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Did anyone here consider getting a Pixel XL, but ended up getting a V20 instead?

Did anyone here consider getting a Pixel XL, but ended up getting a V20 instead? What were your reasons and have your expectations been met?

CayenneGTS said:
Did anyone here consider getting a Pixel XL, but ended up getting a V20 instead? What were your reasons and have your expectations been met?
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i considered it. it looks like a good phone but it looks ugly. lol also no sd card slot was a big deal breaker and after note 7 fiasco removable battery sounded good.
so far so good with the lg v20. wishthe battery life was a tad better but i can change it so no big deal. no lag or hiccups. i haven't had any issues really.
Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

yeah I was going to get it but only really supplied by verizon in the US, couldn't justify $800 when the V20 was $350 on contract with sprint

Never considered it since I thought it was a downgrade & too much iphonie!

The only two potential cons (I've never owned an LG phone before, so I don't have any personal experience) is the fact that with the Pixel, you'll get the latest Android updates for the next two years. How is LG with updates to Android?
Second potential downside to the V20 is the new Google assistant which may not come to the V20 (as it appears that Google want to differentiate their phones from other Android phones). I really want this feature even though the reviews say its really a 1.0 version and needs work.
Other than the above two pros (as far as I'm concerned), I prefer the following on the V20 compared to the Pixel XL:
- Slightly bigger screen
- Removable battery
- as good or a close second (based on a couple of reviews I've seen) camera as on the Pixel
- price
If not for the fact that its not available on any Canadian online retailer (that I'm aware of), I would have bought the V20 already and wouldn't have started this thread. lol

I thought about it until I saw the price. I normally buy my devices outright unless there's a promotion.
770-$200 trade in promotion(Moto E on its last leg I bought over a year ago). So $570+ tax free next day(2 day for Hawaii and Alaska)
Vs
$870 + tax and shipping. So close to $1,000 for a phone.
I like Google and all, but I can't see myself spending 1k for a phone even if it's from them.
Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk

The fact that they are trying to you force you to buy it just to have Google assistant really turned me off.

Considered it. Ultimately did not go with it because I needed to get rid of my Note 7 and the XL 128 GB was out of stock. Plus I would have had to give up Jump On Demand (T-Mobile).

I considered it for a while then realized that google will never put an SD card on their phone. That brought me to the conclusion that Google can go kindly **** themselves. My consideration was long gone before I discovered that the phone was as ugly as sin.

I didn't even considered it LOL I usually don't criticize the cosmetic of any smartphone at first glance.... But... The pixel was an exception lol. I just couldnt handle glass and metal together in the back and in such a way. To me the pixel XL is a downgrade, and i might as well place it along with the iphone 7 on the category of phones that (FOR ME) should actually worth about $400+. Also, i dont see anything worthy enough to make me change to the pixel XL on the specs. The no micro sd card is already a LOSE for me, imagine lol . Also, i use my IR Blaster alot! Now, regarding google assistant.... that is a software, not a hardware. At some point along the way we might get it (LG V20's) if it is even worthy. I mean, we already have google integrated in the device, we can even unlock a devices which is locked and screen off with our voice since google voice is already there for you, and it is pretty much like an assistant. It does everything i ask (her/him LOL choose your voice) to do to. >>> If that is what all you meant with google assistant, then LG V20 has it.

I actually bought both.
T-Mobile stated that I have 20 days to play with the LG V20, and if I don't like it - I can return it. I also ordered a Pixel XL about 3 days ago, 128 GB in white/silver.
I should be receiving the V20 soon, as T-Mobile has given me a tracking number. I know for a fact that I'll love the LG V20, but it'll come down to how badly do I really miss vanilla Android. It'll also come down to battery life and ergonomics of the V20 - does it feel like a premium phone in my hands? I think at this point I'm more likely to cancel my Pixel XL order than I am giving back the V20.
Time will tell! Either way, both are great phones and many of the camera "issues" have been debunked with the Pixel XL - it has an amazing camera. If you can live without an SD card, and can live with the fact that it looks like a replica of an iPhone, then you really should consider it.

I personally don't see a point of buying the pixel just yet. I personally used about 6 phones last year and I would rather go with an iPhone than buying a pixel. The reason I'd buy a nexus to start with is the development here in XDA , but I don't like any entity who tries to mimic the Apple business model. I know they're trying to offer a premium experience but coming from the note 7 RIP, I believe that the v20 is a much better investment for the time being.k would have gotten the pixel xl at a $500 price tag just like the nexus 6p but close to a $100 and no expandable storage trying to be Apple? Very much no thank you I am out. I am enjoying my removable battery, very nice camera, expandable storage and IR BLASTER on my v20 now.

definitely considered it, the v20 was just easier on t-mobile, I had an upgrade to use, also the removable battery and SD card is a must have for me

Nope, the pixel sucks only because of its price. Google is trying to release an expensive phone that is at the same price point as Apple. Too bad Google, we have so many other options to pick from with Android.
A great camera and an assistant does not justify the high price point. Many other Android phones have a great camera, sd card, waterproof, etc....

had it for 2 days, returned it this past saturday. Came home ordered my v20 from big red and arrives tomorrow the 25th.

I was trying to decide between both for a good while. Decided on the V20 mainly because the Pixel XL 128gb is on back order until December through Verizon, and I can get the V20 right now. Also, while the Pixel looks like a solid phone, it just seems rather... boring and vanilla. Yeah, Google assistant looks cool, but I've heard it's not really an upgrade from Google Now in its current state. Oh, and I have a 256gb SD card that I'd like to make use of.

