New Fone Fatigue Syndrome with New Phone Announcements

Eatslikeacat on 25/07/2022 - 13:21
Last edited 25/07/2022 - 21:44

I used to update my phone every year with Samsung. Then I got over the yearly phone cycle. I got the Mate 20 Pro and stuck with it for years. Mobile phones got to a point where the screen was good, the phone was fast, the battery was good, the photos were great. I didn't feel the need to upgrade. Then I thought it was about time to upgrade so I purchased the Galaxy S22 Ultra which I received around March 2022. The dust has barely settled on my new phone and the Samsung Unpacked event is on 10 August 2022.

I think it's an open secret that phones are so good now that in reality they can be used for 5 years or more but then companies can't make money so they think up new reasons to push consumers to upgrade. Common tactics appear to be:

  1. Apple got rid of user replaceable batteries and the industry followed. The batteries wear out.
  2. Apple got caught deliberately slowing down older phones. Gave some plausible deniability reason that it was to help consumers. Got fined for it.
  3. There's an ongoing war with right to repair.
  4. Each year some new gimmick is introduced. Nightography. Video quality. Slow motion. More lenses. Different notch/hole.
  5. Mid yearly cycle Apple releases a hero colour phone to drive sales.
  6. Square shape, round shape, square shape.

I can look at the configuration of the lenses of an iPhone user and I can tell immediately if they're poor (1 or 2 lenses) or rich (3 lenses), or if they're poor (iPhone 12 lens configuration), or if they're rich (iPhone 13 lens configuration).

Companies have been pushing yearly phone releases. Good phones are crazy expensive now. I paid big bucks for a you beaut new phone and I'm feeling like it's about to be obsolete when it's only months old. I hereby dub it New Fone Fatigue Syndrome or NFFS for short. I feel like I'm living in la la land and suffering from NFFS with the pressure to upgrade.

How would you approach NFFS?

PS: To those who have been reading/enduring my posts I only have 1 or 2 posts left. My short list of potential remaining topics are.

1) This time a devout Buddhist expressed admiration for me for being close to Buddha and I had to disappoint her because I was not Buddhist.
2) I was so innocent at university that I didn't know what that hole in the toilet cubicle was for.
3) I completely misunderstood what an anal swab was.

Thought I'd go out with some humorous topics about what happened to me in my life.

Mobile Mobile Phone

Comments

      • jerjergege on 27/07/2022 - 10:44

        Well at the time of purchase, I do have 2 types of BPMs, I had a normal OMROM bulky one. And the withings Smart BPM, which I forget to take with me all the time.
        So when watches are able to do this very acurately I would rather a watch where I am wearing all the time.

        The SYS measurement is actually pretty accurate, the DYS not as much.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DqnIhKqBZ8

      • munecito on 27/07/2022 - 11:08

        You still need a BP monitor with cuff to calibrate the watch once a month

      • Eatslikeacat on 27/07/2022 - 11:30

        When my work colleague bought an Apple watch he was so happy with it. I suggested that he buy another and wear it on his other wrist and walk around with both hands in the air so that people can see he he he

        • dealsucker on 28/07/2022 - 20:04
          +1

          A man is known by the company he keeps. Remind me to never friend you or your friends.

  • 91rs on 27/07/2022 - 09:31
    +6

    "I used to update my phone every year with Samsung"
    Then proceeds to make a list where 3/6 items are about iPhones.
    Continues to carry on about knowing how poor someone is based on how many camera lenses on their iPhone … you must be fun to talk to. Maybe you don't talk to people based on their phones?

    The phone someone uses has little to do with how much money they have, it could be a phone paid for by their employer so they're not even having to buy their phone or pay its bills. That to me is a win even if it's an older, has longer replacement cycles or not a top spec phone, I'm sure the OZB community in general would agree with that free wins most of the time as an option.

    Its little surprise the slow down of major features and the need to upgrade, having been in that industry from just before the closure of the analogue network where everyone was pushed to digital and CDMA, then 3G emerging (which is already planned to be shutdown) 4G, 5G etc phone tech has got to be one of the most rapidly changing tech fronts with what a brand new high spec phone can do.
    Telco's are aware of this and those higher spec phones can have 3 year MROs or contracts to cover cost but also due to the durability of new phones if they're not abused.

    If you're really needing people to know you're not poor then just make sure you're rocking whatever the latest and greatest is. Even better, tell people how much it was and how poor you're not.
    Otherwise do like the rest of us and replace stuff once its old enough to have gotten the value out of it or starts to have issues that aren't worth (or aren't possible) to have repaired.

    • Brianqpr on 27/07/2022 - 17:49

      Yes people might be rich if they have fancy stuff. But then again I once knew a girl who was on like $50k a year and driving a Merc. She owed nearly $100k to Mercedes finance.

