So I got my Nexus 6P yesterday. I have 2 weeks to decide if I am keeping it. Owning Nexus phones before, it is nice knowing that I will receive Android software updates as soon as Google releases them. I did some non-scientific side by side speed tests. Opening apps cold, it was pretty side by side. There were a few times where the 6P opened an app faster than the Active, but on average apps on the Active opened a little faster. Once more than 3 apps were open, the 6p was faster, not having to re-flow many apps.
I tried entering directions in Google maps. The Active decided to have a brain fart after I put the address in and it just froze for about 5 seconds before putting the pin on the map. Also once navigating, the 6p had no issues multi-tasking and battery drain was minimal. When navigating on the Active, it was running hot and slowing down other apps. I've noticed this with Google maps on the Active. Waze is a bit better, so I usually use that
Camera app on Active is much better, in particular the video recording is better. I haven't figured out if the 6p even supports 60FPS. It only has options for HD video and 4K. Processing of HDR pictures is slow. It doesn't seem to cut down on how fast you can take pictures, but it does affect the time that you can review the picture. Picture quality if good, video is a bit shaky on the 6p. I also found that the video is slower to focus, especially at short distances. The rest of the 6p app is bare bones.
Screen isn't as bright on the 6p at max Brightness vs the Active. I don't think the auto will do the extra boost in the sun, but yesterday was cloudy so I didn't get to try it. If it does, I'll really miss that feature from the Active.
Its silly, but I already miss the Active key.
Fingerprint reader on the 6p is nice, accurate and quick. I never tried the one on the regular S6, so I can't compare.
Volume on the 6p works well. Always annoyed at the nanny dialog on the Active when I boost it past 75% volume. Especially annoying when connected to my car's bluetooth. I usually shut my phone down every day because of my job. I know the dialog doesn't come up after the first time while the phone is running.
No more dialog boxes that pop up on the lower half of the screen! I don't know why Samsung still uses them, they are so annoying. I am always getting messages about slow speed detected even if the speed is fine. Also messages for when connecting to WiFi, etc.
Much fewer nanny messages. I never understood why I have to acknowledge a dialog after selecting airplane mode. I know why I selected Airplane mode, you don't need to warn me and make me press ok to activate it. Same goes for shutting down! If I took the time to hold down the power button, then select power off, that should be enough for you to understand I want to shut down. I don't need another dialog warning me that you are shutting on than then having to press a button. Basically 3 buttons presses to shut down on the Active.
Much more free space on the 6p. I think is started with only about 4.5 GB used by the system. The Active was closer to 8GB used out of the box. While I like a number of Samsung's enhancements including the camera app, screen adjustments, options layout, etc, I don't like apps like Uber that I can't uninstall. I would say Samsung's features would be worth about 1GB extra to me.
If there was a phone size/screen size/battery size ratio measurement for phones, the Active hits the sweet spot for me. Especially since it really dosen't need a case. The 6p is a bit too big, but I can probably get used to it.
I miss QC2.0, although the 6p charges fast at home, I don't have a compatible charger for my car (yet). But either way, its more stuff to buy.
Lets see if the Active gets an update in the next couple weeks while I can still return the 6P. It would be nice to compare after the update.
I tried entering directions in Google maps. The Active decided to have a brain fart after I put the address in and it just froze for about 5 seconds before putting the pin on the map. Also once navigating, the 6p had no issues multi-tasking and battery drain was minimal. When navigating on the Active, it was running hot and slowing down other apps. I've noticed this with Google maps on the Active. Waze is a bit better, so I usually use that
Camera app on Active is much better, in particular the video recording is better. I haven't figured out if the 6p even supports 60FPS. It only has options for HD video and 4K. Processing of HDR pictures is slow. It doesn't seem to cut down on how fast you can take pictures, but it does affect the time that you can review the picture. Picture quality if good, video is a bit shaky on the 6p. I also found that the video is slower to focus, especially at short distances. The rest of the 6p app is bare bones.
Screen isn't as bright on the 6p at max Brightness vs the Active. I don't think the auto will do the extra boost in the sun, but yesterday was cloudy so I didn't get to try it. If it does, I'll really miss that feature from the Active.
Its silly, but I already miss the Active key.
Fingerprint reader on the 6p is nice, accurate and quick. I never tried the one on the regular S6, so I can't compare.
Volume on the 6p works well. Always annoyed at the nanny dialog on the Active when I boost it past 75% volume. Especially annoying when connected to my car's bluetooth. I usually shut my phone down every day because of my job. I know the dialog doesn't come up after the first time while the phone is running.
No more dialog boxes that pop up on the lower half of the screen! I don't know why Samsung still uses them, they are so annoying. I am always getting messages about slow speed detected even if the speed is fine. Also messages for when connecting to WiFi, etc.
Much fewer nanny messages. I never understood why I have to acknowledge a dialog after selecting airplane mode. I know why I selected Airplane mode, you don't need to warn me and make me press ok to activate it. Same goes for shutting down! If I took the time to hold down the power button, then select power off, that should be enough for you to understand I want to shut down. I don't need another dialog warning me that you are shutting on than then having to press a button. Basically 3 buttons presses to shut down on the Active.
Much more free space on the 6p. I think is started with only about 4.5 GB used by the system. The Active was closer to 8GB used out of the box. While I like a number of Samsung's enhancements including the camera app, screen adjustments, options layout, etc, I don't like apps like Uber that I can't uninstall. I would say Samsung's features would be worth about 1GB extra to me.
If there was a phone size/screen size/battery size ratio measurement for phones, the Active hits the sweet spot for me. Especially since it really dosen't need a case. The 6p is a bit too big, but I can probably get used to it.
I miss QC2.0, although the 6p charges fast at home, I don't have a compatible charger for my car (yet). But either way, its more stuff to buy.
Lets see if the Active gets an update in the next couple weeks while I can still return the 6P. It would be nice to compare after the update.
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