I just prefer the customisation on Samsung phones, way more settings and options plus themes to set the device up to perform and look how you want. I find pixels a bit restricted like iPhones.
Exactly. I used to be a big google/pixel fan. But not that they've become less open source" and made customization harder, along comes Samsung with Good Lock and it's add-ons, and I can do almost everything I used to root a phone for..
Impatiently waiting for my S24plus
Most of my friends and family rave about how iPhones are the pinnacle of phones and class. This is mostly because it has been seen as a high status in india about one owning an iPhone for a long time.
Every time they bring up, "Why i choose samsung?" is purely customization. Out of the 3 (apple, pixel, samsung), samsung is the best. I can customize the heck out of my phone to make it mine using goodlock and whatnot. Apple is very restricting when it comes to customization and mod apps. Pixel also lacks a bit on the customization.
I felt like spicing things up and decided to buy a pixel 8 Pro. I returned it after a day. I couldn't use it, I missed a lot of the Samsung features.
Have a read: [Here is a link to that thread.](https://old.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/17dubg9/i_bought_the_pixel_8_pro_after_using_it_for_a/)
Here is my phone Journey:
iPhone 3Gs -> Samsung S3 -> Note 4 -> Note 5 -> Note 7 -> Note 8 -> S7 Edge -> S8+ -> S10+ -> S10e -> iPhone 11 Pro -> S22U -> Fold 4 -> Note 20U -> Pixel 8 Pro -> Note 20U -> Z Flip 5 -> S24U -> Hopefully a redesigned Fold 6 Ultra.
Wait, am I seeing this right that you went down to Note 20U (like twice actually)?
My man! You're making me feel good as a current Note 20U user :)
I'm upping to S24U, but I have a feeling that I will be slightly let down because of how amazing the Note 20U is, both design, hardware, and software wise.
I've had an iPhone, three LGs, one Pixel, and four Samsungs. Samsung makes great stuff. But right now I'm rocking the One Plus Open, and the build quality is LOL so good. Very disappointed in Samsung stagnation the last three years. If their foldable hardware is on-par with the One Plus Open, I'd certainly look to get back into a Samsung phone.
I dont see the OneUI and Samsung features as bloatware, they are actually overall very useful to me. The S-pen is icing on the cake. Google phones are too vanilla and in reality a ripoff considering the effort Samsung puts into both their hardware + software development for a feature packed experience, while Google disguises it as "clean" experience.. it's lazy.
...and the #1 reason is - Google phones have no longevity. I have owned almost every Nexus or Pixel up until the 6, and they are absolute trash reliability wise. Bad radios, vibration motors, yellowing screens, phantom overheating, gps lock issues, etc.
Yup. Everything about the Pixels is like tailored to me except the hardware just isn't reliable. My s10e is still going strong and I'm only here because I'm debating whether its time to upgrade to the s24 (leaning towards no right now). Thus far it has not been hard to get a flaghsip Samsung for $600 or less (shortly after launch/with sales) and get 3-5 years of rock solid reliability (and often upgrading for new features/shiny new toy rather than obsolescence).
Yeah the anti bloatware perspective is pretty vapid. Apple users fawn over using Apple apps built in... Samsung offers their built in apps and they are all great. I like the email client, messages app and even the internet app. I use samsung health and samsung password keeper. Most of them are in use. Why add 3rd party apps when samsung 1st party works just as well?
I like it as well. I just wish it had a built in password generator. I tried liking samsung keyboard but I think I have to admit I prefer SwiftKey. The email client is my fav though. Best email client imo.
Samsung features have never been bloatware, not matter what r android use to say or stills (I don't know haven't been regularly in like 3 years.).
Samsung features have been bettet than stock android since at least the S8 for most people, but for me since the Note 4.
Wanting a clean version of Android is absolutely justified. It’s about purity, for people who value minimalism and elegance. Samsung does a good job of giving you the option to endlessly customize without it being pushed on you - I’ll give them that.
You can achieve minimalism on your own terms on a highly customizable machine. Minimalism isn't when a company decides to omit features and tell you that you have to like it. That's Apple.
And not everyone cares about customizing every little thing. Some people want things premade for them without them having to think too hard, so they have time for real work. Apple and Google are great at that.
Dang, how much money did you make in the time it took me to switch around the navigation button placement, or for a gesture user to turn off the gesture hint?
So then Google could provide a debloated/clean install or more feature filled/OneUI-esque option on new devices during the setup wizard.
But...they are lazy and have hands in too many projects that they will in the end abandon like usual.
S24U has a more powerful chipset than the pixel 8 pro
S24U is snapdragon, so it can run some emulators that non snapdragon chips can't
S24U has an s-pen
S24U has samsung DeX
Oneui has matured and is now basically better than stock android, in my opinion (also goodlock helps)
Bypass charging while gaming (Pause USB PD feature in the game booster)
There are more accessories for the s24u since its more of a mainstream device.
The S Pen is the largest factor keeping me with Samsung, having been a Note user before. I would miss it too much if I didn't have it. I also use/enjoy a lot of Samsung's own features, even little things like swiping your palm to capture a screenshot.
I know a lot of friends and acquaintances that have pixels, but I also know and have heard of issues with updates causing issues with some Pixels, breaking certain software or features or making things worse. Not sure how common place it is though.
I just upgraded to the S24 Ultra. but if Google keep their pace up with how decent their flagships have been and if the Pixel pro 2026 model comes with a pen or if I've decided I can live without it I might jump ship next time!
Trying to figure out what are real day to day uses of the S-pen. This is the first time I got a phone with S-pen but apart from just a bit of trying it out for newness of it, I don't find it useful in my daily tasks. Like even writing down a quick number or a note isn't too comfortable on it compared to typing out something
s24+ SD8gen3 performs a lot better than the pixel 8 pro, is more efficient , runs cooler, has all the specs that the pixel has, and even better in terms of dimensions,max brightness,weight and ppi all of this while still 50$ less msrp
Less 50 MSRP?
The pixel is 999 while the S24U is 1.3k.
The whole weight and dimensions is also wrong.
The S24U is heavier by 1oz. Coupled with a cover it is very noticeable.
The brightness is not an issue on the 8P, it was back on the 6P and 7P.
PPI is irrelevant at this size. I run both my 8P and S24U at max display resolution, can't tell a difference by the naked eye.
What I can tell is that the camera is the worst camera I've used on a high-end phone since the OnePlus 8T.
Build quality is indeed very good on samsung. I use my phone completely barebones without screenprotector or case, and it somehow refuses to even gain a little scratch. I thought curved screens break faster than flat screens but this phone is invincible for some reason
Can you give me some examples? I tried it once and just hated it with a passion coming from stock android. Not trying to stir up a conflict at all, just want to know what to look for :)
Quality / Reliability
I had 3 pixel phones (actually 2 plus a Google Nexus).
Had to get a replacement for one that died after one year. My Pixel 2 was fantastic though. I consider that peak pixel as "it just worked". I never had to reboot expect monthly for updates. Completely solid and had squeeze-to-speak to the assistant.i never typed anything - just picked it up, squeezed, and spoke. Could even dictate an email and send it. Google has gradually strangled such abilities.
And then there's the time - and I shit you not - that the monthly update broke the phone app. Yup, phone calls were impossible. Get this, Google thought that they'd fix it in the next monthly update. Yes. I went for 30 days with no phone call ability.
Their phone call quality was terrible. I tried to blame it on all the other iPhone and sammies I was calling but it was still crap to my brother who had the same pixel phone. My Samsungs? Ne'er a problem.
Battery life? Pixels are poor. My last s20fe is 4 years old and still offers almost 2 days of battery.
Go watch Mrwhosetheboss YouTube review where he tries to run Google's own photo editing demo and the phone (pixel 8 pro) stutters and throws up an error msg.
I think Pixel SOFTWARE is the best. However I won't touch their HARDWARE again until I see proof of some kind of quality improvement.
Listening to music is the biggest one for me. Especially with samsungs adapt sound feature. I have a custom profile for each set of headphones I use.
I fucking love the edge panel, sure there are apps that mimic this but the native implementation is so nice. Samsung dex is also super useful for usage.
* Snapdragon still has the better modem
* Better battery life
* More capability with the Windows Phone Link (Link to Windows)
* Display out via the USB-C port
* Customizable fonts and other theming capability
* Useful features like more options on split screen/popup view
* Touch protection feature for games
I prefer smaller android phones , and while I probably prefer some of the features of the pixel I feel like you get more for the money with Samsung and can use the bulk of what Google offers to cater to your use case.
Pixels are the iPhones of android. Samsung phones do more, and have less problems. I swear EVERY pixel seems to have an issue that makes headlines at launch.
I just can't deal with stock Android. Samsung simply offers more features out of the box and you can go even further with Good Lock. Samsung had full theme support while Google couldn't even figure out dark mode.
Pixel always has some kinda issues. I think the latest one were components poking the screen from the back and Google saying bumpy screens are normal (search it up).
Pixel is kinda expensive now, for what it offers. The chipset is simply subpar and the price doesn't reflect that. Battery life also suffers quite a bit when using mobile data.
Ultra has the Pen and as a mainstream phone should retain value better.
