Help me pick a used phone

Me: totally happy with my Pixel 4a, it even has a case with a neat lanyard. It takes great pictures, battery life is ok. I like it on the smaller side. I use it for Internet and YouTube at work, and music at the gym, and in the car constantly with android auto for podcasts and audio books. Nearly always on Bluetooth. 

I was using it for music while weeding two weeks back and it fell and cracked the screen. Google wasn't going to support it for long anyway, and it was used when I bought it years ago. 

I'm looking for another used deal. Naturally a pixel 7a seems at the right spot around $300 after the pixel 8 is released in the fall. It's supported until 2028. What else am I missing in that sub $300 range? OnePlus? Asus? Something else?

I lost my 3a while on vacation and was forced to buy a new 7a.  I think I spent a little over $400 but I'm very happy with it.  I like the idea of OnePlus but couldn't get one with eSIM at the time and I needed service that day.

The answer for me was Moto G Stylus 5G  2022, now $239 new

Yes there is a 2023 version now at $299

My reasons were:
Updated to Android 13 (put probably its last update since it started on Android 12)
256gb internal and 256gb SD card included
8GB ram
5000 battery so super battery length
Still has 3.5mm jack
NFC capable so you can use google pay and similar.  
New at this price, not used.  

Size is big, you may not like that...I do.  
Camera is only good. 
Screen brightness leaves some to be desired in outdoor situations
It has a stylus but I never use it (and never intended to use it) it just came with it.  
Not wireless charging

I was an advocate for oneplus, but the oneplus 9 will be the last one I own. They are notorious for making the phone slower over time, and breaking with updates. Wi-Fi calling was broken, couldn't receive pics, it just turned into a mess. Which for a 900$ phone, I expect better.

I think you're right with the pixel. Their updates are solid, I've only seen hardware issues with the pixel brand.  

In reply to John Welsh :

Not to put the Moto down but my phone before the 3a was a Moto 5G UW ace.  Decent phone.  Bigger than I like.  I'm not a phone ho so it worked for me.  After I broke it's screen I got the 3a.  You know I'm a 3 or 4 on the best day but going back to a Pixel was like matching up with a 9 on Tinder.  The Moto is my hotspot phone for Gainesville now.

In reply to Stampie :

I don't think I've ever heard a better analogy. 

In reply to Stampie :

A nine?

Knowing my own issues, I tend towards the ones with low self esteem and maybe daddy issues.

Stampie said:

In reply to John Welsh :

Not to put the Moto down but my phone before the 3a was a Moto 5G UW ace.  Decent phone.  Bigger than I like.  I'm not a phone ho so it worked for me.  After I broke it's screen I got the 3a.  You know I'm a 3 or 4 on the best day but going back to a Pixel was like matching up with a 9 on Tinder.  The Moto is my hotspot phone for Gainesville now.

Super analogy.

If you ignore the fact that I am a father, deacon, volunteer with Trail Life, and hold a steady job with decent income, I'm a 2. With those things it depends. But since I'm married, I'm a 1 to Tunawife.

Anyway, Pixel seems to be the best bet. I don't need much, but I need stable and longevity.

I you like something on the smaller side, try the Samsung S10E. Backmarket dot com seems to have good prices and service. Bought one a year ago and pleased with it.

I had multiple Moto phones and they were hot garbage.  If a Pixel is available at a similar price point I'd do that over a Moto 10 times out of 10.

Recently I got tired of android berkeleyery and just went to iphone.  A few annoyances but overall I do not regret that decision at all.

Following along.  Our work phone policy is going to change so I need to get my own phone again soon.

ProDarwin said:

I had multiple Moto phones and they were hot garbage.  If a Pixel is available at a similar price point I'd do that over a Moto 10 times out of 10.

Recently I got tired of android berkeleyery and just went to iphone.  A few annoyances but overall I do not regret that decision at all.

I had company supplied iphones as my first smartphone (other than an old Blackberry), I had a few, maybe ending with an 8. I wasn't terribly impressed, and they are expensiver as frig. Tunawife has a 13. I'll stick with android for the money.

Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) said:

I you like something on the smaller side, try the Samsung S10E. Backmarket dot com seems to have good prices and service. Bought one a year ago and pleased with it.

Doesn't Samsung also do the "turn down the phones performance as they get older" thing that pisses everyone off? They were not on my radar because of that.

Serviceability is my reason for avoiding Samsung. They really try their best to make the batteries and screens impossible to replace.  
 

I've used android exclusively all my life, but because of family controls and all my kids having iPads, I switched to an iPhone. They do just work, and tend to be less buggy with updates. But other than that, I pretty much hate the experience. 

Newest Pixel you're comfortable spending money on. I've been using Pixel phones for 5+ years now. Would never go back to anything else. 

tuna55 said:

ProDarwin said:

I had multiple Moto phones and they were hot garbage.  If a Pixel is available at a similar price point I'd do that over a Moto 10 times out of 10.

Recently I got tired of android berkeleyery and just went to iphone.  A few annoyances but overall I do not regret that decision at all.

I had company supplied iphones as my first smartphone (other than an old Blackberry), I had a few, maybe ending with an 8. I wasn't terribly impressed, and they are expensiver as frig. Tunawife has a 13. I'll stick with android for the money.

Right.  Pixel would be my choice in your position.  Avoid Motos or Androids with their own weird custom 'flavor' of the OS because its just a recipe for problems.

Android is a great choice on a budget, no judgment there.  I had problems with it and eventually I was just like "I'll cough up $700 for a new phone" and run it for 5 years.  The cost delta ends up being like $50 a year which is well worth it for something that "just works".

Alright it sounds like a plan. I'll wait until the 8 is released with my cracked 4a, then decide if a used 7a or 6a is a good enough deal to jump on versus new.

Thanks

lnlogauge said:

I was an advocate for oneplus, but the oneplus 9 will be the last one I own. They are notorious for making the phone slower over time, and breaking with updates. Wi-Fi calling was broken, couldn't receive pics, it just turned into a mess. Which for a 900$ phone, I expect better.

I think you're right with the pixel. Their updates are solid, I've only seen hardware issues with the pixel brand.  

my 9 pro has been bulletproof thusfar, but between the elimination of the pro line, the things you've mentioned, the class action suit floating around, and a few other small details, I'm out as well. I think pixel is probably where I'm landing when I make the move as well. Shame really, I'll miss this camera. 

Pixel 6a, security updates until July 2027, used $221, new $249

Pixel 7a, security updates until May 2028, used $368, new $444

Pixel 7, security updates until October 2027, used $369, new $449

**used prices taken from Swappa as "mint, unlocked" **

Unless the release of the 8 will drop these prices more than their current sale, the new 6a seems like the right pick.

At those prices, you might also consider a Samsung S21 or S22 - I'm seeing listings on Back Market that would put the S21 at 6a prices, and S22 right around a 7a. They'll be used and older like the Pixels, but a higher end processor might give the Samsung an edge in longevity.

In reply to Mndsm :

The pixel cameras are significantly better. That's probably the one thing the pixels are better than anyone else at. 

All this phone talk took me back to the old CyanogenMod days.  I used to just buy a phone based off it's specs and then throw CyanogenMod on it for a nice clean interface.

In reply to Stampie :

I was just happy when the damn things played snake. 

I "upgraded" the phone I use for work from a Oneplus to a Pixel 6a a few months ago. The OnePlus had reached the end of its security updates, the promised second OS upgrade (to Android 13) never materialized and as seemingly usual, support for some software issues I was having was about as existent as Google support for anything.

The Pixel works, and at least the security update anxiety has gone from "will they or won't they" to "they're late again this month". Plus of course, there are a few custom ROMs out there that pretty much only work on Pixels in the first place.

For $249 as listed above, I think a Pixel 6a is a no brainer, especially given the advertised support length. I bought mine when they started to discount it (I think I paid $299 for it) and I'm very happy with the bang/buck ratio.

6a ordered.

Thanks guys. I'll check back in four years when I need another one.