Some thoughts on the Google Pixel.
I'm not, what you might call, tech savvy. I got my very first smartphone at the young age of 27. The iPhone 5c. It was a huge upgrade from my flip phone. I used it for three years without even thinking of upgrading, that is, until it started randomly dying as soon as the battery dipped below 40%, and the storage situation was so precarious I had to delete the Uber app when I wasn't using it.
So armed with a killer Black Friday Deal, I upgraded to the Google Pixel, and I haven't looked back. In case you're wondering if you, too, should not only upgrade, but make the switch from an Apple product to *gasp* an Android, here are a few things to consider.
The Good
All in all, the switch to an Android has been painless. The phone looks and feels similar to an iPhone, and the apps are easy to organize. Plus there's a swipe-up menu to see all of them in one place, as well as nifty organizational bubbles for grouping your apps. You can choose 32 or 128 gigs of storage with the Pixel, which comes equipped with a 7.1 Android Nougat Processor. Which is awesome. But in case you need more convincing, here are a few other of my favorite things about the Pixel.
The camera
If you like taking selfies, or travel photos, or just want the highest quality photos possible, the Pixel is hands down one of the best phone cameras on the market. It boasts 12 MP photos with the rear cam and 8MP with the front cam (read: better selfies) and you can take 4K videos (this is like super Ultra HD).
The battery life
Seriously, this is a game changer. It comes equipped with a USB-C fast charger that gives you as much as 7 hours of battery life after just 15 minutes of charging. You'll see Charging Rapidly appear on your screen, and won't have to worry about low battery anxiety ever again, especially because there is a low power mode setting that gives you even longer battery life.
Voice to text and Google Assistant
I use voice to text all the time- especially while driving (Sorry mom). With the iPhone, the voice to text mostly got what I was trying to say, but it wasn't perfect. The Pixel really gets me, and offers suggestions for what it thought I was trying to say but wasn't quite sure. Plus, it gets better the more you use it. Because: robots.
The Google Assistant is activated whenever you say "Ok Google." Ask it anything. Also, if you say "good morning" to your assistant it will personally read your schedule for the day, and throw in the weather forecast, if you ask it nicely.
The Bad
The price
The Pixel starts at $650 and the Pixel XL at $770. Although comparable to other top smartphone prices, it's still not exactly a small investment. Although it doesn't seem to be stopping consumers, with sales in some colors from the Google store already on back order.
You can't drop it in the pool
There's nothing more fun that dunking your phone in a glass of water. Or, if you're Lil Wayne, pouring champagne on it. Unfortunately,you can't do that with the Pixel. Those of you who have a habit of dropping your phone in toilets or falling in pools, beware!
The Switch
For iPhone enthusiasts there will be a few things that might throw you at the beginning.
- There is no home button. For the first day or so I kept trying to punch the bottom of the phone, only to remember that the Pixel opens in the back, with the fingerprint scanner. Also, the home button is actually part of the phone's screen.
- The headphone jack is at the top of the phone. I don't like this. It is a purely subjective reason, but it just doesn't feel right after being used to Apple devices plugging in at the bottom. And it's kind of weird if you go running with it.
- You lose iMessage. This was probably the hardest transition for me. No more group chats with cute names and emojis, no more read receipts, and no more of the agony of watching the ellipses as someone types you a message.
Overall, this phone is totally worth the switch and the upgrade. And if you want to explore Google's new VR capabilities, the Pixel is ready to go with the Daydream View.
Sources:
https://www.wired.com/2016/10/review-google-pixel/
http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/18/13304090/google-pixel-phone-review-pixel-xl
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cell-phone-reviews/google-pixel-review/