Phones Google Pixel 8/8 Pro

[Dave245]

Ok so I REALLY want to try a Pixel and I think I've reached a compromise. I'm thinking of buying the Pixel 7a OR the Pixel 7, it's not the 8 and probably lacks a lot of its features, however my logic is this:

The Pixel 7a is currently on Google Store for £379, and the Pixel 7 is on the Google Store for £449. The 7a is less than half the cost of the 8 Pro, while the Pixel 7 is around half (with my discount).
It would be a test, own one of the cheaper models as a way into the world of Pixel, to see how I get on until Samsung announce the S24 Ultra in January. If I don't like it as much, I pass it down to someone in my family or trade it in.

 

[Harthag]

@jamezr - sounds incredibly inconvenient. Is this just how it is or is it a bug?

 

[jamezr]

@jamezr - sounds incredibly inconvenient. Is this just how it is or is it a bug?

from what i read on reddit and Google community forums...this is just how it is for now. But let me add that Google does a great job of copying data wirelessly from one Android device to another.

 

[Technerd108]

Ok so I REALLY want to try a Pixel and I think I've reached a compromise. I'm thinking of buying the Pixel 7a OR the Pixel 7, it's not the 8 and probably lacks a lot of its features, however my logic is this:

The Pixel 7a is currently on Google Store for £379, and the Pixel 7 is on the Google Store for £449. The 7a is less than half the cost of the 8 Pro, while the Pixel 7 is around half (with my discount).
It would be a test, own one of the cheaper models as a way into the world of Pixel, to see how I get on until Samsung announce the S24 Ultra in January. If I don't like it as much, I pass it down to someone in my family or trade it in.

I completely understand what you are saying but if you judge a category of devices by the cheapest one it may give you a bad impression. I mean if I gave you the iPhone SE and asked you to judge iOS by it your impressions might be a lot different than a 15 Pro Max?

Cheaper makes it easier to like something until the cheaper is a compromise that hinders our daily use. I loved the Pixel 7 Pro. But it suffers from two main issues and 3 overall problems. The Tensor G2 overheats, throttles as a result, has poor battery life, and thirdly the Samsung modem seems to drain battery and run hot while also having some reception issues. These issues are not deal breakers but over time can add frustration. The Tensor G3 in the 8 series doesn't magically fix everything but it does significantly improve on all points I mentioned to the point where I think it is worth the extra cost.

You will not have the pain points in the Pixel 8 as in the Pixel 7. You will get much longer software support and you will get the most up to date experience to judge Android with. Normally I would say save your money if the changes were not that important but I think the Pixel 8 series is a clear delineation point for Google. Next year I don't expect huge changes but the year after next should be the year to buy. So either get an 8 or wait a while. If you get the 7 you are going to feel outdated soon and possibly regret the purchase while if you get an 8 you might just like it so much that you get a 10 Pro when it comes out?

 

[Technerd108]

Of course the easiest solution since you seem very curious about the s24 ultra is to simply wait until after you pre order the s23 ultra and then if you can buy the Pixel 8 Pro. Then you have two weeks with both phones to decide.



However, if you get a Samsung Galaxy pre order they generally sweeten the deal so I feel like it would be hard to give up the pre order stuff and all of the bells and whistles on the ultra.



I mean if budget isn't a huge issue wait for the s24 pre order. There might be sales still around on the Pixel 8 Pro in January? Then you can compare both. But don't buy a 7a and compare it to the s24 ultra because it won't even be close. Buy a decent up to date Pixel. Pixel 8 is good enough. You can get some good deals on the Pixel 8 right now. But if you are trying to decide if you want a s24 ultra or a Pixel then you should probably get a comparable model to the s24 ultra otherwise it's kind of an unfair comparison.

Buy the Pre order first. Get the best deal you can get. Then see what the s24 ultra has to offer. Then if you are still interested in a Pixel, I would recommend the Pixel 8 Pro. Then you can see what you like best about each and decide what to keep and what to return.

I really think that Samsung can produce some incredible hardware and they always have but the software experience they have offered has always been less than optimal. A lot has changed over time but a lot is still the same. A lot of the issues about Samsung versions of Android that existed years ago still exist. So if those ever bothered you like duplicate apps, huge OS installation files, pre installed 3rd party apps, heavy skin on top of Android, they might still bother you.

I am not saying OneUI is bad as it has greatly improved in speed, animations, overall UI improvements, customization, etc.

What I am saying is that I think it really depends on the software experience you prefer.

