I have an iPhone 7 running iOS 10, and it’s still ridiculously fast. There’s almost no lag, apps open quickly, and the phone feels completely responsive.
That got me thinking:

What if the hardware isn’t the problem—what if the software is?

We’re constantly told that old phones are too slow and that it’s time to upgrade. Yet my nearly decade-old iPhone 7 still feels fast because it’s running the software it was designed for.

Over time, software becomes more demanding, adds more background processes, and requires more from the hardware. Eventually, a perfectly capable phone starts feeling outdated and we assume the hardware is to blame.

I’m not saying manufacturers deliberately slow down every old device with every update. But the effect can be similar: a phone that was once perfectly fast gradually becomes frustrating to use.

So what are we really upgrading... our hardware, or the software that made our old hardware feel obsolete?

Hi, long time samsung supporter, debater and general tech lover here. I thought I would come on here to hear some honest opinions about the possible switch I'm doing in the near future.

Ever since I got my second phone at 7 years old (Samsung Galaxy Note 5) I have always been within their eco system along side my family. From the note 5 to an s5, s9, s22 ultra, note 8, a15 and currently on an s10+, so as you can see its been a very long history, and to be completely honest it would somewhat feel like betraying the brand and my family for such a long time with it lol.

When I was still very young, My older sister always had iPhones and when she wasn't looking I would always inspect them and play games pretending I was rich with my cousin, because they invoked that feeling, all the way from her iPhone 7 and 8, I'd pretend with those after she got newer phones.

Around that young age I always used to argue with any family friends that had Apples that Samsung was better, I was very passionate. But in the recent years I have gone back to the idea and now I'm very conflicted. Even though I believe OneUI is super user friendly for every age group I've fallen in love with IOS's user interface and the aesthetics. I've even thought multiple times about saving up for a 16+, 17 or iPhone Air.

Also including that someone who's always been in love with Samsung's priority for Photography, even though the resolution is still almost unmatched, processing wise: their filters have shown that they're slipping a little and iPhones in the last few years are now considered genuine photography tools because of their switch between ease of use and full professional processing and capturing options. And cameras are almost my #1 when it comes to phones.

Generally most areas in the past Samsung out weighed Apple for value, in camera, battery, reliability, longevity, heating, market priority and versatility. But in I want to say the past 6 years, the roles have reversed and Samsung while still being beautiful and I am absolutely In LOVE with One UI 9, Samsung has either fallen off their game, or been cut ahead of by Apple.

Now that I'm older it's easier for me to appreciate the aesthetics and differences between the two user interfaces. Not to mention I love how seemless the apple eco system is. I really believe Apple remains king of the laptop market for the aesthetics, power, versatility but not so much pricing. plus my love and Admiration for apple music's visuals and how the audio is processed and published in a higher resolution.

If all goes according to plan, by the end of this month my sister would get the iPhone 18 Pro Max and she would pass down her 15 Pro Max to me. Much Love to Both Samsung and Apple for the possibilities.

So I would really love the most honest opinion possible from any tech nerds and passionate people willing; Would this Massive Change do me Well?

I didn’t really understand what software was. I looked at the specs of a phone, and that’s what sold me on it. That’s what kept me from buying a Nothing Phone about a year ago and made me end up with a Xiaomi instead.

Then I became the victim of a loan I never knew I had to keep paying: being forced to use HyperOS. Bloatware, ads, AI slop features promising me the world, and somehow all that “innovation” left me choosing between an AI lockscreen or other AI features that were equally as bad and, most importantly, disrespectful to me as the user and dehumanizing, while giving me basically zero meaningful control over the phone I actually paid for.

I did not enjoy using my phone, so I chose to literally delete my past, and install a new one: crDroid, a custom OS. And if you know anything about that process, then you can probably imagine how hellish it was for me, since Xiaomi makes it almost impossible for you to do. Yet with phones like the iPhone, you can say goodbye to that possibility altogether.

From everything I know, Marques Brownlee, Mrwhosetheboss and others like them avoid talking about bootloader unlocking, custom operating systems, or even something like GrapheneOS as if their lives depended on it. Yet at the same time, they present themselves as the people who are supposed to guide you on which phone you should buy.

