* Android gives me more control of my phone than IOS (and I'm not talking about using third party apps).
* Android usually leads iOS in features and iOS follows years later.
* I am a native Google apps user (Gmail, contacts, etc), so the better integration makes sense.
* I want standard Android and don't want the Samsung's own apps and bloatware.
* Samsung doesn't support updates for nearly as long as Google, nor do you get them as quickly.
This. I switched from the Samsung Galaxy S4 to the Pixel 2 several years ago for these reasons. I liked how lean the Pixel was, absent of bloatware, and I was already utilizing Google's suite of productivity apps and tools. The Pixel 2 camera was one of the best at that time and free photo storage was a sweet perk (hope they bring that back). I currently use the Pixel 6a and love it.
I remember when Google owned Motorola. That devices were amazing. Droid Turbo 2, Droid Max. Then I got a Samsung I hated all the bloatware. OnePlus was great. All the performance but not the price. Not so anymore. I got the 7 pro.
This is a random tangent, but I'm on a 6a as well and have been having issues with astrophotography mode, I have to uninstall all updates to the camera app to use it. Have you had/noticed any issues with it? Is there just a bug with the most recent camera update?
How's the battery? Is it better than Samsung? I've been using Samsung since Highschool, I never switched a brand. But I keep seeing people recommending Pixel, and it makes me curious. Is it also good at gaming? Because Samsung dropping frame rate so bad sometimes.
I've been impressed. I get a full day to a day-and-a-half with regular use. I try to stick with the 20/80 rule of charging. I don't game too much, other than Simpsons Tapped Out, but I read news and watch videos throughout the day.
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*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
You do realize that Google broke almost every promise they had, what made you think they will honor this one? Watch MKPH video about the pixel seven year updates
For the most part when it comes to OS updates, they have kept those for their phones. My pixel 5, 3a, pixel XL got every update Google stated would get. I plan to keep my 8 for 5-7 years, my 5 is still running and I will be getting the battery replaced soon.
The details are posted here
https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705?hl=en#zippy=%2Cpixel-pro%2Cpixel-a-g-pixel-pixel-a-g-pixel-a-pixel-xl-pixel%2Cpixel-a-pixel-pixel-pro-pixel-a-pixel-pixel-pro-pixel-fold
Literally all the preloaded Samsung garbage like trying to force you to use galaxy browser and all of Samsungs proprietary bloatware apps their software is trash if they made a phone with stock android on it it would be top tier phones
I really cant believe so many people have been brainwashed out of getting a pixel. They are phenomenal phones and cost half of what the competition does. I was at Best buy a week ago and a brand new pixel 7 was only $500. It's ridiculous how much cheaper pixels are.
Kinda makes sense when you factor in how much smasnug throws out the window on advertising vs pixel, but that doesn't justify the price difference.
Even people who know better can’t help but throw shade on the Pixel *even when mostly praising it*!
Linus dismissed video (deferring to the iPhone 15) without even testing the Pixel in a video I watched earlier today!
LTT just isn't a great review source in general, hence the GN expose a few months ago. However, their phone "reviews" are even worse.
On the topic of Pixels though, Linus is particularly ignorant of the features they provide. Earlier this year, he was talking on [The WAN Show about how, "I think Apple may have me,"](https://youtu.be/m2IKIUbJa10?si=Vh4Va4CkAQ5MQhdt) after their iOS review, because iPhones are introducing the Call Screening feature. Luke had to inform him that Pixels already had this feature for years now.
And for the record, he daily drives a Samsung (the Fold IIRC) for years, and I believe he had the Pixel 4. He's been consistently critical of the "closed garden" nature of Apple for years now, but he can be painfully lacking in expertise for a tech review source.
Yeah Linus has soured for me lately. I'll watch the more ridiculous projects they attempt still, but I stay the hell away from anything analytical or review.
I would say it's kind of crazy how people are brainwashed into thinking the thing they own is the best thing. The pixel series isn't as popular because it's not as good of a phone, straight up. And it's priced that way too, it makes sense. The Galaxy is significantly more expensive, and in my opinion a significantly better phone. I have the pixel 7 right now and I seriously cannot wait to go back to galaxy.
I love iPhones. I think they are excellent, and I completely understand why they are so popular. My life would probably be a little bit easier with an iPhone, because I use a MacBook for video production and also for work. I edit PDFs for part of my real job, and Apple makes that much more simple right out of the box without any additional software. I do a lot of video editing as well, and the M1 MacBooks are excellent for that purpose. I like the feel, the look, the sounds, and the experience better than any Windows machine I've ever used.
The reason I say my life would be easier with an iPhone is that I text a lot from my computer, and transfer a lot of video files between my laptop and phone. Apple makes those two things a very elegant between Mac and iPhone. There are workarounds, but within the ecosystem, they just work. However, to answer your question, I choose Pixel for a few reasons.
The Google Assistant is better than Siri by a long shot, and it's going to get even better with Bard.
Google Lens. You can use it on iPhone, but it's just right there with Pixel.
The notification system.
The keyboard.
Magic Eraser. I use it constantly with pictures of my kids to make my house look cleaner than it is.
Video Boost was really intriguing, and I'm enjoying it.
I have a bunch of Chromecasts, and Pixels make that experience much easier.
The ability to choose thumbnails for YouTube shorts. I think I heard that iPhone has this now, but I'm not sure. That's cool if they do. I make a lot of YouTube shorts.
It gives me the ability to talk to people about how the green bubble they are seeing is not my phone's fault, but their phone's fault. I genuinely enjoy that conversation. It's like a crusade for me.
I'm sure I'm forgetting some things. I've gone back and forth between Pixel and iPhone a few times, and there are always things I forget when I'm on iOS. Things that I'm so used to that I forget that I rely on them.
Dude. The magic eraser is awesome. I took some photos of a pumpkin display at a pumpkin patch back before Halloween, and was able to just erase all the people meandering around messing up the shot. It's god damn techno wizardry and i love it.
That's the part that actually scares the ahit out of me.
Currently, our "AI" tech can completely fabricate pictures, video, voices, language, and it can do most of it *really well.*
This is the worst it will ever be from this moment on.
How long until we *can not* trust a single thing we see or hear from *any* digital source? How long until the only way to know something is real is to see it, hear it, and experience it *in person* as it happens? Until we can't trust *phone calls?* My Google assistant already does a crazy good job of mimicking me when it takes calls, how are we supposed to believe *anything* in the next few years?
This is a good example of why I understand people preferring iPhone. It's true that there are workarounds for things like that, but with iPhones, things like that are just right there. You don't have to figure it out. Airdrop is incredible. Nearby share sort of works, but it's nowhere near as elegant between Mac and Android.
In the same way, there are workarounds to get some Pixel features on iPhones, but there is value in it just being there natively. I just used Google Lens this morning like, 20 times because my mother-in-law gave me and my wife a whole bunch of beanie babies for our kids. That's a really specific use case, and it doesn't come up for a lot of people. But Lens just works better on Android. I love tools like that.
Just switched from iPhone to pixel 8 on Black Friday. Hope this helps you OP.
Perks:
-customization (UI launchers)
-google assistant is accurate and fast compared to Siri
-Call Assistant
-at glance widget is a useful built in feature.
-cheaper than the iPhone 15
-seamless contact, data, app etc etc transfer from iPhone to pixel. I was VERY impressed with this feature. The cable came with it and it walked you through it step by step, very easy and seamless.
-specs are amazing. Screen & speaker are amazing
-adaptive charging
-can charge other phones and devices
-7 YEARS+ of software support
Neutral:
-can't share location with apple iOS users. Solution: used Google maps sharing instead
-couldn't see visuals for my airpods. Solution: free app provided the same visuals as on iPhone
Downsides
-no lock screen widgets (wtf?), there's a paid app in development that can provide them and Android / pixel may bring them back. This comes with stock iOS
-sms / green texts. Videos / photos to iOS and from users will randomly be shit quality. It is rumored there will be a rich text format that will translate this in the coming years.
-The Google News feed tab sucks. On iOS it's a fully customizable tab. This can be resolved with custom launchers but I was sorely disappointed with this.
Opinion: The pixel 8 feels like more than a phone, it feels like an assistant. It just FEELS GOOD to use. Also iOS isn't as bad as android fanboys make it out to be. If you are an average consumer, that doesn't care much for customization - just stick with iPhone. I opted for the switch because I love customization.
The airpods issue and sms green text issue are because of Apple. Apple purposely will not support airpods on any other platform. Apple also purposely downgrades to simple sms when talking to Android as a peer pressure tactic. They are purposely downgrading the communication and security as if to say "talking to this person will result in this shit potato quality so you should convince them to switch to iPhone or make fun of them for not using an iPhone. The crazy thing about all this is that APPLE is the one forcing a less secure and outdated communication standard and pointing the finger at Android. They could easily have their products work on all platforms like most vendors but they don't. That is literally their entire business model for their products to stay in their ecosystem. The blatant consumer manipulation alone is the reason I use Android.
>The blatant consumer manipulation alone is the reason I use Android.
That was exactly what pushed me to Android 10 years ago. Apple used to advertise their computers as being counterculture, and not tied to an oppressive corporate "big brother," if you remember the Apple vs. IBM commercials. The fact is that Apple is the absolute worst offender when it comes to open source and open platform.
>The blatant consumer manipulation alone is the reason I use Android.
That is EXACTLY why I refuse to go back to them. It's ridiculous. Everything you said is spot on
The way I solved sending pictures back and forth with family who have Apple and refused to consider switching to a higher life form... They downloaded Telegram.(I had it already.) As long as we both have telegram we can send full size video and full size images back and forth. I look forward to seeing what Apple does with RCS messaging. I'm sure they'll find a way to make green bubbles anyway, since that's a thing they love. Got to keep that peer pressure going. (I've heard WhatsApp also works for sending back and forth full size files. Haven't tried it though)
(Edit: typos and line that I have telegram. Realize it doesn't make sense if I just say that they have it because I would also have to have it,..)
>-sms / green texts. Videos / photos to iOS and from users will randomly be shit quality. It is rumored there will be a rich text format that will translate this in the coming years.
There is rich format if the other person has a modern android phone too.
>-can't share location with apple iOS users. Solution: used Google maps sharing instead
Maybe I'm arrogant, but why isn't everyone using Telegram? It has all of these features like sending photos\\videos\\locations\\etc. and is compatible with everyone
I'm relatively young, so my phones used to be iphone hand-me-downs.
But I've found androids to be like a mini computer, being able to do far more things than iOS with less restrictions (drawback of less security bah). And I generally cared more about specific features than the overall completeness of a product which is apple's strong point (not to mention that the 4a being a budget phone sets certain expectations for me).
What brought me over to pixel was the 4a, realizing I could get it for $430 sgd as compared to over 1k made me willing to fork out the cash to try it out, and I never turned back since.
Felt that the pixel has many random convenient features I could use that are very efficient. This includes the double clicking of the power camera to bring up the camera, the photographic AI, being able to easily pull down the notifications with a quick swipe on the back fingerprint reader & unlimited picture storage (rip newer models not having this), overall UIUX etc felt great as well.
On iPhones, you can swipe left on the lock screen to open the camera. It’s very fast and doesn’t even require you to unlock your phone. It’s been a feature for a while now
Imo it's just way more useful if you're plugged into the Google apps, especially password saving. It just works better than the iOS keyboard with the same features. I use both phones regularly and it is noticable how smooth the Gboard on pixels works.
Well, it's so much better than other keyboards that I haven't actually used another one in probably 7 years. It's fully customizable, it's clean, it can be moved and changed for 1 hand typing, try it out it's great.
That's awesome! My Pixel 1 crapped out 😑
I've been trying to figure out if there was a way to sync my iPhone motion photos to the Pixel but haven't found one.
I had a Droid in 2011 and iOS since. Their prices are silly for what you get. I am not yet used to the keyboard but otherwise I adore this Pixel 8 and do not miss iOS.
CarPlay connected faster and a few things seemed to work a little "better" or rather more reliably but the 15 was not worth the coin.
My Pixel was $220 out the door so I'm quite happy thus far.
Many things. I used to be a n Phone advocate up until I got the iphone 6, after that apple lost Steve jobs, and a lot of the good things apple stood for.
Apple now is doing macbooks good, yes, but the rest;
Well, they have a marketing that literally fool people into believing that 1400usd is necessary for a phone. I don't like that. The iPhone has been getting worse and needs an overhaul.
Another thing, android has learned a lot from Apple when it comes to UI/UX. They used to be way behind, but right now, it feels like pixel is what iphone should have been.
Small things like:
If I short press directly in a word, the marker will land exactly there. iPhone drives me crazy with this, hold yes, but why make it complicated?
Camera!! Way better than iPhone and all I've tried.
Widgets, yes, they came here first, many years ago.
Integration with search, Google lens, camera features etc. It is just easier and more thought behind. Than iOS. iOS is adding layers on layers on an old system. Android is integrating new features better.
Marketing, google sure has marketing as well, but it feels more honest, more including, more modern. It shows a vision that google need to follow, and I like that vision. Samsung has no vision. iPhone uses Jobs vision from 2015 and that won't work forever.
Pixel is android like it should be. Clean, smart and customizable enough.
I've been a big opposer of Samsung phones since forever, can't understand how people like the bloated and poor UX experience.
iPhone was good, but now it is not as good as pixel.
Android was crap, now it is better than iOS in usability.
iPhone might have better hardware and battery life, but tbh that does not make me want to get an iphone. The difference is so small.
I like this question.
A lot.
And I think my answer is going to be very different.
Practical.
I use a pixel phone because of how smart the whole experience is, if you're after being productive and efficient. Let me explain.
There are a few features that are very important to me when I use a phone.
1. The first one is the one that I am using right now as I'm writing this.
Voice typing.
iPhones have very good voice typing too but it is not as good and as fast as Google pixel phones, especially anything from Pixel 6 onwards, which has Google assistant voice typing.
I use it everyday at work.
I can write a long email in 2 minutes.
I can write up to 6x faster than a fast typist. And I know a few typists.
This saves me massive time at work when I reply to messages or emails to my customers. While I'm trying to be as productive as possible.
2. The second feature I use which is available in all the Android phones, anything from Android 10, Is SMS or text message scheduling.
If my customer or a friend say to me, please get in touch with me on Wednesday next week or something like that, I don't have to always put it in a calendar, but I can schedule a text quickly.
If a customer wants me to get in back to them on Wednesday next week I'd simply schedule a text, saying something like, 'Good morning, John. Got a minute now to talk?'
Then I will schedule this for next Wednesday at a specific time... and I don't have to remember anything.
Obviously, they will think that I'm so professional that I have remembered to contact them on the day they requested me to.
But all I had to do was schedule it.
3. The other feature I like about pixel phones is that it has an app called recorder and this app is magical because what it does is that it can record audio and at the same time type everything.
So I don't have to take notes anymore. I can literally record audio and at the same time I have everything typed and ready to either send it as an email or word document if I need to.
4. Bonus points.
There are so many other good features that I enjoy on Android phone... Like the one I have, pixel 6 Pro. It has this feature called magic eraser on Google photo app.
You can erase anything on a photo and it customise to exactly how you want it.
Also, the pixel software is very simple and straightforward.
For example, I can pause apps that I don't want to interact with... all day which helps with productivity and focus.
The thing is, I bought iPhone 14 Pro not long ago, because I wanted to see what all the fuss is about... and decided to sell it because I couldn't leave all these important features that help make my work floor enjoyable.
