Database Users

getting ready and done

Hi guys
for the past 2 month i have been reviewing and looking after a new phone to buy
my last list is
Huawei P9
Huawei Mate 8
Xperia Z5 Premium
and my criteria
Good performance
good battery
good screen specially under the sun light
good camera with ability to save RAW images kinda 'm a Mobilographic
and the cost
between 300$ to 400% if any suggestion beside these phones

hejawi said:
Hi guys
for the past 2 month i have been reviewing and looking after a new phone to buy
my last list is
Huawei P9
Huawei Mate 8
Xperia Z5 Premium
and my criteria
Good performance
good battery
good screen specially under the sun light
good camera with ability to save RAW images kinda 'm a Mobilographic
and the cost
between 300$ to 400% if any suggestion beside these phones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me, I look for VALUE. I bought a Mate2, in 2014 on a whim. It SURPRISED me how well it worked on an SD400 with a 720p screen.
It was the FIRST phone I've owned that I never rooted. Owned it for over 2 1/2 years, never powered it off unless I was some place that
required it to be turned off. 100% stock.
Last winter, when the Mate8 came out, I LOVED it...except for one minor detail. THE PRICE. So I just kept the 2 and waited. When the
Mate9 was announced, I started watching the price on the 8. When it came down to a level I found ok, I bought it. "But, the 9 is right
around the corner". Yeah, and the price is similar to what the 8 was less than a year ago.
The dual camera, and other do-dads didn't impress me.
I've got the 8, the camera for a point/shoot is pretty good, the performance is top notch, along with another kick butt battery.
Right now, I'm a Huawei fan.

p51d007 said:
Me, I look for VALUE. I bought a Mate2, in 2014 on a whim. It SURPRISED me how well it worked on an SD400 with a 720p screen.
It was the FIRST phone I've owned that I never rooted. Owned it for over 2 1/2 years, never powered it off unless I was some place that
required it to be turned off. 100% stock.
Last winter, when the Mate8 came out, I LOVED it...except for one minor detail. THE PRICE. So I just kept the 2 and waited. When the
Mate9 was announced, I started watching the price on the 8. When it came down to a level I found ok, I bought it. "But, the 9 is right
around the corner". Yeah, and the price is similar to what the 8 was less than a year ago.
The dual camera, and other do-dads didn't impress me.
I've got the 8, the camera for a point/shoot is pretty good, the performance is top notch, along with another kick butt battery.
Right now, I'm a Huawei fan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
me too
i had never had a phone mid range to high end always low range phones
and now i'm gonna pay 300$ (230 JOD) to 400$ (300 JOD)
the phones i mentioned all at the price range
but have a different specification and i can't decide without seeing the user experience after all

mate 9 at my country worth 450 JOD ( 600$ ) and damn that's alot of money to put in mobile phone

Mate 8 does it support emui 4.1 and support RAW file save ?

hejawi said:
Mate 8 does it support emui 4.1 and support RAW file save ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, current stable roms include emui 4.0 and emui 4.1. beta firmwares with emui 5.0 are also available (android nougat, whereas 4.0 and 4.1 are marshmallow)
Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10

jbmc83 said:
yes, current stable roms include emui 4.0 and emui 4.1. beta firmwares with emui 5.0 are also available (android nougat, whereas 4.0 and 4.1 are marshmallow)
Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so mate 8 is it really good phone or should i go with Xperia Z5P or P9 ?

Only mate 8. P9 sucks

Mate 9 vs S8+/S8 strikes again!

I love this phone! Once again, due to our cpu and gpu, this phone ranks up there with the Snapdragon 835 and Exynos processor! Enjoy reading and the benchmarks.
I do know that benchmarks aren't everything but just enjoy this little piece. I love this phone and I am so glad I have kept it!
https://www.sammobile.com/2017/04/2...-gpu-performance-than-the-snapdragon-variant/
http://m.gsmarena.com/samsung_galax...ragon_835_benchmark_comparison-news-24606.php

Unexpected. But I guess they will improve the performance with further optimisation of their system.

I had the mate 9. Now i have the s8 plus. I'm missing the mate 9.

ekerbuddyeker said:
I had the mate 9. Now i have the s8 plus. I'm missing the mate 9.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
best proof of the mate 9 is better ^^

Went to play with it again side by side. S8 screen is better and surprisingly, the sound is much clearer on the s8. But I miss the mate camera. I took indoor pictures side by side and really, you can't see any difference.

