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Sony Xperia XZ2 review

REVIEW – It’s been almost 4 years since I reviewed a Sony smartphone. The last one was the Sony Xperia Z3v. How has the Xperia evolved since then? I’ve been testing the Sony Xperia XZ2 for the last few weeks so let’s find out.

What is it?

The Sony Xperia XZ2 is Sony’s latest smartphone which is powered by Android and features a 19MP camera capable of 4K HDR video recording, high-resolution audio, and more.

Hardware specs

Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 Mobile Platform
Operating System: Android 8.1
Memory: 4GB RAM, 64GB UFS internal memory5, microSDXC support (up to 400GB)
Display: 5.7″, 18:9 Full HD+ (1080 x 2160) HDR display
Network: GSM GPRS/EDGE (2G), UMTS HSPA+ (3G), LTE (4G) Cat18 with up to 1,2Gbps
Camera (rear): 19MP, f/2.0 aperture
Camera (front): 5 MP, f/2.0 aperture
Connectivity: Bluetooth: 5.0, WiFi, Miracast, NFC
Positioning: A-GPS, A-Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS
Battery: 3180 mAh
Qi wireless charging
Dimensions: 153 x 72 x 11.1 mm
Weight: 198 g

What’s in the box?

    • Sony Xperia XZ2
    • USB-C Cable
    • USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
    • Earbuds with several earbud sizes (3.5mm wired)

Design and features

The XZ2 is available in two sizes. The larger one that you see here and a compact version that has a 5.0-inch display. The XZ2 comes in four colors including the dark green (I think it looks blue) one that was sent to me. It has a 5.7-inch display that has slightly curved edges. The XZ2 doesn’t have the newest fad in smartphones. There isn’t a notch at the top, but there is both a “forehead” and a “chin” at the top and bottom, but very minimal size bezels.

At the top is the front-facing camera, ambient light sensor and a tiny status LED that is used for notifications and battery charging status.

At the bottom is a front firing speaker that is almost hidden in the area where the display meets the metal rail along the bottom edge.

The back of the phone is made of glass that is polished to a high sheen with a bulging pillow look and curved edges. Let me just say right now, that the XZ2 is slippery. I’m talking crazy slippery. I will say that it’s easily the most slippery phone I’ve ever hand my hand before. Unless you have the hands of a tree frog, you will want a case for this phone because otherwise, it’s going to end up shattered on the floor.

Now that I’ve given you that public service announcement, back to describing the back of the phone. It’s very pretty and feels nice in hand and it has a fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone, which is my favorite location for fingerprint scanners. However, the location of the fingerprint sensor is lower than on other phones I’ve reviewed, so it can sometimes take more than one try to locate it with the tip of my index finger because it’s almost completely flush with the case.

Above the fingerprint scanner is the camera and above the camera is the LED flash.

The right side of the phone has three buttons. The top button is a one-piece volume button, the center button is the power button, and the lower button is a dedicated camera launch/shutter button.

On the bottom edge is a microphone and a USB-C port.

Flip the Xperia around to the top edge and you find another microphone and the SIM card/MicroSD card slot. Unlike 99% of the phones on the market, you don’t need a SIM tool to open the tray. It pulls out easily with your fingernail.

There are two SIM slots or you can put a microSD card in the extra slot.

The Sony Xperia XZ2 looks nice and passes my Gadgeteer squeeze test, but it’s hard to get past how insanely slippery it is. I don’t have a case for it, so I have to constantly pay attention to where I place it. If the surface is even slightly uneven or unlevel, it will slide off in a second, like a drop of mercury. It’s so slippery that I had trouble getting photos of it in my Shotbox lightbox because it would start spinning all by itself like it was alive. And speaking of spinning, it doubles as a fidget spinner when you’re bored!

Jokes aside, the phone does feel solid in hand. Solid and heavy. The curved back is there to disguise how thick this phone really is, but its weight can’t be hidden. It weighs 198 grams compared to my Pixel 2 XL which has a larger display and weighs in at 175 grams.

Display

The XZ2’s display bright, crisp, vivid, and clear. I have no complaints as far as what it looks like, viewing angles or touch sensitivity. The only feature it lacks is an always on clock like my Pixel 2 XL and Samsung phones. I rely on that feature since I don’t wear a watch and really missed while reviewing this phone.

Fingerprint reader

Except for the fact that the fingerprint sensor located to low on the back of the phone, it works great for me. I tend to have issues with scanners not registering my touch, but this one works 9 times out of 10 as long as I actually touch it the first time instead of the camera lens!

Camera

The Xperia XZ2 has a nice camera. It’s a little disappointing that it doesn’t have a dual camera the iPhone X, Huawei P20, and others, but for what it is, I was happy with the shots I tool. Check out some samples below that are straight out of the camera.







I was pretty happy with the pictures that I took while using this phone. But, I did run into a strange issue which you can see in the examples below.



Notice the strange color bands/glare on the first two images above? I only noticed this with a handful of pictures that I took and there were only two things that were similar between the images: it was a sunny day and I shot the images with the phone in portrait orientation. If you check the two images on the right, they were taken within seconds of each other and the one with the glare was taken in portrait orientation and the other one in landscape orientation. I’m not sure what caused the glare/bands.

Audio quality

The Sony’s front firing speakers sound good when listening to music or watching videos without using headphones. Even at full volume, audio sounds clear and crisp.

