Xperia Active an alternative? - Defy General

Sony Ericsson's Xperia Active looks like a contender to the Defy. With a wet finger tracking and a lanyard connector it does have a number of advantages. Low screen resolution of 320x480 is below par and points to a phone that goes for the traditional ruggedised market. Could not find any info on the processor or such and the sony site points to quite some bloatware
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/xperia-active?cc=gb&lc=en

I dont believe that wet finger tracking is any better than the defys tracking until im proofed otherwise.
I think PR made that up.
There are only two advantages: Its smaller. And it has a lanyard loop.
The display is crap and te rest is the same. Oh, and its a lot thicker.
I dont think its a real competition as the display is the limit.
http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdacomparer&id1=2965&id2=2573

nah.. i would still go for defy...dude it is just 3 inch!! low resolution..SE r well known for their over priced fone..xperia active is damn thick also..rest all specs r almost same..

shorty66 said:
I dont believe that wet finger tracking is any better than the defys tracking until im proofed otherwise.
I think PR made that up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most certainly plausable.
shorty66 said:
There are only two advantages: Its smaller. And it has a lanyard loop.
The display is crap and te rest is the same. Oh, and its a lot thicker.
I dont think its a real competition as the display is the limit.
http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdacomparer&id1=2965&id2=2573
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, the screen is most certainly crap. Looks like the res that belongs on a rugged phone. Somehow the companies think that bricklayers prefer low res phones. :S The battery (1200mAh) in combination with a 1GHz processor is also a joke

Gotta say, the more you read the blurb, the more you get that "my first sony" feel with this product...

Related

[Q] Why is the Defy considered a mid range device?

Is it because of the processor? If you overclock to 1ghz goes that make the phone a high end device?
Is it the fact that the phone doesn't come with a lot of memory?
How is the Vibrant, G2, MT4G better? I'm upgrading my phone and am trying to pick one.
Thanks for the help.
Gabe
The myTouch 4G, Vibrant and G2 are high-end because of the features.
The camera on the DEFY blows, it sucks so bad compared to the camera and it's interface on my Samsung Vibrant. The myTouch 4G/G2 aren't much better when it comes to the camera, though..
Regular LCD vs SLCD and SAMOLED displays.
Better graphics power.
Better multimedia on the Vibrant.
etc. there are multiple reasons why, most things are just a bit better on the "high-end" devices.
What he said - the camera is fairly useless. The screen is of normal type - not having experienced anything 'special' I think the screen is beautiful but I guess AMOLED would have me rethink that.
The build quality is not 'premium' - get an anodized aluminium HTC in one hand and this plastic phone in the other and you'll quickly decide which aesthetic and feel you prefer. On the other hand I find it much more attractive than, for instance, the Sony Ericsson piano gloss plastic phones.
Other than that, well, I guess it's been crippled like some ridiculous teenphone with useless BLUR, but I don't know - do the Droids have this as well?
To me it's more than good enough but this is my first Android device so what do I know?
One thing, it's IP67 rated - dustproof, water resistant, scratchproof Gorilla Glass.. No other smartphones have any IP or MIL rating at all let alone IP67.
Simple because whoever made thay statement/assessment in the first place had been smoking crack. With a little tweaking it is an an amazing device.
Sent from my arse using XDA App
Higgsy said:
Simple because whoever made thay statement/assessment in the first place had been smoking crack. With a little tweaking it is an an amazing device.
Sent from my arse using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just can confirm that
To the statement above, the device is plastic, but that's also the reason why its so light weighted my old hero was smaller but also heavier ... that s strange.. :-\
And for the camera. I just use my phone to take photos for three generation of mobile phones now... and really got Jo idea what you can't like with the camera. (there are few options, but the pictures are taken fast and Sharp, what more to expect ?)
Under the line, I'd say: It's a great device. And as mentioned many times before.. maybe just MOTOblur makes the whole device.. midRange .. :-\
One more thing, HTC devices maybe feel better (from the case or somehow, I know what u mean, but I really like how my defy feels, backside really feels good, front is just display )
But the thing: this device just looks male :-D
That's the reason why ive chosen it compared To the HTC desire and many other devices out there
Greets
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App
As far as I am concerned I got a great phone for half the price of an high end phone...they can call it midrange if they want to.
rbeier1221 said:
As far as I am concerned I got a great phone for half the price of an high end phone...they can call it midrange if they want to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
I would like to see all those hi-end phones get dropped in water, and still work. Or get tossed around by a small child in a sandbox, and have no scratches on it. To me the Defy is very hi-end because of its everyday usefulness. No need to baby it.
GabeJ said:
Is it because of the processor? If you overclock to 1ghz goes that make the phone a high end device?
Is it the fact that the phone doesn't come with a lot of memory?
How is the Vibrant, G2, MT4G better? I'm upgrading my phone and am trying to pick one.
Thanks for the help.
Gabe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
doesn't hold a candle to my G2, but with root and recovery, milestone OC, and blur removed, its a nice device, if you owned a "high end" device you would see the difference, but all in all, thanks to DEV and Chef support this is a really good pone

