The phone(s) in my pocket

I've grown accustomed to carrying two phones with me at all times. It's not because of PTA. I like to preserve my sanity by keeping my work & personal lives separate.

The Daily Driver

Google Pixel 8a (released May 2024, bought Aug 2025)

I've been a fan of Google's phone ever since the first Pixel from way back when. Sure, the specs aren't the best, nor is anything about this phone for that matter, it's the stock Google experience in a smaller form factor that I value. It's the first to get all Android updates and the UI is clean simply clean.

I'd highly recommend this phone as your "good for anything" if you're content with an overall just okay device. I keep my battery at 80% so it struggles to get through the day. Although the screen is AMOLED, it seems as though the pixels don't completely shut off. It's responsive enough overall. The camera is what shines (however much an Android can).

The Secondary Phone

Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro (released Mar 2021, bought Mar 2022)

This is the first phone I bought with my own money. I got the riches from monetary prizes I'd bagged from university. It wasn't the phone I wanted to buy but the only one available at that time. For the price at that time, it had unbelievable specs. A Snapdragon 800 series processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, 120Hz IPS display, and 5160mAH battery w/ 33W fast charging were unheard of at that price point. The camera absolutely sucks though- it's a given with older Chinese phones.

It still holds up great, often beating the Pixel in daily use. Honestly, I could use this as my daily driver if I wanted to but I don't because it's huge and bulky which gets tiring after a while.