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iPhone or a non-Apple smartphone?

If you really want an iPhone but can't afford it, just get an older one. I know people who still use a 5s and it works perfectly.
 
I have the cheapest phone in my family.

Redmi Note 3.

I love it.

But camera sucks. :(

Photos and videos create memories that last a lifetime and a budget phone gives a crappy/so-so experience reg that which is why I am thinking of buying a mid tier or high end phone.

Moreover, if you are going to buy a phone every year, it would cost the same as iPhone or Samsung (high end) over a 5 year period.

Tho, I must say my Redmi is working well for 3 years now (just have to change battery every 1.5 years).

Get a standalone P&S camera to make up for the deficit. It should ideally be priced higher than the phone, and last much longer.
 
Why do people want the more complicated phones? I don't get it!
 
I am looking for a new mobile with the usual facilities like Whats app, Skype and Camera. It is not really my subject so struggling to decide which one I should purchase. I don't really know the difference between a I or Smart phone, someone explain!!:rabada2 Any advice would be appreciated.
if you are not a fan of "unique things" , go for andorid phones rather than iphone
 
Tech experts.

Looking to buy a new phone, probably near the Christmas or Black Friday period.

Currently own a apple phone and willing to try out android.

Can anyone recommend 3 top tier mobile phones with good camera etc?
 
Tech experts.

Looking to buy a new phone, probably near the Christmas or Black Friday period.

Currently own a apple phone and willing to try out android.

Can anyone recommend 3 top tier mobile phones with good camera etc?

Google Pixel 4 just came out a few days ago. Pixels by far have the BEST camera out there compared to any other smartphone; including iPhones. It takes such good pictures, thanks to Google's amazing god tier software. What sucks about it however is that Google does not know how to properly do hardware. It has a massive forehead and the design isn't for everyone, but if you like it, then more power to you.

The Pixel 4 also has a 90 hz display and they put in a 2800 mAH battery in the non XL variant. For goodness' sake. You should probably expect that phone to only last 2 hours on a full charging. Only buy the XL variant if you do since it has a bigger battery (3700 mAH) and the charging should last much longer.

I have the Samsung Galaxy S10 right now. While Samsung knows how to do the hardware, their software sucks big time. It has an inferior camera compared to the iPhone 11 and Pixel 4, and apps like Instagram and Snapchat generally suck on this phone. I will be switching over to the Pixel 4 in a few weeks. I think you should go through MKBHD's channel on YouTube in order to get a better idea of what you want. He's a quality tech reviewer and knows what he's talking about.

 
Tech experts.

Looking to buy a new phone, probably near the Christmas or Black Friday period.

Currently own a apple phone and willing to try out android.

Can anyone recommend 3 top tier mobile phones with good camera etc?

Since I forgot to recommend the top 3 in the last post:

1. Google Pixel 4 XL
2. OnePlus 7 Pro
3. Samsung Galaxy S10+
 
[MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION]

Thank you for the detailed post; very helpful. I will most certainly check out the channel.

What about Huawei P30 Pro?

I’ve been a user of Apple Iphones for almost a decade. Love it but just feel like I need a change. Android seem to offer better Apps as well; ie apps that allow you to watch free streaming sports/international channels etc.
 
[MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION]

Thank you for the detailed post; very helpful. I will most certainly check out the channel.

What about Huawei P30 Pro?

I’ve been a user of Apple Iphones for almost a decade. Love it but just feel like I need a change. Android seem to offer better Apps as well; ie apps that allow you to watch free streaming sports/international channels etc.

I don't know much about it, sorry. Have never looked in to Huawei products.
 
[MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION]

Thank you for the detailed post; very helpful. I will most certainly check out the channel.

What about Huawei P30 Pro?

I’ve been a user of Apple Iphones for almost a decade. Love it but just feel like I need a change. Android seem to offer better Apps as well; ie apps that allow you to watch free streaming sports/international channels etc.

huawei p30 pro is overpriced. If you can get, then go for xiamoi redmi k20 pro or one plus 7 pro.
 
I will finally switch over to an iPhone when they get rid of the notch. I've been itching to have the iOS experience since I've gotten bored of using Android, but that notch is a massive turn off. It looks disgusting.
 
I will finally switch over to an iPhone when they get rid of the notch. I've been itching to have the iOS experience since I've gotten bored of using Android, but that notch is a massive turn off. It looks disgusting.

