this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2023
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[–] appel@whiskers.bim.boats 163 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Smartphone CEOs dumbfounded when no one wants to buy their $1999 xPhone 25 Pro Max XXL Z-Flip 4d-folding hextuple AI 8k camera with Bionic 10Ghz chip including real neurons

[–] InvertedParallax@lemm.ee 43 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Which is ironically the same as the $1999 xPhone 24 Pro Max XXL Z-Flip 4d-folding hextuple AI 8k camera with Bionic 10Ghz chip including real neurons from last year.

[–] senicar@social.cyb3r.dog 39 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Nah, the 25 has a stylus. The 24 didn't. The 26 won't either.

[–] Hacksaw@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 year ago

You'll have to get the 26+ PRO ULTRA for $2699 if you want the stylus back.

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[–] Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

Thats gonna be my next phone! Guaranteed!

[–] Achird@sh.itjust.works 93 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Not surprising. I used to update every 2 years but my last couple have had a 3 or 4 year gap.

As it should be really. These can be very expensive devices that only make sense if you get a decent life out of them.

[–] li10@feddit.uk 55 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

I just don’t see the point of upgrading every two years, and even if I did I’m buying used at this point.

I’m on iPhone and despite all the fanatics creaming their pants over each release, very little actually seems to change.

I know a guy with a 6 year old phone, and when he listed off the features it made me realise how little things have actually changed since it was released.

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[–] FriendlyBeagleDog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 78 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

I could understand upgrading so frequently at the advent of mainstream smartphones, where two years of progress actually did represent a significant user experience improvement - but the intergenerational improvements for most people's day-to-day use have been marginal for quite some time now.

Once you've got web browsers and website-equivalent mobile apps performing well, software keyboards which keep up with your typing, high-definition video playback working without dropped frames, graphics processing sufficient to render whatever your game of choice is for the train journey to work, batteries which last a day of moderate to intense use, and screen resolutions so high that you can't differentiate the pixels even by pressing your eyeball to the glass - that covers most people's media consumption for the form factor, and there's not much else to offer after that.

[–] OscarRobin@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah my semi-techie friend still has an S9+ from over 5 years ago and honestly he isn't really missing anything beyond a few iterative improvements.

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[–] agent_flounder@lemmy.one 9 points 1 year ago

If the batteries were easily replaceable, and the software didn't continually get bloated, and companies kept issuing security patches, sure.

I kept my last desktop system for 10 years. Actually I still have it and it performs sort of ok (I was running Mint the whole time). But I upgraded and the performance improvement was actually worth the considerable cost. I've gotten similar life out of my other desktops and laptops over the years.

I think at least 5 years or preferably 10 is reasonable for smart phones.

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[–] NuPNuA@lemm.ee 77 points 1 year ago (14 children)

Unless you're doing very specialist stuff, phone tech peaked a while back for the average user who's only going to do some web browsing, social media, listen to some tunes or watchbsome funny videos. All the little incremental changes aren't groundbreaking for that use case.

Until foldables are both reliable and cheaper, phones have stagnated in terms of visably appealing features.

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[–] Doherz@lemmy.world 57 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Not surprising when flagship devices have more than doubled in price in over the last decade.

That and the fact that many modern devices feel like compromised devices with purposeful downgrades despite the huge cost increase.

[–] phi1997@kbin.social 19 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I want a cell phone with a headphone jack, physical navigation buttons, and a rectangular screen like they used to make. At this point, I'll have to go with a flip phone if I want all of those features.

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[–] BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 37 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I only replace mine because the batteries are crapping out. Usually it's 3-4 years.

[–] SupraMario@lemmy.world 23 points 1 year ago (10 children)

Just get a the battery replaced. With the new rule for the EU forcing companies to make the phones with user replaceable batteries, it'll be even easier.

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[–] feedum_sneedson@lemmy.world 36 points 1 year ago

What do you mean "instead of"? I always heard it was a three year product lifecycle anyway, which is already annoyingly often.

