Still using my iPhone SE from 2016, though I have replaced the battery twice ($29 through Apple's "sorry for slowing your devices down" discount, $29 personally

Still using my iPhone SE from 2016, though I have replaced the battery twice ($29 through Apple's "sorry for slowing your devices down" discount, $29 personally via iFixit) since. Agreed that iPhones can last a great deal longer while staying relatively current on the software front these days. However, if you know that the Pixel a-series is going to stay at the $350-400 price point, you could buy two $350 a-series Pixels 3 years apart and potentially get more value/longevity than an iPhone at the $700 price point. Of course, you could also buy a 2020 iPhone SE at $399 that'll last you 5-6 years, so if you just stick with the cheapest iPhone you'll likely save money over the a-series.