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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[–] zikk_transport2@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Unpopular opinion: everyone focuses on productivity, then on features. Literally zero consideration for performance. Also lack of customization. I can flash Linux, hackintosh or any other random OS on any laptop I buy, but not on smartphone...

Kind of sucks that my Cat S62 Pro smartphone suck ass with it's slowness and lags and I can blame Cat as a manufacturer for that, but lack of standards (so I can flash generic OS onto it simply sucks).

So I am forced to buy new phone every 1-2 years because it gets slow... 🀷

Oh wait! Batteries are not replaceable! USB-C port is also incresibly hard to change!

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[–] UnverifiedAPK@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The convenience of not replacing the battery.

I'm in a good financial position and swapping the battery isn't rocket surgery, but it's a bit of a risk I'm not willing to take. Plus Pixel phones go on a decently deep discount in September before the next model is released.

And I wait until the battery is bloated so it's kinda a safety thing too.

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[–] captain_brunch@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

When I find a good deal on a used/refurbished/open box phone on eBay I grab it and throw it in my drawer until my current phone breaks or becomes considerably difficult to use. I haven't paid more than $250 for a phone in a long time.

[–] world_hopper@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

I'm only replacing my Galaxy S8 because apps are beginning to malfunction and some apps are even emailing me to warn about end of software support for my phones OS, which I cant upgrade because of the age of the phone lol.

I think you would notice a difference between models with the specs you list at the bottom of the post though...

[–] fixxundfertig@aussie.zone 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Exactly this. I bought a Oneplus 7 Pro for AUD $750 ($500 USD) in early 2020 and tried to "upgrade" to an iPhone 13 Pro recently. Ended up giving it to my husband and have no plans on getting a new phone again until this one dies. This phone was the last good Oneplus phone before they started transitioning to...whatever they are now. I've rooted it, I've switched ROMs a few times, I've unrooted it and gone back to stock ROM. Love this 2019 phone that seems to be unlike anything else available in the market rn.

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[–] lancerrx@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I used to do that because I love new shiny things and at that time most Android phones did not get software upgrades anyway. So I just bought entry-level phones every year. Until in 2016 I found a mid-range phone with the right price at least in my country, and with a good history of software upgrades, the Zenfone 3. I used it until the camera sensor and vibration motor died after about 3 years of use. Today I'm only looking for a phone with atleast 3 years of upgrades and replace it until it fails. I plan to use my current Samsung A54 until it doesn't receive software upgrades and patches for the next 5 years.

[–] Hjulkula@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year 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

[–] Tom_bishop@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I follow my life rule of changing phone every 5 years. But my phone broke and become unusable after 4 years. Was xiaomi user for yrs, i bought s23 ultra now as xiaomi prices became expansive. Buy good phone mainly for the picture quality.

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[–] alsivx@feddit.it 2 points 1 year ago

My current phone is 6. I have changed battery once. The only problem is internal memory.

[–] panpan@opidea.xyz 2 points 1 year ago

I have been using same phone for 5 years now. Never visited to service center. Always used cover & screen protector. I usually see two strategies either buy very cheap phone and keep upgrading in 2 year or buy a mid-range use it for 5-10 year before upgrading. There is usually no significant upgrade in tech in 1 year but wait for 5 and you will feel you are actually getting something new and better

[–] stilgar@infosec.pub 2 points 1 year 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.

[–] Rolder@reddthat.com 2 points 1 year 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.

[–] unplug@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I've been getting a new phone every 4 years, but it isn't hard to answer your question tbh. New products feel amazing. Companies invest millions if not billions of dollars in marketing to make you crave the newest device, even if yours is quite decent. I think that's also the reason Apple pays so much attention to the packaging and their setup wizards so that getting a new product is an almost magical experience you want to relive. Ask any person with a shopping addiction, they'll explain to you the rush of a new product like no one else.

[–] BurnedDonutHole@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

I don't. I usually buy something good (hardware wise) and use it until it dies. Repeat the process.

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