New mobile phone
Discussion
I have a P20 Pro which I bought late 2019. It doesn't receive updates anymore (including security), so I've decided to change.
I found a good deal for an iPhone 13 128GB - open box but immaculate condition, 100% battery health, and warranty until the end of December. I bit the bullet and paid £600. I went for it as iPhones are supported for a long time.
I don't need the latest and greatest. I thought it was a good deal - I saved £139 compared to buying the same phone brand new from John Lewis. My thought process is to keep the phone until it's no longer supported, which should mean it get updates for about 6 years (like the 6S).
I started feeling a bit of buyer's remorse as there are good Android phones for a fraction of the price. I'm not keen on the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus due to their sketchy privacy and data mining history. I've heard good things about budget Motorola, Nokia, and Samsung phones. I was thinking of either keeping the iPhone and running it into the ground until it's no longer supported, or return it (I have 30 days) and get a budget Android and change when it stops getting updates. I think budget Android phones get security updates for about 2 years, so even if I pay £200-ish for an Android phone, I'd be paying roughly that every 2 years or so to change when security updates stop. On the other hand, the iPhone might work out as good value after all if I keep it for about 5 or 6 six years. I've tried the iPhone out and it is nice to use.
Thoughts? Thanks, all.
I found a good deal for an iPhone 13 128GB - open box but immaculate condition, 100% battery health, and warranty until the end of December. I bit the bullet and paid £600. I went for it as iPhones are supported for a long time.
I don't need the latest and greatest. I thought it was a good deal - I saved £139 compared to buying the same phone brand new from John Lewis. My thought process is to keep the phone until it's no longer supported, which should mean it get updates for about 6 years (like the 6S).
I started feeling a bit of buyer's remorse as there are good Android phones for a fraction of the price. I'm not keen on the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus due to their sketchy privacy and data mining history. I've heard good things about budget Motorola, Nokia, and Samsung phones. I was thinking of either keeping the iPhone and running it into the ground until it's no longer supported, or return it (I have 30 days) and get a budget Android and change when it stops getting updates. I think budget Android phones get security updates for about 2 years, so even if I pay £200-ish for an Android phone, I'd be paying roughly that every 2 years or so to change when security updates stop. On the other hand, the iPhone might work out as good value after all if I keep it for about 5 or 6 six years. I've tried the iPhone out and it is nice to use.
Thoughts? Thanks, all.
Edited by thatsagoodcuppa on Sunday 20th February 17:30
Edited by thatsagoodcuppa on Sunday 20th February 17:35
Keep the iPhone. Why would you want to pay the same amount for 3 inferior phones?
A £200 Android phone won’t have the processor speed, camera quality, screen quality, speaker quality etc.
The £200 phone you buy in 4 years time might start reaching some sort of parity, but then you’ve had to put up 2 far lesser phone for years on end.
Honestly puzzled by this post.
At year 3, use Apple’s battery replacement program and then retire the phone when its no longer being supported, probably as you said around year 6.
A £200 Android phone won’t have the processor speed, camera quality, screen quality, speaker quality etc.
The £200 phone you buy in 4 years time might start reaching some sort of parity, but then you’ve had to put up 2 far lesser phone for years on end.
Honestly puzzled by this post.
At year 3, use Apple’s battery replacement program and then retire the phone when its no longer being supported, probably as you said around year 6.
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 20th February 21:54
thatsagoodcuppa said:
Just after some points of view 
The Mrs just replaced her 6S because it developed LCD problems after 5 years of use? Honestly was still running so well, she didn't want to replace it.Same with our iPads. They are updated for so long and generally last. Don’t ever see a need to get rid.
I can’t say that about any Android phone I’ve used. Always, without fail, start thinking about getting a new phone after 2 years and after 3 years, start gagging for one.
My family and I have been buying Motorola Moto G phones for years now. IMO the best VFM going. I don't pretend to be a professional photographer with my phone...
I currently have the Moto G 5G Plus, but that's not the latest anymore.
Motorola phones are a Lenovo company, which in turn are a China company. So any concerns you have about Chinese phone companies can most likely be applied to them too.
I currently have the Moto G 5G Plus, but that's not the latest anymore.
Motorola phones are a Lenovo company, which in turn are a China company. So any concerns you have about Chinese phone companies can most likely be applied to them too.
Also, won’t you be disappointed with a £200 Android phone after using a P20 Pro?