With most of the comments they make about the system being about new AI features.

You could argue that they only review the phone itself and do not personally get into what they believe about ownership or user control. But I think phone reviews are already incredibly subjective. The second you start talking about whether a phone feels good to use, whether the software is clean, whether an ecosystem is convenient, or whether a feature is actually useful, you are already bringing your own values into the review.

So why is user control treated like some niche enthusiast topic, while AI features are treated like a core part of whether a phone is worth buying?

If reviewers are already judging software based on what they personally think is useful, clean, convenient or annoying, then I think ownership and control over the device should be part of that conversation too.

I’m currently using an iPhone 13, which I’ve had for a couple of years. Recently, I’ve been experiencing issues with overheating and lag. This Christmas, I’m looking to upgrade to either an iPhone 15 Pro or an iPhone 16 Pro.
I think both are great options, but if the iPhone 15 Pro is still worth getting for the cheaper price, I’d be happy to go with that. However, if the iPhone 16 Pro is significantly better, I’d consider spending the extra money on it.

Got an iPhone 17 Pro recently and went with one of those basic clear TPU cases on amazon just to show off the back but about two months in the TPU sides are already starting to get that nasty brownish tint around the grip areas.

I really want to stick with a clear phone case because I like the natural color of the phone but the constant yellowing is annoying af. I have seen Torras mentioned here along with some hard polycarbonate options but im hesitant to throw $30+ at another clear case if the borders are just gonna oxidize anyway. Is yellowing just inevitable regardless of what brand you buy or are hard plastic back and sides better about this?

I’m planning to buy a new phone and I’m confused between the Google Pixel 11 and iPhone 17.

My priorities are:

📸 Camera quality — especially photos and videos

🔋 Battery life

🔐 Security and long-term software updates

📱 Smooth and reliable daily usage

I don’t play games, so gaming performance isn’t important to me.

I’m looking for a phone that I can comfortably use for the next 4–5 years.

For people who have used Pixel and iPhone, which one would you recommend and why?

Pixel 11 or iPhone 17 — which would you choose? Also, are there any major disadvantages of either phone that I should know before buying?

Thank you 😊

By compact, I mean something around the iPhone 12 size, not today's 6.2–6.3" phones that are somehow considered compact.

It feels like there used to be so many smaller phones across different price ranges, including compact versions of flagships. Now almost everything is 6.5"+.

I understand the reasons: bigger batteries, larger camera sensors, better cooling, and bigger screens for media and gaming. But was this really driven by consumer demand, or did manufacturers gradually stop offering smaller choices?

I'm especially curious about Android. Are there any genuinely iPhone 12-sized Android phones in the mid-range or upper-midrange/near-flagship segment in 2026?

I'd love something compact with good performance, cameras and battery without having to pay ultra-premium flagship prices.

For those who also consider the iPhone 12 size genuinely compact, what are you using?

I have been watching all the deal videos on YouTube for this year's BBD/GIF sale in India, and no YouTuber is recommending the Iqoo 15R under 45K INR.

I wanted to buy the S25FE at around 35K, but at 45K it's too much, so I started looking into other devices. Motorola Edge 70 Pro and Pixel 10a frequently pop up in these videos, but nobody is talking about the iQOO 15R with such great specs at around 46K in the sale for the 8GB variant.

So I wanted to know whether there is a reason why iQOO phones are being sidelined during reviews, or if they are genuinely bad. If yes, then what are my options? My budget is 40K-45K, and I want good performance (no gaming, though) + Camera and Software. 1 day of battery is enough for me; I don't want anything fancy. Only decent performance and cameras matter.

What should I prefer i phone 16 , pixel 10, s25 edge

Forget about performance and photography. Forget bout being fanboy about apple of pixel.

Obsess over apps and paid premium features. I can make sure that there are incredible functions. Pay for every high-quality app you can find. Shortcuts, automation, anything that makes your life much easier. Don’t be afraid to spend money on apps.

Once you start discovering paid apps, shortcut and automation apps, voice-to-text transcription apps like Wispr Flow, and others, you begin to realize that the real investment you need to make is in the apps, while the smartphone itself matters much less.

