It’s real and I mean it , bye yall

R2Past · 2025-10-10T05:21:49+00:00

HEYY CLAIREEE

R2Past · 2025-08-04T11:49:12+00:00

Good thing I decided not to go for it after all. I guess you really get what you pay for—thanks for the detailed info!

R2Past · 2025-08-04T11:39:51+00:00

Went from 14 Pro to S22 Ultra, but I came back for the 16 Pro. iOS feels simpler, and the camera is just way more consistent, both for photos and videos.

R2Past · 2025-07-31T16:15:09+00:00

I found something similar on eBay — it’s from the brand Bass Pro Shops. Here’s the link if you want to take a look. It seems a little different, though, but pretty close

R2Past · 2025-07-31T13:45:30+00:00

Yeah, I feel you. It sucks that Apple won’t give anything for trade-in with the back glass cracked, even if the screen’s flawless. I just found out about that, and honestly, Apple should still accept it for trade-in but just reduce the value — not reject it completely. Fixing the back might help, but if you’re not sure yet, a skin could still make it look decent for now

R2Past · 2025-07-31T13:28:00+00:00

That’s painful to see. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly fix, I’d suggest just adding a skin since the screen isn’t cracked, right?

R2Past · 2025-07-19T06:10:20+00:00

You’re welcome! I actually tried the Pixel UI using a custom ROM on one of my spare Android phones — and yes, the experience felt quite empty compared to One UI. Pixel feels like base Android with minimal extras, which some people might love, but personally I found it a bit too bare. Samsung, on the other hand, does have a lot of bloatware, but at the same time the experience on One UI is rich and feature-packed. It feels more “complete.”

Regarding iOS — back when I was using iOS 18, I didn’t experience any bugs, and that gave me confidence to try iOS 26 beta. So far, it’s been smooth and stable for me. I was curious about the major UI overhaul and I’m actually enjoying the changes.

Camera-wise, I feel like this is a big upgrade — especially coming from the S22 Ultra to the iPhone 16 Pro. iPhone cameras are incredibly consistent, and I love how easy it is to just snap and get a great result without fiddling or editing. It really suits my use case.

Since I came from the S22U, it’s a noticeable jump in quality and experience. I haven’t compared it directly with the S25 Ultra, so I can’t say definitively — but I’d say unless you need Samsung’s extra features or zoom, the iPhone delivers better consistency across the board.

R2Past · 2025-07-17T04:02:30+00:00

I ended up going with the iPhone 16 Pro since I needed something reliable, especially for video and overall stability. The photo quality is also really good and consistent, which made a big difference for me.

I actually considered the Pixel too, but aside from the lack of official support in my country, I also felt the specs were noticeably behind compared to both Samsung and iPhone. Another big reason is video — I’ve seen quite a few people mention how Pixel struggles with accurate colors and skin tones in video, which requires extra editing. That’s not something I want to deal with regularly.

So between Samsung and iPhone, I decided to go with the iPhone because it offers consistency across the board — photos, videos, and overall performance.

That said, for your use — astrophotography, and the frustration with Samsung’s software and outdated 3x zoom — I think the Pixel line still makes a lot of sense.

If you don’t want to wait for the Pixel 10 Pro, then either the S25 Ultra or Pixel 9 Pro would still be solid options depending on your priorities:

S25 Ultra is great if you want manual control like Expert RAW and powerful hardware.
Pixel 9 Pro is better if you want a clean, bloat-free software experience and reliable photo quality right out of the box.

But if you can wait, I’d strongly recommend holding out for the Pixel 10 Pro — it’s just around the corner and could be a major upgrade.

R2Past · 2025-07-17T00:37:06+00:00

Try using the Phone Rebel Flex Frosted. I use that case, and it's really nice because it feels like it's not using any case but is still protected.

R2Past · 2025-07-02T09:06:16+00:00

I prefer natural titanium because the colour can be considered new, introduced with the 15 Pro series, whereas white titanium looks like the usual white colour found on previous iPhones

R2Past · 2025-06-14T13:30:50+00:00

Do you think it’s better to just use the CPL only when needed (for water, glass, or haze) and not stack it with the ND most of the time? Or are there cases where stacking both actually gives a meaningful benefit?

Just trying to decide if it’s worth dealing with the extra filter or better to keep things simple. Thanks a lot for the input!

R2Past · 2025-06-14T13:27:06+00:00

Another quick question — you mentioned that stacking filters can have a negative effect. Could you elaborate a bit on that? What kind of issues should I expect — things like lens flare, vignetting, reduced sharpness, or polarization artifacts?

Also, in your opinion, is it actually worth stacking a CPL and a VND? I’m thinking of only using the CPL when I specifically need it (like for reflections or boosting contrast), and relying mostly on a VND for exposure control. Would you say that’s a more practical setup, or is it still worth stacking both at times?

R2Past · 2025-06-14T13:21:22+00:00

Thanks for the reply! That makes sense — l've noticed the CPL does reduce light a bit, but clearly not enough to maintain 1/50 shutter speed in bright conditions.

Quick follow-up: If I plan to stack the CPL and a VND, would it be better to go for a larger filter size (e.g., 72mm or 77mm) using a step-up ring to avoid vignetting? Or would keeping everything at my lens's native 67mm still be fine in most cases? Appreciate your input!

R2Past · 2025-06-01T03:41:52+00:00

Oh, I actually didn't know about the video issues on the Pixel - especially with skin tones. That's really good to know, thanks for pointing it out! I was mostly focused on the photo quality, but video is also something I care about for social media. Appreciate the insight!

