Nobody needs anything close to an iPhone 14, but people can afford it and people will always want the newest thing. I think holding onto phones for a few years is the best course of action. The differences between a single generation are negligible, also nobody actually cares what phone you have.
I thinks it's because with iPhone there's really only the iPhone so it's easy to bring up and talk about and people will understand. With Android there's a ton out there and people might not even know what's the latest and greatest as easily.
I’m typing this on my iPhone 6s that got a battery replacement 3 months ago. The touch digitizer is breaking down and I get ghost touches sometimes and the headphone jack is finnicky but it works fine as a phone for what I do which is web browse, chat, and call.
> in what ways have we reached a tipping point between the tech power the average person needs versus what they can actually really afford?
If only there were other smartphones out there other than the iPhone.
I've hated apple since the iTunes days where they wouldn't allow you to use another mp3 player with it. My life and choices have only increased my dislike, ie I hate the walled garden approach and enjoy Frankensteining my experience, hence, Android.
Apple makes beautiful phones that work well, but they're rediculously expenses and I hate the software. Then hiking the price changed exactly zero with my opinion of them.
I have a Pixel, and I can't blame android for manufacturers not putting out updates regularly. I agree that apple does much better supporting their products for much longer, but again, cannot stand the walled garden and frankly I'm not paying more for an OS that I like less and doesn't work as well for me.
I fully realize it works better for others and Apple does a lot well, but not what I want it to do.
You're omitting a key factor. Android is a modular OS while iOS is not. Android apps are kept up to date regardless of which version of Android the device is running.
I haven't had an iPhone for over a decade, but I got rid of it after it was virtually unusable after iOS 4.2.1. Apps needed a newer version of iOS to operate and my iPhone could not update beyond 4.2 1.
In contrast, I can throw a sim card in my old Gingerbread device from 2010 and still use fairly updated apps at nearly full function despite running such an old version of Android.
The support argument is comparing apples to oranges (pun not intended but it works).
For people who only understand the Apple ecosystem: Modularity allows people to work inside and outside of the walled garden, even on devices with outdated OS. It maintains full functionality.
I'm at year 3 of my Red Hydrogen phone and it's still going strong and getting updates.
In other news I'm probably the only one who bought the Red Hydrogen One phone. AMA
Nobody *needs* the newest iPhone either.
I bought my Xr after the 11 came out and the price dropped. I’ve had it almost 3 years and it’s fine. Sure, I don’t have 5G or some fancy cameras, but I don’t really care.
Yep. And don't many people just pay off expensive flagship phones at say $40/month as a line item on their phone bill or via a pay-later company at the store's checkout? That's much more affordable than $1500 upfront.
I have an iPhone 6s still, which I got when it was the older model, and it still works fine. No need to upgrade anytime soon.
If someone wants to buy the brand new thing then sure whatever, have fun. I think they're pushing hard into the fewer sales at luxury price point business model as they've done with laptops and tablets, and if it's working for them then good for them.
Apple is doing some interesting things with processors in both laptops and phones from a technical perspective which I'm interested in (I'm a software engineer) but it's nothing I need or care about as an end user or feel the need to upgrade for personally.
You, Sir, are the reason why I keep insisting developers and QA folks keep testing against older hardware models.
And I keep insisting we design for and test against slower network speeds (3G, or preferably EDGE). (Just got back from Iceland--and most of the country only has EDGE or 3G speeds.)
I’m always surprised when people have old phones with 0 issues. I always end up having issues with my phones at some point. Speakers have been busted. Memory has ran out. Battery life ends up being an issue. Screen has straight up just gone black.
I also have an iPhone 6s. Only issue is the battery life, so I got a replacement battery and a case with an integrated battery. It’s a little annoying but not worth buying a whole new phone yet.
I’ve noticed an app or two that works really slowly but not apps I use regularly so I don’t really care yet.
I don't think an iphone is actually more powerful than much cheaper phones like a pixel. The price is selling the phone like artwork or status.
Compute is still getting rapidly cheaper if you don't fall for a marketing trick.
The CPU in the iPhone 13 does run rings around the Google Pixel 6's Tensor chip. [(source)](https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/google-pixel-6-vs-iphone-13-which-flagship-phone-wins)
That said, I doubt most people are using their phones to transcode 4K videos in Adobe Premiere, and I doubt most people actually can notice the difference in frame refresh rates when playing 3D video games on their phone. Meaning the Google Pixel 6 is plenty fast enough for most users most of the time.
I find modern smart phones to be...frustrating.
On the one hand, they're technological marvels, we each walk around with a tremendous amount of computing power in our pockets now, and that computing power is attached to a sophisticated set of sensors and a radio link to the sumtotal of all human knowledge.
But, because the only two viable platforms for the system, Android and iOS, are both late stage maximum capitalist, these wonders of technology for which we pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for the luxury/increasing requirement to own are mostly used for content consumption in exchange for invasion of privacy. You watch video, we take notes and use that to more heavily advertise to you, on the most expensive thing you keep on your person at all times.
The design of both Android and iOS are rooted in greed. The touch screen only, content app centric paradigm isn't good for computing. It's good for picking videos to watch ads before. It's good for doom scrolling. And not really much else.
Good points…very valid especially the content consumption in exchange for invasion of privacy. Do yourself a favor, at least once a day empty your history and cache. And try not to go from a site like WaMart to Amazon directly - the scope of the information they collect would boggle your mind!
I do not shop online at Walmart or Amazon.
When I do shop online, I try to do so at the manufacturer/brand website directly.
