Looking For Real World, Hands On Comparisons From Users Who Have Owned Both Devices.
I've read a few 4 XL reviews, but I rarely trust them anymore as it always seems real world user reviews here are quite different from the online reviews.
Since I am still running a 2 XL, rooted, EX kernel, TWRP, and Magisk, factory image though, I am hoping to get several actual users testimonies here from those who have / had a 2 XL and currently have a 4 XL.
My 2 XL is still plenty fast and really all I need, but wanting to see how much of a jump up the 4 XL really is from the 2XL to see if it's worth the $$$, as I know a lot of 2 XL owners waiting to hear what users think of the 4 XL.
I realize it will take a little time until a lot of folks have the 4 XL in their hands (1st batch ships in 3 days) , but I think the real user comparisons will be worth the wait!
Thanks in advance for the reviews and comparisons.
I've got the Taimen and am about to fire up my Flame here in a bit. First things I am going to do are photo comparisons.
I can tell you now, just looking at it while it is on the charger (and the charger in the box has the same specs as the charger I got with my Taimen, as well as the extra one I bought after I got my Taimen. So this one stays in the box ) - I love the smooth back. I got the Just black version, same as my Taimen also.
Thanks for starting this, I'll post back with more as I start using it.
andy6685 said:
Looking For Real World, Hands On Comparisons From Users Who Have Owned Both Devices.
I've read a few 4 XL reviews, but I rarely trust them anymore as it always seems real world user reviews here are quite different from the online reviews.
Since I am still running a 2 XL, rooted, EX kernel, TWRP, and Magisk, factory image though, I am hoping to get several actual users testimonies here from those who have / had a 2 XL and currently have a 4 XL.
My 2 XL is still plenty fast and really all I need, but wanting to see how much of a jump up the 4 XL really is from the 2XL to see if it's worth the $$$, as I know a lot of 2 XL owners waiting to hear what users think of the 4 XL.
I realize it will take a little time until a lot of folks have the 4 XL in their hands (1st batch ships in 3 days) , but I think the real user comparisons will be worth the wait!
Thanks in advance for the reviews and comparisons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm running basically same thing as you on my 2XL. Received my 4XL earlier today and 2 things that I noticed immediately were the display and sound. The display is noticeably better on the 4XL and the speakers are louder. Haven't really noticed a huge increase in speed, seems about the same compared to the 2XL. Face unlock works well and I'm already adjusting to no fingerprint scanner. The Soli gestures are kind of nice paired with the dock.
I just got my Pixel 4 XL yesterday; upgrading from Pixel 2 XL. Here are a few preliminary things I noticed when comparing the 2 phones:
1) The volume up and down buttons on the Pixel 4 make a louder click sound when pressed. Not drastically louder but enough for me to notice
2) Touchscreen on the Pixel 4 is so much better. I remember the Pixel 2's touch sensitivity and accuracy always lacking when compared to my old Nexus 6P, but they've fixed/improved it on the Pixel 4.
3) I miss the fingerprint unlock. I keep on putting my finger on the spot where the sensor used to be. Face unlock works fine most of the time, but takes longer in the dark and when I'm not upright (eg laying in bed). I also notice a few instances where I didn't want the phone to unlock but it unlocked itself as I was walking b/c I looked at it.
I have both and have the 2 XL at the side, I'm enjoying looking at the 2 XL screen, whites are white and colours are solid, good separation, my 4 XL is yellow tinted and colour separation doesn't look so good, for anyone who has both, boost your brightness up a bit then look how ****ty the greens look on WhatsApp, my 2 XL is superior to the 4 XL for colour separation go figure.
