Samsung phones should I ditch them for Google pixel phones?

[beckytigeress]

I've bought the s8 and thinking about s9. However, I'm wondering if it's better to wait for the next high end google pixel phone to come out. I don't know if stock android is better than Samsung experience ui. The most important things to me are speed,battery life,water resistance, good camera, no speakers for loud music, not a bunch of manufacturer bloat and fast updates. The galaxy phones I've had die fast it feels like. Would a high pixel phone have better battery life performance in comparison? I've also noticed that whenever I've got a Samsung phone screen burn in eventually happens. My other phone I had years ago the Huawei ascend q never had screen burn in and I used it constantly. Suggestions and input would be helpful.

 

[chanchan05]

I've bought the s8 and thinking about s9. However, I'm wondering if it's better to wait for the next high end google pixel phone to come out. I don't know if stock android is better than Samsung experience ui. The most important things to me are speed,battery life,water resistance, good camera, no speakers for loud music, not a bunch of manufacturer bloat and fast updates. The galaxy phones I've had die fast it feels like. Would a high pixel phone have better battery life performance in comparison? I've also noticed that whenever I've got a Samsung phone screen burn in eventually happens. My other phone I had years ago the Huawei ascend q never had screen burn in and I used it constantly. Suggestions and input would be helpful.

1. Speed will almost always be better on a Pixel phone depending on circumatances and your definition of speed. The Pixel has less overhead software, and the animations on the Galaxies are by design slower than on the Pixel. The only time Galaxies are faster is when opening and closing a bunch of apps like on the Phonebuff tests on Youtube because Galaxies typically have more RAM. (S9+ has 6GB, Pixel 2 has 4GB).

2. Battery life is subjective on how the phone is setup though. But the less overhead may likely make the Pixel win here. Samsung has a lot of stuff running in the background for its features. Like Smart Stay actively looking for your face.

3. No speakers? The S9 speakers are better than the Pixel. I expect them to be better still than on the next Pixel mainly because the guys tuning the S9 Pixels (AKG) I feel know more about speakers than most doing phone speakers.

4. Obviously Pixel has less manufacturer bloat but it depends on preference. For example I prefer some Samsung apps over Google's (Gallery>Photos, Samsung Music>Play Music, Kindle for Samsung>Google Books) I don't even use Keep and prefer OneNote. For me I prefer the Samsung and Microsoft apps. So bloat is kind of subjective. On a sidenote, Kindle for Samsung is different from the usual Kindle on the PlayStore. This has access to Samsung Book Deals (1 free book a month) but it's basically just the Kindle. Lol.

5. You won't escape burn in going to Pixels because they all have AMOLED screen. I've never experienced burn in on 9 years of using AMOLED so I'd rather say look into how your phone is being used and see if any of your practices predispose you to quicker burn in than what the manufacturer expected.

 

[TraderGary]

You mentioned fast updates. Since Google writes the Android operating system, Google phones are the first to get updates. Since Samsung heavily modifies the operating system they have a lot of rewriting and testing to do when updates are made. Because of this Samsung updates have been as much as 6 months late.

I use Pixel phones because I want my operating system to be pure Android with no 2nd party bloat and I want my operating system and security updates to be immediate with no waiting.

 

[NightOrchid]

I own a 2XL, but... Dont do it OP, Stay with Samsung... Why...

Bring Back The (3.5mm) Jack... Bring Back The Jack.. Bring Back The Jack... Bring Back The Jack..

This is a new campaign currently happening.. go onto any mobile companys webpage / Twitter or FB and say... Dear (Google, SONY, Huawei... whoever).. I was going to buy your phone, but as youve now removed the 3.5mm headphone jack.. Ive bought a Samsung instead .. ..

If we all did this, we'll have the Jack back in last quarter of 2018, ready for the October / November release of devices or MWC 2019 at the latest....

Phones are getting bigger so dont believe the BS... theres no shortage of space.. Its just so they can make Priority-only "Cheap" plastic USB C headphones and rubbish exclusive dongles.... and charge us all $30 / £25+ for a £1 / $2 pair of phones

make a statement with your wallet

Cheers

 

[TraderGary]

I did make a statement with my wallet. I bought a Pixel 2 XL. I also decided to go wireless with a Sony WH1000XM2 and now like the clean look without a jack hole.

 

[Mike Dee]

I own a 2XL, but... Dont do it OP, Stay with Samsung... Why...

Bring Back The (3.5mm) Jack... Bring Back The Jack.. Bring Back The Jack... Bring Back The Jack..

This is a new campaign currently happening.. go onto any mobile companys webpage / Twitter or FB and say... Dear (Google, SONY, Huawei... whoever).. I was going to buy your phone, but as youve now removed the 3.5mm headphone jack.. Ive bought a Samsung instead .. ..

If we all did this, we'll have the Jack back in last quarter of 2018, ready for the October / November release of devices or MWC 2019 at the latest....

