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AustinIllini

macrumors G5
Original poster
Oct 20, 2011
12,699
10,567
Austin, TX
I'm actually shocked how well the iPhone camera performed this year after the dumpster fire that was the XS HDR nightmare camera.
 

drinkingtea

macrumors 65816
Jan 31, 2016
1,240
3,271
After watching all of the reviews, I can see why so many are disappointed and upset, but I’m having a hard time being outraged at Google. The 4 XL checks almost all of my boxes, and I really loved the feel of the phone and the smooth, punchy screen. As much as I would like to purchase the 11 Pro, it’s just too expensive for me. I just can’t justify the price, especially as a student. I would have buyer’s remorse and I would most likely return it. The 11 is a no-go for me because it’s so uncomfortable to hold. The XS is a no-go for me as well because its OLED screen gives me a headache, even after just ten minutes of use. The 4 XL will probably be $300 off some time in the future, like the 3 XL was around March. That would be a damn good price for what you get, and a fair price.

Meh. I just don’t have the luxury to be outraged at Google. ?‍♀️
 
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slitherjef

macrumors 65816
Feb 8, 2012
1,402
1,189
Earth
Wait, so people are actually getting their 4s today!? ? Awesome! Can't wait to hear initial impressions! Thought it'd be a couple days yet.
 

Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
Wait, so people are actually getting their 4s today!? ? Awesome! Can't wait to hear initial impressions! Thought it'd be a couple days yet.

Google probably rushed deliveries right after the poor reviews came out trashing this phone. So Google said, oh crap, hurry up overnight all pre orders ASAP, so people maybe thinking of canceling their orders, already got shipping notices that the phone is out for delivery. Too late to cancel now suckers LOL
 
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slitherjef

macrumors 65816
Feb 8, 2012
1,402
1,189
Earth
Google probably rushed deliveries right after the poor reviews came out trashing this phone, saying don't buy it. So people maybe thinking of canceling their orders, already got shipping notices that the phone is out for delivery. Too late to cancel now LOL

Get the pre orders out *before* the price cuts lol ?
 
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Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
Fed Ex just came;

00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20191022114131845_COVER.jpg
00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20191022114142956_COVER.jpg
00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20191022114229006_COVER.jpg

[automerge]1571762784[/automerge]
00100lPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20191022114549362_COVER.jpg
 

Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
Quick impressions, the display seems sharper, and prettier, and looks higher quality, and just better than my Pixel 3 XL's. Also scrolling around websites, and the Settings menu, etc...really does feel smooth as butter. This screen seems brighter than my 3 XL, I know it's no iPhone 11 pro or Galaxy S10 bright, but sure seems bright next to my 3 XL.

Face unlock is cooler than I expected, just so natural and FAST. Pick up the phone and almost before you look at it, your in your homescreen immediately.

Haptics feel a little punchier, heavier, like a improvement in the vibration engine.

[automerge]1571766961[/automerge]
 
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Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
Must admit, I don't notice any difference with the 90hz screen.

Me too, so I tried the force 90hz option in Developer Options, an then I scrolled through some websites, and my Phone contacts, and I did notice a difference there. So maybe by default it's not really on? But once forced in Developer options, I could notice a smoother difference. But by no means is it night and day, just feels faster and less hiccups when scrolling I guess.
 
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AustinIllini

macrumors G5
Original poster
Oct 20, 2011
12,699
10,567
Austin, TX
Me too, so I tried the force 90hz option in Developer Options, an then I scrolled through some websites, and my Phone contacts, and I did notice a difference there. So maybe by default it's not really on? But once forced in Developer options, I could notice a smoother difference. But by no means is it night and day, just feels faster and less hiccups when scrolling I guess.
Would like to know how your phone does with and without 90hz full time
 

garymontague

macrumors member
Jun 24, 2010
62
66
I got my White 4 XL today as well and similar to Tig Bitties I’m impressed with the build quality and the feel of the phone. I also like the white against the black sides.

One thing I have noticed and which is a bit baffling is that google have given us the option to theme it a bit and to change the font (4 options are given) but when I did this only the settings screen, notification shade and AOD had the font that I had chosen. The google feed, messaging app and play store still had the default font - why give us the option to change the font if it’s then not coherent across the google apps/feed etc? Maybe Tig Bitties can confirm the same on his phone

The only other issue I’ve had so far is that Spotify didn’t seem to want to play ball with the google assistant. My kids had the Aladdin soundtrack on in the car and I asked google to play another song on Spotify. The response indicated that it was going to change the track in Spotify but the Aladdin soundtrack carried on playing - maybe an update is needed by Spotify.

Overall though I’m quite enjoying the phone but it’s still very early days and need to see how the battery goes over the coming days
 

Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
I will say the new Assistant seems WAY faster, than on my 3 XL. Just saying "hey Google, what's the weather tonight?" comes up immediately in 1/10th a second on the 4 XL, where the 3 XL it does take a second. It's not night and day, but is noticeable, and seems immediate on the 4 XL. Using the Assistant now just feels instant, it's there right away, zero pause, not waiting even one second.
 
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michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
3,945
No way I can judge it yet. But 3 hours SOT from around 30% isn't bad, especially as I've been downloading and installing apps etc.

Initial impressions are that it's not much different to my 3a XL. It looks better and is a touch heavier. Maybe a shade narrower which might explain why Swift Key is a tiny bit smaller.

Not that I'll really use it for this but my player of choice (Rocket Player) doesn't support motion sense. I did get it to work on Play Music but after a reboot, I can't play any of the music I put on myself. I'm only given the option to subscribe. Strange.

Still can't notice a difference with 90hz forced on. No doubt I'll get people telling me it's night and day and there's something wrong with me......

Not tested out the camera.

No banking app support for Face Unlock is a major negative.

Taking into account how much I can sell my 3a XL for and how much I can sell the free Chromebook for (no idea when I'll get that) it'll cost roughly another £500 to trade up to this. Which at the moment, I don't think I'll do.

I found upgrading to the new iPhone from an iPhone every year was (for me) pretty pointless looking back. I find much more worth going from one brand to another. Because the experience is very different going from say an iPhone to a Huawei.

I won't decide until I've had this a few days or a week but the sensible part of me says it's not a wise move. If I can find a decent offer on one, maybe this is a good time to try the Note 10+. If I leave it too long, it won't be worth it with the S11 surely interesting me.

Or I could find some self control and keep my 3a XL with it's great camera, great battery and unlocking method aside, pretty much the same great user experience.

Oh and the forehead for me is a total non issue. Loving the white with black trim in a clear case.

Time to charge it to 100% and see how it goes tomorrow.
 

Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
Yeah the forehead is not bugging like I thought it would. Really, don't even notice it, or even care. Whereas the notch on the 3 XL, yeah it did fade away sort of mostly in your brain, but it was always there, you couldn't not see it. So yeah, I'll take the forehead over the notch.
 
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