Develop Bugs

Meizu MX3 Review

For some time now I have the Meizu MX3 phone and I would be very happy if I can share my thoughts and my personal opinion about this really unique device . Meizu is very known company from before. So I think I don't need to write anything about them.
About packaging except the MX3 you get also the USB cable and charger. All accessories are in white color. I must admit because the packaging was very smart and cool packed, legal different from other.
Meizu MX3 is 1st smart phone in the world which has edge-to-edge design. In other words it means it almost without bezel or to be precise edges are very thin. So this is very cool because of that the device can be smaller with bigger screens. The phone is completely made of plastic, the build quality is high. The front side is completely protected with gorilla glass 3 and the back cover has hyperglaze finish. In my personal opinion the phone is really cute and I think you will also agree with me on this.
Meizu MX3 has 5.1 inch display. Display has resolution 1080 x 1800 pixels. The screen is very sharp and it has enough strong brightness including viewing angles. In this combination the screen gives about 412 ppi what I believe is really impressive. AsI said in the beginning the screen is also protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with Native Damage Resistance technology. So in my opinion the screen in one word is perfect.
Alt.the MX3 is not the newest model it is still a good device these days. Because it has very powerful hardware under the hood like Exynos 5 Octa 5410 chipset with 2 GB of RAM and for graphics PowerVR SGX544MP3. From this you can see that this hardware is strong and in 99.9% you will be able to do anything you want to do. For example you can play any game you want if you like gaming also as an average user you can go to the Internet, check your mail or listen to the radio. I have also tested the device with several benchmark test applications and below you can see the results.
If you love to photograph then the Meizu MX3 is good choice because it has good quality camera. It has 8 megapixel camera with led flash. I photographed in several different conditions and in my opinion photos are good. Of course there are phones with better camera but if you are not to the mending then you don't need to worry about it. Also below you can see photo examples.
According to this blog GPS works out of box. You don't need to do any modifications and GPS does not need Wi-Fi or network help. So there are no problems. I am telling you this because many Chinese smartphones has GPS problems because of bad antenna or something else.
It has built in battery with capacity of 2400mAh. According to the Meizu it gives autonomy of 400 hours in standby mode with 2G connection and about 385 hours with 3G connection.
As conclusion I can say that Meizu MX3 is still good device with many good features. It has high build quality, really nice design, strong hardware, good camera and many other things. If you want you can go to the official website for more information and also you can like their official Facebook page.
Any questions please ask
thank you

