Sunday debate: Buying a mid-ranger every year vs. a flagship every other one

27 May 2018
Yordan and Ro get into a heated debate what is the better solution for getting a daily driver.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • jBJ
  • 28 May 2018

CAMERA. Mid-range cameras don't even come close to flagships.

    SpiritWolf, 27 May 2018'Yet in just 15 months it is obsolete from a technical poin... morepreach!

      I spent $1400 on a note 8 and aboout another 200 on accessories. I don't think I'm giving up on this puppy any time soon or in the near future.

      If for some reason my note 8 fails me beyond economical repair I'll be getting a duel SIM duel standby 4g3g handset at most a third of what I spent on the note 8.

      My back up phone is a note 2 running Los and works pretty darn well so I might fall back on that.

        'Yet in just 15 months it is obsolete from a technical point of view and apps start getting more and more sluggish.'

        That's Lagdroid for you. I still don't understand, why people blindly praise this spyware that tries to be an OS? Sailfish and Symbian all the way, baby.

          • T
          • TeD
          • nL3
          • 27 May 2018

          I change my flagship Samsung every two or three years, and i got a very top phone during all that time instead of using mid range phones, and regretting not buying the best...

            • S
            • Simon
            • 7AH
            • 27 May 2018

            The progress in the smartphone market slowed to a crawl. At this pace you could still be using an over 3 year old Galaxy S6 and you would barely notice a difference when upgrading to an S9, sans smaller bezels. You dont even need to get it every other year at all. With the current prices its actually rather pointless.

              • F
              • Finophile
              • 7t2
              • 27 May 2018

              Anonymous, 27 May 2018The problem is that four years old phone normally has so ol... moreWhile the security dragon is pulled out to scare the kiddies, can you provide much in the way of actual examples of real world problems've exploitation since Android 5?

                • F
                • Finophile
                • 7t2
                • 27 May 2018

                Well I'm still so happy with my OPPO F1 (perhaps a low-mid ranger) which is over 2 years old, so maybe your argument misses that it could even be a phone every 3 for normal people (not the obsessed with fashion or owning a phone as some sort of social signaling)

                  It actually depends on your need. One can simply use a low end phone for years, either for midrange or flagship. The thing is, never buy a new phone the same year it released. At least that's what i do as the innovation has slowly progressed apart from screen to body ratio which is not an innovation either.

                  I buy a 2 year old flagship every year for these following reasons :

                  1. It is the limit of major android update. I can have the same version as the latest one.
                  2. It's like upgrading every year but with the best value. Better in any field than the latest midranger yet has closer price to its manufacturing cost,in short you don't pay their ads on any media :) you buy phone after all not ads!
                  3. A 2 year old flagship hold its price better than just released. Eg: in 2016 a phone is $800, in 2 years, the price will be $400 or less. In the third 3rd year and onwards the price will decrease just $50 each year. You buy at $400 you got to sell for $350. It means that I spend just $50 for a flagship every year and can invest the money for something else.

                  Note that I am not a heavy gamer nor a mobile photographer, so a dated specs work just fine for me. Peace!

                    I'd be more inclined to buy flagships if they updated. So far, only the Pixel line and Apple's line come through with regular updates. Sony is like third and then it is everyone else after that. We need more AndroidOne.

                      • J
                      • JIJOK
                      • CfB
                      • 27 May 2018

                      big difference between old flagship and new medium range is internal memory and ram and you cant do nothing to improve that, to improve sluggish apps, lag or even get last android version you can always flash a custom rom ( easy to get them on popular flaship devices )

                        • D
                        • AnonD-89109
                        • gM$
                        • 27 May 2018

                        Definitely a true flagship and use it for 3 years. Or a entry level like Moto G series and change every year. Mid rangers are good for nothing.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • U{1
                          • 27 May 2018

                          i personally dont like single gen upgrades as you dont get much of the new stuff. So, I would go for a flagship every 2 years rather than a midranger every year

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • pdH
                            • 27 May 2018

                            matix, 27 May 2018From my own research and experience, not only getting a new... moreThe problem is that four years old phone normally has so old security upgrades that it is a security risk to use it... So old flagship seldom is a good choice (if you keep phone longer...)

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • StU
                              • 27 May 2018

                              Obviously, it depends on price versus the quality of the experience, including security. This can vary over time and also based on specific deals that may not be generally available.

                              However, flagship prices have been going up significantly, while some mid-range phones have caught up in areas such as camera (except maybe low light) and updates (Android One program), so the sacrifices are not so significant.

                              I agree with those saying the better choice might be a mid-ranger every two or three years.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • m5N
                                • 27 May 2018

                                it isnt the phone hardware that goes out of date its the software. The manufacturers stop supporting it after 2 years and so is deemed out of date. I think this practice should be made illegal because a brand new midrange phone 2 years down the line is only about the same spec as the flagship you bought 2 years ago but your device isnt supported anymore but the "new" midrange thats just come out is. You're almost forced into a new phone. Software support should be for longer than 2 years after spending almost a grand on a phone. For that reason alone your better of just buying a midranger at a sensible price and leave the flagships to the tech heads and more money than sence clan.

                                  • M
                                  • Markobarko
                                  • 3pv
                                  • 27 May 2018

                                  If this is a life question, than, what real life questions are?

                                    My choice is neither.
                                    I will choose affordable device every other year.
                                    I don't see my Snapdragon 650's Redmi Note 3 urge me to change to a new one due to performance.
                                    I may change a new one anyway, when I see another phone which suits my needs better, example like a phone with decent CPU, battery durability, headphone jack, with dual sim and dedicated memory slot. Most of the so called premium phones don't even offer me features that I want even with such high prices.

                                      AnonD-611364, 27 May 2018Besides, the amount of problems a mid-end flagship can caus... moreExactly. I had a few phones that were midrange because the main one broke somehow (got a few stories to tell, one of them is extremely embarrasing. I can't tell it as it's a mods observation level XDDD)

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • 6XU
                                        • 27 May 2018

                                        If you want flagship buy Sony. XZ2 is faster than any flagship. If mid range is enough buy Motorola or other. I don't recommend Samsung because they slow down and lag soon.

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