Related
Just picked up an Xperia Zl (C6506) and using it on Bell Mobility Canada. I currently use a Note II (came from a Note I prior, and an iPhone 4S before that). After just a few hours here are my thoughts (I'll update this later as I get to try battery power and reception a bit more).
I will be using this for a week or two for sure, and I'll either give this to my wife and grab a Galaxy S4, or I will keep this and get an Xperia ZL for the wife too. I'll decide when the S4 comes out, but so far I could happily live with this device.
Obviously, the points below are incomplete. I'll update over the next few weeks:
Screen:
- Nice and sharp. Boy was I more worried than I should have been about the 'terrible' viewing angles. I am picky about the display too, so I was worried I would not like it. Display is fine (yes, colours washed out a bit on an angle but its really not a big deal).
- Screen size is great! If the Note's screen size has you spoiled, the Xperia is a good device to move to if you want a smaller 'pocket' footprint.
Build quality/Size:
- Feels great in the hand. The plastic feels better quality than the Note II or S3s. Does not feel cheap.
- Wife who has iPhone 4S loves it too (she has very small hands, unlike the big ones I have). She says it "does not feel dainty like the iPhone". I asked her if she would be happy with it and she said she will use this no prob, and she hates big phones.
- Feels great in the pocket (but I did not mind the Note II in my jeans so that that into account).
Performance:
- snappy scrolling and app launching. Comparable to the Note II (in my eyes).
- Took my 64GB microSD card no problems. It was formatted by my Note II (not sure of the file format) and the ZL took the card and reads all the data already on it without an issue or need to reformat.
Conclusion (after 3 hours of use):
- Nothing to worry about as far as screen size and screen quality if you are a Note II user.
There's already a thread regarding this in the Q&A section as many of us (ZL owners) have/had note2. I've done my comparison of the two here. Anyway thanks for sharing your views!
Dpk1 said:
There's already a thread regarding this in the Q&A section as many of us (ZL owners) have/had note2. I've done my comparison of the two here. Anyway thanks for sharing your views!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha awesome. I did not look too closely at the Indian ZL thread. Looks like your experiences are close to what I am seeing (the model numbers of the Note II and ZL differ mostly in just the available modems correct?)
chriskwarren said:
Haha awesome. I did not look too closely at the Indian ZL thread. Looks like your experiences are close to what I am seeing (the model numbers of the Note II and ZL differ mostly in just the available modems correct?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I guess. Lol, we do share quite similar thoughts !
came from note 2 here as well. loving the phone!
Sent from my C6502 using xda premium
hyelton said:
came from note 2 here as well. loving the phone!
Sent from my C6502 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So actually whats the Difference you found in Xperia Zl vs Galaxy Note II ?
Why you choose Zl, instead of getting S4?
All people having complain about viewing angle, I also want to go for Xperia Zl but now by people reviews I really disappointed to go for it, but I love Xperia Zl
If you're another victim of the viewing angle plot, get your self a s4 and end convo now. What is the matter with people and viewing angles? **** is a useless extra that Samsung fan boys dug out their ass to justify the flat looking icons their Ui looks. And even so, who looks into their screens from an angle? Rreally? Common people.
Sent from my LT29i using Tapatalk 2
Lusterboi said:
If you're another victim of the viewing angle plot, get your self a s4 and end convo now. What is the matter with people and viewing angles? **** is a useless extra that Samsung fan boys dug out their ass to justify the flat looking icons their Ui looks. And even so, who looks into their screens from an angle? Rreally? Common people.
Sent from my LT29i using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Brother you are wrong I'm not victim of Bloody viewing angles, but I'm just try to asking actually How the screen of Xperia Zl is looking ???
Because I love the Simplicity of Sony UI & also compact design,
One-thing more is ntt-docomo Xperia is using looking better than normal Xperia line, do you know about it?
jhony.liver said:
No Brother you are wrong I'm not victim of Bloody viewing angles, but I'm just try to asking actually How the screen of Xperia Zl is looking ???
Because I love the Simplicity of Sony UI & also compact design,
One-thing more is ntt-docomo Xperia is using looking better than normal Xperia line, do you know about it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Compared to other flagship, screen is good. Nothing spectacular, but nothing to keep nagging about either. You see so many complaining about it, because there is very little wrong with the ZL. The best thing to do, if you are on the fence, would be to compare them once the S4 is out. The screen looks insanely sharp on their new ads.
As for the NTT DOCOMO version, remember that its bootloader will be locked. Whether its unlockable or not, you will need to check.
I think you need to decide if you want
Soft buttons or Sammy style buttons
Dedicated camera button or not
Touch whiz or Sony styling
Lcd or amoled
Removable battery or not
When you have decided you have made your decision.
The rest just doesn't matter.
Processor - you won't know the difference
Camera - both good
Battery life - comparable
Good luck.
Sent from my C6502 using xda premium
Week 2 after trading Note 2 for X ZL
I was in the same boat as you. Actually, I loved my Note 2 I used the hell out of it, the screen size was enough that I almost completely abandoned my Nexus 7, it just fit the gap between Tablet and phone so close that I hardly ever felt myself needing to switch to the Nexus 7.
Not to mention the battery was awesome and I don't remember ever having a day where I didn't get a full day of heavy use out of it. It was my favorite gadget ever so, as you can imagine, I was a bit reluctant to give it up easily. I actually had no real intention of selling my note 2 but I've had it for a while and it started to show it's age.
I was in a mobile shop the other day and I saw a ZL there. It was used 2 days and almost $200 dollars off the new price. In the end it cost me a grand total of $50 and heavily used, year old Note 2 as a trade in. Pretty damn good deal if you ask me. The phone was in mint condition. I had some experience with the Xperia Z which a friend bought and I really, really liked it. At first I was kind of sad that the Z was not available but I couldn't pass it up at that good of a deal. Now having used it for a couple weeks, I like the ZL much, much better than the Z
So, two weeks in and I am super happy. I love the ZL completely. I was a worried I wouldn't like it as much because the screen a little smalled but the nearly invisible bezel on the ZL and the build quality made it all worth it. ( I would love to see a 5.5" screen on the next version of it )
All in all I don't regret my decision at all and I don't think I will be giving it up anytime soon ( that is maybe until the note 3 is released, or the fabled Xphone from Motorola ) until then I will love and enjoy my ZL.
I do have a few minor issues with the ZL. First and foremost it seems to get a bit warm pretty quickly, I'm not exactly sure why this is but I never had any heat issues with any of my previous phones ( samsungs and nokias mostly )
People mention the viewing angles, and I honestly can't understand why this is an issue. With A TV I could understand because you sometimes have to sit at weird angles., but on a mobile I don't understand why anyone would want ( or would be able to ) use their phone at any angle that would cause any problems. In my experience the ZL has an awesome screen, althoughI did notice a single dead pixel which kinda makes me sad but you can't really notice it.
My other issues are simply, I can't find any aftermarket stuff for it in my area. There are no cases or anything to speak of so I am super paranoid about dropping it.
And finally, there is a lack of custom roms out there for the ZL. This is more because I'm a Rom addict and not smart enough to bake my own ;D
I rooted it and unlocked the boot-loader out of the box I would love to put PAC Rom on it at some point.
Again, it took my 64GB SD card with no problems.
The battery life is not as good as the Note 2 but it is very, very good. I make it through a whole day, with heavy use no problem.
In closing, if you are on the fence about trading in your Note 2, don't be. It's a worthy upgrade.
chriskwarren said:
Just picked up an Xperia Zl (C6506) and using it on Bell Mobility Canada. I currently use a Note II (came from a Note I prior, and an iPhone 4S before that). After just a few hours here are my thoughts (I'll update this later as I get to try battery power and reception a bit more).
I will be using this for a week or two for sure, and I'll either give this to my wife and grab a Galaxy S4, or I will keep this and get an Xperia ZL for the wife too. I'll decide when the S4 comes out, but so far I could happily live with this device.
