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I have to keep relearning the old lesson—as I am once again with this Pixel 4a fiasco—that cheap gear is not always the best value in the long run.
Not the conclusion I would've gone with but Google fans at this point aren't particularly pro-consumer
I know right? I was expecting "I will not buy Google again", not "I will buy the more expensive model next time"...
Sounds like a justification to buy expensive Smartphone.
It's like the old adage about buying $30 boots versus $300 boots.
I typically go for high-end phones and then keep them for as long as possible. I used my Note 4 from release until around 2020 when I bought a used V20 for a short time until buying an S21 Ultra which I'm still using today. You can't get the longevity out of budget phones with worse hardware than a $40 Amazon tablet or $50 Raspberry Pi unfortunately. From what I've spent on my S21, it's the equivalent of buying a $200 phone each year and that only goes down the longer I keep it.
That aside, modern phones seem to get fewer and fewer useful features with each release so I don't really see the appeal of 'upgrading' until I literally have no choice.
The Pixel 4a was a midrange not a budget phone in any manner. Anyway, modern day phones are enough powerful to last years. Especially, midrange phones and higher. The flagship may get you flagship cameras, processor. But, everything else is not 2x or 3x better for the increased price.
If you have the disposable income sure. For most people 90% of the experience is the same and sufficient for their daily needs. Not needing an expensive $1000+ liability who's repair cost on failure outside warranty be expensive.
That aside, modern phones seem to get fewer and fewer useful features with each release so I don't really see the appeal of 'upgrading' until I literally have no choice.
Yeah, with years of software updates. There's literally no need. Unless, you break the phone and cannot get it repaired.
With all the stuff about the ruthless efficiencies of multinational corporations, I took it more to mean 'ill cough up the dough for a fairphone next time'. But maybe I'm projecting my own reaction to getting fucked by the 4a (all things considered, I'm actually kind of ok with the degraded battery life in the end, spent the 50 bucks on a couple external batteries and I rarely even need to use them).
I'm in an awkward spot with my Pixel, I don't want to continue buying Pixel hardware but there doesn't appear to be a viable hardware vendor that supports GrapheneOS, which I really prefer because of the security and "not google" implications. It's pretty upsetting tbh
Graphene OS chooses to not support other devices
Calyx OS probably is a better option since it works with devices like the Moto G52.
Or you could do what I do and use plain old Lineage OS.
calyx seems interesting since they allow for bootloader relocking after install. I'll take a look at that, thank you!
So does Graphene.
And?
The world doesn't revolve around Graphene OS
I am aware which was one of the big sells for Graphene, to me, over LineageOS.
Why not just install Graphene? That's the only reason I'd spring for Google's hardware.
How would that help in this case? If the Google battery-nerfing update is legitimate, then it's preventing Pixel 4a phones from catching on fire or whatever.
To be clear, I'm not trying to justify Google's handling of this situation created by their own defective hardware fuckup.
Sent from my Pixel 4a.
People are literally playing with fire.
On one hand, it could be more Google bullshit like their RCS requirements that lock out custom Roms just so users will buy a new phone or play their cat and mouse game with Magisk modules.
On the other, it could legitimately be a problem with the battery and it needs to be taken seriously.
If those are my options, and there's no way to know the real truth, I'd swap to a different phone just to be on the safe side.
Totally, but why couldn't Google just be straight with people on this? All the corporate speak and hedging just serves to fuel speculation—and doesn't instill a lot of confidence in them or their products.
IMO its because the google everyone liked died with the Pixel 6 and Ai initiatives.
Why not just roll back to the previous version? The Pixel 4a isn't supported anymore so it's not like you're missing out on security patches or anything.
Apparently it just affects certain batteries. Those affected can go boom.
I would not go back to the previous version.
I heard they removed the previous builds to avoid this very scenario.