What phone now?

**Marshall Tucker** · 10-22-2021, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by riser3

Fuck ATT. I'm gonna drop them as soon as I can.

Well, be prepared. that was a one month odyssey for us involving many....unpleasant...phone calls, visits to the ATT store across the street (I think the restraining order is now lifted) and eventually a letter copying my across-the-street neighbor who is a VP over consumer billing at ATT.

**dan_pdx** · 10-22-2021, 11:04 AM

My Pixel 3a is still working great. Might look at the 6a if/when they get around to making one, but I'm thinking I might make it all the way to 7a. You can pry my headphone jack from my cold dead hands.

Meanwhile, my dad just got a Iphone Pro Max 13 Pro Chad Edition...I think it cost more than I spent on parts for my last PC, but his old phone was maybe 10 years old (!), so on an annual basis, he's doing pretty well.

**dcpnz** · 10-22-2021, 11:31 AM

Been an Android user for as long as I can remember but I got a iPhone 13 pro week or two ago when they first came out. The camera is legitimately really good but overall I do not like it all that much and there are numerous things that drive me crazy about it.

It’s not entirely Android to iOS transition pains because I’ve had an iPad for years. Aside from friends and family all being in iOS eco system and iMessage being the one killer app advantage I really don’t see much that I prefer.

It chafes a fair bit having spent so much and wanting to switch back to my 4 yr old Galaxy s8.

**54-46** · 10-23-2021, 04:01 PM

Work gave me an iPhone 13. Had an 8+. Not a power user so it’s all kinda meh

**JongDoe** · 10-28-2021, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by dcpnz

Been an Android user for as long as I can remember but I got a iPhone 13 pro week or two ago when they first came out. The camera is legitimately really good but overall I do not like it all that much and there are numerous things that drive me crazy about it.

It’s not entirely Android to iOS transition pains because I’ve had an iPad for years. Aside from friends and family all being in iOS eco system and iMessage being the one killer app advantage I really don’t see much that I prefer.

It chafes a fair bit having spent so much and wanting to switch back to my 4 yr old Galaxy s8.

Just checking in because my S8 has likely bit the dust. I suddenly was getting no incoming texts for a few days and the battery was not holding a charge long. The only outgoing text would go to my wife, others just disappeared. The telephone, internet, etc were all working fine.

I went to 2 different Best Buys yesterday as they had been helpful before, but both told me to call Verizon. After 45 minutes on hold i finally got a human and we worked through some things and he said he saw what the problem was. He asked me to take out the SIM card which i had not touched since i got the phone ~ 5 years ago. It was hard to get out and when i pulled it out the card was not in the skeleton that holds it and i could not get the card out. The guy is telling me i must have dropped and so look on the floor. My wife was there when i removed it and no way it came out, so it must still be in there. Now nothing works on the phone,

I just saw a youtube video that shows how to remove a stuck sim card, so apparently it is not an unknown problem. I'd give that a try, but with the battery draining i think i will just bite the bullet and get a new phone (also has a crack on the screen). Sucks because the phone did everything i needed it to do and i don't really need any newfangled features.

So in a word, any favorite android phones that don't cost a mint? Looking to spend no more than ~ $500.

**climberevan** · 10-28-2021, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by JongDoe

So in a word, any favorite android phones that don't cost a mint? Looking to spend no more than ~ $500.

Buy a slightly used phone from a reseller. GF & I did that recently and are both really happy with the S10e. It's the somewhat smaller flagship that they won't make anymore. Plus, it has a headphone jack.

If you want the latest and greatest, Costco often has the regular S21 for around $500, but I can't justify the tiny performance difference, big size, and no 3.5mm.

**dan_pdx** · 10-28-2021, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by JongDoe

Just checking in because my S8 has likely bit the dust. I suddenly was getting no incoming texts for a few days and the battery was not holding a charge long. The only outgoing text would go to my wife, others just disappeared. The telephone, internet, etc were all working fine.

I went to 2 different Best Buys yesterday as they had been helpful before, but both told me to call Verizon. After 45 minutes on hold i finally got a human and we worked through some things and he said he saw what the problem was. He asked me to take out the SIM card which i had not touched since i got the phone ~ 5 years ago. It was hard to get out and when i pulled it out the card was not in the skeleton that holds it and i could not get the card out. The guy is telling me i must have dropped and so look on the floor. My wife was there when i removed it and no way it came out, so it must still be in there. Now nothing works on the phone,

I just saw a youtube video that shows how to remove a stuck sim card, so apparently it is not an unknown problem. I'd give that a try, but with the battery draining i think i will just bite the bullet and get a new phone (also has a crack on the screen). Sucks because the phone did everything i needed it to do and i don't really need any newfangled features.

So in a word, any favorite android phones that don't cost a mint? Looking to spend no more than ~ $500.

Pixel 4a for $349 or 5a w/ 5g for $449 would be what I'd be looking at.

**::: :::** · 10-28-2021, 09:17 AM

(i realize this is the anti-iphone thread, but whatever...) just replaced the battery on my iphone 7 instead of upgrading to any of the recent models
if i'm gonna spend that much, it better be mind blowingly better than what i have now -- a nicer camera that stores images that are way larger than i have now doesn't really qualify

i'm def entering off-my-lawn territory in the phone world -- it's hard to legitimately call the thing a phone anymore, that's the least of what it does

**simple** · 10-28-2021, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by dan_pdx

Pixel 4a for $349 or 5a w/ 5g for $449 would be what I'd be looking at.

