Am I a Phone Fuddy Duddy?
November 4, 2020 8:20 AM
I have a 2016 Sony Xperia XZ running Android 8.0. I could upgrade today but, even though it's been 4 years, I don't get the sense that a new phone would be a that much better. Outside of cameras (which aren't important to me), am I missing out? What glorious benefits could I enjoy by upgrading to a current year phone and Android 11?
Am I a Phone Fuddy Duddy?
No, I am still using a Sidekick II from ~2003.
But to answer your actual question, i don't think it is necessary to get a new phone. I have read articles about how smart phones at this point are about bells and whistles to attract buyers who need the next shiny object rather than leaps forward like we saw back in the day.
posted by Fukiyama at 8:50 AM on November 4, 2020
No, I am still using a Sidekick II from ~2003.
But to answer your actual question, i don't think it is necessary to get a new phone. I have read articles about how smart phones at this point are about bells and whistles to attract buyers who need the next shiny object rather than leaps forward like we saw back in the day.
posted by Fukiyama at 8:50 AM on November 4, 2020
Security features are usually better on newer models and operating systems. You should check into the differences between android 8 and 11 security-wise and decide if you can live without the newer version. Even if you want 11, you may not need to get this year's phone to get it.
posted by soelo at 9:12 AM on November 4, 2020
posted by soelo at 9:12 AM on November 4, 2020
Battery life and better pictures are the only reason I even update my phone, and that's at a pretty glacial (by my friends' standards) 3-4 years. The only pro-change argument I have for you is that we're coming up on Christmas sales, so if you think you'll want/need to upgrade your phone before the end of next year then you might as well buy something at a deep discount.
posted by grandiloquiet at 9:14 AM on November 4, 2020
posted by grandiloquiet at 9:14 AM on November 4, 2020
Much more fine-grained line-item application permissions and a "one time only" permission option are notable. (Though, a lot of popular apps refuse to run if you actually use those options.)
posted by eotvos at 9:15 AM on November 4, 2020
posted by eotvos at 9:15 AM on November 4, 2020
Upgrade because the present is safer for your data.
I moved through many Xperias: my Z5 Compact to an X Compact and on again because of a lack of security updates (but they really spend less effort getting good photos out of a mid-range phone: it can have a more-recent, cheaper, better sensor but poor calibration and there's not a lot you can do). There will be exploitable holes in the many components that make up the Android system and the longer they go, the longer you're trading having a rare handset for someone being able to exploit your system.
The good news is that Android 10 begins a set of arrangements between handset manufacturers and Android org so that they can upgrade the platform and its components without needing more work from the handset manufacturer or network provider -- for you that means longer periods where there are people fixing bugs that might expose your phone to security flaws.
posted by k3ninho at 9:16 AM on November 4, 2020
I moved through many Xperias: my Z5 Compact to an X Compact and on again because of a lack of security updates (but they really spend less effort getting good photos out of a mid-range phone: it can have a more-recent, cheaper, better sensor but poor calibration and there's not a lot you can do). There will be exploitable holes in the many components that make up the Android system and the longer they go, the longer you're trading having a rare handset for someone being able to exploit your system.
The good news is that Android 10 begins a set of arrangements between handset manufacturers and Android org so that they can upgrade the platform and its components without needing more work from the handset manufacturer or network provider -- for you that means longer periods where there are people fixing bugs that might expose your phone to security flaws.
posted by k3ninho at 9:16 AM on November 4, 2020
If you have a phone plan that includes a replacement phone every 2 years at low or no cost, you are paying for the new phones you aren't getting. A new phone will be a lot better in many ways. My sister just could not make the change, but at least she gave the new phone she didn't want to a family member who needed one. I'd get the new phone, or change the contract.
posted by theora55 at 11:24 AM on November 4, 2020
posted by theora55 at 11:24 AM on November 4, 2020
You'll also get gesture navigation which was introduced in Android 9 and fixed in Android 10.
posted by meowzilla at 12:26 PM on November 4, 2020
posted by meowzilla at 12:26 PM on November 4, 2020
Security concerns would be my biggest reason to change phones. One of the reasons I switched to iPhone was that I was sure of getting at least annual OS upgrades every year for as long as the phone is supported...typically four or five years, not dependent on what my carrier decides to do. I think, as I claim sanctuary says, you will be pleasantly surprised by the differences between a new model and your current model, the performance of which you've grown used to.
Just to be clear, I'm not trying to convince you to switch to Apple, or even buy a new phone if you're content with what you have. Current OS and reliable security updates are my particular bugaboo; I like hanging on to good phone hardware for as long as I can get away with it.
posted by lhauser at 6:47 PM on November 4, 2020
Just to be clear, I'm not trying to convince you to switch to Apple, or even buy a new phone if you're content with what you have. Current OS and reliable security updates are my particular bugaboo; I like hanging on to good phone hardware for as long as I can get away with it.
posted by lhauser at 6:47 PM on November 4, 2020
Nthing what others have said - if you do any financial transacting on your phone at all, you need a phone that gets current security updates.
You're also probably, sooner than later, going to start bumping up against the limits of what your phone can do with apps - that 3GB of RAM is going to strain to run more than a few apps at a time, and the apps you do run are going to run ridiculously slowly before long (they probably already do, you just don't know any different) - as I Claim Sanctuary noted above in their first bullet about using an old phone as a loaner. The performance of a newer phone (even from last year, if you don't want to pay for new-new and are fine with one year back) is so much better than what you're used to, it'll kinda blow your mind.
The other nice thing about current phones is that the baseline storage option, on the Android side at least, is starting to be 128GB - which means you in all likelihood shouldn't need/have to worry about whether a new phone has a microSD slot.
posted by pdb at 7:58 PM on November 4, 2020
You're also probably, sooner than later, going to start bumping up against the limits of what your phone can do with apps - that 3GB of RAM is going to strain to run more than a few apps at a time, and the apps you do run are going to run ridiculously slowly before long (they probably already do, you just don't know any different) - as I Claim Sanctuary noted above in their first bullet about using an old phone as a loaner. The performance of a newer phone (even from last year, if you don't want to pay for new-new and are fine with one year back) is so much better than what you're used to, it'll kinda blow your mind.
The other nice thing about current phones is that the baseline storage option, on the Android side at least, is starting to be 128GB - which means you in all likelihood shouldn't need/have to worry about whether a new phone has a microSD slot.
posted by pdb at 7:58 PM on November 4, 2020
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- So freaking slow. Chrome and Maps especially, Maps took forever to respond.
- Bloody battery was the reason I dumped my S6 in the first place, and a year off charge probably didn't help it, but I had to charge it three times per day. S10, higher usage, I can get through 36 hours on a charge. And that battery was replaced in 2018, not stock, plus I had a lot fewer apps on the S6 since first thing after switching, I deleted a lot of the biggest memory hogs.
- Display. I stick to Samsung because Super AMOLED is generally good, but in the sun especially, the S6 was barely visible. In the same conditions, I can freely read on the S10.
- I thought my S6 sound was good while originally using it. S10 is quite a lot better.
- And yeah, photos. Of black cats at night especially. S10 picks up so much more contrast and subtleties in low light.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 8:43 AM on November 4, 2020