Hi all. Sorry this is a long post so massive thanks in advance for anyone that actually reads it and even more thanks to those that respond with their thoughts.
Before I go any further this video below is basically me when it comes to buying things (I, like Sheldon, also went HD-DVD rather than Bluray initially).
So about 6 months ago I decided to treat myself to a new phone (I do this often) and went from a Note 8 to an iPhone X. Why? Well I wanted something new and shiny, that happens a lot.
With Android I like the flexibility I have, I can make the phone my own, if I get bored of it a new launcher or some tweaks here or there and it's almost like having a new phone.
With Apple I like how everything just sort of works thanks to the fact that there is such limited range of hardware, the software and apps are made specifically for those devices rather than having to cater to almost infinite different versions. I also really like the Apple Watch.
I mainly use a phone for web browsing, watching videos whilst on the go and messaging. I generally like to have the biggest screen sizes I can get.
Decision 1 - Do I just stick with what I have or go for something else?
The iPhone X does everything I need it to but the Note 8 was one of my favourite phones and I've always been drawn to (but am yet to own) the Pixel phones.
Leaving Apple I'd lose:
- Face ID which is lovely for unlocking my phone especially since when at my desk I don't have to pick up my phone to interact with it. It's also nice because it works for my HSBC mobile banking App meaning I don't have to remember complex passwords to check my balance or to authenticate.
- Apple Watch. I've had one of the first gen Moto smatch watches, one of the Gear watches and the Gear Sport but none of them quite seemed to measure up. I like the square screen to me it's a logical shape for a screen it's also small and light enough that I don't notice it until I need to. It's also nice for being able to reply to messages quickly.
- iMessage. I don't care what colour the message bubbles are that said I do regularly text family and friends that live in the US and I live in the UK who have iPhones so I need to get them to use WhatsApp to get messages from me which is doable but not as convenient especially since WhatsApp doesn't seem nearly as popular in the US as it is in the UK.
- Animoji. I don't use these often but sometimes I do to crack up my wife or mother in law.
Going back to Android I'd get:
- Customisation. I don't like having apps on my home screen (other than at the bottom) so I can look at a lovely wallpaper. I can change launcher. I can change app icons and names. I can have real widgets.
- Something new. My iPhone X is fine as I've said but it doesn't excite me, it's functional, it's a very good piece of kit but for something that I use a lot on a daily basis and that costs so much I want it to be a joy to use, I want me to look forward to interacting with it. My upgrade path staying with Apple is basically a larger version of the same phone. That's not an exciting change to me. I remember going from a 6 Plus to a 6S Plus and thinking "Great I've just spent £X to buy the same phone I already had".
Decision 2 - Do I go for a Pixel 3 XL, a Note 9 or something else?
Firstly I think the Pixel 3 XL looks gorgeous, I've always wanted a Pixel device, if the 'Panda' 2 XL had wireless charging and a slightly bigger screen it would be mine right now. I know some people hate the notch, I've had a iPhone X so I can deal with a notch and rightly or wrongly I do look at it as space for information that I don't want taking up space on the main screen area.
I also like the dual front firing speakers. I often show people videos on my phone sometimes in fairly noisy rooms so that would help a bit.
I've never had a stock Android device and that appeals to me and sometimes all the bloat Samsung put on their phones is a bit annoying.
4GB of RAM. So I know the Pixel 3XL has less RAM and I know a lot of reviews picked up on Apps being closed in the background. Not sure this is an issue for me, I tend to close down Apps after I am done with them, maybe I'll have music playing whilst web browsing or on the BBC news App but that's typically about as multi-tasking as I get. I also understand the problem is due to how aggressive the memory management is rather than the 4GB not being enough and that is due to be addressed? That said I like things fast, I don't want to see stutter in navigating my phone, I want it buttery smooth for it's life which for me 12 months would probably be the max.
S-Pen. I really liked that I could write on the screen whilst the screen was off with my Note 8. Was pretty helpful for work.
Face Unlock. So I know the Note 9 allows for some facial recognition but it never really worked for me on the Note 8. I also know that Google have removed the trusted face and trusted voice smart lock features. If I go Android I will get a smart watch though so I believe I can still use that as a trusted device to keep the phone unlocked?
On paper the Note 9 wins but I think I want the Pixel 3 XL more, maybe it's because I had a Note 8 and as much as I liked it I don't want a phone where similar to when I went from a iPhone 6 to a 6S I feel like I've spent all that money for such a similar device.
