Weekly Discussion

Smartphones are getting more expensive but are they really overpriced?
Ilia Temelkov
Ilia Temelkov
Phonearena team
original poster
Just like many other things, smartphones are getting more and more expensive. Flagship models sell in the $1000 range, and foldables can easily reach $2000. Even mid-range devices tend to get pricier, which makes buying a smartphone more difficult for many. With the rising price, smartphones also seem to get more capabilities. More powerful hardware, coupled with improved software, turn even affordable smartphones into capable productivity machines. Because of this, owning a smartphone is not so much of a choice but a vital necessity. This dynamic makes me wonder what is the fair price of a smartphone. Looking at some of the high-end models, I can’t help but think they are overpriced. After all, most people use their phones for things like social media, messaging, emails, banking and consuming different types of content. None of these activities require a $1000 device, making the premium smartphones an excessive purchase for most people.  However, the same $1000 device holds a different value. You can use the most expensive Galaxies and iPhones for a striking variety of actual, cash-earning work. You could shoot and edit professional photos, start a YouTube channel, record a podcast, research and write texts, and do much more.  You can use the device to learn how to use it in ways that could help you earn hard cash. I already know people who use their flagship smartphones to take photos for their online stores and videos for the YouTube channels of their businesses. For these people, using the $1000 phones they already own feels like a bargain compared to buying a $3,000 professional camera. Because of this, I think the price of smartphones is not the problem. The problem is the mindset of many users. They feel like they need a $1000 smartphone, but in reality, all their needs can be covered by much cheaper devices. Of course, the latest Galaxy or iPhone feels nicer than almost any budget smartphone, but if you can’t extract the value of an expensive tool, that’s not a problem with the tool.
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Community Highlights
tokuzumi
tokuzumi says:
I would rather use a Google glass type of product rather than the apple style VR headset. Hopefully companies keep pushing the AR tech
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Brewski says:
If you told me this was a lost video for a concept that never released from 2019, I would believe you.
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chaos3621
chaos3621 says:
Although this and DXO camera scores doesn't match, I find S24 ultra to be a camera monster. problem with dxomark is they never mess around with raw, and high res modes. they only test auto mode which still not particulary good in samsung phones.s24 produces excellent raw photos in the main camera app and expert raw app produces top notch crispy pthotos for social media, also zoom camera algorithm are far better than what we've seen in most other phones, far better than iphone 15 pro max, pixel and s23 ultra. I would even put it on par to iphone in video due to amazing 8k at ussable frame rate. in camera deppartment the only real contenders are opo find and vivo models
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meanestgenius
meanestgenius says:
A Foldable iPad is something I can definitely get behind. I prefer tablets to smartphones, so it's not a shock that I prefer iPads to iPhones. With that said, I'm not so sure that Apple had an issue with the displays. I just think that they realize how far behind they are with Foldables in the smartphone space and have decided to first test out how well they'll do with a Foldable device via a Foldable iPad. Foldable tablets are a virtually untapped market. How successful they are with Foldable iPads will determine if Apple will then release a Foldable smartphone, IMO.
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Naksut
Naksut says:
Huawei use to buy $billions$ of chips from Taiwan , S.Korea, US, and Japan but, is now "stuck" buying $billions$ of "more expensive" chips from China's SMIC this Means 1.China will no longer be spending $billion$ IMPORTING foreign made chips And Foreign chipmakers like Japan, S.Korea, US and Taiwan will no longer be making $billions$ selling chips to china...money that use to go into R&D for more advanced western chipsInstead2. China will be making its own expensive 5 nm chips and keeping $billions$ at home where the $ can be used for R&D into new , cheaper & improved Chinese chipsSo3. US export controls have basically ENERGIZED the Chinese Chip industry And Hurt western chip makers 4. Which was just the OPPOSITE of what politicians like Trump and Biden sought to do.So5. Trump & Biden are the "founding fathers" of the Chinese chip industry
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MsPooks
MsPooks says:
People need to understand that Samsung's customer service reps (most of which aren't even US-based) are generally clueless. Case in point, the "screen defect fix" reply, while a different Samsung reply says the screen has no defect to fix. Bottom line, call again and get a different rep.I've had similar experiences with Google reps too, BTW. Call later, talk to a different rep, and get the outcome you want.
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