My phone’s just bitten the dust and now I need to look for a new one again.
Thought I’d test the waters and see what kinds of phones people on here are using nowadays and what for, what features set them apart if any etc
Bonus points if anyone’s managed to get mainline linux running on them either via KVM or bare metal
Lemmy users be like: I built my own phone
It uses Arch btw
“and I put Linux on it!”
“so you just run android?”
“it runs Gentoo”
I am using a Librem 5
“privacy is so important” pulls out android phone
Educate yourself
Buy a refurbished or new in box flagship phone from a couple years ago. I paid like 1400$ for a Sony Xperia 1 III but now 2 years later it’s like 500$, refurbished with a warranty. It’s great value considering most phones brands don’t change much in only 2 years and you still get a pretty cutting edge device.
I’m currently using a Samsung S21, but once this thing eats it I’m done with Samsung. I’m sick of the OS updating and installing 6-7 garbage programs on my device without my consent.
I’m going to get a Nokia G42, just buy it outright and be done with the payment plan model. Nokia actually teamed up with iFixIt so I can do service on my own phone without needing to go through Verizon. Easily replaceable battery so I can buy an extra one and have it for when I’m traveling. SD card slot! Headphone jack!! And it’s only like 1/4 the cost of a flagship.
It also runs vanilla Android.
But problematic, that the bootloader isn’t unlockable.
Edit: on the nokia
Just switched from an iPhone XR to a 15 pro. Hope to get another 4+ years out of it.
I only switched because my SUV’s CarPlay and wireless charger turned the XR into a no-working hot plate after an hour. The 15 pro still gets as hot but doesn’t seem to shut down. I blame ford.
Nah, wireless charging in general is to blame here - they heat up batteries a ton, and that can kill the battery faster.
If you keep using your Pro with it, expect the battery to deteriorate quickly.
Somebody should start putting TECs in the wireless chargers. Even 10 watts of cooling would probably make a difference.
If you live in the US and want something on a budget, I recommend last year’s Moto G Stylus 5G (the 2023). You can find it for around $250. For the price, you get:
- More than adequate performance, especially at this price point (Snapdragon 6 Gen 1).
- Adequate RAM (6GB)
- Lots of storage (256GB)
- Decent cameras (50MP + 8MP UW)
- Great display (120Hz FHD+ IPS LCD)
- Great battery life
- Headphone jack(!)
- MicroSD slot(!!)
Damn, that does sound pretty good. Is the OS pretty close to stock?
Can depend a bit on your carrier but yeah pretty close. Only issue is the security updates can be infrequent. I love Motorolas as work phones though, the twist motion to turn on the camera and the chop motion for the flashlight are super convenient for an IT guy doing lots of rummaging
Chop motion for flashlight and twist for camera is amazing. I wish I knew how to implement this on a non-Moto phone. It’s gonna be painful switching away at some point.
I remember having issues with the chop motion once and my coworkers looking at me like I’m crazy.
Not my fault y’all settle for inferior products 😤
Now let me continue hacking at the air with my fragile handheld computer.
There are a few apps that let you do motion shortcuts, the issue I’ve found with them is that for whatever reason the apps consume inordinate amounts of battery waiting for the motion while the Motorola implementation seems to have no real energy issue.
Always remember, if the app is free, you’re the product.
Just don’t think about the implications for Lemmy too much.
I’m at my 3rd moto atm. A slightly outdated g31. It came with Android 11 and only recently 2 years after I bought it, it got the 12 upgrade. Still get’s regular security patches.
The current apps installed by Motorola (where I mean with optional that you can deactivate them, not uninstall). None of these apps are in the top 12 in the battery usage statistics and most of them are activated.
Moto App (117MB, optional) A tutorial center with “kurzgesagt” like animations e.g. for gestures. A selection of shortcuts to settings for customizing your device and Motorola QOL settings.
Moto Actions and Gestures (20MB, optional) Enables the gestures (has no other brand a shaking flashlight gesture or has Motorola patented it?).
Moto App Launcher (4MB) The Motorola specific desktop customization. I don’t know how close it is to the Pixel stock image but it doesn’t get in my way.
Moto AI Services (whopping 200MB, optional) The reviews for this service are scalding. I’m honestly not the biggest fan of having AI on my phone that’s not in my control. Two reviewers point out, that it probably isn’t very invasive AI and rather used for QOL features, like the shaking flashlight feature.
Moto Feedback (31MB, optional) Helps the user sending feedback (bug-reports and memory-dumps?) to Motorola. Again smotheringly bad reviews. Never had to do with it or used it knowingly. Can be deactivated.
Motorola notifications (88MB, optional) Again some furious reviews. Double edged sword as it’s used to send news about updates but also push ADs. But the latter isn’t very spammy. Just every few weeks or month a push notifications about a new moto. That’s about the only place where I would see ADs (apart from regular apps).
Galaxy S10. Still rockin the headphone port.
S10e here, and…I’m not looking forward to giving it up, because I don’t want a phone worse than this and they all are.
For me it’s the vertical size, fits perfect in my hand and almost all newer phones are longer.
Pixel 7, but for me I always look for a phone with stock Android and a good camera. Usually any of the Google Pixel phones covers that well.
Google pixel so i could put graphene os on it.
Still using my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, for me it’s perfect.
Continues to be up to date, hardware and software wise.
Moi Aussi! I can’t believe this was the one that got me to stop phone hopping…
Still holding onto my Samsung Galaxy Note9
It has an excellent built-in stylus with a headphone jack and expandable storage to boot. Nothing that’s come out since feels like an upgrade, only various sidegrades.
The Note 9 was the perfect phone. Hold onto it for as long as it will run! I got a Pixel 7 Pro after mine died. It was a real downgrade. Got the s24 Ultra this year, and it’s actually quite nice. Probably the closest thing to the Note 9 these days.
Redmi Note 9 Pro with LineageOS 18.1 (Android 11).
Stay away from Xiaomi’s phones if you plan to use the stock MIUI Android they come with. My SO has a stock Redmi Note 11S and MIUI is the biggest piece of bloated instrusive shit that I have ever seen on a phone.
Agree. I have a POCO F5 and, while it is not as awful as you say, it still sucks.
However, I flashed a custom ROM on my so’s Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, and that android experience is just bliss.
I have an iPhone 11 Pro. It’s a few years old now, but still gets updates and is still quick enough. However, the battery is fading pretty quick and Apple has made replacement inconvenient at best. I’m going to order a DIY battery kit that will hopefully take care of that, otherwise it’s gonna be replacement time.
I still have the pixel 6 pro, I want it to last until at least a pixel 10. I treat it like an appliance, I’m done with custom roms
I have my old oneplus 6 on my desk as a postmarketOS test device
Pixel 6 Pro with Graphene Os. You have to make a few concessions when it comes to ease of use, but the privacy and security is top notch.
I’m a Pixel fan. Between the whole family, I think we have almost every generation.
