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im looking for opinions, i have a G2, so say i wanted to get a tablet also, what would be the point in getting one if you have an anroid phone with HSPA+/4G ? and whats the best tablet as far as performance and feautures
Theres alot of new droid tabs hitting the market soon so i would wait for a dual core with ffc and a nice manageable size to it. Thats my .02 tho
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rickyiswhite said:
im looking for opinions, i have a G2, so say i wanted to get a tablet also, what would be the point in getting one if you have an anroid phone with HSPA+/4G ? and whats the best tablet as far as performance and feautures
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personally, i dont see any point on getting a tablet, because the smartphones now are
powerfull enough to do almost anything a tablet can do, and tablets arnt powerfull enough
to run, lets a say a full linux distro with gnome or kde (or windows 7) ,and they are not any more portable than a laptop really.especially the ones with large screens like ipad or xoom. and
i dont care how good the on screen keyboards are ,i still WANT a proper keyboard (thats why i got a desire z) you can also have a look at Lenovo thinkpads they are kind of like a laptop and
tablet merge togher and you will have proper device that can run any os you wish which also
comes with multitouch screen. but they are not cheap. so to sum up i think tablets are so underpower so locked down
and arnt any more portable than a laptop and you will end up with a java machine (android) or apple ios which is even worse ,instead of a proper OS. sorry about the long post guy.
tablets make me angry
Like the guy above, I wasn't sold on the idea of tablets until recently. It depends on what you use your smartphone and home computer for. But since having a baby recently, my wife and I have found ourselves at home more than before, and wanting to be able to do things like check email or lookup things on the internet without being stuck at a desk, or having a big laptop weighing you down while sitting on the couch. We found ourselves using our smartphones a lot, such as resting on the couch while the baby was sleeping. Which works just fine. But having a tablet gives you a much larger screen, which makes for more more pleasurable experience due to a larger screen to browse websites, watch video, etc. Its also makes the touch interface for many tasks much more usable. Using a tablet as an e-reader also makes much more sense than on a phone. Its closer to the experience of reading a "real" paper book, where you see a whole page, instead of just a fraction of one (forcing you to flip to the next screen really frequently).
Some people like to tote their tablets around everywhere. That isn't me, so far. I mostly use it at home. And when I'm at home, I use it more than either my smartphone or my desktop/laptop computers (although some people have been going this route). You probably would not find a tablet a suitable replacement for a desktop/laptop computer. As mentioned, they just aren't as powerful or versatile, and a more limited software selection. A tablet does what your smartphone does, just with a bigger screen. So if you find yourself using your smartphone and frequently wishing that you had a much larger screen, then a tablet might be fore you.
The tablet I have is the HTC Flyer, since I love the build quality of HTC's products. Its a 7" screen tablet, with Gingerbread (supposedly to be updated to HOneycomb "soon"). Not dual core, but its got a snappy 1.5 GHz single core Snapdragon. Its a great device, but HTC will also coming out with a 10" tablet later this year, so that one will be worth checking out, also. The ideal size for a tablet is a topic of much debate. The common tablet sizes now are 7" and 10", with the debate being primarily about having a larger screen versus the portability of a 7". Again, it mostly comes down to personal preference, and your intended usage.
The posters above me have very valid points. I too would like a tablet simply because, as stated above, I find myself not wanting to lug around my laptop. I'm not doing anything that warrants using a laptop like writing long emails, gaming, etc. I'm mostly sitting on the couch or lying in bed playing around on XDA or reading blogs or the like. I don't need this giant thing sitting on my lap heating my junk and lowering my sperm count! I love it, but I would like something else for this purpose. That being said I would wait for at least the holiday season or next year to see what's coming out. There are some good ones on the way, but I'd like to see them either come down in price or when they do come out, seeing the current ones come down in price.
Yeah everyone makes a good point here, if it a tablet had everything like sd card slot headphone jack etc plus a hardrive(or at least a port to connect an external hard drive) so you could say burn discs or download stuff that you couldn't on your phone and connect your phone to the tablet and transfer via usb. That'd be a nice tablet
Sent From My T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
rickyiswhite said:
if it a tablet had everything like sd card slot headphone jack etc plus a hardrive(or at least a port to connect an external hard drive) so you could say burn discs
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If you mean a CD/DVD burner/reader, that's an optical drive, not a hard drive. Which are starting to become pretty irrelevant. With online distribution of games and movies, I hardly ever find myself using my optical drive.
oh **** hahah thats what I meant but I wasnt sure
Sent From My T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
@heybobitsme ,redpoint73
You both have valid points ,but firstly not all laptops are giant, i have a 13" laptop
which is pretty light and i use it when in front of tv as well ,and it doesnt heat up if
i am doing the tasks that you do on your tablets.I take it with me everywhere and it has a very good battery life but at the same time, i play Crysis 2 on it when i am on the train. could i do that with a tablet?
however i do get your point. what i dont like is some poeple keep saying
tablets are the way forward and you dont need a pc anymore. lets face it
none of the mobile OSs around are good . i use android on my phone because the only other
options are win7 or ios, well at least android is opensource (usually).
But yeah they are just giant phones.
I don't see how they are useful or innovative at all, but that is largely dependent upon your needs as a user, and I do realize that there are situations where a tablet might come in more handy than a phone or laptop... I just don't think those few situations warrant toting around another $500+ device.
I have a company-provided iPad, my G2, a 15" laptop and a desktop... the iPad sees use maybe once every month. there are VERY few instances, for me, where a tablet has a specific advantage over one of my other devices that warrants busting it out... for instance:
-if I'm working on my car, it's nice to have the iPad laying around with a shop manual loaded... can't do that on my G2 because it's too small and I have to scroll too often. could do it on the laptop, but the touchscreen on the iPad is pretty slick for swiping through pages and whatnot.
