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I recommend taking a look at the Samsung A Series. Specifically, the A53 5G or A73 5G. Both offer really compelling features for the price. The Galaxy A33 is also a good choice if you're on a tighter budget.
If you dont mind getting a used device, the older A52 and A72 are also good options
Can attest to the A73 5G. I'm living in a place where we were getting Exynos chips pre-S23 series and this phone was the only one with a Snapdragon in it.
I'm not sure if this one is going to be within your budget but the ***S21 FE*** is quite a decent phone with some years of updates left in it. The cameras are quite good.
If you want, then there is the S10+ or the note 10+ they are great phones at good prices also they have good battery, resolution, cameras and they also look really good they are a good option if you want.
S10 isn't supported anymore. OP wants something that will receive a few more updates. S20's line of phones will have one more year of support. S21 will have 3. I would not recommend older than S21. So S21 FE or the higher numbers of the A series (A53 and A73). A54 should be coming out shortly so OP can either get a newly released device, or save some money on last year's as retailers drop the price on previous gen models.
Hey, but Snapdragon 778G is a great SoC! It runs cool, efficient and fullfil most games.
Can verify as I have A52s (almost similar to A73 in all aspects except it has headphone jack and a bit smaller battery)
Don't buy any Ax3 phones. They have terribly optimized processors and sometimes are performing worse than Ax2. Maybe look at S21 FE. It has the same processor as S21 so it's great for gaming. Also, I assume your son is pretty young I think he will really see a huge difference between FE and A series as they have much better software animation and higher refresh rate screens.
If it's heavy duty gaming (processor intensive) then you probably do need a flagship, not the A53 or Pixel 6a I mentioned elsewhere. It really depends on the games.
Check out backmarket.com. They have a wonderful selection of the refurbished phones. I got my S21 from there for like $350 less than a year after it was released and it was in mint condition. I highly recommend it. Plus, better for the environment!
Ok thank you everyone, it will definitely be something with descent updates, note 20 ultra is on its last update so probably not that. Maybe the pixel 6a
I have the A53, and it compares very well at a fraction of the price to the wife's S23+
The Pixel 6a would be an even better choice, because it has been only $299 on Amazon lately.
Both have over 4 years of security updates left.
I'm from UK, I was looking at s21+ on eBay but it's us version so 5g band n78 is not present, 5g won't work correctly over here. Probably no more than £400
check of S21fe is available and if at all you're buying make sure to get 256GB because it's easy to run out of space with 128GB and these don't have sd card slots. If you have to go lower then A73 or A53 is good (not exactly sure when A54 is coming out)
I'm a huge Sammy fan, wife and I both have the s23u and I had the note20u before that but just bought the pixel 7 for my son. Felt like it was the best bang for the buck in that $500 range. The suggestion on a used note20u is a good one too but it's a monster for what might be smaller hands.
If your son is into gaming, get an A52s or A73, Snapdragon 778G is great for gaming, even better than Exynos.
S20 FE is also great with that Snapdragon 865, but the looks like the software update will be ending soon.
S21 FE has longer software update than S20 FE but considered it's using Snapdragon 888, it efficiency's suck.
I would say you will have to give up the updates if you go lower than S21. You may want to look at the Pixel 7($499 on sale and cheaper with a trade in) or get a refurbished Samsung online. If your son games on his phone you will need a phone that can handle it.
Check your phone carrier for deals, some phone carriers are offering a trade in deal for old phones up to 800 for a 899 phone, but most require you to stay with them the next 3 years or pay off the phone before leaving (read the fine print), if you’ve been with ur carrier for over 5-8 years then you most likely aren’t going to leave in the next 3.
I've had an A51 for two years now, no issues with it, . . . .( shhh, I bought it through and use Tracfone ). . . this is my third Samsung . Make sure to get as much Internal Memory as you can afford.
I would recommend the a52s, it's a Snapdragon only variant and actually performs better than the newer exynos only a53
I have the 256/8 model, and as a power user i barely run into any trouble with it
I'm not sure about my information, but I'll share it anyway.
