8 ms·

I am surprised cell phones are still selling for 650 bucks. You can get a Chinese cell phone for 200 dollars which will do 90% of what latest apple or Samsung w

I am surprised cell phones are still selling for 650 bucks. You can get a Chinese cell phone for 200 dollars which will do 90% of what latest apple or Samsung will do. Maybe it will be a little bit slower, but not 450 dollars slower.

nixy 10y ago
For me I'm paying the premium for a number of reasons, mainly Apple's stance on privacy and security. You'll be hard pressed to find the same security and privacy commitment from any manufacturer of Android or other competing devices.
- samfisher83 10y ago
  Apple was more than willing to give up one of their users when it benefited them: https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/21/kickasstorrents-apple-facebook-homeland-security/ https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/21/kickasstorrents-apple-fa... Android is open source. You can get rid of all the google bits if you really want to.
  - eridius 10y ago
    I don't know how you're reading that article, but to me, it sounds like Apple was likely complying with a legal court order for the information. And it really wasn't very much information, seems to be just the IP address that was used to make an iTunes purchase on a particular day. Not particularly privacy-invading, since this is something that falls well within the information that courts can order Apple to turn over.
op00to 10y ago
When the $200 phone bursts into flames, are you able to sue the Chinese manufacturer for damages? When your $200 phone breaks, do you have to simply buy a new one rather than get it replaced? When there are security holes in your $200 phone, will the cheap skin over Android get patched? I buy Apple phones for one reason, and that's the fact that my business lives and dies through communication. With my $800 phone, I can walk into any Apple store in the world and get support, a repair, or replacement. When I had a Nexus phone, all I got was runaround and BS from whoever support was contracted out to.
- madeofpalk 10y ago
  To be fair, the $800 phone is currently bursting into flames everywhere and people are having lots of trouble getting help from Samsung.
  - op00to 10y ago
    Ha walked into that one.
- Shivetya 10y ago
  that is a large amount of FUD and baseless too. the majority of the world gets by not having eight hundred dollar phones just fine. Apple marketing simply has succeeded in convincing you and others that there is no viable alternative which in turn keeps you from accepting such a possibility
  - jonknee 10y ago
    The majority of the world gets by without air conditioning, personal vehicles, Netflix memberships and all other sorts of luxury items and services. The iPhone is no different, but it's not marketing that Apple's support is better than a random vendor off Alibaba.
    - izacus 10y ago
      That still doesn't mean that your phone will burst into flames if it doesn't have an apple drawn on it.
  - matwood 10y ago
    > Apple marketing simply has succeeded in convincing you and others that there is no viable alternative which in turn keeps you from accepting such a possibility Speaking of FUD. Marketing only gets you so far, and at some point you have to have a product. I have tried to switch to Android. First with an HTC One and another time with the Nexus 5 (I also have a Nexus 7). Android definitely wins on open and customization, but on overall system it continually failed. My Nexus 5 would randomly get system processes spinning out of control and if I didn't notice, I would have a dead battery in ~10 minutes. I don't remember which, but there was an Android update that made my Nexus 7 completely unusable. I went back to the iPhone, and only then fully realized Apple's advantage of controlling the hardware AND software. I think Google is finally recognizing this, and attempting to replicate it with the Pixel.
inimino 10y ago
That last ten percent makes a difference when it's something you use frequently every day.
vbezhenar 10y ago
There are cars for $65000 and for $20000 and they have their audiences. I wouldn't pay $45000 for slightly more powerful engine and slightly better interior, but many people do. Different people have different priorities.
danieldk 10y ago
Simple: (1) my iPhone's screen had some discolorization along the edges, I took it to the Apple store last Saturday; two hours later I pick up my iPhone with a new screen at no cost. (2) the day a new iOS is released (typically with security fixes), I can download it. After trying some cheaper phones and two Android flagships (support was terrible), I realized that a great phone, with good warranty, and quick updates is worth more to me than the price hump. Same for laptops. Why would I cut on a device that I use every day? (Apropos laptops: we usually sell our MacBooks after ~3 years, I usually recoup 2/3rd of the cost and have a high-end laptop for 300-400 per three years.)
georgespencer 10y ago
I am surprised [any item] sells for [perceived high price]. You can get [lower quality version of item] for [lower price] which will do [not the same things, and not as well] that a [luxury manufacturer's item] will do.
simonh 10y ago
* Free immediate access to patches and OS upgrades * Security and privacy * The best range of high quality apps * Pythonista * The camera(s) * Calibration - I don't trust Android devices to be correctly quality controlled in this regard * Continuity and the universal clipboard * System performance * Product support / Apple Stores * Device longevity. My daughter just upgraded from my old 3GS, which still even works with the app store!
grecy 10y ago
I'm in West Africa and just bought a fully-functional phone for $20 - that was new price, in the box, no haggling. For another $10 I could have got a much bigger screen and better specs. It does absolutely everything I can think of a cell phone can do, even has dual sims. I'm tethering to it off 3G right now. It's running Android 5.1, and to be honest I have not even tried to upgrade it because it just doesn't matter. It does everything as it is. It's this http://www.naijainformation.com/2016/06/itel-it1355-price-full-features-and.html http://www.naijainformation.com/2016/06/itel-it1355-price-fu...
- EduardoBautista 10y ago
  4G is a big missing feature.
  - grecy 10y ago
    Only one or two countries here even have 4G towers.

