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Going cheaper with my next smartphone. A mistake?

Eddie Dane

Philosopher
Eddie Dane
Joined
Aug 18, 2007
Messages
6,681
Or more accurately. How big is the difference actually between a cheap, a mid-range, and an expensive smartphone?

I bought my eleven-year-old daughter a Motorola G3 €130 six months ago.

It doesn't have a physical home button, it needed an SD card and I find the interface not that great. But apart from that, how much worse is this thing compared to my fancy iPhone 6?

I watch Youtube and Netflix, do my mail, follow some courses, and browse Twitter.
No plans for VR headsets or fancy games.

I'm thinking of getting a mid-range Samsung for my next phone (still have to look through their extensive and confusing range).

Anyone experienced here? Will I go mad from slow reaction times and ruing my eyes with a bad resolution screen?
 
If you are willing to lose or replace all your apps and you like the new phone sure.

By mid range Samsung do you mean an old S line models like an S5 or S6, or a cheap and nasty Samsung model?

With most modern phones you should be able to do the basic things you require.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk
 
I was thinking of the S6, I think the S8 comes out in February. So after that.
 
You always need the newest phone right out of the store, otherwise it won't have the most important feature: Bragging rights.


I like the Wirecutter website for comparison. I got me a MotoG4 because of it, my kid got the G3 - absolutely everything you could possibly need (even dual sim), except that you can't show off as much.
I feel like a loser ;)
 
Eddie Dane said:
I was thinking of the S6, I think the S8 comes out in February. So after that.
Click to expand...

Look at what you want to do, list what's important for you and go for a phone that does that.

Even the cheapest of smartphones these days can browse the web, do emails, watch netflix and youtube. What you pay more for - but not on a linear scale - is bigger screens, better quality screens, better cameras, more internal storage, faster processors and then there are the features such as fingerprint sensors, wireless charging and "health" sensors.

Most mid-range smartphones these days are more than good enough for most people.
 
The Great Zaganza said:
You always need the newest phone right out of the store, otherwise it won't have the most important feature: Bragging rights.


I like the Wirecutter website for comparison. I got me a MotoG4 because of it, my kid got the G3 - absolutely everything you could possibly need (even dual sim), except that you can't show off as much.
I feel like a loser ;)
Click to expand...

I was just looking at the G4. It is almost shockingly cheap compared to the S7 or new iPhone. And it gets raving reviews.

I don't need a fingerprint sensor, really.

Another thing: a cheaper phone is more like a normal user-item. If you break it, you buy a new one. No biggy. Less stress.
 
Darat said:
Look at what you want to do, list what's important for you and go for a phone that does that.

Even the cheapest of smartphones these days can browse the web, do emails, watch netflix and youtube. What you pay more for - but not on a linear scale - is bigger screens, better quality screens, better cameras, more internal storage, faster processors and then there are the features such as fingerprint sensors, wireless charging and "health" sensors and the brand.

Most mid-range smartphones these days are more than good enough for most people.
Click to expand...
fixed
 
Eddie Dane said:
Or more accurately. How big is the difference actually between a cheap, a mid-range, and an expensive smartphone?

I bought my eleven-year-old daughter a Motorola G3 €130 six months ago.

It doesn't have a physical home button, it needed an SD card and I find the interface not that great. But apart from that, how much worse is this thing compared to my fancy iPhone 6?

I watch Youtube and Netflix, do my mail, follow some courses, and browse Twitter.
No plans for VR headsets or fancy games.

I'm thinking of getting a mid-range Samsung for my next phone (still have to look through their extensive and confusing range).

Anyone experienced here? Will I go mad from slow reaction times and ruing my eyes with a bad resolution screen?
Click to expand...
I have a rule of thumb for that.

Find the base level, then go for the model one level higher.

It seems to hold true unless one has a specific requirement that necessitates the more expensive end of the market.

For example, I always go for the smaller screen sizes. I don't need glasses so screen size is a non-issue for me. This is, of course, not true for everyone. Thus, my rule of thumb is tempered by specific things people want from a phone.
 
