My backup phone is Android. In my house we are all iPhone users but I like to keep an eye on what the "other" people are using. Every now and then I fire up the Pixel 5 and use that for a month or so. Keeps it updated and keeps me familiar with the Android ecosystem.
The reason I bought an Android phone at all is my parents. At the young age of 82 my folks had to give up their ancient flip phones and drag themselves into the 21st century with smartphones. I'm their de facto tech consultant (setting up wireless printing for them cemented that) so I was their first call for a smartphone recommendation. Naturally I advised them to go with iPhones. Ease of use, reliability, and my familiarity with the platform - all made perfect sense to them. And......... they got Android phones. WTF???
A couple of 82 year olds with their first smartphones - what could possibly go wrong? I saw how this was going to go from the jump so I picked up a used/clean Pixel 3a XL to familiarize myself with Android. I wanted to say, "You listened to the da@n Verizon salesman so ask HIM for help." But I couldn't do that to them, so I decided to get some Android knowledge myself. When the 3a XL got too old I upgraded to a Pixel 5, and it's a great phone. For Android. Perfect size, very light, nice screen, and the fabric cases have a really nice feel. Fingerprint unlock sensor on the back center of the phone is perfectly placed too, and 100% reliable.
A family member has taken several vacations in Eastern Europe and took my Pixel 5 to use with local pre-paid SIM cards. The U.S. may be very iPhone-centric but the rest of the world is mostly Android. Perfect fit for travel abroad. Good (but not great) camera too on the Pixel 5. Battery life is the best I've ever seen - 2 full days on a charge. And you can pick up a used/mint P5 on Swappa for less than $200.
The reason I bought an Android phone at all is my parents. At the young age of 82 my folks had to give up their ancient flip phones and drag themselves into the 21st century with smartphones. I'm their de facto tech consultant (setting up wireless printing for them cemented that) so I was their first call for a smartphone recommendation. Naturally I advised them to go with iPhones. Ease of use, reliability, and my familiarity with the platform - all made perfect sense to them. And......... they got Android phones. WTF???
A couple of 82 year olds with their first smartphones - what could possibly go wrong? I saw how this was going to go from the jump so I picked up a used/clean Pixel 3a XL to familiarize myself with Android. I wanted to say, "You listened to the da@n Verizon salesman so ask HIM for help." But I couldn't do that to them, so I decided to get some Android knowledge myself. When the 3a XL got too old I upgraded to a Pixel 5, and it's a great phone. For Android. Perfect size, very light, nice screen, and the fabric cases have a really nice feel. Fingerprint unlock sensor on the back center of the phone is perfectly placed too, and 100% reliable.
A family member has taken several vacations in Eastern Europe and took my Pixel 5 to use with local pre-paid SIM cards. The U.S. may be very iPhone-centric but the rest of the world is mostly Android. Perfect fit for travel abroad. Good (but not great) camera too on the Pixel 5. Battery life is the best I've ever seen - 2 full days on a charge. And you can pick up a used/mint P5 on Swappa for less than $200.
