General **What phone should I buy next?** -- Not sure what device to buy? Ask here!

[KidCarter93]

Hi everyone,

This thread is a continuation of this thread.

This is here so you can discuss what your next phone/tablet should be, if you're not sure what to pick.

Also, if you need advice as to which device is better than another, then feel free to ask those questions in here aswell.

This is an attempt to clear out all the similar threads being created around these forums.

*NOTE* I will be requesting thread maintenance as and when it is needed, to remove any SPAM comments

 

[hrpanjwani]

... unless you value the ability to mod your OS.

A rooted Android device allows a lot more OS modification than a jailbroken iPhone.

It's good to expand your boundaries.

Personally, an iPhone has been my main phone for almost 15 years. But I have also had some version of Android as a secondary phone in that time. Samsung, Nexus, Xiaomi, Nokia, LG.

It's fun to play around with different aspects of technology.

 

[HippoMan]

It's good to expand your boundaries.

Personally, an iPhone has been my main phone for almost 15 years. But I have also had some version of Android as a secondary phone in that time. Samsung, Nexus, Xiaomi, Nokia, LG.

It's fun to play around with different aspects of technology.

Yes, I agree that it's good to expand ones horizons, and for many people it could be beneficial to check out an iPhone.

I'm just pointing out to those people who root and mod their Android devices that jailbroken iPhones allow fewer OS and feature modifications than rooted iPhones. On a jailbroken iPhone, you are more constrained to limits imposed by the Apple ecosystem than you would be limited to Android ecosystem limits on a rooted Android device.

In other words, if modding and extending your OS beyond the manufacturer's imposed limitations is important to you, you will find that Apple makes this more difficult than Android does.

Apple is famous for (often proudly) forcing user-experience constraints which in many cases are impossible to override, even on jailbroken phones. Android is freer in this area ... although over time, Google keeps imposing more and more Apple-like limitations upon its users, and Android may eventually catch up with iOS in this area.

 

[puru]

Buying Decision (S22 Ultra)​

Hey please help in buying decision

Thinking of getting a S22 Ultra 512GB from US (I am from India) - Retailing for $1100 as of now.
I have to root as I tend to use quite a few rooted apps (mainly to block tons of ads, data privacy, spoof location, etc)
1. Need to know which version is easiest to root (Exynos, Snapdragon) and even the region code if possible.
2. Is it possible to receive updates (OTA or otherwise) without a reset?
3. Is it worth waiting till S23 is released in Feb 2023? (For price drops of S22)

Why S22?
Primarily for the great camera. I considered Pixel Pro but S22 outshines in the features.

 

[hrpanjwani]

Yes, I agree that it's good to expand ones horizons, and for many people it could be beneficial to check out an iPhone.

I'm just pointing out to those people who root and mod their Android devices that jailbroken iPhones allow fewer OS and feature modifications than rooted iPhones. On a jailbroken iPhone, you are more constrained to limits imposed by the Apple ecosystem than you would be limited to Android ecosystem limits on a rooted Android device.

In other words, if modding and extending your OS beyond the manufacturer's imposed limitations is important to you, you will find that Apple makes this more difficult than Android does.

Apple is famous for (often proudly) forcing user-experience constraints which in many cases are impossible to override, even on jailbroken phones. Android is freer in this area ... although over time, Google keeps imposing more and more Apple-like limitations upon its users, and Android may eventually catch up with iOS in this area.

Yes, Apple has a specific vision and you have to buy into that vision to use their devices. For example, slide to unlock was useful and a good marketing gimmick and now it is gone but we still use it to power off devices. Could do with an update there and add reboot, reboot into recovery, etc but Apple requires a hardware interaction for those. That's their vision and they will stick to it.

I agree that Google used to be much more flexible but the shareholder demand for services revenue is making both companies much more controlling than one would like. Microsoft did not get their Windows/Office blinkers off in time to compete in mobile and HP with WebOS could have been a good competitor but they folded just as they were starting. Having even one more real competitor in the mobile OS landscape could have seen a different outcome for us consumers.

 

[sa20001]

Hi, I was looking for a new phone. I am currently using an S7 with Lineage Os, I was looking for something that has the same size, sd card slot, waterproof and fingerprint sensor and good durability. S10E meets all the requirements, but my only concern is that the camera will work like crap as soon as I install a custom rom.

Any advice?

 

[Perico pericales]

Hi guys, I´m in need of something for our company:

We need a inexpensive phone (between 100€ and 200€) that could have a clean custom rom with firewall afwall+, no google apps and, if possible, openvpn integrated for always on (and it could not be modified)

Access the phone remotely via vpn could be great in case a change is needed in the vpn.

What phone do you recommend for that?

Is there someone willing to do this? We could talk privately if he/she is interested.

Thanks!!!

 

[svenik]

Hi all, please
What smartphone would you recommend to buy up to 500 euro?

I was thinking about Poco F4 8/256, or OnePlus Nord 2T 5G, 128 or 256, Nothing phone 1
I would expect good amoled display, with nice stereo sound (bass + volume) and a good camera at least with OIS
Or is there something else to look on please? Thank you

 

[DmT1]

Hi,

Posting to this forum, as maybe someone can suggest a smartphone with removable battery, which has some features I like and use on my current phone.

Right now I am using LG G4 and it might be time to update it. However the newer versions G5 and V20 have no way to unlock bootloader (and get root - to remove Google spying and add firewall/xprivacy) and therefore I am unable to find a phone which meets all my criteria.

So preferrably I would like a smartphone which:
- has removable battery
- is rootable
- has IR sensor
- has FM radio
- has microSD card slot
- has headphone jack
- has a decent camera

If someone know some smartphone model, which meets those, then please share you wisdom!

