Why your new £600 smartphone is probably not as good as your phone from a decade ago

Daily Telegraph ^ | 2nd December 2015 | Christopher Williams

[the scotsman]

'Ever suspected that your £600, top-of-the-range smartphone is not as good for basic communications as the mobile you used a decade ago? Now there is official confirmation you are probably right.

A study commissioned by the industry regulator Ofcom has found that for all the technology packed into flagship devices by Apple, Samsung and others, a handset costing a fraction of the price typically provides better signal performance for voice calls and texts.

The research, conducted in controlled lab conditions on a selection of popular smartphones and non-smart phones currently on the market, found that on a 2G network the cheaper handsets were much better at picking up weak signals. Some smartphones require a minimum signal 10 times stronger than the best non-smart phone before they can make or receive a call, according to Ofcom’s research.'

[Yo-Yo]

My first cell phone was a Motorola StarTac, and it had an extendable antenna.

Of course, back then cell towers were few and far between, so handset transmit range was very important. Today, in most cases the cell towers are very close together for higher density use.

[ilgipper]

These phone are amazing computers, but their phone features stink. Worse call quality. headsets and bluetooth make it worse.

[Talisker]

Wait, you’re supposed to be able to TALK on these things too?

Wow, what’ll they think of next?!

[MeshugeMikey]

I live in a cell technology phobic little town where the town fathers...refuse to allow any new cell towers. I have a dumb phone and very often simply cant connect at all.

I was considering “up” grading....but this article has given me a PAUSE

[Vigilanteman]

For starters, my phone from a decade ago no longer provides a steady revenue stream from me to the carrier.

[the scotsman]

LOL

[pieceofthepuzzle]

My personal experience is that when I'm talking to people who own iPhones I can often not make out what they are saying, unless they are speaking directly into the microphone. There seems to be a limited allowable distance or angle to the microphone that will support good voice quality.

[PAR35]

I think I recall reading a few years ago that it cost 10 times as much to get a cell tower permitted in California as it does in Texas.

[equaviator]

I recently found and purchased a Motorola Razr T3. It's a real one and cost me $75. IMO, it's the best design from a decade ago and I might even look for another one just to have as a future collectible.

[MeshugeMikey]

the people around here once got the town to self identify the place as a Nuclear Free Zone

Id say its nearly a common sense free zone..with 90 percent of the population ever so fearful of the RADIATION being emitted by another cell tower

Id say the price differential would have to be...BRIBES...necessary in Califonia

[Celtic Conservative]

My ex wife has a samsung galaxy, latest model- cost her $500. I have a tracfone that cost me $19.99 . Guess whose has better reception?

CC

[Gamecock]

As an aside:

I was out in the middle of nowhere in Southern Africa. The last village I saw was 5 miles behind me. I pulled out my Chinese cellphone* and the reception was 5 bars. I barely get 1 bar in my front yard.

A friend told me that in Africa they crank up the cell towers to the max. If they did that here it would interfere with televisions. In most of Africa it just doesn’t matter as many folk don’t have a TV in the first place.

*Chinese companies runs the cell phone industry in most of Africa

[SeeSharp]

I have a dumb phone and very often simply cant connect at all.

They make cell phone boosters. They can be kind of pricey, but they do work. I have a Wilson Electronics unit. Check Amazon.

[biff]

It is V3, not T3 and is what I use. It is over 10 years olds and still works better than all the other family members smarty phones. I am now considered quaint by them all.

[equaviator]

yeah, that’s it. I have a V3t.

[Lurkinanloomin]

I’m still using a Nokia 3585 because it never fails. My son makes fun of it calling it the ancient Nokia. He has been through 5-6 phones in the time Ihave had this one.

[SamAdams76]

You mean I can make phone calls with my iPhone?

I need to go check that feature out. Sounds cool!

[One_American]

Well back in the day I was working for Motorola I can tell you a call on the DynaTac (brick phone) was much better than their first flip phones like the MicroTac. A call on the DynaTac was the best call in town. This was on an AMPS system. Moto really knew how to make a solid radio back then.

[One_American]

Well back in the day I was working for Motorola I can tell you a call on the DynaTac (brick phone) was much better than their first flip phones like the MicroTac. A call on the DynaTac was the best call in town. This was on an AMPS system. Moto really knew how to make a solid radio back then.