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Fight – LG G5 vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge vs Apple iPhone 6S Plus

Android, Apple, Tech News, , ,

So last night Samsung and LG announced their new flagship phones. So firstly, which is best out of the phones and then how do they compare to the iPhone 6S Plus.

Well the decision is not clear cut and really depends on your personal priorities. However, these are my thoughts on each phone.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – This is the most attractive phone out of the bunch. The super amoled screen is gorgeous and using this tech for the always on screen is really good. For gaming, the Vulkan API is a great step forward, once developers support the API in their games. Quick wireless charging is good too as well as having larger batteries than last year’s model. Whilst the micro SD card has returned, the maximum storage is 32gb. Unfortunately, the S7 Edge does not support adoptable storage, nor does it support the latest USB-C standard. But it does have Gorilla Glass 5. Samsung has gone to town with its 12mp rear camera which has large pixels. Virtual Reality is also being heavily pushed. However, my experience of a Samsung VR headset involved feeling very sick. The accessories for the S7 Edge are decent too, from official cases and a case that has add on camera lenses. What is unknown is how good the loudspeaker is, and how good is the sound via headphones? Is there a HiFi DAC included? Personally, if I already had the S6 Edge, I wouldn’t upgrade to this phone. Samsung Pay is coming to the UK this year, but no firm date has been provided yet. However, when it does arrive, it will work with all terminals and not just contactless ones.

LG G5 – The design or look is just average. I need to see it in person, but from all the media footage it doesn’t inspire me. However from a specification point of view, the G5 appears to trounce the S7 Edge. Stunning IPS display capable of 850 nits. Really amazing camera with wide angle shots and some pretty funky options in the camera app. APT-X High Definition, infra red blaster, extra plug-in modules, and the kitchen sink. However, it doesn’t have any payment options unless Android Pay arrives soon. The Friends accessories are geeky too. So on paper it is likely the G5 will take high resolution photos and sound much better with headphones. The loudspeaker sound is unknown. What is also unknown is how the 16mp camera really compares versus the 12mp camera of the S7. Hard evidence is needed before being conclusive. Of course, it could depend on what type of environment you take photos in, which ends up dictating which phone camera suits you better. You may find having the option to shoot wide angle photos more useful than low light. With the G5 you won’t need to use an add on lens for wide angle shots that you will need with the S7.

Apple iPhone 6S Plus – So on paper it looks like the above phones will take better still photos, and in lower light this is quite likely. However, iOS is fortunate enough to have amazing apps, and therefore with the right apps, incredible low noise, low light photos are possible. There are no alternatives on android for these type of apps. iOS also has better apps, 3D Touch, a more advanced app eco system making use of 3D Touch and Apple Pay in full force. There are a number of aspects of both the LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge that wipe the floor of the iPhone from a hardware point of view, but iOS is supported by good software services , like iMessage and FaceTime. The iPhone is also 6 months old now, and 18 months into its product change cycle. The iPhone 7 could streak ahead of the Samsung and LG, or just level the field from a specs point of view. For example, whilst Samsung has introduced Vulkan API, Apple has been using metal for ages. However, Samsung clearly has the lead on VR, along with a decent number of VR apps already. But like everything, iOS offers some fabulous extras.

To pick a winner is a difficult choice. But I will in due course. Will the iPhone 6S Plus be history?? 🙂

Fight – Acer C720 Chromebook vs Acer V15 Nitro Windows 8.1 laptop vs MacBook Pro

Android, Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Windows,

This post is to summarise my experiences of reviewing to different types of laptops that I would not have normally have chosen. The reason for this task, is that my 2010 MacBook Pro is too damn slow at anything and constantly runs out of steam. I am sure this is ploy by Apple with each update.

So I asked several of you for recommendations. The Acer C720 Chromebook was the number one choice. So I spoke to Acer and they agreed to send the C720 for review, but also said would I like to try their gaming performance laptop, the V15 Nitro. Whilst, the V15 Nitro is gaming ready, it is also a super powerful machine in every way with loads of storage too.

Following my time with the Acer devices, my MacBook is toast. It just cannot compete in any shape or form. Period. Some might say that a 5 year old laptop is a decent duration.

I have decided that I don’t want another MacBook. They are lovely machines, but I do not have any Apple devices, other than a work iPad. So consequently, I would not gain the full benefit of its functionality. Second, whilst the Acer V15 Nitro Windows 8.1 laptop would require a new learning curve for me, I realised that the sheer power of the processor, SSD, and graphics mean this is the machine for all my photo and video editing.

But for general day to day stuff, the Acer Chromebook would be my only choice. It has crazy good battery life and again is fast in everything it does. So maybe I need both Acer machines?? Or maybe a Chromebook/Android Tablet combined device. Wait, didn’t Google say these were coming this year…

But what would you choose if you were in my predicament?

Fight – Samsung Note Edge vs Samsung Note 4

Android, Reviews, Tech News,

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If you listened to my latest podcast “Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast Xmas 2014 Special available here you would have heard my final review thoughts on the Note Edge and it’s crowning as the best phone overall for 2014. And without a doubt it really is something special.

But I constantly get asked is it really that much better than the Note 4 and the extra premium it carries. Well, in this comparison below which based on my current experiences of both phones I am going to tell you why you would buy the Note 4 over the Edge and vice versa.

So let the fight commence –

Round 1 – Battery – my Note 4 usage got me 25 hours and 6 hours screen on time. Really acceptable for myself as a power gladiator. The Edge failed me badly with 10-11 hours usage and 3 hours screen on time. Sometimes it got 12 hours and 3.5 hours screen on time. My wife suggested getting a spare battery. But that would mean charging the phone and a spare battery every day. This is imo the single biggest reason to buy a Note 4 over the Edge.

Round 2 – Design – The Note Edge kills the Note 4 in this department. Side by side the Edge so wins this one . Like beauty and the beast.

Round 3 – Software – nearly identical but the Edge has that panel with software controls and it really does make a difference in usability and operation. Edge wins here marginally.

Round 4 – In Hand comfort and grip. Note 4 wins simply because 2 identical sides are easier to hold and the Edge doesn’t really work for people who hold their phone in their left hand, despite the Edge’s left handed mode. However, I never found the Edge uncomfortable to hold.

Round 5 – after market accessories. The unusual shape of the Edge and less sales volumes will reduce the number of accessories available. Heck,  even Samsung’s Gear VR only works with the Note 4. Third party cases are nicer and more extravagant with the Note 4. I have a lovely leather bespoke case from Noreve for my Note 4 arriving soon. There are cases for the Edge , I have 2 official flip Samsung cases for it. Both are for sale for £20 btw but the extra features of this case add to the lower battery life. IMO the Note 4 wins this one.

Round 6 – Development – tricky one as the Edge is newer so less third party developers and development at present. But less doesn’t mean worse and some of the options could get very exciting. But the Note 4 is still ahead in this department.

Conclusion – Despite all the above rounds the Note Edge is a winner so long as you can accept the lower battery life. If you can’t then go for the bland but extremely functional and capable Note 4. Either way both of these phones are astonishing once you have taken the time to set them up properly.

Update – I will be honest with you I couldn’t accept or cope with the lower battery screen on time and standby so went back to a Note 4 on Xmas Eve. But I so miss the Edge’s style and design. Really in a league of its own. If Samsung in future firmware updates substanitally improve the battery life times with the Note Edge I would buy it again in a flash.