  • ribze1 on 27/07/2022 - 09:31

    I bought my S8 in 2018, sure the battery is pretty poor if i am using it heavily, which i tend not to but other than that it's fine. I bought it on a 2 year Optus $47/month plan with more than enough data for my needs.

    $47/month over 2 years would only cover the phone these days let alone the plan too.

  • ExpressCoffee on 27/07/2022 - 09:49

    You can tell if you are rich or poor from the lenses. Hilarious but people actually do take notice of these things!

    • greatlamp on 27/07/2022 - 10:00
      +2

      Anyone can buy a $2000 phone on a plan, even someone on centrelink.

      There are much better tells that are far more reliable - shoes.

      • Eatslikeacat on 27/07/2022 - 11:49

        Sad but true. It's true that an expensive phone doesn't mean that a person is rich. They could have been lured in by potentially predatory plans. Maybe that's the secret sauce, they make poor people feel rich, and they make people who are into fashion and appearances want to have the latest lens configuration or square corners.

        • dealsucker on 28/07/2022 - 19:55
          +1

          Its all in your head numpty. Insecure entitled brat complaining about a company omitting charger with a phone and then proceeds to buying the same phone just to be able to use a $40 accessory even though there are options.

      • Brianqpr on 27/07/2022 - 17:47
        +1

        This is very true. I remember that awful TV show Struggle Street and half the people in it had iphones.

    • Brianqpr on 27/07/2022 - 17:48
      +2

      Shallow people take notice of it.

  • T1OOO on 27/07/2022 - 10:03

    Less and less impetus to upgrade , diminishing returns and improvements people still do it. Only the jump to the iPhone X imo was justified and cost a massive $1899 at the time but I paid it. It was revelutionary

  • Bid Sniper on 27/07/2022 - 10:17
    +2

    I had a S9, needed a new battery, cost was $150.

    Sold the S9 for $300 bought a new A52 for $400, it was a huge upgrade over S9. Wont ever buy a flagship phone ever again or spend more than $400 for a phone. Will only upgrade as a battery replacement program.

  • Fobsessive on 27/07/2022 - 11:24

    Still holding out over 3.5 years. No problems with the AMOLED screen, speed, vanilla Android, MicroSD, 3.5mm, 8-10hr SOT battery (wifi, or 6 hours 4G SOT).
    Only negative is the camera is ancient in 2022; but daylight shots impress mates sometimes.

  • ddhar on 27/07/2022 - 11:39

    I change every 3 years usually because of: 1) dying battery, 2) enough tech advancement by then and 3) my GAS syndrome limit.

    I try not to read into new phones technology beyond skimming headlines. Inadequate is the feeling I'd get were I to fall into that trap.

    • Fobsessive on 27/07/2022 - 11:47
      +1

      What's GAS got to do with it?

      • ddhar on 27/07/2022 - 11:56

        I like new, shiny things?

        • WatchNerd on 29/07/2022 - 08:17

          Baked beans give me gas, it's very unusual to get it from old phones.
          You should see a doctor about that.

          • ddhar on 29/07/2022 - 08:43
            +1

            @WatchNerd: I meant Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS), not the literal word.

  • yoquierotaco on 27/07/2022 - 11:54
    +1

    I had an iphone SE for a year before it got stolen. A friend gave me his ancient iphone 5 he had laying around. Used it for 5 years. Only a few apps had update and most of the banking apps wouldn’t update anymore.

    My parents felt pity on me and bought me an iphone 13 this year. I didn’t really want it but they already bought it and figured I would need a replacement phone soon (home button didn’t work anymore). I’m in a love-hate relationship with the new phone. I love it because everything actually works, photos are amazing, can finally use Apple Pay again, and the phone is very fast. I hate it because I find myself on it a lot more.

  • StalkingIbis on 27/07/2022 - 12:09
    +1

    Phones used to get so much better each year. Getting a new one was a big upgrade and was exciting. Remember back to apple iphone 3, 3g, 4!!!! wow, the iphone 4!!!

    Now i have had my pixel 3xl for almost 5 years and am only updating to keep getting the critical security updates.

  • jaffar on 27/07/2022 - 12:27

    Yeh, I don't get the point in upgrading. Used to be the case that there was pretty big upgrades between models. Now, basically all the top fones are really good, so it doesn't matter whichever you choose. Now, if only I could apply my own logic to my other electronics (camera GAS is terrible)

  • Windows7forever on 27/07/2022 - 12:48
    +1

    I'm still rocking the Redmi 5 plus which I've owned for almost 5 years. Apart from a marginally diminished battery life its still an excellent phone for my needs.

    • Brianqpr on 27/07/2022 - 17:46

      I'm on the Redmi note 10 pro now (bargain at a little over $350) but still have a 5 in the drawer as a backup. They are great phones and have been since the Note 2 days.

