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I just received my Google Nexus 10 yesterday. After reading all the great reviews about the video quality I must admit I was shocked how poor it was. Don't get me wrong, it isn't awful by any stretch. The detail is certainly there and there is so much detail it might actually be detriment to the product because I can pick up compression artifacts and pixelization I didn't even know was there on some of my videos. However, this really leads in to what I think the source of the problem is on this device, that is, the black level. The first video I took a look at was Ice Age since it came with the N10. If black level is off on animations they can look washed out and it certainly did in this case. My projector on a 100" screen could actually reflect a better image in my opinion. Moving over to other videos like a 1080p MKV of Battleship displayed some improvement, but the poor black levels were still there. Oh, and I should mention this was with using MX Player.
So, are others seeing something similar? Again, I'm not trying to really downplay the image entirely because the detail is certainly there, but again, I'm disappointed by the black level. Is there possibly a way to adjust it that I'm not aware of? All I can seemingly find is Brightness and that doesn't do enough. Perhaps a gamma control would help? Any guidance from others is appreciated.
U get ice age free with N10?
Sent from my Nexus 10 using XDA Premium HD app
verusevo said:
U get ice age free with N10?
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Yes.
2 posts? Troll?
Techie2012 said:
2 posts? Troll?
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Thanks for the welcome. Did people say the same about you when you had 2 posts? Trust me, your accusation is utterly ridiculous. This is simply my first Android device and this was my initial impression. I hoped that there might be some kind of workaround or fix so I simply did a Google search for a Nexus 10 forum and wound up here. As I allued to in my initial post there are plenty of things I like about the device and black level might not be a deal killer, but if there was a way to resolve it, why not pursue it?
Techie2012 said:
2 posts? Troll?
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Only 245 posts and a member since February of this year? You must clearly have very little to contribute anywhere since you don't have at least a 1k post count or year+ membership (sarcasm btw; post count and join dates means absolutely nothing in determining a person's status lol)
I believe a few others have mentioned black levels not being optimal on the N10. I myself don't really see it as a problem, but then again I rarely watch videos. I believe Contrast itself might be a better option to modify over Brightness, but I'm pretty sure Contrast isn't adjustable currently.
Possibly when Kernel development matures enough, we may be able to modify screen settings, but I don't think we're there quite yet. Maybe some video players might have an option for adjustments?
Those frequenting here have varying social skills. Be tolerant.
Suggest posting some pics of screen's black level, alongside another device used as a baseline. A thousand words and all that.
Also suggest searching Play store for "display settings" and try out the various widget/apps available.
That's seriously put me off buying this tablet now.
A poor black level can ruin video quality. I know this because my laptops black level is shocking bad, picture below.
Now I might either get a Note 10.1 or wait for something with a high res screen and a good black level.
Haha you guys are funny.
Anyway back to the original question, this device has a LCD screen, and like most LCD TVs, the black is not as black as you'd like or you would see on a PlasmaTV or Amoled screen.
If black levels are highly important to you, i'm sorry to say you bought the wrong device.
Ok, so I took a previous poster's advice and got a hold of an iPad3 with Retina Display and compared it against the N10. The difference was not as significant as I thought it might be. Ultimately, I didn't think either producing razor sharp images with inky blacks and that is because they don't my own HDTV's (LED) in my home along with my home theater projector crush both devices. Why? Well, first, I wasn't aware that the contrast ratio was so poor on all the tablet devices. Most of my other products have something like a 50,000:1 contrast ratio whereas the tablets are around 1000:1, a very big difference. Also, I'm accustomed to watching BluRays on those displays. BluRay quality just doesn't seem to exist on these tablets right now. So was I expecting too much from the N10? Yes.
Spending some time with both devices side-by-side allowed me to sort of critique both on my own terms and decide which one I like best. I'm probably an atypical user so my opinions here are my own and I don't expect others to find the same items valuable.
1. Display - the iPad wins here, but not by as much as I might have thought. Whites are more warm and not as bright on the N10 when compared to the iPad. Blacks are also better on the iPad, but I expected it to be a dramatic difference. It wasn't. I've included some images to this post that will help you see the difference a bit more. There are some images where the difference looks very pronounced, but that is the digital camera really exposing the faults of the N10 and making them appear more significant. I wouldn't say that is the case in reality. Also, something you'll notice from the images is the light leak. It is there on the N10, but not on the iPad. Too bad Samsung couldn't have done a better job here. It would have made it appear as a more quality product.
2. Form Factor - I find the form factor of the iPad better than the N10. I like to use portrait mode more often than most I think and the iPad gives you more space to work from horizontally when doing so. This makes web browsing much easier and I actually feel more cramped using the N10 to browse via landscape. I would MUCH prefer the N10 to have the iPad's shape.
3. Weight - I would have never thought 50 grams or whatever it is would make a difference, but to me it does and the N10 is a clear winner here. After handling both devices for some time I simply enjoyed holding the N10 more. The lightness made for a more enjoyable experience.
4. Rubber Backing - When I saw on this on the N10 I thought it was sort of a gimmick, but I really like it. Again, it just seems to feel more comfortable holding it.
5. Heat - I have no idea why, but the back of the iPad got pretty hot while using it. The N10 had some slight warmth, but ever since I've used it it has stayed relatively cool.
6. Speakers - The N10 really crushes the iPad here. The front two speakers are awesome and can push out good volume. Going back to the iPad with its rear mono speaker almost feels silly in comparison.
7. Web Browsing - The winner here is the iPad. Pages came up more quickly, they are easier to scroll through (only slightly), and are displayed better. In portrait mode the clear winner is the iPad since you have more horizontal space to work with, something I like.
8. Off-axis viewing - Not that you ever really need this because tablets are really made for a one person audience to be looking at the device head-on, but I did notice it. For whatever reason the iPad had a better image once you move off-axis from the device. The N10 was washed out more quickly as you moved off-axis.
