Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro - user opinions and reviews
- Bat21
- ynf
Real world testing.
The camera. My biggest negative with this phone and I did buy it knowing I was dropping down in quality.
I came from a Note 4 with 3 times optical zoom and 16 MP (OIS, Autofocus, BSI sensor) Specifications: Aperture size: F2.2; Focal length: 31 mm; Sensor size: 1/2.6"; Pixel size: 1.12 μm.
Downgraded to the Xcover pro camera: Main camera: 25 MP (PDAF), Specifications: Aperture size: F1.7; Focal length: 26 mm. Second camera: 8 MP (Ultra-wide), Specifications: Aperture size: F2.2; Focal Length: 13 mm; Sensor size: 1/4"; Pixel size: 1.12 μm
I do miss the 3x optical zoom of the note 4. Because I could adjust the zoom and have the high resolution in all my pics. Basically over the years I never had any issues with the Note 4 camera and the pics were great.
Now with the Xcover in taking some basic first pictures the quality feels like it about 60% to 75% the quality of my note 4 pics. Some pics look great and others with the digital zoom, you notice the picture quality is rougher and frankly are kinda garbage. But I really wish they had included an optical zoom in this camera. The camera is pretty basic by today standards. If they had put in camera like a note 4 camera (2016 technology- how hard could that have been?) in this Xcover Pro, then the phone would be selling more units in my opinion.
I will do more reading and experimenting and see if I can get better use of the camera but In just basic point and shooting pics with it, I am disappointed more then I thought I would be with the camera.
But still like the rest of the phone has everything else I need, great battery life, and functionality, navigating, internet etc
- Bat21
- Cx3
Real world testing continued.
I applied a aftermarket protective glass like screen shield from Amazon a week and put it on.
I noticed when I was playing a game that my finger gestures were not getting the reaction and had to repeat sometimed times. So I increased the sensitivity for reading fingers to with gloves sensitivity. That improved things.
I think Samsung maybe should increase sensitivity values in general. Any one else have loss of sensitivity after they placed a clear glass or plastic screen protective skin on top of the orginal screen in this or other phones?
Still liking the Xcover Pro phone, love the battery life.
- Forum Lurker
- 0dE
Zakalwe, 18 Jun 2020I bet the radio is in there, and it is "just" disabled somewhere in the ROM. FM radio is part ... moreFrom a hardware standpoint, this is the perfect phone for me. From a software standpoint, well... you have situations like these. Like I said before, I'll be waiting for XDA to have some fun with this phone. I have a feeling there might be some enthusiasts who know their stuff that would want to use this phone at its full potential.
- Anonymous
- vry
Bat21, 17 Jun 2020Xcover real world testing.
Turned on phone at 5:30 am at 100% then it was on all day ran it a... moreQuite torn with this.
Import it at an expensive price and regret when a better one comes out. Or not buy, wait for a better one and contribute to the idea that phones like these do not interest the public consumer so they stop making them.
And gimp myself for another year keeping up an old phone and waiting for newer stuff.
- Anonymous
- vry
Jaro, 13 Jun 2020Thx man for so much information, I hope, every owner of new phone could write such a good list... moreRemovable batteries tend to have third party makers for them. Unlike sealed ones which will always be at the mercy of the manufacturer and can be stopped being sold after a short time.
- phonify
- nXg
Does anyone know if preinstalled apps such as Facebook be removed from this phone?
- Zakalwe
- HA7
Bat21, 15 Jun 2020I had chat with the Samsung Canada rep about the FM radio. The bottom line is they did not i... moreI bet the radio is in there, and it is "just" disabled somewhere in the ROM. FM radio is part of the Exynos 9611 feature package. Of course, enabling it might still be a difficult task. :(
- Bat21
- ynf
Xcover real world testing.
Turned on phone at 5:30 am at 100% then it was on all day ran it all day doing light to medium work on it, then from 3:00 on it was medium to heavier use, Face book, emails some game play etc. At around 11:30 at night got it down to 3%. Pretty happy with the battery life so far.
- Bat21
- ynf
Xcover Pro real life testing continued.
