Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

[I Can Be Your Hero]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

I think they are judging the phone as a whole package, not just assigning marks to all different aspects of it.

They're rating it the best overall, meaning to them, it provides the best smartphone experience in the android space.

That doesn't mean you'll agree with it, or that the phone you have/like is any less good.

I personally agree with the Pixel being the best android phone I've used. I think the usability and experience is a step above other android phones I've used.

 

[Aquila]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

Most of that is wrong. I don't understand who you think you're fooling with your little shopping list there.

I will take the one which most people would probably be fooled by. Software support. But Samsung has done a pretty decent job giving monthly updates, it was even the only marshmallow phone to get vulkan iirc. The only thing is os updates coming later. If you want to talk about software support, Google has said 2 os updates and monthly security updates a year after that. The galaxy s5 got two software updates and to this day is still getting security updates.

Pretty much the only other thing you got right was the audio quality potentially being better, but nobody seems to have properly tested it yet.

The s7 is not on 7.1.1, will probably not be for months and will likely never get 8.

It is less secure than the Pixel phones for that very reason, but also because Samsung failed to launch with several security features on board and has failed to provide immediate monthly security updates literally every single month since launch. It's better than many OEMs but much worse than best.

I don't think anyone is about to argue glass is more durable than metal, but I suppose we could discuss that.

The s7 and edge are both more expensive than their size counterparts.

Neither supports day dream, neither supports assistant, neither comes in any configuration other than 32 GB in the US.

The s7 and edge literally have a better IP rating and are the same or worse across the board otherwise except maybe display accuracy, which hasn't been compared properly yet and will be too close to have meaning other than in an academic sense.

So more expensive + worse = Samsung 2016 - the opposite of the claim made in this thread.

 

[Aquila]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

I asked for this earlier in another thread, but I can ask it here.

Please tell me the price of an S7 edge with power delivery, assistant, running 7.1, with an sd821, better camera, 4 times as much storage, etc, etc.

It's $792 according to an earlier post - add all those upgrades in, then how much is it?

 

[Aquila]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

Oh and Samsungs are certainly better at resistance to obsolescence. .

Could you explain what you mean here?


What I mean is that it’s already two API levels behind, will remain behind for months, and will likely never make it to the next API level. It has a SoC and a storage implementation that, either one of which are extremely likely to prevent it from being updated to Android 8.


The S7 and S7 Edge are already behind on software and are likely to remain behind permanently, while the Pixel phones are already 2 API levels ahead and will get at least the next two major versions of Android.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

Samsung cameras are overall superior as several, and by "several" I mean the minority of, comparisons and reviews have mentioned, like the one I posted above. Every speed test (that I choose to acknowledge, so that means every) shows that Samsungs are overall faster devices than the Pixels (equals at launching apps, Samsung with a big lead launching games). The Pixels aren't more secure than Samsung devices, in particular the Note 7, whose removal from the market means that the following has no bearing when considering currently available flagships, which had Knox security and an Iris Scanner in addition to other forms of security, and don't try to sell me on that whole automatic VPN when on wifi thing - we all know how secure public WiFi is, nor on that 'oh Pixels get OS updates and security patches much faster' thing because we all know that when a new virus or threat shows up, those who would try to apply them are courteous enough to provide ample time to allow everyone to protect themselves before using them.. I prefer Samsung's current software over bare bones Android - Samsung's software just has far more features to use, and some of them are actually really nice so I don't mind having a bunch of duplicated apps. Those unique "value-adds" that Pixels offer such as improved AI, 24/7 support, unlimited cloud backup (seriously, I can just pay for that if I need it), support for virtually all networks worldwide are just a gimmick. Samsung design is obviously superior and you silly guys with your 'it's all subjective to the user' garbage should just recognize that I'm a user and this is the subject I'm talking about, so it's my way or the highway. Samsung has Gear VR, and you can't show me a single review comparing Daydream VR to Gear that says Daydream is better. Nevermind that it's not actually out yet, because when it is I'll just gladly refer you to what's being anticipated down the road with S8, and Samsung is the future, the future is now, therefore the future of Samsung is eligible to be used as competition despite it not being out yet. Unlike Daydream, ahem.... Samsung battery life is only worse when it comes to standby times - screen on times are similar and with the Note 7 you could even lower the resolution to help with battery life among other customizations to increase screen on time by up to an hour... Those people who claim to have used both and say the opposite can't be right, because everyone's usage profile is the exact same. I should probably avoid talking about products that have blown up in Samsung's face here, and might actually make a great point about Samsung's batter life down the road when the S8/Edge finally get Nougat, since then the battery life may actually more substantially outpace Pixels on receiving Doze 2.0, but that's a logical argument and clearly nobody is responding to the logical points made earlier in this thread so I don't want to set a trend. Samsungs offer greater storage capacity for the price because it doesn't take a mathematician to know that $769.99 for a 32GB Galaxy S7 Edge is less than $769.00 for a 32GB Pixel XL.... Charging solutions are basically equal other than the Pixel being able to restore a large chunk of capacity much faster for a quick mid-day boost, but that's a moot point as that's never a real-world scenario. Oh and Samsungs are certainly better at resistance to obsolescence because unlike Google who guarantees 2 years of updates, Samsung updates the OS once, eventually, but it's updating its bloatware as well so that counts twice and makes up for the next big update it won't ever get.. The Pixel still doesn't have many hardware and software features found on Samsungs and what it does have at best matches what Samsung has done with the 7 month old S7 Edge and at worst is clearly beaten by the Samsung, and before you go on about how I just effectively said that the S7 Edge at worst matches the hardware features it doesn't actually have, remember, logic..
*edited for clarification

