Are high end smartphones worth the money (to you)?

[JakeC]

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Mrs bought three used iPhone 8 Plus's when they were five years old in 2022 for each of us and a friend. She paid 8,000 baht for each. Been superb. However, recently have been unable to install a couple of apps because the operating system is now too old. Fortunately, nothing crucial. iPhone 11 would enable eSIM and 12 5th Generation mobile data.

 

eSIM compatibility began on iPhone 10(iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR).

 

 

[richard_smith237]

10 minutes ago, impulse said:

Some day, one of the smartphone companies will come out with a cradle that I can plug my smartphone in and use a full size monitor, a keyboard and a mouse when I'm at home.  (Or at Starbucks or the airport, or the hotel... or,,,) The processing power is there.  And it would sure be convenient.  I hate typing on a tiny screen.

 

The first company that comes out with one and does hotel and venue tie-ins would rule the world.

 

You can do all that already... 

iPhone - Airplay or HDMI adapter to a screen - Bluetooth connect a keyboard and Mouse.

 

The same works for Android also works, higher end phones.

 

[impulse]

8 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

You can do it already.

Connect your phone with TV and you got a big screen. Plug in a keyboard and your dream has come true

 

I'm a luddite.  I want a cradle or cable that does all the matching and pairing and synching for me. 

 

Just plug in the USB-C (or Firewire) and out comes HDMI and Bluetooth and whatever else I need.

I've actually done it with my Samsung Tablet, but it was too fiddly for a luddite like me.

 

[newbee2022]

13 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I'm a luddite.  I want a cradle or cable that does all the matching and pairing and synching for me. 

 

Just plug in the USB-C (or Firewire) and out comes HDMI and Bluetooth and whatever else I need.

I've actually done it with my Samsung Tablet, but it was too fiddly for a luddite like me.

 

😂 AI will do it next to you. You just give your orders 👍

[scubascuba3]

58 minutes ago, mogandave said:

Only the skint say that. 

 

Your the same guy that doesn’t tip, and buys the cheapest AC he can find on Shoppee and gets the motorcycle taxi guys to install it, right?

Ah another stalker, if you had money you'd realise people with money are careful with it, they don't waste it

[mogandave]

55 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Ah another stalker, if you had money you'd realise people with money are careful with it, they don't waste it

Only the skint say things like that, and if the skint had been careful with their money when they were young, they could buy whatever phone they wanted, and not be hear moaning and having to make excuses for buying cheap phones. 

 

I have always been very careful with my money, that’s why buying a new phone is not something I have to be concerned about. Flying my family coach once, saves enough money to buy each of us the most expensive iPhone on the market. 

[scorecard]

On 2/5/2025 at 10:51 AM, impulse said:

 

I just wanted full HD screen resolution, a well known brand (for a stable OS) and dual SIM slots for traveling monthly between China and LOS.

 

I passed on NFC, an OLED screen, kick ass gaming, waterproofing and 5G. I'm trying to figure out what else I may be missing out on. 

 

I'm looking at the Samsung A16 as a backup/next phone.  But I'm hoping that the A05s will last as long as the S2 did.  It's still working 13+ years later and I use it occasionally as a video player.  It's the last one I bought with a removable battery.  If the A05s lasts as long, they'll probably have holographic phones or brain implants before I need to replace it.

 

 

My Samsung J7 lasted 12 years. Never missed a beat until at 12 years it without warning totally died and resuscitation not possible.

[JakeC]

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My Samsung J7 lasted 12 years. Never missed a beat until at 12 years it without warning totally died and resuscitation not possible.

 

No, it did not 😊

 

Samsung J7 first released in 2015 and again in 2017. So eight to ten years max and that is if it conked out yesterday.

My 2016 iPhone is still working perfectly. Though strangely the battery drains quickly when not in use. Lasts longer when you are actually using it.

[Will27]

4 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Matches the size of your ...

 

Get back to mopping those floors champ😁

[impulse]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

My Samsung J7 lasted 12 years. Never missed a beat until at 12 years it without warning totally died and resuscitation not possible.

 There's 100 repair kiosks just in Bangkok that could have gotten you another 10 years out of it.  That's one thing I love about Thailand.

[JakeC]

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There's 100 repair kiosks just in Bangkok that could have gotten you another 10 years out of it.  That's one thing I love about Thailand.

 

Not sure what will run on Android Nougat(7.1.1)., especially ongoing.

[impulse]

15 minutes ago, JakeC said:

Not sure what will run on Android Nougat(7.1.1)., especially ongoing.

 

You may be right.  But I'd bet that some Thai guy sitting in a repair kiosk could root it and load a more current OS version. 

 

[scubascuba3]

52 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

You may be right.  But I'd bet that some Thai guy sitting in a repair kiosk could root it and load a more current OS version. 

 

I wouldn't go to tukcom though, price cartel there

[impulse]

7 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I wouldn't go to tukcom though, price cartel there

 

Is tukcom in Pattaya? I'm not familiar...  I've heard of it, obviously.  Just don't recall ever being there.

 

I spend most of my BKK time in Chinatown each month, with at least one or 2 forays to Fortune Town and MBK.  There are some repair geniuses in all 3.  I'm in awe of how cheap they've fixed me up in the past.

 

 

 

[mogandave]

11 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I wouldn't go to tukcom though, price cartel there

So you even know the cheapest place to get cheap phones fixed, I’m impressed.

[scubascuba3]

34 minutes ago, mogandave said:

So you even know the cheapest place to get cheap phones fixed, I’m impressed.

You're used to getting ripped off as you're a fan boy so no problem for you

[scubascuba3]

37 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Is tukcom in Pattaya? I'm not familiar...  I've heard of it, obviously.  Just don't recall ever being there.

 

I spend most of my BKK time in Chinatown each month, with at least one or 2 forays to Fortune Town and MBK.  There are some repair geniuses in all 3.  I'm in awe of how cheap they've fixed me up in the past.

 

 

 

Tukcom in Pattaya is pretty much the only place to go, must be 40 stalls all doing mobile repairs and sales

[Yellowtail]

4 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Tukcom in Pattaya is pretty much the only place to go, must be 40 stalls all doing mobile repairs and sales

I wouldn't go to tukcom, that place is for suckers, price cartel there,

[scubascuba3]

15 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

I wouldn't go to tukcom, that place is for suckers, price cartel there,

Surprised you know or care, I go elsewhere

[JakeC]

Quote

You may be right.  But I'd bet that some Thai guy sitting in a repair kiosk could root it and load a more current OS version. 

 

No need for a Thai guy in a kiosk...

 

https://xdaforums.com/c/samsung-galaxy-j7.5263/

[impulse]

17 minutes ago, JakeC said:

No need for a Thai guy in a kiosk...

 

https://xdaforums.com/c/samsung-galaxy-j7.5263/

 

I once tried rooting a Samsung phone I was no longer using.  I think it was around S3 vintage or so.  I had updated to a newer phone and was curious about rooting.  It was a disaster in terms of the time I spent.  Fortunately, it was just a lark on my part.

 

I'd gladly pay someone in a Thai kiosk that does it every day.  Back home (USA), I'd bin the phone before I'd pay the $150 start fee and $100 an hour.