[Mother of God] HTC J Butterfly, 5" of 1080p SLCD3 goodness

[Anubis]

Wait, you just bought a Nexus when there are obvious signs of a new Nexus coming out within the next few weeks? O_O

maybe hes on VZW

all signs point to VZW NOT getting the new one

 

[Fingolfin269]

Wait, you just bought a Nexus when there are obvious signs of a new Nexus coming out within the next few weeks? O_O

yeah, i would return that gnex if possible.

maybe hes on VZW

all signs point to VZW NOT getting the new one

Bought used at a good price as I did not want to renew my contract yet. I'm also on VZW. I figure this will be a good enough test to see where I want to go next. I'll either get something like the GS4 when it comes out on VZW via contract or go prepaid and do something else, maybe GSM Nexus direct from Google later next year.

But ultimately this Nexus is basically meant to help me see where Android is now relative to where it was when I had my EVO 4G and also help me decide if I'm ok hauling around a larger phone or not.

 

[Eug]

A lot of people really like these huge phones. I see so many adults and even teens/kids with the Galaxy Note and it doesn't seem to bother them.

I see very, very few people with the Note. However, that's not my point. The point is that 4" phones are distinctly getting the lower class treatment, despite the fact that way more people want 4" phones than 5" phones.

Perhaps the Android phone makers feel they can get away with with mid-tier features in that size.

I do get the feeling that Android handset manufacturers are abandoning 4" and under screens for low to mid range phones which is a pity for people with smaller hands/pockets yet wanting a highend phone.

Yup.

 

[dagamer34]

I see very, very few people with the Note. However, that's not my point. The point is that 4" phones are distinctly getting the lower class treatment, despite the fact that way more people want 4" phones than 5" phones.

Perhaps the Android phone makers feel they can get away with with mid-tier features in that size.


Yup.

And the basis of that statement is?

The sad fact is that we have no idea what people want because in the Android and Windows Phone world, screen size is tied to system performance. I do not know of any 4-4.3" phones that are treated as flagships like was so abundant a year ago with the HTC Sensation, Galaxy S II, and Droid RAZR. I mean, I remember when the HTC Inspire 4G was announced at CES 2011 and everyone was laughing at the then comical 4.5" screen. Today, I challenge you to find a high-end Android phone with a screen size smaller than that!

I purposefully left the iPhone out of this discussion because we have no idea if a 3.5" or 4.3" iPhone would sell better. Apple only sells one size, so you can't infer "Oh, 3.5" or 4" devices are the most popular because the iPhone sells the most!"

 

[Fingolfin269]

And the basis of that statement is?

The sad fact is that we have no idea what people want because in the Android and Windows Phone world, screen size is tied to system performance. I do not know of any 4-4.3" phones that are treated as flagships like was so abundant a year ago with the HTC Sensation, Galaxy S II, and Droid RAZR. I mean, I remember when the HTC Inspire 4G was announced at CES 2011 and everyone was laughing at the then comical 4.5" screen. Today, I challenge you to find a high-end Android phone with a screen size smaller than that!

I purposefully left the iPhone out of this discussion because we have no idea if a 3.5" or 4.3" iPhone would sell better. Apple only sells one size, so you can't infer "Oh, 3.5" or 4" devices are the most popular because the iPhone sells the most!"

My previous Android phone was an EVO 4G. 4.3" screen and was the pinnacle at the time. It's amazing how things have shifted so quickly towards these massive screens.

 

[Dari]

More pixels means the GPU is working harder to render graphics to the screen. So yeah, it might negatively affect battery life. Then again, the HTC One X only had 1800 mAh to work with.

Who knows how much harder. It's not like the GPU is working max all the time...

 

[Soccerman06]

Common new sprint overlords get this over seas!

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

More pixels means the GPU is working harder to render graphics to the screen. So yeah, it might negatively affect battery life. Then again, the HTC One X only had 1800 mAh to work with.

Notice how this phone is not only larger, but running a higher resolution as well.

Okay, and the Galaxy S1 vs S2 vs S3?

The S3 uses HALF the power of the S1 to drive its screen. There was a decrease from S2 to S3 too. Larger screen and higher resolution does not necessarily translate into more power.

