If I were buying an older flagship phone, this is the one I’d get

People ask me all the time which phone to buy. That’s not always true – sometimes, the question is which phone I like best, but the end goal is always the same. And, in these cases, it’s easy to want to recommend the latest and greatest from Google, Apple, or OnePlus. However, most people don’t need a new, high-end device with all the bells and whistles.

So, when I was asked, I started digging deeper best mobile phone Judging from recent years. There’s one older flagship I’ve found that I recommend the most, and the one I’d most like to buy for myself: Google’s Pixel 8 Pro. Here’s why.

My love for Google’s camera bar design has been well documented since it launched on Google. Pixel 6 series. I immediately realized that the Pixels felt different than most other Android flagship phones because of their corner-mounted camera bumps. Since then, though, Google has learned a thing or two about building flagship products. It makes them lighter, softens the sharp corners they once had, and keeps them ahead of the curve when it comes to ditching curved monitors.

Now, when you look at the Pixel 8 Pro, you realize it was a phone that was a little ahead of its time. It launched with a flat screen at a time when waterfall displays were still standard on most Android flagships, and maintained the comfortable rounded bezels that most rivals (and subsequently Pixel 9) is moving toward flat, iPhone-like sides. Google also equipped its previous Pixel flagships with a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 textured back, which unlike most glossy glass devices is dated and fingerprint-free.

Everything else I loved about the Pixel 8 Pro back in 2023 remains true more than a year later. The flat 120Hz OLED still looks great, the curved side rails are still more comfortable than the new square frames, and the Pixel 8 Pro offers better color options than most competitors. Honestly, I prefer the vibrancy of bay or mint to the bland creams, grays and blacks that high-end phones usually come with.

Of course, the Pixel 8 Pro’s design has a few quirks — well, that’s just one major one. Yes, Google launched temperature sensor On the Pixel 8 Pro, this confuses everyone. It’s that extra circle on the camera bar and I can still count on one hand the number of times I used it. Conveniently, it’s not integral to anything, so you can easily buy an older Pixel 8 Pro without ever touching it.

When I started thinking about which older flagship phones I would recommend, I considered going back to 2023. That Old. But then I remembered Android software update commitment It won’t really jump to Apple’s level until 2023.

Furthermore, if you want a phone that receives plenty of updates but also keeps them up to date, the Google Pixel is your best bet. Before the Pixel 8 series, Android flagship software update standards hovered around four or five years — which is good, but not quite the same as the iPhone.

Then, as Google’s internal Tensor As the chips matured, Google was finally able to improve its guarantees, skipping six years and going directly to seven years of Pixel updates, which covers Android versions, security patches and feature drops a few times a year. It may not get the same AI capabilities as the newer Pixel, but there’s no denying Google’s overall experience.

Now, both Google and Samsung are promising seven years of updates for their respective flagships, but I’d still prefer the Pixel 8 Pro over its Galaxy rivals for one simple reason: speed. As the lead developer of Android, Google can push out Pixel updates faster than other OEMs. take Android 15For example. Google pushed its latest major update to the latest Pixel in October 2024, while Samsung’s Galaxy S24, Z Flip and Fold 6 are still waiting, possibly until 2025.

Of course, there are other older phones that offer clean designs and impressive update promises, but I’d still choose the Pixel 8 Pro. Its flexible, Tensor-powered camera, lightweight, smooth software, and reliable overnight charging would be my long-term choice before considering anything else. Can I get more raw power from a phone with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2? Of course I can. I can also find an older phone that charges faster than the Pixel 8 Pro. However, I’ve yet to find another old flagship that’s still as fresh as the Pixel 8 Pro, and it’s going to be constantly updated over the next few years, so I’ll keep doing that.

Yes, of course, I will buy other older flagships besides the Pixel 8 Pro. Even though Google’s device is my personal favorite (and our internal pick for 2023 Phone of the Year), I know some people prefer iOS to Android, some prefer One UI to Pixel UI, and some may not be happy with their The first foldable phone since then. So for those people, I’d still recommend any of the older flagships below (each of which made it onto our 2023 Year-End Editors’ Choice voting).

• iPhone 15 Pro (Amazon $999): If you decide to try iOS, iPhone 15 Pro Probably your best option. Yes, its titanium frame is heavier than the thinner iPhone 15, but if you want to try Apple Intelligence, you have to go with the Pro. Combine that with the extra camera flexibility of a telephoto lens and the excellent video capabilities, and you might find yourself stuck in Apple’s walled garden.
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (Samsung $999.99): There was a time when I was hesitant to recommend flip phones long after they launched, but Galaxy Z Flip 5 Changed things for me. It uses a much-improved Flex Window as its overlay, and Samsung finally achieved a display crease most It’s a thing of the past. I would also choose the Z Flip 5 over Motorola’s original Razr Plus because the fifth-generation hinge is sturdier than the one on the Razr.
• OnePlus opens (Amazon $1699.99): If you’ve been waiting to try a book-style foldable phone, it’s hard to skip OnePlus Open. It offers the fastest charging speeds of any US foldable phone and the most interesting way to multitask, Open Canvas. It’s also worth watching because it has what I think best camera Now on foldable phones.
• Motorola Edge Plus (2023) (Amazon $699): You might think I’d choose the Motorola Razr Plus as one of my recommendations, but hear me out. Since the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has better hardware, I think it would be better to go with one of Motorola’s more traditional offerings. after all, Edge Plus(2023) With 67W wired charging, vastly improved materials over the previous generation, and better cameras, it takes Motorola’s flagship to the next level.
• Xiaomi 13 Pro (£1,099.99 on Amazon): If you’re outside the US, there’s another older flagship you could consider Xiaomi 13 Pro. No, it’s not as ambitious as Xiaomi’s ultra-premium camera phones, but it has a great Leica-powered setup that adds classic Leica color science to your photos. The software may take some getting used to (and you won’t find good band support in the US), but the camera is worth it.