Question Upgrade, yes no? - Google Pixel 7

Good evening,
I have been using the Google Pixel 6 for more than a year and am basically satisfied with it. However, I think that an upgrade is necessary. Would the Pixel 7(a) be recommendable here? The only thing that has bothered me about Pixel 6 is dark scenes in videos. Black pixels are lit up in a funny way and yet you can't see much in the videos. Otherwise, I am also open to other brands with good price-performance ratio.
I am grateful for any advice and opinion!

Welcome to XDA.
In general the improvements from year to year aren't that much; not much bang for the buck unless you get a really good trade-in deal.
I'm still using my Note 10+ and in many ways it's superior to the newest Samsung's and not much slower in actual normal usage. Nitpicking over a couple pixels for a cam upgrade isn't worth all that trouble. Pro cam shooters rarely upgrade their cam every year or two...
Bottom line; depends how deep your pockets are.
If you don't upgrade expect to replace the battery soon, routine maintenance, no big deal.

blackhawk said:
Welcome to XDA.
In general the improvements from year to year aren't that much; not much bang for the buck unless you get a really good trade-in deal.
I'm still using my Note 10+ and in many ways it's superior to the newest Samsung's and not much slower in actual normal usage. Nitpicking over a couple pixels for a cam upgrade isn't worth all that trouble. Pro cam shooters rarely upgrade their cam every year or two...
Bottom line; depends how deep your pockets are.
If you don't upgrade expect to replace the battery soon, routine maintenance, no big deal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your opinion!
In the Google Telegram channel I got recommended that I wait until October for the Pixel 8. Let's see what that brings, except for the unnecessary built-in fever thermometer.

I replaced my P6 with a P7 after it was accidentally damaged beyond repair. I can barely tell the differance. The phones seem to drop in price quite a bit about 3 or 4 months after their release, so if you can wait til the end of January most of the early bugs will have been worked out and the price will have dropped by at least $100.

poit said:
I replaced my P6 with a P7 after it was accidentally damaged beyond repair. I can barely tell the differance. The phones seem to drop in price quite a bit about 3 or 4 months after their release, so if you can wait til the end of January most of the early bugs will have been worked out and the price will have dropped by at least $100.
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You benefit by waiting not only in a reduced price but by seeing if any unsolvable hardware bugs are present. I would give it 6 months. Use independent reviews here, on utube and Reddit to better guage the actual performance and any issues that crop up with the device.
Look at the mess some of the S23U owners are having with the banana shaped optical blurring with their main cam. It's not just Samsung, both Android hardware and firmware are more shake & bake then ever. When people are in a big bad hurry... mistakes happen. Sit back, observe then pick the device that will best fullfill your mission if you have that luxury. A good flagship should last you many years.

Just upgraded to the Pixel 7 from the 4xl. Only real improvements I see is less bezel, updates install faster, and slightly better camera. May return the 7 and stick with the 4xl a bit longer.

PuffinNugz said:
Just upgraded to the Pixel 7 from the 4xl. Only real improvements I see is less bezel, updates install faster, and slightly better camera. May return the 7 and stick with the 4xl a bit longer.
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Do the Google phone vs phone vid search. A 2019 flagship can hold up well to the newer phones. Replace battery as needed and keep rollin.

PuffinNugz said:
Just upgraded to the Pixel 7 from the 4xl. Only real improvements I see is less bezel, updates install faster, and slightly better camera. May return the 7 and stick with the 4xl a bit longer.
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Click to collapse
I've never used the 4xl but I like its lens spec. With newer Pixels I'd rather not resort to digital zoom for avoiding distortion. 7 Pro answers that but only if prices drop enough.

SmilingPeace said:
Good evening,
I have been using the Google Pixel 6 for more than a year and am basically satisfied with it. However, I think that an upgrade is necessary. Would the Pixel 7(a) be recommendable here? The only thing that has bothered me about Pixel 6 is dark scenes in videos. Black pixels are lit up in a funny way and yet you can't see much in the videos. Otherwise, I am also open to other brands with good price-performance ratio.
I am grateful for any advice and opinion!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a Pixel 6 since they were announced and was very happy with it except for the fingerprint reader. I work with wood a lot and it seems to screw up my fingerprint mightily. I basically abandoned the fingerprint reader and just used a PIN. When the Pixel 7 arrived, I traded-in my Pixel 6 and got a Pixel 7. I am very happy with face unlock and that I don't have to deal with the fingerprint reader anymore. I can't say anything about the 7A, but the Pixel 7 screen is very much like the Pixel 6. In fact, I think of my Pixel 7 as a "Pixel 6, refined." There might not be enough difference in the screen to make it worth it. Same with the cameras. Again, this relates only to the Pixel 7, not the Pixel 7A.

I went from the 6 to 7. It was a lateral but very needed upgrade. Much more stable.

I plan to get a 7 real soon as I found a nice deal on it. Leomgrass color

LLStarks said:
I went from the 6 to 7. It was a lateral but very needed upgrade. Much more stable.
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No need to wait I guess if I found a good deal yea? I mean wait till later this year for the new one

Related

Should i get a nexus 6?

