Other Help convince me to switch from Pixel to iPhone

[wys]

I have been an Android user my whole life. The past several years, I have been using the Pixel (original), followed by Pixel 3 (current phone), on Google Project Fi. The Pixel 3 + Project Fi has been pretty much the perfect phone situation for me. Things I like;

- rear fingerprint reader
- no notch
- small enough to use one-handed
- screen looks great
- incredible camera; my Pixel 3 photos consistently blow away my friends with iPhones, also Pixel 3 has fantastic Portrait Mode and Night Sight that you can use any time at will
- has a true filesystem
- I can run FTP and ssh servers off the phone, so I can copy *every single file* from the device to my file server, I can also log into the phone via ssh and do basic management such as selective file deleting with sh commands, far more granular than any app GUI allows
- able to export .apk of apps I like and then side-load them back onto the phone when some app updates itself and I dont like the new version (Firefox was a big culprit of this); lets me keep my own local backups of my favorite apps which I can install even offline
- emulators
- clean, customizable home screen with widgets
- easy to block 95% of all ads on the phone thanks to DNS-66
- some Pixel phones (the models I have) still get unlimited backups to Google Photos
- Project Fi: I get full support from network switching, and I have had perfect seamless international coverage at the usual $10/GB data rates

For years now, I keep considering switching to iPhone. I can live without some of the things on this ^^^ list, and I understand that iOS has alternative solutions for stuff like the file backups. I have an iPad Mini (very old, still on iOS 10) that I use at home only for Netflix and eBooks, so I am not totally unfamiliar with iOS but I am out of touch with recent versions. Some sticking points I keep hitting every time I consider switching to iPhone;
- lack of full Project Fi support; I really do *not* want to deal with "buy a local SIM card and data plan" the moment I get off the plane in another country
- lack of system-wide ad-blocking (last I tried, I couldnt get any ad blockers to work on the iPad, no DNS-66 equivalents worked, maybe thats changed?)
- I *hate* Face ID, and I really dislike front-facing fingerprint readers
- I hate app drawers and iOS "home screen" has always been a joke
- notifications on iOS are much worse? I keep hearing this one

So is there some iPhone solution available right now that I am not going to loathe? Is it really this bad? Pixel 3 is basically the perfect Android phone so surely some people have had experience switching from it to iPhone since its pretty old at this point.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

After reading everything....honest answer? Keep the Pixel.

 

[Mojohanna32]

why do you "hate" face ID? super simple, easy way to unlock your phone and keep things secure. Just curious.

 

[eyoungren]

I did a year on the Pixel 3a XL. I still have it but upgraded to the 11 Pro Max in February.

I don't do much of what you do with your Pixel and my Pixel experience was not bad at all. I just moved back to iPhone because I like the 'slick' feel of iOS. Android can be jarring in spots (the look isn't as polished). That bothered me a few years back but I took a chance on it in 2020. It's improved, but I wanted to move back.

If the look and feel of the OS isn't something that affects you then, yeah, stay with the Pixel. Android 12 is coming soon as well.

 

[eyoungren]

why do you "hate" face ID? super simple, easy way to unlock your phone and keep things secure. Just curious.

Owning a Pixel myself, it's probably the fact that you have to look at your phone (an iPhone with FaceID). With the fingerprint sensor on the back of the Pixel you can pick up the phone while doing something else and because your finger is on the fingerprint sensor the phone is unlocked by the time you turn your attention to it.

My guess anyway.

 

[now i see it]

You'll be frustrated with the limitations of iOS.
But if you don't want everything you do tracked, which is inescapable with Android, iPhone is superior in that regard.
Personally, I can't imagine owning any device associated with Google.

 

[wys]

You'll be frustrated with the limitations of iOS.
But if you don't want everything you do tracked, which is inescapable with Android, iPhone is superior in that regard.
Personally, I can't imagine owning any device associated with Google.