9. Bugs - Oh man, Jelly Bean has them. I have essentially the base image on the N10 and I've already seen the battery information incorrect (stuck), freezes, my folders just disappearing after the device becoming frozen, and some other very quirky things. The iPad in comparison was stable. The iPad just feels a bit like driving a Lexus. It doesn't really do much to excite you, but it does what it is designed to do and does it well. The N10 is probably more like a BMW X6. Is it a sports car or an SUV? No one really knows. It does some things that are really neat, but in other categories it sort of falls apart. Just my own silly analogy.
So which will I keep. Based on all the criteria above I would say it is very close and probably a tie in my mind, but I'm leaning toward the N10. I'm not sure why, but I struggle a great deal with going to a closed environment like the iPad is. It feels boring to me and I just think I might enjoy tinkering with the N10 more. If I give it more thought I might change my mind, but for the moment this is where my head is.
I hope all this might help someone. If anyone has any questions about the comparison or the images please feel free to ask.
A lot people seem to crank the brightness even when they don't need it. The N10 with the back light turned up definitely has poor black levels but it's actually pretty decent when below 40%(more comfortable to view also)
I agree. I'm totally unimpressed by the video quality of Nexus 10. Maybe I'm doing something wrong here, but my older Galaxy Tab 2 P3100 had much better video quality than this. The colors are totally messed up and the it just seems bland and boring.
Frankly, I don't think this is an iPad killer in anyway, and I'm not an apple fanboy either. I had to download apps just to get the Volume to a reasonable level eventhough it has stereo. Wow, the ipad claims much less but delivers more, Nexus 10 claims tall but falls short.
Thinking about getting back the iPad 4 if the Nexus doesn't grow on me. Sorry, Nexus. Android has failed you :crying:
JPW1 said:
Most of my other products have something like a 50,000:1 contrast ratio whereas the tablets are around 1000:1, a very big difference.
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The 50,000:1 contrast ratio is actually dynamic contrast ratio. How dark the screen is at it's lowest brightness and how bright the screen is at it's highest brightness. It's really just a marketing gimmick.
The real static contrast ratio could be anywhere between 1000-5000:1. Not a huge difference at all.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23137918
Looking at your screenshots I can definitely say you have the brightness set waaaayyy to high on the Nexus 10. Turn it down and the picture will be drastically better.
And for the other little problems you have to wait some time. Most of them will be gone with the first good custom roms/kernels. The device is still brand new.
I tried both the Transformers and Ice Age films streaming from google play, and I thought the video was pretty poor. Wifi signal was strong.
Video quality from all the streaming services I've used on Android have relatively poor quality. If you are attempting to benchmark the device's fidelity then I suggest making a high bit rate rip of a Blu-Ray
The high bit rate 1080p and 1440p videos I've seen look pretty great, but I agree videos from streaming services look pretty awful in terms of both blurriness and contrast.
Also, the hardware decoders like most devices do not have as high of picture quality as some software decoder. For instance, for the same video the hw decoder will look softer than the sw decoder in MX Player
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
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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
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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).
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.
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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.
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 Sony Xperia 1, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Sony Xperia 1 is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
I received it today and after 2 hours I've sent it back. Horrible photos compared with my s10+, shaky videos,bad stabilisation, no volte calling possibility or Wifi call,terrible side sensor.
I've tried again with Sony because I like the design but again it's only smoke. Anyway great display
Sure?
https://youtu.be/2GepE25czo4
Enviado desde mi G8141 mediante Tapatalk
marko68 said:
I received it today and after 2 hours I've sent it back. Horrible photos compared with my s10+, shaky videos,bad stabilisation, no volte calling possibility or Wifi call,terrible side sensor.
I've tried again with Sony because I like the design but again it's only smoke. Anyway great display
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mmm i see later posts of you in what you supposedly "still" has the phone. And i see you posted the same about p20 pro and s10+... That take away all of you credibility
Ergonomic and productivity champion, full stop.
I seriously cannot go back to 18:9 anymore. Never used something quite like the Xperia 1. Video on top email at bottom with keyboard up, still plenty to read and write. Single hand grip is way better than XZ3, even with this tall screen, reaching the top for notification is no acrobatics at all.
Anyway, absolutely enjoying the 1, I'm evening considering to get the Xperia 10 Plus for my family now.
Sony always has a way of making desirable devices (Xperia S), but with crazy marketing decision. So after using my OnePlus5 for almost 2yrs I decided to buy into Sony's gimmick of 21:9 screen. Never held one in my hand before, but once I did, I really fall for it. The device feel so nice in your hand. The long narrow shape feel so good and secure! Haven't held a phone so secure for a while... and the screen! The screen is a beast! The screen is unbeatable watching 21:9 in Netflix, totally awesome experience. But, when you watch the normal 16:9 you will feel a little underwhelmed. The camera is also very nice. But for me personally, the size and shape and the screen is the best features of this phone. And actually I'm glad that when I pre-order the grey color went out, and I ended up getting the beautiful Sony Purple.
I bought it in black, it's really a jewel, ergonomic and light, very balance design but it looks very delicate and glides on smooth surfaces.
This phone really stands out for beauty and elegance. I really appreciate the bezel-less Chinese top look, but Sony is a step ahead. The bezels are shiny, it takes up the style of the old Z3 plus, this color ''reduces'' its thickness and adds an elegant mono-block look
A really nice comeback in Sony for me, I had been missing since XZPremium, beautiful one but did not last because frames were too square and big
Got the purple one since 19th june, so far the phone beyond my expectation and it's really good in my hand, i thought the size of phone makes it uncomfortable to hold but surprisingly very gewd.
marko68 said:
I received it today and after 2 hours I've sent it back. Horrible photos compared with my s10+, shaky videos,bad stabilisation, no volte calling possibility or Wifi call,terrible side sensor.
I've tried again with Sony because I like the design but again it's only smoke. Anyway great display
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you'd have surely known there was no volte calling/wifi calling before purchasing? Video capabilities are excellent and have been lauded in many reviews. As for your "it's only smoke" judgement, a tad harsh given that you only used it for 2 hours....still, what do you expect from a Samsung user?
I've had one for nearly 4 weeks now, it's the best Android phone I've used to date. Admittedly, I am a bit of a Sony fanboy but that is down to personal preference having used countless other phones from HTC, Motorola, Nokia, LG, even the awful Samsung down the years...I've been through them all. I've come to realise I like the Sony approach the best.
