The let's talk about smartphones thread

[karl262]

I'd been running an S10 for 7(?) years, loved it but felt it was time for an upgrade. I'm not that techy with phones, didn't really research, just went into my providers store and after talking with the staff landed on a zflip 6.
There was a promo samsung has to trade-up on the zflip and zfold, so my S10 got a value of $500ish, not bad. the zfold was intriguing but way more expensive, I think my monthly bill would have more than doubled as opposed to staying the same with the zflip 512gb. This is on the 2 year finance, they also had a 2 year lease that would have been a bit less.
I was a bit concerned with the folding screen and maybe I still am a little but apparently this is the 6th gen from samsung so hopefully they know what they're doing by now.
It's been just over a week with it and I'm quite happy overall, it's a super-cool phone. Need to take some time setting everything up including the nifty exterior display and all the widgets.
I think nostalgia played a part in my decision as my favourite phone ever was the motorola v60, it had the most satisfying clamp-shut in the history of all mankind and playing with this one takes me back.

[EldrickOnIce]

I have a Pixel 8. I don't really like it. First Pixel I have owned. Probably the last. It's OK. I wish I'd waited for the OnePlus 12

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by karl262

I was a bit concerned with the folding screen and maybe I still am a little but apparently this is the 6th gen from samsung so hopefully they know what they're doing by now.

If you continue to like the Flip and form factor, Samsung does provide good peace of mind through their consistently high trade-in bonuses to upgrade regardless of condition. For example, in the recent launch for the Flip/Fold 6, an old Flip 3 still got a $800 trade-in valuation:


https://forums.redflagdeals.com/sams...uests-2699480/

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by GGG

How often are people replacing phones these days?

I usually buy 1 year old models when the next new edition comes out and keep them 4 years. (2 years for me then pass on to kids for 2 years). That still leaves me buying a phone a year which still seems excessive.

What do other people do?

I always upgrade to the newest Pixel when my contract is up, every 2 years. And that's always on Black Friday so the upgrade ends up never costing me anything

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I have a Pixel 8. I don't really like it. First Pixel I have owned. Probably the last. It's OK. I wish I'd waited for the OnePlus 12

What don't you like about it out of curiosity?

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

What don't you like about it out of curiosity?

I mean, it OK. It's not that I dislike it, it's just not great
It charges slow and battery life is terrible.
It overheats easily.
It's not that much faster than my previous.
I just wanted it to be better. It's just disappointing

[btimbit]

Hm, mine charges fast and lasts 2-3 days

Other than that though I agree, not really much better than the few pixels before it

Edit: wait, nevermind, I have the 7 still

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by karl262

There was a promo samsung has to trade-up on the zflip and zfold, so my S10 got a value of $500ish, not bad. the zfold was intriguing but way more expensive, I think my monthly bill would have more than doubled as opposed to staying the same with the zflip 512gb. This is on the 2 year finance, they also had a 2 year lease that would have been a bit less.

Samsung is pushing the flip hard this generation with promos, direct and through carriers. I traded in an S22 ultra and got a flip 6 for $4.50 a month for 24 months - essentially free - on the finance option. I am thinking we're still not quite there yet on the foldable tech and this is a good way to dip your toe in the water without shelling out a bunch of money for the fold that isn't quite where I would want it to be (integrated pen, for one thing).

I was a bit concerned with the folding screen and maybe I still am a little but apparently this is the 6th gen from samsung so hopefully they know what they're doing by now.

Well, there was still a significant failure rate up to the flip 4, the flip 5 was better but not perfect. I still think this is probably a 2 year phone at most, and unfortunately in Canada, unlike a lot of other places, the screen protector cracking (which will happen over time) is not covered by warranty and isn't as cheap as you'd think to get an OEM replacement for. So that's a concern. On the plus side, the external screen protectors for the flip 5 still work for this, and that's the one most at risk for damage, so they cost next to nothing.

It's been just over a week with it and I'm quite happy overall, it's a super-cool phone. Need to take some time setting everything up including the nifty exterior display and all the widgets.

I think the biggest change is getting used to just checking your notifications and putting the thing away. Yes, you can and should install the loader that allows you to put 12 apps on the external display for quick use rather than just widgets - that allows me to read and send texts and emails, use google maps, uber eats, my Ring alerts, and online banking without opening the phone. But the open is a barrier, and that's kind of a good thing - it imposes some discipline where you just don't wind up scrolling on social media apps or browsing whatever out of habit.

[karl262]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Samsung is pushing the flip hard this generation with promos, direct and through carriers. I traded in an S22 ultra and got a flip 6 for $4.50 a month for 24 months - essentially free - on the finance option. I am thinking we're still not quite there yet on the foldable tech and this is a good way to dip your toe in the water without shelling out a bunch of money for the fold that isn't quite where I would want it to be (integrated pen, for one thing).