I will say in all my years of using cell phones from various manufacturers and OS, Samsung and Apple have been the most reliable hardware and software over the years. I may not have preferred either but in terms of stability and reliability and up time both have proven to be very reliable. Things changed for me in iOS 16 but if I look at the general picture over the years I can say this is true but recently Apple software in iOS has been really bad in terms of stability, battery life, etc. I never experienced that before iOS 16 for any long period of time. Generally when a new iOS release is out there are a bunch of bugs but then they get resolved and then the OS is stable and great. Now it is a buggy mess at release and just stays that way. I don't get it? Hopefully it is just a temporary thing.

So what software do you think you prefer?

Do you care about having the best phone hardware that you can buy and are someone who wants the newest and fastest chip, with the latest ram, latest screen tech, s pen, best camera hardware, etc?

Or are you someone who wants a premium device and experience but understands that the software a device runs is almost as important and sometimes more important than the hardware it is running on. This is why Google is producing the hardware, the chip, and the software to all work together.

Sometimes software can make up for hardware differences and sometimes there is no match for brute force. I think in the end the Pixel 8 Pro is just not going to match the brute force of the 8 gen 3 and all the other goodness. If Samsung can actually produce a good AI assistant (big if) then they could start offering a lot of Pixel features.

If Samsung doesn't succeed very well with their AI then you will have a lot of hardware that might be a bit overkill while with the Pixel you are getting just enough. You have to decide what is best for you.

Lastly no one is talking about this but I bet there is a lot of pressure on Samsung to extend software support or at least just offer 5 years of OS upgrades and security patches if not more but Qualcomm may not let them go past 5 years. But 5 years of updates and security patches would be a good thing for all Samsung phones and eventually I bet Qualcomm will have to extend the support window at least for their top tier chips. Going to 7 years would be a really good thing for the entire industry and for the environment.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Of course the easiest solution since you seem very curious about the s24 ultra is to simply wait until after you pre order the s23 ultra and then if you can buy the Pixel 8 Pro. Then you have two weeks with both phones to decide.



However, if you get a Samsung Galaxy pre order they generally sweeten the deal so I feel like it would be hard to give up the pre order stuff and all of the bells and whistles on the ultra.



I mean if budget isn't a huge issue wait for the s24 pre order. There might be sales still around on the Pixel 8 Pro in January? Then you can compare both. But don't buy a 7a and compare it to the s24 ultra because it won't even be close. Buy a decent up to date Pixel. Pixel 8 is good enough. You can get some good deals on the Pixel 8 right now. But if you are trying to decide if you want a s24 ultra or a Pixel then you should probably get a comparable model to the s24 ultra otherwise it's kind of an unfair comparison.

Buy the Pre order first. Get the best deal you can get. Then see what the s24 ultra has to offer. Then if you are still interested in a Pixel, I would recommend the Pixel 8 Pro. Then you can see what you like best about each and decide what to keep and what to return.

I really think that Samsung can produce some incredible hardware and they always have but the software experience they have offered has always been less than optimal. A lot has changed over time but a lot is still the same. A lot of the issues about Samsung versions of Android that existed years ago still exist. So if those ever bothered you like duplicate apps, huge OS installation files, pre installed 3rd party apps, heavy skin on top of Android, they might still bother you.

I am not saying OneUI is bad as it has greatly improved in speed, animations, overall UI improvements, customization, etc.

What I am saying is that I think it really depends on the software experience you prefer.

I will say in all my years of using cell phones from various manufacturers and OS, Samsung and Apple have been the most reliable hardware and software over the years. I may not have preferred either but in terms of stability and reliability and up time both have proven to be very reliable. Things changed for me in iOS 16 but if I look at the general picture over the years I can say this is true but recently Apple software in iOS has been really bad in terms of stability, battery life, etc. I never experienced that before iOS 16 for any long period of time. Generally when a new iOS release is out there are a bunch of bugs but then they get resolved and then the OS is stable and great. Now it is a buggy mess at release and just stays that way. I don't get it? Hopefully it is just a temporary thing.

So what software do you think you prefer?

Do you care about having the best phone hardware that you can buy and are someone who wants the newest and fastest chip, with the latest ram, latest screen tech, s pen, best camera hardware, etc?

Or are you someone who wants a premium device and experience but understands that the software a device runs is almost as important and sometimes more important than the hardware it is running on. This is why Google is producing the hardware, the chip, and the software to all work together.

