Develop Bugs

[Q] Used Note 2 vs new Nexus 4...which one?

Hi folks. I have sold my Galaxy s2 more from an eager impulse to upgrade, and I have been rolling without a phone now because I couldn't simply decide which to get. At some point I even regret I have sold the s2 which was perfectly fine. But now since I did it I said at least to make a substantial upgrade. I have a micro sim with unlimited data until next year in may so I won't upgrade until then, even more, I would like to keep it longer than that.
I narrowed my choices to
S3 (used grade B - 260£),
Nexus 4 (new with 1 year warranty - 288£)
and Note 2 (used grade C - 305£, or 320£ grade B)
the used phones come with 60 days warranty only, no box or other accesories except USB cable (basically phones from recycling websites, so in good condition)
I think I took out s3 out of the list now..because for 20£ more you can get new N4
so it's between n4 and n2
I don't mind about the storage but it is a + obviously
I like to have good battery (when travelling or using google maps I don't want to get in trouble, though there are those mobile chargers available)
I used the n2 in the shop and I could control 85% of the touchscreen with one hand.
I like being able to read kindle, kobo ebooks on the phone, and having a swiss knife like n2 is
I like music and podcasts.
I am worried about N4: back of glass, god knows how many times I dropped s2 or bumped it., although I think aftermarket backcover will be available or could stick a dbrand skin
battery,
battery: from what I've red it looks like it's average, although pretty sure it's better than my used s2
Worried about N2
only 60 days warranty
price is higher, even if used condition (grade C might have scratches and scuffs but I heard very good reviews and it generally goes one class better)
worried about size, is it more fragile because the size? can I use it while running listening to music?
It really is a though call...but I need a phone, thought to rebuy a s2 or a htc one s/x (used of course) but considering I will be using this for more than a year with full blown unlimited internet, I might as well make a significant upgrade...
Which one should I get?

I was luck to use a Galaxy Nexus 4 and then move on to the SGN II
The Note is great doesn't take long to get used to the size.
Downside to the Nexus as I see it... Not as much support/custom roms etc
The Nexus is limited IMO - no external storage, no removable battery. 16GB fills up really quickly and streaming isn't always an option (think big games and satnav)
So other than the obvious tech spec differences for me the Note was the way forward.

nc35 said:
I was luck to use a Galaxy Nexus 4 and then move on to the SGN II
The Note is great doesn't take long to get used to the size.
Downside to the Nexus as I see it... Not as much support/custom roms etc
The Nexus is limited IMO - no external storage, no removable battery. 16GB fills up really quickly and streaming isn't always an option (think big games and satnav)
So other than the obvious tech spec differences for me the Note was the way forward.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for your input
What most worries me is the warranty. Although I did not have any problem with s2 that would require RMA or servicing, is the N2 a sturdy device that doesn't develop faults along the way?

Ashan85 said:
thanks for your input
What most worries me is the warranty. Although I did not have any problem with s2 that would require RMA or servicing, is the N2 a sturdy device that doesn't develop faults along the way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not if you update to the latest samsung rom.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app

Choose Samsung Galaxy Note 2 because it has:
1. Great battery
2. Large/Amazing screen (reading books through Kindle or Kobo is just fantastic )
3. Removable battery
4. Micro SD slot
5. Project Butter (everything goes very smooth, no lag)
Plus, s-pen, good camera.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium

artorelis said:
Choose Samsung Galaxy Note 2 because it has:
1. Great battery
2. Large/Amazing screen (reading books through Kindle or Kobo is just fantastic )
3. Removable battery
4. Micro SD slot
5. Project Butter (everything goes very smooth, no lag)
Plus, s-pen, good camera.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Project butter is of Google or samsung?
Sent from my GT-N7100

I've had 2 note 2's and haven't had a single issue in the months since owning.
I own both a note 2 & a nexus 4, I much prefer the note 2 and use it 95% of the time. It is a brilliant all rounder & don't think any other phone on the market presently beats it for looks or overall performance, IMO.
Get the note 2 you won't regret it at all

mys3 said:
I've had 2 note 2's and haven't had a single issue in the months since owning.
I own both a note 2 & a nexus 4, I much prefer the note 2 and use it 95% of the time. It is a brilliant all rounder & don't think any other phone on the market presently beats it for looks or overall performance, IMO.
Get the note 2 you won't regret it at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you give me your n4 cuz you use n2 most of the time.
Sent from my GT-N7100

This is a new concept to me but what exactly are the differences in conditions between these grades?
Sent from the rabbit hole.

bushako said:
This is a new concept to me but what exactly are the differences in conditions between these grades?
Sent from the rabbit hole.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will copy paste here...They are from recycle companies that buy mobiles, it is a bit risky but considering the phone has been on the market for only 4 months a grade c might be in reality grade b. There is also free returns 7 days policy.
What does Grade A mean?
• The phone is used but in excellent condition.
• Cosmetically the phone will show no signs of use, there will be no scratches,
cracks or scuffs to the screen or casing.
• It’s been fully tested*, is in full working order and has been restored to the latest operating system.
What does Grade B mean?
• The phone is used and in good condition.
• Cosmetically the phone will show signs of slight use, including two or three minor scratches to the screen and casing. It wont have cracks on the screen or casing.
• It’s been fully tested*, is in full working order and has been restored to the latest operating system.
What does Grade C mean?
• The phone is used and in average condition.
• Cosmetically the phone will show signs of use, including some scratches and
scuffs to the screen and casing. It wont have cracks on the screen or casing.
• It’s been fully tested*, is in full working order and has been restored to the latest operating system.

