Since 2010 I have gotten a new Android phone every single year, except one year. I didn't get the Pixel 4 three years ago.

Your issue is that you mentioned Samsung. Samsung is an actual piece of flaming shit that bastardizes their great hardware with the worst software across the entire mobile landscape. It's horrible. Their software has gotten better, slightly, over the past decade.

I have only used Google Nexus / Google Pixel since the Nexus 4, for the most part. I'm a stock Android / Google Experience Maxi. Prior to that, I used the Moto X and Moto X 2014 and originally the HTC Droid Incredible rooted and ROMed to remove HTC shitty UI.

My kids wife and kids both keep their Pixels for 2-3 years and then we get new ones when the promotion is right. I only get a new one because I'm an Android Maxi and get FOMO without having the latest and greatest.