Google’s Pixel is a Fast Phone

I got one on a whim, the day after Christmas. You see, my trusty Galaxy S6 had a habit of dropping its 4G signal randomly. This trait irked me more and more until I could take it no longer. The Pixel isn’t out yet in the Philippines, but you can find them from resellers online. I sold the S6 for a tidy sum (just under $300) headed to Greenhills and got a Pixel for PHP 30,000 (or about $600).  

First impressions? It’s fast. Super fast. I’ve always been a little jealous of iPhone users, specifically because of how ridicoulsly smooth iOS looks in operation. I owned the S6 and have used the S7, and can say that this is the first time I’ve used an android device that truly felt as polished as iOS. To be clear, I’ve always prefered Android’s aesthetics and UX, but the interface, even with the best phones has always felt a little unoptimized and laggy. Not so on the Pixel. Double tapping the menu button to switch between apps is instant. Launching the camera, flipping through multiple tabs, scrolling through web pages, nothing I’ve done has made my Pixel so much as break a sweat. Frankly, it makes using my phone feel _great_.

Even the design has grown on me. The bizarre half-glass window on the rear was supposedly added to aid signal reception. In my case at least, I’ve noticed a clear, marked improvement over the S6, which had severe issues getting a clear signal from my carrier on the 30th floor of my apartment building.

And then there’s the camera. Simply put, it’s incredible. I’m not a photographer, but I do love taking pictures and video to document what I’ve seen and been, and the Pixel’s dexterity, providing great results in dark light and day light, coupled with Google giving Pixel users unlimited Photo storage means I ’m taking pictures and video a lot more. That isn’t to say it’s infallible. The Lens Blur option is clearly inferior to Apple’s Potrait setting, and even the Selective focus option on flagship Galaxy phones.

Long and short? I really dig this phone.