Observational phone ownership

I'm a Londoner so there's a big variety out there. I used to live in Elephant and Castle and commute to Old Street (lots of hipsters, designers etc.) every day. Loads of iPhones both old and new. Seemed illegal for women in particular aged 20-30 to own anything other than a white iPhone 6/7. Very boring.

Now I'm commuting in from the outskirts and I see a bit more of a range. Few Pixels and some Huaweis. Couple of OnePlus phones sometimes. Makes it feel a bit more like a phone market and not just a mass trip to the Apple store, which is nice.
 
I think nowadays mobile phones are now views as a sort of status item. in other words some people will get the phone just because its the latest and greatest atm and actually have no idea on how to use most if not all of the features on the phone. and just wave it around .....oh look what i have...
 
DataVampire said:
I think nowadays mobile phones are now views as a sort of status item. in other words some people will get the phone just because its the latest and greatest atm and actually have no idea on how to use most if not all of the features on the phone. and just wave it around .....oh look what i have...
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I don’t know about that. But maybe I don’t know about that because it’s not something I’ve ever felt the need to do myself.
 
DataVampire said:
I think nowadays mobile phones are now views as a sort of status item. in other words some people will get the phone just because its the latest and greatest atm and actually have no idea on how to use most if not all of the features on the phone. and just wave it around .....oh look what i have...
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I do think it is some sort of problem, a bit like when you were a kid and some had to have the latest Nike (I mean Reebok) trainers, now it's phones as well. I'm not saying adults don't do it, you only need to look at the penis extension cars people have these days to see that.

We are a new phone every 3 year family, but it can be whatever you like as long as it is a good deal. Like the iPhone X I got for the Mrs from the MM for £450 before Christmas. £550 loss on a 11 month old device is shocking, and just proves how over priced premium handsets are these days.
 
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I have noticed that I am the only one in around 200 staff that has a pixel 3 and everyone else has a mix of Samsung, apple and Huawei (very recent)
I also observe people seem to be holding on to older phones a lot longer and actually come across a few people that have gone back to basic phones.
 
Sidshah said:
I have noticed that I am the only one in around 200 staff that has a pixel 3 and everyone else has a mix of Samsung, apple and Huawei (very recent)
I also observe people seem to be holding on to older phones a lot longer and actually come across a few people that have gone back to basic phones.
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I Actually know some people who love there current phone so much that when there contract is due , they choose a phone with high sale-ability in other words they just upgrade there phones sell them off and keep there old phones.
 
I'm the only person I know with a Nokia (8), and my wife is the only person I know with a Huawei (P20 Pro).

Conclusion: Either I have a tendancy to choose niche devices, or I have no friends...
 
It's not observational but I can share facts if necessary :)

Basically it's apple on top, Samsung second, Huawei coming up fast but still less than half a samsung and then everyone else scrabbling around for the scraps.

For all the fuss I think Google are around 1% of the UK market. Getting absolutely nowhere too.
 
I have no idea what phones others are using,i take no notice.
I wouldn't be able to tell a Samsung from a Motorola without seeing the branding....other than iPhones because as you say,9 times out of 10 they have cracked screens
 
I don't really look around the tube, but 90% of time I see some form of iPhone, but rarely X or better.

I do see countless idiots wearing their idiotic airpods though, proper no-marks.
 
DataVampire said:
I think nowadays mobile phones are now views as a sort of status item. in other words some people will get the phone just because its the latest and greatest atm and actually have no idea on how to use most if not all of the features on the phone. and just wave it around .....oh look what i have...
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If that's not a thing now it will be in the very near future. It seems to me like manufacturers have hit a brick wall where innovation is concerned. Therefore people are buying less which is hurting their profits and so I see them trying to carve out a new niche of premium, over priced handsets that do little more than a good mid ranger except demonstrate wealth; as we all know wealthy people often like to let everyone know they are. That's the direction I see things going on and I think mid rangers will be of increasing relevance even to us techies / gadget lovers... Just a theory of mine!
 
