Hello everyone,
I’m currently using the Galaxy S10e and have been shelling out a lot for Verizon’s phone protection plan just to keep it in decent shape. I recently got a replacement, but even a brand-new phone with no apps felt sluggish. It’s frustrating—basic functions shouldn’t be slow out of the box.
I’ve been trying to find a replacement that feels as right as the 10e did, but nothing matches its practicality and form factor. I bought a Redmagic 9, but it’s too big, slippery, and the camera is poor. Now I’m selling it.
I’ve looked around and nothing seems to fit. Either the screen is too large, the CPU is poor, there’s not enough RAM, the camera is bad, or there’s no SD card or headphone jack. And don’t get me started on earbuds—they’re easily lost and don’t stay in during workouts.
So now I’m considering the iPhone 15 Pro, but I’m frustrated with iOS’s quirks and ended up going back to Android. I looked at the OnePlus 12, but it has the same issues as the S23—no headphone jack and no SD card.
All I want is a phone similar to the 10e in terms of size, camera, storage, and performance. I don’t want cloud storage or AI features. Is it too much to ask for a phone that meets these basic needs? It feels like companies are making everything worse, and consumers are just accepting it as the new norm.
The phone that best fits your description is likely the Asus Zenfone 10. Although it’s no longer actively produced, you can still find one. It has a headphone jack and is one of the most compact Android flagships in recent years, but it may not have ideal band coverage for Verizon.
If these features and the form factor are crucial, it might be worth considering changing carriers to find a phone that better meets your needs.
I’m not sure what you mean by sluggish apps. On my 300-euro, 4-year-old phone, the apps are fast enough for me, though I’ve never used a flagship, so I can’t compare.
Have you tried adjusting the animation speed to 0 in the developer options (i.e., turning off animations)? I usually do that right away on a new phone.
Consider getting a Pixel 9 Pro; it’s likely what you’re looking for. The days of wired earbuds and SD card slots are behind us—it’s time to adapt to the latest trends.
The S23 Ultra is an impressive phone! I’ve dropped it many times without a case, and it hasn’t even gotten scratched. It’s incredibly sturdy. I once dropped it from a ladder, screen-first, and was sure it was broken, but it was perfectly fine.
Consider the Nord lineup from OnePlus. They are typically smaller, more affordable, and include an SD card slot and an audio jack. However, keep in mind that they are budget phones, so the RAM might be limited.
Asus Zenfone 10 is your option because it is very close to what you’re looking for.
Also, my S10e, even with the less efficient Exynos version, runs smoothly. While the S22 Ultra is faster in direct comparison, the S10e doesn’t feel sluggish at all. The battery life has decreased, but that’s to be expected.