• Bob Robertson IX @discuss.tchncs.de
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    5 hours ago

    I’m shocked that Apple didn’t just make the crease more obvious and consider it a design element and advertise it as something the consumer wants.

  • AItoothbrush
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    3 hours ago

    Not completely related to the foldable iphone(tho im sure it would slap because it would be a good execution of the idea) but its such a shame that apple has to be so bitchy with their software. If theyd just open up the software(or the eu forces them to) i would instantly buy one when custom os’s are available. Imagine getting a linux iphone.

  • SuperFola@programming.dev
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    8 hours ago

    They are trying to make foldable iPhones because everyone else is making a foldable phone, but have they stopped and asked themselves if people want and need a foldable?

    I have yet to see a real use case for something like a Samsung Z flip, and carrying a bulky Z fold phone in my pocket only to be able to have a tablet once in a while and watch a movie is not interesting enough.

    • WolfLink@sh.itjust.works
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      1 hour ago

      Honestly a foldable smartphone should be 2 touchscreens with a hinge if there’s at all any risk of a bendy screen breaking more easily or otherwise being inferior to that.

    • mrvictory1@lemmy.world
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      54 minutes ago

      Meanwhile I want a tablet with phone call support. (Samsung Tabs with LTE/5G are carrier locked)

    • w3dd1e@lemm.ee
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      1 hour ago

      I want a flip design. Or women’s clothing with pockets large enough to fit my current phone. Whichever is easier. Seems to be the folding phone at this point.

    • ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net
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      3 hours ago

      I want a flip phone.

      I still think the Game boy Advance SP’s design was peak. Lightweight, compact, and very distinct. It looked sleek enough to not look like a toy, where I was using it in the office and nobody would bat an eye.

      Give me that with a phone. Im not interested in being a first buyer or spending money for that novelty. But id happily use a foldable the moment they become as reliable as these tablet phones.

      • Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        44 minutes ago

        The form factor is just really great for a pocketable device, and being able to close a GBA SP really feels satisfying to put away. Same with the (larger) DS.

        Personally I’d like a fingerprint reader notch on the back of a Z-fold style phone. Not a fan of the “in-screen” style. Tbh i probably should just not use biometrics unlocking to begin with.

    • TheFeatureCreature@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      I kind of want a flip phone for the compact size when folded so it will fit more easily into my tiny pockets. But I don’t want a phone with a screen that likely need regular (and expensive) replacements if I want to keep using it long past the 2 year contract window like I do with most phones.

    • Tattorack@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      I want a foldable phone.

      Phones have become larger abd flatter over the years, and they’re just uncomfortable to have in my pocket. A foldable phone will solve this issue.

      I didn’t buy one yet due to not believing the tech is there yet. Screens are very scratchable and the battery life is poor.

      • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
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        5 hours ago

        I love my flip 6. I had a flip 5 which I abused with no case on it. Got a deal to trade it in broken as fuck for a 6 straight up. I would hate to go back to a regular phone. They are better in every way and the crease isn’t even noticeable after using the phone for a couple days.

    • criticon@lemmy.ca
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      4 hours ago

      My wife loves her flip. She just upgraded from the 4 to the 6 and the creaae is barely visible when in use

      She uses it a lot for videocalls and she folds it to use it as a tripod, and also being able to use the good camera to take selfies is a great use case

      She also loves that it fits on most of her pants when folded, usually women’s pants have very small pockets.

      That phone is not for me, but I can definitely attest to real use cases

    • AlternateHuman02@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      Do people need foldables? Absolutely not, but I love mine. I went with the OnePlus Open mainly for the cameras, and the bigger screen is great for reviewing or sharing the photos with someone. Having two apps side by side is really nice but I don’t really use that feature that often.

      I think the bigger thing is having a screen that faces away from the main viewing side. Showing a live camera view or translating speech into text from another language are two good, but rare, use cases. I think what it really comes down to is how much do you use your phone and for what purpose?

    • Fredselfish@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      My wife loves her flip. I personally don’t like them, yes there is crease right where it folds and over time it will make your phone stop working. We just replaced hers after months of her dealing with the phone glitching. But she does enjoy it and requested getting another flip phone.

      • llii@discuss.tchncs.de
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        4 hours ago

        We just replaced hers after months of her dealing with the phone glitching. But she does enjoy it and requested getting another flip phone.

