[Q] Want to buy N7, how are the impressions by owners? - Nexus 7 (2013) Q&A

hey guys, wanna buy the new nexus 7.
just want to ask the "nerds" how they think about their device. can u advice it other people. just read about a few bugs on amazon, just need a few impressions if those bugs are still existing, at least i am going to flash a custom rom xD
is the multitouch bug software or hadware related or even already solved?
read about noisy backspeaker when low volume. are this general existing bugs or just some people which had no luck to get a good n7?
thx in advance

L-ViZ said:
hey guys, wanna buy the new nexus 7.
just want to ask the "nerds" how they think about their device. can u advice it other people. just read about a few bugs on amazon, just need a few impressions if those bugs are still existing, at least i am going to flash a custom rom xD
is the multitouch bug software or hadware related or even already solved?
read about noisy backspeaker when low volume. are this general existing bugs or just some people which had no luck to get a good n7?
thx in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love, love, love mine! Both the 16gb Wi-Fi and the LTE model I just bought. (Dad will get the Wi-Fi model now that i have the LTE version.) Both are stock unrooted with no chrome beta app installed. And zero issues on either one. The WiFi model had a GPS issue which has been fixed with a software update and it has been very solid since. I have had no freezes or reboots (except once when I plugged in a micro SD card reader device, probably related to the Nexus media importer app.) I haven't seen the multi touch issue, not sure exactly how that shows up. It could be that my usage is different. I suggest you buy it from a vendor that allows you to return or exchange it and try it for yourself with no risk.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

kisrita said:
I love, love, love mine! Both the 16gb Wi-Fi and the LTE model I just bought. (Dad will get the Wi-Fi model now that i have the LTE version.) Both are stock unrooted with no chrome beta app installed. And zero issues on either one. The WiFi model had a GPS issue which has been fixed with a software update and it has been very solid since. I have had no freezes or reboots (except once when I plugged in a micro SD card reader device, probably related to the Nexus media importer app.) I haven't seen the multi touch issue, not sure exactly how that shows up. It could be that my usage is different. I suggest you buy it from a vendor that allows you to return or exchange it and try it for yourself with no risk.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's what i wanted to hear
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

You may want to check this out...
On Google's own forums...
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/nexus/mG4JXaT-SHs[726-750-false]

Another 7" tablet to consider is the Kindle Fire HD 2 which will have better hardware including the Snapdragon 800 CPU.

Username invalid said:
Another 7" tablet to consider is the Kindle Fire HD 2 which will have better hardware including the Snapdragon 800 CPU.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read somewhere although cpu on our new nexus s4 pro but something is very similar to the s600 CPU also kindle will lack NFC wireless charging and most important system update
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

big_b0sss said:
I read somewhere although cpu on our new nexus s4 pro but something is very similar to the s600 CPU also kindle will lack NFC wireless charging and most important system update
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the better hardware, hopefully more ROM developers will be on board to take full advantage of it.

I would hold off until Google make another official announcement about either of the touch/sound issue.
However, It is a great tablet, way snappier than any of the Samsung tabs in my opinion.
Also the other plus side is the new KitKat update for Android that Google is unveiling around Oct. probably will be pushed out to Nexus devices shortly after.

FluffyR said:
I would hold off until Google make another official announcement about either of the touch/sound issue.
However, It is a great tablet, way snappier than any of the Samsung tabs in my opinion.
Also the other plus side is the new KitKat update for Android that Google is unveiling around Oct. probably will be pushed out to Nexus devices shortly after.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no problems with my touch or sound or GPS. My tablet is perfect. Only had it for about 2 weeks not but so far so good. Absolutely LOVE it. I sold my Galaxy Note 8.0 to buy this and i dont regret it one bit.I miss not having a MicroSD slot but that is going to be fixed by buying a Seagate 1tb wireless hard drive.

Same here, no problems at all :victory:
(32GB Wifi version)
.

I have it since Friday and I just love it. Over the weekend I've been using it very extensively and have found no issues at all. It's fast, smooth, the screen is great (so much so that I'm looking at my various other displays quite differently now - everything seems blocky and pixelated).
If you're in for a small tablet, it's hard getting around this one.
The LG G Pad 8.3 looks interesting too, but I much prefer having a device that will be updated with new Android versions for the coming years.

very happy with the new nexus 7
got it since 1 week, and traveled already 1/3 around the world.
I just found a little hiss sound on top speaker at low volume. i didn't not notice it before.
everything is much better than the previous nexus 7.

yay, a lot of positive feedback hope there will be good customroms hopefully psx will be available as stable. already using it on my maguro

My first one had a speaker issue. Replaced and current one has no issues at all besides what i considered "low volume" from the speakers. I have since fixed that via Faux Sound.

32gb owner here, love it. Does everything very well. Fast, fluid, no touch issues, running PA and runs like a charm. Using it on a daily basis. Love customising it as with any android products.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

Username invalid said:
With the better hardware, hopefully more ROM developers will be on board to take full advantage of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kindle will never have the support the Nexus devices have.
Go N7II

xbs said:
Kindle will never have the support the Nexus devices have.
Go N7II
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We will see on how it compares.

After 3 weeks of use I love this thing. Working out as GPS really well too. Love it~

Love my 32GB Wifi (I share my phone as a hotspot and work pays for data so I wasn't going to get a LTE version, especially as my phone connects via LTE).
The first difference was to be noticed was the screen. The colour and sharpness are truly outstanding, you don't even need to have the two next to each other to appreciate it. Also apps and settings load faster and close faster as well as opening the task browser, no doubt the extra memory and CPU grunt at play. The sound from the speakers is a lot better, clearer and louder and stereo is noticeable but to avoid covering the speakers I either pinch the top or bottom in the middle or cup my hand around the speakers. I used to hold the end that did not have speakers but now that there is speakers at either end that you don't want to block with your hand so I would recommend holding one is store to make sure you can be comfortable with it and not block the speakers.
When I first got it I downloaded the latest TWRP Recovery mode (2.6.2), when coupled with the latest 4.3 update from Google with the latest patches built in the OS would not boot, it would stay at the coloured X loading screen permanently. I used an earlier versions of TWRP (2.6.0) with the same OS and it was fine- it may have been something I did and not the same for everyone but if anyone has the same issue try using the earlier version. Once this was complete and the device rooted I have not had a single problem.
The screen resolution truly is something to behold- HD movies look great as do games, especially cartoon style graphics, due to the brilliant colour reproduction. Even books and webpages with smooth letters, no jaggies, look fantastic. The rear camera, should I ever use it takes pictures that are not quite as good as with HTC One but a heap better the front camera on either device. I can't see myself using it much- maybe to show something while on Skype- but at least it is decent.
I do miss the textured back of the original model, it had some grip but the new one is smooth, a little too smooth, with the only grip coming from the Nexus logo with is indented. Also, the USB plug is still upside-down but the same occurs on the HTC One so at least they are the same.
Lastly, the headphone jack is on the top so if you are charging and have headphones on at the same time you will have cables coming out either end. This bugs me a bit but I’ll get over it.

not bad
If you have the original Nexus 7 you might not see much of a difference. Of course things have improved but in my opinion its pretty minor. I currently have an issue with the heat it puts out when playing certain games but even without this it's not much different than the original one. If you never owned a Nexus 7 then I highly recommend it. For browsing the web, watching youtube videos its the best. I hardly ever open my laptop since buying one.

Related

Returning the Galaxy S3, might get Nexus, any major Nexus problems?

