Sadly, my workhorse iPhone 6 plus must now be replaced. I have it connected for work, and am required to use a phone that gets security updates. Plan is to take over my son’s iPhone 7 which he replaced with an XR last year. This to me seems like the new model - a healthy “used phone “ market. Maybe there’s a technical reason my 5 year old phone has to be put in the recycle bin, but perhaps Apple is just seeing the same thing I am seeing.
When I was a boy, people replaced cars every three to five years. Now I keep a car as long as I can; or I can lease one on a shorter replacement cycle, this creates a bigger market for 3 to 4 year old used cars than there used to be. I still believe the same thing will happen / is happening to mobile phones, and that’s likely a good thing - so long as the manufacturers don’t end support for older devices prematurely.
As a mid- boomer, I well remember the annual model changes on cars of my youth. Looking back from today, it is clear to me that for a while it really was all about innovation, but then it became just change for change sake. This is pattern when all transformational technology matures. Why should mobile phones be any different?
7
It's outrages that the tech companies stops supporting their product after 5 years. Imaging what people would do if car companies decide stop to supply engine part for 5 year old cars.
3
don't upgrade unless your phone is 5 years old? this is an absurd review. this is a massive upgrade and it's apparent from the many reviews out there that the phone camera quality is light years ahead of a phone that's a few years old. also makes a huge difference for many other things including Face ID.
6
Wait: people still consider the iPhone a *phone?* I use my iPhone 90% of the time as a computer, not a phone. Why this discussion about *phone* features? It's my computer, camera, recording machine, game boy, fax, calendar, stock ticker, altimeter, weather report, offline storage, activity monitor, TV remote, audio remote, podcaster, news source(s), to-do list, sleep cycle, ride summoner, flashlight, plant identifier, diet tracker, Facebook/Instagram, Amazon shopper, book finder. .. and I get all this for under $1,000?! No wonder we have no inflation; in fact, it's deflationary, with all those products it has put out of business.
12
This whole diatribe is laughable in its dominant theme of witless consumption. I am still riding with the iPhone 6 and it serves me well. Since consumption is one of the big culprits in the present tenuous state of the world, it would appear buying decisions on such superfluous luxuries would warrant more mindful consideration.
13
No complaints about my iPhone 6s from 2016 (before the iPhone 7 was released later that year). I got a new battery for it last year at the Apple Store during that fire sale. Two words: HEADPHONE JACK.
However, based on a column by your NYT colleague (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/18/smarter-living/ipod-touch-review.html), I am considering getting an iPod Touch just as a music player. (It also has a headphone jack as well as Bluetooth.) My old iPhone 4s which has been dedicated to this task is slower, has a smaller screen, and is marooned on iOS 9. Wonder if I could trade it in?
2
Holding on to my old phone as long as I can to keep the headphone jack.
3
I got an SE a few years ago and used it until the battery basically died (it would only run for maybe a half-day). Then I sold it to Gazelle for $45 bucks, and got a brand-new SE from Apple's closeout store for $150.
I have an iPad and a Macbook Pro, so I have big screens covered there. I like having the smaller SE a lot. Besides, Saint Steven is probably spinning in his grave about those ugly protruding lenses stuck on the back of the newer phones lol. The iPhone SE (a 6S in a 5 case) was the last format he oversaw. I think he said it reminded him of an old Leica when he released it as the iPhone 5.
3
I have an iPhone X and am upgrading. I am an avid photographer, and the reality for shooting pictures in low light is not that you can simply "use flash" - it changes the entire look of a scene to something totally unlike the reason you took the photo to begin with.
I don't think the advice to upgrade only if you have an iPhone 6 makes much sense. If you have an iPhone 7 or older, you are going to see huge improvements in lots of things, not just photos, in these new phones. I agree an iPhone 8 or later, you should look at more specific reasons why you want to upgrade - but even looking past the photography improvements, I expect toes a nice battery and speed most from the newer phone beyond what I could get with a battery replacement.
7
Based on all the comments maybe Apple should come out with a new phone every two years. If I were Tim Cook I would also start charging for new operating systems like iOS 13. Microsoft has made billions doing that.
I'm 31 and an IT technician.
Recently, I sold my iPhone 7 Plus for a good chunk of change and went back to the iPhone 6. Sold the Watch and Airpods too. Over the years I've narrowed down what I need my phone to do and the 6 just does it. I don't want to take out a 2nd mortgage on the new iPhone. The cell phone fad of the 2010s is hitting a brick wall.
8
The slowing of innovation rate is inevitable in the long term. We've already gone through this with desktops and laptops; it was just a matter of time for smartphones. Extending device lifetimes is good for the environment as well as the wallet.
1
I had upgraded because my iphone battery was poor and the new phone had just as poor of a battery. Then I bought a new battery to upgrade the battery, and no improvement. Apple must improve because they may seriously lose a longtime customer if they don't. All the articles that claim 'better battery life' are just not coming true to those of us in the field.
Exactly what I say why is there such a discrepancy between stated battery life and the life me or you actually get; maybe the first day it seems to last all day like they say ((the sales rep) it will and then from then on it’s downhill maybe all the apps that people get… But I don’t have that many data orExcess diddley dues, except the ones I need: banking, Insurance, health insurance, that’s about it I’ve removed as many excess apps that I don’t use or just don’t use them I don’t have music I don’t watch podcasts ,find friends ( zeros),Etc.
You make some good points however you start with the premise that people are going out and actually buying the phones at each release. Some may but most (at least informal polling tells me) don't. Now that providers no longer offer a free phone every two years for signing a new contract most folks I know, myself included, pay Apple a monthly fee instead of dropping $1,000 or more on a phone at one time That means if you are trading up from a Iphone X to an 11 your costs stay the same or drop for getting the newest technology - even under last years pricing, costs went up a couple of dollars to upgrade - for those $20-30 a year you constantly have the latest technology backed by Apple care, with no concerns or issues about problems or battery life. Honestly I think most of us just annually walk in and exchange last years for this years model now days.
1
I upgraded my iPhone 4 to an iPhone 7+ when the iPhone X came out. Got a great deal--especially compared to buying an X. At this point, I'm not going to upgrade again until absolutely necessary. My 7+ does everything I need it to do, mainly make/receive calls, send/receive texts and emails, GPS and occasionally surf YouTube. I learned a long time ago that when it comes to technology just because a new model comes out that doesn't mean the old model is suddenly bad. Good enough is good enough for me.
2
Two things would cause me to upgrade from my iPhone X:
1. Much longer battery life - even the 11's have smaller batteries than many Samsungs. With my X I need to use Apple's battery case to get through one day and evening.
2. Better audio. LG's V50 plays the new Amazon hi res audio in its full glory, but all iPhones limit audio quality to MP3 quality.
That’s not true. The format by Apple is MP4 not MP3. Further I use an external 24 bit DAC as the IPhone DAC is built into the lightning cable. By using lightning to camera kit I get digital to the XSD DAC to analog for my Sennheiser headphones. No head jack needed.
1
Just got iPhone XR. Couple of points to note:
For apple to price XS higher than XR which essentially are the same, with the bigger screen being cheaper, it's apple's admission of previous misconception (that users will always, always want bigger and bigger screen size). To me, I would rather a phone that I can hold in one hand, rather than a slightly smaller ipad mini that i always have to work with both hands.
After this Fri, apple won't sell XS and XR anymore, in order not to cannibalize the sale of 11 and 11 Pro. That's also effectively an admission of guilt by apple that there essentially there aren't that much differences between XS/XR and the 11 counterparts, but just paying for more.
1
@tiddle great theory, _slightly_ negated by the fact that Apple aren't going to stop selling the iPhone XR after Friday. They are continuing to sell it, at a reduced price.
4
"...wouldn't recommend buying the new iPhone just to take night pictures. You could always just use the flash ( on your existing iPhone).
No.Wrong.Wrong.Wrong.
Unless you know how to light subjects, all a camera mounted flash does is completely destroy the natural light ambience and feeling of the subject matter.
Clearly this all depends on just how important photography is to the prospective buyer but always avoid using a camera flash wherever possible.
7
Too much talk about cameras here as most of us only need a Brownie equivalent to take pictures that will never be viewed by anyone. I use my iPhone SE camera to show the Home Depot man the toilet part I need, but I also have thousands of pictures I'll never look at. My main use of my SE is navigation (GPS), banking, contracts, text, and email. I would be totally happy if Apple would offer an inexpensive basic phone like my SE for those of us who aren't professional photographers. More time between IOS upgrades would be nice too.
4
I’ve been using iPhone since the day it was released. I have upgraded every three-to-four years, and have found that to be reasonable. I feel that I will be quite comfortable with my iPhone X for two more years. Automobiles? 12 years, on average. Least was two years, most was 21 years.
1
I have an iPhone SE and I'm very happy with it. A colleague expressed shock that I could use a phone with such a tiny screen. When this finally dies, I'm not sure what I'll do. I don't want or need a gigantic screen.
I would get a Light Phone but I do need some basic features (transit/Lyft).
Sigh. Maybe I'll just have to get an iPhone 8?
3
wish they would make the latest in a smaller form factor which is why I still have my trusty 5SE ... don't like the "plank in a pocket" ...
1
If you use your phone to call and be called and assuming the phone does this well, upgrading seems like a waste of money. My iphone 7 (I think that's what it is) can text (e-mail works fine for me and it's a lot easier to type on a computer keyboard) and take photos (that's occasionally useful but hardly a life-changer). It also tells me the time which is nice since I don't wear a watch. On the other hand, I don't wear a watch because I don't like bodily encumbrances and phones are a mega bodily encumbrance filling up a whole pocket and necessitating a belt to hold my trousers up. Of course I could get one of those computer/phone/watches but they're useless--my thumb covers up the whole screen.
Yeah, I'm getting old but dropping $700+ every year on a phone doesn't fit my budget very well. That's a lot of foregone beer.
4
I have an iPhone 8 Plus for about 2 months.
It works great.
Pass on the upgrade.
I go to a gym near a prominent university and this gym always has a large group of students. They do an exercise about every 30 seconds and then repeatedly spend a minute or two on their phones. Their seeming addiction is really rather sad.
5
Counterpoint: When I’m out for breakfast on the weekend, I see many couples in their 50s or 60s silently sitting at their tables, staring at their phones. Their seeming addiction is really rather sad.
19
@R. Anderson On the other hand, I've started doing a lot more cardio since I realized I can download episodes of my favorite Netflix shows to my phone and balance it on the treadmill/bike/elliptical.
2
Yeah, I'm a middle aged guy and do the same. Lift 8-10 reps, then read NY Times for 90 seconds and repeat.. cannot take the boredom of just staring the floor. (I don't listen music)
3
For frugal iPhone users, Otter phone case is well worth the investment. Solid as a rock. Will give you the option of holding out to upgrade well after your contract expires.
4
Minor upgrades to technology to give the illusion of substantive innovation and cultural advancement.
Had an IPhone 6 and looking for an upgrade.
Battery’s not holding its charge.
Got a IPhone 8 for $459.
Best deal ever!
2
Thanks for your advice. I’ve owned an iPhone 6s since 2015 and I’m willing to buy one, but it seems that the iPhone launches next year (2020) will improve much more and even includes a 5G antenna. Do you think it’s willing enough for me to buy the latest iPhone 11 pro or if you think it’s better if I wait for another year?
1
Ok, I’ll bite. I’ve owned every flagship iPhone since their inception and will buy an 11 Max, too. I’m fortunate and grateful to be able to afford this. IMHO life is too short not to get the best camera available (the primary improvement this year). I also feel Apple deserves to be rewarded for securing our precious data and protecting our privacy* more than the competition. When upgrading in the past, I’ve often felt like I was going to regret the expenditure, but once I’d used the new model a while, it always felt worth it. I don’t feel quite that tension this time, because of aging parents in need of photographing — they won’t be around much longer. *I am very concerned about the U1 ultra-wideband chip in the new iPhones, for their potential to track us more and even more accurately, all without our permission... and why the heck aren’t technology writers raising this question???
3
Where are you going to use an iPhone?
Work- you got your computer
Home - you got your computer
Mountains - no cell connection. Will not work, except as a wilderness GPS with an App. But few hikers bother with a wilderness GPS.
Driving - against the law to text, bad idea to use a phone for anything.
Social events - its now a Faux Pas
Shooting pics - use a Sony RX-100. Optical zoom, one inch sensor.
Whats left?
At bars and restaurants by yourself, unless you want to be open to connect with new friends you might meet.
When you stop your car.
Airport waiting for a plane
Students on campus - social apps are a way of life
What’s an iPhone good for?
Texting - but you can send on a computer
Apps - designed for a phone or tablet, but the next Mac OS can run them
Pictures - but under ideal conditions
Navigation - but makes you a vehicle operator, not geographer and pilot
Taking your money - 5 years cost is $4000 with monthly fees
Constant social media stimulation - costing you anxiety and depression, and lost privacy
Me:
3 computers, iMac 27, and 3 iOS devices. I never use iOS for anything
First job out of college - Software Engineer
What I think:
Frivolous new tech - to be replaced in 5 years by EVERYWHERE computers and the cloud.
What Steve Jobs thought after he created the iPhone:
Just a better cell phone
How the tech industry regards it:
A way to make CEOs rich and keep people from financial goals
2
@H Smith: I guess you missed Steve Jobs' keynote in January 2007, when he introduced the iPhone, because that's not at all what he thought... nor is it what anyone else thought (especially Google ;-) when they saw the iPhone. (The keynote is available on youtube for your viewing pleasure.)
3
All of you people need to do something worthwhile with your life.
1
Brian, I am a little frustrated by your approach to these reviews. I believe you are in a position to do some "business case" analysis.
For example, your 3rd to last paragraph provides no analysis of the upgrade offers on the new phones, how if one waits 4-5 years to upgrade they purchase at some greater price. At a minimum, the offers on trade-in need to show up in your recommendations.
Thank you.
2
Your 5 year time frame corresponds to the release of the iPhone 6S. Importantly, only 6S and later iPhones will be able to be updated with the new iOS 13 coming out soon. Not being able to accept an OS upgrade is a good time to upgrade ones phone.
2
A smart phone is one device that handles phone messages (voice and SMS) and computer messages (email, and the rest). It connects to social media. It navigates, and with a camera
It’s a hit. One device for most things. Many people moved their focal point to a smart phone. But disadvantages:
o It has a $4000 five year cost
o It can not handle IP phone calls or land lines.
o The tiny screen is bad for work
o Work can intrude on private life
o It has limited battery life
o The GPS navigator robs the user of the “pilot” experience you have with a map - reduces you to an operator, takes away geographic knowledge you would get.
o the GPS can kill people by putting them on non existent roads in back country terrain
o The camera has no optical zoom and uses a tiny sensor
o The text capability can kill drivers and passengers in other cars, is not legal.
o Its become a social faux pas to use it at social events
o People can get hung up on the constant stimulation - leading to stress and anxiety and isolation
o Smart phones amplify the social media world. But that is world of illusions, you will might never meet most of your “friends”. It’s a world of depravity and stolen secrets
o The digital industry can track you at everything you do.
o Its a bulky gadget that is easy to loose
When you look at what a smart phone does:
Its not very good at anything
Work around can duplicate smart phone functions, at zero cost.
They usually work far better, but not always as convenient
Forget the phone - can we talk more about Mochi?!
3
The issue of “vulnerability,” a statistical concept underlying “likelihood,” increasingly raised in many areas, about many potential outcomes of states of operation/functioning, can be important.
What is the numerical likelihood that one’s new I phone Will NOT be hacked?
A number, empirically based, or not will be given.
If and when IT IS= 100%.
If IT doesn’t occur= 0.
Given that any I phone, as well as any living organism, exist in realities in which uncertainties,unpredictabilities, randomness and lack of total control, notwithstanding our efforts -timely or not- are ever-present and interacting, what does, can, posited “ vulnerability” mean?
"You could always just use flash." Yeah. I suppose I could also rub two sticks together to start a fire. Or maybe wash my clothes by beating them against a wet rock too.
C'mon man.
4
We are living at a time when all of humanity should be concerned about the state of our planet and the environmental costs of our rampant consumerism. Just because you can afford to upgrade every 2 years doesn’t mean it’s the responsible thing to do. I plan to keep my 6S until it dies, and then I will upgrade to the best iPhone available, keep that one until it dies, and repeat. Our throwaway culture is killing our planet.
