Related
I've read alot of the threads and it does seem like alot of mixed reviews about it... i'm coming from a s3 so i'm hoping i'll be impressed besides the screen (sorry i love amoled)
i hope the problems everyone been talking about is gonna be fixed by google updates or what not
you're coming from an S3?
Prepare to have your pants blown off by a pure google experience.
spitefulcheerio said:
you're coming from an S3?
Prepare to have your pants blown off by a pure google experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well i broke my s3 a couple months back and been with the bb9900 but i did vow to buy the next google flagship
ahahah i've been with the google expirience from roms but not from a nexus maybe it'll be a difference
there is a difference. Something you'll learn quickly: pure google developed by thousands of people for a certain device will always be smoother than a port done by a small group of people.
I came from an S3 myself, I ran AOKP on it most of its life. IMO, the N5 easily tops it in all aspects. The screen is ridiculously sharp, and color reproduction is great compared to the S3's pentile display. The camera works SO MUCH better in lower light scenarios that it's not even funny. Actually, it works better in every scenario that I've tried so far. HDR+ is also quite nice and can really make for some great shots. Battery life I can't really comment on since I just got it today, but I've already gotten more screen on time out of it than I ever managed with my S3, and the N5 came out of the box at 80% charged for me.
So, two big things to remember:
1. The people most prone to posting experiences online are going to be those with either an overwhelming positive or negative experience, and based off of my admittedly personal observations, negative reports almost always outweigh positive ones in terms of passion (if not quantity) - regardless of the quality of the product. In other words: one or two frustrated people tend to make infinitely more noise than ten to twenty happy ones; consequently, that doesn't mean the product in question is a dud.
2. This is the inaugural batch of hardware. There are going to be a few minor kinks in this first batch that will be fixed with the next production runs from the factory. Usually this is very minor. Unrefined edges, very slight chassis tweaks, etc. Part and parcel for impatience and immediate gratification is the roll of the dice that you might get a unit that is... a bit alpha
All this being said, the answer to your question is...
Absolutely not.
Mine is going to be delivered tomorrow, but there have been enough variances in the reports and reviews for me to definitely believe that most units are of excellent quality, and any "lemons" out there are well within the bounds of what is to be expected from an initial hardware distribution. Plus, it also helps that almost all gripes seem to be more software related than hardware - and will be fixed by Google in the coming weeks.
if there's something wrong with it, dont be afraid to RMA it immediately. especially on a first batch of hardware. put it throw all the tests you can at it, i bet you could google this and find out a great set of apps to run on it as soon as you get it. i like cpu and gpu benchmark apps as well as a flashing color screen testing apps(to check for bad pixels), plus any testing that you yourself will be doing. like extended periods of gaming or youtube watching or even just browsing, even if you dont plan on every playing a game for 2 hours straight, do it and see if there's any hiccups.
From my experience and research, if you get one with no defects than your in great shape.
If you do get one with a defect like me (speaker defective causing massive distortions in phone calls and most audio) then you had a really bad day.
neok44 said:
From my experience and research, if you get one with no defects than your in great shape.
If you do get one with a defect like me (speaker defective causing massive distortions in phone calls and most audio) then you had a really bad day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bro why not just call google and get a replacement before its to late =D
Im also really unsure with my decision buying the N5.. Im coming from an Xperia Z which is IMO a good Phone, but not really that smooth.. Do you think it will be a big step up?
Sent from my C6603 using xda app-developers app
Anyone make the switch? To be honest, I'm still very happy with my pixel xl. Camera is relevant and the ux/ui performance is still top notch.
I'm thinking this would be a side-grade and not really an upgrade?
Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk
I just picked up an Essential to replace an HTC 10. For me, I was looking at used Pixel XL's (128GB) and new Essential Phone since they're around the same pricepoint.
What came down to it for me was the Snapdragon 835, new/fresh battery, and probably less warranty issues with a brand new phone.
