I’ve been thinking how it’s kinda funny how my opinions on iPhone design have changed over time. For instance, I thought the “stove top” iPhone 11 camera design was hideous, an abomination, and such a downgrade from the X/XS camera design. Now I have the “stove top” camera design on my 13 Pro and like it.
I also thought that the 13 Pro camera looked ridiculously large when I first got my phone in person. Now I see the 12 Pro cameras and the specifically the 11 Pro cameras and think they look too small to where it looks bad and toy-like.
The notch on the X/XS/11/12 models never bothered me, but now it looks pretty bad to me compared to the size of the notch on the 13 series.
I guess these are all great examples of recency bias. Does anyone else have funny/interesting stories regarding changes in opinion on iPhone designs over time?
In 2012 I had the option to purchase the iPhone 4s from Sprint. I'm not a fan of the design, I hate the stainless steel band. I waited and got the iPhone 5 in Black/Slate. To me, the 5 resembled the monolith in the 2001 movie. I still like it.
I skipped the 5s because Apple did not offer Black/Slate. I got into several discussions here about Space Gray not being black. When the 6 series launched I complained about the antenna lines and the camera bump. But I eventually ended up with a 6+ - but only to get my pound of flesh from my cell carrier (Sprint) as I was going out the door. I was fine with my new carrier replacing it with a 6s+. Still not totally fine with the design.
I had the 6s+ from late 2015 to May 2019 when I went Android (Pixel 3a XL). That was because I don't like all the fugly camera boils on the back of the phone that Apple made since the 6 series. With each model those boils got bigger and looked more hideous. One of the models even managed to make itself look like Bender from Futurama.
But I wanted to go back to iOS last year and to me the 11PM looked okay. I'm still not a fan of the camera boil, but with the glass back on the 11PM I can stomach it a bit easier.
Lots of people either suggested or assumed I use a case. I don't. I hate cases and do not use them. I buy the iPhone for its aesthetics because any old phone can already do what I need it to do. I don't use my phones as pro cameras or substitute computers and media devices. I have real computers and real televisions for all of that.
I'm currently interested in the iPhone 14 (if it will be called that). But have yet to hear if the camera boil will still be present. With the 12, Apple seems to be swinging back towards the flat sides of the iPhone 5 so there's hope.
For the record, ultimately, I ended up with both an iPhone 4 and a 4s at some point. They aren't my main phones and I appreciate that they are iPhones and use them for certain things. And I still have my 6s+ which I use when out walking or when I know there is a possibility of my phone being damaged (rather the 6s+ then my 11PM). But, I'm not in love with these phones like I was (and am) my iPhone 5.