  • Soothsayer on 27/07/2022 - 13:06

    I'm pretty sure the Galaxy Unpacked event will be a new foldable phone release only, as far as new phone announcements. This has also been the case for prior generations announced in 3Q.

    If you're not interested in foldable phones, the next S series ("S23") will be announced/launched in 1Q23 as usual, nothing is different. You would have had yours for 12 months by then, that's as good as you can expect a flagship to be the current leading model for.

  • Caped Baldy on 27/07/2022 - 13:07

    I bought a 2019 flagship in 2020 for half the price. It's been going well but I do have that upgrade itch. Missing out on the 90Hz display but camera and battery are still good.

  • Dack Smith on 27/07/2022 - 13:40

    Most humans like shiny new things so upgrading phones become an essential ritual rather than a real need.

    A new flagship phone is indicative of social status and bragging rights, may get you slightly higher respect in the animal chain.

  • [Deactivated] on 27/07/2022 - 13:55
    +1

    I received a notification the other day from an app that tells me when other apps go to $0 (forget its name, lol). Anyway an app popped up that I wanted, tried to install, but it tells me it can't install it on my Android version. That's how they'll force us to "upgrade" - same as they did with some security flaw in Android KitKat… i.e. They release new coding libraries for new Android versions, which app programmers use, with some new library option turned on by default which isn't supported by older OS versions. As more and more programmers forget to deselect those "features" on by default, we're supposed to get sick of it and so are "forced" to get a new phone. Well I won't be. I was a late smartphone user, so my first smartphone will probably also be my last one if that's the silly game they want to play.

    • idonotknowwhy on 27/07/2022 - 17:48

      Yep. They can eventually get us with security updates and API deprecation. You can hold out longer by installing custom roms, but then you have the cat-and-mouse game to keep google pay, etc working.

      Also, my Xperia 1iii will become obsolete in Australia when the network turn off 3G as the local networks won't let the imported phone use VoLTE.

  • thanatos350 on 27/07/2022 - 14:12
    +1

    I used to be really interested in new tech, but it kind of faded because the jump between iteration became less and less significant. Phone tech is boring at the moment.

    There are rarely any new features that excite me. We've gotten to a point where speed is already pretty good, microsecond differences in an app opening aren't entirely noticable. New features and innovation are probably best acquired through apps/software rather than hardware. I can't even imagine any new features that would appeal to me, aside from maybe some kind of ridiculous sci-fi jump to holographic displays or the like. Wireless charging, without need for a platform, would be kind of cool.

    I've had my current Oppo for 2 years and I haven't even considered upgrading. It's still fast, no lag or hangups, the camera is decent, the battery seems to to have actually improved (very strange), and it somehow has survived any abuse it's received (literal submersion in saltwater, drops onto rocks, being flung across the room. No wireless charging, but placing it on a station seems to be just as effortless as plugging in a cable.

    If anyone who has used this feature is reading this, I'd actually be interested to know if there any tangible difference to the utility of your device?

    I understand upgrading or spending more if the specs or quality are critical to how you're using it, like if you're super interested in photography and prefer to have something capable for when you're not carrying an actual camera. In saying that, the difference in quality between my 2 year old mid-range device and a high spec iPhone doesn't seem to be significant enough to justify an extra $2k (might be for a professional or hobbyist). From my experience, friends and family with top of the line iPhones just use them to scroll social media through a cracked screen.

    It's also kind of funny to note that back in the day, when iPhone and Galaxy S devices dominated the market, people (not the tech crowd, just people who didn't know any other brand existed) would often remark at my low to mid-range devices and believe they were some kind of high-end exotic phone. Especially when some of them had cool features to help entry to the market, before they were picked up by Apple. There were some really cool and unusual products released by Asus, LG, Huawei, etc. back in the day, where there was some kind of attempt to get attention by standing out, rather than cloning.

    There are better and more powerful status flex opportunities these days. Owning a high-end phone is commonplace and forking out a few grand over a couple of years isn't exactly difficult. It's almost as if it's about not looking poor as opposed to looking wealthy.

    An item that is more expensive, that is valued according flex rather than anything else, like a Hermes handbag or Rolex. An exotic vehicle, too, though they are obviously priced with regard to more than just flex.

    At the end of the day, does any of it even matter? Flex items can be of some function if you would professionally benefit from presenting as successful and where customers/clients may assume that high income is reflective of your performance (according to our socially constructed and collectively agreed upon conceptualisation of this). For instance, one might assume that a lawyer rocking a Nokia hasn't won very many cases (or is involved with bikies), or a luxury real estate agent with a '99 Barina isn't very good at selling mansions. I'm speaking only of perception, of course - I know people in both of these jobs who do very well but prefer to invest instead of spend. I know of people who have done the opposite and decided to buy expensive cars at the first sight of a tasty paycheck, only to end up broke shortly after.

