Eli5 Why is it that a new television costs about 1000 dollars, it has android, a chipset, wifi etc, while a phone wich is much smaller, but has also a chipset etc, also costs 1000 dollars ?
In: Technology
A large part of it is that cutting-edge processes are both more expensive, require big investment, and often have awful yields. This applies both to TVs and phones.
A TV doesn’t generally have anything cutting-edge in it. When it does, it’s pretty much only the screen, and you’re often spending a lot more than $1000 on a really high-end TV (eg: OLEDs when they first came out). You have enough space to have a bigger, older chip in there, rather than a newer, smaller chip. The power draw of the chip is irrelevant compared to the screen, and heat isn’t really an issue with such a large area to play with. With wifi, you can stick a decent sized cheap antenna in there.
Your phone meanwhile, if you get one with older tech in it will only be maybe $100. With your $1000 phone you’re paying for the newest chipsets. You want it to be as small as possible, as low power draw as possible, and as best performing wifi as possible with a tiny antenna. All of that means the latest tech, which is more expensive.
Plus, you’re probably buying an Apple at $1000, which has no competition if you want iOS. On the other hand, TV markets are far more price competitive, until you get to the really high price range where quality starts to be more important than price again.
Which would you rather carry in your pocket?
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