More and more I think paying that crazy prices for Samsung or any Android phones does not make any sense especially they will drop in price so quickly
Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I'm not so sure. In many ways it's a far more elegant and polished product that the Mate 9.

ekerbuddyeker said:
I'm not so sure. In many ways it's a far more elegant and polished product that the Mate 9.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is elegant but way over priced at the same time.
Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

If you want great performance & battery, go Mate 9
If you want great display & feel, got Samsung S8 / S8+
I was using Samsung phones since Galaxy S1, and my always complaint was the performance, u take the device out of the box and it's super fast, after some months and installing more and more applications, it lags A LOT!
This year i hold both devices in my hands, IMO, S8+ looks like a 2017 smartphone, but doesn't perform like one. On the other hand, the Mate 9 design is more than okay for me, and it does perform amazing! So i chose performance this year, plus that i saved around $360 price difference, so IMO the Mate 9 is was better value for the money.

Personally I do not like the screen aspect ratio on s8. I like the pen on my note edge but performance and battery was so much better on Mate 9 I made the transition. Will probably go to Note 8 when it comes out.

Has anyone changed to the s8+ after the mate 9?
Im asking because my 6 month contract is going to the end, as i can give my current phone back and take a new one.
So im thinking about s8+ till the mate comes out in december.
And if i change ill get the exynos version not the snapdragon one.

Esterra said:
Has anyone changed to the s8+ after the mate 9?
Im asking because my 6 month contract is going to the end, as i can give my current phone back and take a new one.
So im thinking about s8+ till the mate comes out in december.
And if i change ill get the exynos version not the snapdragon one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did, I got the s8+ and I used it for a month, I rage quit that phone. I have couple of grimes with the s8+ first the fingerprint sensor, on the mate 9 it's such an amazing thing I love it. But on the s8 makes me pull my hair.
Second the of so buggy software. I rooted and installed custom roms in hopes of fixing them. Yeah no.
I bought an al00 from China 6/128 and switched back to mate 9. I will say I miss the display on the Samsung but that's where it ends.

Esterra said:
Has anyone changed to the s8+ after the mate 9?
Im asking because my 6 month contract is going to the end, as i can give my current phone back and take a new one.
So im thinking about s8+ till the mate comes out in december.
And if i change ill get the exynos version not the snapdragon one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To the S8+, mmmmm nope. I went over to the dark side.

Any one can say something good?

Fred98TJ said:
To the S8+, mmmmm nope. I went over to the dark side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have my Mate 9 as a backup phone. I've always kept a backup for many years. I went way over to the dark side from the M9. I got a iPhone 7 Plus.

I cannot even think to replace my Mate 9. It's rock solid device with amazing performance and battery. I will stay on the bright side. :angel:

My partner got the s8+.
The screen is amazing.
Mate 9 is faster and smoother and battery lasts longer. It can take better photos if you know what you're doing - but the s8 just takes excellent photos snap after snap.
I bought the Mi6 Pro. Fastest of the bunch. But is it quick. And smooth. And great camera. Not so good MIUI, and small screen size.

ekerbuddyeker said:
Went to play with it again side by side. S8 screen is better and surprisingly, the sound is much clearer on the s8. But I miss the mate camera. I took indoor pictures side by side and really, you can't see any difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree with this. I have both phones and the Galaxy s8 speaker is one of the worst I've heard in awhile. It's subjective of course, but I think because they went with ip68 they had to make changes with the bottom firing speaker. I much prefer the richness of the mate 9 stereo sound even though the ear piece output is pretty weak.

