Got around $500? Don’t know whether you should buy a mid-range or last-gen flagship smartphone? Well, the debate between a mid-range phone vs old flagship phone isn’t as simple as you may have thought.
If you want better battery life, longer software updates, and better warranty coverage, you should get a new mid-range phone. But if you want flagship-grade performance, enhanced camera capabilities, and premium features, you should get a last-gen flagship.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much more you should know if you’re confused between a mid-range phone vs old flagship phone. And through this guide, you can learn everything there’s to it regarding the topic.
Mid-Range Phone vs Old Flagship Phone: Why Should You Get a Mid-range Smartphone
So, there are many good reasons why you would want to get a new mid-range smartphone over an old flagship device. Let’s give you a quick rundown for each of those factors:
Better Battery Life
Battery life is the first thing that makes a new mid-range phone a better choice. Even if you get a new last-gen device, you need to understand that it has been on the shelf for at least one year. Lithium-ion batteries, which are inside all of our electronic gadgets, have a finite shelf life.
It doesn’t even matter how well you take care of the smartphone. At one point or another, the lithium-ion cell will degrade no matter what. Things get even worse if you plan to get a used flagship smartphone. It will require a battery replacement much faster than a new mid-range phone.
So, if you hate charging your phone frequently, getting a new mid-range phone is better.
New Mid-Range Phones Will Get Better Software Support
It’s true that flagship smartphones tend to get better software support than the affordable alternatives. But manufacturers have changed their strategies. For example, the newer Samsung A series mid-range phone models will get four years of support.
To compare, an old flagship smartphone has likely already got most of the major updates. Of course, you can argue that last-gen models will get updates. Even so, new affordable models can beat them in terms of security updates. But it does vary from one phone to another.
Warranty and Repair
When you get a new phone, you get proper warranty support. This offers you peace of mind that the device is protected under the manufacturer’s policy. For most people, this is important, and it’s the only reason why most don’t buy used smartphones.
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Now, there’s no denying that you will get the same warranty support if you get a new last-gen flagship. But things take a turn when you consider repairs. The thing is, replacement parts for new phones are easily available in the market. On the other hand, the repair parts for old flagships tend to be a bit hard to find.
Mid-range Phone vs Old Flagship Phone: Why You Should Get an Old Flagship Device
Getting a new device surely sounds better than getting an old phone. But there are some reasons why you would want to consider getting an old flagship. They are:
Superior Raw Performance
If you plan to do nothing but basic tasks such as calling, texting, web browsing, and taking photos, a mid-range phone should offer more than good enough performance. But if you plan to play games or do some photo and video editing, an old flagship phone will likely perform better.
After all, the chipset, RAM capacity, and storage technology on flagship phone models tend to be better than mid-range devices. So, you get less lag, stutters, and hiccups while handling resource-heavy tasks.
Old Flagships Tend to Offer Better Camera Performance
Flagships are called flagships for a reason. They set a new standard in terms of performance. And it’s not just the raw performance that they excel at. Most offer advancement in other aspects. For example, the camera. Due to featuring better sensors paired with the right software optimization, you get superior performance.
Of course, you can’t deny that mid-range smartphones are getting better. Take Pixel A series smartphones, for example. They are mid-range phone models, but they do have enhanced computational imaging skills. This eventually leads to flagship-grade camera performance.
However, software features can only make up for hardware deficiency to a certain point. In challenging conditions, such as harsh lighting, flagship phones tend to capture better shots.
Flagship Phone Models Come with Premium Build, Hardware, and Features
In general, flagship phone models have better hardware. For example, you will get better screens on high-end devices. The same thing applies to the build. After all, manufacturers don’t need to work with a tight budget for these high-end devices. So, you get a premium overall experience.
Moreover, flagship phones generally come with many convenient features. Some of them are very hard to find in mid-range phone models. Of course, these features aren’t necessities for most people. But they do make the experience a bit better when compared to mid-range devices.
