[Thad E Ginathom]

What you say is true, but I suppose that the makers would say that the battery is the biggest thing in the phone, and have to make their own design to get everything to fit.

But I don't think this is the major barrier to standardised batteries. Remember when every company had its own charger(s)? That was overcome. I think that the major barrier is that they want to sell us new phones every few years, and that most people not even trying to replace a battery is probably a major part of those sales.

As buyers, we allowed the non-replaceable battery to become a thing. And now it is the standard. The manufacturers have won on this, and I don't think they will ever turn back.

[TorqueyTechie]

I have an old S10+ whose screen was damaged and was replaced with another phone. I would like to use this phone for navigation purpose. Is there any shop near JP Nagar, Bangalore which does screen replacements at a reasonable cost? Thanks.

[meerkat]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

What you say is true, but I suppose that the makers would say that the battery is the biggest thing in the phone, and have to make their own design to get everything to fit.

That is not a valid argument, I am afraid. The terms of business here should be dictated by the governments, -- not the businesses themselves, -- because their priorities are not necessarily in favour of the society (usually quite the opposite).

If the manufacturers are required to design their devices around a specified standardized small set of power sources, they must be able to achieve that to stay in business, -- and they would comply too. Believe me, as an engineer, I do know what I am talking about.

But I don't think this is the major barrier to standardised batteries. ...... the major barrier is that they want to sell us new phones every few years, and that most people not even trying to replace a battery is probably a major part of those sales.

I think those "most people" are people who want to (and can afford to) upgrade their phones every 2-3 years. I am sure, there are others too (like myself), who would rather keep their devices to end-of-life, but have to discard their perfectly working phones anyway, because batteries are no longer available!

There is another aspect to this story too. Even if I wanted to upgrade to a new phone, I would much rather have given away my old phone with a replaced battery to someone who could use it. Instead, I have a drawer full of old devices (all functional) that I (or anybody else) can't use any more! I am sure there are tons of such unused phones in countless other homes as well. What a shameful waste!

My maid recently purchased a new budget phone at a cost nearly twice her monthly income! She would have gotten one of my idle phones for free, or she could have purchased an old functional phone with a new battery at a much cheaper price.

As buyers, we allowed the non-replaceable battery to become a thing. And now it is the standard. The manufacturers have won on this, and I don't think they will ever turn back.

It's only because they were allowed to win! They may have a point regarding the need for protection from dust/water etc., but it could easily have been mandated that the batteries be easily replaceable at a reasonable cost at third-party service centres. A whole new market would have grown out of the need for replacement batteries, with OEMs supplying good quality standardized batteries. And the e-waste problem would be a bit lesser too into the bargain.

Sure, as thing are, the phone manufacurers are producing and selling many more phones (than are necessary), and are creating some jobs in the process as well (in addition to making huge profits themselves). But at what cost to the society and the world at large?
.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by meerkat

... The terms of business here should be dictated by the governments, -- not the businesses themselves, -- because their priorities are not necessarily in favour of the society (usually quite the opposite).

I completely agree with everything you say there.

Another point is right to repair. Well, OK, proprietary batteries don't entirely deny that, but they don't make it easy.

All phones now have standardised USB charging. My memory is dim, but I think this was imposed on the manufacturers? Batteries too, maybe one day. This is the sort of thing that the EC (Europe) is good at taking up, rather than simply bowing to the corporates.

[W.A.G.7]

I am in a dilemma between these phones - Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (after exchange and all cashback offers, final on road price is coming to INR 98k), iPhone 16 pro (5k cashback and 27k exchange bonus on my existing iPhone). I want to have a look at the Google Pixel 9 Pro (both Pro & XL) but unfortunately no one seems to have one of these in stock. My current phone is iPhone 12 Pro, which I will exchange for the new phone. My office is sponsoring 1L out of the total price, rest from my pocket. A couple of questions here -

1. Is Google Pixel good enough? I saw the Google Pixel myself and I liked the stock Android look. However, no one seems to have the Pro/XL model in stock. Secondly I was discouraged by everyone saying that the Pixel doesn't have a good after sales service and any repairs have to be done in Mumbai.
2. iPhone 16 Pro - Perfect fit, slightly bigger than my existing iPhone 12 Pro but... almost everyone discouraged me saying that the S25 Ultra is better.
3. The S25 Edge seems to be a promising phone but the unfortunately reviews aren't out yet in full form. Yet, the initial impressions section on almost every website says that there compromises here and there while fitting everything in that ultra thin chassis. Should I wait till 30th May, for the launch? Launch offer = Getting 12GB/512GB for the price of 12GB/256GB
4. S25 Ultra is fantastic at that price point. Has everything going for it, nothing to find fault as such. But, that stylus is redundant for me, would hardly ever use it.
5. I am not looking beyond Google, Apple and Samsung but I am slightly more inclined towards the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. The dilemma is whether I should switch from iOS back to Android or not? The S25 Ultra is convincing me hard, but the iPhone 16 Pro is a strong contender.

