Switching to Google Pixel Pro 9 from an Apple iPhone 14 Pro
My fascination with AI, similar to many, has been sparked. Exploring the vast potential of LLM chatbots on my laptop and PC has unveiled a new realm of possibilities. However, I yearned for an assistant that transcended mere app limitations on my phone or computer. Apple, despite recent advancements with Apple Intelligence, has fallen short of delivering on their promises of “intelligence.”
Apple’s offering felt like a safe and uninspired approach to AI, primarily focusing on rewrite capabilities, emoji generation, and recognition of notifications. Their announcement left me underwhelmed.
In contrast, Google’s recent presentations on multi-modal AI input and cross-app integration ignited my excitement. Their innovative and thoughtful solutions seemed to address real day-to-day problems.
So, I made the decision to switch ecosystems. The prospect of leaving behind my deeply integrated Apple ecosystem, which includes an iPhone, iPad Pro, iPad Mini, AirTags, HomePods, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Apple Card, and a MacBook Pro (now replaced by a Microsoft Surface Laptop 7), was daunting.
Ecosystem Openness
Apple’s ecosystem has a profound hold on its users, becoming apparent when they attempt to break free. The infamous “blue vs green bubble” situation in Messages is a prime example. Several barriers contribute to this walled garden:
- Resistance to adopting RCS for messaging, a more modern alternative to aging SMS/MMS.
- Reliance on the Lightning cable for charging when most of the world has shifted to USB-C.
- Music streaming to HomePod is restricted to the AirPlay protocol, lacking Bluetooth support.
- MagSafe charging instead of the widely adopted Qi standard.
- FaceTime has no interoperability outside the Apple ecosystem.
- Find My network is exclusive to Apple devices.
- Apple Card only viable on iPhone (no way to control features otherwise)
If not for external pressures from China and the EU, Apple users would still be deprived of the RCS standard and USB-C charging capabilities.
This closed ecosystem limits consumer choice and stifles competition in the marketplace. It’s puzzling that a $300 HomePod speaker cannot play music via Bluetooth.
Hardware Specs
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro’s chip is impressive but lacks in other areas. Prioritize user experience over raw specifications. A powerful chip with poorly optimized software can make a device feel slow, like a 30Hz screen versus a 120Hz display. You’ll carefully hear Apple in their key notes say “First ever on an iPhone…” or “Most powerful {{insert feature}} ever on an iPhone…” vs “…than any smartphone.” They know which categories they’re best in.
In my experience with both phones, I found that their screens and scrolling capabilities are virtually indistinguishable. It seems that hardware has become a standard feature for smartphones. While there are noticeable variations in the processors and cameras, these differences do not have a significant impact on the overall user experience on a daily basis. I do feel the Pixel takes better photos (more vibrant, better HDR) than my iPhone did.
Build Quality
The Pixel 9 Pro features flat sides, resembling the iPhone, but with a subtle bevel that enhances the in-hand feel. I find it more comfortable than the sharp-edged iPhone. The form factor is truly impressive. Notably, the camera bar on the Pixel prevents wobbling while typing or tapping on a table, unlike the iPhone’s off-centered camera cluster.
Stock Software Apps and Capabilities
Throughout my experience with Apple devices, I’ve found most of their stock apps to be underwhelming. However, Messages, Maps, and Notes stand out as being particularly well-crafted. Conversely, Mail and Calendar feel outdated and lackluster in comparison.
In contrast, my new Google Pixel boasts an impressive array of Google’s exceptional apps. Familiar favorites like Gmail, Calendar, Maps, Tasks, and Keep are all present.
The Photos app on Pixel is particularly noteworthy, surpassing Apple’s offering in terms of capabilities. Thanks to advanced AI algorithms, it allows users to erase unwanted elements, reimagine entire sections of the photo, alter lighting sources, and even select the best version of someone’s smile. While Apple is working on bringing some of these features to the iPhone through Apple Intelligence, Pixel users can enjoy them right away.
