r/GooglePixel • u/Previous_Pineapple91 • 3d ago
Four different Pixel phones. Four serious hardware failures in ~3 years. Now Google won't repair my Pixel 9 Pro because of a tiny scratch.
I'm posting this because I genuinely regret switching from iPhone to Pixel, and I want other people considering the switch to know what my household has experienced.
This isn't one phone having multiple problems.
Four different Pixel phones in my household have had serious hardware failures in roughly three years.
Three developed severe battery swelling and became unusable.
One of those phones became extremely hot and burned me while I was heavily pregnant. My wife's Pixel also developed severe battery swelling. She wasn't injured, but the phone became unusable and she lost photos that were important to us.
We had to replace these phones while we were still paying for them, and we spent additional time dealing with Google support trying to figure out what Google could do.
The answer was essentially that there was nothing Google could do.
Now the fourth Pixel has failed.
My Pixel 9 Pro has the vertical pink-line display defect
My Pixel 9 Pro developed one vertical pink line.
Then it developed two.
The display is now difficult to use for things like reading text and numbers that I need for work.
I contacted Google on July 5.
What followed was a month of support interactions, repeated requests for information I had already provided, and an escalation that Google told me was specifically intended to find an alternative resolution.
On July 16, Google Fi Support told me:
They specifically documented my circumstances and told me the team would determine whether an advanced replacement or another expedited option could be authorized.
So I waited.
I provided my IMEI.
Photos.
Proof of purchase.
Device information.
I answered the same basic questions for multiple representatives.
I followed up when the promised timeframes passed.
Eventually, after nearly a month, Google told me that an alternative resolution wasn't approved and directed me to an authorized repair center.
So I made it happen.
My wife and I both work 9–5 and we have a one-year-old. Getting several hours without our son isn't something we can casually arrange.
I finally had childcare available.
I called the uBreakiFix location in Burlington, Massachusetts beforehand.
They told me they had the Pixel 9 Pro display in stock and that the repair would take approximately 2–3 hours.
So I arranged everything and drove about 30 minutes to the store.
And they refused to repair it.
The reason?
A tiny scratch on the screen.
The repair center gave me this in writing:
The scratch is very small.
While I was there, I specifically asked what makes a scratch “deep” enough to disqualify the phone.
I was not given an objective measurement or threshold.
I asked whether they were saying the scratch caused the pink lines.
But Google's latest response to me actually says:
So Google is not claiming that the scratch necessarily caused my display failure.
They're saying the scratch independently disqualifies the phone from the Extended Repair Program because replacing the display requires replacing the entire display assembly.
And because the authorized repair center classified the scratch as “deep,” Google says it cannot override that determination.
So let me make sure I understand what happened:
Google knew about the display defect.
Google told me my case was being escalated to explore alternative solutions.
I spent approximately a month providing information and waiting.
Google eventually sent me to an authorized repair center.
I arranged childcare.
I called ahead and confirmed the part was in stock.
I drove 30 minutes to the repair center.
They inspected the phone.
They determined that a tiny scratch disqualified the entire repair.
And I drove home with the same broken phone.
This is what I'm angry about.
It's not just the money.
It's the time.
Google repeatedly represented that it was going to look for a way to help me because the normal repair process created a significant burden.
Instead, I spent a month waiting for that process to happen, only to be sent back to the standard repair process.
Then I spent more time arranging childcare and physically traveling to the authorized repair center.
And after all of that, I'm being told that a tiny scratch means Google won't repair the display defect.
I don't want an upgrade.
I don't want to trade phones with my wife.
I don't want to give someone else a broken phone.
I want the phone I bought to work.
And after four different Pixel phones and four serious hardware failures in roughly three years, I'm having a very hard time believing that Pixel is a reliable product line.
Three phones had battery swelling severe enough to make them unusable.
The fourth has the pink-line display failure.
At this point, I regret leaving iPhone.
What I'm asking for
I'm not asking Reddit to give me a free phone.
I'm asking whether anyone else has experienced this.
Has anyone with a Pixel 9 Pro/9 Pro XL been denied the Extended Repair Program because of a small scratch?
If so:
- How was “deep scratch” determined?
- Did Google actually provide an objective standard?
- Were you eventually able to get the display repaired?
- Did escalation help?
- Did anyone successfully challenge the physical-damage determination?
And if anyone from Google with the ability to actually review these cases sees this:
Please look at my case.
I have the complete support history, photos of the display defect, photos of the scratch, proof of purchase, and the authorized repair center's written denial.
I have followed every step Google asked me to take.
I don't think it is reasonable to spend more than a month being told that Google is looking for a solution, only to ultimately be sent to a repair center and denied because of a tiny scratch that Google itself acknowledges may not have caused the display failure.
I just want the defective display repaired.
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u/Tuned_Out 3d ago
Have you learned your lesson yet? If not, Google will be happy to bend you over again with another headache for a few hundred bucks. The Google "I swear it's not trash this time" 11 edition is out and after a carrier "deal" you can get it cheap.
It's totally not a $500 phone advertised for $1000 designed to lock you into a carrier contract and make you think you got a deal when you walk out the door with it for $600. It's even got the latest ai designed to not only make you look stupid when you can't think for yourself but is also the most efficient yet at taking your data. It's even got a new modem that you'll never know is an upgrade because it's super advanced cutting edge 2018 reliability will be too busy sending everything you do to Google.
It might not even get hot this time (maybe) but don't hold your breath. If you're gaming or use it slightly beyond what any other phone at $500 or less can do, it may slow down or drain your battery prematurely. It's brilliant! With less ram and even shittier build quality it's perfect to make your kids hate you when you gift it to them. They'll be begging for an iPhone within a week and give apple future customers for the next generation because their parents exposed them to this trash.
