We’ve already made so many phones that can do all of the exact same things over the last 10 or so years. I think if we just stopped making them for a while and simply worked on updating all of those old phones, we might actually be better off.
I agree, the changes year after year are so minor at this point that a 2 year cycle is enough. Just look at the S26 that Samsung just announced, they are rightly getting criticised for how little they changed. Heck, they have been using the same image sensors for like 4 years now.
For me the only thing I look in new phones now is camera quality, since I only take photos and video with my phone. If that was upgradeable, it would be awesome. Plus, now even Android is getting the Apple treatment this year, everything is just getting shittier.
That would be fine if parts like the battery, charger port and microphone were replaceable. But they’re not, and so I need a new phone when there’s no capacity left in my existing one.
We’ve already made so many phones that can do all of the exact same things over the last 10 or so years. I think if we just stopped making them for a while and simply worked on updating all of those old phones, we might actually be better off.
“But shareholders expect a new phone every year…”
I agree, the changes year after year are so minor at this point that a 2 year cycle is enough. Just look at the S26 that Samsung just announced, they are rightly getting criticised for how little they changed. Heck, they have been using the same image sensors for like 4 years now.
Shareholders wouod prefer you sld the same phone every year, as long as you make money
I’m on year 5 of mine. Literally no issues
But at least it costs a fortune!
If everything that changes is the NPU, I’m not sure why I should buy it. I don’t give a crap about AI features. As long as my battery holds, I’m fine.
Is this communism?
For me the only thing I look in new phones now is camera quality, since I only take photos and video with my phone. If that was upgradeable, it would be awesome. Plus, now even Android is getting the Apple treatment this year, everything is just getting shittier.
That would be fine if parts like the battery, charger port and microphone were replaceable. But they’re not, and so I need a new phone when there’s no capacity left in my existing one.
It doesn’t have to be a new model though
I wasn’t implying that, but a new instance of the same model also uses up resources to manufacture.