come. With that said the pixel has made me feel as though it is worth sharing my thoughts with people who may be sat on the bench or wondering about the new pixel devices that are replacing our beloved nexus phones and whether or not they should make the pricey jump over. I also would like to know how you guys that have purchased a pixel are finding the new google devices.
I have been a massive fan of the nexus line since the birth back at the nexus one and have owned every nexus phone released, and have had most nexus tablets apart from the 2nd gen nexus 7, so i really love the pure android experience. Having used the nexus line for so long and spending a short amount of time now with the pixel XL i wanted to give my honest opinion and feelings about the new line coming from the nexus 6p...
There are sacrifices and gains to be made when upgrading from the 6p. First of all the front facing speakers are gone which is quite a big downer for me. Perhaps I've been spoilt with having front facing speakers on the 6p and nexus 9 that i use, but it feels like a step backwards here. The speaker on the pixel XL is OK dont get me wrong and can be quite loud and full sounding but its nothing like having front facing stereo speakers.
I want to talk about the software/google photos backup/assistant. My nexus was on 7.1.1 preview when i sold it so I had some time with that to compare.
The google photo backup feels like a marketing scam to me in a way. They advertise unlimited storage in full resolution forever with the pixel phones. Now you already get that to the most extent. It backs up pictures in an unaltered quality up to 16 mega pixels. The pixel phones have a 12.3mp camera same as the 6p and a lot of other devices so nothing changes there. The 6p and other devices also get full resolution video backup for 1080p so the only real gain is the 4k resolution videos.
The assistant again is being played up big time by google. Now lets be honest most people don't stand there talking to their phones or at least not people that i know. I tried both google now and assistant and to me assistant is the same as google now. They have just given it a new voice with some jokes and put it into a conversation card format. Google now worked pretty much the same and did a good job. This isn't something new that google have released that hasn't been seen before. It's simply a revision of google now that we have had for a while.
The software is beautiful on the pixel XL. I know it has better internals that will be helping a lot but the user interface is so smooth and fluid. Even 3rd party apps seem to behave better and don't have no where near as much micro stutters. Everything just feels fluid and very very snappy. This is where the pixel for me really excels over the 6p. The new launcher is also very nice. I was on the bench when i first saw it but once you use it, it makes perfect sense. The swipe up motion for the app drawer frees up a dock position for an additional app. The new search button top left frees up more screen real estate instead of having the full length bar spanning the width of the screen.
The display is very slightly smaller on the XL, however i don't really notice this at all to be perfectly honest. The display on the pixel XL is definitely better than the 6p. Its much much brighter and the white point is much better... At least for my taste. I prefer a cooler white than the more yellow hue of the nexus 6p. I held the two phones side by side in the store and i cant stress enough how much more improved the new pixel phones display is. This is a gorgeous display that honestly rivals my wife's S7 edge.
The pixel XL is noticeably thicker than the 6p when held out of a case. I'm not too sure how i feel about this one personally. The pixel XL is easier to hold and doesn't feel like it will slip from your hands when using one handed but then again it has the same battery as the 6p and is a similar size shell. It doesn't have anything extra that would warrant the thickness so again this feels like a step back to me in a way. I don't understand the need for the extra thickness given the internals. I know they may have thickened it slightly to remove the camera bump but the pixel phone still actually thickens up as at the top end of the phone compared to the bottom.
The chin is a talking point for a lot of people. I have come to accept this now for the simple reason of the bottom facing speaker. On the larger bezels you have more room to hold the phone without covering the speaker with your palm. I have gone for the black version of the phone which somehow hides this a bit better than the white and doesn't look as obvious.
The camera is simply great on the pixel. Even though it has exact same spec camera as the 6p the end product after the image has been processed is awesome. For simple point and shoot the camera is amazing and there is 0 lag with the HDR+ like there is on the nexus 6p. I often missed a chance to snap my kids doing something with the 6p because it took forever to actually take the picture after pushing the button. This issue is gone with the pixel and photos are snapped almost instantly.
The price is still definitely a big question mark for me. The phone feels great and overall is does make the nexus lines feel like beta's to what the pixel is and how it performs. However... No wireless charging... No water and dust proofing... No dual front facing speaker... There are other phones out there with these things that don't cost as much. The price being charged for this leaves a bad taste in my mouth, especially with it being the first pixel phone which a lot of average consumers wont understand the history behind and how it came to be. The phone isn't a house hold known name like the galaxy line or the iphones so people may be scared away by the price for this new unknown brand of phone.
Overall summary for me is that the pixel XL phone is definately an upgrade from the 6p, and using the phone feels night and day better but the price point is a huge question mark. The pixel phone somehow has a polish and unification to the whole google branding that i just cant put my finger on but i can honestly say this is by far the greatest android experience i have ever experienced. The smoothness of moving around the ui is unrivalled by any other device i have ever used including windows phones and iphones (I've never owned an iphone but my brother is an avid apple fan so we dont see eye to eye, however I do play with his iphone to compare speed etc).
So how are you guys finding the pixel XL phone? which device did you come from and how does it compare?
The iphone 6s was a success and the Pixel XL is gonna Excel ????
Google i see what u did there, playa!
Sent from my LG-H830 using Tapatalk
Nice review. Some very interesting points. Thank you.
Oddly enough, a lesser price would = lesser product to the uneducated consumer.
Google's going for mass production it would seem.
They *had* to put it in the same price point as other premium phones in order to attract that particular consumer.
It's backwards reasoning, I know. But there you have it.
Nice review, thanks.
nice review. i will wait for Google Pixel version 2 coming out next year October 2017. i wanted to see waterproof at least. so i will wait for next year for now.
Google assistant is like Google Now version 2. or Google Now (Assistant) on steroids
Btw with the high quality unlimited backup option with Google photos on other phones you don't get unaltered backups under 16MP. While they do keep the resolution they do indeed compress the photos further.
So it is a selling point that the Pixel you actual get your original photos backed up with unlimited storage.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Slicktune said:
The iphone 6s was a success and the Pixel XL is gonna Excel
Google i see what u did there, playa!
Sent from my LG-H830 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought the 6S stood for Sucks A**...:laugh::laugh:
seezar said:
Btw with the high quality unlimited backup option with Google photos on other phones you don't get unaltered backups under 16MP. While they do keep the resolution they do indeed compress the photos further.
So it is a selling point that the Pixel you actual get your original photos backed up with unlimited storage.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wanted to point this out as well. A lot of people seem to be misinformed about that particular detail.
The Pixel (and XL) are the only devices that allow for unlimited storage where you data does not get compressed. Meaning you'll lose quality when you upload from a different device, say the 6p.
Also the reviewer pointed out that the camera on the pixel is the same as the 6p. This is also false. The only have the resolution and pixel size in common.
First of all, good write up even with some slight corrections as others have pointed out! I now have had my Pixel XL for almost 24 hours. It is sitting right next to my Nexus 6P with the 7.1.1 Preview.
First let's address the elephant in the room: Pricing. Yes, it is high compared to 6P but I understand the marketing and reason for the Pixel price, though I don't necessarily agree. Still very much on the fence about that.
Now, let's talk about quality and features. Pixel is very comparable to 6P but with faster processor and more RAM which I like. I like the unlimited Google Photos storage. I like the speed and fluidity of the Pixel. I do like the screen and prefer the cooler white vs the yellow hued 6P ( I returned my 6P 4 times before I found a suitable one!). Camera is slightly better but then the 6P with the latest camera update, performs far better than its original software. The Pixel design is OK, despite the front looking like an Iphone and the huge bezels. I am neutral on the two tone back (I have the black): don't hate it but don't love it. Screen size is acceptable but as I get older, I prefer the larger screen on 6P, but again, am fine with Pixel size.
What I am disappointed in is the lack of a 64 Gb size (I have the 32 and though it should be enough for me, I can possibly foresee getting squeezed much later on down the road but I don't play games or DL movies but I can use an OTG usb), lack of stereo speakers (though I usually always use good headphones for 90% music, streaming listening, etc., the sound was kinda nice when just listening from phone those rare times and for phone calls, though far from high quality on 6P, etc.), lack of waterproofing (I am careful btw and have never dropped a phone in any water, etc., but it was kinda nice having another layer of protection after Note 7 and true, the 6P lacks it).
Google Assistant is just a revamped Google Now as indicated.
So, I am truly on the fence as to whether this is worth keeping as an upgrade to the 6P as it was not a giant leap forward and the 6P is almost half the price.
I am not hating on the phone but am not overwhelmingly in love with it as when I first purchased the 6P and Note 7, but its overall value is questionable for me. Will see. Typically, by Thanksgiving and Xmas, Google lowers pricing, so I may return and wait till then.
Again, in a quandary.
Not even 24 hours in and I am far more impressed with the Pixel XL than the 6P. Literally the only thing I miss are the speakers. The setup was absolutely impressive vs any phone I've ever used, especially the 6P. I was able to set the whole phone up while it was downloading and installing apps and do all it's initial syncing without one single hiccup. On phones prior to the 6P lags and such would happen because the power and memory just was not there. On the 6P it would be even more disappointing as the power and memory was there but eventually throttling would occur slowing things down. I've done several factory resets and flashed several factory images in the past year to know how the 6P handles setup. It's easier to handle as well and I don't really notice the shrink in screen size except for where it counts(being able to reach anywhere on the screen). I'm also getting LTE in areas where I was not even getting signal on my 6P. The Pixel literally has fixed every issue I had with my 6P. RIP stereo sounds.
@AndrasLOHF: Good points! I agree. But I did notice when I wiped my 6P to install 7.1.1 (I did a fresh install), no lag whatsoever occurred and the downloading and installing of apps and it's initial syncing didn't have one single hiccup as you suggest as par for the course with the 6P. Maybe some slight throttling but it was seamless. Go figure. I will test the LTE as I travel about but one good indicator is work and its surrounding area (a major airport): VZW LTE is practically useless for most employees as it generally falls back to 3G, or just loses any signal. Right now, I "seem" to have a marginally better connection with the Pixel, although I do see LTE flashing on and off, but at least "seems" to be in the on position for longer periods. Speeds are slower, but still a connection. I will keep monitoring the LTE aspect.
Thanks for the feedback.
Coming from a Nexus 6 so the upgrade to the PIxel XL was a much easier decision (compared to 6P to Pixel).
