Pixel 3 worth it, Are any of the known issues a deal breaker. - Google Pixel 3 Questions & Answers

First off i'm trying to decide on the Pixel 3 or S9 and I know asking here is kinda dumb but I wanna know if some of these issues are as big of a deal as the media plays them out to be? The issues i'm hearing about that bug me most are the speaker issues, will the low volume be fixed or is it a hardware thing? Also the back supposedly can be scratch quite easily, I went to best buy and tried to scratch it with my nail and it left a mark but it rubbed away. or is this more of a thing that coins will scratch it if put in a pocket with them? I had a Pixel 2 and the back never got scratched well I had it. Like I said I went to bestbuy and handled both the Pixel 3 and S9 and its a hard decision to choose. I like the make and build quality of the S9 but I hate it only comes in grey or purple here in Canada. It also has a beautiful screen. But the Pixel reminds me of my Pixel 2 plus it has the better camera. not that the s9 is bad just I don't like that it over exposes. Do you have a Pixel 3 do you recommend it and how's the battery life?

I've owned about 5 other phones before the Pixel 3. It's got the best speakers of any phone I've had. For me the volume is more than loud enough. I use a thin case so can't comment on the back being scratch prone. I haven't tried scratching it. Worst case you could get a skin for the back if you don't use a case and find it shows marks from your use. The screen is very good. If you're very picky about the display quality at low brightness you may not like it, but that's easy to test at a store before you buy it. The camera is excellent, so no worries there. For me the battery is as good or better than any other phone I've owned. After light use I have about 60% left at the end of the day. Of course, your past experience, expectations, preferences, needs and usage will determine whether it's a good phone for you. It what you've listed are your biggest concerns you'll likely be happy.

My general experience with the S9 was good apart from the battery life, the exynos processor version was shocking (i think this is the one you get in Canada too). Not sure if recent updates fixed this but it seemed like a huge complaint at the time, i couldn't get a day with moderate to heavy use.
With regards to the Pixel3 back texture, i have it naked and it's been rattling in my pockets (albeit i never put any phone in a pocket with coins or keys), it's perfectly fine and i would take this textured back over the slippy S9 any day. I have the Pixel2 also and it's a little scruffy on the back but unless you inspect it very closely it's perfectly fine.
Camera on the Pixel is way better in my opinion, you get a usable picture almost every time whereas the S9 i sometimes had to take several shots to get what i wanted.
I've had the Mate 20 Pro and iPhone XS this year also and the Pixel3 trumps all in my opinion.
I do have an outstanding issue open with Google however where the Pixel3's gyroscope sensor isn't calibrated correctly and so it's out by about 2-3 degrees. This means that when taking photos or using apps that use the gyroscope i have to hold the phone slightly off angle to make it think it's level. All that said i still consider it the best !

Is it worth upgrading from Pixel 2 (bought a new one for 350) to Pixel 3 (Pixel 3 would cost me 300€ extra)? I especially want to know, whether the super res zoom and the wide angle selfie camera is worth it - these are the two most outstanding differences between Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 in my opinion. If you know some other differences which are worth the additional 300€ please tell me.

Marcel Eff said:
Is it worth upgrading from Pixel 2 (bought a new one for 350) to Pixel 3 (Pixel 3 would cost me 300€ extra)? I especially want to know, whether the super res zoom and the wide angle selfie camera is worth it - these are the two most outstanding differences between Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 in my opinion. If you know some other differences which are worth the additional 300€ please tell me.
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Wide angle is nicer than I thought although I hate taking selfies ROFL. Super res was a meh compared to dual cam phones but better than nothing.
I'm in the process of upgrading to P3 from P2 (crappy displays, locked bootloaders, RMAs, etc.) and side by side P3 looks so much more modern and if you like modern then it looks so much nicer.
I would be careful with your decision though since this year P3 won the honor to enjoy all the display issues P2XL went through last year, so getting a satisfactory display should be your first priority in my opinion. That said, a good display on P3 seems to be better than the "good" display of P2XL last year, as suggested by others over at P3XL forum and I agree (I ordered both P2 and XL last year and had a brief experience with XL). Anyway, once you get a good display hold on to it!
Other than that, I can't think of buying anything else at this moment mainly because I value stock experience, easiness of modding, and Dev support. Ironically we have the locked bootloader issue right now on both P3 and XL. The dev support was also far behind compared to old Nexus days. If One Plus offered a smaller version of 6T I might have jumped the ship.
P.s. camera is nice as always but being a home guy I use the display 1000x more than the camera so a good camera only means "this" little to me.

