I had a pixel 3a I really liked back in the day. All I want, though, in the world, is a reasonably sized smartphone with decent specs and good hardware security. It bothers me that you have to pick 2/3
Yeah I miss small phones. My Galaxy s10e and iPhone 13 mini were great. They just stopped making small phones for some reason. Today’s “normal sized” phones would be considered tablets 10 years ago. But hey, my hands ain’t growing…
“The market demands” we’re always told. Meanwhile half the people I meet wish phones still came in reasonable sizes. Really makes me think it has less to do with what the market demands and more what the product managers at the tech companies prefer for themselves
Do you use the phone without a protective case? I find that most cases are designed so that the bump is flush with the back of the case.
That being said, I prefer thicker cases like the Otterbox oder Spigen Tough whatever series, so I could see how such a case would be “too much” for someone.
Every phone I use a case. And every case I use, any camera is at least slightly recessed to protect the lens.
I’ve never given the slightest crap about bumps because its going in a case, and the only people I know who don’t use a case are the same people walking around with broken screens and lenses.
So I’ve never understood any review about how a phone looks without a case. That said, I also like 3.5mm jacks, SD cards for expansion, and replaceable batteries. I don’t care about shaving 1mm off the thickness, 1/8th of an ounce of weight, or any of that nonsense.
I hate what Steve Jobs has done to technology (and the world, considering what a piece of total garbage he was as a person and how many people idolize that d-bag).
I wish mine was. I use the Spigen Liquid Air, which is a pretty great case, but it doesn’t solve the bump issue. I prefer thinner cases, and I specifically avoided the Pro because it’s too big, and a big case would kill a large part of why I got the non-Pro model.
I have both an otter box and a spigen to try to make the bump more comfortable. The otter box is better. The bump still sits so proud so as to be annoying
I hate the bumps. The camera in the 4a/5 generation was fine. Hate the new look and feel but had to upgrade because of security updates and not wanting to custom rom because I value NFC payments too much.
I hate the camera bumps. Just make the entire phone the same thickness and - hey! This is crazy, but maybe then you could then add a bit more structural integrity and put a bigger battery and a SD card slot and a headphone jack in there as well.
Honestly, I’d be fine with a less substantial camera and a more substantial battery. The “a” models should have thinner cameras and thicker batteries. Oh, and give the back some texture so I don’t drop it; I have a case, so that’s not a hard requirement.
And There’s some dumbass sack of cartilage that thinks we bought these phone because the aesthetic elevated them over the competition when really we bought them despite them not being designed with human hands in mind
I would think the camera bar would make holding the phone easier, is that not the case? I have a note 20 ultra and I find cases with horizontal camera cover sliders significantly more comfortable to hold than those that try to make the camera bump less noticeable
Interesting. I guess it’s different strokes for different folks. I’m not a fan of the bump on the naked phone but I also have a Spigen case and actually appreciate the bump.
The Pixel 8 is a little big in my hands so with a secure grip, to me being fingers on one edge pressing the phone into my palm, I can’t reach the full screen. It’s also uncomfortable to hold it that way for long periods. So often I have the phone with my fingers on the back and my pointer touches the bump, keeping it from sliding, even at steep angles. I don’t find the corners harsh but maybe they have worn down somewhat so they are no longer as sharp?
For me it’s not harder to hold, but it does seem to catch on things periodically. I honestly don’t care much about the camera, and it taking up so much space is annoying. My old phone was pretty much flush (Moto G Power), and the main reason I went with the Pixel is the longer software support and compatibility with GrapheneOS. If a bumpless phone existed that met those two criteria, I would get that instead of the Pixel.
It’s not a deal breaker, but I do find it a little annoying.
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I have the 8 and I find it so frustrating. It makes the phone uncomfortable to hold and pocket
They should go back to Pixel 2 design.