The cost comes up a lot and to me it is a diminishing returns scenario. Do a pair of $3000 speakers sound twice as good as $1500 speakers. Likely not. When you start stepping up from good to very good, there is almost always diminishing returns. For me, the Pixel is that way. It is sooooo darn smooth. I never complained about the N6 being laggy, but going from the N6 to the Pixel you see how incredibly smooth the Pixel is.
Positives
Love how smooth it is. It is fantastic.
Love the 128GB option. I would have bought a 128GB to 256GB uSD card for a phone with expandable storage, but expandable storage would not have been nearly as fast.
Love the camera. N5 and N6 could take good pictures with lots of light. Go low light or lots of motion and the pictures were poor. I have been very impressed by the Pixel camera. I watch people argue about if the S7, V20, Pixel, or iPhone have the best pictures. They are all in great company and take great pictures. Go with what you like.
Like the notification LED on the Pixel. N6 had one that could be used with root and LIghtflow. I use Lightflow with the Pixel LED to setup all kinds of different colors and flash rates to show me status of things.
Love the fingerprint scanner on the back. Very intuitive to use and works great. It has taken me almost a week to remember to use that instead of the power button.
Like the display. Very clear, nice colors, can see outdoors (could always be brighter of course) much brighter than the N6 and the whites are pleasantly white instead of yellow.
Like the feel in hand. Much smoother sides compared to the N6 and of course smaller makes it more comfortable too.
Love USB-C and bidirectional plugging in. It is the little things.
Like the signal strength of LTE on the Pixel. There is one area I drive through where if I start a new stream in that area I get buffering. Did that with the Pixel yesterday and the streaming started right up without buffering.
Negatives
Don't like the narrow side bevels. They are so narrow that sometimes my fat hands squish over the sides and do a long press (bringing up the option for widgets and wallpapers)
Don't like connectivity on the Bluetooth. Connected fine to two BT headsets, but has problems with my Android car head unit. I can turn off phone audio and keep media audio to keep the BT connected for now. My N6 connected just fine to the same head unit. There are several BT threads going so I am sure this will get patched.
Also came from the 6P which I have loved hands down.
I too miss the speakers.
The latest beta on the 6P is great too.
Camera on 6P is still amazing.
I have large hands so I'm adjusting to the pixel XL. I actually prefer a case on it, which I never prefer cases.
Screen is definitely better on Pixel.
Although 6P isn't slow... The Pixel is noticeably faster.
Price isn't a factor. I have no issues with a premium flagship being priced like one.
I am wondering if it's worth upgrading to Pixel if my main goal it to avoid buying a point and shoot camera. I have 6p and like it for the most part, but looking for better camera to take on vacations etc. Last time I didn't like my G15 and 6p combo, ended up using both and both were not what I wanted, not to mention that I had to charge and carry both devices
I've just upgraded to a Pixel XL from the 6P as I was getting sick of my battery not making it through the day! I must say I loved my 6P and thought it to be an extremely zippy phone but wow! After 2 days of using the pixel I thought I'd try to use my 6P again, the difference in speed and smoothness is unreal. The 6P is no slouch but after using the Pixel for a couple of days it made the 6P seem slow and laggy. The Pixel XL really is an amazing device. I am yet to try daydream out but that was also one of the other reasons I wanted to move from the 6P as the troublesome 810 destroyed all chances of it being able to stay cool during a VR session. I think the 821 is enough reason alone to upgrade, the performance increase over the 810 is staggering.
Great write-up. Thanks for putting it together.
Coming from my 6P, and having had the pixel XL for almost a month, here's my take:
Cons:
Speakers, speakers, speakers
$$ price (Almost $1K for my 128 XL!)
Pros:
Literally everything else
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Great review and some interesting points. I'm also coming from the Nexus 6P and since most things have been addressed, I'll just note some of my experiences.
What I like about the Pixel over the 6P:
- Speed and fluidity is not comparable in my opinion
- Battery life is noticeably superior than the 6P; I was struggling to get 2 - 3 hours of screen on time based on my usage whereas I get 4+ hours with the Pixel XL
- Photos backup is awesome without losing quality; Also, this is not for a trial period of 2 years which is amazing
- Build quality (I get that design is meh) is so much better and it's so apparent when held in hand. 6P looked and felt nice but definitely didn't feel sturdy
- Camera quality isn't dramatically better, but the speed of the camera is just so much better than the 6P (this was what convinced me to switch). Overall, it just takes better pictures on average than the 6p on the first attempt
- Size is perfect, the 6P seemed a bit too big to yield at times
- Screen quality is much better than the 6P
- This doesn't get mentioned much, but the Pixel runs MUCH cooler than the 6P
- Call quality and bluetooth radios (more reliable)
What I miss:
- Speakers, although the Pixel's speaker isn't bad by any means
I really liked the Nexus 6P but I do feel the Pixel was an upgrade in almost every way for me. Not having sufficient water resistance compared to other phones of this price was disappointing, but at the end of the day it wasn't a big selling point for me (I do think it should have been a no-brainer at this price point). The overall experience with the phone is just more enjoyable with the Pixel XL than the 6P (again, this is just my experience) to the point that the price point wasn't a huge issue (it helped that I was able to sell my 6P at $400).
Related
My question is, can I get some real reviews from real users, not the YouTube paid reviews. Some people should have it for about 2 weeks now, and I wanna hear what you think. I've read where the camera is horrible, and others say it's OK. I'm buying the phone this Thursday, or next Thursday and am looking for some honesty.
How I typically use my phone is all day, everyday. It's a bit of an ADD thing where I have to keep myself busy. Games, XDA, more games. I play VainGlory a lot, and it's pretty heavy on my phone. Does anyone else play this, and how does the 5 perform while playing?
Can anyone post some pictures they took of scenery, buildings, etc... I'll post some of mine taken from my Nexus 6P, edited in Snapseed. The camera is a big point for me.
Please and thank you!!
I currently own OP5 and previous phone was Pixel XL.
If a camera is a big point for you, there are better options for sure such as Pixel , iPhone and U11.
If gaming, then this phone will perform way better than 6p or any other phone. 835 CPU, GPU and 8 RAM means solid performance.
Camera is great in good lighting; mediocre in low light. 1080 Video good and 4K video average.
Battery life for me has been incredible! Fast charging is awesome too.
OP5 is a fantastic phone and I would recommend to anyone. I say this even though I plan on returning OP5 and going back to my Pixel XL. Why? Camera and smoother overall experience in Pixel. OP5 is faster for sure.
I hope this helps. It was not an easy decision for me.
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
I don't take too many videos, but I definitely like having the option of taking a good one. Gaming is a big selling point for me as well. As for the camera... I'm kind of hoping that some sort of fix is released in an update for whatever the issue is.
It definitely helps though. The price is also a factor, as I'm thinking I'll be able to sell my 6p for 325-350, with all the cases I have and the pretty awesome condition I've kept it in.
I've also haven't had a *new* phone in years. Last one I had was S6 Edge and I ended up having to give it to my Now Ex-girlfriends mom since it was on her plan and we broke up. I had it for like 3 weeks. So, a new phone under warranty would be pretty sweet to have.
Im going to buy it, I made up my mind. If anything, and the camera is way worse than my 6p and they don't release an update I can just sell it, right? Yup.
Bye-bye Nexus.
I'll break up a short review into a few sections.
Design - 9/10
I really like the build quality. The phone looks very similar to a certain device, but I don't mind this. The matte black color looks great and the device, while a bit thin, is the perfect weight (although I am going to buy a case as soon as they become available.) Although I do wish the camera was in the center because when you lay the device down, the protruding camera lens is what your device lays on and makes the device not lay completely flat. The good news is the camera lends is made out of sapphire so durability is there.
Performance | Daily Tasks - 9/10
I have read all about the "Jello effect." This does appear on my device, but it's very minimal and I don't see it as a problem. I did recently watch a video where it was a lot worse in that video. People on social media tend to be hive-mind associated so a lot of negativity tends to spread like wildfire while the positive items are left out of the spotlight. I think the device is extremely snappy and I have noticed the phone doesn't even get warm while playing Pokemon Go for long spurts at a time. No sluggish performance at all.
Wireless Connectivity | WiFi | 4G - 8/10
Cellular Performance
This aspect is generally very important to me. When I compare it to my brother's GS8 on T-Mobile US, we both have a consistent experience in strong signal areas. The OP5 doesn't support 4x4 MIMO on the 4G/LTE side, but it does support 256QAM and 3xCA which is more than enough for the typical power user. Overall, my brother's S8 tends to get slightly less than 10% more speeds on LTE than I do (for comparison, I hit 115Mbps in a spot whereas the GS8 hit 125Mbps.) However, I will note that edge-of-signal, the S8 does win outright. In a few areas where LTE signal is weak (sub -120dBm RSRP), the OnePlus 5 will tend to drop to HSPA or even Edge whereas the S8 will maintain a usable signal. In other words, VoLTE'ers, you may experience more dropped calls when venturing about in weak LTE areas.
WiFi Performance
The OP5 supports 2x2 MIMO and wireless AC so 5Ghz networks is vastly improved over the OP3/OP3T in regards to WiFi coverage/performance. In comparison, I can pull up to 540mbps in a corner of my house on the OP5 whereas the OP3T will only be able to pull 32mbps on the same network. Oneplus has really went above and beyond in terms of WiFi antenna design and has consistently matched the GS8's WiFi performance (Note: I do not have Gigabit internet so I wan't able to test higher-end speeds.)
Battery - 9/10
I am coming from a Le Pro3 (which is one of the best devices for battery), and I'm not too concerned with what I'm getting on the OP5. I am consistently getting through the typical work-day with around 30-40% juice left after a few hours of screen time. If I need a quick charge, Dash charging is there. I will mention that I wish Dash Charging wasn't so proprietary. Because almost all of my current chargers are Qualcomm QC which aren't compatible with the Oneplus. Although it'll still charge the device, just not rapidly like Dash would.
Camera - 7/10
I am not a photographer by any means and a good camera doesn't necessarily sell me on a device by itself. I will say though that while the pictures are not as good as what you'd get on the GS8, they are pretty good shots and I honestly can't see people looking at your facebook pictures and thinking "wow, whatever camera took this picture sucks." I am quite content with the camera because it is better than a mid-range device, but worse than a flagship.
