Hi!

Nothing sent me a unit for review which I've been using for the past 2 weeks. I can't answer many questions immediately due to embargo (we're pretty much only able to talk about the design and new Nothing OS 2.0 features), but if you have any questions, I'll make note of 'em and come back to answer them once the full review embargo lifts.

I didn't even know there was another community at lemmy.world when I joined this one. I joined this one on the recommendation of the /r/Android mods. Looks like the lemmy.world mods have decided to merge with this one, though!

What exactly do you expect us to do lol? Sneak into TM Roh's bedroom and whisper that in his ear?

...I already post on Mastodon though 😅

https://androiddev.social/@MishaalRahman

I'm also on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@Mishaal_Rahman

I'm here at Unpacked! If y'all have any questions about the devices, I'll try to answer them after the event.

I'll hopefully get hands-on with all the devices, but there's a LOT of people here so I might not be able to get to everything!

(Also I know it's really really early in the States.)

Samsung invited me to the event, but they aren't exerting any control over my posts!

1. Through the Multistar Good Lock module you'll be able to run any app on the cover screen, so I would say the Flip 5 cover screen is indeed a big upgrade. (If you're the kind of person to use Lemmy then you're probably comfortable with installing/sideloading Good Lock.)

2. Didn't get to get this but will ask tomorrow if we can get our hands on it

3. My first impression is that the taskbar felt cluttered with 4 recents apps but fortunately in settings you can choose how many recents to show.

4. Didn't really get a chance to appreciate the colors, sorry! Was more focused on stuff like the hinge, crease, software, etc

What are you thinking of upgrading from? I've seen a lot of people say a similar thing about the Fold 5 versus the Fold 4 but it's worth noting that most people don't upgrade their devices every year so the target audience likely isn't people like us.

Yeah, this is the right approach. It's true that ASUS dropped the ball when it comes to getting their bootloader unlock tool server back online as well as in keeping users updated on their progress. It's also true that you should never really take what support staff says at face value, and that a response from a PR rep is always preferable over support staff.

However, there are times when even the PR reps aren't aware of an internal policy change, or they aren't allowed to communicate as such yet. I don't think that's the case here, though. The PR rep I'm in touch with is the same one who has been running the Zenfone developer program for years, so I trust them!

Let me know if you have any feedback about this article 😁

It's going to be hard to answer this based only on a 1 hour demo period (split between all the different devices) but it's something we can answer after getting to use the devices for a bit.

Hmm didn't check for that on the demo units but I'll check the unit I'll get and will ask about the other device as well.

That's a good point, and I agree: There should be a way to trigger Maintenance Mode remotely, like through Find My Device, should Google implement this.

Yes!

Android hasn't used FDE for a couple of years now. File Based Encryption (FBE) has been required instead since Android 10. With FBE, each user has their own credential encrypted storage location for apps, which are encrypted with the credential from that particular user. (I verified this while testing. When you boot and unlock the primary user, other users data at /data/user/{id} is still encrypted until you unlock them.)

I'm already on Bluesky, but I stopped posting there because it seemed dead in comparison to Mastodon and Threads.

It looked pretty much the same as before, but the background didn't change colors based on your system theme (Material You dynamic color theming). And yes, the monthly calendar widget is still there, and I believe also gets dynamic color support.

1. The vibration motor is surprisingly good! When my alarm rings in the morning, the haptics closely match the sound of the alarm.
2. I always prefer durability over looks, so a nice braided cable is what I'd personally prefer. But I don't think there should be issues with the default cable, not that you have to use it since the phone supports PD charging. (I've only had the phone for 2 weeks, so it's not like I'd have enough time to experience cable failure if that is a problem.)
3. I prefer side-mounted/capacitive fingerprint readers still, and there has been the occasional time where my fingerprint wasn't recognized, but those are just general woes of optical under-display fingerprint scanners.
4. Nope!

1. Hmm, can't really pick one, I'm just an overall fan of how "stock Android-like" Nothing OS 2.0 is, and I mean that in the sense that Nothing has largely retained the design language of Pixel Android (Material You) and has borrowed many GMS features (like Safety Hub, Game Dashboard, etc.)

2. Coming from the Zenfone 9, it definitely strains my hand more since it's larger and heftier.

3. Glyph lights definitely don't replace the regular torch functionality in terms of light coverage (btw, in Nothing OS 2.0, you can now long-press the Flashlight QS tile to turn on all Glyph lights at once).

1. It did not come with a case in the box.

2. I'll have to come back to this one, as I can't do any comparisons.

They had a bunch of desserts (different kinds of scones) and drinks.

Most OEMs aren't willing to preload Google's AVB keys for their GSIs. DSU is only really supposed to be used by app developers (and even then most app devs don't know it even exists or use it) which is why most OEMs don't bother with it.

A Pixel 6 Pro.

Agreed, Android 13 was expected though given the SoC platform and launch timing.

I haven't used the Phone (1), so I can't compare the two.

Sure, the manufacturer could, but they might not provide those kinds of images to their official repair centers, certainly not third-party ones.

Haven't had the Fold 5 for long enough to really comment on the hinge durability but I'm not worried about hinge right now though.

As for which device I want to daily drive, I'm most looking forward to using the Z Fold 5 since I do a lot of work on my phone and I think I'll take advantage of the multitasking capabilities.

Wtf my phone won't turn on anymore after I licked it wat do?

It definitely looks like it opens completely flat to me, like 180 degrees.

I also actually daily drive the TicWatch Pro 3! I know Mobvoi is working on a Wear OS 3 update for the watch, but it's still in private beta and probably won't roll out soon for regular users.

I'm personally interested in the Watch 6 because it runs Wear OS 4 based on Android 13 out of the box and thus has access to a bunch of Wear OS apps I currently can't get on my TicWatch lol.

Very very unlikely, don't get your hopes up.

Duplicate: https://lemdro.id/post/23766?scrollToComments=true

Yes

I'm on the TicWatch Pro 3 and am really looking forward to upgrading. Now I have even more options to pick from.

I don't see why not, so long as you install an app on the watch that's capable of playing those audiobook files!

I don't see a screen protector on the outer display but there is one on the inner display (Fold 5)

There might be, though I couldn't find any. I poked around /data on a rooted Pixel that had just booted but hadn't had its primary user unlocked yet, and I was able to access most files in /data/system still.