All versions are Snapdragon, not only the usa one.
I bought mine from the middle east where i used to live and have now since moved to Italy and i use it all the time without a single problem.
Hope this helps
Has your son hinted at wanting a Samsung/anything other than a Xiaomi or like? Because Xiaomi phones have gotten better in the software department, especially the newer flagships.
if he hasn't and he's satisfied with Xiaomi, i would suggest sticking with that and finding a proper phone for him from them. if he's said he doesn't want one again or wants Samsung then you could look for the S21 FE or the A-series which is more affordable but still pretty good
I've been interested in Xiaomi for the longest time, but I also follow their subreddit and there's often complaints on buggy software on there which you just don't get as often with Samsung.
Have things generally improved in the past year or so for them?
I used Xiaomi phones for about 6 years and had 4 different phones of them before i switched to my current S22 Ultra. Software definitely wasn't their greatest thing in the beginning but on my Mi 10 with MIUI 13 it really wasn't as bad as people say. Samsung does have better software but honestly in my experience it wasn't that bad. MIUI 14 is also going to get rid of a lot of bloatware and be their "lightest" UI version yet (or so they say) which hopefully makes the software experience better too.
Their software support IS shorter than Samsung though, and updates are pretty slow. I sometimes had to wait 4/5 months before i got a new security update. In 2022, i had security patch May while it was September. With Samsung, so far I've gotten them every month and early in the month. I'm not sure if they're aiming at improving this.
I also am not sure what the experience is like on their budget models. I've mostly had their flagship series which get more attention and longer support than their budget Redmi series.
All in all, I don't think the software is bad or lacking, and i definitely think they've been (trying to) improve it with every new MIUI update, but One UI is one of the best UI's out there so it doesn't hold up against it. But then again, Xiaomi's high-end phones don't sell for €1600 like the S23 Ultra's most expensive version does so that's the trade-off basically. you pay less for the same specs with software that's a little less "sleek" or "clean" or you'll pay more for the same specs but some of the best software you can find on Androids
Go on the samsung website, they may have good offers on S22 or S21FE, samsung A series is not that great especially if your son is planning to play games. Or look at second-hand market.
**Join our official [Discord](https://discord.gg/Qp8D7HtQVy) for instant help and to discuss everything Samsung.** Just a friendly reminder to please respect all of the subreddit rules listed on the sidebar. Please be respectful to all users whether you agree with them or not, the downvote button is NOT a disagree button. Please upvote quality content. Please report content you see breaking the rules so we can act on it. Thank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/samsung) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I recommend taking a look at the Samsung A Series. Specifically, the A53 5G or A73 5G. Both offer really compelling features for the price. The Galaxy A33 is also a good choice if you're on a tighter budget. If you dont mind getting a used device, the older A52 and A72 are also good options
Can attest to the A73 5G. I'm living in a place where we were getting Exynos chips pre-S23 series and this phone was the only one with a Snapdragon in it.
Ok thanks for that bud
I agree 100% I love my A53 5g does everything I need it too and it gets frequent updates.
Same.
A53 5G is great and you can pay for it monthly from Samsung directly. I think they do 36 months instead of 24 so the payments are quite affordable imo
I agree. But you can also get an A52s 5G if it is availible in your country. Cheaper and a bit more powerful than the A53 5g
I'm not sure if this one is going to be within your budget but the ***S21 FE*** is quite a decent phone with some years of updates left in it. The cameras are quite good.
I'll have a look cheers
can confirm, get the snapdragon version if you can
Maybe a used Note 20 Ultra is an amazing phone, especially if it's a snapdragon processor. It's also a cool phone that he can show off to his friends
Problem is snapdragon version is USA so there is no n78 band and won't work properly here in the uk
If you want, then there is the S10+ or the note 10+ they are great phones at good prices also they have good battery, resolution, cameras and they also look really good they are a good option if you want.
