Overall love - Google Pixel 3a Real Life Review

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Google Pixel 3a, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Google Pixel 3a is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!

I'm in absolute love with this phone.
Over last year, almost, I've used Pixel 3, OP7t, iPhone 11 and now this...
And I can definitely say that I've felt most settled with 3a (closely followed by iPhone 11 but iOS is crap).
So much so that the only mobile that is gonna replace this for me is Pixel 4a/5a.

i've had my p3a for a couple months and i like it. it's an excellent reincarnation of a nexus. hopefully google continues to refine the concept.

I very much like my p3a. I heard how easy Google made the pixels to root. Followed the guides but updates proved problematic. Sadly root did not provide all the features I wanted, (i.e. the ability to remove system apps). Interestingly straight stock gives me everything I want. Apps can't be removed but can be disabled. It's still early days for development so I wait.

Just got the phone in today. 3a XL. First thing I noticed is how nice if feels in the hand compared to my OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren. More "boxier" and less tall. Nice. I love having a traditional fingerprint sensor again. Much faster and more accurate than the optical I've been using and ultra sonic on my Note 10 Plus.
This 3a XL is my way of making life more simple for me. I realized after using all these phones over just this past year that my daily phone needs/wants are not demanding whatsoever. This feels better. More sensible. I'm happy Google made this a series. I hope the 4a phones will be just as good.
One negative that's not a big deal is that I've noticed that I have to keep the brightness scale up closer to full brightness to have the same amount of brightness I'm used to on my other phones where I typically kept the brightness scale at the middle or lower.
Everything is great. I thought I'd be struggling with only less that 64GB of storage left compared to the 256GB I was used to before but that was another thing I realized. I don't use a lot of storage at all. So I have plenty with this phone. I guess I used to just be paranoid I'd never have enough storage. One of those things that I wanted to have and not need it vs the alternative. But my thoughts have evolved on this topic.
Headphone jack. Headphone jack. Oh, how I've missed the headphone jack. Plastic body, feels so much better. Glass where it counts. Plastic for durability. Perfect. Oh, and FLAT display again! So much better. Samsung seems to finally realize that curved displays are not so great. New S20 series have calmed down with that curve.
So far so good with this phone. I appreciate its humility.

Related

On the fence?

So as the title goes are you on the fence in your decision to buy the Mate 20 Pro?
Let's see if I can help in anyway with my honest review and thoughts about it.
Display: So this is a tense subject as you have probably read already that it has some issues (for some). Now I have a BOE display and not LG however both are being reported with the Green Hulk effect, I'm glad and extremely happy this is not an issue for me. The display is crisp and vibrant with fantastic details, as you would expect, the clarity is on point to. However perhaps this is a concern, I wouldn't worry and would purchase regardless, buy that's just me, maybe for you though this might be a turn off? I think this shouldn't stand in your way, maybe hold off for a couple of more weeks?
Performance: The Mate 20 Pro is absolutely fantastic with the Kirin 980, everything is extremely snappy and gets the job done, the only slight negative is ram management, this could be and hopefully will be improved, but this chip is just so so good, probably better then the Snapdragon 845. There are no stutters or freezes and all I can say is will a little more refined tuning through updates, it will only get better.
Camera: Now I haven't tested this enough yet, only had my Mate 20 Pro for a week or so, but from the images I have taken it performs great. AI does a great job (this can be turned off) if you don't like . The camera UI is nicely laid out and presentable, if you have a tripod you'll be able to get some nice long exposure shots, light trails ect and i love the simplicity in being able to do this with the Mate 20 (I also had the P20 Pro) and the camera on that was superb, this takes it to a nice new level with the addition of a wide angle lens. Is it the perfect camera? This is subjective as each eyes see different things, but it's a top performer thats for sure.
Battery: Well what can be said here is it's absolutely on point and even if your a heavy user like me, the Mate 20 Pro will very very easily get you through the day, and if your extreme and it doesn't quite, then the 40w charger has your back, it charges very very quickly.
Build & Design: This is always subjective as some like curved displays others not so much. The curve I like, still prefer a flat display if I'm completely honest, however it's a Evolved Samsung , nice and slim, solid, and feels great in hand, although the Twilight (absolutely stunning) is a bit slippery lol but I have no complaints with the design despite it having a resemblance to Samsung.
Features: This has all the bells and whistles as you'd expect , ip68, wireless charging, even reverse (although this is a gimmick) even retains the forgotten ir blaster (how about that) yes headphone jack is not present, but at least a dongle was included (cough cough Apple). Face ID works very well even in dark environments, UD Scanner, despite what YouTubers have said, it's more accurate and faster than my Note 9.
So Should you buy it?
Absolutely yes now there are a few other negatives that I will throw in, updates are well painfully slow, but we do get them eventually, and it has Android 9 out of the box, yes with EMUI, but that had improved, although still not the best, if you want to root and rom, then at this point forget about it, Huawei has bolted that door.
I honestly love the Mate 20 Pro, I still think as the best all round device is the Note 9, I am taking great joy in using the Mate 20 Pro, and it outshines the Note in many areas, Camera & Battery, but the Note is the complete package, with my Huawei a close second .
Yes I would recommend the Mate 20 Pro, so if your on the fence heck 14 day trial, don't like return, but I'm sure you will.
Hope this helps a little.....:good:
Agreed, my gestures animations are not smooth at all, but never saw them smooth on any phone, probably one of my apps causing it.
This phone potential is untapped, it needs software refinement to shine like it made to be, nonetheless it's the only high end phone i can recommend without hesitation.
Derpling said:
Agreed, my gestures animations are not smooth at all, but never saw them smooth on any phone, probably one of my apps causing it.
This phone potential is untapped, it needs software refinement to shine like it made to be, nonetheless it's the only high end phone i can recommend without hesitation.
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Weirdly I really think that the animations are pretty smooth on my Mate 20 pro, have you turned the animation speed to 0.5x in developer options?
Yeah doesn't help much, same thing was with mate 9 and Samsung.
It's slightly better when using navigation keys

