ROI? What about metrics?
This, in a way, will demonstrate how the mind goes about creating chain of thoughts which may or may not be fruitful or valuable. The origin of this post popped out of a random thought that I blurted out to one colleague yesterday evening - "Landline is way too cheaper than mobile communications". Then I expanded into following - We rarely factor the cost of device into the overall expense borne between the two viz., gsm vs landline. Average life of any mobile communication device is 2 years. You may stretch it to 3 years at the most with or without repairs. Then the technology will change, your specs will no longer support those changes and so that you keep moving with the herd, you will switch your device. To give a simple example, I am back to Redmi 1s and Blu JR LTE phones since last 5 months because of Z2 plus developing network IC fault. Redmi 1s came originally with Android 4.4.4. Google pay and many different apps won't work on Android 4.4.4. Installing lineage upgraded OS to 7.1, however, the RAM and ROM has turned into such a bottleneck that I can run bare minimum apps on phone and subject to how many apps are in memory, phone display remains black from 5 seconds to 10 seconds even while receiving calls. Blu JR LTE is much better with same RAM and ROM configuration (processor being better though) but with windows 10 out of picture in the mobile OS space, non of those major apps are available on it for me to move completely to it. Blu is 3 years old. Redmi 1s is 5 years old. I no longer use phone cameras, not listening to music or read books on it during commute since the time I started cycling. But I need at least map, whatsapp, email and googlepay (for udhar chukane etc).
What's the linkage with "ROI"? Why should I invest in smart phone? How critical is whatsapp for me at personal level in the today's world of spams and forwards? How critical is email for me at personal level if I am reading emails a few minutes or hours late? If they are critical, significant then what are those values for me? Before you can estimate the value, you need to identify the metrics. For an introvert, these things are either completely useless, or completely useful in case it helps him/her to stay disconnected from the people interactions.
Buy a smartphone only if it is helping you achieve your own business, if you are using it to built test apps that you wanted to produce and push in market. If that smart phone is helping achieve someone else's profit/objective/agenda then let that someone else buy that phone for you.
The last question therefore remains - what happens when redmi 1s and blu die? Will or will not Peeyush switch to feature/basic phone?