UKC

Soon to be 15 year old son wants a new mobile phone. 

He's convinced he wants an iPhone (last two phones were sub £150 Androids). 

With a budget of £250 would a new Android be a better* shot than a refurbished iPhone at that price point.

He watches the usual teenage crap and plays generally free to play games on it. 

* I realise better is subjective.

Thanks. 

In reply to Stuart (aka brt):

As you noted it's subjective. 

If he wants an apple phone, it's probably because he has used his friend's phones and likes the user interface.

Personally, despite having had an apple work phone for two years, I still don't like it. So I wouldn't thank you for a top of the range iphone in place of my ageing android.

Plenty of people feel the other way round.

In reply to Stuart (aka brt):

It's probably nothing to do with functionality and everything to do with what his mates have. 

But I guess you could just ask him why? 

In reply to Babika:

This.

In reply to Babika:

OK. Should have added, yes it's because his friends have them. But being the parent I do want to come to a reasonable resolution.

Is it, from a software/OS/older tech, going to be £250 well spent, comparative to a same budget but new Android? 

I know nothing about the Apple/iPhone experience having always been an Android user, but I don't want to shell out for something that isn't, well, worth it just for a fashion statement. 

In reply to Stuart (aka brt):

I have a refurbed iPhone and if you’re looking at £250 you are going nearer the much newer ones. You can easily get a refurbed iPhone in the £150 range and it’ll run the latest version of iOS.  You honestly won’t be able to tell they are refurb.

In reply to Brass Nipples:

Thanks. 

In reply to Stuart (aka brt):

A quick search says you can get an iPhone 14 128GB for £269.

I’ve never used an android. Apple every day for me. Just can’t imagine why you would want anything else. But I know there’s many reasons people don’t like them. 

The beauty of iPhones for me is how easily they talk to each other eg sharing WiFi passwords when you’re in your mates house. Something kids and adults alike love.

In reply to Stuart (aka brt):

Unlike the wasteland that is the Android market, you get the latest OS for devices up to 7 or so years old. My 2019 iPhone 11 Pro is still going strong, after a change of battery, 250 will get you a much newer refurbished iPhone than that.

In reply to Brass Nipples:

But, remember to budget £70 for a new (genuine) apple battery replacement. Most of the refurbs are knackered originals or have cheap knock off replacements and won’t last 

In reply to Alkis:

The recent Samsung phones are 7 years OS updates.

In reply to Ciro:

As are recent Google Pixels. They're starting to realise that it's an important metric now people are keeping phones for longer, and it's getting easier to deliver. Though Google have had a couple of scandals with bad batteries on their cheaper Pixels that are stopping them from lasting as long as they otherwise could have done, and they haven't handled them well.

In reply to Ciro:

Yeah, recent as in there has been no phone yet that has had 7 years of updates.

PS: With regards to the “wasteland” comment, you should see my wall of development phones at work. A lot of them pretty new, none of them got an Android 15 update.

In reply to Alkis:

It's not complete pie in the sky either though. I've had my Pixel 6 closing in on four years and it's received every Android update promptly and kept performing well. No sign of the updates stopping before the promised five years. I did have an out of warranty hardware failure earlier this year, but Google replaced it with very few questions asked, which was a huge win as batteries always degrade over time and now I have a new one that should last longer.

In reply to Alkis:

I'm not sure why that matters?

Samsungs are probably out of OP's price range but a refurbished pixel 8 is just about in it and will be supported until 2030.

In reply to Ciro:

It matters for the exact reason you stated in the next paragraph. They crossed fingers promise 7 years from now on, so no used Samsungs are likely to have that. Most iPhones currently available used have years of support remaining.

Pixels are good, they do have a tendency to drop dead, but they are good while they last. I wonder whether the newer ones that target a higher price point might actually be more durable.

In reply to Alkis:

I think you're pushing back harder than necessary on this. The seven year commitment from Samsung goes back a year and a half already, so you can get flagship phones that are covered by it for just over £400 new, and less if refurbished or used. That's not quite the OP's price point yet, but it's not at all accurate to say you can't get used phones that are covered by the seven year commitment. Samsung had a five year commitment for security updates for years before that, which is in the same kind of range as iPhones, and you could definitely find those used at OP's price. 

None of which is to say that an iPhone isn't a great option and likely to last ages. Just that the gulf in software longevity is nowhere near as significant as it used to be and newer Androids are arguably pulling ahead.

In reply to Stuart (aka brt): ive got a Samsung S23, my kids have Apples.  Both are fine. Id rather have the refurb Apple in his case as the upgrade to the new phone is a lot easier 

In reply to Stuart (aka brt):

I’ve had iPhones for over a decade. I’ve never had a problem with any of them; nor have the friends I’ve passed them on to when I’ve upgraded. Currently I’m on a 14 and no issues. Most I had was some software glitch in the early days and I had to reinstall the firmware and then download software again. Given backup to iCloud it was very simple, just took time.

My old iPhones 7 and 11 are still going well for my friends, though the 7 is largely only used for calls given its age for handling modern stuff. I actually still got a 3 which still functions albeit slowly and with restricted uses. It is only really used as a music server and a backup as an emergency phone if ever needed so not concerned about lack of security. It will soon be recycled.

Apple products are not everyone’s choice but I’m happy as the Apple customer support and software support/updates has been good. HTH somehow for your son’s choice.

In reply to Stuart (aka brt):

The cost of a good Android device and an iPhone is vaguely similar.  The bottom of the market just doesn't exist on the Apple side aside from used.

It's similar for laptops - the genuinely good Windows machines (e.g. the high end super light Dells) cost a similar sort of amount to a MacBook, but there is a low end of the market not offered by Apple.

In reply to Stuart (aka brt):

Give him £5 a week to save up for it.

In reply to Jimbo C:

Parenting advice not needed thanks all the same. (It wouldn't work, the £5 a week thing. His birthday isn't far off, which I should have been clearer about).

What are your thoughts on New Android vs older iPhone at a given price point? 

In reply to Stuart (aka brt):

Check Giffgaffs refurbed phones of both the Android and iPhones. If he wants an iPhone though then why not get him one? It's his phone.

In reply to Stuart (aka brt):

Switching from android to iPhone means buying any paid apps again. Then locking into apple walled garden such that he'll be wasting money on new iPhones over the next decade.

I have a pixel but I wouldn't worry about longevity for a kids phone. It won't last 7 years. Motorola and HMD make good spec phones for £150. HMD even make easily repairable devices. They are the people that used to be Nokia phones.

In reply to Alkis:

To be fair my phone didn't even get an Android 14 update.  It works just fine.

In reply to Philip:

But it won't be his money so he likely won't care.

In reply to Stuart (aka brt):

Android, just to avoid apple, plus any phone which supports the usa and chinese economy less (admittedly not easy to decipher).