Ask HN: Are there any viable Android phones for a power user to buy nowadays?
i have a pixel 4, and it looks like i might be stuck with this phone forever if things keep going in the same direction (hopefully they don't). the pixel 4 isn't bad, but even on this i don't have the level of customization that i had back in the day with cyanogenmod etc. on my note 3 or epic 4g touch. here are some requirements that i can think of: - not huge. small enough to use with 1 hand - able to root and install custom OS without too much difficulty/annoyance (the manufacturer doesn't actively try to stop you from modifying your own device) - able to use mint mobile - has a trackball (like the htc hero, that thing was fuckin awesome) - possibly some hardware buttons 0 comments on Hacker News.
i have a pixel 4, and it looks like i might be stuck with this phone forever if things keep going in the same direction (hopefully they don't). the pixel 4 isn't bad, but even on this i don't have the level of customization that i had back in the day with cyanogenmod etc. on my note 3 or epic 4g touch. here are some requirements that i can think of: - not huge. small enough to use with 1 hand - able to root and install custom OS without too much difficulty/annoyance (the manufacturer doesn't actively try to stop you from modifying your own device) - able to use mint mobile - has a trackball (like the htc hero, that thing was fuckin awesome) - possibly some hardware buttons
i have a pixel 4, and it looks like i might be stuck with this phone forever if things keep going in the same direction (hopefully they don't). the pixel 4 isn't bad, but even on this i don't have the level of customization that i had back in the day with cyanogenmod etc. on my note 3 or epic 4g touch. here are some requirements that i can think of: - not huge. small enough to use with 1 hand - able to root and install custom OS without too much difficulty/annoyance (the manufacturer doesn't actively try to stop you from modifying your own device) - able to use mint mobile - has a trackball (like the htc hero, that thing was fuckin awesome) - possibly some hardware buttons 0 comments on Hacker News.
i have a pixel 4, and it looks like i might be stuck with this phone forever if things keep going in the same direction (hopefully they don't). the pixel 4 isn't bad, but even on this i don't have the level of customization that i had back in the day with cyanogenmod etc. on my note 3 or epic 4g touch. here are some requirements that i can think of: - not huge. small enough to use with 1 hand - able to root and install custom OS without too much difficulty/annoyance (the manufacturer doesn't actively try to stop you from modifying your own device) - able to use mint mobile - has a trackball (like the htc hero, that thing was fuckin awesome) - possibly some hardware buttons
Hacker News story: Ask HN: Are there any viable Android phones for a power user to buy nowadays?
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Reviewed by Tha Kur
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December 08, 2025
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