[channel_t]

While I can't say that I have noticed anything out of the ordinary yet on my Pixel 7, I will say that I have been a diehard Google phone user since the Nexus 4 days and have been really disappointed with how things have turned out with the more recent iterations of Google phones. Terrible battery life, bugs, poor quality fingerprint readers, questionable design decisions in general. The phones used to be a fairly reasonable alternative to the Apple offerings, but these days I feel like there is really no competition and am very close to switching to the other side. I really want to stick with what had traditionally worked for me, but I keep getting burned year after year now.

[hbn]

I was also big into Android and the Google system starting in the same era, when the Nexus 4 was taking the nerd world by storm with its crazy value. And stuck with Google devices from it, to the Nexus 5, the Nexus 6P, the first Pixel, and the Pixel 3. But the constant cancelling of service, rebranding, overhauling, and feeling like I'm paying to be a perpetual beta tester I finally bought my first iPhone in 2020 when the 12 line came out (the 12 mini was incredibly enticing)

The one thing I thought I'd regret with switching from Android was the unlimited photo backups with Google Photos, and within a few months of my switch Google announced they were axing unlimited photo backups, even when you bought a Pixel. So they don't even have that to lure me back any more.

I still keep up with what's going on in the world of Android and it seems to only be news that gives me even less reason to switch back. They're trying to turn it more into iOS but with zero of the grace of Apple, and continue to have the corporate equivalent of ADHD with their lack of being able to focus and commit to a plan.

It's no surprise more and more people -- especially young people -- are switching to an iPhone. The iPhone keeps getting better and Android keeps getting worse. For the sake of all consumers, I hope they can continue to compete in the future, but as it is, I don't know who Android is for other than people who staunchly don't want to use an Apple product.

[philistine]

I think you’re experiencing the fickleness of Google through their hardware.

Google is famous for killing products and constantly reinventing the wheel instead of committing to a solution.

Those software issues are seeping down to their hardware products. Of all the ginormous monopolists, it's the most likely to disappear.

[ijhuygft776]

Not really a Google fan, but the fingerprint reader on my Pixel 7a is much better then it was on my Pixel 5, when it works.

[trog]

My 7a is better than my 6a, but they're both very poor compared to the dedicated scanner on my Pixel 3 (which was also able to be used for actions, like pulling down notification bar). I miss it a lot.

[pipes]

Glad it's not justenon the finger print thing. I had to turn it off on my 6a. Utterly infuriating trying to open phone