Other Help/Confused choosing next used iphone

[britpoprule]

Hello friends,
I'm really torn for the purchase of the next iphone for one of my parents.
The choice at the moment includes :
Iphone X
Iphone Xs
Iphone Xr
Iphone SE

I'm looking in the second hand market on ebay, here in the UK. These are my concerns :
Ideally I would take the Xs (sold at around £450) but it's the most expensive, so I need to wait and hope for a bargain.
The iphone SE (sold at around £380) should be the one to take for the longevity, but the old design turns me off.
The iphone Xr (sold at around £400-430) should also be a good choice but I feel it's a bit too big.
The iphone X (sold at around £350) maybe it's a bit too old...

What's your idea?

 

[Clix Pix]

Isn't the parent worthy of a new, current model phone? Why does it have to be some old, used device?

How much input does the parent have into the choice? He or she may have priorities and usage patterns which you might not have considered.

 

[britpoprule]

Isn't the parent worthy of a new, current model phone? Why does it have to be some old, used device?

How much input does the parent have into the choice? He or she may have priorities and usage patterns which you might not have considered.

Good question. It's a present, and those amounts are already way too expensive, so new devices are out of the equation! And so far we've always been happy using used devices.

 

[a-m-k]

I was wondering the same thing, Clix. Unless the OP was going to buy one intending on using it as a gift and they aren't very financially secure....

 

[Clix Pix]

OP: OK, so that answers the question about the cost factor..... What about the question regarding the parent's input into the choice of phone and the features, functions, etc.? If this is meant to be a surprise, fine, but do you already have a good idea of how the parent currently uses his or her iPhone and what they like and appreciate about the features and functions?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Hello friends,
I'm really torn for the purchase of the next iphone for one of my parents.
The choice at the moment includes :
Iphone X
Iphone Xs
Iphone Xr
Iphone SE

I'm looking in the second hand market on ebay, here in the UK. These are my concerns :
Ideally I would take the Xs (sold at around £450) but it's the most expensive, so I need to wait and hope for a bargain.
The iphone SE (sold at around £380) should be the one to take for the longevity, but the old design turns me off.
The iphone Xr (sold at around £400-430) should also be a good choice but I feel it's a bit too big.
The iphone X (sold at around £350) maybe it's a bit too old...

What's your idea?

If the phone is for a parent, why are you judging phones based on your personal likes and preferences? That seems an bit selfish.

 

[LFC2020]

I'm looking in the second hand market on ebay, here in the UK. These are my concerns :
Ideally I would take the Xs (sold at around £450) but it's the most expensive, so I need to wait and hope for a bargain.
The iphone SE (sold at around £380) should be the one to take for the longevity, but the old design turns me off.
The iphone Xr (sold at around £400-430) should also be a good choice but I feel it's a bit too big.
The iphone X (sold at around £350) maybe it's a bit too old...

Seems like you've answered your own question, XS is a great phone, should get 5 more years of software updates, great build quality, oled screen.

 

[now i see it]

You may be turned off by the classic design but many people aren't. Personally I'm a fan of it and really don't like the Face ID iPhones at all.
Remember- the phone is for your parents, not you.
Also, some people are very sensitive to the flickering beaming out of OLED iPhone screens. An LCD iPhone is a safe bet, any of the OLED iPhones is a gamble (with your parent's eyesight).
My first choice to give an iPhone gift to a parent would be an 8 Plus. Hard to find them now though.

 

[britpoprule]

All these questions and considerations that distract from the main reason I'm/we're here...I was the one in the family delegated to the choice, so they trust me and want me as a judge in this choice...end of it...

 

[Apple_Robert]

All these questions and considerations that distract from the main reason I'm/we're here...I was the one in the family delegated to the choice, so they trust me and want me as a judge in this choice...end of it...

You should have said that to begin with. Don’t get mad at other people for bringing up concerns and viewpoints you didn’t make clear with the opening post.

 

[maerz001]

OP: OK, so that answers the question about the cost factor..... What about the question regarding the parent's input into the choice of phone and the features, functions, etc.? If this is meant to be a surprise, fine, but do you already have a good idea of how the parent currently uses his or her iPhone and what they like and appreciate about the features and functions?

What would be a use case that differentiates a XR from a XS or X?

 

[britpoprule]

What would be a use case that differentiates a XR from a XS or X?