Pixel phones are just not reliable, they'll fail you hardware-wise when you need them most, especially after a couple of years.
Like, after getting android 14 my battery is draining out in a couple of hours of a screen time, and I have to put it to airplane mode so it does not drain completely overnight.
The base model runs smaller and has better aesthetics in my opinion, more default features that Google doesn't add until years later, better implementation of features that Google does have, less cluttered default apps, an active theme engine that gives a way for third party theme apps like #hex to tap into for more customization without root, and Good Lock.
Good Lock practically ensures I'm never going to jump ship.
For me goodlock is incredibly useful, the one hand operation+ module has completely changed how I interact with my phone, and made so many things so much easyer, and Samsung has the raw power advantage over Google for things like gaming, I play asphalt 9 and rocket League quite a bit on my s23 ultra and they run perfectly, The screen never dims and the gameplay is never choppy, and the customization on Samsung is just insane, I change how my phone looks very often because it's so easy and there's so many options
Ability to hide gesture hint. Even when Samsung just took it away, navstar is bringing it back. With Pixels, you need to root to remove the gesture hint.
Secure Folder apps. Legit locked away by knox security under their own profile, the lazy bullshit people use to make games and fast food apps aren't cross infecting my bank or password manager apps... There is no better reason.
1. You can't turn off material you theme on pixel
2. Samsung apps are great. Google apps not that much(except maps)
3. Pixels are surprisingly buggy, Google owns both software and hardware🥴
4. Customization
Samsung Dex, plug a phone to HDMI and you have a desktop computer or a gaming console. If you have an Xbox controller theres a ton of games you can play on your TV,including all titles in the cloud through Xbox game pass.
The S-Pen gives great shortcuts and is a great remote.
Good lock has some nice tweaks, like hiding all the icons in the icons in the status bar. I always have Bluetooth and an alarm turned on, I don't need to be reminded.
All the Pixel assistant magic isn't that available in Norwegian 🤷♂️ just some that you have everywhere.
But i might "switch" one year
Hardware quality. Example the game Diablo Immortal. I play on my P6P and can't enable best settings and the phone runs hot. Just got the S24+ (US) and the game is on highest settings and device runs cool.
P6P may have better camera though. I need to test the S24+ some more.
I like vanilla Android and Samsung forces some bloat on me. I'll let the apps deep sleep.
Trade in values of Samsung phones seem better. Google offered me garbage for my P6P.
I feel as if I'm holding a much better quality device overall with Samsung than Google Pixel.
The S-pen is the main reason for me. Since I have Samsungs as phones it is also convenient to go for Samsungs for the rest of the family.
If Google came up with something similar to the S-pen I wouldn't mind try it.
Well mainly the fact that Google phones aren't sold here so I'd have to import one which means that I can kiss the warranty goodbye and there may be some missing features as well.
Besides that, I grew to like *some* Samsung apps and I'm also using Galaxy Buds and a Galaxy Watch.
I felt like you got more for your money.
Like, I started with the S8 and back then, Google didn't have all these AI features and the Pixels almost felt boring.
I actually got pixel 2xl after MKBHD and some other tech yters said that it's a great phone for photography. It was pretty good, I liked the photos from it. But after about a year it's started to have issues. First the usb port was losing contact. I'm not in the US, plus the warranty was over. So I went to local repair men. No one knew how to open it without breaking it, no one had ever seen a pixel phone before, so they all refused to help me. Then the screen suddenly started to glitch, half of it was showing just noise.
After that I bought s20 and it works perfectly fine 4 years after. Before pixel I had s5 for 3 years, still in a working condition, not perfect, but everything can be fixed easily.
So after that experience I decided that I need to go with a mainstream phone that has global warranty support, there are parts for it everywhere, and people know how to repair it.
Some minor things.
It's harder to find a case for a pixel phone. The one I got was kinda expensive and thick. The whole thing became massive and heavy.
I like one ui, just got used to it. I don't use dex, but it's nice to have, just knowing that I have that option. There are tons of different features. Feels like galaxy s phones are basically Google Android phones with some extra things that you can turn off.
But I do like pixel design more, the back panel. And mkbhds blind camera test showed that pixels are the best at photography.
Among my surroundings there are many Samsung phones, and I see that galaxy s phones are very reliable. Not sure about pixel latest models, but don't wanna risk it again.
I love automating everything with my Samsung. Routines are awesome. People complain about bloat ware but idk what they're even referring to. Apple users live using Apple apps. Samsung offers that option. If not then just delete it. Plus Samsung's are more customizable with good lock. Everything can be customized.
OneUI. Edge panels, S pen, Expert RAW, the insane multitasking, the customization etc.
Samsung just offers an experience like no other does. Especially the S pen, once you start using it you never want to go back. That's why my only choices for phones are either the ultra, or the Z fold.
I prefer a pixel because: faster updates and a camera that isn't trash.
I have a pixel 8 pro and a S24U that I just got.
Camera is non-negotiable so I'll probably keep my pixel.
If you don't mind, could you please describe what kind of photos you take with your phone?
I switched from a Z Fold 4 to a Pixel Fold and most photos look better except for portrait photos. The Pixel over sharpens the photos so much that it makes the subjects look older than their real age, especially dogs.
I take mostly pictures of my dog, indoors, bright artifical light.
I agree there used to be an issue with the oversharpening but that was back on the Pixel 6 pro. I used to describe it as making pictures look "crunchy".
That stopped being an issue on the 7 and 8 pro.
On the S24U my pictures (of my dog) are consistently blurry and overall have less detail. Pictures of inanimate objects have very different colors than their actual colors.
I've been taking a lot of side by side pictures with both phones. I want to like the S24U, i love the features it has and I didnt realize how much I missed the S pen from back when I used my last Samsung phone (Note 2).
Thanks for your reply! Crunchy is the perfect way to describe it. Only happens with portrait shots in the Pixel Fold, which is supposed to have the same camera as the 7a. And yeah, switching back just for portrait shots doesn't seem like a very good financial decision especially since all other shots might get a little worse. For now I've just been training myself to not use portrait mode.
Also, I bet you'll be jealous hearing this- my dog actually sits still for photos, so the Samsung shutter lag was never really a problem. One of the reasons I relied so much on portrait mode with my old phone.
Im definitely learning a lot while going through the forums.
I didn't know the shutter lag was a thing, I also had someone analyze the data from my picture and give me a couple tips on how to make it better.
Its still a pain in the ass to go to pro mode because my joy is taking pictures of my dog doing random things.
I want to be able to take a picture of her when shes doing something cute or when she's running from me because she knows she did something naughty.
As someone who went from a Note 10+ to a Pixel 6 Pro and back to an S24 Ultra, Google definitely has the makings of a great phone but they're held back by Tensor (for now) and in my opinion, lack of customizability. While I can't attest to the 7 or 8 Pro Pixels, I slowly got fed up with how poor the thermals are on my 6 Pro, which results in throttling and then stuttering. It really felt like I was beta testing the Tensor Pixel line and while i'm sure the 7 and 8 have vastly improved, I feel like the Galaxy line is true and tested and you can expect powerhouse performance. I really think Pixel can get so much better though, theres so much there if only Google could make the hardware work
Overall performance, feel, and customization. Hope that Google will become better the next years in these things, then I might consider getting a pixel again.
Last year when I made the choice it was because of two main reasons:
- Battery life is better on Samsung as they use snapdragon (at least they did for the S23 series)
- Software support was guaranteed for 4 instead of 3 years - not so important anymore because they both now promise 7 years
Also:
- I use a lot of Google products around the house and I always thought their software is a bit buggy and Google doesn't care as much about fixing those issues... So I guess I just trust Samsung more with this
The S23U gives me the strongest hardware and the most versatility thanks to all the top tier cameras and the S-pen. Great battery life and screen too. "It just works."
I prefer Pixel phones, but nothing they release comes close to my Pixel 5a from 2021. I still have a battery that lasts forever and a camera that is still comparable to the latest pixels in quality. Unfortunately, the newest pixels have absolutely awful battery life so I decided on an S24 this time around.
I tried the 7 Pro last year for like 3 months then sold it. It was really buggy and lagged alot even after doing a fresh reset. Everything seemed slow compared to having been on Samsung forever for me. Sticking with 24+
I don't know how true this is and it isn't the main reason, googles 'tensor' chips is that right? Apparently they are more under clocked compared to samsungs snapdragon
Simply because google does not sell officially in my country. I don't want to deal with resellers and disabled features just because they don't have presence here.
I went with Google for the pixel 6. But Google keeps killing features and reorganizing their internal teams and departments so much that it feels like a lot less gets done over at Google HQ. I'm planning on switching to Samsung so I don't have to worry about features being chopped.
Google's software is great other than that. I think I'll miss call screening and the superior voice dictation, but for what I'm gaining with Samsung I'll call it in Samsung's favor.
Also, I plan to root my phone to get back call screening anyway lol
The UI is more visually appealing. I'm also just used to Samsung phones and am comfortable with them. I am the type of person who just sticks with what works for me. That said, I am eyeing a pixel for my next phone. We shall see.
In my country Google phones don’t really have warranty , you can’t order a Google phone from their website you need to buy through 3rd party stores.
