My experience with Nexus and Pixel phones has been almost all since the Nexus 4. Despite my current device working well, I was an avid Nexus and Pixel fanboy back then, eager to upgrade to Google’s latest smartphone every year. It was my wish that every new Pixel would address the issues that plagued the previous one, such as a longer battery life, an improved user experience, and smoother overall performance.
My experience with the Google Pixel 8 Pro after a year is similar to what I experienced with the Nexus 4 12 years ago.
Pixel has consistently failed to deliver a good experience
Google phones require some compromises. Poor battery life, a lack of flagship specs, and poor camera performance were the usual Nexus issues. While the software experience was excellent, the hardware was always lacking.
My expectations were raised for the Nexus 5’s camera and battery life after being disappointed with the Nexus 4. Its 8MP rear camera fixed the major flaw of its predecessor, but it fell short on the battery life aspect once more.
Google’s Nexus phones suffered from these issues for the next few years. Their build quality was poor, their specs were midrange, or their camera performance was poor. Its flimsy build quality held it back from providing the “perfect” Nexus experience.
Since the Nexus was affordable, it was easy to overlook its shortcomings. Even though they were not perfect, they provided a smoother user experience. It was also great to be the first to get a new Android update.
Since I am a Google fanboy, I have upgraded every year to the latest Nexus or Pixel phone. Its terrible battery life drove me to switch to Samsung. My Pixel phone was sold after I got my hands on it due to poor battery life and buggy experience; I decided not to buy another Pixel.
Pixel 6 launched in 2021 marked the beginning of a new chapter for Google. It had impressive internals, better camera hardware, and premium build quality.
Despite Google delivering its best Android phone on paper, the phone’s real-life performance was sub-par, there were overheating issues and connectivity problems. Time passed, and reports of the front cover glass spontaneously shattering emerged.
Following the terrible Pixel 3 XL experience, I decided to wait a few months before purchasing the Pixel 6. It was wise to hold off on getting the Pixel in 2021.
Phones from Google keep disappointing me
Next year, I bought the Pixel 7 Pro. Once again, Google seems to have fixed all Pixel 6 Pro issues. As soon as I got the phone, I was excited about its performance and camera. Nexus and Pixel phones were my favorite Android phones in the past.
Nevertheless, the same issues persisted. Pixel 7 Pro battery life was strictly average; if pushed hard, it could not last a day, and mobile data usage rapidly depleted it. Despite the smooth performance, the Tensor G2 chip was not powerful enough to run heavy games or quickly edit video. Overheating was a problem, even with basic tasks.
The Pixel 7 Pro’s poor battery life and subpar Exynos modem soon led me to regret buying it. After using this phone for a few months, I finally made the switch to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Google again cheated me by launching a phone that fails even at basic functions.
Pixel 8 Pro fails like previous Pixels
Although Google only launched the 128GB variant in India initially, I ordered the Pixel 8 Pro on day one. Tensor G3 appears to have addressed all the shortcomings of the previous two Tensor generations. Additionally, the phone features an excellent camera and an improved display.
The same story repeated itself. My initial impression of the Pixel 8 Pro was that it had a smooth Android experience. Unfortunately, after the honeymoon period passed, I realized Google’s 2023 flagship Pixel suffers from the same battery life and connectivity problems as its predecessor.
Google fooled me again a year later with the Pixel 8 Pro. Although the phone received plenty of praise, it was far from worth its $999 launch price. It’s easy to overlook its shortcomings for around $600, which is its current price.
My Google burns are over
Pixel 9 series appears to be perfect. Exynos modem replacement, which provides better connectivity, does not cause overheating. Fast charging speeds finally improve, too, with a day’s battery life.
Due to Google’s track record of burning me, I am wary of buying the Pixel 9 Pro or Pro XL. However, it still falls behind Qualcomm and MediaTek offerings. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, expected to power future Android flagships, is even more powerful. Both chips perform and operate differently.
Tensor chips are expected to be used in the Pixel 10 series, developed by Google and fabricated by TSMC. Google’s chip is expected to be more efficient and battery-friendly as a result. Despite that, I won’t order the Pixel 10 series on launch day, based on my experience with Pixel phones. My life has been ruined by Google.