Hello, i was wondering if its worth getting a nexus 6 sealed in box bought in june 2015 for 250. im just scared of the battery bulge problem, any advice will be great.
I'm using it for 2 years and didn't face any battery bulge problem, at least not yet.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
The phones dated march 2015 or later did not suffer the battery bulge problems.
Simplyeduardo said:
Hello, i was wondering if its worth getting a nexus 6 sealed in box bought in june 2015 for 250. im just scared of the battery bulge problem, any advice will be great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite a few people got phones with bad speakers. They make hissing crackling sounds when the battery gets to lower percentages. Mine does this and it's a minor annoyance. Everything else about this device to me is SWEET! I LOVE my Nexus 6, but it's roulette getting a device without the speaker issue. Like I said, minor annoyance and totally usable without too much issue, but noticeable nonetheless. Great phone however, love mine.
Simplyeduardo said:
Hello, i was wondering if its worth getting a nexus 6 sealed in box bought in june 2015 for 250. im just scared of the battery bulge problem, any advice will be great.
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Click to collapse
Personally I would say Go For It...especially at that price!
I got my Nexus 6 in March of 2015 and Love It. So far it is the best phone I have owned so far. And that is say a lot since I previously owned the HTC EVO, HTC M7, and HTC M8.
Simplyeduardo said:
.... nexus 6 sealed in box bought in june 2015 for 250.
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Click to collapse
Keep your 250 and by a newer model.
In a few months their will be complete new Nexus models.
I am using N6 for about 2 years.
Out of the box the battery life wasn't enough for intensive use between 9 to 17. Cause the white user interface. I needed to unlock the bootloader and root the N6 to change the dpi and install layers and apps with a black background.
The N6 is good but the Google stuff is not.
Personally I would say for the next few months, try to put away $50-$100 each month until the new devices are released. While this phone is still operable for the age it is at, it lacks a few things such as fingerprint scanner and a nice camera. Not to mention the size, which can be off-putting for some.
My suggestion - Save your pennies and buy something with a Snapdragon 820+...That is at least my plan.
For 250.00 its still a solid option. The camera is fine and finger print scanner is not a huge deal. I would say it is a bit better then "operable". You will be looking at spending 600.00 to get the newest Nexus when it drops.
@smokinjoe2122: What do you define as "nice" in regards to the camera?
I personally find the camera to be quite excellent. It's no substitute for a dedicated camera if you have one. At the same time the best camera in the world will not help you if it's sitting in the camera bag when you need to get a picture.
Case in point, this picture would not have happened if I had to look for a dedicated camera in a bag. However, because I had my N6 on me, a seagull casually standing on a car was immortalized. But à chacun leur propre.
None of the things you mentioned, except for the size, are truly dealbreakers. The size can be intimidating, but to gain converts to the cause you simply have to time it right and hope they can keep an open mind. I managed to convert my roommate to a large-screen phone simply by letting her play with my N6 for a little while after I had gotten it. She got a Moto X Pure two months ago and couldn't be happier.
@Simplyeduardo, go ahead and spend the money, but you might want to invest in an OTG drive while you're at it. Especially if the phone only has 32GB of storage on it.
To answer your questions:
Comparing my Nexus 6 camera to my girlfriend's Nexus 5x, the difference is night and day, especially when it comes to HDR or low light pictures. There's also missing support for the latest features such as 4k video.
I also feel like finger print scanners are getting even more important for things such as Android pay and enterprise applications. If you've used an iPhone, many applications can be locked down with security only to be unlocked by the fingerprint scanner or pin. The Nexus 6 unfortunately will never have that technology (Sure you can use a pin, but FP is much better imho).
Lastly, the performance of this phone isn't the worst out there, but it defintely isn't the best. There's plenty of posts here and on Reddit that talk about performance issues, lag, stutters, ect. I for one can validate that, and I have a feeling it'll only get worse as Android will be designed to run better on the newer generation hardware.
So, do you spend $250 on a 1.5-2 year old phone, or do I put away another hundred to two hundred and get the newer generation Nexus or OnePlus 3?
my november 2014 bought n6 has an ever so slight buldge, with the back cover raised about 1mm(yes, barely). i bought mine for the full $650, plus tax. anyways, ive never even considered getting it relaced, as it does absolutely no harm to me or my use. ok, i cant use my n6 under water for sure, or water will get in..
but for $250, i wouldnt even think about it.
With all the development we have these phones are still relevant, and will be for quite some time. I used to trade up every 6 months to a year, but I have had this phone for almost 2 years now and see no reason to get a new one. IMHO a new phone wouldn't be an upgrade anyhow, we would have to wait on development. Just look at all the sweet mods and roms these awesome devs. Have created for us! There's something for everyone. Good luck, Happy flashing.
smokinjoe2122 said:
To answer your questions:
So, do you spend $250 on a 1.5-2 year old phone, or do I put away another hundred to two hundred and get the newer generation Nexus or OnePlus 3?
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Question in the singular. I only asked one.
The larger CCD pixels in the sensor do make a difference, I do admit. Especially if using the Google camera app as it is barebones. However, switch the camera app to one with manual controls and that advantage is lost, since it's possible to adjust not only the ISO of the camera, but how long the shutter stays open. If you adjust the ISO to 1600 or more, you improve the sensitivity of the CCD. If you can control the length of time the shutter is opened, more light is let in. Recording more light is the name of the game.
The camera is not a deal breaker. It's a good camera that gets better when coupled with the right software. 4K video is a non-starter to me, i.e. it's irrelevant.
Fingerprint scanners are a security hole, since you can be compelled to unlock your phone without need of a warrant. One of the reasons I DIDN'T spring for a 6P at Christmas 2015 was because of the fingerprint scanner. So, not a deal breaker.
As someone who has used Touchwiz, I'm very familiar with lag. I have yet to see any lag on this device. But not everyone is as fortunate as I am, I guess.
I still would recommend this phone over other Nexus devices. The 1+3 is a tougher sell.

Is the OnePlus 3T still a great phone one year later?

