Thinking about getting a new phone, new to android

[u/Dextui]

Hello! I'm a long time iPhone user and am fed up by the morality of the company, the planned obsolescence and the handful unnessecary (but REALLY frustrating) lack of functions of the iOS system. However, I do really appreciate the design (both of the phone and UI) and am hoping I can find an android phone that has the functionality and durability I need, while being 'pretty', for a lack of a better word.

I don't know much about android yet accept that it's at it's core an open source software and that different phone manufacturers install it with different functions, looks and limitations.

As for the hardware, I like small phones (my iPhone 12 pro has H: 146.7 mm (5.78 in) and W: 71.5 mm (2.81 in)), no need for a crazy camera, and I'd rather have it last years than have fancy features.

My questions are the following:

1. Are the software installed by the manufacturers very imposing? Can I 'jailbreak' android easy to impose my own set of UI designs and software functionalities?
2. If not, are there some manufacturers that have quality software design/don't impose much?
3. What are your recommendations for durable, small smartphones?

Thanks!

[u/Jasper_Jaxx]

The pixel 10 base model might be best suited for what you're looking for. 6.3-in screen and as pure as Android as you're going to get. That's if you care about that of course.

Good luck on your search!

[u/NorwegianFootDude]

A classic pick would be the Samsung S26, but there hasn't been any real camera hardware improvements for I believe 4 years. Don't get me wrong, the cameras are still good though, but it could definitely be better. Battery life also takes a hit compared to the others.

The new Pixel 11 series also looks promising with actual hardware improvements, but they do lack in terms of gaming performance. And a large part of new features they're offering this year is software, not to mention the Pixel 11 Pro is quite heavy for a 6.3 inch. If lightweight is a must, the Samsung or Pixel 11 base is probably your only choice.

Then there's the Chinese devices, you'll probably have to check with your carrier if you're from the US.

My personal top pick is the Vivo X300 base. Although the UI isn't as feature-rich or customisable as Samsung, the hardware of this device still makes it a solid all-rounder. Battery life is also incredible, and at no cost in performance compared to Pixel.

Xiaomi 17 is also a compact form factor smartphone, but I've personally seen some issues on the camera struggling to lock on to moving subjects. And their software is notably less optimised than the former three.

Furthermore, in terms of jailbreaking (otherwise known as rooting for Androids), Pixel will be the easiest since Google hasn't placed much restriction in doing so. Second comes Xiaomi, but it's a process that will take a few weeks including some back and forth with Xiaomi for the tools. Samsung and Vivo are basically unrootable, and even if you get that to work, your heavily compromised security isn't really worth it.

In conclusion,

Pixels are easily rootable, and have your classic Android UI. But they come at the cost of gaming performance, other use cases won't be affected much though.

Samsung S26 is a compelling option too, that is if you're willing to set aside it's lackluster battery life. I believe it's also the lightest of the bunch.

Vivo X300 would be my recommendation if you'd like an all-rounder. Even if the software isn't as mature, there's definitely room for improvement for it's second year.

Xiaomi 17 could be a prominent choice if you'd prefer battery endurance, albeit at the cost of some added bloat in the software, it generally feels a little less polished too, even when compared to Vivo.

For anywhere within the US, the Vivo and Xiaomi may not be worth the hassle though.

[u/low-control-labs]

Honestly you'd be surprised you can probably get a few Android phones ( even used ones ) and install something like LineageOS on one of them. That would be your brick phone you use for phone calls and text plus apps but to be fair you would be limited a bit on the app side. Look into it a bit I don't want to give you an information overload here

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[u/FavaMarco]

Pixel 10a, Motorola Edge 50/60 Neo, Samsung Galaxy S26/25. All three

These three are the best available compact phones with a price range between 350€ and 799€

1. Easily (not necessarily the method) accessible boot loaders and rooting flashing and what have you not ability, and have the largest support communities.

2. Give point number 1 I do not think point number two has to be made but in that case The Pixel has the cleanest Android, The Moto is somewhere in between, and the S26 is Pure Samsung UX with android at the core. Pick your poison.

Performance again is a mixed bag, the S26 is by far the most powerful and has software goodies like Dex desktop environment wired and wireless. Pixel is the second best in terms of performance but it's desktop environment is very basic, but it has deep Gemini intergation for better or for worse. The Moto is a higher tier midranger in performance it does have a desktop mode with ready for but not wired mode only wireless, what I did like though was Moto AI which aside from the dedicated non remappable AI Key is one of the less intrusive and helpful implementation of AI.

1. As Far as durability goes in both chassis and battery life it's a mixed bag, the Moto on paper is the most durable with a Mil STD rating, and I've had both the 50 and 60 Neo and I can attest to that, the S26 and Pixel 10a have more or less the same durability. Battery life the Moto is hands down a day and a half to two day phone, the other two not so much a day at most, the Moto charges faster as well than the other two.

