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Comment by xnorswap | Hacker News Reader

I just "upgraded" my phone and for the first time my new phone is worse than my old one.

I only upgraded because I noticed my old phone (Huawei P20 pro) was no longer getting android updates and I was concerned for the security of it.

My new phone (pixel 8) feels worse in almost every regard.

I can't even customise the home screen as much ( Literally cannot remove a link to Chrome and other google apps ).

Given it's 5 years newer, it doesn't even feel any faster or snappier, the P20 pro did a remarkable job at remaining fast and having decent battery life.

It's a lot lighter, but aside from that it feels like a downgrade.

If a 5 year old phone can still hold up against a new phone, admittedly not the top of the range pixel 8 pro, but a new phone nonetheless, then why would you upgrade every 2-3 years?

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> I can't even customise the home screen as much ( Literally cannot remove a link to Chrome and other google apps ).

Uh... I'm not following here. You definitely can. What are you trying to do, exactly? It's true you can't uninstall the apps, because they're in the ROM. But you can absolutely use whatever you want on your home page.

I have a pixe6 and the OEM launcher has a date at the top you can't remove or change and a google chrome search bar at the bottom that you cant remove. You have to install a 3rd party launcher to remove them. https://www.stuff.tv/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Goog...

Well, OK. The Google launcher app has... a Google search bar. But again that's just an app, and you can change it. And have been able to for years and years. What's the actual complaint here? I mean, the original complaint was that you can't install your own apps on the home screen. So how is it wrong that the mechanism to do so is to... install your own app?

To be glib: The contention was that you can't change this stuff. And your response is "That's right, you can't change it! You have to CHANGE it to change it!". So... just change it?

"I can't even customise the home screen as much ( Literally cannot remove a link to Chrome and other google apps )." I was simply clarifying the point the OP brought up. You literally cannot remove that search bar from the homescreen https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/133065648/is-th... And my point stands, with the Pixel launcher you cant change either of the features mentioned. And an aside: Interesting how you made me and the OP sound deranged because we don't want to install a 3rd party service to customize the use of our phones. Great Convo

> And an aside: Interesting how you made me and the OP sound deranged because we don't want to install a 3rd party service to customize the use of our phones.

Fair enough, but I was trying to phrase it as a gentle joke.

I mean... you're trying to "customize" them to make them use "3rd party services"! That's the whole point! That's what you want! You want something not-Google, and you're mad that the mechanism to do so is to... not use the Google app.

I mean, you get that that's hilarious, right? Do you get likewise angry (maybe you'd say "deranged") that Microsoft has a Bing search bar on the desktop, or non-removable OneDrive integration in the file browser? That Apple sets you up with an account by default when you unbox your iPhone?

In point of fact, and being completely serious here: of all the major-vendor client platforms out there, Google Android is by far the most customizable in the sense of "removing the vendor's own app integration". Go try to swap your browser on iOS. I really don't understand why you're so upset.

Again I didn't mention any angst over the restriction I was simply reinforcing the OPs point that those items are not negotiable. And I really don't see how the points you brought up are comparable. The bing search bar is removable and the iOS sign in is required for functionality. The issue at play here are features that have nothing to do with functionality and are locked in eating up a large space on a limited space device. This is just poor design from a UX perspective but great placement from a user habit and marketing perspective. Its great that you degraded our comments/concerns as "hilarious" and that we are "angry" when the OP was simply sharing a subjective experience, with one part that is factually correct.

I was in a similar boat. My Galaxy S9+ was in its 5th year when I learned about the security update stoppage. I went for a midrange Pixel 6a that approximates the flagship of 2018. I'm not sure if this is due to getting used to the Samsung UX style after 9 years, but I find some choices Google made to be less intuitive or smooth, though I've gotten used to it. The only thing I maaay look for in my next phone which I don't currently haven't yet had is a 120hz refresh rate - but I might not want the extra power draw. So I'm satisfied. The extra battery life is a huge QoL improvement.

Just take the Chrome icon, hold it with your finger a sec, and drag it to the top of the screen where there's a box that says "remove" or something like that. That works for me on my Pixel

I think they meant the search bar at the bottom

I upgraded my P20 pro to a Samsung S20FE, and it felt like a downgrade. My wife took over my P20pro, and she's still rocking it, more than 5 years later. The screen is cracked in a corner, but the phone trucks along like nobody's business.

That was a seriously underrated and good phone. I'm 2 years on my Samsung and I hate it so much.

I had two P20s, probably my favourite phone I owned. Both died from water damage after about a year, which never happened to me with any other phone - not sure if I got unlucky or they have a particular design flaw here.

I don't understand this issue. I also have a Pixel 8 but I don't use chrome, so it's not on my phone.

This doesn't absolve Pixel phones from having a horrible launcher, but Nova launcher has been a savior.

Long press the chrome icon, drag it off the screen, it's gone. Tested on pixel 8 just now.

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