Related
I've a few posts about the heating issues with this device, and just wanted to get more opinions. I've also heard about poor performance via wifi )(and even issues with wired?) and would like to hear about that as well.
I'm surprised with similar hardware that is normally passively cooled (nexus 7) has heating issues. I know they run it a higher clock rate because there isn't a reliance on a battery. But I read the dev version ran even hotter and they addressed this in an update. The only way I could see addressing this via an update is by clocking it at a lower speed. I saw a video of someone playing dead trigger and at parts it seemed much choppier than my nexus 7, which made me think it's running too hot.
I've heard about people running it on its side and it runs cooler that way? I'm basically wondering if stock cooling is sufficient and any info on wifi/nic issues.
For me... Taking the board out of the case was the best cooling solution. That and my cigarette pack mod lol
The case is a crap design IMO and I also wondered why tegra 3 phones run better with passive cooling and no way for the heat to escape other than absorbtion.
The extra strain on the GPU when running 1080 also doesn't help. My monitor and TV only allow 1080, so 720 upscale isn't an option for me!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
I don't think it has any real heat issues, people just enjoy doing those kind of mods, (probably in the hopes that overclocking will be a possibility). the wifi and bluetooth though do seem to have issues, probably due to the metal case.
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
Wi-Fi is shameful. My "gaming TV" is around 10 metres from my wireless router and OUYA (differently from Wii and PS3) cannot detect it, so I have to unplug the phone and move the router each time I want to go online.
The WiFi is unforgiveable, hopefully it's just a software issue. Wired internet is rock solid...never had any overheating. It does get hot, but Tegra 3 should be able to handle it.
I've only had 1 heating problem and it was my own fault (in a way). I currently have the kill processes upon exit unchecked, something that's required for certain sideloaded apps, and an app got stuck on over night. For whatever reason even though I put the OUYA in sleep mode, which should kill most of the apps (and does), it didn't that time. THe next day, the OUYA was hot to the touch. A quick reset fixed the problem and it cooled down in minutes. But to put that into perspective, my OUYA has never even heated up very much after 3-4 hours of gameplay and streaming 1080p video, only that one time.
As for wifi, after the last few updates, I haven't had any problem with connecting to Wifi and even the speed seems to be...tolerable, even with my router upstairs . I know this isn't the case for everyone, however, and I still tend to rely on ethernet as it just works better.
Thanks all for the info.
But I still get the vibe some say it's a poor case design (and causes overheating) and some say it's not an issue.
ut to put that into perspective, my OUYA has never even heated up very much after 3-4 hours of gameplay and streaming 1080p video, only that one time.
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Click to collapse
Hmm if a runaway app was taxing the cpu/gpu and it got hot to the touch, I would think a game would do the same, I guess it depends on the game.
Taking the board out of the case was the best cooling solution.
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Click to collapse
This is what I've read in other places and not too thrilled about having to leave it out of it's case.
Someone mentioned bluetooth issues as well. I hadn't heard that before but I guess it makes sense if wifi has issues.
I wonder, has anyone used wifi/bluetooth when it's out of case? Just wondering if the case is shielding too much.
I really want to buy a couple of these, (one mainly for xbmc) but I'll definitely need wifi where I plan to put it so I'll think I'll hold off to see if there is an update resolving this.
mine does get very hot, but not "overheated". processors get hot, its a fact of, umm, tech.
wifi works WAY better out of the case. i mean, 100x better. i've never had a bluetooth connectivity problem.
i wonder what the source on thes heat issues might be.
thechnically the t33 shouldnt be too much different from the t37 in my htc one x+ which i enabled to run all cores @ 1,7ghz, too
i have to say, the phone tends to get very hot while playing demanding games like ravensword etc. but never throtteled too much.
i wonder what voltages for the consoles are and about the max gpu-frequency. can anybody tell?
else i have to wait for mine to arrive.
was lucky to shoot one brown limited edition one with 2 extra controllers on ebay for just 85 bucks
Sufficed to say I've not really noticed the overheating issue as I haven't really been monitoring it. The fan kicks in fairly noisy now and then but I only notice it when it's on my desk when I'm doing wired ADB tasks. When it's across the room I don't hear it.
