Choice of Compact Android Smartphone - 2024 edition
Choice of Compact Android Smartphone - 2024 edition
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?
Google… Data leach amon leeches.
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.
I'm eyeing up a Zenfone when my 6T dies - nice compact flagship spec with minimal "extras" added to the OS
From what I've noted down, the main problem I had with the zenfone was a short update coverage (up to 2025 for the Zenfone 10 I think?)
I dunno if this is a hot take. I don't focus on updates. Major software updates generally have new features. Minor software updates are generally security updates or bug fixes. It's OK for me if the device is in its last lap update-wise. It's not like it'll be unusable if there's no major update anymore. Buy a device for what it is now. If it'll get 4 major updates, that's a bonus, not a hard requirement when buying a device.
I upgraded to the Zenfone 10 from a 7T after the battery was getting unreliable - night and day difference in that department!
The S23 has the best battery life I've ever had in a phone, with two actual full days of medium usage or one entire day of really demanding usage.
The Exynos S10 was the worst I've ever had, lasting a whopping two hours of usage. The Snapdragon 888 (tested on a Realme GT 5G) was also a portable stove, lasting around 3.5 hours of usage and heating up like a furnace.
The S23 doesn't heat up with normal apps, only with gaming.
The S23 is what the S22 should've been. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a beast!
FYI, the Pixel 8's processor is certainly less efficient than the S23's. If it is reportedly getting better battery life, that's likely software related.
Ah I might have confused the two phones. I had read it in a comment on this community a while back.
Is there an unofficial Graphene OS ROM for S23? Because if there isn't and you want to try it, the Pixel remains your only choice. Have you had a look at Zenfone (8/9/10)? When my S9 comes to its EOL, one of those will most likely be my choice. (I won't lie, I prefer to have the 3.5mm jack on my phone!)
I don't know much about GrapheneOS, but if there is a S23 compatible version, I think I'll tend toward this phone.
A vast majority of banking apps work on GrapheneOS and there is a website that shows all the compatible banking apps. The only things that won't really work are NFC payments. They even added Android Auto support recently which no other custom OS has to my knowledge
The only things that won’t really work are NFC payments
To be more precise: NFC payments relying on Google Pay (which is sadly the majority). Some banking apps do have their own implementation for NFC payments and people seem to report that these work fine on GrapheneOS.
Are you going to link the website?
He's probably referring to this: https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compatibility-with-grapheneos/
They even added Android Auto support recently which no other custom OS has to my knowledge
every os with gapps should have that. at least lineage has aa
Yup but I think what he meant is that AA works with GrapheneOS' sandboxed Google Play, that's the whole point.
Ah, good to know I'll check for my specific banking app. Thanks!
My pixel 5 is officially unsupported. I believe graphene is still shipping some stuff for us for a while but I'm planning on upgrading to the pixel 8A when it comes out. I want to get the full 7 years of updates. I also hear it will have 90fps refresh so that's a game changer for a budget phone, even beating the expensive iphones.
I think you'll be :) with the Pixel 8.
Possibly an Asus Zenfone might be another alternative.
You should seriously consider a flip phone if pocket size is your main concern. They've become really good by now.
Have you considered replacing the battery? I have a oneplus 3, haven't had security updates in a very long time, but no issues so far. Battery has become shit now after 7 years, but still works OK.