I made the steps of using Firefox as my mobile browser (with AdBlock & uBlock origin), using DuckDuckGo as my default search engine everywhere, running DNS-66 to block even more ads, it cut down a lot on Google's own spying since I immediately stopped seeing updates in my Google Now feeds and elsewhere based on my browsing.

But beyond that I am not sure how to know exactly what else is being tracked. These days all apps that want your location have to explicitly ask for Location Permissions, and I've blocked it by default on all background apps.

I take it this is something that iOS is putting more at the fore-front of the user experience?

 

[velocityg4]

I've got an iPhone XS and Pixel 3. I sort of like iOS more. Both Android and iOS have points I dislike and like. Wishing one would just tick all the marks on my wish list.

Most notably
iOS needs
- Spam call and text marking, deleting, screening, &c of Android
- Allow something other than Webkit for browsers
- Make any app default

Android needs
- Access to battery health data rather than third party apps guessing
- SMS/text sync to computers like iMessage
- Longer support for new OS versions
- Better privacy
- Better detection of login prompts to activate password managers.

Both need
- Not to wig out and keep waking the screen when I'm wiping it down.
- Smarter voice assistants. Google is better but still not great.
- True cross platform SMS, voicemail, calling and call log sync/handoff. So you can fluidly move between phones, tablets and computers. Be they on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, &c.
- Touch ID plus Face ID. Face ID is a PIA if you are wearing a mask or too far away. Touch ID is a pain if your hands are damp, aren't touching the sensor right or wearing gloves. Also the Touch ID keeps going off in my pocket with the Pixel 3. Making too many login attempts and I have to punch in my code when I try to use the phone.

But if the Pixel 3 works for you alone. Then stick with the Pixel 3. My biggest sticking point with the Pixel is there is no flagship CPU in the Pixel 5. So, there is currently no Android phone I plan to buy in the future. As I want a flagship CPU with immediate OS and security updates. Along with a vanilla OS.

 

[kargurin]

If you hate Face ID and the screen layout is a joke why would you even consider it? I tend to suggest try it because you should at some point. Why not? But your post just seems like an iOS slam.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I have been an Android user my whole life. The past several years, I have been using the Pixel (original), followed by Pixel 3 (current phone), on Google Project Fi. The Pixel 3 + Project Fi has been pretty much the perfect phone situation for me. Things I like;

- rear fingerprint reader
- no notch
- small enough to use one-handed
- screen looks great
- incredible camera; my Pixel 3 photos consistently blow away my friends with iPhones, also Pixel 3 has fantastic Portrait Mode and Night Sight that you can use any time at will
- has a true filesystem
- I can run FTP and ssh servers off the phone, so I can copy *every single file* from the device to my file server, I can also log into the phone via ssh and do basic management such as selective file deleting with sh commands, far more granular than any app GUI allows
- able to export .apk of apps I like and then side-load them back onto the phone when some app updates itself and I dont like the new version (Firefox was a big culprit of this); lets me keep my own local backups of my favorite apps which I can install even offline
- emulators
- clean, customizable home screen with widgets
- easy to block 95% of all ads on the phone thanks to DNS-66
- some Pixel phones (the models I have) still get unlimited backups to Google Photos
- Project Fi: I get full support from network switching, and I have had perfect seamless international coverage at the usual $10/GB data rates

For years now, I keep considering switching to iPhone. I can live without some of the things on this ^^^ list, and I understand that iOS has alternative solutions for stuff like the file backups. I have an iPad Mini (very old, still on iOS 10) that I use at home only for Netflix and eBooks, so I am not totally unfamiliar with iOS but I am out of touch with recent versions. Some sticking points I keep hitting every time I consider switching to iPhone;
- lack of full Project Fi support; I really do *not* want to deal with "buy a local SIM card and data plan" the moment I get off the plane in another country
- lack of system-wide ad-blocking (last I tried, I couldnt get any ad blockers to work on the iPad, no DNS-66 equivalents worked, maybe thats changed?)
- I *hate* Face ID, and I really dislike front-facing fingerprint readers
- I hate app drawers and iOS "home screen" has always been a joke
- notifications on iOS are much worse? I keep hearing this one

So is there some iPhone solution available right now that I am not going to loathe? Is it really this bad? Pixel 3 is basically the perfect Android phone so surely some people have had experience switching from it to iPhone since its pretty old at this point.