As far as the WIFI is concerned it's my opinion that it's more firmware issue than the casing. When I took original delivery I set it up in my kitchen using WIFI. My kitchen is about as far away from my modem as is possible to get in my house and it connected just fine. I used it for a while with no problem. When I scanned for wireless networks it picked up 7 if I remember correctly, this is roughly the same as I get if I scan using my Galaxy Note 2 or Nexus 7. This obviously included all my neighbors networks BTW. After a subsequent firmware update it wouldn't connect and wouldn't see my modem. I scanned dozens of times trying to find a signal but no joy. The maximum number of networks it has detected since is just 2. Luckily every room in my house has a RJ45 network socket so it's not a problem. It's fairly obvious to me that this firmware update had a very negative impact.
I have been in the market for a new phone for a bit and paying hundreds of dollars for a phone is not my idea of a good time. Long story short, I got tired like many before me of waiting for the Nexus 5 to drop so I picked up the Note 3 @ TMO. Needless to say, I'm really lovin this device...
Now for the twist. I also ordered a Nexus 5 which is due here on the 5th. With the difference in cost, I'm really on the fence. I have put the N3 through its paces and I noticed a few things that perhaps justify the additional $300 for the N3.
Pluses:
User experience: The size and quality of the display is the main reason for this (that and the fact that the phone is NOT huge at all) Playing games, messaging and entertainment is all enjoyable for a change. Oh, and now remote desktop is finally usable without all the resizing and scrolling.
Battery: Nuff said.
Camera: I shoot with a DSLR usually so this doesn't matter as much to me. Turn off the auto mode and tune it a little like normal and it captures great pics. Also, I have found that the no dedicated camera button complaint doesn't hold water as you can map the shutter to the volume key. Voila, dedicated camera button.
Memory: 3GB is a lot... especially if I ball park the figures and think 1GB system, 2 GB user. And with mem management improvement getting even better with 4.4 on the horizon, it all upside here. The amount of concurrently running apps with little to no stutter on switching is ridiculous.
USB 3.0: Faster Charging and data transfer is such a plus... now I don't have to take the SD card out to get decent transfer speeds.
Main complaint...
GPS: Maybe its a software issue, but it takes forever for this thing to get a lock. And when it does, it seems to give me a "general" location until it has a minute to warm up and then it gets serious. And keeping a lock for consistent tracking seems intermittent as well. This is huge for me because I use GPS all the time (yelp,checking traffic, Golf Logix, hiking GPS, etc.) and it sometimes makes using location relevant apps a chore, especially because I know it's not a slow data connection.
Now, its true that the Nexus 5 will give me most of this, but the major drawback is the battery. (no duh) So is the rest of what I do get with the Note 3 worth the extra $300, especially when that $300 can go towards getting me the next hot sh*t ? I'm not sure... the GPS thing is super annoying. I'm hoping a software fix comes for this eventually.
I plan to use the Nexus for a few days to get some time in on it, but I think I may suck up the GPS issue for more mature hardware.
No GPS problems here. Occasionally some hiccups navigating but no problems really. The nexus 5 hardware is basically the same. But that micro SD slot puts it over the top for me.
sent from my sm-9005.
How can you not mention the WiFi Issues.. That for me is the only Major con right now.. I really hope t-mobile fixes the radio issues.. Wifi, Gps, and Lte.
no gps problem, not even me.
no GPS or wifi issues here
i've got the intermittent gps issue, but no wifi problems.
No gps or wifi issues here
Sent from my SM-N900T using Xparent Red Tapatalk 2
Just switched and got mine last night, so I haven't tested GPS yet. But after having a Note 2 for awhile, I don't want to go to a smaller phone like the Nexus 5. And I'm used to having great battery life, something the Nexus 5 doesn't have.
coolchris909 said:
Now for the twist. I also ordered a Nexus 5 which is due here on the 5th. With the difference in cost, I'm really on the fence. I have put the N3 through its paces and I noticed a few things that perhaps justify the additional $300 for the N3.
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Click to collapse
Same boat here. Have really come to enjoy the N3. I love the size and feel of the back. It's a joy to use. No GPS issues for me. With the Nexus 5 I'm losing SD Card and Touchwiz and Spen. And I can't yet determine what I'm gaining except maybe a little more pocketability. It'll be interesting to compare them, but I think I already decided to send the Nexus 5 back. Not sure I want to waste too much time setting it all up. One thing that would be a plus is a little more siri like voice behavior, that would be cool, but I've come to really like touchwiz, soooo...