-it's decent for taking notes in meetings/at school IF you have an external keyboard. I still don't think touchscreens are viable replacements for physical keyboards at this point if you're going to be typing a lot. even still, I prefer using my laptop for this.
and, on a side note, completely unrelated to the function of a tablet... how much of a tool do you look like walking around with a 10" glorified smartphone? I just think it's a silly fad that will die out. I mean, come on, I don't even have a usb port on my iPad... what good does that do me?
for me to seriously consider purchasing a tablet, they would need:
-sd card reader
-full-size usb ports (at least 2); usb host [of course]
-better printing capability (I know there have been some strides made here, but it's still not seamless enough for it to be useful in a professional setting)
-a few other things would be nice, but the above are most important to me
also, a "sliding" tablet with a physical keyboard built in would be killer.
Yeah I hate when htc and such puts out really good phones with no physical keyboard....
Sent From My T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
bahmanxda said:
@heybobitsme ,redpoint73
You both have valid points ,but firstly not all laptops are giant, i have a 13" laptop
which is pretty light and i use it when in front of tv as well ,and it doesnt heat up if
i am doing the tasks that you do on your tablets.I take it with me everywhere and it has a very good battery life but at the same time, i play Crysis 2 on it when i am on the train. could i do that with a tablet?
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Sure, not all laptops are giant, but they are still much bigger and heavier than tablets, especially 7" tablets. I can be laying in bed, or on the couch, and have my Flyer sitting on my chest, reading an e-book, web browsing, or whatever. But of course, that situation, if it even applies to you, may not be reason enough to buy an additional electronic device.
I don't look at the tablet as being a replacement for a desktop or laptop computer, but as an additional device. I love me some PC gaming, and I do that on my desktop PC. I have a work provided laptop also. All these different computer devices get used for different things.
As I mentioned before, it all depends on your personal preference, lifestyle, and how you use your devices. In your case, if you have a smartphone, and a smaller laptop, I can easily see how those satisfy all the situations you encounter in your life. But for those looking for a device to fill the gaps, a tablet can be just that.
redpoint73 said:
Sure, not all laptops are giant, but they are still much bigger and heavier than tablets, especially 7" tablets. I can be laying in bed, or on the couch, and have my Flyer sitting on my chest, reading an e-book, web browsing, or whatever. But of course, that situation, if it even applies to you, may not be reason enough to buy an additional electronic device.
I don't look at the tablet as being a replacement for a desktop or laptop computer, but as an additional device. I love me some PC gaming, and I do that on my desktop PC. I have a work provided laptop also. All these different computer devices get used for different things.
As I mentioned before, it all depends on your personal preference, lifestyle, and how you use your devices. In your case, if you have a smartphone, and a smaller laptop, I can easily see how those satisfy all the situations you encounter in your life. But for those looking for a device to fill the gaps, a tablet can be just that.
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You are absolutely right, using the tablet for the things you said make sense .
but in my case it would just make me mad .because i have this habit that i always have
10-15 applications and lots of tabs open in different work spaces, even when i am not doing anything special.
and the other thing is now all this new tablets are coming out with dual-core and more rams and everyone going crazy over them ,the problem is they dont bring new functionalities because the software on them are basically the same ,they just do the same thing a little
faster and smoother. the only points that i see in tables now are some of the things the things you mentioned and all them can be done on a cheap $100 tablet ,so now what is the point of very expensive tablets with dual-core?, i still wont be able to multi task properly with android,ios,etc (HPs web os looked a bit better though) id rather use the $500-600 on upgrading my laptop or desktop.
Yeah, I can see how a tablet is probably not for you. Desktop or laptop PCs will not be replaced by tablets anytime soon. You simply can't use a tablet to do things like composing long emails or other documents, playing higher powered games, and utilizing complex software (like in my case, AutoCAD). Basically, tablets are good for web browsing and consuming media via a touch interface, and using simple apps. And that's really about it.
Hi all, haven't got one yet and still have my n7 (2012). They're are sold out right now at my local store. My question is what the title says. How is it? I haven't got the chance to get one in my hands yet. Is it leaps and bounds better!? I've read reviews and check forums and am still unsure if I want one. Any opinions are appreciated.
Sent from my Lean Mean Jelly Bean Machine.
Just read some of the threads.
There are some issues with the screens right now on some devices. Still worth the risk as it is a huge upgrade to the 2012 Nexus 7. No more lag, unbelievable screen, lighter, and thinner. Definitely worth the money.
Well, I usually do not do reviews of mainstream devices, since that is well covered by the "big boys",
But I was secretly waiting for an opportunity to make some comments:
In short, it is an incredible tablet.
Much nicer to hold than any other tablet I've owned/tried. I really like how thin it is, and the texture of the back.
I handed it to my son, and he loaded one of these games where you control something using the accelerometers. He has a Nook Color (With CM7), so he has a similar device to compare it too. He immediately commented how nice it was to hold and play the game.
The screen is incredible too. Way more resolution than my old eyes need, but even with my glasses things look great.
Web pages look more Desktop-like than any other tablet, including 10 inchers. Page rendering is also desktop fast. (Actually faster than this 10+ year old AMD machine I am typing on now, even with lots of RAM, and Xubuntu 12.04, which I credit with prolonging it's life this long).
WiFi, Works great with solid connections, great speed and lots of (indicated) signal. (As compared to other devices).
An iDM5 combination bluetooth speaker, and keyboard paired over BT with no problem at all. I am also using an Apple magic mouse. All re-connect quickly too.
Works (as one would expect) seemlessly with my Chromecast.
Another big plus for me was Standard USB charging. Pretty much anything charges it with no problem.
Now the complaints:
Yes, it has stereo speakers, but they are not that loud or great sounding. Using the EQ in Google Music does not help. Attempting to add Bass only causes it to sound muffled.
I have a Huawei u9508 with 2 speakers on the back, near the bottom (close together). It gives me more volume, more bass, and more stereo effect (OK, that last one may just be a perception thing).
Take the stereo speakers out of your purchasing decision. As of right now, it effectively does not have any better audio than a (than some) single speaker tablet(s).
