Please suggest the "best", "future-proof phone"(!)

[WheelieBoot]

My idea of a "future proof" phone is to get a newer one that works if the current one isn't working as well as it used to.

A new phone each year as features upgrade is probably the only sure way to stay abreast of the network changes.

It isn't hard to afford on TracFone, I buy a new Android phone bundled with a year's service on their eBay store for under $100. They have phones with 5g capabilities, I don't know about dual SIM or eSIM capable phones.

They have iPhones on their website if that's a person's idea of a better quality phone.

Sent from my moto g(7) optimo maxx(XT1955DL) using HoFo mobile app

[kevink1]

Even though I use and will probably continue to use Pixel, I'm going to say iPhone 14. If I HAD to buy the closest thing to a future-proof phone, that's what it would be. Just be aware (I'm sure you are) that the iPhone 14 has no physical eSIM slot, which is really a bummer!

The 14 doesn't have a physical SIM slot either

[Serial Port]

the iPhone 14 has no physical eSIM slot, which is really a bummer!

eSIMS are not a physical SIM that can be simply pulled and replaced, they are embedded in the phone circuitry. I have to assume you were referring to the SD card slot instead.

[kevink1]

Since iPhones have never had SD card slots, I suspect Boz1 typod eSIM instead of SIM. But humorous.

[paperwastage]

Esim.me fits in a physical sim slot and supports eSim, so I assume Boz1's referring to this esoteric (and expensive) product


iPhone is probably the best bet. IOS 16 2022 dropped support for iPhone 6s (came out in 2015, so 7 years).

Fair phone 2 came out also in 2015, and got last update in March 2023. But fair phone doesn't have top specs

Samsung offer 4 year update to the high end phones

You can get unofficial updates to pixel (and many other android phones)



I would just get a decent/cheap pixel or Samsung, then upgrade in 5 years. 10 years is a long time hoping that nothing breaks (drops in floor to crack screen, battery issues, regardless how careful you are)

[Boz1]

The 14 doesn't have a physical SIM slot either

Yeah, yeah...typo, lol!

[kevink1]

Esim.me fits in a physical sim slot and supports eSim, so I assume Boz1's referring to this esoteric (and expensive) product

boz1 has replied it was a typo.

I just went to this site to learn about this new to me device. Looks like it is mostly for android, different security system on an iPhone doesn't allow you to manage esims, though you can apparently use it after configuring one on an Android system.

[hapollo8]

I don't know if it's even possible to buy a future-proof phone, but I promised to find out, hence this post.

I agree. there is no such thing as a future proof phone as the very definition of future proof is " unlikely to become obsolete or fail in the future."

They all become obsolete after 3-8 years depending on model if you take into account security updates and/or OS updates.

If not for those, you can still use those phones less securely except when carriers shut down frequencies or require specific features. Think 2G sunset in recent years or required VOLTE spec'd

Best you can hope for is 3 yrs support with budget phones and ~4-5 yrs for Samsung with updates and 7yrs for the most recent Iphone like the 14.

Fair to say, they are all obsolete after about a decade for various factors and thus NOT future proof by definition.

[paperwastage]

boz1 has replied it was a typo.

I just went to this site to learn about this new to me device. Looks like it is mostly for android, different security system on an iPhone doesn't allow you to manage esims, though you can apparently use it after configuring one on an Android system.

i got a eSim.me (before they changed pricing models..

originally it was one-size only, 29.95 free ship to USA, now they artificially segment and charge shipping and more DLC (#esim profile, whether you have to pay to switch device)



It does work if you have the correct device (my Samsung android didn't work initially but worked after some help+ update from them

[kevink1]

I agree. there is no such thing as a future proof phone as the very definition of future proof is " unlikely to become obsolete or fail in the future."

They all become obsolete after 3-8 years depending on model if you take into account security updates and/or OS updates.

If not for those, you can still use those phones less securely except when carriers shut down frequencies or require specific features. Think 2G sunset in recent years or required VOLTE spec'd

Best you can hope for is 3 yrs support with budget phones and ~4-5 yrs for Samsung with updates and 7yrs for the most recent Iphone like the 14.

Fair to say, they are all obsolete after about a decade for various factors and thus NOT future proof by definition.

And even if you don't do something like drop/break it, phones will require batteries at least once for phones actually used. Maybe twice. A couple iPhones I've purchased new got new batteries when handed down. My current 12 Pro will need a battery this year by the time it gets to 3 years. I've had to replace a battery on a Motorola phone, luckily that one had a user replaceable battery, but that phone is obsolete now.

A couple other iPhones through the years have had to be replaced when the batteries swelled, but the phones were otherwise not getting OS upgrades anymore so were recycled.

It will be nice if batteries can be improved in the future.

[PaulCrawhorne]

5 years is very ambitious.

3 years more practical.

7-8 years with battery replacement, maybe depends where in the world

likely not possible stateside

[sillyette]

OP here. OMG, thank you all so much for the info! I am learning so much here!

BTW, the "best" and "future-proof" phone isn't for me. My own phones have always been cheap Androids that I've gotten as hand-me-downs for free (or nearly-free phones from free-phone promos). I've always been happy with those phones. And now, after reading all the replies, I am starting to feel even happier with them!

I have a question about 5G phones:
I know that different carriers use different bands on the current 4G system, so if a phone needs to be an all-carrier phone, it needs to have all the major 4G bands used by the big-3 carriers (plus it needs to be on AT&T's whitelist). Is that the same way with 5G bands and 5G phones? Meaning, if someone needs an all-carrier 5G-capable phone, do they have to check to see if the phone has all 5G bands? Or is 5G somehow different in this respect?

Thank you very much for info and insights!

[PaulCrawhorne]

5G compatibility is much more carrier specific.

Outside of Pixel, Samsung S2x, iPhone and ??? high priced devices,

As in, unless you spend $500+

you need to buy branded variants.

[paperwastage]

Fortunately more 5g bands are shared across multiple providers (vs LTE band that are solely used by one network for lowfreq range/building penetration: b41/71 t mobile, b14 att, b13 version).

N71/n41/n25 is the only used by T-Mobile, and you want n71 for range/building penetration

N2/n5 used by att/Verizon

N66/n77/n78 used by all 3

N258/N260/261 mm wave used by all 3, can be skipped

N70 dish network

There will be more bands being used (eg n48 CBRS, maybe att will enable n14




Also, not sure which phones officially support 5G SA for calls. So 10year futureproof can be tough if LTE/VoLTE gets refarmed away or decommissioned

[rpz1]

Fortunately more 5g bands are shared across multiple providers (vs LTE band that are solely used by one network for lowfreq range/building penetration: b41/71 t mobile, b14 att, b13 version).

N71/n41/n25 is the only used by T-Mobile, and you want n71 for range/building penetration

N2/n5 used by att/Verizon

N66/n77/n78 used by all 3

N258/N260/261 mm wave used by all 3, can be skipped

N70 dish network

There will be more bands being used (eg n48 CBRS, maybe att will enable n14




Also, not sure which phones officially support 5G SA for calls. So 10year futureproof can be tough if LTE/VoLTE gets refarmed away or decommissioned

Wouldn't 5G NSA still be fine if LTE ever goes away ? It would still pull 5G only since no LTE.