Other How happy are you with Apple's iPhone direction?

[Torty]

Good point with the subscriptions. We don’t even get a charger and headphones when buying a 2k+ phone.
let’s see how much it will be for the satellite functionality, it may be useful for some people.
With the tensions rising between US and China it may be worse in future. What happens if apple loses the Chinese market?
It will not be good for customers, it’s always better when the company makes money.
Let’s hope for the best.

To all the other topics: Forget the idea that the standard iphone is the flagship one. With introducing of the pro it lost that status. Look what happened to standard iPad: it became the entry level product far far away from the pro line.

 

[nquinn]

My dislikes:

- Re-using a CPU in the base phone. I realize these have quickly become appliances, but it just feels wrong in the tech industry to pay $900+ for a phone with a 1 year old processor
- The cost of more storage is really brutal. +$100 to go from 128gb to 256gb is annoying
- The extra $30 gouging for an unlocked phone is inconsistent and sucky
- I really wish iCloud would open up APIs like others. If I buy 2TB of iCloud storage I want other ways to backup my data there - not just pushing from iCloud drive/iPhone. (i.e. rclone, arq backup, etc using s3 compliant endpoints)
- Not a fan of the bigger phones in general. For now I'm sticking with a 13 mini. I'll re-evaluate in 3-4yrs or so if I keep it or move up to a larger size

 

[Technerd108]

Interesting responses so far. Seems like two major groups are evolving. I should have expected as much on this forum.

It is either why complain because you have so many choices and who needs a16 when a15 is almost the same?

My answer would be the later group what happens next year with a 17 and possible 3nm chip which might be significantly better than a16? Will you use the same argument? My point was Apple is splintering the line along two groups where the more costly group gets a better or newer chip and the other gets an older chip. Android manufacturers have been doing this for years giving their flagship the best chip and mid range or upper mid range lesser chips. This is what separated Apple is that no matter what latest Gen iPhone you bought , even the SE had the latest and greatest chip and ram. Now that is no longer so.

As to the group that says I have choices. I get that. But since Apple makes everything they are in a unique position to offer more than the competition. They don't need to stratisfy their line so much and can offer all of their customers a better experience. People say they don't care about ProMotion or cameras but those people are coming from a device that never had it so they wouldn't know the difference. Also just because you don't need it doesn't mean you don't want it.

There are some saying you just need to wait 3 years or more. Why? I do not expect radical changes from one Gen to the next but I do expect a new chip. Even flagship Android devices don't sell a new release with last year's chip? Sure a15 might be powerful enough for now but it is the principle of buying a NEW iPhone with an old chip. A practice they haven't done before now.

Lastly someone said that Apple is not trying to make money by selling Pro devices?? Really? Their entire line and marketing strategy is to get you to purchase the most expensive devices that they sell no matter if it is a Mac, iPad or iPhone. If they didn't make more of a profit on higher cost items why would they have a strategy to get you to buy them? Why are they a trillion dollar company because they offered choices so people would buy a lower cost device??

Look I am just saying I remember when Apple did think differently and didn't try to milk every dollar out of you by stratification but buy offering just a few excellent devices. You either paid the money or not but you were always going to get a premium device with alm the features, ram and storage or in macs grade of cpu was another choice but the base model had almost all the features of the higher end model. There weren't a million choices but what was available was excellent. I just miss that Apple who focused on delivering an experience and not extracting every last dollar. Don't get me wrong Apple has always been about profit but at least you were always getting the best and not a watered down version of something just to push you up the ladder into buying the most expensive offering.

 

[Splitrail]

I'd feel more positive about their direction if I didn't see so many complaints about the iPhone14 lineup and ios16.
Did this happen with the 13 lineup as well?
I've been searching for complaint threads on the 13 series on this forum, and I'm sure there were at least SOME, but I'm unable to find them.
Links, anybody?