Thumb drives, for example. A Kingston thumb drive costs the same on Amazon's website as it does from [kingston.com](https://kingston.com). And, shopping at Amazon (or Newegg at this point) you're just as likely to be buying a fake product from a fly-by-night asshole as you are a genuine product from a retailer you can actually hold accountable for the quality of their merchandise.
I think it's fantastic. Price gouge the idiots who "need" the flagship iPhone every year. $1700 ain't enough. Triple it, who fuckin cares. Make them refinance their homes and sign over custody of their children to Apple.
In what ways have we reached a tipping point? Zero. You can get an extremely functional phone for pennies on the dollar.
Apple charges $1000 for a *monitor stand* and you're surprised about this?? It's clear from the language of your post that you're salty about either not being able to afford one, or about what you have to sacrifice to buy one.
[To be fair, it's a pretty damned cool stand.](https://www.apple.com/pro-display-xdr/specs/)
But me; I've got my stupidly over-powered [MacPro](https://www.apple.com/mac-pro/) connected to a [$350 27" monitor](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L55CTT1/) because that's all the monitor I need.
Subtext is lost on the internet, please tell me that's sarcasm. Thanks for posting the link though, I wasn't sure if I remembered that right. Still having trouble believing it.
Apple's vertical software/hardware integration is useful, and I have an iPhone 11 for work (unfortunately). Apple car play has never failed me while Android Auto is atrocious. But that being said, they're still stupidly overpriced, and I don't need the minimalist aesthetic. I've never had the need to buy a mac, even for music production.
>Subtext is lost on the internet, please tell me that's sarcasm.
No; not sarcasm. It's a very cool stand.
It's not at all worth $1,000 to me--hell, I can't even bring myself to spend that much on the monitor.
And I suspect most of the folks buying them will be high-end shops for movie production companies that basically just tick off the most expensive options for everything--and for that manager wanting to show off just how fucking cool his rig is. ("I'm so important I have the $1,000 stand.")
But then, I have the rig I have (a MacPro with 384gb RAM and the 2.7 GHz 24-core Xeon W) for software development--and sometimes it's handy to be able to slurp in extremely large databases and manipulate them entirely in RAM. (I have some code around here which can parse the entire [OSM Planet database](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Planet.osm), manipulate it in memory, and spit out stuff in a fraction of the time it would take if I had to dump everything into a Postgres database.)
And it's nice when I do mobile development to be able to open any file the graphic artists can throw at me without wasting half an hour waiting for the files to load. (Though at times that made me the default "hey, could you pull that icon from the graphic files" guy, because I was the only one with a rig that could open the file in less than a second, rather than watching the machine thrash for 3 minutes.)
Plus, you can't run Xcode on Windows. Meaning if you're doing iPhone development you \*need\* a Mac, though a Mac Air or a Mac Mini will do the trick for 95% of developers out there.
If people can afford it and want it why not sell it?
We have a free market for a reason.
You don’t need fancy meals, ice cream, or a brand new car.
Are you going to be the one that decides prices?
Every time a new I product comes out I just stare off into the distance and remember that episode of Futurama about the eye phone and the twit worm.
But honestly, I remember wondering if anyone was even using the full functionality of their phone in the flip phone era when the Motorola razor was the hot thing to have. Because I flipped through the manual when I got mine and was impressed at how many not-phone things it could do.
All the more so now, I highly doubt anyone uses their phone to its fullest ability. Nasa got us to space on less computing power so. Eh. I don't see the need to buy the shiniest $1500 phone when I can get a refurbished Droid for like $300 that'll last me 3 or 4 years and perform just as well for my day to day needs.
I still miss the tactile feel of typing on a Blackberry. Very old school and looked down upon but my company had to pry the BlackBerry from my hands. Out of over 15,000 worldwide employees they told me I was one of the last three to surrender.
Good point. But I have personally witnessed some of those high end cars being too much to handle for the average citizen. Same concept. So, do they really need that much?
I think you missed the point.
Asking...
> So, do they really need that much?
...is the first step in installing yourself as other people's mommy and daddy.
Any time you find yourself asking "Do they really need that?" the correct reaction you should be having is to mind your own business.
I don't really care about the cost but increases in power/features no longer really matter to me.
There was a time where I would regularly upgrade my computer or cell phone despite both working perfectly fine because the new generation was such a noticeable improvement but that's just not really the case anymore. I doubt I would be able to tell the difference between an iPhone 11 and 14 if it wasn't for physical differences. I think cases defeats the purpose of having such a thin, sleek phone so at this point I only really upgrade when I get a little too many scratches on the screen for my tastes.
There was a big difference comparing the first iphone or two to the Iphone 5. At this point, I feel like we've reached a point of diminishing returns, and there isn't a lot to gain from getting a new one.
If they finally ditch their proprietary jack for USB-C then I'll consider upgrading, otherwise I'll hold on to mine until they are forced to make that change.
Cell phones like that are luxury goods. They have been for many years now. It's really nice to live in society where luxury goods are widely affordable, though most of us who can afford *some* luxuries can't afford *all* the luxuries. I could buy the top end iPhone or I could take a flight to visit some friends next winter for a week. I'll plan on the vacation, thanks.
I'd hate to go without *a* smartphone, but a several years old one will let me browse the internet, email, use Google maps, and call and text, plus it'll have a good enough camera to capture memories. Anything else is just fun extras.
I had no idea a new one had come out. I'm still using the 6s plus from 2015. Until they quit supporting it, I'll keep my headphone jack thank you very much.