Ah in that case I'd settle for the Nexus 4 if i were you., the Note 2 is a great device with much more functionality but reality is there is nothing like getting a phone right out of the box Atleast in my case and that alone would be my deciding factor besides the fact that it uses pure android which Is a plus for me too.
I've had a lot of bad experiences with used phones in the past and since then I've always opted for brand new. However, if you do decide to get the Note2 then I can add that incase the housing is pretty bad, since you've mentioned it's a grade c, then you can easily replace the housing for as cheap as 10bucks from www.cnn.cn. Their products are of high quality standard and very cheap.
Sent from the rabbit hole.

Tough one really. It keeps bouncing in my head on and off... I know I can't buy anything better than these with 300£, it is basically a real upgrade mid contract with just a small cost. I also want to use it for more than one year this time.

Ashan85 said:
Hi folks. I have sold my Galaxy s2 more from an eager impulse to upgrade, and I have been rolling without a phone now because I couldn't simply decide which to get. At some point I even regret I have sold the s2 which was perfectly fine. But now since I did it I said at least to make a substantial upgrade. I have a micro sim with unlimited data until next year in may so I won't upgrade until then, even more, I would like to keep it longer than that.
I narrowed my choices to
S3 (used grade B - 260£),
Nexus 4 (new with 1 year warranty - 288£)
and Note 2 (used grade C - 305£, or 320£ grade B)
the used phones come with 60 days warranty only, no box or other accesories except USB cable (basically phones from recycling websites, so in good condition)
I think I took out s3 out of the list now..because for 20£ more you can get new N4
so it's between n4 and n2
I don't mind about the storage but it is a + obviously
I like to have good battery (when travelling or using google maps I don't want to get in trouble, though there are those mobile chargers available)
I used the n2 in the shop and I could control 85% of the touchscreen with one hand.
I like being able to read kindle, kobo ebooks on the phone, and having a swiss knife like n2 is
I like music and podcasts.
I am worried about N4: back of glass, god knows how many times I dropped s2 or bumped it., although I think aftermarket backcover will be available or could stick a dbrand skin
battery,
battery: from what I've red it looks like it's average, although pretty sure it's better than my used s2
Worried about N2
only 60 days warranty
price is higher, even if used condition (grade C might have scratches and scuffs but I heard very good reviews and it generally goes one class better)
worried about size, is it more fragile because the size? can I use it while running listening to music?
It really is a though call...but I need a phone, thought to rebuy a s2 or a htc one s/x (used of course) but considering I will be using this for more than a year with full blown unlimited internet, I might as well make a significant upgrade...
Which one should I get?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
You should take a look at Panamoz.com.
They specialise in camera lenses but offer really good prices on phones which are imported from Honk Kong and with 1 year warranty. You can get a new LTE S3 for just a bit more than a Nexus, etc.
I know people who have used the site and they all recommend it.

Okay disregard that.
It seems to have jumped up over £200!
Must have been a long discount they had over the holiday period when I last checked.

Note 2:
+/-big screen
+more storage
+bigger battery (but also higher energy consumption through display)
+SPEN extremly useful in combination with FreeNote at University | AND try out Swype, swiping is perfect for SPEN
Nexus 4:
+newest firmware
+feels noble/high quality (unibody and glass front + back)
+more custom ROMs
-storage
I would prefer the NII mainly beacause of the big screen with AMOLED technology. I tested both devices and felt in love with the NII.

xhizorsz said:
Note 2:
+/-big screen
+more storage
+bigger battery (but also higher energy consumption through display)
+SPEN extremly useful in combination with FreeNote at University | AND try out Swype, swiping is perfect for SPEN
Nexus 4:
+newest firmware
+feels noble/high quality (unibody and glass front + back)
+more custom ROMs
-storage
I would prefer the NII mainly beacause of the big screen with AMOLED technology. I tested both devices and felt in love with the NII.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THE Note 2 came yesterday. Unfortunately it is mint on the case, but has 3 scratched, visible with the screen off, visible on white background, one 1 inch long, and 2 small, and then there are 4 more small scratches, the ones that I don't mind....quite a good condition for a grade C, I would say others would sell this as very good condition.
I think I will try to exchange it with a C or chuck 15£ more for a B; Or shouldn't I? If i put a screen protector will it make me forget about those? Does a scratched screen weaken the gorilla glass 2?
Bad about it is that the back panel creacks and flexes making sounds.
Oh..and the titanium color is beautiful.
It is true how everybody said, at first I was shocked about the size of it, and felt intimadet a bit. I am quite tall, 6.3. my hands are regular size but I have very thin fingers, but after one day I am sold, I was ready to run for a s3 or n4 because of the size, but now it doesn't feel like that anymore. The money are well spent I think, could keep this for 2 years no doubt, only badpart is I need to buy an mp3 player for running.
Battery is a WOW factor, 20h 22m on battery (8 hours from the night losing 1%/hour) screen time 4h 39m and still got 29% left. A 1hour movie episode on bbc iplayer (wifi stream) took 9% of the battery!