I have a Nexus 6p and I bought an Essential phone and I'm selling the Essential because the camera quality was poorer (even with g cam trying optimizing it, pictures have a slight yellow hue and the picture is a little bit less sharp, while the Nexus 6p often have the best colors right off the bat) and the passage from AMOLED back to LCD was meh. Plus you gonna still have the update faster if you stick to the Pixel. But the build quality is fantastic.
cityle said:
Plus you gonna still have the update faster if you stick to the Pixel. But the build quality is fantastic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the Pixel got the November update on Monday. We had to wait until Tuesday.
spotmark said:
Yeah, the Pixel got the November update on Monday. We had to wait until Tuesday.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But there is still no Oreo, while i have it on my Nexus 6p since September (and I need the LDAC support of Oreo)
spotmark said:
Yeah, the Pixel got the November update on Monday. We had to wait until Tuesday.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I was surprised how quickly essential got that out. But I think he is also referring to os updates. I'm running 8.1 on my pixel. It'll be a while before essential pushes that out.
Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk
I sold my pixel for the essential.
The pixel camera app is much quicker and more reliable than essentials. As far as picture quality goes, indoors, when trying to capture more fine details the Pixel camera definitely wins. In good lighting and outdoors I can't tell a difference between the 2.
In terms of everything else the essential is better. Build quality and materials are better. More storage for less money. Performance is better on the essential. The essential is easier to tote around and use one handed because the bezels are smaller. If it wasn't for essential taking so long to improve the camera app then I would say it is the best smartphone experience I have had. And I have had a lot. Like over 20 easily.
Also I went through 6 pixels. The first one had paint chipping issues like nothing I have ever seen. The second one had a faulty speaker. The third one had radio issues. The 4th had fast charge issues. The 5th had issues with overheating to the point where I couldn't hold the device. And I am not a heavy user. And the 6th I sold as soon as it came in.
ryaleon87 said:
I sold my pixel for the essential.
The pixel camera app is much quicker and more reliable than essentials. As far as picture quality goes, indoors, when trying to capture more fine details the Pixel camera definitely wins. In good lighting and outdoors I can't tell a difference between the 2.
In terms of everything else the essential is better. Build quality and materials are better. More storage for less money. Performance is better on the essential. The essential is easier to tote around and use one handed because the bezels are smaller. If it wasn't for essential taking so long to improve the camera app then I would say it is the best smartphone experience I have had. And I have had a lot. Like over 20 easily.
Also I went through 6 pixels. The first one had paint chipping issues like nothing I have ever seen. The second one had a faulty speaker. The third one had radio issues. The 4th had fast charge issues. The 5th had issues with overheating to the point where I couldn't hold the device. And I am not a heavy user. And the 6th I sold as soon as it came in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which pixel did you have?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Xl
ryaleon87 said:
Xl
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Original or 2nd gen? I had my earpiece speaker blow on my og xl.. had it bl unlocked but it was a Verizon model.. replacement from google had updated bl so i couldnt unlocked and i dumped it.. pre-order 2 xl.. then cancelled a few days before it shipped because of all of the screen issues.....my ph-1 will be here Monday.. cant wait
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
The original. I thought about getting the Pixel 2 but the high price and screen issues keeps me away. If a phone cost nearly $1000 it better be perfect.
I think I ended up with the Essential Phone partly by choice and partly by accident. I'm a Sprint customer. My old Galaxy S5 was broken, I needed a phone that was cheap, as up to date as possible, and available NOW. That was early September. The PH-1 was by far the cheapest option for me to buy through Sprint.
There's a lot to love and a lot to hate. The camera app has gotten better but won't be winning any awards pretty much ever. That said, it's decent. The phone's form factor is small, which means it can fit into a pocket where a Pixel XL won't. As a longtime Samsung owner I love the pure android ability to get rid of bloat, but I'm used to a much more reliable experience and a much better looking screen. I love the huge screen on a tiny phone, but LCD is just so pedestrian at this point. I was always running out of internal space on my Samsung, so it's awesome to have 128GB internal. It's annoying that SD card support and phone jack weren't included. It's probably the best looking phone out there right now, which is kinda cool. Sadly, it's very buggy. It loses connection with my android watch and I've had to completely wipe and reconnect it a few times already. There is no "press the _____ button" to activate Google Assistant" option (as least not that I know of) which is a bit of a downer. Voice recognition is super buggy. The phone says it's listening, but you have to wait of few seconds because it will miss the first few words you say. It also takes about 5 words voice-to-text, then just simply stops taking/writing anymore words. You have to cancel and hit the microphone icon again to get it another 5 words , wash rinse repeat. The touchscreen tends to be unresponsive. It's gotten a bit better since the last patch, but it's still not great. It would have been nice if the fingerprint scanner doubled as a home button like LG does. Finding a case for the Essential Phone was a nightmare, but they're pretty easy to find now. The phone SHOULD BE one of the fastest phones on the market, but instead it's laggy. And one of the biggest reasons to get the Essential Phone -- clip on modules -- is kindof a nothingburger at this point. Honestly, I wish I could have held out for an LG V30+, but it wasn't out yet.
i'm also hesitating...
