Well I haven’t technically chosen Android over iOS. Not yet. I am still so besotted with my Apple Watch and appreciate my iPhone 8 Plus that I’m still hanging in there.
I thought the iPhone X was pretty cool, too. I just need them to fix that pwm flicker before I would even think about even looking at a new iPhone after the 8 Plus kicks the bucket. But it was a decent phone. There was a very short time I was wowed by it but in my view, it’s been surpassed in many aspects by less expensive Android phones.
Looking at the pictures iPhones take vs what I’m getting from a slightly less expensive S9+ and a much less expensive Pixel 2, and comparing the call quality I get on an iPhone vs my Androids, I get the feeling going forward, if everything among the manufacturers stay on their current trajectories, an Android phone will be the better bang for the buck in the future when I need to settle down with just one phone and one upgrade path and be done with it all.
Don’t even get me started on how Siri causes me consternation compared to the ease and happiness of “it just works” when I summon Google Assistant with a simple squeeze of the Pixel 2 and issue my command or inquiry.
But for now, I’m not completely sure. This is my first Pixel and the first time Samsung came out with a phone I like so completely. And in my prior experience with Samsung, I know there can be a lot of unknown gotchas that I’m looking out for over the next few months.
I think Apple is in danger of pushing me away by removing features that I found useful to replace them with razzle dazzle I don’t really care about so much. In practical terms, once you discount the novelty of it, I don’t know that I really wanted to take on so much extra cost just for a new way to unlock my phone. Especially if it means giving up a way I find preferable in many circumstances.
I’m also a bit concerned there aren’t more conclusive studies done on the safety and long term health effects of this particular application of LED lasers. I know there are some, but even ophthalmologists aren’t sure because there’s not enough data.
Anyway I’m pretty laid back and not going to rabidly attack or defend either path. There’s plusses and minuses to either one. I’m going to give a nod to Samsung for trying to give customers more options and choices in one very attractive package. But let’s see how this phone holds up for me a few months down the line before I break out the cake and champagne.