posted in Technology

eicker@eicker@lemmy.world

Should you still buy your next smartphone — or subscribe to it instead? Apple, Samsung … are betting that leasing, subscriptions, and guaranteed buyback programs can make upgrading more attractive.

techcrunch.com/2026/08/01/should-you-still-buy-your-next-smartphone-or-subscribe-to-it-instead/
TechCrunchShould you still buy your next smartphone — or subscribe to it instead? | TechCrunchApple's new Upgrade program is the latest sign that smartphone ownership is changing.
CerebralHawks@cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com

Replying to @⁨eicker@lemmy.world⁩

No. The only innovations these days are AI. If you don’t care about that, you’ll be fine with whatever.

My iPhone is pretty current from 2024, but my Android phone from 2019 isn’t much slower or less capable. It has less storage, but it has a memory card slot. There isn’t much it can’t do that the newer iPhone can, except for generate AI slop on device.

If you need AI, they’re gonna make you pay to play. If you don’t… just chill.

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