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

[robbietop]

Don't get me started on the tiny features they add and then act like it's the most advanced thing ever invented.

Also, please don't keep following Android handset makers and adding poorly thought through "customization" options. They slow down the phone and I've noticed my brand new 14 PM hiccuping and crashing a lot. Previously had only ever seen that on vintage iPhones half a decade or older or an Android device.

Lastly, I get differentiation, but no one is buying an iPad instead of an iPhone, so why can't iPad get widgets?

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

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.

Or aren't getting cashback by way of stock dividends

 

[I7guy]

Or aren't getting cashback by way of stock dividends

That’s a good point. If one can’t really afford a new phone, there might be a mental state where there is a predisposition towards negativity.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

That’s a good point. If one can’t really afford a new phone, there might be a mental state where there is a predisposition towards negativity.

or if you were on the payroll your opinion might seem a bit bought and paid for

 

[jwdsail]

I have been going through T-mobile unlock hell for my iPhone 13 Pro Max. I really wanted to keep it but I want to use a different carrier and T-mobile has been extremely difficult to get them to unlock my phone even though I meet all their requirements and have completely paid the phone off.

So I was considering trading in my 13 Pro Max for a regular 14. But the 14 is almost the same as the 13? It still has a notch and a15 processor. Like what is even the difference between the models? I know the difference but just asking rhetorically.

In the past one of the things I liked about Apple phones is no matter the model you would get the latest processor. You would get the same ram. Basically the cameras on the Pro models would be better but basically all the important features were the same and now it seems apple is changing that.

Now there are big differences between the models including Pro Motion, processor, cameras, dynamic island, etc.

I feel like now my choices are Pro or Pro Max only because otherwise I may as well just get a 13?

It is pretty disappointing to me and I know this is a trend Apple plans to only increase in the disparity between regular and Pro line.

Personally I wish Apple would just drop the Pro line completely as the naming is just ridiculous. One of the things that Jobs was brilliant at was delivering a class leading product and not having a bunch of segments. Sure we had Pro Macs but basically you bought an iPhone and could get one with more or less storage but the basic phone was the same. iPad was the same and now everything is Pro, Pro Max, etc. It seems like arbitrary segments just to get as much money out of people.

If Apple just sold a Pro model and larger Pro model and dropped the regular models then it would be harder for them to compete because it would limit the amount of people willing to pay such high prices. But lets say we had a Pro min, Pro and Pro Max and those were now just iPhone mini, iPhone and iPhone Max and you could configure storage it would make things much more simple and people would be happier with a better product.

I understand not everyone needs certain features but I can guarantee you most people want them or would like them. And what does a "Pro" phone even mean? It seems so stupid. Most people are work so we all need a "Pro" phone and even if you use the phone for Professional settings that is a very limited set of people vs the amount of people who buy the Pro model.

I just wish Apple would stop playing games specially with putting an old chip in a new phone. I don't mind not having Pro-Motion although it is nice, I don't mind not having all the cameras but one of the big selling points to me was you would always get the best chip no matter the model iPhone you got and they would all have the same design. Now you have a notch on half the line and dynamic island on the other half. Half with a15 and half with a16.

I don't know maybe I am crazy but I wish Apple would not change in this way.

Yes, the product segmentation in the iPhone line is getting obnoxious...

Even more so considering that they really don't make the phone I really want?

That's right. Apple sells 8 different iPhones (before considering storage capacity and color variations) but doesn't make one that I really want? (iPhone SE2/3 form factor with iPhone 14 pro processor, storage, cameras)

So, at that point.. what's the point (with so many different variations)? I can't wait for the iPhone Performa 575 next year! Sigh.

I'd be excited to see Apple simplify things and get back to each new phone feeling "new". And, that each new phone felt like the best? I'd be really excited to see the best camera tech not being limited to the phablet sized iPhones..

I think your idea would be workable? Three iPhones, based on physical/screen size, and let the buyers build-to-order to get the iPhone they want.

 

[I7guy]

or if you were on the payroll your opinion might seem a bit bought and paid for

It makes no sense to buy a phone with a negative viewpoint if it’s not in the budget. It makes much more sense to buy a phone “if you’re on the payroll”, as you hyperbolically put it.

 

[TechNutt]

Yes, the product segmentation in the iPhone line is getting obnoxious...

Even more so considering that they really don't make the phone I really want?

That's right. Apple sells 8 different iPhones (before considering storage capacity and color variations) but doesn't make one that I really want? (iPhone SE2/3 form factor with iPhone 14 pro processor, storage, cameras)

So, at that point.. what's the point (with so many different variations)? I can't wait for the iPhone Performa 575 next year! Sigh.

I'd be excited to see Apple simplify things and get back to each new phone feeling "new". And, that each new phone felt like the best? I'd be really excited to see the best camera tech not being limited to the phablet sized iPhones..