Be interested to hear your thoughts when you get yours as well.
The only wife issues I have had is that it's range is maybe a little shorter (within a few feet)... but nothing major. As for general reception, I am coming from Sprint, so almost anything is better.
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app
No gps or wife issues here either.
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app
Dido, gps and my wife is ok, WiFi is good too.
No GPS LTE or ' WiFe' issues here either
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
coolchris909 said:
The only wife issues I have had is that it's range is maybe a little shorter (within a few feet)... but nothing major.
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Click to collapse
If she really loves you then size shouldn't matter.
I don't have wifi issue either but it does tell me my wifi is unreliable but I'm still connected and able to surf. GPS seems about the same as my s4 which isnt super quick but not too slow.
In the same situation too. Have a Note 3 in hand and Nexus 5 in the mail. The GN3 has the best screen on a phone bar none and the battery life is phenomenal even with TW bloat bogging it down.
My main reservation is living with the paltry 32GB in the N5. It's enough for a bit of music and not much else. And the batt life is a liability. I really hope the screen's at least 90% as good as my S4, if not then it's going on ebay.
OTOH this sh*tty TouchWiz is driving me nuts, if CM doesn't make an appearance soon then somebody's gonna get rickrolled.
The N5 is putting up a hell of a fight in hand... All of a sudden I get the feeling a middle weight could win a majority decision over a heavy weight.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
coolchris909 said:
The N5 is putting up a hell of a fight in hand... All of a sudden I get the feeling a middle weight could win a majority decision over a heavy weight.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After 1/2 day with the N5, it's going back. N3 for me. It's a beautiful device and the screen is sharp as hell. But the lack of physical buttons means they have to use screen space on the bottom for the nav buttons and then part of the screen on top for the 3 dots for the apps settings menu. So you have a big chunk of screen space gone. It's a 5" screen but feels like a 4" screen because of the layout. In the email app it seems like the body doesn't start until 1/2 way down the screen due to the header information. Kinda looks like a mess compared to the N3.
Google voice commands are pretty slick on it. "Navigate Home" finally works, instead of trying to route me to Home Depot like my N3 does
At the end of the day the usable screen space is just too small and now I'm spoiled, combine that with the Micro SD slot and great battery life and I think the Note 3 is a winner.
Have Note 3, love it, no complaints. I'm probably going to get the N5 in a few months after the hype dies down and I have more cash to spend. I've had every Nexus phone and they're fun to play around with. I'll still be keeping my Note as my daily driver, the N5 will be just for fun.
I also have some Gps problems. It's slow to connect and it looses signal if there is a single cloud in the sky.. Seems like software problem. This is much worse than my note 2 or GS3.
Sent from my Note 3
96GB of storage is no comparison. Not to mention the battery is removable.
Speakerphone is loud and clear and I have no complaint.
Hey, my iPhone decided to break on me, and I've decided to go back to Android. I've been looking at phone sizes less than 5.5" and this phone is one of them. Do you think this phone is worth it or are there any other smaller sized phones? Thanks (And ples give a phone thats atleast rootable)
Rekan_ said:
Hey, my iPhone decided to break on me, and I've decided to go back to Android. I've been looking at phone sizes less than 5.5" and this phone is one of them. Do you think this phone is worth it or are there any other smaller sized phones? Thanks (And ples give a phone thats atleast rootable)
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Click to collapse
If you can get the 32gb one for the low $230ish prices that have been going around the last couple weeks, yes.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
I got this phone 4+ months ago after being a long time Galaxy S veteran from the first one to the sixth, and honestly the only thing I regret is the snappy response times on those phones and of course in galaxy s7 micro SD card came back too, so yea!
This phone gives you a pure Google Android experience. Whether you decide to root and/or install custom ROMs is also an option you can decide based on your needs. The Google's repository always has the latest ROM available for you to download and flash away on monthly bases if like to keep up with the updates and do a clean install of a full ROM. And about the over the air updates, if you don't like to wait for the next one to pop up some time, you can also download OTA updates from Google's repository too.
