Pixel 4a (not 5G) owners, what do you plan to do with your phone now that it reached its final Android update?

This month is the final month of guaranteed major and security updates, and we already know Android 14 won’t land in the Pixel 4a (though it will in the Pixel 4a 5G as it has guaranteed updates until November).

So for those of you who own that phone, what do you plan to do with it? Are you going to keep using it for a couple more years without the updates? Install a custom ROM (which one?)? Or are you maybe planning to get a new phone (a Pixel?)?

If you still own an older Pixel phone, how are you keeping it alive?

Jean_le_Flambeur,

Lineage OS

The_Mixer_Dude,

I still use my pixel 2 regularly. There really isn’t a reason to not use it that I can think of.

gcfbrian,
@gcfbrian@lemmy.world avatar

I plan to make the jump to an 8 this year. I was holding out on the headphone jack but it’s time. The 8 should be a decent jump and the rumors about docking are really appealing to me for light office work.

warmaster,

Docking also means video out. The community for the Pixel 8 will be huge. I bet even Postmarket OS and Pure OS wik make ports for it. I just wish Waydroid gets good enough by then, to use WhatsApp, Google Maps, and my Banking app.

BlovedMadman,
@BlovedMadman@lemmy.world avatar

I will be in this position in a couple months when the Pixel 5 gets its last security update, in think my choices are either the Pixel 8 or wait a few more months and get the pixel 8a, I think it will come down to price. Regardless, it will be running GrapheneOS.

Blackmist,

Are you supposed to stop using your phone once it stops getting updates?

Mine is on Android 9 and idgaf.

I replace my phone when it stops working well enough for day to day use.

Murvel,

Yes, when the security patches stops it’s time to switch. But since these are usually a separate deploy chain from regular Android updates its hard to figure out when these patches stops coming. I’ve tried to find out out when the security patches for my Samsung S20+ stops, no idea still.

UsernameIsTooLon,

If you’re smart with your phone, you technically don’t need to update. You can also prolong life with custom rims and their own monthly patches.

kamenlady,
@kamenlady@lemmy.world avatar

I’m still on the default pacific rim - where can i find those custom rims?

AlmightySnoo,

It depends on whether you do sensitive stuff with your phone that’s going to risk getting exposed if your phone stops getting security updates and a malware gets made specifically for it. But I guess like on PC with careful vetting of apps and avoiding sketchy websites the risk should IMO be minimal.

jwagner7813,

I’d say for most users, this is the case. But you’re not in a thread of “most users” 😂. There’s definitely a niche here that would like to stay on the most recent system software as it probably brings them functionality they need or will want to use.

Anonymousllama,

Even factoring in not getting the Android 14 update, plenty of people I feel will keep phones for ages (I remember having to build aps catering to people on Android 8/9 so people are generally pretty lazy to update). Even without security updates I’ve got a feeling these phones will linger since they’re still decent

Raxiel,

Every so often I think about how I really ought to replace my Pixel 2, but then it just keeps on working and the price of new devices keeps on inflating at absurd rates.

Redditiscancer789,

When I was more in mobile gaming I’d just multi box with them. Nowadays I just use them as Roku remotes.

NatoBoram,

You don’t need to be at the mercy of Google to keep your phone updated!

The whole point of having a Google phone is that you can easily flash it after its planned obsolescence date.

forbiddenlake,
@forbiddenlake@lemmy.world avatar

I’ll very likely buy a 7a in November.

adlr,

I’ll probably hang tight until Pixel 8 comes out.

oryx,
@oryx@lemmy.world avatar

I upgraded to a 7 on launch day (pre-ordered), so my 4a has been sitting around as a backup ever since. Still miss the size, material, and color sometimes - I got the Google Store blue with the orange button and it looked so nice!

doggle,

The fingerprint sensor gave out a year ago, so it will continue its slow decay in my bedside table drawer.

Minty95,

Try Lineage. I ran it on my Pixel 3 for about two years when Google stopped updating it. Then when I decided to sell it, just reflashed the Google OS back on it

bastion,

Running lineage on pixel 3 still.

notepass,

Has it gotten easier to pass SafetyNet with ROMs? I still want to use my banking apps, but want to use a custom ROM for more safety now.

Minty95,

I’ve stopped using lineage as i changed the pixel3 for a 6a, so stock android. Although at the time I could get PayPal to work my banking app was a no no

agent_flounder,
@agent_flounder@lemmy.world avatar

Shit it’s that time is it? I will probably keep it with the intention of installing something else on it. And then not look at it for a few years at a time, stumble across it and it’s older siblings and think “I should do something with these”.

I guess I better hunt down a new Pixel. Sucks because unlike the last one (2XL) this one – which I bought used, by the way, first time doing that – isn’t painfully slow, battery still holds up fine. I don’t need it for any other reason than I would rather not risk running an unpatched device.

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