Better Phone Options After Return?

[RelentlessAF]

Hey there, so I had a OnePlus One for approximately 2 years or so, I got it around the time it initially launched and I loved it. It had a lot of customization, the OS was lightweight, being CyanogenMod, allowed for a lot of user enabled security features, and was just overall a great phone to use. I recently needed to switch carriers from Tmobile to Verizon due to the severe lacking of cell reception on Tmobile's network. I wanted to get the OnePlus 3 instead however as far as I know they don't support the proper bands to use Verizon's network. So unfortunately I got a Galaxy S7 and I greatly dislike it. The massive amount of bloatware that a spent a good amount of time disabling (since it can't be legitimately uninstalled) was a very discouraging start. The OS is extremely clunky and basic functions are far to tedious, can't tell you how many times I try to swipe right to close a recent app and it just slides down like I'm trying to scroll through. Not to mention there are almost no features and customization is heavily limited, the most annoying part being that I don't like physical buttons and the recent apps and return were opposite of what I was used to. Not even an option for onscreen control. Fingerprint unlock is kind of a novelty as it really isn't *that* much better than just a pin which I would just enter in each time to unlock if the keypad wasn't so miniscule. I have fairly large hands so medium sized keys would be a nice addition. There are a lot of annoying "notifications" that cannot be turned off and continually appear such as the "Select a Keyboard Layout" that appears every time you are in a text box.

 

I figured it would be important to lay out my gripes because I can't stand this phone and wish to return it and spring for another. I'm wondering what offerings you believe would be similar in usability to my OnePlus One I had or at least would simply allow me to flash CyanogenMod or stock Android to it. Any help would be appreciated, Thanks!

[dizmo]

I think the issue is greatly user and carrier based here. No offense intended!

I had a Note5 with Nova Prime and I had none of the issues you do. There also wasn't really any bloat, other than Facebook which I couldn't uninstall, but that's the same with every phone I've had other than a Nexus. There are lots of "features", and personally I'll never buy another phone again without a fingerprint reader.

You can use Google Launcher, or Nova Launcher. Have you tried that? It doesn't change the menus for the system, but I don't really find them that different than my Nexus 5x. Sure, they're not in the same place, but well..that's part of learning your new device and that will be the same regardless of what you switch to.