Sometimes software can make up for hardware differences and sometimes there is no match for brute force. I think in the end the Pixel 8 Pro is just not going to match the brute force of the 8 gen 3 and all the other goodness. If Samsung can actually produce a good AI assistant (big if) then they could start offering a lot of Pixel features.

If Samsung doesn't succeed very well with their AI then you will have a lot of hardware that might be a bit overkill while with the Pixel you are getting just enough. You have to decide what is best for you.

Lastly no one is talking about this but I bet there is a lot of pressure on Samsung to extend software support or at least just offer 5 years of OS upgrades and security patches if not more but Qualcomm may not let them go past 5 years. But 5 years of updates and security patches would be a good thing for all Samsung phones and eventually I bet Qualcomm will have to extend the support window at least for their top tier chips. Going to 7 years would be a really good thing for the entire industry and for the environment.

Aren't we in the holiday window? So the return is now into late January

 

[Technerd108]

Aren't we in the holiday window? So the return is now into late January

Depends where you are but I would imagine some regions have extended return periods but some may not and if you buy through a carrier then they may have a different return policy. It is important to check just to be sure.


If Heatfan is right then if you have until late January then you could buy the Pixel 8 Pro now on sale and test it out. Make sure you have until whatever time you need to return the phone. I would not get a 7a.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Depends where you are but I would imagine some regions have extended return periods but some may not and if you buy through a carrier then they may have a different return policy. It is important to check just to be sure.


If Heatfan is right then if you have until late January then you could buy the Pixel 8 Pro now on sale and test it out. Make sure you have until whatever time you need to return the phone. I would not get a 7a.

Yeah, that makes sense as I got my Pixel 8 phones directly from Google although Amazon now has the Holiday return window in effect and Best Buy probably does as well. I also would not recommend getting the 7a because it will not have the same type of support that the Series 8 got and the 8a is probably 6 months away.

 

[Dave245]

I completely understand what you are saying but if you judge a category of devices by the cheapest one it may give you a bad impression. I mean if I gave you the iPhone SE and asked you to judge iOS by it your impressions might be a lot different than a 15 Pro Max?

Cheaper makes it easier to like something until the cheaper is a compromise that hinders our daily use. I loved the Pixel 7 Pro. But it suffers from two main issues and 3 overall problems. The Tensor G2 overheats, throttles as a result, has poor battery life, and thirdly the Samsung modem seems to drain battery and run hot while also having some reception issues. These issues are not deal breakers but over time can add frustration. The Tensor G3 in the 8 series doesn't magically fix everything but it does significantly improve on all points I mentioned to the point where I think it is worth the extra cost.

You will not have the pain points in the Pixel 8 as in the Pixel 7. You will get much longer software support and you will get the most up to date experience to judge Android with. Normally I would say save your money if the changes were not that important but I think the Pixel 8 series is a clear delineation point for Google. Next year I don't expect huge changes but the year after next should be the year to buy. So either get an 8 or wait a while. If you get the 7 you are going to feel outdated soon and possibly regret the purchase while if you get an 8 you might just like it so much that you get a 10 Pro when it comes out?

Makes sense, I will wait for the S24 Ultra announcement. The Pixel looks great, some of the Ai features are definitely something I would use. If Samsung are going to implement AI into their phones as well, I may be able to get the best of both worlds.
I do like the S-Pen, it's very useful for jotting down notes quickly or using with Samsungs Penup app to draw, colour and so on.

 

[Dave245]

Of course the easiest solution since you seem very curious about the s24 ultra is to simply wait until after you pre order the s23 ultra and then if you can buy the Pixel 8 Pro. Then you have two weeks with both phones to decide.



However, if you get a Samsung Galaxy pre order they generally sweeten the deal so I feel like it would be hard to give up the pre order stuff and all of the bells and whistles on the ultra.



I mean if budget isn't a huge issue wait for the s24 pre order. There might be sales still around on the Pixel 8 Pro in January? Then you can compare both. But don't buy a 7a and compare it to the s24 ultra because it won't even be close. Buy a decent up to date Pixel. Pixel 8 is good enough. You can get some good deals on the Pixel 8 right now. But if you are trying to decide if you want a s24 ultra or a Pixel then you should probably get a comparable model to the s24 ultra otherwise it's kind of an unfair comparison.

Buy the Pre order first. Get the best deal you can get. Then see what the s24 ultra has to offer. Then if you are still interested in a Pixel, I would recommend the Pixel 8 Pro. Then you can see what you like best about each and decide what to keep and what to return.