HomTom HT10 - Hands on review of the budget-friendly Helio X20 device

Hi All,
First review so please be kind. I have also posted this at Mod Edit: Link removed.
HomTom HT10 - The eyes have it?
HomTom is a brand who are trying to make a name for themselves by releasing devices at a low price point with interesting features. In reality, HomTom is a subdivision of DooGee so there is shared experience in making decent devices at a reasonable price. I've owned a few lower spec DooGee phones in the past and have found them reasonable given the price tag so will be interested to see how the HomTom HT10 can make a name for itself with a top end set of specifications.
Key Spec:
SoC MediaTek Helio X20 10 Core
CPU 2 x 2.3GHz, 4 x 2.0GHz, 4 x 1.4GHz
GPU Mali T880, 700MHz
RAM 4GB, 933MHz
Storage 32GB + SD Slot
Screen 5.5 inch, 1920x1080, 401ppi
Camera Rear: 21MP, Front: 8MP
Battery 3200mAh
The HT10 is touted as coming with the same Iris Recognition technology that the ill-fated Samsung Note 7 utilised.
Unboxing
The HT10 comes in a plain dark blue box with HomTom branding and with slight wood effect. Opening the box reveals the phone, charger and cable. You don't get any headphones in the package which I'm fine with but the overall impression of the packaging seems a little dated.
A tab reveals a 'secret drawer' containing a wood-effect flip case, and very rudimentary and superfluous instruction booklet.
The flip case actually replaces the removable back cover so doesn't add a great deal of extra weight or size to the HT10 which was a nice touch, though the front is just a simple flap, there is no magnetic magic to keep it shut. final point to note is that this had a screen protector installed which is a bonus.
On the whole a rather boring retail box, I'm not swayed by such things but may be pretty underwhelming for some.
Hardware
Looks-wise the HT10 reminds me of my old Samsung Galaxy S2. A fairly inoffensive shape, with an array of sensors and notification LED at the top and off screen buttons at the bottom.
The first major whinge here is that the buttons are not back-lit, in this day and age this is only excusable in the cheapest of budget phones and certainly at this price point, for a manufacturers top device this is a total no no.
On the top of the phone is a trusty 3.5mm audio jack, and at the bottom we find a standard micro-usb port, 2 speaker grilles and the microphone. On the right side is the power button and volume control.
The screen features the now obligatory '2.5d' glass curving at the edges, and is a decent size though there is a slight element of cheating as there is probably 1mm of black space around the viewable screen meaning that the visible bezels are artificially small.
The rear of the phone has the camera, another microphone and a single LED flash. Again that is a little disappointing as the standard for a top spec phone these days is to have dual-LED flash at least. The back panel is removable and rather cheap feeling plastic, but there are no creaks or areas which depress under pressure.
The sides of the phone are made from metal and look nice - mainly matte silver with a beveled shiny edge. The power/volume buttons seem to have a little lateral play though and could perhaps be slightly better sized to give a more premium feel.
In terms of look and feel I think HomTom have done a reasonable job here. Nothing groundbreaking or uber premium, but it looks and feels nice enough.
Software
The HT10 runs a skinned version of Android 6.0 which seems to be called HomTom Fire. This has inexplicably altered some of the generic Google App icons, such as Play Store and Maps, and as per the majority of import phones does away with the App Drawer in favour of having all apps accessible from the main screens. Though this is what any iPhone user has to deal with, many Android users find this a difficult concept to deal with, but a solution would be to use a third party launcher such as Google Now or Nova. The other option of course is just dealing with it!
There is not a great amount of bloatware on the device which is refreshing, and the majority of what's there can be uninstalled anyway.
Display
I was impressed with the display HomTom have provided for the HT10. Everything looks crisp and clear. The screen is capable of going very bright and I had it set on auto-brightness defaulting to around 40%, and had no issues both at night or in bright sunlight. I could find no evidence of light bleed on my unit which you might expect from a 'budget' device.
Performance
This is where the HT10 really excels. The HT10 comes out very well against more established flagship phones using the main benchmark apps.
Geekbench results below.
Device - Single Core - Multi Core
Oneplus 3 - 1698 - 4015
HT10 - 1655 - 3298
Huawei Nexus 6P - 1212 - 2848
Antutu results below.
Device - Score
Huawei Honor 8 - 94164
HT10 - 87631
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge - 81087
What this shows us is that the HT10 benchmarks very well against phones that are more than twice the price. The Helio X20 SoC that powers the device definitely seems to hit the sweet spot, and we can presume that it's just the Mali GPU that is hindering the scores, but this shouldn't make too much difference if you're not a hardcore gamer
Obviously statistics don't really tell the full story but I've had no issues whatsoever in daily operation of the HT10. I can run all the apps I want with no discernible slowdown.
Iris Recognition Unlocking
Of course the elephant in the room that I've not discussed as yet is the HT10's USP, the 'Second Generation Iris Recognition Unlocking'. What this means in reality is that to unlock the phone you press the power button, then look at the screen. A small window opens up to show you what the iris recognition camera can see, and will tell you to move closer or further away if required. The iris recognition function was present in the top end Lumias released last year, but they were hardly big sellers, and the less said about the Galaxy Note 7 which also has this feature the better.
Apparently iris recognition is much more secure than fingerprint scanners, though I thought fingerprints were unique so I'm not really sure why the wheel needed to be reinvented. The iris recognition works perfectly well in standard light and even darkness, but is very flaky in even moderate sunlight outside. If the iris recognition is unable to match, you are reverted to the standard pin unlock, however irritatingly you still need to confirm the pin meaning an extra screen press when most devices now will unlock automatically after a the right pin is input.
Another annoyance is that the iris unlock takes precedence on the 'unlock screen', so if you are used to your music app telling you what song is playing on this screen you will need to unlock the phone in order to see this.
Overall, this feature is not a disaster, in fact it is certainly pretty cool and definitely (mostly) unique thing to have. I just wish it worked a bit better, and remain to be convinced that it in any way improves on fingerprint unlocking.
Camera
Unfortunately even though the camera in the HT10 (IMX230 Exmor RS) is the same as the one in the best camera phone I've ever owned, the Honor 7, the results from the HT10 were patchy to say the least.
In a well lit situation I could get some of the best photos I've ever got from an 'import phone' (though still miles away from the Honor 7's quality), but as soon as the lighting conditions were less than perfect the photos suffered massively.
In low light both inside and out photos had very poor detailing, with a flattening of features and a watercolour effect.
Hopefully HomTom will be able to resolve this with a software update, as well as the annoying bug which caused the LED flash to activate all the time in auto-flash mode, even in bright sunlight.
If anyone can advise the best way for me to share images I will do this
Other features
Battery life on the HT10 is pretty good. While I'm no power user I managed to get through every day with plenty to spare, at worst I managed to get it down to around 40%, but through general internet/app use and listening to music you'll have no issues at all. The device does apparently feature 'Pump Express' fast charging, but in reality I found it quite slow to charge the 3200 mAH, it took about 3 hours to complete a full charge from flat, though this may be because the charger supplied was not UK spec so I had to use a different one.
Connectivity is fine, I had no issues with my wireless speeds or range, and could get 4G everywhere that I'd expect. The HT10 is touted as a 'Global 4G' phone so all in all the connectivity gets a thumbs up. Bluetooth connected quickly and worked fine in my car for both music and phone functionality.
GPS worked absolutely fine both driving and walking. MediaTek phones have caused me a lot of woe in the past due to poorly performing GPS so they have clearly upped their game.
Music sounded fine through headphones. The loudspeaker is a little flat for music and could be louder for calls but even still it is acceptable.
Conclusion
Taken as a complete package the HT10 really does take some beating for the price. The Iris Recognition seems slightly pointless, and the camera performance isn't anywhere near flagship standard, but in every other area the HT10 performed well, so much so that it has become my 'daily driver' when not reviewing other devices.
Score: 8.5/10
Price when reviewed £199
Review sample kindly supplied by those lovely chaps at LightInTheBox. Head over to Mod Edit: Selling site link removed. for the cheapest price available!