Absolutely

**GiBo** · 10-28-2021, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by simple

Absolutely

Originally Posted by dan_pdx

Pixel 4a for $349 or 5a w/ 5g for $449 would be what I'd be looking at.

I'm a couple months in with my 5a. Very nice.

**mcski** · 10-28-2021, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by ::: :::

(i realize this is the anti-iphone thread, but whatever...) just replaced the battery on my iphone 7 instead of upgrading to any of the recent models
if i'm gonna spend that much, it better be mind blowingly better than what i have now -- a nicer camera that stores images that are way larger than i have now doesn't really qualify

i'm def entering off-my-lawn territory in the phone world -- it's hard to legitimately call the thing a phone anymore, that's the least of what it does

I’m with you and still milking my 6s. It’s serviceable enough, but now that T-Mobile has acquired sprint apparently I have to move up a model or two at least when they decommission the cdma network in January

**schindlerpiste** · 10-28-2021, 11:47 AM

Yesterday, I said good-bye to my iPhone 7 and upgraded to a 12 Pro. Still getting used to a phone that doesn't have a button on the bottom, or earphone jacks. ...Boomer

**bodywhomper** · 10-28-2021, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by GiBo

I'm a couple months in with my 5a. Very nice.

Good to know. Just bought a 5a as part of our kid’s 16th b-day. Supposedly a good camera for the price, which is top priority for him. WAY cheaper than a car or even adding him to our insurance.

**Bobcat Sig** · 10-28-2021, 12:21 PM

I just converted a buddy as a long-term Galaxy user to an iPhone. So far so good.

**MontuckyFried** · 10-28-2021, 01:25 PM

My aging Pixel 3 just had Android 12 land today! That is one reason that Pixel gets my vote still. Any Pixel. WAAAAAAYYYYY better long term OS support than any of the Android competition. If I had to buy a new phone today, it'd probably be the new Pixel 6. I just wish the screen wasn't so freaking big, but I guess I'm the outlier on this one so what do I know?

**Ted Striker** · 10-28-2021, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by ::: :::

it's hard to legitimately call the thing a phone anymore, that's the least of what it does

Every time apple releases a new iphone, I make the "they finally dropped the phone feature" joke.

I'll probably catch flak for this, but IMO, the iphone has shitty call quality compared to some of the better androids.

**mcski** · 10-28-2021, 03:30 PM

Who even still talks on the phone ?!

**mitanokaseifu** · 10-28-2021, 04:30 PM

I just traded in my iPhone 11 for a Samsung flip phone. I don't think I'll ever go back to having some gigantic phone in my pocket. Android is a little less annoying i'm finding as well.

**Ted Striker** · 10-28-2021, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by mcski

Who even still talks on the phone ?!

Pre-covid, only work and my parents. But now, quite a few people/businesses I have to deal with.

**riser4** · 10-28-2021, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by Ted Striker

Pre-covid, only work and my parents. But now, quite a few people/businesses I have to deal with.

Actual phone or some app?

**Ted Striker** · 10-28-2021, 06:48 PM

Actual phone.

For instance, we have two dogs, and our veterinarian has gone to an 'animals only inside' model where you talk to the vet on the phone. The older one has some health issues at this point, so we've been going to a specialist as well - same procedure.

And there are still a few restaurants and food trucks that don't do square, or similar.

**BCMtnHound** · 10-28-2021, 07:09 PM

Reading all this, I feel so inadequate with my iPhone 4S. But it is time for both me and the missus to upgrade. So a Pixel 4a or iPhone SE (2nd gen) is the recommendation? We would buy outright, I hate locked devices and payment plans. 99% of our data is over wifi, we pay as we go with unlimited text so our plans are about $20/mo each in one of the most expensive cellular market in the first world. I would like to finally pair my phone with my iReach mini and use avenza with my pdf maps. Any thoughts for us cheapos?

**JongDoe** · 10-28-2021, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by MontuckyFried

My aging Pixel 3 just had Android 12 land today! That is one reason that Pixel gets my vote still. Any Pixel. WAAAAAAYYYYY better long term OS support than any of the Android competition. If I had to buy a new phone today, it'd probably be the new Pixel 6. I just wish the screen wasn't so freaking big, but I guess I'm the outlier on this one so what do I know?

I went with the pixel 6 today. It is supposed to be a very solid phone.

**rideit** · 10-28-2021, 08:45 PM

Wife’s pixel 6pro order got pushed back to mid December…and she ordered in the first hour.

**::: :::** · 10-28-2021, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by mcski

I’m with you and still milking my 6s. It’s serviceable enough, but now that T-Mobile has acquired sprint apparently I have to move up a model or two at least when they decommission the cdma network in January

I hope that works out for you before we both get outdated on iOS…we’re both getting close to the unsupported bottom end of the iPhone lineup

Originally Posted by schindlerpiste

Yesterday, I said good-bye to my iPhone 7 and upgraded to a 12 Pro. Still getting used to a phone that doesn't have a button on the bottom, or earphone jacks. ...Boomer

Is it impressive as a recent switcher? Or just another iPhone?

Originally Posted by BCMtnHound

Reading all this, I feel so inadequate with my iPhone 4S. But it is time for both me and the missus to upgrade.

I’m assuming it hasn’t been updated in a while, no?