I have both and even though I've only had the 4xl for a day I am weavering towards the 2xl. The only thing better on the 4xl that I've noticed is sound quality. I have the gcam mod on the 2xl and the pictures look about the same. But I missed the finger print reader more than I thought I would. Especially when signing into my banking apps. Face unlock just doesn't feel right. I mean the damn thing turns on when you don't want it to if it sees your face lol. I've been using the 2xl for about 14 months. I still get great battery life out of it. I got lucky and have a perfect screen with no color shift or burn in. Comparing the screens I would say the 4xl is better. Then again it's a brand new phone it should be. It's hard to compare these phones mainly because of the length I have used a pixel 2xl. This is my 4th one I tried the 3xl but got rid of it in a month. And with the 4xl being so different the same may happen to it.
wolfu11 said:
I have both and even though I've only had the 4xl for a day I am weavering towards the 2xl. The only thing better on the 4xl that I've noticed is sound quality. I have the gcam mod on the 2xl and the pictures look about the same. But I missed the finger print reader more than I thought I would. Especially when signing into my banking apps. Face unlock just doesn't feel right. I mean the damn thing turns on when you don't want it to if it sees your face lol. I've been using the 2xl for about 14 months. I still get great battery life out of it. I got lucky and have a perfect screen with no color shift or burn in. Comparing the screens I would say the 4xl is better. Then again it's a brand new phone it should be. It's hard to compare these phones mainly because of the length I have used a pixel 2xl. This is my 4th one I tried the 3xl but got rid of it in a month. And with the 4xl being so different the same may happen to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is your 2 XL a good pure white one? I ask because mine is and it's just outright better than 4 XL for whites, the 4 XL in bright environments doesn't look too bad but when the lights fade in the evening at home in duller environments this yellow is standing out like a sore thumb.
I had a 2 XL until about a month ago, when I plugged it in and smoke came out of the charge port, after which it won't boot to recovery or OS. Used my old Nexus 6P while waiting for the 4 XL, which I brought home yesterday. Here are my thoughts on the 2 vs the 4:
4 XL pros:
-does not emit smoke (big pro)
-the telephoto camera
-better camera all round, thanks to the improved sensor they introduced with the Pixel 3
-screen is an upgrade in terms of refresh rate and viewing angles, both of which I do notice in regular use
-it's too slow for a mid-day top-up, but wireless charging is super convenient sitting at my desk or overnight
-the "awareness" features of soli (eg turning ambient off when you walk away) work really well
-the extra RAM makes a huge difference, apps get killed way less often and everything loads a bit faster
4 XL cons:
-yes face unlock is ridiculously fast, but it still takes some getting used to not being able to unlock my phone *before* I look at it - would've preferred to have a fingerprint reader on the back too
-white balance on the 2's screen was a bit cooler - personal preference but I like my whites more blue than yellow
-buttons on the 4 are a bit too hard to press
-miss my front-facing speakers even if the bottom-firing one is good quality
-soli gestures are hit-or-miss - maybe this'll be fixed with software updates but for now I can maybe trigger snooze on my alarm 1/3 times
It's all pretty minor stuff either way tbh. I don't know that I would've upgraded if I hadn't needed a new phone anyway, but I also don't think there's any reason not to. I think it comes down to the faster processor, extra RAM, and improved camera hardware - if those things are going to make enough difference for you to have a better daily experience, the other differences are all things you'll get used to easily enough.
Don't have my Pixel 4 XL yet but I think a reason for the noticable screen temperature difference is because the Pixel 2 XL was too cool. I have an October 2017 Pixel 2 XL and I definitely noticed cool white balance as well as the blue shift but I got over it. I'm sure I'll notice the warmer temperature on the Pixel 4 XL and I'll get used to it as well.
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Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
I only upgraded my 2 XL because my contract was up for renewal and quite honestly there is not much difference between the two - The lack of fingerprint reader is not great, but face unlock is working really well. Having the screen totally off until you're near is cool and must be a battery saver, however soli gestures are daft and I wont be using them in public for fear of looking like a right tw*t. Wireless charging is about the only real winner for me. Have given my white 2 XL to my Mrs on loan, with the proviso that she looks after it like I did - after two years it still looks brand new, a testament to the build quality.
