Sling or waist/fanny pack can work as well. One can carry, a wallet, phone, sunscreen, mini umbrella, e-reader, keys…
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I do not blame you, it is complicated to consider, so it is for me that’s why I ask for opinions, feedback.
And I wouldn’t be asking for the community if I didn’t go back and forth on this but I unfortunately keep going back and forth. Basically “The pixel 8, but aw shit the pixel fold is smaller, then again im gonna be forced to harm reduce, so pixel 8, but man I really like how small the pixel fold. but hey the s25 looks really compact but man it has its own issues. iPhone 17 but same thing and way more expensive. I’ll take some mm if it means using grapheneos but oh noooo. AHHHH I CANT DECIDE” type of mindset
it also doesn’t help that companies are now making phones 6" or bigger making it in the norm, so im scrambling for smaller or just a tiny bigger than 6" due to the industry moving forward with this.
but I am 100% not exceeding 6.3" on a phone.
but again, 13 mini and pixel fold, fine with me, even though these things have their own cons, with the fold form factor being less of a burden due to the ability to flash other oses, allowing for harm reduction.
and while the pixel 8 and others sounds great, if I can get away with the other then yeah.
also about the it’s not exactly an upgrade, yes im aware but I also said it is not something I mind at all even if it’s a con.
that should also answer you about the whole phone size for you.
iPhone 17 will give you that in a 6.1" body. Only difference here is if you want more freedom and DIY or a prettier & a privacy and secure enough OS that’s not open.
considering I use a launcher that only is available on Android that I’ve gotten comfortable for my digital habits and the multiple profiles, I do prefer the android ecosystem for personal use so yeah.
scrambling on Pixel choices or Samsung but I do see a general disregard on samsung and that’s understandable considering the cons.
Yeah, that’s the other part. Giving up the OS itself.
Pixel it is for you then.
Have you considered a smart watch? I know very little about them so I have no recommendations.
The Pine64 can run custom OSs. No idea what the security is or how useful such a device could be. PineTime - PINE64
Yeah, I would stick with this plan even though you don’t want to.
I am somewhat optimistic about next year’s generation of phones when it comes to compactness, and I would wait to see what is offered in 2026.
Small phones come and go, and since it’s been a while now since a good one I think they will come back next year. You never know, but I think signs point that way for Apple and Google.
When it comes to folding phones, I have not been a fan of any folding phones historically, but since yesterday I have been using a Galaxy Z Fold7 and this is the first time the form-factor has made sense to me. If this is the technology we will be seeing in future folding phones I would wait a year.
TL;DR this seems like a terrible time to buy a phone IMO
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I do have a smartwatch, the only problem with them is that they lack signal and other things.
Not mentioning my watch without being near the phone stopped receiving calls recently, I’m not sure if it needs reconnecting with the phone it originally connected to or need to call the carrier (even though i can make calls just fine)
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I’m on the smartwatch page of XDA, looks like flashing roms on watches is a thing.
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That is a good point I’ve had theories like:
What if the Pixel 10a becomes as compact as the 16e
What if Apple decides on the iPhone 19 or 20, they’ll rerelease the mini with their main feature being silicon carbon batteries?
But then I look at the pixel 9 and 10 and I’m like
“well it’s the same exact dimensions and design and I foresee Google continuing this trend”
and Apple’s past history ever since the introduction of the X, XS and XS Max, then the 12 mini and 13 mini and killing it and I’m like
yeah no way they’re returning this even with silicon carbon battery existing now which makes for denser batteries and very ideal for mini phones.
And then even companies who already make phones with silicon carbon battery like vivo, like oppo and oneplus. their “mini” phones are more like the size of standard phones.
Also Apple’s transition from 16 to 17, the 17 actually became bigger than the 16, not smaller.
and the nail in the coffin is that at the end of the day, consumers usually choose the bigger phone than the smaller one and companies know this and this leads to way less motivation to do smaller phones. I would bet that Apple’s Air phone will go 2 generations away before killing it like the mini due to lack of sales. Same with the S25 Edge, this is also especially as they missed a serious shot with not adding silicon carbon battery to it.
And it will take a long LOONG while for companies to embrace silicon carbon and it baffles me they’re not doing it now since the Chinese phone makers have proved it is viable.
