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posted by martyb on Wednesday March 18 2020, @02:05PM   Printer-friendly
from the Nothing-beats-the-candy-bar dept.

How much is too much? Are these portable computers we carry around that just happen to be able to make phone calls really worth a small fortune? Would you pay over $2000 for a mobile phone that can fold in half?

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip on sale in Australia April 3 for [AUS]$2199

[...] At the Z Flip's [AUS]$2199 price it's [AUS]$200 more than the Galaxy S20 Ultra we told you was too expensive and too big earlier this month.

The Z Flip may be even more expensive but it is at least smaller, and gets even more so when you fold it in half to stash in your pocket or bag.

The new wave of foldable phones are very expensive, but that's also part of their appeal.

"The Galaxy Z Flip is a statement piece and we can't wait to see what Australians do with it," Samsung vice president of mobile Garry McGregor said.

On the other end of the scale, Huawei has announced its new foldable, the Mate Xs, will also be coming to Australia soon.

[...] The phone, a horizontally folding device that opens up into an 8-inch tablet is described by the company as a "high-end, luxury device," which partly explains its massive price tag.

The Huawei Mate Xs is due to go on sale here April 9 for [AUS]$3999, but is already available for pre-order.

[...] Huawei's local managing director Larking Huang said the phone was "ideal for tech seekers or anyone who craves performance, design and usability".

"Australian consumers will benefit from an unprecedented, immersive experience, all at the touch of their fingertips. Offering large dual displays, ultra-slim foldable form and all-day usage – Australians will be able to do business on the go or watch movies," he said.

What they won't be able to do is use any of Google's mobile services, like the Play Store, Gmail, Drive, Maps, YouTube, and other apps Australians rely on to do business, and indeed watch movies.

Huawei was banned from using those when it was placed on a US list of "banned entities" last year.

What is the most you will pay for a mobile phone?


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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday March 18 2020, @04:42PM

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Wednesday March 18 2020, @04:42PM (#972806)

    On the one hand, the $800 (slowly escalating to $1500 with accessories) I spent on a 16K 6502 computer in 1982 was "money well spent" in terms of how it affected my learning curve and life trajectory. Accounting for inflation, that $1500 is probably over $3K today, and certainly more dear to my broke-ass self back then than $10K is to me today.

    On the other hand, phones are portable, often non-durable (I think that old 1982 computer still lives in my mother's attic, and if the rubber drive belts for the floppy disks are replaced it should work as well today as it did back then...), and more life accessories than learning tools - though they can be both - my 16 year old does some pretty amazing stuff with the (semi-durable [banggood.com]) WiFi only phone I gave him.

    Then, for more perspective, a $70 watch back in the 1980s was far from extravagant, and all it did was tell time - but... having arrived in Zurich one time for business without a watch (or cellphone, 1995 it wasn't expected), I quickly realized that I needed a watch just to function in that city.

    However, with the capability and durability you can get today from a sub $300 phone - do you really need to carry more in your pocket? I suppose, like the $1000 Rolex Submariner watches of the 1980s (through to today, actually), carrying a disposable $2500 cell-phone might be a social signaling thing, like driving a BMW or wearing Gucci products - if that's your thing, then cellphones are one way to get that in today's world. Otherwise, there's absolutely no reason I see to put more "power in your pocket" - if you need more digital/network power than you can get in a $300 cell phone, you probably should be working through bigger screens and possibly with a real mouse and keyboard.

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