S7 Edge vs Nokia 6.1 vs OnePlus3T vs Pixel XL vs Moto G6 vs ...?

[Raswan]

The digitizer on my Note 5 is on its way out (goddamn it), and I refuse to pay $600-850 for a phone. Also, no sense in paying ~$175 to repair this one, when I can drop a little more for a new one and keep this as a spare.

So, what do you guys think of the list above? Any stand-out winners? Any major losers, comparatively? Anything I'm missing? I've been looking at the $250-350 price range, so if I've skipped one worth considering in there, by all means let me know.

Criteria:

• This is my phone for the next 2-3 years, so while I don't need a flagship, I'd like it to have nice build quality and lasting power. Maybe this precludes the Moto G6.
• Larger screen is much preferable
• Closer to stock android is nicer, but whatevs.
• Expandable storage or at least 64GB. Larger than that is nice, but not necessary
• Decent camera, but let's be honest. Most of my pictures are of my cats or whilst drinking. Let's say equal to my Note 5's, at least.
• Verizon network (CDMA). Dual SIM is better, since we may switch carriers at some point.
• Better than average screen. I've been spoiled by the Samsung OLED.
• 2-3 year lifespan.
• Use: I don't play games. Just web surfing, youtube, twitch, and music.
• I've heard not-so-great things about the Huawei Mate and Xaomi Redmi and LG V20, but am happy to be corrected. Just bring the data, me lads.

Thanks guys and gals. Your input is a great help.

-Raswan

 

[shortylickens]

These days my recommendation is probably going to be Nokia. Nice bodies, good battery life, stock Android experience, but I dont know which of their phones are CDMA.

 

[lsd]

Since you want to keep the new phone long term and keep the current one as a spare I would wait until black friday time to look for a new phone. I know it's still a few months away but it will be easier to find the best deals by then.

 

[Raswan]

Since you want to keep the new phone long term and keep the current one as a spare I would wait until black friday time to look for a new phone. I know it's still a few months away but it will be easier to find the best deals by then.

I thought about this, but in racking my brain from last year couldn't remember any real deals on non-flagships. The last three phones me and the wife have gotten were either Amazon penny pincher sales (free phones with contract renewal) or a similar contract renewal from Walmart or Best Buy. Seems like this practice has finally fizzled out. Can I really expect to see either the flagships drop massively or deals on the above phones?

 

[Raswan]

These days my recommendation is probably going to be Nokia. Nice bodies, good battery life, stock Android experience, but I dont know which of their phones are CDMA.

Thanks for the rec. I had actually written off Nokia given how terrible their last decade has been, and despite how much I wanted them to succeed. Seems weird to me that only some of their phones are CDMA?

 

[lsd]

I thought about this, but in racking my brain from last year couldn't remember any real deals on non-flagships. The last three phones me and the wife have gotten were either Amazon penny pincher sales (free phones with contract renewal) or a similar contract renewal from Walmart or Best Buy. Seems like this practice has finally fizzled out. Can I really expect to see either the flagships drop massively or deals on the above phones?

I'm not sure about the phones you listed but mnvo's like cricket always do BF sales on non flagship phones. I think this year will have some of the best sales because flagship sales have stagnated.
Have you looked into buying a used phone on Swappa?

 

[Raswan]

I'm not sure about the phones you listed but mnvo's like cricket always do BF sales on non flagship phones. I think this year will have some of the best sales because flagship sales have stagnated.
Have you looked into buying a used phone on Swappa?

I'd never heard of Swappa. Looks like some decent prices there.

I've considered cricket but don't know that I'm willing to switch service providers. I'm by no means tied to Verizon, but if I switch my wife has to switch, and I'd be curious what Cricket's network performance is these days. Who do they rent spectrum from? It's not as if I live in the boonies, but we travel a decent amount around the country on road trips and I don't want to be the guy with no bars all the damn time...

 

[lsd]

I'd never heard of Swappa. Looks like some decent prices there.

I've considered cricket but don't know that I'm willing to switch service providers. I'm by no means tied to Verizon, but if I switch my wife has to switch, and I'd be curious what Cricket's network performance is these days. Who do they rent spectrum from? It's not as if I live in the boonies, but we travel a decent amount around the country on road trips and I don't want to be the guy with no bars all the damn time...

Cricket is uses ATT towers. Straight talk is another mnvo but you can use all the major carrier towers it looks like. I've had both with no complaints.

 

[Raswan]

Cricket is uses ATT towers. Straight talk is another mnvo but you can use all the major carrier towers it looks like. I've had both with no complaints.

Thanks for the info. Do you have a favorite among the choices above? I've had Samsung for a long time, would be nice to try out a Nokia or OnePlus though if the build quality is there.

 

[spdfreak]

New or used? LG G6 was my choice when I needed a new phone. I wanted something with really good camera but wouldn't pay new flagship prices. 200-250.00 used and there seems to be a lot of them out there. Got mine off ebay from a guy who bought it for his 80 year old dad and he wouldn't use it. It was absolutely like new...

 

[Raswan]

New or used? LG G6 was my choice when I needed a new phone. I wanted something with really good camera but wouldn't pay new flagship prices. 200-250.00 used and there seems to be a lot of them out there. Got mine off ebay from a guy who bought it for his 80 year old dad and he wouldn't use it. It was absolutely like new...

Good suggestion! It's on my radar now. I don't really care if it's used, so long as it's in pretty good condition. Same processor as the OnePlus 3T, slightly higher res screen. This could be a contender.