SparklyLlama
SparklyLlama
Student

Advice on buying a smartphone, how much do you spend on a new phone and for how much time you use it?

Not everyone can afford a flagship and smartphones are definitely depreciating assets.

What actually is the optimal financial decision.

Eg buying a 30-40k phone and using it for 4 years

1mo ago
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ZoomyNoodle
ZoomyNoodle

Bought my current phone for 26k, been a year now and plan to use it for at least another 2 years. Previously bought all phones under 20k and used each for ~3 years.

I personally don't want to take breathtaking photos (decent is enough for me, don't know much about taking good photography anyway), don't play any cpu intensive games daily, and just need my phone for call, WhatsApp, basic games, social media and work.

Personally I never found the phones worth 50k+ appealing and value for money for myself.

SparklyLlama
SparklyLlama
Student1mo

Valid choice, but I am into photography

ZoomyNoodle
ZoomyNoodle

Then as you mentioned in some of the comments, Pixel does seem a good choice.
A friend has been a Pixel user for a long time and has had good experience with it.

SwirlyTaco
SwirlyTaco

Xiaomi phones last a very long time; all my family members' phones are working fine, even the one that's five years old.

SparklyLlama
SparklyLlama
Student1mo

I would disagree, xiaomi is shit.

I am talking about redmi specifically, not mi premium series.

I am a redmi user, and the phone js giving up after 3 years of heavy usage.

Was thinking of buying a pixel now.

SwirlyTaco
SwirlyTaco

Pixel tensor soc is shit.It will not be able to handle updates after 3 years. The best option is to buy any smartphone with snapdragon 8 elite.

WobblyJellybean
WobblyJellybean

My current phone is Oppo F19 pro+, almost 4 yrs old now. But still in great condition (only the power button is defected, else fine). And I am planning to continue using it for another yr. Price at which I bought it is 22.5k.

SparklyLlama
SparklyLlama
Student1mo

Hi,

Is there any performance bottlenecks? What about android and security updates

ZoomyCupcake
ZoomyCupcake
TCS1mo

I buy the latest iPhone pro of that year with an upgrade cycle of once in 4 years

SparklyLlama
SparklyLlama
Student1mo

I really don't know it's worth to spend that much on a phone

ZoomyCupcake
ZoomyCupcake
TCS1mo

If you’ve invested wisely and saved decently, then it is affordable once in 4 years

ZoomyDumpling
ZoomyDumpling

Are you looking for any specific category? Like good photography phone or good gaming phone?

Or just mobile which does it work?

SparklyLlama
SparklyLlama
Student1mo

Performance should be enough so that apps don't hang even after 5 years,

I don't game though

SparklyLlama
SparklyLlama
Student1mo

I am into clicking pictures so yeah, would definitely want a good cam.

Till now, pixel phones are matching with my requirements.

GigglyDonut
GigglyDonut

For 40k buy any pixel or iphone or samung, they have cleaner ui are not filled with chinese apps and ads. And arw good for general use will last long.

SparklyLlama
SparklyLlama
Student1mo

Good point, pixel can go through 5 years easily, might be change battery after 3 years

FloatingCupcake
FloatingCupcake
TCS1mo

Buy a Redmi phone probably 15k to 25k and stop the updates immediately (system updates) .. You will have a phone with good camera always.. they downgrade the camera quality with every update dont know why..

FloatingCupcake
FloatingCupcake
TCS1mo

My favourite choice in brand is always MI or Redmi coz of just two features: First is they give choice in Security app to disable Internet access for apps completely like in Mobile data and wifi.. That helps me from stop seeing ads in Apps and second is IR Blaster. I don't know if any other UI provides an option to completely disable internet access to apps like WPS office MX players etc.

ZestyMarshmallow
ZestyMarshmallow

Try out the Nothing Flagship series (not the A). Nothing 3 would be released this year, not sure when.
Seems like they match your requirements with the smoothest App software till now in Android and a clean UI. Camera is good but not among the top ones. They're tweaking and sending updates regularly as they learn.

I, personally, am using Nothing phone 2 from over a year now and no complaints at all.

ZestyMarshmallow
ZestyMarshmallow

FYI, I bought this during a sale at ~35k for the 12Gb + 256 gb model.

And this is the top most I have spent for a mobile till now.

Although I can afford an iPhone top model straight away without EMIs, I don't feel the ROI /need for it

ZestyMarshmallow
ZestyMarshmallow

And another option that can compete with your Pixel series is the Zenfone series. But the catch is that you may have to get it from US

SnoozyKoala
SnoozyKoala

I'm using my Realme Xt from last 5.4 yrs. My mom bought me that phone when I was in 3-1 semester and it's still working fine no damages Nothing except for little drop down on battery performance.

Will use it for one more yr then will buy another phone.

SnoozyBanana
SnoozyBanana

Used Realme 6i for 4 years without any cover or screenguard. Had bought it for 11k

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