Pixel Alternatives

youngblood · 04-10-2016 10:36pm #1

With the launch of Google's premium android phone with an equally premium price tag what are the other options out there at the moment?

For original Nexus 5 owners in 2013 looking for similar excitement in 2016 but priced out by the Pixel and now looking for a decent alternative, what would you recommend?

Must be 5/5.1" screen size (max 5.2")
Get decent/recent android upgrades
Must run non bloated software
Good battery life
Decent camera

Must not cost E680

Contenders so far:

http://www.oppomart.com/phones/huawei-p9.html
http://www.oppomart.com/xiaomi-mi-5s.html

Flaccus · 04-10-2016 10:44pm

HTC 10.
5.2 inch 1440p screen
Excellent build quality
Sense is one of the best launchers, close to pure Android experience
Very little bloat as HTC worked with Google to make sure there was no redundant apps
Camera as good as the S7, some say better
Better memory management than Samsung
Easy to root and customise
Gets regular updates
Better battery life than ip7, s7 or G5 (http://bgr.com/2016/10/03/iphone-7-features-battery-life-test/)
Heavily discounted now as it didn't sell

Only minus I can see is Anandtech wasn't impressed with the LCD. It's good but not great.

Senna · 04-10-2016 10:52pm

Flaccus wrote: »

HTC 10.
5.2 inch 1440p screen
Excellent build quality
Sense is one of the best launchers, close to pure Android experience
Very little bloat as HTC worked with Google to make sure there was no redundant apps
Camera as good as the S7, some say better
Better memory management than Samsung
Easy to root and customise
Gets regular updates
Better battery life than ip7, s7 or G5 (http://bgr.com/2016/10/03/iphone-7-features-battery-life-test/)
Heavily discounted now as it didn't sell

Only minus I can see is Anandtech wasn't impressed with the LCD. It's good but not great.

Is the HTC not a premium priced phone too?

youngblood · 04-10-2016 10:54pm

Senna wrote: »

Is the HTC not a premium priced phone too?

E679.....1 euro cheaper than the pixel......

Still not cheap enough!

Flaccus · 04-10-2016 11:08pm

youngblood wrote: »

E679.....1 euro cheaper than the pixel......

Still not cheap enough!

Yes but the pixel has no expandable storage.
And the HTC 10 can be got for cheaper if you shop around.
http://www.adverts.ie/htc/htc-10/10393945

Otherwise just buy a OnePlus3.

youngblood · 04-10-2016 11:13pm

Flaccus wrote: »

Yes but the pixel has no expandable storage.
And the HTC 10 can be got for cheaper if you shop around.
http://www.adverts.ie/htc/htc-10/10393945

Otherwise just buy a OnePlus3.

its 5.5, too big

Venom · 04-10-2016 11:23pm

youngblood wrote: »

its 5.5, too big

Screen size tends to be a major factor of any phone so you either deal with going bigger or cut down other parts of your wish list.

Flaccus · 05-10-2016 12:05am

youngblood wrote: »

its 5.5, too big

What's your budget ?

The Xiaomi might be within budget but they compromised on build
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2jav7UdQtE

youngblood · 05-10-2016 12:06am

450 max

Flaccus · 05-10-2016 12:16am

youngblood wrote: »

450 max

P9 Lite is under 300 euro on VF, has a decent camera, large battery with very good battery life, decent screen, good cpu

https://www.androidpit.com/huawei-p9-lite-review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmmFcCOPfkA

Ush1 · 05-10-2016 9:31am

Which manufacturer has the quickest updates after Google(Nexus)?

marcbrophy · 05-10-2016 9:39am

^^^
How long is a piece of string?

The answer to your question changes on a phone by phone basis, not a manufacturer by manufacturer basis.

Get a phone you like, go to xda and install the latest cyanogenmod version

Ush1 · 05-10-2016 9:42am

marcbrophy wrote: »

^^^
How long is a piece of string?

The answer to your question changes on a phone by phone basis, not a manufacturer by manufacturer basis.

Get a phone you like, go to xda and install the latest cyanogenmod version

I'd prefer something fully tested by the manufacturer. I've had issues with cyanongen on the one plus one.

According to this:

http://www.computerworld.com/article/3052937/android/android-upgrade-report-card-marshmallow.html

HTC are the leaders.

marcbrophy · 05-10-2016 9:50am

Yes, but my point is that just a few months later, another article says that Moto is the quickest!

https://9to5google.com/2016/08/16/android-oems-compared/

Also are you buying into the "One" series here, or the "Desire" series. You can bet they won't be as fast to get the software out to non flagship phones

Kavrocks · 05-10-2016 10:48am

youngblood wrote: »

Must be 5/5.1" screen size (max 5.2")
Get decent/recent android upgrades
Must run non bloated software
Good battery life
Decent camera

Must not cost E680

Nexus 5X?

GustavoFring · 05-10-2016 12:05pm

youngblood wrote: »

E679.....1 euro cheaper than the pixel......

Still not cheap enough!

