🤖 Smartphones and Tablets

My first smartphone was a Droid and I’ve been an Android user ever since. I have always had an iPad alongside my Android phone. I have always been a “many platforms” and “many operating systems” kind of person. I also get to avoid the pain of knowing that the app I really want to try just isn’t available.

I was very happy with Samsung phones for many years. Google released the first Pixel phone at the time I was looking to replace my Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (the phone that the TSA banned). I have been using Pixels ever since and I remain mostly happy with them.

PhoneHow I feel about itWhen I got itWhy I got rid of it
Pixel 9aSummer 2025N/A
Pixel 7 ProSummer 2023
Pixel 3a
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5GSeptember 2021
Pixel XLOctober 2016
The table above is a work in progress.

I have flitted between the standard Pixel line and the a series for years. I have always found the a series to be great value options.

I am increasingly interested in minimalist phones focused on doing way less, specifically:

hardware