It’s G-Day: Do You Know Where Your Next Phone Is?
- Paul Thurrott
- Oct 04, 2017
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40
There’s never been a better time to buy a great smartphone. Which is part of the problem, when you think about it.
Just this year alone, we’ve been swamped with great choices, each of which offers some part of an emerging matrix of modern features such as curved and bezel-less displays, high-end cameras, and tall new form factors. From the Samsung Galaxy S8+ and Note 8 to the OnePlus 5 to the Apple iPhone X and, soon, Google’s new Pixels, and probably several others that simply aren’t on my radar, we are practically drowning in choice.
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But when it comes to actually making that choice, we all have our own criteria. You may—or may not—agree with all three of attributes I cited above. You may place one over the other. You may have concerns, as I do, that phone prices are rising uncontrollably, and uncertainties about whether you can even afford these devices. Sometimes the best choice is sticking with what you’re already using.
Personally, 2017 has been a struggle. The iPhone 7 Plus I purchased last fall has been an ongoing disappointment, and it marks the first time an iPhone’s camera—a key attribute in my own internal smartphone ratings system—has performed more poorly than its predecessor. The photos it takes are uniformly hazy and lackluster, and they lack the HDR-like “pop” I get from many Android handsets, like the Nexus 6P/5X, Galaxy S8+, and Pixel XL. And the Portrait mode that Apple and its fans so routinely tout is terrible, with poor edge detection. I can’t recall ever being this disappointed in an iPhone camera.
That the iPhone is generally superior to Android is so many other ways shows the struggle of the choice we have. Apple’s iOS is stable, reliable, and, after a few messy years of transition, starting to become more consistent again too. The iPhone just works, which is a tired phrase, I know, but one that really does apply to the iPhone in the real world in a way that it cannot with almost any other product or service.
But you don’t need to be paying much attention to know that I’ve been teetering on the edge of abandoning the safe world of iOS and iPhone all year.
You could see it in my excitement about the expensive new Samsung Galaxy S8+, which I ultimately decided was just too costly. In my examination of low-end and mid-range Android devices that provided much better value but fell short from a camera perspective. In my belief that the Note 8 could offer all of the advantages of the S8+ combined with a bigger screen and an even higher cost. And my crushing disappointment with Apple’s lackluster new iPhone 8 and its terribly-notched and too-expensive iPhone X.
But it is Google’s coming second generation of Pixel handsets that has me the most excited. And, if I’m being honest, worried. What if Google screws this up?
I did eventually decided to switch to Android, of course, did, in fact, reveal this change on the eve of Apple’s new iPhone announcements, knowing that these devices would be uninteresting and uninspiring. (And boy did I nail that one.) And while it took longer than expected to make that shift, thanks in part to a bad decision on my part and some terrible customer support from Google, it did eventually happen. Yesterday, for the first time in several years, I only brought one smartphone, the Pixel XL, on a work trip. I know, that sounds unimpressive. But I’ve had two—sometimes three—phones with me every time I’ve traveled for work since I don’t know when. Many years.
I’m OK with Android. Am particularly OK with the pure Android that Google provides on its Pixel devices.
But that’s not really the point, though it does factor into my own decision-making process. That is, Android has improved enough that it’s no longer a point in the “Cons” column. It’s kind of a wash. It works fine. I understand it.
What this decision has made me realize is that my own smartphone choices are being driven by a number of things. And that it’s not as simple as camera, display, and form factor. In that order.
The real reason I am using a Pixel XL right now and will almost certainly be using a Pixel 2 XL going forward is that the combination of a superior camera and Project Fi cellular networking, with its inexpensive and transparent pricing and superb international capabilities, is what puts it over the top for me.
That is, I could have used the Pixel XL on AT&T and retained my phone number, which dates back to 2007. It would have been easy. But I went through the stress and pain of converting that number to Project Fi so that I could use that phone with the service that really matters to me. It’s the best of both worlds.
Looked at a different way, it is possible—remotely, but possible—that some phone—the iPhone X, the Note 8, whatever–has a camera that is superior to that of the Pixel XL or the coming Pixel 2 XL. But even if those cameras are rated a bit higher than that on the Pixel handsets, I wouldn’t switch. Because of Project Fi? Sort of: In many ways, Google’s network has emerged, for me, as the most important attribute. But that is also reliant on a compatible phone—like the Pixel—have an excellent camera. They go together.
That I can save money each month using Project Fi and not AT&T helps with the decision. That I will save tons of money each time I use Project Fi in Europe (or elsewhere) instead of AT&T really helps.
So, for me, the deck is stacked for the new Pixels. Which will almost certainly have a nearly bezel-less design, with that tall form factor that seems so modern and forward-leaning. That’s great.
The new Pixels will also most likely drop the headphone jack, will almost certainly not include expandable storage, and will absolutely certainly be super, super expensive. All of which is bad.
But that’s how the decision gets made. There is no perfect choice. You just weigh the pros and the cons and you pick according to what matters most to you. What’s goofy about this year, and the various things I looked at as it progressed, is that I really didn’t know what was most important to me. That it was, in fact, the combination of camera and network service.
Anyway, it’s G-Day. Today at noon ET, Google will announce those new Pixels alongside a new Chromebook, new Google Home devices, and more. And I’ll watch, rapt, and will likely skewer them a bit on Twitter because that’s what I do. But unless they drop the ball completely—and I’m trying to imagine what form that could take—I will almost certainly rush to beat the crowds and order an expensive new Pixel 2 XL that I can use for the next year or so.
Until it’s time to make a choice again.
