Should choosing a new phone be difficult today?
Discussion
I'm pondering over a new phone.
I currently have a HTC One (m7) and while it has served me well for the last 10 months, I'd like something newer, though I'm not quite sure why.
It does everything I want in a phone, though I think it may suffer with reception issues from time to time, though that could be Orange's piss poor network as well.
I thought I was going to buy a Sony Xperia Z2, but was talked out of it by a chap selling phones at Tesco, suggesting I wait for the G3 to come out (which hasn't yet come out on Tesco), but having seen and used one, I don't like it.
Back to the Z2 then? Well no, as the Z3 is around the corner so buying a Z2 could be likened to buying the current rip snorter thrust Mark 5, when the Mark 6 is out in a few weeks, even though there Will be little difference, you know you will be using the older generation platform, and as Sony release a new phone every 6 months, within 2 years you're potentially using something that a T-Rex would find antiquated. I also don't know if I as a consumer like Sony's business model, it puts me off a bit. As Mr Sony, I'd be very happy, unless there were more like me and decided there was no point getting a new Sony phone as it would be the old phone 45 minutes later....... Or does this actually matter? It is unlikely that there will be many major new features as they all seem to be around anyway, other than QHD screens, more RAM, bigger screens, larger storage and faster processors, but then do I need my mobile telephone to be more powerful than my mobile computer?
Then there are the OnePlusOne, a phone you cannot buy unless you know the magic handshake, that on paper seems to be a very, very good phone, and the Oppo Find 7, which also seems to be a very, very good phone, if lacking the latest version of Android. The thing you get with these phones is a bit more exclusivity, something that an iPhone user will never have.
They're cheap which also helps, but do not look cheap. Stick a premium badge on them and you'd happily pay the premium price I am sure.
So after all that, I'm no closer. Think ill just buy a Nokia 3310 and have done with it.
I currently have a HTC One (m7) and while it has served me well for the last 10 months, I'd like something newer, though I'm not quite sure why.
It does everything I want in a phone, though I think it may suffer with reception issues from time to time, though that could be Orange's piss poor network as well.
I thought I was going to buy a Sony Xperia Z2, but was talked out of it by a chap selling phones at Tesco, suggesting I wait for the G3 to come out (which hasn't yet come out on Tesco), but having seen and used one, I don't like it.
Back to the Z2 then? Well no, as the Z3 is around the corner so buying a Z2 could be likened to buying the current rip snorter thrust Mark 5, when the Mark 6 is out in a few weeks, even though there Will be little difference, you know you will be using the older generation platform, and as Sony release a new phone every 6 months, within 2 years you're potentially using something that a T-Rex would find antiquated. I also don't know if I as a consumer like Sony's business model, it puts me off a bit. As Mr Sony, I'd be very happy, unless there were more like me and decided there was no point getting a new Sony phone as it would be the old phone 45 minutes later....... Or does this actually matter? It is unlikely that there will be many major new features as they all seem to be around anyway, other than QHD screens, more RAM, bigger screens, larger storage and faster processors, but then do I need my mobile telephone to be more powerful than my mobile computer?
Then there are the OnePlusOne, a phone you cannot buy unless you know the magic handshake, that on paper seems to be a very, very good phone, and the Oppo Find 7, which also seems to be a very, very good phone, if lacking the latest version of Android. The thing you get with these phones is a bit more exclusivity, something that an iPhone user will never have.
They're cheap which also helps, but do not look cheap. Stick a premium badge on them and you'd happily pay the premium price I am sure.
So after all that, I'm no closer. Think ill just buy a Nokia 3310 and have done with it.
TheAngryDog said:
I currently have a HTC One (m7) and while it has served me well for the last 10 months, I'd like something newer, though I'm not quite sure why.
O2 just did me a huge favour. They rang me up yesterday offering a 'free' upgrade to anything currently available and I was, when put on the spot, completely happy with my current phone. (iPhone 5)I don't want anything bigger, I don't need anything faster, I really don't want want another £600 credit agreement over two years so err.. SIM only for now, thanks.