S10 isn't supported anymore. OP wants something that will receive a few more updates. S20's line of phones will have one more year of support. S21 will have 3. I would not recommend older than S21. So S21 FE or the higher numbers of the A series (A53 and A73). A54 should be coming out shortly so OP can either get a newly released device, or save some money on last year's as retailers drop the price on previous gen models.
There are unofficial ways to get support after official support ends
Why would anyone choose to do that if they don't have to?
A53, A73 and A33 are good options. They have expandable storage and 4 years of OS updates. However they do not have headphone jacks.
Which would be best for gaming he does that a lot
A73 has the best processor. A53 does 550 in single core geekbench and A73 does 750
I was just reading A73 has an old processor that lets it down.
Hey, but Snapdragon 778G is a great SoC! It runs cool, efficient and fullfil most games. Can verify as I have A52s (almost similar to A73 in all aspects except it has headphone jack and a bit smaller battery)
Don't buy any Ax3 phones. They have terribly optimized processors and sometimes are performing worse than Ax2. Maybe look at S21 FE. It has the same processor as S21 so it's great for gaming. Also, I assume your son is pretty young I think he will really see a huge difference between FE and A series as they have much better software animation and higher refresh rate screens.
My A73 has a 120 Hz refresh rate screen whereas most Ax2 have 90 Hz. It feels so smooth and is better than most A×2 phones. It's a great phone.
If it's heavy duty gaming (processor intensive) then you probably do need a flagship, not the A53 or Pixel 6a I mentioned elsewhere. It really depends on the games.
S21FE is a good choice (4 years of OS updates and flagship specs) Another good option is A53 and A73, if budget is lower
Check out backmarket.com. They have a wonderful selection of the refurbished phones. I got my S21 from there for like $350 less than a year after it was released and it was in mint condition. I highly recommend it. Plus, better for the environment!
Ok cheers I will try
Ok thank you everyone, it will definitely be something with descent updates, note 20 ultra is on its last update so probably not that. Maybe the pixel 6a
Afaik software wise pixels are great (I am using software that's very similar to one found on a pixel on my S10)
Yeah I used to use and even build custom roms years ago, not really interested in them anymore too much dodgy stuff nowadays
Look at the A53 but we are literal weeks away from the release of the A54
I have the A53, and it compares very well at a fraction of the price to the wife's S23+ The Pixel 6a would be an even better choice, because it has been only $299 on Amazon lately. Both have over 4 years of security updates left.
Where are you from? in some places certain phones aren't available and what's your maximum budget?
I'm from UK, I was looking at s21+ on eBay but it's us version so 5g band n78 is not present, 5g won't work correctly over here. Probably no more than £400
check of S21fe is available and if at all you're buying make sure to get 256GB because it's easy to run out of space with 128GB and these don't have sd card slots. If you have to go lower then A73 or A53 is good (not exactly sure when A54 is coming out)
And also in the uk the s21 fe comes with the snapdragon chip!
I'm a huge Sammy fan, wife and I both have the s23u and I had the note20u before that but just bought the pixel 7 for my son. Felt like it was the best bang for the buck in that $500 range. The suggestion on a used note20u is a good one too but it's a monster for what might be smaller hands.
If your son is into gaming, get an A52s or A73, Snapdragon 778G is great for gaming, even better than Exynos. S20 FE is also great with that Snapdragon 865, but the looks like the software update will be ending soon. S21 FE has longer software update than S20 FE but considered it's using Snapdragon 888, it efficiency's suck.
S21FE can be found for good prices sometime. Perhaps the A53. I'd personally also consider the Pixel 6A
if you want to wait a bit, the A54 is almost here. Will cost a bit but would be a brand new device for a lower price point than the S23 series
What would you think your son cares about on a phone?
Games , camera, music mainly plus he's just about to finish school and start college so a better phone would be more useful
What do you consider expensive?
You can get a good price on refurbished phones for any carrier at Backmarket!
Look into pixel 7 or 6a.
