Is it really worth upgrading?

[partridge]

I've had my Desire for about a year now and in a few months more I can upgrade.

But looking at what's around at the moment it suddenly struck me that it's actually just more of the same. Yeah the specs have improved, but ultimately what am I going to do that's different?

Nothing.

I'll read my email, browse the web, get twitter updates and play one or two games, I'll use the same apps I have now and take photos and videos with it.

So why upgrade? I could save myself a fair bit of cash each month by simply dropping to a lower tariff once my contract ends.

The Desire pretty much does everything I need a smartphone to do, so stepping back from the upgrade hype, I am currently unsure that I will upgrade at all. I might just go for a cheaper tariff and put the money towards a tablet or something?

Anyone else feel this way? Ignoring specs, have smartphones already hit the point where they provide all the mobile features a person could need? What could they do that they currently don't?

 

[Sorrow_Doll]

Actually, I have to agree with you; it's mostly more of the same. Bigger screen, more pixels, larger RAM, more cores, etc. Yes, all that is impressive. But my Desire is fast enough and big enough. IMO, I don't need more. It does everything I want and need.
I personally don't just upgrade for the sake of upgrading, just for the sake of having the latest hardware.
If there is no groundbreaking changes, no truly worthwhile features, there is no need to upgrade.
Unless of course you got bored with it and started hating it.
A tablet sounds great

 

[CdTDroiD]

Personally, I just sold my sgs2 and the only thing I liked better was the camera, it was fantastic.. videos and pics. But I much prefer my desire. Its a good size, it's powerfull, it has everything you need and if it doesn't you can change that with a huge range of roms. I would like to try a sensation but I wont be selling my desire its to awesome

 

[SUroot]

I'm so unsure what to do. I can upgrade but will lose my unlimited data (next may) or I could go to Giff Gaff and keep my handset, but I may be getting itchy feet after a while...

Its a tricky one. I don't need higher specs as like you I do web and apps and this won't really change. Most else of what I do is modifying what runs and how it looks. All this will not change with each handset...

My desire is looking a bit battered though so hmmm....

 

[partridge]

It's not just me then!

I do have a feeling that in years to come the Desire will be seen as a classic of its day.

No one can ignore the importance of the iPhone in the development of the smart phone, but the Desire pretty much single handedly put Android on the map.

Even in September (the earliest I can upgrade) I doubt there will be anything really new on the shelves; Sensation, GS2 and maybe the Evo 3D and the Nexus 3?

Are any of them worth committing to another 18 months of

 

[Foxspeed]

I'm in the same boat as you, my contract runs out in October and I have no 'desire' (excuse the pun) to upgrade.
The only things I would like to be different is the battery life and volume to be increased. I have purchased PowerAmp to increase the music volume but don't understand why this should be, the volume should be substantial as standard.
I'm hoping that if I keep my Desire that I will be able to increase my download speeds as I only achieve 357kbps with T-Mobile and my friend gets nearly 2mg although he pays

 

[GingaB]

Ive just committed myself to 12months sim free tariff contract. So in effect I have reduced my line rental and kept my Desire. Why? Cos there is nothing out there worth upgrading to. I wanted Sensation before but after playing around with it I came to conclusion that It will take some phone to make me shift from Desire. Its a beast in its own right! Plus I dont feel I am missing out on anything esp since I am rooted so I reckon I am good for another year at the very least...

 

[Usta]

Ive just committed myself to 12months sim free tariff contract. So in effect I have reduced my line rental and kept my Desire. Why? Cos there is nothing out there worth upgrading to. I wanted Sensation before but after playing around with it I came to conclusion that It will take some phone to make me shift from Desire. Its a beast in its own right! Plus I dont feel I am missing out on anything esp since I am rooted so I reckon I am good for another year at the very least...

Same here: sim only and keeping the phone.
Curious to see the next OS version (supposedly 4.0) that Google is going to introduce end of the year. Also curious to see if there will be custom ROMs for Desire based on that (it is said to have some hefty hardware requirements).
Sensation was not good enough for the ultimate upgrade (weak CPU+GPU), too heavy for my taste and too bloated with Sense.
SGS2 came close for my choice, but too much plastic body, the "old" screen resolution, lack of NFC, and the strange GPU put me off.
Looking forward to see HTC phones based on Krait core this year, and Tegra 3 devices beginning of the next year.

 

[rtb35]

Im in the same situation,i can upgrade end of october and as it stands there is no phone out there that is worth upgrading to. My desire does everything i need it to and now that i have rooted it the battery and internal memory problems have disappeared and the phone is good until it gives up the ghost i suppose.

