lazer
Posts: 484 +151
While Samsung is a very good phone, after mine dropped and broke, I got a LG and am very happy with it. Has good sound and solid features. Have it over a year - no problems.
The Best Smartphones 2020
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Swipe to type works badly if trying to write other word that system guesses, write short words (necessary to press space), there are same consecutive letters or trying to write not words but more like "code". In those cases physical keyboard is much better. Titan also supports swipe to type but it also offers physical keyboard for cases where it's superior.
Axiarus
Posts: 631 +427
If it types a word you weren't trying to type there are suggestions above the keyboard to press and insert the correct word. After you type a word it inserts a space, so no need to press space. Consecutive letters just require a loop on the letter. If physical keyboards were better they would be used during texting competitions, which they aren't.
If suggestions contain only wrong words, then what? In that case there should not be automatic space, right? Loop on the letter does not sound very convincing.
Another problem with virtual keyboard is that you basically must look at keyboard when typing. There is no proper physical feedback with virtual keyboard, that makes writing almost impossible without looking at it.
How many desktop users use virtual keyboard instead physical one? Your claim suggests that all desktop users should ditch physical keyboard and get virtual one, yeah right. Not gonna happen. Fact is that human physiology is better suited for physical keyboard use rather than virtual one. That's a fact, like it or not. I doubt physical keyboards are allowed on texting competitions. As they would be superior.
Only REAL reason why virtual keyboards exist on phones is to allow bigger screen for casual BS things like watching (porn) videos and taking (nude) pictures.
Axiarus
Posts: 631 +427
Dude, like I said, it takes getting used to. Very rarely does the suggestion contain only wrong words. Happens to me what...once a week maybe? Looping on a letter is very quick. I can absolutely swipe to type without looking at my phone with minor mistakes. Even then I just press the word and press the correct suggested word. You are not going to beat someone using swipe to type with a physical keyboard. You are seriously underestimating how fast it is once you learn it. Desktop users have the advantage of using all of their fingers and not just their thumbs. Switching to virtual on desktop would be dumb.
Possible when writing only common words or words written previously.
When you select word, you must look at your phone to select correct word. Pretty far from typing without looking keyboard (or suggestions) at all.
I think you are underestimating physical keyboard because you can use other fingers too than just thumb. And yes, I mean phones with physical keyboard. Additionally, you can also use touch display to select correct suggestion when using physical keyboard for typing.
Perhaps you are exception. Usually I can very easily tell when text is written with virtual keyboard and not physical one. Wrong words and/or misspellings tell that very easily. Even if you can use virtual keyboard very well, large majority of people do not.
Buying from the manufacturer also means no added retail bloatware. As far as I can tell there are only two manufacturers that sell phones directly, Apple and Motorola. Cheap android phones never have the latest android operating system, but Motorola is on top of any security updates. I
I bought a Moto X4 last year. It was a $400 phone on sale directly from Motorola for $200. If it was priced at $400, I would have looked elsewhere. It looks like it is no longer available, however, this phone will last me for years. I have a DSLR, so the camera was not a factor in my decision.
On checking the Motorola site, I note that there are a number of phones on sale if anyone is looking for finding a phone within their budget range that, like the X4, normally falls out of that range.
It is interesting that the Amazon link given in the article for the G8 play specifically states "No US Warranty".
Personally I prefer voice texting. Yeah the software makes mistakes, but it is still a lot easier than texting with my fingers.
Edito
Posts: 136 +51
I think that the entire purpose of this article is to tell the world that the iPhone SE is the best thing for budget users, but you are right... for every iphone there is a Xiaomi and other brands that are superior...
That's like choosing a console over PC.
QuantumPhysics
Posts: 6,306 +7,258
Axiarus
Posts: 631 +427
I recently switched from a Pixel to an iPhone 11 Pro Max. I am liking it so far.
newstark2042
Posts: 35 +25
EchoWhiskey
Posts: 23 +16
bexwhitt
Posts: 662 +397
I'm the opposite, the restrictions of iOS Suck compared to android.
I bought a Moto X4 last year. It was a $400 phone on sale directly from Motorola for $200. If it was priced at $400, I would have looked elsewhere. It looks like it is no longer available, however, this phone will last me for years. I have a DSLR, so the camera was not a factor in my decision.
On checking the Motorola site, I note that there are a number of phones on sale if anyone is looking for finding a phone within their budget range that, like the X4, normally falls out of that range.
It is interesting that the Amazon link given in the article for the G8 play specifically states "No US Warranty".
Moto x4 is an overpriced piece of excrement. Bought one about 18 months ago @ Best Buy. I don't recall now what I paid for it, but it was over $200.00. It lasted until a few days ago when several of my contacts continually told me that my voice was breaking up over the line. Long story short, the microphone wore out. When it worked, it was okay, but, cmon,...why should a person HAVE to replace his phone every 18 months - 2 years. Technology should have a longer normal wear & tear lifetime.
3ogdy
Posts: 113 +111
This article is missing QWERTY smartphones entirely. Writing something more than two words plus some emojis with virtual keyboard is a pain.