24 months between upgrades used to bring huge improvements in quality and features, but now it seems Google et al have run out of ideas and Moore's Law isn't making much of a dent on the industry.
I've had my Pixel 2XL for 2 years and it's been awesome, received my Clearly white 4XL yesterday and have been happy thus far...
Opinion:
-4XL looks better aesthetically and feels better in the hand. I've always loved metal phones vs glass however the matted rear of the 4XL just feels awesome. Makes me want to go case-less but that's too risky lol.
Face Unlock is better than the fingerprint scanner because it's more seamless but takes some getting use to because it's so fast and accurate you may unlock your phone when your goal was just to look at your lock screen to see the time. (Also it may take a day to get beyond the habit of trying to touch a fingerprint reader that isn't there lol and banking apps still need to be updated to take advantage of the face Unlock feature)
Facts:
- Camera is obviously a little better (yet I haven't spent a lot of time with it)
- Battery life has been solid so far (unfortunately I can't give further stats because I can't exactly remember them but my phone arrived at 55%, I set up phone, installed 100+ apps, was tinkering & checking out features and after 7 hrs total usage, 3 hrs SOT I was probably around 33% battery life)
-The screen looks a little sharper than the 2XL and the blacks have more contrast & are better lit at lower brightness (no black blob effect to my knowledge)
-Speakers were actually surprising, they definitely sound better than the 2XL, Fuller & clearer and an improvement over the front facing ones.
-Phone call ear piece sounds clearer and a bit louder.
-Soli Gestures worked at a 99% rate for me and felt natural, I don't know how often I will use but they worked
Other Things:
- I haven't been able to really tell a difference in regards to the 90hz yet
- Phone is really snappy with no hiccups but my 2XL was/is the same so no major difference.
That's all I really can think of so far... It's definitely an upgrade over the 2XL but is it a necessary upgrade is something only we can answer as individuals.
Ady1976 said:
Is your 2 XL a good pure white one? I ask because mine is and it's just outright better than 4 XL for whites, the 4 XL in bright environments doesn't look too bad but when the lights fade in the evening at home in duller environments this yellow is standing out like a sore thumb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually have 3 pixel 2xls and they all have excellent screens whites are very good. But the 4xl 8bhave has good whites as well. I've gone through a lot of pixel 2xls and have only kept the best of them. But with this 4xl I think I got lucky right away. I still may get rid of it though....
Yeah I'm not sure if I'm keeping it either now, someone spoke to Google from Reddit and Google say it's normal they use srgb colour profile, so either Google is lieing or people saying they have pure white screens think theres is white but it really isn't, a lot of won't even know the difference, so if it is Google's colour profile then I fear the worst, clock is ticking I have around 9 days left to decide.
Ady1976 said:
Yeah I'm not sure if I'm keeping it either now, someone spoke to Google from Reddit and Google say it's normal they use srgb colour profile, so either Google is lieing or people saying they have pure white screens think theres is white but it really isn't, a lot of won't even know the difference, so if it is Google's colour profile then I fear the worst, clock is ticking I have around 9 days left to decide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google may add some settings in the future that would allow you to adjust that, like they did with the muted colors on the 2XL initially.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using XDA Labs
sharkie405 said:
Google may add some settings in the future that would allow you to adjust that, like they did with the muted colors on the 2XL initially.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who knows if they will but the fact it goes white on angle would suggest defect display I think.
