Pixel 3/Pixel 3 XL

[5105973]

Welp due to the joke that is "fast charging" that takes IMHO way too long that seems to slow down the closer it gets to 100% that seems to more like a gambling game "will it charge" in my XL 2, I'm starting to think early retirement of it (seems many of these devices need this) and yank the fi sim out and stick it in my 3.

Seriously it seems worse after the Jan pie update and I wiped the system doing it. Reliable charging it certainly is not. It's not just this XL 2, I've seen my mom's do this and my previous one also.

Not sure if the 3 has the same issue yet or not

My 3XL and husband's charge fast. He puts his on the stand at night and it's good to go in the morning. I haven't set mine up yet. I've got too many things to clear off the night stand first.

I am sad you had this trouble with your 2XL. My Pixel 2 was spared most of the issues of its generation. It has some pink on its screen that sometimes plagues Samsungs, too. I'm not too upset about that. It's not as intrusive as it was on my S8+ but I do think it has spread some.

 

[noobinator]

My 3 XL charges really fast on the stand. But, I do have times when I plop it down and it says charging slowly. Usually it corrects itself after a few minutes or I pick it up and set it back down until it shows that it's charging rapidly.

 

[drinkingtea]

One quick plus to Android in general is that as an avid reader of books on the Kindle app and watcher of movies from Amazon Prime, I can buy books and movies from within the same apps I use to view them. I can't do that on the iOS versions of Amazon Kindle and Amazon Prime Video.

I have to exit the apps and go to the web site and purchase them and download them and then go back into the iPhone app to consume the content. Pain in the tail. Of course since this is due to business and not technical limitations, it could all change at any time.

Basically what the Pixel in particular gives me is a consistently clean direct access to Google Assistant without having to bypass other built in assistants that are improving, but still tend to strike out more often than Google Assistant does.

Of course you can get Google Assistant on an iPhone or Samsung and yes it's also available on other Android brands that also have a lighter touch than Samsung. But with the Pixel it's a more direct access. I would imagine that's also true of Android One devices. I can't say because I haven't used them.

Prior to the Pixel I had an HTC 10 that gave me something of a taste of what stock Android could be, but their flavor of Android, Sense, did have a way of imposing itself on my experience. For example, where we are used to swiping for Apple News, they provided an inbuilt news app from one of their partners that I could not replace or customize due to some glitch and that thing was awful. It fed a constant stream of hideous tabloid news. Not even good funny "Justin Beiber is a Reptillian Shapeshifter" news but more along the lines of murders nobody needs to hear about at breakfast.

Similarly, I find the Bixby page on my S9+ a bit annoying. I can see how they want to make it useful and indispensable, but I'd rather have Google news there. All the things it wants to show me on that page I can already place as widgets in locations that better suit me. I don't need that Bixby page. I don't like it. I don't like the Apple Widget page either. I am not saying they are poorly designed. They're fine. I just don't like them and Pixel fortunately isn't making me put up with that sort of thing.

So far I like Google news better and unfortunately that is probably because Google spies on me and knows what I might be interested in and puts it in front of me. For example I play games like Sims 4 and it knows this somehow, (probably because I log into the official site via Chrome on my pc) and puts Sims 4 tips and news I'd never have found for myself right there on my news page.

Yet I don't find Google news to restrict me to one particular viewpoint. I still get news that's not aligned with all of my political ideals. It's more diverse than I would have expected. Yes I know I can customize Apple News. And I have done so. But it never seems to throw me any interesting curve balls anymore. It used to. It definitely feels curated now...by my mom.

I mentioned there may be a price to pay or a Devil to bargain with for all this convenience and that IS being constantly spied on. I don't know how much of that I will tolerate over time. We shall see.

But as we have seen from yesterday's headlines on this site, iPhone users are not immune to having their data harvested. It will be an ongoing battle and Apple may try to plug these data leaks but meanwhile the carriers and simple public records and the insurance companies will accumulate the truly intrusive data about you.

I'm getting along much better than I expected without iMessage probably because I haven't yet tried to convert the number I use for iMessages over to my Pixel. I don't know or understand what's going on, but whenever I have heard of people having issues of missing texts from people with whom they used to communicate with on iMessages, it's because the number they're using was associated with iMessage.

