Google Pixel smartphone

[threadlock]

I would have ordered the 5 this week if they'd had the Sorta Sage in stock, but I got stuck at the cost vs specialness of it to replace my 2XL. I couldn't quite work out the big advantage it'd give me. My 2XL is still going strong after almost 3.5 years and has been a fantastic phone. Once the 5 comes down in price (if a Pro is announced in March) I might look again.

Thanks for your feedback on yours, TameRacingDriver. One question for you and anybody else who's moved from the 2XL: The screen is an identical size, right? So what's the disadvantage of the smaller body?

[Richyvrlimited]

threadlock said:

I would have ordered the 5 this week if they'd had the Sorta Sage in stock, but I got stuck at the cost vs specialness of it to replace my 2XL. I couldn't quite work out the big advantage it'd give me. My 2XL is still going strong after almost 3.5 years and has been a fantastic phone. Once the 5 comes down in price (if a Pro is announced in March) I might look again.

Thanks for your feedback on yours, TameRacingDriver. One question for you and anybody else who's moved from the 2XL: The screen is an identical size, right? So what's the disadvantage of the smaller body?

I wanted sorta sage too, but when it's in the official case you can't see any of the colour anyway so went with black.

re the size, the only disadvantage is occasional accidental touches on the edges, that's solved with the case too. I far prefer the physical size of it to the 2XL.

not really had any of the issues that TRD has highlighted, maybe the screen brightness, but nothing that's overly bothered me.

[TameRacingDriver]

threadlock said:

I would have ordered the 5 this week if they'd had the Sorta Sage in stock, but I got stuck at the cost vs specialness of it to replace my 2XL. I couldn't quite work out the big advantage it'd give me. My 2XL is still going strong after almost 3.5 years and has been a fantastic phone. Once the 5 comes down in price (if a Pro is announced in March) I might look again.

Thanks for your feedback on yours, TameRacingDriver. One question for you and anybody else who's moved from the 2XL: The screen is an identical size, right? So what's the disadvantage of the smaller body?

Personally I found it nearly impossible to use without a case. As the other poster said, accidental touches on the sides and it was really hard to hit the finger print sensor. Both sorted with a case. The screen size is the same diagonally but is taller and less wide. It looks smaller subjectively, and I believe it has about 5% less screen area.

[AJB88]

My Pixel 4 XL will be 2 years old in October, I usually keep them 2 years then get a new one (sim free). Its been an OK phone, not as good as the previous Pixel 2 XL.

I've had a few issues with this one, the face unlock was hit and miss but the last few weeks its really started playing up, reset the data a few times and reset face unlock up but it works when it feels like it.

I have also managed to smash my screen (fell of bike holder), first screen ive smashed on a phone ever so waiting for Barclays to replace it, hoping the phone they send out hasn't got the issues with the facial unlock.

Hoping the 6 series will do away with facial unlock and move back to finger print!

[TameRacingDriver]

AJB88 said:

Hoping the 6 series will do away with facial unlock and move back to finger print!

Hopefully it'll be better than the fingerprint sensor on the 5! Mediocre at best. The under screen one on the S21 Ultra is in another league.

[Funk]

AJB88 said:

My Pixel 4 XL will be 2 years old in October, I usually keep them 2 years then get a new one (sim free). Its been an OK phone, not as good as the previous Pixel 2 XL.

I've had a few issues with this one, the face unlock was hit and miss but the last few weeks its really started playing up, reset the data a few times and reset face unlock up but it works when it feels like it.

I have also managed to smash my screen (fell of bike holder), first screen ive smashed on a phone ever so waiting for Barclays to replace it, hoping the phone they send out hasn't got the issues with the facial unlock.

Hoping the 6 series will do away with facial unlock and move back to finger print!

Same boat for me - I get 30% discount on my phone/tariff with EE so it makes sense to upgrade as soon as my contract allows. My 4XL is...OK. I'd hardly wax lyrical about it but it doesn't do anything terribly. I would, however trade the stupid Face Unlock for a fingerprint reader in a heartbeat so I'm glad Google seem to be heading back in that direction.

