Google Pixel, all the way. If you want the basics, the 7a is MSRP for $500 but you can find it new for $400 when it goes on sale (which is often).

1. Data privacy: You're signing away your data to Google on Android anyway. This way, you aren't adding Oneplus or LG to the equation.
2. Stock-ish: All the features on top of stock Android are good. (Call screening, etc.)
3. Security updates: Pixels get security updates first and fastest.
4. 3 years of updates: Pixels now get 5 years of security updates (but only 3 years of software updates.)
5. Sales: They go on sale all the time
6. Bootloader can be re-locked: They are some of the only phones in the world that you can re-lock the bootloader on with an alternate OS. This is vital for security in case you ever want to load GrapheneOS or CalyxOS onto it.
7. Bonkers good camera. It's insane how good the cameras are on Pixels, especially for photos. Don't let the "computational photography" scare you. It's not an upscaling filter, it's a collection of techniques to account for lens warp, movement during shooting, etc.

Right now, the 7, 7 Pro, and the cheaper 7a are available. If you can wait, the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro is rumored to be announced in October. Rumors around the Pixel series have been reliable since the first one, so search for rumors at your leisure.

Disclaimer: I want Google to burn to the ground, but they do make the best Androids around.

I'm an ios guy but my husband and like all his family is on newer era pixels and zero issues

I am leaning towards Fairphone ATM

Do compare the bands the Fairphone supports with the bands your carrier supports, especially if you rely on mobile data in the US.

The Murena Fairphone 4 just released, which is the US-focused model, but I don't know a bunch about it

I’m in Ireland

oh good hell yeah

thank you for using an open-ended post that let me just tac more on

8. Reparability Pixels use primarily stock (and in-stock) parts and don't use cutesy reparability obstruction schemes. They have good quality documentation. They are popular enough that screen-repair technicians have parts on-hand and those parts aren't expensive and the repair isn't difficult so it's like 200$ and an afternoon if you pop your screen. source: this is what the guy at the ubreakifix told me

9. Durability I've had a Pixel 1,4 and 7 and I keep a 10-20$ silicone bumper on my phone and I only blew up the screen once when my 7 flew out of my pocket and survived at 15 foot drop onto concrete.

5a. Sales In my experience a pixel will give you three or four good years and then Google will run a promo on an upgrade and then I assume they recycle the tired-but-still-working phone. you perform the data erase ritual and send your phone away in a little cardboard mail sarcophagus.