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I'm looking for a new phone. I'm partial to Samsung or LG, but completely unwilling to pay $1,000 for a phone that's only going to last me two years. I hear things about Google's Pixel 3, but I'm a little reluctant to get even deeper into the Google universe. On the other hand, seems like it probably doesn't matter who makes your phone at this point.
Anyone have any experience with Google's phones?
I have a pixel 2 and the wife has a 3. We both like them.
I have a pixel 3, as my Motorola Droid turbo 2 finally crapped out. I totally hear you about the "Google plunge", but like you, I didn't want a $1000+ phone. Had it for 9+ months, and have to say, it's a great phone. Battery life is average, camera is great (don't use almost ever other than for work), dropped it a few times (have a case and glass protector) and it's been super durable, no freeze or mic issues. One downside is it doesn't have a mic/earbud port but a converter for them through the power port, so unable to charge and use accessories, although I use Bluetooth earbuds so not an issue. Size is quite good, fits in front pocket of jeans)work pants fine. What specific questions you have about it?
Hmmm, no phone jack is kind of a big deal since I drive all day and listen to music and podcasts. I'm also reluctant to upgrade my car stereo, even though that'd be pretty cheap. I have blue tooth headphones that I wear around the house, but feel douchy wearing them while driving (but I'm not above it).
I currently have an LG V20 that started out great, but has some weird glitch that makes it put an error message on the screen about every 5-30 seconds whenever I'm in a roaming area. I'm on Sprint, so I spend a LOT of time in roaming areas and that error message makes the phone almost unusable since you have to clear it over and over.
I think I was just curious about personal impressions from users as you guys have already provided. If there was a tech geek who was aware that by buying a Google phone I'm signing away more rights to data or something, I might be interested in that, but only if it is more egregious than other phones/carriers.
How do you currently get the sound to your car stereo?Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
I used to use a cable but switched to a device like this because I don?t like cord clutter.
https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Bl.../dp/B013QJ0W8Q
Try the Samsung note 9. $5-600 new at best buy.
Headphones will driving is illegal in co
I'm partial to the galaxy series. They work so I dont really care about much else. I got a refurbished s7 for $200 on Amazon, granted I had to return the first one but the second was a winner.
Another good, cheap, add-on option for BT in the car.
https://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Bluetoot...ateway&sr=8-16
I have several "Himbox" BT add-ons and they work great. Now much more spendy than these for some reason.
Samsung S10 or S10e would be a good choice if you can get a cheap upgrade. The S10 line has headphone jack and SDcard slots...
I'm tossing around the idea of a used S8. I saw Mazin sold one the other day that I probably would have been very interested in, but it was sold before I saw the ad.
I hear about the Note and am interested. Anything in particular that it is known for?
I currently the audio jack to listen to music. I've used it so much that it's loose and switches to radio every other bump. Very frustrating. Keep up the suggestions.
I picked up the pixel 3a, the low(er) cost version of the 3 series. Works well; running on google wireless network for now using the 'esim'.
I did get a 100 google credit.....
Having had all three Pixel phones now I can say to find a 2 or possibly even a 1. They should be dirt cheap these days and will be about 90% of the phone as the 3's. Find a good deal (I've got a Pixel 2 XL on CL currently for $350 that's immaculate) & buy which ever model fits your budget. Any of the three versions will give you that desirable pure Android experience which is MUCH better than 3rd party skinned versions. Nothing whiz-bang there in terms of gimmicky crap that gets marketing headlines but what is there works awesome.
I remembered an important question. When wireless charging came out for the Galaxy 6, I thought it was the best thing ever, and buying a couple charging pads saved me from having to buy a new phone. Then the phone died for good and I haven't used them since. Is everything USB-C and wireless charging capable yet?
All Pixels are USB-C & the newest 3 is wireless induction charging too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
Thanks
Buying any sort of newish smartphone is probably even less wise than buying a brand new car. Stick to refurbs/used. Let someone else eat that 85% depreciation in a year.