DUMBO100 said:
You're over thinking it, buy an I phone and stop being so awkward. I bet you live on a house boat and wear double denim too
The words of a true fanboy.It is difficult to pick a decent phone, but if you want a little exclusivity then buy the Nexus phones from an Android perspective. Yes, far more mainstream than the Oppo and such like, but solid, stable, serviceable devices. WinPhone8 are good choices, OS really is superb and should be a wake up call to Google and Apple that they don't have this playground to themselves just yet.
Only modern device I've found truly disappointing was the iPhone. It used to be good, different, interesting... Now it's still pretty much the way it was barring some questionable UI design elements. My money would not be going towards one.
It's interesting how choosing a new phone is difficult and yet it doesn't really matter what you choose. They all do much the same stuff for much the same cost. Yet because they are so similar and so much internet time is spent discussing the minutiae of each potential choice, we think it is an important and tricky decision.
ewenm said:
It's interesting how choosing a new phone is difficult and yet it doesn't really matter what you choose. They all do much the same stuff for much the same cost. Yet because they are so similar and so much internet time is spent discussing the minutiae of each potential choice, we think it is an important and tricky decision.
At the risk of getting slaughtered or worse still getting patronised by the "knowsers" - the above is very true.One thing sadly lacking in phones today is style.
I was in a branch of CEX the other day looking at the wall to wall s/h, nearly knew, etc stuff and they all just look so alike.
Go back pre I phone days, there were sliders, flips, candy bars.
Lots of different styles. Now they all look so alike.
And yes yes I know its because of the limitations of the screen size etc but
Think of stuff like the Nokia 8 series, the Motorola RAZR (when it wasn't a £30 PAYG) all seems so long ago.
Still that's progress.
dudleybloke said:
That is a lot of phone for the price. The only thing I would be worried about was if I played a lot of games as I know they can be a bit picky about GPUs. Apart from that it looks great.Back to the OP, I have an Xperia Z and although it is 2 models and 18 months behind it is still supported by Sony and feels very quick, so much so I haven't felt the need for an upgrade yet. I think that current phones are being replaced by market forces rather than innovation and for me 2 year lifespan is perfectly acceptable.
dudleybloke said:
Lot of great value phones on that site... Worth remembering if my daughter breaks her Moto G..michael243 said:
There isnt a choice needed, walk in, get a iPhone, walk back out and there that's it.
IF YOU'RE SIMPLE
FTFY IF YOU'RE SIMPLE
Real answer is that they're all pretty good these days. Choosing between nearly identical good choices is always harder than choosing between a good one and a bad one.
Mr Will said:
FTFY
Real answer is that they're all pretty good these days. Choosing between nearly identical good choices is always harder than choosing between a good one and a bad one.
It would be really hard to pick a phone after you look at all the specs and reviews, I went picked the iPhone 5 and havent looked back since, my Galaxy S3 lives in its box as nobody wanted to buy it.Real answer is that they're all pretty good these days. Choosing between nearly identical good choices is always harder than choosing between a good one and a bad one.
I have an iphone 5 I think (lightening connector one but not the last one) it's not much better than the one I had before which I remember being the iphone 4, every few weeks so one tells me to get an android phone and tells me how much better they are then goes on to show me all the modifications they've done to make it the best phone/Os ever and while they seem to be very proud of their skill at messing about with the things it just seems like a bit of a faf, what I want is a phone that does all the stuff you expect from a modern smart phone but is as complex to use as an old Nokia.
Why is it so bloody hard to find that?
Why is it so bloody hard to find that?
michael243 said:
It would be really hard to pick a phone after you look at all the specs and reviews, I went picked the iPhone 5 and havent looked back since, my Galaxy S3 lives in its box as nobody wanted to buy it.
CEX will still give you over £100 for it, if you can be bothered.My other-half went from iPhone to Nexus 5 and loves it - says she'll never buy another iPhone. Her old one sits in a box just like your S3...
Mr Will said:
Because everyone has a different idea of what a smartphone should do. Some want a portable computer, some want a media player, some want a gameboy and some just want social media/email.
Yep. It's not difficult really. It's just about your requirements vs what's on offer.dudleybloke said:
Have you got one, or know anyone that does?Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff