Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Can someone explain why I need a MagSafe car mount?
You don’t need one. It’s just a car mount with wireless charging so you can just slap your phone on it and go. If you have a different amount, you might have to plug in your phone so an additional step. If you’re using the Pro Max and you have a bumpy car it’s possible your phone might not stay attached over rough roads.

Ideally, what you want is a car with GPS or CarPlay so you can use navigation without having to look at a relatively small phone screen. That is the way to go.

If you’re someone that never uses GPS then you probably don’t even need a phone mount.
 
Ok I think this is by far apples most disappointing announcement. I’m sure as I said it’ll sell but man, I was looking forward but you can cue the wonk wonk sound effects when they unveiled the price.
 
As someone who has owned the iPhone 7, 8, 2020 SE, and 2022 SE, I'd be in line to buy this phone, even though it's not exactly what I want. It's US$50 too high and the deals aren't out yet.

For the 256 GB model that I'd buy: $29.17 $18.75/month for 24 months with promotion

I will wait for the $3.75 per month (hopefully) deal with the US$100 up front for the 256 GB model premium or I'll be buying a replacement battery.

Oh, there is a deal for my 2022 iPhone SE for US$250 back.
 
Last edited:
When Apple just launched the iPhone 16e, what was she thinking? Would people prefer all these flaws for $200?
If it had cost $500 I think it would have been a hit, and people would have lined up to buy it, but at $600 I'd save a little more and buy an iPhone 16 for $800
Maybe it's even worth giving up Apple Intellect 😅
Really Apple, it seems like you want this to remain a niche phone like the SE 3 (I'm not sure the amount Apple paid the programmers to write this HTML was worth it to them)
What do you think about this?
Not everyone needs a top of the line phone.
 
I know Samsung recently said they would provide 7 years of OS updates to the S25 line. Is Xiaomi also providing 7 years of updates? Because if not the iPhone is still preferable. Especially if the user wants to use iOS.
Fairphone does. I think Samsung does.
Xiaomi doesn't. But they're cheap, so you keep changing phones every few years to stay current and spend less money than buying an iphone and keeping it.

Thing is, apple built quality has deteriorated a lot. My ipad 2 lasted almost a decade and was made obsolete only because the lack of software. My mac mini G4 lasted over 15 years in service (2005 to 2021) and the ipod (classics) also lasted quite a few years.

From the current era, my iphone 12 mini died shortly after 2 years (screen issues), the ipad air after 1 year. Those devices look flimsy, thin and fragile nowadays.
And it's not an apple exclusive thing - my lenovo "ipad" died also after a year (now replaced by a Xiaomi one) and my Xiaomi smart watch died after a year as well (fell apart). In comparison, my Tissot automatic watch is from 2017 and didn't need any service to this day.

as for iOS vs. Android - they are both meh. Not in the same league as premium mobile OSes of the past like EPOC (Symbian) or BlackBerryOS (QNX based). I even liked the latest variants of Windows CE (windows mobile or something) better, despite me not being a Microsoft fan at all.
 
  • Love
Reactions: turbineseaplane
This is for people who just want the latest ‘basic’ iPhone, because their old SE or wherever, broke or got too slow.

They’re not going to upgrade their phone after a year or two. More like 4-5.

They probably don’t know - or care - about MagSafe. They just want to point and click and get a great photo or video without fussing around with any settings. And that’s ok.

People are focussing on the box price but if you listen to the product intro video that apple did, it’s meant to be sold via carriers.

And there’s some pretty good carrier deals out there, ditto apple’s own per month 0% deal.

So if you pay for this phone over 2 years with 0% interest or with carrier subsidies, it looks pretty good.
 
I only have two issues with the new 16e - the screen is too big for my liking and the high price in the EU (€709), but besides this the rest of its spec is fine.
 
I preordered one to replace my 64 yo mom’s aging iPhone 11. It’s a major improvement for her. Sure it doesn’t have an ultra wide camera, but its “main sensor” still gets an upgrade, she gets OLED, 5g, better battery life, A18, 8GB of RAM, and a few other things that will make the upgrade worth it and noticeable for her. She uses it for texting, calls, Facebook, and a couple of games, so she doesn’t need a higher end model. There is a market for this device even if us Apple fanboys and power users aren’t it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: turbineseaplane
A. Glad she's getting a new phone - It will indeed be nice for her to get an upgrade!

B. You mentioned this:
"She uses it for texting, calls, Facebook, and a couple of games, so she doesn’t need a higher end model."

Those use cases could be amply served by literally any upgrade, new or preowned, since the iPhone 11

Will that type of user really know or care about OLED, A18 and 8GB of RAM?

Obviously, it's an upgrade, so that's great .. just seems like anything newer would work just fine and be awesome
👍

Very true. I personally think OLED is nicer to look and is more power efficient. My primary thought process behind newer device with processor and RAM improvements is that it will remain supported and capable of running future software more efficiently longer. While those things won’t be immediately noticeable I’d bet by the time iOS 20 or 21 rolls around, especially if AI becomes more useful to the common user, she’ll notice the difference.

Could be wrong though.
 
  • Love
Reactions: turbineseaplane
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.