Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you're so concerned about camera quality ... buy a dedicated camera. A 32 MP+ point-and-shoot starts at about $40, though goes up from there (to several thousand dollars for top models). As a bonus, it has an expected life far exceeding that of a smartphone.
Yes because I really want to carry around two devices including a crappy phone. The latest version of iOS supports iPhones from 2019 and Apple is releasing security updates farther back than that.
1. Buy a non-crappy, dedicated, phone. Many of these feature better reception, voice quality, and battery life than a smartphone, as well as being smaller and lighter. Heck, smartphones are going this direction with satellite devices (earbuds, smart watches) already. Your "phone" is in your ear, most of the smarts stay in your pocket or bag.
2. A camera.
3. A full-fledged mobile device which is actually usable. Small form-factor laptop / hybrid beats pretty much any smartphone or tablet.
If all you need is the phone, that's what you carry. Much of the time you can carry other device(s) as well. My list would probably extend to a voice recorder. As with the camera, that's relatively inexpensive and long-lived, so you end up with less long-term expense.