To be clear (pun) The sound is by no means bad, it's just disapointing considering all the Fraunhofer hype.
Lack of an SD slot almost made me not buy the Nexus. I really miss it. I have a lot of things that use those cards, and not being able to just slot them in the Nexus is a big hit.
I also wish Google would stop "Apple-izing" things. Android had USB Storage mode for most of it's life. I wish it still did. Yes, there are work-arounds, and perhaps it is "safer" not to have it, but it is a clear case of "Defective by Design", in my opinion.
I miss the standard Android (AOSP) Browser and Music Player. (See these forums for installing the AOSP browser, and recommendations for other audio players.)
I do like the fact that it is (except for the Google Stuff) bloat-ware free. It is a very clean, fast, and good-looking factory ROM (I'm an Android purist.)
Also, you know that the community will support the device for years to come, whether or not Google does.
I have not tried Qi charging or NFC.
Should you buy one?
Well, you should not buy any other 7 inch tablet over this one -- I think that is pretty clear.
It is just a question if you need a (another) 7 inch tablet. In my case, I really needed a new tablet. My Archos 80 G9 was (something I cannot describe here with out getting banned) on the day it was made, and I had dissasembled it many times to fix broken USB connections, etc. Lately it would reboot everytime I squeezed the case a bit too hard.
Alternatives I concidered:
Acer A700 -- Same True HD resolution on a 10" screen -- SD card slot -- Dolby Stereo Speakers -- NVIDIA Tegra 3.
Chinese iFive X2 -- Same True HD resolution on an 8.9" screen -- SD card slot -- Front facing stereo speakers -- USB charging.
Say what you want about Chinese tablets, but the iFive X2 was the only one that really met my requirements (desirements). If you believe the iFive website, and some of the reviews, it actually looks like the build quality is pretty good. I may still buy one.
Awesome, zero complaints. Don't let all the negative threads get you down, mine arrived flawless shipped from New York to Ontario, Canada.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Linuxslate said:
In short, it is an incredible tablet.
Much nicer to hold than any other tablet I've owned/tried. I really like how thin it is, and the texture of the back.
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So true...
It was the first thing I noticed after opening the box and even after 1 week, I am still amazed by the weight, the texture and how fast everything is... Switching between apps is so fun now
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
My God is it ever amazing. Such a huge upgrade over last gens model. It is a joy to do everything with this tablet. Feels and looks oh so premium as well. Unbelievable how it costs so little in comparison to other tablets. I don't want to type an extremely long review, but even if I did, words cannot express how happy I am with this tablet.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Awesome.
I was convinced last year that the original nexus 7 was too small so I got the iPad mini which was great for 6+ months. After I downloaded iOS 7 I thought what a joke ios7 will be and in general for traveling the mini was a major pain(loading movies, documents etc for offline use).
So recently I replaced my mini with a note8 for 2 weeks traveling and thought this is a keeper...then the new nexus 7 came out and I picked it up with the plans to return it after some testing....WOW I ended up returning the note 8 and keeping the N7!
No regrets...love the form factor even with a few hiccups (sometimes screen will just pause for a second and rare crashes).
SO I am using my N7 so much I might sell my Samsung s4 and get something cheaper (I.e. nexus 4) since it just sits when at home.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
This is my first tablet ever. And the second android device. The first being HTC Desire, which after OC-ing didn't feel bad.
But I wanted something that could deliver superb performance without the whole process of rooting, unlocking and flashing. So I bought this one, and I can say that this one's the best I've used ever. I have had my hands on those iPads some of my friends have, but they don't sound all that convincing.
There have been no lags at all that I have been able to identify. But still, I'm planning on going through the fun of rooting unlocking and flashing process. Just because I'm a flashaholic.
Regarding the device itself, I have found that the display is more blue-oriented. It has a much colder display than my HTC Desire. But it does look good on it. The data transfer speeds are superb. No performance issues so far. Battery lasts about two days, since I don't actively use it, occasional wifi and browsing, but no more than that. I mainly read books on it, and have successfully devoured 5 books in two weeks (I'm an avid reader , never mind). Others have been facing Wifi issues, but not me. Mine seems adequate. I've got a 3mbps connection in my country, which is the fastest here
There is some dust on the upper left corner, but since there are no dead pixels, I haven't returned mine for the fear of getting a dead-pixels-infected one. I use the tablet without any external peripherals, apart from my custom made earphones, which give a good amount of clear sound with good levels of bass, even without any audio mod.
I don't use the stock things, no... That's right, I've never learned how to use those For music, I have PowerAmp, for movies, MXPlayer, for pictures, QuickPic, for internet, OperaMini, the legendary ES for file browsing, and upcoming root mode
So far, all these apps have been superb in performance at least compared to my HTC Desire.
I should probably be saluting Asus and Google, for this combined effort to hand us quadcore Snapdragon 1.5 GHz, HD display equipped, nice tablet for under 30k in my country.
Thanks for the in depth answers. Went and got one at office max Friday. Last one with too plus a 20% discount from my boys at drippler.. App. Haven't even opened it yet Lol waiting on my screen protector n case from amazon. Now what to do with the old one?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
I have an original Motorola Xoom and love it, but it is starting to get wonky (the charging plug is loose, it doesn't want to turn on sometimes, etc.). I use it primarily for web browsing and reading articles on Pulse. I tried a Samsung 7 Plus a couple years ago and hated it, graphics were awful and I couldn't make the transition from a 10 inch screen to 7 inch. I don't really play games on it, I may occasionally read on it (I have a Kindle Paperwhite). So, my question is whether the better resolution on the Nexus 7 will make up for the decreased size. It will be a LOT clearer than my Xoom but a smaller screen - how satisfying is web browsing on a 7 inch screen?
