Switching from iPhone to Pixel

[Puce Moment]

Has anyone else finally had enough of iPhones and moved over to a different slightly less shitty brand? Anyone familiar with Pixel phones?

My iPhone 6S has died in spectacular style and I have bought a Pixel 3 XL today after what I consider to be not enough research. Usually I would be researching this shit for days, if not weeks, but I had to buy a phone today pronto.

I know that the Pixel 3 is really strong for photos, but I was wondering what other benefits users have found?

I finally do not own any Apple products and I am delighted.

[Al Tha Funkee Homosapien]

Should have bought a One Plus 7 Pro....


Nah, most mid to high end phones are a much of muchness really these days. Oxygen OS on OnePlus phones is as good, if not better than stock Android on Google phones.

[Noodle Lizard]

I switched from about 8 years of iPhones to an LG V30 and never looked back.

Until last year, when I had enough and got an iPhone again.  Being a Mac user, it just makes a lot more sense.  Of course Android is more flexible/customizable, and the V30 was lovely, but I wasn't prepared for just how much fiddly effort you have to go through in order to get it to do something iOS does right out of the box.  I suppose it really depends on the type of person you are or what you need from your phone/computer, but I've definitely learned that I'll always lean more towards something that just works.

[Puce Moment]

Interesting - my wife is a graphic designer of many years, uses Apple products almost exclusively, and therefore parts of our house are a graveyard of old Macs, Macbooks, ipads, Apple monitors, Ipods, and of course, old iPhones.

Because I was poor when we first met I did not have proper gear and just used her Apple stuff and always, always hated it. However, the arrival of an iPod Classic into my hands in 2006 (which I loved) meant that I was also open to the iPhone. I also liked it, but the relationship went sour and even Trish couldn't sort it out.

I love my Microsoft Surface and would actually buy a phone version in a heartbeat. I can't stand Samsung for many reasons, and so the Pixel seemed the obvious choice. I hope I don't hate it.

[Noodle Lizard]

Yeah, I think it really depends on what you're into.  For some people, iOS's relative inflexibility may be an absolute nightmare - especially at the price point.  For me, something like having to pay and fiddle to get notification badges on apps/messages etc. grates on me enough over time that I just wanted to go back in the cave.  Plus, the fact that almost everyone I know uses iOS made it surprisingly frustrating to do simple things like send media in messages, and having to pay for an equivalent of Mac's desktop "Messages" app like Pushbullet which doesn't work nearly as well.  I reckon I value simplicity over anything else and, at least in my circumstances, iOS is certainly the more streamlined option.

That all being said, I had a blast with Android for the first six months or so, and the phone itself was great.

[falafel]

I thought everyone just used WhatsApp these days?

[The Boston Crab]

Every few months I have buy a load of cheap second hand phones from CeX and I smash them to fucking granules because I hate phones so much as I well as discussion of the phones.

Read into that WHAT YOU WILL

[Noodle Lizard]

I thought everyone just used WhatsApp these days?

People on Android probably do, because it's the only reasonable solution.  Apple's "Messages" app is the only one I know of which works seamlessly across all devices.  The only time I use WhatsApp is to call abroad or receive files (images, videos, audio etc.) from people on Android who can't get it to work over regular messaging.  The various messaging apps I used on Android each had their own myriad issues.  Textra was the best, but you really had to pay for premium and even that wasn't as good as iOS's native messaging for me.

[Mister Six]

Ditched Apple after the one iPhone I ever owned (a 4 or 5) died. Got a Xiaomi for about 50 quid that did everything I asked of it. Now have a Pixel 2, which is a cracking bit of kit.

[lazarou]

Pixels are among the best androids you can buy, I switched to an XL from a Galaxy Note and it was just hugely more pleasant and fast to use. None of the duplicate bloatware that stinks up Samsung's phones (or at least did when I had one), just a nice smooth, streamlined experience. Camera on even the first series is incredibly good and unlike every other android phone I've used the performance doesn't fall through the floor after you've had it a while. The lack of a headphone jack or expandable storage on the newer ones can fuck right off, though they do tend to come with generous internal storage at least.

Also the Pixel-compatible Daydream VR is an excellent bit of kit but I hope you're happy keeping it for your porn collection as there's fuck all games for it compared to the GearVR. You do get Rez Infinite at least.

[falafel]

People on Android probably do, because it's the only reasonable solution.  Apple's "Messages" app is the only one I know of which works seamlessly across all devices.  The only time I use WhatsApp is to call abroad or receive files (images, videos, audio etc.) from people on Android who can't get it to work over regular messaging.  The various messaging apps I used on Android each had their own myriad issues.  Textra was the best, but you really had to pay for premium and even that wasn't as good as iOS's native messaging for me.

