i_Ramalama Bro, Official updates don’t really save Android resale value in the real world. Just look at the Pixel, Google gives them 7 years of updates, but just after a year, the previous gen is already selling at half price on Flipkart. If you try to resell or exchange a 4 year old Pixel today, the value is terrible. If updates were the main thing driving value, Pixels wouldn’t crash in price like that. Android phones just don’t hold value well, no matter how much support they get.
Also, about the custom ROM suggestion, it’s really not the headache it used to be. Back then, you had to stay rooted and deal with constant stability issues, but custom ROMs have evolved a lot since then. Now you can flash completely rootless custom ROMs that are rock-solid and perfect as daily drivers. And even if you do choose to use Magisk, fixing SafetyNet issues so your banking apps work flawlessly is incredibly straightforward now.
If you truly care about getting updates past the official cycle, custom ROMs are honestly the only real option left, and the Phone 2 happens to have active developer community. If keeping the device running for years is your main priority, custom ROMs are a great, highly stable way (only way) to do it.
P.s. I chose nothing cuz of the active community, they also share their update files and firmware publically on GitHub. Afaik Nothing 2a is the only phone that comes with mediatek chipset that got custom ROM. And they chose to go with snapdragon for 3a series and that made my decision much easier. I’ll happily flash custom ROM after the update cycle and use it as my secondary device or pass it down to other family member.