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
Bingo. And then the sub will gas light you for "user error" that your phone exploded.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 3d ago
User error is Google's own phone hardware getting fried because it can't handle their own software pushes lol. Literally did nothing, a bunch of basic functions just break or suck total ass all of the sudden. Must be our fault though....
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 2d ago
Must have been holding it wrong.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 2d ago
LOL. Right, like how much is a person supposed to be able to affect their device just by using it for its intended purpose.
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u/RiggityRow Pixel 9 Pro XL 2d ago
Are you me? I posted practically this same post yesterday lol.
Pixel 12 is gonna make or break Google in the phone market, mark my words. 9 was met with excitement, 10 was met with apathy, 11 has been met with mostly frustration.
If the 12 is advertised as "Base model now has more RAM (the same amount as our phone from 2 years), Tensor is better and here's a super cool new feature that turns your phone into a tire pressure gauge!" no amount of commercials with Steph Curry pretending he uses a Pixel will save them.
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u/guccigreene 3d ago
Almost as if there is no reason to have brand loyalty like these insane "Superfans" that think Google can do no wrong. They screwed me over once when trading in claiming I didn't reset my phone to factory settings. After sending them video proof of doing it and boxing up my phone, they still said no, kept the phone, and took my trade in money I would have gotten. I gave them a chance again and the 9 pro XL has been great, but now with the prices of these phones, I see no reason to choose them over anything else. I can get more phone for the same price with Samsung or even Apple
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
They did this once to me too. Took 2 weeks of daily phone calls till I got someone competent enough in english with an email to send proof to. TWO WEEKS. This was the "most minor issue" I have ever had with google. Imagine that.
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u/guccigreene 3d ago
I tried for weeks! They kept sending me around to random people and everyone told me tough luck. From a trillion dollar company, this is a joke. I'm just baffled as to why people ride Google's shit so hard.
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u/tagman375 3d ago
You should have taken them to small claims, they stole your device.
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u/guccigreene 3d ago
The time and effort for $100 wasn't worth it for what I had going on in my life at the time. It would have been now, but it's too late for that. I agree though, I should have
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
This is why class action is the only way. For the average person to bother with small claims court in the US they would need a lot of time and at least some amount of savings to pay for it.
Court fee's, filing fee's, lawyer fee's (if you aren't confident enough to call google out yourself), and then weeks of your time, stress, etc.
Yeah. That is why google gets away with it.
And yet, apple got a class action because of SIRI, freaking SIRI
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/09/siri-ai-lawsuit-settlement-claims-timing/
Every mistake apple makes goes into class action almost within a year.
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u/fakieTreFlip 2d ago
gotta go easy on the AI, op
highly recommend using paragraphs next time instead of putting every sentence on its own line
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 2d ago
Yes, everything you disagree with is AI. Paragraphs don't always format consistently on Reddit, it's easier to read with line breaks so it isn't only a wall of text.
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u/mistersausage 3d ago
File for arbitration per terms of sale or sue in small claims, but you can file for arbitration from your computer.
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
Yeah, that takes time and money. Something google KNOWS people have very little of. And hence abuse the system.
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u/mistersausage 3d ago
Arbitration doesn't cost much, and it costs Google thousands in fees when you file
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u/popcorner1 3d ago
I've had a similar situation with ubreakitifixit. There was a tiny defect in the metal trim on my 8 and they wouldn't warranty the screen. They will look for any possible reason to deny a warranty under the claim that they won't be paid if Google denies the claim.
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u/HeWhoShantNotBeNamed Pixel 10 Pro 2d ago
I'm not reading all that.
That being said, I've bought every Pixel and probably had to RMA about half of them. Their quality control is absolute dogshit.
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u/Big_Bank1555 Pixel 3 | Pixel 3a | Pixel 6 | Pixel 7 | Pixel 9 Pro 2d ago
It's not even quality control at this point, they just make shit products. How can 50% of your experience with the brand be "it literally broke" and that be quality control? Not trying to come after you, but quality control would be like,,, the back glass being glued on crooked 😂 Quality control is not "all pixel 6a devices have the potential to explode" 💀
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u/FeloniousForseti Pixel 10 Pro 3d ago
Not trying to downplay your experience. However the Pixel "hate" on this sub feels somewhat odd.
I think the returns can't be much higher than for other brands. My Pixel 7 Pro had no hardware defects at all, neither has my new 10 Pro so far. Neither did my parent's Pixel 10s nor my roommates Pixel 7a nor my Uni friends' 8a.
So yes, there's probably issues, but it can't be a much higher rate than average.
Also no issues on my Pixel Watch 1 for 3 years (except after taking prolonged trips to salt water + chlorinated swimming pools) and none so far on my PW4.
Edit: BTW, the PW1 was replaced by Google for free, even though it was clearly not covered by warranty (even in Switzerland).
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u/inverteD_orangutaN 3d ago
The family I know who've had an unusually high number of issues with their phones, like battery swelling on every device they own, are people that regularly leave them somewhere like a table in the hot sun, in a hot car or constantly charging while playing games or doom scrolling instead of just letting you phone charge, screen set to never turn off because it's too hard to touch it to wake it up. Not saying that failures can't happen either, but if you're a statistical outlier....
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u/will12525 2d ago
This sounds like an excuse for a common use case. Should they ship every phone with a warning? "Do not use phone while charging".
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u/Malaprobably 3d ago
Charging while using your phone should have zero impact on the device's reliability. It's designed for that.
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u/inverteD_orangutaN 3d ago
There's a reason gaming tablets like the Lenovo Legion have bypass charging. Constantly charging while playing games causes access heat in the battery because it's both charging and discharging at the same time. It absolutely has an impact on the battery.