EeZeEpEe said:
Don't have my Pixel 4 XL yet but I think a reason for the noticable screen temperature difference is because the Pixel 2 XL was too cool. I have an October 2017 Pixel 2 XL and I definitely noticed cool white balance as well as the blue shift but I got over it. I'm sure I'll notice the warmer temperature on the Pixel 4 XL and I'll get used to it as well.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pixel 4 XL on the left and Pixel 2 XL on the right. Definitely don't miss that blue shift.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
I have both the 2XL and the 4XL. Just picking up the devices off the table and using them, they're close enough to the same. You already know the differences from all the reviews, but just using the device, minimal difference in my use case. Having used the 2 and 4 at the same time, moving data between the two and checking congruence, the display is slightly different. I suppose if I had the option to buy the 4XL again, I'd just keep the 2XL. I do miss the fingerprint scanner though. And the free 'original quality uploads'.
How I justified buying the 4 to replace the 2;
better camera, and my son gets the 2XL to replace his clapped out Moto.
Maybe there is a crowd that thinks most things with smart phones are similar like the older generation does. Hell a coworker said his LG Stylo is just as fast as the best Android phones. It was 2 XL-OP 6-OP 6T- Note 9- 3 XL- OP 7 Pro- 4 XL on the Android side. That was just on my phone line. I'm not a part of that crown. When people said 1080P isn't noticeable it was to me. The same goes for 1440P and 90 Hz. Fast and smooth aren't the same thing. Side by side I have no problem with whites in the 4 XL and it isn't extremely blue. The fluidity and speed are definitely noticeable compared to the 2 XL. I even notice a slight difference from the 7 Pro and its more consistent. OP generally focuses on the speed side of things while Google does both. I think people that have had flagships from both each year would be able to see. I was bashing Google but missed my excellent camera so got this anyway. I kind of had to shut up though. Don't get me wrong though because I'm not letting them off the hook. Like Flossy Carter says its a love hate relationship lol. The camera quality definitely is noticed. The 3 XL I'd say slight. If someone asked should they hold on to the 2 or get the for its a no brainer. The overall feel and experience definitely flush out all the hate and shortcomings. The gestures work almost every single time and I use it allot especially when driving or cooking. i swore the battery would be trash but I'd live with it. I have 90 Hz forced around 60% brightness. Shoooo I've been on the phone most of the day with allot of web browsing. I have 3 hours screen usage and 52% battery left. The look is sleek and elegant. It feels good in the hands "ladies". These speakers are much better. One thing I haven't heard anyone talk about are the mics on this phone. others phones I've had I'd have on while showering. My lady can actually here me now and she comes through clear. This is with a shower on and the bathroom ceiling fan making noise. Going to the 2 XL from the 7 Pro when I was getting used to Pixel software in advance wasn't the worst thing ever but it was bad. trying to use it for a couple hours after getting the 4 XL was even worse. My complaint is Google easily could have killed these other phones out here by adding things that are standard for everyone else. A little bigger battery, storage, and wide angle and it would be a wrap. Better doesn't translate to market share and sales exactly but I bet it would have boosted things way more. Googles excuse is sufficient and telephoto is better. Damn then put 3 cameras in like even Apple has. whoever in the hardware team made decisions on battery storage and the wide angle need to be coached or fired. Anyway I'm off track. The 4 XL from the 2 is way worth it. This is coming from someone that bought into the media and hate going on. If I still had the 3 XL I would have passed without giving it a chance. I'm glad I had the 7 Pro and its "close enough to flagship camera".
Edit: all these things I talked about coming together as a whole make a really big difference.
A couple camera comparison pics. It's Pixel 2 XL then Pixel 4 XL.
For the bright outdoor pics, the greener grass might look better but the yellower one is more accurate.
For the indoor restaurant you can see the difference in the highlights (ceiling light, skylight, and background window). It's not blown out in the Pixel 4 XL.
Just some notes I've taken on what I've noticed during my first day:
- Screen doesn't have the blue shift!
- When 90 hz refresh rate is going, it's very, very smooth.
- Speakers are way louder, clearer, and have more range.
- The haptic feedback while typing is very good.
- 29 grams heavier without the case is noticable. I need to find a lighter case because it's up to 39 grams heavier than the Pixel 2 XL in it's lightest case.
