The Pixel 4 Hits End of Life After Three Years of Service (arstechnica.com) 47
The Pixel 4 is officially hitting its end of life this month after three short years of service. We sometimes see these dead Google phones get one more wrap-up update before Google cuts the cord, but the Android October 2022 update is the end of the line here. From a report: The Pixel 4 was a big batch of Google experiments passed off as a consumer product, and we did not take kindly to it. It was the first (and only) Google phone to attempt to copy Apple's FaceID by using a grid of IR dots and extra hardware to scan the user's face. The system was much slower than the fingerprint reader on the Pixel 3, and it oddly worked on sleeping people for several months after launch.
The Pixel 4 was the first and only Google phone to integrate "Project Soli," a tiny Google radar chip that can detect motion. The laboratory versions of Soli promised that the technology could capture "sub millimeter motions of your fingers," but the commercial implementation in the Pixel 4 could only (sometimes) capture giant arm movements. Soli lives on in Google smart displays for sleep tracking, but the phone version is dead. Combine that with very high prices for the two device sizes ($800 and $900) and very small batteries (2800 mAh and 3700 mAh), and you have the makings of a very bad device.
The Pixel 4 was the first and only Google phone to integrate "Project Soli," a tiny Google radar chip that can detect motion. The laboratory versions of Soli promised that the technology could capture "sub millimeter motions of your fingers," but the commercial implementation in the Pixel 4 could only (sometimes) capture giant arm movements. Soli lives on in Google smart displays for sleep tracking, but the phone version is dead. Combine that with very high prices for the two device sizes ($800 and $900) and very small batteries (2800 mAh and 3700 mAh), and you have the makings of a very bad device.
Yeah it's time (Score:4, Interesting)
I've heard nothing but shit talk from people buying Android phones about how expensive I-Phones are. I have an Android phone. I, being the tech person from my family, used to get everyone Android phones. But this shit, this shit and more is why I'll be switching everyone to I-Phones. Those get updates for years and years and years. My dad got an iphone 6 for free from his friend and it still works. I recently had to replace my own Galaxy S8 and my sisters Pixel 3xl... a damned 4 year old phone, because it was breaking. I'm tired to it, whatever it costs it's worth it to not buy another damned phone every few years because they keep failing. Android is "Less Expensive" my ass.
Re:Yeah it's time (Score:4, Informative)
I used to love Android phones, but the damn things kept breaking. Everything from flagship Samsung models, to a handful of the Nexus devices I had would magically just stop working, or get stuck in bootloops and become a paperweight. The one Android I had that worked well for a long time was a cheap ass Motorola one that Amazon released and subsidized. Aside from that, every single one of my Android phones would just die, usually not too long after the warranty expired.
Add to that the shit show that was waiting for updates for anything besides a Nexus. Apple definitely has their own issues, but for me those issues are far more palatable than Android's.
Re:Yeah it's time (Score:4, Interesting)
By contrast, my first dumbphone which cost around $30 lasted almost ten years before I broke the screen.
My replacement dumbphone, an upgrade that could support 3g/4g signals, was 60 bucks. It will probably last another decade.
Once in a while somebody wants me to install their stupid app in order to do business with them. I have always found a workaround. I am fine only having internet access when I am by my computer, but that's because I am not an addict.
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Everything from flagship Samsung models, to a handful of the Nexus devices I had would magically just stop working, or get stuck in bootloops and become a paperweight
I'm sensing a common theme and since plenty of people don't have issues with Android devices you're not going to like what it is.
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I used to love Android phones, but the damn things kept breaking. [...] The one Android I had that worked well for a long time was a cheap ass Motorola one that Amazon released and subsidized.
My Moto G Power was $272 with the I-can-break-it-for-three-years warranty and CA taxes, and while it has its disappointing features, it does all of the things and it will standby for days. I think this is one that can't be bootloader unlocked, but I had no plans to hack this phone for a change. I had an X4 for a long time before this, which I eventually trashed the screen and camera of, but it still works otherwise. The screen is not so damaged that it doesn't function, but it is quite cracked. It came with
Re: Yeah it's time (Score:2)
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Re: Yeah it's time (Score:2)
I am typing this on a 5 year old Pixel 4. Still works!
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Re:Yeah it's time (Score:5, Informative)
iOS 16 doesn't run on the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 maxed out at iOS 12. iOS 16 runs on iPhone 8s, though it's limited in functionality. You need an XR or later to fully support iOS 16, and that is... a 3 year old phone.
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It's also not the case that Android phones stop getting security updates when they stop getting OS updates either. They still get security fixes and mitigations via Google Play. Google decoupled most of the core services from the OS, so they can be updated separately.
To be fair, Apple does occasionally issue patches for older versions of iOS, when there is a severe vulnerability.
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It's also not the case that Android phones stop getting security updates when they stop getting OS updates either. They still get security fixes and mitigations via Google Play.
Not just that, but some vendors also provide OS security updates. Motorola provides OS version updates for ~3 years (don't count on it though, they have excepted some models before) but they provide security updates for ~5. The cadence is kind of slow sometimes, but they keep pushing them out.
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Indeed, and I've yet to see a vulnerability that was not patched through Play anyway. There is a reason there aren't huge botnets of phones out there.
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The Iphone 6s plus that I bought in late 2015 still got an update recently (IOS 15.7).
It is not supported by IOS 16, but still getting a sub version update just short of 7 years later and still got major update last year to IOS 15 at 6 years old, is not bad by any means.
Yes, some of the features of the new system are not supported on it, but that is hardly unsurprising.
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This is true... but I think that you are deliberately absolutising (yes, that is a word) what the OP meant with their statement that
Apple generally supports phones much longer...
