Phones Google Pixel 8/8 Pro

[Bkdodger]

Yeah it's definitely a good strategy for sure. The only thing getting in the way of me choosing that route, to be frank, is that I absolutely cannot stand the double apps with Samsung. I get so frustrated with the way the phone handles photos. I want to exclusively use Google Photos and I pretty much do, but then if I want to upload a photo from Facebook, it defaults to the Samsung Photos app and I then have to remember which one I edited and it just takes much much longer. Hate it! It's those types of things that make me just want to go back to something simpler like iOS.

Tbh it would be easier if you just got rid of Facebook

 

[mjschabow]

Tbh it would be easier if you just got rid of Facebook

Haha unfortunately I run my music business on Facebook so it's a much needed commodity.

 

[Bkdodger]

Haha unfortunately I run my music business on Facebook so it's a much needed commodity.

Haha good stuff ..it sure does help ...I cut the cord awhile back and not turning back to FB ..

 

[Tig Bitties]

To me, there's only two flagship phones this year;

-Pixel 8 Pro
-Galaxy S23 Ultra

And that's it. The iPhone 15 Pro Max LOL no way, Just get the same phone as last year the 14 Pro Max, if for some reason you want to have an iOS smartphone.

And iMessage I just never understood the special thing about it. It's just another app, nothing amazing about it. But then again, my circle of family and friends are 70% Android / 30% iPhone, so maybe that's why iMessage is lost on me?

 

[edubfromktown]

My answer might be a little surprising considering I probably use more Apple gear than most regulars in this sub forum, but I say don’t do it. And not because the 15 PM isn’t a great phone—really enjoying mine. If you’ve successfully extracted yourself from the Apple ecosystem and are enjoying your existence ‘outside the wall’, I say stick with it.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is a great phone that you’ve already been enjoying so I vote for just ignoring that old iOS itch.

Spot on post regarding breaking free and staying there. My level of breaking free from iPhone started with a Pixel 4a and got "deeper" which has lead me to s23+ for now.

I am annoyed by the small videos iPhone users send and that's about it. Group chats generally work fine and I do not use What's App or others.

I've been using Mac's since G3 Pismo PowerBook days when Kodiak OS X was released in Beta and eventually got my family all over Mac systems as well. The systems I use on a frequent basis: Studio Base Max (Sonoma), 12" m3 16 GB MacBook (Mojave) and i5 10th gen 13" MBP (Catalina). I can't get away from Adobe Lightroom and a few other apps so 10-15% of what I do needs a Mac.

I snagged a Lenovo Duet Chromebook not long after they came out and liked it so much that I got a 2nd one. That got dealt to someone else when I scored a cheap used HP C1030 16/128 GB i7 beast. The big attraction for me is being able to do ~85-90% of what I need to most days on a comparatively inexpensive CB (<$200) instead of a $1k - $2k MBP when I'm not working at home.

Never really liked locked-in suffocating Apple ecosystem feeling. I've got things figured out in a way that works great with all the different manufacturer devices and OSes. Apple Music, iCloud and other apps/services drive me insane.

 

[Fried_Gold]

Wow reading through the last page or so, I can't imagine having to use an iPhone just because other people do. 😂

 

[BMox81]

To me, there's only two flagship phones this year;

-Pixel 8 Pro
-Galaxy S23 Ultra

And that's it. The iPhone 15 Pro Max LOL no way, Just get the same phone as last year the 14 Pro Max, if for some reason you want to have an iOS smartphone.

And iMessage I just never understood the special thing about it. It's just another app, nothing amazing about it. But then again, my circle of family and friends are 70% Android / 30% iPhone, so maybe that's why iMessage is lost on me?

While you're right, it's the fact that its essentially the SMS app isn't it with iMessage baked into it. And due to it being the default app, easy to just use that than anything else. Been said many times that here in the UK anyway that Whatsapp is essentially our iMessage and rules the roost here as it allowed free MMS messages back in the day at a time when we'd get charged for MMS messages and obviously has the cross platform capabilities.

 

[Bkdodger]

To me, there's only two flagship phones this year;

-Pixel 8 Pro
-Galaxy S23 Ultra

And that's it. The iPhone 15 Pro Max LOL no way, Just get the same phone as last year the 14 Pro Max, if for some reason you want to have an iOS smartphone.

And iMessage I just never understood the special thing about it. It's just another app, nothing amazing about it. But then again, my circle of family and friends are 70% Android / 30% iPhone, so maybe that's why iMessage is lost on me?

