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mmh0000

If true. And I put a big if on that.

I WILL be buying their flagship model.

My go to for Graphene has been used Pixels from eBay. Because I can’t give money to Google in good conscience.

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Doesn't buying a used pixel encourage the sale of new pixels by demonstrating a healthy resale value?

I don't think the market of people buying used phones for the purpose of graphene is going to make a dent in profits for Google. It raises resale value maybe by say, $0, considering the price is set by the average consumer

Well then buying them directly from Google would have no effect either.

Except that Google would then get the profits

It's not about Google, it's about OP's personal values

But if you think buying on the secondhand market doesn't impact the market, why do you think buying from the OEM does?

It's one phone's worth of demand either way.

Nobody is buying pixels specifically to resells them. If anything there fast reduction in value makes them less attractive.

First hand = money goes directly to Google including margin

Second hand = money only goes towards a private person, 0$ for google. At best it prevents usable phones being thrown into landfill.

> If anything there fast reduction in value makes them less attractive.

Right. And if you buy a secondhand one you are increasing their value on the secondhand market. Reducing the depreciation increases the value of the brand new phone.

That was addressed further up: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47243976

No it wasn't. That's the exact point I'm refuting.

If you don't think voting with your wallet works, then that is a position you can take. But you can't think it works when buying from the OEM but doesn't work when buying on the secondary market.

Sure you can, because you're talking about different inputs in your supply and demand scenario. You're also talking about different opportunity costs for the OEM, different incentives, and different outcomes. You're also assuming the person selling their Pixel is buying another Pixel, and not switching to a device made by a different OEM.

And ultimately, if buying it on the secondary market in such small numbers that it doesn't move the market, then it adequately addresses the concern.

Edit: I'm not saying there's zero effect of it, but it's likely statistically insignificant.

that depends what you consider a healthy resale value, I bought my Pixel 6a with no issues for 100EUR :-) (and not because I care about Google's business, I don't have gapps in my phone, I just like good deals/VFM)

I never considered resale value when buying a phone. Is that really something people look for?

I often hear resale talk from iPhone buyers.

How much of that is self-justification for convincing themselves to buy something expensive?

Yes, because everyone is a perfectly rational agent in the economy.

Didn't know more people are doing this. I am also using a used Pixel 4a which I got from eBay. Still has good battery. I don't see any reason to upgrade any time soon.

Security patches.

and support for hw memory tagging :p

Imagine downvoting “security patches” on Hacker News.

imo the RAM bloat/overly aggressive OS. on a similar aged device without zswap I couldn't run more than one maybe two things without the OS killing everything in the background. I think it was better before I got stuck updating to 15

Speaking of battery, veeeeery soon phones will have mandated replaceable batteries in the EU. I'm just hoping my current moto (a $99 job perfectly adequate for absolutely everything I do) survives until then.

Aside: I've noticed over the years that phones die in one of the following ways: - too fast charging (battery dies, charge controller dies) - usb port dies - screen broken - all sorts of falls

A lether folio case, gorilla glass, and a Qi charging adapter solve all of those problems (the charging adapter also limits the current by virtue of being inefficient). It has a magnetic connector (it's a simple two-pin job and it doesn't have any issues) - in the rare occasion I want to charge up real quick, I can still hook up directly via usb c, and meanwhile the port is stuffed with the converter's plug which prevents it from accumulating dirt and fluff.

I'm glad to say that even despite many falls, some directly onto the screen, the phone itself still works very well, even if the case and glass protector are obviously ragged.

I hope once unlockable Moto's come around I'll be able to keep that one for a long while as well.

When you say replaceable, do you mean repairable or swappable? Like, does it need to be done without tools (probably takes <1 minute) or would it take me 2 hours with a load of tools (no change from today) just that there's a legal requirement for them to be commercially available?

Fwiw, besides people that crack the screen I have not seen any of the failures you've mentioned. The only phone I saw someone replace, for reasons other than software support, was myself because the gnss chip was cooked after 3 years (would track me perfectly, like if I step to the right it would notice, but with an offset of hundreds of metres so I'm in another town). All other phones I've owned are still perfectly functioning (the oldest Android phone I have, 2012, has a more reliable battery than my daily driver!), I don't use any case or screen protector. They're just software-wise obsolete because no updates and developers require the newer android apis

well, it isn't receiving security updates https://grapheneos.org/faq#device-support

I too have been buying used Pixels, mostly for environmental reasons. But from a local shop phonebot. Got 3 phones from there, no issues at all.

Buying used introduces such a big supply chain risk. I stay safe by buying direct and asking the NSA not to open the shipment in the order notes.

(y’all know this one https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/05/photos-of-an-nsa... )

What is the supposed threat model here?

Mr. Rich Guy sells me his personal device he used in the previous year because he wants new shiny phone, but he may have the very slightest chance of being a super evil genius? The government selling tampered phones on ebay, when they could just.. go directly to vendors and put their backdoors directly into new phones/software?

Sorry for the light snark, but this attack vector seems way too complicated for not much benefit. Unless you are some very VIP person being personally targeted.

Futility I suppose, joking around about how we can’t win :)

b/c as seen in the link buying new isn’t perfect

I put GrapheneOS on the phone myself.

I wouldn't trust the OS shipped with a used phone.

NSA could technically do this with a new phone also and probably has.

Def gotta wipe used stuff.

I have read comments from people who buy the new iPhone on day one but do a factory reset before touching it!

You should really try to buy any phone used if you can, whether Pixel or Google or not.

Why?

For the environment? To reduce e-waste? And you'll almost certainly save substantial money too.

How good is it for the environment / e-waste? If you buy a used phone every year from someone buying a new phone every year, it means that you both use one phone every two years, right? It's a lot worse than buying a new phone and keeping it for 8 years.

If I said "I buy new phones regularly, but I sell them in second hand, for the environment". Would you consider I actually make an effort for the environment?

> If you buy a used phone every year from someone buying a new phone every year, it means that you both use one phone every two years, right? It's a lot worse than buying a new phone and keeping it for 8 years.

Because when someone says "buy used" they're obviously telling you to buy the antiques your grandma used to love back in the day on an annual basis. Anything newer than that especially from the last year or two would be new and insane to consider, especially if you keep it more than a year. You really owned me with the flawless argument there.

I don't understand what you say, but you sound like you did not like my question.

I was merely pointing out that "buying used" is not necessarily better than "buying new but keeping for 8 years". Many people "buy used" but often.

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