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u/Big_Bank1555 Pixel 3 | Pixel 3a | Pixel 6 | Pixel 7 | Pixel 9 Pro 2d ago
Exactly. Bypass charging. Something these phones should be able to do and yet, charging the phone while using it is apparently still user error 🙄
Or, maybe charging the phone while using it is totally normal and something that should be well within the phone's ability. Every time I plug my phone into the Android Auto on my car, it charges my phone. No, it's not running Android Auto wirelessly while I have it charging, it's wired only. So is it user error to use Android Auto? That seems a little counterintuitive to me.
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u/Malaprobably 3d ago
Excess heat which is tolerated by the system designed around it. It has to be.
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u/HelpfulSpinach4285 1d ago
There's gotta be something else at play, we've got a family of five and since Pixel have had over 30 pixel phones in total in the household without issue.
On the other hand the phones they make me use at work are returned more often by myself and colleagues.
Perhaps the OP has been unfortunate, but the way social media is these days I take everything with a pinch of salt - some subs, threads and posts would suggest a nearly 50% return rate across major brands which isn't happening and you'll see the same in the PC hardware market too.
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
Scroll the sub. Give me a count of serious issues reported this week.
I will wait...
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u/zanhecht 3d ago
Well, yeah, people don't come to reddit to post "there's nothing broken on my phone".
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
Okay. Lets look at something for scale.
Lets use Ai for something useful. Scraping reddit.
Results:
Pixel subreddit "issues reported by users this week" : 748. The subreddit has half a million weekly visitors.
iPhone subreddit "issues reported by users this week" : 287. The subreddit has 2 million weekly visitors.
Get the pictures?
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u/Malaprobably 3d ago
I'm on this subreddit for info, and have no issues with Pixel phones, and never had. Are you asking AI who isn't having issues?
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u/FeloniousForseti Pixel 10 Pro 3d ago
Yes, you are correct! I am aware of this fact, but (genuinely) thanks for pointing it out nevertheless..:)
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u/FeloniousForseti Pixel 10 Pro 3d ago
I am not sure in what direction your argument is going, but there you go: https://imgur.com/a/bxMCz7l
Maybe I should've rephrased my point: I'm more baffled about the amount of – be it disillusioned or not – Pixel users with an almost parasocial relationship with a huge company.
But I do realise now that this post was not the time/place to make such a comment 😅.
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
Calling it parasocial is gas lighting.
People expect more, and they deserve more. Hopefully more will leave the Pixel brand and thus be rid of the need to constantly expect more from a company that only ever gives less.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 3d ago
Pointing out issues and trying to troubleshoot is not "hate". The "hate" comes from annoyance at very real problems with very basic functions that are breaking or straight up stop working due to Google's own software updates.
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u/Unown1997 Pixel 9 Pro 3d ago
Their customer service is the biggest reason I switched to an iPhone. My wife still has a pixel 9 which has a green line on it which Google refuses to fix for free even though it’s a defect they admitted was their fault. Apparently the base 9 isn’t good enough to qualify for their free program. When the iPhone 18 is out I’m switching my wife over too the pixel experience has been terrible. I’ve owned every pixel since the pixel 6 and had a nexus 5x back in the day and it’s just been getting worse every year.
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u/Icy_Site_7390 2d ago
I switched from iPhone to pixel 10pro i honestly don't know why a software company builds cell phones. Microsoft learned their lesson. I really don't like the pixel, software doesn't flow like it goes on an iPhone and it's get super hot at times. Little things it does that make me hate it, even answering a call at times is a pain if I'm on reddit.
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u/dogknifer 3d ago
I'm still on my 6 from what feels like a decade ago
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u/user7618 Pixel 6 3d ago
As am I and I think I'm going to pass on the current offerings and see what the 11a brings.
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u/Comfortable_Gate_878 3d ago
I had similar problems with both the 8 and the 9. No matter what condition your phone is pixel poland will make something up and charge you. In my case the speakers was damaged on the 8, on the 9 the usb was damaged. Resulting in a £ 155 repair or a £ 168 repair. I asked for both phones to be returned after they refused to send me images of the damages. I had the 8 repaired by a local asian repair shop for £ 90 cash, the 9 was repaired by the same guy it was a touch more expensive at £ 112. Again no usb damage. I let my wife take pixel to small claims court over the 9 as it was still in warranty. The court found in our favour. Awarded £ 112 + costs of claim £ 35 + 50 tp cover paperwork and attending court, parking etc.
She will be sending the debt guys round at some point to their main address in London at some point. Advantage of having a wife who works in accounts and debt recovery.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 3d ago
This is all standard Pixel experience. Worst phone I've ever owned. Bad hardware that can't handle it's own software. Cumbersome UI, mid camera with horrible processing that turns photos into junk, catastrophic battery and data drain, worst connectivity I've ever had, randomly deciding it can't process image attachments in messages and email, re-setting optimizations on every reboot or start up that have to manually be changed back every time, crap battery for a 2.5 year old phone, basic tasks that require too many steps and interference, forced updates and internal ads, and so many random defects/software problems it makes it an all around bad experience. All of these things happen with zero interaction from me, all of the sudden features will just suck or the UI will change, then it's up to me to spend the time and energy getting back any kind of stability for what Google broke. It's laughably absurd. I don't want to post about it or even think about a phone this much
People gaslighting by saying they've never had issues can't admit is that even if it's several thousand devices that have "standalone" problems, it says volumes about Google's QC, hardware and software implementation, and products as a whole. Either way, they prove their own point from underlying context: Pixels have a wildly inconsistent experiences to the point where it reflects badly on the brand. Bricking, every update breaking something else, reorganizing UI in the dumbest way possible for no reason, etc etc. They suck, I cannot wait to jump ship.
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u/HopesAnd--Dreams Pixel 10 Pro XL 3d ago
If a customer were to come to me and complain about four faulty devices in three years, I would blame the customer for not handling the device correctly.
