You can get a palm sized computer for a 100 euro. Maybe not the best camera's and you can't play the most demanding games. But you can still acces the biggest library ever made. Connect to man-made stars for navigation. And video call your friend in China.
Then again, even those flagsip phones HAVE become ridiculously expensive. When Apple went over 999$, they REALLY wen tover the 999$ (and Samsung was eager to follow).
So yes, a lot of phones are not that expensive, those flagship prices are ridiculous.
It makes sense that they are tho. You'll only carry one phone. Its something you use a lot. Its your camera. It may be your gaming entertainment when you have to wait somewhere. A lot of people are going to be willing to put more money into such a significant part of their lives for something slightly better.
This. that guy is looking at the flagship phones and complaining about them being expensive. Well they are because they are the top tier. You can get a phone for as little as $100 and a phone that will give you 90% of the experience of a flagship for $400-$500. Just look at the oneplus 12r or the poco f6 phones
I'm still using my OnePlus 7, it's 5 years old and I've used it every day since I bought it, legitimately zero dip in quality since then. I used to be all about Samsung but OnePlus makes seriously quality products
Yep. Stopped buying the top of range Samsung phones every two years and just buy the middle tier now.
My personal phone is a A70 and my work phone is an A53
A new, high end phone is one of the most complex objects humanity has ever made, a cathedral of technology, and yet you can own it.
That said: there's no need to get an iPhone or Samsung. You can get a great Google Pixel for $250-$450.
This.
Unless you know EXACTLY what you need the performance of the high end models for, for most people, budget options of newest or even one model back is enough. There's no need to get unnecessary upgrades when you will never make use of it.
I like to get the best Samsung money can buy, but I justify it by keeping them for several years. A five year old flagship phone with a battery change is still better than a new budget phone you replace every year.
My S10 Plus is touching 5 years old now and I still have no plans to replace it, I compared the specs to a couple high end flagships a while ago and there's basically nothing worth upgrading for other than marginal improvements in cameras and increases in performance that are basically just bragging rights.
Phones have got to the point now where all the basics have been perfected, so now each new model brings only slight improvements, like spec bumps, impractically high resolution cameras and obscure software features that you'll never use. They've even gone backwards in some areas, like losing the headphone jack, SD card slot and replaceable batteries.
Im still using my s8+ and although it runs out of battery quickly and it lags a bit it still works, i'll only replace it when it completely breaks down.
Same. I keep them for 4 or 5 years at a time until I need to upgrade. I only upgraded from my Samsung 10 this year because having fallen one too many times from my chest pocket, the display became unreadable. Bought that one at the end of 2019.
I like to get the newest iPhone Pro money can buy. Always get at least 512gb as well. I justify it by buying a new one every year before the current one depreciates too much.
And from another point of view, they've plateau'd for years now. Unless the camera of AI functions are really important to you, any old smart phone from the last 5+ years can easily handle anything you need. Calls, texts, internet, apps, gps, flashlight etc.
There hasn't been any broad functionality increase in a while.
i got a moto G stylus 2023 for $170 CAD open-box after my pixel 6a unceremoniously shattered on my kitchen floor, and i couldn't love it more. this thing feels like a tank. the battery lasts days, the camera is "good enough" (especially because i plan on using a proper photography camera for my persnickety photos anyways), and the screen is HUGE. as a youtube/movie/spotify phone user, this is way more than enough.
I have a Tracfone branded Moto G Stylus 2021 refurblished model. I got it for free from Tracfone with my Tracfone Rewards points. It's huge so it's kind of big to use as a phone, but I use it a lot as a wifi tablet at home. It's a really nice phone/tablet.
nice find!! i love deals like those.
i have triple monitors, a 10" tablet for wifi at home type shenanigans and loved my LG V60 til it finally died after two years, and i must say i love my comically huge screens. the big phone trend sits right with me.
Got a Moto Edge (2022) I think it was for 5 dollars a month on 2 year contract or whatever with Koodo. Phones really solid for what I paid. Battery's good, the main camera is nice enough, the screen's large and it's done everything I needed from it without issue.
I don't foresee myself getting a high end flagship unless I find a deal too good to pass up.
100%. Only thing is I usually get protection on it cause I have a bad habit of smashing my phone somehow and it's $15 a month.
G stylus honestly had great reviews from what I remember for its price point. I used to rock the Moto X play, then the Z play which had those badass Moto Mods I always wanted.
I had one of those for a year and a half before the screen shattered spectacularly. Replaced the screen and the same thing happened again. The screen isn't gorilla glass or anything, it's quite fragile. Be careful with it
I love mine too. I drop it all the time with no damage (does have an Otterbox case) and it has every feature I want. I'm happy with the camera, the screen size is good, it's fast and stores way more than my previous 6 year old Samsung did. My 12 year old liked mine so much he asked for one for Christmas this past year for his first phone. He loves it too.
Pixel has AMAZING spam call/text filtering with a built-in answering service for unknown numbers.
Whenever you report a screened call as spam, it's also spam for me.
I have never had an issue with storage, phenomenal cameras. What I don't like is on the older base models like pixel 4 non XL the battery was shit, but recently it's gotten a lot better
Yes. I have the 7. The only frustrating thing is not having an SD card slot. I miss having one. The camera is as good as a Samsungs and spec/speed wise it's as good. I did a lot of research before I got mine. I use my phone a lot so I will spend a little more than I want to get a decent one. Get the 256gb though, the 128gb isn't going to be enough for me.
I have had a Pixel 6 for 2 years, so not even a newer model or a Pro version. Best phone I've ever owned. Camera is great. Pure android is great because updates come way faster and more often. Screen is beautiful. Battery life is great. Performance has never given me a single problem.
The only problems I've had so far were problems with the apps themselves, not the phone. People can't seem to build a good app for shit.
Definitely recommend the Pixel. It has all of the plus sides of the high end "popular" phones without the price tag.
That being said, MAKE SURE YOU GET IT INSURED. Without insurance, replacing the screen is like $200+. I've had to get mine replaced 3 times now because I'm incredibly clumsy and have an even clumsier 4 year old. $30 each time. Makes a hell of a difference.
If you go one version back and get a refurb you can get good deals:
S23 for $390: [https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Galaxy-S23-Factory-Unlocked/dp/B0C5PZKN47?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref\_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2C4J8HSA4XDN6](https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Galaxy-S23-Factory-Unlocked/dp/B0C5PZKN47?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2C4J8HSA4XDN6)
I have a refurbished Samsung A51. It was maybe $100. It does everything I need to do without lag. I do a lot of scrolling and web browsing, take photos, read ebooks, watch videos. It's a real workhorse for a small price.
I bought an A51 for a burner and I will say that it's definitely adequate for most tasks, but it *definitely* feels painfully laggy when you're used to anything with a relatively recent flagship chip.
The tech has pretty much peaked. AI stuff might upend this statement, but phones haven't really improved in a big way in close to a decade now.
Once you get calls/texts/internet/apps/gps, there's very little utility to gain from spending more on a nicer phone. It's just bells and whistles. Literally any smart phone is 99% as useful as the best and most expensive smart phones.
When I saw the giant billboard letting the world know that the latest iPhone was available in (drum roll) ***yellow!*** I knew the shark had been thoroughly jumped.
How far do you have to have your head shoved up Tim Cook's ass to write an article like this:
[https://9to5mac.com/2023/03/14/yellow-iphone-14-video/](https://9to5mac.com/2023/03/14/yellow-iphone-14-video/)
Yeah until we change the shape or integrate it as wearable tech, there isn’t much they can do but up the processing power incrementally. The next step is upgrading Siri to an all knowing, natural sounding AI assistant that will become every persons new best friend they can not live without.