9
As the lead tech writer of the NYT, I am a little perplexed regarding some of the photos you posted taken in Portrait Mode. The depth of field on these shots are perfect examples of when Portrait Mode doesn't perform as intended; however, you don't acknowledge that.
In the photo of your dog, towards the left of her (very cute) face, it is totally blurred which should not happen since the distance from the lens is the same as the right side of the photo depicting the dogs face as in focus. The same issue comes up with your photo where the cinnamon stick in the glass is blurred at the top, even though the rim of the glass which is a further distance is clear.
Both of these photos are examples of the technology not working correctly - of which showing examples of I have no issue with. However, if you're going to do so, your article should describe how this feature is not performing as intended, instead of not addressing it at all.
3
Good points but I don’t think either of those photos employed portrait mode
The dog’s ear is messed up, too. Yes, both pics used Portrait mode, as anyone with experience with the feature can recognize. I was also surprised no comment was made about the stick being out of focus.
Sounds like good advice!
I'm feeling grumpy today after nearly being run over twice by people looking at their phones. This review to me is has a "new and improved e-Heroin" feel to it. Every commenter on this page walks around with their phone held tightly like a drunk holds a bottle. You're addicted. You're punch drunk in love with a machine. You're hooked. How many of you could go 24 hours without a phone? None of you could. The whole world is around you but you focus on 6 inches of it like a junkie looks at a dime bag of smack. So sad.
3
5 years on 100$ galxy3, before same on J6 3 years, before 3 years Smsng Slide, total over 10 years 300$ out of pocket cost
As an owner of an iPhone SE, it is worth it for me to upgrade. Because of the number of indoor photos I take, the low light photography feature is a winner. I find flash distorting and distracting to my subjects, so I avoid it even in the lowest light.
I do have a DSLR that meets all these needs. For my purposes, I stick to the adage, "the best camera is the one you have with you," and I am more likely to have phone camera with me than the large and bulky DSLR.
I'm confused about the fact that the iPhone 11 models can't use 5G networks. My XR can and DOES. Did Apple remove this feature for the new phones?
1
They are talking about 5g cell networks which are just now rolling out in the US in very limited areas. You are probably thinking about 5g wireless networks in home.
Still have my iPhone SE(2016). I have smaller hands and the S and Pro versions are much bigger than I like. I also prefer to be able to use one hand to use the phone. The only drawback, of course, is the smaller screen and processor. I have had the battery replaced once and the screen replaced once, but otherwise, it has worked phenomenally as a phone and nary a problem. So it's only 3 years old.
So for me, I'm waiting for apple to produce a new version of the SE before I consider shelling out more money again.
1
I work in Media + see the unsustainable waste of precious metals, poor labor practices and recycling that has a CO2 footprint of shipping our trash to SE Asia.
If I promote sustainability I cannot justify replacing working electronics. I did get a new laptop (this one is from 2012) but keep my iPhone 5 until it dies.
Another point to my cut in consumption: I love Apple products, but Tim Cooks 100 million + change pay is vulgar + I try to contribute to it as little as possible
5
Did you take some of those photos with portrait mode on? The left half of the dogs face is blurred out and the handle of the cocktailglass is blurred. If this is indeed portrait mode, it's sad that Apple still couldn't improve it and it's still blurring parts of photos it shouldn't - just like on my X.
Please also consider the ecological and humanitarian costs of mining the rare earth minerals used in the production of smartphones. I have always used my iphones until they are no longer usable, often because they can't run the newer software. I hope that there will be less "planned obsolescence" and future gadgets and appliances can last for decades (like they used to) to cut down on the mountains of waste covering the earth.
4
I have an iPhone 6 Plus that still works fine but I have to upgrade since it will not run the new iOS and will not get security updates. This is the only reason I am getting a new phone, it still works fine and I am not happy that I have to upgrade.
3
This article proves that the world has become an echo chamber where many people only read articles about what they already believe. I upgrade my phone every year because it's my one splurge. I drive my cars into the ground. I have only my mortgage as debt and I could pay that off any day but why would I when my investments are doing very well. I live on 70% of my income and save the rest. If I want to buy a new phone every year I'm going to. I make enough other sacrifices. But you do you.
2
Agreed. It is amusing that some of those who feel virtuous because they hang on to older devices will have no qualms spending several hundred dollars a month on restaurant meals.
2
I know, I know... I know... and owning a sunny yellow XR that I only use as a very very very fine WiFi-only "narrow iPad mini" because I prefer the smaller form factor of an SE for use as a smartphone should tell me that even watching the keynote this year was an exercise in "entertainment only".
But when I saw this year's lineup in that keynote presentation the other day, I was not only entertained but tempted. So hard to type this comment while refraining from opening another tab and hitting on the Apple Store lol.
1
Why the media-created compelling propaganda to spend, spend, spend? Even the Times own Wirecutter makes the constant case that whatever you had last year, that we then told you was the best, is now obsoleted by what we now says is best. And often comparatively pretty expensive. And not coincidentally, as the Times gets a piece of what they induce you to spend, often the most expensive new new thing. Is there an emoluments clause that applies to journalism?
3
In principle, this article's point is well taken, but I think the author goes a little too far when he recommends upgrading your iPhone every five years. The problem is that the iPhone's operating system becomes non-upgradable before the device is five years old; and not upgrading your iPhone means missing out on Apple's latest security enhancements, which are becoming more and more important as malicious hackers prey on unwary consumers with ever-increasing frequency. Apple's upcoming iOS upgrade, iOS 13, will be compatible with iPhones released in 2015, but not compatible with 2014 models. So owners of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus who wait until next year to upgrade will be more vulnerable to the latest iPhone hacks. It's as simple as that.
2
I agree with the general sentiments of this review. I have a two-year-old iPhone X and it is plenty fine for most things. Camera is great. Battery life is still great. It is plenty speedy for everything I do. I can understand why iPhone sales would be slowing now. iPhone X is a killer phone and no real need to upgrade for the normal user.
What wasn't covered well in this review and perhaps because Mr. Chen was focusing on the normal user, is the power of the Pro version with it's three cameras. This is a BIG miss for the article. For the semi-pro crowd who dabble in video production or people who love producing cool videos of their family and friends, the iPhone 11 Pro opens up some really cool possibilities. Being able to shoot incredibly high quality video from both sides of the camera simultaneously is pretty amazing. Easy switching to wide angle video is also pretty cool. This article doesn't touch upon the video capabilities of the phone much at all.
Maybe another article by Mr. Chen or someone who knows and loves video production talking about the capabilities of the iPhone 11 Pro to create pro-level video would be good and help us know how real that is versus hype.
2
The smartphone market in general is reaching the same plateau that PCs reached a few years ago. Other than new CPUs, every "upgrade" has only been minor "tweaks" and how much really new innovation is left?
1
I “kinda” agree with you. It reminds me of the silicon arms race those of us old enough will remember back in the day. Where I feel different is that I think this smartphone chipset arms race is exciting and laying the foundation for things that will be truly groundbreaking: AR, Machine Learning, VR, etc. Computational Photography is a thing and likely the one area that Apple can hype in these annual events for the lay person, but the real excitement for me and why I am upgrading yearly is the A13 Bionic, U1, etc. Apple is absolutely killing it there, and I expect that in a year or two we’ll see the benefits in a way that many reviewers honestly don’t seem to understand, much less the general public. Not a reason to upgrade yearly to be sure, but no one (including Apple) says you need to.
Buttonless smartphones are a wonder of technology. Extraordinary across the board and astonishingly cheap for what you get.
1
No mention of iPhone memory. My friend's iPhone 6 with 16 gig requires deleting Apps then reinstalling them to use some features. My iPhone 8, which can still be purchased new on eBay for $450, has 64 gig. Larger memory is a reason to upgrade.
1
The small point about buying a protective case irks me. Apple spends who knows how much on product design just for its attractiveness, and the iPhones are beautiful. Yet, they are considered so fragile, that buyers routinely buy ugly, clunky cases. Apple could try harder to design less breakable glass.
2
iPhones are not considered “fragile”; just the opposite actually. People put cases on them to maximize resale value a year or two (or three or four...) later. Big difference.
1
@Charles Wynn
Interesting. I never considered that. I do not use a case. I do not like the look or added weight. I also do not upgrade frequently.
1
Like you, I like the idea of a “naked” iPhone, I’m just not brave enough to rock that carrying style for a full year!
1
It has NEVER been necessary upgrade your phone every 2 years. I had my iPhone 6 for around 4 years before finally upgrading to the Xs, and even that upgrade was a luxury rather than a necessity, as my iPhone 6 was still working just fine due to a couple of cheap battery replacements (performed by myself).
I am texting this on my iPhone 6 which takes great photos on vacation, supports the apps I use and needs recharging once daily. Until the day Apple will no longer support it I am not buying a new phone because for my needs it is not an upgrade just a large expenditure.
2
For the price of an iPhone battery or two, you can buy a perfectly acceptable Samsung (or choose you maker) phone that is quite speedy when searching or contacting. It takes pictures and video. There are apps - wow, Whole Foods discounts! Plant ID, so cool.
It synchs perfectly with all my other devices - desktop, laptop, Chromebook and tablets.
For those who are enamored with Apple and the cult surrounding it, enjoy the toy. To each his own, for sure. Hope your retirement is fully funded and those college loans are paid off.
For the average Joe and Jane, it's about as necessary as a $3000 TV. I'd prefer to put the money in an IRA, buy a house or take a nice trip to Italy.
3
@Bob Bruce Anderson or you could buy what you like. To assume someone is not fiscally responsible because they chose to buy an iPhone is very ignorant at best. Phone companies offer several iPhones for free or for less money than the cheaper phones you spoke of. They also would be supported by apple for much longer than the lower tier phones you speak of. Its brand new high end Samsung devices that's not even shipping with the latest version of android. Don't be the generalization guy. Some people can just appreciate a good product that does what they need it to do for them.
1
I have an iPhone 7 and it works fine I don't need the newest thing to make me happy
How about doing a much better job explaining and evaluating the new features and advancements and letting your readers decide whether they merit an upgrade? This review was both opinionated and unprofessional. Sad.
1
@DK In VT Right?
Thank you so much for encouraging thoughtfulness over needless consumption.
When upgrading a cellphone is unnecessary, costly and environmentally damaging it’s quite intelligent to think twice.
Personally, as a Bay Area native who grew up with Apple tech, I still prefer the interface and design of Apple... And yet, view them as a despicable, greedy corporation who is obscenity rich yet fights to not pay back into American society by campaigning to never pay their fair share or corporate taxes.
This makes Apple evil in my eyes, and it may take a Wareen or Sanders presidency to turn our culture towards civic mindedness, to make America stand for what is right again. Living in the tech-dominated Bay Area today I see obscene, corporate-welfare enabled wealth everywhere- and the income inequality is visible and staggering between tech and most everyone else. Corporate welfare and welfare for the (obscenity) wealthy must end.
2
If you hold Apple to this standard and consider them “evil”, I wonder if you’re consistent across the board, since their tax strategy is by no means unique? If that’s the case, what practical implications does that mean for you in regards to anything you purchase and consume? What phone company is any better?
Why no mention of audio quality of a phone call? If you compare call quality of a cell phone to an old style telephone, the hard-wired landline would be far superior in every way - talking, hearing, conversing. Apple et al need to find a way forward to the higher quality of the past. After all, the iPhone is a Phone, isn't it?
5
I truly feel that the cameras on the new phones are a total miscalculation by Apple.
The vast majority of people using the phones will not be trying to create the perfect, beautiful landscape such as shown by Apple in their marketing. Instead, they will be taking snaps of little Janie or Jonny playing baseball.
For that, you need the telephoto. Mom and Dad want to actually SEE their child as a figure, not as a distant pixel.
It's for this reason that I, personally, won't be upgrading this year.
1
I highly disagree that this is a “miscalculation” by any means. This may be your personal preference, but “miscalculation”?? Uh, no. Early reports are that because of the computational photography capabilities of this phone, it might give the Pixel 3/4 a run for the title of best smartphone camera system literally ever. The innovation of these phones aren’t the glass, shape of the phone, etc but the chipsets, which I think both the uneducated press and general audience lose sight of, and this phone (and several others on the market) are technological marvels, to be sure. So, I beg to disagree that this multi-billion corporation that’s putting the future in your hand with its latest computational picture taking abilities “miscalculated” because you want to take photos of babies and puppies. Geez...
2
@Paul Margulies I have the same reason for not upgrading my iPhone X. Most of the pictures I take with my Fuji X-T3 camera are with the 50-140mm lens which gives a field of view equivalent to a 75-210mm full frame camera. I was hoping that the iPhone 11 Pro's third lens, like the Huawei Pro 30 cell phone, would be a true telephoto which it is not. It is equivalent only to a 50mm lens.
Considering the fact that cell phones use about 62 different metals, a significant number which are rare, elongating the upgrade cycle is also better for the environment. I would love to have the iPhone 11s new camera; I'm holding on to my three year old iPhone 6s Plus for at least another two years for environmental reasons.
6
Valid point that I can’t disagree with. I can’t personally follow it; I like the upgraded technology and features we get with the new devices, and I don’t even think the new iOS will run (smoothly) on an iPhone 6, but this is a valid point that the industry should indeed think about areas of improvement.
When the SE has a replacement, I’ll upgrade. I love the little hand-size phone and it does whatever I need.
3
These conclusions are not those of someone who values artistic expression very much. The night vision is tested with a shot of a glass on a bar? And then saying 'just use flash' instead of capturing the quality of real light. There is not even discussion of the out of focus background qualities this time around.
Fine for those who are not inclined to take photos at all, but at least assign some value to aesthetics next time.
I'm happy to remain in the Apple ecosystem-- the aesthetics of the hardware and the streamlined software both appeal to me greatly, as does Apple's good track record in maintaining its consumers' privacy.
But I will hold onto my 8 until I see two improvements: 5G capability, and a substantial increase in battery life. Judging from the tech news I follow, I'm conservatively expecting to wait another 2 years. I'll be doing a battery replacement on my 8 long before I upgrade my phone.
3
@Ian as a 5g device owner let me tell you are not missing out on anything. When it works its a wow factor but that's just too far and few in between at the moment. Also the upgrade it probably 6-7 more hours of battery life for you. Thats a substantial upgrade that I doubt will grow much more in one year.
Smartphone prices haven't sky rocketed. Apples the only one doing that.
4
“The Pro models have OLED displays that are slightly brighter than the screen on the iPhone X.”
Many readers will read this and wrongly conclude X doesn’t have OLED while the new Pro does. I felt the article was througout overly biased in exaggerating the features of the Pro models vs. their predecesors. I have a X that I received free while working as a Principal design engineer at a multinational Fruit company. I dont plan to upgrade my X to a Pro model despite my being a techie who can afford it. What Apple employees who knew Steve Jobs may be whispering amongst themselves is concern that Steve Jobs would NEVER have approved a product name as cheezy sounding as “Apple Pro Max” ! I wonder is this is another sign Apple grows more distant from the simple elegance that Jobs ensured the products were imbued with?
1
This article must’ve been written for me. I have had an iPhone 6s since 2015. Yesterday I went to the Apple store and bought a new battery for $50, Even though my original battery had been replaced last year for free, the current one was badly degraded. The other ironic thing was I have seen hundreds of pictures exactly like that first picture on the beach with the corgi and the other dog. I had to do a double- take. My sister lives in the Hamptons and takes her corgi and her kelpie to the beach almost daily and sends me photographs. The only difference was the mountains in the background and a blonde corgi with a cropped tail instead of a black-and-white one! Too funny!
thanks for being honest about waiting. I'm waiting for G5 and i am still very very happy with my model 7 iPhone.
2
You make a good point. I use an XR and will not upgrade until I can purchase an iPhone with 5G capability.
More disappointment from Apple. I was hoping to be the first to own a $2,000 iPhone. These price points are so Obama era. What happened to the rumored compound-eye camera technology for stunningly realistic housefly-like views? Or the recently leaked drone technology? It’s clearly past time to get smartphones out of the pocket and into the skies for a true mobile experience.
10
If this were just about buying a phone that you could not “sell back,” I might agree, and back before the one-year exchange programs (which are essentially leases), I held on to my phone for two years.
