[GTO]

Originally Posted by GTO

128 GB S9

Been using it and I really love the phone, but am wondering if the phone is actually "3 years ahead"? Has cellphone development peaked for the time being?

- It's as fast as my 2015 S6 Edge was after a clean format. Okay, the S9 is a little quicker, but the difference is hardly a deal maker or breaker.

- Wondering why we are paying more for heavier + bigger phones (it's the other way around with laptops).

- Looks wise, I still prefer my sleek & slim S6 Edge.

My S6 also had the same Android version. So, in a nutshell, this upgrade feels more like a 'facelift' with new headlamps & some extra gizmos, than an entirely "new generation".

I recently read on Bloomberg (and agree with the same) that the difference between mid-range phones & expensive ones is slimming, the main being looks + camera quality + some gizmos which you probably won't use on a daily basis.

I feel like the guy who sold a 5 year old Jetta 2.0 TDI and bought a new Octavia. It feels fresher & newer and has some more kit, but isn't much of an upgrade IMHO. I thought I'm getting an Octavia vRS, but hey, this one turned out to be the good old 2.0 TDI only.

I don't regret it because I paid 37k (cashbacks, discounts, exchange etc.), but there is no way I'd pay 60+k for an S9.

[atnyia]

Originally Posted by GTO

I thought I'm getting an Octavia vRS, but hey, this one turned out to be the good old 2.0 TDI only.

If you are really looking for a vRS, get rid of S9 and buy Oneplus 6, or try if someone has it.

[Marauder]

Originally Posted by GTO

Has cellphone development peaked for the time being?

Pretty much. If you look at the cellphones released over the past 3-4 years, then there hasn't been a massive development from the phones released in 2014-15 to 2018. Companies are just resorting to gimmicks and features that aren't useful for the consumers. You just get extra cameras, more RAM, more storage in the newer phones.

This is especially true for the bigger brands. I am surprised to see companies like VIVO and Oppo doing something innovative with their phones. The all-screen phones(without the notch) and the in-display fingerprint reader are quite innovative. Although, even these features are evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by GTO

I feel like the guy who sold a 5 year old Jetta 2.0 TDI and bought a new Octavia. It feels fresher & newer and has some more kit, but isn't much of an upgrade IMHO. I thought I'm getting an Octavia vRS, but hey, this one turned out to be the good old 2.0 TDI only.

I feel this is indeed the case with the new smartphones. Unless there is something entirely new/interesting come up I see myself holding on to the Pixel 2 XL for a while.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by GTO

- It's as fast as my S6 Edge was after a clean format. Okay, the S9 is a little quicker, but the difference is hardly a deal maker or breaker.

I thought your phone went kaput, hence the need to get a new phone. Anyways, welcome to this tempting dark side

After using a S7 [& in between few iPhones] and now Honor 10, I honestly feel, my Honor 10 to be better in every regard. But this time, I am stopping it here, won't get a new phone till this breaks/fails.

I can get a new [really good] helmet for today's phone prices, maybe you can get a pair of tires for your 530d?

Guys, any recommendation for a good android watch and ear-pods?

[Vid6639]

Originally Posted by GTO

Been using it and I really love the phone, but am wondering if the phone is actually "3 years ahead"? Has cellphone development peaked for the time being?

Incase of the S9 you paid more for the style and the brand Samsung than for the actual phone specs.

Like I mentioned earlier, the Oneplus 6 @32K or the Asus Zenfone 5z at 33K are more than enough in today's day.

You don't need a 45-50K phone when it comes to Android with the only exception being the Pixel series since they are direct google they can command close to 50K but not more. With the Pixel you get the latest Android version instantly, best optimization and really good cameras. Plus google gives unlimited storage options and 2 year warranty unlike everyone else who is 1 year only.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by GTO

Been using it and I really love the phone, but am wondering if the phone is actually "3 years ahead"? Has cellphone development peaked for the time being?

My S6 also had the same Android version. So, in a nutshell, this upgrade feels more like a 'facelift' with new headlamps & some extra gizmos, than an entirely "new generation".

I thought I'm getting an Octavia vRS, but hey, this one turned out to be the good old 2.0 TDI only.

Great comparison.

I think it is like owning a vRS and wanting to 'upgrade'. You are currently spoilt silly by the power of the engine and the torque, the DSG is excellent, interiors are pretty much sporty and good quality, and the price was reasonable when you bought it.

But what do you realistically buy? You need minimum 250+ HP, even more torque, stunning and desirable looks which you can proudly own for 5+ years.
Now for example, Apple wants to sell you an iPhone X (256gb) at roughly double the price or Samsung wants you to splurge 70k on a huge S9+. But does it have anything really going for it to warrant the massive premium? Unless you are a pro-am photographer or into gaming on mobilephone screens, I really don't see why anyone should upgrade :-)

Frankly in my humble opinion, there is no use in upgrading to any Android phone costing more than 50k as there is limited value add to an average user.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by atnyia

If you are really looking for a vRS, get rid of S9 and buy Oneplus 6, or try if someone has it.

I did try it. Was fast, but I didn't like the looks + it was too big for my tastes. I prefer the S9 anyday over the OnePlus 6.

Originally Posted by Marauder

Companies are just resorting to gimmicks and features that aren't useful for the consumers. You just get extra cameras, more RAM, more storage in the newer phones.