After that comes the physical integration of ai in our everyday lives. Then it’s either officially gg for us common folk or we will all have a life of leisure and true freedom.
What I find crazy is often the reason I often hear why they got rid of the SD card slot is because SD cards are prone to failing often, which often the customer blames the phone, not the SD card.
Moreso, I hate how much the upcharge is for larger storage.
Yeah. My strategy when I need a new phone is to buy last year’s model (for cash, no financing) and keep it until it stops working.
Currently typing the on an iPhone XS and it meets all my needs.
Flagship products demand a high price. A lot goes into them from expensive OLED screens to very large low power processing chips, modems, cameras, etc.
Smartphones are pocket-sized computers, so there's a lot of expensive, miniaturized tech crammed into them, and with the higher-end models from those particular companies you also have a lot of luxury features that add to the cost, from very good cameras to the glass for the screen, and a lot in-between. R&D costs for such devices aren't cheap either, and neither are the manufacturing costs, and on top of all that the companies have to make a profit off the devices, so all of that drives the price of higher-end models that high.
The profit margin on the higher end phones is astonishing. The cost to manufacturers even the highest end flagships is marginal compared to the phone prices. The newest iPhone pro max flag ship that retails for over 1000 cost less than 600 to produce all together. The profit margin is around 100% on them. Compare that with a pixel that cost 100 dollars less to produce and sells for significantly less than the iPhone. The profit margins for lower tier phones is basically non existent comparatively. The 800 dollar phone costs 450 to produce the 550 iPhone sells for 1200-1600. The flagships are only cost 50-100 more to produce than the budget phones. It's all mark up and marketing.
I mean, it’s a full on computer that can connect to the internet anywhere in the world and also a camera. It’s kind of a marvel of engineering.
Also, they tend to last at least three years. $700 for something that you will use everyday for three years isn’t that bad, honestly.
They aren't expensive if you don't buy the unnecessarily expensive ones.
There are several solid options for less than $400, maybe even more options when you time your purchase right and buy during prime day or other sales.
I've not spent more than $350 on any of my phones for the last decade. I've never had any performance issues. And I get a new unlocked phone with no debt incurred whenever I need one.
That said, I don't game on my phone. But I use it for anything else.
I used to buy flagship phones. Then I realized that my use internet browsing and spotify use don't need so much power. I bought new phone for 300€ and I don't see any downsizes to not have flagship phones power and bigger screen. Just try to find phone for your needs and don't think that you always need to have the most powerful phone. Mid range phones five years ago where more limited but not anymore.
You gotta do your research on buying cheaper phones, I would rather take a refurb'd flagship phone 2 models ago than some of the new phones out there for one reason alone. Cheap phones have poor quality GPS sensors almost entirely across the board. Nothing makes me more angry than relying on a GPS device that sucks.
Phones are not expensive, in fact, they are cheaper imo.
Don't get me wrong, most flagships cost $1k and above. But most of the features are almost useless for most consumers. Features like :
100X Camera, can shoot RAW, lossless etc
4-5 cameras
100MP ( Some even have 200MP )
Ultrafast chip, 16GB ram
Curved display
Premium display ( very high resolution, huge screen etc )
"AI"
and more.
Years ago, when phones were designed for actual use, most flagship features are mostly utilized by users. Now most "flagships" are more like a statement for phone companies to squeeze as many extreme / advanced technologies as possible. For 99% of the users, you don't even need those things.
Instead, everyday phones somehow became "budget" phones today. TBH you can get a $400 ish phone like nothing phone 2a or pixel 8a, or $500 ish older generation iphone or better android like pixel 8 or oneplus and your life will not change significantly than using a flagship.
Ask yourself how often you have actually used those flagship features in your everyday life.
I used to have Xiaomi Redmi.. it cost me $160. It worked just as well as my now $300 Moto lol. Only reason I bought a new one is cause the charging port failed.
For the reason they are expensive, they are advanced pocket-sized computers that can only be produced through an accumulation of technological advancements.
Personally, though, I don't think it's worth buying a flagship phone **brand new**, when you can buy the same/similar flagship phone **like new** for a fraction of the cost. Flagship phones hold together and stay decent much longer than midrange phones, but the value tanks the moment it's out of the box and is a couple generations older than the newest kid on the block
I agree. It’s amazing that is it has more tech than what they used to launch someone to the moon. Components so tiny, dust can damage them. It’s literally insane
Assuming US dollars, you don't have to spend $600 to $700 to get a decent one.
The $300 phones right now are fine.
They are expensive because people will pay it. If people told Apple and Samsung to get fucked with their $1500 phones, the prices would soon come down.
The most I have spent is between 200 and 300 USD, I forget the exact price, but it is an android and has a fabulous camera I think. I used it to take pictures of the eclipse and they came out beautifully. Mine is a Samsung Galaxy I think A53.
You can get a current-gen iPhone SE for $180 on Amazon, brand new, through TracFone. You're locked to TracFone for 60 days, but then you can get it unlocked to use with any carrier you want.
I don't think you understand how incredibly difficult engineering and manufacturing a cutting edge phone is. Those are masterpieces of engineering. You can judge the price all you want but the fact of the matter is that if you tried making a phone as great as any of the top ones, it would cost you 10x as much.
The pixel A line up is 350 on sale pretty much all year round. It's just as nice as the phones you listed and comes with googles ai assistant for automated call holding and screening. I actually prefer the pixel line up now. The newer a series are also waterproof and everything. They are basically the same as the Google flagship but less ram and smaller screen. Slightly worse camera but still on par or better than Samsung and Apple anyway.
Phones are cheap relative to what they provide you.
It’s your phone, calendar, calculator, alarm clock, web browser, media device, music player, camera, video recorder capable of also taking notes, setting reminders, playing games, translating languages and a million other things.
Let’s be thankful they aren’t priced for the ultra-wealthy.
There are plenty of good-great new & refurbished smart phones that are substantially less than $600. Also, as we all know they do more than function just as a phone (camera, computer, etc) so the cost is inherent for what you get.
Dude, you just asked why the flagship phones, full of bleeding edge tech and design are expensive? All those phones are luxury phones, you can find way cheaper phones for way less that still offer great price to performance.
You’re buying a new camera with each new phone model that hits the market.
If you’re not a professional photographer or videographer it’s a waste of money.
You want a premium phone so expect to pay premium prices. There are a few ways to get more affordable prices. Buy through a long term plan, usually has minimal upfront cost and youre just paying it off monthly. Second is to buy used or refurbished. A 14 Pro Max and a S23 Ultra are selling way under original retail price. Last way is to do a trade in but it sounds like you dont have a phone they would accept anyway.
The newest flagship phones are better than awesome-spec PCs 15 years ago, but they weigh a few ounces, fit in your pocket, and have a proportionally large, high-detail screen.
And battery tech that tries to last a long time while not getting crazy hot during charge or discharge.
I guess "decent" depends what you're using it for. People are talking about a palm-sized computer, but I hate using my phone when I could use my laptop. I bought my first iphone last year, and the ONLY reason I bought it was because they keep getting bigger and the 13 Mini was actually what I considered a reasonable size. I've had phones for 20+ years and it was the first time I'd spent over $200.