HTC Arrive vs. Samsung Focus - Final Update April 6th

Final Update April 6th:
I am wrapping up my ongoing comparison of the two devices, and to ebay goes my Samsung Focus.
Here is the final posting:
HTC Arrive vs. Samsung Focus - WP7 Not Yet Ready For Landscape Keyboarding
My conclusion is that both devices are great. My biggest disappointment with the HTC Arrive is not hardware related, but just the pains associated with an early mobile OS. I hope Mango will add more landscape functionality, and that Facebook will update their app to support the form factor.
_______________________________________________________________
Update March 28th:
I compare gaming on the two devices. This is the second to last update in this installment. There is a video this time to boot!
http://www.m-arcade.com/1/post/2011/03/hardware-htc-arrive-vs-samsung-focus-gaming.html
_____________________________
Update March 26th:
I compare the cameras.
http://www.m-arcade.com/1/post/2011/03/hardware-htc-arrive-vs-samsung-focus-camera.html
I ultimately concluded that I prefer the Focus camera thus far, but the Arrive is a pretty close second. Everyone has different taste, so I have plenty of side by side shots for you to judge for yourself.
___________
Initial impression: Impressed. This is an extremely nice slider phone, and while it has a little more heft and bulk than I prefer in a phone, the keyboard is a pleasure to use, and the device screams quality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pictures and my complete thoughts at the link:
http://www.m-arcade.com/1/post/2011/03/hardware-htc-arrive-vs-samsung-focus-initial-impressions.html
I will be updating my blog with more comparisons throughout the weekend.
Focus screen looks wayyyy better imo.
I had the opportunity to play with an Arrive yesterday at a local Sprint store. I was unimpressed. Though it did seem to be of sufficient quality, the display is as small as the iPhone and the common LCD. If I were to accept a display that small it would need to be at least an IPS type or AMOLED. I would definitely go with the Focus. To me, there's no question or choice. The Focus is the better of the two.
MartyLK said:
I had the opportunity to play with an Arrive yesterday at a local Sprint store. I was unimpressed. Though it did seem to be of sufficient quality, the display is as small as the iPhone and the common LCD. If I were to accept a display that small it would need to be at least an IPS type or AMOLED. I would definitely go with the Focus. To me, there's no question or choice. The Focus is the better of the two.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rumor is that the Arrive has a SLCD screen, but the Focus is better nonetheless. Plus thickness and weight are other advantages of the Focus. The hardware keyboard on the Arrive is really nice, but landscape support is hit-or-miss. Oh, and one final consideration: the Arrive has NoDo today, whereas the Focus may not receive it (officially) for months.
-R
sketchy9 said:
Rumor is that the Arrive has a SLCD screen, but the Focus is better nonetheless. Plus thickness and weight are other advantages of the Focus. The hardware keyboard on the Arrive is really nice, but landscape support is hit-or-miss. Oh, and one final consideration: the Arrive has NoDo today, whereas the Focus may not receive it (officially) for months.
-R
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does have an SLCD, and it looks great. The blacks are actually very good head on - not ever going to be on par with the Focus, but they are darn good. But I have noticed the screen does feel a little more cramped when playing games. I really feel 4" is a pretty ideal size, and believe it would have been nice to had that on the Arrive, but I don't think that is a deal breaker. The screen is nice, it just isn't a 4".
I would like to see more done with the keyboard. Like it would be nice if games allowed you to map buttons, that would be way slick.
sketchy9 said:
Rumor is that the Arrive has a SLCD screen, but the Focus is better nonetheless. Plus thickness and weight are other advantages of the Focus. The hardware keyboard on the Arrive is really nice, but landscape support is hit-or-miss. Oh, and one final consideration: the Arrive has NoDo today, whereas the Focus may not receive it (officially) for months.
-R
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aside from geeks, who the hell cares about the NoDo update? I can't think of a single thing that NoDo changes that makes it a must-have update. Sure, it's all welcomed updates to be sure but definitely WP7 is already a great OS.
I think geeks are always looking for the "new drug" known as (higher) version numbers. It's the same in the Linux world, everyone wants the new 2.6.38 kernel but 2.6.35 runs much faster and stable.
Edit: This wasn't intended as an attack on you personally, but from everything I read on here it seems people are way too obsessed over the NoDo update.
tiny17 said:
It does have an SLCD, and it looks great. The blacks are actually very good head on - not ever going to be on par with the Focus, but they are darn good. But I have noticed the screen does feel a little more cramped when playing games. I really feel 4" is a pretty ideal size, and believe it would have been nice to had that on the Arrive, but I don't think that is a deal breaker. The screen is nice, it just isn't a 4".
I would like to see more done with the keyboard. Like it would be nice if games allowed you to map buttons, that would be way slick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you'll never win this argument. Apparently, if you don't want your text fuzzy and your colors to look cartoonish, then you don't know what you are talking about.
On a side note, I'm glad that at&t is getting the hd7s. If nothing else interests me after the merger with t-mobile, at least I'll have that to fall back on.
nrfitchett4 said:
you'll never win this argument. Apparently, if you don't want your text fuzzy and your colors to look cartoonish, then you don't know what you are talking about.
On a side note, I'm glad that at&t is getting the hd7s. If nothing else interests me after the merger with t-mobile, at least I'll have that to fall back on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, the super amoled display is the best on the market. I just hope a wp7 device gets the updated super amoled plus display this year.
ryude said:
Yea, the super amoled display is the best on the market. I just hope a wp7 device gets the updated super amoled plus display this year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
like I said, its the best if you don't mind fuzzy text and over saturated colors...
Wife has a vibrant, and she would rather have the hd7 display.
nrfitchett4 said:
you'll never win this argument. Apparently, if you don't want your text fuzzy and your colors to look cartoonish, then you don't know what you are talking about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well to their defense, the general consumer doesn't mind/notice the fuzzy text, and love seeing the saturated colors. Everyone who has seen my Focus think its the best screen they've seen.
I personally think both have their advantages. But do keep in mind that soon AMOLED screens will no longer have the fuzzy text issue due to them moving away from the PenTile tech.
From my limited use thus far - Head on, I prefer the SLCD, but enjoy the broader sweet spot offered by the SAMOLED.
I think most phones with keyboard won't get 4inch screen. That makes the phone like a brick. Epic 4G is such a device...
amtrakcn said:
I think most phones with keyboard won't get 4inch screen. That makes the phone like a brick. Epic 4G is such a device...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do want said brick =)
but a vertical slide up keyboard k thanks
amtrakcn said:
I think most phones with keyboard won't get 4inch screen. That makes the phone like a brick. Epic 4G is such a device...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Epic isnt even close to a brick. That thing is like toilet paper. Its keyboard is ass though >.<
Edit: Oh, by brick you meant the 4.0in screen! I thought you meant like the weight...I had to read the post below mine to figure that out haha
for the record and with using devices like the Pre Plus, EVO, EVO shift and iphone the Arrive is the best phone Ive used in a minute. The screen issue is a very small one, and most people dont care about that as much as everyone seems to keep complaining about. Samsung phones to me are cheap looking, and yes the screens are nice thats about it to me. Its about quality and the Arrive screams it. The screen size at 3.6 (ala iphone) is the biggest a mobile device is supposed to be. Get it mobile, I dont know where all this needing a brick in your pocket as being the thing to get nowadays, but if I need more realestate then what I have on my MOBILE! phone then ill get on a laptop, desktop, or tablet. My thoughts on the device is its the best WP7 on the market, perfect size, quality, the option of a full hard keyboard, and very fast.
I completely disagree in terms of the 'quality' you spoke of. Don't get me wrong the phones not god awful but the quality really is subpar. When you hold it you feel like you're holding a last-gen device because of the bulk and thickness and the spring mechanism in the phone always feels ready to snap. HTC doesn't have any high quality WP7 devices just yet. I hope the HD7s fixes that.
emaculant29 said:
Its about quality and the Arrive screams it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those were my words!
z33dev33l said:
I completely disagree in terms of the 'quality' you spoke of. Don't get me wrong the phones not god awful but the quality really is subpar. When you hold it you feel like you're holding a last-gen device because of the bulk and thickness and the spring mechanism in the phone always feels ready to snap. HTC doesn't have any high quality WP7 devices just yet. I hope the HD7s fixes that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you held an Arrive? I swear you must be handling a different phone. Because, when I saw pictures, I questioned it, but upon feeling and using it, I can only say it is top notch.
Yeah, I would have preferred a 4" screen. But as for keyboard phones go, it is the same thickness as every other one on market. It is pretty heavy though, which I can only attribute to the use of quality materials over the super light plasticy materials of my focus.
I admit that a keyboard phone is not my first choice of form factor, and if I could get a Focus with the case materials of my Arrive, I would - but that is not happening. As far as screen type (size aside) this is one of the best LCD screens on the market. So you can't fault it for that. You can prefer AMOLED tech, I understand that, but for LCD, the Arrive has a very nice display.
to each its own you know, but I will say this I test phones through my employment and in terms on the measure of quality this is by far the best landscape slider in the buisness currently. The bulk and weight is obvious, but compared to a phone quality it matches like the Iphone 4 it is only 4.2mm thicker then it. They also use the same metal componets from Foxconn, and the glass screen is as well identical. The spring mechinism has been tested by us as well to withstand a substantial amount of pressure without breaking, so no it hardly feels like it will break. Again understand all are personal opinions, but facts are facts.
tiny17 said:
Those were my words!
Have you held an Arrive? I swear you must be handling a different phone. Because, when I saw pictures, I questioned it, but upon feeling and using it, I can only say it is top notch.
Yeah, I would have preferred a 4" screen. But as for keyboard phones go, it is the same thickness as every other one on market. It is pretty heavy though, which I can only attribute to the use of quality materials over the super light plasticy materials of my focus.
I admit that a keyboard phone is not my first choice of form factor, and if I could get a Focus with the case materials of my Arrive, I would - but that is not happening. As far as screen type (size aside) this is one of the best LCD screens on the market. So you can't fault it for that. You can prefer AMOLED tech, I understand that, but for LCD, the Arrive has a very nice display.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I own every U.S. released WP7 devices. The heft can't always be attributed to quality. I assure you the Focus' cheap plastic comes with a purpose, go drop both of them from about a 5 foot height (where most people hold their phones) and see which one comes out in better condition. The hardware for the Arrive truly is last gen even compared to all of the other WP7 devices on the market (surround aside), the keyboard was about the only redeeming feature on the device but the response from the keys felt cheap and when typing really fast it tended to randomly skip 3 or 4 letters in a row. They've come out with keyboard devices with form factor like the G2, why work backwards and re-release a device that was already outdated upon it's initial release? (TP2)
yeah ive come to the conclusion you just dont like the Arrive which is fine, but your statemnts are very biased, and not factual at all. So there really isnt much else to discuss with you in paticular. For everyone else I highly recommend this device if your on sprint, over all of these android devices out now, and coming like the Nexus S, and EVO 3d thanks.
thank god
i did not wait until arrive.

