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
Edit: Thanks for everyone who talked about their choices of phone, I am now writing this on a fairphone 4 and am quite happy with it so far.
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
Any smartphone, they’re not that different and all have the same weaknesses. They’re pretty fragile, don’t have battery-life and they have lots of bloat and functionality that’s gate-kept behind sign ups and cloud accounts
The biggest difference is whether you can run a custom rom or it’s locked down.
any special model that you prefer?
Pixels (at least ordered from Google) allow you to unlock the bootloader without any exploits, so they normally have the best ROM support
GrapheneOS is where a lot of the security work that ends up making it to other Android devices starts
CalyxOS is a good option for more support for standard Google Play apps
LineageOS is the original big ROM, but I think last time I checked, you couldn’t reenable the secure boot chain
GrapheneOS has better gplay support than calyxos
Thanks for the correction - I’ve been using enough different ones that my information might have been out of date there
Only if you ever buy the popular models.
Get yourself a rugged device, made for enterprises. They tend to be a bit more costly, but they aren’t fragile, they have great battery-life (although usually low specs to make that work), have no bloat and don’t require a sign up or even cloud.
Like the Unihertz Tank for example, or the Ascom Myco. Or the Bittium Tough Mobile 2 if you want extra secure.
Wow I misread the battery capacity on the unihertz tank and was like when was 2000mAh last a big battery? It’s 20 000 mAh. Also there’s a Tank2 with only 15 500 mAh.
don’t have battery life
I have a Fold 5 with a snapdragon 8gen2. I have “light performance mode” on at all times, and deep sleep most apps that I rarely use, and get 8 hours SOT. The 8g2 phones are definitely worth getting for battery life
That’s not even that good.
In normal scenarios, I get 10h SOT, with 12h in battery saver mode.
Although I do drop to 5h SOT when using it for GPS map logging while on my motorcycle.
Which phone? Stock OS or custom ROM?
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022), stock OS
Removed by mod
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 gets regular security patches.
Next the apps installe by Motorola (where I mean by 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.
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).
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.
good advice, i bought Moto G100 when it was about 3 years old and antutu benchmark is around double what my friends have for a similar price (Samsung A series)
Galaxy S10. Still rockin the headphone port.
Galaxy S7 here, but it’s probably getting replaced somewhere this year.
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.
Mine replaced an S4 Mini. My S10e is still borderline too big IMHO and I’m unaware of anything currently on the market any smaller.
Ah I miss my S10 . It died end of last year, I was hoping to get a few more years out of it. I forgot I had already had the battery replaced and dropped it in water :(
i know right? i don’t leave home without my VinylMan and 1/4” hi-fi’s
Still does the job just fine.
I’m using a Pixel 6, mostly because I like stock android. Not spectacular compared to their previous phones though, notably they used to be the only major company that still had headphone jacks, but that is no longer the case.
I have a 6a. Same deal. Terrible battery life honestly. I wish I could find a phone that could stay up to date and I can replace the batteries…
6a here too. At least the battery holds long when the phone is barely used. Idle standby is great compared to my outdated Xcover from before.
I will say though I had to replace the screen after completely obliterating it and it was shockingly easy, at least as far as modern smartphones go.
The good thing about the pixel line seems to be that the repairs are supported in most local places or ifixit thats for sure. I had a terracube before. Do not recommend!
Are the newer pixels any better? I have a pixel 4 that I’d like to upgrade at some point but it seems like everything else would be a downgrade for what I want.
Good battery life under load, wireless charging, and NFC are the only things I want. A low end phone with a potato for a CPU would be plenty but none of them have wireless charging AND NFC. They’ve started to have one, or the other, but not both.
If you know yoyr criteria you could try the Phone Finder on https://www.gsmarena.com/
Bought myself a Pixel 6 used a while back. Been very happy with it
I hear a lot of good things about the older pixels, but they only have a couple years of security updates left and a couple months of android updates so it doesn’t feel like a smart decision to buy them now
They don’t have less security updates than other brands. Plus you can always install a custom ROM to keep getting updates afterwards.
LineageOS or GrapheneOS are perfect for these and dont rely on google play services eating your data and battery.
Yup. That’s exactly what I was thinking
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
As an only part-time semi-nerd, I’m not too concerned with that. I’m sure if I started playing with the root I would probably brick my Nokia (damn, nice pun??)