I will be the last person to defend the iPhone... And I really do think the S23U is the best phone and hopefully the P8P follows... But some might say Pixel might not be much different from last year's.. obviously we have to see once you guys get your hands on it and see if it upgrades in real world usage bc till then we won't know for sure ... And the same has been said about plenty of Samsung phones especially the Fold lately ... Most companies are just doing minor tweaks year to year... But I'm excited to see what happens

 

[Ludatyk]

Wow reading through the last page or so, I can't imagine having to use an iPhone just because other people do. 😂

Well, I don't use an iPhone... but I do like Apple ecosystem. So, that's why I stick primarily with the iPad... allows me to enjoy some of the ecosystem.

I think what people misjudge is how great of an ecosystem Apple have... that's why people choose the iPhone.

 

[BMox81]

I’m just looking forward to having a Pixel camera again-I thought the photos I took with my brief time with the Pixel 4 were amazing so should be even better with the 8 Pro.

 

[Supersonicc]

Interesting to read the different opinions on Apple and Android.

I've sat squarely dualling on both fences for a long time now. I have an iPad & Macbook & iMac but also a Pixel tablet, Chromebook & Kindle in the household. Apps are similar on both the App Store & Playstore now. I use Apple iCloud & Google One for data backups. I don't consider having both ecosystems any major hassle day to day.

I enjoy bleeding edge tech so sway more towards Android and been with the Z Fold prior to the 6 Pro & iPhone whilst trying out some China-based phones, although not at all easy to sell on in the UK or Europe without installing official Google apps.

With Apple they could and should have pushed the envelope of tech further with the money behind them. Under Tim Cook, they've been happy focusing on evolving the ecosystem and keeping more people locked in. The ecosystem works very effectively, so Apple update the iPhone Pro just enough each year to keep the average consumer happy, whose not into new tech like we are. In fact, unknowingly for Apple, the USB-C might well be the best iPhone upgrade in years!

However, worth mentioning, in a key area like video, Samsung have only just caught Apple up with the S23 Ultra. The iPhones cameras are also consistently top tier in comparison tests. I'm sure Apple Vision Pro will be great but with VisionOS you need to be fully invested in the Apple ecosystem for full functionality and have ultra deep pockets.

My friends and family in the UK, EU & New Zealand all have a combo of Apple & Android, we all use WhatsApp or Telegram & other apps so things like iMessage are irrelevant to me. I'll never understand the fuss so maybe this area is more US specific.

In my view, the Pixel line should be as popular as both Apple and Samsung. Google have consistently produced top-tier stella camera quality for a few years now with Pixel's particularly in low-light. I consider them the best as I prefer the quality and look of Pixel photos compared to the others. A lot of younger people are now more aware of Google now, be nice to see a new change to Pixel's from iPhone mass users and increase market share, even if it is not a seismic shift.

I would like to see Google improve the Tensor chip, better battery life, increase quality assurances during production & increase video quality inline with Apple & Samsung. After seeing the overall quality of the Pixel Fold, hopefully some of the improvements can happen with the 8 Pro.

 

[tbayrgs]

Yeah it's definitely a good strategy for sure. The only thing getting in the way of me choosing that route, to be frank, is that I absolutely cannot stand the double apps with Samsung. I get so frustrated with the way the phone handles photos. I want to exclusively use Google Photos and I pretty much do, but then if I want to upload a photo from Facebook, it defaults to the Samsung Photos app and I then have to remember which one I edited and it just takes much much longer. Hate it! It's those types of things that make me just want to go back to something simpler like iOS.

Hey, I get it. I’m not in the Apple ecosystem because I ’have’ to be…I do genuinely prefer the totality of the experience using a Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. The handful of times over the past 10+ years where I’ve decided to try to move out, I felt like I was doing it in spite of the Apple Ecosystem. Yes, you can replace apps/software but I was just never able to replicate the experience. I felt like I was just getting by. And to be clear, I’m not trying to turn this conversation into ‘why Apple is the best, yada yada yada…’ We all have our own preferences and everyone’s mileage will vary.

I would love to be able to have a similar experience outside of the Apple ecosystem just so I had comparable choice. If I’m honest, the device that keeps me firmly planted in Apple-land the most is the Apple Watch. The delta in experience for me between the Apple Watch and anything is the greatest. It would be much easier to switch to Android or Windows vs. replacing the Watch.