My usage is mostly team-bhp, browsing, Instagram, WA, and the regular stuff. It will also have Microsoft Intunes (from my office) as well as Outlook, Teams and all office related MS Paraphernalia installed on it.

What should I do? S25 Ultra, Pixel 9 Pro XL or the iPhone 16 Pro? Welp!?

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by W.A.G.7

[*]The S25 Edge seems to be a promising phone but the unfortunately reviews aren't out yet in full form. Yet, the initial impressions section on almost every website says that there compromises here and there while fitting everything in that ultra thin chassis. Should I wait till 30th May, for the launch? Launch offer = Getting 12GB/512GB for the price of 12GB/256GB

This review is comprehensive:
https://www.91mobiles.com/hub/samsun...5-edge-review/

Snapdragon 8 Elite seems to be 2x more powerful than Tensor G4.

[IshaanIan]

Originally Posted by W.A.G.7

What should I do? S25 Ultra, Pixel 9 Pro XL or the iPhone 16 Pro? Welp!?

If you’re planning on switching from an iPhone to a Pixel, let me be the first to warn you please don’t. Unless you have any particular business requirements requiring you to get an android, just stick with the iPhone. Navigating stock android, atleast android 15, is not as easy as it is on iOS. Gesture navigation on android has so many false swipes. Swiping up to go home or up and right to go to view currently running apps, just isn’t as slick as it is on an iPhone. I can use my iPhone with my eyes closed or my fingers fatigued from just waking up, I cannot say the same of my Pixel. That said, other companies that deploy their own UI over stock android, do get gesture navigations to work better than it does on the Pixel so you could check out the Galaxy devices. Also don’t bother listening to what tech reviewers have to say they all just get a hard on over spec sheets and have nothing truly useful or knowledgeable or insightful to add at the end of the day for end users like us to make better choices.

[antz.bin]

As far as cameras are concerned, Pixels are far ahead of Samsungs

I compare my own Pixel 7 with my wife's S24+ all the time and the S24+ photos pale in comparison to the Pixel regardless of whether the light is good or bad.

The low light performance difference is literally night and day.

This is with a Pixel 7. The 9 will be even better. So if it is camera performance you are spending so much for, tread lightly with Samsung.

When it comes to software updates, Samsung pushed out the Android 15 update to S24 series 7 months after I received it on my Pixel.

Voice assistant and many AI features work better on the Pixel. This is even though the S24+ has the same amount of RAM as the S25 series (minus the Ultra)

Samsungs do hold the charging speed and raw horsepower advantage which helps it brute-force some tasks better. Raw performance difference will show up when gaming. But day to day tasks are similarly snappy on either phone. Battery backup is also much better on Samsung but then the 9 did work on that aspect so the difference might be lower now.

I have very little idea about iPhones but if I were you, I would pick a Pixel over a Samsung purely because of the superior camera. Because that is what differentiates a flagship from a midrange phone. If I am not interested in camera quality, then might as well save some money and go midrange instead.

[W.A.G.7]

Thanks for the suggestions. So now effectively it is either the iPhone 16 pro or the S25 ultra for me. What IshaanIan said is exactly what’s going on in my mind. I have gotten so used to, to the iPhone that Android in a way looks alien to me. However, the S25 ultra is one phone that comes closest to the iPhone.

@antz.bin - my company is giving 1L for the phone, so I will have to she’ll out around 25-30k only out of my own pocket for now. That’s why no midrange phones! The other motivation is my current iPhone has a speaker problem, which was repaired two times in the last 4 years, but has reared up its head once again now. So I guess it’s time to retire the iPhone and get a new one instead because both iVenus and Unicorn quoted ridiculous repair prices this time.

[throttleAddict]

Now that Google has ended support for the Legacy Play Integrity API, phones running custom ROMs—like my OnePlus 6T (which is 7 years old)—are no longer working properly. My work apps, such as Microsoft Teams and Outlook, have stopped working, saying the device is "unhealthy."
I had been patiently waiting for the next iPhone and was definitely planning to get one. But with this issue now, I'm unsure about what to do. I also need a new phone for my mother. Should I consider exchanging my 6T? (It has a cracked rear glass but works fine otherwise—any idea how much it might be worth?)
I’d also prefer not to buy the base iPhone 16 now, since I might regret it later. The iPhone 17 is likely to come with an LTPO 120Hz display

Thoughts ?