Great screen, very good photos if you know what you're doing, excellent video, I love the form factor which is almost the spiritual successor to my beloved XZ1. Nice weight and balance in the hand, the usual excellent audio capabilities as well. And none of that stupid curved screen sides, an utterly pointless feature/design aspect that will go down in history as being purely faddish.
Gotta say, loving this Xperia 1 as it is a great all rounder.
quick info - i have owned and daily used s7, s8, s9 (1+ years) mi note2, redmi note 7, mi 5 and 10 other mid-range ones (2-3 months) in the past 7 or so years. i do not like the way samsung processes the images on their phones and the way their phone behaves as they always seem to lag. apart from this i consider all of the previous mentioned samsung's great phones and the rest good phones. btw has anyone noticed how fast even the low spec xiaomi's are ?
MAIN SUBJECT - XPERIA 1
For whoever is concerned:
I bought the phone NEW and the network and wi-fi were always disconnecting in no more than 2 minutes from the moment they were up and running. Sent it to repair and it came back with some SW update.
After 1 week of using it, only the test call dropped and the network got disconnected. It works and the signal is semi-stable with occasional drops in power but never did I see it disconnect, apart from the test call of course.
It is a nice phone and does not really feel outdated (if someone was thinking that NOT having the whole front side as a display might make it look outdated) it is well balanced in the hand and the width helps in having a VERY COMFORTABLE grip BUT the GLASS is more slippery than any phone I have touched. Probably 80% of these phones (with no case or decal) will probably get damaged because of it. (someone should start a thread with pics of broken Xperia 1 glass front or back). It is fast, very fast... faster than all the last Galaxy S10 to S7 (owned for at least 1 year 7-9 and i have access to the s10 daily. Also not "+" versions so please don't start) but I still have to see how it will fare in the long run. Battery is also good, I would get the same from my S9, but the S7... ow how I miss 3 days of running time....
Other things worth noting: Cameras, Notification LED, Camera button with 2step press, weird colors on front camera and bad quality, no-pin SIM tray.
Last thing, the FINGER PRINT sensor. Take note of this - "Couldn't process your fingerprint. Please try again." Is anyone else having issues with this ? I have my finger enrolled 5 times and i still cannot unlock it with the fingerprint in 7 out of 10 tries.
Best of luck to all who want to buy one and/or have bought one. I am not sure now, after 1 week if I want to change it.
I've been using this phone for over 2 months now and I feel I'm ready to share my opinion over this device.
After 9 years of using android phones, mostly Samsung, after considering my options I took the decision to buy this phone. The main decisional factor was that is has no notch, punch holes or any other thing in the display. Other reasons were the display both the aspect ratio and the technology used, and the last but not the least was the camera.
I'm going to share my experience over the main 3 points of my decision, was I expected, what I actually encountered.
Form Factor
I remember the day when Samsung came with the 18.5 displays and everyone were like the doom day is on and what not... The first day I had my note 8 I was stunned to see how much of a difference is there is content when reading and article or a book. When I got the Xperia 1 and boot it up, took the first look of the screen felt exactly the same. It's ideal for content.
The phone sits very well in the hand it has an ergonomic feeling, materials are premium. I had no issues with the grip of the phone and I have big hands... I could hold the note in hand but it's not the same, 1 hand operation on the xperia is more easier than on the note.
Another thing over the Samsung phones I would give a plus for not having curved displays. They look good but the first time I dropped the note on the ground it broke in the corners, the second time the same.... I dropped the Xperia 1 over 5 times on the ground and I could see the dent on the frame, but the display has no issue.... Kudos for this
For the form factor I would give 5 stars with no second look over it
Display
It's an immerse viewing experience.
Some say that the 4K over 2K resolution displays the human eye cannot see the difference. From my point of view this is not the truth, I moved my sd card from the note8 into the Xperia, I looked at the same photos on the note and on the Xperia, the look minimum twice as sharp, and this looking over the photos taken with the note8.
Colour reproduction is good, I took the white balance settings found on the anandtech review and went along with it.
Brightness is also ok, I didn't had a situation when I found myself unable to look at the phone in direct sunlight.
For the display I would give 5 stars also
Camera
Here is where I mostly disappointed with this device... It has a ton of features and everything, it has engines worked with professional teams, eye focus, burst shots, super slowmo, what ever else... Sony sensor’s are found in half of the phones around the world... You would say that the camera should be the strongest point of this phone... Also their marketing campaign is based on the cinematic capabilities of this phone..
I take around 1000 pictures with the phone in a month, I like taking pictures, I like playing with the camera of the most as much as I can. For me the camera is main feature of any mobile phone.
With the Xperia 1, the most annoying thing is the touch focus... I like playing with the focus, focusing on objects that are not in centre of the sensor, with the Xperia 1 this is almost impossible. I touch the screen on the object, the focus circle turns green the image is still in a blur... Try this 10 times, maybe one works.
Another issue with the camera is the burning of highlights due to the HDR failure... In sunny conditions I have to take 2-3 photos for maybe one to be good and not burned, or to go to manual mode...
The telephoto camera is some of a joke... The images look better on a regular phone with 2x digital zoom.
Now these are all mainly software issues but they are a part of the whole phone experience and sadly it makes this a very bad one... I know that if you study a scene and find the best spot and the best settings you can take very nice pictures but this should not be the case.. it's not a professional camera for the experienced ones only to use... The auto mode should do the job for a regular user but it doesn't
For the video camera I cannot give many thoughts because I do not use it, occasionally I record something but not that much
Overall I would give 2 stars for this, maybe with luck over the future someone will fix these in a future software update
Others
Battery life is another thing that could have been done better... It takes me from day to day but that's not something that's meant to be praised. I have the same battery life as my 2 year old Note8
Speakers sound really good in my opinion.
Software updates / Community of developers, sadly I have to say that the updates are just security updates, the first update had some fixes but the rest were mainly security updates... This not something ok from my point of view. As for the community of developers, sincerely I hadn't seen one, there is a lack of people who would actually develop something for this phone.