A word about some of the complaints that people on the forums seem to be making

List of complaints that need to be addressed because people keep making threads on them:
1. The Camera is 5 MP.
Okay, anybody who things that megapixels = quality probably knows very little about photography. More megapixels in many cases introduces more noise, especially considering how small the camera is.
If you want to print photos at a letter sized at 300 ppi, invest in a REAL camera. A low end DSLR will blow any phone out of the water; the image sensor is several times as large.
http://www.unlikelymoose.com/more/cameras/megapixel_converter.html
Until we see this phone next to a Galaxy S2 and an iPhone 4S taking pictures in a controlled environment, we can't say that this camera sucks.
2. The pentile display
It is currently not possible to make a 1280x720 or 1280x800 RBG display at the size we want and if they made it bigger, it would be very expensive.
http://pentileblog.com/uncategorized/pentile-for-720-hd-oled-smartphones/
The Galaxy Note has reached a point where some people say that they cannot see the subpixels, so this phone should not be a problem.
The only real valid criticism that the screen has a "blue" tint. For those that are unfamiliar with OLED technology, blue subpixels have the shortest lifespan. This was a deliberate decision by Samsung to maximize screen life.
Overall, side by side comparisons indicate that this is a step forward from the GS2.
3. The SOC/GPU
I am also disappointed in the PowerVR SGX540, but given the circumstances, it is the best SOC they could have chosen. The only alternative would have been the Exynos 4210 (the 4212 uses a new 32nm process not available and is only "sampling" right now) or the Qualcomm Scorpion, with its Adreno 220, which is inferior in terms of both CPU and GPU.
Of particular concern is the new generation of more demanding games and the fact that this GPU needs to drive a 1280x720 screen.
We need to see some real benchmarks as ICS may have had some under the hood optimizations and how it stacks up to the Tegra 3, which will come out in a couple of months. The Tegra 2's GPU was by no means better than the lower clocked (btw, did I mention that this GPU is higher clocked than the one on the GS1?), SGX540 on the first generation of Galaxy S phones.
The OMAP SOC on board is native 1.5 GHz, so I'm sure that you will be able to overclock it back to native clockspeed. I fully anticipate 2 GHz+ mods to come out afterwards.
4. It's too big
Your opinion. I like big phones.
5. Plastic
Samsung's phones actually last pretty well. I have seen HTC's which get praised for their build break. A friend of mine owns a repair shop for phones. Apparently 90% of his smartphone displays that he repairs are iPhones, which also get praised. He is delighted that the new iPhone 4S shares the same design as its predecessor.
6. No SD Card
This is one I am also disappointed at. It's a trend in the Nexus phones right now. Google seems to be encouraging cloud usage. I dislike this one as well, because data is expensive and ICS specifically has data management tools reflecting this.
Somewhat mitigating this is that there are 32 GB versions available and that internal storage is faster than a class 10 SD card.
7. DAC and sound quality?
Unknown and I eagerly await the answer.
Will I buy this phone?
Actually, I am undecided. I want to see reviews first and hold it. I am also eagerly waiting to see what the DAC is. Come H2 2012, A15 parts and perhaps an RGB version of the 720p display are probable. I will however buy it if I can get a sweet deal.
Couldn't agree more on peeps complaining about the 5mp camera!! I have a 3.2mp Sony digital camera that is probably 10 years old. It isn't even a DSLR. But it takes far superior pictures than my 8mp camera on my Charge. Why? In a word, optics !! My old camera has a Zeiss lens on it. It is folly IMO to expect high quality pictures from a phone camera !! If you want to be a photographer, buy a camera !!
All valid points, was a good write up. I especially agree with the point about waiting to see it in the flesh.
I'm a zoom in shooter where does that leave me coming from a 4mp to a 8mp and back down to a 5mp
The issue I take up with the size is that it feels like there's a lot of blank and empty black space in not only the bezel (especially the bottom) but also with ICS. In general, the size and look of the device is both a love and hate. Sometimes I think it's gorgeous, and other times I think it's hideous. I think this is one of those "time will tell" things.
Counter arguement:
My Opinion > Your Opinion.
Your move.
JCopernicus said:
Counter arguement:
My Opinion > Your Opinion.
Your move.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Counter counter agruement: Who gives a s$&" until we all actually hold the damn thing in our hands and each of us can make up our own minds. Until then this is just bull$&@".
bmstrong said:
Counter counter agruement: Who gives a s$&" until we all actually hold the damn thing in our hands and each of us can make up our own minds. Until then this is just bull$&@".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then why did you bother posting in the first place?
Enough.
The very purpose of this thread was to minimize this kind of trolling.
For those who think the phone is big.. here are some pics to help you decide...
http://asia.cnet.com/large-screen-smartphones-pocket-test-photos-62211932.htm
justabrake said:
I'm a zoom in shooter where does that leave me coming from a 4mp to a 8mp and back down to a 5mp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stand closer?
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Bawb3 said:
Stand closer?
Use a program? I posted one earlier.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Nebucatnetzer said:
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i tried programs on my iphones and believe it or not i had to remove them because of issues and i don't want touch camera programs anymore
justabrake said:
i tried programs on my iphones and believe it or not i had to remove them because of issues and i don't want touch camera programs anymore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not camera apps. A program to enlarge a picture there are some for professional use. You know there's still something called a PC .
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
ruthlesset said:
For those who think the phone is big.. here are some pics to help you decide...
http://asia.cnet.com/large-screen-smartphones-pocket-test-photos-62211932.htm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stuff fits easily in empty pants, amazing.
-_-
I had the opportunity to play with one over this past weekend. In regards to size, if you have held an SGSII in your hand it is more or less the same size. Slightly taller, but not really enough that one could use the "won't fit in my pocket" argument. The screen looks fantastic and ICS is very smooth, even on the beta build it was running.
That being said, would I upgrade my SGSII for it? Still not sure. I will have to see if I get the fever when it is released and order one.
Lootes said:
I had the opportunity to play with one over this past weekend. In regards to size, if you have held an SGSII in your hand it is more or less the same size. Slightly taller, but not really enough that one could use the "won't fit in my pocket" argument. The screen looks fantastic and ICS is very smooth, even on the beta build it was running.
That being said, would I upgrade my SGSII for it? Still not sure. I will have to see if I get the fever when it is released and order one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of these "it won't fit my pocket" arguments are troll posts from people who have no intention of buying the phone.
I have played for a bit with the Galaxy Note. It was big, but it did fit in my jeans with my keys inside.
sauron0101 said:
5. Plastic
Samsung's phones actually last pretty well. I have seen HTC's which get praised for their build break. A friend of mine owns a repair shop for phones. Apparently 90% of his smartphone displays that he repairs are iPhones, which also get praised. He is delighted that the new iPhone 4S shares the same design as its predecessor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll be happy with the durability if its as good as the Galaxy S II. With curved design of the Nexus, it'll less likely to get screen damaged on drops http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elKxgsrJFhw
Lootes said:
I had the opportunity to play with one over this past weekend. In regards to size, if you have held an SGSII in your hand it is more or less the same size. Slightly taller, but not really enough that one could use the "won't fit in my pocket" argument. The screen looks fantastic and ICS is very smooth, even on the beta build it was running.
That being said, would I upgrade my SGSII for it? Still not sure. I will have to see if I get the fever when it is released and order one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any difference in the feel between the two SGS2 -Nexus
So I've had a dozen different android phones but none without an SD card. How does this work? Does it have a partition to mimic the sd card? Im going to get this phone regardless, but want to know if I can transfer all my files over from the sd card on my current phone.
Sent from my R800x using XDA App

Nokia Lumia Hype??

