My Sony SW2 is dead - Sony Smartwatch 2

... Lasted about 3 months.
I was washing something in the sink with my SW2 on. I used a small amount of common household cleaner containing a bleach.
A few hours later, my watch was blank, and would not turn on. It would also not charge (As indicated by a USB test meter that showed little or no current when the watch was connected.)
I took it apart, and here are the results:
There is a rubber cover at the top left of the device (seen after removing the watch module from the plastic frame). This cover was mostly deteriorated. Likely from previous wear/sweat/washing, not this episode. I am not sure what the rubber cover is, but I guess there is a sensor there (pressure sensor?)
There is no seal on the plastic frame. Water/chemicals/sweat/dirt that gets between the frame and the watch module will stay against the rubber part.
The watch always fit poorly in the frame. It was very easy to remove.
Water, possibly containing dilute bleach entered either from either the deteriorated rubber cover, or the USB port (The USB port cover was properly closed, although it is not particularly soft, and not a material that is likely to form a good seal.)
The a small amount of water seems to have accumulated in the corner of the PC board, near a small square chip that I assume is power management. Some SMT discrete components in that area were affected by the water/chemicals, and were totally oxidized or gone.
Conclusion:
Obviously, I should have removed my watch before using the cleaner.
Simply press-fitting the watch into the plastic frame is not an adequate way to make something like this. Even US$20 Casio watches are built better than this.
The device is not adequately waterproof. A better seal for the USB port should have been used. Even better would be to use a waterproof charging system. Sony already has their magnetic charging port, which is waterproof and un-covered on my Sony Xperia Z2. Why they did not use this port on the SW2, I have no idea.
The SW2 is definitely not up to the build quality I expect from Sony.
Replacement:
The watch seems un-harmed except for the damage to the main board. Very little water (less than a drop) entered the watch. It would be very easily to replace the main board if I ever find one. I am sure there are plenty of SW2's out there with cracked screens, and perfectly good MB's. Perhaps I will find one at a good price.
I certainly do not plan to buy a new SW2 or a SW3. IMHO, the Sony Smart Watch 3 does not provide any compelling advantage over the Android Wear competition.
For the near term, I intend to buy a cheap Smart Band such as the Vidonn X6: http://vidonnx6.com/
I am waiting to see availability and prices of the Huawei Smart Watch. http://consumer.huawei.com/minisite/worldwide/huawei-watch/
I really like the look and features of this Android Wear device, and I actually trust that Huawei's build quality will be better than Sony's. I was very happy with my Huawei Honor 2. It still works fine, and still looks pretty good too. If it had NFC, I would probably still be using it as my main phone.
If either the Huawei is too expensive/never released/etc., or I find a black metal band Moto 360 at a good price, I'll get the Moto 360.
Sorry, and Good-Bye. I really like the features and battery life of the SW2. I wish I still had mine, which is to say that I wish the build quality had been better. I really wish I could have stayed with Sony for my wearable.

Yes, bad quality for the SW2 Seem also bad build quality and waterproof issue for the SW3....
But.... Rather my sw2 to my lg-r (or G). Wear has very poor UI and any action is really complicated

Do you still have the watch? Or any luck finding parts?
I need to repair mine and would be interested in buying it.

Update on my saga (since gtdRR did ask)....
I cleaned up my bench, and put the pieces of my old watch in the original plastic box it came in. AFAIK, it is complete, but I cannot promise that.
If you need the screen, it is in good shape (no water intrusion)... 1 small scratch center top -- about 1-2mm -- not into the actual screen area. Perhaps other very light scratches, but overall very good. PM me if you are interested, but frankly I'll charge you more for the hassle of shipping than the guts are probably worth. I normally sell old stuff/parts like this cash and carry at local Hamfests, so I don't generally ship stuff.
I bought the Vidonn X6. It really is pretty good for $30. Well over 1 week between charges, and the messaging part does work. The software (band firmware as well as the phone app) is pretty buggy as one would expect from such a device, but it works. It's not really a smart watch replacement since there are no apps, and the screen is not visible in any bright light (not just direct sunlight) but I am definitely happy with what I got for $30.
I'd trust it to survive knocking my wrist against something, dropping it, or dunking it in water more than the Sony SW2.
The Huawei Watch is out now (OK, pre-order), but the version I want (Black SS) is $100 more than the base model, plus they want to charge me sales tax.
I'll probably still go that route, but the price is making me hesitate.

PM sent.
Thanks

I still like my SW2
I have also an LG-G and a LG-R. I just found a second hand SW3 metal for 130€. SW3 has an advantage over the others Wear Watch -> his Transflective Screen like the SW2. All other are OLED or LCD IPS and act like a torch in the night at your wrist Not natural to have a screen always light up in your wrist. You can look at your SW3 watch even outdoor with full sun but not with other wear watch. And SW3 has also better battery life than other wear watch.

Related

[Q] Considering purchasing a ZenWatch, but...

So, after an extremely difficult to explain accident my Motorola MotoACTV has basically given up the ghost. I'm lookin' into the newer Android wear devices for a replacement, and I'm wondering: How'd a ZenWatch do me? Seems that's the most unanimously recommended model and the current pricing is good. My main concern lies mostly with the durability of the device - I work as a frycook so this thing's gonna have to withstand some fairly high temperatures. Any concerns there (or otherwise) I should know of? Thanks!
I'm not sure how the face/battery/housing would hold up to heat. But, you would probably want to look into replacing the stock leather wristband with something metal. The leather holds up extremely well to casual sweat and water, but I assume hot greases and oils as well as extended exposure to cleaning solutions would be rough on it.
The watch is currently on a short term sale for $150.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...00010_zenwatch_android_smartwatch_brown.html#
Other things to consider. The Zenwatch 2 has been announced, so the first one won't be cutting edge for very long if that matters to you. Also, if you really are in semi extreme conditions due to your job, you may want to look at some options geared more towards athletes and are built to take a beating. This one is very attractive and doesn't appear to be fragile, but it's definitely not sporty.
Thanks for the advice! I might go with the current model just to save some cash, though waiting for the 2 is tempting! is anything out there right now so far as hardware specs or software-level improvements?
With regards to the work environment issues I actually can't imagine things being too much of a problem (though i defs should get a metal band and I'll wanna keep up on keeping the device clean) - worst case scenario I can always wear my trusty Casio Telememo 30 to work and save the ZenWatch for less potentially hazardous conditions! My MotoACTV did fine, I should note.
I think it would be a good choice, there is certainly nothing in the next version that makes me want to upgrade. And there are plenty of cheap metal bands out there - I use this one at the moment and it is very good:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400892494610?euid=87af0097fb9d4ac4b96ba89b1a162e5d&cp=1

