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If you care about always having the latest software with the latest Google features just get a Pixel. 7 years of OS and security updates: https://support.google

If you care about always having the latest software with the latest Google features just get a Pixel. 7 years of OS and security updates: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705?hl=en https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705?hl=en Google doesn't control what other vendors do; that's the beauty of open source. (You can argue how open Android really is these days but it's still more open than iOS.)

malfist 1y ago
What happens when one of those updates bricks your battery so it only lasts an hour or so off charger?
- FreakyT 1y ago
  Not sure why you're getting downvoted, considering that this actually happened: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/google-pixel-4as-ruinous-battery-performance-update-is-a-bewildering-mess/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/google-pixel-4as-rui...
  - microtonal 1y ago
    Yes, and Google offers a free battery replacement for affected users: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861 https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861 Last time Apple pushed a battery-related software update that avoided shutdowns (good), people had to sue them to get a compensation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batterygate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batterygate
    - malfist 1y ago
      You had to pick battery or strings attached cash, before the update arrived. And the battery replacement required you to send your phone off for repair leaving you without one, and Google didn't offer an sla for turn around. And let's be honest, inconveniencing me is hardly acceptable, even if the company makes a token effort to put things back to before they inconvenienced me.
- alright2565 1y ago
  They replaced my battery free of charge when they did that.
- QuarterReptile 1y ago
  Hate to say it, but everyone does this. My dad replaced his iPhone back in December when an update killed it. No acknowledgment of the problem from Apple. Hell, my car has a stupid system that shakes motor mounts apart and burns through ignition coils and spark plugs. Honda won't admit fault because, among other things, it was a fuel-saving boondoggle and they won't back down from lying to customers if it means stepping into the path of an oncoming EPA train.
aucisson_masque 1y ago
Pixel have other issue, quality control and run on Samsung exynos hardware with bad performance and connectivity. I'd argue that Android is technically more open than iOS but in practice it isn't. Google have dark pattern and elaborated ways to get Android user to stay in the 'walled Google play service garden'. Like when you install a third party store and Google play protect warns you it may be insecure. Or having to press install for every app installed outside of the store, over and over. The fact you can't get push notification without enabling the Google play services, which is the core framework of the Google data collection happening on every Android.
- II2II 1y ago
  > Pixel have other issue Every product is going to have issues in one form or another. The question is which issues affect your personal use of the product. I'm too new to Pixel to comment on whether switching to it is a good or a bad thing in my case, but I have been happy with the trade-offs so far. Ironically, one of the reasons why I went with a Pixel was to avoid much of the Google software ecosystem.
  - attendant3446 1y ago
    I switched to a Pixel for the same reason. I'm on my second Pixel and the GrapheneOS is fantastic
- int0x29 1y ago
  I have fdroid installed on a pixel and I didn't hit any warnings beyond needing to enable side loading. As for push notifications, if you are developing an app, you can build your own infrastructure for that or rent it from someone else. If you are concerned about google software you can, with effort, reflash with another OS. All of the above either don't exist on iOS or only exists in the EU. Personally I've never had issues with Samsung modems and I am honestly confused what people are doing with their phones that require high power CPUs.
  - aucisson_masque 1y ago
ranger_danger 1y ago
> that's the beauty of open source Many would argue that that kind of fragmentation is also its biggest downfall.
mvdtnz 1y ago
It's also not offered in my country, so your advice is worthless to me.

malfist 1y ago

What happens when one of those updates bricks your battery so it only lasts an hour or so off charger?

FreakyT 1y ago
Not sure why you're getting downvoted, considering that this actually happened: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/google-pixel-4as-ruinous-battery-performance-update-is-a-bewildering-mess/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/google-pixel-4as-rui...
- microtonal 1y ago
  Yes, and Google offers a free battery replacement for affected users: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861 https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861 Last time Apple pushed a battery-related software update that avoided shutdowns (good), people had to sue them to get a compensation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batterygate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batterygate
  - malfist 1y ago
    You had to pick battery or strings attached cash, before the update arrived. And the battery replacement required you to send your phone off for repair leaving you without one, and Google didn't offer an sla for turn around. And let's be honest, inconveniencing me is hardly acceptable, even if the company makes a token effort to put things back to before they inconvenienced me.
alright2565 1y ago
They replaced my battery free of charge when they did that.
QuarterReptile 1y ago
Hate to say it, but everyone does this. My dad replaced his iPhone back in December when an update killed it. No acknowledgment of the problem from Apple. Hell, my car has a stupid system that shakes motor mounts apart and burns through ignition coils and spark plugs. Honda won't admit fault because, among other things, it was a fuel-saving boondoggle and they won't back down from lying to customers if it means stepping into the path of an oncoming EPA train.

aucisson_masque 1y ago

Pixel have other issue, quality control and run on Samsung exynos hardware with bad performance and connectivity. I'd argue that Android is technically more open than iOS but in practice it isn't. Google have dark pattern and elaborated ways to get Android user to stay in the 'walled Google play service garden'. Like when you install a third party store and Google play protect warns you it may be insecure. Or having to press install for every app installed outside of the store, over and over. The fact you can't get push notification without enabling the Google play services, which is the core framework of the Google data collection happening on every Android.

II2II 1y ago
> Pixel have other issue Every product is going to have issues in one form or another. The question is which issues affect your personal use of the product. I'm too new to Pixel to comment on whether switching to it is a good or a bad thing in my case, but I have been happy with the trade-offs so far. Ironically, one of the reasons why I went with a Pixel was to avoid much of the Google software ecosystem.
- attendant3446 1y ago
  I switched to a Pixel for the same reason. I'm on my second Pixel and the GrapheneOS is fantastic
int0x29 1y ago
I have fdroid installed on a pixel and I didn't hit any warnings beyond needing to enable side loading. As for push notifications, if you are developing an app, you can build your own infrastructure for that or rent it from someone else. If you are concerned about google software you can, with effort, reflash with another OS. All of the above either don't exist on iOS or only exists in the EU. Personally I've never had issues with Samsung modems and I am honestly confused what people are doing with their phones that require high power CPUs.
- aucisson_masque 1y ago

ranger_danger 1y ago

> that's the beauty of open source Many would argue that that kind of fragmentation is also its biggest downfall.

mvdtnz 1y ago

It's also not offered in my country, so your advice is worthless to me.