Software/Customization - 10/10
This is the main reason I went with the OnePlus device. Oxygen OS is so smooth and AOSP-like. The nearly bloatless experience and ability to change the theme/accents of your device are amazing. That, and I know the community will be behind some massive developments for this device so I can satisfy my flashing urges as they come up. It all just works.
Sound/Speakers - 9/10
I would have preferred stereo speaker setup, instead of mono speaker. Still, I would say I have been very impressed with the mono speaker on the bottom with the amount of quality and loud sounds that come from it. Music in the car over Bluetooth/Android Auto also works great and is very clear sounding. I actually flashed the Viper/Arise sound mod and disabled it shortly after because stock sounds that good (I don't play around with the Viper/Arise settings too much, so maybe I can improve it but to me there's not much left to be desired.) Voice Calls, people are loud and clear.
Overall, I am very happy with my purchase and would recommend the product to a friend!
Man the phones on point. I went hard on my op5 & have yet to hit 34 °c I play the phone for long stretches so not worrying about my phone getting to hot is my favorite upgrade so far. The battery for sure last longer than the 3t but the 3t charges about 10 minutes faster
My phone was delivered on the Friday after the key note and have used this as my daily driver. My most recent phone was the Samsung s7e, but gave to my wife as I found it too slow (and I really wanted to try a one plus 5).
Initial impressions are similar to the (honest) reviews:
1. Damn this thing is quick
2. Damn the fingerprint reader is quick
3. Damn that charges quick
3. Oh, the camera isn't quite as good as it was hyped
I think it looks "fine" (i.e I couldn't care less what it looks like).
Battery life has been good, at least comparable to a 6 month old SGS7e (I bought that second hand) but not as good as my old Sony z3c.
The camera is good, don't get me wrong, and it can take better shots than the Samsung, but it's not as consistent. Low light isn't as good (but again, the Samsung is a very high bar). I'd say that 90% of my photos come out fine first time. It's very quick to take photos though (if Oneplus wanted a "speed" theme to come through in this device then they certainly succeeded)
1080p video is very good. Surprisingly good. Ok 4k recording lacks stabilisation, but hey, do people bother to record in this resolution? (I suppose that do, but I sure as hell don't). They've also said that 4k EIS will come in an update.
The screen is very good. Having had the S6 and S7e, I've experienced excellent screens (i.e. high resolution) but really don't see the point for 99% of the time (I played with vr for a couple of days about 12 months ago so I really do mean 99%). 1080p is absolutely great for a 5.5" screen.
My only complaints have been:
1. Jelly (yes, either I'm susceptible to seeing it or my device has it)
2. Camera not as good as hyped
3. Some vague software oddities which I'm sure will be sorted (notification issues with eBay)
I'll post up some photos...
Some photos #shotonaoneplus
The best thing about OnePlus 5 is support from this community. I ordered on the conference day and there was TWRP and root solution available before this phone even arrived to my home. Another great thing is overall performance, clean OS, no bloatware.
Time for bad things. It is always bad sign when the company behind any device lies to you. They lie about camera peformance, they lie about screen issues... I wonder what will be next. Had I waited few days and seen how OnePlus acts, I would not buy it again.
Still I have it, so let's talk about user experience. I am switching to OnePlus 5 from my 4 years old OPPO Find 7, so this is my point of reference.
Form factor. The phone is a bit slippery and uncomfortable to grip. It has some sort of additional sharp line on the edge, and I ordered a cover to make it feel better. Other than this, it looks great and sexy. Shame it is not original design, but it is still good if you don't care about such things (I personally don't).
Screen. Screen has great colors and real blacks. It doesn't have the best resolution but just looks better than 2K IPS of Find 7. Use some dark wallpaper and you will be in heaven. At the same time you have this jelly effect and before I got used to it, it felt wrong. If you are motion sick, you should stay away from this phone.
Camera. The only good thing I can say about camera is its tonal range. You get all the colors instead of washed whites when you shot something with high contrast. At the same time I have seen way more details on the Find 7, which is four years old than on the OnePlus 5. Maybe it is poor compression of images, maybe it is some de-noising algorithm... anyway when you zoom in, you will see only blur in the image. Also, the telephoto camera is almost never used indoors (easy to check - cover one lens and see yourself which lens your phone is using) and used outdoor only when light is perfect (hello sun). When you click this magical 2x zoom in your camera app you will newer know whether you are doing software zoom loosing even more details or actual optical zoom... which even in best case is software-processed.
OS. Is great. Clean, fast android. Easy to root, easy to mod.
Battery life. Mixed. It will give you a full day, easily, but also drops significantly when you don't use the phone. Still, you have the DaSH/VOOC fast charge, so that's not a big issue.
Summary - this phone is great when you love messing with your phone, you are going to try custom rooms, you need root and great community support. It should be your choice if you with to have hardware that has enough power to stay with you for years. If you are looking for "clearer photos" look somewhere else. This is outward lie, and camera peformance is just average. It is also not a device for you if you must have the latest technology in hand or a very decent screen.
It is also not a steal anymore. You pay a bit less than premium range and you get a bit less then premium quality. Consider what you are looking for, and if your boxes are matched go for it.
ab7casper said:
How I typically use my phone is all day, everyday. It's a bit of an ADD thing where I have to keep myself busy. Games, XDA, more games. I play VainGlory a lot, and it's pretty heavy on my phone. Does anyone else play this, and how does the 5 perform while playing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never played that game but I play some games (the Idolmaster rhythm games) that are pretty heavy and made my Nexus 6 very sad. They run very smoothly at highest settings on the 1+5, and thanks to the massive amounts of ram, I can switch between several games with no problem.
The one complaint I have is the placement of the speaker. If you are playing a game landscape orientation your hand will keep covering it. Big problem when playing rhythm games.
j0ff said:
Some photos #shotonaoneplus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those are more than acceptable pics for a smartphone. I don't expect DSLR quality, and it looks like it could be an improvement over my 6p.
I really appreciate everyone's responses. They all are very insightful, and definitely put my mind at ease about the purchase.
ab7casper said:
Those are more than acceptable pics for a smartphone. I don't expect DSLR quality, and it looks like it could be an improvement over my 6p.
I really appreciate everyone's responses. They all are very insightful, and definitely put my mind at ease about the purchase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will be happy with it, I'm sure!
From the forums you might think it's nothing but problems, but overall it is still a really great phone. Keep in mind most of the folks who even know about this phone are the pickiest of the pickiest!
yubimusubi said:
You will be happy with it, I'm sure!
From the forums you might think it's nothing but problems, but overall it is still a really great phone. Keep in mind most of the folks who even know about this phone are the pickiest of the pickiest!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, true that. I might say that camera performance means a lot to me. But I have no actual "training" in being a photographer, or what is supposed to look like what. I just like taking pictures for myself, and I throw em up on Instagram. I use a lot of my pictures for wallpapers for my phone, mainly.
If anything, the better the phone is performing at games the better it would be for me, and this sounds like a beast. I'll be doubling my ram, and storage capacity so I'll be more than happy at that fact alone. Haha
Edit: I hope this post stays near the top for anyone on the fence about the purchase. I was just thinking about you're only hearing so many users complaining about the phone, but how many other users out there that are completely satisfied.
I bought it just an hour after the event, and I'm returning it tofay. I love taking pictures with my phone and I don't like op5 photos at all. I'm sending it back this week before the 14-day period is over, I'm moving to the S8 which I found at the same price...
I just hate how it deals with low-light and with colour, in particular in the details, which are just awful. I come from three and an half years with the Nexus 5, which had OIS and an awesome HDR. In this phone, HDR pics are way too noisy and sometimes colours look much worse than non-HDR photos.
Dual camera, horrible photos I'd say
I was really excited about this phone, so I'm very disappointed. I know they might fix it in the future, but I don't feel like trusting OnePlus seeing how they are dealing with the OP3 update and with the jelly effect
P.S. Sorry for bad English, I'm new to the forum world
giaesse said:
I bought it just an hour after the event, and I'm returning it tofay. I love taking pictures with my phone and I don't like op5 photos at all. I'm sending it back this week before the 14-day period is over, I'm moving to the S8 which I found at the same price...
I just hate how it deals with low-light and with colour, in particular in the details, which are just awful. I come from three and an half years with the Nexus 5, which had OIS and an awesome HDR. In this phone, HDR pics are way too noisy and sometimes colours look much worse than non-HDR photos.
Dual camera, horrible photos I'd say
I was really excited about this phone, so I'm very disappointed. I know they might fix it in the future, but I don't feel like trusting OnePlus seeing how they are dealing with the OP3 update and with the jelly effect
P.S. Sorry for bad English, I'm new to the forum world
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK have fun in the s8 forums. deuces
I love it ?
Camera can't complain needs few extra features I think there's always pro mode but I'm not cam savvy so just use normal mode sure it will be improved in updates , ?
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk
DoobyDroid said:
I love it ?
Camera can't complain needs few extra features I think there's always pro mode but I'm not cam savvy so just use normal mode sure it will be improved in updates , ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice pics
Here are some pics I couldn't update earlier. You can see how bad the camera works in some conditions (like in the tree in two of the photos, which looks very unreal). Also in low light HDR is too noisy and I had to take twice the photo in the square and still I couldn't get a sharp image. Also you can see some artifacts in the two road pics. This is what convinced me to send this phone back, I take lots of pics and my old Nexus 5 worked better in all of these conditions
Edit: I might sound crazy, but look at the details
DoobyDroid said:
I love it ?
Camera can't complain needs few extra features I think there's always pro mode but I'm not cam savvy so just use normal mode sure it will be improved in updates , ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I figured I would take one picture and edit in Snapseed to see how that pans out. I'm posting both the original and edited.
Honestly, I don't think I'll be upset at all for the quality. I like it. The pro mode will be fun as well to play with,
Had a great time in NY with it this past weekend.
I have to say that I love the phone. I have an s8+ too and I actually don't miss it at all. I bought the LG G6 last month an lasted 1 day with it and some would, well do argue that it's a better phone than the s8.
What I like: The performance. That phone is fast in every aspect. The best example I can give is the setup. I have 161 apps. It took 2 and a half hours to download on the s8+. Guess how fast it was on the OP5 25 minutes. I've never see that before.