Fingerprint sensor is working 30% of the time
Final thoughts
Overall I like this phone, I will continue to use it, I like the display and the form factor more than I hate the camera.
I just hope that someone from Sony will give me something for the 900e that I payed for this phone and fix the issues with the camera
here are my thoughts:
Display: I am wowed! it could be problematic viewing 16:9 videos but still, when I see that [email protected] HDR video on youtube or whatever this is soo stunning I have not seen any device perform better than this.
Battery: I see a lot of people argue about this, on 50-70% brightness by manual all the time, (usually I used to keep it 40% on previous devices this lacks a bit in manual-ill get to why in a second) got 24 hours of usage, 7 of them SOT, that and where I work I have trash signal so it takes out more juice, but even then Im still left out with 27% (including a bit of call of duty gaming, clash of clans here and there, lots of social media and some camera usage).
Lets talk about the brightness, if you all do the research of oled screens you will see a lot of information about pixel burn, which leaves the screen with a little ghosting effect, now that happens potentially on high brightness levels and if you know Sony, you know they care about their longevity of their devices (remember the fast charge that takes the same time? XD) thats why their max brightness cant be reached in manual settings, now compare that to samsung's s10 or s10+ their brightness go crazy high on manual (not their highest potential on manual but still very high) and people reported screen burn-ins just weeks after, battery on samsung goes trash after a little while too, phone becomes laggy, thats why the cute little things people care about in a phone like brightness and SOT is something pretty irrelevant because this brightness on the Xperia 1 is enough for you to view things even outside (with auto brightness tho) and the battery is more than enough to keep you charged for more than a day and even if other phones can last longer, lets be real, when you come home from school work etc... the first thing you do is charge your phone! doesnt matter what % youre left with, everyone charges their phone whenever they get the chance so they make sure they are not stuck at some point so thats very irrelevant to me...
Camera: A subject of debate here, since some people report disappointing opinions but here is mine, IT IS CRAZY GOOD! yes maybe in auto mode other phones can be more pleasing due to their HDR being enabled in auto mode unlike Sony, but using the manual is a huge step up for the sony and I havent seen any phone out perform it, you also have to know, Sony is great with cameras, but not even DSLR cameras have good stabilization without a tripod... yes samsung and iphone have better stabilization but that results in trash quality especially at night! I am no joking! photos and videos on Sony takes out samsung and iphone at night! and their Wide angel is trash compared to the xperia 1.
Overall if you want to buy a phone so you can have the best camera, there is no clear winner in flagships there will always be phones better than others in some cases or worse in other cases, so just buy a camera.
for social media its amazing especially with that 21:9 its simply so smooth and fills a lot of content and again WOW those colors ARE ACCURATE!! not over-saturated or artificially pleasing like other devices but STILL VERY SHARP AND COLORFUL! Its CRAZY!
all in all if youre looking for a great device that will still perform the same after a year or two, no battery issues or performance, or screen ghosting, a camera that on manual could look like a DSRL!! then yah go for the sony!
if you want a more pleasing devices for a couple of months in terms of unrealistic but more pleasing colors in both camera and display, with a battery thats only better for a couple of months, there are better phones out there. Unless its an iphone 11 pro since it has very natural display and camera overall go ahead pay that amount and enjoy their very closed minded software (but people say its smooth LMAO yah have you even seen a none smooth phone in 2019? XDDD)
I hope you enjoyed
You should shoot 5000 more photos to learn how to use it
Enviado desde mi J9110 mediante Tapatalk
madshark2009 said:
Lets talk about the brightness, if you all do the research of oled screens you will see a lot of information about pixel burn, which leaves the screen with a little ghosting effect, now that happens potentially on high brightness levels and if you know Sony, you know they care about their longevity of their devices (remember the fast charge that takes the same time? XD) thats why their max brightness cant be reached in manual settings, now compare that to samsung's s10 or s10+ their brightness go crazy high on manual (not their highest potential on manual but still very high) and people reported screen burn-ins just weeks after, battery on samsung goes trash after a little while too, phone becomes laggy, thats why the cute little things people care about in a phone like brightness and SOT is something pretty irrelevant because this brightness on the Xperia 1 is enough for you to view things even outside (with auto brightness tho) and the battery is more than enough to keep you charged for more than a day and even if other phones can last longer, lets be real, when you come home from school work etc... the first thing you do is charge your phone! doesnt matter what % youre left with, everyone charges their phone whenever they get the chance so they make sure they are not stuck at some point so thats very irrelevant to me...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is auto brightness on the Xperia 1 in regards to screen longevity / pixel burns? Is it safe to always use auto brightness? I really like the auto brightness on the Xperia 1, first Xperia I actually use auto brightness on (previous LCD Xperias were like, far too bright in auto brightness mode).
EliasAlucard said:
How is auto brightness on the Xperia 1 in regards to screen longevity / pixel burns? Is it safe to always use auto brightness? I really like the auto brightness on the Xperia 1, first Xperia I actually use auto brightness on (previous LCD Xperias were like, far too bright in auto brightness mode).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is related because some people like to use max brightness even in lowlight which will hurt the screen because its oled, if you want you can check out the reports on youtube using oled screens.
if you also search you will find that apple has made it very hard to find the switch to turn off auto brightness on their latest devices that use oled, its not as easy as it was finding that option because they want to prevent users from using bright settings in lowlight conditions because that will help prevent pixel burns. and sony's approach is to simpley minimize the max brightness on manual so users dont over-use brightness in which case this will also help prevent pixel burn which leaves the device more pleasing in terms of screen in the long run.
now if you are using auto brightness this will not hurt your screen because the device will lower itself when you are in lowligh/in doors and will only go high when youre outside.
Although if you can notice also, the brightness on auto will be like manual on max even outside, but will only go brighter when youre using camera or watching media, but using normally like instagram or chrome or whatever it will only be as bright as manual on max when youre outside, which is an even more inelegant approach to help prevent pixel burn.
Bottom line is, Oled screens WILL have pixel burns, but in terms of how soon? or how bad the effect? that depends on the usage of brightness, thats why Sony's oled screens will last longer because of their approach.
