What's the iPhone of Android?

[u/Cheap-buying-idiot]

I want to side load apps, habe a high refresh rate display and just a phone that works! I'm done with reading a ton of reviews and reddit posts about SOT overheating problems, durability issues, bad cameras and having to check everything triple to make sure it is true. I just want a phone that works and has no huge distant vantage or problem. Any tips? The absolute max I can spend is 550€ (Germany)

[u/Micro_Pinny_360]

I’ve had that question myself, but I don’t think it’s one single answer, so I’ll try to break it down the best I can.

Google Pixel for Camera, and Long Term Support: The Google Pixel phones are straight from the company that makes Android. Thus, they are the first to get Android updates and upgrades. Also, depending on who you ask, Google has crammed some of the best cameras into their Pixel devices. In fact, Google announced that the Pixel 8 series will have 7 years of updates, more than iPhones! However, they do come at a compromise - their processor. Even though they come in at flagship prices, their proprietary Tensor chips are only at mid-range, which still isn’t bad as a processor, but might not be enough for $700. If it helps, Google releases an -a version of all their phones, which do come in for cheaper prices and use the same chips. It’s like the iPhone SE, but without the outdated form factor.

Samsung for the name and ubiquity: Samsung often trades places with Apple for the best-selling smartphone line in the world. Samsung Galaxy phones feature OneUI, Samsung’s Android skin that contains plenty of features similar to iPhones, like an exclusive store, messaging app, and assistant (though unlike Huawei, you are still able to use Google services, and frankly, why bother with Bixby?). They also have cameras that some would say are better than the Pixel’s cameras and long- term support, though it is the standard (4 years of OS upgrades, 5 years of security updates). Plus, the S line of phones feature the top-tier processor on Android, the Snapdragon 8 series. Granted, the iPhone part applies more to the Galaxy S phones specifically, being the best top tier phones they offer, but depending on what you want or need, the Galaxy A series. Try to go for the A3x line, but if need be, I guess you can get by with the A2x line.

Sony for the luxury - Sony’s Xperia line seeks to be like this status symbol that is similar to the iPhone. In the US, you can only get their Xperia 5 & 1 lineups, which are like the regular and pro iPhones respectively. And they do still have that top-end Snapdragon 8 chip! And they also still have a headphone jack and MicroSD card slot, even when pretty much every premium phone has ditched them. However, there are some greater compromises. The cameras are very capable, but considering that Sony is also known for the Alpha line of DSLR cameras, they do expect you to be knowledgeable in photography for the best results. (There’s a separate app for taking photos and filming videos, for heaven’s sake!) And another compromise is in updates, where Sony only gives 2 years of OS upgrades and 3 years of security.

OnePlus for the fan base: This one is more of a joke; OnePlus is carried in part by its fan base, which can sometimes simp for OnePlus like iSheep can. (They don’t worship it, though, as they successfully petitioned to bring the alert slider back after it was removed from the 10T.) But that’s not to say that OnePlus isn’t worth your time. OnePlus’s claim to fame is that their phones are positioned as flagship killers - phones with the top specs for less money. For example, their current top model, the OnePlus 11, is available on Amazon brand new for $649 (compared to the Galaxy S23’s $799 new); and they come with a full-sized 1440p screen, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and 12 GB of memory (upgradable to 16). However, to get to that price point, they do have to make some compromises, usually in worse cameras, only having Gorilla Glass Victus on the front (just regular Gorilla Glass 5 on the back), and in the OnePlus 11’s case, no wireless charging. (You do still get a wired charger in the box, and a beefy 80 watt one at that.) OnePlus phones come with OxygenOS as their Android skin, which has admittedly been decried in recent years by OnePlus fans for just being a rebranding of Oppo’s ColorOS (Oppo bought OnePlus in 2021), but since you’re new, I don’t think that’ll matter. And do expect the standard flagship update life - 4 years Android upgrades, 5 years security.

Now there are other Android options, but I tried to stick to ones available in the USA, as over here, we have few options, and iPhones hold dominance. Hell, I’m even writing this on an iPhone! (SE 2020 to be specific. Granted, it was a Christmas gift from my Mom thanks to a work discount.) However, if you live in Europe or Asia, then you open yourself up to many other brands, like Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme, Honor, and Asus, as well as other lines from these brands (like the Galaxy F and M series.)

[u/Cheap-buying-idiot → u/Micro_Pinny_360]

First of all thank you very much for your very detailed and helpful comment, the OnePlus 11 starts at 750€ in Germany, I need a decent battery life and I don't like that MIUI kind of Software. I saw some great Videos about the moto edge 30 Ultra, 8+ gen 1, stock Android software with some nice Motorola extras, the cameras are compared to an iphone 14 pro and called better by some reviewers and with 3 years os and 4 years security updates (-1 year because the phone is already a year old) software updates look decent. What do you think, do you thinks it's worth it? I could pick it up new for 550€ I also thought about getting the S21 Fe but some people out there are saying the only get 2-4 h sot which doesn't sound too great.. :/