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.
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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.
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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.

Question Help me decide. I have S21U. Should I get the Z Fold 3?

Amazon has a really great price on the unlocked US version and comes with the Buds as well for $1500! I currently have the S21 Ultra. The Ultra has bigger battery, better camera, and dust resistant.
If I were to buy the Fold I would keep my Ultra.
So is it worth switching? I'm a huge Note fan as well. Would it be wise to maybe wait until Feb and see if the s22 Ultra is basically the Note with built in Spen?
I was also toying with the idea of scoring a deal on a Tab S7 since I need a new tablet. Would it maybe just be best to stick with the S21 Ultra, buy my tablet and then get the S22 Ultra in Feb?
I'm also worried about the Fold 3 and screen cracking in the middle I'm seeing a lot on Reddit.

Just go for it. The fold 3 is better than any tablet. And the advantage of having the phone and the tablet with you really makes a difference.

I came from an S21 Ultra, and switched to Fold 3, I'm very pleased with the change, at the start, I did miss the S21 camera, but the Fold 3 camera is still fine for me.
The rest of the Fold 3 is fantastic, the for media consumption, is just brilliant using that center screen.
This is with me all the time, which a tablet wouldnt be.
Reliability wise, it feels very well built, and the screen doesn't feel fragile at all (I had the fold 2 before this, and never had any problems with the screen through my ownership)

Hold your horses if you want to root - its far better on the S21 for that right now - i can guarantee that lol

Ive seen enough videos side by side with the camera and IMO they look very similar, I'm sure the s21 zoom is amazing but for normal shots side by side its pretty hard to tell the difference.
You basically get a folding tablet in your pocket vs a typical phone thats what you get. Is it worth it? I think hell yes

I love the folds. this is my second after Fold 2 (for a year). Fold 3 hasnt been as reliable as fold 2 for me. Screen is already having issues after having sand in the hinge. I see so many screen failures in reddit group and samsung refuses to cover those under warranty even if it was not fault of your own. so be mindful of that.

taranfx said:
I love the folds. this is my second after Fold 2 (for a year). Fold 3 hasnt been as reliable as fold 2 for me. Screen is already having issues after having sand in the hinge. I see so many screen failures in reddit group and samsung refuses to cover those under warranty even if it was not fault of your own. so be mindful of that.
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Do you think it's better I buy the Tab s7+ and stick with the S21U and get the S22U instead?

Blues fan said:
Do you think it's better I buy the Tab s7+ and stick with the S21U and get the S22U instead?
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this is very personal. I cant live without a large screen in pocket. So personally I'll chose fold everytime.
S22 isnt going to be radically differnt from s21U. Minor improvements everywhere wont make it a replacement for fold 3.
I personally hate having to do anything productive or even researching a product on normal phones, Fold solves that problem very well. I've tab s7+ too which I use only for media consumption.

taranfx said:
this is very personal. I cant live without a large screen in pocket. So personally I'll chose fold everytime.
S22 isnt going to be radically differnt from s21U. Minor improvements everywhere wont make it a replacement for fold 3.
I personally hate having to do anything productive or even researching a product on normal phones, Fold solves that problem very well. I've tab s7+ too which I use only for media consumption.
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What about the camera downgrade and the fragile screen? A lot of people are having the Fold's main screen break, even after just a few days.

So, the main takeaway is will most be happy or disappointed switching from the S21U to the Fold?

Keep the s21. I think if you want a foldable the flip is the better buy. But it depends.
I got the fold 3 for about 1100 on swappa as soon as it was released in august. The device feels great. The hinge is satisfying the 120 hz on both screens are nice (albeit marginal improvements). Generally the ability to see more detailed content is wonderful.
But
The cell signal is bad, the battery is bad, the display is fragile (inner display), the outer display you can do very little on, and the list goes on (including the camera experience just not being comparable to the s21). I like the fold 3 as an experiment and it is a jack of all trades master of none in my eyes. Lots of work needs to be done.
If you want to beta test it be my guest. But there’s a ton of issues I have. And I’ll probably always reach for my iPhone first

You just simply have to ask yourself: what do you actually need?
In my case, I am not a photography enthusiast, but I had to carry my cellphone and my tablet every time I go.
Phone for communication (of course), and tablet to carry all my (more than 100GB) documents everywhere (to work on my papers, read some textbooks, ...)
I found it is much more convenient now to carry only one gadget that can serve as a phone and as a tablet at once.
It's rather bulky and heavy, I admit, as a phone. That is the price I have to pay, I guess.

