Those phones we carry everywhere, they are almost unique. While they are marketed under a single product name, they actually change almost every year. Between 2019 and 2020, two people buying the same "product" could end up with two devices made in completely different places, with different characteristics.

The "product" according to the brand's website, seems to be the same throughout its lifecycle, but it isn't. The same concept is more obvious with cars. Because the investment is more significant, consumers tend to pay more attention and manufacturer made it obvious and market around it: the 2019 model is different from the 2018 model.

However, many brands will use that strategy, and sell a broad range of products to consumers under the same umbrella because it is much cheaper than introducing a brand new product. The packaging often remains the same.

Our goal is to break down products by generally observable differences, not from the marketing standpoint. On Shopicci, a phone from spring 2020 will likely be a different product from one from fall 2019, even if they are identical to the untrained eye.

What you have in your pocket, is a variant

Let's dig a little deeper, and assume we have already established that the 2019 model of your phone is different from the 2018 model. Now, within the same season or year, you would assume two phones would be identical. You would be wrong.

For one, the manufacturer is likely going to make revisions to their design as production progresses. That one chip obtained from Japan for the first batch is no longer available, so they switch to a Chinese manufacturer. The glass screen that was made from a specific type of Silica until revision 3 is now made from a cheaper version.

Shopicci and its community make an effort to inventorise the manufacturers and variants, we want you to know what the brands aren't telling you. A brand/product is what you are being sold, a variant is what you get.