u/Round-Standard3085

I’ve been on iPhones for about 10 years now. I did try Android a few times before, but never stuck with it long. The one phone that really stayed in my memory was the Nexus 6 - I loved the clean UI and the camera.

Even though I’ve been on iOS, I mostly use Google apps anyway - Keep, Sheets, etc. I like that I can access everything on any platform without being locked in.

About a year ago, when it was time to upgrade, I was this close to trying the Pixel 9 Pro, but it didn’t work out with my carrier. So I played it safe and went with the iPhone 16 Pro.

Fast forward to now - Google kind of pushed me to finally try Android again. Back in my home country, I was paying like $3 CAD for YouTube Premium. After moving to Canada, it jumped to $12 CAD/month, which just didn’t feel worth it for me since I mostly use YouTube Music at the gym a couple times a week and occasionally watch on TV.

On TV, I solved it quickly with SmartTube. On iPhone, I tried using Brave browser, but it’s kinda unstable - background playback cuts off, lock screen controls are limited.

So I decided: screw it, I’ll just get an Android phone. Solve the YouTube issue and check out modern Android at the same time.

I wasn’t ready to pay full price for a new Pixel - especially without Apple-level support - so I started browsing the local marketplace for a used Google Pixel 8 or Pixel 9, just as a “gym phone.”

But then I got lucky - found a brand new Google Pixel 10 someone got from a carrier contract and didn’t need. Paid $500 CAD. Feels like I got an amazing deal, especially considering YouTube Premium would cost me ~$180/year after the price increase.

Got a case similar to my iPhone and started setting it up.

Here are my impressions (don’t judge me too hard for comparing a regular Pixel 10 to an iPhone 16 Pro - I know the fair comparison would be the 10 Pro. This isn’t really a comparison, just some observations and personal thoughts):

Screen resolution is lower (but only noticeable on day one)
Slightly narrower display (probably because of thicker bezels)
Not a fan of the default Android font
Colors feel a bit colder out of the box
Pulling down notifications from anywhere on the screen - super convenient
Fingerprint unlock is actually just as convenient as Face ID (On iPhone it’s two steps - Face ID recognizes you, but you still have to swipe anyway. On the Pixel it’s just one action - a single touch)
Notifications are way better organized
Animations feel faster (on iPhone my brain is ready before the animation finishes; on Pixel the phone is ready before my brain 😂)
Keyboard is AMAZING - zero typos (even Gboard on iPhone never felt this good)
Audio quality in headphones feels the same
Photo colors look more natural (no yellow tint, sky actually looks blue)
Slightly less detail vs iPhone (probably due to main sensor resolution)

So far, these are my impressions after a week of using it.

Overall

I’m honestly surprised how good the Pixel 10 is - especially considering it cost me 4x less than my iPhone.

I’m currently using an Apple Watch for workouts, but I’m pretty sure I can find a replacement easily. I only care about workouts, heart rate, and sleep tracking anyway.

If it wasn’t for the lack of Apple-level support, I’d probably take the risk and go with a Pixel 11 Pro (or XL) as my main phone this fall instead of upgrading my iPhone 16 Pro to an 18 Pro (or Pro Max). Never thought I’d say that after all these years using iPhones.

Thanks for reading, curious to hear your thoughts