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Conversation 40 comments
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Pargon
Premium Member<p>With all this repeat talk about how people should be happy with the lower end phones, laptops, etc and complaining when they don't send you something to review why do you feel the need to upgrade from Pixel to pixel 2? It also like Apple's event feels like it'll be totally underwhelming. Slight camera upgrade, slightly faster, no headphone jack and price raise.</p><p><br></p><p>The Nexus 6p on project fi is still great. Android since I've switched from Windows phone to this has "just worked" too btw, no need to upgrade….yet, maybe pixel XL 3 or 4. :-)</p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><a href="#199277"><em>In reply to Mark_Pfeifer:</em></a></blockquote><p>I could not agree more. I was on a fishing trip last year with a group of friends out of state. One of my friends dropped his S7 into the lake. We went to Walmart and he picked up some mid range Motorola android phone, that cost $60 on sale? Then went and got a sim from a Verizon store to get his number on that phone. </p><p><br></p><p>He still has that phone today. He said that event taught him what he really needs his phone for and that an expensive phone did nothing but cost him more money without any real advantage.</p>
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Bats
<p>A couple of things:</p><p><br></p><p>1. The Pixel XL camera is so great already, that unless the camera that comes with the Pixel 2 XL is far and vastly superior than it's predecessor, how can anyone who cash-strapped like Paul Thurrott need to upgrade to it. IMO, Paul's reason to upgrade to the Pixel 2 XL is (with all due respect) cr*p. I am sure that the camera of the Pixel 2 XL will technically and technologically better, but to the HUMAN EYE it won't be noticeable.</p><p><br></p><p>2. Everything, I just said in #1, applies to Google's fantastic Project Fi. LOL…I used Project Fi, myself earlier this year. However, I did so using my Nexus 6P and not my Pixel XL and …. I don't see the difference. My bet is, I won't experience any difference between my future Pixel 2 XL and my Pixel XL. For Paul to say that i am getting the Pixel 2 XL partly because of Project FI is a head-scratcher.</p><p><br></p><p>So Paul is going to bite the bullet and buy Google's Premium phone that LG made, huh? I say this, after days Paul's ridiculous open letter to Google. Dude, i swear…I read that and became embarrassed for Paul. He might not have felt that way, but I did.</p><p><br></p><p>Paul has to realize that Google didn't create a subdivision in their Mountain View campus strictly for smart phone development. Rather, they used the expertise of the LG Engineers, and HTC to create a smartphone to their specifications and theirs alone. Is that actually hard to understand? LOL…I think Paul actually thought that. There is clearly a market for a Google Pixel phone. In the smartphone market, there are clearly (crystal clearly) three leaders: Apple, Samsung, and Google. Paul said that Samsung can charge $1,000 for a phone and Google can't? The Galaxy phones are, where they are today, because of Google's Android OS. Despite all the great features the Samsung Galaxy and Note lines offer, everyone knows that their Touchwiz UI can be a problem. That's why the production of the Pixel phones are so important. Not just to compete against Samsung, but to set standards. LOL…this is basic Android stuff, if you are tech person. This is why I am shocked people like Paul and Andrew (Zarian) don't get it. These guys are like swiss army knives, "jack of all trades, master of none." Well, Paul is supposedly a "master of Microsoft" (except, for the business aspect), but Microsoft is fading away into the enterprise night. In the words of (Timothy Dalton) James Bond to General Pushkin in the movie <em>The Living Daylights</em>, I say this to Paul, "You better find yourself a new lover."</p><p><br></p><p>Anyway, I am excited for my new phone, as well as my rumored new headset. LOL.</p>
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Stooks
<p>I think you put WAY too much importance on the camera. </p><p><br></p><p>If I want to take a good-great photo I am not going to use any smartphone to do that. Yes many of my photos are taken with a smartphone. 99% of those are throw away pic's that I take quick, maybe look at once or twice and maybe share with a few people and then they are forgotten. Most are stupid stuff like model/serial number of something so I can use the pic to get that number and type it in someplace. A smartphone is perfect for that.</p><p><br></p><p>A $400 dedicated camera is going to out perform any smartphone on the market today.</p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><a href="#200159"><em>In reply to wright_is:</em></a></blockquote><p>Agreed. For photos I care about I use my Canon EOS.</p>
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Pargon
Premium Member<blockquote><a href="#200363"><em>In reply to ghostrider:</em></a></blockquote><p>The best camera is the one you have with you. And for most people these days don't want to always take a DSLR with them, either it gets stolen if you're in a touristy place or in rugged terrain has possibility of damage. A lot of people aren't blowing up their adventures in 70"x29" canvas prints like I do on hikes with my Nikon D5100….I bought a Nexus 6p because the camera is phenomenal for the times I want to record my adventures on a Caribbean cruise with lots of water activity/hiking around, or a weekend getaway walking around Dallas or Austin and I'd have the phone on me anyways. Even if just posting photos to Facebook for friends to see, why not make them look as great as they can?</p><p><br></p><p>And to be fair, the in-phone HDR shots are getting seriously impressive lately. The only real benefit of my Nikon is I can put the super telephoto lens on it 55-300mm, digital zoom can't compete.</p><p><br></p><p>Also, editing photos….I have thousands backlogged from the Nikon that need editing. The camera doesn't do HDR automatically, have to setup a batch process after I edit one and hope the lighting treats them equally as well. Whereas the smartphone does it all for me, quick and easy to post massive amounts of photos. They each have their own use! :-)</p>
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Delmont
<p>I don't get the constant nailing of the camera…. I bet 99.99% of iPhone owners think their photos are great and they never blow them up past a 5×8. I think we get spoiled with current technology. </p>