Best simple yet modern Android phone?

[msmigiel]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new Android phone as an upgrade to my Samsung Galaxy S5. I don't need anything powerful or fancy, but I don't want a straight up budget phone. Here's what I'm looking for:

- As close to stock Android as possible and at least Android 7
- Headphone jack
- USB-C charging (wireless charging would be a nice bonus)
- Fingerprint reader
- Lights on the front to flash if you get a text, miss a call, etc...
- Verizon or unlocked
- Great battery life

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[B. Diddy]

You might want to consider a past-year flagship, like the LG V20 or 1st gen Pixel.

 

[Ry]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new Android phone as an upgrade to my Samsung Galaxy S5. I don't need anything powerful or fancy, but I don't want a straight up budget phone. Here's what I'm looking for:

- As close to stock Android as possible and at least Android 7
- Headphone jack
- USB-C charging (wireless charging would be a nice bonus)
- Fingerprint reader
- Lights on the front to flash if you get a text, miss a call, etc...
- Verizon or unlocked
- Great battery life

Does anyone have any suggestions?

You put Android OS version at the top of your list.

If you care enough about updates, OS or security patch level, the first gen Pixel will be the top choice.

It won't do old/legacy-style LED notifications out of the box and battery life, especially on the regular/non-XL version kinda sucks.

Another suggestion, since you listed Verizon-compatibility, would be the first-gen Moto Z Play Droid. You still wouldn't get legacy LED notifications but the battery is a beast but it does have the fingerprint scanner correctly on the front of the device.

 

[Morty2264]

I too was thinking about the Pixel of last year; or even the Huawei P10/P10 Plus.

 

[worldspy99]

Because you described budget/Verizon
Moto Z Play is a good choice.
I would actually recommend a S8 from Swappa especially in a few weeks since S9 will be announced and the price of the S8 will drop like a ton of bricks.

The S8 checks all the items on your list as well.

 

[Morty2264]

Because you described budget/Verizon
Moto Z Play is a good choice.
I would actually recommend a S8 from Swappa especially in a few weeks since S9 will be announced and the price of the S8 will drop like a ton of bricks.

The S8 checks all the items on your list as well.

I didn't think of the Z Play - good suggestion!