- Out of the pocket, Face Unlock is technically slower than fingerprint scanner because I need to wake up the screen first. With fingerprint scanner, I can unlock while pulling it out. But when the phone is flat on something, the Motion Sense to turn on the screen already does make it very quick.
- Face Unlock is quicker and more convenient while the phone is in two handed typing position. No need to readjust to use the fingerprint scanner. Just take a second and it's recognized. It's very noticeable with LastPass which is probably the app that most frequently asks for verification.
- The 2 XL aged very well over two years and it still runs quickly but the 4 XL is just faster and smoother in every way. It's more reactive and there's less waiting for anything. All those fractions of a second add up to many seconds over times.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
Oh forgot to add it's nice to finally have voLTE and Sprint Visual Voicemail on Sprint.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
Related
Got my Pixel XL yesterday.
Feel free to ask any comparison questions or buy my two month old mint 64GB MXP listed on swappa.
Camera opens up and is focused, ready to capture pictures twice as fast as the MXP.
Overnight deep sleep was 98.6% over 8.5 hours.
Root & TWRP aren't available yet but Chainfire did root his Pixel and is working out some bugs before giving it to the community. TWRP are still working on something with encryption before offering their product up.
The MXP feels just as "premium" in the hand.
The Pixel's volume buttons are a bit more "clacky". I noticed it right away when I grabbed the phone and my finger kind of tapped the volume button and it made a metallic sound. The MXP does this also, but the Pixel does it more.
The Pixel XL is lighter on paper and in the hand.
But unless you have one phone in each hand, you're not going to notice much of a difference.
Though the Pixel does seem to make my running shorts sag down a little less than the MXP when in my pocket.
I'm on AT&T and used my SIM in both phones, one after another.
In the same spot, the MXP got 6mbps down and 0.1 up using Speedtest.net app.
The Pixel got the same download speed but was much faster with up speed at 4mbps.
Could be a fluke, who knows.
My house is a black hole for 4G network and I always have issues here.
I'll copy & paste my screen brightness findings below:
----------------
I just compared my Pixel XL vs. my Motorola Moto X Pure out under the 12PM Texas sunlight.
Turned off adaptive brightness for both.
Set both to max brightness on the slider.
Opened up the same webpage (yahoo.com).
Also looked at my phone contact pictures.
The Moto X Pure was slightly brighter and easier to see/read with direct view.
When looking at an angle, the Pixel XL was easier to read.
Once root is available, I'll install the Brightness Widget and install ElementalX kernel to see how the Pixel XL looks with the brightness pumped up.
If it gives me 10% more brightness then I think it'll probably be just as bright as the Moto X Pure with direct viewing.
The Moto X Pure has ~715 nits according to some reviews and is just as bright as my old Note 4 was.
---------------
Just tested the speakers with my SPL meter.
It's impossible to get accurate readings since the MXP has dual front facing speakers while the Pixel XL has a single mono down-facing speaker.
But SPL volumes when playing back both ping and brown mono tones *appear* to be mostly identical SPL.
My next test was to play a sports broadcasting radio show to listen to voices while the phone was in my pocket. Simulating what I do when I walk my dog. Put the phone in my pocket, crank up the volume and listen to a sports podcast.
Both phones appear to have the same SPL's again.
But the MXP definitely has more full toned voices.
MXP wins the speaker battle as I expected.
Really still trying to figure out why I bought a $900 32GB Pixel XL and put my $295 MXP 64GB up for sale.
updated with volume button and SPL stuff.
Take some photos on auto mode if you can...low light...outside...ect... Please...
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
I never learned much about taking pics, but I'll try.
Low light will be in about 5-6 hours from now. Twilight in Texas.