[–] aceshigh@lemmy.world 32 points 1 year ago (1 children)

i use electronics until they're unusable. my last phone lasted 6 years, my laptop lasted 11 years. i don't have a tv or anything else.

[–] Fantomas@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago (4 children)

No TV. How do you watch coronation Street and EastEnders?

[–] InvertedParallax@lemm.ee 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

On his smart-kettle, obviously.

[–] Fantomas@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

£8.99 a month for basic kettle. £10.99 for kettle+

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[–] obinice@lemmy.world 27 points 1 year ago

I've had my tablet for 9 years, and I'd have had my phone for 4 years now had it not become faulty.

Devices have reached a point that they just don't need upgrading often, unless you're using them for video games or something cutting edge.

And of course, they're super expensive now too, and we're living in the worst cost of living crisis of our generation, struggling to pay for food. Of course we're not going to waste money replacing something that works fine 🤦‍♀️

[–] LazyBane@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I kept my old Sony Xperia right up until I could feel a bulge on the back of it, lol.

[–] c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't upgrade until the thermal runaway takes my device from me!!! Lol

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[–] xePBMg9@lemmynsfw.com 23 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Devices are prohibitively expensive these days. The marginal gains from improved tech is also not used to benefit the end user. Devices are not working for the one that pays for it. If only they would release a flagship device with unlocked boot loader, open drivers and a pledge to support it for 10 years. I would buy that. Otherwise I see no need to upgrade.

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[–] shinjiikarus@mylem.eu 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (11 children)

That is going to be a problem for apple, better make the next iPhone’s battery be unreplaceable and self destruct after 2 years.

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[–] Darkhoof@lemmy.world 19 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Not surprising. For most people smartphone reached a point where replacing every two years is pointless. My phone is also 4 years this year, still holds his battery and works flawlessly.

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[–] o_oli@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago (8 children)

Yeah I mean the processing power and general hardware just got to a point where nobody really needs more. In fact my 4 year old phone has the same amount of RAM and similar processor to my new one lol. Unless you're cutting edge 3D gaming it's not needed to have anything more.

I upgraded only because of battery life, higher Hz screen, newer android version, and to get a wide angle lens. Now I have those even its like...what next? Camera quality is all I ever need, screen Hz is perfect. I'm not sure what will make me upgrade next time but if I replace battery down the line and use a third party OS then maybe it'll go even longer!

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[–] revs@feddit.uk 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’ve started to upgrade when iOS updates stop. As the cost of devices goes up, I just keep them longer so the cost per year is about the same.

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[–] Rearsays@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 year ago

I don’t see any reason in 2023 to replace my iPhone 12

[–] hubobes@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I will buy a new phone when my phone actually dies, broken screens and old batteries can be replaced. And iOS gets updates for like forever.

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[–] AnyProgressIsGood@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)
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[–] tony@lemmy.hoyle.me.uk 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well the networks will try to tie people in for 36/48 months so... they kind of asked for it.

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[–] zerbey@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

Jokes on them, last phone I bought from them was in 1999. Still have it somewhere. Haven't used it since 2000 or so of course.

[–] Stinkywinks@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

I've had my moto x4 for 8 years and it's still kicking strong. If it ever dies, I'm getting another.

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Had mine since October 2017. Huawei Honor 9. Getting a bit shit now, random power offs below 25%, slow as balls, the usual.

A lot of that is likely just web bloat and inevitable battery death.

So what are the better mid-range phones these days? I'd rather have as little non-uninstallable crapware as possible.

[–] Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

Pixel "a" Phones are basically the continuation of the (formerly midrange) Nexus. Though Fairphone is entering the US market, they look like they'd be a solid choice.

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[–] infix@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Still rocking my iphone X! Upgrade may be in order this September as the battery lasts about an hour and the screen is cracked, but damn good run.

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