Help for the first time (pun?) buyer

Hi all,
I've recently come back into the android fold and I'm currently using the Nexus 6P (fantastic phone btw) and now I'm branching out to other android devices.
I've always wanted a smart watch and I feel now is the time to dive in. After a lot of research that's left me with two options and I'm torn between the Moto 360 (46mm) and the Huawei watch. I've read countless reviews and they both have their pro's and con's, such as cost, display, battery, looks, functionality and I've read into the issues surrounding the charging cradles which only makes my decision more difficult.
I'm all for customization and can spend hours on XDA reading and trying tings regarding my phone and android in general which made me take note of in terms of support and activity the Moto 360 has a lot more attention on XDA, I appreciate that this is most likely due to the Moto 360 being more main stream and has been out for longer, not to mention the V1 lead the charge for android wear but user support is very important to me.
At the moment I'm not sure how I feel about the flat tyre which appears to most of the gripes for the 360 however on investigation several watches faces appear to have overcome this issue to some extent and many users after some time appear to have forgotten all about it, plus it does serve some practicality with the ambient display so it's not all bad.
Any thoughts? Pro's and con's? Have you owned both watches or come from the 360?
Hua Wei watch has sapphire crystal. Enough said.
Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
Sounds like you want moto 360. Both are great. Huawei watch much more nicer and more classy expensive looking. Moto has it in bigger size as well, so if u like bigger watch faces then you need moto.
I personally love my black Huawei. It is worth every penny. I could care less about customization and user support forums. I buy technology to help me save time in my busy life. I don't have time nor the interest to be reinventing android wear on my watch.
Sapphire
sinple said:
Hua Wei watch has sapphire crystal. Enough said.
Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bingo! Can't say enough about the durability of this watch also. Only wish it were more water proof.
---------- Post added at 06:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:30 AM ----------
I don't believe the moto has a speaker either.....does it? Plus have you seen the display on the moto in ambient mode? Holy s...! It's completely pixilated. When I'm inside the house,office,mall, anywhere other than outside,the huawei ambient mode is easily visible, and completely crystal clear. No pixelation. The watches are in these ambient modes most of the time,especially if you have tilt to wake off like me. Please watch videos on you tube comparing this ambient mode with the moto.....its so nasty and ghetto looking.
My decision came down to the fact that the Moto 360 had a flat tire. I wanted a fully circular watch. I think the biggest downside to the Huawei Watch is the horrible charging mechanism. It's a pain to work with especially when I have to quickly charge my watch using a portable charger and throw it in my bag.
Hi all,
After much consideration I ended up ordering the 46mm Moto 360. It basically came down to price at the end of the day. The Huawei watch is £329 with the standard leather strap, I was able to order via a discount code a 46mm Moto 360 with a 22mm metal band and a micro Knurl Bezel for £280. Both are added extras above the standard Moto 360.
I may come back to the Huawei watch as I'm still concerned about the flat tyre and pixel density, however given the extras, screen size and the cost I felt it was too good of an option to let go.
Thanks for all the advice above!
redeuxx said:
My decision came down to the fact that the Moto 360 had a flat tire. I wanted a fully circular watch. I think the biggest downside to the Huawei Watch is the horrible charging mechanism. It's a pain to work with especially when I have to quickly charge my watch using a portable charger and throw it in my bag.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am surprised about the dislikes of the HW charging mechanism. I own both HW and Gear S2 Classic. I see no advantage or disadvantage of either charging means. I hold the HW just above the dock and it snaps in place - nothing difficult. Even when using a portable charger in my bag, while hardly ever needed though, the HW stays connected to the dock. Same with the Gear S2. It is also easy to put gear on dock as it snaps on, but I am not especially pleased that there are no connector pins. I just don't care....
I haven't checked yet if Gear S2 remains docked in my bag. I think the HW is better locked though.
tinker_tf said:
Hi all,
After much consideration I ended up ordering the 46mm Moto 360. It basically came down to price at the end of the day. The Huawei watch is £329 with the standard leather strap, I was able to order via a discount code a 46mm Moto 360 with a 22mm metal band and a micro Knurl Bezel for £280. Both are added extras above the standard Moto 360.
I may come back to the Huawei watch as I'm still concerned about the flat tyre and pixel density, however given the extras, screen size and the cost I felt it was too good of an option to let go.
