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so

  • yes - not doing it now / will wait for another refresh

    Votes: 24 15.8%
  • no - still upgrading

    Votes: 65 42.8%
  • not relevant- wasn't upgrading anyways

    Votes: 39 25.7%
  • not sure

    Votes: 24 15.8%

  • Total voters
    152

thadoggfather

macrumors P6
Original poster
Oct 1, 2007
16,217
17,281
I'd be curious since this is the first time there's been a major iOS release without a new iPhone, in iPhone history (not counting SE1/SE2020 which were mid cycle releases for 'Special Editions' or Product red)
 
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It doesn't matter to me. I've always seen the two as separate things. Since I'm a beta tester, my calendar never has "new iOS" and "new iPhones" on the same date - they're always months apart.

The new iOS means "new features for my old iPhone."

The new iPhones mean hardware-based performance upgrades, new hardware-based features that weren't hinted at during the iOS beta, and about every two or three years, a design refresh.

Also, I tend to buy a new iPhone every 2.5 - 3 years, which makes it easier for me to disassociate iOS and new hardware.

Clearly, there's more drama when new OS and new hardware coincide, and from a marketer's standpoint, associating the new OS-based features with the new model phones (even though older phones get nearly all the same features) probably does stir added excitement.

The delayed roll-out of iPhone this year messes a bit with tradition, but releasing iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS when they did was a practical necessity. The new Watches and iPads needed to be released with OSes that support their hardware upgrades, and iPhones had to be upgraded in order to be able to pair with watchOS 7 and to have a consistent feature set with those new iPads. I'd guess Apple is confident that the new hardware will be exciting enough that it doesn't need a boost from a concurrent iOS release.

And as for Big Sur? I'm expecting they are holding that back to give an added boost to the unveiling of the new Apple Silicon Macs (new OS to support the new hardware). I can't help but believe that the new iPhones and AS Macs will be unveiled at the same event.
 
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Didn't even think about this. My iPhone 7 felt ancient and I'd been itching to upgrade, despite it being in good condition, but once iOS 14 hit I fell in love with it again. Revamped the entire home screen and with more and more widgets & functionality coming down the pipeline, I anticipate it'll stay exciting for a while now.

Might actually be able to hold off for much longer now until the notch goes away! (pls Tim Apple hear my prayer)
 
Good question.
Personally, and no fault of anyone, I feel underwhelmed about Apples tech this year.
I look forward to the hardware, but was unhappy with the size increase of the 12 pro.
The X/Xs were the sweet spot for me.
I'm not a power user and iOS 14 looked good but I ended up with little use of the "hot" features.
iOS will always improve, and iPhones/pad will too.

After thinking about your question, I reckon that the combination of the pandemic, elections, and a hypermanic world media have dulled me insensate to guilty pleasures of new gadgets..
 
To answer OPs question...No! My reasons is that I get aboard the beta bandwagon of the new IOS release. However, there always seems to be some new features that are related to the hardware release.
 
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The survey doesn’t have the answer I would pick - I upgrade based on hardware features so an early release doesn’t influence either way.

I’m not anticipating upgrading my iPhone 11 Pro Max this year unless there is a stand-out new hardware feature. 5G wouldn’t cut it alone as the network coverage isn’t there yet in the UK, maybe next year it will be. I’m not sure about Lidar - I think there would need to be a killer-app to go with it and at the moment I don’t see one for me. Can‘t say I’ve seen any other anticipated features for the phone beyond those at present, so I wait to be wowed... 😁
 
The survey doesn’t have the answer I would pick - I upgrade based on hardware features so an early release doesn’t influence either way.

I’m not anticipating upgrading my iPhone 11 Pro Max this year unless there is a stand-out new hardware feature. 5G wouldn’t cut it alone as the network coverage isn’t there yet in the UK, maybe next year it will be. I’m not sure about Lidar - I think there would need to be a killer-app to go with it and at the moment I don’t see one for me. Can‘t say I’ve seen any other anticipated features for the phone beyond those at present, so I wait to be wowed... 😁
Same my answer would have been No - still waiting for announcement to decide.
 
iOS 14 greatly slowed down my iPhone 7. I haven’t see lag this bad on an iPhone in a long time. I was going to get the 12 anyway, but now I really can’t wait.
 
iOS 14 greatly slowed down my iPhone 7. I haven’t see lag this bad on an iPhone in a long time. I was going to get the 12 anyway, but now I really can’t wait.
Interesting. I can't say that I've noticed that much of a difference one way or another on an iPhone 7 that I use.
 
Absolutely. Especially with the new reports of no real upgrades to the iPhone this year, why even bother? All the changes that SHOULD have come this year are being held until the iPhone 13 in 2021. Im not even going to bother with the 12 now.
 
Interesting. I can't say that I've noticed that much of a difference one way or another on an iPhone 7 that I use.
Yeah I know my experience isn’t reflective of the testing. But I have a second iPhone 7 (from work) that isn’t upgraded, and it’s night and day. Maybe something is wrong with my phone, I dunno. All I know is I can’t wait for the 12 now.
 
Absolutely. Especially with the new reports of no real upgrades to the iPhone this year, why even bother? All the changes that SHOULD have come this year are being held until the iPhone 13 in 2021. Im not even going to bother with the 12 now.
There are people who say something similar pretty much with every new iPhone release...the new iPhones still come out, plenty of people get them, Apple continues to do well, and things go on.
 
Doesn’t the new software always come out before the new hardware? I could have sworn iOS is always out before the phone.
 
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The worst part of buying a launch day iPhone is that it comes with a junk X.0 beta version of whatever iOS gets pushed out that year. Great hardware, buggy software. It's like a rainy day on Christmas.

So no.
 
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My iPhone X feels brand new so there isn't a compelling reason to upgrade hardware wise. The processors are already fast enough and the design is likely to still have a notch and stupid things like lightning. Don't see a compelling reason to upgrade until the phone and iOS on it can do something my current phone can't.
 
The worst part of buying a launch day iPhone is that it comes with a junk X.0 beta version of whatever iOS gets pushed out that year. Great hardware, buggy software. It's like a rainy day on Christmas.

So no.

this is true and one of the perks of the late release, assuming software is more ironed by then which even then there's no guarantees. but I think this thread is an interesting thought excercise, because for some the dust settles on the new features (notwithstanding maybe LiDAR or some hardware specific thing, people may or may not care about or 5G) causing them to re-evaluate if they really 'need' a new phone, even in line with their general upgrade lust.
 
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My iPhone X feels brand new so there isn't a compelling reason to upgrade hardware wise. The processors are already fast enough and the design is likely to still have a notch and stupid things like lightning. Don't see a compelling reason to upgrade until the phone and iOS on it can do something my current phone can't.

Exactly my thoughts too. The X is still a powerhouse today.

Its the phone that made the iPhone “mature” IMO. Nothing since has been remotely worth upgrading for in my view.
 
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iOS and the hardware are separate for me. I am happy with my iPhone X though the battery is starting to show its age. My company issued iPhone 11s to us and I prefer the somewhat larger screen there, so when the 12 comes out I'll be upgrading to one of those.
 
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