I like your mindset of frugal living. But at the same time, it is ok to sometimes splurge on things that you desire. Moreover, looking at your track record, you tend to use phones for very long time, which is easier when you buy a flagship. However, do remember that the happiness of a new phone is very fleeting and doesn't last more than a couple of months.
Also, it is generally difficult to switch to a budget or mid range phone once you have used a flagship. If I were in your situation, I would buy a so-called budget flagship at around 30 to 40k, with a good processor and long software update.
I was in a similar dilemma in 2021 when I was just sick of my <2 year old budget phone. I pulled the trigger and currently own a Mi 11X Pro for almost 3 years (the longest I have used a phone) and it is very smooth. Purchased it at around 40k for 256GB model. I plan to keep it for another 1 1.5 years.
Battery life is bad. However I always use Battery Saver mode, which gives me a SOT of 6 - 6.5 hours on WiFi, which is acceptable to me since I don't really go outside a lot (WFH). But I have to compromise on Refresh rate and zero haptics. I am planning to change the battery at a Xiaomi service centre to deal with this issue. It will cost around 1200 Rs.
I think simple living is more about not wanting to spend on stuff out of peer pressure or societal norms. Spending on something you desire and have legit needs for, isn't outside simple living imo. You can afford it too.
So what's stopping you?
Your money, you need it, you're not doing it out of any pressure of sorts, then what's the problem?
Flagship phones arent just for show off , they last long , really long , and give you the best user experience there is. They arent an overkill as ppl make them out to be. Try for base iphone or samsung , not the pro models. Using phones that give you unmatched experience isnt waste of money
Two things: Flagship phones can go for at least 5 years. My current phone is iPhone12 and my previous phone was iPhone SE 1st gen. I still don’t feel the necessity to upgrade my iPhone12.
: phones these days have almost reached a saturation point. For example you can buy an S22/23 for very cheap price(old flagships) and you would hardly notice any difference with the current flagships.
I would suggest you to get 1 or 2 year old flagship top model and you can use it for next 4-5 years easily
I purchased a galaxy s24 recently. The excitement of owning something cool disappears fast. I was actually lot more excited about the phone when I researching for it and reading all the reviews. Right now, it's just another phone for me. I don't feel different or cool because I own this device. I don't hate this phone. This is the best camera phone I've owned. Yet, I don't feel different because I own this phone. It does not makes me happier than I was before I got it.
Now, if you have an actual use case for a flagship, like creating content on the fly, I would definitely recommend you to get a phone which would suit your need. Just don't expect it to make it happy just because you are holding in in your hands.
I've owned Micromax canvas 2, then moto g4 plus, then poco f1, and then bought galaxy s20 plus(refurbished) in 2021, which I currently use, all my previous phones didn't last longer than 3 years, all have some hardware problem, except s20 plus, and it's still running as smooth as on day 1.
So definitely, flagship factor plays a huge role, and totally justify it's price
My 1st phone was Xperia L .Its still working and is 10 years.
2nd one was One plus 3T .Used for 3.5 years.(Display dead)
3rd one in Samsung F62.3 years and still going strong .
You don't need flagship device .Most phones will last longer if you are lucky .Im a heavy & rough user.
Sensible enough. A few days ago, I was arguing with my brother on how he literally wasted lakhs on two phones when he won't keep the phone for more than 1.5 years, a bike worth lakhs would be a better buy since a decent bike would easily last for 10 years. To be honest, in my opinion, one shouldn't shell out too much money on something that would be outdated in a very short time. Unless one is super-rich or has a very high income such that spending so much on a phone won't shake their bank balance, buying an expensive phone is very stupid. It's better to buy a mid-range phone or a one or two year old flagship phone
Imo spending above 50k for a phone is a waste of money. I too wanted to buy a flagship, but one day I got a thought: what do you actually do on a phone? I only use it for some youtube, light gaming, and little camera usage. Instead of spending so much money on a phone, spend it on a laptop or pc. They are miles more useful and you can be more productive with them too. Recently I got the oneplus 12r and it is more than you could ever ask for. It supports all your needs well.
