Anyone else considering a mid range phone for their next purchase?

[BlackZeppelin]

Hi all. My first flagship was the Galaxy S5 and my next and current one is the Note 9. But even I am starting to become disillusioned with flagship phones.

It's a number of things. It's not just the price, but the price vs value. My note 9 cost me $1500 here in Australia and whilst it was a lot of money, I didn't baulk at getting it as it was a huge jump over the S5.

The S20 Ultra, the only S20 I would consider getting, is now $2000 and the Z flip is even more. The only feature I really like about the S20 Ultra I can't get in any other phone is the zoom camera system. That alone for me doesn't justify the huge price and upgrading from my Note 9.

And being totally honest, I'm really put off by all the issues of the S20 Ultra including that Exynos processor.

For the first time in almost 6 years since owning flagship smartphones, I'm considering switching to a mid-range one for my next purchase. Looking at the specs of the Galaxy A71, it is more than adequate for my needs for half the price of an S20+.

Anyone else in a similar mind frame?

 

[ThrottleJohnny]

I believe, and I could be wrong, a lot of people who buy midrange also don’t want to upgrade every year. It’s about saving money for many.

Then unless you also don't care about long term updates, I most certainly would not recommend a Samsung.

I guess it just depends on what you prioritize.

 

[me just saying]

Then unless you also don't care about long term updates, I most certainly would not recommend a Samsung.

I guess it just depends on what you prioritize.

as long as the phone updates until it is replaced, It does not matter to me. usually I replace every couple of years and imo, most who keep their phones longer usually don't care about updates. it seems to be only techs who cares about updates.

 

[ThrottleJohnny]

as long as the phone updates until it is replaced, It does not matter to me. usually I replace every couple of years and imo, most who keep their phones longer usually don't care about updates. it seems to be only techs who cares about updates.

Yeah if you're only going to keep your phone a few years, or you don't care about long term updates, Samsung phones are great!

 

[BlackZeppelin]

as long as the phone updates until it is replaced, It does not matter to me. usually I replace every couple of years and imo, most who keep their phones longer usually don't care about updates. it seems to be only techs who cares about updates.

What about continuing monthly security patches? You can function fine without the latest Android version but security patches are another thing.

 

[me just saying]

What about continuing monthly security patches? You can function fine without the latest Android version but security patches are another thing.

most can function fine without security patches too. but samsung does offer security patches for up to four years depending on the model.

 

[anon(50597)]

What about continuing monthly security patches? You can function fine without the latest Android version but security patches are another thing.

Extremely important.

 

[BlackZeppelin]

most can function fine without security patches too. but samsung does offer security patches for up to four years depending on the model.

Oh ok. I didn't actually know that. Well that's good.

 

[cknobman]

I'm tired of the high prices.

Nowadays it is just about adding in frivolous features to drive the price up, or rather justify jacking the price up.

I'm done with expensive smartphones especially seeing just how much you can get for <=$500

 

[lsanford2255]

I currently have an S9. I am tired of paying high prices for flagship phones. My issue is that I use and want to continue using Samsung Pay (MST). I am interested in the upcoming release of the A71 (on VZW). I am trying to determine if it's considered an 'upgrade' from an S9 to an A71, and if the A71 (US) will support Samsung Pay. I also want to stay in the Samsung ecosystem.

 

[Ry]

I use a Moto Z4 and iPhone XR. I don't think I'll ever buy at the high-end again.

 

[maj71303]

yep I'm throwing in the towel this year and will just purchase some lower costing good value midrangers. I have all ready started by getting the iPhone SE 2020 that will be the backup to my S20+ that will be my last flagship. My wife is also had enough and she is mainly a iPhone user and has the iPhone 11. That will be the last iPhone as she wants to cut down on the price paid as well and is seriously considering an Android midrange device to be her next device. All she wants is a decent camera and no stuttering since she doesn't game on her phone much, she is an social media junkie though. Depending on price and the 4a might be her next device and will sell the iPhone 11.

Only reason I got the S20+ is because I only paid $400 for it with trade-in and Samsung reward points I had from previously purchases.

 

[MoreDef]

didn't the S7 just stop getting security updates? i was surprised to read that.

 

[me just saying]

didn't the S7 just stop getting security updates? i was surprised to read that.

see the following for what phones are still getting security updates.

https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb

 

[MoreDef]

yup! after opting 512g S20 Ultra, and noticing that 99% of the time, I'm doing the same exact things on it that i'm doing on my pixel 3xl, I've decided that i really truly only need 4 things to make me feel i have the phone I need:

1) top-notch camera for taking pictures of moving people in less-than-perfect lighting (i don't care about zoom or scenery)
2) can last the whole day (battery capacity sometimes doesn't tell the whole story)
3) snappy OS with little to no bloatware or competing apps (3 email apps, 3 browsers, 3 messaging apps is all too much)
4) android (because if i left this out, it sounds like i'm describing an iphone...but i need the customization of an android)

everything else is a quality of life change that i've realized is nice, but not really necessary throughout most of my day to day interaction with the phone. at the end of the day, i need it for email, browsing, photos and maybe some cool tech wizardry, like accessing security cameras and turning on my smart devices.

so yeah, the Ultra will definitely be my last flagship, and the only way flagship i can see myself even thinking about is a future Note that has EVERYTHING like the Note 4 and 9 before it. From now on, I'm going with straight Pixels.