If you are looking to strangers to convince you, you already have your answer.

 

[Airforcekid]

T-Mobile and many MVNOs support no roaming fees worldwide. Project FI is just a Tmobile MVNO with wifi calling before wifi calling was popular. System wide adblocking is easily done with nextdns.io and you can get an SE with a thumb print reader but honestly face id works well.

 

[Airforcekid]

I made the steps of using Firefox as my mobile browser (with AdBlock & uBlock origin), using DuckDuckGo as my default search engine everywhere, running DNS-66 to block even more ads, it cut down a lot on Google's own spying since I immediately stopped seeing updates in my Google Now feeds and elsewhere based on my browsing.

But beyond that I am not sure how to know exactly what else is being tracked. These days all apps that want your location have to explicitly ask for Location Permissions, and I've blocked it by default on all background apps.

I take it this is something that iOS is putting more at the fore-front of the user experience?

FYI Google hard codes 8.8.8.8 for analytics etc unless you close off port 53 its still getting out. IOS respects DNS within Apples apps some 3rd parties attempt to resolve with cloudflare or quad9.

 

[eyoungren]

Android needs
- SMS/text sync to computers like iMessage

Maybe Pushbullet?

If you use Fluid you can turn Pushbullet into an app and use it like Messages.

 

[velocityg4]

Maybe Pushbullet?

If you use Fluid you can turn Pushbullet into an app and use it like Messages.

That looks nice. Gotta give it a try the next time I switch to Android. Right now my sim card is in the iPhone. While the Pixel is my backup.

I was using Google messages on the Web. Just hate running web apps for that sort of thing. Plus it constantly wouldn't connect and I'd have to wake the phone to get it to connect to the servers. When I want it simply sync and push through the servers.

 

[Tsepz]

I have been an Android user my whole life. The past several years, I have been using the Pixel (original), followed by Pixel 3 (current phone), on Google Project Fi. The Pixel 3 + Project Fi has been pretty much the perfect phone situation for me. Things I like;

- rear fingerprint reader
- no notch
- small enough to use one-handed
- screen looks great
- incredible camera; my Pixel 3 photos consistently blow away my friends with iPhones, also Pixel 3 has fantastic Portrait Mode and Night Sight that you can use any time at will
- has a true filesystem
- I can run FTP and ssh servers off the phone, so I can copy *every single file* from the device to my file server, I can also log into the phone via ssh and do basic management such as selective file deleting with sh commands, far more granular than any app GUI allows
- able to export .apk of apps I like and then side-load them back onto the phone when some app updates itself and I dont like the new version (Firefox was a big culprit of this); lets me keep my own local backups of my favorite apps which I can install even offline
- emulators
- clean, customizable home screen with widgets
- easy to block 95% of all ads on the phone thanks to DNS-66
- some Pixel phones (the models I have) still get unlimited backups to Google Photos
- Project Fi: I get full support from network switching, and I have had perfect seamless international coverage at the usual $10/GB data rates

For years now, I keep considering switching to iPhone. I can live without some of the things on this ^^^ list, and I understand that iOS has alternative solutions for stuff like the file backups. I have an iPad Mini (very old, still on iOS 10) that I use at home only for Netflix and eBooks, so I am not totally unfamiliar with iOS but I am out of touch with recent versions. Some sticking points I keep hitting every time I consider switching to iPhone;
- lack of full Project Fi support; I really do *not* want to deal with "buy a local SIM card and data plan" the moment I get off the plane in another country
- lack of system-wide ad-blocking (last I tried, I couldnt get any ad blockers to work on the iPad, no DNS-66 equivalents worked, maybe thats changed?)
- I *hate* Face ID, and I really dislike front-facing fingerprint readers
- I hate app drawers and iOS "home screen" has always been a joke
- notifications on iOS are much worse? I keep hearing this one

So is there some iPhone solution available right now that I am not going to loathe? Is it really this bad? Pixel 3 is basically the perfect Android phone so surely some people have had experience switching from it to iPhone since its pretty old at this point.

