yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] baeren131:
I can only think of the 6P or the pixel... (If you don't get one with the glitched out speaker...) But sorry. I can't think of anything, but I know what you mean. I definitely miss that
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] NLBeev:
The new Google phones are to expensive .

OnePlus 3T or LG G6 are acceptable priced.

But my N6 - debloated and decrypted - is still fast and smooth.

I can wait...
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] alresave:
The Axon 7 has very good sound, stereo speakers.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] wtherrell:
Pixel XL speaker is much weaker (hah). Clear but sounds muffled compared to the venerable Shamu. Also only one speaker so the only stereo is through the headphone jack. Other than that, the Marlin is nice.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cdaly1970:
I read an article recently that Nokia (Yeah, read that correctly) wants to push the Nexus line back into existence. Or at least as close as possible, replicating the Nexus experience of little to no bloatware, and fast updates. My N6 is chugging along just fine right now, but I hope that Nokia follows through, because that just might be my new phone..
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttabbal:
I've been watching for one, but there just aren't a lot of options if you like larger phones. What I need to see...

5.5" minimum screen size. 16:9. Might have to reevaluate if the ratios change much more. 1080p or better.

AOSP builds supported, no locked bootloader.

Better RAM/CPU/storage specs than the N6.

SD card. I don't care if the phone comes with 1TB internal, I want the damn SD slot. The manufacturing cost is about 20 cents, just put it in.

Forward facing speakers that sound decent.

Decent reception on TMobile LTE bands. Ideally supporting all US carriers, but Sprint/VZW are annoying.

Ideally, TMobile WiFi calling enabled.

Ideally, 4000+ mAh battery or user removable so I can get a bigger battery.

Ideally, flat screen so I can use tempered glass screen protectors.

Max price $500 US.

Oh yeah, no spontaneous combustion. :)

Axon 7 is the only one close. Flat screen and battery are not there, but the price is nice and performance is good. AOSP builds are fully functional now, thanks to the devs over there.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlockOfDynamite:
I know it's not a nexus-killer, but I just ordered a Note 5 to replace my Nexus 6. There's nothing that quite matches the beauty of Samsung, plus I just miss the S-Pen. Plus it'll be just enough smaller, thinner, and lighter enough that it won't feel big and bulky in my hand, as well as it being nice and balanced unlike the N6 which is noticeably bigger and heavier on the top than on the bottom.

The only things I'll really miss of the N6 are 1) 100% carrier compatibility 2) Stereo front speakers (oh man, no phone beats these) and 3) plain stock os, although that's starting to lag behind on speed (even though it gets faster antutu than lineage). Anyway. I'm pretty excited. And again, definitely not a nexus-killer in any way, but the Note 5 just has things I value more than getting a vanilla experience.

Besides, if Google is going to turn Apple and make an iphone-clone and also make it so I have to be unrooted/locked anyway in order to pass safetynet, I might as well move back to what's comfortable to use. Just my 2c.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
Totally agree and will wait too until he dies

N6 debloated, even encrypted, still runs everything perfectly smoothly and still have one of the best stereo dual speakers.. Autonomy is fine too, event after 2 years he's still running 1 day and half with normal/good use (no wifi, always on 4G, no gps, using youtube with or without earphones at least 1 hour)
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
Wow, didn't know that phone, looks great. Stock ROM excepted, he really looks like a N6 "successor" :D (not really sure that SD820+4Go RAM+64bitsOS runs that much better than SD805+3Go RAM+32bitsOS - your opinion ?)(I don't trust benchmarks)

Heard something about alternative ROMs with him ? Will look after some xda forums

Anything about ZTE quality/updates/after-sales ?
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
Totally agreed.. SDCard excepted, got the same requirements ;)

Hope there's a new phone soon (pixel2 ? but they don't seem to go on this way..)

Axon 7 looks great indeed
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
SHAME ON U

SHAME2U

SHAMU !!