I have a Pixel 2 and what sold me on it was that it seemed to have fewer pre-loaded apps. It's been good to me so far.
The note is a slightly upgraded galaxy with a stylus you can use that's stored in the phone. A little bigger screen and battery, essentially a larger galaxy S9. Note 9 still has a headphone Jack. I am using the note 8, and I see no reason to upgrade after 2 years. Only issue is slight burn in on the screen from a game I used to play.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
I wouldn't have ever upgraded any phone except they keep crapping out. My current phone is getting screen burn in this year. I took so many photos with my Galaxy 6 that you could hear the lens on the camera clicking around.
Anyway, I never thought I'd like a stylus, until I used a Samsung Tablet for work and the stylus was fantastic.
Not sure what I'll get quite yet, but it's going to be soon.
I never use the stylus in the note 8. I think the note 9 stylus has a button to take pictures.
I don't even have a dumb phone, but I sure as hell would't feed the Google beast.
I won't get a smart phone until the Librem 5 is out (well to be honest, probably not even then).
There is a movement of people getting flip phones as a way to help break their dependency on social media. But I'm not part of that. I need a phone every single day for work to navigate to appointments (on time), take photos if I need, communicate with my customers by phone, text, and email, and provide an internet connection for my laptop. Not to mention playing music and podcasts. I use my phone for hunting. I use my phone for real time price comparison shopping in the aisle of the store.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
If you use the camera that much you would LOVE the camera on the Pixel phones. They're insanely good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
Well, I've had to use the camera for work in the past. I really try to avoid using it for work now. I do appreciate a good camera though.
For Samsung, S8 and newer is wireless and USB-C.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
I've been very happy with my S8 except for two things:
The curved screen. Yea, mine cracked just recently due to a short drop. With a Otterbox Commuter on any phone, they shouldn't crack from a short drop. BECAUSE of the curved screen, I don't have glass added to it, and it managed to deflect the case when dropped on the face at a corner.
The forced Pie update. Thanks to Google locking down the API, I lost my call recording app. Pie is, otherwise great.
Hmmm. I think you're like me where you've never broken a phone screen before, so that's a bit worrying. What's the deal with the curved screens? Was that a phase, or do most phones have that?
Oh yeah, since I've never broken a screen, ever, except on purpose, I'm pretty indelicate with my phones (in an OtterBox with the plastic front torn out). I actually threw my phone into the debris pile from the top of that 30' lift I rented to trim my tree because I knew that I could. Are any of these phones particularly delicate? I feel like phones are getting tougher and more water resistant all the time, but want to make sure there aren't any outliers I should watch out for.
What about the brand name phones that are cheap to start with? Like $200 brand new for whatever Samsung that no one has ever heard of? Would I be disappointed with one of those? That's what we usually get the kids, and some have been utter garbage, but others seem fine. Anyone have one of those?
I looked into Google Fi plans a bit a last night as well, but nothing really sold me on it. Even with their three different networks that they supposedly use, places I spend a lot of time still have less than 3G.
Never even scratched a screen until I rolled a creeper over my S4.
My S5 is still perfect and running rooted for various stuff I use.
The S8 was good until I dropped it a week-ish ago. While I don't have glass on it, I did have a plastic protector for it sitting in a box... I bigger ottorbox or other case and it probably would have been OK. Fact is, I think I dropped it three times that weekend after too much fun was had. Normally it stays in the camper or my pocket and I don't have the dropsies.
All those phones have been in the woods hunting with me and used as GPS.
Honestly. I'd look hard at those Pixels too...
No comment on the cheap phones from me, I've always used the better (though often last year's model) Samsung phones. I generally get a free or low cost upgrade every two years.
I use a liquid dispersion screen protector on my note 9. Apply liquid, set screen, apply UV, pop off when crack appears.
The screen protector will crack when the OEM screen may scratch or chip, but for $14 a pair, I can't bitch. Screen protector has been cracked for 2 months, and because of the glue type, I can barely tell. I will replace when I get more damage.
