Hello all,
My Galaxy S8 is starting to feel its age. After now close to 7 years of service, it’s starting to show its limits. The usual problems: Battery getting weaker and weaker, generally slow (My once/month visit of instagram for example is… a stutter) and, mot simportantly, no more security update.
I’m tempted to switch it to GrapheneOS and continue but I’m really afraid some “official” apps won’t work anymore (mostly banking apps).
In October last year I started my quest for a new Android phone with the S8 form factor, or as close as possible for pocket-fit.
I’ve checked the various guide on this community and came ouf with the same question I had while doing research on my side.
Contenders were:
- Fairphone 5, which philosophy was extremely tempting, especially the “fair” aspect and the self-repairing capabilities. However, its form factor and what I heard about extremely slow patch/updates were the last nail in its coffin-size (161.6 x 75.83 x 9.6 mm).
- Cosmic Dolphin (Link) was also extremely tempting (secure OS, mechanical switch for GPS/Camera/Mice…) but a new company means possible bancrupcy and no more security update, plus the form factor (159.7 x 73.3 x 7.8 mm) meant it was also a no.
- Xperias 5V and other in the lineup seemed interesting, especially the SD card slot. But no info regarding software updates and way to expensive.
Only two made the cut and I have to choose between:
None have a SD card, jack socket or removable battery but it seems these features are becoming more and more of a rarity.
Both have a at least 4 years of updates still.
Galaxy S23
Positives:
- 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm
- Updates for at least 3 years
- 128 / 256 Gb Storage
- Cheaper now that the S24 should arrive soon.
Negatives:
Proc is a bit less efficient (meaning less time for the same battery size)…Based on comments it may be the opposite, with the S23 being more efficient.
Pixel 8
Positives:
- 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm
- 7 year of updates
- 128 / 256 Gb Storage
I heard their Proc were more efficient than S23’sBased on comments it may be the opposite, with the S23 being more efficient.- Compatible with GrapheneOS (if test on my old S8 shows the important app I have still work there).
Negatives:
- Google… Data leach amon leeches.
- This insuferable camera bar on the back… Not really handy and will probably ruin a lot of pant’s pocket.
I’m split between these two.
- Would you have any advices regarding one or the other?
- Points I haven’t mentionned here?
Perfectly fair but ironically Pixel phones are objectively your best bet if you want to deGoogle and GrapheneOS is an absolute gem.
The Pixel 8 is a tiny bit more compact than even the Pixel 7a, but if they keep up their trend of making the “a” smaller than their counterparts of the same Pixel series (was the case with the Pixel 6 and 7 series), maybe we could get an even smaller model with the Pixel 8a.
My Pixel 8 is my personal favorite phone I’ve ever owned. I got the Google case for it, and it just feels absolutely perfect in my hand. The slight tackiness of the case, the form factor…it’s everything I’ve ever wanted from a phone.
As for OP’s concerns about certain apps not working on GrapheneOS: All you have to do is create a profile on your phone that runs Google Play services. And then it’s just an Android profile, and if it works on Android, it works on your phone.
The notifications can get a little wonky if you make the secondary profile your Google Play services profile. So let me recommend making your first profile the Google profile, and then a secondary profile your privacy profile.
It works for me, because I know when I’m trying to be private or get stuff done, I always have that nice quiet profile where the notifications are turned off anyway.
Aaaaah?
I’ll check the pixel “a” line then, thanks! :D
Edit: from what I could find, there is persistent rumors that Google will stop the a series with the 7a as the last model.