1. I was listening to Spotify from this phone through my stereo blue tooth speaker, while working on some mechanical equipment on a roof top. Blue tooth speaker worked fine clipped to my tool back pack and phone in my front coveralls pocket. This was walking around and climbing up and down building access ladders. Nothing like good tunes on a hot sunny day when working up high. So no issues that way.
2. I did installed the Otterbox Defender protective case and the phone feels as solid as a brick. Its feels just like an Sonim XP8 in my hands. As the case with the phone is about the same shape and weight as the XP8. Though I would not drive over my phone like you could the Sonim XP8. I do feel that I could chuck the Xcover phone with the case now against the side of the same truck and it could fall to the ground after bouncing off and have no ill effects! ;-)
To those who like small phones, good for you. I have big mechanics hands and this fits my hands well and I can do one handed operations fine. Using my wife's tiny I-Phone is just frustrating for me to use with my hands.
The Otterbox increases the overall width by 3/8". I can feel its presence in my work coverall pants pocket. Which is important when I am encumbered by carrying a bucket of parts in one hand, wearing a Tools loaded back pack and having all my other pockets filled with my other work phone ( Samsung S-8) and other stuff, when climbing up some ladder.
I can feel on me as I walk. I do not need a tiny phone, that is light weight, and can easily slip out of my coverall pockets, or break or get contaminated easily by grease or dust and dirt or rain. Because of the roof top environments or mechanical systems in a inside a buildings mechanical spaces that I climb over or crawl through. I need the rubber on the outside of the Defender case, so to be able to place it on a metal duct and not have it slide off onto a concrete floor. My S-8 is in a Defender case as well, though with the exposed curved screen its got an easier chance of breaking in my environment.
- v123
- m@2
I agree it should be smaller. As majority of the smartphones. But on the whole im satisfied. Camera is nice. Battery holds well. I really wanted for the 2 dedicated buttons, but now i have nothing to put under them :P Short press / long press, quite many options.
- Tim
- Mn0
This is just too big for me. It's time that Samsung made another rugged phone the size of the Xcover3 or smaller, and lighter, they are just so much more convenient to carry around and use.
- Bat21
- ynf
v123, 25 May 2020My Xcover has FM radio as well, though i dont need it.
Been using it for a week. Battery last... moreI had chat with the Samsung Canada rep about the FM radio.
The bottom line is they did not include the FM radio in the phones that they sell in the Canadian market. Thanks a lot Samsung for that omission. :-(
The Samsung Canada chat reps sent this link to the user manual link of the Canadian model /device:
https://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/202004/20200417112311402/G715W_UG_CA_QQ_ENG_D4.pdf
He said the device models and features vary from one country to other. So if you want the FM live radio feature..you have to buy the country/ region specific model.
- Bat21
- ynf
testing continued.
Did a Facebook messenger call and inquired of the the quality of my feed to a relative across the country. They said the video image was good and sound was good a their end. As theirs was on my phone. So worked well that way
- Bat21
- ynf
Fencph, 14 Jun 2020Try RADIO from the play store.
It is working for me Radio app from play store--Its just a live streaming app.
It is a internet, data using app this not what I am looking for or am talking about.
I am looking for an app that allows me to tune ( off line) to local on air stations. You need the ear phone to act as an antenna or get this antenna that probably does a better job.
https://www.amazon.com/ENUODA-3-5mm-Radio-Antenna-Mobile/dp/B0185KMVOO/ref=sr_1_3?crid=NJ18R7Q63HYO&dchild=1&keywords=smartphone+fm+antenna&qid=1592242622&sprefix=smartphone+fm+atte%2Caps%2C215&sr=8-3
- Zakalwe
- 0VI
Bat21, 14 Jun 2020Testing continued: FM Radio
I tried downloading and using the NextRadio Free FM radio tuner A... moreDang. I take it then that your phone did not come with Samsung's radio app? Purple app icon, just named "Radio", version 10.1.00.42 on mine right now. It only works with wired headphones for me, not the USB cable, but it sure seems like proper good old FM radio, with white noise and everything.
