In 2018 I bought a slightly used (about a month) LG V30 for about 300 euro. I've been using it ever since, and it has met all my needs. The sound quality -- both from the built-in speakers and the 3.5mm analog output -- is excellent. It's not bulky or impractically large, and the build quality is outstanding. It looks great, offers expandable storage (to store my music), and I can still get through an entire day on a single charge. Why can't they make anything like that anymore? I've been looking at recent flagships, and every single one feels like a downgrade -- aside from having the latest specs. There's no expandable storage; instead, they expect you to pay hundreds more for extra internal storage. And if you want to listen to music with wired headphones, you’re stuck carrying around a bulky DAC dongle. So, what are the options in 2025? It seems like the only viable choices are the Sony Xperia 5 series or the Asus Zenfone (up to the 10th edition). But both have been discontinued, and the Xperia barely sold to begin with -- making it really hard to find one.So, what now -- just surrender? Or am I missing something? Is there anything out there that still meets these basic, reasonable needs?
>>106513229I feel your pain. I loved my V30, only replaced it with a V60 because I was too lazy to replace the battery. The V60 is fine by it's too big. At the moment I'm using a 2024 Moto G Stylus, which still had the headphone jack, micro SD, and FM radio, and I got it new for $99... but it's thicker, audio output isn't quite as good, and it's not waterproof.
>>106513494what's that 2nd from the right? the V30? man phones with thin bezels without being ouright "bezelless" look so nice.
https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?chk35mm=selected&idCardslot=1ThereOr you could just get a pixel and grapheneOS it
>>106513229Get a Galaxy A25, it has a headphone jack and micro SD slot, and it's pretty recent and easy to find, just remove all of the Samsung One UI bloat, which isn't tough to do, and enjoy!
>>1065132292013-2018 was the golden era of smartphones. I still remember my HTC One M8 from that time. Today's phones are soulless.
I've had quite an experience looking for a practical new phone. I bought an Xperia XA2 in 2018. It's running great but 32gb is rather small even for 2018 standards.I tried the Galaxy s25 but it was still rather large. I had to return it because of a defect with the camera. I also tried the Zenfone 10 but the battery drained so much and was likewise somewhat too big. So for now I'm still using my Xperia. I've looked into the Unihertz Jelly Max but there's no headphone jack and the camera seems rather poor. Not sure what else is available.
/g/ maybe you can help me with my quandaryI hate my smartphone but I need it for two things:>mobile wallet/NFC>good camera for photo/video on the go (I already own a Nikon DSLR, but its big and bad for video)My understanding is the light phone is fucking bad and wouldn’t satisfy those needs I listed. Is there any dumb phone that can do those two things for me? All other tasks I plan to use a cellular tablet for
>>106513229redmagic has your back fɑm
I've been using xperia premium xz and now my banking app is dropping support for android 9 which is the latest version for my phone. All the new phones I've seen look like downgrades and they all have no bezels at all so you are going to get touches on the edges constantly for just holding them
>>106516363my redmagic doesn't have that issue
>>106513494Dude, I miss blackberry phones.
Return to simple living.Casio f91-w watch on your wrist.Road Atlas map in your car.Dumbphone 4G nokia with the battery out in a zippable double layer plastic bag.A small backpack like a cheap one from goodwill,Used book collection of what interests you at home.
>>106516557I have most of this list already. If I need navigation I use an iPad
>>106516612Yea because one of these days the internet will probably go out if the world gets destroyed. Unless you got solar you probably wont get to use a laptop and eventually the batteries will go out.You do not want to be the one that survives somehow, only to have nothing to fucking do all day.Society reverts back to prison rules, whoevers got the porno mags, entertainment and good food in plenty numbers becomes the new leader and especially water.
>>106513229Sony Xperia One Six>Great sound - check>Expansible storage - check>Excellent battery - check>Good cameras - check>The Smscreen is viewable in the sun - checkWill be heavier than the v30 (still lighter than most modern phones though) but that's just the current trend.
>>106516557I'm this close to returning to this. The maps are/were the only thing holding me back from ditching my phone. I own and use a landline still, I dont need a mobile phone! I think I'm probably gonna go for it, as I realised I don't really go anywhere I don't know, and if I do, I'm usually planning the route beforehand to check for traffic anyway. I'd add a small pocket pad and pen/pencil to that list too, as having something to jot down on is very handy. Smartphones really made us monkeys huh.
>>106516744You cant find a phone thats>Good speakers and sound>SD card>4000mah+ battery thats removable>good camera>good OLED screen>able to sideload custom androidSo I don't own a smartphoneIt doesn't exist except the fairphone shitter 6 which has a stupid button on the side.
>>106515305A52S was the top A series to get for that combo. Unless updoots are a consideration where the A25 wins.
>>106513229Yes, but they cost just as much as lower end smart phones.
>>106513229I had a V30, in traditional LG fashion the touchscreen died after a couple years.The DAC thing is mostly snakeoil, it isn't noticeably better than other phones.