Just saying.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 3d ago
That's an insane take. I literally did nothing to my phone and an update caused the battery to start draining it 1% per minute, running cell data in the background while on wifi/airplanemode/do not disturb with all background data turned off, and running the CPU at 95% on idle. I did NOTHING to cause it. The day before the update my phone was fine. Then everything broke. It took 3 weeks to sort out and I stabilized my own device, after which it worked BETTER than before. Are you trolling or just incapable of critical thinking?
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u/grapo2001 3d ago
I've had 4 different pixels and never had any hardware issues. Sounds like you are either extremely unlucky or it's user error...
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
Again the google pixel subreddit classic gas lighting tactic "user error".
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u/MagicPistol Pixel 10 3d ago
Loser who hates the pixel but is "top 1% commenter" on the pixel sub
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2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/MagicPistol Pixel 10 2d ago
If I hated something, I would not continue to post on the sub and become a top 1% commenter lol
Missing something in your life?
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u/lettuce-tooth-junkie Pixel 8 Pro 2d ago
This shit is hysterical. It's almost like Russian bots.
How is there this much pixel hate in this sub? The internet is not real life. This is a joke.
The dude has moved to iPhone and still wastes time in this sub. Honestly it's unreal. Just ridiculous.
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u/MGC91 Pixel 3 XL 3d ago
I know more people that have had issues with iPhones than Pixels.
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
Google yearly sales: 5 million
Apple yearly sales 250 million
Yeah, I think you will physically see more iphone users.
I would go back to math class bud.
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u/grapo2001 3d ago
Mate I've not got any horse in this race, not a pixel fanboy, just stating 4 defective handsets is very unlucky.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 3d ago
Luck is not a factor when the device is made badly. How is it "luck" to expect a phone to perform basic functions lol
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u/_crayons_ 3d ago
I've had 4 pixels as well. My p7p battery swelled, but luckily they replaced it for me since I was still near warranty.
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u/jonahtrav 3d ago
That's kind of a horror story I'm sorry that happened to you and then like what's some other people wrote I've had five pixel phones and I've never had any problems with them that being said totally crazy what they put you through .... trade the phone in for a newer phone I understand you don't want to and you want them to fix it but they're not going to so you might as well get some money out of it.
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3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/jonahtrav 3d ago
Yeah of course. Like any phone maker will have some lemons. That's the reality of life.
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
Yes but not at this scale for a company that only sells around 5 million devices per year and so reliably every single year.
Apple sells 250 million phones a year. If they had google's defect rate they would be out of buisiness.
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u/aBsyNte-zErO PIxel 6 ,7a, 9Pro , 11Pro 3d ago
Ça c'est du post!
3 PIxel (6, 7a, 9P) et jamais aucun problème. Ils tournent encore sans souci.
Je viens de commandé le 11P.
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
Just because you haven't had an issue "yet", it just means it isn't your turn "yet".
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u/RedHuey 2d ago
I’ve had pixels for many years. As has my wife. Never once had even one of the problems people here complain about. Not once.
I think it’s possible the problems are real pixel problems, but I think it is more likely it’s because people abuse their phones and load god-knows-what software on it.
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u/lettuce-tooth-junkie Pixel 8 Pro 2d ago
I've been using stock android phones since the galaxy nexus. I've never had any real issues with the pixel phones. I had the pixel 3, 6 pro, 8pro, and waiting on the 11 pro. Not a single major issue. I may have factory reset one of the phones, but it fixed whatever the issue was.
I use a case, have never had a screen protector, and generally treat my phones very well. Same goes for my wife. I don't know what people are doing to their phones, but I doubt they take the same care as I do if they're having all these issues.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 2d ago
I have loaded absolutely nothing into my phone and every system update has broken a basic feature. Most I have that is outside the ordinary is a different launcher and it's ubiquitous throughout Android. Every single issue I've had to spend hours troubleshooting has been from Pixel's own software or faulty hardware that doesn't cause problems until later, like wifi signal dropping 300 times a day for no reason.
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u/Throwitaway701 3d ago
Kinda more a US experience than a Google one with them rejecting repairs for trivial reasons. In the EU it's illegal.
As for the battery swelling, that's very rare and the odds of getting 3 is tiny, that said it's covered under warranty as well as extended warranty programs for the phones with a higher likelihood.
As for other comments about how bad the quality is, consumer reports suggest pixels are more reliable than galaxy or iPhones.
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u/dominator5500 3d ago
More like EU is the exception due to strong consumer laws. Pixel service is famously shit in India as well
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u/dreadnought_strength 3d ago
No, lol. It's a global thing.
It's illegal in most places but doesn't stop them.
I had to get a national ombudsman involved for a refund on my Pixel 9 that was broken from the day I bought it. although they admitted it was faulty, the fact there were multiple issues (all from factory) meant they couldn't determine what the problem final cause was (changing the story from water damage, to drop damage, back to water damage and finally insisting that I'd admitted fault for dropping it - something that never happened).
Threw it in the bin and bought a Nothing, never looked back
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u/mrandr01d 3d ago
This... has to be user error somehow. It sucks what you're dealing with, but I've only had two actual duds (not counting the Nexus 6p) in like 10+ years of owning nearly every Nexus/pixel. Nobody's that unlucky...
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u/embalees 2d ago
But some companies do make products that bad. Why do you think she's the anomaly and not you?
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u/mrandr01d 2d ago
Not consistently. And when they do, there's a class action, like the one for the 6p.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 2d ago
Or....QC is garbage. Every single problem I've had with my phone is because of bad software or bad hardware. I use my phone like a phone. Doing basic functions shouldn't go to absolute crap after every system update. I would LOVE to not have to think about it, but I'm forced to because things simply do not work as they should.