Ashan85 said:
THE Note 2 came yesterday. Unfortunately it is mint on the case, but has 3 scratched, visible with the screen off, visible on white background, one 1 inch long, and 2 small, and then there are 4 more small scratches, the ones that I don't mind....quite a good condition for a grade C, I would say others would sell this as very good condition.
I think I will try to exchange it with a C or chuck 15£ more for a B; Or shouldn't I? If i put a screen protector will it make me forget about those? Does a scratched screen weaken the gorilla glass 2?
Bad about it is that the back panel creacks and flexes making sounds.
Oh..and the titanium color is beautiful.
It is true how everybody said, at first I was shocked about the size of it, and felt intimadet a bit. I am quite tall, 6.3. my hands are regular size but I have very thin fingers, but after one day I am sold, I was ready to run for a s3 or n4 because of the size, but now it doesn't feel like that anymore. The money are well spent I think, could keep this for 2 years no doubt, only badpart is I need to buy an mp3 player for running.
Battery is a WOW factor, 20h 22m on battery (8 hours from the night losing 1%/hour) screen time 4h 39m and still got 29% left. A 1hour movie episode on bbc iplayer (wifi stream) took 9% of the battery!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea just get a good quality anti glare screen protector and it should hide the scratches well. I hope.you get to enjoy it the way it's meant to be.
Sent from the rabbit hole.

hmm I don't see the competition here.
The ONLY reason you would choose N4 over Note 2 is you can't handle the screen size.
Like you want one hand operation at all time or you put your phone in your pants pocket but your pants are all has incredibly small pockets.
This is the only reason I can think of people would choose N4 over Note 2.
Other than this, I think Note 2 superior to N4 on every aspect.

darkinners said:
hmm I don't see the competition here.
The ONLY reason you would choose N4 over Note 2 is you can't handle the screen size.
Like you want one hand operation at all time or you put your phone in your pants pocket but your pants are all has incredibly small pockets.
This is the only reason I can think of people would choose N4 over Note 2.
Other than this, I think Note 2 superior to N4 on every aspect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, it was more about the budget. But as you can see, even a used note 2 is dearer than n4.

darkinners said:
hmm I don't see the competition here.
The ONLY reason you would choose N4 over Note 2 is you can't handle the screen size.
Like you want one hand operation at all time or you put your phone in your pants pocket but your pants are all has incredibly small pockets.
This is the only reason I can think of people would choose N4 over Note 2.
Other than this, I think Note 2 superior to N4 on every aspect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
......and the price

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.

Giving OnePlus one last shot. A few queries for you guys if you will.

Due to their "generous" 15 day return policy. ive decided to buy a Op5t 8gb black version. After being so frustrated with my OP5 I'm going to try the latest and greatest from OnePlus and see if it improves what i want the most from a smartphone. Some damn reception.
So I strongly beleive my OP5 has faulty antennae bands. One speed test I will have a 50mbps download 30 upload then the next test just seconds after will be .23mbps down and 0.01 upload. I have the feeling they short out or something. So i grabbed a friend who is on tmobile and asked him to constantly test alongside me to see if it was the area not just the phone. He constantly tested 50MBPS or better while i shifted from good to god awful. His dBm signal was always significantly better as well.
With that laid out I have questions about this device.
1. How's the telephony of this guy? Good reception? good signal? Are your data speeds always nearly capped out or as high as possible in peak times?
2. Is the battery good? I see the screen consumes some more energy than the 5 does mainly because it is larger. But is it really noticeably decreased?
3. Is the face unlock secure after all? It seems a bit too fast for its own good but does that actually mean it is secure in the end?
4. Are there wifi issues like the 5 had?
5. How is the camera upgrade? Is it really good, or just a "meh" upgrade? Or is it an upgrade at all?
Lastly: Might be my own experience, but I've never cracked a phone screen before but my OP5 is cracked and scratched to hell. I never set it down and I dont have diamonds in my pockets. Is this glass panel strong? Can it stand not having a case?

Overall Good Experience
First Oneplus phone for me, I came from the nexus line up(love stock android).
1) Haven't heard any complaints from the person I'm speaking to. No complaints on my side either (T-Mobile)
2) I can sometimes get a day and a half if its light use( some texts and calls), medium use I'll probably have ~20% battery left by the end of my day. Dash charge is amazing
3) If I close my eyes or 1 eye it won't unlock, only tried 1 picture of me and it didn't unlock, and it seems like it has to have vision of at least half of your face.
You don't have to use face unlock if you don't trust it.
4) No 4g/wifi problems so far, I ran a few speed test I consistently got around 35-40 Mb (Wifi)
5) No sorry no experience with the 5, I don't pictures often, but not problem with the pictures so far.
The 5t comes with a plastic screen protector on already and a translucent case.
Hope I helped.

