Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsIt's got its flaws, but overall a very strong choice
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2022
8/10/2022: So far, I'm still really enjoying my Pixel. A solid 4.5 out of 5.
The biggest drawback so far is one I didn't mention originally: the charging time. It's not BAD, necessarily, but still slower than my previous 4-year-old phone. It takes about an hour to charge from 0% to 80%. The battery life hasn't been an issue, at least; I can get through a day on about 60% charge.
I've gotten used to the fingerprint sensor, though it is still a little finicky.
Regarding overheating, I regularly work in 90-110 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours at a time, and I haven't had any glaring issues. It just gets a little draggy when it's hot. (And apparently, it won't let you use the flash when it's warm.)
One great thing I didn't mention before are the haptics/vibration. I particularly like them in this phone for typing, etc. I can always feel it in my pocket when I'm getting a call, which I can't say for the last few phones I've had before this one.
8/1/2022: I've had this phone for only a couple of days now, but my first impressions are very positive. My previous phone was the Essential PH-1, which now has a shot battery, and my biggest struggle in finding a replacement for it was finding a device that was the right size. There are plenty of great phones for this price range out there, but almost all of them are all HUGE.
Funnily enough, there's already a great review by another previous Essential PH-1 user, so I'll probably end up repeating a few of the same points.
THE PROS:
-The camera experience is MUCH better on the Pixel than with the PH-1. Google phone cameras have never failed me.
-The stock-feeling Android experience is great and super snappy on the Pixel, and rather customizable. I love being able to activate dark mode on all of my standard apps. Besides that, it will be receiving updates for 5 more years.
-The phone design is sharp and the Sage color is unexpectedly cool. The back feels like glass but is made of plastic, which obviously helps to make the phone feel as lightweight as it does. The buttons are nice and clicky.
-I use Straight Talk as my carrier. So far, reception has been great, even compared to the Essential PH-1.
-The size is NEARLY 100% PERFECT, but it borders on being just a touch on the tall side. I still like the shape enough that I don't mind a bit. I have medium-large hands, and I really wanted to stay with a slim device that fits comfortably in one hand and thrives with single-thumb use.
-Some are concerned about the phone's 60 hz refresh rate. I've never actually owned a phone with anything higher, so as far as I'm concerned, the display is buttery smooth.
THE MEH:
-So far, I haven't experienced any overheating or bugs... with one exception. For whatever reason, my Pixel did not ship with the Magic Eraser tool in the photo editing app.
-Battery life isn't exactly life-changing, but it'll get you through a full day's use after an hour's charge, no problem. Even intensive use doesn't seem to drain the battery too quickly.
-The dual speakers are nice, but I noticed max volume is comparatively sorta quiet.
THE CONS:
-My only real nitpick with this phone so far is the front/display fingerprint sensor. After owning a device with a rear fingerprint sensor, it feels like a bit of a drawback. The PH-1's rear sensor provided instant unlock, whereas the Pixel's front sensor is barely slower AND a little finicky; sometimes, it takes a couple of tries for it to recognize my thumbprint. It works decently enough even with a screen protector, but like any fingerprint sensor, I wouldn't expect great results if your fingerprint is worn away at all.
-It comes with a usb-c to usb-c charging cable, but no charger block. I highly dislike that trend.
OVERALL, I am really enjoying the phone and hope it does hold out well for the next 5 years of updates. Even with my small nitpick concerning the fingerprint sensor, I love the camera, the lightweight Android experience, and especially the phone's size.
