This “new phone every year” is the worst consumer crapfest we have going. AI features feel like clutching at straws when seemingly everyone hates the battery life on every single phone. Slap a larger battery in there? Well now you get shit AI that burns whatever extra capacity was gained. I can’t name a single quality on an iPhone model from the last 6 years that I truly wanted, other than the size of my 13 mini. It works fine and it fits in my pocket. Now make one that stays on for a full 24 hours and doesn’t need a battery replacement every 2 years.

I’m in the same boat, bought a Samsung 40-something-inch smart tv for around $300 maybe 6 years ago off the neglected “small TV” aisle. It has some bloatware, but it’s never been an issue after configuring a few settings. I’m guessing if I went for one of the floor models, it’d have been a problem.

Definitely don’t get a drive to rip them for later either, like I didn’t do with CDs back in the day.

For the love of god, defund MBAs.