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Phones Google Pixel 8/8 Pro

I would say the top 2 Android phones out right now would be the S24 Ultra and Pixel 8 Pro.

The S24 Ultra being the kitchen sink approach, has everything possible in a smartphone, plus settings on top of settings and customization beyond what you can imagine. The Galaxy Ultra's get amazing battery life too.

The Pixel 8 Pro is a more stripped down, minimalist and simple smartphone, no bloatware, but not much customization, but the UI is very smooth and fluid. I've heard a lot of people call the Pixel phones, the Google iPhone. Oh and the camera, wow for still photography and portrait shots I still think Pixel is king. Battery life on Pixel's are mediocre to good, they're not bad on battery, but also not as good as a Galaxy Ultra or Pro Max phone.
 
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Aneres11 said:
decent haptics
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Are the P8 haptics really improved over P6 and P7? I had a P7 and the haptics were horrible, like that of a $25 aliexpress clone. My old P4 had incredibly great haptics and Google even showed that off on the initial welcome screen on first boot with a bouncy ball to demonstrate how good the haptic engine is. That was one of the most jarring things about the Pixel hardware in recent history and amongst the lackluster hardware in general it makes me want to either go for a highend Fold or just wait for P9.
 
okkibs said:
Are the P8 haptics really improved over P6 and P7? I had a P7 and the haptics were horrible, like that of a $25 aliexpress clone. My old P4 had incredibly great haptics and Google even showed that off on the initial welcome screen on first boot with a bouncy ball to demonstrate how good the haptic engine is. That was one of the most jarring things about the Pixel hardware in recent history and amongst the lackluster hardware in general it makes me want to either go for a highend Fold or just wait for P9.
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Hmm that's not my experience at all. The pixel haptics have always been way above and beyond other Androids.
The 6,7 and 8 all had the bouncy ball upon starting the phone up that highlights the haptics too. Are you sure you tried a pixel 7 as you'd know that if you had 🤣.

Even the likes of MKBHD have praised the great haptic motor in the pixels and mentioned it in his 8 review. The 8's feel exactly the same to me as the 7, so I'm happy.
 
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okkibs said:
Are the P8 haptics really improved over P6 and P7? I had a P7 and the haptics were horrible, like that of a $25 aliexpress clone. My old P4 had incredibly great haptics and Google even showed that off on the initial welcome screen on first boot with a bouncy ball to demonstrate how good the haptic engine is. That was one of the most jarring things about the Pixel hardware in recent history and amongst the lackluster hardware in general it makes me want to either go for a highend Fold or just wait for P9.
Click to expand...

I have read that the Pixel "Pro" models have a better vibration engine than the regular non Pro Pixel's. People have said there's a noticeable difference in vibration between a Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro for example.
 
Dave245 said:
I’ve never tried any other Android OS except for One UI. Pixel OS does look clean and polished tho.
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I liked the look and built-in features of Oxygen OS the best. Lost the love after Oppo deal.

Pixel OS is a little too lean and some of the hardware components are mediocre at best imo

OneUI is a bit much though manageable with adb bloat removal applied. Took some time to get up to speed on all of the settings/options as well. Samsung hardware, built-in and 3rd party add-on apps more than make up for the added complexities.
 
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Aneres11 said:
Are you sure you tried a pixel 7 as you'd know that if you had 🤣.
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No, I don't recall seeing that. I might have continued too quickly or just forgotten. I have a P4 for direct comparison and it's not a small difference. The P7 haptices really are budget-phone bad. Maybe if I didn't have the P4 I wouldn't have noticed anything but I find it absurd that the 3 generations newer successor to my old Pixel does worse here. Overall it's not a bad device aside from that and the fingerprint sensor, especially taking photos is instant (the delay on the P4 is significant) which I appreciate. And I did get it at budget-phone pricing. My expectations weren't met as I never considered a more recent Pixel could be in any way whatsoever worse than one from 2019.

