- Joined
- Nov 11, 2009
- Messages
- 12,049
- Reaction score
- 1,479
- Location
- Bay Area, California
- Current Phone Model
- Google Pixel
So I just picked up a Verizon Google Pixel on Friday. Coming from an s7 edge I've been using for the past 6mo or so, I am amazed by the Pixel. As it's been said many times before, this is how Android should run.
Pros:
- UI: a very fast and fluid experience. I cannot get this thing to even hiccup no matter how much I've thrown at it. My s7 Edge almost seems buggy and a bit sluggish compared to it.
- Size: I think the dimensions on the device nail it, very good size despite my bigger hands and much easier to operate with one hand. I know I sacrifice screen size, but I always found my previous devices to be a bit large.
- Build quality: second to none really and right up there with the Note 5 imo, if anything even better cause it feels sturdier. (The s7 Edge home button was made of plastic which felt cheap and actually felt loose).
- Screen: Absolutely beautiful, right up there with Samsung imo. Heck I even forgot this is "only" a 1080p display. And the stock wallpapers, especially the live ones are stunning. This is the first time I'm sticking with a live wallpaper and it's simply a joy every time I turn on the screen.
- Fingerprint: This is the first device I've owned that has a rear sensor and I absolutely love it. It feels more natural to unlock and I don't have to adjust the device with one hand use to unlock and use, it's all one fluid motion to unlock and go straight to using. Also the fingerprint swiping is genius.
- Battery: So it's only been two full days so far, but the Pixel has gotten me better battery life than my s7 Edge ever did so far. The standby time is ridiculous on this thing. In the same hour I would leave my s7 Edge alone, it would drop maybe 2-4%, my Pixel doesn't drop at all or at 1%. Screen on time has been better as well and in the two days (which I've used the device more than I probably ever will in a "normal" day) I've gotten over 4hrs screen on time with plenty of battery to spare, around the 20-25% range, whereas my s7 Edge would probably have been below 10% to achieve the same screen on time.
Cons:
- Features: Again it's been stated, but a phone at this price should have waterproofing and dustproofing, I mean come on, even the iPhone has it. Wireless charging, dual speakers, etc. I couldn't care less about though would've been nice to have considering the price.
Another thing missing that I really would've appreciated is maybe a double tap to wake....
- Fingerprint location: Yes, this is in my Pros, but considering our devices spend 90% of the time faceup, I miss have the front facing sensor like on my previous devices. Made for easy access to check on whatever notifications I had.
- Price: The only reason I have one in my hand is because I'm on a device payment plan that saved me a ton of money. Considering the full price was always at the back of my mind, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to drop that kind of money on a new device especially since I already had the s7 Edge.
- Design: bit of a plain and safe design, but it does look good. It definitely looks alot better in person than it does in pictures or videos.
- Radios: I go to my uncle's house alot which for some reason seems to be a Verizon "dead zone". Every device I've owned, and my family's set of iPhones, all get weaker signal at his house.
So I was there last night and the Pixel was really struggling to get a solid signal, never past 3G. My s7 Edge got LTE there in most of the house, but would struggle sometimes, depending where I was. I know in the past HTC was notorious for poor radios and that theme seems to continue with the Pixel.
Overall, this phone is amazing. It offers a fast and fluid experience that every Android user has dreamed of and come to expect of by now. I'm sure many of you who have seen reviews read about that "new phone feel" and this phone hasn't shown any signs of slowing down; no force closes, not a hint of lag, and provides an immediate response to input. Using this device day-to-day is an absolute joy from the moment I turn the screen on.
Could Google have crammed more features into the phone? Yeah I think they could've, at least have it waterproof and dustproof. Many people feel the bezels on the device are huge, which compared to my previous devices are, but it's never given me the sense of wanting to have more. The screen is beautiful and once you start using it, the experience will have you forgetting about those extra features that other phones have.
My only real gripe about the phone.....That Really Blue Pixel only comes in 32gb. What a beautiful color and I had to skip out on it because I wanted the 128gb version.
Pros:
- UI: a very fast and fluid experience. I cannot get this thing to even hiccup no matter how much I've thrown at it. My s7 Edge almost seems buggy and a bit sluggish compared to it.
- Size: I think the dimensions on the device nail it, very good size despite my bigger hands and much easier to operate with one hand. I know I sacrifice screen size, but I always found my previous devices to be a bit large.
- Build quality: second to none really and right up there with the Note 5 imo, if anything even better cause it feels sturdier. (The s7 Edge home button was made of plastic which felt cheap and actually felt loose).
- Screen: Absolutely beautiful, right up there with Samsung imo. Heck I even forgot this is "only" a 1080p display. And the stock wallpapers, especially the live ones are stunning. This is the first time I'm sticking with a live wallpaper and it's simply a joy every time I turn on the screen.
- Fingerprint: This is the first device I've owned that has a rear sensor and I absolutely love it. It feels more natural to unlock and I don't have to adjust the device with one hand use to unlock and use, it's all one fluid motion to unlock and go straight to using. Also the fingerprint swiping is genius.
- Battery: So it's only been two full days so far, but the Pixel has gotten me better battery life than my s7 Edge ever did so far. The standby time is ridiculous on this thing. In the same hour I would leave my s7 Edge alone, it would drop maybe 2-4%, my Pixel doesn't drop at all or at 1%. Screen on time has been better as well and in the two days (which I've used the device more than I probably ever will in a "normal" day) I've gotten over 4hrs screen on time with plenty of battery to spare, around the 20-25% range, whereas my s7 Edge would probably have been below 10% to achieve the same screen on time.
Cons:
- Features: Again it's been stated, but a phone at this price should have waterproofing and dustproofing, I mean come on, even the iPhone has it. Wireless charging, dual speakers, etc. I couldn't care less about though would've been nice to have considering the price.
Another thing missing that I really would've appreciated is maybe a double tap to wake....
- Fingerprint location: Yes, this is in my Pros, but considering our devices spend 90% of the time faceup, I miss have the front facing sensor like on my previous devices. Made for easy access to check on whatever notifications I had.
- Price: The only reason I have one in my hand is because I'm on a device payment plan that saved me a ton of money. Considering the full price was always at the back of my mind, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to drop that kind of money on a new device especially since I already had the s7 Edge.
- Design: bit of a plain and safe design, but it does look good. It definitely looks alot better in person than it does in pictures or videos.
- Radios: I go to my uncle's house alot which for some reason seems to be a Verizon "dead zone". Every device I've owned, and my family's set of iPhones, all get weaker signal at his house.
So I was there last night and the Pixel was really struggling to get a solid signal, never past 3G. My s7 Edge got LTE there in most of the house, but would struggle sometimes, depending where I was. I know in the past HTC was notorious for poor radios and that theme seems to continue with the Pixel.
Overall, this phone is amazing. It offers a fast and fluid experience that every Android user has dreamed of and come to expect of by now. I'm sure many of you who have seen reviews read about that "new phone feel" and this phone hasn't shown any signs of slowing down; no force closes, not a hint of lag, and provides an immediate response to input. Using this device day-to-day is an absolute joy from the moment I turn the screen on.
Could Google have crammed more features into the phone? Yeah I think they could've, at least have it waterproof and dustproof. Many people feel the bezels on the device are huge, which compared to my previous devices are, but it's never given me the sense of wanting to have more. The screen is beautiful and once you start using it, the experience will have you forgetting about those extra features that other phones have.
My only real gripe about the phone.....That Really Blue Pixel only comes in 32gb. What a beautiful color and I had to skip out on it because I wanted the 128gb version.
review and thoughts ...I think an update gives it double tap to wake 
