Android

It's a 778G equivalent, from what I can tell, how is that even low end?

I was pained to move to iOS when my kids decided they wanted iPhones and I needed one to manage their parental controls, but boy do I love the form factor of the 12 mini I got.

Everything out there seems so huge now.

I’d love to have more options for smaller, manageable phones, especially as my workplace have given out work iPhones now, I could realistically go back to Android again come upgrade time as I can manage their accounts with that.

Probably harder to make stuff repairable and modular when it's smaller

Can you elaborate on why? Like, I'm not surprised, I just am not involved in this space enough to know why.

What is the best open blob SoC available?

1. No internal battery means it's not a product with a built-in obsolence period (which is fairly short, 3-5 years)
2. Most of the better audio gear are all wired
3. I mean, it's simple economics: Not paying for all the extra stuff to make it wireless means you get better value for audio quality
4. Many people here are enthusiasts in tech and hardware, we likely have more than a few devices. Switching between devices with BT is a fucking PITA.

I use a headphone jack daily, it is a must for me. Not going to do a stupid Bluetooth adapter or dongle cable that can get lost or damaged

The only way I can play music from Spotify or youtube in my car is through a headphone jack, I value it very deeply because of that. It's much cheaper to buy a phone with a jack than it is to replace my car

Still the best way to transmit sound even quality-wise, except if you want surround, 2 channel won't suffice here

I don't want to buy more shit I got to remember to charge when I already have a few nice 3.5mm headsets. I know its going to be dead every time I want to use it. I got to pair it every time I switch devices. It works on everything that has the right hole even if its older than your parents.

Its just extra work unless its your daily driver.

it's useful. I use it.

While I do care about the headphone jack, I am mostly bitter about the manufacturers deciding for me that I don't need it. I'd heavily trade off 10% reduction in thickness for a user-replaceable battery and a headphone jack, but it was decided for me that a thinner phone is a big improvement.

A used Pixel can be had in that range.

I got a Pixel 3a for 50 bucks once (really good deal, a few circumstances around it) and an OEM unlockable 4a 5g for 100, so under the category you gave and in some sense more sustainable (its used), able to be degoogled,

More sustainable in the sense that you have a lesser carbon footprint, yes. Buy used.

Try getting parts for the original fairphone or fairphone2.

According to CNET not as good as pixel, but it is honestly fine (not great, but definitely fine) in my eyes.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/fairphone-5-review-the-phone-that-wants-to-save-the-world/

Their promo video looks good. Though it is a promo video.

My guess is that it won't have the bells and whistles of Samsung or Google Pixel devices. That doesn't really seem to be the goal with the device though.

GSMArena says it's a Sony IMX800 with a 1/5.6" sensor, which is pretty respectable hardware, better than many premium compacts from years ago. With the right camera app or post processing you can get decent images from this.