Pixel vs. S7

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

I would go with the Pixel, man. Samsung has a bunch of features that will slow down the phone over time. I'm still using an Nexus 5, it is slowing down but not too much to make me annoy.
But i love the eye scanner on Samsung flagship anyway.

That whole Samsung slowdown is pretty much a thing of the past.

 

[buzzyapyear]

That whole Samsung slowdown is pretty much a thing of the past.

Yes... this seems to be in line with my experience as well. I spent a solid year on the note 5 and even after the marshmallow update it was as buttery as the day I got it. Having had several Nexus phones prior to that I was apprehensive about the switch to Samsung but in the end I didn't really experience many of the negatives people have traditionally complained about. Touchwiz's overloaded settings was probably the worst part, but the duplicated apps you can ignore after a while. Nova launcher really smooths it over.

 

[Aquila]

But is the 821 really that different? I keep reading in forums that it is just an over clocked 820?
Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 821 is 10% faster than the 820 | Android Central

I'm referencing the same hardware thing in the post above.

 

[buzzyapyear]

Unfortunately the Pixel has already garnered as much hate as it has praise... Here is my objective opinion from someone who currently has an S7, but is moving to the Pixel.

S7 Pros over Pixel(IMO)
+ Use of space in design. S7 and S7e are smaller than other phones of equal screen size.
+ Water resistance
+ Wireless charging
+ Screen size/resolution (S7 vs Pixel)
+ Micro SD
+ Samsung Pay/offers (Samsung Pay is awesome by itself, but I also managed to ear ~$150 in gift cards through various promotions).

Pixel Pros over S7 (*Some are speculation based on specs and based on my opinion.)
+ Software! I have strong dislike for Samsung's Android. A launcher helps, but I ran into the occasional glitch when running one.
+ Processor 821 > 820. How much is the question.
+ Design. Again IMO, I prefer the aluminum/glass of the Pixel to the all glass S7.
+ Camera. This will be argued and disputed, but I don't think its fair for people to use Displaymate for screen arguments and then ignore Dxomark in the camera discussion. Plus, i'm loving what I am seeing with the EIS and the multiple shots feature.
+ Updates.
+ Google Assistant
+ Fingerprint Sensor. The FP on my S7E is garbage compared to the iPhone 6/7. If the Pixel is even slightly better and has the notification feature, i will like it more.
+ Unlimited Google Photo storage for pics/videos taken on the Pixel.
+ Flat screen... This one is going to sound silly, but the screen being flat makes full screen glass screen protectors easier to install. Both the S7s and the latest iPhones have had slightly curved screens and most of the edge-to-edge solutions have been junk.

Personally, I think the S7E is a great phone, but liking the idea of the Pixel even more and i'll see soon enough if that idea is a reality for me. Again, the above comments are in my opinion and as objectively as I can be since I was trying to make a similar decision myself.

Thanks a lot for this response. It does pretty much mirror my thoughts. TL;DR is that while the samsung specs are very nice, there's just something inherently more futuristic about the pixel. Part of the nerd in me doesn't want to miss out on that.

My thinking however is that the S7 is significantly cheaper when bought used... and can be used therefore more cost-effectively until the Pixel is proven.

 

[jimbo1mcm]

My wife has an S7. I used to have a S7 Edge. Great phones, but a little boring. Want some excitement, and a new deal with Google Assistant, get the Pixel.

 

[Rumblee1]

Just returned my note 7, to my great disappointment. What an amazing phone that was.

I need to get the next thing asap and I'm torn between Pixel 128GB (which I have on cancellable pre-order from Fi) or just grabbing a used S7 off swappa and waiting to see what's up with the S8. I have decided to go back to a smaller size.

I've never lost a phone to water damage so not sure I care about the water resistance. I liked the SD card slot on the note 7 but 128GB is probably enough for me.

I do have a bunch of wireless charging gear and even a gear VR that someone gave me for free.... but Pixel will come with the free daydream headset so...

Pure android does appeal to me but I was pleasantly surprised when I went to note 5 last year that putting Nova launcher on it pretty much did it for me.

Appreciate any thoughts that might sway me in one direction or another... the indecision is killing me

I own an S7 edge. Its an incredible device. So fast, and that super amoled screen is second to none. Ive had zero issues with it. I am getting a pixel xl, 128gb, black. Why? Because I've had it with verizon wireless. To be honest, other than googles new AI, the Pixel wont beat the S7 edge. For the last 2 months, ive been using a nexus 5x on fi to try out the Google wireless project. Its awesome. Ive been up and down the east coast, to Los Angeles, and never had connection issues. Not only that, but my bill was less that half of verizon. So I'll transfer my main phone number to the Pixel XL, and keep a data only sim in my S7 edge. GOODBYE VERIZON.