I've read good things about the Pixel phones but am also leery of the Google-verse. I use swappa.com to buy last year's (or even the prior year's) tech. Am using a Galaxy S9+ but my Galaxy S8+ still runs well. Both have Sd-MMC slots and 3.5 mm earbud sockets. Both charge wirelessly and use USB-C. Last year's model of anything is usually priced well and if you're willing to take something 18-24 months old ... dirt cheap now.
I'm worried more about what Google is doing without having to sign my left nut over to them ... since they don't admit to any of the evil crap they do. I use Duckduckgo for web searches and only use my gmail account to activate new Android devices (which isn't often).
Curved screens would be a prime example of the whiz-bang gimmicky crap for marketing purposes I was speaking of previously. It's pointless other than making people thinking their phone was so cool for a few years until everyone else realized what we already knew: it's not cool.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
I've had this one for 3 years, replaced one (of the same model) when it took a suicide run under my trailer tire. It's been dropped who knows how may times and keeps on ticking, for now. It's a verizon pre-pay unit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
https://www.walmart.com/ip/SAMSUNG-J...AVZW/177726664
After 3 yrs i might upgrade to the 32g unit. I don't believe in needing all the latest gadgets, but it surfs the web if i want. I don't bank, shop or any of that other stuff, a lot of you have become dependent for on a phone
Okay, I picked up the Pixel 3a XL. I'm too busy to give it a review right now. I'll let you know how I like it over time as I use it.
$$ ? ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
$479, so $512 after tax.
Preliminary review.
-Often times I'll pull my phone out of my pocket to find that it has opened a bunch of stuff like I was but dialing. Very annoying to have extra stuff running, especially when it starts playing music or something.
-There is a headphone jack.
-Google wants to be on auto drive so much that some things are more difficult. If I'm looking in my contacts and click on a number, it starts dialing right away. That's annoying when I'm just trying to look at the number. Every time I get a call, when I reach into my pocket to get the phone out, it's already picked up by the time it gets out of my pocket. I don't like that at all.
I'm sure I can adjust those things, but haven't had time to figure it out and a little annoyed that I should even have to in the first place.
On my phone, there is a "motions and gestures" setting. I had to turn off "direct call", otherwise the damn think kept dialing people in my pocket.
There was a setting on the Samsung phones where it would keep the screen off if it detected it was in a pocket or purse. Not sure if that was a component of Android or the Samsung Touchwiz overlay?
Attachment 78635
Definitely spend some time in the settings menus and see what they all do. These phones are infinitely adjustable and defaults may not be to your liking but, most likely, they can be adjusted easily to match your expectations. A lot of my iPhone convert friends hated their Android devices at first because they didn't do what they wanted not realizing that that was something they could adjust. I guess iPhone users tend to not even be use to settings since they basically just do what they do out of the box, like it or not. If you're coming from Android previously your initial reaction would be to jump in the menu to find the setting to adjust. Related: use the search bar at the top of the menu home screen to search for settings you're looking for as it works very well & saves LOTS of time. For the first few time though I would scroll through each menu option one by one and read what it says it does to set it to what you would like. I had my wife do this with her phones early on and now it's the first thing she does once she gets a new phone. Taking the time to do that on the front end will save you lots of time and frustration later on since your phone will do what you want it to do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
If you click the circle/avatar of your contact you will open their contact card to view information and have lots of other options. Simply clicking the number directly dials it which is what you're describing. Makes sense that when you scrolled to a contact and wanted to call them you would simply press the number rather than having to tap your phone three or four times to initiate a call.
I know how to go through a phone, but I'm a bit surprised at the lack of options for things I want to change, and the abundance of options for things I don't care about.
For example, there is only one notification sound for all notifications, so my texts and emails all get the same alert sound. I don't want that and can't find an option to change it.
Most apps have a setting to individually change the notification tone separate from the global tone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
For Android phones there's a pretty good chance that a setting (or app) exists to do what you want it's just a question of finding it.
This is all great info. When my iPhone 6s dies or becomes unusable, I’m NOT replacing it with an $800 or more iPhone. Phone prices have become absurd.