I’ve been using Google’s Nexus/Pixel phones for a long time, and currently have a Pixel 2. The Pixel 3 and 4 are totally underwhelming and removed some of my favorite features from the 2.
The only feature I want from a new phone is a (ultra) wide angle camera like the iPhones have, but Google doesn’t seem to want to add that. And I don’t want a phone with a bunch of manufacturer bloatware, like Samsung’s. Does anyone make an Android phone with a decent wide-angle lens, that gets timely updates and no OEM skin/bloatware?
Back in the day, there used to be Google Play Edition Phones, but I guess that died. Is there anything comparable?
I’m in roughly the same position as you, though I can wait a little longer for an upgrade from my Pixel 2 XL.
The closest thing that seems to fit the bill is the OnePlus 7T. Ultrawide camera, fairly lightweight OS modifications, and a good feature set for the price.
The main downsides as I see it:
Camera software stack not as good as the Pixel phones. Not bad, but really the Pixels are top-tier here and the OnePlus doesn’t quite match them.
I liked the back-facing fingerprint reader on the Pixel 2. A front reader isn’t a whole lot better than the face detection thing. I like being able to unlock my phone one-handed and as it’s coming out of my pocket.
Probably not as quick as the Pixels in getting OS updates.
I’ll second Dr. Strangelove’s recommendation of the OnePlus 7T. While I won’t be upgrading this cycle, I’ve been with OnePlus since the first iteration. I’m not much of a picture-taker, so I can’t speak as to how camera’s, their lenses, and their software compares across products, but it ticks all your other boxes along with the wideangle lens. And while I understand that it is completely personal preference, I much prefer the software fingerprint reader on the screen over any on the rear.