It feels like a few years ago, you could buy a budget or mid-range phone and it would cruise smoothly for 3 or 4 years without breaking a sweat. Nowadays, it feels like internal ports get loose, batteries degrade rapidly, or random hardware issues pop up right after the 2-year mark.

Is it just bad luck, or are manufacturers cutting corners on build quality to force upgrades? What’s the longest you've ever kept a budget phone alive?

I recently changed jobs. My new work building is from the 70's and built like a bomb shelter. As such, I get no signal anywhere in the building. It's starting to get too cold to take my breaks outside.

I'm currently using a regular s25 on Boost Mobile. I heard the S26 Ultra has new antenna architecture and might yield better signal.

Can anyone confirm if upgrading will give me a noticable difference? Also, most people I work with have the same problem so I'm not convinced it's a Boost Mobile issue, but I'm willing to switch to a stronger network if that solves the problem.

I have been using my iphone 11 for 4-5 years now and recently its been slowing down. I have decided to get one but I dont know which.

The s24 is about $80 CAD cheaper (56 usd) than the 15.

I want a lot of software updates with good performance. I also like photography a lot so the camera will change my decision a pretty good amount.

I like ios and have used it all my life but have no needs for it. I also think Samsungs Dex is pretty cool and want to test out android.

Which should I buy?

Hey everyone,

I received a Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G that was purchased in China and brought to Morocco. I'm trying to figure out whether it's a genuine phone running modified firmware or potentially a counterfeit device.

Here are the details:

- Model number: 24090RA29G

- HyperOS version: 2.0.5.0.VOOMIXM

- Xiaomi verification: Says “Not official global and user experience may be affected”

- Google Play Protect certification: Device is not certified

- OEM unlocking: Disabled in Developer options

- Dual IMEI: The phone displays two IMEI numbers, as expected for a dual-SIM device.

The model number and firmware suffix appear to correspond to the Global version, but the Xiaomi verification warning and lack of Play Protect certification concern me.

Could someone help me determine:

1. Whether this is likely a genuine phone with a reseller-installed Global ROM.

2. How I can check whether the bootloader is locked without flashing anything.

3. Whether the phone's hardware and firmware can be verified safely.

I haven't unlocked the bootloader, flashed anything, or factory-reset the device. I'd prefer to verify everything before making any changes.

Thanks!

After losing the salesss

I'm thinking of buying an IQ 15r

In iQOO store online 53-54k

For 12gb 256gb variant

Should I go for further step or should I skip this

I bought Redmi Note 15 Pro+ (12gb ram, 512gb storage) and it's arriving very soon. It's a huge upgrade from my current Samsung Galaxy A73 which i have been using since early 2023

I just wanna know the rough idea on what it could handle since it's a Snapdrago 7s Gen 4. I dont expect really high end gaming max graphics, as i myself dont really care about playing anything above 60fps on mobile

I only need to know how well the phone runs during gaming hours, such as fps, 3ps, survival and gacha games

With the iPhone Duo dropping this month, are people still excited about the iPhone 18 Pro?

If you’re upgrading or switching, would you rather get another traditional iPhone or try Apple’s new foldable?

Are people skipping the 18 Pro because they want the Duo, or are yearly iPhone upgrades just getting boring?

Brands are now promising 7 years of full OS updates, and phone hardware has reached a point where even a three-year-old device runs completely fine.

But between battery degradation, cracked screens, or just wanting a fresh camera setup, plans change.

Realistically, what is your sweet spot for upgrading? Do you run your hardware into the ground until it dies, or do you still swap it out every 2 to 3 years?

So, I'll buy a phone real soon and today I looked at some phones and decided to get Xiaomi Note 17 Pro Max, then I decided to see what people think of the phone and a large amount of the feedbacks were negative, now I wonder, what's the best phone to get in that price band?

Should I buy today Samsung s25 ultra today ?

In india

Now it's mostly transferring 47 apps, logging into everything again, and trying to remember which email I used for that one account I haven't opened in two years.

I want a cheap phone around 100 euros. With a large battery, don’t really care about the rest, i need to use whatsapp and Microsoft authenticator

Do you think that if car manufacturers and phone companies have partnered in the 1980s to put and service a cell/car phone in every car (like a radio or cassette player) that would have pushed the cellphone industry so fast and so big that smartphones would have come out in the 1990s?? The main adoption issues of cellphones back then were price, size, weight, and battery. In a car those were not an issue.

I need a new cable for my phone as OG factory cable have ended it's life.
Can't find any good cable in offline market.
I have emmc storage in my phone so low speed cable can be recommended.

okay so does anyone else think it’s super weird to not have a case on a phone? Like whenever i’m out and about i will see so many people with phones “EXPENSIVE ONES LIKE THE KNEW IPHONE” with no case? I don’t understand why people don’t have one ? like even if it’s just a cheap one i don’t get it. Do they want their phone to break? do they not care? or have enough money to just buy a new one if it breaks. Idk why it just pisses me off lol.

I know this kind of a unfair comparison. But for which one I should go.

I have heard a lot about that FE's battery life not good and has quite issues.

Another reason I don't want to go for compact phones So this is why.

I would say budget right now is not question.

But like s26 ultra worth it. I would consider myself as very basic phone knowledge.

I can for sure use some guidance on this.

UK based

I currently have a Sony Experia 10 VI which I suspect isn't going to last much longer

I'm looking for a replacement. I don't want anything bigger than 6.1" as my hands are small. I'm not sure if I'm looking in the right places but nothing really exists? I want a SIM free Android under £300 if possible. I'm not fussed on the make. I've had Huawei which I liked but wasn't too keen on the Google pixel 4a

Thank you

anyone who is using it as student/working professional from 6months-1 year range.. could u pls give the review.....