Pros:
Screen
Speed
Design
System
Camera
Memory
Cons:
Average Battery life
A bit bigger
No Edge screen as XZ3
No 90-120Hz touch
Price and market availability
Fingerprint sometimes mess
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 Sony Xperia 5 II, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Sony Xperia 5 II is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
I don't love inanimate objects and I don't sleep with my phone next to me. I turn it off when I go to bed. But, by listing what I don't like you can see how much I like.
The Xperia 5 ii is far too slippery and difficult to hold without a case. I haven't found a case that protects the phone but still allows the shutter button to operate smoothly. The fingerprint reader works fine for me but I would prefer one mounted on the back of the phone like the old Pixels.
One surprise I really like is the option to charge up to 80% and then automatically shut off.
What I really miss is more instructions on using the pro app.
Rather than love, I would consider the fun factor. I'm having a lot of fun taking photos with the Sony Xperia 5 ii. Of course, reading the news is depressing but I go take photos and feel better.
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x5ii quick story
having had last flagship for already 4 long months, evaluated available flagships in a big theoretical matrix, and this phone won along with 8Pro which i already have. X1ii is a flop thanks to shocking 60hz screen and rated way worse. Hoping to get the light phone, without notch and with all the classic features i bought it. Returned after 1 day:
21:9 makes display small, eyes suffered straight away, also the brightness isn't great..i can reduce font and display size to minimum on 1+ and still see better than X5ii with increased font
size 6.1" is on par with Galaxy S7/8/9 cubic meter wise, e.g. S10 would have much bigger display
ultra slippery hard to pick hard to hold body.. absolutely unusable without fat ugly case.. maybe maybe X1ii flat frame is better?
unwanted keypresses thanks to buttons spread everywhere and unwanted unlocks thanks to fingerprint acting after touch
almost impossible to swipe from the edge was the major showstopper, also triggering SideSense was super difficult...i've spent hours testing this to no avail and it was the return reason
very bland OS feels vanilla on one side, but also feels cheap and sad..Win app exists but can't backup no more.. so no extras.. no Dex, phone to PC sync or something
very weird selfie pics
no wireless charging was very difficult to abandon
what was cool:
no gray backbleeding like on every Samsung/Oneplus OLED, say what!
cam trigger...special button will not only launch camera but also start shooting.. it also acts like focus because it intercepts half press
Sony variant of Samsung SmartStay is fantastic. keeps phone unlocked while you look at it and this time it works because using sensors.. Never heard of it but it's super cool
SideSense is a good improvement as it brings multiwindow back..but the requirement is to activate is easily and that doesn't happen because of display edges on a flat phone
fingerprint unlock was perfect if it was easier to locate.. maybe black version doesn't help it, or you need a case with contrasting color
massive code support unlike Samsung, counted 4* AptX for example
tiniest status bar ever saw, notchless.. gives extra space
what a lesson.. despite hoping to prove otherwise i learned punchhole isn't that bad, fingerprint under display isn't worse, big display is beneficial despite weight (crying), and curved display is also great. and Oneplus has the best flagship even one year later, easily dwarfing all those Ultras.
doggydog2 said:
x5ii quick story
having had last flagship for already 4 long months, evaluated available flagships in a big theoretical matrix, and this phone won along with 8Pro which i already have. X1ii is a flop thanks to shocking 60hz screen and rated way worse. Hoping to get the light phone, without notch and with all the classic features i bought it. Returned after 1 day:
21:9 makes display small, eyes suffered straight away, also the brightness isn't great..i can reduce font and display size to minimum on 1+ and still see better than X5ii with increased font
size 6.1" is on par with Galaxy S7/8/9 cubic meter wise, e.g. S10 would have much bigger display
ultra slippery hard to pick hard to hold body.. absolutely unusable without fat ugly case.. maybe maybe X1ii flat frame is better?
unwanted keypresses thanks to buttons spread everywhere and unwanted unlocks thanks to fingerprint acting after touch
almost impossible to swipe from the edge was the major showstopper, also triggering SideSense was super difficult...i've spent hours testing this to no avail and it was the return reason
very bland OS feels vanilla on one side, but also feels cheap and sad..Win app exists but can't backup no more.. so no extras.. no Dex, phone to PC sync or something
very weird selfie pics
no wireless charging was very difficult to abandon
what was cool:
no gray backbleeding like on every Samsung/Oneplus OLED, say what!
cam trigger...special button will not only launch camera but also start shooting.. it also acts like focus because it intercepts half press
Sony variant of Samsung SmartStay is fantastic. keeps phone unlocked while you look at it and this time it works because using sensors.. Never heard of it but it's super cool
SideSense is a good improvement as it brings multiwindow back..but the requirement is to activate is easily and that doesn't happen because of display edges on a flat phone
fingerprint unlock was perfect if it was easier to locate.. maybe black version doesn't help it, or you need a case with contrasting color
massive code support unlike Samsung, counted 4* AptX for example
tiniest status bar ever saw, notchless.. gives extra space
what a lesson.. despite hoping to prove otherwise i learned punchhole isn't that bad, fingerprint under display isn't worse, big display is beneficial despite weight (crying), and curved display is also great. and Oneplus has the best flagship even one year later, easily dwarfing all those Ultras.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had similar, rather unfortunate experience with Xperia 5 II. My biggest hope was impressive camera system performance which appeared to be impossible to satisfy with. I gave good 4 weeks run to this phone but unfortunately it didn't deliver what I wanted.
I mean Photo Pro camera app is really cool and hardware specs are more than sufficient to have outstanding photos but in reality the camera experience is rather hit or miss especially in not ideal light conditions. In other words, I didn't see highest quality photos whatever hard I tried. Tinkering with Lightroom (manual photo editing) is rather waste of time when it comes to smartphones camera. Absence of AI is a big omission regardless of opinion of Sony fanboys.
