Finally picked up a Nexus 6P

[Tig Bitties]

As you know me, I am sort of a phone whore, but not like some of you, who get like 5 or 6 new phones each year. I know I am late the party, but finally picked up a 6P, and my God this device IMO is still the best Android smartphone available. Stock Android N is a work of art, just so beautiful with the animations and and cool quick reply stuff built in.

Anyways my most recent phones the past 12 months;

- Note 5 I had from August to May ( Great phone, just grew tired of TW )
- LG G5 had for couple days ( Meh, was ok )
- HTC 10 had for three weeks ( Sweet phone, really great, but I want stock Android on it )
- Nexus 6P now, and this is a keeper ( Almost Android perfection )

Quick thoughts on the 6P, at first it was a bit large for me, coming form the HTC 10, which fit so perfect in the hand and felt so good, but I didn't like Sense, even though I tried to Google'fy it to be like stock Android, it still wasn't. But I LOVE this 6P, holy cow is it smooth as hot butter, zero lag, I mean zero lag anywhere on this phone.

My G5 and HTC 10 has a better processor and more RAM, but those phones had very minor micro stutter just every once in a while, and didn't feel 100% totally smooth, but more like 75% smooth, whereas the Nexus 6P feels smooth 100% all the time. I like the AMOLED display once tweaked with a kernel.

Battery life on the 6P Android N Beta 4 Preview is shockingly good. Yesterday I unplugged phone at 6:00am, and at 2:30pm still had 73% battery left, and at the time I had 1h 55m Screen On time.

This phone feels like a mini desktop computer shrunk down to a handheld Star Trek tricorder type device.

For sure keeping this phone while, at least until I see what the 7P Nexus is like come September.

 

[andy2141]

As you know me, I am sort of a phone whore, but not like some of you, who get like 5 or 6 new phones each year. I know I am late the party, but finally picked up a 6P, and my God this device IMO is still the best Android smartphone available. Stock Android N is a work of art, just so beautiful with the animations and and cool quick reply stuff built in.

Anyways my most recent phones the past 12 months;

- Note 5 I had from August to May ( Great phone, just grew tired of TW )
- LG G5 had for couple days ( Meh, was ok )
- HTC 10 had for three weeks ( Sweet phone, really great, but I want stock Android on it )
- Nexus 6P now, and this is a keeper ( Almost Android perfection )

Quick thoughts on the 6P, at first it was a bit large for me, coming form the HTC 10, which fit so perfect in the hand and felt so good, but I didn't like Sense, even though I tried to Google'fy it to be like stock Android, it still wasn't. But I LOVE this 6P, holy cow is it smooth as hot butter, zero lag, I mean zero lag anywhere on this phone.

My G5 and HTC 10 has a better processor and more RAM, but those phones had very minor micro stutter just every once in a while, and didn't feel 100% totally smooth, but more like 75% smooth, whereas the Nexus 6P feels smooth 100% all the time. I like the AMOLED display once tweaked with a kernel.

Battery life on the 6P Android N Beta 4 Preview is shockingly good. Yesterday I unplugged phone at 6:00am, and at 2:30pm still had 73% battery left, and at the time I had 1h 55m Screen On time.

This phone feels like a mini desktop computer shrunk down to a handheld Star Trek tricorder type device.

For sure keeping this phone while, at least until I see what the 7P Nexus is like come September.

I agree. Been through so many phones over the last year and am debating getting another 6P myself.

There's just something about the phone that keeps me coming back.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

As you know me, I am sort of a phone whore, but not like some of you, who get like 5 or 6 new phones each year. I know I am late the party, but finally picked up a 6P, and my God this device IMO is still the best Android smartphone available. Stock Android N is a work of art, just so beautiful with the animations and and cool quick reply stuff built in.

Anyways my most recent phones the past 12 months;

- Note 5 I had from August to May ( Great phone, just grew tired of TW )
- LG G5 had for couple days ( Meh, was ok )
- HTC 10 had for three weeks ( Sweet phone, really great, but I want stock Android on it )
- Nexus 6P now, and this is a keeper ( Almost Android perfection )

Quick thoughts on the 6P, at first it was a bit large for me, coming form the HTC 10, which fit so perfect in the hand and felt so good, but I didn't like Sense, even though I tried to Google'fy it to be like stock Android, it still wasn't. But I LOVE this 6P, holy cow is it smooth as hot butter, zero lag, I mean zero lag anywhere on this phone.

