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cmiller4642

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 29, 2015
216
226
I'm not going to pay $1200 for an iPhone X Max, and I want to get a phone that's going to last me at least 3 years. The Pixel 3 won't be as expensive as the Max will it?
 

mi7chy

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2014
10,625
11,298
Unless you're going to sell the iPhone X just ride it out until the Pixel 3, Galaxy S10 or Note 10. The biggest feature that determines early obsolescence is DRAM so I'd go with a device that has 6GB or even 8GB for future proofing. Speaking of which, it's not clear what they put in the iPhone Xs as it could be the same 3GB.
 
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nrvna76

macrumors 65816
Aug 4, 2010
1,243
1,268
My vote would be Note 9 however that’s probably the most expensive of the options you have and won’t get as many updates as the pixel. Would still be my choice. Mine is backordered still..
 
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Cryates

macrumors 68040
Nov 19, 2013
3,341
5,283
I'm obviously (as an owner) voting Note9 here, but it also depends on your wants and needs as the user and buyer of a device that will serve only you. What's your top budget? What features do you prioritize? Those could easily sway the pendulum here.

If you want to save some money with most features of the Note9, pick up the S9. If you want the best camera, wait for the Pixel 3. If you want the best battery life, pick up the Note9. If you want stock Android, wait for the Pixel 3. All three will technically last for three years, but do you want software upgrades in those three years? If so, wait for the Pixel 3. It's a little more complex to give advice without knowing all of what you need.
 
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c0ppo

macrumors 68000
Feb 11, 2013
1,890
3,268
Features and battery: Note 9
Speed, quick updates and budget: OnePlus 6, but I would wait for OnePlus 6T. While the camera is really good, it's not samsung/pixel/iphone quality, so if you really need top camera, skip OnePlus.
 

woozor1

macrumors 6502
Jul 15, 2015
272
149
Uk
out of your 3 choices its between the note 9 or pixel 3. My note 8 has had no issues since release and runs fast.

Wait and see what google comes out with, is it going to be a flop or will they surpise us we shall see soon enough.

Im also awaiting there relase before i make my decision up also.
 

pika2000

Suspended
Jun 22, 2007
5,587
4,903
I'm not going to pay $1200 for an iPhone X Max, and I want to get a phone that's going to last me at least 3 years. The Pixel 3 won't be as expensive as the Max will it?
1. The XR starts at $749. Apple didn’t only release the Xs Max. Your own iPhone X will be supported longer than the upcoming Pixel 3.
2. Although Google promised 3 year of updates for the Pixel 2, it suffers quite plenty of bugs and performance issues. Even stock Android fan MKBHD is no longer using his Pixel.
3. There’s very little reason to want and Android phone to last 3 years or so, as the selection is very limited, ie. Just the Pixel. For Android, I would rather just get something amazingly cheap like the Poco F1 and upgrade yearly or every 2 years. Premium Android phones are not worth it.
 

mib1800

Suspended
Sep 16, 2012
2,859
1,250
1. The XR starts at $749. Apple didn’t only release the Xs Max. Your own iPhone X will be supported longer than the upcoming Pixel 3.
2. Although Google promised 3 year of updates for the Pixel 2, it suffers quite plenty of bugs and performance issues. Even stock Android fan MKBHD is no longer using his Pixel.
3. There’s very little reason to want and Android phone to last 3 years or so, as the selection is very limited, ie. Just the Pixel. For Android, I would rather just get something amazingly cheap like the Poco F1 and upgrade yearly or every 2 years. Premium Android phones are not worth it.

You are talking apples instead of oranges :p Android devices can have up to date functionalities even with staying on with an older O/s. IDevices are dead in the water without o/s updates.

There are many devices on Android v5,6,7 that are performing perfectly running the latest functions.
 
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5105973

Cancelled
Sep 11, 2014
12,132
19,733
I really love my S9+ it has excellent call quality on AT&T and a beautiful display. I actually really enjoy the Samsung Experience on this phone and haven't experienced any lag nor felt bereft of features due to lack of immediate upgrade to the latest version of Android. I've gotten security updates slower than I'd like, being used to Apple and all, but they do come in eventually. I think the Note 9 would be a nice option for you as it offers what the S9+ offers with some more features courtesy of the S-Pen and it has an even more expansive display.

