Android phone recommendations?

[yankii]

I was waiting for the new iPhones to come out but the SIM card being digital only is creepy af and not something I am okay with.

I've really only looked at Pixels but someone told me Google nerfs the battery after 500 cycles or something to make sure they don't explode (?!) so I don't want those anymore.

So, can someone recommend an Android phone under $800? I don't need anything special, really, but I do want to try out GrapheneOS if possible.

 

[VincentC]

Huawei phones, or even Sony. I've got a Sony Xperia 1 VI and it's pretty good, bit above your budget though.

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G is pretty decent for it's price and hardware.

 

[Smoker1]

Stick with older Devices that have a MicroSD Slot and a Headphone Jack (preferably with the FM Radio Enabled)

 

[yankii]

Huawei phones, or even Sony. I've got a Sony Xperia 1 VI and it's pretty good, bit above your budget though.

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G is pretty decent for it's price and hardware.

I can manage paying more for a phone that'll last, but I don't know if Sony's track record with updates is good or not.

Stick with older Devices that have a MicroSD Slot and a Headphone Jack (preferably with the FM Radio Enabled)

I would love to stick a 2TB microSD card in and load it up with media but older phones probably won't get updates much longer, if at all, which is the only reason I'm upgrading.

 

[Moseii]

Samsung A series are decent imo

 

[KleinesSinchen]

So, can someone recommend an Android phone under $800? I don't need anything special, really, but I do want to try out GrapheneOS if possible.

Your options for trying out GrapheneOS are... let's say limited. It is Google Pixel exclusive (unless they succeed with their planned partnership with an OEM).
I'm very happy with my Pixel 8a, but I am not a phone user anyway. Roughly a year using GrapheneOS I'm now at 38 charge cycles (got the phone used, but almost new with 5 cycles). Will take a few years to reach any forced battery nerf.

I was waiting for the new iPhones to come out but the SIM card being digital only is creepy af and not something I am okay with.

Surely something that will be normal in future devices.
====

Samsung nuked bootloader unlock possibilities worldwide with OneUI 8 -- hence I advice against any Samsung device.

 

[Smoker1]

I can manage paying more for a phone that'll last, but I don't know if Sony's track record with updates is good or not.

I would love to stick a 2TB microSD card in and load it up with media but older phones probably won't get updates much longer, if at all, which is the only reason I'm upgrading.

Actually, if it can handle a 1TB, or 1.5TB, then it should, theoretically, accept a 2TB. But Companies are trying to get rid of Expandable Storage Options, along with Connectors to make them Sand-Water Proof....but also so you have to be forced to use Cloud Storage (SS), so they have Access to all your Data....possibly vulnerable to Data Breaches.

 

[yankii]

Samsung A series are decent imo

I read they only get updates for 4-5 years which is a nonstarter for me.

Your options for trying out GrapheneOS are... let's say limited. It is Google Pixel exclusive (unless they succeed with their planned partnership with an OEM).
I'm very happy with my Pixel 8a, but I am not a phone user anyway. Roughly a year using GrapheneOS I'm now at 38 charge cycles (got the phone used, but almost new with 5 cycles). Will take a few years to reach any forced battery nerf.

I'm fine with not having GrapheneOS. I just wanted to try it out for fun.

I don't use my phone much either, maybe 1 hour a week but exploding batteries are scary.

Surely something that will be normal in future devices.

Yeah, I'll probably have to use a feature phone then

Samsung nuked bootloader unlock possibilities worldwide with OneUI 8 -- hence I advice against any Samsung device.

So even their newer flagships have this? And here I thought Android was about having options...

Actually, if it can handle a 1TB, or 1.5TB, then it should, theoretically, accept a 2TB. But Companies are trying to get rid of Expandable Storage Options, along with Connectors to make them Sand-Water Proof....but also so you have to be forced to use Cloud Storage (SS), so they have Access to all your Data....possibly vulnerable to Data Breaches.

I find it hard to trust another dude with my data, and 2TB would really only be useful in a worst case scenario [i.e., no internet] as I already host a server for my own stuff.

 

[tech3475]

Personally I lean towards Samsung due to the 5 years of support on newer models, but then I don't rely on custom rooms/root due to bad experiences on different devices.

If you want custom ROMs, then I suggest at a minimum only going with models officially supported by the ROM makers.

Be aware though, some apps may take issue, one of my banking apps even forced me to disable ADB on my phone.

 

[Smoker1]

Exactly. So many Data Breaches, and they expect us to just Trust them? Nope, not doing the Cloud Storage. Rather figure a way to transfer back and forth on my PC.
But you know eventually they will require you to set up a Cloud Storage Account, and Permissions to constantly Access your Data

 

[yankii]

Personally I lean towards Samsung due to the 5 years of support on newer models, but then I don't rely on custom rooms/root due to bad experiences on different devices.

