Prototype of HTC Nexus Marlin, disguised by case, shows Android 7.0 is installed

5. roldefol (Posts: 4741; Member since: 28 Jan 2011)

Verizon has a complicated history with Nexus phones. They carried the Galaxy Nexus, but since Verizon insisted on controlling software updates, it wasn't much of a Nexus experience. And they sold the Nexus 6, but it was locked to their network.

Starting with the Nexus 5X and 6P, you can buy the phone unlocked, insert an active Verizon SIM, and you're up and running. That's what I did. Other than a slightly glitchy VM alert, I've had no problems.

8. Babadook (Posts: 230; Member since: 24 May 2016)

So what are the odds Verizon will sell the new Nexus in store this fall?

12. ProblemSolver15 (Posts: 369; Member since: 14 Jun 2010)

The odds are zero. Meaning I'll take the under if the line was 1. They will not carry a Nexus device. At least if I were a betting man, I don't think they would.

13. Babadook (Posts: 230; Member since: 24 May 2016)

Eff. That means I'll probably be getting the Moto Z Force instead. Rats

16. VZWuser76 (Posts: 4974; Member since: 04 Mar 2010)

I doubt they will. It will most likely be the same as the 6p and 5x. You can buy them through Google or HTC and they'll work on any domestic US carrier. Unless they offer a payment plan (like Huawei did or Google did if you were on Fi) you'll probably be paying the full retail cost upfront.

18. justrt (Posts: 446; Member since: 10 Jul 2014)

I doubt Verizon will carry the next Nexus phones in store.
My advice to you is, choose Nexus over Verizon. I have the Nexus 6P and I love it. Bought it unlocked, got a Cricket SIM card, $40 a month in the AT&T's network - problemless! My wife switched from Verizon to Cricket also.
If you are worried about paying full price, just put it on your credit card and you can pay it off in less than a year with the savings from your bill.

34. sgodsell (Posts: 6485; Member since: 16 Mar 2013)

The Moto Z's have more features, plus the same RAM, CPU, and GPU. Not to mention the Moto Z modules.

11. ProblemSolver15 (Posts: 369; Member since: 14 Jun 2010)

The iffy voicemail alert with the text message unicode thing we have to live with on our Nexus devices is such a pain in the arse. But, it's what we have to live with and I'll take that trade any day.

35. roldefol (Posts: 4741; Member since: 28 Jan 2011)

I read somewhere that it can be fixed, but you'll need to contact Verizon support to do it. Something along the lines of downgrading from "basic visual voicemail" to "basic voicemail" changes the coding. I'll talk to Verizon tech support and see if it's true.

15. VZWuser76 (Posts: 4974; Member since: 04 Mar 2010)

True, but the unlocked Nexus 6 sold through Google and Motorola acted just like the 6p and 5x, they would work on any domestic carrier. The only difference is buying from either of those places meant paying for the device full retail upfront, rather than getting it subsidized through the carrier or making monthly device payments.

29. manzer (Posts: 54; Member since: 05 Apr 2014)

I ran my Nexus 9 the same way off Verizon's network. Still was a little glitchy.

9. Lauticol (Posts: 401; Member since: 25 Jun 2011)

Don't know about Verizon, but Nexus phones have Ambient Display (in my opinion it's better than Moto Display).

17. VZWuser76 (Posts: 4974; Member since: 04 Mar 2010)

Having used both, I'd take Moto Display any day over Google's Ambient Display. It's nowhere near as consistent, probably due to the IR sensors in the front face. But even the original setup on the 2013 Moto lineup (before they added the IR sensors in the face) were more consistent than Ambient Display. Normally the only way I can get it to work is move it from the display facing towards the ceiling to it facing straight at you (swinging it 90 degrees). Even doing that it doesn't work consistently.

On the original Motorola Active Display, all you had to do was bump the phone (even walking heavily could activate it if it was on a table). On the Moto Display models with the IR sensors, all you had to do was put your hand above the display. And both implementations worked every single time. Ambient Display is hit or miss. I'd say it works around 50% of the time in my experience with it.

20. marorun (Posts: 5029; Member since: 30 Mar 2015)

Care to explain how?

My moto x play was able to sense my hand comming toward it even in complete darkness.

something nexus phone cant do.

22. MingLiangChen (Posts: 329; Member since: 06 Jul 2012)

There's an app on Play Store- Glance Plus. You can wave your hand over the proximity sensor to activate the notification. Slower than Moto's sensors, but works better than AcDisplay's waving gesture.

23. MingLiangChen (Posts: 329; Member since: 06 Jul 2012)

p/s: it's more troublesome to unlock the phone from it but I guess with a fingerprint sensor, the steps become one.

24. trojan_horse (banned) (Posts: 5868; Member since: 06 May 2016)

But Samsung's gesture sensor which was in the Galaxy S4 is better than Google and Motorola's Active Display.

19. VZWuser76 (Posts: 4974; Member since: 04 Mar 2010)

Go to Android Forums and there were tons of people complaining. There were some that had the Nexus 6 that were okay with it (and some that didn't like hat they went smaller than the 6). But many were not happy anout it. Especially the ones who bought the 5x. It was bigger than the Nexus 5, and it had poorer performance due to the SD808 CPU.

I would say that most of the Nexus users wanted something around the original Nexus 5 footprint rather than anything 5.5" or larger, going by the comments on those forums. I can make do with my 6p, but something a bit smaller would be welcome IMHO.

21. XperiaFanZone (Posts: 2277; Member since: 21 Sep 2012)

That's probably because the 6P had big bezels, if people don't have a problem with the screen size of the Notes, then why would they have a problem with that of the Nexii?

27. VZWuser76 (Posts: 4974; Member since: 04 Mar 2010)

The only large bezels the 6p has is one the top and bottom. They don't affect the ability to hold it as much as large side bezels would. But being a large screen to begin with it already going to be harder to use one handed.

The people who buy Notes are already comfortable with using a phablet, because that's what the Note has always been from day one. With the Nexus, they've only had large screen devices the past 2 years, prior to that, the largest Nexus phone was 5". You make it sounds like everyone looking at a Nexus device was also considering a Note, and while that may be true in some instances, it's not the case for all potential Nexus buyers.

31. combatmedic870 (Posts: 982; Member since: 02 Sep 2015)

Because the note uses the 5.7 differently with its pen. It's worth it. The nexus was big to be big.

30. BLSEOTB (Posts: 334; Member since: 24 Mar 2015)

Its common on Nexus phones

32. combatmedic870 (Posts: 982; Member since: 02 Sep 2015)

That's pure android. It's on screen.

14. SuperAndroid507 (Posts: 361; Member since: 06 Jan 2014)

That's right, basically manufacturers advertise each release as something new when in reality there nothing "new" on them, just incremental upgrades with fancy features here and there.