Phone costs vs other tech costs
Discussion
I am seriously considering the Galaxy Fold 3 which is £1500 and the thing that puts me off it is that I can buy an S21 Ultra AND a laptop for the same money!
Then I realised that most top spec phones are around £1000 which also buys a decent spec new mountain bike, a very nice laptop, a very nice set of alloys and tyres, a week abroad in a vey nice resort (Mexico all inc for £!500 for 2 weeks for example)....
I am thinking these top spec phones are seriously overpriced now....
Then I realised that most top spec phones are around £1000 which also buys a decent spec new mountain bike, a very nice laptop, a very nice set of alloys and tyres, a week abroad in a vey nice resort (Mexico all inc for £!500 for 2 weeks for example)....
I am thinking these top spec phones are seriously overpriced now....
You're about five years late....it all really started when the iPhone X went over a grand.
What's happened is that phone tech has stagnated, and as such high-end phones are of little interest to tech geeks who would previously have bought a new phone because it did more and better things. But that is no longer the case and a flagship phone is now a fashion statement above all else, and is priced accordingly. We can thank Apple for that.
What's happened is that phone tech has stagnated, and as such high-end phones are of little interest to tech geeks who would previously have bought a new phone because it did more and better things. But that is no longer the case and a flagship phone is now a fashion statement above all else, and is priced accordingly. We can thank Apple for that.
For me they have been very overpriced for a while. But it depends what you use it for. For a lot of people their whole lives are on their phones. From photos, videos, apps etc. For me a phone is a phone.. I would text the same idiot mates and lose the same amount betting on a new Iphone 13 as I do on my current slightly battered SE gen2.
With regards other tech I don't tend to compare as its so different. It's also what people see worth in.. I don't cycle so a £1500 bike is pointless to me but spending the same money on music equipment is worth something to me. Friends of mine have been on holiday this year and paid over £1000 in tests.. I just wouldn't do that.
With regards other tech I don't tend to compare as its so different. It's also what people see worth in.. I don't cycle so a £1500 bike is pointless to me but spending the same money on music equipment is worth something to me. Friends of mine have been on holiday this year and paid over £1000 in tests.. I just wouldn't do that.
Frimley111R said:
I am seriously considering the Galaxy Fold 3 which is £1500 and the thing that puts me off it is that I can buy an S21 Ultra AND a laptop for the same money!
Then I realised that most top spec phones are around £1000 which also buys a decent spec new mountain bike, a very nice laptop, a very nice set of alloys and tyres, a week abroad in a vey nice resort (Mexico all inc for £!500 for 2 weeks for example)....
I am thinking these top spec phones are seriously overpriced now....
True, except £1,000 barely gets you decent mountain bike forks these days, frames are £3k and the rest of the gubbins add another grand on top. Another 2 grand to add a motor. If you think top phones are over-priced, don't look seriously at mountain bikes.Then I realised that most top spec phones are around £1000 which also buys a decent spec new mountain bike, a very nice laptop, a very nice set of alloys and tyres, a week abroad in a vey nice resort (Mexico all inc for £!500 for 2 weeks for example)....
I am thinking these top spec phones are seriously overpriced now....
I'd rather have a decent phone than alloys or a holiday, but I'd spend more on a laptop.
If you're thinking about value for money, compare the S21 with the S20 series on price and capability, my brand new S20+ 5G was £380 delivered. No way you can make the Fold 3 make sense at that price differential, not that it makes any sense anyway, And the same argument applies to the S21 Ultra too I expect, though it's obviously a personal judgement.
paulrockliffe said:
True, except £1,000 barely gets you decent mountain bike forks these days, frames are £3k and the rest of the gubbins add another grand on top. Another 2 grand to add a motor. If you think top phones are over-priced, don't look seriously at mountain bikes.
I'd rather have a decent phone than alloys or a holiday, but I'd spend more on a laptop.
If you're thinking about value for money, compare the S21 with the S20 series on price and capability, my brand new S20+ 5G was £380 delivered. No way you can make the Fold 3 make sense at that price differential, not that it makes any sense anyway, And the same argument applies to the S21 Ultra too I expect, though it's obviously a personal judgement.
I suppose 'decent' means different things to different people depending on their usage. I am an average MTB rider and a £1500 bike is a very very nice piece of kit and more than I ever need.I'd rather have a decent phone than alloys or a holiday, but I'd spend more on a laptop.
If you're thinking about value for money, compare the S21 with the S20 series on price and capability, my brand new S20+ 5G was £380 delivered. No way you can make the Fold 3 make sense at that price differential, not that it makes any sense anyway, And the same argument applies to the S21 Ultra too I expect, though it's obviously a personal judgement.
I can get a Fold 3 for about £1100 and I suppose that given I use it for work and everything all the time it is probably still one of the best VFM purchases based on cost/usage.
My Megane R26 was £8000 and I rarely use it.
deckster said:
You're about five years late....it all really started when the iPhone X went over a grand.
