If I buy the best that either company has to offer (Pixel 8 pro or S23 Ultra)
Which one, in your opinion, would be the best Android experience and why? Would love to know your thoughts.
Pixel 8. No bloatware (except the Google bloat of course, but you can get rid of this easily), plus Google has now promised 7 years of updates - which is more than the iPhone. This would increase the resale value of the phone, and even if you don’t want to sell it, you could always give it to a family member or something after say 3-4 years of use, and they’d still get many years of official updates remaining. This is great for reducing e-waste whilst still maintaining a good security posture.
And if you’re privacy conscious, you could ditch the Google ecosystem completely and load GrapheneOS on it, and GrapheneOS is simple amazing in terms of privacy and security, and arguably has better battery life too (thanks to no Google bloatware running on it).
Everything this person said. - Sent from a GrapheneOS device
Yeah Pixel for similar reasons. Even when I paid for an expensive Samsung phone all the unremovable crap they’d loaded on made it feel like I was the product rather than the customer.
I’ve also enjoyed CalyxOS on my pixel
I would also suggest looking into GrapheneOS if you’re looking for something new. I’ve been running it for 6 months on my pixel 6, and I have really enjoyed it. Apps just work, you can still use Google Play services in a sandbox, it’s smooth and gets good battery life. The only downside that I have run across is the lack of Android auto support, but everything else just works
Have they fixed the 5G modem, fingerprint sensor, and overheating issues than the entire Pixel 6 and 7 lineups had?
It’s not yet out so we don’t know. Releasing in two weeks.
Well given the really high prices pixels usually have, probably not a bad idea to wait a month or two and see how it’s going.
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Get a Pixel, install GrapheneOS.
Do apps requiring locked phones (Netflix, baking etc.) work?
Netflix you just can’t get from Google Play, but people report having no problem installing from Aurora (basically a Google Play store frontend).
I’m not sure how it works on Graphene as I personally just rooted my phone but didn’t take the plunge to Graphene, but there is a list of compatible banking apps here: https://privsec.dev/banking
I just installed Netflix directly from Google play, maybe it has changed 🤷♂️
It has changed yupyup. Used to be that you couldn’t do this, because play store and services wouldn’t run on the OS. Now you can.
Check out Louis Rossmann’s video on it. According to him banking apps and Google services work just fine.
*some banking apps
Not too sure how up-to-date or accurate this is, but I happened to come across this a few weeks ago and am sharing it again.
https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compatibility-with-grapheneos/
Most do work, only apps that have stupid arbitrary Google SafetyNet requirements might have problems. It’s entirely the fault of Google though.
Samsung has a bunch of proprietary crap I always hated. Most especially the Knox protection that prevents rooting or custom ROM installation easily.
My sister has the newest Pixel and it’s practically stock Android. It’s Google’s flagship phone, too. Unfortunately I don’t have my own hands on experience with it to offer more details, but I’d choose the Pixel over a Samsung.
I like Samsung hardware a LOT, they are usually pretty cutting edge. I’m decidedly less a fan of their software. They run a custom launcher which is very meh.
Contrasted with Google, their hardware leaves a lot to be desired especially at the flagship price. The software (stock Android) is solid though. You are also guaranteed updates, I believe now the Pixel 8 is for 7 years. I don’t know of any other Android devices that will get updates for that long.
Google support is also pretty lackluster. I haven’t had to deal with Samsung so cannot comment there. I hear it’s better.
Really, you can’t go wrong with either one.
I love your “you can’t pick a wrong one” view.
But really, aside from gaming, the Samsung lineup is nothing but bloatware-filled trash.
Flagship price? You get a Pixel 8 pro and a pixel watch 2 for $900. If you sell the smartwatch for $300 (MSRP is $400) you come out at $600. The S23 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro is at $1300.
I don’t know of any other Android devices that will get updates for that long.
Fairphone has support for 8 years (5 years OS + 3 years security updates) starting this year.
they lied Quallcomm will discountinue support for the socs used five years before fairphone says updates will finish they also use public keys for verified boot, meaning that verified boot basically does nothing control+f and search for fairphone in this page for more info: (https://www.privacyguides.org/en/os/android-overview/)
Your link mentions Fairphone 3 and 4. They had regular mobile chips by Qualcomm that are not LTS. But Fairphone 5 comes with a Qualcomm QCM6490, which is not mentioned in the page you linked.
All the nerds like to recommend the Pixel since it’s “pure” and a device for tinkering. But ignore the fact that all google products are unfinished, and this is true for the pixel line. If you are OK with beta testing for google and doing workarounds for bugs, then this is fine. But not everyone has time and nerves for that.
Yeah, samsung has bloat(most can be removed, disabled etc.) but I’ve never had OS bugs like when I had a Nexus or a Pixel.
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Oof, hard disagree there. It’s a subjective preference, of course, but you are objectively wrong and I will die on this hill.
That’s interesting, I’ve had the exact opposite experience. Google pixels have always been much less buggy than the galaxies I’ve had
I have been with the Galaxy lineup since the original S model. Switched to the Pixel 7 Pro this year and I’m not looking back. What a phenomenal experience it’s been. Samsung has been increasing their bloat over the years and I am just done with it.
