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US Smartphone Shipments Decline 19% in Q3 2023 as More Americans Delay Upgrade

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Re: US Smartphone Shipments Decline 19% in Q3 2023 as More Americans Delay Upgrade

#271

Post by jghn »

deafpolygon wrote: post #270
jghn wrote: post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking of, I don't understand why camera quality is the selling point that so many people glom onto. I get why it's useful to some. But I have to imagine we've crossed the point where "better camera" stopped being noticeable to the masses?

I take lots of pictures, and cameras are expensive. So - upgrading my phone every 3-5 years is better if the camera gets a good improvement.

Sure I get that. My focus was on this part: "But I have to imagine we've crossed the point where "better camera" stopped being noticeable to the masses?"

Re: US Smartphone Shipments Decline 19% in Q3 2023 as More Americans Delay Upgrade

#272

Post by 1123581321 »

jghn wrote: post #271
deafpolygon wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I take lots of pictures, and cameras are expensive. So - upgrading my phone every 3-5 years is better if the camera gets a good improvement.

Sure I get that. My focus was on this part: "But I have to imagine we've crossed the point where "better camera" stopped being noticeable to the masses?"

We haven't crossed that point, no.

Everything might look good in the camera app preview, but it's really noticeable when you go back and look at your old photos. You see a lot of things you wish were captured better. That's from just a year or two ago.

I'm sure there are people who say they don't care about their photos having room for improvement, and sometimes you want better and can't afford it, but that's not quite the same.

Re: US Smartphone Shipments Decline 19% in Q3 2023 as More Americans Delay Upgrade

#273

Post by deafpolygon »

jghn wrote: post #271
deafpolygon wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I take lots of pictures, and cameras are expensive. So - upgrading my phone every 3-5 years is better if the camera gets a good improvement.

Sure I get that. My focus was on this part: "But I have to imagine we've crossed the point where "better camera" stopped being noticeable to the masses?"

I can only speak for my experience with iPhones.

I went from iPhone 4 -> 7 -> 11 -> 13. I upgraded on a shorter cycle from 11 to 13 so I could pass down my 11 to my kids. In each instance, the image quality has improved tremendously.

Going from 4 to 7 was a massive jump in terms of resolution. Going from 7 to 11 was a boost in color and clarity, despite being nearly the same MP. Going from 11 to 13 was a huge improvement in night mode and shooting speeds. Also, these are non-PRO phones, as I cannot afford the PRO ones. I imagine the improvement in the PRO iPhone cameras are nicer.

Every iteration has been an improvement to me, and obviated the need for a DSLR in every day use.

Re: US Smartphone Shipments Decline 19% in Q3 2023 as More Americans Delay Upgrade

#275

Post by FireBeyond »

simmerup wrote: post #102
cabirum wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is what EVs are for. Replace the battery every few years and replace your car whenever a new incompatible plug standard comes out.

Silly point when you consider that manufacturers love the fact that an ICE vehicle has to go into the garage for new parts every few months

"new parts every few months"? Come on now.

Hell, I bought a new high performance vehicle. Drove it up to the dealership for its 5k oil change. They could easily have said "sure, no problem" and charged me $150ish for the privilege.

"Sir, unless you've been tracking the car and driving it very hard, 10K is the oil change interval. Sorry you wasted your trip".

In your world, they would have taken my money.

Re: US Smartphone Shipments Decline 19% in Q3 2023 as More Americans Delay Upgrade

#276

Post by randomdata »

ianburrell wrote: post #250
randomdata wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is special about high-speed USB-C cables that sees them not work with low-speed USB-C devices (i.e. the iPhone 15 non-Pro model)?

High speed USB-C cables work fine with low speed devices. Just at lower speed.

So why is the stated main benefit lost?

Re: US Smartphone Shipments Decline 19% in Q3 2023 as More Americans Delay Upgrade

#277

Post by isk517 »

ravenstine wrote: post #7

Not surprising. Phone upgrades in the last 5 years have been barely worth it. I'll be to first to criticize and mock The Google, but I've been plenty happy with my refurbished Pixel 5 that I not only plan on running it into the ground but getting another one if it finally croaks or loses too much battery capacity. Yes, I could just get the latest Pixel when that happens, but why switch from a phone that I know intima…

I basically ran my Galaxy S9 into the ground before replacing it last January. I replaced it with a Xperia 1 III because I didn't see the point of paying a extra $500 to get the IV. The new phone runs noticeably smoother than the old phone, but not by a game changing amount, nor by the amount one would have come to expect from about a 5 year leap forward in technology.

Re: US Smartphone Shipments Decline 19% in Q3 2023 as More Americans Delay Upgrade

#278

Post by marcosdumay »

coldpie wrote: post #178
i_am_jl wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it's good enough, and I don't think the others complaining about the same issue are somehow unaware of charge+listen USB-C or Lightning dongles either. My gripe is that I don't want to pay for a new thing that causes me a problem that I don't currently have. I don't want to carry and keep track of a dongle. I don't want to put wear and tear on the USB-C port for the 8-12 hours a day I've got headphones…

Yeah, 100% agree it sucks. But what I'm responding to is, "I dread of looking around trying to decide what I'll give up to get a headphone jack." I'm saying it's not worth making an enormous sacrifice to retain the jack. I've been using adapters for at least 5 years at this point, I've never had a port break. The dongles do break after 4~6 months, which sucks, but they're only like $8-10. Buy a handful and swap in a…

That's fair. And it certainly won't be an enormous sacrifice.

It's just that I've been postponing making any effort towards that, with some unusual amount of resistance that I couldn't explain until I saw the GP.

Re: US Smartphone Shipments Decline 19% in Q3 2023 as More Americans Delay Upgrade

#279

Post by [deleted] »

jghn wrote: post #254
TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IIRC, the mini versions skimped on the camera. That’s the only reason I didn’t buy one. I preferred the small size but wanted the best camera offered.

Speaking of, I don't understand why camera quality is the selling point that so many people glom onto. I get why it's useful to some. But I have to imagine we've crossed the point where "better camera" stopped being noticeable to the masses?

[deleted]

Re: US Smartphone Shipments Decline 19% in Q3 2023 as More Americans Delay Upgrade

#280

Post by callalex »

poisonborz wrote: post #262
deelowe wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Total cost of ownership for evs is vastly lower than ices. The number of mechanical parts is two orders of magnitude less for an ev.

Except no one knows in what shape batteries will be in 10 years (current 10yo evs are no comparison). Usually there is a 8y guarantee on battery packs but wonder what that covers. Replacing batteries will be overly costly, if you can even get the parts and a mechanic to do it for you.

I first heard this fear mongering in 2001 when I bought a Prius. It wasn’t true then, and it’s extra not true now, over 20 years later.
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