Pixel Imperfect, 2021 Edition (Premium)

Like many, I was hoping that the Pixel 6 would finally give Android a decisive and obvious answer to the iPhone. But like many, I was disappointed. Most obviously by its slow and unreliable fingerprint reader, its big and heavy form factor, its slow charging, and its unnecessarily curved display edges. But the bigger issue, really, is a never-ending series of reliability issues that make using this handset more and more frustrating over time.

A story to make the point.

If you read My Favorite Audiobooks of 2021 (Premium), you know that I’m currently listening to an audiobook called Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar with the Doors that’s written by Doors guitarist Robby Krieger. And as you might imagine, it’s full of stories of Jim Morrison, the enigmatic lead singer of that band who is perhaps most well-known for his chaotic and unpredictable behavior.

Krieger loved Morrison and loved working with him, but one the stories he tells involves Morrison finally convincing him to let him drive Krieger’s new VW van to a gig. On the way there, Morrison suddenly yanked the wheel to the left for no reason, sending the van hurtling into oncoming traffic and everyone and everything in it---including all the band’s gear---flying all over the place. Just as suddenly, he yanked the wheel to the right again, putting the van, which had nearly toppled over, back on track. They arrived at the show, safe but frazzled.

And that was Morrison in a nutshell, he explained. Chaotic and unpredictable, yes, but the side effect of that never-ending random behavior was that everyone else in the band was constantly on edge, enjoying it when things were fine but constantly worried about the next inevitable incident.

That’s exactly what using the Pixel 6 Pro is like.

And, no, I’m not exaggerating. As I wrote in my review of the Pixel 6 Pro, one of the issues---which I have started experiencing again, by the way---involves apps not launching. Yes, it’s usually just annoying, as when I had to pay with a credit card at Dunkin’ the other day because the app wouldn’t start. But sometimes it’s dangerous, as it can be the app is something like Google Maps, which has happened as well. That this is still happening well over a month after I got the phone is troubling.

Equally troubling, I exited the gym one day last week and wanted to call my wife. I got into the car, which I started, buckled up, and put my earbuds back in their case. Then I picked up the Pixel 6 Pro and tapped the screen to wake it up so I could sign in with my finger. Nothing. That happens all the time, so I pressed the power button. Nothing. That happens sometimes as well, so I tried some combination of screen taps and swipes and button pushes. Again, nothing.

What the ... I tried shutting down the device by holding in the power button for 30 seconds or so nothing. Then I tried holding in the power button and volume up for 30 seconds. Again, no...

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