Should one buy a budget smartphone with outdated specs?
The budget smartphone category in India is the most happening segment in the smartphone market. We are seeing devices that are defying all the rules of the category to make flagship models seem unnecessary. A look at the likes of the Xiaomi Redmi 4 and the Lenovo K6 Note great specifications and build makes us believe that the old days of horrendous plastic boxes with weak silicon chips inside have gone for good. Or have they?
While the market is witnessing the launch of budget phones with modern low-to-mid-range specifications, we are also witnessing the ones that still point back to the old days. A classic example is the Samsung Galaxy J3 Pro which launched a few days back with Android 5.1 Lollipop. The smartphone uses an SD410 processor which was efficient in handling low tasks in 2015, but not anymore in 2017. Yet, it has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage, which is better than the more popular Samsung Galaxy J2 with just 1GB RAM and 8GB storage. It is surprising to see that these phones are sold by the same brand selling the Galaxy S8. Similarly, the recently unveiled Moto C does come at extremely affordable rates, but the phone also borrows specifications from the first-generation Moto G, apart from an old and weak chipset. Although the category is meant to provide a nofrills experience, it allows manufacturers to assume that ‘no-frill’ equals ‘lagprone’ devices and a ‘cheap’ build. What manufacturers fail to understand is that even though people don’t want to spend a considerable amount of money for a smartphone, they also don’t want something that can be only usable for a few months at the most.
Why do they do that? We can encircle some of the possibilities. Firstly, device manufacturers avoid going for new low-end chipsets to avoid efforts and millions of dollars on something that will cost a dime. Secondly, designing a new low-cost handset with upgraded specs won’t be giving people a reason to upgrade to a better handset within a few months.
Whatever the reasons may be, it is the consumer who suffers. A budget smartphone buyer looks for digital luxuries of instant Internet and great multimedia. It is also the choice for first time buyers. It is also a preferred segment for those looking for a secondary or temporary device. When these people get devices like Galaxy J2 as their first one, their joyous experience turns sour when they come to know that the popular apps defining the smartphone fraternity lag and the games showcased on their retail boxes are out of the actual product’s league. This disappoints users, leading them to often disgust the product and probably the brand too. Manufacturers like Xiaomi and Lenovo are efficient at managing the price to performance ratio. What’s worth mentioning about these devices is that they don’t only focus on providing an impressive specification list but a notable usage experience. You will still find the predecessors of these devices out in the wild, functioning as good as when they were new. This is also the reason these brands have gained massive popularity in a very short amount of time.
Therefore, it makes little sense to buy such a device that has pre-historic chipset and software. We don’t condemn these devices — they are great for someone who wants a phone for social media and entertainment purposes. But if you prefer better user experience and timely upgrades, you should either look at devices with modern specifications, which could lead you to spend a bit more. We also urge well-known manufacturers to make updated devices for the masses and focus on great experience.