[Android 0]

The Pixel lineup has visibly matured in the last few years. Gone are the days when Google would change its physical design every single year, making the camera bar a recognizable and stand-out feature. Google has made it easy to spot Pixels in a sea of iPhones at places like airports. And it’s the same tale with the software, which has become quite stable as a platform, and something you pick up a Pixel for.

However, that stability comes along with decelerating growth. We’ve been seeing little meaningful innovation across Pixel generations, which seem to be getting refreshed annually just for the sake of it. Even if you skip a couple of Pixel generations, you won’t feel that big of a difference. And that is making Pixels feel boring — to the point that you’re actually better off skipping a few generations or even jumping to another brand or form factor (like a flip phone).