Ok, on first reading I couldn't see where you were coming from, but it makes a whole lot more sense now. Enjoy your Samsung. - they're great phones (seriously), and handsdown the best choice if their feature set matches your needs the best. I'll enjoy my Pixel, as it matches best to mine. Of course, if you're right, everyone will come to that consensus and there'll be a massive news story in a couple of weeks exposing how Google failed completely and had to essentially hang its head in shame over launching such an obviously flawed product, and as a result decided to pull it completely from the market. Hey, wouldn't be the first time it's happened to a manufacturer....

 

[LyricalNonsense]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

Agree, the pixel is top notch in basically all aspects, but I can't wait to see what the note 8 has to offer, I'm sure it will top the pixels.

 

[1213 1213]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

The s7 is not on 7.1.1, will probably not be for months and will likely never get 8.

It is less secure than the Pixel phones for that very reason, but also because Samsung failed to launch with several security features on board and has failed to provide immediate monthly security updates literally every single month since launch. It's better than many OEMs but much worse than best.

I don't think anyone is about to argue glass is more durable than metal, but I suppose we could discuss that.

The s7 and edge are both more expensive than their size counterparts.

Neither supports day dream, neither supports assistant, neither comes in any configuration other than 32 GB in the US.

The s7 and edge literally have a better IP rating and are the same or worse across the board otherwise except maybe display accuracy, which hasn't been compared properly yet and will be too close to have meaning other than in an academic sense.

So more expensive + worse = Samsung 2016 - the opposite of the claim made in this thread.

What security features? And is monthly security updates really a big deal? Does it change the user experience or even lead to any notable risk?

Yes, metal is more durable, but the pixel has glass on the back too, which severely diminishes the value of having metal. And this is without the perks of wireless charging.

And there is presently no reason to think the s7 won't get android o.

Why do you say it is more expensive? Even in the US, you could get a s7 from bestbuy for $600, whereas the pixel is $650. The larger sizes are the same price at $770. And the s7 typically gives a free vr or smartwatch, or microsd of 250gb. If you're willing to use ebay you can get either for substantially less.

The s7 is cheaper and has better hardware, including a better display, much better battery life (at least exynos, which is even available in the US if you get an international version), better performance, better storage solution with expandable storage, better charging solution, being cheaper, etc.

I mean, the only thing going for the pixel is the assistant which is too quirky to work as a real assistant, and cloud storage for pictures/videos, which isn't as reliable, fast, and versatile as expandable storage. And more reliable software support. That's it. Totally not worth its shortcomings to the s7.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

What security features? And is monthly security updates really a big deal? Does it change the user experience or even lead to any notable risk?

Yes, metal is more durable, but the pixel has glass on the back too, which severely diminishes the value of having metal. And this is without the perks of wireless charging.

And there is presently no reason to think the s7 won't get android o.

Why do you say it is more expensive? Even in the US, you could get a s7 from bestbuy for $600, whereas the pixel is $650. The larger sizes are the same price at $770. And the s7 typically gives a free vr or smartwatch, or microsd of 250gb. If you're willing to use ebay you can get either for substantially less.

The s7 is cheaper and has better hardware, including a better display, much better battery life (at least exynos, which is even available in the US if you get an international version), better performance, better storage solution with expandable storage, better charging solution, being cheaper, etc.

I mean, the only thing going for the pixel is the assistant which is too quirky to work as a real assistant, and cloud storage for pictures/videos, which isn't as reliable, fast, and versatile as expandable storage. And more reliable software support. That's it. Totally not worth its shortcomings to the s7.

Security updates are... security updates. Protection against exposure to threats. It's fully possible you could never have an issue, but look at it this way: if a health epidemic broke out and your healthcare provider told you "I can give you immunization, but not yet - we know it works and will protect you, but we haven't decided to roll it out to you. Check back next month," how would you feel?

