In the current spectrum, how much should one spend to get the best value? I know everyone has a different taste and budget. But analysing the current trend of smartphone culture could give a bit of insight into spending wisely.
You must log in or register to comment.
Personally I would look for Linage OS supported devices on second hand sites. I managed to get a Oneplus 8T for around 250€. Didn’t had any problems and it still runs smooth
I think the budget is between $250 and $300
As much as you can afford. When it comes to technology you can’t go for the budget options without truly feeling the consequences. That said, apple is extremely overpriced for the hardware, but don’t get a cheap $150 android phone. I’ve heard the Pixel’s are good I know Google yuck, but if I’m remembering correctly you can get one if their phones for ~$600
I tend to limit myself to max €100 per expected year of use. It’s just a phone to me. My Nokia 6.1 was €300 and is still working. Main requirement is the availability of an alternatuve rom for it.
$2,000,000,000
This comment was sponsored by big tech
These questions are so exhausting.
How much does a car cost?
Look, you have to figure out what you need and what you can afford and then research it.
Under $300 IMO, that gets you a used flagship model from 1-2 years ago that isn’t too much different from the current models.
Divide the total cost by how many years of OS updates are given by the manufacturer.
This, plus make sure it’s hardware security updates too, and not just OS updates. Some disenguious vendors like to confuse the two terms in their favor. I.e. fair phone.
Could you please elaborate what you mean by saying “hardware security updates”?
Security updates from the hardware vendor. Classically Qualcomm and their system on a chip driver security patches.
the fairphone 5 gets 10 years of Security Updates by Qualcom and around 8 Years of Software Updates
don’t know what you’re trying to show here
I’m illustrating the window of Qualcomm soc security updates is smaller than the advertised fairphone updates window.
right, but FP took a industrial Chip instead of a Phone Chip because that industrial Chip has that extended Support
or did you learn something i didn’t?
You’re an Apple fanboy too, eh?
That’s the metric I’ve been using for the last decade-plus, and it’s kept me locked to Apple for that very reason. When you can get 6-7 years of completely new OS upgrades, and another 2-3 years of security updates after that, Apple is a no-brainer choice to make.
The new Google and Samsung phones have been promised 7 years of updates, including major Android versions and features drops!
Mm-hm. And Apple has been doing this since the very early days.
Let’s see how these abandonware-loving companies pull this off, first. My work phone was promised three years of updates, and it’s still waiting for Android 12. Which came out in 2021. I doubt that it, much less Android 13 and 14, will ever end up on the device from a bog-standard update.
Actually apple doesn’t provide any guarantee. They’ve historically supported their devices for a while, but if they choose to cut their support short, it’s entirely within their rights.
are you using surface duo or what? lol
No phone that I used in the last 10 years survived longer than 3 years so why would i care about 6-7 years of OS upgrades?
Have you tried an iPhone? With a case? Admittedly I don’t have experience with other brands but iPhones have always just worked, reliably, for my family of four, and have held up for years
They’ve usually lasted except for this last round where my teens had our old iPhone X’s: 3-4 years with adults, perfect. However the kids kept taking their cases off and dropping the phones. I don’t know why they were so careless this time around, but I can’t fault the phones. If they were trying to get early replacements, they only succeeded in carrying around phones with broken screens
Anyhow, good phones are sturdier than ever and can last with even the most moderate of care
I was using an iPhone X until just a few weeks ago, and my father is still using my old iPhone 6.
The iPhone 6 I got in 2014. That was just over 9 years ago. And my X lasted for over 6 years… and will be replacing my dad’s 6.
iPhones can last a hell of a lot longer than any Android device for the same care taken of them.
I’ve been an Android user since the beginning, started with the G1. But I’m starting to think about Apple. I have no other Apple products but I just don’t care about phone tech any more. I want a long lasting phone that launches apps, texts, and makes phone calls.
As much as I would love to welcome you with open arms, be aware that each platform has highly opinionated ways of doing things. If you are a long-term Android user who is just looking for a “simpler” experience… yes, iOS is indeed a more user-friendly design and has less friction between its different parts, but it does so in much different ways that will present you with an initial learning curve that might be too much of a slog for you.
Just… get an iCloud tier that satisfies your storage needs. Even if you have no other Apple devices to sync to. Trust me, it’s literally an insurance package in case your phone gets lost, critically damaged, or stolen, and is stupidly simple to use as a recovery source. I quite literally cannot count how often I see people who have lost a crapton of personal photos and data because they were willing to get a $1k+ phone, but couldn’t stump up the 99¢/mo for that iCloud storage.
I use apple phones, but i usually run 3-6 years behind.
Currently have an 11 , I think they are up to 14. I don’t really see what the new models do.
Still the thick end of 250 quid.
I don’t know what people who spend 1000 tell themselves.
It’s funny, I bought an s9 plus at launch and was recently “kicking tires” thinking of upgrading.
Looked at the recent crop and from my judgement, they’re about 15% better than this one for the things that matter to me. For only $2,000 CAD
Looks like I’ll be having the screen and battery replaced and keeping this for another 7 years.
If you don’t care about the cameras…
Nowadays that’s probably the biggest most worthwhile improvement you’ll see.
Edit: The difference between your S9 and an S23 or S24 would be pretty dramatic.
See the new models have a bigger number so that is better
That I had a savings goal that I put a dollar a day into for three years to get there lol.