Sorry for the dissertation, but this just seemed to never end once I started to write. Feel free to read as little or much as you want, and comment on any combination of thoughts found below. If you just want to skim, I tried to bold the jist of each paragraph, to give you a quick idea of what I am talking about.
Question: Does anyone really understand all the Nokia Lumia (specifically the 900) hype surrounding its release?
I just fail to quite understand why exactly this phone is supposed to be the WP7 savior (the same having been said for the 710/800, which you can't even buy yet, on the att website that is). Its been toughted as the first real windows phone, but I just don't see it.
From the outside looking in, its specs are basically shared with the Titan and Focus S, both of which will have been released for 6+ or so months before the 900 hits my shelves in the states. Same ish processor, RAM, storage, screen size, etc.
Now the camera is supposed to be superior, because of its designer, Carl Zeiss, and his optics technology. I have never heard of this fellow, and maybe he's the best thing since sliced bread for mobile platform cameras, and maybe the Lumia phone will have the best ever camera experience for a mobile, or maybe not, I have not seen any reviews yet so its still up in the air. My Focus S basically shares its camera with the Galaxy S2, which has been toughted as a fantastic phone camera, rivaling that of the iPhone 4S, and takes decent pictures IMO. So what if the Nokia Lumia 900 phone has a good camera, so do many other phones, and if you really want a good picture, you know you are not getting it from a cell phone.
I can't speak to its slightly different processor, I don't know if its any faster than the snapdragon in the Titan and Focus S, but I have not read anything, anywhere, that suggests that it should be. The proc runs at the same clock speed, and seems to share similar architecture, so I assume its probably about the same speed. There are lots of specifics that affect phone speed, and who knows what all in the Nokia may, but the Titan benchmarks slower than the Focus S, and has an overclocked proc., so go figure.
Its form factor is shared by the Focus S, as is its screen size. Now I will say that I do like the squarish figure. I enjoyed the feel of the Flash in my hand, and was disappointed the Focus S wasn't the same shape, but I know most people have different views on this, so I can't see it as a game changer either. I prefer the Focus S lightweight, flexing plastic feel, to the hard metal finish on the Titan, that to me feels like a brick. Maybe the polycarbonate finish of the Lumia feels better, maybe not. But I am willing to bet some people will like it while others will see it as plastic and cheap.
Its screen is AMOLED, what Nokia calls a ClearBlack. I hear its screen is supposed to perform better in direct sun light, but my Focus S looks fine to me. And hell, some people prefer the Titan screen to the Focus S any who, so again, nothing grand here.
Yes it will have certain Nokia only apps. But those who really want them already have them, so its really a moot point.
The only real bonus I see is the 4G LTE, as opposed to the current 4G HSPA+ that the 2nd gen phones have. But hell, I never get anywhere near the max throughput of my phone as it is, and rarely use it outside of WiFi because its just too damned slow. I don't see ATTs network magically becoming much faster over night, perhaps somewhere down the road, but who knows, probably not even ATT. Maybe this is a deal break for some people, but to me, carrier networks are still too far behind the speeds we expect to see and compete with our home networks from Comcast and Fios.
Now, knowing what I know about the Lumia, if I were to get a phone when it comes out, I would probably get the Lumia, over the Titan or Focus S, simply because its something new, Nokia is a good manufacturer, and I like the square look. But if Microsoft, or Nokia, expect people to flock and purchase this phone OOC, or instead of a high end Android or iPhone, I don't see their hopes and dreams coming true, unless someone just really wants the newest windows phone released, because nothing about it says anything other than "I am no different that the 2nd gen phones released last year.". If people did not want them then, and chose something else instead, they probably don't want them now, either.
Again, its basically a Focus S with LTE, but its being talked about as though its something grander and far superior to whats currently available. IMO, windows phones don't need specs like Android, my phone OS is faster than any other phone I tested, including the 4S and Skyrocket. But if they expect me to upgrade, and pay money to do so, they are going to have to give me more than an incremental upgrade, and really convince me that I am purchasing a superior, more advanced product, otherwise I will just save my money and stick with what I have got, which is pretty dern good.
Is there something I am missing? Am i the only one who just doesn't get it? Thoughts?
Oops, once again I accidentally hit the thanks button. oO Anyways.. I think it's not the specs that makes the Lumia (800 or 900) so compelling. It's just its design. Its look and feel (in your hands). Windows Phone looks totally different from any other mobile OS on the market. So does the Lumia (if you leave the N9 aside, that is ). It doesn't have the generic over and over reused look that Samsung und especially HTC devices use to have.
No. I think that pretty much covers it.
I think it is the long term strategy between Nokia and Microsoft that is the difference and not just the current product line. MS actions clearly tell the story that they are ready to sacrifice today for the right answer tomorrow.
dkp1977 said:
Oops, once again I accidentally hit the thanks button. oO Anyways.. I think it's not the specs that makes the Lumia (800 or 900) so compelling. It's just its design. Its look and feel (in your hands). Windows Phone looks totally different from any other mobile OS on the market. So does the Lumia (if you leave the N9 aside, that is ). It doesn't have the generic over and over reused look that Samsung und especially HTC devices use to have.
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i mentioned that a bit - i have never felt a similar nokia device, so I cant comment in its feel, but the look is appealing - if I were OOC I would get it, because I love the WP OS, and its the newest thing to get, but if I am an iPhone fanboy, there is just nothing special
On your bulletin about the Lumia 800 or 900 potentially feeling 'cheap... the answer is a very loud no.
I got the chance to man handle the Lumia 800 at a Windows Phone camp last November in Nokia San Diego and was awestruck at the feel of the device. You really need to hold in person to judge it, but most major editorial tech news site layers it with praise in regard to the design and feel of it. I haven't seen anyone even come close to calling it 'cheap'.
The Lumia 900 I played with at CES. They didn't have any on display to touch, but I convinced a rep to let me see his and again, same wow factor the 800 has.
However, I give the slight edget to the 800 since the display is curved and it really makes the device 'flow' in your hand.
Now, the spec argument is dead with any Windows Phone device. Looking at what device you can buy today, every Windows Phone holds its own very well against other smartphones in terms of everyday use. Yes, Android phones can do random CPU or GPU stuff faster, but when it comes down to using your phone WP rocks. See those videos by Ben the PC Guy to get an idea.