Trust me, you’ll get used to it before you even realize it.
 
Trust me, you’ll get used to it before you even realize it.

i think it depends upon the person.

To people who wants more control of the owned device will like android.

To people who just wants it to ....just.... work, they will like iPhone.

I tried iphone from 4 to X. Felt like i have to live under a restrictive environment. On the other hand, I have models in android which will cover gurantee even when bootloader is unlocked by the user.
 
huawei p30 pro is overpriced. If you can get, then go for xiamoi redmi k20 pro or one plus 7 pro.

So what would be your list of top tier mobile phones that give you the gadget vibe ie (good camera, offers variety of apps to watch movies/channels streaming etc)

Please free to include any phones that are to be released as well.
 
So what would be your list of top tier mobile phones that give you the gadget vibe ie (good camera, offers variety of apps to watch movies/channels streaming etc)

Please free to include any phones that are to be released as well.

the list will be a huge one. especially in indian market, there's too many budget mobile phones ($300 or less) which could give you an exceptional performance.

  • one plus 7 pro
  • lenovo z6 pro
  • k20 pro
  • poco f1
  • samsung a50
  • realme 5 pro
  • vivo z1 pro
  • redmi note 7 pro
  • redmi 8 pro

the issue here is, the mobile market in india is very competitve and hence, its price is very low. Otherwise, what sells in india in $300, to find an equaivalent phone, you will have to pay around $500 atleast elsewhere.
 
[MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION]

Thank you for the detailed post; very helpful. I will most certainly check out the channel.

What about Huawei P30 Pro?

I’ve been a user of Apple Iphones for almost a decade. Love it but just feel like I need a change. Android seem to offer better Apps as well; ie apps that allow you to watch free streaming sports/international channels etc.

I read some stuff on tech radar regarding Huawei models not being supported by google/android so do research around that before you buy the model itself, it seems to be rated quite highly; am looking for a phone myself, maybe there will be some decent deals around the black friday period
 
the list will be a huge one. especially in indian market, there's too many budget mobile phones ($300 or less) which could give you an exceptional performance.

  • one plus 7 pro
  • lenovo z6 pro
  • k20 pro
  • poco f1
  • samsung a50
  • realme 5 pro
  • vivo z1 pro
  • redmi note 7 pro
  • redmi 8 pro

the issue here is, the mobile market in india is very competitve and hence, its price is very low. Otherwise, what sells in india in $300, to find an equaivalent phone, you will have to pay around $500 atleast elsewhere.

Thanks Mate.

I live in the UK so we get good deals usually around the Dec-Jan period so perfect time for me to research the list you have kindly provided.

I read some stuff on tech radar regarding Huawei models not being supported by google/android so do research around that before you buy the model itself, it seems to be rated quite highly; am looking for a phone myself, maybe there will be some decent deals around the black friday period

Will definitely look into this bro.

There will definitely be good deals around that period. Ideal time to do research.

Are u moving from IOS to Android as well? Hopefully I won’t regret the change lol. I just find the latest iphone so restrictive.
 
Thanks Mate.

I live in the UK so we get good deals usually around the Dec-Jan period so perfect time for me to research the list you have kindly provided.



Will definitely look into this bro.

There will definitely be good deals around that period. Ideal time to do research.

Are u moving from IOS to Android as well? Hopefully I won’t regret the change lol. I just find the latest iphone so restrictive.

I've been on android predominately but haven't been the sort of bloke to spend loads, have considered IOS but it just doesn't appeal to me plus Apple products don't have that wow factor for me either anymore to tempt me. This time however am targeting any phone in the top 10 right now, leaning towards the s10+, it will be a big change for someone who has always been able to text etc with one hand, that does put me off a bit, just carrying a big lug every where.
 
Thanks Mate.

I live in the UK so we get good deals usually around the Dec-Jan period so perfect time for me to research the list you have kindly provided.



Will definitely look into this bro.

There will definitely be good deals around that period. Ideal time to do research.

Are u moving from IOS to Android as well? Hopefully I won’t regret the change lol. I just find the latest iphone so restrictive.

Huawei had a dispute with US. US banned Huawei. Hence, though Huawei can use Android (which is opensource) but it can't use playstore and other such apps. That's why Huawei had to come up with another OS with another set of equivalent softwares. Though, they claimed it was almost finished, end products is yet to be revealed now.