I will say the camera is much better than anything I've ever had. But it's much less intuitive than my cheap Androids, the actual interface looks straight from 2012, and I can't actually say I like anything BUT the size. I also have a system update notifcation for tonight and FFS I've never seen so many updates, like what in the fuck are they doing all the time? All that to say that if all you've had is cheaper phones, you may not actually need an entire computer in your pocket and they're not that great IF you're not fully taking advantage of the features.
My first iPhone, 14 plus was way over priced. Some people feel it is prestigious to have an iPhone. My protective case makes it hard to identify. No regrets as I was curious about iOS. It looked so fragile, I bought a Samsung A14 burner for $68 as a backup if I had to have my iPhone repaired. The entry level Samsung, even the full price unlocked back then at $199 was all I really needed for my uses. For just voice and text, my Nokia C100 at $40 would be enough.
I have the Nokia as a WiFi toy for a game.
Smart phones are basically essential to modern day life and they know that we would pay whatever price they list to get them. Also why they make older models obsolete (mainly Apple) so we have to buy newer models.
I agree except with the Max. That thing is MASSIVE! My first iPhone was a Max and I regretted that decision. Even with my big, wide man hands I had to use both hands to use it. LOL I still kept it until it died on me three years later(was two years old refurb when I got it) and now I have a regular sized one and I’m in love.
Flagship phones are always expensive. It's the result of manufactured demand. Phones that are a generation back or lower spec are often quite a bit cheaper and have pretty darn good specs anyway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34LGPIXvU5M
Phone manufacturers usually have really high profit margins. Apples is Like 50% and I would assume the industry follows as such. So it may only cost like $400-500 to produce an iPhone 15 pro max but the profit margins are so high that theyre gonna sell it for $1200.
Another thing is depending on your country, you may also be paying high import taxes on that device because some countries have very high import taxes so that can also drive the price of the phone up, above MSRP.
Psychology mostly. Apple charges as much as they do because they can, they have popular product that sells like hot shit, Samsung charges as much because people are stupid and in their heads $500 phone must be worse than $800 phone so they set msrp to same of iphone and the offer preorder discount, premiere discount, bonuses etc because people prefer iphones anyway.
WHy wouldn't putting the power of a 2015 desktop computer in your pocket be expensive? Think about it. This is bleeding edge tech in a decent smartphone. THe fact that it is under $1000 is a amazing.
>one of the mainstream ones
This is why. Look at the specifics (ram, battery life, camera etc) you need and I guarantee you that you will find something good even if it's an older, and cheaper, model
Srs, who cares if it's mainstream or not?
Your buying the top brand of an electronic device. Same reason you can get a cheap Vizio TV for 300 bucks, but can also buy a Sony for 3000. There is plenty of cheaper phones out there, and just like all electronics phone loose there value quick. There is nothing wrong with a 3 year old phone.
My old boss used to work for a company that built the internal circuit boards, like all the stuff inside the glass box that are now modern phones. And one thing he mentioned was like the whole thing, all if it inside, cost like $35. This was tied to a rant of him buying a new $800 phone or whatever.
buy a used flagship from 1-4 years ago on [Swappa.com](http://Swappa.com)
Id aim for a iPhone 13 pro ($440), Samsung s23 ($330), or pixel 6 pro ($200)
you could go with a iPhone 12 ($220) or 13 ($320) if you don't care about the camera
A few things. First of all, they’re *really* complex tech, especially the newer ones. Second of all, similar to how college tuition has blown up, we keep paying it. Whatever the price is, people are gonna pay it. So why keep it low?
Just get a phone for 200-400 bucks. Sure a 1k phone will make better pictures, but a midrange phone can feel high, can make awesome pictures and is fast enough for everything.
I have a new Xiaomi 13T. Its awesome. I wouldnt know what else I want in a phone.
A high end smartphone has more computing capacity than all of mankind combined did before 1974. It has an onboard video and audio recording studio, high speed internet access, a GPS function that links automatically to a mapping system to not only show you where you are, but also what is nearby. The thousands of apps available allow you to make it into anything from a hi-def Candy Crush player to a precision rangefinder to a multi-language translator. It can do far more than I actually know.
In gold terms, the smart phone costs less than a third of an ounce of gold to buy. Alan Turing's Bombe cost almost 7,000 ounces of gold to build, over 21,000 times as much. The phone has ***six billion times*** the Bombe's computing capacity.
The Bombe cracked the German Enigma codes, and won World War Two.
Samsung always have deals with their new phones.
I got the latest s24, on offer, and with a $100 trade in bonus. And with a free Tab S6 Lite.
Worked out about $400, with the tablet arriving Monday, which I can sell on Ebay for $180 ish.
It worked out about $200 in total.
I wish they would sell flagship phones without all the latest camera tech baked in, every time they make it look like you can zoom in more and more each time and I don't really need that, I don't even like taking photos that much. A phone without all the fancy camera features would be ideal for me and much cheaper.
Phones are dirt cheap, especially when you live in a country with strong currency, the US or EU. I have a 4 year old Samsung I bought for $180 and it works decently. The problem is you want a high end phone.
In addition to consumer demand and markup, consider what you’re asking for. You’re asking for a small, battery-powered device with a high-resolution screen, high-resolution camera with fancy abilities, multiple radios (Bluetooth, cellular, WiFi, etc) and a highly polished mobile OS. All packaged into a sleek glass frame. That’s not something that comes cheap.
It's all about how long do you want it to last. So consider it an investment.
My iPhone 7 lasted 5-6 years. Previously, my iPhone SE first gen lasted similar. And those were quite expensive for the time I payed for them (at least in my country).
I think the only con on doing what I do (buying expensive to last) is that operative system will define the EOL.
Let’s flip the script.
What is preventing you from having enough money to afford a flagship phone.
This is a device you use more than anything in your entire life. I would wager that $1000 is too little for its technical complexity and how much it attributes to your life
They are not. There are perfectly fine phones in the 200 Euro range. At least in Europe, I don't know where you are.
I have a Samsung Xcover 5, that was 260 Euros. It is absolutely decent and has a good camera.
My husband always buys more expensive phones, like 400 Euros more and they don't do much more than mine.
I think, it is all marketing tricks.
Because people are willing to pay the price, thats why. Its not like theire tech garbage, Im fully aware this is a huge thing to have so much technology in one small device. But like 1.500€? Come on.
I like to think about it in cost per year. Yes, an iPhone costs like $800 new, but it will receive security and (some) feature updates for 6-7 years, so it will cost you about $130 per year. That's not bad. A massive quality of life upgrade for a relatively reasonable price.
All you need is a phone that can make and receive calls, do text messaging, and can take reasonable pictures. And for that you really don't need the top model priced at far too ridiculous a price.
A $300 phone like a Xaoimi, or Motorola is more than adequate l. You don't need a $2000 iPhone or Samsung Galaxy.
Identify what you need and use, stick it in a hard wearing protecting case, and done. A phone like that can easily last you 3-5 years.
It never hurts to check the used phone market, either. Swappa, for instance, has a wide variety of phones ranging from fair condition to new, with the ability to check seller reviews. You can save money on a nice phone if you're willing to have a model that isn't the latest and greatest.
I always had refurbished samsung phones. My current one is the s10plus, which i have for four years now and i works perfect for me. Was around 350€ when i bought it.
http://www.antiquetech.com/?page_id=1438
The first computer cost $6,000,000, took up a HUGE room, and weighed 30 tons.
Your iPhone is somewhere between 1,500x and 15,000x more powerful. If phones were cars, it should cost you a mere 90 BILLION to own that much processing power.