The phone has an interesting Dynamic Vibration feature that vibrates the phone depending on the type of audio that’s playing so it’s kind of cool for games and watching video.

Using the Sony Xperia XZ2 for phone calls

For the most part, I’ve had no issues making and receiving calls on the T-mobile network with this phone except when I’m in the basement of my house. For some reason, this phone seems to have issues holding on to the cell signal down there and on several occasions, people have tried to call me and gotten voice mail.

As far as call audio quality, the volume level and clarity on both sides of conversations have been just fine.

Software and user interface

The XZ2 comes with a collection of Sony-made camera tools for video editing, 3D creator, Bokeh, AR Effects, and others. They are all standalone apps which is odd. I think they should have been features added to the camera app. Besides those apps, there are a few others that come pre-installed like Facebook, AVG Protection, Playstation app, News, Xperia lounge, and a few others. Unfortunately, you can’t uninstall these apps to free space.

Overall performance and battery life using the Sony Xperia XZ2 for day to day tasks

This phone has a 3180mAh battery that kept it running for a full work day of normal use and with wireless charging, it is convenient to keep it topped off. With my typical usage level, I had no problems with battery life.

As far as performance, I think the Sony XZ2 does very well and felt comparable to other phones I’ve recently reviewed.

What I like

  • Wireless charging
  • microSD card slot
  • Dedicated camera shutter button

What needs to be improved

  • No 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Weird location for the fingerprint scanner
  • Slippery

Final thoughts

The Sony Xperia XZ2 makes a nice smartphone with almost every feature on my smartphone wishlist including wireless charging and a microSD card slot. That said, I couldn’t quite love this phone because it lacks the always-on clock display that has become a must-have feature for me and it’s just so darned heavy and slippery. Yes, I can put a case on it to help with grip, but that would add more weight to an already heavy phone.

I’m rooting Sony on, but I think they have an uphill battle ahead of them if they want to compete with the likes of Huawei, Samsung, and Google when they are pricing their Xperia phones at the same price level.

Price: $799.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Sony.

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Sony Xperia XZ2 review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 16, 2018 at 10:14 am.

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HUAWEI MediaPad M5 Android tablet review

When it comes to buying an Android tablet, there aren’t many choices if you are looking for a premium device. Sadly, even Google themselves have gotten out of the tablet category, which is a real shame. If you haven’t been a fan of the expensive glass-backed tablets from Samsung, I have another option for you to consider. It’s the HUAWEI MediaPad M5, and it’s a beauty.

What is it?

The MediaPad M5 is actually a series of Android tablets from HUAWEI that include an 8.4-inch, and two 10.8-inch tablets. One of the 10.8-inch versions of the tablet is the Pro version. I was sent the 10.8-inch regular version of the M5 for this review.

Hardware specs

OS: Android 8.0 Oreo
CPU: 2.1GHz Kirin 960 Series Chipset
Memory: 4 GB RAM+32 GB ROM, or 4 GB RAM+64 GB ROM
microSD card slot
Display: 2560 x 1600 pixels, Enhanced ClariVu 10.8-inch display
Network: LTE FDD/LTE TDD/WCDMA/GSM (Enabled only on the CMR-AL09 version)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz
Camera: Rear camera: 13 MP, F2.2, Auto Focus (PDAF), Front camera: 8 MP, F2.2, Fixed focus
Audio: Quad stereo speaker, HUAWEI Histen sound effect, Harman Kardon audio certified, Supports Hi-Res Audio
Battery: 7500 mAh Quick Charge 9 V/2 A
Dimensions: 10.18 x 6.76 x 0.29 inches (258.7 mm x 171.8 x 7.3 mm)
Weight: 1.1lb (About 498 g)

What’s in the box?

HUAWEI MediaPad M5 10.8-inch Android tablet
Charger
USB Type-C Cable
USB Type-C to 3.5 mm headset jack adapter cable
Eject pin for the microSD card holder
Quick Start Guide
Warranty card

Design and features

The HUAWEI MediaPad M5 is a big beautiful tablet. Although I wish it had ultra-thin bezels like the HUAWEI P20 smartphone that I reviewed recently, I can deal with the relatively narrow bezels that it does have.

The MediaPad has the HUAWEI logo on the bottom edge with the tablet when you are using it in landscape orientation and the fingerprint reader is on the right edge.

In landscape orientation, the front-facing camera and status LED are located along the top edge above the display.

The back side of the MediaPad is made of aluminum that has a smooth feel. It’s so smooth that the tablet is pretty slippery. So you will definitely want to consider some type of back cover or case if you purchase this device.

The right side of the tablet (in landscape orientation) has a one-piece volume button at the top and a smaller power button below it. Also on that side is the microSD card slot. There is an issue with the location of these buttons when you use the tablet in portrait mode because the buttons end up on the bottom edge of the device which is the opposite side I would expect them to be. Granted, the MediaPad is designed to be used primarily in landscape orientation. That said, even in that orientation, the fingerprint reader seems to be is in a strange location on the right side of the display. However, the location of the fingerprint reader works out for a reason you’ll understand when I talk about navigating the user interface.

Along the bottom edge of the MediaPad is a set of built-in speakers that have been tuned by Harman Kardon and provide 360-degree surround sound. In the center are 3 electrical contacts for a future accessory.

In the upper right corner is a rear-facing camera and another set of speakers along the top edge of the tablet.

