I’m a diehard Google Pixel fan – here’s why I’m not upgrading to the latest model

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Google’s new Pixel 10 is not well worth the improve for me. 
• It comes all the way down to value, colour, and lack of recent killer options. 
• An excessive amount of AI can also be a deterrent.

The brand new Pixel 10 is upon us, and, as traditional, Google desires us all to improve. For many people, buying and selling in our present mannequin for a reduction on the newer model has turn out to be a yearly custom. I’ve achieved it ever since Google adopted the trade-in coverage, and it has served me effectively.

Nevertheless, this yr is totally different. I cannot be upgrading to the Pixel 10. Why, you ask? Enable me to interrupt it down. 

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It begins with the price

For the previous few years, I’ve dropped between $600 and $1,000 (relying on trade-in worth and availability) each time Google has launched a brand new telephone. For those who add within the newest Pixel Watch, you’ll be able to add roughly $400 to that whole.

It provides up.

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This yr, with the value of all the pieces growing, spending upwards of $1,000 on a brand new telephone/watch is tough to justify. At this cut-off date, the price of residing has precluded my potential to spend on — what many would take into account — an pointless expense. Moreover, the rising inflation has compelled me to rethink such purchases.

The price of the mixed telephone and watch roughly equals a mortgage cost or month of lease, and I might slightly have a roof over my head than a brand new telephone in my bag. It may finish there, nevertheless it does not.

A worthy improve?

Here is the factor: My Pixel 9 Professional is the most effective telephone I’ve ever used. No, it isn’t excellent, however no telephone is. But it surely’s as near perfection as Google has ever produced. Is it price spending near a grand for what appears to be a minor improve?

Positive, Google is embedding much more AI into the telephone, however that does not excite me. What excites me is extra highly effective and smooth {hardware}, and in these two classes, the improve from the Pixel 9 Professional to the Pixel 10 Professional is simply too incremental to have me jonesing to purchase. 

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It could take one thing fairly particular to get me to improve from the Pixel 9 Pro, and the ten does not obtain that feat.

Another excuse (and a few would possibly suppose this foolish) is that my Pixel 9 Professional colorway has been my favourite up to now, and the provided colours for the ten don’t embody it. In truth, the Pixel 10 Professional colorways are slightly boring. I am a fan of aesthetics (and good design, and highly effective {hardware}), so in that respect, upgrading to the Pixel 10 Professional could be a downgrade for me.

My Pixel 9 Professional nonetheless performs prefer it’s model new, and that efficiency blows away all telephones I’ve used previously. For my part, Google created an issue for itself with the Pixel 9 Pro as a result of it is a telephone that I merely do not wish to let go of. I have a look at it the identical manner as I do Ubuntu Linux releases: each different yr, they unleash a brand new LTS (Lengthy Time period Assist) model of the OS, and most customers skip the non-LTS releases. That is how I am beginning to see the Pixel telephone releases.

An excessive amount of AI

Do not get me unsuitable, I do not hate AI. For instance, one of many new AI options permits Gemini to connect with Maps and discover eating places, then textual content the record to the household group chat for you. It is doable that, through Gemini, Google can then construct an much more correct profile of you and your preferences. Gemini may even make it doable to share your digicam in Gemini Reside. 

No thanks.

Additionally: 5 AI features on the Pixel 10 that Google thinks will win you over (including the Fold)

You will additionally get a 1-year subscription to the Gemini AI Pro plan, which is $20/month. What if Google does not make it apparent or simple to cancel that plan, otherwise you neglect to cancel it? I’ve had that occur to me on a number of events, and getting the cash again is not any simple feat.

Once more, no thanks.

There’s additionally the brand new Magic Cue function that additional personalizes AI to assist “join the dots throughout your digital life.” I personally don’t desire AI anticipating my wants, as I do this effectively sufficient by myself.

The one factor I would miss out on

I’ll say this: the new Pixelsnap feature sounds fairly cool. Basically, this function provides magnetic tech to the Pixel telephone so you’ll be able to “snap” your telephone to equipment (resembling chargers). In my case, I bought a case for my Pixel 9 Professional, which has a magnetic function in-built as effectively, so I do not really need this. Nevertheless, if I made a decision to go and not using a case, I would lose the function. Not so with the Pixel 10.

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Sorry, Google, I really like your telephones, however I really like my Pixel 9 Pro greater than I really like the concept of dropping a grand on an incremental (at greatest) improve. I will maintain my pink Pixel 9 Professional till a brand new Pixel makes my present one feel and look out of date.