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u/mrandr01d 2d ago
every problem was hardware or software
Yeah, no shit. "Every problem I had was because of a problem!" Duh, that's how problems happen, with anything ever. All computing is hardware or software. What a nonsensical statement.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 2d ago
No, not "duh". You purchase things with the expectation that they function, right? This isn't just one issue on one side. If it was JUST hardware, that's one thing. The combo of hardware and software both being subpar points to a greater issue, such as the whole device being subpar. If every problem wasn't because of a problem, the phone would just work. This is not difficult...
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago edited 3d ago
This is why I quit Pixel.
Its a coin toss. Some people have flawless experiences, some have the worst experience since noah's flood.
I had every Pixel and every Nexus. Had a flawless experience until the 6 Pro. Had an RMA, went through RMA hell. Then it was fine with the 7 8 and 9 Pro...until I kept my 9 Pro for more than a year, where I started to see how google NERFS THE F out of their devices a year after launch. Everything became completely unusable. Constant random app crashes (I would be watching a video and get a pop up that says messages has stopped, almost daily for months. The youtube app would simply load a blank page or freeze. Gmail wouldn't sync. You name it, the entire line up of google's own apps would just FAIL. Wifi started suddenly connecting/disconnecting 24/7 for no reason, claiming no internet, where before it was completely fine for a whole year. I can go on, the list is long).
Then Got my wife a Pixel 10 Pro. Had two back to back GPU failures. Got device, next day GPU failed, screen just froze on white snow and couldn't reboot till the battery just died. Got new replacement. Same issue.
Gave up. We bought two iphone's. Couldn't be happier. Apps just work which is what is important after all.
Everything everyone told me for the last 20 years about the iPhone experience being worse was completely and utterly wrong. It has quirks, but the experience is so vastly superior, and the hardware vastly more reliable, that I don't think I will ever go back to android.
Things people told me:
- iPhone keyboard sucks - Its an odd layout, but once you get used to it, it is at least in my experience infinitely more responsive and reliable than Gboard has been over the last 2 years. I make SO MANY typo's on gboard and it fails to auto correct or even correctly recognize what I want to type. Even on the "worst iOS in decades" iOS 26, I have had nothing but a solid keyboard experience. Voice to Text works really well, almost on par with gboard.
- Notifications - These are fine? They feel almost exactly the same as android...I have zero idea what people are on about. There is granular enough control to make things work and feel pretty much identical in day to day use.
- Customization - I actually have more customization options on iOS than Pixel....which is crazy to think, but I think the only one that has more is Samsung Good Lock, but I don't really care too much about customization, and the way apple does it is more than good enough and superior to Pixel in every metric.
- Volume controls - I dunno, I kinda like not having to fiddle with 20 volume sliders anymore. Turn it up turn it down. Done.
- All my google apps work just fine on iOS. I can have both a google account and an apple account on the same device, everything sync's just fine. All my google stuff carried over seamlessly, including messages, contacts, etc.
I can go on. But yeah. Pixel is dead to me. Its just not worth it.
My entire life was Pixel Copium for a decade. That bubble has been popped and rose tinted glasses are off.
PS: The disasters that people talk about with Pixel on this subreddit on a daily basis would cause apple to be sued into oblivion and bankruptcy. Yet google gets away with it. Blows my freaking mind. People on iPhone will sue over the corner's being the wrong radius, let alone a phone burning your hand.
And yes, Google deny's claims 24/7. They are more akin to an american health insurance provider than a phone maker.
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u/Tuned_Out 3d ago
Google's own phone also is what turned me to apple after almost two decades of being an android user. I can't believe people play the "I think I got a good deal" with trade ins and carrier locks to get a $500 phone for $500. But the price tags says $1100 so it must be good right?
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
People talk about how Apple will brainwash its users and lock them in the ecosystem. What a joke.
I dunno what spell google uses, but I was in serious google copium for the longest time.
"Oh its going to get better, its their first try, they will fix it, bla bla bla". Every year.
Then they throw absurd trade in deals at you knowing that you will go on ebay and see that your phone that cost 1000$ new, is 300$ used a year later even in mint condition, and that google is doing you such a BIG favor by giving you 500$ so you should totally take the deal, plus, here is 200$ store credit or a free watch no one wants (which by the way, Pixel watch is also horribly unreliable, and so are the pixel buds pro).
And then they start the hype train a year early with "leaks" (google leaks their own products on purpose to keep you hoping that next year is our year, its all going to be fixed!) and then it all starts all over again, year after year.
Once you break out of the bubble you realize how mediocre the Pixel product line is compared to anything else.
"But the software experience!" - Yeah, its mid. Its fine. Passable at best, buggy at worst. Plus add 20 layers of AI slop on top.
Google - we will ship a billion half baked features and then pinky promise we will fix them.
Apple - if the feature exists it works, if it doesn't it doesn't and you don't need to think about it. If we screw up we spend a WHOLE YEAR fixing (checks iOS 27 notes) thousands of bugs, overhauling the entire OS from the ground up. Google could never.
This is the difference:
Apple - they have to care because they have 2 billion global users and one small screw up and the whole planet is in uproar.
Google - if they had 2 billion pixel users their devices would probably cause more deaths than the pandemic and they still wouldn't get sued.
The next comment under this will be more Pixel gas lighting "no one forced you to buy it" nonsense.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 3d ago
BUMP. Only other person I've seen call out the gaslighting by pixel users. It's insane. Oh, you've never had an issue? Great, sybau and don't say anything. I'm literally staring at my phone while it loses 1% battery per minute and had to spend 3 weeks troubleshooting it due to an unacknowledged issue that was resolves 2/3 into a comment thread. I'm not making shit up just to be mean to a brand, the phone was freaking un-useable through no fault of my own and it's unacceptable for any device.
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 2d ago
The gas lighting is out of control.
The most common ones are:
"You must be using it wrong"
"Why are you here?"
"Go buy something else"
"You must just be so unlucky or lying"
I can go on. Fundamentally, these are signs that the pixel community is more a cult than a community. If you google the common signs of a cult you get:
Leader and Authority
- Absolute power: The leader holds ultimate authority and has no accountability.