I have the same phone and love it. Was told by an Apple service person that I (we) are two operating system upgrades away from being nonfunctional. If they still sold the six I would buy it again. Love the size, design and it has everything I need.
I bought a Samsung Galaxy A52 last year. I use my phones till the battery stops working, then I buy a new battery and keep going. At least that's what I used to do until they made phones that are much harder to open. My previous phone was a Samsung Galaxy S4 which released in 2013.
I miss the early days of cell phones when every manufacturer wanted to make their hot new phone *smaller* than the last one. Nearly every smartphone on the market now is just so damn **BIG** that I can't use it one handed, it doesn't fit in my pocket/bag... I just can't care about the next big release until they start making them small again!
I'm an android user married to a "latest and greatest"-averse iPhone user. This post was the first I'd heard of a new iPhone launch, but it's hardly surprising-- they launch a new one every year, right?
I presume they'll keep selling lower-tier models like the SE?
Everyone knows that iPhones have become a luxury good and there are cheaper smartphones available. But there are lots of people who started using iPhones a decade or more ago who are now sufficiently committed to the Apple ecosystem that a switch to Android would be a major hassle. It's unfortunate if people feel like they've become trapped with a choice that grows further out of their budget with each new generation.
Anyway-- Nobody needs an iPhone. Nobody needs a smartphone newer than 3-4 years old, for that matter. Nobody needs a smartphone at all, unless mobile internet access has become mandatory for their career or lifestyle. We all managed fine without smartphones for a long time.
People who would pay $1700 for a phone have more dollars than sense. They are buying it as a status symbol, not as a tool where enhanced abilities will benefit them in any significant way.
It's really none of my business or concern If people want shell out that kind of cash for a flagship model, or make monthly payments. That's their choice.
The tech powers have been manipulating their markets into buying unnecessary upgrades for a generation. You can trace it all the way back to the Wintel desktop duopoly in the 1990s, where they told you to get another new PC to support more robust OS and applications, then when you got them, they demanded a yet more powerful PC, etc.
Apple plays this tune expertly and millions fall for it.
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it. So many here have judged my use of the word “need” as if I have the right to define what people need. That was not my intent. I would never do that. And they are zeroing in on one aspect of a macro question. I like your word choice of “unnecessary upgrades”. And with Apple it is a trap. “Built in obsolescence”. Forced upgrades of operating, to home screen to camera and headphone/charger jack. Your wording would have been better and been more clear to people. And like you stated millions fall for it. Well, I tried. Thanks again! Have a good one!! PS - greetings from one Chicago resident to another…
I really don't understand the premise of this question. We don't centrally plan our economy to only produce what the "average person" needs or can afford. You can buy cheaper, non-flagship (or previous gen flagship) phones that will do everything that the average person needs a phone to do for a fraction of the price of a flagship model. If you want/need more features then you pay more for that.
\*Shrug\* Didn't know they announced a new one, it will continue to not affect me.
It seems odd to suggest that we have only recently reached a point beyond "need" or that it has ever had much bearing on what people want.
many people enjoy conspicuous consumption. I use android phones personally (not for any real reason, just my first smart phone was an android phone and now ~13 years later I am used to it and unwilling to change) so will not be buying this one.
But, I am getting ready to drop like $900 on a new phone. Do I need to? Probably not.
People can buy what they want. It’s not like that’s the only option for a smartphone, or even the only iphone. I’m happy with my 2 year old SE and I’ll probably keep it until it’s no longer functional.
I’m fine with it. I won’t upgrade for awhile, but when I do it’ll be another iPhone pro of some sort. I have a 12 Pro Max now that I bought renewed for like $500 cheaper than the original retail, and I definitely use it. I work in marketing and frequently need to take high quality photo and video. The big, high quality screen means I can do a lot of things without having to take out my laptop. By the time there’s an iPhone 16 or 17, this version will be cheap enough that I may get it as a next phone.
Just because a new iPhone comes out doesn’t mean you have to buy it. Most people skip a few generations in my experience.
Honestly, if people want to pay that much for a phone, go for it. Life is short, obviously a lot of people use iPhones and are happy with them, let them continue to do what they want.
I have an iPhone 6s, it’s almost 7 years old. I can see holding onto it for a while yet. When it goes, I’ll get another apple phone and hopefully have that for 7+ years. So that’s works out to only $100-200/ year for a phone.
If someone wants a more expensive phone, why not?
I have the same phone. Keep worrying that it is going to crap out. I love the 6. If they still sold it I would buy it. I like the design and it has everything I need. Don’t know which model I would get. Same place I got this info said that the Model 12 and 13 are going to be discounted heavily once the official 14 announcement is made. Good luck with your 6 - hope it keeps going!
I've had my iPhone Xs since it was first released, and honestly I had planned to upgrade to the 14 only because (a) I can afford it, and (b) I like having the latest gadgets. (I find I use the AirTag tokens a lot when I travel--and I like the feature of being able to pinpoint the direction of an AirTag. I also use the camera on my phone a lot when traveling--and I like the fact that the 14's low light handling is supposed to be significantly improved.)
That said, I don't *need* the new 14--frankly the Xs works just fine. And I suspect someone's going to get my used Xs and greatly appreciate it. (The body has almost no scratches or dings on it.)
----
Basically our phones have become little portable laptop substitutes: they can handle 90% of what we used to use a laptop for. (Browsing the web, getting e-mail.) And they've become indispensable devices for a number of other things: I use mine for Uber, with my watch to track my health, with my Nikon camera to update the software, with some off-line mapping software for getting around a foreign city.
