Why I’m Switching from an iPhone 14 Pro Max to a 2016 Google Pixel XL with /e/OS

Hot Take

Cupertino’s latest and greatest is just not it. Where are foldables and where is any sense of innovation beyond the silly form factor everyone is sick of.

The Experiment in Digital Sanity

I used to carry an iPhone 14 Pro Max | 120Hz OLED, triple-lens camera array, and a price tag that could buy a used car. It was, objectively, the best smartphone Apple had ever made. But after years of iOS polish and Cupertino’s ecosystem glue, I started asking a dangerous question: why does my phone feel like a leash?

Between iCloud lock-in, push-notification overload, and algorithms that seem to know me too well, I realized I wasn’t using the iPhone anymore | it was using me. Every gesture, every swipe, every “intuitive” feature came with a trade-off in autonomy. The iPhone is a marvel of industrial design, but it’s also a perfectly engineered dopamine dispenser. I wanted to break that loop.

Rediscovering the Pixel and Control

So I bought a 2016 Google Pixel XL | the first generation. Aluminum back, headphone jack, 1440p AMOLED panel, USB-C before it was trendy. A relic by modern standards, but a symbol of something bigger: simplicity.

I am going to flash it with /e/OS, a de-Googled, privacy-focused Android distribution that removes trackers, analytics, and bloatware. No Play Services. No push telemetry. No hidden data syncs at 3 a.m. Just a clean, functional operating system that respects the user first.

Suddenly, my phone will feel like my phone should again. The interface is fast, the battery lasts surprisingly long, and I can sideload only what I need. There’s something refreshing about seeing a blank home screen that doesn’t beg for attention | no badges, no “For You” tabs, no social-media dopamine hits.

Minimalism as Power

This switch isn’t about nostalgia or aesthetic rebellion | it’s about intentional computing. When your phone stops manipulating you, you start thinking more clearly. I’ve noticed I check it less, type more deliberately, and reach for my laptop when something actually matters.

Yes, I gave up ultra-wide cameras, satellite SOS, and cinematic video modes. But I gained peace of mind, digital independence, and a real understanding of what “enough” looks like in tech. The iPhone made me efficient. The Pixel with /e/OS makes me present.

The 2016 Pixel may be eight years old, but for the first time in a while, I feel like the most advanced feature in my pocket is me.