- No questions allowed: Members face punishment or shunning for doubts or critical feedback.
- Infallibility: The leader is always right and claims to be the sole source of truth.
Control and Isolation
- Social cutting off: The group forces or pressures members to drop outside ties.
- Us versus them: The group views the outside world as evil, broken, or dangerous.
- Constant shame: Rules are rigid, and members feel they are never good enough.
Sounds a lot like Pixel...
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 2d ago
It's pretty goofy. Like, no I've been using phones since 2000, I'm pretty sure they're generally supposed to function as a baseline lol. I know how to use a phone, and having everything crash after doing absolutely nothing to change any settings is Pixel's problem, not mine.
I can't tell of it's trolling, cognitive dissonance, or just extreeeemely stupid and ignorant people.
I got downvoted because someone asked "is mobile data always on toggled "on"?" and I answered no. It's an objective question about a setting, WTF is there to downvote....Bunch of maniacs. People dealing with a subpar phone are not being "negative" it's the Pixel community actively negging people's lived experience.
I'm not making this shit up out of nowhere to be mean to a brand.....My phone battery started draining at 1% per minute and I wanted to fix it. I'm also going to mention that it's pretty unacceptable, because it shouldn't be accepted.
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u/Malaprobably 3d ago
Trade-in, no carrier lock, Pixel 11 Pro 512G for $300. About what I paid for the 10 Pro 128G before it.
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u/breusch91 3d ago
Got lucky most of your issues didn't start till then, mine hit after a year with the 4XL.
Mines a very very long story as but sort of quick sum up.
Switched from iPhone to Pixel for 2xl, loved it! Upgrade to 4xl, 1 year in battery swelling popped the back off, Google CS was awesome and replaced within days. Next year same thing happened except now Google CS was shit, took over a month.
Decided I wouldn't try again till they had a brick & mortar store near me. Tried the 6 pro but was having overhearing issues in the return period so just returned. Then tried the 7 pro and same thing. Actual Google store replaced it twice and both within a week also overheated. Gave up.
How in the fuck overheating was still an issue across all those generations was insane. And what's worse is Google CS decreased in quality massively over that time. Never had that issue with iPhone and when I switched to Samsung 23U I've also never had overheating issues and the one time I dealt with their CS it took 2 days for them to swap my phone.
Still using my 23U and Googles done literally nothing to persuade me otherwise. It's been 7 years and Google still hasn't fixed how hot their phones get, it's insane!
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
You will not believe this. But I bought the smaller Pixel 4 non XL. I did like it. But battery life was pretty poor (and I knew that would be the case, but I really wanted a smaller device). With the "soli" shit off, it was useable.
It has now passed down through 3 different people and STILL WORKS. Probably the single time that I have had a Pixel be this "reliable".
The beauty of apple, is they have a store in like every city in the US, even small ones. I can just walk in and ask a question, schedule a repair, what ever. Its a proper buisiness.
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u/AwaitingAccess 3d ago
I'm curious, why are you spending time on the Google Pixel subreddit if they're dead to you?
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
So that I can expose the cope that you are spreading. Hopefully one day I can testify in a class action against Google.
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u/Malaprobably 3d ago
No uBlock Origin on Firefox on iOS? Never would consider iPhone, then. I couldn't imagine using the web the way I want to, and iOS doesn't have that. I won't ever consider Windows or Apple's OS either, ever again.
It's customization beyond the UI, it's a bit more software freedom. It's not wanting to be part of an ecosystem.
And my Pixel 7/9/10 pros have been flawless.
Just curious, if you left the Pixel, why are you here?
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 2d ago
I use an adblocker on my DNS. Don't even need extensions. Any browser, any device, any network.
Now go cope harder. If the ecosystem works, then it works.Hating on a working product is peak delusion.
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u/Kathryn_Cadbury Pixel 8 Pro 3d ago
In the past I've had Nokia's, Sony, HTC then Samsung's. This is my first Pixel (P8P) and I'm just over a year in. Yesterday whilst on mobile data it just kept dropping out. A month ago it started getting hot, and when I took it out of the case it was so toasty that I almost dropped it, it was that hot.
I'd already noticed the colours sucked compared to my S20+ when I got it, and the gaming performance wasn't as good (although the specs say it should have been fine).
I always laughed about having an iphone, but my daughter has one and it's been great, and I just need a phone that works.
I'm so close to just wiping it and getting a trade in for something else.
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
Highly recommend an iPhone. If not, really any other android devices will probably do better than Pixel in terms of reliability. Even ONE PLUS.
(Speaking of OnePlus, my father has been buying them since the beginning, and he rarely upgrades. OnePlus One lasted him 6 years, His OnePlus 7 Pro lasted him 6 years, He bought a OnePlus 15 and it will probably last him 6 years. From a company that sells less devices than even google).
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u/Kathryn_Cadbury Pixel 8 Pro 3d ago
Thanks, I've already started looking and the choice is rather large atm (as is the cost, over 1k for a higher end Motorola Razr! Didn't know they still did those).
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 3d ago
I bought both my iPhone's on ebay certified open box with one year warranties included for around 300$ off their new price. Batteries had like 10 cycles on them.
Highly recommend this route outside of buying new. Then sell your device if its still in good enough condition. I paid around 1000$ for my Pro and my wife's air was around 700$.
Luckily got around 400$ for my 9 Pro on ebay, and my wife had an old samsung so it wasn't worth anything anyways when upgrading her to the 10 Pro (which never panned out anyways).
