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Why are console prices an issue when phones cost so much? And you replace them every 2-3 years.

TrueSloth

TrueSloth

Member
Oct 27, 2017
6,067
Maybe my observations are wrong, but lately I seen people make statements like "x phone is affordable" when it costs $600. But people have problems when a console is $500? Is the utility of the phone seen as more valuable and thus the price is less of an issue? Or is it because people make monthly payments included in their bill that allows them to over look the cost? Or could it be that the market is so expensive now that a $500+ phone is seen as a reasonable price?

I don't care if the two aren't necessarily related, I'm more so interested in looking at the perception of value.
inb4 gamers are cheap
 
Jadax

Jadax

Banned
Oct 26, 2017
1,055
Is this even a serious thread?

Phones offer a lot more functionality than consoles...
 
Ayirek

Ayirek

Member
Oct 27, 2017
4,252
Afaik most phones are bought with a plan and are paid off over time, while most consoles are just paid for outright in one lump.
 

Deleted member 18944

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 27, 2017
6,944
It's not a perception of value, it's a reality of value. Your phone does infinitely more things than your console does, so spending $800 is absolutely worth it.
 
Quinton

Quinton

Specialist at TheGamer / Reviewer at RPG Site
Member
Oct 25, 2017
17,276
Midgar, With Love
I don't get new phones until old ones are well and truly dead so I dunno. I upgrade about as often as a new console generation debuts.
 
ContractHolder

ContractHolder

Jack of All Streams
Member
Oct 25, 2017
16,244
One is more of a necessity in today's society. The other is a luxury item.

You can live without a video game system. Phone is a little bit harder.
 
The Praiseworthy

The Praiseworthy

Member
Oct 30, 2017
9,206
To me... I don't mind spending that much on a console every 7 years instead of mid gen refresh to be release as an absolute beast from the start.
 
jph139

jph139

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
14,378
A few reasons:

- People don't pay it upfront, and so they don't think of it as $600, they think of it as an extra $20 a month for the next couple years.
- People use their phones constantly, and only use their console for leisure time.
- Most phone software is free, so it's just the cost of the device and a monthly phone bill. Consoles require new game purchases, and now also generally require subscription fees.
- The demographics that will happily spend hundreds of dollars on a new phone don't necessarily overlap with the demographics that will happily spend hundreds on a new console.
 
Mack

Mack

Banned
May 30, 2019
1,653
Nowadays phones are a symbol of status. Not to mention that they are full fledged computing devices.
 
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Golden

Golden

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account
Banned
Dec 9, 2018
928
It is because most people don't buy their phones with a single payment, it is split over a two year contract so the costs are hidden.
 
TaySan

TaySan

SayTan
Member
Dec 10, 2018
31,445
Tulsa, Oklahoma
I keep my phone until it literally breaks apart and I can't use mine anymore. And a phone is a necessity unlike a video game console.
 
Tambini

Tambini

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,383
My phone cost like £130 and i wont upgrade until it doesn't work anymore ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
sredgrin

sredgrin

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Oct 27, 2017
12,276
1. Lots of people bitch about phone costs, wtf you on about OP. The entire reason Android exists was to give us lowly peasants a smartphone.
2. Phones are a lot more important in a lot of people's lives. They do a lot of different things. Some flat out need them for their jobs.
3. A lot of phones tend to be paid over time
 
OP
OP
TrueSloth

TrueSloth

Member
Oct 27, 2017
6,067
sredgrin said:
1. Lots of people bitch about phone costs, wtf you on about OP. The entire reason Android exists was to give us lowly peasants a smartphone.
2. Phones are a lot more important in a lot of people's lives. Some flat out need them for their jobs.
3. A lot of phones tend to be paid over time
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I understand the necessity, but the range of "affordable" phones (based on the discussion I've seen) is so big.
 
Bricktop

Bricktop

Attempted to circumvent ban with an alt account
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Oct 27, 2017
2,847
I've literally never spent more than $300 on a phone, and even then I wasn't exactly excited about it. I'd spend more on a console than a phone any day of the week.

Hobbes said:
It's not a perception of value, it's a reality of value. Your phone does infinitely more things than your console does, so spending $800 is absolutely worth it.
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That's not a reality of value, it's a perception of value. Screw paying $800 for a phone. All of those things your phone does works just as well on a phone half the price.
 
dom

dom

▲ Legend ▲
Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
10,453
Phones sold each year dwarfs consoles sold. So there will be a greater range of price points.
 
Lunchbox

Lunchbox

ƃuoɹʍ ʇᴉ ƃuᴉop ǝɹ,noʎ 'ʇɥƃᴉɹ sᴉɥʇ pɐǝɹ noʎ ɟI
Banned
Oct 27, 2017
7,548
Rip City
Because most people have no concept of a savings.
 

Deleted member 18944

User requested account closure
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Oct 27, 2017
6,944
Bricktop said:
I've literally never spent more than $300 on a phone, and even then I wasn't exactly excited about it. I'd spend more on a console than a phone any day of the week.