Obviously, the points below are incomplete. I'll update over the next few weeks:
Screen:
- Nice and sharp. Boy was I more worried than I should have been about the 'terrible' viewing angles. I am picky about the display too, so I was worried I would not like it. Display is fine (yes, colours washed out a bit on an angle but its really not a big deal).
- Screen size is great! If the Note's screen size has you spoiled, the Xperia is a good device to move to if you want a smaller 'pocket' footprint.
Build quality/Size:
- Feels great in the hand. The plastic feels better quality than the Note II or S3s. Does not feel cheap.
- Wife who has iPhone 4S loves it too (she has very small hands, unlike the big ones I have). She says it "does not feel dainty like the iPhone". I asked her if she would be happy with it and she said she will use this no prob, and she hates big phones.
- Feels great in the pocket (but I did not mind the Note II in my jeans so that that into account).
Performance:
- snappy scrolling and app launching. Comparable to the Note II (in my eyes).
- Took my 64GB microSD card no problems. It was formatted by my Note II (not sure of the file format) and the ZL took the card and reads all the data already on it without an issue or need to reformat.
Conclusion (after 3 hours of use):
- Nothing to worry about as far as screen size and screen quality if you are a Note II user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you're a flash a holic and you made a new account and this is your first post?
thx bro for the review btw. this is good to hear as I am also considering Sony Xperia ZL, but strictly for the ROMs (because I thought development for Sony was better, vs Samsung's AT&T Note 2 ROMs which I found a bit lacking even after one year).
I'm currently on GSM Galaxy Nexus which has a boat load of ROMs to flash.
I might wait a year to see how the development shapes up. I will get the ZL that comes with LTE support so I'm reading around for a while.
abuayyoub said:
I was in the same boat as you. Actually, I loved my Note 2 I used the hell out of it, the screen size was enough that I almost completely abandoned my Nexus 7, it just fit the gap between Tablet and phone so close that I hardly ever felt myself needing to switch to the Nexus 7.
Not to mention the battery was awesome and I don't remember ever having a day where I didn't get a full day of heavy use out of it. It was my favorite gadget ever so, as you can imagine, I was a bit reluctant to give it up easily. I actually had no real intention of selling my note 2 but I've had it for a while and it started to show it's age.
I was in a mobile shop the other day and I saw a ZL there. It was used 2 days and almost $200 dollars off the new price. In the end it cost me a grand total of $50 and heavily used, year old Note 2 as a trade in. Pretty damn good deal if you ask me. The phone was in mint condition. I had some experience with the Xperia Z which a friend bought and I really, really liked it. At first I was kind of sad that the Z was not available but I couldn't pass it up at that good of a deal. Now having used it for a couple weeks, I like the ZL much, much better than the Z
So, two weeks in and I am super happy. I love the ZL completely. I was a worried I wouldn't like it as much because the screen a little smalled but the nearly invisible bezel on the ZL and the build quality made it all worth it. ( I would love to see a 5.5" screen on the next version of it )
All in all I don't regret my decision at all and I don't think I will be giving it up anytime soon ( that is maybe until the note 3 is released, or the fabled Xphone from Motorola ) until then I will love and enjoy my ZL.
I do have a few minor issues with the ZL. First and foremost it seems to get a bit warm pretty quickly, I'm not exactly sure why this is but I never had any heat issues with any of my previous phones ( samsungs and nokias mostly )
People mention the viewing angles, and I honestly can't understand why this is an issue. With A TV I could understand because you sometimes have to sit at weird angles., but on a mobile I don't understand why anyone would want ( or would be able to ) use their phone at any angle that would cause any problems. In my experience the ZL has an awesome screen, althoughI did notice a single dead pixel which kinda makes me sad but you can't really notice it.
My other issues are simply, I can't find any aftermarket stuff for it in my area. There are no cases or anything to speak of so I am super paranoid about dropping it.
And finally, there is a lack of custom roms out there for the ZL. This is more because I'm a Rom addict and not smart enough to bake my own ;D
I rooted it and unlocked the boot-loader out of the box I would love to put PAC Rom on it at some point.
Again, it took my 64GB SD card with no problems.
The battery life is not as good as the Note 2 but it is very, very good. I make it through a whole day, with heavy use no problem.
In closing, if you are on the fence about trading in your Note 2, don't be. It's a worthy upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. I'm impressed with the reviews from Note users.
At this point the lack of Roms that's stopping me. I had the XS and used the KA roms and see he is developing for the the ZL which is good.
never stock always tweaked
I had a ZL for 10 days, loved the build quality & size. I would have kept it, but the locked bootloader convinced me that it wasn't worth keeping it. I did find battery life is longer on the Note2. I am hanging on to my Note2 for now.
me too came from note 2.. the phone is pretty badA$$.
I'm surprised I'm not the only Note 2 user looking at this phone... I wonder what it is about it that attracts the Note 2 userbase??
Question for those who have switched regarding the screen, how are the blacks? I know they aren't AMOLED black, but are they still pretty dark?
arthurbrownleeiv said:
I'm surprised I'm not the only Note 2 user looking at this phone... I wonder what it is about it that attracts the Note 2 userbase??
Question for those who have switched regarding the screen, how are the blacks? I know they aren't AMOLED black, but are they still pretty dark?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They're ok, about average for a TFT screen. Nothing compares to AMOLED when it comes to blacks.
Not a note 2 owner
I was torn between Xperia ZL and note 2, because here in my country, they are sold for almost exactly the same price.
With much thinking and reading, I have decided to go for the ZL mainly because of: Compactness, and a brighter future ahead in terms of development support (as I see it).
Getting it next week. Sooo excited
JRBT24 said:
I was torn between Xperia ZL and note 2, because here in my country, they are sold for almost exactly the same price.
With much thinking and reading, I have decided to go for the ZL mainly because of: Compactness, and a brighter future ahead in terms of development support (as I see it).
Getting it next week. Sooo excited
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup its a great phone but don't bother to sell your note 2 ...
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Tl;dr
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
We all have our wish lists for that single, perfect phone. I know I certainly do. Whether it's the IPhone's/HTC's/Sony's great hardware/build quality, or the pure Android experience offered with Nexus, or Samsung's wide array of software features/apps, the "perfect" one.
I love technology and I love my smartphone. I love rooting, flashing, trying out a thousand different things on my phone. But why should I care about it (the smartphone) so much? Of course I have invested lots of money into my smartphone, but it's not healthy to be consumed so much by smartphone. I know I'm going a bit off-topic, but really I'm just trying to tell you, just get a phone for what it really was for, to call, to text. I know apps are so convenient nowadays because we have everything in a device, but sometimes it's not bad to do it old-fashioned.
Get a phone that you will use now and a while. Get a phone that can serve its purpose. While a phone may have many features or many apps, I highly doubt a student or a professional will find use for it every single hour of the day. Most of us I assume probably aren't developers, and even as hobbies, it shouldn't consume much time.
GG2012 said:
We all have our wish lists for that single, perfect phone. I know I certainly do. Whether it's the IPhone's/HTC's/Sony's great hardware/build quality, or the pure Android experience offered with Nexus, or Samsung's wide array of software features/apps, the "perfect" one.
I love technology and I love my smartphone. I love rooting, flashing, trying out a thousand different things on my phone. But why should I care about it (the smartphone) so much? Of course I have invested lots of money into my smartphone, but it's not healthy to be consumed so much by smartphone. I know I'm going a bit off-topic, but really I'm just trying to tell you, just get a phone for what it really was for, to call, to text. I know apps are so convenient nowadays because we have everything in a device, but sometimes it's not bad to do it old-fashioned.