Fairphone because I want it to last 5+ years without any annoying repairs.
Same. Broke my screen last year and replaced it myself with a simple screwdriver.
I’m on the Samsung A54 right now. I had one too many times using Google devices which decided to suddenly die on me (Nexus 5x, Google Pixel 4a) and Internet mummers seem to hint that newer Pixel devices seem to be continuing that same lack reliability. I have an older Samsung tablet that is still working (better described as something that just won’t die) so I decided to try the Samsung world of things to see if I can get the reliability I desire. So far, so good.
Curious about the Google device issues? The Nexus 5x worked great until it just died for good one night. The Pixel 4a worked great until it “turned off” at night making me miss all my alarms and requiring me to turn it back on. Now it is a coin toss if it will stay on overnight or just turn off for no reason making me miss all alarms. Apparently it can turn off when you are not using it which is a bit concerning for a device that should receive phone calls and sound alarms…
Unfortunately… Samsung is the only “normal” choice compared to others in my country… Other brands shipped adware, or just straight up shows ads on lock screen. I’m not joking. Samsung does it too unfortunately, though not as aggressive. Also I noticed after the year 2020 their midrange model has gone worse.
I miss Sony Xperia. I wish they didn’t leave my country.
I use a pixel 8. If you care about security or privacy, GrapheneOS simply has no substitute.
Battery life lasts about a day and a half. Performance is solid, camera is solid, and it has an AMOLED for active display.
CalyxOS is a great substitute and doesn’t have a sus developer.
sus developer
Linky?
Oh boy, that is one spicy topic. You could start here.
In short: The lead dev (who stepped down, but may be back again?) is involved in some controversy.
While I can fully understand why somebody wouldn’t trust the OS based on that, it’s still the most secure and private OS available today IMHO.
It might be a good substitute for some. Some features like contact and storage scopes are missing, and IMO they’re pretty cool Overall just worse privacy and security compared to Graphene
I might cave and get the 8, but I’m holding out for news on the 8a
Very understandable. My 8 was $550, but honestly I think it’s overkill in some ways. I’d like to see what concessions are made on the 8a.
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.
The cheapest piece of shit Samsung make because I break phones. I work outdoors in all weathers and I use my phone alot. I go through on average one a year and I dont want a broken or lost phone to ruin my month.
I also work outside and am extremely rough on phones. I got a Galaxy s21 when they came out, Have not broken it in like 3 years
I can get behind that, that’s kind of the direction I’m leaning in too.
I tend to go the other way with that and buy the tougher phones so they last me a bit longer though, I’d rather pay 600 every 3 years and have a somewhat nicer phone than 200 every 1 year and have to put up with a crappy one
???
“Alot” doesn’t exist, it’s always “a lot”. Above meme depicts an imaginary animal, the alot, in order to make the difference clearer.
Alot
I get that, but I didn’t use a lot or alot in my comment. Did you reply to the wrong person?
I did! Sorry!
To the people who treat that as a hard and fast rule, I wonder what opinion they hold of the word “another.”
What wrong with another
Nothing, that’s my point. It’s a fusion of the words “an other” which is a phrase used in English so frequently that it became its own word, “another.”
People are fine with that but they treat “alot” like it’s a problem.
I guess they would think that an other and another have different meanings, like car pet and carpet
What does “an other” mean that “another” doesn’t?
I tried that once, but that one got lost and I was like “Yep, cheap shit it is”
Honestly the worst samsung A series shits from great heights on cheap off brand phones. They do pretty much everything I want except the whole tap to pay thing.
Unfortunately tap and pay is the one feature keeping me from using custom roms/rooting/linux. Very much like having multiple options incase my card doesn’t work, forgotten my wallet etc
Get a Samsung S series FE (or Fan edition). They are usually cheaper versions of the flag ships with the same features but slightly lower specs.
I had two Caterpillar CATphones before. It was awesome. One of them had an infra red camera and was waterproof down to 5 meters.
They were a bit on the slow side, but they sure could take abuse
Did you use the infrared camera? How was the experience?
It was very low-res, but useful for finding where the cat threw up :p That was a regular use for it actually.
Other than that, it was fun to play with.
Sounds fun! I want to get one next time but it’s not available in my country so I need to figure when I travel next!