Hello again! I've been looking at the OnePlus 3T for a while now, but I didn't want to jump the gun yet.
It was a steady $500 CAD here in Canada for a 64GB and I found a 128GB OnePlus 3T that comes with 2 cases,
for $480 CAD, now, the phone has been out for almost exactly one year now and it's only now $120 off, so this
leads me to my questions, should I go ahead and purchase it? Is it still a great choice, one year later?
As long as you don't need the fake bokeh effect that a dual camera setup gives, you won't regret buying this phone.
I've had mine since April and still love it. Even though that new Pixel XL 2 is tempting, I essentially will do the same thing on both phone and can't justify the money when my 3t is still running excellent
FadedAssassiin said:
.... Is it still a great choice, one year later?
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Yes it is. I bought mine in December and it is one of the best purchases that I have made.
To elaborate, I have been mostly stock except for magisk root, and never faced any issues with this device. I use it for work and play, and it never disappoints. I would not change this phone except maybe for the iPhone X (but a $1000+ phone? screw that)
I came in late to the OP3/3T game and got mine in June of this year and haven't looked back since. Sure I 'want' a Pixel 2 XL but damn that price... The 3T has been amazing to me. I've got mine unlocked, using FreedomOS CE with Magisk, AdAway, Substratum (Ozone & Swift Dark), Nova Launcher with Prime & Google Companion, Google Pixel Dialer/Contacts, Google Pixel 2 Live Wallpaper and a slew of other minor things here and there. OnePlus gives you serious freedom and the devs are already pushing hard on custom O ROMs. If you're here on XDA you most likely enjoy tinkering and this phone will let you go above and beyond simply because of the great folks in the various forums and communities let alone the ease to do so because of OnePlus keeping it open.
Side note: You can get the fake bokeh effect easily by using Google Camera with a Magisk Module to fix the crash bug. Neat stuff but I just use the included OnePlus Camera myself.
How much more is the 5? I love my 3t and couldn't be happier with it.
CJ-Wylde said:
I came in late to the OP3/3T game and got mine in June of this year and haven't looked back since. Sure I 'want' a Pixel 2 XL but damn that price... The 3T has been amazing to me. I've got mine unlocked, using FreedomOS CE with Magisk, AdAway, Substratum (Ozone & Swift Dark), Nova Launcher with Prime & Google Companion, Google Pixel Dialer/Contacts, Google Pixel 2 Live Wallpaper and a slew of other minor things here and there. OnePlus gives you serious freedom and the devs are already pushing hard on custom O ROMs. If you're here on XDA you most likely enjoy tinkering and this phone will let you go above and beyond simply because of the great folks in the various forums and communities let alone the ease to do so because of OnePlus keeping it open.
Side note: You can get the fake bokeh effect easily by using Google Camera with a Magisk Module to fix the crash bug. Neat stuff but I just use the included OnePlus Camera myself.
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Click to collapse
How do we get fake bokeh with Google camera? I use it and I'm not able to get it!!
srharshajava said:
How do we get fake bokeh with Google camera? I use it and I'm not able to get it!!
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Click to collapse
It's called Lens Blur
CJ-Wylde said:
It's called Lens Blur
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Lena blur is not potrait mode!!
3T is still a great phone whose specs are being duplicated by major manufacturers.
srharshajava said:
Lena blur is not potrait mode!!
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Click to collapse
No it's not, it's a fake bokeh effect. It's not all that great, but it's all we have if using Google Camera.
FadedAssassiin said:
Hello again! I've been looking at the OnePlus 3T for a while now, but I didn't want to jump the gun yet.
It was a steady $500 CAD here in Canada for a 64GB and I found a 128GB OnePlus 3T that comes with 2 cases,
for $480 CAD, now, the phone has been out for almost exactly one year now and it's only now $120 off, so this
leads me to my questions, should I go ahead and purchase it? Is it still a great choice, one year later?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're probably going to get a lot of us fan-boy-ing about it. Do you have any questions about it in particular? As far as I'm concerned, it's the best phone I've ever had & may betray my normal cycle of purchasing phones (every 2-2.5 years) and just hold onto it.
You're super free with the software. People say it's "unbrickable" (though I just had the scariest experience of my entire custom-flashing-life of the last 7ish years, but it was resolved either way). No removable battery & expandable storage sucks dongers but that's the trend regardless. The specs are far beyond what's needed for a telephone if you ask me. The price for what you get in hardware + software freedom is craziness (in a good way).
The ONLY THING is if you really need amazing camera HARDWARE, then you should be looking at Samsung, Apple, or the new Pixels. That being said, there are many camera mods enabling you to use (on custom ROMs) the OnePlus camera, the Pixel camera with HDR+, the Snapdragon camera, and if you aren't already aware, learning how to use Manual mode can do wonders...
purplepenguin said:
You're probably going to get a lot of us fan-boy-ing about it. Do you have any questions about it in particular? As far as I'm concerned, it's the best phone I've ever had & may betray my normal cycle of purchasing phones (every 2-2.5 years) and just hold onto it.
You're super free with the software. People say it's "unbrickable" (though I just had the scariest experience of my entire custom-flashing-life of the last 7ish years, but it was resolved either way). No removable battery & expandable storage sucks dongers but that's the trend regardless. The specs are far beyond what's needed for a telephone if you ask me. The price for what you get in hardware + software freedom is craziness (in a good way).
The ONLY THING is if you really need amazing camera HARDWARE, then you should be looking at Samsung, Apple, or the new Pixels. That being said, there are many camera mods enabling you to use (on custom ROMs) the OnePlus camera, the Pixel camera with HDR+, the Snapdragon camera, and if you aren't already aware, learning how to use Manual mode can do wonders...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am just looking for a speedier phone than I have right now, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, which I am sure is a definite night and day difference in performance, the OnePlus 3T caught my eye back in February, and the price seemed quite good for such a stunning phone. I do have a few questions, how do you rate the fingerprint sensor? Is it fast or super fast, compared to maybe a iPhone 6S or 7, but that might be stretching it. How does the camera do at night? In a poorly lit room? Thanks for the reply!
SourPower said:
How much more is the 5? I love my 3t and couldn't be happier with it.
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Click to collapse
Sorry for the late reply! The OnePlus 5 is going for $720 Canadian Dollars for the 64GB, whilst the used OnePlus 3T 128GB is going for $480 Canadian Dollars.
FadedAssassiin said:
I am just looking for a speedier phone than I have right now, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, which I am sure is a definite night and day difference in performance, the OnePlus 3T caught my eye back in February, and the price seemed quite good for such a stunning phone. I do have a few questions, how do you rate the fingerprint sensor? Is it fast or super fast, compared to maybe a iPhone 6S or 7, but that might be stretching it. How does the camera do at night? In a poorly lit room? Thanks for the reply!
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I'm the wrong dude for both of those questions probably. I only messed with fingerprint a littttttle bit on my s5. Compared to that, OP3T is blazing fast.
For the camera, have barely used it honestly! lol Good luck!
FadedAssassiin said:
I am just looking for a speedier phone than I have right now, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, which I am sure is a definite night and day difference in performance, the OnePlus 3T caught my eye back in February, and the price seemed quite good for such a stunning phone. I do have a few questions, how do you rate the fingerprint sensor? Is it fast or super fast, compared to maybe a iPhone 6S or 7, but that might be stretching it. How does the camera do at night? In a poorly lit room? Thanks for the reply!
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I am using stock OOS and the fingerprint is blazing fast.
Regarding the night camera, installing the Google modded apk is the way to go. It offers fantastic night shots.
Unleashed by ONEPLUS 3T rooted
Absolutely! I love it like a child. It's my baby.
I have often said to OnePlus that their customer's service should favorably compare to the phones they produce. Their customers service, in a word, is awful. It is somewhat heartening that it is getting better.
They produce a wonderful product. Their support leaves a little more time, I hope. I have never come across a situation quite like this. The quality of their products far exceeds their support. I think. in time that situation will change. They will improve or fail and that would be a shame.
XDA could learn a lesson from what I said about OnePlus. Their product is truth. Their support also leaves something to be considered.
CJ-Wylde said:
No it's not, it's a fake bokeh effect. It's not all that great, but it's all we have if using Google Camera.
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Portrait mode (with dual camera) is fake bokeh also. Just not as fake. It's true, the Google lens blur often results in "fuzzy" edges on the subject, or obviously fake/cheesy looking Photo-chopped effect.
redpoint73 said:
Portrait mode (with dual camera) is fake bokeh also. Just not as fake. It's true, the Google lens blur often results in "fuzzy" edges on the subject, or obviously fake/cheesy looking Photo-chopped effect.
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Yeah, it's as good as we can get with the single-lens and OP / OP3T setup. I don't use it even though it's neat for up-close 'macro' like shots, but the fakeness of it does show through most of the time. I'm saving now to get another DSLR and do love my OP3T for quick on-the-go snaps. It is good for that, the picture quality is leaps above most phones out there, and for it's price point, not really anything to compare to it.
srharshajava said:
Lena blur is not potrait mode!!
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Click to collapse
Not literally, no. But "portrait mode" is just an Apple baloney marketing name for "fake bokeh effect". Now every phone manufacturer feels like they need dual camera and "portrait mode" (which I'm sure Apple is suing them for using that name). Even dual camera is just software trickery (in conjunction with dual camera) to fake a bokeh effect that will never be possible with the focal length of a smartphone camera.
Obviously, you won't get the exact same effect as a phone that has dual camera (OP5, iPhone plus, etc.).
---------- Post added at 12:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:12 PM ----------
FadedAssassiin said:
Is it still a great choice, one year later?
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Back to the original question: I would say YES it's still a great phone.
I was unimpressed with the OP5, with its mostly incremental improvements, and the "jelly effect". We've actually seen a number of folks on this forum, looking to get a new phone, and opting for the 3T instead of the 5.
Of course there are other, impressive options (Pixel 2, Galaxy S8) with their own pros and cons. But of course they are quite expensive, and don't measure up to the shear value of the 3T; with its combination of build quality, value, and dev community here on XDA.
I don't find myself yearning for the "latest and greatest" phone yet. Maybe next year. The 3T is holding it's own quite well, and still a very solid and capable device.

Why is this phone getting crapped on so hard?