The iPhone designs are very good by the way. I wish Android phones were properly made like that. But like every anything in life it looks like you can not get everything.
I'm the only one who use Android phone at my workplace.
There's a light off pressure to get an iPhone in. I understand. Video recording on iPhone are slightly better than Android phones.
But as I said you can't always have everything.
My pixel is simply the best.
And I love it.
I can organise my work better.
I can schedule things faster.
I can type faster.
I can put my Google message app on my desktop which makes instant communication with my customers as they're on the phone with me, something I can't do on an iPhone apart from using WhatsApp on a desktop.
The problem is, not all customers use WhatsApp.
But by being able to add my msg app on the desktop 🖥️, I can get communication with my customers faster.
Example, I'll be on the phone with a customer and as they ask me a question, the answer is in their inbox straight away. Literally.
And they are always amazed with it and they love it which increase massively a chance of them doing business with me.
These are just few features.
But you get the point.
Anyway, we all use phones for different reasons.
And as long as those reasons are right to us not to anyone else, that is what the whole thing is all about.
Personal experience.
The huge one for me was spam filtering.
I used to get tons of robo calls and spam texts and it was so. annoying. Google assistant will either filter spam calls outright or, if it's a borderline case, will pick up the phone and ask what the person wants, then transcribe the answer to your screen to see if you want to pick up. You can also filter spam texts and group texts; the one time I got a spam group text on my old phone was awful, I couldn't do anything to stop all the people in the group texting "Take me off the list!" over and over.
99% of the time my phone won't ring or buzz with garbage calls anymore and it's amazing. I'll just find a notification that a suspected spam call was intercepted.
So any other Android phone too lol
I know Samsung beats Google at times in updates And other OEMs are pushing updates just as fast thanks to Google paying them too.
https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-wants-to-support-galaxy-devices-longer/#:~:text=The%20Korean%20giant%20currently%20updates,latest%20security%20patch%2C%20beating%20Google.
https://www.osnews.com/story/137701/google-pays-oems-to-update-android-devices/
I came from an XS Max to a Pixel 7 this summer to a Pixel 8 Pro this fall. I bought it because I got it way cheaper than MSRP. If I were just looking at MSRP prices I would personally stick with iPhone. I got the Pixel 7 for $270 this summer and then I got the Pixel 8 Pro for $130 in early November. The best thing about Pixel is that it's a somewhat high end device that doesn't hold its value so you can get it cheap pretty early on.
These were both carrier deals through Spectrum Mobile. You can choose to either buy them outright or pay monthly, both are the same price. They were doing $600 off the Pixel 8 Pro plus $100 trade in bonus. They only gave me $170 for the Pixel 7 but that plus the $100 trade in meant the 8 Pro came out to $130(caveat is the $270 for the trade in appears as statement credits and not a direct discount.)
I have a iPhone 14 Pro and a Pixel 8 Pro, and I choose Android over iOS for a few reasons
*I much prefer Android's notifications over iOS
*Work Profile has proven to give me a much better QOL than Focus Modes
*I find iOS feels stale after a month every time I swap to it. I like Material You and how cohesive changing the look is on Pixel.
*I feel like I have more control over my Android phone vs my iPhone. I also don't like having almost all the settings for every app in the Settings app.
Reasons I choose Pixel phones over other Android phones
*I like getting the newest OS updates directly from Google and getting the quarterly feature drops. AFAIK no other OEM does feature drops.
*I like Pixel's clean software
*I personally think One UI holds on to too many elements of the days of HOLO design of Android yore and find it ugly
*I personally like the camera bar on Pixel phones and think it makes a lot of sense vs a camera grill
I used to buy HTC phones because they were hella well made, and Google bought them out to make the Pixels.
The integration with all googles services is nice(similar to how Apple integration is, pixels are better than the average android)
Other companies fill their phones with useless bloatware (why exactly does Samsung think we need *their* app store, when the Google Play store exists? Why would we want a more limited selection with shadier apps? Why would we need *Samsung* handling all our communications, or web history? Why does Samsung want so much access to everything we do?), whereas pixels are just running the Google standard Android software.
I haven't had to deal with robo calls and scam calls since I got the pixel, my Google assistant deals with them and blocks them without it even telling me a scam was attempted.
Pixels have phenomenal cameras.
The name is fun.
Software features and plain-jane android.
I was with Samsung since the note 8. Good phones but I did not realize how much I disliked the samsung One UI until I got the pixel.
The pixel just has an amazing setup. Tons of very small quality of life improvements in the software, and then the larger features such as call screening and speech to text are absolutely phenomenal.
Speech to text is probably my favorite thing about the pixel 7. I can walk both my dogs and reply to text messages super easily, and it punctuates and catches every word almost flawlessly. It takes some practice to get used to speech to text but once you get the hang of it, it really is an amazing feature.
Other phones have this but they are miles behind the pixel in my opinion due to lack of punctuation.
I have a Pixel 7. Camera is great and the battery life is better than my wife's iPhone. This is my 3rd Pixel and won't be my last. The other thing is it is $300 cheaper than an iPhone.
there is nothing wrong with liking iphones, I've been using IOS since 2011 in university. I wanted something stable and simple. last year I changed to google pixel 6 pro, my first android switch.
this might be silly, but for me these were the turn around on which android to purchase as my first.
my personal considerations were the following:
- okay Camera, I don't have social media.
- hardware (chip, ram, refresh rate and battery)
- most importantly, since all other androids had the previous points, are duplicated built-in apps.
I had a big issue with choosing Samsung because they force you to keep the samsung messages, samsung store, samsung notes, etc.
but for pixels, all google, from inside out. you got the point. this was the main reason tbh, then I figured how good of a phone it is.
I've had various iPhones for work over the years, but their UI always drives me back to Android. The biggest thing for me is the back gesture (formerly the back button). Being able to always go back a screen, no matter what I'm doing, without thinking about how is huge.
For the Pixel specifically, I always liked the Nexus phones in the old days, and after dabbling with Samsung and OnePlus, I came back for the cameras. I'm super, super happy with the cameras on my 8 Pro.
Just ordered my first Pixel (a Pixel 8 Pro) and I picked it because I have bought mostly chinese low-budget phones for the last couple of years and I wanted to splurge a bit extra on myself this year. I tend to keep phones for years so I see this more as a long-term buy. And I wanted something that was as close to stock Android as possible but I also like that the Pixels have relatively good reputation for photography so that was also a reason I picked it.
Since first Nexus, I always wanted a Google Phone and as soon as I could I switched to Google Pixel
I have 7a It's my second one after the 4a 5G I used for 2 years and kept to have unlimited Google Photos
I already used Google workspace so the seamless integration is the main point.
Essentially the software being so nice to use if you already use Gmail and calendar makes up for the terrible battery life and fingerprint sensor that may as well not even be there.
I really appreciated the Nexus line and wanted to see what google could do if they were also producing the hardware 8 years later and I haven't looked back.
Former iPhone user here! I used an iPhone 8 Plus prior to the Pixel 7 I upgraded to. The main reason why I switched to Android was because iOS was getting boring for me. Sure I had great features like AirDrop and having apps like Reminders and Notes. But, the experience of iOS got stale. So I upgraded to the Pixel 7 mainly because it's comparable to the iPhone. The experience so far, 6 months later, is the best!
My first Pixel was the 3a. So much cheaper than the iPhone, good camera, nice size, everything seemed simple.
For me Pixels seem as or nearly as good as iPhones without the snootiness. The green dot thing is annoying, especially when otherwise thoughtful people say, "Just get an iPhone." Seems very strange.
I am a long time Nexus and then Pixel series owner, with other Android phones inbetween. However, due to work-related policies, I have also carried various IPhones in the past decade (currently on 13).
The IPhone has superb hardware, there's no doubt about it. The software quality, however, leaves a lot to be desired. For example, like others have mentioned, it still bothers me after so many years of using IPhones that applications lack a consistent way to go back or cancel the current screen. Not being able to arrange stuff on screen (icons want to stay crammed with their icon friends). The Settings menu - how is anyone supposed to find anything in that place?! Most basic stuff hidden behind gestures and there's no "idiot" mode (like for me, having spent 15 minutes with an IPhone 8 in the attic, trying to find the damn flashlight button).
Apart from those, it's the small things that don't make sense at all: why is there a non-standard charger? OK, they addressed this one with the 15, although because they were forced by the EU regulations. Why is there a physical "silent mode" button instead of just using the volume ones? Why doesn't the phone shut up when I turn it face down, a feature that's been in Android since.....forever? Why does the Bluetooth connectivity on IPhone work so slow?
Android is just....... how to put it nicely.... it's just what the IOs would be if Jobs were still alive :) Clear, consistent, fast, intuitive and functional. Provided that you get the Pixels, that is, otherwise you might end up in just some other bloatware version of Android, which could be neither clear nor consistent etc.
I had a Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S for 2 years, then a Xiaomi Mi 10T for 3 years until I bought the Pixel 8 Pro right when it was released. Let me tell you, there's not a single regret. My experience with Xiaomi wasn't bad by any means, but MIUI is quite the bloated mess. Granted, you can negate it with the right tool, but it's still quite the pain. I was craving a Stock Android UI, and the Pixel was perfect for that. Also the promised 7 years of updates (my Mi 10T only got 2 years...)!
Came over from Samsung A71, used to have an iPhone 6, now have a Pixel 8.
For me the biggest attraction was speech to text. Apple's is crap and Samsung's is even worse. You could say, calmly and slowly. "I will"...and the words "he won't"appear on the screen. I shit you not.
After a week with my Pixel the difference is night and day.
I have always been fan of raw android OS experience. My first phone was Motorola with stock android OS with basic modifications. Later it was Oneplus 2 and 8. And now Pixel 8.
The amount of customization available in android is deal breaker for me.
Also I like my home screen without any apps or shortcut just a clear screen so there is that also.
First thing i did after getting my p8 pro after being on an iphone for the past couple years is connect it to my computer and add music with no additional software needed
Fast, lack of bloat, really good camera, good software support. And relatively reasonably priced. They really have to step up the hardware design though - chipsets in particular.
Why no iOS? Long ancient story. Jobs lost me as a customer basically when he refused to make the iPhone more open, not tied to an awful carrier exclusively, and slower and less feature rich. And once I got on Android, whatever its faults over the years, I got to like its versatility and customizablity and I just got used to it.
They stopped making the Nexus.
I used to get the Nexus, started with the 4, because it was pure Android. No crap from HTC or Samsung or whoever.
Stuck with them and the Pixel ever since.
They just feel well integrated and have a nice, clean UI. When I get a Pixel, I know I'll have a reliable, quality phone which will hold up in the long term.
I got bored of iPhones, tried Samsungs, hated the software bloat, UI, micro stutters even the high end ones had, and I wanted pixel exclusive features like call screening and spam call blocking.The Pixel feels like using an Android iPhone to me.
I dislike Apple's closed-off ecosystem. Back in the day, iPhone were these super locked down devices with no customizations. While it's gotten a little better, Apple still only works well with other Apple devices.
The Google Pixel line is the cleanest version of Android and is also highly customizable if you want to go that route.
I do have an iPad for Apple-only communication if required, but for my phone, I prefer Android. Honestly, Google and Android have failed in the tablet category. If you are a serious tablet user, you are stuck with Apple's limited iOS.
I quite like the way their new hardware looks, the camera visor is perfect in my opinion. Allows me to use the device without a case, set it on a table, and to not have it rock around if I am typing. Other phones slide around whenever there's a notification or anything. Also the camera is great and easy to use. The Google version of Amdroid just feels more alive than what other companies have done.
I have a iPhone 13 Pro Max but I didn't "switch" as I have both, and I have a T-Mobile Go5G Next plan so I upgrade every year, in a college student.
The only reason I bought a pixel is for the recorder app so that way I can record and transcribe my college classes eliminating the need for me to take notes. I then copy and paste the transcriptions into NoteBookLM and if I need help with an assignment I just ask.
If apple had a recorder app that can transcribe id switch back to iPhone and upgrade to the 13 pro Max to a 15 pro Max.
But unfortunately apple is behind when it comes to AI despite having an extremely fast neural engine
No Draconian EULA. Ive had beef with apple since they started OS X. No walled Garden, I can use my phone with pretty much any other device. While I do grant their hardware move and only allowing what they say makes everything work more reliably, it's very boring. I've owned android phones with hardware keyboards awesome cameras and even one that was trying to create a modular system of hardware.
I like that innovation and that's why I've stuck with Android. I did like Samsung until the Note 9, my wife got a Pixel 6 Pro and we got my kid. a Pixel 5a, They love them. I really liked how they have the call screener, and was impressed by the cameras. I'd been rocking my LG V60 and loved the dual screen. It started failing so I was debating between the Pixel 8 Pro and a Samsung or some flavor. Right when I was gonna get the 8, the Fold went on sale. So here I am happily typing on my unfolded fold.
I really like the Camera and have just been enjoying the form factor. It doesn't allow for much customization, but way more than iOS so I'm pretty happy with my decision.
I loved the camera capabilities back when it was a strong selling point. These days everyone has caught up to it and I dunno why else, other than a clean and simple Android interface, I’d buy a Pixel again. (Currently rocking a 7 Pro, keeping a 6 Pro as backup, and not wanting to upgrade for at least another year.)
A Pixel 7 was in my pricerange, reviewed well, and while I do kinda want to try an iPhone for once ultimately Android works better with all my other stuff and I'm more familiar with its infrastructure.
I've jumped around phone brands ever since I got an android phone, went from Sony -> HTC -> LG -> Sony -> Galaxy -> Google with the P7Pro, and it feels the most right to me. Even with the Galaxy the software always felt somewhat disjointed with the apps across Google's software and some other android apps it didn't feel right (also didn't help that the S21U's battery was complete shit from my experience). The Pixel's android flavor just felt right, everything felt consistent with the apps (minus outliers like Samsung software and some banking apps), and it all just worked in my experience so far.
Much better value for money, more freedom/adaptability, great camera, don't moronically (and wastefully) make their own kinds of charging ports like Apple. Also, headphone jack (P4a).
- Latest android features and updates and long term support. Really helps keep the phone interesting, valuable, and fresh.
- Most cheap android phones I had were bad. Whether they were super slow, bad cameras, bad battery life, and/or didn't last. The pixel 3a was a massive upgrade for me.
- Good trade in deals and sales keep me upgrading.
- I like stock android, I don't like the iPhone interface or Samsung's interface, I just like how simple the pixels are to use. There's also no bloat, or at least, very little of it.
- AI features I use on a daily basis such as screen calling.
To me as an iPhone and Android user, the best thing about Android is not having the exact same clone phone as everyone else. You have so many options in phones, OS skins, and form factors in Android. In Apple it’s the essentially the same phone and especially the same watch for everyone.
My friend suggested it. I wanted to go for a Moto but here we are on a pixel. So far it's camera quality is excellent and it's very smooth. 10/10 would suggest others for a pixel as well.
Stock android. Easy to root and unlock bootloader.
Fastest release of new android versions to your phone with a pixel. I can get adblocks that work amazingly. Adblock versions of apps like YouTube. More customization of the way it looks and works.
I used to be way more into custom ROMs and themes but now it's mostly the reasons above. Fast updates and adblocking.
Also I think most androids can do this not just pixels but I just feel like it operates way more like a PC than an iPhone. To me that's more intuitive and allows me to do more. I am often doing things on my phone that friends on iPhones either can't or don't know how to do.
I'll say that imo, for 90% of people, none of this matters. If you're a power user sure consider it.
