I need a new phone. What should I get any why?

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by KrisWilst

depends on your need of course. I personally got myself an iPhone 12 pro 256gb. the camera is a bomb, this storage is enough for me, audio and screen quality is great. however, the price is crazy, not for everyone((

I'd say so ... the 512GB storage model in Canada (if I was to buy that one): $1,810 (with tax, over $2,000 ... not including the charger and the transparent rubber cover and the screen protector). And you are correct; one with very very good cameras (very important in my portable book).
Ouch, there goes a hole in my pocket ...

https://www.dxomark.com/apple-iphone...rtphone-video/

...Might as well go for the iPhone 12 Pro Max ... when you have that kind of money to spend on a phone ... with a larger screen (6.7" versus 6.1" for the Pro only).

https://www.dxomark.com/apple-iphone...and-beautiful/

* Refresh rate; still only 60 Hz (what were they thinking ...).

[meremortal]

I'm looking at the Pixel 5a. It's only $449 and I'd prefer to just pay cash than lease a phone. $1000+ for a cell phone is a bit much for Samsung, Apple, etc. My last phone broke and I've been using Skype instead. And it's actually been kind of nice since when I'm out since I won't be tied to my phone and I already spend way too much time online as it is.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by meremortal

I'm looking at the Pixel 5a. It's only $449 and I'd prefer to just pay cash than lease a phone. $1000+ for a cell phone is a bit much for Samsung, Apple, etc. My last phone broke and I've been using Skype instead. And it's actually been kind of nice since when I'm out since I won't be tied to my phone and I already spend way too much time online as it is.

It looks like you're looking @ the right choice from the Google Pixel phone family.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/how...r-the-pixel-6/

For fun ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJZu...ature=youtu.be

It's one of the best camera phones for the price.
The reviews are also quite stellar.

I don't know if issues are going to be discovered ...
https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-ne....556230.0.html

In the past, I don't know which model, they discovered plastic behind the thin metal layer on the back.

Anyway the main camera is very good, better than other phones in that price range and above. ...The selfie camera too.

Google is not my favorite company, but their Pixel camera is the best budget one.
There is no perfect phone than the one we carry around for what we use it for ...

And the Pixel 6 is coming up ...

[LordoftheRings]

The Pixel 5a (5G) is not yet priced in Canada; I don't even know about availability.
The Pixel 5 (5G and without the a) is not available online and @ nearby stores (sold out) and the price is $799.99 Cdn (full MSRP) if you can find one.

I'm not a fan of Google, it has a lower processor chip (Snapdragon 765 5G) and for $530 Cdn you can get the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G with a nice 6.5" OLED screen, 120 Hz refresh rate. The chip is only slightly below (Snapdragon 750 5G), Quad camera, very decent 64 MP main camera, and almost $300 less than the Pixel 5. And like the Pixel 5 it comes with Android 11 and is guaranteed to get up to Android 14 (3 years of major OS firmwares updates, and 4 years of security patches). In my country the Pixel 5 (and 5a) are not inspiring price and performance and feature wise.
Each country is different; from the USA to Canada to Mexico and to all various countries in Europe and Asia when it comes to pricing, processor chips used, and amount of ROM and RAM variations. It's important to differentiate those variants as it will determine the final purchase decisions in comparisons to other brands and models.

Also, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is $100 less than the Pixel 5 (5G), on sale right now for $699.99 Cdn ($549.99 in the US). It's a phone that can be compared with the newest Galaxy S21 and even the S21+. ..Phones that cost $1,000 and $1,200 Cdn resperespectively, on sale.
_____

Extra ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXIA...ature=youtu.be

[LordoftheRings]

If the Apple phones (iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro) weren't so expensive in Canada I would be more inspired. Because 5 years of support and the best chips in the phone business plus quality cameras are big assets.
Samsung flagship phones are more inspiring with their sales and their cameras (S21 Ultra) are competitive with iPhones (12 Pro Max). But we are in the $1,500 territory (Canadian loonies) here for these unlocked phones, three times more than $500 budget phones.

The Pixel 5a is $450 US ...

[LordoftheRings]

The Pixel 5a costs $449, and the iPhone 12 costs $749 (128 GB storage).
I'd rather spend the extra $300 for the iPhone 12, because for me the cameras are very important.
And then there is the A14 Bionic chip, the fastest processor in the world inside a phone.
And it's the best design phone of them all, on the cutting edge of tomorrow.
Five years support and that processor will take it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eah7...ature=youtu.be

Again, I'm not a fan of Google. You get what you pay for, and less.
That's me, and without any bias...just solid reliable engineering.

And what about the iPhone 12 versus the Galaxy S21?
Now that's a tougher call ...

[LordoftheRings]

So far there are two members that I know of here with the iPhone 12 Pro.
It's a highly rated phone, with very good cameras, excellent video shooting, most powerful chip, and it starts @ $1,000 in the US (beaucoup plus au Canada).