Got myself a HT10 and I agree in your conclusion, but I experienced some touch freeze and poor LTE reception from time to time.
I really hope they fix the camera software asap. The quality is a deal breaker as for now, but the videoquality is strangely very good.

Thanks for the comment.
I've had one occasion where an area of the screen seemed to be unresponsive but this was resolved with a restart. I've not had any 4g problems but am in built up areas most of the time.
The camera performance is the biggest issue and if not resolved would be the one thing that turns me off this device, fingers crossed that it can be solved by an update.

recently bought the Ht10 super great phone feels amazing but i cannot get it to connect to verizons network to call, text or browse any ideas on how to get it working

My main complaints with the HomTom HT10
HARDWARE ISSUES
compass isn't available
NFC isn't available (it was advertised but removed!)
OTG isn't available (it was advertised but removed!)
network reception is bad (3G/4G)
Wi-Fi reception is bad (3G/4G)
not detecting/connecting 5Ghz Wi-Fi networks
audio speaker quality (distortion and not enough bass)
battery losing energy way too quickly
camera quality is bad on low light situation
SOFTWARE ISSUES
- battery saving mode is too aggressive (cannot easily modified for a bunch of Apps)
languages preferences are lost if IDLE or turned off (if you set french language it will comeback later to Netherlands. it could be because Belgium country has multiple official languages (french/nederlands/dutch) or if because the smartphone was shipped from .nl post)
- defaults apps choice in settings is too limited
- If you choose to protect your device with a password (PIN/password/pattern) for intrusion your device is going to freeze and you will have to reboot !
- hardware navigation buttons cannot be modified / edited
- HomTom OS is much less complete than MIUI8 (or even UMI OS)
MAJOR MISC PROBLEM:
There is no official forum to post bugs reports !
There is no updates or fixes for those issues announced.
There is no tutorials yet to flash/root.

