what can’t I get in the Play Store or the App Store that I actually want?
For me, it’s an independence from Google thing and a privacy thing. I am logged in to the Play Store on my phone, but I try to get whatever I can from F-Droid. On other devices like my TV, tablet and e-reader, I’m not even logged in and use F-Droid and the Aurora Store instead. Not having to rely on Google is great.
Honestly what is the argument for staying?
There are still Android phones with headphone jacks
Yes, my Android phone (Galaxy S10) has a headphone jack and a microSD card reader and a fingerprint reader. And it’s a flaghship. But it’s a 2019 flagship. (Still does things better than my iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is Apple’s flagship from last year, and still their current flagship model. Most notably, the Android keyboard is better.)
Do any new flagship Android phones have headphone jacks? Not that I need one. I’m 100% on board with AirPods. Love them. I own headphones but it’s a lesser experience. I have some decent (not great) over the ear Sennheisers (they were around $50, so not audiophile range, probably the brand’s entry model) and they’re good enough, but the AirPods are a better experience in many ways. But anyway, mid-range Android phones have headphone jacks, but they’re underpowered compared to flagships, and Android flagships are underpowered next to iPhones of the same year. So while granted, a mid-range 2025 Android likely outperforms my S10 across the board, I have no reason to upgrade what is essentially my backup phone.
Do any new flagship Android phones have headphone jacks?
Less and less. Sony still does and Asus still does on their ROG Phones, but dropped it for the Zenfone 12 so not sure how long they’ll last with it still (I love my Zenfone 9, so a bit sad about it).
But anyway, mid-range Android phones have headphone jack
Shockingly little nowadays. If I search between 300-500 euro, I can only find Sony, Poco and two Samsungs (A25 and Xcover 7).
For me, it’s an independence from Google thing and a privacy thing. I am logged in to the Play Store on my phone, but I try to get whatever I can from F-Droid. On other devices like my TV, tablet and e-reader, I’m not even logged in and use F-Droid and the Aurora Store instead. Not having to rely on Google is great.
There are still Android phones with headphone jacks
Yes, my Android phone (Galaxy S10) has a headphone jack and a microSD card reader and a fingerprint reader. And it’s a flaghship. But it’s a 2019 flagship. (Still does things better than my iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is Apple’s flagship from last year, and still their current flagship model. Most notably, the Android keyboard is better.)
Do any new flagship Android phones have headphone jacks? Not that I need one. I’m 100% on board with AirPods. Love them. I own headphones but it’s a lesser experience. I have some decent (not great) over the ear Sennheisers (they were around $50, so not audiophile range, probably the brand’s entry model) and they’re good enough, but the AirPods are a better experience in many ways. But anyway, mid-range Android phones have headphone jacks, but they’re underpowered compared to flagships, and Android flagships are underpowered next to iPhones of the same year. So while granted, a mid-range 2025 Android likely outperforms my S10 across the board, I have no reason to upgrade what is essentially my backup phone.
Less and less. Sony still does and Asus still does on their ROG Phones, but dropped it for the Zenfone 12 so not sure how long they’ll last with it still (I love my Zenfone 9, so a bit sad about it).
Shockingly little nowadays. If I search between 300-500 euro, I can only find Sony, Poco and two Samsungs (A25 and Xcover 7).
Uh.
For stuff like banking apps. It’s not perfect, I know
Get Hermit and use the bank website
Not a bad suggestion, but I’m not sure that’d work. Online payments are tightly integrated with the banks apps here. I can try it though
What about aurora?