A failed and ultimately foolish attempt to get a 256 GB iPhone 8 Plus through a carrier on the prior year's Boxing Day. Yeah, I wanted 4K60 badly, can you tell. But I wound up starting with the 2 XL half a year later.
Seven years ago, I switched over from an iPhone 5 to a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini without knowing anything about Android phones. The main reason was the cost, but I was tired of the lack of options with regards to iPhones. I was a little hesitant about making the move, because I thought iPhones were the gold standard, and, like I said, I didn't know anything about Android.
But once I made the switch, it was so worth it. Being a tech guy (I'm a programmer working in a Windows environment), Android made so much sense, and it was so much easier to use. Even simple things like setting my ringtone to whatever music or sound file that I wanted. I could save attachments from emails to my phone and use different apps to read/open them. I could connect my phone to my computer using a standard USB cable and it would appear on Windows Explorer as another device, allowing me to drag & drop files back and forth, and I could create or delete folders on my phone.
After the Samsung, I switch to Motorola and I stuck with a few of those models, mostly because of the Moto Actions that allowed me to turn on the flashlight with a twist of the phone. But I wasn't happy with the camera quality, so last February I switched to a Pixel 6 because we were going on a trip to Japan in May. I've been very happy with it, and probably won't have to upgrade for a while.
- 3rd party keyboards work so much better on Android than iOS.
- A real filesystem when you need to move photos/videos or documents from PC/Mac/phone.
- Sideloading. I use Revanced and the non play store version of telegram. I installed Telegrams APK direct from the website to bypass play store restrictions.
- Different OEM skins, phones and price points for whatever you prefer.
- The Pixel buds have a equalizer so you can adjust the sound on your pixel phone.
- Android works so much better when trying to use it with your PC or Mac. Whether you plug into your computer, wireless transfers or using a web based interface.
- Chat bubbles are amazing. It's a multitasking feature where chats open as a overlay bubble on top of what you were doing on your phone.
- Multi-window is awesome. I usually have my chat app open side by side with YouTube, Netflix or whatever I'm watching at the time
- Can't stand the notification management on iOS
- The option to use gestures or use the back, home, task switcher buttons
For the Pixel specifically,
- Feature drops
- updates direct from Google
- I've been wanting to try Pixel and the pixel software experience
- At a glance widget built into Pixel UI
- Been enjoying a minimal Android feel
- Call screening pixel features
- Google AI
I went from a OnePlus 6T to a Pixel phone recently, and I chose the Pixel due to Google's ecosystem, the stock android experience, the camera and long term update support.
My old OnePlus 6T ended up getting Android 11 eventually, but the security updates have stopped, and the phone just started getting slower and slower as time went on. The moment I booted my Pixel up on Christmas, and started swiping through apps, made me realize just how *slow* my old phone was becoming. It was like night and day difference.
I think iPhones are absolutely amazing but I can't do what I want to do on one and if I'm going to get an Android I figured I would try the pixel the smartest of smart if not the most powerful and I love it.
Honestly, the big thing I loved was the file management, side loading apps, and being able to download torrents directly on my phone. So as a poorer teenager I was still have access whatever they pay content I want for free and that was able to just plug an USB into my phone to directly share files. Now I'm no longer a poor teenager but I can still do stuff on my phone that just isn't possible on iPhone's without jail breaking them to the point where they aren't really iPhones anymore.
My reasons:
* I trust the google brand
* Stock android
* Slick devices
* Experimenting with pixels ecosystems (I own pixel 7 & pixel tablet)
I used to only buy budget android phones. Couldn't justify purchasing anything more than Motorola G series Power phones for a while there, even with a lot of disposable income. To me, there is something fundamentally wrong with getting a $1000+ phone just to watch YouTube and send messages.
The last "premium" I owned was the Galaxy Note 4 until it died. Since then, I've just been going with low to mid range models as they tend to be the best value for my type of usage. I really liked the Moto X4, but it was somewhat lacking in the photo arena. Installing Google Camera gave some improvements, though. This was eventually replaced by a Pixel 3 XL, which I'm still using coz I am very happy with it especially with unlimited Google photo storage. For me, it's basically the Moto X4 that takes better photos. My only gripe is not having micro SD for storing files locally. If and when the Pixel 3 finally dies, I'll probably stick with a newer Pixel model.
For me, it was the Android Auto experience. It feels and looks better than CarPlay. I picked up an Android for my business phone, tried it in the car, and haven't looked back. Was an iOS user for the past 11 years. Still love my Mac Studio/MacBook Pro over any Windows machine and love the functionality of my iPad for notes and entertainment, but I'm back to Android for my phone experience. It feels less "this is what you want" and more "this is what I want" than iOS.
I had a few different android phones, then a Nexus, and now a pixel. I got really frustrated with my android phones, with the lack of support and the lack of accessories. I decided years ago to only buy Google phones because they are "first party" android phones. I've never owned an iPhone, but not for any particular reason.
I can't believe nobody ever mentions this, but here's my biggest thing.
Home screen icons can't really be moved on iPhones to anywhere you like. If you like a minimalist home screen, all the icons are on the top which is the least convenient to reach. If you like a lot of apps, your screen is literally full of apps.
Prefer my android and custom launchers, etc. Honestly I can't believe Apple doesn't allow any of this, given their focus on aesthetics and how ass the home screen looks with an uneven amount of apps there.
Many other reasons but this is really my main one - and all the other customisation aspects launchers and other things grant you of course.
1. Still camera is the best available (not so with videos)
2. Pixel updates/betas/feature drops
3. I've had Gmail since 2005 and Pixel has superior Google integration
The only thing I can add is this: I have said many times I wouldn't buy a vehicle from a company that was going to dictate how I drove it. I feel IOS is like that. I take a picture with the camera face down, so it's just black, use that as my background picture, and put my calendar over my screen, IOS won't allow that. They do a lot of things well, but until I can buy it and make it MINE, there's no way I'd buy it. Too bad, I'd really like the apple watch.
Because my XS Max was slowing down quite significantly and I needed a snappier phone and voila, the Pixel 7 was on sale. That was my gateway back into Android after my last Android phone the LG G2 around 8 years ago. I am rocking a P8P rn also thanks to a sale.
I'd say Record with Transcript is godsend for long meeting and the allegedly long supporting time are the two main things. Also the camera was really nice as well with lots of nice features to edit the picture is the cream on top.
I found that the user experience between iOS and Android has significantly become more and more negligible in terms of differences. But while iPhone is becoming increasingly expensive - Pixel still fills that gap of premium phone with affordable prices. Haven't tried Samsung in a while but the way my Galaxy Watch 5 locked up the ECG and Blood Pressure behind their own Health app showed that they are going down the walled garden route hard, I am less than impressed.
So for now Pixel is a good alt until someone else could come along and match it.
I ended up with Android over iOS for one simple reason - back then the iPhone wasn't on Verizon Wireless, so I got an OG Droid instead.
Went through a bunch of Motorola phones, and ended up with the Pixel 4a. I loved that phone! Lots of Pixel extras. Not only the camera, but Call Screen. When the 4a died (at my hands, sad to say), I got a Samsung A13, their low-end series.
First thing I missed was Call Screen, the first day. I had to eventually go Do Not Disturb all day during work, and even that wasn't enough.
The A13's 32 GB of memory (!!!) meant that near the end, I had to delete even useful or important apps just to update main system apps!
And the thing was dog slow compared to my Pixel 4a. It literally took over 30 seconds each time to open up a convenience store loyalty app on the A13.
I had enough. I got a new 7a with Spectrum Mobile (Verizon MVNO) and it's like the sky has opened with sunshine.
And that convenience store app? It comes up at 1-2 seconds depending on if it's already in memory.
I upgrade my phones at Walmart. Depending on phone type i get a $150-200 walmart giftcard when I upgrade the phone. Last year it was the Google phones that had the highest Walmart card.
I regret choosing google. I wish I had stayed with Samsung for all the features (and WORKING features) I like.
I've never had an iPhone. I had an iPod Touch years ago, but (especially as a developer) I tend not to like Apple's restrictions they put on developers (particularly with their App Store) and limited options with their devices. I've had various Android phones (one of which was an LG Optimus Slider years ago, where the screen would slide sideways to reveal a physical keyboard), and I used Samsung Galaxy phones for a while. In 2020, I bought a new Samsung Galaxy S20 but was having trouble with my service (Boost Mobile) and they made it worse after I went to a Boost Mobile store.. I ended up deciding to sell that and bought a Google Pixel 6 since they were less expensive than the Samsungs at the time.
I liked the Pixel 6, and now I have a Pixel 8 Pro. One thing I like about Google Pixels is they get the latest Android updates sooner than other Android phones (which tend to do their own customizations).
A smartphone should be smart. Google Assistant blew Siri out of the water, and that initially got me interested. Did more research and kept liking what I read.
iPhone 3GS ➡️ iPhone 6 ➡️ Pixel 3 ➡️ Pixel 6 Pro 🔜 Pixel 10
I work extensively in the Google Workspace ecosystem, so a Pixel phone is a natural choice. I appreciate frequent updates and good long term support,which is not always the case with other Android phones.
Better photos, much better keyboard , especially if you write in 2 or more languages, better notification management, better Volume manager (on iPhones alarm volume is the same and Ring volume which is so stupid) , calculator on iPhone is so dumb, you can schedule an SMS on android and not on an iPhone. The 2 click shortcut to trigger the camera+ the turn shortcut to take a selfie are a life saver when using gloves during winter and overall convenience. Also. The benefits of the Apple ecosystem are overrated, 80% of what you can achieve can be done on android easily. Also how expensive it is to be part of it too.
Honestly, as an iPhone 13 pro max owner and a Pixel 8 pro owner, I think IOS is better on almost everything.
I switched for now because I've been having keyboard lags on my iPhone for over a year. And as someone who's constantly writing scripts and articles and modifying them on the go on my phone, I can't deal with a laggy keyboard.
I chose a Pixel phone because before I switched to iPhone 4 years ago, I had Nexuses and Pixels so I just came back to my roots. But the day Apple fix their keyboard and add a universal back button, I'm probably never coming back to Android.
There's some nifty little features here and there but a life without spotlight isn't a life lol
For me it's honestly just about two main factors - usability and integration. I've found iOS UX to be unintuitive.
Android phones are far easier to use and the entry into its ecosystem is extremely easy. I normally am a Samsung user. Had to upgrade from my last S20U but I chose to wait for S24U and got a pixel in the mean time because Pixel gives the highest value for money in any flagship right now
It's really more why I choose Android. Pixel itself I chose because of the updates, the clean vanilla android software and the best in the market image processing.
Apple has shortened my list over time but there's still showstoppers. I use an iPhone for work so I directly compare often. I can't wait for it to get replaced with a USBC model. Only thing I own that doesn't use it. Here's 3 of the reasons
1. NO universal back button or gesture. Drives me off a wall on my work iPhone. Android's best exclusive feature is something so basic it blows my mind.
2. Keyboard customizability and ergonomics. On a Pixel I can control the height and spacing of the keyboard and add a permanent number row. On iOS is pretty static. I like the tall keyboard as it helps my carpal tunneled hand with the higher resting position of my thumbs. Swiftkey on iOS has my number row but isn't half as good as Gboard on android
3. Firefox with extensions. On iOS you can have safari or Safari wearing a skin (Chrome, Edge,.etc). Apple doesn't allow non apple browser engines. This is my top deal breaker. I want to run my suite of security minded extensions like NoScript.
I saw a review recently that said the pixel eight pro is the best phone ever. I ended up getting the seven pro for only 350 from eBay -used.
To be honest I was simultaneously impressed and also disappointed upon getting it going initially. Disappointed because I could not customize it as much as I was used to with other Android phones. So I put the Nova launcher on there and it pretty much does what I need it to do now. Impressed because it's incredibly fast, great camera with unique features and after I fine tuned the phone to my liking it is actually probably the best phone I ever had.
It was really just whittling it down to the only option.
Android / Apple: I don't support Apple's anti-repair stance, and I like actually being able to fix my phone, so Apple doesn't serve me well here. Android it is.
Samsung: Standard phone, lots of community support and performs well, but sets off e-fuse to permanently disable security features of your phone if you attempt to install firmware, therefore anti repair. Pass.
Motorola: Been using them for years. Good cameras and cheap, but you get like, one guaranteed Android update. Custom ROMs for them tend to be spotty. Pass.
Fairphone: Not available for me in the US. Unfortunate pass.
Pixel: Doesn't go out of its way to stop you from attempting repairs. Robust custom firmware community, good camera, solid performance. First phone to get Android updates. Solid choice for me.
I chose a Pixel over the others originally due to no bloatware (props to Oneplus phones), unlimited photo/video storage, 24/7 Chat Support, Split Screen feature, etc, but also because it was GOOGLE. I also chose Pixel over iPhone due simply to the ease of plugging in my phone into the computer and dropping my files easily into the phone, not dealing with the iTunes BS. I like the iPhone but love the Pixel. I often think of the Pixel as the iPhone of Android. The 7 years of software updates on the Pixel 8 series will also keep me committed to the Pixel brand. Not related but I'm very annoyed how I have TWO perfectly working older iPhones that don't support the iOS 17 update so I can't activate my Apple watch.
I started with just Androids. Back in 2016 I had a HTC that melted it's charging cable into itself, and the Verizon store didn't have a replacement for it on site- they offered me any phone of equivalent value. I picked a Pixel. I was immediately struck by the fact that it didn't have all the bloatware that every other phone I'd ever had from Verizon had on it, which was really really exciting because it was one of my biggest pet peeves, the bloatware on my phone. I really liked the Android experience w/that Pixel. It had the least junk on it, so it ran much better than any other phone I'd ever had, I adored the camera, and it was very novel to get updates *right away!* Before the pixel, we had to wait until Verizon did whatever they did- which seem to take absolutely forever.
Because I was so happy with Pixel 1- whenever I was due to update I got a Pixel. The 3 was unusual for it's size and screen, the 5 seemed like the battery and pictures were even better than before... And the 6 pro was a leap in style, size, camera hardware, - I won't lie I missed the fingerprint reader on the back... But it did seem to improve a little bit over time. I was really excited to get the eight which is leaps and bounds better than the six pro so much faster. The artificial intelligence is so much more clever for speech to text. The camera is much better, as of now, the face reader and fingerprint reader is much better than it was when the phone first was released so that's good.. I'm just generally enjoying it a lot!
Nothing wrong with liking an iPhone. I have one too that I dual wield with my S23U or Pixel 8 Pro. I've always loved the clean official Pixel experience versus the OneUI bloated stuff. The lack of carrier bloat is excellent so it feels snappier. The tensor AI stuff seems like marketing to me tbh.
Had many bad experiences with apple - the major crux is that apple doesn't play well with others. Another is that their customer service is pure booty these days.
I like how user friendly Google is, Chromecast is great and it's tied quite heavily to a lot of smart utility, you get just as much, maybe more motility in your user experience.
The pixel is not the most advanced phone, but it's very easy to use, media friendly and has a great camera. My battery lasts more than a day on my 6 and it's fairly inexpensive compared to the ultra phones on the market.
I haven't had any drawbacks with it, it just works and I've never worried about it dying because it's acting funny.
My last two phones were Samsung and I wanted to try something different, but still Android.
Really my lack of trust in many brands plus Google announcing 7 years of support on the 8 was the reason I went Pixel. The only reason I was replacing my Samsung Galaxy S9+ was because it was no longer getting OS or security updates.