The screen is fine, the camera is no prize winner but no slouch either. I'm sure SW updates can make it better. The sound is good.
What I don't like: So far it's that damn screen that flips to landscape for no reason.
I didn't think of returning the phone until I saw the thread with all the people whining about the most trivial things.
The way I see it is. If the camera really matters to you. S8+, Pixel XL, U11. If not, by all means. You cannot go wrong with this. 8gb of ram 128 GB of storage and this community. Your kids can use it 6 years from now it will still be a top contender.
I understand we all have our reasoning's for and against. Figured I'd get the ball rolling on the "for" party.
-Camera. We don't have many hands-on reviews yet, but dxomark was a good start. Good to hear the camera quality overall is great. It's amazing what Google's software processing and HDR+ is capable of.
-No headphones jack. I'm actually a fan of this trade off for IP67 certification. Less I have to worry about when my phone gets splashed with water.
-Dual speakers are back. Love my stereo speakers on my 6P
-Snapdragon 835 - Would have liked a newer iteration (possibly an 836 or something) to differentiate our chips compared to the S8 which came out in April (6 months ago). It is what it is though.
-Bluetooth 5.0 - Was a must have for me. I do not own a Smart Watch yet, but I'm hoping this resolves a lot of battery life qualms when BT5.0 compatible watches come out.
The price obviously sucks, but that's what happens when you bring a carrier launching partner into play (Verizon). Google has to give Verizon some sort of incentive to sell the phone. Who knows how much profit Verizon makes off each phone.
I also thought Google would have learned to do a multi-carrier launch. That would have been their best form of advertising. I am on Verizon, but I am still getting the phone through the Google website due to their protection plan being cheaper than going through Verizon+Extended Service Plan.
Why are you getting the Pixel 2 XL?
Your reasons sum up my feelings pretty well. I had a Pixel XL and sold it recently in anticipation of upgrading. I got over half the purchase price back, a fair deal I think. The phone was nice, I liked it a lot. The camera was awesome, without a doubt the best I've used on a phone, better than the last couple digital cameras I've had. Unlimited uploading of full res pics speaks for itself. Bluetooth issues seem to have been resolved recently, had some stuttering early on but fixed now. The speakers will be a big upgrade. The battery life was great, I'm expecting the same with the new model. The monthly updates are obviously a bonus. Development is lacking because of the partitioning but the stock firmware is hard to beat especially with the need for more security and pretty much all your personal info on your phone. For years I've been wondering why it is so hard to make a phone that checks all the boxes. This one won't check all the boxes for everyone, but I think it comes close for me.
I need a good phone camera for work, love front facing speakers, stock android with fast updates. Those are my reasons, plus if the squeezable frame works as advertised, will be a bonus.
LIke you, I'm upgrading from my 6P. While I was interested in the original Pixel, there just wasn't enough to justify upgrading. It wasn't the price either. Had they offered the PXL for $399, I still doubt I'd have bought it. There simply wasn't enough to draw me from my 6P, which has been my favorite Android phone of all time. The P2XL, however, did (at least IMO). I'm not a huge phone camera guy, (If I really need good pictures, I tend to grab my SLR.) but having a good camera that doesn't require a lot of thought, but still takes great pictures and videos is no brainer. OIS+EIS on the P2XL is a huge plus in my book.
But really, the things that sold me are the IP67 rating, the squeezable frame (I use Google Assistant constantly -- and a quicker/easier way to activate it has me all giddy), the always-on display, and fast-charging (even faster than the 6P). In fact, if it had been rumored to have wireless charging, I'd have been mashing the F5 button on the website, so that I could get the pre-order in sooner. As for the headphone jack... Well, to be honest, my 6P's headphone jack has never been used. Not even once. Good riddance, I say... especially if it helps with the IP rating. Having said that, I look forward to BT5.0, and hope that, in the future, it will lead to better-sounding audio. I know that there are no (or at least, practically no) BT5.0 headphones out there, but they'll surely come. I also know that initially, BT5.0 doesn't really do anything to improve audio, but again, I'm sure that will come.
Lastly, the bezels. Am I the only one that already has accidental side-activation issues on my 6P? Moving the touch-sensitive portion of the screen closer to the edges actually sounds like a bad idea to me. Edge to edge sure looks nice, but I've always thought it comes with its share of hassles, which I simply don't need. I rather think the bezels on the P2XL are perfect. The P2, on the other hand... **shudder**.
One thing i wished was wirelss charging
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
jtwlbz said:
One thing i wished was wirelss charging
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here with the wireless charging. That needs to be a mandatory feature on all phones these days.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
I'm also so tempted to get this phone, coming from the 6P. But the price... expensive. I still have to make the decision.
But it really seems a nice phone specs, great software... plus after the 6P I couldn't go back to single speakers. Hard decision.
Google's trade in program is what did it for me. They are offering $400 back for a 32GB 1st Gen Pixel XL. I was on the fence but when I found out how much they are willing to give for the old phones, I decided get the newer version. My battery life is still great but it's definitely starting to decline. I also have a few nicks on the phone but the screen is still in tact and not shattered.
I've never used the 3.5mm jack so personally, I'm glad it's gone. I use Bluetooth headphones all the time and I'm even considering getting the new Google buds but I'm waiting to see more reviews about them.
I'm also getting more space on my phone which is a plus. I never had an issue because of High Res backups for all your photos but it's always nice to have some extra space.
They could have kept the headphone jacks and still got the IP67 or higher certification. Aside from the lame idea to not include that, the P2 checked off every gripe I had about the original Pixel, which is why I held onto my 6p for this long.
I'm also replacing my Nexus 6P with the Pixel 2 XL. I am not happy about them removing the headphone jack. Otherwise this is my ideal phone. I also ordered the pixel buds, but they're on backorder and will be a few weeks before they show up.
Had a 6P with no interest in Pixel XL. Unfortunately, had a warranty issue and ended up with an XL as a replacement. It's only a few weeks but I don't really like it. The massive white forehead and chin bezels totally take away from the display. I don't like the smaller 5.5 display coming from the 5.7. And the speakers are very weak.
It seems like the 2 XL has resolved the issues I have with the XL. I would never buy a phone with white bezels either. I am very happy with the performance of the XL and especially its camera so the 2 XL should be even better.
The fact that I received the XL as a warranty replacement and the buy-back program, I'm definitely looking forward to the 2 XL. I hope (though not holding my breath) that it will be a bit easier to custom ROM than the original Pixel.
I am coming from a Nexus 6P.
Camera: The camera on the 6p was pretty good. (except for slomo.) Looks like this one is even better. Plus OIS this time around.
Headphone Jack: I 100% dont care about this. I cant even remember the last time i used the headphone jack. I mostly only use my car (bluetooth) or my Bose Speaker (bluetooth)
Bluetooth 5.0: Since ill have this phone for 2+ years glad it has this incase something cool comes along.
Screen: My 6p has a lot of burn in. Esp the nav buttons and status bar. Its starting to drive me crazy. I hope a POLED holds up better then the AMOLED
4G of RAM: I was always coming close to using all my RAM on the N6P
Coming from a 6P as many here are.
I was gonna ride the 6P running Pure Nexus for another year (got mine in Dec 15), but ended up with the beginning symptoms of the BLOD, so I called Google (I purchased the 6P through them) and even though it was 8 months out of warranty, they did me a solid and sent me a refurbished one.
I started reading posts about others who received a refurb'd 6P from Google having BLOD issues on the refurbs.
So I started thinking about other devices.
Then Nate (Beanstown106) dev for PN on my 6P posts that he ordered the Pixel 2 XL, and that did it for me.
Ordered my unlocked, all black 64 gb 2 XL last week. I'm on Verizon, but I prefer unlocked, and Google got my $ since they took care of me on a way out of warranty device.
Looking forward to whatever Nate cooks up for he 2 XL!
Hoping 2 XL screen and cellular connectivity are without issue.
I just received XL to replace 6P and thought I'd keep it but screen has a dead zone across top row apps. 2 XL release is good timing so I'll take advantage of the $410 trade in deal.
Why are dual speakers a must for you guys?
I'm also replacing my 6P with a Pixel 2 XL. I do wonder though, why do so many people care about dual speakers. What do you guys actually do with them that makes them such a must?
I'm not trying to insult anyone, just genuinely curious.
I mean, phone speakers sound terrible in general right... So, I sometimes use them to watch a quick YouTube video, or a quick audio file where audio quality doesn't really matter too much. A single speaker would have sufficed as long as you can hear it.
But if you listen to music, wouldn't you use a quality Bluetooth speaker or quality headphones? Same with movies right? I mean I just assume these are scenarios where quality of the audio matters.
Any insight on this?
scandalousk said:
I'm also replacing my 6P with a Pixel 2 XL. I do wonder though, why do so many people care about dual speakers. What do you guys actually do with them that makes them such a must?
I'm not trying to insult anyone, just genuinely curious.
I mean, phone speakers sound terrible in general right... So, I sometimes use them to watch a quick YouTube video, or a quick audio file where audio quality doesn't really matter too much. A single speaker would have sufficed as long as you can hear it.
But if you listen to music, wouldn't you use a quality Bluetooth speaker or quality headphones? Same with movies right? I mean I just assume these are scenarios where quality of the audio matters.
Any insight on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.
Not about music but think for many front speakers beat down fire speakers because there is no muting when holding phone. Me, holding XL phone one handed my pinky covers at least one speaker.
My story - have been on 6p for 2 years (almost exactly to the date). The past few months the phone started developing battery, uhm, issues like death at 20%, random crashes etc. Ordered 2xl the day of the announcement. Dual speakers NBD, the camera is (generally happy with 6p's but the better the better.) When listening to music I use the sony pha-1a with good headphones, via usb-c to usb adapter. Looking forward to the 2XL, hope google doesn't do the same thing they did 2 years ago when people ordering two weeks later getting their phones while we suckers wait and wait. And wait. Then drop the order, reorder and get the new phone in 2 days..
scandalousk said:
I'm also replacing my 6P with a Pixel 2 XL. I do wonder though, why do so many people care about dual speakers. What do you guys actually do with them that makes them such a must?
I'm not trying to insult anyone, just genuinely curious.
I mean, phone speakers sound terrible in general right... So, I sometimes use them to watch a quick YouTube video, or a quick audio file where audio quality doesn't really matter too much. A single speaker would have sufficed as long as you can hear it.
