I haven’t used an Android device since my last one, the Galaxy S8. Beautiful hardware, beautiful design, but it was plagued with animation stutters and dropped frames. I switched to an iPhone and an iPad around 6 years ago. And the animations were buttersmooth. It was almost unthinkable to achieve such a fluid interface on any Android phone I had ever used, flagship or otherwise.

Now I am curious about how it is now. Especially after a 2-3 years of use. Does your phone or tablet stutter when you scroll, open an app, switch to another app, start multitasking etc etc? One thing I especially remember was opening certain apps like big games or Office apps. When I’d tap on the app’s icon, there would be a half a second delay. But in that infinitesimally short period of time I would question whether the phone registered the touch or not. I would then reach with my finger again but the app would launch right before my second tap. That was constant and infuriating. Does that sort of stuff still happen on Android?

Thanks (:

  • frog 🐸@beehaw.orgEnglish
    0·
    8 months ago

    The only time I’ve noticed issues like this on an Android phone was the device I had before my current one. This was a phone that was great when I got it, and I started to notice issues after about 4 years of use. The reality was it was a mid-range device when it was released, it was already a year or two old when I got it, and after a couple of years, the hardware was just not powerful enough for the stuff I was asking it to do.

    So I’m inclined to agree with the others who’ve said it really depends on exactly what device you’re using. If you’re buying a budget phone that’s not particularly powerful when it’s brand new, then it’s definitely going to be having issues 2-3 years later, because apps get more demanding as hardware improves, so if your hardware is subpar, you’re going to have issues.

    While the allure of getting the cheapest possible phone is strong, if you use your phone for a lot of things, you may have to consider spending a bit more money. One consideration is instead of getting a brand new budget phone, get a second-hand model with higher spec: the price will be similar, but you’ll get better performance for longer. I’m actually trying to think now if I’ve ever had a brand new Android phone, and I can’t remember any of them being new, but they have all served me well, with only one notably having performance issues by the time it was ~5 years old.