Slashdot Mirror
Higher-End Smartphones Make You Happier, Says JD Power Study (cnet.com)
A new J.D. Power study published Thursday found that users who pay more for their smartphones report higher satisfaction than those who pay less for their smartphones. The study also found that among ATT and Sprint customers, Samsung phones ranked highest in overall satisfaction, while T-Mobile and Verizon customers preferred Apple iPhones. Jessica Dolcourt via CNET writes about the other conclusions made by the J.D. Power study: - Customers of ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon (full-service carriers) report more satisfaction than customers on Boost Mobile, Cricket, MetroPCS and Virgin Mobile (co-contract carriers).
- Full-service customers pay an average of $361 for their phones compared with prepaid customers' $137 average.
-Customers who pay more for their phones report higher satisfaction.
- This is likely because high-cost phones perform better. (Editor's note: no duh)
- Full-service customers pay an average of $361 for their phones compared with prepaid customers' $137 average.
-Customers who pay more for their phones report higher satisfaction.
- This is likely because high-cost phones perform better. (Editor's note: no duh)
Consumers are trained well.
..more News at 11, dont go anywhere elsee now.
Was 1973
I'll be honest, the most expensive modern smartphone I bought was a Galaxy Nexus. It definitely didn't make me happier; the quirks and horrible UI actually made me switch to a flip phone in an effort to regain my sanity.
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
Life? Phone? ROI? Value?
Ever since upgrading it to iOS 7, I've been swearing more at my phone than any other device I own (PC, Android or Mac).
AC comments get piped to
Running on ios10 on 5 seems fine.
except if its a Note 7 (sorry couldnt resist)
Is this after or before self-selection bias is accounted for?
Buyers in badly want of something are more likely to rate it higher AND to have high reservation prices. The higher the price on anything, the more likely that the people buying it are just the ones who happen to be sort of crazy about it.
So in my case I just switched to Android and I'm absolutely sure I'm as happy - if not happier - with what I picked up (OnePlus 3) as I would be with an S7, Pixel XL or iPhone 7. OP3 isn't a $100 phone, but it's not an $800 phone either.
Having more money makes you happier!? NO SHIT!?
What they didn't say is how it compares to people who do not use a smartphone (e.g. feature phone users) or people who do not use a cell phone at all.
Technology may not make people happy but bad technology certainly makes people unhappy.
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
This is likely because high-cost phones perform better.
Maybe the people who forked out all that cash are just trying really hard to convince themselves they got something better than the cheaper options?
It's a coping mechanism to hold of the fits of depression when they accept that it's still just a phone with some annoying silly apps on it.
If I had a DeLorean... I would probably only drive it from time to time.
I don't know the name of this bias but when someone invests a lot in something, he will tend to convince himself that he made the right choice.
That's how audiophiles will clearly notice the effect of their $1000+ cables and will consider it money well spent whereas the one who used zip chord will probably be less satisfied, even though he paid 100x less for the same objective result.
SPEND MORE MONEY. You are not happy with your current cell phone. Spend more money on a cell phone so you can be happy. Also, Samsung paid us to write this "story". Ignore reports of Samsung Phones exploding. SPEND SPEND SPEND.
Sincerely and with as much honest and integrity as Hillary Clinton,
Slashdot /.
Huge thanks for this article!!!!!!
This now has me contemplating ALL of the cheap stuff in my life, NOT JUST MY PHONEE!
I WANT TO BE HAPPIER! THANKS MR. POWER!!
I would love to see a study on this but I always wonder if there is some kind of internal bias that happens when we spend a lot on something. Are people happier with expensive smart phones because the phone is actually better or are they happier because spending more made them more invested in the decision and since no one wants to admit they dumped a lot of money onto a piece of crap they trick themselves into thinking they are happier with it. But people who don't spend a lot don't have as much of their ego invested in the decision so they can see the flaws and don't care pointing them out since they didn't spend an embarrassing amount on the phone in the first place.
people who spent a large chunk of money on something will NEVER say it was stupid.
If only Apple had copyrighted confirmation bias...
Flushing money down the crapper leaves me feelin' satisfied, NOT.
Flushing money down the loo leaves me feelin' satisfied, NOT.
I'm certainly not happier having spent more money on my Galaxy Note 7.
