I bought a Pixel 2 XL, I grabbed it for $900 1 week old and Ive had it for a while now but still haven't transferred anything over. SHOCKING I KNOW!
Anyways, a friend offered me a Samsung S9+ for $900, so Im wondering before I transfer all my data over if it;s worth the switch?
The Pixel 2 XL is a great phone, it;s a bit long and thin and even tho I have big hands it feels a little weird in my hand.
Is there any benefits? Camera shoot outs seem pretty close.
Thanks
You forgot to mention Bixby
Bixby is miles behind Google Assistant. Which isn't entirely unexpected seeing how much longer experience Google has in the whole virtual assistant thing.
Just saying.
Initially, I hated it, and I would definitely mention it as a negative to anyone who asked in the context of the phone. It was so frustrating that on the S8 you couldn't change what the button did.
Now, due to negative feedback and since they've enabled the option for you to change what the button does, it's a meh for me. The button is basically the Pixel's squeeze function since I've enabled it to use GA, but I use voice activation anyway…. So the button is useless to me.
But yeah, why Samsung pushed Bixby is beyond me. Don't get me wrong, I love that bixby can do a lot more technical things such as turning on the light, and other features specific to the phone, however, in a general sense is has absolutely nothing on Google Assistant.
Omg!! Thanks for this, I get so annoyed everytime I adjust my volume and accidentally press the Bixby button instead.
GA can turn on the torch. A couple of times when my hands were full I have 'OK Google, turn on the torch'…
what!? since when!?… how do i change the bixby button?
Pixel 2XL is an amazing phone.
I haven't really experienced or seen the S9+ much so can't really comment. However they might make good phones but "The Samsung Experience" (aka Touchwiz which is still LagWiz) just isn't there for me. If you like bloat, gimmicks and just general stuff Samsung has you covered.
However, if you actually want regular updates, the latest from Google, no bloat ware etc than the Pixel 2XL is better. Oh and did I mention 3 years of support? This alone is enough to make some people buy.
Oh and btw when you import your existing photos into Google Photos, your 'assistant' will randomly jazz up some photos, add some animation/motion to others (ie Live Photos for android) and sort your photos into albums from location. For example I went to America over Christmas and I have got a automatic folder made "My Holiday in America".
Also needs to be mentioned. The best battery life. Ever. Not just according to me, sites claim Pixel 2XL trumps every other recent smartphone including iOS also. It's battery will not let you down in a day, and that's coming from someone with 4-5 hours screen on time, 11-12 hours usage and plenty of juice left to spare.
I've been a stock google fan for years but grabbed an S8 this year and have been very happy with it.
Everyone talks about bloat on the Samsung phones. But there are some great built in features that often get overlooked.
Dual Bluetooth audio - Let's you output audio to two devices at same time
Secure Folder - A sandboxed area for your apps
Dual apps - Run two versions of whatsapp etc.
Smart Capture - Screen tool Edit and auto shoot and scroll
Quick hide navbar
Themes - Built in theme engine
Always on Display
Headphone jack…
etc, etc.
It's fairly trivial to disable additional features you don't want using adhell 2 or sabs. But some of the built in stuff is great and often gets overlooked as "bloat".
That said, keep your pixel 2 XL and save your money. No point upgrading after such a short amount of time.
it's bloat if you don't use it, and it is forced on you.
80% of the above i would never use and rather not have it.
just wait for one plus 6 also, it going to launch in a couple of weeks.
You can get rid of the bloatware yourself. Also just get the Pixelized theme from theme store and then you can have both. That's what I did.
Plus its got a headphone jack, expandable memory etc and who uses virtual assistant anyway?
I know 6 months separates releases, and it's clear the Pixel 3 will blast the current S9 away. I may just stick to Pixel 2, I can only see it improving and Google owns Android and everything is basically based around Google. Android will always run best on a Pixel, but other companies may produce a better screen.
My main concern is really the CAMERA, everything else really doesnt affect much.
Honestly, who needs a headphone jack? I know it helps but everything is heading wireless anyways.
Anymore feedback?
Such a hard choice, got offered a brand new Samdung S9+ for $900
I paid $900 for my Pixel 2 Xl 128gb
Is your P2XL brand new or second-hand? $900 is very cheap!
It was 2 weeks old when I bought it, and the S9 Plus offered to me was brand new.
I've decided to keep the Pixel 2 XL, S9 battery doesn't last long and numerous people now who have owned both have said hands down the Pixel has a better camera.
After ten years of loyalty to Samsung, I moved to Pixel 2 XL and cannot be happier. I felt that Samsung slows down after a while compared to Google phones.
Saying that S9 plus looks amazing, camera produces brighter photos (pixel is darker but more natural depth of field). Loved the manual control for camera, dual Bluetooth audio, but not Bixby!
Battery life on my pixel is amazing. All the apps work so seamlessly! Google Assistant is useful at times. Miss wireless charging and headphone jack though.
Just to piggyback on this thread, I'm ready to go into a new contract and am piqued by the $79 /mo on optus for the S9+. But I really want to get a pixel but don't want to pay Telstra their high prices. So I'm thinking I am going to signup for optus, sell the S9+ and then purchase a pixel 2 XL outright from gumtree or eBay (hopefully with an invoice so I can still get warranty). Anyone see a problem with this plan? All phones are unlocked right?
Personally, my Telstra's New phone feeling for me comes into effect in July, and I'm torn.
After years of Samsung (I currently own the S8), I believe my next phone will be a Pixel. For a few reasons.
I'm sick of the amount of Samsung software they chuck onto a phone. Two calendars, Messages, photos etc.. It's just painful. And yes, I know I can deactivate them with additional apps. Nothing specific to Samsung appeals to me that I cannot get elsewhere, apart from the hardware itself, however that's only as good as the software that uses it. I regularly have software hangs and issue's with slowdowns. Especially when it comes to opening and using the Camera. The amount of photos I've taken of my foot because I open the app, press the camera button and lower my camera to look at it…… It's actually a joke, and it's a part of the reason my partner joined me with a Samsung phone, to leaving to go back to iOS (I actually did the same thing, but came back for the S7).
After using the S5, S7 and now the S8, I cannot see the S9 being that much greater. In fact some call the S9 just the next iteration of the S8 (Slightly improved).
From what I've heard about the Pixel, it's a fantastic phone with great hardware integration, and still not really that much worse than the S9. Some reviews I've read recently show comparisons of the Pixel 2 to the S9 in regards to camera, and the differences are pretty much up to a personal preference.
If I was you, I would stick with the Pixel 2.
And the reason I'm torn, is because do I grab the P2, or wait until October for the P3.
Just a couple good reviews to help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzy_nCkn88U - Sums up the S9, "The Perfect… Samsung!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZG2Ij6g9G0
It's interesting to note that Marques's main phone is still the Pixel 2.