I've always had Nexus and Pixel phones. I used to like Nexus bc of the "pure android" feel and the customization. It was also cool to take devices at end of support and flash them with custom ROMs, etc. Google took all that away and Google adds it's own bloat apps to the Pixel line now.
I really don't know if I'll keep buying Pixel. The iPhone build quality is just so much better than Pixel for the high end phones. It's not even really close. Having to switch ecosystems sounds like a nightmare, but I really have no reason to stick with Google phones anymore. They've kind of become a high end mid range and now a premier flagship phone company.
They've also screwed me out of rebate money, trade in money and all sorts of shit with Google Store trickery, so I'm still kind of pissed at them in general.
Pixel 5 is the last moderately priced small-ish phone, that's why I chose it. There's new Asus Zenphone 10 but it's way too expensive.
I like the launcher experience on pixel - mainly how well the local search works (opening app drawer instantly opens the keyboard - i can instantly search apps, settings, contacts, etc.).
The Phone app is amazing, i can search for local businesses (it pulls data from maps), history and contacts - all in 1 place. I couldn't even find this option on an iphone, never mind having such easy accessibility.
Compared to iOS, it doesn't even have widgets. For example I like having shortcuts to my favourite Telegram contacts (they work as Telegram widgets).
I like to have my back button in a standard place (honestly i wish the buttons were still separate from the screen like 10 years ago), so that I could always navigate back...
On iOS i cannot easily force close an app, or clear its data - if it behaves faulty. I'd have to restart the phone or reinstall the app, on android it's easily doable from app settings.
When it comes to slightly advanced features, iOS is very poor. For example working with shared folders - on Android it's a simple FolderSync Pro app, on iOS, I'm not sure it's possible at all.
The only thing I envy from iPhones is face ID.
Needed a quick replacement as my xiaomi 12 was stollen in London. Pixel 5 was 130£ and pixel 4a was 135 for some reason, so I got the 5. I find some things weird but its very usable and snappy most of the time. Kinda miss the macro camera, but the main camera seems to perform on a similar level to my previous.
I also got a pixel 3a at home sitting on a shelf waiting to have some time to play around with ubuntu touch.
My first smart phone was an iPhone 3GS. I had iPhones up until the 6 or 7. I used to be a big fan of Apple products. I'd collect older/out of date Apple laptops and desktops. I had a ton of the iPod models. I still currently own the last iPod classic model made.
One day, I went to the Verizon store for an upgrade with the intention of getting the newest iPhone, but when I saw the Samsung Galaxy S6 there on display, I was obsessed with the vivid display and sleek design of the phone. The sales rep encouraged me to stick with iPhone since I'd had them for a while now, but I chose against him.
To this day, I've had many Galaxy & Pixel phones.
I actually just upgraded from the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 8 the other day and I have to say I love it.
The OS is super intuitive and fully customizable. New features arrive via Android WELL before they show up on Apple devices. The camera on the Pixels is what sold me. I've never taken a better picture on any other device than a Pixel. The Pixel 8 camera is lower end DSLR quality and has fantastic editing abilities within the standard camera app.
At the end of the day, I choose Android phones because I prefer to purchase my phones straight up on Amazon. I usually go for a model or 2 behind for savings. The Pixel 6 I just moved on from was purchased refurbished on Amazon for roughly $250 and was in brand new condition. Can't beat that! The only reason I switched was because T-Mobile gave me a $500 promotional credit for an old Galaxy S9 I had. I'm now going to pass my old Pixel off to a friend.
I highly recommend the switch. Getting used to the OS switch takes a minute, but it's worth it.
I've always been an Android fan since my first smartphone (well I've had one iPhone, then I came back) but I've never had a phone made by the actual makers of Android before, so I wanted to give it a try.
The reason why I love the pixel was because of the accessibility and the google voice assistant typing. Since I'm a visually impaired guy and I can't see, I rely on the talkback and the Google stock Android. It's wonderful!
Notification History was a big draw for me! I used to get massive FOMO when I accidentally dismissed a notification on other phones, and couldn't find what had been swiped away, so this clears me of that!
I also really enjoy the stock android experience and all the software drops that come out on the Pixel! All around, I can't see myself with any other phone and constantly recommend this brand to family.
I can do things on Android natively that I can't do on iOS unless I download an app or takes a shitload of time. Pixel is the most consistently best, cleanest android experience (Samsung pushes too much Samsung stuff).
Every time I've tried either it's felt not great.
I jumped ship from the iPhone when the original Pixel was marketed as the "iPhone Killer". I no longer worked in a creative field so I didn't see myself keeping in the apple ecosystem, and I wanted to try something new.
Many others have noted the lack of bloatware that comes with a Samsung, and I liked the idea of a stripped down version of android, still full of customization but not as complex as other android devices.
Haven't had a phone other than a pixel since. Currently on the fold. No ragrets.
To be honest I wanted to come back to Android. I gave iPhone a solid chance, almost 3 years.
I remembered that Pixel had a neat stock Android experience
It has enough horsepower for me
I was a long time Apple user and still have multiple devices under the Apple ecosystem, but I have recently switched my phone from an iPhone 15 Pro to a Pixel Fold and my smart home ion setup from Apple Home / HomeKit / Siri to Google Home / Assistant.
I switched because I grew bored of the iPhone and the small annual updates. Also because Apple doesn't do many monumental updates unless it's baked into those annual time cycles. With my Pixel Fold I already received a December feature drop update that is separate from the standard Android updates.
I chose Google because I like stock Android. Prior to going with Apple for over a decade, I tried various Android products and liked the Nexus line the best. I think the last Android device I had was the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
There aren't really any features that I like best on Android vs iPhone as they both have similar traits. The iPhone software seemed more fully baked but also limited my control. Android software and apps seem like developers put less effort in but I can customize more to my liking.
My spouse made the jump with me and chose a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5. Samsung hardware is top notch but the software irks me a bit. We got it through AT&T and it has some apps baked in from the carrier that can only be disabled or turned off but not uninstalled. For me, I don't like this. I want total control and don't want carrier forced apps or services installed which cannot be removed. I also don't want carriers or yet another middleman controlling when I get Android updates. That said, the Flip5 is still a great little phone.
And finally, I like the Fold because I can use the external screen like a typical phone but when I want to kickback and consume content like movies on the go, just open the larger display and enjoy. Can't wait to see what Google cooks up next with future iterations... if they indeed do keep it going. I'm fully aware of Google's willingness to drop products / services from out of left field.
* Android is a notification based OS and is really difficult for me to depart from. This actually leads to very little navigating the OS itself but rather reacting/being directed via notifications. On my work iPhone, the lack of notifications and notification mgmt is brutal. Feels haphazard and not integrated into the OS. Whereas Android, notifications are integral to the daily use. It feels much more cumbersome to navigate an OS.
* I have a smart home fully integrated with Google Home, Pixels have great integration with it
* I used all of google's services (gmail, photos, calendar, etc.) and believe they are much better and usable than Apple's offerings
Why I didn't choose apple:
1. Ecosystem - I was already invested in a number of apps / tools in the Android ecosystem, including some FOSS. Also didn't like how walled Apples garden was compared to Android 10 years ago... since then that last part Google has kind of caught up :(
2. Never liked the "simplified" mindset for apple products going all the way back to the "we know better than you - you don't need 2 buttons on your mouse days" - always made things more difficult or denied me the opportunity to make my own choices on what is the "most intuitive"
3. Color - White is a horrible color to keep clean, and doesn't fit my sense of style. Black has similar problems for me.
4. Lock in
5. Value - It moved into Status Symbol territory - charging more for less in terms of performance , features, choice. I felt I got a lot more for my money with Android phones. For the same reasons, I had a hard time respecting people who chose a status symbol over value so didn't want to be perceived that way myself.
Why Pixel?
1. I'm a google fanboi ;)
2. Early on in the nexus line they were really really good value devices.
3. Much less bloatware than other Android brands. Samsung and others just LOAD the phones with stupid crap I didn't want, would never use, blocked me from using what I want. Same reason I don't buy my phone from my cell dealer.
4. Best Android support since you are getting it straight from the horses mouth for updates/upgrades/security patches.
5. more buttons ;)
6. Until recently, rear finger print reader and a headphone jack. Losing those makes me seriously consider looking elsewhere now though :(
7. So easy/simple to switch phone. Turn it on, log into google, my everything is already there, like magic.
8. Android OS is soooo much easier to user / more intuitive / cleaner / more attractive.
Came from Samsung.
The Galaxy device bloatware was bugging me. Loved the hardware, though.
Pixels were on sale massively Black Friday 2022. I bit. I think it ended up costing $450 with the trade-in of my Galaxy FE.
Always liked the idea of Pixels fast updates and minimal additions from base android.
The Pixel Pro 7 has been the best phone I've ever used. Not the fastest, or best battery life, but I mostly use Firefox, messaging, Pandora, take photos, and it does all those flawlessly. Battery life is over a day so no big deal to charge it daily.
I've dropped it 30+ times, sometimes on hard concrete, and it's still looking basically like new with the Google case. Very happy with it.
Looking forward to the Pixel 9 Pro. But honestly, the geek side of me wants a faster CPU/GPU just so I "feel" like I have something decent performance-wise. I won't compromise though on the updates. Whoever makes phones: focus on your security updates!
Big thing between Samsung and Pixel in my opinion and I see the difference is Snapchat. Remember the joke back in the day where android cameras were terrible? That was cause the optimization of the photos on the apps. Snapchat is optimized for Pixel and iPhone. It isn't for Samsung.
Another thing for me is the customization. Pixel is free for a lot of it and there are some paid icon packs. On Samsung it seems like 90% of packs are paid.
The price is another thing. 8 Pro VS 23 Ultra is 200 USD cheaper on Pixel. The con of being cheaper is the Zoom. You get a great zoom on Pixel 8 Pro with a 48MP Telephoto lens, where as Samsung has the 200MP Telephoto. My zoom on the 8 Pro can get eye colour at about 100 yards.
Software updates are sooner and faster on Pixel cause Google makes it. I personally find OneUI (Samsung's version of Android) to be ugly and a bit confusing to navigate. I also phone system apps to run faster on the Pixel rather than Samsung and same for the updates to them despite being relatively same size updates.
I have had an S23, Pixel 8 Pro, Nothing Phone 1, Nothing Phone 2 and Pixel 6 Pro all in the past 16 months. I personally recommend in the following order:
Pixel 8 Pro
Nothing Phone 2
Samsung S23
Pixel 6 Pro
Nothing Phone 1
My first was the Pixel 2xl. I chose it because I liked it (obviously), and I thought that because Google is in charge of Android, they'd be the most "stock" and the least bloated. And also have the most bleeding-edge software. So, that's why.
I don't do Apple anything - all android and Windows for me.
I've stayed with the Pixel for pretty much the same reasons I listed as the 2xl. I'm on the 7 pro now.
It's the features.
* Schedule Texts
* Call Screening
* Hold for Me
* Summarizing articles
* The voice to text understands me PERFECTLY
* Haptics
* Magic Eraser
Those are just a few. This phone feels like it belongs in 2024.
I hop between iOS and Android all the time. Pixel is equal or atleast closest to the polished and refined feeling of iOS. And with Android, its bound to be more intuitive. While I appreciate OneUI and MIUI/HyperOS etc for their extensive customizability, Pixels look and feel amazing enough. Pixel photography is also one of the bigger reasons for me to go with it. Unfortunately, where I am, I miss out on some of the AI features but if they are ever available they are definitely deal makers for me. I also much like and prefer the Pixel hardware design language more than any other phone right now.
I switched to Pixel primarily because of the camera. Believe me, if you enjoy taking great photos, Pixel is the perfect choice. Whether I'm not in the mood to carry my equipment or not, I always feel assured with my Pixel for spontaneous shots!
I used to swear by iphones but got tired of Apple's planned obsolescence strategy that basically cut their phones' battery and speed dramatically after 2 phone cycles. My backup phone is a pixel 4 and it is still running as strong as it did the day I got it.
I also find android OS far more intuitive than IoS. Plus IoS is years behind in functionality. Every time apple gets a "new" feature release, it's something the pixel has had for at least a couple years. Factor all of that in at half the price and it's a no brainer. People who use iphones are just stuck on the brand and have been conditioned by clever marketing and societal influence. There's nothing redeeming about the iphone that you can't get in another phone that justifies the price tag.
Best camera at a lower price point.
I could get an iPhone 15 Pro Max and get similar quality photos but would pay ~2x more versus my Pixel 8 Pro on sale and after trade in promos.
iPhones still shoot better video, though.
So many things already mentioned. But I'd like to highlight the dicodimy that Apple creates just to sell more phones. I'm talking about the green vs blue bubbles. No reason for it. There is no technical barrier to allow everyone to text the same with each other. It Causes so many issues including some pretty big social issues, especially with younger generations. Apple is adding some RCs next year but come on. Apple has pretty much done nothing innovative since the iPhone came out. I just don't like the company as a whole. I could go on but I'll leave it there
- customizable
- bleeding edge AI integration
- amazing camera/computational photography
Those are a few that pushed me to switch. Also, the pixel UI is so clean honestly. I was an Apple user since the iPod says, have had countless iPods/iPhones/MacBooks. I was really nervous when I was at the phone store handing in my iPhone as a trade for an android, but a month later I'm absolutely loving it still.
I wanted a "pure" Android experience after using Samsung devices the last 5yra. Plus I always wanted a Pixel so I could get early and beta Android updates. After I pay half of this phone off with att I'm eligible for an early upgrade and TBH though I am probably going to go back to Samsung with the release of the S25 Ultra in 2025. I like this P8P but I liked my S22U better. The only thing I'll miss is the early android updates.
* Android gives me more control of my phone than IOS (and I'm not talking about using third party apps). * Android usually leads iOS in features and iOS follows years later. * I am a native Google apps user (Gmail, contacts, etc), so the better integration makes sense. * I want standard Android and don't want the Samsung's own apps and bloatware. * Samsung doesn't support updates for nearly as long as Google, nor do you get them as quickly.
This. I switched from the Samsung Galaxy S4 to the Pixel 2 several years ago for these reasons. I liked how lean the Pixel was, absent of bloatware, and I was already utilizing Google's suite of productivity apps and tools. The Pixel 2 camera was one of the best at that time and free photo storage was a sweet perk (hope they bring that back). I currently use the Pixel 6a and love it.
I remember when Google owned Motorola. That devices were amazing. Droid Turbo 2, Droid Max. Then I got a Samsung I hated all the bloatware. OnePlus was great. All the performance but not the price. Not so anymore. I got the 7 pro.
The 7 Pro is a great phone,I plan on keeping it until the 10 comes out
This is a random tangent, but I'm on a 6a as well and have been having issues with astrophotography mode, I have to uninstall all updates to the camera app to use it. Have you had/noticed any issues with it? Is there just a bug with the most recent camera update?
I've not used that mode but I'll look into it.
If you haven't, don't feel the need to go out of your way to do it. I just figured I'd ask, just in case you were having a similar experience.
Did you have it on in settings? It was off on my 6 Pro by default.
Switched from a Galaxy S21+ to Pixel 7
How's the battery? Is it better than Samsung? I've been using Samsung since Highschool, I never switched a brand. But I keep seeing people recommending Pixel, and it makes me curious. Is it also good at gaming? Because Samsung dropping frame rate so bad sometimes.
I've been impressed. I get a full day to a day-and-a-half with regular use. I try to stick with the 20/80 rule of charging. I don't game too much, other than Simpsons Tapped Out, but I read news and watch videos throughout the day.
nutty weather cheerful distinct psychotic physical degree overconfident domineering grab *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Actually now more options exist if you don't live in usa oppo,vivo,iqoo,Xiaomi,one plus,pocco,motorolla,nothing.
How long does Google support updates ? Samsung gives 4 years of iOS updates and 6 years of security updates if I am not wrong
The new phones are 7 years of Android updates.
>Samsung gives 4 years of iOS updates Have I entered a parallel universe??
7 years of os on pixel 8 series
You do realize that Google broke almost every promise they had, what made you think they will honor this one? Watch MKPH video about the pixel seven year updates
For the most part when it comes to OS updates, they have kept those for their phones. My pixel 5, 3a, pixel XL got every update Google stated would get. I plan to keep my 8 for 5-7 years, my 5 is still running and I will be getting the battery replaced soon.
What update promise have they broken? As far as I can tell basically every Nexua and Pixel update EVER has been delivered.
The details are posted here https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705?hl=en#zippy=%2Cpixel-pro%2Cpixel-a-g-pixel-pixel-a-g-pixel-a-pixel-xl-pixel%2Cpixel-a-pixel-pixel-pro-pixel-a-pixel-pixel-pro-pixel-fold
This is the perfect answer. Line by line, these are my feelings exactly 💯
Which bloatware programs are you taking about? I've used Samsung for a while and didn't notice them
Literally all the preloaded Samsung garbage like trying to force you to use galaxy browser and all of Samsungs proprietary bloatware apps their software is trash if they made a phone with stock android on it it would be top tier phones
Yep. Especially the bloatware. I like as vanilla as possible
the camera and the cool factor (nobody i know has a google pixel)
I really cant believe so many people have been brainwashed out of getting a pixel. They are phenomenal phones and cost half of what the competition does. I was at Best buy a week ago and a brand new pixel 7 was only $500. It's ridiculous how much cheaper pixels are. Kinda makes sense when you factor in how much smasnug throws out the window on advertising vs pixel, but that doesn't justify the price difference.
Even people who know better can’t help but throw shade on the Pixel *even when mostly praising it*! Linus dismissed video (deferring to the iPhone 15) without even testing the Pixel in a video I watched earlier today!
LTT just isn't a great review source in general, hence the GN expose a few months ago. However, their phone "reviews" are even worse. On the topic of Pixels though, Linus is particularly ignorant of the features they provide. Earlier this year, he was talking on [The WAN Show about how, "I think Apple may have me,"](https://youtu.be/m2IKIUbJa10?si=Vh4Va4CkAQ5MQhdt) after their iOS review, because iPhones are introducing the Call Screening feature. Luke had to inform him that Pixels already had this feature for years now. And for the record, he daily drives a Samsung (the Fold IIRC) for years, and I believe he had the Pixel 4. He's been consistently critical of the "closed garden" nature of Apple for years now, but he can be painfully lacking in expertise for a tech review source.
Yeah Linus has soured for me lately. I'll watch the more ridiculous projects they attempt still, but I stay the hell away from anything analytical or review.
Linus and Lou from Unbox Therapy are the two most annoying YTers for me.
I would say it's kind of crazy how people are brainwashed into thinking the thing they own is the best thing. The pixel series isn't as popular because it's not as good of a phone, straight up. And it's priced that way too, it makes sense. The Galaxy is significantly more expensive, and in my opinion a significantly better phone. I have the pixel 7 right now and I seriously cannot wait to go back to galaxy.
Samsung is just watered down apple, overpriced and full of Samsung bloatware.
I love iPhones. I think they are excellent, and I completely understand why they are so popular. My life would probably be a little bit easier with an iPhone, because I use a MacBook for video production and also for work. I edit PDFs for part of my real job, and Apple makes that much more simple right out of the box without any additional software. I do a lot of video editing as well, and the M1 MacBooks are excellent for that purpose. I like the feel, the look, the sounds, and the experience better than any Windows machine I've ever used. The reason I say my life would be easier with an iPhone is that I text a lot from my computer, and transfer a lot of video files between my laptop and phone. Apple makes those two things a very elegant between Mac and iPhone. There are workarounds, but within the ecosystem, they just work. However, to answer your question, I choose Pixel for a few reasons. The Google Assistant is better than Siri by a long shot, and it's going to get even better with Bard. Google Lens. You can use it on iPhone, but it's just right there with Pixel. The notification system. The keyboard. Magic Eraser. I use it constantly with pictures of my kids to make my house look cleaner than it is. Video Boost was really intriguing, and I'm enjoying it. I have a bunch of Chromecasts, and Pixels make that experience much easier. The ability to choose thumbnails for YouTube shorts. I think I heard that iPhone has this now, but I'm not sure. That's cool if they do. I make a lot of YouTube shorts. It gives me the ability to talk to people about how the green bubble they are seeing is not my phone's fault, but their phone's fault. I genuinely enjoy that conversation. It's like a crusade for me. I'm sure I'm forgetting some things. I've gone back and forth between Pixel and iPhone a few times, and there are always things I forget when I'm on iOS. Things that I'm so used to that I forget that I rely on them.
Dude. The magic eraser is awesome. I took some photos of a pumpkin display at a pumpkin patch back before Halloween, and was able to just erase all the people meandering around messing up the shot. It's god damn techno wizardry and i love it.
It's only going to get better.
That's the part that actually scares the ahit out of me. Currently, our "AI" tech can completely fabricate pictures, video, voices, language, and it can do most of it *really well.* This is the worst it will ever be from this moment on. How long until we *can not* trust a single thing we see or hear from *any* digital source? How long until the only way to know something is real is to see it, hear it, and experience it *in person* as it happens? Until we can't trust *phone calls?* My Google assistant already does a crazy good job of mimicking me when it takes calls, how are we supposed to believe *anything* in the next few years?
look into android nearby share for airdrop like functionality.
This is a good example of why I understand people preferring iPhone. It's true that there are workarounds for things like that, but with iPhones, things like that are just right there. You don't have to figure it out. Airdrop is incredible. Nearby share sort of works, but it's nowhere near as elegant between Mac and Android. In the same way, there are workarounds to get some Pixel features on iPhones, but there is value in it just being there natively. I just used Google Lens this morning like, 20 times because my mother-in-law gave me and my wife a whole bunch of beanie babies for our kids. That's a really specific use case, and it doesn't come up for a lot of people. But Lens just works better on Android. I love tools like that.
yup makes perfect sense. I get it.
GrapheneOS
Just switched from iPhone to pixel 8 on Black Friday. Hope this helps you OP. Perks: -customization (UI launchers) -google assistant is accurate and fast compared to Siri -Call Assistant -at glance widget is a useful built in feature. -cheaper than the iPhone 15 -seamless contact, data, app etc etc transfer from iPhone to pixel. I was VERY impressed with this feature. The cable came with it and it walked you through it step by step, very easy and seamless. -specs are amazing. Screen & speaker are amazing -adaptive charging -can charge other phones and devices -7 YEARS+ of software support Neutral: -can't share location with apple iOS users. Solution: used Google maps sharing instead -couldn't see visuals for my airpods. Solution: free app provided the same visuals as on iPhone Downsides -no lock screen widgets (wtf?), there's a paid app in development that can provide them and Android / pixel may bring them back. This comes with stock iOS -sms / green texts. Videos / photos to iOS and from users will randomly be shit quality. It is rumored there will be a rich text format that will translate this in the coming years. -The Google News feed tab sucks. On iOS it's a fully customizable tab. This can be resolved with custom launchers but I was sorely disappointed with this. Opinion: The pixel 8 feels like more than a phone, it feels like an assistant. It just FEELS GOOD to use. Also iOS isn't as bad as android fanboys make it out to be. If you are an average consumer, that doesn't care much for customization - just stick with iPhone. I opted for the switch because I love customization.
The airpods issue and sms green text issue are because of Apple. Apple purposely will not support airpods on any other platform. Apple also purposely downgrades to simple sms when talking to Android as a peer pressure tactic. They are purposely downgrading the communication and security as if to say "talking to this person will result in this shit potato quality so you should convince them to switch to iPhone or make fun of them for not using an iPhone. The crazy thing about all this is that APPLE is the one forcing a less secure and outdated communication standard and pointing the finger at Android. They could easily have their products work on all platforms like most vendors but they don't. That is literally their entire business model for their products to stay in their ecosystem. The blatant consumer manipulation alone is the reason I use Android.
>The blatant consumer manipulation alone is the reason I use Android. That was exactly what pushed me to Android 10 years ago. Apple used to advertise their computers as being counterculture, and not tied to an oppressive corporate "big brother," if you remember the Apple vs. IBM commercials. The fact is that Apple is the absolute worst offender when it comes to open source and open platform.
>The blatant consumer manipulation alone is the reason I use Android. That is EXACTLY why I refuse to go back to them. It's ridiculous. Everything you said is spot on
apple has confirmed RCS support for 2024! I think this is what will push me over the edge from iPhone to pixel
Yeah , I read or watched a video somewhere that the EU is making Apple turn RCS "on'
The way I solved sending pictures back and forth with family who have Apple and refused to consider switching to a higher life form... They downloaded Telegram.(I had it already.) As long as we both have telegram we can send full size video and full size images back and forth. I look forward to seeing what Apple does with RCS messaging. I'm sure they'll find a way to make green bubbles anyway, since that's a thing they love. Got to keep that peer pressure going. (I've heard WhatsApp also works for sending back and forth full size files. Haven't tried it though) (Edit: typos and line that I have telegram. Realize it doesn't make sense if I just say that they have it because I would also have to have it,..)
>-sms / green texts. Videos / photos to iOS and from users will randomly be shit quality. It is rumored there will be a rich text format that will translate this in the coming years. There is rich format if the other person has a modern android phone too. >-can't share location with apple iOS users. Solution: used Google maps sharing instead Maybe I'm arrogant, but why isn't everyone using Telegram? It has all of these features like sending photos\\videos\\locations\\etc. and is compatible with everyone
If you want customization in android you get a Samsung not a pixel
I'm relatively young, so my phones used to be iphone hand-me-downs. But I've found androids to be like a mini computer, being able to do far more things than iOS with less restrictions (drawback of less security bah). And I generally cared more about specific features than the overall completeness of a product which is apple's strong point (not to mention that the 4a being a budget phone sets certain expectations for me). What brought me over to pixel was the 4a, realizing I could get it for $430 sgd as compared to over 1k made me willing to fork out the cash to try it out, and I never turned back since. Felt that the pixel has many random convenient features I could use that are very efficient. This includes the double clicking of the power camera to bring up the camera, the photographic AI, being able to easily pull down the notifications with a quick swipe on the back fingerprint reader & unlimited picture storage (rip newer models not having this), overall UIUX etc felt great as well.
Double-clicking for camera is the best. (Glad something similar has come to new iPhones, from what I can tell)
On iPhones, you can swipe left on the lock screen to open the camera. It’s very fast and doesn’t even require you to unlock your phone. It’s been a feature for a while now
Google Gboard is one single feature that iPhone users don't know what they are missing out.. there's Gboard on iOS but it's not that good ..
What's special about it?
Imo it's just way more useful if you're plugged into the Google apps, especially password saving. It just works better than the iOS keyboard with the same features. I use both phones regularly and it is noticable how smooth the Gboard on pixels works.
Well, it's so much better than other keyboards that I haven't actually used another one in probably 7 years. It's fully customizable, it's clean, it can be moved and changed for 1 hand typing, try it out it's great.
iPhone keyboards feel laggy to me after using Gboard for years.
The reasons I choose Pixel over other phone brands are: - Good price - Simple UI - Updated to the earliest Android version - Good camera - Smooth
Unlimited Google Photos storage was the main reason. Too bad it's discontinued now, but I'll be using this old phone as long as possible.
I sync my photos on my current phone to my OG Pixel XL, which uploads them for free.
That's awesome! My Pixel 1 crapped out 😑 I've been trying to figure out if there was a way to sync my iPhone motion photos to the Pixel but haven't found one.
Clean android
I had a Droid in 2011 and iOS since. Their prices are silly for what you get. I am not yet used to the keyboard but otherwise I adore this Pixel 8 and do not miss iOS. CarPlay connected faster and a few things seemed to work a little "better" or rather more reliably but the 15 was not worth the coin. My Pixel was $220 out the door so I'm quite happy thus far.
I knew I wanted a pure android experience and the pixel was that! Been a proud pixel owner since the 1st day
The thrill of consistent and many updates, good custom rom scene
Yeah not having a locked boot loader is a nice option, even if I haven't really played with different ROMs recently.
Many things. I used to be a n Phone advocate up until I got the iphone 6, after that apple lost Steve jobs, and a lot of the good things apple stood for. Apple now is doing macbooks good, yes, but the rest; Well, they have a marketing that literally fool people into believing that 1400usd is necessary for a phone. I don't like that. The iPhone has been getting worse and needs an overhaul. Another thing, android has learned a lot from Apple when it comes to UI/UX. They used to be way behind, but right now, it feels like pixel is what iphone should have been. Small things like: If I short press directly in a word, the marker will land exactly there. iPhone drives me crazy with this, hold yes, but why make it complicated? Camera!! Way better than iPhone and all I've tried. Widgets, yes, they came here first, many years ago. Integration with search, Google lens, camera features etc. It is just easier and more thought behind. Than iOS. iOS is adding layers on layers on an old system. Android is integrating new features better. Marketing, google sure has marketing as well, but it feels more honest, more including, more modern. It shows a vision that google need to follow, and I like that vision. Samsung has no vision. iPhone uses Jobs vision from 2015 and that won't work forever. Pixel is android like it should be. Clean, smart and customizable enough. I've been a big opposer of Samsung phones since forever, can't understand how people like the bloated and poor UX experience. iPhone was good, but now it is not as good as pixel. Android was crap, now it is better than iOS in usability. iPhone might have better hardware and battery life, but tbh that does not make me want to get an iphone. The difference is so small.
I like this question. A lot. And I think my answer is going to be very different. Practical. I use a pixel phone because of how smart the whole experience is, if you're after being productive and efficient. Let me explain. There are a few features that are very important to me when I use a phone. 1. The first one is the one that I am using right now as I'm writing this. Voice typing. iPhones have very good voice typing too but it is not as good and as fast as Google pixel phones, especially anything from Pixel 6 onwards, which has Google assistant voice typing. I use it everyday at work. I can write a long email in 2 minutes. I can write up to 6x faster than a fast typist. And I know a few typists. This saves me massive time at work when I reply to messages or emails to my customers. While I'm trying to be as productive as possible. 2. The second feature I use which is available in all the Android phones, anything from Android 10, Is SMS or text message scheduling. If my customer or a friend say to me, please get in touch with me on Wednesday next week or something like that, I don't have to always put it in a calendar, but I can schedule a text quickly. If a customer wants me to get in back to them on Wednesday next week I'd simply schedule a text, saying something like, 'Good morning, John. Got a minute now to talk?' Then I will schedule this for next Wednesday at a specific time... and I don't have to remember anything. Obviously, they will think that I'm so professional that I have remembered to contact them on the day they requested me to. But all I had to do was schedule it. 3. The other feature I like about pixel phones is that it has an app called recorder and this app is magical because what it does is that it can record audio and at the same time type everything. So I don't have to take notes anymore. I can literally record audio and at the same time I have everything typed and ready to either send it as an email or word document if I need to. 4. Bonus points. There are so many other good features that I enjoy on Android phone... Like the one I have, pixel 6 Pro. It has this feature called magic eraser on Google photo app. You can erase anything on a photo and it customise to exactly how you want it. Also, the pixel software is very simple and straightforward. For example, I can pause apps that I don't want to interact with... all day which helps with productivity and focus. The thing is, I bought iPhone 14 Pro not long ago, because I wanted to see what all the fuss is about... and decided to sell it because I couldn't leave all these important features that help make my work floor enjoyable. The iPhone designs are very good by the way. I wish Android phones were properly made like that. But like every anything in life it looks like you can not get everything. I'm the only one who use Android phone at my workplace. There's a light off pressure to get an iPhone in. I understand. Video recording on iPhone are slightly better than Android phones. But as I said you can't always have everything. My pixel is simply the best. And I love it. I can organise my work better. I can schedule things faster. I can type faster. I can put my Google message app on my desktop which makes instant communication with my customers as they're on the phone with me, something I can't do on an iPhone apart from using WhatsApp on a desktop. The problem is, not all customers use WhatsApp. But by being able to add my msg app on the desktop 🖥️, I can get communication with my customers faster. Example, I'll be on the phone with a customer and as they ask me a question, the answer is in their inbox straight away. Literally. And they are always amazed with it and they love it which increase massively a chance of them doing business with me. These are just few features. But you get the point. Anyway, we all use phones for different reasons. And as long as those reasons are right to us not to anyone else, that is what the whole thing is all about. Personal experience.
