Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 16/Plus is it just me or as a apple fan boy its getting harder and harder to justify paying 1k for a phone with no changes in my use case?

1rottenapple

1rottenapple

macrumors 601
Original poster
Apr 21, 2004
4,790
2,820
Been testing this iPhone 16 for satellite SOS and to replace my 13 mini that's having issues with 5g uw and overheating. And while I like the 16 without a case, and its comfortable to hold unlike the 14 pro I briefly owned, I'm having a hard time justifying paying 1k for the 16 with 512gb (my mini has 512gb and prefer more storage over paying apple $3 a month for icloud). And it's not about my finances to afford the phone, but its hard to justify when the use case is the same as my 13 mini (aside from satellite SOS for off road adventures).

Maybe if I can say satellite SOS may potentially save my life if I have a breakdown in my jeep with no help for 10 miles out? There's Garmin satellite phone for $400 but there's monthly fee, which I believe is $20 which this iPhone can replace.

Thus far the AI features reminds me of Animoji when that came out. Fun to make my niece laugh a few times but it's very underwhelming. Picture editing, and generative images, for my use case when the heck am I going to use this? AI Summaries? Auto responses to friends? Why have friends if you'll just have Siri respond lol

I was actually looking at swappa and eBay and an unlocked 15 might be great actually buy... but then I somewhat prefer big jumps in generation before I upgrade. Anyway just posting random thoughts about this as I try to justify leaving the mini behind.

I think this apple fan boy has finally gotten over it.
 
  • Like
  • Love
  • Haha
Reactions: MagnusTheDog, Duckhunter, Audentia and 14 others
I am in a very similar situation with my SE2020. I can afford a 16 and it feels ok to hold but cannot really justify it because it offers no important new features that I need, just a few nice to have things. I am waiting to see what the SE4 brings.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Slix, AF_APPLETALK and ThomasJL
For me, it's not about justifying. It's about want. I want whatever it is I want and I don't have to justify getting it to anyone. Whether I NEED what I want is irrelevant and most of the time what I want is far more than sufficient for what I may need.

My wife and I upgrade phones every 2.5 to 5.5 years. When we do, we get the largest storage capacity Apple offers and usually the largest phone they sell. Do we need all of that? Again, need is not relevant. It's what I want. And I was told long ago that the only thing my wife cared about was getting the exact same thing I did (except for color).

Lastly, I also pay Apple for 2TB of iCloud storage a month. Because I want to - for the convenience of it. Not because I need it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MagnusTheDog, ChrissyBrown, Chidoro and 14 others
Dc2006ster said:
I am in a very similar situation with my SE2020. I can afford a 16 and it feels ok to hold but cannot really justify it. I am waiting to see what the SE4 brings.
Click to expand...
I considered the SE4, but honestly I didn't like how the square body feels I like the redesign sides of the 15 and 16. I just found out the 15 is actually 2 generations behind processor wise. I know it's silly. I may just pull the trigger and screw it I'll get the 16 but 512.
 
I don't see why you would feel it hard to "justify" anything or why you would want the title of "fan boy"?

IMHO if you want it, or need it, buy it. FOMO as a "fan boy" is irrelevant and always has been.

It seems we are in a bit if a stagnant phase with mobile phones, for many years it has been processor/memory/storage and camera upgrades, that's it. It is a natural progression and as we continue in this phase people tend to hold onto devices longer. The 2 year cycle is largely dead and has become 3-4 years. It has been this way for many years with personal computers. Back in the day you rarely got more than 3-4 years out of a personal computer, now that timeline has stretched to an easy 5-7. I gave an old gaming laptop to my parents that is from 2011 and it still performs for their very light use case.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Piplodocus, artifex, Locke Cole and 5 others
I get your frustration. Satellite texting was awesome when I tested it on my 15 with iOS 18. Haven’t needed it since, but over summer I was caught without service and would have liked to be able to text my family. So it could be useful in the future. In your case, because you will have to upgrade eventually you can rest assured that you’ll get satellite eventually.

But in the meantime if you don’t like the design of the 16/15 I think it would be wise to wait for the 17 slim model because that may address your comfort and usability concerns.
 
Last edited:
Have you considered taking your 13 mini for a diagnosis at Apple? A battery replacement may revive it. Connectivity issues can sometimes be addressed by getting a new SIM/eSIM from your carrier.
 
Why do you need to upgrade from 13 mini? I have a 13 PM, and planning to upgrade to iPhone 19. Try getting it fixed, will give you few extra years.
 
1rottenapple said:
I considered the SE4, but honestly I didn't like how the square body feels I like the redesign sides of the 15 and 16.
Click to expand...
I'd at least wait and see how the SE4 turns out. It’s not set in stone that the sides will be like the 14.

Otherwise, sometimes one's preferences turn out to be expensive. I won't tell you it's worth $1K, but the alternative can mean that you'll have to compromise on some of your preferences.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Slix and ThomasJL
macfacts said:
But do you have a mac, apple tv, apple watch, etc? With only an iPhone, you're missing out on the synergy of the complete ecosystem.
Click to expand...
Of course! Watch ultra, MacBook Air 15. Anyway I’ll see what the sos does this weekend when I go into the desert. I’ll be interesting to get satellite and be able to text mindblown
 
  • Like
Reactions: mvdrl and AF_APPLETALK
I can appreciate what you are saying - the high price and the feature set seems no longer to have luster. I have decided my next upgrade will be when I am forced to upgrade and not before.
 
  • Like
Reactions: turbineseaplane and smirking
Lately I’ve been increasingly convinced that many people walking around with the latest phones are up to their necks or maybe even higher in debt. Big debts with long repayment periods, like cars with ten year notes, and small debts that are marketed more as subscriptions or payment plans, like phones. I make a decent amount of money. I save well for retirement. But the sums for this equipment is staggering, when we were brought up on the myth that constant innovation would only make things cheaper and better.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Slix, mcru21, iEB and 5 others
totally understand. I was also a 13mini user for 3 years. After 2 years i replaced the battery and shortly after broken display with a bad ebay counterfeit as I didn’t want to pay apple’s horrendous price.

Was waiting for the 16 to see it but it was underwhelming. So i bought a 15 pro for 30% discount.

I gladly adapted fast to the bigger size. This kept me also from switching in the beginning. But its now also fine.

I switched off always on and even 120Hz to get more battery life.

So the biggest difference now is battery life which is about double.

The rest like titanium or tele cam is hardly worth the price
 
Yes. I’m still on a 13P and would likely stay for years to come but I fear the battery will be insufficient in 1-2 years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back