So you just bought a flagship smartphone and you’re pretty stoked about it. Why not? It’s got killer specs, improved features, and a form factor that stands out from the crowd. Having a top-of-the-line smartphone does have a lot of advantage over other handsets, but they also have a fair share of disadvantages. In this article we enumerate some of them.
1. The slightest damage is a sore sight
Whether it be nicks, scratches, or a part of the body chipped off, the slightest damage is a sore sight from its otherwise sleek exterior.
Because of this, you tend to be extra careful with your smartphone. Be mindful, though, not to reach the point that you’re just too careful with your phone by keeping it safe and scratch-free. Just enjoy it. After all, remember that it’s a tool and not a collector’s item.
2. They often force you to spend on accessories and services
If you really want to protect your phone from unwanted scratches and scars, there are phone cases available for purchase that guard the frame of the device. There are also tempered glass screen protectors that work better than plastic ones if you want to keep your display at its pristine condition, and even gadget insurance that covers an array of accidental damages.
Of course, all these come at a price so if you want added protection for your phone, you’d have to shell out extra money.
3. They are magnet to pickpockets
If feature phones aren’t attractive to snatchers and pickpockets, high-end smartphones obviously are. Flashing around a brand new iPhone carelessly might attract the wrong kind of attention when done in a public and crowded place.
As a tip, avoid using your expensive smartphones in these kinds of environments but if can’t be helped, why not buy an affordable feature phone that you can use at times like these?
4. Their parts and repair services cost more
Once damaged or if something isn’t working well, some parts and repairs actually cost a lot when done in authorized centers. There are cheaper alternatives from third-party stalls but it could be risky and will void the manufacturer’s warranty.
5. Losing a really expensive smartphone is hard to replace
If you accidentally dropped and destroyed your phone or it was stolen from you, not only does it make you feel really bad but it is also actually stressful.
It could be a birthday gift to you, you might have worked long and hard for it, or spent a fair amount of your savings buying this device. Whatever the reason, losing an expensive smartphone is just harder to replace than a budget one.
6. There will always be something better
Sure, you have the latest phone right now but in a few months’ time there will most likely be a successor released that sports faster internals, new features, and probably a new look.
This becomes a disadvantage if your satisfaction relies on having the latest model in the market since that way, you’ll be needing to change phones every half a year or so.
Those are some of the things we see as disadvantages when you have an expensive handset. Do you have anything to add? Fee free to leave a comment below.
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Michael says:
If your habit is to drop the phone, in the canal, it is better to have a cheaper phone. You can drop more cheap phones than one expensive phone.
IS says:
Number 6 is the truest of the true. Considering the performance difference between the most expensive smartphones on the market and the 10k+ php mid-range ones, the only real reason to go for the expensive ones is because they’re the “top of the line.”
Bigger numbers on paper, miniscule increase in performance notwithstanding. So the moment something new comes along with an even *bigger* number, there goes your justification for getting the expensive ones over the mid-range ones.
secret says:
My strategy is to opt for a postpaid plan where you can get your desired premium phone for free.
Malcoxx says:
I like buying flagship phones after a year or two of its release, because their prices not only dropped, but they continue to be:
1. Supported by the manufacturer and online community when it comes upgrades.
2. Accessories are still out there and are cheaper because they new flagship had flooded the stores.
3. It is still brand new and the design and features are not that outdated.
4. Did I mention they are a lot cheaper specially if you buy them cash?
I plan to buy either the S6 or S6 Edge a few months after S7 comes out. Imagine getting that same phone which is now 25-30k at probably 15-18k. You just have to be patient.
AnewReturner says:
When the Galaxy S3 hit 10k used years ago, I snapped it up.
Still using it now… Not really inclined to upgrade since it still runs Chrome well enough, Camera is still decent, Usability is still acceptable…
Smartphones have reached the point where the midrangers can pack enough of what the Average user needs.
C.P. says:
I’d still buy a premium smartphone because for the most part they DON’T CUT CORNERS and negatively affect the performance in all aspects of the smartphone.
Case in point: My Galaxy Note 3 and LG G Pro 2 (both Snapdragon 800, 3GB RAM, 5.0) were the premium smartphones when they were first released, and run BETTER than any of the new midrange and even “budget flagship” phones, even the 4/64 Zenfone 2 “Samsung killer!” In gaming and general use, Zenfone lags in even the small things. No lag in both Korean phones! And the camera is just better on the Note than the Zenfone. Also, developer community support gravitates towards flagships and premium services (this is why the Note 5 has already ROMs aplenty when the Lenovo K3 Note has very few.)
There’s just a sense of quality with a tier one device (even from a few years ago) compared to the cheaper phones that are nothing more than to balance corporate checkbooks.
anonymousME says:
this is so true!! never ever flash your high end smart phone in public.
dyl wigii says:
I always get new phone from my ninang, and we have a car so pickpockets really never occurred. Even when I go to school by commuting I just have to be cautious of my surroundings to be safe or better if we won’t show it off. In contrast to what you say, people who have midrange phones are the one who usually shows it off. So don’t say that we buy it for us to look cool.
boboy says:
Mag China phone na lang mura na me porma pa OK..