But if you listen to music, wouldn't you use a quality Bluetooth speaker or quality headphones? Same with movies right? I mean I just assume these are scenarios where quality of the audio matters.
Any insight on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as you can hear it is key for me. Many times I'll want to hear a song or video but can't due to background noise. This is not a problem for my 6P but was for every other phone
November will be 2 years with my 6P and I can honestly say it's been my favorite phone to date.
I've enjoyed the dual front facing speakers when I watch youtube stuff, the camera is well above average and I've enjoyed the various custom roms that some very talented developers have put together. The whole experience has been good but it's now time to get something new, especially with the battery starting to do the whole shutdown thing at 30% or so.
The Pixel 2 XL has pretty much everything I like in a phone and while I don't love the cost, I'm doing it anyway.
I don't care about the headphone jack, as I never use it, but I do understand why a lot of people are upset. Sound is definitely better through a wired headset.
I chose the 64 gb version, as it's enough for my uses, but I would have really preferred that the phone had expandable memory. I'll deal with it as I have with my 6P. Going to the 128gb would have brought the cost to over $1000 with tax and that was my breaking point. Lmao!!
I'm pretty excited and wish I hadn't waited until the 5th to order mine as it probably cost me a couple of days. I'm still looking at delivery by 10/26 or 27 so it's all happening.
There isn't a perfect phone as everyone has different desires, but I've gotta say that Google really comes close and I'm happy with my choice.
scandalousk said:
I'm also replacing my 6P with a Pixel 2 XL. I do wonder though, why do so many people care about dual speakers. What do you guys actually do with them that makes them such a must?
I'm not trying to insult anyone, just genuinely curious.
I mean, phone speakers sound terrible in general right... So, I sometimes use them to watch a quick YouTube video, or a quick audio file where audio quality doesn't really matter too much. A single speaker would have sufficed as long as you can hear it.
But if you listen to music, wouldn't you use a quality Bluetooth speaker or quality headphones? Same with movies right? I mean I just assume these are scenarios where quality of the audio matters.
Any insight on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After having stereo sound for years using a stereo mod on a Nexus 5 and having stereo speakers on the 6P, I cannot stand watching videos or playing games in landscape with a single bottom firing speaker. It's literally my only gripe about the Pixel XL I'm trading in for the 2 XL.
Perhaps it was just interesting timing that my previous secondary phone (the HTC One) died when it did, but whatever the reason was, I ended up picking up a used Nexus 6 a few weeks ago to serve as a combination backup and secondary phone. When the battery in my daily driver, the Moto X Pure Edition, took a crap last week, the "backup" side of that purpose was put to the test. Here's how it went:
XDA Stuff: Unlocking the bootloader, obtaining root, and installing the Xposed Framework (along with MinMinGuad and GravityBox) & A.R.I.S.E. audio was extremely painless. You'd be hard pressed to find too many other newer Verizon-compatible devices that are this easy to get started with that stuff on.
Device's casing: For having a screen that is only .26" larger, this phone sure is a lot wider than the Moto X Pure Edition. It's also extremely slippery. I'm surprised these things last as long as they do among folks with "normal-sized" hands. Anything much wider than 3" is a recipe for droppage. Thankfully, I got it with one of those giant super-grip kickstand casings. While this improves the grip dramatically, it makes the device extremely cumbersome to pocket. The kickstand comes in handy all the time though. It's sad that this monstrosity covers up the loud-and-proud NEXUS badge on the back though. It's kind of like hiding the Verizon logo; you just don't do it.
Screen: Easily the Nexus 6's biggest weakness. Aside from Samsung, Motorola seemed to be one of the biggest proponents of Oled panels during the days of the Nexus 6 (and even before). I'm probably in the minority with this opinion, but the Pure Edition's LCD really spoiled me, so the Nexus 6's panel was a letdown. Not only is there no option to switch to a more natural color profile under the stock rom/kernel, but the panel also isn't the brightest and burn-in is a noticeable problem, especially thanks to Motorola's insistence on using software keys instead of hardware navigation buttons. Despite these flaws, it is functional and usable, but the cartoony/awful color calibration just looks goofy. Turning the brightness down low takes it from "kind-of silly" to laughably bad. As a short-term backup/tester, it is acceptable, but I wouldn't daily this thing long-term without installing a customer kernel and applying some corrections.
Quirks: Like the Moto X Pure Edition, the Nexus 6's screen is set very low on the face of the device (although it is less noticeable on the former). I'd imagine that this serves to make the machine slightly more manageable duing single-handed operation (like a hardware implementation of Apple's "reachability" ) and also to improve visual symmetry with those software navigation keys (while the screen is on).
Also, the MicroUSB port is strangely upside-down on this phone.
Camera, Speakers: Seems comparable to the Pure Edition. Optical stabilization makes getting a steady shot in low light (or any lighting, for that matter) much easier and negates the need for digital stabilization in video recording mode, which improves field-of-view. Speakers sound about the same, although the hardware/software that drive them is noticeably "crustier" sounding. Still, it's very much usable.
Wireless Radio performance and compatibility: Didn't test side-by-side, but anecdotally seems identical to the Pure Edition. The massive number of GSM, CDMA, and LTE bands supported by this device is highly impressive, just like the Pure.
Vibration motor: Still noisier than it should be, but not quite as terrible as the Pure Edition. Also feels a bit stronger.
Software: Bland and boring, but gets the job done. I miss the Motorola camera and flashlight gestures (although the power key double-tap eliminates the need for the former) as well as the IR-assisted active display feature. Also, the "attentive display" (which keeps the screen awake as long as the camera can see the user) was very much missed. Also also, I was disappointed to see that there is no way to enable any kind of "night mode," even on the latest-and-greatest Android 7.1.
Conclusion: Nexus 6 is a good phone for the price these days. The camera is better than I originally gave it credit for, but don't buy this phone for its screen. If you want a cheap (but modern) Android phone that works on Verizon Wireless and can have its bootloader unlocked easily, (but don't want to pony up the additional $35-60 that the Moto X Pure Edition sells for) it's hard to go wrong with the 6. The battery is not user-replaceable, but holds up well. And, unlike the Nexus 6p, it won't fold in half!
Bottom line: Budget-minded Verizon customers might be better off with the Pure Edition, but if even that phone costs too much, the Nexus 6 is not a bad consolation prize. I couldn't ask for a better secondary/tester device.
Bill720 said:
.
Software: Bland and boring, but gets the job done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude this is vanilla android. Here we dont want crappy oems bloats and features. We want pure android. This is a Nexus not crapsung
Realistically, I have no idea what the OP is talking about when refers to the software being bland and boring. Motorola's implementation of Android was equally bland and boring. The few things Motorola added to Android didn't change matters.
That said, I'm guessing he's comparing the N6 to the Moto X Pure from 2014. The Moto X Pure/Style from 2015 my roommate uses has a camera with more megapixels but lacks OIS. I would argue the N6 camera is better despite having fewer pixels than the Moto X Pure (2015) 21MP shooter, simply because the N6 camera actually lets more light in. Then there is HDR+. People don't like it because it's slower than HDR from other manufacturers. HDR is faster because it's a software overlay on the image, rather than hardware compositing of images like HDR+.
Based on my experience with both the Moto X Pure (2015) and the Nexus 6, the Nexus 6 is the easier device to customize. Not only do you not have to beg Motorola for an bootloader unlock code with the N6, you also have more extensive custom ROM support. My roommate's Moto X is running Lineage OS because there's virtually no ROM support for the device.
The "Quirk" of having the screen set low on the body is because Motorola designed the display for both devices to always have the soft keys always up. With them up the usable display area is actually centered. Between the two, the N6's AMOLED screen, despite its issues in sunlight, is still the better screen. It's hard to beat a screen that actually displays the color black as black and not gray as it does on an IPS LCD.
thoughts on responses
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
That said, I'm guessing he's comparing the N6 to the Moto X Pure from 2014. The Moto X Pure/Style from 2015 my roommate uses has a camera with more megapixels but lacks OIS. I would argue the N6 camera is better despite having fewer pixels than the Moto X Pure (2015) 21MP shooter, simply because the N6 camera actually lets more light in. Then there is HDR+. People don't like it because it's slower than HDR from other manufacturers. HDR is faster because it's a software overlay on the image, rather than hardware compositing of images like HDR+.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too am thinking of the 2015-release Pure Edition, which does indeed lack optical stabilization. Despite this, the seemingly-ludicrous resolution actually lends itself to capturing a lot of interesting detail that I've come to enjoy. Given that, I'd have to say that image quality is probably a draw, depending on conditions.
As for HDR+, I don't know if it's hardware-exclusive, but it does do some pretty amazing things, even in subpar conditions.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Based on my experience with both the Moto X Pure (2015) and the Nexus 6, the Nexus 6 is the easier device to customize. Not only do you not have to beg Motorola for an bootloader unlock code with the N6, you also have more extensive custom ROM support. My roommate's Moto X is running Lineage OS because there's virtually no ROM support for the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't speak to the quality of the custom roms on the Pure Edition, but the stock Rom is pretty darn good, so it's not as big of a loss. The stock kernel is pretty decent too. All I needed to install with that unlocked bootloader was Root, the Xposed Framework, and A.R.I.S.E. audio. While getting to that state of unlocked bootloader was a bit more fiddly than on the Nexus 6, it's better than most Verizon-certified devices.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Between the two, the N6's AMOLED screen, despite its issues in sunlight, is still the better screen. It's hard to beat a screen that actually displays the color black as black and not gray as it does on an IPS LCD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While the contrast is better, I don't consider the burn-in, green tint, (pink tint when the brightness is set low) and horrible default calibration to be worthy sacrifices to make for it. And this is coming from almost five years of Samsung Oled use. Compared to a low-grade LCD, the 6's screen might be arguably superior, but the Pure Edition has one of the best screens in the business, so the Nexus 6 is no match for it, both objectively and subjectively. Make no mistake - it's a decent and very much usable panel by itself, but definitely not the best.
Two years ago when I was in the market for a new device my final two choices were between the N6 and the Moto X Style. The Moto X Style lost. Not because it isn't a good device - my roommate has one - but because of two things. The screen, and the camera.