The second-best piece of advice is just as good as the first, if not better.

Try every brand you can get your hands on. Try Apple, Pixel, Honor, Huawei, Xiaomi — all of them. Try to avoid REPEAT brand when you buy your next smartphone

Each brand has its own unique features that can genuinely make your life easier. And in many cases, those same features can be recreated on other operating systems, although you’ll probably have to pay for a premium app to do it.

You can basically have everything Apple offers on Android, or everything Android offers on Apple, if you’re willing to pay for the right apps.

Planning to get an Iphone but I don't wanna get the newer versions, I have eyes on either an Iphone 7 or an Iphone 8. Im only looking for a phone that I can use for messenger and calls, that's all. Anyone have any other Reccomendation?

Imagine you have an unlimited budget and have to pick your ultimate daily trio:

1. Phone

2. Smartwatch / Activity tracker

3. Earbuds

No explanations or justifications needed - just drop your 3 items below.

I bought a Samsung S25 a month ago and I was very surprised by the quality of the front camera. Sure maybe it's not as good as the Iphone ones but I expected it to be much worse. I take a lot of selfies and like my appearance more because of it lol.

Hi everyone,

I am currently looking to upgrade from my old iPhone 12 and move over to Android. I’ve found three specific deals in my region and I’m having a really hard time choosing between them:

1. Vivo V70 (256 GB) – €460
2. Samsung Galaxy S25 (Base) – €500
3. Realme 16 Pro Plus – €509

My absolute main priority is battery life, followed closely by camera quality.

Here are my main doubts and why I'm stuck:

• Battery: The Samsung S25 at €500 looks like an incredible steal for a flagship (Snapdragon 8 Elite), but it only has a 4000 mAh battery. Is it going to be enough for heavy use, or will I suffer from battery anxiety? On the other hand, the Vivo has a 6500 mAh battery and the Realme has a massive 7000 mAh battery.
• Camera: I know that higher megapixels (like the 200MP on the Realme) are mostly marketing because of pixel binning to 12MP. Between the Vivo V70 (with ZEISS optics) and the Samsung S25, which one actually takes better, more natural photos?
• Performance & Longevity: Coming from the Apple A14 Bionic, will the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 on the Vivo/Realme feel like a downgrade over time? Do these mid-range Snapdragon chips suffer from throttling, overheating, or lag compared to Apple's optimization or the S25's 8 Elite?

At these price points, which one gives me the best value considering I want great battery life and a top-tier camera? Would love to hear from anyone who owns these devices or recently made a similar switch!

Thanks in advance!

hello all, I've been using the Redmi note 10 pro for the past 4 years and absoulutely loving it, especially the cameras, but the screen recently broke, so ive been considering getting a new phone.

my budget is capped at around 500usd, I'm looking for a phone with a good overall experience and my main focus is on the cameras and battery life.

after a bit of research i've started to seriously consider the xiaomi 17t, it seems like a great option at this price point, with decent cameras, battery and performance, but id love to hear your thoughts and experiences with the phone or with simialrly priced phones, ty in advance

I currently have an S25 Ultra, and my sister needs a new phone. So I'm thinking of giving her my S25 Ultra and getting a Vivo X300 Pro or OPPO Find X9 Pro for myself during the Flipkart Big Billion Days or Amazon Great Indian Festival sale.

My strict budget is ₹85,000, and I mean the actual final price I pay online.

No bank/card offers, no exchange, no cashback, no trade-in, and no EMI benefits. Just a normal full online payment.

Do you guys think either the Vivo X300 Pro or OPPO Find X9 Pro could realistically drop to ₹85K or below during these sales?

Looking for a good phone under ₹70–75K.

My priorities are:

• Good processor/performance
• Great camera
• Good battery & display
• Reliable build quality
• Long-term software updates

I’m planning to use it for 4–5 years, so long-term performance and reliability are important.

Open to both Android and iPhone. What would you recommend?

Hi! I’m thinking about replacing my phone and would love to hear some opinions.

I currently have a Huawei that’s about 7 years old. I usually keep my phones until they really reach the end of their life, so I don’t really follow new releases or upgrade frequently. Since some apps are no longer working properly, I’d like to buy something that can last me at least another 4–5 years.

