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Which phone to get - Google Pixel XL or wait for HTC 11 and SGS8+?

1K views 27 replies 7 participants last post by  steadly2004 
#1 ·
My lovely HTC 10 was stolen in Ukraine from me and now I need to get a new phone. I really like Google Pixel XL, but I wonder if I should wait for HTC 11 and SGS8+? It looks like SGS8+ and HTC 11 will be using the same Snapdragon 835 CPU, Adreno GPU and 6GB of RAM, while Google Pixel XL uses Snapdragon 821 and 4GB of RAM. Personally, I found HTC 10 to be perfectly snappy with its Snapdragon 820 CPU + 4GB of RAM and some articles have already stated that as far as non-gaming performance goes, high-end Android smart phones have already reached its snappiness peak. I also plan on using speedy custom ROM's and keep it as minimalist Google-only as possible.

Aside from improved CPU, GPU, and RAM, what new awesome tech. and features will HTC 11 and SGS8+ offer, aside from the lack of 3.5mm headphone jack? Some amazing camera improvements?
 
#3 ·
I waa thinking the same thing, but that AMOLED craving is getting the best of me. HTC and Google work so closely together that there is basically no difference in software optimization, which leaves hardware as the only difference. Samsung software sucks though - TouchWiz has to go!
 
#5 ·
I want an AIO device. I have many people on my contact list from Facebook, VKontakte, Viber, Skype, Gmail, Instagram, Google+, etc. I want a really snappy phone that connects all those accounts into one cohesive and easy-to-use interface. HTC 10 did just that, but I think its Nougat that did that, not HTC's software, which is very close to Google anyway. I do NOT care for gaming, but I do care for snappiness, camera, battery life, display, and audio via headphones (not built-in speakers, which suck no matter what).

Also, HTC 10 is not out of the question because it has a horrid Wi-Fi mode. My SGS3 and SGS5 can easily reach Wi-Fi signal in places where HTC 10 could not. I guess Google Pixel XL is what I will be getting, although I have not tried custom HTC 10 ROM's, which may or not may not improve its Wi-Fi modem capabilities.
 
#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonarchX View Post

I want an AIO device. I have many people on my contact list from Facebook, VKontakte, Viber, Skype, Gmail, Instagram, Google+, etc. I want a really snappy phone that connects all those accounts into one cohesive and easy-to-use interface. HTC 10 did just that, but I think its Nougat that did that, not HTC's software, which is very close to Google anyway. I do NOT care for gaming, but I do care for snappiness, camera, battery life, display, and audio via headphones (not built-in speakers, which suck no matter what).

Also, HTC 10 is not out of the question because it has a horrid Wi-Fi mode. My SGS3 and SGS5 can easily reach Wi-Fi signal in places where HTC 10 could not. I guess Google Pixel XL is what I will be getting, although I have not tried custom HTC 10 ROM's, which may or not may not improve its Wi-Fi modem capabilities.
Yeah, something is up with the 10's wifi. Resetting it every once in awhile does help.

That's my only complaint though... As for snappiness, HTC claims they did alot of latency-focused optimizations (as opposed to Samsung who has a fetish for slow software
tongue.gif
), so some of that may be them. I do know that custom ROMs didn't feel any faster than stock after the 7 update, which is great.

ANYWAY

I ask because HDR is coming to the next round of smartphones. That's a big deal if you watch alot of Netflix or local videos (even SDR videos look better dithered to 10 bits with higher contrast), but not so big if you don't.
 
#7 ·
Is HDR coming to HTC 10 and SGS8+? I need an unlocked GSM phone ASAP. I can wait for HTC 11 and SGS8+, but AFAIK there weren't even rumors about either of those phones sporting HDR displays, not to mention that there is still no HDR standard. Its a mess TBH. I am into display calibration and I am sticking to my 1080p displays until true 4K UHD HDR Rec. 2020 displays go mainstream before I buy one. HDR UHD displays are in the state of flux and most cannot even properly display Rec. 2020 standard. 1080p HD Rec. 709 is still the mainstream standard ATM, but I don't watch movies all that much on my mobile phones. Like I said, I want a good AIO device and HTC 10 WOULD BE such if it had proper Wi-Fi Modem.

Have any Snapdragon 835 + 6GB RAM phones been released already? I would really like to know whether such devices would be much snappier than Snapdragon 820/821 + 4GB of RAM devices..?
 
#8 ·
I have a pixel XL, it's great.