Every forum or YouTube videos I watch, all I see is people hating on this phone. I am actually pretty surprised, but how much negativity there is for the Pixel 4 line.
Android police poll, is heavily in the "hell no not buying" as #1
Two big tech forums I belong too, it's like 70% saying no way.
What's the deal?
I have a 64GB Clearly White 4XL on order. I go back to owning, the Nexus-One, Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Motorola Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Pixel 2 XL, and Pixel 3 XL. And yes I agree, the Pixel 4 XL could have been better, for the price at least do better than OnePlus, give us 8GB RAM, a larger battery of at least 4,000mAh, a brighter display for outdoor use, go easy n the large forehead bezel, like have the thickness if possible. But saying that, I buy the Nexus Pixel line for the software and monthly security updates.
I am interested in seeing the full blown real reviews this week.
For a few reasons:
1. Not priced like a Nexus / 3a
2. No fingerprint sensor
3. Lack of Ultrawide 3rd camera
4. Small battery
5. Removal of Ultrawide front facing camera
6. Removal of front facing speakers
7. Big top bezel for Soli
8. Soli gimmick
9. Removal of unlimited original photo upload
10. No big leap in camera hardware
11. No surprises since it was leaked all over the place
12. Only 6 GB of RAM (finally)
13. Only Snapdragon 855 instead of 855+ processor
Having said all that, I still have one on preorder.
Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
Kusanagi Fire said:
For a few reasons:
1. Not priced like a Nexus / 3a
2. No fingerprint sensor
3. Lack of Ultrawide 3rd camera
4. Small battery
5. Removal of Ultrawide front facing camera
6. Removal of front facing speakers
7. Big top bezel for Soli
8. Soli gimmick
9. Removal of unlimited original photo upload
10. No big leap in camera hardware
11. No surprises since it was leaked all over the place
12. Only 6 GB of RAM (finally)
13. Only Snapdragon 855 instead of 855+ processor
Having said all that, I still have one on preorder.
Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
3,9, and 12 are the disappointment for me. But that price thooooo, they could have gotten more attention if only they priced it right.
Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Kusanagi Fire said:
For a few reasons:
1. Not priced like a Nexus / 3a
2. No fingerprint sensor
3. Lack of Ultrawide 3rd camera
4. Small battery
5. Removal of Ultrawide front facing camera
6. Removal of front facing speakers
7. Big top bezel for Soli
8. Soli gimmick
9. Removal of unlimited original photo upload
10. No big leap in camera hardware
11. No surprises since it was leaked all over the place
12. Only 6 GB of RAM (finally)
13. Only Snapdragon 855 instead of 855+ processor
Having said all that, I still have one on preorder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4 may be an issue for me but everyone's usage is different so I'll wait to see my personal results before I make a final judgement.
6 is a big one for me. Before the 4XL was officially announced, I was aiming to switch from my OnePlus 7 Pro so I could get front facing speakers. I always end up blocking the bottom speaker when watching stuff in landscape mode.
10 could be a reason for me but not too much since I know it's going to be better than my current OnePlus 7 Pro.
12 is similar to my point for reason 4 (wait until I can test myself). Users say Android 10 is RAM hungry so hopefully that 6 GB is enough.
13, Even though it's a slight upgrade, it would have been nice to get the + variant of the processor.
All other reasons I don't mind too much.
But yeah I do think the phone is getting a bit too much hate.
Honestly, just the fact that last year's Pixel 3 got discounted on Black Friday combined with the fact that the 4 isn't a massive leap in hardware / doesn't check some of the minimal requirements like 8 GB RAM, 855+, and Ultrawide camera (granted, there's not much more ground to cover these days) is reason enough for this phone to get tons of hate.
Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
Today Flossy admitted that he's been using the 3XL all along. He complained about that one much the way he will complain about this one in the full review. He'll says it's too expensive and many other things. Despite that he'll probably end up making it his work phone just as he did the previous Pixels. I wrote about this elsewhere but a search on Youtube will probably be able to find the dude from Unbox Therapy doing a pertinent video. He was in a suite in Vegas with a bunch of other young millionaires, Brownlee for example. The whole video was what is everyone carrying in their pocket, what was the phone they chose to use. The Pixel tied the iphone with few other phones mixed in. Brownlee had both. It wasn't because they were reviewing it, that was well past review time. It was the phone that millionaires who have tried everything and can afford anything decided they wanted in their pockets. There's a message there.
I do get it, the phone is too expensive for the specs, only a mother could love the looks, it's missing feature X and Y. But I'm sure that I'll enjoy using it in the day to day more than any other phone I could buy. It's always been that way. I couldn't make friends with the 3XL, the notch just killed it for me so I got a 6T. Nothing wrong with that phone but the next thing I knew I was picking up a 3AXL, should have been a downgrade, it was by the numbers. Wasn't long before I realized I wasn't going to use the 6T anymore and gave it to one of my grand kids. I've been using the 3A since.
Let the haters hate and enjoy your purchase. Flossy begin his quick look with talk of giving it a fair trial before he hung it, 5 minutes later he was giggling like a schoolgirl. The Pixel does that...
I agree with most here, the Pixel 4 XL could and should have been better;
- 8GB RAM
- 4,300mAh battery ( like the Note 10+ )
- Brighter display on par with the Galaxy S10 line
- Reduce the forehead bezel, to like half the size if possible, or actually do the Note 10 hole punch, and forget the faceID stuff, and keep the fingerprint scanner.
But it's funny, recent phones that I kept the longest last few years has been the Nexus or Pixel. Yeah I'd get bored with them, then I pick up the latest Samsung Galaxy whatever, and within in a few weeks already regret not having the Pixel. One time I went for the iPhone 7 Plus, when it was the hot new phone, and I was bored with my Nexus 6P, wow what a bad decision, not even a month later ran back to the Nexus, mainly because iOS is a Fischer Price kids OS, and totally blows, feels like a decade old operating system. Or I got the Note 5 at launch, was so happy to have that badass phone, but then I tried to turn it into a Nexus, deleting all the Samsung stuff, and downloading every Google app and setting defaults, and tried to make the Note 5 a Nexus Note LOL, where the phone I traded in for the Note 5 was the Motorola Nexus 6, and that thing was just so smooth, so cool, I regretted getting the Note
Point, the Nexus or Pixel phones, may be ugly, and not have the wham bam cool features, but using it day in day out, I just find them most comfortable and a joy. They are simple, they are minimalist, but they just work, and have a special thing about them.
Unfortunately, Google will never win because nothing is ever good enough for people and they will always complain about something.
techrider6262 said:
Unfortunately, Google will never win because nothing is ever good enough for people and they will always complain about something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This!
6GB RAM - My 3xl has 4 and I have ZERO problems running whatever. People need to learn that it's not necessarily about big specs, it's more about optimization. The 4's will run very smoothly with 6. Just because the S10 has 8, and the note has an option of 12 doesn't mean that does anything to speed up the phone.
128GB storage - This option is the same price as the s10 with that same storage. Maybe Google should add a third option with 256? Would that make some of you happy? It would be even more expensive though. But, again, same price as the s10.
Battery - My 3xl has a smaller battery and I get no less than 20+ hours with heavy use. Typically, I'll get 24+ hours on it. With the 90 Hz display being an as needed, I doubt the battery will last less than my 3xl.
Ultrawide camera - I DO have to agree here that it should have that. I know Google's camera's are amazing and this one will definitely be as good as the iPhone or Sammy's, but the ultrawide addition to camera shots would have been nice.
Removal of free original size photo backups - Sooo, Apple NOR Samsung, NOR any other OEM that I'm aware of ever offered this. I'm a system engineer and cloud architect. I'm here to tell you that the amount of storage and bandwidth required for unlimited originals for millions of users is INSANE. You have any idea how much this costs Google? There was no way that would ever last. It's $1.99 and $2.99 per month for the extra storage to keep original backups, plus you get other benefits. Also, grab Google Surveys app and you'll make more than the cost here by far every month. Get over it.
The front facing speakers - Definitely not happy about this. They could have fit the bottom speaker I bet. At least there's still stereo.
Anyway, anyone who wants to hate, please save us all from it and go elsewhere. This phone will be amazing and I'd put it up against ANY other smartphone. It'll be smoother and has release day updates and OS's.
Every year there are people trolling the new pixel (even the Samsung S7 edge though) threads for a couple months after release. It's incredibly stupid. If you don't like the phone, why are you here?
I haven't had time to watch the all reviews yet, but is the 4 XL battery life at least on par with the 3 XL's, or please don't tell me it's actually worse?
My Pixel 3 XL battery life is mediocre, not great, not horrible, I would like better, but certainly not worse, but could makedo with the same battery life. If the 4 XL has worse and less battery life than the Pixel 3 XL, then I need to cancel my preorder.
Zorachus said:
I haven't had time to watch the all reviews yet, but is the 4 XL battery life at least on par with the 3 XL's, or please don't tell me it's actually worse?
My Pixel 3 XL battery life is mediocre, not great, not horrible, I would like better, but certainly not worse, but could makedo with the same battery life. If the 4 XL has worse and less battery life than the Pixel 3 XL, then I need to cancel my preorder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm trading in my 3xl for the 4xl and I believe the battery life will be the same or better.
