Hardware vs. Software: Which is more important?

Hayato asks a very important question.

And follow us on social media:

[Vhsss_God]

Most important to me:
Latest snapdragon, small bezzels, great camera, screen size ~6inch.

Secondary: xda support (root, roms, xposed), android version & NO NOTCH

[aandrei]

The software experience can make or break a smartphone but you cannot have a good experience without decent hardware. After all, you cannot have software without hardware.
I recently got my mom a Nokia 6 that was just launched and is part of the Android One program and it's smoother than the S9+ I have. Apps open without a glitch, it's snappy, responsive and the battery life is great on it (and it's a cheap mid-range phone ffs). So yeah, that's proving that software (and software optimizations) really make a big difference in the end. Probably the biggest difference.

[NHamza-ewbc]

I know its not phone related but look at the nintendo switch ! That console has shit outdated plastic hardware but sold like crazy thanks to software ( in this case good games ) while the Xbox One X with top tier hardware is barely selling, Im a hardware and spec lover but you gotta admit good software can sometime compensate for lacking hardware .

[hilarioarreguin]

I haven't seen anyone with a pixel on the streets ... Mostly everyone has a iphone or galaxy phone..

[theodonacik]

Getting a new phone is the most exciting feeling in the world

[TalesOfGod]

If I must choose, I am usually one to prefer hardware.

If it doesn't have a headphone jack then I am not buying the phone, period (no exceptions).
I would prefer a removable battery, I like the IPS 68 feature, love front facing speakers, I love LG's great quad Dac for music, I love extras (like a S-pen, modular features or specific camera lens) and I love seeing the potential in hardware. Cameras are a great thing to have as well and software can only go so far with the same hardware as we have seen recently.

That being said, I can appreciate what software does in general. It's the reason why some niches have been dominated by others like the Note series having a great hardware and software features around the S-pen while their competitors had the hardware but not the software to back it up. I value security so I refuse to buy Chinese phones. The ease of use and the creative things that companies can do to diversify themselves from the competition is always welcome in a time where phones have similar hardware. Cameras have gotten better with software and the difference really shows! So while software is important and I can understand why people would choose that, my personal preference is hardware.

All of this is just my personal opinion.

[JamesRussoMillas]

With an android phone, in this day and age, hardware is more important. Android software is so flexible that it shouldn't be as big a deal as it once was.

[preston_s.]

Software is the biggest thing for me. But I also have a hard time convincing myself to buy a phone without a headphone jack and an OLED panel.

[wendelynmusic]

For Me Software is the most important. I don't care so much about looks because I always hide it in a case anyway. I LOVE my PIXEL 2 XL so much ore than my old Note 5. the Note did more but I never used half its features and over time the Samsung skin drove me crazy. I loved it in the beginning but the more I used the more I grew to hate it. But I really enjoy using Pixel's version of Android. it's clean and fast and the features it does have are useful and not bogged down by features I don't use. and it looks nice in my clear case. The hardware is fine and the camera is awesome. Definitely software over hardware

[kimbridge]

I like the s9 plus the only thing I don't really use is ar amoji but love everything else

[sumanzzsonu]

Both are equally important these are just complementary to each other.

[Chemy.]

Nice points, I think it's about finding the balance that fits you the best.

[bigmatt]

Watching this on my Pixel 2 xl because I STILL want root for ad blocking and kernels and zero bloat. Samsung builds a beautiful phone. I just can't stomach the idea of a phone slowing down after a few months and slow update schedules. I do miss wireless charging on my last phone (lg g6)

[icxiii]

I think software. Midrange phones today are now very capable.
Add-ons from phone manufacturers here in Southeast Asia is what makes their phones stand out.
Beautification modes, swipe screen to unlock, double tap the screen to unlock, AR stickers, floating apps, and other add-ons from manufacturers like Oppo and Vivo (they have the same parent company as OnePlus) are what makes them very competitive.

[Baluchishair]

I actually want everything to be perfect, and if it isn't that perfect than I would go for better hardware, and believe me there is also a dying desire in my mind for upto date software. Like I don't care for stock android or anything like that but I will not go for a phone which isn't gonna get an OS update or security update specifically.

[tahatechyt]

Software is more important as no matter how high quality the hardware is, Samsung Experience UI slows it down and it starts lagging.
While on the other hand if you take OnePlus 5T for example, it's software experience (OxygenOS) is awesome!
It packs features that we need, without any extra apps installed and it also runs lag free!
And maybe it's not first in line for software updates but it is very very good with them!

[davidantonenko]

I love Samsung...
But I cant afford one

[funkentelechy]

Hardware is a must, but: you have to choose wisely because there are software features which can't be reproduced easily by downloaded apps.

[allanjbara]

I lean a little to software but both are extremely important to me

[VeselinMarkovic]

That's a really, really good narration, Hayato. Way to go, dude! 👊