Other than your carrier give it for free or cheap, I don’t really see the reason why should you buy new phone. I’ve been using Redmi Note 9 for past 3 years and recently got my had on Poco F5. I don’t see the point of my ‘upgrade’. I sold it and come back to my Note 9. Gaming? Most of them are p2w or microtransaction garbage or just gimped version of its PC/Console counterpart. I mean, $400 still get you PS4, TV and Switch if you don’t mind buying used. At least here where I live. Storage? Dude, newer phone wont even let you have SD Card. Features? Well, all I see is newer phones take more features than it adds. Headphone jack, more ads, and repairability are to name a few. Battery? Just replace them. However, my Note 9 still get through day with one 80% charge in the dawn. Which takes 1 hour.
I am genuinely curious why newer phone always selling like hot cakes. Since there’s virtually no difference between 4gb of RAM and 12gb of RAM, or 12mp camera and 100mp camera on phone.
Gaming? Most of them are p2w or microtransaction garbage
And? You may not like them, but there’s clearly an audience.
Don’t buy a new phone if you don’t want one, but why be so mad that other people have reasons you don’t?
The only real issue are updates. After just 3 years my previous phone didn’t get any security updates and I had to get new hardware. I actually liked my previous phone more than my current one. But it is how it is.
That’s the reason why I switched to iPhone after many years of Android, security updates are vital nowadays with all the sensitive data and apps we use on our phones, Apple is the only one that guarantees al least 5 years, iPhones are not too expensive if you don’t buy the latest models and I’d rather avoid supporting companies that don’t understand the importance of security.
Pixel actually guarantees 5 years now and if you put GrapheneOS on it, then you’ll have one of the most private and secure operating systems available
just a side note for graphene: i have the feeling that it’s not for everyone. “too much” security tends to get in the UX way
Well, Google isn’t famous for being reliable in the long run with their services, Apple is proven at this point, tho who knows, I’ll wait a few years and see if Google is still at it with their Pixels.
You can do even better than five years with Fairphone (…Speaking as a Pixel user)
Yeah exactly. It’s surprising how many people don’t check or care how long their device is being updated. Apple does a great job of supplying their devices with updates long-term.
If you stand there at the store with this year’s iPhone; take the full price divided by how many years you plan to own/ use it. Then you realize it’s actually relatively cheap.
I have just done the same.
Although Google are now promising 5 years of support for Pixel phones, Pixel phones are not a core business for Google, and as they have shown many times, Google will end projects at the drop of a hat with no regard for their customers.
There are secondary Android companies like Samsung that promise long term security updates, but are always behind the publishing curve compared to Google. This means that malicious actors have the opportunity to study Google’s published updates to reverse engineer cracks that they then exploit.
The current Android security update model is inherently insecure due to this issue. Until manufacturers are forced to update in a timely manner ( by which I mean simultaneously with Google) I won’t buy another Android phone.
Pixel and Samsung also have 5 years of updates promised. And more phones are giving at least 3 years. I don’t think most people nowadays are hanging onto their 5 year old phones. Most everyone switches phones every 2 or 3 years.
Apple isn’t the only one that guarantees many years of updates. The fairphone (although currently only sold in the EU, they’re coming soon to the USA) has 5 years of promised support, Google Pixel 6 and later also have 5 years of promised updates, Samsung Galaxy, has 4 years, while one year less than its competitors, still much better than the 1-2 years most phones have. Android phones these days aren’t like the wild west back then, Android phones are on par with iPhones, the choice is merely personal preference.
If you are using an android phone, you can change the ROM to one that still gets updates, it’s like changing the os in a computer. The process will delete all of the user data inside the phone but you’ve got nothing to lose if it doesn’t get any security updates.
I recommend lineageOS to anyone wanting to go down this route because of its compatibility with every phone, old or new.
that “security update” quickly gets irrelevant as the exploits for lineage (or any non-standard rom) sells for pennies compared to a stock exploit. also no one’s paying security researchers to assess lineage - also it would be completely impossible with the amount of updates and devices they release
remember that (unfortunately) security is all about money
But more people using stock roms could potentially mean any exploit is more easily found compared to custom roms. Not saying that’s the case, but it’s a factor to consider.
hmmm depends on the phone and what you mean difficult. If you’ve managed to format a computer you’ll be fine. If you’re having trouble downloading chrome or office, maybe think about it again - I’m not saying you shouldn’t try or learn (everybody can learn), Im just saying that it will require an amount of time that I imagine would be uncomfortable to a user that don’t wanna bother downloading a program.
Not all people enjoy computers!
It depends. For Graphene OS, there is a web installer than people who used it said it was the easiest custom rom they’ve installed. Unfortunately, it only supports for Google Pixels.
For other custom roms… maybe not as easy…
Graphene OS Web Install: https://grapheneos.org/install/web
Hey there! Have you checked xda for unofficial ports or other ROMs? Might still be better than vanilla
This.
If you have a phone with snapdragon CPU you probably can extend it’s lifespan with custom ROMs that offers security updates. Mine released in 2019, support dropped at android 11, but unofficial LOS with android 13 works great and still updates regularly. No complains here, even the OTA works. Although I do need to flash manually because of root. I don’t see myself upgrade anytime soon.
I only upgrade my phone when it starts to lag and slow down. My last phone I replaced the battery when the life started dropping.
I can’t see why you can’t see the difference. I’ve been swapping every few years from the lowest tier phone that’s recently come out and each change feels like night and day each and every time. Perhaps you should stop buying overpriced phones?
Buying cheaper phones for the purpose of feeling the need to upgrade them sooner doesnt really make sende though, does it?
It’s about how much you are spending every year for a device. A $300 device will last you 3 years. A $1000 device will last you 5. Are you willing to spend that much money, is it worth the improvements, usually in camera and support service?
I just buy mid range $300-$400 phones with big batteries and popular hardware, so I can make it last long.
Well, there are some arguments pro buying cheaper phones.
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You have the option to upgrade, you are not obliged. Even if you finance the more expensive phone you are still committed for more. You have more options.
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Batteries do naturally degrade over time. No matter how expensive or good your phone is.
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Accidents happen some will not be covered by warranty but I also do not see more expensive phones having more than 2 years warranty which is the minimum.
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If you do chose to upgrade you have more phones, that means a backup or a free phone for a member of your family.
Well these are some really good points! I didnt think about batteries degrading but as far as I know, the more expensive phones tend to have larger batteries which will still get you through a day without charging…
Talking about accidents, I dont think the warranty replaces accidents where you are at fault (?). My phones (cheap or expensive) always had a case and tempered glass on them and I have yet to damage any of them but I get your point, expensive phones have to last for longer. I personally worry more about how long I am going to get security updates though…
- Completely agree with you on this one.
Point 4 is more important than some may think, you can dial 911 without an active SIM. For this reason alone I have old phones in all my gloveboxes.
Plus a couple years ago my folks were floating the river and their dry bag somehow stopped being I dry bag, I don’t remember the story cause I wasn’t there. But, when they got home, I was able to set them up with passable phones while the ones they ordered online came in the mail.