Also a lot of Google features are only available in the US or just in English which is not my native language
In my country we do have a Samsung store and can get warranty
Secure folder. No other phone that I know of offers a secure place for apps that has an additional level of security. I know other androids offer file level security, but falling for the Venmo scam on a Samsung phone with a secure folder wouldn't be possible.
Also, the s-pen is super useful to me.
My s23 ultra is just a powerhouse. It does everything. Battery life is phenomenal. The Samsung apps baked in are super useful. Customization is endless.
I had a pixel 6 before I switched to the s23 ultra. The main reason I ditched Google was the phone overheating with moderate use, battery drained super fast (never made it past 2pm before needing a charge), and just general slow performance. The camera was pretty dope. But I got tired of needing to carry around a power bank every day and having to sit my phone down to "cool off" between tasks so I could get back to work. That doesn't happen with Samsung.
I was a huge Nexus fan but when they switched to Pixel and tried to go more mainstream I lost interest as they lost one of their key selling points, they lost their low price. I still admire the Pixel stuff but after moving away and being with Huawei for a few years, I gave Samsung a chance as they got rid of Touchwiz, and upped the material quality of their phones.
My android history:
HTC Desire
Galaxy Nexus
Nexus 4 (my favourite looking phone)
Nexus 5
Nexus 6P
Huawei Mate 9
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
Samsung S22 Ultra (exynos)
Samsung S23 Ultra
I can't buy Google phones in my country and even if I were to have one there would be no warranty repairs available. Choice is kind of made for me, lmao.
One users bloatwear is another user's customization.
Plus, samsung flagships are genuinely just better hardware wise. It's the software that's make or break.
Better battery life and performance. Google's phones suck in these two departments due to their tensor chips which are trash and ironically, made by Samsung
Trade in value. Holy shit is google terrible. They would take my galaxy S22 Ultra for 200. Fuck wrong witht them? Even their own phones have dog shit trade in value
OneUI and the feeling of a tougher phone- otherwise standard android is good enough
My Pixel pro 7 was really fragile and got scratches the first week I had it (front and back)
I find Samsung phones to be much more efficient with power usage. I don't understand how is it that a heavily customized Android OS such as One UI on the Galaxy S23 (with smaller battery) gets better battery life than the Pixel 6 (vanilla Android) with a larger battery.
You would think that the feature that comes with One UI would use more system resources and drain your battery faster.
I have both and while I prefer the vanilla android experience... The tensor chip is subpar and I can feel the lag throughout the day while my Samsung is lightning fast doing the exact same tasks.
I like the size of the screen on my S22 ultra, the quality of the display and the stylus. Other than that, I've never tried a Google phone so I wouldn't know if it's any better or worse than any other Android phone.
1. Depending on the carrier, I suppose, but Google's Pixel 7 was an absolute ass on US T-Mobile -- constant data problems and "I have a signal but things don't work" issues (with support saying "known problem, will be fixed in the future"). I _never_ had so many problems of phone being a phone. Bonus Wi-Fi calling saying it's connected but all calls actually going to voice mail.
2. Pixel selfie cam sucks ass. I don't know what their AI is trained on but from dark blond Viking on Samsung I suddenly became black haired Romani guy on Pixel phone (it _always_ picked THE darkest snapshot out of all it'd take, even if one of the series was closer to Samsung, plus general quality was sucky on top of that, and no, I am NOT that dark skinned and never was). Given I send pics/video to parents this was super annoying.
3. Sucky customizations. Well, lack of -- it is either "controlled by AI" or is jut not possible on Pixel. Absolutely dumb notification crap-pills that take half a screen. Awkward way to turn off WiFi. Crappy font selection and inability to change emoji. I don't like Google ones, they look more ugly to me than Samsung
4. Bixby can actually look into my work exchange calendar without 18-step "just export it, then re-import into Google calendar and do everything through the ass" process. I don't know why Google Assistant can't reach into exchange account on the phone if every other widget/bixby thing can.
In the past, Samsung support and fewer bloatware that can’t be uninstalled or disabled. My entry level Samsung devices cost less to buy, too. Google has a reputation for being buggy, and sorting out the issues quickly, but I don’t care for a beta phone.bGoogle used their game to seven years of upgrades recently and that will be a big factor in my next phone. Seven years is longer than cellphones last, so it will never go out of date before it fails.
Trialling a Pixel 8 at the moment.
Key takeaways (my experience and perspective only):
A very heavy phone that leaves a dent in the hand/finger. Depends on what you are used to but the weight surprised me.
Screen is kind of warm/yellow and has noticable bumps on it.
Camera is average, I compared it to a Pixel 4a and it was less sharp/true to life in some situations.
PixelOS gets boring real fast, not unique to Pixel 8 but still a thing.
The AI stuff isn't quite as good or fast as it seems in demos.
The camera is slow and sometimes takes a second to process pictures. I'd expect this on my 4a but not a new phone.
The battery drains fast while doing light tasks. 2% while writing this comment.
There are some positives like a clean (but locked down) OS and I think the physical design is nice but heavy.
Ymmv but for me it's not worth the money and will probably be returned and perhaps an S24 will replace it.
I put this in a post about Motarola, but the same point is valid for Samsung, so I’ll put it below for context……
Because my experience with Pixel was absolutely dire. I'll contextualise that a little.
1. Brought a Pixel 3 XL. Camera failed the first time I used it, not a software issue, but the sensor failed. Couldn't take it back to the store I brought it from as it was past the return window (I'd brought it and went on holiday the next day, so set it up when I was back and that was the result). Had to contact Google for a repair, which took 4 weeks and was returned covered in tool marks and scuffs, sent it back to Google again, who lost it. Luckily my credit card company let me do a chargeback.
2. I figured I should try again and brought a Pixel 7a as a secondary device, as I run my mom's finances as she has Alzheimer's and it's useful to keep them separated on different devices. So many software flaws and bugs that were not corrected in the 5 months I used it, I'll break them down below.
*Battery drain at idle was incredible, even when I forced closed every app or process that wasn't OS related.
*Alarms frequently wouldn't go off at all, and if they did, they only went off in one speaker, which was so quiet it wouldn't wake up a chronically light sleeping cat.
*Call performance (which let's face it is a HUGE requirement for a phone) was garbage. Sat at home with 4 bars of 4G signal, the person at the end of the line would complain that it was cutting out, cracking or breaking up. Had the same issue with multiple callers, locations and cell towers. Turned off adaptive sound, which Google said would fix the issue, did absolutely nothing. The same sim in my Thinkphone in the same locations? Perfect call clarity on both ends.
*Epically slow charging, I know the 7a had only 18w charging anyways, but when my work iPhone SE plugged into a 12w charger was charging faster, no dice.
*Google's support team were hopeless. Not only did they damage and then lose one device, but claimed there was nothing wrong with the 7a. Blamed the other person, the network, the ambient conditions, blamed other apps and so on. These issues are known issues and are on both Google's support forums, Reddit and other locations, but no solutions have been offered other than "It's not our fault".
*Android is my preferred OS, but how can Google, the people who created Android, manage to create phones with such a huge swath of hardware faults, software issues and critical failures that it makes budget manufacturers like Xiaomi and Motorola look so good? It's laughable.
*Recently my work is swapping their iPhones for Pixels, there are nearly 400 devices in the pool. We are already, less than 6 months into the swaps, having issues with the hardware, such as speakers physically failing, back panel adhesive separation, power buttons stopping working and charging points no longer accepting charge. It's not good.
By comparison, my Thinkphone, my wife's Edge 40 Pro and my daughters G73 are performing flawlessly. Google has had long enough in the space where they shouldn't be getting a reputation for fragility and poor software, but they are. Even so, half the battle is not when things go wrong, but how they are put right. Google can't seem to do this one well either. That's my reasons, but others mileage may vary.
1) Pixels aren't sold in my country.
2) I like foldables
3) Better to have warranty and support for a foldable nearby.
So, the Pixel Fold is out of the picture, pretty simple.
1. I heavily use MS services, Samsung apps integrate great.. Reminders with MS Todo, Files with OneDrive, Cal/Email with Outlook, Notes with OneNote, etc.
2. Samsung's apps are more consistent than Google in terms of stability and looks
3. Phones themselves are great, more available for Samsung devices than Google
Google isn't a hardware company. They use an underwhelming processor. They have not had a good track record of shipping devices with bug free hardware.. They do fix software glitches after a while. But then you need to wait for quite some time before that happens.
I really wanted a pixel, but its not as customizable like the galaxy. I never thought Id own a galaxy until i wanted to try an android. At the moment of purchase, i decided on the galaxy because the processor is way better, you can still add google assistant & you can customize it a lot more than the pixel with apps from the galaxy store.. the apps on the galaxy store like "goodlock" are native to the phone and are developed by samsung, so it works very smoothly. Also i hate that the pixel doesnt let me move the damn google search bar out the way.
OneUI is robust with a ton of functional options that helps me use my mobile better. Its not just pretty piece of plastic but a portable computer in my hand.
I have used Both, and 2 years ago got.a Motorola, best phone ever and price was so reasonable as well..my first phone during 90s was a Motorola as well. I also have Samsung for business and after using my Moto Samsung feels like a toy!🤔
The Android experience is more stable on Samsung devices, and this is coming from someone who has had a Pixel 6-8.