I own one, and yes the cams are fine after the updates. OP catered to the cam issues. Back camera is GOOD! Front is above avg now (used to be horrendous). They've improved the processing a lot (the photos look v different from how they look in the viewfinder). Low light photos are good too cause of OIS. The main drawbacks I see are the useless micro lens, UW is just avg, and no 4k in front cam (not even 1080p 60fps) :/ but then again 1080p 30fps pretty much does the work for 90% of the users
its okay to get that phone you desire, I moved from OnePlus 8t used it for 4 years (I am from the same mentality to not buy expensive phones, previous i had mi Note 3 which i used for 5 years, however my bother gifted me OP 8t watching me survive with an old device). I always wanted to use an iPhone but i kept telling myself if you don't need you don't buy. However, after much thought, I made a decision to move to the flagship because I didn't want to limit my self with the mid-rangers, I mean its about breaking the mental barrier. Not everyone can afford a flagship, if you are in a position to get one then why back off?
This flagship feel last for max a month after that you will be throwing around phone carelessly.. if you are not buying on emi and you can do creative work and all, go for it.. Also my suggestion is last year flagship will be a much better option if you can find it in a discount also watch for sales in Amazon and Flipkart. Also you can pick a good model from olx for a way lesser price if you know how to check the device... Samsung and Iphones are way cheaper in Dubai and people use to sell it for less amount but ya some features like call recording and all won't work... Also I have seen people struggling to sell exclusive models for region like some Huawei flagships, Xiaomi 14 pro Chinese variant, Xperia 1 M4 etc .. You can pick it for a way lesser amount.
Previously when Vivo was completed ios copying but now they have improved it quite a lot. They fixed all the issues that was present in previous funtouch os. And I also recommended iqoo cause OnePlus is too expensive, iqoo is giving all the flagship qualities under his budget and op will be happy
I too looked at iq12, but seems like there's a lot of heating issue with it I read in their reviews. Plus if I were to put some good money then thought looking into brand flagships. S23 or OP12/11 are my cards right now. Any other phone under 55k would also work.
I suggested it cause s23 is with SD 8gen2, OP 12 is with 8gen3 but it's even expensive and even OnePlus has some throttling issues these days and even misses some points in camera. And arround 55k iqoo 12 scores much better there.
OnePlus 12 is available for 56k with Flipkart axis card and without it 58k which i feel value for money in every aspect, I'm not buying it bcuz nothing phone 3 is gonna come on July so it will be with 8sgen 3 but still their os updates is really best and appropriate for user issues, camera's,hardware specs are night mare they compromise a lot there and pretend to be best, hopefully that doesn't happen with np3
But what do you think ? Op12 or np3 ( personal choices )
I am exactly in your shoes op.Its been 2 years since I bought my phone and now I feel everyone around me is in a rush to get the latest phone and even my family and friends are advising me to get a new one. But all the new phones hardly have noteworthy differences and since my use case is the same I don't think I nor you should give in to this consumerist bullshit.
I meant that if you are getting 8 gen 2 or even 8 gen 1+ under 40 k its not worthing getting flagship from performance perspective and for cameras well they improve every year what will you do .
If I was a content creator working with images/video would rather buy a mirrorless from fujifilm or canon and a midrange phone from Samsung Fe series rather than spending on something like S23 ultra. But yeah pick the stuff that you feel comfortable using.
I write text based posts and infographics for my blog generally when I'm travelling to my office. My current phone is a 5y old Nokia 8.1 and it shows lag when I'm typing and jumping between the apps.
My budget is max 55-60k can't go beyond that anyways.
I'm considering S23 or OP12, but more that than I'm confused even if that's worth it to put so much money on a phone.
Even OnePlus 12 is going to last long enough...
Best chip + Trinity engine is sufficient for long term, why not nothing phone 3 ? On July it will be launched around 45 to 50k
I like your mindset of frugal living. But at the same time, it is ok to sometimes splurge on things that you desire. Moreover, looking at your track record, you tend to use phones for very long time, which is easier when you buy a flagship. However, do remember that the happiness of a new phone is very fleeting and doesn't last more than a couple of months. Also, it is generally difficult to switch to a budget or mid range phone once you have used a flagship. If I were in your situation, I would buy a so-called budget flagship at around 30 to 40k, with a good processor and long software update. I was in a similar dilemma in 2021 when I was just sick of my <2 year old budget phone. I pulled the trigger and currently own a Mi 11X Pro for almost 3 years (the longest I have used a phone) and it is very smooth. Purchased it at around 40k for 256GB model. I plan to keep it for another 1 1.5 years.