No matter how you slice it, LCDs are older technology, and not as battery efficient as AMOLED. As a more mature technology they are more trouble free than AMOLED however. But for media consumption, having your blacks actually be black more than compensates for burn in. Burn in which, I might add, I don't see on my device to any noticeable degree. Oh, and size did matter here.
As for the camera, ignoring the obvious, the lack of OIS, more pixels does not equal better pictures. Wonder why so few flagship devices go above 13 megapixels in 2017? It's because of the law of diminishing returns. A simple truth about a digital camera is that the more pixels a camera has the less light each pixel can take in due to decreased surface area of the individual CCDs making up the sensor. The solution OEMs came up with? Decrease the pixels and increase the aperture. For me, the decrease in pixels was more than offset by improved light gathering capability and the presence of OIS. HDR+ is a bonus but didn't figure in my decision.
Heading into 2018, I still would take the N6 over the Moto X Style. But about this time next year I anticipate having a Pixel 2XL, so there you go.
Two things I don't like about displays today:
1) Unnecessarily high resolution, which makes the SoC work harder, leading to less performance and worse battery life. There is no point in having more details than the eye can see (around 300 dpi).
2) Pentile on almost all amoled displays. It looks fuzzy, unless of course the resolution is unnecessarily high. It was noticeable on the Galaxy Nexus with its lower resolution, and it makes me think twice about the OnePlus 5.
Google should have given the N6 a 1920x1080 display without pentile.
screen technology and camera performance
runekock said:
Two things I don't like about displays today:
1) Unnecessarily high resolution, which makes the SoC work harder, leading to less performance and worse battery life. There is no point in having more details than the eye can see (around 300 dpi).
2) Pentile on almost all amoled displays. It looks fuzzy, unless of course the resolution is unnecessarily high. It was noticeable on the Galaxy Nexus with its lower resolution, and it makes me think twice about the OnePlus 5.
Google should have given the N6 a 1920x1080 display without pentile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bingo. The reason why the Galaxy Note 2 (that I used before) was able to get away with just 720x1280 on a 5.5" Oled panel was because it used a proper subpixel layout that did not share pixels. These days, 1080x1920 is probably a more appropriate choice for this size class, but if the panel uses the dreaded "pentile" layout, then it automatically decreases the perceived/effective resolution.
Thanks to its proper RGB subpixel layout, the Pure Edition could've gotten away with a 1080x1920 panel and had resolution to spare, but the Nexus 6 needs its 2K display in order to compensate for the loss in sharpness that is caused by use of pentile.
No matter the reason, as you mentioned, forcing the chipset to render exponentially-higher resolution graphics strains it more than would've been necessary.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Two years ago when I was in the market for a new device my final two choices were between the N6 and the Moto X Style. The Moto X Style lost. Not because it isn't a good device - my roommate has one - but because of two things. The screen, and the camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's interesting that you mention this because, one year ago, I was in the market for a new device and the Pure Edition won on the basis of its unlockable bootloader, Verizon compatibility, and having one of the best screens in the industry. I'd been burned by Samsung and their "super" amoled nonsense twice in a row by that point and decided to get away from it altogether for future daily-driver smartphones (at least until the technology matured).
While I too was originally concerned by the high camera resolution, figuring that the mainstream reviewers' opinions were probably right, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it actually does a really good job. You are correct to say that resolution isn't everything, but I was pleasantly surprised. Lack of optical stabilization was a slight letdown, but I've been nothing short of blown away by the quality of the photos, especially when one considers how low the bar was set by the mainstream reviews.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
No matter how you slice it, LCDs are older technology, and not as battery efficient as AMOLED. As a more mature technology they are more trouble free than AMOLED however. But for media consumption, having your blacks actually be black more than compensates for burn in. Burn in which, I might add, I don't see on my device to any noticeable degree. Oh, and size did matter here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "battery efficiency" thing is debatable, but the contrast ratio of the Pure Edition is very good as it stands, especially considering its nearly-triple maximum brightness output when compared to the 6. The lack of "perfect black" is hardly even noticeable unless you're using the device in a particularly dark environment or are really looking for it.
I could give the 6 a pass here if the software complemented the hardware, but as it is, the default calibration is nothing short of horrendous (and it gets worse as you turn the brightness down). Having to install a custom kernel and fiddle around to get something that almost matches what the other phone can do out-of-the-box with the stock kernel is a noteworthy letdown for me.
Screen calibration? You've been watching too many of Erica Griffin's review videos on YouTube. She is the only device reviewer I'm aware of who goes so insanely into depth regarding the screen. And I get why she does it, since without a screen a smartphone is but a chunk of plastic, metal, and silicon. But there are more people like me than there are you: people who don't actively look for issues like that. That said, I have to wonder if my device, being a late vintage, used an updated panel. The colors are about as accurate as on my laptop.
I say that because I've never had to install a custom kernel to fix something that to me isn't broken.
some idiot comes into a nexus forum filled with a million ways to change anything you want and cries about not being able to change things... what?
@def1003: And who exactly is the idiot? Up until your post the discussion has been civil between @Bill720 and myself. We may not agree with each other, but he has put forth solid reasoning behind the assessment he made. He's earned respect for that, as the two devices are indeed very similar in specifications, and choosing between one and the other is difficult.
on Oled screens...
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Screen calibration? You've been watching too many of Erica Griffin's review videos on YouTube. She is the only device reviewer I'm aware of who goes so insanely into depth regarding the screen. And I get why she does it, since without a screen a smartphone is but a chunk of plastic, metal, and silicon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't say that I watch too many of her videos, (the last one I actually remember was the Galaxy Note 2 dummy phone drop test series) but I'll study up take a look at some of her thoughts on the Nexus 6.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
But there are more people like me than there are you: people who don't actively look for issues like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My opinion is based on more than benchmarks (which objectively demonstrate poor quality) however. I'm not "that guy" who has a calibration gadget and calibrates all his monitors, but I can tell the difference between "good enough" and when everything looks like a cartoon. It's not just that I'm accustomed to the Pure Edition and all of the other monitors and screens that I use on a regular basis; it's also the fact that, after looking at the real world and then the Nexus 6's portrayal of the world, the mind knows that something isn't right.
That's not to say that it isn't fun to look at sometimes, but the mediocre default calibration crushes the natural vibrance of the displayed image, both objectively and subjectively. And that's at normal brightness. Turn the dial down, and things go from disappointing to downright silly.
I realize that OEMs are bound by some unseen force to perpetuate the myth of Oled's "vibrance" by applying these hyped-up calibrations from the factory, but all I'm asking for is the option. In the Moto X Pure Edition's stock rom/kernel, the user is given a choice between a "natural" and "vibrant" profile. If they'd provided something like that on the Nexus 6's stock software, I'd be accepting of their willingness to make an effort. From what I've heard, Samsung and OnePlus now give at least 2 choices on their Oled-equipped phones. I understand that even the "natural" option isn't anywhere close to perfectly calibrated, (regardless of display technology) but it at least lands the ball in the park, which is all I want.
Ironically, that is what Google is doing for the Pixel 2/2XL. But only after people complained about the natural color palette Google used. If blame were to be applied for the punchy and vibrant colors of AMOLED, look no further than Samsung. And since they are the biggest Android OEM, more people see their screens and expect all other screens to look like that.
I think I'm one of them. My last device was a Galaxy S4.
thoughts on Oled calibration
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Ironically, that is what Google is doing for the Pixel 2/2XL. But only after people complained about the natural color palette Google used. If blame were to be applied for the punchy and vibrant colors of AMOLED, look no further than Samsung. And since they are the biggest Android OEM, more people see their screens and expect all other screens to look like that.
I think I'm one of them. My last device was a Galaxy S4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps Samsung has trained its customers to expect cartoony results on Oled screens by using their marketing muscle to perpetuate the myth of Oled's "vibrance." This doesn't mean that it's a mainstream opinion though, as Apple has historically managed to get their iPhones in the ballpark as well. We'll have to see what they do with the new Oled-based iPhone X.
I don't know if it will do anything, but I just installed an Android 8.1 ROM and toggled the SRGB colorspace option in Developer Options.
Bill720 said:
Perhaps it was just interesting timing that my previous secondary phone (the HTC One) died when it did, but whatever the reason was, I ended up picking up a used Nexus 6 a few weeks ago to serve as a combination backup and secondary phone. When the battery in my daily driver, the Moto X Pure Edition, took a crap last week, the "backup" side of that purpose was put to the test. Here's how it went:
XDA Stuff: Unlocking the bootloader, obtaining root, and installing the Xposed Framework (along with MinMinGuad and GravityBox) & A.R.I.S.E. audio was extremely painless. You'd be hard pressed to find too many other newer Verizon-compatible devices that are this easy to get started with that stuff on.
Device's casing: For having a screen that is only .26" larger, this phone sure is a lot wider than the Moto X Pure Edition. It's also extremely slippery. I'm surprised these things last as long as they do among folks with "normal-sized" hands. Anything much wider than 3" is a recipe for droppage. Thankfully, I got it with one of those giant super-grip kickstand casings. While this improves the grip dramatically, it makes the device extremely cumbersome to pocket. The kickstand comes in handy all the time though. It's sad that this monstrosity covers up the loud-and-proud NEXUS badge on the back though. It's kind of like hiding the Verizon logo; you just don't do it.
Screen: Easily the Nexus 6's biggest weakness. Aside from Samsung, Motorola seemed to be one of the biggest proponents of Oled panels during the days of the Nexus 6 (and even before). I'm probably in the minority with this opinion, but the Pure Edition's LCD really spoiled me, so the Nexus 6's panel was a letdown. Not only is there no option to switch to a more natural color profile under the stock rom/kernel, but the panel also isn't the brightest and burn-in is a noticeable problem, especially thanks to Motorola's insistence on using software keys instead of hardware navigation buttons. Despite these flaws, it is functional and usable, but the cartoony/awful color calibration just looks goofy. Turning the brightness down low takes it from "kind-of silly" to laughably bad. As a short-term backup/tester, it is acceptable, but I wouldn't daily this thing long-term without installing a customer kernel and applying some corrections.
Quirks: Like the Moto X Pure Edition, the Nexus 6's screen is set very low on the face of the device (although it is less noticeable on the former). I'd imagine that this serves to make the machine slightly more manageable duing single-handed operation (like a hardware implementation of Apple's "reachability" ) and also to improve visual symmetry with those software navigation keys (while the screen is on).