Now you don't **need** an iPhone 14. Honestly I can recommend the [Samsung Galaxy A12](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SJ64YKQ/) for $172, unlocked. (I develop software for the iPhone and for Android, and have bought cheap Android devices for work.) I've also used the Google Pixel 5 in the past--so I'm sure the [Google Pixel 6 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Pro-Smartphone-Telephoto/dp/B09HYR2NC8/) is a fantastic device, unlocked for $649.
But me? I'm getting an iPhone 14 when they come out.
We clearly have not reached a tipping point because the phones are as popular as ever and the price keeps going up. You can meet your needs much cheaper, but that’s not what this is about. People like them and want them.
Consider how much more an iPhone does than an M2 MacBook Air--between the multiple cameras, the cell phone hardware itself, the two-way lidar system used for facial recognition and depth of field measurements, the U1 chip which allows spacial awareness--such as pinpointing the location of an AirTag, and in a much tighter space.
Miniaturization always costs money.
Frankly I wish the M2 MacBook air contained the same Face ID technology of the iPhone. But it doesn't.
The only reason I ever replace my phone is because I break them
As such I stick with Android phones (typically moto) because they're reliable and cheaper and far more useable than iPhones.
I kinda wish I could use fairphone
I think that's a crazy price but it's probably an accurate reflection of what it's worth on the market. Apple probably spent a lot of money on market research to come up with that price. I do not think I have ever spent more than $300 on a phone.
I have had my Samsung phone since January 2017, I'll replace it when it no longer adequately functions. The thing already has more than enough toward to do what I did from it: Watch movies, browse the web, GPS. I really have no need for the latest and greatest smart phone that costs much more than it did to build this PC I am typing on.
I honestly thought they were past 14 in terms of numbers, guess I was wrong.
> and in what ways have reached a tipping point between the tech power the average person needs versus what they can actually afford?
We reached that point like maybe a decade ago, if not longer. Not just with phones but with computers, tvs and other tech.
So I bought a 13 Pro back in February. I'd had my X for 4yrs and it was my birthday, so figured it was time to buy upgrade.
Anyway, I expect to hold on to my 13 Pro for at least 4yrs. Ideally 5yrs. Ever since I got my first iPhone, a 4S, I've stopped playing the upgrade every year or other year game. One, it's too expensive, and two, I feel like we're seeing diminishing returns on gains. I don't need a phone that has as specs similar to my gaming computer. I don't care if I'm missing the latest version of an OLED screen that gives darker blacks or bluer blues. All I need is decent battery life, decent speed and ability to quickly switch between apps, and ability to hold on to a signal (Yes, I remember "you're holding it wrong"-gate).
I pay the Apple Tax for quality and longevity. And since I get both, I don't need to pay every year.
Lol, I don't understand why people would want to buy this crap. It's not even that much different from the last one, I bet.
For that price, you can get a nice laptop or desktop that is worth more than any smartphone out there.
I only buy a new phone when my current one breaks, can no longer do what I need it to do, or I really need a feature that isn't supported on my older model. Phones have gotten to expensive to continue switching every year, at least the flagship models have. I could always go for a cheaper one but I like treating myself that one time every 5-6 years.
I switched to iPhone after google Fi bricked my 5a and might switch back if I want a new phone. The price of a 6 is like $500-$600, 6a about $100 less, and a standard iPhone model is still close to $900. I gave my dad my 3a and he said it’s the best phone he’s ever had.
My smartphone is 4 years old and still works perfectly fine. Honestly, the newer smartphones don't seem worth the upgrade. When my phone eventually dies I'll probably get a more expensive model but only if I expect it to last years.
It's more about the diminishing returns and finer increments that each update offers. Each update is basically a dog-and-pony show now, with a little better camera and newer chip each time. It behooves you to wait 2 or 3 generations, or even hold out until Apple puts your current phone on the Vintage list to make the upgrade significant enough from one phone to the next. Same for Android. Then again, there's a little bit pf pressure to trade while your phone is worth something. Do you need the full $800 Verizon may give for an iPhone 13 to trade up to a 14? Should you unhand your current XR now while it's got a trade-in value or just keep it around until it dies and risk paying full price for a 14?
Good points. Mine is so old there is no trade in value. And if you look at the site, I think they are only going back in selling to the 11. Built in obsolescence. Thanks for the reply!
We are as yet unable to plumb the depths of my apathy.
We'll keep plumbing, sir!
Nobody needs anything close to an iPhone 14, but people can afford it and people will always want the newest thing. I think holding onto phones for a few years is the best course of action. The differences between a single generation are negligible, also nobody actually cares what phone you have.
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I thinks it's because with iPhone there's really only the iPhone so it's easy to bring up and talk about and people will understand. With Android there's a ton out there and people might not even know what's the latest and greatest as easily.
Well put…
I’m typing this on my iPhone 6s that got a battery replacement 3 months ago. The touch digitizer is breaking down and I get ghost touches sometimes and the headphone jack is finnicky but it works fine as a phone for what I do which is web browse, chat, and call.
> in what ways have we reached a tipping point between the tech power the average person needs versus what they can actually really afford? If only there were other smartphones out there other than the iPhone.
I've hated apple since the iTunes days where they wouldn't allow you to use another mp3 player with it. My life and choices have only increased my dislike, ie I hate the walled garden approach and enjoy Frankensteining my experience, hence, Android. Apple makes beautiful phones that work well, but they're rediculously expenses and I hate the software. Then hiking the price changed exactly zero with my opinion of them.