Overall love

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Google Pixel 4, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Google Pixel 4 is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
Do we have a section for navigation? (GPS and compass)
I still need to go outside but inside my home the accuracy is perfect so far.
Phone also hasn't asked for calibration neither. So I hope this stays this way and is not ruined after a few hours or days.
Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk
So many good things. Quite a few bad. Loving the look and feel, disliking newly created contacts going missing, lack of a pattern/thumbprint unlock, battery life is, at best, ok.
Have had this phone for a few days coming from s10+. So far I love this phone. Size is perfect. Battery gets me through a full day for my usage. Camera is amazing and the 90hz display is incredible.
I like the industrial design the mat finish and the white and black colours are striking. Not a fan of the glitches caused by gesture navigations in some apps. And that battery is very disappointing. I have to top it up at least once a day. Not sure it's good for the battery in the long run. Tbh I don't notice the 90hz had the OnePlus 7pro for a minute and went back to the s10+ I really can't tell the difference between 60 and 90hz.???
Got the new Pixel 4
Pros:
-Display and flashing is gone from the Pixel 3
-Buzzing earpiece is finally gone and sound is clear
Cons:
-No fingerprint reader. Face unlock is a hit or miss
-under speakers, instead of front facing
-phone is slightly larger and heavier than pixel 3
.......overall i am glad I got the phone. The pixel 3 was the worst phone I own. The display failed on the original one i had after 5 months, the new and old display kept flashing, there was a perpetual earpiece buzzing that was from likely hardware quality. The pixel 4 is an improvement. I think the best pixel was 2. The front facing speakers, display was fine for me, and size/weight.
Glad to have the pixel 3 gone. That was a total lemon.
I noticed the camera switches back to the wide lense if the subject is too close and can't focus, even when using 2x+ and uses super res zoom instead.
Quite a few bad. Loving the look and feel, disliking newly created contacts going missing, lack of a pattern/thumbprint unlock, battery life is, at best.
Just Google. By Google.
Just bought this phone as an alternative to my galaxy fold when in environments that might not be too "fold friendly" (still love the Fold though) Waited a year post launch and price has dropped considerably, outstanding device, easy to use with all the features I need!