    Also, just want to add that I have no problem with expensive stuff. I just think it's better to make yourself happy as opposed to making someone else think you're happy. You could have fitty million in the bank, a Rolls Royce in the garage, and a Hermes on your wife's shoulder, but you may still come home to find her porking the broke-ass pool boy.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/07/2022 - 07:03

      the battery seems to to have actually improved

      some new phones have software that learns your habits and adjusts battery usage accordingly, i think it's called "battery optimisation"

  • foxpants on 27/07/2022 - 14:45
    +1

    I have an S21 Ultra and usually upgrade after 1-2 years max, as our family has a hand me down system where I give my phone to my wife, and she gives hers to her mum, so it's effectively an upgrade cycle for 3 people but I get the new toy.

    I had a Oneplus 7 Pro which I loved before the S21 Ultra, had zero intention of paying ~$1850+ for a phone but I happened upon a whopping 50% off discount in true OZB style, so under $1k for the 256gb model seemed 'reasonable'.

    The S22 Ultra came out and so much was either the same, a slight upgrade or even a slight downgrade that it was a hard pass. Lets see what the S23 series brings I guess, but honestly the S21U is such a frikken powerhouse/swiss army knife of a phone, it gets harder each time to make it a meaningful upgrade.

  • wimphrel on 27/07/2022 - 14:53
    +1

    Took a while to find the question:

    How would you approach NFFS?

    Find a new hobby? I think you are just bored & have exhausted the limits of being a handset nerd.

    You really just turned phone shopping into a hobby - find something else to inspire you.

    • gakko on 27/07/2022 - 15:05

      Like watch shopping. Hobby = buy a watch over and over.

  • gakko on 27/07/2022 - 15:05
    +3

    I have phone call fatigue. Stop fking calling me people. Send a msg or leave me alooooone

  • t-money on 27/07/2022 - 15:12

    well i guess i'm poor then!

  • DarkOz on 27/07/2022 - 16:22
    +1

    Fk new phones. We only buy phones that are about 2 generations older and only on discount. We pass the old phones down from wife(the boss) to me and then to our 2 kids. The last in line right now is using a 6S.

  • whatgift on 27/07/2022 - 16:43
    +1

    Number 2 is just another social media beat up by people who don't understand how phones at batteries work and love to hate Apple. There's a legitimate reason they did "slow down" their phones, they just shouldn't have kept it secret (although the reaction would've been the same either way).

    • greatlamp on 28/07/2022 - 09:13
      -1

      You don't think there was an engineer that would have said "how about a warning message?" and was told to shutup?

      The way it played out was as Apple intended it to play out.

      Why does Apple insist on full glass body on the back of the phone, instead of a metal back? Because it ensures dropped phones shatter.

      Why did they remove the headphone jack after buying beats?

      They have the best marketing departments in the world, marketing is more important for apple than their product quality

      • whatgift on 28/07/2022 - 09:22
        +3

        The glass back is fairly simple - wireless charging won’t work with a metal back. Wireless headphones are the future, and retaining the headphone jack was becoming less important.

        Like it or not, these changes were made with a purpose that is not solely to profit Apple (but partially), as much as people believe it to be.

        • greatlamp on 28/07/2022 - 09:28
          -1

          The timing is more than convenient.

          Nothing wrong with apple wanting to make money, but why do people eat up their marketing department's weak excuses? I'm not going to be gaslighted into believing it's for my benefit. If you are happy being manipulated like that, that is on you, but don't force me to agree

          The glass doesn't need to extend to the edge. There are design choices that wouldn't shatter when dropped. Think for yourself!

          • whatgift on 28/07/2022 - 09:34
            +2

            @greatlamp: No one is forcing you to believe anything, however you are choosing to believe one narrow train of thought and ignoring all others. Like I pointed out, Apples motivation is somewhat profit driven, but it is not the only reason why they have made certain decisions.

            • greatlamp on 28/07/2022 - 09:41

              @whatgift: I never said it was the only reason. All their recent design choices decrease manufacturing cost, it's the common thread from removing the headphone jack to using a mobile CPU in their laptops.

              If someone can't bring up a criticism without being downvoted by the crowd, being silenced is exactly what is happening.

              I don't downvote your comments. I am not being manipulated to defend a corporations brand image for free. That is what is wrong with this conversation

              • whatgift on 28/07/2022 - 09:46
                +2

                @greatlamp: You bring up some good points - I think the issue is when some arguments don’t stand up to scrutiny, and read more like conspiracy theories masquerading as facts, that’s sometimes why they are downvoted. If you believe your viewpoint is correct, then downvotes are irrelevant.