I really think that Samsung can produce some incredible hardware and they always have but the software experience they have offered has always been less than optimal. A lot has changed over time but a lot is still the same. A lot of the issues about Samsung versions of Android that existed years ago still exist. So if those ever bothered you like duplicate apps, huge OS installation files, pre installed 3rd party apps, heavy skin on top of Android, they might still bother you.

I am not saying OneUI is bad as it has greatly improved in speed, animations, overall UI improvements, customization, etc.

What I am saying is that I think it really depends on the software experience you prefer.

I will say in all my years of using cell phones from various manufacturers and OS, Samsung and Apple have been the most reliable hardware and software over the years. I may not have preferred either but in terms of stability and reliability and up time both have proven to be very reliable. Things changed for me in iOS 16 but if I look at the general picture over the years I can say this is true but recently Apple software in iOS has been really bad in terms of stability, battery life, etc. I never experienced that before iOS 16 for any long period of time. Generally when a new iOS release is out there are a bunch of bugs but then they get resolved and then the OS is stable and great. Now it is a buggy mess at release and just stays that way. I don't get it? Hopefully it is just a temporary thing.

So what software do you think you prefer?

Do you care about having the best phone hardware that you can buy and are someone who wants the newest and fastest chip, with the latest ram, latest screen tech, s pen, best camera hardware, etc?

Or are you someone who wants a premium device and experience but understands that the software a device runs is almost as important and sometimes more important than the hardware it is running on. This is why Google is producing the hardware, the chip, and the software to all work together.

Sometimes software can make up for hardware differences and sometimes there is no match for brute force. I think in the end the Pixel 8 Pro is just not going to match the brute force of the 8 gen 3 and all the other goodness. If Samsung can actually produce a good AI assistant (big if) then they could start offering a lot of Pixel features.

If Samsung doesn't succeed very well with their AI then you will have a lot of hardware that might be a bit overkill while with the Pixel you are getting just enough. You have to decide what is best for you.

Lastly no one is talking about this but I bet there is a lot of pressure on Samsung to extend software support or at least just offer 5 years of OS upgrades and security patches if not more but Qualcomm may not let them go past 5 years. But 5 years of updates and security patches would be a good thing for all Samsung phones and eventually I bet Qualcomm will have to extend the support window at least for their top tier chips. Going to 7 years would be a really good thing for the entire industry and for the environment.

Thank you for your long and considered responses, I think you have helped to make my mind up. I will be waiting until Samsung announce the S24 Ultra lineup.

I'm someone who values battery life and a smooth software experience, it's why I've been on iPhone for such a long time. Camera is also a big factor for me, especially certain times of the year. I do like a premium device tho, to feel like I have gotten my moneys worth. Samsung do often sweeten the deal with pre-order offers, so did Google tho with the 8 Pro, they offered the Watch 2.

Sometimes it sucks to be so interested in tech, it makes me see all these phones and want to own them all. The issue is that realistically there is no way I can keep 3 phones and have them all used on a daily basis. At the moment i'm heavy In the Apple ecosystem, I even have Apple One.

 

[Ctrlos]

As someone hwo has been through a few top-end phones this yera I might be able to provide some clarity on a few things. Due to various reasons (mainly my generous 'swap out' mobile contract) I have had this year an S21 FE, iPhone 13, iPhone 14 Pro Max, S23 Jr, Pixel 7a and Pixel 8 Pro.

iPhones are iPhones. Build quality is exquisite, the cameras are always great and accessories are cheap and plentiful. iOS is just as stable and boring as it ever was but sometimes this is what you need. iOS has a better premium app selection than Android. I found the 14 Max to be too big and heavy for my hands to the point it triggered some long-held arthritis in my wrist. Lightning is a terrible waste in a world of USB-C.

Samsung phones make great companions for Windows. Microsoft services plug right in as a backend allowing you to use the default Samsung apps to their fullest. The customisation of OneUI paired with Goodlock is unrivalled. The S23 Jr. fits in your palm really well and the battery is incredible. Samsungs' web browser is the best on Android (and available from the Play Store for every phone) My long-term issues stem from wanting to use Google as a backend and not being able to do simple things like swap out the camera gallery app and being constantly acosted for trying to do so. Samsung also adds too much colour saturation to photographs to the point of cartoonishness.

The Pixel 7a would have been great if the battery wasn't so lousy. If you're thinking of picking one up, wait for the 8a.