Get a phone that you will use now and a while. Get a phone that can serve its purpose. While a phone may have many features or many apps, I highly doubt a student or a professional will find use for it every single hour of the day. Most of us I assume probably aren't developers, and even as hobbies, it shouldn't consume much time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is by far the best advice I have seen on xda ...ever.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
ywindlass said:
Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Back when you were content with your phone(s), things were growing much slower than they are now. At the current rate that phones are being released, it's guaranteed that there will be a new and better phone that you will want within the first year. Companies don't want you to be content with a phone for too long. I bet Samsung has better features right now that could have been added to the s4, but they want to save those for the s5.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
I agree on almost all of your points. I've had my share of android phones (G1, Moto Charm, G2x, and now Galaxy S3) and I'm beginning to become disappointed with the experience of this phone compared to that of a newer android device or even an iPhone and it's been only 8 months since I've purchased it. I don't quite agree with you on the music issue as I'm a music junkie myself with a 7 gig library but poweramp has transformed my android music listening experience into a great one.
Back to the S3, I've found that the battery life and build quality have been very sub par for me. Plus the pentile display is nothing to rave about either. Being only a sophomore in high school and tied to my family's family plan on T-Mobile, I really don't have an option to switch. I desperately want a Note 2 or Nexus 4 but financially I'm screwed. Even with the Nexus 4's low price I'd have to wait for the rumored 32gb version for storage reasons but that'd set me back $400 for shipping and tax. The S3 isn't even worth that anymore used.
All in all, I feel as if I should've waited for the Note 2 or Nexus 4 before getting the S3. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome device that's suits all of my needs fine but there are definitely better choices out there from the perspective of a critical tech junkie such as myself.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
You can see the phones I've had in my signature, all 3 Nokias were indestructible...the old flip phone, I threw it at a wall and it exploded into a million pieces, put it back together and the thing still works...man they really knew how to build phones...
The Nexus One was a great phone. I had to drop it and break the internal screen (oddly enough the outer glass didn't crack at all.). But it felt great in my hand, it was very solid and built well.
The Nexus S was kind of disappointing I have to say...Almost completely the same specs and I felt it wasn't built as well. I sold it for my GS-II
That stupid thing was the retarded stepchild of the S-II fleet...the poor developers were stuck with GB while T-Mobile picked its ass holding back all the updates. ****ty screen for sure, visible display flaws, poor PPI, cheap feeling...I never wanted to get a Samsung again. But I did...
The S-III was a huge improvement to say the least...I'm very satisfied with it. It does feel cheaper than say my old N1, but I think it feels a lot better than the NS or t989. Honestly with a screen protector and an otterbox commuter case, it's just fine. And as long as I have my Cyanogenmod, I don't care what software the thing comes with . Barring anything crazy coming out anytime soon, I don't see myself getting another phone until this falls apart.
In my eyes, as cliche as it may be, since my most important factors are Cyanogenmod and otterbox (or equivalent) case availability, all I care about are the specs. I sure hope screens stop ****in growing though...this one is almost too big as it is...
BTW: I sold my t989 on eBay for $350, all I had to do was unlock the thing, instantly increases it's value by a good $150. Always unlock your phone before you sell it, it will sell for much more.
nyyankees1237 said:
I agree on almost all of your points. I've had my share of android phones (G1, Moto Charm, G2x, and now Galaxy S3) and I'm beginning to become disappointed with the experience of this phone compared to that of a newer android device or even an iPhone and it's been only 8 months since I've purchased it. I don't quite agree with you on the music issue as I'm a music junkie myself with a 7 gig library but poweramp has transformed my android music listening experience into a great one.
Back to the S3, I've found that the battery life and build quality have been very sub par for me. Plus the pentile display is nothing to rave about either. Being only a sophomore in high school and tied to my family's family plan on T-Mobile, I really don't have an option to switch. I desperately want a Note 2 or Nexus 4 but financially I'm screwed. Even with the Nexus 4's low price I'd have to wait for the rumored 32gb version for storage reasons but that'd set me back $400 for shipping and tax. The S3 isn't even worth that anymore used.
All in all, I feel as if I should've waited for the Note 2 or Nexus 4 before getting the S3. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome device that's suits all of my needs fine but there are definitely better choices out there from the perspective of a critical tech junkie such as myself.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Referring to the music, my library exceeds 30 gigs and I've just found it irritating to sync and manage. Not a huge issue though. I think we're on the same page though. I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks that way about the device. The thing is that I can get the HTC One spending all of my current savings, but then of course that means no new phone in the coming months. And Later this year there are just too many rumors about this "X Phone" and the new nexus... Idk.
zander21510 said:
In my eyes, as cliche as it may be, since my most important factors are Cyanogenmod and otterbox (or equivalent) case availability, all I care about are the specs. I sure hope screens stop ****in growing though...this one is almost too big as it is...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see where you're coming from. I got a huge Seido case for my S3, and then took it off after about a month. I dropped it afterwards (about 9 feet onto my subwoofer, long story) and nothing happened luckily. I like it better without a case. I guess looks would be a smaller factor then. Maybe, I should just snap that huge case back on and try to hold out until the holiday season... Idk lol. Thanks for the reply. :good:
I agree, I'll wait for the next nexus or galaxy note 3 with some saved money.
Perfect phone for me though:
High quality metal build (aluminum perhaps)
1080p 5+inch screen
3000mah+ battery
2ghz quadcore processor
2gb+ ram
Micro SD card slot
64gb+ internal storage
Stock android (for nexus updates)
8+ megapixel camera
Front facing speakers
Not insanely expensive lol
A guy could dream. Can anyone get it right?
ywindlass said:
Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Companies are getting us used to crave new things within very short periods of time, an example of this is the fact that new phones, tablets or any kind of electronics pop every 4 to 6 months, which is done to satisfy our non-basic needs of always having the latest gadgets, and to create more profits or economic growth for the typical capitalist corporations. We've been spoiled to have new tech very fast, which is in a way bad as this craving (or addiction?) can easily go out control and we can be left bored with very new gadgets in our hands or even go into debt t o satisfy this craving for more. This spoiling behavior makes us feel the need to want more or not to be satisfied with what we have and we can quickly become slaves of technology if we dive too deep into it, hence what you are feeling when you say that you are growing unimpressed with so many innovations or not satisfied or please with the current technology. Perhaps I'm going a bit of topic, but is worth to be aware where we stand as consumers and the invisible ways corporations play with our "addictions" or "needs" for the latest.
I love the looks of both the Nexus 4 and the HTC one better than my Galaxy S3, but no removeable battery and no expandable memory? Get serious? I can deal with a plasic back, the price I paid tells me it's not cheap! Anyways, I don't agree with anything else you said. This phone was awesomly fast out of the box and now I have a custom ROM that even improved on that. Plus, I prefer Samoleds although I admit Samsung could do better. A 1080p screen with Super Amoled + with a different pentile arrangement would be nice. My next phone is most likely to be the Note 3, Samsung is just at the edge of innovation right now, too much so for me not to buy. Can't wait!
nyyankees1237 said:
A guy could dream. Can anyone get it right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say my dream phone would be:
-1080p 4.75in (no bigger, no smaller) super-fancy spaceage whatever screen that can actually get its brightness as low as possible at night, and stays clear and readable in direct sunlight...
-1.5ghz+ ultra-energy efficient 4+ core processor.
-2GB+ RAM
-Micro SD card
-16+ GB internal storage
-Removable back cover and battery
-NFC, Barometer, compass, so many sensors I can start a weatherstation lol.
-Vibration with adjustable intensity from barely felt to earthquake magnitude.
-Latest Cyanogenmod stock, with options to auto-update to stable, M, or nightly releases (a guy can dream...)
-A rear camera that can shoot 1080P video and instant-shutter, no noise high quality pictures, and a front camera capable of doing an HD Skype call.
-2 front-firing speakers (one on bottom, one on top that doubles as earpiece); a rear-facing mic for the camera, and a bottom-facing mic for phone calls
-Capacative buttons underneath screen (menu, home, back in that order)
-24-hour runtime battery
-Body of carbon fiber (the durabilty of plastic with the feel of metal)
-Super gorilla glass whatever that can withstand a 5-foot face-down drop.
I would pay a good $450 for that phone.
Can't forget the holographic keyboard.