The reason why this device is expected to be the savior can be attributed more to the relationship between Microsoft and Nokia. It will be the first phone that the two push really hard here in the US. Sure the 710 has been out for a month, but the 900 will be so in your face that it will get people to stop and notice.
First, polycarbonate is not plastic.
Otherwise, form factor, screen, Nokia exclusive apps and games that NOT just anyone can get as you seem to think, I could go on.
@OP - The hype is that Microsoft/Nokia apparently think it's 2009. And they're extremely happy about this brand new game-upper of a device.
z33dev33l said:
First, polycarbonate is not plastic.
Otherwise, form factor, screen, Nokia exclusive apps and games that NOT just anyone can get as you seem to think, I could go on.
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Yes actually, it is plastic.
Polycarbonates, known by the trademarked names Lexan, Makrolon, Makroclear and others, are a particular group of thermoplastic polymers. They are easily worked, molded, and thermoformed. Because of these properties, polycarbonates find many applications. Polycarbonates do not have a unique plastic identification code and are identified as Other, 7.
Polycarbonates received their name because they are polymers containing carbonate groups (–O–(C=O)–O–). Most polycarbonates of commercial interest are derived from rigid monomers. A balance of useful features including temperature resistance, impact resistance and optical properties position polycarbonates between commodity plastics and engineering plastics.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids that are moldable. Plastics are typically organic polymers of high molecular mass, but they often contain other substances. They are usually synthetic, most commonly derived from petrochemicals, but many are partially natural.[1]
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic
gonintendo said:
Yes actually, it is plastic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic
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Polycarbonate is a plastic, however it is not to be confused with other more commonly used plastics derived from ethylene and propylene.
The properties and uses of a polycarbonate are so different from even a high density polyethylene plastic that it is hard to classify the 2 in the same category.
I bring up polyethylene and polypropylene because when people use the term plastic, typically they are referring to these. Not everyone has a degree in chemical engineering and a history in polymer chemistry, however I do and I find your comment ridiculous.
On a side note I do want to congratulate you on the ability to to use wikipedia. You just proved how good information used in the wrong hands makes ignorant people feel intelligent.
jz9833 said:
Polycarbonate is a plastic, however it is not to be confused with other more commonly used plastics derived from ethylene and propylene.
The properties and uses of a polycarbonate are so different from even a high density polyethylene plastic that it is hard to classify the 2 in the same category.
I bring up polyethylene and polypropylene because when people use the term plastic, typically they are referring to these. Not everyone has a degree in chemical engineering and a history in polymer chemistry, however I do and I find your comment ridiculous.
On a side note I do want to congratulate you on the ability to to use wikipedia. You just proved how good information used in the wrong hands makes ignorant people feel intelligent.
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The fact of the matter is that polycarbonate is a plastic. It's a great plastic for making a phone with, different from what's usually used, but it's still a plastic. What people refer to when they say plastic and how commonly used it is doesn't change that. It's like saying mercury isn't a metal because when people think of metals, they think of steel and aluminum. And pardon me for trying to back my claim up with evidence.
It may be a plastic...but is an awesome one for making a phone. It isn't like buying a cheap plastic phone.
Wow, this thread has gone sideways. I thought this was a valid question that I have even found my self asking.
Nice, but so what?
I personally am glad to see Nokia entering the market in the states again. I swore by Nokia phones when they were available. They are certainly a nice product, but there are other ones too. It is good to have another quality manufacturer still in the game.
At the end of the day, MS is strugling in the phone OS business and Nokia was strugling in the Hardware (and OS) business. Together, they garner significant press and attention from the investment community.
Together they make hype....
Simply put; the hype is self serving to win market share and clearly doing ok. There is no such thing as bad press, even a thread gone sideways.
N!njaDuck said:
Wow, this thread has gone sideways. I thought this was a valid question that I have even found my self asking.
Nice, but so what?
I personally am glad to see Nokia entering the market in the states again. I swore by Nokia phones when they were available. They are certainly a nice product, but there are other ones too. It is good to have another quality manufacturer still in the game.
At the end of the day, MS is strugling in the phone OS business and Nokia was strugling in the Hardware (and OS) business. Together, they garner significant press and attention from the investment community.
Together they make hype....
Simply put; the hype is self serving to win market share and clearly doing ok. There is no such thing as bad press, even a thread gone sideways.
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Agree with you on all but one minor detail, nokia has been consistently putting out really nice hardware since they finally ditched resistive touchscreens. (The N8 and onward, iirc). It was pretty much just their software that was holding them back. (And even then, there were and still are are symbian diehards.) The E7 specifically is one of the nicest looking and feeling phones I've ever seen. Before that, I thought it was impossible to make a phone with a landscape keyboard look nice.
z33dev33l said:
First, polycarbonate is not plastic.
Otherwise, form factor, screen, Nokia exclusive apps and games that NOT just anyone can get as you seem to think, I could go on.
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Click to collapse
jz9833 said:
Polycarbonate is a plastic, however it is not to be confused with other more commonly used plastics derived from ethylene and propylene.
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Click to collapse
Hmm... So it is a plastic?
Nokia = name brand. Known by us older generation as the very high quality almost unkillable phones of our times. I had an old nokia that i dropped in the snow once. I ran over it 4 times with my truck while it was out there. 4 days later i found it. Damn thing still was working. You couldn't read the display as it got cracked but it still dialed and answered calls.
Nokia is also known for innovation. I had a nokia that would do exchange, but wasn't a smart phone. The phone actually split into a keyboard so that half the querty was on the left side and half was on the right of the screen.