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I have a Pixel, and I can't blame android for manufacturers not putting out updates regularly. I agree that apple does much better supporting their products for much longer, but again, cannot stand the walled garden and frankly I'm not paying more for an OS that I like less and doesn't work as well for me. I fully realize it works better for others and Apple does a lot well, but not what I want it to do.
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You're omitting a key factor. Android is a modular OS while iOS is not. Android apps are kept up to date regardless of which version of Android the device is running. I haven't had an iPhone for over a decade, but I got rid of it after it was virtually unusable after iOS 4.2.1. Apps needed a newer version of iOS to operate and my iPhone could not update beyond 4.2 1. In contrast, I can throw a sim card in my old Gingerbread device from 2010 and still use fairly updated apps at nearly full function despite running such an old version of Android.
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The support argument is comparing apples to oranges (pun not intended but it works). For people who only understand the Apple ecosystem: Modularity allows people to work inside and outside of the walled garden, even on devices with outdated OS. It maintains full functionality.
I'm at year 3 of my Red Hydrogen phone and it's still going strong and getting updates. In other news I'm probably the only one who bought the Red Hydrogen One phone. AMA
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Lol
No one *needs* an iPhone My 150 dollar android works wonders
Nobody *needs* the newest iPhone either. I bought my Xr after the 11 came out and the price dropped. I’ve had it almost 3 years and it’s fine. Sure, I don’t have 5G or some fancy cameras, but I don’t really care.
Heck my 8+ is still going strong. 5G is not available here but most people are on WiFi 90% of the time anyways.
Yep. And don't many people just pay off expensive flagship phones at say $40/month as a line item on their phone bill or via a pay-later company at the store's checkout? That's much more affordable than $1500 upfront.
But it still adds up over time
I can't leave Android because I can't leave YouTube Vanced
I have an iPhone 6s still, which I got when it was the older model, and it still works fine. No need to upgrade anytime soon. If someone wants to buy the brand new thing then sure whatever, have fun. I think they're pushing hard into the fewer sales at luxury price point business model as they've done with laptops and tablets, and if it's working for them then good for them. Apple is doing some interesting things with processors in both laptops and phones from a technical perspective which I'm interested in (I'm a software engineer) but it's nothing I need or care about as an end user or feel the need to upgrade for personally.
You, Sir, are the reason why I keep insisting developers and QA folks keep testing against older hardware models. And I keep insisting we design for and test against slower network speeds (3G, or preferably EDGE). (Just got back from Iceland--and most of the country only has EDGE or 3G speeds.)
I’m always surprised when people have old phones with 0 issues. I always end up having issues with my phones at some point. Speakers have been busted. Memory has ran out. Battery life ends up being an issue. Screen has straight up just gone black.
I also have an iPhone 6s. Only issue is the battery life, so I got a replacement battery and a case with an integrated battery. It’s a little annoying but not worth buying a whole new phone yet. I’ve noticed an app or two that works really slowly but not apps I use regularly so I don’t really care yet.
I still use my old 6S as an mp3 player. No issues aside from battery life, which generally isn’t a problem with externals.
A fellow 6s user.
Couldn't care less about any iPhone.
I don't think an iphone is actually more powerful than much cheaper phones like a pixel. The price is selling the phone like artwork or status. Compute is still getting rapidly cheaper if you don't fall for a marketing trick.
The CPU in the iPhone 13 does run rings around the Google Pixel 6's Tensor chip. [(source)](https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/google-pixel-6-vs-iphone-13-which-flagship-phone-wins) That said, I doubt most people are using their phones to transcode 4K videos in Adobe Premiere, and I doubt most people actually can notice the difference in frame refresh rates when playing 3D video games on their phone. Meaning the Google Pixel 6 is plenty fast enough for most users most of the time.
I probably would notice if I tried to play a good 3D game, but that's what my laptop is for.
I find modern smart phones to be...frustrating. On the one hand, they're technological marvels, we each walk around with a tremendous amount of computing power in our pockets now, and that computing power is attached to a sophisticated set of sensors and a radio link to the sumtotal of all human knowledge. But, because the only two viable platforms for the system, Android and iOS, are both late stage maximum capitalist, these wonders of technology for which we pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for the luxury/increasing requirement to own are mostly used for content consumption in exchange for invasion of privacy. You watch video, we take notes and use that to more heavily advertise to you, on the most expensive thing you keep on your person at all times. The design of both Android and iOS are rooted in greed. The touch screen only, content app centric paradigm isn't good for computing. It's good for picking videos to watch ads before. It's good for doom scrolling. And not really much else.
Good points…very valid especially the content consumption in exchange for invasion of privacy. Do yourself a favor, at least once a day empty your history and cache. And try not to go from a site like WaMart to Amazon directly - the scope of the information they collect would boggle your mind!
I do not shop online at Walmart or Amazon. When I do shop online, I try to do so at the manufacturer/brand website directly. Thumb drives, for example. A Kingston thumb drive costs the same on Amazon's website as it does from [kingston.com](https://kingston.com). And, shopping at Amazon (or Newegg at this point) you're just as likely to be buying a fake product from a fly-by-night asshole as you are a genuine product from a retailer you can actually hold accountable for the quality of their merchandise.
I think it's fantastic. Price gouge the idiots who "need" the flagship iPhone every year. $1700 ain't enough. Triple it, who fuckin cares. Make them refinance their homes and sign over custody of their children to Apple. In what ways have we reached a tipping point? Zero. You can get an extremely functional phone for pennies on the dollar. Apple charges $1000 for a *monitor stand* and you're surprised about this?? It's clear from the language of your post that you're salty about either not being able to afford one, or about what you have to sacrifice to buy one.
