LM: reasonably priced Android or iOS phone with regular security updates

I'm using a Moto G7 Power and like it. The G8s are coming soon. 

But, here were are on Feb 15 and my phone is only on Dec 1st security update. 

In reply to John Welsh :

That's actually better than I am used to from the G4 days, but still not great. Unfortunately other than the various Pixels there don't seem to be too many Android devices that get updates regularly and timely.

I've had good luck with the Moto phones, but I will say that my G6 is getting awfully long in the tooth.

My employer does a similar thing with being able to remotely wipe my device, but I found a little bit of a work-around for that.  I use Boxer which is from VMware to connect to my company's Exchange server (Office365 instance, really).  So now the only thing that they can wipe is the Exchange data inside Boxer and revoke my access to OneDrive which means my apps, personal data, contacts, and all that is out of their reach.

With my Moto G7 on Fi, I get monthly security updates and no bloatware. I think $200 regular price, I got mine and Dana for $100 and $150 at Xmas on sale.

Edit: if you can find the Android One version of a phone, they were made to be cheaper and more widespread but I don't think they took off. Anyway, they're pure bare Android with direct monthly updates that aren't carrier locked like so many other updates. There were a few, they might still make them new, but should be cheap used.

In reply to RevRico :

That's a good point - I think a lot of the Nokias and some Motorolas are Android One. Got to do more research on that.

In reply to wae :

That's an interesting idea - my employer is all G-Suite, so I should probably check if they support Android Enterprise. That's still only a partial solution for the "multiple phone numbers" problem, but it's definitely something to look into and/or ask the IT department. That way I can at least be sure that the main work apps are seperated out.

In reply to BoxheadTim :

My last phone was a Moto X 4 One, which was the android one edition. I got it in 2017. Great phone, good camera, but after 18 months the "non removable" battery started degrading pretty fast. 

There was a distinct lack of cases available when I got mine as brand new, and the all glass body with raised camera bezel made it suck horribly to set on any surface. My glass back wss cracked within 2 weeks of ownership, didn't effect anything but I'm assuming the waterproof rating. I wound up with a soft rubber case that made it sit flat and it was fine even falling out of the car onto gravel.

So whichever way you go, make sure you can get a good case for the thing before you buy it.

In reply to RevRico :

Didn't think about cases, and you make a good point. A lot of my colleagues upgrade their phones annually simply because the amount of travel we do tends to be pretty hard on equipment. You also make another good point re the battery, which is kinda why I'm considering Apple phones as well - at least for those I know I can get new batteries etc relatively easily, plus the tools to fix them.

I have some LG that has been pretty good. It has survived everything I've thrown at it. I can look up the model. You can find them on EBay for under $100 all day long.

In reply to dxman92 :

I've heard good things about LG - how good are they with the montly security updates?

As long you're good with GSM, Nokia. I've had my 6.1 on TMobile for more than a year and it's great. Security updates every single month, just got the Android 10 OS update a couple weeks ago. Fast, good battery life, no bloatware. My GF liked it sufficiently to switch from Samsung.

I'd ask what your definition of cheap is, because I bought my kyocera duraforce 2 outright for 440 bucks and it does everything you ask.

In reply to 02Pilot :

Yeah, I'm on T-Mobile so no CDMA here. Did you see any issues with LTE throughput or did it "just work"?

In reply to Grizz :

Well, I can get an iPhone SE refurb with 128GB storage for about $250, the 64GB one for about a Benjamin.

I'm happy to spend up to $400 for this, but cheaper is better if it's a decent phone. If we're going much above that I'm bound to buy another premium phone.

BoxheadTim said:

In reply to 02Pilot :

Yeah, I'm on T-Mobile so no CDMA here. Did you see any issues with LTE throughput or did it "just work"?

make sure your new phone has  Tmobile  LTE Band 71 , and VoLTE

BoxheadTim said:

In reply to 02Pilot :

Yeah, I'm on T-Mobile so no CDMA here. Did you see any issues with LTE throughput or did it "just work"?

It just worked. I've had no issues.

Pixel 3a. Cheap (around $300-350 brand new), pure Android, great camera, 3 years of OS updates with security updates past that. Still has a headphone jack. Comes in regular and XL sizes. To me, there's no other cheap phone to consider.

Also, when it comes to security updates, I trust Google much more than most of the OEMs, but especially LG and Moto, who have pretty bad reputations.

Tom_Spangler said:

Pixel 3a. Cheap (around $300-350 brand new), pure Android, great camera, 3 years of OS updates with security updates past that. Still has a headphone jack. Comes in regular and XL sizes. To me, there's no other cheap phone to consider.

Also, when it comes to security updates, I trust Google much more than most of the OEMs, but especially LG and Moto, who have pretty bad reputations.

Came here to say this.  Zero bloat, great battery, amazing camera.

LG, Moto, Samsung... you're paying for the prestigious name, the expensive TV commercials, and free bloatware.

I have a pixel 2.  I got it shortly after it hit the market (waited long enough for the price drop).  So that was what... three years ago?  Two?  I will want to upgrade when 5G becomes mainstream, but I really LOVE this phone.  Sounds strange...  After two years with my Moto, and my Samsungs, I was furious with them... they were slow, had wasted batteries, glitchy things were happening.  After two years with this Pixel, I don't want to give it up.

I have had a Moto G6 and the bloat wasn't a problem.  Battery life was pretty good.  For ~$150, it was money well spent.  Lasted two years before it went into permanent-boot-loop mode and I got a Galaxy S8 as a replacement.  Battery life and overall performance on the S8 is still good, but there is a lot of bloatware.  

Refurb iPhone 7/8, done.

No Android bloatware or Google data mining shenanigans.  Cases are cheap and updates are still coming out (for now).  Battery replacement isn't impossible and unless you need the storage space, they can be pretty damned cheap for the smaller models.

BoxheadTim said:

In reply to dxman92 :

I've heard good things about LG - how good are they with the montly security updates?

It is pretty good with any available updates. It is the LG K20V.

I'll second the Nokia line up. They've got a scaling line up, although they're also doing the "premium" glass back thing now because consumers have decided (thanks to marketing departments) that glass is a premium material to wrap inside a plastic case and never see again. Anywho... I've got a 6.1 and I'm mostly happy with it. The phone speaker crapped out so I can barely hear phone calls with the volume all the way up but that really doesn't matter to me since I rarely have phone calls and I either use speaker or a mic'd ear bud as a work around. No bloatware, no added $ premium for a name, and you get regular updates. I went to Best Buy and walked out with the phone, brand new, for about $240 IIRC which sure beats paying for the flagships. The phone does everything I want it to and they used good material for the front glass so I don't have scratches despite my hobbies and lack of a screen protector.

We upgraded our old iPhail6 to iPhail8's for under$500 for the pair used.  Ebaybseller ive linked to before. Great customer service

In reply to Error404 :

I assume that's because wireless charging works with glass backs, and not metal. 

The hardest requirement on your list is the waterproof. I don't believe any motos have any sort of rating. I use a OnePlus and it's crazy good, but not rated.

iPhone 7s have trash reliability. iPhone 8 is supposedly better, but my wife and sister in law both have speaker issues right now. Really don't want to drop 5-600 on an xsxrss