4 reasons why I chose a Google Pixel over other Android phones

Given that Apple and Samsung still take the biggest slice of the US phone market pie, Google’s Pixel line is still a bit overlooked. While carrying around a Pixel may lower your bragging points, it can easily match both the iPhone and Samsung feature for feature. Going a step further, there are many good reasons to buy a Google Pixel according to its owners, who often insist that the device does many things better than the dynamic duo.

For starters, Consumer Reports says the Pixel 10 Pro is neck and neck with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, except for a small preference for Samsung’s processor over Google’s Tensor G5 chip. The marginal gain may not be as glorious, because Google’s 2025 offering is much cheaper and you can often get it for around $100 less. The same general idea applies when comparing it with other Android phones.

In my personal experience (and that of many other internet users), a Google Pixel simply offers better value for money when it comes to real-world use. Above all, it’s bloat-free (looking at you, Samsung) while remaining deeply customizable (looking at you, Apple), and it delivers an incredible camera experience. In short, it is a versatile device that will last for years if you take good care of it.

Addressing the elephant in the room: affordable phones will get the job done, of course. However, I am of the opinion that a flagship product is a flagship product for a reason. Financially, it’s a small sacrifice to make for more powerful hardware (including the screen to squeeze the most eye candy out of every penny) and better performance for tasks that rely on the intensive side. Don’t just take my word for it. Many smartphone connoisseurs agree that a high-end device will perform admirably for years. This is something people often don’t say about mid-range and inexpensive models that tend to be about two or three years behind.

So why a Google Pixel among all the Android flagships, exactly? It’s time to put on some comparison glasses.

For starters, the base Google Pixel 10 is $100 cheaper than the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S26. Granted, Samsung includes 256GB of storage, but if you get a heavier 256GB version of the Pixel, you’ll pay the same amount, so we’ll call it a wash. And the other manufacturers? The OnePlus 13, for example, may be around the same price as the Pixel 10 while using a processor that performs better in benchmark tests, but you’ll have to settle for a few notable compromises. Besides the fact that Pixel has a better camera and plenty of nifty AI features, it also offers a longer OS update schedule than OnePlus (seven years versus four), which in itself is worth the extra $100.

I’m not the only one who thinks Pixels offer the purest Android experience possible. The user interface is clean and minimalist, with some owners praising the silky smooth animations. Of course, this depends on your personal preferences. There are those who may not agree with the minimalist design, and some even say that it is one of the biggest drawbacks of owning a Google Pixel phone.

Although the feel of the operating system is personal, the bloatware is not. A Pixel is as close to vanilla Android as the tech giant could get. Other manufacturers, not so much. For example, Samsung is known for its bloatware. Even though the company has toned it down in recent years (credit where credit is due), users still complain about pre-installed apps that they can’t remove unless they jump through numerous software hoops. Others, like OnePlus, can be even worse because their bloatware can go so far as to send you ads. This appears to be more the case in China, where in-app ads may explain why these devices are so affordable.

If you want an Android phone that can be your “ride or die” for the better part of a decade, let me welcome you to the Pixel club. When considering how long Google Pixel phones last according to owners, the average is around five years – but many people use theirs for much longer. I can personally attest to this, as I’ve been in the club since the Pixel 3a and have never had a phone crash since. In fact, a friend still uses my first Pixel as a backup. Without the small qualifier that the battery isn’t what it used to be, the fact that the little Pixel remains snappy after eight years is a testament to Google’s quality.

However, the main reason is not the hardware. These days, many manufacturers are capable of creating a phone, but many of them skimp on software support. Models like the Pixel 8 and above will receive seven years of updates, courtesy of Google. That’s about what you’d get from Samsung, but way more than the four years you’ll get from other companies. Notably, Motorola – a company that enjoys a similar smartphone market share as Google in the US – only guarantees three years of operating system updates for its $1,500 Razr Ultra. For example, compared to the $500 Pixel 9a, you’d get about half the Android updates for about three times the price if you went with Motorola.

I’m not much of a photographer, but my Pixel phone makes me feel like one. There’s just something special that makes many users opt for a Pixel every time a new phone goes on order. In the late 2010s, Pixel phones practically blew my mind, because for the first time I could take a photo in low light without it being blurry or noisy. This is still true, for the most part.

Unfortunately, while the Pixel 10 had a nifty telephoto lens, Google had to make slight adjustments to the other lenses. As a result, I didn’t notice much of a jump after upgrading from a Pixel 9. I can live with that, especially since the camera is still as snappy and point-ready as before. On this second point, many prefer Pixels to Samsung phones, where, some say, shutter lag is noticeable. As a proud father of two, fast shutter speed is something I absolutely cannot live without.

Call me a fanboy, but as soon as I bought my first Pixel, I was hooked. I also own a number of Google-branded smart devices, but even if I didn’t, I’d still be a Pixel man through and through. When my current Google Pixel 10 Pro dies (which will probably be within the next decade, from the looks of it), I know which phone I’ll get.