Are you in the same position as I am? You’ve had your current phone for a year or so now, and you are not sure if you need a new one? Well here are 7 warning signs that you need a new phone!
If you have been reading Gizchina for a while you will have discovered that, although I write primarily about Chinese Android phones, I am an ….. iPhone user (don’t hate me!).
However having an iPhone, the older iPhone 4 in this case, and writing about all these awesome Chinese phones has opened up my eyes to just how poor my current phone stands up to the hordes of great new models.
But what about you? Are you unsure if you need a new phone or not? Are you on the fence hopefully thinking “my phone could last a little longer..” well if you are, here are my 7 warning signs that you are in need of a new phone!
1. Speed
When I bought my iPhone 4 early last year it was the hottest, fastest device I had owned. Touch an app and WHAM! It opened! Start a game BOOM, I’m shooting zombies in the face in seconds!
This however is no longer the case!
My phone is so slow now that when typing my fingers move faster than the phone can process what I’m doing! My phone is so slow that when I press the lock screen button a full second goes by before I hear the accompanying sound! My phone is so slow that when I want to capture a spontanious photo, I usually miss it…..
Chinese phones to consider
2. Camera
Speaking of cameras it’s not just the speed of the actual camera app opening which has me looking at a newer more powerful phone, but also the speed of taking photos and the quality of those photos!
Again when I bought my current phone I was really impressed with the 5 mega-pixel front camera and thanks to the quality have taken more photos in the past 18 months than I every have!
But, now when I look at my photos in comparsion to photos taken on my wifes’s 8 mega-pixel phone (HTC One X) or even one of the new breed low-cost Chinese super phones, my old phone is looking a little tired!
Chinese phones to consider
3. Hardware
My phone cost 4500 Yuan in China ($708), 18 months later phones costing just 899 Yuan ($140) blow my phone away in terms of hardware, and of course performance! Phones costing a little more such as the Xiaomi M2 which is 1999 ($318) make my phone look like a old black and white LCD Nokia!
For only a couple of hundred dollars I can easily find a phone featuring a powerful dual-core CPU, 1GB RAM, 8 mega-pixel rear camera, latest OS and large display!
Chinese phones to consider
4. Screen size
There was a time when I thought 3.5 inches was enough but after testing all these great larger screen phones I’m sold on the idea of having a big screen phone!
Not only does a larger screen make it more enjoyable to play games and watch movies, but it also gives you more room for manouvrer when using apps with lots of on screen functions!
For example I could never going back to using the Android camera app, with all of it’s great manual options and filters on a small screen anymore, there just isn’t enough room!
Chinese phones to consider
5. Battery
As soon as phones got large touch screens, 3G, GPS, cameras and apps, battery life has decreased ALOT!
However even a modern smartphone battery with 3G on and emails set up to be pushed to your account when they arrive, you should be getting at least a full day worth of use out of it! Thats including taking photos, browsing the web and checking the odd map!
If your phone, like mine is getting less than a day of use without needing to top the battery up, it’s probably time for a new phone!
Chinese phones to consider
6. Latest Operating System
As phones get older there will come a time that they no longer get official updates, or they get updated but don’t get all the latest and greatest features newer models are offered.
The iPhone 4 is a great example of this as although it is eligable for iOS 6 when it arrives, the iPhone 4 still won’t get Siri and won’t get the new 3D maps featrue (even though the phone is more than capable of handling these).
But what if you can live without the latest OS, can you still live with your old phone? Probably not, as when new apps are launched they will likely need the latest OS for them to be installed….. time for a new phone!
Chinese phones to consider
Anything with an MTK MT677 CPU or higher
7. It’s getting a little worn
Your phone has a hard life! It’s sits in your hot (sweaty?) pocket all day. Its touched with your hands (when was the last time you washed them), it will be sneezed on coughed on, dropped, have drinks spilt on it, be accidentally put in your pocket with keys…..
If your phone is looking less like a technological break thru and more like an old worn out sneaker, it could be time to get a new one!
Chinese phones to consider
Anything which takes your fancy (their all mostly great!)
Luckily this is the best time to buy a New phone!
Thankfully for all of us looking to buy a new phone this is a great time, especially if you’re in the market for a Chinese Android phone, which features all the latest bells and whistles for a low cost!
If you want to learn more about Chinese phones, tablets and technology keep reading Gizchina.com and sign up to our RSS feed o get the latest news in your inbox (no spam guarantee!)
Are any of you guy’s looking to get a new phone? Why not share your new phone choice with us below!
I think you missed the dual sim capability, this is the only reason for me to look at good Chinese phone.
Ditto
Me too! If wasn’t for dual sim I had choosen a windows phone.
There is an advantage of windows phones and iphones over android phones: They can afford all apps in their marketplaces of apps. A cheap android could be far to do it. Even with our dual sims is true that there are apps we cannot use like those to customize contacts, status bars and dialers because they are designed just to work with one sim. I use go locker but the three items I cannot touch.
Me too!
Without dual sim capability I’d choosen a windows phone.