It costs $406 to make (I posted that link in another thread) ...
▪︎https://wccftech.com/iphone-12-pro-costs-406-to-make/

So in the $1,000 US range it's an excellent phone. Or you can save some money with the iPhone 12 or the 12 Mini.
• https://9to5mac.com/2021/09/01/iphon...-leather-loop/

They have the same chip (A14 Bionic) and have good cameras too.
And they are affordable to most common mortals with a lower budget.

I'd pick the 12 or the 12 Mini over any Google Pixel smartphones. That's me.
I'm not in love with Google.

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

If the Apple phones (iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro) weren't so expensive in Canada I would be more inspired. Because 5 years of support and the best chips in the phone business plus quality cameras are big assets.
Samsung flagship phones are more inspiring with their sales and their cameras (S21 Ultra) are competitive with iPhones (12 Pro Max). But we are in the $1,500 territory (Canadian loonies) here for these unlocked phones, three times more than $500 budget phones.

The Pixel 5a is $450 US ...

How much is the iPhone SE in Canookistan? (my friendly nickname for Canada, just playin')

The new iPhone SE should be coming with the September iPhone event and it supposedly will carry a 5G chip for future proofing. Hopefully it holds the $399 price (USA price) and some carriers will have deals.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by ctujackbauer

How much is the iPhone SE in Canookistan? (my friendly nickname for Canada, just playin')

The new iPhone SE should be coming with the September iPhone event and it supposedly will carry a 5G chip for future proofing. Hopefully it holds the $399 price (USA price) and some carriers will have deals.

Starts @ $599 Cdn (64GB) and up to $809 Cdn (256GB), without a charger.
• https://www.apple.com/ca/iphone-se/

* For less than $600 Cdn I can get alternate phones that are very attractive too on other aspects and storage expansion and screen's size, refresh rate, etc., etc., etc.

• https://www.apple.com/ca/shop/buy-iphone/iphone-se

So $400 US (64GB base model) is about right @ $600 in Canada (US price plus half).
A phone that costs $1,000 in the US is approx. $1,500 in Canada.
That's about the general trend in prices here in Igloo country, compared to the South.
And we don't have the super sales you guys have; we're just less people here in a big land.

For each country the best phones vary. ...And the specs too (chipsets, ROM & RAM storage, performance).

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

Starts @ $599 Cdn (64GB) and up to $809 Cdn (256GB), without a charger.
• https://www.apple.com/ca/iphone-se/

* For less than $600 Cdn I can get alternate phones that are very attractive too on other aspects and storage expansion and screen's size, refresh rate, etc., etc., etc.

• https://www.apple.com/ca/shop/buy-iphone/iphone-se

So $400 US (64GB base model) is about right @ $600 in Canada (US price plus half).
A phone that costs $1,000 in the US is approx. $1,500 in Canada.
That's about the general trend in prices here in Igloo country, compared to the South.
And we don't have the super sales you guys have; we're just less people here in a big land.

For each country the best phones vary. ...And the specs too (chipsets, ROM & RAM storage, performance).

I actually forgot you guys don't have as many sales. There were quite a few prepaid carriers here that offered the 2020 model SE for about $100 or so, with six to 12 months of lock-in, which were already very fair monthly prices compared to the big 3 carriers in the USA.

I went to the iOS ecosystem because of the 5 years of software/support/security updates too, like you, IIRC. I got stuck with an Android that I bought brand new but the phone manufacturer went out of business in the USA within 6 months and they stopped sending Android and security updates. They had just started up in the USA too, LeEco, a Chinese manufacturer. The whole experience just left me bitter and I switched to Apple.

[LordoftheRings]

You are 100% right with the best support for Apple iPhones, five years.
Androids is three years @ best. And some companies even less. The day they'll catch up with Apple that'll be the day.

Support is number one; without it your cameras can't update the software by themselves, your Google browser will choke.

And the stats around the world don't lie ...
• https://benchmarks.ul.com/compare/best-smartphones

The new iPhone 13 family ... next week. Everything else doesn't matter as much in the world of phones. Without the support phones are obsolete real fast. It's the same thing with Blu-ray players and OLED TVs and electric cars.

[LordoftheRings]

In Kanada we don't have competition; so our monthly telecommunication plans are some of the most expensive in the world. And like I previously said; we are only few people in a vast land that is expensive to maintain a telecommunication network system.
The three amigos (Rogers, Bell and Telus) don't have any reasons to lower rates, why would they.

This fone business is big in the world...with 5G expanding and 6G drawing boards.
It's a good time to be alive and call our moms with our fun phones. Tomorrow we might lose the support to call during unsuspected unfortunate events. Take some snapshots and send them to your moms and dads and friends. Get an iPhone for a simplified life and longer lasting support. Unlocked your life.

[BondFan50]

I think that you can't go wrong with top brands like Sony, Samsung or Apple. They all make really good phones these days

[sfmarine]

Apple has the best support and with their 2 accidental incidents per year with Apple Care it's a clear winner in my book. It's hard to leave their ecosystem once you switch over, so keep that in mind. This has all been planned out by them for years.