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Did you not consider the Nothing Phone 2?

Its got the premium build, the zero bloatware experience and great specs (except maybe the Camera). and would cost you a couple 1000s less than the the 2 year old Pixel 7.

And considering that you have a completely black and opaque case on the back, it doesn't really matter whether you like the design of the Nothing phone and its LED lights

G2 is literally manufactured by Samsung. I did not mention Snapdragon. Coming to photos, I mentioned it in pros section. Video I am not sold yet, have you not noticed stutters while switching from one lens to another? Focus issues? Grainy issues when you go to 5X zoom? Just check once, as soon as you go to 5X zoom, the colours change and objects become blur. Zoom slowly from 4.5x all colours go in drain.

I did not consider Nothing Phone 2, it was too much bling for my liking. Good phone, but the Glyph lighting is too weird for me (no offence to users).

I have been using Pixel 7 Pro for past couple of years now. I am looking for a compact phone now, primarily looking at S23.

How is the battery backup for S23 relative to Pixel 7 Pro? In my experience, it runs warm on mobile networks and battery drains much faster too.

Just cover it with a case my guy. You have gone the Pixel route despite the well known network and heating issues. I hope you stay on wifi and 4g or it's gonna get cooked.

I am also looking for the S23 256 GB, its a great device with its compact form factor, dslr like camera, 120hz display, Galaxy AI, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, dynamic amoled display, unlimited customisations.
As per the reviews on YouTube, battery gives almost 5.30 to 6 hours of screen on time with moderate usage and can last upto a whole day with minimal usage, which is decent in my opinion.
If you want to buy, then Flipkart's BBD sale is coming, it will be available at its lowest price -
36,999 for 128 and 41,999 for 256 rl:

As I said, my phones connect to my PC as phones (and not as usual storage devices) while allowing me to transfer files to and from it (albeit with associated annoyances, as illustrated earlier).

The connection is of a very different type compared to just mass storage connections via USB (pen drives, external HDDs etc). The apps on my PC (file copying, file sync and the like) treat the phone connection quite differently from other USB storage connections. For example, file sync doesn't even see the files on my phones connected via USB File Transfer, while it works just fine for other USB storage connections, or the direct card reader.

If some software on my Windows system is indeed interfering with the USB MSC mode connection only for phones for some reason (and not for other storage devices), I really don't know how to address that problem.


That's a quite difficult choice for me at this point, potentially requiring a substantial investment (in terms of time at least), because I'd have to dump all my years of investment in the Windows setup (a multitude of apps, scripts etc. etc. for example) in favour of a completely different system.

Don't get me wrong. I have been quite comfortable with Unix and Linux during my student and working life. But in my personal life, Windows always ruled for various reasons. At this point in my life I can afford only minimal time with the already available tools in order to achieve my goals, and am not very keen on disturbing a basically working setup (unless some tasks become impossible to perform with the tools at hand).
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Even I have the same problem the other way around. I am sorely tempted to try one or two of the current crop of photo post processing apps, but I have a 100% linux pc, no secure boot (because the disks mostly come from a previous BIOS-era pc) and all ext4 filesystems. To install any version of Windows would be such a huge headache, that, when I do it, I'll buy some cheap micro pc just for that.

It is extremely hard to make the change from years-invested known software. For many it just isn't worth it. I'm not pushing it on the basis of mere ideology! Our computers are tools, and the first priority is to simply get on with the work (or play).

Linux is probably more other-system friendly than Windows, eg in being able to mount/read/write other filesystems.

Which brings me back on-topic, to Android. I'm not very much techie these days, and I don't actually know what filesystems Android uses! Is it ext4? Is this why Windows sees and Android phone as something other than simple storage, whereas Linux is comfortable with it?

I use rsync (and grsync) a lot. As far as I know, it wouldn't mind if source/destination was on a phone. I used to use an Android rsync app to back up my phone to the computer. But back then I was more techie and my phones were always rooted. As my techiness declines, and the cost of my phones increases I feel less inclined to mess with that

I did some reading up about this. Are you running Samsung PC Suite on your computer, and is your computer running Windows 7? There seems to be two schools of thought - one that blames Windows (specifically, wpdshext.dll) for this problem and the other that blames Samsung's software.

Start with uninstalling the Samsung software. If that doesn't solve, unregister the DLL. Also make sure you have updated everything, and last but not the least - if you are running Windows 7 upgrade to the latest and greatest.

No, I do not use the Samsung PC Suite. After having not very satisfactory experience with a similar PC Suite with my old LG phone, I prefer a direct USB connection to the PC. Serves my purpose for the most part, if not in a more desirable manner.

The issue I had raised is common with all three of my phones (two Samsungs, generations apart, and one Mi), -- the one common factor being Windows 7 on both my PC and laptop. So that seems to be the culprit now.

When I had purchased my laptop, I did have the option of a free upgrade to Windows 10 (when that was very new). But decided to stay with the stable and proven Windows version rather than jump for an yet-unproven Windows 10. The latest Windows version is planned for my next laptop whenever that comes. In the mean time I'll try out your other suggestion while staying with Windows 7 for now. Thanks.


Haha. I was also thinking about what you would do, if by some miracle Windows suddenly appears to make more sense!

