Is there any phone outthere for me?

[geo3]

I need to decide on a new phone before my Nexus 5x bootloops. My phone is primarily an internet and email machine, and music player second. So it needs to do those things well. I don't ever game or watch video on my phone.

Here's my criteria:

 

What I need

• Good battery life. currently getting 1.5 to 2 days
• Decent audio out. I don't care if I have to use a dongle, though I prefer not to, as long as it sounds as good driving $300 IEMs.
• Regular software updates. I'm not dealing with insecure out of date crap.
• NFC. I use Android pay pretty regularly
• Decent camera.
• Fingerprint sensor

What I absolutely will not buy

• A phablet. At 5.2 the 5x is already too big to use one handed comfortably.
• Bloat you can't uninstall
• Bizarre manufacture reskins
• Anything more than $600, honestly I see no reason a quality phone should even cost more than $400

Nice to have

• Plastic shell since they are the most drop/impact resistant
• Removable storage and battery
• Amazing camera. At least as good as the 5x
• Amazing battery

Don't need / doesn't matter

• IP67, I've never water damaged a phone in my life. How do people do this?
• Wireless charging

 

Honestly if the 5x didn't have a bootloop issue, was 10% smaller and google would not end software updates at the end of this year I would just use this phone forever. 

[Aytex]

Moto g5 or Moto e4+

Or a used Moto z play (gen 1) with battery mod

[TurbulentWinds]

firertc.com

[noobs guid to marsterrace]

I recently purchased the Moto g5 + it cost me 300 aid (230 usd/) it has a 5.2 inch screen and a close to stock Android with no blot were. The apps it does include material design and aren't really that bad. But I'd go with the OnePlus 5 if you have a bit more money it does have a 5.5 inch screen but you can really get smaller screens at this price range.

[dizmo]

Haha, I did the same thing a couple of months ago. Got rid of that 5x as fast as I could...though I find it amusing that you want a camera as good as the 5x, I thought that camera was absolute trash.

 

You have a pretty comprehensive list, very helpful. I don't think you'll really find something that checks all the boxes though. Your budget doesn't allow for top end phones, and if you go with older ones that are within your price range you'll get slower updates.

 

These are the phones I'd consider:

 

Axon 7/Mini

The full sized one is a much better choice, but given your small hands the Mini is probably more fitting. Downside is the lower end processor, but it has stereo speakers, excellent audio chips, and a great build. They've been pretty good with updates, though being an older phone who knows how that will carry on.

 

Google Pixel

It'll get the updates you want, pretty decent battery life, smaller screen. You should be able to find them around the price you're thinking now that the Pixel 2 is out.

 

HTC 10

Not sure how they are with updates, but it's DAC/amp and screen size fit the bill. Great camera as well iirc.

 

Sony XZ

Pretty good phone, still getting updates. Good audio. Probably have to get the International model to get the fingerprint reader.

 

Sony XZ1 Compact

I think this is probably your best bet. Small screen, high spec, covers all the bases. Really the only go to for small phones.

 

[geo3]

1 hour ago, Aytex said:

Moto g5 or Moto e4+

Lacks NFC.

 

39 minutes ago, dizmo said:

Axon 7/Mini

The full sized one is a much better choice, but given your small hands the Mini is probably more fitting. Downside is the lower end processor, but it has stereo speakers, excellent audio chips, and a great build. They've been pretty good with updates, though being an older phone who knows how that will carry on.

 

Google Pixel

It'll get the updates you want, pretty decent battery life, smaller screen. You should be able to find them around the price you're thinking now that the Pixel 2 is out.

 

HTC 10

Not sure how they are with updates, but it's DAC/amp and screen size fit the bill. Great camera as well iirc.

 

Sony XZ

Pretty good phone, still getting updates. Good audio. Probably have to get the International model to get the fingerprint reader.

 

Sony XZ1 Compact

I think this is probably your best bet. Small screen, high spec, covers all the bases. Really the only go to for small phones.

Cool I'll have to read up on these. I'd get a Pixel if I could find one. They seem to be sold out perpetually.

 

What did you find wrong with the 5x camera? I always found it took great shots, especially in low light. Lots of people online seem to like it too.  It would always out preform my friends phones with the exception of the one guy with a Pixel.

[maizenblue]

Iphone 7. Seems to have everything you want. 

[D13H4RD]

OG Pixel or XZ1C are safe bets\

 

If you want iOS, the iPhone 7/8 are also very solid small options.

[noobs guid to marsterrace]

4 hours ago, geo3 said:

 

• Good battery life. currently getting 1.5 to 2 days
• NFC. I use Android pay pretty regularly

• Bloat you can't uninstall
• Anything more than $600, honestly I see no reason a quality phone should even cost more than $400

• Removable storage and battery
• Amazing battery

The iPhone 7 dousnt do any of these