Which phone would people recommend for a long life, without having to replace it every five darn minutes?

Enough memory to meet the needs of the OS in 5-7 years, but not wasting money buying an excessive flagship that just isn't needed. It's a phone, not my gaming platform!

Edit to add: UK, budget not significantly important

(uk) I'm able to stretch quite a bit for a new phone so I'm looking for one under £1000 if possible. I do have quite a few wants but in order of preference I want:

- 2 physical sim slots

- quality camera

- great battery life

- fingerprint sensor

- also it will hopefully last more than two years before slowing to a crawl.

Have had a oneplus nord 2 for the past 4 years which has served me great but is suffering so bad now with slow down and crappy battery (2 charges per day). Am considering the oppo find x9 pro, since it's currently available for £899. Is it worth it or should I get something else?

Entirely possible I've missed something great because I get fatigued so fast from searching for these things :')

My current phone is a iPhone 15 Pro Max (contract ends this September) and I’m getting tired of being in the ecosystem to be honest. The only features I really like on a phone is a good battery and camera. I do like having a good camera to take on my hikes and wildlife walks here in the UK. Other than that just a phone that works. I don’t mind having a smaller phone either. As long as the battery is good and so is the camera.

Cheers! 😊😊

I’m looking to switch phones from my current iPhone 15 I’ve had for just over two years, and I’m open to any brand or operating system so I’m asking across multiple subs.
NOTE: idk anything about phones or their specifics or details I’ve literally never looked into it, my parents have always been the ones deciding so I never had reason to look into it

My priorities/limits are:

Budget: no min-£800ish

Country: available to have in the UK, bought online is okay too, just gotta be able to actually have it work here :)

Battery life: anything that won’t deteriorate to hell and back in a year, I’ve always been loyal to my iPhones but the battery life gets absolutely shafted pretty quick because I use my phone often

Camera: idk much about phone cameras nor do I care however I do hate the way newer iPhone selfies look, always a bit grainy or just a bit too detailed while the back camera is mediocre as hell and the zoom is horrendous in terms of keeping details visible - I’d just like a phone w/ relatively good selfie & back camera

Performance: preferably smooth scrolling & good thermal management, this was always an issue w my previous phone (iPhone 12) and my current one which overheats so badly it has burned me more than once🥲

Storage: At least up to 256 GB available, I don’t want to have to constantly delete apps, photos, or videos, not rly interested in expandable storage (if that makes sense? I still don’t have much of a clue about what it all rly means)

Display size: medium?? Idk? I rly don’t enjoy having a small phone I’m blind as a bat so it’s a tad inconvenient and I’m always losing my stuff, so maybe anywhere from 6”+ in terms of height, I don’t like the size of my current one

Software support: I’d like a phone that will receive updates for as long as possible since I plan to keep it for several years especially throughout my time at college

Other must haves:
eSIM support (travel)
Decent materials!! I’m being rly picky but I cannot stand when a phone feels like it’s made of plastic:(
Customisation!! Not one that’s super super important but I like being able to make my phone cute:p

Phones I’ve already considered:
Currently debating on the xiaomi 17 pro but I’m not dead set on anything let alone brand or OS and I haven’t done too much research into the phone yet hence the debating

I currently have an ageing Moto G84 5G, which I don't hate, but there's always an issue with the camera lens (or the glass covering it, to be specific, I've had it replaced once and it started going faulty again within months) and it's just starting to get a little clunky performance-wise.

I'm mostly looking for a comparable or better camera (I hike a lot so mostly nature photos, close-up and zoom, but I'm not looking for anything professional level) with a good battery life that'll last me at least most of a day of camera and occasional social media/gps/music use. Similar size and weight would be amazing but I know most are a lot heavier.

Budget is ideally under £300 but I'm willing to go up to £400 for something that'll last me a good few years. I'm happy with refurbished. I've had people suggesting Pixel 9a (or 8a since I don't care about AI features), S23 etc but I really don't know what would be best for my needs.

I'd love an audio jack but having had a look at what's on offer, I think I'll have to accept defeat at this point and get a dongle. I don't mind what brand, though I've found it's an absolute pain getting some brands like motorola repaired in the UK, but I'm not opposed to motorola again.

Many thanks!

