not as if the Pixel 8 is just a small Pixel 8 Pro – it isn’t.
The phones are nearly identical. The Pro has more RAM, a different secondary camera, and a third camera.
Apple absolutely should be (and is frequently) criticized for artificially locking features to certain models.
Obviously it’s a good thing to have increased software support. 7 years of security updates is, on its own, a big deal. Google deserves credit for that. But they also deserve to be called out on their bullshit, same as Apple or any other company.
What are you talking about? Apple should be lauded for at least having the phone tiers that they have. There’s choice for every type of buyer. The 15 pro vs pro max is 3x zoom and 5x zoom. That’s IT. You get the same features between each pro phone and get to choose the size that works for you.
Google has hamstrung the smaller phone with a worse screen, much worse camera system (video boost is locked to 8 Pro), no temperature sensor, slower wireless charging speeds, less RAM, gorilla glass Victus 1 vs 2, and an annoyingly glossy back glass.
I bought an 8 Pro for the camera system because I didn’t want to be locked out of the better ultra wide and telephoto, but I wish I could have gotten that in a smaller size.