Develop Bugs

[REVIEW] iHome Robo Ri-26 Rechargeable MiniSpeaker

(All images are linked to their full size. Just click on em. Yes, I know a few of the pics are terrible.)
So I received this little guy as a Christmas gift. Gotta say, while he has a couple things about him that annoy me, he's really pretty awesome. Lets review him, shall we?
Cool. So the box says he's a USB powered speaker that'll work with anything. Kinda vague tho, and because of that security sticker you can't see much. Either find a review or you won't really know what you're buying. And since this was given to me as a gift, neither did I until I unpacked him. So let's see what's inside.
Little android guy. Cute. iHome branding printed on his belly. At least I hope that's his belly and not his crotch. Let's go with belly....
And it is printed, not a sticker. Shame, that.
And look, his arms move! Nothing else does tho, that's it, his arms. Honestly more than I expected out of a speaker tho =P
His back is pretty bare, only having an on/off switch and a single port - MicroUSB, that's labeled audio/charge. I'll explain that down the line. No, he's not a wireless speaker, sadly. No Bluetooth or anything, you have to use a cord.
Here he is with my Galaxy Note II, for size comparison.
Let's check out the rest of the contents of the box.
So we got the android himself, his cable, an instruction paper that actually has some good info about the product on it, and a cool little drawstring bag with the android logo on it. I will say i find it funny that this is the "robo speaker" because they can't use the android name, but they can use the mascot without so much as an (R). Guess Google doesn't' care. More reason to love em, eh?
My Note II sitting on top of the bag. Little big for the speaker and cord, but w/e. Its a cool, android branded bag. Will definitely use this for something - not holding the speaker tho.
So this is the cable. You'll probably want to click on this picture, even if you don't click on any others.
It starts in a MicroUSB and ends with two plugs - a male USB 2.0 and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The big white thing on it is a clip to hold the cords (surprisingly sturdy construction) and includes a little slider to keep the split cord in check.
Better view of the clip.
So this is how you're supposed to use it - plug the 3.5mm headphone jack into your device and the MicroUSB into his butt, and let the USB dangle.
This is how I personally find it best to use - wrap the cord around his legs and use the clip to hold it in place.
Works like a charm.
Now, I want to say, since this is not an easily replaceable cord (that i can tell), you probably want to only use it to play music. Something like this MIGHT work, but I really have no idea.
Luckily, he charges just fine over a standard MicroUSB.
Now, a note on using this guy - when you have him turned on, his eyes light up blue
I don't know if you can really tell here, but in the dark you can see a line of slight glowing on the bottom of his head, actually where his mouth would be. However....
Don't charge this guy when you're trying to sleep. because his eyes turn red when he charges. That in itself isn't so bad, but that slight blue line I mentioned turns into a demented looking Joker smile. Not conductive to sleeping soundly.=P Which, to me, makes it even cooler - I knew android had some deep, dark, evil secrets in there =P
By the way, yes, you can play music through him while you charge. His eyes will be red if you do this.
Now, I have yet to field run this guy, so I can't tell you anything about battery life yet, but he did come to me with a nearly full charge.
Sound quality is frankly much better (and louder) than I expected. I'm no audiophile but i can pick out the sound of a decent speaker and this little guy impressed.
As far as build quality goes, he's very sturdily built. Strong, heavy plastic, which while is highly reflective does not pick up any fingerprints at all. I don't feel any risk of breaking the antenna, surprisingly. The weak point (because there always is one) would be the arms. For some reason they're made of a slightly different, softer plastic, and there's a little bit of bend to em if you pull them out or squeeze them in - if something breaks on this guy it'll be those, but honestly, I don't really see that happening.
Since this guy was a gift, I have no idea on pricing. I know I could look it up but frankly I feel too lazy at the moment. I do know, However, that they come in multiple colors.
Overall, I really like this little guy. The fact that he lacks a 3.5mm audio-in port confounds me, and the demented smile while charging will frighten small children (though that may be a plus to you). But overall I think the iHome Robo Ri-26 Rechargeable MiniSpeaker is great, and I plan to use it a lot.
Are you my father?
(To the right: The Official Google Cookie Jar)

Thanks for the review; well done. I got this guy in black as a gift too and I plan on putting it through the paces here over the next week. Glad to hear sound quality is above average, that was my main question heading into things.

