this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2023
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Other than your carrier give it for free or cheap, I don't really see the reason why should you buy new phone. I've been using Redmi Note 9 for past 3 years and recently got my had on Poco F5. I don't see the point of my 'upgrade'. I sold it and come back to my Note 9. Gaming? Most of them are p2w or microtransaction garbage or just gimped version of its PC/Console counterpart. I mean, $400 still get you PS4, TV and Switch if you don't mind buying used. At least here where I live. Storage? Dude, newer phone wont even let you have SD Card. Features? Well, all I see is newer phones take more features than it adds. Headphone jack, more ads, and repairability are to name a few. Battery? Just replace them. However, my Note 9 still get through day with one 80% charge in the dawn. Which takes 1 hour.

I am genuinely curious why newer phone always selling like hot cakes. Since there's virtually no difference between 4gb of RAM and 12gb of RAM, or 12mp camera and 100mp camera on phone.

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[–] Shurimal@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

I upgrade when the opsys gets hopelessly outdated (as in apps no longer supporting it) or the device physically breaks. My last phone (Huawei Ascend P7) lasted for 7 years, but the Android 4.4 got just a bit too old, plus I cracked the screen a month after removing the battered to hell glass screen protector...

I don't care much about the phone not getting OS updates since I don't keep anything important on a phone in the first place and I don't care much about CPU/GPU performance since I don't run intensive apps on my phone—that's what my desktop and server are for. My current phone I bought last year will last probably for 5 more years.

[–] Hjulkula@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

I'm asking myself the same thing. I grabbed myself the the cheapest phone available at my local electronics store after I dropped my old one in the river 2-3 years ago. I think I payed around 160€ or something and I see no reason to get something new

[–] NENathaniel@lemmy.film 2 points 2 years ago

I like having high-end cameras and screens on my phones.

I keep my phones in excellent condition and sell them whenever I upgrade, which doesn’t make it a crazy expensive process.

[–] stagen@feddit.dk 2 points 2 years ago (3 children)

I haven’t gotten a new phone in the last 3 years and I don’t think that I will get one before the iPhone 15 comes out. I’m well satisfied with my iPhone 13 mini.

The fact that most newly released phones don’t go that small annoys me so I’ll keep it until I find something worth while or of similar size.

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[–] Rolder@reddthat.com 2 points 2 years ago

I try to milk my phones as long as possible. But that’s mostly because I’m lazy and moving all the 2FA and getting things set up how I like and whatnot is a ball ache.

[–] MurphysPaw@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

I've felt this way for a long time. After paying off an expensive contract for a S7 edge, I swore to never pay more than £100 for a phone. My S7 lasted 5 years before the battery gave out and the phone started to struggle.

I replaced it with a Redmi not 9 and after a year and a half i was having problems running my most used apps, bit to mention the ammount of bloatware was shocking.

I have just bought a refurbished Pixel 6 for £250 and the difference is in quality and performance is staggering! I have never been happier with a phone.

So my advice would be avoid the cheap brands and buy something future proof, but i totally agree there is no need to get a kew phone every year.

[–] shapis@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

I'll ride this pixel til it dies.

[–] donut4ever@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago

I've been using the same galaxy note 20 ultra since launch. It's been 3 years now and it's still working no problem. I do struggle with the USB-C port, it got loose and the wire falls off easily, but no big deal. If this dies, I'm buying the same phone from eBay and I'll be rooting it when Samsung stops sending updates.

[–] j41UkP0ykQhE@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

Lack of memory card slot is a big deal for me. I get the cloud usage and all, but what about having a local copy? Space fills up really fast with a few videos and photos. I don't want to have to manage my storage painfully every month or so.

Also I prefer compact phones which are basically non-existent these days.

[–] stilgar@infosec.pub 2 points 2 years ago

I'm tempted to upgrade for:

  • Wireless charging
  • 5G

But I'm not that tempted so I haven't done it, still very happy with my Oneplus 7T from 2020.

[–] dan@upvote.au 2 points 2 years ago

I don't understand it either. The only reason I upgraded from my Galaxy S10 was because the USB port no longer worked. I could still charge it via wireless charging, but it was annoying not being able to plug it into my car to use Google Maps. If the USB port didn't break, I'd probably still be using the old S10.

[–] boba_bobble@lemmy.fmhy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

For me, I just like "fun" phones. I don't update purely due to specs. I recently updated to a fold phone because I'm a bit bored with glass slab phones. A lot of phone manufacturers have decent trade-in deals where I'm at so I never pay full price for them. I might trade in this phone and get the new one if the build quality was improved but it needs to be a notable difference between versions.

[–] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 1 points 2 years ago

I kinda have to buy a new phone every few years because I only get a handful of years in terms of updates (Pixel 5). After my phone is unsupported by GrapheneOS I might turn CalyxOS and by then maybe I'll buy a new phone.

[–] IYeetKids@reddthat.com 1 points 2 years ago

Still using my moto g40 since 2021 , don't think I will be needing a new phone for few more years . Might install lineage os to get that latest Android version

[–] madis@lemm.ee 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I previously thought it would be a way to upgrade phones faster without losing (much) money.

Say, you have a 800$ phone and you want a new 800$ phone. Most people would just buy a new one for 800$ (outright or installment, doesn't matter) after 2-3 years. My idea was to buy a new phone every year, sell the older one for half the price and voila - you paid the same amount but got two phone upgrades.

The problem with that logic is that reselling takes time, energy and luck to get the price you want, plus it is possible to buy new phones for cheaper by just waiting anyway.

[–] TimeMuncher2@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

There's a lot of reasons. Single people can spend a lot on tech without thinking. People have lot of money. People don't like their current phone. I say let them spend and keep the companies in business. If all of us stopped buying phones every year and only bought once in 4-5 years, the companies producing phones will have to shut down sooner or later and we'd have just one or two left. I only upgraded recently after 6 years because the phone OS was too old and the cpu was like snail.

[–] nei7jc@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

You do it to give Samsung or Motorola or Google or apple or Amazon your money every year, obviously

[–] amir_s89@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Each year new products & models are launching, so that those in need of it can aquire them. These companies are delivering OS updates for these smartphones so they last longer as realistically possible.

If when yours is broken or far too old, then you should consider aquiring this year's model. So that you can use something that is compatible with studies, work, activities etc.

Obviously each individual/ family/ organization does their own analysis regarding if there is a need or desire to aquire said products. Also what for.

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