Are there any decent Android phone brands?

[pete6032]

I'm looking for an android phone brand that has a track record for reliability and longevity. I'm coming from a Samsung Galaxy A52 that has the least reliable and most frustrating finger print scanner in existence. The screen also tends to turn on in my pocket during very hot/humid days (known issue), and the accidental lock protection feature is complete garbage. Google Pixel is off the list too given the disaster class action lawsuit on my Nexus 5X. Had a pretty good experience with Motorola in the past. What brands should I consider? I just want something that functions solid.

 

[mikeymikec]

My Moto G5 has a pretty sound fingerprint sensor. My Nokia 8.3 (current phone) has a slim power button that doubles up as a fingerprint sensor which is somewhat more likely to say nope to a fingerprint login.

My wife has a Samsung A52s 5G that she's happy with but I don't think she uses the fingerprint sensor. I'm happy with my Nokia 8.3 and would be happier still if it was smaller.

The Moto G5's camera was somewhat fussy about how still it needed to be for a clear shot. The Nokia 8.3 is a lot less awkward to use in this respect.

 

[quikah]

The in-screen fingerprint sensor Samsung moved to is garbage. I had an S9 and never had an issue with fingerprint. My S21, it will randomly just decide to not work.

Don't have any other recent android experience, so no recommendations, sorry.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Honestly the nexus/pixel line is kinda weird because different gens were built by different manufacturers (For Nexus anyway, Pixel is more purpose built for Google).

Quite happy with my Pixel 4a 5g, no real issues with it.

Wife's Pixel 3a XL was a bit of a dud out of the box and has always been quirky.

 

[manly]

OP wants an iPhone.

The in-screen fingerprint sensor Samsung moved to is garbage. I had an S9 and never had an issue with fingerprint. My S21, it will randomly just decide to not work.

Don't have any other recent android experience, so no recommendations, sorry.

They've improved this over time, even on the S21 models. It used to suck, but I feel it's pretty reliable now. I never re-registered any finger(s) so the improvement didn't come from that.

Since OP mentioned reliability, that rules out most Android manufacturers and their pathetic software updates. Pixel a series probably is the best value, while Samsung flagships shouldn't be ruled out if you get the right deal. But if OP has already ruled out Google and Samsung, then I'm not even joking about Apple.

 

[pete6032]

OP wants an iPhone.


They've improved this over time, even on the S21 models. It used to suck, but I feel it's pretty reliable now. I never re-registered any finger(s) so the improvement didn't come from that.

Since OP mentioned reliability, that rules out most Android manufacturers and their pathetic software updates. Pixel a series probably is the best value, while Samsung flagships shouldn't be ruled out if you get the right deal. But if OP has already ruled out Google and Samsung, then I'm not even joking about Apple.

I am considering an iPhone. Much better for texting, photos, video when everyone else has one. Seems like I can get a phone with a smaller screen too, something I'm not seeing as an option on Android outside of the Pixels.

 

[lxskllr]

I have two Motorolas and have been very impressed. Updates are lackluster, but the phones have been solid. More or less vanilla android with addons that are actually useful. If Fairphone still doesn't have a good presence over here when upgrade time comes, I'll most likely get another Motorola.

 

[mikeymikec]

One other nice thing about my Moto G5 was that it used exFAT for the MicroSD card, which means you can store >4GB files on it. Nokia were seemingly too cheap and won't read exFAT, instead relying on FAT32. I'd be making more use of the MicroSD card in my phone if for example I could dump my encrypted backup files on it from my PC.

 

[spdfreak]

The new pixels are solid. I wouldn't stop myself from buying a 7 or the new 8 coming in Oct just because I had a bad phone years ago. After a few updates, my 6 has been really good. The FP scanner was bad when they first came out but that is resolved a long time ago. I'll trade my 6 on the 8 when they come out this fall but I'll probably get the 8 non pro since it is smaller and more pocketable.

 

[JimKiler]

The new pixels are solid. I wouldn't stop myself from buying a 7 or the new 8 coming in Oct just because I had a bad phone years ago. After a few updates, my 6 has been really good. The FP scanner was bad when they first came out but that is resolved a long time ago. I'll trade my 6 on the 8 when they come out this fall but I'll probably get the 8 non pro since it is smaller and more pocketable.

I have the 6 and it barely fits in my mountain biking shorts. I cannot get a larger phone.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

I have a Motorola Stylus. Over two years now and no issue. Battery still holds a week or so for my use which is mostly standby. Two days or more if I use it more. I use a wallet style case so something folds over the screen to protect it and stop accidental activation of things.

Got it straight from them, so no bloatware. Added a 128G card that seems to have been absorbed into the base memory.

 

[Pohemi]

I've had a Motorola Edge 5G (2021) for a few years and it's been rock solid and reliable. Not much bloatware, if any...just things I don't use, like the FP scanner. The only thing I don't like about it is that it has no expandable memory slot, which was something my last two Moto phones both had.

I've had 3 Motos in a row now (one of them was the Moto G6, the other was the Moto G Power) after my Nexus 6P (Huawei) with Fi and LG G4 on Verizon before that, and I'm sold on the Motorolas for the time being. Great value, features, and hardware for the price. They aren't flagship phones, but they often lead in their respective price brackets.