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Comment by shubhamjain | Hacker News Reader

It doesn't seem premium Android phones have something spectacular to differentiate. Sure, you can spice up the camera, make the body more glossy, and add a beautiful screen. But the software is just another commodity that would be available for 1/3rd the price. That's why Google Pixel would always feel exorbitant even when the price is almost close to Apple iPhone. Seeing Essential's price tag, I have the same visceral feeling: "$750 for an Android Phone...? What?".

Here's where Apple eats the larger pie: the exclusivity of its experience that can only came at a price. In the past, the naive me used to think why Apple doesn't try to dent Microsoft's 95% desktop market with its excellent OS. Now I understand why that'd never happen: you can't be premium in people's eyes unless you create a brand of exclusiveness.

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> It doesn't seem premium Android phones have something spectacular to differentiate. Sure, you can spice up the camera, make the body more glossy, and add a beautiful screen.

... you so realize that your hot take is the minority opinion, right? The vast majority of customers consistently choose phones based on hardware features.

> But the software is just another commodity that would be available for 1/3rd the price. That's why Google Pixel would always feel exorbitant even when the price is almost close to Apple iPhone.

Google's phones always launch with the cutting edge version of Android and receives consistent updates. Isn't that the experience exclusivity you're clamoring for?

To add to that: Samsung high-end phones cost as much as iphones these days (if not more in some countries) and they seem to be doing great.

Also, what the hell does "the exclusivity of its experience that can only came at a price" mean? What is the cost of manufacturing the latest iphone? Or do you mean it feels exclusive because I paid a lot??

The vast majority of customers consistently choose phones based on price, not hardware features...

I've come to the conclusion that neither I, nor the majority of HN, have any clue what sorts of consumer electronics will actually succeed.

I was annoyed when Google killed the Nexus line and replaced them with Pixels and hoped it would fail so that we would get the Nexus line back, but they've been unable to keep up with demand.

Similarly this page spends a lot of time talking about cameras, which I have zero interest in, but seems to be important to a lot of people, yet everyone on HN is talking about everything but the camera stuff.

> I was annoyed when Google killed the Nexus line and replaced them with Pixels and hoped it would fail so that we would get the Nexus line back, but they've been unable to keep up with demand.

In what way is it meaningful that Google calls it a Pixel instead of a Nexus?

None, but they also approximately doubled the price. I suppose Nexus may also have a sort nostalgic glow around it, too, as developer's device - I have had an N1, N4, N5 and now an N6P.

> they also approximately doubled the price

I paid $699 for a 64GB Nexus 6. The Pixel XL with 128 GB is $869. I don't know what they were charging for the 6P but based on the 6, they definitely didn't double it, though clearly the price did increase.

I paid $349 for my Nexus 5, $399 for my Nexus 5X; the cheapest price for the Pixel is $649. It's not double the price, but it's a 60-85%+ increase at the bottom end depending where you count from. I felt like $399 for the 5X was the wrong direction already.

> but they've been unable to keep up with demand

They sold out early and had long periods where no stock was available. This seems to point to a supply side issue, not a demand side problem

I just want a phone that:

- Lasts a full day

- Looks nice

That's all.

Currently I can buy various 8mm phones with various bad-to-OK cases.

Give me a beautiful 16mm phone and software updates and I'll give you my 700 bucks.

You can buy an external case for the iPhone which fits this description, e.g. at http://mophie.com (I have no relation to that site).

I'd be happy to sell you one for 700 bucks. Looks like an easy way to make a few hundred dollar profit :)

Yes. I own two. Hence:

> Currently I can buy various 8mm phones with various bad-to-OK cases.

In the post you're replying to.

It wasn't clear from your post that you meant /battery/ cases.

What's the problem with the cases on the market that make them unacceptable? I haven't tried the one I linked to but it looks good, seems to be well designed, and is around the total thickness you're aiming fora

> - Lasts a full day

Many phones do this. Both my iPhone 6 and my iPhone 6s do this and more (usually two days). The issue here is that your use case is likely different than mine. It isn't enough to just say, "full day" without specifying full day doing what.

12 hours with the screen and WiFi or 3g always on. That would be amazing, and it doesn't sound that unachievable. I don't need ultraquadHD resolutions, even 720p is enough.

Have a look at this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14448309

Full day using the phone frequently. Honestly specifying the activity isn't necessary, just double the damn battery.

Here you go: Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom ZE553KL [0]

Some specs [1]:

Dimensions: 154.3 x 77 x 8 mm (6.07 x 3.03 x 0.31 in)

Weight: 170 g (6.00 oz)

Battery: 5000mAh

Size: 5.5 inches (~70.2% screen-to-body ratio)

Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density)

Price: Starting at $329USD [2]

I don't own the phone, but came across it the other day and was surprised by the large battery size.

[0]: https://www.asus.com/us/Phone/ZenFone-3-Zoom-ZE553KL/

[1]: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_3_zoom_ze553kl-8509.php

[2]: https://www.amazon.com/ZenFone-storage-Unlocked-Warranty-ZE5...

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