I own almost every pixel and nexus phone and I had the iPhone 6s and 8 at work. I always loved the stock android experience and due to muzzle memory I never really felt at home with the iPhones. Just basic stuff like sending email attachments from one conversation to another was weird, clumsy way of going back inside an app with the "back" button on the top left. So no gestures. No swiping keyboard. No customization. However, all that hast changed.

On the other hand, with my Pixel 6 and the early Android 13 experience, I was more than ever frustrated with bugs and crashes. Also, I was looking forward to a Pixel watch forever and the idea of Google establishing a sensible ecosystem. I don't own one, because I am really underwhelmed with what I've seen so far.

So, this makes me wonder, if this Pixel love might have come to an end. Since the iPhone 8, Apple's come a long way and most of the annoying stuff is gone. Plus – although I don't own a single Apple product – seeing how well iPhones, wearables and Macbooks work together, just makes me wanna give it a shot.

However, there's one really big thing for me and that's the unlimited photo uploading space for Pixel users. My wife and I both have Pixel phones and are sharing our Google Photos uploads with each other without worrying about space restrictions. I wonder, if there's a way to do something similar on iPhone? Basically, that's one of view reasons that heavily weigh in for sticking with my Pixel.

Also, I've got a bunch of Chromecast and Home Minis, are they going to work with an iPhone?

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SirSampson01 t1_iuepmyo wrote on October 30, 2022 at 7:35 PM

I still use Google Photos on my iPhone to backup photos instead of iCloud. I started with a MacBook and then switched everything over to Apple. Went from a Pixel 6 Pro to currently a iPhone 14 Pro and I don’t plan on going back. I also prefer the Apple Watch to any android watches I’ve had. Only downside is the lack of integration with YouTube Music and Google Maps, but I make it work.

Plop1992 t1_iui2a3b wrote on October 31, 2022 at 2:27 PM

If youre a Prime member, Amazon Photos offer unlimited picture storage

Prime88 t1_iuf0t2f wrote on October 30, 2022 at 8:49 PM

FYI- there is no unlimited google photos for Pixels anymore. It is only available for Pixel 5 and below.

Edit: mistakenly said no google photos upload since pixel 5

DaveTN t1_iueofxz wrote on October 30, 2022 at 7:27 PM

So I was a diehard Android fanboy and Pixel enthusiast, and to some degree, so was my wife until one day I changed jobs. My employer was hard set on iPhones for all the clinical staff due to their better security and comparability with a certain secure messaging app. And of course, to make it easier on our IT Dpt.

I went kicking and screaming, but hey, I got an unlocked iPhone 11 ProMax with unlimited everything. It took me a week to get oriented to the different OS, after that it became second nature. One of the biggest things was I could go two solid days of heavy use on my battery. 18 hours was the max for my pixel. The other thing that surprised me was how long Apple supports their phones with updates. My Pixel 3XL was EOL after 3 years. iPhones get at least 5.

The other thing was compatibility. My android wear watch was constantly disconnecting and was about as smart as a stone. It was a premium watch that stopped getting updates after only 18 months. I was gifted an Apple Watch Series 5 and was simply amazed.

I can go on but while many complain about how expensive Apple products are, and I agree to some extent, but they just work, and last longer.

Oh, and I got my wife an 11 PM and AW series six and she loves it. Complained a little about the transition but picked up on it quickly.

zerbey t1_iuf3ycg wrote on October 30, 2022 at 9:10 PM

Unlimited photos hasn't been a thing for a while, just pay the $10 a month for 1TB which should be more than enough.

Jagr t1_iuej8ol wrote on October 30, 2022 at 6:53 PM

There’s a Google Home app and it works fine with Nest speakers and all that. As for the muscle memory stuff that just comes with time, I’d say it’s a good time to try out iOS right now as it continues to develop as an OS it’s a great, relatively hassle free experience.

TheMadMando77 t1_iugmcpt wrote on October 31, 2022 at 4:11 AM

I was in the same boat as you. Have been an Android user for almost 10 years, exclusively on the Nexus and Pixel lines, and part time iPhone user because of work. Got Google Homes and Chromecasts all over the place, and most of my smarthome stuff is Google/Nest. Decided to pick up a 14 Pro this past September since I use a MacBook and iPad, and the rest of my family was Apple.

All the Google hardware and services still work, and there are iOS versions of pretty much all the Google apps. I still use Google Photos, although it does suck that I no longer have backups that don’t count towards the storage. iOS has improved enough that it no longer frustrates me to no end, although notifications are still a bit of a mess. The few downsides an iPhone has is more than offset with how well everything integrates if you use other Apple hardware.

Ssimon2103 t1_iuhbhxg wrote on October 31, 2022 at 10:10 AM

muzzle memory....