        Does not compute. My wife had her Flip 3 replaced two times, and now she bought a Fairphone. Unfortunately they seem to be unreliable, the phone was quite nice otherwise.

    • deus@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      Do I need a foldable phone? No. Do I like the idea of owning a phone that is actually small enough to be used with one hand and can fit anywhere? Yes. Besides, closing it to end a call is very cool.

      • EngineerGaming@feddit.nl
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        6 hours ago

        The ones I have seen in stores are still too long to be used with one hand or fit comfortably into a pocket. My Pixel 7a is about the biggest I can use one-handed, and even then there is awkwardness.

        • idunnololz@lemmy.world
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          2 hours ago

          I had to go crawling back to Samsung because the pixel 9 is too large (and heavy) for me. I was using a pixel 5 before my screen died earlier this year :(.

          Edit: to clarify I’m not using a foldable phone, I just have their S24 which is apparently the smallest phone on the market I could find these days that isn’t out dated (Zenphone).

          • EngineerGaming@feddit.nl
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            1 hour ago

            I only bought a Pixel because of GrapheneOS, and the “a” series is at least slightly smaller (plus plastic back instead of glass, that’s something I am also happy about).

            But yeah, I feel you :( I am not even small, I have average hands!

        • cm0002@lemmy.world
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          6 hours ago

          Those are probably the Samshits and I too avoided them because they’re too damn long (And their user hostility lol), the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is what you want, folded it’s almost as big as the 7as screen (6.3 to 6.1 on the 7a)

          • EngineerGaming@feddit.nl
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            6 hours ago

            First - 6.3 usually means already over the edge of comfortable, 7a is already almost too much. Second - thickness adds to it when it’s in your hand. And third - why would I spend huge money (doesn’t seem like it would decrease in price with generations as much as a normal phone, it might be EOL when it becomes affordable) on something that breaks more easily and is still bigger?

            • cm0002@lemmy.world
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              4 hours ago

              I don’t personally feel much of a difference in .2 inches of screen, but if 6.1 is your absolute limit, then the Pixel Fold 1 might be your perfect fit with a 5.8 “short and stocky” outer screen

              Though I don’t think it’s being sold new anymore, but it looks like eBay has some good condition/refurb models going for ~<800-1k, Google has stated all Pixels will get 6 or 7 years of updates.

              • EngineerGaming@feddit.nl
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                1 hour ago

                Sure, you can buy one to never unfold. But you’d be getting a thick, expensive AF phone for no reason, lol

                • cm0002@lemmy.world
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                  19 minutes ago

                  ? I don’t understand your comment, was it meant for a reply for a different comment?

        • Keith
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          6 hours ago

          The implication is that when closed you can use them one handed

    • TORFdot0@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      The use case is people who want pocketable, one handed phones. It doesn’t matter to me if they make another iPhone mini or an iPhone flip. Whichever one they release will be my next phone.

      The last iPhone mini release was in 2021. I don’t want a near 7” pro max phone. 6.4” is too big in my opinion as well.

    • cm0002@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      I agree the Flip and kiln are utterly pointless, just a big ol nostalgic rip imo.

      But book styles like Fold are pretty great, being able to go from phone to tablet whenever has been amazing! My Pixel 9 pro fold is my most used tablet ever, I’ve had a lot of tablets over the years and they all end up collecting dust in no time because they suffer from a fatal flaw. They’re never near me when I need/want a tablet the most.

      • Telorand@reddthat.com
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        5 hours ago

        I would have considered a folding book-style phone if I wanted a tablet. I agree that they’re likely the only viable use case that isn’t a complete gimmick.

      • lobut@lemmy.ca
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        5 hours ago

        I just got my pro fold, I haven’t used it that much as a tablet to be honest. It is nice to do when I need it.

        Did you get the Google insurance thing that’s quite pricey with it? I have a few days to get it.

        • cm0002@lemmy.world
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          4 hours ago

          I just got my pro fold, I haven’t used it that much as a tablet to be honest. It is nice to do when I need it.

          That’s the beauty of the “not tall as fuck” (cough Samsuck cough) ones, you don’t feel forced to use it so you’ll use it more when you actually want to lol

          Did you get the Google insurance thing that’s quite pricey with it? I have a few days to get it.