P20 Pro processor is still likely to be faster, better screen and cameras, speakers etc. You will be going down market.
I was looking for a possible Android replacement for the Mrs before she got another iPhone, and I think you would need to spend at least £400 on something like a Samsung Galaxy A52s to start getting to some sort of ball park parity with the P20 Pro feature set. Non of the £200 phones were cutting it. All had serious corners cut (compared to flagships) to reach that price.
There is cheap and there is value for money.
P20 Pro processor is still likely to be faster, better screen and cameras, speakers etc. You will be going down market.
I was looking for a possible Android replacement for the Mrs before she got another iPhone, and I think you would need to spend at least £400 on something like a Samsung Galaxy A52s to start getting to some sort of ball park parity with the P20 Pro feature set. Non of the £200 phones were cutting it. All had serious corners cut (compared to flagships) to reach that price.
There is cheap and there is value for money.
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 20th February 22:16
wyson said:
Also, won’t you be disappointed with a £200 Android phone after using a P20 Pro?
P20 Pro processor is still likely to be faster, better screen and cameras, speakers etc. You will be going down market.
I was looking for a possible Android replacement for the Mrs before she got another iPhone, and I think you would need to spend at least £400 on something like a Samsung Galaxy A52s to start getting to some sort of ball park parity with the P20 Pro feature set. Non of the £200 phones were cutting it. All had serious corners cut (compared to flagships) to reach that price.
There is cheap and there is value for money.
True. The iPhone sounds like good value after all. I bought the P20 Pro for £220 at the time. I've had a couple of years out of it. P20 Pro processor is still likely to be faster, better screen and cameras, speakers etc. You will be going down market.
I was looking for a possible Android replacement for the Mrs before she got another iPhone, and I think you would need to spend at least £400 on something like a Samsung Galaxy A52s to start getting to some sort of ball park parity with the P20 Pro feature set. Non of the £200 phones were cutting it. All had serious corners cut (compared to flagships) to reach that price.
There is cheap and there is value for money.
Edited by wyson on Sunday 20th February 22:16
I’m using a mid range phone, the £499 (Pixel 4a 5g). Its got a decent set of compromises over my previous flagship phone, but one thing I noticed is that it has a weak ass haptic motor.
I never used the miss calls on the street before, because the premium phone buzzed quite violently in my pocket. The mid range device, I can’t feel it. I frequently miss calls now, especially if the traffic is heavy and there is lots of noise etc.
Its all these small details that lower end devices miss out on.
I never used the miss calls on the street before, because the premium phone buzzed quite violently in my pocket. The mid range device, I can’t feel it. I frequently miss calls now, especially if the traffic is heavy and there is lots of noise etc.
Its all these small details that lower end devices miss out on.
iPhone is great value for money if you take into account the whole package.
All Apple devices, they appear expensive on the surface, but if you include the cost of support, how long they are updated for etc, they are value for money.
The battery replacement program is fantastic.
Being able to pop into an Apple shop if you have problems, also great.
Not iPhone related, but I forgot the password on my old Macbook Pro 2015, that was bunged in a cupboard. The Apple shop unlocked if for free when I showed them the receipt. Just don’t know a pc manufacturer who could do that without some headache inducing return to base thing or super expensive on site support package.
All Apple devices, they appear expensive on the surface, but if you include the cost of support, how long they are updated for etc, they are value for money.
The battery replacement program is fantastic.
Being able to pop into an Apple shop if you have problems, also great.
Not iPhone related, but I forgot the password on my old Macbook Pro 2015, that was bunged in a cupboard. The Apple shop unlocked if for free when I showed them the receipt. Just don’t know a pc manufacturer who could do that without some headache inducing return to base thing or super expensive on site support package.
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 20th February 22:43
As an avid hater of iPhones, as long as you can put up with the lack of basic functionality and piss poor battery, I'd still say keep the iPhone!
Android could easily work out cheaper and I think people underestimate just how much phone you get for £200 these days when not buying Apple, especially if you're looking like for like, second hand.
You've taken a punt that I wouldn't have, but it seems to have worked.
Keep it.
ETA: typed on my four year old £200 android phone, still going strong!
Android could easily work out cheaper and I think people underestimate just how much phone you get for £200 these days when not buying Apple, especially if you're looking like for like, second hand.
You've taken a punt that I wouldn't have, but it seems to have worked.
Keep it.