The biggest set back in case of Huawei is, It will never allow you to unlock your bootlader. Hence, if you are an android enthusiast, this does serve nothing because you won't be able to customize the phone as per your liking. you will be restricted to emiui just like you do in case of iphones.
 
Huawei had a dispute with US. US banned Huawei. Hence, though Huawei can use Android (which is opensource) but it can't use playstore and other such apps. That's why Huawei had to come up with another OS with another set of equivalent softwares. Though, they claimed it was almost finished, end products is yet to be revealed now.

The biggest set back in case of Huawei is, It will never allow you to unlock your bootlader. Hence, if you are an android enthusiast, this does serve nothing because you won't be able to customize the phone as per your liking. you will be restricted to emiui just like you do in case of iphones.

You are speaking from an advanced user's POV. The vast majority of Android users won't be bothered about the bootloader.
 
You are speaking from an advanced user's POV. The vast majority of Android users won't be bothered about the bootloader.

That is the biggest drawback on the Huwaei model, if they can't use playstore how will they download the android apps?
 
Question for the fellas into this tech, what is the best smartphone right now android or IOS which is no greater then 5 inches ?

I was just looking at the iPhone 8, very compact although haven't used IOS in many many many moons; predominately have used budget android phones
 
That is the biggest drawback on the Huwaei model, if they can't use playstore how will they download the android apps?

I was referring to the bootloader.

The Google issue is indeed a problem, but it's restricted to the new releases like the Mate 30 Pro. On the P30 Pro, there shouldn't be any issue with Google services.

Edit: Forgot to mention there are workarounds to getting the Play Store etc., even on devices like the Mate 30 Pro.
 
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I was referring to the bootloader.

The Google issue is indeed a problem, but it's restricted to the new releases like the Mate 30 Pro. On the P30 Pro, there shouldn't be any issue with Google services.

Edit: Forgot to mention there are workarounds to getting the Play Store etc., even on devices like the Mate 30 Pro.

True but when it comes to the android updates and continued support a ? remains when it comes to the current phones on the market to beyond the new releases
 
the list will be a huge one. especially in indian market, there's too many budget mobile phones ($300 or less) which could give you an exceptional performance.

  • one plus 7 pro
  • lenovo z6 pro
  • k20 pro
  • poco f1
  • samsung a50
  • realme 5 pro
  • vivo z1 pro
  • redmi note 7 pro
  • redmi 8 pro

the issue here is, the mobile market in india is very competitve and hence, its price is very low. Otherwise, what sells in india in $300, to find an equaivalent phone, you will have to pay around $500 atleast elsewhere.

He asked for top tier phones. None of the phones you listed are premium by any means except OnePlus 7 Pro maybe, what's the point in suggesting him budget options made by Chinese companies?
 
An Iphone user switching to Android will be too big of an intellectual leap.
 
Stock Android is overrated. I have used Google Pixel lineup and it lags like crazy.

After using most flagship Androids and Apple phones, I have come to following conclusion -

Best still image front selfie camera without any contest whatsoever - Google Pixel lineup
Best rear view still image Camera, including night mode - Pixel and iPhone 11 tied
Best video camera, both front and rear - iPhone, no contest whatsoever
Best adoption of Wide angle rear camera - Samsung S10, Note 10
Best zoom, sharpness and detail - Huawei Mate 20 Pro

Best 'feature rich' software - Samsung hands down, followed by Huawei
Best battery life right now - iPhone 11 Pro series
Best Heptic feedback, speakers, build quality, fingerprint resistance on back, only IP68 in market - iPhone Pro
Premium yet ultra light (for those with carpel tunnel syndrome) - Samsung S10, Note 10
Best screen for outdoor brightness - iPhone 11 Pro

I would recommended iPhone 11, non pro. It'a a great deal at just USD 699. I don't know what Google was thinking, selling such mediocre specs at 1000+ USD. For someone who is content with one of top 5 camera, but not THE best then Samsung Note 10 Plus is straightforward answer in terms of sheer features and productivity it offers.
 
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[MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION]

Thank you for the detailed post; very helpful. I will most certainly check out the channel.

What about Huawei P30 Pro?

I’ve been a user of Apple Iphones for almost a decade. Love it but just feel like I need a change. Android seem to offer better Apps as well; ie apps that allow you to watch free streaming sports/international channels etc.

