General Smartphone Discussion Thread - What phones to recommend and which ones to avoid?

[Lovely Kin]

A question: Would you go to Dubai to attend the release of Huawei's new Pura 80 Ultra?

Probably not, I won't be able to use it when I get back to the US

 

[The Repeated Meme]

Putting the nfc card on the reader is as convenient as putting the phone on the reader. In fact, it's more convenient because you need to go out of your way to set up phone pay.

That's not the argument I'm making. Are you being deliberately obtuse? Do you think having a camera on your phone is just as convenient as having to use a camera separately because they both take pictures?

Why stop there? Who needs music apps? Why not have a separate device for my music, too?

 

[volatile puar]

That's not the argument I'm making. Are you being deliberately obtuse? Do you think having a camera on your phone is just as convenient as having to use a camera separately because they both take pictures?

Why stop there? Who needs music apps? Why not have a separate device for my music, too?

It is illegal for most people to travel without a DL.

 

[User names must be unique]

I've have a one+ nord 2, three years old now, it's the most expensive phone I've ever bought at £350 (bought unlocked fuck contracts) and in retrospect it wasn't worth it. It's pretty good but it's not £200 better than a more budget phone imo.

I now think mid-range phones are a retard trap/Goldilocks pricing

I'm looking at buying a new phone and like a retard to a flame I'm once again drawn to the mid-range option, the Nothing phone 3a pro. it looks so dumb and the lights on the back are pointless but at least the dedicated AI bullshit button is supposed to be re-bindable without rooting.

I just really want something with optical zoom, every other decent looking option is at least 50% more on price for seemingly marginal gains.

 

[Moon Pie]

I just want a few things when my current secondhand Samsung Galaxy S20 FE dies:

Expandable storage via a microSD card slot (requirement)

User serviceable battery

3.5mm audio port

Unlockable bootloader and support for an OS that isn't riddled with Google slop or at least let's me segregate it like GrapheneOS used to (Pixels are fragile and lack expandable storage, Plus GrapheneOS got infested with troons IIRC)

Used to be common 15 years ago. Even my old Samsung Galaxy Avant had most of that. I had 2 Pixels, but both were lost due to shitty hardware (1 was actually killed by a shitty "authorized" repair, fuck 1st party phone repairs). I'd like to have an idea of what to get before my Galaxy dies. I thought about the Fairphone 4 or 5 with their modular designs for ease of repair and I believe the bootloaders are unlockable by default. Don't know of any other good new ones, the alternative is a cheap used phone with LineageOS.

Late as fuck but moto g 5G - 2024, moto g84 5G, moto g34 5G, and g45 5G, moto g52, moto g42, and moto g32 all meet your criteria and are supported by Calyx OS. You have to email Motorola to get a key to unlock the bootloader, but otherwise it's easy peasy to flash.

 

[The Repeated Meme]

So apparently, I didn't know this at the time because it's been a while since I rooted my phone; but apparently wallet not working on root is HUGE, ongoing issue; and there are basically 5 solutions:

1. Use Tsupport Advance module to update the leaked keybox (unreliable because they keep getting revoked)
2. Find and spoof a private fingerprint since Wallet only cares about legacy device integrity check (impractical, google banned 95% of known working fingerprints) so it's technically possible but finding one that passes legacy device check is basically impossible
3. Buy a private keybox. This is the most realistic solution if you want to remain on root and have wallet working. This is what I did. They are relatively inexpensive. However they expire after 11 months and you have to get a new one. You also have the option of buying one with a longer validity, but they are more expensive.
4. Unroot, flash stock, relock bootloader (basically give up root for wallet) or
5. Stay on root and forget about wallet.

So you do have options available. But man..what a pain in the ass. The next time I get a phone I don't think I will be rooting it. 99% of the things I use root for can be accomplished with Shizuku; I wouldn't be giving up that much. But I'm not going to replace this phone for a long, long time. Hopefully..we'll see.

I'm going to keep buying keyboxes and spoofing for as long as I can. You know what else is funny: you can't use wallet if your security patch is too old, even if you have a locked bootloader, so having an unlocked one, while it's more of a pain in the ass to maintain, I can spoof the security patch and keep getting new keyboxes basically as long as I want; assuming they're still available to buy. I might consider buying a 7-year long keybox..but they're pretty expensive..may be worth it in the long run if they offer some kind of 'bulk discount' as it were.