What reason is there to expect the S7 will get Android O? It's against Samsung's own interests to continue to enhance the value of a then 2-year old product and diminish its opportunities to sell up to their latest.

Get an Exynos processor on the international version and I'm betting you're giving up support for a number of network bands, meaning you're giving up some of your coverage.

The list goes on, but you get the gist...

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

I don't get your question, it IS the best Android phone since right now it's Android in its purest form.

Pure google device, hence pure Android, being the only one, the best.

Apart from this, many things that have been listed on here are quite objective.
Different things for different people, most of which you've stated isn't really a problem for me except the price, but oh well, phones in general aren't inexpensive anymore.

As long as display, water resistance, iris scanners, software features like always on displays, design, listening to music with your headphones, and the camera aren't important to you... sure.

 

[Aquila]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

And there is presently no reason to think the s7 won't get android o.

There are two reasons. One, Samsung didn't ship with seamless updates enabled and two, the SD820 is somewhat unlikely to be supported for the necessary updates. The latter is the less likely of the two, but the two together aren't good.

I did this search: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=s7 edge price

And it says the S7 Edge is $780 and the S7 is $670. That makes the Pixel XL $10 cheaper than the S7 Edge and the Pixel $20 cheaper than the S7.

If we're going to include free things, let's include infinite storage for photos and videos, free daydream, etc, etc.

And as far as security features - does the S7 Edge have file level encryption? (honestly asking that)

Here's what N brings: Android 7.0: Security benefits that truly matter | Android Central

The S7 will get some of that but not all of it and will never support seamless updates. I don't know if the S7 does this or not, but the Note 7 included security malware from Cheetah Mobile on it out of the box ... so that's a thing. If the S7 doesn't, thank goodness for that.

Just did a quick tally of the ranking on various features mentioned in this thread between these four devices:

To me this looks like the S7's are pretty far behind, although I will be the first to admit that on many of these features, being tied for 3rd behind a tie for 1st doesn't mean it's THAT far behind, it just means it is behind. However, since the S7 Edge is the current pinnacle of Samsung devices available to market, that makes the Pixels the best phones that you can buy today.

 

[Aquila]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

As long as display, water resistance, iris scanners, software features like always on displays, design, listening to music with your headphones, and the camera aren't important to you... sure.

Now I’m curious about “listening to music with your headphones”. The S7 Edge and S7 are apparently terrible at this and the Pixel and Pixel XL nailed quality audio (though not as well as LG on the V20).
Obviously you’re going to keep throwing camera in the list despite absolutely no consensus (reviews are approximately 3:1 against your conclusion) nor a single objective test to back that up so from now on we shall just ignore those comments.

 

[cdd543]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

The thing that makes it the best Android phone I've ever used is the performance and fluidity. It's a different level than my note 7, s7 edge or 6p.

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

Could you explain what you mean here?


What I mean is that it’s already two API levels behind, will remain behind for months, and will likely never make it to the next API level. It has a SoC and a storage implementation that, either one of which are extremely likely to prevent it from being updated to Android 8.


The S7 and S7 Edge are already behind on software and are likely to remain behind permanently, while the Pixel phones are already 2 API levels ahead and will get at least the next two major versions of Android.

The Samsung UIs are already well ahead of stock Android. Samsung's can do so much more than stock Android it's ridiculous. The APIs are irrelevant. That's just the software. I've mentioned all of the other things that make it future proof. A 7 month old S7 Edge is better than the Pixel XL at virtually everything, objectively.

 

[Aquila]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

The Samsung UIs are already well ahead of stock Android. Samsung's can do so much more than stock Android it's ridiculous. The APIs are irrelevant. That's just the software. I've mentioned all of the other things that make it future proof. A 7 month old S7 Edge is better than the Pixel XL at virtually everything, objectively.

Haha, ok. Translation for the rest of us: “Facts don’t matter, I can just say something is future proof despite having an older and guaranteed to be supported for a shorter duration (both relatively and absolutely) processor, having outdated and never going to be up to date software, etc”.

This must be in the same line of thinking where 1 in 4 reviewers can say they prefer one aspect of a feature more than another and those 25% are then PROVING that all aspects of that feature are objectively better than all others.

Have fun here, glad to say this is going nowhere so we can stop.

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

There are two reasons. One, Samsung didn't ship with seamless updates enabled and two, the SD820 is somewhat unlikely to be supported for the necessary updates. The latter is the less likely of the two, but the two together aren't good.

I did this search: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=s7 edge price

And it says the S7 Edge is $780 and the S7 is $670. That makes the Pixel XL $10 cheaper than the S7 Edge and the Pixel $20 cheaper than the S7.