I think your idea would be workable? Three iPhones, based on physical/screen size, and let the buyers build-to-order to get the iPhone they want.

The ‘one more thing’ of Apple products feeling fresh has been missing for a very long time, which is all the more reason to skip generations and not buy into annual mediocre upgrades.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

It makes no sense to buy a phone with a negative viewpoint if it’s not in the budget. It makes much more sense to buy a phone “if you’re on the payroll”, as you hyperbolically put it.

Love a spot of hyperbole at this time of year 😘 ✌️🎄

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

I know you TouchID adherents out there are still on about this, but it's getting to be like waiting for the return of 8-track tapes or Betamax.

Apple killed TouchID in the flagship products. It's never coming back.

Right. So I moved on and disabled Face ID and use a pin like I used to. Can’t stand that contraption one bit.

 

[I7guy]

Right. So I moved on and disabled Face ID and use a pin like I used to. Can’t stand that contraption one bit.

Flexibility? Eh?

 

[eyoungren]

Right. So I moved on and disabled Face ID and use a pin like I used to. Can’t stand that contraption one bit.

I've used a PIN for years. It's a particular number I was given in 1988, so it's memorized pretty well by now. FaceID is cool and I like it, but using a PIN code doesn't bother me.

 

[Torty]

Right. So I moved on and disabled Face ID and use a pin like I used to. Can’t stand that contraption one bit.

I hated it. Mask mandates took a few years of Face ID functionality with my X. BtW the 14 pm’s Face ID is only working sporadically with mask.

 

[Annv]

What I don't like in their directions: eye-straining screens, size, ugly designs, gimmicky new features, limiting closed OS, no headphone jack (again a limitation), expensive for a phone. My $300 SE does literally the same thing (communication, browsing, banking, music), except maybe for a camera. For me, over $700-1000 is ok for a computer used for professional work, but not for a mobile - that, to be honest, I'd be happy to limit the usage as much as possible. It does not offer me anything useful worth spending that much.

What I like: flagship quality, long-time software updates.

What I'd like to see (and then I think of upgrading): professional, Dragon-class speech recognition in many languages. This would actually make it pro.

 

[bushman4]

With the thousands of patents Apple has its hard to believe that more features haven’t been added to the iPhone
Customers are willing to pay more for a better iPhone……Apple should take advantage and give the customers more and charge a higher price (at least one model)

 

[Technerd108]

What I don't like in their directions: eye-straining screens, size, ugly designs, gimmicky new features, limiting closed OS, no headphone jack (again a limitation), expensive for a phone. My $300 SE does literally the same thing (communication, browsing, banking, music), except maybe for a camera. For me, over $700-1000 is ok for a computer used for professional work, but not for a mobile - that, to be honest, I'd be happy to limit the usage as much as possible. It does not offer me anything useful worth spending that much.

What I like: flagship quality, long-time software updates.

What I'd like to see (and then I think of upgrading): professional, Dragon-class speech recognition in many languages. This would actually make it pro.

I agree with most of what you said. Except I don't like small screens or slow anything.

But the prices of these phones are out of control.

If you want speech recognition that is amazing then you need a Pixel 7. I am not how many languages it supports but the speech recognition is pretty amazing.

I know we are talking iPhones and there are other considerations but if we are just talking speech recognition it is probably the most advanced of any device I have ever used.

 

[Annv]

I agree with most of what you said. Except I don't like small screens or slow anything.

But the prices of these phones are out of control.

If you want speech recognition that is amazing then you need a Pixel 7. I am not how many languages it supports but the speech recognition is pretty amazing.

I know we are talking iPhones and there are other considerations but if we are just talking speech recognition it is probably the most advanced of any device I have ever used.

Thanks for this tip! I'll look into Pixel 7.

Do you know if it has a better quality than the Google recognition in Gboard? And does it allow adding words to a custom dictionary? If you ever used a now discontinued Swype, I'm looking for something of this kind.

 

[krspkbl]

hardware wise i'm mostly happy with the design. they need to ditch Lighting asap and make the move to USB C. my dream is to have an all display phone with no visible sensors or front camera. that said, the notch doesn't bother me and the notch will be dead next year with all the phones moving to the pill cutout.

software wise i'm quite happy with the experience. iOS 16 has been a buggy mess so hopefully 17 is a better rollout. i don't like how apple is pushing more ads on us but i suppose that's because we'll be getting sideloading and alternative app stores (which i'm all for) so i suppose they gotta make up for losing out on their 30% cut of everything.

 

[Ctrlos]

At this point there isn't much more any manufacturer can do with a slab of glass beyond bumping the stats or gimmicks like folding in half. With Apple its always the little things, like Magsafe which is such a simple idea but I find really handy. I actually 3D printed some extra rear plates to expand the potential, for example I have one with my keys attached I use whenever I go to the pub.

