Previously on Lemmy:
Past Discussions:
Sorry for the delay for the weekly. Server’s not that stable right now, maybe we should start the thread on Sundays instead.
I always like to switch things up once in a while because it’s fun. So, let’s get back to the brand discussion this week for the Google Pixel. We’ll do a discussion on repairability next week. Again, ideas are always welcome here.
I’ve never used a Pixel, but people around here should know that I’ve been very critical of Google’s product decisions over the years, and the Pixel is no exception. In my point of view, discontinuing the Nexus series, buying out the talents from the remains of HTC and starting an official “made by Google” phone is the equivalent of reddit buying out Alien Blue to make the official reddit app. I think it’s the event that scared big Android manufacturers like Samsung enough to start making their own ecosystem away from Google, as they are concerned that Google may start locking software features to their own phones instead of improving Android overall (rightfully so, I might add).
It really makes no business sense at all to turn your manufacturing partners into your competitors, but then again, it’s Google.
With that being said, the first years of the Pixels has been marred with growing pains. Whereas the Nexus line has always been barebones, no frills development devices, it seemed to me that the people who made Pixels don’t even use Android and are insistent on turning Pixel into iPhones, removing the headphone jack on the Pixel 2 despite the antagonistic ad from the original Pixel, Pixel exclusive software features like Google camera that necessitating the need of rom mods, as well as the quality issues that seems to be inherited from the Nexus days just really soured me from considering Pixels, as I think it’s against the spirit of openness that made Android great.
But it seems like in recent years, they finally figured out that a large percentage of people who bought Androids not because they can’t afford iPhones, but because they like Android, and I see the introduction of the “a” series as progress. The recent Pixel ad campaign also made me think that they finally figuring it out: people want different things, trying to turn Android into worse versions of iPhones was not going to work, so they should be trying to make the best Android for Android users instead.
(It’s also the reason I think all the previous reddit clones failed, but Lemmy will be the one that finally succeeds.)
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Quite happy user of Pixel 6a. The only few annoying things are:
- Under-the-screen fingerprint sensor works less than half of the time. At night and in bed, it blinds me.
- Battery, despite adaptive battery, still feels surprisingly draining fast from time to time. The battery merely just hold for the day whereas I don’t even have that much screen time or background running apps.
I have one with grapheneos for privacy, and it’s good.
Same. No better alternative with a balance of features and privacy/security. So pretty much locked into Pixels. Progression for me was nexus (stock) to 1+ (close to stock) to pixel (graphene).
been a pixel user since they were called nexus. about as minimal bloat as you can get without going FOSS.
currently still on a 3a as it still gets the job done. I use my old nexus6 with FOSS as a basic handheld around the house. smart thermostat, sprinkler controller, throw YouTube up on the TV, etc.
I love that the pixel extra features are useful instead of stupid gimmicks like some manufacturers have.
Initially i bought nexus/pixel phones for clean android experience and no bloat.
Staying with pixel mainly for camera quality and free storage on Google Photos.
Its not ideal, but I’m used to it. They never try to do something too gimmicky and it feels like phone made by Google will work best with the os made by google so my experience will be most consistent, but i haven’t tried other phones in a while.
I currently use a Pixel 6. Before that, I had the 4XL, 3, and 1XL.
I like:
The camera and camera software, having the option of using Beta versions of Android before they are fully released, being able to unlock the bootloader, and relatively quick security and OS updates.
I don’t like:
How the camera section of the back of the phone protrudes. Makes holding the phone unpleasant ergonomically. I also don’t like how Google isn’t including Android version updates and only security patch updates near the end of life of the phone. They should do both.
When I finally had to leave my dying old phone (LG V20 from 2016) the Pixel 7 phones were about to be released, so I preordered a P7Pro. It’s been really good to me so far.
Reception is at least as good as my last phone, fingerprint reader works nearly every time on the first try, battery life is… Ok (but I work it really hard) root was easy (one of my primary criteria for phone shopping), etc.There are certainly things I lost in the move, but most of them I’d lose with any modern flagship phone: Removable battery, headphone jack, IR port, 100% usable screen area. And one loss that is specific to the P7 phones for now, but will eventually be all of them: 32-bit apps.
Android 13 does have some annoying restrictions that Android 8 did not, but it also has a lot of improvements (including general stability) and of course 12 GB of RAM can do much more than 4 could, so that’s a nice upgrade.
Really wish LG didn’t screw up their entire phone division. The V series was fantastic for audio.
Yup. I also really liked the “second screen” method of handling the camera cutout
Using pixel 6 pro. It’s fine. I’m happy not to have all the bloated janky apps that come on other phones.
