Overwhelmed trying to choose a new phone
I know I want either a nothing phone, or a xiaomi, but I'm also seeing oppo as a valid option as well?
I'm really not even sure I want a smart phone at all at this point, especially with the ai bullshit going on, but my 15 plus is acting janky and I'm just sick of apples shit in general. Can yall make some suggestions? I just want to narrow down the field for research.
Criteria
- under $1,000, preferably closer to $700 but I'll go as high as $850 before I get squirmy about it
- something I won't have to replace for at least five years, preferably longer.
- I'd prefer no AI at all, but I realize that's unrealistic if I want a phone I won't have to replace for a while, so something where I can at least fully turn it off.
- I've read that you can run grapheneOS on any pixel-similar phone, so preferably something I can do that with-- please advise on this as well if you're knowledgeable:)
OR
- intuitive OS, something closer to iPhone than android. For some reason I struggle with android's OS even though I know people prefer it in terms of functionality. What can I say, the autism do be autisming.
- a good camera. I'm no photog by any means, but I do use my phone to film short form videos, and I take a lot of photos for my friends, so I need a camera at least as good at my 15 plus.
- the ability to find good cases for it. I drop my phone a lot bc I have bad special awareness, plus hello, I'm a girl, it's a purse phone.
Thank!!
Posted Jul 4, 2026, 6:30 PM UTC