RhinoDoc said:
I have an original Motorola Xoom and love it, but it is starting to get wonky (the charging plug is loose, it doesn't want to turn on sometimes, etc.). I use it primarily for web browsing and reading articles on Pulse. I tried a Samsung 7 Plus a couple years ago and hated it, graphics were awful and I couldn't make the transition from a 10 inch screen to 7 inch. I don't really play games on it, I may occasionally read on it (I have a Kindle Paperwhite). So, my question is whether the better resolution on the Nexus 7 will make up for the decreased size. It will be a LOT clearer than my Xoom but a smaller screen - how satisfying is web browsing on a 7 inch screen?
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It was a difficult transition for me. Still doable though. You should go to Best Buy or Staples and give it a go though. You may hate it.
D
DatDude123 said:
It was a difficult transition for me. Still doable though. You should go to Best Buy or Staples and give it a go though. You may hate it.
D
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I went to Best Buy yesterday but the display was a demo, it only allowed you to do what the demo did. I couldn't use Chrome. I may try Staples, there is one on the way home. Thanks.
RhinoDoc said:
I went to Best Buy yesterday but the display was a demo, it only allowed you to do what the demo did. I couldn't use Chrome. I may try Staples, there is one on the way home. Thanks.
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Absolutely. If not, just make sure you can return it within a few days.
D
Hm, I never could get the hang of using a 10" tablet myself (1280x800 Chinese tablet with good performance from a RK3066). It was just too large for using it while on the go (I either used my phone or a real 11.6" laptop) and it was too small for usage at home (I have a comfortable desk with a 27" 1440p monitor). Using the 7" at home is great because it is always on and I use it while on the pooper or in the kitchen cooking. I also use it on the go more than my phone because it is LTE enabled with its own SIM card and fits in my inner jacket pocket nicely. Browsing the web (anandtech and some random articles) and using apps is terrific. But I always thought that browsing the web on a 10" tablet was kinda wasted. Most websites aren't optimized for the 10" landscape view and portrait was awkward. So I would always wish to use the browser on one side and something else on the other side the few times I really used it.
RhinoDoc said:
how satisfying is web browsing on a 7 inch screen?
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The resolution is so good that when I'm reading the BBC News website (news.bbc.co.uk) I don't even bother zooming in. Even the small test is readable at the default zoom level.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
Browsing is pretty good I made the transition from the xoom. Plus chrome doesn't crash on this one
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
Many pages are optimized for portable
Easy to read small on this tablet.
Like a book.
Best tablet ever.... Love it.
Thanks all! I bit the bullet and bought one this morning. I won't have a chance to play with it until I get home tonight. The Xoom charging plug is loose and disconnects half way through charging and I am tired of it. I did have a chance to try the browser at Staples and I found it easy to read. I got it at Best Buy and was told I have 15 days to bring it back if I decide I don't like it.
RhinoDoc said:
I won't have a chance to play with it until I get home tonight.
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Make sure to report back your view on it as I'm sure it'll help others coming from a similar device.
My first thoughts, after a couple days of ownership - I like the portability, lighter and easier to hold. I have the WiFi version, so I really only use it around the house. By the same token, the larger Xoom wasn't a huge hassle since I wasn't lugging it around with me. It is easy to read web pages as I am browsing, I do miss the bigger view of the page with the 10 inch tablet, though. Lighter means I can hold it longer without fatigue. I would have to say that so far I like it but not love it. It is growing on me though. I still prefer reading on my Kindle Paperwhite over either of the tablets, too. I'll check back in a few days.
So I chose the pixel xl as my Note 7 replacement and although it's not a bad phone, honestly it's not nearly as good as the s7 edge or even the note 5 ( I haven't owned only Samsung phones those are just my last two).
I thought Google assistant (the main reason I chose this phone) was supposed to be a big deal but is there really any major difference than using "OK Google" on any other android phone? Also, no wireless charging or microsd slot? Seriously, what makes this phone worth the sticker price?
I know this sounds like just a rant but after reading all of the positive reviews about this phone, I feel really let down after actually using it and I honestly feel like I'm missing something major here. Anyone else?
JarkMackson said:
So I chose the pixel xl as my Note 7 replacement and although it's not a bad phone, honestly it's not nearly as good as the s7 edge or even the note 5 ( I haven't owned only Samsung phones those are just my last two).
I thought Google assistant (the main reason I chose this phone) was supposed to be a big deal but is there really any major difference than using "OK Google" on any other android phone? Also, no wireless charging or microsd slot? Seriously, what makes this phone worth the sticker price?
I know this sounds like just a rant but after reading all of the positive reviews about this phone, I feel really let down after actually using it and I honestly feel like I'm missing something major here. Anyone else?
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I think your perspective is right on. If your coming from a 3 year old phone, this phone is mind blowing. If your coming from a premium Samsung or iPhone, its meh at best. I upgrade every year and to me its just a small iteration. My Nexus 6 is still my favorite phone. The Pixel is a $500 phone.
My thoughts exactly. No micro SD slot (just to get user to store everything on googles cloud) no wireless chrging(though I give them credit for the 15 minute plug in giving 7 hours of use. The phone is efficient. I've gotten almost 5 hours of screen time with heavy use. The call quality seems to be better than Samsung. HD calls on verizon sound really good on my end and others have stated this is the clearest I've sounded to them in a while(maybe the design using glass at the top of the back for better antenna reception really does matter). I like googles launcher. But this phone starves for faetures like "Hidden folder" on the note 7, good lock thru galaxy apps, notification light blinks so slow i can unlock the phone before the light flashes. No always on screen. From the front the phone feels like i'm holding a galaxy S4. The chin is huge for no reason. 5.5 in screen is no longer "XL". Should make a 6 inch screen for the XL. CAmera is great. No numbered notifications(a little number in a bubble showing how many new texts or calls) no batter percentage option. Finger print sensor on the back is easier to use and it's fast. I guess all the fuss is about google assistant. To me it's not qite a flagship but lets remember. Google(like all other phone companies) need to you to give this 1 up when the next one drops. So guarantee the next one has wireless charging and or a SD slot. Just my opinion.