AhsanU said:
I actually bought both.
T-Mobile stated that I have 20 days to play with the LG V20, and if I don't like it - I can return it. I also ordered a Pixel XL about 3 days ago, 128 GB in white/silver.
I should be receiving the V20 soon, as T-Mobile has given me a tracking number. I know for a fact that I'll love the LG V20, but it'll come down to how badly do I really miss vanilla Android. It'll also come down to battery life and ergonomics of the V20 - does it feel like a premium phone in my hands? I think at this point I'm more likely to cancel my Pixel XL order than I am giving back the V20.
Time will tell! Either way, both are great phones and many of the camera "issues" have been debunked with the Pixel XL - it has an amazing camera. If you can live without an SD card, and can live with the fact that it looks like a replica of an iPhone, then you really should consider it.
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The V20 feels VERY premium in your hands.

Anyone experiencing similar issues as this reviewer ? (yes I know she has a pre-prod device, that's why I'm asking to confirm that these issues have been fixed).
http://mobilesyrup.com/2016/09/26/lg-v20-review-canada/
Main issues she ran into were its inconsistent processing performance (google maps for instance was buggy) (including painfully slow boot time).

I definitely considered the XL. In fact, I would have bought the XL if only it were in stock and available.
I just love anything stock android and I usually buy the latest Nexus device anyways (PIXEL? in this case)
I am also a huge supporter in the HTC company and I will invest in them until they are fully defeated lol.
So naturally I will go with the next available choice in the V20. And the more I think of it, the more assured I feel about the choice.
Whats not to like?
- $200 credit
- Free B&O headphones (I am an up and coming audiophile lol)
- MicroSD
- quad DAC
- Unorthodox camera setups
- Removable battery!!!!!
SO I am pretty stoked lol.

I pre-ordered the Pixel XL about 10 days ago and was happily waiting. I was lucky enough to have time to go into ATT today to look at the V20 and Verizon to look at Pixel. I came home and cancelled my Pixel order.
Here's why: Pixel freaking looks exactly like an iPhone minus the home button, especially in silver/white. I just don't like the glass on the back, seems like a really bad idea. Overall jus does not look premium.
As for V20, it has 2nd screen so I can see my notifications, Pixel has no ability for this. Knock on for V20 ++ Premium look and feel. Removable battery/memory card +++ That's enough for me.

still worth buying Pixel 2? [June 2018]

I need a new phone. I've been on a Note 4 for a while now, and it has reached its end-of-life. Done tons of research, and even when compared against the latest-and-greatest, the Pixel 2 still reviews well. It seems to be exactly what I am looking for. Even though the announcement of the Pixel 3 is right around the corner, it will mostly likely be late Oct / early Nov before consumers can get them in hand anyway. Five months is a long time, and I'm kind of ready to make a move now.
Is the Pixel 2 still the way to go? Do I have to bite the bullet and get another Samsung and get an s9? (I'm on AT&T btw, and I'm really really sick of having a carrier locked phone and waiting on AT&T to add bloatware to all the updates).
Would I be stupid to get the Pixel 2 today? Talk me into it / talk me out of it.

You'd be stupid to go Samsung again, that's for sure.
The Note 4 was arguably Samsung's peak for the Note line, and the S7 Edge the peak for their S line. Sure the new designs are fancy, but are fragile, and Samsung are horrendous when it comes to updates.
I'd suggest looking into a OnePlus 6 especially if you're sick of being carrier locked. Cheaper and more powerful than the Pixel 2, better in every way aside from speakers and camera if they are important to you.
That being said, I miss my Pixel 2 XL for the software as it's so damn smooth, but I do not miss the abysmal screen (Note 4 screen is better). So if you go Pixel 2, definitely get the smaller one with the nicer Samsung screen.

As opposed to what ? Samsung ? Pixel 2 still had several years of guaranteed updates and a smoother software interface with less bloat. I could understand MAYBE if you said an iPhone as most businesses are starting to use iOS and Apple supports their software for several years but against a Samsung that's just a joke.

My $0.02., develop your own pros/cons list as no one knows what's more important to you, than you. Example, I absolutely hate lag in software, probably an unhealthy amount... I also enjoy a headphone jack, but that's less important than software to _me_. At the end of the day, no phone is better at software and camera than the Pixel 2 (I have non-XL, coming from a Samsung Galaxy S3) and that's what I think ultimately creates the Pixel appeal because literally every time you use your phone, in an app, to take a pic, etc, you get that top-of-the-line software experience. How much does Samsung's superior hardware matter when apps lag or freeze and frustrate the user or they're running a 6-month old security patch level?
Also got mine 50% off during Verizon's Black Friday deal last year, figured the savings was worth the locked bootloader. Then we got an unlock method anyways in December so win-win, half price + unlocked BL now. Is the P2 worth full price to you? Who knows. But good luck whatever path you choose!

istrikerx said:
You'd be stupid to go Samsung again, that's for sure.
The Note 4 was arguably Samsung's peak for the Note line, and the S7 Edge the peak for their S line. Sure the new designs are fancy, but are fragile, and Samsung are horrendous when it comes to updates.
I'd suggest looking into a OnePlus 6 especially if you're sick of being carrier locked. Cheaper and more powerful than the Pixel 2, better in every way aside from speakers and camera if they are important to you.
That being said, I miss my Pixel 2 XL for the software as it's so damn smooth, but I do not miss the abysmal screen (Note 4 screen is better). So if you go Pixel 2, definitely get the smaller one with the nicer Samsung screen.
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I love my Pixel 2, but honestly the reason I bought it was because of the camera and because I thought there would be more rom development by this point, but mostly for the camera. I came from a oneplus 3t and I loved that phone so much. The development community was large and very active, and the phone's hardware was awesome.
If it wasn't for the Pixel 2's camera, I would've much rather upgraded to a newer oneplus device or even stuck with my 3t. But seriously, imo forget samsung and there locked ass bootloaders and stupidly overpriced phones.

I ditched Samsung (S6) finally last month and got the Pixel2. I am not much of a ROM flasher but root is very important to me. I was dreading going down in resolution but haven't regretted it once.

