-
After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.
Pros/Cons of HTC Rezound vs. Galaxy Nexus
- Thread starter kisby
- Start date
I just got back from checking out the GNex as well. It is a big phone. Bigger than I would like, but not so big I couldn't get used to it as I initially thought. I didn't have any issues with build quality. No, it's not built as well as the rezound, but it's good enough for my taste. ICS is nice but I can wait for it.
The on screen soft keys are pretty cool. Seeing them completely off when the display is off then come on when the phone is on, then disappear when you play a video... well, it makes every android phone with dedicated soft keys look dated, including the flashy red ones on the rezound.
As for the screen, it's massive and is pretty nice. It's not as crisp as the rezound's for sure, but is crisp enough. The colors do pop and it is noticeably brighter when both are set to their brightest settings. The extra density of the HD screen does a good job of masking the pentile matrix cross hatching effect. Most won't even notice it. I did because I looked for it. You can see it in the onscreen soft keys if you get real close. I compared an HD trailer of Transformers 3 on youtube on both my rezound and the GNex and in all honesty, preferred the playback on the GNex a little more. This was mainly due to the extra real estate of the 4.65 inch screen, which is very noticeable, and the brighter picture.
Based on this initial impression, I have to say that the GNex impressed me more than I thought it would. Still, while the screen is surprisingly nice, it's probably not nice enough to warrant a switch for that reason alone. I also have a problem with no SD card slot. And the overall size is still a concern. If I switched, a case would be out of the question as it would make the phone even bigger. This means I'd have to be extra careful with a phone that's already more fragile to begin with.
So I'm still very undecided on whether what to do. Since I have another month to decide, I think I'll wait to see what people's impressions of the things like the camera, call quality, signal quality, GPS, etc are after it's been out for a week or so. Besides, every store in NYC is sold out -- most were by noon. So it's not like I can get one now anyway.
The on screen soft keys are pretty cool. Seeing them completely off when the display is off then come on when the phone is on, then disappear when you play a video... well, it makes every android phone with dedicated soft keys look dated, including the flashy red ones on the rezound.
As for the screen, it's massive and is pretty nice. It's not as crisp as the rezound's for sure, but is crisp enough. The colors do pop and it is noticeably brighter when both are set to their brightest settings. The extra density of the HD screen does a good job of masking the pentile matrix cross hatching effect. Most won't even notice it. I did because I looked for it. You can see it in the onscreen soft keys if you get real close. I compared an HD trailer of Transformers 3 on youtube on both my rezound and the GNex and in all honesty, preferred the playback on the GNex a little more. This was mainly due to the extra real estate of the 4.65 inch screen, which is very noticeable, and the brighter picture.
Based on this initial impression, I have to say that the GNex impressed me more than I thought it would. Still, while the screen is surprisingly nice, it's probably not nice enough to warrant a switch for that reason alone. I also have a problem with no SD card slot. And the overall size is still a concern. If I switched, a case would be out of the question as it would make the phone even bigger. This means I'd have to be extra careful with a phone that's already more fragile to begin with.
So I'm still very undecided on whether what to do. Since I have another month to decide, I think I'll wait to see what people's impressions of the things like the camera, call quality, signal quality, GPS, etc are after it's been out for a week or so. Besides, every store in NYC is sold out -- most were by noon. So it's not like I can get one now anyway.
Guardian Enzo
Newbie
I finally laid hands on the holy grail this AM, here are a few thoughts on it as compared to my Rezound:
- Radio is definitely better on the Rezound. Not only better 4G signal, buth approximately 2X download speeds (though upload was higher on the GN for some reason).
- GPS lock faster on the Rezound.
- Battery cover came off the back of the GN almost as soon as I picked it up. No question it's lighter, and while large it doesn't feel excessively large for me, though I'm an adult male. I liked the feel of the GN, though it is plasticky and doesn't feel as solid as the Rezound.
- Camera: obviously, zero shutter lag on the GN is a major plus. But image quality clearly better on the Rezound.
- On the soft-button issue, I got used to it quickly enough, though the effect is that unless you're watching video, the display on the Rezound is actually slightly larger (minimally so, but still).
- Display - this is a huge one for me. Obviously both devices have gorgeous displays. I cranked the GN up to 100% and left my Rezound on automatic, and the Rezound was noticeably brighter. There may be a small crispness edge to the Rezound, but the GN is just fine unless you're incredibly anal about text. Frankly, I don't see such a huge difference in depth of blacks and colors "popping" that I'd give the edge to the GN overall. In fact, at first flush I think I slightly prefer the Rezound.