Golf c said:
I think your perspective is right on. If your coming from a 3 year old phone, this phone is mind blowing. If your coming from a premium Samsung or iPhone, its meh at best. I upgrade every year and to me its just a small iteration. My Nexus 6 is still my favorite phone. The Pixel is a $500 phone.
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Thank you! I really don't think it's a bad phone but the price and the hype is just crazy! It seriously feels cheap to me. I know it's all metal but because of the different textures on the back it feels like plastic unless it's cold. It's not even water resistant and the top and bottom bezels are way too big to look like a phone that costs this much.
If Samsung or apple came out with this phone they'd be in serious trouble but Google does it and it's some kind of revolution? The assistant isn't going to be even close to useful until it's available in the Play store for everyone. It's just missing so much that phones released 6 months ago costing $100-$200 less already have.
I was really excited for this phone after the note 7 thing and I'm just really disappointed. I'm keeping my note 7, fire hazard or not.
Google's phones will never, ever, ever include an SD card slot, ever again. This will always be a choice you have to make with Google, because they religiously believe in the cloud. I just tell people to get a Moto if they want a Nexus-like with SD card support. However, the unlimited photos and videos at full quality for free offered with the Pixel is amazing.
As for wireless charging, now that I have quick chargers everywhere I stopped using wireless charging with my Nexus 6 months ago. It's just sooooo sssllllooowwwwww. And the Pixel charges quite quickly, even on non-QC chargers. For instance, it seems to be sinking quite a bit of current from my powered hub, which just supplies 5V but can source about 3A per port. It can basically max out any charger that's not that stupid OnePlus proprietary one. Not a big deal.
I even like the bezels, because they give you a place to put your hands when holding it in landscape.
I find the suggestion that they should have released another 6" behemoth interesting, because I remember when the N6 was launched there was a lot of grousing that there were no small flagships left. The common refrain was 2 models, one 5.5" and one 5". As someone who loved the Nexus 6 in basically every respect, it's just a tiny bit too big. I am a 6' tall person with normal hands for that height, and I can't reach nearly the whole screen with one hand. It's not a one handed device, at all. The Pixel, on the other hand, seems to be a perfect size, in addition to being better in every respect compared to the at-the-time brilliant Nexus 6.
Also, you can totally get battery percentage with System UI Tuner. Just hold down the settings icon in the notification shade.
well, if you like the look and style of an IPhone, the Pixel XL is a good choice for you; yeah, no stereo speakers is a drag, but I like the Assistant, and it is the fastest phone I have ever used.
the hype is excessive, but thats what we get with everything now a days..
dtreth said:
Google's phones will never, ever, ever include an SD card slot, ever again. This will always be a choice you have to make with Google, because they religiously believe in the cloud. I just tell people to get a Moto if they want a Nexus-like with SD card support. However, the unlimited photos and videos at full quality for free offered with the Pixel is amazing.
As for wireless charging, now that I have quick chargers everywhere I stopped using wireless charging with my Nexus 6 months ago. It's just sooooo sssllllooowwwwww. And the Pixel charges quite quickly, even on non-QC chargers. For instance, it seems to be sinking quite a bit of current from my powered hub, which just supplies 5V but can source about 3A per port. It can basically max out any charger that's not that stupid OnePlus proprietary one. Not a big deal.
I even like the bezels, because they give you a place to put your hands when holding it in landscape.
I find the suggestion that they should have released another 6" behemoth interesting, because I remember when the N6 was launched there was a lot of grousing that there were no small flagships left. The common refrain was 2 models, one 5.5" and one 5". As someone who loved the Nexus 6 in basically every respect, it's just a tiny bit too big. I am a 6' tall person with normal hands for that height, and I can't reach nearly the whole screen with one hand. It's not a one handed device, at all. The Pixel, on the other hand, seems to be a perfect size, in addition to being better in every respect compared to the at-the-time brilliant Nexus 6.
Also, you can totally get battery percentage with System UI Tuner. Just hold down the settings icon in the notification shade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've held down settings in the notification shade but nothing happens. I'm trying to get battery percentage but it does nothing.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
wase4711 said:
well, if you like the look and style of an IPhone, the Pixel XL is a good choice for you; yeah, no stereo speakers is a drag, but I like the Assistant, and it is the fastest phone I have ever used.
the hype is excessive, but thats what we get with everything now a days..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mind if I ask what you like so much about assistant? I really feel like I'm missing something but I can't find anything that makes it better than Google now.
eighty1 said:
I've held down settings in the notification shade but nothing happens. I'm trying to get battery percentage but it does nothing.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does your settings gear now have a dim wrench next to it? If so open settings and scroll down to the bottom. You should see "System UI Tuner". Or, you know, you can google it yourself since I gave you all of the relevant information.
dtreth said:
Google's phones will never, ever, ever include an SD card slot, ever again. This will always be a choice you have to make with Google, because they religiously believe in the cloud. I just tell people to get a Moto if they want a Nexus-like with SD card support. However, the unlimited photos and videos at full quality for free offered with the Pixel is amazing.
As for wireless charging, now that I have quick chargers everywhere I stopped using wireless charging with my Nexus 6 months ago. It's just sooooo sssllllooowwwwww. And the Pixel charges quite quickly, even on non-QC chargers. For instance, it seems to be sinking quite a bit of current from my powered hub, which just supplies 5V but can source about 3A per port. It can basically max out any charger that's not that stupid OnePlus proprietary one. Not a big deal.
I even like the bezels, because they give you a place to put your hands when holding it in landscape.
I find the suggestion that they should have released another 6" behemoth interesting, because I remember when the N6 was launched there was a lot of grousing that there were no small flagships left. The common refrain was 2 models, one 5.5" and one 5". As someone who loved the Nexus 6 in basically every respect, it's just a tiny bit too big. I am a 6' tall person with normal hands for that height, and I can't reach nearly the whole screen with one hand. It's not a one handed device, at all. The Pixel, on the other hand, seems to be a perfect size, in addition to being better in every respect compared to the at-the-time brilliant Nexus 6.