Other things I disliked in this phone where mentioned already are as follows:
- I expected much better battery life from it compared to my Pixel 4. In reality it's just not that great at all,
- accidental buttons triggering in the pocket (I was pissed off with it to be honest),
- missing Wireless charging and 3D Face unlock,
- not good enough selfie camera and still subbar camera performance overall (old Pixel 4 with outdated hardware does better job),
- low screen brightness at sunny day outdoor conditions.
So sorry Sony but please try harder next time when you're about to release $1000 or so phone.
WarVic said:
I had similar, rather unfortunate experience with Xperia 5 II. My biggest hope was impressive camera system performance which appeared to be impossible to satisfy with. I gave good 4 weeks run to this phone but unfortunately it didn't deliver what I wanted.
I mean Photo Pro camera app is really cool and hardware specs are more than sufficient to have outstanding photos but in reality the camera experience is rather hit or miss especially in not ideal light conditions. In other words, I didn't see highest quality photos whatever hard I tried. Tinkering with Lightroom (manual photo editing) is rather waste of time when it comes to smartphones camera. Absence of AI is a big omission regardless of opinion of Sony fanboys.
Other things I disliked in this phone where mentioned already are as follows:
- I expected much better battery life from it compared to my Pixel 4. In reality it's just not that great at all,
- accidental buttons triggering in the pocket (I was pissed off with it to be honest),
- missing Wireless charging and 3D Face unlock,
- not good enough selfie camera and still subbar camera performance overall (old Pixel 4 with outdated hardware does better job),
- low screen brightness at sunny day outdoor conditions.
So sorry Sony but please try harder next time when you're about to release $1000 or so phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am irritated when someone knows their comments are flawed so the insult anyone who comments in advance. The Sony Xperia 5 II is the first Sony phone--or camera--I've ever bought. I had the Huawei P40 pro which is sitting on a shelf.
I recognize that the Huawei is a "computational photography" force and the Xperia is, by choice, not. I also recognize that many, perhaps most people, need and enjoy an automatic camera. Life is better for them when the device has AI and computational photography and their skills and abilities are limited. So, I value both as devices meeting a need.
Now, specifics.
---Battery life. I set my phone with the charging option of stopping charging at 80%. I usually end the day with at least 50% left. I'm very happy with the speed of recharging.
---Accidental triggering in pocket. I really can't comment since I don't carry the phone loose in my pocket. I have my phone in a holster on my belt. This is mostly because I have my wallet, money clip, coins, pocket knife and the dark a small flashlight in my pockets.
---Missing wireless. I'm not someone who misses it.
---Face unlock. I would like face unlock if it worked well but I detest fingerprint readers under the screen. I got used to the side-mounted print reader and don't find it a problem.
---Selfies. I don't do "selfies" enough to matter. I'm older than most trees and never was a narcissist.
----Screen Brightness. I agree. I strong overhead sunlight it's horrible.
I thoroughly enjoy their Pro Photo App but I understand why many prefer computational photography. With self-driving cars and self-cleaning underwear, it's a trend.
141ptkelly said:
I am irritated when someone knows their comments are flawed so the insult anyone who comments in advance. The Sony Xperia 5 II is the first Sony phone--or camera--I've ever bought. I had the Huawei P40 pro which is sitting on a shelf.
I recognize that the Huawei is a "computational photography" force and the Xperia is, by choice, not. I also recognize that many, perhaps most people, need and enjoy an automatic camera. Life is better for them when the device has AI and computational photography and their skills and abilities are limited. So, I value both as devices meeting a need.
Now, specifics.
---Battery life. I set my phone with the charging option of stopping charging at 80%. I usually end the day with at least 50% left. I'm very happy with the speed of recharging.
---Accidental triggering in pocket. I really can't comment since I don't carry the phone loose in my pocket. I have my phone in a holster on my belt. This is mostly because I have my wallet, money clip, coins, pocket knife and the dark a small flashlight in my pockets.
---Missing wireless. I'm not someone who misses it.
---Face unlock. I would like face unlock if it worked well but I detest fingerprint readers under the screen. I got used to the side-mounted print reader and don't find it a problem.
---Selfies. I don't do "selfies" enough to matter. I'm older than most trees and never was a narcissist.
----Screen Brightness. I agree. I strong overhead sunlight it's horrible.
I thoroughly enjoy their Pro Photo App but I understand why many prefer computational photography. With self-driving cars and self-cleaning underwear, it's a trend.View attachment 5254351
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Click to collapse
I'm irritated with someone who does not understand what computational photography is about. Some people (aka super Pro guys) are thinking that it's just for lazy, ordinary people with lack of photography skills. Surprise! It's not about it at all. No one camera it the world can reproduce exactly what human eye can see (I'm not talking about "Night Vision" photography). This problem as well as limitations of mobile cameras (mainly tiny size of lenses) is addressed by AI and computational photography. Trust me, we see the world in advanced HDR and depth of field of human eye is much better than on any camera.
So summarize what I said above, Xperia 1 II / 5 II photos are weak and not true-to-life at all. I can't remember any flagship smartphone delivering so many unusable photos - misfocused, blurred parts of the image further from the centre, horriblee distortion, chromatic abberation, blown out highlights, ridiculous amount of lens flares (T* marking on the lens glass is a bad joke!) etc. Having great selfie camera is not about narcissism, you know. It's just something that near $1000 modern smartphone must have!
All other Xperia 5 II flaws I mentioned before are valid and quite critical for such expensive device. I won't say a word of complain if Xperia 5 II price was about $350. Perhaps, even this price tag is too high and generous for it. Just because I came back to Pixel 4 which costed me $250. And I'm not a fan of Google phones at all. It just never let me down.
141ptkelly said:
I don't love inanimate objects and I don't sleep with my phone next to me. I turn it off when I go to bed. But, by listing what I don't like you can see how much I like.
The Xperia 5 ii is far too slippery and difficult to hold without a case. I haven't found a case that protects the phone but still allows the shutter button to operate smoothly. The fingerprint reader works fine for me but I would prefer one mounted on the back of the phone like the old Pixels.
One surprise I really like is the option to charge up to 80% and then automatically shut off.
What I really miss is more instructions on using the pro app.
Rather than love, I would consider the fun factor. I'm having a lot of fun taking photos with the Sony Xperia 5 ii. Of course, reading the news is depressing but I go take photos and feel better.
