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> I'm constantly amazed by how people spend so much of their income on Apple products I don't know about other people, but I went iPhone specifically for the v

> I'm constantly amazed by how people spend so much of their income on Apple products I don't know about other people, but I went iPhone specifically for the value/$. Got a used iPhone SE 2020 for $150 in late 2021, and expect to use it for 5+ years. I seriously doubt that there are any Androids out there that could get even close to that. It really helps that Apple's CPU/SoC is substantially superior to what everyone else uses, so older iPhones tend to feel snappier. Between that and Apple's clearly superior OS support, I don't know why value shoppers who don't want to install their own firmware would go with Android.

kernal 3y ago
>I seriously doubt that there are any Androids out there that could get even close to that. It's probably because you didn't really do any research into it. A $100 or less Pixel 4a released in 2020 will easily last 5+ years if you take care of it.
- kube-system 3y ago
  Depends on how someone values their time, I suppose.
- SapporoChris 3y ago
  2nd data point, I'm using Galaxy s8+ from 2017. I haven't taken great care of it so the back glass has many cracks in it. However the front glass has no cracks, minor scratches but is otherwise in great shape. I don't notice the scratches when I'm using it, but they're easily visible when the phone is off and held at an angle in the light. I'm still very pleased with the performance and the battery life. I did not expect it to last more than 5 years.
- nordsieck 3y ago
  > It's probably because you didn't really do any research into it. A $100 or less Pixel 4a released in 2020 will easily last 5+ years if you take care of it. I'm not optimizing for years alive in retirement; instead, it's years of active, healthy life. Similarly, I don't just care about years of software support in a phone - it's important how long the phone feels like it's still a snappy, responsive phone. I just don't have a lot of confidence that I'd feel that way about the Pixel 4a in 2027.
  - kernal 3y ago
    In addition to the Pixel 4a I also have an iPhone X and in 2023 you can really tell how sluggish the phone feels with iOS 16. I can only imagine how much worse it will feel with iOS 20.
    - saagarjha 3y ago
      iPhone X will not support any version of iOS past 16.
cbm-vic-20 3y ago
I might be one of those value shoppers; I usually buy the "Pixel .a" version of the oldest available generation when it's time for replacement (I'm currently on a Pixel 4a). I like it. I used to have an iPhone, but I prefer the "feel" of Andriod-on-Pixel, but I don't know how to describe it. Less heavy-handed maybe? More minimalistic? I don't need the fastest, most powerful SoC. I don't need the best, super fast display. The battery life on my 4a is enough for my needs. People get way too religious about this.
- delecti 3y ago
  Your "usually" is doing a lot there. You bought the second ever "a", so you've done it once? I understand your preference though, I've used google's phones (Nexus then Pixel) for about a decade. They have the benefit of having one fewer cooks in the kitchen. Any other brand has to adjust to whatever dumb thing Google has done to copy iPhone in each new OS release, and then also add their own layer on top of that.
JohnFen 3y ago
> expect to use it for 5+ years. I seriously doubt that there are any Androids out there that could get even close to that. Every Android phone I've had has lasted that long or longer. If I got less than 5 years out of any smartphone, I'd consider it faulty.
- hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
  You must have gone without security or other OS updates then, which I would consider a deal breaker with a phone. Google only recently extended the Pixel OS support timeline to be on par with Android.
  - JohnFen 3y ago
    Yes, I don't care about getting updates. If they're important to you, that's fair. But the phones don't suddenly stop working without updates. They're still perfectly fine.
    - jjav 3y ago
      > Yes, I don't care about getting updates. If they're important to you, that's fair. Hardware devices with embedded software couldn't get updates (or was a difficult job so didn't happen) until somewhat recently. It is unfortunate that the ability to do updates is used as a crutch to ship faulty software that then needs updates. A phone shouldn't ever need an update in its lifetime if it was properly built in the first place. I only recently stopped using my Motorola cellphone from 2005 (only because they decommissioned the towers). It never received any update in 17 years. It also never needed any. I would like to buy devices with that level of quality today.
      - hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
        Well, yeah, and I'd like a pony. The main issue is security updates. I'm guessing you weren't accessing things like a banking app with highly sensitive financial data on your 2005 Motorola.
onemoresoop 3y ago
Im using the same SE2020 Iphone and am getting a lot of value out of it. Paid close to $100.
tssva 3y ago
A month ago I paid $299 for a Pixel 7 and then got a $149 back in trade-in for my Pixel 4. Pretty good value.
adamredwoods 3y ago
I'm still on Pixel 2. The battery is a bit short these days, but I have no performance issues.
- behringer 3y ago
  I bet the battery can be replaced cheaper than an iPhone too. Well worth it if you don't expect to upgrade in the next year.
makeitdouble 3y ago
> I seriously doubt that there are any Androids out there that could get even close to that. I don't see the 2020 SE getting software upgrades for much longer, it's already the bottom of the barrel for iOS17, so I guess you're OK to forgo those for a while ? If your phone needs are low enough you can get by with the SE in 2026, buying a Gakaxy A series today would totally fit the bill, and you probably could get one new at the same price and way cheaper used.
- scarface_74 3y ago
  The iPhone 5s from 2013 got a security update earlier this year..
  - makeitdouble 3y ago
    Fair point. Super critical security updates could go on, while official OS support is dead. To note, iOS doesn't allow alternative browsers so Safari will also be stuck in time and there will be no option to get any modern engine on the device (I'm not even sure you could get one through jailbreaking, that would be a lot of porting efforts for virtually no one on the market) I resurrected a third gen iPad a few weeks ago for no reason, and the most interesting part was it couldn't get past Cloudflare's browser check, so couldn't even see some of simpler and primitive sites on the web.
    - ghaff 3y ago
      Macs are pretty much in the same boat. I have a couple 2015 models. Can’t get the latest major OS update. But they get updates and I expect I’ll be able to continue using them as primarily browsers for quite some time.
    - paulmd 3y ago
      iPhone 8+ is only just falling off the OS update wagon now, and that’s a 2017 phone. Security updates will go on for another few years beyond that. The SE 2020 is in no danger of falling off OS updates anytime soon let alone security.
- 3y ago
sundvor 3y ago
Samsung's security update model is 4/5 years. I expect mine (a very high performing S21Ultra) to be 5+ years. https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb My son uses my old S10-5G (the world's first premier 5G phone, released in mid 2019 - ages ahead of Apple), and it's still regularly receiving security updates.
idiotsecant 3y ago
I think there are a lot of Android devices that fill that niche. I've owned several.