Also, you can totally get battery percentage with System UI Tuner. Just hold down the settings icon in the notification shade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now see here. This is a perfect example. It's all a matter of taste and perspective. The previous google phone users seem to love the Pixel/XL . I come from a long line of Sammy Note phones. Honestly I thought the Note edge was a great phone but with a case on it ..it was a bit to wide for me. actually to me the S6 edge plus was the perfect phone size wise and aesthetically. the 5.7 inch screen and the glass back were perfect. I also have the moto Z force just for the mods. When I think about it, with no bezels and a shortened chin the 5.7 inch screen of the S6 edge+ was basically perfect for me. As far as "wireless" charging I did have to have "fast wireless charging". It's not as fast as a cord with rapid charge but sometimes you just want to sit the phone down and get a quick boost. Not that I'm back to plugging in I do miss fast wireless. Again the assistant is cool, the camera is really decent. anyway.. to each his own. On edit.. thanks for the SUI heads up.. I like it. However,, that mini number in the battery is virtually unreadable.
JarkMackson said:
Thank you! I really don't think it's a bad phone but the price and the hype is just crazy! It seriously feels cheap to me. I know it's all metal but because of the different textures on the back it feels like plastic unless it's cold. It's not even water resistant and the top and bottom bezels are way too big to look like a phone that costs this much.
If Samsung or apple came out with this phone they'd be in serious trouble but Google does it and it's some kind of revolution? The assistant isn't going to be even close to useful until it's available in the Play store for everyone. It's just missing so much that phones released 6 months ago costing $100-$200 less already have.
I was really excited for this phone after the note 7 thing and I'm just really disappointed. I'm keeping my note 7, fire hazard or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one thing I noticed straigh away was the crazy fast response everything on the pixel has compared to the note 7, there would be so many times that the Note 7 would visibly stutter even just a second here and there. Things like opening up and typing on the keybaord instantly would create this minute lag in the interface. I am very picky when it comes to that so I noticed straight away the Pixel is just fast, it doesn't stutter or lag like the note 7 did. Also small things like the speaker is FAR better than the Note 7, it's louder and fully than the 6p even. I hate edge screens too, I couldn't stand the note 7 in that regard, felt uncomfortable to hold compared to the pixel. I'm just so happy that I got a phone that just works ALL THE TIME. That's why I paid the extra $100 over the note 7 for the pixel. And I'm also betting on Google assistant (AI) becoming FAR more integrated and more powerful. All other phones will be missing out I think. Hardware can only go so far, software on the other hand....
Man who needs an SD card now?? I can finally video tape everything in 4k and not worry about memory or ever loosing the footage because it'll always be on the cloud! I legit video tape everything I can now!
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
OnlinePredator said:
The one thing I noticed straigh away was the crazy fast response everything on the pixel has compared to the note 7, there would be so many times that the Note 7 would visibly stutter even just a second here and there. Things like opening up and typing on the keybaord instantly would create this minute lag in the interface. I am very picky when it comes to that so I noticed straight away the Pixel is just fast, it doesn't stutter or lag like the note 7 did. Also small things like the speaker is FAR better than the Note 7, it's louder and fully than the 6p even. I hate edge screens too, I couldn't stand the note 7 in that regard, felt uncomfortable to hold compared to the pixel. I'm just so happy that I got a phone that just works ALL THE TIME. That's why I paid the extra $100 over the note 7 for the pixel. And I'm also betting on Google assistant (AI) becoming FAR more integrated and more powerful. All other phones will be missing out I think. Hardware can only go so far, software on the other hand....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree on the speed, the note did stutter on me from time to time any this phone doesn't at all really (although I have had a few force closes, possibly the apps fault). The assistant has promise but let's be honest, it's no better than Google now at the moment and by the time it is better, it'll be available on every android phone.
The phone itself to me is just last year's Cadillac with this year's Mercedes price tag.
evobyte said:
Man who needs an SD card now?? I can finally video tape everything in 4k and not worry about memory or ever loosing the footage because it'll always be on the cloud! I legit video tape everything I can now!
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lot of people do. Really why drain your battery to access files on line rather than an sd card using less battery power and files on your sd card are a lot safer than the hackable cloud. And there is the extra data you use to access files on line. Sd cards use absolutely no data to access your files and do not eat up battery power so.
1. Sd card files safer than cloud.
2. Sd card uses no data to access your files, so does not eat up your data plan = saves you $$$$
3. Sd card files use less battery power than accessing files on the cloud.
I get that, I'm blessed with unlimited with Verizon but I always only upload to cloud while charging. If anyone is interested in true unlimited data with Verizon, I have an extra line available. I'll only charge 80 a month
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Get over it. SD cards are going away.
That's the great thing about Android! Choice. Different strokes for different folks. There will be a phone out there that suits you. Find it and embrace it! ?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
JarkMackson said:
I agree on the speed, the note did stutter on me from time to time any this phone doesn't at all really (although I have had a few force closes, possibly the apps fault). The assistant has promise but let's be honest, it's no better than Google now at the moment and by the time it is better, it'll be available on every android phone.
The phone itself to me is just last year's Cadillac with this year's Mercedes price tag.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well hard to say, as it has cpu that is newer than last years phone, also has better cameras than phones from last year, and software you can't compare to those phones either. And when compares to phones this year, it's kinda the same. I agree it is overpriced, but they are doing it because they can. If you want the best android experience available, there is only one phone. If you don't want to pay that much then there are great alternatives.
Waterproof - Owned S7 and Note, never seemed to EVER need it unless I was showing someone
Wireless charging - have a stand and still use the cable 90% of the time since it's faster
SD Card - I could see this one as a big point, but most people I know never fill up their phones and the ones who do could easily clear up half of it and improve performance by deleting unused apps and cleaning up the gallery, plus with 120 gigs + unlimited cloud I'm goooood
Gimmicks have made people wanting stuff they use maybe once every 4 months. "I can't have it therefore I need it"
IMO Software performance / day to day use > everything else .
