After using the phone for a week...

[chevyman29]

You left out timely security and OS updates.
Security/OS updates and camera are the two that would be deal breakers for me.

Well I'm not to impressed with the pie update anyway. And I'm on the Oct patch with my s9. I feel the OS updates don't bring much to the table at this stage .
It's just change for the sake of change at this point .

 

[legion125]

Looking for good results when I get mine.

 

[Almeuit]

Well I'm not to impressed with the pie update anyway. And I'm on the Oct patch with my s9. I feel the OS updates don't bring much to the table at this stage .
It's just change for the sake of change at this point .

Security is never a change for the sake of change. OS updates / Security updates are two separate things.

 

[Ben Payne]

I really can't decide if I want an S9 or pixel 3....I lean towards the pixel. Hope I can get one sometime.

 

[aggie]

I’ll get a lot of hate for this but, the Pixel 3 XL and Android Pie on it sucks. I’m not a fanboy of one phone or another, I have an iPhone XS Max a Note 9 and the Pixel 3 XL. I’m probably going to be returning it. Now I can’t speak for the regular 3 which I think is the one to get after using this. I think people need to stop giving google a pass and say it how it really is.

-Ram management is awful
-The notch, I just can’t get over it and turning it off gives me a screen the size of the regular
-These guestures, WTF were you thinking google? They suck, enjoyable on the iPhone so I was happy about it till I tired it on the pixel.
-Apps don’t even look right with the notch turned on. Now I know this is more up to the developer of the app.
-Battery life is horrendous, where’s this Android Pie built in battery management stuff google was talking about?
-Phone doesn’t feel anywhere as premium as iPhones or the Galaxy Note 9. Not sure where the hell the reviewers are getting this whole, the hardware feels so premium crap. Hold and iPhone then hold a Pixel...
-The recent apps is done so bad
-Screen is just not bright enough, it’s 2018 Google.
-The audio when recording a video sounds like ****.
-Other bugs here and there

What is good:
-The Camera
-The feel of the back of the device is nice.
I do love that they finally changed the way the notification pop ups look in Pie.
-Phone is silky smooth
-Wireless charging finally
-Speakers (although I still think the iPhones speakers just sound better, might not get as loud as the Pixel but they sound better to me.

Pretty much in the same boat as you. I have an XS Max, Note 9, and 3XL. With the exception of the battery life, which I find to be really good, my list of good and bad is nearly identical. I am really frustrated with the screen brightness. I constantly find myself having to move the slider all the way to max brightness anytime I'm outdoors or in my truck. The RAM management though is what is the most frustrating thing. Sometimes it takes 5-10 seconds to open the camera with the power button shortcut and sometimes it does not even open at all and just freezes. Things that you would expect to experience from Samsung devices years ago (my Note 9 and S9+ were lag free for the record). While I'm leaning towards returning it I'm fighting inside with that decision because I do love the device because of that camera and I do really like the feel of the device. Without a case, I don't feel it is as premium as the Note 9 or XS Max but it is in the same ballpark. Hopefully I can come to a clear decision in the next couple days.

 

[AKFL3TCH3R]

my only real gripe is the hard time I have using the XL with one hand lol

 

[Milt K]

You left out timely security and OS updates.
Security/OS updates and camera are the two that would be deal breakers for me.

Verizon security updates for the Samsung S and Note series only lag 3 weeks behind Google so that's not really a con so I don't really see where you're coming from. The complaints regarding late updates are usually from people who run unlocked Samsung phones instead of carrier-purchased ones. As for platform updates, a lot of new features in the releases have historically been included in the Samsung Experience UI years before Google even implemented them (e.g, picture in picture, night-light, etc.). Seriously, is it that much of con to be on a stable platform release for a couple more months than a buggy one? Personally, I'd rather have a SD-card expansion option vs. a three-week earlier security update.

The only pro you have is really the subjective uplift in camera quality in certain lighting conditions. If you take pictures in the pro mode using the Samsung, the differences are pretty small.

 

[anon(10092459)]

I am really frustrated with the screen brightness. I constantly find myself having to move the slider all the way to max brightness anytime I'm outdoors or in my truck.