Great stuff. Would love to see a comparison on headphone jack audio quality and max volume, as well as battery life, if you get a chance.
ominousnimbus said:
Great stuff. Would love to see a comparison on headphone jack audio quality and max volume, as well as battery life, if you get a chance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like battery life comparisons as well. This is a huge thing for me. I'm tired of only getting 2.5 hours of screen on time with my MXP. I've changed my mind and now kind of believe the Pixel isn't a worthy upgrade but I just really dislike the MXP lol.
Really still trying to figure out why I bought a $900 32GB Pixel XL and put my $295 MXP 64GB up for sale.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is why I want nothing to do with the Pixel. Price is just outrageous and you're not getting two/three times the phone for the price. Now I 'might' consider getting a Note 8 when it comes out next year, but the Pixel is just way overpriced right now for what you're getting. Think I'm sticking with my MXPE for the foreseeable future. Still working great and really happy with it. The low light pics could be improved and that's really the only beef I have with it. Still a great phone.
Sorry guys, I sold my Moto X before I could get around to the camera tests.
Right now I've got 65% battery remaining and one hour of screen on time.
I'll report back when phone has settled in more and I can do a real test.
Root was released a couple days ago.
Still waiting on TWRP.
And finding many apps that don't work properly in 7.1 due to Nougat or the odd root implementation.
And Xposed has not been released yet for Nougat.
I was finally able to do a battery test.
The Pixel XL went two full days and still had about 40% battery life left.
I wasn't heavily using the phone though, as you can see by only 2+ hours of screen on time.
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@CZ Eddie do you like the phone better than the MXPE? At the bottom of the OP you said you were trying to figure out why you bought the Pixel XL for $900 and are trying to sell your MXPE for $295....
Digital DJ said:
@CZ Eddie do you like the phone better than the MXPE? At the bottom of the OP you said you were trying to figure out why you bought the Pixel XL for $900 and are trying to sell your MXPE for $295....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the Pixel XL a lot. It's fast as hell.
If you gave me a choice between the two phones at the same price point, I'd go with the Pixel XL.
If I were to do everything all over again and had a choice between Pixel XL at $900 or MXP at $300, I'd go with the MXP.
Assuming I weren't already one-years worth bored of the MXP anyhow. Like I was when I got the Pixel.
CZ Eddie said:
I like the Pixel XL a lot. It's fast as hell.
If you gave me a choice between the two phones at the same price point, I'd go with the Pixel XL.
If I were to do everything all over again and had a choice between Pixel XL at $900 or MXP at $300, I'd go with the MXP.
Assuming I weren't already one-years worth bored of the MXP anyhow. Like I was when I got the Pixel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah good point, but my gosh is the price of the Pixel/XL high. I tried out the Pixel for a week and loved it but returned it because of the price. And that was just the 32GB. Part of me wants to bite the bullet and just get the 128 Pixel, but I can't justify the XL in 128. I love my $300 MXPE as well and Moto has confirmed N in Q4 of this year, so I'm very hopeful that happens soon.
I'm waiting on my Pixel XL. GF has hers and loves it.
I'm having a really hard time not getting the Google Pixel. But the cost to awesomeness comparison is not tempting to me at all. When comparing the specs of the devices, I just don't think the Pixel or XL is THAT much beter than the Moto X Pure, but, I REALLY want to get the device...again..lol
I know Android N is supposed to come soon for the Moto X Style (Pure), and I think it will be awesome on the MXPE. But can I wait that long???? That is the question!
Still no TWRP (or custom ROM's) for the Pixel XL.
And there is no Exposed yet for Nougat.
Some apps aren't happy yet with the style of Superuser.
Anyone who likes customizing stuff should just hold off a bit longer if seriously considering the Pixel.
And anyone into TASKER should know that Secure Settings won't work on this phone. ugh.
Moto voice and moto assist in x pure vs pixel
Hello, I have the original moto x, 2013, I love moto voice and moto assist reading text messages while driving or at home, etc. and waking up with voice command. I don't like the size of moto x pure. Does pixel with nougat have similar features for voice command and text message reading while driving like moto assist?
