Everyone happy with Pixel so far?

[christophermccarthy]

Overall I'm extremely happy with it, but it seems like some apps have not been updated to run on Android 7.0 that's a bit of a problem Google Earth was a disaster

 

[Sher the love]

After a cross country move, I decided to give Verizon a try and picked up a smaller Pixel. Personally, I didn't care for it. Besides the fluidity, nothing really made me think it was anything special over something like an S7.

I don't know if it was the lighting situation, but my most of the time in our hotel room, my wife's S6 produced much sharper pictures (I even changed the camera setting down to 12mp). When trying pictures out the window on an overcast day, I couldn't get clear picture at all on the Pixel.

I've seen reviews that show better pics from the Pixel when compared to the S7, but I couldn't produce anything to match the S6 in my situation. I didn't really try outside, but most of my pictures are taken inside anyway.

I tried the different HDR modes and that didn't seem to help much.

AT&T and Verizon ended up being a wash in terms of reception in our new area, so we decided to remain on AT&T. I ended up picking up an S7 from target and got a free $200 gift card. Althoigh it's definitely less fluid, there's something about it that I really enjoy when using.

 

[BluSurf]

XL here. Best phone ever oned thus far. Smooth operating software. Bests my 6P and blows away the 5X.

 

[Rumblee1]

I had the axon 7 before the pixel and absolutely loved it other than having random radio drops on wifi and verizon's network. How would you say your pixel's screen quality compares to the axon 7 or the s7 edge?

Anyone that truly is involved with smartphone tech will have to admit that the samsung galaxy s7 edge screen is the best in the business. I even find the Axon 7 slightly better than pixel, and it should be since ZTE buys their Super amoled screens from Samsung. Now im not knocking the pixel screen, its very clear and bright. But no samsung.

 

[Rumblee1]

I tinkered with a Pixel XL in a Verizon store here in NYC and I wasn't blown away by anything except that it was fast, clean and unfussy. I've accepted the no wireless charging and the non-waterproof aspects of this thing, and the missing SD slot doesn't worry me (128GB and unlimited photo/video storage). Not sure what else I want except a stylus and some awesome software to go with it, but in truth I just want a fast, functional, solid phone that won't die every day around 3PM without carrying a porta-charger all over the place.

Plenty of people seem to be less-than-impressed by it but I think it will work for me, so I'm hoping it will and I'll go with it.

Right, its like the iPhone. Google got the hype in motion just as Apple does, but after the purchase, I'm not unhappy, but certainly not blown away especially at both pixels price point. When you realize that oneplus is coming out with the 3T,and many other phones will all have the Qualcomm 821, we certainly got overcharged. And what about the S8 thats coming down the pike. If you've read about that,, WOW. Im going to keep my pixel, but only because I'm on project fi and its serving me well. I've got a data only sim in my S7 edge and axon 7. On those 2 phones, I downloaded Google hangouts Dialer so I can call from those phones should I have too. I hope no one thinks I'm crucifying pixel, it's a top notch phone. But we should have received much more bang for our buck.

 

[rslifkin]

The S8 is certainly looking good. However, the Pixel does still hold one big thing over the OP3... It works on Verizon while the OP3 doesn't.

 

[Rumblee1]

Right, its like the iPhone. Google got the hype in motion just as Apple does, but after the purchase, I'm not unhappy, but certainly not blown away especially at both pixels price point. When you realize that oneplus is coming out with the 3T,and many other phones will all have the Qualcomm 821, we certainly got overcharged. And what about the S8 thats coming down the pike. If you've read about that,, WOW. Im going to keep my pixel, but only because I'm on project fi and its serving me well. I've got a data only sim in my S7 edge and axon 7. On those 2 phones, I downloaded Google hangouts Dialer so I can call from those phones should I have too. I hope no one thinks I'm crucifying pixel, it's a top notch phone. But we should have received much more bang for our buck. It's like buying a high priced luxury car. You got a great drivetrain, but no stereo,no power windows, no power door locks, no leather seats.

 

[CHILLYWILL_95831]

Absolutely love it.

Yeah it's Android's iPhone and I couldn't be happier.