Note 7 is a beast phone but I could honestly say at least once a day I get caught in huge lag spikes when trying open snapchat for a quick photo or even the camera app.
Sacrificing gimmicks for day to day use is worth it 100%
meccadon123 said:
Now see here. This is a perfect example. It's all a matter of taste and perspective. The previous google phone users seem to love the Pixel/XL . I come from a long line of Sammy Note phones. Honestly I thought the Note edge was a great phone but with a case on it ..it was a bit to wide for me. actually to me the S6 edge plus was the perfect phone size wise and aesthetically. the 5.7 inch screen and the glass back were perfect. I also have the moto Z force just for the mods. When I think about it, with no bezels and a shortened chin the 5.7 inch screen of the S6 edge+ was basically perfect for me. As far as "wireless" charging I did have to have "fast wireless charging". It's not as fast as a cord with rapid charge but sometimes you just want to sit the phone down and get a quick boost. Not that I'm back to plugging in I do miss fast wireless. Again the assistant is cool, the camera is really decent. anyway.. to each his own. On edit.. thanks for the SUI heads up.. I like it. However,, that mini number in the battery is virtually unreadable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gave you what you want, sorry. Make the whole display bigger, maybe that will work. Or just open the shade if you need a specific percentage.
Does it look good? I think it does!
Want to see some hand's on detailed reports for for a 1st generation smartwatch....
And how it compares to 5th generation Samsung Galaxy Watch 5!
It looks nice, even though I'm not too sure about these bezels and super rounded screen (scratches anyone?).
Got it for free through the 7 Pro pre-order though so we'll see.
I'm curious if it's going to work with Spotify. It shows that it will work with YouTube Music. When I purchased my Fitbit Ionic, they said it would work with Spotify but it doesn't. Being able to use Spotify without my phone is a must for me to purchase this watch. Does anyone know for sure if Spotify will work? I'd like to preorder.
The price is not helping it.
Some spec comparisons:
Pixel Watch Vs Galaxy Watch 5/5 Pro: Is Google Too Late?
Google has finally launched the Pixel watch, but how does it fare with the Galaxy Watch 5? Here's Pixel Watch Vs Galaxy Watch 5.
fossbytes.com
QueenVanderveen said:
I'm curious if it's going to work with Spotify. It shows that it will work with YouTube Music. When I purchased my Fitbit Ionic, they said it would work with Spotify but it doesn't. Being able to use Spotify without my phone is a must for me to purchase this watch. Does anyone know for sure if Spotify will work? I'd like to preorder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Spotify is mentioned here: https://support.google.com/googlepixelwatch/answer/12662429
I'm getting one (as is my wife) but only as they are coming free with our Pixel 7 pro's. I've had many smart watches along the way but the only one I've settled with really was the withings. I'll give this a go though. I do worry it looks small (diameter). Not convinced I will like the daily charging again. I wonder how many will actually buy at full price rather than own them from similar deals.
We don't have any good deals in the US. No free watch with 7 pro purchase. I do feel like the diameter is too small
My opinion may not be the most representative because this is the first smart watch I own, but after having it for ~24 hours, I think it's pretty good! Probably a bit overpriced, the battery is a little bit on the low side, but I had no problem with fluidity or anything like that, I originally thought the screen would be too small, but it's fine honestly, the watch's UI is pretty well optimised to work with this screen, overall a good watch in my opinion, I just don't really know about the durability, seems fragile..
Views so far on the pixel watch, coming from a galaxy watch 4 classic 46mm. only had it just over 24 hours
Like it so far, fluid design, comfortable on the wrist, personally i would of preferred it to be slightly bigger but it doesn't bother me too much its small.
Spotify does work on it
cant get ecg working in the uk, investigating further
battery life has been just as much as the galaxy watch 4
assistant works well
step counts seems a bit too high
vibrations are much better than the galaxy watch
love the scroll wheel on the side compared to the bezel scroll on the galaxy
Watch bands come on and off very easily (reviews seemed to have issues with it but i didn't at all)
would i pay the asking price, not a chance its way over priced, £379 for the LTE, it should be 279 and i then i would consider it.
Anyone want me to try something go ahead and ask
QueenVanderveen said:
I'm curious if it's going to work with Spotify. It shows that it will work with YouTube Music. When I purchased my Fitbit Ionic, they said it would work with Spotify but it doesn't. Being able to use Spotify without my phone is a must for me to purchase this watch. Does anyone know for sure if Spotify will work? I'd like to preorder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works fine with Spotify, but it won't play any music directly from the watch. I find the latter part a little odd considering it has a speaker for taking calls.
Corvida said:
It works fine with Spotify, but it won't play any music directly from the watch. I find the latter part a little odd considering it has a speaker for taking calls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ugh, then I won't purchase the watch! I had to download Deezer with my Ionic which was fine, however then I had to pay another subscription to another music program. Thanks for answering this question!
I like it so far! Only tinkered with it to set it up but it looks nice, everything is fluid. The stock band seems to be comfortable too.
I think it looks a little small on my wrist compared to the OG Huawei Watch and I don't have big wrists!
It came for free with the Pixel 7 Pro, I don't think I would buy it otherwise. It's too expensive. It should have been 250 euros for the Wi-Fi model and 299 for LTE.
Will post more impressions when my P7P is set up and running.
Phil750123 said:
Views so far on the pixel watch, coming from a galaxy watch 4 classic 46mm. only had it just over 24 hours
Like it so far, fluid design, comfortable on the wrist, personally i would of preferred it to be slightly bigger but it doesn't bother me too much its small.
Spotify does work on it
cant get ecg working in the uk, investigating further
battery life has been just as much as the galaxy watch 4
assistant works well
step counts seems a bit too high
vibrations are much better than the galaxy watch
love the scroll wheel on the side compared to the bezel scroll on the galaxy
Watch bands come on and off very easily (reviews seemed to have issues with it but i didn't at all)
would i pay the asking price, not a chance its way over priced, £379 for the LTE, it should be 279 and i then i would consider it.