With all these factors im less of a techno-optimist when it comes to phones. Hence while it would be wise to wait, im leaning between pixel 8 and fold at this point or waiting and getting whatever latest is supported by GrapheneOS
This is what came to me when I started reading your post. I went from 13 mini to 6A. Sold the mini recently which I kind of regret but well.
17 seems like a reasonable option of the lot, for the uses and locking down you detailed. Long term support and all the latest chips have to offer. Cons still stand but you have to draw a compromise. Pixel 8 as a second option, for the price and fairly long term support past GOS support window.
Fold really doesn’t seem like the reasonable option here. Folding design. Used one is still pricey as far as I know. Durability is yet to be proven I’d say given the design and care required.
The Pixel 7 ends support in October 2027, where I originally plan to upgrade the phone
This is kind of what my rationale was to pause for a bit and observe. I eyed 15 pro but I feel it is still way too expensive and even considered getting a used 16E. My way to deal with size of my current device is to use it less, which has been a blessing in disguise. I honestly wouldn’t be able to type this all if I did it on a phone. I understand it is not a practical solution for all. I admit the times when I pick it up for something urgent, I have a hard time handling the phone and I feel it’s even harder since becoming a parent.
At the end of the day if you think a Pixel 8, iPhone 17 or hell, even Samsung improves your qualify of life as a result of switching to something compact, go for it. One less thing to divert your mind, energy and time off. I don’t anticipate Apple releasing a 17E anytime soon, if their track record of releasing something like their SE is anything to go by. It would be great if they release it around the time your Pixel 7 runs out of updates and I’m hoping that it will be a sub 6.3” phone, I really do.
I totally see where you are coming from and I briefly considered getting a Pixel 8 few months ago. Size has been a pain point of mobile devices for me. I’m using a Pixel 6A and sometimes it can be real pain to handle it one-handed. I only considered getting the Pixel 8 because like you, I prioritized compactness and kind of still do. The current device just seems to be working fine and I love GOS but I feel reluctant to change the device and shell out more $$ now. 17 and even 15 pro were in the radar but I thought it was best to wait until something good comes along and consider the options when the current device is unusable.
It is unfortunate the vast majority lean towards 6.3”+ phones and Manufacturers are simply catering to the demand.
yup that’s what I all think alike more or less.
For the fold, I just want to point out that im fine with buying it. but losing graphene from around 2029 or so needing to move to LineageOS after kinda bothers me indeed and im not gonna shell out the same price as a Pixel 10 only to use it for around those 3 years, im gonna use it for as long as possible.
But the problem with the fold I have is not that it is a fold, that I do not mind. It is is that I can’t exactly 100% accept the compromises with LineageOS, sure limited profiles is something I can adapt and it seems it is configurable so I can expand it especially with building lineageos, but then I have to decide between play services privileged and no play services whatsover (unless mindthegapps is unpriviliged google play but doesnt seem like it) which will not help with banking and other things, hence the lack of sandboxed google play does not help especially, and im not 100% sure on sideloading play services instead.
Another possibility but not an ideal one that’s why I avoided mentioning is /e/ os, but im aware it has its own issues but does help it has microg but yeah.
question answered. probably not.
@GorujoCY
The GrapheneOS Sandboxed Play implementation requires system integration/changes which LineageOS does not have.
I also would not recommend the Fold due to its plastic screen.
is there anything I can change to make it work with building lineageos or does that require guidance even if possible?
(It seems I would plan to build lineage since that’s the way to expand the user slot limit but whatever)
changing the slot limit is a one liner change
adding sandboxed play support is a substantial amount of work
also you mentioned above that you can resign lineage for bootloader relocking, but that will not enable verified boot.
not that I plan on using the foldable screen much or none anyways.
also thanks for the answers, I get it now. I really have to choose between no play services or privileged play services (if I go for the fold option). Yeah that sucks.
edit: the alternative for my needs seems to be microg but I also understand that it is generally not recommended which I also normally avoid talking about here…
but between having to choose for no play services and priviliged and this, might be the only choice for me, even if not endorsed by lineage or others here. But ill consider all the options here first.
for resigning and locking the bootloader, can it at least guarantee the attacker wont be able to modify the OS without my signing key?
no, the lineageos recovery disables signing checks, allowing anything to be flashed:
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gootcha, thanks for the respectful answers!