Waiting to see what aspect of the Pixel 6 they choose to screw up - there's always something crappy on a Google phone...

[AJB88]

Funk said:

Same boat for me - I get 30% discount on my phone/tariff with EE so it makes sense to upgrade as soon as my contract allows. My 4XL is...OK. I'd hardly wax lyrical about it but it doesn't do anything terribly. I would, however trade the stupid Face Unlock for a fingerprint reader in a heartbeat so I'm glad Google seem to be heading back in that direction.

Waiting to see what aspect of the Pixel 6 they choose to screw up - there's always something crappy on a Google phone...

Yep, problem I have is, if I dont get Pixel 6 what do I get.

I've had all the Google Play Edition, Nexus, Pixel devices and I'm so used to vanilla Android that anything else will annoy me.

One nice feature added the other day was the heartbeat/breathing sensors in the camera that can be used in Google Fit.

[Funk]

AJB88 said:

Yep, problem I have is, if I dont get Pixel 6 what do I get.

I've had all the Google Play Edition, Nexus, Pixel devices and I'm so used to vanilla Android that anything else will annoy me.

One nice feature added the other day was the heartbeat/breathing sensors in the camera that can be used in Google Fit.

I'd like them to make another more premium phone again rather than the mid-range that the Pixel 5 sits in, however I don't think they'll do it. They didn't really make a dent with previous 'high-end' models so it's probably not worth them doing it again. If they want that market, they need to look and feel like a premium product and to be frank the Pixels are just a bit bland and 'safe' looking.

[TameRacingDriver]

Funk said:

I'd like them to make another more premium phone again rather than the mid-range that the Pixel 5 sits in, however I don't think they'll do it. They didn't really make a dent with previous 'high-end' models so it's probably not worth them doing it again. If they want that market, they need to look and feel like a premium product and to be frank the Pixels are just a bit bland and 'safe' looking.

If they made a phone as nice as my S21 Ultra then I would consider one again. I went for the Pixel 5 first and then the S21 Ultra, and for me the latter is definitely worth the extra money. Even the supposed superior user experience on the Pixel is a myth, most things seem to work better on the S21U, and overall the experience for me is just better. Google need to seriously up their game.

[AJB88]

I'd like them to make a phone similar to the HTC One M8 that for me was one of the best phones I ever had. Especially when I converted it to Google Play Edition.

[Corso Marche]

I'm still using my 2XL, nothing since has tempted me to upgrade. But now that it doesn't receive security patches or OS upgrades/updates I'm thinking long and hard about what might replace it.

As I was looking to replace a couch surfing device and had loyalty bonuses to use I picked up a Galaxy Tab A recently to evaluate how I'd feel using a Samsung as my primary device - their tablets effectively being Samsung phones in tablet bodies. It's on the January 2021 build of android 10, running One UI 2.1.
What I can say is that despite Samsung having improved vastly in software and the UI over the years, there are still a few things which grate for me when compared to the Pixel user experience. They're things which won't affect every user, and won't even be noticed by others, but it's definitely enough to have me hoping the 2021 Pixel range delivers in as many areas as it can.

[Funk]

I do think it's poor that Google aren't patching the 2XL any more - it's only just over 3 years old. Fair enough not putting it on Android 11 or whatever, but at least keep it patched for 5 years. I still think the 2XL was 'peak Pixel' so far, even if the screen wasn't perfect.

[MrJuice]

TameRacingDriver said:

If they made a phone as nice as my S21 Ultra then I would consider one again. I went for the Pixel 5 first and then the S21 Ultra, and for me the latter is definitely worth the extra money. Even the supposed superior user experience on the Pixel is a myth, most things seem to work better on the S21U, and overall the experience for me is just better. Google need to seriously up their game.

S21 is twice the price?

I'm happy with my pixel 5 at £600 and "free" Bose headphones. S21 is a different price point altogether

[Corso Marche]

Funk said:

I do think it's poor that Google aren't patching the 2XL any more - it's only just over 3 years old. Fair enough not putting it on Android 11 or whatever, but at least keep it patched for 5 years. I still think the 2XL was 'peak Pixel' so far, even if the screen wasn't perfect.