Thanks for the input. I was leaning toward the pixel 2 or the xperia xz1 compact. I kinda wanted a smaller phone but i had a coupon for the op5t and i felt like i should try it and return it if i dont like it. Im used to oneplus devices anf enjoy their features but on every oneplus device ive had the cell radio is pathetic. Budget phones get better signal than mine in the same area.

OcazPrime said:
Lastly: Might be my own experience, but I've never cracked a phone screen before but my OP5 is cracked and scratched to hell. I never set it down and I dont have diamonds in my pockets. Is this glass panel strong? Can it stand not having a case?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also had the OP5 and, just as on the 5t, it comes delivered with a plastic screenprotector on it. I heard more people complaining about scratches on their screen but these scratches were always on this screenprotector, not on the actual screen. You hardly notice it. Did you remove it?
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

rmaathuis said:
I also had the OP5 and, just as on the 5t, it comes delivered with a plastic screenprotector on it. I heard more people complaining about scratches on their screen but these scratches were always on this screenprotector, not on the actual screen. You hardly notice it. Did you remove it?
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sadly yes. Im really not a fan of the glass on this thing. I removed that plastic after the first week when it got enough fingernail scratches on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv9Gt38LOKQ
Seems to be rather durable. I personally love the screen, it has a great feeling to it. Although I don't know what plastic screen protector you're talking about though - mine came without one (like Jerrys in the video did too).

SilverSurger said:
Seems to be rather durable. I personally love the screen, it has a great feeling to it. Although I don't know what plastic screen protector you're talking about though - mine came without one (like Jerrys in the video did too).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jerry clearly peels his off. They all come with a pre applied screen protector

SilverSurger said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv9Gt38LOKQ
Seems to be rather durable. I personally love the screen, it has a great feeling to it. Although I don't know what plastic screen protector you're talking about though - mine came without one (like Jerrys in the video did too).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed you can see him clearly remove it from the phone at 37seconds
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Wups, completely missed that part - my bad.
I also pulled off mine directly as it seems, I kept it in the box. Excitement killed my memory apparently.

LG V40 Announced.

Looks like the LG V40 will launch late this year. Some info on it can be found here: https://wccftech.com/lg-v40-specifications-feature-launch-date-leak-specifications-features-price/

https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v40

Guess am sticking with the v20. I cant live without removable battery. But Im always looking to import.

bountyman334 said:
Guess am sticking with the v20. I can't live without removable battery. But Im always looking to import.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You want removable battery because your battery dies during the day or what? And you want to swap it out?
People keep saying the can't live without removable battery but won't ever say why. My wife and I have not have removable battery on our Androids since 2014, so I don't quite understand.
First, with newer phones with high IP ratings -- like V30 IP68 -- you can't have removable battery without a lot of engineering headache. Also designing back exit port (with clear exit/entry/walls) for user battery removal makes the phone bigger than it needs to be.
Second, the V30 battery life is EXCELLENT. Some days I don't even charge my phone until I get home from work, as the V30 system has great built-in battery saving. I do keep Quick Charge chargers in car and at work, just in case. (Why? Because of my previous phone.)
Coming from a 2014 Moto XT1225 with a 3900 mAh battery, I was very worried about battery life on a phone with smaller battery (3300 mAh) and larger OLED display (6" vs 5.2"). I've been pleasantly surprised. Ironically, the older Moto XT1225 with bigger battery would not hold a charge all day long, thus my charger stash in car and at work... And I'm still going to keep those. There's no harm in charging while I'm using Google Waze navigation or topping off at work while I'm typing on my laptop.
Third, no current or future premium phones are going to have removable battery. See point #1. So, unless you are going to keep buying increasingly older refurbished V20 phones, at some point you're going to need to move forward.
I love IP68 protection, myself and the V30 has headset jack and Qi wireless charging -- which are my "lines in the sand" for what I need on a phone.
I wouldn't mind the LG V40 battery being a little larger than LG V30 3300 mA... but I am quite pleased with the battery performance of the LG V30.

