Other Anyone else fed up with so many considerations when choosing an iPhone these days?

[thekev]

Instead, it's almost mandatory to fit a screen protector or accept micro scratches or worse. Yet when it comes to resale people complain that there are microscratches on a phone screen if it hasn't had a screen protector. Like, what are you expecting, it's a phone screen?

Most stuff suffers wear and tear through normal use. When you go to resell it, these guys probably expect it to be priced and described according to its present condition. If you're actually doing that, you shouldn't get many complaints. Otherwise the problem is with you, not them.

 

[eyoungren]

I don’t put screen protectors on my Switch or my iPad mini. Probably because I run my ipads until they no longer run well. I did trade in an older mini on the mini I have now but it was in great shape despite me not trying too hard. I do use a case with the cover because it makes the iPad easier to hold and shut off (closes like a book).

My iPhones up to iPhone 6 Plus did have scratches nicks because I preferred to not use cases with the exception of putting a wallet case on occasionally. Back then I traded in at AT&T store and got about $100 toward the new iPhone. That was sufficient because iPhones didn’t used to cost more than my laptop and my desktop combined.

These are mass produced devices that beyond their standard Apple appeal are nothing special. Some people see them as investments, but I see them as the equivalent to a cordless phone that can do tricks. Unless you're selling them on I just don't see the heightened sense of maintaining a 'perfect' device. Just use the device, that's what it's there for.

Again, I don't abuse my devices so they all look reasonably good with no deep scratches, cracked screens or dents. Minor scuffs maybe, average wear and tear. The device is a tool.

 

[m0sher]

In short I think it’s great. Different flavors for different folks and different budgets. Just gives consumers more choices for their situation.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

These are mass produced devices that beyond their standard Apple appeal are nothing special. Some people see them as investments, but I see them as the equivalent to a cordless phone that can do tricks. Unless you're selling them on I just don't see the heightened sense of maintaining a 'perfect' device. Just use the device, that's what it's there for.

Again, I don't abuse my devices so they all look reasonably good with no deep scratches, cracked screens or dents. Minor scuffs maybe, average wear and tear. The device is a tool.

Exactly! The purpose of a tool is to do work, not look like it's been on display in a museum.

People can obsess about features if they want, or just buy a phone and get on with life. For some, it's a hobby - spending their leisure time on forums like this in order to keep up with the latest and greatest, considering every nuance, dreaming of a more perfect future... But if that doesn't give you pleasure, or it no longer gives you the pleasure it once did, then maybe it's time to find a different hobby. The world won't end if you find a new hobby.

There will always be competing products, and the makers of those products are going to promote the unique benefits of their product. Some of those have substantive meaning/value, others are just window dressing. It doesn't matter whether we're talking about food, clothing, cars, phones... they have both utilitarian function and sensory "qualities" that go beyond their fundamental use - appearance, texture, flavor (well, when it comes to food)... Are you the type of person who appreciates those sensory qualities and will pay extra for them? Fine if you can afford it, but they're not fundamental to the functioning of the product.

The marketing people would rather you did care about all these things, that you did spend lots of time thinking about their products, but there's no requirement that you have to. A certain amount of education/knowledge is necessary to make a well-reasoned choice, but you don't have to spend hours every day considering a once-ever-two-years purchase (especially if that purchase costs less than a week's wages). You can actually wait until a month or so before purchase time, then study-up on what's currently on the market. What's the point of learning all the benefits/weaknesses of the 2020 models if you're not going to buy until 2021?

Does one phone feel better in the hand than another? Sure. But it doesn't stop being a phone because it doesn't feel quite as nice as another phone. And if every other functional aspect of the phone meets or exceeds my needs and other phones do not... I'm going to choose function over form every time.

 

[d.best.5205622]

No

 

[ian87w]

Then, before you know it, boom it's September again and people almost feel obliged to upgrade just to have the 'latest' phone when most of the time it has trivial improvements.

