I am picky about the features I look for in a smartphone. Hopefully this post can be a good resource for myself and others who have similar preferences. For reference, I am using a Oneplus 7 Pro with a non-functional camera and flashlight.

Very important features

Battery life

It should handle a day’s worth of general usage before charging. Heat kills batteries, so decent heat dissipation is important too.

Durability or repairability

I recently bought a Google Pixel 5a, a phone I greatly enjoyed before I dropped it 5 feet and the display decided its work was done. My top priority is to have a useable device for ~5 years before needing an upgrade.

Storage

I like storing my music collection (30 GB and growing) and expandable storage would save me from having to carry a DAP (mp3 player). Without expandable storage it should have 256 GB storage.

Price

Electronics aren’t meant to last a long time; I’d prefer devices costing ~300 USD, but I would gladly pay a little more for reliability.

Microphone

Please let me be intelligible on phone calls. Please? Pretty please?

Software updates or custom ROM support

OS updates for 3+ years or resources on XDA for flashing a custom ROM. Ideally LineageOS.

Would be nice

Root capability

It’s a bit dated nowadays, but I really do appreciate having that extra bit of control. This also ties into custom ROM support.

Fingerprint Sensor

I loved the dedicated fingerprint sensor on my Pixel 5a. Power button fingerprints are worse, but better than nothing. Typing in my passcode every time is a bit of a pain.

Speakers

Preferably dual front facing stereo speakers. Having some decent output for videos when I don’t have anything else with me would be nice.

OLED/AMOLED display

Makes stuff WAY easier to see when the sun’s all sunny.

Processing power

I don’t play phone games. I watch a lot of media and I message people. Must be capable of simultaneously running muliple apps and background services.

IPA ratings

It’d be pretty sick if I could bring it with me in the shower without worrying about water damage.

Fast charging

Won’t always use it, but it’d be great to have.

Cutting corners

Screen resolution

I don’t need a 4K display. Hell, I don’t need a 1080p display. If it cuts costs, 720p is just fine so long as it looks okay.

Size

It can be big or small, thick or thin. Not picky.

Other features I don’t need

Headphone jack, NFC, 5G, wireless charging

The phones I am looking at right now are as follows

  • Sony Xperia 10 V - No custom ROM support, long term durability is unclear.
  • Fairphone 4 - Slightly out of price range.
  • Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro - Way out of price range. I would appreciate any input or questions.

EDIT: As of 4/13/24, I decided to pick up a Samsung S20 FE. It’s been treating me well, and for the low low price of $280 NEW, I’m very pleased with what I got. My complaint is that the vibrate is seriously weak. Use it on sound mode if you don’t want to constantly miss notifications.

  • inconspicuouscolonOP
    1·
    1 year ago

    I did not. I tried opening it up myself but it seems that you have to heat the screen up in order to get the display off due to the adhesive. I’m hoping that it doesn’t cost very much, because I spent maybe $140 on it. The main reason I haven’t already gone is just the fact that I have been busy and procrastination.

    • Lengsel@latte.isnot.coffee
      2·
      1 year ago

      Yeah, someone with the tools has to do it, it’s not simply a matter of pulling the covers apart like a lsptop, phones are more like taking a tablet apart.

      I took one phone to a certified Google repair store and thdy said on of the main components inside the board had died, the repair would cost more than another phone so they don’t me not fix it and go find another phone but there was no charge for taking it apart since no work was done. On another phone they did a literally one minute repair job, there was no charge but I bought something to thank them for it.

      If yours is nothing more than ribbon cable came loose, that would only take a few minutes. Take it in, you might end up with a fully functional phone after they spend 20 minutes on it and could save having to buy another one.

      The store by me is certified in both Google and Samsung by those companies so I trust the technicians, and they also have access to original parts that Google and Samsung put in brand new phones, not a 3rd party after market parts from whoever made it.