I went from Fold2 to S21U ... after 3 months I went back to fold 2, now I have the Fold3
I understand what I need
Once you've used the Fold, it's hard to go back

Honestly, I am not a fan of these "help me decide" posts. If you need all of us to convince you that you want/need this phone, then you probably are not going to be convinced. There is only ONE person that can "convince" you and that is you.
Look at reviews, look at tests, look at everything and then decide. If you need to HOLD one, then ping a friend with one or go to a store and hold it. No amount of words are going to convince you if you are not already convinced.
Good luck on your search and hope you settle on something that makes you happy!

i just switched my s21u to fold. so far it's been a great experience. i traded and got the fold 3 for $516 including tax and got a free buds2.

zyxel04 said:
i just switched my s21u to fold. so far it's been a great experience. i traded and got the fold 3 for $516 including tax and got a free buds2.
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I got mine about 2 weeks ago but good thing is to keep it clean that will fix any issues from the folding screen even tho it's the 3rd gen it's still fragile I like it bc I had the z flip I loved it but I did miss the bigger screen of a tablet so I waited and got my z fold for 189 just 2 weeks ago but yeah just use air duster to keep the dust out don't take to really dusty places and make sure you don't put anything else in your pocket with the z fold 3 no debit cards no nothing and get you a rugged case with hinge protection there's like 3 or 4 cases that are not to bulky and when you clean the screens use lens cleaner

General Finally got it

Yeah, price tag is what it is and it took me a while to decide to buy it however, I've bought it.
Wanted badly to try the OPPO Find N2 but is basically impossible to find it Italy.
My Flip3 obviously went to my gf .
First impression is very good.
Got the 256gb version which are more than enough to me.
Front screen is awesome, I can now type with one hand. Inner display is awesome to use with two hands.
Phone however has a strange form factor and getting used to that is not easy also it's heavy and, with both the spigen covers I've bought, it looks like a brick. Not a problem, I like bricks.
Camera didn't impressed me at all to be honest. Also I've already faced some resolution problems with a game ( League of Kingdoms ) which I play all day long basically but it only happens on the inner screen.
Never stand reading books on phone but I think this one will make me change my mind. Also drawing on it is awesome.
This told, do you have any suggestions like apps and accessories for this brick?

Look up good lock that will give you some more little perks for some more little tweeks I had the og fold and liked it ill get another fold at some point though

posted this in another thread, thought you might find it useful
and this one

MySelf_v1 said:
Yeah, price tag is what it is and it took me a while to decide to buy it however, I've bought it.
Wanted badly to try the OPPO Find N2 but is basically impossible to find it Italy.
My Flip3 obviously went to my gf .
First impression is very good.
Got the 256gb version which are more than enough to me.
Front screen is awesome, I can now type with one hand. Inner display is awesome to use with two hands.
Phone however has a strange form factor and getting used to that is not easy also it's heavy and, with both the spigen covers I've bought, it looks like a brick. Not a problem, I like bricks.
Camera didn't impressed me at all to be honest. Also I've already faced some resolution problems with a game ( League of Kingdoms ) which I play all day long basically but it only happens on the inner screen.
Never stand reading books on phone but I think this one will make me change my mind. Also drawing on it is awesome.
This told, do you have any suggestions like apps and accessories for this brick?
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Try naked or aramid/leather case. It's a lot more durable than you think! Most things that would do it in will render any other flagship into a pile of broken glass any way you look at it!
The camera is fine for what it is, typical Samsung processing keeping results within its limits unlike the S22 ultra that pushes sharpening to the extreme. ;-) The only thing I miss is the long zoom but the 30X stretch still works for sign reading when needed.

samsung original case with flip back to make it a tablet stand... is a perfect choice for me.

Question Upgrading to Fold 5.

Might be early, but whom will be doing that?