cswithxda said:
Ironically we have the locked bootloader issue right now on both P3 and XL. The dev support was also far behind compared to old Nexus days. If One Plus offered a smaller version of 6T I might have jumped the ship.
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What issue are you having with the bootloader?

georgs_town said:
What issue are you having with the bootloader?
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Check out the thread in this Pixel 3 QA and Pixel 3 XL QA section. Newer devices *may* come in with bootloader "un-unlockable" :cyclops: Some people received this *feature* on their new devices and some enjoyed it on the new, RMA devices.

orbital247 said:
My general experience with the S9 was good apart from the battery life, the exynos processor version was shocking (i think this is the one you get in Canada too). Not sure if recent updates fixed this but it seemed like a huge complaint at the time, i couldn't get a day with moderate to heavy use.
With regards to the Pixel3 back texture, i have it naked and it's been rattling in my pockets (albeit i never put any phone in a pocket with coins or keys), it's perfectly fine and i would take this textured back over the slippy S9 any day. I have the Pixel2 also and it's a little scruffy on the back but unless you inspect it very closely it's perfectly fine.
Camera on the Pixel is way better in my opinion, you get a usable picture almost every time whereas the S9 i sometimes had to take several shots to get what i wanted.
I've had the Mate 20 Pro and iPhone XS this year also and the Pixel3 trumps all in my opinion.
I do have an outstanding issue open with Google however where the Pixel3's gyroscope sensor isn't calibrated correctly and so it's out by about 2-3 degrees. This means that when taking photos or using apps that use the gyroscope i have to hold the phone slightly off angle to make it think it's level. All that said i still consider it the best !
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We have the Snap Drangon one here in Canada, I believe Snap Dragon is sold in North America and Exynos is the rest of the world

Related

Pixel xl vs essential

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Which pixel did you have?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Xl
ryaleon87 said:
Xl
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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.
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What do you think about the photo and video?
ggh95 said:
What do you think about the photo and video?
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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?
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with gcam its very good but very bad stabilization for videos
sabi95190 said:
with gcam its very good but very bad stabilization for videos
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What app has good stabilization?
Tech180 said:
What app has good stabilization?
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gcam

Switch from Pixel 2 XL

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
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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
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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 ?
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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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Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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..

Considering upgrade from Pixel 2XL to OP 7 Pro

I know the topic has been covered before however I'm trying to gauge the potential upgrade with the existing OP 7 Pro Android 10 firmware and latest camera updates.
Been rocking a Pixel 2XL for the last 2 years. Love it and despite the lack of wireless charging I've been very happy with it (coming from Note 5).
Being IP67 is a big plus as I don't have to worry about the inadvertent dip in the pool. Camera is definitely one of the main reason I had purchased it along with the pure Android OS and frequent updates.
I know OP is not far being in terms of patches, so I probably could live with it (been using all previous betas before the were ever released and it's been nice to get ahead of the curve).
I love the way the OP 7 Pro looks and 90hz screen seems like a must these days... after all looking at the screen is what we do the most with the phone.
Bezel less screen seems like a must these days which is why I was very disappointed with the P4XL (outside of the crappy battery and lack of fingerprint).
Lack of wireless charging does suck however probably can be lived with (provided the battery will last as long or longer than my P2XL which was another important factor).
IP rating would also be nice, at least to have the piece of mind that I wouldn't ruin my phone upon first H20 contact (which based on some of the online reviews might not happen... still scaring that knowing it is rated).
Always on display... not sure why it would be missing.... but I'll miss it.
Now since I play games on my phone daily, the upgrade would definitely be nice, especially with some of the modes offers on the custom OS.
Now for the elephant in the room... the camera.
I've been pretty much looking at every reviews out there on picture quality. From what I can see, things are all over the place (somewhat to be expected). It's not clear cut like the Pixel where the camera is just plain awesome for most.
It seems that the latest software improved the camera significantly. From what I can see looking at some of the photos taken, they appear to be just as good and some reviews, if not even better than the Pixel 3 or 4 (let alone the 2). Night shots are a mixed bag but pretty much on both sides.
Older reviews definitely show some very bad oversaturated pictures and plain awful night shots.
While I wouldn't expect the level of quality of the Pixel 4 XL on all shots, I'd like to know it's at least consistently better than my old Pixel 2 XL and for the most part very close to the Pixel 4 XL in terms of quality.
I just can't seem to make up my mind and really don't want to be disappointed making the purchase as I know I will likely keep this phone for a while. Price (especially now) is very attractive. Camera however still has me concerned.
Any input would be appreciated.
Why didn't you just ask in the already existing thread instead of creating a new one all over again?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-7-pro/help/coming-pixel-2xl-op-buy-t3995593
Indeed I should have... 2 year old jumping on my face, 9 yo screaming in the background clouded my thinking.
Please delete this post.

