To people who buy phones all the time? I guess it does. I have the same phone I bought 2 years ago, and I plan on using it until it stops working...
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Why are console prices an issue when phones cost so much? And you replace them every 2-3 years.
- Thread starter TrueSloth
- Start date
This is a bad example thanks to declining upgrade rates on almost all new phones, it's already been proven people are holding onto their phones for much longer then 2 years nowadays. It's no wonder when apple supports their devices for 5+ and even Sammy does patches for thier devices for 3+ years.
I also paid less for my last 3 phones then I did for my PS4 bundle at the time, or the continuous upgrades on my pc.
I also paid less for my last 3 phones then I did for my PS4 bundle at the time, or the continuous upgrades on my pc.
I can definitely echo with the consumer trend these days. Once it was handheld game console, then to console, then to PC, then to laptop, then to handheld game console and now to mobile without any indication to go back and forth anymore. And if I have to, I will simply get a Switch and get it over with.
The OP though is missing the point.
It is not the price that defines the value of the product. It is the product that defines the value of the price over another product.
In other terms, consumers are willing to spend more on a phone than on a console because the phone has got a greater value by default. Basically, you could have a phone and a console that cost the same, but the value will still be greater for the phone than for the console. From a gamer' perspective, the cost of owning, maintaining, playing on a mobile phone is much, much lower than a console. And as a third reason, in the mobile gaming market there is no pressure to get a specific phone or brand to play a specific game or a franchise. So there is none of this exclusivity nonsense that only creates unnecessary anxiety or the feeling of feeling excluded from a specific game title or game culture.
So in essence, yes it does make absolutely perfect sense for consumers willing to spend more for a phone than for a console.
The OP though is missing the point.
It is not the price that defines the value of the product. It is the product that defines the value of the price over another product.
In other terms, consumers are willing to spend more on a phone than on a console because the phone has got a greater value by default. Basically, you could have a phone and a console that cost the same, but the value will still be greater for the phone than for the console. From a gamer' perspective, the cost of owning, maintaining, playing on a mobile phone is much, much lower than a console. And as a third reason, in the mobile gaming market there is no pressure to get a specific phone or brand to play a specific game or a franchise. So there is none of this exclusivity nonsense that only creates unnecessary anxiety or the feeling of feeling excluded from a specific game title or game culture.
So in essence, yes it does make absolutely perfect sense for consumers willing to spend more for a phone than for a console.
You say you're interested in the perception of value, but don't you think it's slightly ridiculous to disregard the fact that you're operating with two separate markets?
Top tier phones cost 1000-1300 bucks now, so anything that's 50% less but will offer near the same functionality will of course have a great value proposition.
Conversely, buying a 500-600 dollar console may seem steep to some, because you can spend a little more and get better performance (in theory) and a variety of other functions, if you buy a PC. Also, there's historic pricing: people assume a price range for consoles, and so they may adapt to that and budget in proportion to their expectations. I don't know, and it's all my personal assumption.
Top tier phones cost 1000-1300 bucks now, so anything that's 50% less but will offer near the same functionality will of course have a great value proposition.
Conversely, buying a 500-600 dollar console may seem steep to some, because you can spend a little more and get better performance (in theory) and a variety of other functions, if you buy a PC. Also, there's historic pricing: people assume a price range for consoles, and so they may adapt to that and budget in proportion to their expectations. I don't know, and it's all my personal assumption.
So software and subscriptions cost nothing on a console?
And your fault if you overpay for a phone in this day and age. Xiaomi >
And your fault if you overpay for a phone in this day and age. Xiaomi >
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This.
Things are usually priced according to their necessity and functionality. Phones are needed to function in today's society and are also have way more uses than consoles. A console is an entertainment device solely and is seen as a luxury item instead of a necessity.
I'm a Note fan (love the S-Pen), but I only upgrade even I can get a deal. Just got a Note 10 for 50% off (about 450 all together) via a T-Mobile veterans day promotion they were running. I upgraded for technical reasons, as my Note 8 was missing a crucial cellular band T-Mobile is using (their 600mhz band l.
My phone is my main computer. The amount of data that I push through it one daily basis is nuts.
Sure, I could have gone with a cheaper phone, but I would lose out on functionality by losing the S-Pen, or DeX (which is fucking awesome).
I can't say that about my PS4, which I barely turn on anymore.
My phone is my main computer. The amount of data that I push through it one daily basis is nuts.
Sure, I could have gone with a cheaper phone, but I would lose out on functionality by losing the S-Pen, or DeX (which is fucking awesome).
