nichebanter

nichebanter t1_iuiic4i wrote

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.

2