CES 2012 proves it’s never safe to buy a new Android device

It’s no secret that the rate of improvement in mobile technology is staggering when compared to almost any other industry. Faster components, new software, and preferential treatment for some device updates all conspire to make your new device feel old as soon as you buy it. Some Android phone-buyers are so stymied by this never-ending cycle that they freeze, and wait for the right time to buy. In a market where a minor specification bump is becoming a new SKU altogether, there may not be such a time.
Before the official start of CES, both Verizon and AT&T announced some new devices that you will find very familiar. The Droid Razr Maxx is the terribly named successor to the still-new Droid Razr. The Maxx has a much larger non-removable battery rated a 3300mAh, and double the storage at 32GB. Make no mistake, this is a new phone that will be taking the Razr’s place in the lineup. That’s incredibly irritating for people that shelled out $300 for a Razr back in November or December.
The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD is likewise the successor to the Galaxy S II Skyrocket, which was itself a mildly improved version of the first Galaxy S II on AT&T. The Skyrocket HD, as its name suggests, has a 720p HD Super AMOLED screen and LTE. The first Skyrocket added LTE to the mix. This too is a bummer for users that got a standard Galaxy S II or Skyrocket just a few months ago.
This is a trend we see more and more — minor spec bumps are splitting off a phone’s user base to multiple models. Verizon has been doing it with world-band and non-world compatible Droids. T-Mobile also replaced the HTC Sensation mere months after its debut with the almost-identical HTC Amaze 4G, which added a much-improved camera. There is certainly a psychological issue here in that no one wants to feel like they made the wrong choice, but matters are exacerbated by the way the US mobile industry works.
Almost all phones are bought on two-year contracts. Once you’re in, the carrier holds a multi-hundred dollar early termination fee (ETF) over your head to keep you docile. The carrier then moves on to the next customer, and may tempt them with a slightly better version of the phone you just bought. After a few iterations in as many months, your device starts to look outdated fast. It’s not like you can do anything, though; you’re under contract.
The increasing segmentation also affects users in a more roundabout way. When an OEM makes tiny iterative changes, but still breaks the devices into different SKUs, that fragments its internal development efforts. A different radio, new screen technology, tweaked chipset, or even a storage increase can mean a different software update needs to be built when and if the time comes. When most of these Android devices are shipping with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, that could spell trouble.
It is not uncommon for phones with very similar hardware to get updates at different times. It’s happened with phones in the Droid line, as well as the Galaxy S devices. HTC is well aware of the problems it created for itself as it tweaked a small number of hardware bases into nearly two-dozen phones in 2011. It has resolved to focus on a smaller number of higher-quality experiences in 2012. Even with HTC reevaluating, other OEMs seem dead-set on innovation via spec bumps. This means that the situation will remain a mess, and users will continue to feel frustrated that better versions of their own phones are coming out.
There is probably no perfect time to buy a phone, so there’s frankly no use in being paralyzed, constantly waiting for the right time to pounce. Your best bet is to watch for a good deal on a fairly new device around the holiday season. Take solace in the fact that most spec bumps are going to be minor, and don’t be surprised when it happens. Hopefully it’s a small difference, but if not, it’s time to grit your teeth and bear it as you wait out that contract.