Windows phones and IPhones have the advantage that the owner can use all the apps in their respective marketplaces. In Android it is harder, and even worse in our case because the apps are designed thinking in just one sim so it is impossible customize dialers, status bars or contacts apps. I use Go Launcher but i don’t touch those three items.
One little issue with this article – you can’t actually buy many of the phone you’ve listed! Maybe this article is a bit premature…
The reason for me is the bang for bucks you got if you buy some chinese phone..
i have a buget for a smartphone, i dont want to spend 500-600 euros for a phone wich is old, 6 months later…
my budget is around the 150-200 euro’s, in my country (holland) i can buy some budgetsmartphones like Samsung galaxy ace (2) or gio of mini or some HTC wildfire S etc..
If you compare the specs of lets say Samsung Galaxy Ace (lowest price in market 160 euro) with the specs of the Jiayu G3(+-180$ = +-145 euro)
so first ace then G3
Screen: LCD vs IPS (even got gorilla glass!)
Screen size:3,5 inch vs 4,5 inch
Res: 320×480 vs 720 x 1280
CPU: 800 mhz singlecore vs MTK6577 1.0 Ghz (dualcore)
RAM:512 MB vs 1 GB
ROM:158 MB vs 4GB(?)
Camera: 5 MP vs 8 MP ( + 2 mp front)
BODY:Plastic vs alloy body
OS: Android 2.2 vs android 4.1
Battery: 1350 mah vs 2750 mah
This owns the Ace by everything and even the price is lower..
i think i can compare the G3 with an Samsung Galaxy S2.. and even its winning on some fronts there.. Like Better Battery, bigger screen with gorrilla glass, better resolution etc.. and a S2 will cost in my country like 385 euro!!
its +-485$..
so my ‘profit’ will be €385 – €145 = €240!!
Running on some old overclocked HTC wildfire now with CM 7, so an upgrade to an new phone is welcome 🙂
Hope jiayu will lauch the G3 quickly 🙂
Sorry for my bad english, hope you guys can understand what i mean
Ramones
Great comment! Some great and valid points!! Cheers 😉
I have almost a year on my Chinese B63M smartphone. I went with it mostly for the savings. I hate the business model of wireless carriers that lock customers in a 2-year contract. Phones these days are obsolete in a year. Non-contract carries aren’t flexible either because the phones they sell are locked to their service and you can’t switch providers without changing the phone.
The case of iPhones is even more peculiar because the battery is not serviceable. Even if the battery lasts for 2 years, the maximum storage capacity of current lithium batteries decreases over time. So by the time a 2-year contract is over your phone battery can hold much less charge than when it was brand new.
A year a go Chinese phones were not that great. My B63M has some shortcomings like a non-functioning GPS, short battery life and no 3G functionality for my area. But everything else is awesome. I was able to root it and install many fixes and updates. Since it is relatively cheap I am not afraid to put it through hazardous conditions. I take it hiking and if I get caught in rain I simply remove the battery and dry it afterwards.
A year a go choosing between a Chinese phone with a prepaid plan and a carrier locked 2-year contract was a tough choice. These days Chinese models blow mainstream branded phones out of the water.
I think you missed the dual sim capability, this is the only reason for me to look at good Chinese phone.
Ditto
Me too! If wasn’t for dual sim I had choosen a windows phone.
There is an advantage of windows phones and iphones over android phones: They can afford all apps in their marketplaces of apps. A cheap android could be far to do it. Even with our dual sims is true that there are apps we cannot use like those to customize contacts, status bars and dialers because they are designed just to work with one sim. I use go locker but the three items I cannot touch.
Me too!
Without dual sim capability I’d choosen a windows phone.
Windows phones and IPhones have the advantage that the owner can use all the apps in their respective marketplaces. In Android it is harder, and even worse in our case because the apps are designed thinking in just one sim so it is impossible customize dialers, status bars or contacts apps. I use Go Launcher but i don’t touch those three items.
One little issue with this article – you can’t actually buy many of the phone you’ve listed! Maybe this article is a bit premature…
The reason for me is the bang for bucks you got if you buy some chinese phone..
i have a buget for a smartphone, i dont want to spend 500-600 euros for a phone wich is old, 6 months later…
my budget is around the 150-200 euro’s, in my country (holland) i can buy some budgetsmartphones like Samsung galaxy ace (2) or gio of mini or some HTC wildfire S etc..
If you compare the specs of lets say Samsung Galaxy Ace (lowest price in market 160 euro) with the specs of the Jiayu G3(+-180$ = +-145 euro)
so first ace then G3
Screen: LCD vs IPS (even got gorilla glass!)
Screen size:3,5 inch vs 4,5 inch
Res: 320×480 vs 720 x 1280
CPU: 800 mhz singlecore vs MTK6577 1.0 Ghz (dualcore)
RAM:512 MB vs 1 GB
ROM:158 MB vs 4GB(?)