Overall love

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
So perhaps this review might be slightly contradictory to my other thread (Samsung Giving up or....). Only way to find out is to dive right in......
So I'm not here to praise or affiliate myself with a particular brand, what I mean is that some very much love Samsung and don't like any criticism, or others may disagree and that's fine (my words are just from my perspective). Everyone has there own likes, things they find useful, basically we are all different and that is just fine. Opinions from others that may follow are to be respected as we all won't share the same experience or views.
The Galaxy Note 10 got released in two variants oh wait no make that three, and yes I think this is a good idea (although price points i am not agreeable on).
However as the title suggests this little review is based on the model I have SM-N976b that's the Exynos 9825 5G variant.
Display: What we have is a 6.8" Dynamic Amoled Display and there is very little disputing it's best in class. From the vibrant colours to the deep blacks it really is a stunning screen. The punch-hole is symmetrical and really doesn't get in the way or my enjoyment (however some might not like, and find it distracting). I tend to appreciate larger displays (having recently purchased the Mate 20 X 5G 7.2") I was particularly pleased that Samsung decided to make the Display larger on the + variant. With it being a note , that is aimed at productivity and media 6.8" was/is a delight for me personally.
Performance: The performance of the 9825 is marginal if anything above the 9820 (used on the S10, S10+). However I get tired of the complaints, yes perhaps the 855 is marginally better in certain areas, it's not a huge gulf between the two that is going to dramatically affect the user experience. I have found it to be very fast and fluid and hasn't hindered my experience. Basically it performs as a flagship processor should. Very little complaints from me.
Functionality: We have the good old S-Pen and without a doubt it's still industry leading (Perhaps because not many oem's have decided to compete) however as a productivity tool it's fantastic (wether you use it not). I am not sold on the Harry potter waving the pen around, it's just a feature that I think Samsung could have left out & focused that time and resources in another area. However I get that they wanted to add something else to the pen, but I don't think many will be using it.
You have here with the Note 10+ a device that offers up great features as in improving DeX to be used as a virtual environment on a laptop (Some may benefit from this) link to Windows to provide that ecosystem and connection with your PC/Laptop. We also have Gamelink (Conning Soon) along with all the other things like app edge, dual window. So it really does offer up that fantastic functionality.
Battery: Well I have the Mate 20 X and with the 7.2" Display (all be it 1080p) it without a doubt lasts longer than the Note 10+, wouldn't say by a huge margin, I usually and can easily get 7hrs on the note, but with the X it can be 8+, but EMUI is more restrictive in app management. I think the Note could be better optimised and I'm sure with updates it will.
Camera: The cameras on the Note all be it just little improvements over the S-Line, they perform well in most areas, fall short in others. Yes you can say the P30 Pro or pixel are better, some areas yes they most certainly are, but even they fall short in let's say the video department, so as a balanced camera then yeah it's great and that is what I look for, if you want the best if everything Also buy the P30 Pro & Pixel and carry around 3 devices
Design: I think this is where Samsung spent a chunk of time, with the Display & rearrangement, all be it most certainly Q's from Huawei but that's not a negative thing and I absolutely love what Samsung have done here. It's a stunning device.
My Honest opinion: I was complaining slightly that Samsung perhaps could of should of done more and I still stand with that in certain areas. These are in the camera software, perhaps that 90hz (yes I don't think this was possible, due to the S-Pen), but would have been a nice option, but when you look at it, its an iterative improvement, but the areas of focus have been done well, and here we have a stunning productivity device that will make many users happy, but leave some disappointed as expectation, left us without some of the little things we are seeing from others not here on the note.
After using it now for 5 days I fully appreciate a nice and solid device that covers most areas well, but like any device falls short in others. I'm very happy with my purchase and I hope you all are to
Please feel free to add to this, or add in constructive criticism, it's all appreciated, just be respectful, and don't disregard others opinions (unless they are just rediculous).
Duncan1982 said:
So perhaps this review might be slightly contradictory to my other thread (Samsung Giving up or....). Only way to find out is to dive right in......
So I'm not here to praise or affiliate myself with a particular brand, what I mean is that some very much love Samsung and don't like any criticism, or others may disagree and that's fine (my words are just from my perspective). Everyone has there own likes, things they find useful, basically we are all different and that is just fine. Opinions from others that may follow are to be respected as we all won't share the same experience or views.
