Trade-in in Germany on Google Store page:
- Pixel 6 Pro 256gb ($999 on release) - 235€
- iPhone 13 Pro 256gb ($1099 on release) - 730€
While I am partial to Googles line of phones (had pretty much every Google phone since the nexus one), the loss of value is something I cannot really ignore any more when deciding to buy a phone.
I am probably going to trade in an old Pixel 3 (64GB) that I had sitting in a drawer. They will give $200 trade-in for it for a Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro. Only $30 trade-in for the other phones they sell.
My last flagship phone was a Google Nexus 6P where the base model was $499. Amazing phone, too bad after 3 years it had a battery issue but the manufacturer gave me a new one.
But the thing is: it was $499.
That was the greatest thing about the Nexus lines - good hardware (maybe not the latest SOC) with regular updates and a good OS experience. I miss those phones.
Google with the Pixels went full goofy mode. I'm not paying 1.140€ for a phone. I have a Huawei P10 that's still running smoothly, just the battery is getting tired... so maybe ill get one of those Pixel 6 Pro :)
But Google pushed away a lot of the Nexus user base, who were hyped every year for the new Nexus.
Comparable to ~$450 a year after the release of the 6P.
I guess the 6P might be relatively higher end?
Yet every nexus phone had major hardware issues. that's not good hardware. It wasn't premium, it wasn't supported long, and it wasn't high quality. I LOVED the nexus line, as a broke college student that prioritized bang for the buck and customization, and speed, and android was getting great new features every year, but things have gotten so bad at google.
This was back in the day where a flagship phones base prices were like 600/700€.
Now it's double.
In 2018 the Samsung Galaxy 9 was 700€. Now a Samsung Galaxy S23 is 1.200€.
I won't argue with that. But I'm right there with you, Nexus phones and android releases were exciting - and you knew with Nexus you'd be the first to get the new stuff.
Also, inflation.
When Google sells a Pixel 8 Pro for $999, they’re sending a signal that says “our phone is just as good as the iPhone.”
I think your story points to how the Nexus line was basically an unfinished product where Google wasn’t even willing to attempt to sell it at a profitable price point until they could buy a hardware designer (HTC) and integrate that company into Google to produce a comprehensive product. Your Nexus phone had to be entirely replaced and yet you only gave the company $500. So they just sold two flagship phones for $250 each. That’s not a business, that’s a charity.
My Nexus 5X bootlooped right in front of my eyes with no user intervention.
The Nexus lineup wasn’t as good as an iPhone (nor a Samsung or Huawei phone for that matter) and that’s why nobody paid iPhone money for it.
In Android, browser, messaging app updates and many even system updates are delivered through Play store (long after system/OS updates have stopped for the phone), so attacks will have to be much more sophisticated.
My hot take is that the vast majority of Android users are not specifically looking for an Android; they just want "a phone." There's a minority of hardcore Android fans who are committed to specific models like the Samsung S23 or Pixel. In contrast, there are many people specifically want an iPhone, whether it's for iMessage, the ecosystem, or even just for the status symbol. This seems to hold a lot more value.
Correction: 4A does not receive _some_ updates, namely OS level updates.
Other things like the recent 0days for Chrome are handled via the store and have already been updated.
I am not defending unpatched phones just to be clear, but its not end of the world if you use unsecure device, just keep all your money and other important stuff away from it. Which is fine for many people.