For the last time, Sam, it’s my RAM, and no, you can’t have it.

No, I do not. But there was no current alternative with comparable GrapheneOS support available, which I consider the minimum acceptable standard for mobile device security.

I have owned phones of all classes over the years. I have carried 2 phones for the past decade.

The only time I have used a phones full processing power is some games on a budget phone. Most of the time the extra power has no noticable difference.

For a long time there was a significant difference in the camera. Flagship phones had noticably superior camera systems. Today, mid-range phones tend to have as good or even superior cameras to flagships.

I used to buy one flagship (work) and one budget phone (personal). The contrast between the two phones used to be a lot smaller.

The last few years however I started purchasing only mid-range phones. The budget phones have fallen in overall quality and features. The flagship phones are massively overpriced for what they do. I have found that the midrange segment provides acceptable build quality and performance.

I paint and sculpt a lot (though I’ve got a tablet that I use for that more often). That gets pretty demanding rather quickly

Camera. Phones are the best way to capture those missable pet and loved ones moments that you don’t want to lose, and flagships generally have the best cameras.

I don’t usually buy new flagship, I’ll wait a couple generations and get them at deeply discounted prices, or buy refurb however.

Only exception to that was this last time - as soon as the RAM crisis started and SSDs started to follow, I got a new flagship for me and my spouse, because I know that it will be years before they’re either affordable again or with the same amount of on-device RAM/storage. Both our devices would probably have lasted another 2-3 years fine, but even back then I suspected we wouldn’t be out of the woods by then (looks even worse than I thought) and an accidental break would be even worse.

Now we have our last, working phones as backups if these break. Hopefully things will shake out ok before we need new ones.

I hop between apps often - and, let me tell you, that 12 GB of ram is worth every penny to prevent apps from reloading on every switch.

Camera and screen size/quality mostly. It’s my primary internet viewer too.

I do play games on it and I keep a whole screen just for that. There’s some tower defense, a little run/fly and gun, pinball, R Type, Riptide, Worms, Plague Inc.

G Stomper would probably stretch it out a little, but I haven’t really been in the mood to dive into it.

Pixel 11 Pro xl

I bought a 12 mini when the 13 came out. Not “flagship”, but not cheap. I bought it because it’s smaller than the other phones, and I just had its battery replaced. I hope to use it for a couple of more years.

I’m not sure what I’ll do next, I don’t really need anything like the 12 mini, let alone a flagship phone.

For me it’s a camera thing. I am otherwise quite happy with my old 12gb Motorola g84, but the lack of optical zoom is the one thing I miss compared to my downed Realme x3.

I have a Xiaomi 17 Pro, with the second screen on the back. It is a fantastic phone, especially with the Leica camera setup but I think I use maybe 20% of is power. Although in China, the local apps are very powerful with tremendous features so I guess these apps use some resources. Most of these high end phones, stay in China and are not being sold in the west.

It also has a gaming mode, but I don’t game so I can’t comment.

Mostly I got the phone because it’s a third of the price than in the rest of the world, so having the flagship phone is not that expensive with all the features.

For me, I like folding phones. Hard to get that feature outside of flagships.

Having a lot of phone real estate is really useful between DM’ing for Pathfinder, typing meeting minutes, and reading a lot of manga. I already had a tablet for Pathfinder and meetings, but juggling the extra device was annoying. I often forgot to charge it or left it at home by accident. A folding phone fixes that by having everything in 1 device that you always have on you.

Plus, with foldables it’s feasible to run multiple apps side-by-side on the inner screen, and the extra processing power helps with that.

I don’t game on my phone though. It really wears down your battery and phones are already addictive enough

I buy my phones at least 2 years used so I will buy only flagships as they last longer in the software performance downward spiral and just feel better to handle than mid range ones. Also cameras on flagships are better on average. And used these flagships typically are at least on a 50% discount from their new price often more than that. I have bought 800+ € new phones for less than 300 less than 3 years after they went on sale.

mid rangers usually have pisspoor battery inclueded. so i bought a 3 year old flagship.

I’m a firm believer you shouldn’t buy anything but a flagship phone. Even a decade old flagship is better than a brand new budget phone

i have an old flagship so it’s not at all powerful in today’s standards… but I wouldn’t have been able to use it for so long if it wasn’t a flagship.

i don’t do much heavy stuff on it other than occasionally running desktop softwares using termux/chroot