I had a pixel 3a I really liked back in the day. All I want, though, in the world, is a reasonably sized smartphone with decent specs and good hardware security. It bothers me that you have to pick 2/3
Yeah I miss small phones. My Galaxy s10e and iPhone 13 mini were great. They just stopped making small phones for some reason. Today’s “normal sized” phones would be considered tablets 10 years ago. But hey, my hands ain’t growing…
“The market demands” we’re always told. Meanwhile half the people I meet wish phones still came in reasonable sizes. Really makes me think it has less to do with what the market demands and more what the product managers at the tech companies prefer for themselves
Do you use the phone without a protective case? I find that most cases are designed so that the bump is flush with the back of the case.
That being said, I prefer thicker cases like the Otterbox oder Spigen Tough whatever series, so I could see how such a case would be “too much” for someone.
Every phone I use a case. And every case I use, any camera is at least slightly recessed to protect the lens.
I’ve never given the slightest crap about bumps because its going in a case, and the only people I know who don’t use a case are the same people walking around with broken screens and lenses.
So I’ve never understood any review about how a phone looks without a case. That said, I also like 3.5mm jacks, SD cards for expansion, and replaceable batteries. I don’t care about shaving 1mm off the thickness, 1/8th of an ounce of weight, or any of that nonsense.
I hate what Steve Jobs has done to technology (and the world, considering what a piece of total garbage he was as a person and how many people idolize that d-bag).
Anyway. /rant.
I share all those opinions, so your rant saved me some potential typing in the future.
I wish mine was. I use the Spigen Liquid Air, which is a pretty great case, but it doesn’t solve the bump issue. I prefer thinner cases, and I specifically avoided the Pro because it’s too big, and a big case would kill a large part of why I got the non-Pro model.
I have both an otter box and a spigen to try to make the bump more comfortable. The otter box is better. The bump still sits so proud so as to be annoying
On the 8 Pro, the bump is recessed relative to the Otterbox case (given the “tough” Otterbox model for the 8 Pro, no idea what it’s called)
I hate the bumps. The camera in the 4a/5 generation was fine. Hate the new look and feel but had to upgrade because of security updates and not wanting to custom rom because I value NFC payments too much.
I hate the camera bumps. Just make the entire phone the same thickness and - hey! This is crazy, but maybe then you could then add a bit more structural integrity and put a bigger battery and a SD card slot and a headphone jack in there as well.
Honestly, I’d be fine with a less substantial camera and a more substantial battery. The “a” models should have thinner cameras and thicker batteries. Oh, and give the back some texture so I don’t drop it; I have a case, so that’s not a hard requirement.
And There’s some dumbass sack of cartilage that thinks we bought these phone because the aesthetic elevated them over the competition when really we bought them despite them not being designed with human hands in mind
I would think the camera bar would make holding the phone easier, is that not the case? I have a note 20 ultra and I find cases with horizontal camera cover sliders significantly more comfortable to hold than those that try to make the camera bump less noticeable
It would if it weren’t a sharp corner… I got the pop socket to keep my fingers away from the bump
Interesting. I guess it’s different strokes for different folks. I’m not a fan of the bump on the naked phone but I also have a Spigen case and actually appreciate the bump.
The Pixel 8 is a little big in my hands so with a secure grip, to me being fingers on one edge pressing the phone into my palm, I can’t reach the full screen. It’s also uncomfortable to hold it that way for long periods. So often I have the phone with my fingers on the back and my pointer touches the bump, keeping it from sliding, even at steep angles. I don’t find the corners harsh but maybe they have worn down somewhat so they are no longer as sharp?
For me it’s not harder to hold, but it does seem to catch on things periodically. I honestly don’t care much about the camera, and it taking up so much space is annoying. My old phone was pretty much flush (Moto G Power), and the main reason I went with the Pixel is the longer software support and compatibility with GrapheneOS. If a bumpless phone existed that met those two criteria, I would get that instead of the Pixel.
It’s not a deal breaker, but I do find it a little annoying.
I really like the camera bar, and definitely makes it easier to hold