"Why get it?"

[Coop61]

How is the experience with it. I'm thinking of getting one to use with my Pixel 3.

It's been great so far . A couple of times it wouldn't connect or it disconnected it's self not sure why. But to fix the connection you just plug the phone in and it reconnects the WIFI and then you can unplug the cable. It's great being able to use Google maps or Waze without being plugged in. Also at the same time streaming music from the phone .

 

[rollin stoner]

Simple for me. Security updates, camera and wireless charging.

I agree completely

 

[ptkelly]

Re: "Why get it?"

The camera and fast updates are the reasons I can see to get the Pixel line of phones.

The camera on the Pixel 3 are excellent, but only marginally better (if at all) than the Pixel 2. Still photo imagery is still great on the Pixel, however some of the features are quite poorly implemented. Top shot sounds good and works well, but the images it takes are such pathetic quality that I find them unusable. They're 1mb photo size and look like a photo sent over SMS or something. The sound on video recording is also absolutely abhorrent. Sounds distant, tinny and lacks volume. Hope both these things get fixed with updates.

The phone gets fast security and OS updates, which is always nice, but even then, I now have reservations. While I loved the Pixel UI back on Android 7.0 and 8.0, but on Android 9.0 with this new half-gesture, half-button UI to me is really quite bad, and I don't like how Google didn't allow the traditional layout, even if they were to bury in developer settings. The new gesture system is much slower to navigate than the previous method. It's clunky, cumbersome and imo looks worse as well because it's lop-sided now. So now I'm not confident the changes Google are making to android are necessarily good.

So back to the question, 'why buy it'? It's got a great camera, and if that is the most important thing to you, then it could be a great phone for you. Otherwise, you get much better bang for your buck with other phones. Better designs, better hardware, better specs, much better battery life (I'm very disappointed with the Pixel 3 XL battery life, it's even worse than the Pixel 2 XL I had) and at cheaper prices.

Honestly, I think unless you're an extreme Google/Pixel fan or you must have the best camera, I think other phones are better overall devices for consumers. I find this is the Pixel 2 XL just with a much, much better screen and a worse UI. I find it hard to justify buying this phone.

I'm curious. Which phones do you think have better software than Google Pixel?

 

[TheJastrom]

I want the phone for the camera and the updates, everything else is a bonus I guess.

 

[Kristian Lois]

It may not be the best smartphone of 2018 but I think this phone is the best in terms of camera and software innovation.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

Re: "Why get it?"

I'm curious. Which phones do you think have better software than Google Pixel?

The iPhone X/XS have far better gesture navigating than the Pixel 3. On the Android side, the OnePlus 6 has a better navigation then the P3.

I really don't like this be gesture nav on the P3. It's objective slower. And the fact that Google have had it mandatory with no way to switch back has really irritated me as well.

But other than that, the software is fine.

 

[chezm]

Honestly I don't see the big with the negativity on gestures, sure maybe they're not a fluid as iOS or other Androids but it's more than functional. This is my first gestures OS and I love it, maybe not knowing any better helps but I navigate fine with no problems.

 

[Mike Dee]

Honestly I don't see the big with the negativity on gestures, sure maybe they're not a fluid as iOS or other Androids but it's more than functional. This is my first gestures OS and I love it, maybe not knowing any better helps but I navigate fine with no problems.

I guess it all comes down to preference and tolerance. I don't have any real issues with the way the 3XL delivers but I may be less fussy than some people.

 

[SteelGator]

I guess it all comes down to preference and tolerance. I don't have any real issues with the way the 3XL delivers but I may be less fussy than some people.

I think in fact, for some, the nav gestures even work better for some people. I use both OSs and I find Android's gestures more efficient for me. I am sure they can and will improve, but for navigating through what I do and a daily basis, I am very happy with Pie.

As I have stated before, the frequently used apps that Google populates at the bottom of the app switcher is the fastest way I get to many apps. Over time (new phone is finally getting me), that row of apps is very accurate for me, and instantly available no matter where I am in the OS.

 

[anon(10092459)]

People will always have different tastes in phones, which is why Android is so great. There's pretty much a device to fit everyone. I think people match themselves up horribly with devices sometimes, and end up disappointed with the experience.

Laying blame on an OEM for "lacking" something is just a poor excuse for personal bad decision making. It's like buying a Sedan then complaining about the 0-60 time or that you can't haul two tons of hay behind it.

With the Pixels, you either get what Google is trying to do with the whole Google Experience or you don't. From the very beginning, Google has told the market what they're about and they continue to maintain that message. If the consumer chooses to ignore that, well that's on them.

 

[anon(10092459)]

I think in fact, for some, the nav gestures even work better for some people. I use both OSs and I find Android's gestures more efficient for me. I am sure they can and will improve, but for navigating through what I do and a daily basis, I am very happy with Pie.

As I have stated before, the frequently used apps that Google populates at the bottom of the app switcher is the fastest way I get to many apps. Over time (new phone is finally getting me), that row of apps is very accurate for me, and instantly available no matter where I am in the OS.

Completely agree!

 

[AnastasiaAB]

I have iPhone 6, and I have never used an Android before. This seems like the best Android phone i'd go for, I actually love the design, no face recognition doesn't bother me at all, if I want to just look at the time, I don't want it unlocking every time lol. I am bored of iOS, looking at new iPhones doesn't excite me and I didn't even know or care when the latests XR etc came out. Very excited to get this one!

 

[akhil8]

Clean Android + great camera = Pixel/OnePlus (my opinion)

 

[puch96]

For me, I got used to the software gesture navigation. I had original Pixel XL before the 3XL, and when I updated to Pie, I started using the gestures so I will get accustomed for when the new Pixel 3 came out.
Room for improvement? Sure. Always room for improvement. But you can't please all. Some will like it, some will hate it. I think Google should have gave us the option to opt out and use the traditional 3 buttons if desired.