Other Does anyone else feel pressure to buy either the latest iPhone, or at least a 'Pro' model?

[DMG35]

I buy what I like and couldn't care less on what others think of what I buy or how it makes them feel regarding me. You should do the same.

 

[SalisburySam]

Marketing preys on FOMO. Fiscal sanity says why?

 

[triton100]

Probably the most materialistic post I've ever made. It's going to sound a little silly but it's been on my mind for a little while and thought I'd see if anyone else feels similarly. Hear me out.

Does anyone else feel the pressure to have either the latest device, or at the very least a 'Pro' phone?

I have a 13 mini and it ticks so many boxes - small, practical, can be used one handed, light, good battery etc. It really works for me in a lot of ways.

But I always feel I'm 'missing out' on not having a Pro phone, even though I wouldn't use any of the additional features. Sure, 120hz, a better battery and a bigger screen are all nice things, but I definitely don't need them.

It's more the status of having a 'Pro' phone.

Even though it would be so awkward for me - the weight, the bulk with a case, the need for two hands, and the price premium - for some reason I still feel I 'need' one.

Is it an image thing? Do I sub-consciously think that people will think less of me because I have a 13 mini instead of a Pro? Am I thinking they're wondering whether I can't afford a more expensive phone rather than it being a choice? To be blunt, are non-Pro phones viewed as less "cool"? (ugh I feel so old putting the word cool in quotations).

I know come September, even though the 13 mini is fine, I'll still be thinking I need to buy the 14 Pro because it's the latest phone.

I know none of this should matter, it's materialistic, and most people couldn't care less, but why do I still think that way?

This has more to do with your self esteem and self worth. You may need to look into therapy as this is a mental health issue.

 

[Brad7]

This has more to do with your self esteem and self worth. You may need to look into therapy as this is a mental health issue.

Well then that would apply to most of humanity.

Plus a 13 Pro is cheaper than therapy. 😜

 

[Mirachan_007]

Not feeling.
I have an iPhone 7 Plus. I’m planning to buy the iPhone 14 Pro Max because iPhone 7 and 7 Plus won’t compatible with iOS16.

 

[Lotuskid]

i can definitely relate to not having what is the perceived 'best' iphone though. I own the mini myself and did catch myself thinknig well isn't it worth it to pay just a little more to have the iphone with the most features. again its not any external pressure, just an internal knowledge that the phone i'm using isn't actually the best one, even if its good enough to do 90% of what i need.

i'm not the target consumer for the regular series of any phone, and i know when the new ones are out i'll only be interested in the pro series. I gave the mini a chance as it had the one feature the pros do not - smallest size

 

[NARadyk]

First of all, I completely understand what you’re saying.

Secondly, I truly believe Apple know this and play it on it with their customers. Obviously they WANT people to buy the “best” and most “top tier” product of whatever it is they’re selling, in this case, the iPhone. So they know what they’re doing with their marketing and how they can make you feel you NEED something that you actually don’t.

 

[sers]

I couldn't care less what others think about what I'm using. I'm still chugging along with a 2016 iPhone SE. Replaced the battery recently and the thing runs like a champ. Honestly, there isn't that much more that a 13 Pro does that my SE doesn't do. Buy and use what you like and if people judge you then flip them the bird.

I'm still on iOS 14 and will probably upgrade to 15.6 soon, knowing that will be the last upgrade. I figure it'll be good for another 2 years before I really need to get something newer.

 

[dwaltwhit]

I usually get a new phone every 3 years. I think this year I might go with the pro in hopes of getting an extra year out of it.

 

[anthony13]

Probably the most materialistic post I've ever made. It's going to sound a little silly but it's been on my mind for a little while and thought I'd see if anyone else feels similarly. Hear me out.

Does anyone else feel the pressure to have either the latest device, or at the very least a 'Pro' phone?

I have a 13 mini and it ticks so many boxes - small, practical, can be used one handed, light, good battery etc. It really works for me in a lot of ways.

But I always feel I'm 'missing out' on not having a Pro phone, even though I wouldn't use any of the additional features. Sure, 120hz, a better battery and a bigger screen are all nice things, but I definitely don't need them.

It's more the status of having a 'Pro' phone.

Even though it would be so awkward for me - the weight, the bulk with a case, the need for two hands, and the price premium - for some reason I still feel I 'need' one.

Is it an image thing? Do I sub-consciously think that people will think less of me because I have a 13 mini instead of a Pro? Am I thinking they're wondering whether I can't afford a more expensive phone rather than it being a choice? To be blunt, are non-Pro phones viewed as less "cool"? (ugh I feel so old putting the word cool in quotations).

I know come September, even though the 13 mini is fine, I'll still be thinking I need to buy the 14 Pro because it's the latest phone.

I know none of this should matter, it's materialistic, and most people couldn't care less, but why do I still think that way?