Scores over 10,000 on quadrant, I saw a stock HTC one today score 9133 on quadrant running stock 4.1.2. That was impressive.
I like your dream phone.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
zander21510 said:
I would say my dream phone would be:
-1080p 4.75in (no bigger, no smaller) super-fancy spaceage whatever screen that can actually get its brightness as low as possible at night, and stays clear and readable in direct sunlight...
-1.5ghz+ ultra-energy efficient 4+ core processor.
-2GB+ RAM
-Micro SD card
-16+ GB internal storage
-Removable back cover and battery
-NFC, Barometer, compass, so many sensors I can start a weatherstation lol.
-Vibration with adjustable intensity from barely felt to earthquake magnitude.
-Latest Cyanogenmod stock, with options to auto-update to stable, M, or nightly releases (a guy can dream...)
-A rear camera that can shoot 1080P video and instant-shutter, no noise high quality pictures, and a front camera capable of doing an HD Skype call.
-2 front-firing speakers (one on bottom, one on top that doubles as earpiece); a rear-facing mic for the camera, and a bottom-facing mic for phone calls
-Capacative buttons underneath screen (menu, home, back in that order)
-24-hour runtime battery
-Body of carbon fiber (the durabilty of plastic with the feel of metal)
-Super gorilla glass whatever that can withstand a 5-foot face-down drop.
I would pay a good $450 for that phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll take two! Haha
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
The power of a desktop computer, specifically i7 3770k, gtx 580 sli x3, 24gb ram, 256gb sd, all in a sexy Nokia n9 form, running windows 8.
Thats my dream phone. Seems realistic enough.
---------- Post added at 11:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 PM ----------
ywindlass said:
Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
" I want something sexy that works well"
Get a cerulean n9. Though the s3 hardware is very much superior to the n9, the n9 just wins hands down IMHO.
I have both phone and u would pick the n9 over the s3 any day of I didn't water damage the power switch on my n9.. Grrr Seattle rain..
wardoc22 said:
The power of a desktop computer, specifically i7 3770k, gtx 580 sli x3, 24gb ram, 256gb sd, all in a sexy Nokia n9 form, running windows 8.
Thats my dream phone. Seems realistic enough.
---------- Post added at 11:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 PM ----------
" I want something sexy that works well"
Get a cerulean n9. Though the s3 hardware is very much superior to the n9, the n9 just wins hands down IMHO.
I have both phone and u would pick the n9 over the s3 any day of I didn't water damage the power switch on my n9.. Grrr Seattle rain..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those specs would definitely be amazing haha. But yeah, I did end up getting the HTC one, and I think I'm happier. I havent even rooted yet and I'm still content. It just works so well. Everything is so clean and sexy.
nyyankees1237 said:
I agree, I'll wait for the next nexus or galaxy note 3 with some saved money.
Perfect phone for me though:
High quality metal build (aluminum perhaps)
1080p 5+inch screen
3000mah+ battery
2ghz quadcore processor
2gb+ ram
Micro SD card slot
64gb+ internal storage
Stock android (for nexus updates)
8+ megapixel camera
Front facing speakers
Not insanely expensive lol
Perfect phone for me though:
A guy could dream. Can anyone get it right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By your specs, would the Google S4 be it?
BTW, my dream specs:
1080p 5+inch screen
3000mah+battery
2ghz quadcore processor
3gb ram
Micro SD card slot
128gb+internal storage
Stock android
12+MP camera
4+MP front camera
Wireless charging
Front facing speakers
FM radio (for my mom)
LTE
Inexpensive
wardoc22 said:
Grrr Seattle rain..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rain? Seattle? Pfft.....
Thetenthdr said:
Rain? Seattle? Pfft.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It rains here 24.7 in the winter.
Yes, yes it does.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
I have been using mine for a few hours now and decided to write a bit about my first impressions. I hope these will be helpful.
Here are my initial thoughts (I am coming from the iPhone 5 that I had been using for the last 5 mos)
- The phone is light (feels too light for its size), but well made and well balanced in terms of weight. No issues with build quality (except for the one mentioned below). But it's so freaking slippery. I can't wait for my Spigen case to arrive.
- The screen is gorgeous. Large and vibrant. If you don't like AMOLED oversaturation, there is a "Movie" preset that tones down the colors.
- Battery life is the best I've ever experienced. Even compared to the iPhone. I used the phone for about 3 hours and was only down 25% (I understand that the gauge still needs to be calibrated and the battery life so far may not be typical).
- I am not a fan of stock Android, but Touchwhiz is bloated and laggy. With the specs that the phone has, there shouldn't be any choppiness or waiting for stock apps (caller, etc.) to open. But there is. I am hoping that Samsung will optimize the skin's performance in the next update.
- Related: People who put so much non-removable bloatware should be hung by their necks. Why is Flipboard, Chrome, Lookout and tens of other apps non-removable and always seem to run in the background? I'll wait for a verified list of safe-to-remove apps and bye-bye bloatware.
- Overall Touchwhiz is inconsistent. The design of stock apps varies so much. And damn those stupid bubble sounds.
- Camera is amazing in well-lit environments (better than the iPhone's), but not so much in low light (The Night mode fixes the issue for static objects though).
- Call sound quality is great.
- The only minor gripe about the build quality / design that I have concerns the power button. It's small, almost flush, and has very weak, almost non-existent tactile feedback. Just the opposite of what the power button on the iPhone is like. The volume rocker is fine though.
I will update this thread if I discover anything new.
Please, post your mini-reviews and first impressions here as well. Thanks.
Thanks for the early review. I'm getting mine tomorrow, so the wait is killing me.
Which color did you get by the way? And what did you think of that color?
I got black but still have some urge to get white. It might not matter because I also bought the Neo Hybrid case.
It does seem Samsung and T-Mo have put a lot of bloatware into the device - I can't wait for a good ROM to come by.
From my showrooming at AT&T and Best Buy, the display is indeed gorgeous and the design is better. I don't know.
I've seen the HTC One side by side with the S4 in AT&T and Best Buy, and I don't think the S4 is that much worse/cheap-feeling.
I actually found the S4 to be more comfortable to hold, and seems to fit more comfortably into my hand. The HTC One,
with all its aluminium glory, feels more rigid, and certainly not as light as the S4. I don't know.. preference.
I do think one other phone that doesn't get too much love is the Xperia Z. Great build quality, near-stock UI.
They have some nice themes that I'm using on the S3.
Good early review. I do have a question for you. I am thinking of returning this iPhone 5 for the S4. Knowing what you know now, would you advise others like me to hang on and wait it out? or is this a phone that even with its lag problems worth the switch?
GG2012 said:
Thanks for the early review. I'm getting mine tomorrow, so the wait is killing me.
Which color did you get by the way? And what did you think of that color?
I got black but still have some urge to get white. It might not matter because I also bought the Neo Hybrid case.
It does seem Samsung and T-Mo have put a lot of bloatware into the device - I can't wait for a good ROM to come by.
From my showrooming at AT&T and Best Buy, the display is indeed gorgeous and the design is better. I don't know.
I've seen the HTC One side by side with the S4 in AT&T and Best Buy, and I don't think the S4 is that much worse/cheap-feeling.
I actually found the S4 to be more comfortable to hold, and seems to fit more comfortably into my hand. The HTC One,
with all its aluminium glory, feels more rigid, and certainly not as light as the S4. I don't know.. preference.
I do think one other phone that doesn't get too much love is the Xperia Z. Great build quality, near-stock UI.
They have some nice themes that I'm using on the S3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the black mist version and I like it much better than the white. But it's personal preference.
I have already rooted the phone using the Motochopper exploit (very easy; thanks to Dan).
I also find the design much better than the S3 (more "professional", "industrial").
I do like how the HTC looks and feel, but it's not by any means more rigid. None of these phones are rugged.
The Xperia Z is a great looking phone but I personally thing that the screen on the S4 and HTC One are miles better.
