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

I’m always requested which cellphone any individual should buy. It’s not always phrased exactly that technique — usually, the question is which cellphone is my favorite, nevertheless the end goal is always the similar. And, in these situations, it’s easy to want to advocate the latest and largest from Google, Apple, or OnePlus. Nonetheless, most people don’t need a brand-new, top-end system with all the bells and whistles.

So, as soon as I’m requested, I’ve started wanting deeper into the best phones from present years. I’ve found that there’s one older flagship I wish to suggest higher than each different, and it’s the one I’d be most ready to buy for myself: Google’s Pixel 8 Pro. Proper right here’s why.

My love for Google’s digicam bar design has been well-documented as a result of it launched on the Pixel 6 series. I immediately pounced on the reality that it made Pixels actually really feel completely completely different from most completely different Android flagships with their corner-mounted digicam bumps. Since then, though, Google has realized an element or two about developing its flagships. It’s made them lighter, softened the beforehand sharp corners, and stayed ahead of the curve when ditching the curved present.

And now, when you check out the Pixel 8 Skilled, it’s a cellphone that was significantly ahead of its time. It launched with a flat-screen at a level when waterfall reveals had been nonetheless the norm for a lot of Android flagships and saved its comfortably rounded physique whereas most rivals (and the next Pixel 9) had been shifting within the path of flat, iPhone-like sides. Google moreover packed its earlier Pixel flagship with a textured once more of Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which has aged fingerprint-free, in distinction to most shiny glass models.

All of the items else I appreciated regarding the Pixel 8 Skilled once more in 2023 nonetheless rings true higher than a yr later. That flat, 120Hz OLED nonetheless appears wonderful, the curved facet rails are nonetheless further comfortable to hold than newer, squared frames, and the Pixel 8 Skilled provides considerably higher coloration alternatives than most opponents. Really, I’d take the vibrance of Bay or Mint over the tasteless lotions, grays, and blacks that normally embrace premium telephones.

In spite of everything, there are only a few quirks with the Pixel 8 Skilled’s design — alright, just one important quirk. Certain, Google launched a temperature sensor on the Pixel 8 Skilled, lots to the confusion of, properly, everyone. It’s that extra circle that lives on the digicam bar, and I can nonetheless rely the number of situations I’ve used it on one hand. Conveniently, it’s not integral to a whole lot of one thing, so that you’ll have the ability to merely buy an older Pixel 8 Skilled with out ever touching it.

After I started fascinated by the older flagship telephones I’d advocate, I assumed-about going even extra once more than 2023. In any case, inside the grand scheme of points, the Pixel 8 Skilled isn’t that earlier. Nonetheless then I remembered that Android software update commitments solely really jumped to Apple’s stage in 2023. So, if I wanted to advocate an older Android cellphone that you just presumably can have by way of the highest of the final decade, it was 2023 or bust.

Furthermore, within the occasion you’re after a cellphone that’ll acquire every an entire lot of updates and nicely timed ones, you’ll have the ability to’t beat a Google Pixel. Sooner than the Pixel 8 assortment, the Android flagship customary for software program program updates hovered someplace spherical 4 or 5 years — good, nevertheless not pretty on par with the iPhone.

Then, as Google’s in-house Tensor chip matured, Google was lastly able to elevate its guarantee, skipping correct over six years and going straight to seven years of Pixel Updates, which cowl Android variations, security patches, and have drops plenty of situations yearly. It received’t get the similar AI-powered choices that newer Pixels will, nevertheless it’s onerous to argue with Google’s well-rounded experience.

Now, every Google and Samsung promise seven years of updates for his or her respective flagships, nevertheless I’m nonetheless ready to push the Pixel 8 Skilled ahead of its Galaxy opponents for a easy goal: Tempo. As Android’s chief developer, Google can push updates to its Pixels lots faster than completely different OEMs. Take Android 15, as an illustration. Google was able to push its latest predominant change to present Pixels in October 2024, whereas Samsung’s Galaxy S24 and Z Flip and Fold 6 are nonetheless prepared for it — and presumably is likely to be until 2025.

There are, in any case, completely different older telephones that present neat designs and spectacular change commitments, nevertheless I’d nonetheless take the Pixel 8 Skilled. I’d attain for its versatile, Tensor-powered cameras, light, clear software program program, and reliable in a single day charging prolonged sooner than considering something. Might I get further raw vitality out of a cellphone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in it? Constructive, I could. I could uncover an older cellphone that bills faster than the Pixel 8 Skilled, too. Nonetheless, I’m however to go looking out one different older flagship that additionally feels as up to date and new as a result of the Pixel 8 Skilled and might proceed to take motion as a result of it receives change after change for years to return.

Certain, in any case, there are completely different older flagships previous the Pixel 8 Skilled that I’d buy. Although Google’s system is a non-public favorite of mine — and our in-house determine for the 2023 cellphone of the yr — I do know that some people want iOS to Android, some want One UI to Pixel UI, and some is probably after their first foldable cellphone. So, for these people, I’d nonetheless advocate any of the older flagships beneath (each of which made it to our end-of-year editor’s choice voting in 2023).

• iPhone 15 Skilled ($999 at Amazon): If you happen to occur to’re set on trying iOS, the iPhone 15 Pro is likely to be your biggest guess. Certain, its titanium physique is heavier than the featherweight iPhone 15, nevertheless in the event you want to attempt Apple Intelligence the least bit, it’s necessary to go Skilled. Mix inside the additional digicam flexibility from the telephoto lens and wonderful video capabilities, and in addition you may find yourself trapped in Apple’s walled yard.
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 ($999.99 at Samsung): For a while, I was hesitant to advocate flip telephones too prolonged after their launch, nevertheless the Galaxy Z Flip 5 modified points for me. It picked up a much-improved Flex Window as its cowl show display, and Samsung has lastly made the present crease largely an element of the earlier. I’d moreover seize the Z Flip 5 over Motorola’s distinctive Razr Plus because of the fifth-generation hinge is a bit sturdier than that on the Razr.
• OnePlus Open ($1699.99 at Amazon): If you happen to occur to’ve been able to attempt a book-style foldable cellphone, it’s onerous to skip the OnePlus Open. It provides the quickest charging amongst foldable telephones obtainable inside the US and doubtless probably the most fascinating technique to multitasking, Open Canvas. It’s moreover worth a look as a result of it has what I consider is the best camera on a foldable cellphone correct now.
• Motorola Edge Plus (2023) ($699 at Amazon): You could possibly have anticipated me to pick out Motorola’s Razr Plus as one among my ideas, nevertheless hear me out. On account of the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s {{hardware}} has held up greater, I assumed it might be further acceptable to pick out one among Motorola’s further standard decisions. In any case, the Edge Plus (2023) took Motorola’s flagships to a model new stage with 67W wired charging, much-improved provides over the sooner period, and better cameras as nicely.
• Xiaomi 13 Skilled (£1099.99 at Amazon): If you happen to occur to’re exterior of the US, but another older flagship to ponder is the Xiaomi 13 Pro. No, it’s not pretty as formidable as Xiaomi’s Extraordinarily-tier digicam telephones, nevertheless it has a distinctive Leica-powered setup that gives conventional Leica coloration science to your images. The software program program may take some getting used to (and in addition you gained’t uncover good band assist inside the US), nevertheless the cameras are worth it.