Pixel phones are a joke? They’ve been the best phones I’ve owned.
Yeah I like them the most as well and funnily enough they are the easiest phone to degoogle
GrapheneOS FTW
Literally the only reason to get a pixel!
You’re wrong. CalyxOS >
So to name a few issues:
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pixel 1: headphone jack issue so bad they needed to issue a recall, audio would just FULLY stop working, loud speaker as well.
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pixels 2, 3 (and theorized 4 and 5): using cheap ram that literally just died within 3 years. They refused to issue a recall claiming that was “fine for the expected life span of the phone”
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Pixels 1-4: if you let them discharge long enough, they don’t charge anymore, ever!
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Pixel 4/a and 5/a: lemon units. Bad ram, bad flash storage, things like that. Some would be very slow and others would be fine. My pixel 5a died in 7 months.
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During this period of time from the 4 though 6 lines they were notorious for trying to deny your warranty replacement any way they could. It took me 5 months to get a new pixel 5a.
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Pixel 6: buzzing coming from loud speakers (not sure if recall issued)
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Pixel 6 and 7: first 2 tensor chips, known for draining battery too quickly and overheating.
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Pixel 8: OLED issues, I think random lines showing up on the display. They have issued a recall tho.
So in sum:
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In the older pixels there were some shitty cost cutting measures they used in order to recoup cost of development of the phones.
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their warranty service around this time was also piss poor
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QC issues with just about every pixel phone released.
Where we stand today:
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their warranty replacements are much better I’ve heard.
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There are significantly less glaring issue with the pixels, and they’re still reasonably priced
So, back in the day, if you got lucky you got a decent phone for a good price, if you got unlucky you got a shit phone and they probably wouldn’t replace it. Now, you’ll probably get a good phone, with some semi useful AI features and a decent warranty.
I’m sorry but you could easily find facts like this about every phone company from the past as of now they are great phones but cannot comment on the AI tools because I remove those
As much as like to shit on Apple for many other reasons, they’ve had fairly few mishaps with their phones. Even counting bending phones, “you’re holding it wrong” etc., their track record is still decent compared to the competition.
Never heard of a single one of these, got some links to back up any of these? Recalls will be easy to prove.
Two pixels, and never seen these before either.
Pixel 1 recall and class action in 2019: https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/14/18623077/google-pixel-faulty-mic-issues-lawsuit-payout-hairline-fracture
Ram issue mentioned in user forum with listed official response from google: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/113517096/pixel-3-xl-bricked-overnight-computer-recognizes-as-qusb-bulk-cid-likely-caused-by-security-update?hl=en
Some of these others are harder to pin down because there’s no official response but I’ll do my best
Here’s some users experience charging issues: https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/15lj11a/connected_not_charging_how_to_fix_this/
Pixel 8 lemon unit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/17sa4z9/got_a_lemon_should_i_try_again_or_go_different/
Pixel 4 lemon post: https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/efhcvf/my_4_week_old_pixel_4_xl_died_yesterday/
Pixel 6 buzzing issue; https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/148605754/loud-buzzing-noise-from-speaker-during-call-on-my-pixel-6-pro?hl=en
Pixel 3 buzzing: https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/9weskv/pixel_3_fix_for_buzzing_sound_from_speakers/
Pixel 2 buzzing: https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-2-xl-buzzing-rattling-speakers-825307/
Article on tensor chips overheating: https://techissuestoday.com/google-pixel-phone-overheating/#:~:text=Tensor brings the heat%2C literally!&text=While all the AI advancements,some reason or the other.
Pixel 8 screen issues customer has bad expires with Google support: https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1c3gcnz/pixel_8_green_screen_and_recall_terrible_customer/ (thought they were doing better these days, guess not)
Pixel 8 screen issues warranty extension: https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-extends-warranty-for-pixel-8-display-issues-how-to-check-if-your-handset-is-covered/ (thought this was a recall, guess not)
Issue is, almost ever issue you’ve labeled here is a random (mostly reddit) post. I could pretty much name any series of any devices and build the same type of list. It doesn’t help make your comment look more valid. In fact, it kind of hurt it.
5 of the 7 issues I list have news articles, official responses from Google, or recalls/warranty replacements, but ok
And most of them of them were a repeat of a few problems that were literally fixed with a OTA patch, even to the point it was mentioned in the article you posted. Half of your “facts” were someone even mentioning they got a lemon by their own admission, and when a company makes over a million of the same device, a few lemons happen (it’s why there is a term for it).
And the few that don’t match these were speculation articles. Again, this could be said of so many companies and/or devices.
Should I post a links to iPhones and their problems? https://www.gizchina.com/2021/11/21/apple-recalls-the-iphone-12-iphone-12-pro-due-to-sound-issues/ https://www.macworld.com/article/675797/iphone-11-recalled-for-touchscreen-issues-how-to-get-a-replacement.html https://support.apple.com/iphone-6s-6s-plus-no-power-issues-program/other-countries https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/09/apple-activates-iphone-x-display-module-replacement-program-for-touch-issues https://9to5mac.com/2019/05/15/iphone-7-no-service-program/ https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/news/apple/139529-apple-iphone-6-plus-touch-disease-flaw-here-s-how-to-get-it-fixed/
I’m not even into a half dozen Reddit/speculation articles yet.
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Yeah, Nexus phones were great, but Pixel phones are also good. And Android is definitely not “getting worse”.
Agree with the rest though.
Android is getting weird. It’s not bad but some UI choices just don’t make sense. They’re making everything super large, and required so many swipes and clicks for certain settings. They’ve lost the plot a bit. Also, having used both iOS and Android, iOS gestures are leaps and bounds ahead of Android. Genuinely, it’s no contest.
