Smartphone selection: Where are we at?

Around seven or so years ago, I had written a piece on how (then) smartphone conglomerates had divided their potential consumer base into thinking in terms of needs versus wants. Then, of course, smartphones were still a nascent concept among Indian mobile-phone users. Now, times have changed vastly. Owning and using a smartphone has become a must in certain sections of Indian society. Likewise, the points articulating and driving the need and want factors have also diversified. 

The Presence of an Eco-system

Today, people’s utilisation of mobile phones – as is well-documented – goes beyond mere answering of calls and sharing text messages. They are the centre-pieces of a multi-lined artisanal creation connecting and bridging our lives, from professional to personal. It is as though our brains have been made redundant thanks to such hip-hopping technological assistance. 

Anyhow, as much as this is a progressive brain-fade moment for humanity, smartphone-makers prefer to use eco-system as the defining nomenclature for these developments. From a non-technical perspective, eco-system is akin to an array of steps featuring one’s mobile along with assorted gadgetries containing the same technological input as the phone. Thus, the whole Apple eco-system that operates on the iOS software and its Google-driven counterpart, Android. 

Thus, a layman back then was merely confused between which phone to buy. These days, a layperson has to seemingly make a near life-choice between one eco-system and the other. 

Exaggerated Nuances

Up to November 2019, I was one of those who looked like she had to deal with this eco-system 

existence. 

For the entirety of my life, since when I began using smartphones, I have only used Android-operated models – although I did have an iPhone SE for a brief time-span. In November 2019, I had to shift my software operator since I was able to get a (relatively) cheaper iPhone model over a Samsung phone that I wanted. The E-word loomed largely and I did not know what I was going to do. I am not a fan of using two phones simultaneously – there are times when I want to ditch the one phone I use. At the same time, I did not want to lose any data I had in my older Samsung phone while porting to my new device. 

In the end, it turned out all my worry was one of my own making prompted by the over-the-top repetitions about selecting an eco-system to latch on to. 

It’s been only a week since I started using the iPhone and so far, I have not had any trouble adjusting to new software. And although I was not able to transfer my backed-up WhatsApp messages, I would not count it as a loss by any means since I was able to port my contacts without much fuss. 

Selectiveness Versus Need-and-Want Dilemma

The bigger fuss, as I realised then, was brought about the lack of understanding about what one wanted for oneself. It is beneficial to have an idea – however, basic – about a phone one is interested in as it helps whittle down a seller’s excessive wheedling to facts. The disadvantageousness in doing so is that too many ideas start to crowd one in. At this point, one starts to focus more on the whole eco-system paradigm instead of on the phones and what they contain within them. 

In my experience, specifically, as a non-technical user to boot, the only relevant factor that matters what kind of a smartphone user, one is. If one’s primary – and only use – of a smartphone is receiving and answering emails, and making notes alongside calling and texting, there are no dearth of Android phones to choose. But if one wants to be part of a niche and wants to be seen as nit-picky, Apple is the only choice there is. 

Why the particular term, nit-picky? The reason I do so is that Apple offers a lot of intra-device connecting opportunities that Android does not despite its innumerability across the global market. If the other side of being nit-picky implies one has to opt for something less – read storage – Apple enforcing the idea that less is more only adds to the devices’ appeal. As such, if one were an Apple user, why would one want to veer towards more? Especially since more (features) would also mean unnecessary complication in choosing one particular phone over the rest. 

More importantly, its niche also helps Apple maintain relatively better hold on privacy and security as compared to certain Android-based phones that are sieve-like when it comes to data storing and sharing. 

All of these bring us to the price point. Granted, the phones do seem costly. But if one were honest, a careful Android user would only want to choose a brand that offers the most without compromising on much. Such phones, let us be honest, are expensive. And if one can afford to choose a pricier option, and one’s needs and wants to fit the bill, an iPhone is just as viable as an Android phone. 

Image Credit: Buildfire