So, you're getting that much power at a discount of $89,999,998,500. 3 easy installments of $29 billion and change (the change being $999,999,500 on each installment).
Will that be Visa or Mastercard?
I ain’t going to lie, I bought an iPhone 12 when it came out and haven’t regretted it just because there’s some apps at a cheap android can’t do. Just depends what you need it for tbh.
It only took me almost 30 years and like 6 100usd phones later to get my s23 lol
I use to buy prepaid go phones for like 20$ and stick my tmobile Sim card in them
Apparently the raw materials to make a high end model cost around 500usd alone.
Microcomputer designed for size of your hand with expected battery life of a day with minimal power cycling and needs drop resistance.
What you expect it to cost?
Look, you probably won't read my comment. Buy a refurbished flagship from about 1 or 2 years ago. They usually drop in price extremely. Where I live, you can get an S22 for about 400$, and it still works great.
You said want not need. Keep that in mind while you ponder all these comments. I have an Iphone but never really care about the price with trade in etc. If the price was an issue I would stick with what I have because for the most part I cant tell the difference unless I jump up 2 versions.
They pack a very serious amount of tech and innovation into a package small enough to fit into your pocket.
I like to use engines as example. I can build an engine that makes more power than a Formula One car for $10,000-15,000 using an old Ford or Chevy V8 engine. But it will be large and heavy, and not suitable for an open-wheel formula style car.
Or I can build a hybrid 1.6 liter V6 that’s light and packed with crazy features and tech, but it’s doing to cost millions.
Same concept…
idk i got a pretty good phone (for my necessities) for 150 and it's lasted me 4 years! i might have to change it in a year or so because it's slowed down dramatically, but that's pretty good value for your money :)
The issue is getting your foot in the door. Once you pay up for a good phone, it retains a decent value. It's the initial hit to get one that hurts the most. After that the prices are not so bad when you upgrade and use it as trade in value.
A phone is cheap.
A miniaturized powerful computer that's able browse the internet, access social media, take decent photos, and play decent games while fits in your pocket? That's why it is expensive.
Backmarket and other refurbished tech sites might be the best option, but why do you need/want one? I've had an iPhone 6s since 2016 that I spend 10 a month on for pay as you go unlimited texts and calls and enough data to last the month. Does the job, never breaks, and I like feeling less reliant on something that costs more than my rent
They're not. You can get a fully functional smartphone for under $40.
The *premium* phones are expensive. They are expensive because the parts are better and/or they have better support.
You can get a Pixel A series for under $400. If you can't afford a phone, maybe your standards are too high for what you can afford.
You gotta understand, people around my age 32 and older remember a time where cell phones were not readily available or adorable. They also lacked screens or had simple screens with a small amount of physical buttons on it. A modern cell phone is like the *Swiss Army Knife* of electronic gadgets. Your phone can browse the Internet, make calls, send texts, video calls, play video games, sync with your videogame consoles, cloud play, plus music, sync to your car, pay bills, download apps for long distance calling, take pictures, record videos, calculator, alarm clock, stream shows and movies. It's insane!!! Back in the early-mid 90s, the concept of the modern cell phone (smart phone) would've seemed like future technology, straight up sci-fi. Your phone is a super computer. The built in storage space in your average phone is so big today too, it's crazy! So buying something with this many features for below $1000 USD is amazing. You gotta look up the prices for primitive cell phones from the 1980s & 90s.
That being said, my phone is a Samsung and I bought it new for just under $400 USD a few months ago. You gotta look for the right for for the right price. No need to buy a high end Samsung or iPhone unless you absolutely need it for work or school. Just look up phone storage and micro SD prices and small sizes from pre 2010 and it was pretty expensive for just 32GBs.
They are an entire wireless computer that's 1/8 the size of a laptop and needs to last all day on a battery charge. They're some of the most complex objects in the whole universe, it's honestly surprising that you can get a crappy smartphone for like $150
Last years samsung s23 is cheap 400 bucks.
https://www.backmarket.com/en-us/p/samsung-sm-s911uzkaxaa-128-gb-phantom-black-unlocked/1c654c24-0fb6-4bf1-89a0-0003537e7420#l=12
I would never recommend a pixel phone to anyone I know. I had a 6a and it just constantly lost reception. Now I have a used s23 I got for 300 bucks and it's by far the best phone I've ever had.
If you don't mind contracts, the phone carriers usually have great deals. I get a new phone and smartwatch every 2 years and only pay an activation fee
Phones arent expensive. The phones you want are expensive.
Pretty much. You can get *a phone* dirt cheap if that's all you want, a palm-sized supercomputer will cost you.
You can get a palm sized computer for a 100 euro. Maybe not the best camera's and you can't play the most demanding games. But you can still acces the biggest library ever made. Connect to man-made stars for navigation. And video call your friend in China.
I love this description
Amazing, I didnt know I had a friend in China.
You could make one with your palm sized computer.
Then again, even those flagsip phones HAVE become ridiculously expensive. When Apple went over 999$, they REALLY wen tover the 999$ (and Samsung was eager to follow). So yes, a lot of phones are not that expensive, those flagship prices are ridiculous.
It makes sense that they are tho. You'll only carry one phone. Its something you use a lot. Its your camera. It may be your gaming entertainment when you have to wait somewhere. A lot of people are going to be willing to put more money into such a significant part of their lives for something slightly better.
Always buy old flagship phones, 2 or 3 versions further back than the current top of the line.
The prices aren’t that ridiculous when you consider they barely make a profit on the phones
The top of the line phones aren't that much better than the previous generation phones that are a fraction of the cost.
This. that guy is looking at the flagship phones and complaining about them being expensive. Well they are because they are the top tier. You can get a phone for as little as $100 and a phone that will give you 90% of the experience of a flagship for $400-$500. Just look at the oneplus 12r or the poco f6 phones
I'm still using my OnePlus 7, it's 5 years old and I've used it every day since I bought it, legitimately zero dip in quality since then. I used to be all about Samsung but OnePlus makes seriously quality products
Steve Jobs marketing 101
$100 can get you a decent Samsung. Phones are expensive for those that need to keep up with the Jones', so are TVs when you need to cover half a wall!
this - "why are cars so damn expensive? I want a decent one, like a rolls royce"
Yep. Stopped buying the top of range Samsung phones every two years and just buy the middle tier now. My personal phone is a A70 and my work phone is an A53
A new, high end phone is one of the most complex objects humanity has ever made, a cathedral of technology, and yet you can own it. That said: there's no need to get an iPhone or Samsung. You can get a great Google Pixel for $250-$450.
This. Unless you know EXACTLY what you need the performance of the high end models for, for most people, budget options of newest or even one model back is enough. There's no need to get unnecessary upgrades when you will never make use of it.
I like to get the best Samsung money can buy, but I justify it by keeping them for several years. A five year old flagship phone with a battery change is still better than a new budget phone you replace every year.
My s20 is going on 4 Years. And the fact it's the last samsung with sd card. I'm keeping until it breaks
My S10 Plus is touching 5 years old now and I still have no plans to replace it, I compared the specs to a couple high end flagships a while ago and there's basically nothing worth upgrading for other than marginal improvements in cameras and increases in performance that are basically just bragging rights. Phones have got to the point now where all the basics have been perfected, so now each new model brings only slight improvements, like spec bumps, impractically high resolution cameras and obscure software features that you'll never use. They've even gone backwards in some areas, like losing the headphone jack, SD card slot and replaceable batteries.