All this being said I prefer Android, I just wish they put more thought about ease of use and feature refinement rather than changing for changes sake. Like we are JUST NOW getting an update to the gesture controls. They’ve been basically unchanged since Android 11/12 they have had ample time to refine them a bit.
I hate the super large quick access buttons. Like why would I want to only have 4 accessible with one touch when I’m used to 8+
I enjoyed my pixel up until the day they put a backup button on photos that would pop up right when I’m swiping. So I had to go through my Google backup and delete/disable it (which can only be done from the computer) just so that I could use my Gmail again.
Now I’m considering switching manufacturers on my next upgrade.
I hate Google and try not use it anymore but there’s still one thing I can’t do without : Google Maps.
OSMAnd beats out Google Maps, if you are a trail climber etc. Google’s entries are so lacking, whereas OSM content has near exact coordinates and paths for sooooo many routes.
Have you tried open street maps? I suggest organic street maps for your phone
Organic Maps are great, however if you’re looking for shops and restaurants (or rather their reviews) Google Maps are second to none.
OSM can technically replace Gmaps for shops and restaurants if enough people were using and updating it.
However, Gmaps in unbeatable for public transportation :( no alternative at all
In Europe at least I had some minor functionality with OSMAnd… but Google beats it out no contest, in terms of speed, accuracy, and being up-to-date… which is depressing but that’s the reality.
it’s the only reason I haven’t stopped using Maps
Oh, I’m well aware of that, but there are so few cities that have been mapped to the degree to compete with gmaps, that I doubt we ever will reach that level.
Also reviews. I’m not sure if there even is a way to fix that without creating a separate program with a separate ecosystem in the process…
Unfortunately the reviews at GMaps are becoming less and less reliable though, as many businesses begin to have bad reviews removed through lawyers.
I’ve had it happen to a couple of mine, where Google forwarded the request of a law firm to prove I had actually been at a restaurant more than 5 years ago (where I reviewed it with 3*).
Even if you can prove it, most people won’t and in that case the restaurant went from 3.8 stars to 4.6, which is a shame really. It confirms a hunch that just as with Amazon the reviews get a lot less reliable.
In Europe you can usually download an app for the public transit in that specific country/city. However, Google Maps is the only one that will show you how to get to a specific address (not just the train/bus station).
I use Transportr for that. It integrates with the different local metro systems. Works great in Sweden at least🙂
Cool, thanks for the tip!
I mean, a lot of the points are valid, but the Pixel phones are pretty great, Android is pretty great and getting better, and the Chromebook gamble is playing a really long term game where they could end up uprooting Microsoft if they play their cards right. From my understanding, US kids now on average know Chromebook OS better than Windows by far, and will probably prefer to continue using it if they could. If Google makes the OS more viable for professional use and flexible and play their cards right, they’d have a really good chance at uppending Microsoft’s dominance, especially since Microsoft is seemingly trying to shoot itself in the foot with Windows.
I own a Pixel 7 and although not ideal, it’s certainly better than most of the phones out there for me. The only downsides of daily driving a Pixel are battery drain and overheating. Granted, I live in a rather cold climate so I imagine it being not the most useful piece of tech for the folks near the equator…
It’s been confirmed that Pixel 10 will finally get a non-exynos chip, so perhaps it can indeed become the pinnacle of Android smartphones, who knows.
This scenario still requires Google to play their cards right, however, but there’s hope.
Don’t worry. They won’t play their cards right.
My Pixel 6 is not “great”.
Mine was, as is my P7, especially compared to a lot of competing devices from Samsung etc
The camera sucks, Google doctors the resulting photos with AI but it looks like crap. The battery sucks, it also overheats easily. But that’s not the worst part, the worst part is the ZERO FRICTION BACKING. It fucking slides off everything. Who the hell in their design department approved such a moronic idea? How are billion dollar corporations making such shit products while continuing to fail upwards?
Who the hell uses a phone without a case?
I have to take the case off because it overheats genius.
What exactly does Google have left that people like? Gmail?
Shhhh! Dammit. Now they are definitely going to realize they haven’t ruined it yet.
The way Gmail orders conversations/email chains makes it SO hard to figure who’s reply to what and what the latest email is. Each email in the chain contains the entire chain before it and you end up reading everything twice just to work out what the hell is going on.
Hate it like you want, but the effing pixels are still the best phones. Not by os, not by spec, but simply by being the most open android of them all. The easiest to de-google. Sounds stupid, but is not.
I hate google with all my heart (since they dropped their slogan “don’t be evil” and went… Well… Evil). But i will buy their fucking phones until a viable alternative comes along.
100%. I just bought a Pixel 8 so I could install Graphene OS. It was so damn easy too. I was amazed. This phone is great minus the lack of headphone jack and SD card slot.
same here. bought one 2 months ago
Been using their phones since the Nexus 6. That thing was huge.
And I’m the one guy that uses Google Fi. My bill was $38 last month.
I’ve been on Fi for years, I think basically since the first year they started ProjectFi. So much cheaper than my old Verizon or sprint accounts…
Not even gmail… They turned that to shit years ago.
I think the general rule is anything google acquired was good and anything they built themselves was bad and ended up getting killed.
There are exceptions but some of the only decent parts of google; maps, YouTube, AdWords were all acquisitions. I think they even just got HTC to build the pixel exclusively for them
They used to have a nice clean usable web search back in 2000 or so.
Mate, I haven’t forgiven them for google reader.
They killed my boy.
Inbox for me. I still manage my email the way that Inbox taught me to do it, but it just isn’t the same.