Yes, same problem here....
Very HORRIBLE DEAL!!!
One Solution to ROOT FIND ! ! !
KingRoot apk finally works !!!
I tried this version: V4.9.7
by this file: NewKingrootV4.9.7_C152_B341_xda_release_2016_11_14 _20161115194410_105243.apk
IMPORTANT NOTE:
1) I find some bloatware that doesnt wipe out neither with a factory reset
2) the root is factoryreset resistant.
3) Some issue with Wathsapp only when sending stored images.
Best regards!
If you are happy with this please tnx me!
If you have trouble, please share!

Kingroot did not work for me
Westboy82 said:
Yes, same problem here....
Very HORRIBLE DEAL!!!
One Solution to ROOT FIND ! ! !
KingRoot apk finally works !!!
I tried this version: V4.9.7
by this file: NewKingrootV4.9.7_C152_B341_xda_release_2016_11_14 _20161115194410_105243.apk
IMPORTANT NOTE:
1) I find some bloatware that doesnt wipe out neither with a factory reset
2) the root is factoryreset resistant.
3) Some issue with Wathsapp only when sending stored images.
Best regards!
If you are happy with this please tnx me!
If you have trouble, please share!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This method did not work for me, anyone else has any other suggestions on how to root this device?

Please double check the process, is the only way right now to root our Toilet-phone :fingers-crossed:
PS the updated version of the kingroot is here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/devdb/project/dl/?id=22115

Vernee X 4Gb/64Gb Mediatek P23

So, I wanted to put a word in for Vernee, and specifically for this phone.
I looked around for a forum and didn't find one.
This is a wonderful budget phone, absolutely. A sleeper.
At $180 roughly, it's fantastic.
Everything about it IS a step down from Flagship but the package it delivers punches well above it's class.
This is just a set of observations to help those thinking about digging around the lower priced Chinese offerings.
I'll try and give a comparative review.
The phone is just a few millimeters taller than the OnePlus 5T, a few shorter than the Galaxy 8+ and roughly the same width as the HTC U11.
The screen is 18:9 and tinted in such a way that the screen appears to take up the entire front surface before you fire it up.
Although I have seen reviews that say it is a metal phone, it is not. The back is a very solid form of plastic, treated and painted to look like metal.
Don't get me wrong; it's not a bad look at all. The deep blue looks radiant in the sunlight and the soft texture of it feels wonderful in the hand.
The phone is as heavy as the Mate 9 but feels perfectly weighted. It really feels great to hold and they've curved the back in such a way that it feels far slimmer than it is - which at 9.8mm, it is not.
When you turn the screen on, you notice that Vernee has done a great job with slimming the bezels, and the glass, though not Gorilla glass has a nice, slick feel to it.
It's built to a very high standard; compelling when you think they just begun to make phones in 2016.
The P23 mediatek chip is perfectly adequate for everyday use - I'd say think Qualcomm 820/821 (Lg G4).
There are a few stutters and it's not as fluid as say the OnePlus 5T but it IS quick and the management of it's 4Gbs of ROM keeps lots of apps on tap.
And now, the killer. They've stuffed a huge battery in there. They say it's a 6000 but My Device reads it at 4000.
Any which way, the battery is a revelation. On, and on, and on - It will easily give you 2 days of normal use, all in a relatively tight package - but I'm not like that. I am on it ALL DAY doing everything, with everything on from 08:00 and still, as I come to charge at 23:00 there's 15% in it.
Astonishing.
And I think that's where this phone hits its home run.
It looks good, it feels good, it runs well - you'd be hard pressed to be embarrassed laying it on the table beside the absolute big guns - and you could have five of them for the price.
It's an Astonishing feat.
Think 4 by 4 Beemer or Merc in the bush against the original Toyota Prado.
But unlike a bear-bones interior, you have leather seats, good stereo, manual sun-roof and proper differentials.
You know what I'm talking about.
The Vernee X is not rugged but it's handsome, sure footed, tireless and a joy to carry around.
It will take you dancing all night long, and that, at least, in Miyake.
Yes. There is a catch. The camera.
It's not bad but you'll want great light all the time. And don't try that blurred shallow focus thing, it's not good.
Still there pictures are adequate sometimes and very good at other.
This phone has climbed into my pocket and the company, won my heart and I can't wait to see what Vernee has for us this year and next.
The Doogees, Elephones...are on notice.
So are, in another few years I think, Samsung et.al.

