Four Outdated Ideas Advertisers Continue to Promote for Smartphones
Sometimes advertisers are misleading. It’s kind of their job. What starts out as a slight drift to get you to buy can end up becoming a myth so widespread that we all just assume it’s true. Here are some things you believe in smartphones just because the head of marketing thought it was a good idea.
“Every couple of years you need to spend $ 650 on a new phone.”
Every year, phone makers are releasing expensive new flagship phones like watches with a couple of new features and the same high price tag. If the manufacturers got their way, you would update your phone every year. This seems a little odd for a device that usually costs over $ 650 , doesn’t it? You don’t buy a new laptop or even a new tablet every couple of years just because. Why do this with phones?
The tradition of buying new phones every couple of years is a holdover from two-year contracts (which seem to be dying out ). In a couple of years, most people in the US will receive a letter from their carrier stating that they are entitled to a free or cheap new phone, simply for promising to stay with them for another two years. It made sense for a while. You wouldn’t pay less if you hadn’t taken advantage of the update, so you can purchase a new phone. Your cellular data plan is now cheaper if you don’t pay for the phone either . So it makes sense to be a little more careful when spending $ 650 or more on a new phone every couple of years.
However, phones seem outdated faster than laptops and tablets. Old phones stop receiving updates after a while , and even when they do get new things, they can run like crap on old hardware. Batteries can also begin to lose their ability to hold a charge over time . You can try to fight it, but in the end, your old phone just won’t be able to keep up.
However, this does not mean that everyone needs the most expensive, top-notch flagship phone. If you have a phone two years ago, almost any update you make is likely to be a significant improvement over what you already have. Even mid-range devices like the Moto G are stupidly cheap and pretty decent phones! If you’re worried about spending a ton of money on a phone that won’t be able to support itself for two years, you’re better off buying cheap phones that are slightly less good but cheaper to replace.
Android users can breathe new life into their old phone using the Xposed platform to create their own version of Android . Plus, you can still use custom ROMs to give your phone a new look (and feature set!) Without changing hardware. IOS users don’t have a lot of customization options, but iPhones tend to last a little longer anyway , and you can jailbreak your phone to add cool new things . Now that buying phones becomes more expensive and confusing , the less often you can update, the more your wallet will thank you.
“Higher resolution screens are better”
The more pixels on the screen, the better the picture will be, right? Not certainly in that way. While it is technically true that higher resolution displays can show greater clarity, at some point the human eye simply cannot distinguish such details. While not everyone agrees on the figure, that threshold is somewhere around 300-400 pixels per inch (ppi) , depending on your vision and how far from your face you hold the phone. For many phones, this is long gone .
The LG G4 , Samsung Galaxy S6, and Galaxy Note 5 have displays with 2560×1440 resolution. That’s more pixels than most HDTVs. Each has a pixel density of over 500 ppi, far beyond what most human eyes can see and even more than what most video sources are capable of displaying. Only mobile games can take advantage of the display, and even then it is unlikely that most people will notice the difference.
So why keep packing more pixels if it doesn’t matter? Smartphone manufacturers love to advertise the number of pixels they can squeeze into a display because large numbers sound better – and it’s easier than solving other, more subjective display problems. Other factors such as display type (LCD or LED), color calibration and viewing angles will affect how beautiful your screen looks.
For example, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 uses an AMOLED display that includes only the pixels it needs, resulting in deeper blacks, while in adaptive display mode, their devices are calibrated using very saturated colors, sometimes 30% richer. , than usual. … This results in a more “live” look. The reds are really red. Purple is really purple. It’s as if your display was designed by the guy who edited Speed Racer . (Although you can change this mode if you don’t like saturated colors.)
On the other hand, the iPhone uses an LED-backlit display that is calibrated a little less rigidly, which can be perceived as more “realistic” colors. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus had near-perfect color fidelity on their displays. This means that the colors you see on the screen should be as bright (or dull!) As in real life.
Depending on your tastes, any of these displays may appear better or worse, regardless of pixel density. Technically, the Galaxy Note 4 has more pixels. Is this a better display because it has more pixels? Or is it because Samsung has increased the saturation and it grabs your attention more? Most people are unlikely to pay attention to how closely the display matches the standard sRGB / Rec. 709 color gamut , but they can tell that higher ppi is higher than lower.