Just to chime in I got this coming from the pixel, not XL. I really like this phone, especially on the 8.1 beta. Its a great little handset, feels awesome, much better battery than anything Google has, and very snappy. I also had wicked issues flashing anything on my pixel. No trouble so far with the essential for me.
Jank4AU said:
Just to chime in I got this coming from the pixel, not XL. I really like this phone, especially on the 8.1 beta. Its a great little handset, feels awesome, much better battery than anything Google has, and very snappy. I also had wicked issues flashing anything on my pixel. No trouble so far with the essential for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you think about the photo and video?
ggh95 said:
What do you think about the photo and video?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Despite all the negative press, the pictures aren't bad. Their not as good as the pixel, true, but I don't use a phone as my main source for high quality pictures. I know many folks do simply because they always have their phone on them. The bottom line is, no one is going to look at a picture you took with this phone and think, "ew, did your 5-year old draw that?" It works just fine.
I heard about this phone early this year did some research and decided to buy it from Amazon on Jan 24th. I came from a Galaxy S6 and it was a good phone (battery was getting bad) but this phone is head and shoulders better! Especially now that we are running the Oreo B8.1! It is super stable and smooth much more than my old Galaxy S6. I was thinking of trying the Oneplus 5t or maybe the new Huawei Mate 10 pro but I am not sure I will be any happier. Never had the Pixel or 2 If they looked this good I'd buy tomorrow!
ggh95 said:
What do you think about the photo and video?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
with gcam its very good but very bad stabilization for videos
sabi95190 said:
with gcam its very good but very bad stabilization for videos
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What app has good stabilization?
Tech180 said:
What app has good stabilization?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gcam
Hey guys I'm thinking of switching from the Pixel 2 XL to the OnePlus 6.
Some of the reasons I'm thinking of switching is that I miss having the headphone jack. It's gotten quite annoying not having it. I don't take many pictures, so I'm not too concerned with the camera downgrade. Price is definitely a big deal. I can sell my Pixel on Swappa and essentially break even. If I wait til the Pixel 3 and trade mine in, I still have to come up with 300-400 to upgrade. If I switch the the OnePlus 6, I'm getting the latest specs, extra RAM at pretty much no cost.
What do you guys think? Wanna help me decide?
kingmikel said:
Hey guys I'm thinking of switching from the Pixel 2 XL to the OnePlus 6.
Some of the reasons I'm thinking of switching is that I miss having the headphone jack. It's gotten quite annoying not having it. I don't take many pictures, so I'm not too concerned with the camera downgrade. Price is definitely a big deal. I can sell my Pixel on Swappa and essentially break even. If I wait til the Pixel 3 and trade mine in, I still have to come up with 300-400 to upgrade. If I switch the the OnePlus 6, I'm getting the latest specs, extra RAM at pretty much no cost.
What do you guys think? Wanna help me decide?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came from the HTC U Ultra, and for me atleast the One Plus turned out to be a really good investment. I also switched in part to the Headphone jack, and extra RAM. I do like he the phone so far, and found the camera to be on par with my HTC phone if not a bit better. The only complaint I have is I find the speaker , and vibration quite weak as compared to my HTC. In the end, the specs are quite good for the price
I've been a 2XL owner since January and I just bought the 6.
The 6 has a much worse vibration motor than the 2XL; to me at least, it is a huge difference and I really dislike the feel of the motor on the 6.
Colours/screen however, looks better to me on the 6, despite having a lower resolution - colours are more vibrant and no screen issues that many users report on the 2XL.