Last year I purchased a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 to replace a Tab 2. In the image above, the Samsung tablet is on the right with the MediaPad M5 next to it on the left. The larger screen size of the 10,8-inch MediaPad makes a huge difference when reading, surfing, and watching videos on this device in either orientation.

Display

The 10.8-inch MediaPad M5’s 2K IPS display is bright and crisp with vibrant colors. I have been impressed by how nice everything looks on it from websites to viewing my Google Photo image collection, and watching a video using the Netflix app.

The 2D curved screen edges are a nice touch as well. 2D curved screens aren’t a new feature for smartphones, but I believe this is a first for an Android tablet and I like the way it feels when holding the tablet between my two hands because there are no uncomfortable edges.

Camera

I think it’s safe to say that 99% of the people who shop for a new tablet are not going to base their decision on the built-in camera. Yes, the M5 has a built-in camera yes, it takes pictures. But the image quality is not going to blow you away and again, 99% of the people who buy this tablet aren’t going to care about the camera quality because who goes around using their tablet as a camera anyway? All that said, here are a couple example images.



The two pictures on the left where taken with the 13MP rear camera the picture on the front used the 8MP front-facing camera. Neither are especially great. But the front camera should work fine for video calls.

Fingerprint reader

The fact that I had some issues with the fingerprint reader won’t come to a surprise if you’ve read more than a few of my device reviews. Yes, fingerprint readers tend to have problems with my alien DNA. The MediaPad’s fingerprint reader worked for me some of the time, but not all of the time. The real unfortunate thing here is that the MediaPad does not share the face unlock feature that the HUAWEI P20 has. It’s a shame because that unlock method has worked really well for me. As it is, I have been using a combination of the fingerprint read and a good old-fashioned PIN number with the M5.

The fingerprint reader does have a second use besides scanning your fingerprints. It can also be used to navigate the tablet by using gestures like the ones shown above. How well does that work? Pretty well since the reader is on the right side of the display where your thumb would naturally rest while using the tablet in landscape orientation.

I do wish the MediaPad also had traditional onscreen navigation icons for back, home, and running app list. The really weird thing is that my device DID have onscreen navigation buttons. You can even see them in a few of the images in this review. But they disappeared and now I don’t know how to get them back. I even read a few other reviews where people complain about the lack of onscreen buttons, but they don’t mention anything about the buttons having been on their MediaPads in the first place like my device. I know I didn’t imagine them because the images in this review are proof that they existed at one point. So, what gives HUAWEI?

Audio quality

The 10.8-inch MediaPad M5 has 4 Harmon Kardon speakers built into the long sides of the tablet and they have terrific sound when using the tablet in either orientation. I enjoyed listening to music through Spotify and watching video on Youtube and Netflix. It was loud enough for two people sitting side by side watching a movie on Netflix with the tablet propped up about 3 feet away.

If you prefer to listen to audio in private, the MediaPad lacks an earphone jack so you’ll need to use the USB-C to 3.5mm adapter or Bluetooth headphones which brings up a pretty big issue with this tablet which I’ll talk about next.

Bluetooth and WiFi problems

If you want to use a pair of Bluetooth earbuds or headphones with the tablet, they will work just fine, but there is a caveat. The tablet uses the same antenna for Bluetooth and WiFi, so trying to use both at once results in slow WiFi speeds.

You can see examples of this in the image above where I used the Speedtest application to test the WiFi speed with Bluetooth turned off, with it turned on, and with a device connected and turned on. With Bluetooth turned off, my WiFi speed on the tablet is typically between 15 – 17Mbps, but as soon as I turned on Bluetooth and tried the Speedtest test again, the WiFi speed fell to 5-7Mbps. Then if Bluetooth was enabled AND a paired Bluetooth device was active, the speed dropped even further to as low 2Mbps at one point.

Is this problem a deal breaker? It depends on the types of activities that you use your tablet for. I mainly tested the tablet surfing my favorite sites while listening to music using Google Play, and using Bluetooth earbuds while watching Netflix shows. Did I notice a problem? Not too much other than lag while a Netflix video was buffering that longer than normal before the video started to play. Other than that, I didn’t notice a problem. But you have to understand that I used a T1 line at my home for a decade, so I’m used to slower (sub 2Mbps) network speeds.

Software and user interface

Like the HUAWEI P20 and the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro that I’ve reviewed, the MediaPad M5 ships with Huawei’s own skin on top of stock Android Oreo. That skin is called EMUI. EMUI doesn’t make Android look that much different from stock Android Oreo, but it does include Huawei’s versions of the stock apps like the calendar, clock, calculator, etc. There are more apps (aka Bloatware) included on the MediaPad like Booking.com, Kid’s Corner, Game Suite, Quik video editor, and WPS Office, but they can be uninstalled if desired.

The MediaPad M5 also includes a special desktop mode that allows the M5 to have a Windows-style look and feel with multiple movable windows and a taskbar at the bottom. But unlike the HUAWEI smartphones, the MediaPad does not have the ability to output to a large monitor when used with an HDMI USB-C adapter.

Battery life and performance

The 10.8-inch MediaPads have a large 7500mAh battery which does an impressive job of powering the tablet for several days with light use and easily through a full day of moderate use. The performance with the tablet has impressed me. I feel like it’s snappier than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3. I had no problems launching apps, scrolling pages, etc.