              • dealsucker on 28/07/2022 - 19:59

                @greatlamp: LOL using mobile cpu's in their laptops. How does it matter when it faster than most if not all, has the best battery life without being the size and weight of a moon with best in class display, speakers and build quality. Show me a laptop that can do all of that for ANY price and yes it has been enabled because they used a mobile cpu in a laptop.

                You think you understand technology. You dont. You dont understand the T of technology and ignorance is a bliss.

                • greatlamp on 28/07/2022 - 20:41

                  @dealsucker: Why is 'mobile CPU' an insult? It is a mobile CPU. You are out of line with your personal attack. We are discussing if a company is acting in a moral way. The company is not your father. You don't get to attack me personally because I insulted your daddy company.

                  Rude.

                  • dealsucker on 28/07/2022 - 21:51

                    @greatlamp: I did not say it is an insult, you, however, insinuated when you said "mobile cpi's in their laptops" without understanding the technology at all. I dont blame you for not understanding technology, however, its wholly ignorant to not know anything about technology and yet have opinion strong enough to state it publicly like you know it. You dont. Dont take it as a compliment.

                    • greatlamp on 29/07/2022 - 08:47

                      @dealsucker: I don't care if you think I understand technology. You won't know what I understand because you came here looking to fight someone so you could feel better about yourself. You've already shown yourself to be emotionally unhinged and unable to follow a conversation.

              • crentist on 29/07/2022 - 12:33
                +1

                @greatlamp:

                If someone can't bring up a criticism without being downvoted by the crowd, being silenced is exactly what is happening.

                If you can't handle disagreement, maybe you shouldn't blame the crowd. Especially when you are being narrow minded in your view that Apple is always acting in bad faith and that others are manipulated and unable to think for themselves, while ignoring anything that doesn't fit your beliefs.
                Your criticisms are just calling Apple a bad guy while making flawed assumptions of their decisions, and then attacking anyone who points out the big holes in your technical understanding. All you're doing is defending your own ignorance.

                The OP listed 6 complaints about Apple, and whatgift only disagreed with one of them, saying that it was a legitimate but misunderstood decision that should have been communicated better. Didn't mention the other 5 complaints.
                That's not defending a corporation, that's disagreeing with one detail.

                You haven't explained why you think it was illegitimate, but simply invented a hypothetical story to paint Apple as a bad guy. Kinda just proving the point that people STILL don't know how batteries work, and it was a legitimate decision to not try and explain it to the dumb masses. (Hint: slowing down phones with dying batteries extends the life of the phone)

                Same with glass backed phones, you are assuming that they are more interested in fragility than using a material that actually works. I don't know what you're thinking when you say "the glass doesn't need to extend to the edge" but it sounds like you have unrealistic expectations of Apple.

                The silly thing is that none of this is blindly defending Apple, like you think. There are legitimate criticisms of them being made by everyone, including yourself.
                But by blindly attacking them, you lose the ability to see what is a real and false complaint, and assume others are as blind as you.

                • greatlamp on 29/07/2022 - 12:46

                  @crentist:

                  Kinda just proving the point that people STILL don't know how batteries work, and it was a legitimate decision to not try and explain it to the dumb masses. (Hint: slowing down phones with dying batteries extends the life of the phone)

                  Are you intentionally missing the point?

                  Hint: slowing down people's phone while hiding it from them is the issue. Not how batteries work.

                  No, I must be "blind" and "not understand technology" ?? This has nothing to do with understanding technology. You are being a "blind" fanboy because you are so quick to criticise you can't even understand what the actual issue is.

                  • crentist on 29/07/2022 - 18:19
                    +1

                    @greatlamp: Yea exactly what I mean. People respond to you, but you ignore them and think they must be blind fanboys, fitting in your story that Apple is making decisions in bad faith and everyone else is brainwashed.
                    You think you are being “silenced by the crowd for bringing up criticism”, but not considering that your criticism doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.
                    Everyone else must be wrong, and you are always right?

                    Eg You claim they insist on glass backs because they shatter, no other reason. When someone gives a perfectly reasonable alternative explanation about wireless charging, you claim they are “manipulated” and “forcing you to agree” and they didn’t “think for themselves”.

                    That is an unreasonable response. You are are refusing to acknowledge them or consider what they are saying. Saying that there are “other design choices” doesn’t mean it was a bad choice, or even that there are better choices. It’s only your attempt to poke holes.

                    And it’s easy to poke holes when you refuse to acknowledge or pay attention to anything you don’t agree with, and keep yourself happily blind. Like, for example, that other companies were making fragile glass phones back when Apple had switched to sturdy metal ones.

                    • whatgift on 29/07/2022 - 21:30

                      @crentist: You make some excellent points and I’m reminded why I decided to not continue the discussion further. It’s not being a fanboy to point out legitimate reasons for corporate decisions, and yet people always seem to go back to that argument.