I'm most likely returning the Galaxy S3, because of major static/crackly noise when using the headphones. Had the problem with two different S3's.
Thinking about ordering Galaxy Nexus from the play store, but I want to know if there are any major issues with the Nexus from the play store.
1) Sound issues/Call quality?
2) Bluetooth issues?
3) Speakerphone issues, low volume?
4) Headphone issues?
5) Any strange noises?
6) Any other possible issues that I should know about before I purchase?
7) Horrible battery life?
8) GPS, forgot about that one.
Thanks
SamsungVibrant said:
I'm most likely returning the Galaxy S3, because of major static/crackly noise when using the headphones. Had the problem with two different S3's.
Thinking about ordering Galaxy Nexus from the play store, but I want to know if there are any major issues with the Nexus from the play store.
1) Sound issues/Call quality?
2) Bluetooth issues?
3) Speakerphone issues, low volume?
4) Headphone issues?
5) Any strange noises?
6) Any other possible issues that I should know about before I purchase?
7) Horrible battery life?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's all awesome...everything is made to perfection considering it's Google's first phone to run Android 4.0
The only thing is, if you don't run the right kernel your battery can suffer. But you can get double the battery off Amazon for around $10, so it's not a big deal.
jsyl said:
It's all awesome...everything is made to perfection considering it's Google's first phone to run Android 4.0
The only thing is, if you don't run the right kernel your battery can suffer. But you can get double the battery off Amazon for around $10, so it's not a big deal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, what about the GPS. Navigation is very important, does it work properly?
SamsungVibrant said:
Thanks, what about the GPS. Navigation is very important, does it work properly?
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Click to collapse
Yeah, it's great. There were some issues on Jelly Bean with it, probably because they were updating the GPS servers but now there are fixes if it doesn't work well
SamsungVibrant said:
Thanks, what about the GPS. Navigation is very important, does it work properly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has for me and plenty of others.
It varies from person to person.
I Am Marino said:
It has for me and plenty of others.
It varies from person to person.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The gps functionality varies? How so?
It's not a horrific failure like the original Galaxy S, is it? GPS on my Vibrant practically never worked.
SamsungVibrant said:
3) Speakerphone issues, low volume?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my only minor issue, else than that it's awesome :good:
I am very glad that GPS works great. I just ordered my Galaxy Nexus yesterday. I use my GPS to check traffic on my way to work every morning
Sent from my HD7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
I come from an HTC Sensation by the way.
moshe22 said:
I am very glad that GPS works great. I just ordered my Galaxy Nexus yesterday. I use my GPS to check traffic on my way to work every morning
Sent from my HD7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
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Sent from my HD7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Hannes The Hun said:
my only minor issue, else than that it's awesome :good:
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Click to collapse
What's wrong with the speakerphone, can you elaborate please
moshe22 said:
I am very glad that GPS works great. I just ordered my Galaxy Nexus yesterday. I use my GPS to check traffic on my way to work every morning
You are going to love the Google now traffic report. It updates in the morning showing you traffic and time to your work.
Sent from my HD7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium App
With jelly bean it is ultra smooth and fast my GPS locks within 8-10 second love Google now has helped with traffic on the way to work finds you alternate routes to get around traffic and to work. Battery life is good can go all day with moderate use you won't be disappointed. Oh and did I mention updates the gsm gets the first and fast no waiting for the carriers to modify and test you get it straight from Google. That should be worth its weight in gold alone. The best decision I ever made period.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
When I said varies, I mean different people have had different experiences. You really gotta try for yourself.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
SamsungVibrant said:
What's wrong with the speakerphone, can you elaborate please
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's nothing wrong with the speakerphone. I routinely take phonecalls while driving, people hear me fine and I hear them perfectly. It's pretty much the best hands-free experience I've ever had, and that includes the amazing Nokia E71 that had a speakerphone I thought I'd never see equaled again.
GPS is also fine, fix is quick, and it doesn't seem to lose the signal at all.
Euro GSM Gnexus user here, by the way.
---------- Post added at 06:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:12 PM ----------
I might as well give you my opinion as well... Soundwise the phone is ok although markedly worse than my Nokia N9. Still way better than my Sonyericsson Arc S, and definitely a great phone for listening to music. It's very fast and you'll probably be fine with it for the next two years or so unless you're a gamer or you enjoy running benchmarks or something. I find the "naked" Android experience superior to Samsung's skin but if you like Samsung Android phones you'll have a lot of getting used to do. The 3.5 headphone jack, by the way, is at the bottom. This may, or may not, annoy you. I feel it's the correct place for them to be but you may not, so make sure you won't get annoyed.
I can find no major fault with the phone other than it not having an sd-card slot, but frankly it's been much less of an issue than I thought it'd be. Google Music works very well for synchronising my music before I leave home (I don't have unlimited internet), and I've learned to manage my nandroid backups a bit better rather than accumulating tens of gigs of useless files. It may be an issue for you though, so make sure you can live with 16Gb.
I also feel the Gnexus looks and feels better than the S3. I don't like the plastic look of the S3, and I absolutely love the slightly curved screen of the Gnexus, that simply looks like the more expensive phone.
I have no idea which of the two has the better development community, but that's probably a moot point since with the Nexus you're pretty much guaranteed a Google update to the latest Android the moment they announce it for the next year and a half, give or take.
I specifically chose the Gnexus rather than the S3; price wasn't much of a factor to be honest, and I found that the Nexus would be a phone I was willing to stick with for the next year or so, while the main advantage of the S3 was, in my opinion, that should I decide to sell it in the coming months it would certainly not lose much of its value.
Compared to some other phones the loud speaker isn't very loud. Compared to a GS2 or GS3 its a little quiet. Other than that, gps works as it should and no strange problems with using headphones. My only issue is the loud speaker.
But thats my phone, so other may agree or disagree
SamsungVibrant said:
I'm most likely returning the Galaxy S3, because of major static/crackly noise when using the headphones. Had the problem with two different S3's.
Thinking about ordering Galaxy Nexus from the play store, but I want to know if there are any major issues with the Nexus from the play store.
1) Sound issues/Call quality?
2) Bluetooth issues?
3) Speakerphone issues, low volume?
4) Headphone issues?
5) Any strange noises?
6) Any other possible issues that I should know about before I purchase?
7) Horrible battery life?
8) GPS, forgot about that one.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. No
2. With jelly bean not with ics I had some problems
3. Low volume but high quality
4. No
5. No
6. Ermmm poor color reproduction on low brightness
7. On jelly bean with mobile data enabled, yes you have , otherwise not
8. The GPS is decent
Keep in mind that the nexus has a weaker camera than s3
But it is the smoothest device yet..not only android( on jelly bean)
if you won't flash jelly bean or won't get the update, don't buy it
Sent from my Jelly Beaned GNexus
Posted by Justin Bieber:
PROS:
1. 4.65" high res display
2. No carrier branding
3. Has a strong development group
4. Will have Google's support for a few years.
5. It's easy to tinker with it when rooted.
6. Hella easy to root.
7. First in line for updates.
8. Gets the first port for almost everything.
9. Removable battery
10. Unified storage.
11. Soft keys are better and more responsive and don't wear down and can be removed easily.
12. Stock AOSP.
13. Durable.
14. Runs 4.1.1
15. Has a lot of accessories (if Ur getting a GSM)
16. Easy to swap white or black housings. (GSM)
17. Fast and has almost no lag(The OS anyways)
Cons:
1. Mid-level camera.
2. Eh battery
3. Has grains on the screen when dim for some phones.
4. Heats up when used for a long time
5. No SD(reason for unified storage)
6. Dual core and not a S4 or quad like ppl hoped for(4.1 makes it feel fast though)
7. It's really bad on sprint with 3G.(but that's on sprint
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the S3, HTC One X and the nexus. The HTC has the best screen and camera by far. The s3 has the advantage of being able to swap the battery and the sd card but I prefer the nexus overall, mainly because of JB. It is just great.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
hexxor93 said:
Compared to some other phones the loud speaker isn't very loud.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sry that's exactly what I meant... I came from the LG Optimus speed/2x/P-990 which apart from all its shortcomings (hint: ALOT) had truly awesome speakers right at the bottom producing some nice loud volume. the GNex has a tiny speaker with a tiny grill on its back and that makes for some difference. again, it's not been a dealbreaker for me because else it's a damn fine phone and now even alot better with JB running smooth as silk.
harveydent said:
Posted by Justin Bieber:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The major issue with Galaxy nexus today is the Purple Color Tint issue. When you bring down brightness to zero level or of you're watching any dark picture or movie everything gonna be the ugly cheap purple color spread over. This issue is most of the brand new devices across the board from USA to Europe to far east... Everywhere.. Please have got good device either by luck or after a dozen times replacement...
Expect this issue the phone is a powerhouse and no other device can really impress a real Google/Android lover
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

Would you buy a used GNex now?