If we're going to include free things, let's include infinite storage for photos and videos, free daydream, etc, etc.

And as far as security features - does the S7 Edge have file level encryption? (honestly asking that)

Here's what N brings: Android 7.0: Security benefits that truly matter | Android Central

The S7 will get some of that but not all of it and will never support seamless updates. I don't know if the S7 does this or not, but the Note 7 included security malware from Cheetah Mobile on it out of the box ... so that's a thing. If the S7 doesn't, thank goodness for that.

Just did a quick tally of the ranking on various features mentioned in this thread between these four devices:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...k8Rd0bcVMBupMMO5uH3vQCL0B/h770/2016-10-25.png

To me this looks like the S7's are pretty far behind, although I will be the first to admit that on many of these features, being tied for 3rd behind a tie for 1st doesn't mean it's THAT far behind, it just means it is behind. However, since the S7 Edge is the current pinnacle of Samsung devices available to market, that makes the Pixels the best phones that you can buy today.

Those rankings are complete nonsense.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

The Samsung UIs are already well ahead of stock Android. Samsung's can do so much more than stock Android it's ridiculous. The APIs are irrelevant. That's just the software. I've mentioned all of the other things that make it future proof. A 7 month old S7 Edge is better than the Pixel XL at virtually everything, objectively.

You had a lengthy post on that earlier. I inserted my thoughts as to some points you were making that seemed to shy away from acknowledging a number of truths that didn't support your point, or where your statements would appear to be patently incorrect when presented with some basic ground logic. I'm pretty open-minded, and can certainly accept I might be missing something, but would appreciate your response with evidence to support and convince me of your position, since the facts tend to point against many of its components.

 

[sulla1965]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

The S7 edge is better than the Pixel. Waterproof, SD card support, wireless charging. Has a better low light camera and much better audio with its video recording. Pixel is a great phone and I'll likely get one, but I doubt it will be better than my s7 edge.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

The Samsung UIs are already well ahead of stock Android. Samsung's can do so much more than stock Android it's ridiculous. The APIs are irrelevant. That's just the software. I've mentioned all of the other things that make it future proof. A 7 month old S7 Edge is better than the Pixel XL at virtually everything, objectively.

Eh, I think that's quite the opposite of objectively.

How good a phone is, is very much subjective. What you value in a phone, I may not care for at all, and vice versa.

For example, I weight user experience, speed, fluidity etc as of utmost importance. Having owned a Note 7 very recently before the recalls, I personally think the Pixel is far, far superior to use on that respect. That's a subjective opinion of mine and you may very well disagree, which is great - we all have different views on these things.

I think 'doing more' doesn't necessarily translate to 'better'. At least to me it doesn't. Sure I could 'do more' on the Note 7 than I can with the Pixel, especially with the pen functions, but ultimately that doesn't matter to me. I enjoy using the Pixel more than I did the Note 7. Quite a bit more. The Note 7 had iris scanning functionality, again another feature the Pixel didn't have, but again, completely irrelevant to me. I used it once, didn't like it and never used it again.

I like the more focused approach of the Pixel and the value add it provides (Assistant, unlimited photo/video backup, fastest software updates, fastest security updates) I find those things comforting.

I mean I could argue till I'm black and blue that the Pixel is better than the iPhone 7 to an iPhone user, but that doesn't mean I'm right. That person may prefer the iPhone's ecosystem and everything it has and that's perfectly ok.

It's good to have different opinions, because we can discuss and share our ideas, but I don't think coming in and declaring that X device is better than Y, as if it's some fact of truth that is known, is really useful or helpful to anyone here.

The S7 edge is better than the Pixel. Waterproof, SD card support, wireless charging. Has a better low light camera and much better audio with its video recording. Pixel is a great phone and I'll likely get one, but I doubt it will be better than my s7 edge.

This is another thing I take issue with - rating phones based off spec sheets. I don't agree with that because phones are more than just a sum of their parts. You need to use a phone as your daily driver for a period of time to really get a feel for the phone, a feel for what it's strengths/weakenesses are to make a judgement on it.

I don't think rattling off a bunch of specs for a phone and saying one is better than the other is right. If that were the case, then every phone with a Snapdragon 820 should perform the same and provide the same experience when it comes to speed/fluidity, but very clearly that is not the case. You get very varied experiences with phones despite them having the same processor, same amount of ram etc; so where's the value in that intangible aspect?

 

[anon(464338)]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

Software experience trumps features to me, and that's why I'll never own another Samsung.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Re: Can't agree with Pixel being the top based on their current "Best Android Phone" article

Can we just get someone to modify the below to show Samsung and Pixel logos, and be done with it?