Womp womp...

"jminer" (jminer) 07/27/2020 at 16:50 • Filed to: None

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My personal phone is a Pixel 3A XL that I quite liked other than the battery life being meh after the Android 10 update.

Today though it decided to take a dive off table in the garage and the screen figured it had enough.

I had not planned on replacing this phone as it still did what I needed of it quite well and even though it didn’t have the fancy super-high resolution cameras and multi-sensors the latest gen of phones do it takes quite good photos (for a phone).

Time to drag the spare Moto G5S Plus out of the drawer and I’m reminded why I loved the pixel so much when I bought it. The camera on the Moto is terrible by comparison (see above phone photo).

So I’m torn on what to do - looking at parts costs a new screen for the Pixel will cost me ~$150 which is steep on a phone that’s already a year and a half old, but still worked fine enough. For $200 I can buy a Moto G Stylus and while I likely wouldn’t use the stylus much it would be nice when gloved.

So what would you do oppo? I’m way too cheap to buy a flagship phone and figure I’ll likely get aggravated with this 3 year old Moto G5S Plus pretty quickly, but I’m also barely using my phone other than to dial in for conference calls...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > jminer 07/27/2020 at 16:55

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As someone who has never put a case on any of his phones ...

[knocks wood]

jminer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/27/2020 at 16:58

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I’ve always worn a case on it, but rarely a screen protector. Also having carried a smart phone for 14 years I’ve only ever broken one until 3 years ago and I’ve done in 4 (counting this one) since then.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > jminer 07/27/2020 at 16:58

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That photo is so bad I can’t even see it :P

I don’t know, phones breaking is part of the deal. I’d see what you can that is new enough and cheap enough for you to be happy with. I bought my current Pixel 3A for around $240 last christmas - given that it is that much older today would expect prices to have come down further. What’s the best you can get a Pixel 4 for? I love the camera on my Pixel as well, and even though it’s not super fast it’s nice having the latest version of Android and not having all that bloatware. If my phone were to break today I’d think long and hard before going back to a non-Pixel android. 

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:01

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What it do what it do?

Tell me you got it for cheap.

bob and john > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:05

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I replace my phones every 4 years more or less, but I usually get the model RIGHT below the flagship. Its done me well so far

bob and john > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:05

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I replace my phones every 4 years more or less, but I usually get the model RIGHT below the flagship. Its done me well so far

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:07

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That’s quite a run of bad luck.

I [stupidly] jumped in the pool with an expensive, new iPhone in my pocket many years ago, but had bought it with a credit card that had some kind of new purchase accident forgiveness, super fortunately.

phenotyp > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:11

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I recently replaced my almost-4-year old iPhone7 with an SE— it’s a pretty decent deal. But if you’re not already locked into the apple ecosystem, I can understand not wanting to go that route. But I’m pretty happy with it— mostly because it’s just a faster version of the phone I already had and really liked. 

The Snowman > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:16

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The 4a might be out in a week...

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/google-pixel-4a-release-date-price-specs-and-leaks

MIGHT!

Brickman > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/27/2020 at 17:18

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My phone case is made of wood :P

The back is at least. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Brickman 07/27/2020 at 17:22

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Son, I am disappoint.

hillrat > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:32

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IMHO the cost/value/performance sweet spot is buying the previous version of the flagship phone. For example the current top of the line iPhone is the 11Pro and costs $1099 , if you step down to a new Xr price is $599.

Nauraushaun > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/27/2020 at 17:32

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That’s incredible :)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Nauraushaun 07/27/2020 at 17:33

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Yes, only my pride was hurt, in the end, not my pocketbook.