Thanks for all the advice above!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I only paid £289 on Amazon for the black leather strap. I then bought a brown leather, a stainless steel band and mesh band on Amazon, pretty much identical to the originals and spent about £320 in total. Not bad for the watch and 4 straps!
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
I got a pretty good price on my Huawei Watch a week ago. I live in EU but ordered from USA. Even with import tax and 2 day delivery it was still cheaper than anything in the rest of the world (and I checked). It ended up costing $427/£290/€390.
I ordered silver with leather band which I am not a fan of but mesh is already on the way. Hopefully it doesn't look too feminine.
I did get stupid USA charger which is useless in Sweden, but I have a converter at home (and it costs anyway like $5) so it's all good.
This is the watch I bought, although mine was cheaper at time. $310 or so, probably some Christmas price cut:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013LKLIB0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
I decided to order both!, I ordered the Huawei watch through Amazon at £329 with the metal strap. I felt safer in the knowledge the strap is made for the watch and comes under the same warranty with Amazon, plus Amazon are so good with returns I thought why not?
I haven't played with it too much yet as I am *still* awaiting on the moto 360. They've had the order since the 27th December but they've yet to dispatch it despite the order page saying it's ready to go.
First thoughts are - The presentation on this product is fantastic, it felt like I just bought an expensive piece of kit (technically I did?) The box, the decorating, the presentation was all very well done. It felt like a first class way of putting their device on display and for the first time in a long time, I spent so much time admiring the detail and effort that must of went into making this. However, whilst it is incredibly fancy I couldn't help but feel that once my excitement wore off, that this poor box will go into storage never to be seen and ideally with that in mind, would have liked the box it shipped in to be less deluxe so that the overall watch price would have been reduced.
The watch face feels small, which is odd as I don't even have anything to compare it to, I haven't worn a watch in months and like I said the 360 isn't here, but yet the screen feels small. The watch feels premium, screen is clear and crisp. Battery life seems better then I was expecting but again, I haven't dabbled with it too much just encase I return it.
The charging base seems a pain and could have been done better I feel. Why not have Qi charging? Or at least a decent stand? On that note, why not put that fantastic presentation box I mentioned to use and have that be part of the charging cycle.
The watch appears to be laggy, it doesn't seem fluid between the cards, or getting into the menus. Again I haven't set this watch up or spent that much time getting to know my way round it, plus with it being fairly new firmware updates should iron this out.
Overall I am happy with the watch, the box, the style, the feel and even the screen despite me thinking that it's kinda small. It's a lot of tech under a watch screen which is nothing short of amazing. However the cost of £329 is hard to swallow, I may return it for the leather strap one at £289 or may return it in favour of the 360 (if it ever gets here!)
I have used several watches. The Hauwei does lag some. I notice it more going into settings, it takes a second to open. Sometimes I think I missed a tap, but a second tap makes it go haywire. The hardware is identical to other watches that are smooth as butter, so it has to be a software setting. Perhaps they have the min cpu speed to slow or something. I dunno. It could be ironed out with an update or custom kernel.
The charging dock is kind of a pain compared to others. My LG G Watch has the same setup except the dock had a contoured lip around so it would slide into place with ease. It was also square = easier to align. The circle hauwei, when I dock, I have to semi spin it until it latches in. Even my ZenWatch2 just had a small magnetic clip and would snap on almost automatically.
The Hauwei is small. For me thats great because I am a smaller dude. My LG and Asus were big. The ZenWatch2 was good because of the curved screen. But my friends always called it my iPad Mini Watch.
The Motorola 360 has nice features but lacks a very important one; no speaker. And trust me, it is very important.
Heres why:
A watch is designed to give you personal freedom away from your phone. So I tend to not cling to it as much. It gets left on my desk, couch, charger, etc. When a call comes in... you find yourself scrambling to get to your phone. You typically do not have time to grab it and answer it, without some sort of awkward silence where you answered it from the watch and still in the process of grabbing the watch. Also when I am oncall for work, and in my pool swimming, I can dismiss unimportant emails and grab calls without having to kill myself trying to get out, dry off, and answer it before it goes to VM.
Food for thought. The speaker support was what I was waiting on to upgrade my LG G Watch. If you are going for just a cheap round smart watch, just buy the Moto 360 1st gen. I don't see the difference between them. Still has the flat tire and ****ty battery life.