I have a P30 Pro, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone. Really snappy performance, great design, amazing camera (probably the best smartphone camera you can get now), battery lasts me two days without charging, it's got everything. Much better than iPhone at almost half the price.
 
I read some stuff on tech radar regarding Huawei models not being supported by google/android so do research around that before you buy the model itself, it seems to be rated quite highly; am looking for a phone myself, maybe there will be some decent deals around the black friday period

P30 Pro supports Android and Google services since it was released before Huawei was put on the blacklist. The new Mate 30 has Android, but no Google services. Unfortunate, as it's otherwise probably the best phone you can get.
 
He asked for top tier phones. None of the phones you listed are premium by any means except OnePlus 7 Pro maybe, what's the point in suggesting him budget options made by Chinese companies?

One plus 7 pro, z6 pro and k20 pro all features snapdragon 855.

Poco f1 features snapdragon 845.

The rest comes with either 710 or 712 which are slightly a notch below 845.

High price doesn't mean phones will be much of a difference. That logic may be applicable to iPhone but Android market is different.

Moreover, Theo wrote his requirements. Every one these models are more than enough to meet those needs.
 
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Note 10 plus
S 10 plus
Huawei mate 30 pro
Pixel 4 xl
One plus 7 pro
Asus zenfone 6.
 
Samsung, LG Phones Vulnerable Due to Leaked Certificates

Google's Android Partner Vulnerability Initiative, in a major security leak admission, has disclosed a new key vulnerability that has affected Android smartphones from major brands such as Samsung and LG, among others. Due to the leaking of the signing keys used by Android OEMs, imposter apps or malware could disguise themselves as "trusted" apps. The issue was earlier reported in May this year, following which several companies including Samsung took actions to control the vulnerability.

The security flaw was brought to light by Google employee Łukasz Siewierski (via Esper's Mishaal Rahman). Sirwierski, through his tweets, revealed how the platform certificates have been used to sign malware apps on Android.

At the heart of the issue lies an Android platform key trusting mechanism vulnerability that could be exploited by malicious attackers. By design, Android trusts any application that uses a legitimate platform signing key, which is used to sign core system applications, through Android's shared user ID system.

However, the Android original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have had their platform signing keys leaked, allowing malware creators to gain system-level permissions on a target device. This would make all user data on the particular device available to the attacker, just like another system app from the manufacturer signed with the same certificate.

Another alarming part about the vulnerability is that it doesn't necessarily require a user to install a new or an "unknown" application. The leaked platform keys could also be used to sign common trusted apps such as Bixby app on a Samsung device. A user who downloaded such an application from a third-party website would not see a warning when installing it on their smartphone, as the certificate would match the one on their system.

Google, however, has not explicitly mentioned the list of devices or OEMs that have so far been affected by the critical vulnerability in its public disclosure. Nevertheless, the disclosure includes a list of sample malware files. The platform has since reportedly confirmed the list of affected smartphones, which include devices from Samsung, LG, Mediatek, Xiaomi and Revoview.

The search giant has also suggested ways for the affected companies to mitigate the issue at hand. The first step involves churning out Android platform signing keys that have been flagged to have been leaked and replacing them with new signing keys. The company has also urged all Android manufactures to drastically minimise the frequent use of platform key for an app to sign other apps.

According to Google, the issue was first reported in May. Since then, Samsung and all other affected companies have already taken remedial actions to mitigate and minimise the vulnerabilities that were at hand. However, according to Android Police, some of the vulnerable keys that were listed in the disclosure were recently used for apps for Samsung and LG phones uploaded to APK Mirror.

"OEM partners promptly implemented mitigation measures as soon as we reported the key compromise. End users will be protected by user mitigations implemented by OEM partners," Google said in a statement to BleepingComputer.

Users on Android are advised to update their firmware versions to the latest available updates in order to remain protected from potential security flaws such as the one disclosed by Google, and to be vigilant while downloading apps from third-party sources.

https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/...ficate-leak-vulnerability-apvi-breach-3573087
 
Apple is getting better and better at creating a much more stabler product with even more innovation and making their own chips.

Apple with AR changes(glasses) coming in next year will take the market share(top models) even more due to compatibility.
 
Apple is getting better and better at creating a much more stabler product with even more innovation and making their own chips.

