Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Before I start - I'm a serial phone-switcher!! I bought this phone and, for reasons I'm now kicking myself, returned it and got a Galaxy S8+. Let me first say what I liked about the phone, why I returned it, and then why I'm now regretting that - and will probably re-order it again. The phone is excellent. Sound quality is great and the included noise canceling earbuds were very very good. The screen is great, it feels good in the hand, the back is gorgeous (although you really should use a case), the camera is fantastic, and the performance and software experience is flawless. There is no lag on this phone. Battery life seems good but I (stupidly) didn't keep the phone long enough to make a good enough assessment of that. So why did I return it? 2 reasons, first of which is that my screen seemed very marginally dimmer on the right side than the left. It's so marginal that I couldn't be sure if I was imagining it or not, but I kept noticing it. The second reason, and this may sound super super petty - no raise to wake or ambient display functionality. I was shocked when I discovered it didn't have this. I've gotten used to both these features in the last year or so in iPhones, the Google Pixel, and going back longer, on Motorola phones. I'm coming from a Moto Z Play most recently (insane battery on that phone...). I really really missed this feature. Having said that, the U11 does have double-tap to wake, and also swipe to wake from screen off. Those almost make up for the lack or raise to wake. I was feeling disappointed with both of those issues, but even so I would have probably kept the phone, at least to try it for a few more days - if not for one impulsive decision. I had been debating between the HTC U11, Galaxy S8+, and the LG G6 before initially deciding on the U11. After my reservations about the U11 above, I started looking at the others again. I discovered Best Buy were running $100 off the unlocked S8 and S8+. Not knowing how long that offer would last, I took one last trip to Best Buy and bought the S8+ and returned the U11 to Amazon. I can say that my decision would not have been so hasty if not for Best Buy's sale. After a few days with the S8+, it's a fine phone. I have no major issues with it. The screen and camera are nice, it just feels - jankier - than the U11. In fact the S8+ got suddenly choppy yesterday and I had to restart it. No idea why. The U11 I think was more refined, more streamlined, less flash, more substance. I'm currently leaning towards returning the S8+ and re-ordering the U11. I am as fickle as fickle can be with tech, and I'll never learn my lesson!!