Smart Phone Advice
2I am currently using an old 4G flip phone that only does calls and texts. It’s time to join the modern world!
I need suggestions for a smart phone and would really like SD card and earphone jack capability if possible. I’m not much interested in photography, but good audio quality is important. I don’t need a “flagship”. The only ones I’ve found are the Sony xperia 5 IV or 1 IV, which are pricey. Android preferred. Thanks for any suggestions.
- 7 comments, 15 replies
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My experience with non-flagship phones has led me to the conclusion that the best choice is usually the oldest flagship model still in production from a given manufacturer. Bleeding-edge stuff tends to have Undiscovered Features (bugs), and non-flagship models tend to have “it’s still good enough for this price point” misfeatures. I currently have a Samsung Galaxy S9, which lacks 5G, but I’ll wait until at least next year to get something else because right now the 5G phones have a lot of variation in real usefulness. I expect that the bugs will have been ironed out enough that the phones will run smoothly over the flattened bugs by then. And if not, there will be enough real-world user feedback to allow identifying the ones that are best avoided, something that any new model lacks.
@werehatrack Solid advice. I’m using a Samsung Galaxy S9+ and aside from a jacked fingerprint reader (fault of the previous owner) it still works well and does everything I need it to. This will likely be my last phone with a single lens camera, though it still takes fantastic photos.
@werehatrack I just upgraded from an S9+ to an S22 Ultra (because my network will no longer support 4g). I hate it. It’s too big of a phone. It’s the first phone I’ve ever cracked the screen on (and it was within a month of having it). I don’t use the features enough to justify having a stupid built-in stylus… BUT I am upset I didn’t check for a headphone jack (it doesn’t have one). I’m not sure if it’s the phone or the network but everytime it’s on 5g it says no network access available, and I have zero internet or phone capabilities.
It requires me to have “messages” be the default texting app for certain features. BUT it always has messages just hang out there and fail to send, even if I chose to switch the sending feature over to SMS.
It still has “messages” (different app, same name) that is SMS-based that works, but isn’t integrated with some of the other features/apps. So it’s always telling me to switch the default app back to the crappy service.
If I had my druthers… I’d switch it out for a simpler, smaller flip phone. I just need some basic apps and games.
My advice would be to do what I do and buy a used flagship Android device that is a couple years old. This gets you a sizable discount off new and you still get most of the important hardware features (great camera, fast processor, large screen, etc.) It’s also much easier to get a device with microSD expandability and a headphone jack like this, though sadly the era of the user-replaceable battery is pretty much over.
Just be careful when shopping, and make sure you buy from a reputable seller with a decent return policy!
Not so strangely, mid-range phones are more apt to have a microSD slot and 3.5mm versus the high-end models.
With that said, even though my current daily and my prior phone are Moto G models, the current 2022 models are worse off than the ones from 2020.
At the lower mid-range, perhaps a Samsung A13?
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-a13
https://www.samsung.com/us/smartphones/galaxy-a13/
@narfcake @spiralroad
The Moto G stylus (2019) is my new favorite phone and that would be my recommendation. I LOVE having the 128GB storage!
@narfcake I had a midrange-ish Moto x4 and had problems with it. I had a bottom-feeder Samsung Inspire and had nothing but problems with it - and that was only the second new phone I had ever bought at that point. Those experiences led me to conclude that “proven, not-bleeding-edge upper end” was the safe place to shop.
@Lynnerizer @narfcake @spiralroad I also have a Moto G stylus, 2020 model I think. I’m a big fan of it. My only worry is that I’m thinking the battery only has a year or so left before it doesn’t make it through the day, and that my next phone will likely cost more and I’ll like it less.
@fibrs86 @Lynnerizer @spiralroad G Stylus 2020 here also; security updates ended this year already.
The 2021 was an upgrade, but not significant enough for me to justify nearly double the price versus the 2020 that was a Warehouse deal.
From what I’ve read, th 2022 Moto G lineup is a downgrade, except they at least increased support to 1 OS upgrade and 3 years security. Before, only 2 years security was guaranteed.
@fibrs86 @narfcake @spiralroad
and I got mine from HSN with a deal that couldn’t be beat. Well, until the whole bundle went on some featured sale for only $99. and THAT was better than my deal for sure! In my area I’ve gotten better service and reception with my Tracfone than some people get with TMobile and Verizon and since I don’t spend endless talk time or even leave my wi-fi for very long I’m totally confident with my Tracfone, I don’t NEED unlimited anything. With the 1500 text & talk and limited data I’m good. Sometimes I find it cheaper to just buy a new phone bundle every year, OR, I can get a 1500 everything card with 1 year service for as cheap as $50-$70! Although I did make out this year because I dropped my phone breaking the screen within the first 2 weeks, when HSN replaced it free of charge and I transferred my same old phone number over I ended up with double the 1 year service and double the 1500 text/talk minutes. So it’s service until the end of 2023 with 3000 talk/text Now THAT is a great deal! Plus if I ever need to buy more text, talk time or Data it can be done for as little as $5. for 1000 text. It’s cheap if you aren’t one to be on your phone 24/7 and are hooked up to wifi.