But by giving back my one-year-old phone after paying only half its cost, I’m able to have a “brand-new” phone every year while paying the full price of a phone over two years, and I get to enjoy the newest features. Meanwhile, Apple is (presumably) recycling, reselling, or repurposing my old phone for someone on a tighter budget to use.
I am on a budget, but I have a legitimate need for some of the latest camera features, and the annual iPhone upgrade I’ve been doing since 2017 is one of my few guilty pleasures. When I factor in the considerably lower value I might get for my old phone when it hits the two-year mark, it’s not a huge stretch.
The real cost is with the cell phone bill itself.
2
An Apple user since May, 1984, and a long-time Beta tester of many products, I have never been one to jump at the next best thing from Apple. Matter of fact, I hung onto my Motorola Q phone until the "L" key quit working and I could no longer access my own web sites. I believe the then-current iPhone was version 4. Made the move.
Got a 6. Regular size. Then a 7. Regular size. Held off until now.
The author has decided to join the group that can find no real reason not to upgrade except that it probably is fashionable to join the group that always finds it better to find some reason not to do something.
If you have a "X" phone, then stay with it. Fine. But if you want the fastest phone on the planet, and need a superior camera to almost anything except a really expensive box like a Canon or Nikon (try making a call), with longer battery life and ... well, don't take my work for it. Visit real Apple-centric sites and read the reviews. Even PC magazine praised the camera quality.
And the 13x processor is faster than most hard machines. Remember: Photoshop is on its way to iPad and phone movie editing needs power. Phone alone is not the only consideration: Moving that 120 page PDF from Dropbox to Acrobat Reader likes speed and does not require net connection.
How you use it sets the mark.
Time to really move on from my phone to my multi-function device. And leave the nay-sayers using three year old stuff behind.
2
Good advice.
I have a 6s plus that is working fine and will wait another year. On the camera front, I would prefer wide and Normal over wide and super wide. I've never had a problem with battery life on my phone. It easily last two or three days with regular use.
Upgrading the phone requires dealing with that miserable app iTunes, which in the past has lost significant data. I would rather keep my old phone for 100 years than deal with iTunes, but then stuff stops working, so there's not much choice.
1
@John Mardinly Why is that I haven't used iTunes in years in dealing with an upgrade and I upgrade yearly. Also in iOS 13 you can directly transfer from one phone to the other
1
I don’t need another debt of 800 plus tax. I’ll use my 6s for a long time.
6
Wife and I are both running iPhone 6s from 2016 with replaced batteries from late 2018 . Got mine for free from Apple store, she paid around $50. I expect at least another 18 months of quality performance out of both of these phones. Don’t sleep on battery replacement to extend iphone life!
7
I appreciate the writer’s honesty. iOS 13 will be compatible with my recently purchased SE’s; unlocked from Costco Canada.
1
I didnt actually read this article
my iphone 5 works just fine
3
No 5G? No USB-C port? No thank you. I fail to see what this phone offers that my 2015 phone can’t already adequately do. Hopefully 2020 brings meaningful upgrades.
3
I used a 6s+ for 3 years and also had a 7+ as a backup phone - never used it until about 3 months ago. I restored the 6s+ backup onto the 7+ and it’s been great! I have “upgrade fatigue”, I suppose, and even though the new cameras look fantastic, I don’t take regular photos anyway. I’m going to stick with my “new” 7+ for a while. Looks great, works well!
Boy, articles critical of new devices sure bring out a lot of people patting themselves on their backs for not giving in to the hype. I hope nobody dislocated their shoulder!
21
And Android phones....?
3
Well, I always sit around waiting for the New York Times to tell me when to upgrade my phone. I had been doing it every two years, just like my oil changes. Now I know that is not necessary. Thank you very much.
Another iPhone ad. Great
1
It would have been nice to hear more about what to upgrade to if you're forced to because current phone won't be supported by iOS 13.
2
Depends on your budget. These are my recommendations in order of price/capability:
8/128GB - $500
Xr/64GB - $600
11/64GB - $700
All are excellent choices.
Craig, Apple Consultant
2
@Calvin
Forced? My partner is happy using a 5C running iOS10.
1
Apple lost my business permanently when they got rid of USB and headphone ports and stopped supporting their older hardware. They claim that it's "innovation" when in reality it's just a cheap ploy to get people to buy $80 adapters that they will lose every 6 months, and shell out for $1000 (!) phones. All while creating mountains of e-waste. No thanks.
16
@Joe Hill
agreed! For example, of the most ridiculous products Apple has shipped is the the MacBook Pro with Touchbar, a laptop burdened by only having the worthless Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports. My employer gave me one as a business laptop and I had to carry around a fat bag of about $400 dollarmcollection of overpriced Apple Thunderbolt 3 adapters just to plug anything into that laptop! Plus screen went dead in three months light duty use, and tactile response on its “super thin keyboard” was horrible
Apple lost my business permanently when they got rid of USB and headphone ports and stopped supporting their older hardware. They claim that it's "innovation" when in reality it's just a cheap ploy to get people to buy $80 adapters that they will lose every 6 months, and shell out for $1000 (!) phones. All while creating mountains of e-waste. No thanks.
3
Apple lost my business permanently when they got rid of USB and headphone ports and stopped supporting their older hardware. They claim that it's "innovation" when in reality it's just a cheap ploy to get people to buy $80 adapters that they will lose every 6 months, and shell out for $1000 (!) phones. All while creating mountains of e-waste. No thanks.
Apple lost my business permanently when they got rid of USB and headphone ports and stopped supporting their older hardware. They claim that it's "innovation" when in reality it's just a cheap ploy to get people to buy $80 adapters that they will lose every 6 months, and shell out for $1000 (!) phones. All while creating mountains of e-waste. No thanks.
2
@Joe Hill My point exactly. I want to be able to connect all of my equipment without having to figure out what connector I need, which then gets lost
6
I bought an iPhone 8 about three months ago, upgrading it from an iPhone 6 that I had owned for about four years. My 8 is more phone than I will ever need, with a lot of space for apps, an excellent camera, very fast processor and excellent all-around quality. If Apple wants to be the upgrade, they’re going to have to pay me a small sum of money to do so. My 2011 Toyota Corolla is paid for, and runs beautifully, same with my new phone. Why go into more debt?
8
I am upgrading my iphone case only this year. We only download new apps once is a great while, why bother expensive hardware upgrade.
For that upgrade price, you can get a real nice camera if that's important to you.
Moved to Android a few years ago- cheaper, just as good. Its a bloody phone- it has to ring, check emails, run a few apps. Also, environmental damage aside, I stopped upgrading simply because once I pay the phone off- usually 2 years- the monthly cost halves, at least. I don't like throwing away hard earned cash.
3
I recently upgraded to the new iPhone 15. Its called the Samsung Galaxy 10. why upgrade to a Samsung wannabe? Every innovation of the newer iPhones have been copies of what Samsung already does. Fortunately, I gave up my iphone addiction after the 6.
9
So maybe the next step to catch up with Samsung is for iPhones to start blowing up?
3
I'll upgrade (maybe) when they have a version that matches the form factor of my aging SE (which I got as a free upgrade when something-or-other was discovered with the 5S). So far one iPhone purchase in 11 years. And I continue to read novels and the NYT, play chess, have a ready flashlight and calculator. The photographic quality exceeds my own skill, I have a recorder, google map traffic revealer, scrabble, etc etc etc. What more can anyone want? The "need" for technological "progress" is baffling.
7
Yeah. Everything is a phablet now.
1
As a consumer, I do not believe that frequent upgrades are necessary. As an Apple shareholder on the other hand, I believe you should upgrade immediately.
25
I have long wanted an iPhone for its stellar camera and rendering of colors. I prefer it more than other brands, but I really can't justify the pricing. My Galaxy S7 is still functioning perfectly fine after about 3 or so years and it cost me $400, secondhand. Before that I had an S2.
Unless you're a serious lover of all that is Apple, there should be no need or great desire to upgrade every year, or even two. I can only think of portrait mode as the last truly innovative thing Apple did for their phone cameras. The Samsung flagships have similarly increased in price... for what? I'd rather pay less than what these companies are asking than have the best and the newest. People are perfectly happy with photos from phones a few years old.
1
Hold on to your old phone until 5G is widely available especially if you live in a rural area. Also don't buy a new tablet until 5G is available as an option. 5G will have much greater download speeds but it will take some time before the infrastructure (read cell towers) are deployed)
1
If cell phone data plans don’t go past 22 GB 5G is worthless.
This seems mainly to be a camera review. Another commenter has already wondered what happened to assessing phone audio quality. To which I add what about Cell performance? A friend “upgraded” his Sony and found it was more likely to drop out in poor signal areas.
7
I must admit the battery life on my otherwise perfectly functional small form factor iPhone 5s is starting to annoy me.
Perhaps it is time to upgrade the battery.
2
@Prometheus - Well said. Batteries for the 5s run ~ $20 at Amazon, and if you have any technical skill at all you can do it yourself in 15 minutes. Most batteries come with all the tools needed, and there are good videos on YouTube showing you exactly how to do it. It's very straightforward.
1
Amazing to me that a two-year interval would even be considered moderate and reasonable. The environmental impact is just mind-boggling.
15
The Apple iPhone has become more and more expensive over the years. It is all such a marketing show every year.
I’ll stick with my BlackBerry Q10 which is several years old, works just fine, and has great security - something Apple doesn’t have, so it’s a no brainer for me.
2
Thank you - for saving me $1,000 plus - since I own an X.
I wish you had mentioned that Samsung 10 beat Apple to low light photos.
S10 - takes excellent photos and almost as good as the 11 is expected to do.
I think Apple would be best advised to hold off till they have a real material jump.
They could start dropping prices of 11 as the years go back.
I think folks would be happy to buy more competitively priced products.
Otherwise, they are ruining their reputations for innovations.
3
Thank you - for saving me $1,000 plus - since I own an X.
I wish you had mentioned that Samsung 10 beat Apple to low light photos.
S10 - takes excellent photos and almost as good as the 11 is expected to do.
I think Apple would be best advised to hold off till they have a real material jump.
They could start dropping prices of 11 as the years go back.
I think folks would be happy to buy more competitively priced products.
Otherwise, they are ruining their reputations for innovations.
I am so sick of the pressure to get a new phone when the one I have works fine, along with the fact that you need to buy all sorts of accessories to go with the new phone.
Take headphones for example. I have a 6S, and it still accepts old fashioned headphones, which are cheap and so when I lose a pair it s not a big deal. And my high-end audiophile headphones can plug into it also which allows me to enjoy the music.
If I want a new phone, now I need to use wireless earbuds which cost $185, look ridiculous and fall out all the time. Or buy a dongle to connect my wired headphones. That alone is a deal breaker. The way devices are connected keeps changing so I have all kinds of electronics that I used to be able to connect easily but cant anymore. For example try connecting your stereo to a Mac or iPad. You need to buy a DAC which cost me $800.
Then there's more, from faceID to no home button. I have a really good camera, I couldn't care less about the camera.
Stop forcing us to buy all new stuff every 2 years, it is old.
5
I purchased a new iPhone 6 when it first came out. It was an excellent phone for my needs. I planned another year or 2 while on it's 3rd battery. Recently; I found out that Apple was turning it into a brick with no ios support after this month. Apple discounted the 2018 XR to a reasonable price on the same day as the 2019 11 rollout. I purchased a new carryover XR considering it to be a fair trade off until 2021 or beyond. On the same day, they dropped my iPhone 6 trade-in value from $100 to $60.00. Still worth it.
1
I think what we have now is a camera with a phone attached.
6
I don't buy smartphones anymore. I lease them. Why would I buy one if it'll be technologically outdated in a couple of years? Unless you're a smartphone collector, it doesn't make sense. I bought and kept my vintage flip-phone (works fine for calls and texts, no data tho), but I lease smartphones. Along with the powerful camera/lens features, the increases in battery life is important in my line of work, so I'm looking forward to this updated version. Do we have to update it? No. Should we all? Not necessarily. My current iPhone works fine, but leasing a phone allows me to do so.
1
Apple anything overpriced. status symbol pricing
6
Despite its antiquity, my three-year-old iPhone 7 still lets me surf the web, compromise myself on social media, listen to podcasts, take photos, text, and oh yeah, I can use it for phone calls, too. So, it’s a hard lift for Apple to convince me that I need to lay down $1,000 bucks for iPhone 11. Besides, its three cameras resemble a cellar-dwelling arachnid. Creepy. Can’t imagine Steve Jobs would have embraced it, and am doubtful even Apple’s most faithful customers will flood the shops to buy one.
1
Excuse the plagiarism (with one alteration):
Despite its antiquity, my 8-year-old iPhone 4S till lets me surf the web, compromise myself on social media, listen to podcasts, take photos, text, and oh yeah, I can use it for phone calls, too. So, it’s a hard lift for Apple to convince me that I need to lay down $1,000 bucks for iPhone 11. Besides, its three cameras resemble a cellar-dwelling arachnid. Creepy. Can’t imagine Steve Jobs would have embraced it, and am doubtful even Apple’s most faithful customers will flood the shops to buy one.
4
Rock on Anon! I used my 4S until it slipped from my hands in a kayak. Definitely not waterproof. Feel free to plagiarize that, too. ;-)
I also still have my 4S! I use it more as an ipod these days, the small size is very handy!’
What a coincidence.
Only today I received a replacement phone for my Samsung S6 which finally gave up the ghost after being dropped one too many times (including in a bucket of hot water!).
It cost me £104/$125 new from a well-known manufacturer. It has more battery life, a better display, is faster and just all-round better. I've used this approach now for a few years since, as the article states, phones reached a plateau of useful features a while ago.
I find it hard to understand why the average person really needs to constantly upgrade phones costing over $700 when most of us just text, email, browse the web, take pictures of lowish quality and play a few simple games.
Constant needless upgrades boil down to making rich people richer with your money.
8
Apple phones are seriously overpriced. i had a samsung galaxy the last couple years that did everything cost me $40 at crickett online refurb dropped it and cracked screen replace with this awesome motorola for $40 brand new. i have had good coverage on crickett traveling to remote places all over the us.
1
For another $10 you could have gotten one with punctuation keys.
2
I have a 5S and an SE. Both work great. Love the size. Will upgrade if/when Apple offers this size of phone again. Hopefully before the OS no longer upgrades.
3
Did they fix the reception / data connectivity issues that are on the iPhone Xs?
1
I was so hoping that apple would introduce a regular size phone that fits halfway into my ladypockets. Guess I'll keep waiting. I have no idea when I'll be able to upgrade my phone because they are only getting bigger. Small sizes have completely vanished in the market, across all carriers.
I suggest the Times get some perspective on this issue.
7
The strategy for me has been and will continue to be that until my phone starts to slow down noticeably, even with a full reset, I'll keep what I have. Usually that has amounted to 5 years with each model. Sometimes longer. For my current phone, an XR, I've purchased an expensive, rugged leather case that develops a nice patina over time because I intend to use it for at least the next 4 years. Also, Apple just isn't the innovative giant it was when Jobs was around. They fail to motivate me into purchases like they used to. Which is fine. My bank account is happier for it.
1
Yeah, but should I upgrade from my five year old Samsung flip phone that cost me $14 to buy new and $25 a month for the plan?
Each of these phones would probably be a quantum leap for me.
What if you want the new phone but don’t need it, and can afford it. Should you get it? Is there a moral case to be made one way or the other?
There is an incredible environmental cost to making a new iPhone so yes definitely.
1
iPhone 6. No it is not 6s, just 6.
Was about to upgrade, but won’t. What a fabulous article. Thank you!
1
"You could always just use flash." ...Many times you can not just use flash. Also, flash can ruin night time/low light shots.
Night mode is a far more welcome update in Apple's lineup of smartphones than Brian is giving credit.
4
@Leah Agreed. As is the wide-angle. As the photos in this article show, he's clearly not a photographer. I'm upgrading from the 7 solely for the camera. It's a game-changer.
In an era of Face ID in smartphones, it is ridiculous not to upgrade iPhone if one is using finger scanner to unlock it.
My fingers are not compromised in any way. Why should I not used them to open my phone ?
1
I grew up a child born of the Apple era. The original iPhone came out when I was 17 years old, and suddenly Abercrombie & Fitch was instantly replaced by the iPhone as the status symbol of choice by my generation.
