4 ms·

I think you haven’t considered the luxury goods aspect of higher-end phones. The majority of people buying new phones every year or two don’t carefully study sp

I think you haven’t considered the luxury goods aspect of higher-end phones. The majority of people buying new phones every year or two don’t carefully study specs, and don’t need to use a PC or laptop at all, or only need a “real” computer for work or specific tasks. Already smartphones serve as the primary internet access device for a majority of internet users. Sales of new phone models have a lot more to do with perceived status and obsolescence (real or imagined). Actual performance improvements remain largely incremental and irrelevant for the majority of phone users, but perception and fear of obsolescence drive sales anyway. The same goes for camera quality: actually important to a small percentage of users, but perceived as important by a lot more users even if they only post low-quality snapshots online. Most people don’t need to “upgrade” their purse, sneakers, watch, car, etc. as often as they do. Smartphones have turned into Veblen goods for some, and status display for many more. Spend some time with teenagers. Their fears of not having the newest phone derive entirely from perceived status and fitting in, not from number of USB ports or processor speed. The number of smartphone users actually interested in using their phone as a PC — with external monitor, keyboard, pointing device — describes a small niche of the smartphone market. Solutions have existed for some time (Samsung Dex and Motorola Ready For, for example). Consumers by and large ignore those offerings and buy for status and FOMO reasons. The phone manufacturers have so far succeeded in selling disposable and un-repairable devices and feeding the constant upgrade cycle. I have heard many people say they will replace their phone when the screen cracks or it gets too many scratches — the same way they would justify discarding a pair of shoes rather than getting them repaired.

mihaaly 2y ago
Imagine you only can buy Ferrari SUV from now on (coming with built in dishwasher as standard extra). Whatever your usecase is. Be it a family car for shopping, small utility vechicle for delivering goods to a construction site, want to go camping in Siberia with friends, or need something to plough your fields. With small compromises it could substitute an electric bike or a scooter as well!! Luxury cars for everyone!!
resource_waste 2y ago
I think lots of people here have little understanding how expensive $600 to a stay at home mom or teen is. Getting an iphone says you got middle class money(even if it was $12/mo for the next 5 years). There are upper-middle class equivalents of this. Cars come to mind. It is interesting explaining to a middle class person why I have a $100 crappy phone. "My old one broke, and I have 4 of these $100 phones for my wife's company, so I'm using it until I find a good phone with an Aux port". Ease is everything.
- cootsnuck 2y ago
  I'm just glad I grew up in the era right before smart phones and have always purchased my own cell phones. I'm just too damn grumpy to pay more than like $250 for a phone. I prefer to be on my computer than my phone. But I can understand for people who seldom are on a computer it probably feels worth it to them to pay $500+ for a phone.
- lotsofpulp 2y ago
  The cheapest iphones have been $400 or $430 for many, many years now. Divided by the number of hours a phone is used, the amortized cost of having something you want is miniscule. This is the thing moms will be taking precious pictures of their kids with, video calling their families on, shopping for themselves and others, and even watching or listening to entertainment. If there’s one thing that people can justify spending more on for more utility, it’s a smartphone. Obviously, I’m not referring to spending $1k more for a 1 TB Pro Max, but spending an extra $500 is going to make sense to many people for purposes outside of showing off.
  - resource_waste 2y ago
    >but spending an extra $500 is going to make sense to many people for purposes outside of showing off. If this was true, Apple would not be the major US player. Everything you mentioned doesnt cost $500, it cost $200 on a nexus a decade ago.
    - lotsofpulp 2y ago
deleted 2y ago
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mihaaly 2y ago

Imagine you only can buy Ferrari SUV from now on (coming with built in dishwasher as standard extra). Whatever your usecase is. Be it a family car for shopping, small utility vechicle for delivering goods to a construction site, want to go camping in Siberia with friends, or need something to plough your fields. With small compromises it could substitute an electric bike or a scooter as well!! Luxury cars for everyone!!

resource_waste 2y ago

I think lots of people here have little understanding how expensive $600 to a stay at home mom or teen is. Getting an iphone says you got middle class money(even if it was $12/mo for the next 5 years). There are upper-middle class equivalents of this. Cars come to mind. It is interesting explaining to a middle class person why I have a $100 crappy phone. "My old one broke, and I have 4 of these $100 phones for my wife's company, so I'm using it until I find a good phone with an Aux port". Ease is everything.

cootsnuck 2y ago
I'm just glad I grew up in the era right before smart phones and have always purchased my own cell phones. I'm just too damn grumpy to pay more than like $250 for a phone. I prefer to be on my computer than my phone. But I can understand for people who seldom are on a computer it probably feels worth it to them to pay $500+ for a phone.
lotsofpulp 2y ago
The cheapest iphones have been $400 or $430 for many, many years now. Divided by the number of hours a phone is used, the amortized cost of having something you want is miniscule. This is the thing moms will be taking precious pictures of their kids with, video calling their families on, shopping for themselves and others, and even watching or listening to entertainment. If there’s one thing that people can justify spending more on for more utility, it’s a smartphone. Obviously, I’m not referring to spending $1k more for a 1 TB Pro Max, but spending an extra $500 is going to make sense to many people for purposes outside of showing off.
- resource_waste 2y ago
  >but spending an extra $500 is going to make sense to many people for purposes outside of showing off. If this was true, Apple would not be the major US player. Everything you mentioned doesnt cost $500, it cost $200 on a nexus a decade ago.
  - lotsofpulp 2y ago

deleted 2y ago

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