KPH tech blog

I’ll admit that last blog post was a rather long one, even for my standards, but I had to get it off my chest.

The situation with my Galaxy S7 is not just infuriating, but disgusting. That’s a sub-£600 device, and it’s only lasted for 2.5 years.

As I mentioned at the end of Part 2, my Galaxy S9 Plus is still working almost flawlessly, save for the occasional drop in framerate in games like Asphalt 9, and I’m now on the lookout for a new phone.

I’m now looking at Samsung’s latest offerings, and I have to say, I’m not impressed, and a little disappointed with their range of smartphones this year. There’s a clear divide between the Galaxy A Series and Galaxy S Series, but if you dig a little deeper, it’s actually not that easy.

Where I’m at…

Because of my changing circumstances this year – something which I’m sure a lot of people can say this year – I can no longer afford a Galaxy S phone. Especially now that they’re £1,000+ devices.

The top end of my budget is around £500, so immediately that puts the whole Galaxy S20 range out of the question. That also includes the new S20 FE, and S20 FE 5G.

Because of my budget constraints, it means that unless Samsung or any of the UK networks offer a significant saving during the Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales next month, I will be limited to just the Galaxy A Series.

The thing is, while phones like the Galaxy A71 look good on paper, various reviews point towards its cameras being poor performers. Also, downgrading from my S9 Plus to the A71 would mean losing a 2x telephoto, but gaining an ultrawide camera, a 5MP macro camera and a 5MP depth sensor.

It’s still a very capable device, but there is a negative. A big one. And that, is its size. You see, while I love my Galaxy S9 Plus and its screen, I have found the whole device to be a bit too big. I can’t hold it comfortably in one hand, and often have to hold it with both hands – even when doing simple tasks like typing a text message, or navigation via Google Maps.

For that reason alone, I’m looking to downsize with my next phone. My Galaxy S9 Plus has a 6.2″ inch screen, so I’d prefer a newer phone smaller than 6 inches.

The Galaxy A71, meanwhile, sits at 6.7″ inches, and with a reduced screen resolution of 2400 x 1080p. That’s a huge device, and way too big for my needs.

Comparatively, the brand new Galaxy S20 FE sits at 6.5″ inches – again, too big. The disappointing fact is that, although it’s too expensive for me, the standard Galaxy S20 is the perfect size, with a 6.2″ inch screen – the same size as my Galaxy S9 Plus, but without the top and bottom bezels.

Phone Arena’s size comparison webpage has been a really useful tool, and shows that the Galaxy S20 is smaller than my Galaxy S9 Plus.

It’s perfect in every way, apart from its price. It’s still hovering at around £799, and the UK’s main phone networks are still charging in excess of £45 per month, over 24 months, for the S20.

My network, EE, currently want £51 per month. That’s too expensive for me.

After Samsung’s recent 3 generations announcement, I’d be happy with a Galaxy S10, but I’d be forced to buy the handset myself, and then get a SIM only deal, rather than the two together in one package – the S10e’s availability with UK carriers is very limited.

Oh dear…

That puts me in a bit of a tight spot. I’m like a deer in headlights. I’m not sure what to do next.

I’d prefer an S20 over an S10, but it’s still too expensive for me. Conversely, the Galaxy A71, while certainly a cheaper phone, is too big and is too much of a downgrade.

The Galaxy S10e would also be a perfect device, but again its availability on UK networks is limited.

Samsung’s disappointing prices and device range has meant that, for the last 3 months, I’ve been looking further afield.

My current predicament

We rely so much on our phones nowadays that, if anything were to happen, then we’d be as stuck as a car in a swimming pool.

While I appreciate the features that Samsung regularly puts into their phones – features I use a lot – I’m not sure the compromises of their A Series are worth it, especially as something like the A71 is going to end up costing about the same, per month, as I’m currently paying for my Galaxy S9 Plus.

It’s a shame that Samsung have decided to only support devices from the S10 onwards under its new commitment of 3 generations of updates.

I’ve loved my S9 Plus for the last two years, and it feels like it could go on for another 12 months. But, after the unexpected, unexplained and sudden – and particularly violent – death of my Galaxy S7, I have to wonder for how much longer will my Galaxy S9 Plus last?

Was it just a case of bad luck, or a bad battery in my Galaxy S7? Or, will my Galaxy S9 Plus also suffer a similar fate in 6 months time? If it did, and I was on holiday, how would I get back home? Especially as airlines now want you to use their apps, in place of an actual ticket, at airports – how would I get home if my phone suddenly and inexplicably died?

Now, it must be said that because of the Covid-19 outbreak, the likelihood of me going on holiday in the next 6 months is bleak, to say the least. But it’s still a consideration, given that just 5 months into its life as my main phone, I took my Galaxy S9 Plus with me to Prague, and yes, it served as my airline ticket.

That wasn’t by choice – I rather much prefer a paper ticket, but British Airways wouldn’t let me check into my flight online until the night before (unlike easyjet, who, in April 2017, let me check into my flight 30 days in advance), and that meant I was away from home on the night I did it – meaning my phone was the only option.

That aside, we rely so much on our phones nowadays that, if anything were to happen, then we’d be as stuck as a car in a swimming pool.

It’s a huge deal. And the problem with Samsung’s phones in 2020, for me, is that I either bite the bullet and get a much lesser but cheaper Galaxy A Series device – for around the same price as what I’ve paid for my Galaxy S9 Plus – or I keep my money and put it towards a SIM-only deal for my S9 Plus.

There are other, more compelling options available from other companies, and I think […] that’s where my Next Phone is – somewhere, out there, in that vast ocean of new phones.

It’s a tough call. But, frankly, from what I’ve seen since July 2020, there are other, more compelling options available from other phone manufacturers, and I think for me, that’s where my Next Phone is – somewhere, out there, in that vast ocean of new phones.

It’s just unfortunate that, without significant price drops for the S20 range, my next phone is not going to be a Samsung Galaxy.

– Chris JK