I will first have a look at the new Pixel Fold, compare it with the Fold 5 and decide then.
Fold 5 could be the choice, if the pen is integrated in the device and battery capacity is improved.
There's no hurry ...

Only reading the rumours (and I totally appreciate they are only rumours) that it is going to be a be a very similar device to the fold 4 with only a hinge change I'm not going to bother. To me, it's not worth paying the premium again.
I'm still really enjoying my fold 3 and it serves me very well. I've not noticed any slow down or battery drop off.
The pixel fold was tempting but I occasionally use the s pen, which I think I would miss. And given Samsung haven't failed the Fold3 with software or security updates I'm not too bothered.
I will miss their camera though!

Not going for a first gen folding phone

m_w_clarke said:
Only reading the rumours (and I totally appreciate they are only rumours) that it is going to be a be a very similar device to the fold 4 with only a hinge change I'm not going to bother. To me, it's not worth paying the premium again.
I'm still really enjoying my fold 3 and it serves me very well. I've not noticed any slow down or battery drop off.
The pixel fold was tempting but I occasionally use the s pen, which I think I would miss. And given Samsung haven't failed the Fold3 with software or security updates I'm not too bothered.
I will miss their camera though!
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Yeah, the Fold 5 is gonna have a similar footprint as the Fold 4. However the crease on the Fold 5 will be less noticable and it will have no gap when closed.

ronaldheld said:
Might be early, but whom will be doing that?
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To be honest Samsung has put me off of folding anything, as well as Samsung Products. I waited to get a folder until I thought the tech was mature enough, as someone else said , I'm not buying a gen 1 device. I had the S21 Ultra and it was rad. We switched Carriers and I thought the ZFold 3 would be neat, and it was for the first couple of weeks. After showing it off to everyone that wanted to see it and settling in to normal use, I quickly figured out that I had downgraded while spending way more on the device. The folding quickly became a rarely used gimmick, I would say I used it once or twice a week, that's not Samsung's fault, I should have thought more about my own needs and habits. As a bar phone it fell short of the older s21 ultra in every metric that I cared about, that is on Samsung and Me, I should have done more due diligence. What Put me off of Samsung though is how they handled the Warranty. 3 days before my warranty expired the seam in the fold went and the inner screen was done for. Samsung told me to take it to the Asurion repair shop and they informed me that no mater what it was going to be considered external damage, even though I had never dropped it or over used the fold. I had to replace it, even though it was known issue. I have been with Samsung since the Behold 2, I have had so many of their phones and products over the years and its just a bummer. I almost sold our bespoke fridge over it, but its just so pretty. So nah, I dont think Im gonna buy it. Sorry, that rant came out of no where.

I have been put off folding phones because of how I have to really take care when the phone is opened. I had the bubbling issue with the factory screen protector and after visiting a samsung store to see if I could get it replaced they declined, I like my fold 3 and will use it a little longer but think my next phone will be the s24 ultra when that comes out.

That is not always the case. I had the issue with my inner screen protector and Samsung Repair Center in Zurich replaced it at no charge.
They mentioned, it's done for free only once, the next time, I have to pay 50 bucks to get it replaced.

