If I buy the best that either company has to offer (Pixel 8 pro or S23 Ultra)
Which one, in your opinion, would be the best Android experience and why? Would love to know your thoughts.
Pixel 8. No bloatware (except the Google bloat of course, but you can get rid of this easily), plus Google has now promised 7 years of updates - which is more than the iPhone. This would increase the resale value of the phone, and even if you don't want to sell it, you could always give it to a family member or something after say 3-4 years of use, and they'd still get many years of official updates remaining. This is great for reducing e-waste whilst still maintaining a good security posture.
And if you're privacy conscious, you could ditch the Google ecosystem completely and load GrapheneOS on it, and GrapheneOS is simple amazing in terms of privacy and security, and arguably has better battery life too (thanks to no Google bloatware running on it).
Everything this person said. - Sent from a GrapheneOS device
I've also enjoyed CalyxOS on my pixel
I would also suggest looking into GrapheneOS if you're looking for something new. I've been running it for 6 months on my pixel 6, and I have really enjoyed it. Apps just work, you can still use Google Play services in a sandbox, it's smooth and gets good battery life. The only downside that I have run across is the lack of Android auto support, but everything else just works
Calyx is ok, but no improved security, they've been known to actually roll back security changes and then dealing with microG and paid apps not working.
Yeah Pixel for similar reasons. Even when I paid for an expensive Samsung phone all the unremovable crap they'd loaded on made it feel like I was the product rather than the customer.
Have they fixed the 5G modem, fingerprint sensor, and overheating issues than the entire Pixel 6 and 7 lineups had?
It's not yet out so we don't know. Releasing in two weeks.
Well given the really high prices pixels usually have, probably not a bad idea to wait a month or two and see how it's going.
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Get a Pixel, install GrapheneOS.
Do apps requiring locked phones (Netflix, baking etc.) work?
Yes, because Graphene is a real OS and maintains secure boot. Your bootloader remains locked.
Netflix you just can't get from Google Play, but people report having no problem installing from Aurora (basically a Google Play store frontend).
I'm not sure how it works on Graphene as I personally just rooted my phone but didn't take the plunge to Graphene, but there is a list of compatible banking apps here: https://privsec.dev/banking
I just installed Netflix directly from Google play, maybe it has changed 🤷♂️
It has changed yupyup. Used to be that you couldn't do this, because play store and services wouldn't run on the OS. Now you can.
Check out Louis Rossmann's video on it. According to him banking apps and Google services work just fine.
*some banking apps
Not too sure how up-to-date or accurate this is, but I happened to come across this a few weeks ago and am sharing it again.
https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compatibility-with-grapheneos/
Most do work, only apps that have stupid arbitrary Google SafetyNet requirements might have problems. It's entirely the fault of Google though.
I like Samsung hardware a LOT, they are usually pretty cutting edge. I'm decidedly less a fan of their software. They run a custom launcher which is very meh.
Contrasted with Google, their hardware leaves a lot to be desired especially at the flagship price. The software (stock Android) is solid though. You are also guaranteed updates, I believe now the Pixel 8 is for 7 years. I don't know of any other Android devices that will get updates for that long.
Google support is also pretty lackluster. I haven't had to deal with Samsung so cannot comment there. I hear it's better.
Really, you can't go wrong with either one.
Flagship price? You get a Pixel 8 pro and a pixel watch 2 for $900. If you sell the smartwatch for $300 (MSRP is $400) you come out at $600. The S23 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro is at $1300.
I don't know of any other Android devices that will get updates for that long.
Fairphone has support for 8 years (5 years OS + 3 years security updates) starting this year.
they lied Quallcomm will discountinue support for the socs used five years before fairphone says updates will finish they also use public keys for verified boot, meaning that verified boot basically does nothing control+f and search for fairphone in this page for more info: (https://www.privacyguides.org/en/os/android-overview/)
I love your "you can't pick a wrong one" view.
But really, aside from gaming, the Samsung lineup is nothing but bloatware-filled trash.
Samsung has a bunch of proprietary crap I always hated. Most especially the Knox protection that prevents rooting or custom ROM installation easily.
My sister has the newest Pixel and it's practically stock Android. It's Google's flagship phone, too. Unfortunately I don't have my own hands on experience with it to offer more details, but I'd choose the Pixel over a Samsung.
pixel for grapheneos
If it weren't for Samsung crap like pre-installed Facebook and other bloat, unremovable Samsung apps etc. I'd go for one because I really like Dex, the fact that they put latest hardware available in their flagship etc. But considering things as they are, I'd choose the Pixel.
Even their keyboard wants to connect online and access to your contacts. Kinda creepy. If you get Samsung there's a ton of stuff you need to disable privacy-wise. But yeah their hardware is amazing.
You can uninstall everything with this easily: https://github.com/0x192/universal-android-debloater
You can also just disable almost everything (if uninstall is too drastic for you)
Apps that you can not uninstall natively will not be uninstalled but "disabled" at boot. You can only remove bloatware if you have root access.
That's fine. While it still takes space, it does not run in the background or at all. You can literally disable everything and softbrick the phone.
It's not fine. While you may not care, many don't accept software that they don't want taking up space on their phone.