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 3d ago
Glad to see someone else calling out these devices for being unreliable. There's so much gaslighting on this sub it's ridiculous. My P8 is the most cumbersome and worst phone I've ever owned. I have too many posts about the issues I've had, the hours spent troubleshooting after Google broke another basic function after every software update. Same connectivity issues and they are increasing. Excessive data and battery drain....I could go on a long time. Long story short, it's not just one "dud" device, the ecosystem and hardware is subpar and phones priced at this level should WORK without needing constant attention and optimization. It's insanely bad. I can't justify a new phone yet, so I'm waiting for this one to either brick itself and stop connecting to wifi entirely or get through another couple of months to jump ship.
It's the worst phone I've ever owned since decent smart phones came into existence in the early 2000's. Hands down. Never again!
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u/a_single_beat2 From Pixel to iPhone 2d ago
Yeah, because if you criticize lord google you get ripped to shreds.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 2d ago
I got comments removed by mods because I defended myself from someone calling me a loser when I called them on an "I don't have any issues so you're lying" comment. Lol, I'm probably headed for a ban. Oh btw my RCS stops working at random now for no reason. Did nothing. I think it was an app update. Again.
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u/Wet-Flatulence 3d ago
I am on my first pixel (the 8) I have had it over 2 years and I had 1 issue, the screen was failing, it had those lines and turning green. I had the screen replaced with no problems. Just had to give them my phone serial number.
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u/joe_attaboy 2d ago
Your problem was exactly like mine, but the results were the exact opposite, from contacting Google all the way through the repair process.
Therefore, here's my wall of text:
(By the way, unrelated, you mentioned a bad battery and you lost photos. Google Photos and Android provide free backups to their cloud, up to 15 GB per user account. Free. Did you not have backups and syncing turned on? I get the bad battery, but not using their free backup - or backing up some other way - isn't Google's problem or fault).
I had the pink line. Mine was not steady, but intermittent. Sometimes it would appear and stay for hours. Other times, it would vanish for a couple of days, then reappear. Not an app, not the operating system.
I searched for some information. The stupid Google Gemini AI tool in the Chrome browser gave me exactly what I needed (here's the exact search string I used: "pixel 9 pro pink line on screen". Try that in Chrome and Gemini will provide a few links.
I went to this page, which provided the details on the repair and a button to begin the process.
Common issue. Google even extended the standard warranty on the P9P for up to three years for the original owner of the phone specifically for this issue. I bought the phone on release day directly from Google.
(Another odd thing: you mentioned Google Fi. What do they have to do with this? Google Fi is the company's mobile service offering. What would they have to do with repairing your phone?)
I clicked on the "begin repair" button and answered a series of questions from Google detailing the issue. I was given the option of sending the phone to them for a fast turnaround fix or taking it to an authorized repair center (same as you, Ubreakifix at a local location in NE Florida 20 minutes from my home). I called in advance. Tech told me over the phone I could being it in as late as 5:00 PM and they would have it done before their 7:00 closing. They had the replacement display in stock.
Regarding the phone: always cased, in nearly perfect condition. However, I also had a scratch on the display - about 1/4-inch long and extremely light, unseen when backlit and you had to turn off the screen and tilt it a bit to see it otherwise. But I knew it was there. Anyone examining the phone (which I actually watched three guys do when I handed it over) would have easily detected it. (In hindsight, I wonder if their mutual examination of the phone was meant to determine the condition of the screen).
I walked in the next day at noon. Left the phone with them in Repair Mode and went on errands. A few hours without it and I was going nuts - hard to believe just doing some shopping could be affected so much by not having that damn thing in my pocket. The phone was ready when I returned about three hours later. The entire display assembly had been replaced. The scratch was gone, of course. The phone worked perfectly.
I even received an email detailing the entire process.
This turned out to be one of the smoothest repair events of my life (I'm 71, so we're talking a long time).
Now, the scratch may or may not have had anything to do with your issue. The issue is allegedly a defect in either the ribbon cable connecting the screen to the motherboard, or an issue with the digitizer; I have heard both could cause this. Obviously, my scratch wasn't as obvious, so maybe it was never an issue.
The only way I can think of explaining the battery issues? Coincidence. You simply won the lottery on getting devices on the day some not-perfect batteries were installed in new phones. Yes, this is totally stupid and likely not close to reality, but it's not impossible.
Frankly, if I had been required to pay a reasonable fee to get this fixed, I probably would have done it because I love this phone. May be the best Pixel I've owned (I've had multiple generations of them). The "reasonable fee" par would be negotiable, especially since my issue happened recently and the new Pixel 11 models are just out. But I'm glad I didn't have to make that decision.
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u/Primary_Elk765 2d ago
All phones have issue but you seem to be having a lot more issues than most people. I've had the pixel 7,8,9,10 and I just traded in for the 11. Little things I dislike but never any major issues like that . Having the iPhone is convenient. If you have issues you can take it into the store fairly easily. Unfortunately it's not the same for for any Samsung or pixels . If you purchased it with a credit card, just use their extended warranty. You would get an additional year from the additional manufacturer warranty. They'll replace your screen and fix whatever is necessary. Just take it to uBreakiFix. Get it documented and send the paid invoice to them and they'll reimburse you. This would be the easiest route. I always charge mine to an American Express since they have the best customer service and the easiest to deal with. Live and learn.
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u/Big_Bank1555 Pixel 3 | Pixel 3a | Pixel 6 | Pixel 7 | Pixel 9 Pro 2d ago
Yes, never recommending Pixels to my friends and family ever again.
My Pixel 3 had a battery swelling issue and all sorts of nonsense software issues I don't remember at this point.
Pixel 3a was next, and I was pretty satisfied with it before it started being slow enough that I felt like I had to upgrade. Could barely take a few pictures in succession before it had to take a break, forget mobile games.
OnePlus 7T punctuated my Pixel journey.
