Re:I feel Apple has lost its alignment with me and other lon...
by freetime2 on Tuesday September 16, 2025 @08:11PM
(#45269971)
> I hate this statement. I don't care if I can afford an expensive device if it doesn't provide the value over the lifetime of the product. Why do phones that only last 2-3 years cost as much as my laptop that can last longer than that and do so much more?
Hate is a strong word. Why should my opinions on iPhone upgrades provoke feelings of hatred in you?
I also disagree with the premise. My current phone is 4 years old, and as I mentioned I plan to give it to someone who will use it for another 3+ years. Or I could have traded it in or resold it to a someone else who can use it. So I wouldn't say modern phones last 2-3 years, more like 7+ years.
I also disagree that laptops can do more than smartphones. Smartphones have different hardware like GPS, cellular radios, and more advanced cameras. They are also more portable (and miniaturization is expensive). And recently smartphone hardware is just as powerful as can be found in many laptops. Apple is even being rumored to be making a low-cost laptop powered by the same A-series chips that they use in iPhones. A smartphone is no better or worse than a laptop, just a different form factor that excels in different use cases.
> it doesn't provide the value over the lifetime of the product
It does provide value to me. As a photography hobbyist, I'm primarily interested in the camera updates (side note: if you compare iPhone prices to standalone camera prices like the Fujifilm X Half at $849, I think the iPhone 17 Pro is actually a pretty good value when judged solely on its merits as a tool for capturing photos and video). But there are a bunch of other nice-to-have updates (wifi 7, bigger battery, brighter screen, etc). If there were no value to me in upgrading, then I wouldn't upgrade. I'm not saying that people should upgrade every few years even if there is no compelling reason, but rather that the financial burden of upgrading every few years is minimal for lots of people.
I'd also point out that the iPhone Pro line is a premium device, and very few people need one. Apple sells other iPhone models starting at $599 (iPhone 16e) and going up from there. Or you can buy a refurb iPhone 14 on Amazon for $330, and probably still get a few years out of it at least. Or you can go with Samsung or Motorola and get a totally functional smartphone for under $200 (though these budget phones will probably turn into e-waste a lot sooner than a new iPhone). If you don't see any value in shelling out $1100 for the latest and greatest iPhone, there there's no need to. There's probably some other smartphone out there with a price and feature set that makes sense for you.
Value is very subjective depending on personal preferences and needs, and budget. I don't see the point in hating that fact.
Hate is a strong word. Why should my opinions on iPhone upgrades provoke feelings of hatred in you?
I also disagree with the premise. My current phone is 4 years old, and as I mentioned I plan to give it to someone who will use it for another 3+ years. Or I could have traded it in or resold it to a someone else who can use it. So I wouldn't say modern phones last 2-3 years, more like 7+ years.
I also disagree that laptops can do more than smartphones. Smartphones have different hardware like GPS, cellular radios, and more advanced cameras. They are also more portable (and miniaturization is expensive). And recently smartphone hardware is just as powerful as can be found in many laptops. Apple is even being rumored to be making a low-cost laptop powered by the same A-series chips that they use in iPhones. A smartphone is no better or worse than a laptop, just a different form factor that excels in different use cases.
> it doesn't provide the value over the lifetime of the product
It does provide value to me. As a photography hobbyist, I'm primarily interested in the camera updates (side note: if you compare iPhone prices to standalone camera prices like the Fujifilm X Half at $849, I think the iPhone 17 Pro is actually a pretty good value when judged solely on its merits as a tool for capturing photos and video). But there are a bunch of other nice-to-have updates (wifi 7, bigger battery, brighter screen, etc). If there were no value to me in upgrading, then I wouldn't upgrade. I'm not saying that people should upgrade every few years even if there is no compelling reason, but rather that the financial burden of upgrading every few years is minimal for lots of people.
I'd also point out that the iPhone Pro line is a premium device, and very few people need one. Apple sells other iPhone models starting at $599 (iPhone 16e) and going up from there. Or you can buy a refurb iPhone 14 on Amazon for $330, and probably still get a few years out of it at least. Or you can go with Samsung or Motorola and get a totally functional smartphone for under $200 (though these budget phones will probably turn into e-waste a lot sooner than a new iPhone). If you don't see any value in shelling out $1100 for the latest and greatest iPhone, there there's no need to. There's probably some other smartphone out there with a price and feature set that makes sense for you.
Value is very subjective depending on personal preferences and needs, and budget. I don't see the point in hating that fact.