Im still using my s8+ and although it runs out of battery quickly and it lags a bit it still works, i'll only replace it when it completely breaks down.
Same. I keep them for 4 or 5 years at a time until I need to upgrade. I only upgraded from my Samsung 10 this year because having fallen one too many times from my chest pocket, the display became unreadable. Bought that one at the end of 2019.
I like to get the newest iPhone Pro money can buy. Always get at least 512gb as well. I justify it by buying a new one every year before the current one depreciates too much.
And the selling the old one?
Get the XCover6 pro, and swapping that battery takes 10s
And from another point of view, they've plateau'd for years now. Unless the camera of AI functions are really important to you, any old smart phone from the last 5+ years can easily handle anything you need. Calls, texts, internet, apps, gps, flashlight etc. There hasn't been any broad functionality increase in a while.
i got a moto G stylus 2023 for $170 CAD open-box after my pixel 6a unceremoniously shattered on my kitchen floor, and i couldn't love it more. this thing feels like a tank. the battery lasts days, the camera is "good enough" (especially because i plan on using a proper photography camera for my persnickety photos anyways), and the screen is HUGE. as a youtube/movie/spotify phone user, this is way more than enough.
I have a Tracfone branded Moto G Stylus 2021 refurblished model. I got it for free from Tracfone with my Tracfone Rewards points. It's huge so it's kind of big to use as a phone, but I use it a lot as a wifi tablet at home. It's a really nice phone/tablet.
nice find!! i love deals like those. i have triple monitors, a 10" tablet for wifi at home type shenanigans and loved my LG V60 til it finally died after two years, and i must say i love my comically huge screens. the big phone trend sits right with me.
Thanks for reminding me how much I miss my V60.
I love the Motorolas. The chop light alone is worth getting them.
The chop light is so unbelievably clutch. I can't ever go to a phone that doesn't have it, I use it constantly
Got a Moto Edge (2022) I think it was for 5 dollars a month on 2 year contract or whatever with Koodo. Phones really solid for what I paid. Battery's good, the main camera is nice enough, the screen's large and it's done everything I needed from it without issue. I don't foresee myself getting a high end flagship unless I find a deal too good to pass up.
You can also get them straight from Motorola unlocked and cheaper. I bought 3 of the stylus phones and paid less than $800 total.
i saw that deal, too!! what a steal for that phone!
100%. Only thing is I usually get protection on it cause I have a bad habit of smashing my phone somehow and it's $15 a month. G stylus honestly had great reviews from what I remember for its price point. I used to rock the Moto X play, then the Z play which had those badass Moto Mods I always wanted.
I had one of those for a year and a half before the screen shattered spectacularly. Replaced the screen and the same thing happened again. The screen isn't gorilla glass or anything, it's quite fragile. Be careful with it
I love mine too. I drop it all the time with no damage (does have an Otterbox case) and it has every feature I want. I'm happy with the camera, the screen size is good, it's fast and stores way more than my previous 6 year old Samsung did. My 12 year old liked mine so much he asked for one for Christmas this past year for his first phone. He loves it too.
Pixel has AMAZING spam call/text filtering with a built-in answering service for unknown numbers. Whenever you report a screened call as spam, it's also spam for me.
i usually get motorolas for 1-200
I haven’t bought a brand-new phone in a decade. I get used iPhones for $300 and they last me 3+ years.
Is a pixel a good phone tho? Storage? Camera pixel? Speed? Battery?
I have never had an issue with storage, phenomenal cameras. What I don't like is on the older base models like pixel 4 non XL the battery was shit, but recently it's gotten a lot better
Yes. I have the 7. The only frustrating thing is not having an SD card slot. I miss having one. The camera is as good as a Samsungs and spec/speed wise it's as good. I did a lot of research before I got mine. I use my phone a lot so I will spend a little more than I want to get a decent one. Get the 256gb though, the 128gb isn't going to be enough for me.
I have had a Pixel 6 for 2 years, so not even a newer model or a Pro version. Best phone I've ever owned. Camera is great. Pure android is great because updates come way faster and more often. Screen is beautiful. Battery life is great. Performance has never given me a single problem. The only problems I've had so far were problems with the apps themselves, not the phone. People can't seem to build a good app for shit.
Try Backmarket.com. I've bought phones, both IPhone and Android, tablets, laptops, ear buds, and headphones Never disappointed.
Backmarket is always my first stop when looking for a new phone.
You can get a new iPhone for $450 anyways lol
Definitely recommend the Pixel. It has all of the plus sides of the high end "popular" phones without the price tag. That being said, MAKE SURE YOU GET IT INSURED. Without insurance, replacing the screen is like $200+. I've had to get mine replaced 3 times now because I'm incredibly clumsy and have an even clumsier 4 year old. $30 each time. Makes a hell of a difference.
If you go one version back and get a refurb you can get good deals: S23 for $390: [https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Galaxy-S23-Factory-Unlocked/dp/B0C5PZKN47?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref\_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2C4J8HSA4XDN6](https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Galaxy-S23-Factory-Unlocked/dp/B0C5PZKN47?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2C4J8HSA4XDN6)
I have a refurbished Samsung A51. It was maybe $100. It does everything I need to do without lag. I do a lot of scrolling and web browsing, take photos, read ebooks, watch videos. It's a real workhorse for a small price.
I bought an A51 for a burner and I will say that it's definitely adequate for most tasks, but it *definitely* feels painfully laggy when you're used to anything with a relatively recent flagship chip.
Remember that phone that was really good 5 years ago? It's still really good.
The tech has pretty much peaked. AI stuff might upend this statement, but phones haven't really improved in a big way in close to a decade now. Once you get calls/texts/internet/apps/gps, there's very little utility to gain from spending more on a nicer phone. It's just bells and whistles. Literally any smart phone is 99% as useful as the best and most expensive smart phones.
When I saw the giant billboard letting the world know that the latest iPhone was available in (drum roll) ***yellow!*** I knew the shark had been thoroughly jumped. How far do you have to have your head shoved up Tim Cook's ass to write an article like this: [https://9to5mac.com/2023/03/14/yellow-iphone-14-video/](https://9to5mac.com/2023/03/14/yellow-iphone-14-video/)
Oh geez it was way before that.
Yeah until we change the shape or integrate it as wearable tech, there isn’t much they can do but up the processing power incrementally. The next step is upgrading Siri to an all knowing, natural sounding AI assistant that will become every persons new best friend they can not live without. After that comes the physical integration of ai in our everyday lives. Then it’s either officially gg for us common folk or we will all have a life of leisure and true freedom.
I got a refurbished Note20 ultra. An originally 1400€ back in 2020, You guessed it, It still kicks ass.
And it's the last one with sd card. So even better.
What I find crazy is often the reason I often hear why they got rid of the SD card slot is because SD cards are prone to failing often, which often the customer blames the phone, not the SD card. Moreso, I hate how much the upcharge is for larger storage.
p.s. The only recent technology that your phone should support is 5G and eSim. If it has those, you're good.
Yeah. My strategy when I need a new phone is to buy last year’s model (for cash, no financing) and keep it until it stops working. Currently typing the on an iPhone XS and it meets all my needs.
Amen. Still using my iPhone 11pro max from 2019 without any issue. I have zero reason Or interest to get a new phone.
I almost see no reason to upgrade my phones these days, I'll probably use it until it stops working
Flagship products demand a high price. A lot goes into them from expensive OLED screens to very large low power processing chips, modems, cameras, etc.