@jamezr doesn't seem to have any problems so if y'all can put aside your differences he can possibly explain why and how he doesn't have any problems. My husband is not currently having any issues either.

I simply gave out my Android number and people added it to any group texts I have been on with my iPhone.

Where I have a problem is if I am just on the Pixel and one of the kids is only on their iPad and I need to text them.

My texts are pretty boring and consist mostly of discussion about dinner and shopping lists and the kids homework, so I haven't worried too much about encryption. But due to the snags I mentioned about Pixel not being able to text to the iPad, as well as some concern that I may want more privacy in the future, as a family we may look at something like Telegram or a similar service. SMS will suffice for the limited texting I do now with people whom I can't ask to download an app.

I don't know why, but I haven't noticed any issues sharing pictures via SMS. They come through just fine. I guess the carriers changed something? I'll have to ask my husband or maybe someone here knows.

I will need to do more testing on videos. It's been a long time since any of us have shared videos. As I recall, the quality seemed fine when I was looking at video shared in a group text that included Android users. I was on the iPhone when I viewed the video.

Even on an iPhone, I had gotten used to sharing links to my Google photos rather than sending the actual pictures if there are more than one.

From the questions you're asking me, it really does sound like an iPhone is your ideal device for the way you use a smartphone and the way you've described your preferences. Why are you interested in leaving iPhone for an Android? It just doesn't sound like it would be a good fit for you. It's definitely not for everyone.

If you do switch maybe give the S9 or S10 and the new One UI a try since that's got the widget page similar to what you're used to on iOS. If you don't like the icons there may be frame style icon packs you can get to dress them up a bit. I honestly didn't care for the S8+ myself. It's amazing the difference one year made. But it just doesn't sound like you would enjoy the switch, yet.

Sorry if this post is long and choppy. I had to keep breaking away to take care of everyone and everything as per my usual morning routine. I've not even had coffee yet. Blahhh

Thank you for this informative reply. I hope you had your coffee since then!

I’m largely looking at the Pixel because it’s much cheaper than the XS Max (the iPhone I would like), I’m tired of heavy phones (the iPhone 8 Plus and the X series phones weigh like tanks), I’ve always been interested in stock Android, and for the camera. But, given how much I enjoy iOS and because of iMessage, it’s probably best for me to stick with iOS unless iOS 13 is a huge disappointment. I’ll have to decide if $40+ per month for iMessage is worth it when it’s time to switch.

 

[5105973]

Thank you for this informative reply. I hope you had your coffee since then!

I’m largely looking at the Pixel because it’s much cheaper than the XS Max (the iPhone I would like), I’m tired of heavy phones (the iPhone 8 Plus and the X series phones weigh like tanks), I’ve always been interested in stock Android, and for the camera. But, given how much I enjoy iOS and because of iMessage, it’s probably best for me to stick with iOS unless iOS 13 is a huge disappointment. I’ll have to decide if $40+ per month for iMessage is worth it when it’s time to switch.

I had coffee and later a rare nap! It's been a pleasure conversing with you. I am sorry I'm not very succinct. I'm turning into a rambling old lady.

Oh yes I hear you on the heaviness of the iPhones. At least they're nice and sturdy from what I can see. iMessage is worth it when your social circle is comprised almost exclusively of iOS users. I finally saw an opening and a way out when our social circle expanded to include Android users due to us joining a new school and adding new parents to our established group from the old school. They saved me from having to be the upstart to turn bubbles green. They were my scapegoats I guess.

Yes if you're happy with iOS there's no reason to jump to a Pixel this year. I myself don't have plans to keep this one beyond a year. I'm seeking more hardware refinement. I'm not even sure I expect that next year, either, to be honest. They had to try to assimilate a sizable team of engineers from HTC while also trying to get the Pixel 3's to market. I don't know how well they've been able to integrate their teams since then.

The goofy looking notch and lack of cohesive aesthetics between the larger and smaller model reflect the chaos inside. I've worked in rapidly expanded environments and have seen friends and family suffer through personnel assimilation after mergers and acquisitions. Perhaps you've seen it yourself. It's always chaotic as people jockey for power and position among people they don't know with their futures riding on everything. It takes awhile before you see their best work.