So i think i will be keeping the desire and will go on a sim only plan which will halve my mobile phone bill at least

I think the only phone on the horizon that i may upgrade to is the nexus 3,i like the idea of getting the latest updates directly from google.

 

[matttye]

I have to keep telling myself that very thing. I keep thinking I might upgrade to the SGS2, but when I ask myself how I'll use it and all I can come up with is the exact same way as my Desire!

But I still really want an SGS2!

Being a tech geek is a curse sometimes I swear

 

[chrisrosevilla]

I went through a restless phase a few weeks ago when I saw new phones coming out but they both have major flaws for me; the screen on the Sensation isn't the best and the SGS2 is too ugly, flimsy & plastic after the Desire.

Then it suddenly hit me: why change when I like what I've got & there's nothing earth shattering to change to?

 

[DCFC79]

Im not even close to upgrading and im thinking what i should do next in terms of which network to go with and do i replace the desire with a new smart phone. Id upgrade if it didnt cost no more but then the contract im on i might choose less expensive tarff

 

[togger161]

Played with a friends SGS2 at work and it is impressive, cracking camera and really fast. Cheapest I can find it is

 

[chris 290]

I agree, difficult to justify an upgrade at the moment. will consider when ics operating system is released possibly with tegra 3. Only thing I really want is hdmi mirroring that's not on present desire but nothing else is grabbing me to change atm.

The one thing that puts me off sgs2 is the fact that it doesn't have automatic text reflow, I would miss that greatly on any phone after my desire.

The only thing that irks me about android in the UK is that google don't make the voice recognition UK friendly so we miss out on speaking texts and things with decent accuracy.

Long live my desire as I would miss you if anything bad happened to you.

 

[Sak01]

The reason is that the Desire does all I need it to, the software isn't really pushing the hardware.

That's the way I see it too. Unless you're a gamer, there's no app too big for the Desire's mojo.

 

[Deleted User]

I have been debating whether to upgrade now or keep my Desire and after a few weeks of thinking I have decided to keep my Desire for all the same reasons! Afterall its a great phone. Also what SIM only deals are you all on? Because that's what i'm gonna do instead of upgrade

 

[GingaB]

SGS2 came close for my choice, but too much plastic body, the "old" screen resolution, lack of NFC, and the strange GPU put me off.

I couldnt agree more. I thought the back cover of the sammy was worse than Desire! I dont know what some folks see in this phone it has no wow factor in my opinion the only good thing about it is the enormous internal space! the rest is all bit.. meh!

 

[GingaB]

I have been debating whether to upgrade now or keep my Desire and after a few weeks of thinking I have decided to keep my Desire for all the same reasons! Afterall its a great phone. Also what SIM only deals are you all on? Because that's what i'm gonna do instead of upgrade

I am on three's "the one plan" 2000mins, 5000texts, unlimited data, free voicemail. All for

 

[partridge]

wow, moving to that would save me over

 

[GingaB]

Im sure it would! Its the best deal around at the moment! To tell you the truth Ive been on sim only deals since it was introduced few years ago. I found it was cheaper to buy a phone outright and stick to sim only tariff. Saved heck alot of dosh that way!

 

[Deleted User]

I am on three's "the one plan" 2000mins, 5000texts, unlimited data, free voicemail. All for

 

[JohnnyBravo1000]

Interesting thread.

One thing I would like from an Android handset is a superb battery life to rival the iPhone.

I've been tempted to get a tablet, but I feat it would be another gadget that would be left in its box once the novelty wears off. How can I justify a tablet when I own a smartphone and a decent laptop? Is it worth it?

Back the original point, it does seem that smartphone technology has peaked (for now) as far as my uses - calls, texts, emails, browsing, the odd game etc.

 

[GingaB]

how did u get it for

 

[GingaB]

I've been tempted to get a tablet, but I feat it would be another gadget that would be left in its box once the novelty wears off. How can I justify a tablet when I own a smartphone and a decent laptop? Is it worth it?

Nope its not worth it at all. Tablet is a novety item just like 3D TV. Its just another gimmick that will fade away in couple of years. Besides your laptop and smarphone does sooooo much more than a tablet!

 

[JohnnyBravo1000]

Nope its not worth it at all. Tablet is a novety item just like 3D TV. Its just another gimmick that will fade away in couple of years. Besides your laptop and smarphone does sooooo much more than a tablet!

Indeed.

I like my gadgets and technology and I like to have the best I can afford of everything. However, things like tablets and 3D TV are not something I would invest in until they convince me they have some kind of longevity. One of the most recent examples was the war between Blu-ray and HD DVD. Some people invested in both, but I personally waited until it was clear that Blu-ray would be the victor and would be current technology for a considerable period.