Google Pixelchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

The plastic back and flat camera design are a genuine hit. Multiple commenters praised the 9a/10a for dropping the camera bump and glass back in favor of polycarbonate, calling it lighter, more durable, and more comfortable in the pocket. Some argued glass 'premium' branding is just marketing, and welcomed the tradeoff of a bigger battery over a thinner chassis, seeing this as a refreshing, retro-leaning design choice rather than a downgrade.

Calling these phones 'budget' sparked real frustration over pricing. Several commenters objected strongly to $499-$500 being labeled budget, recalling when that price bought a flagship or when budget meant under $250. Frustration extended to the 11 series' $100 price increase, seen as unjustified given Google's RAM cuts and feature removals, with some accusing Google of price gouging while blaming external RAM shortages it allegedly helped cause.

The Gemini LED and spec cuts feel like a step backward to many. The new Gemini-only RGB light on the 11 series drew widespread ridicule as underwhelming and pointless, especially paired with a dropped-to-12GB base RAM and removed temperature sensor. Commenters felt this represented AI-focused marketing overshadowing real hardware value, though a few noted improved repairability and speech-to-text as genuine bright spots amid the criticism.