I’m upgrading because my phone is losing (lost?) support. I use a OnePlus 7 Pro and love it and wouldn’t bother upgrading otherwise. I’d appreciate some recommendations of android phones you like, please.
Thank you in advance! (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)
Whenever someone asks for smartphone recommendations and doesn’t list specific features they’re looking for I’ll just tell them to get an iPhone. Any iPhone really. While I’m Android user myself, I’ve come to the conclusion that if you don’t have a specific reason for why you don’t want an iPhone then you should get an iPhone. It’s the best choice for 99% of users. If it’s too expensive then buy used/older model. They’re just as good. I don’t have iPhone myself because I wanted a removable battery and headphone jack.
I’m keeping my Galaxy J7 until it literally stops working.
You could install LineageOS on your existing phone instead of upgrading. The OnePlus 7 Pro is supported. The install process can be daunting depending on your technical skills, but it’s a one-time process since the phone gets updates over-the-air after the OS is installed.
I did this with my OnePlus 6 a few months ago and the experience has been good. Switching to LineageOS bumped Android to version 13, whereas it was stuck on Android 11 on stock OnePlus firmware. I’m getting regular updates again, including open-source Android security patches. Not everything gets patched though, some of the core firmware is proprietary to OnePlus and that cannot be patched by anyone but them. It’s letting me extend the life of a phone still works well and has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
I might go this route; thank you!!
Decent details here:
https://odysee.com/@AlphaNerd:8/how-to-install-lineage-os-to-oneplus-7
If one is okay with rooting and can get a (non Verizon) Google pixel, graphene OS is for the OCD fanatics, and CalyxOS is a more featured runner up. Both are only on pixels largely for the re-lockable boot loader.
lineage is also a good rom, and they support way more devices
Graphene is only on pixels but calyx supports at least a few more models including fairphones.
Really seconding this. A lot of guides are also available with videos and OnePlus is notorious for being easy to unlock and flash. The op7pro is still a good device and if you have kept it till now you might as well give it a breath of fresh life by installing a new Android version.
OnePlus is notorious for being easy to unlock and flash
Were. OnePlus has settled.
I look into it, but can’t seem to buy anything not Motorola. They’re reasonably clean out of the box, have good batteries and survive getting wet even with no IP rating. Using Moto G52 currently.
A lot of these recommendations are for super privacy focused anti-Google setups or other niche concerns.
If you just want a nice, straightforward phone, that’s going to do normal phone things, and have security updates for a long time…
The pixel 8 is quite compelling.
I have a Pixel 7. I love it.
Likewise, a buddy just got the 8 and really likes it. My parents like their 6a and 6. I have a couple of friends that like their 6/7as.
I recently upgraded from a Pixel (the first generation) to a 5, so the first one lasted a long time. I do miss the headphone jack. But in general these phones do everything I need without fuss.
I see OnePlus in the top comments. I was a OnePlus fanboi from day one. From one through ten, I think I only missed one serious - otherwise, I bought some iteration of every series during that span. I honestly couldn’t say exactly why at the moment, so maybe this comment is trash, but after my OnePlus 10 Pro 5G or whatever the specific name was, I swapped over to the Pixel 7 Pro, and refuse to look back at this point. I just upgraded to the 8 Pro and I have zero complaints.
If I had to venture a guess, part of the reason for the switch had to do with the gradual increase in price of the OnePlus flagship phones over time. I think the first one was something like $299, and was a solid phone, especially compared to the Samsung flagship at the time which was probably twice that, at least. At this point, OnePlus is pretty close to equal cost when comparing models with similar features. I like being on top of the newest software features, so with all else being more or less equal, the Pixel phones are where it’s at. Of course, with Samsung cooperating with Google on phones being Android nekkid, maybe Samsung is worth a try?
TL;DR - OnePlus isn’t worth it anymore. Go Pixel, or maybe Samsung. If you’ve got an especially itchy privacy concern, then don’t ask me - sounds like other people got you covered there.
Edit: just looked up the Fairphone, and its sustainability angle is intriguing…
Fairphone is definitely a good option if you can get your hands on one. They don’t sell the latest model in the states and only recently started selling in the states at all. If I remember right, the main thing though has been that they’ll give you years of software updates and well, Google just kinda blew that out of the water with 8 years of updates for the Pixel 8.
OnePlus I never really looked at… I’m anti-CCP so I’m anti-OnePlus by default. Google announced recently they’re going to start making phones in India, (which, it’ll be a welcome change to manufacturer inside of another democracy instead of a foreign autocracy like China or Vietnam).
A lot of people won’t like this answer, but I would not recommend anything from Samsung. Yes, the hardware on paper is typically excellent. However, everything else that comes with the experience is a complete joke to me.
- The bootloader is locked, and even if you manage to get it unlocked Knox will be permanently tripped.
- I never personally liked OneUI, but accepted it as long as it works. Unfortunately that’s also not been the experience for me.
- The last update they pushed for my phone broke Bluetooth connectivity, and it’ll never be fixed, because they said there won’t be any updates period. Now I’m left with a pen notification that never goes away, and a watch that disconnects every 15 minutes.
- Their own stock apps are not very convenient at all, but don’t forget to remind you to sign up for their updated data theft EULA every time you open them
And that’s just software. It doesn’t stop there. On my Note 10, the glass back completely peeled off, because of internal heat, and the only thing holding it together is the case. Keep in mind that this is from just regular usage. I don’t play games on my phone, or do anything else that would warrant this kind of output
I broke my One Plus 7 Pro and now have a Galaxy S21 Ultra, and while I don’t hate it, I don’t think I’ll be getting another samsung
However, I will say, Samsung keyboard is legitimately the best Andorid keyboard overal. I’ll probably be installing it onto my next phone. But, like, it’s sad that that’s the only nice thing I can say about it.
