So with apple being shit and me not really liking samsung recently, what Android phones are good? I'm eyeing Lenovo since they make solid laptops but are they any better?
Pixel is the only decent Android phone if you don't like Samsung.
And even then, it's not that good.
I've been using them since the Pixel 2. The Nexus 6P was the last good Google Phone.
But the alternative options aren't any better.
I have no complaints about Pixel 4a and I'm planning to upgrade to 8 soon.
The pixels are fine, but I have the Pixel 8 Pro and it still has too many bugs considering it's Google and I'm getting real tired of the enshittification of all of Google's services and apps.
Every year they get either more bloated, more hindered, or killed altogether.
I'm really bitter about Google Play Music and Google Podcasts being killed. Along with Google Now.
Pixel with GrapheneOS is pretty good.
Although be aware the fingerprint reader is now behind the screen, and is a lot worse than the dedicated reader in my crappy 6 year old Chinaphone.
I only use a password so yeah.
I have been quite happy with Nokias (HMD Global). Only downside is poor spare part availability.
Nokia g22 and g42 5g dont have that problem. They were desinged to be fixed and they are doing cooperation with ifixit
Lenovo is a solid choice for a laptop. I really would encourage you to explore Linux rather than Windows. Pop_os and Elementary both have a MacOS feel - I use Pop_os
As far as phones, I use a Pixel 6a, the 6a is the budget model - it performs well and has a great camera. The good thing about androids is that you can customize the hell out of em. Fairphone is another one I would recommend because you can do all of your own repairs if that is important to you.
The Samsung Galaxy line is very popular and they just announced they will support the phone for at least the next 7 years - so there's longevity there - so dunno if that will change your mind, a lot of kinks have been worked out ( just don't buy their appliances)
Good luck - happy to answer any questions
Ubuntu cinnamon user for the last year and a half love it. As for phones I have an s22 but I'm tired of all the bullshit bloatware that comes on it. Like I cannot fully uninstall Facebook on this thing without knowledge of how to use adb. And if uninstall something samsung deems critical, it could break half the features on the phone.
Do pixels have bs apps on the system partition?
They have some Google apps that you can't remove but there is no true bloatware.
Plus if you are more privacy oriented you can install some custom ROMs with literally no bloatware or overhead.
Not to mention VPN based ad blockers (Rethink DNS ad blocker is foss)
I am using adguard, but yes, if you are a more advanced user I would say Android is the way to go
Can you install roms on any variant of pixels? I know usa phones are sometimes a pain in the ass with locked bootloaders
Motorola is good but their camera can do some work. Otherwise those phones are great too. OnePlus 12 also just came out and has a great price to performance ratio
So with apple being shit and me not really liking samsung recently, what Android phones are good? I'm eyeing Lenovo since they make solid laptops but are they any better?
Pixel is the only decent Android phone if you don't like Samsung.
And even then, it's not that good.
I've been using them since the Pixel 2. The Nexus 6P was the last good Google Phone.
But the alternative options aren't any better.
I have no complaints about Pixel 4a and I'm planning to upgrade to 8 soon.
The pixels are fine, but I have the Pixel 8 Pro and it still has too many bugs considering it's Google and I'm getting real tired of the enshittification of all of Google's services and apps.
Every year they get either more bloated, more hindered, or killed altogether.
I'm really bitter about Google Play Music and Google Podcasts being killed. Along with Google Now.
Pixel with GrapheneOS is pretty good.
Although be aware the fingerprint reader is now behind the screen, and is a lot worse than the dedicated reader in my crappy 6 year old Chinaphone.
I only use a password so yeah.
I have been quite happy with Nokias (HMD Global). Only downside is poor spare part availability.
Nokia g22 and g42 5g dont have that problem. They were desinged to be fixed and they are doing cooperation with ifixit
Lenovo is a solid choice for a laptop. I really would encourage you to explore Linux rather than Windows. Pop_os and Elementary both have a MacOS feel - I use Pop_os
As far as phones, I use a Pixel 6a, the 6a is the budget model - it performs well and has a great camera. The good thing about androids is that you can customize the hell out of em. Fairphone is another one I would recommend because you can do all of your own repairs if that is important to you.
The Samsung Galaxy line is very popular and they just announced they will support the phone for at least the next 7 years - so there's longevity there - so dunno if that will change your mind, a lot of kinks have been worked out ( just don't buy their appliances)
Good luck - happy to answer any questions
Ubuntu cinnamon user for the last year and a half love it. As for phones I have an s22 but I'm tired of all the bullshit bloatware that comes on it. Like I cannot fully uninstall Facebook on this thing without knowledge of how to use adb. And if uninstall something samsung deems critical, it could break half the features on the phone.
Do pixels have bs apps on the system partition?
They have some Google apps that you can't remove but there is no true bloatware.
Plus if you are more privacy oriented you can install some custom ROMs with literally no bloatware or overhead.
Not to mention VPN based ad blockers (Rethink DNS ad blocker is foss)
I am using adguard, but yes, if you are a more advanced user I would say Android is the way to go
Can you install roms on any variant of pixels? I know usa phones are sometimes a pain in the ass with locked bootloaders
Motorola is good but their camera can do some work. Otherwise those phones are great too. OnePlus 12 also just came out and has a great price to performance ratio
Both of these have very good battery life