Cutout and fingerprint scanner on the back is the hard pass for me, unfortunately. I had been exposed to the phones that didn't have to sacrifice usability so the normies can enjoy 5% more screen space of a IG/TikTok content
You should be able to hide the notch on most phones [1]
Dedicated fingerprint scanners on the front are gone, and won't be coming back. A dedicated fingerprint on the back is the next best thing, as they are fast and super reliable. The alternative, under-display fingerprint scanners are much wonkier. There are some phones with side fingerprint scanners, but they are not so common.
I've avoided big phones as long as possible, but you get used to larger phones pretty quickly. Just get an accessory that helps to use with one hand, e.g. a ring case.
You'll have to compromise on one aspect or another, sooner or later.
The closest phones for your requirements are Sony Xperia 5 III (available Sep/2021), Asus Zenfone 8 and the Pixel 4a.
By them just existing (hiding options and ring cases) it is evident, perhaps in the most ironic way, that notches and enormous dimensions are fucking dumb and user-hostile.
Notches are irritating people so much devs have to include option to make them less irritating. Phones got so fat and large that it is impossible to not drop them, and case manufacturers descended from the above with ring cases (do you have to get engaged to the smartphone these days?)
Fingerprints on the back make no sense to me precisely because of how I'm using the phone: it rests with screen upwards within my vision range while I'm working, and when I see the LED blip (I also can't wrap my head around that most phones don't have LED anymore and instead light up the whole fucking screen on any notification), I double tap the screen to see if it's important, if it is, I put finger on my super reliable and fast fingerprint on the front, and resolve whatever "emergency" with just one finger. If we talking fingerprint on the back, I have to either always place the phone screen downwards and rely on sound/vibration, or exercise in heavy lifting.
I'm content with fingerprint on the side because it allows to have the same workflow as before, although I'd have to unlock the phone with two fingers at least. I share your distaste to the underscreen fingerprints because I've experienced myself how slow and unreliable they are.
I'm leaning towards Xperia 5 II because some time ago I've bought Z5 mini for mom and she's been using it with much pleasure. 5 III seemingly is locked 4K and I doubt it will result in a respectable SOT
It's probably a good habit to put your phone facing down, or even far away when you're working, and only check it periodically every hour or two. [1]
If there are any urgent/important notifications/calls you need to deal with urgently, consider using something like PushBullet to mirror them on your computer.
I must've confused it with other model, the naming on this series is atrocious, thanks for clearing that out!
>It's probably a good habit to put your phone facing down
I'm not really bothered by the smartphone addiction, in fact, my daily usage is 2 hours at most, where half an hour is reading before the sleep and the rest is me using it outdoors
> Notches are irritating people so much devs have to include option to make them less irritating.
No, I think they've always been optional. I quite like it - Android just puts the usual top bar up a bit higher than before, with the notch in the middle, and then the app just gets a big screen to occupy. Doesn't work so well in landscape mode, but I don't really use that.
Conversely, fingerprint sensor on the back is very convenient if you mostly carry the phone in your pocket, and only occasionally pull it out - it's very easy and convenient to hit it with your finger as you do so.