What's the interest turning GPhones into Apple-likePhones ?
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] NLBeev:
Money! They want us to use Android pay. Banks don't like rooting; fear of fraud.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Fvolfrine:
As the Moto X Pure was a nice update of what I loved about the N6, I was hoping that the 2017 Moto X would continue that line. Unfortunately, from the leaks we have seen, it looks more like an HTC phone or even an iPhone than the logical continuation of the N6. But the price points that MotoLenova are hitting are really tempting. I even think the G5 Plus would make a nice phone at that price. I'll see what they eventually release with the Moto X before I decide. I've just gotten to a point where the Pixels of the world are too expensive for what you get.

But like all of us here in the N6 forum, I am still rocking my Shamu.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
IMO, I don't think Android/applepay will last over time..

So insecure and new-gen credit cards are developped right now (with screen/digital pin or fingerprint scanner)
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] NLBeev:
But I can't think of other reasons why Google makes it more difficult to get root access.

G. doesn't even manage to create a dark UI.

I am beginning to dislike Google....

Hopefully there will be soon new credit-cards.

BTw Phone paying is recently introduced here in the Netherlands.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
I guess, users who make last their phone 3+ years by rooting, installing customroms, changing screens and batteries themselves, is not worthy in this consumery society..

When you see how sheeps spend their money with iPhones, spending 1000€/years sometimes to get a 2years-late technology.. Com'on, "Think different" :D

Yep, same for me :crying:

At least stock android/G-devices

Here, in France, banks have already made an agreement among them, tu use a local payment service called "paylib". So they don't wanna introduce android pay. (but applepay is already working here..)

Fu**ing retarded country we are.. :mad:
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttabbal:
SD is one of those things people seem to love or hate. There's no one right way, but there's also nothing saying you have to put a card in there if there's a slot. But if there's not a slot, you have no choice. As it's tiny, costs almost nothing, and harms nothing to have it, why not? Then everyone can have it however they like. Those digital packrats can have tons of storage, those who prefer not to have one just don't install one. The Axon 7 implementation is particularly nice, the SIM tray is a dual SIM and one of them can be an SD or a SIM. It can even be both, but that requires some modifications to the SD cards. IMO the only people to gain anything from it not being there are device manufacturers (sell overpriced higher capacity versions), and cloud providers trying to sell you storage.

Axon 7 is really the only device I could see buying right now. The LG G6 looks nice, but LGs history with bootloops and lack of service has me avoiding them. AOSP is not possible at the moment though, so G6 is out.

OnePlus 3T looks nice, screen is a bit small and no SD.

I really liked my Note 3, but Samsung is on a lockdown thing right now, and I won't buy a device I can't actually own. He who controls the software controls the device.

None have the removable battery, which would be nice, and all are a bit small on battery for me, but I can live with that. Nothing is perfect. I'm in no hurry at the moment, Shamu and the devs here are treating me well.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] NLBeev:
That's what I thought. Only a few..... But why does Google put so many effort/energy in making it difficult to root a phone?

There must be a reason related to money. What else? It seems to me there's a growing distance between Google and consumers.

They even refuse to offer a dark theme; and that's a main reason to root a phone, because without root access layers can't be installed.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
Yeah, I agree again :) Even if I don't really use SDCards

To let the consumer choose his own way.. That's the politic they should do.

If you wanna know, in Google case this is not just "we don't wanna put a SDC-reader into the phone" (as you said, I think that's for using Clouds or overpriced memory selling), but THEY DO an effort to put away the card reader. When I changed my old N5-broken-screen, I saw there's actually a slot but filled with plastic and motherboard do have the connectors..

Removable batteries looks like to avoid people changing it, making their phones durable.. (changing it is not a big deal, for anyone in XDA I guess, but for Mr Nobody, I understand it is..)

I don't like too when someone choose for me (for "my own interest" xD)

I'll wait as long as possible, hoping someone understands consumers desires.. For now, Axon 7 or Nexus 6 are still the better choices for me

I guess Google is loosing clients.. especially early ones/addicted ones.. In fact, I don't really understand their marketing strategy.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
I don't fu**ing understand why they don't put the dark theme. Since everybody is asking for it, trying it in developpers preview...

