Google Pixel 5a

planted: 22/09/2023last tended: 04/05/2025

I got one in September 2023. Bought it second-hand refurbished from Backmarket.

1. Deets

Mostly researched on sustaphones and some review sites.

I got it because:

Excellent support for custom ROMs (https://www.sustaphones.com/#barbet).
6/10 repairability from iFixit (https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Google_Pixel_5a).
Battery replacement is 'moderate' difficulty. Meh. At least it's not 'hard' (https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Google+Pixel+5a+Battery+Replacement/148930).
Screen replacement is 'moderate' difficulty too. Meh. Often the case. (https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Google+Pixel+5a+Screen+Replacement/148892)
Spare parts provided by iFixit (https://www.ifixit.com/Parts/Google_Phone)
It has a headphone jack.
Reasonable-ish price: £170. I've always tried to go sub-£100 before

I don't like the form factor. Stupidly long and thin, hard to use with one-hand (unless you turn on the stupid one-hand mode).
Nice screen.
Sooooooooooo. Muuuuuuuuuuch. Fasssssster than my old phone.
Battery life is fantastic so far, compared to previous phone.
Camera: a lot better.

I would have like a Teracube 2e or a Fairphone, but both a bit pricey, and seems hard to find them second-hand.