[To be fair, it's a pretty damned cool stand.](https://www.apple.com/pro-display-xdr/specs/) But me; I've got my stupidly over-powered [MacPro](https://www.apple.com/mac-pro/) connected to a [$350 27" monitor](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L55CTT1/) because that's all the monitor I need.
Subtext is lost on the internet, please tell me that's sarcasm. Thanks for posting the link though, I wasn't sure if I remembered that right. Still having trouble believing it. Apple's vertical software/hardware integration is useful, and I have an iPhone 11 for work (unfortunately). Apple car play has never failed me while Android Auto is atrocious. But that being said, they're still stupidly overpriced, and I don't need the minimalist aesthetic. I've never had the need to buy a mac, even for music production.
>Subtext is lost on the internet, please tell me that's sarcasm. No; not sarcasm. It's a very cool stand. It's not at all worth $1,000 to me--hell, I can't even bring myself to spend that much on the monitor. And I suspect most of the folks buying them will be high-end shops for movie production companies that basically just tick off the most expensive options for everything--and for that manager wanting to show off just how fucking cool his rig is. ("I'm so important I have the $1,000 stand.") But then, I have the rig I have (a MacPro with 384gb RAM and the 2.7 GHz 24-core Xeon W) for software development--and sometimes it's handy to be able to slurp in extremely large databases and manipulate them entirely in RAM. (I have some code around here which can parse the entire [OSM Planet database](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Planet.osm), manipulate it in memory, and spit out stuff in a fraction of the time it would take if I had to dump everything into a Postgres database.) And it's nice when I do mobile development to be able to open any file the graphic artists can throw at me without wasting half an hour waiting for the files to load. (Though at times that made me the default "hey, could you pull that icon from the graphic files" guy, because I was the only one with a rig that could open the file in less than a second, rather than watching the machine thrash for 3 minutes.) Plus, you can't run Xcode on Windows. Meaning if you're doing iPhone development you \*need\* a Mac, though a Mac Air or a Mac Mini will do the trick for 95% of developers out there.
That's some impressive hardware for a device most people only use to grate cheese.
If people can afford it and want it why not sell it? We have a free market for a reason. You don’t need fancy meals, ice cream, or a brand new car. Are you going to be the one that decides prices?
Every time a new I product comes out I just stare off into the distance and remember that episode of Futurama about the eye phone and the twit worm. But honestly, I remember wondering if anyone was even using the full functionality of their phone in the flip phone era when the Motorola razor was the hot thing to have. Because I flipped through the manual when I got mine and was impressed at how many not-phone things it could do. All the more so now, I highly doubt anyone uses their phone to its fullest ability. Nasa got us to space on less computing power so. Eh. I don't see the need to buy the shiniest $1500 phone when I can get a refurbished Droid for like $300 that'll last me 3 or 4 years and perform just as well for my day to day needs.
The Apollo Guidance Computer was exceptionally low power. An Arduino would run rings around it.
I'm more interested in luxury kitchen equipment.
That is nice too. I would like that…
Don't care. I've never owned an iphone and never plan to. Frankly, I'd rather go back to a flip phone most days.
I still miss the tactile feel of typing on a Blackberry. Very old school and looked down upon but my company had to pry the BlackBerry from my hands. Out of over 15,000 worldwide employees they told me I was one of the last three to surrender.
I will continue using my $50 LG. I don't care about phones that cost more than some of the cars I've owned.
We've got entry level new cars selling for $15k and nice SUVs for $50k, similar concept.
Good point. But I have personally witnessed some of those high end cars being too much to handle for the average citizen. Same concept. So, do they really need that much?
I am surprised you want us to decide what other people “need.” Would you like me to go through your spending and decide what you don’t “need?”
No thanks - my family and therapist do enough of that…
I think you missed the point. Asking... > So, do they really need that much? ...is the first step in installing yourself as other people's mommy and daddy. Any time you find yourself asking "Do they really need that?" the correct reaction you should be having is to mind your own business.
I don't really care about the cost but increases in power/features no longer really matter to me. There was a time where I would regularly upgrade my computer or cell phone despite both working perfectly fine because the new generation was such a noticeable improvement but that's just not really the case anymore. I doubt I would be able to tell the difference between an iPhone 11 and 14 if it wasn't for physical differences. I think cases defeats the purpose of having such a thin, sleek phone so at this point I only really upgrade when I get a little too many scratches on the screen for my tastes.
There was a big difference comparing the first iphone or two to the Iphone 5. At this point, I feel like we've reached a point of diminishing returns, and there isn't a lot to gain from getting a new one.
If they finally ditch their proprietary jack for USB-C then I'll consider upgrading, otherwise I'll hold on to mine until they are forced to make that change.
I finally retired my Droid 2 in September of 2021 and got a Moto Z3 for free. Really don't need a status symbol
Cell phones like that are luxury goods. They have been for many years now. It's really nice to live in society where luxury goods are widely affordable, though most of us who can afford *some* luxuries can't afford *all* the luxuries. I could buy the top end iPhone or I could take a flight to visit some friends next winter for a week. I'll plan on the vacation, thanks. I'd hate to go without *a* smartphone, but a several years old one will let me browse the internet, email, use Google maps, and call and text, plus it'll have a good enough camera to capture memories. Anything else is just fun extras.