With that said, the most important factor for me was the removable battery. It's always great to have a phone that doesn't have a worn battery even after a year or two of use. Plus, the battery itself is the largest one among five-inchers.
ferganer said:
I got the black mist version and I like it much better than the white. But it's personal preference.
I have already rooted the phone using the Motochopper exploit (very easy; thanks to Dan).
I also find the design much better than the S3 (more "professional", "industrial").
I do like how the HTC looks and feel, but it's not by any means more rigid. None of these phones are rugged.
The Xperia Z is a great looking phone but I personally thing that the screen on the S4 and HTC One are miles better.
With that said, the most important factor for me was the removable battery. It's always great to have a phone that doesn't have a worn battery even after a year or two of use. Plus, the battery itself is the largest one among five-inchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note 2 has the best battery life by far of any smartphone that is not the Droid Razr Maxx. That thing can last for days, and maybe weeks with the monster Anker extended battery. I hope I can get similar results with the S4, though I'm afraid if I keep a lot of apps, that will drain the battery faster. I have to say the dual speakers on the HTC One really impressed me. I'm wondering why Samsung still hasn't done it this way (or even better, dual front and back speakers). They're already one of the few tablet makers that put the speakers in front, and not the back. I live for the replaceable battery and microSD slot.
oak25 said:
Good early review. I do have a question for you. I am thinking of returning this iPhone 5 for the S4. Knowing what you know now, would you advise others like me to hang on and wait it out? or is this a phone that even with its lag problems worth the switch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's personal preference. There are advantages for both phones.
iPhone is much more practical to use as a PHONE (smaller size, pocketability). It's much more fluid. However, the screen size and resolution are limiting.
The S4 being a flagship Android device offers great hardware (namely the screen) and customizibility.
I have rooted my phone and installed Titanium. I will remove as much bloatware as possible and see if that fixes the lagginess problem. I will report back.
Overall, I do not regret switching from the iPhone. So far, I am really liking the S4. Let's see if that changes
My wife and I just got ours. We switched from verizon to tmo and I switched from my galaxy nexus and she switched from an iphone5. I was really nervous that she wouldnt like it but so far she loves it and hasnt put it down in few hours. For me it wasnt that big of a change... but for her it is like the first time she picked up a smart phone. The screen i think is what she likes the best... it is big but the phone doesnt feel massive. I think it actually feels smaller in hand than my gnexus. And she really likes the camera (not talking quality just the options). It is going to take me some time to get use to touch wiz but I will probably unlock the bootloader and install cm 10.1 whenever it is available for it.
If anyone else is interested in any other details let me know.
I would have no problem recommending this over an iphone5 to anyone. I probably would never have said that about any other phone before (i made my mom get the iphone4s when it came out). Now when the next iphone (5s/6) comes out that may be a different story (but we will have to wait until apple lets us know what they are doing next).
ttrevorr said:
My wife and I just got ours. We switched from verizon to tmo and I switched from my galaxy nexus and she switched from an iphone5. I was really nervous that she wouldnt like it but so far she loves it and hasnt put it down in few hours. For me it wasnt that big of a change... but for her it is like the first time she picked up a smart phone. The screen i think is what she likes the best... it is big but the phone doesnt feel massive. I think it actually feels smaller in hand than my gnexus. And she really likes the camera (not talking quality just the options). It is going to take me some time to get use to touch wiz but I will probably unlock the bootloader and install cm 10.1 whenever it is available for it.
If anyone else is interested in any other details let me know.
I would have no problem recommending this over an iphone5 to anyone. I probably would never have said that about any other phone before (i made my mom get the iphone4s when it came out). Now when the next iphone (5s/6) comes out that may be a different story (but we will have to wait until apple lets us know what they are doing next).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your input. Unfortunately, Tim Cook stated that we shouldn't be expecting a larger size/resolution screen iPhone any time soon. So, if screen size matters to you, the S4 is indeed a better option.
Phone is great. Lag is minor. But I do notice top of screen can get hot fairly quick from not too much intense tasks.. not to bad though. Amd an update will surely adress these things
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
I made a unbagging (because Tmo shipped my GS4 in a polybag rather than a box), unpackaging, setup, and initial impressions video.
http://youtu.be/6aaJ_pAlFZw
Since I've filmed this, I wanna add this:
Basically, I believe this launch was less than stellar. Not only did Samsung tease the S4 over the last few months, but there's the locked/verifiable bootloaders (again I add verifiable because from my understanding on AT&T and most likely Verizon too, there's checks to make sure you have a legit recovery and boot image for those particular carriers, and if it fails, brick), little availability for 32GB (ironically the only carrier to have a 32GB version is the locking down AT&T); ZERO 64GB when they claimed that 16, 32, and 64 GB versions would be available, and as I expected, Sixaxis and Wii Remotes DO NOT work out of the box (mostly because it uses Android 4.2.2 and from past experience with my Nexus 7 it does NOT play nice with sixaxis or wii remotes for whatever reason).
Oh well, at least I did showcase the Motochopper root method at the time of filming and some time after I filmed, T-mobile's version of the bootloader can indeed be unlocked. (Sprint's is unlocked from the start, btw.)
adventure_of_link said:
I made a unbagging (because Tmo shipped my GS4 in a polybag rather than a box), unpackaging, setup, and initial impressions video.
http://youtu.be/6aaJ_pAlFZw
Since I've filmed this, I wanna add this:
Basically, I believe this launch was less than stellar. Not only did Samsung tease the S4 over the last few months, but there's the locked/verifiable bootloaders (again I add verifiable because from my understanding on AT&T and most likely Verizon too, there's checks to make sure you have a legit recovery and boot image for those particular carriers, and if it fails, brick), little availability for 32GB (ironically the only carrier to have a 32GB version is the locking down AT&T); ZERO 64GB when they claimed that 16, 32, and 64 GB versions would be available, and as I expected, Sixaxis and Wii Remotes DO NOT work out of the box (mostly because it uses Android 4.2.2 and from past experience with my Nexus 7 it does NOT play nice with sixaxis or wii remotes for whatever reason).
Oh well, at least I did showcase the Motochopper root method at the time of filming and some time after I filmed, T-mobile's version of the bootloader can indeed be unlocked. (Sprint's is unlocked from the start, btw.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's funny because AT&T keeps claiming "soon" for the 32 GB version yet no one knows (and AT&T will not say anything about) when "soon" is. So, although it could happen, AT&T doesn't have the 32 GB yet (and I think may never).
adventure_of_link said:
T-mobile's version of the bootloader can indeed be unlocked. (Sprint's is unlocked from the start, btw.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not "can be unlocked", is unlocked. Period.
GG2012 said:
The Note 2 has the best battery life by far of any smartphone that is not the Droid Razr Maxx. That thing can last for days, and maybe weeks with the monster Anker extended battery. I hope I can get similar results with the S4, though I'm afraid if I keep a lot of apps, that will drain the battery faster. I have to say the dual speakers on the HTC One really impressed me. I'm wondering why Samsung still hasn't done it this way (or even better, dual front and back speakers). They're already one of the few tablet makers that put the speakers in front, and not the back. I live for the replaceable battery and microSD slot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sold my razr maxx to someone and bought a galaxy nexus.I will never again buy a phone with a non removable battery. With my gnex I love carrying an extra fully charged battery in case of emergency or if I just run out of juice
GNex // Toro // CodeX // AK exp // Hue
scott14719 said:
It's funny because AT&T keeps claiming "soon" for the 32 GB version yet no one knows (and AT&T will not say anything about) when "soon" is. So, although it could happen, AT&T doesn't have the 32 GB yet (and I think may never).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im sorry man but this has to be the worst video i have seen in my life
Sent from my Nexus 4
dkotoric said:
Im sorry man but this has to be the worst video i have seen in my life
Sent from my Nexus 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROFLMAO!
The best part is we get to see his feet and crusty toes roflcopter! (just kidding man)
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Charlie Brown said:
ROFLMAO!