View attachment 5218585
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Click to collapse
Sorry buddy, but the photo example you've uploaded is quite bad. I understand you're having fun with Xperia 5 II Camera app as I did though. Perhaps your photo perfectly represents my experience with Xperia 5 II .
I'm also coming from P30 pro and I'm a little bit disappointed with the camera quality of Xperia 5 ii....The only thing that I like about this phone it's the 120hz and its speed, otherwise, it's not a device that it's worth the 1000$ price tag...Lucky me that I got it for 400$ second hand and I didn't spend a fortune on it.. I regret that I sold my P30 pro for this joke of a phone
robi101012981 said:
I'm also coming from P30 pro and I'm a little bit disappointed with the camera quality of Xperia 5 ii....The only thing that I like about this phone it's the 120hz and its speed, otherwise, it's not a device that it's worth the 1000$ price tag...Lucky me that I got it for 400$ second hand and I didn't spend a fortune on it.. I regret that I sold my P30 pro for this joke of a phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree with "this joke of a phone" comment!
There is definitely learning curve for using Pro Camera app but I noticed Normal Camera app improved after A11 update:
Attached are few point and shoot photos near Palouse falls, WA, US from Normal Camera App.
doggydog2 said:
what was cool:
no gray backbleeding like on every Samsung/Oneplus OLED, say what!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please explain. There is no gray "blacklighting" bled on the Note 10+. It's contrast ratio is near perfect as any display out there and the borders are laser sharp... unless I'm missing something.
I really hope Sony gives Samsung some stiff competition and picks up the ball where Samsung is dropping it. Even if you're not a Sony user, good competition helps catalyze competitors to produce better products.
A win-win for the consumer.
Good for you then. Winning in backbleeding lottery feels good. I test backbleeding as it's accentuated at night which is when I use phone, and in dark mode. Xperia 5ii was very good. Note20U, S10 is fairly good. Don't know about Note10. one pluses 6 7 8 were below average. Samsung tablets are the worst, for the record. Horrid.
doggydog2 said:
Good for you then. Winning in backbleeding lottery feels good. I test backbleeding as it's accentuated at night which is when I use phone, and in dark mode. Xperia 5ii was very good. Note20U, S10 is fairly good. Don't know about Note10. one pluses 6 7 8 were below average. Samsung tablets are the worst, for the record. Horrid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OLEDs* are incapable of IPS backlighting bled because there is no backlight.
The OLED pixels need power to illuminate otherwise they are black.
Apparently this is a firmware or driver glitch.
It's possible that that if not properly back shielded the OLED pixels could reflect light from behind the pixels. Have to know more about the display's physical construction to comment on that. If it were to occur it be a design or manufacturing defect rather than a typical OLED display characteristic.
My display when tested with Screen Test with black, full brightness is completely black. In fact there are no flaws visible whatever color or intensity across the whole screen including the curved portions. It's drop dead gorgeous.
The high refresh rate OLED displays of all Android makes are having various issues usually at very low light levels but not always.
Tinting is a common problem.
I'm actually glad now to be at a measily 60hz with none of these issues.
*AMOLEDs in most cases now.
PPGX5II said:
I disagree with "this joke of a phone" comment!
There is definitely learning curve for using Pro Camera app but I noticed Normal Camera app improved after A11 update:
Attached are few point and shoot photos near Palouse falls, WA, US from Normal Camera App.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Photos are good, no doudts, but I see nothing that can't be achieved by 3 times cheaper or much older phone. Trust me, old dinky dirt cheap Pixel 2 can do the same or even better. I can give you dozens of really bad quality shots from Xperia 5 II I've got. Never had such experience with any other flagship phone, especially in bad light conditions. Finally, I've just reviewed my photos from older Xperia 5 and found that ... it was better which is unbelievable. Certainly Xperia 5 II is a waste, missing opportunity for Sony. I really hope that they will learn on own mistakes, look at what other companies do and finally come up with some great thing. Not sure that it will be Xperia 1 III / 5 III. Not enough time for Sony and a quality bar is too damn high - latest Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, iPhone, OnePlus are hard to beat indeed.
WarVic said:
Photos are good, no doudts, but I see nothing that can't be achieved by 3 times cheaper or much older phone. Trust me, old dinky dirt cheap Pixel 2 can do the same or even better. I can give you dozens of really bad quality shots from Xperia 5 II I've got. Never had such experience with any other flagship phone, especially in bad light conditions. Finally, I've just reviewed my photos from older Xperia 5 and found that ... it was better which is unbelievable. Certainly Xperia 5 II is a waste, missing opportunity for Sony. I really hope that they will learn on own mistakes, look at what other companies do and finally come up with some great thing. Not sure that it will be Xperia 1 III / 5 III. Not enough time for Sony and a quality bar is too damn high - latest Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, iPhone, OnePlus are hard to beat indeed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to switch to oppo find x2 pro, but i m not sure its a good option...
robi101012981 said:
I would like to switch to oppo find x2 pro, but i m not sure its a good option...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't switch to older devices unless you had a very good experience with them before or they're dirt cheap. Oppo Find X3 Pro came into play. That one would be interesting to play with or at least to entertain the kids with microscopic camera.
WarVic said:
Don't switch to older devices unless you had a very good experience with them before or they're dirt cheap. Oppo Find X3 Pro came into play. That one would be interesting to play with or at least to entertain the kids with microscopic camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it's a little bit too expensive for what s offering...I've bought this Xperia 5 II for only 400$, so I think it was a good deal... About that device, I'll exchange it with my 5 II, so no cost will be involved, so idk what to say...
WarVic said:
Photos are good, no doudts, but I see nothing that can't be achieved by 3 times cheaper or much older phone. Trust me, old dinky dirt cheap Pixel 2 can do the same or even better. I can give you dozens of really bad quality shots from Xperia 5 II I've got. Never had such experience with any other flagship phone, especially in bad light conditions. Finally, I've just reviewed my photos from older Xperia 5 and found that ... it was better which is unbelievable. Certainly Xperia 5 II is a waste, missing opportunity for Sony. I really hope that they will learn on own mistakes, look at what other companies do and finally come up with some great thing. Not sure that it will be Xperia 1 III / 5 III. Not enough time for Sony and a quality bar is too damn high - latest Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, iPhone, OnePlus are hard to beat indeed.
