I'm going to offer a small, simplified mini-review of what I do and do not like about the phone. I encourage you guys to tag along, maybe you can even offer insight on some things that I may have found issues with. 
Disclaimer: This "review" is strictly my opinion on things. Don't make it anything more than that, please.
Exterior Design: I'll start off and say I'm one of the lucky ones. No gaps. No corner overhangs. No pixel issues. No rough edges or catches. The phone is flawlessly built.
What I like:
Aluminum build.
Speaker placement.
Preference things:
I would rather have had volume rocker on the left side of the phone, power button on the right side. However, I understand why they have it where it's at. (IR Blaster) No points docked.
A little less bezel.
What I don't like:
Two button layout. I know there has been much discussion here, but it's just my opinion. It's something I'll get used to, but I would have preferred a 3 button layout, "google standards" or not. -1
Score: 9/10
Display: Density King.
What I like:
Incredibly dense. Text and lines are sharp and clean.
Colors accurate, whites are white.
What I don't like:
Could be brighter at max brightness -.5
Blacks aren't as black as I'm used to. However, coming from amoled and understanding how both displays work, I know why. No points docked.
Overall: 9.5/10
Speakers: BOOMSound!
What I like:
Everything. Range, volume, placement, overall sound quality, and the list goes on. They're just on a different level than everything else I've ever used.
Overall: 10/10
Call Quality, Speakerphone, Contacts, Messaging: Call me mayb...no, that song is f***ing terrible.
What I like:
Call quality is fantastic.
Speakerphone is loud and clear.
"People" is well put together and extensive. I like the thread/feed tabs in regards to each contact, and also the People Widget.
Messaging is great. Love the UI, settings, and theme choices.
What I don't like:
On the other side of things with "People," some of it could be made a bit more streamlined and less jumping through hoops. That can be said for most of Sense 5, but getting to that next. -.5
Overall: 9.5/10
Camera: Almost Ultra.
What I like:
Feature set with zoes, highlights, etc.
Night shots and HDR are very solid.
Great macro shots.
What I don't like:
*Hate* The camera setup/UI. Much prefer the stock 4.2.2 one I had on my GNex. -.5
The auto settings are not ideal. Sharpness needs to be taken down to -1, saturation (sometimes) needs to be bumped to +1, Auto ISO choices tend to be off. -1
Lack of resolution tends to play a factor in distant details. -1
Overall: 7.5/10
Sense: SPIRIT FINGERS, PEOPLE. SPIRIT FINGERS.
What I like:
Feature rich.
Honestly, I love blinkfeed and the weather widget attached.
Folder system in the app drawer is wonderful and welcomed.
Love the people widget, as I have 10-12 "favorites."
New look of Sense 5 > Sense 4
Snappy, responsive, seems less boggy than Sense 4.
Keyboard is the ****. I had Swiftkey on my Gnex, no plans of installing it on the One.
Browser is sleek and snappy
TV tool is neat
What I don't like:
Blinkfeed needs more customization and freedom. -.5
Screens/windows should be able to be placed in whatever order desired. Not just left to right. -.5
Much like I referenced in the People section, there is a lot of hoop jumping, hopping around, long ways in sense 5 that I think could be streamlined and made shorter/more efficient. -1
Overall: 8/10
Battery: Not a Maxx, not a Thunderbolt.
Not really a like/don't like deal. Can't say much, really as this is based off 24 hours. For a battery unconditioned to my uses, and the fact that there's still more than I can optimize, it has done well.
Overall: 8/10
Breakdown: Sauron's Secret Phone
Design: 9/10
Display: 9.5/10
Speakers: 10/10
Call Center: 9.5/10
Camera: 7.5/10
Sense: 8/10
Battery: 8/10
Total: 61.5/70
88%
Disclaimer: This "review" is strictly my opinion on things. Don't make it anything more than that, please.
Exterior Design: I'll start off and say I'm one of the lucky ones. No gaps. No corner overhangs. No pixel issues. No rough edges or catches. The phone is flawlessly built.
What I like:
Aluminum build.
Speaker placement.
Preference things:
I would rather have had volume rocker on the left side of the phone, power button on the right side. However, I understand why they have it where it's at. (IR Blaster) No points docked.
A little less bezel.
What I don't like:
Two button layout. I know there has been much discussion here, but it's just my opinion. It's something I'll get used to, but I would have preferred a 3 button layout, "google standards" or not. -1
Score: 9/10
Display: Density King.
What I like:
Incredibly dense. Text and lines are sharp and clean.
Colors accurate, whites are white.
What I don't like:
Could be brighter at max brightness -.5
Blacks aren't as black as I'm used to. However, coming from amoled and understanding how both displays work, I know why. No points docked.
Overall: 9.5/10
Speakers: BOOMSound!
What I like:
Everything. Range, volume, placement, overall sound quality, and the list goes on. They're just on a different level than everything else I've ever used.
Overall: 10/10
Call Quality, Speakerphone, Contacts, Messaging: Call me mayb...no, that song is f***ing terrible.
What I like:
Call quality is fantastic.
Speakerphone is loud and clear.
"People" is well put together and extensive. I like the thread/feed tabs in regards to each contact, and also the People Widget.
Messaging is great. Love the UI, settings, and theme choices.
What I don't like:
On the other side of things with "People," some of it could be made a bit more streamlined and less jumping through hoops. That can be said for most of Sense 5, but getting to that next. -.5
Overall: 9.5/10
Camera: Almost Ultra.
What I like:
Feature set with zoes, highlights, etc.
Night shots and HDR are very solid.
Great macro shots.
What I don't like:
*Hate* The camera setup/UI. Much prefer the stock 4.2.2 one I had on my GNex. -.5
The auto settings are not ideal. Sharpness needs to be taken down to -1, saturation (sometimes) needs to be bumped to +1, Auto ISO choices tend to be off. -1
Lack of resolution tends to play a factor in distant details. -1
Overall: 7.5/10
Sense: SPIRIT FINGERS, PEOPLE. SPIRIT FINGERS.
What I like:
Feature rich.
Honestly, I love blinkfeed and the weather widget attached.
Folder system in the app drawer is wonderful and welcomed.
Love the people widget, as I have 10-12 "favorites."
New look of Sense 5 > Sense 4
Snappy, responsive, seems less boggy than Sense 4.
Keyboard is the ****. I had Swiftkey on my Gnex, no plans of installing it on the One.
Browser is sleek and snappy
TV tool is neat
What I don't like:
Blinkfeed needs more customization and freedom. -.5
Screens/windows should be able to be placed in whatever order desired. Not just left to right. -.5
Much like I referenced in the People section, there is a lot of hoop jumping, hopping around, long ways in sense 5 that I think could be streamlined and made shorter/more efficient. -1
Overall: 8/10
Battery: Not a Maxx, not a Thunderbolt.
Not really a like/don't like deal. Can't say much, really as this is based off 24 hours. For a battery unconditioned to my uses, and the fact that there's still more than I can optimize, it has done well.
Overall: 8/10
Breakdown: Sauron's Secret Phone
Design: 9/10
Display: 9.5/10
Speakers: 10/10
Call Center: 9.5/10
Camera: 7.5/10
Sense: 8/10
Battery: 8/10
Total: 61.5/70
88%
Last edited:
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