Mohammed: Did you see Mohammed at the meeting today?
Mohammed: No, but his brother Mohammed showed up.
Mohammed: What did Mohammed talk about?
Mohammed: Mohammed introduced us to Mohammed who is also a mason!
Mohammed: A mason? No shit? How long has he been one?
Mohammed: About five years. He was referred to the local lodge by Mohammed.
Mohammed: Ah, yes, Mohammed. He has a shit ton of connections around town!
Mohammed: Yes, and our brothers, police be upon them, Mohammed and Mohammed from Egypt came, too.
Mohammed: I've been thinking of becoming a clown.
Mohammed: A clown, Mohammed, why?
Mohammed: So I can film myself being gay.
Mohammed: Oh, you.
Mohammed: So anyway, is Mohammed, Mohammed, and Mohammed coming to the next party?
Mohammed: Indeed. Mohammed was so funny last time.
Mohammed: Well it wouldn't be a party without Mohammed.
Mohammed: Yes, my friend. POLICE BE UPON THEM!
I'm very pleased with my phone's hardware. It came out 2 years ago and I've had it for about 18 months.
What I'm dissatisfied with is the fact that it's still running Lollipop.
Overall though it really hasn't affected my overall happiness in life.
If you read the details of the linked study, you can see that the criteria for "happiness" is different for contract plans vs. non-contract plans. Specifically, cost isn't factored into the "happiness" score for the contract plans, but it is factored in for non-contract plans. This would tend to artificially raise the happiness score for contract plans, since factoring in the high cost would likely lower the scores.
Also, battery life gets a much lower weight towards the score for non-contract plans than for contract plans. This is significant, because non-contract phones tent to have much better battery life than the flagship models.
What this proves is that you can make number say whatever you want them to say.
People who drive a Ferrari or Porsche generally live healthier overall and have a substantially better quality of life. They also have larger homes in general.
We should abandon Obamacare and give everyone a Ferrari.
Also, give one to everyone in Japan - that should increase the size of their houses.
According to my extensive research.
You pay more, you hope for more. And are less likely to report disappointment.
-Customers who pay more for their phones report higher satisfaction.
- This is likely because high-cost phones perform better. (Editor's note: no duh)
OR it could be that they spent more so they feel they must like it more. This is actually pretty common, especially in the higher end markets. Common and exploitable.
Bet these very same owners say the phones sound "warmer".
Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
... of overspending on a trinket, 6GB Joe and Jane will say anything to save face.
NO SIG
Of course it is better, I paid more for it. If it were not better, I would have made a mistake and that I cannot admit to you or myself.
...they keep you warmer, as it has been confirmed by Samsung.
I'll just note that the slashdot headline mentions happiness, while the summary mentions satisfaction, which makes more sense. Essentially, the buyers of higher-end smartphones are more satisfied _with the smartphone_, whether they are in general happier or not in their life as a result isn't really the issue, or the effect of the higher-end smartphone.
What's the opposite of "Buyer's remorse"?
The headline and the summary say two different things though. Logically the most satisfying phones should be the high end but reasonably priced ones like the OnePlus 3. Better specs than other flagships, great software and 1/3rd the price.
But in fact people would rather have a worse phone and pay more for it.
Perhaps you could extend you analogy to cover this.
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
There is an old example of how scientific proof can be obtained for the conclusion that you actually want.
A scientist puts a flea on the table and shouts at it:
"Jump!"
And the flea jumps.
Then the scientist carefully cuts off the flea's legs, puts it back on the table and shouts:
"Jump!"
And the flea does not jump.
After this, the scientist happily writes down on his notebook:
"After it lost its legs, the flea cannot hear anymore."
Jesus I only pay 30 bucks a month and I think I'm more happy because I'm not being taken to the cleaners every month.
Those who can afford high end smartphones are simply richer and do not have to worry about how to make the mortgage payment or feed the kids.
I bought a Note 7 the other day, and my happiness went through the roof!!!
Free, as in your money being freed from the confines of your account.
people who are happy to use phones are more likely to invest a larger amount of money than people who just need to carry a means of communication around. ...