It's a good thing otherwise too, that it didn't seem prudent to me to dump Windows in favour of Linux, --- because of the very real possibility of all memories then coming back to tempt me to get into arguments about how infinitely superior emacs is to vi. :-)
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Windows could never make more sense to me! I came to computing fairly late in life, and it was via Unix. There is nothing about Microsoft that I ever preferred, from DOS onwards. The whole culture puts me off. Like "Problem? Try reinstalling. You should do that every year or so anyway." I've run Unix machines for a year without rebooting, let alone re-installing. :Cheering:

Luckily, I am not tied to any windows-only package in any way, so it is not going to happen.


It would be too much diversion to talk of Google's walk on the Microsoft path, but I even given that (I try not to use Chrome) I am happy to be using Linux and Android, the grandchildren of Unix. :)

(And I'm a vi man. Along with ed, sed, awk and the whole set of those tools)

Congrats on the new phone. You are good for another 3 years till EOL for Pixel 7 pro (2 more OS update and 3 more years of security updates).

I have been a Pixel 7 pro user for more than a year now and concur with most of your findings except
[*]2 years old model, only 2 more major OS updates and 3 years security updates (Pixel 8 and 9 will get 7 years OS updates)

It was more or less inline with the competition that time. Believe Samsung had 4 OS updates for S22. Other than iPhone I don't think there was any which gave substantially more updates.
[*]Curved display is not a premium offering anymore, many budget phones offer it

Why is this a con or bad? Though personally I prefer a flat screen as you get screen guards from companies like Spigen. For curved screen its usually scratch guard and that too doesn't last long as it gets easily peeled off.

If it's the screen guard availability for curved screen - it's an issue. Else curved or flat if the screen is good there really should not be an issue per se.
[*]Worst video recording output, focus issue, colors are bad and while switching from one lens to another it stutters a lot

I am not much of video guy. The joy I get freezing a moment is way more than taking a video. Have used the video rarely but hardly reviewed them thoroughly to make a comment. Comparable iPhone and Galaxy models had better video is what I have been told. Pixels have caught up since then and are comparable to competition if not the best.

So, depends on what you are comparing it against. Maybe worse than Samsung and Apple but not really the worst.
[*]Underwhelming hardware, Google fixed hardware issues with good software, but still not a powerful phone

If we go by benchmarks may be yes. But it performs well as advertised and phone has been working flawlessly, except may be for gaming. I have not faced any issues yet in last 12 months to be critical of it. I am not a gamer so can't really comment. But most review points out that it's not up to flagship standards.
[*]Heats up a bit while using for more than 20 minutes

I use a Spigen case and have never faced any issues with heating yet. Does it restart the phone, else the heat management is good enough. May feel warm but unless it's affecting the performance I don't think it's much of an issue
[*]Night photos are really bad

Well this is something I do not agree with. What are you comparing it against? Mirrorless or DSLRs. Apple, Samsung and Pixels are the best of the lot and even couple of generations back Pixel was mostly voted the best as far as night photos were concerned.

https://www.dxomark.com/smartphones/

You can filter year wise and check that only Huawei has been ranked higher than Pixel for the last 3 years. Pixel pro versions have been ranked 2nd for the last 3 years in the ultra-premium category and Huawei has a bigger senor than Pixels, iPhones and Galaxies. Pixel rather has the most inferior hardware compared to all other ultra-premium phones. So, let's give credit where its due.
[*]Supports only 23 watts charging

Again its competitors have similar charging speeds. It results in a longer battery life. Currently iPhone, Galaxy and Pixels provide the maximum OS updates so makes sense to have the battery last longer and compromise on the charging speeds a little. I believe all three can provide higher charging speeds but are not doing so to balance the battery life.

Another Pixel 7 Pro user here. Agree with all your observations!
This phone currently available for 45k is a good value for money.

I will check video more closely. I don't have data to claim other phones are less grainy while zooming in. Stutters, may be.

Regarding snapdragon, I would say I was typing different than what I was thinking!:confused:

That's why I talked about a "miracle" (-- perhaps in some parallel universe, where Bill Gates (or whoever) bribes the computer god to turn things completely upside down, so Windows becomes the more desirable)!

My initiation with computing was with the DEC VAX/VMS in the University Computing Lab, and CP/M machine-controlled Physics labs. Then came IBM DOS, MS-DOS, followed by Windows. Unix came only later, with SUN Solaris in my University Computing Lab and at work, followed by Linux.

As I've already mentioned, my home computers have necessarily always been Windows machines (multiple users, Excel, easy access to various apps, easier availability of qualified service, and so on ...). While I am no great fan of Windows, and do appreciate the superiority of Unix myself, I cannot get out of the Windows system anymore without a lot of pain, which is not worth it at this point in life.

To be fair, it does get things done. And, believe it or not, I don't think I ever needed to reinstall Windows in any of my machines! I did feel the need to purchase books like "Windows xx Annoyances" for each Windows version, however. :)


I was aware of that. Hence my effort at some light-hearted banter! :)
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Hi everyone,
Need your suggestion with my smartphone hunt.
I am using OnePlus 9RT and wanted to buy a new one but unable to decide.
Usage - pretty basic, social media, work related stuff, little bit of photos, no games.
Preference - fast charging, better battery life, good performance, need for 4-5yrs, snapdragon or apple processor.

Below are short listed, open for better once.
1. Samsung 24 ultra - Snapdragon processor, great phone but I believe it's too big
2. Samsung Z flip 6 - SD processor, form factor but not sure on the durability of the foldable screen (comments Z Flip users please).
3. iPhone 16 - not sure how good or bad it is, had worst experience post COVID time 2021 when I visited Apple service for battery replacement of my iPhone SE
4. Wait for S25 Ultra rl:

Cheers!