Nauraushaun > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:33

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I’m on my second OnePlus and I expect my next phone to be another one. They’re almost as good as a flagship, but half the price.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:37

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I tend to buy either last year’s flagship or the one down from it. My current phone is a pixel 3 that I picked up almost a year ago when the pixel 3a was announced. I can’t see myself going back to a “non-pixel phone, ” latest version of andr oid and timely updates without having to wait for my carrier to get around to doing something are awesome! .

onlytwowheels > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:42

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My LG G2 is 7 years old, does what I need and has been dropped more times than I would like to remember. Hard shell case does what it’s designed to do, protect, not look cute or stylish.

Jason Spears > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:44

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You can get a used or renewed (various sellers on Amazon, for example ) 3a XL for ~$300, which is very fair for what it is. Repair yours or sell it as is to recoup a little of that. If you can stand to wait and use the Moto for a while, you may score a deal on a remaining new one if that’s what you’d rather have.

Either way, p ut this on it: https://www.amazon.com/OtterBox-Defender-Holster-Non-Retail-Packaging/dp/B08374G78K/ . Maybe it’ll help, though a direct shot to the screen is always a problem.

boredalways > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:45

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Buy a used one off of Swappa or eBay (eBay is usually cheaper).

That's what I did when I replaced my Essential Phone PH-1 with a used 3XL.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:45

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I got my s10e for $470 out the door, its a good little workhorse...

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > jminer 07/27/2020 at 17:54

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I noticed my Pixel XL’s once “above average” battery life has completely tanked these past few months. I don’t want to replace it but having to fully charge it every 8 hours is a nuisance.

Were I you, I'd probably just repair the screen because I'm cheap.

Dr_Watson > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/27/2020 at 18:20

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word... I’m in the naked phone camp. 

Dr_Watson > jminer 07/27/2020 at 18:28

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That’s pretty expected for a new screen if it includes the digitizer .

I have an iFixit toolkit and have repaired a couple phones before, swapping the screen + digitizer is generally pretty easy. And while you’re in there you can put in a new battery to get more life. They tend to get tired after ~2 years.

That’s probably what I would do and get a few more years out of it. 

jminer > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 07/27/2020 at 18:40

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I think I paid $350 for the pixel like 15 months ago - a lot less than I wanted to get out of it.

jminer > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 07/27/2020 at 18:41

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I checked and the Pixel 3a phones have gone up - they’re more than I payed for this one last spring.

jminer > bob and john 07/27/2020 at 18:42

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Makes sense - last couple years though I’ve had a rash of destroying phones so I won’t pay more than $400 for a phone.

jminer > phenotyp 07/27/2020 at 18:43

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My work phone is an iPhone and while it’s fine not sure I want to daily it for personal.  I’m getting an 11 Pro here in the next couple weeks for work to replace my 8.  I might just limp along and see how I like it first.

jminer > The Snowman 07/27/2020 at 18:44

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That is definitely tempting if it happens...

I’m not on-call and I don’t really go anywhere, might be able to limp along until then.

jminer > Jason Spears 07/27/2020 at 18:46

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I only paid $350 for my 3a XL last spring, definitely not paying $300 for a refurb one, I’d rather replace the screen in mine.

The phone had an otterbox on it, just can’t stand to use the ones with screen protectors.  I’d rather replace a phone I break than scream at it every time I try to use the touch screen.

jminer > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 07/27/2020 at 18:47

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Happened to this phone after the last few updates too . Used to almost get 2 days out of it.

For the screen repair it’s $150 for it, then I have to install it. But the phone isn’t worth much more than that and replacement screens also never look as good as the OEM ones.

jminer > boredalways 07/27/2020 at 18:49

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I can get a new motorola phone for $200 though that’s used phone price for performance comparable to my Pixel 3a.

I’ve definitely bought used phones before, several times. For some reason I don’t anymore .

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > jminer 07/27/2020 at 18:50

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Been there.

The following might better explain my earlier reply:

jminer > Dr_Watson 07/27/2020 at 18:52

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That plus the battery does sound like a not bad idea.