I sold my mate 9 and bought an S8+. Speaker is terrible and general use of the phone was mediocre at best. The battery was truly shocking.
Ended up selling it and buying a oneplus 5. Battery life was very good, speaker was better but the jelly effect on the screen was bad once you noticed it.
Long story short I bought another mate 9 (128gb 6gb ram) and I should never have sold it in the first place. After using both the S8+ and oneplus 5 the mate 9 is just so much better. Going to take alot for me to change from this again,probably only a mate 10.

kolembo said:
My partner got the s8+.
The screen is amazing.
Mate 9 is faster and smoother and battery lasts longer. It can take better photos if you know what you're doing - but the s8 just takes excellent photos snap after snap.
I bought the Mi6 Pro. Fastest of the bunch. But is it quick. And smooth. And great camera. Not so good MIUI, and small screen size.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in doubt between these two devices: M9 and Mi6.
Which is best on cell strength, camera and loudspeaker?
Sent from my LG-H990 using Tapatalk

I tried the Pixel 2 xl

Hi all,
Well as the title says I recently bought the Pixel 2 xl and put the mate 9 in to retirement....... For only 5 days !!
I can honestly say if you are toying with buying one don't bother. The mate 9 is an awesome phone which excels in many ways against the pixel. Yes the pixel is buttery smooth with a great camera but that's about it. Definitely not 900 pounds better than the mate 9 so it's going back to Google tomorrow.
I won't bore you with details unless you want me to but be happy in the fact that the latest and greatest android phone ain't all that.
Happily back using the mate 9 now and contemplating the mate 10 pro.

Didgedeem said:
Hi all,
Well as the title says I recently bought the Pixel 2 xl and put the mate 9 in to retirement....... For only 5 days !!
I can honestly say if you are toying with buying one don't bother. The mate 9 is an awesome phone which excels in many ways against the pixel. Yes the pixel is buttery smooth with a great camera but that's about it. Definitely not 900 pounds better than the mate 9 so it's going back to Google tomorrow.
I won't bore you with details unless you want me to but be happy in the fact that the latest and greatest android phone ain't all that.
Happily back using the mate 9 now and contemplating the mate 10 pro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been pretty content with the Mate 9, tried other phones but cant back this one down, sure it may be older than some newer phones (IE Pixel 2, S8 etc) but its still an excellent phone, from software to the hardware, i think Huawei out did themselves on this one, Mate 10, ehh idk I'll wait for like the Mate 11 or something.

XERO_Racer said:
Been pretty content with the Mate 9, tried other phones but cant back this one down, sure it may be older than some newer phones (IE Pixel 2, S8 etc) but its still an excellent phone, from software to the hardware, i think Huawei out did themselves on this one, Mate 10, ehh idk I'll wait for like the Mate 11 or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had it to do over with, I'd probably would went with the Pixel 2 XL or the S8+ or the Note 8. The US version of the Mate 9 hasn't seen a single update since April 5th. Pretty lame of Huawei if ask me. Not a good way to break into the US market.

XERO_Racer said:
Been pretty content with the Mate 9, tried other phones but cant back this one down, sure it may be older than some newer phones (IE Pixel 2, S8 etc) but its still an excellent phone, from software to the hardware, i think Huawei out did themselves on this one, Mate 10, ehh idk I'll wait for like the Mate 11 or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have any particular issues with the mate 10 pro apart from the lack of expandable memory and headphone jack.?
I must admit I was mildly underwhelmed when it was launched, but for the money it offers a lot in comparison to the pixel 2 xl.

Thunderbolt69 said:
I had it to do over with, I'd probably would went with the Pixel 2 XL or the S8+ or the Note 8. The US version of the Mate 9 hasn't seen a single update since April 5th. Pretty lame of Huawei if ask me. Not a good way to break into the US market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disappointing yes that they lack the updates but to me it doesnt affect me as much, never had a single problem with this device, on occasions the fingerprint reader wouldnt just work and i had to re register the print
Didgedeem said:
Do you have any particular issues with the mate 10 pro apart from the lack of expandable memory and headphone jack.?
I must admit I was mildly underwhelmed when it was launched, but for the money it offers a lot in comparison to the pixel 2 xl.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I just love the fact that the Mate 9 was already good enough as it is, while retaining a headphone jack and the expandable memory, which is a big plus in my books, and also that on the non pro version of the 10 that they moved the fingerprint reader to the front instead of the back which was really great

What's gonna be your next phone after the Mi Max 2?