Is there any reason NOT to get the Pixel 2? What other phone is popular enough to receive continual updates, and easy to find accessories? Gives fast performance without lag-inducing bloat-ware?

I have an AT&T brand Note 8 and i really like the phone (wish i would have bought the unlocked version). But i like to root and flash roms occasionally and I'm pretty limited on the Note 8. Lucky me my work takes me all across Texas and i just happen to be where AT&T don't have service so i bought the Pixel 2 direct from Google and I'm loving it. I'm running it on Verizon. Super easy to unlock bootloader and root. I've only had it for about a month now and have only did one update (the June update) that got a little confusing but i figured it out (i downloaded it myself from Google instead of doing the ota). Personally, i think the camera on the Note 8 is better than the Pixel 2 camera, but i have both phones so i can always take pictures with the Note and it syncs to my Google photos and i have the pic on both phones. I do feel like the Pixel runs a lot smoother than the Note though. If you buy a Pixel, I'd suggest buying straight from Google so you don't have to worry about the bootloader, although i know carriers bundling things in makes it hard to pass up.

I believe it is still going strong and worth a buy.
Personally I don't the notch design which everyone is copying from Apple now.

In fact I bought one three weeks ago and I'm very happy with it. It's already running Android P DP3. I have considered a Huawei P20, but in the end went with the Pixel 2, mainly because of the fast updates and stock Android (I came from a Nexus 5X)
No regrets!

Meh not that many accessories...
mellojoe said:
Is there any reason NOT to get the Pixel 2? What other phone is popular enough to receive continual updates, and easy to find accessories? Gives fast performance without lag-inducing bloat-ware?
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Well, gotta disagree a little with you on the bolded section. The P2 just isn't sold in large enough numbers to get the choices in accessories like the mainstream iPhones, S9, etc. Otterbox Defender series only has 2 colors for crying out loud...
Edit: a word

It could be a winner for you if that's what you want...luv mine!

Personally I would wait and buy a cheaper, last year's phone in the meanwhile.
Pixel 2 series is great, but you still have to make hard compromises. If you want the 2018 screen quality, go pixel 2; if you want a 2018 battery life and screen size, go XL. But to me these 3 things are essential to a phone (ok maybe not the screen size). Considering the price being top of the lines even compared to an iPhone, and it is a 2017 phone (sort), I would wait.
Plus I got a feel that Pixel 3 may come with wireless charging and other technologies that would make using a phone more convenient. While Pixel 2 is just, with great camera. Not an important factor to me personally.

I just got it coming from a Huawei mate 10
Honestly its a great phone . I got the small version cuz I have a U11PLUS plus as my daily big screen phone. And it's awesome they have all these goodness in such a small phone can be handled one hand
At the moment u11plus plus 128gb and 6gb ram is going for 600$ ish on eBay. If u don't care about updates I would advice u to go with it. The camera with gcam performing better than the pixel believe it or not and the battery is the best in the market. Colours of amazing silver or red are phenomenal, nothing else comes close even the copycat p20 pro

Absolutely! I would recommend the Pixel 2 to anybody who asked I haven't even had any reason to want the XL - I've just got the 5" Pixel.
The software is essentially bloat-free (if you use the Google apps) and the experience is as polished as that of the iPhone.
(I'm not a fan of the iPhone but anybody who's used an Android can't deny on most phones the platform is bloated and a little half-assed in places.)
Plus, if you're big into getting the latest Android versions - we get the Android betas first (and they're supported for 2 years.)
And, once the 2 years are up, if you haven't got a new phone by then, I'd imagine there would be a ton of custom ROMs and such for the phone.
I'm planning on developing some ROMs for the Pixel 2 but I haven't for the moment because I have no reason to; the software is the best I've experienced, so I have no reason to mod the phone. (This is probably why there isn't much in the way of development going on for the phone)
In my opinion, the camera is excellent; I don't use it that much but when I do, it's fast, the quality is fantastic and I have trouble faulting it.
Finally, the battery life is great. As a student, I don't use my phone all day but relatively speaking, I'm quite a heavy user and I get about 3 hours more screen time than most others. Plus, as the phone charges to upwards of 80% in about 45 minutes, battery isn't really an issue. (5-10 minutes at an AC outlet can usually get it up to 20%.)
TL;DR: Particularly if you buy a phone for utility (rather than as a fashion statement), this phone is brilliant. It's the best Android device I've ever owned and, I think, one of the best on the market.
If you want something that looks a bit more flashy, I'd suggest the Pixel XL, though.

The give-a-friend 15% offer is making this pracitcally a no-brainer for me. That brings a brand new direct from Google Pixel2 to $550. That's basically the same price as low end or older model phones. Looks like I'll be picking one up. Thanks for the advice.
Feel free to add any more thoughts, tho, cause I'm sure as we get closer to the launch of the 3, more people are going to be asking for opnions on the 2 as a budget-friendly option.

jerryhou85 said:
I believe it is still going strong and worth a buy.
Personally I don't the notch design which everyone is copying from Apple now.
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Let me correct you sir. Copying from Essential ph-1, not apple. Apple copying that design from Essential ph-1. Get it right.

ivanov13 said:
Let me correct you sir. Copying from Essential ph-1, not apple. Apple copying that design from Essential ph-1. Get it right.
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Ahh, I see. Learned that recently, thanks.
This year Pixel 3 should be the choice if I want to change my phone again.

edwinek said:
In fact I bought one three weeks ago and I'm very happy with it. It's already running Android P DP3. I have considered a Huawei P20, but in the end went with the Pixel 2, mainly because of the fast updates and stock Android (I came from a Nexus 5X)
No regrets!
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me too, I bought my pixel 2 (128GB) using a 20% coupon, used to have a nexus 5x, huge improvement

Why so much hate for the 3 XL ?