Same here.
Bonus is I can root it and replace the firmware if I want to without blowing an eFuse and it useless work work or pay if I flash it back
I swapped to a Pixel 7 Pro from a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra after having serious stutter and performance issues with my S22.so far I’ve loved it and it’s performed so much better than the S22 I had.
I do miss the customisation Samsung had with Good Lock modules though. Maybe I’ll have to look into rooting my phone unless I can find a no root alternative.
Long story short it’s been around 6 months and I’m still very happy with it.
I haven’t had a Samsung device since the S7 TouchWiz days. You’re telling me theirs still lag in the spec’d out top end devices all these years later?
I have a pixel 6 and generally like it. Googles stock rom is where my issues with the pixel come up. Generally its not spookier than any other googled android phone. The rom looks good when the device is knew but from what I’ve seen online it tends to get slower after 2 years. This is nor an issue for me however since I moved over the graphineOS.
There’s no technical reason the phone should slow down after 2 years unless newer OS versions are more straining, or all those years of gummed up apps are taking their toll. I’m on a 6 pro, which is now nearly 2 years old, not slow in the slightest.
I love Pixels, they’re easily my favorite option. I’m currently on a Pixel Fold (yes I’m an idiot, but that’s beside the point), and I also enjoy my Pixel Watch and Buds Pro and A series.
I carried an iPhone for work for 3 years and just don’t care for iOS in a personal daily carry capacity. It’s fine for a work phone though, but I also enjoy the way that Android handles work profiles. I do own an iPad though, and that’s fine. I would consider replacing it with a Pixel tablet someday when it’s time though, especially if there’s a 120hz display option by then.
I’m not a big fan of Samsung’s design choices or bloatware tendencies. The kitchen sink approach isn’t for me when the majority of it is stuff that I won’t use, and it feels sloppy to me switching between apps and one uses Samsung’s design language, and then the other uses Material You. I like the consistency you get on a Pixel.
I use my camera a ton, so Pixel is an obvious choice there. Software features like call screening are indispensable for me too. I have been seeing daily spam calls again recently, and watching my phone silently discard them is always enjoyable. I also enjoy getting updates as soon as they are released, which is something that always bothered me with other manufacturers. I have made quite a few people happy by recommending the A-series to them. Wonderful budget-midrange value options.
Where would I go if Pixel went away? Tough question. The Nothing phone seems alright, I could see that working. The Zenphone 10 looks nice as well. I think I would explore one of those options before considering Samsung or Apple again.
Dont care for them. My Fairphone is made from fair components and 100% ungoogled.
I’m on my first non Google phone, starting with the Nexus 5. I currently have the Z Fold 3, bought used for about half MSRP. It has so many good things that Google failed to do, while also missing a lot of things I loved about the Google phones. The Pixel folder may bring me back if it gets cheap enough.
After a decade of Samsung and other third party phones, I’m super keen on the Pixel 7 pro. Even with Samsung boosting huge MP counts for their phones, they always come across either blurry or low quality to me (especially selfies where it feels like they’ve cheaped out)
In comparison the software processing on the Pixel is amazing, things seems to always be in focus and correctly lit.
I may get hate for this, but pixel phones work easiest for my parents. I make sure they are using similar generation pixels and they real never have any issues.
If they can use the pixel 6 and 6a without issues, I’m convinced Google is doing some good in this world.
I’ve got a 7 and my partner has a 6 Pro. No issues except the occasional phone not charging, but the issue seems to be less now a days.
I got a Pixel 6 Pro second hand from the US recently for GrapheneOS.
Here’s what I like:
- Fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable
- Phone is buttery smooth, no weird slowdowns, I’ve been very satisfied
- Excellent hardware: beautiful, premium, unqiue. It feels heavy but in a well - balanced, premium way .The curved back, screen and sides makes it so comfortable to hold. And I love the camera bar because the phone doesn’t rock back and forth on the table.
- No parallel for customization, well maintained custom ROMs (I came from a Xiaomi, I swear Google Pixels are way better in this regard.), and GrapheneOS is awesome.
- Good photo quality, can’t comment on video
- Actually reliable raise to wake, tap to wake and Always On Display.
What I don’t like:
- Phone gets hot on cellular when outside, probably an inefficient Exynos modem + the brutal sun here
- Battery is just okay. Charging is not an issue, takes about an hour to reach 80%, which is what I usually keep my phone at anyway for better battery health.
- Screen not quite bright enough on brutal summer days.
So yeah overall I’m a happy camper. This was honestly a steal at 330 USD renewed from Amazon. When this one loses support for GrapheneOS, I’ll be upgrading to another second - hand Pixel.