Well, there was still a significant failure rate up to the flip 4, the flip 5 was better but not perfect. I still think this is probably a 2 year phone at most, and unfortunately in Canada, unlike a lot of other places, the screen protector cracking (which will happen over time) is not covered by warranty and isn't as cheap as you'd think to get an OEM replacement for. So that's a concern. On the plus side, the external screen protectors for the flip 5 still work for this, and that's the one most at risk for damage, so they cost next to nothing.



I think the biggest change is getting used to just checking your notifications and putting the thing away. Yes, you can and should install the loader that allows you to put 12 apps on the external display for quick use rather than just widgets - that allows me to read and send texts and emails, use google maps, uber eats, my Ring alerts, and online banking without opening the phone. But the open is a barrier, and that's kind of a good thing - it imposes some discipline where you just don't wind up scrolling on social media apps or browsing whatever out of habit.

Did you get a case for yours? I've seen some nifty ones on YouTube and one that even has LEDs that light from the wireless power sharing. The only one available, as far as I know, is a little cheesy but the idea is kinda cool. I haven't bought a case on any phone ever but this one feels special and maybe deserves one. I love the esthetics without a case.

My biggest gripe after having the flip6 for a while is the lack of a headphone jack. Maybe it's time for me to embrace the spirit of the revolution and just get some wireless ones, ugh.

Sent from my SM-F741W using Tapatalk

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

This might be the first phone I've had in over a decade where I don't buy a case, simply because the folding mechanism protects the interior screen from damage anyway and a tempered glass protector for the outer screen seems more or less good enough.

My S22 Ultra didn't have a headphone jack either. It's just the way things are now unfortunately, but you can get usb C headphones anyway if you want wired ones. Good wireless phones can be had for 50 bucks or so now a lot of the time so I don't think it's a huge deal.

[btimbit]

Yeah that used to bug me but now that wireless headphones are so cheap, I'm fine with it

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by karl262

My biggest gripe after having the flip6 for a while is the lack of a headphone jack. Maybe it's time for me to embrace the spirit of the revolution and just get some wireless ones, ugh.

Sent from my SM-F741W using Tapatalk

Embrace the change! I DETEST headphone wires. Always wind up yanking them violently out of my ears by accident. I go for walks and listen to music while doing so and the lack of wires is amazing. Wireless does have some downside if they don't fit your ears perfectly but outside that, they're awesome.

[Buff]

I get a new phone every 2 years.

I'm currently using the Pixel 7 Pro. My USB port is borked so I have to charge wirelessly which goes much slower than plugging it in. I seem to ruin the USB port with all my phones. The cable just falls out now. I have tried removing debris but don't find any debris to remove so I think I just ruin the port somehow. I do use my phone when it is on the charger at the end of the day so I'm assuming I've somehow stretch the port.

I went from a Samsung Galaxy 20FE to the Pixel 7 Pro. I wanted the S23 (maybe it was 22?) because of the Astrophotography mode, then I learned the the Pixel had it too and I was happy to choose the Pixel because it was much cheaper to buy. Aside from me breaking ports I can't complain at all about the Pixel 7 Pro. When it comes to camera quality the Pixel Pro has really impressed me. My wife is using the LG Velvet 5 and is very jealous of the pictuers that I can take.

Battery if is okay. I charge everynight. After 18 months I noticed that I'll sometimes have to top up the charge after a long day but that's normal.

The best phone I ever had for battery life was an Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom. It had a battery size that most top end phones have now, but that phone was out 7 years ago and didn't use as much charge. I would charge it once every 3 or 4 days. I so would love to go back to that kind of battery life! I'm a bit of a power user and I use up more battery than most people I know.

We're an android family. My sons are on Galaxy S23FE and Pixel 7 Pro and my daughter has one of our hand me downs (probably the S20FE). One of my sons does a lot of research on phones, it seems to be a passion of his, so even though I'm the IT pro I get my homework from his reasearch when I recommend phones for people in the office.

I've played with a lot of phones and I hate the iPhone. I've never been a fan of its interface.

[PepsiFree]

I’ve never wrecked a port on an iPhone

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I’ve never wrecked a port on an iPhone

Neither have I. I wish it became the standard but Apple never would have let that happen. They want that sweet, sweet licencing caysh.

[Galakanokis]

The new Razr+ 2024 looks cool. But the $800 price tag on the 2023 version is tempting. I am thinking foldable for my next phone but will wait until Google updates their line. That will get me a good couple years out of the 8 Pro.

[Sliver]

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6.

If you don't have a flip phone in 2024 you're a total dork.

[Buff]

I'm a dork whether or not I have a flip phone at any point in my life!

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6.

If you don't have a flip phone in 2024 you're a total dork.

I was in a Rogers store yesterday and the Samsung rep was there. She showed me her Flip. The outside screen looks usable now but I don't get the need for it. A regular phone fits in my pocket fine. The Fold is cool and it looks more usable than the one I had too. It might be my next phone.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6.

If you don't have a flip phone in 2024 you're a total dork.

I didn't like them before (Motorola) and I'm not sure I like them now. Hopefully I can get one more life cycle (3-4 years) with a regular phone when I get my next one.