                      I once tried to have a discussion with someone in public about why Apple doesn’t use sapphire glass in its phones (because it breaks more easily, but has better scratch resistance). Someone who watched the interaction praised me for my calm response afterwards, since the other person was going off their head arguing against it.

                    • greatlamp on 30/07/2022 - 08:34

                      @crentist: Yes this is fair. That discussion went off track and I didn't make reasonable points, I didn't get the opportunity to explain them, I didn't want to continue a discussion where everything I said was immediately downvoted by the person I was responding to. You probably didn't realise that happened reading it afterwards. I don't need to explain why that is condescending.

                      I called you a fanboy to highlight you were attacking me for no reason, without even acknowledging why people would not support what apple did. I didn't really believe you are a fanboy, but if you were just here to attack me and didn't even explain why my point is wrong, that is how it came across

                      • whatgift on 30/07/2022 - 21:03

                        @greatlamp: I don’t understand what the problem is with being downvoted - if someone disagrees they downvote, and they may decide to engage in debate as well. It is not condescending to disagree with someone, and voting is how this is done in a simple manner.

                        Frankly I found the rhetoric being displayed quite condescending which is why I chose to remove myself from continued debate.

                        Edit: and for the record, I downvoted a total of one comment, mainly because it was becoming personal and using terms like gaslighted that are not at all applicable to the conversation.

  • Cluster on 27/07/2022 - 16:47

    The only reason I upgrade phones is because the battery becomes weak.

    Manufacturers know this too, so designed phones that require the phone to be broken apart to change the cell. This makes the process very awkward and expensive. Couple this with the fact that shopping mall style repair places all use non genuine batteries with dubious lifespan, and it forces me to buy a new phone every couple of years even when the existing one works perfectly fine.

    • whatgift on 28/07/2022 - 09:59
      +2

      Not sure how other manufacturers work, but Apple charges $109 or less to replace iPhone batteries, which for a device worth $1000 or more is quite reasonable. I replaced my iPhone 8 battery and gave the phone to my mother, who loves it and will continue getting software updates for a few more years, despite it being several years old.

      • dealsucker on 28/07/2022 - 20:01
        +1

        Not only that iPhone are actually designed for easy repair for screens and batteries. See the procedure for replacing a display or a battery on any other phone and then compare it to iPhone.

  • Brianqpr on 27/07/2022 - 17:43

    A lot of phones get cracked etc which will encourage people to replace them. But its true that new releases are little different to the previous models any more.

    No need to spend more than $400 on a phone these days, can get something perfectly good for that price. But people insist on more expensive brands/models, Apple in particular.

    • dealsucker on 28/07/2022 - 20:02

      Since 2008 when i got my first iPhone, I have only broken the screen on a phone just once and that was a Nexus 5 in 2015. Its not as common as you think it is but its still is the most common repair along with the battery.

      • Brianqpr on 29/07/2022 - 10:53

        I've also only had it happen once, when walking my dog some years back and she spotted a cat and tried to take off after it, causing me to drop the phone!

        I see loads of other people's phones with cracked screens though. I think my daughter has managed to do it to every phone she's had.

  • Herbse on 27/07/2022 - 18:15
    +2

    It's just a plateau of the technology. There's no more yearly big differences in the hardware that causes excitement. Just minor upgrades in performance and if we're lucky, a new software feature that's been around for years in other phones but cleverly marketed as the best new thing.

    Plus the cost of flagships have gotten to ridiculous levels. A flagship used to chat $500 and now it's $2k+

    This is the main reason most people who uses to upgrade yearly now keep their phone for 3 years. Minimum incentive and high costs.
    Manufacturers know this, hence the price tags.

    Will be much the same until the next big thing in mobile technology happens. Maybe something biometric or integrated into the body/mind would be cool.

  • endolphin on 27/07/2022 - 18:22
    +1

    I mean, you have a choice to be a sheep, or not.

    I'm still rocking a Samsung S7. It has been fantastic. Pretty much finally now due for an upgrade though (begrudgingly).

  • drprox on 27/07/2022 - 19:05
    -1

    Tldr is required. I have post is too long syndrome..

  • lhou021 on 27/07/2022 - 20:51
    +1

    still holding onto my 3.5 year old Huawei P30
    everything just works, no intention to upgrade for another couple of years until there is a true innovative product
    these annual incremental upgrade is just not worth the big $

  • Sevo on 27/07/2022 - 21:12
    +1

    I also upgraded from a Mate 20 pro to a s22 ultra.

    Owned the mate 20 pro from launch and always charged with the 40w supercharger, however by the 3rd year went from a 1.5day phone to a 1 day phone.