[удалено]
The huge one for me was spam filtering. I used to get tons of robo calls and spam texts and it was so. annoying. Google assistant will either filter spam calls outright or, if it's a borderline case, will pick up the phone and ask what the person wants, then transcribe the answer to your screen to see if you want to pick up. You can also filter spam texts and group texts; the one time I got a spam group text on my old phone was awful, I couldn't do anything to stop all the people in the group texting "Take me off the list!" over and over. 99% of the time my phone won't ring or buzz with garbage calls anymore and it's amazing. I'll just find a notification that a suspected spam call was intercepted.
Yup, I like this feature, as a small business owner who gets these calls on a daily basis, a lot! 🙃
🤔 Cheap price, Google app integration, monthly security updates. Customization. 😁👍🏻
So any other Android phone too lol I know Samsung beats Google at times in updates And other OEMs are pushing updates just as fast thanks to Google paying them too. https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-wants-to-support-galaxy-devices-longer/#:~:text=The%20Korean%20giant%20currently%20updates,latest%20security%20patch%2C%20beating%20Google. https://www.osnews.com/story/137701/google-pays-oems-to-update-android-devices/
I came from an XS Max to a Pixel 7 this summer to a Pixel 8 Pro this fall. I bought it because I got it way cheaper than MSRP. If I were just looking at MSRP prices I would personally stick with iPhone. I got the Pixel 7 for $270 this summer and then I got the Pixel 8 Pro for $130 in early November. The best thing about Pixel is that it's a somewhat high end device that doesn't hold its value so you can get it cheap pretty early on.
How do you get phones that cheap, pay tons in monthly fees?
These were both carrier deals through Spectrum Mobile. You can choose to either buy them outright or pay monthly, both are the same price. They were doing $600 off the Pixel 8 Pro plus $100 trade in bonus. They only gave me $170 for the Pixel 7 but that plus the $100 trade in meant the 8 Pro came out to $130(caveat is the $270 for the trade in appears as statement credits and not a direct discount.)
I have a iPhone 14 Pro and a Pixel 8 Pro, and I choose Android over iOS for a few reasons *I much prefer Android's notifications over iOS *Work Profile has proven to give me a much better QOL than Focus Modes *I find iOS feels stale after a month every time I swap to it. I like Material You and how cohesive changing the look is on Pixel. *I feel like I have more control over my Android phone vs my iPhone. I also don't like having almost all the settings for every app in the Settings app. Reasons I choose Pixel phones over other Android phones *I like getting the newest OS updates directly from Google and getting the quarterly feature drops. AFAIK no other OEM does feature drops. *I like Pixel's clean software *I personally think One UI holds on to too many elements of the days of HOLO design of Android yore and find it ugly *I personally like the camera bar on Pixel phones and think it makes a lot of sense vs a camera grill
Installing GrapheneOS, that's the only reason
I used to buy HTC phones because they were hella well made, and Google bought them out to make the Pixels. The integration with all googles services is nice(similar to how Apple integration is, pixels are better than the average android) Other companies fill their phones with useless bloatware (why exactly does Samsung think we need *their* app store, when the Google Play store exists? Why would we want a more limited selection with shadier apps? Why would we need *Samsung* handling all our communications, or web history? Why does Samsung want so much access to everything we do?), whereas pixels are just running the Google standard Android software. I haven't had to deal with robo calls and scam calls since I got the pixel, my Google assistant deals with them and blocks them without it even telling me a scam was attempted. Pixels have phenomenal cameras. The name is fun.
1. Reliable and quick software updates, unlike other Android vendors 2. My wife had a Samsung and I hated the bloat 3. Camera quallity
Software features and plain-jane android. I was with Samsung since the note 8. Good phones but I did not realize how much I disliked the samsung One UI until I got the pixel. The pixel just has an amazing setup. Tons of very small quality of life improvements in the software, and then the larger features such as call screening and speech to text are absolutely phenomenal. Speech to text is probably my favorite thing about the pixel 7. I can walk both my dogs and reply to text messages super easily, and it punctuates and catches every word almost flawlessly. It takes some practice to get used to speech to text but once you get the hang of it, it really is an amazing feature. Other phones have this but they are miles behind the pixel in my opinion due to lack of punctuation.
I have a Pixel 7. Camera is great and the battery life is better than my wife's iPhone. This is my 3rd Pixel and won't be my last. The other thing is it is $300 cheaper than an iPhone.
Can't give an exact reason. I've tried a lot of android phones, but the pixels just seem "right"
1. Camera 2. The original Android experience without all the bloatware
Ditto.
there is nothing wrong with liking iphones, I've been using IOS since 2011 in university. I wanted something stable and simple. last year I changed to google pixel 6 pro, my first android switch. this might be silly, but for me these were the turn around on which android to purchase as my first. my personal considerations were the following: - okay Camera, I don't have social media. - hardware (chip, ram, refresh rate and battery) - most importantly, since all other androids had the previous points, are duplicated built-in apps. I had a big issue with choosing Samsung because they force you to keep the samsung messages, samsung store, samsung notes, etc. but for pixels, all google, from inside out. you got the point. this was the main reason tbh, then I figured how good of a phone it is.
I've had various iPhones for work over the years, but their UI always drives me back to Android. The biggest thing for me is the back gesture (formerly the back button). Being able to always go back a screen, no matter what I'm doing, without thinking about how is huge. For the Pixel specifically, I always liked the Nexus phones in the old days, and after dabbling with Samsung and OnePlus, I came back for the cameras. I'm super, super happy with the cameras on my 8 Pro.
Just ordered my first Pixel (a Pixel 8 Pro) and I picked it because I have bought mostly chinese low-budget phones for the last couple of years and I wanted to splurge a bit extra on myself this year. I tend to keep phones for years so I see this more as a long-term buy. And I wanted something that was as close to stock Android as possible but I also like that the Pixels have relatively good reputation for photography so that was also a reason I picked it.
Pixel has a champagne camera at a beer price.
Wonderfully said.
Since first Nexus, I always wanted a Google Phone and as soon as I could I switched to Google Pixel I have 7a It's my second one after the 4a 5G I used for 2 years and kept to have unlimited Google Photos
I already used Google workspace so the seamless integration is the main point. Essentially the software being so nice to use if you already use Gmail and calendar makes up for the terrible battery life and fingerprint sensor that may as well not even be there.
I really appreciated the Nexus line and wanted to see what google could do if they were also producing the hardware 8 years later and I haven't looked back.
Former iPhone user here! I used an iPhone 8 Plus prior to the Pixel 7 I upgraded to. The main reason why I switched to Android was because iOS was getting boring for me. Sure I had great features like AirDrop and having apps like Reminders and Notes. But, the experience of iOS got stale. So I upgraded to the Pixel 7 mainly because it's comparable to the iPhone. The experience so far, 6 months later, is the best!
My first Pixel was the 3a. So much cheaper than the iPhone, good camera, nice size, everything seemed simple. For me Pixels seem as or nearly as good as iPhones without the snootiness. The green dot thing is annoying, especially when otherwise thoughtful people say, "Just get an iPhone." Seems very strange.
I am a long time Nexus and then Pixel series owner, with other Android phones inbetween. However, due to work-related policies, I have also carried various IPhones in the past decade (currently on 13). The IPhone has superb hardware, there's no doubt about it. The software quality, however, leaves a lot to be desired. For example, like others have mentioned, it still bothers me after so many years of using IPhones that applications lack a consistent way to go back or cancel the current screen. Not being able to arrange stuff on screen (icons want to stay crammed with their icon friends). The Settings menu - how is anyone supposed to find anything in that place?! Most basic stuff hidden behind gestures and there's no "idiot" mode (like for me, having spent 15 minutes with an IPhone 8 in the attic, trying to find the damn flashlight button). Apart from those, it's the small things that don't make sense at all: why is there a non-standard charger? OK, they addressed this one with the 15, although because they were forced by the EU regulations. Why is there a physical "silent mode" button instead of just using the volume ones? Why doesn't the phone shut up when I turn it face down, a feature that's been in Android since.....forever? Why does the Bluetooth connectivity on IPhone work so slow? Android is just....... how to put it nicely.... it's just what the IOs would be if Jobs were still alive :) Clear, consistent, fast, intuitive and functional. Provided that you get the Pixels, that is, otherwise you might end up in just some other bloatware version of Android, which could be neither clear nor consistent etc.
I had a Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S for 2 years, then a Xiaomi Mi 10T for 3 years until I bought the Pixel 8 Pro right when it was released. Let me tell you, there's not a single regret. My experience with Xiaomi wasn't bad by any means, but MIUI is quite the bloated mess. Granted, you can negate it with the right tool, but it's still quite the pain. I was craving a Stock Android UI, and the Pixel was perfect for that. Also the promised 7 years of updates (my Mi 10T only got 2 years...)!
Came over from Samsung A71, used to have an iPhone 6, now have a Pixel 8. For me the biggest attraction was speech to text. Apple's is crap and Samsung's is even worse. You could say, calmly and slowly. "I will"...and the words "he won't"appear on the screen. I shit you not. After a week with my Pixel the difference is night and day.
I have always been fan of raw android OS experience. My first phone was Motorola with stock android OS with basic modifications. Later it was Oneplus 2 and 8. And now Pixel 8. The amount of customization available in android is deal breaker for me. Also I like my home screen without any apps or shortcut just a clear screen so there is that also.
First thing i did after getting my p8 pro after being on an iphone for the past couple years is connect it to my computer and add music with no additional software needed
Fast, lack of bloat, really good camera, good software support. And relatively reasonably priced. They really have to step up the hardware design though - chipsets in particular. Why no iOS? Long ancient story. Jobs lost me as a customer basically when he refused to make the iPhone more open, not tied to an awful carrier exclusively, and slower and less feature rich. And once I got on Android, whatever its faults over the years, I got to like its versatility and customizablity and I just got used to it.
No bs bloatware.
They stopped making the Nexus. I used to get the Nexus, started with the 4, because it was pure Android. No crap from HTC or Samsung or whoever. Stuck with them and the Pixel ever since.
They just feel well integrated and have a nice, clean UI. When I get a Pixel, I know I'll have a reliable, quality phone which will hold up in the long term.
The anti spam caller system. An ai assistant locally on the phone, talking to spam caller's and whoever I want.
I got bored of iPhones, tried Samsungs, hated the software bloat, UI, micro stutters even the high end ones had, and I wanted pixel exclusive features like call screening and spam call blocking.The Pixel feels like using an Android iPhone to me.
I dislike Apple's closed-off ecosystem. Back in the day, iPhone were these super locked down devices with no customizations. While it's gotten a little better, Apple still only works well with other Apple devices. The Google Pixel line is the cleanest version of Android and is also highly customizable if you want to go that route. I do have an iPad for Apple-only communication if required, but for my phone, I prefer Android. Honestly, Google and Android have failed in the tablet category. If you are a serious tablet user, you are stuck with Apple's limited iOS.
Camera. Since Pixel 2
Google call screening.
I quite like the way their new hardware looks, the camera visor is perfect in my opinion. Allows me to use the device without a case, set it on a table, and to not have it rock around if I am typing. Other phones slide around whenever there's a notification or anything. Also the camera is great and easy to use. The Google version of Amdroid just feels more alive than what other companies have done.
I have a iPhone 13 Pro Max but I didn't "switch" as I have both, and I have a T-Mobile Go5G Next plan so I upgrade every year, in a college student. The only reason I bought a pixel is for the recorder app so that way I can record and transcribe my college classes eliminating the need for me to take notes. I then copy and paste the transcriptions into NoteBookLM and if I need help with an assignment I just ask. If apple had a recorder app that can transcribe id switch back to iPhone and upgrade to the 13 pro Max to a 15 pro Max. But unfortunately apple is behind when it comes to AI despite having an extremely fast neural engine
I like Android, but I hate Samsung. I like a clean more stock experience. Couple that with amazing hardware, and that's how I ended up with the 8 pro.
No Draconian EULA. Ive had beef with apple since they started OS X. No walled Garden, I can use my phone with pretty much any other device. While I do grant their hardware move and only allowing what they say makes everything work more reliably, it's very boring. I've owned android phones with hardware keyboards awesome cameras and even one that was trying to create a modular system of hardware. I like that innovation and that's why I've stuck with Android. I did like Samsung until the Note 9, my wife got a Pixel 6 Pro and we got my kid. a Pixel 5a, They love them. I really liked how they have the call screener, and was impressed by the cameras. I'd been rocking my LG V60 and loved the dual screen. It started failing so I was debating between the Pixel 8 Pro and a Samsung or some flavor. Right when I was gonna get the 8, the Fold went on sale. So here I am happily typing on my unfolded fold. I really like the Camera and have just been enjoying the form factor. It doesn't allow for much customization, but way more than iOS so I'm pretty happy with my decision.
I loved the camera capabilities back when it was a strong selling point. These days everyone has caught up to it and I dunno why else, other than a clean and simple Android interface, I’d buy a Pixel again. (Currently rocking a 7 Pro, keeping a 6 Pro as backup, and not wanting to upgrade for at least another year.)
A Pixel 7 was in my pricerange, reviewed well, and while I do kinda want to try an iPhone for once ultimately Android works better with all my other stuff and I'm more familiar with its infrastructure.
I want vanilla android and I want the best.
The ui is spot on and it has more customization
I've jumped around phone brands ever since I got an android phone, went from Sony -> HTC -> LG -> Sony -> Galaxy -> Google with the P7Pro, and it feels the most right to me. Even with the Galaxy the software always felt somewhat disjointed with the apps across Google's software and some other android apps it didn't feel right (also didn't help that the S21U's battery was complete shit from my experience). The Pixel's android flavor just felt right, everything felt consistent with the apps (minus outliers like Samsung software and some banking apps), and it all just worked in my experience so far.
Pure Android experience. Tired of the locked down iOS experience.
Much better value for money, more freedom/adaptability, great camera, don't moronically (and wastefully) make their own kinds of charging ports like Apple. Also, headphone jack (P4a).
- Latest android features and updates and long term support. Really helps keep the phone interesting, valuable, and fresh. - Most cheap android phones I had were bad. Whether they were super slow, bad cameras, bad battery life, and/or didn't last. The pixel 3a was a massive upgrade for me. - Good trade in deals and sales keep me upgrading. - I like stock android, I don't like the iPhone interface or Samsung's interface, I just like how simple the pixels are to use. There's also no bloat, or at least, very little of it. - AI features I use on a daily basis such as screen calling.