ChazzMatt said:
You want removable battery because your battery dies during the day or what? And you want to swap it out?
People keep saying the can't live without removable battery but won't ever say why. My wife and I have not have removable battery on our Androids since 2014, so I don't quite understand.
First, with newer phones with high IP ratings -- like V30 IP68 -- you can't have removable battery without a lot of engineering headache. Also designing back exit port (with clear exit/entry/walls) for user battery removal makes the phone bigger than it needs to be.
Second, the V30 battery life is EXCELLENT. Some days I don't even charge my phone until I get home from work, as the V30 system has great built-in battery saving. I do keep Quick Charge chargers in car and at work, just in case. (Why? Because of my previous phone.)
Coming from a 2014 Moto XT1225 with a 3900 mAh battery, I was very worried about battery life on a phone with smaller battery (3300 mAh) and larger OLED display (6" vs 5.2"). I've been pleasantly surprised. Ironically, the older Moto XT1225 with bigger battery would not hold a charge all day long, thus my charger stash in car and at work... And I'm still going to keep those. There's no harm in charging while I'm using Google Waze navigation or topping off at work while I'm typing on my laptop.
Third, no current or future premium phones are going to have removable battery. See point #1. So, unless you are going to keep buying increasingly older refurbished V20 phones, at some point you're going to need to move forward.
I love IP68 protection, myself and the V30 has headset jack and Qi wireless charging -- which are my "lines in the sand" for what I need on a phone.
I wouldn't mind the LG V40 battery being a little larger than LG V30 3300 mA... but I am quite pleased with the battery performance of the LG V30.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want removable battery so I can replace it myself when it gives signs of wear. Without taking the whole damn phone apart!
I never take baths with my phone, all phones have enough water resistance so you can walk with them in the rain.
I really don't see the point in having water proofing on modern phones. Not when it comes at the cost of repairability or drop resistance.
FACT: old phones with removable battery were much more resistant on drops even if their parts (cover, battery) flew in all directions on big drops. I dropped old Nokia smartphones from 2nd story with no damage. How does water proofing help your flagship these days? They crack from laughable heights of under a meter.
I'm pretty sure drops on hard surfaces are much more common causes for damage than the lack of water proofing ever was in the past.

DLS123 said:
I want removable battery so I can replace it myself when it gives signs of wear.
I never take baths with my phone, all phones have enough water resistance so you can walk with them in the rain.
I really don't see the point in having water proofing on modern phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not taking baths, it's the drop off the edge of swimming pool. Drop in the toilet. (Ugh). Kid knocking over pitcher of tea at the dinner table, directly onto your phone.
V30 has mil spec ratings for dropping. See the forum description on the PC website version. Phone will keep functioning. I do keep case on for glass back as it's slippery.
LG V30 in United States has two year warranty.

ChazzMatt said:
It's not taking baths, it's the drop off the edge of swimming pool. Drop in the toilet. (Ugh). Kid knocking over pitcher of tea at the dinner table, directly onto your phone.
V30 has mil spec ratings for dropping. See the forum description on the PC website version. Phone will keep functioning. I do keep case on for glass back as it's slippery.
LG V30 in United States has two year warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you shouldn't take the phone near the swimming pool. Or buy a phone specifically made for extreme environments if you're really not able to be careful about using electronics near water or keep it away from kids.
I don't care about the specs for dropping and whatever others have tested and written about the phone.
I learned on my own how those specs mean absolutely nothing. I dropped the V30 from 60 cm on wooden floor. The screen cracked, water resistance is gone. These new designs are terribly flawed. Superior materials (plastics) have been replaced by metal and glass. Neither provides any functional advantage. They just make the phone more heavy and slippery. Add to that the craze about screen to body ratio aiming for 100% that does nothing but make the phones even more fragile.

DLS123 said:
Maybe you shouldn't take the phone near the swimming pool. Or buy a phone specifically made for extreme environments if you're really not able to be careful about using electronics near water or keep it away from kids.
I don't care about the specs for dropping and whatever others have tested and written about the phone.
I learned on my own how those specs mean absolutely nothing. I dropped the V30 from 60 cm on wooden floor. The screen cracked, water resistance is gone. These new designs are terribly flawed. Superior materials (plastics) have been replaced by metal and glass. Neither provides any functional advantage. They just make the phone more heavy and slippery. Add to that the craze about screen to body ratio aiming for 100% that does nothing but make the phones even more fragile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you're never getting removable battery on a new premium phone, no matter how much you complain.
How often do you replace your batteries anyway?
Love the peace of mind of IP68, whether I ever need it or not. I've not had removable battery phone since 2014 and never missed that feature.
Sent via open market LG US998 V30/V30+

@DLS123
i think that everything comes down to money... if you had the money you would change the friggin phones every month, every week... but it's like the fox and the grapes (if you understand what i mean)
as for battery change, how often do you change them? once a year? once two years? you might not even keep a phone that much and speaking about the phone beinng dismantled like that it means that you don't even do the operation of changing the battery
ip68 protection is very good. many people kill their phones because of liquid damage. there are many situations you cannot really control, like a sudden rain while you are outside, or dropping the phone into toilet, or having it on the table and someone spill some glass with water on it, etc... ip68 protection is more than welocome, it helps you sleep better at night. i once killed a nexus 5's display because i had it on the floor and at night i wanted to drink some water but because i was sleepy i dropped the bottle on the floor, didn't realize the phone was there until morning when was too late already. you putting the blame on us killing phones because of liquid damage makes you something that i cannot write here... many of us want less stress on our heads about phones. PLEASE do not judge us about something you cannot understand
i have had many phones with alot of physical impact damage, broken screens, broken cases, even bent cases. afterall it is a phone which is not made from vibranium, it's glass and plastic but if you refer at nokia 3310 with "old phones with removable battery" sentence then we might have a problem. everything with a full body display BREAKS, i can and i did, not on purpose anyway. nobody wants their phone to be a second baby and keep it all day long in silk... it's a phone, it's an OBJECT. everything in this world breaks with the right amount of force.
this is why i always use full body cases and tempered glass screen protectors, to minimize the repair costs. i am one of the few ppl out there who do not care about how it looks as long as i do not change display once a month.
damn, i abuse them like hell. my 5x even had three full charges a day, fully emptied, overheated till 80 degrees and it still works like a charm, with new battery and thermal pad to cool the processor little bit more. on the other side v30 gives me twice the battery life n5x had but sometimes i eat two v30's betteries in a day, removed thermal throttle completely so the gpu do not go dows when i play games.
changing the bettery is not that hard, you just need some good double adhesive tape and a small cross screwdriver and, of course, a new bettery which costs 10 euros.
don't be such an ignorant *something* and put your hands to work, evolve yourself or, if you do not want to, keep your outdated v20 and, please, do not criticize our awesome v30