kernal 3y ago

>I seriously doubt that there are any Androids out there that could get even close to that. It's probably because you didn't really do any research into it. A $100 or less Pixel 4a released in 2020 will easily last 5+ years if you take care of it.

kube-system 3y ago
Depends on how someone values their time, I suppose.
SapporoChris 3y ago
2nd data point, I'm using Galaxy s8+ from 2017. I haven't taken great care of it so the back glass has many cracks in it. However the front glass has no cracks, minor scratches but is otherwise in great shape. I don't notice the scratches when I'm using it, but they're easily visible when the phone is off and held at an angle in the light. I'm still very pleased with the performance and the battery life. I did not expect it to last more than 5 years.
nordsieck 3y ago
> It's probably because you didn't really do any research into it. A $100 or less Pixel 4a released in 2020 will easily last 5+ years if you take care of it. I'm not optimizing for years alive in retirement; instead, it's years of active, healthy life. Similarly, I don't just care about years of software support in a phone - it's important how long the phone feels like it's still a snappy, responsive phone. I just don't have a lot of confidence that I'd feel that way about the Pixel 4a in 2027.
- kernal 3y ago
  In addition to the Pixel 4a I also have an iPhone X and in 2023 you can really tell how sluggish the phone feels with iOS 16. I can only imagine how much worse it will feel with iOS 20.
  - saagarjha 3y ago
    iPhone X will not support any version of iOS past 16.

cbm-vic-20 3y ago

I might be one of those value shoppers; I usually buy the "Pixel .a" version of the oldest available generation when it's time for replacement (I'm currently on a Pixel 4a). I like it. I used to have an iPhone, but I prefer the "feel" of Andriod-on-Pixel, but I don't know how to describe it. Less heavy-handed maybe? More minimalistic? I don't need the fastest, most powerful SoC. I don't need the best, super fast display. The battery life on my 4a is enough for my needs. People get way too religious about this.

delecti 3y ago
Your "usually" is doing a lot there. You bought the second ever "a", so you've done it once? I understand your preference though, I've used google's phones (Nexus then Pixel) for about a decade. They have the benefit of having one fewer cooks in the kitchen. Any other brand has to adjust to whatever dumb thing Google has done to copy iPhone in each new OS release, and then also add their own layer on top of that.