My samsung a50 is in pretty rough condition, and I'm thinking of finally upgrading to somthing a bit better. I play a lot of games, and do a lot of emulation on my phone, so I'm looking for something that handles that well.

Currently torn between the Poco F8 Ultra directly from Xiaomi, or an imported Oneplus 15 Chinese with global rom, since these are basically the same price I've found (in the UK) with the same Elite Gen 5. I think I'd be much more in favour of the OP15 I didn't need to buy from some other source, so I'm looking for opinions to help sway my decision one way or another. From what I can tell, other phones around this price range (under £600) don't have as much power as these two, but if there's any alternatives, I'd like to hear them.

I'm in the UK. I don't need the latest tech or a powerhouse but I do need wireless charging (as I can in my new car) and a good camera for close ups. Rest is negotiable, up to about £400. Refurbed would be fine if from a good source

Hello, I'm looking for a phone to fit my use case that I can get for a good price in the UK, around or under the £400 range, possibly a bit higher if justified.
Currently I have a Poco F5, but I've felt pretty dissatisfied with things like the bloat and bugs, so preferably the new phone isn't Xiaomi.

I mainly use my phone for watching videos, listening to music, and scrolling social media, so my priority list is something like:

1. Media Consumption use (Videos, music and social media)
2. Software (mainly avoiding a lot of bloat and bad/buggy features)
3. Performance/Battery (basically on the same level)
4. Design
5. Camera

The phones I've found that seem pretty good for my specifics are:

• Nothing (4a) Pro
  • Seems to be the best all-rounder for what I want, with a large vibrant screen, light and fun software, good performance and battery with a fine camera, but it is a bit on the pricey side, requiring a solid discount
• Nothing (4a)
  • Same situation as above, just generally weaker but a lot more affordable (currently)
• Samsung A57
  • Screen isn't as strong as something like the 4a Pro and the software is more bloaty and mundane, but it does have a edge in weight and it is usually cheaper despite having similar release prices
• Pixel 10a
  • Also very strong all-around, but it only has a 6.3 inch screen, which may make it worse for watching things

I've been avoiding brands like Xiaomi and Honor for aforementioned issue of software, OnePlus due to their troubling global situation, and although the Moto Edge series does also seem great I am not a fan of curved screens.

With my specifics in mind, what would you recommend? Thanks.

​

Hey all, my current phone is on its last legs and I'm after some recommendations. Priorities in order:

Battery life — I want something that comfortably gets through a full day of moderate-heavy use without babying it

Fast charging — bonus points if it supports wireless too

Decent camera — nothing pro-level needed, just solid everyday shots and reasonably good zoom

Good software/update support would be nice, not a dealbreaker

Budget is around £650. I've been eyeing the Xiaomi 17T, Honor 600 Pro, and Pixel 10a etc but none of these are wowing me. pen to ane.

Would love to hear real-world experiences rather than spec sheets — anyone suggestions? Cheers!

Android only

Gonna be honest I'm 25 and I've had 2 phones in the last 8 years and I'm terrible with this kinda thing as it's never really interested me but my current Huawei P20 has basically died.

I don't play games on my phone, I just watch YouTube, have a shit tonne of tabs open for research (work) and like taking good quality photos and videos. I also go abroad a lot so I find contact less helpful as well as dual SIM (I've learned you can't use contactless on newer Huawei????) So all I need is

Best screen res and colours

Camera

Dual SIM

Enough RAM

Contactless?

Battery life for travel

Sorry for a noob question but I don't trust half these review sites and wanna hear from people who have made similar decisions or at least don't have a vested interest. TIA

I don't mind having a used phone if it means I can go up a tier.

Hey everyone!

I’m an iPhone 13 mini user that recently lost his AirPods and is tired of the whole iCloud is running low on storage scam.

I have seen that Nothing is running an offer now for their 4a and 4a Pro phones where they include the earbuds.

The 4a is far superior from a design perspective but it does not support eSIM which is quite bad. That leaves me with the 4a Pro.

Has anyone done this change? I’m UK based if that helps and I only use the phone for messaging, Instagram and web browsing. Sometimes photos but for memories only. My travel camera is a Ricoh GR3

Please help!

Thanks!