Same thing with Google services (YT, Gmail, etc..), even with Google.com ! (regardless the consumer preferences, imagine how many energy they can save just by forcing Google.com in black.. Saving screens and eyes too). They're idiots.

Maybe Greed like you said, or just "security" as many users are using their phone to buy things.. IDK

Security don't really seems to be a problem as smartphones devices are not so worth to hack. Web connection isn't stable, SoC are not good enough compared to PC, banks are using oversecurities and you always receive at least 1 email (and 1 sms for me). Even if you're hacked, you can't use bank apps to transfer money easily, you first have to add a beneficiary account into your account, which is warned by email and sms too.

Even how Android is made (build to handle root easily), makes hacking really hard while staying economically viable.

I really don't understand, I guess we should make an application at Google "general marketing strategy"
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mikeprius:
As someone who got Shamu back in 2015 fall, the battery is noticibly going out the window. Probably by next year it will need to be replaced in order to be usable. Not sure what I will do with it tbh. I stopped using it late last year as a daily driver b/c it was just too large to be practical and got the 5X and now the Pixel. Great media device at home and even like at an airport or so, but just didn't work for me as a daily.

If you are not familiar, the pixel setup is totally different. It has 2 slots, no recovery partition, etc....it's not a very friendly device or as straightforward like the 5X or 6 was. If size isn't an issue for you and depending on your carrier, I'd get the One Plus 3T or whatever comes out afterwards. Too bad they don't make a smaller than 5.5", but for you guys who have Shamu this likely will not be an issue.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] NLBeev:
Agree with the size issue of the N6. But it's a great phone, that can be easy rooted and customized.

I think the Pixel is too expensive and I think Google changed policy. No more Google devices for me.

Read about Nokia. New Android phones are announced with Nexus-like policy.

I keep an eye on Nokia.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
I don't. :p

I came from N5 to N6 (galaxy ace before -_-). I needed 1 week to get used to the N5 screen size but needed at least a month with N6. I usually use it with two hands, but now I'm really used to use it with onehand too, I can't get a smaller screen.. They look like toys.

Custom roms included one-handed mod and now Google keyboard allows you to set the keyboard size and put it on a side easily.

It isn't an issue for me because typing with swype writes correctly even without going to the edge of the screen and I don't really use the left-top of the screen (everything on the top is on the accessible-right too). Every other parts are easily accessible.

(got "small/average" hands)

But IMHO I think 5" or 5,5" screens is a real loss of "visual" experience compared to the 6" screen Shamu..

Pixels are too expensive, apple-like designed (don't like Global designs.. This era piss me off) and looks like going to be a "closed" device. No more Google devices for me too.

I heard the rumor about Nexus-like Nokias, but I'm still sceptic. Nokia did bad choices for the last decade..

I really feel that smartphone market is saturating in a bad way. We don't have anything new and constructors try different combinations of features, succesfully or not. But 2014 devices are still at market levels.. (last 32bits generation)
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mikeprius:
After owning the Pixel for awhile, I have to say I'm actually satisfied with the N5X. I am probably one of the few who actually prefer plastic over the metal and the Pixel is really expensive. Also it is becoming harder and harder to mod the phone. If Google eventually locks everything up, I'll just get something from motorola, there's no point getting a Google phone and not be able to mod if.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
I can't no longer be satisfied with a LCD display. I think it's quite a loss of quality. AMOLED + black theme + black wallpaper is just awesome ! (Main feature that makes me love my device each night..)

The best setup imo is plastic back cover with aluminium edges. I like frosted glass back cover too but seems a bit harder to disassemble...
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mikeprius:
I get your point of view of amoled vs LCD. It is sharper but to me it's not the end of the world. Im not sure if it's because getting older or have been doing this for awhile but here's what's happened.

