3 months with 2 phones: Sorry, Apple – here is exactly why I keep coming back to the Pixel

This is sure to surprise some people, especially since it’s a relatively new Pixel feature that’s not even as popular as Google’s other AI tricks, and it’s a Pixel Studio app — and yes, it’s a worthwhile one A whole host of AI features for the app, and that’s how you know it’s a little special. Pixel 9 series), using prompts to produce images of different styles. The reason why I think this is a game changer is because it can be used to produce more than just interesting images.

For example, using Pixel Studio and a little imagination allows you to make cool T-shirt patches, or print designs that you can then apply to pretty much anything you can think of, and… I don’t know – on eBay sell it on. Performers can create posters for shows, you can create wedding invitations – you name it.

Meanwhile, the iPhone’s Image Playground alternative isn’t nearly as good – producing cartoonish images that don’t work for most of the above paradigms.

Now Playing – Apple killed Shazam for no reason?

Another practical reason to have a Pixel in your pocket that I recently experienced (I don’t have one) is the popular Now Playing feature, which automatically displays the name of any song playing around you on your lock screen.

I heard an old song I didn’t know the name of in the store, and then I realized I didn’t have Shazam installed on my iPhone. So… the song just disappeared.

Ironically, Apple acquired Shazam years ago, but for some reason, it completely missed the opportunity to use Shazam to create something useful – like “Now Playing” on the Pixel.

But it gets even more interesting – I was able to use my impeccable humming skills to search for the song through the Google app on my iPhone. Sure, technically I could find the song on my iPhone…but that’s thanks to Google’s apps and algorithms.

Magic Editor and Magic Eraser work like… magic

Google’s more popular generative AI feature. Magic Editor and Magic Eraser are another reason why I choose Pixel over iPhone. iPhone 15 ProThe cleanup capabilities are comparable to using Magic Eraser and/or Magic Editor on Pixel.

Magic Eraser is better than Clean up in almost every way, but Magic Editor is a feature that Apple doesn’t even have a replacement for. You can think of Magic Editor as a Magic Eraser on steroids – it doesn’t just remove your background/theme, it replaces it with whatever you want, something I can’t do on my iPhone.

But Magic Editor also takes object deletion to a whole new level, as it can add detail to the picture, making the flaws in the deletion process less obvious.

This is a huge win for Pixel.

Circle to Search may be the best software feature of 2024 (and certainly my favorite)

I’ve talked about this feature many times, but I won’t tire of praising Circle to Search, it’s my most used Pixel feature in years.

I can hold down the home “button” on the Pixel and choose to translate anything on the screen (which I do every day), Google anything, search for songs, and more. At the same time, my iPhone 13 What can be done… is definitely not these.

But to make matters worse, Apple decided to make its visual intelligence feature (equivalent to “circle search”) exclusive iphone 16 series, which means $1,200 of my iPhone 15 Pro Max It feels like an iPhone from 5 years ago.

It goes without saying that I pick up my Pixel to Circle to search more than I pick up my iPhone for anything else.

Folding design + true multi-tasking capabilities

I’m combining both features into one here because it makes sense to discuss the Pixel’s folding design as well as the Pixel’s multitasking capabilities. Pixel 9 Pro folding screen.

Exactly what it sounds like – Pixel 9 Pro folding screenIts folding design and ability to run two “normal-sized” apps side-by-side put any of my iPhones to shame.

Don’t hesitate before trying it – the ability to use two apps at the same time can be very useful. In my use case these would be Amazon Apps and Chrome, YouTube and Chrome, Calendar and Calculator, etc.

Of course, the iPhone simply can’t run two apps at the same time (as folding phones become more and more popular), which starts to make it look like a stupid phone.

But hey… the foldable iPhone is said to be launching in 2026, so why wait two years!

Gemini – Not as good as Chat GPT but much better than Siri

While I’m not the biggest Gemini user, I have to praise Google’s “regular” Gemini (which can type) and Gemini Live (where you can talk to a chatbot).

Needless to say, even after launch, Siri was nowhere near this level of sophistication. Apple informationI would be surprised if Apple can catch up to Google in the near future.

For the record, I do think Chat GPT outperforms both by a sizable margin, and Apple does have a deal with Open AI that already allows Chat GPT to run almost natively on the iPhone Apple information (via the Action or Capture buttons), which is a great option when Siri can’t give you the answer you need (which is almost always the case).

Software support on iOS 18 is richer and less buggy than on the iPhone — another unexpected win for the Pixel given the iPhone’s reputation

I’ve discussed this in another story, which you can view if you click on my name at the top of this article, but as a pre-Pixel 6 Pro User, I am shocked to say that my Pixel 9 Pro folding screen More reliable and feature-rich than ever iPhone 15 Pro Maxespecially compared to my iPhone 13 miniMy Pixel gets feature drops every quarter, and unlike my iPhone, which rarely gets new features, Google is much more generous in “gifting” new features to older devices. and Android 14In my experience, /15 is pretty stable.

In the meantime, this is mine iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 13 minishowing more errors than usual.

Buying a Pixel after lunch is cheaper – giving you better value (if you keep it long enough)

This isn’t necessarily a Pixel “feature,” but it totally fits the practicality factor I’m going for in this story.

If you’re looking to get more money when selling/trade-in your old Pixel, the Pixel’s previously poor resale value (especially compared to the iPhone) is definitely a disadvantage. This is true. However, this means that if you want to buy a Pixel phone after launch, it will usually be a lot cheaper than buying an older iPhone – no matter how old either phone is.

If you know you want a Pixel phone and can buy an older model or a used/refurbished phone, the Pixel is a gem that can give you great value compared to an iPhone.

For example, buying a refurbished machine Pixel 7 Pro Will be cheaper than buying refurbished ones iPhone 14 Prothe former will provide you with a large number of the latest artificial intelligence features Pixel 9 series, simultaneously iPhone 14 Pro will give you zero Apple information feature.

My Pixel is far from perfect, but in terms of software and artificial intelligence it easily surpasses my iPhone — and it’s not even close

Keep in mind this is my experience using Pixel 9 Pro folding screen and iPhone 13 mini / iPhone 15 Pro Max. In other words, if Android phone This “experiment” is different, and the story will be different. Especially considering the Pixel is a foldable Android phone, it has some distinct advantages and disadvantages compared to the iPhone. Pixel 9 Proor a Galaxy S24+, I think the overall pattern is pretty clear – I prefer the way Android handles software and AI now, and it’s not even close.

The iPhone, on the other hand, has some clear advantages, mostly surrounding its hardware and “ecosystem,” which I may discuss in a future story.