For those of us over 30, I remember how simple things were in the days of Nokia/Blackberry/Sony Ericsson. Capable phones, sturdy build quality, comfortably one handed use, long battery life etc and didn't cost $1k for a flagship phone.

Majority of people are not upgrading their phones on a yearly basis. I mean it's still your choice to buy a new phone every year or not. Nobody's forcing you. Simply avoid tech media.

Errr, those Nokia/Blackberries in the old days were EXPENSIVE, especially if you account inflation. You probably meant contract pricing, which were the norm in the US. Do note that back then, you paid less upfront but locked in to a single carrier for 2 years. In the end, it's the same. Considering the capabilities of today's phones, and the fact they are also your MP3 player, camera, camcorder, PDA, GPS, etc etc, they are not that expensive.

If you want a lighter phone, check out the Android mid-rangers. Many Android phones are adopting plastic frame again to cut cost. Most of Samsung Galaxy A and M models use plastic frames, and resulted in lighter phones despite their sizes.

 

[xxray]

I get what you’re saying, but I’d rather have options and be able to decide what is best for me than to be feeling stuck with one option/a lack of options.

I do feel this with the iPad Pro line though. I’m so happy there’s a 12.9” and an 11” option, but I don’t know what I’ll pick when I upgrade. My gut tells me 12.9 because I want to work towards iPad-only and I would enjoy the more immersive, free experience compared to the more constrained screen size of smaller iPads, but when I have moments of bringing my current 10.5” iPad Pro wherever I want and holding it with one hand, the the idea of a 12.9” with less portability scares me. If there was only one iPad Pro, I wouldn’t have to think about it, but I’m glad the option exists to allow me to choose a different size.

 

[5105973]

These are mass produced devices that beyond their standard Apple appeal are nothing special. Some people see them as investments, but I see them as the equivalent to a cordless phone that can do tricks. Unless you're selling them on I just don't see the heightened sense of maintaining a 'perfect' device. Just use the device, that's what it's there for.

Again, I don't abuse my devices so they all look reasonably good with no deep scratches, cracked screens or dents. Minor scuffs maybe, average wear and tear. The device is a tool.

I try to keep them pristine now so I can get full trade in value to knock those crazy high prices down a lot. Apple and Samsung trade in partners can be pretty picky but they shave a lot off the cost of a new device with a pristine trade in.

Cases and display protectors do a great job preserving the condition with little to no extra effort on my part. I don’t buy through my carrier anymore.

One problem with the flagship models now is the cost to repair is almost as high as what we paid for a new iPhone a few years ago. Thank goodness for the SE. When I started struggling with coordination problems and dropping my 11 Pro a lot, my family decided the SE was a perfect gift for me. I’m starting to get my coordination back but I still haven’t gone through all the appointments needed to get a diagnosis and see if this is going to be a chronic or worsening situation.

 

[ssledoux]

LOL have you READ my thread? JK I’m sure you haven’t, and it’s a lot of drama about my struggle with phone decisions. Options are great, but it was a lot simpler when we had ONE choice.

I had an 11, went to an SE2, thought it seemed a little TOO small, got an 11 pro to try, sent it back because I just couldn’t justify the cost (and the OLED is troublesome for me), used the SE2 again then decided to just go back to the 11. Used it for a weekend and realized why it was I wanted to go smaller in the first place. Now I’m back on the SE2 and I love it.

I’ve never gone through anything like that with phones before, and it was ridiculous, but I’m really glad I’m back with the SE.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Picking a phone is not like picking a house, a car, a life long partner, or investing millions in the market. Buying a phone should be a simple process of buying what meets your current needs and is within budget. Phones are disposable products. They are not works of art or collectors items. As such, there really is no need to obsess over all the what if’s and could be’s.

If you buy one of the new models and you encounter a manufacture defect, or you find that you are unhappy with it, return it and try a different model. Very simple solution to something that wasn’t meant to be a problem in the first place.

The worst thing to do is spend hours every day allowing yourself to be influenced my the posts on MacRumors.