Whos's returning their Samsung Note 7?

After playing with the Note 7 for about a week, just came to the conclusion that it's not for me at the present time. Reasons below :
1: Size. I do not like the size. Was hoping it was a little bigger. At least the size on the Note 4 or Nexus SP.
2: Battery sucks for me. Constantly charging.
3: Speaker. Cannot hear it some time if I am in another room.
4: Still no IR Blaster
5: This should maybe be #1 PRICE POINT. $879.00 + high taxes just not worth it. No phone is perfect but "Them Prices way to high Samsung need to CUT IT"!
6: The screen scratches too easily. Fingerprints!
7: Fingerprint Sensor. You have to press the button. Plus, I have gotten use to it being on the back.
8: Touchwiz still lags.
Great phone in every other way. But the "wow" factor is missing for me at this price. The Note is really the best built phone out right now. This is a really hard decision. But with other phones coming out, I will take a wait and see attitude. By October when everything is out, if nothing better is out maybe I will revisit the NOTE 7.

Re: #6
Have you scratched yours?

lskeys said:
After playing with the Note 7 for about a week, just came to the conclusion that it's not for me at the present time. Reasons below :
1: Size. I do not like the size. Was hoping it was a little bigger. At least the size on the Note 4 or Nexus SP.
2: Battery sucks for me. Constantly charging.
3: Speaker. Cannot hear it some time if I am in another room.
4: Still no IR Blaster
5: This should maybe be #1 PRICE POINT. $879.00 + high taxes just not worth it. No phone is perfect but "Them Prices way to high Samsung need to CUT IT"!
6: The screen scratches too easily. Fingerprints!
7: Fingerprint Sensor. You have to press the button. Plus, I have gotten use to it being on the back.
8: Touchwiz still lags.
Great phone in every other way. But the "wow" factor is missing for me at this price. The Note is really the best built phone out right now. This is a really hard decision. But with other phones coming out, I will take a wait and see attitude. By October when everything is out, if nothing better is out maybe I will revisit the NOTE 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some valid points but some are just nonsense....
You purchased the phone knowing the price and that it has no IR blaster so why does it now affect your purchase?
The finger print sensor has nothing wrong with it. Due to your preferences and what you are used to, you are creating this problem.
Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

m00moo said:
You purchased the phone knowing the price and that it has no IR blaster so why does it now affect your purchase?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in a way that when you pay almost 1000 EUR for a device, you expect much more.
and the test period has demonstrated that the device is not up to the expectations.
in other words, the device is overpriced; the price is grossly inflated.
that is evident to most users of previous Note models, even without purchasing it.

How bad is the speaker? Currently using nexus 6P but intend to pick one up soon.

djide01 said:
How bad is the speaker? Currently using nexus 6P but intend to pick one up soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Volume is very low.

lskeys said:
After playing with the Note 7 for about a week, just came to the conclusion that it's not for me at the present time. Reasons below :.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1: Size. I do not like the size. Was hoping it was a little bigger. At least the size on the Note 4 or Nexus SP.
- The screen is the same size so why would you want the body to be bigger? Doesn't make sense.
2: Battery sucks for me. Constantly charging.
- Depends on many many factors and there is always a bedding in period.
3: Speaker. Cannot hear it some time if I am in another room.
- It is down to the water proofing, but I read in many places it is still louder than some previous models.
4: Still no IR Blaster
- You knew this before you bought it.
5: This should maybe be #1 PRICE POINT. $879.00 + high taxes just not worth it. No phone is perfect but "Them Prices way to high Samsung need to CUT IT"!
-You knew this before you bought it.
6: The screen scratches too easily. Fingerprints!
- Glass = fingerprints, that's not unique to this phone. Put it in a premium case that still protects but still shows the look of the phone
7: Fingerprint Sensor. You have to press the button. Plus, I have gotten use to it being on the back.
- No you don't need to press it every time, just rest your finger on it when it asks for it.
8: Touchwiz still lags.
- Cannot be confirmed by everyone.
Then you went on to contradict yourself:
Great phone in every other way. But the "wow" factor is missing for me at this price. The Note is really the best built phone out right now. This is a really hard decision. But with other phones coming out, I will take a wait and see attitude. By October when everything is out, if nothing better is out maybe I will revisit the NOTE 7