The Pixel 8 Pro is a dream. Even on 60hz Google's version of Android is slicker than iOS with meaningful interactions and lovely, small animations. If you use Google services, there is no other Android phone worth considering. Whether the camera is better than a Max iPhone is subjective but there isn't much in it. They put in manual overrides on every lens with a clever purple fringe telling you what is in manual focus. Apple's Pro iPhones still have their consumer-grade camera app and it is a sore sticking point. The battery life, build quality and speed are all superb. If you're on the fence get one, you won't be disappointed.

Android's sore point is still the lack of premium apps and games compared to iOS. Emulators help fill some of the gaps and with Samsung Dex you have a portable retro console you can hook up to a TV but iOS is a credible gaming platform in its own right with some quality exclusives.

 

[Dave245]

As someone hwo has been through a few top-end phones this yera I might be able to provide some clarity on a few things. Due to various reasons (mainly my generous 'swap out' mobile contract) I have had this year an S21 FE, iPhone 13, iPhone 14 Pro Max, S23 Jr, Pixel 7a and Pixel 8 Pro.

iPhones are iPhones. Build quality is exquisite, the cameras are always great and accessories are cheap and plentiful. iOS is just as stable and boring as it ever was but sometimes this is what you need. iOS has a better premium app selection than Android. I found the 14 Max to be too big and heavy for my hands to the point it triggered some long-held arthritis in my wrist. Lightning is a terrible waste in a world of USB-C.

Samsung phones make great companions for Windows. Microsoft services plug right in as a backend allowing you to use the default Samsung apps to their fullest. The customisation of OneUI paired with Goodlock is unrivalled. The S23 Jr. fits in your palm really well and the battery is incredible. Samsungs' web browser is the best on Android (and available from the Play Store for every phone) My long-term issues stem from wanting to use Google as a backend and not being able to do simple things like swap out the camera gallery app and being constantly acosted for trying to do so. Samsung also adds too much colour saturation to photographs to the point of cartoonishness.

The Pixel 7a would have been great if the battery wasn't so lousy. If you're thinking of picking one up, wait for the 8a.

The Pixel 8 Pro is a dream. Even on 60hz Google's version of Android is slicker than iOS with meaningful interactions and lovely, small animations. If you use Google services, there is no other Android phone worth considering. Whether the camera is better than a Max iPhone is subjective but there isn't much in it. They put in manual overrides on every lens with a clever purple fringe telling you what is in manual focus. Apple's Pro iPhones still have their consumer-grade camera app and it is a sore sticking point. The battery life, build quality and speed are all superb. If you're on the fence get one, you won't be disappointed.

Android's sore point is still the lack of premium apps and games compared to iOS. Emulators help fill some of the gaps and with Samsung Dex you have a portable retro console you can hook up to a TV but iOS is a credible gaming platform in its own right with some quality exclusives.

I've been using iPhone for years at this point, I'm heavy in the ecosystem (iPad, iPhone, Mac, Apple TV, AirPods, Apple Watch and Apple One subscription). I like how iPhone works, however it is boring. I want something different, more for me to customise. That doesn't mean I'll send my iPhone away, I may keep it especially to work with my Apple Watch when working out.

Android just seems more fun, for example Samsung's Ultra range has an s-pen. The Pixel appeal is that it's stock Android, it also looks different (that blue colour is gorgeous). But I do want great battery life, like my iPhone 14 Pro Max.

I don't know if it's just me but Apple seem to be going through the motions, where as Samsung and Google seem to be more hungry and willing to innovate more when it comes to the smartphone.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I've been using iPhone for years at this point, I'm heavy in the ecosystem (iPad, iPhone, Mac, Apple TV, AirPods, Apple Watch and Apple One subscription). I like how iPhone works, however it is boring.

That is the reason why I stick with Google especially their Pixel phones, because Google just works for me while Apple doesn't. I recently purchased an iPhone 13 because it was their last US phone with a SIM card. It's turned off 99% of the time as I can't live without Google's AI especially their Call Screener. My advice is to stick with what works for you even if you find it boring and it has become boring because it works. Many here post how they want to dip their toes into the Google waters only to find out that they had second thoughts and returned the phone and went to what they found worked for them. Apple is that for you, no matter how boring you find it. That's my advice for the day.

