When is the best time to buy a smartphone? At the start of sales? After a couple of months, or maybe even years later?
When I bought my first smartphone, HTC Desire HD, about three months have passed since its release. I chose a 'gray' device and closely followed its price in one online store. The price tag was jumping every day because of the exchange rates. And then at some point I realized that it was 'time', I went and bought it. However, constant price checks had already become a habit, and I watched in horror as at first the price tag slowly dropped down, and then HTC Sensation was sold at the same price for which I took Desire HD. Of course, it was a shame, because I did not have the money to constantly update the flagships, and I really wanted to touch the new smartphone.
Now I remember this story with a smile and understand that, most likely, I would be engaged in constant buying and selling and, with small losses, would update my devices very often, until I played enough. Fortunately, the fan hobby was turned into a good thing instead.
And now, already working for Mobile-Review, I began to note that after the start of sales, the price of the PCT model decreased after about three or four months, and a year later it dropped even more significantly. At the same time, we had before us the same flagship, outdated only in comparison with the next one.
This is a very important psychological moment that must be realized and accepted. A model can only become outdated by comparison, not by itself. For example, I bought my mom SGS3 when SGS5 was already on sale, but S3 was still a great device. I know some of our readers are doing the same. They buy the previous flagships a year or two later for ridiculous money, rejoice and use them for a couple of years, and then upgrade to new models, but also 'outdated' for a couple of years.
This is a good tradition, at the same time it turns out to please yourself, and the load for the wallet is less. Plus, accessories for such 'old' models are usually sold for next to nothing. And for lovers of custom firmware, there is absolutely freedom at all – the smartphone community has already formed, and popular firmware is available along with all the instructions.
And you, dear readers, when you buy a smartphone? Immediately after leaving? In six months, or maybe in a year or two?