The large phone segment is small so there aren't many options for those of us who like these large phone. I personally love large phones like the Max 2 because no notch and I love big screens, big battery, and I don't keep my phone in my pocket (I keep it in my purse ).
The only downside on phones in this segment are software and camera since neither of Google, OnePlus or Nokia make such large phones. But I am currently running the Pixel Experience ROM on the Max 2 which I have been enjoying.
So I am wondering, what's the next phone upgrade folks here are looking forward to or are planning to upgrade to?

daubh said:
The large phone segment is small so there aren't many options for those of us who like these large phone. I personally love large phones like the Max 2 because no notch and I love big screens, big battery, and I don't keep my phone in my pocket (I keep it in my purse ).
The only downside on phones in this segment are software and camera since neither of Google, OnePlus or Nokia make such large phones. But I am currently running the Pixel Experience ROM on the Max 2 which I have been enjoying.
So I am wondering, what's the next phone upgrade folks here are looking forward to or are planning to upgrade to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well ill be sticking to my MM2 for a while, but if i were on the market for a new phone, it would most likely be one of the following:
Mi Max 3 (natural choice as the MM2 successor)
Pocophone F1 (compromise of smaller display and battery but very high end hardware and well supported in the community, total OnePlus 6(T) competitor if u ask me!)
Mate 20 (Pro) (awesome specs and style, but sadly locked bootloader. so just a choice for those who could live without any AOSP custom roms)

I think the biggest potential going forward will be the foldable phones/tablets. Imagine a 5-incher AMOLED unfolded into a 7-plus inch tablet.
The manufacturers will need to get this right.

Shaolian said:
I think the biggest potential going forward will be the foldable phones/tablets. Imagine a 5-incher AMOLED unfolded into a 7-plus inch tablet.
The manufacturers will need to get this right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ooor, as in the case of the mi max class: a 7 inch phone unfoldable into a 10-12 inch tablet
Sent from my Xiaomi Mi Max 2 (Oxygen) using Tapatalk

Well, if you ask me I will this time buy a last year's (or maybe even two years old flagship device). I really love modding and flaghisps seems to be getting the best of it as most developers get either flaghisps or few mid-range high selling devices. Max series are sepcific device, and even though I like the big screen I think not so many people are interested in it; including: regular people, developers and even Xiaomi People due to releasing incomplete sources Plus, I think that with flagships you are investing even better in the future. You can sell it easier, you get way better hardware and if you don't get time to modd it and actually get to love the device you can keep it for years as hardware has evolved so much and has potential to last for years to come. This is my two cents on this topic
Sooo, my next device, if in 1-2 years it gets enough of developers love (and they most probably will) will be one of these (has to have official bootloader unlocking method):
- Mi Mix 3,
- Mi Mix 2s,
- OnePlus 6T or
- if they get to 6,4+ no notch screens maybe something from Mi 8,9,10 series

Enjoying my Mi Max 3 since I dropped my Mi Max 2 and no one stocks a screen for it. Repairmen look at me like I have 2 heads! ?

Mi Max 2 replacement
First of all, Mi Max 2 is just really awesome. I will use it some more time before replacing with a newer one. But, Here are the mobiles that I might prefer for replacement:
Huawei Mate 20X- My only gripe is the FHD+ display given the price tag. Otherwise, an excellent device.
Honor Note 10
Pocophone F1
Mi Max 3
Honor 8x Max
I would like to know what others think of mate 20xx

SaiTejVejju said:
First of all, Mi Max 2 is just really awesome. I will use it some more time before replacing with a newer one. But, Here are the mobiles that I might prefer for replacement:
Huawei Mate 20X- My only gripe is the FHD+ display given the price tag. Otherwise, an excellent device.
Honor Note 10
Pocophone F1
Mi Max 3
Honor 8x Max
I would like to know what others think of mate 20xx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mate 20 is really awesome, but as i said before: honor and huawei phones are out of the question now because u cant unlock their bootloader, that means no custom roms ever for those devices!
Sent from my Xiaomi Mi Max 2 (Oxygen) using Tapatalk

Yeah, the Mate 20 X sounds absolutely superb but the bootloader kills it stone dead for me. I'd love a Mi Max Pro with amoled and 845, it would be an instant buy.

I already bought Samsung galaxy note 9 but to tell you the truth I have a hard time letting go of mi max 2. The note 9 screen feels tiny compared to mi max and I keep thinking that maybe I made a mistake in buying the note 9 . Also I found that the mi max 2 combined with the gcam mod of pixel 3 produces better pictures in low light with night mode than note 9. I know that it might sound unrealistic but it is the truth. The one only things that I prefer in note 9 is the qi charging, the USB c to hdmi capability and the better speakers. All in all keep enjoying your mi max 2 and Dont rush into a new smartphone.