          I bought through my carrier and have their insurance, folds on my carriers thing has a deductible of $250. I’d look at your carriers offerings if they have any and go with whoever has the cheapest deductible

          But in general, I always got the phone insurance even when it wasn’t an 1800$ foldy phone lol

    • PonyOfWar@pawb.social
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      8 hours ago

      I have a Z flip and while it’s far from perfect, foldable flip phones are great and I’d choose them over a same-spec regular phone every day. Much more convenient to carry in my pocket compared to a slab and basically having an included tripod for photos is pretty nice as well.

      • FatCrab@lemmy.one
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        6 hours ago

        My z flip is hands down my favorite phone I’ve ever owned and I didn’t get it expecting to like it much. I just needed a new phone and with Samsung’s recycling program, my old near-tablet sized phone made the switch like barely 100 bucks.

        There are a lot of small advantages it provides that quickly add up to it being an overall superior experience. Now if only Bixby wasn’t the worst fucking thing ever.

    • huginn@feddit.it
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      7 hours ago

      Note: the latest pixel fold is about the same size and weight as the pixel 9 pro.

      It’s actually kinda incredible that it is that light and thin while folding.

      • MeatsOfRage@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        I’ve got one on the way Best Buy screwed up the pre-order and didn’t get enough stock in so I’m left waiting. But yea seems like by all accounts it’s roughly the size of a regular phone plus you get a small tablet when you want.

        • huginn@feddit.it
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          4 hours ago

          The battery life is definitely worse because of it but it doesn’t bother me much

    • cm0002@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      I don’t get the obsession over the crease, things that fold generally have creases. As long as it’s not distorting things (which IME it doesn’t and is hardly noticeable when in use anyways) it’s fine

    • ladicius@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      German renowned institute “Stiftung Warentest” just tested two foldables (both Samsung I think) and had them 50.000 times folded and unfolded (they build machines to torture test stuff) and reported no creases.

      50.000 times is over four years for 32 uses every day (twice every wake hour). Would be more than sufficient for a normal user think.

    • MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml
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      9 hours ago

      Except Huawei Mate XS 2, Honor Magic V2, Oppo Find N.

      Edit: search engine link unreliable.

  • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
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    10 hours ago

    There have been plenty of fads over the lifespan of the smartphone market. E.g. curved edge screens. I think curved screens are another and Apple is right to ignore it. There’s too many compromises required for a foldable and not much benefit to be worth it.

    • raldone01@lemmy.world
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      9 hours ago

      My personal theory for the curved edges is, that samsung just wanted to prevent cheap off brand replacement screens.

      • aluminium@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        I think part of the reason was to look good in stores. If you have a non curved and curved phone next to each other playing the demo video, the curved looks waaay more futurostic.

      • T156@lemmy.world
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        8 hours ago

        Mine is that they wanted it to stand out, compared to all the other phones with flat screens at the time, especially with all the design clones.

        You would look at it and go “oh that phone looks funny, must be a Samsung”.

        • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
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          4 hours ago

          This is what it was when they introduced it. I used to work for an Android OEM at the time and the product people really wanted to get their hands on curved screens for the same reason. Eventually they got Samsung to sell them some but it wasn’t as curved as the ones Samsung used on their devices to keep differentiation. It still cost twice what flat screens which ate a significant chunk of the profit margin.

      • ch00f@lemmy.world
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        9 hours ago

        What I don’t understand is why nobody makes a foldable phone where it’s just two flat screens with an invisible bezel along one edge so they fit seamlessly together when fully opened.

        It’s not like there’s a use case where you operate the phone half unfolded and require both halves of the screen to be seamlessly connected.

        If the flexing feature wasn’t a gimmick and there was an actual use case for a foldable pocket iPad, someone would have released a phone like the Kyocera Echo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyocera_Echo to commercial success.

        • EvilBit@lemmy.world
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          3 hours ago

          Interesting idea. Bezels have been made pretty thin and there have been curved display edges, but I don’t know if anyone’s ever tried a one-side zero-bezel design that you could hinge together. Bezels in the other sides are fine, but could we create a flush edge with no gap to click two screens against each other?

        • ravhall@discuss.online
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          9 hours ago

          Exactly. And it wouldn’t have to be double wide since some components could be pushed to the other size. I’m fine with it just being like two apps open and not even one big one. Multitasking.

          I guess what we really need is a phone case that has hinges and we can just buy two phones!

