Yo yo!
I have very little technical knowledge so please excuse any senseless mistakes.
I want a phone that I can use that is private and secure for the next couple of years. I understand that new android phones will be made differently so I can’t side load (whatever that means, I just know it is important). I have an iPhone 12 rn but I’d rather leave the iOS ecosystem. Rn I’m typing this message on a pixel 3.
Is a pixel 3 old enough to still be a safe and secure phone that I can side load apps on in the future?
Like everyone else in this thread, I would strongly recommend GrapheneOS.
To give you a specific phone recommendation, I would suggest the Pixel 9a. At $500 before any discounts, it’s the best value per dollar for a privacy oriented phone. Because it just came out earlier this year, it will also be receiving security updates for years into the future.