With that in mind I don't expect those people to be dissatisfied with their phone either, they are probably just indifferent as long as the phone gets the job done. Like, no need to buy a gold plated hammer if the conventional one can also sink a nail
If a higher-end smartphone makes you happier, perhaps it's time to reexamine your life.
A loving spouse, good health, good friends, or hobbies or a job I enjoy can make me appreciate my life more fully and as a result be "happier".
But a fancier smartphone? Nope. My life and my general happiness doesn't operate at that low a level.
But if I had the new Gillette Mega-Radical 5-Blade Super-Torque Pro razor, now that would make me happier. Oh yeah baby.
*terrorized by the urge to buy, I drive to Walmart with a renewed sense of purpose in life*
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
In other news...
People who buy premium digital Monster cables at Best Buy report higher satisfaction than those who buy generic cables from Microcenter.
Whether or not people with Porsche have healthier lives, there have previously been studies that show that how much you spend on your car does not correlate to your satisfaction levels with your car. So this news about smartphones would suggest you're better off buying a top of the line smartphone and a junker than you are a Porsche and a "LeEco" phone.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
If the carrier doesn't sell it, most consumer don't know it exists.
Cheap storage VM.
When you spend $600+ for a phone, rather than getting one that, for one quarter of the price, will do almost everything that the big one does, you are doing that because you want to show the world that you do not have a small cock. Those overpriced phones are status symbols, period. It does not matter how well they work, provided that they do the basics. What matters is that you can produce them in public, and that everybody around you will see what a successful person you are.
In our narcissistic self absorbed world, it's like a junkie getting a fix. It works for a few days/weeks/months. Then, as with a junkie, you want more and more and more. It's an endless cycle. We have one guy at work that has traded/bought a 5 new phones this year, always chasing the mythical "next best thing. I usually keep a midrange phone about 2 years.
When people pay a lot of money for a product they rarely will declare that they are an idiot who paid a premium price for a lump of crap. This is particularly true with cars. Many will lie and brag about paying a higher price than they really paid while others will try to make an impression by claiming they paid way less than they actually paid. And the same is often true in describing quality. A model that rides like a piece of junk and is too dangerous to be on the roads may be described in glowing terms. After all, who wants to brag about being the fool that purchased the rolling death trap.
...maybe it's because people who buy $600 phones tend to have more money (and less worries) than people who buy $50 devices.
This also explains why Samsung is top because those owners will never have to worry about being able to stay warm at night.
There is no way the $600 phone is five times better than the $120 phone. I actually like the Windows phones as much as Android.
Your alternative is 2 years of support with a Nexus device or less with a 3rd party Android device. Choose wisely.
RTFA: People with higher end smart phones are not happier.. they are happier with their phones. People with Ferraris are not happier than people who own Toyota, they just like their car more. Why do you need a study to prove that?!
If people were not happy with higher end products that they paid more money for, they wouldn't pay more money for it. Which means there would be no demand for higher end products, which implies that society would not reward innovation, which means that the economy will collapse...
Positional good reinforces poor existing self-image, news at 11.
users who pay more for their smartphones report higher satisfaction than those who pay less for their smartphones
...except when it can.
Bullshit. My Galaxy S5 is more than 2 years old and is still getting updates (in fact it just got one which I'll install just as soon as I do a backup just in case).
Is it running 7.1.1? If not, it's outdated garbage.
wow cool, your S5 runs Marshmallow now? easily one of the best mobile OS's of last year.
Happier people buy higher-end smartphones. It's obvious that this is complete BS because the aforementioned or article-mentioned points can be debunked AND proven. Is this is statistical push by Samsung to subconsciously quell those in fear and get their name back out there as a "Happy" product? I thought that "Happy Happy xyz" crap only worked in Japan.
I wish someone'd give me a Ferrari. I could sell it and even if it was a cheaper second-hand Ferrari, it could pay my bills for ten years.
This is the world we live in, I struggle to get by, constantly looking for a little job here, a little job there, hoping for the permanent employment that will never come, being jobless most of the time, and some people blow ten years worth of living money on a car. And while I'm working the hardest I can, even when I'm not employed (I do community work and looking for jobs is also hard work), the Ferrari owners of this world basically sit on their asses all day. Sigh.
False dichotomy. Some of us are smart enough to use custom ROMs.
That people with more money are happier is hardly news worthy.