Camera: 5 MP vs 8 MP ( + 2 mp front)
BODY:Plastic vs alloy body
OS: Android 2.2 vs android 4.1
Battery: 1350 mah vs 2750 mah
This owns the Ace by everything and even the price is lower..
i think i can compare the G3 with an Samsung Galaxy S2.. and even its winning on some fronts there.. Like Better Battery, bigger screen with gorrilla glass, better resolution etc.. and a S2 will cost in my country like 385 euro!!
its +-485$..
so my ‘profit’ will be €385 – €145 = €240!!
Running on some old overclocked HTC wildfire now with CM 7, so an upgrade to an new phone is welcome 🙂
Hope jiayu will lauch the G3 quickly 🙂
Sorry for my bad english, hope you guys can understand what i mean
Ramones
Great comment! Some great and valid points!! Cheers 😉
I have almost a year on my Chinese B63M smartphone. I went with it mostly for the savings. I hate the business model of wireless carriers that lock customers in a 2-year contract. Phones these days are obsolete in a year. Non-contract carries aren’t flexible either because the phones they sell are locked to their service and you can’t switch providers without changing the phone.
The case of iPhones is even more peculiar because the battery is not serviceable. Even if the battery lasts for 2 years, the maximum storage capacity of current lithium batteries decreases over time. So by the time a 2-year contract is over your phone battery can hold much less charge than when it was brand new.
A year a go Chinese phones were not that great. My B63M has some shortcomings like a non-functioning GPS, short battery life and no 3G functionality for my area. But everything else is awesome. I was able to root it and install many fixes and updates. Since it is relatively cheap I am not afraid to put it through hazardous conditions. I take it hiking and if I get caught in rain I simply remove the battery and dry it afterwards.
A year a go choosing between a Chinese phone with a prepaid plan and a carrier locked 2-year contract was a tough choice. These days Chinese models blow mainstream branded phones out of the water.
@ Boris
Totally agree. Got my HTC Desire S about 1.5 yrs ago, i was very happy about it, clearly the best phone i ever owned. The downside as you said is that i’m locked on a 2 year contract. Of course in a few months it will expire but i’m not doing such a mistake again.
I was thinking of getting an HTC one X renewing for another 2 year contract but i’ve realised that I can get similar functionality from a chinese phone for a fraction of the price and moreover no more being tided up to a contract. And when i’ll feel that i need to change my phone with a new one, it’s affordable and just a few mouse clicks away!
Btw, a couple of months before my Desire S, I bought a ZTE Blade, served ( and will be for a long time as it seems) as second phone, and – believe it or not!- it’s in better shape than my HTC while the usage was about the same…
PS: …and oh yes, Andi you know, gorilla glass can be scracthed by keys in a pocket.. it’s one of the seven signs that i need to get a new phone, isn’t it? 😉
@ Boris
Totally agree. Got my HTC Desire S about 1.5 yrs ago, i was very happy about it, clearly the best phone i ever owned. The downside as you said is that i’m locked on a 2 year contract. Of course in a few months it will expire but i’m not doing such a mistake again.
I was thinking of getting an HTC one X renewing for another 2 year contract but i’ve realised that I can get similar functionality from a chinese phone for a fraction of the price and moreover no more being tided up to a contract. And when i’ll feel that i need to change my phone with a new one, it’s affordable and just a few mouse clicks away!
Btw, a couple of months before my Desire S, I bought a ZTE Blade, served ( and will be for a long time as it seems) as second phone, and – believe it or not!- it’s in better shape than my HTC while the usage was about the same…
PS: …and oh yes, Andi you know, gorilla glass can be scracthed by keys in a pocket.. it’s one of the seven signs that i need to get a new phone, isn’t it? 😉
Funny that this article comes up when I’m right in the middle of wanting to buy a new phone, my HTC Hero has served me very well for many years now but it’s really showing its age and a lot of apps wont even run on it so I’ve been looking but not liking the price of big brand name phones.
I’ll likely just pick up a JiaYu G3 or something in the 4″-4.8″ range which is nice smartphone territory. Can’t wait to see what the MT6588/6583 can do in terms of performance next year though. We’ll hopefully start to see an influx of HD displays and 1G RAM phones.
Haha my physic powers are still working then… 😉
Funny that this article comes up when I’m right in the middle of wanting to buy a new phone, my HTC Hero has served me very well for many years now but it’s really showing its age and a lot of apps wont even run on it so I’ve been looking but not liking the price of big brand name phones.
I’ll likely just pick up a JiaYu G3 or something in the 4″-4.8″ range which is nice smartphone territory. Can’t wait to see what the MT6588/6583 can do in terms of performance next year though. We’ll hopefully start to see an influx of HD displays and 1G RAM phones.
Haha my physic powers are still working then… 😉
i prefer the iphone than that chinese crap
Replying to an 3 year old post trying to be smart… Priceless!! . Oh, FYI : apple is assembling all iPhones in China as well.
i prefer the iphone than that chinese crap
Replying to an 3 year old post trying to be smart… Priceless!! . Oh, FYI : apple is assembling all iPhones in China as well.