 

[donm527]

I have come to really use Samsung pay or at least electronic pay for 9/10 of my purchases and when I got my Note 8 at launch MST made it work almost 100%. I have the swipe up function to pull up my card in Samsung Pay, authenticate and tap.

I have Google Pay on secondary and able to just unlock phone to home screen and tap. In the beginning NFC wasn't as consistent for me or stores hadn't activated it yet so I always went with Samsung and just tap at the card swipe because it was almost 100%.

But the last year I found myself seeing the NFC logo everywhere now, I have been using Google Pay more and more. Everyone seems to have enabled NFC now and card readers seem to process Google Pay transactions faster than Samsung Pay or eliminate a button press that I might need to do like at a 7-Eleven.

There are other Samsung features that I like and will weigh in my next phone decision... Bixby Vision for translations, Secure Folder, etc. But I find Samsung Pay not as an important factor now.

I currently have an S9. I am tired of paying high prices for flagship phones. My issue is that I use and want to continue using Samsung Pay (MST). I am interested in the upcoming release of the A71 (on VZW). I am trying to determine if it's considered an 'upgrade' from an S9 to an A71, and if the A71 (US) will support Samsung Pay. I also want to stay in the Samsung ecosystem.

 

[BlackZeppelin]

I currently have an S9. I am tired of paying high prices for flagship phones. My issue is that I use and want to continue using Samsung Pay (MST). I am interested in the upcoming release of the A71 (on VZW). I am trying to determine if it's considered an 'upgrade' from an S9 to an A71, and if the A71 (US) will support Samsung Pay. I also want to stay in the Samsung ecosystem.

I can't see why you can't use Samsung Pay or Google Pay on the Galaxy A71. Just have a look at the specs. All you need to use that is an inbuilt NFC.

I just had a look at the specs on an Australian electronics store of the Galaxy A71 and there is definately an NFC chip. So you're good to go for Google and Samsung Pay.

On another note, I have tried both Samsung and Google Pay. And I prefer Google. Using Samsung Pay, you have to open the app to use. Using Google Pay, you merely have to unlock your phone to use. You can be in any app or in your homescreen to use Google Pay.

 

[me just saying]

I can't see why you can't use Samsung Pay or Google Pay on the Galaxy A71. Just have a look at the specs. All you need to use that is an inbuilt NFC.

I just had a look at the specs on an Australian electronics store of the Galaxy A71 and there is definately an NFC chip. So you're good to go for Google and Samsung Pay.

On another note, I have tried both Samsung and Google Pay. And I prefer Google. Using Samsung Pay, you have to open the app to use. Using Google Pay, you merely have to unlock your phone to use. You can be in any app or in your homescreen to use Google Pay.

what do you mean by "open the app" you do not even need to unlock the phone to use samsung pay. just swipe uip and authenticate. technically it is the same number of steps. I will admit google pay was faster when the fingerprint scan was on the back of the phone. you could be logged in by the time you pull the phone from the pocket.

 

[BlackZeppelin]

what do you mean by "open the app" you do not even need to unlock the phone to use samsung pay. just swipe uip and authenticate. technically it is the same number of steps. I will admit google pay was faster when the fingerprint scan was on the back of the phone. you could be logged in by the time you pull the phone from the pocket.

Ah yes, I forgot about the swipe up from the bottom of Samsung Pay. Good point. That is a feature you can enable or disable.

But with Google Pay, all you do is unlock your phone and bring your phone near a terminal and Google Pay activates. You can literally be in your camera app, bring your phone next to a cash terminal and Google Pay will activate. It's still more convenient than Samsung Pay which is still a 2 step process, unlock your phone>swipe up vs Google Pay>unlock your phone.

 

[me just saying]

Ah yes, I forgot about the swipe up from the bottom of Samsung Pay. Good point. That is a feature you can enable or disable.

But with Google Pay, all you do is unlock your phone and bring your phone near a terminal and Google Pay activates. You can literally be in your camera app, bring your phone next to a cash terminal and Google Pay will activate. It's still more convenient than Samsung Pay which is still a 2 step process, unlock your phone>swipe up vs Google Pay>unlock your phone.

as I said, you can use samsung pay without unlocking the phone.

 

[BlackZeppelin]

as I said, you can use samsung pay without unlocking the phone.

It's been a while since I've used Samsung Pay. I wouldn't want pay activation without unlocking your phone for obvious security reasons. On my Note 9, all I do is place my finger on the secure fingerprint reader to unlock and Google Pay is at my disposal. I wouldn't want to have this available without unlocking my phone.

But feel free to correct me as I say, it's been a while since I've used Samsung Pay.