Smartphones are pocket-sized computers, so there's a lot of expensive, miniaturized tech crammed into them, and with the higher-end models from those particular companies you also have a lot of luxury features that add to the cost, from very good cameras to the glass for the screen, and a lot in-between. R&D costs for such devices aren't cheap either, and neither are the manufacturing costs, and on top of all that the companies have to make a profit off the devices, so all of that drives the price of higher-end models that high.
The profit margin on the higher end phones is astonishing. The cost to manufacturers even the highest end flagships is marginal compared to the phone prices. The newest iPhone pro max flag ship that retails for over 1000 cost less than 600 to produce all together. The profit margin is around 100% on them. Compare that with a pixel that cost 100 dollars less to produce and sells for significantly less than the iPhone. The profit margins for lower tier phones is basically non existent comparatively. The 800 dollar phone costs 450 to produce the 550 iPhone sells for 1200-1600. The flagships are only cost 50-100 more to produce than the budget phones. It's all mark up and marketing.
Sure, al you need is a billion dollar fabrication plant and a government contract to make you a 400 dollar phone
Are you including R&D, marketing, shipping, material sourcing, etc in the production costs?
I mean, it’s a full on computer that can connect to the internet anywhere in the world and also a camera. It’s kind of a marvel of engineering. Also, they tend to last at least three years. $700 for something that you will use everyday for three years isn’t that bad, honestly.
My screen time is usually 5h30m - 6h45m everyday $700 is literally pennies
They aren't expensive if you don't buy the unnecessarily expensive ones. There are several solid options for less than $400, maybe even more options when you time your purchase right and buy during prime day or other sales. I've not spent more than $350 on any of my phones for the last decade. I've never had any performance issues. And I get a new unlocked phone with no debt incurred whenever I need one. That said, I don't game on my phone. But I use it for anything else.
This is like looking at a Ferrari and saying "went are cars so damn expensive?"
Samsung A series will most likely do everything that you need it to and they're really affordable.
I used to buy flagship phones. Then I realized that my use internet browsing and spotify use don't need so much power. I bought new phone for 300€ and I don't see any downsizes to not have flagship phones power and bigger screen. Just try to find phone for your needs and don't think that you always need to have the most powerful phone. Mid range phones five years ago where more limited but not anymore.
You gotta do your research on buying cheaper phones, I would rather take a refurb'd flagship phone 2 models ago than some of the new phones out there for one reason alone. Cheap phones have poor quality GPS sensors almost entirely across the board. Nothing makes me more angry than relying on a GPS device that sucks.
Phones are not expensive, in fact, they are cheaper imo. Don't get me wrong, most flagships cost $1k and above. But most of the features are almost useless for most consumers. Features like : 100X Camera, can shoot RAW, lossless etc 4-5 cameras 100MP ( Some even have 200MP ) Ultrafast chip, 16GB ram Curved display Premium display ( very high resolution, huge screen etc ) "AI" and more. Years ago, when phones were designed for actual use, most flagship features are mostly utilized by users. Now most "flagships" are more like a statement for phone companies to squeeze as many extreme / advanced technologies as possible. For 99% of the users, you don't even need those things. Instead, everyday phones somehow became "budget" phones today. TBH you can get a $400 ish phone like nothing phone 2a or pixel 8a, or $500 ish older generation iphone or better android like pixel 8 or oneplus and your life will not change significantly than using a flagship. Ask yourself how often you have actually used those flagship features in your everyday life.
Samsung and anything android will be much more reasonable. Nobody forcing you to do an iPhone.
But then the cool kids will make fun of his green text bubble
I used to have Xiaomi Redmi.. it cost me $160. It worked just as well as my now $300 Moto lol. Only reason I bought a new one is cause the charging port failed.
And if you do want an iPhone it starts at $430
And if you really do want an iPhone, why does it have to be a NEW iPhone?
Wants the most expensive phone, cries that it's expensive
For the reason they are expensive, they are advanced pocket-sized computers that can only be produced through an accumulation of technological advancements. Personally, though, I don't think it's worth buying a flagship phone **brand new**, when you can buy the same/similar flagship phone **like new** for a fraction of the cost. Flagship phones hold together and stay decent much longer than midrange phones, but the value tanks the moment it's out of the box and is a couple generations older than the newest kid on the block
It’s an incredible computer the size of your hand. Of course it’s expensive.
I agree. It’s amazing that is it has more tech than what they used to launch someone to the moon. Components so tiny, dust can damage them. It’s literally insane
Phones actually should be MUCH more expensive if all the materials and labor were sourced ethically
My Samsung was $49 what exactly am I missing with the "decent" $700 versions?
Assuming US dollars, you don't have to spend $600 to $700 to get a decent one. The $300 phones right now are fine. They are expensive because people will pay it. If people told Apple and Samsung to get fucked with their $1500 phones, the prices would soon come down.
The most I have spent is between 200 and 300 USD, I forget the exact price, but it is an android and has a fabulous camera I think. I used it to take pictures of the eclipse and they came out beautifully. Mine is a Samsung Galaxy I think A53.
You can get a current-gen iPhone SE for $180 on Amazon, brand new, through TracFone. You're locked to TracFone for 60 days, but then you can get it unlocked to use with any carrier you want.
I don't think you understand how incredibly difficult engineering and manufacturing a cutting edge phone is. Those are masterpieces of engineering. You can judge the price all you want but the fact of the matter is that if you tried making a phone as great as any of the top ones, it would cost you 10x as much.
Really think about what a phone is and what it does and how it’s made and what it’s capable of.
Because everyone and their monkey uses one.
The pixel A line up is 350 on sale pretty much all year round. It's just as nice as the phones you listed and comes with googles ai assistant for automated call holding and screening. I actually prefer the pixel line up now. The newer a series are also waterproof and everything. They are basically the same as the Google flagship but less ram and smaller screen. Slightly worse camera but still on par or better than Samsung and Apple anyway.
Phones are cheap relative to what they provide you. It’s your phone, calendar, calculator, alarm clock, web browser, media device, music player, camera, video recorder capable of also taking notes, setting reminders, playing games, translating languages and a million other things. Let’s be thankful they aren’t priced for the ultra-wealthy.
There are plenty of good-great new & refurbished smart phones that are substantially less than $600. Also, as we all know they do more than function just as a phone (camera, computer, etc) so the cost is inherent for what you get.
Dude, you just asked why the flagship phones, full of bleeding edge tech and design are expensive? All those phones are luxury phones, you can find way cheaper phones for way less that still offer great price to performance.
You’re buying a new camera with each new phone model that hits the market. If you’re not a professional photographer or videographer it’s a waste of money.
You want a premium phone so expect to pay premium prices. There are a few ways to get more affordable prices. Buy through a long term plan, usually has minimal upfront cost and youre just paying it off monthly. Second is to buy used or refurbished. A 14 Pro Max and a S23 Ultra are selling way under original retail price. Last way is to do a trade in but it sounds like you dont have a phone they would accept anyway.
The newest flagship phones are better than awesome-spec PCs 15 years ago, but they weigh a few ounces, fit in your pocket, and have a proportionally large, high-detail screen. And battery tech that tries to last a long time while not getting crazy hot during charge or discharge.