lskeys said:
1: Size. I do not like the size. Was hoping it was a little bigger. At least the size on the Note 4 or Nexus SP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its screen has the same size and resolution as the Note 4 and Note 5.
3: Speaker. Cannot hear it some time if I am in another room.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The speaker works great for things like giving easily-heard directions while driving in a noisy car. I've never tried listening to a phone from another room. I find they're easy to take with me--fit right in my pocket! For music, I use BT headphones.
6: The screen scratches too easily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you reporting that you've scratched it, or just repeating others' rumors?

apprentice said:
1: Size. I do not like the size. Was hoping it was a little bigger. At least the size on the Note 4 or Nexus SP.
- The screen is the same size so why would you want the body to be bigger? Doesn't make sense.
2: Battery sucks for me. Constantly charging.
- Depends on many many factors and there is always a bedding in period.
3: Speaker. Cannot hear it some time if I am in another room.
- It is down to the water proofing, but I read in many places it is still louder than some previous models.
4: Still no IR Blaster
- You knew this before you bought it.
5: This should maybe be #1 PRICE POINT. $879.00 + high taxes just not worth it. No phone is perfect but "Them Prices way to high Samsung need to CUT IT"!
-You knew this before you bought it.
6: The screen scratches too easily. Fingerprints!
- Glass = fingerprints, that's not unique to this phone. Put it in a premium case that still protects but still shows the look of the phone
7: Fingerprint Sensor. You have to press the button. Plus, I have gotten use to it being on the back.
- No you don't need to press it every time, just rest your finger on it when it asks for it.
8: Touchwiz still lags.
- Cannot be confirmed by everyone.
Then you went on to contradict yourself:
Great phone in every other way. But the "wow" factor is missing for me at this price. The Note is really the best built phone out right now. This is a really hard decision. But with other phones coming out, I will take a wait and see attitude. By October when everything is out, if nothing better is out maybe I will revisit the NOTE 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with the apprentice. This is exactly what I am saying about this thread as half of the things mentions are already known before purchasing or just common sense....it isn't a valid reason to then say the phone is a flop and you will be returning it.
Its fair enough to say that the battery is a let down or that the phone is scratching badly because we don't know this prior to having the handset. But to say that the glass gets fingerprints? I'm sure all glass gets finger prints unless it specifically says oleo-phobic and that its finger print proof then you don't have a case. Also to say the phone is expensive? yes it is we all know that but for some like myself i managed to get a very cheap sim only tariff and bought the phone outright. Over the course of 2 years it works out at around £35 per month which is the average for a decent handset and tariff.

It's just really number 5 - buyers remorse.
Nice burn apprentice.
Sent from my SM-N930P using Tapatalk

Why not? You can hand over $879 + tax expecting something more than you eventually got. Then the lack of IR for instance could be offset by other advantages.
Isn't the screen smaller due to 0,1" going AWOL at the edges? So you have 5,5" flat estate and the rest is in the curves? It makes the phone smaller, but there are many 5,5" flat phones out there.
Advising a case to hide your glorious new phone in, is bad imo. It is just Samsung chose one of the worst materials to build a phone. A fragile front is more than enough. Having a backside that is slippery and accident prone is another.

Señor Sjon said:
Why not? You can hand over $879 + tax expecting something more than you eventually got. Then the lack of IR for instance could be offset by other advantages.
Isn't the screen smaller due to 0,1" going AWOL at the edges? So you have 5,5" flat estate and the rest is in the curves? It makes the phone smaller, but there are many 5,5" flat phones out there.
Advising a case to hide your glorious new phone in, is bad imo. It is just Samsung chose one of the worst materials to build a phone. A fragile front is more than enough. Having a backside that is slippery and accident prone is another.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree it would be nice to have 0.2" more of usable screen but that would make the phone much wider and harder to handle.
We all know full well that Samsung were pushed into making their phones better looking and innovative. Journalists, bloggers and even guys like us moaned like hell about plastic or faux leather materials and boring designs. They were losing market shares and they needed to act. So they introduce glass and aluminium, they slim down the whole phone and do an amazing and well received job of making the phone look very sexy, and very different to all the other flat slabs out there. We all say yes! Good job! Samsung is now back on the ball, they sell very well and everyone is happy.... But as is always the case of impossible to please everyone... we get those complaining that they lost the removable batteries and the phone is all slippery and fragile and "I will never buy Samsung again... yada yada" But curved screens, glass and aluminium are here to stay for now because they sell and that is what Samsung is in this game for.
If you want to buy into all that and a lot of us do, then yes, a case is pretty much necessary. And to be fair the cases that Samsung offer really do ensure the phone still looks amazing. And if you need to have better protection there are alternatives.

Im returning mine due to some pink spots on the right side of the screen but not for a refund but for 1 to 1 exchange

Returning mine because its much slower then my note 5. Installs literally take twice as long. It makes no sense.

apprentice said:
I agree it would be nice to have 0.2" more of usable screen but that would make the phone much wider and harder to handle.
We all know full well that Samsung were pushed into making their phones better looking and innovative. Journalists, bloggers and even guys like us moaned like hell about plastic or faux leather materials and boring designs. They were losing market shares and they needed to act. So they introduce glass and aluminium, they slim down the whole phone and do an amazing and well received job of making the phone look very sexy, and very different to all the other flat slabs out there. We all say yes! Good job! Samsung is now back on the ball, they sell very well and everyone is happy.... But as is always the case of impossible to please everyone... we get those complaining that they lost the removable batteries and the phone is all slippery and fragile and "I will never buy Samsung again... yada yada" But curved screens, glass and aluminium are here to stay for now because they sell and that is what Samsung is in this game for.
If you want to buy into all that and a lot of us do, then yes, a case is pretty much necessary. And to be fair the cases that Samsung offer really do ensure the phone still looks amazing. And if you need to have better protection there are alternatives.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, yes I do agree Samsung was led astray when all the reviewers were whining about plastic phones and the Hansaplast S5 wasn't the best design they could make. Yet plastic is one of the best materials for a phone. It is light, scratch resistant, doesn't block signals or wireless charging and can be made in all colors and shapes. They got it wrong with the yucky feeling S3/S4/Note 2. After the S4 slipped out of my hand again, I got the Note 3 almost as soon as it was available. The faux leather stitching on it is bad, but the back cover gets the job done. After almost three years of use it has zero scratches and it is very grippy. Same as the N4. It survives my wifes handbag for almost two years now, which is no small feat for a phone. I was waiting for the N5, but if I wanted it, it needed parallel importing. That was too much hassle for a slippery phone with no SD-card, small, non-replaceble battery and glass everywhere.
The N7 is better than the N5, but I'll need to think long and hard if and when I'm going to buy it.

I'm definitely returning mine
#1. no Root
#2. Fast charging is fake, not fast at all
#3. Advertized very long battery life, also fake, it drains just as fast as it did in the past phones when playing games, with WiFi On, GPS On, and Bluetooth On.
#4. I'm seeing a lot of scary cracked glass for normal day to day operations (pocket) that is why I never went with Apple phones
#5. The wireless charging doesn't work well with Generic off brand wireless chargers.
#6. SIM card / SD card slot requires pin to pop out, if you push to hard to eject the button breaks off, and you are stuck with the SIM / SD card inside.
This is a Major No No for me, I swap SD card regularly,
in older models it was as easy as 1, 2, 3. (Pop the real case open, eject SD card, insert SD card, done)
I'm not happy at all with the Note 7 mainly due the lack of root, I could have overlooked some of the transgression listed above, but not having root, makes the phone useless to me.

djide01 said:
How bad is the speaker? Currently using nexus 6P but intend to pick one up soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, Learn, if you listen to the naysayers on any forum you would never leave the house and certainly never make another purchase, not even have a hair cut. The Note 7 is a bloody good mobile. Buy it, experience it, if you don't like it you have 14 days to return it so someone else waiting for it can enjoy it. :highfive:
I have to say this Note 7 forum is getting silly. There are dedicated haters here who just post in nearly every thread criticising something they don't even own. Its turning to the point of hysteria on some threads. :silly:
Buy and enjoy.
Ryland

