It must be a sign of age, but I was beginning to think that paying four figures every few years for a new mobile phone was too much.
That’s not really fair - a “mobile phone” these days, particularly the latest and greatest model, is an extremely powerful computer, miniaturised. A new phone outperforms many of the desktop computers that I have owned.
I had realised that I was using a tiny fraction of the power available in the phone. That never bothered me particularly, not when Apple was making such clever, exciting and novel machines. However, as they (and everybody else) started running out of ideas, these miraculous glass rectangles were becoming indistinguishable from each other.
Remember iPhone X? Oh what a phone that was. I loved it. Slim, fast, and beautiful. Since then? The phone got gradually worse (for me) and gradually more expensive.
Whether I had never needed a flagship, or it had been revealed to me that I no longer needed a flagship, the harsh truth was...yes, you’ve guessed it, I don’t need a flagship, nor even a flagship phone.
In a sale, I picked up a Google Pixel 8a. The “a” is a mid-cycle phone, that falls somewhere between the simple number and the number + “Pro” released 6 months before. The 8 came out in 2023 and the 8a in May 2024.
It’s a great phone.
Still, it would be nice to have new shiny one. (I retain the ache for new tech, despite my epiphany around value.) What shall I get?
The phone is a work tool, so work will buy it for me, and would rather do it before year-end, so waiting around is not really an option.
I took a look.
The big boys.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max. 256 GB - €1,459
Samsung S25 Ultra. 256 GB - €1,339
Pixel 10 Pro XL. 256 GB - €1,244
Why the big screens? I’m old, and nowhere is that more apparent than with my eyesight. Now that I carry a man-bag everywhere, portability is less of a worry.
256 GB? Not enough! I hear people cry. Umm...I only use 81 GB on the Pixel. Mostly because I don’t keep photos on my device.
Which one is best?
Pah! They’re practically indistinguishable. All are excellent devices. There are performance differentials across the board, with each device having its plus and minus points, but mostly on things that I would never need nor notice.
My main computer is a Mac, which suggests getting an iPhone. My current phone is a Pixel, which suggests a Pixel and Samsung has a cool little pen and is NOT American, which for the moment, I see as a plus.
However - before splashing the cash, I thought I’d take a look at what I do on my phone.
Oh.
Not that much, really.
The most frquently used apps are - Whoop (my latest effort at getting serious about fitness), Whats App, which is what I use to organise my Padel and Golf, a couple of news apps and then useful things like my banking apps. In fact, there would be no appreciable improvement in the performance of the things that I actually use - other than them appearing on a bigger, brighter screen, which would be nice, obviously. Oh - and the battery would have more battery left when I put it on charge at night.
1,200 to 1500 Euros is a chunk of change to spend for relatively small quality of life improvements.
For the moment, I’ve ordered a new case for my 8a and a jacket for my ear buds (the case has an ominous-looking crack) for 20 euro each and changed up my wallpapers.
Almost a new phone, and a lot cheaper.
People like you support my writing. Sign up for my free newsletter. Become a paid member, and get access to all my writing, including anything I publish, and a Member's Slack.