The best part is we get to see his feet and crusty toes roflcopter! (just kidding man)
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hahahaha, I had to do anything I could to get that darned bag open (and on that note, is probably yet another reason I need to seriously consider getting the tripod for my S4... EDIT 5:45 PM: Just ordered the tripod. Use SPRINGACC up till May 15th to get 20% off on Accessories at T-mobile)
dkotoric said:
Im sorry man but this has to be the worst video i have seen in my life
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, in all fairness I accidentally made it all wordy, but it's the first unpackaging video I ever made..
adventure_of_link said:
hahahaha, I had to do anything I could to get that darned bag open (and on that note, is probably yet another reason I need to seriously consider getting the tripod for my S4... EDIT 5:45 PM: Just ordered the tripod. Use SPRINGACC up till May 15th to get 20% off on Accessories at T-mobile)
Okay, in all fairness I accidentally made it all wordy, but it's the first unpackaging video I ever made..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL I'm just giving you shlt cause I'm jealous I don't have one. LOL
Check this out
http://www.androidauthority.com/lg-optimus-g-pro-217526/
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium
Samsung fanboys are everywhere, every time there's an article about LG those annoying people show up, I wonder why...
No doubt I love this phone! Playing Iron Man 3 and Dungeon Hunter 4 is a blast on this thing.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
Look, some moron says "Sgs4 wins in every category and is cheaper. You can wait for the Note 3 or HTC T6 if you must have a phablet!" Why can't Samsung fans just shup up?
waiting on the next badass smartphone is retarded. not only will you be waiting longer than you planned, the next new baddass smartphone will be on the horizon, might as well wait for it.
scott0 said:
waiting on the next badass smartphone is retarded. not only will you be waiting longer than you planned, the next new baddass smartphone will be on the horizon, might as well wait for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trying to keep up with technology is a waste of time and expensive. There will always be something hotter and better on the horizon
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium
Billy Madison said:
Look, some moron says "Sgs4 wins in every category and is cheaper. You can wait for the Note 3 or HTC T6 if you must have a phablet!" Why can't Samsung fans just shup up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any company achieves (or has ever achieved) a high position will have that kind of badasses. The most annoying is Apple fans, next is Samsung fan. Sony and Nokia fans are different than not a lot as two companies above but somehow more crazy and ignorant.
I think currently LG's fans are the best in behaving:good:
I've had my E980 for 2-3 weeks now
It performs the way I would expect for having the same internals as the SGS4, with a larger screen. It freakin SCREAMS. I looked at the Note2, but its got obsolete hardware compared to SGS4 or E980. I would definitely say the E980 effectively IS the Note3 without the Samsung extras. If Samsung had done a simultaneous release of the Note3 (which they *should* have), I probably would have gone for that, but the E980 is working out just fine and I'm happy with it. I think LG scored a nice coup here. Why compete with the the smaller SGS4 head to head and lose, when you can release a Phablet with the same specs, and no competition for 6 months until the Note3 releases? They really need to advertise it though while they have an effective but temporary "monopoly" on the high end Phablet.
Observations:
Battery life has been awesome. I use it periodically during the day like normal, and its sitting between 70-80%. The 2.1A charger in the car has it fully charged in the 30+ minute drive home in the evening. This is a MASSIVE improvement over my SGSII where I would be at 30% at the end of a similar day and would take a couple of hours to charge since it didn't charge above 1A.
Screen is awesome! I got this over the SGS4 which I'd been planning on, since my eyeballs have had a recent and relatively sudden "degradation of capabilities". The combination of LARGE screen and sharp pixels is working out quite nicely for me to be able to see the text without having to make other compromises. (btw this getting older crap sucks) Thank goodness for variety, because if I was stuck on a tiny iPhone screen I'd be sunk by now.
It runs good on T-Mobile (at least where the frequencies have been refarmed like DFW, not sure about elsewhere). 4.78Mbs up, 1.7Mbs down for HSPA+ in Dallas. Unable to test LTE yet until more towers get lit up.
Application installs are almost all instant. Big upgrade from my SGSII. Blink and you miss the installation from Play.
Camera is proving to be pretty awesome and sharp. Definite upgrade from my SGSII. It focuses a lot faster, and I can do more rapid shots, which comes in handy when children won't sit still... Colours seem correct, or close enough, I'm not noticing anything wrong.
Still fits in my back pocket - YMMV on this one, but Levi's 36x34 can take it.
First phone EVER that actually fits comfortably in my hand. One handed operation is not compromised either for ME. However, this is another YMMV - folks with smaller hands WILL have a problem on this. My SGSII was ok, provided it had a case on it, and the same with the SGS3 and 4's that I've borrowed. But this is definitely better. If you're of the smaller handed set, this may not be the phone for you, but for those who have medium to large hands - take a look at this phone. it may be exactly what you've been looking for comfort wise. Viva la difference.
i'd agree with all the good things posted. it's a fantastic device. re: the camera sensor, i've noticed it has a hard time reading bar codes for apps, anybody else experience this?
re: barcode scan?
scott0 said:
i'd agree with all the good things posted. it's a fantastic device. re: the camera sensor, i've noticed it has a hard time reading bar codes for apps, anybody else experience this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't noticed any issue on the barcodes, and I know I've scanned a couple in the last couple of weeks. I just gave it a couple of smaller ones off a Lenovo power supply that gave it a fit, but it still got them after a few seconds. Switched over to a magazine and it picked it right up (in low light even). For the app barcodes, those have been nearly instant as well. For all of the above, I'm using ZXing's Barcode Scanner.
admiraljkb said:
I haven't noticed any issue on the barcodes, and I know I've scanned a couple in the last couple of weeks. I just gave it a couple of smaller ones off a Lenovo power supply that gave it a fit, but it still got them after a few seconds. Switched over to a magazine and it picked it right up (in low light even). For the app barcodes, those have been nearly instant as well. For all of the above, I'm using ZXing's Barcode Scanner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's prolly a better way to describe it. it has recognized all the bar codes i've thrown at it, but it seems to struggle to settle down and focus. twitchy, like the image stabilization is not engaged.
scott0 said:
that's prolly a better way to describe it. it has recognized all the bar codes i've thrown at it, but it seems to struggle to settle down and focus. twitchy, like the image stabilization is not engaged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, yeah, I've seen what you are talking about. Almost seemed like it focused on the WRONG area a couple of times. With that said, I've not noticed much difference over my previous SGSII. Although subjectively, its seems faster than my SGSII for getting a lock.
just received my OGP this week...in just love it!!!
from a former note user...lollll though my note had been a nice phone
Still willing to buy...bye to my HTC desire X
I've been wanting to wait for the Note 3, but I hardly use the stylus. I love the phablet form of the phone.
I really would love to get this phone. I really enjoyed playing with it at the store, but the locked boot loader is no bueno for me.
Maybe once things get rolling with this device, I'll pick it up.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
I love g pro more than my GF
Sent from my Evo 3D GSM using xda premium
jlauren said:
thats true.. but i think that if the SN3 comes out that it will be a failure. for one, a 6 inch screen is a big turn off. 2nd, benchmarks mean nothing even if it'll have the best specs when it debuts.
i think the OGP will lbeat the SN3 even when it comes out, despite the higher specs. theres gonna come a time when ram and processor speed will reach a point where it doesnt matter anymore.. like the laptop where chip manufacturers stopped making faster chips cuz laptops are fast enough.. theres no need to make cellphones faster now.
i'm gonna buy the OGP soon.. i wish there was a white version available in the USA though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can you tell unless you know exactly what the note 3 will be about? Also the note 3 will have a better development support that's pretty much guaranteed. And the Spen is s major plus that the note series have over the other phablet.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
nthknd said:
Check this out
http://www.androidauthority.com/lg-optimus-g-pro-217526/
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the one smartphone that I want and good old Verizon does not have it. Unfortunately Verizon has the best coverage in my area. I do not want the Galaxy Note 2 , so that is not an option with me. I will just hold off until maybe Verizon will get an LG phone with the same style and the same specs as this one. I don't like the pointed square corners of the LG phones on Verizon. The Optimus G Pro have the rounded corners. Looks great. I'm really sick that I cannot get this phone. I guess I will have a long wait on Verizon. Wish I could switch carriers.
such a beautiful screen, best phone ever had
thanks LG
I've had mine for a little over 2 hours now...sweet!