I’ve done phone and electronics repair so I’m not afraid of it, just seems steep for what it’s worth to me. A phone that has a slightly lower quality than new screen on it and that’s already a year old - is that better than a new mid-range $200 phone?

jminer > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 07/27/2020 at 18:54

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That’s not a bad price for a new Samsung.  I do like that phone makers are starting to make phones that don’t cost $1k.  That’s what I liked about this phone, it cost me like $370 out the door when I bought it last year all while performing pretty solidly.

jminer > onlytwowheels 07/27/2020 at 18:55

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This phone has been dropped probably hundreds of times and my case is an Otterbox which has absorbed all of that damage - just hit something sharp in the middle of the screen this time so it broke.

jminer > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 07/27/2020 at 18:56

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I did not get the reference - but definitely appreciate it now!

jminer > Nauraushaun 07/27/2020 at 18:58

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They’re definitely solid performers but I really hate paying more than $400 for a phone.

boredalways > jminer 07/27/2020 at 18:59

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Oh yeah, the Moto G Stylus.  Well if you do decide to get it, let's us know what you think.

jminer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/27/2020 at 18:59

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Oof - I lost a phone in a lake once.

Went out kayaking with my wife once and when I got back to the car it wasn’t in my jacket pocket.  Couldn’t find it on the beach or anywhere.  Got home and pulled up the google device manager and last GPS tag was in the middle of the lake...

jminer > boredalways 07/27/2020 at 19:00

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Will do - it’s a tempting choice.

jminer > hillrat 07/27/2020 at 19:02

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I really liked the price/performance that this 3A XL came in at - near full pixel specs (at least all I cared about) for $350.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > jminer 07/27/2020 at 19:16

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I would just get it repaired, personally. The phone, itself, is likely fine, it’s just the screen that needs replacing. I hate replacing things can still be useful, and even at $150, repairing that phone is still cheaper than the cost of a new phone....just my 2 cents! :)

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > jminer 07/27/2020 at 19:55

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Nokia makes Android phones again. 

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 07/27/2020 at 19:59

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I actually paid 80 bucks to replace the battery on my Pixel XL at a Google authorized shop, only to have the whole phone die 2 days out of warranty.

So. Mad.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > jminer 07/27/2020 at 20:05

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I think Google went a bit too cheap with the Pixel 3A XL screen glass. Mine was picking up scratches everywhere until I gave up and put an OtterBox screen protector ($$) on it. Not surprised that it might be more susceptible to outright shattering.

(Hilariously, the screen protector cracked down the middle a month later for no apparent reason. No scratches though! *grumble* )

I didn’t have any problems with my Pixel XL’s screen over 3 years of use, nor did I use a screen protector on my Galaxy Nexus before that.

jminer > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 07/27/2020 at 20:11

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Hmmm - I’ll have to give them a look 

jminer > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire 07/27/2020 at 20:12

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I’ll give you that, it’s survived several other drops but the screen was definitely scratched up seriously relatively early. I don’t put anything in the same pocket with it either.

Brickman > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/27/2020 at 20:13

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There’s none for a moto G7 ;)

Dr_Watson > jminer 07/27/2020 at 20:19

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here’s the best $200 phones compared to your pixel.

https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=9790&idPhone2=10286&idPhone3=9257

The moto G is probably the best option. You would be downgrading the screen a small amount from the OLED unit. The 665 SoC is about 20% slower than the 845 with 1/2 the memory bandwidth. You lose 1/2 the storage, but gain a SD card slot. Small drop in memory. Camera is probably a wash, though the pixel 3 is known for having good image processing. You lose the compass, fast charging, and Qi wireless.

Not the end of the world, but I think it’s enough that it’s a noticeable difference. The pixel was a flagship in it’s day. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Dr_Watson 07/27/2020 at 20:49

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It’s the only way to live! 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > jminer 07/27/2020 at 20:50

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No bueno. 

notsomethingstructural > jminer 07/27/2020 at 21:16

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$150 sounds outrageously expensive for a replacement non-OEM screen. Are you checking wholesale vendors?