I know what you mean, I used to be like that with the iPhone. But honestly it was the ‘pro’ name that snapped that streak for me. I just never really took the bait on apple using the pro name on certain products, seemed a bit beneath them to use such an obvious marketing ploy. Now I do have a pro 12, but I definitely don’t feel the need to upgrade every year anymore.

 

[FNH15]

To me it's not worthless. It still runs the latest software, I still get security updates. I can pay bills, do banking and other items. Why go out and spend $1200+ on a computer in this economic climate. I still even get AppleCare+ for it if anything breaks down. Only thing that sucks is this keyboard which would be one of the big drivers for getting rid of it.

It frustrates me that a 4 core/8 thread MacBook Pro with 16 gb of ram is considered outdated.

To be clear, I meant from a market perspective. Still have a 2011 iMac I use for some tasks.

But when trying to resell an Intel Mac, their values have dropped precipitously. They’re hot, slow, and most the portable models left in support for macOS 13.0 have keyboards which are fundamentally flawed. Aside from a few edge cases they are woefully inferior to Apple Silicon Macs and will have notably less years of support for macOS. They are practically worthless on the used market, and rightly so.

That 4 core MacBook Pro is 1/2 as fast as a $600 iPad Air (and I’m being charitable, comparing a 2018 13" MacBook Pro). Why buy the Pro on the used market when you can get an Air for the same price (with longer support) - most people do not need the few advantages an Intel Pro provides, and used values show this.

 

[rocketbuc]

I have been an aspiring minimalist for several years, this definitely helps to think differently about things like FOMO and such.

Here are some inspirational links that might help you to start the process…

How Little Can You Get Away With?

This is one of the key questions we must ask ourselves when it comes to seeking a life of enough. The journey to finding what that word — that idea — means for us all is not about finding out how much...

minimalmac.com

The Best Upgrade Is You

I have come to believe that the best and most cost effective technology upgrade that one can make is to themselves. I'm not talking cyborg implants here. I'm speaking about knowledge. That is,...

minimalmac.com

 

[icanhazmac]

I don't feel pressure to buy anything. When I need something I buy it. Pressure comes from marketing and as I hate ads I also hate marketing fluff, just give me the facts and I will be fine.

• My iPhone 8 is a tank and I don't see getting rid of it until at least the 15.
• Bought a M1 MBP because my 2017 was an absolute dumpster fire.
• Bought an iPad M1 Air as my OG iPP 12.9 was getting long in the tooth and starting to have touch issues.

Simple as that.

 

[Tpevans0105]

Before I used to upgrade every other year but this will be my first year that I’ll keep my phone for more than two years. My 12 Pro Max is still works really good. I probably get the battery replaced but nothing about the 14 Pro interests me enough to upgrade and I really want usb-c

 

[ggibson913]

Let me make you feel a little bit better, I have an iPhone 13 Pro and am perfectly happy with it functionally, but am thinking about swapping for the 14 Pro just because metallic purple is cool.

 

[panjandrum]

No.

 

[Tdude96]

When dudes hang around, they tend to compare... their stuff. This translates to things they own, including houses, cars, gadgets. etc.
Consumers might not know the specifics, but more and more consumers are getting familiar with tech terms and brands like RED, Sony. and Fuji. Mirrorless cameras are attainable by the regular consumers, so they are getting familiar with it. Of course, the plethora of youtubers flexing out their gears on social media is not helping.

That's fair. In my experience, size mattered a lot more to individual customers than the quality & capabilities of the gear itself. They tended to associate "big" with "better."

I could attach an enormous zoom lens with questionable optics to a prosumer camera, and the average client would find it far more impressive than a pro camera with a high-quality prime attached. I stopped doing photography professionally 10 years ago, so perhaps that's changed now and the individual consumers are more on top of the technology than they were back then.

 

[progx]

No. I never felt pressure to buy one. In my case, I take a lot of photos and video with my iPhone, so Pro became an option for me. It has been worth it too. However, the regular one is pretty good for any number of pictures and video too.

When it came to the iPad, the new Air 5 was perfect since I had the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Didn’t need the camera on the iPad, plus the refresh rate wasn’t a huge deal breaker for me.

I buy for what I need and utilize. Right now, I’m debating on a MacBook Pro, Air or iMac when I transition away from my late 2018 Mac mini.

Weigh out your needs and wants. Take into consideration where they fall into use cases. I plan on using my iPhone and iPad for at least three years each.

 

[mr_jomo]

Used too but not anymore, by now the phone prices have been jagged up so, so much I'll only update when one of the kids needs a hand-me-down 🤣

 

[Scepticalscribe]

No, I don’t. I vote with my wallet and budget.

No.

No.

But then again I am 58 years old and no longer give a flying **** what people think about my life.

It was different when I was in my 20s and 30s it did.

OP live to your own rules. No one else even notices.

These three posts express my thoughts on the subject.

No.

Not at all.

Budget and my wants and needs dictate my purchases of phones and computers.

