How to avoid planned obsolescence?

[Golfdriver97]

it appears, from what I've read so far, that AT&T has done everything it can to make it difficult to root.

I think that is more Samsung as opposed to AT&T.

If I understand correctly, it can be rooted with Towelroot, but not necessarily returned to stock at this time.

So long as the kernel was built before June 2014, Towelroot can be used on most devices. Once the device gets L, Towelroot is no longer an option.

I guess that wouldn't matter once the warranty period is past, though?

Correct. There is nothing wrong with staying stock through the initial warranty. If anything goes wrong, even with updates, it is either Samsung's or your carrier's fault.

Any other phones you can think of that would meet these specs?

The G3 Stylus version, maybe. Otherwise, no.

 

[radicchio]

Thanks, again, Golfdriver. So, if I keep the Note 3 stock under warranty and it us upgraded to Android L during that time, I might not be able to root later? I suppose someone may find a workaround, but no guarantees.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Thanks, again, Golfdriver. So, if I keep the Note 3 stock under warranty and it us upgraded to Android L during that time, I might not be able to root later? I suppose someone may find a workaround, but no guarantees.

That is true. But I think there will almost always be a way around the OS and get root access.

 

[Yossi2010]

just get a freaking asus zenfone...
they are great fast and very cheap so if it dies you just gt another one...
updates are good in this case
asus fixes EVERYTHING!!!! and adds stuff that the users request.
they are very active and your feedback is being listened to(i talked to them a few times).

zenfone 2 for speeed(4gb ram)
zenfone 5 for a normal user...
it doesnt have a replaceable battery but it should last about 2 years or more... 150 dollars is a fine price for that...

i'm using my htc one x for 2 and a half years and i am running android 5.1.1 it works great(custom rom duh official last was 4.2)

what do you mean forced android update???? ppl wish they would get an update.
android will never update itself... its not windows preview...
apps? you should update these. asus works on the updating apps model... so if there is a bug they fix it via the play store YOU CAN ALWAYS REVERT BACK TO THE FACTORY STATE OF THE APP!(in system apps)
in other apps you can get the apk.
you can almost always go back to older android versions as long as you have a phone that is not version locked or as long as you don't do stupid moves when upgrading.
these are not iphones... they don't slow down when updated.
my htc was slower in android 4.2 and its buttery smooth on 5.1.1
the android ui never changes too much. all the android phones are essentially the same.

you use nova? great choice you can backup your home layout.