u/Very_Lazy_Sloth

Currently - for over a year now - I've been using a OnePlus 13. The phone is very good and I basically have no complaints about it except for one thing: the size. Carrying it in my pants pocket every day is unfortunately a hassle, not to mention using it one-handed. I'm considering switching to something relatively smaller and I'm looking for your advice. I've searched the market for what's available:

1. Samsung Galaxy S26 - Exynos is weak, small battery, slow charging, camera is average at best.
2. Xiaomi 17 - expensive (more expensive than the Samsung S26 in my country), HyperOS isn't the best skin and forces its own solutions too much (like the quick settings and notifications panel - I really hate it).
3. Pixel 10/9 - expensive, weak processors, too much AI, overheating issues.
4. Oppo Reno 15 Pro mini - optical fingerprint scanner, price similar to the Samsung S26, poor support in my country.
5. iPhone 17 :-( - iOS is a terrible system to use, but I really like the hardware and size. I used an iPhone 11 a few years ago and only lasted 3 weeks with it, then sold it with great relief. The iPhone 17 is definitely a much better device, and iOS has evolved a bit too, but I'm slightly afraid it will be the same as before and I won't be able to stand it in the long run. I have no intention of using anything else from Apple because I have my preferred headphones, smartwatch, and a Linux laptop. Does the iPhone make sense just as a standalone phone?

Alternatively, is there anything I missed? I live in Europe, I don't want any phones imported from China, so e.g., the OnePlus 15t is out (which is a huge shame). The Vivo X300 is very expensive, more expensive than the iPhone, which is a bit pointless, because an iPhone is an iPhone after all.

What would you choose in my situation?