I feel that this is the only Android phone on the market that's worth consideration. And I understand people may take offence to that, but here's my reasoning:

- Fastest updates and fastest security updates. No other OEM will be able to match Google here. I'm tired of being a second class citizen if I choose to buy another OEM's phone. This is the only phone where I'm confident that I'll get the latest Android updates. I can't say the same for other phones.

- User experience imo is hands down the best I've ever used (and this is coming off the Note 7 and HTC 10). Google put the effort into making sure their UI is extremely fast and smooth. They focused on touch response and things like that, many OEM's wouldn't bother putting time and money into.

- Unlimited Google Photos storage. A pretty big win for me. I can take all the photos and videos I want and not have to choose the high quality option and not degrade the quality. Don't know if this will roll out to other phones, but it's here in the Pixel and I'm really happy about it.

Aside from that stuff, I'm getting all the other usual great things like superb camera, great battery life etc.

So would I trade that stuff for another Android phone that, on paper, is supposed to be faster/better? No I wouldn't. Simply because there are certain things I'm confident other companies can't match and most of all, I trust Google above all other OEM's in their direction and support for their phones.

I'm so impressed with this phone that I'm not interested in the Galaxy S8, HTC 11, LG G6 etc. The next phone in my sights is the Pixel 2.

So true!

 

[Rumblee1]

The S8 is certainly looking good. However, the Pixel does still hold one big thing over the OP3... It works on Verizon while the OP3 doesn't.

Have you tried it? I was also on Verizon, but since all verizon smartphones are unlocked, my S7 edge from Verizon works perfectly on project fi. You just wont get the carrier switching. It stays connected to T-Mobile. Only way to know, is to pop your verizon sim into an op3 and check it out for yourself.

 

[rslifkin]

Have you tried it? I was also on Verizon, but since all verizon smartphones are unlocked, my S7 edge from Verizon works perfectly on project fi. You just wont get the carrier switching. It stays connected to T-Mobile. Only way to know, is to pop your verizon sim into an op3 and check it out for yourself.

The OP3 has very limited CDMA support, so it effectively doesn't usefully work on Verizon. It'll work if you're in areas with LTE coverage or an area with 850mhz CDMA, but if you ever end up in an area with only 1900mhz CDMA, you'll just lose signal entirely. That also means that you'd have to rely on VoLTE working or having 850mhz CDMA if VoLTE doesn't work, otherwise you wouldn't be able to make voice calls.

 

[T48]

Anyone that truly is involved with smartphone tech will have to admit that the samsung galaxy s7 edge screen is the best in the business. I even find the Axon 7 slightly better than pixel, and it should be since ZTE buys their Super amoled screens from Samsung. Now im not knocking the pixel screen, its very clear and bright. But no samsung.

The Pixel Amoled display is via Samsung. See step 4 at link.
Cannot comment as to why or how they may differ between what they sell to other oem's vs what they install on their own devices.
But it is made by Samsung. https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Google+Pixel+XL+Teardown/71237

 

[SteelGator]

Now im not knocking the pixel screen, its very clear and bright. But no samsung.

Except the Pixel display **is** manufactured by, uh, Samsung.

 

[Rumblee1]

The Pixel Amoled display is via Samsung. See step 4 at link.
Cannot comment as to why or how they may differ between what they sell to other oem's vs what they install on their own devices.
But it is made by Samsung. https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Google+Pixel+XL+Teardown/71237

Great to know, but side by side, same brightness, the S7 edge stands out. Could also be the curved display too.

 

[Amele]

Samsung was using Super Amoled Display at least on the Note, which was slightly brighter and more vibrant but not by a huge amount. I have no idea what the super part of that meant or whether it was just a way to crank up the brightness or a real extra thing. But Samsung did make sure to mention it

 

[deadpenguins]

Samsung was using Super Amoled Display at least on the Note, which was slightly brighter and more vibrant but not by a huge amount. I have no idea what the super part of that meant or whether it was just a way to crank up the brightness or a real extra thing. But Samsung did make sure to mention it

I believe it refers to a non pentile arrangement of subpixels, if I remember correctly.

 

[deadpenguins]

Anyone that truly is involved with smartphone tech will have to admit that the samsung galaxy s7 edge screen is the best in the business. I even find the Axon 7 slightly better than pixel, and it should be since ZTE buys their Super amoled screens from Samsung. Now im not knocking the pixel screen, its very clear and bright. But no samsung.

