Samsung Galaxy S10 vs Google Pixel 4
Discussion
I'm getting a new phone in a few weeks time and I'm stuck on deciding between the S10 and the Pixel 4. I gather that the battery on the Pixel 4 is not very good, but the camera and other features are good. I also appreciate the S11 will likely be coming out shortly after, but my current phone is really on its last legs so I'd rather get one sooner than later.
Generally don't use my camera TOO much, but when I do, I want a good picture. Rarely use video. Use the phone to listen to music (as well as Android Auto).
Thoughts? Reading reviews online it doesn't seem like there's a great deal of difference between them. One thing that draws me to the Pixel 4 is that it doesn't come with all of the Samsung bloatware.
Thanks in advance.
Generally don't use my camera TOO much, but when I do, I want a good picture. Rarely use video. Use the phone to listen to music (as well as Android Auto).
Thoughts? Reading reviews online it doesn't seem like there's a great deal of difference between them. One thing that draws me to the Pixel 4 is that it doesn't come with all of the Samsung bloatware.
Thanks in advance.
Lack of battery and headphone jack would be enough to turn me off the Pixel but the ongoing software support will be far better. Samsung seem very keen to give up sooner.
I've fiddled with both cameras. The Pixel's video isn't all that but I liked its photos more.
It also depends on whether you're buying outright. I would've thought there'd be more S10 deals out there. Contracts seem about the same.
I've fiddled with both cameras. The Pixel's video isn't all that but I liked its photos more.
It also depends on whether you're buying outright. I would've thought there'd be more S10 deals out there. Contracts seem about the same.
bloomen said:
Lack of battery and headphone jack would be enough to turn me off the Pixel but the ongoing software support will be far better. Samsung seem very keen to give up sooner.
I've fiddled with both cameras. The Pixel's video isn't all that but I liked its photos more.
It also depends on whether you're buying outright. I would've thought there'd be more S10 deals out there. Contracts seem about the same.
Headphone jack doesn't bother me as I use Bluetooth earphones anyway these days. Would be going via contract. A friend works at EE and can get me 30% discount on any contract. Seems Pixel 4 is actually marginally cheaper at the moment. I've fiddled with both cameras. The Pixel's video isn't all that but I liked its photos more.
It also depends on whether you're buying outright. I would've thought there'd be more S10 deals out there. Contracts seem about the same.
I was put off by the lack of fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 4 because I use that to open Lastpass, but I think an update to that has allowed face recognition with the Pixel 4.
I'd check about the current status with the S10 finger print scanner. It's ultra sonic and seemed like it wasnrt very secure. I believe some one had found a way to open the phone with any old finger print by using a screen protector.
There were a number of bank apps that actually disabled the finger print log in for those phones.
If the battery worries you, is the 4 XL not available? Or is it too big?
There were a number of bank apps that actually disabled the finger print log in for those phones.
If the battery worries you, is the 4 XL not available? Or is it too big?
It'd be the Pixel over the S10 for me personally due to the hole punch screen - I detest them and notches equally!
It really needs to be the 4xl though for all day battery life, I honestly don't know what Google were thinking putting such a small battery in the standard 4 with all the additional tech they've packed in to it - but the Pixel is all about the user experience and Google services integration than the hardware; the latest iteration of the Google Assistant on the 4 is miles in front of the other assistants, it really is brilliant what it can do with the 'continued conversation' feature. Live video captioning is on another level too and it'll receive at least another two Android versions as soon as they release, and three years of security updates, as well as quarterly 'feature' updates. The camera is exceptional for a phone, some of the Astrophotography shots being posted online are incredible! However it's all in the software as opposed to the camera hardware and you can get a GCam port for the S10 that brings many of the features and improves the excellent Samsung hardware.
Samsung hardware is always excellent and they've just released Android 10 along with UI 2.0 for the S10 - their software is always loaded with little additions and functionality baked in to the UI that you'd have to use apps for on the Pixel, but you'd lose some of the Google integration.
I'd recommend trying to find some up to date comparison videos of both running the very latest software updates - might not be many around yet given UI 2.0 is just out? And if you can, get in store and have a play with both and see what you prefer.
