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.
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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.
Check out Louis Rossmann’s video on it. According to him banking apps and Google services work just fine.
*some banking apps
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/)
Your link mentions Fairphone 3 and 4. They had regular mobile chips by Qualcomm that are not LTS. But Fairphone 5 comes with a Qualcomm QCM6490, which is not mentioned in the page you linked.
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.
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
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.
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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
pixel for grapheneos
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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If you want the best Android experience you’re not going to do better than a Pixel. It’s a Google OS, on Google hardware. I myself am looking forward to the Pixel 8 Pro.
Hardware wise, Samsung may meet or maybe even exceed Google’s line, but not significantly enough to make a difference in my opinion. Especially with the newer Pixels, it’s a pretty mature product at this point.
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.
Ah, also as a professional photographer I can promise you the cameras are better on Samsung devices.
Thanks your your feedback, that is interesting.
The one thing pixel is better at in my expeirence is the digital zoom, I can get insane detail at 20+ zoom levels that I could never even approximate with a Samsung.
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’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 can’t stand iOS, but I’d rather use an iPhone than a Samsung phone. Not kidding. Get a pixel.
Absolutely agree with you
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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I think it entirely depends where you are. Samsung has amazing support worldwide while Google outside of US basically leaves you on your own.
But Pixel’s aren’t software locked like Apple. So you should be able to get almost anything repaired by a third party repair shop.
That’s great but if I’m paying almost 1000usd for a phone I expect some sort of warranty.
But you aren’t paying 1000. you pay nearly half that.
Nah
The thing I love the most about my pixel is the automated call screener. I would honestly buy it again just for that alone.
This right here. I can’t believe all of the spam calls I’m missing out on right now - used to be so infuriating to get a daily interruption or two, but now the assistant helpfully answers and doesn’t even inform me unless someone speaks intelligently to it.
As an owner of the Pixel 7 Pro, I’d say the S23 Ultra. Better in every possible way except duplicate Google/Samsung apps, mostly-subjective camera differences, and subjective UI skin.