ZeroLemon Battery Case Review:

Introduction
Generally, if you use a product and you like it, you don’t hesitate to go out and purchase another item from the same company. My Nexus 6P finally threw in the towel, leaving me to fend for myself out in the tech world. But... I was right in the middle of major phone upgrade season. The current flagships were on sale or being bundled with 256GB memory cards, *cough Samsung cough* but we were a few months from the next generations’ unveiling. Long story short, I decided on an HTC 10 to hold me over. It’s a great phone! Latest generation specs, an awesome camera, a nice speaker system, and a killer DAC to round things off. Unfortunately for my devices, I’m a power user- starting my day at 6:30 am and not getting back to the charger until 12 am (on an early night!) The HTC 10, like every other phone before it, simply didn’t have the stamina to last the 18ish hours in my typical day. So I went to Amazon, searched “ZeroLemon HTC 10”, and a smile broke across my face when I saw the first search result.
The Good Stuff
The good stuff? There’s a lot of it. It is a battery case through and through, which isn’t necessarily the most exciting thing on paper. But this case picks up where ZeroLemon’s Nexus 6P case left off. The build of the case itself is simplified, discarding the plastic ring that encased the device. Now it’s just three pieces: the silicon outside, the battery, and a “u” shaped double ended USB-C connector to transfer power into the case. This time around, a USB-A style connector is also hiding on the right side of the case, waiting to power up another device of your choosing. If you’re going to make a case with this big of a footprint already, little features like these are a huge value-add for the consumer, really justifying the size and price of the product. ZeroLemon’s team nailed the execution here! The silicon is much softer, and there are no signs of the injection molding process from their last case, lending to an overall more premium feel. Cutouts are all precise, however, the case does cover the HTC 10’s power and volume buttons, giving them a mushy feel, and making them trickier to identify by touch. The generous amount room around the headphone jack means you shouldn’t have a problem using any variation of auxiliary cables, and the four white LEDs that indicate the case's charge have good visibility. ZeroLemon also gives cutouts at the bottom of the case to allow sound from the bottom firing subwoofer to not be muffled and muddied. Qualcomm QuickCharge 3.0 still works here thankfully, as juicing up 11,500 mAh is no small feat. In my testing as a heavy phone user, I was able to go about three days on a single charge. That’s a whole lot of navigation, music streaming, being paired to a smartwatch, messaging, and some light gaming. This case does its job; if it’s battery life you want, it’s battery you’re going to get. I’d feel confident throwing this case on, and going out to a concert, or using it to keep my phone charged over a camping weekend.
The Not So Good Stuff
Put on this case, and your sleek aluminum unibody becomes 6.5” long, 3/4th of an inch thick, and quite hefty. For some reason, ZeroLemon chose to separate the connection from the phone to the case, resulting in the need for the little adapter. This adapter, in turn, adds about a half an inch of length to the phone and creates the odd jut out towards the bottom. This creates uniquely dissatisfying design decision. The rubber lip that sits on the phone’s display is prone to slipping off, especially when trying to slip the phone in and out of a pocket or bag.
Otherwise, I’m failing to find faults with this case. There are no issues with NFC, and thankfully there are no adverse camera effects. A final criticism to ZeroLemon: please stop waiting until a device has reached its first birthday before you put out a case for it!
Conclusion
ZeroLemon’s HTC 10 battery case is pretty simple. The company stumbled with their Nexus 6P case, having to re-engineer it after a defective first batch and some media criticisms. ZeroLemon seems to have come back with another 8500 mAh battery case and nearly nails it this time. The addition of a traditional USB port to share power with another device is a welcomed feature, and the inclusion of a speaker grille at the bottom sends a clear message: ZeroLemon is coming for the top. They’ve found a formula and are sticking with it for the most part. They’re trying to cram in a big battery and extra value. They’re thoughtful with design, and their designs are evolving from rough, flimsy plastics puzzles to sleek silicone sleeves.
Gallery: http://imgur.com/a/ArnBd
I'd love to try and answer any questions!
I'm glad you're happy with it but looks matter to me and this looks... far from perfect. I'd probably have a power bank on standby for when I needed one rather than have this attached to my phone. I will say that the 8500 mAh battery is impressive, that's almost 3 full charges.
So I received my zerolemon battery case and tried it few days ago , I won't be talking much and I will give my opinion straight forward ,
It's heavy and solid , yes it's ugly and no way you can keep it in your pocket , but it will charge your phone around 3 times before it runs out of charge
It took me 2 hours to charge my phone as its not using QC 3.0 , it's comparable with QC 2.0 speed I guess , it's not slow but it's just not as fast as QC 3.0
The battery case it self took around 3 hours to charge fully. And I really like how they made use of the huge design and included and USB A type output to charge whatever you want to , (could be your HTC 10 if u don't wanna hold put it inside the case )
It's like a normal 8.5K battery and it's wrapped inside a very soft anti slip rubber case that that holds your phone and battery together , the case has some holes left and right , which is yes makes the speaker fire straight at your face and that's just amazing , the left holes are for that tiny hole drilled mics on your HTC 10 .
I would really recommend buying that case especially if u spend alot of your time away from a socket , it can charge your phone 3x or you can use it to charge your other gadgets ..
Not soo great design , but very useful and reliable battery case from zerolemon
Until more battery cases use wireless charging (I know the HTC 10 does not have wireless charging), I'll be sticking with battery banks. Seeing the added height from these cases really makes me miss removable batteries.