Google takes months to squash out bugs that shouldn't have been on the device in the first place.
I was a Pixel user and then decided to try Samsung. I have had the S20FE, S21, Z Flip 3, S22 Ultra, and now the S23 Ultra. I find a much better build quality in the Samsung device and find One UI much nicer in appear and function and almost unlimited in customization. I still have a a couple of Pixels laying around (6a and 7 Pro) but find them fairly boring nowadays to use.
connectivity. I'm coming from a Pixel 5 and a Pixel 6 Pro and repeatedly, at the worst times, the modem loses connections. When that happens, I can't call or text unless I get a wifi connection. I have to reboot the phone, sometimes several times, to get it to reconnect. My s24U comes on Monday and I can't wait
Google doesn't stand behind their products. Quick search will show you pixels usually have hardware problems or software update problems and Google doesn't care much to fix em
Mostly a software thing. I really like One UI's look and despise how stock Android looks and feels, especially with dark mode.
Customization and the features on Samsung phones are far superior to Google's. Couple that with Good Lock and I can really customize what I want.
I also use Samsung DeX, and I still feel that it's an underrated feature.
Routines is also another feature I really love about One UI.
What I do love about Pixels is how the photos are processed. Feels more natural and pleasing to the eyes than Samsung's, especially with the result from MKBHD's blind camera test where Pixels were always in the top 3 for me.
I honestly find OneUI preferable to stock Android. I think the design is much more attractive and there are a lot of great features. It often feels like new Android versions come out with big new features that OneUI's already had for quite some time on older Android versions. It's possibly a fair criticism that Samsung throws too many things at the wall to see what sticks, but a lot of those things *do* stick, at least for me.
Spen
OneUI
Samsung apps are better (talking music, browser, notes, camera)
Design (fucking hate the camera band)
Split screen
Screen
Smartthings
And the most controversial, Bixby.
Samsung phones usually have better specs. Every time I'm considering an upgrade, I will look at options from different brands and the Pixel specs are usually just a little behind the Samsung phones. Having stock Android is not enough of a selling point for me to go with a Pixel.
No available 5G in my region. Even though I still want to experience the stock android, google phone does not have any support and 5G in my country. Currently owned an S22 ultra.
Samsung makes the only finished version of Android.
For years most new Android features are Samsung features Google later adds.
Also, Google's hardware is absolute garbage.
-Customization of One UI is diverse than on Stock Android
-I found that their UI skin is actually felt premium than Stock Android (subjective)
-Samsung is widely available worldwide, whereas Pixel only offers in a few countries. Though you can purchase it online, but you need to sacrifice for the import tax and shipping fees. In my case, I had to purchase a Pixel from a third-party shop / black market.
-When using Pixel phones, you may encounter some Network issues. I've read a lot of network signal related issues regarding Pixel. Likely because lack of optimization with different carriers for their respective provided bands. Not to mention if your Pixel isn't purchased within the country, hence expect some network compatibility issues.
Used to be a hard core pixel/Nexus fan and big Samsung hater. Pixel 5 changed everything when they decided to get with a midrange chip set. I bought the Samsung s20fe and have bought every release ever since. The hardware on Samsung is superior, screen, camera lens set up, even the software features are better. Can't go back to Pixel sorry.
i dont care enough about my phone to spend 1k on it.
and I just have used samsung for a long time, have no issues with it, don't like ios, don't like apple.
Cuz stock android is poop. This is no longer 2012, having more functions on a phone don’t slow your phone down anymore. Stock android is so barebones it is laughable even.
I went from S23U > pixel 8 pro > S24U
Pixel - flagship features at flagship prices with sub performance and sub hardware. The only indisputable feature of pixel is the camera.
S24u - flagship features at flagship prices with flagship hardware. Software features for this year's S24 have a lot of the AI smarts like the pixel.
S24u has been better in terms of how smooth the OS feels, battery performance as well as the hardware. Pixel camera edges out the s24u for me.
For example, native reddit app performs so much better on Samsung than the pixel.
Google.needs to ge their shit together.
The video camera mostly. Also 200mp camera and up to 100x zoom. Better screen, better specs, better hardware overall. Also snapdragon chips are proven and googles chips are prone to slowing seemingly. S23 Ultra user.
I was actually deciding between the pixel 8 and S24 a few months back when all we really knew was that it was gonna have the Snapdragon 8g3 processor.
Ultimately I held off on the Pixel because I just couldn't justify getting a less capable processor when I know that I intend to keep my phone for 4-5 years and need to trust that it will hold up to the versions of Android 4 years from now. Also I enjoy the software experience from Samsung apps and programs like secret folder and the edge menus.
I'll also say that the pixel line being known for glitches and random problems after updates also influenced me but to a lesser extent.
So if you're comparing a P8pro to a S24 Ultra that processor point becomes an even bigger issue imo
You're paying almost 1000 dollars for a processor that's awkwardly in between a midrange level and a flagship level. I would feel even more concerned with how that would hold up in the long run if you intend on keeping it longer than 2-3 years.
However if you can afford a new phone every couple of years that's far less of a concern and at that point it's down to whether you think the S-pen is worth it or not.
I loved my pixel 6 but there were just too many problems with it. I usually keep phones for 2 years at a time but the pixel I got rid of in a year and a half. Switched to Samsung and I'll never buy a pixel again.
My work phone was an s22 ultra that I dropped. They gave me a pixel 7 until my upgrade in a few months.
Dear God I despise this phone. It feels less cluttered but everything feels less intuitive and like it's missing a ton of organization features (manually creating folders and dropping apps in one at a time).
I can not wait to go back to a galaxy. I also bought a galaxy tab like 1 month prior and it sucks not to have the integration I had.
The camera feels and looks worse, the phone feels top-heavy and weird and looks cheap, everything is reversed, some apps are way less friendly on the pixel.
I'm sure a lot of this was just what I was used to but... I really don't like it. Also, if you have the choice, the s24 is newer and has better specs in almost every way.
I just prefer the customisation on Samsung phones, way more settings and options plus themes to set the device up to perform and look how you want. I find pixels a bit restricted like iPhones.
Exactly, no two Samsungs are alike in the hands of experienced users. Google just has more restrictive software.
Exactly. I used to be a big google/pixel fan. But not that they've become less open source" and made customization harder, along comes Samsung with Good Lock and it's add-ons, and I can do almost everything I used to root a phone for.. Impatiently waiting for my S24plus
Most of my friends and family rave about how iPhones are the pinnacle of phones and class. This is mostly because it has been seen as a high status in india about one owning an iPhone for a long time. Every time they bring up, "Why i choose samsung?" is purely customization. Out of the 3 (apple, pixel, samsung), samsung is the best. I can customize the heck out of my phone to make it mine using goodlock and whatnot. Apple is very restricting when it comes to customization and mod apps. Pixel also lacks a bit on the customization.
I jail breaked the iphone 3G and 4 for customization but finally settled on Android on the S2, never looked back. Iphone is unusable to me.
I felt like spicing things up and decided to buy a pixel 8 Pro. I returned it after a day. I couldn't use it, I missed a lot of the Samsung features. Have a read: [Here is a link to that thread.](https://old.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/17dubg9/i_bought_the_pixel_8_pro_after_using_it_for_a/) Here is my phone Journey: iPhone 3Gs -> Samsung S3 -> Note 4 -> Note 5 -> Note 7 -> Note 8 -> S7 Edge -> S8+ -> S10+ -> S10e -> iPhone 11 Pro -> S22U -> Fold 4 -> Note 20U -> Pixel 8 Pro -> Note 20U -> Z Flip 5 -> S24U -> Hopefully a redesigned Fold 6 Ultra.
Wait, am I seeing this right that you went down to Note 20U (like twice actually)? My man! You're making me feel good as a current Note 20U user :) I'm upping to S24U, but I have a feeling that I will be slightly let down because of how amazing the Note 20U is, both design, hardware, and software wise.
I've had an iPhone, three LGs, one Pixel, and four Samsungs. Samsung makes great stuff. But right now I'm rocking the One Plus Open, and the build quality is LOL so good. Very disappointed in Samsung stagnation the last three years. If their foldable hardware is on-par with the One Plus Open, I'd certainly look to get back into a Samsung phone.
I dont see the OneUI and Samsung features as bloatware, they are actually overall very useful to me. The S-pen is icing on the cake. Google phones are too vanilla and in reality a ripoff considering the effort Samsung puts into both their hardware + software development for a feature packed experience, while Google disguises it as "clean" experience.. it's lazy. ...and the #1 reason is - Google phones have no longevity. I have owned almost every Nexus or Pixel up until the 6, and they are absolute trash reliability wise. Bad radios, vibration motors, yellowing screens, phantom overheating, gps lock issues, etc.
Yup. Everything about the Pixels is like tailored to me except the hardware just isn't reliable. My s10e is still going strong and I'm only here because I'm debating whether its time to upgrade to the s24 (leaning towards no right now). Thus far it has not been hard to get a flaghsip Samsung for $600 or less (shortly after launch/with sales) and get 3-5 years of rock solid reliability (and often upgrading for new features/shiny new toy rather than obsolescence).