Like many here, I updated phones annually for many years. Now, in the tail end of my 20’s, I am left with a decade of regret at all the money I wasted over ten years on needless upgrades.
However, what is even more confounding is that despite my conscious recognition that the phones are a waste of time to upgrade each year, I’m still sucked into reading articles detailing the “newest and greatest features.” I’ve even gone so far as to open the Apple Store app and flirt with disaster.
Perhaps the genius of Apple is less in the hardware and more in their relentless marketing department.
145
@Matthew Hoyle maybe, instead of putting money into a new phone, put it into Apple stock.
18
@Matthew Hoyle. The sources of commodities in a market culture will continue to market. Profit is their raison d’être. And some, when the culture enables, will also commodify people. Professional athletes, hurting one another, are an example. Unnecessary injuries and pains, including for some early deaths, is promoted to sell products, needed or not, as well as to satisfy fans at the sports site as well as at home, pub, I phone, etc. venues.
Even language can and dies play a role.
Consider the semantic surrealism of:
“Retail therapy,” to describe...as a consensualized and accepted treatment for...
“Tipping point,” when a random outcome, “caused by,” “ associated with,” it occurs, and we know not why, transmuted into a trend. An “in” which I must...
It would be interesting to know, and to understand, how many annual I phone changers also chose to have comprehensive annual medical, eye and dental examinations.
What role(s) is one’s I phone given in daily coping, adapting and functioning in ranges of situations, environments and networks ,to being complacent about local to more global issues and problems? What roles can/ does the I phone, of whatever vintage, play in the levels and complexities of complicities?
What associations, if any, have there been, are there now, between the availability and accessibility of older and newer smart phones and willful blindness to that which should not be. Now. Tomorrow? Willful deafness to...
Indifference about...? Willful
Ignorance?
1
I'm ok budgeting for a cell phone payment each month and upgrading annually. I can afford it, so why not?
2
I'm done upgrading until my phone no longer works. i have an Iphone 7. Works just fine for what i need. My main strategies are to charge it as infrequently as possible to preserve battery life and to use it as little as necessary (per the philosophy of Digital Minimalism). I don't really need to know who texted me every 5 minutes, or be checking it constantly for the latest "breaking" news or sports scores. I've removed most apps, and completely cleared the home screen. Have no social media at all. it's really quite freeing.
2
In Jared Diamond's book UPHEAVAL, his last chapter states that countries around the world want to live like the USA, the highest consumer of natural resources. This is logically unsustainable.
A telephone for $700 dollars when a large percentage of Americans cannot afford a possible $400 emergency?!
When the owners of Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft make BILLIONS while everyday American wages have increased 1% over 40 years..... When CEOs join the upper 1% with millions in golden parachutes and Americans think a two-week vacation after one year of work is sufficient.....
Americans, with or without Trump, are insane.
If the phones were made in America and not by slave labor in China, even at $700, Apple would still profit. But not as obscenely.
9
Whew! I am so glad that I read this review (because I've read several other reviews in "we-know-it-all" publications that only added to my anxiety that I would have to figure out how to dig up extra cash [times are tough] to start pondering about how to get the 11 – the others are too $$$ for my budget).
I have an eye-phone-7 that I use for my street photography, especially shooting candid photos and videos of people sleeping on subways and the PATH. I've used wide-angles and super wide angles and other lenses for video from Moment – and now know I known they aren't obsolete. Shooting with the 7 has helped me improve my technique for shooting with my Lumix DSLRs.
The feature I am looking to UPGRADE is the privacy of my existence and of the data I generated about me - It does me no good pay $1000 to help others invade my privacy 50% faster and in more detail with AI and neural chips filling in the nano-gaps in their tracking of my activity.
I'm waiting for the anti-tracking, anti-spying, anti-data collecting and secure iDevice upgrade that does not have iBeacon microlocation to micro-track me in addition to macro-track me globally (even in orbit).
One would think paying extra for a service or a device such that you are not spied on, advertised to, or manipulated should be available - especially at the premium Apple charges would amply cover such a device and software.
Given the high cost of Apple products and their profitability they shouldn't have to add their customer's data as yet another revenue stream. Like so many services or software one can pay extra for no ads, the same should apply to smartphones - though one is still spied on, profiled, tracked, selling and profiting from data gained from our existence.
Individual consumers' privacy are easily abused - but how do they get away with it on corporate clients' devices? Can they get away with spying and tracking the activities of the employees of their corporate clients? Isn't that industrial espionage? Granted, corporations have more rights than mere individual citizens in America.
For now, I have no need to spend $1000+ to upgrade the spying capabilities of my iPhone 6s.
4
Why is the NYT suggesting “breaking free” of the two-year phone renewal cycle in 2019 and presenting it as revolutionary thinking? This is advice a significant portion of the market didn’t need to do so five years ago.
2
You talk a lot about the camera, but you forgot to mention one thing--does it work as a TELEPHONE? Because earlier iPhone kinda don't. They drop calls. They have poor audio fidelity. When an interlocutor speaks in paragraphs rather than quips (wider bitstream), does it stall?
7
Calling the new iPhone nice seems somewhat of an understatement to me. For people who take a lot of photographs and video I think an upgrade is a more attractive proposition with the new camera features and in fact my iPhone 5s was pretty awful for photographs but I regularly use a Nikon D90 so it’s probably not surprising that I have a low opinion of the 5S when it comes to photography.
However, I do agree that it’s not necessary to upgrade every year. I’m upgrading to the 11 Pro Max from an iPhone 5s so it’s very easy to justify for me. I do not intend upgrading again for at least 4 years, providing it’s still working, supports the latest operating system, security updates and replacement batteries are available.
In fact, I’m planning to use it as my camera for my forthcoming visit to Tokyo and surrounds. I already have a lot of good photos from previous visits.
1
I still have my iPhone SE and it works great for me. Until they upgrade that form factor, I'll continue to use the SE because all other iPhones are just too large.
2
I am one of those that does not want to buy a new phone as long as current one is working. Although that may soon turn to "I was".
As someone with young kids I have come to really enjoy taking family pictures and videos from my latest pixel. It's a leap even from the pixel 2017 that I dropped in the river. So much so that I find myself reading about Pixel 4 camera while reminding myself that I should not buy a new phone this year.
One note to NYT if you do do a phone review... talk about how fast can the camera turn on and take a picture or video and it's ability to auto focus. With kids every microsecond counts.
I have a two-year old SE. Does everything I need it to do and lots I don't. Why would I want a phone the size of a tablet? Which some of the current phones are approaching. The SE is a nice combination of convenience (easy to carry in almost any pocket) and funcitonality. Enough with the bigger better. The waste of resources of this perpectual upgrading is apalling.
4
@JPL I want a phone almost the size of a tablet because I use it more for document review and editing than I do for phone calls. I have a 12.9 tablet that is too big to carry around all the time.
2
Bring back the headphone jack.
The idea of paying $1k for a device that's missing an integral feature, one that I personally use several times a day is maddening.
The dongle is nice in theory, in the real world it breaks, you lose it, you forget to bring it, it falls in cracks between the seats, gets dropped all the time in public only to be put back next to the part that goes in your ears, etc.
They're pushing you towards bluetooth audio, but it's not a great solution. Reliability is bad and headphone selection is smaller and lower quality. The only IEMs are basic Shures which are bad compared to the wired version.
8
@B got a pair of bluetooth IEMs you recommend?
1
This is such a tired argument. Adapt.
1
The fuzzy math comes in deciding how much your current phone is worth and how much your carrier is giving to trade in your phone. An iPhone 7 in good condition from my carrier was worth $350. For that price, I felt I had gotten a good three years use. Check with your carrier. Most have better trade in prices than Apple is offering.
1
I have many old iphones in my drawer including the first from 2007 Got it the first day it came out!
I have had the same experience as other writers that each time I had a problem, Apple sore reps always said my older phone was too old still not enough space or had water damage, which I now suspect was a sales tool, or some other excuse. I would purchase new phones because I thought that the AT&T, Target or Verizon offers of extending my service got me a new phone for free. Wrong...
Anyway, I just had to buy a rebuilt replacement iphone7 at Best Buy because the latest Apple upgrade ,12.4.1, froze my phone from making or receiving phone calls. It worked when I was on bluetooth only. The Apple rep said they were aware of the problem with that upgrade causing such problem with "some" iphone 7's ( I was one of the lucky ones) but their "free" fix offer ended 6 months ago even though the new app only came out within the past 30 days!
What bothers me about upgrades is that older phones won't accept the new upgrades or my apps, like tunein radio,and global player etc won't work any longer. I liked using my old phone which still work okay in a wifi area like the gym or around the house for listening to music. I use them because my iphone 7 won't let me charge phone while using headphones. That silly loss of headphone jack is annoying.
Thanks Brian and I Do enjoy your articles so much!
Bill from Kingston
1
I'm still holding onto my iPhone SE. It has a headphone jack. (How quaint! Someone who prefers a directly wired, plugged-in connection to his headphones, instead of Bluetooth or wi-fi or whatever compression scheme is popular.)
The day Apple actually gets decent antennas/modems for making actual phone calls (remember, it's called an 'iPhone') -- so I don't have to worry about constantly dropped calls -- that's the day I'll go into Major Debt and get a phone that will end up costing me at least $1500 (when you include the AppleCare Plus protection plan; the cases; etc. etc. etc., and all the dongles you'll need to use your expensive over-the-ear, noise-cancelling headphones).
2
Professionals that use the phone as a phone are wise to upgrade yearly through a yearly upgrade program (offered by Apple and the 4 major carriers).
This is for reasons of signal quality in weak areas such as inner parts of office towers as we see in NYC and also for voice quality.
Sadly reviewers do not seem to test the phone as a phone.
The Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) codecs (for voice) in newer iPhones have superior voice quality compared with older codecs. Important, too, is that the network supports the latest codecs.
Verizon does support (EVS), but AT&T does not, thus the voice quality will be better on Verizon with the same late iPhone.
The 2018 iPhones (Xs, XsMax, but not Xr) and later have 4 antennas with electronics rather than 2 which helps with better signal strength in weak signal areas. The iPhone X has only 2 antennas.
The newest iPhones (Pro, Pro Max) have several hours more battery strength and have a fast charger included.
The screens are brighter so you can see screens in bright sunlight.
The 2019 phones are the first to do 60 frames per second 4K video.
The cost on the yearly upgrade plans is less than a small Starbucks coffee per day.
6
I have an iPhone 7 that works perfectly and is the perfect phone for me. It does everything I want it to do. I don't need a photographer's professional quality camera on my phone. I have literally no reason to upgrade. Apple should invent something else, or focus on making the software do new things, but new phone hardware is really unnecessary.
2
I have a 6 that I bought soon after its release and, even after Apple replaced the battery for free it only gets about 6 hours on a charge which is about as good as it ever was. Storage is another frustrating issue, 16 GB, half of which are used up by the OS. Frustrations aside, if it was still supported by updates I’d probably hold onto it for a bit longer but, without updates it will eventually start crashing adding to the frustration.
1
It's not a telephoto lens. It's a 55mm lens.
Telephoto starts at the short end, 85 mm, the traditional portrait lens favored by studio professionals.
Marketing hype.
Yes, I use Apple products.
4
My decision whether to upgrade is always based on the quality of the camera. I love the camera on my 8+, but I am likely to upgrade to the 11 pro max. Why not? I am 83.
13
With the Apple trade in discount and 0% financing, a new iPhone 11 can be fairly inexpensive, I think. I’m excited to get one!
4
For those who can afford the upgrade, they can think anyway they want to about the new iPhones.
For still photographers, the new features are compelling. The night mode, e.g., is a leap forward for the iPhone.
Yes, as per the review, "The result was that photos taken in low light without flash look brighter, in a natural way". The new mode doesn't just brighten a photo that would only look dark with older iPhones, it removes digital noise by fusing multiple images into one image.
And it will remove blur from the final image (assuming at least one of the multiple images is blur free.)
This is a boon for nature photographers, particularly because a lot of great photos are found at dawn and dusk. It's going to be terrific for street photography. Lots of people who post photos of their travel adventures on Instagram are going to want the new iPhone.
(The reviewer's suggestion that a flash can substitute for ambient light won't cut it for people who take photography seriously.)
The super-wide angle lens isn't terrific because it can take in a wider field of view. Otherwise all that would be necessary to obtain the same result would be to take a few steps backward.
The new lens is terrific because it can more dramatically alters the relationship between near and far subjects in a photo than the regular wide angle can. Near subjects are larger, distant subjects are smaller with the new lens, in a way that can't be duplicated with a longer lens.
10
@Dave Wyman
If you're an actual photographer you have a dedicated camera for that, not a phone.
1
@Viv Duh. But if you're an actual photographer you also want a phone, that you will always have in your pocket, to take the best pictures possible. Signed, an actual photographer who is getting the 11 pro solely for the camera.
5
One thing not mentioned, but implied, is that the smartphone manufacturers and the telecom giants have lured us all into believing we should upgrade every two years – or even every year! – to justify continuing to pay that $30 (+ or – $5) every month for the rest of our lives. I have a 6S and my phone bill is $55 a month (w/ a full package) b/c I've owned it for over 2 years now. The manufacturers and telecom cos. want us to believe we should be leasing the phones the rest of our lives, so they pretend they're improving them enough to justify the upgrade. But, as Mr. Chen points out: not really.
4
@Robert W.
Many people who "upgrade" do so because the "updates" to their old phone make it virtually unusable. That's the point of "updates", not security patches.
2
So, your advice may be worthy for folks who actually buy a phone and do not try to recover any value from their old phone. However, one of the current ways to obtain a phone is a no-interest 24-month payment plan where one has the option of 'upgrading' on an annual cycle (AT&t Next, iPhone Upgrade Program, etc.). For example, for this cycle, if one had an iPhone XS, upgrading to an iPhone 11 Pro with the same amount of memory requires no change in the monthly payment. However, payments will now end 2 years from now rather than a year away. The additional immediate costs are sales tax and (possibly) a fee from the carrier for the mechanics of moving to a new phone.
So, as I see it, the actual cost is 50% the list price (i.e one year of payments) plus the immediate costs, not the list price.
Steve Job is rolling in his grave at the thought of that ugly cluster of three cameras polluting his clean design.
10
The smartphone wars are over and We The People have lost no matter which device you prefer in the marketplace today. The top-level entities that control this market earned their place in our wallets by employing business practices that have landed them in court and Congressional inquiry repeatedly.
Carriers obsessed with Machiavellian corporate maneuvers to drive growth are incapable of providing customer satisfying service whilst aging, overloaded networks are held static waiting for next-gen network capital investment. Crony regulators are not representing us, rates go up while bars go down.
I like being connected to the world by a tiny computer that fits in my pocket. Picking my pocket, however, is another issue. When these devices are capable of living up to their hype by, let's say, accurately transcribing my clear English speech into text with appropriate capitalization, or accurately analyzing my conversational query and answering me with relevant information in a format that's easy to digest on the go, I'll have enough respect to pay nearly a thousand dollars and not grouse about it.
We're definitely not there yet.
4
Apple's going to love you Brian.
2
Great tips. I think I'll hold on to my current phone and use the money to bribe you to let Mochi come live with me for a while. (You're not getting her back)
1
My iPhone 6 is irreplaceable. It has holes where holes should be and fits nicely in my pocket. So what if it has a hairline crack on the screen!
7
I was caught up in the rut of renewing my phone every 2 years, but my current iPhone 8S works well. Depending on what renewing to the iPhone 11 will cost me via my provider when it's time to renew, I will decide whether to upgrade or stay put. This was very good information. Thank you.
2
I’ve had nearly every iPhone model since it’s creation. I’m exhausted. I’m sticking with my current iPhone XS bc I just got it not even a year ago and it’s still new in my opinion. It used to be cool and exciting getting the upgrade every year but now I am 39 years old and it’s just foolish and always has been. I was in denial.
121
“I wouldn’t recommend that you buy a new phone just to get better night photos. You could always just use flash.”
Use the flash? Ugh. Photos taken with a phone flash never look good. They just don’t.
4
@David Parker In addition, the flash on these phones has little/no effect beyond roughly 3-4 ft. away. The fact the author makes this comment implies he has very little photography knowledge and I can disregard most everything camera related he is saying. I plan to upgrade my iPhone 6, finally, however, the wife get's the 6 to replace her iPhone 5.