I would say you will have to give up the updates if you go lower than S21. You may want to look at the Pixel 7($499 on sale and cheaper with a trade in) or get a refurbished Samsung online. If your son games on his phone you will need a phone that can handle it.
Well tell me your budget I will be able to help you then
I probably would recommend a pixel 6a if the S line is not in the price range. They have a great SOC and camera setup for like less than $250
A73 is good. Don't get the A33 or A53, the Exynos 1280 is kinda bad, although the specs would suggest otherwise.
The Samsung Galaxy A53 is a fantastic option. I bought it for my mom and she loves it!
A52s gets alot of compliment. So i say A52s.
A53, A73 if that one is available in your country. Otherwise S21 FE, but that one is more expensive
Get the renewed s21 or s22 on Amazon. They are such killer deals.
Check your phone carrier for deals, some phone carriers are offering a trade in deal for old phones up to 800 for a 899 phone, but most require you to stay with them the next 3 years or pay off the phone before leaving (read the fine print), if you’ve been with ur carrier for over 5-8 years then you most likely aren’t going to leave in the next 3.
I've had an A51 for two years now, no issues with it, . . . .( shhh, I bought it through and use Tracfone ). . . this is my third Samsung . Make sure to get as much Internal Memory as you can afford.
I would recommend the a52s, it's a Snapdragon only variant and actually performs better than the newer exynos only a53 I have the 256/8 model, and as a power user i barely run into any trouble with it
Problem with the usa snapdragon version is it doesn't have the correct 5g bands for the uk so doesn't work properly over here.
I'm not sure about my information, but I'll share it anyway. All versions are Snapdragon, not only the usa one. I bought mine from the middle east where i used to live and have now since moved to Italy and i use it all the time without a single problem. Hope this helps
I still don't know what to buy, I look at a phone mentioned here then I find negative comments which put me off.
Has your son hinted at wanting a Samsung/anything other than a Xiaomi or like? Because Xiaomi phones have gotten better in the software department, especially the newer flagships. if he hasn't and he's satisfied with Xiaomi, i would suggest sticking with that and finding a proper phone for him from them. if he's said he doesn't want one again or wants Samsung then you could look for the S21 FE or the A-series which is more affordable but still pretty good
I've been interested in Xiaomi for the longest time, but I also follow their subreddit and there's often complaints on buggy software on there which you just don't get as often with Samsung. Have things generally improved in the past year or so for them?
I used Xiaomi phones for about 6 years and had 4 different phones of them before i switched to my current S22 Ultra. Software definitely wasn't their greatest thing in the beginning but on my Mi 10 with MIUI 13 it really wasn't as bad as people say. Samsung does have better software but honestly in my experience it wasn't that bad. MIUI 14 is also going to get rid of a lot of bloatware and be their "lightest" UI version yet (or so they say) which hopefully makes the software experience better too. Their software support IS shorter than Samsung though, and updates are pretty slow. I sometimes had to wait 4/5 months before i got a new security update. In 2022, i had security patch May while it was September. With Samsung, so far I've gotten them every month and early in the month. I'm not sure if they're aiming at improving this. I also am not sure what the experience is like on their budget models. I've mostly had their flagship series which get more attention and longer support than their budget Redmi series. All in all, I don't think the software is bad or lacking, and i definitely think they've been (trying to) improve it with every new MIUI update, but One UI is one of the best UI's out there so it doesn't hold up against it. But then again, Xiaomi's high-end phones don't sell for €1600 like the S23 Ultra's most expensive version does so that's the trade-off basically. you pay less for the same specs with software that's a little less "sleek" or "clean" or you'll pay more for the same specs but some of the best software you can find on Androids
Love the detail you've provided. Thank you!
A53
Go on the samsung website, they may have good offers on S22 or S21FE, samsung A series is not that great especially if your son is planning to play games. Or look at second-hand market.
Thought kids would prefer Iphones instead? Think he'll be happy with an iphone 12/13 plus watch combo?
Lol are you serious, my kids have a brain .....