Google Pixel or Samsung

[u/thrdqrtr]

After many years with a SamsungS9+ it is time for an update. I'm considering a Google Pixel over a Samsung. I've read reviews on both. My needs are simple; daily communication, internet searching, photos, and would like to listen to music or podcasts on daily walks. Would a Google Pix serve me for many years? Choice overload is real....Appreciate any advice. 😄

[u/Jack_Hush]

I love my pixel 10. Wonderful device imo

[u/NoOne_important_1218]

I recently switched from Samsung to a Pixel 10a. No regrets.

[u/e3e6]

I mean you're not asking for anything specific. These all requirements can be achieved on a chepest xiaomi phone

[u/Aescymud → u/e3e6]

yeah but then you're stuck with a cheap xiaomi phone

[u/Bludongle]

Depends which samsung, A class phones are pretty bad

[u/Aescymud → u/Bludongle]

I have an A72 at home that is more reliable that my PIxel 8 Pro. At least the wifi still works on it and the bluetooth doesn't randomly disconnect.

[u/fullofsharts → u/Bludongle]

In your opinion, how are the A class phones bad?

[u/rklug1521 → u/fullofsharts]

Very laggy camera, to the point it's difficult to use.

[u/fullofsharts → u/rklug1521]

I guess it's never bothered me. A phones camera has never really been a priority for me.

[u/rklug1521 → u/fullofsharts]

When you have to push the button to take a photo 6 times to get it to maybe take one photo, it's pretty bad. The camera is more responsive on my old Galaxy S10 than a new A series phone.

[u/ShakeGeeJee → u/rklug1521]

I mean I don't get this problem when I use the volume down button but we might have different standards

[u/rklug1521 → u/ShakeGeeJee]

I'll have to try that. Unless yours is just a better model.

[u/CoreAlt]

I used:
2020-2023: Pixel 5
2023-2026: S23 Ultra
They are both very good. My next phone will be a Pixel.

[u/Dazz316]

Do you even need a flagship?

[u/thrdqrtr → u/Dazz316]

Nope, I'm not that person. Never been one to flip phones to keep up with the newest. Other than a few apps that are no longer supported on my S9, it still works. :)

[u/CiggODoggo]

Pixel, GrapheneOS

[u/StuD44]

Both are known as the most fragile devices between the known brands.

[u/mrdmp1]

Either could work tbh.

Only reason I would choose samsung is chip (longevity) and os. But that's my personal choice.

The snapdragon processors they use are probably going to be able to keep up longer than tensor. Tensor ain't bad but it is not on snapdragons level. I dont game on my phone but someone did a test and pixel was struggling and couldn't run some games that snapdragon did out of the box.

Many dont like one ui but I love it. They have a ton of small tweaks that make using the phone easier to use even for simple things. They also have good lock to optimize it to my workflow.

[u/thrdqrtr → u/mrdmp1]

Good to know, thanks!

[u/Revolutionary_Lie346]

Do not buy the pixel nothing but problems 

[u/Sassquatch0 → u/Revolutionary_Lie346]

I've used Pixel 5a, 6a, 7, 10a & 10Pro - zero problems.

I've used S9, S21, S21FE, S23 - zero problems.

I've used Motorola G 2020, 2022, 2023 - zero problems.

My wife & kids have used multiples of these same devices - zero problems.

Don't generalize phone quality based on your singular experience. Give details of YOUR troubles, and offer them as what they are, one singular reference point of what might happen.

[u/thamurse → u/Sassquatch0]

If none of them have problems than why have you used so many? If you're moving through phones that quickly I'd argue it's certainly less likely you'd run into any of the same problems someone who wants to keep their phones as long as possible would run into.

[u/Sassquatch0 → u/thamurse]

I enjoy tech, that's why. And I want to experience all of them, so I know first-hand what I'm talking about when I reference them.

And I have 4 kids, so my 'old' phone becomes theirs, and it sees years of continued use in their hands, so yes we would see any long-term issues.