That stinks that you think your battery won’t last, mine is just as good as day one! You can always replace just the battery, I wouldn’t think it would cost that much. I’m a Tracfone lover, only because I’m a penny pinching tight wad first, Lol
You can get
$20 OFF $40 OR MORE WITH CODE 186939* on this at HSN.
https://www.hsn.com/products/motorola-moto-g-stylus-68-fhd-tracfone-with-1500-mintex/20099707
@Lynnerizer @narfcake @spiralroad
I’ve grown unaccustomed to charging my phone during the day. When I got this one it still had 50% left at the end of the day (and I have the screen on a fair chunk of the day). Now, 2.25 years later, it’s 20% left when I go to bed. Doing some mental extrapolation, in about a year I’ll want a new phone. Hopefully the 2023 version will both exist, and be better than the 2022 one.
I’m liking my Nokia X100 I got free porting my number to Metro (T-Mobile’s prepaid MVNO) when it launched last Thanksgiving. 6 months auto-unlock.
https://m.gsmarena.com/nokia_x100-11207.php
Multi-lens camera (Zeiss lenses), Android 11, Android One with 2 years upgrades (clean build, no bloatware), 5G, VoLTE (Wi-Fi calling), fingerprint reader, NFC, and a headphone jack. MicroSDXC slot.
Get a case off Amazon. Never buy accessories from the phone store.
The X100 is a Tmo exclusive. It also will not get an Android 12 upgrade. Just security updates for another year.
I loved my Nokia 6.1, but it is stck at Android 10 and ran its security upgrade course too, around when the X100 came out. It does fingerprint, NFC, and VoLTE. But carriers won’t whitelist it on their 5G networks - fuck you, Cricket (AT&T’s MVNO), and fuck you, Ajit Pai. He let the carriers have whitelisting for 5G, making unlocked phones somewhat useless (they only whitelist the phones they sell or get paid to whitelist).
I might switch to a Nord next time. Kinda burned out on Samsung. Avoid Huawei (no US carrier will touch them).
Some options:
https://www.androidcentral.com/best-android-phones-under-300
If you’re a Samsung fan, the A53 is a top feature Android phone of recent vintage.
The thing with Android phones is to know when they were released. The OS upgrades are only guaranteed for so long after launch. So buying that 3-year old flagship probably means it isn’t going to get any updates. Or that 2-year old phone only has 1 year left of upgrades.
And yes, it is intentional obsolescence to force phone churn, much like Apple.
That said, the features and more importantly, the security are going to be up to date on the newer models.
5G wasn’t really a thing last year. The networks all made a big push for 5G upgrades due to the shutdown of their old 3G bands. Now they are.
The new hotness seems to be foldable phones. TBH, I’m not sold. It’s a gimmick to me.
@mike808
Do the Samsung A’s still have micro sd capacity?
@f00l Apparently it does. I think they’ve all moved to these dual trays.
The future is going to be eSim cards. The downside for consumers - no ability to resell a phone. They’ll say it is to prevent theft. It’s really about forcing you to buy a new phone whenever the carriers want you to. Like car insurance or health insurance - they don’t care which one you buy, you just have to buy something. However, the carriers also get to decide which ones they’ll allow you the privilege to buy, … er … rent.
@mike808 Multiple areas of commerce are now running headlong toward not allowing you to own a goddamn thing. Software that requires the annual or even monthly payment of a fecking lease, giving them the ability to shut you down without notice, and in some states without even a reason, is just plain wrong.
@werehatrack What’s not to like about unrestricted free market capitalism? Techie types call it “monetization”.
What could possibly go wrong with “corporations-are-people” and have rights, just like people do? (Well, except for going to jail or dying.)
You’re not saying you’re one of them pinko commie socialists, are ya?
Tired of being poor? Then don’t choose to be poor!
@mike808 If I didn’t think you were being entirely sarcastic there, it would have merited a heartfelt FOAD, an expression I am not at all ashamed of directing at those who willfully misunderstand Adam Smith et. al.
@werehatrack The sad part is that there are actually sociopaths in this world who think that transactional shit is true. And there are idiots that believe every word of bullshit they spew. They are deluded by the fantasy of “privatized profits, socialized costs” because their self-absorbed nature conveniently ignores the “socialized costs” part.
Like sure, cheap gas is great when you’re not including the costs for mitigating the climate change you’re causing. Like sure, cheap goods are great when you’ve got a zero-cost slave labor force you can outsource to someplace else (aka NIMBY, not-my-problem, and I don’t shit where I eat, but me shitting where you eat is OK by me).
Don’t do it, it’s a trap!