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/nokia-6800-unlocked/4505-6454_7-30532370.html
How many phones of that time did that? And look at the style of that phone. For it's time it stood out.
Most nokias were traded in, or donated in still working condition after you upgraded to the next.
So the sheer thought of a premium nokia handset that looks like the lumina 900 with Super plastic as you guys have pointed out, that doesn't feel like plastic, and clear black display - it frankly makes my generation druel (i'm 37). Don't get me wrong, i love my titan, but i would give it up for the nokia in a heartbeat even though i know i would be losing a replaceable battery and going a little smaller screen size wise then my titan's massive and awesome 4.7
Nokia also has all the contacts. They are one of the biggest phone manufactures to the globe. (note i didn't say smartphone). If they can bring windows phone to most of those customers, you are going to see it take off. In each country that nokia has released a new phone, so far sales have skyrocketed. Places are selling out.. Nokia is bringing marketing to the platform that was never attempted by other oems - like there life depends on it (which it does).
So that my friend is the hype - at least for me.
grimchicken402 said:
Hmm... So it is a plastic?
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ROTFLMAO......
This phone definitely doesn't feel cheap.
Something that Nokia has done very well is consider how the device will feel in the hand (not counting low-end phones). Every mid to high-end Nokia I've had has felt amazing and never ever cheap. And I've been buying their more expensive devices ever since the 7210 came out almost a decade ago.
The 800 is so solid and sexy. I don't mind the specs of the Focus S, but at the AT&T store they've had to tape the back cover to it because it keeps popping off with the security thingy glued to it. I also really really really hate the feel of actual plastic. Polycarbonate feels dense.
Wait til I post the results of my accidental "drop test". Was in the case and flew out of my pocket onto pavement, hit the corner near the audio jack, landed on the display and slid. There's a tiny nick out of the corner and a 1-2mm scratch on the glass, outside of the display. There are also a few tiny, tiny marks that look like small hairs that you want to blow off the screen that can only be seen while black and clean.
Needless to say, I was hoping that I'd have gone about a year before dropping the device... not 3 weeks, but am super impressed with how it handled the impact.
its good to get some input from some people who have actually had some face time with the devices
and I purposefully used the term "plastic" to describe its material composition, a. because I knew it was plastic, but more so b. because I figured it would stir debate over its feel and form factor.
so what it seems to boil down to is, its not so much the device or its specs, although by all accounts it looks to be the best WP yet, although not leaps and bounds better than previous offerings. its not so much its form factor, although it seems to be of high quality and feel. its more about the name recognition and marketing that should coincide with its release that should stir the market into finally recognizing the WP OS and its phones.
lets hope it works.
windows phone 8 will be cool-till then android baby!
Question: Does anyone really understand all the Nokia Lumia (specifically the 900) hype surrounding its release?
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I'm thinking its because it's hype. No one has used the device, and the current lumia users are having quite a few issues with their devices. That's not to say that Nokia and Microsoft isn't repairing the issues, but as far as first devices goes, you don't want to have many big issues. I think the main hype is besides the N8, this is the bonafide first Nokia phone that's getting a somewhat bigger push than any phone Nokia previously released
So what if the Nokia Lumia 900 phone has a good camera, so do many other phones, and if you really want a good picture, you know you are not getting it from a cell phone.
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very true, but if anything, people don't want to invest so much in "just a camera" and would prefer to consolidate when necessary. It's a futile argument I do admit, but its one many people have. It's also why the apple iphone camera painstakingly tries to get the best photographic experience for casual users
Its form factor is shared by the Focus S, as is its screen size. Now I will say that I do like the squarish figure. I enjoyed the feel of the Flash in my hand, and was disappointed the Focus S wasn't the same shape, but I know most people have different views on this, so I can't see it as a game changer either. I prefer the Focus S lightweight, flexing plastic feel, to the hard metal finish on the Titan, that to me feels like a brick. Maybe the polycarbonate finish of the Lumia feels better, maybe not. But I am willing to bet some people will like it while others will see it as plastic and cheap.
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I think most realize its polycarbonate, a totally different beast.
I reviewed the focus s and it was the first phone I did review. And sadly, I wasn't enthused, I wasn't impressed with it, and overall I just felt the device itself was mediocre. Especially with the brightness issue that the focus s had that wasn't on the focus flash - a phone I would prefer over its big brother any day of the week.
Its screen is AMOLED, what Nokia calls a ClearBlack. I hear its screen is supposed to perform better in direct sun light, but my Focus S looks fine to me. And hell, some people prefer the Titan screen to the Focus S any who, so again, nothing grand here.
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compare the screen to the focus flash and you will writhe in disappointment of the focus s screen in terms of brightness and contrast. Super Amoled+ has better and richer colors, but overall it just wasn't that great.
The titan screen while huge, wasn't much to write home about. For some reason, the bigger the screen on slcd on windows phone, the worst the quality gets. I am perfectly loving the htc radar screen because it is just leaps and bounds above the titan screen. Higher DPI, more color richness, definitely a great screen
Yes it will have certain Nokia only apps. But those who really want them already have them, so its really a moot point.
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I think apps are very important and a great selling point for any phone. And that matters to have more apps that many would find on competing factors. It's not a moot point in the eye of the average user who is used to using a plethora of apps
Now, knowing what I know about the Lumia, if I were to get a phone when it comes out, I would probably get the Lumia, over the Titan or Focus S, simply because its something new, Nokia is a good manufacturer, and I like the square look. But if Microsoft, or Nokia, expect people to flock and purchase this phone OOC, or instead of a high end Android or iPhone, I don't see their hopes and dreams coming true
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Agreed. Now tell that to some other wp7 users...watch a flame war spark
Again, its basically a Focus S with LTE
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little bit premature to say that considering you've never used the device. just saying