Wow the Pixel 3 XL is getting bagged and dogged on left and right as if it's the worst smartphone ever made. Yes it could have been designed better for sure. Try to go the more minimal notch like Essential or something, and no bottom chin, do the stereo speakers like the HTC 10, or and the iPhone XS, and Note 9's, do, etc... to allow a more full screen design. Yes give us 6GB RAM.
Mainly in tech forums I keep reading so much hate for the Pixel 3 XL;
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/pixel-3-pixel-3-xl.2106788/page-68#post-26666374
And YouTube channels dogging on the phone big time
But I still wouldn't go iPhone, just not an iOS fan whatsoever. And Samsung Touchwiz not my thing either. So if I hate the iPhone, don't like Galaxy phones and the Pixel 3 is sub par, what's the other options? I wish we had a third option, a Windows Surface phone or something.
Oh well, I still have my White Pixel 3 XL on order, and not changing. Yes the notch is ugly, and more RAM would have been nice, but I still value stock Android, updated directly and quickly from Google, and the smooth fluid vanilla UI, and the amazing camera, and A+ rated display, and IP68 rating, and wireless charging. Maybe I'm a sucker, but that's my choice.

Honestly, I didn't even notice the notch when I was checking out the display phone at Verizon. I love the feel of the phone, very well balanced and light compared to my old Nexus 6. Can't wait to get my phone call on Thursday (I hope) to come and pick up my phone.

I think manly they are charging Flagship prices but not delivering on flagship hardware /specs compared to whats already on the market and instead are betting on software to carry them. Now i love pure android how its meant to be not a fan of all tweaks each manufacture adds to the phone, If Samsung offered a note 9 /S9 pure (ie stock android no mods) i think the pixel would be left in its dust. The Pixel's have always seemed to be a generation behind. I love my pixel 2 xl i know i just wanted something more to go with the great feel of stock android and what not. maybe next year, i have my 3 XL ordered and will use it for a week or two to see if its worth the upgrade over my 2 XL

How would I have like to see Google design the Pixel 3 XL? Well on a realistic manner not some unrealistic futuristic design but a realistic version could have been a cross between like the LG V30 shape and size with the minimal bezels but give it the Essential notch and stretch the screen out on the top and bottom. And then do the stereo speakers like on the Note 9 or iPhone so they don't have to be front-facing, and allow for full display with almost no bezels at like 6.2" or so. And give it 6GB RAM. And a bigger 4,000MaH battery.

At the end of the day, for October 2018, I still think FOR ME, the Pixel 3 XL is the best phone out.
- Stock vanilla Android is my bread and butter OS. I go back to owning the Nexus-One when it was new, then waiting in line for the Nexus-S at launch. I just have a thing for stock Android, all other versions of Android just irritate me, or frustrate me.
- Updates first and quickly
- A+ rated display
- Best camera
- Wireless charging now
- IP68 rating is nice
- Phone can easily be rooted, mainly for the best ad blocking and Substratum themes
No other phone right now interests me. The Note 9 or S9+ ? Not at all, no way, Lagwiz still exists no matter what people say. The LG V40, yeah that's cool, but not a fan of the LG skin, and they suck at updates. iPhone XS Max looks super cool, a very beautifully built device, really liked it a lot, but man I hate iOS, and on the XS Max the OS looks out of place, dated like something from a decade ago. OnePlus 6T, yeah will be a great phone, but they always skimp somehow.
Is the Pixel 3 XL the best phone of 2018 ? NO, not at all. But for me a stock Android nerd, it's really the only option.

Yeah if the Iphone XS Max ran android it would be a dream phone lol IMO ... That said i do think the Note 9 Running stock android with all the software options of the pixel 3 would be a great option as well .

PSA:
Don't read Mac/Apple websites for reviews on Android devices. They are quite happy being locked into their apple ecosystem and will never appreciate the open source model of a pixel device.

No hate here, just wish the display was LARGER......Note9/V40 temp me with their larger displays......but I can't get away from pure google... C'mon google, 6.5 next year!!!

Why the hate? Did you notice that big black malignancy at the top of the screen? What about specs that are less than impressive? My guess is the answer is right there between those two things. Flagship means flagship, you want to charge this kinda money you need some wow factor and the ability to say you're second to none and have that hold water.
These devices don't give me that vibe. Too me they're like the second toughest guy on the block saying "Look, I can juggle!" As to the former enough has been said about it. I personally found my Best Buy experience to fall between what some said. At points when I was busy manipulating the GUI I forgot about it completely. Any time I stepped back from specific tasks the thing jumped out at me, it was like getting mugged with an ugly stick every timei looked at the phone as an object.
Yeah, I'm stupid so I'm still thinking about buying even though I'm not convinced I won't be sorry.

razor237 said:
I think manly they are charging Flagship prices but not delivering on flagship hardware /specs compared to whats already on the market and instead are betting on software to carry them. Now i love pure android how its meant to be not a fan of all tweaks each manufacture adds to the phone, If Samsung offered a note 9 /S9 pure (ie stock android no mods) i think the pixel would be left in its dust. The Pixel's have always seemed to be a generation behind. I love my pixel 2 xl i know i just wanted something more to go with the great feel of stock android and what not. maybe next year, i have my 3 XL ordered and will use it for a week or two to see if its worth the upgrade over my 2 XL
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I don't agree with this at all. The pixel 3 xl has a Samsung screen which looks amazing (and I bet is par or at least close to what you see on a Samsung phone), it has the latest Quallcom processor, the best cameras and software, same day updates, wireless charging, front facing speakers, I mean, what else does it need to be 'flagship specs' to you? What, because it only has 4 GB of RAM? That's literally the ONLY thing I can come up with, and that's only because many OEM's have stuffed more RAM in their phones this year. And honestly, it's not really necessary, at least not for 90% of people who use smartphones. Sheet, iPhones only have 4 GB or RAM. They only had ONE GB or RAM for a looonnnggg time. No one complained about that.
To me, this is a premium flagship, no question. The hate is mostly the RAM and notch. It's superficial. Last year it was the blue shift. Which, I think that plus the terrible quality control was actually warranted. This year, it's not much to hate on. Either you like it, or don't get it. And you can hide the notch. Either way, I'm excited about it coming today. I LOVE 2 xl, but I'm definitely ready for this upgrade, even though I was very on the fence before I checked one out in the store. My point here is, people are going to hate on something every time. Every time. If you don't like something, don't get it. It's really that simple.
My $0.02

