5 ms·

It's got a really meh display though. All other midrange phones do 90 or 120hz. Like the $300 Samsung A52s. I've been looking at the pixel 6a for Calyx but it'

It's got a really meh display though. All other midrange phones do 90 or 120hz. Like the $300 Samsung A52s. I've been looking at the pixel 6a for Calyx but it's really not a good deal for me.

aaaaaaaaata 4y ago
What's wrong with a 3a/3aXL?
- x0x0 4y ago
  The OS is dead. No more security updates (now for the 3a; soon I think (if not already) for the 3axl).
makeitdouble 4y ago
In the current ecosystem, if you're in the market for an android and are fine with Samsung's software, I'm not sure there is much reason for not buying a Samsung phone. They are hard to beat on the hardware front, and will have a model at almost every size and price point. The only market they don't seem to be covering is hardcore gaming phones. I'd choose a Pixel phone to have the software fully managed by Google (the camera being tuned to be neutral is part of the package), but I definitely don't see them (or any other maker) as a "good deal"
- mcny 4y ago
  Speaking of Samsung I wonder if anyone here has experience with the x cover pro series. Looks like a pretty decent deal for a phone with a user removable back and replaceable battery? Looks like Linux kernel 5.4 Android 12 https://youtu.be/o0T9p4nZx4o https://youtu.be/o0T9p4nZx4o At almost EUR 600, I just can’t justify it though :/ https://gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_xcover6_pro-11600.php https://gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_xcover6_pro-11600.php
  - GekkePrutser 4y ago
    I have an Xcover 4S, not the pro. Though I don't use it anymore. We also have a ton of those at work. The Xcover 5 (also non-pro) too. It's an ok phone for the 120 euro I paid for that, I bought mine second hand for hiking. They get really long support from Samsung because they view them as an enterprise product (whether it's the enterprise edition labeled one or not!) However, they are SLOW. The screens are kinda crap LCDs, even in direct sunlight a good OLED screen is much better. I don't know why Samsung sticks with LCDs on these. If they'd have used transflective LCD like most outdoor GPS devices I could see the point for outdoor readability but they don't, they're just cheap crap LCDs worse than what they put in their $200 budget series. OLED is better than they crap they put in these phones in every way. In the past Samsung mentioned they did this because OLED screens cracked more easily, however this cannot be a thing anymore since most OLEDs now use flexible plastic substrate, even in non-foldable phones. The XCover Pro 6 uses the 778G chip though which is the same as I have in my Galaxy A52s and it's ok. Be aware, Samsung usually pairs this chip with very slow UFS2 flash (Snapdragon 8 models come with UFS3.1) so installing apps is tedious. But during normal use it's ok. It's kinda cool that this phone has DeX but with only 6GB RAM and a midrange processor with slow flash I wouldn't expect too much of it. They make you pay an extra feature license to use the side "push to talk" button with apps like MS Teams by the way so be aware of that. I'm a HAM operator so I'd like to use that but it's less interesting this way. It also stops people from building the PTT functionality in apps because nobody has the license anyway. But I haven't seen the new Pro 6 yet no. It looks ok but yeah the prices are HIGH. And battery availability is tough, I've had a hard time finding an official battery for my 4S. Samsung doesn't sell them directly and a lot of the batteries on Amazon are fakes. Meaning the NFC stops working as this is part of the battery (Samsung WHY???), and you have questionable safety. This kind of undermines the idea of a replaceable battery, if you can't buy genuine batteries easily. Sure, it's a bit old by now, but this is exactly the time when you'd need a new battery. But really, for 300 euro you can get a Galaxy A52s which is roughly the same phone in terms of specs. Exact same processor and ram. No replaceable battery but half the price, with a much better OLED screen with in-screen fingerprint. Put a tough case on it (I use the Spigen Tough Armor on mine, 15,99 euro on Amazon) and a good screen protector and it's just as indestructible as the XCover Pro IMO. And even if you break it and have to buy a totally new one you still spent only the same as an XCover Pro 6. The A52s still even has a 3,5mm jack like the XP6. The A53 doesn't and it has a slower exynos CPU so I'd recommend the A52s instead. Also, don't overestimate the ruggedness of these devices. They're 'business rugged' at best. Even with the XCover 4S I used a Tough Armor case on top of it.
- k8sToGo 4y ago
  My problem with Samsung is that depending on your region you get a different CPU.
  - morsch 4y ago
    Not in the (upcoming) future, at least wrt the high end devices: https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2022/08/snapdragon-8-plus-gen-1-powers-samsung-galaxy-z-series-devices-globa https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2022/08/snapdragon-8-...
skybrian 4y ago
Not having seen these displays, I wonder why would anyone care about a higher frame rate. It scrolls even more smoothly? It sounds like a luxury feature or maybe audiophile nonsense.
- MomoXenosaga 4y ago
  Trust me you can tell the difference between 60 and 120. Whether or not you care is another question. But is a better screen nonsense? If that was so we'd still have 20 inch black and white monitors.
- GekkePrutser 4y ago
  It's something you get used to. Since having a 120Hz phone, going back to 60Hz feels really jittery and cheap.
  - skybrian 4y ago
    I don't think I want to get used to that. Hedonic treadmill go burr.
    - GekkePrutser 4y ago
      Well if it wasn't a genuine improvement it wouldn't be so addictive. IMO it's worth it and my galaxy A52s has better battery life than any phone I've had in recent years and that's with 120Hz on. I can even limit the battery to 85% (to make it age slower) and still last a whole day with ease. So I don't think this is a heavy trade-off.