And this is Google we are talking about...they're not known for long term commitments to just about any endeavor. I'm frankly thrilled they stuck with the phones this long. They show a lot of promise. Most of their products do.

That doesn't mean they commit to attaining excellence. It can be frustrating if you like and start to grow dependent on their products and services.

I refuse to. I have either scoped out or established alternatives and backups for almost every product and service I need to help me get through my day. Circumstances can turn on you so fast. For example, it was a shock to find myself physically unable to use the new top of the line iPhones due to whatever is going on with their displays setting off neurological problems for me. I admit I was complacent until then even though everything that has ever happened to me in life should have kept me "feral and wary".

Maybe Apple will change that situation since they're aware of it. But I have to be prepared they won't and people who share my sensitivity are consigned to second class consumer status, forced to use their second or even third tier offerings.

Hey I don't mind not having their cutting edge best if I look at their product line and decide second tier is actually my first choice because I flat out like it. But I don't want to be cornered into anything. So I'm trying to keep myself as open to all my alternatives as possible. Nobody puts Grumpy in the corner!

 

[5105973]

Let's hope this news about hiring someone to head up wearables is a sign Google is committed to developing its phones over the long haul .

 

[drinkingtea]

Thanks for that message, GrumpyMom.

I ordered the Pixel 3 XL; Best Buy has a $450 discount on them. The deal was too hard to resist. It’ll be even more cheaper if I decide to keep the phone and sell my iPhone.

I’m going to give this phone a two-week trial and see how I feel. If I don’t like it, I’ll be saving up for the XS Max. My biggest worries are the lack of iMessage (especially no end-to-end encryption), Google monitoring my data, no iOS emojis , and no dedicated widget panel/page.

I am excited for the huge screen, the camera, call screening, a bit more freedom, and the price.

I’ll see how it goes when I get the phone!

 

[Harthag]

Thanks for that message, GrumpyMom.

I ordered the Pixel 3 XL; Best Buy has a $450 discount on them. The deal was too hard to resist. It’ll be even more cheaper if I decide to keep the phone and sell my iPhone.

I’m going to give this phone a two-week trial and see how I feel. If I don’t like it, I’ll be saving up for the XS Max. My biggest worries are the lack of iMessage (especially no end-to-end encryption), Google monitoring my data, no iOS emojis , and no dedicated widget panel/page.

I am excited for the huge screen, the camera, call screening, a bit more freedom, and the price.

I’ll see how it goes when I get the phone!

Congrats, you will enjoy it. I like responding to telemarketers with the call screening feature haha. You'll appreciate what the Pixel has to offer more than you'll miss iOS, I believe.

 

[5105973]

Thanks for that message, GrumpyMom.

I ordered the Pixel 3 XL; Best Buy has a $450 discount on them. The deal was too hard to resist. It’ll be even more cheaper if I decide to keep the phone and sell my iPhone.

I’m going to give this phone a two-week trial and see how I feel. If I don’t like it, I’ll be saving up for the XS Max. My biggest worries are the lack of iMessage (especially no end-to-end encryption), Google monitoring my data, no iOS emojis , and no dedicated widget panel/page.

I am excited for the huge screen, the camera, call screening, a bit more freedom, and the price.

I’ll see how it goes when I get the phone!

Oh wow I am surprised but pleased you got a wonderful deal and are willing to give it a try. I wish you all the best with your new purchase! Which color did you order?

There are several free encrypted text services. Some also allow you to do video chatting and send photos and videos. I haven't used them recently but the ones I hear of most are Wire and Telegram. I know first hand it's just about impossible to get friends and family to download these apps (at least in many social circles in the US) but perhaps some of your closest friends and family would be willing to give it a try.

As you did with your phone purchase, do your homework on these services. I had Wire downloaded well over a year ago but never really used it as I just didn't need it . Regular SMS suited me fine. (Waves hi to the NSA)

In my own personal news, I finally got a chance to call my dad on my 3XL. Call quality was good on both sides of the call.