gettinwicked said:
I don't agree with this at all. The pixel 3 xl has a Samsung screen which looks amazing (and I bet is par or at least close to what you see on a Samsung phone), it has the latest Quallcom processor, the best cameras and software, same day updates, wireless charging, front facing speakers, I mean, what else does it need to be 'flagship specs' to you? What, because it only has 4 GB of RAM? That's literally the ONLY thing I can come up with, and that's only because many OEM's have stuffed more RAM in their phones this year. And honestly, it's not really necessary, at least not for 90% of people who use smartphones. Sheet, iPhones only have 4 GB or RAM. They only had ONE GB or RAM for a looonnnggg time. No one complained about that.
To me, this is a premium flagship, no question. The hate is mostly the RAM and notch. It's superficial. Last year it was the blue shift. Which, I think that plus the terrible quality control was actually warranted. This year, it's not much to hate on. Either you like it, or don't get it. And you can hide the notch. Either way, I'm excited about it coming today. I LOVE 2 xl, but I'm definitely ready for this upgrade, even though I was very on the fence before I checked one out in the store. My point here is, people are going to hate on something every time. Every time. If you don't like something, don't get it. It's really that simple.
My $0.02
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I was simply stating why i think so many people hate the new pixel 3 xl from reading it sure does seem like a lot don't like it.
I agree the screen looks great but it should since they woke up and used a Samsung panel this time yay , my issue with it is its basically the same size as the 2 xl when you look at the usable part of the display and that is kinda disappointing to me i wanted a screen the size of the note 9 / XS max on the pixel 3 xl instead they went with a huge notch that takes away from the phone in stead of adding to it i honestly think they would have been better with out it at all, in person the notch isn't bad at all its big but once you play with it for a bit i didn't notice it as much and i don't mind the bottom chin as people call it since i love front firing speakers always hated cupping the end of the phone to direct the sound lol . They added an extra front camera and notch but no type of face id another missing feature that would have been a great addition to the pixel but we got wireless charging back so i guess its a trade off.
I said nothing about the ram because i think that's a mute point for most for the exact reason you said, apple has had little ram for a long time there is a difference between the two since apple designs the cpu they can help optimize it for the amount of ram they are using but mostly they iOS optimized for how it can handle the ram. google does the same with the pixel, most of the other phones need the extra ram because all the bs they add uses so much of it. for me as of now my daily usage on my 2 XL is 2.4-3.2 or so, 4gb is enough for me in 6 months that may not be the case but i doubt it
everyone has different ideas of what makes a phone flag ship quality or not, so this is just my opinion and you can agree or not for me i feel they could have done better and they came up a bit short compared to other phones only time will tell though and i still cant wait to get mine and use it to see if its worth the upgrade from the 2xl or not for me.

Nah, I don't buy it. Flagship is flagship. Almost flagship if it weren't for one big weakness is not flagship, it's second rate. I'm one of those people that can take advantage of more than 4 gigs of ram, I'm currently using 3.2 at home which is about average for me but usually hit in the upper 4s, lower 5s at work. Go ahead and name the one phone which is claiming flagship status and charging flagship prices but does not have me covered? See where I'm going?
Flagships is flagship, not second best with software optimization that every rooted oneplus will have installed not too far down the road on a phone that costs little more than half the price. Yeah, I'm talking about the camera. Still perhaps best in class overall but more than one reviewer has noted that telephoto shots lag behind other flagships including the fruit devices. They need to up their game here, flagships don't polish turds, they deliver the best hardware and polish that.
One that doesn't bother me in the slightest that I noted is the phones perceived build quality is a step behind Samsung and Apple. I cant point to one particular thing, either of those two just felt a little more expensive. As I said, I don't care because the phone will go into a case and I wont see it again until I give it to one of my kids or grand-kids in the spring.
So yeah, to me it feels like it's not quite up to flagship par except in price. It's all those things combined that give me that impression. And yeah, I'm still thinking about buying it, last night I got as far as putting it in my cart. Pixel has always been more the whole than the sum of its part, they are satisfying to own even if some things about them are underwhelming. The doubletake on the notch has me spooked though, when I was moving around the GUI it faded out of existence but when I just looked at the phone I kept doing this "whoa, what the hell were they thinking" thing. Cant figure out if that's ever going to go away or if it's going to be like a sore tooth. Still, buy in or not I'll never really consider it flagship hardware and every redraw I get will remind me of it should I start to forget.

The flagship price, the poor software utilization of the notch, the smaller battery and 4 GB RAM were the deal breakers.
The Note 9 is every bit as fast as the Pixel 3 XL, has a much better screen, better battery and SPen for the same price. The Pixel 3 XL may very well be a great phone but when priced with the Note 9, it needed SOMETHING to justify the price. Also, one can easily get a great condition LG V35 ThinQ or S9+ with better specs for hundreds less. Once the price drops, then it might be a better competitor.