Performance is better on the 6 and that is a bit obvious I know, but I was shocked at the difference - it's actually noticable! Apps launch insanely fast while the 2XL is still stuck on that same app's splash screen.
The camera is not great at all in my opinion (on the 6). I could even go as far as saying it's slightly below average. Maybe it's because the Pixel's camera has spoiled me. You mentioned this isn't an important thing to you so you should be fine in this department.
I have all Bluetooth accessories, including headphones, so a headphone jack isn't necessary for me, but for your needs, it seems like another plus! (No pun intended lol).
Not sure if custom development (ROMs, kernels, etc.) are important, but OnePlus should have a lot more of that than the Pixels.
And finally, the biggest "feature" is the price - OnePlus is the clear winner here as well (especially for what you get in return).
I hope this helps make your decision a bit more clear
I'm using pixel 2 XL as my primary phone and this device as my secondary phone.
I'll never keep one plus 6 as my primary device cos I'm into photography. The only reason I have this for dash charging and dual SIM. Also I'm a digital nomad and I carry multiple devices. I retired my LG G4 which was an excellent shooter and was my back up device, now that's been replaced with one plus 6.
The extra specs and Ram doesn't really scream performance when you pit it against pixel 2 XL. One plus reduces all the animations to make the device faster but it doesn't have a very noticeable performance than my pixel.
I'm not bothered with the notch.
If you have the budget do both and you'll be happy. Else get this device and play around with both and sell what you think doesn't work for you.
My pixel is very dear to me so I would never think of replacing it with any other device. Also with one plus you lose the water proof thinge!!
manasgirdhar said:
I came from the HTC U Ultra, and for me atleast the One Plus turned out to be a really good investment. I also switched in part to the Headphone jack, and extra RAM. I do like he the phone so far, and found the camera to be on par with my HTC phone if not a bit better. The only complaint I have is I find the speaker , and vibration quite weak as compared to my HTC. In the end, the specs are quite good for the price
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can see how the speaker and vibration could be bothersome. I love my Pixel 2 XL speakers, but I don't get to use them much because I'm at work or out a lot, and headphones would definitely come in handy. I have some Bluetooth headphones, but I have a lot more regular headphones that I have in my backpack, laying around at work, etc. It definitely seems worth the price!
rickysidhu_ said:
I've been a 2XL owner since January and I just bought the 6.
The 6 has a much worse vibration motor than the 2XL; to me at least, it is a huge difference and I really dislike the feel of the motor on the 6.
Colours/screen however, looks better to me on the 6, despite having a lower resolution - colours are more vibrant and no screen issues that many users report on the 2XL.
Performance is better on the 6 and that is a bit obvious I know, but I was shocked at the difference - it's actually noticable! Apps launch insanely fast while the 2XL is still stuck on that same app's splash screen.
The camera is not great at all in my opinion (on the 6). I could even go as far as saying it's slightly below average. Maybe it's because the Pixel's camera has spoiled me. You mentioned this isn't an important thing to you so you should be fine in this department.
I have all Bluetooth accessories, including headphones, so a headphone jack isn't necessary for me, but for your needs, it seems like another plus! (No pun intended lol).
Not sure if custom development (ROMs, kernels, etc.) are important, but OnePlus should have a lot more of that than the Pixels.
And finally, the biggest "feature" is the price - OnePlus is the clear winner here as well (especially for what you get in return).
I hope this helps make your decision a bit more clear
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It definitely helps! I've seen plenty of reviews where the reviewers say that the Pixel is faster. I'm not saying mine is slow, but it definitely hangs on some apps and I just have a hard time believing that the newest processor plus more ram isn't going to be faster than last years with less ram.
You've made great points, I hadn't thought about the screen. I definitely could see how the OnePlus 6 has a better screen! Thanks for your input, it's definitely been helpful
venkig said:
I'm using pixel 2 XL as my primary phone and this device as my secondary phone.
I'll never keep one plus 6 as my primary device cos I'm into photography. The only reason I have this for dash charging and dual SIM. Also I'm a digital nomad and I carry multiple devices. I retired my LG G4 which was an excellent shooter and was my back up device, now that's been replaced with one plus 6.
The extra specs and Ram doesn't really scream performance when you pit it against pixel 2 XL. One plus reduces all the animations to make the device faster but it doesn't have a very noticeable performance than my pixel.