What I like

  • Vibrant display
  • Good value for the price
  • Great audio
  • microSD card slot

What needs to be improved

  • Bluetooth and Wifi speed issue
  • Odd power and volume button location
  • No earphone jack

Final thoughts

The HUAWEI MediaPad M5 lives up to its name with its large display and Harman Kardon speakers. This tablet is a great device for surfing, and watching videos on your favorite streaming service. The tablet isn’t perfect though due to the issue with using WiFi and Bluetooth at the same time. If you can get past that problem, the price and features of the HUAWEI MediaPad M5 do make it one of the nicest Android tablets that are currently available.

Price: $359.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by HUAWEI.

The post HUAWEI MediaPad M5 Android tablet review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

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HUAWEI MediaPad M5 Android tablet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 26, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Huawei P20 smartphone review

I enjoyed using the Huawei Mate 10 Pro when I reviewed it a few months ago and now I’ve had the chance to use the newer and smaller Huawei P20 for a few weeks. Do I love it? Like it? Or is it just meh? Let’s find out.

What is it?

The Huawei P20 is one of Huawei’s latest Android smartphones that runs the most current version of Oreo (Android version 8.1). The P20 is a smaller and lower cost version of the P20 Pro which also from Huawei. Both phones feature a thin bezel display with an iconic notch at the top and both phones feature Leica lenses. The P2o Pro sports 3 lenses on the back while the P20 only has 2 lenses. The P20 also has a smaller 5.8-inch display while the P20 Pro’s display is 6.1 inches. The P20 only has 4GB of RAM while the P20 Pro has 6GB and of course, the P20 Pro has a larger battery. But enough comparison, let’s focus on the P20.

Hardware specs

Processor: HUAWEI Kirin 970 CPU, octa-core, 4 x Cortex A73 2.36 GHz + 4 x Cortex A53 1.8 GHz
Operating System: Android 8.1
Memory: 4 GB RAM+128 GB ROM
Display: 5.8in FHD 1080 x 2244, 428 PPI IPS Display
Network: LTE TDD / LTE FDD / WCDMA / EDGE / GPRS
Camera (rear): Dual-lens camera: 12 MP (RGB, f/1.8 aperture) + 20 MP (Monochrome, f/1.6 aperture), supports autofocus (laser focus, deep focus, phase focus, contrast focus)
Camera (front): 24 MP, f/2.0 aperture, supports fixed focal length
Connectivity:
Bluetooth: BT4.2, support BLE
WiFi: Wi-Fi 2.4 G/5 G, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with Wi-Fi Direct support
NFC: yes
Positioning: GPS / AGPS / Glonass / BeiDou Navigation Satellite System
Battery: 3400 mAh
Dimensions: 149mm X 70.8mm X 7.65mm
Weight: 165 grams

Whats in the box?

  • Huawei P20
  • USB-C Earphones
  • Charger
  • USB-C Cable
  • USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
  • Flexible Clear Case
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Eject tool
  • Warranty card

Design and features

The P20 is available in 5 colors that include Black, Pink Gold, Champagne Gold, Midnight Blue, and Twilight. As you can probably guess, I was sent the Black version of the phone. The phone has a smoothly rounded metal frame with rounded corners. The face of the P20 is all screen except for a smallish notch at the top where the front camera lens, speaker, and status LED are located. At the bottom is a medium sized chin where the combination home and fingerprint scanner capacitive button is located.

The back of the phone is made of glass with the dual Leica lens camera in the top left corner with the 20MP monochrome camera on top and the 12MP RGB lens below it. There’s also an LED flash below the lenses.

The dual lenses are covered in glass and protrude from the back of the phone so you might want to keep the phone in a case that will help protect the lenses from dirt and finger smudges. This is definitely something you should consider because the P20 doubles as a great camera so you will want to keep your images clear and sharp by keeping the lenses clean.

The rest of the phone’s back is blank except for the Huawei brand in the bottom left corner. As I mentioned, the back of the phone is made of glass which has perfectly smooth curved edges that make the phone feel very comfortable in hand. However, even though the back of the phone is made of glass, the P20 surprisingly and unfortunately does not have wireless charging.

Like the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, the P20 comes with a glass screen protector already installed over the display. The phone also ships with a clear case although my review unit didn’t have the case in the box. I think Huawei is the only phone manufacturer that I’ve seen that includes a preinstalled screen protector and a basic case. I like that!

The bottom edge of the P20 has a downward firing speaker and a USB-C port for charging and connection to an HDMI, VGA, or DVI adapter or dock for connection to a monitor or projector. More about that feature later.

On the top edge of the phone is a microphone.

On the right side of the P20, you’ll find the up and down one-piece volume button with the power button below it. The power button has a red stripe inside it which I suppose is just for decoration. Both buttons stick out from the side so that they are easy to find with your fingers and they have excellent tactile feedback.

The left side of the phone has a dual SIM card tray and the phone has software that will allow you to easily switch between SIMs. I only had one active SIM, so I didn’t test the dual SIM capability of the phone.

IP53 dust and water resistance, which means the phone is protected from dust and a light spray of water but is not submersion in water.

In hand, the Huawei P20 feels great. It’s small and solid. The rounded sides make it comfy to hold with no sharp edges when you grip it. Speaking of gripping the phone, I’m happy to report that the P20 passed my 20 years and counting Gadgeteer squeeze test without flexing or creaking.

Display

Love it or hate it, the notch is here to stay. At least that’s what we’re seeing with the current generation of smartphones as it seems to be the latest fad. I personally don’t have any strong feelings one way or another about it, but I know some people who absolutely hate them.

