If a practically brand new flagship like the Pixel 6 has more bugs than an ancient iPhone XR, I don’t think base Android can survive much longer. Basic functionality like YouTube PiP and theming glitch out regularly. Not to mention extended features like bubbles in Messages being broken since day one. Sure, I can sideload on Android, but if that comes to iPhone…
I can’t seem to make $200 per year for a device work out with Android anymore. The pixel 6 should last 3 years in my opinion, but support for the 6 has been limited since the pixel 7 came out. Even at $900, I think the iPhone could prove to be a better deal with 6 years of support backed by a history of keeping such promises. USB-C, RCS, Sideloading are all I’ve been waiting for.
Many years of android experience and none of it matches any of this at all.
In fact I just kept a smartphone for my longest record. 3.5 years on a $350 Pixel 4a. That works out to half of the amount you say you strive for but cannot make work.
I’ve just recently switched from my Xiaomi mi8 (May 2018, and about $300 I think) to a pixel 8 pro, mostly because I wanted a better camera and was curious about pixels. It’s so fascinating to hear about all the bugs and terrible experiences on old android devices, but I guess people like us are just the luckiest people in the world.
I don’t think we are that lucky. We just aren’t people who waited until 2023 to try Android the first time and then got super pissy because it differs from the locked down prison that iOS is. Apple users have Stockholm syndrome
I can relate to the comment. Within the last month Google messages has required me to resync my tablet app several times. Fixing that required logging out all devices and changing the login method. Speaking of messages, the tablet app is… Not very good. Messages take a long time to notify there, well after my watch, and when I open the app the message still takes a couple seconds to show up as it is apparently retrieving the message from the phone app. Even though the message is (still) shown in the notification. Reading messages on the tablet don’t clear the read receipt on the phone. Various random bugs seem to popup. On the phone I randomly get pictures or messages I had written to OTHER PEOPLE waiting to be sent. Google messages is king of a shit app and I greatly miss Textra and even Samsung Messages. Thank you Google for not opening the RCS API to third parties.
But that’s just messages. Googles auto fill service has sucked from day one. Often I will click a username or password multiple times trying to get the popup to show up. I’ll then sigh, go open Bitwarden, copy my password, go back to the app, click on the password field, and then… the fucking auto fill popup appears. This experience has been shit from day one and Google has never made any attempt to fix it that I can see.
Android Autos new split screen is nice. But every once in a while the maps side will become unresponsive. Or the media app just dissapears and I have a black in its place. Only way to fix that is to unplug the phone and plug it back in. Super fun driving down the road.
I really could go on and on… Google has a habit of dumping random features in the OS and then never bothering to update again as they go on to their next shiny feature like the dog from the movie Up when someone yells squirrel. Apple users may be smug with their “just works” mantra, and they are not immune to bugs like any software developer, but it really does seem to be a more polished experience devoid of issues like the above. It’s also a lot more boring… but I can understand why someone would make a switch. Attributing another person’s issues to user error because you THINK the android experience is flawless seems rather snarky.
I never said it was flawless. I just have a LOT of experience with android and reading that comment was like reading fiction about a strange but semi familiar topic. Not relatable at all.
Apple software is chocked full of bugs though despite your assertion it is more polished. I would know, I use it every day. I abandoned iOS many years ago for personal use because it’s utterly dogshit in every way, but for a couple of other examples, iOS simulator and Safari have more problems than I could list. IOS simulator I just thought of because of your claim that Google constantly abandons features. IOS simulator is the only way to test websites on older versions of safari, which is the worst browser by far often waiting 5-10 years longer than everyone else when it comes time to implement a new web standard. Good luck supporting users who can’t afford to buy a new device every couple of years. It’s like they actively work toward breaking older software. Currently the oldest iOS you can test against in iOS simulator is 13. Not that old…
I have trouble with all the software I’ve ever used, but your description of messages doesn’t sound like the one I have used for 5 years or so. I have only had a little trouble with the web version, a feature that iOS users have never had. If they want to send a text from their PC, they need a Mac and to use imessage. Gross.
You make some valid points. But they pertain to your own experience. Their post is just as valid, because someone asked him why he was thinking about switching and he gave his own experience. Also a valid point for his own view. It’s an opinion after all.
To say you haven’t experienced the problems are well and good, but to trivialize his points down to “user error” was kind of dickish.
I’ve had a ton of bugs on iPhone. But I completely agree with you. especially for the average consumer, iPhone will be just the easy choice.
Also Pixel 6 is just god awful with bugs. At this point I don’t think Google can fix all of them, so many just feel related to the chip. I’d assume it’s better on their newer phones but you shouldn’t have to buy a newer phone to get a bug fixed.
I have been diehard android but this is really testing me. I want to use the best phone, and Apple had already been making the hardware. (Though, snapdragon 8 gen 2 has really redeemed itself, absolutely incredible, efficient and great chip. One of the reasons I just can’t see myself using a Pixel again)
I’m pretty close to switching to iPhone.