[IshaanIan]

Originally Posted by throttleAddict

Should I consider exchanging my 6T? (It has a cracked rear glass but works fine otherwise—any idea how much it might be worth?)
I’d also prefer not to buy the base iPhone 16 now, since I might regret it later. The iPhone 17 is likely to come with an LTPO 120Hz display

Thoughts ?

Doubt you will get more than 3k for your 6T. Get yourself an iPhone 15 it is the current vfm iPhone buy IMO. 120HZ is great but not as good as touch responsiveness. Switching to a base iPhone, you will still be able to observe better touch responsiveness and smoother interactions with the OS, over your old 6T.

If you’re looking for cheaper options, go for the Nothing 3a. It’s the only Android phone maker whose products feel as well built as Apple’s. Infact Apple has recently poached their head of design.

[W.A.G.7]

Finally, yesterday evening I got myself a Galaxy S25 Ultra 12G/512GB version from Vijay Sales, for a price of INR 1,10,000/- all inclusive. The freebie thrown in was the Samsung 45w charger only. I got an exchange price of INR 17k for my old iPhone 12 Pro (slightly on the lower side as compared to Croma, Reliance Digital, local shops who were offering INR 20-21k) but the silver lining is that I managed to squeeze the 512GB version of the phone instead of the 256GB version.

[AjinkyaP]

Originally Posted by W.A.G.7

Finally, yesterday evening I got myself a Galaxy S25 Ultra 12G/512GB version from Vijay Sales, for a price of INR 1,10,000/- all inclusive. The freebie thrown in was the Samsung 45w charger only. I got an exchange price of INR 17k for my old iPhone 12 Pro (slightly on the lower side as compared to Croma, Reliance Digital, local shops who were offering INR 20-21k) but the silver lining is that I managed to squeeze the 512GB version of the phone instead of the 256GB version.

Since Pixel 9 Pro XL was one of your option, see this crazy deal that Google store India is live with.




You can get it effectively under 70k with card offer and even lower if you opt for exchange.

[TurboKat]

Originally Posted by para_7k

Good luck in finding your ideal device. It's a tough spot. You either have to up your budget for a Xiaomi 14 or get a bigger phone at your budget.

My M30S gave up on me one mundane April morning. The infamous IC board issue — something the Exynos 9611 is well known for — popped up again. The phone was working perfectly fine, but the moment I plugged in the charger, it just died. Since I needed a phone urgently, I couldn’t stretch my budget beyond Rs.13,000. After a lot of thinking and back-and-forth, I ended up getting the 6GB/128GB variant of the Samsung M16 from Amazon. A credit card discount later, I paid just Rs. 11,500.

The camera isn’t as good as the one on the M30S, but for casual gaming and day to day use, it’s been great. I really like the new design Samsung’s chosen for the camera module. The phone feels well-optimized too — haven’t faced any lags so far while playing games like Real Racing 3 and Assoluto Racing. It does heat up a bit, but nothing a decent back cover can’t take care of.

Some pics of the phone:

It gets a 90Hz Suoer Amoled display, which doesn't support 4k streaming.



No headphone jack. This made me finally switch to TWS earbuds from my trusty 200 rupees earphones.



I love the way Samsung has subtly changed the design of the camera module — from the isolated triple-module setup to the connected two-module layout with one isolated lens. Some might feel that the macro lens was added as an afterthought — and indeed it is. It shares the same design as its cheaper sibling, the M06, which doesn’t get the macro lens. But that doesn’t bother me.



The party trick? The illuminated Samsung logo and borders. It’s not as flashy as my old Nothing 2A (stolen by thieves on a bike), but it still manages to impress me — especially on a budget phone. The subtle lights turn on when the flashlight is switched on.

It gets a Dimensity 6300 processor, which is a minor upgrade from the older Dimensity 6100+ found in the Samsung A15. Samsung has been advertising the phone to come with Android 15 out of the box. But it doesn't. Mine came with One UI 6.1/Android 14. One UI 7/Android 15 is expected to roll out sometime in June.

By the way, I'm still using the 15 W fast charger of my earlier M30S as a new 25W charger costs 1K. I'll buy it when the current one gives up. And honestly, after living with 15 W fast charging for 6 years, I've become accustomed with such speeds.

[nova.19_exe]

Originally Posted by TurboKat

Attachment 2762388

No headphone jack. This made me finally switch to TWS earbuds from my trusty 200 rupees earphones

For some reason, I find this uneven. They're not perfectly aligned and the Designer OCD is kicking in soooooo hard rn

Samsung, c'mon. You coulda done better