My mobile phone journey in life (part 3)

This will be the last piece to reviewing my life’s mobile phone journey. I thought of phones as tools of investment which also held special memories. The function was more important to me than the form. But now I’m seeing a shift to my taste seeing that mobile phones are slowly becoming an extension of the person.

My journey began after picking up that Nokia 3210 on the side of the road. Feature phones became obsolete fast in the late 2010s. But it was still a Nokia phone that bridged my life with feature phones and smart phones. Namely that my first smartphone was a Nokia phone.

The wireless technology is advancing fast. And I wanted to keep up with the times. Although I was in the market for a flagship phone, there were obviously more important things after my graduation: such as what my future looks like, or what it ought to be. Or what in the world should I be doing?

Navigating through a quarter-life crisis

I earned my degrees in 2017. And degrees sound impressive but it simply meant finishing my post-secondary. 2017 was a period of success and struggle. What followed was a time of unfamiliarity and a lack of self-identity. I didn’t know what to do in life and how to imagine my future. Having two degrees didn’t look impressive, I suddenly thought.

There were no job interviews. And the only couple of interviews turned me down. I’ve lost count of sent resumes, applied to odd jobs, even pursued agency help, and then I visited my school’s career adviser. I worked part-time in the university. But the unstructured lifestyle was exhausting. It’s tiring to keep multiple part-time jobs, and varied hours. Plus there was no job benefit, and I envied those younger than me who found their work after graduation. I started searching around the city.

The pressure was insane. I wanted to be away so I went home past 10pm. Otherwise I was looking out for opportunities and actual postings. I felt that many eyes were on me because I graduated from a foreign university but I still had no full-time work. My decisions seemed worthless. And it seemed better if other people to decided for me. Then what was the use of the student loan and all the money I spent for tuition? What was the use of those sleepless nights, and my effort to support myself so I can pursue my PERSONAL future?

Then there was a breakthrough.

Some people left that produced an opening. I’ve assumed a new position which became full-time. Eventually another opportunity opened. So I’ve assumed another opening which combined two positions into one. In other words, I was absorbed and promoted into an admin & supervisor & hiring & advisory role. It’s a lot of work but it’s basically being the only person who knows what the work is and how to do it. Which would also later lead to teaching other staff.

The main character in my life wasn’t me. It was GOD. No one had to leave their positions, but the timing seemed divinely ordained because other people were also looking for opportunities. My One Maker is also a Way-Maker. And it was true that I felt depressed after losing my routine in school. I’ve been wanting to start life and here you go. Welcome to the real word. It’s time to be productive and earn money.

My phone was still the Pixel 2 XL during my difficult transition period. Whether to be rich or poor, through sickness and health, the Pixel 2 XL was in my pocket. The pandemic took place, and the world went remote; which became remote problem solving (and remote everything); then numerous important phone calls took place; and I still got the bread with my Pixel 2 XL. This is not to forget that many people had to cease work during the pandemic. I didn’t. It was definitely a blessing. But I could’ve used a break, I digress.

Working thru the breakthrough with a Samsung Galaxy S21+

I took over paying for everyone’s phone bills after getting my full-time job. I wanted to deliver it as my conviction. And it was a personal decision to take this plunge after the pandemic.

We were back to face-to-face living. The pandemic was over and the world reopened. Thus I wanted to invest in premium and flagship phones. I saved up little extra money but nothing extravagant. So I parted ways from my Pixel. There was no new viable Pixel phone at the time but Samsung looked like a nice choice.

I bought a new phone as a reward plus to bask on the emergence of faster technology. The Samsung Galaxy S21+ is my first premium phone – specifically my first $1000+ phone. It’s my second Samsung smartphone and my third Samsung phone. The Pixel 2 XL is considered a premium and flagship phone but I bought it at $949 with a promo. I would say that the Galaxy S21+ was my first premium AND expensive phone.

The Samsung Galaxy S21+ had a larger screen at 6.7″. No doubt that the phone was fast and reliable. I don’t remember the phone crashing. And it didn’t feel like I needed the Ultra. The Galaxy S21+ performed all the tasks I needed. I got the 128GB model but I never ran out of space despite my many hi-res photos and apps.

It was also the first phone that made me appreciate big screens. Furthermore the S21+ made me wonder if I still needed a screen protector as it has Gorilla Glass Victus. Plus the 120hz AMOLED display was a delight coming from the Pixel 2 XL’s 90hz OLED.

LG Velvet – Finally, an LG!

And things got crazy.

It didn’t feel like an impulse after learning that I lost the phone number that I loved. That is it was sad to lose my first phone number ever in Canada. So I wanted to get it back. And I did but only with a different area code which isn’t a big deal. After all this time of dreaming about LG phones, I finally decided to get one.