The main thing that sticks in my craw about Samsung devices is that they have a US only deal with Qualcom that sees them using their Snapdragon chips in the States (Pixel 4 uses their Snapdragon 855) and the rest of the world gets Samsung's own Exynos chips - in any sort of performance testing the former blooters the latter. As you mentioned, the S11 will release in February/March, the stateside version will get the new 865 chip and it's on another level compared to what the top Android handsets are using currently, but it sadly won't be released in a Samsung here
It really needs to be the 4xl though for all day battery life, I honestly don't know what Google were thinking putting such a small battery in the standard 4 with all the additional tech they've packed in to it - but the Pixel is all about the user experience and Google services integration than the hardware; the latest iteration of the Google Assistant on the 4 is miles in front of the other assistants, it really is brilliant what it can do with the 'continued conversation' feature. Live video captioning is on another level too and it'll receive at least another two Android versions as soon as they release, and three years of security updates, as well as quarterly 'feature' updates. The camera is exceptional for a phone, some of the Astrophotography shots being posted online are incredible! However it's all in the software as opposed to the camera hardware and you can get a GCam port for the S10 that brings many of the features and improves the excellent Samsung hardware.
Samsung hardware is always excellent and they've just released Android 10 along with UI 2.0 for the S10 - their software is always loaded with little additions and functionality baked in to the UI that you'd have to use apps for on the Pixel, but you'd lose some of the Google integration.
I'd recommend trying to find some up to date comparison videos of both running the very latest software updates - might not be many around yet given UI 2.0 is just out? And if you can, get in store and have a play with both and see what you prefer.
The main thing that sticks in my craw about Samsung devices is that they have a US only deal with Qualcom that sees them using their Snapdragon chips in the States (Pixel 4 uses their Snapdragon 855) and the rest of the world gets Samsung's own Exynos chips - in any sort of performance testing the former blooters the latter. As you mentioned, the S11 will release in February/March, the stateside version will get the new 865 chip and it's on another level compared to what the top Android handsets are using currently, but it sadly won't be released in a Samsung here
Otispunkmeyer said:
I'd check about the current status with the S10 finger print scanner. It's ultra sonic and seemed like it wasnrt very secure. I believe some one had found a way to open the phone with any old finger print by using a screen protector.
There were a number of bank apps that actually disabled the finger print log in for those phones.
If the battery worries you, is the 4 XL not available? Or is it too big?
Might be a bit too big, but the battery seems a fair bit bigger capacity....Decisions, decisions! If the facial recognition on the Pixel 4/4 XL is good enough then I am not fussed about not having a fingerprint scanner. There were a number of bank apps that actually disabled the finger print log in for those phones.
If the battery worries you, is the 4 XL not available? Or is it too big?
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
Might be a bit too big, but the battery seems a fair bit bigger capacity....Decisions, decisions! If the facial recognition on the Pixel 4/4 XL is good enough then I am not fussed about not having a fingerprint scanner.
I fear you might be inputting passwords for a few things until banks etc catch up - it's not something I use and keep overlooking it, but have a swatch in the Android 10 or Pixel threads as there's been a few mentions about it (Google releases the API for it ages ago, it's those who should have implemented it who've been slow is my understanding?) Otispunkmeyer said:
I'd check about the current status with the S10 finger print scanner. It's ultra sonic and seemed like it wasnrt very secure. I believe some one had found a way to open the phone with any old finger print by using a screen protector.
There were a number of bank apps that actually disabled the finger print log in for those phones.
If the battery worries you, is the 4 XL not available? Or is it too big?
The fingerprint scanning issue is fixed and was overblown in the first place anyway. It affected people who had crappy screen protectors on which didn’t fit the screen correctly so it registered the underside of the protector. If you are still worried about this problem then you just have to register your prints before you put a protector on.There were a number of bank apps that actually disabled the finger print log in for those phones.
If the battery worries you, is the 4 XL not available? Or is it too big?
S10 vs Pixel 4 XL rather than Pixel 4 for me.
Have been a Pixel (and Nexus) owner for a few years now Nexus 5>Nexus 6P>Pixel 2 XL>Pixel 4 XL. Before than I was a Samsung owner, S1,2,3,4,5.
For me Pixels have been solid, I don't install a lot of 3rd party apps on them apart from the usual Facebook, Instagram etc, the Google apps work extremely well on them as expected. Battery on my 4 XL is better than my 2 XL.
I still use a mix of headphones (using the USB Type C adapter) and Bluetooth so that doesn't bother me, I also prefer the Google regular OS/Security updates compared to Samsungs slower roll out.
Have been a Pixel (and Nexus) owner for a few years now Nexus 5>Nexus 6P>Pixel 2 XL>Pixel 4 XL. Before than I was a Samsung owner, S1,2,3,4,5.