 

[Harthag]

As someone hwo has been through a few top-end phones this yera I might be able to provide some clarity on a few things. Due to various reasons (mainly my generous 'swap out' mobile contract) I have had this year an S21 FE, iPhone 13, iPhone 14 Pro Max, S23 Jr, Pixel 7a and Pixel 8 Pro.

iPhones are iPhones. Build quality is exquisite, the cameras are always great and accessories are cheap and plentiful. iOS is just as stable and boring as it ever was but sometimes this is what you need. iOS has a better premium app selection than Android. I found the 14 Max to be too big and heavy for my hands to the point it triggered some long-held arthritis in my wrist. Lightning is a terrible waste in a world of USB-C.

Samsung phones make great companions for Windows. Microsoft services plug right in as a backend allowing you to use the default Samsung apps to their fullest. The customisation of OneUI paired with Goodlock is unrivalled. The S23 Jr. fits in your palm really well and the battery is incredible. Samsungs' web browser is the best on Android (and available from the Play Store for every phone) My long-term issues stem from wanting to use Google as a backend and not being able to do simple things like swap out the camera gallery app and being constantly acosted for trying to do so. Samsung also adds too much colour saturation to photographs to the point of cartoonishness.

The Pixel 7a would have been great if the battery wasn't so lousy. If you're thinking of picking one up, wait for the 8a.

The Pixel 8 Pro is a dream. Even on 60hz Google's version of Android is slicker than iOS with meaningful interactions and lovely, small animations. If you use Google services, there is no other Android phone worth considering. Whether the camera is better than a Max iPhone is subjective but there isn't much in it. They put in manual overrides on every lens with a clever purple fringe telling you what is in manual focus. Apple's Pro iPhones still have their consumer-grade camera app and it is a sore sticking point. The battery life, build quality and speed are all superb. If you're on the fence get one, you won't be disappointed.

Android's sore point is still the lack of premium apps and games compared to iOS. Emulators help fill some of the gaps and with Samsung Dex you have a portable retro console you can hook up to a TV but iOS is a credible gaming platform in its own right with some quality exclusives.

iOS stability and app quality *always* slap me in the face when I switch. A problem I'm currently having concerns my office VOIP system / RingCentral. I cannot listen to RC voicemail on my Pixel using any Bluetooth earbuds, except for AirPods Pro, which is maddening. I've tried two different sets / brands of buds, nothing. I'm currently putzing around with tech support which will get me nowhere I'm pretty sure.

**Edit- apparently RingCentral doesn't like LDAC. Turning off HD audio and using SBC works. Toggle HD / LDAC back on and no voicemail audio. So strange. If anyone else happens to use RC with Android and has / had the same issue I'd love to hear about it.

 

[Ctrlos]

I've been using iPhone for years at this point, I'm heavy in the ecosystem (iPad, iPhone, Mac, Apple TV, AirPods, Apple Watch and Apple One subscription). I like how iPhone works, however it is boring. I want something different, more for me to customise. That doesn't mean I'll send my iPhone away, I may keep it especially to work with my Apple Watch when working out.

Android just seems more fun, for example Samsung's Ultra range has an s-pen. The Pixel appeal is that it's stock Android, it also looks different (that blue colour is gorgeous). But I do want great battery life, like my iPhone 14 Pro Max.

I don't know if it's just me but Apple seem to be going through the motions, where as Samsung and Google seem to be more hungry and willing to innovate more when it comes to the smartphone.

Apple are still at the top and happy to coast on their brand to get by. Samsung and Google by comparison have to innovate to get the attention of customers.

There are a few minor things that annoy me about Android. I have an Apple TV hooked up to my Android TV because the native interface is crap!

 

[jamezr]

Apple are still at the top and happy to coast on their brand to get by. Samsung and Google by comparison have to innovate to get the attention of customers.

There are a few minor things that annoy me about Android. I have an Apple TV hooked up to my Android TV because the native interface is crap!

That is what bothers me so much about Apple. They don't innovate anymore. They just coast along on the brand name.
I just haven't been able to cut the Apple cord so to speak and immerse myself outside of the "walled garden"

 

[Dave245]

That is what bothers me so much about Apple. They don't innovate anymore. They just coast along on the brand name.
I just haven't been able to cut the Apple cord so to speak and immerse myself outside of the "walled garden"

i‘m very much the same, i will wait for S24 Ultra to decide which one to buy. Doesn’t mean I won’t still have an iPhone tho, I’m just hoping that I become less reliant on it over time.