Why
If a practically brand new flagship like the Pixel 6 has more bugs than an ancient iPhone XR, I don’t think base Android can survive much longer. Basic functionality like YouTube PiP and theming glitch out regularly. Not to mention extended features like bubbles in Messages being broken since day one. Sure, I can sideload on Android, but if that comes to iPhone…
I can’t seem to make $200 per year for a device work out with Android anymore. The pixel 6 should last 3 years in my opinion, but support for the 6 has been limited since the pixel 7 came out. Even at $900, I think the iPhone could prove to be a better deal with 6 years of support backed by a history of keeping such promises. USB-C, RCS, Sideloading are all I’ve been waiting for.
Many years of android experience and none of it matches any of this at all.
In fact I just kept a smartphone for my longest record. 3.5 years on a $350 Pixel 4a. That works out to half of the amount you say you strive for but cannot make work.
Sounds like user error.
I’ve just recently switched from my Xiaomi mi8 (May 2018, and about $300 I think) to a pixel 8 pro, mostly because I wanted a better camera and was curious about pixels. It’s so fascinating to hear about all the bugs and terrible experiences on old android devices, but I guess people like us are just the luckiest people in the world.
I don’t think we are that lucky. We just aren’t people who waited until 2023 to try Android the first time and then got super pissy because it differs from the locked down prison that iOS is. Apple users have Stockholm syndrome
I can relate to the comment. Within the last month Google messages has required me to resync my tablet app several times. Fixing that required logging out all devices and changing the login method. Speaking of messages, the tablet app is… Not very good. Messages take a long time to notify there, well after my watch, and when I open the app the message still takes a couple seconds to show up as it is apparently retrieving the message from the phone app. Even though the message is (still) shown in the notification. Reading messages on the tablet don’t clear the read receipt on the phone. Various random bugs seem to popup. On the phone I randomly get pictures or messages I had written to OTHER PEOPLE waiting to be sent. Google messages is king of a shit app and I greatly miss Textra and even Samsung Messages. Thank you Google for not opening the RCS API to third parties.
But that’s just messages. Googles auto fill service has sucked from day one. Often I will click a username or password multiple times trying to get the popup to show up. I’ll then sigh, go open Bitwarden, copy my password, go back to the app, click on the password field, and then… the fucking auto fill popup appears. This experience has been shit from day one and Google has never made any attempt to fix it that I can see.
Android Autos new split screen is nice. But every once in a while the maps side will become unresponsive. Or the media app just dissapears and I have a black in its place. Only way to fix that is to unplug the phone and plug it back in. Super fun driving down the road.
I really could go on and on… Google has a habit of dumping random features in the OS and then never bothering to update again as they go on to their next shiny feature like the dog from the movie Up when someone yells squirrel. Apple users may be smug with their “just works” mantra, and they are not immune to bugs like any software developer, but it really does seem to be a more polished experience devoid of issues like the above. It’s also a lot more boring… but I can understand why someone would make a switch. Attributing another person’s issues to user error because you THINK the android experience is flawless seems rather snarky.
I never said it was flawless. I just have a LOT of experience with android and reading that comment was like reading fiction about a strange but semi familiar topic. Not relatable at all.
Apple software is chocked full of bugs though despite your assertion it is more polished. I would know, I use it every day. I abandoned iOS many years ago for personal use because it’s utterly dogshit in every way, but for a couple of other examples, iOS simulator and Safari have more problems than I could list. IOS simulator I just thought of because of your claim that Google constantly abandons features. IOS simulator is the only way to test websites on older versions of safari, which is the worst browser by far often waiting 5-10 years longer than everyone else when it comes time to implement a new web standard. Good luck supporting users who can’t afford to buy a new device every couple of years. It’s like they actively work toward breaking older software. Currently the oldest iOS you can test against in iOS simulator is 13. Not that old…
I have trouble with all the software I’ve ever used, but your description of messages doesn’t sound like the one I have used for 5 years or so. I have only had a little trouble with the web version, a feature that iOS users have never had. If they want to send a text from their PC, they need a Mac and to use imessage. Gross.
You make some valid points. But they pertain to your own experience. Their post is just as valid, because someone asked him why he was thinking about switching and he gave his own experience. Also a valid point for his own view. It’s an opinion after all.
To say you haven’t experienced the problems are well and good, but to trivialize his points down to “user error” was kind of dickish.
They were making their statements as though that’s just the way android is. it isn’t.
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Ah yes the classic “why are you using a feature, it’s your fault for wanting it to work”. Thanks. So helpful.
Are you high? No one said anything like that
I’ve had a ton of bugs on iPhone. But I completely agree with you. especially for the average consumer, iPhone will be just the easy choice.
Also Pixel 6 is just god awful with bugs. At this point I don’t think Google can fix all of them, so many just feel related to the chip. I’d assume it’s better on their newer phones but you shouldn’t have to buy a newer phone to get a bug fixed.
I have been diehard android but this is really testing me. I want to use the best phone, and Apple had already been making the hardware. (Though, snapdragon 8 gen 2 has really redeemed itself, absolutely incredible, efficient and great chip. One of the reasons I just can’t see myself using a Pixel again)