Got mine about 2 weeks ago. Really liking it so far!

Perhaps it's haunted. It is spooky season, after all.

I see your Edit 2 - looks like your phone was possessed by the spirit of the fingerprint reader.

It's like the fingerprint sensor would still register hits if there are stored prints, even if the unlock feature that uses it is disabled puty. One of my apps that I use frequently uses biometrics to identify me, do there's a bit of a mismatch in function there. I probably should send a bug report to Google.

All off, thanks. The edits show how it was resolved.

Do you have 'Tap to check phone' or Lift to check phone' turned on in Settings?

Huh your edit explains some issues I had before I switched to graphene OS on my pixel 8. I was curious why that would happen randomly.

Pixels seem to be a (the?) brand that carriers offer the deepest discounts on. I'm with US Mobile (if you're in the US) and they always run the base and XL Pixel models from whatever the current series is much cheaper than retail. For example, they sell the base Pixel 10 for $399 (but only available with 128Gb) and the XL (w/ 256Gb) for $699 but both are only available in Obsidian (aka black). You can even save another thirty to fifty bucks if you prepay for a year of service, which makes each month of unlimited service only like $16.50, I believe. It's a really good deal if anyone is interested.

https://app.usmobile.com/shop/

I have Fairphone 6 and it's amazing.

I will keep recommending to everyone.

I recently went from a 6a to a 10a. Previously went from 2 or 3 (can't remember) to 6a. I generally skip a few generations and get a phone when I'm like "Hey, I should get a new phone."

I used to get excited by phones. Now I try to use it as little as possible, but also want something that works well when I do. The 6a to 10a was essentially the same sized phone, so that excited me, not having to get used to a larger phone.

I used to be interested in the indy phones like fair, jolla, Furiphone, brax but every time I looked up discussions about them in the community, the rash of issues plaguing them always dampened my enthusiasm for them.

I have really enjoyed the premium camera on my Pro XL though.

That's the one reason I would like the Pro. I'm not Ansel Adams but I do enjoy trying to take some nice photos while out in the woods.

Because Google will have stopped issuing OS updates to my 6a, I look forward to the 11a (with at least 256 GB storage), but not the likely pricing. If the 11a has a better modem or better battery life, that will help.

The last time I got excited about a phone release was when the first android devices were released (I got a Samsung Galaxy). Now I use a Pixel 6 and I am going to use it until it breaks or becomes unusable to me for some reason.

I seem to only buy pixels with no number or a number that is divisible by 3. I'm not looking until the next model after the 11

Fairphone and Jolla make me pretty excited.

My thoughts exactly. We've pretty much perfected the slab phone. And behaviourally It's turned into a chore rather than an excitement.

I used to be pretty excited about phones coming out between 2012-2018. I used to switch phones every year or every two years. Back then, things would really improve every year or two.

When I switched from my Pixel 6 Pro to a 9 Pro, I didn't notice much of a difference. The only interesting changes happening in phones nowadays are foldables imo, but the price is still too high and I haven't got a real usecase for them.

Many of the more experimental brands have died off, like Razer, LG, HTC etc. That had their own funky gimmicks. Nothing is the only remaining brand that's making fun stuff.

It's also harder and less interesting to install custom ROMs than it used to be. Most companies lock down their phones, and Android is a mature platform now with most of the features you'd want on most devices.

If I had to summarize, phones have become reliable but boring. I might also just be getting older and more blasé.

I have the 8 Pro, it just got the issue I've read about lately - no wifi, no Bluetooth, no mobile hotspot. All these functions fail to start up, and it's not under warranty or being addressed. I like pixels best but plan to replace this broken one with a Samsung probably. I used to use Samsung, maybe an S9+, I didn't love it but I don't trust Google for another phone until the above is sorted out.

https://9to5google.com/2026/01/26/latest-google-pixel-update-causing-wi-fi-and-bluetooth-issues-for-some/

Yeah, I live and work in Japan and some stuff still requires FeliCa. I guess I should see what Sony has to offer; I thought they only made feature phones and not actual smartphones here, but maybe I'm wrong and they have something android out there.

I had to google FeliCa and it said that it is proprietary to Japan. Yes? I have no idea. But the google search just listed Google, Samsung, and Sony as phone manufacturers that support it. I don't think they sell Sony phones in the US stores anymore but I had an Xperia maybe a decade ago and it was one of my favorite phones in hindsight. The power and headphone ports were in the top of the phone and it made it so much easier to use them, especially in the car because I always kept my phone in the cupholder and the cables came from the dash up above. And the phone itself was super slender but had a large screen and a white glass back with sharp squared corners. It seemed so futuristic at the time.

Pixels are totally solid. I just wish they'd be a bit more innovative with the phone designs though. But the software and navigation experience is great.

That is totally sensible. Once I had the 9 Pro XL for a bit I knew I would have been perfectly happy with the base model. In the future I'll for sure stick with flagship phones but will likely not indulge in a premium version again unless it's some ridiculous super sale price. I have really enjoyed the premium camera on my Pro XL though.

I'll get a Pixel 11 (not sure whether Pro or XL) when it releases to finally replace my Huawei P30 Pro with a cracked screen and degrading battery life (replacing either wouldn't be worth it on such an old phone)

I used to find huge improvements in each phone generation. Phones are so powerful now it rarely seems worth it to upgrade. Currently using a P8 and it still isn't feeling long in the tooth. I'll switch to whatever's around when it's time, or maybe the previous generation to whatever's around then.

For smartphones, I went from various Windows phones, to iPhone 3gs, 4, and 6+, to a pixel 6 pro. Rather than get a new Pixel, I'm wondering where to go next. I'd like to avoid samsung, google, and apple, but I need it to support felica to read my ID for government stuff and transit card. Not sure what's next, but it's not a pixel.