If you’re a notch hater, you can use a software setting to turn off the notch. I will say that with the notch hidden, it’s much easier to see the notification icons. They kind of blend in with the screen’s wallpaper when the notch is present. That said, the Huawei P20 has one of the smallest notches to date. It doesn’t come close to being as small as the one on the Essential Phone, but it’s only about twice as wide as that one. Inside the notch is the front facing 24MP camera, a tiny status LED, a speaker, and an ambient light sensor.

The Huawei P20 has an IPS LCD display instead of an OLED display like its big brother the P20 Pro. Is that a big deal? I don’t think so. The P20’s screen is vibrant, crisp, and clear but to my eyes, the P20’s display is not quite as bright or as easy to read as my Pixel 2 XL when both are set to max brightness, but my Pixel’s display is larger which makes a big difference – at least for my eyes. I’m not complaining about the P20’s display though and find it to be perfectly fine and enjoyable to view.

If you dive into the display settings, you’ll find options to turn on a blue light filter, manual adjustments for the color mode (vivid or normal) and color temperature, or automatic color temperature adjustments based on the ambient light. You can also manually choose between the screen resolution of HD+ which is 1496 x 720 or FHD+ which is 2244 x 1080. Or you can toggle Smart resolution which will automatically lower the resolution to save power.

Fingerprint reader

After using the Huawei Mate 10 Pro’s fingerprint reader, I expected to be equally impressed with the P20’s reader. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. First of all, I’m so spoiled by having a reader on the back of my phone that I can’t stand having one below the screen on the front. Even after getting used to the location, I still find that the P20’s reader doesn’t work for me 100% of the time and I’ve had to reprogram my prints at least 2 times in the last few weeks. If you’ve been reading my smartphone reviews for any length of time, you’ll already know that I have a less than stellar history with fingerprint readers… at least until I started using a Pixel 2 XL which has the best fingerprint reader in the galaxy (at least for me).

Even though the fingerprint reader on the P20 doesn’t work that well for me, that’s ok because the P20 can use face recognition too and that does work well for me. Between the two unlock methods, I’ve had few instances where I’ve had to use a pattern swipe to unlock the phone.

Camera

I was very impressed with the Mate 10 Pro’s camera, so I was expecting the same performance from the P20. Although I was really looking forward to checking out the P20 Pro’s 3 cameras, the P20’s 2 cameras didn’t disappoint me. Like the Mate 10 Pro, the P20’s lenses are LEICA lenses and like the Mate 10 Pro, I’ve been impressed with the images I’ve been able to capture with the P20.

I usually don’t have very exciting images to show as samples in my reviews, but as luck would have it, I received the P20 as I was preparing for a vacation to California to the Carmel and Monterey area. Check out some of my sample shots which are straight out of the camera with no edits. Click to see the full-sized image.








The cool thing about the P20’s stock camera app is that it will detect what you’re shooting and adjust the image to make it look as good as possible. When I was shooting beach scenes it would show BEACH at the bottom of the screen and it would also sometimes put a level on the screen so that I could easily see if I had the horizon straight. I will admit that the water in some of those images was not quite as dazzling blue as it looked in real life, but I just love how the images turned out. If you hate the hyped colors, you can turn off the P20’s AI in the camera settings. As for me, I think the images look like they came out of a magazine if I do say so myself. Well, all of them except for the selfie… 😉

Just to compare, here are two of the same shots taken with the P20 and my Pixel 2 XL within seconds of each other so you can compare.


Which one do you like best? The picture taken with the P20 is on the left and the picture from the Pixel 2 XL is on the right. I’m going with the one on the left.


The P20 also surprised me when I began taking a picture of a sign. The stock camera app recognized it as a document and scanned it to fill the image and made it perfectly square.

Also, like the Mate 10 Pro, a double-tap of the volume-down key will take a snapshot in as little as 0.3 seconds from standby mode (locked with the screen off).

The camera is my favorite feature of the Huawei P20. It inspires me to want to travel more just so I can capture some more insanely great pics.

Oh, and it does a good job with video too… Check out this huawei-p20-47. It’s a 54MB video.

The P20 earned top marks on DxOMark the trusted industry standard for independent image quality measurements and ratings of digital cameras, lens, and smartphones. Test results are available on www.dxomark.com.

Audio quality

Although the P20 has what looks like two downward firing speakers on the bottom edge of the phone, there’s really only one speaker on the right. If you can get past the fact that it has a mono speaker, the P20’s speaker is clear and sounds decent and at full volume, it’s loud.

I rarely listen to music through a phone’s speaker, so using the included USB-C to 3.5mm adapter with earbuds, I found the P20’s audio to sound very good while listening to music through Google Play and Spotify.

According to the Huawei website the HUAWEI P20 incorporates a Dolby Atmos® sound system that breaks new ground for smartphone audio. Premier 990 Kbps HWA* supports Hi-res audio files so you can enjoy true Hi-Fi audio quality wirelessly via Bluetooth audio devices that support HWA. The open HWA ecosystem invites industry advancement in smartphone audio, keeping your audio experience best-in-class.

Using the Huawei P20 for phone calls

During my 3 weeks using the Huawei P20, I’ve had no issues making and receiving calls with this phone on the T-mobile network and have felt that the volume level on both sides of the conversation has been just fine.