The Galaxy Note 10 got released in two variants oh wait no make that three, and yes I think this is a good idea (although price points i am not agreeable on).
However as the title suggests this little review is based on the model I have SM-N976b that's the Exynos 9825 5G variant.
Display: What we have is a 6.8" Dynamic Amoled Display and there is very little disputing it's best in class. From the vibrant colours to the deep blacks it really is a stunning screen. The punch-hole is symmetrical and really doesn't get in the way or my enjoyment (however some might not like, and find it distracting). I tend to appreciate larger displays (having recently purchased the Mate 20 X 5G 7.2") I was particularly pleased that Samsung decided to make the Display larger on the + variant. With it being a note , that is aimed at productivity and media 6.8" was/is a delight for me personally.
Performance: The performance of the 9825 is marginal if anything above the 9820 (used on the S10, S10+). However I get tired of the complaints, yes perhaps the 855 is marginally better in certain areas, it's not a huge gulf between the two that is going to dramatically affect the user experience. I have found it to be very fast and fluid and hasn't hindered my experience. Basically it performs as a flagship processor should. Very little complaints from me.
Functionality: We have the good old S-Pen and without a doubt it's still industry leading (Perhaps because not many oem's have decided to compete) however as a productivity tool it's fantastic (wether you use it not). I am not sold on the Harry potter waving the pen around, it's just a feature that I think Samsung could have left out & focused that time and resources in another area. However I get that they wanted to add something else to the pen, but I don't think many will be using it.
You have here with the Note 10+ a device that offers up great features as in improving DeX to be used as a virtual environment on a laptop (Some may benefit from this) link to Windows to provide that ecosystem and connection with your PC/Laptop. We also have Gamelink (Conning Soon) along with all the other things like app edge, dual window. So it really does offer up that fantastic functionality.
Battery: Well I have the Mate 20 X and with the 7.2" Display (all be it 1080p) it without a doubt lasts longer than the Note 10+, wouldn't say by a huge margin, I usually and can easily get 7hrs on the note, but with the X it can be 8+, but EMUI is more restrictive in app management. I think the Note could be better optimised and I'm sure with updates it will.
Camera: The cameras on the Note all be it just little improvements over the S-Line, they perform well in most areas, fall short in others. Yes you can say the P30 Pro or pixel are better, some areas yes they most certainly are, but even they fall short in let's say the video department, so as a balanced camera then yeah it's great and that is what I look for, if you want the best if everything Also buy the P30 Pro & Pixel and carry around 3 devices
Design: I think this is where Samsung spent a chunk of time, with the Display & rearrangement, all be it most certainly Q's from Huawei but that's not a negative thing and I absolutely love what Samsung have done here. It's a stunning device.
My Honest opinion: I was complaining slightly that Samsung perhaps could of should of done more and I still stand with that in certain areas. These are in the camera software, perhaps that 90hz (yes I don't think this was possible, due to the S-Pen), but would have been a nice option, but when you look at it, its an iterative improvement, but the areas of focus have been done well, and here we have a stunning productivity device that will make many users happy, but leave some disappointed as expectation, left us without some of the little things we are seeing from others not here on the note.
After using it now for 5 days I fully appreciate a nice and solid device that covers most areas well, but like any device falls short in others. I'm very happy with my purchase and I hope you all are to
Please feel free to add to this, or add in constructive criticism, it's all appreciated, just be respectful, and don't disregard others opinions (unless they are just rediculous).
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Click to collapse
Not too much to add here.
Really great package!
Terrible speakers
Worst cellular connection to date
Bloatware
tethering feature is broken/lags
Pretty much fantastic in every aspect, minus four:
- terrible battery life (the worst I've ever had to my opinion, compared to Mate 9, Note 4 and Xperia Z1...)
- no high refresh rate display (and still annoying OLED motion blur)
- slow/unsecure unlocking (UDFS/front camera)
- Samsung's "OneUI" software is good overall, but has still strong geographic differences (in term of app availability, see goodlock software for exemple), and doesn't allow you to tweak your terminal to the extent to it should be possible (Galaxy Theme store (yerk!) should basically be Substratum (lite) + Synergy))
darkphoenix2012 said:
Terrible speakers
Worst cellular connection to date
Bloatware
tethering feature is broken/lags
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It is really amusing to see how some complain about mainly, battery, speakers, camera and signal, to the grade of "terrible", "worst" etc, I have no complain at all, I come from a note 8, which indeed was an excellent device, and this note10+ is way better, in all aaspects, I did not have the 9, but I have heard always that it was just a little increment over the 8, any way, I am really, really pleased with my note10+, the best device I have had
