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Why Google's $400 Pixel 3a convinced me to never again buy a $1000 smartphone

businessinsider.com

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Re: Why Google's $400 Pixel 3a convinced me to never again buy a $1000 smartphone

#31

Post by tracker1 »

foobarian wrote: post #13
YeahSureWhyNot wrote: post #4

after being an iphone user for years i switched to Android when apple released iphone 7. up to iphone 6s the innovation was worth upgrading but since then 'flagship' devices have been adding just gimmicks while charging 4 digit amounts. I got my OnePlus 5T for 499 and two years later it works like it did on its first day. Unlike iphones that would slow down after exactly 1 year when a new iphone was released. right n…

I'm tired of even $400-500 every 2 years, for seemingly the same thing over and over. I'm going to do battery replacements as long as the device survives. (I'm 2 battery replacements into my Nexus 6P).

Are the newer batteries doing any better... mine literally caught fire (small explosion) at the service location when they took it apart. Been on a Pixel 2 XL since, man I miss a headphone jack, can't even find the damned adapter and the two I bought on Amazon don't work (compatible my ass).

The 6P was a great phone (charging/battery issues aside). Glad to see Google returning to the mid-range.

Re: Why Google's $400 Pixel 3a convinced me to never again buy a $1000 smartphone

#32

Post by dplgk »

acconrad wrote: post #6

My Nexus 6P died in the fall of 2018 and I had to upgrade so I got the Pixel 3. If i knew they were going to make a $400 Pixel 3a I would have waited. Really pissed about this release cycle and I feel like I wasted money I didn't want to spend.

So you would have gone over 6 months with no phone?

Re: Why Google's $400 Pixel 3a convinced me to never again buy a $1000 smartphone

#34

Post by delfinom »

Eridrus wrote: post #22
j_m_b wrote: post #3

What's the encryption story with Pixel 3a? I know when I lock my old iPhone 6 that not even the Federal Government can get into it. Can the same be said for the Pixel?

The Pixel 2+ have an equivalent to the iPhone's Secure Enclave: https://www.blog.google/products/pixel/titan-m-makes-pixel-3... But honestly, the government will either shoulder-surf your PIN code or make you unlock it with your finger, or just snatch the phone from you while its unlocked. They bought an exploit to unlock the San Bernardino phone, but they only really needed to do that because the owner was dead and…

>make you unlock it with your finger

https://www.zdnet.com/article/police-cant-force-us-citizens-...

Another ruling:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/05/10/the-u...

Re: Why Google's $400 Pixel 3a convinced me to never again buy a $1000 smartphone

#35

Post by technofiend »

Hopefully the 4a comes with ip67 or ip68 certification; it’s really the only missing feature from the 3a that gives me pause. I don’t want to have to worry if I walk outside and it is raining, or my phone slips off the bathroom sink edge and ends up under a stream of water.

Re: Why Google's $400 Pixel 3a convinced me to never again buy a $1000 smartphone

#36

Post by rurounijones »

spookybones wrote: post #26

My issue remains privacy. I can’t help but feel that every swipe and key I type into an Android will be added to some profile on me.

You may already know about this since it comes up a lot on HN but I am keeping an eye on https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/ development for this reason.

Re: Why Google's $400 Pixel 3a convinced me to never again buy a $1000 smartphone

#37

Post by mattlondon »

j_m_b wrote: post #3

What's the encryption story with Pixel 3a? I know when I lock my old iPhone 6 that not even the Federal Government can get into it. Can the same be said for the Pixel?

From what I understand, the pixel 3a contains the titan m security hardware that is detailed here: https://www.blog.google/products/pixel/titan-m-makes-pixel-3... (this talks about the pixel 3 but the 3a has the same thing from what I have read)

... but of course XKCD got it completely right: https://www.xkcd.com/538/

Re: Why Google's $400 Pixel 3a convinced me to never again buy a $1000 smartphone

#38

Post by rahimnathwani »

pnloyd wrote: post #33
lostmsu wrote: post #18

I use Xiaomi Mi Max 3 I got for $230. $400 is still 50%+ overpriced.

I have the MI A2 (~$230). It's spec'd very similarly to the Pixel 3a and has stock Android. It's been available for almost a year now.

Cool. I had thought all of Xiaomi's phones came with MIUI. I didn't know they sold this Android One Device as well.

Re: Why Google's $400 Pixel 3a convinced me to never again buy a $1000 smartphone

#39

Post by [deleted] »

Eridrus wrote: post #22
j_m_b wrote: post #3

What's the encryption story with Pixel 3a? I know when I lock my old iPhone 6 that not even the Federal Government can get into it. Can the same be said for the Pixel?

The Pixel 2+ have an equivalent to the iPhone's Secure Enclave: https://www.blog.google/products/pixel/titan-m-makes-pixel-3... But honestly, the government will either shoulder-surf your PIN code or make you unlock it with your finger, or just snatch the phone from you while its unlocked. They bought an exploit to unlock the San Bernardino phone, but they only really needed to do that because the owner was dead and…

[deleted]
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