Apple with AR changes(glasses) coming in next year will take the market share(top models) even more due to compatibility.

Since I got my first Iphone 3 back in 2009 I think, I have't even looked at other options. Not saying other mobiles are not good, but I have been very happy with apple.
 
Since I got my first Iphone 3 back in 2009 I think, I have't even looked at other options. Not saying other mobiles are not good, but I have been very happy with apple.

I used to be anti-apple until I got one in 2018 and now even I can't see beyond it. It also helps that i have apple car play and Mac too now so I don't see why I would leave the ecosystem if anything compatibility is more important now.
 
I cant stand a non-apple phone. Just cant. My employer has given me a Samsung phone for work and it feels like mental torture whenever I need to use it.
 
Just ordered iPhone 15 Pro for my wife as a birthday gift. I myself very happy with my iphone 13, will consider Iphone 16 if it comes out next year.
 
A true Iphone user who never rush to get the latest one without any reason to upgrade :D
Absolutely! I just received my 5th iOS update few days ago, which I believe will be the last one for my phone. My battery is at 81%. And trust me, it's just as fluid and smooth as it was when I unboxed it.
 
Smartphone technology has peaked and iPhone is the one clear winner. It’s simple, reliable, timeless.

The truth is that the Android gets the leftover market which gets further divided into these 10a of companies with various series of Phones. So there’re like literally 100 androids competing with an iPhone. iPhone just stands out.

People keep whinging about Androids features. Android may fold, or dance, sing, do jump ropes one day. All these gimmicks that no me cares about.
 
A true Iphone user who never rush to get the latest one without any reason to upgrade :D
I agree with that. At work we are allowed to change the phone after 2-3 years so I take the advantage of that, otherwise I would have never changed so frequently myself. And after those couple of years we can by out the phone with a symbolic amount, around £40.
 
I agree with that. At work we are allowed to change the phone after 2-3 years so I take the advantage of that, otherwise I would have never changed so frequently myself. And after those couple of years we can by out the phone with a symbolic amount, around £40.
and now these days upgrading a phone has become a necessity for many as it has turned into a symbol of prestige for many and spending over a thousand of dollars just to upgrade in a year doesn't bother them.
 
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I think android phones tend to feel old and lose their charm faster than iPhones. I recently switched from android to iOS, Many cool quality of life features that make iphone so nice to use like battery life has been amazing so far. Extremely fast, smooth, clear, camera is jaw dropping, apps are function much better.
 
Apple now has the lion's share of the global smartphone market, knocking Samsung off the top spot for the first time in 12 years.

The American phone giant accounted for more than a fifth of phones shipped last year, according to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC).
Samsung took 19.4% of the market share with Chinese phonemakers Xiaomi, OPPO and Transsion following behind.
Smartphone sales have been faltering as many people upgraded in the pandemic.
The IDC reports that almost 1.2 billion smartphones were sold last year - a drop of more than 3% on the previous year. It is the lowest amount sold in a decade, with many consumers tightening their purse strings in the face of economic challenges and high interest rates. Experts predict the market will recover this year.

Apple's rise​

Still, the IDC said Apple - which sold more than 234 million phones last year - is "the biggest winner".

"Not only is Apple the only player in the Top 3 to show positive growth annually, but also bags the number 1 spot annually for the first time ever," said the IDC's Nabila Popal.
"All this despite facing increased regulatory challenges and renewed competition from Huawei in China, its largest market."
Huawei has recently made strides in making its own chips, after being banned from buying chips that were made using US technology over claims the company poses a national security risk to Washington.
Offers to trade in old models as well as interest-free financing plans are also driving demand for premium devices like Apple.

Samsung slump​

It's disappointing news for Samsung which - until now - had the top spot as the world's largest maker of memory chips, smartphones and televisions.
Recently, the South Korean electronics giant warned its profits would drop more than expected as global demand for consumer electronics remains weak.

It is also facing competition from cheaper Android models including Transsion and Xiaomi which are getting a boost from both price-savvy consumers and emerging markets.
The IDC also said the smartphone market is entering a "very interesting time", with a growing number of Android-providers splintering the market and customers increasingly prioritising foldable phones and AI capabilities.

Source : BBC
 
Apple now has the lion's share of the global smartphone market, knocking Samsung off the top spot for the first time in 12 years.

