I wouldn't have realized that with only iPhone experience.
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Best alternative to iPhone?
- Thread starter macmesser
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I'm a huge stock Android fan, having pretty much every Nexus and Pixel XL phone almost, love vanilla Android, but I have also been fed up with the poor battery life and mediocre screen tech Google uses.
I haven't had an iPhone for years, like 6 years ago, but I bit it, and went iPhone 12 Pro Max at new Year, and surprisingly actually like it, a lot.
I haven't had an iPhone for years, like 6 years ago, but I bit it, and went iPhone 12 Pro Max at new Year, and surprisingly actually like it, a lot.
Stuff like DirectTV is the carrier's stuff (AT&T). It can be disabled and it won't run in the background at all. But for me, I just load Samsung's unlocked firmware instead of a carrier specific version and those types of things aren't on there at all. It also adds a couple things that the carriers lock away for some reason, like the spam call filtering (which is an EXTREMELY great feature).
You shouldn’t have to do that in the first place, Samsung needs to take apple approach and tell the carriers to beat it with their carrier bloat garbage.
I don't really see bloatware as that much of a problem. It's no different than buying a computer, for the most part. I just disable or remove what I don't want, and move on. Contrary to what people say, it really doesn't impact the phone's performance and doesn't run in the background if it's removed or disabled. So ultimately it's really a non-issue. The primary reason I prefer to go with the unlocked software isn't related to bloat. It's primarily because of the difference in the dialer app. I really like the spam filtering feature built into it. It's one of those things that flies under the radar but is great to have. And since it's really easy to switch the firmware, I just switch it when the phone comes and keep it moving. As for the Apple approach, while yes no carrier stuff is nice, what I don't like about their approach is their barebones offering. The good thing about Android though, is I have a choice on how I want to do it.
For photography and videography, iPhone is still the best due to Apple being the hardware and OS maker, and can provide proper camera APIs to 3rd party apps to utilize more advance features like RAW capture. On Android, Google has camera APIs as well, but hardly any OEMs properly implement it as each model has separate camera setup, and sometimes the hardware tech moves faster than what Google can support (eg it took a while for Google to even support dual camera). Simplest example is the built-in camera of Snapchat. On iPhone, the app can take advantage of the actual camera hardware. On Android, the app is basically taking screenshots of what's on screen, resulting poorer image/video quality since it cannot support all the different Android phones, and no proper implementation of the Android camera APIs.
I don't use crapplets like Snapchat so can't verify but have you seen this?
https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/...y-android-phone-that-doesnt-suck-at-snapchat/
Best advice for OP is try a few different devices and decide for yourself.
So I got a bit bored from iOS/Apple in general after been using iPhones since iPhone 3G (Had 4, 4s, 5s,6,6s,7,8,X, 11). Started with Samsung S20 whose screen has always impressed me. At the beginning I was fine but struggled a bit with all apps/android in general. Some apps aren't updated or optimized to the screen which is a shame. I really like how notifications are shown on Android and I think it looks very cool and fast to manage. I didn't like the fact the gallery could be synced only with Microsoft OneDrive even if later I decided to use Google Photos. What it made me return: battery which was awful.. had to read what to disable (what's the point if I have to disactivate half the options that makes Samsung Galaxy a Samsung Galaxy) and I wasn't OK with the apps switcher from OneUI 2.5.
Touch ID.. it's a MEH.. its practical now because of the pandemic but that's it.
Even before getting the Samsung I said I wanted Google Pixel (there was still 1 o 2 months until Pixel 4A and then 5) because of everything I read, like stock Android (which I would say it's more similar to iOS). but didn't have patience to wait so went for Samsung. I like Google design as well.
Anyway, returned my Samsung, back to my iPhone 11, and then again Samsung (returned before the 15 days) and again battery just no good.
Tried Google Pixel 5 in an electronics store and I was surprised of how fluid it was.
Finally got Google Pixel 5..touch ID in the back way faster than Samsung's.. I remember I said: OK, it won't look like a Premium and I think that's the idea of getting a Pixel.
Still: I found stock Android a bit basic or boring.. and suddenly I had a general lag that NEVER happened to me in any phone.. never on iphone and didn't happen in Samsung.. so, bye Google Pixel and got an Iphone 12 Pro.
Could be I'm a bit bipolar.. used Iphones for years and always happy with them but suddenly bored and want to change for something different, could be I like technology and experience different things.
Im still thinking about trying another phone but I told my self:
I like the idea of Google Pixel but it just doesn't feel Premium at all, specially if you compare to an iphone.
I would come back to Samsung as it actually LOOKS premium and same to iphone, just a different OS.
Funny but I don't like design of S21 so just staying with iPhone.
Some friends say: DUDE, is just a phone.. they are right haha..
To be continued
Touch ID.. it's a MEH.. its practical now because of the pandemic but that's it.
Even before getting the Samsung I said I wanted Google Pixel (there was still 1 o 2 months until Pixel 4A and then 5) because of everything I read, like stock Android (which I would say it's more similar to iOS). but didn't have patience to wait so went for Samsung. I like Google design as well.
Anyway, returned my Samsung, back to my iPhone 11, and then again Samsung (returned before the 15 days) and again battery just no good.
Tried Google Pixel 5 in an electronics store and I was surprised of how fluid it was.
Finally got Google Pixel 5..touch ID in the back way faster than Samsung's.. I remember I said: OK, it won't look like a Premium and I think that's the idea of getting a Pixel.