I have never owned an iPhone and probably never will. I do have a 4 year old smartphone of a non Apple brand that works fine and is in no imminent need of replacement, at least insomuch that I don't Instagram anything and sure don't need 4K video recording to document my dinner. Maybe I would be living a happier or more fulfilled life if I had a newer gadget made by a trendier company, I don't know. But to my subjective eyes, the day I "need" to get a new iPhone is probably easily summarized by the word "never".
5
Spot on. Early adopters and luddites aside, for most of us (including myself and I work in tech) the upgrade cycle has doubled from a few years ago.
In case you missed it, here's the iPhone 11 reveal in 24 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGSlTUAVBiw&t=0s
2
The arrogance of the author is appalling. I don't ask Apple how often I should read the New York Times and I don't need Mr. Chen's advice on when or if I should upgrade my gadgets. I and the other readers are perfectly capable of deciding how and when to spend our money.
2
@otrfan it's a review. Why read it if you don't want the recommendation?
15
@otrfan - Why is the author arrogant because he's telling you to save your money if you have one of the newer model iPhones? Do you work for Apple?
1
¿Aren’t all the iPhone 11 models capable of shooting portrait mode photos?
1
iPhone 6 with 128 Gb - $175 used on eBay.
Replacement battery at iPhone store - $100.
Result: A practically flawless iPhone for less than $300, with battery warranty.
Why would I spend 3 times as much for anything else?
5
The iPhone 6 will no longer get updates. You’re better off buying a second gen 7.
3
And another reason not to upgrade is the fortune paid for the one(s) you have (had). Let’s come to our senses and realize how crazy those prices are and have been—and how loopy we have been for paying them.
5
“Need” seems to be attempting more lifting than it is capable in this article.
Will Apple send me a COLA increase if I buy one of their new phones?
Every two years??? I find that preposterous unless you have a particular need.
5
I've got an upgraded iPhone SE. Could use a better camera but it's the best form factor so far. Buy one used.
1
I see a common pattern in the comments sections of people sticking to their phones. There is hope after all.
8
I've never been an every two year upgrade. Every 3 from 3S to 5 to 6S+. The battery has been replaced on my September 2015 6S+, but is still very lacking for my use pattern.
The debate for me is whether to continue in Plus land, or go down... due to the format change, the screen of the standard size is, I believe, larger than my 6SPlus. If I had to decide, on a price basis, whether to bump up the storage or the screen size, I think I'd go for the storage. I'm fortunate enough where I don't think I have to make that trade-off. Must read more to make decision between 11, 11Pro and 11ProPlus. I think 4 years with a $30 new battery that's a year and a half old is sufficient wait time.
1
I am going to be forced to upgrade my 6S, even though it does everything I need, because with each software update I seem to lose storage. No matter how many apps or photos, etc. I delete, I can see the end coming for this phone.
2
I agree with all of the commentators who said that we should not upgrade our phones just because. I upgraded my iPhone 6 when it just conked out of me and I had no choice but to and even then, faced with the choice of either the X or the 8, I went with the 8Plus because I just didn't need the extra functionality of the X but I needed the bigger screen. I will keep the 8Plkus until it conks out on me too.
I also want to say that the photos of the dogs in the sand, and especially of the close-up of Mochi shaking the water off her head, were the main reason why I decided to write a comment. Cute pics!!!
60
No mention of trypophobia? Just google mango worms and then look at the iphone. You'll never buy one.
1
Hi. How about assessing the climate costs of planned obsolescence in your review? How about assessing the cost in human misery to laborers? How about taking a holistic approach to consumerism? How about thinking about the planet's bottom line not just the individual's? We are ready for a new way to look at capitalism, technology and the earth. #decolonize your mind.
8
Still have my iPhone 6, and it works great.
Here's what I did to keep it going: Replaced the battery, did some tweaking in the settings to toggle off battery-draining features such as animations and constant location tracking, backed up all my photos on my computer and wiped any photos/videos older than a year old, deleted apps I didn't use, and cleared large text message threads.
It probably isn't as fast as any of the newer iPhones, but it does everything I need it to. AND I don't have to pay dumb monthly payments for it.
96
@Olan; I just posted a note on this thread about my iPhone 6. Mine worked great as well. Problem is; Apple will not support it after this month. I cannot take the chance on some apps not performing and possible security issues. I just purchased a recently discounted new iPhone XR.
6
@Reggie I have the 5c and this thing has been incredibly consistent in strength and usefulness - but of course - Verizon wont support it and neither Apple. I hate that.
4
@Reggie
Thanks for the heads up. Did not know Apple planned to stop iPhone 6 support this month.
3
This article is a breath of fresh air in a climate of constant profit-seeking pro-upgrade smog.
4
IPhones are boring. They did more than anyone needed years ago, and Apple is clutching at straws to get people to upgrade.
Losing the home button and headphone jack was actually a downgrade. IPhone 6 is probably their best phone.
10
I got an Iphone X two years ago and it works absolutely fine. I'm usuall the one who has to have the latest and greatest but as long as the X is software up gradable, i'll keep it until it is time for a new one, especially after shelling out 1k
24
Oh but what will people think ? You know, that you can't like, get a "new" phone ? Whoa ... social stigma
Just kidding - good for you. Some folks have figured this out long,long ago
2
I love my iPhone 5S the same way I love my 2015 Honda Element.
1
Apple should bring back the 4S form factor but with an A12 chip. Was that the SE? That body type was when your phone could still be just a phone, for calls and texts, without consumers being forced to adopt mini-phablet as the now-standard phone size.
3
I’m gonna wait until they get rid of that miserable notch. It interferes with many of my third-party apps and I find it distracting and ugly. In fact, and some of my third-party apps it blocks out the icons you need to push in order to operate the app. What are disaster!
2
Interesting stuff. Maybe it is about time that sustainability and cost to the environment should be a major consideration in every tech review? In my opion that would strongly support the argument NOT to change phones every other year.
3
The writer doesn’t take an important fact into account, the value of one’s current model. I’m indeed one of those two year cyclers. Before the X, I was in the S cycle and sold my old ones every year by the end of August, just 3 weeks before a new Apple event, after which the price of used ones would drop significantly. Everytime I got still half of the new price in return. (I take very good care of my devices with a back cover and extra glass on the front). So just a couple of weeks ago, I sold my X for € 530, which is about half the price I paid two years ago, and invested that in the new phone, a 11 Pro 256, for which I paid more than twice of the sell price of my X, because an upgrade from 64 GB to 256 GB.
4
@Ruud de Bruin How do you get along without a phone for more than a month?
I upgraded twice. The first time was when nail polish remover spilled on my phone while we were away on vacation. The polish remover evaporated, and the phone did recover some function, but it never fully recovered so it had to be replaced.
The second time was when my storage could hold no more. I was informed that every time new functions are automatically added to the phone, its capacity to hold information gets less and less, and no matter how many photos, etc. you delete, nothing helps, and the only remedy is to get a new phone.
I would never upgrade to a new phone while the one I have is still functioning as it should.
4
I would upgrade to a slimmer lighter phone. Instead, the phones get bulkier and bulkier with each passing year.
6
Great article and I couldn’t agree more! I have the iPhone SE (Special Edition), not advertised, but released with the 7. It’s the same software and camera only in the body of the much smaller 5, with volume controls on the left hand side and the top click lock button. It costs significantly less, is small enough to actually fit in my hand so I never drop it, it’s been paid off for about 2 years, I still get plenty of likes on Instagram despite the older camera, and it doesn’t seem to have the glitches and other functionality issues of more recent releases. I’ll be keeping this phone until its last dying breath, then mourn having to upgrade to a much too large and too expensive new model.
7
And for the vast majority of us everyday schmoes who don't have A THOUSAND DOLLARS to drop on a phone, may I recommend the Motorola G series. I used iPhones for a while, but the precipitous collapse of battery life drove me insane. So I spent $150 on a Moto g6. I love it. There's nothing I actually need or want a smartphone to do that this phone does not do. I suppose the camera could be better. The battery lasts a day and a half on one charge. The Android OS has a vastly more customizable interface. And it comes in rose gold. [redacted] you, Apple.
3
@sparrow pellegrini I wholeheartedly agree with the Moto G series as an awesome smartphone. I've given them to multiple relatives to keep their costs down and they love them. Even other folks who've seen them and sneered at them with comments like "Oh, you don't have an iPhone?" have had to admit that they do 95% of an iPhone for about one fourth the price AND if more storage is needed, in goes a low-cost micro-SD card...
3
I've only upgraded once - from a 4 to a 6 - because the latest iOS was not going to support the 4. I'm at that point with the 6 now, and frankly, I really wish I could just keep it and run iOS 13 on it. I did the battery replacement during that debacle and the phone does everything I need and I have no speed issues.
I'm seriously thinking about just holding off and staying on iOS 12. The old adage, "if it ain't broke...".
8
From the article:
But if you spent $1,000 on an iPhone X two years ago, then hold off. The iPhone 11s just aren’t enough of an innovation leap to warrant $700-plus on a new smartphone.
If you wait another year or two, you will most likely be rewarded with that jump forward. That might be an iPhone that works with fast 5G cellular networks, or a smartphone that can wirelessly charge an Apple Watch.
Patience has its benefits — and so will breaking free of the iPhone’s automatic two-year upgrade cycle.
-------
Sage advice.
If Apple wants more churn from old phones to new phones each release cycle, they are going to have to up their game on features, performance, and innovation. Unfortunately for Apple.. I think the entire smartphone industry is hitting the wall on innovation/features/performance. The platforms are largely mature now in terms of features.. and as such.. they are pretty much compelled now to do modest incremental improvements with each new generation.
I'm sure Apple knows all this and is adjusting their business model and planning accordingly, rather then relying on majority turn over of phones with each new generation.
1
I'm glad I replaced my Apple battery in my iPhone 6 for only $30.
6
I would safely say if you bought a iPhone two years ago AND you are on the Apple Upgrade contract, you should upgrade as you will not pay more for the new device and you may actually end up paying less if you can trade in the current phone you have.
If you paid cash or you are on any other payment contract then wait another year as the new device is not worth it unless you are desperate for the latest Apple camera, which is the only real reason to get a new iPhone.
2
"Now is the moment to ask: Do we really need to upgrade our iPhones every two years?"
No, that moment has long passed. I am upgrading from an IPhone 6S, which came out in 2015. I have missed basically nothing in those interim years. except a notch and FaceID, which I actually see as downsides to "upgrading" now.
3
I’ve basically stopped updating my iPhones. There was a time when the iPhone itself was revolutionary and each new version was a significant improvement.
But basically after the iPhone 5 or 6, the new advancements have been marginal — slightly better camera, incrementally faster speed, bigger screen. Big deal. Worse, they’ve reduced functionality. No headphone jack, so they can sell unnecessary wireless earbuds. Face ID, because why? For that, Apple now charges over $1000.
Just nothing but a disgusting cash grab by Apple, which is all out of ideas under Tim Cook’s uninspiring leadership.
8
FaceID is much convenient and I am sure brings in an added degree of security.
I think one has to take into account the fact that Apple brings in a lot of R & D. So you have to pay the engineers.
I am willing to pay for such sleek and top-of-their-class iPhones. I don’t want to own your average iPhone. iPhones are just outstanding pieces of high technology.
Now could Brian run an article on the new AppleWatch ? I got an AW 2 so I am more than eager yo have his opinion on why I should upgrade.
1
Do we really need to upgrade every two years? No we do not. Opt out of planned obsolescence. Save some rare earth minerals and hard-earned dollars.
3
The every two years upgrade cycle is left over from the days when phone companies would subsidize your phone if you signed up for a 2 year contract. Now that we have to pay big bucks for a phone, many (most?) are waiting a lot longer.
1
Generally speaking... it is the Apple loyalists (read: fanbois) that most often upgrade immediately every time new hardware is released by Apple.
That said.. even the Apple loyalists are beginning to blink and think now days before pulling the trigger on a new phone costing in the range of $1000. And with good reason.... because Apple does make really good hardware, and has a very good OS that runs on said hardware.. and they deserve credit for this.. but they are shooting themselves in the foot with Apple loyalists when a new phone generation is nothing more then modest and sometimes even minor upgrades from the prior generation or two.
In the case of the new camera subsystem on the 11's.. it's beginning to get absurd now. Pretty soon.. if Samsung and Apple keep this up.. the entire rear face of the phone will be some monster array of different camera lenses. The actual market for the enhanced camera features is actually small in the user base in my view.... primarily for the users who simply must photo/video every moment of their life each day and upload it to social media in nitty gritty detail.
New processor.... meh... very limited need really for most users.... unless they insist on playing online video games all the time on their phone (which is silly given the small screen and limited UI).
New battery with longer life... always good.. but it comes at the price of bigger and bigger phones... because batteries have finite energy density.
1
I am very tempted to get this iPhone 11 because of camera. My thought is that if I get it, then I won’t buy next generation (iPhone 12) until iPhone 13 or iPhone 14. I have plenty of time to think this over.
I have always kept my phones for four years, upgrading every two years has always been crazy waste of money.
3
iPhones are jewelry first. Apple knows it and that’s why they change something significant about their look regularly: the notch, 3 cameras, ...
4
I have a 6 Plus from 2014 and will bite the bullet and upgrade to an 11 this year (the $700 model). I replaced the battery in my 6 last year but it is still poor. I've also had numerous performance issues like apps crashing and the phone locking up requiring hard restarts. The camera in the 6 is sub-par by today's standards. So I'm looking forward to the new phone and it's performance improvements. I figure one phone every five years is decent considering how much we use these things.
9
Recently had some water damage on my 6s, so had to upgrade to the Xs. Otherwise that trusty old 6s would've been with me until the last pixel dies. Here's hoping my Xs will last X years!
1
Last thing I want is a phone that increases my screen time. The fewer features the better.
5
Are we all sheep? Of course the manufacturer wants us to upgrade every two years. The environment impact is terrible. I keep my electronics as long as I can. I'm typing this on a 2009 Macbook Pro and I have an iPhone 6s. For my use they both work fine.
15
Chris,
Baaaa. Or was that a rhetorical question?
I'm typing this on an HP Compaq CQ60-615DX Notebook from who knows when. A few months ago I got a message from Microsoft stating they will no longer be supporting the Windows 7 operating system I'm running.
They included a 'helpful' link to a sales page with some suggestions for new laptops. As long as I can load the NYT, I plan to just run this thing into the ground.
4
Just going to jump in here again quick:
On the upgrade on "leased phones' issue, someone will correct me if I'm wrong (I'm positive of that), but I think you get a warranty or insurance and it's someone else's headache if you lose the phone, need repairs, etc. It's not necessarily a status thing as some would suggest.
(Btw, I don't lease a phone. If it was up to me, I'd probably still have a flip-phone. My son asked me to meet him when the 5c came out, pick out the color in case I got there ahead of him, and he added me to his plan as a second line. Then we had dinner at Cafe Napoli. I think I had clams.)
Then a time comes when older phones simply can't support what's going on currently. I think the 5c (and 5s) was that cut-off. I couldn't push photos to the cloud. I had to keep deleting pictures to take new ones. Missed a photo of a woman in the street wearing an enormous hat made of a nest of actual twigs with a giant what appeared to be taxidermied eagle sitting on it during the citywide Super Bowl victory party. It was then I knew I had to upgrade.
A last thought, I feel the author missed a few points in covering the upgrade issue, such as storage which I mentioned earlier and the leasing issue which another commenter brought up. This didn't used to happen in the New York Times. Less work with editors? I'm just asking.
Believe me, Brian Chen is light-years ahead of me. I remember when getting an extension line upstairs (landline, lol) was an upgrade.
8
@itsmildeyes
Loved the comment about the phone extension upstairs...Hey I remember when an "upgrade was when we got a private phone line instead of a "party line"!
3
I’ve read many reviews and comparisons. My decision ultimately was, I was the iPhone XS. when I looked at the Apple store online, I saw that now they are not selling the XS. Only the XR. Throttling their own internal competition. Grrr.
1
You can still get the XS at a discount from other retailers and carrier stores.
1
"Do we really need to upgrade our iPhones every two years?" The word 'need' is often used in a straw man argument, i.e., an informal fallacy. The overwhelming number of iPhone users that I know do not ask themselves if they need to upgrade, but rather how will they benefit from an upgrade, and if the benefit vs. cost is worthwhile given their usage.
