Most Important: Hardware or Software?

[Morty2264]

Hardware has to be important or you get poorly calibrated displays, tiny batteries, noncompliant charging solutions, etc. But software is MUCH more important, because that's where all of your user experience is concentrated and that's where the almost all of your user security rests. You need both, but software has more mission critical components.

Very well said! You can't have one without the other, so to speak.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

Definitely software.

General phone hardware has become very similar these days, minus display tech, calibration, battery capacity and others.

Software is where OEMs will have to differentiate themselves and is often the area where I find interesting additions to Android.

 

[8livesleft]

Hardware

Software doesn't matter if the hardware can't run it.

 

[Tsepz_GP]

Definitely Hardware.

- Battery Size
- SoC
- Camera
- Display
- MicroSD support
- Wireless Charging Support out-the-box
- IP68 Protection

Etc etc etc....


As someone who came from Symbian I have always approached tech with the notion that bad Software can be fixed at any point with an update, rooting or a ROM, but bad hardware is there forever on a smartphone.

If it came with a crap display or crap camera hardware, a SoC that overheats, a smaller battery etc... It's not exactly possible to fix OR requires purchasing a "band aid" to fix the problems e.g. an extend battery pack.

 

[Guytronic]

Most important: Hardware or Software?

Great question.
100% hardware here.

My experience has been that good hardware seems future proof.
I'll generally keep heavy hitters in the hardware department a lot longer.

Bad software still runs ok on really good hardware.

 

[Tsepz_GP]

Indeed. I know of people still using the old Samsung Galaxy Note 3, why? Even though the software was average at launch, the hardware was very top shelf, same with the Galaxy Note 4, which continues to be a brilliant phone to this day, having many of the specs newer phones are getting from Fast Charging, WQHD Display, Camera with OIS , VR Support etc...


Phones like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, LG V20, Huawei Mate 9 and ZTE Axon 7 will be great phones in 2years time, partly due to allowing Memory Expansion, while the 64GB-No Expansion Phones run out of memory the above phones will continue going.

 

[offsidebowler]

Has to be hardware for me now that everything's future proof for at least the medium-term. From an aesthetic / tactile point of view it's also nice to have a device that looks good and feels well built as opposed to some of the plastic junk from years gone by.

 

[anon(10092459)]

Definitely Hardware.

- Battery Size
- SoC
- Camera
- Display
- MicroSD support
- Wireless Charging Support out-the-box
- IP68 Protection

Etc etc etc....


As someone who came from Symbian I have always approached tech with the notion that bad Software can be fixed at any point with an update, rooting or a ROM, but bad hardware is there forever on a smartphone.

If it came with a crap display or crap camera hardware, a SoC that overheats, a smaller battery etc... It's not exactly possible to fix OR requires purchasing a "band aid" to fix the problems e.g. an extend battery pack.

Solid post! Very well laid out and I can see your point..

I think this type of question parallels other things for me, like vehicles. I've never considered the gas tank size, as much as I have MPG. I've can't say that engine size directly enters my mind as much as engine efficiency. In other words, if a turbo charged V4 outperforms a bigger V6 in fuel efficiency and maintains HP, I'd be more interested in the V4. With phones many people like to consider screen size, whether it's 4.7", 5", 5.2" or whatever, and that is a lower priority on my list vs say ambient display.

But I definitely agree that whatever hardware you got it is, well, whatcha got. The software update for Nougat to 7.1.1 highlights your point that software can always been updated and changed while hardware is permanent. So for me, that means owning a phone that makes that available. Hardware would take a backseat in that case.

 

[Matty]

I am curious about when others choose their technology what's most important in driving their decision.

I understand both are important, but what's most important to you?

Great question DMP89145!

To me, its definitely a nice combination of both. I need to like the look of the hardware so I'm able to use it for 3 year without getting bored and i also need to like the software. Since this is also something i will be using on a daily basis. The two for me need to work together to create a lovely overall experience.

if i had to sacrifice quality on one of them it would be the hardware. Software security and productivity mean the absolute most to me which is why i purchased a Blackberry PRIV and I've loved it since the first day

However, with the launch of Android Nougat, the security side of things has definitely been stepped up which is great to see.

 

[wenso smith]

Hardware is most important... without hardware software doesn't matter...

 

[Alanhd]

For me it's hardware. I know you can ruin good hardware with with terrible software but it's harder to get poor hardware to run great.

 

[kramer5150]

I guess this discussion is assuming a certain quality level and stability for both, which is not always a given.

Hardware for me is the selling point... it always has been now that I think about it, looking back at my purchases over the past decades. I may not have fully needed every feature, but at least its MY CHOICE wether or not too.

My only dabble into a software first design was my iPhone 5C, which admittedly is a pretty extreme example. Absolutely no hardware features at all. Taking it even a step further, with Apples premium $$$ for added internal storage and certified lightning accessories. I bought into the whole iCloud thing and it really didn't work for me. I found it to heavily dependent on local network speeds and reliability. Verizon is not reliable enough, even here in the bay area with Apple AND Google within 30 minutes of each other. I found iTunes way to big, bloated, clunky and controlling for "everything" it tries to do within the ecosystem. I didn't like iPhone apps either, and how revenue centric they are. They tease you with the free version, without features and loaded with ad banners and click bait. I totally prefer open source apps. I have not found it difficult at all finding reputable developers, and even if I download a buggy app... its EASY to find another right around the corner and give it a test drive.

The internal / proprietary low capacity battery eventually forced me out of the Borg. I did replace it myself with a new one, and the 5C does serve as my backup should my current phone die.

Fortunately today Android I think is FAR beyond those early days. I have found K,L,M releases VERY stable in my Sony Xperia Z3V and LG V10. I have even found it decently well supported (since nothing is ever really broken in the first place) at least through Verizon. But IMHO its still better than going over-board like the apple examples I cite above. Granted I was only on KK for 2-3 weeks, so thats hardly a large enough sample size for that release.

 

[Inders99]

Hardware

Software doesn't matter if the hardware can't run it.

The best hardware is just junk unless the software works.

 

[Morty2264]

Great question.
100% hardware here.

My experience has been that good hardware seems future proof.
I'll generally keep heavy hitters in the hardware department a lot longer.

Bad software still runs ok on really good hardware.

Definitely agree with you.