Oops I did it again.
After the Pixel 6 broke my heart, I ended up going back to the Pixel 8. Feeling lost? Let me recap.
I was there enjoying the experience with my precious Pixel 6, and everything was going great. It lived up to my expectations; that made me happy. Sadly, it wasn’t a perfect relationship. About two years of brief happiness came to an abrupt end and we broke up.
The reason I finally gave up on the Pixel 6 is simple: it wasn’t usable every day anymore. The device hangs up on my calls, I have tons of network issues, and the Bluetooth only works well when I’m in a good mood. Google didn’t design the Pixel 6 with sustained heavy use in mind, and the phone just can’t handle it.
Once I’m done and dusted, my next main device is the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. This is partly because I’m curious, and partly because I want to reaffirm my belief in the longevity of flagship phones. This experiment had a more pleasant ending, leading me to conclude that Samsung phones age much more gracefully than Pixel phones.
Now, I’ve surprised everyone, including myself, and cautiously switched back to a Google Pixel, more specifically a Pixel 8. Before you reach for your pitchforks and torches, calm yourself down. No, I don’t “hate” either the Samsung Galaxy or the Google Pixel, so I can switch back and forth between the two brands, or even use both at the same time.
Ultimately the most important factor is not brand loyalty. All I care about (and you should too) is a quality product that’s worth my time and my hard-earned money. But this story is more than just a curiosity.
Of course, I wanted to test the latest Pixel myself to see if it was an improvement over the Pixel 6. But I also really miss some of the Pixel-exclusive features that aren’t available on other Android phones.
Now playing on Pixel lock screen
In my opinion, Play Now is the most underrated of all Pixel features. This music recognition feature is seamless, automatic, and very good at what it’s supposed to do.
You no longer have to ask, “Hey, what’s that song?” because Pixel does it for you. It records songs with timestamps, lets you browse lists and favorite tracks, and you can even share songs directly from the Now Playing app.
Forget Shazam, Now Playing is the ultimate song tracker slash audio recognition app brought to modern Pixels. I tried using alternatives on my Samsung but nothing came close to this. There is no lock screen widget better than this.
Yell “stop” at your phone alarm to turn it off
It’s become a weird tradition that everyone in the house starts yelling “STAHPP” at my Pixel every time the alarm goes off.
If you don’t know, you can just verbally command it to turn off when the Pixel alarm goes off. This includes simple answers like “Pause” or “Stop,” but since the alarm is loud, you’ll need to be a little louder when talking to your Pixel.
Arguably it’s a trait, but I missed the opportunity to scream at the Pixel to turn off the alarm. It’s silly, it’s confusing, but it’s also fun. The fact that it confuses those around you is an added bonus. If anything, it’s a great conversation starter. Every phone should have this feature.
Pure, pure stock Android with a Pixel flair
Android on a Pixel is better than ever after the Android 12 Material You revamp. The user interface looks mouth-watering. Android 14 has a better look, and I really like the look of the Pixel 8 running it.
While One UI has dynamic color themes and themed icons, it doesn’t have the soul of the Pixel. The beauty of a regular Android phone is in the little details, like the shape of the quick settings menu, the clock, the overview widgets, and the smooth animations.
It’s easy to get used to the subtle software tweaks Google has added. I almost forgot that all phones don’t have the ability to copy text from anywhere or translate text selected in an app without taking a screenshot or any extra steps. Then there’s Magic Eraser, Magic Editor and Audio Magic Eraser, all of which provide excellent results.
Once you get used to Google’s support for stock Android, it’s hard to move on. Despite switching to Samsung’s more capable phone, I still crave these little built-in options and features. No one makes cool, seamless software tweaks like Google.
Peak Android Photography
This part is very subjective, but I’m the expert here, so please keep that in mind before you bully me in the comments section. I’ve tested countless Android phones, and when it comes to image quality and color, Google is the undisputed champion.
Between the iPhone 15, Galaxy S24, and Pixel 8, the Pixel wins in photography. Let’s be honest, the Pixel 8’s camera is excellent. I found the camera app to be more user-friendly, with easy-to-find and use modes, and overall better photography.
I love the tone and accuracy the Pixel 8 delivers, with vivid, lifelike tones. The level of detail is stunning, and the motion blur blows away Samsung and Apple. Night mode is also excellent.
I’m not here to convince you that the Pixel 8 has the best camera. Image quality is subjective to the viewer’s eye. For me, Google has the right formula, but it may not be the same for you. However, when I use a Samsung phone as my primary device, this is an important feature that I crave. It’s not just my Pixel 8; My Pixel 6 can match the S22 Ultra with my hands tied behind my back. Photography is Google’s strong suit, so if you give up on the Pixel, you’re missing out on the photography experience.
This doesn’t make up for the Pixel’s overall poor build quality and longevity, nor does it negate my poor experience with the Pixel 6. However, these features are enough to make me want to give Google’s Pixel ecosystem another chance. This makes me hope that the Pixel 8 won’t go the way of the Pixel 6, and while I can’t confirm that right now, only time will tell if the newer Pixels hold up.