For me a premium device needs to last me 2 years and be a useful companion for the duration.
The phone needs to be well built to last, have a good screen and the hardware features need to be ergonomic.
In addition to this the phone must have quick, well thought out software that ties in nicely to my favourite services.
For me, my best option is the Pixel 3 XL. I was considering the new Mate 20 pro as it is very similar in price here in the UK but there is now way I'll be putting up with their software and clutterware for two years. I'm also put off by their storage media and awful to uae, curved screen.
The pixel is getting stick for having underwhelming specs but this is a very short-sighted view unless your sole purpose for the device is to run benchmarks. People needs to evaluate what they use their phones for and what they need to achieve that.
I'm running the original Pixel XL 32Gb and it is still fantastic for all of my everyday uses. My wife is in fact selling her Samsung s9 and will be having my Pixel now that I've upgraded to the 3 XL.
Just as a side note, iPhones are brilliant for many as they offer a great experience across their devices and therefore are useful for their duration. This is more important than having a 40MP camera and 8Gb of RAM for the vast majority.

A lot of that was subjective: I find the Apple experience awful, spread it out across more devices and I call that cancer. I have to say however that your concept in general is on the mark in that the experience is what matters rather than the numbers. It's a fair summation.

for the peeps that hate on the notch and the ram .. just go buy the OnePlus 6T and be done with it

It's all just opinion as we have stayed here. The easy to pick on parts of any product is the visual appearance and listed specs. The new pixel XL appears to be poor in this area for a lot of people. Usabilit of the entire package is impossible to judge from online reviews.
If it is anything like the original Pixel, the phone will be great. If it's like my old Samsung phones or my iPhone 7, no thank you.

The phone is what it is. If you don't like it for the way it looks or a feature that it has or doesn't have, don't buy it. If all you have to say is you hate the notch, spare us. There are a lot of phones I don't like. I don't buy them and I don't seek out their communities and complain about them. This forum is here for the people that have the phone, not for those that hate it.

dmb219 said:
The phone is what it is. If you don't like it for the way it looks or a feature that it has or doesn't have, don't buy it. If all you have to say is you hate the notch, spare us. There are a lot of phones I don't like. I don't buy them and I don't seek out their communities and complain about them. This forum is here for the people that have the phone, not for those that hate it.
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This! Sooo much this! Last year with the pixel 2 xl, there were so many trolls who had zero intention of ever buying the phone who came onto the forum just to talk sheet. One thread went hundreds of pages. It was ridiculous and stupid. If people like that really have that much time on their hands that they have to go troll things that have nothing to do with them, get a hobby or a life. Seriously. I'm surprised there isn't more yet on here. But, people have only begun to start getting their phones, so, I'm not holding my breath that it won't start.

It still looks like a toy next to any Samsung phones.
My note 9 looks like a monster next to my xl3.
I hate the notch. I'm not those people that will get over it.
I never will.
Anyway, display on xl3 looks great to me.
Camera is amazing.
Anything else

Whats the main reason you bought Pixel 3?

So everybody has that one thing made them buy Pixel 3 over other phones.. for me that's camera and assume the same for many of the users... what's that one thing made you buy this phone?

ram4ufriends said:
So everybody has that one thing made them buy Pixel 3 over other phones.. for me that's camera and assume the same for many of the users... what's that one thing made you buy this phone?
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After years of being a loyal Samsung customer, I got tired of updates that often took 8+ months after release. Even when they came, my phone often slowed down to a crawl. I also got tired of the locked down bootloader in Samsung phones. This is my first Pixel phone and I couldn't be happier. Superior camera, monthly updates, butter-y smooth performance, unlocked bootloader with ability to root and do titanium backups without losing warranty. Too many reasons to mention. I will NEVER again buy a Samsung. I never understood how inferior specs could have better overall performance, but now that I actually own Pixel, I can.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

The main reason I went to the Pixel is the camera. After owning the Note 9 and getting mostly blurry action shots I went back to the Pixel and couldn't be more happy. I don't miss the curved Samsung displays at all either.

My initial purchase of the OG Pixel and Pixel XL was at least partially driven by price. My wife and I had S4s that I got before Samsung locked them down, so once I had them rooted they were going to get used until they died. Close to three years later the were on their last leg and the dePixel exploit went public. I grabbed the OGs at Verizon for essentially half off retail, ended up with a device that worked exactly like the Google model and even got trade-in money for the S4s. After 2+ years of the OGs (that were still behaving like champs and had moved a while back to T-Mobile), I got myself really tempted to pick up the OP6Ts with the T-Mobile trade-in program that included the Pixel and Pixel XL. The only way I could talk myself out of it was to pickup a Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL and trade in the OGs. Ultimately, it had a lot to do with me not wanting to learn another ecosystem (at 47 years old) or to compromise with anything less than an unlocked bootloader, an excellent dev scene and as close to pure android as is possible. I have no regrets or payments on the phones.

My reason might not be a 'great' one. I was (am) an original Pixel XL owner. I felt it was a very good phone but needed an upgrade. I'm much too invested in Google phones at this point to get anything else. So... I got the Pixel 3 XL. I guess I could have stayed with the original Pixel XL but where's the fun in that?
I'm just saying this to say it - 5 years ago when a new phone came out it was like, "WOAH! It can do THAT!?". These days the annual changes are not exactly exciting. And honestly, most people do the same basic things with their phones - take pictures, use social media, play games, browse the internet, message, etc. Most phones do all of those things pretty well with varying degrees of precision. Battery life seems to have always been and will probably always be something to complain about.

Pure Android, the latest builds, and the best camera.

For me, it was the ability to root and customize. I've been using phones from AT&T for years, mostly Samsungs, and I couldn't do anything with them, not at least while I owned them. Being able to root and mod isn't that big of deal any more, most of the phones work pretty damn well for the most part, and a lot of the features that I use to get by using a custom rom are pretty much standard now. But it's still fun to do.

I love that I always have the latest Android version and security patch. The smoothness is also important. And no bloat.
Always felt left behind with my Samsung and even OnePlus phones .

