But see, here\u2019s where the problem rears its ugly head: not that many people have tried it. Or a Pixel in general. <\/p>\n
And I don\u2019t get it.<\/p>\n
My Pixel is comfy to hold. It can handle anything that I throw at it. Together, we make such great photos that I actually sold my DSRL. It has tons of exciting<\/a>, unique features that I appreciate, including a Pocket Operator app from Teenage Engineering, which is my favorite thing ever. <\/p>\n And sure, okay: half of you probably don\u2019t know what Teenage Engineering is, but you don\u2019t need to. Because I think that all of the latest Pixel phones cover the general needs of most modern-day consumers:<\/p>\n But if that\u2019s the case, then why did I go through three instances in the last six months, where I found it almost impossible to get my friends to consider getting a Pixel phone? <\/p>\n Because, of course, when someone needs a new phone, they come to me. Not only because I\u2019m a trustworthy and reliable friend, but also because the word \u201cphone\u201d is literally in the name of the company I work for. <\/p>\n Image credit \u2014 PhoneArena<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In all seriousness, I have no idea why this friend of mine had a Huawei phone to begin with. The entire fiasco regarding regulations and bans had already taken place, so why anyone in the west would continue to use a phone from this brand is truly beyond me.<\/p>\n But there we were. Me and my friend with a Huawei phone \u2014 battered, broken screen, practically falling apart \u2014 ready to go on the hunt for a new phone. So what were the criteria?<\/p>\n Huh. <\/span>Well\u2026 That sounds a lot like \u201cany Android phone out there\u201d, right?<\/p>\n Despite that, my friend insisted that we look at Chinese phones exclusively. And it took me a bit of time to understand why: that\u2019s what he knows. He\u2019s coming from a chinese phone, which would\u2019ve been good if not for the lack of the aforementioned criteria. <\/p>\n Hence, he\u2019s looking to repeat the process, but improve upon it. A totally human thing to do! Therefore, we spent a ton of time looking at Xiaomi phones and Poco phones. <\/p>\n But here\u2019s the thing: those were either more expensive or less practical than a Pixel 6a<\/span>. So at first, I suggested it. Then, after we browsed ten-ish more models, I reminded him of my suggestion. No reaction<\/a>, not even curiosity. <\/p>\n In the end, I kind of lost it and went: \u201cDude, why do you want to pay more to get less when you can get a phone like mine and have all the things you told me you\u2019re looking for?!\u201d<\/p>\n And he went: \u201cWait, you have <\/span>one?\u201d<\/p>\n Ah. Of course. <\/span>How would he know that my phone was a Pixel 6a<\/span>? To him, it was just this funky looking phone that reminded him of Daft Punk music. <\/p>\n So I just unlocked it, handed it to him and said \u201cgo nuts\u201d. Two hours later, the order was in. Now, months later, he says it\u2019s the best phone he\u2019s ever had. <\/p>\n But why was it so difficult to get him to check it out? Hm\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n Image credit \u2014 PhoneArena<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWow, like, do those even exist?!\u201d went I, when I heard another friend describe what he was looking for.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yeah, check these out!\u201d<\/p>\n And then he proceeded to bombard me with links to Ulefone models from more than four years ago. No, seriously: manufacturers aren\u2019t doing a good enough job of explaining why an old phone can be a very bad thing for you if you\u2019re not a techie, but I digress.<\/p>\n So after a short discussion on the topic of \u201cWhat is a security update and why do I need it?\u201d, we decided that what my friend needs is a Galaxy Xcover phone! He, like many other people out there, had no idea that Samsung<\/a> had its own line of rugged phones. <\/p>\n Then we saw the price and we realized that no, we weren\u2019t about to order one. That\u2019s the thing with enterprise-oriented phones: they don\u2019t exactly come cheap when you\u2019re looking to get one for personal use. <\/p>\n So, I asked the big question: what was my friend looking for in a phone?<\/p>\n So, I had to re-introduce my friend to the concept of \u201c2023\u201d and explain that 3,5mm jacks aren\u2019t exactly common in the world of tech anymore. And after that \u2014 you know how this goes: I suggested a Pixel 6a<\/span>. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll check it out.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence. Dead air. A couple of days pass and a new batch of Ulefone-like Chinese phones get delivered to my IMs. <\/p>\n Oh, god. This again. Silence. One day later:<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m worried that I\u2019ll break it.