FishLicker said:
If that's not a thing now it will be in the very near future. It seems to me like manufacturers have hit a brick wall where innovation is concerned. Therefore people are buying less which is hurting their profits and so I see them trying to carve out a new niche of premium, over priced handsets that do little more than a good mid ranger except demonstrate wealth; as we all know wealthy people often like to let everyone know they are. That's the direction I see things going on and I think mid rangers will be of increasing relevance even to us techies / gadget lovers... Just a theory of mine!
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Things are certainly slowing down but I think the idea that there's a large percentage of people buying for prestige is incorrect. No doubt some do, some treat themselves to something they don't need by the numbers. More buy for either ease of transition within ecosystem and I'm sure it won't be long until someone comes along saying a £150 gloopyphone or whatever the brand is from China is every bit as good as an iphone (I don't use an iPhone but have and know it's greater than the sum of it's parts).

I'll just say... trainers, clothes, watches, houses, cars, holidays, food etc etc etc etc

There's no reason phones would be immune from there being a premium end where the fit/finish/materials and even the look are relevant to this.

Really boring when folks sneer because people "buy" expensive phones.

You stare at the damn thing for hours every day, probably as much as your TV or laptop etc so why not have something that makes you happy even if it is a bit wasteful?

Got to say, since probably the iPhone 4 I haven't heard anyone particularly call out the fact they had the new thing like it was a status thing.. at least that wasn't a kid. That's long gone.
 
matt100 said:
Things are certainly slowing down but I think the idea that there's a large percentage of people buying for prestige is incorrect. No doubt some do, some treat themselves to something they don't need by the numbers. More buy for either ease of transition within ecosystem and I'm sure it won't be long until someone comes along saying a £150 gloopyphone or whatever the brand is from China is every bit as good as an iphone (I don't use an iPhone but have and know it's greater than the sum of it's parts).

I'll just say... trainers, clothes, watches, houses, cars, holidays, food etc etc etc etc

There's no reason phones would be immune from there being a premium end where the fit/finish/materials and even the look are relevant to this.

Really boring when folks sneer because people "buy" expensive phones.

You stare at the damn thing for hours every day, probably as much as your TV or laptop etc so why not have something that makes you happy even if it is a bit wasteful?

Got to say, since probably the iPhone 4 I haven't heard anyone particularly call out the fact they had the new thing like it was a status thing.. at least that wasn't a kid. That's long gone.
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If I came across as sneering it wasn't my intention so I apologise if so... Also I think as of today you are correct but I do think in future the premium phones will end up trying to carve that niche given that for the most part the value thing kicks in for most.

iPhones are another entity altogether. For many it will be the ecosystem that keeps them there and my post was not really directed just at iPhones anyway, I'm sure Samsung see themselves as a premium brand now.

I can't exactly claim the moral high ground myself as I use a 2xl which was an 800 quid phone on its release :)
 
No you didn't but it's normally what follows when you go down this road.

Just the same as when folks take the cent value of a pcb, screen and ram etc and hey presto an iPhone is "worth" $200.. cue OMG they sell it for $1000!!!

Totally missing all the R&D, prototyping, marketing, legals stuff, running shops etc etc etc.

And yes, Samsung do see themselves as premium.. they demonstrably are :)
 
matt100 said:
No you didn't but it's normally what follows when you go down this road.

Just the same as when folks take the cent value of a pcb, screen and ram etc and hey presto an iPhone is "worth" $200.. cue OMG they sell it for $1000!!!

Totally missing all the R&D, prototyping, marketing, legals stuff, running shops etc etc etc.

And yes, Samsung do see themselves as premium.. they demonstrably are :)
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That doesnt apply to be honest, it was the same 5/ 10 years ago. Only thing that has changed is diminishing markets and companies looking to cash in and rip off as much as they can before the bubble bursts.
 
cu3ed said:
That doesnt apply to be honest, it was the same 5/ 10 years ago. Only thing that has changed is diminishing markets and companies looking to cash in and rip off as much as they can before the bubble bursts.
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Nice idea.. not true but nice to believe.

The dumbphones we had 15 years ago still routinely cost upwards of £4-500 15 years ago, inflate that then massively ramp up the amount of "stuff" in the package.

I mean believe what you like but businesses are allowed to turn a profit and anyone gouging with no benefit will soon go the way of Nokia, Blackberry and and and.
 
cu3ed said:
That doesnt apply to be honest, it was the same 5/ 10 years ago. Only thing that has changed is diminishing markets and companies looking to cash in and rip off as much as they can before the bubble bursts.
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Don’t costs go up as time goes by? Inflation alone pushes costs up.
 
Apple develops their own SOC and that won't come cheap, especially when you consider how far ahead of the opposition they are in this area. And OS development is a constant work in progress.
 
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