 

[tbayrgs]

And iMessage I just never understood the special thing about it. It's just another app, nothing amazing about it. But then again, my circle of family and friends are 70% Android / 30% iPhone, so maybe that's why iMessage is lost on me?

Your circle of family and friends dictates what works best for you—a minority of iPhone users, far less that what’s typical in the US, means iMessage doesn’t carry that much weight so makes perfect sense why it’s lost on you.

My circle is probably 90-95% iPhone users, so you can see why iMessage has a bigger impact for me.

While you're right, it's the fact that its essentially the SMS app isn't it with iMessage baked into it. And due to it being the default app, easy to just use that than anything else. Been said many times that here in the UK anyway that Whatsapp is essentially our iMessage and rules the roost here as it allowed free MMS messages back in the day at a time when we'd get charged for MMS messages and obviously has the cross platform capabilities.

Exactly why it’s such a big deal here in the US. iPhone have a majority of the market and when iMessage came out, it basically just replace SMS, something we generally didn’t have to pay for as our carriers offered huge quantities of SMS/MMS with out plans, often unlimted.

Imagine if all of a sudden you had to use a device without Whatsapp? That’s what the prospect of using an Android phone feels like for most iPhone users here in the States.

Well, I don't use an iPhone... but I do like Apple ecosystem. So, that's why I stick primarily with the iPad... allows me to enjoy some of the ecosystem.

I think what people misjudge is how great of an ecosystem Apple have... that's why people choose the iPhone.

Yup, people throw a lot of shade at ’being locked into Apple’s ecosystem’ but it really is a great user experience for many people, else they wouldn’t stay. I do feel a little trapped but only in so far as I’d miss so much of the features and functionality.

 

[Tig Bitties]

My brother moved to Spain a few years ago, and most of his friends there have iPhone's, he said in his circle of Spanish friends and coworkers it's 60% iPhone users, yet no one uses iMessage there, they all default to WhatsApp or Telegram or Signal, like never iMessage.

What's up with that?

And the whole smartwatch thing, another tech gadget I just have zero desire or want for, doesn't matter if it's the iWatch, or Pixel watch just not interested whatsoever, but I also don't like to wear watches or anything on my body, same with AirPods those things never feel comfortable in my ears and no matter what brand never getting them.

I'm the tech weirdo, only thing in my house tech wise are 4 Google Pixel phones for us, and 3 high-end custom Gaming PC's I built myself, and my OLED home theater, and that's it. No Tablets.

 

[drinkingtea]

I’m not sure if I will be able to I get the 8 Pro . I just paid quite a bit for my baby’s vet appointment.

 

[Bkdodger]

I’m not sure if I will be able to I get the 8 Pro . I just paid quite a bit for my baby’s vet appointment.

I hope all is well with your baby .. it's so expensive to treat pets and the whole care for them is inflated by these vets and hospitals ...

 

[Bkdodger]

My brother moved to Spain a few years ago, and most of his friends there have iPhone's, he said in his circle of Spanish friends and coworkers it's 60% iPhone users, yet no one uses iMessage there, they all default to WhatsApp or Telegram or Signal, like never iMessage.

What's up with that?

And the whole smartwatch thing, another tech gadget I just have zero desire or want for, doesn't matter if it's the iWatch, or Pixel watch just not interested whatsoever, but I also don't like to wear watches or anything on my body, same with AirPods those things never feel comfortable in my ears and no matter what brand never getting them.

I'm the tech weirdo, only thing in my house tech wise are 4 Google Pixel phones for us, and 3 high-end custom Gaming PC's I built myself, and my OLED home theater, and that's it. No Tablets.

Haha this made my day .... ..I'm not into the tablets why I like the foldable haha ...I do have an old Mac Pro .iMac and second monitor which is Samsung ..LG Tv ...I like to spread the stuff

 

[5105973]

New Yorkers, y’all doing okay with the flooding and all? My husband and I were just seeing some news footage of the flood while looking for 8 Pro videos. Good lord. I wonder how on earth people in the basement apartments are coping. My childhood home had a basement that used to become a swimming pool. My heart goes out to people whose whole danged living space is flooding like that.

Reading all the ecosystem talk, well those of us on the pwm sensitivity discussion thread are proof of how sticky the ecosystem is for some of us.

I don’t want to drag that talk over here, but those of us who deal with it know what it means to try to leave the ecosystem fully. Those of you who don’t, it must seem insane and you all aren’t wrong. Be glad you aren’t stuck.