It has a larger battery so even the smooth display shouldn't hurt it too much.
The reviews so far today have trashed the 4 but pretty much everyone agreed that the 4xl should be fine.
I'm excited even if the changes are not dramatic from 3xl.
Zorachus said:
I haven't had time to watch the all reviews yet, but is the 4 XL battery life at least on par with the 3 XL's, or please don't tell me it's actually worse?
My Pixel 3 XL battery life is mediocre, not great, not horrible, I would like better, but certainly not worse, but could makedo with the same battery life. If the 4 XL has worse and less battery life than the Pixel 3 XL, then I need to cancel my preorder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From The limited reviews and tweets that I have seen, it seems to be holding its own. Averaging between 4 and 6 hours of sot, from the initial reviews. But I'm sure that that will get better, over time, as it learns your usage. Definitely getting through a whole day though, and that's all that's important
I suppose a rooted 4 XL with the Franco kernel and his app Naptime, would extend battery life too?
Zorachus said:
I suppose a rooted 4 XL with the Franco kernel and his app Naptime, would extend battery life too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, these days the only reason I root is for custom kernels, and adaway
If the battery optimization time is the same as the 3XL then none of the reviewers have attained their final screen on time yet.
First reviews are out and they say battery life is horrendous, especially on the 4. I'll pass. Too expensive for too many compromises.
I have Android 10 running on my OG Pixel XL and have zero problems with it on an older chipset and 4 GBs, but I'm sure the extra 2 GBs will be beneficial/noticeable regardless.
I suppose the people complaining the loudest fall into 1 of the following 2 categories: trolls/iphone fanbois or people who don't feel the upgrade from the 3 (or any of the last gen phones) -> 4 is worthwhile. While that's a valid concern, it's worth noting that in recent years the yearly revision has become less substantial in recent years. I've held off for 3 years so going from the OG XL to 4 XL will be a massive improvement and something I'm greatly looking forward to.
msaitta said:
I have Android 10 running on my OG Pixel XL and have zero problems with it on an older chipset and 4 GBs, but I'm sure the extra 2 GBs will be beneficial/noticeable regardless.
I suppose the people complaining the loudest fall into 1 of the following 2 categories: trolls/iphone fanbois or people who don't feel the upgrade from the 3 (or any of the last gen phones) -> 4 is worthwhile. While that's a valid concern, it's worth noting that in recent years the yearly revision has become less substantial in recent years. I've held off for 3 years so going from the OG XL to 4 XL will be a massive improvement and something I'm greatly looking forward to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every phone I've pre-ordered, it always starts the same way. Everyone has something to complain about before they even have the phone in their own hands. After awhile, the complaining, for the most part, dies down, and people realize they love the device. What boggles my mind is, why come to the forum to complain? Nobody forces an individual to buy the phone, let alone pre-order it. Instead of focusing on the negative, focus on the positives.
I'm going to vent a little bit...
I'm an older guy (48) and I've been doing tech and gadgets for over 20 years now. I love this site and have participated on and off for many years. There is a problem growing online and it is only going to get worse. The system here isn't equipped to counter a growing troll problem, so we all fall prey to the effects. Every aspect of the online consumer space is being manipulated by "troll farms" and it is obliterating the signal-to-noise ratio in everything from entertainment to personal devices. Across the board, every device is eventually portrayed to have some fatal flaw rendering it inferior. When in actuality, it can adequately perform the primary task and may only fall short in a single aspect depending on a very specific need that varies individually by consumer.
I used to participate here rather frequently, then I began to only stop by during a device's release to gauge anticipations and thoughts. Every year the noise has increased. Not just here though, almost every forum beyond a certain size has the same issue. Online sources and articles are not immune and are populated with extremely vocal "detractors" in the comment sections, they rally with a frequency and voracity that no ordinary working person could maintain. The methods used by professional trolls is complex, and unfortunately, PROFITABLE.
Without giving too much personal information, my wife WAS a partner in one of the largest PR firms in the U.S., and I can tell you that troll farms and bogus self-cross-referring review sources are real. Her firm never participated, but they could see it coming and now there's an entire "dark" branch of marketing and PR that has arisen (some would say re-emerged) that essentially has the ethics model of the old cigarette industry with the agility of a modern digital campaign.
So if you're wrestling with specs, don't kill yourself searching for the ultimate device. You can do three things and I promise you'll be as happy as you can be.
If you really care about what you're going to buy ,to the point that it may cause a devastating case of buyer's remorse you should:
- First, make lists. Make a list of what's important, make a list of what specs make your tech-feels tingle, make a list of devices and start prioritizing and crossing off.
- Second, do a one afternoon search (not one second longer) of trusted reviews and ignore very tilted reviews.
- Third, and this is crazy... Go to a store, look at the physical functioning device and play with it.
This should be an extra separate step, but whatever, I'm not going back to edit...
- Buy what you want and be prepared to return it within 30 days and pay a restocking fee. Don't like the fee? Too bad, that's life... If you don't like something you may have to pay to return it, it's the world we live in.
This should be one more step too. Damn, I really messed up.
- Unless you are doing ongoing development NEVER revisit the topic of purchasing and specs. Go and enjoy your device and every once and a while keep up with updates and new features. There's a whole life to live out there, so don't waste your energy spec-gazing or griping with trolls.
Online communities are becoming less valuable to me every day because of the noise, it's unfortunate.
Dusty Rhodes said:
I'm going to vent a little bit...
I'm an older guy (48) and I've been doing tech and gadgets for over 20 years now. I love this site and have participated on and off for many years. There is a problem growing online and it is only going to get worse. The system here isn't equipped to counter a growing troll problem, so we all fall prey to the effects. Every aspect of the online consumer space is being manipulated by "troll farms" and it is obliterating the signal-to-noise ratio in everything from entertainment to personal devices. Across the board, every device is eventually portrayed to have some fatal flaw rendering it inferior. When in actuality, it can adequately perform the primary task and may only fall short in a single aspect depending on a very specific need that varies individually by consumer.
I used to participate here rather frequently, then I began to only stop by during a device's release to gauge anticipations and thoughts. Every year the noise has increased. Not just here though, almost every forum beyond a certain size has the same issue. Online sources and articles are not immune and are populated with extremely vocal "detractors" in the comment sections, they rally with a frequency and voracity that no ordinary working person could maintain. The methods used by professional trolls is complex, and unfortunately, PROFITABLE.
Without giving too much personal information, my wife WAS a partner in one of the largest PR firms in the U.S., and I can tell you that troll farms and bogus self-cross-referring review sources are real. Her firm never participated, but they could see it coming and now there's an entire "dark" branch of marketing and PR that has arisen (some would say re-emerged) that essentially has the ethics model of the old cigarette industry with the agility of a modern digital campaign.
So if you're wrestling with specs, don't kill yourself searching for the ultimate device. You can do three things and I promise you'll be as happy as you can be.
If you really care about what you're going to buy ,to the point that it may cause a devastating case of buyer's remorse you should:
- First, make lists. Make a list of what's important, make a list of what specs make your tech-feels tingle, make a list of devices and start prioritizing and crossing off.
- Second, do a one afternoon search (not one second longer) of trusted reviews and ignore very tilted reviews.
- Third, and this is crazy... Go to a store, look at the physical functioning device and play with it.
This should be an extra separate step, but whatever, I'm not going back to edit...
- Buy what you want and be prepared to return it within 30 days and pay a restocking fee. Don't like the fee? Too bad, that's life... If you don't like something you may have to pay to return it, it's the world we live in.
This should be one more step too. Damn, I really messed up.
- Unless you are doing ongoing development NEVER revisit the topic of purchasing and specs. Go and enjoy your device and every once and a while keep up with updates and new features. There's a whole life to live out there, so don't waste your energy spec-gazing or griping with trolls.
Online communities are becoming less valuable to me every day because of the noise, it's unfortunate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Absolutely this. It's pretty darn clear that some people in the crowd are trying to spike the punch. Don't obsess over the minutiae, don't allow yourself to be herded just because it seems like sentiment is tilted one way. Figure out what you want out of a phone (is an ultra-wide camera REALLY make/break for you, or are you only thinking that because XYZ said to?). Put your hands on the device by visiting a Best Buy or carrier store. And lastly, recognize that software learns your habits (battery life after a few days won't tell you what long-term battery life means) and also gets updated (features get added, functionality becomes improved).
Be aware of the echo chamber effect and do your best to make up your own mind about the worthiness of a phone.