- For me, even with Sense I've had zero lag on the Rezound. Both devices are lightning at opening apps and switching between them. Browser was actually slightly faster at pageloads on the Rezound, until I went to a page with a lot of high-resolution images and there, the GPU seemed to give the GN a small edge.
- ICS: Frankly, I can't say I can judge it until I have more time to play with it. I like the interface, I like Roboto, but there is a small learning curve. It may be that ICS is leagues better than GB/Sense, and that wouldn't make itself clear until I had extensive time playing with it.
Bottom line: I bought the Rezound with the intent of likely returning it when the GN dropped. I've been very happy with it - including the battery life with the stock battery - so this has become an incredibly hard decision. I liked the GN, but it didn't blow me away to the degree that the decision is a slam-dunk.
- Radio is definitely better on the Rezound. Not only better 4G signal, buth approximately 2X download speeds (though upload was higher on the GN for some reason).
- GPS lock faster on the Rezound.
- Battery cover came off the back of the GN almost as soon as I picked it up. No question it's lighter, and while large it doesn't feel excessively large for me, though I'm an adult male. I liked the feel of the GN, though it is plasticky and doesn't feel as solid as the Rezound.
- Camera: obviously, zero shutter lag on the GN is a major plus. But image quality clearly better on the Rezound.
- On the soft-button issue, I got used to it quickly enough, though the effect is that unless you're watching video, the display on the Rezound is actually slightly larger (minimally so, but still).
- Display - this is a huge one for me. Obviously both devices have gorgeous displays. I cranked the GN up to 100% and left my Rezound on automatic, and the Rezound was noticeably brighter. There may be a small crispness edge to the Rezound, but the GN is just fine unless you're incredibly anal about text. Frankly, I don't see such a huge difference in depth of blacks and colors "popping" that I'd give the edge to the GN overall. In fact, at first flush I think I slightly prefer the Rezound.
- For me, even with Sense I've had zero lag on the Rezound. Both devices are lightning at opening apps and switching between them. Browser was actually slightly faster at pageloads on the Rezound, until I went to a page with a lot of high-resolution images and there, the GPU seemed to give the GN a small edge.
- ICS: Frankly, I can't say I can judge it until I have more time to play with it. I like the interface, I like Roboto, but there is a small learning curve. It may be that ICS is leagues better than GB/Sense, and that wouldn't make itself clear until I had extensive time playing with it.
Bottom line: I bought the Rezound with the intent of likely returning it when the GN dropped. I've been very happy with it - including the battery life with the stock battery - so this has become an incredibly hard decision. I liked the GN, but it didn't blow me away to the degree that the decision is a slam-dunk.
BlueBiker
Android Expert
I wonder if these two could be related: Is the GNex antenna on the back cover?
I've never seen anything come close to the Rezound's GPS lock speed. A beautiful thing when you're lost and impatient to get un-lost.
Seems to be becoming commonly accepted about Rezound's camera. Not sure if GNex' zero-lag is due to hardware or whether Rez will be faster w/ICS (or a different camera app).
I'm having a hard time choosing between the two devices, one of my sticking points is the GNex's zero lag camera. I played with it a bit today and its pretty cool. I don't think its software based either at least from what I've read, in fact its the reason they chose a 5MP camera for the Nexus.
BlueBiker
Android Expert
Hey kethdredd, welcome to the forums!
Yes, that and the panorama mode. There are numerous comparisons between the two (and RAZR and iPhone 4S) on the web that might help you decide.
I've read speculation that the lower megapixel count lends itself to faster processing. The Rezound can be configured to produce smaller pictures, but I don't know if that helps or whether the capture is always done at the same 8MP anyways.
Yes, that and the panorama mode. There are numerous comparisons between the two (and RAZR and iPhone 4S) on the web that might help you decide.
I've read speculation that the lower megapixel count lends itself to faster processing. The Rezound can be configured to produce smaller pictures, but I don't know if that helps or whether the capture is always done at the same 8MP anyways.
T
TxGoat
Guest
Is talking while using data services available on the Nexus?
brickberry
Newbie
See my comparison of photos in the store, rezound vs. nexus. Only one comparison in one situation, but the results are fairly astounding.