I'm not bothered with the notch.
If you have the budget do both and you'll be happy. Else get this device and play around with both and sell what you think doesn't work for you.
My pixel is very dear to me so I would never think of replacing it with any other device. Also with one plus you lose the water proof thinge!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love my Pixel, and I think I'll want the Pixel 3 when it comes out. But price wise for now, it's either sticking with the Pixel 2 XL or going to the OnePlus 6 for a wash. But I hadn't thought using both to see which I like better. I guess I could always return it within the 15 days if I don't like it right?
I sold my 2 XL a couple of weeks ago in anticipation of the OnePlus 6. I loved my 2 XL but personally found it just slightly too tall and I just couldn't get used to the screen. Even with "Boosted" and "Saturated" color calibrations the 2 XL screen paled in comparison with my wife's Galaxy S9 and my iPhone X (for work).
As for the camera, the 2 XL notably outshines the iPhone X in almost all conditions. Surprisingly, the pictures from my OnePlus 6 really are not that far off from my 2 XL. The OP6 still outperforms the iPhone X camera with much more clear and color accurate photos.
I loved my 2 XL, overall. But the iPhone X really showed me what a well designed bezel-less phone should be. The OP6 is Android's best alternative to that, IMO. The notch never bothered me on my iPhone and it doesn't bother me on my OP6. I'd make the same switch again in a heartbeat. And the best part is that I sold my 2 XL on Swappa for $710. This allowed me to pickup the OP6 (8GB / 128GB), the Nylon Bumper Case + screen protector and still pocket nearly $100.
venkig said:
I'm using pixel 2 XL as my primary phone and this device as my secondary phone.
I'll never keep one plus 6 as my primary device cos I'm into photography. The only reason I have this for dash charging and dual SIM. Also I'm a digital nomad and I carry multiple devices. I retired my LG G4 which was an excellent shooter and was my back up device, now that's been replaced with one plus 6.
The extra specs and Ram doesn't really scream performance when you pit it against pixel 2 XL. One plus reduces all the animations to make the device faster but it doesn't have a very noticeable performance than my pixel.
I'm not bothered with the notch.
If you have the budget do both and you'll be happy. Else get this device and play around with both and sell what you think doesn't work for you.
My pixel is very dear to me so I would never think of replacing it with any other device. Also with one plus you lose the water proof thinge!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have both and agree with everything you've said. My biggest disappointment with the OnePlus 6 is the speaker. It's awful. I don't know if I'm going to keep the OnePlus 6. It is substantially faster than the Pixel.
Switch. I had the 2 XL, S9+, 5T before this. Camera is good but nowhere near the Pixel (neither are the S9+ or 5T), but if that's not your primary focus you'll be happy with the 6 until the Pixel 3 comes out. You'll probably have better resell value than your 2 XL too.
I am so torn. I have both phones and have about another week to decide if I'm keeping the OnePlus 6. Even though I have cases on both I just saw this guy who did a drop test and completely shattered the OP6.
Sound on Pixel 2 much better. Speed on OnePlus better.
So difficult to choose. Any ideas?
People are down playing how bad the camera is. It's 2x worst vs most of phones listed above. Software hopefully will help it.
Speaker is not great for occasional usage. Few things missing in software.
Luckily OnePlus holds there value. especially next few weeks plus 15 return window to try out.
Phone is very fast and ultimately stock Android. Haven't had any issues with day to day usage. Think it's a decent upgrade till the pixel 3 comes out.
Sold my 2xl an hour's to the money back I paid for this op6 and I already miss it ?
mackentosh said:
Sold my 2xl an hour's to the money back I paid for this op6 and I already miss it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about it do you miss?
Don't choose the OP6 over the 2XL. It's a big downgrade, from the camera to the screen resolution to the terrible speaker to the vibration motor.
Goronok said:
What about it do you miss?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The design, the camera, and the fact that it's pure Android ?
---------- Post added at 01:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:34 AM ----------
Only thing I haters about both phones is that there is no wireless charging ? but the OnePlus gestures are terrific
Much prefer my OP6 over my pixel 2 xl.
mastibeta said:
Much prefer my OP6 over my pixel 2 xl.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why? I'm still waffling.
