Tech Infidelity

After years inside the Apple ecosystem, I strayed by testing Pixels, Galaxies, foldables, and more. Each device had its charms, but something always felt off. Maybe it’s the seamless sync. Maybe it’s the familiarity. Or maybe… it’s the guilt.

For a couple of years now, I’ve been hiding a secret. Despite my effusive praise and public stance against ever going against it, I have dabbled in ecosystems that are not part of Apple.

I’ve been an iPhone user for the better part of a decade now. My first was the iPhone 5. And really, I’ve only been firmly entrenched in Apple’s ecosystem for a couple of years. And that seems to be where this whole thing started. As I began streamlining my devices—adding a MacBook, an Apple Watch, AirPods—I started to get curious about what life looked like outside the walled garden.

To be clear, in the US that really only means two other companies: Google & Samsung.

It began to feel as if I were subconsciously having a moment of doubt or a crisis of confidence. For the ordinary consumer, Apple’s devices are not inexpensive. It can be a significant investment. Especially if you’re starting from nothing. What if, after pouring thousands of dollars into a seamless setup, I didn’t even like it?

The first time I strayed, it was with a Google Pixel 7a.

I won’t lie, the first time I booted it up and saw that colorful ‘G’ logo light up the screen, I felt a little rush. It was exciting. I couldn’t help but wonder: what can this thing do that my iPhone can’t?

I was drawn in. The performance was much better than I’d expected and the camera far exceeded my, admittedly low, expectations. And that camera bar? In pictures, it seemed ridiculous. But while holding the phone? Different story. The whole thing felt like something new.

In terms of an ecosystem? Well, at this point there really wasn’t much of one because I not only had an iPhone but an Apple Watch, as well. So I took the next logical step. I bought a Pixel Watch. I was ready to roll.

This would be a good time to mention that I genuinely like the Pixel Watch from a design standpoint. It’s a beautifully designed piece of hardware. The form factor is versatile enough to wear in almost any setting—formal, casual, or at the gym. It felt more like a watch—the kind people who actually wear watches would wear.

But the original Pixel Watch had more flaws than I was willing to overlook.

First, it was far too small. And to call the battery life terrible would be far too generous. I actually had it die on my wrist in the middle of the workday after charging it to 100% overnight. People love to deride the Apple Watch for needing a daily top-off, but it’s not original Pixel Watch bad.

When it comes to tight integration, what the Pixel Watch is to the Pixel phone is fundamentally the same as what the Apple Watch is to the iPhone. On paper, they’re doing the same thing—acting as an extension of your phone, tracking your sleep, logging your activity, and occasionally nudging you to stand up.

But it’s the feeling that’s different.

The notifications felt off—not because they were worse, but because they weren’t mine. I hadn’t spent months fine-tuning which apps were allowed to tap me on the wrist (I live my life in Silent Mode). It always felt like I was adjusting something: a setting here, a permission there. The watch faces looked more cartoonish than utilitarian. Nothing was broken—but nothing felt right, either.

It never felt like I’d get used to the nuance of a slightly different watch/phone relationship. It just didn’t feel like home.

I didn’t last a week.

In the time since, I’ve experimented with more than a fair share of different hardware combinations outside of Apple. Off the top of my head, I’ve used:

- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 & 7

- Google Pixel 7

- Google Pixel 8 Pro

- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

- Galaxy Watch 6

- Galaxy Watch 6 Classic

- Pixel Watch 3

- OnePlus 13R

- One Plus Watch 3

Each of these devices has its merits. In whatever combination I used them, they all did what they were supposed to do because similar to how well the Apple Watch works with the iPhone, Android watches work well with Android phones. Usually.

Honestly, there isn’t a single device on that list that I didn’t like. They were all impressive in their own way. But they just weren’t for me. The whole experience always felt slightly off.

Whether I switched for a few days, a few weeks, or even a couple of months, I always felt like I was abandoning something—or worse, someone. Like your favorite relative suddenly moving 800 miles away without saying goodbye.

Maybe guilt is the real ecosystem lock-in.