Returned Pixel 5, still like my Pixel 4 XL

Am I crazy that I still really like the Pixel 4 XL a year plus later?
I bought the Pixel 5 right away, wanting better battery life and bright screen, plus more one handed friendly phone.
Yes the Pixel 5 has insane battery life. That's it. It feels like a cheap toy phone, and the speakers suck do bad, mainly the earpiece for phone calls, sound tinny and like a mile away.
The Pixel 4 XL feels way more premium, higher end build quality, sharper looking display, better feel in hand, I know it's large for a 6.3" phone, but I find it easier to type on and just feels solid in hand.
Actually if you didn't tell anyone when these two phones were released, I bet most non tech people would think the Pixel 4 XL is a new 2020 phone, and the Pixel 5 an older phone from few years ago.
Anyways, hoping Google goes more flagship next year.
I looked at other phones, and nothing really interests me out there right now. Yeah the OnePlus 8 Pro looks great, but at this point the 9 Pro is due in March.
iPhone 12 Pro Max looks stunning, super high end build, and a beautiful huge screen, with a FLAT display But iOS ugh .
I don't buy phones every year. If the Pixel 5 had been released next year, I would have kept my Pixel 4 XL for 3-4 years, if possible. I don't want a small phone. I'm not interested in plastic rim phones(4a). I find hole-punches more offensive than top bezels... I would rather have real tech using the space. But I'm not sore about using lesser SoCs... Qualcomm is ruining flagship potentials with their 5G design choices in upper-end SoCs.
Just wait for a 2021 phone. It's not worth getting a new phone only a year later anymore.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
I agree that it's not worth getting a new phone after a year now. Also agree with OP in spirit although I haven't actually tried a pixel 5. I find the 4xl screen excellent size & resolution, I find face unlock brilliant. Somehow rear fingerprint scanner seems like years ago now. Personally, I use telephoto more than I would a wide angle camera and also, in my opinion, any amount of bezel or "forehead" is better than a hole in the screen. Ye, 2021 at least for me too.
Yeah I've had my pixel 4 XL since last November. I downgraded by selling my note 10 plus and using this as my daily driver. It is served its purpose for the most part but a year later there are things about it that are annoying me apart from an absolute ****ty selfie camera, there are more noticeable bugs and issues that I'm having now than I ever did when I got to device initially.
But it is what it is I've enjoyed it for the most part and I'm excited to receive my Sony Xperia 5 Mark II in a few days. That device is game changing compared to this and the pixel 5.
thepersona said:
Yeah I've had my pixel 4 XL since last November. I downgraded by selling my note 10 plus and using this as my daily driver. It is served its purpose for the most part but a year later there are things about it that are annoying me apart from an absolute ****ty selfie camera, there are more noticeable bugs and issues that I'm having now than I ever did when I got to device initially.
But it is what it is I've enjoyed it for the most part and I'm excited to receive my Sony Xperia 5 Mark II in a few days. That device is game changing compared to this and the pixel 5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's only game changing on paper, in real world use not so much.
Mackay53 said:
It's only game changing on paper, in real world use not so much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I respect your opinion, I disagree,
the battery life alone is something that demolishes the pixel 4 XL.
Then you have an identical stock Android. the stock Android that pixels have that everybody glorifies an overhypes the saying is super smooth is no different than what is found on the Xperia.
and 120hz refresh rate.
Personally I found pixel devices to be completely overhyped for the prices that they're charging and with formidable issues such as poor build quality (seen regularly with all pixel devices since their inception) I just haven't had my money's worth of an experience with the pixel devices.
I genuinely believe the software and the apps that Google develops is great. They should stick with software development and just present their full-fledged featured apps with no compromises to all Android phones. 90% of their apps are available on other devices and can definitely be ported over specifically the recorder app and even on some phones gcam. Which in all honesty I've seen ports of gcam that function better than the stock camera on the pixel 4 XL.
But yeah that's just been my experience everybody's differs they might have had an entirely pleasant experience and that's good on them but I'm excited to be back on the Xperia line again.
thepersona said:
While I respect your opinion, I disagree,
the battery life alone is something that demolishes the pixel 4 XL.
Then you have an identical stock Android. the stock Android that pixels have that everybody glorifies an overhypes the saying is super smooth is no different than what is found on the Xperia.
and 120hz refresh rate.
Personally I found pixel devices to be completely overhyped for the prices that they're charging and with formidable issues such as poor build quality (seen regularly with all pixel devices since their inception) I just haven't had my money's worth of an experience with the pixel devices.
I genuinely believe the software and the apps that Google develops is great. They should stick with software development and just present their full-fledged featured apps with no compromises to all Android phones. 90% of their apps are available on other devices and can definitely be ported over specifically the recorder app and even on some phones gcam. Which in all honesty I've seen ports of gcam that function better than the stock camera on the pixel 4 XL.
But yeah that's just been my experience everybody's differs they might have had an entirely pleasant experience and that's good on them but I'm excited to be back on the Xperia line again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah software is good on the Sony ones. Only thing that was annoying when I had the 1 mk ii was the disappointing camera and slow UI in the app.
21:9 is comfy to hold so I miss that. Id be very surprised if a 4000mah battery at 120hz would be much different to the 4XLs.
Hopefully a better experience for you on the 5ii than I had on the 1ii.
I upgraded to Pixel 5 from the 4XL. My primary motivation is I hate the face unlock. I sorely missed the old fingerprint reader along the back. The only reason I upgraded from a 3XL to 4XL was the 3XL had hardware probs.
At first, I wasnt sure I was gonna be able to do it as the smaller phone felt odd and wasnt sure if I'd be able to type vertically with my thumbs (I still can once I got the case on it). It took some getting used to but then I quickily realized how absurdly big and heavy the 4XL is. The only other obstacle was no Active Edge. I never used it for the Assistant, but I use it daily to use my flashlight from the lock screen. This one was a must. I then discovered the Torchie app , that I can activate using the volume buttons.
Its much faster and the battery life is crazy good. Im very happy now having my fingerprint unlock back and more room in my pockets.
Tried the pixel 5 out and couldn't justify upgrading from my 4xl.
I'm returning it to Best buy tomorrow
JJT211 said:
I upgraded to Pixel 5 from the 4XL. My primary motivation is I hate the face unlock. I sorely missed the old fingerprint reader along the back. The only reason I upgraded from a 3XL to 4XL was the 3XL had hardware probs.
At first, I wasnt sure I was gonna be able to do it as the smaller phone felt odd and wasnt sure if I'd be able to type vertically with my thumbs (I still can once I got the case on it). It took some getting used to but then I quickily realized how absurdly big and heavy the 4XL is. The only other obstacle was no Active Edge. I never used it for the Assistant, but I use it daily to use my flashlight from the lock screen. This one was a must. I then discovered the Torchie app , that I can activate using the volume buttons.
Its much faster and the battery life is crazy good. Im very happy now having my fingerprint unlock back and more room in my pockets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These days, with masks on all the time, face unlock has been rendered useless and annoying
HipKat said:
These days, with masks on all the time, face unlock has been rendered useless and annoying
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear this all the time, but I haven't experienced it much. To begin with, I don't think face unlock even looks at the bottom part of your face. Maybe it's a male-specific beard precaution. With a face contouring mask, moving the mask down half an inch is all it takes for my phone to recognize me. I can manage that just by opening my mouth wide which pulls down the mask slightly.
jljtgr said:
I hear this all the time, but I haven't experienced it much. To begin with, I don't think face unlock even looks at the bottom part of your face. Maybe it's a male-specific beard precaution. With a face contouring mask, moving the mask down half an inch is all it takes for my phone to recognize me. I can manage that just by opening my mouth wide which pulls down the mask slightly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I work on the medical field, wear a mask all shift, and it has never recognized me with a mask on. I don't have a beard but interestingly it does unlock when I have shaving cream on my face probably because it can actually get the contours of my cheeks. Either way, I usually use Smart Lock with my watch while at work.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
jljtgr said:
I hear this all the time, but I haven't experienced it much. To begin with, I don't think face unlock even looks at the bottom part of your face. Maybe it's a male-specific beard precaution. With a face contouring mask, moving the mask down half an inch is all it takes for my phone to recognize me. I can manage that just by opening my mouth wide which pulls down the mask slightly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TBH, since Android 11, Face unlock has been sketchy. It never used to lag unlocking when it's in the phone holder in my vehicle. Now it does often. In the dark, fuhgeddaboudit....