It’s not a bad phone, and I bought it used, but Samsung is just so bloaty. I’d much rather a stock experience than their software
Wow. I absolutely detest the Samsung keyboard. It’s absolutely retarded on terms of prediction and button accuracy.
Gboard, while not great, seems to be the best/most accurate. I don’t like Gboard, don’t get me wrong, but it’s way more accurate than Samsung
I just like the ability to manually set the sizes of each key, because gboard I’m always hitting n when I want to hit soccer or y when I want to or u.
It’s also the most customizable overall, not just the themeing but layout.
And it actually has a functional clipboard that doesn’t last only a limited time.
Interesting… I switched away from Samsung and actually hated stock Android!
- I actually preferred One UI to the standard pixel, mainly because Google ruined the quick settings - they made each button unnecessarily big, and turning on/off the wifi requires two taps instead of one now (Internet > Wifi). That’s something I can’t change without rooting.
- Some Samsung stock apps are actually a great alternative to the android ones (I use Samsung Notes a ton). The only downside is they force you to download it through their own app store.
- Samsung doesn’t really have much bloat now, and the few pieces of bloat i found could be uninstalled
- Samsung is still the only phone manufacturer with triple camera setups in a small flagship phone
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not perfect, but the issues I had with Samsung were solvable (e.g. uninstalling bloat is a one-time thing) while the annoyances I’ve had with a Pixel aren’t solvable (quick settings, no third camera).
It all comes down to personal preferences and experiences, so I’m glad you had a good time
I’ve only used Samsung for a long time, starting with the Note 3, 5, 8, and now S22 Ultra. I’ve not experienced any of these problems. And you can just use a different launcher than OneUI (I’m currently using Total Launcher after years of using Nova).
None of the issues I’ve described have any relationship with the launcher
I agree completely. I LOVED the first 3-5 Galaxy S phones, but they just kept adding more bloat.
I’m on year 5 with my Pixel 3, and when it finally craps out, I’m going with another Pixel.
I loved my pixel 2, but hate my pixel 6. I’m switching away from pixel as soon as this one dies
Why is that if I may ask? I’ve gone from the nexus 4 - nexus 6p - pixel 2 - galaxy s10(fuck samsung, never again) - pixel 6. I’m happy enough with my pixel 6, it’s not amazing but I don’t really have any complaints about it either. I’m planning to use it until it either gets to slow for my liking or the battery goes to shit, whichever comes first.
have been using a Fairphone 4 for over a year now, the FP5 seems to improve in nearly every way despite still missing a headphone jack. at least you won’t have to worry about software support. only really available in Europe though. in the US you can get a FP4 with /e/OS through Murena. really recommend it.
Its a bit pointless to ask for android suggestions without any specifications. There are way too many good ones to count but can be very few depending on your needs and budget.
I just picked up a Sony Xperia 1 V, and so far I’m happy with it. It’s snappy as can be, and the camera is absolutely fantastic.
deleted by creator
I’ve never been an Apple guy and I stopped finding Samsung acceptable after the S10. My answer has been to go to Sony’s Xperia 1 line. I have a 1 IV and, honestly, I’m pretty happy with it. Point and shoot photos aren’t great on it, it really is meant for manual photography, but it’s not bad, either. The reasons I went for it were the form factor, the lack of a notch or punch-hole, the external SD card support, the physical 3.5mm jack and the front firing stereo speakers. It’s nuts what you can get when you don’t obsess with not having zero bezels.
The downside is… well, I don’t trust Sony for long term support, either. It helps that their phones are very similar outside of updating to the latest processors, but they clearly aren’t super focused on software updates, if that’s your priority.
But yeah, hey, screw Samsung, Google, Apple and their dumb ecosystems and actively removed basic features. This thing is easy to use one-handed, has very solid hardware and is not a clone of those three despite having flagship internals. It’s expensive, but I’m also gonna use it for multiple years, so I have no regrets about it at the moment.
I get you don’t like Samsung, Apple, or Google, but man… Sony? They are the original electronics company bad actors. That’s like saying “I don’t like Dahmer, but this guy Manson is cool” what the hell?
There are no good corporate actors.
I don’t dislike the big three’s phones because I have a moral stance about them. I dislike them because they’ve removed features I want and added features I don’t want.
Sony makes a flagship with a headphone jack, front firing speakers, a hole-less screen, hotswappable removable storage and dual sim support? Cool, got my money the old-school capitalist way.
They start messing around with that stuff or enforcing crap I don’t want, they’ll lose my money the old-school capitalist way.
For the big bad stuff all of those companies do I don’t vote with my wallet, I vote with my vote. Regulation and policy are the answers to those.
I’m considering Fair Phone to be my next one. The latest has 5G support.
I’ve been using Motorola phones for about 5 years now. I don’t want to fork out the ridiculous amount of money for the flagship phones, nor do I want to lose my “bring your own phone” plan price. They have an assortment of phones in different budget ranges and I love some of the features they come with, specifically the karate chop flashlight feature. Haven’t been let down yet. I will say I use my phone mainly as a texting/calling and browsing device so I can’t comment on how they do in games, as I never play games.
I miss the chop so much
Anyone got a phone recommendation that’s android based and easy to root? It doesn’t have to be modern it just has to work on modern networks.
Google pixels.
Both graphene and calyxos only run on them- and the boot loader is designed to be re-locked for security
Thank you kindly.
If you want Pixel features, flash a custom ROM based on PE.