My G5 and HTC 10 has a better processor and more RAM, but those phones had very minor micro stutter just every once in a while, and didn't feel 100% totally smooth, but more like 75% smooth, whereas the Nexus 6P feels smooth 100% all the time. I like the AMOLED display once tweaked with a kernel.

Battery life on the 6P Android N Beta 4 Preview is shockingly good. Yesterday I unplugged phone at 6:00am, and at 2:30pm still had 73% battery left, and at the time I had 1h 55m Screen On time.

This phone feels like a mini desktop computer shrunk down to a handheld Star Trek tricorder type device.

For sure keeping this phone while, at least until I see what the 7P Nexus is like come September.

The pretty much mirrors my observations if the Nexus 6p, which I am rocking right now. Android N essentially perfects an already great phone. It says a lot about the phone, and even more sore about having the most recent version of Android, that a phone almost a year old can compete, and in some ways best thr current gen phones.

 

[jamezr]

As you know me, I am sort of a phone whore, but not like some of you, who get like 5 or 6 new phones each year. I know I am late the party, but finally picked up a 6P, and my God this device IMO is still the best Android smartphone available. Stock Android N is a work of art, just so beautiful with the animations and and cool quick reply stuff built in.

Anyways my most recent phones the past 12 months;

- Note 5 I had from August to May ( Great phone, just grew tired of TW )
- LG G5 had for couple days ( Meh, was ok )
- HTC 10 had for three weeks ( Sweet phone, really great, but I want stock Android on it )
- Nexus 6P now, and this is a keeper ( Almost Android perfection )

Quick thoughts on the 6P, at first it was a bit large for me, coming form the HTC 10, which fit so perfect in the hand and felt so good, but I didn't like Sense, even though I tried to Google'fy it to be like stock Android, it still wasn't. But I LOVE this 6P, holy cow is it smooth as hot butter, zero lag, I mean zero lag anywhere on this phone.

My G5 and HTC 10 has a better processor and more RAM, but those phones had very minor micro stutter just every once in a while, and didn't feel 100% totally smooth, but more like 75% smooth, whereas the Nexus 6P feels smooth 100% all the time. I like the AMOLED display once tweaked with a kernel.

Battery life on the 6P Android N Beta 4 Preview is shockingly good. Yesterday I unplugged phone at 6:00am, and at 2:30pm still had 73% battery left, and at the time I had 1h 55m Screen On time.

This phone feels like a mini desktop computer shrunk down to a handheld Star Trek tricorder type device.

For sure keeping this phone while, at least until I see what the 7P Nexus is like come September.

I have one too and agree with what you're saying. You should try CM13 on the 6P. It close to stock but has more customizations and options. Battery life is pretty darn good too.
My only complaint about the 6P is I wish the volume rockers were above the wake sleep button. But other than that i really like this phone.
If you want a phone to tinker with and flash rom this is the phone to get. Then being able to get Android N early is pure bonus

 

[BlueGoldAce]

I have one too and agree with what you're saying. You should try CM13 on the 6P. It close to stock but has more customizations and options. Battery life is pretty darn good too.
My only complaint about the 6P is I wish the volume rockers were above the wake sleep button. But other than that i really like this phone.
If you want a phone to tinker with and flash rom this is the phone to get. Then being able to get Android N early is pure bonus

Man...I can't remember the last time I rooted or tinkered with my phone.

But, I like to be on the bleeding edge of software. I find iOS is still limiting, and the ecosystem is expensive for what it offers.

The 6p is the first Nexus to really nail the hardware, and combine that with Google's vision of software, and you have a great phone.

I also find certain apps, like push bullet, that allow me to integrate my android device with my surface book, etc in a manner that equal or rivals Apples ecosystem; tend to work better on the 6p/stock Android.

 

[Tig Bitties]

I'm back on Marshmallow now, running the brand new release of Pure Nexus ROM, and this thing is sick, I thought the N Beta 4 was slickand fast, this ROM takes this phone to a whole other level. Wow.