The physical build quality feels more on the cost saving side for Google and LG, and it doesn't feel as the premium phones do, but the plus side is since the back is not glass, it doesn't retain as much finger prints and stays cleaner in general. And it is light in weight.
Finger print reader works marvelously. Every single time.
Performance is good for daily use, average to low for a gamer.
Battery lasts about a day for my daily activities, if I'm on a plane or use it 5-6 hours straight (heavy use with Internet and screen brightness cranked up) I would charged twice a day.
The charging port/data port is USB type C. I had a wtf moment when I opened box and saw both sides of the charging cable having the same type of interface, but oh well. I finally bought a couple of cables for car charges, and computer.
Wifi connection is not snappy. On 2.4 GHz it lags and the ping times vary. 5 GHz connection is more reliable. I've tried using 3 different routers (airport extreme, Linksys ea8500, and a stock Xfinity router) and I've had the same experience. Not a big fan of this part as I've flashed the latest ROM onto this thing just to have a fresh clean install and got the same wifi results.
The screen is HD quality on the medium side (not 4k or retina quality for you coming over from I products) and you can check out the specs too. It is OK.
I'm happy with it in general, so do I wish I waited for the S7, yes, but you can't beat the good price on Nexus 5x either.
It is really a personal choice, but here are a few things I'd to say. It is a trade-off like everything else you buy, but I in general like it.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using XDA-Developers mobile app
Commodore 64 said:
I got this phone 4+ months ago after being a long time Galaxy S veteran from the first one to the sixth, and honestly the only thing I regret is the snappy response times on those phones and of course in galaxy s7 micro SD card came back too, so yea!
This phone gives you a pure Google Android experience. Whether you decide to root and/or install custom ROMs is also an option you can decide based on your needs. The Google's repository always has the latest ROM available for you to download and flash away on monthly bases if like to keep up with the updates and do a clean install of a full ROM. And about the over the air updates, if you don't like to wait for the next one to pop up some time, you can also download OTA updates from Google's repository too.
The physical build quality feels more on the cost saving side for Google and LG, and it doesn't feel as the premium phones do, but the plus side is since the back is not glass, it doesn't retain as much finger prints and stays cleaner in general. And it is light in weight.
Finger print reader works marvelously. Every single time.
Performance is good for daily use, average to low for a gamer.
Battery lasts about a day for my daily activities, if I'm on a plane or use it 5-6 hours straight (heavy use with Internet and screen brightness cranked up) I would charged twice a day.
The charging port/data port is USB type C. I had a wtf moment when I opened box and saw both sides of the charging cable having the same type of interface, but oh well. I finally bought a couple of cables for car charges, and computer.
Wifi connection is not snappy. On 2.4 GHz it lags and the ping times vary. 5 GHz connection is more reliable. I've tried using 3 different routers (airport extreme, Linksys ea8500, and a stock Xfinity router) and I've had the same experience. Not a big fan of this part as I've flashed the latest ROM onto this thing just to have a fresh clean install and got the same wifi results.
The screen is HD quality on the medium side (not 4k or retina quality for you coming over from I products) and you can check out the specs too. It is OK.
I'm happy with it in general, so do I wish I waited for the S7, yes, but you can't beat the good price on Nexus 5x either.
It is really a personal choice, but here are a few things I'd to say. It is a trade-off like everything else you buy, but I in general like it.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thanks, I'm also an ex-Samsung user. Had a lot of their flagships before I brought a 6S, but the S7 for me is asking for too much money, so I'm probably going to go for this phone. Also, how is the camera quality?
Very good photo quality. It is surprisingly good during low light photos. There is also a dedicated thread for photos taken with Nexus 5x, which I found useful when reading about this phone.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-5x/general/excellent-camera-t3230797
Sent from my Nexus 5X using XDA-Developers mobile app
Commodore 64 said:
The screen is HD quality on the medium side (not 4k or retina quality for you coming over from I products) and you can check out the specs too. It is OK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually the 5x display is higher than retina quality (more pixels per inch) and also has more accurate colours than iPhone 6s as shown by Anandtech.
I think we can safely say the screen is better than what's used on the iPhone 6s and surpasses the "retina" base mark for pixel density.
Sighh.. so guys, i had my mi mix for about 6 months and i loveD this phone. but i feel like its come to the end of the line already.