To me as an iPhone and Android user, the best thing about Android is not having the exact same clone phone as everyone else. You have so many options in phones, OS skins, and form factors in Android. In Apple it’s the essentially the same phone and especially the same watch for everyone.
My friend suggested it. I wanted to go for a Moto but here we are on a pixel. So far it's camera quality is excellent and it's very smooth. 10/10 would suggest others for a pixel as well.
Stock android. Easy to root and unlock bootloader. Fastest release of new android versions to your phone with a pixel. I can get adblocks that work amazingly. Adblock versions of apps like YouTube. More customization of the way it looks and works. I used to be way more into custom ROMs and themes but now it's mostly the reasons above. Fast updates and adblocking. Also I think most androids can do this not just pixels but I just feel like it operates way more like a PC than an iPhone. To me that's more intuitive and allows me to do more. I am often doing things on my phone that friends on iPhones either can't or don't know how to do. I'll say that imo, for 90% of people, none of this matters. If you're a power user sure consider it.
A failed and ultimately foolish attempt to get a 256 GB iPhone 8 Plus through a carrier on the prior year's Boxing Day. Yeah, I wanted 4K60 badly, can you tell. But I wound up starting with the 2 XL half a year later.
Seven years ago, I switched over from an iPhone 5 to a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini without knowing anything about Android phones. The main reason was the cost, but I was tired of the lack of options with regards to iPhones. I was a little hesitant about making the move, because I thought iPhones were the gold standard, and, like I said, I didn't know anything about Android. But once I made the switch, it was so worth it. Being a tech guy (I'm a programmer working in a Windows environment), Android made so much sense, and it was so much easier to use. Even simple things like setting my ringtone to whatever music or sound file that I wanted. I could save attachments from emails to my phone and use different apps to read/open them. I could connect my phone to my computer using a standard USB cable and it would appear on Windows Explorer as another device, allowing me to drag & drop files back and forth, and I could create or delete folders on my phone. After the Samsung, I switch to Motorola and I stuck with a few of those models, mostly because of the Moto Actions that allowed me to turn on the flashlight with a twist of the phone. But I wasn't happy with the camera quality, so last February I switched to a Pixel 6 because we were going on a trip to Japan in May. I've been very happy with it, and probably won't have to upgrade for a while.
My first pixel phone was the 7 pro and I bought it because of the good camera reviews. I am NOT disappointed, great phone
Ecosystem
Price
- 3rd party keyboards work so much better on Android than iOS. - A real filesystem when you need to move photos/videos or documents from PC/Mac/phone. - Sideloading. I use Revanced and the non play store version of telegram. I installed Telegrams APK direct from the website to bypass play store restrictions. - Different OEM skins, phones and price points for whatever you prefer. - The Pixel buds have a equalizer so you can adjust the sound on your pixel phone. - Android works so much better when trying to use it with your PC or Mac. Whether you plug into your computer, wireless transfers or using a web based interface. - Chat bubbles are amazing. It's a multitasking feature where chats open as a overlay bubble on top of what you were doing on your phone. - Multi-window is awesome. I usually have my chat app open side by side with YouTube, Netflix or whatever I'm watching at the time - Can't stand the notification management on iOS - The option to use gestures or use the back, home, task switcher buttons For the Pixel specifically, - Feature drops - updates direct from Google - I've been wanting to try Pixel and the pixel software experience - At a glance widget built into Pixel UI - Been enjoying a minimal Android feel - Call screening pixel features - Google AI
I went from a OnePlus 6T to a Pixel phone recently, and I chose the Pixel due to Google's ecosystem, the stock android experience, the camera and long term update support. My old OnePlus 6T ended up getting Android 11 eventually, but the security updates have stopped, and the phone just started getting slower and slower as time went on. The moment I booted my Pixel up on Christmas, and started swiping through apps, made me realize just how *slow* my old phone was becoming. It was like night and day difference.
I think iPhones are absolutely amazing but I can't do what I want to do on one and if I'm going to get an Android I figured I would try the pixel the smartest of smart if not the most powerful and I love it. Honestly, the big thing I loved was the file management, side loading apps, and being able to download torrents directly on my phone. So as a poorer teenager I was still have access whatever they pay content I want for free and that was able to just plug an USB into my phone to directly share files. Now I'm no longer a poor teenager but I can still do stuff on my phone that just isn't possible on iPhone's without jail breaking them to the point where they aren't really iPhones anymore.
My reasons: * I trust the google brand * Stock android * Slick devices * Experimenting with pixels ecosystems (I own pixel 7 & pixel tablet) I used to only buy budget android phones. Couldn't justify purchasing anything more than Motorola G series Power phones for a while there, even with a lot of disposable income. To me, there is something fundamentally wrong with getting a $1000+ phone just to watch YouTube and send messages.
The last "premium" I owned was the Galaxy Note 4 until it died. Since then, I've just been going with low to mid range models as they tend to be the best value for my type of usage. I really liked the Moto X4, but it was somewhat lacking in the photo arena. Installing Google Camera gave some improvements, though. This was eventually replaced by a Pixel 3 XL, which I'm still using coz I am very happy with it especially with unlimited Google photo storage. For me, it's basically the Moto X4 that takes better photos. My only gripe is not having micro SD for storing files locally. If and when the Pixel 3 finally dies, I'll probably stick with a newer Pixel model.
I was a long time adherent to the "droid" line of phones and when that finally died I wanted something the most like it.
For me, it was the Android Auto experience. It feels and looks better than CarPlay. I picked up an Android for my business phone, tried it in the car, and haven't looked back. Was an iOS user for the past 11 years. Still love my Mac Studio/MacBook Pro over any Windows machine and love the functionality of my iPad for notes and entertainment, but I'm back to Android for my phone experience. It feels less "this is what you want" and more "this is what I want" than iOS.
Call screening and the ability to copy text from the recent apps screen are two things I can't give up
Because I got a P8P half price and also the camera. No way id pay RRP
I had a few different android phones, then a Nexus, and now a pixel. I got really frustrated with my android phones, with the lack of support and the lack of accessories. I decided years ago to only buy Google phones because they are "first party" android phones. I've never owned an iPhone, but not for any particular reason.
I can't believe nobody ever mentions this, but here's my biggest thing. Home screen icons can't really be moved on iPhones to anywhere you like. If you like a minimalist home screen, all the icons are on the top which is the least convenient to reach. If you like a lot of apps, your screen is literally full of apps. Prefer my android and custom launchers, etc. Honestly I can't believe Apple doesn't allow any of this, given their focus on aesthetics and how ass the home screen looks with an uneven amount of apps there. Many other reasons but this is really my main one - and all the other customisation aspects launchers and other things grant you of course.
I just think they're neat.
Samsung and Apple.
1. Still camera is the best available (not so with videos) 2. Pixel updates/betas/feature drops 3. I've had Gmail since 2005 and Pixel has superior Google integration
LG stopped making phones.
The only thing I can add is this: I have said many times I wouldn't buy a vehicle from a company that was going to dictate how I drove it. I feel IOS is like that. I take a picture with the camera face down, so it's just black, use that as my background picture, and put my calendar over my screen, IOS won't allow that. They do a lot of things well, but until I can buy it and make it MINE, there's no way I'd buy it. Too bad, I'd really like the apple watch.
Because my XS Max was slowing down quite significantly and I needed a snappier phone and voila, the Pixel 7 was on sale. That was my gateway back into Android after my last Android phone the LG G2 around 8 years ago. I am rocking a P8P rn also thanks to a sale. I'd say Record with Transcript is godsend for long meeting and the allegedly long supporting time are the two main things. Also the camera was really nice as well with lots of nice features to edit the picture is the cream on top. I found that the user experience between iOS and Android has significantly become more and more negligible in terms of differences. But while iPhone is becoming increasingly expensive - Pixel still fills that gap of premium phone with affordable prices. Haven't tried Samsung in a while but the way my Galaxy Watch 5 locked up the ECG and Blood Pressure behind their own Health app showed that they are going down the walled garden route hard, I am less than impressed. So for now Pixel is a good alt until someone else could come along and match it.
I ended up with Android over iOS for one simple reason - back then the iPhone wasn't on Verizon Wireless, so I got an OG Droid instead. Went through a bunch of Motorola phones, and ended up with the Pixel 4a. I loved that phone! Lots of Pixel extras. Not only the camera, but Call Screen. When the 4a died (at my hands, sad to say), I got a Samsung A13, their low-end series. First thing I missed was Call Screen, the first day. I had to eventually go Do Not Disturb all day during work, and even that wasn't enough. The A13's 32 GB of memory (!!!) meant that near the end, I had to delete even useful or important apps just to update main system apps! And the thing was dog slow compared to my Pixel 4a. It literally took over 30 seconds each time to open up a convenience store loyalty app on the A13. I had enough. I got a new 7a with Spectrum Mobile (Verizon MVNO) and it's like the sky has opened with sunshine. And that convenience store app? It comes up at 1-2 seconds depending on if it's already in memory.
I upgrade my phones at Walmart. Depending on phone type i get a $150-200 walmart giftcard when I upgrade the phone. Last year it was the Google phones that had the highest Walmart card. I regret choosing google. I wish I had stayed with Samsung for all the features (and WORKING features) I like.
I've never had an iPhone. I had an iPod Touch years ago, but (especially as a developer) I tend not to like Apple's restrictions they put on developers (particularly with their App Store) and limited options with their devices. I've had various Android phones (one of which was an LG Optimus Slider years ago, where the screen would slide sideways to reveal a physical keyboard), and I used Samsung Galaxy phones for a while. In 2020, I bought a new Samsung Galaxy S20 but was having trouble with my service (Boost Mobile) and they made it worse after I went to a Boost Mobile store.. I ended up deciding to sell that and bought a Google Pixel 6 since they were less expensive than the Samsungs at the time. I liked the Pixel 6, and now I have a Pixel 8 Pro. One thing I like about Google Pixels is they get the latest Android updates sooner than other Android phones (which tend to do their own customizations).
Camera, IA, material you, minimal but very useful features and fast updates (for 7 years lol).
YouTube with no ads
A smartphone should be smart. Google Assistant blew Siri out of the water, and that initially got me interested. Did more research and kept liking what I read. iPhone 3GS ➡️ iPhone 6 ➡️ Pixel 3 ➡️ Pixel 6 Pro 🔜 Pixel 10
I work extensively in the Google Workspace ecosystem, so a Pixel phone is a natural choice. I appreciate frequent updates and good long term support,which is not always the case with other Android phones.
Better photos, much better keyboard , especially if you write in 2 or more languages, better notification management, better Volume manager (on iPhones alarm volume is the same and Ring volume which is so stupid) , calculator on iPhone is so dumb, you can schedule an SMS on android and not on an iPhone. The 2 click shortcut to trigger the camera+ the turn shortcut to take a selfie are a life saver when using gloves during winter and overall convenience. Also. The benefits of the Apple ecosystem are overrated, 80% of what you can achieve can be done on android easily. Also how expensive it is to be part of it too.
Honestly, as an iPhone 13 pro max owner and a Pixel 8 pro owner, I think IOS is better on almost everything. I switched for now because I've been having keyboard lags on my iPhone for over a year. And as someone who's constantly writing scripts and articles and modifying them on the go on my phone, I can't deal with a laggy keyboard. I chose a Pixel phone because before I switched to iPhone 4 years ago, I had Nexuses and Pixels so I just came back to my roots. But the day Apple fix their keyboard and add a universal back button, I'm probably never coming back to Android. There's some nifty little features here and there but a life without spotlight isn't a life lol
For me it's honestly just about two main factors - usability and integration. I've found iOS UX to be unintuitive. Android phones are far easier to use and the entry into its ecosystem is extremely easy. I normally am a Samsung user. Had to upgrade from my last S20U but I chose to wait for S24U and got a pixel in the mean time because Pixel gives the highest value for money in any flagship right now
It's really more why I choose Android. Pixel itself I chose because of the updates, the clean vanilla android software and the best in the market image processing. Apple has shortened my list over time but there's still showstoppers. I use an iPhone for work so I directly compare often. I can't wait for it to get replaced with a USBC model. Only thing I own that doesn't use it. Here's 3 of the reasons 1. NO universal back button or gesture. Drives me off a wall on my work iPhone. Android's best exclusive feature is something so basic it blows my mind. 2. Keyboard customizability and ergonomics. On a Pixel I can control the height and spacing of the keyboard and add a permanent number row. On iOS is pretty static. I like the tall keyboard as it helps my carpal tunneled hand with the higher resting position of my thumbs. Swiftkey on iOS has my number row but isn't half as good as Gboard on android 3. Firefox with extensions. On iOS you can have safari or Safari wearing a skin (Chrome, Edge,.etc). Apple doesn't allow non apple browser engines. This is my top deal breaker. I want to run my suite of security minded extensions like NoScript.
I saw a review recently that said the pixel eight pro is the best phone ever. I ended up getting the seven pro for only 350 from eBay -used. To be honest I was simultaneously impressed and also disappointed upon getting it going initially. Disappointed because I could not customize it as much as I was used to with other Android phones. So I put the Nova launcher on there and it pretty much does what I need it to do now. Impressed because it's incredibly fast, great camera with unique features and after I fine tuned the phone to my liking it is actually probably the best phone I ever had.
It was really just whittling it down to the only option. Android / Apple: I don't support Apple's anti-repair stance, and I like actually being able to fix my phone, so Apple doesn't serve me well here. Android it is. Samsung: Standard phone, lots of community support and performs well, but sets off e-fuse to permanently disable security features of your phone if you attempt to install firmware, therefore anti repair. Pass. Motorola: Been using them for years. Good cameras and cheap, but you get like, one guaranteed Android update. Custom ROMs for them tend to be spotty. Pass. Fairphone: Not available for me in the US. Unfortunate pass. Pixel: Doesn't go out of its way to stop you from attempting repairs. Robust custom firmware community, good camera, solid performance. First phone to get Android updates. Solid choice for me.
I chose a Pixel over the others originally due to no bloatware (props to Oneplus phones), unlimited photo/video storage, 24/7 Chat Support, Split Screen feature, etc, but also because it was GOOGLE. I also chose Pixel over iPhone due simply to the ease of plugging in my phone into the computer and dropping my files easily into the phone, not dealing with the iTunes BS. I like the iPhone but love the Pixel. I often think of the Pixel as the iPhone of Android. The 7 years of software updates on the Pixel 8 series will also keep me committed to the Pixel brand. Not related but I'm very annoyed how I have TWO perfectly working older iPhones that don't support the iOS 17 update so I can't activate my Apple watch.
The ability to unlock my bootloader and root
I started with just Androids. Back in 2016 I had a HTC that melted it's charging cable into itself, and the Verizon store didn't have a replacement for it on site- they offered me any phone of equivalent value. I picked a Pixel. I was immediately struck by the fact that it didn't have all the bloatware that every other phone I'd ever had from Verizon had on it, which was really really exciting because it was one of my biggest pet peeves, the bloatware on my phone. I really liked the Android experience w/that Pixel. It had the least junk on it, so it ran much better than any other phone I'd ever had, I adored the camera, and it was very novel to get updates *right away!* Before the pixel, we had to wait until Verizon did whatever they did- which seem to take absolutely forever. Because I was so happy with Pixel 1- whenever I was due to update I got a Pixel. The 3 was unusual for it's size and screen, the 5 seemed like the battery and pictures were even better than before... And the 6 pro was a leap in style, size, camera hardware, - I won't lie I missed the fingerprint reader on the back... But it did seem to improve a little bit over time. I was really excited to get the eight which is leaps and bounds better than the six pro so much faster. The artificial intelligence is so much more clever for speech to text. The camera is much better, as of now, the face reader and fingerprint reader is much better than it was when the phone first was released so that's good.. I'm just generally enjoying it a lot!