LG V40 Announced.

Looks like the LG V40 will launch late this year. Some info on it can be found here: https://wccftech.com/lg-v40-specifications-feature-launch-date-leak-specifications-features-price/
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v40
Guess am sticking with the v20. I cant live without removable battery. But Im always looking to import.
bountyman334 said:
Guess am sticking with the v20. I can't live without removable battery. But Im always looking to import.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You want removable battery because your battery dies during the day or what? And you want to swap it out?
People keep saying the can't live without removable battery but won't ever say why. My wife and I have not have removable battery on our Androids since 2014, so I don't quite understand.
First, with newer phones with high IP ratings -- like V30 IP68 -- you can't have removable battery without a lot of engineering headache. Also designing back exit port (with clear exit/entry/walls) for user battery removal makes the phone bigger than it needs to be.
Second, the V30 battery life is EXCELLENT. Some days I don't even charge my phone until I get home from work, as the V30 system has great built-in battery saving. I do keep Quick Charge chargers in car and at work, just in case. (Why? Because of my previous phone.)
Coming from a 2014 Moto XT1225 with a 3900 mAh battery, I was very worried about battery life on a phone with smaller battery (3300 mAh) and larger OLED display (6" vs 5.2"). I've been pleasantly surprised. Ironically, the older Moto XT1225 with bigger battery would not hold a charge all day long, thus my charger stash in car and at work... And I'm still going to keep those. There's no harm in charging while I'm using Google Waze navigation or topping off at work while I'm typing on my laptop.
Third, no current or future premium phones are going to have removable battery. See point #1. So, unless you are going to keep buying increasingly older refurbished V20 phones, at some point you're going to need to move forward.
I love IP68 protection, myself and the V30 has headset jack and Qi wireless charging -- which are my "lines in the sand" for what I need on a phone.
I wouldn't mind the LG V40 battery being a little larger than LG V30 3300 mA... but I am quite pleased with the battery performance of the LG V30.
ChazzMatt said:
You want removable battery because your battery dies during the day or what? And you want to swap it out?
People keep saying the can't live without removable battery but won't ever say why. My wife and I have not have removable battery on our Androids since 2014, so I don't quite understand.
First, with newer phones with high IP ratings -- like V30 IP68 -- you can't have removable battery without a lot of engineering headache. Also designing back exit port (with clear exit/entry/walls) for user battery removal makes the phone bigger than it needs to be.
Second, the V30 battery life is EXCELLENT. Some days I don't even charge my phone until I get home from work, as the V30 system has great built-in battery saving. I do keep Quick Charge chargers in car and at work, just in case. (Why? Because of my previous phone.)
Coming from a 2014 Moto XT1225 with a 3900 mAh battery, I was very worried about battery life on a phone with smaller battery (3300 mAh) and larger OLED display (6" vs 5.2"). I've been pleasantly surprised. Ironically, the older Moto XT1225 with bigger battery would not hold a charge all day long, thus my charger stash in car and at work... And I'm still going to keep those. There's no harm in charging while I'm using Google Waze navigation or topping off at work while I'm typing on my laptop.
Third, no current or future premium phones are going to have removable battery. See point #1. So, unless you are going to keep buying increasingly older refurbished V20 phones, at some point you're going to need to move forward.
I love IP68 protection, myself and the V30 has headset jack and Qi wireless charging -- which are my "lines in the sand" for what I need on a phone.
I wouldn't mind the LG V40 battery being a little larger than LG V30 3300 mA... but I am quite pleased with the battery performance of the LG V30.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want removable battery so I can replace it myself when it gives signs of wear. Without taking the whole damn phone apart!
I never take baths with my phone, all phones have enough water resistance so you can walk with them in the rain.
I really don't see the point in having water proofing on modern phones. Not when it comes at the cost of repairability or drop resistance.
FACT: old phones with removable battery were much more resistant on drops even if their parts (cover, battery) flew in all directions on big drops. I dropped old Nokia smartphones from 2nd story with no damage. How does water proofing help your flagship these days? They crack from laughable heights of under a meter.
I'm pretty sure drops on hard surfaces are much more common causes for damage than the lack of water proofing ever was in the past.
DLS123 said:
I want removable battery so I can replace it myself when it gives signs of wear.
I never take baths with my phone, all phones have enough water resistance so you can walk with them in the rain.
I really don't see the point in having water proofing on modern phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not taking baths, it's the drop off the edge of swimming pool. Drop in the toilet. (Ugh). Kid knocking over pitcher of tea at the dinner table, directly onto your phone.
V30 has mil spec ratings for dropping. See the forum description on the PC website version. Phone will keep functioning. I do keep case on for glass back as it's slippery.
LG V30 in United States has two year warranty.
ChazzMatt said:
It's not taking baths, it's the drop off the edge of swimming pool. Drop in the toilet. (Ugh). Kid knocking over pitcher of tea at the dinner table, directly onto your phone.
V30 has mil spec ratings for dropping. See the forum description on the PC website version. Phone will keep functioning. I do keep case on for glass back as it's slippery.
LG V30 in United States has two year warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you shouldn't take the phone near the swimming pool. Or buy a phone specifically made for extreme environments if you're really not able to be careful about using electronics near water or keep it away from kids.
I don't care about the specs for dropping and whatever others have tested and written about the phone.
I learned on my own how those specs mean absolutely nothing. I dropped the V30 from 60 cm on wooden floor. The screen cracked, water resistance is gone. These new designs are terribly flawed. Superior materials (plastics) have been replaced by metal and glass. Neither provides any functional advantage. They just make the phone more heavy and slippery. Add to that the craze about screen to body ratio aiming for 100% that does nothing but make the phones even more fragile.
DLS123 said:
Maybe you shouldn't take the phone near the swimming pool. Or buy a phone specifically made for extreme environments if you're really not able to be careful about using electronics near water or keep it away from kids.
I don't care about the specs for dropping and whatever others have tested and written about the phone.
I learned on my own how those specs mean absolutely nothing. I dropped the V30 from 60 cm on wooden floor. The screen cracked, water resistance is gone. These new designs are terribly flawed. Superior materials (plastics) have been replaced by metal and glass. Neither provides any functional advantage. They just make the phone more heavy and slippery. Add to that the craze about screen to body ratio aiming for 100% that does nothing but make the phones even more fragile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you're never getting removable battery on a new premium phone, no matter how much you complain.
How often do you replace your batteries anyway?
Love the peace of mind of IP68, whether I ever need it or not. I've not had removable battery phone since 2014 and never missed that feature.
Sent via open market LG US998 V30/V30+
@DLS123
i think that everything comes down to money... if you had the money you would change the friggin phones every month, every week... but it's like the fox and the grapes (if you understand what i mean)
as for battery change, how often do you change them? once a year? once two years? you might not even keep a phone that much and speaking about the phone beinng dismantled like that it means that you don't even do the operation of changing the battery