I can't say that about my PS4, which I barely turn on anymore.
Agree. Phones are more of a necessity especially with their camera ability that is essential in your everyday life such as in raising children, family events, etc.
Not if you're in the US. T-Mobile is about the only US carrier that fully supports unlocked devices, and even then it's a crapshoot. You've also got LTE bands to account for.
AT&T restricts VoLTE and wifi calling on BYOD devices (although they're getting better)
Verizon just won't allow the device to activate (although they're getting better in regards to devices like OnePlus)
Sprint is in the process of being bought out.
Carriers in the states have consumers by the balls.
1. I don't change phones every 2-3 years. My Galaxy S5 lasted me 5 years;
2. A phone is much more capable at doing multiple stuff, specially media consuption, than any console;
3. I don't spend that much more money after buying a phone. Apps are cheap and if I bought them on one device, I will still have it in the next. On the other hand, consoles are worthless without games. And games are expensive-ish;
4. Except for the Switch, consoles are totally worthless without a screen. That costs money too.
5. I use my phone around 5 hours everyday, and it is still avaliable at all times during the other 19 hours of the day. My consoles is used about 5 hours every week and is useless when I am not home.
Damn I could go on...
2. A phone is much more capable at doing multiple stuff, specially media consuption, than any console;
3. I don't spend that much more money after buying a phone. Apps are cheap and if I bought them on one device, I will still have it in the next. On the other hand, consoles are worthless without games. And games are expensive-ish;
4. Except for the Switch, consoles are totally worthless without a screen. That costs money too.
5. I use my phone around 5 hours everyday, and it is still avaliable at all times during the other 19 hours of the day. My consoles is used about 5 hours every week and is useless when I am not home.
Damn I could go on...
Yep, its a disaster (along with our cable broadband industry).
Yup. And my phone plan let's me upgrade phones every 6 months. Sure I pay 30 bucks a month for a phone but every 6 months I can switch to the latest and greatest.
If consoles became full fledged PC's that did more than play games, nobody would really have a problem with $600. Don't bring up PS3 either.
Almost no one pays full price for a phone, people swallow the (ridiculous) monthly payments instead. At least here in Canada, where we get screwed with 70$ to 125$ per month payments for 2 years.
I dont spend real money on phones. I get whatever the free outdated slop T-Mobile is offering up. I don't need a bunch of extra options on a phone Im never going to use.
There is not one extra thing I can think of that a phone does better than other device.
There is not one extra thing I can think of that a phone does better than other device.
Videogame consoles have no value. Phones do. They're a necessity, while consoles are strictly for entertainment.
Those stereotypes about trading phones every year and "fashion acessories" are overblown. There are some groups that think this way and they flood the internet because of their interest in new launches, but those early adopters are in no way the average phone consumer.
People generally have their phone with them 24 hours to day. They use their phones to call, text, email, take photos, handle reminders, video chat, edit documents, social media, listen to music, watch movies, game and sooooooo much more. And all of this can be done wherever the user is.
Consoles can do very few of these things and zero on the road.
Consoles can do very few of these things and zero on the road.
I replaced my recent phone after having it for six years, and that's only because the battery life was becoming a slight inconvenience. Also my phone is an absolute necessity, while a console is a toy.
If you are the type of person who always buys a new phone every year you either have plenty of money or are making high monthly payments. A lot of the time with consoles people will pay for the whole thing all at once.
A phone is a need first and an entertainment device second. Consoles are purely entertainment boxes and aren't essential to have.
You're assuming a lot, OP.
I don't replace it every 2,3 years. If it isn't broken, i'm not replacing.
I would never buy a phone that costs more than a console.
The console is nothing more than a entry price. You still have to buy the games. Some people with a PS4 will spend $1000 in 5 years of purchasing lots of games.
Both are an issue depending on your money situation and where you live. But phones are 100% a necessity.
Gamers are the opposite of cheap. Video Games has an industry that gets more revenue than movies despite having a lot less overall consumers, specifically because video game enthusiasts spends too much on the hobby.
I don't replace it every 2,3 years. If it isn't broken, i'm not replacing.
I would never buy a phone that costs more than a console.
The console is nothing more than a entry price. You still have to buy the games. Some people with a PS4 will spend $1000 in 5 years of purchasing lots of games.
Both are an issue depending on your money situation and where you live. But phones are 100% a necessity.
Gamers are the opposite of cheap. Video Games has an industry that gets more revenue than movies despite having a lot less overall consumers, specifically because video game enthusiasts spends too much on the hobby.