BlueBiker
Android Expert
All Verizon 4G phones can do simultaneous voice & data on 4G/LTE, but the only phones I know of that can do it on 3G/CDMA are the Thunderbolt and Rezound. May be one other, but I'm pretty sure Nexus can't.
TheXFactor
Android Enthusiast
I believe in 4G mode only. The HTC can do data and voice over both 3G/4G.
Medion
Android Expert
Supposedly the Samsung Stratosphere can. I was under the impression that the Rezound could not, because the SVDO-capable radio inside the TB made VZW/HTC think twice about using it again due to battery drain issues. Then again, I haven't followed either of these devices as closely as I would have liked.
TheXFactor
Android Enthusiast
I have the Rezound and yes it can do voice and data over 3G.
E
EricDra7en
Guest
I just saw the pictures of the GNex with the stock and extended batteries back to back and am AMAZED. Why can't the Rezound's stock battery be that thin? I could barely tell the difference side by side. Wow. I have no interest in that phone, but, wow.
If they'd put out an extended battery for the Rezound that slim before the 16th or whenever my return policy is, I'm down.
Well the GNex's extended battery is only a little bigger (juice-wise) nothing close to the 2750 powerhouse that the rezound's extended battery is. Also, you CAN buy a slim extended battery for the rezound that gives you a similar boost in juice that doesn't add any thickness just like on the Gnex.
luckybadback
Lurker
Just an FYI, you can buy an adapter that connects to the micro usb port that has an HDMI port on the other end for about 15 bucks at Amazon. Search for MHL for Rezound. You can then connect a Hdmi cable to it and the other end to a TV and there you have it, mirroring. I picked one up the day after getting this awesome piece of technology...Peace Out
How is HTC's long term support of phones? The last HTC phone I owned was the Titan (I think that was the name) a winmo phone. Is HTC pretty good about supporting their phones with updates long term?
I'm pretty much decided on the Rezound, now I'm just waiting for a good deal to come around.
I'm pretty much decided on the Rezound, now I'm just waiting for a good deal to come around.
Medion
Android Expert
It varies. The HTC Desire got GB update after a fight with users. This occurred about 15 months after the phone's release. The Incredible just got its GB update officially a few weeks ago, roughly 19 months after the phone's release. Those are the positives.
On the other hand, the Thunderbolt and Inspire 4G were released earlier this year and so far, no announcements on ICS. While the Desire HD (global version those phones are based on) received an update to Sense 3.0, the TB hasn't. Not sure on the Inspire, I heard it was, but my friend's hasn't yet.
The best part of owning an HTC is that Cyanogen seems to love them, as almost every major HTC release gets CM support officially. That means you get updates long after HTC has abandoned the phone.
BlueBiker
Android Expert
Thank you for the background Medion. Oddly enough I knew diddly about HTC before jumping on the Rez, had never considered them for any purchase.
Someone in XDA insists they heard HTC announce (live) at the Rezound release that ICS would come within 6wks of Nexus' release... but I'm not buying it and expect it to ship late in the first half of '12.
Medion
Android Expert
Allow me to apologize, I may have misspoke. I didn't mean that it took 15-19 months to get the updates (as both phones were launched with Android 2.1, before even 2.2 was out). What I was trying to illustrate was that these phones were still receiving updates 15-19 months after the phones themselves launched.
What you just interpreted my post as would be the equivalent of saying, "Holy shit, it took Apple 2 years to get iOS5 on the iPhone 3Gs! That's dismal!"
I hope that I cleared that up
(and for what it's worth, it did take about a year for Android 2.3 (GB) to hit the Droid Incredible)WinnieThePwn
Newbie
I'm trying to decide between these two as well.
What exactly do you get out of the whole beats thing? Does the sound quality match an iPod with rockbox? Does it play FLAC?
What exactly do you get out of the whole beats thing? Does the sound quality match an iPod with rockbox? Does it play FLAC?
zerocool79346
Android Expert
With Moto's admission that it will likely take 4-6 months to roll ICS out to its handsets, I think its safe to put that assumption to rest for HTC as well. It will likely be mid-March before either phone officially gets ICS.
I was playing witht he gn and rezound today at the shop and have these comments:
Love the GN's display; call clarity on the other hand was a little better with the GN (person I called comment) the sound I heard from the GN was pretty darn bad (not statically just some weird distorition for lack of a better description). The rezound was clearer on my end and louder. The GN speaker (for ringer and such) sucks. DB (I guess this is celluar and not 4g) was reported as -78 for the rezound and around -103 for the GN (the two phones were side by side) - not sure I love sense; but I like the apps that come on the htc (dialer, browser, ...).