ip68 protection is very good. many people kill their phones because of liquid damage. there are many situations you cannot really control, like a sudden rain while you are outside, or dropping the phone into toilet, or having it on the table and someone spill some glass with water on it, etc... ip68 protection is more than welocome, it helps you sleep better at night. i once killed a nexus 5's display because i had it on the floor and at night i wanted to drink some water but because i was sleepy i dropped the bottle on the floor, didn't realize the phone was there until morning when was too late already. you putting the blame on us killing phones because of liquid damage makes you something that i cannot write here... many of us want less stress on our heads about phones. PLEASE do not judge us about something you cannot understand
i have had many phones with alot of physical impact damage, broken screens, broken cases, even bent cases. afterall it is a phone which is not made from vibranium, it's glass and plastic but if you refer at nokia 3310 with "old phones with removable battery" sentence then we might have a problem. everything with a full body display BREAKS, i can and i did, not on purpose anyway. nobody wants their phone to be a second baby and keep it all day long in silk... it's a phone, it's an OBJECT. everything in this world breaks with the right amount of force.
this is why i always use full body cases and tempered glass screen protectors, to minimize the repair costs. i am one of the few ppl out there who do not care about how it looks as long as i do not change display once a month.
damn, i abuse them like hell. my 5x even had three full charges a day, fully emptied, overheated till 80 degrees and it still works like a charm, with new battery and thermal pad to cool the processor little bit more. on the other side v30 gives me twice the battery life n5x had but sometimes i eat two v30's betteries in a day, removed thermal throttle completely so the gpu do not go dows when i play games.
changing the bettery is not that hard, you just need some good double adhesive tape and a small cross screwdriver and, of course, a new bettery which costs 10 euros.
don't be such an ignorant *something* and put your hands to work, evolve yourself or, if you do not want to, keep your outdated v20 and, please, do not criticize our awesome v30
I think water resistance is a great feature. Like insurance, I never intend to use it, but I still like having it "just in case".
I also think user replaceable battery is desirable, because the battery is the one thing that wears the most in a modern smartphone, and the one thing that makes it impractical to use a phone for several years. V30 has good battery life: I charge mine only every 3rd night (occasionally every 2nd night) and generally get 8 hrs SOT or more. But I use Battery Saver most of the time, and I do it mainly to reduce battery wear, because I need to keep this phone useful for at least 3 years. Had the battery been user replaceable, I wouldn't have that concern.
Alas, the two features are not compatible for the reasons described, so each has to prioritize and decide for him/herself.
I prefer anodized aluminium to glass, both for its looks, its feel, and its resistance to fingerprints. Hence V30 wasn't really my preferred phone at first. But it was my wife's, and with T-Mobile's BOGO AND LG's $400 rebate, it was a no-brainer. And I have since come to like it a lot, particularly after I trimmed the bloat, found the right case for it, and after I realized how great that Sabre DAC is. Paired with decent headphones, it really is a poor man's Hi-Fi system -- and a pretty darn good one too.
And I also really appreciate LG's 2-year warranty!
I insisted on 2 things with every phone I ever bought: removable battery and expandable storage. I never once replaced a battery (and every phone was a flagship on a full 2-year contract). I did, however, always rely on an extra microSD card for media and to make it easier and safer to flash new ROMs. But now that I have 128gb built-in, even that is hardly an issue. I never pay any attention to glass vs. aluminum vs. plastic body, because my phones all live in matte black TPU cases so they all look the same from my point of view.
I was as closed-minded as the next guy for nearly a decade, but darned if technology didn't just evolve beyond my needs.
SilverZero said:
I was as closed-minded as the next guy for nearly a decade, but darned if technology didn't just evolve beyond my needs.
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Click to collapse
LOL. Nice post!
Edit: I haven't yet filled up my 128GB either, even with most of my CDs as FLAC and a ton of hi-res music files to boot. And if I ever do, V30 still has an SD card slot. So it really has worked out to be the right phone for me, even though I didn't realize it at first.
I tried replacing phone batteries in the past. I learned that (1) low price aftermarket batteries have inferior performance and are a gamble with respect to safety, (2) OEM batteries are either way overpriced if fresh (only available while the phone is still in production), or "new" aka unused but stale*, or used and stale*.
Basically, it is a waste of time and money at best to replace a phone battery. (It is also a safety risk with most aftermarket Li-Ion batteries.) So, a phone is a 2 year device. After that, the battery is at end of life, the phone is slipping into obsolescence, time to get a new phone, forget about replacing batteries.
* Li-Ion batteries in this class have only a 2-3 year life whether they are used or not, as soon as they are manufactured the clock is ticking. Freshness matters. A 2-3 year old battery has only 60% or less original fresh capacity.
Tinkerer_ said:
I tried replacing phone batteries in the past. I learned that (1) low price aftermarket batteries have inferior performance and are a gamble with respect to safety, (2) OEM batteries are either way overpriced if fresh (only available while the phone is still in production), or "new" aka unused but stale*, or used and stale*.
Basically, it is a waste of time and money at best to replace a phone battery. (It is also a safety risk with most aftermarket Li-Ion batteries.) So, a phone is a 2 year device. After that, the battery is at end of life, the phone is slipping into obsolescence, time to get a new phone, forget about replacing batteries.
* Li-Ion batteries in this class have only a 2-3 year life whether they are used or not, as soon as they are manufactured the clock is ticking. Freshness matters. A 2-3 year old battery has only 60% or less original fresh capacity.
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Now that's a really good point you're making, that quality batteries are difficult to find after a couple years, or unreasonably expensive. I hadn't thought about that. Of course not that it matters with V30 :silly:
But I will say that good battery care really does make a difference with Li-Ion batteries, including minimizing the number of charging cycles AND minimizing the amount of time spent at the top and bottom of the battery's range (where its chemistry suffers the most). Case in point is the old Samsung laptop on which I am writing this: Its battery wear is still less than 20% after over six years. It is plugged in most of the time, but with Samsung's Battery Life Extender enabled, which stops charging at 80%. During those six year I've used it on battery about twice a week for meetings or presentations or working outside, but I try to avoid running it down completely. I charge it fully to 100% when I need the extra battery runtime, but mostly I have kept it within the 20-80% zone where Li-Ion is most comfortable.
With my V30 it is not practical to stop charging below 100% as I charge overnight. And maybe LG's charging logic makes it unnecessary. But I do avoid running it down completely, and I only charge it every 2-3 nights. So far my battery health is still at 102% after 8 months, according to AccuBattery -- although I am not sure how accurate that really is.
And we have soooooo hijacked this thread
So the V40 aspect of having a non-replaceable battery (like the V30 and most other current phones) was the point that went off on a tangent about the issues of phone battery replacement.
Here's the scenario, where you are careful to maximize your original phone battery by optimal charge state between 20-80%, moderate temperatures, moderate power draws, etc.:
You managed to keep it viable for an unusually long service life, maybe 3 years. Good! (But even optimal charging and service conditions cannot change the chronological aging problem of Li-ion batteries, so 3 years has dropped capacity to only 60% and falling.)
