My current OnePlus 5T is essentially the phone that I didn't even know I really wanted all along.
As someone who has been riding on the Google train ever since I've gotten the 5X, I've always been wary of purchasing any phone that didn't have Google's personal stamp on it. This is largely because the best part of owning a Google phone is having timely security updates and the fact that you always have an up-to-date version of Android so you can enjoy the multitude of features and customization months before everyone else does.
But then came the Pixel 2/XL. Again, everything I ever really wanted on a phone, but I feel like Google became their own enemy in a way with the rather exorbitant price tag. I had trouble justifying whether or not spending $800 would really be worth it in the long run. After all, I've spent $649 on my Nexus 6P and it has barely lasted me two years without showing significant signs of wear; would the same happen to the Pixel?
I've always known OnePlus for basically being what Google originally was: selling flagship-quality devices at significantly lower prices than the competition. The 5T really just checks so many boxes for me (screen size, bezeless, comfortable in the hand, screen quality/colour, and the biggest, BIGGEST thing: Battery!!), that it became harder and harder to ignore, especially as I compared this phone to others in its price range.
Sure, there were some compromises that I had to make, but tbh, this has became my favourite phone so far and I don't regret making the purchase at all.
