What Android Phone should I buy

Hello everyone, I'm an extremely infrequent visitor here, but in the past when I've needed advice (for computer purchases) answers from the community have been invaluable, so I'm giving this a try.

I don't purchase phones often - I still have a OnePlus 5 which I'm pretty happy with, and my previous phones have been Nexus phones and a One Plus.

My ideal phone would be a comfortable size in-hand (no phablets) in the ballpark of a flagship in terms of power, with a headphone jack, a great camera, and the ability to screen-cast to a Roku. However it doesn't appear possible to get all of these things in one device.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 seems like the closest thing currently on the market, but I'm leery of buying a model that's over a year old. Also I've never had a Samsung, and am concerned about things I've heard regarding bloatware etc.

General

1. What kind of device are you looking for (phone/tablet/both)? Phone
2. What country are you in? USA
3. What carrier(s) are you interested in (or will you pick the carrier based on your choice of phone)? T-Mobile
4. What mobile OS is acceptable (Android, iOS, other)? Android
   For Android phones, what release do you consider acceptable as a minimum?
   
5. How long do you intend to keep your device? 3+ years
6. Are there any brands you particularly like? No
   Dislike?
7. Will you consider a refurb/used device? No
8. Do you intend to play games and if so, what? No
9. Do you expect to watch video extensively? Yes

Basic Device Characteristics

1. What size screen are you looking for? You can be specific or general. Small-ish. Current phone is 5.5", which is a good size
2. What are you looking for in battery life/capacity? Full day, at least
3. Do you want a replaceable battery? Don't care
4. Do you want the ability to use a microSD card to expand storage? Not Necessarily
5. Do you have a preference between a USB-C and traditional USB micro-B connector? USB-C
6. Do you want a 3.5" headphone jack? Yes, Must have
7. Do you want wireless charging? Don't Care
8. Do you want fast charging? Preferable, but not a deal breaker

Aesthetics

1. Do you have color preference: No
   Prefer?
   Avoid?
2. Phones: prefer wraparound screen or bezel? Prefer Bezel, but not essential
3. Buttons: prefer soft or mechanical? Soft
4. Other aesthetic preferences?

Camera and Screen

1. Do you care about the device's camera? Yes camera is important, but image quality is more important than megapixel size
2. Minimum megapixel requirement (front/rear), if applicable? ~16 Rear
3. Do you require 4K video? No
4. Other desired camera features?
5. Minimum screen resolution?
6. Do you require AMOLED or similar screen technology?

Other

1. Are there any other features you particularly want in a device? Ability to screen-cast to Roku
2. Are there any particular features you do not want?
3. Do you anticipate rooting your device (if you don't know what that means, the answer is "no")?
   If so, any particular ROM you're interested in? No

 

Price point? For less expensive option, samsung A71 is a great phone for a great deal.

 

Thanks! I should have included price. I'd prefer to stay around $500-$1000 range.

 

A71 for sure.

 

Pixel 4a TMo carrier locked might be found for 300-320$ or so I heard. If you have any current Coupons or code in TMo account you can reduce the price of Pixel 4a further. You get 3 yrs of OS upgrade and security update.

 

With the a71 you get 3 years. Plus better battery life, expandable storage and better Microsoft integration if you would like that.

 

But Samsung already has tons of MSFT integrations out of the box with Outlook, Onedrive, MSO, MS Teams, Skype etc....

 

That's exactly what I'm saying. Plus they are the only phone brand who has deeper integration with MS your phone app as well.

 

I was just reading back through your "wants", the only thing the A71 does not check off is that it's a bigger device. Other than that, it has everything you are looking for.

 

Indeed, Pixel 4a would be the best choice for your needs