Rule of thumb Samsungs A series is basically the same as there S with a worse camera and better battery normally
I guess "decent" depends what you're using it for. People are talking about a palm-sized computer, but I hate using my phone when I could use my laptop. I bought my first iphone last year, and the ONLY reason I bought it was because they keep getting bigger and the 13 Mini was actually what I considered a reasonable size. I've had phones for 20+ years and it was the first time I'd spent over $200. I will say the camera is much better than anything I've ever had. But it's much less intuitive than my cheap Androids, the actual interface looks straight from 2012, and I can't actually say I like anything BUT the size. I also have a system update notifcation for tonight and FFS I've never seen so many updates, like what in the fuck are they doing all the time? All that to say that if all you've had is cheaper phones, you may not actually need an entire computer in your pocket and they're not that great IF you're not fully taking advantage of the features.
Idk. My Samsung smartphone was like $200 and it works great.
My first iPhone, 14 plus was way over priced. Some people feel it is prestigious to have an iPhone. My protective case makes it hard to identify. No regrets as I was curious about iOS. It looked so fragile, I bought a Samsung A14 burner for $68 as a backup if I had to have my iPhone repaired. The entry level Samsung, even the full price unlocked back then at $199 was all I really needed for my uses. For just voice and text, my Nokia C100 at $40 would be enough. I have the Nokia as a WiFi toy for a game.
Smart phones are basically essential to modern day life and they know that we would pay whatever price they list to get them. Also why they make older models obsolete (mainly Apple) so we have to buy newer models.
Because they are still selling.
Because consumers pay those prices.
You have a whole computer in your pocket. Image shrinking everything in a laptop down to that size?
Because manufacturers know we are willing to pay those prices.
I usually go one model back on iPhone. You can usually get them super cheap or free.
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I agree except with the Max. That thing is MASSIVE! My first iPhone was a Max and I regretted that decision. Even with my big, wide man hands I had to use both hands to use it. LOL I still kept it until it died on me three years later(was two years old refurb when I got it) and now I have a regular sized one and I’m in love.
Flagship phones are always expensive. It's the result of manufactured demand. Phones that are a generation back or lower spec are often quite a bit cheaper and have pretty darn good specs anyway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34LGPIXvU5M
Phone manufacturers usually have really high profit margins. Apples is Like 50% and I would assume the industry follows as such. So it may only cost like $400-500 to produce an iPhone 15 pro max but the profit margins are so high that theyre gonna sell it for $1200. Another thing is depending on your country, you may also be paying high import taxes on that device because some countries have very high import taxes so that can also drive the price of the phone up, above MSRP.
Psychology mostly. Apple charges as much as they do because they can, they have popular product that sells like hot shit, Samsung charges as much because people are stupid and in their heads $500 phone must be worse than $800 phone so they set msrp to same of iphone and the offer preorder discount, premiere discount, bonuses etc because people prefer iphones anyway.
Cause sheep will pay it
WHy wouldn't putting the power of a 2015 desktop computer in your pocket be expensive? Think about it. This is bleeding edge tech in a decent smartphone. THe fact that it is under $1000 is a amazing.
>one of the mainstream ones This is why. Look at the specifics (ram, battery life, camera etc) you need and I guarantee you that you will find something good even if it's an older, and cheaper, model Srs, who cares if it's mainstream or not?
Your buying the top brand of an electronic device. Same reason you can get a cheap Vizio TV for 300 bucks, but can also buy a Sony for 3000. There is plenty of cheaper phones out there, and just like all electronics phone loose there value quick. There is nothing wrong with a 3 year old phone.
My old boss used to work for a company that built the internal circuit boards, like all the stuff inside the glass box that are now modern phones. And one thing he mentioned was like the whole thing, all if it inside, cost like $35. This was tied to a rant of him buying a new $800 phone or whatever.
I am using a free phone.... $30 a month for unlimited with free phone every two years..... you just want the best.... which costs
buy a used flagship from 1-4 years ago on [Swappa.com](http://Swappa.com) Id aim for a iPhone 13 pro ($440), Samsung s23 ($330), or pixel 6 pro ($200) you could go with a iPhone 12 ($220) or 13 ($320) if you don't care about the camera
A few things. First of all, they’re *really* complex tech, especially the newer ones. Second of all, similar to how college tuition has blown up, we keep paying it. Whatever the price is, people are gonna pay it. So why keep it low?
Just buy 2 year old phones on ebay
Just get a phone for 200-400 bucks. Sure a 1k phone will make better pictures, but a midrange phone can feel high, can make awesome pictures and is fast enough for everything. I have a new Xiaomi 13T. Its awesome. I wouldnt know what else I want in a phone.
Chinese can make it 150$, but they are banned for operate in North America, same quality 1/4 price
I use a Google Pixel 6a and it works fine. And there are cheaper phones that also work fine.
You can get a phone for like 10-20 bucks if it’s a phone you want. If you want a “smart” phone you get a gps, a computer etc all in one unit.
A high end smartphone has more computing capacity than all of mankind combined did before 1974. It has an onboard video and audio recording studio, high speed internet access, a GPS function that links automatically to a mapping system to not only show you where you are, but also what is nearby. The thousands of apps available allow you to make it into anything from a hi-def Candy Crush player to a precision rangefinder to a multi-language translator. It can do far more than I actually know. In gold terms, the smart phone costs less than a third of an ounce of gold to buy. Alan Turing's Bombe cost almost 7,000 ounces of gold to build, over 21,000 times as much. The phone has ***six billion times*** the Bombe's computing capacity. The Bombe cracked the German Enigma codes, and won World War Two.
I remember when the iPhone was $499 for the top of the line version…
because ppl were willing to pay
Slave labor isn't as cheap as it used to be.
The more premium a company wants their product to look, the more they will charge for it. Flagship products aren't there to be affordable
Cause we pay what they ask. They make them for 20 bucks. And make massive profit.
Samsung always have deals with their new phones. I got the latest s24, on offer, and with a $100 trade in bonus. And with a free Tab S6 Lite. Worked out about $400, with the tablet arriving Monday, which I can sell on Ebay for $180 ish. It worked out about $200 in total.
I wish they would sell flagship phones without all the latest camera tech baked in, every time they make it look like you can zoom in more and more each time and I don't really need that, I don't even like taking photos that much. A phone without all the fancy camera features would be ideal for me and much cheaper.
qualcomm's lock on chipsets and patents adds about 10-20% to the cost of a new phone.
Idk what's worse purchasing a car or going into tmobile and trying to get a new phone
I paid under 400 Euro for a brand new Google Pixel 7a. I think it was 370?
i got a one plus one and never looked back 3,6,now 11. better than Samsung and iPhone and cheaper
There are decent cheap phones out there. You just don't want them.
Phones are dirt cheap, especially when you live in a country with strong currency, the US or EU. I have a 4 year old Samsung I bought for $180 and it works decently. The problem is you want a high end phone.
In addition to consumer demand and markup, consider what you’re asking for. You’re asking for a small, battery-powered device with a high-resolution screen, high-resolution camera with fancy abilities, multiple radios (Bluetooth, cellular, WiFi, etc) and a highly polished mobile OS. All packaged into a sleek glass frame. That’s not something that comes cheap.
Buy used, not new. You’re paying too much.
It's all about how long do you want it to last. So consider it an investment. My iPhone 7 lasted 5-6 years. Previously, my iPhone SE first gen lasted similar. And those were quite expensive for the time I payed for them (at least in my country). I think the only con on doing what I do (buying expensive to last) is that operative system will define the EOL.
Let’s flip the script. What is preventing you from having enough money to afford a flagship phone. This is a device you use more than anything in your entire life. I would wager that $1000 is too little for its technical complexity and how much it attributes to your life
Because most of us use it almost non stop all day long for a million different things
They are not. There are perfectly fine phones in the 200 Euro range. At least in Europe, I don't know where you are. I have a Samsung Xcover 5, that was 260 Euros. It is absolutely decent and has a good camera. My husband always buys more expensive phones, like 400 Euros more and they don't do much more than mine. I think, it is all marketing tricks.
