There is the money you pay upfront and then there’s the value you get down the road. Smartphone value can be tricky to calculate, unless you buy an iPhone. How’s that? Apple keeps the value coming even for old iPhone models by delivering feature-packed iOS updates.
While Google and its Android OEM gaggle have gotten somewhat better in recent years, many older (i.e. more than a year old) don’t get updates — if you want Android 4.4 “KitKat” on a Samsung Galaxy S2 or S3, then you better be ready to buy a new handset.
Ever tried Apple’s newest mobile operating system, iOS 7, on a two-plus year-old iPhone 4s? It’s pretty smooth. In fact, it’s pretty good on my ancient iPhone 4.
That’s the smartphone value Fidlee set out to track in creating a chart comparing iPhone (iOS) and Android software compatibility.
About 2 years back, I read this article on Michael Degusta’s personal blog. It was a revelation. Michael ripped the Android ecosystem apart with a simple chart. The chart converted me from an Android user to an iPhone user. I hope this chart helps other folks make an informed decision when their next smartphone upgrade is due — Fidlee.com
And, in case you were wondering, when it comes to resale value, Apple’s various iPhones always come out on top. Likewise, the iPhone invariably comes out on top in customer service rating surveys and product build quality — two factors that help drive high resale values for iPhones, as well as the company’s iPads and Macs.
It’s really just a matter of doing the math and, as you can see, the numbers, the hard data is almost exclusively in Apple’s favor.
So, looking for smartphone value? Whereas folks can argue over screen size, as well as speeds and feeds, there’s no question the iPhone delivers serious long-term value…
What’s your take?