The snapdragon 821 in the pixel performs roughly the same as the 820 since they are clocked the same.
As an professional android developer, I can say that having 6GB of ram in a android phone is pointless (for the next few years).
Also, having a clean(ish) rom on the pixel from the factory is nice.
But I don't like the feel / build quality of the pixel, it feels cheap IMHO
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonarchX View Post

Is HDR coming to HTC 10 and SGS8+? I need an unlocked GSM phone ASAP. I can wait for HTC 11 and SGS8+, but AFAIK there weren't even rumors about either of those phones sporting HDR displays, not to mention that there is still no HDR standard. Its a mess TBH. I am into display calibration and I am sticking to my 1080p displays until true 4K UHD HDR Rec. 2020 displays go mainstream before I buy one. HDR UHD displays are in the state of flux and most cannot even properly display Rec. 2020 standard. 1080p HD Rec. 709 is still the mainstream standard ATM, but I don't watch movies all that much on my mobile phones. Like I said, I want a good AIO device and HTC 10 WOULD BE such if it had proper Wi-Fi Modem.

Have any Snapdragon 835 + 6GB RAM phones been released already? I would really like to know whether such devices would be much snappier than Snapdragon 820/821 + 4GB of RAM devices..?
Almost certainly not, the 10 is SDR.

It's probably coming to the 11/SG8 though. Samsung just announced a tablet with HDR support, I can't imagine their flagship phones coming without it now.

As for Rec2020... don't hold your breath, we aren't getting full Rec 2020 until QLED displays
tongue.gif


However, a 10-bit panel with 90%+ of DCI-P3 is still a heck of alot better than current phone displays if you watch alot of video. If you don't, it's not a huge deal.
 
#10 ·
True, but its still up in the air as far as figuring out which HDR standard is going to win and whether it is even possible to properly calibrate current displays to those standards fully. LG just confirmed that their upcoming G6 will feature 10bit HDR and will actually support BOTH HDR standards, but there is no word as to how accurate their display will be...
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonarchX View Post

True, but its still up in the air as far as figuring out which HDR standard is going to win and whether it is even possible to properly calibrate current displays to those standards fully. LG just confirmed that their upcoming G6 will feature 10bit HDR and will actually support BOTH HDR standards, but there is no word as to how accurate their display will be...
Well if you're comparing it to the 10, I can tell you that G6 OLED's contrast and gamut is going to blow the 10's LCD out of the water
tongue.gif
. I bet it won't hit 100% DCI-P3 and won't be as color-accurate as the 10's sRGB mode, but that's not a deal-breaker really.
 
#12 ·
I personally love my pixel XL. It's very "snappy" or lacking of lag. I do think this is in part to google having control of the software. I used to always run custom ROM's on every phone I had, but don't feel I need to with the pixel. I guess it's partly because it's lacking most bloat. Also the camera is great.

You could always pick up a used pixel XL on Swappa and then if you feel the need to jump once the other phones are out, just resell it. Then you don't have to "wait" either way.
 
#13 ·
Pixel XL has a horribly inaccurate screen with obvious green tint in sRGB mode and seriously clips/crushes many grayacale levels, which you can test by going to http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/black.php and seeing how many squares should be visible and yet are not. All content and shadow details that use those levels are clipped/crushed. The slightly curved edges that prevent tempered glass from fully adhering to the screen is yet another complaint.

HTC 10 has lower quality IPS screen, but more accurate screen colors. It has a weak Wi-Fi modem/antennae that disconnects or does not connect at all at greater distances, but now I wonder if it is really a deal breaker because it works fine in most cases and Google Pixel XL modem is not that much better, not as good as SGS5 modem anyway.

HTC 10 blows Pixel out of the water when it comes to multi-tasking. Pixel XL loads apps faster, but HTC reloads background apps instantly while Pixel reloads background apps as ifs launching the app for the first time.

I also like fluidity of HTC Sense and great audio DAC.

Is it possible to refund Google Pixel XL just because I am not happy with it and think HTC 10 is better. There is nothing wrong with it, it worka fine, but I think I would rather have HTC 10... or not.
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonarchX View Post

Pixel XL has a horribly inaccurate screen with obvious green tint in sRGB mode and seriously clips/crushes many grayacale levels, which you can test by going to http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/black.php and seeing how many squares should be visible and yet are not. All content and shadow details that use those levels are clipped/crushed. The slightly curved edges that prevent tempered glass from fully adhering to the screen is yet another complaint.

HTC 10 has lower quality IPS screen, but more accurate screen colors. It has a weak Wi-Fi modem/antennae that disconnects or does not connect at all at greater distances, but now I wonder if it is really a deal breaker because it works fine in most cases and Google Pixel XL modem is not that much better, not as good as SGS5 modem anyway.

HTC 10 blows Pixel out of the water when it comes to multi-tasking. Pixel XL loads apps faster, but HTC reloads background apps instantly while Pixel reloads background apps as ifs launching the app for the first time.

I also like fluidity of HTC Sense and great audio DAC.

Is it possible to refund Google Pixel XL just because I am not happy with it and think HTC 10 is better. There is nothing wrong with it, it worka fine, but I think I would rather have HTC 10... or not.
The Pixel XL screen has an AMOLED screen....Better contrast and such. AMOLED screens have been reviewed 100's of times. I also don't do content creation or modify pictures on my phone, so accuracy isn't a problem for me.

