What will it take to get you interested in a Pixel 4/4XL?

[ezdoit]

I personally feel like this “Google experience” is a thing, but not nearly the thing it is portrayed to be - compared to other high end Android phones.

IMO the "Google Experience" is what it is. Some like, some no like. We each have our laundry lists of good stuff/bad stuff on each phone, and pick the one with most "good stuff".

After trying several phones this year, I am back with the Pixel 3, which I have been using since Pixel 1. I plan to get a Pixel 4 when they come out. I'm a simple person who likes a simple phone.

Fact is at my age I can't handle too much "not simple". Isn't it great to have all these choices?
When I was a kid the choice for cell phones was very simple - none.

 

[dsignori]

IMO the "Google Experience" is what it is. Some like, some no like. We each have our laundry lists of good stuff/bad stuff on each phone, and pick the one with most "good stuff".

After trying several phones this year, I am back with the Pixel 3, which I have been using since Pixel 1. I plan to get a Pixel 4 when they come out. I'm a simple person who likes a simple phone.

Fact is at my age I can't handle too much "not simple". Isn't it great to have all these choices?
When I was a kid the choice for cell phones was very simple - none.

Well said. These are all individual choices.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Well, it’s what they are TRYING to excel at anyway. Having certain “table steak” features contributes to that experience. Omitting them lessens it. For example:

- Taking longer to unlock your phone because you no longer offer an FPS worsens the user experience. I just bought an iPhone, and FaceID is not as fast or good as a FPS. we’ll see if Google can be as fast as Apple in this as well.

- Limiting base model storage and RAM lessens the user experience for some users.

There are many other examples (headphone jack, etc), but the point is that some of those “list” pieces help define the user experience for some.

I’ve owned a few Pixels, and I never really truly felt some great Google “experience” at all. Other than the camera (sometimes), I preferred the experience on my Note phones much of the time. I personally feel like this “Google experience” is a thing, but not nearly the thing it is portrayed to be - compared to other high end Android phones.

Google didn't lead the industry away from traditional FPS. But they are following. We'll have to wait to see the speed and functionality.

As to limiting base storage and RAM lessening the experience... not providing the peace of mind and freedom from managing device storage by providing unlimited and automated online vaulting of captured media lessens it for many others. Most users (of which we forum-dwellers are not greatly representative) add a MicroSD card or opt for a higher storage model primarily to deal with that issue. As to the RAM, until it actually constrains use, it isn't of significance to have 4, 6, 8, 10GB, etc - but it is a spec OEM's can point to. If Google were as good at memory management as it should be, they should have been able to (like the new iPhone models) continue at 4GB, not suffering from complications introduced by bloatware.

Beyond that, when you get to specific features being on the Pixel and not on another device or vice-versa, that don't have another system implemented to provide an easy and intuitive similar solution, that's a different argument, as with some going the way of the Dodo like headphone jacks. That's really a different argument than the qualitative one. But we could point to myriad different items then... IR blaster, SD card, breadth of network compatibility, OEM-only features, etc.

I'm equally prepared look at Google's effort this year as a win, failure, or somewhere in between after the final facts are known, but given how integral their software is to the actual outcome of how it is to really use the phone, I'm absolutely reserving judgement until that time.

 

[dsignori]

....

I'm equally prepared look at Google's effort this year as a win, failure, or somewhere in between after the final facts are known, but given how integral their software is to the actual outcome of how it is to really use the phone, I'm absolutely reserving judgement until that time.

I guess this is the point I was trying to make (poorly it seems). I don’t find Googles software experience any better than Samsung’s in 2019 for example, in most cases anyway. In the past, it seemed like an improved experience for me. In 2019, it just seems to be fine, but not a draw for me. Others certainly will disagree here. I guess it’s great to have choice.

 

[Mr MnmlEngr]

Actually, the 128GB Pixel 4 is rumored to cost LESS than the 128GB Pixel 3.

View attachment 310753

I can understand being distraught by the removal of the traditional FPS, but honestly I prefer the idea of what should be a very fast and reliable face unlock over the many issues plaguing under-screen FPS.

I don't see the benefits of Soli just yet - I can't get super excited about waving my hand to change tracks yet. But I'm not prepared to dismiss it just yet - a technology that is as capable as Google has refined it to be (heck, it can count the number of cards in a deck?!) has enormous potential, if creative minds can implement solutions for it. One that occurs to me is possibly virtual typing.

I agree the smaller battery on the 4 seems odd (especially when the 4XL gets an upgrade), but until we know real world battery life with the final production units and software, I'm reserving judgement.

64GB has still been ample for me with the 3XL, and I've had no issues with 4GB RAM. I'd probably step up to 128GB this year, but can see where for the general consumer 64GB would still be fine (consider the fact that Apple still finds 64GB an acceptable starting point even on its iPhone 11 Pro Max). Oh, the entire crop of new iPhones come with 4GB RAM. Memory management greatly defines how much RAM you actually need. Apple sets a gold standard in how it should be done; Google, being least constrained by bloatware, should be able to manage with less than other Android OEM's, and at 6GB they are providing an over 50% increase in effectively available RAM for use (after accounting for the fact that there is the sizable amount reserved by the OS that doesn't change whether the unit has 4, 6, 8, etc).

The biggest thing I'd point to in consideration of all of the points you're staking value on is, you're looking at it like a parts list. If that's the case, go get a OnePlus 7t and be done with it. Certain to be a great phone that will give you a specs list you can recite at any time.

Where Google excels is in delivering a phone experience that is far greater than the sum of its parts. The challenge they face is in maximizing that experience, and overcoming the predisposition many have that a phone with lesser parts vs others in its price range cannot be worthy, though they've certainly done that year in and year out in the area of still photos.