But be braced for their focus on marketing. They have lots of partnerships with merchants and use some features of the phone to market goods and services to you in a way Apple most definitely does not. For example there are cameras stamps that overlay Sephora makeup onto our pictures. If we like what we see we can order the makeup. It was quite a shock putting virtual false eyelashes and lipstick on my husband. What has been seen can not be unseen. What's worse is he looked better in the false eyelashes than I did. :eek:

Using Bixby to its fullest potential opens up your data to Samsung's partners.

I like my Pixel 2 but based on what I saw of quality control issues I can't recommend them personally, yet.

Nor can I claim that my Pixel 2 feels premium. It is a very plain slab lacking wireless charging and a headphone jack when Samsung still offers the latter and even Apple had gotten up off their dead assets and offered the former. And Google still had the nerve to charge premium flagship prices for this as well as not pack in earbuds last year. The camera is still the gold standard for top AI performance. That is the feature that made it worthwhile. I will keep an open mind and see what their keynote is like.

Lol Apple finally gave me stereo audio recording capability so I am actually quite pleased this year. But I do understand and sympathize with anyone feeling disenchanted with them lately. Something is a bit "off" about them for awhile now.
 

xraydoc

Contributor
Oct 9, 2005
11,030
5,489
192.168.1.1
I'm strongly considering the Pixel 3. I'm too worried about slow Samsung updates, so I personally would prefer a more Apple-like approach and go with the Pixel 3.
 
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thering1975

macrumors regular
Jun 5, 2014
215
136
If your choice was between the unannounced pixel 3 and Samsung Note 9, then i would offer this advice.

I would pick the Note 9 (for disclosure i own one) and heres why

I have not owned a pixel device but did own many Nexus devices which preceded them and yes everyone hypes up the fact that stock android is the way forward. I beg to differ however, i just constantly felt like a beta tester throughout the ownership of the nexus 6. Great we got software first, what you didn't get however is rock solid stability. Google would fix one bug and introduce another and its one of the reasons i got off that gravy train.

Now in relation to Samsung and slow updates, I receive an update every month on my note 8, this was a vast improvement over my previous experience with Samsung updates. However i can say since the note 7 (rest its soul was my fav) Note 8 and Note 9 i have not experienced any bugs at all during any of their updates. (my note 9 is currently on the Sept Security updates already)

Now in relation to major core software updates (i.e oreo - P etc) yes these are normally released Qtr1 following release. However when it is released i know i can install it knowing that i will not face any issues. And despite all the fluff people like to put out there, very little new life enhancing functionality has been introduced over the last few releases (project treble anyone??). So the phone still functions as it should, performs as it should so whats the issue? And to be fair a lot of the core updates are delivered via the play store (google apps, play services and assistant)

Now if you don't see yourself using the spen which to be fair i may use only once a day, then dont pay for the note 9 and wait for the S10.

But there is something unique about the note line that grabs me over the s series phones. Cant quite put my finger on it but the amount of tech you get for the money is second to none
 
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Nexus One

Suspended
Sep 15, 2018
42
50
Pixel 3

Smooth UI experience matters to me the most. Androids just don't age well with a skin on top of it. Google's class-leading computational photography and fast updates is just gravy.

I love Android Pie. I can use PiP streaming YouTube or Netflix.
 

lavrishevo

macrumors 68000
Jan 9, 2007
1,864
204
NJ
No problems with my Note 8 aging after almost a year. Samsung has been better letting you disable or uninstall bloatware. Once the warranty expires I'll root it and play with the various roms out there. Samsung makes a better phone vs Pixel IMO but you will not have the latest OS. I have found this matters little. The quality of the hardware is more important.
 
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nviz22

Cancelled
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
I'm not going to pay $1200 for an iPhone X Max, and I want to get a phone that's going to last me at least 3 years. The Pixel 3 won't be as expensive as the Max will it?

Want a phone that will last as least 3 years? The most recommended phone on that list, at least from my POV, is the Pixel 3. 2 major OS updates and 3 years of security patches guaranteed.