Why I'm Thrilled about the Pixel 5

I know many are disappointed with seemingly mediocre specs for a flagship, but I'm very happy with the design choices in the Pixel 5. Here's why:
Aluminum body. I've had enough of the completely impractical "premium" glass bodies that crack when you look at them wrong. Finally a return to something sensible.
Flat OLED. Seems like every flagship has to have curved edges. I haven't seen one phone yet that didn't have imperfections in the curve or drive me crazy with errant touches on the edges. Simple is better.
Return of the fingerprint scanner
NO NOTCH
Reasonable size. It seems like the flagship race always equates "bigger" with "better". I don't subscribe to that theory, and I'm glad to see a more modest size for the Pixel 5.
I do wish it had the Snapdragon 865, Wifi 6, and the telephoto lens, but every other choice was perfect IMO. Even with the CPU, I'm sure that choice was about cost, so it might be the right cost/performance trade-off to go with the 765G. Time will tell, I suppose.
What are your thoughts? Do you feel like this was a step backward or does anyone else feel the same about these design choices?
The form factor is what really sold me. Almost identical to the Essential (RIP)
Coming from the Pixel 4, the Pixel 5 has all of the changes I desire. Making it a no brainer, for me.
Lower power chipset / Less PPI / Larger battery -- All culminating to improved battery life. Probably by a good margin, in daily use.
No Active Edge / No Soli -- I disabled Active Edge and motion sense long ago as I found them more annoying than useful. I imagine not having the Soli chip will help to improve battery life even further.
Rear fingerprint reader -- YES!! These days I'm wearing a mask majority of the time I'm trying to use my phone, rendering face unlock useless. Having the fingerprint reader on the back is VERY welcomed.
Wide Angle Camera -- Another great addition. I don't need improved zoom quality. I need to be able to fit more content into a single picture.
The Pixel 5 is an improvement over the Pixel 4 in every way, in my opinion.
@sn0warmy Side note: your device history is what I wish mine looked like...
flamadiddle said:
@sn0warmy Side note: your device history is what I wish mine looked like...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's been a fun journey. I still remember the day I unboxed my Nexus One, right after it was launched. That was a special feeling and it opened the door into the crazy world of rooting/tinkering on Android devices. 10 years later, I'm making significantly more money with a lot more expensive toys and hobbies. Yet, Pixel launch day still gets me excited, every single year. It's the kid in me that will never grow up. :highfive:
All theses features in a 6' phone, it's perfect. I don't enjoy crazy big phones...
Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using XDA Labs
@sn0warmy from someone that had the 3 XL - I hope this is a huge improvement as that is my current phone. I have pre-ordered it. What are your thoughts, 3 XL vs P5 (obv you can't say too much besides basing it on specs).
I'm going to get the pixel 5. Currently using 4 XL. My dilemma is that if Google will flash the prices by black Friday like last year. So I may wait till Thanksgiving.
Great price for pixel 5 though
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
HamsterHam said:
@sn0warmy from someone that had the 3 XL - I hope this is a huge improvement as that is my current phone. I have pre-ordered it. What are your thoughts, 3 XL vs P5 (obv you can't say too much besides basing it on specs).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 3XL was a great phone. But I've come to prefer smaller phones. Which is why I went from the 3XL to the 4 (non-XL). The Pixel 4 is a much better size for daily use, for me. So the Pixel 5 is going to be a great size, as well.
As far as features and specs...
1) The Pixel 5 has 2x the amount of RAM as the 3XL. I've come to learn that more RAM is much more crucial to having a consistently smooth experience over time, rather than having a top of the line processor. So the Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5 doesn't concern me in the least bit.
2) The Pixel 5 has a 4000mAh battery, which is nearly an 18% increase in capacity, compared to the 3400mAh battery in the 3XL. the Pixel 5 also has a 6.0" display, vs the 6.3" in the 3XL. But the Pixel 5 is also pushing more total pixels, so that may actually be a hit to battery life, between the two phones. Regardless, the Pixel 5 battery should outlast the 3XL battery by a decent margin.
3) Pictures taken with your Pixel 5 will be better than the 3XL. Will it be a huge improvement? Probably not. But it will be an improvement, nonetheless.