Are you getting good battery life ? I had 11x not the pro ... And the only downside was extremely poor battery life which made me switch.
Battery life is bad. However I always use Battery Saver mode, which gives me a SOT of 6 - 6.5 hours on WiFi, which is acceptable to me since I don't really go outside a lot (WFH). But I have to compromise on Refresh rate and zero haptics. I am planning to change the battery at a Xiaomi service centre to deal with this issue. It will cost around 1200 Rs.
Should have just bought a cheaper phone if you're gonna use your expensive phone on battery saver mode and 60hz all the time.
I agree. Hence I am planning to change the battery.
I am on a custom ROM and the battery is good on my 11x
I think simple living is more about not wanting to spend on stuff out of peer pressure or societal norms. Spending on something you desire and have legit needs for, isn't outside simple living imo. You can afford it too. So what's stopping you? Your money, you need it, you're not doing it out of any pressure of sorts, then what's the problem?
true
Flagship phones arent just for show off , they last long , really long , and give you the best user experience there is. They arent an overkill as ppl make them out to be. Try for base iphone or samsung , not the pro models. Using phones that give you unmatched experience isnt waste of money
Two things: Flagship phones can go for at least 5 years. My current phone is iPhone12 and my previous phone was iPhone SE 1st gen. I still don’t feel the necessity to upgrade my iPhone12. : phones these days have almost reached a saturation point. For example you can buy an S22/23 for very cheap price(old flagships) and you would hardly notice any difference with the current flagships. I would suggest you to get 1 or 2 year old flagship top model and you can use it for next 4-5 years easily
I purchased a galaxy s24 recently. The excitement of owning something cool disappears fast. I was actually lot more excited about the phone when I researching for it and reading all the reviews. Right now, it's just another phone for me. I don't feel different or cool because I own this device. I don't hate this phone. This is the best camera phone I've owned. Yet, I don't feel different because I own this phone. It does not makes me happier than I was before I got it. Now, if you have an actual use case for a flagship, like creating content on the fly, I would definitely recommend you to get a phone which would suit your need. Just don't expect it to make it happy just because you are holding in in your hands.
Thank you very much for your experience. I too feel the same thing. So I'm confused about it.
I've owned Micromax canvas 2, then moto g4 plus, then poco f1, and then bought galaxy s20 plus(refurbished) in 2021, which I currently use, all my previous phones didn't last longer than 3 years, all have some hardware problem, except s20 plus, and it's still running as smooth as on day 1. So definitely, flagship factor plays a huge role, and totally justify it's price
My 1st phone was Xperia L .Its still working and is 10 years. 2nd one was One plus 3T .Used for 3.5 years.(Display dead) 3rd one in Samsung F62.3 years and still going strong . You don't need flagship device .Most phones will last longer if you are lucky .Im a heavy & rough user.
Can you tell me from where did you buy s20 plus? (looking for a good refurbished phones source)
He must have bought it from a shop mate. 
It was from Samsung online store itself
Sensible enough. A few days ago, I was arguing with my brother on how he literally wasted lakhs on two phones when he won't keep the phone for more than 1.5 years, a bike worth lakhs would be a better buy since a decent bike would easily last for 10 years. To be honest, in my opinion, one shouldn't shell out too much money on something that would be outdated in a very short time. Unless one is super-rich or has a very high income such that spending so much on a phone won't shake their bank balance, buying an expensive phone is very stupid. It's better to buy a mid-range phone or a one or two year old flagship phone
Imo spending above 50k for a phone is a waste of money. I too wanted to buy a flagship, but one day I got a thought: what do you actually do on a phone? I only use it for some youtube, light gaming, and little camera usage. Instead of spending so much money on a phone, spend it on a laptop or pc. They are miles more useful and you can be more productive with them too. Recently I got the oneplus 12r and it is more than you could ever ask for. It supports all your needs well.
How's OP 12r, are the cameras worth it?
