Previously on Lemmy:

Past Discussions:

Sorry for the delay for the weekly. Server’s not that stable right now, maybe we should start the thread on Sundays instead.

I always like to switch things up once in a while because it’s fun. So, let’s get back to the brand discussion this week for the Google Pixel. We’ll do a discussion on repairability next week. Again, ideas are always welcome here.

I’ve never used a Pixel, but people around here should know that I’ve been very critical of Google’s product decisions over the years, and the Pixel is no exception. In my point of view, discontinuing the Nexus series, buying out the talents from the remains of HTC and starting an official “made by Google” phone is the equivalent of reddit buying out Alien Blue to make the official reddit app. I think it’s the event that scared big Android manufacturers like Samsung enough to start making their own ecosystem away from Google, as they are concerned that Google may start locking software features to their own phones instead of improving Android overall (rightfully so, I might add).

It really makes no business sense at all to turn your manufacturing partners into your competitors, but then again, it’s Google.

With that being said, the first years of the Pixels has been marred with growing pains. Whereas the Nexus line has always been barebones, no frills development devices, it seemed to me that the people who made Pixels don’t even use Android and are insistent on turning Pixel into iPhones, removing the headphone jack on the Pixel 2 despite the antagonistic ad from the original Pixel, Pixel exclusive software features like Google camera that necessitating the need of rom mods, as well as the quality issues that seems to be inherited from the Nexus days just really soured me from considering Pixels, as I think it’s against the spirit of openness that made Android great.

But it seems like in recent years, they finally figured out that a large percentage of people who bought Androids not because they can’t afford iPhones, but because they like Android, and I see the introduction of the “a” series as progress. The recent Pixel ad campaign also made me think that they finally figuring it out: people want different things, trying to turn Android into worse versions of iPhones was not going to work, so they should be trying to make the best Android for Android users instead.

(It’s also the reason I think all the previous reddit clones failed, but Lemmy will be the one that finally succeeds.)

  • skymtf@pricefield.orgEnglish
    6·
    1 year ago

    I have a pixel 6 and generally like it. Googles stock rom is where my issues with the pixel come up. Generally its not spookier than any other googled android phone. The rom looks good when the device is knew but from what I’ve seen online it tends to get slower after 2 years. This is nor an issue for me however since I moved over the graphineOS.

    • cyberpunk007@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      There’s no technical reason the phone should slow down after 2 years unless newer OS versions are more straining, or all those years of gummed up apps are taking their toll. I’m on a 6 pro, which is now nearly 2 years old, not slow in the slightest.

  • Unsaved5831@lemm.eeEnglish
    6·
    1 year ago

    Quite happy user of Pixel 6a. The only few annoying things are:

    • Under-the-screen fingerprint sensor works less than half of the time. At night and in bed, it blinds me.
    • Battery, despite adaptive battery, still feels surprisingly draining fast from time to time. The battery merely just hold for the day whereas I don’t even have that much screen time or background running apps.
  • d3Xt3r@lemmy.nzEnglish
    5·
    1 year ago

    I’ve always been a Stock Android fanboy, so I loved the Pixel phones. However, for reasons, I got myself a Galaxy Fold 4 last year, which I fell in love with. I can’t see myself going back to a regular phone now, and for me to get a Pixel Fold, Google would really have to improve Android’s multitasking capabilities. On my Galaxy Fold for instance, I can have three tiled windows in a split-screen layout, or can have several floating windows of regular apps, which can be minimized into floating chatheads. With these floating windows, I can freely resize them, hide the header and even change their transparency levels. Which is great if you want to keep an eye out on some chat or Uber Eats or something whilst you are reading a book in full-screen. Having gotten used to these multitasking features, I can’t see myself going back to stock Android, until these are implemented.

  • mycroftholmess@lemm.eeEnglish
    3·
    1 year ago

    They’re awesome! But kinda unusable when you’re outside and connected to mobile data. Phone heats up quicker than usual, battery doesn’t last as long. I’m on a Pixel 6A, for context.

  • jacktherippah@lemdro.idEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    I got a Pixel 6 Pro second hand from the US recently for GrapheneOS.

    Here’s what I like:

    • Fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable
    • Phone is buttery smooth, no weird slowdowns, I’ve been very satisfied
    • Excellent hardware: beautiful, premium, unqiue. It feels heavy but in a well - balanced, premium way .The curved back, screen and sides makes it so comfortable to hold. And I love the camera bar because the phone doesn’t rock back and forth on the table.
    • No parallel for customization, well maintained custom ROMs (I came from a Xiaomi, I swear Google Pixels are way better in this regard.), and GrapheneOS is awesome.
    • Good photo quality, can’t comment on video
    • Actually reliable raise to wake, tap to wake and Always On Display.

    What I don’t like:

    • Phone gets hot on cellular when outside, probably an inefficient Exynos modem + the brutal sun here
    • Battery is just okay. Charging is not an issue, takes about an hour to reach 80%, which is what I usually keep my phone at anyway for better battery health.
    • Screen not quite bright enough on brutal summer days.

    So yeah overall I’m a happy camper. This was honestly a steal at 330 USD renewed from Amazon. When this one loses support for GrapheneOS, I’ll be upgrading to another second - hand Pixel.

  • Michal@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    Initially i bought nexus/pixel phones for clean android experience and no bloat.

    Staying with pixel mainly for camera quality and free storage on Google Photos.

    Its not ideal, but I’m used to it. They never try to do something too gimmicky and it feels like phone made by Google will work best with the os made by google so my experience will be most consistent, but i haven’t tried other phones in a while.

  • AnonymousLlama@kbin.social
    2·
    1 year ago

    After a decade of Samsung and other third party phones, I’m super keen on the Pixel 7 pro. Even with Samsung boosting huge MP counts for their phones, they always come across either blurry or low quality to me (especially selfies where it feels like they’ve cheaped out)

    In comparison the software processing on the Pixel is amazing, things seems to always be in focus and correctly lit.

  • NullPointer@programming.devEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    been a pixel user since they were called nexus. about as minimal bloat as you can get without going FOSS.

    currently still on a 3a as it still gets the job done. I use my old nexus6 with FOSS as a basic handheld around the house. smart thermostat, sprinkler controller, throw YouTube up on the TV, etc.

  • denton@lemm.eeEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I used the 2 and currently use the 4a (coming up to 3 years this Oct) but I think that’s the end of the line for me on pixels cause they’re just getting too big for someone with really small hands.

    My three wants (in order or priority) for phones are: 1) reasonably small enough (pixel 4a just about fits into this criteria); 2) fingerprint scanner; 3) headphone jack

    I’ve got a tiny jelly star from unihertz coming and if that doesn’t work out I’ll probably have to go zenphone cause they’re just about the size of the 4a.

    Pity as I do like the pixel line