Cannot even imagine Pure Nexus ROM once it's based off Android N down the road.

Seriously, I don't see how anyone can pick an iPhone 6S Plus over a Nexus 6P running N. I'm
[doublepost=1466686544][/doublepost]Rooting is essential for my smartphone enjoyment;

- No ads ever with AdAway
- MinMinGuard stops ads in apps too
- YouTubeAdAway no commercials ever on YouTube
- YouTube background play, meaning I can have YouTube playing while surfing the web or texting someone and YouTube isn't actually showing on the screen.
- Amplify + Greenify = easily 25% more battery life over stock.
- DPI settings can be easily made when rooted
- Custom kernels to tweak the display colors to be very accurate and much nicer. Plus kernels allow stuff like Double Tap 2 Wake screen, and they smooth out the OS even more, like a lot more.

 

[DJLAXL]

I must be the only person with a negative 6P experience. I got bored and traded my 6S Plus for a 128 6P one day and traded it back to someone after 2 days. I hated it. Everything was laggy, even after turning all of the extra processes off, all the animations, used Nova Launcher, etc. Games were just a complete lagfest. My MMS was not working at all, which in a group chat is the worst possible thing you can do...MMS? No, thank you. I definitely enjoyed the S7 Edge much more, but even then I had to use Package Disabler Pro to get rid of all of the Samsung and T-Mobile bloatware. And my MMS didnt work there either. It did run much better and more fluidly though. I have two friends with 6P's and they love them. Maybe I just got a bum device? Oh well, I'm back to my 6S Plus and well....still bored "/

 

[BlueGoldAce]

Yes....bum device or something.

 

[jamezr]

I must be the only person with a negative 6P experience. I got bored and traded my 6S Plus for a 128 6P one day and traded it back to someone after 2 days. I hated it. Everything was laggy, even after turning all of the extra processes off, all the animations, used Nova Launcher, etc. Games were just a complete lagfest. My MMS was not working at all, which in a group chat is the worst possible thing you can do...MMS? No, thank you. I definitely enjoyed the S7 Edge much more, but even then I had to use Package Disabler Pro to get rid of all of the Samsung and T-Mobile bloatware. And my MMS didnt work there either. It did run much better and more fluidly though. I have two friends with 6P's and they love them. Maybe I just got a bum device? Oh well, I'm back to my 6S Plus and well....still bored "/

You might just have gotten a bad unit. It happens.
But when switching from an iphone to any android phone......be sure to completely log out of imessages.
I switch back and forth between a 6s+ and various android phones all the time.

 

[DJLAXL]

You might just have gotten a bad unit. It happens.
But when switching from an iphone to any android phone......be sure to completely log out of imessages.
I switch back and forth between a 6s+ and various android phones all the time.

Will do. I did a full wipe instead of manually logging out. This may have been the issue...but on XDA there was a pretty lengthy thread in regards to the 6P and T-Mobile MMS. I tried all of the fixes people had and never resolved my personal issue.

 

[tbayrgs]

I like my 6P, overall my preferred Android phone (mine is also on N Beta 4) but a couple aspects keep me from using it full-time. First, I've come to really prefer to have a full functioning smartwatch and my experience with the Apple Watch is much better than Android Wear on the Huawei Watch.

My biggest issue specific to the 6P is location of the fingerprint scanner...just can't stand the user experience with it on the back. I'm also not a fan of the power and volume buttons but can deal with that. Give me a setup like the One+ Three with user customizable capacitive buttons and a front placed scanner and it would be near perfect.

 

[Tig Bitties]

I don't even use the back fingerprint scanner on my 6P, only using ' Double tap 2 wake '

 

[Surf Donkey]

I would fully support FP scanner in the back on any phone for dual front speakers. I have never found it to be an issue. I actually prefer the 6P sound to the HTC 10. Through the speakers, not the headphones (HTC blows that away and then some). It just sounds "fuller" with both speakers in front.