Looks like apkmirror has it: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/samsung-electronics-co-ltd/samsung-radio/samsung-radio-10-1-00-45-release/
Though I am not sure how trustworthy that mirror is...
Anyway, there was a similar discussion on the XDA forums about the radio in the XCover 4S, which seemed to be blocked in some country firmwares, with differences even between EU versions. People had to reflash to a different country version to make it work. The situation might be similar with the Pro.
- Fencph
- ntQ
Bat21, 14 Jun 2020Testing continued: FM Radio
I tried downloading and using the NextRadio Free FM radio tuner A... moreTry RADIO from the play store.
It is working for me
- Bat21
- Cx3
Testing continued: FM Radio
I tried downloading and using the NextRadio Free FM radio tuner App from Playstore.
The app says yes it detects the FM radio in the Xcover Pro. It then tries to automatically pick up the local stations. It then says it can not. I tried the app menu and to go to manual tuning. I did get radio static coming out of the earphone. I did have Samsung headphones plugged into the Jack as an antenna. (Some one posted that one can use the power cable as an antenna when plugged into the port). I then went up and down the dial digitally tuning and I could not pick up any stations. I then put in some local stations frequencies and even went outside to a high spot and repeated looking for the FM stations. Nothing..just some spots where the radio static sounf started to become denser in sound. Much like when your tuning close to a frequency in use.
But after reading the reviews for this app. It appears that it worked well in the past but now the newer phones ( samsung S10 S20, or running Android 9 and 10, they might be hindering the current version of the App. The rest of the FMTuner apps appear to be just online streaming tuners to radio stations website, with tons of ads interfering with the free music being listened to on line.
If anyone has had success with getting live FM and not via data or wifi I am all ears.
It's a shame the Samsung does not include a basic manual tuner for your FM radio. In case of emergency and your are out of cell range It be nice to hear news or weather reports via FM or Am. Manual tuning with the option to save 5 local to your frequencies of your choice, as you pick them up. Hopefully Samsung will add that in their next update to the phone.
- Bat21
- Cx3
Jaro, 13 Jun 2020Thx man for so much information, I hope, every owner of new phone could write such a good list... moreI forgot..there nothing in the shops here in covers or cases or skins. So you have to go on line. The Covid thing has just stalled everything manufacture wise. Amazon Ebay and such are where you can order stuff. If you go to the mobile network stores like Bell/Virgin They are not even displaying phones. You order it on line pick it up and then they just give you the sim card. Right now it is a semi "do it yourself" service economy ,;-)
- Bat21
- Cx3
Jaro, 13 Jun 2020Thx man for so much information, I hope, every owner of new phone could write such a good list... moreI would wait a bit for a battery and check the pricing. They will come out. I have not looked yet. I have a ton of spare batteries for my Note 4. So I dont anticipate any issue with getting batteries. Also with the price point of the Samsung batteries I would imagine there are lots of aftermarket battery manufacturers out there that can undercut the Samsung price. I had no issue with any aftermarket batteries I bought on line, like Powerbear batteries.
Oh btw. When hiking I always have a paper map and compass,watch and pen. It's old school,but it's a good practice. The phone is along for the ride to track my path and take pictures. It's a nice accessory. It nice to check to see how good your map and compass work is in the hills. Plus if you get up to a high point you might get a cell tower to talk to someone. In the mountains here I can often turn a corner on a trail and you loose signal. Download a map and your fine that way with GPS. But Dont rely on your phone. Bring a flashlight too!
Electronics can fail and you want to have your basic skills down.
I been able to order an otterbox case for mine as my daily case. As well as a Black rugged case from Nakedcellphone from the states that is good for travel. It has a tab for tilting the phone so you can watch movies on a flight. Something I wish my otter box had.
I have a screen skin on order for my phone. I would search Amazon or Ebay. I bought some stuff from Canadian sites and American. That where I bought batteries in the past.
- Forum Lurker
- 0dE
Bat21, 12 Jun 2020Ok. The testing continues. Started using the phone at 8:30 this morning running all around tow... moreJust as Jaro said, your detailed review is highly appreciated. I think this may be the phone for me. However, I probably will wait for XDA to do their magic before getting it.
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