I love the screen, the speed is unmatched, and the form factor is more pleasant to hold. Also a big fan of the nav system in Oxygen OS.
intruda119 said:
People are down playing how bad the camera is. It's 2x worst vs most of phones listed above. Software hopefully will help it.
Speaker is not great for occasional usage. Few things missing in software.
Luckily OnePlus holds there value. especially next few weeks plus 15 return window to try out.
Phone is very fast and ultimately stock Android. Haven't had any issues with day to day usage. Think it's a decent upgrade till the pixel 3 comes out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree that it's 2x worst most phones. It's not even 2x worse than most flagships. I've seen several pics where it outshines the iPhone x or s9. The problem, in my eyes, is consistency. I'll take 4 pics and get 4 different results. 3 of them will be over-sharpened so much there is noticeable halos if you zoom in, etc. But it *can* take good pics, which leads me to believe with software (or Gcam!!!), we'll be money.
Also, the video is above average for sure. Once they get the focus hunting dealt with that is.
mastibeta said:
I love the screen, the speed is unmatched, and the form factor is more pleasant to hold. Also a big fan of the nav system in Oxygen OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree with you about the speed and form factor. My biggest hesitation is the speaker and volume.
I've heard conflicting things about whether it can be improved with a software patch or if we're stuck with a hardware problem.
I don't use the phone as a loud speaker, I have Google home devices as well as Bluetooth speakers. That said it's plenty loud enough for me to play games or watch videos.
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
For months leading up to the release of the Pixel 3 series, I read all the comments online about how much people hated the over-sized notch and how much of a deal-breaker it would be. Many even said they'll choose the regular Pixel 3 instead of the XL. These sentiments continue online to this day... And yet, it appears the XL is outselling the regular Pixel 3 by significant margins. Even the volume of activity on the xda forums is night and day in favor of the XL variant.
So, can you all please share what made the unforgivable notch so forgivable?
I've had the phone about a week now... You do kind of get used to the notch.. It's not as annoying as some make it out to be, IMO. You can always find a wallpaper that hides it on the home screen at least haha.
i was strongly against the notch since before it even came out, i even considered the regular P3....
after having the P3 XL for a week, i am now at peace with it and dont hate it as bad as i thought i would.
presence06 said:
I've had the phone about a week now... You do kind of get used to the notch.. It's not as annoying as some make it out to be, IMO. You can always find a wallpaper that hides it on the home screen at least haha.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But why did you select it over the Pixel 3 if you were so worried about the notch?
PuffDaddy_d said:
But why did you select it over the Pixel 3 if you were so worried about the notch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I found out you can hide the notch, it was an easy decision. I like the bigger screen, bigger battery and more software development.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app
I was always an Android guy but earlier this year I decided to get the iPhone x coming from a galaxy s8, well I wanted to see if iPhones wore any better since I haven't had one since the 5. Missed my return period and was stuck with it (TMobile financing). The iPhone does have a significant notch as well and got used to it really quickly. Then the pixel 3 and 3 xl got announced and yes everyone hated the notch, except it didn't bother me a single bit. I didn't have the money to cough up for it so I went with the one plus 6T and had that for a couple weeks untill Black Friday when 3xl was discounted send jumped on it real quick. For me it was the form factor, I hated how small the iPhone was, you couldn't enjoy videos or see much really the bigger screen makes a big difference. The notch is something I never even notice now, it's just there. It be great if Google utilized the space a little bit better, hopefully they will do that.
I had the original Pixel XL.
loved the big screen
Updated to 3XL and within a day ... what notch?
PuffDaddy_d said:
But why did you select it over the Pixel 3 if you were so worried about the notch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wanted the bigger screen. I wasn't really worried about the notch.. I had seen the iPhone X and the Essential Phone both having notches and didn't find them annoying really.
Honestly, I dont know why people hate the notch so much. I like it. It forces the notifications and the other icons to the top (on either side of the notch) freeing up screen real estate for apps. I never hated the notch and now that I have it, I dont even notice it.
I truly believe people overreacted with the notch. Who cares about it...seriously. it's fine. not even noticeable when you use the phone daily.
nyydynasty said:
Honestly, I dont know why people hate the notch so much. I like it. It forces the notifications and the other icons to the top (on either side of the notch) freeing up screen real estate for apps. I never hated the notch and now that I have it, I dont even notice it.