 

[5105973]

Picking a phone is not like picking a house, a car, a life long partner, or investing millions in the market. Buying a phone should be a simple process of buying what meets your current needs and is within budget. Phones are disposable products. They are not works of art or collectors items. As such, there really is no need to obsess over all the what if’s and could be’s.

If you buy one of the new models and you encounter a manufacture defect, or you find that you are unhappy with it, return it and try a different model. Very simple solution to something that wasn’t meant to be a problem in the first place.

The worst thing to do is spend hours every day allowing yourself to be influenced my the posts on MacRumors.

Lol, my life is such the opposite. Met my partner of 30+ years at 19 and that was it. Got my first car at 25 and drove it exclusively for about 25 years until just a few years ago, and now just waiting to get a new tire on it after Covid is done doing whatever. I’m on my second car which is a 10 year old hand me down from my dad and I also have a hand me down truck but that’s gone back to the general family pool of cars. With distanced learning I won’t be needing it to do the school run anymore.

The house I’m in now, we stopped at it on the way to look at another house and I said “This is the one”. And so it is.

lol but I have had a blast obsessing over phones! I don’t clothes shop or shoe shop the way my friends and girls do. It’s just the phones that have struck my fancy.

But I do have what I need and want now. It’s been a fun ride since I joined this forum waiting for my iPhone 6 Plus. But yeah I guess it’s time to move on and treat it like any other appliance. I do appreciate all the help and advice and fun I’ve found on this forum the last few years.

 

[ssledoux]

Picking a phone is not like picking a house, a car, a life long partner, or investing millions in the market. Buying a phone should be a simple process of buying what meets your current needs and is within budget. Phones are disposable products. They are not works of art or collectors items. As such, there really is no need to obsess over all the what if’s and could be’s.

If you buy one of the new models and you encounter a manufacture defect, or you find that you are unhappy with it, return it and try a different model. Very simple solution to something that wasn’t meant to be a problem in the first place.

The worst thing to do is spend hours every day allowing yourself to be influenced my the posts on MacRumors.

I love your posts. They just make sense. And after all the recent musical phone business, it did really hit home that the SE2 does just about every, single thing for $400 that the Pro Max does for $1200. Sure, there are some nicer features, but at the end of the day, it makes phone calls, allows me to text, snap some nice pictures, check my email if I need to, and even play a game or two. Others may need more from their phones, but I really don’t.

Now that’s not to say I’ll never buy a more expensive iPhone again, but it really has changed the overall way I’m thinking about it now.

 

[Stridr69]

So many considerations? That choice is the glory of the garden. But nice moaning, you're well on the way to joining the grumpy old man brigade! I'm a member of long standing.

It's far better, in my view, to have bewildering choice than no choice, better to view a vast array of options than to be faced with 'that's it, take it or leave it.'

And fragility? I also had mobiles (cellphones) in the nineties and noughties, and I don't remember them always surviving drops well; sometimes they did, sometimes they flew apart, one Nokia I dropped looked perfect but the earpiece never made another sound. The wretched little plastic screens scratched as easy as anything, the monochrome ones lost contrast and became hard to read, and the devices didn't do much, did they? Calls, SMS, and a game of snake, that's what you got.

Protection obsession is nothing new. When I got my first and only Blackberry, a Bold 9700, I wouldn't leave the house with it until I'd received an OtterBox (that brand was really big before iPhones came along) case and a screen protector film from Amazon. You remember those plastic films? Fiendishly difficult to apply and you were lucky if they weren't as wrinkled as a scrotum. The modern glass screen protector with its alignment frame is a joy to fit by comparison.

Count your blessings, for we live in an age of wonder. It is an amazing fact that we can buy pocket devices that allow us to communicate with any other person on the planet, run an almost infinite variety of applications, take incredibly detailed photos, connect to an internet offering possibilities beyond the dreams of our grandfathers; all that, and it's possible to buy such a device for less than fifty pounds/dollars. I'll live with the chore of choosing, for isn't studying what's available a big part of enjoying the technology of our day?

Ah yes, BB9700. Tried charging mine moments ago but get a battery icon with a red X through it.