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
It is August 3 2013 and this phone has been out for a little while now. I am looking for a new phone because I need to switch carriers. I currently have a Galaxy Note 2 and I absolutely love it. I see that Sony announced they will update it to 4.3. The screen is only 0.5" smaller then my Note 2. The Sony has a higher resolution though. The battery life doesn't seem to be a problem for most of you (I checked the battery thread). Do all of you who currently own the Sony absolutely love the phone? Do you wish you tried a different phone? I love the look of the phone.
I am stuck between the Galaxy S4, HTC one, and this ZL. The S4 seems to have a ton of bloatware that I will never use but since the Google edition was announced, I might be able to flash a stock version of android on it once they figure out the battery drain issue. Same goes for the HTC one. I love the Sony for no apparent reason. It looks like a decent phone on paper and I remember reading about how Sony is really making an effort to help out developers. They also seem to keep updating this phone (4.2.2 and 4.3).
I need to decide soon so I appreciate any responses!
Edit** was this phone really just released 4 months ago? For some reason I thought it was older.
It's your decision of course and nobody here can really make that decision for you... it's a very subjective topic and you will get 100 different "answers".
However, I'll give you my highly subjective and personal opinion... for what it's worth.
I have both the Z and ZL, a GS3 and have had an HTC One. The GS3 is a reliable and usable phone that is easy to mod. It does everything well, except the screen is really unreadable outside. The 2 particular key points for me on phones, other than the ability to function reliably as a phone, are a good notification LED and a decent FM radio. The Radio is quite passable on the GS3. I bought an HTC One to replace the GS3 and was both impressed by some aspects and seriously disappointed by others. The notification LED is a joke and the FM radio was chronically insensitive to the point of being worthless. Plus the speaker grilles didn't fit correctly. It lasted a week and then got returned.
The GS4 doesn't have an FM radio... pathetic discrimination
Anyway, on to Sony...
The Z was bought in lieu of the H1. I've always liked Sony and SE phones, they are designed in Scandinavia and it shows, certainly in the electronic design and qualification. I also bought the ZL whilst on a business trip in Germany a week or two later. Both phones are great, but I prefer the ZL - because it is physically smaller (thicker but nicer to hold), has a better screen (higher brightness and contrast plus better viewing angles), no flaps to mess about with, the Sony logo is on the phone not the ASF (gives you more options) and has a slightly better notification LED. The FM radio is fantastic on both, although for some reason the Z is more sensitive, by about 10% I reckon. I also prefer the easy access SIM and SD card slots. The loudspeaker on the ZL is not restricted by waterproofing and is thus a fair bit louder...
So for me, the ZL is my phone of choice. It does everything I need and well. Sony are quick with updates and there are no obvious bugs. The UI is rather less "Noddy" than TW and less intrusive than Sense. The call quality is excellent too, in case you need to use it as a phone!!!
So it's down to what is important to you...
That was a awesome post very informative of different phones. I just got a zl to replace my broken HTC one xl and I love it I'm a big Sony fan they make solid products and I've never had a issue and when I have Sony has been quick to respond. It's a good choice
Sent from my Xperia Arc using xda app-developers app
It's honestly a great phone and highly underrated. Maybe it is a very polarizing phone, in that some hate it while others absolutely love it.
Well it's down to what your needs are.
For custom roms development support go for either Htc one or S4.
For sound Htc one.
For screen brilliance HTC One or possibly S4. Zl screen looks washed out and very poor viewing angles.
Camera. ZL or S4.
Memory Zl or S4.
Smoothness UI Htc one.
Design HTC one.
Speed HTC One or S4.
Notification light ZL or S4.
Premium build HTC One.
For me it has to be HTC One.
riz157 said:
Well it's down to what your needs are.
For custom roms development support go for either Htc one or S4.
For sound Htc one.
For screen brilliance HTC One or possibly S4. Zl screen looks washed out and very poor viewing angles.
Camera. ZL or S4.
Memory Zl or S4.
Smoothness UI Htc one.
Design HTC one.
Speed HTC One or S4.
Notification light ZL or S4.
Premium build HTC One.
For me it has to be HTC One.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had someone offer me a HTC One + $50 the other day. I just don't see the appeal.
Which HTC One has...
4G (LTE)?
notification toggles?
support to microSD card, including SDXC (I still believe Sony will really fix it )?
Sony design?
Sony UI and Sony exclusive widgets?
full integration with Sony products (PS3, Bravia, Muteki, Music Unlimited...)?
movie player with BE2?
a full 5" screen almost to the edge of the bevel of the phone?
a 2013 main camera (against the 2009-compatible 4 Mpx from HTC one?)
Andre Verissimo said:
Which HTC One has...
4G (LTE)?
notification toggles?
support to microSD card, including SDXC (I still believe Sony will really fix it )?
Sony design?
Sony UI and Sony exclusive widgets?
full integration with Sony products (PS3, Bravia, Muteki, Music Unlimited...)?
movie player with BE2?
a full 5" screen almost to the edge of the bevel of the phone?
a 2013 main camera (against the 2009-compatible 4 Mpx from HTC one?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The One has LTE and notification toggles. To the OP. I switch phones A LOT so I've had all the big boys and I have to say the ZL is a really nice phone. The One is definitely a good competitor though. As for the S4 that has been my least favorite as it feels so cheap and i hate the home button. It all depends on personal preference but as for me I'll probably keep this for the next 2 months and then get the Moto X.
I think the answer depends on your timetable and perspective:
On 8/7, the LG G2 is going to be announed, which will be the first American-carrier snapdragon 800 phone. A month later, Samsung is expected to announce the Note 3 and a Galaxy S4 advanced. By the late fall, there should even be a Nexus 5.
Battery may not be a problem for us... but we don't have notes. We have small phones with giant screens and have (relatively) low standards like a phone lasting 12 hours on a charge rather than the Note's 2 day/no charge norm.
--
I like the ZL (bought 3 months ago). It has met my needs pretty well. I find that it's easier to make a mistake flashing mods and have bootloops needing reflashes... compared to my Samsung experience. I dislike its bluetooth stack... as I have to disable wifi for it to facilitate phone calls in my car. I have a slight feeling of it being the stepchild of the Sony family, as the developer of the only kernel stopped supporting the phone (he never owned it) and the custom roms are not as numerous as the Xperia Z. I had an AT&T LG Optimus G (same processor, smaller screen, wider body) directly before it and the SGS3 before that. I don't wish I had the HTC One.
I have checked almost every review available on the internet and they all wish the device had better screen and camera.
The screen has poor viewing angles and camera is gainy in low light and looses focus even in bright light.
Well I don't want to base my idea totally on reviews, since they compare it with the best.
Will you guys recommend if the Screen and camera quality are at par with a high end phone, so that I can consider buying it?
ajhavery said:
I have checked almost every review available on the internet and they all wish the device had better screen and camera.
The screen has poor viewing angles and camera is gainy in low light and looses focus even in bright light.
Well I don't want to base my idea totally on reviews, since they compare it with the best.
Will you guys recommend if the Screen and camera quality are at par with a high end phone, so that I can consider buying it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me, screen quality is much much better after the Update. Camera vise its really improved. If i am at a party with friends its like they want me to click pics from my ZL and day light pics are just great.
Compression Issue has been fixed in HDR. So its less noisy in low light condition with HDR.(Really Improved)
close up i would prefer my ZL.
But macros are not that great.
New update increased screen responsiveness. Frankly speaking Its getting better in every update.
But Beware, in Some phones there seems to some sort of Microphone bug which i am facing right now.(software May be as it works in everything else like recording)
Happy with Sony Xperia ZL Using from Past 5 Months.