I opened up a second personal line so that I could claim my ‘sort of’ first mobile number in Canada. I lost my first Canadian number after replacing my Nokia Lumia. And I loved that number as it’s memorable and it easily rolls off the tongue. Thus the LG Velvet housed the number.

A little bit of practice is needed to use the LG Velvet as it was weird to use when you have the dual screen attached. The contraption was on the way. You need to flip it all the way so you can hold the whole phone with one hand. You can’t hold it over your ear while it’s flipped open like a booklet. But two distinct screens made it perfect for multi-tasking.

A few months later, LG announced that they were abandoning the smartphone arena. The first thing I noticed was that the LG Velvet was slower than my Samsung Galaxy S21+. The phone played a 60hz animation when I turned it on. The LG Velvet felt like an mid-tier phone despite paying ~$799 for it. In the end, I didn’t use the LG Velvet much to be honest. But it serves as a reminder that I bought the phone which I pursued for a long time. Only to discover that they jumped off the smartphone market.

Samsung Galaxy Flip3 and Samsung Galaxy Z-Fold3

I’ve captured the flags shortly after getting my permanent job. All we need is to be given the opportunity. I always remember the time when I was hoping for THE opportunity to come.

November 2021, I bought the Samsung Flip3 and the Samsung Galaxy Z-Fold3 due to my fascination to the emerged foldable technology. This was my first attempt to splurge for a top of the line phone. I didn’t want to buy the early generations because the tech was still new and risky. Foldable phones are expensive and I thought that the screens were prone to defects or creases. This is also the time when I felt like I owned the top spec yet it didn’t feel special.

My biggest issue with the Fold3 was the narrow cover-screen was difficult to use. As for the Flip3, I immediately wondered how rugged it could be but its large screen when unfolded was impressive.

I thought that the Flip3’s outer screen was a neat idea. I think there will be a demand for “half-phones” – a fully usable clam sized phone that you can flip open. Like the Moto Razr Ultra and the Flip7. It’s mighty portable at half of the 6.8″ flip phone; similar to an mp3 player phone that you can flip open into a 6.8″ phone.

I understood the ‘feeling’ of diminished returns and the lack of marginal benefit. It felt like spending money just to capture the feeling of having said folding technology. “Look the phone can fold and unfold”. It’s a tablet and a phone. It’s fascinating but not if you have a premium phone. I wasn’t complaining though. I was thankful to have the Fold and the Flip in my inventory. But that was it.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (2023)

I loved my Samsung Galaxy S21+ to the point of getting the Ultra model. The large screen on the S21+ was fun. And I thought that a bigger screen would be more fun. The weird thing is I planned the S23 Ultra as my primary phone instead of the Fold3. But the S23 Ultra felt special with a 6.8 inch screen and the vivid display. The 200MP camera was amazing. I felt a great phone on my hands.

This was my first attempt to buy the top Samsung phone – arguably the top of the Samsung Galaxy traditional phone.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s big size is my problem. But it’s also what I like. I laughed at myself. It’s like you have a small tablet in your pocket. But it is a hunk of tech for small pocket. And its large size delivered many functions. All checks across the board. It’s a supercomputer, hi-def camera, and a gaming tablet. I brought it to meetings and wrote down notes using the S-Pen. It is a full-on personal assistant phone.

I also remember accidentally dropping this phone on the floor. I gasped and immediately checked if it had a crack or a ding. But I was impressed that it was okay.

My current phone is the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

After rocking Samsung phones for four some years, I wanted to try a folding phone as my primary phone. I was initially skeptic at the cover screen of the Samsung Galaxy Fold6. Plus I was teetering on going back to the Pixel brand. Then I saw the actual size of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s cover-screen and I was sold.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a nice and useful phone but it does some annoying things too. Its wide cover screen is my primary need. But it’s still an expensive phone.

Past the current

I admit that I felt all set once I got hands on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. And honestly, I didn’t feel like I would need another phone. If it was about being practical that the Samsung Galaxy 23 Ultra was enough.

Sure it feels great to afford having a folding phone, a flip phone, and an ultra phone. There was about the material thrill. Plus proving the point of working toward those dreams. I felt special for a few days after installing my dual screen case for my LG Velvet. But the thrill was gone afterward. I pat my shoulder and that was it. Don’t get me wrong, I highly appreciate the tech I have. But I can only nervously laugh at the money involved.

Was it worth it? One top tier phone would have been enough. For me, the memories of how I got them or how everything worked until fruition mattered. Yet I agree that one “pro ultra” phone is enough.

Having those toys felt great for a few days and that was it. Constantly chasing after the latest technology isn’t worth it because there’s going to be a time when you’ll wonder what you’re going to do with it. Although it was a long journey of highs and lows which started from picking up a lonely Nokia 3210 beside the road. There should be a place for appreciation and contentment in life. But I just want to say that Samsung finally got it right with the Galaxy Fold7 and is currently the best foldable phone for me. *Nervous laughter*.