1 yr. ago • 100%

What phone is a power user's best bet in 2023?

With fewer phones including stand-out features, I'm curious to know what everyone thinks the best phone for an android enthusiast/power user is nowadays?

Your definition of a power user is obviously up to you, but I always thought of one as someone who experiments with third party apps, is open to flashing, sideloads apps, debloats, etc in order to get the most bang for your buck, and the first thing that comes to mind is the Pixel series (but what do i know?)

What do you all think?

31 comments

I might be a bit biased but I went for a Sony Xperia 1 Mark 4. Yes it is last years model but the performance is supurb. For me it was down to form factor. I tend to dislike curved or waterfall screens and Sony has stuck to truly flat screens. The second sticking point was expandable storage. Sony still has an SD card slot. I have 1.5TB of combined storage. The addition of an actual headphone jack and mechanical zoom lens were just icing on the cake.

24
- I focused on the software side of things that I've completely forgotten about the hardware. The Xperias seem like such fun little things
  
  6
- This is the correct answer. SD card slot FTW. Also killer optics/processing. Fits great in the hand. Also straight up headphone jack. No compromise (for real) phone.
  
  5
- Seems like a great phone, sad that the price is a bit high
  
  1
  
  I actually picked mine up on Swappa for $690. At that price it was very competitive against other flagships. It might even go down a bit with the new Mark 5 coming out soon.
  
  2
- Does this one work on Verizon in the USA? ATT in the USA?
  
  1
  
  Yes and no. It has coverage on multiple 4G and 5G frequencies.
  Check the first link and see what frequency you need in your are and then check the second link to see if it is covered. Where I am and where I mostly travel I need 5G band 71 and it picks it up beautifully.
  
  https://www.cellmapper.net/map?MCC=null&MNC=null&type=undefined&latitude=0&longitude=0&zoom=11&showTowers=true&showIcons=true&showTowerLabels=true&clusterEnabled=true&tilesEnabled=true&showOrphans=false&showNoFrequencyOnly=false&showFrequencyOnly=false&showBandwidthOnly=false&DateFilterType=None&showHex=false&showVerifiedOnly=false&showUnverifiedOnly=false&showLTECAOnly=false&showENDCOnly=false&showBand=0&showSectorColours=true&mapType=roadmap&darkMode=false&imperialUnits=false
  
  https://www.kimovil.com/en/frequency-checker/US/sony-xperia-1-iv
  
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Hardware-wise: Samsung Galaxy S series or Sony Xperia

Software-wise: Google Pixel >>>>> Fairphone > OnePlus

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- This is why I'm stuck on a pixel lmao
  
  6
  
  yeah, that's going to be my phone of choice as well, after my Galaxy S9 dies.
  
  1
- Pixel doesnt seem like the best software for power users. They have too much locked down and all their exclusives are aimed at casual users.
  
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I would recommend fold. Bigger screen for everything. I used to flash roms daily but got to the point that I was flashing roms and not really using the phone much. Samsung with good lock and routines has made flashing and rooting unnecessary. Also Tasker and macrodroid for some stuff...

13
Pixel is more or less the best for tinkering currently. Also the only supported phone for Graphene. Xiaomi used to be decent to tinker with, but they've said they're going to close off the bootloader in coming years, so no more tinkering. Huawei is entirely closed. Oneplus I heard used to be decent, but they're just way too overpriced now, with other issues too. I guess motorola/nokia are options for low-range phones. No clue about Asus etc.

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- Xiaomi used to be decent to tinker with, but they've said they're going to close off the bootloader in coming years, so no more tinkering.
  
  Do you have a source of that? I couldn't find any news about it.
  
  6
  
  It was originally posted about in 2018, and all "source" material for it seems to have been pruned.
  
  All I can find now is Xiaomi labeling it as "fake news", along with a translation of what might've been in the original closure statement, which said the service were to close Dec 1st. 2018.
  
  Now it could've been real news, but once Xiaomi got caught saying it, they quickly redacted it because it might've been for internal consumption only.
  
  Reminds me of Paypal trying to implement a 2000$ fine on users whose speech they don't agree with, which after they were caught, they tried to say it never happened.
  
  So take it as you will; I tend to believe big corporation leaks which are about to fuck over their customers, over said corporation trying to say it never happened once caught.
  
  For some reading, see https://www.androidauthority.com/xiaomi-bootloader-unlocking-shutting-down-927526/
  
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- oneplus also closed now
  
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- OnePlus are decent if you buy an older one. I use the 7T and it's extremely tinkerable
  
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I'm nowhere near an expert, but it was so easy to root/flash my Pixel 7 Pro (especially with this tool: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/pixelflasher-for-google-pixel-7-pro-support-thread.4505287/), that I'll probably stick with Pixels for awhile?

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Samsung ultra series for sure.

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- Flashing Samsung phones nowadays breaks the "seal", which means some applications stop working, and the camera gets botched because it requires the native samsung app + "intact" phone. There's currently no way to undo that.
  
  16
A Samsung with DeX and a lapdock.

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S23 Ultra or Rog Phone 7

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I would recommend to check on the websites that provide their own custom firmware/os like Grapheneos(.)org or lineageos(.)org Phones on there usually are easy to unlock, customize, etc...

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The lists of smartphones on the Postmarket OS and UBPorts websites can be used as a basis. Theoretically, you can use for experiments phones that come with alternative firmware directly from the factory. OnePlus, for example. You could buy a Pinephone and experiment with mobile Linux.

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I think it really depends what you value as a power user, many "enthusiast" features still need root access and that both limits your choice but also (almost) rules out utility features (that I, personally, view as a requirement nowadays) like Google Pay

If you're looking for "big iron" apps like photo editing and midi sequencers then memory and speedy storage would be a requirement (many of the "gaming phone" models satisfy this)

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One of the foldables, with like, 1TB storage so you don't have to worry about running out of space.

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Pixel with grapheneos

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S23 Ultra Plus without question.

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