Also, the MicroUSB port is strangely upside-down on this phone.
Camera, Speakers: Seems comparable to the Pure Edition. Optical stabilization makes getting a steady shot in low light (or any lighting, for that matter) much easier and negates the need for digital stabilization in video recording mode, which improves field-of-view. Speakers sound about the same, although the hardware/software that drive them is noticeably "crustier" sounding. Still, it's very much usable.
Wireless Radio performance and compatibility: Didn't test side-by-side, but anecdotally seems identical to the Pure Edition. The massive number of GSM, CDMA, and LTE bands supported by this device is highly impressive, just like the Pure.
Vibration motor: Still noisier than it should be, but not quite as terrible as the Pure Edition. Also feels a bit stronger.
Software: Bland and boring, but gets the job done. I miss the Motorola camera and flashlight gestures (although the power key double-tap eliminates the need for the former) as well as the IR-assisted active display feature. Also, the "attentive display" (which keeps the screen awake as long as the camera can see the user) was very much missed. Also also, I was disappointed to see that there is no way to enable any kind of "night mode," even on the latest-and-greatest Android 7.1.
Conclusion: Nexus 6 is a good phone for the price these days. The camera is better than I originally gave it credit for, but don't buy this phone for its screen. If you want a cheap (but modern) Android phone that works on Verizon Wireless and can have its bootloader unlocked easily, (but don't want to pony up the additional $35-60 that the Moto X Pure Edition sells for) it's hard to go wrong with the 6. The battery is not user-replaceable, but holds up well. And, unlike the Nexus 6p, it won't fold in half!
Bottom line: Budget-minded Verizon customers might be better off with the Pure Edition, but if even that phone costs too much, the Nexus 6 is not a bad consolation prize. I couldn't ask for a better secondary/tester device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the same money, about $100, the Kodak Ektra has much faster overall performance and brighter screen.
RGB and Kodak
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
I don't know if it will do anything, but I just installed an Android 8.1 ROM and toggled the SRGB colorspace option in Developer Options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That option is there in the stock rom too, but it doesn't do anything. In fact, if you back out of the developer options and go back in, you'll find that it is turned back off.
damiloveu said:
For the same money, about $100, the Kodak Ektra has much faster overall performance and brighter screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's an interesting-looking product for sure, and while I would have to assume that they put a decent camera in the thing, there's very little support or discussion on it anywhere. It doesn't even have a forum on XDA DEVELOPERS. The biggest non-starter for me, however, is lack of band 13 LTE and CDMA support/certification for Verizon. This could possibly be an attractive buy for AT&T or Tmobile customers, however, depending on how the rest of the experience holds up.
@Bill720: If I recall correctly it's nothing special, with its only claim to fame being the camera.
And I did notice that the SRGB toggle shut itself off.
Kodak fails to replace Motorola...
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
@Bill720: If I recall correctly it's nothing special, with its only claim to fame being the camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably true. After reading/watching some of the few mainstream reviews that do exist for it, the conclusion reached is that the camera is acceptable, but nothing better than the high-end phones of 2016. The rest of the experience was average (at best) and the device does not appear to have gained enough mainstream traction for "XDA stuff" (root, Xposed, custom roms/kernels, etc.).
While we're on the topic of alternative phones however, for folks who can tolerate Oled, the OG Droid Turbo combines the camera, features/software, and elegance of the Moto X Pure Edition with the screen technology and chipset of the Nexus 6, while adding in a positively massive battery pack. The prices on that phone have now dipped down below $100, (with some being sold for as little as 75-85) but a $25 ransom must be paid to be able to unlock the bootloader. If it weren't for the Oled screen, that thing would come dangerously close to "daily driver material" for me personally, and the fact that the navigation keys are hardware instead of drawn on-screen does eliminate the prime cause of uneven Oled panel wear.
with the nexus rooted and using the paid app colour changer pro i have tweaked my nexus 6 to a really good screen with all the colours and tones looking perfect , without that app the screen was not the best , now i think it is , but using the same app on my samsung s8+ has boosted the look and feel perfectly , if your not happy with your screens look then try that app as it will make you enjoy your old nexus 6 or any oled or lcd phone.
@peekie: I'm sure he has already done that. As much as we may like the device, we have to keep in mind this device is not perfect. As someone new to the N6 he found the experience disappointing, mainly because of the screen. I can understand where he is coming from, even though I've not had any issues with the screen. What I did find laughable was the poster who thought a budget Kodak phone could in any way compete with two flagship-level devices.
So, I got the XZ Premium when it came out last June and have absolutely loved the phone since I've gotten it (I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Sony phones although I'm not entirely sure why). I've really been considering the Pixel 2 XL though.
The two biggest things that the Pixel has over the XZP is significantly better camera performance in virtually every aspect, and the speakers on the phone are louder with more volume steps for better sound control.
The thing I can't stand about the Pixel is the 18:9 aspect ratio. Almost every major phone last year brought this and I seriously can't stand it. I understand the appeal and why people like it, but I hate it because there is literally no media content in this aspect ratio so everything ends with wasted space on the screen (including many games). I don't do a lot of gaming but I am a big media person when it comes to streaming and such.
The headphone jack is a non-issue for me (and the XZP volume/quality through it isn't all that great anyway, especially volume, and I use BT headphones all the time regardless).
The one complaint I have with the 4K display is that I don't have a lot of content available to me so I feel like that's mostly a waste as well.
I'm rambling now, sorry, but you can see my dilemma now, I hope. I just want to hear some of your guys' thoughts on the comparison. I've had a really hard time finding any competent reviews comparing the two directly.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
The Premium does not use the 4K screen all the time so it is not really a waste, nor does it affect the battery life. I have the Premium. I too have been looking at the Pixel XL and the cost is way too high even compared to the Premium. Also, there are many complaints about the Pixel concerning the screen...not just the color shift which may, or may not be an issue for you...but there are also issues with touch problems, swiping problems, and image retention/burn-in. The Premium has an LCD screen that does NOT have any of these issues. The image on this screen is one of the best there is without the worry that Oled introduces. Besides, the screen is the primary way you interact with any current phone and the Premium uses a 16:9 aspect ratio which you want and it has the stereo speakers just like the Pixel. So I think you already know the answer to your question...stay with the Premium for now and let's see what MWC brings us at the end of February.
jaseman said:
The Premium does not use the 4K screen all the time so it is not really a waste, nor does it affect the battery life. I have the Premium. I too have been looking at the Pixel XL and the cost is way too high even compared to the Premium. Also, there are many complaints about the Pixel concerning the screen...not just the color shift which may, or may not be an issue for you...but there are also issues with touch problems, swiping problems, and image retention/burn-in. The Premium has an LCD screen that does NOT have any of these issues. The image on this screen is one of the best there is without the worry that Oled introduces. Besides, the screen is the primary way you interact with any current phone and the Premium uses a 16:9 aspect ratio which you want and it has the stereo speakers just like the Pixel. So I think you already know the answer to your question...stay with the Premium for now and let's see what MWC brings us at the end of February.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rumor has it that Sony may be adopting the awful 18:9 aspect ratio with their new phone. I really hope this isn't true because I really don't like it.
One of the biggest things the Pixel has going for it in my mind is the immediate security patches and updates. I love that, but I guess it isn't too big of an issue.
There's always trade-offs, I just have a hard time deciding which I can live with.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
Just think of 18:9 as a 16:9 screen with extra space for the on-screen buttons. With you watch videos or play games on the Pixel 2 XL the content size is the same as with the XZ Premium (actually it's slightly larger since the XZP has a 5.46" display compared to the 5.5" equivalent of the Pixel). You're just trading unused screen space for the XZP's unused bezel space. I guess a benefit of 18:9 for streaming media is that widescreen content e.g. 2.35:1 can be viewed bigger than with 16:9 displays. The XZP won't suffer any burn in, although LCD also means bad blacks when watching stuff in darkness.
Since you don't need the headphone jack I think the Pixel 2 XL is the better choice. Mainly because its camera and software (stock ROM and community development strength) are light years ahead of the XZP.
I wouldn't buy either at this day and age especially when the sony xz pro is being revealed in 1 months time. Just hold off and buy the most recent device. Especially knowing it will be running SD845.
bought an Pixel 2 XL and I'm seriously disappointed. Lots of reboots, odd freezes, and weird moments like being unable to answer a call. The screen is a non-issue, but it doesn't seem as rich/crisp as XZP. Most of these issues never happened on my XZP, so I'm switching back and selling the pixel2XL.
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 LG G7 ThinQ, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the LG G7 ThinQ is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
Just picked up 2 of these on T-mobile's BOGO sale. So far, I'm really enjoying the hardware. The phone is slick looking and feels solid. The interface and apps are snappy. The camera hardware is great, the software for it has room for improvement. The only thing I'm not grooving on is LG's android skin. A lot of it seems unnecessary, over-complicated, and doesn't match up visually with stock Android. The screen is great so far, no light bleed or polarization problems I remember from my last LCD screen. The colors are vibrant and true and the display is bright with a dim, always-on option. I am sad that it's not VR/Daydream compatible because of the screen (so I've read, anyway), but I honestly don't remember the last time I've used either of those on our Google phones (Coming from Nexus 6P and Pixel XL). At full price these might not have been my first choice, but the BOGO offer made them a no-brainer. So far, pretty happy with the purchase. Time and use will tell if I'll ultimately be content with the camera and get over the weird LG skin.
Oh, and yeah, case these babies up. They feel like nice solid phones but ultimately are mostly glass that LOVES to grab your fingerprints and put them on display. I just washed my hands and wiped my phone down. Pick it back up, already it's covered in prints and smudges.
I pre ordered mine in Canada as it came with a 43" 4K LG TV gift. +$700 value so it was a 'no-brainer' purchase for me too.
Had G6 and loved its wide angle cam and customized it to my liking.
G7 screen is beautiful! In my experience OLED phones suffer screen burn after a year or 2, esp. with white theme of vanilla android. So, im happy w the LCD and its full rich color spectrum. It pops and is bright.
The notch is a welcome as it is bones real estate for notifications. Nothing lost and 100pixels gained.
Form factor is ideal. So lightweight yet solid and shiny. I thought my box was empty when i purchased it.
LG skin/launcher sux. Hate it. I Dont mind the LG settings / phone app. And props to LG for switching to stock android messaging.