My daughter uses my old iPhone 6 from 8 years ago, and it just recently updated to iOS 12.5.6 [apple.com], which is a security update that came out in August 2022. When she was showing me the update, I was surprised at how many iOS features that I use regularly on my iPhone 12 Pro, were also available on her iPhone 6. Now, I am aware that there are
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This is true... but I think that you are deliberately absolutising (yes, that is a word) what the OP meant with their statement that
Apple generally supports phones much longer...
Perhaps, but then you're being the opposite by highlighting the only part of their post that wasn't blatantly false.
My daughter uses my old iPhone 6 from 8 years ago, and it just recently updated to iOS 12.5.6 [apple.com], which is a security update that came out in August 2022.
When she was showing me the update, I was surprised at how many iOS features that I use regularly on my iPhone 12 Pro, were also available on her iPhone 6. Now, I am aware that there are many iOS features that I have on my iPhone, that she will never have on her phone... but, while I was playing with her phone, it struck me that there were so many iOS features that I had been excited about when they first appeared in a new OS update, that I had forgotten about, and the daily essentials that I relied on the most (bar a few hardware dependent features that I love) were all there on my daughters 8-year-old iPhone. Many of these features were not there in 2014, when the iPhone 6 first came out. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to use an iPhone running iOS 8 - which is what shipped with the iPhone 6.
I've no arguments that Apple support their devices for longer, but that only holds true for security updates. iOS versions you generally get about 3 years for, which is similar to Google (other manufacturers vary wildly, and this sucks). Google tend to do security updates for 4 years.
As for the features, I think that's mostly because smartphones are just not that exciting anymore. Looking back
iPhone 6 is up to v12.5.6. (Score:2)
How are you able to get v16? I have two old iPhone 6 +s and they only go up to v12.5.6. Some online apps refuse to work on this old version. :(
Re: Yeah it's time (Score:2)
Re: Yeah it's time (Score:1)
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This makes little sense. Android phones use the same Gorilla Glass that iPhones do, so the screens are just as robust. The rest of the phones are comparable to iPhones, and if you are really worried you can get one with more durable materials. No glass back etc. And get yourself a decent case.
I've got an original Pixel XL that still gets some use, getting on for 6 years old. No durability issues, and it's travelled the world with me.
USB C is more durable than lighting. The cables are designed to break befor
Still exspenive (Score:2)
Combine that with very high prices for the two device sizes ($800 and $900)
They are cheaper now (They start at $450 now, but still go to $900), but not that much and still at a price point that is way too expensive for as little as these devices do.
4 was a stinker (Score:1)
4 may have been a stinker, but the pixel line has had some pretty solid performance in the android space. Too bad they're apparently ditching the rear finger print sensor; that was the one feature keeping me locked into the pixels. When my 5 dies I'll have to check out what the other brands have to offer.
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Interesting considering I went off Nokia phones after they switched from front side sensor to a rear side one. For me, one of the more important features is to be able to unlock the phone without taking it off the table, just to look at something at a glance and then do something on my PC.
So I'm in the exact opposite camp, where phones with rear fingerprint sensor are an automatic "fundamentally unsuitable for my needs no need to even look at anything else" category.
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I don't like phones that require two hands for normal operation. I'm probably weird like that as it limits the screen size too.
I also happen to think the UIX should be reworked to accommodate this ( two different modes; right hand and left handed users ).
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Wait, is that in reference to front fingerprint sensor? Because mine is always configured for four fingers: both hands sideways thumb and vertical index. Index is for unlocking on the table and thumb so I can unlock it with one hand when it's in my hand.
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Nah, in general, although I can see how unlocking it without picking it up would be useful.
They should have both a rear and front fingerprint sensor.
One of the things I'll be lost without when I switch away from my 5 is the ability to swipe down on the rear sensor too; I do that more than a few times a day.
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4a (Score:2)
Now ISO another non-Samsung phone about the same size as the 4a that has an official port of LineageOS.
4 XL still rocks for me (Score:2)
Can we finally admit (Score:2)
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So nearly as bad as Apple then?
Re: Can we finally admit (Score:2)
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Sure, updates that decrease performance [bbc.com] because Apple failed to include enough battery capacity to permit the phone to continue to operate reliably as it ages. Doing that would require making the phone 0.5mm thicker! So yeah, you can keep your phone up to date, but you can't keep full performance.
The fact that Apple knows the battery doesn't last as long as they will provide updates for means that the long update period only exists to excuse their requiring newer iOS to run newer apps. This happens on Andro
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Odd. (Score:2)
Good! (Score:2)
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The 3XL was a great phone (Score:2)
Google had a real winner with the one before it. My youngest daughter a 3XL and it was so nice I gave one to my wife the next Christmas. They still refuse to give them up, and they got an OS update last February. I don't expect them to get any more updates, but I know it will be some time further before either of them gives up their 3XL.
Not news, even for nerds. (Score:2)
Cue the wailing and gnashing of teeth (Score:3)
"Beloved Android handset unsupported after only three years!" - pretty much the same article gets posted on /. every few months. How is this even news? Do Android buyers somehow not know the experience they are signing up for? If their flagship handset had identical specs to an iPhone, I'd expect it to cost half the iPhone's price, or less, due to the lack of longevity of the Android's supported operating system.
Trashy submission (Score:1)
The only trash here is the bias in this submission. My house still happily uses two Pixel 4a phones. They were a nice size and didn't get loaded with all the garbage that Samsung users tolerate for some reason. The 6a is a brick in my pocket. Can't wait until there's a Pixel again with petite dimensions.
Dave they are all Dead (Score:2)