I think water resistance is a great feature. Like insurance, I never intend to use it, but I still like having it "just in case".
I also think user replaceable battery is desirable, because the battery is the one thing that wears the most in a modern smartphone, and the one thing that makes it impractical to use a phone for several years. V30 has good battery life: I charge mine only every 3rd night (occasionally every 2nd night) and generally get 8 hrs SOT or more. But I use Battery Saver most of the time, and I do it mainly to reduce battery wear, because I need to keep this phone useful for at least 3 years. Had the battery been user replaceable, I wouldn't have that concern.
Alas, the two features are not compatible for the reasons described, so each has to prioritize and decide for him/herself.
I prefer anodized aluminium to glass, both for its looks, its feel, and its resistance to fingerprints. Hence V30 wasn't really my preferred phone at first. But it was my wife's, and with T-Mobile's BOGO AND LG's $400 rebate, it was a no-brainer. And I have since come to like it a lot, particularly after I trimmed the bloat, found the right case for it, and after I realized how great that Sabre DAC is. Paired with decent headphones, it really is a poor man's Hi-Fi system -- and a pretty darn good one too.
And I also really appreciate LG's 2-year warranty!

I insisted on 2 things with every phone I ever bought: removable battery and expandable storage. I never once replaced a battery (and every phone was a flagship on a full 2-year contract). I did, however, always rely on an extra microSD card for media and to make it easier and safer to flash new ROMs. But now that I have 128gb built-in, even that is hardly an issue. I never pay any attention to glass vs. aluminum vs. plastic body, because my phones all live in matte black TPU cases so they all look the same from my point of view.
I was as closed-minded as the next guy for nearly a decade, but darned if technology didn't just evolve beyond my needs.

SilverZero said:
I was as closed-minded as the next guy for nearly a decade, but darned if technology didn't just evolve beyond my needs.
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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FWIW, I don't think my V30 would've survived my trip to Spain for San Fermin without IP68. I can say with certainty, that it is not only water resistant, but also WINE RESISTANT!
San Fermin WINE INCOMING!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlJH_ZPBxdT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

pjsnyc said:
FWIW, I don't think my V30 would've survived my trip to Spain for San Fermin without IP68. I can say with certainty, that it is not only water resistant, but also WINE RESISTANT!
San Fermin WINE INCOMING!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlJH_ZPBxdT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
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LOL Yes, I can see that :laugh:
Drinks with sugar content (like wine and sodas) are some of the worst if they get inside electronics, because the sticky stuff remains and can keep shorting even after the liquid has dried out. So this is a perfect example of where IP68 proved to be "worth the insurance premium".
ChazzMatt said:
You need a case for the back glass and you need upper lip on the case to protect the front display from hitting the floor.
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I started out with a clear TPU case with upper lip (this one) because I was terrified I would drop my expensive new glass phone. And while it did indeed protect, I never got to like the phone all the time I used it: It ruined the V30s elegant design and, ironically, it actually made me drop the phone TWICE on our tile floor because the sticky silicone rubber surface somehow surprised the tactile expectations of my hands when handling the phone.
After a few months I got a hard cover slim skin case instead (this one) and it completely changed my experience with the phone: It looks great (people now ask what kind of phone I have) and feels great in my hands. And while I realize it won't protect as well in case of a drop, I haven't dropped it since, because the mat silky surface behaves as my hands expect.
We recently got the same case for my wife's V30 -- although Rose Gold! She continues to use a Spigen clear TPU case during the week because she often drops her phone at work. But when we go out, she puts on the slim skin case

Late reply,
I understand the need-ness for ip rating and what not, but I can to grips that you'll never find a "flagship" in this day and age with everything you need ie.; Remote control, replacement battery, fast charging, military grade protection (I degress, maybe a sales pitch). I'm pretty sure everyone on xda is a tinker.. wanting to see how everything works.
With that being said I don't knock no one for their choices. I fully support anyone and their ideas. I know we are stuck (v20 7.0 2yrs) with awesome hardware but a ****ty company (sometimes or department). I don't really upgrade that much because I researched alot before I make a decision.

Question Galaxy z fold 3 worth it?

