My phone is an Android, an Alcatel to be specific. If I upgrade, it definitely won't be an Apple product. I'm not a fan, to say the least. I also am just not on board with the idea of leasing or renting a phone. I think that's nuts. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be negative. I'm fine buying a new phone, or a smart watch, I want to. But I'd want to spend $100-$200ish on an Android that will do what I need it to do, and I own it. Even my cheap old Alcatel allows me to do talk to text, which I utilize often.
I have an Android too. I totally don't believe in the Apple business model of paying $500+ for the same or similar enough technology that can be bought for $100-$200.
I get my smartphones through Tracfone. They do have smartphone plans now, depending on how much you use your phone. (Tracfone really only is a non-contract
service plan. Not the carrier. The phones work on the major carriers: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile. Tracfone's sister service plans are Net10 & Straighttalk for different pricing. )
I have a ZTE ZFive C which works on the Verizon network. Brand new is now $29.99. I bought mine several months ago for $39 reconditioned. They have some reconditioned now for $14.99, which is basically customer returns that they've reset back to factory setting & are reselling. I usually get reconditioned Tracfones.
https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/tracfonestore/phones/tf-zte-zfive-c-lte
I downloaded a free note app called ColorNote. It allows you to make as many lists as you want, the same way you make folders at work. You can color code each list. You can either enter in separate entries as a Checklist in which you can individually delete or add entries as you want. And move each entry up or downwards as you remember you need to do something else first or later. And/or you can make whole text (paragraph) entries.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.socialnmobile.dictapps.notepad.color.note
There are also some note taking apps which allow one to simply hand write the notes with one's finger. That may be faster than typing them out on a keyboard. I haven't looked much into them though.
Google's keyboard, called Gboard has Voice Typing technology already installed in it. You simply need to open a document or text to yourself, click the speaker and start talking. You may already have it on your smartphone as Google owns Android. It's the little speaker icon in the top right of the keyboard. Or you can download the Gboard for free - even on the phone you have now.
To see if you have Gboard already installed or if it needs to be updated, go to your phones Settings. Then click on Language & Input. Look for what keyboard you have on as default. Change to Gboard. And set the voice typing ON.
Or download it from the Google Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.inputmethod.latin