I guess you're right.
I admit I haven't thought about storage space on my phone for many years now, but that's just my personal experience.
Not all Samsungs come with Facebook
There are options for debloating (like uninstalling via adb) but the thing I read about camera no longer working after flashing a custom rom made this piece of crap I am writing from my first and last Samsung. Good luck with your Pixel
If you care about privacy, Pixel. Install on it GrapheneOS.
If not, I'd say I still prefer the cleaner UI and overall feel of the Pixel.
For the best ANDROID experience, that would be Pixel hands down. Samsung's are not an android experience, they're a Samsung experience. They're the further thing from what Android was supposed to be. That much isnt opinion, theres literally nothing they haven't changed. Plus Theyre more locked down and you have no options with them. Maybe you become privacy or security aware, lots of options with a Pixel, zero with a Samsung.
Though not as bad as what it used to be (see touchwiz) and now there are several Samsung only things from GoodLock and gestures that pixels DON'T have that would severely limit my daily workflow so you have to find what is best for you and what you want.
I simply cannot function anymore without one hand operations+ replacing the system gestures completely.
The complete ui colour customisation is also pretty nice. I really hate that damp moldy grey that stock android wants to present as dark mode
Thats good, but given its an app that needs to be installed, is it really any different than than most most do with full featured launchers like Nova? If so, thats awesome for Galaxy peeps, but theres still me too many negatives, at least for me. But at least it shows Samsung is paying attention.
Third party apps like nova cannot go that deep into the system like good lock. You couldnt realy use nova and have great navigation animations for example.
I love my samsung devices as a poweruser because you can customize much more and they offer really useful tools which are missing when one uses vanilla android.
Also I would really miss the option to use smart tags which still arent available for pixel devices.
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Never buy Samsung, full of proprietary trash bloat, and they crack down on people trying to get root access. Absolute no-go.
they don't have much bloatware except preinstalled spotify, netflix and tiktok…
Is Bixby still a thing on new Samsung phones?
yes but it can be turned off. completely. go into settings and then deactivate.
won't bother you. ever.if you have a phone with a bixby key there are numerous ways to remap it.
Too much at Spotify
And adds literally built into basic system components…
I've never seen an ad on a Samsung phone in any place that's not a store. What are you on about?
The files app has built in ads to push OneDrive to the users. And yes it can be declared as advertising because you can't remove that ad and because MS pays Samsung for it (or gives Samsung benefits for it inside Windows on Samsungs computers).
Besides that there are the same kind of ads in the settings app.
And there's also many components of the OS that push the user into paying money like for fonts or for Always on Displays or lockscreens or whatever else. Those are not direct ads but you could declare them as auch because of the fact that a user gets pushed into micro payments for basic customization of their phone which for me personally is a no go, especially if you pay money for a flagship phone.
i won't consider a tiny cloud icon in the corner an ad but whatever…
i don't see any ads on my phone?! (a52s)
(galaxy store is a notable exception (has a bit more ads than google play), but who cares about fucking galaxy store?!)I answered on another comment regarding ads in this thread to clarify what I define as an ad with that comment.
I've had my Pixel 4a for 3 years and it's still top notch. I'm quite satisfied with it.
Same, it will be a sad day when it dies.
I had the Pixel 3XL for years and loved it, but it was time to upgrade this year. I tried the latest Pixel and I hated the redesign and I had to return it. I made the switch to the Samsung Galaxy 23 Ultra and I love it. Sadly the Pixel design is no longer as good as it once was. Hang onto that 4a as long as you can.
I have a pixel 6 personal phone and a Samsung s21fe work phone and the software on the Samsung is garbage. Bloatware you can't uninstall, weird default settings, "features" nobody wanted that I can't disable, and more bloatware.
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The Pixel is the far superior product as far as I am concerned: Faster, more stable, no bloatware and the best camera around.
But, and this might be a big but for some, if you need repairs or service outside of insurance you are SOL. There's not a lot of companies doing Pixel repairs and if they do the parts are insanely expensive. I needed a screen replace and it cost almost as much as the phone itself in parts and labour. And the end result is a screen that gets dirtier and a non-functioning fingerprint sensor. Not optimal.
Awesome phone, but pray you do not need service.
I've had so many problems with pixels it's not even funny. Never had an issue with Samsung. I think Google makes poor quality devices.
Ah, also as a professional photographer I can promise you the cameras are better on Samsung devices.
Also, battery life on the 7 series is pretty bad. My old 3a had awesome battery life, but since then Google started making their own SoC. They still use some third-party chips which they don't control, and it's affecting power efficiency. I've heard rumors that they're expected to have better control of power consumption around the 9 series.
All that being said, I love my Pixel 7a, but I frequently have to top it off to last me a full day. I can handle that, but if you don't have access to a charger during the day I'd consider other options.
I can't stand iOS, but I'd rather use an iPhone than a Samsung phone. Not kidding. Get a pixel.
Absolutely agree with you
Samsung fucks up their version of android, most notably killing background apps no matter what setting you change, but OneUI is by far the best UI I've ever used in a phone. Very confused on whether it's open source or not, I see open source licenses and a a community driven GitHub page for it but it's also samsung. Still the UI is awesome
