I’m as excited by cellphones as I’m excited by underwear at the supermarket: I need it, it needs to fit me, but I’d rather do something more interesting than shopping for new underwear. And just like underwear, no amount of gimmicks makes them more exciting: at the end of the day, it’s just a locked down computer loaded with spyware that you need to live a normal life.
This is exactly where I am. 15, maybe even 10, years ago I was excited by phone releases that had significant upgrades. This is no longer the case. Screen size ratios have maxed out, cameras are far better than anything I need them for, most flagships have (or have the option of) adequate storage.
Gimmicks like the foldable don’t really excite me. I find them interesting, and could see myself owning one in the future if they become commonplace and affordable. But they’re really not that interesting.
Ultimately, I use my phone primarily for messaging, emails, listening to music/podcasts/audiobooks and browsing the internet. Nothing on the Horizon is going to significantly improve those experiences for me.
I previously had a OnePlus 7 Pro and ran that until the Pixel 7 came out, as my battery life had significantly degraded. I don’t see myself upgrading from this phone for several years at least.
The only thing that would change that, as far as I can predict, would be some startling innovation to battery technology that allows me multi-day battery life.
Edit: I would also jump ship onto a Linux based phone if that were to pick up and become a serious contender.
FairPhone 4 running CalyxOS. It’s not cheap but the repairability factor is important for me, it runs a deGoogled OS which is even more important, and I stocked up on spare parts to make it last as long as possible.
As long as it serves me, it’s the most exciting phone I can think of and I already own it :)
Thanks! I’m actually thinking about getting a Fairphone and a dedicated point and shoot compact camera to take pictures. Camera seems to be the main marketing factor nowadays, so cutting that would allow me to use older devices without missing out.
I’m as excited by cellphones as I’m excited by underwear at the supermarket: I need it, it needs to fit me, but I’d rather do something more interesting than shopping for new underwear. And just like underwear, no amount of gimmicks makes them more exciting: at the end of the day, it’s just a locked down computer loaded with spyware that you need to live a normal life.
This is exactly where I am. 15, maybe even 10, years ago I was excited by phone releases that had significant upgrades. This is no longer the case. Screen size ratios have maxed out, cameras are far better than anything I need them for, most flagships have (or have the option of) adequate storage.
Gimmicks like the foldable don’t really excite me. I find them interesting, and could see myself owning one in the future if they become commonplace and affordable. But they’re really not that interesting.
Ultimately, I use my phone primarily for messaging, emails, listening to music/podcasts/audiobooks and browsing the internet. Nothing on the Horizon is going to significantly improve those experiences for me.
I previously had a OnePlus 7 Pro and ran that until the Pixel 7 came out, as my battery life had significantly degraded. I don’t see myself upgrading from this phone for several years at least.
The only thing that would change that, as far as I can predict, would be some startling innovation to battery technology that allows me multi-day battery life.
Edit: I would also jump ship onto a Linux based phone if that were to pick up and become a serious contender.
To be fair, I’m not far from this. What is your current phone, are you happy with it?
FairPhone 4 running CalyxOS. It’s not cheap but the repairability factor is important for me, it runs a deGoogled OS which is even more important, and I stocked up on spare parts to make it last as long as possible.
As long as it serves me, it’s the most exciting phone I can think of and I already own it :)
Thanks! I’m actually thinking about getting a Fairphone and a dedicated point and shoot compact camera to take pictures. Camera seems to be the main marketing factor nowadays, so cutting that would allow me to use older devices without missing out.
GrapheneOS?