For me Pixels have been solid, I don't install a lot of 3rd party apps on them apart from the usual Facebook, Instagram etc, the Google apps work extremely well on them as expected. Battery on my 4 XL is better than my 2 XL.
I still use a mix of headphones (using the USB Type C adapter) and Bluetooth so that doesn't bother me, I also prefer the Google regular OS/Security updates compared to Samsungs slower roll out.
I have a Pixel 4 (personal phone) and an S9 (work phone) and I prefer the Pixel.
I have not had any issues with battery life, a lot of people have gone on and on about the size of the battery but I have found that it is fine and the same as the S9 which has a slightly larger battery but comes with a lot of Samsung bloatware which cannot be removed.
Face recognition works really well and is starting to get integrated into a lot of apps so remembering pass codes is becoming a thing of the past.
The camera is excellent, particularly in low light. I use Google drive for back up of my personal data so picture storage is not a problem.
The only thing that I don't like is the lack of a headphone socket but if you are using Bluetooth that's obviously a non-issue.
I have not had any issues with battery life, a lot of people have gone on and on about the size of the battery but I have found that it is fine and the same as the S9 which has a slightly larger battery but comes with a lot of Samsung bloatware which cannot be removed.
Face recognition works really well and is starting to get integrated into a lot of apps so remembering pass codes is becoming a thing of the past.
The camera is excellent, particularly in low light. I use Google drive for back up of my personal data so picture storage is not a problem.
The only thing that I don't like is the lack of a headphone socket but if you are using Bluetooth that's obviously a non-issue.
TheJimi said:
Can you describe your daily use of the phone and charging patterns?
Battery is the only thing that's stopping me going for a 4 (and I don't want an XL - too big)
To be honest, most of my useage is whatsapp, occasional browsing of Facebook, too much browsing of PH, the odd phone call etc. Sometimes listen to the radio or music (use the app Musicolet). I'm getting a thing for my car in a few weeks which will allow me to have Android Auto in my car, too. I tend to get anywhere between 24-48 hours out of my battery, but typically nearer 36, as I don't use the phone THAT much.Battery is the only thing that's stopping me going for a 4 (and I don't want an XL - too big)
I have an S10+ Ceramic and love it so far. Hole punch doesn't bother me and watching videos in correct 16:9 aspect has black bars down each side anyway so you dont see it. You can view to full screen which does a slight zoom in on the video but even then it doesn't bother me.
Fingerprint scanner vulnerability was if you registered your prints with a cheap screen protector installed, you effectively were registering the underside of the screen protector, aka everybodies finger. I don't know if this was a problem with the factory fitted screen protector (I removed it as it did a weird colour shift with polarized glasses).
Never used a Pixel but the reported battery life and painted plastic chassis (which can snap/crack if bent) put me off.
Fingerprint scanner vulnerability was if you registered your prints with a cheap screen protector installed, you effectively were registering the underside of the screen protector, aka everybodies finger. I don't know if this was a problem with the factory fitted screen protector (I removed it as it did a weird colour shift with polarized glasses).
Never used a Pixel but the reported battery life and painted plastic chassis (which can snap/crack if bent) put me off.
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
TheJimi said:
Can you describe your daily use of the phone and charging patterns?
Battery is the only thing that's stopping me going for a 4 (and I don't want an XL - too big)
To be honest, most of my useage is whatsapp, occasional browsing of Facebook, too much browsing of PH, the odd phone call etc. Sometimes listen to the radio or music (use the app Musicolet). I'm getting a thing for my car in a few weeks which will allow me to have Android Auto in my car, too. I tend to get anywhere between 24-48 hours out of my battery, but typically nearer 36, as I don't use the phone THAT much.Battery is the only thing that's stopping me going for a 4 (and I don't want an XL - too big)
TuonoPants said:
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
TheJimi said:
Can you describe your daily use of the phone and charging patterns?
Battery is the only thing that's stopping me going for a 4 (and I don't want an XL - too big)
To be honest, most of my useage is whatsapp, occasional browsing of Facebook, too much browsing of PH, the odd phone call etc. Sometimes listen to the radio or music (use the app Musicolet). I'm getting a thing for my car in a few weeks which will allow me to have Android Auto in my car, too. I tend to get anywhere between 24-48 hours out of my battery, but typically nearer 36, as I don't use the phone THAT much.Battery is the only thing that's stopping me going for a 4 (and I don't want an XL - too big)
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