If you want custom ROMs, then I suggest at a minimum only going with models officially supported by the ROM makers.

Be aware though, some apps may take issue, one of my banking apps even forced me to disable ADB on my phone.

I had an app like that that wouldn't even let me take screenshots. Closed my account with them soon after.

Exactly. So many Data Breaches, and they expect us to just Trust them? Nope, not doing the Cloud Storage. Rather figure a way to transfer back and forth on my PC.
But you know eventually they will require you to set up a Cloud Storage Account, and Permissions to constantly Access your Data

Not to mention places where the government can demand access to anyone's data and the company legally can't refuse. I remember reading about something similar happening in the UK with Apple recently.

 

[Deleted member 320071]

I like the motorola phones, specifically the stylus version. Havent tried their more expensive stuff though. Battery life is great on them, there's a micro sd slot, headphone jack, camera is so-so, and it's mostly stock android. I bought a refurb s22 on ebay just to have a better camera and i'm starting to regret it. There's no micro sd on the s22, it's loaded with samsung bloatware, and the camera is not that much better. Might jump back to my moto g stylus.

 

[The Minecrafter]

You might also take a look at OnePlus. They have really solid phones, and allow bootloader unlocking. But besides that, Pixel is your best bet.

 

[emigre]

If you care about the camera, get a Pixel.

 

[yankii]

I like the motorola phones, specifically the stylus version. Havent tried their more expensive stuff though. Battery life is great on them, there's a micro sd slot, headphone jack, camera is so-so, and it's mostly stock android. I bought a refurb s22 on ebay just to have a better camera and i'm starting to regret it. There's no micro sd on the s22, it's loaded with samsung bloatware, and the camera is not that much better. Might jump back to my moto g stylus.

I looked at a few and the specs are pretty good for the low prices, imo. Is there a catch, though.

You might also take a look at OnePlus. They have really solid phones, and allow bootloader unlocking. But besides that, Pixel is your best bet.

I think I recently read that the warranty is void if I unlock it?

If you care about the camera, get a Pixel.

Not really; my DSi has that covered.

 

[emigre]

Not really; my DSi has that covered.

May as well use a potato.

 

[yankii]

May as well use a potato.

Potatoes don't play Mario Kart DS

 

[PityOnU]

These days, Android is significantly less open than it has been in the past. You're going to have a lot of trouble finding custom ROMs in general, and even if you do, most apps will freak out and not work if they detect anything modified about your phone. Basically, anything that uses your personal information and is from a large(r) company - read: most useful apps.

It's not all bad, though - Android is feature-rich enough these days that there really isn't a large incentive to root anymore. Almost all "factory bloat" that is installed on devices can be disabled via adb. Most phone manufacturers have also pledged to support their devices with updates for somewhere between 5-7 years. It's also fairly straightforward to get compatible recovery tools for devices so you can wipe/flash the OEM firmware to them without a bootloader unlock - this lets you buy a "carrier branded" device and then flash the base/OEM firmware to it to get rid of all the nonsense. I recently did that with an S25 Plus.

So pros and cons.

Regarding your budget: assuming you're in the USA, realistically, flagship devices can be had in the $400-$500 range. It's been like that for the past decade or so, but the hoops you need to jump through to actually get that price have gotten more and more complex. Nowadays you typically have to do some weird combination of financing and trading in an old device. But if you actually pay anywhere near the $1K MSRP phones are launching at, you're doing something wrong.

 

[console]

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, Samsung Galaxy A17 5G and above (best get 256 GB storage and 8 GB RAM) with microSDXC support. Put emulators and retro gaming like Nintendo, PS1, PS2 ,etc, little movies / videos, musics, and everything are great.

I and my dad have both Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, Samsung Galaxy A16 5G (256 GB storage and 8 GB RAM. Very great and afford phones on going. I have power banks for to recharge phones on long trip or for vacation. It's very great! It can take a lot of pictures and videos are great! I and my dad have zero complaints on my phones. Bang for cheap and afford phones!

I recommend order afford unlocked phones on Wireless Place website because of afford and cheap than all other locked phones are way too high prices. I bought 4 phones for myself and my dad. I paid about 200 bucks / dollars on each one phone is great deal! Other stores can't beat cheap phones. Outstanding afford phones!

 

[Deleted member 320071]

I looked at a few and the specs are pretty good for the low prices, imo. Is there a catch, though.

No catch. Just basic phones. Some of them dont have wireless charging or miracast. CPU is kinda slower than flagship phones but that's to be expected with a budget phone. Never had any problems with them, probably owned 4 of them over the years. I had the charging port go out on my moto g stylus and was shocked that ifixit had the part in stock. So they can be repaired too which is a plus.