My Pixel 6A lasted from March 2023-March 2025. This is pretty much the longest I've been able to keep a phone.

In November 2024, the Pixel fell out of my sweatpants pocket onto concrete and the screen cracked. It was still fully useable.

Until March 2025, when the screen failed completely. First just the notification bar turned purple-ish/black, and within 18 hours, the entire screen went fully black/blank.
cracked pixel 6a phone

I replaced it that day with a Moto G Power 2024. I was so excited to have a headphone jack again, as well as an FM radio. Motorola was notoriously resistant to put NFC on this category of phones over the years, so I was resigned to never using Google Pay again (no biggie, only use it 3-4x a year when I go somewhere and forget my wallet). I also was resigned to losing e-sim capabilities, which were absolutely wonderful when travelling overseas. But to my surprise, this phone had NFC, e-sim, and Wireless Charging!

Then the sweatpants got me again. One minor fall out of the pockets led to some mild scratching, another higher fall led to pretty deep scratches on the top of the phone.

The credit card I used to purchase the phone offers 90-days of accidental damage protection on new purchases, so I decided to see if Amex would help me out. Sure enough, with minimal paperwork, they reimbursed me for the cost of the phone so that I could replace it.

But by this time, the phone was no longer widely listed for what I bought it for, $179.99. Now it was widely available for $299.99. Except for Target.com - they still had it for the price I paid.

So I order from Target. I script a short film/video essay about the phone to post on YouTube. The phone arrives. I start filming. When I get to the unboxing scene, I unbox the phone on camera. But they sent the wrong phone. In my hands I had the Moto G 2024 NOT POWER.

It took one chat, 2 trips to the local Target, and 2 calls with Target corporate to actually return the thing. When corporate finally processed the refund and said "now let's get the real phone to you and place the new order", I just said "nah, I'm good".

And then I found a deal on a Motorola Razr 2024. It should be arriving in three days :)

At which point I'll use Google Maps on the Razr to navigate me to the nearest Goodwill store, where I will donate every pair of sweatpants I own.