 

[freeagent]

I usually buy last years phone because I am cheap, and I have other hobbies that cost too much lol.

Edit:
And kids.. because it seemed like a good idea 🤥🤭😬

 

[EM2013]

geeze- another "I cant make up my mind" thread.
Another "too many choices' thread.
I wonder how these people order food from a menu or buy anything online.

Sounds more like another “phones were better back in my day” thread to me.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I did feel ultimately triumphant, when holding in my hand the 2nd iPhone 4S, purchased for 10$, knowing that some Mac fan in VN ever paid 800$ to purchase the first iPhone 4S ever came to VN.
And lol, I do plan to use my 4S for another 10 years if it still stand for it, stock some batteries for it from now (5$/1pc)

 

[44267547]

Options are a good thing. And where I really think Apple has excelled, is they offer different size phones with different features [I.e Touch ID/Face ID] for different price points. Apple was never be like this as a company five years ago, and now they have an entry-level phone at ~$399 and a ~Pro over 1K.

here’s the thing, when you have limited options, you appeal to a smaller demographic. Case in point. When you have more considerable options like Apple does now, look how they expanded their ‘Point of sales‘. But beyond that, Apple is a company that’s all out make money, and when you have a wider array of products, means you increase the revenue stream. It’s that simple.

 

[ericwn]

For me it's fairly simple:
One iphone 4S to handle the call/SMS, e-wallet, torch-light, compass, calculator, sound pressure meter.....
One Airpad Pro for everything else.
Why bother using a tiny iPhone of all sizes to do something an Airpad Pro can do better, and more beautiful?

And what is this mystical Airpad you write about? Almost sounds like an Apple product!

 

[ericwn]

So I've had many iPhones over the years - 4/4S/5/5S/6/6+/6S/7 and the first gen SE which I had up until recently.

Decided it was time to upgrade to something with FaceID so bought a used X. Loved the bigger screen, but found FaceID not as reliable as TouchID.

Returned it and bought a new 2020 SE instead. Great to have TouchID back, but damn it's a lot heavier than the first gen SE and a similar weight to the X. Battery life isn't as good as I hoped for.

I'm missing the size, weight and simplicity of the first gen SE and seriously thinking about going back to that.

I guess the bottom line is, there are just too many factors to consider with a smartphone these days. I spend way too much time thinking about how the phone is to 'live with', battery life, an appropriate case/screen protector, insurance, AppleCare, how long the phone will last, the timing of new phone releases and many other factors. It's got a lil silly.

Main things that seem to come up time and time again:

Weight - I'm a guy and always keep my phone in a front pocket and the newer ones just feel like they are dragging me down. They also feel like if they drop, that weight is going to increase the amount of damage.

Price - $1k+ for a flagship phone?! Sure the price might be justified in terms of component/build costs but for something so easily damaged, the fact an out of warranty screen repair on an OLED is like $250-$300+ is crazy. I know insurance is a thing, as is AppleCare, but both are additional substantial costs on top of the up front cost.

Size - I have small(ish) hands and always prefer one-handed phone usage. A 6S/7/8/SE2 is about the upper limit of what I can tolerate and it seems Apple and others are definitely going the way of large handsets/screens. The only bright light seems to be the rumored smaller iPhone 12.

Extra costs - I know they're not mandatory, but things like a screen protector and case are an almost necessity when really the phone should be constructed in a way that takes the likelihood of drops/damage into consideration more than it already does. Gorilla Glass just isn't good enough.

Then, before you know it, boom it's September again and people almost feel obliged to upgrade just to have the 'latest' phone when most of the time it has trivial improvements.



I would love an iPhone that is light, not prone to damage with every drop (I'd happily take a fully plastic iPhone right now!), doesn't cost a ton, can be used comfortably with one hand and will be supported with iOS updates for the next few years. I don't care about increasing megapixels on a camera, or luxury/high end materials that are expensive to repair.

I know not everyone feels the same and people are happy to have all of the things I've complained about, but does anyone else feel the same or similar?

