Revisiting Android land

I purchased a Google Pixel 7 after learning just how disparate my iPhone 12s speeds on Google Fi were from someone using T-Mobile. I was seeing 1.37 Mbps, she was seeing 36.55 Mbps. I therefore purchased a Google Pixel 7 to use as a 5G AP and in audit the modern realities of Android.

High points

• No more Qualcomm monopoly on US Android devices
• Software/hardware looks and feels relatively good
• Not the worst burner phone to have as a backup

List of grievances

• On activating my Pixel 7 against the Google Fi account it was purchased against, I was seeing slower download speeds than on my iPhone. I spoke to Fi support, they suggested installing pending software updates; a security update! It took an hour to install, and put this on my radar https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-updates-too-slow/
• I used to argue that Android was not shit, only the hardware manufacturers variants; looks like I might have to back off that assertion
• You have to spelunk in the app store for app updates; WTF is that, why is there no avert prompt indicating the number of pending updates