Reasons for buying, candidates, pros and cons.
Constantly reading about new products in the mobile electronics industry and smartphones in particular, over time I began to think that it would be time to retire my current device, which I did not get at my request, but nevertheless became a reliable working tool and a means of consuming content world wide web. Within the framework of a small material, I want to share the arguments that I am guided by.
So, the good old SGN4 who has survived a lot and is in good health with custom firmware on board in the near future with a high degree of probability will go to a new owner, since there are those who want to get it for their use. In fact, the stock Samsung has put into this device even now allows it to look confident against the background of even more seasoned and comparatively 'younger' devices: the QHD screen, coupled with decent autonomy and impressive dimensions of the device, makes the SGN4 quite an attractive offer on the used market. smartphones.
'Ilya, so what's stopping you from continuing to walk with Note 4?' – the inquisitive reader will ask. A reasonable question. Nothing too critical, but there are some sore moments. For example, a fingerprint scanner, its implementation and accuracy. The fourth representative of the Samsung phablet line today, alas, cannot boast of a modern and accurate fingerprint sensor. To unlock, you need to slide your finger over the button and regardless of the number of variations in finger deviations from the usual position added during fingerprint registration, the scanner 'sins' by not accepting the fingerprint in one position or another. The difference with modern sensors is a little less than a second in impressions, but not time plays a role here, but accuracy. Sometimes there are prejudices about the outdated scanner system: I involuntarily recall the stylish but funny Pantech GI100 with its attempt to implement biometric authentication, which worked very badly and slowly, but the device is remembered.
The second subjective disadvantage of SGN4 (like many Samsung smartphones of past model years) is the overload of redundant software, which I tried to neutralize with third-party firmware, which is essentially a port of the Note 7 interface (no, nothing exploded after the firmware). And if in the case of the S4 I closed my eyes for a long time and then went through the custom ROMs even longer in an attempt to make the interface as easy as possible, then in the case of the current device, a way out of the situation was found quite quickly, especially since its previous owner removed all questions about guarantee, by negligence, fairly wet the smartphone. The 'rice therapy' I conducted helped to 'revive the drowned man', so I became its second owner a few weeks after the purchase.
Body materials and dimensions also helped to understand over time that for me the SGN4 is a bit thick and large, and the leather-styled plastic back cover was very ugly rubbed over time and was permanently hidden under skins from the dbrand Canadians I already mentioned on the AMR pages. I have already got used to the latter, and partly when choosing a new smartphone I was guided by the presence of similar stickers for it. To my surprise, I quickly got used to the stylus, often with its help I save interesting thoughts and necessary images, and also exchange them with interlocutors in instant messengers.
Well, and, perhaps, the main gripe for me is the deteriorated autonomy. The first battery swelled up and was retired less than a year after buying a smartphone, I sin on the consequences of drowning. Over time, I began to notice that the new battery does not allow the smartphone to 'survive' until the 16:00 mark, the time when I usually put the phone on charge before. Long live portable batteries, but not very convenient with them. Due to personnel changes at my main job, I began to spend significantly more time on the phone, calling the necessary people or communicating with them online. Apparently, this is why the problem with autonomy has become urgent.
By and large, you can say that I am finding fault, and there is some truth in this, but I am actually a rather picky user, accustomed to calculating approximate scenarios for using new technology before buying and reading reviews and reviews on the Internet. Thanks to my cooperation with AMR, as well as meeting people from companies, now it is possible to sometimes 'touch' a particular device and form an opinion about it, which undoubtedly helps when choosing. With your permission, I have formed a trio of devices of the current model year, which I am seriously considering buying to replace the 'old man' SGN4.
Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8 +
Yes, you can probably follow the trend, my previous smartphone was also from Samsung, but this time the company presented really cool and original devices, whose capabilities and features are at their best. The new approach to aspect ratios and practically zero bezels give a totally fantastic first impression, especially when you hold your smartphone in your hand. What can you say, the leaders set the trends, and the rest only in a hurry pick up.
At the moment, for myself, I have identified several subjective disadvantages of the 'eights':
- Location of the fingerprint scanner. Well, a very controversial point, I understand that a habit will develop, but the residue remains. And, probably, it is for this reason that he abandoned the idea of buying Note 8.
- The smartphone always strives to slip out of the hand, thanks to the materials of the case. It's probably hard to please me in this regard, but a reliable grip is definitely needed.
- The length of the device, you also need to get used to
- Cost.
Honor 8 Pro
The cost of a smartphone became a determining factor for me precisely after I got acquainted with Honor 8 Pro at the Russian presentation of the phablet. I'm still wondering how the manufacturer was able to put such a relatively low price on a smartphone with such decent characteristics. Feels like even a short 'communication' with Honor 8 Pro, we can confidently say that the smartphone turned out to be very cool.
Pros:
- Excellent 5.7 ″ QHD display with LTPS technology LCD
- Slightly thinner than SGN4
- Battery 3900 mAh
- Two cameras, even though I'm not a fan of mobile photography
- 'Chips' EMUI
- Price quality
Of the subjective disadvantages, I can note the onscreen buttons and redundant software, which Chinese manufacturers often sin. The rest of the smartphone is at the premium segment, it can be safely recommended to fans of phablets.
OnePlus 5
After a lot of thinking and 'weighing' the pros and cons based on my own preferences, I finally came to the conclusion that there is a 90% probability that my next smartphone will be the recently presented OnePlus 5. Apparently, the inner geek made the choice for me, already I really like the process of customizing the smartphone. Yes, the fifth 'flagship killer' turned out to be ambiguous, one assumption about inverted screens from 3T is worth it. But in general, the smartphone fits perfectly into my, so to speak, 'value system': a balanced and quite universal device with an ideal screen diagonal for me, a good processor, discreet design, a light and simple shell, the potential for flashing, a stock of 'life' and much more on the little things.
The disadvantage of OP5 for me is only the lack of an official representative and service center. Otherwise, I will take a risk, unless, of course, I change my mind in favor of the previous device. I would be glad to discuss in the comments the positive and negative aspects of the devices presented.
The experience of choosing a new smartphone showed that during my communication with devices from different companies I began to pay more attention to studying the user experience of other people, but for some reason I stopped looking at the cost in the first place, perhaps because I was used to saving money a little. for the purchase of equipment. Also, the time of ownership of the device has increased, and I have become less likely to change smartphones. Finally, I was finally convinced that the Chinese 'invasion' could not be stopped, I fully support such healthy competition and am ready to support it with a ruble, which I had not seen before. How has your approach to buying new smartphones changed? Or do you adhere to strict rules?