So I purchased an iphone 6s+, I don't get it!

[lopri]

I purchased an S6 while I was comparing it with the new iPhone 6s because I realized how well made and advanced the S6 was. Which is funny because I kind of passed up on the S6 by that point, but seeing the two side by side there was really no competition between the two (sans the A9 SOC) and the my newfound appreciation prompted me to jump on a deal on the S6.

 

[WelshBloke]

Better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness

And just for the heck of it

S5 16GB $237 ASP
iP6 16GB $460 ASP

So you're saying that the S5 is a much better deal than the iP6?

 

[slackerinabox]

Better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness

And just for the heck of it

S5 16GB $237 ASP
iP6 16GB $460 ASP

I'm literally living it! My dad's all sorts of jealous about my wife's iPhone 6s+ (as am I, as am I) and I'm trying all sorts of combinations to try to help him get one for as little scratch by selling old gear, and the mismatch in resale values is staggering. .. I've seen desperate foreign tourists offering $600 for his curret iPhone 6 on craigslist, his galaxy mega from a generation ago? $60! I'm glad I'm on Jump because while the iPhone 6 I gave him is still flawless, my current gen s6 edge has seams that are spread further apart and wear and tear visible around ports. In other words, the inferior build quality resulted in a phone showing much more wear, meaning lower resale value. I probably can get around $300 for It in "fair to good" condition. While my 2 gen old (and my dad's current phone) iPhone 6 can sell for more, and it still looks pretty flawless even though it's been through 2 owners.

this is why apple's lease program is so brilliant (and why I can get a new phone yearly for $60 out of pocket) - they're well built products that keep their value, and have a predictable depreciation curve. I hate to call a piece of consumer electronics an "investment," but it's a hobby that almost pays for itself with some hoops. I used to buy consoles and pc hardware upgrades yearly, now I just spend about $100 a year out of pocket for a phone (and tmobile spreads the out of pocket to less than what my bill was 2 years ago with the new phones). I'm done with android for main phones, ios just works and makes sense. And is cheaper in the long run If you're a yearly upgrader. I know, many will scoff at yearly updates - but my phone is my gaming system, my music player, my main camera - I don't have many hobbies so keeping my phone fresh is a small splurge for some fun. And it's affordable to do so.

I don't know if anyone else is bothered by this recent android development- I never got android auto to work anyways, but Porsche alleges that google required data dumps with location datas/driving and car data. Just the sort of stuff an ad company would want, and that scares me. With apple, I know that my $700 is going into shiny metal and glass. Since android is "free," Google obviously needs to monetize off of your information And.. Well, i'd rather pay the money. I'm sure apple has privacy issues too, but I don't know if i'm comfortable with all the data google wants to collect (project tango/ glass /nest / self driving car included)... call me a luddite, "do no evil" sounds fishy because they can decide what's evil or not.

 

[openwheel]

$60 iPhone, that's brilliant mate!

Your BFF Artdeco could use some help leasing the newest Apple Watch too. Let's say $30/year?

 

[slackerinabox]

$60 iPhone, that's brilliant mate!

Your BFF Artdeco could use some help leasing the newest Apple Watch too. Let's say $30/year?

This has been repeated again and again but, here, using real numbers:

Our Verizon bill was over $200 for 2 lines, with a phone every 2 years for $199 (the old model)

We now pay around $180 with 4 lines on tmobile, including the payment plans for 2 phones that we swap every year.

My wife's upgrade (she had an iPhone so the rep suggested this) was actually a savings in a weird way. $9 a month for an iPhone 6s+ with her trade in, I think we were paying $24 a month for the 6

 

[poofyhairguy]

this is why apple's lease program is so brilliant (and why I can get a new phone yearly for $60 out of pocket) - they're well built products that keep their value, and have a predictable depreciation curve. I hate to call a piece of consumer electronics an "investment," but it's a hobby that almost pays for itself with some hoops. I used to buy consoles and pc hardware upgrades yearly, now I just spend about $100 a year out of pocket for a phone (and tmobile spreads the out of pocket to less than what my bill was 2 years ago with the new phones). I'm done with android for main phones, ios just works and makes sense. And is cheaper in the long run If you're a yearly upgrader. I know, many will scoff at yearly updates - but my phone is my gaming system, my music player, my main camera - I don't have many hobbies so keeping my phone fresh is a small splurge for some fun. And it's affordable to do so.