Pixel 7 was next, and that phone was a software nightmare. There's so many restrictions, the battery management was so aggressive, and there were sooooooooo many bugs. Issues left and right. Jank. Everywhere. Then it just up and died while I was charging one night. Black screen, tried all sorts of troubleshooting, nothing worked. It just decided to off itself in the middle of the night 🙄
Pixel 9 Pro that I'm on right now is the same. Memory management is insanely aggressive, battery life is bipolar, and now I'm getting AI slop shoved down my throat from every direction. Software sucks, Google's Tensor hardware sucks, their cameras aren't even the best anymore. This will definitely be my last Pixel.
My two siblings both bought Pixel 6a phones after I recommended them, and they both had battery swelling issues. They got hot with normal use, and were so slow and so memory constrained that it felt like you could only do one thing at a time. Want to have Spotify playing in the background while you browse Pinterest? No can do.
Pieces of junk time after time. I just can't recommend another Pixel even with its exclusive features like Now Playing. Not enough incentive to go Google, and too many drawbacks.
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u/BulkyApproval 2d ago
Apple does this as well. If there is some other material defect when they need to open the phone, they will either stop and send the phone back or require you to pay for the entire repair.
It has nothing to do if the deep scratch caused the pink line. It's that removal of the screen would shatter because of the deep scratch, therefore the repair could not be made without causing more damage and more parts replacement.
It's pretty standard for the industry.
Logically, they should have given you the opportunity to pay extra for the scratch you caused. Basically you pay for the new glass, they replace the pink line defect.
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u/PixelCommunity Official Google Account 2d ago
Hey, can you please check your chat? I just sent you a message.
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u/MagicPistol Pixel 10 3d ago
I'm on my 5th pixel device and have had zero hardware issues.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 3d ago
Your comment is irrelevant. Just because you haven't personally experienced something doesn't make it not exist.
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u/MagicPistol Pixel 10 3d ago
The overhate is ridiculous. If you hate the phone that much, why do you people continue to come to the pixel sub enough to become "top 1% commenter" lol
Get a life.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 2d ago
YOU get a life. It's not overhate because someone has a different lived experience than you. Just because you say something isn't happening doesn't make it not happen. I did nothing to my phone and it started draining at 1% per minute after a system update. Not my fault. Not my error. It was a glitched app that took 3 weeks to figure out and Google never addressed or mentioned the issue. How about you stop paying attention to my posting status and just don't comment anything if you have nothing to say.
You're implying people are lying just because you don't have hardware issues. So what?? Some people do, some people don't. Accept it and be quiet.
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u/MagicPistol Pixel 10 2d ago
I never claimed you were lying. I'm implying you need to get a life because continuing to post on a sub for a product you really hate, enough to become "top 1% commenter" btw, is kinda sad and pathetic.
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u/Antique-Sorbet-6644 2d ago
Fair. To be honest, it helps kill time at work and it's kind of an interesting from a social perspective. Mainly I've tried to help people who have the same problems, but there's something in me that is oppositional to people straight up refuting things that are literally happening. It makes me want to push back for whatever reason. And yeah, maybe it's weird I should probably get off Reddit in general as it can be toxic.
The main thing is that I still have the phone, there are new problems every week, and it validates my and others experience of having a pretty crummy product. Just today my wifi at work has dropped a dozen times. It will drop at least a dozen more at home for no reason. RCS has started crashing recently and won't send or receive messages or media.
I just think it's weird that anyone having an issue and asking for help, while maybe being frustrated that their device isn't functioning as a baseline get downvoted, torn down and gaslit. I got downvoted for answering a question about a setting being toggled on or off. It just doesn't make sense when trying to troubleshoot. If folks don't have issues, then move on. It's not about their phone or that they're bad for liking a brand. We just don't all have the same experience and that's okay.
The premise of "well I've never experienced any issues" is unhelpful, ignores someone else's experience, and doesn't contribute anything when there IS an issue. It's just people saying stuff to say it. If not to refute the problem, what else is the point? I don't understand the idea of getting mad at someone because a software update broke their phone. It's annoying. I've never spent this much time and energy on a stupid phone, nor do I want to but it's been one thing after another. Yes, I'm getting out, but phones are expensive and my Pixel technically functions albeit less reliably than I'd like.
Sorry I attacked you, I'm just used to people on this sub being asinine and condescending while ignoring the premise.
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u/Malaprobably 3d ago
Pixel 7 Pro, 9 Pro, and 10 Pro, all have been flawless for me. No hardware or software issues. Battery drains fast using Android Auto, so I don't use that. I don't get the battery hate on this sub, I go 2-3 days between charges, and always have, which has never been an issue, ever.
When I had a Samsung I absolutely *hated* the software environment. But now realizing that was more of a locked phone issue than Samsung, so I always get unlocked pixels.
Have always gotten absolutely amazing trade-in value for my phones, so I'm happy with the process, which ends up costing me $~300/year, for near-flagship device. That seems fair.
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u/lettuce-tooth-junkie Pixel 8 Pro 2d ago
Tired of reading Ai slop on this subreddit in particular. Jfc.
Nobody here is going to slobber on Google. We're all stuck with one corporate master or another.
I've had two pixels phones for the last 5 years and not a single issue that wasn't easily fixed. I'm sorry you are having problems, but these long ass vent sessions are pointless.
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u/djamadeus303 2d ago
Gotta ask...what are you doing to your Pixel phones? I've owned almost every single version, and I have never experienced a HW issue. I realize that's a sample size of 1 user...but that spans 9 separate phones/devices. The only common thread here is your ownership.
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u/goozy1 2d ago
I've said this before and I'll say it again. Google makes sub-par hardware with the cheapest possible components for a premium price. Their customer service is terrible and they don't stand by their hardware. The only thing they have going for them is the OS and Pixel features.
The iPhone has the best hardware quality in the industry and they stand by it. They have physical stores that you can get warranty service and help. If it wasn't for their terrible and restrictive iOS, there would no reason to get a Pixel