Phones are getting bigger so dont believe the BS... theres no shortage of space.. Its just so they can make Priority-only "Cheap" plastic USB C headphones and rubbish exclusive dongles.... and charge us all $30 / £25+ for a £1 / $2 pair of phones

make a statement with your wallet

Cheers

Funny....my headphones work fine with the included Dongle/DAC and sound better than most phones with a 3.5 jack

 

[bhatech]

I own a 2XL, but... Dont do it OP, Stay with Samsung... Why...

Bring Back The (3.5mm) Jack... Bring Back The Jack.. Bring Back The Jack... Bring Back The Jack..

This is a new campaign currently happening.. go onto any mobile companys webpage / Twitter or FB and say... Dear (Google, SONY, Huawei... whoever).. I was going to buy your phone, but as youve now removed the 3.5mm headphone jack.. Ive bought a Samsung instead .. ..

If we all did this, we'll have the Jack back in last quarter of 2018, ready for the October / November release of devices or MWC 2019 at the latest....

Phones are getting bigger so dont believe the BS... theres no shortage of space.. Its just so they can make Priority-only "Cheap" plastic USB C headphones and rubbish exclusive dongles.... and charge us all $30 / £25+ for a £1 / $2 pair of phones

make a statement with your wallet

Cheers

While I don't mind having a 3.5mm jack, I have been completely fine and not missed the headphone jack over the last couple of years using many phones without headphone jack. I use the razor USB C to 3.5 mm adapter for wired earphones and most of the time I'm on Bluetooth buds. If the headphone jack is present great, but if it's not no issues and that doesn't alter my buying decision. But that comes down to personal choice as there are many who want one. But there are also many who don't care either way evident from millions of phones Apple sells quarter after quarter.

 

[ThrottleJohnny]

Always good to try out different brands.You can always circle back to Samsung later

 

[NightOrchid]

I own a 2XL, but... Dont do it OP, Stay with Samsung... Why...

Bring Back The (3.5mm) Jack... Bring Back The Jack.. Bring Back The Jack... Bring Back The Jack..

This is a new campaign currently happening.. go onto any mobile companys webpage / Twitter or FB and say... Dear (Google, SONY, Huawei... whoever).. I was going to buy your phone, but as youve now removed the 3.5mm headphone jack.. Ive bought a Samsung instead .. ..

If we all did this, we'll have the Jack back in last quarter of 2018, ready for the October / November release of devices or MWC 2019 at the latest....

Phones are getting bigger so dont believe the BS... theres no shortage of space.. Its just so they can make Priority-only "Cheap" plastic USB C headphones and rubbish exclusive dongles.... and charge us all $30 / £25+ for a £1 / $2 pair of phones

make a statement with your wallet

Cheers

Hey folks... My thread here was written Tongue in Cheek, I was having a funny day .. hehe... My take on it is, like most people... as long as the Devs put a "C to 3.5" dongle in the box.. thats fine.. no more expense.. however, IMO.. it would be nice to see the headphone jack return

Seriously though, on topic.. its an interesting one Samsung or Google because a Google phone can seem a little empty and barren out of the box.. with just the "Play Store" and OS and thats it.. It can be a bit like a Kit house, with Google you have to build your own Phone and make it the way you want through Apps..

With Samsung, SONY, HTC, Huawei..etc and even Apple.. its all there done for you with lots of features and sometimes even new features you hadnt even thought of... and this can be great for the average person, hence the reason Samsungs and iPhones are everywhere, people like simplicity and ease of use.. in fact, most people like it so much, they cant even be bothered to change the damn "Over the Horizon" default ringtone out of the box, which can be both funny and annoying when 20 phones go off and no-one knows whose it is.. haha

With Pixel you get monthly updates, but Pixel requires a bit of thought and work... with everything else, including Samsung.. you get simplicity and ease out of the Box... which isnt a bad thing.. I must admit.. I love the Xperia UI...

I love my 2XL, speakers and Camera are amazing..

but it all depends on how you like your experience... just please... change the default ringtone when you unbox it ... hehe

 

[Mike Dee]

While I don't mind having a 3.5mm jack, I have been completely fine and not missed the headphone jack over the last couple of years using many phones without headphone jack. I use the razor USB C to 3.5 mm adapter for wired earphones and most of the time I'm on Bluetooth buds. If the headphone jack is present great, but if it's not no issues and that doesn't alter my buying decision. But that comes down to personal choice as there are many who want one. But there are also many who don't care either way evident from millions of phones Apple sells quarter after quarter.

Agreed....jack or no jack works for me.
The only real possible negative issue of using the adaptor is you can't charge simultaneously. Not an issue for me but if it was I would buy an adapter that does both. Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course but I just don't feel it's a real issue.

 

[LeoRex]

The whole point of dropping the jack wasn't to save space, or cost... It was too highlight the adoption of the USB Digital Audio spec that was only recently finalized.

Frankly, if everyone supported the standard and accessory manufacturers also had wide support, people wouldn't care about the jack at all. Why? Because all but a select few phones have mediocre at best DACs pushing that signal. And even the best external DAC still has to deal with the garbage the phone's sending to it.

A $80 phone that supported USB-A would have the potential to provide even better sound than a V30... It would just need a set of USB headphones with an excellent, built in DAC.

So it basically allows users to pick the quality of audio they desire.