Best Android phone for new user?

[Skel]

So I'm a cheap bastard, I should start there. I've been using the Windows Phones because they were given to me by friends that worked at MS. My current phone is the Lumia 950, and I've kept it because I'm not a fan of contracts and to be honest the phone works really well for calls and text messaging. I haven't really had a need for apps so far in life, but I've little doubt this is probably a situation that I just don't know what I'm missing and when I get a new phone I'll be wondering how I lived this long without them. It's a pity that MS never really got apps, at least that's what people lead me to believe.

Anyways.. Now that MS has killed off it's phones I'm now at the point where I need/want to finally get with the times and get a phone that does more than just calls and text messaging. As I'm not a fan of the IPhones (the wife has always had them and has the IPhone X) I'm thinking I'll be going with a phone running Android. I just don't have a clue which one would be the best for me. Should I go with the Galaxy S8? Should I go with the Pixel 2? Should I hold off until the S9 comes out? I figure that I should jump into the deep end of the pool and get a phone that is super awesome so I can pretend that I've always been cool with phones... and will also work for a couple of years without feeling like I've a slow crappy phone, and allow me to run all those fancy games and apps that everyone tells me is the main reason why the Windows Phones blow.

 

[Yakk]

Hmm, Samsung & Google phones are not usually associated with "cheap bastards". They are more expensive bastards.

Which one is it reeeeeeally?

 

[Skel]

Hmm, Samsung & Google phones are not usually associated with "cheap bastards". They are more expensive bastards.

Which one is it reeeeeeally?

I misspoke.. The only reason I kept on the old phone was because I'm a cheap bastard.. For my new phone I'm willing to spend so I can have a phone that will be around for a while, and by a while I mean at least a year.

 

[maevinj]

I'm in the same boat (WM10 user). I'm looking at getting either the Essential, OnePlus 5t or Nokia 8.
If you like the Microsoft services, here's a cool article about turning a Samsung Galaxy into a Microsoft Phone
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-i-microsofted-my-samsung-galaxy-s8

 

[lxskllr]

I'm a cheapish bastard, though I'd pay a fortune for a phone that did exactly what I wanted. Since none of the phones do what I want, I like the low-mid end. My current phone is a Samsung J7 Perx, and it's probably my favorite smart phone purchase. Camera's kind of meh, but it's competent. It has a removable battery, removable storage, and it's fast enough for everything I do, which isn't gaming. Biggest downsides are low ram and low fixed storage, but they haven't affected me. I'm confident it'll be acceptable for the next couple years at least. ~$250.

Generally speaking, Samsung's impressed me with their phones, and lg hasn't. I don't have wide experience with smartphones, but Samsung will always top my list of potential buys.

 

[gorcorps]

Since this is from January, I wonder what Skel went with. The S8 is actually probably a solid choice that might be had for less money these days because the S9 and Note 9 are out.

 

[Skel]

Since this is from January, I wonder what Skel went with. The S8 is actually probably a solid choice that might be had for less money these days because the S9 and Note 9 are out.

Not sure why I didn't update the thread to give closure.. sorry about that. I did end up getting the S9. My old Windows Phone died on the day the S9 was released. I had some coupons and old gift cards to Best Buy so between them all I was able to get the S9 out the door for around $350, without the contract.

I've def had some growing pains with this phone. There are things I've had to waste time relearning how to do, and others I just gave up on. I do think the phone is pretty, and pretty strong. I was going to get a a case but never got around to it. I've dropped it a couple of times with no scratches. YMMV though. I do have some issues as it's the non-branded phone and ATT seems to not want to have it's apps work well with it. At least from what I've read online.

The app thing is nice, but for the most part caused confusion with me.. for some reason Google refunded 6 months of app purchases and cancelled whatever subscriptions I had through them. Probably a good thing as I got my money back, but still really confusing. I'd call them and ask, but I'd rather keep the money

 

[gorcorps]

Not sure why I didn't update the thread to give closure.. sorry about that. I did end up getting the S9. My old Windows Phone died on the day the S9 was released. I had some coupons and old gift cards to Best Buy so between them all I was able to get the S9 out the door for around $350, without the contract.

I've def had some growing pains with this phone. There are things I've had to waste time relearning how to do, and others I just gave up on. I do think the phone is pretty, and pretty strong. I was going to get a a case but never got around to it. I've dropped it a couple of times with no scratches. YMMV though. I do have some issues as it's the non-branded phone and ATT seems to not want to have it's apps work well with it. At least from what I've read online.

The app thing is nice, but for the most part caused confusion with me.. for some reason Google refunded 6 months of app purchases and cancelled whatever subscriptions I had through them. Probably a good thing as I got my money back, but still really confusing. I'd call them and ask, but I'd rather keep the money

Gotcha. I have an S8, they're nice phones. What were some of the things that you gave up trying to do, out of morbid curiosity?

 

[Skel]

Gotcha. I have an S8, they're nice phones. What were some of the things that you gave up trying to do, out of morbid curiosity?

90% of it was figuring out where things were on Android vs Windows. There are a bunch of things that needed to be on an ATT rom in order to get, like wifi calling. I spent months trying to figure out how to get visual voicemail working. That turned out to be another ATT thing, not sure why they'd block everything unless you buy their phones as they're still making money from me. It is very annoying though. I was able to install another app to give me VV, but I'd prefer it to be in the dialer. I still can't get the phone to use my Outlook calendar (which is shared among my family) as default. I'd have to sit and really try to remember the rest. They weren't show stoppers, but it does suck when you get into a flow over the years and suddenly it's gone... oh and the keyboard blows, and autocorrect thinks I shouldn't curse so much. really stupid