Hey this question mostly guess for the people that have had their phone since launch Has it been worth the money? I was wondering how do u like it? and Is the battery as terrible as every YouTuber makes it seem? I just ordered and I'm so excited

Yes it's worth it!
Biggest downer for me is no e-sim.
Battery life is fine.
And most importantly the camera is FAR better than youtube reviewers are saying.
Again in my experience.

I got it a few days before launch day and have loved it every day since. The big screen is totally worth it! I almost never use the outer screen, just occasionally for things like telling the med reminder app I took my med if my phone is already folded, or camera preview so I can take a more quality selfie with the back cameras (phone open), etc. Battery life is good for me. Speed and storage (larger version) are great, screen quality (on natural not vivid) is great, etc. The T-mobile connection issues suck and I hope they are fixed soon, but not all T-mobile customers have the issue (my friend in another state doesn't). But, the temporary fix helps - I just need them to fix it so it can roam so I'm not worried when traveling anywhere. Finding a good case isn't fun, though. I like the one I have now, but I don't think it would protect it very much from a drop/fall.

I've had it since launch..............believe it or not, I use the outer screen more than the inner one. I have taken it on vacation a couple of times. The most recent trip was to Hawaii back in December. Just before we left, I found a case that had a built-in kickstand and actually added more bulk to the phone than I realized..........well, that made the device cumbersome carrying it around on hikes and to the beach. Sometimes, depending on what shorts I was wearing, I would carry the phone in my left hand while walking around Waikiki just so it wouldn't "weigh" me down. I went back to the slimmer case after I got home. Phone has been out since August, and haven't seen anybody else with the same phone. I thought I would on vacation, but trips to busy airports, shopping malls, etc...........didn't see another person with the ZFold. I know it's expensive but you see big iphones everywhere and those aren't cheap either. I do miss the width of my Note-10+ instead of this slimmer one. Was tempted to do the trade-in for the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but will probably wait to see if the ZFold4 is any better and might upgrade to that. Only problem is, the trade-in value of the ZFold3 will drop by then. I hear the next Fold will have the S-pen and a 5000mah battery, not sure if that is enough to upgrade. Currently, you can get $900 trade-in through Samsung, T-Mobile chat person said I can get $1000 through them..............but will probably hold on to mine for now. I don't do any multiple apps tasks, but probably should try to do more to maximize its use and justify why I got it. The 5G on it, for the most part, isn't great. I was getting the 5G UC symbol a couple of weeks ago and not anymore. There was a software update last week and I think it was a T-mobile update to get rid of that symbol, didn't include the Feb security patch. Currently with the Speedtest app, getting 20.9 download, and 6.57 upload. It was way better than that prior to the update.............thanks T-mobile!

ButterflyFlutterflyMyOhMy said:
I got it a few days before launch day and have loved it every day since. The big screen is totally worth it! I almost never use the outer screen, just occasionally for things like telling the med reminder app I took my med if my phone is already folded, or camera preview so I can take a more quality selfie with the back cameras (phone open), etc. Battery life is good for me. Speed and storage (larger version) are great, screen quality (on natural not vivid) is great, etc. The T-mobile connection issues suck and I hope they are fixed soon, but not all T-mobile customers have the issue (my friend in another state doesn't). But, the temporary fix helps - I just need them to fix it so it can roam so I'm not worried when traveling anywhere. Finding a good case isn't fun, though. I like the one I have now, but I don't think it would protect it very much from a drop/fall.
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I need to shut up, as I picked up my phone today and it jumped out of my hands. I tried to catch it, but couldn't quite get it as it bounced off my fingers and onto the hardwood floor inner screen face-down. I thought it was a goner when I picked it up and the touch sensors were not working on the inner screen (tried to get to the notification I needed to respond to as I took my med), but I turned the screen off and back on again and it was working fine again. Tested most of the diagnostics in the Samsung Members app and everything was fine. Phew!
The front screen side of the case did slide off a bit in the fall, but it didn't break and slid back on when I picked it up. I do use double-sided tape so it doesn't slide every time I open the phone (don't want to scratch the front screen), but it wasn't enough for the fall.

ButterflyFlutterflyMyOhMy said:
I need to shut up, as I picked up my phone today and it jumped out of my hands. I tried to catch it, but couldn't quite get it as it bounced off my fingers and onto the hardwood floor inner screen face-down. I thought it was a goner when I picked it up and the touch sensors were not working on the inner screen (tried to get to the notification I needed to respond to as I took my med), but I turned the screen off and back on again and it was working fine again. Tested most of the diagnostics in the Samsung Members app and everything was fine. Phew!
The front screen side of the case did slide off a bit in the fall, but it didn't break and slid back on when I picked it up. I do use double-sided tape so it doesn't slide every time I open the phone (don't want to scratch the front screen), but it wasn't enough for the fall.
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Nice to hear that it didn't break. I think I dropped mine (folded) about a month or two after I got it and nothing happened, case protected it.....seems to be very durable device.