winol said:
It is really amusing to see how some complain about mainly, battery, speakers, camera and signal, to the grade of "terrible", "worst" etc, I have no complain at all, I come from a note 8, which indeed was an excellent device, and this note10+ is way better, in all aaspects, I did not have the 9, but I have heard always that it was just a little increment over the 8, any way, I am really, really pleased with my note10+, the best device I have had
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Ditto x10!
Sent from my Note 10+ using Tapatalk
And would you guys say note 10+ over note 10?
tileeq said:
And would you guys say note 10+ over note 10?
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As far as i'm concerned yes...
- battery life
- microSD
- TOF, even though still beta-like software for 3D scan, but works very well for blurring background photos (you can see it when comparing front cam and rear cam)
- larger screen, cause i love this (better for watching videos or multitasking)
I would always feel like i have a sub phone if i went note10 route but that's juste me
Downside is the weight of note10+, i find it kinda heavy in the hand.
Yeah, I absolutely love my note10+
I absolutely love my Note 10+. I wish I had pre-ordered, but I wasn't ready for an upgrade from my Note 8 yet.
I got the Aurora Glow (Snapdragon, Verizon US), mainly because it was the one that was readily available and I wouldn't have to wait. I thought I'd just slap a case on it and never have to look at it, but it turns out I love that crazy rainbow bastard and got a nice clear case. I'm averaging 7hrs of SOT (at highest resolution, no power savings, wifi/data, etc), I haven't had to "top up" during the day once since I got it. Sleep drain is almost non-existent...maybe 4-5% overnight (6-7hrs) with WiFi and bluetooth on. I do a lot of artwork on the fly, and this is even more of a workhorse than my Note 8 was. I do multi-layered (usually 12-20 layers) drawings in Medibang Paint at at least 600dpi and this glorious phone doesn't even stutter. AND (and I know a lot of you don't like it) I was psyched to see a screen protector pre-installed. I know it's a crappy one, but it was great to have while waiting for my "real" one to show up. Really small, but well-appreciated, inclusion. I don't even mind the loss of a headphone jack as much as I thought I would. My portable battery has the wireless charging built in (not that I've needed to use it yet), and I think the sound in the USB C headphones included is better than the ones I got with my Note 8.
My ONLY complaint is the camera. Photos look overly soft, and faces seem flattened out. My Note 8 took much better photos out of the box. At least, in my case, it definitely seems to be a software issue...because using GCam improves the photos dramatically. And it seems that Sammy has already released an update to address photo quality...I just have to wait for Verizon to push out the damn thing. I don't take pro photos or anything, 90% of my picture taking is my kids...but my Note 8 gave me much clearer photos of them running around than I've gotten from my 10+. That being said, I know there's a fix on the way so I'm not going to piss and moan too much about it. I look forward to really using the hell out of the camera once it's updated, especially night mode...I didn't have that on my Note 8.
All in all, nothing but love for this phone.
I perceive the photos to be better than those of my note8, yesterday an update mainly for the fingerprint and camera, became available for my note10+, I am yet to see what improvements it may yield
I was looking at a new Chinese flagship (Realme X2 Pro) but then got to play with Dex on a 10 - bought the Note 10+ dualSIM right there, coming from an S8+. Dex is just fantastic, on my Windows or Mac computers, with an additional 95W wall charger and a 100w USB C hub. Now the phone is fully integrated in my desktop workflow and part of the hub with other devices I own, and I love the ability to cut&paste from/to the phone from my main Windows machine. All other elements one comes to expect from a Samsung flagship are there of course, and video quality is excellent. Writing with the S-Pen on the Nebo App is enough for note taking - I can leave the iPad Pro at home for meetings. And Amazon Germany gave a unexpected $120 rebate, plus tax return from Amazon upon leaving the EU, got a great deal altogether. My S8+ lasted three years and thanks to this community is updated well, will now go to my wife.
3 Stars. The magic is lost. Nothing is special about the series anymore.
Call me jaded as someone who's owned every iteration since the Note 2, but this is not the best from the best that previous Note series enjoyed. Same cameras from S10. Would have liked a better tech that includes a seamless uninterruption of the screen. I can do without a social media whore cam or have a motorized selfie cam for those selfie whores. Also, could have used a speedier screen refresh rate found on the the cheaper One+. Otherwise, speed, battery life, features, all the best android has to offer. Nothing earth shattering and futuristic like the first time we saw the Note Edge or Note 5 or BT pen from note 9. Still has a hole in the screen. Still has a "just a refreshed design until next iteration" look. Screen size increased by a hair. Even diluted the brand by making a smaller Note. I usually go for the best but since I had the blue Note 9, I wanted something different and the Aura Blue is