I like android and I like modding but this Pixel is very expensive and honestly Im ok with the 5x despite lower specs. I dropped the pixel and while no damage had a mild heart attack. Then I just looked just to see what it would cost to fix. From $129 back $149. Insurance you say? Well that $99 plus a low $79 deductible. Not to mention Google making it harder to mod. That's US. People overseas are totally getting killed on pricing. What people pay like in Europe is over $1,000.

I started asking myself is this really worth it ? You can take a lower end device and make it nice with some add one. Like the Moto G4 and G4 plus. Custom kernel and some mods. Phone costs less than 300. One plus 3t $439. Both of these are over $200 cheaper than the cheaper pixel still mod capable.

Now the most recent may bootloader for my pixel needs some custom keys Mickey mouse bull**** to even root. Chainfire wrote about it. I think I'm also leaning towards being done with Google. Not really into where they are going and having to pay premium to get screwed. Ok

/end rant

LOL
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
I'm not sure aging matters about device appreciation, but lcd tends to disappear from the markets. LCD can't have same blacks than oled but oled can have same whites than LCD. Getting less battery drain too, it's future ^^

Appreciation depends on what you do with your device. I offently take trains, so I watch many films/series on my device. That gives me a good reason to pay attention to the screen..

(i'm not saying you're wrong heh, just that we may not have the same use, therefore the same requirements neither)

Pixels are a "nexus-mind" failure. Google is killing itself.. They bought and bring everyone Android but for now it appears they want to enter the market as Apple do. (which is idiot because they don't need it, unlike Apple need)

Now they just set the AOSP, nothing more. New features are defined by ARM and Tamtung.

Old times good vibes...

The 5X mains problem is screen first, but specs too. 64bits architecture with 2Go RAM is not just a waste of performance, but a loss too. I'm pretty sure N6 is better than N5X (even than the N6P in fact..). Otherwise i would have bought it for sure..
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jtull89:
While I've heard great things about the Pixel, I'm just not sure if I want to continue buying flagship devices in 2017. Maybe if the brand is OnePlus and a flagship costs less than $500 USD.

That said, the Pixel has an unlocked bootloader if you don't buy from Verizon. Does it block root now somehow?
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mikeprius:
No. I have a Google Pixel from the store so it can be unlocked, I'm not sure what's going on with the Verizon variant, but my understanding is that is you upgrade over 7.0 or 7.1 or whatever the exploit to unlock is patched. Also once you unlock it that's it if you upgrade, etc....that's more of a carrier restriction by Verizon.

If you are not familiar with the Pixel, it's different than the Nexus where it's not just flash boot, system, userdata, cache, etc, etc.....so simple and forward.

Now there are like 20 files to flash to stock, and new security features. At least for my Pixel, before when you wanted to go from Franco kernel to Elemental X, you just flash stock kernel, then new custom and good to go.

When I tried to switch kernels on my Pixel from one custom, to stock, to another custom, once the stock was flash, it detected a change and automatically wiped my entire phone. I never got to flash the other custom. It's a good thing that everything was backed up as it was unexpected.

Also the Google did something with the Pixel's bootloader for May which now requires custom keys to be signed in the kernel I believe:

https://xdaforums.com/android/software-hacking/signing-boot-images-android-verified-t3600606

I don't understand it 100%, but anyways.....It is possible at some point Google will take the route of Samsung and lock everything. The days of the Nexus 4 and 5 where it was a cheap device that could be modded with good specs sold under $400 are definitely gone...............

---------- Post added at 10:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 AM ----------

The Pixel is ok, but after having it for awhile, I don't think it's worth over $375-$400.....definitely not $650+ that is being charged. The specs are decent, the camera isn't too noticeably better than the N5X. In fact, I still bring my 5X with me a lot and use it for photos and over wifi. It's light, plastic, and has a good camera. I don't really care that it has an LCD display or 2G of RAM. I've not had any issues with multitasking for how I use it and I don't game. It's a nice little phone and I'm really glad I bought it.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Prozart:
I was ready for a new phone so I ended up getting the Axon 7. I've been very happy with my Nexus 6 but I was wanting something a little faster with a better camera. Well... a couple weeks later and now I'm back to the Nexus. I just couldn't take the smaller screen, plus I was unable to unlock the bootloader. I was running into problems no one seemed to be able to help me with. At first I thought I could deal with the stock ROM, and honestly it's not that bad, but why deal with annoying software issues when I can use my Nexus and have it exactly as I like it. Plus I didn't notice much of an upgrade in the camera with the Axon 7. It does have a brighter, more vibrant screen and slightly better speakers, but I'm gonna sell it and wait around for a proper successor to the Nexus 6 comes around.