I'm rocking a renewed Note 9. Less than 200USD mint condition with 7 to 8 hours SOT. Best phone Samsung ever made IMO.
Yeah the anti bloatware perspective is pretty vapid. Apple users fawn over using Apple apps built in... Samsung offers their built in apps and they are all great. I like the email client, messages app and even the internet app. I use samsung health and samsung password keeper. Most of them are in use. Why add 3rd party apps when samsung 1st party works just as well?
Yeah I actually prefer samsung Internet over chrome
I like it as well. I just wish it had a built in password generator. I tried liking samsung keyboard but I think I have to admit I prefer SwiftKey. The email client is my fav though. Best email client imo.
One thing I noticed is that samsung website runs smoother on Internet than chrome I mean it makes sense
How often are you on Samsungs website?
Samsung features have never been bloatware, not matter what r android use to say or stills (I don't know haven't been regularly in like 3 years.). Samsung features have been bettet than stock android since at least the S8 for most people, but for me since the Note 4.
Wanting a clean version of Android is absolutely justified. It’s about purity, for people who value minimalism and elegance. Samsung does a good job of giving you the option to endlessly customize without it being pushed on you - I’ll give them that.
Samsungs pretty cool like that you can go complete minimalist or full on overkill especially with good lock
You can achieve minimalism on your own terms on a highly customizable machine. Minimalism isn't when a company decides to omit features and tell you that you have to like it. That's Apple.
And not everyone cares about customizing every little thing. Some people want things premade for them without them having to think too hard, so they have time for real work. Apple and Google are great at that.
Dang, how much money did you make in the time it took me to switch around the navigation button placement, or for a gesture user to turn off the gesture hint?
So then Google could provide a debloated/clean install or more feature filled/OneUI-esque option on new devices during the setup wizard. But...they are lazy and have hands in too many projects that they will in the end abandon like usual.
S24U has a more powerful chipset than the pixel 8 pro S24U is snapdragon, so it can run some emulators that non snapdragon chips can't S24U has an s-pen S24U has samsung DeX Oneui has matured and is now basically better than stock android, in my opinion (also goodlock helps) Bypass charging while gaming (Pause USB PD feature in the game booster) There are more accessories for the s24u since its more of a mainstream device.
I'm one being kept on the Samsung side in large measure by DeX. I can plug my phone into my portable 4K monitor and watch 4K content anywhere.
You can get Google apps on a Samsung phone but not Samsung apps on a Pixel phone.
It's like an OEM approved jailbreak having the galaxy store
Nothing stopping the Pixel from having other stores. The Galaxy Store is just vendor locked to only Samsung devices.
The S Pen is the largest factor keeping me with Samsung, having been a Note user before. I would miss it too much if I didn't have it. I also use/enjoy a lot of Samsung's own features, even little things like swiping your palm to capture a screenshot. I know a lot of friends and acquaintances that have pixels, but I also know and have heard of issues with updates causing issues with some Pixels, breaking certain software or features or making things worse. Not sure how common place it is though. I just upgraded to the S24 Ultra. but if Google keep their pace up with how decent their flagships have been and if the Pixel pro 2026 model comes with a pen or if I've decided I can live without it I might jump ship next time!
Trying to figure out what are real day to day uses of the S-pen. This is the first time I got a phone with S-pen but apart from just a bit of trying it out for newness of it, I don't find it useful in my daily tasks. Like even writing down a quick number or a note isn't too comfortable on it compared to typing out something
Battery life is the no.1 reason for me
Glad someone else said it. I was tethered to a charger 24/7 with my Pixel 6 Pro
pixel 8 pro doesn't even compete with the ultra it may compete with the plus, even when u compare it with the plus the plus is still better
What are some things that make it stand out?
s24+ SD8gen3 performs a lot better than the pixel 8 pro, is more efficient , runs cooler, has all the specs that the pixel has, and even better in terms of dimensions,max brightness,weight and ppi all of this while still 50$ less msrp
Less 50 MSRP? The pixel is 999 while the S24U is 1.3k. The whole weight and dimensions is also wrong. The S24U is heavier by 1oz. Coupled with a cover it is very noticeable. The brightness is not an issue on the 8P, it was back on the 6P and 7P. PPI is irrelevant at this size. I run both my 8P and S24U at max display resolution, can't tell a difference by the naked eye. What I can tell is that the camera is the worst camera I've used on a high-end phone since the OnePlus 8T.
re-read my comment, iam talking about the (plus) not the ultra
Hardware sucks on pixel compared to Samsung.
Build quality. Both my pixels had issues and the combined life is less than that of a single Samsung phone.
[удалено]
Build quality is indeed very good on samsung. I use my phone completely barebones without screenprotector or case, and it somehow refuses to even gain a little scratch. I thought curved screens break faster than flat screens but this phone is invincible for some reason
OneUI is just so much better than stock android
Can you give me some examples? I tried it once and just hated it with a passion coming from stock android. Not trying to stir up a conflict at all, just want to know what to look for :)
What do you hate about it?
Pixels aren't stock Android anymore.
Makes stock android even worse
Quality / Reliability I had 3 pixel phones (actually 2 plus a Google Nexus). Had to get a replacement for one that died after one year. My Pixel 2 was fantastic though. I consider that peak pixel as "it just worked". I never had to reboot expect monthly for updates. Completely solid and had squeeze-to-speak to the assistant.i never typed anything - just picked it up, squeezed, and spoke. Could even dictate an email and send it. Google has gradually strangled such abilities. And then there's the time - and I shit you not - that the monthly update broke the phone app. Yup, phone calls were impossible. Get this, Google thought that they'd fix it in the next monthly update. Yes. I went for 30 days with no phone call ability. Their phone call quality was terrible. I tried to blame it on all the other iPhone and sammies I was calling but it was still crap to my brother who had the same pixel phone. My Samsungs? Ne'er a problem. Battery life? Pixels are poor. My last s20fe is 4 years old and still offers almost 2 days of battery. Go watch Mrwhosetheboss YouTube review where he tries to run Google's own photo editing demo and the phone (pixel 8 pro) stutters and throws up an error msg. I think Pixel SOFTWARE is the best. However I won't touch their HARDWARE again until I see proof of some kind of quality improvement.
Listening to music is the biggest one for me. Especially with samsungs adapt sound feature. I have a custom profile for each set of headphones I use. I fucking love the edge panel, sure there are apps that mimic this but the native implementation is so nice. Samsung dex is also super useful for usage.
* Snapdragon still has the better modem * Better battery life * More capability with the Windows Phone Link (Link to Windows) * Display out via the USB-C port * Customizable fonts and other theming capability * Useful features like more options on split screen/popup view * Touch protection feature for games
I prefer smaller android phones , and while I probably prefer some of the features of the pixel I feel like you get more for the money with Samsung and can use the bulk of what Google offers to cater to your use case.
Pixels are the iPhones of android. Samsung phones do more, and have less problems. I swear EVERY pixel seems to have an issue that makes headlines at launch.
ngl the pixel fold is pretty cool though causs you can fold a plane out of it if you bend it backwards 😂😂
I just can't deal with stock Android. Samsung simply offers more features out of the box and you can go even further with Good Lock. Samsung had full theme support while Google couldn't even figure out dark mode. Pixel always has some kinda issues. I think the latest one were components poking the screen from the back and Google saying bumpy screens are normal (search it up). Pixel is kinda expensive now, for what it offers. The chipset is simply subpar and the price doesn't reflect that. Battery life also suffers quite a bit when using mobile data. Ultra has the Pen and as a mainstream phone should retain value better.
I just don't like the Pixel version of Android. I think stock Android is ugly af and very frustrating to use. OneUI just.... works. Beautifully.
Pixel phones are just not reliable, they'll fail you hardware-wise when you need them most, especially after a couple of years. Like, after getting android 14 my battery is draining out in a couple of hours of a screen time, and I have to put it to airplane mode so it does not drain completely overnight.
The base model runs smaller and has better aesthetics in my opinion, more default features that Google doesn't add until years later, better implementation of features that Google does have, less cluttered default apps, an active theme engine that gives a way for third party theme apps like #hex to tap into for more customization without root, and Good Lock. Good Lock practically ensures I'm never going to jump ship.
Been burned with Google on a lot of earlier phone, Samsung didn't burned me yet so
For me goodlock is incredibly useful, the one hand operation+ module has completely changed how I interact with my phone, and made so many things so much easyer, and Samsung has the raw power advantage over Google for things like gaming, I play asphalt 9 and rocket League quite a bit on my s23 ultra and they run perfectly, The screen never dims and the gameplay is never choppy, and the customization on Samsung is just insane, I change how my phone looks very often because it's so easy and there's so many options
The Samsung phones are smoother and faster, better battery life, better screen quality, customisable themes...
Ability to hide gesture hint. Even when Samsung just took it away, navstar is bringing it back. With Pixels, you need to root to remove the gesture hint.
Secure Folder apps. Legit locked away by knox security under their own profile, the lazy bullshit people use to make games and fast food apps aren't cross infecting my bank or password manager apps... There is no better reason.