JohnFen 3y ago

> expect to use it for 5+ years. I seriously doubt that there are any Androids out there that could get even close to that. Every Android phone I've had has lasted that long or longer. If I got less than 5 years out of any smartphone, I'd consider it faulty.

hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
You must have gone without security or other OS updates then, which I would consider a deal breaker with a phone. Google only recently extended the Pixel OS support timeline to be on par with Android.
- JohnFen 3y ago
  Yes, I don't care about getting updates. If they're important to you, that's fair. But the phones don't suddenly stop working without updates. They're still perfectly fine.
  - jjav 3y ago
    > Yes, I don't care about getting updates. If they're important to you, that's fair. Hardware devices with embedded software couldn't get updates (or was a difficult job so didn't happen) until somewhat recently. It is unfortunate that the ability to do updates is used as a crutch to ship faulty software that then needs updates. A phone shouldn't ever need an update in its lifetime if it was properly built in the first place. I only recently stopped using my Motorola cellphone from 2005 (only because they decommissioned the towers). It never received any update in 17 years. It also never needed any. I would like to buy devices with that level of quality today.
    - hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
      Well, yeah, and I'd like a pony. The main issue is security updates. I'm guessing you weren't accessing things like a banking app with highly sensitive financial data on your 2005 Motorola.

onemoresoop 3y ago

Im using the same SE2020 Iphone and am getting a lot of value out of it. Paid close to $100.

tssva 3y ago

A month ago I paid $299 for a Pixel 7 and then got a $149 back in trade-in for my Pixel 4. Pretty good value.

adamredwoods 3y ago

I'm still on Pixel 2. The battery is a bit short these days, but I have no performance issues.

behringer 3y ago
I bet the battery can be replaced cheaper than an iPhone too. Well worth it if you don't expect to upgrade in the next year.

makeitdouble 3y ago

> I seriously doubt that there are any Androids out there that could get even close to that. I don't see the 2020 SE getting software upgrades for much longer, it's already the bottom of the barrel for iOS17, so I guess you're OK to forgo those for a while ? If your phone needs are low enough you can get by with the SE in 2026, buying a Gakaxy A series today would totally fit the bill, and you probably could get one new at the same price and way cheaper used.

scarface_74 3y ago
The iPhone 5s from 2013 got a security update earlier this year..
- makeitdouble 3y ago
  Fair point. Super critical security updates could go on, while official OS support is dead. To note, iOS doesn't allow alternative browsers so Safari will also be stuck in time and there will be no option to get any modern engine on the device (I'm not even sure you could get one through jailbreaking, that would be a lot of porting efforts for virtually no one on the market) I resurrected a third gen iPad a few weeks ago for no reason, and the most interesting part was it couldn't get past Cloudflare's browser check, so couldn't even see some of simpler and primitive sites on the web.
  - ghaff 3y ago
    Macs are pretty much in the same boat. I have a couple 2015 models. Can’t get the latest major OS update. But they get updates and I expect I’ll be able to continue using them as primarily browsers for quite some time.
  - paulmd 3y ago
    iPhone 8+ is only just falling off the OS update wagon now, and that’s a 2017 phone. Security updates will go on for another few years beyond that. The SE 2020 is in no danger of falling off OS updates anytime soon let alone security.
3y ago

sundvor 3y ago

Samsung's security update model is 4/5 years. I expect mine (a very high performing S21Ultra) to be 5+ years. https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb My son uses my old S10-5G (the world's first premier 5G phone, released in mid 2019 - ages ahead of Apple), and it's still regularly receiving security updates.

idiotsecant 3y ago

I think there are a lot of Android devices that fill that niche. I've owned several.