HELP ME!
Before I go any further this video below is basically me when it comes to buying things (I, like Sheldon, also went HD-DVD rather than Bluray initially).
So about 6 months ago I decided to treat myself to a new phone (I do this often) and went from a Note 8 to an iPhone X. Why? Well I wanted something new and shiny, that happens a lot.
With Android I like the flexibility I have, I can make the phone my own, if I get bored of it a new launcher or some tweaks here or there and it's almost like having a new phone.
With Apple I like how everything just sort of works thanks to the fact that there is such limited range of hardware, the software and apps are made specifically for those devices rather than having to cater to almost infinite different versions. I also really like the Apple Watch.
I mainly use a phone for web browsing, watching videos whilst on the go and messaging. I generally like to have the biggest screen sizes I can get.
Decision 1 - Do I just stick with what I have or go for something else?
The iPhone X does everything I need it to but the Note 8 was one of my favourite phones and I've always been drawn to (but am yet to own) the Pixel phones.
Leaving Apple I'd lose:
- Face ID which is lovely for unlocking my phone especially since when at my desk I don't have to pick up my phone to interact with it. It's also nice because it works for my HSBC mobile banking App meaning I don't have to remember complex passwords to check my balance or to authenticate.
- Apple Watch. I've had one of the first gen Moto smatch watches, one of the Gear watches and the Gear Sport but none of them quite seemed to measure up. I like the square screen to me it's a logical shape for a screen it's also small and light enough that I don't notice it until I need to. It's also nice for being able to reply to messages quickly.
- iMessage. I don't care what colour the message bubbles are that said I do regularly text family and friends that live in the US and I live in the UK who have iPhones so I need to get them to use WhatsApp to get messages from me which is doable but not as convenient especially since WhatsApp doesn't seem nearly as popular in the US as it is in the UK.
- Animoji. I don't use these often but sometimes I do to crack up my wife or mother in law.
Going back to Android I'd get:
- Customisation. I don't like having apps on my home screen (other than at the bottom) so I can look at a lovely wallpaper. I can change launcher. I can change app icons and names. I can have real widgets.
- Something new. My iPhone X is fine as I've said but it doesn't excite me, it's functional, it's a very good piece of kit but for something that I use a lot on a daily basis and that costs so much I want it to be a joy to use, I want me to look forward to interacting with it. My upgrade path staying with Apple is basically a larger version of the same phone. That's not an exciting change to me. I remember going from a 6 Plus to a 6S Plus and thinking "Great I've just spent £X to buy the same phone I already had".
Decision 2 - Do I go for a Pixel 3 XL, a Note 9 or something else?
Firstly I think the Pixel 3 XL looks gorgeous, I've always wanted a Pixel device, if the 'Panda' 2 XL had wireless charging and a slightly bigger screen it would be mine right now. I know some people hate the notch, I've had a iPhone X so I can deal with a notch and rightly or wrongly I do look at it as space for information that I don't want taking up space on the main screen area.
I also like the dual front firing speakers. I often show people videos on my phone sometimes in fairly noisy rooms so that would help a bit.
I've never had a stock Android device and that appeals to me and sometimes all the bloat Samsung put on their phones is a bit annoying.
4GB of RAM. So I know the Pixel 3XL has less RAM and I know a lot of reviews picked up on Apps being closed in the background. Not sure this is an issue for me, I tend to close down Apps after I am done with them, maybe I'll have music playing whilst web browsing or on the BBC news App but that's typically about as multi-tasking as I get. I also understand the problem is due to how aggressive the memory management is rather than the 4GB not being enough and that is due to be addressed? That said I like things fast, I don't want to see stutter in navigating my phone, I want it buttery smooth for it's life which for me 12 months would probably be the max.
S-Pen. I really liked that I could write on the screen whilst the screen was off with my Note 8. Was pretty helpful for work.
Face Unlock. So I know the Note 9 allows for some facial recognition but it never really worked for me on the Note 8. I also know that Google have removed the trusted face and trusted voice smart lock features. If I go Android I will get a smart watch though so I believe I can still use that as a trusted device to keep the phone unlocked?
On paper the Note 9 wins but I think I want the Pixel 3 XL more, maybe it's because I had a Note 8 and as much as I liked it I don't want a phone where similar to when I went from a iPhone 6 to a 6S I feel like I've spent all that money for such a similar device.
HELP ME!