Still no one ROM for this model... Someone from the owners of this unit, could you make a full backup of the firmware and put it in the public domain.

room for vernee x 4gb ram / 64gb
Welcome, we hope that a friend will introduce a Vernee x 4gb / 64gb phone room

Dyxless1986 said:
Still no one ROM for this model... Someone from the owners of this unit, could you make a full backup of the firmware and put it in the public domain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
some roms here. Ive not tested but some activity it seems
https://www.needrom.com/category/others/u-v-w-x-y-z/brands-v/vernee/x/

kolembo said:
So, I wanted to put a word in for Vernee, and specifically for this phone.
I looked around for a forum and didn't find one.
This is a wonderful budget phone, absolutely. A sleeper.
At $180 roughly, it's fantastic.
Everything about it IS a step down from Flagship but the package it delivers punches well above it's class.
This is just a set of observations to help those thinking about digging around the lower priced Chinese offerings.
I'll try and give a comparative review.
The phone is just a few millimeters taller than the OnePlus 5T, a few shorter than the Galaxy 8+ and roughly the same width as the HTC U11.
The screen is 18:9 and tinted in such a way that the screen appears to take up the entire front surface before you fire it up.
Although I have seen reviews that say it is a metal phone, it is not. The back is a very solid form of plastic, treated and painted to look like metal.
Don't get me wrong; it's not a bad look at all. The deep blue looks radiant in the sunlight and the soft texture of it feels wonderful in the hand.
The phone is as heavy as the Mate 9 but feels perfectly weighted. It really feels great to hold and they've curved the back in such a way that it feels far slimmer than it is - which at 9.8mm, it is not.
When you turn the screen on, you notice that Vernee has done a great job with slimming the bezels, and the glass, though not Gorilla glass has a nice, slick feel to it.
It's built to a very high standard; compelling when you think they just begun to make phones in 2016.
The P23 mediatek chip is perfectly adequate for everyday use - I'd say think Qualcomm 820/821 (Lg G4).
There are a few stutters and it's not as fluid as say the OnePlus 5T but it IS quick and the management of it's 4Gbs of ROM keeps lots of apps on tap.
And now, the killer. They've stuffed a huge battery in there. They say it's a 6000 but My Device reads it at 4000.
Any which way, the battery is a revelation. On, and on, and on - It will easily give you 2 days of normal use, all in a relatively tight package - but I'm not like that. I am on it ALL DAY doing everything, with everything on from 08:00 and still, as I come to charge at 23:00 there's 15% in it.
Astonishing.
And I think that's where this phone hits its home run.
It looks good, it feels good, it runs well - you'd be hard pressed to be embarrassed laying it on the table beside the absolute big guns - and you could have five of them for the price.
It's an Astonishing feat.
Think 4 by 4 Beemer or Merc in the bush against the original Toyota Prado.
But unlike a bear-bones interior, you have leather seats, good stereo, manual sun-roof and proper differentials.
You know what I'm talking about.
The Vernee X is not rugged but it's handsome, sure footed, tireless and a joy to carry around.
It will take you dancing all night long, and that, at least, in Miyake.
Yes. There is a catch. The camera.
It's not bad but you'll want great light all the time. And don't try that blurred shallow focus thing, it's not good.
Still there pictures are adequate sometimes and very good at other.
This phone has climbed into my pocket and the company, won my heart and I can't wait to see what Vernee has for us this year and next.
The Doogees, Elephones...are on notice.
So are, in another few years I think, Samsung et.al.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im having same phone, camera is useless much better choice is ulefone power 3 or 3s, they have same hardware with much better camera.
I think vernee have problem with drivers, i have tryed to fix it but im not developer if you have any idea for new firmware or update for this camera problem please let me know.
Regards
Dino

After using the phone for a couple of months;
It is slow. The mediatek chip is nowhere near flagship level and it shows.
And the camera is badly optimised - the photos are ok in very good light.
The best thing about this phone is it's amusing battery life.
The screen is also, surprisingly, very good.
In all other respects you must be willing to compromise.

