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Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

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Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#261

I broke the shopping cart by adding two pixel 4a devices + care plans, 1 with a trade-in. Now going to store.google.com/cart returns 500 errors (Error code: TIMM) and support is non-existent. Store chat and phone support look like they don't exist. Off to a great start!

I'm not sure about pre purchase, but I can vouch for reasonable good post purchase support with the pixel 3a. We had a warranty claim, we were able to talk to a real human apparently capable of going off script to diagnose issues. There existed a reasonable system of getting a loaner phone to use while the primary phone was returned for service. S&H was a bit slow (presumably because of covid) but things worked out reasonably.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#262
post #5

I held on to an old 5x for what felt like forever until the 3a came around. I've zero interest in the high end phone market, I'm sort of horrified at 6, 7, $800+ the prices, and I feel like I use fewer and fewer apps all the time. Hopefully google with the 'a' models and Apple with the SE will stick with the mid range products.

I replaced my 5x with a Moto X4 (still using today). Both were/are rock solid phones at great prices.

I also went the Nexus 5X -> Moto X4 route, and I just preordered the 4a. Looks like a worthy successor from the specs, at least.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#263
post #5

I held on to an old 5x for what felt like forever until the 3a came around. I've zero interest in the high end phone market, I'm sort of horrified at 6, 7, $800+ the prices, and I feel like I use fewer and fewer apps all the time. Hopefully google with the 'a' models and Apple with the SE will stick with the mid range products.

It’s possible you will get better TCO by spending more upfront if you intend to keep the phone while it is still “current” and receiving OS updates - some quick calculations below based on phones mentioned in another comment (happy to be corrected if the info is wrong). The pixel 4a has “No guaranteed Android version updates after August 2023” according to google. $350 / 3 = $116/year. iPhone 11 is $699 according to…

I am not sure how you are extending to the 5 year support thing. I have had iPhones and even seen friend's iPhones become slower specially after 3 years. Even if OS updates are coming at best, I will keep the life for 4 years. So iPhone 11 is still $175/year which is great but significantly higher than 4a or even SE2.

Pixel doesn't have any advertisements built in the phone and the latest versions of the OS do give you control over all permissions and background access by apps.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know lots of people will be really happy with this, but I probably would have traded the jack for water resistance

Agree, water resistance would have been nice but it's not mutually exclusive to the headphone jack. Samsung was doing both for awhile.

Sony as well! I miss my Compacts :-(

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#265

Can anyone comment on how well Google supports their phones 2, 3+ years out? What's their obsolescence history compared to Apple? Thinking of moving over...

They list it here: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705?hl=en-G...

Thanks -- ah, so it is significantly less than Apple. 3 years guaranteed, versus 5+ years. (well, not that I'm likely to keep my phone for 5+ years)

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#266
post #250

I want to replace my current OnePlus 5T, as I want to switch from my custom LineageOS build to GrapheneOS[1], and thought the Pixel 4a would be the one to replace it with, but why only one color option? I really wanted a black, and white version. The regular Pixel 4 does have a black, and white version that looks gorgeous from the back, but then the front design is an abomination, with the top being much bigger than…

OnePlus Nord seems like a nice replacement for a 5t. I'm looking to replace mine as well.

GrapheneOS only run on Pixel devices, though, hence me looking at the Pixel line. Otherwise, yeah, OnePlus all the way.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#267

Can vouch for the Pixel line. I've had a Pixel 3a XL for a little over a year and it's been great. Stock Android, good display, great battery life, great camera, great security, reasonably fast and 3 years of updates. That's all I need from a phone. The Pixel 4a seems like a logical upgrade from the previous generation, sticking to the same principles.

my pixel 3a xl is also stellar. Where's the 4a xl?

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#268
post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a little 3.5mm-to-lightning dongle that came with at least the iPhone 7. Not sure if it comes with the current model, but FYI. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMX62AM/A/lightning-to-35...

It came with my 11 pro! Although I did immediately lose it...

Losing it is my biggest reason for needing the audio jack. I not only lose dongles I also lost my expensive Airpods even with the Find My app. I also lose my wired earbuds but at least they're cheap. I know many people that don't have as big a problem with losing things, maybe it's a personality thing.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#269
post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does the OnePlus Nord or 7T have a headphone jack? (No, they don't, and it's been a dealbreaker for me for several generations. That plus low price plus stock android is the attraction of the pixel 3a and 4a for me.) All that said, I'm happy using a Samsung phone - manufactured in Vietnam, has a headphone jack and sdcard slot, minimal bloatware, cheap.

I'm kind of curious why the headphone matters? I was mildly annoyed when phones dropped the jack, but you know... get a set of bluetooth headphones, what's the problem? Frankly, not having to bother with the wires is simply a plus.

Aux port is useful for much more than earbuds. I plug in an aux cable daily in my car (GPS + podcasts = need power and aux slot simultaneously, or a several hundred dollar head unit upgrade to have halfway decent bluetooth, or a dongle that does both and the hope i dont forget it if i use a rental car).

Use with my existing headphones/aux cables around my house, same port as my desktop/laptop, same port as various devices at my relatives houses, never need to hunt to find a dongle, (especially when most people i know have iphones - so no usb-c dongles anywhere)

TL;DR: Aux cables are useful to me daily, dongles are a pain in the ass, bluetooth doesnt fit my use case or equipment i already use. Aux port has value to me and options still exist to get phones with an aux port so I vote with my wallet.

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