So true. I think the only additional feature I'm going to use in the S9 is 'Samsung Pay'. I also like the rear fingerprint sensor...very convenient.

Originally Posted by vb-san

I feel this is indeed the case with the new smartphones.

Interesting to see how car makers have successfully enticed you to upgrade every 5 years, but cellphone makers are peaking in terms of design & technology.

Originally Posted by Sheel

I thought your phone went kaput, hence the need to get a new phone.

No man. It was almost 3 years old and the longest I've held onto a phone. I thought it'll be the right time.

maybe you can get a pair of tires for your 530d?

I wish! 4 tyres for the 530 cost more than the overpriced iPhone X !

Originally Posted by Vid6639

Like I mentioned earlier, the Oneplus 6

To me, moving from the S6 Edge to the OnePlus would be like moving from a Scorpio to a Xylo. No offence to OnePlus owners, but I don't like its styling or size.

You don't need a 45-50K phone when it comes to Android

there is no use in upgrading to any Android phone costing more than 50k as there is limited value add to an average user.

Other than the style & looks factor (which is important to me), I agree. My brother uses a 25k dual-SIM Samsung something and his phone is as fast as mine. But it looks like crap.

Originally Posted by itwasntme

I think it is like owning a vRS and wanting to 'upgrade'.

True, true, true.

Now for example, Apple wants to sell you an iPhone X (256gb) at roughly double the price or Samsung wants you to splurge 70k on a huge S9+

Even if the iPhone X was the same price as the S9, I'd still buy the S9. Reason = I love Android.

[extreme_torque]

I have a different perspective on this. All the major mobile OS's get feature boost both in user facing and backend like security (encryption) features every year. Some of the new features like AR are heavily dependent on cpu and gpu hardware and that is where it counts. If the use case is opening up a website on your phone's browser or watch a video on youtube, any mid range phone will suffice but get into the big league and you need and use all the power and speed that your hardware can provide. Even mobile photography is computational these days and it needs specialised fast hardware. The reason why Pixel 2 has great camera even though it has the same photography hardware as some of the cheaper phones.

[concorde24]

Originally Posted by GTO

- It's as fast as my 2015 S6 Edge was after a clean format. Okay, the S9 is a little quicker, but the difference is hardly a deal maker or breaker.

.

Here are the updates which are happening in smartphone processor industry

1) The Technology node is shrinking - S6 is at 14nm vs S9 at 10nm. Presently 7nm is in bring up phase and would be in production soon. For every node progression, it will result more transistor packing, lower power consumption better thermal efficiency and smaller size. We are talking about 5nm already and should be in 3 years.
2) The companies are focusing more on brute CPU Hardware spec to Machine learning processors. It is more like CPU core stagnation of Laptops
3) More security in hardware via Hardware algorithms.
4) Better power implementation in Hardware for enhanced battery life
5) Data speeds integrated modem is increasing from 3.5G ->4G and 5G will be a reality next year.

All these involve lot of changes and definitely it is not just re branding every year. Also in the ecosystem - better and thin bezel displays, Facial recognition, Fingerprint recognition via displays, Higher camera resolutions will involve changes in smartphone processor interface and Hardware as well.

What next : 5G hardware is more complicated now and may not be in mainstream soon though it is slated to appear next year. This should trigger the next wave of smartphone update cycle.

[Vysakh]

The phones are getting faster and has new(er) technology, but the software hasn't evolved enough to make full utilization of all the processing power.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by GTO

Even if the iPhone X was the same price as the S9, I'd still buy the S9. Reason = I love Android.

iPhone also has the same issue – the face id recognition is brilliant but other than that it was not offering anything extraordinary compared to say an iPhone 7. Luckily, because of its hype I managed to sell it off last week for a pretty good price. There maybe innovations/features coming in for technology users but for a normal user the changes are more like Audi generation changes now – almost unnoticeable.

[am1m]

I was forced to upgrade too. Went from an 'old' Samsung Duos to a S7 edge. The Duos was on it's last legs and I had stubbornly resisted all efforts to upgrade. The new phone is good to be sure, but the size is ridiculous! I carry it in my bag, since I hate how big it feels in my pocket. I wish they would make smaller phones. But that's definitely not the trend, it's obvious that the majority of buyers need bigger screens because of the amount of media that's consumed these days.

I stick with Samsung because their models consistently have the lowest SAR ratings. Is that not a factor for anyone else?

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

The last revolutionary phone I purchased was the Samsung Galaxy S2, almost a decade ago. I didn't purchase the original Galaxy (but wife had it) and upgraded to the S2 directly from a small Karbonn phone. It felt out of the world.

Have owned other Galaxy phones, Apple, Chinese (Oppo, Vivo) smartphones afterwards and now using LG G6, but nothing much different in any of these compared to the S2 which is still alive and running with mom. For the same reason - I'm not spending big money anymore on phones either! The pricing of these new flagships are nothing but a joke!

Will spend only when the next revolutionary product arrives - and looks like that could take a while.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by GTO

- Looks wise, I still prefer my sleek & slim S6 Edge.

.

Similar for me. I have been using iPhone from the moment they became available in the USA where we were living at them time. But I still have my Iphone 6S and 6S+. I dont see anything on the new phones that would tempt me to upgrade.

Jeroen