Anyone want me to try something go ahead and ask
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ECG app kept telling me to update the app - but the app said it was up to date. on the phone uninstall the Fitbit app and the Fitbit ECG app and then it will give you the option to update them.
Oh .... and unlike my withings they dont mean put fingers on top of the screen they definitely mean the crown on this watch. missed that a few times just by being presumptuous!
So far, I'm really liking it. Wish band availability was a bit better. Would love to have a fabric band but I can wait. Setting up the various parts seems a little convoluted. Trying to figure out which apps you need to get to make everything function and what you can actually set and what is just done automagically. Getting my main credit card onto the watch was a bit of an adventure that I finally solved.
The last puzzle piece was trying to figure out the camera remote app working between the watch and my phone. (Pixel 6 Pro) I kept getting connection errors. Finally this morning, I was able to get it to connect. Seems that when I'm on a wifi network for my phone and watch, they don't know how to detach from the network in order to talk to each other. Which makes me wonder what fiasco I'm in for when both disconnect from each other and attempt to reattach to the wifi network.
Overall, I'm not sure I'd really want it much bigger. FitBit integration has been nice to have again. (My work place ties our health insurance discount to a "health" app that's just one giant gamification. FitBit is well known for inflating step counts. Making it easier to hit point levels.) The weather app not being permanently broken like it was on my Fossil is great. And MyRadar showing radar on my watch..... amazing!
I got mine through T-Mobile. They do half off when you add a line for the watch. Unfortunately, I have two apps that keep me from completely ditching my phone at this point. (Signal and Google Voice)
I don't see any more recent reviews or opinions and I'm looking for feedback from users or those who have decided it is not for them. I posted on another forum but will also ask here.
So, what are the on-going feelings about this watch? Happy, okay, disappointed?
I've got a dying Samsung Gear S3 (battery lasts about two hours). I've been quite happy with the Gear S3 for a number of years.
I see Amazon now has a return window through Jan for the Holiday shopping season. I suspect that while still new it may go on sale sometime in the next few months. I am concerned about its "bezel-less" face and hitting it into things.
So looking for opinions now that you've had it for a month or so.
Oh, I do have the Pixel 6 Pro phone on Google Fi.
Thanks in advance.
Ok Got Mine (LTE Version)
I can't make any comparisons to other watches since this is my first...
But I'll tell you my experience so far.
1 - Face is small but manageable. Nearly impossible to type on however which I suspect os common with most watches. Expect to use Voice for the most part.
2 - I expected to find a lot more App support than I did. a whole load of Fitness monitoring crap but not much else. Expect to use the many tools found here on XDA to sideload stuff the watch should have but doesn't. Most work well, some will not.
3 - While I went for the LTE I have yet to see any benefit to it as most things merely send you to the phone for the most part.
4 - Battery life is quite good.
5 - My main uses are to control Spotify, Google Assistant and read notifications while the phone is charging.
6 - DOES NOT SUPPORT NEST DOORBELL!!!! WHY? Have to look at the phone to see who is at the door.
7 - Comes with a Qi Charger pad but no AC plug to plug it into. Thankfully I have an Anchor 3 port quick charger. The Qi Charger is magnetic but any jostling or vibration of the table will make it stop then ding when it reseats.
8 - The Watch App (on Phone) is great toa point but is limited in options. A good Watch Face Editor is needed here.
9 - While you can set Tiles, Open Apps should also show up as tiles. (this maybe my lack of how to use this device perhaps there is away to see opened apps another way)
10 -All in allI love it,but as I said there may be much better options out there for the price and better app support.
Since I had the Unlimited Plus Data plan from Google Fi for my Phone it didn't cost a penny to add the Watch to the Service.
Hope that helps someone....
Asphyx said:
Ok Got Mine (LTE Version)
I can't make any comparisons to other watches since this is my first...
But I'll tell you my experience so far.
1 - Face is small but manageable. Nearly impossible to type on however which I suspect os common with most watches. Expect to use Voice for the most part.
2 - I expected to find a lot more App support than I did. a whole load of Fitness monitoring crap but not much else. Expect to use the many tools found here on XDA to sideload stuff the watch should have but doesn't. Most work well, some will not.
3 - While I went for the LTE I have yet to see any benefit to it as most things merely send you to the phone for the most part.
4 - Battery life is quite good.
5 - My main uses are to control Spotify, Google Assistant and read notifications while the phone is charging.
6 - DOES NOT SUPPORT NEST DOORBELL!!!! WHY? Have to look at the phone to see who is at the door.
7 - Comes with a Qi Charger pad but no AC plug to plug it into. Thankfully I have an Anchor 3 port quick charger. The Qi Charger is magnetic but any jostling or vibration of the table will make it stop then ding when it reseats.
8 - The Watch App (on Phone) is great toa point but is limited in options. A good Watch Face Editor is needed here.
9 - While you can set Tiles, Open Apps should also show up as tiles. (this maybe my lack of how to use this device perhaps there is away to see opened apps another way)
10 -All in allI love it,but as I said there may be much better options out there for the price and better app support.
Since I had the Unlimited Plus Data plan from Google Fi for my Phone it didn't cost a penny to add the Watch to the Service.
Hope that helps someone....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Asphyx
Thanks for a pretty thorough review of attributes and limitations. I think I can also add it to my Fi account although, not the unlimited. I've not had LTE support before but the Samsung also sends me to the phone for more info or detail. And typing on the watch face is a real challenge there, too.
Any apps that you'd recommend? From here or Google store? I understand that its charger is proprietary and that other Qi charging stations do not work which is too bad.
Again, thanks.
Been using the watch for a few days now and it's nice. I still wish it were a little bigger. Battery life is OK, I actually used mine for 2 and a half days (not including nights) with light use.
I'm glad I got it for free with my P7P. Would I buy it at full price? No because I'm not big on smartwatches (or watches in general for that matter).