Friday August 23, 2024; 11:45 AM EDT
- Price for me is a big factor in deciding what smartphone to buy. I think $1,000 is too much to pay for a phone and $500 is my preferred high end. My preference is to pay less than $500 for a phone and I am willing to go over $500 by $200 if I am getting value in return. These prices are why I have been buying the A-series Pixel phones rather than the standard Pixel series. #
- Given price is a big factor, a correlating factor is trade-in value because that ultimately reduces the purchase price. Right now Google will give me $300 for trade-in of my Pixel 7a, which then brings the total cost of the Pixel 9 to $499 and the Pixel 8 to $399. What this means is if I wanted/needed the latest phone I could guy one within the price targets and I could buy last year's standard Pixel within my preferred pricing. #
- So then, then question becomes, is it worth replacing my one-year old Pixel 7a with either the Pixel 8 or the Pixel 9? The info I see says it's not worth upgrading to the Pixel 8 because all it provides is one generation newer processor and a slightly bigger battery, but worse camera specs. An upgrade to the Pixel 9 givens me much more: two generations newer processor, 4 more GB of RAM, a better ultra-wide camera, and finally support for the most recent Pixel features including AI. The better hardware is black and white, the value of the announced Pixel features and AI is gray at the moment. #
- Consequently, wait-and-see is the best strategy. Based on the trade-in value of the Pixel 6, I expect Google to provide that same $300 trade in value for another year and in that time there could be a price drop on the Pixel 9. Most likely Google will drop prices, or have sales, at Christmas time. I expect Google will stop selling the 7a and should drop the price of the Pixel 8 to at least $599, and Google could drop the price on the Pixel 9 that in combination with trade-in on the 7a results in a more appealing price.#
- What I want to see is whether the new Pixel features that end up not available for the 7a are really desirable. An approach is to wait until Google produces the Pixel 10 and drops the price of the Pixel 9, in other words, buying in on the N-1 Pixel. A factor is going to be whether Google continues the A-series. Rumors are they intend to drop the A-series and I fear the fact that they launched three Pixel 9 phones earlier in the year than normal lines up to that rumor. It would mean no new hardware at Google I/O and a summer release of new phones that are well in the supply chain for the upcoming holiday shopping season.#