Of course, display quality is not the only factor to consider. Even if one could distinguish one pixel from another on a 500+ ppi display, the question of battery life would arise. The more pixels your device has, the faster it will drain . Certain display types can help mitigate this – for example, since AMOLED displays only illuminate the pixels they need, they may use less power on darker screens – but packaging phones with a reasonable number of pixels can help as well.
Of course, marketers don’t like to focus on subtle and subjective advantages over numbers, which is why manufacturers continue to run into pixels. However, you can still choose the displays that work best for you. Think of it as the difference between the Avengers and the Dark Knight . Both are good films, but one is bright and colorful with lasers and aliens, and the other is dark and rough with a more serious tone. Likewise, when you’re looking for a new phone, try going to the store and see which display looks best for you. Also check out how these high definition phones compare battery life.
“Thinner phones are better”
If you’re old enough to understand whata Zach Morris phone is , you can understand why thin phones are so attractive. Old phones were huge bricks that were difficult to carry around. Even before smartphones appeared, manufacturersdragged the trend into subtlety . Thinner phones were popular because they were more portable and easier to fit into pockets and wallets. Who doesn’t need a slimmer phone?
However, over the past few years, several new trends have emerged that have undermined the idea of ”thinner is better.” First, the displays on our phones are getting bigger . Whether it’s because everyone wants bigger phones, or because only big phones are available , is a matter of controversy. In any case, this means that even if your phone is thinner, it is still more difficult to fit in your hands or pockets. It’s no coincidence that phones with large and wide displays, but the slim profile also makes them easier to bend . Making phones thinner is actually bad for big screen phones.
And it doesn’t seem like we have a problem with fat phones judging by the phone cases. In 2012, more than half of our readers used smartphone cases for some time . Even thin cases can add a few millimeters to the thickness of your phone. And that doesn’t even include the massive tanks that turn your phone into Fort Knox .
Even if you don’t use a phone case, most phones are now slim enough to make the difference difficult to tell. The LG G4 , Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and Nexus 6P are around 7mm in size . For comparison, the size of the Moto X Style 2015 is 11 mm, but due to the curved back of you did not notice. The new iPhone 6s is actually thicker than the previous iPhone . You noticed? I didn’t think so.
If you’re trying to find a phone that’s comfortable for you, the best way to find out is to simply pick it up. Most stores have displays that you can play with to get a feel for how comfortable the phone will be for you. If you can’t find your specific phone in stores, you can use sites like this one to find phones of a comparable size to try them out.
And again, battery life should be considered. The thicker the phone, the more room for a big ass battery . While there isn’t always a direct correlation between phone thickness and full-day battery life, thicker phones allow you to use more power. The specification to watch out for is “mAh”. Anything around 2000mAh will be fine, but 2500-3000mAh will probably be better in the long run. Of course, there are other factors to consider, so take a look at the battery tests to see how different phones stack up to get a more objective look.
“Telecom operators are the best place to buy phones”
We’ve discussed this before, but it’s worth repeating: buying from operators sucks . Imagine you had to buy a TV from Comcast. Or if you had to buy a car from BP. Despite the fact that we are used to buying phones from telecom operators, this is actually a terrible practice. In an ideal world, you could buy a phone first and then choose a carrier.
Of course, we do not live in a perfect world. Network compatibility issues mean you need to filter the phones you buy based on which carrier you want to a certain extent. Carriers use this to persuade customers to get “exclusive” phones that are only available if you change carriers. Carrier phones also update more slowly than non-branded unlocked devices .
If you’re happy with your carrier and want to stay with them, their store can help you find phones that you know will work on their network. But you should be aware that these are not the only places to shop. You can buy new phones from a wide variety of non-carrier retail stores. Amazon and Swappa are good places to find deals for the phone you’re looking for at no extra cost. You can also sometimes find deals with your phone manufacturer. Some, like Motorola or Apple, even offer interest-free funding to help allocate costs, so it’s not a big hit right away.
If you want to opt out of a carrier because you need faster updates, make sure you select the correct version of your phone. Some manufacturers label their phones as “International Edition” (although you may need to check if they work on your network) or “Clean Edition” to distinguish between a phone designed to work with any carrier (or at least not required carrier approval for updates). Others, like the iPhone, will simply let you choose the “no SIM” option at checkout. Pay attention to the version of your phone, and these minor choices can make a big difference to you in the long run.