For sure if you want a new phone every year and you are buying day 1 the cheaper option is iOS by a mile when resale value is taken into account. It really isn't close given the depreciation of Android devices.

The only holdup I have with that personally is the fact that I feel iPhones are behind the curve for things I care about. For example, it would have been borderline torture for me to use an iPhone 6 for the last year with that 1GB of RAM. I use way too many tabs in a mobile web browser, and I already got hooked on 2GB+ in Android before the iPhone 6 was even released. Or in another example I have gotten used to higher PPI screens on Android, so everytime I see a iPhone 6 (not plus) screen the text looks like garbage to me. The 6s has the same issue. It really bugs me.

But everyone has different priorities, and quite frankly a yearly phone flipper doesn't care about if some future phone has a better design or more RAM because they will soon have that model after it is released.

I don't know if anyone else is bothered by this recent android development

Meh, we have all known from the start that Android users are the product and not the customers. Just like network television.

The most troubling thing in Android right now is the update structure and OEMs skinning their OSes to death. It absolutely sucks that the problem you are talking about in regards to phone value has basically been solved by low-cost Android devices but those who are tech savvy can't take advantage. A $280 Zenphone 2 simply doesn't have a lot of room TO depreciate, which mitigates that problem, but it also won't get Marshmellow for god knows how long which cuts into the appeal.

Everyone keeps waiting for Google to use some muscle to fix the situation and year after year it is nothing but disappointment. I think that creates a situation that makes it so if you are on the extremes- aka you either plan to keep a phone for a year or keep it for four years- then there is no good choice but an iPhone. Google needs to fix that, and it needs to do it outside of the Nexus lineup.

 

[openwheel]

This has been repeated again and again but, here, using real numbers:

Our Verizon bill was over $200 for 2 lines, with a phone every 2 years for $199 (the old model)

We now pay around $180 with 4 lines on tmobile, including the payment plans for 2 phones that we swap every year.

My wife's upgrade (she had an iPhone so the rep suggested this) was actually a savings in a weird way. $9 a month for an iPhone 6s+ with her trade in, I think we were paying $24 a month for the 6

No need to defend your financial decision. I believe you, and everyone has different priorities on how they spend money anyway.

I am on Verizon unlimited every plan with insurance. I also upgrade my phone every year.

Total monthly out of pocket cost: $0.00
Total yearly cost of phone upgrade: $100-$200 + tax + fee
Net: I make money. As Artdeco so eloquently put it: BAM! :biggrin:

 

[Midwayman]

The most troubling thing in Android right now is the update structure and OEMs skinning their OSes to death. It absolutely sucks that the problem you are talking about in regards to phone value has basically been solved by low-cost Android devices but those who are tech savvy can't take advantage. A $280 Zenphone 2 simply doesn't have a lot of room TO depreciate, which mitigates that problem, but it also won't get Marshmellow for god knows how long which cuts into the appeal.

Everyone keeps waiting for Google to use some muscle to fix the situation and year after year it is nothing but disappointment. I think that creates a situation that makes it so if you are on the extremes- aka you either plan to keep a phone for a year or keep it for four years- then there is no good choice but an iPhone. Google needs to fix that, and it needs to do it outside of the Nexus lineup.

Yah, the updates are a PITA. What gets me a lot of times is 3rd party stuff working or not is such a hit or miss proposition with android. Nobody tests every phone. My car bluetooth music for example my android phone paired and played music no problem, but you had to go in and tell it to play every time and track info wouldn't pop up. Next track wasn't reliable depending on the app, etc. My iphone otoh it all works flawlessly since everyone tests all that stuff to make sure it works on the iphone.

 

[Tsavo]

How many iOS vs Android threads do we really need in the Mobile forum?