Dear All,
TL&DR: How well has the Galaxy Nexus held up? Would you recommend one as a used purchase (now at $250 level) or should I look elsewhere?
I have been on Samsung Captivate since it came out. Now however, the phone is stating to have hardware issues and I am thinking of upgrading. The money is tight, and so I think I will need to pass on the Nexus4 (plus, I am hesitant about the glass back; I drop my phones).
So I have been looking around for a phone with a good enough following on XDA to have decent support and development. The Galaxy Nexus, of course being a Nexus should have great support from both XDA and Google.So as the GNex is inching down to $200 on the used market and at that price it is a very attractive option.
I guess I am not too worried about buying a year-old hardware, but I am worried about buying into new problems. So the major question is - how has the Galaxy Nexus held up? Would you buy one used? Should I look out for anything specific?
Next, how are the stock roms? Will I still be running to CM or other developments for more stable, better rounded ROMs? Part of the attractiveness of the Nexus line is that I could potentially no need to do that - but am I expecting too much from Google?
If not Gnex, what else in the 15 months old / last-year's mid-level generation would you recommend? ( i have considered the One S)
Thanks.
Put $100 with that $250 and get a Nexus4?
I would recommend it to anyone who likes rooting and flashing roms. It's plenty fast and great support.
dozyaustin said:
Dear All,
TL&DR: How well has the Galaxy Nexus held up? Would you recommend one as a used purchase (now at $250 level) or should I look elsewhere?
I have been on Samsung Captivate since it came out. Now however, the phone is stating to have hardware issues and I am thinking of upgrading. The money is tight, and so I think I will need to pass on the Nexus4 (plus, I am hesitant about the glass back; I drop my phones).
So I have been looking around for a phone with a good enough following on XDA to have decent support and development. The Galaxy Nexus, of course being a Nexus should have great support from both XDA and Google.So as the GNex is inching down to $200 on the used market and at that price it is a very attractive option.
I guess I am not too worried about buying a year-old hardware, but I am worried about buying into new problems. So the major question is - how has the Galaxy Nexus held up? Would you buy one used? Should I look out for anything specific?
Next, how are the stock roms? Will I still be running to CM or other developments for more stable, better rounded ROMs? Part of the attractiveness of the Nexus line is that I could potentially no need to do that - but am I expecting too much from Google?
If not Gnex, what else in the 15 months old / last-year's mid-level generation would you recommend? ( i have considered the One S)
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are really interested in buying the Gnex then I would highly recommend it if you're in the market for a great phone at $200, I bought mine in March of last month and so far it has held up fine, I've overclocked it like mad, used it until it got hot as a stove and its still running like a champ. As for anything specific, well make sure everything works like the buttons, volume rocker, speaker etc.
Since it's a Nexus, it will definitely get the next version of Android (Key Lime Pie) and POSSIBLY the one after that (unless Google just gives it two updates like they did with the Nexus S Gingerbread -> ICS -> Jelly Bean)...but even then you can probably count on CM and other ROM makers to port whatever OS comes out after Key Lime Pie so you should be good...in any case it's a much better buy than say some non-Nexus phone from HTC or Samsung where they gotta do a lot of hackery to make the latest ROMs run on there.
AW: Would you buy a used GNex now?
WiredPirate said:
Put $100 with that $250 and get a Nexus4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He you already said that he don't want to buy a nexus 4.
I would recommend you to buy a Galaxy s2. It has great development support and one of the biggest community.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
eqjunkie829 said:
I would recommend it to anyone who likes rooting and flashing roms. It's plenty fast and great support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks ... Strangely one of the things I am hoping I can do with a Nexus is _not_ having to flash custom roms, but just run stock. I know it is the opposite of the purpose of nexus, but the Nexus is the best manufacturer-supported Android. And sometimes, I do not want to scan through 30 pages of XDA to figure out whether to update. It is one of the reasons I have recently stuck with CM-stable releases ... I know they will work.
I guess that is one of my questions: are the stock roms still lacking? Will I likely be back to flashing something like CM just to get stability and basic functions to work right? (I _am_ coming from AT&T + Samsung clusterf**k - so my expectations of stock roms are colored by that experience).
Culex316 said:
If you are really interested in buying the Gnex then I would highly recommend it if you're in the market for a great phone at $200, I bought mine in March of last month and so far it has held up fine, I've overclocked it like mad, used it until it got hot as a stove and its still running like a champ. As for anything specific, well make sure everything works like the buttons, volume rocker, speaker etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
Grarak said:
He you already said that he don't want to buy a nexus 4.
I would recommend you to buy a Galaxy s2. It has great development support and one of the biggest community.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - Will look into SGSII - There seem to be so many version and the T-mobile version has a different CPU.. I eventually gave up trying to figure it all out. One of the bigger reasons I am thinking of retiring my Captivate is that it is a tri-band phone - it does not work well with half of T-Mobile's 3G spectrum, so I am on Edge a good deal of time - the pentaband GNex is certainly attractive.
I will give the SGSII a closer look, tho.
decisions - decisions.
Get the Galaxy Nexus. You won't be sorry.
You'll be fine with the latest stock ROM. I did.
The only reason i'm currently using customs is because my curiosity tells me to seek for more features like extra settings and UI enhancement.
You might wanna google about it's known problems such as:
- AMOLED's purple tint
- eMMC chip problem (August 2013 and up production) ~ causing slow write speed when memory low
And be sure to check this parts :
- Power button (as this parts is the most used button of all time)
- USB port (tend to be irresponsive over the time of usage)
Good luck!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
haidoz said:
Get the Galaxy Nexus. You won't be sorry.
You'll be fine with the latest stock ROM. I did.
The only reason i'm currently using customs is because my curiosity tells me to seek for more features like extra settings and UI enhancement.
You might wanna google about it's known problems such as:
- AMOLED's purple tint
- eMMC chip problem (August 2013 and up production) ~ causing slow write speed when memory low
And be sure to check this parts :
- Power button (as this parts is the most used button of all time)
- USB port (tend to be irresponsive over the time of usage)
Good luck!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm the eMMC chip having a slow write speed when memory is low (and it's annoying frankly), as for the power button, well I recommend installing PGM from the play store, which lets you wake up your phone by swiping the screen or double-tapping it...I got it primarily to save the power button some major wear and year.
I would only pay $100 for this phone because I kind of hate it. This VZW version has bad reception compared to the Motorola devices I've used on this network. For the use cases you've mentioned, I would NOT buy a nexus device. They are always behind in power and build quality. The only thing they have going for them is that they are reference devices.
The first Android phone I got was the Motorola Droid. I was spoiled by its reliability and lack of bloatware. My next device was the R2DR D2 and I was happy to get the Galaxy Nexus almost a year later. I will not buy another Nexus but I doubt that Google will make another VZW Nexus anyway. The only good things about this phone are its lack of bloatware and its ease of rooting and ROMing.
I really love my coworker's Galaxy S II but AT&T's OTA makes it freeze. She had to root it and put a new kernel on it.
I am all for being able to root, but HAVING to root really sucks.
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium
Culex316 said:
I can confirm the eMMC chip having a slow write speed when memory is low (and it's annoying frankly), as for the power button, well I recommend installing PGM from the play store, which lets you wake up your phone by swiping the screen or double-tapping it...I got it primarily to save the power button some major wear and year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CMIIW, but i think they found the cure for that anyway. So wouldn't be worrying about it i guess (i don't have the disease on my Gnex though).
Yap, PGM is the most important app for me.
Wouldn't flash a custom kernel without the compatibility with it.
Even if the power button is super rugged, i would install it anyway as swiping / double tapping the screen to wake up is comfier than reaching for the power button.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
dozyaustin said:
Thanks ... Strangely one of the things I am hoping I can do with a Nexus is _not_ having to flash custom roms, but just run stock. I know it is the opposite of the purpose of nexus, but the Nexus is the best manufacturer-supported Android. And sometimes, I do not want to scan through 30 pages of XDA to figure out whether to update. It is one of the reasons I have recently stuck with CM-stable releases ... I know they will work.
I guess that is one of my questions: are the stock roms still lacking? Will I likely be back to flashing something like CM just to get stability and basic functions to work right? (I _am_ coming from AT&T + Samsung clusterf**k - so my expectations of stock roms are colored by that experience).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock ROM is perfectly good on a Nexus, and it will be your best bet for stability, as it is updated by Google directly. Your experience with "stock" AOSP-based ROMs for non-Nexus devices is not the same at all, since Google doesn't support those. There have been reports of random rebooting and Bluetooth issues on 4.2, but it's not that common. 4.1 is rock solid.
I see them super cheap nowadays in my local classifieds. $150-$200
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
plznote said:
I see them super cheap nowadays in my local classifieds. $150-$200
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see the VZW and Sprint variants go for $150 - the GSM variant is still about $250- $350.
I sold a nexus 4 and kept my galaxy.. The non removable battery and glass back was a no go for me.. Also got really hot. And in every day use I didn't see much improvement.. I don't game on my phone really. So I'd say the galaxy is great.. I'll rock it until the next nexus is available.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
I'd still buy a galaxy nexus again. Mostly because I enjoy learning though. Definitely look for a lightly used one, as the power button and usb port use has been mentioned above. I would NOT even consider an sii, mostly because I've seen bad firmware OTA updates to them, as well as the chip vulnerability and lost imeis.
dozyaustin said:
I see the VZW and Sprint variants go for $150 - the GSM variant is still about $250- $350.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in Canada, and theres only the GSM model. I dont even know why people sell it so cheap.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
This phone is great but I think used ones are too expensive. Get the nexus 4 if you can.
No because I own one now and if I broke my Gnex I would want the newest Nexus or the best consumer phone.
Don't get me wrong, this is a fine phone, but in the age of $300 Nexus phones, I would always buy the latest no matter what.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Coming from the SII, I just bought the G Nex a month ago and I couldn't be more happy. The SII was great but I found I can do much more on this device and if you have LTE as I do then this is a great device to get fairly cheap. I paid 180 on eBay and it is mint with case and screen protector.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Yeah ^ for $300 I would get the Nexus 4... May even leave Verizon since it has that rogue LTE chip (the N4) and T-Mo with its unlimited data is rolling out LTE.
Between the micro USB port breaking, the lousy battery life, lack of accessories actually available, no inductive charging, and *only* a 5MP shooter, I'd hop on the Nexus 4 wagon any day.
Though if the Nexus 4 didn't exist, I'd buy this phone again if only for all the development, Ubuntu, WebOS, always the latest Android available...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

