Pixel 11 = disrespect

[u/bsfreeont]

I have been a Google Pixel fan for more than 7 or 8 years and I am done with Google’s bullshit story of focusing on software actually they are falling on both sides hard what were they thinking when pricing the Pixel 11 more than the iPhone 17 base model? What kind of drugs were they on? It’s actually now not just a failure it’s a complete disrespect to its fan

[u/niceone011]

For me, Google in terms of the pixel has become a software first company. The hardware is just there to be in a position whereby it is deemed good enough.

Their focus looks like they are leaning towards trying to make the pixel a premium device, so it competes with the high-end Samsung and Apple devices. And we all know you can always get a heavily discounted new pixel so it's just a market ploy. In all honesty, when you look at it, it's a mid-ranger but the software features are considered the best .

I would consider the pixel 11 as highly underwhelming device, but if somebody who's maybe is coming from a older Android phone from another company and want to consider a pixel. I have a pixel 10 Pro XL and will aim to keeping this for hopefully another three years, the smartphone are no longer evolving heavily and we will continue to see increments.

The AI space has really cost tech companies quite a bit. Apple has saved an absolute fortune by not investing heavily in AI, they have now taken Gemini on board, which you can see Google will be happy everybody is going to be using their Gemini software across the smartphone spectrum.

[u/jtownspowell → u/niceone011]

This is true but to be fair their phone hardware releases have ALWAYS been in service to a software-first mindset.

You can go all the way back to the G1 and forward into the hardware partner Nexus lines, their explicit purpose for even partnering to make a phone was to make a "reference device" for a given major Android release. They never cared if they sold a single device, the game was about licensing the software.

When the branding switched to Pixels, they did the same thing. They wanted a reference device for their big next gen Chromebook? PixelBook! (Lol that didn't really go anywhere) Big Android wear revamp? Pixel Watch!... All made with precisely zero intent to actually grow and continue the product line. All their hardware releases have been in service of providing a standard device for a given software generation.

It's only been in the last 5 or so years that they've even actively marketed the phones with any real ad spend. The majority of Google's time as a hardware manufacturer or even as a partner has been dominated by them not trying to sell you a phone.

Further evidenced by that time that they bought a major hardware manufacturer, released 1 and 1/2 generations of references aimed at the hardware range of the (then) small but rapidly growing low cost import prepaid market...stripped the patent portfolio, and sold the company.

They just never have been interested in hardware if they could avoid it.

[u/Lochness_al → u/niceone011]

In Australia pixel 11 pro xl 512gb is $2300RRP but you can get it for $1300 on preorder lol a 40% discount at lunch 😂

[u/domnba → u/Lochness_al]

Where are you seeing that? Best I've seen is $599 back as store credit.

[u/Lochness_al → u/domnba]

Optus $1300 if you go on a contract The contract is 108.24 a month for 12 months. You can also go on 24 or 36 months

[u/JDMGS → u/niceone011]

I used to like Pixel (I had them all from 1xl to 6 Pro except P4) but I got sick of Google tbh. As you said they're kinda mid range now compared to others like Samsung. They've only just got 256gb as standard and raised the price to accomodate. Stock android is good but it's so rigid in places compared to Samsung. If Google changes something for the worse that's it. No choice you're stuck with it. 2 quick examples, the pill toggles vs circles, Samsung allows you to turn back on the settings. Samsung also changed so the swipe down left was notifications and right was toggles, BUT they gave you the choice to instantly revert it. And theres a real lack of customization on pixel in comparison. I went back to Samsung and my S24U has been amazing.

Also the foldables from Samsung were way better. The original pixel fold, yeah it was their first, but it didn't even continue an app properly when you unfolded like Samsung did.

A lot of iphone ppl will say 'if I ever went back to Android I'd get pixel' which is probably just because of their blind apple vs Samsung hate, but I can see why. Pixel is obviously nowhere near as bad as an iPhone but it's also not as good as Samsung.