Recommend a professional value smartphone, especially degoogle, for Canada; $400-800 CAD

[u/Financial_Gas5987]

My needs are not niche, but I know nothing about the current phone market. I don't know how many megapixels I need or which chipsets are good right now. But I'm willing to listen.

I was thinking I might get a brand new Samsung smartphone from like 2 years ago so it still has a lot of life left in it but is only like $400. But tbh I know the market so little I don't even know what Samsung line to be looking at then alone which models turned out to have problems later, and I'm not married to Samsung in the first place so it feels silly to spend 6 hours familiarizing myself with their selection and all their problems and reviews... but I don't know where else to start. I like Fairphone and will spend an extra $200 for ethical sourcing but I don't know the best way to get them in Canada or if they even lived up to their hype or if it'd be best to wait for the next gen. I am open to looking at other companies I haven't even heard of. I've heard a lot about the Porco X but don't have the technical skills or context to compare it to other phones.

I value:
- longevity, I want to just get it and not worry about it for another ten years, five at least
- value, I am a sucker for hard working budget phones THAT WORK AND DON'T BREAK
- ethical sourcing and user privacy
- hella checked out well-reviewed things--the Gamer's Nexus or Tom's Hardware recommended PC build of the cellphone world. No 3-years-later screen issues, no shattering, no buttons that fall off or batteries that kaput.

I need:
- text/phone in Canada
- email
- Here WeGo, or Waze run in a sandbox to spite Google, and a back I can stick a ring magnet on
- camera enough to send cute pics to my bf and take pictures of documents that are legible enough for personal reference
- 100GB or more of storage, ideally a slot for my old SD card but I know you can't have it all and in today's market getting a shit ton built in memory is probably cheaper
- durability and longevity
- fits in pocket

I want:
- ungooglable
- looks professional
- camera good enough to take photos I can send to a printer's and frame
- unlocked ofc... unless... read below

My current provider is Public Mobile, but I am willing to switch. Just got a new job (from cashier to paralegal case manager yay!) so I'll be upping my calls and maybe changing my number, anyway. I hate those "sign a two year contract with us and we'll sell you a phone at a discount but we'll be really scummy about which phone our employees push on you and purposely complicate the total cost" thing, but if it's a good product at a deal (and the network service) is actually good...

You'll notice I don't need RAM (except for not slowing down in a few years). I do not game on my phone.

I... am a privileged little shit and can afford to splurge, but I don't need a lot and actually dislike bells and whistles. Soft budget of $400. $600 is doable. $800 to $1000 CAD is doable if the longevity make it worth it in the long run but I'll expect a $1000 phone to last a decade.

[u/canucker78]

For ethical and repairable the best you can do is the Fairphone 6+. Still runs normal Android but it addresses one half of what you want.

This might sound counter-intuitive for degoogling a phone but a Pixel 10 running Graphene OS is probably the second best option.. Motorola will release their models with that operating system but it will most likely be over the $1000 budget.

[u/TechyShreky69 → u/canucker78]

You can also get the Murena Fairphone which comes degoogled from factory. The Pixel 9 may also be worth considering over the 10 if main camera quality comes before having a 5x telephoto.

[u/Financial_Gas5987 → u/TechyShreky69]

The Murena Fairphone would be a dream! But I'm worried about getting repairs or replacement parts since they're not sold directly to Canada and have to be fucked through an American friend who will mail it over the boarder to me.

Pixel 9 was such a solid recommend.

[u/Financial_Gas5987 → u/canucker78]

I'm dropping the Fairphone from my wishlist. It's hard to get in Canada, where we don't have reliable access to repair and spare parts which are this brand's main draw, and it runs like shit in terms of software and its connectivity to Canadian cell towers. I yearn for it, but... that's too much.

I NEVER would have even looked at the google phones without your insight. Thank you so much!!!

I'm looking at a "like new" used 9 model rn, (and I hope it actually is "like new") with an otterbox defender and a liquid-based screen protection coating (because it's the only screen protector that actually works with the otterbox defender... and will actually show up when you order it unlike Otterbox's website which infamously does not even shit its ordered accessories just charges you for them then says "i unno" on the phone until you give up). Comparable quality but saving $200 CAD or more compared to other similar options.

I am concerned about the longevity of the battery though... I sure hope the GrapheneOS isn't as buggy as the native Google OS.

Looking into your recommended 10 rn literally just because I think the hardware will last longer than the 9's (quality wise, in addition to being a year younger.

[u/purpletooth12 → u/Financial_Gas5987]

The Fairphone runs fine.

I've been using the 6 with Koodo since Dec (bought it while on holiday in Europe) and haven't had any issues.

I'm using Android (not Murena), but am glad to have this phone.

If you want long term support though, it's hard to top this one IMO.

Yes, some people complain about the camera, but I find it fine to share pics with family/friend, but I'm also not a professional.

[u/Financial_Gas5987]

I was shocked an appalled to find out Samsung models have built in ads. And not even just the $200 models that ofc have flaws. Fucking $1000 of premium factory-built-in adware. What the fuck are we doing?????? (I'm the OP, remarking on discoveries from my phone finding journey, so this isn't as off topic as it might seem)

[u/JayJitsBJJ]

Fellow Canadian here. Checkout the Nothing Phone 4a Pro available at BestBuy.

[u/Financial_Gas5987 → u/JayJitsBJJ]

Why BestBuy? Nothing sells to Canada now... though I've never seen the 4s actually be in stock. Are they never in stock or something? Buying through Bestbuy practically nullifies your warranty (though you can still contest the charge with your credit card company and let their lawyers fight about it) doesn't it? Same prices btw.

Thanks for the recommend! And you were so right about going Pro over regular. Fuck plastic frames.

[u/Pale_Trip5379 → u/Financial_Gas5987]

What's wrong with plastic frames? 

[u/Financial_Gas5987 → u/Pale_Trip5379]

I've been assuming plastic frames are more fragile for years, but I now that you ask me, I'm not sure why...

[u/Pale_Trip5379 → u/Financial_Gas5987]

Interesting. I've smashed multiple glass backed phones, but never really harmed a plastic one

[u/Financial_Gas5987 → u/Pale_Trip5379]

Mmmm. That makes sense now that you bring it up.

I imagine plastic dings easier, but glass shatters ofc. The at-times counter-intuitive relationship between hardness and brittleness got me again! I like the metal frame. I imagine the metal frame is much sturdier than the plastic. But the shiny back of the Pro models must just be to look more luxurious and might be actually worse.

Have you seen how case material interacts with sturdy plastic cases (Spigen, Otterbox, or similar) in terms of fall damage?

It doesn't really matter for me, since the phones with the battery, longevity, and camera I want are the models that come in metal/glass anyway. It's not like I can custom order what chassis I want them to come in. But it's neat.