Participation is voluntary. If you don't like it, then don't read it.

Some things are pretty simple, no?

 

[VashHT]

Participation is voluntary. If you don't like it, then don't read it.

Some things are pretty simple, no?

When there are already 3 or 4 on the first page there is no reason to start another, you have the same people saying the same crap in every thread.

 

[lopri]

When there are already 3 or 4 on the first page there is no reason to start another, you have the same people saying the same crap in every thread.

Yup. I have been trying to avoid them to this point but they are literally flooding the front page and it just goes on and on. Really distasteful.

 

[slackerinabox]

Really distasteful.

Distasteful? Can you explain, or are you taking this shit too seriously?

 

[Artdeco]

So you're saying that the S5 is a much better deal than the iP6?

No, we were talking about resale value, and the repeated claims that Android flagship phones retained their value, I disagreed, gave real world prices to back it up.

"Deal" is relative, to me, an S6 is a non starter, I'm done with Samsung phones. If they'd left the removeable battery and expandable memory in at least one variant of the Note, I'd still be on board, heck, I've got a 3 and a 4 I need to list on Swappa.

 

[StrangerGuy]

The most troubling thing in Android right now is the update structure and OEMs skinning their OSes to death. It absolutely sucks that the problem you are talking about in regards to phone value has basically been solved by low-cost Android devices but those who are tech savvy can't take advantage. A $280 Zenphone 2 simply doesn't have a lot of room TO depreciate, which mitigates that problem, but it also won't get Marshmellow for god knows how long which cuts into the appeal.

Everyone keeps waiting for Google to use some muscle to fix the situation and year after year it is nothing but disappointment. I think that creates a situation that makes it so if you are on the extremes- aka you either plan to keep a phone for a year or keep it for four years- then there is no good choice but an iPhone. Google needs to fix that, and it needs to do it outside of the Nexus lineup.

Everyone involved in Android seems to be in a myopic full retard mode thinking as long as they can release the next greatest thing every year they just keep abandoning support to people who bought last year's model without generating ill will or resentment. Small wonder Android ASPs are keep falling year after year.

 

[sweenish]

And then there's you.

Mods really should lock these threads down.

 

[StrangerGuy]

And then there's you.

Mods really should lock these threads down.

So, you don't want Android to improve and solve a fundamental problem since Day 1? I must be a fanboy :whiste:

 

[slackerinabox]

Everyone involved in Android seems to be in a myopic full retard mode thinking as long as they can release the next greatest thing every year they just keep abandoning support to people who bought last year's model without generating ill will or resentment. Small wonder Android ASPs are keep falling year after year.

It's not even a year! Updates are coming faster for the s6 edge plus before the s6 edge, so my 6 month old phone is already being given the 2nd class citizen treatment

 

[openwheel]

I thought you just lease phones and upgrade frequently anyway. Why do you care if you don't get the latest Nexus updates? You buy Android knowing Nexus devices get software updates over others, so why the moaning? Since you upgrade so frequently with T-Mobile Jump.

It is iPhone that I would be worried about. Generally iPhones slow down after software updates. Remember iPhone 4 with its lack of LTE and unbearable software updates? While Android devices get delayed but better updates. You gain some, you lose some.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Everyone involved in Android seems to be in a myopic full retard mode thinking as long as they can release the next greatest thing every year they just keep abandoning support to people who bought last year's model without generating ill will or resentment. Small wonder Android ASPs are keep falling year after year.

Actually you have it backwards. The extra costs of doing it right and supporting users is what is dragging down the HTCs of the world who promise updates to year plus old phones like the M8. OnePlus with its "you won't get any domestic support and at that price we hope you expect it" model is what is eating everyone's lunch. The up and coming Chinese companies don't even pretend to update their devices.

If anything the market is showing it wants LESS emphasis on updates, LESS emphasis on long-term support if that raises the purchase price even a little bit (which it has to). Just like with Windows PCs the margin for user support doesn't exist.

 

[ControlD]

It's not even a year! Updates are coming faster for the s6 edge plus before the s6 edge, so my 6 month old phone is already being given the 2nd class citizen treatment

But you knew that going in right? If you want updates in a timely fashion you don't buy a phone with the heaviest skinning treatment on the market.

