Android isn't really more difficult to use than ios. And not 650 dollars more difficult.
This is just a rationalization to buy the more expensive version.
If you are poor, an iphone is a shitty use of your money when a Moto G4 exists.
Of course, this won't make or break a person, but if it's representative of their cost/benefit analysis in general, their spending could be a huge problem.
> Android isn't really more difficult to use than ios.
Having supported a variety of non-technical folks both in a business and family capacity, this simply isn't true.
Hell, even basic directions depend widely on the manufacturer - the OS may look and act totally different depending on whether it's a Samsung device or not.
I know a mentally challenged person who uses android just fine. Whatever learning curve there is, it's not worth an extra 650 dollars to a poor person.
Maybe it's worth extra money to a businessman who refuses to learn a slightly different UI, but he isn't asking for subsides to afford it.
If you apply to the same logic to all of a poor person's decision they'd go broke. Cooking it pretty hard. You need pots and pans and stuff. Better eat McDonalds every meal!
Yeah, but we all know this stuff because we live on the internet. How much tech experience does the average homeless/poor person have when they buy their first phone (ie get their first internet access)?
Phones are a luxury, what percentage of the poor demographic do you think can afford a smartphone? Much less, know how to operate something they've never had experience with.
Around 2 billion people have cellphones (~30% of the population) which is a minority. Although, in the U.S 64% of those in poverty have a smartphone[1].
Maybe you confused my generality for locality. I'm talking in broad strokes, all over the world (not just the developed world).
It's just that your own numbers show that 2/3 poor people own a smartphone, compared to 4/5 in general (in the US). That's not a luxury item by any definition. And you're not including the fact that people might have access to the Internet anyway, even if they don't own a smartphone. Or their friend might have a smartphone... Or they might have a kid who knows about smartphones. Or they see ads for a smartphone.
You can get a real phone instead, say, something like Samsung Galaxy J5, lowish end but strong enough, bit more expensive but not a lot. Especially if you find a used one. That will set you back $150 or so. You can go lower still with J3 and it is also good enough, $90 - in fact better than not that old S5 most of the time.
That is without considering carrier subsidies or used market. (So compares to $700 iPhone price.)
I gave up on giving Android devices to my family. They always replaced them with iPhones (used, typically).