What tablet would you buy?

Currently have PA 3.1 Galaxy Nexus. I love it. Thinking I should get a tablet. Even though I just bought a laptop. Which one though. I'm thinking nexus 10. What are your thoughts.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Do you want a big tablet? I personally prefer the 7-8" form factor as it's easier to handle and carry around. Or you can wait a few months, I imagine Google will be releasing a new tablet during I/O in may.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Hmm.. I would compare the latest ipad vs nexus 10.
I think i would go for a nexus 10. Android lover , aka the NEXUS *****
Sent from my Nexus Prime
If I were to replace my Motorola Xoom tablet now, I would get the nexus 10. Although with a tablet its a purchase that lasts you quite a long time. My Xoom is 2 years old and is still functioning perfectly fine for all my tasks.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Galaxy Note 10.1 or note 8.0. Software is good and so is specifications
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note II LTE GT-N7105 using XDA Premium HD
Once you go Nexus....
I got myself a Nexus 10. Felt right. Feels right.
I also share 18t's point of view.
Sent from my Nexus
Tablet Choice
My Xoom is 2 years old and is still functioning perfectly fine for all my tasks.
I also own XOOM (running TeamEos 4.2.1 155 nightly build) and am perfectly happy with it; however, I also got the itch for latest and greatest, and bought an N10 (running stock 4.2.2 stock and rooted) and love it as well.
If you're a GED fan, you can't go wrong w/ N10.
18t said:
Do you want a big tablet? I personally prefer the 7-8" form factor as it's easier to handle and carry around. Or you can wait a few months, I imagine Google will be releasing a new tablet during I/O in may.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a good thing to keep in mind, if Google keeps with their annual update yearly on Nexus line, the N7 and N10 could be having updated versions rolling out. Or perhaps something completely different. Perhaps they don't plan on updating them at all.
That said, for a tablet you have to consider a few things you want. First what size do you want? Then what do you want to do with said tablet? What accessories do you want for your tablet? What is your budget? What OS do you want (perhaps you want a different OS, to experience different apps from a different ecosystem)? What sort of connectivity do you want (HDMI, 3G/4G...etc)? These all could point you to different options.
cupfulloflol said:
This is a good thing to keep in mind, if Google keeps with their annual update yearly on Nexus line, the N7 and N10 could be having updated versions rolling out. Or perhaps something completely different. Perhaps they don't plan on updating them at all.
That said, for a tablet you have to consider a few things you want. First what size do you want? Then what do you want to do with said tablet? What accessories do you want for your tablet? What is your budget? What OS do you want (perhaps you want a different OS, to experience different apps from a different ecosystem)? What sort of connectivity do you want (HDMI, 3G/4G...etc)? These all could point you to different options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All valid points. Very much a nexus fan. Can't put a price limit on great tech. Android os obviously. Doesn't matter which one as root and custom ROM is a must. Size doesn't matter. Haha. WiFi connectivity is fine but 3 or 4g is an option too. Really just wanted to know what the census was out there.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Ask yourself, what you want that tablet for?
After buying mine, i find it kinda under used...
I don't need a tablet, but it would be good for the whole family, especially video call and acting as an HTPC. I've decided that it must be able to play HD videos smoothly and have physical HDMI output. This unfortunately rule out the Nexus 7 which I really like the form factor of. The Nexus 10 is overkill for my needs.
So I probably will pick up the Kindle Fire HD, but seem the rom development progress slowly and Amazon OS seems dreadful from an AOSP user. But the price point and HDMI output make it the main contender.
Maybe I'll just go for the Asus TF300T since it's only $50 more used, but I have Asia tablet in the past, good hardware but the proprietary charging port is a turn off.
I'm not ruling out Chinese tablets with rk3066 cpu as well.
Sent from XDA app
jmileti said:
Currently have PA 3.1 Galaxy Nexus. I love it. Thinking I should get a tablet. Even though I just bought a laptop. Which one though. I'm thinking nexus 10. What are your thoughts.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use my phone a hell lot more than I use my tablet. My nexus 7 feels like a big phone that cannot make phone calls. I have all my games on it though.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
weeo said:
Galaxy Note 10.1 or note 8.0. Software is good and so is specifications
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note II LTE GT-N7105 using XDA Premium HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here. i at least had the gn10.1 until two weeks ago. sold it and got a ATIV 500t.
i love the spen and the multiwindow is wonderful on the note. i may end up selling my nook hd+ later and get the gn8. i hate that i've become a samsung fanboy, but until someone else makes something better it's what i'll be getting. don't get me started on asus tablets quality control...
so, spen was more important than screen res for me.
Well while looking for a suitable 7" tablet, I went ahead and picked up a Kindle Fire HD and is underwhelmed even after rooting it. Unfortunately the ones on display at WorseBuy are in demonstration mode which lock down everything.. But I didn't want to spend more than $200. Other choices I looked at were:
-Nexus 7 is out of the question due to no HDMI out. I knew this device would be perfect except for this one factor.
-I could order some pretty high performance RK3066 chip Chinese tablet for under $100, but skip them because they have poor built quality, lots of people with battery and charging issues, sketchy to no warranty and probably not much development.
-Other choices available are the Nook tablet which I'm impressed with the high res screen, but quick search shows CM10 currently perform poorly on it and having to fork out $40 for an HDMI adapter.
-Same with Samsung and Asus tablets which also use proprietary ports and needing adapters purchase that I dislike.
-The Acer A110 tablet almost match with what I want with the bonus of microSD slot, except the for horrid screen quality and low resolution. There were the Lenovo tablet which seems to have nice build, but $300.
Main reason to get the Kindle Fire HD was the stereo speaker and standard usb and hdmi ports. Interestingly, this device have the same CPU spec as the Galaxy Nexus, yet the XBMC hardware accelerated test build playback movies smoother on my Nexus than this tablet which stuttered even with 720p MKV videos. This might be a deal killer, but its due to the poor optimization done by Amazon. Probably the only hope of my keeping this tablet would be for a working CM10.1 version for it. My disappoint of the performance of this device is mainly due to the software itself, the hardware are good. Its my first experience with Amazon AppStore and I think its junk compared to the PlayStore(though I know I can side load the PlayStore to this). It seem to be a wall downed garden like Apple, except in this case the interface sucks too.
I am very happy with the quality when connected to the TV however, along with stereo speakers, screen quality and front camera and mic for video calling is nice.
I have a Xoom running cm10.1-nightly now, if I would need to buy a new tablet I would go for a Nexus 10.
Multiple users is probably the best thing that has happened for Android on tablets. The only way to be guaranteed to have this feature is to buy a Nexus.
7" might be too small, but you might get used to it over time.
Well I returned the Kindle Fire HD and got the Nexus 7, naturally. Just fed up with the 'Amazon OS', and even after making my own 'fastboot cable' to be able to boot the device into fastboot mode and install TWRP, installed PlayStore, the device is still very limited and looks like there aren't much developers interested. My chance of ever buying another Amazon device is zero because of their locked down OS design. Too bad because it have a better screen, speaker and seem more durable than the Nexus 7 with hdmi out.
I also saw an Asus Memo Pad Smart 10 for $299 at the store with Tegra3 also, it use standard microUSB port and standard micro-HDMI out and microSD slot, amazing combo, its very rare to find a device with all these standard ports without all the proprietary craps. But being 10" its just not as portable and comfortable for me. I'm just getting the Nexus 7 to be sure I'm happy with the software and developer community, but I'm definitely checking on the development of this device also.