However, I also suspect (much as @arkitect observes) that this may be a matter of age, (or maturity), where, as you become older (more mature) you realise that it really is rather silly to pay too much heed to the opinions of one's peers in such matters, and you learn, instead, (growing self-confidence) to follow your own instincts and preferences.

And youngsters can be so judgmental about stuff that, with hindsight, you come to realise matters not at all.

To the OP: It is counter-productive to purchase a phone that is fashionable (and desirable) if it does not meet your needs (for example, if it is too large, or uncomfortable, or unwieldy).

When you buy a phone, the only things to take into consideration are what your wants and your needs are from this phone, (and possibly, your budget, what you can afford). Nothing else.

My own phone is an iPhone SE, which I shall keep until it no longer functions because I love the form factor. Actually, I'd prefer something even smaller - a lovely little stylish clam-phone, for example.

Personally, I would never purchase one of those modern monsters (irrespective of how "fashionable" they are) because they are too large, too unwieldly, and far too uncomfortable, - I cannot put them in a jacket (coat) or jeans/khakis pocket, I cannot hold them in one hand, I cannot put them away neatly.

In fact, from a design perspective - to be perfectly candid, I truly detest them.

 

[wowee]

Probably the most materialistic post I've ever made. It's going to sound a little silly but it's been on my mind for a little while and thought I'd see if anyone else feels similarly. Hear me out.

Does anyone else feel the pressure to have either the latest device, or at the very least a 'Pro' phone?

I have a 13 mini and it ticks so many boxes - small, practical, can be used one handed, light, good battery etc. It really works for me in a lot of ways.

But I always feel I'm 'missing out' on not having a Pro phone, even though I wouldn't use any of the additional features. Sure, 120hz, a better battery and a bigger screen are all nice things, but I definitely don't need them.

It's more the status of having a 'Pro' phone.

Even though it would be so awkward for me - the weight, the bulk with a case, the need for two hands, and the price premium - for some reason I still feel I 'need' one.

Is it an image thing? Do I sub-consciously think that people will think less of me because I have a 13 mini instead of a Pro? Am I thinking they're wondering whether I can't afford a more expensive phone rather than it being a choice? To be blunt, are non-Pro phones viewed as less "cool"? (ugh I feel so old putting the word cool in quotations).

I know come September, even though the 13 mini is fine, I'll still be thinking I need to buy the 14 Pro because it's the latest phone.

I know none of this should matter, it's materialistic, and most people couldn't care less, but why do I still think that way?

Who cares what phone people have? I’d say it’s simply a reflection of your own judgments of others. No one gives a s$it.

 

[Jackbequickly]

Don’t feel any pressure, I just do it like I have been doing since the first iPhone.

 

[arkitect]

These three posts express my thoughts on the subject.

No.

Not at all.

Budget and my wants and needs dictate my purchases of phones and computers.

However, I also suspect (much as @arkitect observes) that this may be a matter of age, (or maturity), where, as you become older (more mature) you realise that it really is rather silly to pay too much heed to the opinions of one's peers in such matters, and you learn, instead, (growing self-confidence) to follow your own instincts and preferences.

And youngsters can be so judgmental about stuff that, with hindsight, you come to realise matters not at all.

To the OP: It is counter-productive to purchase a phone that is fashionable (and desirable) if it does not meet your needs (for example, if it is too large, or uncomfortable, or unwieldy).

When you buy a phone, the only things to take into consideration are what your wants and your needs are from this phone, (and possibly, your budget, what you can afford). Nothing else.

Definitely 100% agree.

My own phone is an iPhone SE, which I shall keep until it no longer functions because I love the form factor. Actually, I'd prefer something even smaller - a lovely little stylish clam-phone, for example.

Personally, I would never purchase one of those modern monsters (irrespective of how "fashionable" they are) because they are too large, too unwieldly, and far too uncomfortable, - I cannot put them in a jacket (coat) or jeans/khakis pocket, I cannot hold them in one hand, I cannot put them away neatly.

In fact, from a design perspective - to be perfectly candid, I truly detest them.

I have moved to the 13 Mini — and it is not a bad little phone. Still not as nice and pocketable as the original SE, but… alas I think that's as small as we'll get from Apple.

"Apple locuta! Causa finita est!" (Apologies to St Augustine. 🤣)

 

[dinosrk]

Yes, but the OP was asking if you feel the need to upgrade because of peer pressure — not because of actual usage (as you are doing).
Do you feel irrationally compelled to have the latest and most expensive because your friends/family/co-workers have more expensive gadgets…

You are right, my emotional state took over!
No, it is not to show off with a new phone, rather than that I am not satisfied with the performance of the 12 mini, thats all!

br

 

[OSXphoto]

No. I really don’t care what people around me might think of my old phone. I would even feel uncomfortable buying new stuff when the old one is still working. Here’s why:
Manufacturing new tech appliances such as phones depletes earthly resources so my personal policy is to buy what I think I’ll need for many years and keep it as long as possible. I am currently configuring a new MBP for my photo business and yes it’s going to be “cool” in 2022 but probably not so much in 2030.