Well the mate 20 x can now be bootloader unlocked and rooted so possibly going to be moving there in the next month if nothing else interesting crops up. The Note 10 will probably be great but the screen is too narrow for my liking.

Elementstv said:
I already bought Samsung galaxy note 9 but to tell you the truth I have a hard time letting go of mi max 2. The note 9 screen feels tiny compared to mi max and I keep thinking that maybe I made a mistake in buying the note 9 . Also I found that the mi max 2 combined with the gcam mod of pixel 3 produces better pictures in low light with night mode than note 9. I know that it might sound unrealistic but it is the truth. The one only things that I prefer in note 9 is the qi charging, the USB c to hdmi capability and the better speakers. All in all keep enjoying your mi max 2 and Dont rush into a new smartphone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you please share with us which gcam mod of pixel 3 you're using on you Max2, tks.

ne0t said:
Could you please share with us which gcam mod of pixel 3 you're using on you Max2, tks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed this rom, which has the google camera app already installed. It is great. It's the only way I could find, in order to use pixel 3 google camera on mi max 2. You will be impressed with the results.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mi-max-2/development/rom-lineageos-16-0-t3874986

mi max 4 ?
I have low vision.

probably galaxy note 9

Phone is good at least for the next 2 Jears i guess

FlamingGoat said:
Well the mate 20 x can now be bootloader unlocked and rooted so possibly going to be moving there in the next month if nothing else interesting crops up. The Note 10 will probably be great but the screen is too narrow for my liking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlock codes ain't free for Huawei.

I am bit worried which phone to get next. There is not any hurry though because this is still working pretty good.
Mi Max 3 has been unable to attract large development community (at least on XDA forums). I am afraid that the same is going to happen to Mi Max 4. Specially after Xiaomi made life of enthusiastists more difficult with recent decisions.
I wouldn't want to have any of those ridiculously small phones that seem to be the only other options.

wwwwe said:
I am bit worried which phone to get next. There is not any hurry though because this is still working pretty good.
Mi Max 3 has been unable to attract large development community (at least on XDA forums). I am afraid that the same is going to happen to Mi Max 4. Specially after Xiaomi made life of enthusiastists more difficult with recent decisions.
I wouldn't want to have any of those ridiculously small phones that seem to be the only other options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phone ist good for 2 more years. I stay to it.
But after, no more Huawei, they are not political correct and i do not give my money to them anymore.

Mi Max 3 or 4. I dont think my eyes and hands will want anything smaller. I came from a very small phone (xperia z5 compact) to this very large phone. Just like moving from a mini cooper to a hummer!
Besides the pricing is just right, i dont need all the power of SD 845, nor the picture quality of a Canon.

Should I trade my 6 / 128 Mi 9T for a Mate 20 Pro 8 / 128 ?

Someone offered to trade... it looks like a better phone but no root :/
Wondering what you guys think.

vibraniumdroid said:
Someone offered to trade... it looks like a better phone but no root :/
Wondering what you guys think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The following points come to my mind spontaneously:
1. The Mate 20 Pro is already almost 2 years old. It has received an update to Android 10, but who knows how long it will continue to receive updates...? The Mi 9T has an advantage here, because it is almost a year newer.
2. As you said, the Mate 20 Pro can't be rooted. So no custom ROMs if Huawei decides to drop the Mate 20 Pro from update support.
3. The Mate 20 Pro is faster and has cool features like Face ID and reverse charging. But it has this ugly notch (the Mi 9T is muuuuch more beautiful).
4. The battery of the Mi 9T is better according to several tests. Considering the fact that the Mate 20 Pro is almost 2 years old, it will be even worse.
5. You can extend the storage of the Mate 20 Pro, but you have to buy Huawei's own memory cards
Conclusion: If you just want a faster phone and Face ID/reverse charging, then go for the Mate 20 Pro. If you want to root/use custom ROMs, have better battery and a cool design, keep the Mi 9T

I'm on iPhone xs and looking closely at this forum to make a decision about picking up this phone cause I'm tired of notch and it's a good value, I'm not considering a phone without xda support. That's just my opinion, gl to you mate

I do not recommend. I had it too. Very closed, nothing extra.