MIUI is basically unusable for me, missed notifications, calls missed by delay of ring & late notifications, group texting is horrible, camera image processing sucks, OS crashes etc. (all this before rooting mind you)
But after rooting all of those issues went away....for a bit.
so since day 2 i had it rooted running lineageOS and switched to RR, but 3 months later and up til today i started experiencing:
Slight screen burn
Constant OS Crashes/Random Reboots
Cell Signal dropping in areas that it didnt while running MIUI
Still bad camera image processing
Call Audio dropping extremely low when volume is Maxed
Bluetooth disconnects while my phone is in my pocket (didnt happen on MIUI)
and several other things.
I work IT and cant have some of these things happening while at work.
I started looking at alternative devices and since the Pixel 2 is too dang much for my pockets I'm considering the Pixel XL.
I hate that the screen is 5.5 inches over my 6.4 but I need something nice that works. I'm wondering if i left if I'd be happy or nah?
I had a Pixel XL and the software experience was incredible, it was better than anything else I've used. I did have to send it back though, because I had display burn in after 2 days and it was very uneven on dark colours. People report Bluetooth issues, but I didn't have any, so who knows.
But in my opinion, if you get one with a good screen, it is still better than most phones today, it really is a good phone.
TLDR: Is Pixel 6 worth buying today considering it loses Android support on Oct 2024?
What title says. I was going to buy a Pixel 6 but it loses support on Oct 2024. What does this mean and is it still worth to buy? I assume there's a community that'll unofficially add updates to it.
┤Mod Edit├┤Editing out spam content but avoiding thread removal├
Currently I have an s21+ and android support is 4 years. I like the Pixel 6 specs better too :3. What do yall think? Ebay price is around $250.
Yes, last Android version will come in fall 2024 but monthly updates (mostly security) will be coming out every month approx until Oct 2025.
I think it's still worth it, considering you still have more than 2 years and P6P is a very capable camera phone with smooth OS.
All the software issues you may have heard about in the past (brightness, higher battery consumption, etc.) have been fixed. Also quarterly updates can be exciting and that's something you don't get on other phones.
Also, Pixel 7 Pro is already down 20% in some stores, so that price is also worth it.
I will probably update to the pixel 8 pro after my 6 pro. I think even the 6 pro is worth getting for $250. I have lineage os 20 on my 6 pro and those updates should last quite a while. I'd invest in it.
peele87 said:
TLDR: Is Pixel 6 worth buying today considering it loses Android support on Oct 2024?
What title says. I was going to buy a Pixel 6 but it loses support on Oct 2024. What does this mean and is it still worth to buy? I assume there's a community that'll unofficially add updates to it.
Currently I have an s21+ and android support is 4 years. I like the Pixel 6 specs better too :3. What do yall think? Ebay price is around $250.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, considering custom Roms and GSI, you can run anything you want. Like my backup phone, Oneplus Nord N10 5G only got android 11, and ROM support is dead for it. It is running Crdoid 2/20/2023 android 13 GSI ROM with 0 issues
Custom ROMs and GSI (Generic System Image) provide an opportunity for users to install and run a different version of the Android operating system on their devices. They are particularly useful for devices that no longer receive official software updates or have limited support from the manufacturer.
In the case mentioned, the Oneplus Nord N10 5G only had official support up to Android 11 and no longer received updates. However, the user was able to install a custom ROM called Crdoid 2/20/2023 based on Android 13 GSI, which allowed them to run the latest version of Android on their device without issues.
Custom ROMs and GSI may require some technical knowledge and effort to install, but they offer the flexibility to customize and modify the device's software to suit individual preferences. They also provide an opportunity to extend the lifespan of older devices by enabling them to run newer software.
However, it is essential to note that installing custom ROMs or GSI may void the device's warranty and can also pose some security risks if not done correctly. It is always advisable to research and follow the installation instructions carefully, and only install ROMs from trusted sources.
skoda9635 said:
Yes, last Android version will come in fall 2024 but monthly updates (mostly security) will be coming out every month approx until Oct 2025.
I think it's still worth it, considering you still have more than 2 years and P6P is a very capable camera phone with smooth OS.
All the software issues you may have heard about in the past (brightness, higher battery consumption, etc.) have been fixed. Also quarterly updates can be exciting and that's something you don't get on other phones.