I truly believe people overreacted with the notch. Who cares about it...seriously. it's fine. not even noticeable when you use the phone daily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People hate the notch because it's new, different, and they don't have one. Once these style phones have been out for a while, everybody will get used to it, and then the people who say they hate it now will be telling everyone how much they love it.
PuffDaddy_d said:
For months leading up to the release of the Pixel 3 series, I read all the comments online about how much people hated the over-sized notch and how much of a deal-breaker it would be. Many even said they'll choose the regular Pixel 3 instead of the XL. These sentiments continue online to this day... And yet, it appears the XL is outselling the regular Pixel 3 by significant margins. Even the volume of activity on the xda forums is night and day in favor of the XL variant.
So, can you all please share what made the unforgivable notch so forgivable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Notch never concerned me.
I have large hands so a bigger phone is just easier to use.
spotmark said:
People hate the notch because it's new, different, and they don't have one. Once these style phones have been out for a while, everybody will get used to it, and then the people who say they hate it now will be telling everyone how much they love it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
totally agree lol
parakleet said:
I have large hands so a bigger phone is just easier to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also agree. I have larger hands and I came from the OG - Pixel XL and then switched to a company phone (Galaxy S9, which didnt have a small screen either), i just like the larger screens.
Interesting, it seems that most of you wanted the bigger phone simply because it's bigger.
That make sense, but I'm curious if that takes away google's incentive to improve the design if people still purchase one of the the ugliest phones of the year in droves?
I wouldn't call it one of the ugliest phones of 2018. I upgraded from my old Nexus 6 to the Pixel 3 XL and absolutely love it. Enabling dark mode makes it so I don't even notice the notch. There were a couple of initial hiccups, there always are with a new device. Google addressed the battery issues and distortion/vibration issues when listening to music at lower volume. I love the dual front facing speakers which is why I held out for so long before upgrading from my Nexus 6. Battery life is outstanding for my purposes. I don't have much time at work to fool around with my phone, so normally when I'm headed home after a 9 hr day I'm still sitting at around 80% battery.
Comparing the feel and weight of the Pixel 3 XL to my wife's iPhone 8+, the Pixel feels so much better to hold and is definitely lighter in weight.
PuffDaddy_d said:
Interesting, it seems that most of you wanted the bigger phone simply because it's bigger.
That make sense, but I'm curious if that takes away google's incentive to improve the design if people still purchase one of the the ugliest phones of the year in droves?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
being as unbiased as I can, calling it "ugly" is a little harsh. That's really all personal preference. Some might like it. Some may not. If you think it's ugly, I can respect that as it's your opinion. Personally, i like it and the notch doesnt bother me at all (never did, even before I bought the device).
On a personal level, I dont understand how anyone can call ANY phone ugly. Majority of phones are rectangle. When powered off, they all look the same (for the most part). The backside is where the variations occur. I dont use a case on any phone because the manufacturer spent a lot of time and money designing the feel of the device for a reason. Putting a case on it, ruins the entire reason they made it that way. Other than customizing your cases (which i can understand), many people will say they put a case on it to protect it from breaking. My answer to that is - hold your damn phone. Dont drop it. Dont put it on your lap while sitting down. You're going to forget its there and drop it when you stand up. Besides, you paid a lot of money for a device that you end up covering it with a crappy plastic cover (but I digress) ....
the backside is where most of the variations occur on different phones. If you put a case on it, you cant see the back anyway. So that brings me back to the front, which is why I originally said "i dont understand how anyone can call any phone ugly". The front is almost the same on every (popular) phone.
Well I certainly don't intend to start a discussion about the phone's attractiveness, but we have to be honest and recognize that the large notch, relatively large chin, and inconsistent radius corners, are what made the P3XL stand out from the competition (and not in a good way). The design is so offensive that it caused many to declare they would never buy it or would only but the smaller version.
Clearly, we are quick to condemn and even quicker to forgive ?
I need a bigger screen because my eyes are getting bad, and I like the bigger screen size. Also I can type on a bigger screen easier. I always hit the wrong keys on a smaller screen. If they made a bigger screen, I would get it.