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This is great because the more expensive phones get, the less likely people will want to replace their 2-year old phone with a new one. Plus, those new high en
by Mystery-Machine 3y ago
This is great because the more expensive phones get, the less likely people will want to replace their 2-year old phone with a new one.
Plus, those new high end features...there have been barely any new features in a smartphone in the last 5+ years (I'm exaggerating a bit of course). Check out Fairphone. That's an interesting project!
- scarface_74 3y agoIsn’t this the ultimate “let them eat cake” argument? There are many people in the world who can’t afford anything but the cheapest phone.
- Barrin92 3y agoThose people don't live in the EU. And anyhow the higher cost of the phone are balanced out by the increased longevity and support of the device. Lifetime cost may very well be lower when people end up replacing their phones less frequently and just have to swap a battery.
- scarface_74 3y agoHas the EU also made poverty illegal?
- Barrin92 3y agoSort of? Almost all EU countries have social welfare nets and public services strong enough to have people's basic needs covered. I think in most countries welfare even directly covers basic phone plans. We aren't in a situation where we need to allow environmentally damaging products here for the sake of the poor because they're not out on their own. This sounds like the old pro-sweatshop arguments people sometimes made about developing countries.
- scarface_74 3y agohttps://www.slowboring.com/p/they-have-homelessness-in-europe#:~:text=You%20might%20wonder%20why%20homelessness,resident%20of%20any%20European%20country https://www.slowboring.com/p/they-have-homelessness-in-europ....
- TeMPOraL 3y agoPoverty is a relative thing, not absolute. As for your link downthread - homelessness has many more causes than just not being able to afford a place to stay.
- scarface_74 3y agoSo what are those many causes where people have money and choose to live on the streets?
- TeMPOraL 3y agoIDK, cheapest phones don't work, and I don't think the store price was ever that clear a differentiator, as telcos routinely disrupt this signal. You can easily get the newest flagships, and phones from the next price group below, cheaper than you can get mid-range phones - as long as you're willing and able to sign up for a 1-2 years contract.
- scarface_74 3y agoOutside of the US and a few other companies, people pay full price for phones.
- TeMPOraL 3y agoEventually, always, but not up front. Poorer people "prefer" somewhat higher price that gets spread out over years, to paying full price up front. (I put "prefer" in quotes, because it's less of a choice, and more the only option they can afford.)
- scarface_74 3y agoMost countries don’t do two year contracts - people have to pay the full price up front.