 

[arthurhkt]

Honestly, I don't think the Pixel will be as good as the S7.

I think it's depend tho, for some Pixel will be their better choice because it's offer Pure Android experience, fast update, smoother user experience and deep Google integration.

However, if you like theme support and more functionality, then S7 will be better choice then.

 

[Richard Servello]

The camera, the design, and the lack of on-screen buttons. The S7 is just good at everything.

The camera will be as good or better. I have no problem with the pixel design, and when it comes down to it a sexy phone means nothing. It's what's on screen that matters. And I prefer on-screen buttons. I always accidentally press the back button on my old s6...and the backwards button layout sucks.

 

[mop26921]

Just returned my note 7, to my great disappointment. What an amazing phone that was.

I need to get the next thing asap and I'm torn between Pixel 128GB (which I have on cancellable pre-order from Fi) or just grabbing a used S7 off swappa and waiting to see what's up with the S8. I have decided to go back to a smaller size.

I've never lost a phone to water damage so not sure I care about the water resistance. I liked the SD card slot on the note 7 but 128GB is probably enough for me.

I do have a bunch of wireless charging gear and even a gear VR that someone gave me for free.... but Pixel will come with the free daydream headset so...

Pure android does appeal to me but I was pleasantly surprised when I went to note 5 last year that putting Nova launcher on it pretty much did it for me.

Appreciate any thoughts that might sway me in one direction or another... the indecision is killing me

If the SD card and water resistance are not dealbreakers for you then I say go Pixel. I wouldn't worry about wireless charging as next years phones, Pixel included, will most probably have it so your charging gear will still get used.

 

[Delnic]

I think I'll prefer Google's Pixel interface over samsung's one.
So Pixel for me...

 

[Theot]

Hardware buttons are something I just like. When the phone is sitting on a counter or desk I can just tap the home button to turn it on. I like that. I spent a little over a year with a LG G3 and the tap to wake was cool at first but didn't always work the first time. I also don't like the screen buttons taking up part of my screen, with hardware buttons I can always back out, switch apps or go home. I don't have to fiddle with them being hidden. It seems like such a minor thing but for me I really hated that. It's why I've stuck with Samsung phones.

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

The camera will be as good or better. I have no problem with the pixel design, and when it comes down to it a sexy phone means nothing. It's what's on screen that matters. And I prefer on-screen buttons. I always accidentally press the back button on my old s6...and the backwards button layout sucks.

As of right now, I see no evidence that the Pixel has a better camera than the Nexus 6P. It looks like a marginally better version of the Nexus 6P camera. Plus the S8 will come out soon and easily beat all challengers in camera performance again.

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

Hardware buttons are something I just like. When the phone is sitting on a counter or desk I can just tap the home button to turn it on. I like that. I spent a little over a year with a LG G3 and the tap to wake was cool at first but didn't always work the first time. I also don't like the screen buttons taking up part of my screen, with hardware buttons I can always back out, switch apps or go home. I don't have to fiddle with them being hidden. It seems like such a minor thing but for me I really hated that. It's why I've stuck with Samsung phones.

Yeah, the on-screen buttons take up screen space when it isn't necessary and the buttons habe historically looked hokey, plus they can get burned into an AMOLED panel because they're on screen so often.

 

[Aquila]

As of right now, I see no evidence that the Pixel has a better camera than the Nexus 6P.

... How is this possible?

It looks like a marginally better version of the Nexus 6P camera.

Can you please explain further what you mean by this?

Plus the S8 will come out soon and easily beat all challengers in camera performance again.

Can you please provide links to tests of the S8 vs its competition, including sample shots so we can also see for ourselves?

 

[jd78]

As of right now, I see no evidence that the Pixel has a better camera than the Nexus 6P. It looks like a marginally better version of the Nexus 6P camera. Plus the S8 will come out soon and easily beat all challengers in camera performance again.

This post hurts my head... One second you say there is no evidence its better, but then say its better. You're the same guy that touted Displaymate in the iPhone vs Samsung discussion, but now want to ignore dxomark in the Pixel vs S7 discussion. Starting to see a theme here... Also, this is a Pixel vs S7 discussion. There will always be something "better" around the corner. How about we stick to the here and now?