Are you using Adaptive Brightness feature? I know some users it's not their preference, but I do use it and haven't had to adjust my slider after the first few days of teaching the phone what I prefer in different environments. My screen runs straight to 100% when outside without any interaction from me at all.

Sometimes it takes 5-10 seconds to open the camera with the power button shortcut and sometimes it does not even open at all and just freezes.

This is unusual from the norm. I double click my power button and the camera opens immdiately. 5-10 seconds or a freeze is definitely outside what should be happening. Have you contacted customer support about the issue?

 

[chevyman29]

I say again I'm on the Oct patch with my Verizon s9. Other than the camera being better I can't see it as a huge upgrade. And the app switching offsets the camera.
Honestly if I wasn't able to use Nova I wouldn't even have been looking at the pixel due to the search bar being right at the bottom.

Now they may have changed that in the settings. But opening the app drawer and swiping down to check notification is still better on Nova.

 

[garak0410]

I'm very happy with the overall experience!
Anyone else?

I am, yes. I honestly am torn between the Note 9 and Pixel 3 XL. I like the overall power of the Note 9 but I like the simplicity and regular updates of the Pixel 3 XL. What wins out for me is the camera. The Note 9's camera is highly overrated. The Pixel 3 XL camera just stomps on the Note 9's camera. And for me, that's enough to keep me on the Pixel.

 

[Mike Dee]

My question is, How much would it of cost Google to put 6 gb RAM, 128gb storage
4000 Ah battery.
A Led for people to visually see and the phone about 1/4 " taller.
Maybe just a little thicker.
Make a few more colors.
Like chartreuse green. Red. Purple.
Camo.
Bout 35.00
Bet with what all that would be offered.
More people be would of been beating the doors down for one.
And they could of got 100.00 more.

Really.


About how much have they spent on advertising.

Your justification is based on your desires any only factors parts cost and profit which may or may not be accurate. What about the actual design basis and design considerations?

 

[cardboard60]

I say again I'm on the Oct patch with my Verizon s9. Other than the camera being better I can't see it as a huge upgrade. And the app switching offsets the camera.
Honestly if I wasn't able to use Nova I wouldn't even have been looking at the pixel due to the search bar being right at the bottom.

Now they may have changed that in the settings. But opening the app drawer and swiping down to check notification is still better on Nova.

I like the search bar at the bottom.

 

[cardboard60]

Your justification is based on your desires any only factors parts cost and profit which may or may not be accurate. What about the actual design basis and design considerations?

Fact of making the pixel a better phone.
And making more people want it.
Listen to the folks on this forum.
Especially the note 9 folks.

 

[chezm]

Fact of making the pixel a better phone.
And making more people want it.
Listen to the folks on this forum.
Especially the note 9 folks.

But potentially at too high of a cost point and thus selling less when next to other big hitters

 

[MrDoh]

Well, looks like I'm about the only one that went the other way, from a Samsung S9 to the Pixel 3. Despite the great screen and speed of the S9, got tired of all the millions of settings, Bixby that kept turning itself on again after following "How to Completely Turn off Bixby" articles a few times , irregular updates, all the Samsung apps that duplicate Google functionality (including Bixby) that I couldn't remove. On the other hand, the Pixel 3 has a great screen and is fast (where it counts for me), and will have the security of regular updates over time. And I have a lot more control over the apps that are on my phone.

As far as customization goes, for me the biggest thing that immediately struck me was the lame Pixel launcher. I don't use the Google search widget on my home page or need the day of the week and current temperature on my home screen every time I open the phone. So I went to the Nova launcher, and have a very nice minimalistic arrangements of icons on my two home screens. With the "dock" integrated into that rather than separated by a box or line or whatever. Anyways, Android customizations are available to anyone, you don't need to be an Android guru to figure out how to do these things. You just need to have an idea of where you're going, and there's lots of information on the internet on how to get there with Android.

Speedwise, I don't stream video media or play speed games on my phone, or do much with my phone that would leverage the raw speed of the "Bionic" iPhone processor, so that really doesn't matter to me. My apps open quickly and operate quickly and smoothly on the Pixel 3, that's what I care about. These "speed tests" where apps are opened and closed one after another, either manually or automated, are meaningless to me. What matters to me is that what I do with my phone works well. And faster than any phone that I've had. Feels faster than the S9 as well, but that may be subjective...or possibly just from having less apps running on the Pixel 3.

