One thing that makes it more tolerable is to use Universal Android Debloater to get rid of the obscene amount of bloatware that some makers cram into their phones. But the era of unlocked bootloaders and rooted phones has come to an end, and these are basically just appliances now instead of universal computers. It's really sad how shitty and locked down everything has gotten. Ten years ago, I was rocking a Samsung Note 2 with custom firmware, and the world was your oyster, I could do anything I wanted on it. New phones are... they have nicer cameras, I guess. The CPUs are faster, but that only just barely keeps up with the insanely bloated software.

I'm amazed that anyone gets Google Pixels. It seems like every one has some sort of ridiculous design flaw.

I like my Galaxy S22. It's one of the few small phones out there. I stopped fussing with custom UI and just get a refurbished, unlocked carrier ones off of Amazon or some other outlet, they're relatively cheap now. You have to read over descriptions carefully though, I've been sent locked carrier ones before.

The market pigeon holes you into having to make a compromise. I wish we could still get phones with removable batteries.

Me looking at the e-ink phone that only has a contact list, gps, and text + phone so I can escape this man made hell of smart phones

I was going to link anandtech's guide but they haven't updated it in nearly three years

I want something like the fair phone but they’re so overpriced and not sold in my region

Yeah I feel the same thing. It's such a shame that there is no normal, decent hardware. No bloatware, just functioning.

Normal sized phone gang reporting in.

I’d really like a good telephoto camera option in a similar size range, but there’s not a lot to choose from.

Following.

Someone convince me not to be the modern Zoolander.

Basically the only way to get a small screen size phone these days to get one of those ridiculous flip phones with a fully functional cover screen, like the latest Samsung Galaxy Z flip or Motorola Razr. All the other phones are just gigantic. And the flip phones, while cool, are ridiculously expensive and fragile.

I've been using my OnePlus 9 which has been solid so far. I had to loose the headphone jack unfortunately which I really hate. Not sure what their new phones look like at the moment, but they're one of the Chinese manufacturers that at least had phones at cheaper than the flagship price point.

I have no idea on the bootloader side of things, but OnePlus has been good about the OS updates. I'm on Android 14 at the moment.

Ive been using an old iPhone while I wait up the 6 months for a Motorola stylus g (2023) to be able to unlock. Nice thing is MetroPCS is dumb and you just have to pay for first month then you can cancel and sit on the phone for 5 more months. It's been a pretty decent device (I don't have any intensive needs for a phone).

Downside is that Motorola is p bad with updating their phones and I have no idea what the status of unlocking the bootloader/rooting is like

How about Xiaomi 14 at 6.36"? I haven't followed if they locked their bootloader or not.

Same boat. I did get the zenfone 9, and did the bootloader unlock before they removed the tool, so I'm good for a while. I was looking at new phones, though, and seems like the only viable replacements are the Sony VI and whatever the next google pixel is.

Samsung A03s go for <$60 and do everything important if you don't game. Battery lasts me a week!

tried Xiaomi? I've got a Redmi Note 10S, have had it for probably 2-3 years now and it still runs fresh. Good battery life too. Very cheap.

It's 6.5 inch though, and the camera isn't great. Think their other versions are smaller.

Some say there's a lot of bloatware - I've thought that at points but it's like any other phone these days in that regard. It's probably easy to remove although I've never bothered.

EDIT: just checked, there's a Xiaomi 12 that is 6 inches.

EDIT 2: huh, apparently to unlock it you have to do a load of bullshit. Oh well.

My phone's coming to the end of security updates but still works fine and is fast enough. I have the same issue, that there aren't any appealing phones out there really. I also still like headphone jacks.

My Xiaomi phone that doesn't have a good custom ROM that's still updated. I did the bootloader unlock, I had to make a Xiaomi account and ask them nicely to do it and wait a few months, but that was years ago and the process probably changed.

There's not any good camera apps for my phone on a custom ROM, they're all worse than the normal one on MIUI. Also other stuff I use like Google Wallet and android auto didn't work good.

I got a third party phone that I LOVE

BUT

Options for cases fucking suck if you don't have one of the 3 flagship phones. It's so bad.

I have a OnePlus 11 because it's similar to a Samsung Galaxy in specs and also it charges FAST as FUCK boi. 12 minutes from 0% to 50%, 15 more to hit full.

I gave up trying to get a smaller phone. Like you say, there's nothing on the market that is supported, not locked down and full of garbage, and not technically anemic.

Maybe someday 5" phones will make a comeback...

Zenfone can go fuck itself for pulling that. Loved my 9, was gonna get a 10, but went with the Unihertz Jelly Star because I can root it

I have several android things including a phone and an iphone. If I had to go down to just one, it would be the iphone.

Android phones have gotten worse and worse over the years. Consider jumping ship if you haven’t already.