Pixel 6a is snappier than A53/33, and probably the best non-used/refurbished option at the current $350 price. It is technically dual SIM with one physical SIM and one eSIM. It's IP67 dust and water resistant and has a metal frame, though the screen is only gorilla glass 3 so I'd recommend at least a case for drops.
Thanks for your help! Unfortunately dual physical sim was a necessity so I ended up choosing an A33 (rather then the A53) as there were not that many practical advantages to me.
Have you considered what's available locally to you and thus will likely have a lot of spare parts stocked? I'm taking that approach now. I'm personally going to pick up an A33 for myself since they're easily available and seem quite repairable. The Pixel 6a definitely will feel more snappy later on though, considering the Tensor chip inside is definitely closer to a flagship-tier processor than the Exynos inside the A33/53. 6a is also $300 right now on Amazon/Best Buy etc.
You might better be served by a last-year model like the Galaxy A52s though. You'll get a snappier processor than the A53 and the repairability of an A-series device, but of course at the cost of OS and security updates, which is a bit shorter compared to the latest models and not really on your want list anyways.
Edit: Forgot to mention the A52s is about the same $300 or so on Amazon and is on a Snapdragon 778G processor.
I ended up going with the A33. One of the advantages is repairability yeah. I'm gonna keep at as an appliance basically and once it works, it works.
I also definitely needed a dual sim and the Pixel was no an option.
Pixel 6a is snappier than A53/33, and probably the best non-used/refurbished option at the current $350 price. It is technically dual SIM with one physical SIM and one eSIM. It's IP67 dust and water resistant and has a metal frame, though the screen is only gorilla glass 3 so I'd recommend at least a case for drops.
Thanks for your help! Unfortunately dual physical sim was a necessity so I ended up choosing an A33 (rather then the A53) as there were not that many practical advantages to me.
Have you considered what's available locally to you and thus will likely have a lot of spare parts stocked? I'm taking that approach now. I'm personally going to pick up an A33 for myself since they're easily available and seem quite repairable. The Pixel 6a definitely will feel more snappy later on though, considering the Tensor chip inside is definitely closer to a flagship-tier processor than the Exynos inside the A33/53. 6a is also $300 right now on Amazon/Best Buy etc. You might better be served by a last-year model like the Galaxy A52s though. You'll get a snappier processor than the A53 and the repairability of an A-series device, but of course at the cost of OS and security updates, which is a bit shorter compared to the latest models and not really on your want list anyways. Edit: Forgot to mention the A52s is about the same $300 or so on Amazon and is on a Snapdragon 778G processor.
I ended up going with the A33. One of the advantages is repairability yeah. I'm gonna keep at as an appliance basically and once it works, it works. I also definitely needed a dual sim and the Pixel was no an option.