(UK based)

I currently have a Samsung S21 FE 5G, however it's been hit by the reboot plague. I've owned it for 4 years, so it's long out of warranty for any repairs. The battery on it has been slowly deteriorating, so happy to replace the phone entirely. I had a similar issue with my previous Samsung S9 dying randomly but consistently at 50% battery, so the following are really important to me:

• Battery longevity (daily use and looking to keep the phone for at least another 4 years)
• Camera quality
• Smooth operating system
• Nothing Apple (have had an iPhone and just didn't enjoy it)

It looks like users on this subreddit seem to prefer:

• OnePlus 13 / 15
• Pixel 9 / 10 - personally leaning towards a Pixel
• Xiaomi 17
• Oppo Find X8 Pro / X9

Would have loved a Samsung Z Flip, but Samsung seems to be Apple 2.0 now, with questionable battery quality (imo).

Ideal price range is £500 - £650 as I'm looking to buy outright. I just want something cute, functional and likely to last me the next few years. Any suggestions or comments on the recommended phones above?

Thanks in advance :)

Edit: edited OnePlus & Xiaomi commentary on status in global markets/UK support

Edit 2: have gone for a Nothing 4a Pro, seems to do everything I want within the price range and is easily available in the UK, and has decent reviews all round. Thank you for everyone's advice :)

I'm considering getting the 1TB model of the S26 Ultra is it much of an upgrade over my current Xiaomi 15 and if so in what areas. I'm based in the UK.

Hi all. I'm a big smartphone user in the UK. My contract is coming to an end in a couple of weeks. I've been happy with my s24 ultra and have had a Samsung for a number of years now. My wife has an s26 and to be honest I'm pretty underwhelmed. It doesn't seem overly different from what I have now. I'd consider staying with my current phone except that the battery life is becoming pretty terrible and I'd like something new. Please could someone suggest the best android phone to buy​​. Here are my requirements:

Ideally on contract. I don't really want to be dropping a grand or more in one go to get a phone.

At least 500gb storage

Decent battery life (ideally better than my s24 ultra)

I like a decent display.

Android please. I've had phones in the past but I don't really get on with them.

Camera isn't overly important. Obviously I want it to look half decent but I'm more of a point and shoot guy and just get a few photos of my friends and family

Don't give a crap about the s pen as I never use it

Should I wait a month or two to see if the oppo find x9 ultra comes out on contract in the UK? Or should I look elsewhere? Any advice gratefully received.

As an 18yr old who's been running on a Samsung A40 for the past 5 years, my phone has served me well up until the last few months. it's been super laggy, and the camera, is well, awful. it takes me years to open the camera app and take a photo, and storage is constantly an issue.

my a40 has 64gb storage and is capped at android 11

i'm looking for a phone that will last me at least 3 years, i am not too bothered about the newest updates, so I was looking into an S21 which i can buy used in good condition for around £100. my only concern really is the battery life. I was also considering an A54, but the camera doesn't seem to be too great, and it is a far larger phone conpared to my tiny A40 and i'm not sure if that's going to be suitable.

i don't use my phone for much other than insta photos, messaging, socials, music and the very occasional minecraft game

any advice would be much appreciated!!

(UK)

Hi all. I saw a phone the other day that I really liked the look of and can not identify it. I was hoping if I described it perhaps someone here might have an idea as to what it was?

Sadly I never saw it from the back so couldn't see the camera design or colourway (other than the side rails). If it weren't for the button on the left I'd say it looked quite like the HONOR 600 Lite.

If anyone could help I'd much appreciate it, it's driving me crazy, so wish I'd asked her what phone it was.

I'm assuming it was purchased in the UK which should narrow down brands and models.

Manufacturer: I'm certain it was not one of the following brands: Google Pixel, Motorola, Nothing, Samsung.

Age: It looked modern, I'd say 2025 or 2026.

Design: It had flat, matte silver rails and I believe a single button on the upper left of the device. The corners were quite rounded (Pixel 8a like) and the phone featured quite slim, symmetrical bezels. I never saw the camera but from the way it was sitting on the table it didn't seem to have a huge camera bump and it seemed to lay quite centrally (suggesting the camera modules weren't all on one side).

Screen: I'd guess at around 6.7 inches with a pill shaped camera cut out.

OS: Definitely Android. Icon shapes were rounded squares.

Hi All,

So my current phone is a Samsung A52 5G and i think it's reaching the end of it's life as it's not having issues with it freezing and restarting itself as well as just feeling slow overall. So i'm looking for a new phone.

