I preordered the Pixel 4 XL at launch, upgrading from a 2 XL. I lost the 4 XL in April, when I unknowingly dropped it at some point during a bike ride, so I reverted to the 2 XL. This made me realize what a completely unremarkable phone the 4 XL was, and in some ways, it was actually a step _backwards_ from the 2 XL. I really did miss the fingerprint scanner on the back of the 2 XL, and for me face unlock will always be a gimmick. The camera on the 2 XL is still really good, even by today's standards.

Every smartphone I've had since the gnex days has been Google. I really want Google to make the best Android phones. The appeal of Nexus was that it was so cheap. With Pixel, prices have gone up, and the increase in functionality between generations has gone down. Maybe that's a general smartphone trend, but I think for the first time in a long time, my next Android phone won't be from Google.