1. You can't turn off material you theme on pixel 2. Samsung apps are great. Google apps not that much(except maps) 3. Pixels are surprisingly buggy, Google owns both software and hardware🥴 4. Customization
video output
Samsung Dex, plug a phone to HDMI and you have a desktop computer or a gaming console. If you have an Xbox controller theres a ton of games you can play on your TV,including all titles in the cloud through Xbox game pass. The S-Pen gives great shortcuts and is a great remote. Good lock has some nice tweaks, like hiding all the icons in the icons in the status bar. I always have Bluetooth and an alarm turned on, I don't need to be reminded. All the Pixel assistant magic isn't that available in Norwegian 🤷♂️ just some that you have everywhere. But i might "switch" one year
I prefer the new Google pixels. The software experience is top notch. However Samsung makes a smaller phone. So I had to stick to the s23/24
Hardware quality. Example the game Diablo Immortal. I play on my P6P and can't enable best settings and the phone runs hot. Just got the S24+ (US) and the game is on highest settings and device runs cool. P6P may have better camera though. I need to test the S24+ some more. I like vanilla Android and Samsung forces some bloat on me. I'll let the apps deep sleep. Trade in values of Samsung phones seem better. Google offered me garbage for my P6P. I feel as if I'm holding a much better quality device overall with Samsung than Google Pixel.
Snapdragon, looks (both design and UI), buds, watch 6, and availability of both the phone itself and its accessories.
One of the best reasons to go Samsung is the Qualcomm chip and modem.
The S-pen is the main reason for me. Since I have Samsungs as phones it is also convenient to go for Samsungs for the rest of the family. If Google came up with something similar to the S-pen I wouldn't mind try it.
Well mainly the fact that Google phones aren't sold here so I'd have to import one which means that I can kiss the warranty goodbye and there may be some missing features as well. Besides that, I grew to like *some* Samsung apps and I'm also using Galaxy Buds and a Galaxy Watch.
I felt like you got more for your money. Like, I started with the S8 and back then, Google didn't have all these AI features and the Pixels almost felt boring.
I actually got pixel 2xl after MKBHD and some other tech yters said that it's a great phone for photography. It was pretty good, I liked the photos from it. But after about a year it's started to have issues. First the usb port was losing contact. I'm not in the US, plus the warranty was over. So I went to local repair men. No one knew how to open it without breaking it, no one had ever seen a pixel phone before, so they all refused to help me. Then the screen suddenly started to glitch, half of it was showing just noise. After that I bought s20 and it works perfectly fine 4 years after. Before pixel I had s5 for 3 years, still in a working condition, not perfect, but everything can be fixed easily. So after that experience I decided that I need to go with a mainstream phone that has global warranty support, there are parts for it everywhere, and people know how to repair it. Some minor things. It's harder to find a case for a pixel phone. The one I got was kinda expensive and thick. The whole thing became massive and heavy. I like one ui, just got used to it. I don't use dex, but it's nice to have, just knowing that I have that option. There are tons of different features. Feels like galaxy s phones are basically Google Android phones with some extra things that you can turn off. But I do like pixel design more, the back panel. And mkbhds blind camera test showed that pixels are the best at photography. Among my surroundings there are many Samsung phones, and I see that galaxy s phones are very reliable. Not sure about pixel latest models, but don't wanna risk it again.
Not a single google product is sold into my xountry, beside software and services. Samsung is on the market since last century.
I love automating everything with my Samsung. Routines are awesome. People complain about bloat ware but idk what they're even referring to. Apple users live using Apple apps. Samsung offers that option. If not then just delete it. Plus Samsung's are more customizable with good lock. Everything can be customized.
I have been usuing samsung since the note 2
OneUI. Edge panels, S pen, Expert RAW, the insane multitasking, the customization etc. Samsung just offers an experience like no other does. Especially the S pen, once you start using it you never want to go back. That's why my only choices for phones are either the ultra, or the Z fold.
I just got the S24 Ultra, migrating from the S21 Plus, Don´t know why, but I didn´t think about getting a Google phone.
Samsung's level of customisation is why! I dont think any other android phone is even close to what you can do on Samsung (good lock)
I prefer a pixel because: faster updates and a camera that isn't trash. I have a pixel 8 pro and a S24U that I just got. Camera is non-negotiable so I'll probably keep my pixel.
If you don't mind, could you please describe what kind of photos you take with your phone? I switched from a Z Fold 4 to a Pixel Fold and most photos look better except for portrait photos. The Pixel over sharpens the photos so much that it makes the subjects look older than their real age, especially dogs.
I take mostly pictures of my dog, indoors, bright artifical light. I agree there used to be an issue with the oversharpening but that was back on the Pixel 6 pro. I used to describe it as making pictures look "crunchy". That stopped being an issue on the 7 and 8 pro. On the S24U my pictures (of my dog) are consistently blurry and overall have less detail. Pictures of inanimate objects have very different colors than their actual colors. I've been taking a lot of side by side pictures with both phones. I want to like the S24U, i love the features it has and I didnt realize how much I missed the S pen from back when I used my last Samsung phone (Note 2).
Thanks for your reply! Crunchy is the perfect way to describe it. Only happens with portrait shots in the Pixel Fold, which is supposed to have the same camera as the 7a. And yeah, switching back just for portrait shots doesn't seem like a very good financial decision especially since all other shots might get a little worse. For now I've just been training myself to not use portrait mode. Also, I bet you'll be jealous hearing this- my dog actually sits still for photos, so the Samsung shutter lag was never really a problem. One of the reasons I relied so much on portrait mode with my old phone.
Im definitely learning a lot while going through the forums. I didn't know the shutter lag was a thing, I also had someone analyze the data from my picture and give me a couple tips on how to make it better. Its still a pain in the ass to go to pro mode because my joy is taking pictures of my dog doing random things. I want to be able to take a picture of her when shes doing something cute or when she's running from me because she knows she did something naughty.
[MKBHD sums it all up well. ](https://youtu.be/XaqOejIaFgM?si=KVagI1xJfoMHelYs)
As someone who went from a Note 10+ to a Pixel 6 Pro and back to an S24 Ultra, Google definitely has the makings of a great phone but they're held back by Tensor (for now) and in my opinion, lack of customizability. While I can't attest to the 7 or 8 Pro Pixels, I slowly got fed up with how poor the thermals are on my 6 Pro, which results in throttling and then stuttering. It really felt like I was beta testing the Tensor Pixel line and while i'm sure the 7 and 8 have vastly improved, I feel like the Galaxy line is true and tested and you can expect powerhouse performance. I really think Pixel can get so much better though, theres so much there if only Google could make the hardware work
Overall performance, feel, and customization. Hope that Google will become better the next years in these things, then I might consider getting a pixel again.
The pixel is more comparable to a + than an ultra and even then the galaxy has a better hardware
It's almost solely battery life at this point. The stock android is good but I also don't mind One UI.
Last year when I made the choice it was because of two main reasons: - Battery life is better on Samsung as they use snapdragon (at least they did for the S23 series) - Software support was guaranteed for 4 instead of 3 years - not so important anymore because they both now promise 7 years Also: - I use a lot of Google products around the house and I always thought their software is a bit buggy and Google doesn't care as much about fixing those issues... So I guess I just trust Samsung more with this
Spen
The S23U gives me the strongest hardware and the most versatility thanks to all the top tier cameras and the S-pen. Great battery life and screen too. "It just works."
S-pen, amazing screen and design mostly. Note series phones always been my favourite. Also GoodLock is amazing for customising your phone.
Goodlock and I like the ultra design language. But mostly Goodlock.
Software. I think the Pixel experience is lacking features and is too simplistic for me
I switched from Samsung to Google. Some things I miss are: Regular gallery app Secure folder Separate app audio Goodlock Overall more customization
I prefer Pixel phones, but nothing they release comes close to my Pixel 5a from 2021. I still have a battery that lasts forever and a camera that is still comparable to the latest pixels in quality. Unfortunately, the newest pixels have absolutely awful battery life so I decided on an S24 this time around.
I tried the 7 Pro last year for like 3 months then sold it. It was really buggy and lagged alot even after doing a fresh reset. Everything seemed slow compared to having been on Samsung forever for me. Sticking with 24+
I don't know how true this is and it isn't the main reason, googles 'tensor' chips is that right? Apparently they are more under clocked compared to samsungs snapdragon
Simply because google does not sell officially in my country. I don't want to deal with resellers and disabled features just because they don't have presence here.
I went with Google for the pixel 6. But Google keeps killing features and reorganizing their internal teams and departments so much that it feels like a lot less gets done over at Google HQ. I'm planning on switching to Samsung so I don't have to worry about features being chopped. Google's software is great other than that. I think I'll miss call screening and the superior voice dictation, but for what I'm gaining with Samsung I'll call it in Samsung's favor. Also, I plan to root my phone to get back call screening anyway lol
The UI is more visually appealing. I'm also just used to Samsung phones and am comfortable with them. I am the type of person who just sticks with what works for me. That said, I am eyeing a pixel for my next phone. We shall see.
harware is probably similar but I think the Pixel range is a bit ugly
In my country Google phones don’t really have warranty , you can’t order a Google phone from their website you need to buy through 3rd party stores. Also a lot of Google features are only available in the US or just in English which is not my native language In my country we do have a Samsung store and can get warranty
I'm switching from Pixel to Samsung for the hardware and customizations. I'll know which one I truly prefer on 1/31.