 

[tbayrgs]

I don't even use the back fingerprint scanner on my 6P, only using ' Double tap 2 wake '

Would love it to be a native feature that didn't require root. Do you still have to swipe away the lock screen?
[doublepost=1466699591][/doublepost]

I would fully support FP scanner in the back on any phone for dual front speakers. I have never found it to be an issue. I actually prefer the 6P sound to the HTC 10. Through the speakers, not the headphones (HTC blows that away and then some). It just sounds "fuller" with both speakers in front.

Obviously to each their own but I find placing it in a location that requires you to always be physically holding it to use it less than optimal. I use FP authentication for a number of frequently used apps and I'm often not holding the phone.

I use the FP scanner far more often than the external speakers so I'll take the front facing FP scanner. Stereo speakers on each end is more than adequate for my use.

 

[Surf Donkey]

Would love it to be a native feature that didn't require root. Do you still have to swipe away the lock screen?
[doublepost=1466699591][/doublepost]

Obviously to each their own but I find placing it in a location that requires you to always be physically holding it to use it less than optimal. I use FP authentication for a number of frequently used apps and I'm often not holding the phone.

I use the FP scanner far more often than the external speakers so I'll take the front facing FP scanner. Stereo speakers on each end is more than adequate for my use.

Yeah, I typically pick up my phone when I use it. Just personal preference.

 

[MRU]

For sure keeping this phone while, at least until I see what the 7P Nexus is like come September.

So basically 3 months. You do know how to commit

 

[AppleRobert]

Battery life , weight and size, and camera I think if I remember correctly were the niggles some users have had. The latter I don't use, I kept the Nexus 6 (the 6p is better) and I have a Moto X Pure.

 

[Zaft]

I'm back on Marshmallow now, running the brand new release of Pure Nexus ROM, and this thing is sick, I thought the N Beta 4 was slickand fast, this ROM takes this phone to a whole other level. Wow.

Cannot even imagine Pure Nexus ROM once it's based off Android N down the road.

Seriously, I don't see how anyone can pick an iPhone 6S Plus over a Nexus 6P running N. I'm
[doublepost=1466686544][/doublepost]Rooting is essential for my smartphone enjoyment;

- No ads ever with AdAway
- MinMinGuard stops ads in apps too
- YouTubeAdAway no commercials ever on YouTube
- YouTube background play, meaning I can have YouTube playing while surfing the web or texting someone and YouTube isn't actually showing on the screen.
- Amplify + Greenify = easily 25% more battery life over stock.
- DPI settings can be easily made when rooted
- Custom kernels to tweak the display colors to be very accurate and much nicer. Plus kernels allow stuff like Double Tap 2 Wake screen, and they smooth out the OS even more, like a lot more.

Sounds nice but I dont have time to tinker like that. Thats just me though. IOS is king for me

 

[maxsix]

As you know me, I am sort of a phone whore, but not like some of you, who get like 5 or 6 new phones each year. I know I am late the party, but finally picked up a 6P, and my God this device IMO is still the best Android smartphone available. Stock Android N is a work of art, just so beautiful with the animations and and cool quick reply stuff built in.

Anyways my most recent phones the past 12 months;

- Note 5 I had from August to May ( Great phone, just grew tired of TW )
- LG G5 had for couple days ( Meh, was ok )
- HTC 10 had for three weeks ( Sweet phone, really great, but I want stock Android on it )
- Nexus 6P now, and this is a keeper ( Almost Android perfection )

Quick thoughts on the 6P, at first it was a bit large for me, coming form the HTC 10, which fit so perfect in the hand and felt so good, but I didn't like Sense, even though I tried to Google'fy it to be like stock Android, it still wasn't. But I LOVE this 6P, holy cow is it smooth as hot butter, zero lag, I mean zero lag anywhere on this phone.

My G5 and HTC 10 has a better processor and more RAM, but those phones had very minor micro stutter just every once in a while, and didn't feel 100% totally smooth, but more like 75% smooth, whereas the Nexus 6P feels smooth 100% all the time. I like the AMOLED display once tweaked with a kernel.

Battery life on the 6P Android N Beta 4 Preview is shockingly good. Yesterday I unplugged phone at 6:00am, and at 2:30pm still had 73% battery left, and at the time I had 1h 55m Screen On time.