What's happened is that phone tech has stagnated, and as such high-end phones are of little interest to tech geeks who would previously have bought a new phone because it did more and better things. But that is no longer the case and a flagship phone is now a fashion statement above all else, and is priced accordingly. We can thank Apple for that.
So true. All of it.What's happened is that phone tech has stagnated, and as such high-end phones are of little interest to tech geeks who would previously have bought a new phone because it did more and better things. But that is no longer the case and a flagship phone is now a fashion statement above all else, and is priced accordingly. We can thank Apple for that.
Personal choice really.
Some people absolutely have to have the best and the newest, for various reasons, and the manufacturers will happily take their money. Nothing wrong with wanting to splash your cash on something fancy.
I usually buy whichever model of iPhone has been out 12 months, because by that point the new model will be revealed and the price of 'last years' model will have dropped.
My last purchase was an iPhone 11 after it had been dropped to £599 following the release of the iPhone 12.
I keep my phone for 2 years and then change it. Ignoring the cost of the monthly bill from O2, my phone costs me around £14 a month to own,
For someone who uses their phone heavily most days for work and play, I think that is really good value in the grand scheme of things.
If I wasn't interested in technology and didn't use my phone for much other than calls, I would be buying myself a £50 phone and running it for years until it broke.
There are options for everyone.
Some people absolutely have to have the best and the newest, for various reasons, and the manufacturers will happily take their money. Nothing wrong with wanting to splash your cash on something fancy.
I usually buy whichever model of iPhone has been out 12 months, because by that point the new model will be revealed and the price of 'last years' model will have dropped.
My last purchase was an iPhone 11 after it had been dropped to £599 following the release of the iPhone 12.
I keep my phone for 2 years and then change it. Ignoring the cost of the monthly bill from O2, my phone costs me around £14 a month to own,
For someone who uses their phone heavily most days for work and play, I think that is really good value in the grand scheme of things.
If I wasn't interested in technology and didn't use my phone for much other than calls, I would be buying myself a £50 phone and running it for years until it broke.
There are options for everyone.
deckster said:
You're about five years late....it all really started when the iPhone X went over a grand.
What's happened is that phone tech has stagnated, and as such high-end phones are of little interest to tech geeks who would previously have bought a new phone because it did more and better things. But that is no longer the case and a flagship phone is now a fashion statement above all else, and is priced accordingly. We can thank Apple for that.
Spot on. Many people just upgrade like sheep and pay monthly not even doing the basic monthly x 24 calculation which will give the whole of contract cost and make your eyes water.What's happened is that phone tech has stagnated, and as such high-end phones are of little interest to tech geeks who would previously have bought a new phone because it did more and better things. But that is no longer the case and a flagship phone is now a fashion statement above all else, and is priced accordingly. We can thank Apple for that.
I used to feel so far behind if I didn't upgrade after 18m - 2yrs, now hardly at all. Been SIM only on my Pixel 3 XL for 6 months since contract ended and doing just fine!
deckster said:
You're about five years late....it all really started when the iPhone X went over a grand.
What's happened is that phone tech has stagnated, and as such high-end phones are of little interest to tech geeks who would previously have bought a new phone because it did more and better things. But that is no longer the case and a flagship phone is now a fashion statement above all else, and is priced accordingly. We can thank Apple for that.
This all over. What's happened is that phone tech has stagnated, and as such high-end phones are of little interest to tech geeks who would previously have bought a new phone because it did more and better things. But that is no longer the case and a flagship phone is now a fashion statement above all else, and is priced accordingly. We can thank Apple for that.
Brainpox said:
Mid range and budget phones are more than up to the task now. Anything high end is purely a luxury. If you don't care you can spend under £200 and get a perfectly serviceable smartphone.
https://mobile.mi.com/uk/redmi-note-10-pro/Snapdragon 732, 6g ram, 128g storage, 120hz amoled screen, too many cameras, including a 108MP one, £240.
Spending £1000 of your own money on a phone is bonkers!
anonymous said:
[redacted]
My attitude too - get a good phone and “run it into the ground” - as the ancient 6S can run iOS15 I’m confident my 8 has a good few years left in it. It does need a new battery though which Apple will change for £50. Going by my partner’s experience cheap and cheerful Android handsets do seem to be a bit of a false economy.
I collect an iPhone 13 Pro Max today to replace my iPhone 6 and I consider it excellent value for money considering it will most likely be in use for the next 6 years. It's not really a 'phone' .... I will use it like a mini ipad I may only make half a dozen calls in a week.
As an aside I also have a 2020 iPad Pro with a magic keyboard and mouse that has now replaced my main out and about Dell XPS for Lightroom, Photoshop and Video editing !
As an aside I also have a 2020 iPad Pro with a magic keyboard and mouse that has now replaced my main out and about Dell XPS for Lightroom, Photoshop and Video editing !
DoubleSix said:
Frimley111R said:
£1000 which also buys a decent spec new mountain bike,
Not really.https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2358-...
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