gorgeous but disappointed it only comes in 256gb, another ding against Samsung. Overall, 3 stars because the Note series is known for cutting edge and when you have a camera stolen from an older phone and when you decide to toss in a gimmicky AR camera that everyone used for the first minute and forget about but failed to work on the thing that everyone uses 90% of the time, the screen, like incorporate a 120 refresh rate or do away with the hole or notch, then you aren't living to the high standard that the Note series are known for and that its fanbase expects. You used to be able to say, look what my phone has that you don't. Reverse charging? woopty do. My S10 had that before you. 3 cameras? "Stereo" speakers? Well, my phone has a built in BT stylus. So, my cheaper Note 10 does too! *facepalm* We no longer have something special. Used to be we had it first and then it trickled to other devices. Now, it's the other way around.
The one and only phone, not a tablet, that has this unique feature, the spen, there is the "magic"
winol said:
The one and only phone, not a tablet, that has this unique feature, the spen, there is the "magic"
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Pay attention. You're wrong. We're reviewing the Note 10+. So this isn't the only phone with the s pen. If you pay attention, the diluted note 10 also has one as well as the upcoming note 10 lite. So it still stands, the magic is lost.
As this thread is about the 10+, I am referring to the note10+, so, you pay attention
winol said:
The one and only phone, not a tablet, that has this unique feature, the spen, there is the "magic"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
winol said:
As this thread is about the 10+, I am referring to the note10+, so, you pay attention
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mod edit: removed unnecessarily rude comment
skoobz said:
mod edit: removed unnecessarily rude comment
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Please check your private messages. Remeber folks this is a fun hobby for us all. There's never a need to get fired up and taking jabs and low blows. If you're starting to get heated just log off and go do something else or keep scrolling.
Let me preface this by saying I am picky about my phones and this is one of the worst I have seen in years! If you have an old phone I can understand some of the upgrade but here are my thoughts coming well staying with a Note 10+. Never bought and returned a phone this quick. Returning before it is even released on Friday!!
Let's start with the good, well somewhat......
Screen: Once again Samsung delivers a world class screen. Best in brightness, color accuracy, etc etc everything like normal that they always produce in their flagships. Now for the downsize, the infamous 120hz screen refresh rate. Not worth it here. Smoother scrolling, sure but barely. I honestly don't even mind the 1080p and 120 hz just the need for the 120hz on a phone is overkill. Was gaming smoother sure, do I game much on my phone, no not really. The 240 touch response I can tell more of a difference and a worthy difference then the 120 hz refresh
Processing power: Phone is fast, minus animations. Photo processing, night mode shots are a big difference. Much faster in that aspect. Wish we saw little more ram and more storage though at this price
Battery: 5000 mah in this device makes it a little thicker but in my short one day of use it stood up pretty well to transferring apps and everything over and hard use for a few hours last night. Couldn't kill it
and now the bad
Camera: throw all the numbers at it and it will be great.... well not so fast. Main shooter in 12 or 108 mp mode cannot focus on anything. Piece of paper on desk in front of you, good luck. Zoom a few feet away from you, also good luck. 5x/10x/30x zoom is better then Note 10+ of course but how often are you going to use this? Everyday? Once a week? Once a month? Still not great quality (usable) at 10x or 30x really so no point in my book. 5x is crisp but falls off too much after that for me to use. Wide angle is same as note so no real improvement here. Camera also seems to make everything more saturated then I like as well almost to the point of unrealistic. The one and only thing the iPhone can do well and the note seems to be closer to that realistic representation then the Ultra.
Design: not that the design is bad but feels a tad on the chunkier side. Rounder edges do help but does not feel as sleek as nice to hold as note or even s10. Thicker as well to house that battery and camera module. Also worried about how scratched the module bump will become after months of abuse.
UI: Let me first say I hate Android 10/Samsung UI 2.0, I am still using 9 and the Ultra reminded me why. App animations are slow (yes can fix in dev options but still), quick replying to text or message in status bar is not instant like prior android generations. Don't know if this is an android 10 or Samsung UI 2.0 problem but seems like it should be an upgrade not a downgrade
Price: $1400 is a lot even for 2020. That is also only for 128 gb and 12 gb ram model. So no upgrade to ram compared to Note and a loss of half the storage compared to entry level note. Plan was to trade in note 10+ and pay $800 and it isn't worth that tp be honest. Not even close. Only foreseeable upgrades are little brighter screen and zoom lens. The rest is a downgrade to me or the same.
I will continue to use note 10+ until Note 20 maybe? Needs to have something better for the money it is going to cost though

What's next?

Hello,
I've had every pixel since launch and, whilst the phones have been underwhelming, I absolutely love the point and shoot camera quality so can forgive the sub par hardware features. I hold a good camera above other things like screen res, waterproof, size, etc etc.
The pixel 4 is the first time I've seen a Pixel and thought meh. Yes the camera(s) are upgrade this time, but not quite enough. I would still take a Pixel4 but the reduction is battery is seriously bugging me, as my 3 is a bit limp in the battery department. But most of all I can't stomach the Google Photo back up offer no longer running. This was a prime selling point, as I'm sure any with kids knows, you take a lot of snaps! Having free orignal quality backups was really nice.
All this is leading me to jump ship and not get a Pixel 4. But what is there? Huawei have seriously good cameras, I had P20 pro for 2 weeks, but their UI is more than terrible and booloader unlock + ROM support is next to non existent. Samsung insist on the crappy SoC compared to the Snapdragon offering, plus their cameras are good but a step back compared to pixels. Oneplus make everything is awesome phones, but are alway below average in their cameras.
Just not sure really, may stick with the P3 and see what happens in the next 2 years
EggZenBeanz said:
Hello,
I've had every pixel since launch and, whilst the phones have been underwhelming, I absolutely love the point and shoot camera quality so can forgive the sub par hardware features. I hold a good camera above other things like screen res, waterproof, size, etc etc.
The pixel 4 is the first time I've seen a Pixel and thought meh. Yes the camera(s) are upgrade this time, but not quite enough. I would still take a Pixel4 but the reduction is battery is seriously bugging me, as my 3 is a bit limp in the battery department. But most of all I can't stomach the Google Photo back up offer no longer running. This was a prime selling point, as I'm sure any with kids knows, you take a lot of snaps! Having free orignal quality backups was really nice.
All this is leading me to jump ship and not get a Pixel 4. But what is there? Huawei have seriously good cameras, I had P20 pro for 2 weeks, but their UI is more than terrible and booloader unlock + ROM support is next to non existent. Samsung insist on the crappy SoC compared to the Snapdragon offering, plus their cameras are good but a step back compared to pixels. Oneplus make everything is awesome phones, but are alway below average in their cameras.
Just not sure really, may stick with the P3 and see what happens in the next 2 years
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same, I won't get p4, I love compact phones (so 4xl is not an option) and battery life in small p4 is going to be ridicolous lol. I love my p3, just wish it had more battery life, that was the only downside and they didn't correct it in p4, actually I think they made it worse :crying: why the **** aren't they making the phone 1-2mm thicker but with bigger batteries? really can't understand, I think everyone would prefer a little thicker phone but with better battery life...
also not having original backup is incredible, have a kid here too and need best quality for my millions pictures lol.
really can't get what they are doing... other thing I don't like is the fingerprint gone...
my top priorities for a phone are compact size, great cam quality and battery life.. so considering the alternatives around I think i'll stick with the p3 for some long time lol... also considering I hate as well notches, punch holes and similar and huawei and samsung's horrible UI
Oh my lord I didn't even think about Fingerprint scanner. Just reading a review about it, no scanner and face unlock that is a bit wonky. I'm definitely out then.
Seeing I went from a Nexus 6 to the Pixel 3, I think there is a Pixel 7 in my future. They should have messed up then fixed things a couple of times by then.