Funny you should say that, because I'd say the pixel is complete trash compared to those screens. It's trash compared to any phone I've seen in the past year come out. I have no idea why more people aren't complaining about it.

 

[rslifkin]

Funny you should say that, because I'd say the pixel is complete trash compared to those screens. It's trash compared to any phone I've seen in the past year come out. I have no idea why more people aren't complaining about it.

Have you had a chance to compare yours against another pixel yet to confirm that yours doesn't have a defective screen?

 

[BoogieNY]

Right, its like the iPhone. Google got the hype in motion just as Apple does, but after the purchase, I'm not unhappy, but certainly not blown away especially at both pixels price point. When you realize that oneplus is coming out with the 3T,and many other phones will all have the Qualcomm 821, we certainly got overcharged. And what about the S8 thats coming down the pike. If you've read about that,, WOW. Im going to keep my pixel, but only because I'm on project fi and its serving me well. I've got a data only sim in my S7 edge and axon 7. On those 2 phones, I downloaded Google hangouts Dialer so I can call from those phones should I have too. I hope no one thinks I'm crucifying pixel, it's a top notch phone. But we should have received much more bang for our buck.

I really like the concept of wireless charging and the SD slot in the Edge but overall it's really a disappointment. I don't care about waterproof issues, but those two particular things are sort of important. However, with the unlimited photo/video storage and Dropbox, and 128GB built into the XL, I'm okay passing on the SD slot. And the wireless charging isn't a deal-breaker for me. So I'm okay with the Pixel and not losing it over the things it doesn't offer.

By the time Google opts out and releases a Pixel XL II or a III, I will be ready for an upgrade, so I'm okay buying this phone at this time. I waited out for the Note 6 (eg Note 7) and that went really well (not). So inasmuch as I am sure there is and will always be another phone about to come out soon -- a month or two or six from now -- I'm just going to pull the trigger. If it's lousy I am okay returning it and using the Note 4 for another six months if the Pixel is really lousy, but of the things that are really crucial to me, I can't really foresee any major issues. I think the biggest learning curve is no physical home button and the screen buttons opposite of what they were on the Samsung interface. Otherwise, I'm all about the Pixel.

And I'm bummed the VR headset sounds like it's crap, but the truth is I'll spend 20 minutes with it and park it somewhere in a cabinet and forget about it (or give it to someone when I sell the phone in 24 months).

 

[anon(661246)]

I really like the concept of wireless charging and the SD slot in the Edge but overall it's really a disappointment. I don't care about waterproof issues, but those two particular things are sort of important. However, with the unlimited photo/video storage and Dropbox, and 128GB built into the XL, I'm okay passing on the SD slot. And the wireless charging isn't a deal-breaker for me. So I'm okay with the Pixel and not losing it over the things it doesn't offer.

By the time Google opts out and releases a Pixel XL II or a III, I will be ready for an upgrade, so I'm okay buying this phone at this time. I waited out for the Note 6 (eg Note 7) and that went really well (not). So inasmuch as I am sure there is and will always be another phone about to come out soon -- a month or two or six from now -- I'm just going to pull the trigger. If it's lousy I am okay returning it and using the Note 4 for another six months if the Pixel is really lousy, but of the things that are really crucial to me, I can't really foresee any major issues. I think the biggest learning curve is no physical home button and the screen buttons opposite of what they were on the Samsung interface. Otherwise, I'm all about the Pixel.

And I'm bummed the VR headset sounds like it's crap, but the truth is I'll spend 20 minutes with it and park it somewhere in a cabinet and forget about it (or give it to someone when I sell the phone in 24 months).

You are giving the vr more time than I did. Gave it about ten minutes. It was very meh. It wasn't just because of the limited apps at the moment it was the whole experience

 

[BoogieNY]

You are giving the vr more time than I did. Gave it about ten minutes. It was very meh. It wasn't just because of the limited apps at the moment it was the whole experience

LOL yep, that's about right...I hope it's good, but I'm not particularly worried either way. The Samsung VR is pretty amazing and I only spent about an hour in total since August tinkering with it, so whether this VR is worthwhile or not, I doubt it will make much difference either way.