Are iPhone upgrades worth it anymore
- Thread starter lged821
- Start date
raksrules
Oracle
I used iPhone 6S for almost 7 years and now using 13 since Feb 2022 so almost 3 years. No intention of changing it for at least next 3 years.
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lged821
Contributor
Honestly non pro series are quite useless. Pro series is surely good coz of camera + screen refresh rate (120hz). These both are solid reasons to go for pro series but the cost difference b/w normal vs pro series is not justified whatsoever.
Still I usually go for pro series only coz screen refresh rate really does make a huge diff. However going from one pro to another, I am not able to understand. Apple intelligence is ofc useless, apple can't be serious someone would upgrade to 16/pro series coz of that feature.
And silent button(which was a shutter before in my 14 pro max) is useless and actually complicates things. Earlier I used to take screenshot with power+vol up but now I keep hitting the mute button accidently coz it's not a shutter anymore, it is a button. Camera button is a gimmick ofc. But holding the camera button to capture something to search on google is a nice addition.
Still 16 pro max is a useless phone for someone who had 14 pro max before. And I came from 13 pro to 14 pro max before, and now I feel 16 pro max is quite uncomfortable (even though it is quite similar to 14 pro max), just few days back I had 14 pro of my brother in my hand and omg it was so comfortable to hold. Apple really sucks in pricing.
And now I hear new iPhone 17's will all have 120hz screens regardless pro or not. That will make investment on 16 pro max go down the drain.
raksrules
Oracle
Ok basically all no pro iPhones are useless. Got it. Not sure why but ok. You may be young I guess and the 60/120 Hz concerns you. I am an Uncle since long so I don't care. I just need an iOS phone that works well and costs less. Camera on Pro is better is known but you may be a photographer so you probably need it. I am not, I am ok with the regular camera. I have used camera on Sony Ericsson w800i too which was 2 Mpx back in 2008/2009.
What made you go from 13 pro to 14 pro? You expected some groundbreaking technology?
About 17 series having 120 hz and you thinking money going down the drain, that is totally on you. You were impatient to just buy the next year's flagship. This cycle will happen every year. No point regretting. It is technology and these companies want to keep selling their stuff. It is consumer's responsibility to be aware of where they put their money.
lged821
Contributor
13 pro's speaker issue and apple saying it will take time for the part to come even though the phone was under warranty. The resale value was good + there was an offer going on at croma website on 14 pro max.
I am not saying I have a problem with people going for normal series and not pro series. I am saying for people like me for whom low refresh rate is a huge deal breaker for such costly device(even normal iPhone's are costly whereas an android can get u 120hz within the range of 20-30k).
I am just showing my frustration as a buyer. Companies will make money, we expect that. I just wish Apple would be a bit sensible with their customers. I am in noway saying people who go for non pro series are idiots. To each their own.
raksrules
Oracle
Are you tied to iPhones for any reason? Not being sarcastic, genuinely asking. Because I totally agree you can get better phones for the same price in android world and one should definitely go for those. I am just into iOS so I (at this point) cannot shift to Android.
lged821
Contributor
I actually prefer and love android more than iPhones. I am also one of those who aren't into showing off my phone just coz it's an iPhone(You can see that by checking what I am selling currently lol, it's a rugged Spigen case, means it doesn't show apple logo n all). I got iPhone coz of my work apps which work better compared to android. Most of my work is based on these apps which are on iOS and just works shit in android. Now this was in 2018, since then I have been using iPhones. Most prolly those apps have gotten better on android too but it's just too much hassle to shift everything to other ecosystem. I still keep a flagship android as an alternative phone just coz I like android more. I used to flash custom ROM's back in the day and tinker everything on my phones. Now with work I get very less time to do that and priorities change so..
btw I know you don't care for refresh rate 120hz but tbh it's such a big thing that any phone that I use which has less than 90hz or is 60hz I feel I am using a phone from 2008. It's that big a difference. Even if my budget is less, I'll still go for pro lineup of iphone 13's compared to current gen phones just coz those have 120hz screen.
raksrules
Oracle
I don't use iPhones for show off. I am 41 year old parent, why do I even care about show off. I have no one to impress. I just like iOS and iPhone so I use it. No other reason.
its the same for android too, S23U users wont even need to upgrade to S25U if the rumors are correct, heck even mid range users like me with my Edge 30 Fusion can easily use their phones for 4+ years, heck I might even make it last longer and the only reason I'll probably upgrade is if storage bottleneck gets annoying enough for me. Phones are really mature these days and you dont really need to upgrade every year or even every couple of years if its not primary hobby, its just a waste of money these days
lged821
Contributor
My best phone ever was nexus 5 (hence my username lol), I am from that nexus4/5 era. Used to hate Samsung till I purchased s20 FE (as alternate phone) and now I have s23 plus (alternate phone), and omg both phones are just amazing. I can't find a diff in performance in both. I gave my s20 fe to mom coz her phone broke and i got s23 but tbh both are v v fast phones. FOMO plays an important role for buying phones imo too.
I still have my Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 5 and Nexus 6P. Only my Nexus 4 and 5 still work. The 6P suffered from motherboard failure (it was notorious for it).
lged821
Contributor
oh man..!! nexus 5 was really a golden age for mobile phones. Me spending most of my times at XDA lol
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Oracle
lged821
Contributor
majorly in UI. Opening apps, control center, scrolling, animations, games. My GF has normal iPhone 15 and whenever I compare, I am shocked by the difference. Try it yourself and you'll feel the normal iPhone series should be costing like 15k compared to how much they charge currently for it.
Same here. I use iPhone coz I love my Macbook and nobody does device integrations better than Apple. I generally buy a generation old device when it goes on deep sale during Diwali and then use it for 3-4 years.
Maybe 120Hz is like the Mac vs Windows thing. Unless you have used it you cannot know what you are missing. I have 60Hz phone and I am quiet content with it. In fact I am happier when the phone is away from me.
Sold my iPhone 14 Pro today and opened iPhone 16 Pro. However, it feels more like a downgrade. The titanium build doesn't feel as premium and appears dull compared to the stainless steel finish of 14 pro . Additionally, the user interface, courtesy of the latest iOS update, is disappointing (somewhat like new interface of this forum). These brands excel at marketing and exaggerating the benefits, but in reality especially to normal users, the differences are minimal at best.
lged821
Contributor
ikr, it does feel like a downgrade. I liked my mute switch on my 14 pro max apart from the thing that it does used to get dirty with sweat etc but overall it was nice compared to what we have today where when we take SS, we accidently click on it rather than volume button. I actually like the titanium build over older 14 pro max as it feels a bit nice to touch and not sharp but smooth but does it matter as we anyways use a case over our phones? Not liking the update is subjected tbh.
120hz isn't a mac vs windows thing tbh, as even in mac/windows/iOS regardless the OS 120hz is better in every OS compared to 60hz. I hope apple brings 12-hz in apple tv 4k too, it already feels smooth but if it get's 120hz it really will be a worth upgrade in new apple tv hardware.
raksrules
Oracle
If you always have access to charging point, I don't see you have a need of changing even battery. The replacement battery even from apple won't be same quality as stock battery. My battery Is 86% In 2 year 11 months.
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lged821
Contributor
76% battery is still good enough. New Iphones go from 100% to 78% within like 15 months.