February 23, 2026
RIP 3G, hello drama
Disappointing Phones
3G shut-off sparks a breakup: Linux purists vs Pixel pragmatists vs Big-Phone converts
TLDR: Carrier 3G shutdowns will strand a beloved OnePlus 5T for calls, forcing a replacement. Comments split between a repairable Linux phone with compromises, a practical Pixel plan without a headphone jack, and going all-in on a separate compact camera—fueling a wider fight over e-waste, usability, and phone size trends.
A longtime OnePlus fan is being pushed off their beloved 5T because carriers in New Zealand will shut down 3G by 2026. Their phone can’t do VoLTE (voice calls over 4G), so it’ll be photos-and-games only. Cue the comment war. Team Freedom arrives first: fsflover waves the Librem 5 flag—real GNU/Linux, repairable, and yes, a headphone jack—but admits the camera is weak and the phone is chunky. Team Practical fires back with Pixel picks: abraxas says the Pixel 9a (and incoming 10a) plus LineageOS is the smooth, modern way—no jack, big battery, buy a case and keep it for years.
Nostalgia hits hard too. spcebar links a 2013-feeling breakup letter to 3G: “I didn’t want to let it go,” and half the thread whispers, same. Then the Size Debate explodes. Daneel_ confesses they ditched small phones for an iPhone 15 Pro Max and basically says the one-handed dream is dead—thumbs are out, pinkies are screaming. Camera purists chime in with a curveball: ebbi suggests a Ricoh GR compact camera for seriously better shots—if you don’t mind carrying a “pocket brick” and paying extra.
Amid jokes about “pour one out for the headphone jack” and a “3G apocalypse,” the real split is clear: purity, practicality, or a camera in your other pocket—pick your pain.
Key Points
- •The author’s OnePlus 5T (running LineageOS) relies on 3G for calls and lacks VoLTE.
- •New Zealand networks plan to shut down 3G in early 2026, threatening call capability on the device.
- •The phone would still function for 4G data tasks but not for voice calls without VoLTE.
- •The author is reluctant to upgrade due to e-waste but notes aging hardware and advances in modern phones.
- •Key purchase requirements include strong camera performance—especially zoom—and a user-respectful software experience.