Now, you have a phone that is obsolete, with sub-par battery runtime. And, the other systems of the phone are at end of life too, because it is all designed for a 2 year service life, so failure probability is increasing rapidly.
Available batteries are stale and/or inferior quality (and most are safety hazards).
Are you going to try to keep the phone going with replacement battery? It is past the point of diminishing returns, and most aftermarket batteries are an increased safety hazard too (charging should be done only in a fully ventilated area with nothing nearby that can burn).
After learning all this by experience, I gave up on replacing phone batteries, and the user-replaceable battery.
Face it, a phone is just a disposable 2 year device. Replaceable battery is irrelevant. IMHO.
...
TheDannemand said:
Now that's a really good point you're making, that quality batteries are difficult to find after a couple years, or unreasonably expensive. I hadn't thought about that. Of course not that it matters with V30 :silly:
But I will say that good battery care really does make a difference with Li-Ion batteries, including minimizing the number of charging cycles AND minimizing the amount of time spent at the top and bottom of the battery's range (where its chemistry suffers the most). Case in point is the old Samsung laptop on which I am writing this: Its battery wear is still less than 20% after over six years. It is plugged in most of the time, but with Samsung's Battery Life Extender enabled, which stops charging at 80%. During those six year I've used it on battery about twice a week for meetings or presentations or working outside, but I try to avoid running it down completely. I charge it fully to 100% when I need the extra battery runtime, but mostly I have kept it within the 20-80% zone where Li-Ion is most comfortable.
With my V30 it is not practical to stop charging below 100% as I charge overnight. And maybe LG's charging logic makes it unnecessary. But I do avoid running it down completely, and I only charge it every 2-3 nights. So far my battery health is still at 102% after 8 months, according to AccuBattery -- although I am not sure how accurate that really is.
And we have soooooo hijacked this thread
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It's not really hijacking. Somebody said they wouldn't buy a better phone (we're hoping V40 will be a better phone) than the V30 (because it is posted in this thread, so therefore the implied comparison between the two) because it won't have replaceable battery. HUH?
Well, V30 also doesn't have replaceable battery and neither did my previous Motorola phone. So, that person wasn't just criticizing the still unknown V40 but even our current V30 phone.
They won't even buy V30, which is the best phone of 2017.
In a way, we're explaining even our V30, otherwise we would all be stuck using slider keyboards Eclair Androids. For good or bad, software keyboards are defacto. (No, don't even mention BlackBerry. They are not a trend.)
And sealed batteries are defacto.
* IP68 beats any reason for replaceable battery.
* Batteries are goingng to last 2-3 years. By then, you're going to get another phone.
* Also, battery charge lasts longer than in the past, where people needed to swap out batteries mid day.
* There is also QuickCharge technology that will give you six more hours in 15 minutes... I keep Quick Charge in car and at work.
Now you can always argue for bigger batteries, but sealed batteries are here for premium phones.
Same with IR blasters. No one is begging to control their TV with their phone. Sure, it's a "cool" trick to show off one time, but it is a not a real life concern for millions of people.
Now headset jack and Qi wireless charging, THOSE are important.
DLS123 said:
Maybe you shouldn't take the phone near the swimming pool.
Or buy a phone specifically made for extreme environments if you're really not able to be careful about using electronics near water
or keep it away from kids.
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I could also admonish you to never be so clumsy... Forget about hyperactive kids, you dropped and broke your own phone. Ironically, ig you had at least dropped it in water, it would be OK.
DLS123 said:
I dropped the V30 from 60 cm (about 24 inches) on wooden floor. The screen cracked, water resistance is gone.
These new designs are terribly flawed. Superior materials (plastics) have been replaced by metal and glass. Neither provides any functional advantage. They just make the phone more heavy and slippery. Add to that the craze about screen to body ratio aiming for 100% that does nothing but make the phones even more fragile.
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Cracked with drop of 2 feet to wooden floor, then you didn't have a case on your phone or the right case? Yeah, it's ironic we have to cover our glass phones with plastic.
You need a case for the back glass and you need raised lip on the case to protect the front display from hitting the floor.
But I like larger displays, I love IP68, I will not buy a phone without Qi wireless charging (so you can't have metal).
I do agree with you that a tightly sealed modern plastic which would still give you IP68 would definitely be better than glass (same plastic stuff race car driver helmets are made of) -- but you still wouldn't have removable battery. Those days are over.
And even though we cover our glass phones with plastic cases, somehow the buying public WANTS shiny glass at least to buy the phone. Then immediately cover it with plastic -- never to be seen again!
TheDannemand said:
I think water resistance is a great feature. Like insurance, I never intend to use it, but I still like having it "just in case"....
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FWIW, I don't think my V30 would've survived my trip to Spain for San Fermin without IP68. I can say with certainty, that it is not only water resistant, but also WINE RESISTANT!
San Fermin WINE INCOMING!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlJH_ZPBxdT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
pjsnyc said:
FWIW, I don't think my V30 would've survived my trip to Spain for San Fermin without IP68. I can say with certainty, that it is not only water resistant, but also WINE RESISTANT!
San Fermin WINE INCOMING!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlJH_ZPBxdT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
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LOL Yes, I can see that :laugh:
Drinks with sugar content (like wine and sodas) are some of the worst if they get inside electronics, because the sticky stuff remains and can keep shorting even after the liquid has dried out. So this is a perfect example of where IP68 proved to be "worth the insurance premium".
ChazzMatt said:
You need a case for the back glass and you need upper lip on the case to protect the front display from hitting the floor.
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I started out with a clear TPU case with upper lip (this one) because I was terrified I would drop my expensive new glass phone. And while it did indeed protect, I never got to like the phone all the time I used it: It ruined the V30s elegant design and, ironically, it actually made me drop the phone TWICE on our tile floor because the sticky silicone rubber surface somehow surprised the tactile expectations of my hands when handling the phone.
After a few months I got a hard cover slim skin case instead (this one) and it completely changed my experience with the phone: It looks great (people now ask what kind of phone I have) and feels great in my hands. And while I realize it won't protect as well in case of a drop, I haven't dropped it since, because the mat silky surface behaves as my hands expect.
We recently got the same case for my wife's V30 -- although Rose Gold! She continues to use a Spigen clear TPU case during the week because she often drops her phone at work. But when we go out, she puts on the slim skin case
Late reply,
I understand the need-ness for ip rating and what not, but I can to grips that you'll never find a "flagship" in this day and age with everything you need ie.; Remote control, replacement battery, fast charging, military grade protection (I degress, maybe a sales pitch). I'm pretty sure everyone on xda is a tinker.. wanting to see how everything works.
With that being said I don't knock no one for their choices. I fully support anyone and their ideas. I know we are stuck (v20 7.0 2yrs) with awesome hardware but a ****ty company (sometimes or department). I don't really upgrade that much because I researched alot before I make a decision.