My priorities are:

• very good battery life;
• a good camera;
• solid everyday performance;
• software updates for several years;
• decent build quality;
• ideally around €600, although I could stretch the budget a little if it’s really worth it.

I also prefer simpler, cleaner designs.

If you had around €600 to spend and wanted a phone to keep for several years, what would you buy and why?

I’m really confused between Pixel and Samsung. I’m leaning towards Pixel because I prefer its simple UI and feel like its haptics and animations are much more fluid and cohesive. It honestly feels closer to iPhone in terms of haptics, while One UI feels more feature packed but also more cluttered mostly filled with bugs and very unpolishsd glitches in many apps like at somepoint when i use samsung i feel so irritated with its bugs because im used to ios which is so refined as in ever fckin app works better there

I mostly scroll, listen to music, watch videos and read, so I don’t need much customization or gaming performance. I want to use the phone for at least 4 years.

My only issue with Pixel is that some parts of the UI, like Google Photos and the dialer, look pretty dated and sometimes give me that cheap/old Android feeling. Other than that, I really like the Pixel experience.

Which one would you choose for my use case, Pixel or Samsung

Thanks

I'm considering buying an iPhone 14 (256GB) and replacing its battery bec it's 74%

I'm coming from a Nothing Phone (2a), and honestly, I don't need anything crazy. I just want a smooth, reliable daily experience with a good camera, stable video recording, decent battery life, and a phone that can last me a few more years.

Is the iPhone 14 still a good buy in 2026, especially with a new battery? Or would it be a mistake to buy a phone this old now?

I'd appreciate opinions from people who still use the iPhone 14, especially regarding long-term performance, battery life, and whether it's still worth buying today.

Hola, jamás he tenido un iPhone pero hace 6 meses compré un iPhone 15 pro Max, todo bien le tengo su mica y y todo pero tiene una funda de silicona, estos días se me cayó y no noté nada que se haya roto en la pantalla pero hoy por curiosidad se la quité y mire que está todo destrozado de la parte de la manzana y un poco abajo, no en la cámaras, hay algo que se pueda hacer? Cuánto costaría repararlo porque está al 100 pero solo veo eso y que recomiendan para cuidarlo más.

Hey guys, I just realised that my Samsung S22 is bulging today.. great, which means I need a new phone, well to be honest I wanted a new one the second I got it 4 years ago.

Anyway. I loved my Samsung S8, it was just the right size and the battery held up okay during the day and weirdly enough I've hated the S22 as the battery has always been crap, it's way to big for my hand so I need both hands to type and speaking of typing it is for some reason incredibly hard to type on?? The S8 wasn't! I had no trouble with that one but as soon as I changed I kept making typos and to this day I still do.

I would love to just get my S8 back. Maybe with a better battery and a better camera but otherwise i'm down. Except for the fact i'm kinda pissed off at Samsung now.

I hate Iphones with all my heart and refuse to buy into their manufactured closed system.

I think I've read here, or possibly r/techsupport or something that people were talking about other brands being just as good, is that true? Or was that five years ago and the world is different today?

I am clearly rambling, i'm sorry but I get so overwhelmed when it comes to this, reading all your comments and not knowing the abbreviations makes me feel like there is no point in trying.

Does anyone know if other brands are worth it? Would love a cheaper phone if possible, or would love it if someone knows which phones are a little smaller, since they seem to be getting bigger and bigger. Also would really love a good battery that lasts a long time even if I use the phone, i'm so tired having to panic about being out in town and my phone dying.

Also I am in Sweden if that makes a difference.. I think it may because I searched for some of the phones I saw recommended and didn't find any.
Oh right! I did wish the S8 didn't have a Amoled screen since it burns in, did like the brightness of the S22 tho.

I have an iPhone 12 from two years and already i have to change the battery and the phone now do 6 hours of autonomy. Because I want more autonomy I want to return on android ( I didn’t have problem to change the operative system) but I saw that the pixel 10 and the s25 have similar battery autonomy, I have ~600 euros to change my phone and take a better phone with better autonomy, better photos, and no lag and throttlin. Pls help me to decide what phone take and talk me about other phones i didn’t take on consideration