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Is pixel 4a too old for a new phone?

Hi,

A friend wants to degoogle his phone, so I suggested the OS I'm currently using. The one we can't talk about... He wants a small/compact phone, so I suggested pixel 4a (not buying second hand though), but I'm afraid that planned obsolescence may kill the phone rather soon. What's your opinion?

Cheers and thank you for your help,

Ilandar ,

Yes, that is too old for a new phone. It's already past its end-of-life for both official support and your OS. I'm not sure why you'd recommend them to buy new either - a phone like that is only going to be good value if you pick up a used one for cheap. A new model will be massively overpriced for what it is (and may not even be new, just refurbished and repackaged).

GolfNovemberUniform ,
@GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml avatar

I guess they were talking about a refurbished or a used one.

Ilandar ,

They specifically said "not second hand" so I assumed not.

GolfNovemberUniform ,
@GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml avatar

Sorry I am really blind recently. A new 4A is a terrible deal

Tywele ,

What's the OS we can't talk about?

half_built_pyramids ,

The OS-who-shall-not-be-named lest you summon it's power.

GolfNovemberUniform ,
@GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml avatar

The open-source one that's so powerful it summons an online fight with at least 50 members if mentioned. It's kinda anomalous so it is recommended not to mention it online until further research.

rickyrigatoni ,
@rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee avatar

Hannah Montana Android.

delirious_owl ,
@delirious_owl@discuss.online avatar

We don't talk about Hannah Montana Android.

steal_your_face ,
@steal_your_face@lemmy.ml avatar

We sing about Hannah Montana android

Grippler ,

To be more helpful than the joke comments you've received so far, it's graphene OS that's causing a lot of controversy.

just_another_person ,

What's the controversy?

Grippler ,

I'm honestly not quite sure, I just know people are getting riled up when it's mentioned.

fossphi ,

It gets people going, (Daniel) 'Mkay?

I stole this from another lemmy comment, please don't come after me

BigFatNips ,

Who's comment was that 😂

fossphi ,

Can't really remember right now. I think it was a thread on which phone to buy and people were talking about graphene os on pixels.

Someone commented something along the lines of "m'lady" but with Daniel Micay's name as a pun

lemmyvore ,

They claim their security measures are better then other custom ROMs.

just_another_person ,

Don't they all make that claim?

lemmyvore ,

Hence the controversy! 🙂

Also, Graphene tend to act superior about it and it pisses people off.

TwinTusks ,
@TwinTusks@bitforged.space avatar

That doesnt sound like a controversy, its bascially "btw, I use arch"

FutileRecipe ,

Do they all really? I know GrapheneOS does, and I think DivestOS even says "use my OS to stay as up to date as possible, but if you have a current/supported Pixel, use GrapheneOS instead for superior security." But I don't recall other OSes really going "we're more secure than GrapheneOS and here's why."

Certainly_No_Brit ,

The Google Pixel 4a is officially end-of-life and doesn't get any software and security updates anymore (https://endoflife.date/pixel).

scrooge101 , (edited )

CalyxOS still provides extended support for Pixel 4a until August 2024.

mnmalst ,

FYI: "Extended support" from a custom rom means the OS level software gets updated, not the device firmware. So you still end up with a not fully up to date phone.

Written from my Pxiel 4a. :)

Titou ,
@Titou@sh.itjust.works avatar

The one we can't talk about...

I don't get it ? Why can't we say it's name ?

StormWalker ,
@StormWalker@lemmy.zip avatar

Because GrapheneOS is a debatable triggering subject for some people.
Basically the OS itself is amazing and very good. But the project leader is apparently arrogant and offensive. And offended a load of big known online personalities. Apparently he says his OS is the best and better then everyone else etc etc.
So the question is: do you use and support a project where the product itself is amazing and just what the world needs, but where the project leader is offensive? Some say yes, some say no. = Controversial subject.

Personally I use GrapheneOS because I need a good camera and I like having a flagship modern phone. Currently I'm using a Pixel 7 Pro. I also like the privacy and security features that graphene offer.
I don't see another project out there that can offer me the same. The product is good.

Titou ,
@Titou@sh.itjust.works avatar

But the project leader is apparently arrogant and offensive.

"apparently"

StormWalker ,
@StormWalker@lemmy.zip avatar

Well yes exactly. It's all just big personalities online that say that these things happened. Who knows really what the guy is like. A few big names online say these things about him, but I personally have never had any Interaction with him. So it could all be true, or partly true, or not at all. I guess no smoke without fire.. but there is always 2 sides to every story.

foremanguy92_ ,

I think it's a bit too old, if you want to stay in the pixel ecosystem maybe try to grab a 6, 6a or 6 pro. They are around $250, and they are great!

qaz ,

I recently got a 6a to replace my iPhone SE for €160 and it's been working great.

foremanguy92_ ,

Great

cradac ,

I'm using a 4a right now which I bought last year, refurbished. It's a great phone and has a headphone jack.
If you're concerend about updates, install an alternative OS. If you want to degoogle that should be the path anyway.

ben_dover ,

4a is end of life already, so no firmware updates from Google. GrapheneOS has legacy builds available for it but doesn't recommend using them, and they might go away anytime soon

get a used device which is still properly supported, don't buy brand new e-waste

Misk ,

I have a 4a running graphene and I love it but after 3+ years the battery life is shot. I really didn't want to buy any of the new pixels because they are all too big and I hate big phones. I was thinking of just buying a new 4a and installing graphene again (because got forbid making a phone where you can just swap out the battery in this day and age) but are you saying this would be a bad idea at this point? Like even if they keep graphene up to date the phone will still be outdated (and therefore vulnerable) at the kernel/hardware level?

ben_dover ,

yes and P4a is already one major GOS/Android version behind, it's only getting "extended legacy support" releases. i.e. security fixes are merged and backported where possible, but it's overall not the best setup and they recommend to switch asap.