ETA: typed on my four year old £200 android phone, still going strong!
Edited by Bacon Is Proof on Monday 21st February 07:56
'No longer getting updates' is exactly the reason you SHOULD be replacing. The updates keep devices patched and secure - as we use phones for more and more highly sensitive stuff (banking, remote unlocking of cars, 2FA etc) it becomes all the more important that handsets are updated and secured against malware and exploits. A hack on the Gmail account you use to log in to the phone could be devastating as it would provide access to things like home and work address, your photos, contacts, Timeline of where you've been, emails, Google Drive - even your current real-time location etc.
Using an old, out of date and unpatched device as if it's some sort of badge of honour is daft; just because it's still working doesn't mean you should still be using it.
Thankfully most manufacturers are now committing to much longer support periods (Google say the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will be supported until October 2026, Samsung will support new devices for 4 years from launch for example, Apple's length of device support has always been decent) however this does not apply retrospectively to older devices from manufacturers (eg. Google will end support for the Pixel 5 late next year), nor will all manufacturers be willing or able to provide longer support guarantees - remember it's in their interests to sell you a new device, not support your old one (which earns them nothing).
The threat from malware is significant and with our phones intimately intertwined more than ever with so many crucial areas of our lives people need to start taking this stuff far more seriously than ever before.
Using an old, out of date and unpatched device as if it's some sort of badge of honour is daft; just because it's still working doesn't mean you should still be using it.
Thankfully most manufacturers are now committing to much longer support periods (Google say the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will be supported until October 2026, Samsung will support new devices for 4 years from launch for example, Apple's length of device support has always been decent) however this does not apply retrospectively to older devices from manufacturers (eg. Google will end support for the Pixel 5 late next year), nor will all manufacturers be willing or able to provide longer support guarantees - remember it's in their interests to sell you a new device, not support your old one (which earns them nothing).
The threat from malware is significant and with our phones intimately intertwined more than ever with so many crucial areas of our lives people need to start taking this stuff far more seriously than ever before.
Edited by Funk on Monday 21st February 12:57
I knew my P20 Pro would stop being supported at some point, just not this soon. According to the phone info, the last security patch was applied in November last year. However, according to AIDA64, the security patch level is July 2020 - yikes.
I use my phone for banking and 2FA. Using an unpatched device makes me feel uneasy.
I use my phone for banking and 2FA. Using an unpatched device makes me feel uneasy.
Edited by thatsagoodcuppa on Monday 21st February 11:58
Typically keep iPhones for 4 or so years then pass them on to a relative. I use the Apple interest free deal and then go sim only which saves a fortune over getting one from a network.
My Aunt has my old 6, my uncle has my X, both are running well (the 6 has had a new battery from Apple). I could have sold either one for around £200 at time of upgrade but the phones didn't owe me anything.
Work update phones far less frequently so I have a 7 plus or max (the larger size) which still works really well after 4 or 5 years.
My Aunt has my old 6, my uncle has my X, both are running well (the 6 has had a new battery from Apple). I could have sold either one for around £200 at time of upgrade but the phones didn't owe me anything.
Work update phones far less frequently so I have a 7 plus or max (the larger size) which still works really well after 4 or 5 years.
Having been a long time avid Android advocate and Apple-hater, I swallowed my pride after quite extensive research against my needs, which seem to closely mirror yours, OP.
- Much longer security patching
--- Leads from higher upfront cost to lower lifetime cost
- Better for privacy
As to the "piss-poor functionality" post: that'll take quite a lot of justification, to me! Quite frankly, having experienced both, Apple functionality is better as developers are developing for one OS, not one OS and a plethora of manufacturer specific GUIs. I have had no app reliability issues on Apple; I had lots on Android, with Huawei and Garmin pointing fingers at each other until I got bored.
Oh, and my battery life on my old iPhone 7 (work phone) was excellent after 5 years.
- Much longer security patching
--- Leads from higher upfront cost to lower lifetime cost
- Better for privacy
As to the "piss-poor functionality" post: that'll take quite a lot of justification, to me! Quite frankly, having experienced both, Apple functionality is better as developers are developing for one OS, not one OS and a plethora of manufacturer specific GUIs. I have had no app reliability issues on Apple; I had lots on Android, with Huawei and Garmin pointing fingers at each other until I got bored.
Oh, and my battery life on my old iPhone 7 (work phone) was excellent after 5 years.
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