this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2024
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87
Google's inconsistent Pixel experience makes its phones impossible to recommend (www.androidpolice.com)
submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
52 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

We typically like Pixel phones a lot, but we have some reservations about Google's quality control

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

Google Pixels suck.

The 4a did everything right. Plastic cover? Yeah you use a protective case anyways.

The 6a that I now have is worse. I sent back a 7pro because it was so horrible. I dont want a tablet, I want a phone.

the camera

is worse! I cant believe that but I compared pictures. At least the selfie Camera is absolute garbage.

size, shape, materials

  • the phone is huge
  • its rectangle size is worse to hold in the hand
  • the 6a had some kind of plastic which is durable. The 7pro I had has a glass back? Wtf why?

fingerprint sensor

is so much worse. Why put it behind a display? I actually replaced one, so that is not the problem. But you cant unlock directly, they are waaay less reliable and you often need to create duplicate scans. Compare that to the damn 4a (and all other fingerprint sensors of that time) that just worked instantly.

No headphone jack

This is such a pain as an audiophile. I have awesome headphones and of course they are on a cable.

Bluetooth is factiually worse.

  • It takes forever to connect (apple devices alway connect first for example).
  • the controls for pause etc. take like a second to work
  • you always broadcast your Bluetooth ID around
  • you are attackable, like the iPhone DDOS attack
  • you need more tiny battery powered devices for nothing
  • headphones are always more expensive and often have worse audio quality

If you want to use normal headphones, the only good DACs are by Google and Samsung, and at least german electronic markets (!) dont have them.

And if you use a DAC, this works over USB. If you need to allow random USB devices all the time, this means you are also attackable through a cable.

My Pixel 4a is a bit slow, but the battery still lasts over a week in idle. I use it as an alarm clock now as its insecure.

I have not tested a Pixel 8, and the hardware for sure sounds appealing. But if Google continues this shitty path of useless "inventions" like the Fingerprint sensor behind the Glass, unnecessary huge and fragile phones, and purposeful decrease in security by needing Bluetooth all the time, while actively contributing to E-Waste, I will never recommend them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

This post strikes me as a little hyperbolic but I definitely agree that they've gone downhill in a lot of ways. I have a 3a and that genuinely feels better made than the more expensive 7a I tested recently. They had a good thing going with the size and feel of their older devices and they totally fucked it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

In that case, its not hyperbolic :D

I has a 7pro and it was so damn huge. Sent it back again.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

What's your next phone gonna be?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Pixel 8(a), until there is an alternative that meets GrapheneOS requirements. Poorly.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Does the Fairphone meet gOS' requirements?

Edit: Apparently not, unfortunately. I'm probably gonna keep getting whatever Google comes up with next.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

No, by far not.

https://discuss.grapheneos.org/?q=fairphone%205

Basically:

  • they are extremely late on Updates, like months behind
  • they claim to have an update timespan they cannot have because certain parts will not be updated anymore and firmware vulnerabilities are a thing
  • their hardware is not secure enough
  • they dont meet the minimum requirements

https://grapheneos.org/faq#future-devices

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

That's really unfortunate. Can't have it all, it seems.