For those of us over 30, I remember how simple things were in the days of Nokia/Blackberry/Sony Ericsson. Capable phones, sturdy build quality, comfortably one handed use, long battery life etc and didn't cost $1k for a flagship phone.

It just feels like we spend so much time thinking about/obsessing over iPhones - how to protect it, whether its going to break/fail or be supported by iOS, battery life, cost etc and forgetting about the rest of life.

I treat these devices as tools. I get them and keep them for years until they fall apart. Choice is a great thing here and doesn’t bother me at all.

 

[ssledoux]

I’ve never had the “tool” mentality regarding my Apple products. I have always been a freak about keeping them protected, so if I wanted to sell them and upgrade, I’d get maximum dollar, likely because they are typically pricey!

The SE2 is the first phone I’ve had that I’ve actually USED before my case and screen protector arrived. It’s not that I want it to get damaged, because I do have that OCD tendency with my stuff (I like it to look good), but it’s not a thousand dollar device and I’m just not as afraid to actually use it.

It’s funny - I’m very much this way with vehicles. If I buy one new, I obsess over keeping it immaculate. If I buy one used, even though I won’t buy it unless at least the interior is pretty much like new, I am a lot less OCD about keeping it meticulous. I just don’t like to see my stuff get that first scratch I guess. ;-p

 

[rui no onna]

I guess the bottom line is, there are just too many factors to consider with a smartphone these days. I spend way too much time thinking about how the phone is to 'live with', battery life, an appropriate case/screen protector, insurance, AppleCare, how long the phone will last, the timing of new phone releases and many other factors. It's got a lil silly.

I would love an iPhone that is light, not prone to damage with every drop (I'd happily take a fully plastic iPhone right now!), doesn't cost a ton, can be used comfortably with one hand and will be supported with iOS updates for the next few years. I don't care about increasing megapixels on a camera, or luxury/high end materials that are expensive to repair.

It just feels like we spend so much time thinking about/obsessing over iPhones - how to protect it, whether its going to break/fail or be supported by iOS, battery life, cost etc and forgetting about the rest of life.

To be honest, my gripe during the previous couple of years was actually lack of options that suit me.

iPhone 8: too old and missing dual SIM
iPhone XR/11: too big
iPhone XS/11 Pro: too expensive (plus OLED typically gives me migraines so I'm reluctant to try)
iPhone XS Max/11 Pro Max: too big *and* too expensive (plus OLED)

I was very happy when the iPhone SE was released earlier this year (even moreso with the $199 Walmart deal). I might try the rumored 5.4" iPhone 12 later this year. If that doesn't work out, I expect I'll be using the SE for a long, long time.

Mind, I wouldn't mind a plastic iPhone as well ala-iPhone 3GS/5c if that combo can give me light weight while housing a much higher battery capacity than the SE 2020.

 

[ssledoux]

To be honest, my gripe during the previous couple of years was actually lack of options that suit me.

iPhone 8: too old and missing dual SIM
iPhone XR/11: too big
iPhone XS/11 Pro: too expensive (plus OLED typically gives me migraines so I'm reluctant to try)
iPhone XS Max/11 Pro Max: too big *and* too expensive (plus OLED)

Mind, I wouldn't mind a plastic iPhone as well ala-iPhone 3GS/5c if that combo can give me light weight while housing a much higher battery capacity than the SE 2020.

I was very happy when the iPhone SE was released earlier this year (even moreso with the $199 Walmart deal). I might try the rumored 5.4" iPhone 12 later this year. If that doesn't work out, I expect I'll be using the SE for a long, long time.

I think that’s where I am at the moment myself. I’m not sure how the OLED will work for me, as I’ve had problems with it in the past. The 5.4 was looking a bit too small, but I’m at least curious. I wouldn’t rule out 6.1 IF it wound up being lighter weight and a little smaller than the XR/11, but I wouldn’t count on it to be enough of a difference.

At this point, I’m honestly content to stay with my SE2. It’s doing all I need, and I have enjoyed the size so much I’m just not sure I can go back to anything bigger/heavier.