My informal rule of thumb is if your iPhone usage is moderate to heavy, every new iteration is worth the incremental cost of an upgrade. There are multiple strategies to manage the cost of a new iPhone every year, including those from Apple and carriers. The incremental cost is next to nothing when compared to what most moderate to heavy iPhone users spend on discretionary items that do not provide anywhere near the benefit of an upgraded iPhone, e.g., battery life, improved camera, etc.
5
It all depends on the camera for me because it is nice to travel light sometimes. I would like the phone to give me the performance of at least a mid range DSLr, and it seems that that may be finally achieved. Super wide angle, telephoto and much better low light images are all big improvements, and desirable for photographers. And the video is of course amazing already.
3
@John there are other phones that have better cameras and that came out with them as much as a year ago. I can understand wanting to stay with the same operating system and I am told that iOS has many advantages but the idea that Apple is innovating in hardware anymore is simply false. In everything from screen pixel density to image quality, camera technology, battery technology, fast charging technology, etc., Apple has long ago ceased to be a leader. And yet they continue to charge cutting edge prices.
4
The ultra wide angle lens is tied to a noticeably inferior sensor. You’re better off picking up an RX100.
2-3 years is a good upgrade cycle for me. My strategy is to buy 1+ year old phones just after Christmas. The prices absolutely plummet. I got my 128GB Pixel 2XL (refurb) in January for only $359. Just a month earlier it was $470. No brainer...
How about a tacit nod to the mountains of electronic waste that gather each time a new gadget appears - most of which is exported to developing countries. Sure, you're saying it isn't necessary to upgrade, I get that. But if a phone is two years old it needs to be replaced. Really??
14
So happy to read this article! I couldn't agree more. One additional, very important reason we should all break free from the 2-year upgrade cycle is to minimize the e-waste we continue to generate at unsustainable volumes. Apple's recycling program is a great step, but isn't enough.
8
It doesn't look like they've improved their portrait mode at all, as you can tell looking at cinnamon stick and handle in the low light photo. I'll stick with my Samsung which allows me to adjust the strength of the background blurring after the fact so my photos aren't ruined, and an actual camera when smartphone approximations don't cut it.
3
I have an iPhone 3SG. I use it for calls, texts, music, and a few pictures. It still works fine, beyond the occasional charger cord replacement.
Not planning to upgrade anytime soon.
(Frankly, I'm hoping for it to became a museum piece before then!)
7
"So here’s what I ultimately suggest: You should definitely upgrade if your current device is at least five years old."
My suggestion: Only upgrade if the phone you currently own cannot perform the tasks you need in a manner that is satisfactory to you.
Since most use their phones for social media,surfing the web, selfies, and making phone calls, Most people do not need to upgrade.
33
@Félix unfortunately operating system and app updates means ever-increasing demands on your phone's memory and processing capacity.... regardless of what you use the phone for it will become slower over time.
@John
The only problem is that apple designs all upgrades to not only make greater memory and capacity demands but also to update IOS in such way that your old apps will no longer work, and the developers cease supporting older apps or making new apps that work on older iOS versions. Like when my simple safari browser on an older Mac OS system can no longer function, as they won't update the older Safari version to handle newer HTML versions. So not even simple web surfing is possible on that computer any longer. Same sort of stuff goes on in iOS.
So just buy buy buy and don't ask any questions, says Apple.
1
Upgrades are interesting. I'm typing this on a 2014 Mac Book Pro, to my direct right is a 2010 Mac Book Pro 17" screen (I wish that Apple would bring back the 17" screen) and to my left is a 17" Mac desk top from 1995, which I kept because it runs PageMaker.
I purchased my first iPhone two years ago and am thrilled that I finally have one. With the Cloud, the iPhone makes everything easily accessible and I feel that I'm always reachable.
I'll take the reviewers advice and wait another couple of years for a new iPhone, although I might get a new Mac Book Pro or bump up to an iMac within the next year or so.
7
@retireeMy MacBook Pro is from 2009, my iPhone and Mac Pro from 2013. They all work as well as the day I bought them. I replaced the laptop's HD with an SSD, replaced the iPhone battery and added memory to the Mac Pro (as well as external drives) and I see no reason to replace them. Of course, I'm not a gamer or so-called power user, just someone who prefers long-lasting, reliable technology. Meanwhile, my kids have replaced their PC's, phones and laptops multiple times the past 6 years.
7
"For most of us, the upgrades won’t meaningfully change our phone experience."
This has always been the case. The entire computer industry is driven by recurrent planned obsolescence, forcing consumers to spend their money over and over on pretty much the same thing. If not that, by requiring continuous subscriptions to ensure a stream of income from software.
These companies may be socially liberal, but they are today's robber barons just the same.
17
Is it time to upgrade? Does your current phone still work?
Did you know that the rare earths in cell phones are found only in a few places, and that slave labor is used to mine those materials for your phone? Did you know that nomadic people have been rounded up and forced to live in fenced areas so that these materials can be mined for your phone?
Next time you decide to upgrade, please consider the environmental and human costs.
39
My wife and I each have an iphone 5S. They have both worked really well for many years, with no deal-breaker problems; no problems, in fact, that required any service. I would think of upgrading for more storage and faster speeds, and a better camera, but $1,000? Hard to justify in Trumpworld. We paid $99 each at Radio Shack for the 5S's.
6
The review did not mention facial recognition for login. I had understood this was a feature of iPhone 11. For me, this is reason enough to purchase this new phone.
2
@Harriet Kronman Good for you/us. The REAL winner is the service provider for you/me!
1
I have an iPhone 7+, which is a great phone with a very good camera. I just ordered an IPhone 11 Max Pro. The main reason is the camera. The photos I can make are often as good as an expensive camera. And, it fits in my pocket. I’ve used it as my only camera on many trips, along with a quality mirror less camera. Often the iPhone photos look as good or better than my camera. To me, that’s worth it.
6
@Rob L
I am on the exact same upgrade cycle and reason as yours. I found myself taking more photos with my phone than full-frame cameras I carry. I could have held off another year or two as I am quite happy with my current 7+, but the ultra wideangle lens itself is worth the upgrade now as I gravitate towards wider shots on my mirrorless or dslr camera. 5G will not take hold immediately and I'm sure Apple's next 'seismic' iteration featuring 5G would be a reason for them to justify further price hike. In the meantime, I will be capturing wideangle shots I would otherwise be missing out. That's worth it to me as well.
Not really sure about all of the cell phone bashing on here, I'm not an Apple customer with my phone, but that does not mean they are not excellent technology. I use a Samsung Note 8 currently, and will upgrade to the Note 10 eventually. Because I travel via vehicle mostly, 2000 miles a month, everything I do on my pc/tablet can be done equally, and many times easier on my cell. 4g works in 95% of Western Washington, that includes on boats, which is where I work.
Navigation apps are incredible/as well as google maps/and photo apps/and art apps. The best are free!
All in my pocket! Every song I can dream of, all in my pocket! Every TV/Movie/Book/ Instruction video/Beautiful pictures easily taken/HD video camera/in my pocket. On an amoled crystal clear screen, and easily uploaded or mirrored to UHD 4k large screen monitors.
I'm 64 years old and I am completely in with this tech, it fits my lifestyle perfectly. I feel that the bashing of it is either from those who not fully understand the capabilities or the inherent footprint caused by multiple devices being purchased. Cell phones are awesome.
33
@SheHadaTattooToo
Some of the older gens just simply refuse to learn to use or appreciate technology. A part of my job is helping people sign up for insurance and it's on a computer. There's been times where I've had older people refuse to sign up on the computer or throw fits about how "dumb" computers are and I end up having to go through it for them so I'm not spending 30 minutes on one person, when I could be helping 4 others who are doing it on their own. It's kind of sad how completely against it some people are to the point of making it hard for everyone else around them.
1
You can trade in your old iPhone getting $200-650 trade in value to a new iPhone plus it’s recycled.
iPhone 11Pro is only better with 4 camera lenses, A13 CPU, better battery (4hrs longer the XS), & better screen resolution with XDR.
The 2020 iPhone is worth the wait if you have a 2 year old iPhone. Hopefully that screen will finally be 6.1” instead of the 5.8” which has been kept for 3 generations!
1
iPhone comment
I upgraded from an iPhone 4 to a 6 because of substantial improvements in the newer model. I was forced to buy the 7 because the 6’s keyboard failed. The 7 worked fine until the battery bulged out so much that it couldn’t be plugged in. I then bought an 8, and this time paid the heavy fee for “Apple Care™” Good thing. I’m on my third one as within a couple of months the “lightning port” on each of the first two failed. Couldn’t charge.
There are a number of reasons I’ve used Apple for 40 years. The most important has been the quality of the hardware. This phone quality deterioration along with things like the MacBook’s broken keyboards are signs of Apple’s pursuit of form over function.
I can see no reason to buy another expensive cell. This one does what I need. Unlike a great many around me, I do not live in a cell (I once spent 3 weeks in a one. The idea of being confined by narrow walls enrages me.)
I talk. I’ve learned to text. (That’s a verb!?). Notes. Check mail. Use maps and a few good utilities like iBird. Past that? In the way. Oh, I once found a great bar in Phoenix. Guess that’s all worth it?
If the iPhone is your status symbol and you have an extra $1100, then certainly buy the latest greatest. If your phone is just a tool, you don’t need it.
4
The iPhone XS Max that I bought last September is still performing flawlessly. I usually trade my phone in for credit or I sell it outright on the web. I think I'll be skipping this upgrade, however.
2
1. Yes, agree don’t need upgrade so often
2. Want Apple stay healthy & keep innovating
So:
3. Encourage one’s Android-phone-owning friends to convert to iPhone
They’ll be happier, it will be easier for you to give them tech support (less needed), and Apple gets more sales to keep making better phones.
2
I use Apple products, but I have zero interest in converting anybody. To each, his own.
10
@Economics I used iPhones until I finally tried an Android. Never going back. Try me.
@Economics I would encourage my friends to buy the most phone they can get for their money on right now that is not an iPhone
I have and "X", I am not upgrading until it the iPhone has 5G. My $1150 pocket computer still works great.
2
Whatever happened to storage space? My biggest gripe with ANY iPhone is lack of sufficient storage. I’m probably going to upgrade to another iPhone 7 but with more space (I have the 32GB model, which is nowhere near enough storage for music, photos, and videos.) At one point people were blasting Apple for not including a micro-SD card slot for more storage. THIS would be real innovation!
2
@Scott Wilkinson What happened is you refused to pay a bit more for more storage. It's available, the iPhone 7 offers storage up to 256GB, yet you chose to buy a 32GB model. I'm not going to argue whether the extra storage is worth the price but clearly you valued it, yet it is equally clear you didn't value it enough to pay the price difference. That's not an intrinsic failing of iPhone design. I bit the bullet and bought the 128GB iPhone 6s when it came out, I'm still using it today and it's only 1/3 full. It was close to $1K new and yes it hurt a bit at the time paying for the storage upgrade. But I bought it knowing that I was going to use it for a long time and planned accordingly.
4
I’m using my 6 until it drops dead. I upgraded the battery for $29 when Apple offered that service when they got in trouble for something or other. All I really need it for is dog pictures and GPS, anyway.
19
A big consideration for me in being on an upgrade cycle is always having AppleCare on my device. I feel like I’d be hard pressed to own a $1000 device without having an active warranty. That alone gets me coming back every two years!
I decided to buy into the iPhone upgrade program a few years ago. You can get a new phone every year; just trade in the old one and pay per month. If you want out of the program, the phone you currently have would be fully paid off in 2 years and you just keep it.
I am going to "upgrade" again this year to a cheaper model than before for a lower monthly payment. Maybe I'll upgrade again next year - maybe not. But it's a good option to have.
5
I've just entered the phase were I actually own my iPhone 8. Such freedom! :-) I think I'll wait another year before upgrading....although I'm envious of the camera.
5
Good idea. I’m going to follow your lead and do the same.
Please investigate and report on the recycle supply chain when we turn our old ones in to Apple. It should be part of the consideration.
19
Have an iPhone 7Plus. Works fine. Some days I use a lot of juice. Bought a Mophie Juice pack air, giving me an additional 33 hours of battery life.
2
I remain completely satisfied with my iPhone 6, and plan to stay there as long as IOS upgrades can be installed on it.
9
@akp3 Iphone 5 here...I'm thinking of upgrading around Christmas this year solely b/c of the camera improvements!
@akp3
Yes. I would like to have the new camera(s), but cannot let go of my headphone jack! I work in audio, and need an analog connection often. And I hate having to use an adapter (which I would lose half the time anyway).
1
@akp3 - Unless it is a 6S, i don't think you can install iOS13.
4
Dog Beach? Love it.
8
I have never had a mobile phone and have never wished I did. What's strange for someone without one is to watch the world pass by filled with people totally absorbed in the little device in their hands and oblivious to everything else. From my perspective it looks like an enormous and even dangerousw diversion.
6
If you love to create your own digital photo's why not make this a must buy. Am I that old to remember when a new camera model in the analog era of photography was big news?
1
So, in a nutshell, No. Stick with your current phone.
3
Hey Apple! It’s way past time for a refresh on the iPhone SE. Please give us an SE 2!!!!
12
@Michael Trobe It's all about that small size. I use a computer all day for work (and a tablet or TV when I want to watch videos) - I don't need a big screen on my phone. I'm sure millions of people would agree - remember when having the smallest most compact phone to stick in your pocket was the ideal? Yeah, I still believe in that.
I have replaced my SE 3 times, most recently through an Amazon seller since Apple has stopped selling the SE entirely. The idea that they want everyone to have a larger screen so they are more absorbed (and obsessed) with their phones may have some truth to it, and if so that is depressing, and the call for a new "SE" or something like it may be dead in the water. But I will press on!
4
@Michael Trobe Yes! I passed on the 6 in favor of a 5S because I wanted the smaller size and it's still performing very well. The SE slipped by me, I wasn't quite ready to upgrade and didn't act fast enough. I'd love a better camera but I'm holding out hope if I wait one more generation a small one that fits my hands & my pocket will come along again...
2
Great reporting, but need more dog pictures.
63
I have a 6 and a 6s (didn’t android phones have dual sim capability years ago?).
My reason for sticking with Apple is better (though not perfect attention) to privacy.
But with the loss of the headphone jack, I’m wondering whether to switch to Android. I really don’t like the added waste that the unrepairable AirPods produce when their batteries run out.
Also, when I fly for 24 hours or so, which I do far too often, I don’t want to have to worry that my earphones will give out 10 hours in.
Oh, but I can use a dongle? Get real.
At the least, I’ll hang on to my current phones as long as possible.
Sorry Apple. You’ve lost me.
9
What I really want is for Apple to start making the SE again. That was the last smartphone that was the smaller size of the original iPhone. I don’t need or want a bigscreen phone; i just use mine for texts, emails, gps, web browsing and as a camera. Don’t and wont use it as a TV or photo album so the big screen of my iPhone 8 just means I need to take it out of my jeans pocket every time I sit down.
Even better would be an Apple Watch with web browsing and a camera. I’d love to ditch the phone altogether.
16
Um, no.
After having nearly every iteration of the iPhone, when the X came out I said, "No thanks." I went to a NOTCH-LESS Samsung Galaxy S9+ and couldn't be happier. Android is a little screwy, but it's modern and completely customizable. iOS? Still stuck with the same dang interface since it's inception. Customizable? What's that word?
Lose the notch and introduce REAL change and innovation... then I might consider coming back to the Apple ecosystem.
2
@J.S. It's a shame you didn't give it a try; Face ID (the reason for the notch) is really fast, and works better for older folks whose fingerprints are often not recognized by readers. The gesture-based controls make working on the phone very efficient.
By the way, the S9+ doesn't have a notch - it has a black bar that goes all the way across the top of the phone. You get more usable screen space with the notch than with that black bar.
5
Thank you. It is not iphone but icamera. If it is the latter I'll get it. If it is just phone upgrade no thank you.
And no more upgrades. I can't keep up. One more thing that exhausts me. We probably all have a condition we don't recognize yet: technology fatigue.
(Lets hope technology fatigue doesn't become technology aversion. And some of these upgrade are getting absurd. Just call it icamera).
2
I had an 4S forever then "upgraded" to an SE- a solid cheap phone that takes decent pics, sends texts and an occasional phone call.