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500$ isn't bad at all for a console. It's been 6 years and in 2020 it will be 7 years after PS4 and X1. That makes 71$ per year of waiting for a new system.
I'm putting away some money (sometimes 10 bucks, sometimes 30 bucks) since last year every couple of months so I won't even feel buying a new console. It's not that hard.
I'm putting away some money (sometimes 10 bucks, sometimes 30 bucks) since last year every couple of months so I won't even feel buying a new console. It's not that hard.
It still baffles me that people buy phones yearly and justify it, and all they end up doing with the phone is the same thing they have ever done, social media apps, youtube and phone calls, nothing your last phone couldnt do, BUT OMG NEW IPHONE IS THE FASTEST PHONE EVER I CAN REPLY TO YOUR MESSAGES AT THE SAME TIME AS BEFORE BECAUSE I WILL NEVER NOTICE THE SPEED INCREASE IF THERE IS EVEN ONE.
Gaming (for what it offers) is cheap as fuck, people got no problem paying them 14.99 bucks for a 1 and half hour movie, but go batshit crazy when a 60 usd game doesnt give them hundreds of hours of entertainment. Its even to a point that most BR players in the market dont do half the things a ps3/ps4 do and still they manage to be more expensive. The issue with gaming is that for a long while it has been seen as a "toy" and I am not sure if it will ever be seen as anything more, so it will be forever stuck in expensive side even if its cheaper and does a lot more things than other similar devices.
Gaming (for what it offers) is cheap as fuck, people got no problem paying them 14.99 bucks for a 1 and half hour movie, but go batshit crazy when a 60 usd game doesnt give them hundreds of hours of entertainment. Its even to a point that most BR players in the market dont do half the things a ps3/ps4 do and still they manage to be more expensive. The issue with gaming is that for a long while it has been seen as a "toy" and I am not sure if it will ever be seen as anything more, so it will be forever stuck in expensive side even if its cheaper and does a lot more things than other similar devices.
The reason is the console companies are trying to get their install base growing as quickly as possible to entice both consumers and publishers/devs to support the console.
Making money on the console sales is not the point.
Making money on the console sales is not the point.
I find the necessity argument a little misfired. It's true that a phone is necessary in the modern society but there's nothing about a $600 phone that's a necessity when compared to what a $200 one offers. It's just as much a luxury item as a video game console.
This.
Like for me, I only use my game consoles just to play games.
I use my phone for calls, text, email check up, check weather, listen to music, watch videos, browse online, GPS, use as a flashlight, record video, take photos, keep notes, etc
(Though I dont upgrade my phone every 2-3 years - my current one I've had for over 4 years :p).
iPhone XS was $1,000
It's the best electronic device I've ever had.
most i'd pay for a PS5 is $600 if it has a 2TBSSD, backwards compatible with all PS4 purchases, and upscale s them too
It's the best electronic device I've ever had.
most i'd pay for a PS5 is $600 if it has a 2TBSSD, backwards compatible with all PS4 purchases, and upscale s them too
I agree in regards to those people, it's weird as fuck and a huge waste of money. But it's not exactly common. The vast majority of people don't upgrade their phones annually considering the average contract is 2 years. Id think the norm is longer than that too. I'd be interested to know what the average is.
As other have said, it's
A) your phone has more value given its use-case
B) it's often easier to shoulder the high cost of some phones with payment plans, carrier subsidies, and upgrade offers
C) depending on the phone you can keep it for at least 5 years even on up-to-date firmware
A) your phone has more value given its use-case
B) it's often easier to shoulder the high cost of some phones with payment plans, carrier subsidies, and upgrade offers
C) depending on the phone you can keep it for at least 5 years even on up-to-date firmware
On top of the fact that people are replacing their phones less frequently than before these last years.
I wonder how many people complaining about console launch prices ended up doing the midgen "refresh" for $400/500.
a machine that will need to endure 7 years of graphically intensive gaming should be a beast upfront, which will have to come at a cost so we won't have so many massive performance issues or a need for a +500 upgrade half way through.
next gen consoles need to give devlopers , who will want to push these things, some breathing room to get unreal fidelity and performance. (also they need to give people graphical/performance options)
a machine that will need to endure 7 years of graphically intensive gaming should be a beast upfront, which will have to come at a cost so we won't have so many massive performance issues or a need for a +500 upgrade half way through.
next gen consoles need to give devlopers , who will want to push these things, some breathing room to get unreal fidelity and performance. (also they need to give people graphical/performance options)