What I do to improve my phone:
1 - put on pixel 2 launcher:
*it*ub.com/amirzaidi/launcher3/releases - props Amir! Outstanding. Supports substratum.
2 - Dark LG Theme
3 - XDAs Gestures Navigation
With these small adjustments makes G7 the best LG has to offer and top 5 mobile device available today
I love everything about it. The LG skin is meh, but regardless I use nova launcher anyway. My only issue atm is the bottom firing speaker. It sounds great and all, but I accidentally cover it a lot and also coming from Sony phones, stereo speakers will be missed. I would have also preferred if the volume buttoms were more centered. Holding it in landscape, my left pinky is always hitting the volume by accident.
I'm usually not a fan of LG but so far this phone is a major Go! I can easily see myself not going back to my S9 plus. LG really nailed the little things on this one. Nice premium feel, satisfying haptic feedback yes the vibrations on this thing are as good as any iPhone. This is something that no android maker actually got until now. I remember the buzzy, tinny feeling of the oneplus 3 and even the Xiaomi mix 2, definite turn offs. They build on everything they got right with the G6. Not a big fan of the UI but it's still a lot better than the previous iterations.
So far what I don't like is the lack of dual speakers, sure the bottom firing speaker is loud and layed flat on hard surface this phone sounds amazing, however most of my media consumption is done when I wake up. So lying in bed watching YouTube this amazing speaker is pointless. The s9 actually remembers the volume of my Bluetooth devices so that when I put in my wireless earbuds my head doesn't explode because I had the volume cranked all the way up in my car. The G7 has no such function. Small potatoes though, definitely not a deal breaker. Still running it through its paces but so far, I'm impressed.
Sent from my LGE LM-G710 using XDA Labs
Coming from a pixel 2 XL I've really enjoyed the phone so far. Hardware wise the phone is a major hit, premium look and feel that makes my pixel feel cheap in comparison. Two concerns so far are subpar battery life, and the camera software. Coming from my pixel I feel those are two downgrades but literally everything else is an improvement by a long shot.
Additionally the phone has great haptics, and fantastic audio quality from the headphone Jack. Awesome phone especially with the BOGO deal on T-Mobile.
i'm wubbin it. camera isn't nearly as sharp as the s9+ i had for a week, but it doesn't overexpose every other pic like the sammy did. i thought i would hate the notch, but it has grown on me and makes more sense now that i've used it for a bit. i find myself using the boombox feature quite often. display is SUPER crisp and colors are perfect. it's hard to believe this is an LCD panel. if you told me it was OLED i would have to look pretty hard to see a difference. battery life has been really good for 3000mah. can't wait for LG to iron out all the small bugs in the coming updates.
You have to excuse my language, I am dutch.
I am completely stoked about the G7. I listen music on the speaker a lot and the sound is outstanding for a phone. Even better when using headphones. The screen is really nice and easier for the eyes than an oled screen (no eye strain) . I liked the quality of the pictures on my G5 and see a nice improvement on the G7. Better pictures at night, nice colors and sharp. Have to play around with the different camera options still. No problems with connectivity and everything runs very fast and smoothly.
The only thing I like less is the software/skin. Having trouble finding simple options, not much logic in there. But that's something I will get used to so not really a problem.
The phone looks beautifull but is slippery as hell. Fell on the first day on a tile floor (and my hart missed a beat but the phone was fine). So I bought a Spigen Though Armor case. I have a muscle disease and the case adds a nice bulk to the phone for me.
The biggest suprise is the battery. It lasts a lot longer than I feared after reading different reviews. I make it thrue two days and one night on a single charge so far while playing a lot with the phone..
Very much in love with my phone
I love almost everything with this phone. Surprisingly including the battery life. It's been very good to me (aod off). On standby it's very efficient only sipping battery. Around 3% during 8 hrs sleep. I could get around 6hrs sot during 12-13 hrs of use.
Coming from pixel 2 xl and oneplus 6, the screen for me is GORGEOUS. LG produces the best LCD, period. The 1000 nits boost = awesome.
Boom box sound is very good. However I feel the use of case reduces its effect.
UI performance is smooth, multi tasking is good, all up to the standards of 2018.
My biggest gripe with this phone is its camera. Well I mightve been spoiled by pixel 2 xl.
1.The camera's shutter lag on medium to low light is too long for my liking
2. the detail on medium to low light is worse than my oneplus 6
3. In good light, it often overexposes
Also, I play a MOBA game called Mobile Legends which my pixel 2 xl (sd835) and Oneplus 6 (845) eats like it's nothing. It seems the g7 sometimes rendering it not at stable 60fps. Feels like only 30+ fps. I suspect that this is caused by cpu/gpu throttling done by LG, hence the surprisingly good battery life considering its 3000ma size.
Overall love this phone, but the camera alone is holding me back to keep this phone as my daily driver after I shoot my YouTube review.
My favourite device of this year!!
For my personal use its near on perfect - smooth and fast in operation with far better battery life than I expected considering the battery capacity. Audio is just superb, especially via headphones and with a decent set of cans really shows the difference the DAC makes.
Camera for me has also been really.good, although I've only tested in good light so far.
Best thing for me is the display, have owned a Pixel 2 XL and P20 Pro in last couple of months and to get a device with the whites I like that just looks 'sharper' and with the legibility in sunlight (even without boosted mode) is just superb.
How did LG manage to squeeze so much battery life out of a 3000 mAh battery?
I love the ease of one hand use, the screen, except the "second screen" that doesn't go dark enough during full screen use). And the haptic feedback is orgasmic )
Coming from LG G4, this thing is "WOW". I don't know why people go for useless Samsung or Apple? This feels almost perfect. Unless up to to the launch of the LG V40.
Ali Mirza said:
Coming from LG G4, this thing is "WOW". I don't know why people go for useless Samsung or Apple? This feels almost perfect. Unless up to to the launch of the LG V40.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I LOVE this damn phone!!
1. Camera I rate as a 3 of 5 with built in app. 5 of 5 with Google Camera.
2. Audio I rate as 10 of 5. HOLY CRAP is it good.
3. Flat glass 5 of 5, easy to find full screen protectors with full adhesive. YES!
4. Killer battery life, 5 of 5. Most days I end up over %50 after heavy usage. Standby time is maybe 4-5 days if I do almost nothing.
5. LG software, 3 of 5. Too much bloatware but not as bad as some phones. Overall not a big deal.
6. Speed, 4 of 5. I think maybe other phones might be quicker but it is just fine for my purposes.
7. Buttons and controls, 5 of 5. Dedicated Google Assistant button rules. Actual Power button, finger print reader can turn screen on.
8. Slow motion video mode is quite nice. I enjoy using it for little fun stuff like capturing throwing a bowling ball.
9. Screen is very nice, I rate as 4 of 5. I prefer OLED but under heavy usage I think LCD comes out as a winner for power usage. I do have a bit of issue seeing the screen in full sunlight with sunglasses on. OLED do better in this circumstance.
The biggest problem with this phone is the camera, and it is far better with the Google Camera apk. Obviously LG could fix it if they wanted to.
redrol said:
I LOVE this damn phone!!
1. Camera I rate as a 3 of 5 with built in app. 5 of 5 with Google Camera.
2. Audio I rate as 10 of 5. HOLY CRAP is it good.
3. Flat glass 5 of 5, easy to find full screen protectors with full adhesive. YES!
4. Killer battery life, 5 of 5. Most days I end up over %50 after heavy usage. Standby time is maybe 4-5 days if I do almost nothing.
5. LG software, 3 of 5. Too much bloatware but not as bad as some phones. Overall not a big deal.
6. Speed, 4 of 5. I think maybe other phones might be quicker but it is just fine for my purposes.
7. Buttons and controls, 5 of 5. Dedicated Google Assistant button rules. Actual Power button, finger print reader can turn screen on.
8. Slow motion video mode is quite nice. I enjoy using it for little fun stuff like capturing throwing a bowling ball.
9. Screen is very nice, I rate as 4 of 5. I prefer OLED but under heavy usage I think LCD comes out as a winner for power usage. I do have a bit of issue seeing the screen in full sunlight with sunglasses on. OLED do better in this circumstance.
The biggest problem with this phone is the camera, and it is far better with the Google Camera apk. Obviously LG could fix it if they wanted to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a working apk version? Thanks
Ordered another G7 today...
I have a Note 9 but just ordered another G7. Despite the software not being great there is just something about this phone that I have really missed, feels great in the hand and is in a real sweet-spot size wise too. There really is not much bloat (compared to a Samsung) and battery life is very decent.
I was convinced this year that the Pixel 3XL would be my droid of choice but boy was I disappointed with that, as someone who rarely uses a case the rear would look like a used chalkboard within 2 or 3 days!
I think the Note is probably the best droid package currently available but there is something about the Samsung software and the amount of bloat that irks me, the G7 is IMO the nicest option at the moment and in the UK at least is an absolute bargain.
redrol said:
I LOVE this damn phone!!
1. Camera I rate as a 3 of 5 with built in app. 5 of 5 with Google Camera.
2. Audio I rate as 10 of 5. HOLY CRAP is it good.
3. Flat glass 5 of 5, easy to find full screen protectors with full adhesive. YES!
4. Killer battery life, 5 of 5. Most days I end up over %50 after heavy usage. Standby time is maybe 4-5 days if I do almost nothing.
5. LG software, 3 of 5. Too much bloatware but not as bad as some phones. Overall not a big deal.
6. Speed, 4 of 5. I think maybe other phones might be quicker but it is just fine for my purposes.
7. Buttons and controls, 5 of 5. Dedicated Google Assistant button rules. Actual Power button, finger print reader can turn screen on.
8. Slow motion video mode is quite nice. I enjoy using it for little fun stuff like capturing throwing a bowling ball.
9. Screen is very nice, I rate as 4 of 5. I prefer OLED but under heavy usage I think LCD comes out as a winner for power usage. I do have a bit of issue seeing the screen in full sunlight with sunglasses on. OLED do better in this circumstance.
The biggest problem with this phone is the camera, and it is far better with the Google Camera apk. Obviously LG could fix it if they wanted to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm coming from a S9 and Note 8.... This damn phone is marvelous. I hate that it's not receiving the love it deserves. LG took me away from my Galaxies with this one and I'm very satisfied.