 

[Spudlicious]

I think that’s where I am at the moment myself. I’m not sure how the OLED will work for me, as I’ve had problems with it in the past. The 5.4 was looking a bit too small, but I’m at least curious. I wouldn’t rule out 6.1 IF it wound up being lighter weight and a little smaller than the XR/11, but I wouldn’t count on it to be enough of a difference.

At this point, I’m honestly content to stay with my SE2. It’s doing all I need, and I have enjoyed the size so much I’m just not sure I can go back to anything bigger/heavier.

The 5.4 is looking too small but you're enjoying the size of the 4.7 SE2. OK, we're all different and entitled to our views.

 

[ssledoux]

The 5.4 is looking too small but you're enjoying the size of the 4.7 SE2. OK, we're all different and entitled to our views.

The overall size of the new 5.4 phone is smaller than the current 4.7 phone (SE2). Depending on how much smaller, and then how different it feels with the flat edges, I’m not positive I’m gonna love it. Sure I’d like a slightly bigger screen, but holding the SE2 just feels about perfect, and I’m not sure I really want anything smaller.

And I never said we weren’t all entitled to our views. This is just my own personal opinion.

 

[kindaichi81]

So I've had many iPhones over the years - 4/4S/5/5S/6/6+/6S/7 and the first gen SE which I had up until recently.

Decided it was time to upgrade to something with FaceID so bought a used X. Loved the bigger screen, but found FaceID not as reliable as TouchID.

Returned it and bought a new 2020 SE instead. Great to have TouchID back, but damn it's a lot heavier than the first gen SE and a similar weight to the X. Battery life isn't as good as I hoped for.

I'm missing the size, weight and simplicity of the first gen SE and seriously thinking about going back to that.

I guess the bottom line is, there are just too many factors to consider with a smartphone these days. I spend way too much time thinking about how the phone is to 'live with', battery life, an appropriate case/screen protector, insurance, AppleCare, how long the phone will last, the timing of new phone releases and many other factors. It's got a lil silly.

Main things that seem to come up time and time again:

Weight - I'm a guy and always keep my phone in a front pocket and the newer ones just feel like they are dragging me down. They also feel like if they drop, that weight is going to increase the amount of damage.

Price - $1k+ for a flagship phone?! Sure the price might be justified in terms of component/build costs but for something so easily damaged, the fact an out of warranty screen repair on an OLED is like $250-$300+ is crazy. I know insurance is a thing, as is AppleCare, but both are additional substantial costs on top of the up front cost.

Size - I have small(ish) hands and always prefer one-handed phone usage. A 6S/7/8/SE2 is about the upper limit of what I can tolerate and it seems Apple and others are definitely going the way of large handsets/screens. The only bright light seems to be the rumored smaller iPhone 12.

Extra costs - I know they're not mandatory, but things like a screen protector and case are an almost necessity when really the phone should be constructed in a way that takes the likelihood of drops/damage into consideration more than it already does. Gorilla Glass just isn't good enough.

Then, before you know it, boom it's September again and people almost feel obliged to upgrade just to have the 'latest' phone when most of the time it has trivial improvements.



I would love an iPhone that is light, not prone to damage with every drop (I'd happily take a fully plastic iPhone right now!), doesn't cost a ton, can be used comfortably with one hand and will be supported with iOS updates for the next few years. I don't care about increasing megapixels on a camera, or luxury/high end materials that are expensive to repair.

I know not everyone feels the same and people are happy to have all of the things I've complained about, but does anyone else feel the same or similar?

For those of us over 30, I remember how simple things were in the days of Nokia/Blackberry/Sony Ericsson. Capable phones, sturdy build quality, comfortably one handed use, long battery life etc and didn't cost $1k for a flagship phone.

It just feels like we spend so much time thinking about/obsessing over iPhones - how to protect it, whether its going to break/fail or be supported by iOS, battery life, cost etc and forgetting about the rest of life.

not for me. i always buy the highest end iPhone of the year.

clear choice. no need to consider.