[Android Central Question]

My current Android is dead and I would like to start researching into a new phone. To help speed up this process I'm hoping to get some feedback from people in the know.

I do not need to latest phone with all the latest tech and such. Just a good solid performer that will do it job without causing headaches. I've had good experience with my Samsung Android and would be interest in going in that direction, although that not necessarily concrete.

What I do want is the ability to decided what system applications can access in my phone. I do not like the idea of applications gaining access to a mass amount of my personal data. I would like a secure phone where I can limit and control this. So I can decided how my data is used.

I'm also handy with a tool and have fixed smart phones in the past. Also considering getting a wrecked phone and having a ticker. However I probably will not get the time for this.

Any knowledgeable help would be appreciated.

[Rukbat]

What I do want is the ability to decided what system applications can access in my phone. I do not like the idea of applications gaining access to a mass amount of my personal data.

That usually takes a custom ROM or rooting, not a particular phone.

I would like a secure phone

That depends on how often the manufacturer sends security updates. Google issues them on the 5th of every month, but some manufacturers (and Samsung seems to be notorious for it) seem to hold onto a few of them, so they only have to work on them a few times a year.

So I can decided how my data is used.

That's more up to the version of Android, so you can limit permissions per app.

I'm also handy with a tool and have fixed smart phones in the past. Also considering getting a wrecked phone and having a ticker. However I probably will not get the time for this.

That would be more up to you than anything else. I thought the same thing, and picked up an S5 with a bad port for almost nothing. It's still sitting there, unrooted, battery getting pulled and charged externally when needed. As you say, no time. (Especially when the screen has to be pulled, as in an S5.)

I Went with a Pixel 2 for, among other things 3 version updates and a minimum of 3 years of security updates (and fast [within days] security update releases]).