vhl71 said:
I'm going to get the pixel 5. Currently using 4 XL. My dilemma is that if Google will flash the prices by black Friday like last year. So I may wait till Thanksgiving.
Great price for pixel 5 though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's actually a really good point, which I failed to consider. Last year Google dropped the price of the Pixel 4 by $200 over Black Friday weekend. It irritated a lot of people.
However, last year Google overestimated demand for the Pixel 4 by almost 30% (SOURCE). They were forced to unload inventory, hence the big price drops over Black Friday weekend and again in January, 2020. This year Google is being much more realistic about the total number of units they expect to sell and have adjusted production accordingly.
I do imagine you'll see some sort of promotion for the Pixel 5 over Black Friday weekend. It's in the best interest of online retailers to offer some sort of promotion when buyers are looking for the best deals. Fun fact: Many big name online retailers will generate upwards of 20% of their total yearly online revenue, just over Black Friday weekend.
With that said, I'll be very surprised if Google drops the price by $200 again. If I were a betting man, I'd wager that over Black Friday weekend you'll be able to snag a Pixel 5 for $75 - $100 off. Worst case, it will likely be a "Gift With Purchase" promotion, in which they give you a new Chromecast ($50 value) when you buy the Pixel 5.
@sn0warmy great. Exactly what I was thinking. Overall should be a better experience than the 3 XL especially due to the RAM increase. Looking forward to getting it.
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
I'll be picking up a Pixel 5 a few updates down the road (gotta make sure the bugs and issues are worked out first). The Pixel 4 was a bust. It appears the Pixel 5 fixes all the things that went wrong there. I would get the 4a but it's plastic and not water repellant which is a non-starter.
I don't like bigger phones and coming from a Pixel 2 I think the 5 is just right with more screen real estate. The face unlock feature was just as ridiculous as the notch. So glad they are gone. Looks like I'll be able to pick the phone up and unlock it with the finger print sensor just like before (too easy).
As for the processor, they are so fast these days, they could have told you it was the faster chip and you would never have known. Most people don't do anything so intense that they really need all that extra umph anyway and if it lowers the price of a Google phone, great!
sn0warmy said:
Coming from the Pixel 4, the Pixel 5 has all of the changes I desire. Making it a no brainer, for me.
Lower power chipset / Less PPI / Larger battery -- All culminating to improved battery life. Probably by a good margin, in daily use.
No Active Edge / No Soli -- I disabled Active Edge and motion sense long ago as I found them more annoying than useful. I imagine not having the Soli chip will help to improve battery life even further.
Rear fingerprint reader -- YES!! These days I'm wearing a mask majority of the time I'm trying to use my phone, rendering face unlock useless. Having the fingerprint reader on the back is VERY welcomed.
Wide Angle Camera -- Another great addition. I don't need improved zoom quality. I need to be able to fit more content into a single picture.
The Pixel 5 is an improvement over the Pixel 4 in every way, in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm with you on the bigger battery and lower PPI (really lower resolution) to help with battery life but I wish it had the 865 chip. The processor doesn't even have a big impact on battery life when compared to the screen.
I don't care about Soli but I'm really going to miss the active edge. I don't know why you're happy that's gone when you can disable it anyways. Sometimes I like to use the assistant and make sure it's on my phone even if I have other nearby devices. Without active edge the only way to do that is to swipe diagonally from the corners which doesn't work like 75% of the time.
I'm also with you on the rear fingerprint reader. I didn't own a Pixel 4 but I did spend a day with one and the face unlock was awful.
For the camera I'd much rather have a telephoto than a wide angle. The wide angle basically useless to me. I have very often wish I could get closer to the subject of the photo but I've never wish I could get farther away.
---------- Post added at 08:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:03 AM ----------
flamadiddle said:
I know many are disappointed with seemingly mediocre specs for a flagship, but I'm very happy with the design choices in the Pixel 5. Here's why:
Aluminum body. I've had enough of the completely impractical "premium" glass bodies that crack when you look at them wrong. Finally a return to something sensible.
Flat OLED. Seems like every flagship has to have curved edges. I haven't seen one phone yet that didn't have imperfections in the curve or drive me crazy with errant touches on the edges. Simple is better.
Return of the fingerprint scanner
NO NOTCH
Reasonable size. It seems like the flagship race always equates "bigger" with "better". I don't subscribe to that theory, and I'm glad to see a more modest size for the Pixel 5.
I do wish it had the Snapdragon 865, Wifi 6, and the telephoto lens, but every other choice was perfect IMO. Even with the CPU, I'm sure that choice was about cost, so it might be the right cost/performance trade-off to go with the 765G. Time will tell, I suppose.
What are your thoughts? Do you feel like this was a step backward or does anyone else feel the same about these design choices?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really happy about the aluminum back.
I actually like the feel of the curved edges on my Pixel 2 XL but I honestly don't really carry either way.
It doesn't have a notch but It does have a hole punch which to me is just as bad as the notch. Obstructed screen content is obstructed screen content either way. In fact after learning that the developer option to hide the cutout that was on the Pixel 3 XL isn't on the Pixel 5 has me considering canceling my pre-order.
You make a good point that the flagship race seems to mean bigger is better. I don't even think the Pixel 5 is a modest size I think it's still way too big. I really miss the days of one-handed use and comfortable pocket ability those days have been gone for years and are unlikely to return.
It would be nice to have an actual fast processor instead of the slow 765 but that I think I could probably deal with. I also really wish they would have kept the telephoto of the Pixel 4 instead of going to the wide angle. Or just have three lenses like other phones even at the same price point.
jimv1983 said:
I don't care about Soli but I'm really going to miss the active edge. I don't know why you're happy that's gone when you can disable it anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't say I'm "happy" it's gone. Rather, I found it to be of little or no use. So removal of the associated hardware, which very well could have negatively impacted the battery, even when disabled, is perfectly fine with me.
sn0warmy said:
I wouldn't say I'm "happy" it's gone. Rather, I found it to be of little or no use. So removal of the associated hardware, which very well could have negatively impacted the battery, even when disabled, is perfectly fine with me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah on stock it was really useless. On custom rom you could assign apps of actions to it which was really good. I think I am going to miss it
sn0warmy said:
I wouldn't say I'm "happy" it's gone. Rather, I found it to be of little or no use. So removal of the associated hardware, which very well could have negatively impacted the battery, even when disabled, is perfectly fine with me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was essentially just a physical button. It wouldn't be a drain on the battery anymore than the volume buttons would is. Now there is no reliable way to activate the Google Assistant without voice which would trigger other near by devices too. That really sucks.
jimv1983 said:
It was essentially just a physical button. It wouldn't be a drain on the battery anymore than the volume buttons would is. Now there is no reliable way to activate the Google Assistant without voice which would trigger other near by devices too. That really sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most likely due to the aluminum frame. Sad anyway
Benjamin_L said:
Most likely due to the aluminum frame. Sad anyway
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is mostly due to the aluminum frame?
jimv1983 said:
What is mostly due to the aluminum frame?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Getting rid of active edge I meant. Maybe I am also imagining it the wrong way.
Benjamin_L said:
Getting rid of active edge I meant. Maybe I am also imagining it the wrong way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having an aluminum frame doesn't have an impact on Active Edge. The Pixel 2 was the first phone to have Active Edge and it's aluminum.
jimv1983 said:
Having an aluminum frame doesn't have an impact on Active Edge. The Pixel 2 was the first phone to have Active Edge and it's aluminum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm too bad they got rid of it then. Do we know yet who builds the P5?

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