If Microsoft Exits the High-End Phone Market, Will You Stay?

[Camden Krupala]

I don't think they will exit it but if they were to I would have to strongly consider it. Not because I want some unnecessary octa-core processor and 3 Gb of Ram but because I appreciate the look and feel of premium devices. I don't think I would be happy with just a mid-tier device. I am due for an upgrade on AT&T and my only option is the 1520 which is around 6 months old already (currently have the 1020 which is a year old now). Not sure what I am going to do.

 

[fatclue_98]

Oh really?

That was the only part worth quoting? ;-)


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[SSgt Bruskowiz]

For crying out loud.....it's just a phonebrand and o.s. Life is happening outside not in this little box of glass and plastic.

 

[etphoto]

For crying out loud.....it's just a phonebrand and o.s. Life is happening outside not in this little box of glass and plastic.

lol I agree.

Don't know if you were around last year during the "I'm leaving because WP don't have an instagram app" threads that plagued this site. The amount of people that stand in the corner and hold their breath over the silliest things has always baffled me.

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[chezm]

i love it, so now people get criticized for potentially wanting to leave if high-end phone are OUT (that includes exceptional Camera, high end quality display and premium build). YET, when the next WP is announced and if its more powerful than the latest high end Androids all the WP fanboys will drool. LOL. What does wanting a high end phone have to do with not appreciating/enjoying life?

 

[Narathan]

Well, if there's a tactic behind Microsoft's low/mid tier phones... You could say that they want other OEM partners to bring the top class phones. I mean why else would they not make high-end phones for spec-junkies? The HTC W8 is a pretty top-tier phone with the hardware (nevermind the 4-ultrapixel camera everybody is on the edge about) and I think directly competing with your OEM partners isn't the best idea in the same market. The whole Surface debacle is something they probably want to avoid, even though they pulled that stunt to show what Windows tablets were capable of (it did motivate OEMS te come up with better/sweeter looking tablets after all).

So no, I'll stick around. Let other OEMS come up with the craziest of specced phones, and let MS focus on the software they require, like HTC needed Update 1. Waiting to see what the other more premium OEMS are cooking up.

 

[DJCBS]

At this point I'm only staying if Sony does what HTC will do and releases a Z3 Compact with WP in it.
Otherwise, I'm out. I've had a 930 for three weeks, three weeks in which I couldn't use it because the phone is filled with bugs and Microsoft doesn't have replacement units. So I'm supposed to "wait" with a useless phone until God knows when. Well, guess what? Sony is presenting the Z3 Compact on the 3 September. They put it for sale, and I'm out, regardless of what Microsoft Mobile does.
I've had it with sh*tty customer service from Microsoft.

And since I only buy high end phones...the only option is the HTC W8. Except I value the camera a lot and the camera of the W8 is just horrible. So I'm out of options. I wish Microsoft a lot of luck selling WP on cheap devices from third party OEMs...and trying to beat Android at it.

 

[TechFreak1]

Specs are half the story, the ecosystem is the other half. I'm in it for the ecosystem having seen the beauty of cloud sync whilst working on the go I don't think I will be going to any other platform anytime soon:

A) Iphones are over priced for what they are and ios is far too closed to be any real use (osx and ios are not the samething)

B) I have no issue with android, it is just I don't like Google (I have yet to receive any personalised spam in Outlook - when that happens I will put on my tin foil hat and go in to hibernation :winktongue: )

Once I get my Sp3, it will complete the ecosystem for me as I currently have the Xbox One and a 920. If there is no high end device until spring next year, it won't change the fact my 920 is still going strong and is more than adequate. All smartphone innovation has plateaued evident by the fact OEM's have turned to gimmicks or legacy tech like irda, fingerprint scanners to differentiate themselves. (The new thing is health & fitness)

The only thing interesting right now is the amazon fire phone with its 4 cameras to create a 3D environment. But this in reality has a wow factor of 5 minutes imo as after prolonged use and once a user gets used to the device it will just fade into the background just like everything else.

 

[Rixonian]

The strength of Android is the range of low-level devices. I don't think you realise how big that range is.
Every human being with minimum wealth can buy a low-level Android phone.

 

[50ShadesOfDJWS]

Ok so reading all the comments and observing,
I'd have to agree with 2 things
1) The windows phone experience is great and smooth although lacking some functionality that android offers but let's be honest threshold next year is going to slay based on supposed leaks and just how large an update it'll be quite even putting Microsoft ahead of functionality compared to ios
2) The app gap is real, don't even deny it. Yes we have seen progress, some really good progress as now we have 300 000+ apps but compared to ios and android we do not even begin to compare. The idea is that apps were supposed to take off for windows universally, it would of been great for touch and WP as then we would have caught up sadly it didn't, oh well.