Joseph Felix Gregory Salgado says:
I bought the,N70, N73, N80, 5800, N8, Lumia 1020 and finally just last week the Lumia 950XL-DS. All true. But I before purchasing anything I do “pros and cons”.
Always. I am a relative thinker. I consider what if I need it or desire it or just plain want it. If it is only for spoiling myself or a necessity for the feature. Notice the years between each phone. I got two 1020s. The first one was damaged beyond repair. I know 950XL was coming out but camera is a necessity for me (i DON’T use them for selfies). An easy point and shoot with an awesome camera which doubles as an office PC is what i go for.
William C says:
Buyer’s remorse. Getting the latest phone (especially Android ones) for close to 50k. Then realizing that you never use any of the fancy features that makes the phone so expensive. Also, that your driver or the security guards down the street are using the same apps you regularly use (ie COC) on their sub-7k phones with almost the same user experience.
Dom says:
#2. Sometimes its kinda funny. you buy this latest fone and brag how thin it is, how light and uses gorilla glass 23 yet you put bulky and heavy casing and add screen protector or tampered glass. now its as thick and heavy as those 75% cheaper. :)
Donnie Lawas says:
Buy last year’s release. Root and install a custom ROM.
ReBaRo says:
Regarding No. 5,
There is a grammar Issue: Dangling or Misplaced modifier.
“Losing a really expensive smartphone is hard to replace”
If you don’t believe me, try translating that to Filipino.
Consider changing the sentence to:
“A lost expensive smartphone is hard to replace”
or
“Replacing a lost expensive smartphone is never easy”
Ronaldq says:
Thank you grammar Nazi.
Joseph Felix Gregory says:
Thank you for your comment. I am ALWAYS guilty of this. Can you pls check for my mistakes on my comment below? Thank you.
Eddie says:
Makuntento kung anu merun that’s it!
archie says:
Sa price range ng smartphones, wala naman talagang ligtas sa mga snatcher dahil kahit 500 ay mabebenta nila ang mga low range phones. Ang dapat gawin e damihan ang pulis at cctv sa city tulad sa davao at japan. Kahit maiwan mo ang iphone mo sa tokyo ay walang magiinteres doon. Isusurrender pa sa police station at mababalik sayo.
JessPH says:
Buy less. Choose well. Make it last.
That’s why I only purchase and use flagship phones because they’re manufactured and designed to be durable and long-lasting. In addition, their high-end specs (particularly the processor and RAM) will makelong-lasting still run smoothly more than two years from the time you first used it.
JessPH says:
* will make them still run smoothly more than two years from the time you first used them.
Siegfried says:
Kaya dapat bumili ka ng phone na dapat sulit ang pera mo, buy wisely wagpapadala sa marketing stunts ng phone company mapa midrange man yan or high end, midrange nga pero sirain namin and madami issues pero maganda ang price, high end nga kaso madalas mag lag
freelist86 says:
I really don’t care if there is a new phone every year. just upgrade every year 3 to 5 years parang sa pc high end parts need ko kasi sa job needed worth it sya
Escaflowne says:
Yah all of them are true,but its also depend on the person, i mean my point is, its ok to buy an expensive one but make sure you use it for a long time,my first smartphone was LUMIA 800 i used it from august 2012 until september this year and I bought a new one, of course its a flagship phone IPHONE 6S Plus 64 gb, although i have this but for me it will last for a long years before i change my phone.
NotaSheep says:
7. No guarantee that your expensive phone will be updated to the latest version of android.
JK says:
Hence the proliferation of custom roms.
Joseph Anthony Bonaobra says:
true. buti pa yung mga mid ranges like nexus 5, sure ka na makukuha agad yung update as soon as it is released.
Ronaldq says:
I always go for the midrange phones. Great for watching videos too and I noticed that some companies target the midrangers for increasing the battery longevity and memory storage unlike flagships where they focus only for higher benchmarks.
Choose midrange phones. Consider it as “Jack of all Trades”. It just works.
vm says:
Can’t afford, so I just use mid range. The asus zenphone laser is pretty good and sub 10k
Philip says:
I agree lalo na sa No 5. Another problem is you when the successor come, the price of your expensive phone will drastically decrease that you’ll say “sayang”
GreecePoe says:
So agree on this list. All mentioned abovr are exactly my reasons why I would never want to spend more than 10k pesos on a smartphone. Especially number 6. I have the habit of feeling outdated whenever a new model comes out. Midrange/bang for tge buck smartphones are a wise choice. But still it depends on the user. Kung mayaman eh flagship talaga yan. Although not all of them.
Siegfried says:
No.5 lang totoo dito, yung iba eh kahit midrange ganyan din, lalo sa mga snatcher at magnanakaw mapa midrange or high end yan basta maganda itsura eh kukunin na
denise says:
haha.korek. lamang tiyan din yan para sa kanila kahit na 3310 pa yan.. lol
Rocky Rodger Abad says:
So true, thus i’d go for a midranger. Going too low sucks and going premium serves a purpose, albeit expensive.
archie says:
Hindi kasi yan makikita ng taong puro porma at yabang ang nasa isip. Kahit 15 to 20k lang ang sweldo e sige pa rin sa flagship phones every year kahit wala nang makain dahil may mga installment plans na akala nila e mas mura. Kunsabagay pera naman nila yan wag lang nilang ipangungutang ang baon ng anak nila.