Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Many great Android phones are released every year, bringing annual improvements like more AI features, better cameras, increased performance, and brighter screens. However, these brand new flagship devices often come with premium prices.
Then again, his colleague Ryan Haines pointed out that there’s no need to buy a whole new phone. He recommended the Pixel 8 Pro as one of the best old flagship phones worth buying. We also added a poll in its article, asking users if they prefer brand new phones or old flagships. And here’s how it happened.
Would you consider buying an old flagship phone?
We have published surveys on our website, Twitter pageAnd YouTube accountand all three surveys show that most of you would rather buy an older device than a brand new flagship phone. More than three-quarters of readers surveyed said they were still buying older phones, while almost two-thirds of Twitter followers voted that way. The YouTube poll was tighter, with 55% of voters saying they would prefer to buy older devices.
Respondents across all three platforms gave various reasons why they preferred older flagship phones over newer versions. Many users pointed to the discounted prices, while some cited multi-year update commitments on older phones as a reason to buy them.
Some users, like YouTube subscriber @rosaria8384, have also suggested that newer phones only have minor improvements over older devices:
Given the gradual changes between models, I would prefer to buy the previous model.
It’s hard to argue with this point, especially when it comes to phones from certain brands like Samsung. For example, the Galaxy S24 is essentially the S23 with a brighter screen, new chipset, and better update policy. But even phones that look like more substantial upgrades on paper aren’t that different from their predecessors.
Then again, a few respondents also justified their reasons for buying a brand new phone, citing long-term usage in particular.
“Since my phones usually last four years or more, I always buy new phones,” said subscriber MrZequal.
“No, I never bought a second-hand phone. I’d rather buy a new one and keep it for years than have to buy used phones much more often,” reader Rac3r4Life added.
