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Samsung’s Galaxy S24 has placed a nail in the Google Pixel coffin

It’s time to put an end to Google Pixel’s CPR. I am making the call. Time of death: 10 a.m. on January 17, 2024, when Samsung launched the Galaxy S24. I am sorry for your loss, Pixel enthusiasts, but there is nothing else we can do. I see that the Pixel was an organ donor, therefore its passing will help others. Now, if you don’t mind trading in your old equipment, there is a line forming to pay tribute.

I was a major fan of Google Nexus phones and tablets, particularly the HTC Nexus One and Samsung’s softly curved, pocketable Nexus S. Those were cool phones for technology enthusiasts. When Google changed the branding to Pixel, things felt a little more ludicrous, unfortunately, more inexpensive.

Google has worked over the years to create a premium Pixel phone, but this year it is stretched too thin, and the entire Pixel ecosystem is suffering needlessly.

Google made a fantastic phone, but then it began to branch out. It released the Pixel Watch in 2022, but it never really took off. It had battery life issues and was not particularly competitive.

Google recently announced the Pixel Buds Pro, which are now significantly cheaper than Apple’s similar AirPods Pro 2. Since their initial release, both of these products have received significant updates, including spatial audio and conversation detection on the Buds Pro.

In 2023? We finally have a Pixel Tablet, and it comes with a speaker dock attached?! That is a lot. We also received the Pixel Fold, which is a tablet/phone combo. Both of them should have come with a completely new version of Android, but Google couldn’t even be bothered to make a clock widget to accommodate the new, larger screens.

Every Pixel owner is intimately familiar with this sensation

When I left for CES 2024 in Las Vegas, I instructed my Google Pixel Tablet to turn off all of the lights. “Turning off six lights. “Sorry, 5 lights are not available right now,” was the semi-familiar reply. My flat contains thirteen Philips Wiz lights and a Nanoleaf Shapes.

When I returned from CES, I instructed the Pixel Tablet to turn on the lights. “Sorry, three lights aren’t available right now.” No lights were switched on, yet the light in my children’s bedroom had been on all week.

I’d want to say that it was simply a horrible experience, but which one? Is the Pixel Tablet encountering problems? Google Assistant? What about Google Home? I suspect all of the above. Pixels operate okay on the first day, but they progressively deteriorate and ultimately quit working.

Samsung just received all the good stuff

Google’s year in mobile has been a failure. Android 14 created no waves, however Apple’s iOS 17 is so wonderful that police are warning parents that it may be corrupting their children. Android is folk music, whereas Apple is rock and roll.

Now, Google has lost its best features to Samsung. I still bring a Pixel 8 Pro to work since the Google Recorder app is excellent. It transcribes while it records, and you may then tap on a word in the transcript to hear what was actually said. It’s incredible and invaluable for journalists, students, and anyone who need a concise record.

It is now available on the Galaxy S24 as the Samsung Voice Recorder app. Identical features and functioning. Oh, and the incredible generative AI wallpaper that was only available to the Pixel 8 family? Also on the Galaxy S24.

In fact, the next Galaxy will include many Pixel-specific capabilities. Circle to Search, Google’s newest search function, will be available on the Galaxy and the Pixel 8 on January 31, the same day the Galaxy S24 is released in shops.

Seven years of support: who do you believe?

If that wasn’t enough to kill Google’s Pixel, here’s the final nail in the coffin. Samsung has confirmed seven years of support for Android upgrades for the Galaxy S24 family. That’s a significant commitment from Samsung, and it overshadows Google’s comparable vow.

Why? Because we can’t trust Google just yet. Google cancels products. Google also cancels promises.

When Google announced the Pixel 6, it included a ‘Pixel Pass’ upgrade scheme that allowed buyers to exchange in their phone for a new one within two years. Those buyers were supposed to trade in for a Pixel 8, but Google halted the program before they could do so. Frankly, that’s a huge damage to Google’s credibility, which is why I raise an eyebrow whenever I hear about a seven-year commitment to the Pixel 8.

Samsung, on the other hand, fulfills its promises. It may discontinue products and services, but when Samsung promises three or four years of Android updates, you can be certain that the phone is still up to date three or four years later. I’ve done that with every Samsung Galaxy S phone, and the company has an excellent track record.

I don’t understand how Samsung can support a phone from 2024 to 2031. Will our phones even work in our lunar homes? But, if I’m suspicious about Samsung, I’d bet against Google pulling it off. There is no way it will support the Tensor G3 chipset on the 2023 Pixel 8 until 2030. I expect we’ll see an Android fork for older phones, or a comparable letdown. Why even bother?

When I consider the futures of Samsung and Google, I envision two very distinct scenarios. Samsung seemed confident. Is it expanding on its Google connection or swallowing its struggling competitor?

When I look at Google, I see Pixel promises that will be more difficult to follow, whether it’s renewing the new tablet, adapting Android to foldables, or simply keeping the older devices running for as long as promised. I don’t believe Google’s Pixel crew can handle everything at once, so perhaps it’s time to call it quits.

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