I just got this phone and for the price, you cant beat it. But you are right the chipset is not as good as the snapdragon and thats the major difference here. I dont use the camera so it doesnt bother me.
But great value nevertheless.

kolembo said:
After using the phone for a couple of months;
It is slow. The mediatek chip is nowhere near flagship level and it shows.
And the camera is badly optimised - the photos are ok in very good light.
The best thing about this phone is it's amusing battery life.
The screen is also, surprisingly, very good.
In all other respects you must be willing to compromise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ulefone Power 3 or 3s has better camera optimisation, hardware is the same, so it is better choice in my opinion...

Yes, I think Verne is still too young to optimise Android for it's phones.
It's hardware is very good though - the X is very strong, has a beautiful screen and an unbeatable battery.
It has to do more work getting it's software lined up to it's hardware.

Having used this phone for a year, it's biggest problem is software.
The phone feels sluggish and jittery.
The battery remains excellent. On experimentation, the speed increases vastly when I switch: settings>duraspeed>off

with disable animation to 0 in devolper settings also same lag ?
regards

i will try aslo root the phone later when i have my order , presumably same way as my thread Root vernee M5 page 7
Regards

Moto x4 vs nokia 8 vs Xperia xa2 ?

Hi guys , I'm about to buy a new phone here in my country you can get moto x4 (4/64) for $260 and nokia 8 for $280 same as the Xperia xa2 For $280 , I'm wondering which of three is better , i know the Nokia 8 is better because of snapdragon , but i prefer the Moto design , please suggest me

keep in mind with moto's design, it's mostly glass so you'll end up having it in a case most of the time. i used to sell cars and always had to remind people not to get to caught up on exterior looks, since you barely spend any time looking at it. the software experience will be better on the nokia, which makes it the better overall choice in my opinion.

RockinAmigo14 said:
keep in mind with moto's design, it's mostly glass so you'll end up having it in a case most of the time. i used to sell cars and always had to remind people not to get to caught up on exterior looks, since you barely spend any time looking at it. the software experience will be better on the nokia, which makes it the better overall choice in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you ?

At the same price I would choose Nokia. Better SoC, UFS 2.1 storage(moto has emmc), better and bigger screen, more durable because of metal back. And yes, Nokia has better software experience. The only thing is the lack of ip68.

.LavS said:
At the same price I would choose Nokia. Better SoC, UFS 2.1 storage(moto has emmc), better and bigger screen, more durable because of metal back. And yes, Nokia has better software experience. The only thing is the lack of ip68.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you

Keep in mind, Nokia does not offer any way to unlock the bootloader ...
https://www.xda-developers.com/no-official-bootloader-unlock-nokia-8/

I can compare Moto X4 against Xperia XA2 - I have both devices :
Moto X4 :
- much better camera (+ GCam available, working fantastic)
- better software (like Moto add-ons, night light mode)
- probably better support when it comes to updates
- better fingerprint reader
Xperia XA2 :
- better audio (using headphones)
- maybe slightly better display quality, just an impression
- better battery management
- slightly more internal memory available

Question Is it worth it?

My current phone, a Google Pixel 3 XL, needs to replaced pretty soon as the USB port is somewhat broken and replacing it does not seem to really be worth it, due to some other things (brightness, camera, etc.) I am annoyed of.
I have been eying the new Sony smartphones for a while now and I am not sure whether it is really worth the 400€. My other choice would be a Samsung A52 5G and now I am wondering what you guys think about this Sony phone so far.
- Is the camera really as bad as the reviews suggest?
- Is the display bright enough to (properly) use it in the sun?
- etc.
cheers,
fd

I don't mind the camera. Though, I upgraded from an aging Sony Xperia XZ1c, so it's has a fair few more features than I am used to. I know that the Pixel line has historically had great pictures due to a combination of lenses and implementation/software. The implementation is where Sony lacks (especially on the Auto side). But... I don't often use my camera, so I don't often notice any issues with the results. It's fine for me!
I have not had much issue with display brightness in sun.. it is noticeably dim, but certainly not unusable.
Depending on your location in the world, you may want to check band support on the device and cross reference with with your country/carrier. The US is limited, the rest of the world may not be as much.
On paper, the Samsung A52 looks better, but I haven't looked much in to it. Around the same price, you may be able to find some deals on a Google Pixel 4a 5g if you want to stay with the Pixel line.
To me, the 10 III was worth it. I don't need flagship features, and the short comings don't bother me. I've used Sony devices for the past 12 years, and appreciate their effort to remain in the mobile space despite lacking sales. I think the 21:9 is pretty cool and works really well for the endless scrolling most folks do. The narrow width of the device is what I like most; it's the same width as my old XZ1c, but a bit taller.
I realize this is all a bit subjective to personal experience, but that's just how it is.
Hope this helps!

