The Tech Shift: Cheaper Alternatives to Branded Technology
The last decade has seen a massive growth in the phone industry, and it’s evident that this growth is not going to stop. In fact, one can even argue that since major hardware developers are making the move the phone chipset creation, our little hand held devices will only grow smarter. However, is that good thing for the average consumer or does that mean things are looking to get more expensive in the future? Truthfully, it’s more of the latter because as cellphones grow more powerful, so does the sway of cellular service holders and contractual service costs. That doesn’t mean you have to disconnect from the world of tech though; it just means you have to find a different set of gadgets. Here are some of the alternatives to pricey smartphones that will surely be lighter on your budget.
Phones of another Brand
While it may seem like a bad idea to buy an unbranded phone, the truth of the matter is that it’s a cheaper alternative to buying what is essentially the same phone. Take for example the rise of the Chinese smartphone market. Companies like Huawei and Oppo are providing super powered phones for a fraction of the price. The Ascend G7 is a great little machine that offers a lot of power in a small frame. It can even match some of the mid to high tier phones Samsung churns out almost constantly. What matters here is that you know your options before you start buying into the big brands because they are often unlocked and are compatible with almost any cell service provider without the hefty plan.
The Tablet Shift
While many people seem to favor phones, it’s fairly obvious that tablets are slowly becoming the in-thing. Phablets may seem nice, but the impractical sizes of these phones make it easier to own their bigger brothers. At the same time, they can be cheaper because you don’t have to maintain a pricey data plan. Tablets also maintain almost the same power and better resolutions than their little brother. All you’ll need to do is to sacrifice that smart phone for a simpler model.
Turning to Open Source Phone Operating Systems
Another problem about branded phones are the branded operating systems they often run. Apple may be top tier when it comes to overcall cohesion, but the costs of apps can be very high. At the same time, Google isn’t immune to this problem. The Play Store may have a lot of free programs available on it, but with high quality comes a subscription or a price tag. On the other hand, Ubuntu is making yet another free system that is to launch on mobile devices. Jolla Sailfish is another alternative which is coming out some time next year.
There are a number of different ways through which you can save a ton of money just by making the switch to another type of smart phone or a free operating system. At the end of the day, it may be prudent to wait just a bit longer because soon, you’ll find yourself with a lot more than just three choices in the smartphone arena.
Photo Attribution:
Featured and 1st image by patrisyu / freedigitalphotos.net
2nd image by adamr / freedigitalphotos.net
3rd image by SweetCrisis / freedigitalphotos.net