Sounds like you have the perfect setup for yourself already, don’t move unless you really need to.

I used Android for a decade and just got bored of it, I am loving iOSs more consistent and fluid experience overall thus far, but in 5-10 years I could go back to having Android as my daily driver again.

 

[tenjikuronin]

Why should we convince you? Do your own research and decide for yourself.

 

[GSWForever8]

you should go for iPhone. I use Face ID and I think it’s quite good! Also, with widgets, it makes the experience much better. I tried android at a local store and I hated it. Just go for it. You can always return it.

 

[Spudlicious]

I have been an Android user my whole life. The past several years, I have been using the Pixel (original), followed by Pixel 3 (current phone), on Google Project Fi. The Pixel 3 + Project Fi has been pretty much the perfect phone situation for me. Things I like..........

You are how old?

Reading through your post suggests to me that iPhone just isn't for you, but that's ok, isn't it?

 

[airbusking]

You answered your question.
I have a pixel and iPhone, I prefer the pixel.

 

[ian87w]

I have been an Android user my whole life. The past several years, I have been using the Pixel (original), followed by Pixel 3 (current phone), on Google Project Fi. The Pixel 3 + Project Fi has been pretty much the perfect phone situation for me. Things I like;

- rear fingerprint reader
- no notch
- small enough to use one-handed
- screen looks great
- incredible camera; my Pixel 3 photos consistently blow away my friends with iPhones, also Pixel 3 has fantastic Portrait Mode and Night Sight that you can use any time at will
- has a true filesystem
- I can run FTP and ssh servers off the phone, so I can copy *every single file* from the device to my file server, I can also log into the phone via ssh and do basic management such as selective file deleting with sh commands, far more granular than any app GUI allows
- able to export .apk of apps I like and then side-load them back onto the phone when some app updates itself and I dont like the new version (Firefox was a big culprit of this); lets me keep my own local backups of my favorite apps which I can install even offline
- emulators
- clean, customizable home screen with widgets
- easy to block 95% of all ads on the phone thanks to DNS-66
- some Pixel phones (the models I have) still get unlimited backups to Google Photos
- Project Fi: I get full support from network switching, and I have had perfect seamless international coverage at the usual $10/GB data rates

For years now, I keep considering switching to iPhone. I can live without some of the things on this ^^^ list, and I understand that iOS has alternative solutions for stuff like the file backups. I have an iPad Mini (very old, still on iOS 10) that I use at home only for Netflix and eBooks, so I am not totally unfamiliar with iOS but I am out of touch with recent versions. Some sticking points I keep hitting every time I consider switching to iPhone;
- lack of full Project Fi support; I really do *not* want to deal with "buy a local SIM card and data plan" the moment I get off the plane in another country
- lack of system-wide ad-blocking (last I tried, I couldnt get any ad blockers to work on the iPad, no DNS-66 equivalents worked, maybe thats changed?)
- I *hate* Face ID, and I really dislike front-facing fingerprint readers
- I hate app drawers and iOS "home screen" has always been a joke
- notifications on iOS are much worse? I keep hearing this one

So is there some iPhone solution available right now that I am not going to loathe? Is it really this bad? Pixel 3 is basically the perfect Android phone so surely some people have had experience switching from it to iPhone since its pretty old at this point.

The iPhone has existed for more than a decade that nothing would "change" abruptly. Keep your Pixel, as it works for you.