CZ Eddie said:
Got my Pixel XL yesterday.
Really still trying to figure out why I bought a $900 32GB Pixel XL and put my $295 MXP 64GB up for sale.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you bought a software package with a big guarantee on the quality of it that's for sure.
I own a MXP (actually Style, still the same) and I can say it's a solid build. My poor beast suffered a lot from dust to water to ground concrete droppings and now (after almost a year of wearage) it still feels like new, except for the IPS color bleeding ( TIP: don't keep this phone in your back pocket and sit on it, I was putting preasure right in the middle of the screen and some bending happend to the screen panel).
The really big cons of MXP is Motorola software support (features are great!), as they weren't able to keep it together as a company only God knows how many changes has been in the developers team. I just hope for one strike of light to get the official Naugat update and kernel releases for it.
My justification for buying the Pixel XL 128 was a stretch by anyone's standards, but I went with it.
First, the Pixel let me switch from my $66/month Verizon plan to a sub-$40/month Project Fi plan (I'm a very light data user since wifi is almost always available).
Second, for many moons I dreamed of getting a PSVR. My twisted sense of logic eventually convinced me to preorder the Pixel and get a free Daydream VR headset instead of getting a PSVR. The money saved on the PSVR would partially offset the ridiculous cost of the Pixel.
To say I'm looking forward to the VR revolution would be an understatement, but until I can get a quality VR experience with eye tracking and no wires I'm happy to skip the PSVR and settle on the Daydream. At least it doesn't have wires.
Also, I'm finally going to root my MXPE and make it a proper NES/SNES mobile emulation station with controller/mount.
With all that in mind, I'm loving the Pixel. And now that it's getting the lift-to-wake gesture, the last thing that was missing from the MXPE is gone.
I got the DayDream VR goggles in this week for my Pixel.
It was my first VR experience and I was blown away by how much better it was than i was expecting.
I don't think VR is ready for prime-time yet. But when it is, it's going to change how we do many things.
I got so immersed in the experience at one point that I lost my balance. While sitting in a chair!
Btw, Pixel now has an Alpha version of TWRP but still no custom ROM's of any sort.
I do know that Pure Nexus and Dirty Unicorns are working on something.
But TWRP has been out a couple weeks so I'm disappointed we don't have anything cool yet.
And none of the ROM Kitchens support the Pixel yet, so I can't even do my own custom ROM.
And there is still no Xposed for Nougat yet.
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?
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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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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
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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!!
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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.
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
I like this device but it's a little slow for me at some points. It's not a shot at this device which I consider a decent value but I'm retty sure I'm going to move into something else, possibly this fall. That something being the Pixel 4, I like everything about it so far except I would have preferred a symmetrical bottom/top bezel. If I don't bolt this fall the spring is a near certainty but I've got no guess what might be the more interesting devices at that point. What about you folks, happy enough to have not considered it? Thinking about moving to the next thing? If so, what?
I might get the Pixel 4. It depends on what they do with ram and the cameras. I would like a telephoto lens on the back but so far I've been reading the second sensor may be a wide angle one.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs
Google confirmed 3, wide angle, telephoto, and infrared. The last seems to be a bit of a mystery as to what it's going to be doing, some think it's for improving night shots but no one seems to know exactly what all it might do.
The 4a XL on a free trade, but might have to wait a bit...
ill get whatever phone is notchless and has a headphone jack
i got the pixel 3a xl for that exact reason, im sick of seeing bullet holes and notches on phones
I just read an updated article about the Goog leak and I need to make a correction, it's a spectral sensor, not infrared. My apologies for the misinformation. I'm still probably in, I've no idea what spectral is but it sounds like something I want.
Google self released preliminary images of the Pixel 4, and I got to say the square bump-out that holds two back cameras and a flash LED does not look great, either from Apple or Google. There was previous renderings of a slick smooth back with a flat oval that contained the cameras that that looked much more impressive. Consensus was that was a cool clean design. The feedback on what was recently released, not so much.
