With the upcoming 2G network shutdown in Vietnam, consumers are forced to seek alternative phone options to stay connected. The two most popular choices are 4G-enabled feature phones and second-hand smartphones.
Representing the feature phone category is the Nokia 105 4G Pro, priced at approximately 680,000 VND for a brand-new unit. This basic phone is a best-seller in Vietnam, with retail systems reporting that Nokia (HMD) accounts for up to 70% of feature phone sales.
On the other hand, for second-hand smartphones, aside from Android devices, a very popular choice in the Vietnamese market is the iPhone. iPhones are favored for their brand reputation, hardware quality, user-friendly and stable iOS, diverse ecosystem of accessories, and a large community for buying, selling, and repairs.
Nokia 105 4G Pro and iPhone 6 Plus.
For around 700,000 VND, we purchased an iPhone 6 Plus with 64GB storage. This iPhone model was a flagship device released a decade ago (September 2014) and has since been discontinued, with iOS 12 being the latest supported operating system, released in 2018.
So, which option offers better value for money – a feature phone or a second-hand smartphone of similar price?
Smartphone: Modern but Power-Hungry
In terms of hardware, the iPhone 6 Plus outperforms the Nokia 105 4G Pro in every aspect. The iPhone’s design is not only aesthetically pleasing and timeless but also constructed from durable aluminum, giving it a premium and sturdy feel, in contrast to the lightweight plastic body of the Nokia, which feels more like a toy.
The Nokia 105 4G Pro looks like a toy next to the iPhone 6 Plus.
One of the biggest advantages of the iPhone 6 Plus is its large 5.5-inch display, which offers a clear and comfortable viewing experience, especially for elderly users. Combined with iOS’s accessibility features (like larger text), users can easily read messages, browse contacts, surf the web, and view photos without strain. This is an area where the Nokia 105 4G Pro falls short due to its small screen and low resolution.
The iPhone 6 Plus’ display surpasses the Nokia’s in both size and quality.
The large screen of the iPhone 6 Plus also opens up entertainment options, particularly video streaming with YouTube. In addition to videos, YouTube offers a vast collection of themed music playlists, making it a popular entertainment choice, especially for older adults.
Web browsing on a feature phone is a far cry from the smartphone experience.
YouTube is an entertainment channel exclusively accessible on smartphones.
The iPhone 6 Plus is equipped with an 8MP camera, allowing users to capture moments in their lives. Despite being a decade old, the camera quality surpasses that of most feature phones currently on the market.
The Nokia 105 4G Pro lacks a camera and, even if it had one, the quality couldn’t compete with a smartphone’s.
Beyond photography, the iPhone’s camera enables video calling through OTT applications like Zalo, Facebook Messenger, iMessage, and FaceTime, which the Nokia 105 4G Pro is incapable of.
Moreover, OTT apps offer significant benefits for communication. Compared to SMS, users can send unlimited messages with Vietnamese accents, attach multimedia content (photos, videos), and make free calls, reducing communication costs significantly.
Smartphones allow users to install apps like Zalo for free calls and messaging, whereas feature phones are limited to traditional SMS and calls.
In today’s digital era, smartphones are essential for accessing e-government services (VNeID, VssID, public services) and online banking (mobile banking apps, e-wallets). These tasks cannot be accomplished with a basic phone.
Apps that feature phones will never be able to run.
However, it’s important to note that using apps that contain personal information, especially banking apps, can expose users to online scams. This is a prevalent issue, and older adults, who are the primary adopters of feature phones transitioning to smartphones, are often targeted by scammers.
Additionally, with iOS 12, the iPhone 6 Plus is outdated and unable to install certain critical apps like VNeID or the latest banking applications. Thus, users who require these apps should consider purchasing an iPhone 6s or newer for a more comprehensive experience.
VNeID no longer supports iOS 12 devices like the iPhone 6 Plus.
Feature Phones: Frustrating Experience but Fewer Risks
When compared to the iPhone 6 Plus in terms of hardware, the Nokia 105 4G Pro falls short. Despite its inferior specifications, feature phones like the Nokia 105 4G Pro have their advantages due to the nature of their operating system.
With a Unisoc T107 chipset and 48MB of RAM, the Nokia 105 4G Pro’s specs seem meager compared to the iPhone 6 Plus’ Apple A8 processor and 1GB of RAM. However, due to its limited tasks, the Nokia provides instantaneous feedback for basic functions like calling and messaging. On the other hand, lag is inevitable on the iPhone 6 Plus due to its age and the need to run more demanding apps.
Despite significantly lower specs, the basic OS of feature phones delivers instant responses.
The simple operating system also contributes to the Nokia 105 4G Pro’s stability. It can run for weeks or even months without needing a restart. In contrast, due to the complex structure of a smartphone OS, even a stable OS like iOS can encounter errors and require frequent restarts.
Additionally, using a smartphone OS with numerous data-generating apps can lead to memory issues. The base model of the iPhone 6 has only 16GB of internal storage, which is extremely limited by today’s standards. In some cases, running out of memory can completely hinder smartphone usage, and since iPhones don’t support memory expansion, users would need to incur additional costs to upgrade to a newer model. This issue is almost non-existent on feature phones.
Battery life is another strong suit of the Nokia 105 4G Pro. It can operate for multiple days without charging due to its minimal features. Conversely, the iPhone 6 Plus, with its larger screen and higher specs, typically requires daily charging, if not multiple times a day with heavy usage. A primary reason for this is that feature phones have fewer features, so users don’t use them as intensively as smartphones.
Batteries are a consumable component in smartphones. Most smartphones are designed so that users cannot replace the battery themselves, leading to higher repair costs compared to feature phones (which have removable back covers).
While the Nokia 105 4G Pro’s interface may not be as intuitive as a smartphone’s, its physical buttons make it easier for elderly users to navigate. In contrast, the iPhone’s touchscreen interface can be challenging for those unfamiliar with technology. Additionally, software updates on iPhones frequently change the interface, which can be disorienting for older users.
Lastly, the Nokia 105 4G Pro is a brand-new device with a 12-month warranty. Conversely, buying a used iPhone 6 Plus means accepting the risk of potential quality issues and the absence of a warranty. This is a crucial factor for those seeking a reliable device without the worry of malfunctions during use.
Incidental Costs
When considering the sub-1-million-dong price segment, cost is a critical factor for consumers. With a feature phone like the Nokia 105 4G Pro, users only need to pay for the device itself, without additional expenses for accessories like cases or screen protectors. These accessories are rarely used with feature phones, helping users save on initial costs.
In contrast, with the iPhone 6 Plus, even though the device itself is inexpensive, users often need to spend extra on protective accessories like cases and screen protectors to prevent damage. Depending on the quality of these accessories, the cost can add up to several hundred thousand dong, increasing the overall usage cost compared to a feature phone.
A feature phone incurs almost no additional costs during its usage.
During their lifespan, feature phones primarily incur costs from traditional voice calls and SMS messages. On the other hand, with a smartphone like the iPhone 6 Plus, the main expense comes from mobile data usage. Utilizing OTT apps for communication or internet access consumes a significant amount of data, requiring users to purchase monthly data plans. Depending on individual usage patterns, the choice between a feature phone and a smartphone can significantly impact communication costs.
Furthermore, feature phones rarely require “maintenance” costs. However, due to its more complex structure, the iPhone 6 Plus may need repairs for components like the screen, camera, fingerprint sensor, or battery. These repairs are not cheap and can sometimes cost as much as a new feature phone. This makes smartphones more “expensive” than feature phones in the long run.
The iPhone 6 Plus is relatively notorious for hardware issues like a bendable
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