I've been crossing my fingers for years hoping OnePlus would make a 6" phone. I'm hoping now that Samsung has put bigger screens in their flagships that some other, cheaper, more open, companies will follow suit. Time will tell.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
:D

You killed me

I'll buy a brand new back cover and an intelliglass right now...
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] NLBeev:
Thx. I was looking at ZTE, but now I'll forget ZTE.

Reading this thread makes me think why root is needed. For me it's mainly the following:

1. Performance. Decrypt the data partition as long there is no hardware encryption built in;

2. Battery life; tweaked kernel (or a battery that can easily be replaced);

3. Dark theme, also for system apps; possibility​ to install layers and blacked out apps or modded apps.

4. Debloat. Option to delete not used stuff.

Unlocked, easy to root, or a phone that has the above points built in.

Screen size above 5". Memory 8/64Gb

Scratch proof display.

The One Plus 3T is a candidate, but not available yet here (Netherlands).
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mikeprius:
It's gotten to the point where I am getting comfortable with minimal frills. I use CF Lumen. I think it's the best screen app out there and it looks horrible without root. Also blocking ads. There are a few other things like Naptime, Greenify, etc. It's nice to have, but I really like CF Lumen
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sgloki77:
I got my shamu on launch and I feel like I dodged the bullet passing on the 5x and 6p with their bootloop of death issues

the Pixel is too much of a departure from the Nexus line, expensive, disappointing apple like design, hard to mode, hardware quality issues... no thanks

compared to the N6 they have all have smaller screen, no ffs, no wireless charging,

my battery is dying and I still get 4+ hours SOT, with custom rom and kernel, moderate use no gaming

now the next oneplus is coming up in the summer so it will probably be my next upgrade unless I change the battery and keep on trucking for some more time, but eventually oneplus looks like the best next thing with decent pricing/hardware specs and solid development, not Nexus but is the closest thing right now in the market, no more Google phones for me
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] H4X0R46:
You know what's shocking to me? I downloaded a stock image for the marlin just to see how much the partition table was changed, and JESUS! It has like, 20 different partitions! I know that was mentioned, but that to me is ridiculous. I always flash my N6 stock images piece by piece, gives me more control and lets me know everything is flashing okay. On a Pixel, forget it.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
(out of thread)

Which layers are you using ? :D
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] NLBeev:
When possible I replace Google apps with an alternative app with a dark theme built-in.

No Gmail but Aquamail f.i.

And the modded apps of TBO

http://teamblackedout.com

Some Android updates caused issues with layers. Now using only one layer for settings: Deity-settings.apk

I have uninstalled layers for contacts, framework, systemui and dialer. Because many stuff is not touched (black char's on black or white on white)
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mesco38:
Dodged the same bullet as you did :D

But I don't understand why your battery is dying oO

Got my N6 since spring 2015 (6 months after launch/after you) and still got an amazing battery life.. Moderate use too (sometime heavy sometime low), some games casually.

And I get 4,5 hours SOT, just right now, but still get 55% battery left.. (almost 2h youtube screen on)
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] NLBeev:
Battery is the weak point of every phone.

Maybe frequently use of quick chargers is bad for the battery, but comparison of individual phone batteries is not useful. Some are lucky, some not.
[Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sgloki77:
according to the app accubattery it's at 68% capacity , if I don't clear the bootloader logs the phone will shut down around 15%, I would consider that a significantly degraded battery, as soon as the next oneplus is available for sale, I'll attempt to replace the battery myself, in case anything goes south I upgrade right away haha