Why I'm here....

Since I've always been quick with an opinion an old friend once lost and again found suggested that perhaps I should share with more people my commentary. Never being one to pass on a challenge I thought I'd give it a whirl.

Friday, June 23, 2017

Google Pixel XL VS Samsung Galaxy 8+


So, as many of you know, being the klutz I am, I fell a couple of weeks ago and ripped out one of my stitches, well I also cracked the screen on my Samsung Galaxy 7.  It wasn’t a bad crack, but I still didn’t like that it was cracked so this led me to go ahead and upgrade my phone.  I reviewed all the phones and I care about listening to music, clear reception on calls and taking awesome pictures.  Everything I read led me to believe that the Google Pixel XL would be the way to go.  The reviews on this phone looked awesome.  With this information, I ordered the Google Pixel XL.  I got it Monday.  This phone was incredibly easy to set up; however, right away I noticed that the graphics didn’t seem up to snuff and the look and feel of the phone was somewhat antiquated.  Now, I’m not one to just give up without giving it a try so I installed all the items I needed, set everything up and used it all day Tuesday and Wednesday.  By Thursday I was deeply aware that I wasn’t comfortable with this phone and I wasn’t happy with it.  I noticed that in certain areas of the city it would take what seemed like forever to pull up something after I requested it.  Now knowing that the longer it takes to load the more data you chew up that didn’t make me that happy with the phone.  I wasn’t going anywhere I didn’t go all the time so it seemed odd.  I spoke with a Verizon rep and was told no problem I could go to the Verizon Store and exchange it if I wasn’t happy with it.  Last night I did just that.  I explained to the gentleman what problems I had been having and that I had looked up information on LTE.  This phone is an LTE phone.  There are wonderful articles out there that will explain to you that LTE is supposed to be 4G equivalent; however, it goes on to say it’s not quite there yet and it’s more like having 3G.  The gentleman at the store told me that must be an old article I had read.  I quickly informed him it was from April and I believed it.  He spoke with his manager who has the same phone and he said he was noticing the same issues in some parts of town I was.  I reviewed all the phones and played with them for quite a while and I settled on a Samsung Galaxy 8+.  Now I was worried like everyone else about the curved screen but I got a case and glass protector and a holster cover for when I’m not using the phone that will hopefully help keep from breaking the screen if I drop it.  Immediately after setting it up and starting to use it I felt a breath of relief.  It was like being home after months on the road. It just felt right.  The feel of the phone in my hand and the graphics and the sound are all exactly what I wanted.  I have not had any problems loading anything right away today.  It’s an awesome phone.  The guy told me they had nothing but rave reviews from customers for the Google Pixel but he was like me and preferred the Samsung.  Over all I suppose I am happy I tried it, because if I had not I would always wonder; however, I was not happy with the $35 restocking fee I was charged to change phones.  I guess I kind of feel like since I’ve been their customer for 20 years and they do say that you can exchange phones why am I paying a restocking fee.  You don’t pay a restocking fee when you take back items to a store.  I informed the guy I wasn’t happy with that and he said well I can’t resell it as new.  I guess I understand that but in the next breath he said he’d have to return it to Google.  So, he’s not selling it at all.  I kind of feel like that is a bit of a scam.  I also don’t believe they should charge their customers an activation fee for upgrading.  This is just my opinion I suppose.  Over all for the money it is my opinion that Samsung wins hands down over the Google phone.  The look and feel of The Google Pixel XL along with the often slow download and upload speeds left me somewhat cold.  Sorry Google.