Buy a Pixel 5 now or wait for Pixel 6?

Hey guys,
I wanted your opinion regarding the Pixel 5. How happy are you with the aesthetics of the device? How does it feel on hand and how does it feel in the pocket?
This year I've tried a bunch of phones and I want to switch to something smaller and that has good camera and good battery life. Currently I have a s21 Ultra which is a good overall phone but this thing feels like a brick, it's heavy when you carry it and if you have a good case the phone is even bigger and heavier. Tried a regular S21 but that again was a bit bulky and heavy when used with a good thick case.
I've been reading about the Pixel 6 (all rumors at this point) but it seems like they are going to increase the size in the 6 series. The smallest upcoming Pixel 6 you can get will be 6.3~6.4 inches and even though it will have upgraded cameras and better specs I think I would just avoid buying it because of the size.
What do you recommend? Should I just buy the Pixel 5 now or maybe wait until the 6 series are released and then make a decision ?
Absolutely NOTHING wrong with the Pixel 5. I LOVE mine.
That being said, no XL version. I didn't like that. I came from P2XL. I like bigger screens. I'll probably get the 6XL
xunholyx said:
Absolutely NOTHING wrong with the Pixel 5. I LOVE mine.
That being said, no XL version. I didn't like that. I came from P2XL. I like bigger screens. I'll probably get the 6XL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im trying to stay at a maximum screen size of 6". And I want the weight to be reasonable. Another phone that's getting my attention is the asus zenfone 8. Seems like the ergonomic king of all androids powered phones right now. But it's a tough call between the regular supported software of pixel vs Asus.
paul_cherma said:
Hey guys,
I wanted your opinion regarding the Pixel 5. How happy are you with the aesthetics of the device? How does it feel on hand and how does it feel in the pocket?
This year I've tried a bunch of phones and I want to switch to something smaller and that has good camera and good battery life. Currently I have a s21 Ultra which is a good overall phone but this thing feels like a brick, it's heavy when you carry it and if you have a good case the phone is even bigger and heavier. Tried a regular S21 but that again was a bit bulky and heavy when used with a good thick case.
I've been reading about the Pixel 6 (all rumors at this point) but it seems like they are going to increase the size in the 6 series. The smallest upcoming Pixel 6 you can get will be 6.3~6.4 inches and even though it will have upgraded cameras and better specs I think I would just avoid buying it because of the size.
What do you recommend? Should I just buy the Pixel 5 now or maybe wait until the 6 series are released and then make a decision ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I'm someone who shares somewhat similar views / opinions. Just changed from an lg v40 to a pixel 3, very happy with a smaller screen and less weight.
It absolutely is an individual thing, of course. Some constantly use their device, gaming, video's etc etc, and a bigger screen (read heavy) outweighs (punny) other aspects.
But if yer like me, really only use the device as a phone, take good pics occasionally, facebook a little, etc... AND carry it in your pocket always, then size and weight become prominent in the choice.
Seeing as google is going the 'bigger is better' route, I'd say a 3, 4 or 5 is where I'll be for years to come (thanks!! Lineage!). Basically, I just don't do enough screen / face time to justify a larger heavier phone.
But a 5 now? Naaah, it won't be long, with 5a and 6 becoming available, the price will drop. buy then.
cheers
paul_cherma said:
Im trying to stay at a maximum screen size of 6". And I want the weight to be reasonable. Another phone that's getting my attention is the asus zenfone 8. Seems like the ergonomic king of all androids powered phones right now. But it's a tough call between the regular supported software of pixel vs Asus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you will more than happy with the Pixel 5. It's a great device
AsItLies said:
So I'm someone who shares somewhat similar views / opinions. Just changed from an lg v40 to a pixel 3, very happy with a smaller screen and less weight.
It absolutely is an individual thing, of course. Some constantly use their device, gaming, video's etc etc, and a bigger screen (read heavy) outweighs (punny) other aspects.
But if yer like me, really only use the device as a phone, take good pics occasionally, facebook a little, etc... AND carry it in your pocket always, then size and weight become prominent in the choice.
Seeing as google is going the 'bigger is better' route, I'd say a 3, 4 or 5 is where I'll be for years to come (thanks!! Lineage!). Basically, I just don't do enough screen / face time to justify a larger heavier phone.
But a 5 now? Naaah, it won't be long, with 5a and 6 becoming available, the price will drop. buy then.
cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The idea of switching to a smaller phone came to me after I was hiking and traveling with some friends for about 3 weeks and most of them had bought the Iphone Mini. I was surprised by how a tiny phone like that was pretty much on par with my s21U and some other top of the line expensive android phones that some other friends were using. It took good pictures, battery life was good, and even though I had a beast on me (the S21U) when we compared pics, battery life, browsing, app switching, etc, I saw very minimal differences. The damn thing feels like a toy when you hold it but it is such a good device. Now I can not use an Iphone as my daily driver, I don't hate their products, they're just not for me. The main criteria for me has always been
1. it has to be android OS,
2. must be root friendly
3. good battery and good pictures
Carrying the S21U around is kind of a pain in the butt lol. I can certainly use it with one hand as a tall person with big hands but it's so uncomfortable just carrying it around. And for the specs it has I was expecting more out of it... so far it has simply been a good device. I can't say I am impressed or wow-ed by it.
I think I'll wait for the 5a be announced and see it in person before making a decision but I am already 60% against buying it as it seems like they will up the screen size to 6.2 inches. The camera and processor will stay the same pretty much as the pixel 5 -> but it will be cheaper than a Pixel 5 so I'm not sure if that'll be enough for me to consider it. I'm definitely not waiting for the 6 series to be released though, at this point it seems "confirmed" that all the 6 series will be at the 6.3-6.4 screen size and up.
paul_cherma said:
The idea of switching to a smaller phone came to me after I was hiking and traveling with some friends for about 3 weeks and most of them had bought the Iphone Mini. I was surprised by how a tiny phone like that was pretty much on par with my s21U and some other top of the line expensive android phones that some other friends were using. It took good pictures, battery life was good, and even though I had a beast on me (the S21U) when we compared pics, battery life, browsing, app switching, etc, I saw very minimal differences. The damn thing feels like a toy when you hold it but it is such a good device. Now I can not use an Iphone as my daily driver, I don't hate their products, they're just not for me. The main criteria for me has always been
1. it has to be android OS,
2. must be root friendly
3. good battery and good pictures
Carrying the S21U around is kind of a pain in the butt lol. I can certainly use it with one hand as a tall person with big hands but it's so uncomfortable just carrying it around. And for the specs it has I was expecting more out of it... so far it has simply been a good device. I can't say I am impressed or wow-ed by it.
I think I'll wait for the 5a be announced and see it in person before making a decision but I am already 60% against buying it as it seems like they will up the screen size to 6.2 inches. The camera and processor will stay the same pretty much as the pixel 5 -> but it will be cheaper than a Pixel 5 so I'm not sure if that'll be enough for me to consider it. I'm definitely not waiting for the 6 series to be released though, at this point it seems "confirmed" that all the 6 series will be at the 6.3-6.4 screen size and up.
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I can relate, for sure. Have never tried an iPhone but sincerely doubt it would work for me either. I hate the proprietary 'you're forced to do it this way, whether you like it or not'.
Agree, the 5a and 6's are going to be too big. Only reason I'd wait for them to come out is then, the p5 will drop in price. Then I'd get the p5