nixy 10y ago

For me I'm paying the premium for a number of reasons, mainly Apple's stance on privacy and security. You'll be hard pressed to find the same security and privacy commitment from any manufacturer of Android or other competing devices.

samfisher83 10y ago
Apple was more than willing to give up one of their users when it benefited them: https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/21/kickasstorrents-apple-facebook-homeland-security/ https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/21/kickasstorrents-apple-fa... Android is open source. You can get rid of all the google bits if you really want to.
- eridius 10y ago
  I don't know how you're reading that article, but to me, it sounds like Apple was likely complying with a legal court order for the information. And it really wasn't very much information, seems to be just the IP address that was used to make an iTunes purchase on a particular day. Not particularly privacy-invading, since this is something that falls well within the information that courts can order Apple to turn over.

op00to 10y ago

When the $200 phone bursts into flames, are you able to sue the Chinese manufacturer for damages? When your $200 phone breaks, do you have to simply buy a new one rather than get it replaced? When there are security holes in your $200 phone, will the cheap skin over Android get patched? I buy Apple phones for one reason, and that's the fact that my business lives and dies through communication. With my $800 phone, I can walk into any Apple store in the world and get support, a repair, or replacement. When I had a Nexus phone, all I got was runaround and BS from whoever support was contracted out to.

madeofpalk 10y ago
To be fair, the $800 phone is currently bursting into flames everywhere and people are having lots of trouble getting help from Samsung.
- op00to 10y ago
  Ha walked into that one.
Shivetya 10y ago
that is a large amount of FUD and baseless too. the majority of the world gets by not having eight hundred dollar phones just fine. Apple marketing simply has succeeded in convincing you and others that there is no viable alternative which in turn keeps you from accepting such a possibility
- jonknee 10y ago
  The majority of the world gets by without air conditioning, personal vehicles, Netflix memberships and all other sorts of luxury items and services. The iPhone is no different, but it's not marketing that Apple's support is better than a random vendor off Alibaba.
  - izacus 10y ago
    That still doesn't mean that your phone will burst into flames if it doesn't have an apple drawn on it.
- matwood 10y ago
  > Apple marketing simply has succeeded in convincing you and others that there is no viable alternative which in turn keeps you from accepting such a possibility Speaking of FUD. Marketing only gets you so far, and at some point you have to have a product. I have tried to switch to Android. First with an HTC One and another time with the Nexus 5 (I also have a Nexus 7). Android definitely wins on open and customization, but on overall system it continually failed. My Nexus 5 would randomly get system processes spinning out of control and if I didn't notice, I would have a dead battery in ~10 minutes. I don't remember which, but there was an Android update that made my Nexus 7 completely unusable. I went back to the iPhone, and only then fully realized Apple's advantage of controlling the hardware AND software. I think Google is finally recognizing this, and attempting to replicate it with the Pixel.

inimino 10y ago

That last ten percent makes a difference when it's something you use frequently every day.

vbezhenar 10y ago

There are cars for $65000 and for $20000 and they have their audiences. I wouldn't pay $45000 for slightly more powerful engine and slightly better interior, but many people do. Different people have different priorities.

danieldk 10y ago

Simple: (1) my iPhone's screen had some discolorization along the edges, I took it to the Apple store last Saturday; two hours later I pick up my iPhone with a new screen at no cost. (2) the day a new iOS is released (typically with security fixes), I can download it. After trying some cheaper phones and two Android flagships (support was terrible), I realized that a great phone, with good warranty, and quick updates is worth more to me than the price hump. Same for laptops. Why would I cut on a device that I use every day? (Apropos laptops: we usually sell our MacBooks after ~3 years, I usually recoup 2/3rd of the cost and have a high-end laptop for 300-400 per three years.)

georgespencer 10y ago

I am surprised [any item] sells for [perceived high price]. You can get [lower quality version of item] for [lower price] which will do [not the same things, and not as well] that a [luxury manufacturer's item] will do.

simonh 10y ago

* Free immediate access to patches and OS upgrades * Security and privacy * The best range of high quality apps * Pythonista * The camera(s) * Calibration - I don't trust Android devices to be correctly quality controlled in this regard * Continuity and the universal clipboard * System performance * Product support / Apple Stores * Device longevity. My daughter just upgraded from my old 3GS, which still even works with the app store!

grecy 10y ago

I'm in West Africa and just bought a fully-functional phone for $20 - that was new price, in the box, no haggling. For another $10 I could have got a much bigger screen and better specs. It does absolutely everything I can think of a cell phone can do, even has dual sims. I'm tethering to it off 3G right now. It's running Android 5.1, and to be honest I have not even tried to upgrade it because it just doesn't matter. It does everything as it is. It's this http://www.naijainformation.com/2016/06/itel-it1355-price-full-features-and.html http://www.naijainformation.com/2016/06/itel-it1355-price-fu...

EduardoBautista 10y ago
4G is a big missing feature.
- grecy 10y ago
  Only one or two countries here even have 4G towers.