Introduction
Buying a phone is not just about purchasing a product. It is like choosing a partner to accompany you and make your life easier. Sounds exaggerated? Think again. Your phone is probably the last thing you see before you sleep and the first thing you check when you wake up. You carry it everywhere, and for some, you cannot even leave the house without it. This is why the question “Should I purchase old phone or new phones?” is important. Let us dissect each aspect of this issue throughout this article!
Price
When a new phone is first released, the demand level is high. Due to the law of supply vs. demand, the first buyers pay more money than the rest. It’s a tradeoff to the prestige of owning a shiny new product. But as time passes, this level of demand will drop along with the price of the product itself. And it is also highly affected by the newer products released after.
If you compare one phone’s current price with its price back in its glorious release month, you will see a huge difference. It is way cheaper now than before. This does not mean the phone is no longer good. It is just not as demanded as before. With these facts in mind, the choice is in your hands. Will you purchase old phone and save money?
Phone accessories
The same supply vs. demand rule applies to phone accessories. Old phone accessories are less demanded as more and more phone owners switching to the new products. As a result, chargers and phone cases can be two times cheaper. Not to mention some screen protectors and even replacement parts. On the other hand, the new phone enjoys the exclusivity of “freshly baked” goods. Everything that comes with it is new and available in so many options.
Features
A new phone usually comes with new features that are more sophisticated, ever so slightly. They are also arguably better and more advanced, compared to older versions. Unfortunately, to keep up with this never-ending updates, you might have to buy a new phone every single year. If that is not an issue for you, go for it! But if it is significantly affecting your budget, purchase old phone instead. There is nothing wrong with choosing something old, or should we say… classic. Even though it may lack some new features, old phones still work as well as new phones. And if you care that much about getting your hands on the latest features, just upgrade the old phone you’re buying. Simple!
But before you go to the nearest store, here’s something you need to consider. New features require adapting. And this process may take forever. Why put yourself through this frustrating process when you can use something you’re already familiar with?
Repairing cost and time
Let’s face the sad truth: sooner or later, you will need to take your phone to see a doctor, regardless if it was a new phone or an older one. Newer phones with the latest models usually come with a more intricate design. And the doctor, a.k.a the repair shop, may need more time to tinker with it.
We don’t necessarily say older phones are better, though. If your phone is older than 5 years old, the replacement parts can be hard to find. That being said, this case only happens to phones produced by overseas companies where shipping parts require more time and effort. To avoid this issue, purchase old phone from a more world-wide company. Its parts are easier to get at a more affordable cost.
Beta Versions
To better explain this aspect, let us paint you a picture. Every phone is produced in several batches. The first batch will hit the market before the rest is even assembled. Why? Hold that question for a second. The first thousands of people buy these phones. Soon after, online reviews and unboxing videos emerge. The company will pay attention to these first-hand feedbacks. Then, they will adjust, improve, or even repair the later batches accordingly.
Whether you should purchase old phone or new depends on which batch you are interested in. Perhaps you are among the unboxing video makers or simply cannot wait to get your hands on the product. Or perhaps you would rather take the later batches that have been perfected through real-life reviews. The choice is in your hands!
Online reviews
Perhaps without you realizing it, online reviews and videos play a huge part in your decision making when it comes to buying a product. These reviews hold a powerful influence on your thoughts. Believe it or not, even if you were 100% sure with your decision, you might change your mind after reading bad reviews online. New phone buyers do not have this luxury. They could only trust the company’s description and perhaps some prerelease online reviews. But these are not the same with genuine online reviews from real customers who are not paid or sponsored by the company.
Exclusivity
There is no doubt, it does feel great to be one of the first view people who own the latest product. Only the true shopaholics will understand the joy of prestige from a brand new phone, especially if it has been filled with high anticipation. If this is what you want, no one is stopping you. However, if this is not your cup of tea, there is no reason to spend extra hundreds of dollars for the exclusivity. Of course, you will not be the center of attention at social gatherings because your new phone is the older version. But that is a great tradeoff to allocating more money into your vacation fund!
Conclusion
The newly released phone comes with high demand and exclusivity. For some people, this is a legit source of joy. However, for more practical people, this does not make any sense. Because why should you spend extra money where you can get something that will work the same? If you are one of the latter, you have just made your own decision. You should purchase old phone. Congratulation on becoming a smart customer!
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