And from those 2 ideas/facts/opinions (take your pick) we see that windows phone problem is marketing. You've made the Lumia 930 really premium, 1080p screen? Good for you Microsoft NOW SHOW IT OFF ON TV, and not just in the USA. If marketing was better then they would be selling high end phones not as much as apple or an android manufacturer but still.
Also yes I will stay even if Microsoft exists the high-end market, I'm perfectly content with a midrange (although I wouldn't mind a highrange phone that slays everyone.)

 

[SSgt Bruskowiz]

The strength of Android is the range of low-level devices. I don't think you realise how big that range is.
Every human being with minimum wealth can buy a low-level Android phone.

Eh...how much were the 520, 630...... Just remember wat the 520 did on the market.
So i agree that most money is made on the lower end.

 

[Loco5150]

Most money is NOT made on lower end on devices. From services yes, most money is made from from lower end, as there are so much more devices.

 

[fatclue_98]

Most money is NOT made on lower end on devices. From services yes, most money is made from from lower end, as there are so much more devices.

Agreed. GM has to sell a few Escalades just to break even for all the Cruze's it dumps on Hertz and city governments. However, it probably makes a ton on replacement parts because there are so many of them and few Escalades and Corvettes.


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[pw38]

I'm happy with my 1520 but want to see what they plan on replacing it with. If MS does exit the high end I'll possibly stay but to be honest if I wanted a low to mid end phone I'd buy one. I want something to push boundries and as much as it pains me to say if I have to go Android to get it I will. I'd prefer to stay with WP though so hopefully they don't completely abandon the high end.

 

[fatclue_98]

I'm happy with my 1520 but want to see what they plan on replacing it with. If MS does exit the high end I'll possibly stay but to be honest if I wanted a low to mid end phone I'd buy one. I want something to push boundries and as much as it pains me to say if I have to go Android to get it I will. I'd prefer to stay with WP though so hopefully they don't completely abandon the high end.

Which boundaries are you looking to push? Aside from the camera, WP does not offer bleeding edge technology on the hardware side.

 

[trainplane]

WP needs a low, middle, and high end.

People, please understand that the high end is more than just CPU/GPU. It should have the best camera, the best screen tech, the best sensors, the best communications standards (802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, etc), the best shell material, and all the features of WP (camera button, no software nav buttons), the best battery tech.

And also, as an owner of a 1020, that phone can use a massive CPU boost for the camera. And while most operations are smooth, there are instances of undetected presses, and stutter. Plus though I'm not a phone gamer, many games can use all the CPU/GPU/RAM speed that is available. I truly don't understand folks who think phone CPU technology is good enough. CPU tech is never good enough. They always eat their words in a few years.

 

[Laura Knotek]

And from those 2 ideas/facts/opinions (take your pick) we see that windows phone problem is marketing. You've made the Lumia 930 really premium, 1080p screen? Good for you Microsoft NOW SHOW IT OFF ON TV, and not just in the USA.

We don't even have the 930 here in the USA. We have the Icon, but that is a variant only for Verizon.

 

[fatclue_98]

WP needs a low, middle, and high end.

People, please understand that the high end is more than just CPU/GPU. It should have the best camera, the best screen tech, the best sensors, the best communications standards (802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, etc), the best shell material, and all the features of WP (camera button, no software nav buttons), the best battery tech.

And also, as an owner of a 1020, that phone can use a massive CPU boost for the camera. And while most operations are smooth, there are instances of undetected presses, and stutter. Plus though I'm not a phone gamer, many games can use all the CPU/GPU/RAM speed that is available. I truly don't understand folks who think phone CPU technology is good enough. CPU tech is never good enough. They always eat their words in a few years.

Most people don't realize that more computing power, better displays, etc. require more power and more efficient heat dissipation. There is a price to be paid for all this and it comes at the expense of size, materials and price. Always remember, nature's a mother - you don't get something for nothing.

 

[Bobvfr]

Opps put wrong quote in place.

We don't even have the 930 here in the USA. We have the Icon, but that is a variant only for Verizon.

Absolutely right, every one I show my 1520 to is blown away by the integration, speed, camera, swipe typing, I could go on, but most just don't know about it and certainly struggle in phone shops.

Come on MS, you have come so close to having a great system here, but you do have to actually sell it to people.


Bob

 

[Laura Knotek]

Opps put wrong quote in place.



Absolutely right, every one I show my 1520 to is blown away by the integration, speed, camera, swipe typing, I could go on, but most just don't know about it and certainly struggle in phone shops.

Come on MS, you have come so close to having a great system here, but you do have to actually sell it to people.


Bob

Bob, I have AT&T, so I could get the 1520. Unfortunately, it's too big for me. The Icon or 930 would be the perfect size, but AT&T doesn't have either.