Titan
· The QWERTY 4G Rugged Smartphone · IP67 Waterproof · Octa-Core Processor · Android 9.0 Pie · Universal 4G Network Support · 8M+16M Cameras · 128G Storage · 6000mAh Large Battery · NFC Handling time: 5 business days.www.unihertz.com
For $ 339.99
- Physical keyboard
- IP67
- 8M+16M Cameras
- 128GB flash + 6GB RAM
- 6000mAh Battery
- NFC
- Dual SIM
- Fingerprint sensor
- 3,5 mm connector
- Did I mention physical keyboard?
Screen is almost square so widescreen fullscreen videos leave much space blank. But who cares? Videos are better to watch from tablet/laptop/TV/computer/you name it. There is also Real Deal: you can scroll screen swiping keyboard. So just scrolling is possible without touching screen itself. When just reading something, your fingers are not on way.
Definitely deserves place on this list. Simply awesome product considering price.
There are BT keyboards that can be placed on top of the screen. There is Swiftkey that predicts words and corrects misspels. There really is no reason to complain about a virtual keyboard on Android nowadays, but I understand you if you've been...say a BB user.
No, I have never used BlackBerry.
Virtual keyboard will never match physical one, especially when you can have both simultaneously.
To put it another way: if virtual keyboards really are better than physical one, why nobody uses virtual keyboard with desktop computers or laptops?
Yeah.
3ogdy
Posts: 113 +111
Typing on a huge piece of glass (the size of an actual PC keyboard) is not exactly comfortable and intuitive because you need that tactile feedback in order to be able to move from one key to another.
But swiping 2 fingers across a 6 inch screen is far from typing on a physical desktop / laptop keyboard. It's just not the same, it's not comparable.
We're talking about a small device you only use 2 fingers to interact with, mostly. And the interaction happens like within what...a 2 - 3 inch width?
You don't even move your wrists to type on your phone (unless you type in landscape mode, but that's not the typical usage scenario).
It is comparable. Physical keyboards have one advantage that touchscreens have not: you don't have to look at keyboard while typing. That is main advantage with tactile feedback.
Pretend trying (actually driving and texting is dangerous) to drive car and same time write long text message. With physical keyboard that is pretty easy. With virtual keyboard, well, try it.
Not to mention, web is full of examples where autocorrect chose wrong word. I just don't remember seeing those when most phones had physical keyboard.
I wrote this message without looking keyboard at all. Good luck trying something similar with virtual "keyboard".
3ogdy
Posts: 113 +111
Again, the same thing applies in this scenario: you type a message on a small device with a 6" screen.
How far could you possibly be looking away from the keyboard while doing so?
Do you type your messages on the phone while watching TV? Never in my life have I texted while driving. That's what voice input and voice commands are for.
Most people DO look at their phone screens while typing, which means their peripheral vision already includes the virtual keyboard, even if they don't focus on the keyboard itself.
If we were to, say, compare the desktop keyboard typing experience to the virtual keyboard t.e. on a tablet, that would be different, as your fingers pass most of the work to your wrists, due to pure screen & keyboard size. That's where a physical keyboard would be a better choice. (even with minimal key travel)
Typing without looking is a non issue when the keyboard is milimeters away from the actual content on the screen. Swiftkey supports voice input, too, if that's what you're into. So you can have your cake and eat it too, by gaining usable screen estate when a KB isn't needed.
Autocorrect chooses wrong for a while until it learns your preferred expressions and your phrases. After that, it's helpful most of the time. Virtual keyboards may have no place, for now, in scenarios where you've got to write long articles, for instance, but who does that on a phone?
The kind of info input on a phone really doesn't justify a physical keyboard that reduces screen size permanently.
I type messages with phone when watching TV yes. I type when watching something else too. That's called multitasking.
I assure you that many people really type messages with phone when driving. This was lesser problem with physical keyboards but with touch screen ones.
Those who look phone screens while typing are just amateurs. Luckily I belong to QWERTY-phone Master Race.
With tablet I agree. This whole tablet hype went down when people realized it's good only for casual things (like reading books and watching movies). On that use, tablets are actually good.
Typing without looking is very good thing when you have to concentrate on one thing (like driving) and type same time. Like I said, pretend to drive and try texting same time. You will notice difference. As for voice input, on many situations it's just not possible to use voice commands. Or perhaps you Could use but others won't like it.
Autocorrect "learns" if you write just casual things. I usually write down settings, code, rare words etc so I really don't need autocorrect. Ever. Perhaps it's good for casual texting but for something more serious, not.
I sometimes (but quite rarely) write quite long articles (comparable to this message) on phone. That is because physical keyboard is good enough compared to option of carrying laptop, that is useless most time. Big QWERTY phone is good compromise. Good enough keyboard to write bit more if really needed but much easier than carrying laptop around all times. Agreed, bigger keyboard is much better but sometimes it's just not available. This phone has 4.6 inch display so who cares about less screen size because of keyboard?
MaverickScot
Posts: 17 +0
The Samsung which I have been using for years is good but not with the european Exynos chip which is up to 16% slower than the Snapdargon that was reviewed here. I know this is a US site but you are viewed world wide and this should be mentioned as the exynos soc it is no faster than last years 10 series (US version) and should be scored down.
lol, voice texting on a phone is the long way around to just calling someone.....on your phone.
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