AllGamer said:
I'm definitely returning mine
#1. no Root
#2. Fast charging is fake, not fast at all
#3. Advertized very long battery life, also fake, it drains just as fast as it did in the past phones when playing games, with WiFi On, GPS On, and Bluetooth On.
#4. I'm seeing a lot of scary cracked glass for normal day to day operations (pocket) that is why I never went with Apple phones
#5. The wireless charging doesn't work well with Generic off brand wireless chargers.
#6. SIM card / SD card slot requires pin to pop out, if you push to hard to eject the button breaks off, and you are stuck with the SIM / SD card inside.
This is a Major No No for me, I swap SD card regularly,
in older models it was as easy as 1, 2, 3. (Pop the real case open, eject SD card, insert SD card, done)
I'm not happy at all with the Note 7 mainly due the lack of root, I could have overlooked some of the transgression listed above, but not having root, makes the phone useless to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to disagree with a lot of things you have listed here. Especially as you claim fast charging is fake! Even if it wasn't as fast as you liked you can't simply dismiss it as fake. Before buying the phone you must have known about the SD card slot - where else could it go and still retain good water resistance?
But the whole thing about rooting is premature. How many new high end devices are rootable in the first couple of weeks of release? We have hit dead ends before regarding rooting but then someone finds a way through. But if you want it rooted today then I guess that's your reason for dismissing this phone. It makes me wonder why you bought it before looking into this particular issue.

May seem strange to most of you guys but the lack of IR blaster kills it for me. I use it on my note 3 all day everyday. Air-conditioning at work and at home. My TV and set top box. My fan. It's such a small piece of tech with so much use. Kind of annoys me that they took it away.
Sent from my HUAWEI M2-801W using XDA-Developers mobile app

apprentice said:
I have to disagree with a lot of things you have listed here. Especially as you claim fast charging is fake! Even if it wasn't as fast as you liked you can't simply dismiss it as fake. Before buying the phone you must have known about the SD card slot - where else could it go and still retain good water resistance?
But the whole thing about rooting is premature. How many new high end devices are rootable in the first couple of weeks of release? We have hit dead ends before regarding rooting but then someone finds a way through. But if you want it rooted today then I guess that's your reason for dismissing this phone. It makes me wonder why you bought it before looking into this particular issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought into the hype after watching the live unveil in New York.
I was actually checking out the Nexus 6p, as I wanted a new phone with Root.
in the past Samsung phones used to be a safe bet to get root, but seems like since the S7 the game has changed.
Fast charging is as you said not fast enough, 1 hour charge to only get 60% to 70% is not much improvement over the Note 3 / Note 4 charging, somehow the way I use my phones they can drain the battery faster than it can recharge itself.
So battery packs has always been my friend, as I keep several charged battery packs ready to swap in/out.
Reason why I skipped Note 5, due the lack of battery swap. I decided to give Note 7 a try thinking it should have improved, but nope it's just exactly as I guestimated it would perform, and the educated guess was spot on.
I was not really surprised by the charge speed lack of performance, just the Advertisements, and the Unveil event made it such a huge deal that is was like WOW... but in reality it does not really deliver as advertised.
The charge speed performance is no different than previous generation, phone batteries like Note 3 and Note 4, using a normal 2A charger and a battery charger, my batteries pack are full in about 2 hours aprox same time it takes for the Note 7 using the "fast charge" to reach 100%
The so called fast charge to 50% in 30 min is bogus, I was clocking it, it was more like 45min to an Hour depending if the phone was Off or On... which is pretty much the same rate why it takes aprox 2 hours for 100% charge.
The old Notes 3/4, charges at about the same rate as Note 7, so they are just advertising the same old as new, I don't really see any real improvement over previous model.
With the removal of the option to swap battery packs since Note 5, it makes it even less appealing knowing you'll be stuck without battery until you find a plug.
In Note 3 and Note 4, you simply pop out the drained battery and pop in the 100% charged battery, downtime 60 sec at most to open back cover swap the battery and replace the back cover.
The Note 5 and Note 7 downtime ranges until you find a plug, or you carry one of those external battery top up dongles, not very appealing. I know those are very common with Apple users, and I don't like carrying those bulky USB dongles with me.
Battery life If I'm being conservative and turn off GPS, turn off Bluetooth, and turn off WiFi, I can get aprox 3 hours with Note 7, which is again about the same time I get with previous Note 3 and Note 4.
So the claim for an improved battery life is also bogus advertisement.
I still have about 7 days to keep it, if nothing changes by then, it's going back to the store.
The only nice feature I like on the Note 7 is the Iris scanner, and the 4x MIMO, actually that's the only reason the Note 7 picked my interest, I wanted to see if the 4x MIMO would improve signal quality, in poor reception areas, and it did.
so, of all the hyped propagandas during the live unveil and Ads, only the Iris scanner and 4x mimo actually performs as advertised, everything else, not so much, like the "free" game pack that is not available to people in North America >.< ...like really, advertised live during a new york event, and then they said, or sorry that's not for you.