Still: I found stock Android a bit basic or boring.. and suddenly I had a general lag that NEVER happened to me in any phone.. never on iphone and didn't happen in Samsung.. so, bye Google Pixel and got an Iphone 12 Pro.
Could be I'm a bit bipolar.. used Iphones for years and always happy with them but suddenly bored and want to change for something different, could be I like technology and experience different things.
Im still thinking about trying another phone but I told my self:
I like the idea of Google Pixel but it just doesn't feel Premium at all, specially if you compare to an iphone.
I would come back to Samsung as it actually LOOKS premium and same to iphone, just a different OS.
Funny but I don't like design of S21 so just staying with iPhone.
Some friends say: DUDE, is just a phone.. they are right haha..
To be continued
That’s the weird thing about Pixels……they run like iPhones initially, but then start to stutter and lag. The same can be said about other Androids but Pixels is what i hear consistently because people expect them to be “pure” and “fast”. The ONLY one that has been consistently fluid is OnePlus but that has other issues too.
I honestly couldn’t give a crap about Snapchat. I don’t even think I know how to use it.
The Pixel 5 has 8gb of ram so it's not ram that was causing the above members issue with lag.
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It is not. It is a common theme with Pixels. Camera crash like crazy after 4-6 months (even on P5). Only remedy is a total reset to factory settings and doing it all over again.
And of course, recently, P2 and P3 i think are starting to have camera FAILURES that are not fixed by reset…maybe linked to hardware failure.
EDIT: found it: https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/...n-reports-of-pixel-camera-issues/#ap-lightbox
One of the comment: “Just got this issue on my Pixel 5 today tried factory reset and other things and still having this problem. I haven't tried the magnet trick yet tho. Anyways I spoke to support and they said either have it rma'd or do a walk in repair smh this is crazy”
That's because they're all fragmented. Samsung has best hardware. Pixel has best software. iPhone has mediocre both. You just have to compromise.
Software is debatable. What part of hardware is mediocre in iPhones?
Smart man, saved yourself a lot of headaches, one does not leave the best smartphone experience on earth (iOS) to go to a inferior platform. 😊
Spot on, 90hz, 120hz 20 gig ram, it’s always the same story, you want 24’7 smoothness, only iPhone will give you that. Been that way since the first iPhone was released.
Don’t think it’s the ram, the software isn’t on the Same level as iOS, been that way since day one, when you support so many smartphones, you end up with terrible fragmented user experience.
Hmmm…mediocre?
iPhone 12 Pro Max.
#1 camera (photo & video) system...significant lead this year. Class-leading stills. Dolby Vision real-time video is just mind blowing.
#1 display...may lack 120Hz, but makes up for it in brightness, accuracy, and low reflectance. DisplayMate gives it the best of the best award.
#1 processor...by a wide margin. A14 is a true desktop level quality chip...that outclasses most desktop chips.
#1 design & materials (literally strong-as-nails glass, 316L stainless steel, sapphire, beautiful design).
#1 in water resistance.
#1 resale value...by far...so, upfront price may be high but resale value of iPhones actually make it a pretty good value long-term.
Oh, and as per GSMArena, there is no throttling with gaming! Class-leading processor that never quits.
Damn good battery life...easily on par with other flagships of any brand, despite 5G.
5G for future proofing.
FIVE PLUS years of support. Heck, iPhone 5s from 2013 just got a security update in Dec!
#1 in customer service. No RMA. No haggling with customer service from India!
12 Pro Max is a true flagship and simply the best of 2020 and possibly 2021.
It is literally a perfect phone...as evidenced by Tom’s Guide 1st ever 5 (out of 5) star phone.
iPhone 12 Pro Max.
#1 camera (photo & video) system...significant lead this year. Class-leading stills. Dolby Vision real-time video is just mind blowing.
#1 display...may lack 120Hz, but makes up for it in brightness, accuracy, and low reflectance. DisplayMate gives it the best of the best award.
#1 processor...by a wide margin. A14 is a true desktop level quality chip...that outclasses most desktop chips.
#1 design & materials (literally strong-as-nails glass, 316L stainless steel, sapphire, beautiful design).
#1 in water resistance.
#1 resale value...by far...so, upfront price may be high but resale value of iPhones actually make it a pretty good value long-term.
Oh, and as per GSMArena, there is no throttling with gaming! Class-leading processor that never quits.
Damn good battery life...easily on par with other flagships of any brand, despite 5G.
5G for future proofing.
FIVE PLUS years of support. Heck, iPhone 5s from 2013 just got a security update in Dec!
#1 in customer service. No RMA. No haggling with customer service from India!
12 Pro Max is a true flagship and simply the best of 2020 and possibly 2021.
It is literally a perfect phone...as evidenced by Tom’s Guide 1st ever 5 (out of 5) star phone.
120hz is a gimmick, iPhone with 60hz feels more than quick enough for everyday use, real world battery usage, nothing comes close to a iPhone 12 Pro Max.
120hz will only be a gimmick until they implement it, then you'll be fawning over it.
Nah, on a smaller screen it's pointless in my opinion. i'll take it on a bigger display like a tablet or laptop.
Never felt that my iPhone feels sluggish at 60hz.
We'll see what you say in September.
By the way, just browsed through Facebook on my S21 Ultra and my iPhone 11 at the same time and 120hz is definitely noticeable.
Talk to us in 4-6 months and see if your S21U is still “smooth”………or it will stutter and lag like the rest of them.