For me personally. Its worthed it. I upgraded from my 1 year old iPhone 12 Pro Max. Now i can freely buy accessories without worrying that it wouldn't work(because not all accessories are MFI certified in Indonesia).
And not to forget that the Z Fold 3 when closed is not that wide, thus making it easier for 1 handed use.

Yes and no chance to change it!!!
I have it since the launch. I have also a Iphone 13 pro. I have tried meanwhile s21 and Pixel 6 and Mi11 Ultra. So now a couple of months of using I can only say: Once Fold and forever Fold. Yes it's heavy and bulky. But Yes is the only one TABLET that is good for one hand operation and phone calls and can you carry in pants pocket. And the camera is not super duper but is top, and the battery (SOC Snapdragon) is far better than any other Exynos on the market and on the planet.

ycats said:
Nice to hear that it didn't break. I think I dropped mine (folded) about a month or two after I got it and nothing happened, case protected it.....seems to be very durable device.
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So am I! I'll be paying for this phone for the next 2.5 years, so it needs to stay in one piece for a long time to come. My previous phone I had for 5-6 years, but of all it wasn't a folding phone. A friend of mine dropped his Fold 3 on tile and had to get a new front screen protector, but it otherwise survived the fall.

propov8 said:
Yes and no chance to change it!!!
I have it since the launch. I have also a Iphone 13 pro. I have tried meanwhile s21 and Pixel 6 and Mi11 Ultra. So now a couple of months of using I can only say: Once Fold and forever Fold. Yes it's heavy and bulky. But Yes is the only one TABLET that is good for one hand operation and phone calls and can you carry in pants pocket. And the camera is not super duper but is top, and the battery (SOC Snapdragon) is far better than any other Exynos on the market and on the planet.
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I actually like the bulk of the phone when closed because it makes it easier to hold and carry without dropping it (when I dropped it, it was open to the inner screen), and I'm saying this as a woman with small hands (medium glove size).

Took a look at the fold3 in an at&t store the other day. Looks like they have the first generation bugs squished. By the time I'm ready to buy a new one, I'll probably get the fold 4 or 5.

Love the phone. Love it so much I have a second as a backup in case this one breaks (truth!). I love the ability to use the front screen one handed. I love having that big inner screen when multitasking or reviewing/editing large documents. The only thing I also wish I had was a zoom/macro lens. It doesn't even have to be a nice one, just a passable one. But I don't take many pictures so I usually let that slide.

I've had mine since October 2021 and it's been one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had with a gadget. The display is amazing, it's fast, camera is decent enough, I love tablet mode, like really, really love it. I definitely can't wait for the next generation of foldables because it's just going to get better. It's definitely worth buying now however, if your still having doubts.

chetly968 said:
Love the phone. Love it so much I have a second as a backup in case this one breaks (truth!). I love the ability to use the front screen one handed. I love having that big inner screen when multitasking or reviewing/editing large documents. The only thing I also wish I had was a zoom/macro lens. It doesn't even have to be a nice one, just a passable one. But I don't take many pictures so I usually let that slide.
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I bought the Oppo Find N (foldable) as my backup. It's actually a really awesome phone, with features and design choices that I find better than my Z Fold 3. One thing is it's size, it's fantastic, definitely the better choice on Oppo's side to choose such a wide design. It's even better when you use it in tablet mode as it's aspect ratio is 16:9, which means more apps support it better.

for me i like having the 2 phone factor one big one small, so I am never really bored looking and using it. I find when I am home and chilled i use the big screen more but when i am out and about the small screen, If only they can cut away some of the weight it would be perfect.

It’s just an incredible experience. I have been a loyal Note fan since the first Note, but after owning the Fold 3 I can safely tell you that I won’t go back to a slab phone, even to a Note

ghassan haddad said:
It’s just an incredible experience. I have been a loyal Note fan since the first Note, but after owning the Fold 3 I can safely tell you that I won’t go back to a slab phone, even to a Note
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Same here !
I tried the S22 Ultra @ Bestbuy , it's really a nice phone , but .. it can't convert into a minitablet so .. nah !
Im going for the next generation (Fold4)

pvillasuso said:
Same here !
I tried the S22 Ultra @ Bestbuy , it's really a nice phone , but .. it can't convert into a minitablet so .. nah !
Im going for the next generation (Fold4)
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I've had a z Fold 3 since the 1st month it came out. Great phone but I ended up pre-ordering the S22 Ultra just to test the waters. Been a note fan since the early days. Just received the S22 ultra this week and it's also a great phone. The integrated s pen and bigger battery has definitely tipped the scales in favor of the S22 ultra so I'll be returning the Fold. I will miss that huge screen though!

Had the phone since february, dropped it once and although the front body dented a little bit, the phone is still working well. Been using the bigger screen for media and the smaller screen for calls and short messages. IDK why some doesn't have e-sim but mine does.

I've had the Fold 3 for around a month now, as I had to replace my Note 9 N960N. I can honestly say that it is the best purchase I have made this year. It is such a good device, I can use it for everything from gaming to media consumption for work. It is truly a very versatile device.
The fact that you can use it as a normal phone and open it up to a tablet for a more completely experience blows my mind every time I use it.