Last year I couldn’t have been more excited about the new Pixel. I’ve been using Pixel lineup phones since 2018, first was the Pixel 3 and then I switched to the Pixel 5 in 2020. What made me choose a Google phone back then was the advantages of the camera software. Also, Google’s bare Android has always fascinated me.
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When the first information about the Pixel 6 hit the web, I was intrigued by the drastic change in the camera module and the potential of a Google-owned SoC. This should offer advantages in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). In other words: it should be the grand evolution of the series. If you still have doubts, our comparison between the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 5 shows the technological leap between the generations very well.
In August 2021, Google announced the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The first “red flags” began to wave. The phones were big, there were drastic visual changes, the fingerprint sensor slipped into the display and the new Tensor processor was yet to be tested. The devices were then sent to journalists, but under a strict NDA and some features were still in beta at launch. Red flags, red flags, red flags!
But before I get into the Pixel 6 Pro, I have to tell you about my life between two operating systems.
12 years is a long time with Android, but change is good too / © NextPit
(M)a life between two operating systems
In 2019, I started covering various tech topics, not just the Android ecosystem. And so, in 2020, I started using the Pixel 5 as my own smartphone and the iPhone 11 Pro Max as my work phone. But what really brought me closer to the iPhone lineup was the Apple Watch, which I still rank as the best smartwatch out there.
Also, in 2019, for professional reasons, I traded in my MacBook Pro for a Dell Inspiron laptop with Windows. That’s how I distanced myself from the Apple ecosystem back then. However, with the purchase of a new MacBook Pro in late 2021, falling prey to easy integration between Apple’s devices and services was inevitable.
But even that was never new or a problem for me as until then I preferred Android smartphones over iOS and the Pixel series was the reason I never switched to an iPhone. However, my frustration with the Google Pixel 6 Pro put an end to that relationship as I realized that Google’s Pixels were no longer good for me!
Since the Google Pixel 3, Google’s smartphones have been my first choice / © NextPit
Why the Pixel 6 Pro is no longer the right phone for me
As mentioned, the reasons I chose Google as my smartphone brand of choice was the camera quality of the Pixel range. And of course the advantage that Google develops Android itself. Integration with G-Suite and other Google services has always made my life easier and more efficient.
I also really liked the format of the phones. Google’s efforts to use my data on the device for analysis have also never really unsettled me. And that has only gotten better with the release of Android 12 and the introduction of new security and privacy features.
In that sense, it might seem like not much has changed with the series. But it’s amazing how a few innocuous decisions can dramatically change the experience we have with a device. And the biggest change is the size of the phone.
The Pixel 6 Pro is too big
Switching from a 6-inch to a 6.7-inch smartphone takes some getting used to. You have 60 grams more in your hand and this is noticeable even with normal actions such as taking a selfie. The device no longer fits in every pocket and given the inaccuracy problems of the biometric sensor on the screen, unlocking the device often requires two hands.
Side by side, the Pixel 5 (left) is already much smaller than the Pixel 6 (right), and the Pixel 6 Pro is even bigger / © NextPit
Of course, the larger size gives us more content on the screen, a larger battery and a larger camera sensor that can capture more light. However, I haven’t gotten used to the Pixel 6 Pro’s size and weight yet, and it really affects my life with the device. While the screen is great for video streaming and mobile gaming, the size of the device is an issue for me for everyday use. But there is more …
AI and ML capabilities are sleeping giants
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have always fascinated me. So I’ve often given up my privacy to test and understand how certain ML models work. And one of the features that got me interested in the new Pixel series was undoubtedly the benefits offered by Tensor to process computational photography and natural language.
But despite the improvements in photos taken with the Pixel 6 Pro’s lenses, it’s the video aspect that’s seen a real upgrade in the series. And right now, I’m not exploring video creation to really feel that evolution.
The Pixel 6 Pro’s camera is excellent, but that’s not unique! / © NextPit
And adding to the frustration in this area is that some services like Google Duplex and Hold for me are not available in the region where I live. Sometimes I feel like I’m carrying a sleeping giant up and down. It’s a smartphone full of potential, but it’s currently limited. Which brings me to the final and most important reason for not using the Pixel series anymore: I’m really fed up with unfinished products being sold under the “early adopter” heading.
The last three months have been too frustrating
Here we go! Since the release of the Pixel 6 Pro, my experience with the phone has gradually deteriorated. To the point where I felt like I participated in a software beta test. Camera software issues, constant biometric sensor issues, broken screen scrolling, apps that force close, unbalanced battery usage, and delays in sending the monthly security package.
On the one hand, I was convinced that this is part of the experience one has when playing with a new product. And it uses a processor that has only just come onto the market… In short, the good old talk about the (dis)advantages of being an early adopter.
On the other hand, Google did whatever it had to do. See fixed the problems, informed that a solution is on the way, sent the security and patch package, sent a super camera software update with 318 megabytes…but I’m tired, I’m throwing in the towel and I just want a reliable and working device.
And that’s why I’m switching to the iPhone! Not that Apple doesn’t collect bugs too, or that there aren’t exclusive services for the US market. The point is that Apple doesn’t want to be first, it wants to be the best.
It took a while for features like Live Text to make its way to iOS. But now that they are here, they work very well and without an Apple user suffering / © NextPit
In conclusion, my frustration with the Google Pixel 6 Pro doesn’t mean the device is bad. On the contrary, it is a smartphone that marks a special moment in the history of the development of technologies such as computational photography and speech processing. However, I give up participating in this “moment”. Because what I need now is a balanced and simple experience with a mobile phone that also allows me to explore the ecosystem of gadgets that surround it.
Of course, I could go back to my Pixel 5 because it’s still a good phone and has quite a few updates ahead of it. But on my priority list, Apple is now filling in more boxes. And if I regret that decision, I can always go back!