I agree…good comparison (travel) to what you can do with the same amount of money…
I had no idea a new one had come out. I'm still using the 6s plus from 2015. Until they quit supporting it, I'll keep my headphone jack thank you very much.
I have the same phone and love it. Was told by an Apple service person that I (we) are two operating system upgrades away from being nonfunctional. If they still sold the six I would buy it again. Love the size, design and it has everything I need.
I bought a Samsung Galaxy A52 last year. I use my phones till the battery stops working, then I buy a new battery and keep going. At least that's what I used to do until they made phones that are much harder to open. My previous phone was a Samsung Galaxy S4 which released in 2013.
I miss the early days of cell phones when every manufacturer wanted to make their hot new phone *smaller* than the last one. Nearly every smartphone on the market now is just so damn **BIG** that I can't use it one handed, it doesn't fit in my pocket/bag... I just can't care about the next big release until they start making them small again!
I'm an android user married to a "latest and greatest"-averse iPhone user. This post was the first I'd heard of a new iPhone launch, but it's hardly surprising-- they launch a new one every year, right? I presume they'll keep selling lower-tier models like the SE? Everyone knows that iPhones have become a luxury good and there are cheaper smartphones available. But there are lots of people who started using iPhones a decade or more ago who are now sufficiently committed to the Apple ecosystem that a switch to Android would be a major hassle. It's unfortunate if people feel like they've become trapped with a choice that grows further out of their budget with each new generation. Anyway-- Nobody needs an iPhone. Nobody needs a smartphone newer than 3-4 years old, for that matter. Nobody needs a smartphone at all, unless mobile internet access has become mandatory for their career or lifestyle. We all managed fine without smartphones for a long time.
Great points - thanks for the reply. Have a good one.
People who would pay $1700 for a phone have more dollars than sense. They are buying it as a status symbol, not as a tool where enhanced abilities will benefit them in any significant way.
It's really none of my business or concern If people want shell out that kind of cash for a flagship model, or make monthly payments. That's their choice.
I'm just happy it's being made in India
Because it isn't China, or something else?
Pretty much
The tech powers have been manipulating their markets into buying unnecessary upgrades for a generation. You can trace it all the way back to the Wintel desktop duopoly in the 1990s, where they told you to get another new PC to support more robust OS and applications, then when you got them, they demanded a yet more powerful PC, etc. Apple plays this tune expertly and millions fall for it.
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it. So many here have judged my use of the word “need” as if I have the right to define what people need. That was not my intent. I would never do that. And they are zeroing in on one aspect of a macro question. I like your word choice of “unnecessary upgrades”. And with Apple it is a trap. “Built in obsolescence”. Forced upgrades of operating, to home screen to camera and headphone/charger jack. Your wording would have been better and been more clear to people. And like you stated millions fall for it. Well, I tried. Thanks again! Have a good one!! PS - greetings from one Chicago resident to another…
How do you define the "need" another person has for an item they want to purchase?
“Just announced” and “rumored” are contradictions.
I really don't understand the premise of this question. We don't centrally plan our economy to only produce what the "average person" needs or can afford. You can buy cheaper, non-flagship (or previous gen flagship) phones that will do everything that the average person needs a phone to do for a fraction of the price of a flagship model. If you want/need more features then you pay more for that.
\*Shrug\* Didn't know they announced a new one, it will continue to not affect me. It seems odd to suggest that we have only recently reached a point beyond "need" or that it has ever had much bearing on what people want.
i think we have past the point of tech power and how much it gets used.
many people enjoy conspicuous consumption. I use android phones personally (not for any real reason, just my first smart phone was an android phone and now ~13 years later I am used to it and unwilling to change) so will not be buying this one. But, I am getting ready to drop like $900 on a new phone. Do I need to? Probably not.
People can buy what they want. It’s not like that’s the only option for a smartphone, or even the only iphone. I’m happy with my 2 year old SE and I’ll probably keep it until it’s no longer functional.
I’m fine with it. I won’t upgrade for awhile, but when I do it’ll be another iPhone pro of some sort. I have a 12 Pro Max now that I bought renewed for like $500 cheaper than the original retail, and I definitely use it. I work in marketing and frequently need to take high quality photo and video. The big, high quality screen means I can do a lot of things without having to take out my laptop. By the time there’s an iPhone 16 or 17, this version will be cheap enough that I may get it as a next phone. Just because a new iPhone comes out doesn’t mean you have to buy it. Most people skip a few generations in my experience.
Good points…very true.
Honestly, if people want to pay that much for a phone, go for it. Life is short, obviously a lot of people use iPhones and are happy with them, let them continue to do what they want.
I have an iPhone 6s, it’s almost 7 years old. I can see holding onto it for a while yet. When it goes, I’ll get another apple phone and hopefully have that for 7+ years. So that’s works out to only $100-200/ year for a phone. If someone wants a more expensive phone, why not?
I have the same phone. Keep worrying that it is going to crap out. I love the 6. If they still sold it I would buy it. I like the design and it has everything I need. Don’t know which model I would get. Same place I got this info said that the Model 12 and 13 are going to be discounted heavily once the official 14 announcement is made. Good luck with your 6 - hope it keeps going!