Hardware wise I am happy. However iOS was never built for 6" devices and both it and Android are both in need of a rebuild for the default larger handsets we use now.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

At this point there isn't much more any manufacturer can do with a slab of glass beyond bumping the stats or gimmicks like folding in half. With Apple its always the little things, like Magsafe which is such a simple idea but I find really handy. I actually 3D printed some extra rear plates to expand the potential, for example I have one with my keys attached I use whenever I go to the pub.

Hardware wise I am happy. However iOS was never built for 6" devices and both it and Android are both in need of a rebuild for the default larger handsets we use now.

I have been saying the same thing for quite some time now. The iPhone and iPad are both mature products and so is iOS as an operating system. There is only so much you can do with mature tech. Gone are the days where Siri was introduced or a rear camera, then a front facing camera, followed by video calls on a mobile device.

Where Apple does fail in one respect is that they have allowed Siri to stagnate. I own Google phones and they have done wonders with their Assistant while it was Apple who first introduced the idea.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

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.

The only way to get rid of the camera bump is to make the phone thicker... otherwise, where are the optics components going to fit?
Not everybody wants a thicker phone.

Easy solution: Get a case; the bumper will be no more.

 

[Splitrail]

The only way to get rid of the camera bump is to make the phone thicker... otherwise, where are the optics components going to fit?
Not everybody wants a thicker phone.

Easy solution: Get a case; the bumper will be no more.

I agree with you on the camera bump.
Instead of redesigning & remanufacturing a whole product, why not let the customer accessorize it as they wish to achieve the effect they want.
If Apple were to accomodate everyone on their specific wants, then we're talking about a custom built phone, with ala carte components aka: EXPENSIVE!
Imagine the "sizzling heads" at the genius bar when something needed diagnosis, or the cost to Apple should a unit need replacement.
There has been mention, however, of a "periscope" optical system that may achieve some of those goals.

 

[eyoungren]

The only way to get rid of the camera bump is to make the phone thicker... otherwise, where are the optics components going to fit?
Not everybody wants a thicker phone.

Totally agree. But there will be a day when technology is advanced sufficiently that the camera bump becomes a design feature (if it isn't already).

It's at that point where this reasoning is no longer a handy defense of the camera bump and people's true stand on the issue comes out. Are you okay with the bump if it's no longer necessary?

Be interesting then to see what the answer will be.

Easy solution: Get a case; the bumper will be no more.

Ah yes, the same old, same old. As a non-case user you have absolutely no idea how many times your 'solution' has been suggested to me since 2014.

There's another one as well. "Do you stare at the back of your phone all day? Flip it over and the bump is gone".

And a third, "Apple designs the phone for cases, so that's why the bump is left there. Use a case."

Thank you though for the suggestion. I don't use cases and I will continue to not use them.

 

[eyoungren]

I agree with you on the camera bump.
Instead of redesigning & remanufacturing a whole product, why not let the customer accessorize it as they wish to achieve the effect they want.
If Apple were to accomodate everyone on their specific wants, then we're talking about a custom built phone, with ala carte components aka: EXPENSIVE!
Imagine the "sizzling heads" at the genius bar when something needed diagnosis, or the cost to Apple should a unit need replacement.

And yet…Apple can design the iPhone 4 and 5 series without a camera bump. And flat sides on later models.

There will be a day when the camera bump is flush again and it won't be because I or others asked for it. It will be because Apple designed it that way, just like they always do.

Right now it's a physics issue and I get that. I own an 11 Pro Max and a 6s+, both iPhones with camera bumps. It's a desire of mine for the casing to be flush and I am expressing it. That's all.

 

[Splitrail]

Three iPhones, based on physical/screen size, and let the buyers build-to-order to get the iPhone they want.

Oakley will custom build sunglasses with the components that you choose.
They're expensive but not as expensive as customizing an already built pair to suit your liking.
With a tech product, though, I forsee a logistical nightmare should the item need diagnosis, repair, or replacement.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Totally agree. But there will be a day when technology is advanced sufficiently that the camera bump becomes a design feature (if it isn't already).

It's at that point where this reasoning is no longer a handy defense of the camera bump and people's true stand on the issue comes out. Are you okay with the bump if it's no longer necessary?

Be interesting then to see what the answer will be.



Ah yes, the same old, same old. As a non-case user you have absolutely no idea how many times your 'solution' has been suggested to me since 2014.

There's another one as well. "Do you stare at the back of your phone all day? Flip it over and the bump is gone".

And a third, "Apple designs the phone for cases, so that's why the bump is left there. Use a case."

Thank you though for the suggestion. I don't use cases and I will continue to not use them.

Ah yes, the "Iconic" camera bump.