Needed an upgrade from Samsung S7 which was laggy, and updates were months delayed. Wanted Project Fi, which lowered my monthly bill and offered the best option for international travel. Really like the form factor and minimalist design of the Pixel 3, very snappy performance, unbloated Android and first in line for updates. Great camera and call screening are bonuses. Best phone I've had, by far.

I have to say Pure Android, Camera and a much needed upgrade from my Nexus 6P! Loving this phone so far..

spotmark said:
Pure Android, the latest builds, and the best camera.
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I'm Airmaxx23 and I approve this message.

The only stock Android phone prior to the pixel 2xl and 3xl I ever had was the nexus s from Samsung. It was fine, but, stock Android was really boring back then to me. But, a few phones later and when HTC decided they weren't going to update their phones anymore, even after a super buggy update, I dropped a stock Android ROM on it. I actually really liked it. And, it brought the phone back to life. Then I got a Samsung since the Nexus 6P didn't have financing that I could find, loved it, at least until the S8 was about to drop and Samsung updated it to run slower. Then slower, and so on. I decided screw Samsung and HTC, and tried the Pixel 2xl. LOVED it. Best camera, day one updates, super fast and no updates ever slowed it down. So, the 3 dropped and with wireless charging and a couple other things, I went for it. I don't think I'll ever own another phone, maybe outside of a new essential phone or a One Plus that actually meets my needs.

gettinwicked said:
The only stock Android phone prior to the pixel 2xl and 3xl I ever had was the nexus s from Samsung. It was fine, but, stock Android was really boring back then to me. But, a few phones later and when HTC decided they weren't going to update their phones anymore, even after a super buggy update, I dropped a stock Android ROM on it. I actually really liked it. And, it brought the phone back to life. Then I got a Samsung since the Nexus 6P didn't have financing that I could find, loved it, at least until the S8 was about to drop and Samsung updated it to run slower. Then slower, and so on. I decided screw Samsung and HTC, and tried the Pixel 2xl. LOVED it. Best camera, day one updates, super fast and no updates ever slowed it down. So, the 3 dropped and with wireless charging and a couple other things, I went for it. I don't think I'll ever own another phone, maybe outside of a new essential phone or a One Plus that actually meets my needs.
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I have the Essential phone, and it's the first phone I've kept instead of selling when I got a new phone. It is basically a Nexus/Pixel device. Pure Android, unlockable bootloader, and updates as soon as Google. If it wasn't for the sub-par camera, I'd still be using it. I wish they would stay in business and deliver the phone that was initially promised. The design of the Pixel doesn't hold a candle to the PH-1.

number one reason. Camera. free cloud storage. i take tons of pictures.
second. pure android.

Best phone you can root (at least without the sorts of serious skills / know-how you apparently need for Note 9 and Mate Pro 20, one of which I would have gone for otherwise)

I might be an odd one here, but for me the main reasons where size, no notch and stereo speakers. The cam, quick updates, clean android and haptic motor are nice bonuses.
After owning HTC phones for about 8 years, last 3,5 of those on the rubbish M9, I was looking for a m7 like phone, but with up to date hw. Sadly noone makes good metal unibody phones anymore so I'll just have to deal with the glass sandwich bull****, other than that the P3 is pretty close to perfect.

I assume the OP meant Pixel 3 XL since he's in the 3 XL subforum?
If that's the case, then I bought one because it's ugly as hell and doesn't look like any of my friend's phone. My 6P was also getting old and after bad experiences with anything but a phone directly from Google, I've sort of become a Google sheep and only buy their stuff now.

I was always jumping in between phones, mainly Samsung. Had pretty much every galaxy minus the one and two. HTC one was the best phone I even used, form factor, the OS it was fantastic. Nothing even really compared to it. I couldn't get the pixel at first because well I never had the cash so I was at the mercy of TMobile financing and what they offer wasn't always great. I went from a galaxy s8 to the iPhone x just to check it out since I haven't touched one since the 5. Man did I regret it. Missed my 14 day period and so I was stuck with it for a few months. Note 9 came out and I was really considering it, but well I held myself and then the OnePlus 6T came out. I had a old iPhone 6 laying around I got for $50 so I traded it in for the 6T and the $300 bonus. Good phone but no stereo speakers and notifications killed it for me. I was eyeing the pixel 3 since release day, got my cash ready and just as I was going to buy one, the Black Friday deals got announced, waited and now I have the XL. Supper happy with it. Even the "feel" of the phone is glorious. And the 6T is now on it's way to PA and it's new owner lol

It was the logical choice from my Nexus 6p, which I had since release. Also, Dirty Unicorns support. [emoji6]
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

spotmark said:
I have the Essential phone, and it's the first phone I've kept instead of selling when I got a new phone. It is basically a Nexus/Pixel device. Pure Android, unlockable bootloader, and updates as soon as Google. If it wasn't for the sub-par camera, I'd still be using it. I wish they would stay in business and deliver the phone that was initially promised. The design of the Pixel doesn't hold a candle to the PH-1.
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I almost got the essential phone. I wanted to wait until the pixel 2's were announce first though. By the time they were, I had heard too many reports of the crappy camera. I was upset though when the essential phone 2 was cancelled. I'd really like to see another one, but bigger, great camera, OLED screen, etc. I would buy one if it came out and had those specs. I have been reading rumors of a new essential phone though. So, we'll see.

Would you still buy a Pixel 3 today?

The reason I'm asking is that I'm looking to replace my Pixel 2, but it is not urgent. Right now, Google is offering $200 off a Pixel 3, which sounds like a good deal. However, they slyly have the sale ending on May 6, and on May 7 they will be announcing something new, which is of course rumored to be the Pixel 3a. So what to do?
I like all the features that the Pixel 3 has -- similar to my Pixel 2 actually -- but realistically I don't need or use a lot of them. For instance, nothing that I do requires the fastest processor out there; I don't really care what the case is made of since I put a bumper case on it right away; I use the camera mainly when traveling, but take fewer pictures than I used to; and I've taken about a half dozen selfies in my life!
So should I get a discounted 3 knowing that the 3a (IF that's what it is) might have something even better (like a bigger battery), or just forget it all and wait for the Pixel 4? What would you do?

