[Yhippa]

> At the start of this review I said it was important to consider perspective because at the end of the day, I use Android devices. Doing the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus review is important, but also deeply disillusioning. With the iPhone 6s review I showed a number of clear and present issues in Android devices relative to the iPhone, and these issues continue to appear time and time again. More than ever it’s obvious to me that most companies in the Android ecosystem don’t really care about the details as an organization.

I would love to hear more about the disillusioning part. As an Android user I want to stay with them but after playing around with the 7 and reading this review I'm actually much more impressed with this phone than when it initially came out. Especially after the release of the Google Pixel which was very underwhelming to me. I can't believe I'd say this but the iPhone 7 seems to provide a better value than the Pixel.

[gtk40]

To be fair, the Pixel is a horrible value, as it doesn't seem to be as significantly better than what it's replacing relative to the significant increase in price.

[criddell]

Is the price difference that significant?

To me, the difference between a $1000 phone and a $400 is less than $1 per day (I keep my phones for 24 months). A buck a day is something I can afford and am willing to pay it for even a modestly better phone. I would guess a lot of HN readers are in a similar position.

I wish Google would have come out with something much better even if it would have been more expensive than an iPhone.

[gtk40]

Certainly there are plenty of people for whom it is significant. You could just as easily say many have their smartphone fully paid for by their employer so it doesn't matter. When I paid for my own smartphone before, I got a Moto G (80% as good as a phone many times as expensive). Now that my employer pays, I got a more expensive phone that I like only marginally better than my former Moto G (and I miss some things about the G). However, plenty of people are not in that situation, and plenty of people notice the $500+ difference.

[criddell]

Yes there are plenty of people that can't afford it, but I was mostly talking to HN readers. $1 per day is something that most of us can afford. Verizon will sell you an iPhone 7 Plus for $32 / month. For sure it's a luxury item, but it's within reach.

If a Moto G is good enough for you, then great! You have sixty five cents per day that you can spend on other things.

[unethical_ban]

$600 is a vacation, or more than a week's pay after taxes for me. Why would I pay $600 extra for a phone that isn't that much better? Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Hell, $600 can feed a family of four for several weeks.

[criddell]

If you are deciding between feeding your family or getting a phone, by all means, feed your family.

All I'm saying is if you have a little disposable income ($1 / day) then for many people a better phone is worth the price difference. I think it's especially true when you think about how many hours every day people use their phones. I can get by just fine with a 4-year old PC, but having to use a 4-year old phone would suck.

[r00fus]

There is value in looking at amortized price, but keep in mind many people (esp. fans) upgrade more frequently than 24mo. For them the cost differential is much sharper and more frequent.

Also add in the fact that unlike on the Apple side, most of the Android customer base can simply wait a few months or even weeks and get a much better price (see: most LG phones based on my research), or the same specs from a different manufacturer.

[criddell]

Upgrading annually is still within reach for most people, especially if they are enthusiasts. It costs around $2 per day if you want a new phone every year.

Your Android comment is spot on. I'm wary though of comparing specs because that can be misleading. A couple of phones ago I had a OnePlus One which looked marvelous on paper and it ended up being a terrible phone.

[hyperbovine]

Of course it provides a better value, the upshot of this review is that if you sell your smartphone for the exact same price as an iPhone, you automatically lose. I had expected the headline with the Pixel phones to be something like "near iPhone performance for half the price". I can't possibly see how these new google phones are going to be a success at this price.

[izacus]

Same way as Samsung Galaxy Notes and S series could be a huge success at the same price I guess?

Pixel pretty much offers very similar hardware without having to buy into the Apple ecosystem. There's value in that.

[hyperbovine]

Pixel and Galaxy are comparable to the 6. iPhone is constantly one generation ahead of its competitors. And let's not forget that Samsung, evidently, had to cut a few corners to pack enough juice into their phone to make it an alternative to the iPhone.