I've used Pixel phones for years, and Samsung's One UI still can't win me over

I've been thinking about Samsung Galaxy phones a lot recently.

The announcement of the Galaxy Z TriFold caught my eye, not because I want to buy it (I wouldn't pay $1,500 for a phone with two hinges, let alone $3,000), but because Samsung has committed to building the best quality phones on the market.

Design isn't everything, but our reviews of the last few generations of Samsung Galaxy phones have agreed on one factor: the build quality is always stellar.

But when a new acquaintance asked me what new phone they should get, I immediately responded that they shouldn't get a Samsung Galaxy.

I've been a loyal Google Pixel user (with a two-month exception) since the Pixel 2, and this is what would make me switch to a Galaxy.

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Posts 32
By  Faith Leroux

I love boring phones, but Galaxy devices try too hard to be interesting

I want to opt in to features, not opt out

The enthusiast in me loves tinkering with new apps and features.

I stack utility apps designed to make my phone more useful until the software is unrecognizable, and I eagerly trawl through the new software features accompanying every phone launch.

But at the end of the day, what I really want is a phone that does the basics and nothing more.

I need to text friends across various social media apps, make calls, browse the internet, and listen to music.

These four tasks take up most of my screen time. My phone should make it as easy as possible to do these four tasks and not get in the way.

Unfortunately, Samsung crams its phones with bloatware and unnecessary software features that can't be disabled.

Sure, my Pixel phone comes with a bunch of AI features, but they're neatly tucked away. Galaxy features are opt-out, whereas Pixel features are opt-in.

If Samsung let me choose which features I wanted to enable during setup, I would be more inclined to pick up a Galaxy phone.

I don't want to wait months for the latest Android features

A short delay is acceptable, but Samsung has tested our patience with recent updates

One of the best changes across the Android ecosystem in recent years is manufacturers' commitment to providing seven years of software support for their flagship phones.

Thanks to improvements in mobile hardware, you can buy a new phone and reliably use it for that length of time.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 series (the first to feature seven years of software support) did not receive One UI 7 (Android 15) for over six months after the major Android update was released.

Whereas Pixel phones received the update on day one, Galaxy phones experienced a delayed launch, then a botched rollout that delayed the launch further.

Delayed software updates with major bugs run contrary to Samsung's commitment to longer and better software support.

On the other hand, I feel spoiled by Google's prompt and feature-packed updates that ensure I'm always experiencing the latest Android features.

To switch to Samsung, I need quicker and more reliable software updates. One UI 8 was a return to form for Samsung, but I don't trust it to repeat this success.

Samsung needs to think twice before implementing useless features

Either make AI features work for us, or remove them

Pixel phones aren't built for performance, but when Google's Tensor chips aren't able to keep up with on-device AI processing, I have to wonder what their purpose is.

I use my Pixel's AI features sparingly, and overall, I'm pleased with how I've integrated its AI features into my life.

But it's made me question why I use a phone designed for the best AI experience when I barely use these features that the phone can't wholly support in the first place?

Galaxy devices are built for performance, and I've long scoffed at the capabilities of each generation of Snapdragon chipsets. I don't need that power, so why should I pay for it?

On the other hand, surely it's better to pay for better processing power than machine-learning features that barely work?

The problem is that Samsung, like every other tech manufacturer, is shoving AI wherever it can.

Worse, Samsung's sloppy implementation of AI makes Gemini on the Pixel look like a flawless software experience.

So not only am I paying for performance I don't need, but I'm also paying for potentially the worst mobile AI experience on the market.

If Samsung focuses on a "less is more" strategy for its AI features, I would feel more confident about switching.

At the moment, investing in a flagship Samsung phone is investing in features you won't use.

Could 2026 mark a turning point for Samsung?

It's easy to dismiss the Galaxy Z TriFold as a marketing gimmick designed to prove Samsung can still innovate on hardware.

However, if it takes an overpriced phone to make Samsung think, I'm fine with it. The problem is that Samsung isn't focusing on the user experience.

Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold press release made it clear what the company's mission is going into 2026: "...expanding Samsung's leadership in new form factors for the mobile AI era."

Unfortunately, I don't want "new form factors" for the "mobile AI era."

I'm not the only one who thinks Samsung has lost its way, so until Samsung addresses complaints that have been ongoing for years, I'll stick with my Google Pixel for the foreseeable future.