So, I got a free upgrade to the pixel 3 from the pixel 2 in January and honestly, if its not urgent I wouldn't recommend doing it.
Yes the pixel 3 camera is better, but the 2's camera still takes pictures comparable to any flagship, and I can't personally see a difference in the pictures I take day to day.
In terms of UI, I'd actually say the pixel 2 provided a smoother experience, though I've never seen the devices side by side so can't say so for sure. (other people have also suggested this is true)
Major thing for me is that I've experienced worse battery performance, especially when on standby mode, which I think is due to pie, as when upgrading from oreo to pie on my pixel 2 I saw similar results.
And its likely that the pixel 3 will see a price drop once the next gen pixel line is out anyway, so if price is a concern, I don't see why you shouldn't just wait it out either way

rochrunner said:
The reason I'm asking is that I'm looking to replace my Pixel 2, but it is not urgent. Right now, Google is offering $200 off a Pixel 3, which sounds like a good deal....What would you do?
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Forget it. Wait until the Pixel 4. The P3 has a lot of problems with the display and for $650 with tax it's simply not worth it.

Thanks all for the intelligent, reasonable advice (hard to come by online these days!). I've decided to wait until the P4 is out since I can always fall back to whatever the May 7 product is, or a reduced P3. Price is not really a factor from an absolute standpoint, but I don't want to pay more for something that what it's worth to me. In any case, Fall is a much better time for me to get a new device since I'll be curtailing my summer activities by then and will be looking for something to occupy my time for a while.

No. I mostly love the phone but the lack of proper 60fps on the camera needing me to use 3rd party apps to get usable video kills it for me.

What I would do is buy a pixel 3 @ eBay with large discount and keep it for 4 years ?

I found these sealed, brand new in box Pixel 2 on eBay for incredibly cheap - just £275, claims to have extended 2 years warranty too (item number 293056131709). Want to buy Pixel 2 for my sister's birthday, but listing smells fishy - claims to post from Essex UK, but posting takes 14 days, so clearly the phones are not UK models and come from somewhere else. Previously I had 3 different Sony Z3c and last one wasn't UK model - very, very different quality product...

For my opinion just wait for pixel 4 im using pixel 3 now but so far i like smsung it just everything it better samsung s10 i had so many issue from pixel 3 camera bokeh not copletly good some reason doesn't perfect for 1 camera and software and some photos by google canot be open it was dispointing when you gonna uplod picture to intagram and the picture canot be open how do feel?
Speker does good but when you play music in half volume you will feel vibrant in back and your hand
Pixel 3 its small some time typo for me
Some issue in the screen greeny but mine still look ok but when you open color dark grey yiu will see thats green color show up
If i have change im gonna sell or switch this phone to samsung s10

I replaced a Nexus 6 with a Pixel 3. The wife has an original Pixel, and sees no reason up update to the 3. If I HAD to buy a phone today, I would still get the P3, but I sure would not upgrade from a P2 at this time. I don't think the 3a is going to have anything to offer you - I might look at getting my son one because the Moto X4 is getting long in the tooth, but would only consider it if in the $300 range.

IMO the 50% off deal from Fi last week (making the phone $399) was worth it, but I wouldn't do it for $200 off. The phone is under powered/slow. The 3a is going make a slow phone even slower, so definitely would avoid that like the plague.

mdmogren said:
IMO the 50% off deal from Fi last week (making the phone $399) was worth it, but I wouldn't do it for $200 off. The phone is under powered/slow. The 3a is going make a slow phone even slower, so definitely would avoid that like the plague.
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I got my Pixel 3 during that sale. For $429(tax included) this phone is so worth it at that price.

yes definitely.. can't see around another pretty compact phone as good as p3

Nope. Not at the current price. Average hardware and average form factor, regional software enhancements(call screen, etc great I'd you're n.america but ****.outaide of that), tons of continuing bugs and issues.
I'd wait and get the oneplus 7 where you're at least gonna get more bang for the buck

Xdevillived666 said:
Nope. Not at the current price. Average hardware and average form factor, regional software enhancements(call screen, etc great I'd you're n.america but ****.outaide of that), tons of continuing bugs and issues.
I'd wait and get the oneplus 7 where you're at least gonna get more bang for the buck
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op7 with edged screen? no thanks lol
I'm literally having 0 issues or problems with my p3, but that's maybe due to the fact I'm running custom...? ( i got rid of stock since day 1) dunno..

FcukBloat said:
op7 with edged screen? no thanks lol
I'm literally having 0 issues or problems with my p3, but that's maybe due to the fact I'm running custom...? ( i got rid of stock since day 1) dunno..
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Neither am I so far but lots of users are. It's not very good for Googles rep/the consumer to have as many issues as these phones have been having at such a high price point. They wanna be premium they need to offer it by doing better than what I previously mentioned.

For a good deal yes! I bought the p3 when it was half off. Phone has been very snappy despite having 3x less ram than my previous OnePlus 6t McLaren. But for full retail not worth it for me

Just traded my OP6 8/128 for a Pixel 3. Half the RAM Is the only thing that sometimes bother me on certain situations. But overall is really snappy, and the touch latency Is the best I've ever had on an android device... Camera is spectacular. But, if you have the Pixel 2 i wouldn't bother and wait for the P4.

Compare to S10/S10 Plus, I would say its good deal. So... Why not?

The 3a looks promising as well, maybe that's the more adequate purchase

luckana said:
The 3a looks promising as well, maybe that's the more adequate purchase
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only problem is the front cam.. in regular p3 it is simply wonderful, in 3a it is a clear downgrade.. but if you don't use it that much no problem..