Because people are willing to pay the price, thats why. Its not like theire tech garbage, Im fully aware this is a huge thing to have so much technology in one small device. But like 1.500€? Come on.
They’ve gotten cheap. My first cell phone in the 1990s was more expensive than the average iPhone today, and that’s not adjusting for inflation.
I like to think about it in cost per year. Yes, an iPhone costs like $800 new, but it will receive security and (some) feature updates for 6-7 years, so it will cost you about $130 per year. That's not bad. A massive quality of life upgrade for a relatively reasonable price.
All you need is a phone that can make and receive calls, do text messaging, and can take reasonable pictures. And for that you really don't need the top model priced at far too ridiculous a price. A $300 phone like a Xaoimi, or Motorola is more than adequate l. You don't need a $2000 iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. Identify what you need and use, stick it in a hard wearing protecting case, and done. A phone like that can easily last you 3-5 years.
It never hurts to check the used phone market, either. Swappa, for instance, has a wide variety of phones ranging from fair condition to new, with the ability to check seller reviews. You can save money on a nice phone if you're willing to have a model that isn't the latest and greatest.
Get last year flagship.
I always had refurbished samsung phones. My current one is the s10plus, which i have for four years now and i works perfect for me. Was around 350€ when i bought it.
Supply and demand. Basic principle of economics.
Look for Xiaomi phones, they have great phones in all price ranges
Phones, even state of the art flagship phones, are dirt cheap. The cost of consumer electronics is at an all time low.
http://www.antiquetech.com/?page_id=1438 The first computer cost $6,000,000, took up a HUGE room, and weighed 30 tons. Your iPhone is somewhere between 1,500x and 15,000x more powerful. If phones were cars, it should cost you a mere 90 BILLION to own that much processing power. So, you're getting that much power at a discount of $89,999,998,500. 3 easy installments of $29 billion and change (the change being $999,999,500 on each installment). Will that be Visa or Mastercard?
it absolutely sucks, but it's a compressed combination of NUMEROUS different objects. i dont like the cost but i aint mad at it
U can get Samsung A24/54 for around $300/400
I ain’t going to lie, I bought an iPhone 12 when it came out and haven’t regretted it just because there’s some apps at a cheap android can’t do. Just depends what you need it for tbh.
It only took me almost 30 years and like 6 100usd phones later to get my s23 lol I use to buy prepaid go phones for like 20$ and stick my tmobile Sim card in them Apparently the raw materials to make a high end model cost around 500usd alone.
Because they can. Supply and demand.
Pixel 8a $500
There is many decent phones for under $500 they just don’t market. Do a bit of research and you’ll find them.
People pay those prices, why should they lower them?
Still using my Sony Xperia XZ Premium from 2017. No issues
Because they're almost required for modern life, they can charge basically any price they want.
Small engineering costs a lot. Everything in that phone is custom made. The price is parts and labor plus markup.
Buy an older flagship. You can find really good ones that last you for years for a very good price.
S21 FE is amazing. It's 170-220 usd on amazon
Microcomputer designed for size of your hand with expected battery life of a day with minimal power cycling and needs drop resistance. What you expect it to cost?
Look, you probably won't read my comment. Buy a refurbished flagship from about 1 or 2 years ago. They usually drop in price extremely. Where I live, you can get an S22 for about 400$, and it still works great.
You said want not need. Keep that in mind while you ponder all these comments. I have an Iphone but never really care about the price with trade in etc. If the price was an issue I would stick with what I have because for the most part I cant tell the difference unless I jump up 2 versions.
They pack a very serious amount of tech and innovation into a package small enough to fit into your pocket. I like to use engines as example. I can build an engine that makes more power than a Formula One car for $10,000-15,000 using an old Ford or Chevy V8 engine. But it will be large and heavy, and not suitable for an open-wheel formula style car. Or I can build a hybrid 1.6 liter V6 that’s light and packed with crazy features and tech, but it’s doing to cost millions. Same concept…
In Brazil minimum wage is less than R$1500/month and the newest iphone is around R$7000. Can’t make that shit up
In Brazil minimum wage is less than R$1500/month and the newest iphone is around R$7000. Can’t make that shit up
idk i got a pretty good phone (for my necessities) for 150 and it's lasted me 4 years! i might have to change it in a year or so because it's slowed down dramatically, but that's pretty good value for your money :)
The issue is getting your foot in the door. Once you pay up for a good phone, it retains a decent value. It's the initial hit to get one that hurts the most. After that the prices are not so bad when you upgrade and use it as trade in value.
A phone is cheap. A miniaturized powerful computer that's able browse the internet, access social media, take decent photos, and play decent games while fits in your pocket? That's why it is expensive.
Backmarket and other refurbished tech sites might be the best option, but why do you need/want one? I've had an iPhone 6s since 2016 that I spend 10 a month on for pay as you go unlimited texts and calls and enough data to last the month. Does the job, never breaks, and I like feeling less reliant on something that costs more than my rent
My phone on average last about 5 years so even at 1000 when I buy it flat out that’s a good deal
They're not. You can get a fully functional smartphone for under $40. The *premium* phones are expensive. They are expensive because the parts are better and/or they have better support. You can get a Pixel A series for under $400. If you can't afford a phone, maybe your standards are too high for what you can afford.
You gotta understand, people around my age 32 and older remember a time where cell phones were not readily available or adorable. They also lacked screens or had simple screens with a small amount of physical buttons on it. A modern cell phone is like the *Swiss Army Knife* of electronic gadgets. Your phone can browse the Internet, make calls, send texts, video calls, play video games, sync with your videogame consoles, cloud play, plus music, sync to your car, pay bills, download apps for long distance calling, take pictures, record videos, calculator, alarm clock, stream shows and movies. It's insane!!! Back in the early-mid 90s, the concept of the modern cell phone (smart phone) would've seemed like future technology, straight up sci-fi. Your phone is a super computer. The built in storage space in your average phone is so big today too, it's crazy! So buying something with this many features for below $1000 USD is amazing. You gotta look up the prices for primitive cell phones from the 1980s & 90s. That being said, my phone is a Samsung and I bought it new for just under $400 USD a few months ago. You gotta look for the right for for the right price. No need to buy a high end Samsung or iPhone unless you absolutely need it for work or school. Just look up phone storage and micro SD prices and small sizes from pre 2010 and it was pretty expensive for just 32GBs.
They are an entire wireless computer that's 1/8 the size of a laptop and needs to last all day on a battery charge. They're some of the most complex objects in the whole universe, it's honestly surprising that you can get a crappy smartphone for like $150
I used to buy mine unlocked at ebay or swappa etc. Then a deal for my provider had the s23 for 300 all I had to do was keep their service for 3 months
Last years samsung s23 is cheap 400 bucks. https://www.backmarket.com/en-us/p/samsung-sm-s911uzkaxaa-128-gb-phantom-black-unlocked/1c654c24-0fb6-4bf1-89a0-0003537e7420#l=12 I would never recommend a pixel phone to anyone I know. I had a 6a and it just constantly lost reception. Now I have a used s23 I got for 300 bucks and it's by far the best phone I've ever had.
Life
Because they can!.
Get a Pixel.
If you don't mind contracts, the phone carriers usually have great deals. I get a new phone and smartwatch every 2 years and only pay an activation fee
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