The American phone giant accounted for more than a fifth of phones shipped last year, according to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC).
Samsung took 19.4% of the market share with Chinese phonemakers Xiaomi, OPPO and Transsion following behind.
Smartphone sales have been faltering as many people upgraded in the pandemic.
The IDC reports that almost 1.2 billion smartphones were sold last year - a drop of more than 3% on the previous year. It is the lowest amount sold in a decade, with many consumers tightening their purse strings in the face of economic challenges and high interest rates. Experts predict the market will recover this year.

Apple's rise​

Still, the IDC said Apple - which sold more than 234 million phones last year - is "the biggest winner".

"Not only is Apple the only player in the Top 3 to show positive growth annually, but also bags the number 1 spot annually for the first time ever," said the IDC's Nabila Popal.
"All this despite facing increased regulatory challenges and renewed competition from Huawei in China, its largest market."
Huawei has recently made strides in making its own chips, after being banned from buying chips that were made using US technology over claims the company poses a national security risk to Washington.
Offers to trade in old models as well as interest-free financing plans are also driving demand for premium devices like Apple.

Samsung slump​

It's disappointing news for Samsung which - until now - had the top spot as the world's largest maker of memory chips, smartphones and televisions.
Recently, the South Korean electronics giant warned its profits would drop more than expected as global demand for consumer electronics remains weak.

It is also facing competition from cheaper Android models including Transsion and Xiaomi which are getting a boost from both price-savvy consumers and emerging markets.
The IDC also said the smartphone market is entering a "very interesting time", with a growing number of Android-providers splintering the market and customers increasingly prioritising foldable phones and AI capabilities.

Source : BBC
Yet we keep hearing about downfall, I have realised Americans try to downplay their corporation might.
in 2008 America had nothing fancy tech wise up in the line and after the crash Apple, Google, Meta , Nvidea ,Tesla Amazon, have become effin huge.

All the cloud services are basically offered by majorly American companies, open Ai also American.

Except Apple big tech giants can be very problematic even for American startups.
 
Well its only about the adaptability of the interface. Personally i believe Android phones are easy to access and provide a user-friendly interface but at the oher end Apple is quite difficult to use.
 
Well its only about the adaptability of the interface. Personally i believe Android phones are easy to access and provide a user-friendly interface but at the oher end Apple is quite difficult to use.
apple... difficult to use...

of all the weird thing I have read on the net, this one takes the cake.
 
I am looking for a new mobile with the usual facilities like Whats app, Skype and Camera. It is not really my subject so struggling to decide which one I should purchase. I don't really know the difference between a I or Smart phone, someone explain!!:rabada2 Any advice would be appreciated.
I phone any day…. If u started using iPhone then u will not turned back to android phones

Purchased iPhone in 2016 before it I was used android phones of Samsung, one plus one, redmi… faced slow and hanging phone problems
 
Security-wise, apple prevails but if you talk about an easy-to-use platform then android wins the race any day.
 
Apple to allow rival app stores on iPhones in EU

Apple will allow alternative app stores to be used on its devices purchased in the EU from March.

Currently, anyone with an iPhone can only download apps from the firm's own App Store.

Apple has always maintained that its rules protect users' security.

But it has been accused of creating a monopoly, giving customers and developers no choice but to go through its own channels, and charging developers up to 30% commission.

It has meant that developers who either fail to meet Apple's standards for being on the App Store, or do not wish to pay its fees, are excluded from the millions of people who use Apple gadgets.

The changes will not apply in the UK at this stage - although the UK's Digital Markets Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, is likely to put Apple's practices under similar regulatory scrutiny.



 
The age old question! (or question that has been going around since 2010 or so)

Apple will give you security, in terms of support, harmony between hardware and software, service, etc. But its hell of a frustrating experience for tinkerers. If you like flexibility and want to use things your way and like to tinker, Apple stuff is not for you. I am an iPhone user but I hate the fact its so locked down. I got frustrated to a point a few years ago and decided to get a samsung phone. I used it for almost a year and it was not a polished product and I broke it quite often thanks to me messing around with different things on it. The hardware was also not as polished and refined and while I admit it has gotten a lot better over the years, I do not think I will give it another go. I do want an android tablet though just to play around with the operating system.
 

