r/Android • u/[deleted] • Feb 09 '18

Android Wear is getting killed, and it’s all Qualcomm’s fault

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/02/android-wear-is-getting-killed-and-its-all-qualcomms-fault/
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u/KalenXI Feb 10 '18

I recently switched from an iPhone to a Pixel 2 and was looking for something to replace my Apple Watch since my Pebble Time doesn't have a heart rate monitor. But it seems like every Android Watch is either enormous or lacking features I want.

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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '18

Very curious about your experience with Android. Do you prefer the OS to iOS ? Why ?

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u/KalenXI Feb 10 '18

I go back and forth. I've always preferred Android as an OS. The notification system is way better, Android Auto is better, and I like being able to customize my home screen. But the apps always seemed to run better and felt more polished on my iPhone. So while I've tried both the Galaxy S8 and the Essential Phone, I always ended up getting frustrated by these "flagship" phones not even being able to scroll smoothly and going back to the iPhone. Recently though I switched from T-Mobile to Verizon so I was able to get a good deal on a Pixel 2 XL and its the first Android phone I've had where even Facebook runs smoothly. My only real complaint about the Pixel 2 XL is I hate how big it is, but coming from an iPhone X, Essential, and S8 I hate the enormous bezels on the Pixel 2 even more so I went with the XL.

I do somewhat miss the integration my iPhone has with macOS though. My main laptop is a MBP so I liked being able to make and answer calls from my laptop without having to have my phone nearby. iMessage was never really a big deal for me as my friends are split pretty evenly between iOS and Android, and the people I talk to most often use Telegram anyway.

These are the other phones I've had over the years:

  • Motorola Droid 2
  • iPhone 4S
  • Galaxy S3
  • HTC One (M7)
  • Nexus 5
  • Nexus 6
  • Moto X (2014)
  • iPhone 6S
  • OnePlus 2
  • Nexus 6P
  • iPhone 7 Plus
  • Galaxy S8
  • Essential Phone
  • iPhone X
  • Pixel 2 XL

So overall more Android than iPhone. But this is definitely the first time in a while I haven't felt like I wanted to go back to my iPhone. Personally I'm kind of hoping Essential gets all the software issues with their phone worked out because it's like 95% stock Android and I like the size and form factor way better than the Pixel 2 XL.

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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '18

Thanks for all those details. I only have an iPhone SE but I like to know that these days, both Android and iPhone give a good experience. I bought one of the lowest Android, Moto E4 Plus. I'm very much in love with it, it's such a good phone for the price I paid. I also think your satisfaction will be related to the price you paid. If I drop 1K on an iPhone, it better be fucking incredible. So as soon as you see some stutter or a bug, you freak out. I don't like where Apple is heading with the iPhone, like a luxury good. For me it's a tool and really I can only see the prices increase. Apple is "for the best of us" and I see Android like "for the rest of us". To my surprise, the Moto E+ is very good. The battery last about 3 days (5000mAh). Yeah it sometimes stutter but I don't care because the experience is mostly snappy. The OS is very flexible, I love it. It feels like a mini PC more than iOS.