The new phones are certainly nice, but not really necessary to upgrade every two years- that's silly....
3
I'm upgrading from my X to the 11pro. My phone is my primary camera, and I take a lot of photos. The upgrade is worth it to me. On the other hand, my DH is keeping his 7. I offered him my X and he doesn't want it. We will need to pry the 7 out of his cold dead hands
3
@Mary M Many people don't want to try Face ID, so they get the one with the fingerprint reader. However, almost everybody that actually tried Face ID ends up liking it more. The ability to just look at the phone, and it lets you read your notifications without touching it? Excellent.
5
What is the author recommending re replacing an iPhone 6? It was introduced in late 2014, but most are less than five years old. So, keep or replace?
@Ron Replace it, because you'll stop getting software updates for it (I have an iPhone 6 from 2014 and the time has come): "The simplest place to start is software. Apple’s newest mobile operating system, iOS 13, will work only on iPhones from 2015 (the iPhone 6S) and later. So if you have an iPhone that is older than that, it is worth upgrading because once you can no longer update the operating system, some of your apps may stop working properly."
1
@kat not true. The 5s upgrades to the latest software update and my wife loves the small size. Really retro. It feels vintage, like an Atari game, but still 2019.
She’s hoping there will be small versions in the future.
1
Kat, Apple has specifically said that the oldest phone that can be upgraded to iOS 13 is the 6S.
I remember sitting in a bar in DC watching my friend chase a guy that was out of his league. This guy just bought a then new first generation iPhone and was showing off all of it’s functions. When I asked exactly why he needed them his face went blank.
Myself didn’t own any sort of cell phone, I resisted them for years.
If you bothered to read the author’s bio, his job was to report on Apple products. What a impressive career path.
All the android folk are saying Apple is a year or 2 behind but at least their phones don’t catch fire or crack on day 3.....
3
I have an iPhone 6 Plus. I'll wait until 5G phones come out.
Phones are too expensive to replace every 2, 3 or even 4 years!
LETS GO METS!!
2
My Apple iPhone 4G is great - small and perfect for exactly what I need it to do...use the phone. The photos I take are excellent and if I want to enhance them - I use Photoshop. In a highly competitive market, Apple must keep pace with its competitors with marketing and continuous tweeking of all their products - including the iPhone. I completely understand that but it is not a necessary purchase for me unless it can clean the house and do laundry. Now that would be something to consider!
6
To these eyes, the sample portrait photos look a mess. Half the dog's face is unnaturally blurred, inconsistent with a depth of field related bokeh. And even worse, the night shot, which again appears to also be using portrait mode, blurs out the top of whatever is in his drink. New and better photographic hardware, perhaps, but the software still needs some work.
7
For many people, their phone is their only computer. And camera. And GPS device. And game console.
Definitely, upgrade only when your current device doesn't meet your needs or starts to fail.
But though $700-1000 sounds like a lot of money for a mere phone, if the device is a mainstay for all those other uses, it's actually pretty reasonable.
3
The reviewer neglected to mention that the IPhone 11 have a dual sim capability which the IPhone X lacks. For those with multiple phones, or looking to travel abroad without paying for insanely priced data packages, the dual sim is a game changer, enough to warrant the upgrade.
8
I am a nature photographer and travel globally several times per year. With the current international cellular plans, I find that data rates in most countries are low enough that using multiple SIM cards is no longer necessary. Plus many countries require cumbersome paperwork and time to obtain a local SIM card. And in the few countries that do not have reciprocal data agreements, wifi is ubiquitous. So paying an extra $90 for an international data plan when I am gone for a month is well worth the price.
4
@Rumesha Whitfield Another option for frequent travelers is the new-ish Google Fi carrier. It's cheaper than most other carriers, data is pay-as-you-go, and you can travel just about anywhere and keep your same number without paying roaming. I travel between the US and Italy once or twice a year, and have been very satisfied with it.
@Rumesha Whitfield
I don't think AT&T's $10 a day charge when in Europe is insane.
I have the iPhone XR right now and every time I update my phone to a newer model, there’s always a different a screen size which means relearning how to type and text.
It’s a small inconvenience, but it’s an inconvenience nonetheless.
1
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
The holy grail for photographers is low light photography. You say something to effect ‘just use flash’ if your older iPhone won’t produce acceptable low light pics. Flash pictures are not the same AT ALL as good available light photographs. If the new iPhone does significantly better in low light than older iPhones that is a big deal. Me? I’ll stick with my almost new iPhone 8 w/256Gb HD and my Leica.
33
I'm not sure what I just read. You're declaring that this advice (don't update) is "wrong, wrong, wrong" because of the needs of a niche group (photographers.)
...But then you also state that, as a photographer, you'd rather stick with an old phone and use a standalone camera.
Which is it? I'm confused, confused, confused.
@Publius Yup you got me. Inconsistent. My apologies to you.
1
Agree with itsmildeyes.
I want a phone that fits in my hand and I can put in my pocket.
Why do I want a new phone to watch videos? I have a large TV at home.
A state of the art camera is fine. But don't think my dog's pictures will be shown in a movie theater.
6
Wilder,
I think you're forgetting about Lassie. Lol.
1
I get a new iPhone every year for 2 good reasons. First, the trade in value is at its maximum, so I am always averaging a low monthly cost owning vs leasing, and second I am always in warranty without buying additional coverage. Thank you and have a good day.
13
Wow, that’s a great idea! My iPhone is only a year old- you just gave me good reason to upgrade now!
2
@Jon I agree with this- if you wait more than two years to "trade-in", you're not getting any value on the "old" model and you pay way more for the new one.
I guess it clearly isn't on everyone's radar - certainly not this reviewer's - but as someone who travels extensively and lives between the US and Europe, the eSim is the most important new iPhone feature in years. That's the sole reason I'm planning to upgrade. Most other innovations since the iPhone 6 other than processor and camera upgrades - i.e. Face ID, loss of headphone jack - are actually downgrades from my perspective.
8
"Here were the notable differences between the iPhone 11s and the iPhone X:" There is no iPhone 11s ... yet. I'm upgrading from my X (which I have been very happy with) because of the bump in battery life. Up to an extra 4 hours of use plus the camera improvements justify the expense to me, especially considering the generous trade-in value I received from Apple.
1
@Tony Gamino You're right there is no iPhone 11s; but there are three model 11s to be reviewed. Or perhaps the 11's new camera is better?
@Tony Gamino iPhone 11s (plural) not iPhone 11-s. The 11s certainly exist.
Upgrade once the phones go to a USB C connector. That is the current standard; buying old lightning devices will just make them a pain once everything else in your life is USB C and you can’t connect that stuff (chargers, cables, etc) to your phone.
Wait one more year—Apple should have caught up by then (iPad Pros already have).
6
I like the only factor that i8 or whatever I have, Will charge wirelessly, no fumbling with a charge cable (let alone remembering to PLUG IT in) — but now something inside the phone Won’t take the charge wirelessly… Two chargers are not working all of a sudden ; the one in my car AND the one in home. Even though the chargers were only $13 at the grocery outlet store, two failures Simultaneously point to the Phone’s electro magnet charging system
A very sensible analysis. Smartphones are going the way of laptop computers, which are now so sophisticated that even older models exceed the needs of most users. I'm typically an early adopter for all kinds of technology, yet, my laptop is a 2012 model that is still speedy and does what I need (browsing, emailing, word processing, spreadsheets, etc.)
However, the concluding comments about the $700 cost to upgrade from an iphone X to an 11 is a bit misleading. Apple takes trade-ins and offers up to $400 for a functioning X. So, the upgrade involving swapping an old phone for a new one is really $300 (not including tax and set up). Moreover, if the battery in one's X is failing, needing $100 replacement, then the net cost of the upgrade is $200. A pretty good deal to stay fully up to date on phone tech.
7
Sanity, meet tech. Thanks for this!
2
we are keeping the iphone 5 and also refuse Century link's incessant demands to do something faster. We are able to cross the street without holding the phone in our face.
Everyone else seems so intent on joining the Borg.
To us, it's just more junk faster and more complications to deal with.
no one need this--remember when people bought a new car every year because the size of the fins changed?
2020
7
@lin Norma the iPhone 5 is now a security risk since you won’t be able to update it soon. You should buy another phone (even a flip phone) to make sure your content on the phone is more safe. A lot is tied to identity verification on handheld devices nowadays.
You can purchase a 6S or 8 for a reasonably affordable price in the refurbished section, and Apple does have trade-in cost reductions: https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/iphone
3
I won't be updating because the phones are getting too big for me to handle comfortably. I'm a small person. I'll keep my small phone until it falls apart unless Apple wakes up and realizes that increasing the size every year or two isn't going to sell phones forever.
21
I'd like Mr. Chen to describe the origin of the "automatic two year upgrade cycle". What does that phrase mean? Can he find it in any Apple literature? I'm skeptical. A year or two ago, Apple explicitly stated in an earnings call that they want longer life spans for their phones. What's most important to them is satisfied customers. It's best to think of Apple as (in the words of Horace Dediu) being in the business of "creating and maintaining satisfied customers".
3
@Chris Jones The 2 year upgrade was originally due to phone service providers requiring a 2-year contract in order to get the phone at a discounted rate. I believe most carriers have stopped this.
1
@Chris Jones
It started when phones had two-year contracts. Many people (like me) updated when our contracts expired. Back then the upgrades were more pronounced.
1
@Larry Land. Right, thanks for the explanation, I had forgotten. People like me who paid cash for phones and used a pre-paid service never experienced any upgrade pressure. And yes, I realize I'm in the minority, so breaking away from the 2-year upgrade cycle is a good discussion.
3
I only upgrade when things break. I will always buy Mac computers. I love my MacBook Pro (and still use it) purchased in 2012; I still use my iPods (purchased in 2004 and 2010), and my phone is a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge purchased in 2015, after dropping my S3 several times. Prior to that, I still used my Blackberry. The only reason I don't have an iPhone is that each time a new phone comes out people get so fanatic about them that it turns me off. I have a hard time letting some things go. As I have over 200 albums (aka LPs) and more than 200 45s (if you know what I'm saying, you're old too), that I have not played in a gazillion years, but I plan to buy either a quality turntable and speakers or spring for a vintage record player. I tossed my Beta and VHS players in the early 2000s. I'm half state-of-the-art and half vintage. Kinda like it.
12
@writer I bought an early iPod (2nd gen) which I then sold to a friend and bought a 3rd gen. Eventually I replaced it with an iPhone with 64GB memory, then a new one in 2 years with 128MG and 2 years ago an X with 256GB - I still have 70+ GB left of storage. Now the question is do I get the 11 because of the camera (before I go on this once in a lifetime trip in a few months)? Wel I do have a DSLR camera so...
1
The ONLY upgrade on any phone worth spending for is a phone screen you can actually read when in bright light as in outside. Anything less is just another doodad.
7
I have a 6S Plus and I'm going to purchase the iPhone 11 once I get enough saved to buy it outright. The battery is definitely not what it used to be, apps aren't loading up quite as quick, and while there's nothing wrong with the 6S Plus camera, I would like a better one. Sure I could just purchase a new battery, but I am looking forward to the speed and camera upgrades. I'll most likely keep this phone for another 3-4 years. So yes, I could buy the discounted XR but why not spend an extra $100 to get the newest model I could get?
5
@Kaitlin I got the new battery for my 6s Plus and keep my phone updated. There is absolutely nothing wrong or subpar with it. I am YouTuber (side hustle) and generate revenue from videos recorded from my 6s Plus. Imagine that! I will hold out for the 5G.
4
By the way, the battery on my iPhone eight-ish was never from the get go any good; it had one good day and then from then on, if I use it to talk more than 15 minutes, the battery indicator is in the yellow and says I probably need a charge because it drops off faster after that, Even in low power mode (can’t tell Siri to GO to low power mode you have to tell it to TURN on… Hate that!)
@Traci
I totally believe you, but I just feel like I've gotten all the use I wanted to out of my 6S Plus and I would like a new one. I could hold out for another year, but I have no better answer than I just don't want to lol. I use my phone for a ton of things, everyday, so it is something I'm willing to spend $$$ on to get a better user experience. Also, I am in a better position to purchase a new phone, as I had my 6S Plus all through college and am graduated with a "big adult" job now. So if I wanted to upgrade my phone in two years rather than four, it wouldn't be as much of a financial burden.
1
The article gives sensible advice. Update your phone only when it starts failing (weak battery, broken buttons, etc.). Besides, we all need to save our pennies for that new electric car that we're going to need next year.
4
Here's my advice: skip the current model and buy a used iPhone or one that is a new phone but old stock (get a "new" iPhone X, for instance).
I only ever bought one new car in my life, and I only bought one iPhone new (an iPhone 4). Since then, I've gotten used ones, and they work fine—better than fine as they're not so expensive and I don't worry as much about what is at stake if it breaks or gets lost (I'd just brick it with the Find my Phone feature). The introduction of a new model always floods the used and older model channels, so it's a great time to buy. I typically pay under $200, and they work just as well for my basic phone life.
4
Thank you.
Please no more upgrades. I can't keep up. One more thing that exhausts me. We probably all have a condition we don't recognize yet: technology fatigue.
Lets hope technology fatigue doesn't become technology aversion.
8
Thank you.
Please no more upgrades. I can't keep up. One more thing that exhausts me. We probably all have a condition we don't recognize yet: technology fatigue.
Lets hope technology fatigue doesn't become technology aversion.
3
I'll never understand why Apple (or Samsung or LG) doesn't put dual cameras in the phone and a hi-res lenticular screen for 3-D photography.
@TBone all current iPhone cameras have two or three cameras now - plus the "selfie" camera above the screen...
Mr. Chen asks, "Do we really need to upgrade our iPhones every two years?" I'd change that to "smartphones" and still the answer would be, "No."
I am a tech geek from way back, and I don't come close to using all of the available "bells and whistles" on phones that are far beneath flagship status. Most people simply don't. Smartphones long ago became true microcomputers that so happen to have a phone feature.
Just like one seldom upgrades one's laptop or desktop until or unless it either dies or fails to meet the basic needs put upon it, the same should be true of smartphones in general. So long as the thing does what you want it to and need it to then there is absolutely no need (as opposed to manufactured want) to upgrade. If you don't use "it," regardless of what specific feature "it" happens to be then "it" is irrelevant and useless to you.
More is very often not better. Sometimes it's actually worse when it gets in the way of what one is accustomed to doing.
11
I've been patiently waiting for significant upgrades in the camera.
And at long last they're here...
Having been living with my 4S forever.
It's worth it for me.....
Of course I'll probably hold onto this new one for the next 10 years as well.
4
I must have read 50 tests of phones in the past 3 years. Not one of them mentions how well the phone works as a phone. Don't get me wrong, I like email, taking pictures, surfing the net, getting weather and the connectivity to my automobile. Still, I would pay extra for a better phone for (wait for it) to make phone calls. Must be me.
22
@Ross Salinger
It is you—-actually talking to a real live person on the phone is now seen as quaint and so early 20th century
"But if you spent $1,000 on an iPhone X two years ago, then hold off. The iPhone 11s just aren’t enough of an innovation leap to warrant $700-plus on a new smartphone."
Sound advice. I have a X, and like it a lot. But the reason why I got it was because my 6+'s display controller died. If it weren't for that, I would still have it. It was working very well up until that point.
But maybe we should stop calling these devices i"Phones". We should call them what their most important function is. How about "iCamera"? I mean, what percentage of smartphone usage is for phone calls any more? What we have is a camera with a phone attached, not the other way around.
It is incorrect to refer to a 52mm-equivalent lens as a "telephoto." That is called a "normal" lens. Just because Apple is being deceptive doesn't mean reviewers have to go along with it.
2
@JustInsideBeltway Unfortunately your thinking of a fill frame dslr when you say that a normal lens is in the 50 - 55 mm focal length range. You have to consider that the phone has a tiny chip to create a multiple that it inversely proportional. So, a 6mmx4mm chip turns that 52 mm into a 300mm equivalent if you were using a full frame DSLR.
6
@Ross Salinger
Completely incorrect. I specifically said "52mm-equivalent." The "equivalent" means that the arithmetic conversion was already done. 52 is the end result. You converted twice! It's crazy to suggest it is a 300mm equivalent. It is indisputably a 52mm equivalent -- a "normal" lens.