My XS Max could never pass the "dad test". He always complained I sounded distant or muffled on that phone. Actually I'm paraphrasing because his language is a bit too salty to repeat here. My XR has been a good performer, though.

 

[drinkingtea]

Oh wow I am surprised but pleased you got a wonderful deal and are willing to give it a try. I wish you all the best with your new purchase! Which color did you order?

There are several free encrypted text services. Some also allow you to do video chatting and send photos and videos. I haven't used them recently but the ones I hear of most are Wire and Telegram. I know first hand it's just about impossible to get friends and family to download these apps (at least in many social circles in the US) but perhaps some of your closest friends and family would be willing to give it a try.

As you did with your phone purchase, do your homework on these services. I had Wire downloaded well over a year ago but never really used it as I just didn't need it . Regular SMS suited me fine. (Waves hi to the NSA)

In my own personal news, I finally got a chance to call my dad on my 3XL. Call quality was good on both sides of the call.

My XS Max could never pass the "dad test". He always complained I sounded distant or muffled on that phone. Actually I'm paraphrasing because his language is a bit too salty to repeat here. My XR has been a good performer, though.

Thank you! I ordered the Clearly White. It looks so elegant.

Oh, none of my friends or family would be willing to switch to a third-party messaging app (I don’t blame them). Signal would be nice, but alas.

Hopefully I like the 3 XL. It would save me a lot of money.

 

[oVerboost]

Battery life has been amazing since the Feb update on my Pixel 3!

 

[drinkingtea]

The Clearly White 3 XL variant is sold out at all Best Buys within an 80-mile radius. I am going to assume the Clearly White is the most popular color choice?

 

[tbayrgs]

The Clearly White 3 XL variant is sold out at all Best Buys within a 80-mile radius. I am going to assume the Clearly White is the most popular color choice?

No idea but it’s what I just bought as well. Not gonna lie though..I liked the mint green colored power button best.

 

[oVerboost]

The Clearly White 3 XL variant is sold out at all Best Buys within a 80-mile radius. I am going to assume the Clearly White is the most popular color choice?

I think the white one is the most popular option, but if your going to case it just get the black one if you don't want to wait. Google have the white in stock.

 

[jamezr]

No idea but it’s what I just bought as well. Not gonna lie though..I liked the mint green colored power button best.

Last year it was the white and black "Stormtrooper" model....this year it is the all white model was the most popular. I see a trend

I bought the white model as well.

 

[tbayrgs]

Last year it was the white and black "Stormtrooper" model....this year it is the all white model was the most popular. I see a trend

I bought the white model as well.

Oh, I’m typically a stealth black phone kind of guy but I also like a splash of color. If they had put a red power button on the black phone, I’d have jumped on that.

 

[Awesomesince86]

I'm about to cut ties with this phone. Performance isn't good enough for a 1k flagship phone. Im getting tired of dealing with transition animation stutters and lag opening and closing apps. If prices wouldn't have dropped so much I would have it up for sale already.

Overall, it's a decent phone but 4gb of RAM on a 2018 phone is... surprise to nobody....not enough.

 

[slitherjef]

I'm about to cut ties with this phone. Performance isn't good enough for a 1k flagship phone. Im getting tired of dealing with transition animation stutters and lag opening and closing apps. If prices wouldn't have dropped so much I would have it up for sale already.

Overall, it's a decent phone but 4gb of RAM on a 2018 phone is... surprise to nobody....not enough.

Kinda makes me think of the Nexus phones in expensive clothing.

I'm leery of making one my main device / line. Seriously I'd go back to Samsung if they unlocked their bootloaders, or probably if Google decided to lock theirs.

 

[shelt]

So...I couldn't pass up the $450 Best Buy 3XL deal either. I had planned to keep my 2XL until the 4 comes out, but "there I go again". I've noticed a few improvements. First, the speakers on the 3XL are 100x better than the heavily distorted mess I had on my 2XL. That was my hope and it worked out well. Second, the camera is marginally better than the Pixel 3 GCam port I was using on the 2XL (fill flash effect, wide selfies, slightly better super res zoom). Third, it's great to have wireless charging again. I also noticed the fingerprint integration with financial apps and others like dropbox seems to work much more smoothly. Not sure why but I'll take it...

