Why I Can’t Go Again to a Non-Pixel Android Cellphone
The Android expertise Google's telephones present has come a good distance from the early days of Nexus telephones. They bring about so much to the desk, a lot that I am unable to return to a non-Pixel telephone now, regardless of the fierce competitors. Learn on to be taught why.
1: I Get pleasure from Utilizing Inventory Android
It would shock you; however, I wasn't at all times an Android fan. As an early teenager, there was no scarcity of Android telephones round me, and I at all times discovered the expertise laggy and bloated. For context, I wasn't into iOS either and used Home windows Cellphone for as long as potential.
Once I did change to Android, it was with Motorola telephones that had been launched beneath the Android One program, offering a near-stock Android expertise. The expertise was nice; however, nothing matched Pixels on the time.
To be clear, the Android you get on a Pixel is not totally "inventory" either. Pure inventory Android lacks many options and is extra of a place to begin for machine producers to construct on. So, one thing like Samsung's well-polished OneUI will probably be higher than inventory Android.
Google's implementation of Android has added options right here and there to boost the person's expertise with out pointless bloatware, creating an expertise that even the least tech-savvy customers can take pleasure in with out getting misplaced in settings and launchers that find yourself making the entire Android expertise extra sophisticated than it must be.
2 Pixels Get Well timed Software program Updates for Years
Google's Android expertise will not imply a lot with out well-timed software program updates, and who is higher to offer well-timed Android updates than the creator of Android itself? For those who're utilizing a Pixel, you are the primary in line for any characteristic and safety updates that arrive on Android.
Since different producers have to work on updates from Google to make sure they work best with their customized launchers and total Android implementation, updates on each different Android telephone are delayed.
Whereas characteristic updates aren't as frequent as Android safety updates, I've acquired Pixel Function Drops far more steadily than what opponents like Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus, and others present.
You will even be the primary to get Android model updates, whether or not you are a beta tester or need the polished, full-release model. Pixel telephones are additionally future-proof, contemplating you may get Android model and safety updates for so long as seven years.
Whereas producers like Samsung additionally provide seven years of safety and have updates, this solely consists of its flagship telephones from 2024. For comparability, my mid-range Pixel 7a (launched in Might 2023) will get safety updates till 2028 regardless of being almost two generations older than the present Pixel lineup.
3 Unbeatable Digicam High quality
The one factor Pixel telephones have been recognized for ever for the reason that first Pixel got here out in 2016 is the digital camera high quality. For years, whereas the competitors focused on cramming as many megapixels into their cameras as potential, Google made the many of the usual 12MP sensor throughout the primary 5 generations of Pixel telephones. And when it did change the sensor, the improvement meant even higher images.
As somebody who carried around a DSLR and two lenses day-after-day for 3 years earlier than getting a Pixel, I can safely say that it is the solely telephone I've used that offers me sufficient confidence to snap a fast picture and know it will prove nice.
Most images you are taking together with your Pixel telephone will probably be evenly lit, sharp, and total fairly detailed. These images even have a definite "Pixel" look with the saturation turned up only a notch. Try the picture of the evening sky I took with my Pixel 4a, for instance.
The AI options baked into Google's inventory digital camera app additionally aren't to be taken calmly. Night time Mode nonetheless produces a number of the greatest low-light photos you will see on any Android machine. Magic Eraser makes taking photos in public a lot simpler, and Finest Take makes group images a breeze in case you do not have a serving to hand. That is simply the tip of the iceberg.
That is to not say different telephones have not caught as much as Google's computational pictures wizardry. You will discover some fairly candy cameras on most, if not all, Android flagships; however, Pixels are the one units where the digital camera expertise is constant, no matter whether or not you might have the most recent telephone or not.
4 Snappy Day-to-Day Efficiency
I will admit that Pixels aren't the most effective worth for cash in relation to {hardware} specs. Google's Tensor lineup of cell processors did not be the Qualcomm Snapdragon or Apple Bionic rival that the software program big hoped it will be. Nonetheless, so far as day-by-day efficiency is concerned, I do not suppose you'd complain.
Specs and benchmark scores are one factor; however, real-world utilization is one other. There is a reason why your telephone may begin to really feel slower as years go by; however, you will not be going through that situation on a Pixel.
My Pixel 7a, powered by the Tensor G2 chip, runs completely tremendously with no lags or efficiency problems with any kind. Even my Pixel 4a from 2020 continues to be completely usable as a day-to-day driver; however, because it packs an older Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chip, it isn't fairly an apples-to-apples comparability.
The nice efficiency is essentially attributed to Google's software program wizardry with Android and all of the neat little options it packs into Pixel telephones. Nonetheless, efficiency should not be a difficulty with the Pixel 9 sequence since Google is assured sufficient to offer seven years of software program updates.
Nonetheless, the Tensor chips are nonetheless behind the competitors. For those who push a Pixel to its limits, for instance, with a graphically demanding sport, the telephone may nonetheless drop a body or two and may overheat. There have been reviews of the battery life being inconsistent on Pixels; however, I have not skilled this, nor has anybody I've beneficial a Pixel to.
Total, until you propose on taking part in video games or capturing 4K movies beneath the sun steadily, you should not face any issues with common, day-to-day utilization and multitasking.
5: Google's Ecosystem Is as Good as Android Will get
One beauty of Android is that it permits customers to decide on units from completely different ecosystems and have them work collectively. Nonetheless, producers have developed their very own ecosystems over time. You may even use Android with no Google apps in any respect.
Nonetheless, that is not one thing most individuals do. For the common person, the comfort Google's ecosystem brings is far more valuable than area of interest options they could by no means use. Until you might have a particular choice or requirement, I do not suppose you'd need options or third-party choices.
There are numerous Pixel-exclusive AI options sprinkled all through the UI, like Circle to Search, which lets you choose something in your display and look it up on Google without launching your browser, and Now Taking Part in, which mechanically detects ambient music taking part in around you.
Google has very neatly built-in these options into the Pixel Person expertise. When you begin utilizing them as you go about your day-to-day enterprise, you will surprise the way you lived without them. I do know I do.
A mix of those options, digital camera high quality, long-term software program help, and general person expertise has helped me respect my Pixel telephone to the purpose that I am unable to change to a Samsung, OnePlus, or Motorola telephone, no less than so long as Android and iOS stay the two choices.