Sqou OP t1_iuhbsj6 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 10:14 AM

Sorry, not a native speaker. Obviously been playing too much Battlefield. :D

Captainxannath t1_iufc0km wrote on October 30, 2022 at 10:05 PM

Only thing I miss from my pixels is the universal back button swipe and the call screening feature. Otherwise that’s it. Google got rid of the unlimited uploads with the pixel 6 which was a bummer. However the pixel 6 was so poorly optimized and their SoC was built using Samsungs designs. Samsungs exynos processors are just straight garbage compared to snapdragon and even worse compared to Apple.

Skripka t1_iufnlkg wrote on October 30, 2022 at 11:28 PM

As others have noted Google Photos perks have been gone for over a year

https://9to5google.com/2021/05/25/google-pixel-photos-perks/

There's a handful of software things that Google does just plain better with its Pixel line. Specifically voice-to-text and spam call/text blocking, on the Pixel line they work great IME...but, the Pixel/Nexus line has always had hardware problems. I liked my 6Pro, but the 5G modem chip was last gen and my handset was one of those that ran hot on 5G. And, honestly, if I' m going to be paying iPhone prices anyway to get a decent Android--I might as well just get an iPhone. That was always the alure of Android of getting the same/better for less--but that stopped being the case a while ago.

No handset is perfect. But Apple has been supporting their handsets better for a long while in software and hardware compared to any Android OEM. My iPhone needs a new battery--I can pay nominal fee, walk into a shop, and get a new battery and not need to buy another $1000 phone because of the battery.

There's also the reality that the Android app store is poorly curated and riddled with ad/malware that goes unpoliced. Generally iPhone apps are higher quality. Although there tend to be more paywalls, the apps are more sustainable and better maintained.

Sqou OP t1_iugmqyw wrote on October 31, 2022 at 4:16 AM

Thanks for your view. Just wanted to add, that if you choose to upload your photos in a slightly reduced quality (not noticeable at all) it still is unlimited for us. We use the Pixel 5 and 6. I don't know if it's any different here in Germany than in other regions.

prestone818 t1_iuiitze wrote on October 31, 2022 at 4:20 PM

Gnex, google play edition, pixels, I used to have flavors of all of those. While I’m happy with the switch and not going back anytime soon, iOS isn’t as perfect as people make it out to be. My new iPhone freezes every now and then.

I really miss the ability to set app defaults, set separate volume for alarm/media/ringer, the android stock calculator, better google apps, constant swipe gestures (back), and better widgets.

iPhone battery life is just night and day from android, which is why I’m willing to overlook those things, but I do miss them.

VR1008 t1_iugpnvs wrote on October 31, 2022 at 4:49 AM

I’ve tried the google pixels a lot at stores and elsewhere and I’m telling you the software just isn’t as smooth and refined as IOS. The navigation between apps isn’t buttery like on iOS and pixels tend to have some bugs too

nichebanter t1_iuiic4i wrote on October 31, 2022 at 4:17 PM

Recently went from a Pixel 5 to a Pixel 7, now trying out an iPhone 13 as I find the P7 just too big.

As this is close to your situation some thoughts may help - although I do use a mac which may change things.

People have addressed the google photos issue which is no longer free (although if you use opinion rewards this could pay for google one increased storage). Google photos does also work with iOS, and chrome cast does although I don't have a home mini.

Face ID, build quality and the size of the iPhone are just great for me - feels like a super premium device that is genuinely nice and enjoyable to use. I've had an iPad for a few years and iOS is definitely now more accessible coming from android. A few examples - widgets exist (which are still way behind android but at least present), can use Brave browser to watch youtube without ads and some iOS annoyances can be fixed with (the excellent) shortcuts app which allows good levels of automation (opening things with non apple apps and activate features based on location and lots more). You can mostly also swipe from the left edge of the screen to go back. If you use a mac/ipad, being able to do stuff like right click in a word doc and tell it to allow your iPhone to take a photo and insert it in real time are amazing. Also being able to just carry on with safari tabs from one device to the next is nice and airdrop is a top tier feature for multiple apple devices.

The pain points that may end up causing me to stick with the pixel are (obviously) software based. Notifications are way worse and disappear forever often too early or without actioning them. Similarly the way photos are dealt with if you use apps like WhatsApp are super annoying if you like to separate camera roll photos with ones you've been sent on apps (they all just mush together, or you have to only view them in WhatsApp). Although I mentioned Brave blocking youtube ads, this doesn't compare to an android app like Re-Vanced. The pixel also feels faster in day to day use (not talking about processing power for gaming) - the animations are faster, whereas someone described the iOS ones accurately as 'laid back' which I agree with (although they are smooth and quite pleasing). As you mentioned the keyboards are also based on apples own, so no number row, comma on the main keyboard.

The last one is cost - in the UK P7 + pixel bud pro cost 600 vs an open box/returned iPhone 13 alone costs around 650 here. Thus to match them up looking at 800+ total if you want AirPods. It's just not clear that the price difference is worth it for the nice continuity features and size.