 

[Michael Goff]

I'm about to cut ties with this phone. Performance isn't good enough for a 1k flagship phone. Im getting tired of dealing with transition animation stutters and lag opening and closing apps. If prices wouldn't have dropped so much I would have it up for sale already.

Overall, it's a decent phone but 4gb of RAM on a 2018 phone is... surprise to nobody....not enough.

That's why I'm surprised Android Central is hushing about it. Everyone else is saying things like what you're saying. Heck, if you have a Twitter account look up David Ruddock. He just had to reset his phone, and it's not like it's been that long since it came out.

 

[AustinIllini]

That's why I'm surprised Android Central is hushing about it. Everyone else is saying things like what you're saying. Heck, if you have a Twitter account look up David Ruddock. He just had to reset his phone, and it's not like it's been that long since it came out.

Andrew Martonik reset his yesterday. It's not hard but it shouldn't be necessary.
[doublepost=1549826144][/doublepost]

I'm about to cut ties with this phone. Performance isn't good enough for a 1k flagship phone. Im getting tired of dealing with transition animation stutters and lag opening and closing apps. If prices wouldn't have dropped so much I would have it up for sale already.

Overall, it's a decent phone but 4gb of RAM on a 2018 phone is... surprise to nobody....not enough.

Ah yes. The RAM fallacy again. Love it

 

[Awesomesince86]

I'm not going to explain how technology works for you. You can throw out all the sarcastic comments you want. It couldnt be the 4 GB of RAM causing stock Android to stutter and lag vs heavily skinned devices running 6 to 8 gb of RAM...even though I monitor ram usage actively on the phone.

Id love to know your profession or what gives you this sense of entitlement when it comes to talking about technology.

 

[drinkingtea]

Andrew Martonik reset his yesterday. It's not hard but it shouldn't be necessary.
[doublepost=1549826144][/doublepost]
Ah yes. The RAM fallacy again. Love it

Everyone is inventing fantasies but you, huh?
[doublepost=1549828090][/doublepost]The managing editor of Android Police *must* be lying about something, right, AustinIllini?

[doublepost=1549828274][/doublepost]All of these people have to be lying. https://twitter.com/RDRv3/status/1094345113063514112

 

[Michael Goff]

Andrew Martonik reset his yesterday. It's not hard but it shouldn't be necessary.
[doublepost=1549826144][/doublepost]
Ah yes. The RAM fallacy again. Love it

I have to wonder why Google, makers of Android, aren't able to make better performing software than Samsung these days.

 

[jamezr]

Everyone is inventing fantasies but you, huh?
[doublepost=1549828090][/doublepost]The managing editor of Android Police *must* be lying about something, right, AustinIllini?

[doublepost=1549828274][/doublepost]All of these people have to be lying. https://twitter.com/RDRv3/status/1094345113063514112

wait.....so those of us here that HAVE the P3 are saying it doesn't lag and performs great....
But somehow this guy's experience is the gold standard?
Tons of people are having issues with their iPhones with lag and display issues too it is all over Reddit and here on MR....
So should we take from those experiences the same thing you are inferring about the P3?

So maybe the iphone Xs could use more ram as well?
Or are these people lying?
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-xs-lags.2142773/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-xs-momentary-stuttering-after-inactivity.2141542/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/choppy-video-playback-on-iphone-xs-and-xs-max.2140783/

 

[AustinIllini]

I have to wonder why Google, makers of Android, aren't able to make better performing software than Samsung these days.

You're overreacting. I haven't had any problems nor have most users.
[doublepost=1549833638][/doublepost]

wait.....so those of us here that HAVE the P3 are saying it doesn't lag and performs great....
But somehow this guy's experience is the gold standard?
Tons of people are having issues with their iPhones with lag and display issues too it is all over Reddit and here on MR....
So should we take from those experiences the same thing you are inferring about the P3?

So maybe the iphone Xs could use more ram as well?
Or are these people lying?
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-xs-lags.2142773/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-xs-momentary-stuttering-after-inactivity.2141542/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/choppy-video-playback-on-iphone-xs-and-xs-max.2140783/

The quicker you ignore Drinkingtea, the better the forum gets.