Late as fuck but moto g 5G - 2024, moto g84 5G, moto g34 5G, and g45 5G, moto g52, moto g42, and moto g32 all meet your criteria and are supported by Calyx OS. You have to email Motorola to get a key to unlock the bootloader, but otherwise it's easy peasy to flash.

Moto is pretty solid. They aren't the fastest, though. I debated between them and OP, I went with OP cause their newer devices are really fast.

 

[Bogan]

So I've had an iPhone 8 I bought second-hand in 2019 for AU$500, but I'm starting to run into issues with Apple's abysmal software lifespan. Something as simple as adding custom ringtones or using .mp3 files for alarms isn't possible anymore. Not without paying subscriptions to Apple Music anyway.

So now I'm looking at what to replace it with. I've looked at the Pixel 9a with GrapheneOS, it's currently AU$700 and is supposed to be supported for the next 7 years.

Are there any better options? And are there any major problems such as incompatible apps or features with GrapheneOS?

 

[Torque Wheeler]

I've had every kind of smart phone at this point. Typing this on a used pixel 7 pro I picked up used for $200. Love getting old flagships. Had a z flip 3 for a while but it kissed the concrete a little too hard. I need to keep an android for work since I'm 247 on emails and teams. At the minimum, I need to be able to get phone calls and texts during a weekend emergency. Is there a good way to forward my texts and calls from my android to a crappy flip phone? Something I can lose without caring too much?

 

[Civillian 18]

So I've had an iPhone 8 I bought second-hand in 2019 for AU$500, but I'm starting to run into issues with Apple's abysmal software lifespan. Something as simple as adding custom ringtones or using .mp3 files for alarms isn't possible anymore. Not without paying subscriptions to Apple Music anyway.

So now I'm looking at what to replace it with. I've looked at the Pixel 9a with GrapheneOS, it's currently AU$700 and is supposed to be supported for the next 7 years.

Are there any better options? And are there any major problems such as incompatible apps or features with GrapheneOS?

I can say that Pixel phones are at least the easiest (buy it, tick the box/slide the thing) to install schizo privacy OS on. They did just push out their latest "battery life safety" update that effectively killed the 6a model though. So if anything, I would avoid those "a" models? I am not autistic enough to know if this is a thing that particularly targets them though or is just more planned obsolescence in general.

 

[Bogan]

They did just push out their latest "battery life safety" update that effectively killed the 6a model though. So if anything, I would avoid those "a" models?

I looked at the other models. But the regular one was AU$1400, and the Pro was AU$1900. That's a lot more money than I'd like to spend for something that I wouldn't get value out of the hardware for.

 

[YautjaWeeb]

So I've had an iPhone 8 I bought second-hand in 2019 for AU$500, but I'm starting to run into issues with Apple's abysmal software lifespan. Something as simple as adding custom ringtones or using .mp3 files for alarms isn't possible anymore. Not without paying subscriptions to Apple Music anyway.

So now I'm looking at what to replace it with. I've looked at the Pixel 9a with GrapheneOS, it's currently AU$700 and is supposed to be supported for the next 7 years.

Are there any better options? And are there any major problems such as incompatible apps or features with GrapheneOS?

Costco was dumping iPhone 14s a while back.

Pixel9* is a dud in terms of sales, buzz and traction... it will be cheaper by the fall for the Black Friday season. The whole Android ecosystem and Graphene is reeling from changes Google is making to make to Android AOSP.

 

[Bogan]

Pixel9* is a dud in terms of sales, buzz and traction... it will be cheaper by the fall for the Black Friday season.

The 9a was on sale for $150-off already.

The whole Android ecosystem and Graphene is reeling from changes Google is making to make to Android AOSP.

Google just being Google again. Are they actually trying to make it harder for things like Graphene to make changes to the Kernel?

 

[Civillian 18]

I looked at the other models. But the regular one was AU$1400, and the Pro was AU$1900. That's a lot more money than I'd like to spend for something that I wouldn't get value out of the hardware for.