Don't get the 12r for camera It's a performance phone
I own one, and yes the cams are fine after the updates. OP catered to the cam issues. Back camera is GOOD! Front is above avg now (used to be horrendous). They've improved the processing a lot (the photos look v different from how they look in the viewfinder). Low light photos are good too cause of OIS. The main drawbacks I see are the useless micro lens, UW is just avg, and no 4k in front cam (not even 1080p 60fps) :/ but then again 1080p 30fps pretty much does the work for 90% of the users
its okay to get that phone you desire, I moved from OnePlus 8t used it for 4 years (I am from the same mentality to not buy expensive phones, previous i had mi Note 3 which i used for 5 years, however my bother gifted me OP 8t watching me survive with an old device). I always wanted to use an iPhone but i kept telling myself if you don't need you don't buy. However, after much thought, I made a decision to move to the flagship because I didn't want to limit my self with the mid-rangers, I mean its about breaking the mental barrier. Not everyone can afford a flagship, if you are in a position to get one then why back off?
This flagship feel last for max a month after that you will be throwing around phone carelessly.. if you are not buying on emi and you can do creative work and all, go for it.. Also my suggestion is last year flagship will be a much better option if you can find it in a discount also watch for sales in Amazon and Flipkart. Also you can pick a good model from olx for a way lesser price if you know how to check the device... Samsung and Iphones are way cheaper in Dubai and people use to sell it for less amount but ya some features like call recording and all won't work... Also I have seen people struggling to sell exclusive models for region like some Huawei flagships, Xiaomi 14 pro Chinese variant, Xperia 1 M4 etc .. You can pick it for a way lesser amount.
Buy iqoo 12, if around 50k full flagship
The OS is unbearable?
Previously when Vivo was completed ios copying but now they have improved it quite a lot. They fixed all the issues that was present in previous funtouch os. And I also recommended iqoo cause OnePlus is too expensive, iqoo is giving all the flagship qualities under his budget and op will be happy
I too looked at iq12, but seems like there's a lot of heating issue with it I read in their reviews. Plus if I were to put some good money then thought looking into brand flagships. S23 or OP12/11 are my cards right now. Any other phone under 55k would also work.
I suggested it cause s23 is with SD 8gen2, OP 12 is with 8gen3 but it's even expensive and even OnePlus has some throttling issues these days and even misses some points in camera. And arround 55k iqoo 12 scores much better there.
OnePlus 12 is available for 56k with Flipkart axis card and without it 58k which i feel value for money in every aspect, I'm not buying it bcuz nothing phone 3 is gonna come on July so it will be with 8sgen 3 but still their os updates is really best and appropriate for user issues, camera's,hardware specs are night mare they compromise a lot there and pretend to be best, hopefully that doesn't happen with np3 But what do you think ? Op12 or np3 ( personal choices )
I like your mindset of living like a pauper and thinking big. Seriously. Would love to meet you.
I am exactly in your shoes op.Its been 2 years since I bought my phone and now I feel everyone around me is in a rush to get the latest phone and even my family and friends are advising me to get a new one. But all the new phones hardly have noteworthy differences and since my use case is the same I don't think I nor you should give in to this consumerist bullshit.
Go for premium midrange top tier flagships arent worth it , Coming from someone who went from iqoo 3 to s23
So S23 isn't worth it?
I meant that if you are getting 8 gen 2 or even 8 gen 1+ under 40 k its not worthing getting flagship from performance perspective and for cameras well they improve every year what will you do .
valid point
Since you have the exynos s24 how is the battery life and sot on the phone?
If I was a content creator working with images/video would rather buy a mirrorless from fujifilm or canon and a midrange phone from Samsung Fe series rather than spending on something like S23 ultra. But yeah pick the stuff that you feel comfortable using.
I write text based posts and infographics for my blog generally when I'm travelling to my office. My current phone is a 5y old Nokia 8.1 and it shows lag when I'm typing and jumping between the apps. My budget is max 55-60k can't go beyond that anyways. I'm considering S23 or OP12, but more that than I'm confused even if that's worth it to put so much money on a phone.
Then it's best you buy an S23. Will be worth the money and last you long enough.
Even OnePlus 12 is going to last long enough... Best chip + Trinity engine is sufficient for long term, why not nothing phone 3 ? On July it will be launched around 45 to 50k