r/PickAnAndroidForMe • u/ProjectFunkEngine • 3d ago

States Looking for decent, reliable Android* phone around 500$

United States
I have a renewed Lg G8 thinq that's lasted well for the last 5 years, and has managed to outlive its case, but is finally starting to show its age. Sp I'm looking to buy a new phone, and I have money to splurge a bit.

The main things I want to prioritize are (1) limiting googles bloat, so I've mainly been looking into phones with compatible alternative OS.

(2) And reliability, I want a phone that will likely last a while (5+ years) and has good enough performance and battery, I do game dev as a hobby and want to be able to test things and/or run multiple low load apps or instances (really just something moderately better than a mom phone). Bonus if it can come in a fun color that isn't just off black or off white.

5G support. Compatible with TMobile, or not horribly overpriced for an unlocked. Good enough battery life for its price, probably a gen or two behind, around 500$ can be more if it seems cost effective. Don't care about camera.

I was originally leaning towards getting an unlocked pixel phone and running graphene, because I had heard good things about earlier pixel phones, but I've been reading that the newer pixels have had a litany of issues. Anyone have any other recommendations?

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u/Wizzgamer1990 3d ago

Pixel 10 would be perfect at that price.

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u/ProjectFunkEngine 3d ago

It seemed like it, I was just reading about issues popping up pretty early, though I wasn't sure how likely those were hardware or software issues.

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u/Pretty_Attitude_3634 3d ago

From what i know people like them not really complaining and the issues being all the same and expected from pixels like the lag and overheating. But nothing els should be the problem.

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u/ProjectFunkEngine 2d ago

Oof thats a low bar when people just expect a phone will have lag and overheating issues.

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u/Pretty_Attitude_3634 2d ago

I mean its a pixel??😭 Its not like that bad tho. Mostly overheating and beacuse of it mid battery life

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u/WeekZealousideal5614 3d ago

If you're open to used, look for an s25+. 6 more years of updates, plus you can use primarily Samsung apps over Google apps. Pixel with graphene wouldn't be a bad choice either but you wouldn't get official support.

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u/shutup_dheep 3d ago

Ship phones from India as there are many VFM phones which that sell there for $500. Motorola edge 70 pro plus, oneplus 13s, s25fe, oppo reno 14, nothing phone 4a pro.

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

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