Question Internal screen durability

Hi everyone,
Long story short I am thinking of yet again giving Samsung another chance by switching from my 12 pro max to the fold 3 but have a few concerns.
can anyone advise on how durable the internal display is in regards to dust getting trapped in between when folded and getting scratched? I’ve been in the whole apple ecosystem for a very long time and built quality is important to me and so wanted to see what everyone’s experience has been with theirs so far.
thanks in advance
Dust per se no. Any sand oh yes.
If you're leaving your happy Apple world, take the whole Android trip and get a Samsung with an SD card* slot. A native spen is also very useful.
The Note 10+ (my top choice still) and the Note 20 Ultra are better, more durable and useful devices in my opinion.
You'll want a pair of Buds+ too. To make full use of the native SCC bluetooth codec.
*use as a dedicated data drive. All critical data and backups go here. Only the loaded apps and the temporary download folder go on internal memory. The DCIM folder files are then backed up to the data drive weekly etc. Do not name that folder DCIM though. You then redundantly backup you SD card to at least 2 hdds.
A V30 rated 1tb card can be had now for $180. Fast enough to playback vids and music with zero issues.
Complete reloads can be done from the SD card too, no need for a PC, cloud or any external sources.
Something no Apple can do... don't sell yourself short!
trayscragg said:
Hi everyone,
Long story short I am thinking of yet again giving Samsung another chance by switching from my 12 pro max to the fold 3 but have a few concerns.
can anyone advise on how durable the internal display is in regards to dust getting trapped in between when folded and getting scratched? I’ve been in the whole apple ecosystem for a very long time and built quality is important to me and so wanted to see what everyone’s experience has been with theirs so far.
thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the last Samsung device you owned?
As far as the Fold2 and 3, great devices. The inner display is soft and you have to plan accordingly. In my experience, the Fold2's display was more prone to the micro scratches and finger nail gouges. The screen also collected lots of finger oils and almost felt like a resistive touch screen. The Fold3's screen feels more like glass and I am very pleased with it. I don't baby my phones. They've lived in my jean pocket, suit jackets, etc. Dust will definitely find its way on the phone and like any other device, easily wipes off.
I got bored with the Note line after owning every model since its third iteration and went with the Fold. Never going back especially now with S pen compatibility. It is the perfect size for multitasking, web browsing, YT, etc. When closed, perfect for quick phone interactions.
trayscragg said:
Hi everyone,
Long story short I am thinking of yet again giving Samsung another chance by switching from my 12 pro max to the fold 3 but have a few concerns.
can anyone advise on how durable the internal display is in regards to dust getting trapped in between when folded and getting scratched? I’ve been in the whole apple ecosystem for a very long time and built quality is important to me and so wanted to see what everyone’s experience has been with theirs so far.
thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like your question may assume the two sides of the screen lay flat on top of one another, which would indeed be a good case for dust to cause scratches. Luckily, the two screens have a level of separation through the whole span and the only points of contact are very small rubber stand-off's at the top and bottom of the right hand side. Unless there are very large pieces of debris, you should not be concerned with things scratching the screen while closed.
blackhawk said:
You'll want a pair of Buds+ too. To make full use of the native SCC bluetooth codec.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buds+ are great and what I use at the gym. But if you want better audio go with wireless buds with LDAC or use a USB DAC or bluetooth headphone amp with LDAC like the ES100 or BTR5.
The screen halves don't touch when folded. The only way it will scratch when folded is if a large piece of debris gets stuck between. Also, you can add a case which further increases the space between screens when folded.
atvxda said:
What is the last Samsung device you owned?
As far as the Fold2 and 3, great devices. The inner display is soft and you have to plan accordingly. In my experience, the Fold2's display was more prone to the micro scratches and finger nail gouges. The screen also collected lots of finger oils and almost felt like a resistive touch screen. The Fold3's screen feels more like glass and I am very pleased with it. I don't baby my phones. They've lived in my jean pocket, suit jackets, etc. Dust will definitely find its way on the phone and like any other device, easily wipes off.
I got bored with the Note line after owning every model since its third iteration and went with the Fold. Never going back especially now with S pen compatibility. It is the perfect size for multitasking, web browsing, YT, etc. When closed, perfect for quick phone interactions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The last Samsung phone I owned was the note 9 I think for about a month then pre ordered the 10+ and then I just went back to Apple. I walked away from apple back then and unfortunately they did cost me a lot of money in the long run but I feel like the fold is calling my name. Just need to figure out what to do with the two sets of AirPods I have and the Apple Watch which I use on a daily basis.
bryanhayn said:
Buds+ are great and what I use at the gym. But if you want better audio go with wireless buds with LDAC or use a USB DAC or bluetooth headphone amp with LDAC like the ES100 or BTR5.
The screen halves don't touch when folded. The only way it will scratch when folded is if a large piece of debris gets stuck between. Also, you can add a case which further increases the space between screens when folded.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm still not seeing any LDAC buds near that price range. It's always a crap shoot on how well they will fit/seal.
What the exact clearance gap? Can you compress it beyond that? Real bad things can happen in pocket.
I always wear bdu pants and keep my 10+ in a cargo pocket. This has worked very well in conjunction with a robust case. You can protect a 10+ extremely well with a little effort. Mine has survived in the desert with no scratches for almost 2 years.
The answer you're looking for specifically since no one else provided
Acoustichayes said:
The answer you're looking for specifically since no one else provided
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let Mikey try it...
blackhawk said:
I'm still not seeing any LDAC buds near that price range. It's always a crap shoot on how well they will fit/seal.
What the exact clearance gap? Can you compress it beyond that? Real bad things can happen in pocket.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a few LDAC buds out there like the Soundcore Liberty Pro 2, Hiby WH2, many Sonys. Check drop.com. There are more options with aptx.
I use the Samsung silicone case and it adds maybe 1mm when closed. Only the edges of the case touch when closed. The case is pretty stiff, you have to press hard to make it compress.
trayscragg said:
The last Samsung phone I owned was the note 9 I think for about a month then pre ordered the 10+ and then I just went back to Apple. I walked away from apple back then and unfortunately they did cost me a lot of money in the long run but I feel like the fold is calling my name. Just need to figure out what to do with the two sets of AirPods I have and the Apple Watch which I use on a daily basis.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I loved my 9 and 10 Plus. Both were unlocked, both were blue. My 9 had 512 of storage. Such a great phone... You'll be back at home with the Fold3 + spen. As far as the iPhone add ons, I'm sure you'll find a buyer for them and replace them from what Samsung has to offer. Apples ecosystem is very robust. I feel Samsung's is a close second.
All of my children have i devices and corresponding accessories. My wife and I have been Samsung users for quite some time. We only have earbuds. I use to have a watch but hated having to charge my work laptop, work phone, personal phone and my watch. I also prefer the heft and look of my actual watches, so. My wife has the buds, I have the beans aka live. I like how they sit in my ear, dislike anything lodged in (despite the better noise cancelation and sound). Good luck with your decision either way.
Lastly, folding and unfolding never gets old. I still feel the same way today as I did as when I folded my Fold2 last year for the very first time. Love my Fold3, never going back to anything prior.
bryanhayn said:
There are a few LDAC buds out there like the Soundcore Liberty Pro 2, Hiby WH2, many Sonys. Check drop.com. There are more options with aptx.
I use the Samsung silicone case and it adds maybe 1mm when closed. Only the edges of the case touch when closed. The case is pretty stiff, you have to press hard to make it compress.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only LDAC is equal or better than SSC from the available bt codecs. So there's that.
This phone is durable, especially the inner screen.

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