Software and user interface

Like the Mate 10 Pro that I reviewed, the P20 ships with Huawei’s own skin over stock Android that’s called EMUI. EMUI doesn’t make Android look that much different from stock, but it does include Huawei’s versions of the stock apps like the calendar, clock, calculator, etc. and it adds extra features like the ability to take screenshots by knocking twice on the screen with your knuckle. You can also knock once and then draw an S to take a scrolling screenshot for really long pages. There’s even a built-in tool to record a screencast.



Other EMUI gestures include HiTouch where you put two fingers on the screen when you’re viewing a product image and it is supposed to pull up product info on Amazon. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it came up with completely weird results.

You can also show two apps in a split-screen view and you can launch apps by drawing a letter with your knuckle.

The P20 even has its own very basic built-in assistant called Emy that you can use to make and answer calls using your voice.

Another cool feature allows the P20 to easily connect to a monitor or projector if you have a USB-C HDMI, VGA, or DVI dock or adapter. Just plug it in and it will display a full-screen user interface on the larger screen. It’s like the Samsung DEX Station without paying for the extra hardware. It worked great with my BenQ PD2710QC DesignView 27-inch Designer Monitor.

The interface is simple and easy to use and makes me know that the day is coming soon where my phone will be able to function as my one and only computer.

As an added feature, when the P20 is connected to a monitor or projector, the phone’s screen will turn into a touchpad that you can use to move the cursor around on the screen.

Overall performance and battery life using the Huawei P20 for day to day tasks

The P20 performs well and I haven’t noticed any problems launching multiple apps and switching between them. It also scrolls smoothly when viewing long web pages. The phone has a 3400mAh battery that kept it running for a full day of medium usage, with some juice to spare. I never saw a low battery warning while reviewing the phone and when I did recharge, it was topped off very quickly due to Huawei’s SuperCharge technology which gives you almost a full day of power with a quick 20-30-minute charge.

What I like

  • The camera shoots great pics
  • Comfortable in hand and pocket
  • Can connect the phone to a larger monitor or projector
  • Fast charging

What needs to be improved

  • The fingerprint reader is underwhelming
  • No wireless charging
  • No micro SD card slot
  • Mono speaker

Final thoughts

I had originally wanted to review the Huawei P20 Pro because after all, it’s the top of the line pro version… but I was sent the P20 and I’m happy to say that I haven’t been disappointed in the least. Except for a couple missing features like wireless charging and a micro SD card slot, the Huawei P20 is a pint-sized powerhouse with a great camera that I love. I think this phone is a viable alternative to other flagship phones and has a better price.

Price: $567.00
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Huawei.

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Huawei P20 smartphone review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 13, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Pixel 2 XL review

I’ve been using a Pixel 2 XL Android smartphone for the past 5 months and have yet to write a review about it even though it has swiftly become one of my all-time favorite Android phones. Does that mean it’s the perfect Android smartphone? Nope, not even close. But right now it’s perfect for me and that’s what counts. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The Pixel 2 XL is Google’s flagship Android smartphone which is powered by a stock version of Android version 8 otherwise known as Oreo.

Hardware specifications

Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835
Operating System: Android 8.0.0 (Oreo)
Memory: 4GB RAM, Storage 64GB or 128GB
Display: 6in 2880 x 1440 pixels, 538ppi pOLED Display, 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Network: Carrier unlocked
4G LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B20/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B32/B66
TD-LTE Bands: 38/40/41
GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1/2/4/5/8
CDMA EVDO Rev A: BC0/BC1/BC10
Supports up to CAT 15 (800Mbps DL / 75Mbps UL), 3x DL CA, 4×4 MIMO, 256-QAM DL and 64-QAM UL depending on carrier support
Camera (rear): 12.2MP, f/1.8
Camera (front): 8MP
Connectivity: Bluetooth: BT5.0+LE
WiFi: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz
NFC: yes
Positioning: GPS/Glonass
Battery: 3520 mAh
Dimensions: 6.2 x 3.0 x 0.3 in (157.9 X 76.4 X 7.9 mm)
Weight: 6.2 oz (175 grams)
Water and Dust Resistant IP67 under IEC standard 60529

What’s in the box

Pixel 2 XL
USB-C 18W charging plug
USB-C to USB-C cable
USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter
Quick start guide
Quick switch adapter

Design and features

Google sells 2 sizes of the Pixel 2. I decided to buy the Pixel 2 XL because I was moving on from a Nexus 6p so I was already used to carrying a phablet-sized phone.

As far as first impressions go, the Pixel 2 XL looks like most other larger phones. It’s rectangular with rounded corners, has no buttons on the front, and has slim bezels on the edges. The Pixel 2 XL doesn’t have a bezel-less display like the iPhone X or the Essential Phone. But it’s close enough for me.

Other than the display, the only other things on the front of the Pixel 2 XL are the front firing speakers.

When you flip the Pixel over, you’ll find a glass section at the top where the camera and LED flash are located. Below that is the fingerprint scanner which is surrounded by a smooth matte finish and a Google G logo at the bottom. I like the matte finish on the back of the Pixel because it adds some grip and it hides fingerprints and smudges.

You’ll find the SIM card slot on the left side of the phone and on the right side you’ll find the power button and one-piece volume button. On the top edge of the phone is a microphone and the USB-C charging port is on the bottom edge.