It got android 11. Final OS update and security patch was Dec 2020, but it's still the Oct 2020 security patch.
But I agree - I don't doubt it could handle android 12, and it's a real shame updates stopped. I'd also agree it was a high point for the Pixel range.

[TameRacingDriver]

Corso Marche said:

I'm still using my 2XL, nothing since has tempted me to upgrade. But now that it doesn't receive security patches or OS upgrades/updates I'm thinking long and hard about what might replace it.

As I was looking to replace a couch surfing device and had loyalty bonuses to use I picked up a Galaxy Tab A recently to evaluate how I'd feel using a Samsung as my primary device - their tablets effectively being Samsung phones in tablet bodies. It's on the January 2021 build of android 10, running One UI 2.1.
What I can say is that despite Samsung having improved vastly in software and the UI over the years, there are still a few things which grate for me when compared to the Pixel user experience. They're things which won't affect every user, and won't even be noticed by others, but it's definitely enough to have me hoping the 2021 Pixel range delivers in as many areas as it can.

Having gone from a Pixel 5 to an S21 Ultra, I have no regrets. I wasn't expecting to like the Samsung software as much, but I actually prefer it now. It's a lot more configurable, it has a lot of touches missing in Pixel phones, and although it DOES have some bloatware, it's easily removed, certainly easier than adding the missing features back onto a Pixel in many cases.

Now that Samsung are giving 4 years worth of updates, so called stock Android has few, if any advantages now. I really thought I would be longing for the Pixel software by now, but nope, I don't even think about it anymore. In fact, having looked at what's in store for Android 12, it would appear to me like they're actually copying off Samsung in certain respects!

I also agree with other posters saying the 2XL should still be getting updates. It's just blatant planned obsolescence IMO.

Edited by TameRacingDriver on Saturday 13th March 15:11

[TameRacingDriver]

MrJuice said:

TameRacingDriver said:

If they made a phone as nice as my S21 Ultra then I would consider one again. I went for the Pixel 5 first and then the S21 Ultra, and for me the latter is definitely worth the extra money. Even the supposed superior user experience on the Pixel is a myth, most things seem to work better on the S21U, and overall the experience for me is just better. Google need to seriously up their game.

S21 is twice the price?

I'm happy with my pixel 5 at £600 and "free" Bose headphones. S21 is a different price point altogether

Yes, twice the price, but I consider it to be twice the phone, and I got "free" Samsung Buds Pro and a Smart Tag. The Pixel 5 was a decent phone, I was just after something more, otherwise I may as well have just stuck with the 2XL which was pretty much just as good.

[AJB88]

My mum has my old Pixel 2 XL and my sisters got the Pixel 2. Her partner has the Pixel 5. I've got the 4 XL.

For me going from Pixel 2 XL to 4 XL wasn't much improvement at all other than battery.

[AJB88]

So my gadget insurance offered through Barclays via LSG.

Pixel 4 XL not available to swap so offered me £389 to replace it, went on Laptops Direct and a 4 XL A1 condition £379 (+£9.99 next day delivery) ordered the white one (had black previously)

My partners Honor 10 also took a trip down the toilet, they didn't have this in stock either so offered her iPhone 6S or Samsung Galaxy S8+ so she picked the S8+ (just checked now unlikely to get Android 11).

So both are due collection/delivery today by DPD.

Pixel 4 XL due to collection at 1018
Pixel 4 XL due for delivery at 1630
Honor 10 due for collection/Swap with Samsung at 1730

All on the same van! asked the driver about this and he said yeh they are buried in the van ill come back later! annoying, so right now using my Nokia 8110 4G.

[TameRacingDriver]

How do you keep dropping phones down the toilet?

[AJB88]

I didn't she did and it was the first time she has. My Pixel took a tumble off my bike holder onto the concrete in front.

First time I've smashed a screen.