fyr.io

In September 2021, I purchased a Pixel 4a to replace my Pixel XL.

Running with stock android for that time until now, and being very careful with the phone, I managed to keep the 4a running smooth and fast throughout it's lifetime. I had needed to replace the phone for a while, as it had been out of support since August 2023. This was a long time to run it without security patches, something that left me feeling more and more nervous the longer I left it, however life and family were flowing and money... wasn't. I didn't install random crap, I kept an eye on what few app updates I had available to ensure I could trust them to the best of my ability. Then came the dreaded battery update, but luckily I wasn't affected too much. My battery ended up lasting for a total of about 3 hours of light usage, and I'm keen to stay off my phone more nowadays, so the short lifespan didn't bother me too much. I should have replaced it, however my frugal mind got the better of me. Instead of replacing it in 2023, or indeed early 2025 when the battery update of doom came out... I held on.

Through the battery update renumerations, I was given a £100 voucher to spend on the Play Store on a new Pixel Phone. I was tempted to abandon Google entirely (for... well, all the reasons) but I've holding out for a phone that's... better. The new Nothing phone (3a) didn't appeal after I looked into it, and neither did some of the other new kids on the block (like the fairphone) - I wanted GrapheneOS, which requires a Pixel (for now!). But £100 off wasn't enough. I held out. Until the black friday deals. And I'm glad I did - A pixel 9a is currently £150 off, PLUS add to that my £100 voucher, that's a £499 phone with 7 years of support for £249. A pretty good price!

So, it was time. I did it. I ordered it earlier this month.

It arrived on the 14th of November.

I've (mostly) migrated my stuff over (stock android for now, GrapheneOS... soon, hopefully) and I'm... annoyed at the direction of Android but it's pretty okay, now I've mucked about with the settings somewhat and replaced the horrible launcher with something much better imo.

And then... this evening. This evening I crouch down, the phone slides out of my pocket, falling what is probably... 10cm? But onto a hard wood floor.

Crack.

Sigh. I'm so annoyed.

I can probably swap the screen out myself, but I'll be dropping another £100 on the replacement screen alone. I'm going to have to just live with it for now, maybe grab a few cheap screen protectors to see me through until sometime next year, what with the holiday period, car MOT (literally tomorrow) and some other events happening over the next few months that require monetary output. Money money money.

Oh, plus potential redundancy from $dayJob happening next year, but that's another story for another time :D

The moral of the story is twofold: Look after your phone, and Pixel 9a screens are fragile as fuheck.