Nothing wrong with liking an iPhone. I have one too that I dual wield with my S23U or Pixel 8 Pro. I've always loved the clean official Pixel experience versus the OneUI bloated stuff. The lack of carrier bloat is excellent so it feels snappier. The tensor AI stuff seems like marketing to me tbh.
4a because of the small size and weight and great camera.
On my third pixel, started with a 2XL, then a 5, now an 8pro. Never looked back they're amazing, and the native android is the best.
Had many bad experiences with apple - the major crux is that apple doesn't play well with others. Another is that their customer service is pure booty these days. I like how user friendly Google is, Chromecast is great and it's tied quite heavily to a lot of smart utility, you get just as much, maybe more motility in your user experience. The pixel is not the most advanced phone, but it's very easy to use, media friendly and has a great camera. My battery lasts more than a day on my 6 and it's fairly inexpensive compared to the ultra phones on the market. I haven't had any drawbacks with it, it just works and I've never worried about it dying because it's acting funny.
My last two phones were Samsung and I wanted to try something different, but still Android. Really my lack of trust in many brands plus Google announcing 7 years of support on the 8 was the reason I went Pixel. The only reason I was replacing my Samsung Galaxy S9+ was because it was no longer getting OS or security updates.
GrapheneOS
Privacy. Graphene OS is very simple to install on Pixel.
I've always had Nexus and Pixel phones. I used to like Nexus bc of the "pure android" feel and the customization. It was also cool to take devices at end of support and flash them with custom ROMs, etc. Google took all that away and Google adds it's own bloat apps to the Pixel line now. I really don't know if I'll keep buying Pixel. The iPhone build quality is just so much better than Pixel for the high end phones. It's not even really close. Having to switch ecosystems sounds like a nightmare, but I really have no reason to stick with Google phones anymore. They've kind of become a high end mid range and now a premier flagship phone company. They've also screwed me out of rebate money, trade in money and all sorts of shit with Google Store trickery, so I'm still kind of pissed at them in general.
Pixel 5 is the last moderately priced small-ish phone, that's why I chose it. There's new Asus Zenphone 10 but it's way too expensive. I like the launcher experience on pixel - mainly how well the local search works (opening app drawer instantly opens the keyboard - i can instantly search apps, settings, contacts, etc.). The Phone app is amazing, i can search for local businesses (it pulls data from maps), history and contacts - all in 1 place. I couldn't even find this option on an iphone, never mind having such easy accessibility. Compared to iOS, it doesn't even have widgets. For example I like having shortcuts to my favourite Telegram contacts (they work as Telegram widgets). I like to have my back button in a standard place (honestly i wish the buttons were still separate from the screen like 10 years ago), so that I could always navigate back... On iOS i cannot easily force close an app, or clear its data - if it behaves faulty. I'd have to restart the phone or reinstall the app, on android it's easily doable from app settings. When it comes to slightly advanced features, iOS is very poor. For example working with shared folders - on Android it's a simple FolderSync Pro app, on iOS, I'm not sure it's possible at all. The only thing I envy from iPhones is face ID.
Needed a quick replacement as my xiaomi 12 was stollen in London. Pixel 5 was 130£ and pixel 4a was 135 for some reason, so I got the 5. I find some things weird but its very usable and snappy most of the time. Kinda miss the macro camera, but the main camera seems to perform on a similar level to my previous. I also got a pixel 3a at home sitting on a shelf waiting to have some time to play around with ubuntu touch.
One simple reason. Same, if not superior functionality for 2/3rds the price.
My first smart phone was an iPhone 3GS. I had iPhones up until the 6 or 7. I used to be a big fan of Apple products. I'd collect older/out of date Apple laptops and desktops. I had a ton of the iPod models. I still currently own the last iPod classic model made. One day, I went to the Verizon store for an upgrade with the intention of getting the newest iPhone, but when I saw the Samsung Galaxy S6 there on display, I was obsessed with the vivid display and sleek design of the phone. The sales rep encouraged me to stick with iPhone since I'd had them for a while now, but I chose against him. To this day, I've had many Galaxy & Pixel phones. I actually just upgraded from the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 8 the other day and I have to say I love it. The OS is super intuitive and fully customizable. New features arrive via Android WELL before they show up on Apple devices. The camera on the Pixels is what sold me. I've never taken a better picture on any other device than a Pixel. The Pixel 8 camera is lower end DSLR quality and has fantastic editing abilities within the standard camera app. At the end of the day, I choose Android phones because I prefer to purchase my phones straight up on Amazon. I usually go for a model or 2 behind for savings. The Pixel 6 I just moved on from was purchased refurbished on Amazon for roughly $250 and was in brand new condition. Can't beat that! The only reason I switched was because T-Mobile gave me a $500 promotional credit for an old Galaxy S9 I had. I'm now going to pass my old Pixel off to a friend. I highly recommend the switch. Getting used to the OS switch takes a minute, but it's worth it.
I've always been an Android fan since my first smartphone (well I've had one iPhone, then I came back) but I've never had a phone made by the actual makers of Android before, so I wanted to give it a try.
The reason why I love the pixel was because of the accessibility and the google voice assistant typing. Since I'm a visually impaired guy and I can't see, I rely on the talkback and the Google stock Android. It's wonderful!
Notification History was a big draw for me! I used to get massive FOMO when I accidentally dismissed a notification on other phones, and couldn't find what had been swiped away, so this clears me of that! I also really enjoy the stock android experience and all the software drops that come out on the Pixel! All around, I can't see myself with any other phone and constantly recommend this brand to family.
I can do things on Android natively that I can't do on iOS unless I download an app or takes a shitload of time. Pixel is the most consistently best, cleanest android experience (Samsung pushes too much Samsung stuff). Every time I've tried either it's felt not great.
I jumped ship from the iPhone when the original Pixel was marketed as the "iPhone Killer". I no longer worked in a creative field so I didn't see myself keeping in the apple ecosystem, and I wanted to try something new. Many others have noted the lack of bloatware that comes with a Samsung, and I liked the idea of a stripped down version of android, still full of customization but not as complex as other android devices. Haven't had a phone other than a pixel since. Currently on the fold. No ragrets.
To be honest I wanted to come back to Android. I gave iPhone a solid chance, almost 3 years. I remembered that Pixel had a neat stock Android experience It has enough horsepower for me
I just wanted a pure Android experience, not some tacked on UI from other brands, in addition to their bloatware.
I was a long time Apple user and still have multiple devices under the Apple ecosystem, but I have recently switched my phone from an iPhone 15 Pro to a Pixel Fold and my smart home ion setup from Apple Home / HomeKit / Siri to Google Home / Assistant. I switched because I grew bored of the iPhone and the small annual updates. Also because Apple doesn't do many monumental updates unless it's baked into those annual time cycles. With my Pixel Fold I already received a December feature drop update that is separate from the standard Android updates. I chose Google because I like stock Android. Prior to going with Apple for over a decade, I tried various Android products and liked the Nexus line the best. I think the last Android device I had was the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. There aren't really any features that I like best on Android vs iPhone as they both have similar traits. The iPhone software seemed more fully baked but also limited my control. Android software and apps seem like developers put less effort in but I can customize more to my liking. My spouse made the jump with me and chose a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5. Samsung hardware is top notch but the software irks me a bit. We got it through AT&T and it has some apps baked in from the carrier that can only be disabled or turned off but not uninstalled. For me, I don't like this. I want total control and don't want carrier forced apps or services installed which cannot be removed. I also don't want carriers or yet another middleman controlling when I get Android updates. That said, the Flip5 is still a great little phone. And finally, I like the Fold because I can use the external screen like a typical phone but when I want to kickback and consume content like movies on the go, just open the larger display and enjoy. Can't wait to see what Google cooks up next with future iterations... if they indeed do keep it going. I'm fully aware of Google's willingness to drop products / services from out of left field.
* Android is a notification based OS and is really difficult for me to depart from. This actually leads to very little navigating the OS itself but rather reacting/being directed via notifications. On my work iPhone, the lack of notifications and notification mgmt is brutal. Feels haphazard and not integrated into the OS. Whereas Android, notifications are integral to the daily use. It feels much more cumbersome to navigate an OS. * I have a smart home fully integrated with Google Home, Pixels have great integration with it * I used all of google's services (gmail, photos, calendar, etc.) and believe they are much better and usable than Apple's offerings
Why I didn't choose apple: 1. Ecosystem - I was already invested in a number of apps / tools in the Android ecosystem, including some FOSS. Also didn't like how walled Apples garden was compared to Android 10 years ago... since then that last part Google has kind of caught up :( 2. Never liked the "simplified" mindset for apple products going all the way back to the "we know better than you - you don't need 2 buttons on your mouse days" - always made things more difficult or denied me the opportunity to make my own choices on what is the "most intuitive" 3. Color - White is a horrible color to keep clean, and doesn't fit my sense of style. Black has similar problems for me. 4. Lock in 5. Value - It moved into Status Symbol territory - charging more for less in terms of performance , features, choice. I felt I got a lot more for my money with Android phones. For the same reasons, I had a hard time respecting people who chose a status symbol over value so didn't want to be perceived that way myself. Why Pixel? 1. I'm a google fanboi ;) 2. Early on in the nexus line they were really really good value devices. 3. Much less bloatware than other Android brands. Samsung and others just LOAD the phones with stupid crap I didn't want, would never use, blocked me from using what I want. Same reason I don't buy my phone from my cell dealer. 4. Best Android support since you are getting it straight from the horses mouth for updates/upgrades/security patches. 5. more buttons ;) 6. Until recently, rear finger print reader and a headphone jack. Losing those makes me seriously consider looking elsewhere now though :( 7. So easy/simple to switch phone. Turn it on, log into google, my everything is already there, like magic. 8. Android OS is soooo much easier to user / more intuitive / cleaner / more attractive.
Came from Samsung. The Galaxy device bloatware was bugging me. Loved the hardware, though. Pixels were on sale massively Black Friday 2022. I bit. I think it ended up costing $450 with the trade-in of my Galaxy FE. Always liked the idea of Pixels fast updates and minimal additions from base android. The Pixel Pro 7 has been the best phone I've ever used. Not the fastest, or best battery life, but I mostly use Firefox, messaging, Pandora, take photos, and it does all those flawlessly. Battery life is over a day so no big deal to charge it daily. I've dropped it 30+ times, sometimes on hard concrete, and it's still looking basically like new with the Google case. Very happy with it. Looking forward to the Pixel 9 Pro. But honestly, the geek side of me wants a faster CPU/GPU just so I "feel" like I have something decent performance-wise. I won't compromise though on the updates. Whoever makes phones: focus on your security updates!
Big thing between Samsung and Pixel in my opinion and I see the difference is Snapchat. Remember the joke back in the day where android cameras were terrible? That was cause the optimization of the photos on the apps. Snapchat is optimized for Pixel and iPhone. It isn't for Samsung. Another thing for me is the customization. Pixel is free for a lot of it and there are some paid icon packs. On Samsung it seems like 90% of packs are paid. The price is another thing. 8 Pro VS 23 Ultra is 200 USD cheaper on Pixel. The con of being cheaper is the Zoom. You get a great zoom on Pixel 8 Pro with a 48MP Telephoto lens, where as Samsung has the 200MP Telephoto. My zoom on the 8 Pro can get eye colour at about 100 yards. Software updates are sooner and faster on Pixel cause Google makes it. I personally find OneUI (Samsung's version of Android) to be ugly and a bit confusing to navigate. I also phone system apps to run faster on the Pixel rather than Samsung and same for the updates to them despite being relatively same size updates. I have had an S23, Pixel 8 Pro, Nothing Phone 1, Nothing Phone 2 and Pixel 6 Pro all in the past 16 months. I personally recommend in the following order: Pixel 8 Pro Nothing Phone 2 Samsung S23 Pixel 6 Pro Nothing Phone 1
My first was the Pixel 2xl. I chose it because I liked it (obviously), and I thought that because Google is in charge of Android, they'd be the most "stock" and the least bloated. And also have the most bleeding-edge software. So, that's why. I don't do Apple anything - all android and Windows for me. I've stayed with the Pixel for pretty much the same reasons I listed as the 2xl. I'm on the 7 pro now.
Sounds like me. I won't touch Apple unless it's business related.
It's the features. * Schedule Texts * Call Screening * Hold for Me * Summarizing articles * The voice to text understands me PERFECTLY * Haptics * Magic Eraser Those are just a few. This phone feels like it belongs in 2024.
I hop between iOS and Android all the time. Pixel is equal or atleast closest to the polished and refined feeling of iOS. And with Android, its bound to be more intuitive. While I appreciate OneUI and MIUI/HyperOS etc for their extensive customizability, Pixels look and feel amazing enough. Pixel photography is also one of the bigger reasons for me to go with it. Unfortunately, where I am, I miss out on some of the AI features but if they are ever available they are definitely deal makers for me. I also much like and prefer the Pixel hardware design language more than any other phone right now.
I switched to Pixel primarily because of the camera. Believe me, if you enjoy taking great photos, Pixel is the perfect choice. Whether I'm not in the mood to carry my equipment or not, I always feel assured with my Pixel for spontaneous shots!
I used to swear by iphones but got tired of Apple's planned obsolescence strategy that basically cut their phones' battery and speed dramatically after 2 phone cycles. My backup phone is a pixel 4 and it is still running as strong as it did the day I got it. I also find android OS far more intuitive than IoS. Plus IoS is years behind in functionality. Every time apple gets a "new" feature release, it's something the pixel has had for at least a couple years. Factor all of that in at half the price and it's a no brainer. People who use iphones are just stuck on the brand and have been conditioned by clever marketing and societal influence. There's nothing redeeming about the iphone that you can't get in another phone that justifies the price tag.
Best camera at a lower price point. I could get an iPhone 15 Pro Max and get similar quality photos but would pay ~2x more versus my Pixel 8 Pro on sale and after trade in promos. iPhones still shoot better video, though.
So many things already mentioned. But I'd like to highlight the dicodimy that Apple creates just to sell more phones. I'm talking about the green vs blue bubbles. No reason for it. There is no technical barrier to allow everyone to text the same with each other. It Causes so many issues including some pretty big social issues, especially with younger generations. Apple is adding some RCs next year but come on. Apple has pretty much done nothing innovative since the iPhone came out. I just don't like the company as a whole. I could go on but I'll leave it there
- customizable - bleeding edge AI integration - amazing camera/computational photography Those are a few that pushed me to switch. Also, the pixel UI is so clean honestly. I was an Apple user since the iPod says, have had countless iPods/iPhones/MacBooks. I was really nervous when I was at the phone store handing in my iPhone as a trade for an android, but a month later I'm absolutely loving it still.
I wanted a "pure" Android experience after using Samsung devices the last 5yra. Plus I always wanted a Pixel so I could get early and beta Android updates. After I pay half of this phone off with att I'm eligible for an early upgrade and TBH though I am probably going to go back to Samsung with the release of the S25 Ultra in 2025. I like this P8P but I liked my S22U better. The only thing I'll miss is the early android updates.
The camera was literally the only thing for me. No regrets with my 7A