Mid range Android phone ideas?

[porina]

In short, I currently have a 3a but I need another phone in addition to that. Looking to spend in the region of £200-£300.

 

Requirements:

Stock Android, or close to it

Good software update availability (at least based on history of the phone maker)

Decent stills camera: at least broadly comparable to a mid/high end Google, Apple, or Samsung phone. Don't care at all about video quality.

Performance: let's just say, better than a Pixel 3a both for general use and gaming. More ram. More CPU. More storage.

 

Pixel 4a seems a logical choice, but at the same time I'm wondering if we might get a 5a later this year and hold out for it. I'd be looking at the original (4G) 4a, not the more recent 5G update version as I don't want to spend that much.

[D13H4RD]

Have you seen the Nokia lineup? They haven't made waves lately but they seem to fit your needs roughly.

 

Except the camera, though GCam can help with that.

[dizmo]

If you're willing to wait 7 months, it's probably not that urgent and I'd just wait. There's always something better coming out.

[LookingforanIDA7license]

51 minutes ago, porina said:

In short, I currently have a 3a but I need another phone in addition to that. Looking to spend in the region of £200-£300.

 

Requirements:

Stock Android, or close to it

Good software update availability (at least based on history of the phone maker)

Decent stills camera: at least broadly comparable to a mid/high end Google, Apple, or Samsung phone. Don't care at all about video quality.

Performance: let's just say, better than a Pixel 3a both for general use and gaming. More ram. More CPU. More storage.

 

Pixel 4a seems a logical choice, but at the same time I'm wondering if we might get a 5a later this year and hold out for it. I'd be looking at the original (4G) 4a, not the more recent 5G update version as I don't want to spend that much.

Avoid anything Oneplus related. They used to be a decent company, now even years after Oxygen 11 hiccup after hiccup, they released it completely out of schedule and absolutely wrecked it (plus they rolled the update back because of the incredible amount of bugs). The excuse was that there were security concerns on qualcomm chips which lead to an unbelieveable delay. Seriously, did they think anyone believes that bs. You spent months and years doing nothing, lying to your customers for what? All your developers wasted the years fixing the bug and did not develop oxygen os 11 further at all. Yea sure.

 

Exclusivity my friend. That's why only the newest model had O11.

TL;DR: avoid 1+, disgusting garbage since the new CEO. Just a heads-up.

[porina]

6 hours ago, huilun02 said:

You've already pingeonholed yourself into getting the 4a

The 5a is going to exceed your budget

You can remember what I told you today.

The 3a and 4a both came out around the same price, is the 5a going to be much more? Yes, I know, world situation and all that...

 

And does no one else make something in this space?

[_inno]

Pixel 4a. I may only have 4 posts but I know my mobile tech. Just don’t ask me anything PC or laptop related.

[porina]

Looks like the 5a is off:

 

Before I go grab a 4a, is there anything in LG's lineup that might fit in light of them exiting the phone business? Last one I owned from them was a Nexus 5X. 

 

[AndreiArgeanu]

4 hours ago, porina said:

Looks like the 5a is off:

 

Before I go grab a 4a, is there anything in LG's lineup that might fit in light of them exiting the phone business? Last one I owned from them was a Nexus 5X. 

 

It's not cancelled anymore but it will likely end up being a US and Japan exclusive, and I'm not sure how compatible the 5G is in those countries with the one in UK, assuming you can get the 5a imported at a price that fits your budget.

[porina]

For some reason I thought the 4a (4G) was £300 but on looking again everyone is selling it at £350. Was I imagining things before? In short, either I up my budget or have another round of deciding what to buy at the lower limit. Does a £350 budget open up any other non-Pixel options?

[AndreiArgeanu]

16 minutes ago, porina said:

For some reason I thought the 4a (4G) was £300 but on looking again everyone is selling it at £350. Was I imagining things before? In short, either I up my budget or have another round of deciding what to buy at the lower limit. Does a £350 budget open up any other non-Pixel options?

One Plus Nord?

[porina]

10 hours ago, huilun02 said:

It opens many options, none of which has a camera OIS that cam compare to the 4a

It doesn't have to be the best camera, just a good enough camera. Some phones I've used I consider have a good enough camera:

Pixel 3a (current personal phone)

Samsung S6 (previous work phone)

iPhone 8 Plus (previous work phone)

 

I think the Nexus 5X would also be good enough, but it is long enough ago I can't remember its output exactly. I know the Xiaomi Mi A1 I replaced it with was not good enough.

[VEXICUS]

POCO F3 would be my go to choice.

 

"Oh yeah, the flagship killer has returned. The true successor of the legendary POCO F1"