[DrTiTus]

Any recommendations for a decent new mid-tier phone to replace my Galaxy A5 (2017)? The Android OS is stuck at v8, and ASB are dropping support for 8 and below. My other banks/apps are fine with my current one for now. But I also got a notification from [Vodaf]One that the 3G network is being turned off next year, and I'm not 4G capable, so I've got to get one soonish.

I had ordered a Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 4G with 8GB RAM/128GB storage, but the supplier sent a 6GB. I had since read a few negative reviews about that model, so I interpreted the mistake as an omen and just cancelled my order for now. I can always re-order if that's the best option. It was $350, which is probably about all I'd want to spend, or slightly more if there's good reason to. 3.5mm jack would be nice but not critical. I don't use NFC payments and I don't currently have wireless charging (although that might be cool because I hate fiddling with the charging cord while I'm driving and then Android tells me there's water in the port when there's not and refuses to charge).

I don't play games on my phone, and I am not a photographer but I would appreciate having better night photos which is probably the only feature I've seen that wowed me in a phone - my friend showed me a photo on his recent iPhone when we were at a warehouse rave and mine was just darkness and blobs of light, while his was almost as clear as day. That said, even when I take photos, I don't do anything with them and no one cares to see them, so it's very much optional.

Does anyone have a Xiaomi or know if they're absolute shit? I read the OS is a bit buggy (something about notifications not working, and apps being closed instead, and also bloatware?), the temperatures can get pretty hot, and the one I ordered can apparently feel a bit slow (compared to what, I don't know). I just want it to feel responsive rather than be slow out of the box. If I'm using Waze and switch to Spotify, I feel like my phone is struggling, although it can do either of those things fine when they're the focus. I would like it to be like a simple Alt-TAB - is this expecting too much? I assumed that was a RAM thing, which is why I wanted the one with 8GB.

Even recommendations for phones which are out of my range that I can keep an eye out for on Trade Me (a 2 year old flagship model is probably better than the latest budget phone), or phones to avoid (either brands or specific models). Value for money is more important to me than bragging rights about how cool my phone is. There's just so many options, and it's really hard to tell from specs on paper which are good and which aren't. Thanks!