 

[1BadManVan]

Not happy with the constant price increases here in Canada for some pretty small updates sometimes but I still love my iPhone. Just got the 14 pro max and no complaints here, my wife took over my 13 pro max and absolutely loves it as well. She lives on it for her job/social life and definitely holds up to her abuse lol

 

[Torty]

Not happy with the constant price increases here in Canada for some pretty small updates sometimes but I still love my iPhone. Just got the 14 pro max and no complaints here, my wife took over my 13 pro max and absolutely loves it as well. She lives on it for her job/social life and definitely holds up to her abuse lol

The more you pay for the device the more sensitive you are for imperfections. Besides US and China the 14 pro is much more expensive than the 13 pro was.
I am very happy that I got lucky with my 14 PM which is perfect for me. Same was with the X but I got less lucky with iPads.

 

[Pakaku]

They are more likely to reintroduce a new mini model at some point then to ever bring the headphone jack back.

Since the 6+ I've been waiting for Apple to remove the camera bump. That was 2014, over eight years ago.

Still waiting.

I'd love a new mini with just a standard (but pretty decent) camera flush with the back. Flat edges, too, rounded ones feel like they have less surface area to grip and digging into my hands.

 

[1BadManVan]

The more you pay for the device the more sensitive you are for imperfections. Besides US and China the 14 pro is much more expensive than the 13 pro was.
I am very happy that I got lucky with my 14 PM which is perfect for me. Same was with the X but I got less lucky with iPads.

have had great luck with their phones for years and the iPads. My m2 air had a few issues and was swapped out

 

[eyoungren]

I'd love a new mini with just a standard (but pretty decent) camera flush with the back. Flat edges, too, rounded ones feel like they have less surface area to grip and digging into my hands.

One of the reasons I'm starting to gravitate towards the iPhone SE series. Both my kids have the SE 2020 (my son also has the SE 2016). They're nice little phones. Not sure about the SE3, if it has flat sides or not but maybe if there's an SE4 there might be. In any case, the series is a lot like the iPhone 5 which is the first brand new iPhone I ever bought. Flat sides! 👍

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I'd love a new mini with just a standard (but pretty decent) camera flush with the back.

The rear cameras especially on the Pro models have gotten way too big and the notch or dynamic island is too distracting. I guess people are okay with that since it's an Apple phone, so it's not questioned. I however would not tolerate that design so that keeps me from buying an iPhone.

 

[dontwalkhand]

13 to 14 is useless. 13 pro to 14 regular would be dumb.

The 13 pro max is pretty awesome, and it you eventually get a good deal going with another carrier, spring for a 14 pro because why not? They’re paying you to switch and you’ll likely be getting a free pro max.

I only went 12 Pro to 13 Pro because of the battery. I skipped 14 but definitely going for 15 if USB-C is happening.

 

[tcatsninfan]

Ok, this is what I did! I finally replaced my OG SE just a few weeks with a 13 Mini..wow, what a difference.
I did want to keep the outer dimensions to something not much larger and feared that something similar won't probably be released until the SE4.

Yet toward the end of the return window I did experience Fomo and flirted a side-by-side with a 14 Pro, knowing a one month wait was to be expected. For me though the extra size, hefty weight and perhaps differentiating additions to the rumoured 15Pro (I save and try to buy outright) confirmed that the 13 Mini was spot on for my use.

So although I've bought a 1yr old phone tech wise, there's a 5 yr generational gap of what I was replacing and I'm quite the happy camper.

This is similar to my experience. I had a 2nd gen SE and decided to upgrade to the 13 Mini a few months ago. Couldn't be happier! Actually, I originally got a regular 13 but it was too big for me. I couldn't get used to using it, didn't like how much bigger it was in my hands. I returned the regular 13 after 4 days and have been super happy with the 13 Mini ever since.

I don't upgrade phones so often, usually every 3-4 years. I think that works well for me because, as others have said, there aren't a lot of big advancements from year to year. I had no issue getting a 13 Mini this year despite it being last year's phone.

