Why I hate my Google pixel (and won't ever buy another Google product again)

I have been keeping a list of things that I hate about my experience with a Google Pixel phone. The most recent "security" update tipped me over the edge by introducing the incredibly annoying app animations. The list below are the major issues (there are other smaller ones, but they just reflect my personal preferences, so I have omitted them).

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  • Can't organize apps in an app draw (why do I have to scroll and sing the alphabet song every time I need to find an app!)
  • Can’t swap back and home buttons. If you are going to have a phone with digital buttons, either place them in the correct position (back on the right) for right handed people (the majority), or allow them to be swapped.
  • Can’t remove the date and weather from the home screen.
  • Can’t remove the google search bar from the home screen.
  • Default file manager lacks basic features such as being able to move a file (like, seriously guys, why?!)
  • Asks about the default app every time I do an action. Just pick one and I’ll change it if I want another.
  • It doesn’t let you set the default application in as many actions as Samsung does.
  • Cannot turn off direct share.
  • Fingerprint scanner is not as effective as the Samsung
  • I have to install a program to open a word doc or navigate files.
  • The body feels cheap. My Samsung, which cost half the price and is 5 years old still just feels amazing when I pick it up again.
  • Forced to get updates otherwise it just hangs there. Then the updates are always a regression in terms of user functionality.
  • Unlocks in my pocket.
  • You cannot open files in default programs
  • After an Android 12 security update, there is now an animation every time an app is closed and turning off animations does not fix this. When I close an app, I
  • Turning off animations to disable the bouncy scroll feature, turns off the loading animations (which are very useful).

Most of this is compared to my experience with a Samsung Galaxy. I think that getting the latest operating system (which Google sells as plus) is a actually a big negative. The Samsung team clearly goes to the effort to clean up the mistakes that the main Android team makes.