I think it is great idea to only buy what you need. I do that with cars.

Do you get any value out of the iPhone 6 by getting rid of it? Or is it just worn out and needs to be replaced?

I tend to buy the phone I want and then keep it until it is a hinderance. I just got rid of my iPhone 4s last month. I don't think my system has any advantages over just buying what you need.
 
Dr. Keith said:
I think it is great idea to only buy what you need. I do that with cars.

Do you get any value out of the iPhone 6 by getting rid of it? Or is it just worn out and needs to be replaced?

I tend to buy the phone I want and then keep it until it is a hinderance. I just got rid of my iPhone 4s last month. I don't think my system has any advantages over just buying what you need.
Click to expand...

The iPhone's battery is acting weird. The geniuses at Apple are going to look into it.

In addition I get €200 for a smartphone every 2 years. So I will have free money to spend in a month.
 
Darat said:
Does it get to something like 30-40% battery life and then switch off and will only switch back on when you plug a power lead in?
Click to expand...

No, it's goes empty pretty quick. When it hits 30% that accelerates and it goes down to 1% really fast. Then, when I plug it in, it immediately jumps back to 30%.
Apparently a problem that some serial numbers get fixed for free, and I don't have that number, so no free fix.
The official Apple reseller advised me to take it to the Apple store for 'analysis'.

I could just get the battery replaced at the local repair guy and see what happens.
 
Darat said:
I disagree, for some people a brand is a very compelling reason to buy something, whether that be a Rolex watch or a BMW or a smartphone.
Click to expand...

Where I work: all Apple everywhere. I don't care though.
 
Dr. Keith said:
I think it is great idea to only buy what you need. I do that with cars.

Do you get any value out of the iPhone 6 by getting rid of it? Or is it just worn out and needs to be replaced?

I tend to buy the phone I want and then keep it until it is a hinderance. I just got rid of my iPhone 4s last month. I don't think my system has any advantages over just buying what you need.
Click to expand...

I agree. Some years ago, I drove a Lexus GS300. It was a money pit and I suddenly decided that it was utter lunacy and ditched it. Why did I buy it in the first place? In three parts, status symbol, boy was it a fantastic drive and my BIL was setting out on his career as a car salesman so support was de riguer.

Realistically, it was an awesome drive but two and a half grand in tax and insurance before you even step into it? Really? I discreetly disposed of it so as not to offend the BIL. These days, I drive a very modest car. It does the business and is actually better specced than the Lexus ever was. Such is progress. I kind of like that progress.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy performance motors. But I have no need of them. Nought to sixty in a nano second? So what? When will that ever happen?
As a daily jobbing motor, it simply costs a bucket and adds nothing.

So, these days, I wheel around in a 1.5 diesel estate. All of the running costs are roughly quarter of the lexus of many years ago. It has more gizmos than the Lexus and it looks nice. Sure, it won't win any drag races, but I have no interest in drag races anyway.

The simple fact is that one can spend mad money on a performance car. That is a matter of choice and I can understand that given I have done it myself. However, it matters not a whit when suburban speed limits are 50 mph or less. What are you really claiming?
 
Eddie Dane said:
No, it's goes empty pretty quick. When it hits 30% that accelerates and it goes down to 1% really fast. Then, when I plug it in, it immediately jumps back to 30%.
Apparently a problem that some serial numbers get fixed for free, and I don't have that number, so no free fix.
The official Apple reseller advised me to take it to the Apple store for 'analysis'.

I could just get the battery replaced at the local repair guy and see what happens.
Click to expand...

It's happening to a lot of people outside the serial numbers Apple admits are faulty,
 
Check out Cubot phones Very good spec for the prices and well made.
I hit one for my son to take out when he's skateboarding figuring it won't matter if it gets damaged.
I was so impressed I got one myself.
 
Captain_Swoop said:
Check out Cubot phones Very good spec for the prices and well made.
I hit one for my son to take out when he's skateboarding figuring it won't matter if it gets damaged.
I was so impressed I got one myself.
Click to expand...

That looks pretty good, actually.
 
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