This phone feels like a mini desktop computer shrunk down to a handheld Star Trek tricorder type device.

For sure keeping this phone while, at least until I see what the 7P Nexus is like come September.

I've owned a ridiculous number of smartphones since the category began, my Nexus 6P is just terrific. Bought it upon release and haven't had a single issue. An amazing example of how far Android has come. This is as close to the perfect smartphone of all the high end flagships I've owned over the years.
[doublepost=1466781778][/doublepost]

Sounds nice but I dont have time to tinker like that.

Tinker is what I must do to make my iPhone 6S Plus function reliability.

That's completely opposite of Apple standards of the past. But it is what it is... Apple iOS circa 2016.

Thankfully I have my trouble free Nexus 6P.

 

[Zaft]

I've owned a ridiculous number of smartphones since the category began, my Nexus 6P is just terrific. Bought it upon release and haven't had a single issue. An amazing example of how far Android has come. This is as close to the perfect smartphone of all the high end flagships I've owned over the years.
[doublepost=1466781778][/doublepost]
Tinker is what I must do to make my iPhone 6S Plus function reliability. That's completely opposite of Apple standards of the past. But it is what it is... Apple IOS circa 2016.

Thankfully I have my trouble free Nexus 6P.

What do you tinker on your iPhone?

 

[maxsix]

What do you tinker on your iPhone?

Tinker: spending time dealing with Safari and other apps crashing. iCloud Backup issues, App Store not updating Apps. It's not dreadful, but it is annoying, time consuming and not what Apple presents itself to be.

 

[Zaft]

Tinker: spending time dealing with Safari and other apps crashing. iCloud Backup issues, App Store not updating Apps. It's not dreadful, but it is annoying, time consuming and not what Apple presents itself to be.

Hmm I haven't really had the issues you list. For me tinker means trying new launchers, roms, changing icons etc.

 

[Surf Donkey]

That's completely opposite of Apple standards of the past. But it is what it is... Apple iOS circa 2016.

Thankfully I have my trouble free Nexus 6P.

That is funny because I find the same thing. I played around with customer kernels and ROMs like I always do for the Nexus, but I keep finding myself going back to stock on the 6P. It is missing a couple things like double tap to wake, but it is so solid, and battery life is awesome. I feel sorry for other phones where you have to buy a third party app to disable packages to even make the phone run correctly.

One thing I am growing to love so much on the Nexus in the HDR in Google Camera. It is slow as hell, but that thing is like 'god mode' for pictures.

 

[spinedoc77]

It's a very nice phone, but in the end not worthy of a daily use phone. I have mine on the side at work, as an extra google voice phone, it integrates very nicely in my office in that capacity. I found the 6p was very smooth, much smoother than my Note 5. I just found the trade offs too much to stomach. My main gripe was the huge size of the phone versus the screen size. Putting this next to my Note5 the difference is startling. PHablets already can be hard to use in certain situations, I don't need my phablets overly large. There is also no comparison in screens, the 6p has a dull, way too dark screen, and the automatic display sensor is useless. I had to install an app that manages the light sensor and while it works, it's less than a perfect solution. The last gripe the lack of OIS, I'm confused why they left this out, especially since the Nexus 6 had it.

Overall it IS a great phone that Google put out, and it is cheaper than the other flagships. It's definitely a worthy option, but for a decent amount more money you don't have to compromise. What pisses me off is seeing how smooth Android runs on it makes me really wish Samsung still did developer models.

 

[Tig Bitties]

I could not be happier with these accessories for my 6P. I like a minimalist thin setup;


- intelliGLASS HD Max Coverage screen protector
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0197TU662/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- Nillkin Nature TPU Case [Transparent Thin Soft]
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018JYIRY4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


The screen protector went on so perfect and smooth, just clean the phone really well beforehand with the wet towel included, and wipe it down, and then just place the protector on the top, and slowly lay it down, squeezing from the top pushing towards the middle and bottom, and it was done, no bubbles, and it looks like it was designed from Huawei as a perfect fit, nearly invisible.

The case is super razor thin, fitting like a glove, with some nice extra grip. Yeah it won't help form a big drop, but it adds a nice layer of all around minimal protection, and much needed better grip.