-
Did I mention that I really like the GN's display (also it is probably a lot easier to read outside). However the other issues are real issues so I'll very likely go with the rezound - the razr got crossed off my list today for good (won't go into details what happeend this morning - but while I like the oled display better than the rezound (for outdoor viewing) and the razr does a better job capturing sound for videos it had other issues that made it not right for me).
Love the GN's display; call clarity on the other hand was a little better with the GN (person I called comment) the sound I heard from the GN was pretty darn bad (not statically just some weird distorition for lack of a better description). The rezound was clearer on my end and louder. The GN speaker (for ringer and such) sucks. DB (I guess this is celluar and not 4g) was reported as -78 for the rezound and around -103 for the GN (the two phones were side by side) - not sure I love sense; but I like the apps that come on the htc (dialer, browser, ...).
-
Did I mention that I really like the GN's display (also it is probably a lot easier to read outside). However the other issues are real issues so I'll very likely go with the rezound - the razr got crossed off my list today for good (won't go into details what happeend this morning - but while I like the oled display better than the rezound (for outdoor viewing) and the razr does a better job capturing sound for videos it had other issues that made it not right for me).
ckar
Well-Known Member
Got my replacement RZ Thursday and am putting it through it's paces. Still haven's layed hands on the GN, so I can't say anything about it. Overall, I am very pleased with the RZ. As a prior Dinc owner, Sense is just natural to me. If ICS makes it even better, I think this will be the phone to have. I am conditioning the battery as has been recommended on various threads, and hope to at least get 12 hours out of it at some point. Fingers crossed that HTC can keep me as a devoted user!
I've gone to play with the GNex two more times since my first initial impression, spending more time with it each time, and I've been less impressed each time.
I thought I could get used to the pentile matrix. But the more I looked at the screen, the more I noticed it and the more I'm bothered by it. Then today I read a post talking about the same blotchy, blocky rendering problem on dark scenes in videos that my D3 (which is also pentile) had. No thanks. What's the point of an HD screen if the picture quality suffers in other ways?
I also can't get used to how cheap the phone feels. It didn't help that the store unit had like 6 pieces of masking tape (yes, masking tape) on the back to keep the back cover in place, which only served to make it look even cheaper. First time I've ever seen that on a display phone, much less one that was less than a day old. That could suggests that the cover isn't the most secure. My rezound is rock solid.
The two things I really liked about the GNex is its speed and that fact it is rootable out the box. But after debloating/desensing earlier today, I can honestly say that my rezound absolutely flies. The fact that it doesn't have perm root is a bigger issue to deal with. But I just can't give up what I consider to be a nicer screen, better build, better overall size, better camera, the beats tech, removable storage, and better signal. The last point is based more on GNex owner feedback than any testing on my part, but even if that doesn't hold true, it's still too much for me to sacrifice for root. Besides, I still have faith that the rezound will see S-off and perm root soon enough.
I also have to say that for a phone that had as much fanfare as the GNex and was delayed as often as it was, I'm surprised by how many issues people are having with the device.
I thought I could get used to the pentile matrix. But the more I looked at the screen, the more I noticed it and the more I'm bothered by it. Then today I read a post talking about the same blotchy, blocky rendering problem on dark scenes in videos that my D3 (which is also pentile) had. No thanks. What's the point of an HD screen if the picture quality suffers in other ways?
I also can't get used to how cheap the phone feels. It didn't help that the store unit had like 6 pieces of masking tape (yes, masking tape) on the back to keep the back cover in place, which only served to make it look even cheaper. First time I've ever seen that on a display phone, much less one that was less than a day old. That could suggests that the cover isn't the most secure. My rezound is rock solid.
The two things I really liked about the GNex is its speed and that fact it is rootable out the box. But after debloating/desensing earlier today, I can honestly say that my rezound absolutely flies. The fact that it doesn't have perm root is a bigger issue to deal with. But I just can't give up what I consider to be a nicer screen, better build, better overall size, better camera, the beats tech, removable storage, and better signal. The last point is based more on GNex owner feedback than any testing on my part, but even if that doesn't hold true, it's still too much for me to sacrifice for root. Besides, I still have faith that the rezound will see S-off and perm root soon enough.
I also have to say that for a phone that had as much fanfare as the GNex and was delayed as often as it was, I'm surprised by how many issues people are having with the device.