Also, Pixel 7 Pro is already down 20% in some stores, so that price is also worth it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried the Pixel 6 Pro for 5 days. This is my review:
Camera (3/5):
Shooting photos and videos with this phone main camera is amazing, even in low light. It would always impress me, the stabilization is also good. The downside is the ultra wide camera. Shooting videos in low light with the ultra wide camera results in a washed out video. The quality is so bad that it is embarrassing to call this a "Pro" version. My 3 years old OP8 (OnePlus 8) shoots a way better ultra wide video in low light, and the camera is the OP's weakest point... The front camera photos are underwhelming. The telephoto is great, however, I only got to test it in good natural lighting.
Battery (1/5):
This is a 5000 mAh battery device, it should last you the whole day without any trouble. Left home with 72% charge on my OP8 and 78% on the Pixel. I used Google Maps on my OP8 for 1h34m, 30 minutes of it is probably searching for places, the rest was for navigating around the cities. On the other hand, I used the Pixel for taking a few photos and 2 short videos, not more than 5 minutes of usage. Used it for chatting for around 45 minutes. This was an 8 hours trip. The OP8 went down from 72 to 39, the pixel went down frok 78 to 32. 33% with 1h34m Maps vs 46% with 45 min of chatting and a few shots and 2 videos. I tried Anker's 30W charger, and it charged around 13% in 10 minutes – definitely not 30W, my OP8 does 20% in 9 minutes with 30W warp charging. The phone's battery did well on Wi-Fi though, so the problem might be with it cellular receiver.
Software (2/5):
Google's phones are known for their "software". I am not impressed by it, not even a little bit. The camera app would crash so frequently that it got on my nerves. I bought this phone to take photos, and it has built its image on simply doing that, but they can't program an app that functions properly. Google assistant does not work when the phone is locked. I enabled the option in the settings for the assistant to give personal data when locked, but it didn't work. The routines in the Google Assistant didn't work either. The rest of the commands worked fine.
Performance (3/5):
The phone is fast, I didn't challenge it much except with compressing some videos. It is fast, and weirdly enough, it compresses videos to smaller sizes than my OP8. It does heat up a little while compressing but that seemed normal to me. However, I noticed that it heats up with normal use (chatting a little bit, YouTube, browsing the internet). It seemed abnormal to me.
Build (4/5):
The phone looks amazing to me (highly subjective) and feels premium. The display seems hollow when I tap on it with my finger nails, comparing it to a Samsung A31, Note 5 and the OP8. I bought the white color – Google (and pretty much all companies) feels like they need to call it some weird name cloudy starlight or whatever – and it looked quite good. I hated the shiny aluminum frame, it looked like the shiny plastic frames you find on the A series from Samsung. The speakers are not good at all, but I am used to the OP8, which has one of the best speakers out there. It sounds like when you turn on the "surrounding" setting for your headphones.
Fingerprint reader (3/5):
It is fast enough when it actually tries to read your fingerprint. What does that mean? There were many cases where I lift the phone, it lights up and shows the fingerprint reader, I place my finger there and nothing happens. I lift my finger and retry, and it reads it perfectly, never missing. I guess the phone would wait for the animation to finish playing before attempting to read my fingerprint. Comparing it to the OP8, it is much slower.
MapzOr said:
I have tried the Pixel 6 Pro for 5 days. This is my review:
Camera (3/5):
Shooting photos and videos with this phone main camera is amazing, even in low light. It would always impress me, the stabilization is also good. The downside is the ultra wide camera. Shooting videos in low light with the ultra wide camera results in a washed out video. The quality is so bad that it is embarrassing to call this a "Pro" version. My 3 years old OP8 (OnePlus 8) shoots a way better ultra wide video in low light, and the camera is the OP's weakest point... The front camera photos are underwhelming. The telephoto is great, however, I only got to test it in good natural lighting.
