What makes some cell phones worth ten times others?

I'm happily sticking with my flip phone. I'll use my PC or tablet for the internet. I have a separate digital camera for pictures. It's amazing that a new iPhone is coming that costs $1,000. I guess there are people who will spend almost any amount on something "techie". I guess I'm still old fashioned.

shastagary wrote:
when you use your phone day in day out for research an much more than just a phone or camera the quality of the screen resolution responsiveness of the touch screen processor speed and the overall experience of just using it come into play. i own 2 of the phones in the $100 dollar price range a Alcatel and a lg i use them as bluetooth music players so i don't have to tie up my regular phone. they work good for that but would pi** me off trying to use them every day i guess i am spoiled

Some people see the word phone and cannot get past that. They are not the target audience for sophisticated computers that can also make telephone calls and should purchase the cheapest device to serve that purpose. For others that can utilize these devices for more than just the annual mothers day call will continue to drive advancements that were merely science fiction only a decade or so ago.

when you use your phone day in day out for research an much more than just a phone or camera the quality of the screen resolution responsiveness of the touch screen processor speed and the overall experience of just using it come into play. i own 2 of the phones in the $100 dollar price range a Alcatel and a lg i use them as bluetooth music players so i don't have to tie up my regular phone. they work good for that but would pi** me off trying to use them every day i guess i am spoiled

TomG2 wrote:
Please quote where I said my $100 smartphone was the equivalent of a more expensive model

here is where you said it

TomG2 wrote:
Paying ten times for a device that will perform the same as all the other phones is a waste of money

I have to wonder why people on these forums get so defensive about their purchases? Why they start name calling, misquoting, and yelling?

I know the value of going from a twelve dollar flip phone to a smartphone. I asked what makes the more expensive models worth it. I was not saying they aren't. I am just a lazy guy who thought he might be missing something. The example of video quality is a good one, but one I can forego as I have good cameras for that stuff. Occasionally, I post a video from my phone on Facebook and nobody has complained about the quality yet. Apparently there is not much I am missing. I will spend the money if proven otherwise.

shastagary wrote:
you keep saying your phone performs just as good as one that costs 10 times more NO IT DOES NOT it may perform the some of the same functions but its performance of those functions especially any thing beyond a phone call will never be as good as the better phone.

Please quote where I said my $100 smartphone was the equivalent of a more expensive model. Don't put words in people's mouths, IT IS UNSANITARY. (Don't you just love it when people yell to make a nonexistent point?) Just the opposite in fact. I asked what the additional money would get me and your example of video quality was a good one.

Sure is a lot of negative attitude in this thread against people that want a nice phone. I assume all the folks against buying fancy things are also camping in the most basic travel trailer or modified cargo van rather than a posh 5th wheel, class c or class a? right?

fj12ryder wrote:

TomG2 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
You're not completely correct. The phones today still work just like the phones from 15 years ago: you talk into it and listen to it, you then can communicate with the person on the other end. .

Fifteen years ago, we were working with Windows 98 SE, and you do not appreciate the improvement in electronics since then? It has been said that if cars made the progress that computers have, they would get tremendous fuel mileage and cost very little. I remember paying $100 for one Megabyte of RAM. Not a Gigabyte, a Megabyte. Any reason to brag on Honda generators should come as no surprise but comparing them to the difference between a flip phone and a modern Smartphone is quite a stretch. Voice recognition, face recognition, Internet access among other things were pretty rare at the turn of the Century.

I appreciate the improvements in electronics, but lets face it, most people use their phones for Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and taking pictures. Not exactly putting all those improvements to good use. Kind of like buying a top-of-the-line Ferrari and using it to get groceries. Useful, but mostly unnecessary.

As with most things in life, it is up to the individual to decide if what they are using the "whatever" for is necessary, useful and/or desired.

That's the joy in freedom. If I want to buy $400 shoes to go grocery shopping, I can. If someone else wants to spend $70K on a big truck, they can. Doesn't matter what the next guy thinks about it.

Buy the phone you like and want. Don't worry about missing out on something you don't care about. And don't worry about paying more for something others think is a waste.

It's your money and your life.

Finally, a reason to spend lots of money on a phone. Thanks.

TomG2 wrote:
simply asking what the extra money buys in terms of performance and capability. I know all about "perceived" value, "pride of ownership", etc. Those are valid reasons to spend money. Paying ten times for a device that will perform the same as all the other phones is a waste of money. In my opinion

you keep saying your phone performs just as good as one that costs 10 times more NO IT DOES NOT it may perform the some of the same functions but its performance of those functions especially any thing beyond a phone call will never be as good as the better phone. i will give you just one of reasons somebody(not you)would buy the $1000.00 smartphone. people including professional newscasters will buy them just for the 4k video recording and transmitting of live broadcast quality video to tv news stations facebook live,periscope,ustream and others of news,sporting events,hurricanes,police actions etc. tv news is already using current cellphones to broadcast some stories instead of there heavy super expensive broadcast cameras. the camera alone that is always with you ready to capture that event will be worth it to many. your sub $100.00 smartphone will in no way perform like that it may look good on your phone watching it back but play it on a big screen or blow up and print a picture and there is no comparison. i can instantly tell when a cheap phone is broadcasting on periscope the picture quality is just not there. if you record video and take pictures of memories you want to save the better camera you carry all the time can be worth it. maybe you do not do that but most people do use the camera daily.