I kept my OG Pixel for 5 years and had the battery replaced twice (2.5 years and ~4 years in). It worked fine until the last moment when it just died on me (like, absolutely bricked).
I stopped getting software updates after 3 years but the hardware continued to be very capable until the very end. The battery was expected to degrade after some time, and the phone didn't feel as snappy with modern apps, but it was perfectly fine as a phone.
I'm now on a Pixel 5 and expect to go through something similar. It is absurd to me that people switch phones every 2-3 years (or even annually).
I'm still running a pixel 2 which is almost 6 years old now. I had to have the battery replaced 5 years in. Although it's not the most practical you don't have to replace the full device. Manufacturers would prefer you do.
I had one Pixel 2 that lasted five years. I had another that lasted only six months before the screen just stopped working at all. We'll see how long my current Pixel 5a lasts.
My pixel 4a 5g works like a charm. 3.5 years and still going fine. I used my pixel 2 for three years so badly. I used it as a hotspot every single day and the number of battery cycles were as if the phone was used for 6 years.
My pixel 4a5g takes photos that are on reasonable standards, obviously they won't match match, but it doesn't make a serious difference either to me. I need three things from my phone - battery, camera and lag free user experience. I don't need thinner bezels for gods sake, I can't understand the craze and demand for thinner bezels over a two day battery life.
I don't have a pixel but I've had a bunch of other flagships. The real test, that they all failed, is longevity. Android just doesn't seem able to survive a year of full use without deteriorating into a mess of glitches, one that no developer i know, myself included, has figured out how to fully salvage short of flashing a new ROM.
Similar complaint - I have a Pixel 2. Everything still works great, except for the battery, which lasts around a third as long as when it was new. I checked out replacing it, appears to be highly difficult to not damage the screen when replacing. Sigh. I'm ordering a Pixel 4a to replace it.
It's kind of a drag that once they finally got the fundamental hardware and OS good enough to really last for a few years, they also made it nearly impossible to do what should be simple maintenance.
No sign of battery issues is huge, I'm still rocking my 3 year old Pixel 3a and recently replaced the battery, it was a night and day difference. General slowness/lack of responsiveness, half day battery life. Been like that with all my other smart phones since 2013. Would love my next phone to go on year 4 with no sign of battery degradation (although in lieu of that I'll take an easy to replace battery).
Can you elaborate? I was personally so happy with Pixel4 that I've decided to buy a new version when my phone lost support.
I still use Android, but the lifespan of every Android device I've ever owned is two years or less. They just don't survive that long. Whether it was the old Nexus 7 tablet that hit a boot loop issue, or charging issues that I've run into on most Pixel phones. My previous pixel even had to be repaired (thankfully under warranty) because of the charge port failing. But again it died 6 months later right around the 2 year mark.
The only saving grace is that I'm usually spending around $300 for the Pixel phones, so it's still likely cheaper than if a bought a higher end Samsung that lasted longer.
Funnily enough, the longest lasting "Google" device I've owned is a ChromeOS Lenovo Duet that I purchased back in 2020. The tablet is decidely sluggish these days, so I don't really use it anymore, but at least it still functions.
My pixel 3 motherboard died suddenly last year. Unfortunately, I am too deep into google services/devices that I can't switch. But I don't think pixel phones are designed to last over 5 years. It's not matter of parts; they are just not designed for >5 years of use/abuse.
After 3 years of updates, Google drops Pixel support like a hot potato.
As far as I'm informed every Pixel version so far had battery degradation issues. After year or so the battery seems to have only a fraction of the previous capacity.
My Pixel 4XL, that I bought second hand, had it's battery replaced TWICE under warranty. Then, it started failing against, and I got an OS level alert saying they're detecting another battery fault and that I was eligible for a warranty extension at no cost, and to go and get it fixed. I just take it to the nearest UbreakIfix (or something like that) and they fix it in an hour sometimes, once it took a few hours because they were extra busy.
I was so impressed I bought my dad another used Pixel 4xl because I trusted them. And I'm someone that in general dislikes Google for losing their way the last 5-10 years.
My experience with Pixels has had them last about two years, plus or minus a few months. Always used a case, and the phones did not expire from direct accidents but thinks like the charging port failing (yes, I used a non-conducting tool to try to clean lint out). I loved the stock Android on my OG Pixel and Pixel 3 but the only thing worse than the phone needing replacement was it needing replacement after the extended warranty was past.
Used to run flagship phones, replaced them on the yearly, ran various Android builds on current phone and/or older phones....
At some point I simply stopped caring, started to get the pixel-A phones, and lived happily ever after. I think my Nexus 6p was the last flagship phone I owned, and I probably swapped the battery in that like ~5 times before I got the boot-loop of death. These days I won't be bothered to replace a battery, unless there is a compelling reason. Just get another phone, and move on.
I'm still using a Pixel 1, but it's starting to die at even 30% battery, and hasn't had software updates for to long. Wish devices weren't designed / destined to fail.
I used to have a Pixel 2 XL and then later a Pixel 5a. Went through them really fast as the hardware was pretty bad and the phone would just decide to stop turning on at some point. Same thing happened to a relative I gave a Pixel 5a. Phone didn't last a year.
Don't get me started on the Pixel buds. I got tired of contacting customer support for replacements.
That's when I decided not to buy hardware from Google again, and also stopped using Android. Experience in iPhone has been great so far. Phone's fast despite being several generations behind, don't have to worry about not getting security updates.
I really want to get a Pixel, but I can't justify it because after replacing the battery on my Note 4 it works as well as the day I bought it. A friend of mine had a very different experience, his Note 4 slowed to a crawl and there was no sorting it out. He went back to Apple.
I've hung onto my first generation Pixel for largely this reason. There isn't a lot in the new models to entice me to switch however the loss of the 3.5mm port was the tipping point for me not to purchase either of the updates. I just put a new factory battery in my Pixel ($90 CAD) and it's back to like new again. At the moment I think I'll hold on to it for at least another year.
FWIW my Pixel 4 is still going strong, haven't even thought of getting a replacement. My partner is on the previous Pixel 3 (released October 2018) and no complaints there either.
I stopped getting software updates after 3 years but the hardware continued to be very capable until the very end. The battery was expected to degrade after some time, and the phone didn't feel as snappy with modern apps, but it was perfectly fine as a phone.
I'm now on a Pixel 5 and expect to go through something similar. It is absurd to me that people switch phones every 2-3 years (or even annually).
reply