I don't see how anyone here has enough data to say omg that battery is insufficient. And seriously, 2020 mah is plenty. What do people want? 2600? 3000? Why is it that all people care about on Android is massive specs? When is it enough? I'm not saying I don't want good battery life, but Apple has shown that 1400 mah can drive a phone, and for the most part their phones can last quite a while. Perhaps we need to focus on power efficiency rather than slapping the biggest battery we can.

This goes along with what everyone has been saying about Android being a lagfest despite having beastlike hardware. Do you really need to just brute force everything to get great results? I see Android phones having the most cores, the most RAM, the most megapixels, yet the iPhone runs smoothly, takes amazing pictures, gets great battery life, etc.

 

[vshah]

I see Android phones having the most cores, the most RAM, the most megapixels, yet the iPhone runs smoothly, takes amazing pictures, gets great battery life, etc.

they need those specs to support widgets/full multitasking smoothly.

 

[ChronoReverse]

they need those specs to support widgets/full multitasking smoothly.

Not necessarily. Optimization makes a difference too.

For example, when I went from my HTC G2 to the Samsung Galaxy Note, the first thing I noticed was how incredibly stuttery it was. I don't need iPhone or W7-like smoothness but it was horrible. I'd swipe from screen to screen and it would stutter despite having no widgets. Meanwhile, the G2 can do it with widgets and 3D transitions.

And this was going to a phone with literally double the power in every single way. Even ICS on the the Galaxy Note with CM9 (which is much better) is still not up to as smooth as mere Gingerbread was on the HTC G2.

 

[vshah]

Not necessarily. Optimization makes a difference too.

For example, when I went from my HTC G2 to the Samsung Galaxy Note, the first thing I noticed was how incredibly stuttery it was. I don't need iPhone or W7-like smoothness but it was horrible. I'd swipe from screen to screen and it would stutter despite having no widgets. Meanwhile, the G2 can do it with widgets and 3D transitions.

And this was going to a phone with literally double the power in every single way. Even ICS on the the Galaxy Note with CM9 (which is much better) is still not up to as smooth as mere Gingerbread was on the HTC G2.

same launcher on all devices?

 

[ChronoReverse]

same launcher on all devices?

Of course. Initially with LPP but later with Apex and Nova (the G2 received ICS via CM9).

Now that I'm on a CM10 alpha, the smoothness is better but it was really unbelievably bad back on Gingerbread.

 

[Red Storm]

Okay, and the Galaxy S1 vs S2 vs S3?

The S3 uses HALF the power of the S1 to drive its screen. There was a decrease from S2 to S3 too. Larger screen and higher resolution does not necessarily translate into more power.

I don't see how anyone here has enough data to say omg that battery is insufficient. And seriously, 2020 mah is plenty. What do people want? 2600? 3000? Why is it that all people care about on Android is massive specs? When is it enough? I'm not saying I don't want good battery life, but Apple has shown that 1400 mah can drive a phone, and for the most part their phones can last quite a while. Perhaps we need to focus on power efficiency rather than slapping the biggest battery we can.

This goes along with what everyone has been saying about Android being a lagfest despite having beastlike hardware. Do you really need to just brute force everything to get great results? I see Android phones having the most cores, the most RAM, the most megapixels, yet the iPhone runs smoothly, takes amazing pictures, gets great battery life, etc.

Look at the Razr Maxx. Hardly thick at all, and it's got a giant battery in it. HTC is taking Moto's route by not using a replaceable battery, so the least they could do is match what Moto does and offer amazing battery life as well. Also, I don't consider a phone that lasts a day to have amazing battery life (S3, iPhone, Nexus, etc.). The Maxx is the only high end phone that can run multiple days with a good deal of usage. That's awesome, and if you're going to take away the ability to swap batteries, you better have something that makes it worth it. The Maxx has this, HTC (or anyone else for that matter) does not.

 

[stormkroe]

Also, this thing is supposedly confirmed by hTC to be IPX5 waterproof. Crazy, right? Might be my next one finally.

 

[Zaap]

And seriously, 2020 mah is plenty. What do people want? 2600? 3000?

Sure, why not? The Galaxy Note 2 has 3100mAh... and is removable! (Best of both worlds!)

So why shouldn't this 5" phone have similar if the battery is non-removable?

Usually part of the argument in favor of non-removable batteries is longer battery life. So your complaint seems like a contradiction.

Why is it that all people care about on Android is massive specs? When is it enough?