    • rfr_Foglia@feddit.it
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      10 hours ago

      From what we know, the folding iPhone will be a flip style foldable. So, just a regular size phone, it won’t be huge when unfolded.

      • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world
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        8 hours ago

        iPhone Pro Max screen area: 115.6cm²

        iPad Air 11" screen area: 357.6cm²

        iPad Air 13" screen area: 519.3cm²

        An iPad has between 3 and 4.5 times the screen space than the largest iPhone.

      • narc0tic_bird@lemm.ee
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        10 hours ago

        Which isn’t even close to an iPad in size, not even the iPad mini in terms of actual screen real estate.

            • conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works
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              6 hours ago

              Yeah. And no phone app.

              But that’s my preferred size for sure. I probably won’t bother with a max the next time I get a phone, just because it still isn’t actually big enough for me to justify the price difference.

              • narc0tic_bird@lemm.ee
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                5 hours ago

                Kind of relatable. I go with the smaller sizes (regular Pro) as the Max is too large for my relatively small hands to use one-handed but at the same time it’s not large enough to enhance what I can do with the device.

                So what I do is I always have my phone with me and optionally I take my 11" iPad Pro with me, although I’m hoping they’ll release a new iPad mini in October as I’d like something a bit more portable (and I also want the variant with mobile data, while my 11" Pro is Wi-Fi only).

                • conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works
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                  5 hours ago

                  I have a Boox go color 7 that I have in my pocket a lot. I made a little leather sleeve for it and am frequently tempted to add a couple pockets to the flap and make it my permanent “wallet”. It’s better for reading, anyways, but there’s a lot of software I use that’s only on iOS without an acceptable Android substitute, and it’s also not a phone. (I’d also be perfectly happy with the watch as my “phone” and to carry two small tablets).

                  But you just can’t fit much on a phone screen.

  • EleventhHour@lemmy.world
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    10 hours ago

    Foldable phones look and work like shit. Not a shock that Apple wants nothing to do with a silly fad— not until it’s worth it for them.

    • PrincessKadath@ani.social
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      10 hours ago

      I am on my second foldable phone, and on my fourth year using them. Not only does your statement is not true, you probably never even touched a single foldable.

      Looks? Subjective. I personally love the form factor. Works like shit? In your dreams.

      • Elextra@literature.cafe
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        8 hours ago

        I know a few people at work that have foldables. Both are not going back and the crease really isnt noticeable.

        One guy has the Google Pixel Fold. His kids share his phone to leave his wife’s phone alone when they are watching something. It makes it easier to share with his kids because its a larger screen. When it was smaller they fought more because they couldn’t all watch on a small screen. Hes reaping benefits too. Ive seen him have it open to watch NFL highlights lol.

        The other person I know is a manager and its just really nice.

        I don’t have one myself because its pretty $$$. If I valued phones I would pick one up myself. Year after year they have gotten significantly better with the crease and hardware. They’re often very beast with hardware features.

        • legion02@lemmy.world
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          6 hours ago

          Last time I looked, the aspect ratios for the unfolded screens were such that you didn’t actually get any more screen real estate than a normal smartphone so the kids analogy doesn’t make a ton of sense to me. For media it’s like you get the illusion of a bigger screen.

          • cm0002@lemmy.world
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            3 hours ago

            I’ve seen the same, but tbh in real world use on my Pixel 9 Pro Fold even with the big black bars on a full screen video it still feels like quite a large viewable area

            • legion02@lemmy.world
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              2 hours ago

              Doesn’t that “feeling” though kinda confirm that it’s an illusion of screen space when you can measure the diagonal image on a normal phone and see that it’s the same?

              • cm0002@lemmy.world
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                1 hour ago

                I just measured a couple videos with a tape measure lmao

                So the typical video Fullscreen is about 6.69 inches almost the size of the iPhone 15 Pro Max at 6.7, unfolded. I should have measured my PF1 the same way while I had it LMAO

                The irony is the old school squareish 4:3 videos are WAY bigger (just a hair over 7) so retro emulation is probably great on it LMAO

                So its not taking full advantage of the screen size, but you’re still able to enjoy media at a size that most can only enjoy on their phone if they can handle the absolute biggest phones

                That being said, that’s really one use case, for me the biggest reasons to unfold has been accessing remote desktops, reading, productivity and some gaming and “remotely remote working” lol

      • derg@lemmy.world
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        10 hours ago

        Which do you have? Genuinely curious, never used the modern ones, but assumed they’d be shit/very fragile

        • GeekySalsa@lemmy.world
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          9 hours ago

          Not op, but I have the galaxy fold 3 and it’s amazing. I’ve had it for 3 years and I can’t go back to normal phones. And I’ve heard the same from many others that got their first foldable.