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Click to collapse
It's interesting more Japanese companies aren't in the fray.
Conservative digital optical giant Canon maybe thinking of making a grab. Canon spends a huge percentage of their profit on research to help advance their product lines. They have offer excellent tech support as well; a good egg.
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WarVic said:
Photos are good, no doudts, but I see nothing that can't be achieved by 3 times cheaper or much older phone. Trust me, old dinky dirt cheap Pixel 2 can do the same or even better. I can give you dozens of really bad quality shots from Xperia 5 II I've got. Never had such experience with any other flagship phone, especially in bad light conditions. Finally, I've just reviewed my photos from older Xperia 5 and found that ... it was better which is unbelievable. Certainly Xperia 5 II is a waste, missing opportunity for Sony. I really hope that they will learn on own mistakes, look at what other companies do and finally come up with some great thing. Not sure that it will be Xperia 1 III / 5 III. Not enough time for Sony and a quality bar is too damn high - latest Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, iPhone, OnePlus are hard to beat indeed.
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Yeah, Computational Photography is where Sony lacks in Normal Camera App and $950 price tag (now at $850 and I bough for around $1050 including tax) is bit high (I would say around $800 at launch would be killer) but there are some feature which you will not find in other Flagships like Animal Eye focus and 4K 120fps video etc (Just to mention few there are other features too). Also Photo Pro gives you that extra control you need in certain situations. I was in dilemma whether to go for Xperia 5 II or Pixel 4a 5G but eventually I went for 5II and I don't regret it at all (my wife has 4a 5G) and if you look at hardware (except front facing camera, lack of 5G and extra google assistant button for some ppl) everything is just perfect.
Those brands you mentioned mostly use Sony sensor and quality which you mentioned is due to Computational Photography and not because of actual hardware. I would prefer good hardware than not so good hardware with some software magic to make it look good.
blackhawk said:
OLEDs* are incapable of IPS backlighting bled because there is no backlight.
The OLED pixels need power to illuminate otherwise they are black.
Apparently this is a firmware or driver glitch.
It's possible that that if not properly back shielded the OLED pixels could reflect light from behind the pixels. Have to know more about the display's physical construction to comment on that. If it were to occur it be a design or manufacturing defect rather than a typical OLED display characteristic.
My display when tested with Screen Test with black, full brightness is completely black. In fact there are no flaws visible whatever color or intensity across the whole screen including the curved portions. It's drop dead gorgeous.
The high refresh rate OLED displays of all Android makes are having various issues usually at very low light levels but not always.
Tinting is a common problem.
I'm actually glad now to be at a measily 60hz with none of these issues.
*AMOLEDs in most cases now.
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i wouldn't be happy on 60Hz - it hurts eyes as they constantly refocus during scrolling. But the backbleeding happens on 60Hz OLEDs equally. It's just different than IPS, not caused by obvious backlight, but by voltages and near impossibility to tune it well. OLED backbleeding (some can refer to it as lack of uniformity, glowing, banding) looks very similar as on IPS but it's less uniform. Looks like huge ghosts in various shapes on your screen or bands.
So I didn't mean pure black levels (unrealistic in most media content), i talk about low RGB levels / low brightness. That's where massive backbleeding comes to OLEDs. I rated some also here. Look at the pictures in this thread, hope you ate your breakfast already Since noone really keeps the screen turned on with RGB (0,0,0) for most pixels, the ultimate blacks are good only for one scenario: AOD. But make a microscopic step higher from (0,0,0) and you immediatelly lose this benefit of OLED.
We use IPS panels for work for hundreds of people, surprise. Now that the market races for top brightness, at the cost of eye health, glad that the high frequencies came at least. But still, this OLED technology should not exist in 2021. It's flickering, agressive to eyes, excessive blue, nauseating to some. My cheap 7year old IPS tablet is still pleasure to look at compared to nowadays OLED junk. Can't watch horrors on my state of the art OLED TV thanks to this. Bigger panel - more backbleeding. You can't pay enough to get rid of it. The death of *OLED is inevitable, let's celebrate a new technology soon!! We will laugh at OLED in future like we do at CRT, that's for sure.
doggydog2 said:
i wouldn't be happy on 60Hz - it hurts eyes as they constantly refocus during scrolling. But the backbleeding happens on 60Hz OLEDs equally. It's just different than IPS, not caused by obvious backlight, but by voltages and near impossibility to tune it well. OLED backbleeding (some can refer to it as lack of uniformity, glowing, banding) looks very similar as on IPS but it's less uniform. Looks like huge ghosts in various shapes on your screen or bands.
So I didn't mean pure black levels (unrealistic in most media content), i talk about low RGB levels / low brightness. That's where massive backbleeding comes to OLEDs. I rated some also here. Look at the pictures in this thread, hope you ate your breakfast already Since noone really keeps the screen turned on with RGB (0,0,0) for most pixels, the ultimate blacks are good only for one scenario: AOD. But make a microscopic step higher from (0,0,0) and you immediatelly lose this benefit of OLED.
We use IPS panels for work for hundreds of people, surprise. Now that the market races for top brightness, at the cost of eye health, glad that the high frequencies came at least. But still, this OLED technology should not exist in 2021. It's flickering, agressive to eyes, excessive blue, nauseating to some. My cheap 7year old IPS tablet is still pleasure to look at compared to nowadays OLED junk. Can't watch horrors on my state of the art OLED TV thanks to this. Bigger panel - more backbleeding. You can't pay enough to get rid of it. The death of *OLED is inevitable, let's celebrate a new technology soon!! We will laugh at OLED in future like we do at CRT, that's for sure.
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That's banding or at least what I call it.
Never seen that on my 10+
May be firmware or a defect in the active matrix drivers.
Either way it's completely unacceptable!
I like high end CRTs, their silky transition smoothness is hard (impossible?) to replicate.