A $200 phone in 2015 is not the same as a $200 phone in 2025. I know from experience.

Those phones in 2015 were awful, but in 2025, they feel more like mid-range phones.

Edit: And $600 is pocket change? Sound like someone lived a privilaged life.

I'm wearing my smartwatch as a wristwatch. All notifications are off, but I see the temperature, UV index, step and calorie counters, which is nice. And if I ever want to review my sleep data, pulse, sPO2 saturation and location history, I got it available just in case. And for the very rare case that my phone is charging and I want to access messages from another room, I can do that manually.

Apple now allows sideloading of apps and Google is trying to get rid of sideloading.

What... the Fuck?

Apple hardware ahead of Android? I'll have what you're having!

My suspicion is that the main purpose of Googles decision is to stop F-Droid and Aurora Store from working.

You probably didn't do it on purpose, but you made a comparison on Apple's terms, thus implicitly priveleging Apple.

Last thing Apple needs is us priveleging it.

Removable batteries are coming back, as they become mandatory in the EU in 2027.
Or you can already get one with a Fairphone (which also has SD card slot).
As for the headphone jack, I'm afraid it won't come back. Bluetooth alternatives are far better these days (I got both, so I know from experience), and good adapters (like Apple one) are barely more than $10.

I make $19/hr and live paycheck to paycheck. I'm just being realistic about the current cell phone market.

This 100%

I have used tracfone since 2012 and only bought phones from their store, sub $150. The budget phones today are so much better than the last 10 years.

I just can't wrap my head around sinking that much into a phone when you replace it every year and it cost as much as a decent budget computer, but worse.

Does this mean the end for YouTube Revanced on Android?

I'm just saying Apple doesn't make anything close to a cheap stripped down $200 model.

I made the comparison based on feature set. For that you need an android flagship phone. Android DOES make cheap phones....but therexs no 1:1 comparison for Apple.

Sideloading being so easy on iphones and now becoming very difficult on android. Wow

I'll just buy and use decade old phones with unlocked bootloader till I can. There's barely any innovation in phones these days and I'm sure someone will come to fill the gap Android left (hopefully Linux). I'm still using my 5 year old phone degoogled with custom a16 and still going strong. I also have a backup pixel 6 in case the current one breaks. I can easily wait 10-15 years.

I liked the whole not having to charge headphones thing more than anything.

Openness isn't just a nice to have. It is essential.

The difference between general purpose computing and gatekept walled garden computing is night and day.

Identifying the devs is not in the "need to know" for Google. Google sells or helps to sell a general purpose open device where it is on us to exploit that device however we will.

Now Google wants to switch to a walled garden, moderated development model.

If Google promises it won't use those dev IDs to moderate development, their promise is only worth the wind it moves and the sound it makes.

not necessarily. the developer needs to sign the APK with a key issued by Google. the main issue here is that developers will be forced to identify themselves.

That’s not how you spell UBports.

I do support the PostmarketOS project, but it has much further to go before it’s friendly enough for regular people. Short of Valve releasing a Steam phone, I think UBports is better positioned to bring genuine linux to mobile.

Now we have to get EU on the case

In all fairness to smart watches, mine is what turned me on to regularly checking the UV index. That's an important thing for all people, but especially me because I have an increased skin cancer risk due to unrelated medical stuff. And it was extra-extra important this year because I have done a ton of good work outside this summer.

And to be more specific about my watch situation, there's more going on than just avoiding notifications. I have been minimizing the amount of stuff I keep on my person in general, right down to finally getting my wedding ring tattooed on this year. There are various reasons ranging from abstract introspective life improvement stuff to the practical where that outside work I mentioned was constant and pretty rough on anything on my hands/arms.

So even if I wore a nice mechanical watch, I'd probably still be going with the double bare wrists right now.