You're right about pixel phones not being that good. I only like it because of stock android. I do not know anything about new smartphones because there hasn't been much innovation in the past 5 to 6 years.
One Plus isn't offered by ATT directly and Pixel is getting significantly lower reviews on ATT website than Samsung
Pixel 9 Pro XL - 4.2 stars on ATT
Samsung S and Z lines are all 4.5 to 4.6 with Z-Flip at 4.7
i also fail to see the value in Pixel 9 Pro XL when it costs the same as S24 Ultra but has no stylus, fewer cameras, slower CPU ... not to mention much lower customer rating
i know nostr:npub1acg6thl5psv62405rljzkj8spesceyfz2c32udakc2ak0dmvfeyse9p35c got the Pixel to run Graphene but i am not interested in that ...
i would get one of the Chinese phones if ATT offered them directly fully optimized and supported and subsidized ...
nostr:npub1xy60n57p02ugl743zfag2ljftxh4s0ufpzu0wsmhdvng7hj5c0vqvx8w7v
Discussion
the only two innovations seem to be
1 - periscope telephoto zoom lens
2 - folding screen
but in USA ( or at least on ATT natively ) you can't get both in the same phone - in China you can
on Samsung you have to choose Ultra vs Fold
Ultra = Stylus, Periscope Lens
Fold = Bigger Screen
I remember that Samsung had trash lifespan and lasted about a year or two. It was so bad that people were installing custom Roms to extend its lifespan. You can't even install custom Roms on newer devices. Also foldable phones are experimental and are way too expensive.
Also you can't unlock the bootloader anymore for Samsung devices. So no custom Roms to extend the lifespan anymore.
when Google originally came out with Nexus phones it was like $300 but they always sold out within an hour of going on sale
now that it's the same price as Samsung which is whack
and i am definitely not going to use Apple