You're my damn hero

 

[anon(10092459)]

Personally, and I've said this before, I don't think Pixels are for most people. I actually think it could be a worse case having someone who uses Android, vs someone who switches from iOS, use a Pixel. I think users who align well with the brand fall into at least one of these categories:

1. Heavy Google User
2. User that loves the sweet, sweet computational photography with the storage
3. User wants "first in line" security and OS system updates

I think this is the core group of their current customer base. IMO, when things start being outside of that core customer is when expectations aren't met and disappointment raises it's head.

I'm more of a web based user than native apps. I'm heavy in Search, Chrome and Assistant, with a handful of apps throughout my day. I've had no RAM issues. My current storage use is about 24GB of on device. That's about 38% of my 64GB. A 128GB base model would be less appealing to me. I take a handful of point and shoot pictures, probably average less than 15 or so a month.

I like Google's ecosystem. I like telling my Google Home to turn whatever I want to watch on TV, like NCAA football. I like asking the same speaker what's the score of my favorite baseball team's game, while I am watching my favorite game, without having to grab another dang screen.

I like having my history on Chrome available on all devices Everything catalogued and not split between 3-4 different browsers. I like information and Google is better at that than anyone else. YouTube is a modern day Alexandria. A Pixel just plays it's part as Google's mobile device offering.

I'm looking forward to the 4, though slightly apprehensive. I fear they are showing signs of feature creep with this generation. I guess I'll find out for myself in a few weeks.

 

[cardboard60]

From my understanding, the finger print sensor is more secure than the facial unlock.

Then why remove it.

 

[mustang7757]

From my understanding, the finger print sensor is more secure than the facial unlock.

Then why remove it.

Things move on , not going stay same tech, and 3d face Id should be no problem , Apple face id is proof of that.

 

[ChuckG73]

From the leaks, these are mainstream features Google’s Pixel 4 will be lacking:

-ultra-wide camera
-All screen design
-Very fast charging
-In display fingerprint sensor
-Good battery life (P4 not P4 XL)

-In DisplayFingerprint sensor on my S10+ is frustrating at times....so won't miss that.
-All screen is overrated. Give me a great flat screen and if you need some real estate for sensors use it just keep the phone balanced.
-Not sure I need my phone to charge faster, just make sure you give it a big enough battery

 

[cardboard60]

-In DisplayFingerprint sensor on my S10+ is frustrating at times....so won't miss that.
-All screen is overrated. Give me a great flat screen and if you need some real estate for sensors use it just keep the phone balanced.
-Not sure I need my phone to charge faster, just make sure you give it a big enough battery

Try putting the center of your dry thumb on the sensor.
Press and hold.
Mine is getting better.

 

[dsignori]

-In DisplayFingerprint sensor on my S10+ is frustrating at times....so won't miss that.
-All screen is overrated. Give me a great flat screen and if you need some real estate for sensors use it just keep the phone balanced.
-Not sure I need my phone to charge faster, just make sure you give it a big enough battery

Exactly

 

[cardboard60]

Got my Note 10+ fps to working good.

Wished it was still on the back of the phone oh.

 

[ChuckG73]

What's the advantage of removing it from the back of the phone in the first place?

 

[Bkdodger1]

It's nice and clean without the fps on the back .. I'm totally okay with on screen no issues on my Note .. it will only improve as we move forward. I think if Google has it right there will be no issues with people liking the Face ID

 

[Chuck Finley69]

A glut of "What to expect in Andriod Q" articles have been showing up lately, and now people are leaking code names for new Google products like that's must-have information. So naturally, leaks about the 2019 Pixels will begin amping up, as well, and will only get worse once the first developer version of Q appears (in March?).

It's got me wondering what it'll take to get me to give a rat's *** about a new Pixel, and I truly can't think of anything. Well, nothing realistic. And I don't mean that as a swipe at Google or the Pixel line. I'm just... good.

I mean, I think bezel-less displays in small form factor devices are stupid, with or without a notch. I've never been at a loss for memory with any phone, so 6 gigs won't do it. 5G likely won't be available in my locale til sometime in 2020, and I'm not exactly looking forward to what that's gonna mean for my phone bill anyway. And unless Google perfects X-Ray Spex camera technology, I can't see myself going ga-ga yet again over camera improvements.

So what am I missing?

Give me one free and I’m all in

 

[cardboard60]

It's nice and clean without the fps on the back .. I'm totally okay with on screen no issues on my Note .. it will only improve as we move forward. I think if Google has it right there will be no issues with people liking the Face ID

With the FPS on the back.
It takes 1 hand to unlock the phone.

 

[Bkdodger1]

With the FPS on the back.
It takes 1 hand to unlock the phone.

I hear ya .. unlocking one handed on the Note is not an issue for me ... plus if you have good Face recognition you will still be able to do same ...

 

[cardboard60]

Just think about this.

The phone is a Tool.
It should be the easiest to use.
If you can unlock the phone with one hand.
The tool is easier to use.
How many people had problems unlocking the phone with the fingerprint sensor on back.
Especially with one hand.

It the Pixel 4 , even going to keep the finger print sensor.

I will not use face unlock. Ever.

 

[Bkdodger1]

I believe there will be no fps from all reports .. totally understand your point though and it's nice having both options ... I guess I'm so used to using Face ID and it works flawlessly on my iPhone ... It doesn't slow my productivity one split ... Let's see ...

 

[ezdoit]

I have never used FPS or the Face ID. Since my phone is never far from my side, I have no screen lock on it.