Copying Apple designs by itself does not guarantee success. The previous design looked original, however what they put out now just looks like another Apple clone...
duh1 said:
Google self released preliminary images of the Pixel 4, and I got to say the square bump-out that holds two back cameras and a flash LED does not look great, either from Apple or Google. There was previous renderings of a slick smooth back with a flat oval that contained the cameras that that looked much more impressive. Consensus was that was a cool clean design. The feedback on what was recently released, not so much.
Copying Apple designs by itself does not guarantee success. The previous design looked original, however what they put out now just looks like another Apple clone...
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Click to collapse
ah who cares what the back looks like. put a case on it.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk
Looks like the base stats are starting to get out there and the Pixel 4 is more and more shaping up to become my next phone. If Samsung hadn't made it such a pain to root I might consider the Note 10 but after suffering through the 8 I'm pretty much done with them unless a very unlikely turn around comes in their policies. These are really the only two that have been pinging on my radar, seems like their should be more but there is always some catch with phones nowadays...
I'm just hoping the hideous notched display and useless curved edge display era is over across the next generation of phones. It definitely limited my choices this go around because I'm not into gimmicks over practicality; but hey - that's just me.
The pixel 4 looks nice so far, and more OEMs are starting to ditch the display notches as well, so at least we'll have better options coming around in the future.
Yeah, no question, I didn't make friends with notches and at this point I'm sure I never will. Only had one as it turned out, the 6T, which didn't kill me but I never stopped noticing it as some people say they do.
Possibly the Pixel 4 but if ASUS gets the Zenfone 6 out soon in Canada I may get it.
Can you root those?
Devhux said:
Possibly the Pixel 4 but if ASUS gets the Zenfone 6 out soon in Canada I may get it.
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Click to collapse
I stick with Google. Got the 3a XL on Friday after dropping my 2 XL on hard concrete :crying:
The software is the best I have ever seen on phones, I just root the phone and call it a day. Easy updates every month. No hassle.
This is worth more to me than screen-to-body-ratio or industrial design or whatnot. Crappy or outdated software ruins everything anyways.
But YMMW, just an opinion
I wouldn't mind the faster Snapdragon 855 over our 670, but I do admit my 3a XL is mostly good enough speed wise.
So... Air gestures and face ID confirmed on the Pix 4 today. I'm so in...
Ill get the pixel 4a xl. Basically the lighter version of pixel 4xl with some minor upgrades battery and screen size,for example i dont need the face recognition ,a finger print scanner is fine,and i dont need 4 cameras one 16 back and 16 front is fine with me ,mind you im a mobile photographer.And a simple plastic white back no glass cause i really dont use wireless charging and the lastic does not feel far from the glass back of the pixel 3.Tbh the android 10 almost is the perfect os for me so no extra stuff there.What i really want to have is bokah on video and real time captions and translation ,but im sure google has that on lock
I wouldn't want to guess how Goog will gimp the A versions to make them "mid range" devices. I sure didn't see them leaving the cool live wallpaper out on the 3A's as an example.
luigi90210 said:
ill get whatever phone is notchless and has a headphone jack
i got the pixel 3a xl for that exact reason, im sick of seeing bullet holes and notches on phones
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Click to collapse
Here here to that ?
I've decided to get a OnePlus 7 Pro. I just can't see paying $1,000+ for a Pixel 4 XL. I like my 3A XL, but it is slow, honestly, and just not up to the performance I want out of a smartphone.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk
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...
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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).
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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
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Most likely due to the aluminum frame. Sad anyway
Benjamin_L said:
Most likely due to the aluminum frame. Sad anyway
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What is mostly due to the aluminum frame?
jimv1983 said:
What is mostly due to the aluminum frame?
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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.
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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.
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Hmm too bad they got rid of it then. Do we know yet who builds the P5?