That's not a reality of value, it's a perception of value. Screw paying $800 for a phone. All of those things your phone does works just as well on a phone half the price.
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Is this an out of season April fools joke?

I spent a long time with Android, and good lord when my nexus 5x finally died on me, I tried so many alternatives but they were complete shit. Performance, camera, you name it. That's what made we switch to an iPhone. Nothing at $300 is gonna let me do what i do on my phone as well as this phone does.
 
Bookman

Bookman

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,228
There is a lot of things that costs more and give less value. I think console price settings probably are affected by tradition and target group. Videogames had, or perhaps still have, a sort of toyish approach targeted to young adults with less money. Everybody uses mobile phones, and there are several different priceranges (and "youth" models)

The average consumer doesn't compare ps5/scarlet with the price of a high end pc. If you look at it that way the , at least nex gen, is going to extremely praiseworthy.
 
Dragonyeuw

Dragonyeuw

Member
Nov 4, 2017
4,372
I just went from a note 4 to a note 8, so I typically use a phone until the wheels fall off and stay a year or two behind the current phone. Hate being on contracts if I can avoid them so I buy the phone outright. I expect this phone to hold me till at least 2022/23, then I'll get a cheap S10 plus or something like that.
 
ContractHolder

ContractHolder

Jack of All Streams
Member
Oct 25, 2017
16,244
OP, I gotta be honest and ask based on the last line in your first post:

Is this a stealth thread attempt to complain about why the rest of the world is holding you back from having the best technological leaps every console gen? Because when Sony tried to do that with PS3 at a high price it back fired?

Because I've seen a few people do this with TV threads as well as every "why doesn't the mass public stick with PC gaming over consoles" thread? And it every time some people start to get really, really pretentious and entitled.

Maybe I'm wrong and you're not intentionally doing this. But I have to ask since this happens a lot.
 
BarryFishFinger

BarryFishFinger

Member
Oct 27, 2017
7,484
If consoles came with a monthly price plan, people would care a lot less what they cost.

If phones had no monthly price plan them I guarantee people would care a lot more what they cost.

Having to come up with £500 up front is a totally different proposition to paying off £800 over two years.
 
HellofaMouse

HellofaMouse

Member
Oct 27, 2017
6,168
we are reaching a point that the average consumer dont even need a dedicated computer if they have a phone, thats the reason.
 
Kieli

Kieli

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Oct 28, 2017
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Alcotholic said:
But does that justify perceived value as affordable? I guess it depends on what you do with your phone.
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? I legitimately do not understand what this combination of words together means. If I am interpreting it correctly, it's trying to ask if it's OK to think of phones as cheap even though they are expensive because they are thought of as important.
 
Hyperfludd

Hyperfludd

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,210
There's just a lot more people buying phones compared to consoles.

Phone prices have been going up and up, while the budget and midrangers take up the price range I'm comfy with. A $300-500 phone right now will most likely last you a long time if you take care of it, no need for the mega high ends unless you're shooting for specific features. (Ultra amazing camera, etc)

The stigma of budget phones being trash is a thing of the past now if you're willing to stick with known brands.
 

Deleted member 49535

User requested account closure
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Nov 10, 2018
2,825
I don't get it myself. You absolutely do not need a $600+ phone as a necessity. Chinese brands like Xiaomi make excellent phones for $200-$300 and they have pretty much everything you could possibly need and great performance.

I'd rather spend $300 on my phone and $500 on a console than the other way around. Flagship phones these days are overpriced as fuck, it's not like it was 5 years ago when mid-range phones kind of sucked.
 
Kingasta

Kingasta

Avenger
Jan 4, 2018
814
Can you live without your phone?...
Can you live without your console?...

There's your answer.
 
12Danny123

12Danny123

Member
Jan 31, 2018
1,722
Because consoles are not essential. Smartphones are.

Lets be honest, a smartphone can do a lot more than consoles so its value reflects that. Consoles can't do a lot so its value and price reflects it.
 
Spark

Spark

Member
Dec 6, 2017
2,539
The majority of consumers see consoles as luxury toys, phones as an essential utility.
 

Deleted member 49535

User requested account closure
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Nov 10, 2018
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ContractHolder said:
Is this a stealth thread attempt to complain about why the rest of the world is holding you back from having the best technological leaps every console gen? Because when Sony tried to do that with PS3 at a high price it back fired?
Click to expand...
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It back fired because the Xbox 360 was half the price (Xbox 360 Core/Arcade was $299) and the games looked more or less the same, with multiplats actually looking better on it. If PS3 games looked far better than the 360 ones if would have been better received.
 
residentgrigo

residentgrigo

Banned
Oct 30, 2019
3,726
Germany
My Samsung phone is 10 years old, a regular mobile, and smartphones are cancer. I got it from my mother after my old black and white phone with an antenna broke about 5 years ago. Smartphones aren´t essential and I can say this despite having a media-related job.
I own every current handheld, console and a high-ish end PC. How else am I supposed to game?
 
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