Though be prepared for 4gb RAM to start making your phone feel a bit sluggish as MKBHD shared earlier this year. Samsung Note 9 is true bleeding edge hardware, but the software isn't my cup of tea.
[doublepost=1537064788][/doublepost]
No problems with my Note 8 aging after almost a year. Samsung has been better letting you disable or uninstall bloatware. Once the warranty expires I'll root it and play with the various roms out there. Samsung makes a better phone vs Pixel IMO but you will not have the latest OS. I have found this matters little. The quality of the hardware is more important.

I rather have better hardware than software in general too. But it also hurts the bootloader isn't unlocked for Samsung. That also changes the nature of Samsung Pay too. It's best to consider that before rooting your device.

However, I am choosing software over hardware as of late because hardware shares similar processors or parts. iOS is my way to go, so I am not like the OP.
 

Technarchy

macrumors 604
May 21, 2012
6,753
4,927
I want to ditch Apple completely this year, so the X is going bye bye.

I've thought about the idea of breaking up my apple eco system.

Though my conclusion was android isn't the answer. Not consuming is the answer.

I already have an iPhone, AirPods, Applewatch, and MacBook Pro. They all work great. I'll keep what I have until they die and then make purchase decisions when I need to. Might be android, might not. I just can't see switching and consuming (wasting money) for spite...
 
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Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,725
13,245
UK
I've thought about the idea of breaking up my apple eco system.

Though my conclusion was android isn't the answer. Not consuming is the answer.

I already have an iPhone, AirPods, Applewatch, and MacBook Pro. They all work great. I'll keep what I have until they die and then make purchase decisions when I need to. Might be android, might not. I just can't see switching and consuming (wasting money) for spite...
I agree, whilst I wish there were more new features available on this years iPhones I can’t see a reason to switch to android.

The note 9 is a nice phone but it doesn’t play as nicely with my iPads, MacBook and airpods as my iPhone does. The note 9 won’t play at all with my Apple Watch or HomePods or Apple TV.

All my Apple devices work so nicely together. Not only would it be costly and time consuming to ditch my Apple devices and replace them with android/Microsoft, I think what I have: iPad, Apple TV, MacBook, Apple Watch etc are the best products on the market. For me replacing them with android counterparts would not only break up the ecosystem, not be cost effective and a good use of time but they wouldn’t work together as well together as the devices I currently have and individually wouldn’t work as well for me.

So yes the note 9 is a better phone than the Xs max but because of the ecosystem the Xs max is the better phone for me.
 

BlueGoldAce

macrumors 68000
Oct 11, 2011
1,951
1,455
The Note 9 is a great phone from what I hear.

Personally, I swore off Samsung last year. After trying to return a Note 8, being denied for unknown reasons, and having to fight with Samsung for 3 months to get them to accept my return....that was the one and only time I will ever deal with their customer service. I am fairly positive if the Indiana Attorney General had no accepted my claim, they would have continued to ignore me.

I don't buy from a carrier and will only go the direct from OEM/unlocked route, and thus Samsung is ruled out for me. I can't risk buying a $1000+ phone while knowing the customer service is makes Dell's customer service department look great (I can't stress enough how bad the experience was). That being said, I cannot deny the quality of their phones. They have the best hardware and specs on android. Personally, I put a heavy emphasis on software as well, and that is a knock against Samsung as well. Plus, timely updates matter to me.

As such, I really only consider the iPhone and the Pixel. The Pixel 2 is a great phone that could use a few improvements on the hardware side, so I would wait and see what the Pixel 3 has to offer. I can also attest to googles excellent customer service, as my wife has the pixel 2 and we recently had an issue. Google promptly overnighted a replacement device, free of charge.

Also, the oneplusone 6t will be a heck of a phone for a great price, so I would consider that too.

As a side note, I wasn't happy with the screen on the pixel 2 last year and got the iPhone X on a whim. I am now too ingrained in Apple hardware and too busy to make the change, so I am sticking with iOS, but all the phones you mentioned should be great devices.
 

Sevanw

Suspended
Sep 13, 2014
1,361
2,086
Wait it out, get the S10 or Note 10. Big changes are coming as stated by the CEO.
 

JaySoul

macrumors 68030
Jan 30, 2008
2,629
2,865
Wait and see what the Pixel 3 will offer.

TBH if the camera is important to you, Pixel is the best now. But as others have said, it's not a flawless phone. Hopefully the Pixel 3 will improve certain issues.
 
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