Anyway I can’t wait to see the release of these 8 Pros. I might preorder one now that the 15 Pro Max decided to beat the ever loving crap out of my nervous system and is going back to Apple. I’ve got a lot to mull over now that that’s all shot to schnitzel.

I still have a 15 Plus on order to get here mid October. I had the regular 15 but a really nice and smart fellow who can measure the waves and understand the science behind the pulses in the displays that’s making us sick advised that the Plus might be my best shot at getting a keeper. Also that battery life…sweeeeeeet!

If not, I have my 12 Pro max but even it causes me pain if I’m on it too much. I found out because I was extra active on the forum during iPhone release week. That will never happen again. But not because of migraines.

 

[BMox81]

Imagine if all of a sudden you had to use a device without Whatsapp? That’s what the prospect of using an Android phone feels like for most iPhone users here in the States.

If we didn’t have WhatsApp then it would be Signal, Telegram or whatever cross platform app people decided to use. Which I think is the main issue: US iPhone users (for the most part) won’t entertain using another messaging app other than the default one. Whereas people in the rest of the world while using iPhones (and the Pixels/Samaungs of this world) are more than happy to use other apps for their messaging needs.

Apologies for the tangent. Back to these lovely Pixels!

 

[Supersonicc]

An interesting video, looks AI generated but fun. I don't think the colours are accurate. The violet / lilac colour for the 8 Pro is new so unlikely correct & no Sky Blue colour shown here.

Gojo on X

Google Pixel 8 Pro - WOW!!! 😤😤 #Pixel8 #GooglePixel #Apple #Android #iPhone15

x.com

 

[Supersonicc]

If we didn’t have WhatsApp then it would be Signal, Telegram or whatever cross platform app people decided to use. Which I think is the main issue: US iPhone users (for the most part) won’t entertain using another messaging app other than the default one. Whereas people in the rest of the world while using iPhones (and the Pixels/Samaungs of this world) are more than happy to use other apps for their messaging needs.

Apologies for the tangent. Back to these lovely Pixels!

No tangent, I think you've hit the nail on the head! In the UK and Europe, even my family in New Zealand, we will all use WhatsApp or Telegram or Signal or Facebook as default cross platform messaging apps. It doesn't make any difference if we have an Android or iPhone. WhatsApp I would say is currently the most popular option.

Sounds like in the US, the default and primary messaging app for everyone is iMessage which means the US are more ecosystem tied into Apple & using an iPhone than I realised. Hence the whole blue / green bubble messaging debate. Great for Apple with a stronghold, not so great for Google, Samsung etc.

Which also makes me think the average US consumers are potentially missing out using some great Android devices outside of Apple's walled garden.

 

[Jason2000]

iMessage is just another text app, nothing unique or special.

Then Android fanboys and Google should quit complaining about it and move on. Google looks pathetic with their ads about it too.

 

[Aneres11]

Then Android fanboys and Google should quit complaining about it and move on. Google looks pathetic with their ads about it too.

Here he is. Around this time every year this one comes out the shadows to entertain us all 😂😭🤮

 

[tbayrgs]

If we didn’t have WhatsApp then it would be Signal, Telegram or whatever cross platform app people decided to use. Which I think is the main issue: US iPhone users (for the most part) won’t entertain using another messaging app other than the default one. Whereas people in the rest of the world while using iPhones (and the Pixels/Samaungs of this world) are more than happy to use other apps for their messaging needs.

Apologies for the tangent. Back to these lovely Pixels!

Sorry, I wasn’t clear. What if YOU had to switch to a device without WhatsApp while everyone else kept using it. That’s what it feels like for many iPhone users in the US when considering moving from an iPhone.

And it’s not that they won’t entertain using something else, it just happens that iMessage was adopted first and you need most users to all switch en masse, all at once. And in our case, our initial messaging choice was tied to one platform whereas the rest of the world didn’t go that route. Path of least resistance…

If you wanted to stop using WhatsApp, you’d still need to convince all of your contacts to also switch. Beauty for you situation though is you can choose from an infinite number of options and still keep using WhatsApp. Wish the US had followed that path early on (though preferably with an option not owned by Meta ).

 

[Dave245]

Then Android fanboys and Google should quit complaining about it and move on. Google looks pathetic with their ads about it too.

I’m an Apple user and I find the Google Pixel ads funny. It’s light hearted humour.