I agree with you, I’ve had 2 Pixels and they just work. I had a Galaxy and it was always crashing and doing weird things if you used a different launcher.
Controversial. I’ve owned many of the Nexus line and I own the pixel 6 pro. I also rocked an s7 for a while. Samsung definitely does a great job with their UI but I also would like to point out that these issues with pixel are not as common as news points them out to be. I know several people with pixel phones that experienced none of these issues.
My advice is to just prioritize what you want out of your phone. The fact I will always get android updates first and probably the longest os support compared to Samsung and the ease in which I can flash custom ROMs of I wanted to is why I stick with pixel. Samsung definitely had extras I wish Google would bake into stock android though.
I have a similar experience to the OC, I have 2 friends who returned their pixel 7s due to issues with the display or fingerprint reader. I have an S20 and my wife an S23 and only complaint is my wife’s S23 from TMobile has all the extra bloat apps, my unlocked S20 has nothing.
Yeah, I also don’t like how every vendor is pushing you to their ecosystem. Smart things which you can’t get rid of, for example. At least that existed on the s7 😂.
It would be good if your phone gave you the option. Everything is so fragmented in tech
If it weren’t for Samsung crap like pre-installed Facebook and other bloat, unremovable Samsung apps etc. I’d go for one because I really like Dex, the fact that they put latest hardware available in their flagship etc. But considering things as they are, I’d choose the Pixel.
Even their keyboard wants to connect online and access to your contacts. Kinda creepy. If you get Samsung there’s a ton of stuff you need to disable privacy-wise. But yeah their hardware is amazing.
You can uninstall everything with this easily: https://github.com/0x192/universal-android-debloater
Apps that you can not uninstall natively will not be uninstalled but “disabled” at boot. You can only remove bloatware if you have root access.
That’s fine. While it still takes space, it does not run in the background or at all. You can literally disable everything and softbrick the phone.
It’s not fine. While you may not care, many don’t accept software that they don’t want taking up space on their phone.
I guess you’re right.
I admit I haven’t thought about storage space on my phone for many years now, but that’s just my personal experience.
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Not all Samsungs come with Facebook
There are options for debloating (like uninstalling via adb) but the thing I read about camera no longer working after flashing a custom rom made this piece of crap I am writing from my first and last Samsung. Good luck with your Pixel
pixel for grapheneos
I can’t stand iOS, but I’d rather use an iPhone than a Samsung phone. Not kidding. Get a pixel.
Absolutely agree with you
If you care about privacy, Pixel. Install on it GrapheneOS.
If not, I’d say I still prefer the cleaner UI and overall feel of the Pixel.
The Pixel is the far superior product as far as I am concerned: Faster, more stable, no bloatware and the best camera around.
But, and this might be a big but for some, if you need repairs or service outside of insurance you are SOL. There’s not a lot of companies doing Pixel repairs and if they do the parts are insanely expensive. I needed a screen replace and it cost almost as much as the phone itself in parts and labour. And the end result is a screen that gets dirtier and a non-functioning fingerprint sensor. Not optimal.
Awesome phone, but pray you do not need service.
I’ve had so many problems with pixels it’s not even funny. Never had an issue with Samsung. I think Google makes poor quality devices.
Ah, also as a professional photographer I can promise you the cameras are better on Samsung devices.
Ah, also as a professional photographer I can promise you the cameras are better on Samsung devices.
Thanks your your feedback, that is interesting.
The one thing pixel is better at in my expeirence is the digital zoom, I can get insane detail at 20+ zoom levels that I could never even approximate with a Samsung.
Also, battery life on the 7 series is pretty bad. My old 3a had awesome battery life, but since then Google started making their own SoC. They still use some third-party chips which they don’t control, and it’s affecting power efficiency. I’ve heard rumors that they’re expected to have better control of power consumption around the 9 series.
All that being said, I love my Pixel 7a, but I frequently have to top it off to last me a full day. I can handle that, but if you don’t have access to a charger during the day I’d consider other options.
If you want the best Android experience you’re not going to do better than a Pixel. It’s a Google OS, on Google hardware. I myself am looking forward to the Pixel 8 Pro.
Hardware wise, Samsung may meet or maybe even exceed Google’s line, but not significantly enough to make a difference in my opinion. Especially with the newer Pixels, it’s a pretty mature product at this point.
If you care about your privacy, and you should, get a pixel and install GrapheneOS.
Or get a pine phone and save $1000+
Pixels aren’t that expensive. And there are very good reasons why GrapheneOS only supports Pixel devices. Pixels are the only devices that have the proper hardware security features.
Idk what Pixel phone you’re buying that you’d save +1000$. You can get a pixel 6 pro for like 550$.
Any idea how long it will take (estimated) until you can install GrapheneOS on the upcoming devices after they’re released?
As an owner of the Pixel 7 Pro, I’d say the S23 Ultra. Better in every possible way except duplicate Google/Samsung apps, mostly-subjective camera differences, and subjective UI skin.
Get a pixel and install GrapheneOS (they make it super easy with their web-based installer). You can even reinstall google play services and then harshly restrict their system access, massively boosting your privacy without sacrificing usability. It also has a very little footprint and you can use aurora store to get google play store apps or fdroid for even better privacy.