    Also I had noticed the camera got downgraded with emui 10 onwards…

    But was a top phone regardless, even considered replacing the battery, and potentially downgrading to emui 9, but was too hard in the end and sold it off to mobile monster.

    A real shame what happened to Huawei, had my heart set on another phone from them too.

  • sirstiv on 27/07/2022 - 22:41

    I agree @ 5 year cycle.
    That's why I paid over 1.5k for a new phone outright. Divided by 5 it's not much.

    I find that samsung phone dictionary starts to make more typing errors towards the 4+year mark.

    Is this to frustrate the user? Lol

    • Fobsessive on 27/07/2022 - 23:55

      SwiftKey is better anyway

  • ItchyBallsack on 27/07/2022 - 22:53

    Car makers have been against right to repair for many years now and no one has cared at all. I can't even replace a module in a newer car without needing to have it coded to the car, what kind of bullshit is this.

  • BlahBlahBlaah on 28/07/2022 - 00:35

    I used to upgrade phones when they were essentially free issue with a 24 month contract. This no longer exists as you're forced to lease the handset now onto of a contracted monthly plan.

    Regardless, my Note 10+ Star Wars edition is still going strong 2.5 years later, might go for another year or two before needing replacement, maybe even longer (which I guess shows a high end phone could work out cheaper in the long run). Bills are payed month to month. Don't need to be shelling out on new phones every year, don't need to impress anybody else.

  • nephilim on 28/07/2022 - 00:50

    I always try to keep a eye out whats happening with Apple / Samsung and Xiaomi
    S22 didnt impess me, then Xiaomi 12S Pro International should be good value under 1k.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/07/2022 - 06:57

    i'm honestly tiring of having a phone at all, i don't like that boss, colleagues, even family, can contact me whenever they want. i usually don't answer anyway, it's just another thing i have to carry around every day and make sure is charged the night before. i'd love a job where i didn't need a phone, but it's become a necessity these days, only the lucky can afford to live without a phone. once my current phone dies, i am probably just not gonna buy a new one and see how that goes, it feels like a waste to just stop using it as it's only a few months old.

    i remember how excited i was when touch screens became a thing, how much i wanted one, but now when a new phone releases it's just apathy, bordering on annoyance, as they'll remove yet another useful feature, increase the price and update the internals ever so slightly, my main issues being the lack of removable battery (i had an iphone battery swell) and the removal of headphone jacks (bluetooth headphones just do not sound as good as wired headphones, they also cost twice as much, if not more for a decent pair and don't last nearly as long)

    i wish i'd been able to experience life before phones (at the very least mobiles) were invented, as the majority of people these days are glued to them almost 24/7 and the incessant stream of selfies and other poorly shot photos from amateurs, it's just wasted storage as no one apart from the one who took it actually cares, it is also leading to an increasingly vain population. people don't seem to do things for the sake of doing them anymore, they do them so they can take selfies while doing it.

    we're becoming slaves to the technology that we invent, so i am no longer excited by new tech.

    • greatlamp on 28/07/2022 - 09:24

      In the time before mobile phones, people made more effort to make small talk. If you didn't make friends with strangers, colleagues at work/school, you would have noone to talk to.

      So human instinct would encourage people to learn how to interact with others.

      Now everyone can retreat into their twitter bubbles, anyone who doesn't agree with them isn't their neighbour with a different view, they are an 'enemy'.

  • hopper on 28/07/2022 - 07:58

    I also will blame their marketing team, who pays reviewers, influencers, tweeters, YouTubers, who create the buzz and make you get one.

  • FittyFitty on 28/07/2022 - 08:51
    +1

    Don't give a rats arse about NPFS to be honest; if it works, it works - given I have managed to put up with Samsung's (S10) abysmal keyboard, that can't seem to discern cucumber from cock, for a couple of years, I'll be ok…

  • Cusack on 28/07/2022 - 10:49

    Another Mate 20 pro owner here. Got it over 4 years ago 2nd hand and it's still going strong and I have zero desire to get another phone. Money well spent!

  • sovereign01 on 28/07/2022 - 13:33
    +2

    I can look at the configuration of the lenses of an iPhone user and I can tell immediately if they're poor (1 or 2 lenses) or rich (3 lenses), or if they're poor (iPhone 12 lens configuration), or if they're rich (iPhone 13 lens configuration).

    This is a sad reflection.. on you.

    You're judging people based on your own ridiculous frankly narcissistic interpretation of what phone they use? Not everyone thinks like you or values the things you value, including incredibly wealthy people.

  • Daz91 on 28/07/2022 - 16:11
    +1

    $2,000 for something I use all day, every single day? Yeah I’ll buy the latest and greatest thanks.