Pipo M7 Pro vs Nexus 7 (flo)

Hey guys, so I'm going Tablet hunting and have come down with 2 leading candidates, the Pipo M7 Pro, a Chinese Tablet. or the Nexus 7 (2013).
The only thing that worries me is the development. As a Flashaholic I'd like a tablet with decent dev support, and I haven't seen any dev support for the Pipo M7 Pro.
Now, the Nexus 7 Multi touch and GPS/random reboot issues have me here at bay, making the debate a bit more intense.
I'll probably use my tablet for reading, school related work or gaming/listening to music (rarely though, I'll probably have my Galaxy Nexus for that which works fine really(or a Nexus 5 by the time it comes out ))
Any recommendations/Opinions/Point of views will be appreciated.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Nexus 7, most of not all the "issues"with it are a very vocal minority, overflowing a small problem, of it were half as big an issue as they try to make ir to bbr, ir would be all the blogs
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
Small, yes.
Vocal, yes.
Very real, though. And, to some degree, acknowledged by the powers that be at Google...
The people posting, including myself, have been through 2-3 of more N7 2013s.
It's the luck of the draw. It may only effect a few percent, but over the multi thousands sold, it's a percentage that needs to be taken seriously.
If you purchase one, be sure that it's from a seller offering a good return/exchange policy.
z0phi3l said:
Nexus 7, most of not all the "issues"with it are a very vocal minority, overflowing a small problem, of it were half as big an issue as they try to make ir to bbr, ir would be all the blogs
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mostly every blog I've read mentions it. But I guess I'm just on that "unlucky and unconventional" part of the internet.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Been thru quite a few "shows" ... the TF101, the 2012 Nexus 7 & now the 2013 Nexus 7...
I still don't hesitate a bit to buy one. Heck, I even wish there is a refurbished sales right now.
danvee said:
Small, yes.
Vocal, yes.
Very real, though. And, to some degree, acknowledged by the powers that be at Google...
The people posting, including myself, have been through 2-3 of more N7 2013s.
It's the luck of the draw. It may only effect a few percent, but over the multi thousands sold, it's a percentage that needs to be taken seriously.
If you purchase one, be sure that it's from a seller offering a good return/exchange policy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So it is a hardware issue? And not software related?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Your guess is as good as theirs right now....
Chinese stuff is just not up to par as brand name stuff yet. Their specs look great, benchmarks are great, but in reality they are far far apart when you use both side by side.
I have a Ifive X2 with a RK3188 and it lags like hell, battery is good, screen is nice, but real world performance is just awful. Since I got my Note 8 from repair, I dont use the X2 at all anymore.
For the small price difference it just makes no sense to consider Chinese stuff vs a Nexus 7.
Nutsonfire said:
Chinese stuff is just not up to par as brand name stuff yet.
I have a Ifive X2 with a RK3188 and it lags like hell, battery is good, screen is nice, but real world performance is just awful.
For the small price difference it just makes no sense to consider Chinese stuff vs a Nexus 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This Pipo M7 Pro isn't a fastest tablet in the world and after a bit of customizations is in real world usable. The screen is impressive, good battery, very good Wi-Fi and the firmware is stable. I don't regret my (old ) Nexus 7
M7 is great for browsing internet, reading books and multimedia but not too suited for video games.
I am satisfied but not enthusiastic.
Inviato dal mio M7 pro usando Tapatalk 4
dpaganello said:
This Pipo M7 Pro isn't a fastest tablet in the world and after a bit of customizations is in real world usable. The screen is impressive, good battery, very good Wi-Fi and the firmware is stable. I don't regret my (old ) Nexus 7
M7 is great for browsing internet, reading books and multimedia but not too suited for video games.
I am satisfied but not enthusiastic.
Inviato dal mio M7 pro usando Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your opinion.
Nutsonfire said:
Chinese stuff is just not up to par as brand name stuff yet. Their specs look great, benchmarks are great, but in reality they are far far apart when you use both side by side.
I have a Ifive X2 with a RK3188 and it lags like hell, battery is good, screen is nice, but real world performance is just awful. Since I got my Note 8 from repair, I dont use the X2 at all anymore.
For the small price difference it just makes no sense to consider Chinese stuff vs a Nexus 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pipo is a pretty good Chinese company, we're not just talking about those ripoff chinese companies you find on Ebay, and I have used Rockchip based devices and can vouch for them, they're not as bad as you say.
So your "no sense to consider Chinese stuff vs a Nexus 7" is kind of stereotypical and not really reliable
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Jimlarck said:
Thank you for your opinion.
Pipo is a pretty good Chinese company, we're not just talking about those ripoff chinese companies you find on Ebay, and I have used Rockchip based devices and can vouch for them, they're not as bad as you say.
So your "no sense to consider Chinese stuff vs a Nexus 7" is kind of stereotypical and not really reliable
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First,
I agree with the above line in bold.
Second,
If you aren't in a hurry to buy a tablet, I'd wait to see what the TegraTab and the LG G Pad 8.3 end up being like. That's what I'm going to do when I return/exchange my N7 flo for the 3rd time. I'm on my 2nd one now, so hopefully the 3rd try will be the the charm! I expect both those options to be more expensive, but if either of them is within 100 of the 32gb N7 flo (as long as it's 32gb or 16gb with a microsd), then I'll probably give it a shot.
Third,
If you absolutely want a tablet right now, I can't recommend the N7 in good conscience. Having had two with the same exact issue(multitouch), I would say the odds are pretty good that you'd get one with the same issue. That said, if the N7 is what you like and you don't mind potentially returning/exchanging it, get one. Just be sure to buy from somewhere with a good return/exchange program. I've had pretty good luck with Best Buy so far, as well as Amazon. I'd choose Best Buy if there's one near you for ease of returning/exchanging, i.e. no wait time.
Good Luck!
Jimlarck said:
Thank you for your opinion.
Pipo is a pretty good Chinese company, we're not just talking about those ripoff chinese companies you find on Ebay, and I have used Rockchip based devices and can vouch for them, they're not as bad as you say.
So your "no sense to consider Chinese stuff vs a Nexus 7" is kind of stereotypical and not really reliable
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have one of the latest and greatest Chinese tabs as I write in my post.
Yes they are better then what they used to be but they still lack in some aspects. These tabs using the RK3188 chip in real life are just not want the benchmarks want you to believe. The Chinese keep cutting corners where they shouldn't and it shows. So yeah it looks like you get a lot for 200$ but when you use it you understand why its cheaper.
It's no surprise that all the high end Chinese tabs and phones end up using Qualcomm and Samsung CPUs and cost almost the same as brand name stuff.
Nutsonfire said:
I have one of the latest and greatest Chinese tabs as I write in my post.
Yes they are better then what they used to be but they still lack in some aspects. These tabs using the RK3188 chip in real life are just not want the benchmarks want you to believe. The Chinese keep cutting corners where they shouldn't and it shows. So yeah it looks like you get a lot for 200$ but when you use it you understand why its cheaper.