It's got a really meh display though. All other midrange phones do 90 or 120hz. Like the $300 Samsung A52s. I've been looking at the pixel 6a for Calyx but it's really not a good deal for me.

aaaaaaaaata 4y ago

What's wrong with a 3a/3aXL?

x0x0 4y ago
The OS is dead. No more security updates (now for the 3a; soon I think (if not already) for the 3axl).

makeitdouble 4y ago

In the current ecosystem, if you're in the market for an android and are fine with Samsung's software, I'm not sure there is much reason for not buying a Samsung phone. They are hard to beat on the hardware front, and will have a model at almost every size and price point. The only market they don't seem to be covering is hardcore gaming phones. I'd choose a Pixel phone to have the software fully managed by Google (the camera being tuned to be neutral is part of the package), but I definitely don't see them (or any other maker) as a "good deal"

mcny 4y ago
Speaking of Samsung I wonder if anyone here has experience with the x cover pro series. Looks like a pretty decent deal for a phone with a user removable back and replaceable battery? Looks like Linux kernel 5.4 Android 12 https://youtu.be/o0T9p4nZx4o https://youtu.be/o0T9p4nZx4o At almost EUR 600, I just can’t justify it though :/ https://gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_xcover6_pro-11600.php https://gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_xcover6_pro-11600.php
- GekkePrutser 4y ago
  I have an Xcover 4S, not the pro. Though I don't use it anymore. We also have a ton of those at work. The Xcover 5 (also non-pro) too. It's an ok phone for the 120 euro I paid for that, I bought mine second hand for hiking. They get really long support from Samsung because they view them as an enterprise product (whether it's the enterprise edition labeled one or not!) However, they are SLOW. The screens are kinda crap LCDs, even in direct sunlight a good OLED screen is much better. I don't know why Samsung sticks with LCDs on these. If they'd have used transflective LCD like most outdoor GPS devices I could see the point for outdoor readability but they don't, they're just cheap crap LCDs worse than what they put in their $200 budget series. OLED is better than they crap they put in these phones in every way. In the past Samsung mentioned they did this because OLED screens cracked more easily, however this cannot be a thing anymore since most OLEDs now use flexible plastic substrate, even in non-foldable phones. The XCover Pro 6 uses the 778G chip though which is the same as I have in my Galaxy A52s and it's ok. Be aware, Samsung usually pairs this chip with very slow UFS2 flash (Snapdragon 8 models come with UFS3.1) so installing apps is tedious. But during normal use it's ok. It's kinda cool that this phone has DeX but with only 6GB RAM and a midrange processor with slow flash I wouldn't expect too much of it. They make you pay an extra feature license to use the side "push to talk" button with apps like MS Teams by the way so be aware of that. I'm a HAM operator so I'd like to use that but it's less interesting this way. It also stops people from building the PTT functionality in apps because nobody has the license anyway. But I haven't seen the new Pro 6 yet no. It looks ok but yeah the prices are HIGH. And battery availability is tough, I've had a hard time finding an official battery for my 4S. Samsung doesn't sell them directly and a lot of the batteries on Amazon are fakes. Meaning the NFC stops working as this is part of the battery (Samsung WHY???), and you have questionable safety. This kind of undermines the idea of a replaceable battery, if you can't buy genuine batteries easily. Sure, it's a bit old by now, but this is exactly the time when you'd need a new battery. But really, for 300 euro you can get a Galaxy A52s which is roughly the same phone in terms of specs. Exact same processor and ram. No replaceable battery but half the price, with a much better OLED screen with in-screen fingerprint. Put a tough case on it (I use the Spigen Tough Armor on mine, 15,99 euro on Amazon) and a good screen protector and it's just as indestructible as the XCover Pro IMO. And even if you break it and have to buy a totally new one you still spent only the same as an XCover Pro 6. The A52s still even has a 3,5mm jack like the XP6. The A53 doesn't and it has a slower exynos CPU so I'd recommend the A52s instead. Also, don't overestimate the ruggedness of these devices. They're 'business rugged' at best. Even with the XCover 4S I used a Tough Armor case on top of it.
k8sToGo 4y ago
My problem with Samsung is that depending on your region you get a different CPU.
- morsch 4y ago
  Not in the (upcoming) future, at least wrt the high end devices: https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2022/08/snapdragon-8-plus-gen-1-powers-samsung-galaxy-z-series-devices-globa https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2022/08/snapdragon-8-...

skybrian 4y ago

Not having seen these displays, I wonder why would anyone care about a higher frame rate. It scrolls even more smoothly? It sounds like a luxury feature or maybe audiophile nonsense.

MomoXenosaga 4y ago
Trust me you can tell the difference between 60 and 120. Whether or not you care is another question. But is a better screen nonsense? If that was so we'd still have 20 inch black and white monitors.
GekkePrutser 4y ago
It's something you get used to. Since having a 120Hz phone, going back to 60Hz feels really jittery and cheap.
- skybrian 4y ago
  I don't think I want to get used to that. Hedonic treadmill go burr.
  - GekkePrutser 4y ago
    Well if it wasn't a genuine improvement it wouldn't be so addictive. IMO it's worth it and my galaxy A52s has better battery life than any phone I've had in recent years and that's with 120Hz on. I can even limit the battery to 85% (to make it age slower) and still last a whole day with ease. So I don't think this is a heavy trade-off.