The X would be more than enough but I see it as becoming obsolete/non supported 1-2 years before the XS and the XR. The XR would be the choice if it wasn't as big as it is.
The SE is excellent for performance and longevity, but obsolete in the look.

 

[Clix Pix]

All these questions and considerations that distract from the main reason I'm/we're here...I was the one in the family delegated to the choice, so they trust me and want me as a judge in this choice...end of it...

All very well and good, but in the end, you're not the one who will actually be using this phone on a daily basis..... Which is why it is important to take into consideration the needs and preferences of the intended recipient.

 

[wicked271]

If your parent likes a small phone, the XS should be good but it still depends on what your parent like and what they will use it for. If they have bad eyesight, maybe an XR for bigger screen with a popsocket case or ring case for easy use.

From my experience, my mom doesn’t use her phone much except for call/text/reading books but she wants good battery life. She had an old iPhone 6 Plus which needs charging twice a day. I downgraded her size from a Plus to an 11 because it has better battery life, cheaper, and big enough screen to read her ebooks anywhere she goes and the largest storage so she can take as many photos as she like for at least 5 years😂


if you have older iPhones, maybe you can also use them to trade-in for a newer/refurbished phone

 

[britpoprule]

If your parent likes a small phone, the XS should be good but it still depends on what your parent like and what they will use it for. If they have bad eyesight, maybe an XR for bigger screen with a popsocket case or ring case for easy use.

From my experience, my mom doesn’t use her phone much except for call/text/reading books but she wants good battery life. She had an old iPhone 6 Plus which needs charging twice a day. I downgraded her size from a Plus to an 11 because it has better battery life, cheaper, and big enough screen to read her ebooks anywhere she goes and the largest storage so she can take as many photos as she like for at least 5 years😂


if you have older iPhones, maybe you can also use them to trade-in for a newer/refurbished phone

Thank you for the answer.
Unfortunately I cannot afford an 11.
Even though the XR would be a good choice for bad eyesight, I feel that maybe it's a bit too big/uncomfortable to put in your pocket? And I also noticed that people struggle with their fingers to reach certain areas of the screen...
That's why I thought an X, XS would be the perfect size, although in the used market the XR is cheaper than the X and XS...so it is still tempting...

 

[5105973]

When I had an X, I struggled a bit with the battery life. I find the one on my SE adequate to my needs but not generous. I thought the battery on my Xr was good. My oldest teen has an Xr and absolutely loves it and refused an offer to upgrade to an iPhone 11 and pass the Xr down. I liked mine when I had it. It is a little bit big and heavy for women’s pockets but it’s not bad for purses. For many men it’s considered easily pocketed.

I just don’t know the quality of battery life you might find on the used market, though.

 

[joeblow7777]

Isn't the parent worthy of a new, current model phone? Why does it have to be some old, used device?

How much input does the parent have into the choice? He or she may have priorities and usage patterns which you might not have considered.

If the OP’s parent are anything like mine, they would kill me and refuse to accept it if I spent money on a new iPhone for them. My parents always get my old phone when I get a new one, and that more than suits their needs. If I upgrade like I expect to this year, my mom will be getting my 8+.

 

[wicked271]

Thank you for the answer.
Unfortunately I cannot afford an 11.
Even though the XR would be a good choice for bad eyesight, I feel that maybe it's a bit too big/uncomfortable to put in your pocket? And I also noticed that people struggle with their fingers to reach certain areas of the screen...
That's why I thought an X, XS would be the perfect size, although in the used market the XR is cheaper than the X and XS...so it is still tempting...

It really should be the choice of your parent though. I have an 11 pro max in my pocket everyday and it’s fine. I also have small hands but I love the big screen size for reading. The XR is smaller so should fit better. If the phone is for your mom, she’ll probably put it in her purse.

The question should be, what would your parent want? Do they prefer longer battery life or would they want the smallest phone? If they go out everyday, they might want longer battery. What will they use it for? Will they take lots of photos? (Xs camera might be better). If they will only use it for text and call, then get the cheapest phone. I had an X before and had to usually charge 2x a day.

if it’s a surprise gift, try to bring up phones in a conversation and see what their opinions are. That’s what I did with my mom. Like,“look at that ad for the new iphone 11, so many colors, isn’t the red a nice color?”....