I got a used Pixel 3a on eBay 2 years ago. I've left it in the humid restroom and even accidentally dipped it in water to where the speakers got wet and blared. It dried off and the loudspeaker sounds normal again and everything still works.
Since then, I've also bought a used pixel 4 that developed a flickering screen and a used pixel 6 that overheated, Sim reader malfunctioned, won't turn on anymore, and was declared unfixable at quikFix.
To be fair I also have a new pixel that I love the heck out of. But my go-to for using at home with wired headphones is the soldier, Pixel 3a.
I will bitch about the under screen fingerprint reader every chance I get. It was literally perfect on the back. The P6 was borderline unusable, the P7 reader sucked, and now the P8 is finally almost ok.
Yeah, I really don't get the front print reader push that happened. The readers worked great unobstructed on the back. The front ones are nothing but slower, less accurate, a bigger paint to get your finger right on top, and a bigger pain if you protect your phone screen with a protector.
Mine was nice enough until the power button stopped working (wasn't a mechanical issue) and the phone spammed 911 until I popped it open and disconnected the battery.
Im approaching the point of a new phone, and I've been wondering about what would be the equivalent of an iPhone durability-wise (I'm still seeing iPhones 7 being used daily) but for android. I was actually considering a used pixel but now you left me very confused lmao. It seems the good build quality is not a constant.
I'm running a pixel 7 with out a protector, but a basic phone case. Run fine and it's going to be supported by 3rd party roms for that extra security/os longevity.
I've got a pixel 6t that might survive for another 2-3 years, at least.
OTOH, I've heard nothing terrible things about newer pixels - not just from reviewers, even people whom I know. My mom got a OP Nord something an year or so back and it seems to on its last leg already.