Google Maps provides an edge over Apple Maps by integrating reviews, wait times, and other valuable information. While Apple users can also access Google Maps on their iPhones, there’s an additional feature that sets it apart: the ability to make restaurant reservations through Google Assistant. This feature can call the restaurant on your behalf, negotiate a time based on your preferences set in the app, and attempt to secure a reservation within that window. During my first use last weekend, I found it incredibly convenient, allowing me to focus on other things while my phone handled the mundane task in the background. While OpenTable is an alternative option, not all restaurants participate, making this feature particularly valuable for those that don’t.
Google’s Messages app is very similar to Apples, only it’s based on the RCS standard. It has cute animations that trigger automatically based on the conversation and replies. It also offers easy rephrasing and will clean-up your text message via AI (if you tell it to). This helps to make sure lengthy replies are concise and clear.
3rd Party Integrations
I haven’t noticed any big differences in 3rd party apps or integrations. All the more popular apps (be they social media, office productivity tools, etc.) are all available on Android as they are on iOS. With Google being more open you do get a few more choices sometimes that maybe you wouldn’t see with Apple, home accessories for example.
I’m having to find replacements for my Homepods (because they don’t support Bluetooth streaming). My Nanoleaf lights will work with Google Home. I don’t need to replace my AppleTV but I am going to because the Google Streamer will also act as a Matter hub. I replaced my AirTags with Pebblebees. And my Apple Watch with a Pixel Watch 3.
AI Integration on the Google Pixel 9 Pro
AI integration was the primary reason for my interest in discovering what I might be missing out on. I’m delighted with my choice because I find the Google Pixel 9 Pro to be an exceptional experience regarding AI. Explaining specific experiences is challenging because AI is seamlessly incorporated throughout the phone.
The typical generative AI for rephrasing or drafting text is available wherever you might be writing text. Whether it’s a text message, email, Google doc, phone call (yes, it can do that), etc., the ability to rephrase, change tone, shorten, and lengthen is all there. AI will also provide summaries of your emails, weather forecasts, and articles you’re reading (via Gemini).
Gemini is an incredibly capable AI assistant. It’s always ready when you press the power button. You can ask it regular chatbot questions, but it also has context awareness of what you’re looking at on your phone. For example, you can ask it about an article you’re reading in Chrome or take a photo of something in the real world and ask for details.
Gemini is also integrated with your Google apps (calendar, mail, maps, keep, etc.), so it can help you with tasks like updating or creating lists in Keep or making appointments for you. Gemini Advanced is one of the most capable models available, as ranked by experts in the field. While previous assistants could handle basic tasks like calendar management, Gemini can understand and execute more complex prompts flawlessly. For instance, “I have a lot of important appointments I need to schedule for this coming month: I need to do my annual physical, I have to get my car inspected for my sticker, and I need to get my annual eye exam. Can you remind me to do that this Saturday?” Yesterday’s assistant would likely create one task that was a big run-on sentence of everything, but Gemini intelligently created three separate reminder tasks for Saturday morning.
In addition to these features, you can use AI to generate unique wallpapers, edit photos, make reservations by phone (without you making the call), search for screenshots you took, and much more. It feels like every few days I discover another AI implementation on the Google Pixel 9 Pro, cleverly designed to help but not intrude, making using the phone more enjoyable and my day-to-day tasks easier.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I honestly don’t know why the Pixel is not more popular. It is very underrated as I think this is one of the best phones I’ve ever owned.
Choosing the Pixel 9 Pro over other options has proven to be a fulfilling. The camera system on this phone is simply outstanding, capturing moments with vibrant colors, sharp details, and a remarkable ability to adapt to various lighting conditions. The stock software apps are also a breath of fresh air, providing a user-friendly and efficient experience without any unnecessary bloatware. All this with AI practically enhancing the experience throughout.
The Pixel 9 Pro has become an indispensable tool in my daily routine and that I genuinely love.
