4 ms·

Cost?

Hellion 4y ago
Yeah, you can get an android phone that will take pictures, send messages, play, music, run Uber/maps, and take calls for under $50. Those phones aren’t great, but they are usable. They can do everything that you “need” a smart phone to do.
- eldaisfish 4y ago
  Those phones are not “usable” in any sense except the bare minimum. How many of these sub USD 200 phones have you used and for how long?
  - paulryanrogers 4y ago
    An older, once premium model can be a good middle ground. I usually buy used and had a Note4 for several years, then my SO used it, then I used it again, then we resold it in working condition. It also had a swappable battery and card slot. Both likely helped extend its life.
  - RobotToaster 4y ago
    My over two year old Xiaomi (mi max 3) cost just under that, it still works fine ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
  - abenga 4y ago
    How are they not usable? I use a Nokia 7.2 and I think it's a perfect phone. Good screen. Pure Android. Fast. Nice camera (though I really don't care about this). It has 64GB of internal storage, but adding an SD card was straightforward.
- 2fast4you 4y ago
  It’s been a bit since I was in the cheap android phone market, but those phones don’t work as well as you say. Calling texting probably work fine, but I doubt Uber or maps will work great or at all. Anything internet heavy like that and you’re gonna be crazy frustrated
- kaba0 4y ago
  I would rather buy a used iphone for slightly more then. Less need to manufacture shit that will barely make it a year, better support and better hardware.
asdff 4y ago
Non issue. People upgrade into 3 year old iphones (still performant ofc) for nothing.
- paulryanrogers 4y ago
  Market share outside the US appears to indicate it's still more than 'nothing'
  - asdff 4y ago
    Outside the U.S. they don't have that sort of carrier upgrade system. The article is about younger americans though.
- ask_b123 4y ago
  Recently upgraded into the 2020 SE for a bit less than $75.
brewdad 4y ago
I have never had an Android phone last more than 3 years. Most of them were sluggish or degrading after only 18 months. I'm 23 months in on my first iPhone and it feels as fast as the day I got it. I can't recall ever experiencing battery life anxiety either. I have friends that have used their iPhones for 5-6 years with no problems. The upfront cost is higher but you can expect a much longer service life and the resale value is higher if you still feel the need the newest model on shorter timeframes.
bioemerl 4y ago
I got an iphone for work recently. Year old. 180 dollars. Blows budget androids out of the water.
welfare 4y ago
Just upgraded to the iPhone 14 Plus, got it for "free" by extending my contract for another 3 years. Works for me, I was already paying the monthly fee anyway and had no plans of leaving my carrier.

Cost?

Yeah, you can get an android phone that will take pictures, send messages, play, music, run Uber/maps, and take calls for under $50. Those phones aren’t great, but they are usable. They can do everything that you “need” a smart phone to do.

eldaisfish 4y ago
Those phones are not “usable” in any sense except the bare minimum. How many of these sub USD 200 phones have you used and for how long?
- paulryanrogers 4y ago
  An older, once premium model can be a good middle ground. I usually buy used and had a Note4 for several years, then my SO used it, then I used it again, then we resold it in working condition. It also had a swappable battery and card slot. Both likely helped extend its life.
- RobotToaster 4y ago
  My over two year old Xiaomi (mi max 3) cost just under that, it still works fine ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- abenga 4y ago
  How are they not usable? I use a Nokia 7.2 and I think it's a perfect phone. Good screen. Pure Android. Fast. Nice camera (though I really don't care about this). It has 64GB of internal storage, but adding an SD card was straightforward.
2fast4you 4y ago
It’s been a bit since I was in the cheap android phone market, but those phones don’t work as well as you say. Calling texting probably work fine, but I doubt Uber or maps will work great or at all. Anything internet heavy like that and you’re gonna be crazy frustrated
kaba0 4y ago
I would rather buy a used iphone for slightly more then. Less need to manufacture shit that will barely make it a year, better support and better hardware.

asdff 4y ago

Non issue. People upgrade into 3 year old iphones (still performant ofc) for nothing.

paulryanrogers 4y ago
Market share outside the US appears to indicate it's still more than 'nothing'
- asdff 4y ago
  Outside the U.S. they don't have that sort of carrier upgrade system. The article is about younger americans though.
ask_b123 4y ago
Recently upgraded into the 2020 SE for a bit less than $75.

brewdad 4y ago

I have never had an Android phone last more than 3 years. Most of them were sluggish or degrading after only 18 months. I'm 23 months in on my first iPhone and it feels as fast as the day I got it. I can't recall ever experiencing battery life anxiety either. I have friends that have used their iPhones for 5-6 years with no problems. The upfront cost is higher but you can expect a much longer service life and the resale value is higher if you still feel the need the newest model on shorter timeframes.

bioemerl 4y ago

I got an iphone for work recently. Year old. 180 dollars. Blows budget androids out of the water.

welfare 4y ago

Just upgraded to the iPhone 14 Plus, got it for "free" by extending my contract for another 3 years. Works for me, I was already paying the monthly fee anyway and had no plans of leaving my carrier.