[throwawaysea]

What’s the differentiation against an iPhone? Presumably both phones are fast and take great photos and have an app ecosystem. But the iPhone is likely faster, probably has longer battery, and will last longer as a phone - I know people using Apple phones several generations old and still getting security updates. Apple also offers better privacy and their built in services like Maps are really good now.

If I were Google what I would do is make a more open phone. One with side loading, customization, repairability, and transparency as first class considerations. Otherwise it all comes off as a second class offering that’s just like anything else.

[madars]

You can install uBlock Origin in Firefox, Project Fi, the most secure carrier, supports network switching, and you can install custom APKs (e.g. NewPipe). Also you avoid the iMessage attack surface (granted, you can disable iMessage but it will confuse the heck out of your social circle: "what, I thought you had an iPhone...").

[silicon2401]

If it's cheaper and not apple, that's enough for me. I hate iOS and just need a cheap and reasonably reliable phone. the pixel 4a was great last year and when I need another new phone in 4-5 years, I'll go for whatever's not apple and cheap

[AlexCoventry]

Is Android scanning for suspicious photos on my phone to upload them for scrutiny by some underpaid contractor? That's a big differentiator, for me.

[dmitrygr]

Google photos backups i on by default and scans server side (Admittedly better than doing it client side)

[Drew_]

Google Photos backup is definitely opt-in.

[throwawaysea]

Google violates more of our privacy than probably any other company, including Facebook. Their entire business is built off of sophisticated and pervasive Internet-wide tracking. Apple may have made a slight misstep but nothing on the same scale.

[Kneedler]

lots of reasons to pick Android, but as far as what makes the Pixel 6 special, it got a huge camera upgrade from previous generations, likely making it the very best in class again as far as photos and video go.

[3r8Oltr0ziouVDM]

You can install an open source OS on it.

[fomine3]

Has both fingerprint auth and narrower frames.