I have been looking around for my next phone, most likely android. The thing I've come to realise is that I'm no longer able to buy an Android phone, instead I am buying either a Google phone or Samsung phone. Even the "pure" android experience is really a Google experience.

Since I will be in the market to replace my aging phone sooner rather than later, the phones I've been eyeing are

HTC U11 Unlocked

Essential Phone

OnePlus 5T

Google Pixel 2 (not the XL to avoid screen issues, it's mfg'd by HTC and similar to the HTC U11)

This list is US centric, etc.

I would consider the iPhone 8, but not the X personally.