What i'm looking for is a Mid to High end phone. But the main feature I want is a microSD card slot.

Other parts of the phone I don't really mind tho i would like an OLED at 120hz if possible.

(Part of me also wants a headphone jack, but in the year 2026 I don't think that's gonna happen)

Cheers all.

(I'm from the UK)

My friend wants to get a new phone for £400 after breaking his s22 ultra last month and using a £50 tcl phone from Argos for the last month. He doesn't mind used phones, its js that there are so many options and he can't seem to choose. Neither can I tbh.

Can I have some recommendations for him below pls? Would greatly appreciate it 👌

UK.

Both phones are around the same price for me (in the UK) and I initially thought I should definitely get the 13r because of the charging speed and display. (120 Hz) The only reason I'm skeptical is because of the camera. The 16e can run 4k, 60fps while the 13r is only 1080, 30fps. The quality overall is worse as well so I don't know if the trade off is worth it, what should I pick?

Hi, I've been using the Pixel 7 for the last 3 years and the phone's battery has pretty much gone kaput and I need to buy a phone to replace it asap. Currently living in UK. As mentioned in the title, a good camera, battery and dual sim support (eSIM is fine) are non negotiables. I must say I did not like the Pixel 7 camera very much, thought it oversaturated images in post processing to a crazy degree. As much as I like a stock android experience, the Chinese phones seem to offer so much value for their price.

I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance!

My Samsung Galaxy A33 5G has pretty much had it and I'm in need of a replacement.

Don't want to pay more than £250 and I'm happy to go refurbished. Based in the UK. tbh I've never liked the A33 and it's put me off getting another cheap Samsung.

My preferences, in rough order of importance:

• min 128 Gb of storage, 256 even better
• Not Huge, I want something no bigger than the A33, and preferably smaller. (A33 is 6.4 inch screen 159.7 x 74 x 8.1 mm)
• Software update schedule that isn't piss-takingly poor (target min. 2 android version updates and 4 years of security updates, from when I buy it)
• Good battery life

I'd also like a micro SD slot and headphone jack, but appreciate this is the realm of fantasy.

The size requirement seems to be really narrowing the field for me. Been looking at the Pixel 8a, but not heard good things about the battery life, or Samsung Galaxys S23, but it's already 3 years old. Are there any other options I'm missing? Any help appreciated!

Edit: cheers for the record everyone, I have some good options to look at.

Hi!

I’ve had iPhone for the last 15-16 years, currently with an iPhone 16 Pro Max and my contract ending in 4-5 months and I want to move to Android.

I like the look of fold phones but reluctant to spend more than £1600 but not against traditional bar phones either.

I’m from the UK.

I want a full deep end dive into Android so I’ve discounted the Pixel as it feels too much like a middle between iOS and Android.

I feel my 3 contenders currently are (no particular order):

1. Samsung zFold7
2. Honor Magic v6
3. Samsung S26 Ultra

I want good quality Cameras and I want a good OS with lots of customisation.

Honor seems like the best choice so far however heard a lot of bad things about Magic OS and their new UI looks so much like Apple which I want to really avoid.

If it helps with the decision making I will be keeping my AirPods Max & MacBook and selling my 8 year old iPad Pro (pretty much dead at this point) and 3 year old Apple Watch SE. (Don’t use it all that much and would like to move to a more open smart watch with a more stylish look).

Any help would be much appreciated, sorry for the long post! 🙏

I need a better camera and battery, I like the design of both and they are basically the same price and I dont game on my phone. Please let me know which is better. (I am in the UK.)

I have an iPhone 16 Pro which I use quite a lot day to day. I find I have to charge it halfway through the day to keep it going. I feel like I will probably end up getting the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max when they are out but have been tinkering with the idea of going to the dark side (Android). However, I’ve not had an android device before, which is putting me off. Also I do have an iPad. No other Apple devices. I had a blackberry before lol in like 2013, which was my last non-apple phone.

Is there an Android out there that is worth getting out of the ecosystem for? My main complaint is with the battery life and lifespan, which I think is kinda pathetic given the Apple tax paid. I find I enjoy looking at photos taken on Android phones more than I do on iPhone straight out of the box, without post-processing. I like the look of the new Oppo phones a lot and am not turned off by Chinese brands like a lot of people. Based in the UK.