Although Android is open source, individual brands try to be first among equals, especially Google, which leads the way in the look, feel, and functionality of the operating system with a new version every year. And its Pixel phones, of course.
Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have 7 years of support, both software and hardware (no, not warranty, but there will be spare parts available until 2030). The Pixel 8 Pro is the better of the two with a 6.7-inch LTPO display (1,344 x 2,992 px), a 48MP 5x periscope, and a 48MP ultra-wide camera.
The smaller Pixel 8 (it’s small, not tiny) has a regular 6.2-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and FHD+ resolution. Not only does it lose the periscope lens, but its ultra-wide angle is also downgraded to a 12MP sensor. This one also has a smaller battery (4,575 mAh versus 5,050 mAh). However, it has the same Tensor G3 chipset as the Pro.
If the 8 series is too expensive for you, check out the Pixel 7a. It uses the older Tensor G2 chip and will only receive two more OS updates (it already has Android 14) and security patches for 5 years. It has a 64MP main camera with OIS and a 13MP ultrawide one, plus a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. These things don’t sound too impressive, but they are major upgrades over the camera main 12 MP and the 60 Hz display of the 6a.
But if the Pixel 8 isn’t too expensive or you’re simply not satisfied with the feature set, consider the Samsung Galaxy S23. It doesn’t even have an LTPO display, but it is a few millimeters more compact. And it has the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which gives it a notable advantage in battery life despite having a lower capacity. And it supports DeX desktop environment via USB-C. In addition, it has a camera: a 3x 10 MP module.
Moving on to the iOS side, the Apple iPhone 15 Plus is large and has great battery life. The 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED display (1,290 x 2,796 px) is just as large and bright as the 15 Pro Max display, although that is an LTPO panel. However, this year the Plus has a dynamic island instead of the notch. And a 48 MP main camera, which helps to balance, at least a little, the lack of a telephoto lens on board.
And let’s go back to Android. The Xiaomi 12T and 12T Pro are quite similar, the question is this: Dimensity 8100 Ultra or Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Also, 108 MP (1/1.67”) main camera or 200 MP (1/1.22”)? And of course, how much are you willing to pay? Both phones have the same display, a 6.67-inch 12-bit 120Hz panel with 1,220 x 2,712 px resolution, the same basic 8MP ultra-wide camera, and the same 5,000mAh battery with wired-only charging from 120W
If you’re inclined towards the 12T’s price, compare it to the Nothing Phone (1). Its display is a little less impressive, a 6.55″ OLED with FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, but you get the Snapdragon 778G+ chipset, which is more efficient and lasts longer with the smaller battery 4,500 mAh (which offers 33W wired and 15W wireless charging). . As for the cameras, the main module is less impressive (50MP 1/1.56”) but the ultra wide-angle one has a 50MP sensor. Keep in mind that Xiaomi promises 4 OS updates for the 12T and 5 years of software support, Nothing has only committed to 3 OS updates for the phone (1) (both phones started with Android 12).
If you’re looking for new headphones, the Google Pixel Buds Pro are at a small discount. They offer good audio quality and excellent battery life, but the ANC isn’t perfect.
But if you’ve chosen an iPhone, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 offer much better integration with Apple devices (and very poor integration for Android devices). These have great sound, ANC, and battery life, but keep in mind that this is the older version with a Lightning port for charging.
If you don’t want to choose between Android and iOS or simply want over-ear headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are still a solid choice: the XM5 offer better ANC in the midrange and treble range, but their new hinge design isn’t so flexible. In any case, the XM4 is a great choice for the price.
We will conclude with two tablets, two iPads, specifically. The vanilla 2021 Apple iPad costs less than half that of the 2022 model. It has a similar screen (10.2″ vs. 10.9″) and although its chipset is a year older (A13 vs. A14), it should be fast enough for most everyday tasks (it’s the iPhone 11 generation chipset). Note that the 2021 model has a Lightning port, while the 2022 model has switched to USB-C.
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