I really enjoy my pixel 5. Perfect size. I did really like the S20, however, I didn't want to give up root. Also, at the time it said that on Verizon I wouldn't get 5g with the Intl version, but I do believe that I would of gotten it (not that I've seen 5g even once in my area on the Pixel 5... but that's another discussion) As for battery/pictures, I haven't owned a Samsung in recent years, and this being my first Pixel, I am really impressed with the camera. And Battery for me is wonderful. I am not a heavy user, very minimal, not many apps, no social media, no gaming, etc. so my baseline wont be the same as yours, but the Pixel 5 fairs well considering its specs.
I can't imagine using a phone too much larger than the S21. My brother recently upgraded his S20. It's so, darn, heavy. I'd get used to it with time, but going from my P5 with a slim case, to playing with his S21 is difficult. I am considering the Pixel 6/S21/S22/others/ here soon, but if I am content with the P5, I'll be on it for as long as I can make it last..
I agree to wait for the 5a to be released, even the 6 if you can wait it out, as then the deals for a new one, or someone letting go of a lightly used one should be for a good price.
I usually get the latest phone each year but if the P6 is a millimeter over 6" I might have to skip it. The P5 at 5.7" is really the largest I'd like but 6 is max. It just won't fit in my running shorts or my saddle bag and would probably fall out of my pocket in the car. They really need to rethink the larger size or just go the standard/XL route so everyone is happy.
AsItLies said:
I can relate, for sure. Have never tried an iPhone but sincerely doubt it would work for me either. I hate the proprietary 'you're forced to do it this way, whether you like it or not'.
Agree, the 5a and 6's are going to be too big. Only reason I'd wait for them to come out is then, the p5 will drop in price. Then I'd get the p5
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how much does google discount the older phone when they release new ones usually? I've never shopped for Pixel phones so I'm not familiar with their strategy. Right now Pixel 5 sells for $699 on their website
paul_cherma said:
how much does google discount the older phone when they release new ones usually? I've never shopped for Pixel phones so I'm not familiar with their strategy. Right now Pixel 5 sells for $699 on their website
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Not positive but it should be discounted 100 to maybe 150, initially. So think about the cycle of the pixel 4, and where it is now. It was originally 799, but it's at 400 now and a 4a is 350.
Those are much more reasonable prices for the phone, imho. I have a pixel 3 and with lineage available, more than happy to use it until the price drops.
cheers
Pixel 6 is going to be a major jump in terms of design and camera hardware. I would totally wait for it.
svetius said:
Pixel 6 is going to be a major jump in terms of design and camera hardware. I would totally wait for it.
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And, playing devils advocate here, some would say the 'major jump' in design is a major jump backwards (they will be too big). Camera hardware is changing, that's a good thing always. But it's worth asking yourself; are u unhappy with the pics you get now? I mean, if you're not taking photos professionally, is this a difference (assuming there is one) that would matter to you?
cheers
svetius said:
Pixel 6 is going to be a major jump in terms of design and camera hardware. I would totally wait for it.
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I'd agree with the specs and design improvements, however, the OP didn't really seem that concerned with better this or that. He was concerned about the size and bulkiness of the device, which I am in the same boat. At 5.7" the P5 is simply the right size for a lot of folks. In the 9 months I've had it I've been totally satisfied with everything about it including battery life. Looking at 6.3 is a big difference. Now if they can keep the weight down and perhaps max it at 6.1 well that's a different story. And then there's the price. One caveat is the $699 price now of the P5. That needs to go on sale for $599. Then it's a buy without waiting imo. The next couple of months should be interesting as leaks are released.
It would have been nice if they kept the screen size for one of the 6 series phones to 6.1" maximum. Looks like they are upping that to 6.4". The big screen size alone is keeping me away from wanting to get one. Also Wonder if there will be a huge difference for point and shoot or daytime pictures between the 5 and 6... we'll see when they do the comparisons.
paul_cherma said:
It would have been nice if they kept the screen size for one of the 6 series phones to 6.1" maximum. Looks like they are upping that to 6.4". The big screen size alone is keeping me away from wanting to get one. Also Wonder if there will be a huge difference for point and shoot or daytime pictures between the 5 and 6... we'll see when they do the comparisons.
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And just like that I get an alert on my news feed that the P5 is out of stock across the board. I wonder what's going on. I'm hoping that there is a P6 and a P6 XL.
bobby janow said:
I'd agree with the specs and design improvements, however, the OP didn't really seem that concerned with better this or that. He was concerned about the size and bulkiness of the device, which I am in the same boat. At 5.7" the P5 is simply the right size for a lot of folks. In the 9 months I've had it I've been totally satisfied with everything about it including battery life. Looking at 6.3 is a big difference. Now if they can keep the weight down and perhaps max it at 6.1 well that's a different story. And then there's the price. One caveat is the $699 price now of the P5. That needs to go on sale for $599. Then it's a buy without waiting imo. The next couple of months should be interesting as leaks are released.
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I'm really hoping that they keep the screen size to a maximum of 6.1. From the leaks so far it seems that they are going for the big screen though. I'm using a s21U now, I like the camera, not exceptional but it's better than good imo. I really like the zoom capabilities of it also, they come in handy if you want to zoom to far away objects. But I'm getting tired of these big screen and heavy phones. It's sad that there's not many Android operated devices that have a good size and good specs and are root friendly.
paul_cherma said:
It would have been nice if they kept the screen size for one of the 6 series phones to 6.1" maximum. Looks like they are upping that to 6.4". The big screen size alone is keeping me away from wanting to get one. Also Wonder if there will be a huge difference for point and shoot or daytime pictures between the 5 and 6... we'll see when they do the comparisons.
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Agree. Google will no doubt make improvements to the camera ability. Believe I've read the high res zoom will go from 2x to 6x. Great of course. But the closer you zoom in, the steadier you have to be, thus the exposure has to be quick, meaning the ISO has to be high (grain). During a bright sunny day it will probably work well.
Me personally though, I'll stick with my 40x zoom Canon pocket camera, if I'm going out to shoot birds or something. While sure, it would be nice to have a phone with more zoom power... do you need it? how often u gonna use that?
realistically speaking, it's a 'nice to have', but certainly not something I've ever thought I needed.
cheers
An alternative suggestion - get a 4a super cheap for now and see how the 5a and 6 pan out.
I have owned 4a and 5, moving to them from the S20. Both are excellent and while the differences between 4a and 5 might look significant on paper, they are barely noticeable in use. The 4a is quite the bargain.
What I liked:
-Size. Though I personally prefer a 6.2" screen (the OP6 was perfect), having it smaller was actually really nice instead of the giant bricks most phones have become.
-Camera. Even though the hardware isn't the greatest, the software makes the Pixel 5 take some damn fine photos for the price.
-Root!!!
There's some downsides to the Pixel 5 in my opinion.
-Under glass speaker (who in engineering thought this was okay?) This is insanely annoying and I can't fathom how anyone could deal with this, and is the main reason I returned mine.
-Piss poor hardware (it's slow, and noticably so).
-God awful Haptics.
-On mine, sometimes it would actually butt-dial people even though I had a finger print set up. Or it wouldn't answer calls even if I got answer 50 times (this doesn't mean this happens to every one, I firmly believe mine was possessed)
Your mileage may vary, and you may be okay with my gripes, but if it were me, I'd wait for the 6.

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