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[anon(9408097)]

It's awfully quiet in here.

Please let us know which model you got and how has been your experience so far?

And also, did you get it for 399 or 499? Or for 499 with the 30% discount?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[thejesse]

Unlocked model, carbon grey. Ordered it with the 30% discount after I cancelled my deep garnet pre-order. Have it all set up but haven't put my SIM in it yet. Planning to use it on my vacation next week.
Very impressed with the fingerprint scanner. Screen is nice. Phone is smooth. Don't use it without a case, it's slick as a bar of soap.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[megatomic]

thejesse, any particular reason why you haven't swapped your SIM into the A9? Just curious, my SIM would have been in before I powered it on. lol

 

[Etyrnus]

Was just about to post a review. Guess here is as good as anywhere.

A little backstory though. I've been on Windows Phone since WP7. The last version of Android I used was 2.1 on an HTC Aria. Then it was to the HTC Surround (WP7), Samsung Focus Flash (WP7), Nokia Lumia 920 (WP8/8.1), Nokia Lumia 1520 (WP8.1), and then Microsoft Lumia 640 (WP8.1/W10M preview). Since I've been gone from Android so long, I'm taking a fresh, open minded look at it.

Build quality of the A9 is excellent. It feels solid in my hand without being too heavy, size is just right. Screen, Looks excellent to me, sharp and even with the brightness on a lower setting (about 2/5 setting) is still bright enough to see on a sunny day. Speaker sounds better than what I've used previously, most of the Lumias were on the back.

The OS. This is different. The level of customization is taking some getting used to, but is nice. Some of it does seem gimmicky (live wallpapers, though some of the space ones are neat), but I like the icon changeability. Notifications are similar to what I'm used to, having to disable some apps notifications as I catch them. Some of the games can be annoying in the amount they deliver. I've found some apps that keep crashing on 6.0, and I've emailed devs as I catch them. The ability to remove permissions from apps is nice. Also, I like that HTC still includes their built in flashlight app instead of having to download one.

Camera. I've only taken a couple of pictures so far, but they've been pretty good. No complaints on that front.

Battery. I know this is the hot button here. I think it's decent. If I could stop playing around on it, it would probably last. Been catching up on some games though. Plus, I'm never really that far from a charger or battery pack. If you're just using is for basic day to day use,texting, emails etc, I think you'll be fine. If you're playing games a lot, or watching a lot of video, keep a charge source handy. But then I'm coming from a Lumia 640 with a 2500mAh battery, so I'm used to this as well.

All in all, I'm pleased with the A9, and enjoying this version of Android.

Edit: A couple of things I miss from WP though. Live tiles, though some widgets are close. Glance screen. Nice being able to see if there's texts or emails without having to wake the phone fully. The notification light kind of does this, but you don't know what you have. Plus, that's overridden when charging.

 

[megatomic]

Thanks for the review Etymus. Let me ask you this, how do you like Marshmallow compared to Windows 10 Mobile?

 

[Etyrnus]

Functionally, there's not as much difference as people think. WP8.1 or W10M doesn't have the level of customization available, but that helps it run more efficiently with less memory. The 640 I had only had 1 GB of RAM, but that was all it needed, to run everything. I don't try to play FPS games on mobile, I can't stand using a touchscreen for that, so to me those are a moot comparison. But anything like your puzzle games, physics games, they run fine. I think the streamlining that Marshmallow has is allowing Android to do the same, get better performance with the resources it has. Now if the OEM's would just streamline their UI, instead of trying to cram more "features". HTC has the right idea with the minimalistic version of Sense that is on the A9.

Both allow you to put apps into folders, though its 16 (MM) vs 9 (W10m). With W10m, you can control the transparency of the tiles, so you can get a full wallpaper like on Android finally.

TL;DR: Not as many differences as people think, mainly customization.

 

[Pat Glennon]

I ordered the unlocked carbon gray at the pre-order price of 399. I am coming from owning a HTC One M7 and have been really pleased so far.

I had been using an alternative app launcher on my M7 (initially Nova and then later Lollipop Launcher) but am going stock with the A9 for now at least.

I like the Sense Home widget (the one that has Home/Work/Out). Seems to be serving me well.

Battery life isn't an issue for me. I guess I just don't expect a nice slim beautiful smart phone to last all day without a bit of a top off. Easily pleased there I guess.