I'm pretty sure GOS will drop Android 13 (and therefore P4a) as soon as they release Android 15, since the team won't be maintaining three major Android versions.

CalyxOS ported Android 14 to P4a, so you might squeeze an additional year or so out of it if you switch.

I'd either replace the battery in the old P4a, or get a newer model with 7y software support. But buying a new 4a is probably not your best possible move

possiblylinux127 ,
@possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip avatar

You could just jot use Graphene OS. They create ewaste just as much as Android. Lineage OS will run on 8 year old phones.

eugenia ,
@eugenia@lemmy.ml avatar

You can install LineageOS or e/OS on it (instead of Graphene, if that's too controversial), and then the 4a is a good phone to use.

helenslunch ,
@helenslunch@feddit.nl avatar

Yes, it's too old. Does not receive software updates anymore. The newer a-series of phones are still quite a bit larger than the 4a but also quite a bit smaller than the 8 or especially 8 "Pro" or whatever the fuck stupid name they're giving phones these days.

RootBeerGuy ,
@RootBeerGuy@discuss.tchncs.de avatar

The software updates are maybe not an argument when it comes to degoogling? Then it depends if the OS they plan to use still sends updates.

helenslunch ,
@helenslunch@feddit.nl avatar

I mean...you're gonna have to run some operating system on it. And that operating system is going to need security updates.

s38b35M5 ,
@s38b35M5@lemmy.world avatar

I bought a used Pixel 5 in Feb for my daily driver. Replaced my Pixel 3 only because the power button was flaky. They both still run great. By my standards, getting two years out of a phone I paid $150 for is better than getting three years out of a $700 phone.

pH3ra ,
@pH3ra@lemmy.ml avatar

Writing from a 3 years old 4a running CalyxOs: the phone is a perfect choice if you want a small sized phone with a 3.5mm jack and that gets constant updates. The camera might be a little better but I don't take many pictures so I don't mind.

ben_dover ,

the camera is amazing, but you need to use the Google Camera app for it to take advantage of all the Pixel magic. 3rd party camera apps will yield lousy shots comparatively.

LodeMike ,

It is currently not being updated

delirious_owl ,
@delirious_owl@discuss.online avatar

I have a Pixel 3a, and I love it. I also have a Pixel 4a and love that one too

I bought a Pixel 5a, and hated it. I think the 4a is the best phone on the market right now. Great price, great support in Lineage, and its not too big and heavy.

zod000 ,

Sadly agree, I've been looking for a proper successor with no luck.

GolfNovemberUniform ,
@GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml avatar

It goes for like $80-120 in my country. For the price it's an interesting deal but it's extremely old so GrapheneOS won't support it. I think you can still find something like LineageOS or crDroid but tbh it's too old for a new daily driver. Lack of firmware updates will kill custom ROMs due to incompatibility with new Android versions eventually (and most likely very soon).

Compact phones are dead now and the last ones don't even seem to support degoogled custom ROMs. You're out of lack with that.

Ilandar ,

Compact phones are dead now and the last ones don’t even seem to support degoogled custom ROMs.

The XZ2 Compact still has LineageOS and DivestOS support and there are ongoing unofficial iodéOS builds for the XZ1 Compact (which I am using). The S10e has decent support too, although it's a bit larger. But yes, modern compacts are dead in the traditional form factor - it's now flips or a niche micro-brand phone like the Unihertz Jelly series.

GolfNovemberUniform ,
@GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml avatar

These are older than Pixel 4A lol.

Ilandar ,

Sorry if I've misunderstood what you were trying to say. I interpreted that quote from you as suggesting the last true compact Android phones (the Xperia Compacts and, to a lesser extent, the S10e) don't have custom ROM support. If you were instead saying the most recently released "compact" phones (which are really just medium-sized phones) don't have custom ROM support, then that would also be partially incorrect since the Pixel A series is widely supported and the Xperia 5 III has official LineageOS support.

GolfNovemberUniform ,
@GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml avatar

The only "new" compact phones I know are iPhone Mini and some Asus Zenphone. Neither have custom ROM support afaik and both don't seem to be in production anymore. Medium size phones (6-6.4 inches) are not compacts.

Ilandar ,

The Jelly Star is even smaller and released last year. Not that I would recommend it to anyone concerned with updates or custom ROM support, because it probably won't get any lol

GolfNovemberUniform ,
@GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml avatar

Is that a Russian website?

Ilandar ,

Unihertz is a Chinese company.

Corgana ,
@Corgana@startrek.website avatar

extremely old

Dude it's less than four years old lol I get what you are saying but Q3 2020 is not that long ago.

GolfNovemberUniform ,
@GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml avatar

It's extremely old for a new daily driver phone you want to buy and for Android updates.

Corgana ,
@Corgana@startrek.website avatar

I know what you meant but unless you're gaming there's nothing you can do with a Pixel 8 that can't be done with the 4a (though I usually reccomend the P5 because for a few dollars more you can get wireless charging and significantly better battery life).

GolfNovemberUniform ,
@GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml avatar

Firmware updates.

umbrella ,
@umbrella@lemmy.ml avatar

a four year old phone should absolutely still be getting updates

GolfNovemberUniform ,
@GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml avatar

Say that to capitalists.

umbrella ,
@umbrella@lemmy.ml avatar

if only they would listen

toastal , (edited )

Pixel 4a was one of the last in the Google lineup with a headphone jack (5a being last). The OEM lost its way after that. This enough to not recommend their devices as far as I am concerned.

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