In hand, the Pixel 2 XL feels solid. It’s neither lightweight or heavy. I think it’s just right. A quick squeeze and a shake reveal no flexing or rattles. But, squeezing the sides towards the bottom of the phone triggers the Google Assistant to do your bidding. More on that later.

Display

Soon after the Pixel 2 phones were available, people began reporting about problems with the displays having a blueish tint when not viewed straight on. Other complaints about the display included problems with the touch screen being insensitive on the edges, muted colors, and burn in issues.

When I read about these supposed defects, I obviously became concerned that I had purchased a dud phone. But I’d already been using my Pixel 2 XL for a few days before reading about these problems which I had not noticed on my own unit. Once I read about the blue tint issue, I checked my phone and I definitely saw what they were talking about. Did it make me mad or consider returning my phone since I was still within the return window? No, it didn’t. I had not noticed the problem until it was pointed out to me and even after I saw the issue with my own eyes, I didn’t really care because I don’t use my phone with the screen tilted away from me. I look at it straight on and in that orientation, the screen looks fine to me.

As for the issues with the touchscreen not registering taps on the edges, muted colors, and burn in, I haven’t noticed the touch screen sensitivity issue or burn in issue with my phone so I can’t comment on them. But if I’d had these problems it would have really annoyed me and I would have returned the phone immediately.

I didn’t really notice the muted color issue until it was pointed out. But Google released a fix for that so it’s a non-issue now.

However, there is one issue with the Pixel 2 XL display that I’ve noticed but haven’t read much about… My Pixel 2 XL screen has picked up a LOT of fine scratches in the last couple of months. It seemed like the scratches magically appeared several months after I got the phone. I should mention that I do not use screen protectors on my phone because I don’t like the feel of the edge of the glass protectors on a curved screen like the Pixel 2’s screen.

The scratches on my screen aren’t immediately noticeable. Y0u have to tilt the phone to see them in certain lighting conditions. Seeing them made my stomach drop but I shrugged it off figuring that the phone is a tool and “stuff” happens to tools. As long as the camera lens doesn’t suffer the same fate (and it’s fine so far), I can deal with it.

Fingerprint reader

If you’ve read my phone reviews, you may remember that I like to gripe about how much trouble I have with fingerprint sensors. They just don’t work for me for longer than a day or two. I’d resigned myself to live with this tragic issue until the Pixel 2 XL came into my life. I half-heartedly set up the fingerprint reader with the index fingers of both hands and figured it would stop working soon thereafter. I was wrong. I’ve not had to reprogram my prints yet. The sensor on the Pixel 2 XL works every single time and it works fast. To say that it makes me happy that I can unlock my phone by touching the sensor on the back is an understatement. I feel like I’ve finally been let into a club for the cool kids now 🙂

In all seriousness, being able to easily unlock my phone without drawing a pattern or tapping a 4-digit pin number is wonderful. I thought the Pixel 2 XL was the only phone in the world with a fingerprint sensor that would work with my alien prints, but when I recently had the opportunity to review the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, it also worked great. But then I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S9 and I was back to same old problems.

Camera

The Pixel 2 XL’s camera is excellent. It’s so good that I ended up selling my Canon 70D DSLR and have been using my Pixel 2 XL as my primary and only camera. I use it for day to day snaps and for all my product photography for my reviews.

Here are some sample images that have not been edited in any way.















I’m very happy with the Pixel 2 XL’s camera and the only way it could be better would be an ultra-fast snap option likeHuaweiauwei Mate 10 Pro.

Audio quality

The Pixel’s front firing speakers sound good when listening to music or watching videos without using headphones. Even at full volume, audio sounds clear and crisp. I do wish the bass was a bit stronger, but I rarely if ever listen to music or watch videos listening to the sound through the built-in speakers so I don’t find this a big deal.

Using the Pixel 2 XL for phone calls

So far I’ve had no issues making and receiving calls on the T-mobile network with this phone. The volume level and clarity on both sides of conversations have been just fine.

Software and user interface

Google’s Pixel phones have stock Android, so you don’t have to waste space with a bunch of apps that the carriers load that you will never use or special skins that you may or may not like that enhance the user interface.

There are advantages to buying a Pixel that other phones don’t have.

  1. OS updates faster than other phones
  2. Google promises security updates for at least the next 3 years
  3. Free unlimited full resolution photo storage to the Google cloud until 2020.

The Pixel 2 does have a feature that isn’t stock and that other Android phones don’t have. It’s the Active Edge feature that launches the Google Assistant when you squeeze the lower half of the phone. When I first heard about the feature, I thought it sounded silly. But I’ve actually grown to really like it once I tuned in the sensitivity level.

In addition to launching Google Assistant, the Active Edge feature can be used to silence alarms, timers, and incoming calls. I wish you could also customize it to launch the camera app and take a picture which would be a great use for it.

Overall performance and battery life using the Pixel 2 XL for day to day tasks

This phone has a 3520mAh battery that keeps it running for a full work day of normal use. It’s a shame that the Pixel 2 doesn’t have wireless charging, but battery levels are topped off pretty quickly when connected to power. I don’t have a power cable near my bed, so I don’t charge it throughout the night. I’ve yet to have it run out of power by morning, although I do charge it as soon as I get to work.

As far as performance, I think the Pixel 2 XL does very well. It might not feel quite a fast as the latest phones that I’ve reviewed, but the difference is negligible.

