1 yr. ago • 94%

Pixel 4a owners, what new phone are you buying?

As of last month, the Pixel 4a is no longer getting software updates, and will be missing out on Android 14.

It was a really great phone, mine still runs very well. It has a smooth, stock Android install, a headphone jack, and a perfectly positioned fingerprint scanner. My battery is still at 2/3 capacity compared to when I bought it 3 years ago.

Really wanted to try a custom ROM like Lineage, but it seems that Google Apps are a must for me. So, what should I replace my 4a with?

Currently leaning towards the Pixel 8 or 7a, especially with the rumor that Pixel 8 will have 7 years of software updates. Still, I will miss my headphone jack. But at least I'll have quick software updates and call screening.

Edit: Pixel 4a did NOT receive the September 2023 security update, so it seems updates are definitely over.

Edit: I specifically need Google Pay since my university uses it instead of physical ID cards. Unfortunately, it has spotty support on custom ROMs, Id rather just get a new phone.

31 comments

None. Custom roms will save your ass.

23
- Wish I could, but my college's NFC id cards need Google Pay, which doesn't run perfectly on custom ROMs, not to mention several other apps.
  
  4
  
  Install GrapheneOS. It has a sandboxed google play services. But, also, are you sure microG won't work?
  
  11
  
  Never had a problem tbh.
  
  I even got Google pay to work with the right patches
  
  3
  
  If they do require NFC through Google Pay then yeah custom ROMs will give you a hard time.
  
  2
  
  That depends on the rom. I have a custom ROM installed and Google pay works flawlessly.
  
  1
I wanna check out the 8 or wait for the 8a. For me the size of the 4a is perfect. I want the replacement to be as handy.

7
My Pixel 4A is fine and I will use it until it requires excessively annoying or expensive repairs. I've been using ACC to go limit battery charge, so I could get quite a while longer out of it.

Really wanted to try a custom ROM like Lineage, but it seems that Google Apps are a must for me

You can install them on LineageOS.

7
I'm running a 7a, would have liked to go to an 8a (or something with a headphone jack) but my company will drop me from email/work apps after end of security updates.

I went with 7a because it runs grapheneeOS without issue and allows my to sandbox play services a little which I need for work but don't want to just let them run wild.

So far so good.

7
- Wait, your company will drop you when security updates end, but they are okay with you installing a custom ROM? Seems weird.
  
  10
  
  I work for a security company so they have strong opinions in the various custom ROMs. Most of the security so they make an exception for it as long as its not rooted.
  
  1
- Out of curiosity how does graphene allow you to sand box apps? Is it just disallowing permissions or closer to a vm?
  
  1
  
  Full independent user profiles. You can set as many as needed, for different sets of apps. But the "work profile" functionality doesn't always work (it fails to set up in my case).
  
  0
  
  Permanently Deleted
  
  0
You can use custom ROMs with google apps, they just generally ship without any. It's just an extra zip that you need to flash after the ROM.

5
If you can hold off until around May, I'd say go for a Pixel 8a. You'd benefit from the new 7 years of software updates (instead of 5 if you buy a 7a this year). Or maybe go for a Pixel 7a when it gets a sufficiently good discount, you could try your luck during Black Friday.

4
4a 5g here. No idea. I want a mid level phone with a headphone jack that isn't filled with bloatware. Apparently that's hard to find these days

3
Won't you have security updates for a while even OS updates have been stopped? If your current phone works fine, why not hold onto it a little longer?

3
- Nope, missed out on the September 2023 security update, no phone older than the 4a 5G got it.
  
  3
  
  Are you sure? I have 4XL and the security update just came through today. Google released the security update late again, but they did release it. Or is the 4XL newer than the 4a5G?
  
  1
None! Using calyxos and getting updates for now. Next phone would ne either a second-hand pixel Xa or a fairphone

2
- Those aren't proper updates though, it's better than the stick rom rn, but you should replace it as soon as possible
  
  0
P4XL here. It's still running well, but the battery is degrading noticeably.

I'm waiting to see the reviews of the Pixel 8 Pro, but I'm also iPhone-curious. Realistically I'll probably wait until the P9, but it depends on the reviews and prices.

2
I had a 3a XL, but I just had a zenfone 10 arrive.

fantastic device and it's so refreshing to be able to use it with one hand.

1
My bootloader is locked out so I can't load any custom roms unfortunately. Probably gonna get a Pixel 7 straight from google and load grapheneos onto it.

1

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