Negotiating for purchase a Used Cellphone,..what minor flaws acceptable ?

[mariush]

I'm using a Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro , was around $200 when I bought it... perfectly fine phone.

You can get Xiaomi 13 for $165 on Amazon, and Xiaomi 12 is 145$ ... both with 8 GB ram and at least 256 GB of storage.

[IanB]

I know we are straying off-topic here a little bit, but since we're sharing (and for those playing along at home).

It's not entirely off-topic, because the cost of the phone is a one-off expense, while the monthly plan charge impacts your monthly budget indefinitely. That is arguably more important ($65/month over 3 years adds up to $2340). That's twice the cost of a brand new iPhone.

The low prices I quoted were for a UK MVNO (giffgaff) running on the O2 network, but I have used them when visiting the UK (paid a little more for 5G), and never had a problem with speed or network availability. The low price does come with a lack of features (no visual voicemail, MMS is extra, premium rate numbers are extra, international calls are extra...). However, it did include roaming within the EU at no extra cost.

In the USA, the main cellular networks (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) do in theory cover the whole country, so roaming is not a thing (except for Mexico and Canada). However coverage is only in populated areas, so "whole country" needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Any time you go off the beaten track you will lose cellphone service. If you want an emergency phone when hiking, you will need a satellite phone.

Anecdote: in 2001, I landed at a small airfield in the Kruger National Park in South Africa (basically in the middle of the bush). I thought no way would there be cellphone service, but when I switched on my phone the signal was 5 bars.

International calling is less of a concern now with VOIP services like Google Voice, which you can use for free with with cellular data.

Also, I have found it nearly impossible to use more than 5-10 GB even with intensive data use. Maybe that is different for people who consume their entire social media on their phone, but my eyes are not up to the task, and watching YouTube on a teeny tiny phone screen instead of a big desktop monitor is frankly an exercise in self-flagellation.

[Postal2]

.... 2G cellular doesn't exist anymore; ....

This is stupid. When I go deeper into the building, my phone automatically switches to 2G to maintain the connection. Most likely, this is due to stupidity in the formation of licenses for frequencies.

[Halcyon]

.... 2G cellular doesn't exist anymore; ....

This is stupid. When I go deeper into the building, my phone automatically switches to 2G to maintain the connection. Most likely, this is due to stupidity in the formation of licenses for frequencies.

The existing 2G and 3G bands are being re-used for 4G and 5G services here. So even in basements and buildings, it's pretty standard to have access to high speed data.
The dropping of 2G/3G is a good thing. It allows for efficient re-use of the existing frequencies. Faster speeds and better coverage.

3G is currently the "fallback" mode here, but soon that'll be 4G.

[ebastler]

The dropping of 2G/3G is a good thing. It allows for efficient re-use of the existing frequencies. Faster speeds and better coverage.

I largely agree. But it's annoying that various 3G-enabled devices, which would otherwise still be perfectly fit for purpose, no longer work. My Kindle e-book reader is an example, and I assume many remote sensors (specialized, expensive, expensive to deploy/replace) as well.

[Halcyon]

The dropping of 2G/3G is a good thing. It allows for efficient re-use of the existing frequencies. Faster speeds and better coverage.

I largely agree. But it's annoying that various 3G-enabled devices, which would otherwise still be perfectly fit for purpose, no longer work. My Kindle e-book reader is an example, and I assume many remote sensors (specialized, expensive, expensive to deploy/replace) as well.

Sure. But hopefully this will force manufacturers to stop being so bloody stingy with the baseband radios they put in devices. Same goes for WiFi or Ethernet ports. 10/100 in almost any product is not acceptable. Spend an extra dollar and put a 4G/5G/Gigabit/802.11ax radios when designing products.

There are still some household products (Dyson, Sonos etc...) that only support 2.4 GHz or WPA2. It's unacceptable.

5G was ratified in 2016 for fuck's sake with networks bullding infrastructure not that long after.

[ebastler]

In Germany we had about 10 years of overlap between the introduction of 4G networks and the discontinuation of 3G (in 2021). Generous enough for comsumer devices like cell phones, but a bit tight for things like remote sensors which have a longer product life cycle. (Regarding product development as well as the duration of using a particular unit in the field.)

[Postal2]

... The dropping of 2G/3G is a good thing. ...

Then don’t be surprised when they start supplying 300 volts to the electrical outlet and force you to replace all devices.

In GSM networks, the transmission power is usually between 1 and 2 watts. This provides a decent coverage radius, which can reach up to 35 kilometers in open areas.
3G standards generally use less power than GSM. The coverage radius is approximately 3 to 5 kilometers.
LTE uses similar power to 3G, giving a similar coverage radius, typically 3 to 5 kilometers.

[ebastler]

... The dropping of 2G/3G is a good thing. ...

Then don’t be surprised when they start supplying 300 volts to the electrical outlet and force you to replace all devices.

Believe it or not, technologies do become obsolete and get phased out, to be replaced by something better. Using your AM radio is not as much fun as it used to be; depending on where you live, the same may apply to your FM radio sooner or later. Analog and ISDN phone lines, as well as analog terrestrial TV broadcasting, are a thing of the past as well in many countries.

I think it is unreasonable to argue that "this should never happen!". One can only debate about timing and lead times, to enable technology users to make decent use of their investment and prepare for a smooth transition.

[Postal2]

... Believe it or not, technologies do become obsolete and get phased out, to be replaced by something better. ...

A 1978 auto magazine wrote that polarized headlights were abandoned because of the harmfulness of polarized light. Now you have an LCD screen. And I have a CRT. You wear glasses, and I don't.

[Halcyon]

... Believe it or not, technologies do become obsolete and get phased out, to be replaced by something better. ...

A 1978 auto magazine wrote that polarized headlights were abandoned because of the harmfulness of polarized light. Now you have an LCD screen. And I have a CRT. You wear glasses, and I don't.

I don't understand the point you're making? Are you suggesting people who view polarised displays over CRTs go blind? I've been viewing LCD monitors for the past 20 years, yet my eyesight is perfect? I've never seen anyone suggest polarised light is bad, so I'd be keen to read some actual science beyond what a car magazine wrote in the 70s.

Viewing ANY display, for long periods of time is bad for your eyesight. You should focus on objects both near and far, varying your focal length throughout the day.