It's no surprise that all the high end Chinese tabs and phones end up using Qualcomm and Samsung CPUs and cost almost the same as brand name stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since when are benchmarks actually safe, legitimate and trustworthy?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Jimlarck said:
Since when are benchmarks actually safe, legitimate and trustworthy?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are not, but fans of Chinese stuff like to go crazy about them and use them to compare with brand name products. If I see two products with similar scores I would expect similar function but clearly it's not the case.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
I had Asus Infinity TF700T before, but I was very disappointed about the build quality and the lagging of the device. I hated that tab every moment. I didn't install custom rom because it required unlocking the device and loosing the warranty. So I sold it and bought Pipo M7pro.
I like the screen and size of the tablet and this is much faster and smoother than Asus TF700. Also the build quality is better than on Asus, which had loose screen even repaired three times for warranty.
Multi window feature is pretty cool! Check the video from youtube.
I'm really satisfied of this cheap Chinese tab!
Sent from my M7 pro using Tapatalk 4
So after reading some of your messages and doing some more research on my own. I've decided to wait until October, if the Nexus 7 multitouch problems have been resolved (they're addressing the problem at their warehouses/manufacturers or fixed it on an update) I'll buy it, if not, then Pipo M7 Pro will have to be my choice.
Really like the N7 but what use is there buying it when chances are that I'll get a broken Tablet, no, I can wait, I trust Google that they'll resolve this soon, it isn't the first time they've encountered a problem with manufacturers, like the N4 for example, with the infamous exploding back(I did think it was spontaneous and comical so I did have a laugh about it, hopefully the owners got a replacement though)
Thank you all for your messages and opinions. Especially those who gave their completely unbiased opinion and thoughts.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Jimlarck said:
So after reading some of your messages and doing some more research on my own. I've decided to wait until October, if the Nexus 7 multitouch problems have been resolved (they're addressing the problem at their warehouses/manufacturers or fixed it on an update) I'll buy it, if not, then Pipo M7 Pro will have to be my choice.
Really like the N7 but what use is there buying it when chances are that I'll get a broken Tablet, no, I can wait, I trust Google that they'll resolve this soon, it isn't the first time they've encountered a problem with manufacturers, like the N4 for example, with the infamous exploding back(I did think it was spontaneous and comical so I did have a laugh about it, hopefully the owners got a replacement though)
Thank you all for your messages and opinions. Especially those who gave their completely unbiased opinion and thoughts.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the Chinese phones and tablets may have some issues but then again so do other phones. In my opinion it is best to wait for a very comprehensive review before you buy. And only buy from a near-by supplier that is willing to take it back if it is faulty, do not buy direct from China because it is unlikely to get your money back, plus the shipping costs and customs would make it uneconomical to return items.
For example, a year ago I bought a Chinese phone, with superb specifications. It seems to have two faults (at least). First, it is very fussy with the SD card, many applications do not work with it and especially GPS Navigation applications that store huge maps on the SD card. Secondly the GPS receiver is either broken or simply very, very bad. My dedicated Garmin GPS, my wife's iPhone4, my son's Samsung S3 : they all lock on to the GPS almost instantly. The Chinese phone needs to be absolutely stand still for like 5-10 minutes before it can lock on. Completely useless in the car for example, I have to stop the car, and then wait 5-10 minutes so it can lock.
Someone said above that high-end Chinese phones and tabs use Qualcomm and Samsung parts and not their own. Well, no **** Sherlock! That qualifies as one of the most idiotic statements I have read. Every single electronic device in the world uses parts made by various/hundreds of other manufacturers. This has always been the case. I would not expect the Pipo M7 Pro to have components made by Pipo - and it does not matter anyway. My Sony VAIO laptop does not use a "SONY" CPU, or chipset, or GPU, or memory, or capacitors, or resistors, actually I doubt that a single component inside my laptop is actually made by Sony, except perhaps the badge!!!
I have to say, I bought the 2012 N7 as well as my 2013 and both were flawless from the start. My fiancee got my 2012 when i bought my new one and it's still going strong. The only issue I have at all with the 2013 is a delayed wake when using a magnetic cover. That's obviously a software issue, as leaving Bluetooth on fixes the problem.
Oh and Zilliman, your Chinese phone sounds like my old Samsung Captivate. That thing had the worst GPS I've ever seen. Developers worked hard to fix it but it was never very good. Completely useless even when walking, let alone driving.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
RKight said:
I have to say, I bought the 2012 N7 as well as my 2013 and both were flawless from the start. My fiancee got my 2012 when i bought my new one and it's still going strong. The only issue I have at all with the 2013 is a delayed wake when using a magnetic cover. That's obviously a software issue, as leaving Bluetooth on fixes the problem.
Oh and Zilliman, your Chinese phone sounds like my old Samsung Captivate. That thing had the worst GPS I've ever seen. Developers worked hard to fix it but it was never very good. Completely useless even when walking, let alone driving.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a problem for those with N7 Pro : the speakers crackle at high volume.
Do not buy M7 Pro
OK I guess finally I may have something to help after getting so many helps from this nice forum.
I live in China and I'd say I'm quite familiar with Chinese tablets and nexus devices. (proud owner of both types) I've yet to find a Chinese native brand tablet that marches either Nexus 7's build quality or OS stability. (always search for teardown pics before decision) Usually they have small problems here or there, but you don't have a bug list and workaround thread in a good forum simply because they don't have enough users.
There are worth buying Chinese tablets though. They are usually much cheaper than Nexus 7, don't have fatal problems, have good user base and forums to post workarounds of those small issues, and recently they start to come in so many varieties of screen size. (there used to be a time when they are mainly 7" widescreen, before the mighty Nexus 7's arrival.)
IMHO if you prefer 7" tablet, just grab the new Nexus 7. If not, don't buy M7 Pro for the following reasons:
1 Rockchip is not as friendly to devs as its rival SoC company Allwinner. I can find unofficial CM10.2 on AllWinner platform but I find almost nothing on Rockchip;
2 RK3188 seems strong, but in practice it's not a good chip for HD "Retina" display due to poor design choice of a single channel 32bit memory controller, which results a memory bandwidth that nearly kills GPU performance. BTW that's just a fraction of bandwidth compared to the new Nexus 7. I heard the GPU performance is so poor that even stock launcher can't go butterly smooth.
However RK3188 + a 1024*768 display is fine.
Summary: don't buy RK3188+HD display like the M7 Pro; strongly recommend new Nexus 7
correction: No Chinese SoC performs well on 1080p display. I'd guess 720p is the limit.
Hope it helps