I don't know if my front speakers on the M7 never really worked correctly or what, but I was totally fine with giving the front speakers up on the A9. LOVE the fingerprint sensor.

Got a Dot View case for my A9 (used the 25% off accessory coupon from the pre-sale) and so far, I am digging it. The phone felt slick to me anyway so I am happier to have a case (although I went 2+ years naked with my M7).

 

[BioFit12]

I ordered the gold unlocked one for $399, i still have not gotten it in the mail. I'm about to cancel and get something else, not sure if its worth waiting, especially since i have not heard an official shipping date.

 

[anon(9408097)]

So the two of you who did mention the price they got it at, would you get it again at the original price of $499? Would you recommend getting it now? Without the discount?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[captainkirkw]

I used mine a little bit last week but am using my 2015 Moto X PE this week. I will swap back later today and use it for a bit more before the 30 day period is over to figure out if I want to keep it.

I like the finger print scanner, it is plenty fast since I don't game on it except for a casual game every once in awhile, and the build is pretty nice, light and thin.

I don't like that the screen has to be at almost 100% brightness indoors compared to my XPE that I keep at about 25% unless I am outside. The battery is about what I expect and the quick charge helps.

That is about all I can say for now but I will report back after I use it a few more days in a row.

 

[Pat Glennon]

At full price I probably would have gone the AT&T payment plan route but I also probably would have waited for one of my kids' phones to be paid off. The unlocked phone at the pre-order price was enough to make me jump.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[thejesse]

thejesse, any particular reason why you haven't swapped your SIM into the A9? Just curious, my SIM would have been in before I powered it on. lol

Been a busy week since I received my A9. Plus, I'm not dissatisfied with my MXPE. Mostly picked up the a9 for a backup phone. I'll probably put the sim in today or tomorrow.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[captainkirkw]

Been a busy week since I received my A9. Plus, I'm not dissatisfied with my MXPE. Mostly picked up the a9 for a backup phone. I'll probably put the sim in today or tomorrow.

Posted via the Android Central App

That is what I picked up the A9 for as well. I am not sure I have even made or taken a call on it yet but will make sure to test that in the next few days.

 

[thejesse]

So the two of you who did mention the price they got it at, would you get it again at the original price of $499? Would you recommend getting it now? Without the discount?

Posted via the Android Central App

I would not pay $499 because this is an extravagance as a second phone. However, it is a top notch phone and I could easily see myself paying full price of it was going to be my primary phone. The only compromise I can find with the A9 is battery life.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Etyrnus]

Another negative, but this is Android in general it seems. The Bluetooth text message functionality is lacking compared to WP. In particular, I have a Ford Fiesta ST with the Sync 2 and MyFord Touch, and on WP due to the Cortana integration it would actually read my texts to my via voice command. With Android, I have to reach over and hit the listen button on the screen prompt. Much less convenient, but not a dealbreaker.

Edit: Just found the Cortana app for Android. Going to see if it works like I'm used to

 

[sed51329]

After a long line of HTC phones, I went to a Nexus 6, to a G4, then got this A9.

My only complaint is random battery life, but it charges so fast that it hasn't been too big of an issue. The dot view case I purchased scratched on the back from sitting on a table for 10 minutes, so it was returned same day.

I love this phone. It's slim, has a great picture quality, little to no UI lag.., I just wish the battery was a bit more predictable as it can vary a bit.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[delta7]

So would you get this over a M9? What do you guys think?

 

[bhatech]

So would you get this over a M9? What do you guys think?

It's a toss up, I would get this since it's much newer and HTC has promised updates within 15 days of Nexus. Also smaller size, fingerprint scanner, better camera etc. Overall I think it's a better value than M9. Only negative is the not so great battery life because of tiny battery.

 

[delta7]

I'm thinking the m9 will be better battery wise with marshmallow. but yes I like the a9,itd slimmer and looks better. lol

also the fingerprint scanner.

I'd like to try one out. thanks.

screen looks better too.

 

[murphcid]

Yeah, does anyone have a personal review of this phone yet, and especially the battery life. $499 is just too expensive, $399 was killer, I wish I had more information on it before the price went up.

It's awfully quiet in here.

Please let us know which model you got and how has been your experience so far?

And also, did you get it for 399 or 499? Or for 499 with the 30% discount?

Posted via the Android Central App