US version heavier than advertised

Just got the US version, 64GB capacity... A warning to everyone that the phone is not 190g (6.7oz) as advertised on their website. I weighed it and it's actually 205g = 7.23oz (without sd card and without sim card).
I would never have thought to weigh the phone except that I noticed the phone being noticeably heavier (and more tiring to hold) compared to my Pixel 2 XL (at 175g). Before weighing it, I just couldn't believe that a supposed 15g (0.53oz) difference would be this noticeable -- so I weighed it to be sure.
I'm still deciding whether to keep it. I also haven't rooted it yet because I want to use it for a month or so to make sure there are no hardware issues where I may need to get a replacement.
UPDATE: The false advertisement is even worse. On the US Asus Store site where I purchased the phone, it's advertising the weight as 0.4lbs = 181grams, even less than the 190grams advertised on their general tech specs page.
Not only US version, but EU version too...
I weighed:
200.2g phone with one SIM card
216.8g phone with one SIM card and this silicone case https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/32891428136.html
16.6g silicone case itself
Oh wow, not just the US version.
I'm trying to figure out why ~1oz extra feels so much heavier (and tiring to hold).... maybe the small increase in thickness and the change in weight distribution is making it more tiring to hold?
_jis_ said:
Not only US version, but EU version too...
I weighed:
200.2g phone with one SIM card
216.8g phone with one SIM card and this silicone case https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/32891428136.html
16.6g silicone case itself
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even worse
Just found out that the false advertisement is even worse.
On the US Asus Store site where I purchased the phone, it's advertising the weight as 0.4lbs = 181grams, even less than the 190grams advertised on their general tech specs page.
Hmmm, doesn't glass make phones heavier? Asus has a gorilla glass 3 on the back and gorilla glass 6 on the front. (in addition to 5k mah battery). That contributes to the weigh of it. If the back was only plastic or even aluminum, it might be lighter. But i take the main OP point. Specs should be on point and not off from customers tests. (like weight). They should have advertised the original weight rather than making it look more appealing by reducing it on the specs lol.
PS: (I personally don't care much about weight since, well, I spend the entire day dealing with heavy objects and the phone should feel like a feather to me (if i ever end up buying it). Also I have never though about buying or not buying a phone basing my decision on the "weight" factor.) LOL
Aside from the weighting, @neo_lithic3K , have you experience any technical issues? Please do create a thread regarding that if you do find some. Thank you!
Yeah, I'd imagine glass and bigger battery would make it heavier. I agree that the weight isn't normally a major factor in my decisions. The only reason I noticed it is because, before buying, I was comparing dimensions of the Pixel 2 XL vs Zenfone 6 to make sure it's not too big... and I also happened to see the weight as well (and thought... ok 15g isn't much heavier).
I'm hoping that I'll get used to the increased weight.. but I think a difference between 'dealing with heavy objects' all day and holding a smartphone is that the way I hold my phone isn't the same I would hold/carry, eg, a hammer or a UPS package. With a smartphone, it's more in the fingers.... a bit of a delicate balance between having a firm grip but not dropping it and not accidentally touching the screen at wrong place. The phone is also thicker so I have to stretch and extend my finger muscles just a tad bit more to hold it firmly.
No other technical issues but I did notice some technical differences. I did notice decreased brightness when looking at the phone from a 45 degree angle compared to my Pixel 2 XL which was noticeably brighter. Not a dealbreaker of course. I also notice that the vibration seems weaker compared to the Pixel 2 XL to the point where I cant feel it in my jeans pocket, even with vibration on max.
jinkerz9430 said:
Hmmm, doesn't glass make phones heavier? Asus has a gorilla glass 3 on the back and gorilla glass 6 on the front. (in addition to 5k mah battery). That contributes to the weigh of it. If the back was only plastic or even aluminum, it might be lighter. But i take the main OP point. Specs should be on point and not off from customers tests. (like weight). They should have advertised the original weight rather than making it look more appealing by reducing it on the specs lol.
PS: (I personally don't care much about weight since, well, I spend the entire day dealing with heavy objects and the phone should feel like a feather to me (if i ever end up buying it). Also I have never though about buying or not buying a phone because basing my decision on the "weight" factor.) LOL
Aside from the weighting, @neo_lithic3K , have you experience any technical issues? Please do create a thread regarding that if you do find some. Thank you!
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neo_lithic3K said:
No other technical issues but I did notice some technical differences. I did notice decreased brightness when looking at the phone from a 45-degree angle compared to my Pixel 2 XL which was noticeably brighter. Not a dealbreaker of course. I also notice that the vibration seems weaker compared to the Pixel 2 XL to the point where I cant feel it in my jeans pocket, even with vibration on max.
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That's the downside of OLED screens vs IPS screens. IPS screens in some occasions are crispier than OLED screens. But certain angles do affect the overall brightness and visibility on IPS screens if compared with OLED, (in pixel 2 xl situation P.OLED). If there were only a way to create a screen with both worlds (a screen that wouldn't get a permanent burnt image and get crispy images and infinite contrast ration under normal circumstances, and high contrast ration under sunlight) boi that screen would be a beast!
hmmm vibration weaker. I wonder if we could change the vibration motor :3 . I feel like buying a broken zenfone 6 just to experiment with that. LOL
LOL that would be interesting... changing the motor out for a better one. Wishful thinking of course... but I was also wondering myself if it's possible to swap out the battery for a slightly lower capacity one. I'm never far from an outlet so I wouldn't mind getting a lower capacity battery if it makes the phone lighter....
LOL maybe in 10-20 years... technology would get to the point where we could get a screen with all those positives.
jinkerz9430 said:
That's the downside of OLED screens vs IPS screens. IPS screens in some occasions are crispier than OLED screens. But certain angles do affect the overall brightness and visibility on IPS screens if compared with OLED, (in pixel 2 xl situation P.OLED). If there were only a way to create a screen with both worlds (a screen that wouldn't get a permanent burnt image and get crispy images and infinite contrast ration under normal circumstances, and high contrast ration under sunlight) boi that screen would be a beast!
hmmm vibration weaker. I wonder if we could change the vibration motor :3 . I feel like buying a broken zenfone 6 just to experiment with that. LOL
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