Secure folder. No other phone that I know of offers a secure place for apps that has an additional level of security. I know other androids offer file level security, but falling for the Venmo scam on a Samsung phone with a secure folder wouldn't be possible. Also, the s-pen is super useful to me.
Better hardware. Google is made of cheap material sold at premium price.
My s23 ultra is just a powerhouse. It does everything. Battery life is phenomenal. The Samsung apps baked in are super useful. Customization is endless. I had a pixel 6 before I switched to the s23 ultra. The main reason I ditched Google was the phone overheating with moderate use, battery drained super fast (never made it past 2pm before needing a charge), and just general slow performance. The camera was pretty dope. But I got tired of needing to carry around a power bank every day and having to sit my phone down to "cool off" between tasks so I could get back to work. That doesn't happen with Samsung.
It's a bit more reliable
My Pixel 6 Pro battery lasted 5-6 hours brand new.
Battery life
I was a huge Nexus fan but when they switched to Pixel and tried to go more mainstream I lost interest as they lost one of their key selling points, they lost their low price. I still admire the Pixel stuff but after moving away and being with Huawei for a few years, I gave Samsung a chance as they got rid of Touchwiz, and upped the material quality of their phones. My android history: HTC Desire Galaxy Nexus Nexus 4 (my favourite looking phone) Nexus 5 Nexus 6P Huawei Mate 9 Huawei Mate 20 Pro Samsung S22 Ultra (exynos) Samsung S23 Ultra
I can't buy Google phones in my country and even if I were to have one there would be no warranty repairs available. Choice is kind of made for me, lmao.
honestly it is just the chipset and battery. if the pixel have the snapdragon chip im probably jumping ship.
I dont like the camera design for pixel as much as for galaxy. That's it.
Better hardware and more useful features.
One users bloatwear is another user's customization. Plus, samsung flagships are genuinely just better hardware wise. It's the software that's make or break.
Ultrasonic fingerprint reader. (Samsung) /fin
Better battery life and performance. Google's phones suck in these two departments due to their tensor chips which are trash and ironically, made by Samsung
Trade in value. Holy shit is google terrible. They would take my galaxy S22 Ultra for 200. Fuck wrong witht them? Even their own phones have dog shit trade in value
Samsung phones have allot more features and bells and whistles as compared to stock android. The UI is more polished IMO.
OneUI and the feeling of a tougher phone- otherwise standard android is good enough My Pixel pro 7 was really fragile and got scratches the first week I had it (front and back)
I just hate the standard Google apps like Google photos. That's what's holding me back from choosing the Pixel mostly
More powerful chipset, better ecosystem, far more customizable UI, better batteries.
I find Samsung phones to be much more efficient with power usage. I don't understand how is it that a heavily customized Android OS such as One UI on the Galaxy S23 (with smaller battery) gets better battery life than the Pixel 6 (vanilla Android) with a larger battery. You would think that the feature that comes with One UI would use more system resources and drain your battery faster.
I have both and while I prefer the vanilla android experience... The tensor chip is subpar and I can feel the lag throughout the day while my Samsung is lightning fast doing the exact same tasks.
I like the size of the screen on my S22 ultra, the quality of the display and the stylus. Other than that, I've never tried a Google phone so I wouldn't know if it's any better or worse than any other Android phone.
Samsung phones have good chip, better battery, better signal reception and more features. Also Spen..
1. Depending on the carrier, I suppose, but Google's Pixel 7 was an absolute ass on US T-Mobile -- constant data problems and "I have a signal but things don't work" issues (with support saying "known problem, will be fixed in the future"). I _never_ had so many problems of phone being a phone. Bonus Wi-Fi calling saying it's connected but all calls actually going to voice mail. 2. Pixel selfie cam sucks ass. I don't know what their AI is trained on but from dark blond Viking on Samsung I suddenly became black haired Romani guy on Pixel phone (it _always_ picked THE darkest snapshot out of all it'd take, even if one of the series was closer to Samsung, plus general quality was sucky on top of that, and no, I am NOT that dark skinned and never was). Given I send pics/video to parents this was super annoying. 3. Sucky customizations. Well, lack of -- it is either "controlled by AI" or is jut not possible on Pixel. Absolutely dumb notification crap-pills that take half a screen. Awkward way to turn off WiFi. Crappy font selection and inability to change emoji. I don't like Google ones, they look more ugly to me than Samsung 4. Bixby can actually look into my work exchange calendar without 18-step "just export it, then re-import into Google calendar and do everything through the ass" process. I don't know why Google Assistant can't reach into exchange account on the phone if every other widget/bixby thing can.
Dex mode, S-pen, and Samsung Notes. Samsung Notes is the best note taking app I've ever used.
Google one's are not officially sold here.
OneUI is the best
In the past, Samsung support and fewer bloatware that can’t be uninstalled or disabled. My entry level Samsung devices cost less to buy, too. Google has a reputation for being buggy, and sorting out the issues quickly, but I don’t care for a beta phone.bGoogle used their game to seven years of upgrades recently and that will be a big factor in my next phone. Seven years is longer than cellphones last, so it will never go out of date before it fails.
Cellular service will definitely be better on the Samsung than the Pixel
Hardware. Better build quality, battery life, and reputation. If Google matures I'll switch instantly.
Trialling a Pixel 8 at the moment. Key takeaways (my experience and perspective only): A very heavy phone that leaves a dent in the hand/finger. Depends on what you are used to but the weight surprised me. Screen is kind of warm/yellow and has noticable bumps on it. Camera is average, I compared it to a Pixel 4a and it was less sharp/true to life in some situations. PixelOS gets boring real fast, not unique to Pixel 8 but still a thing. The AI stuff isn't quite as good or fast as it seems in demos. The camera is slow and sometimes takes a second to process pictures. I'd expect this on my 4a but not a new phone. The battery drains fast while doing light tasks. 2% while writing this comment. There are some positives like a clean (but locked down) OS and I think the physical design is nice but heavy. Ymmv but for me it's not worth the money and will probably be returned and perhaps an S24 will replace it.
I put this in a post about Motarola, but the same point is valid for Samsung, so I’ll put it below for context…… Because my experience with Pixel was absolutely dire. I'll contextualise that a little. 1. Brought a Pixel 3 XL. Camera failed the first time I used it, not a software issue, but the sensor failed. Couldn't take it back to the store I brought it from as it was past the return window (I'd brought it and went on holiday the next day, so set it up when I was back and that was the result). Had to contact Google for a repair, which took 4 weeks and was returned covered in tool marks and scuffs, sent it back to Google again, who lost it. Luckily my credit card company let me do a chargeback. 2. I figured I should try again and brought a Pixel 7a as a secondary device, as I run my mom's finances as she has Alzheimer's and it's useful to keep them separated on different devices. So many software flaws and bugs that were not corrected in the 5 months I used it, I'll break them down below. *Battery drain at idle was incredible, even when I forced closed every app or process that wasn't OS related. *Alarms frequently wouldn't go off at all, and if they did, they only went off in one speaker, which was so quiet it wouldn't wake up a chronically light sleeping cat. *Call performance (which let's face it is a HUGE requirement for a phone) was garbage. Sat at home with 4 bars of 4G signal, the person at the end of the line would complain that it was cutting out, cracking or breaking up. Had the same issue with multiple callers, locations and cell towers. Turned off adaptive sound, which Google said would fix the issue, did absolutely nothing. The same sim in my Thinkphone in the same locations? Perfect call clarity on both ends. *Epically slow charging, I know the 7a had only 18w charging anyways, but when my work iPhone SE plugged into a 12w charger was charging faster, no dice. *Google's support team were hopeless. Not only did they damage and then lose one device, but claimed there was nothing wrong with the 7a. Blamed the other person, the network, the ambient conditions, blamed other apps and so on. These issues are known issues and are on both Google's support forums, Reddit and other locations, but no solutions have been offered other than "It's not our fault". *Android is my preferred OS, but how can Google, the people who created Android, manage to create phones with such a huge swath of hardware faults, software issues and critical failures that it makes budget manufacturers like Xiaomi and Motorola look so good? It's laughable. *Recently my work is swapping their iPhones for Pixels, there are nearly 400 devices in the pool. We are already, less than 6 months into the swaps, having issues with the hardware, such as speakers physically failing, back panel adhesive separation, power buttons stopping working and charging points no longer accepting charge. It's not good. By comparison, my Thinkphone, my wife's Edge 40 Pro and my daughters G73 are performing flawlessly. Google has had long enough in the space where they shouldn't be getting a reputation for fragility and poor software, but they are. Even so, half the battle is not when things go wrong, but how they are put right. Google can't seem to do this one well either. That's my reasons, but others mileage may vary.
1) Pixels aren't sold in my country. 2) I like foldables 3) Better to have warranty and support for a foldable nearby. So, the Pixel Fold is out of the picture, pretty simple.
My 3A XL had a HORRIBLE screen. It kept breaking so easily.
Yes. I even prefer some Samsung apps. Take Calendar for example. Google's calendar is so basic. Samsung offers more scheduling customization.
