Mate 8

[Dice144]

Just got the phone today. So far it is a lot smoother than my old Asus zenfone 2. Which I had the 2gb model.

Battery life was the number one reason for getting this phone. So far this thing is a beast.

I wanted a flagship type phone after having few budget phones.

 

[Zaap]

IMO, hands down, it's the most impressive looking phone (speaking purely cosmetically) that exists right now. Just love the no-nonsense look of that thing.

It's almost to me like other companies just can't quite bring themselves to scale it down and just make a device that's as no-nonsense as that... like a if a designer came in with that at Samsung or LG... they'd just squint at it... "oooooo but can't we just roundy-round it up and bit.. make it cuuuter..... MUST.ADD.BEZEL... oooo just can't leave it be...!"

LOL, anyway, great phone. What service do you use it with?

 

[Dice144]

Using it with T-Mobile

 

[core2slow]

Awesome phone!! Still going strong with my mate 7 but I've been eyeing the mate 8 for its complete tmo LTE band support and that 4gb ram. Which model did you go with? NXT-L29?

 

[luv2liv]

i have to say the chinese phones are really good these days! 4 years ago, they were pathetic.

 

[elitejp]

how is the camera on it

 

[poofyhairguy]

How is the launcher? Are you using it or did you replace it?

 

[gorcorps]

how is the camera on it

Review shows that's the weak point, so if you're looking for top detail it's not a great choice. If you just use the camera sparingly it's fine, but it's not as good as the note 5.

http://m.gsmarena.com/huawei_mate_8_time_saver-review-1378.php

 

[core2slow]

How is the launcher? Are you using it or did you replace it?

EMUI is incredibly efficient and smooth in its own right on my mate 7. I can only imagine that it's even better on the mate 8. People are doing themselves a disservice if they think it's another heavily skinned OS (if they can get past the no app drawer thing...Which I really don't mind since I throw everything into their own folders on the second home screen anyway) so I hope the OP keeps it stock.

 

[zerogear]

Using it with T-Mobile

Does it work with Band 12 and VoLTE?

 

[poofyhairguy]

if they can get past the no app drawer thing...

It doesn't have an app drawer? Ug. That is like Nextbit's terrible launcher.

Oh well, you can always install Nova right?

 

[Zaap]

Oh well, you can always install Nova right?

I can't fathom that you couldn't.

What I don't get is why a Chinese company (generally I picture them shaving off expense to make a product cheaper) would even bother with their own launcher, or skinning the OS in any way.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I can't fathom that you couldn't.

With some of their earlier phones you couldn't change the launcher.

What I don't get is why a Chinese company (generally I picture them shaving off expense to make a product cheaper) would even bother with their own launcher, or skinning the OS in any way.

Because a lot of people there want to buy a status symbol (like all humans really), which in China means "the iPhone or something forced to behave like the iPhone (ie no app drawer)."

 

[core2slow]

It doesn't have an app drawer? Ug. That is like Nextbit's terrible launcher.

Oh well, you can always install Nova right?

I tried nova and others intially, but quickly went back to stock. Somehow having a 3rd party launcher just slows everything down. I can't explain it, but the stock UI is really smooth, a lot better than touchwiz or sense.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Somehow having a 3rd party launcher just slows everything down.

That might be the case. I think some device makers keep their launcher locked in the RAM even if you change the default.

 

[Zaap]

I wonder if a lot of that might be settings in Nova (or other launchers) though?

You can set Nova to 'faster than light' settings and in my experience it pretty much is. Can't speak for that phone, but no launcher has ever slowed any of my Samsung phones.

 

[Dice144]

The n29 with 4GB ram. I love the ui that comes on it.

I am getting LTE speeds but the phone just says 4G on top. Last speed test was 65 down, 25 up.

 

[zerogear]

The n29 with 4GB ram. I love the ui that comes on it.

I am getting LTE speeds but the phone just says 4G on top. Last speed test was 65 down, 25 up.

LTE is 4G. It's the US Carriers that mislabel 3.5G (HSPDA/+) as 4G.