Games

Almost nobody buys a new phone every year. And if a phone is your only computing device, buying a high end one isn't a bad idea.

The $700 console is overpriced relative to its power and has pretty much no games.

Every year? The only person I know within my immediate vicinity has phones ranging from 2019 2022.

Also something you use probably 3-5 hours a day vs something you might use only a few hours a week isn't immediately comparable.

A modern day necessity vs a relatively niche item.

Don't forget about the advocado toasts!

What puts me off is the lack of games this generation. I'm not spending £700 on a console where the only worthwhile exclusive that isn't already on PC is Astro Bot.

If that's the best thing that Sony and Microsoft can give us after three years of releasing their current consoles, then we're well and truly on the verge of another market crash.

Who even buys a new phone every year?

People usually clown on Apple users specifically for doing this, but every Apple user I know uses their phone for multiple years. In fact, Apple was giving users multiple years of software support while Samsung and others were only doing 2 major Android updates for flagships. Google was the one to FINALLY change the status quo in the Android world, so that's good at least, others seem to be following suit. Previously, Android users I knew would just keep going without software updates. Luckily they mostly still receive security updates for a few years after the OS updates stop.

None of the manufacturers gives you a compelling reason to upgrade every year anymore. 10-15 years ago the changes were big because the first smartphones were shit compared to what you had just a few years later. Between the original iPhone and roughly the 5 or 5s, every upgrade was pretty major. Same on the Android side.

Now I think you'd have to go from an 11 Pro to 16 Pro to notice anything. And good news in that department, if you still have an 11 or 11 pro, that still got the iOS 18 update. Actually, so did the older XR and XS.

The only reason to buy a new phone every year nowadays is because Apple, knowing EXACTLY what they're doing, changes the camera arrangement every year so clout chasers would know you have last year's model. It's stupid as fuck, but luckily none of the people I know fall for it.

Make no mistake... those people are clowns too.

I know some people upgrading Pixels every year because with trade in and sales they only need to pay like $200. I don’t think Sony will take an existing PS5 though…

I think the demographic is slightly different. The people buying consoles might know more about what they're buying and do some research about it. Whereas the newest iphone getting released all the normies will flood to it and get the newest shiny apple product after they hear about its release.

When iphones went from 400 to 999, I do remember people having an outrage, soon after samsung also raised their prices. It is that moment for console gamers right now.