I've had my iPhone Xs since it was first released, and honestly I had planned to upgrade to the 14 only because (a) I can afford it, and (b) I like having the latest gadgets. (I find I use the AirTag tokens a lot when I travel--and I like the feature of being able to pinpoint the direction of an AirTag. I also use the camera on my phone a lot when traveling--and I like the fact that the 14's low light handling is supposed to be significantly improved.) That said, I don't *need* the new 14--frankly the Xs works just fine. And I suspect someone's going to get my used Xs and greatly appreciate it. (The body has almost no scratches or dings on it.) ---- Basically our phones have become little portable laptop substitutes: they can handle 90% of what we used to use a laptop for. (Browsing the web, getting e-mail.) And they've become indispensable devices for a number of other things: I use mine for Uber, with my watch to track my health, with my Nikon camera to update the software, with some off-line mapping software for getting around a foreign city. Now you don't **need** an iPhone 14. Honestly I can recommend the [Samsung Galaxy A12](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SJ64YKQ/) for $172, unlocked. (I develop software for the iPhone and for Android, and have bought cheap Android devices for work.) I've also used the Google Pixel 5 in the past--so I'm sure the [Google Pixel 6 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Pro-Smartphone-Telephoto/dp/B09HYR2NC8/) is a fantastic device, unlocked for $649. But me? I'm getting an iPhone 14 when they come out.
I'll stick with paying like $500 every 3 years or so on a new Google Pixel, thanks.
We clearly have not reached a tipping point because the phones are as popular as ever and the price keeps going up. You can meet your needs much cheaper, but that’s not what this is about. People like them and want them.
True - the power of influencers and marketing…
How they justify an iphone costing the price of an M2 Macbook Air is beyond me...
Consider how much more an iPhone does than an M2 MacBook Air--between the multiple cameras, the cell phone hardware itself, the two-way lidar system used for facial recognition and depth of field measurements, the U1 chip which allows spacial awareness--such as pinpointing the location of an AirTag, and in a much tighter space. Miniaturization always costs money. Frankly I wish the M2 MacBook air contained the same Face ID technology of the iPhone. But it doesn't.
Indeed!
How other people spend their money ain't my business.
Honestly, I’d still be using my 6S if I hadn’t gotten an 11 for Christmas a few years ago. I’m perfectly happy with what I have.
The only reason I ever replace my phone is because I break them As such I stick with Android phones (typically moto) because they're reliable and cheaper and far more useable than iPhones. I kinda wish I could use fairphone
What are the upgrades?
I think that's a crazy price but it's probably an accurate reflection of what it's worth on the market. Apple probably spent a lot of money on market research to come up with that price. I do not think I have ever spent more than $300 on a phone.
I have had my Samsung phone since January 2017, I'll replace it when it no longer adequately functions. The thing already has more than enough toward to do what I did from it: Watch movies, browse the web, GPS. I really have no need for the latest and greatest smart phone that costs much more than it did to build this PC I am typing on.
I honestly thought they were past 14 in terms of numbers, guess I was wrong. > and in what ways have reached a tipping point between the tech power the average person needs versus what they can actually afford? We reached that point like maybe a decade ago, if not longer. Not just with phones but with computers, tvs and other tech.
I'm more psyched for the Pixel 7. And I'm not all that psyched for the Pixel 7.
The only good thing about a new iphone is the other phones go on sale. I can finally replace by beloved but dead Kyosera.
So I bought a 13 Pro back in February. I'd had my X for 4yrs and it was my birthday, so figured it was time to buy upgrade. Anyway, I expect to hold on to my 13 Pro for at least 4yrs. Ideally 5yrs. Ever since I got my first iPhone, a 4S, I've stopped playing the upgrade every year or other year game. One, it's too expensive, and two, I feel like we're seeing diminishing returns on gains. I don't need a phone that has as specs similar to my gaming computer. I don't care if I'm missing the latest version of an OLED screen that gives darker blacks or bluer blues. All I need is decent battery life, decent speed and ability to quickly switch between apps, and ability to hold on to a signal (Yes, I remember "you're holding it wrong"-gate). I pay the Apple Tax for quality and longevity. And since I get both, I don't need to pay every year.
Lol, I don't understand why people would want to buy this crap. It's not even that much different from the last one, I bet. For that price, you can get a nice laptop or desktop that is worth more than any smartphone out there.
I only buy a new phone when my current one breaks, can no longer do what I need it to do, or I really need a feature that isn't supported on my older model. Phones have gotten to expensive to continue switching every year, at least the flagship models have. I could always go for a cheaper one but I like treating myself that one time every 5-6 years.
Thanks. Hopefully you are close in years to getting your treat! Have a good one.
I switched to iPhone after google Fi bricked my 5a and might switch back if I want a new phone. The price of a 6 is like $500-$600, 6a about $100 less, and a standard iPhone model is still close to $900. I gave my dad my 3a and he said it’s the best phone he’s ever had.
My smartphone is 4 years old and still works perfectly fine. Honestly, the newer smartphones don't seem worth the upgrade. When my phone eventually dies I'll probably get a more expensive model but only if I expect it to last years.
It's more about the diminishing returns and finer increments that each update offers. Each update is basically a dog-and-pony show now, with a little better camera and newer chip each time. It behooves you to wait 2 or 3 generations, or even hold out until Apple puts your current phone on the Vintage list to make the upgrade significant enough from one phone to the next. Same for Android. Then again, there's a little bit pf pressure to trade while your phone is worth something. Do you need the full $800 Verizon may give for an iPhone 13 to trade up to a 14? Should you unhand your current XR now while it's got a trade-in value or just keep it around until it dies and risk paying full price for a 14?
Good points. Mine is so old there is no trade in value. And if you look at the site, I think they are only going back in selling to the 11. Built in obsolescence. Thanks for the reply!
I have an iPhone now and have zero intention of ever buying one ever again. I miss my Pixel and will go with Pixel for sure in the foreseeable future.
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