What I like

  • Great camera
  • Fast fingerprint sensor
  • Stock Android, no bloatware
  • 2-year warranty and 3 years of security updates

What needs to be improved

  • Screen scratches too easily
  • Price
  • Needs HDMI out from USB-C port

Final thoughts

As I already stated at the beginning of this review, the Pixel 2 XL has become one of my all-time favorite Android phones. Although it doesn’t have a micro SD card slot, Qi charging, or HDMI out, it’s yet to disappoint me with day to day performance. I’ve reviewed several phones since buying the Pixel 2 XL and I’ve yet to feel the need to replace this phone. It’s become a dependable workhorse for me and I look forward to seeing what features gen 3 brings to the Pixel later this year.

Price: $849.00 – $949.00
Where to buy: Google and Amazon
Source: The product for this review was purchased with my own funds.

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Pixel 2 XL review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 25, 2018 at 2:23 pm.

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Julie’s gadget diary – Samsung makes great phones, so why can’t I love them?

Verizon Wireless was kind enough to send me a shiny new Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphone to test for a few days and it’s an all around awesome phone. From the look of the hardware to what’s under the hood, this is a phone that many Android fans would love to own, but for some reason, I just can’t seem to fall for one of them.

You look like you haven’t changed a bit since I last saw you

At first glance, the S9 looks identical to the Samsung Galaxy S8 from last year with a glass front and back sandwiching a metal frame. The new handset is slightly heavier, and a few tenths of a millimeter thicker and wider S8. But those are things you won’t notice at all when you hold the phone in your hand. It’s not until you flip the phone over that you will see the biggest physical difference compared to the S8. The often criticized location of the fingerprint sensor on the S8 has been updated on the S9 to a new location below the camera lens.

There’s a new home for the fingerprint scanner

If you’ve been a regular visitor of my reviews, you’ll know that I am usually grumpy when it comes to talking about fingerprint sensors on smartphones. Until recently, I’ve had the worst luck with getting them to work for me for more than a day or so after the initial setup. That changed with the Pixel 2 XL and even more recently with the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, both of which have wonderfully fast and accurate sensors on the back. I’m happy to report that the S9’s fingerprint sensor is not terrible! Notice that I didn’t say it was surprisingly great and wonderful. It’s neither of those things for me. But, it’s not terrible and even after several days it still works for me at least most of the time.

One interesting feature of the S9 is that it now uses Intelligent Scan, which is a combination of iris and facial recognition that works simultaneously. I also noticed that the S9 will unlock the phone with your face if your fingerprint doesn’t work first or vice versa. Maybe that’s the same way the S8 works, but this is the first I’ve noticed it. Even in low light facial recognition works really well. However, it didn’t work in total darkness.

Other updates

  • The Samsung Galaxy S9’s CPU is a bit more spiffy than the S8.

Galaxy S8: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895, 4GB RAM, 64GB + microSD
Galaxy S9: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 or Exynos 9810, 4GB RAM, 64GB + microSD

  • Bixby has been updated. One word, ick. It still feels clunky and I prefer using Google assistant.
  • The S9 features Dolby Atmos and AKG speakers that sound great and give you almost a surround sound feel when you watch video in landscape orientation.

Don’t forget the camera

Samsung kept the S9’s camera at 12 megapixels but they added a variable-aperture lens that opens as much as f/1.5 for low-light shots and as small as f/2.4 for bright shots. They also improved the Dual-Pixel performance. What does that mean in non-photographer speak? It means that the camera is good. Crazy good. Here are some sample shots right out of the camera with no retouching applied (except for rotating the tree picture in WordPress).







Another new feature on the S9 is AR emoji which is Samsung’s version of Apple’s Animoji only way creepier.

The way it works is that you take a picture of yourself and it takes your face and lets you customize your hair and clothes.

You can then use animated GIFs in your messages like the one above showing me waving at you. Does it look like me? Yeah, I guess so, but why? These cutesy features must be for teens, because other than goofing around with it for a few minutes, I’d probably never use it.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S9?

If you already own a perfectly fine S8, then no. In my opinion, the S9 just doesn’t have enough updates to justify upgrading. That doesn’t mean that Samsung won’t sell millions of them because they will. The S9 is a fantastic phone with every feature I’d ever want like wireless charging, long battery life, great camera, notification LED, HDMI out (with a USB-C HDMI adapter), DeX compatible (with optional dock), and a microSD card slot.

So now back to the question in the title of this article. If the S9 is such a great phone, why can’t I love it? I keep asking myself that question and I don’t have a good answer to it. I could say that I’m not a fan of Samsung’s version of all the stock apps, as I really prefer the stock Android experience. But, it ultimately comes down to my own personal preferences. Just like I love MINI Coopers but think Fiat 500s look hideous, or that I won’t eat mushrooms and green peppers but I love green beans and tomatoes. There are things that I like that you don’t like a vice versa.

I’m not going to say that I wouldn’t use a Samsung Galaxy S9 if I didn’t have another phone and someone gave me one. But if I had to choose between buying an S9, a Pixel 2 XL, or even the Huawei Mate 10 Pro right now, the S9 wouldn’t be my number one or number two choice… for no other reason than I like the other two phones better even though they are missing a couple of the features that the S9 offers.

I think it’s great that we’re to the point where flagship phones all have the same core set of features and choosing one comes down to the little things.

Source: The temporary loaner device was provided by Verizon Wireless.

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Julie’s gadget diary – Samsung makes great phones, so why can’t I love them? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 16, 2018 at 1:51 pm.

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