Question Is the Pixel 6 reliable now ?

So I am looking for a new phone to replace my 3 yo Xiaomi mi 8, and the Pixel 6 series has captured my attention design wise and software wise.
I was originally going to purchase the pixel 6a, but after trying it in a store, it felt a bit too small for my uses. Also i saw some reviews where its performance was not as good as the Pixel 6 although it has the same SoC, which is quite a big deal for me as I do some gaming like genshin impact
So I may want to settle for the Pixel 6 now (better screen and performance for my usage), but I need some advice from the community here, as I found out there was a lot of bugs at launch
How is the phone right now ? Does it still have issues ? If so, what issues ? Would you recommend it right now ? If not, what are other options in the same price range (649€ in my country)? I'm looking for a phone with good build quality that would last 4-5 years.
Lastly, does it overheat ? How is the battery life ?
I still read a lot of mixed opinions about this phone, but some might be outdated
It doesn't overheat in my experience.
As everything has some pros and cons, I can say that pros of Pixel 6 outweigh the fewer cons it has.
Overheating, well I haven't faced the phone shutting down or apps stops working due to overheat, but the the phone get uncomfortable to hold for long when it heats up, maybe I am not used to of such warm/hot phones in the past.
4-5 years, look, this is glass sandwitch phone with mammoth size, so probabilities of shattering it apart are much heigher than a small and rigid body phone like Pixel 5.
A perfect Pixel would be a Qualcomm powered Tensor chip customized by Google packed in the body of Pixel 5. But since Pixel 7 series is also following the footstep of Pixel 6, I assume Pixel 6 can be a better buy for now if its available at discounts compared to the 7.
You need to look at the positives, like its got wonderful camera. And those AI powered accurate voice assistance features are just nice when you need them.
Been using Pixel 6 for a month now after retiring my Xiamoi mi9 lite. I'm happy with the phone, no glitches or whatsoever. Photography is a serious upgrade here, now I like to take a lot of shots while with my previous phone I rarely did. It really competes iPhone in this domain.
The phone feels good in the hand, I wish I had the audacity to use it caseless, but I don't., and it's very slippery when naked, and it's a bit bulkier with a case. I got the google silicon case, do not do that, it discolors very quickly.
Coming from a Xiaomi phone, you'll see much less bloatware and bells and whistles. Everything is to the point, you may get bored a bit, but for me I don't miss any of Xiaomi's features to be honest, and I got used to the Pixel pretty quickly. It is a good experience for me. I'm happy with it to the point where I feel I'm sure my next phone in 2-3 years will most likely be a Pixel.
The downside is charging, for some reason Google decided to slow charging down as the battery fills up, so the first 50% take like 30 minutes to charge while the last 50% take almost an hour.
About overheating, it only does so when I'm on a video call for a while, otherwise the phone handles anything you throw at it with ease, I'm not a gamer though so don't take my word for gaming. It may perform well in gaming, but you will fell the need for something that charges quicker as you will drain the battery with games.
I saw the 6a in the store today and tried it a little bit, for some reason it actually feels slower, the display is not as snappy as I'd wish, maybe it's 60hz, but it definitely felt like less, I wouldn't recommend it. I got the Pixel 6 at a nice deal (550€ instead of 650€) so if you have this option go for the the 6 and stay away from the 6a as the latter feels like a compromise..
Hard to say with Android 12 still running on it and that still being buggy. When 13 is complete in a few weeks it'll be easier to answer.
Pixel 6 seems solid to me; I've had mine since January (unrooted, fully stock). I play Angry Birds2 which works ok but frankly isn't as smooth as my OnePlus 6T was. I don't currently have major glitches though I'm about to start a thread on a wifi oddity. The phone is a bit heavier than I would like, and a bit thicker than I would like, but it will last me a couple years I think.
If I had to buy a phone today it would be another Pixel 6. Mine shut down from heat once, I was streaming bluetooth music and had left my phone setting in the direct sun. That is what overheated it, not what it was doing. I went with a dBrand leather skin, which I love for texture and grip, but it provides no real protection. I now have 2 small screen scratches as a result. I'm now in a Pelican case with a rim around the screen whenever I am out doing things. Battery life is fine, I usually have 30%+ left when I go to bed (which is when I charge), but once or twice it has tanked the battery to battery saver mode - I think the last one was right after a monthly update, so probably that is what used all the power.
I do have a 6a on order too, as I had a 3a sitting around and the trade-in make it worth while to upgrade the backup phone to current generation.
I have had a Pixel 6 for about 2 weeks now, and my experience has been excellent.
The good:
Great performance and battery life. I haven't tried gaming yet, but multitasking and general horsepower is excellent. The Recently Played app (a background Shazam native to Google Pixel) runs AI calculations in the background all day recognizing the songs, and my microphone data stays on device. I use my phone throughout the day, listening to Spotify and YouTube at work, and I usually still have 40-50% battery at the end of the day. I have most performance features activated, for reference.
The security features are excellent. I love the tensor chip, as my data stays on device while external data gets pulled from Google servers. I also like the transparency and control I get over my data in general, google-utilized or not. My Gboard builds a model on my device, my adaptive battery learns on the device, and the now playing app pulls from the server to figure out the song that's playing.
I find the camera to be excellent, especially in low light. I wish I had more manual control, but again the tensor/exnyos chip does a great job of figuring out how to optimize the photo. It is not as good as an S22, however. The speakers are great, again not as good as the S22.
I like how streamlined the android experience is. While Samsung builds an app for each feature, pixel android is seamless and features are integrated into the device. I like being able to autofill any password field, and being able to access my google-managed passwords directly from Gboard.
The cell reception is phenomenal. This is also a result of TMobile, but I get 3-4 bars of 5G where I would have 1x on my Verizon LG V30.
The bad:
As noted, some specific features are not as high quality as an S22. The camera, 90hz screen, and speakers are the notable ones. Finding a protective case that keeps the device slim with the giant camera bar on the back can be a challenge. I like the look of it, though.
The fingerprint reader is hilariously slow and a bit inconsistent. My 2016 V30 was faster.
Charging is slow, but this probably improves longevity. There might be a way to enable fast charging, but I haven't found it.
I haven't noticed any bugs or glitches, but I am confident that one of the many updates that google pushes on pixel owners may brick an app or feature. It has been rock steady while I have owned it.
I rate the pixel 6 a 9/10, though this is heavily subjective. I like that the pixels never come with carrier bloat, and that they are secure and have a light version of Android. Samsung Android always feels like it has far too many apps even out of the box.
I have 2 Pixel 6 in the houshhold on T-Mobile, both have been solid reliable phones, especially for their mid-level price. No issues with signal lever on either WiFi or 5G. Full day or more battery life. It runs SLIGHTLY warm, doesn't overheat except on a wireless charger in the car while running maps. Only complaint is the Finger Print reader, which still misses about 25% of the time. That said, I'm not a big gamer so I can't say how well suited this phone is for gaming.
{Mod edit: Quoted post has been deleted}
YOU can PLAY GAMES And read RedDip threads AT THE SAME TIME.
{Mod edit: Quoted post has been deleted}
After using the seat Pixel 5, you will hate the 6 for it's giant size. More so since the glass sandwich design of Pixel 6 is prone to break hence hefty cover is mandatory so it feels like like holding a cheap heavy Chinese phone.
Performance wise it is an okay phone, no complaints, but its just okay, nothing special. I wish it atelast had some Qualcomm powerted chipset insteal of Exynos.
Modem on my P6 is horrible. Significantly worse than the Pixel 3 it replaced. If I didn't work from home most of the time, I would have replaced this phone months ago. As it is, I am going to try the P7 when it comes out (testing it heavily during return period) and either keeping that or getting an S22. No more P6 for me after October.

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