Looking for recommendations for a phone which will last several years?

[daviec1]

Hi,

I currently have an iPhone 4S, which I've had for about 3 and a half years, so at the end of my 24 month contract I just switched to sim only and kept the phone. My last Android experience was very poor in comparison - an HTC Wildfire which I wanted rid of well before the end of the 24 month contract, it was no longer compatible with updates and apps/games I wanted to download. However, a friend has convinced me to give Android another go, the HTC experience was 5 years ago and I know a lot has changed.

Ideally I'd like a phone which I'll want to keep after the end of my contract. Does anyone have any recommendations for a phone which is likely to still be able to run the latest apps/software pretty smoothly in 3 years' time? I'm looking for something similar in price to the iPhone SE (I'm in the UK by the way)

I'm a pretty light user, just use apps like Facebook/Snapchat/Gmail/Whatsapp, a few basic games, take the odd photo and occasional FB video calls.

Aside from longevity, my main concerns are the speed of the phone (the 4S has slowed down a lot over the last few months and is doing my head in) and battery life.

Someone also recommended the Google Pixel as a kind of halfway point between iPhones and Androids, so I might consider that too.

Any recommendations from anyone? Thank you in advance for any help

 

[Morty2264]

Hello and welcome to Android Central and to the world of Android!

I know you said you lived in the UK, so I'm not sure about price conversions and such; but the iPhone SE retails for around $460-$500 CAD here; so I'll do my best to recommend phones within that price range.

That price right there pretty much encompasses the price of a midrange device - basically, a more affordable Android Smartphone that very often has similar specs to that of a flagship; and is therefore just as capable as giving the same performance to a flagship - and so that gives you quite a few options to consider.

The first phone that came to mind in that price range is actually the phone that I use - an Honor 8, made by Honor (a sub brand of Huawei). The phone is great, 5.2", has an awesome dual camera setup, good display, and overall good battery life. Of course, it came out last year, so a 3000 mAh and not the latest processor on the market are two things I'd mention right off the bat; but not having the latest processor doesn't necessarily mean the phone will slow down and lag right off the bat. You can always disable and delete things like bloatware and do a factory reset (back up your data!) to give the phone a little clean-out every now and then. I've been using my Honor 8 since December 2016 and it has not slowed down. Sure, I get the odd glitch or two; but battery and overall performance are great. Also, the phone is gorgeous. It comes in white, blue, rose gold, and black.

Okay, back to other phones. This next phone is above the $500 price range; but it's a great device that I think will meet your needs better. The OnePlus 5 is a great option! It just came out, so it's still expensive - around $650-$700. However, it has the latest processor and a really good camera; and 3300 mAh battery life. I've heard really excellent things about it. You could always wait for the next sale or for Christmas deals; but if you want to get your phone sooner rather than later, I understand that that may not be an option.

Yes, the Google Pixel would also be a great choice. I always recommend stock Android/Google experiences! The Pixel itself would be at a better price point soon-ish, since the next Google Pixel iteration is set to drop soon... In October, I think? So if you wait a little while, the price will drop when the Pixel 2 hits the markets, so to speak.

I hope you find the device you are looking for! Please let us know what you decide; and if you have any further questions, please ask!

 

[worldspy99]

I would definitely recommend a Pixel. Mine is a year old and runs just like new.
Still extremely smooth and snappy and the battery life is great on Oreo.
Good luck.