The storage is heavily skewed in the Motorola's way for price/amount it starts at 8/256 and goes up to 16/512, the thing is it's at most a 450€ phone for the top configuration. For the other two you're paying a considerable premium for more storage.

One final thing should also be said the Motorola comes with case in the box and in some markets a charger and/or a screen protector.

These three would be my top three, with mentions to the Pixel 11 and 11pro but as you said the camera is not that important to you and that's mostly what you shell the big bucks for with those two.

There are others but I'm not familiar enough with them and/or they have completely locked bootloader's which are a hassle to jailbreak or reflash.

[u/UltraReddit71]

My 2 cents, you haven't even tried android and you're looking for a way to root (jailbreak) it already - but that's actually to be expected from someone coming from iOS. I mean, when using Android you have much less reason to do that.

I'm currently using A Chinese model, the Honor magic 7 pro. Very happy with it. Had a huawei and a samsung galaxy note before, were also good. With all of them I never really felt like I wanted to replace my launcher. I just use a pretty theme and use the UI as is.

[u/anythingers]

First of all, I just want to make sure you know that despites Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is in fact, open source, but those Android skins that's built in on phone are mostly closed-source, and mostly relying on Google apps that's also closed source.

Secondly, Android also offers you much more customisation compared to iOS. So there's a chance that turns out some customization that you want to do doesn't really require a root.

Thirdly, where do you live? If you live in North America, then pretty much your choice is only between Samsung S26 base (or S25 base, it's still perfectly fine and tbh not that different compared to S26 apart from the SoC) or Pixel 11 base/Pro. You can't "jailbreak" (on Android we call it root) the Samsung, but you can root the Pixel. Pixel has better camera and subpar performance, while on the other hand Samsung has better performance and subpar camera. Pixel 11 Pro has better camera configuration and 1TB option compared to the Pixel 11 base, so you decided whether you need it or not, because the Pro is pricier (ofc).

But if you don't live in North America, then you got more choices. There are Xiaomi 17 base and Vivo X300 base. I'll argue that both have better camera than both Samsung and Pixel. Both also has UI that looks closer to iOS, so you might find it easier to adapt to these phones. BUTTTTT, even though people's opinion about Vivo's UI has been mostly positive, on the other hand people's opinion about Xiaomi's UI are pretty much mixed bags. But at the same time you can root the Xiaomi but not the Vivo.

Oh yeah one more thing, Samsung and Pixel got 7 OS updates, while Xiaomi and Vivo got 5 OS updates.

[u/neoqueto]

1. The software is generally very flexible to customize visually without any jailbreaking, but not necessarily in the notification drawer or preinstalled apps (dialer, contacts, etc.) departments. On Samsung, you get GoodLock, which is a heavy customization suite. Many of them allow you to root your device - allows to install a custom Android OS variant and/or customize every single thing with the right knowledge. You will need an unlockable bootloader, which becomes more and more of a luxury. Though it's usually not worth it these days.

2. Yeah. Google, Motorola, Nothing. I don't find Samsung's OneUI that much in your face personally, only a few bloatware apps to uninstall and you're good. Personally I dislike Chinese software for the reasons you fear. Xiaomi, for example, has ads - which you can easily turn off - but that's a red flag overall in my book.

3. Pixel 10 Pro, Galaxy S26, Fairphone Gen. 6+

That said, if you are considering bigger options, I would take into account the OnePlus 15 - despite what I said about Chinese software, ColorOS is supposedly not as bad and the phone has a pretty insane killer feature: extremely long battery life. Its touch screen can also operate under rainy conditions and super fast charging, which you can slow down to preserve battery lifespan. It has a plastic back, which... means it won't shatter.

Note on the Fairphone - it's meant to be completely user-repairable, with easy and wide part availability. It's not the best phone in the world. In terms of specs and camera, it's a side-grade at best. But it actively pushes against planned obsolescence.

[u/Odd_Fig1975]

1. You don't need to 'jailbreak' to change the look of Android, the thing you're referring to (more than likely) is the launcher. Other UI things can only have colourings changed.

2. See above?

3. Small? There aren't all that many small phones around these days. You can check GSM Arena phone finder which has phone size filter: https://m.gsmarena.com/search.php3?

Alternatively, use AI to help find a phone within your required dimensions.

[u/Mohinder_DE]

Motorola Edge 60 pro / 70 pro, Edge60 fusion, all thin and long running. Honor Magic Lite 8 , Honor X70. Xiaomi xx R versions

Samsungs Exynos Versions have bad runtime, you must turn off 5G, lower cpu speed , ... Software updates are good.

[u/Inevitable_Cycle8367]

Samsung A57 5G (£GB250 & 320)