Should I get a new phone?

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Ecko_1

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Thought I'd ask this question since there are a lot of tech savvy users here.

I currently have a Samsung Galaxy S6 32Gb. It's 2 years old. Its had tempered glass and a cover its whole life, so it still looks new.

The contract on the device has ended. I swore that i would not take out another contract, and use the S6 until it gave up. But every now and then I am tempted by the allure of a new, shiny device.

Would I benefit greatly from upgrading to something like an S8 now?

I use my phone mostly for social media, Pokemon Go, Strava, Email and taking mobile pictures (I have a DSLR for taking proper pictures). I listen to music on my phone very rarely, and don't play games except for Pokemon.

The S6 is running Nougat, and hasn't slowed down yet (my company phone, a Galaxy S5 is running horribly slow at the moment).

So, will my experience be vastly different on a new phone, or just a new shiny device. I keep trying to convince myself that a new device won't change my experience much, but then the allure of a new device catches me.
 
I gave up a long time ago on upgrading phones, i'm now sporting a Xiaomi note 4x and it does everything i need. new phones these days aren't "new". its the same old device really, what do you stand to gain in "upgrading". a colleague has the s6 and i was surprised to see how good the screen looked and the device felt still. high end phones these days are a gimmick, nice to have but is it really worth having all those features you are highly unlikely to use but pay a premium for?

whenever i set up a phone for somebody, its such a bland experience. i go through the menus in seconds and the hype is all gone. not worth it.

Personal opinion is not to upgrade, get a smart watch or another gadget to keep you happy. maybe in another year you can look at upgrading to the latest and the greatest.
 
I have a 3 year old S5. Not bothered to upgrade soon. I don't see the point, as anything useful or funky, I can do on it anyway, and anything new I can do on the PC.
 
I think you should upgrade next year, the prices will start falling
 
Thanks for the replies.

Not upgrading is the right thing to do. Now to just make sure Telkom gets me onto prepaid properly.

I have played with my friends S8, and while it is a good looking device. the experience was about the same.

I'm used to spending about R700-R900 a month between my phone and tablet plus data. I just cant get over having to spend R700 plus on just a phone and like 500mb of data
 
Ecko_1 said:
Thanks for the replies.

Not upgrading is the right thing to do. Now to just make sure Telkom gets me onto prepaid properly.

I have played with my friends S8, and while it is a good looking device. the experience was about the same.

I'm used to spending about R700-R900 a month between my phone and tablet plus data. I just cant get over having to spend R700 plus on just a phone and like 500mb of data
Click to expand...

Take a SIM only FreeMe.
https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/personal/plan/free-me-1gb/

There's also a prepaid version.
From 700-900 to 100 for more data. :p

EDIT: Full list with the adds: https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/plan/freeme/
There's also a prepaid version.
Prepaid: https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/personal/plan/freeme-500mb-boost/
 
I've been using my Galaxy Note 3 for just over 4 years now. Except for the battery which I recently replaced, it is still ticking over without much issues. I've ordered a Xiaomi Mi A1 off Geekbuying and it should arrive early 2018. I'll keep the Note 3 for taking with when cycling etc. and not risk the A1. The flagship market has gone crazy and has lost all originality - One company introduces dual camera setup and the rest follow. I'm pretty sure that 2018's flavor will be either under glass fingerprint scanners or facial recognition based on Apple X (Hauwei has already hinted that they have something similar coming). As long as the phone stays relatively snappy and the battery lasts, I don't see the need to buy into an expensive 2-year contract just to be able to boast about hi-fi dacs / high megapixel counts or 4K displays - Not worth it.
 
If you want a new experience, sell the S6 for R3500 and buy a Redmi Note 4 for the same price locally.
 
Johnatan56 said:
Take a SIM only FreeMe.
https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/personal/plan/free-me-1gb/

There's also a prepaid version.
From 700-900 to 100 for more data. :p

EDIT: Full list with the adds: https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/plan/freeme/
There's also a prepaid version.
Prepaid: https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/personal/plan/freeme-500mb-boost/
Click to expand...

Note that if you sign a FreeMe contract they add in 100 minutes of all-net voice minutes for mahala. I'll be doing that early next month, seeing as my VC contract expired this week.
 
Speedster said:
Note that if you sign a FreeMe contract they add in 100 minutes of all-net voice minutes for mahala. I'll be doing that early next month, seeing as my VC contract expired this week.
Click to expand...
Is that for new contracts and won't carry over If you upgrade ?
 
No.

Save your money and use it another two years.

Then buy a phone cash and screw the contract game.
 
S6 still better than any mid ranger. Keep it, go prepaid, save the monthly Rands diligently and then buy a new phone cash when the S6 dies. Rinse, repeat.

Profit!
 
I played a bit more with my friends S8 last night, as well as a S7. Think I'll stick to my old model S6 for now.

But I am honestly over the price of the new flagships. Might take a chance and try a cheaper chinese handset next.
 
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