 

[boswald]

I have never got caught up in all of that. It just doesn't bother me the least. For me it's all about the Google core apps such as Goggle's call screener, Gmaps, Gmail, etc. If you are considering a Pixel phone based on aesthetics, you will be disappointed as Google prioritizes software features and AI over everything else and they are way ahead of everyone else when it comes to their AI and magic software. I recently purchased my very first iPhone and it's turned off 99% of the time. It's not that there's anything wrong with the iPhone it's just that I can't function without Google's core apps, especially their call screener.

That’s how I felt when I had my 7 Pro. I had an iPhone backup but it never saw the light of day until my Pro decided to kill the battery.

 

[jamezr]

i‘m very much the same, i will wait for S24 Ultra to decide which one to buy. Doesn’t mean I won’t still have an iPhone tho, I’m just hoping that I become less reliant on it over time.

I would really would love to have an Android device replace my iPhone. I hope the S24U does that. I would love to replace my AW Ultra with a Garmin Fenix 7x pro as well while I'm at it.

 

[Vegastouch]

Apple are still at the top and happy to coast on their brand to get by. Samsung and Google by comparison have to innovate to get the attention of customers.

There are a few minor things that annoy me about Android. I have an Apple TV hooked up to my Android TV because the native interface is crap!

Lol, you say that as if it's a bad thing.

IF Apple would innovate, iOS users would be bragging and gushing as if no others were even close to usable. Apple has lost customers because they aren't innovating. It's why I haven't had one for a long time, and actually Ive had thoughts many times of getting one, but then...not feasible enough.
I find it funny that you even typed that.
Apple users always say they don't need things that Android has til they get it. Then it's the greatest thing.

 

[Dave245]

I would really would love to have an Android device replace my iPhone. I hope the S24U does that. I would love to replace my AW Ultra with a Garmin Fenix 7x pro as well while I'm at it.

Same here my friend. Apple are rumoured to be making an iPhone Ultra next year (iPhone 16 line up) the Ultra is said to have a 6.9” display, a new ”capture button“ maybe for the camera? And even better zoom lens. That would be great BUT im willing to bet that it will be priced higher than even the Pro Max iPhone.

I would love for Apple to innovate more with the iPhone. Google have the Pixel 8, which from what I’ve read isn’t perfect, but it does have some great features like Best Take, Magic editor, magic eraser and so on. The Pixel also has a unique look, the current iPhones have looked the same for years now!

 

[Abazigal]

Apple are still at the top and happy to coast on their brand to get by. Samsung and Google by comparison have to innovate to get the attention of customers.

There are a few minor things that annoy me about Android. I have an Apple TV hooked up to my Android TV because the native interface is crap!

I can also say the opposite. I am all in with Apple because their take on "innovation" appeals to me, and it matters more to me than whatever android / windows / any other platform has to offer. By your definition, I can also interpret it to mean that the competition is not innovating. At least, not in a manner that I care about.

To me, it feels more accurate to state that Apple views innovation very differently from the competition. And because Apple runs iOS, it doesn't need to engage in meaningless spec wars with other smartphones. While android smartphones are busy trying to measure which has more ram or more megapixels in their camera and which takes better moon shots, Apple is free to instead look at innovation as something that can directly improve customers’ lives.

In a sense, it's not unlike how, at a time when android smartphones were obsessed with having more (slower) cores, Apple instead made the right call of focusing on 2 faster cores with their A7 chip back in 2013. It didn't matter that everyone else seemed to be laughing at the iPhone (and by extension, iPhone users) for having less ram and less cores. Apple never lost sight of what mattered - not specs, but the end user experience. If 1gb ram and 2 cores was what was needed to give the iPhone 5s faster performance and better battery life, then it was the right thing to do, even if it didn't look impressive on a spec sheet.

Instead of announcing a splashy new feature or upgrade just to be first or different or to win a meaningless spec war, Apple announces select features and upgrades that it thinks will lead to better experiences. While this tends to lead to shorter new feature lists, the new features that have been announced have often been more impactful. Emergency SOS via satellite is a great example which has already been credited with saving lives, and it showcases Apple doing what they do best - leverage their control over hardware, software and services to offer unique value propositions.

This isn't a feature that makes for a riveting YouTube review video, but it's also hard to deny the value found with having such a feature present in your device.

It wouldn't be easy for say, Samsung to offer a similar feature. It's not just having the chip in your device. There's the custom software designed by Apple, there's the customised hardware found in base stations that receive the signals from the satellites, and there's Apple's willingness and financial capability to buy an entire company's worth of satellite capacity to support said feature. Putting all these together will not be easy for android smartphone OEMs, nor will it be cheap.