\u201d<\/p>\n Hm. So why did I expect someone, coming from an Ulefone \u2014 you know, the phone literally encased in metal, capable of causing a concussion if you toss it around a bit too eagerly \u2014 to know any of that? <\/p>\n Better yet: why does Google<\/a> or any other manufacturer expect people to know how durable modern phones are? When I asked my friend about his worries, he showed me a clip of an iPhone<\/a> durability test. But is that a fair benchmark for all modern phones? <\/p>\n Well, it doesn\u2019t matter, because I had a solution. We went out. I do the same thing: unlock, hand over and say \u201cgo nuts\u201d. After I saw him become impressed, I wrap things up with \u201cNow throw it. Yes, seriously. Throw it. It\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n A week<\/a> later, the man had a spiffy Pixel 7a, which he loved. He\u2019s still a bit too worried if it\u2019ll survive, but honestly? I\u2019m confident that it will, especially after his case arrives \u2014 he got one just like mine. <\/p>\n Now, don\u2019t go and throw your phone around now. Only I and people in my vicinity can do that. I’ve got a special amulet that I won from a D&D campaign once and it enables me to throw phones without risk. <\/p>\n But beyond that: Are you starting to notice a pattern here? <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Image credit \u2014 PhoneArena<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThis is going to be a breeze\u201d I said to myself when I was approached by another one of my besties. He\u2019s a Samsung fan and he isn\u2019t looking for budget or Pro-grade: he just wants to have a good Android phone<\/span> that can get the job done.<\/p>\n So just the usual then:<\/p>\n Not even a camera requirement?! Man, this would be easy! \u201cLinks? No, we\u2019re going to the store.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2026 Forgot to get milk?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I need the phone to feel good in my hand.\u201d<\/p>\n Ah. <\/span>That\u2019s unique. <\/p>\n And totally understandable, honestly. I mean, when you\u2019re ready to dish out in order to get a good phone, then you should at the very least enjoy holding it, right? <\/p>\n Now, my boy here was rocking the Galaxy S10 for a long time, primarily because it was comfortable for him. But time did its nasty thing and the phone was no longer reasonable or safe for him to carry on using. <\/p>\n So, of course, the first place we stopped was at the Galaxy kiosk to try the latest Galaxy S23 series<\/a> of phones. And here\u2019s the kicker: they all felt too big to him, as the S10 has a slightly different form factor that makes it feel more compact when held in the hand.<\/p>\n So, me being me, I instantly thought of the Asus Zenfone 9 or Zenfone 10. Full disclosure: this was my alt-pick if I hadn\u2019t gone with the Pixel 6a<\/span>. Now, these were a bit difficult to find. We went to three or four stores before we found a place that had the Zenfone 9. <\/p>\n It was sealed, so we had to jump through some hoops and get permission from a higher-up before the klerk would agree to open it up for us, so that we could check it out. But it wasn\u2019t in the color we were looking for and it still didn\u2019t feel just right to my friend. <\/p>\n So this was it, then, wasn\u2019t it? My que.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I\u2019ve got a Pixel phone and they\u2019re pretty neat. Wanna try mine?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFeels a bit off. Didn\u2019t know Google still makes phones.\u201d<\/p>\n We let the topic go and continued browsing Motorola<\/a> phones. We were hoping to find some place that had the Motorola Edge<\/a> 40 Neo, but it had just come out and it wasn\u2019t in stock anywhere yet.<\/p>\n Coffee break. I bring up the Pixel again. <\/p>\n \u201cDo they come in other models?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThree more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n And we went. But no store had a Pixel phone at all, let alone one on display. We even went to another neighboring city, where they had Pixels, but they wouldn\u2019t let us see them. This entire thing felt absolutely absurd. <\/p>\n So, end of the day, we devised a crazy plan on how to get a Pixel 7 for him to test out:<\/p>\n I mean, it\u2019s not a perfect plan. Well, honestly, it\u2019s not even a good plan. But it was our only option. The good news is that the plan worked. My friend kept the phone. Months later, he\u2019s happy with it. His only gripe is size, as the Pixel 7<\/span> feels a bit too large for his taste. And I can relate. But that\u2019s beyond us.<\/p>\n And you know what else is beyond me? Why it was so difficult to find a place where we could actually see a Pixel phone live. <\/p>\n\n
Case study #1: A good phone on a budget<\/h2>\n
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Case study #2: A rugged phone on a budget (?!)<\/h2>\n
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\u201cDude, did you check the Pixel phone I sent you?\u201d<\/p>\n
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Now, I know that the Pixel A line of phones have plastic backs, which makes them a bit more durable. I also know that there are tons of great, cheap rugged cases for them. I even know that I\u2019ve intentionally thrown my phone across the room with such a case just to see what would happen.<\/p>\nCase study #3: A good phone. Period. <\/h2>\n
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\u201cHey, man, ready to look at some links?\u201d<\/p>\n\n
So, why can\u2019t I convince you people to get Pixel phones?!<\/h2>\n
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