I don't trust Google to not put hardware back door in their hardware. It's an ad company after all.

social contract around Android has always been Google provides the Android as an operating system that's open source while everyone else just manufactures actual devices I don't want my Android phone to be built by Google on hardware level.
Tbh not even on software level either .. beyond core aosp - I don't need any other Google services they force down our throats

The linked article sums my position up perfectly. I've had a Nexus 6P, a Pixel 2XL and now a Pixel 6 Pro which, were it not for a cracked screen and (small but increasing) issues with overheating, I'd be happy to stick with.

However there's no way I'm even considering a Pixel for my next phone - much too expensive and fuck all that AI bullshit.

Not sure what I'll go for, and not looking forward to a phone with an OEM skin on the OS but Google has finally driven me away from the Pixel line. It's a shame.

the thing about pixels is that putting lineage/graphene/whatever on them basically turns it into a completely different phone, all the complaints about AI and whatnot largely dissapear and they become what i'd call about the best experience you can have on a smartphone. Easy to install lineage (dunno about others, presume it's equally easy), just works, no bullshit.

Currently running GrapheneOS on a pixel 8. It's the best mobile experience I've ever had.

Google being a trash company would be the major reason not to buy a Pixel.

Brands like OnePlus and Motorola have made major improvements to their camera systems as well.

OnePlus is gone from the US market.
Motorola doesn't have any non foldables here.

US android market doesnt have any options left other than Google and Samsung and that's just terrible.

Pixels are not and have never been about speed or power. They've always been about security, for which they're still the best. Also the only hardware supported by GOS (for the same reason) which is really the biggest reason to buy them, in my opinion. But I used them even before that (P4a was my first, it was $350!) for cleanliness and software features.

I got a Pixel 8a more than a year ago to use GrapheneOS. Its performance is somewhat similar to my Poco X4 GT but it runs a little bit hotter specially when running a private space. Last month it died immediately while I was using it. The phone immediately turned off without any warning. The problem was found to be a hardware one and that some component (i guess it was a transistor) was shorting in the board. Luckily there was a shop near me that was able to repair it.

If it weren't for GOS and maybe for its camera, I would not use and recommend pixels with its very mediocre performance and possible hardware problems.

I had the original Pixel, and now the 5, not sure if I will get one next time but this one is still good.

It's kind of like my car - I have a 6 speed 2014 Honda, it does everything I want & nothing I don't want. Newer ones are better in some ways, but not in ways I want.

I don't want a fancier phone or car, I want a more reliable one that does the things I want it to do. Not stuffed with "features".

The problem with older Pixels is that Graphene will stop supporting them.

I've had 5 pixel phones, and 4 of them have stopped booting after about a year of use.

Meanwhile my last Galaxy phone lasted over 6 years.

Even with their cheaper retail price, they haven't been more affordable to own for me.

Y’all think GrapheneOS will ditch Pixels?

And if they do… where would dev focus move to?

It's probably because I had four pixels and three of them died early due to hardware problems. The other one was stolen but I had been wanting to replace it due to poor performance.

I really thought I liked them, but never again.

I recently bought a Pixel 9a specifically to put GrapheneOS on it, and so far it's been good. Especially the battery runtime was a pleasant surprise, I can get two days of moderate use out of it before having to plug it in again. The only thing that is significantly worse than my previous chinese crap spyphone from 2019 is the camera. I'm not sure if the stock camera app in Graphene is bad or if it's the hardware, but the image quality is really poor.

i loved my nexus 4 T_T

also just got a pixel SPECIFICALLY to get graphene and the only thing i hate about graphene is i can't also put it on my galaxy tab because i'd love for my tablet to have it too

I began my Pixel journey with the 4 XL with CalyxOS, before switching to GrapheneOS. I had to stop using the phone because of the well-known bloated battery issue.

After a short stint with a OnePlus 6T and DivestOS, which was brief due to the phone's processor failing, I returned to the Pixel line with the 6 Pro with GrapheneOS. I had to stop using the 6 Pro because of the Tensor modem failing to get signal or connect to cell towers where I know I would've gotten reception otherwise. Also, the phone would overheat occasionally.

My current Pixel phone is the 8 Pro with GrapheneOS, and so far it's been the best one I've had, though I have noticed that other phones, like recent Samsung Galaxies and iPhones have better picture quality than the 8 Pro depending on the environment.

With GrapheneOS announcing their partnership with Motorola, I'm hoping to switch to a Moto phone in the future, ideally one with a better camera and processor than the Pixel line. Google absolutely sucks with hardware, with each Pixel having some egregious hardware issue that makes the phone nearly unusable in some cases.

I made the move to Android with my current phone (Pixel6 Pro). I won't be sticking with Google phones after this. I already replaced my pixel watch.