Bought one direct from HTC a few weeks ago. Use the UK site and parcel motel.

€540 using HTC100 discount code
€7.50 additional insurance with parcel motel
€3.50 standard parcel motel delivery

Total €551. With sterling dropping a little that will come down a bit. It's a cracking phone. Can't fault the screen or camera tbh and I've had an S7 previously.

EDIT - Just checked and with the latest sterling drop it's possible to get it for about €535 delivered if you leave off the additional insurance. Over budget but for a relatively small additional outlay it might be worth it.

coach22 · 05-10-2016 12:23pm

Im looking for the same sort of thing.

The Sony Xperia Z5 seems to be an okay price. Around £400 on Amazon

derekbro · 05-10-2016 12:32pm

Is lg g5 too big at 5.3"? Seems a good deal at €424 on amazon.de

eoinfitzokk · 05-10-2016 1:05pm

Anything to be said for buying high to mid-range (unlocked new metal Xiaomi, Oppo etc) and buying say every 18-24 months?... Just throwing it out there. Might Total to the same price and you will get at least one Android update?

Say you could get an Mi5S and another similar Xiaomi phone in 18 months for 660 euro subtotal based on current pricing.

youngblood · 05-10-2016 1:30pm

Kavrocks wrote: »

Nexus 5X?

Ideal phone if it wasnt so old

Atomic Pineapple · 05-10-2016 1:32pm

youngblood wrote: »

Ideal phone if it wasnt so old

It's only 11 months old?

SteM · 05-10-2016 2:04pm

GustavoFring wrote: »

Bought one direct from HTC a few weeks ago. Use the UK site and parcel motel.

€540 using HTC100 discount code
€7.50 additional insurance with parcel motel
€3.50 standard parcel motel delivery

Total €551. With sterling dropping a little that will come down a bit. It's a cracking phone. Can't fault the screen or camera tbh and I've had an S7 previously.

EDIT - Just checked and with the latest sterling drop it's possible to get it for about €535 delivered if you leave off the additional insurance. Over budget but for a relatively small additional outlay it might be worth it.

I don't think the HTC100 discount code works anymore?

youngblood · 05-10-2016 4:33pm

Atomic Pineapple wrote: »

It's only 11 months old?

I know, its a years less updates, when I purchase I tend to hold on till they fall apart or stop updating

duridian · 05-10-2016 4:40pm

youngblood wrote: »

I know, its a years less updates, when I purchase I tend to hold on till they fall apart or stop updating

That's something that would bug me too.
Still though I suppose, being a Nexus, the crowd on XDA will surely make it possible to keep it updated unofficially for a good while past Goog's offcial commitment.

Kavrocks · 05-10-2016 5:22pm

youngblood wrote: »

I know, its a years less updates, when I purchase I tend to hold on till they fall apart or stop updating

It's still probably more updates than any other phone except the top flagships that cost the same as the Pixels anyway.

Stacksey · 05-10-2016 6:25pm

You can pick up a Nexus P6 for just over â‚¬400, fabulous phone

gymnipities · 05-10-2016 6:26pm

It's worth mentioning that the Oneplus 3 isn't as much larger than the 5x as the screen size difference would suggest. It's about the same width and 5.7mm longer. Have a look (click 'view layered'): http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size/OnePlus-3,Google-Nexus-5X/phones/10017,9593

projectgtr · 05-10-2016 9:10pm

Finding it hard to replace my Nexus 5 , bar the battery its still perfect, was banking on the Pixel but its a bit rich for me right now. But im actually considering something ive never really done, hold onto the nexus at least another year. Bar battery life the phone doesnt feel dated and runs everything i throw at it. May just replace the battery if i can find an official one.

though i was considering a 6P

Stacksey wrote: »

You can pick up a Nexus P6 for just over â‚¬400, fabulous phone

where did you see it for 400? i cant see it in stock in most places bar amazon and unfortunately they are sold by Amazon

youngblood · 05-10-2016 10:09pm

projectgtr wrote: »

Finding it hard to replace my Nexus 5 , bar the battery its still perfect, was banking on the Pixel but its a bit rich for me right now. But im actually considering something ive never really done, hold onto the nexus at least another year. Bar battery life the phone doesnt feel dated and runs everything i throw at it. May just replace the battery if i can find an official one.

though i was considering a 6P

where did you see it for 400? i cant see it in stock in most places bar amazon and unfortunately they are sold by Amazon

Im in same situation, beast of a phone, was considering 6p also but am leaning towards a xaoimi at this stage.....

SteM · 05-10-2016 10:26pm

youngblood wrote: »

Im in same situation, beast of a phone, was considering 6p also but am leaning towards a xaoimi at this stage.....

Do they not have bloated software though? Thinking of the P9 myself.

projectgtr · 05-10-2016 11:04pm

SteM wrote: »

Do they not have bloated software though? Thinking of the P9 myself.

P9 looks VERY nice, also had a look at the Honor 8 , very similar. Same camera setup too

Pixel Alternatives

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