I agree that Android updates are a huge problem. My wife's S5 is still on 5.0. That is just piss poor in my opinion. Since she got the phone for $0.01 last Black Friday I am seriously considering buying her a Nexus 5X and selling the S5 for whatever we can get for it.

 

[purbeast0]

i had an iphone 6+ for about 3 days before i returned it. but i didn't return it because of iOS, i returned it because the phone was way too big. so i went with the normal ip6 instead and am still using it and love it.

the one thing i always notice about my friends who have android, whenever they come over they are always bringing their chargers and charging their phones while they are over. we'll be watching football games and we're all looking at twitter and stats on our phones during the games, but the android guys always have to plug it in because their battery is running low.

that would drive me nuts. i only charge my phone at night when i sleep, very rarely am i charging it outside of that time, unless i forgot to charge it one night.

 

[QueBert]

i had an iphone 6+ for about 3 days before i returned it. but i didn't return it because of iOS, i returned it because the phone was way too big. so i went with the normal ip6 instead and am still using it and love it.

the one thing i always notice about my friends who have android, whenever they come over they are always bringing their chargers and charging their phones while they are over. we'll be watching football games and we're all looking at twitter and stats on our phones during the games, but the android guys always have to plug it in because their battery is running low.

that would drive me nuts. i only charge my phone at night when i sleep, very rarely am i charging it outside of that time, unless i forgot to charge it one night.

Depends on your usage, I have an iPhone 6+, and I take my charger with me everywhere. On a normal day I have to charge it well before I go home. This is similar to every Android phone I've owned (about 6 different ones) except with my iPhone I get a few more hours before needing to charge. I still have to during the day though. It'll be a long time before there's a smart phone that can get a day of heavy use that won't need to be charged before I go home.

 

[VashHT]

i had an iphone 6+ for about 3 days before i returned it. but i didn't return it because of iOS, i returned it because the phone was way too big. so i went with the normal ip6 instead and am still using it and love it.

the one thing i always notice about my friends who have android, whenever they come over they are always bringing their chargers and charging their phones while they are over. we'll be watching football games and we're all looking at twitter and stats on our phones during the games, but the android guys always have to plug it in because their battery is running low.

that would drive me nuts. i only charge my phone at night when i sleep, very rarely am i charging it outside of that time, unless i forgot to charge it one night.

Meh, I sold my iphone 6 in part because the battery life wasn't that great, my note 4 lasts far longer in my own experience. Also, my friends with iphones are constantly charging them, granted they have 5S's still so they're kind of old but just goes to show you anecdotal evidence doesn't mean much. The people I know with android are kind of mixed, a few of them I never see charging their phone but they use it a lot, some of them are always asking for a charger when they come over, but it's a mix of different phones/carriers so it's hard to quantify.

 

[Midwayman]

Meh, I sold my iphone 6 in part because the battery life wasn't that great, my note 4 lasts far longer in my own experience. Also, my friends with iphones are constantly charging them, granted they have 5S's still so they're kind of old but just goes to show you anecdotal evidence doesn't mean much. The people I know with android are kind of mixed, a few of them I never see charging their phone but they use it a lot, some of them are always asking for a charger when they come over, but it's a mix of different phones/carriers so it's hard to quantify.

FWIW Apple is always near the top of the heap in battery life tests if not the top here on Anandtech reviews. I think you can objectively say they have very good battery life.

 

[Red Storm]

FWIW Apple is always near the top of the heap in battery life tests if not the top here on Anandtech reviews. I think you can objectively say they have very good battery life.

If Anandtech were open about their testing specifics and allowed the community to perform identical testing perhaps I could then see why their numbers never seem to match what I experience in real life.

My work issued 6 Plus has satisfactory battery life, but it's definitely not top of the heap. My battery life was better on the Note 4 (and 5) without question, and those two had Google Now running on them as well.

What iOS devices excel at is standby battery life. Hopefully with Android 6.0 we see similar performance with Doze.