[Q] Is it worth it?

I am in the market of purchasing my first Nexus device and have been looking at the Nexus 7 (2013) model but have concerns. After doing a lot of research about the various problems with the Nexus 7 the ones in particular that caught my attention are the touch screen issues, random reboots (this one is my biggest concern) and gps issues. How widespread are these issues? What is the likelihood I'll get unlucky and get a "bad" Nexus 7 tablet? I've read in various places people getting 2-4 replacements and still having the same problems. Is this isolated to a minority of people or do most Nexus 7 (2013) tablets have these issues? Is it a rare event to find a 100% functional Nexus 7? Should I wait until after the holiday season when new batches are made and hopefully have been fixed? Should I buy it all?
I have been itching to get a Nexus device for awhile. I currently own a Galaxy sIII on Verizons network and hate the fact Verizon delays android updates so I am looking to jump ship to a pre-paid plan in the future and more than likely going with a Nexus phone but want to experience a Nexus device (Nexus 7) before doing so. My contract is not up until July of 2014. I am at a point where either its Nexus or Apple. I like to be current on updates. Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
drummer132132 said:
I am in the market of purchasing my first Nexus device and have been looking at the Nexus 7 (2013) model but have concerns. After doing a lot of research about the various problems with the Nexus 7 the ones in particular that caught my attention are the touch screen issues, random reboots (this one is my biggest concern) and gps issues. How widespread are these issues? What is the likelihood I'll get unlucky and get a "bad" Nexus 7 tablet? I've read in various places people getting 2-4 replacements and still having the same problems. Is this isolated to a minority of people or do most Nexus 7 (2013) tablets have these issues? Is it a rare event to find a 100% functional Nexus 7? Should I wait until after the holiday season when new batches are made and hopefully have been fixed? Should I buy it all?
I have been itching to get a Nexus device for awhile. I currently own a Galaxy sIII on Verizons network and hate the fact Verizon delays android updates so I am looking to jump ship to a pre-paid plan in the future and more than likely going with a Nexus phone but want to experience a Nexus device (Nexus 7) before doing so. My contract is not up until July of 2014. I am at a point where either its Nexus or Apple. I like to be current on updates. Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't speak for others, but my Nexus tablet had no major problems. The only problem I experienced was that I could't install the second update, but I was going to root it anyway so I just flashed a stock version and have had no problems since. Even for those who had problems, there have been updates that fixed the GPS, multi-touch etc. I say that there is probably a 80% chance of getting a perfect tablet with no problems. I am pretty sure ( don't really know ) that Google has fixed most of the problems that some people have experienced. I am positive that our tablets will get the 4.4 KitKat update so you will have the latest technology. If you want a bigger tablet, I would get the Nexus 10 that is rumored to come out with the Nexus 5. Personally, I'm saying that this tablet is pretty amazing and that you should get it while you can.
I've bought my Nexus 7 LTE 2 weeks ago and don't have those problems. But I also seem to be relatively lucky when it comes to electronics. My advice would be to either buy one at a later date when more users report success with regards to the issues. Or to buy it from a reputable place where you can easily get it replaced or a refund.
Also, keep in mind that people having issues with electronics are far more likely to make threads and posts about these issues and be vocal about them than people who are content with their device.
My touch screen is still kinda meh. It register as if I hold the screen when I just tap sometimes (like 1/25 time ish?). Also when I scroll like 1mm, it doesn't start to respond until I scroll a little bit more. Kinda annoying when I just want to scroll a very tiny bit. Not too big of a deal but it does get slightly annoying. Other than that, nothing was bad right out of the box. I think it's worth a shot.
drummer132132 said:
I am in the market of purchasing my first Nexus device and have been looking at the Nexus 7 (2013) model but have concerns. After doing a lot of research about the various problems with the Nexus 7 the ones in particular that caught my attention are the touch screen issues, random reboots (this one is my biggest concern) and gps issues. How widespread are these issues? What is the likelihood I'll get unlucky and get a "bad" Nexus 7 tablet? I've read in various places people getting 2-4 replacements and still having the same problems. Is this isolated to a minority of people or do most Nexus 7 (2013) tablets have these issues? Is it a rare event to find a 100% functional Nexus 7? Should I wait until after the holiday season when new batches are made and hopefully have been fixed? Should I buy it all?
I have been itching to get a Nexus device for awhile. I currently own a Galaxy sIII on Verizons network and hate the fact Verizon delays android updates so I am looking to jump ship to a pre-paid plan in the future and more than likely going with a Nexus phone but want to experience a Nexus device (Nexus 7) before doing so. My contract is not up until July of 2014. I am at a point where either its Nexus or Apple. I like to be current on updates. Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
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Hi OP, I understand your concerns and I would love to share my experiences with you!
I had a Galaxy Nexus with Verizon, and jumped ship because Verizon only had their 3G network at the time and it was painfully slow, it made AT&T look really good.
The Nexus 7 2013 I got, the first one was pretty bad. It would freeze occasionally (also random reboots) and had a cluster of dead pixels and another dead pixel off some random place. After I got that unit swapped, this N7 works almost flawlessly- there is still some of the random phantom taps but not as much. It's enough so I can live with it.
If memory serves me right, the best way to buy it would be through Best Buy. I am a little leery of support through the Google play store and I know with best buy I can be there to get it swapped out on the same day if need be. You will not save on sales tax from the play store so I would opt for better sales support and buy it from Best Buy, or any other retailer carrying the device.
Other than that I think you will be very happy with it. I would avoid AT&T like the plague- I had their service for 3 days (cancelled today) and they charged me an ETF for cancelling- I had to call 4 different people and chat with a rep before I could get it resolved. Your best bet would be through T-Mobile. Their CS support has been a lot better than AT&T. But remember, T-Mobile service only works well in the cities. If you're out on the highway you will be stuck with EDGE or domestic roaming. AT&T has far better speeds on major highways but their CS experience really cheesed me and turned me away from their service. They even scratched my SIM card tray! But I'll step off my soap box for that.
I think these issues are waning, it might just be early production kinks. We've seen it in iPhone 4s when they came out with the incomplete gluing of the screen causing yellowing for example. I can say production wise, the 2 tablets I had were perfectly fine.
Coming from a Note 2, it's refreshing to be with stock android. Touchwiz just eats up RAM like it's nothing.
I'd say go for it. It's nice to have a tablet with cellular access.
I have BB Rewardzone Silver or whatever they call it with 60 day returns. If you feel you want the extra 30 days, send me a PM and I'll send you an invite! I think I can give some invites away until the end of the month.
And tl;dr, YES IT IS WORTH IT
I agree with others on the touch screen. It's has so much lag and just not that responsive. I got the LTE version and I'm very disappointed.
I'll have to see how the LG G pad is but of its as bad as N7 I'll pick up the ipad mini2.
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Its worth it. I bought my 32gb Nexus 7 at best buy mid August. Its working flawlessly so far. I have no complaints, this is my first tablet I've ever owned and I adore it.
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Just got mine today, 32gb version, really worth it, even though I paid 320usd for this ( no Google play store in Vietnam ). Amazing device. So far so good