        • bdonvr@thelemmy.club
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          8 hours ago

          The screens are pretty fragile, however they’re protected when folded. Just don’t drop them onto anything while open…

          Other than that they’re surprisingly robust. I’ve had 2 Moto Razr models and a Samsung Z Fold. First Razr did break the screen by leaving it open in a stupidly precarious position and it hit a piece of metal below directly on the folding screen when it fell. But day to day use I never worried about it.

        • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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          9 hours ago

          I’ve had both the Samsung Fold 2 and now the Pixel Fold

          N cer had any issues with them

      • EngineerGaming@feddit.nl
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        5 hours ago

        You’ve been through two phones in just four years? That doesn’t sound that great for them…

        • PrincessKadath@ani.social
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          4 hours ago

          Upgrading every three years is pretty normal, I’d say. I know people that change phones every new iteration of their fruity ones. Unless you were trying to be funny, for which it may have gone over my head.

            • roscoe@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              2 minutes ago

              The large U.S. carriers have plans that are, I think, $20-30 a month and you get the newest phone as soon as it comes out, apple or Samsung. They also partner with manufacturers for discounts and trade-in deals, especially when a new model comes out. My last phone was 2 years old but when they offered me the newest one for something like $120 after trade-in (I think that was almost $1100 off, I don’t remember all the details) I upgraded everyone on my plan. I think they did the same thing this year but even with those discounts the pain in the ass of upgrading plus the price, even though it’s low, wasn’t worth the small year over year change. Probably next year or the year after. Assuming similar deals, that makes it $40-$60 a year to get a new phone every 2-3 years.

              Edit: You do have to stay with the carrier though. If you leave in less than 24 months you have to pay back a prorated part of the discount. Or at least the part that comes from the carrier, I think you keep the enhanced trade-in from the manufacturer.

              • EngineerGaming@feddit.nl
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                4 minutes ago

                To each their own. I would prefer to stick to my $3/mo plan with no extras. And said $120 are, while a good deal for a premium phone, are still $120 I would rather spend on better things (or if they’re this throwaway - donate to a charity). A phone after 2-3 years is still very much functional, I don’t see the point to get a new shiny thing just because you can.

            • cm0002@lemmy.world
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              3 hours ago

              Nah, here in the US the majority of people buy through their carrier and typically put them on a 0% interest Equipment Installment Plan (EIP) that break the cost to a monthly payment typically spanning 2 years.

              The carriers also have an upgrade path, for me on T-Mobile when the phone is 50% paid (so once a year) I can turn in this phone and upgrade. The remaining balance gets wiped and replaced by the new phone. Other US carriers should be similar.

              I typically upgrade once a year

                • cm0002@lemmy.world
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                  1 hour ago

                  Depends on how you look at it, T-Mobile requires that all phones that are Jumped remain in good condition so that they can be resold at a good discount to others or shipped off to their phone insurance company to be issued out to people whose similar phone broke and they make a claim

                  So it’s not like they get shipped back and thrown away, and I do always have the option to just not return the phone and continue to make the payments on it and then I can pass it down to a family member or just keep it as a backup. Which I have done in the past.

            • PrincessKadath@ani.social
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              3 hours ago

              I spend extremely little on myself. I have a good salary and no vices, every bill and payment is taken care of, and my family is well taken care of between me and my partner.
              If I want to indulge myself with a new toy once every three years, I may very well do so without some guy having to complain about it. Sure, call me rich. I guess I’d live up that princess moniker I have on my nickname.

    • Lucy :3@feddit.org
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      10 hours ago

      But they’re going on the AI fad now. Not like they are geniuses after all.

    • rtxn@lemmy.world
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      10 hours ago

      They’ll wait for the tech to mature other manufacturers to figure it out, starve people for a few more years, then release it with a +400% markup and act like they came up with the idea. That’s how it’s always been.

      Although I don’t see a future where bendable fucking glass screens become anything more than a gimmick.

      (edit) oh hey, the Apple zealots are awake!