Many devices, one for the heart.
Pixel 4a for sure, I love smaller size phones and the 4a is perfect in size.
I thought about this, and I’m not really sure. A lot of the phones I liked using are before 2015. This leaves me with two options.
The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact:
I’m still using the XZ1C, it’s still fast for what I use it for, and does everything I need. The modem bug annoys me though, and keeps it from greatness. The battery is still really good, even after replacing it with a Chinese battery and 80% charge limit. It’s almost the perfect phone. Make it 18:9 and have modern specs with stable software and it would be awesome.
Runner up (The only other post 2015 phone I’ve used enough and is good enough to like):
I really liked the S7 (Exynos), the last semi good Samsung (until you get to S10e) Although it’s kinda slow and didn’t work well for cell in the US.
Galaxy Note 9. It was the last fully featured phone Samsung made with a headphone jack, an S-Pen, and no display cutout. The only phones that have come out since that are even close to as fully featured are the Sony Xperia phones.
I bought one brand new a few months ago because my S7 died and I couldn’t justify dropping $1000 on an Xperia phone. It’s an EU model bought from US Amazon so I definitely overpaid, but it’s been worth it so far. Definitely holds up imo.
It’s obviously not flagship level, but it’s still a solid mid-ranger. It doesn’t get software updates anymore so officially, I’m stuck on Android 10 and an old security patch. However, I can upgrade to One UI Android 12/13, or whatever the latest AOSP is through the magic of custom ROMs if it ever starts to bother me.
Edit: The only issue I have is that the fingerprint reader isn’t as fast as I’d like it to be. I’m not sure if it’s common or just a me issue despite searching a bunch so any help would be appreciated :)
I had the note 8 and loved it, I still have it but the screen blacked out. 300$ to fix. I often think about the S pen and miss not having one.
Oof $300 for a repair is rough, especially considering you can get a refurb Note 9 or 10 for less than that (US or EU at least). What are you daily driving now?
S Pen is one of those things that I didn’t think I’d use much but I keep whipping out for this or that. It’s kinda great!
I switched carriers, so now it’s a Samsung A54 5g. It’s nice but not the same.
A series are pretty solid. My sis has an A32 and it’s great. I’d daily drive one myself if it wasn’t for the notch haha
They remind me of the old “S series” samsung rolled out during the start of the smart phone boom. I had an S3 with a life proof case on it. Damn thing was indestructible. When I hot this A54 I noticed the shape similarities and got another life proof case. Would Highly recommend it 🤌 I hoping to get as much life out of this phone as possible
Yooooo I also had an S3. That phone was a TANK! I dropped it on some rocks and smashed the screen once so I had to get a screen replacement but that was the worst of it (and completely understandable). Aside from that it was a fantastic phone and very durable! I had it on LineageOS Android 7 (or 6 idk) before it got stolen :(