The same can be said for a lot of things that Apple does right, and I don't see why they somehow don't count as "meaningful innovation" simply because Android doesn't do it. For example, Apple gets to reap the benefits of having a cohesive ecosystem of hardware, software and services because they were the only company willing to invest in having an ecosystem in the first place. The iOS App Store gets the best apps because of the lower incidence of piracy (since users can't readily sideload apps) and because Apple actually invests more resources into curating apps compared to Google. Every year, Apple releases a new version of iOS without fail which gets pushed out to hundreds of million of devices on day 1 without fail.

And for what it's worth, I do also have my Apple TV hooked up to my smart TV, not least because I don't trust the TV's OS enough to connect it to the internet. And that's probably another reason why I don't see myself using android anytime soon (or ever).

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Same here my friend. Apple are rumoured to be making an iPhone Ultra next year (iPhone 16 line up) the Ultra is said to have a 6.9” display, a new ”capture button“ maybe for the camera? And even better zoom lens. That would be great BUT im willing to bet that it will be priced higher than even the Pro Max iPhone.

I would love for Apple to innovate more with the iPhone. Google have the Pixel 8, which from what I’ve read isn’t perfect, but it does have some great features like Best Take, Magic editor, magic eraser and so on. The Pixel also has a unique look, the current iPhones have looked the same for years now!

There's only SO much you can do with any given tech. Apple and the rest of the tech companies have squeezed most if not all the juice out of the fruit. We know that because we are now in the cycle of what are this year's new colors? That's how we know for sure that we are at diminishing returns with smartphones. So that's why Apple has SO many variants of the same product, another sign that most if not all the fresh ideas have been tapped out.

Long are the days, past when the iPhone was launched, followed by the iPhone having a rear camera, then a selfie camera, then Siri. Now it's all mild incremental improvements to the same tech.

That's why Google recognized that and began concentrating on the software and AI side of the tech, just to differentiate itself from the crowd.

 

[Ctrlos]

I can also say the opposite. I am all in with Apple because their take on "innovation" appeals to me, and it matters more to me than whatever android / windows / any other platform has to offer. By your definition, I can also interpret it to mean that the competition is not innovating. At least, not in a manner that I care about.

To me, it feels more accurate to state that Apple views innovation very differently from the competition. And because Apple runs iOS, it doesn't need to engage in meaningless spec wars with other smartphones. While android smartphones are busy trying to measure which has more ram or more megapixels in their camera and which takes better moon shots, Apple is free to instead look at innovation as something that can directly improve customers’ lives.

I absolutely hear you. I am pretty platform agnostic these days. At the minute the Pixel 8 Pro suits my needs but I could go back to Apple at the drop of a hat.

What infuriates me about them though, and I'll admit I might be on my own here, is iOS. I won't argue it is incredibly functional. It has a much better selection of apps than Android. But there are so many little legacy annoyances it drives me nuts.

A good example is the homescreen. I should be able to use most of the basic functions of my phone with one hand. right? I could be holding the hand of my child, the railing on public transport or my shopping bags. 'Reachability' was a patch-job designed for the iPhone 6 that the interface team hasn't updated but it sucks. Icons should not still float to the top of the homescreen awyay from my thumb. I should be able to change the lockscreen shortcuts!

I won't pretend Android doesn't have some of the same issues but the level of customisation does let me have some-if-not-total control over how my phone functions to get around them.

 

[Dave245]

I absolutely hear you. I am pretty platform agnostic these days. At the minute the Pixel 8 Pro suits my needs but I could go back to Apple at the drop of a hat.

What infuriates me about them though, and I'll admit I might be on my own here, is iOS. I won't argue it is incredibly functional. It has a much better selection of apps than Android. But there are so many little legacy annoyances it drives me nuts.

A good example is the homescreen. I should be able to use most of the basic functions of my phone with one hand. right? I could be holding the hand of my child, the railing on public transport or my shopping bags. 'Reachability' was a patch-job designed for the iPhone 6 that the interface team hasn't updated but it sucks. Icons should not still float to the top of the homescreen awyay from my thumb. I should be able to change the lockscreen shortcuts!

I won't pretend Android doesn't have some of the same issues but the level of customisation does let me have some-if-not-total control over how my phone functions to get around them.

What annoys me the most is the lock in, there is no need for it other than greed. For example, I've found out that with the Pixel Pro 8 I could buy it and still use a Galaxy Watch 6. The more Apple products you buy, the more you are locked in.