  • slowmo on 28/07/2022 - 16:20

    i have both old phones and new phones.
    So there would be days you see me rocking a 1 lens samsung or a 2 lens xiaomi or a 3 lens iphone

    i just keep important things in newer phones and travel with the old ones. purely because getting latest OS patches is important to me.

    that's pretty much it.

    I find it funny that people think their entire personality is around a certain brand or model of phone that they carry.
    It's funnier that there are people out there who judge others superficially on the day they happened to see what others are using.

  • dealsucker on 28/07/2022 - 17:42

    So OP rants against Apple for things which are much worse in the promised land of Android, with worse software support, which also have no headphone jack, also have no replaceable batteries and is talking about NFFS for an upcoming samdung event. Like seriously.

    I dont replace my phone every year people who do are idiots but its their own money, be Apple, samdung or huawei or xyz!

  • [Deactivated] on 28/07/2022 - 19:45

    I'm still using my Pixel 2XL, I'll probably replace soon as I don't want the battery to melt like my old Sony Z2.

  • THICKnSLOW on 29/07/2022 - 00:26

    I only upgrade my phone when the battery life is poor or the software crashes often. I cut links with the consumer treadmill of phones in 2012 when flagship phones were still under $1000.

  • 00000000 on 29/07/2022 - 08:43

    tl:dr

    Bought a Samsung this year, now new Samsung coming out in August.
    Apple bad and is the cause of the industry tactics.

  • CheapAddict on 29/07/2022 - 09:52

    I upgrade yearly and people think i'm crazy. When i tell them i salary sacrifice they still think i'm crazy because they don't understand the calculations.

    If your company supports it, go the salary sacrifice method. It's a massive saving. I do this yearly and sell my old iPhone which has excellent resale value as long it's been taken care of. Depending on how much i sell my old iPhone, I only spend anywhere between $0-$300 for a brand new 1TB iPhone Max every year. For a device that i use daily and is more used than a laptop, i have no problem doing this yearly.

    • Harold Halfprice on 29/07/2022 - 12:34

      Give us a break down of the calculations so we can understand too then

      • CheapAddict on 29/07/2022 - 16:29

        It's the magic of paying with Pretax dollars. The below calculations are for someone on a $120k income pa and calculated using paycalculator. I chose this as its an easy number to work with.

        For a 1tb iPhone 13 Pro Max, cost is $2719 ($2471.82 ex GST)

        On a $120k Salary, your monthly income is $10k. After tax it's $7339. When you salary sacrifice the amount, they minus the cost of the iphone(ex gst) from your income before tax:

        $10,000 - $2471.82 = $7528.18

        That is a taxable income of $7528.18 that you are left with which equates to $5721.18 after tax.

        If you minus this amount from your regular monthly income $7339, you end up with what you effectively paid for your new phone.

        $7339 - $5721.18 = $1617.82

        When you factor in the resale value of iPhones, you pay even less. On Mobile monster, the iPhone 12 Pro Max 512gb was being bought for $1310 during iPhone 13's release period.

        $1617.82 - $1310 = $307.82. That's $307.82 the person on the above would've paid out of pocket. Probably less if the the phone was sold privately. Bear in mind the amount will vary from different tax brackets but more or less the savings are massive.

        • ozbargainsam on 30/07/2022 - 21:24

          You can just tell them it's basically a discount of <their marginal income tax>%. If you want to get more complicated, they also get the GST and the Medicare levy.

          It's less complicated than asking them to recalculate their take home pay (for salaried people the PAYG rate doesn't change after SS). Also, you don't see the 'discount' part until you pay your tax for that FY.

  • Harold Halfprice on 29/07/2022 - 12:33
    +1

    I can look at the configuration of the lenses of an iPhone user and I can tell immediately if they're poor (1 or 2 lenses) or rich (3 lenses), or if they're poor (iPhone 12 lens configuration), or if they're rich (iPhone 13 lens configuration).

    I paid big bucks for a you beaut new phone and I'm feeling like it's about to be obsolete when it's only months old.

    Sounds like you're about to be poor.

  • tebbybabes on 29/07/2022 - 19:37
    +1

    I don't even know what the latest and greatest is and I couldn't care less. I'm still rocking a 3a purchased end of 2019 when it was being marked down, and it does everything I need it to, excellently.

    I use it everyday, but not all day like some have mentioned. I still don't feel the need to drop 2k on a phone. I mean, I make calls, send messages, browse the web, listen to music, banking, and NFC payments. I even take the occasional photo… I'm sure the flagship phones have features above and beyond these, but if they did, I probably wouldn't use them because that's not what I use my phone for.

    Marketing is the fine art of making people buy shit they don't need.

    I paid big bucks for a you beaut new phone and I'm feeling like it's about to be obsolete when it's only months old.

    It's only obsolete when YOU determine that it's obsolete, because it can no longer do what you need it to, or something new does it EXPONENTIALLY better for your use case.

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