Price has also been reduced. so its a best buy as of now.
IMO,if you need phone that trending (more dev support),go for HTC One or S4,since it also have Google Edition
but here few advantage of ZL to me:
-compact size 5' screen: -it slightly thicker than z,but more compact,it have thin bezel (fit into my pocket)
-omnibalance design: -slightly curve on the back,which support better grip,not need for cover since it make from plactic (still look premium)
-don't have to worry to put with key in pocket (still you should at least use screen protector to prevent direct scratch)
-camera : hv 13mp back n 2mp front,can recorded full hd video,have hdr,and hv dedicated shutter key with 2 press mechanism
image captured viewed beautiful on the phone with bravia engine 2 on
-notification light: at bottom,look really premium to me
-hv expandable storage (compare to HTC One)
-hv ir blaster: can control tv (compare to xperia z)
-speaker: average to me (htc one better i think) but it still able to make me up in the morning (i'm a heavy sleeper xD )
the earphone include is good enough (but can't compare it with high end earphone)
-sony software that does matter : walkman,album,movie,etc- support BE2,xloud,clearphase equalizer,which make music better
disadvantage:
-highly under rated (less dev support,however most dev in xperia z do port to zl,we still hv CM,PAC support )
-camera apps takes some times to launch (about 1-2 sec)
-screen does hv limited viewing angles but still visible in bright sunlight (with the help of UI itself that mainly white/grey colour)
Last word: xperia ZL does not hv the hype of other phone such as HTC One or S4 but it does hv enough power to run almost any apps in the play store,moreover with gr8 support from sony,i believe you could stay in stock firmware for quite sometimes,i used to unlock my bootloader and use custom rom for a week (to do this make sure you read all FAQ first if you not used to sony devices) but i'm back to stock and i'm happy with what sony offer to me
---------- Post added at 10:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 AM ----------
ajhavery said:
I have checked almost every review available on the internet and they all wish the device had better screen and camera.
The screen has poor viewing angles and camera is gainy in low light and looses focus even in bright light.
Well I don't want to base my idea totally on reviews, since they compare it with the best.
Will you guys recommend if the Screen and camera quality are at par with a high end phone, so that I can consider buying it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i suggest you bring ur current phone and compare it with zl at retail shop,i u satisfied then grab it,if not choose others,review is useful but sometimes the company hv push updates to the phone to fix/improve the problem appear,while review stay the same,for example we recently received updates that improve touch sensitivity,ram management,camera low-light performance,etc,the latest firmware changelog can be view here
Ya I wasn't really looking for a specific yes or no. I was looking for things like: are you happy with it? Things you like about it and things you dislike. Did you find out anything after you bought it that you wish you knew before you bought it?
I really wish I could wait for the Note 3 but I need the phone basically this week. I am not a heavy user so I am pretty sure the smaller battery in this phone will be fine. My current Note 2 is amazing though. I understand that there will always be a better phone that is out or coming out soon. The Sony zl is free at Rogers right now so if I hate it that much I can sell it and get a nexus 4 or something. I don't really care about custom roms that much anymore. I used to care more because my first android phone was an LG G2x and they never updated it so I had to rely on custom roms for upgrades. As long as Sony will update it for another year or 2 ill be happy.
htc one vs sony zl
After many reviews online, I could not decide between One and ZL, so I bought both on eBay for my personal evaluation but will sell the other one later. HTC One is very good phone, high contrast screen, hi-powered speakers and responsive touch (very good if you want to watch YouTube). But, my choice is Sony ZL. There are much talks on the internet about washed screen on ZL. Do not believe it and I tell you why. For some reasons Sony designers chose to use the theme with dark grey background and white letters which is easier for eyes for long time but losing on sensation of hi-contrast. However, if you can choose a dark theme, it will change the game. Also, latest updates for ZL tend toward black background. Really, do you think that Sony, that makes TVs, laptops and professional monitors can not make phone screens? The speakers of One is better but that does not apply for the speaker when you make a phone call, which is sensational for ZL with xLoud and noise canceling enhancements. Overall the ZL looks and feels much more modern with very thin bezel while the One feels like an upgrade from old one. I thought BraviaEngine is there for commercial reasons but its really good when you watch movies and videos.
ZL is a awesome device. Its that developers don't do anything currently. There is a dev kamarush who said if he get the device he will do the kernels. But he didn't have money AFAIK. Some1 should come and help the community. Looks like we gotta donate a device to a very well know xda member: suggestion - tonyp, slim_rick, pulser_q2 etc etc
Sent from my C6503 using Tapatalk 4
Never really understood the issues people are having with the screen. All the reviews made it out to look like it was the most horrible screen on a phone to date. That is simply not the case. Having came from a galaxy note 1 I can honestly say the screen is on par with it. The viewing angle issue is a joke and should be experienced first hand and not from some reviewer with his head stuck up his ass. Thank god I got this phone despite what the reviews said. I'd have missed out on a great device.
Sent from my C6503
Agree that the screen (as stated in my post above) is not at all bad. Better than the XZ
Sent from my C6503 using xda premium
devilsshadow said:
Never really understood the issues people are having with the screen. All the reviews made it out to look like it was the most horrible screen on a phone to date. That is simply not the case. Having came from a galaxy note 1 I can honestly say the screen is on par with it. The viewing angle issue is a joke and should be experienced first hand and not from some reviewer with his head stuck up his ass. Thank god I got this phone despite what the reviews said. I'd have missed out on a great device.
Sent from my C6503
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree 100% ! I just love it.
The viewing angle is indeed deficient but I dont care. Its still bright and colorful. The FM radio and the loads of media formats it can play built in, are a great plus for me Really enjoyable device. Cant wait for an aokp 4.3 custom rom
unoo said:
Ya I wasn't really looking for a specific yes or no. I was looking for things like: are you happy with it? Things you like about it and things you dislike. Did you find out anything after you bought it that you wish you knew before you bought it?
I really wish I could wait for the Note 3 but I need the phone basically this week. I am not a heavy user so I am pretty sure the smaller battery in this phone will be fine. My current Note 2 is amazing though. I understand that there will always be a better phone that is out or coming out soon. The Sony zl is free at Rogers right now so if I hate it that much I can sell it and get a nexus 4 or something. I don't really care about custom roms that much anymore. I used to care more because my first android phone was an LG G2x and they never updated it so I had to rely on custom roms for upgrades. As long as Sony will update it for another year or 2 ill be happy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would not sure if there will be update for 2 years,you said u used note 2,so r u using the s-pen heavily,i hv a friend that like to sketch cartoon with his note 2,and i think that phone really suitable for him,if you one of them,you should wait for note 3,if not,i suggest you give zl a shot,nexus 4 also a good phone but i choose zl instead of nexus 4 when i buy it because i want to hv expandable storage n i also use fm radio quite frequently,i use zl since early 3 april until today and so far i'm happy with it.what i like mainly the phone shape,different from other and the only thing i dislike is the camera takes some times to load as i mention earlier,hope sony will fix it later on
ihsan123 said:
i would not sure if there will be update for 2 years,you said u used note 2,so r u using the s-pen heavily,i hv a friend that like to sketch cartoon with his note 2,and i think that phone really suitable for him,if you one of them,you should wait for note 3,if not,i suggest you give zl a shot,nexus 4 also a good phone but i choose zl instead of nexus 4 when i buy it because i want to hv expandable storage n i also use fm radio quite frequently,i use zl since early 3 april until today and so far i'm happy with it.what i like mainly the phone shape,different from other and the only thing i dislike is the camera takes some times to load as i mention earlier,hope sony will fix it later on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never use the sPen. I don't care about the speakers either because I never use external speakers in a phone. I never heard anything bad about the screen but I make the assumption that sony makes TV's so that can make a decent cell phone screen haha. The more I think about it, I just want a properly functioning phone. If Sony updates it then that is great but as long as it is smooth and everything works then ill be happy. It is going to be my phone for the next 3 years so it needs to last!