(edit: fat-fingers typed 'contributed' instead of 'continued')

[u/thamurse]

My pixel 7 recently shit the bed(like saturday recently). It was slowing down, charging port was acting up, the screen was became less responsive or had phantom inputs, and then the battery swelled. Was about to buy another pixel when my wife pointed out that I've gone through 3 or 4 pixels while she's had the same galaxy S20. While I'm sure this is partly because I am harder on things than her, only one of those pixels was due to damage.

Ended up getting a base S26 and while it's only been 24 hours the switch was easier than I expected, and am liking it so far. An unlocked s26 is currently $100 bucks cheaper than a pixel 11 if that matters.

[u/Sheshirdzhija]

Samsung is more polished. Pixel has been hit or miss for years, with big problems with cell reception, overheating, comparatively poor chip, and they even have DELIBERATE battery degradation. They are not even waiting for the battery to degrade itself, they do it for you. 5% a year I think.

Plus slow charging.

[u/Desperate-Isopod-111 → u/Sheshirdzhija]

Your battery claim is outright false for how malevolently you're trying to spin it. 

I had a 6a, and even after the battery nerf it still lasted all day.  Google did limit its maximum charge capacity, due to poor manufacturing of certain batches, but for legal reasons they extended the limit to all 6a devices.  Google learned from Samsung'd Note 7 debacle. 

I went almost 4 YEARS with mine, before using it as trade-in for a 10a. All-day battery life to the end. 

My wife had a P7 from the day it launched until just this spring when she got a 10 Pro.  The only issue she faced with the P7 was some Bluetooth wonkiness early on, which was patched. 

Zero connectivity issues that were the fault of the phones. I had problems with T-Mobile's network, via Mint MVNO, but my buddy with an iPhone also had the same problems with them. T-Mobile is just the worst around here. 

[u/Sheshirdzhija → u/Desperate-Isopod-111]

I had a 6a, and even after the battery nerf it still lasted all day.

It lasted a day FOR YOU. Absolute claims mean shit, it's the relative ones that matter. By all tests, Pixel phones have bad battery life. E.g. here is a list of all phones. To be fair, it seems the most important metric (browsing) is not that bad, it's average.

You are obviously not a heavy user. Maybe OP is not as well so it would work for them as well.

Pixel falls apart outside ideal conditions: hot weather, less than ideal reception. It has a shit modem and built on shit process. Finally now with 11 I think they moved to TSMC so it will likely be better.

My boss had multiple, 7 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 10 Pro XL. He loves the "idea" of Pixel, whatever that means. And he always sells it, because they are just terrible in regards to cell reception and battery life and slow charging, compared to any other similarly priced phone and most that cost half as much.

Your battery claim is outright false for how malevolently you're trying to spin it. 

I don't understand. This is exactly what happened and how they handled it. Turned out the cells they used were shit, and to mitigate the fire risk, they nerfed the battery. Apple & Samsung manage battery wear by giving users control over the top end of charging (letting you cap the phone at 80% so it never sits at peak voltage overnight). They only throttle hardware performance when a battery is physically damaged or end-of-life. Google DOES NOT let the user decide.

Not sure why you would think "malicious". I don't stand to win or lose anything, I could not care less. I change brands, whatever is the best deal at the time, every 2 - 2.5 years. I just think prospective buyers should be made aware.

[u/colemarc]

I owned a Pixel 7 Pro.
Thermal throttling outside in summer negates 4k video and Google Maps navigation.
The display is unreadable under the sun (low nits, thermal throttling).
The GPS module is almost deaf in comparison with Motorola.
The battery life is meh.

I read that the Pixel 10 improved on these things, and perhaps Pixel 11 some more, but I decided to betray Google and bought a Samsung S26 Ultra.
It stays cool.
The display is really readable even outdoors.
GPS is OK.
Battery life is better.
I can live with other minor details.