 

[Aquila]

Just for context, the top 25 cameras evaluated by a third party are these:

This year's best Samsung camera is 1 point above last year's best, 87 vs 86. I fully agree that Samsung will probably improve upon their already fantastically awesome camera.

The Nexus 6P is currently in a 5 way tie for 12th place, while the Pixel is alone in 1st place (as of 10/15/2016).

So it'd be impossible for me to reconcile there being no evidence for the Pixel camera being better than the Nexus 6P. It's also extremely unlikely that Samsung will blow anything out of the water, since the last three years of major players in the camera arena are on this list and there are very few stories evident in this data other than iterative improvement. I wouldn't put it past them to get an 89 or maybe even a 90, but outside of that it'd have to be a major change in technology, not just choosing a better processor, SoC and writing better software. It's also entirely possible the S8 will launch with a camera that scores an 86. Difficult to know without having a phone in existence.

For example, the S7 Edge is slightly better than the S6 Edge Plus which is slightly better than the S6 Edge which was equal to the Note 5 which was a big leap over their 2014 best, the Note 4.
Another example, the iPhone 7 is slightly better than the iPhone 6s Plus which was slightly better than the 6s, 6 and 6 plus.

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

... How is this possible?



Can you please explain further what you mean by this?



Can you please provide links to tests of the S8 vs its competition, including sample shots so we can also see for ourselves?

What I meant is that I think the Nexus 6P and Pixel have the same camera since the specs are identical and the Pixel produces slightly better results through software improvements. We know the S7 Edge has the best camera so far. The Pixel doesn't look like it will be beating the S7's camera. The S8 will have a better camera than the S7 Edge

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

Just for context, the top 25 cameras evaluated by a third party are these:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...eivYBNmLsd9dCCESsp6aQCL0B/h871/2016-10-15.png


This year's best Samsung camera is 1 point above last year's best, 87 vs 86. I fully agree that Samsung will probably improve upon their already fantastically awesome camera.

The Nexus 6P is currently in a 5 way tie for 12th place, while the Pixel is alone in 1st place (as of 10/15/2016).

So it'd be impossible for me to reconcile there being no evidence for the Pixel camera being better than the Nexus 6P. It's also extremely unlikely that Samsung will blow anything out of the water, since the last three years of major players in the camera arena are on this list and there are very few stories evident in this data other than iterative improvement. I wouldn't put it past them to get an 89 or maybe even a 90, but outside of that it'd have to be a major change in technology, not just choosing a better processor, SoC and writing better software. It's also entirely possible the S8 will launch with a camera that scores an 86. Difficult to know without having a phone in existence.

For example, the S7 Edge is slightly better than the S6 Edge Plus which is slightly better than the S6 Edge which was equal to the Note 5 which was a big leap over their 2014 best, the Note 4.
Another example, the iPhone 7 is slightly better than the iPhone 6s Plus which was slightly better than the 6s, 6 and 6 plus.

I haven't seen anything in photos or camera performance that would lead me to believe that the Pixel camera beats the S7 Edge camera.

 

[Aquila]

What I meant is that I think the Nexus 6P and Pixel have the same camera since the specs are identical and the Pixel produces slightly better results through software improvements. We know the S7 Edge has the best camera so far. The Pixel doesn't look like it will be beating the S7's camera. The S8 will have a better camera than the S7 Edge

Ok, it is a different camera though they have most of the review noted specs the same. Prior to October 4th, the S7 Edge was tied for 1st place in a three way tie and then it was beaten, by the Pixel. The S8 will probably have a better camera than the S7 Edge, but it might not. History would indicate it should but the phone hasn't been released and the camera hasn't been analyzed so we can't really know that yet.

All of that said, when choosing between the Pixel and the S7, the possible quality of future devices wouldn't be relevant and the only data we have today is that, while the S7 Edge and Pixel are close in quality, the Pixel actually has a slight advantage that results it it being considered the best camera in a phone at this moment.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

What I meant is that I think the Nexus 6P and Pixel have the same camera since the specs are identical and the Pixel produces slightly better results through software improvements. We know the S7 Edge has the best camera so far. The Pixel doesn't look like it will be beating the S7's camera. The S8 will have a better camera than the S7 Edge

They're not the same. They're identical, but the Pixel's sensor is a stacked BSI CMOS sensor.

The IMX378 in the Pixel also features phase-detection autofocus, something the IMX377 in the 6P does not have. The IMX378 is also better capable for high-framerate videos (slow-motion) and also better tuned for HDR, especially when recording UHD in HDR.

The main improvement is obviously PDAF.