Motorola smartphone replacement

[b4u]

Hi,

I'm reaching this forum in hope that your opinions would help me on my selection of a smartphone replacement.

I have a Motorola Moto X Play non dual SIM mobile phone with 2Gb ram and 16Gb storage. Which by today standards, it's very little indeed. It served me well, but I'm getting stuck with lack of space and of course OS updates are not available for quite some time.

At the moment, on this phone I value the camera the most. It has only 21mp, but the detail it packs into a photo is really impressive. For instance I can get to a shop, take a picture of a wall with items for sale, then I can zoom in and check the individual price tags, fully readable! This camera is really something I enjoyed since day 1, and this was a mid-range price phone. Other things were great too, like display resolution battery life and storage, but well ... I guess 2Gb/16Gb are no more a special thing . Oh, and lack of bloatware, with a near stock version of android was great (at least when comparing with other brands, like samsung).

Don't know how the camera is still so good, don't know the sensor or lens manufacture, I guess the sensor size is 1.1µm which may be important. Many phones present less than that size, like little more than half, which may be the cause for quality loss.

I'm searching for a replacement, but it's been a tricky job, given all the options that are available at the moment. I've tried other phones with more camera resolution, but they all fall short, with lots of noise showing when zooming in.

I don't want to splash 1000€ on a phone, I would like to set on a mid-range price tag, like 300-350, but if giving a bit more will help me getting a product that satisfies me, I'll seriously consider it. Just throw me a model so I can check it out .

So what I'm looking for, in this order of importance:
- Android OS (latest version possible, closest to stock as possible, with minimum bloatware);
- Good camera for quality photos that retain detail;
- 128Gb or 256Gb storage, if possible with micro SD expansion (I take pictures to SD card);
- AMOLED if possible (P-OLED better? worse?);
- USB-C charging;
- Battery that lasts a full day or even more.

Do you have any recommendations? Or as the times seem to show me, we have lots more options available but with less quality than we once had?


Thank you for your opinions.

 

[Tech Junky]

The shift in tech has gotten rid of the SD options since built-in storage has gotten better.

Most phones I the last couple of years are USBC so, that should be standard. Where the difference comes is the charging speed. My OnePlus 11 can hit 100w which means it's fully charged in a very short time. Even at the reduced charging rate it doesn't take long. From a phone geek perspective op offers value without the huge markup.

 

[spdfreak]

Probably can't beat a Pixel 8a for your price point. You may have to wait for a sale or promo but it's a near flagship phone for a mid-range price. For as long as you keep your phones, I'd buy the most I could afford. Google has also said they will have updates for 7 yrs which is pretty amazing.

 

[DaaQ]

Motorola edge+2023 or Think Phone if EU, has been as low as 350 us recently, I have a 2021 which has sd card capability, wife's is 2022 does also, not sure on 2023. New 2024 has Snapdragon x or elite chip not sure on price.

I personally like mine, it's flagship but still wasn't 1k at the time. Still works fine holds a charge ect. I don't like the wife's phone the 2022. SD gen1. Always needing charged but our usage or at least care of it is different.

 

[Tech Junky]

SD gen1

That's a good point to look for. Gen 2/3 handle things better and 3 opens the door to better WiFi.

Not sure about the arm X though as the jury is still out but it's competitive. I think this fall is when sdx4 will probably hit with further improvements.

 

[DaaQ]

That's a good point to look for. Gen 2/3 handle things better and 3 opens the door to better WiFi.

Not sure about the arm X though as the jury is still out but it's competitive. I think this fall is when sdx4 will probably hit with further improvements.

As for the OP, I really like the Moto gestures, turn on flashlight, open camera, those things. Also seems to always have better reception than my work phone SS G10e cellular wise.

 

[Tech Junky]

SS G10e cellular wise.

I quit SS years ago as they're all hype and $$$$

Owned or was provided with a few moto phones over the years and the one I miss the most is the startac. No way though would I go into a flip phone at the prices they're going for now. Medicare hardware doesn't warrant the price.

I was tempted by Pixel options until I went and tested one and they feel like a toy these days. From the specs side of things though there's not much difference between most phones when you pick your CPU and the functions that are enabled by it. Next would be the screen though. Some are kind of lame in terms of brightness and resolution.

 

[DaaQ]

Yea mine does what I need it to do, it doesn't come out of truck while at work, the SS phone does and they can replace that. the camera lens glass cover is broke but it still takes pictures, waiting on them to upgrade my 2017 galaxy tab 3 , doesn't come out of truck much.

On my personal phone, Moto Edge+ I want to say 2021, has headphone jack, sd micro with the sim slot. Can watch movies in truck through it's radio system and sounds like I'm in a theater.

EDIT: Phones just don't excite me anymore, just need them to do what I need them to do. I had a Startac from Ameritech lol.