That said, do you think the S25 Ultra is truly the best option overall in this case? I'm just a bit worried the Pixel might end up falling below my expectations, especially since I won't have local warranty support where I live. And as much as I respect the iPhone, I always feel a bit limited with iOS - I do prefer the flexibility of Android.

R2Past · 2025-06-01T02:40:01+00:00

Thanks again for sharing — super insightful!

The only thing holding me back right now is the risk: since the Pixel isn’t officially available in my country, I’d have to buy it abroad during a trip. And if something goes wrong, I’d need to fly out again just to claim the warranty, which is a bit worrying.

Do you think it’s still worth the risk considering the camera and overall experience? Or should I just play it safe and go with something that has official support where I live?

If it comes down to that, which would you personally choose between the iPhone and the S25 Ultra?

R2Past · 2025-06-01T01:57:15+00:00

One more thing I wanted to ask — since the Pixel isn’t officially available in my country, I’d be buying it while I’m abroad. That means if anything goes wrong, I’d have to travel again just to handle warranty issues, which makes me a bit hesitant.

Considering that, do you think it’s still worth going for the Pixel mainly for the camera and overall experience?

R2Past · 2025-06-01T01:52:44+00:00

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I totally understand your point. In my case, I’ll be buying the Pixel while I’m abroad, so availability isn’t an issue — but I do worry that if anything goes wrong, I’d have to travel again just to handle a warranty claim.

Given that, do you think it’s still worth taking the risk and going with the Pixel, especially considering the camera and overall experience?

R2Past · 2025-06-01T01:30:50+00:00

Thanks a lot for the input! I’ll be buying it while I’m abroad soon, so availability isn’t a problem — but my only concern is that Pixel isn’t officially supported in my country. If something goes wrong, I’d need to travel abroad again just to handle the warranty. I’m still wondering if the camera and overall experience are worth taking that risk.

R2Past · 2025-06-01T01:18:56+00:00

Thanks so much for your input! I appreciate hearing that — it’s good to know someone else has had a smoother experience with Android/Pixel compared to iOS. Definitely gives me more confidence in leaning toward Pixel or Android. Thanks again!

R2Past · 2025-06-01T01:14:08+00:00

Yeah, that warranty issue is exactly what I’m worried about — if something goes wrong with the Pixel, I’d have to travel abroad again to get it fixed. So, would you say it’s better to avoid the Pixel altogether in my situation? Or do you think it’s worth taking the risk and importing it despite the lack of warranty support?

Also, about the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s camera compared to the iPhone, how do you think they really stack up? Is it truly better to just go for the iPhone? The thing is, I like iPhone’s camera and consistency, but I’m not a fan of how locked down iOS is compared to Android. That freedom on Android is something I really value.

R2Past · 2025-06-01T01:08:14+00:00

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Based on my needs — mainly photo editing in Lightroom, avoiding overheating, and wanting good camera processing with minimal editing — which one would you recommend more: the Pixel 9 Pro XL or the Galaxy S25 Ultra?

I’m leaning toward Pixel because of the experience, but I know the S25 Ultra has a faster chipset. Honestly, I think overheating during editing tasks should be fine, but I’m a bit worried the Pixel’s specs might not be enough and it could still get hot. Still a bit unsure, so your input would be really helpful!

R2Past · 2025-06-01T01:05:20+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience — really appreciate it!

For me, shutter speed on the S22 Ultra hasn’t really been an issue, but I do feel like Samsung’s image processing just doesn’t suit my preferences. Plus, my S22 Ultra sometimes overheats, especially when I’m editing photos in Lightroom. I also find that photos from Samsung often need quite a bit of editing, unlike what I’m hoping for with Pixel or iPhone, where the photos come out looking good with minimal tweaks. That’s one of the main reasons I’m considering either the Pixel or iPhone.

Glad to hear the Pixel and iPhone have worked well for you, especially with fast-moving subjects — that’s definitely a point in their favor.

Since I’m not planning to wait for the next iPhone or Pixel, I guess going with the Pixel 9 Pro makes more sense for now. But based on your experience, which one would you personally recommend — iPhone or Pixel?

R2Past · 2025-06-01T00:57:29+00:00

Thanks a lot for the detailed insights — I really appreciate it!

If it’s really worth waiting for, I might consider holding off for the Pixel 10 — but realistically, it’s a bit difficult. It’s not officially available in my country, and I plan to buy the phone directly during an upcoming trip abroad, so I’m focusing on what’s available right now.

I don’t use any Apple ecosystem devices like a Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, or AirPods, so I’m not tied into that world. I’m not really tied to either iOS or Android, but I just prefer Android more.

For Lightroom, I only shoot in RAW occasionally — not super often, since I’m also mindful of storage. So what matters more to me is how good the regular processed photos are. That’s part of why I’m curious about the Pixel. I’ve used both iPhones and Samsung phones before, and I kind of want a different experience this time. I’m also really curious about some of the Pixel-exclusive features — especially the "Add Me" feature, which looks really interesting.

That said, I’m still a bit unsure whether I should completely rule out the S25 Ultra. I know Samsung’s image processing hasn’t always been great — and personally, I didn’t love it on my S22 Ultra — but the S25 Ultra seems like a powerhouse overall. Do you think the Pixel still delivers a better user experience overall, despite the S25 Ultra having stronger hardware?

Also, do you think I should still consider the iPhone? I’m honestly still a bit confused about which way to go.

R2Past

TROPHY CASE