I've got this phone almost entirely due to the lack of a notch or some other obstruction to the display, and because of that aspect alone, I consider it worth it. The other good thing is Sony's Open Devices program, of which this device will hopefully be a part soon, opening up the possibilities for Sailfish OS, Ubports, etc. if that's your kind of thing.
But if you don't care about these additional features, then you can probably find a better bang-for-buck device without much effort. Especially if you don't get the wireless headphones deal from Sony.
Can't really say anything about the camera as I don't use it all that often (if it takes pictures, it's sufficient for me). Also not sure about the screen visibility in the sun as due to the pandemic I mostly stay inside anyways (working from home).

I am coming from Xperia XZ1 compact... the 10 III is only slightly bigger, and again a good device for outdoor use. Still water/dust resist, extremely fast and accurate position fix, display is perfectly bright outside, and due to the 12:9 format, you can hold, carry and operate it very good with just one hand. Performance is outstanding, of course - battery runtime is good.
No issues with the camera. Sure you will get an even better camera when you pay three time of what it costs, but for the price I would call it a very good device, worth every penny. Especially, I find the telephoto lense very useful. Sharp and natural pictures.
Magisk is working fine.

OP, I probably go with the Samsung. It supports a shared SD card slot, yes a data drive ie a dual drive handheld is now possible for you.
Used correctly this feature will become indispensable. All critical data goes on the SD card; OS, apps and temporary files on internal memory. You simple backup from the SD card then. When doing a reset factory you can reload everything from the SD card; no cloud, Playstore or PC needed. Hell yeah.
Samsung's are the most customizable stock Androids on the planet. Hundreds of free theme and icon packs on the Galaxy Store.
Samsung's tech support just plain sucks leaches on your ball sack bad though. If you're Android fluent this will not be an issue more than likely.
Sony tech support is no gem either
Samsung's tend to be bright but you should never use a AMOLED display in direct sunlight!!!
Samsung is at top with displays. This one could be a bit brighter... and live a shorter life.
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Smartphone Review - Another chapter in a success story
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G comes with a Snapdragon 750G, 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of internal memory, microSD card support, an IP67 cerfication and a large 4500-mAh battery. However, the main feature of the Korean smartphone is a quad-camera system with a 64-MP main sensor.
www.notebookcheck.net
The newer Samsung cams are good, I have a Note 10+ and it captures great images.
Play with both first. Seeing them in person is worth a thousand pictures...
A comparison:
Compare Sony Xperia 10 III vs. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G - GSMArena.com
m.gsmarena.com
Read more reviews on both.
Consider a used flagship model in excellent condition. Most Samsung batteries aren't that hard to replace.
Android 11 sucks, Pie is still my preferred weapon. So with a new phone you're stuck with 11 and it's lame CPU cycle eating scoped storage. Pie is still quit secure.. don't buy into the scare hype.

blackhawk said:
A comparison:
Compare Sony Xperia 10 III vs. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G - GSMArena.com
m.gsmarena.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it really depends on what to do with it.
For me, the main pro's for the 10 III: Corning 6 instead of 5, slimmer and more lightweight - perfect for outdoor use. With the Samsung, I had issues with the size of my pockets and my hand ;-)

oel7 said:
I think it really depends on what to do with it.
For me, the main pro's for the 10 III: Corning 6 instead of 5, slimmer and more lightweight - perfect for outdoor use. With the Samsung, I had issues with the size of my pockets and my hand ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The glass difference isn't much between 5 and 6 unless you drop it without a good case.
With no case don't think Corning 6 will save it... it's still glass.
Both are readily scratched by sand.