But, to each his own. If you like the HTC 10 better use it.

As for multitasking, I don't have the same experience you are describing. Only things like clash of clans and Pokemon reload. They did the same on the S7 edge I had before. Chrome, settings, ext all load instantly. I have no complaints of the "fluidity" you describe, but maybe you are referring to the HTC animations? I think it sounds like you like the Sense UI better, again if that's the case use the HTC.

I have used a tempered glass screen since day 1, replaced after I dropped the phone and it cracked. Never had any edge lift up, just bought one that covers the visible screen but not edge to edge to cover the entire front bezel.

All in all you should use what you like best. Good luck with your phone choices. ?
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonarchX View Post

https://youtu.be/BnvI5md4feU

Watch until the very end to see the multi-tasking part. Samsung S7 also loaded most apps faster than HTC 10, but failed to keep up with HTC in multi-tasking, just like Pixel.
That just shows that the pixel has more aggressive memory management. That's probably why it loads apps it loads apps cold faster. Again.... I personally don't spend most of my time switching between apps. But if you like the HTC 10 better, go get one. ? You don't have to convince me or anyone else on this forum. If you continued loading app after app, I'm sure the Pixel would continue to open them faster on initial opening, and the HTC would continue to be faster at 'reloading' the apps, unless it eventually hit a wall and filled up the memory and had to start dumping stuff.

I like having the latest ROM's stock from Google, no bloatware (closest to stock Android) and AMOLED screen, outstanding camera, ECT over "restarting app speed's." Either way you should get what you prefer. There are always pros and cons from phone to phone. If you see more pros with the HTC then that's what you should use.
 
#18 ·
Yeah, since you care about analog audio and color accuracy, the HTC 10 is a no brainier right now, even for the long term. Once you disable Facebook and a few other apps, Sense 7 mind as well be stock Android too.

I do know that my next phone won't have a LCD though. I hope HTC doesn't stick with them much longer...
 
#19 ·
I think I will stay with Pixel XL now that I have invested much time, effort, and money trying all kinds of ROM's, customizing, tweaking, flashing, rooting, getting to know it, etc.

I used the latest stock NOF26V factory image + TWRP + SuperSU root + ElementalX Kernel with max clock CPU OC withc disabled fsync (faster file sysgen performance) and with faster FIOPS governor.

I enjoy not getting pissed off due to Wi-Fi disconnects in my room like I did with HTC 10.5 Analogue 3.5mm audio jack and sound quality are great on Pixel and I disabled sRGB to get the very inaccurate, but bright wide-gamut colors that look a awesome everywhere except for films and photos.,,
 
#20 ·
You might also like the oneplus 3T which also has the snapdragon 821. However it has the 6gigs of ram which the pixel doesn't. Not that you will really need 6gigs of ram.
 
#22 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonarchX View Post

I think I will stay with Pixel XL now that I have invested much time, effort, and money trying all kinds of ROM's, customizing, tweaking, flashing, rooting, getting to know it, etc.

I used the latest stock NOF26V factory image + TWRP + SuperSU root + ElementalX Kernel with max clock CPU OC withc disabled fsync (faster file sysgen performance) and with faster FIOPS governor.

I enjoy not getting pissed off due to Wi-Fi disconnects in my room like I did with HTC 10.5 Analogue 3.5mm audio jack and sound quality are great on Pixel and I disabled sRGB to get the very inaccurate, but bright wide-gamut colors that look a awesome everywhere except for films and photos.,,
Come to the pixel side.....
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by ozlay View Post

You might also like the oneplus 3T which also has the snapdragon 821. However it has the 6gigs of ram which the pixel doesn't. Not that you will really need 6gigs of ram.
My wife has the regular OP3 and she really likes it a lot. For what I've played around with the device, it's the fastest phone I've ever used (also have tried iDevices, Lumias, etc.). Thought about getting a OP3T for myself, but the 5.5" kept me away and I went for the Huawei Mate 9. Big-screened phones always felt better for me. For example, I couldn't type on the OP3 without constant typos - no matter how small or big I set the keyboard size to. I don't have that problem with my Nexus 6 and I'm using the same keyboard.
smile.gif


EDIT: Only thing bothering me is the all-aluminum build, which did not please me when I had a HTC One M8. Hope I can live with it now, as most phones are built like that.
 
#26 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonarchX View Post

Now that Android phones reached that iPhone level of fluidity and smoothbess, what will they focus on? Camera, screen, sound, security?

I was playing with tbe idea of getting an iPhone...
Nothing wrong with an iPhone these days, other than price. The SOCs they use are amazing, and alot of my old complaints (which were fixed by jailbreaking the phone) are now implemented by Apple.

They also last one hell of a long time if you buy just as Apple bumps the memory.
 
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