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.
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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.
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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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

General FOLD 3 does not open all the way

Just faced a problem with my fold 3 that it did not open all thr way.. it got Stuck half way and didn't open to 180° Flat. Probably there was something hindering the gears inside the hinge.. but it was horrible experience though..
But thanks to service centre, the phone was just under warranty and they replaced the panel without any cost..
Things to check :
1. 3rd party body protectors are using some adhesives which gets into the hinge and creates these problems, DO NOT USE ANY HINGE MEMBRANE / PROTECTORS.
2. Please keep the phone out of the pocket when you sit.
3. Some trousers pockets are not at a friendly with the folds.. their fibres are getting inside the hinge.
4. Some people are observing some kind of transparent plastic coming out of hinge, which they forgot to remove when they bought the phone.
Take care of such a lovely device..!!

Yay. Good for you! Samsung tech support is less than ideal, you did well.
I have flip phones, 2 Casio Boss's, multiple laptops and never had a hinge jam or fail in over 3 decades. Samsung overstepped the physical limits of materials technology with the Fold series. The results are a high failure rate of multiple components in these phones. The display is the most likely to fail, but hinge issues continue to haunt the Fold's. Samsung couldn't even get a well known, decades old technology right on these phones.
I have 5 Samsung phones, the oldest is 10 yo, none ever had to be replaced due to a hardware failure and they all still work. This Note 10+ has over 8k hours on it; looks, feels and runs like new. For over a grand price tag you deserve a well designed and built flagship, not an experimental prototype batch run. Samsung, shame on you.

Yah man.. you are darn right.. these phones are way too costly to be an experimental phones.. I too thought the 3rd gen seems good to go for as it had some kind of water resistance too..
But these devices with moving components should be handled well.. cannot exploit these as other candy bar design premium devices can be..
Thats why I thought to at least inform what I went through and if people take care they will not have these problems..

mad13maddy said:
Yah man.. you are darn right.. these phones are way too costly to be an experimental phones.. I too thought the 3rd gen seems good to go for as it had some kind of water resistance too..
But these devices with moving components should be handled well.. cannot exploit these as other candy bar design premium devices can be..
Thats why I thought to at least inform what I went through and if people take care they will not have these problems..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's sad because Samsung is capable of designing and manufacturing a premium flagship. They invested heavily in the Fold technology but I don't think the plastics/adhesive systems available today are up to the demands of their Fold designs. Not sure why they are choking on the hinge part of the design though as that technology is not new at all.
For 3 years Samsung has yet to produce a better flagship than the N10+, in my opinion it is Samsung's zenith. A beautiful, well balanced work horse. That left me with nothing to buy so I got another new N10+, twins, and a backup.
The original one just keeps flawlessly ticking, only repair has been a replacement battery, due for its second one. Current OS load is over 2yo, still running Pie; that's what Android's are capable of. Security is not an issue.
All too often Android's miss the longevity mark partially because of the user error of upgrading/updating when it's not neccessary. Latter upgrades tend to break Samsung's, lol it's a tradition.
Google is like a meth head on a 3 day binge telling you that you need to constantly upgrade/update. Not. Google is part of the problem...