Ah, yeah I would not recommend buying current model. There is zero benefit as you have mentioned for hardware, but you can pretty easily find (as @Torque Wheeler mentioned) an older flagship for much cheaper.

 

[Bogan]

Ah, yeah I would not recommend buying current model. There is zero benefit as you have mentioned for hardware, but you can pretty easily find (as @Torque Wheeler mentioned) an older flagship for much cheaper.

I had a brief look at my local retailers and the prices are still near launch price for the 8, 7, and 6 models. $500-700 for an a, $1000-1200 for a regular, and $1400-1700 for a Pro.

Idk what it is about this country but phone prices don't depreciate. Best I could find was a Pixel 7 for $400.

 

[Torque Wheeler]

I had a brief look at my local retailers and the prices are still near launch price for the 8, 7, and 6 models. $500-700 for an a, $1000-1200 for a regular, and $1400-1700 for a Pro.

Idk what it is about this country but phone prices don't depreciate. Best I could find was a Pixel 7 for $400.

Holy shit I bought my pixel 7 pro for $200 used a few months after launch. Granted, it has some deep scratches but who cares. I was going to add those myself in a few weeks anyway

 

[Bogan]

Holy shit I bought my pixel 7 pro for $200 used a few months after launch. Granted, it has some deep scratches but who cares. I was going to add those myself in a few weeks anyway

The cheapest I found was a 6a for $350. Unless Google's fucking around with whatever the AOSP is, I might bite and get the 9a.

As for scratches I only have a single small scratch, but I only notice it when I look at the screen when it isn't turned on. This is after 6 years of use with no screen protector.

 

[The Repeated Meme]

Are there any better options? And are there any major problems such as incompatible apps or features with GrapheneOS?

The OnePlus 13R is a solid choice. That would actually be the phone i WOULD be using if I didn't already have 2 phones.

- Flat screen, good compatibility with tempered glass screen protectors, unlike some flagship OP models
- Unlockable bootloader if rooting is your bag
- Good bang for the buck performance. You can get them for around $450 last time I checked.
- Fantastic battery life, 6000mah the biggest I've seen...
- OOS has some quirks, but you can install custom roms if you want unlike the CPH2419/7
- No GrapheneOS though; but alternatives exist.
- 80W Fast charging, dwarfs the 6a 18w charging
Full specs

The cheapest I found was a 6a for $350. Unless Google's fucking around with whatever the AOSP is, I might bite and get the 9a.

Pixel 6a cost $122-$150 refurbished.
Pixel 7 around $174
Huge discounts to be had if you're willing to buy refurbished.
Pixel 7 pro for $229 and so on...

 

[YautjaWeeb]

Google just being Google again. Are they actually trying to make it harder for things like Graphene to make changes to the Kernel?

At the time of the announcement a month ago it sounded like a show stopper but have to wait and see.

Would not touch a pixel 9 even if you wanted it for normie use and AI features, of which many rely on cloud to do because the phone's hardware specs were so limited. A theoretical Pixel10 model is expected to have disproportionaitely better hardware, all of which is for the purposes of spying on you and everything you do better but better harware is still better especially if paying near full price.

 

[The Repeated Meme]

Would not touch a pixel 9 even if you wanted it for normie use and AI features, of which many rely on cloud to do because the phone's hardware specs were so limited

This sentence confuses me. Isn't the Pixel's hardware optimized for ai features? I thought that was the reason they lag behind OP in terms of raw performance; because they're focused more on ai optimization.

 

[YautjaWeeb]

This sentence confuses me. Isn't the Pixel's hardware optimized for ai features? I thought that was the reason they lag behind OP in terms of raw performance; because they're focused more on ai optimization.

They opted for mega-marketing and faster to market so as to beat competition for the consoomer gooners who actually want Google's AI digging through every byte of data on their phone every second.

They did not put the hardware they were expected to onto the Pixel 9 Pro for local AI they cheaped out. Could have been a power and battery decision thing, could have been a money thing.

They opted for a mega marketing push and relentless advertising over the expected hardware and abilities. "Gemini can just do it in the Cloud". I don't think it panned out but the ads are fucking relentless still in my neck of the woods. I saw no ads for the other Pixels. Put the money into the phone next time, niggers.