EU investigates Apple, Meta and Google owner Alphabet under new tech law​


Apple, Google’s parent company and Meta are being investigated by the EU for potential breaches of the bloc’s new laws designed to police anti-competitive behavior by big technology companies.

The trio face significant fines if they are found guilty of breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark piece of regulation that came into force on March 7 and is aimed at increasing choice for online consumers.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, said it was looking at potential breaches related to: Apple and Google’s measures allowing app developers to “steer” users to offers outside their app stores; whether Alphabet, Google’s owner, favors its own services such as Google shopping in search results on its search engine; Meta’s decision to charge users for an ad-free experience on Facebook and Instagram and whether it complies with DMA provisions on users’ personal data; and whether Apple is making it easy for users to pick alternative browsers on their phones.

“The commission suspects that the measures put in place by these gatekeepers fall short of effective compliance of their obligations under the DMA,” said the commission.

The law requires the six tech “gatekeepers” – Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft and the TikTok owner ByteDance, which provide services such as search engines, social networks and chat apps used by other businesses – to comply with guidance to ensure a level playing field for their rivals and to give users more choices.

Thierry Breton, the commissioner for the internal market, said the companies faced the threat of “heavy fines” if they were found to have breached the act.

“The Digital Markets Act became applicable on March 7,” he said. “We have been in discussions with gatekeepers for months to help them adapt, and we can already see changes happening on the market. But we are not convinced that the solutions by Alphabet, Apple and Meta respect their obligations for a fairer and more open digital space for European citizens and businesses.”

The competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, said the companies had plenty of time to comply with the act, adding that the commission had worked with them to ensure they were compliant.

“I definitely do not think this is rushed,” Vestager told reporters. She said the point of the new laws was “not to have cases” but to give consumers choices to which they were entitled under competition laws.

“The sooner we have changes, the sooner consumers can have the benefit of having the DMA,” she said. She said the EU had put in place “strong deterrents” to encourage tech companies to take their obligations seriously with hefty fines for those that failed to meet the standards required.

Non-compliance with the DMA can result in fines of up to 10% of turnover, rising to 20% of repeated infringements. Annual revenue at Apple last year was $383bn, while at Alphabet it was $307bn and at Meta $134bn.

The commission is also taking steps to investigate Apple’s new fee structure for alternative app stores and Amazon’s ranking practices on its marketplace. The EU executive aims to wrap up the investigations within a year, the timeframe set out under the DMA.

Anne Witt, a professor of antitrust law at EDHEC business school in France, said the commission had moved quickly to enforce the act. “The commission certainly hasn’t wasted any time opening these investigations, considering that the DMA’s conduct rules only started applying to gatekeepers in early March. It is a big test for the DMA,” she said.

Max von Thun, the Europe director of the Open Markets Institute, which researches the impact of corporate monopolies, said the commission should also be ready to use non-financial punishments allowed under the act, such as forcing the sale of parts of a business.

“The commission should not hesitate to impose significant fines on the gatekeepers and make use of other powerful sanctions provided for by the DMA, including structural separation and bans on acquisitions, where this is necessary in getting the gatekeepers to play ball,” he said.

A Meta spokesperson said it believed charging for ad-free versions of its platforms complied with the act. “We designed ‘subscription for no ads’ to address several overlapping regulatory obligations, including the DMA,” they said.

Google, which said it had made significant changes to its services, said it would defend its approach in the coming months. Apple said it was confident its plan complied with the DMA.

 
Is it a good time to buy a flagship smartphone or would you rather wait a bit given all the AI features that are being talked about a lot these days and might make a big presence in upcoming generations of iPhones , Samsung Galaxy Ultra.
 
Apple may raise iPhone prices, reports WSJ

Apple is weighing price hikes for its upcoming fall iPhone lineup but is keen to avoid linking any increases to US tariffs on imports from China, where most of its devices are assembled, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.


The technology giant's shares were up 7% in premarket trading, tracking gains in the wider market after Washington and Beijing agreed to temporarily slash the reciprocal tariffs on Monday. But Chinese imports will still be subject to a 30% levy in the US.

Apple is among the most prominent firms caught in US -China trade tensions, which intensified in recent months after a series of tariffs initiated by President Donald Trump.

The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the WSJ report, which cited people familiar with the matter.

Raising prices could help Apple cushion higher costs stemming from the tariffs that have hampered global supply chains and forced the company to shift more production to India.


 
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