Weird, my mix of friends and colleagues is about 60/40 iphone/android and still seem to mainly use whatsapp for IMs, group chats etc. I have an iphone for work and never use the messaging app. There's also a desktop Whatsapp app for Windows 10 and WhatsApp Web which works pretty well on most browsers. I think it must really depend on what cultural bubble one happens to live in. It's just funny to say that Messages 'works across all devices' when it actually probably works across less than 50% of devices that are actively in use for messaging if you really think about it.

[biggytitbo]

Why would you spend all that money on a phone when you can make your own with a raspberry pi?

[falafel]

Or a couple of tin cans and some string amirite

[Noodle Lizard]

Weird, my mix of friends and colleagues is about 60/40 iphone/android and still seem to mainly use whatsapp for IMs, group chats etc. I have an iphone for work and never use the messaging app. There's also a desktop Whatsapp app for Windows 10 and WhatsApp Web which works pretty well on most browsers. I think it must really depend on what cultural bubble one happens to live in. It's just funny to say that Messages 'works across all devices' when it actually probably works across less than 50% of devices that are actively in use for messaging if you really think about it.

I mean that in the sense that WhatsApp used to be mobile only, though I think that's changed now.  But also, since most people I associate with don't actively use WhatsApp often, it's nice to know that my texts are received and stored on my computer, and I can just as easily use both to send/respond.  With an Android, Pushbullet was the closest I could get to replicating that, and it was far from perfect.

Then there's AirDrop as well.  It was a bit of a process trying to get even a small file from my Mac to my Android, which sometimes I had to do multiple times very quickly.  Again, I think it very much depends on your situation.  If you have a Windows computer, Android is likely a better choice for your phone.

[Puce Moment]

She has landed and what a beauty! Fast as fuck, quick unlocking, actually useful 'ask google' function (to the point of being creepy good), easily the best smartphone camera I have ever experienced. I haven't been able to do much because most of my time was spent trying variations on my 12 different passwords for apps.

It's going to take a little while getting used to not having that bottom button to double-click on the iPhone, but I can see the benefits already (especially cloud shizzle).

Oh yeah, the speakers are fucking good!

[Mister Six]

The lack of a headphone jack or expandable storage on the newer ones can fuck right off, though they do tend to come with generous internal storage at least.

The 2 came with an adaptor that allowed you to plug a headphone into the bottom, where the charger goes. I assume it's the same for the 3.

[falafel]

I've been through 3 of those. Very easy to leave lying around. Now I've switched to Bluetooth, which means i have to remember to charge my headphones. One way or another, the removal of the headphone jack is an inconvenience (to me at least)

[The Boston Crab]

Iphone is total shit.

[Replies From View]

I've been through 3 of those. Very easy to leave lying around. Now I've switched to Bluetooth, which means i have to remember to charge my headphones. One way or another, the removal of the headphone jack is an inconvenience (to me at least)

Yes it is.  Having the same socket for the charger and the earphones means that you can't play audio through earphones while the phone is charging, unless you are messing around with bluetooth ones (which are themselves always far from ideal).

The stupid little connector thing is asking to become lost or easily damaged through use.  Plus surely it adds resistance which would compromise audio quality?

Gash.

[Twed]

If you don't miss wireless charging and a couple of other things, look into the 3a instead. It lacks the notch and has an actual headphone jack. Battery life seems better than my 3 (which broke) - I've never charged this thing outside of the car, and I don't drive much.

[Famous Mortimer]

I have a Pixel 2 XL and it's quite nice.

[Consignia]

I've got a Pixel 3XL. It is pretty ace, although I don't think it fully justifies it's premier price tag, especially since it's an evolution of the reasonably priced Nexus line from yesteryear. I think the main thing I like about it though is stock Android with out the wank some of the other manufacturers  put on them.

[Puce Moment]

I am getting on very well with it so far, but it's bloody weird switching from almost a decade of iPhone use. The battery life on the XL is wild considering the size of the screen, but it's recharging time is the thing that is impressing me. So fast, but perhaps my experience is affected by using a clunky old iPhone 6S which seems prehistoric compared to this beauty.

I do think I need to watch some kind of tips video though, because there are all sorts of things I can tell it can do, but have no way to use it with my current backwards thinking.

[Noodle Lizard]

I do think I need to watch some kind of tips video though, because there are all sorts of things I can tell it can do, but have no way to use it with my current backwards thinking.

Get that Nova Launcher, that really helped me out with a few things.

[Puce Moment]

Get that Nova Launcher, that really helped me out with a few things.

Oooooh! Ta!

[QDRPHNC]

Yeah, Nova Launcher is ace. And since you have a Pixel you'll want to start taking advantage of your free Google Photos and Music. Get Files by Google too.

[Puce Moment]

Yeah, Nova Launcher is ace. And since you have a Pixel you'll want to start taking advantage of your free Google Photos and Music. Get Files by Google too.

I WILL DO ALL OF THAT SO TA!

[Puce Moment]

Anyone else with a Pixel that has some nice tips and hints please do post - most of the youtube videos cover exactly the same ground and do not really seemed to be based on daily use, but rather out of the box quick review using the spec list given to them.