Moi? I use currently a NOTE 20 ultra 5g. Probably my second best phone, I only hate the fact it’s so massive (I miss being able to use just one hand for my phone) and the mediocre battery life for someone like me that watches a lot of videos. But the S pen is so handy those few times you need it.
The best phone was probably a landline that was shaped like a duck.
It quacked when you had an incoming call.How is it that technology has gone backwards in this area?
You should still be able to make your phone quack when an incoming call comes.
cheapest. there hasnt been an innovation since they added bluetooth i care or need.
my phone is [generally] not used for content consumption, i have real machines for that.
Like your mouth and stomach?
What a beautiful removed you are you are, what a beautiful removed you are
Pixel 8 with GrapheneOS
Pixel 6a. Changed the OS to GrapheneOS. This is the best phone I’ve owned.
My good condition used 7 pro is arriving tomorrow and I plan on doing the same.
Fantastic. I went with GOS over 2 years ago. It’s been great.
Would this be an overly complex process for those with only some tinkering experience (e.g., I’ve got Linux on my laptop and have a general sense of how terminal/tilix works)? I’ve read the docs but can’t get a sense of the complexity
It’s very easy to install GrapheneOS. All the instructions are laid out on their site. There are two options CLI or a web installer.
Thank you! 😊
GrapheneOS is by far the simplest experience I have ever had with flashing a custom ROM over the years. The web installer is very straightforward.
Awesome, thanks so much! I’ll bump this into the projects list 😁
Web installer wont work with a sandboxed browser without some tinkering if you are installing off linux.
Okay time to show my ignorance lol. Can you offer a resource on what a sandboxed browser is and what kind of tinkering is required??
If you use flathub linux store, many apps will come “sanboxed” ie they will have restricted permissions on your system. This whole another lesson on how linux works.
Either way, in order to use the web installer, you need browser installed on “system” which i think means your normal user permissions which would allow you to use the web installer.
If you are having issues with web installer, command line still works.
I think easiest way is to install chromium as system to this job.
I’m going to switch it out at some point. Any gotchas?
The phone or the OS? Hardware wise, my only gripe is the lack of wireless charging. I use an aftermarket plug to add it, but it doesn’t put the charge pad quite in the right place, so I sometimes have to put it upside down. It also means the USB-C port is always occupied. That isn’t a huge deal for me as I like to use plugs to keep dust out anyway
Software wise, I’m still running regular Android. I don’t like that there’s no Gallery app. You have to use Google Photos. That coupled with the fact that .nomedia files don’t seem to work mean that the app shows ALL photos on your phone, including some you might want to keep private.
Other than that though, I’m pretty happy with it. Just upgraded mine to 15.
Thanks. Yeah I didn’t specify, I have the phone. I really wish the pixel line had replaceable batteries. And like you said wireless charging is a game changer. I like it so that the USB C will last longer. At least in theory.
I took just run android but I plan on experimenting after I get another phone. I’m looking for a phone that will last more than a couple of years…
I like it so that the USB C will last longer. At least in theory.
It’s more than theory in my experience. I had a OnePlus 5 and lint completely ruined the USB-C port. I could spend 10 minutes trying to dig stuff out and get the cable right for it to establish a charge before I finally gave up and upgraded. It’s why I’m not AS annoyed that the wireless charging add-on takes up the port. As long as it’s also keeping debris out of the port (and the rest of the phone continues to run well) I’ll live with it.
I tried to install using a Chromebook which failed. Next, I tried my tablet, nope. I had to buy a Windows laptop to get it done. If you have a real computer, you should be fine.
This is what I have going, and I too wish it had wireless charging. But overall, just a fine phone and not ridiculously huge.
Had this phone, Google pushed an OS update that caused the bootloader to get corrupted on a factory reset. Tried to tell me I had to pay them to get the motherboard replaced even though their faulty ass update broke the phone. Three months out of warranty. Never buying a pixel again.
That sucks but as long as Google allows the Pixel line to install GrapheneOS - I’ll always buy a Pixel.
I have a Fairphone 5. Maybe too expensive for what it is, but hopefully it doesn’t have a big evil annoying company behind it and it should hopefully last a while. Still running stock Android on it though, because I don’t want to lose Play Attestation or whatever it is called.
I dropped my FairPhone 5 from a bicycle on unwelcoming pavement at good speed. Broke the camera glasses, the screen protector, the carry case and the back cover. It looked positively destroyed and my first thought was “yay, it’s repairable”. Repairing was easy enough and aside from some war wounds on the side of the case (scratches) it’s as good as new. I’m glad I got this phone.