Hi, I got mine yesterday. The 32gb version. Unlocked, flashed custom recovery and rooted in less than 3 minutes. Coming from HTC this is refreshing. I was tired of going MacGyver on HTC devices for the sake of unlocking them.
After 24h of use, no touchscreen issues. Far as I remember I had one reboot but I think it was on purpose due device update (didn't notice the reboot warning maybe). I'm very happy with it, fast, sleek, all functional for now and I hope it stays that way.
A friend of mine also ordered his recently and had 0 issues as well. I think these latest batches are coming out much better.
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It worth. And when kitkat will be there, it will even worth more.
derpyderps said:
If memory serves me right, the best way to buy it would be through Best Buy. I am a little leery of support through the Google play store and I know with best buy I can be there to get it swapped out on the same day if need be. You will not save on sales tax from the play store so I would opt for better sales support and buy it from Best Buy, or any other retailer carrying the device.
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I disagree completely on this point. My experience with Best Buy customer support has been awful. They will give you a hard time about any issues that are not readily apparent (for example, with the touch screen issue, they would use the device and say "Well, the touch screen is working fine for me" even if you tell them it's an intermittent issue). Google has been fantastic about customer service. I went through four or five Nexus 7 2012's due to the screen lift issue and they never gave me a hard time. Additionally, they offer the full support for a full year. For example, my Nexus 4 (that I bought on launch day) was having a new issue recently and they replaced the device without needing to go through LG support.
Mine was free so it's kind of hard to complain (sister won it, has and ipad and didn't want the nexus too), but I'll give it a shot:
It's a nice light device, looks slick, works well, seems fast (for my use at least), fantastic screen, and battery life seems to be really good.
Great for reading books, great for playing games and it's small enough to slip into any pack.
Live wallpaper is cooler than stink (at least I think so). Graphics are great all around.
The micro USB is a nice bonus over anything apple puts on theirs and the ability to add storage though it is brilliant. I wish I had more than 16 GB (more like 11 after os usage) but I didn't pay anything for it so; Meh....16 gb will do fine. I can always add an app and a usb stick if I want to carry lots of movies, music or documents with me.
People complain about the sound from the speakers sometimes, but what do you want from a "micro thin" 7" tablet? They're better than my iPhone and better than my wife's iPad. I'll get Bluetooth speakers if I want more than they offer. They work fine for most use for me or I use earbuds. It's a tablet, not a stereo...
It works fine for skype and Wifi video calls as is. Sound is fine when I'm talking to my little girl from the hotel. I even find myself turning it down sometimes.
The only problems I've had with it was a slightly "wonky" touchscreen. Very infrequently it would miss a touch or skip on a drag. More prevalent when I wasn't holding it (ie; sitting on the table, etc). Games like Angry Birds were painful to play because of skipping drags. Damned birds flinging everywhere! (lol)
Rooted it and installed sfhub's TS-10 driver and now it's perfect. Little bit of lag on a drag, but nothing serious. Might matter if you're a big tablet "gamer" and need speed in shooter games or similar.
Sometimes I do find myself wishing for a bigger screen, but not very often. It's fine for what it is. A bigger screen would add size and weight and that would ruin the concept of it being light and easily portable anyways. Pick your poison.....
It does feel a little cheap. Or maybe that's not the right word, fragile might be better. But that's likely because it is so light and thin. It probably only feels that way because it is light and thin. That usually means it's probably cheap or low quality to someone of my generation. We like a good, heavy solid feel which says quality to us. It might be very well be quite robust, I just don't want to be the first to find out by dropping it.
It needs a stand too. IMHO, any tablet does. It's light enough that you can hold it fine, but if you watch a movie or read for hours on end it would be nice to put it down. Lots of cases incorporate that option.
So, worth it?
Yeah, I'd say so. It's a nice little tab and it comes in pretty affordable compared to crapple products.
Go try one out is my best advice. Either use a friend's or go try a demo one at the store.
Thank you all for the great responses! They have helped in lowering my worries about receiving a faulty device and increased my desire to pick one up
I do have another question pertaining to Nexus devices in general. Do nexus devices "lag" over the course of time? I hate to mention the competition (aka Apple) but I know that over time their operating system doesn't lag very often as compared to Android devices (or at least that's what I've seen from friends etc who own Apple devices). My Galaxy SIII has been laggy to an extent and was wondering if this would be significantly less on a Nexus device. Devices in particular would be the Nexus 7 2013 model, Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 (I know its not out yet but one can speculate).
Again thank you all for the responses.
Depends on how it lacs. The s3 is a dual core so it may lag when you throw a bunch of things at it. I have the note 2 with a 4core exynos and it still runs fine. The nexus 7 doesn't use a top of the line 4 core but it still packs a punch. I actually got the old nexus 7 because it was a bargain but I couldn't deal with it stuttering so bad. It had issues with the memory controller and the poor design of the tegra 3. I think Asus learned from their mistakes with this second release.
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I think about buying N7 2013 but I read here that it has many hardware issues, that prevents me from getting it..whats the chance I get faulty device?
Buy it and you will see.
Duh!
drummer132132 said:
I do have another question pertaining to Nexus devices in general. Do nexus devices "lag" over the course of time? I hate to mention the competition (aka Apple) but I know that over time their operating system doesn't lag very often as compared to Android devices (or at least that's what I've seen from friends etc who own Apple devices). My Galaxy SIII has been laggy to an extent and was wondering if this would be significantly less on a Nexus device. Devices in particular would be the Nexus 7 2013 model, Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 (I know its not out yet but one can speculate).
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Honestly, I've seen plenty of lag with Apple devices as well. My fiancee has an iPhone 4 and my mom has a 4S, and both run noticeably slower since the most recent update. Android systems tend to get laggy due to too much stuff installed/running on them and it can easily be fixed with a factory reset. Apple devices tend to get bogged down just due to system updates.
I'm wondering if my experience with my sIII has simply made me more apprehensive about purchasing another android device in fear of it being "laggy" over the course of time. Technology has come along way since the sIII in terms of speed and from what I know stock android is pretty fast and not bogged down with bloatware that both Samsung and Verizon think we want. Also to be fair when I talk about "laggy" I'm not saying I'm unable to do things it's just noticeable on certain things but overall runs pretty smooth.
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swisstourist said:
Buy it and you will see.
Duh!
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I don't wanna buy semi-working device so I'm collecting infos about hw issues before purchase
441Excelsior said:
I don't wanna buy semi-working device so I'm collecting infos about hw issues before purchase
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The data just isn't there to give you a percentage of defective units. Plenty of people receive units without issues but plenty of people receive a unit with an issue.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=15276
Based on that poll 15/18 people receive a unit without a defect. Keep in mind that one of the people in the thread said he exchanged it multiple times due to backlight bleed, which is (unfortunately) normal for an IPS LCD depending on the severity. Some of the people who answered "No issue" may have received a tablet with backlight bleed but compared it to other tablets and realized it's "normal."
Just buy it from somewhere with a good return/exchange policy and go from there.

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