TexasMade said:
To be honest Samsung has put me off of folding anything, as well as Samsung Products. I waited to get a folder until I thought the tech was mature enough, as someone else said , I'm not buying a gen 1 device. I had the S21 Ultra and it was rad. We switched Carriers and I thought the ZFold 3 would be neat, and it was for the first couple of weeks. After showing it off to everyone that wanted to see it and settling in to normal use, I quickly figured out that I had downgraded while spending way more on the device. The folding quickly became a rarely used gimmick, I would say I used it once or twice a week, that's not Samsung's fault, I should have thought more about my own needs and habits. As a bar phone it fell short of the older s21 ultra in every metric that I cared about, that is on Samsung and Me, I should have done more due diligence. What Put me off of Samsung though is how they handled the Warranty. 3 days before my warranty expired the seam in the fold went and the inner screen was done for. Samsung told me to take it to the Asurion repair shop and they informed me that no mater what it was going to be considered external damage, even though I had never dropped it or over used the fold. I had to replace it, even though it was known issue. I have been with Samsung since the Behold 2, I have had so many of their phones and products over the years and its just a bummer. I almost sold our bespoke fridge over it, but its just so pretty. So nah, I dont think Im gonna buy it. Sorry, that rant came out of no where.
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Wow, how do you NOT use the inner screen on this phone?! I very rarely use the outer screen, and am on the inner one all day. Only times I use the outer one is in the car (it is in a wireless charging arm that comes down from the dashboard next to my Android car unit screen), for the stopwatch while using mouthwash (takes up less counter space folded), and if I'm doing something quick (like turning on a Vibe on my Apollo Neuro device) while it is folded for being in my purse or on a wireless charger. I'm glad the outer screen is there, especially for the Always-On screen to see the time, calendar, and notifications, but the inner one is so much better and more useful for everything. A lot easier to type on, too.
I replaced the inner screen protector with the White-whatever one once (there was a bubble creeping along the fold and it no longer had the anti-fingerprint feature) and it was pretty easy to do. Have had this since a few days before launch day. Another year and some months to finish paying it off, so we'll see what's out then for folding phones, but I usually don't upgrade often.

ronaldheld said:
Not going for a first gen folding phone
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Especially when it has older hardware, like the Pixel Fold. I might forgo the Pixel 8P and go straight for the Fold 2. That's the only way I can justify spending for two phones.

Rather upgrade to Fold 5 versus pixel fold 1.

ronaldheld said:
Might be early, but whom will be doing that?
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What are the reviews I'm currently using S22 ultra is it a good idea to switch to fold. I want an honest review about this! Want to switch on fold.

ronaldheld said:
Might be early, but whom will be doing that?
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Im actually considering to upgrade. I soo far love the Fold 3 as it is and its been a wonderful experience soo far. And seeing news and leaked images of the Fold 5 is making me want to upgrade. There is also the Pixel Fold being launched soon to the market and I also heard that Oneplus is working on one already. I thought Ill wait until all these releases and then opt the best out of the lot!

How good are the Fold devices from Samsung? Do you recommend me getting once cause Im really intrigued by them and I want them to be performing well enough too. Are they optimized enough and do they get slow over time? How is the battery performance? Ive also heard about multiple applications not being well optimized to the Aspect Ratio of the phone since the Main has a big screen, how does this affect the UX and what about the gaming compatibilities?
I would love to know about the requested queries!

Prakash_Raj said:
How good are the Fold devices from Samsung? Do you recommend me getting once cause Im really intrigued by them and I want them to be performing well enough too. Are they optimized enough and do they get slow over time? How is the battery performance? Ive also heard about multiple applications not being well optimized to the Aspect Ratio of the phone since the Main has a big screen, how does this affect the UX and what about the gaming compatibilities?
I would love to know about the requested queries!
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The best thing for you to do is go into a store and play around with a demo unit to see if it is good for you. As everybodys opinon of the device is different and it is all based on user preference

Prakash_Raj said:
How good are the Fold devices from Samsung? Do you recommend me getting once cause Im really intrigued by them and I want them to be performing well enough too. Are they optimized enough and do they get slow over time? How is the battery performance? Ive also heard about multiple applications not being well optimized to the Aspect Ratio of the phone since the Main has a big screen, how does this affect the UX and what about the gaming compatibilities?
I would love to know about the requested queries!
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They are pretty good in my opinion. Ive been using the Fold 3 for a while now and there is no major complaints as such. Like @iceepyon mentioned, its always good to check it hands-on for a better understanding of the device and your liking towards it.

iceepyon said:
The best thing for you to do is go into a store and play around with a demo unit to see if it is good for you. As everybodys opinon of the device is different and it is all based on user preference
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Okay I get that! Nothing beats a hands-on experience on the device itself so yes, I think I will check the device out in real to truly understand if its for me or not.
But since ya'll have been using the Fold on a daily basis for a while, I wanted to know how good it is on a long term and as a daily driver for daily usage and stuff.

EdwardMatthew said:
What are the reviews I'm currently using S22 ultra is it a good idea to switch to fold. I want an honest review about this! Want to switch on fold.
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Hey hope you all are doing great! Seems like you guys didn't see my comment that's why I'm commenting again