So far, the Pixel 3 is the sweet spot for me, really enjoying it. I had the original Pixel, and liked that, followed by an iPhone 8, which I also liked. And then the Samsung S9, where I found that Samsung and I have different ideas about what's important on a phone, I'm looking for quality, Samsung offers quantity without a reason for it. I find that I love the larger screen on the Pixel 3, and the fact that I can set my phone up the way that I want it, not how Apple wants it. Battery consumption/life is about the same for me as the iPhones (and S9) that I've had, no problems there.

Just really enjoying using the Pixel 3. Haven't gotten into the camera much yet, but looking forward to playing with that as well.

 

[cardboard60]

Well, looks like I'm about the only one that went the other way, from a Samsung S9 to the Pixel 3. Despite the great screen and speed of the S9, got tired of all the millions of settings, Bixby that kept turning itself on again after following "How to Completely Turn off Bixby" articles a few times , irregular updates, all the Samsung apps that duplicate Google functionality (including Bixby) that I couldn't remove. On the other hand, the Pixel 3 has a great screen and is fast (where it counts for me), and will have the security of regular updates over time. And I have a lot more control over the apps that are on my phone.

As far as customization goes, for me the biggest thing that immediately struck me was the lame Pixel launcher. I don't use the Google search widget on my home page or need the day of the week and current temperature on my home screen every time I open the phone. So I went to the Nova launcher, and have a very nice minimalistic arrangements of icons on my two home screens. With the "dock" integrated into that rather than separated by a box or line or whatever. Anyways, Android customizations are available to anyone, you don't need to be an Android guru to figure out how to do these things. You just need to have an idea of where you're going, and there's lots of information on the internet on how to get there with Android.

Speedwise, I don't stream video media or play speed games on my phone, or do much with my phone that would leverage the raw speed of the "Bionic" iPhone processor, so that really doesn't matter to me. My apps open quickly and operate quickly and smoothly on the Pixel 3, that's what I care about. These "speed tests" where apps are opened and closed one after another, either manually or automated, are meaningless to me. What matters to me is that what I do with my phone works well. And faster than any phone that I've had.

So far, the Pixel 3 is the sweet spot for me, really enjoying it. I had the original Pixel, and liked that, followed by an iPhone 8, which I also liked. And then the Samsung S9, where I found that Samsung and I have different ideas about what's important on a phone, I'm looking for quality, Samsung offers quantity without a reason for it. I find that I love the larger screen on the Pixel 3, and the fact that I can set my phone up the way that I want it, not how Apple wants it. Battery consumption/life is about the same for me as the iPhones (and S9) that I've had, no problems there.

Just really enjoying using the Pixel 3. Haven't gotten into the camera much yet, but looking forward to playing with that as well.

I didn't like Bixby.
Nor Samsung pay.
Or the apps you couldn't delete.
Didn't want Facebook or social media sights on my phone.

 

[cardboard60]

But potentially at too high of a cost point and thus selling less when next to other big hitters

For what all I listed. You wouldn't pay 100.00 more for ?

 

[chevyman29]

I like the search bar at the bottom.

I just hate the way it was placed there and couldn't be at least moved to a different location. That's as bad as a pre installed app I can't remove

 

[Theot]

I just hate the way it was placed there and couldn't be at least moved to a different location. That's as bad as a pre installed app I can't remove

Me too and for someone that doesn't have real big or long fingers/thumbs reaching over that bar to hit icons or especially with the gesture navigation makes the device less fun to use. Plus the bar just opens the app, you can do the same thing just hitting the icon. So I've continued to use Nova because it is better. I can swipe up anywhere on the screen for my app drawer and down anywhere for notifications. Google's idea of a launcher isn't that great in my opinion.

 

[chezm]

For what all I listed. You wouldn't pay 100.00 more for ?

I would be ok spending an extra $100 for those as well, but maybe their marketing research says majority of users wouldn’t? I don’t know, just throwing something out there.