Aside from being repairable, I also appreciate the e/OS support.
Mine was 300€ used, definitely worth the money.
I recently got an Asus zenfone 10. I usually buy midrange phones but this time I couldn’t find a good one. I like small phones, and they seem to be an endangered species these days. This one also has a headphone jack which is nice.
I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max. It’s a nice phone. I like IOS better than I thought I would. I do think the Galaxy I had before it was pretty good though, too. If I didn’t struggle so much with the iPhone keyboard, I guess this would be my favorite, but I use my phone so much and the swipe typing is so rough, it’s hard to give a full endorsement.
That said, I am probably overestimating how gos typing on Android was. I remember lots of autocorrect issues, but iOS has a bunch of keyboard bugs that make correcting errors even more frustrating than making them in the first place.
I’ve been using Apple phones since like 2008 I think. The keyboard used to be great. This last year I would be tearing my hair out if I had any hair. I don’t know what happened, but it has gone to absolute shirt. I am really hoping the more I type the better Apple AI and hopefully-smarter-Siri will get at figuring out what I’m trying to say. I’m really hoping because it’s endlessly frustrating and maddening for me.
Fun side note: I have very fond memories of my bright yellow Windows phone that I was given long ago when I worked at the AT&T store back in maybe 2014. I think it was a Nokia. They also gave me a Samsung back then at some point too. I have zero memories of any kind about that phone.
I also loved my windows phone. The seamless continuation moving from phone to laptop was something that only now is sort of coming back. The phone just needed apps but the os and the design was really fun.
My exact same analysis. The OS was terrific, attractive, and fun to use. And there were edges and corners, which you just don’t get with Apple.
I am so glad someone else has noticed this too. Typing a search term in safari is the most frustrating experience ever.
When and where and to what degree the supposedly AI powered correction suggestions appear or how accurate they are, seems to vary wildly, which definitely does not help the experience
Asus Zenphone 10; headphone jack, minimal bloatware, two physical sim slots, good battery, small size so it actually fits in a pocket, finger print sensor on the power button so it’s seamless to unlock. Best phone I’ve had in quite a while
One possible drawback is that I don’t think it supports esim or has an sd card slot.
Current: Pixel 6a. Probably the best out of all the phones I’ve owned. Wish the battery life was a little bit longer.
I do have a soft spot for my first ever smartphone, the Nexus 4. I adored it.
Agreed, Nexus 4 was amazing and I miss it.
The OnePlus 7t back when it was on oxygen os 10. Great hardware, perfect software. It was the first phone I got where I didn’t need or want to flash a custom rom. Unfortunately, every software update that it got since then felt like a downgrad. After oxygen os 10, oxygen os and Oppo’s color os have been going through something of a merge. The result is that oxygen os is no longer as stock-like as it used to be and lots of small convenience features have disappeared in favor of flashy yet useless-to-me features. I have an 8t now and it’s fine but I don’t think that I’ll get another OnePlus.
Sony Xperia 5 V
Great camera, small size, excellent battery life, removable storage, IP rated, and has a headphone jack. The only thing it is missing is a removable battery.
This is ny daily driver as well. Just wish Sony would update the phone for longer
Yeah, I actually bought mine just before the VI models were available for purchase when I found out at 5 VI was not going to be produced. Its a big hole in the segment imo.
Currently using a OnePlus 9 Pro. Best phone I’ve used? The OnePlus 5t, hands down. Slightly wider aspect ratio in portrait orientation, great screen, camera and fingerprint reader for its day and fantastic 3rd party ROM selection.
Seconded! My 5T was the best phone I’ve ever carried. I carry the OP11 5G these days and I’ve been really happy with it, but overall I prefer the size and weight of the 5T.
Currently using a Google Pixel 8, I’ve been reading up about GrapheneOS.
Why would an average user need to install this over the stock OS?
New interface, customisation, fdroid apps, security updates/data protection; the list goes on, I think…? 🤔 I haven’t looked it up in a while; but it’s definitely one of the reasons I got a Pixel 8 Pro. You should stay curious.
To not be dependent on Google and send all your data to them.
I know the average user doesn’t care, but they should.
I’ve been a fan of the Pixels. I’m on a 7 now, no complaints.
iPhone 12 Mini. I loved my 5S and first gen SE and I still can’t understand why phone manufacturers these days insist on making tablets and calling them phones. I just want something that fits in my pocket. I would probably have switched to Android years ago but I haven’t found a single Android phone with a small form factor, decent performance and decent camera.
12 mini for me too, for the same reason. Hopefully the trend will reverse and smaller phones will become more popular.