Battery (1/5):
This is a 5000 mAh battery device, it should last you the whole day without any trouble. Left home with 72% charge on my OP8 and 78% on the Pixel. I used Google Maps on my OP8 for 1h34m, 30 minutes of it is probably searching for places, the rest was for navigating around the cities. On the other hand, I used the Pixel for taking a few photos and 2 short videos, not more than 5 minutes of usage. Used it for chatting for around 45 minutes. This was an 8 hours trip. The OP8 went down from 72 to 39, the pixel went down frok 78 to 32. 33% with 1h34m Maps vs 46% with 45 min of chatting and a few shots and 2 videos. I tried Anker's 30W charger, and it charged around 13% in 10 minutes – definitely not 30W, my OP8 does 20% in 9 minutes with 30W warp charging. The phone's battery did well on Wi-Fi though, so the problem might be with it cellular receiver.
Software (2/5):
Google's phones are known for their "software". I am not impressed by it, not even a little bit. The camera app would crash so frequently that it got on my nerves. I bought this phone to take photos, and it has built its image on simply doing that, but they can't program an app that functions properly. Google assistant does not work when the phone is locked. I enabled the option in the settings for the assistant to give personal data when locked, but it didn't work. The routines in the Google Assistant didn't work either. The rest of the commands worked fine.
Performance (3/5):
The phone is fast, I didn't challenge it much except with compressing some videos. It is fast, and weirdly enough, it compresses videos to smaller sizes than my OP8. It does heat up a little while compressing but that seemed normal to me. However, I noticed that it heats up with normal use (chatting a little bit, YouTube, browsing the internet). It seemed abnormal to me.
Build (4/5):
The phone looks amazing to me (highly subjective) and feels premium. The display seems hollow when I tap on it with my finger nails, comparing it to a Samsung A31, Note 5 and the OP8. I bought the white color – Google (and pretty much all companies) feels like they need to call it some weird name cloudy starlight or whatever – and it looked quite good. I hated the shiny aluminum frame, it looked like the shiny plastic frames you find on the A series from Samsung. The speakers are not good at all, but I am used to the OP8, which has one of the best speakers out there. It sounds like when you turn on the "surrounding" setting for your headphones.
Fingerprint reader (3/5):
It is fast enough when it actually tries to read your fingerprint. What does that mean? There were many cases where I lift the phone, it lights up and shows the fingerprint reader, I place my finger there and nothing happens. I lift my finger and retry, and it reads it perfectly, never missing. I guess the phone would wait for the animation to finish playing before attempting to read my fingerprint. Comparing it to the OP8, it is much slower.
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Yeah, you are pretty much correct with everything, except those software quirks are not occuring in my unit.
I am not really a heavy user of ultrawide so I don't mind. I am kinda biased towards pure Android (I hated it though before A12) and having reviewed many phones in the past professionally, I just got tired of all the custom ROMs (tried every manufacturer except Vivo and oppo...back then they were not available in my country).
Yeah, you reminded me of those modem quirks - I mean the signal strength is great (better than gf's iPhone 12), but the battery consumption is terrible. I forgot about them after year and half of usage.
Charging is slow - about 23 W or so. It takes hour and half to fully charge.
Yeah, the phone is buttery smooth and yeah it tends to run hotter than average (I don't mind it, got used to it and case lowers the heat emission to my hands). The problem is Tensor (ehm, ehm Exynos). It's also weaker in comparison to Snapdragons.
Fingerprint reader is one of the slowest, that's true. Still waiting for Face unlocking, but that's never gonna happen I guess.
skoda9635 said:
Yeah, you are pretty much correct with everything, except those software quirks are not occuring in my unit.
I am not really a heavy user of ultrawide so I don't mind. I am kinda biased towards pure Android (I hated it though before A12) and having reviewed many phones in the past professionally, I just got tired of all the custom ROMs (tried every manufacturer except Vivo and oppo...back then they were not available in my country).
Yeah, you reminded me of those modem quirks - I mean the signal strength is great (better than gf's iPhone 12), but the battery consumption is terrible. I forgot about them after year and half of usage.
Charging is slow - about 23 W or so. It takes hour and half to fully charge.
Yeah, the phone is buttery smooth and yeah it tends to run hotter than average (I don't mind it, got used to it and case lowers the heat emission to my hands). The problem is Tensor (ehm, ehm Exynos). It's also weaker in comparison to Snapdragons.
Fingerprint reader is one of the slowest, that's true. Still waiting for Face unlocking, but that's never gonna happen I guess.
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I have seen several reviews and almost no one mentioned the issues I faced, especially the battery drain on LTE and ultra wide camera.