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Google Pixel 9 Pro

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Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#341

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> IMHO all Pixel phones are just developer devices and you can't seriously use them as daily drivers. I've had Pixel 3XL, Pixel 5, Pixel 8, and Pixel Tablet all without issue. I realize that can't be everyone's experience, but the idea that you can't "seriously use" these devices is untrue.

Really? The Pixel 8, my first Pixel, shipped without working USB webcam support, which was one of the advertised launch features. To actually get that feature you had to switch to the beta release track, which of course broke lots of the other things on the phone. Notable things that have been broken for a month or more on the beta track since I owned a Pixel 8 include tap to pay and the unlock screen.

We could do anecdotes all day. Unless there is hard data on how brittle or robust these devices are it all seems a bit pointless.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#342
post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t like spending $1k on a phone, but my iPhone 11 Pro lasted 4 years and the only reason I upgraded was because the 15 has USB-C. It would have needed a battery upgrade otherwise but modern phones do have much better longevity.

You'll get the same mileage out of a €300-€400 Samsung.

In terms of camera performance? You will not.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#343
post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I usually sell my $1k phone after a couple years so I end up paying much less than $1k in the end, while getting a better phone out of it than had I just bought the $500 phone up front. It blows me away that people actually care how much other people spend on something at all. Want a $50 flip phone? Cool. Want a $1300 fancy fold phone? Also fine. When I had my last kid we got a Snoo bassinet, $1300 or so. Anyone that…

> $400 investment Why is this word used to describe "pure financial loss" so often when talking about purchased luxury goods? > Investment: the outlay of money usually for income or profit

So goofy that you asked this with the "usually" right there in your own quote.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#344
post #158

One of the big problems with Pixel phones is their lack of thorough testing. You upgrade and suddenly you encounter strange Bluetooth issues, call problems, or other features that were working fine before but suddenly stop functioning. Tons of people will be complaining about this in forums, and you won't receive any updates to fix them for months. IMHO all Pixel phones are just developer devices and you can't seriou…

So who does make good phones?

OnePlus used to - until they didn't anymore. OnePlus 8 was excellent. Pixel 8 Pro has the worst mobile reception I've ever had in a phone.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#345
post #158

One of the big problems with Pixel phones is their lack of thorough testing. You upgrade and suddenly you encounter strange Bluetooth issues, call problems, or other features that were working fine before but suddenly stop functioning. Tons of people will be complaining about this in forums, and you won't receive any updates to fix them for months. IMHO all Pixel phones are just developer devices and you can't seriou…

So who does make good phones?

I've been quite happy with the Galaxy phones since the S21 Ultra.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#346
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's still a running theme that their in-display fingerprint readers are uniquely terrible for many people, even 3 (now 4) generations after they started using them instead of rear-mounted capacitive sensors. I don't know why they struggle so much with that compared to every other manufacturer using exactly the same sensors from the same handful of suppliers.

I don't think these anecdotes (yours or the guy above with the green screen issue) are useful. Fwiw, I haven't had either issue with my P8 Pro and it's definitely the best phone I've ever used, both on Android 14 and running the Android 15 betas.

These anecdotes are useful to highlight the low quality of Google devices. Certainly case reports cannot replace defect rates and other meaningful statistics, but if manufacturers are deaf about the issues then it doesn't bode well for instance for security related issues.

I had similar bad issues with the fingerprint tech and would assume that the issue has at least 20% prevalence among the affected Pixel models.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#347

Pixel 9 also says satellite emergency support ("Satellite SOS"). Search for info gets you to https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15254448?hl=en&... It looks like it's coming "later this year". Lots of chatter about it, see a few details at https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-9-satellite-sos-34676... * apparently coming with android 15, but they are shipping android 14 * turning on satellite sos later, but…

How much is the subscription for the Garmin device? I'm curious because I bought my parents a personal locator beacon, since they are retired and hike constantly. It costs more up front but has no subscription, and I didn't want to gift something with a high recurring cost. There's no communication option, it's all or nothing - if it's activated they send the helicopters. On the plus side, it has a fixed 7 year batte…

It's $120 per year or $15 per month. That covers the SOS, 10 text messages and unlimited check-in messages.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/837461/pn/010-06003-SU

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I absolutely refuse to pay for a phone; call me old-school, but I am still stuck in the memory of the days when they came 'free' with service contracts. Me? I will happily take a slightly outdated phone with a new provider/contract where I don't pay anything on top of the expected monthly fee. I have 8 months left on my iPhone13 mini (128GB) w/VZW and will happily change to one of the other Big Threes to make it happ…

A regular Verizon plan with tethering that supports the "free" phones costs the same in three months for what I pay for a year of service on Mint. But sure, the phone was "free". $2,880 for a Verizon plan with a "free" phone (3 year commitment after all), $720 for three years of my current Mint plan. I could spend $2k on a phone over those three years and I'd still have spent less money.

I pay $20/mo for Visible, and it works great. The average phone plan with a "free" iPhone from a major carrier is $100-120/mo with a minimum 3 year contract. So yeah, paying for your phone yourself is always significantly cheaper. You can even get a device payment plan if you want, and the payment plan + phone bill will still be cheaper than the bundle AT&T or Verizon offers you.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#349
post #267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The win-win solution is to only buy Pixel phones that are several generations old. The kinks are ironed out, they're less than half the price, and for 95%+ of users, they're just as capable as the latest-and-greatest.

They don't get security patches though

Phones are really rather secure. Even a 2 year past security patches android rarely has any of the most severe vulnerability (remote code execution with no action from the user).

The common security issues (app can get permissions it shouldn't have) are nowhere near as important if you don't download random APK's from dodgy sites.

Overall, my fully patched linux laptop has far bigger security holes than a 2-years-unpatched android.

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