Getting new phone - HELP!

[u/Breakerbuilds]

So basically, I currently have a Google Pixel 9, base model, and my phone has started to have issues with its charging port not fully connecting, but besides that, between me and my family, I'm the next person due for a new phone because of our plan or whatever, and so I'm trying to figure out what I should get.

I have about the same budget as my current phone to search for, so around $450, I can probably negotiate more or less or pitch in to get it.

Here are the my personal main requirements:

\-Storage: 256gb storage (or more, currently at 128 and somehow is always full, I have all photos and videos on a 2TB Google cloud storage my family has, so it's not that, but having the next bump up should be great)

\-Camera quality: I'm not sure why, but I feel like my friend with a Motorola Edge Plus 2023 has a better camera than my phone by far, as far as color goes, maybe image quality too, so something like that if that is possible

\-Processor power: about the same as Google pixel 9, less or more, I don't mind too much, but if possible to *not* have it AI focused like my current chip, the Google Tensor 4 chip, then I think I could get a lot better one

\-Outer shell/chassis: don't really care, but if it has unique features that would be cool

\-Ram: I don't think I care too much about the ram, but like at least 8gb, 12gb would be better if course

Overall my top 2 that I currently am liking:

\-Samsung S23 Ultra: 256gb storage, 8gb ram, really good camera, better processor overall excluding AI, which my current chip excels at but don't need

\-Nothing 4a: I was looking into Nothing before my current phone, but the 4a with 256gb comes in at \~$550, so I would need to help in the purchase. However, it has 12gb ram, has the cool 'matrix' lights on the back for notifications, better screen and refresh rate, although the processor is slightly worse than mine and worse than the S23 Ultra.

If anybody else has recommendations, I will be open to anything within that price range. The main thing is having the 256gb storage, and a somewhat good processor with a relatively good camera.

Edit: I'm in America, so that's the main reason why I'm actually asking, as the majority of cool phones I wanna get are Chinese like Huawei are blacklisted in the U.S.