Tig Bitties said:
People have said there's a noticeable difference in vibration between a Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro for example.
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That is quite unfortunate as the P7 is already too big for me, the P8 would be an optimal size but since it recycles the optic fingerprint sensor yet again and apparently has even worse haptics due to the motor shifting to the top (not sure how accurate it is, it was a quick search) I am not really wanting to try it. I might either go for the P9 if that really, really fixes all the P7/P8 flaws (ultrasonic fingerprint, LTPO display panel, and the haptics too) or for a Fold 2 as that would be a great size as well. If the current Fold wasn't out of Android major support in 2 years I'd have bought that.
 
okkibs said:
No, I don't recall seeing that. I might have continued too quickly or just forgotten. I have a P4 for direct comparison and it's not a small difference. The P7 haptices really are budget-phone bad. Maybe if I didn't have the P4 I wouldn't have noticed anything but I find it absurd that the 3 generations newer successor to my old Pixel does worse here. Overall it's not a bad device aside from that and the fingerprint sensor, especially taking photos is instant (the delay on the P4 is significant) which I appreciate. And I did get it at budget-phone pricing. My expectations weren't met as I never considered a more recent Pixel could be in any way whatsoever worse than one from 2019.
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Well it's not hugely surprising. Like I say I don't agree with your haptic opinion, but the pixel 4 was the last time Google went all in on hardware and really made what was a hugely premium phone. They threw the kitchen sink in with the 4 / 4XL and then since then they scaled back a bit.

I'm VERY picky with haptics and the Pixels are the only ones that have ever really been bearable. But, you're the one with the two devices side by side and I haven't used a 4 in years so it could be that it is very different. Like I say the 4 was verrrrry premium at the time. RIP Soli.
 
Aneres11 said:
Like I say the 4 was verrrrry premium at the time. RIP Soli.
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I agree although that's just been my reference of what's normal since 2019. If it wasn't for the huge lip at the top the P4 would almost look more premium next to the P7. Feels that way too with the much rougher edges on the P7. A device can't be too premium, especially when they just raised their prices on the 8 series. If they make a Fold 2 that survives its entire 7 year support duration I'll be willing to shell out the $2k but that better be perfect again.
 
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There is one thing that would make me 101% happy with the Pixel 8 Pro is that they let you fully customize the UI.
I honestly hate having both google search & at a glance locked to the home screen, plus i rather have numbers rather than a dot on the apps icons.

I could go the launcher way but I've found using them in the past they never as fluid as using the stock launcher.
 
Ixon2001 said:
There is one thing that would make me 101% happy with the Pixel 8 Pro is that they let you fully customize the UI.
I honestly hate having both google search & at a glance locked to the home screen, plus i rather have numbers rather than a dot on the apps icons.

I could go the launcher way but I've found using them in the past they never as fluid as using the stock launcher.
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I don't find the Google launcher better or more fluid than Nova beta tbh ...
 
Ixon2001 said:
There is one thing that would make me 101% happy with the Pixel 8 Pro is that they let you fully customize the UI.
I honestly hate having both google search & at a glance locked to the home screen, plus i rather have numbers rather than a dot on the apps icons.

I could go the launcher way but I've found using them in the past they never as fluid as using the stock launcher.
Click to expand...
Agree completely. I hate 3rd party launchers. Tried most of them, don't like em. The stock experience is fine for me, but I do think that stupid at a glance widget needs to go.
 
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Aneres11 said:
Agree completely. I hate 3rd party launchers. Tried most of them, don't like em. The stock experience is fine for me, but I do think that stupid at a glance widget needs to go.
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Using a 3rd party launcher on a Pixel is rather self defeatist to me. A pure Android experience really isn't the same without the stock launcher to me.

Heck, I don't even mess with Samsung launcher anymore.

Back in the day when Touchwiz was around Nova launcher was a life saver. I have the paid app I used it so much in the past.
 
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To each their own lol Nova runs circles around the stock ..but you do you ...I don't have any hiccups with animations or moving around the phone
 
Technerd108 said:
Using a 3rd party launcher on a Pixel is rather self defeatist to me. A pure Android experience really isn't the same without the stock launcher to me.

Heck, I don't even mess with Samsung launcher anymore.

Back in the day when Touchwiz was around Nova launcher was a life saver. I have the paid app I used it so much in the past.
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The reason I use Nova is for a consistent layout and experience across different Android device hardware platforms.

Google's launcher is the worst of the lot. One Plus has the best in my opinion and since I can't use that on other devices, Nova is the next best option.
 
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