I'm holding out hope that either the Mini will come back or become the SE. Specifically, I'm referring to the size, flat edges (personal preference), and OLED screen.

 

[Chidoro]

People still don’t understand that the processor and screen differentiation was largely due to limited yields more than anything else.

 

[Technerd108]

People still don’t understand that the processor and screen differentiation was largely due to limited yields more than anything else.

I understand but it was also said that Apple wants to further differentiate their line between Pro and non Pro models so this might not be a one off due to chip shortages.

 

[MazingerZND]

They don't seem to have a clear direction

 

[TechNutt]

I'd argue that we are not the kind of customers Apple is hoping to attract then. They want people who can buy each year from the change they find in their couch (and who think nothing of it).

Nevertheless, I've taken to buying still new but older models. They are cheaper and I get what I want. I see no need to always be buying the current model at those prices.

That’s why Apple and now Best Buy are doing trade-ins. It’s like leasing phones and personal computers for a newer model.

 

[wgaller]

Good point with the subscriptions. We don’t even get a charger and headphones when buying a 2k+ phone.
let’s see how much it will be for the satellite functionality, it may be useful for some people.
With the tensions rising between US and China it may be worse in future. What happens if apple loses the Chinese market?
It will not be good for customers, it’s always better when the company makes money.
Let’s hope for the best.

To all the other topics: Forget the idea that the standard iphone is the flagship one. With introducing of the pro it lost that status. Look what happened to standard iPad: it became the entry level product far far away from the pro line.

What iPhone costs $2k+?

 

[MBAir2010]

Since I had to get a phone, so I purchased the 12 mini in July.
the device is wonderful, takes great photos, all day battery and syncs well with my other  products but
the most remarkable aspect of the phone is I have not received 1 spam call!

so I am happy with the  iPhone line.

 

[1rottenapple]

Not a fan of heavy and uncomfortable to hold phones and big cameras. Ugh

 

[Splitrail]

Not a fan of heavy and uncomfortable to hold phones and big cameras. Ugh

It surprises me that the mini isn't popular enough to continue its production.
The SE is an excellent form factor, just behind a bit in features by comparison to the 13 and 14 series phones.

 

[schneeland]

The thing I'm not happy about is the discontinuation of the mini line or in fact any "small" phone option with decent specs for the foreseeable future...

Yeah, that's disappointing indeed. I still hope we get occasional updates; much like the iPad Mini gets updated less often, but at least still gets updated at all.

 

[webkit]

Not happy with the constant price increases here in Canada for some pretty small updates sometimes but I still love my iPhone. Just got the 14 pro max and no complaints here, my wife took over my 13 pro max and absolutely loves it as well. She lives on it for her job/social life and definitely holds up to her abuse lol

Many Canadian price increase have been pretty minimal over the years, plus some prices have actually come down.

You specifically mentioned the Pro Max line. The price of a 64GB iPhone 11 Pro Max in 2019 was $1,519 CAD. An iPhone 14 Pro Max with twice the storage (128GB) is only $30 CAD more at $1,549 CAD. The prices of 256GB and 512GB iPhone 14 Pro Max models today are actually $30 CAD lower than comparable storage iPhone 11 Pro Max models were in 2019.

 

[webkit]

What iPhone costs $2k+?

They are probably talking about prices for top level/storage iPhones in places like Europe, plus are also including VAT (similar to U.S. sales tax).

 

[I7guy]

If you want to be thrilled (or at least satisfied) with your next iPhone, skip at least 3 generations. Year over year doesn’t see much improvement

I’m thrilled and grateful with every purchase. (Even if I buy a new thing every year) People who aren’t grateful and / or thrilled are cynical people who don’t do their due diligence.

 

[Torty]

What iPhone costs $2k+?

14PM 1TB 2099 Euros in Germany. At todays rate it’s over 2200 USD.