Thank you!

 

[Laesx]

Buy Lenovo P11 Pro 2022 (TB132FU) or P11 Pro 2021 (J716F)​

Little backstory, I have the 2021 version of this (which I bought second hand but I'm returning it because the screen is terrible at low brightness, see picture).
So I've spotted a sale I can get either of these two tables and they're the same price, my question is which one would be better, the info I know so far is:

2021:
+ Easier to flash apparently as I see on the forum, much more support
- Screens seem to be really poorly QC'd so it's a lottery (although this might be for both)

2022:
+ "Better" Screen since it's 120Hz, has PWM or w/e and a higher sampling rate, different panel from the 2021 so I'm hoping the QC is slightly better.
- No fingerprint
- Bigger Bezels which look kinda ugly but I can live with
- Less proper documentation for flashing/L1/OTA, etc. makes me trust it less

I'm debating if I should get a 2022 or a 2021, also I've heard some bad things about ZUI 14 being buggy (which my current tab doesn't have) so I'm not sure what to do.
Specially in the screen part of things since it's what's most important.

Picture of what I was talking about, This should be solid dark grey. It would be helpful if owners of them could try taking pictures of how they fare on low brightness.

 

[hrpanjwani]

Hi all, please
What smartphone would you recommend to buy up to 500 euro?

I was thinking about Poco F4 8/256, or OnePlus Nord 2T 5G, 128 or 256, Nothing phone 1
I would expect good amoled display, with nice stereo sound (bass + volume) and a good camera at least with OIS
Or is there something else to look on please? Thank you

Go for the Nord

 

[svenik]

Go for the Nord

Thanks for the advice, i am also inclined to Nord but yesterday i saw motorola edge 30 neo which also does not look bad

 

[hrpanjwani]

Thanks for the advice, i am also inclined to Nord but yesterday i saw motorola edge 30 neo which also does not look bad

Yup that's also decent. Neo has a better screen and is lighter but the Nord packs a larger battery. Both are solid options, though personally, I will go for the larger battery.

 

[anmac1789@gmail.com]

Hello, I am looking to buy a pixel 7 or a oneplus 9 vs. S21 FE or a S22 (international models). I want a rootable stable phone that will not give crazy issues with windows 10/11. The pixel 7 I can buy from my cellphone carrier koodo mobile (https://www.koodomobile.com/en/phones?INTCMP=KMNew_NavMenu_Shop_Phones). I live in Ontario, Canada so mind you, I will be buying a device within Canada (mostly). Which phone should I get ? thanks for your input

Also, does anyone know what the naming convention is for taking photos with the built-in camera of each device ? Thanks for another one!

 

[liberator130]

Well each has their strengths and weaknesses. The Moto has a better processor and video and selfie capabilities, while the Poco has a better build quality, IP53 resistant, photography capability, screen, microsd, headphone jack, charging speed and better custom rom community support.

Hello, I have a follow-up: it seems like the M4 and X3 may have advantages over the X4. I heard that the X3 has better hardware yet it (Indian model?) has had issues (I'm buying in the US). Do you have any thoughts on the M4 and X3 as well, and which one is a better buy in this case?

Addition: The Galaxy S10e is also looking attractive. It has features that I like, smaller, and cheaper than the other phones. I figure it has good mod support too because it's a flagship phone? Any thoughts help! ty

 

[tralph3]

Hi, I'm wanting to replace my old Huawei P8 lite from 2015. I don't know many models, so I'm looking for recommendations.

There are some things that I cannot give up tho. I'll put a list of things that are required. I won't accept any phone without these.

REQUIREMENTS:
* Official custom ROM support (anything that lets me remove Google completely)
* 3.5mm audio jack
* Expandable storage via micro sd card
* No Samsung or Pixel phones

PREFERABLY:
* No notch
* No more than 5.5 inches
* NFC
* No punch hole camera, I want an unobstructed screen

Well, that's about it. The price range needs to be kinda low, not much more than maybe $100. I live in Argentina, electronics are expensive, and wages are low. What options do I have?

 

[20GT]

Advice needed: best (up to date) as possible new phone for rooting​

Hi guys, wasn't sure where to post this, so feel free to move it to a better suited forum if needed.

My phone is 5 years old and its time for new one. Whats an easy, but worthy phone, to root thats still relatively easy to aquire.

 

[HoxoR]

here are the infos about phone between 150 and 200€?

 

[Sora4449]

I'm torn between huawei nova 9 and honor 50
Where I live they are almost the same price
Nova 9 has better cam
Honor 50 has Google services. Other than that they are the same.

 

[phaleg]

Hello!

Would you please suggest me a decent rugged phone with custom roms support?

Nothing fancy, it is enough that it is not super long and narrow like 99% of phones that are creating now

Thanks

 

[Fytdyh]

Hi, I'm wanting to replace my old Huawei P8 lite from 2015. I don't know many models, so I'm looking for recommendations.

There are some things that I cannot give up tho. I'll put a list of things that are required. I won't accept any phone without these.

REQUIREMENTS:
* Official custom ROM support (anything that lets me remove Google completely)
* 3.5mm audio jack
* Expandable storage via micro sd card
* No Samsung or Pixel phones

PREFERABLY:
* No notch
* No more than 5.5 inches
* NFC
* No punch hole camera, I want an unobstructed screen

Well, that's about it. The price range needs to be kinda low, not much more than maybe $100. I live in Argentina, electronics are expensive, and wages are low. What options do I have?

Go for redmi note 4 (snapdragon version)