What's wrong with "massive specs" when people know that they are available, and when it translates to real world performance? If the trend is moving toward larger sizes/non-removable batteries, then it should also trend toward greater battery capacity.

 

[kaerflog]

Lets not turn this into a I want a large/small phone again.
I can say by far this is the most beautiful phone HTC have ever produced.
Finally HTC got off their asses and start designing some nice phone.
With the Note 2, I would never want one because I don't see its advantage over a GS3 but if I ever decide I want a phaplet, this would make me want one.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Also, this thing is supposedly confirmed by hTC to be IPX5 waterproof. Crazy, right? Might be my next one finally.

Waterproof phones is a very common feature in Japan.

The US is behind when it comes to these features.

 

[gus6464]

Nexus Butterfly would be a badass name.

 

[ew915]

another htc bluff, i'm sure the "super duper butterfly extreme" version will be out in no time just so you will have to buy it in order to get the latest android OS version

 

[Bateluer]

I see very, very few people with the Note. However, that's not my point. The point is that 4" phones are distinctly getting the lower class treatment, despite the fact that way more people want 4" phones than 5" phones.

I see a LOT of people with GS3s, though only a moderate number of Notes. More people seem to want the larger screens than the smaller screens. Once you move up to a 4.3"+ screen, you really don't want to go back to a small phone. I can't stand having to type on my 3.7in Exhibit 4G.

 

[lothar]

I see very, very few people with the Note. However, that's not my point. The point is that 4" phones are distinctly getting the lower class treatment, despite the fact that way more people want 4" phones than 5" phones.

Prove it.

 

[Skurge]

Okay, and the Galaxy S1 vs S2 vs S3?

The S3 uses HALF the power of the S1 to drive its screen. There was a decrease from S2 to S3 too. Larger screen and higher resolution does not necessarily translate into more power.

I don't see how anyone here has enough data to say omg that battery is insufficient. And seriously, 2020 mah is plenty. What do people want? 2600? 3000? Why is it that all people care about on Android is massive specs? When is it enough? I'm not saying I don't want good battery life, but Apple has shown that 1400 mah can drive a phone, and for the most part their phones can last quite a while. Perhaps we need to focus on power efficiency rather than slapping the biggest battery we can.

This goes along with what everyone has been saying about Android being a lagfest despite having beastlike hardware. Do you really need to just brute force everything to get great results? I see Android phones having the most cores, the most RAM, the most megapixels, yet the iPhone runs smoothly, takes amazing pictures, gets great battery life, etc.

The GPU has to keep that phone running at 60FPS in jelly bean at 1920x1080 and at such an insane pixel density the backlight needs to be much more powerful and the display itself is going to be using more power cause of the resolution.

The 3rd gen ipad has a 70% larger battery than the iPad 2 but doesn't last as long. The TF700 has the same battery and internals as the TF201, but the higher res display knocks at least 2hrs off the battery life under use.

Also, the iphone doesn't perform any better than other phones. Yes, the SGS3 has has 500mah more than the iphone 5, but it's display is also 0.8inch larger and runs at a higher resolution.

I don't know where this talk about iphones having better battery life comes from. I don't know a single iphone owner who gets more than a day of heavy usage out of their phone. Same with android owners.

The undeniable advantage of having a larger battery is for a larger display is when you do stuff with the phone when the display is on, you get similar battery life, but when you make a phone call where the display is off, the up side is huge.

Moto Razer MAXX talk time is 21hrs, G-Note2 talk time is 17hrs, iphone 5 talk time is 8hrs.

 

[pandemonium]

World's first x1080 display production smartphone...and it's exclusive to Japan. Argh! I need to move.

440ppi is insane. RetinaWhat? ButterflyDisplay!

 

[zerocool84]

I see very, very few people with the Note. However, that's not my point. The point is that 4" phones are distinctly getting the lower class treatment, despite the fact that way more people want 4" phones than 5" phones.

Perhaps the Android phone makers feel they can get away with with mid-tier features in that size.

Other than the iPhone that gives you no option where have you seen that more people want 4" screens? Everyone wants larger than 4", those are the phones that sell the most. The statistics prove it.

 

[pandemonium]

Prove it.

Are you kidding? Simply look at sales statistics. How about, look at the fact that the iPhone 5 has even increased in size?

The original think tank/study of Steve Jobs' "ideal size for a smartphone" is all but a memory now.

Edit: Nevermind. I read that wrong. >.>