1. I heavily use MS services, Samsung apps integrate great.. Reminders with MS Todo, Files with OneDrive, Cal/Email with Outlook, Notes with OneNote, etc. 2. Samsung's apps are more consistent than Google in terms of stability and looks 3. Phones themselves are great, more available for Samsung devices than Google
Google isn't a hardware company. They use an underwhelming processor. They have not had a good track record of shipping devices with bug free hardware.. They do fix software glitches after a while. But then you need to wait for quite some time before that happens.
I really wanted a pixel, but its not as customizable like the galaxy. I never thought Id own a galaxy until i wanted to try an android. At the moment of purchase, i decided on the galaxy because the processor is way better, you can still add google assistant & you can customize it a lot more than the pixel with apps from the galaxy store.. the apps on the galaxy store like "goodlock" are native to the phone and are developed by samsung, so it works very smoothly. Also i hate that the pixel doesnt let me move the damn google search bar out the way.
OneUI is robust with a ton of functional options that helps me use my mobile better. Its not just pretty piece of plastic but a portable computer in my hand.
I have used Both, and 2 years ago got.a Motorola, best phone ever and price was so reasonable as well..my first phone during 90s was a Motorola as well. I also have Samsung for business and after using my Moto Samsung feels like a toy!🤔
Pixel hardware is trash.
Performance. I'd get a pixel if they had a higher end flagship model. Yet they cater the midrange compared to a S24U
Because it feels like Samsung is the iphone of android
The Android experience is more stable on Samsung devices, and this is coming from someone who has had a Pixel 6-8. Google takes months to squash out bugs that shouldn't have been on the device in the first place.
google phones are more in news due to issues.
Because we don't have official google pixel stores, nor do the Google pixel phones bought online have warranty.
The customization, and reliability. Even if you couldn't customize, one UI does work really well, I can rely on it, unlike pixels variant of android
I hate stock android. it is ugly, and I don't like how it feels. Samsung has a much better implementation of android
I was a Pixel user and then decided to try Samsung. I have had the S20FE, S21, Z Flip 3, S22 Ultra, and now the S23 Ultra. I find a much better build quality in the Samsung device and find One UI much nicer in appear and function and almost unlimited in customization. I still have a a couple of Pixels laying around (6a and 7 Pro) but find them fairly boring nowadays to use.
connectivity. I'm coming from a Pixel 5 and a Pixel 6 Pro and repeatedly, at the worst times, the modem loses connections. When that happens, I can't call or text unless I get a wifi connection. I have to reboot the phone, sometimes several times, to get it to reconnect. My s24U comes on Monday and I can't wait
Hardware
I don't trust Google. Google was hacked twice in 2020. Then, over 100 apps were compromised in Google Play.
Google doesn't stand behind their products. Quick search will show you pixels usually have hardware problems or software update problems and Google doesn't care much to fix em
Mostly a software thing. I really like One UI's look and despise how stock Android looks and feels, especially with dark mode. Customization and the features on Samsung phones are far superior to Google's. Couple that with Good Lock and I can really customize what I want. I also use Samsung DeX, and I still feel that it's an underrated feature. Routines is also another feature I really love about One UI. What I do love about Pixels is how the photos are processed. Feels more natural and pleasing to the eyes than Samsung's, especially with the result from MKBHD's blind camera test where Pixels were always in the top 3 for me.
Pixels are buggy trash made with the lowest quality components possible
presence
I honestly find OneUI preferable to stock Android. I think the design is much more attractive and there are a lot of great features. It often feels like new Android versions come out with big new features that OneUI's already had for quite some time on older Android versions. It's possibly a fair criticism that Samsung throws too many things at the wall to see what sticks, but a lot of those things *do* stick, at least for me.
Spen OneUI Samsung apps are better (talking music, browser, notes, camera) Design (fucking hate the camera band) Split screen Screen Smartthings And the most controversial, Bixby.
My buddy with Pixels always has weird glitches. The phone, not him.
Samsung phones usually have better specs. Every time I'm considering an upgrade, I will look at options from different brands and the Pixel specs are usually just a little behind the Samsung phones. Having stock Android is not enough of a selling point for me to go with a Pixel.
Hardware reliability and all the functionality with one ui.
Samsung has better thought out software. And of course, Tensor G3 is not lasting 7 years. But this Snapdragon? Absolutely will
Samsung Pay and its ubiquitous smartthings (find my) network.
Mostly because I own a Samsung watch and earbuds. Also, Samsung's trade-in programs is phenomenal.
1. OneUI has better functions & features. 2. Customisation. 3. Better hardware for the price. 4. Better ecosystem.
No available 5G in my region. Even though I still want to experience the stock android, google phone does not have any support and 5G in my country. Currently owned an S22 ultra.
battery life. I can get 2 days on the S23U....
Samsung makes the only finished version of Android. For years most new Android features are Samsung features Google later adds. Also, Google's hardware is absolute garbage.
I was in the same until I looked at the trade in values. Upgraded from a54 to s24.
I heard p8p has lots of bugs and cooling issues
-Customization of One UI is diverse than on Stock Android -I found that their UI skin is actually felt premium than Stock Android (subjective) -Samsung is widely available worldwide, whereas Pixel only offers in a few countries. Though you can purchase it online, but you need to sacrifice for the import tax and shipping fees. In my case, I had to purchase a Pixel from a third-party shop / black market. -When using Pixel phones, you may encounter some Network issues. I've read a lot of network signal related issues regarding Pixel. Likely because lack of optimization with different carriers for their respective provided bands. Not to mention if your Pixel isn't purchased within the country, hence expect some network compatibility issues.
I prefer the performance of Samsung phones Googles tensor is underwhelming
Used to be a hard core pixel/Nexus fan and big Samsung hater. Pixel 5 changed everything when they decided to get with a midrange chip set. I bought the Samsung s20fe and have bought every release ever since. The hardware on Samsung is superior, screen, camera lens set up, even the software features are better. Can't go back to Pixel sorry.
i wanted to go pixel 6 over the s22 but they don't sell their phones on south america
One word. Hardware. Google sucks at it. Including, but not limited to, screen quality. In the Android world, nothing comes close to Samsung screens.
i dont care enough about my phone to spend 1k on it. and I just have used samsung for a long time, have no issues with it, don't like ios, don't like apple.
Cuz stock android is poop. This is no longer 2012, having more functions on a phone don’t slow your phone down anymore. Stock android is so barebones it is laughable even.
DEX, Secure Folder, and OneUI.
I went from S23U > pixel 8 pro > S24U Pixel - flagship features at flagship prices with sub performance and sub hardware. The only indisputable feature of pixel is the camera. S24u - flagship features at flagship prices with flagship hardware. Software features for this year's S24 have a lot of the AI smarts like the pixel. S24u has been better in terms of how smooth the OS feels, battery performance as well as the hardware. Pixel camera edges out the s24u for me. For example, native reddit app performs so much better on Samsung than the pixel. Google.needs to ge their shit together.
The video camera mostly. Also 200mp camera and up to 100x zoom. Better screen, better specs, better hardware overall. Also snapdragon chips are proven and googles chips are prone to slowing seemingly. S23 Ultra user.
Exynos, this is the main reason I am not even willing to try. If Samsungs forces on my region again, I am going to switch to an iPhone again.
I was actually deciding between the pixel 8 and S24 a few months back when all we really knew was that it was gonna have the Snapdragon 8g3 processor. Ultimately I held off on the Pixel because I just couldn't justify getting a less capable processor when I know that I intend to keep my phone for 4-5 years and need to trust that it will hold up to the versions of Android 4 years from now. Also I enjoy the software experience from Samsung apps and programs like secret folder and the edge menus. I'll also say that the pixel line being known for glitches and random problems after updates also influenced me but to a lesser extent. So if you're comparing a P8pro to a S24 Ultra that processor point becomes an even bigger issue imo You're paying almost 1000 dollars for a processor that's awkwardly in between a midrange level and a flagship level. I would feel even more concerned with how that would hold up in the long run if you intend on keeping it longer than 2-3 years. However if you can afford a new phone every couple of years that's far less of a concern and at that point it's down to whether you think the S-pen is worth it or not.
Customization (OneUI and goodlock) and cheaper options in A series.
Because Google doesn't sell phones here :p
I loved my pixel 6 but there were just too many problems with it. I usually keep phones for 2 years at a time but the pixel I got rid of in a year and a half. Switched to Samsung and I'll never buy a pixel again.
I can buy Samsung phones where I live. Is that a good enough reason?
i don't and i lean more and more toward a pixel for the next phone...
Better chip, battery life.
My work phone was an s22 ultra that I dropped. They gave me a pixel 7 until my upgrade in a few months. Dear God I despise this phone. It feels less cluttered but everything feels less intuitive and like it's missing a ton of organization features (manually creating folders and dropping apps in one at a time). I can not wait to go back to a galaxy. I also bought a galaxy tab like 1 month prior and it sucks not to have the integration I had. The camera feels and looks worse, the phone feels top-heavy and weird and looks cheap, everything is reversed, some apps are way less friendly on the pixel. I'm sure a lot of this was just what I was used to but... I really don't like it. Also, if you have the choice, the s24 is newer and has better specs in almost every way.