1
While the differences may be minute, I find it pointless to wait on upgrading if you participate in the Apple Upgrade leasing program. We are switching from the iPhone XS to the iPhone 11 126 GB version and actually saving money each month -- from about $50/phone/month to $35/phone/month. The only setback here is you are required to pay the sales tax upfront. Beyond that, I see no reason to pay the same price each month for an older phone when you could have the new one.
2
Daniel,
Yes, that was also not mentioned in the article. And if you miss an upgrade, you're out of the program and kind of by default you end up keeping your original phone as long as it lasts.
Not all that tech-savvy here, but a number of things weren't covered, imo, in the article.
While I'm here, are all those lenses 'sticky-outie' or are they flush with the body of the phone? I don't like sticky-outie stuff.
Biggest sorrow is the size of newer phones. The old 5c fit perfectly in my hand. Too much to ask for variously sized phones, like shoes? Not everyone is a 13W.
3
@Daniel Why pay ANY money monthly for a phone? Buy the phone and then don't upgrade for 4 years. Presto, with the savings you can buy a new phone or put the money into your IRA. Leasing a phone makes little or no economic sense. Do the numbers.
3
@Ross Salinger Yeah but then how can you impress people?
There are dozens of brands of android phones that don’t cost $1000 available. How about a review of some of them for those of us that are not Apple product drones. A review of a phone for the average person would be nice and helpful.
I’m searching for a good phone without a ton of bloatware but it won’t be a iPhone.
There must be at the very least three different iPhone articles in the NYT in the last two weeks. Bastia!
17
@Paulie There are also plenty of places to find reviews of Android phones. Most don't even require a subscription.
I have an iPhone 6. The only reason I am thinking about upgrading my iPhone is because of potential security issues. I assume there will be security updates after iOS13 is released that won't work on the 6. Am I wrong?
2
I think the 6S will get iOS 13 ... but not the 6 or 6 Plus.
1
I have an X I don’t use much because it doesn’t fit in my shirt pocket. I have an SE which is perfect. Size is small enough that I can put it in my pocket instead of carrying it 24/7 in my hand. It’s great for travel. I never have a connection problem and it’s easy to check emails. I have an iPad Pro that I use for getting information, movie tickets, travel reservations, etc. The combination is perfect. The camera on the SE is not as advanced, but it’s still produces high quality photos.
5
I have an SE too and love it for the small size. I can put it in my pocket when I walk the dog, shop, garden, etc. It saddens me that this model is discontinued. I really don’t want a phablet for my next phone- having to carry it in my hand because it doesn’t fit in my pocket is certainly not convenient.
1
And unfortunately, there is no SE replacement and the NOS are all gone. There is a strong secondary (tertiary) market for used SEs but there are a lot of malfunctioning phones on the market and not worth risking.
Like anything, it's about priorities and personal choice. And because I use my iPhone all the time - far more than any other item I own - my priority is to always have the best one. When I think about how much use I get out of my iPhone, I never regret dropping the cash when a new one comes out.
I agree that probably there are a lot of good Android phones out there but I don't feel the need to go searching for something "better" (totally subjective) when I know I love what I have!
4
I'm able to upgrade to the 11 for $150 through my carrier, so I'm going to do it, mainly because I want the new camera set-up and I want to add storage.
This is likely the last upgrade I'll take for 3-4 years if not longer.
If you look at the 3 cameras, in a totally objective way, it looks strange, as those multi lens RCA Television cameras looked, in the 1950s ( ? ) and early 60s ( ? ).
2
Moved away from Apple and iPhone ecosystem 2 years ago after 6 years on it. Android hardware is Miles ahead, no app gap at all and overall price to value is great.
After losing all other advantages, iphones at least had the beautiful design factor going for it. No more.
The latest batch of iPhone 11? Grotesque.
4
@Ac
What's up with Android users reading review of iPhones?
I have a mac computer. Can I easily download photos to my mac with Android phone?
I know, right?? My 6 year old phone (Galaxy 4) is *like new*! Because I myself can put in a new battery for $20-40, snapped up a new case for nothing on ebay put on new glass screen protector. Only thing is, some apps are no longer available for this model.... Still! Size just right too.
1
I pre-ordered, I’ll be going from a 7 to the 11 Pro. I’m looking forward to the camera upgrade, some speed, and definitely a longer battery life.
Don't forget the option to "upgrade" to one of the phenomenally good mid-priced Android phones, such as the Moto G7 ($200-$250), the Samsung A50 ($350 for basically a Galaxy minus wireless charging) and maybe the best bargain of all - the Pixel 3A ($350-450 for top of the line quality with the best smartphone camera in the world today).
It's hard for iPhone users to go there, but there really is life beyond Apple if you want to look for it. iOS and Android are almost identical feature-wise and good quality Android models are as well integrated and smooth as any iPhone.
10
@Tom B.: It is generally hard for iAnything users to switch away, but the same can be said for joining the Apple Borg if you're outside it, too.
I have always found iOS and OSX far less intuitive, and far, far, far too "locked down," than Android and Windows, respectively.
I just have no desire to be forced to do things "the Apple Way" and the cost of their hardware, for what you actually get, is astronomical.
@Tom B. There may be life beyond Apple, but if I got a non- Apple phone, my Apple Watch would be useless. And I’m not sure it would synch as smoothly with my MacBook or my iPad Pro. Apple built an ecosystem, and for those of us deep in it, it’s not a matter of just getting a different phone. (I use air drop to share work documents between devices at least 15 times a day)
@Serena: It's worth looking, though, if (and I do mean if) you have the desire to escape on any of these devices when a new one is required.
Windows 10 even has the ability to stay in sync with an iPhone to the extent that Apple permits (and Android permits far more).
There are more services of the same nature as AirDrop than I care to name, and that are cross-platform.
One can make a selective change out these days, at least as far as the rest of the world interacting with iDevices to the extent Apple permits. And if trends keep going as they are, Apple is going to have to permit more.
No, not the phone, but the new Ipad with a keyboard and cellular is well worth it and my order is placed. It's faster than most laptops and it's really slim and light. Hopefully the next iphone is 5g. I won't buy a new phone until it is 5g - currently have a 8 plus. But if you have the money, you should always upgrade the phone - it's with you constantly, it's such a part of our lives, for better or worse, and it's not like a car, where buying a top model is like 50,000 dollars more than a base model. It's a few hundred dollars. And phones play a more important role in our lives than cars.
7
@David: I guess it's a matter of priorities. My phone is virtually always with me, but it's not "a big part of my life" in any meaningful sense. It's a tool for keeping in touch on the go, and taking the occasional quick picture if I don't have a real camera.
I have no desire to spend far more than I would for a decent laptop on a smartphone, as what I actually use a smartphone for is far less important.
3
@David I don't see the logical leap from using/loving the phone and constantly needing to knee-jerkily purchase every new iteration of it. Does the phone suddenly turn into an unusable product the second you find out a new one has been released?
4
@Mala: And will you even use any of the "new and improved" bits? The answer is very often, "No."
Why on earth get another device if the one you have serves your existing needs and wants?
47
Remember when phones were free. Just think next year they will give you five not three cameras. Otherwise it’s a yawn still waiting for a phone to squeeze me fresh OJ. So you get your email can add applications and take better photos. Yawn.
2
Still rocking a 6S — bought from someone else when the 8 came out. Had battery replaced under warranty. It still works great. May get a refurb 8 and give this to my daughter. WHY spend thousands on newest shiny every year or so. Older and refurbished or second hand works almost the same for far less $$$
17
That wide-angle lens will look great in portrait mode, the default format of tourists to wilderness areas and TV news contributors.
3
6 plus owner here and I have absolutely no need for an upgrade. The thing is unbreakable, reliable and does exactly what i need a phone to do.
Faster processor...who cares? Longer battery life?...I solved that issue with a $29 Mophie like battery case I bought on Amazon that close to doubles my battery life. Niftier camera setup....I’m not a professional photographer nor do I look for IG photo opps.
See, I just saved myself $1000!
10
I am still getting life out of my 5s, but the screen is starting to malfunction and the battery dies in hours if not plugged in. My gripe about all new phones are (1) size. I don’t need a phone taller than 5 inches in my pocket (but apparently my hopes for this changing are nil). (2) cost. Really, $1,000 for a phone? (3) I Just want a phone, but a fancy camera. While I do snap photos using my phone, I really don’t care if they are average – I don’t need 4k. If you look at Apple’s website for phone descriptions, they spend most of it talking about how great their camera is.
I have been thinking a lot about phone usage over the last year as I watch all the phone zombies walking around ignoring the people they are with and their surrounding and mesmerized by their devices. I want to migrate back my phone being a tool – not an expensive way of life.
13
I would love to see a comparison chart between the new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro versus some of the older models, not just comparing it to the iPhone X. I'm currently using an iPhone 7 Plus and it's almost more important to me as a camera (one that I always have within reach when I see an image I want to capture) as it is for communication. I take a LOT of pictures with my phone, from family photos to vacation pics, photos of art and architectural details, interior design, my own work... I know I got better pictures in many cases with the digital cameras I was using 10 years ago, and each time I've upgraded my iPhone the pictures have gotten better and I've had to spend less time dickering around in PhotoShop trying to correct low light photos to where I can see what I was trying to take a picture of, for instance. How much better is the iPhone 11 Pro camera compared to the iPhone 7 Plus camera? I have also been unable to find a direct comparison of battery life between the 7 Plus and the 11 or the 11 Pro. I was taking high resolution photos in a museum all day recently, totally absorbed in what I was doing and not realizing how much battery that was draining until I got outside to call my Uber and barely had any battery left to call my ride! Other features that are important to me, but not touched on in your review, would be improvements in sound recording and music playback, again, comparing the new iPhones not just to the the previous new release, but to the 7+.
2
Thanks for an excellent review. Hanging onto my 6S-Plus; I listen to podcasts with an earphone that plugs into it. Simple as that.
3
Couldn't agree more! I am "upgrading" from the 7 to the X (bought from a friend) only because my 7 fails to reliably connect to networks and frequently displays "No Service." I still have an 8 year old Mac Book Pro, original Apple Watch, and at least 5 year old iPad that all work fine. I drive my cars until they fall apart, so I apply the same logic to my tech devices.
8
I would rather spend $750 on a camping trip in some mountains somewhere staring at nature for as long as my $750 would last.
13
My upgrade philosophy: If the current phone is adequately meeting all my needs, I don't upgrade. If the new phones can do certain things a lot better than my current phone, I might consider upgrading. What I will never do is shell out obscene amounts of money because I want the joy and bragging rights of having the latest and greatest. (If you like to do that and can afford it, hey, knock yourself out.)
15
I agree with this in general. The only contradictory consideration for me is that at 2 years I can get a good price for my old iPhone, which greatly reduces the price of the new. Not so much at 3 years, and at 4 I would have to pay full price for the new phone.
8
Using my iPhone SE primarily for music, not taking and sharing photos, the next Apple device I buy is likeliest to be a 256GB iPod touch. Having my entire music library with me at all times is still my most important gadget criterion.
2
Spouse and I just "upgraded" to Chinese phones. She bought an inexpensive Huawei. The Pro 30 is pricey but takes amazing photos in low light and can capture hard-to-record instruments like a piano perfectly. I bought a Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 for under $200 and it takes gorgeous photos and records music perfectly. I've tried recording my grand piano and my daughter's acoustic bass and there is no distortion while it captures all the resonance. I'd love to see an article here about comparing those phones with pricier Western models. (Plus-the Huawei does not permit NSA backdoors.)
13
@Natalia F. Roman
Maybe no NSA backdoors, but probably many doors, front and back, for the Chinese government.
2
I was suddenly struck by the resemblance to upscale car buying promoted in the 1960’s— every two years (or “when the ashtrays are full” as my dad joked). Not our family pattern then— or now. Keeping my nice 6S for the foreseeable future— driving a 2001 car too. Regular “tune ups” and no rust on either of them...
39
I have an iPhone X, which I would normally upgrade next month. However, I am waiting for 5G, said to be in next year's phone. Each of us will have to decide when to upgrade.
3
Skip the upgrade and put the $1,000 into a college fund for your child or grandchild. They will thank you in a few years!
59
@Opie Taylor Are you sure about that?
@Tom If they are not grateful, you can take the money with a 10% penalty. Or change the beneficiary to someone else.
I look forward to see what Apple has in store for iPhone XVII.
2
@Cardinal Fan . LOL
Upgrading phones every two years never made sense. Especially when they were more expensive.
9
I use my cell phones like my cars ... until they fall apart.
I try not to spend a ton of money. There was no "statement" with used '6X Chevy Biscane gifted by my sister because she was only going to get $50 for trade-in (5 years), my '77 Buick Skyhawk (12 years), '89 Honda Civic (26 years) or even my current '14 Mazda Miata (4+ years). I maintained them, semi-protected them and ran them into the ground. I saw no reason to trade in, move up, etc. They were cars that got me from A to B and did their job well.
My cell phones are the same. They get updates, stay case-less in my pant pocket devoid of coins and keys. My first was a used gifted Nokia that I loved and did the job, until a certain nameless niece spilled pink lemonade on it. Then it was an iPhone 3, then 4 (gifted) and now 5. I make calls, have my contacts, read e-mail (and FB, NYT), listen to Google Lady map directions, take photos (not of my lunch) and check my credit union balance. I loath the oversized cell phones that people ask me to carry for them.
Yup, GM/Honda/Mazda lost money on me with their trade-in model and so did Apple. And if the things continue to get super expensive I may return to ... a landline.
56
@MB
Kudos to you for avoiding the need to upgrade to the latest and greatest. I am like you, I use an iPhone 5 because it still works and does what I need it to do. Before the iPhone 5 I used my Blackberry until the screen went blue and no longer worked. A phone to me is a durable good and not a disposable one. I wonder why the environmentalists are not clamouring to reduce the electronic waste generated by the fast upgrade cycle to features that are not necessary.
13
My 5s is nearly dead. I am panicking because it was nearly perfect for me. Small enough to fit in my pocket and did all the things you mention above. All the new phones are huge and merely fancy thin cameras. I don't want to own a $1,000 pocket item.
6
@KC Get a new battery. I suggest backing up your iPhone to your computer AND iCloud, go to the AppleStore because some places sell reconditioned batteries. Then make sure Apple does all the software resets so the phone "knows" the full charge on the new battery.
5
Good review. Still iPhone is very overprized and is a trend follower now in stead of trendsetter. All the new features of the new iPhones have been set on most Huawei and Samsung-phones for a long time. People keep seeing iPhone as the reference but I think it's not been that since 4 years.I am happy i switched to Android a few years ago: much more choice, more advanced phones and lower prizes. The best smartphone around now is the Samsung Note 10+.
2
@Willem Baars
The value of the iPhone is less in its hardware than in its longevity and its ability to seamlessly interact with Macs and iPads. As I will never return to Windows, I'll stick to the Apple ecosystem. It's true I can't charge my airpods on the back of my iPhone XR, but I don't need to do that.
7
Still on a 6S, amazing how long it has held up (plus I have a headphone jack for when the AirPods need a time out). Also still using a 2009 MacBook Unibody 13 as an always on Plex server. I've replaced the screen on my workhorse 2012 retina 3 times, and using a 2015 at work. Gonna hold out one more year for a new iPhone, and maybe a new MacBook. Typing on a 5 yo Dell (for external GPU). I don't get the two year upgrade cycle.
9
The bottom line is not how significant or insignificant the “improvements” are but whether or not your current phone does what you need it to do. To those of you who absolutely must have the very latest model simply for the sake of having it, you’re on a very different value system than I.
19
Does this phone make the owner a better communicator? Does it put the owner in touch with family and friends on a more frequent and more meaningful basis? Does it improve the percentage of time that the owner can directly observe his or her surroundings? Or does it just increase screen time?
30
A sober and prudent review. After passing on my usually regular upgrade this year, I purchased a wonderful device instead. It’s called “a camera.”
89
I can get a very good mid-level Nikon or Canon SLR for $500-800. I'd rather do that and have a $200 phone sans camera as an option. My 5s cost $300...
8
@LTJ
Out of curiosity, how much did the camera cost you? They can set you out a pretty penny.
2
I believe the author does not mention storage.
I think the $700 figure is for 64GB.
I’m sentimental about saving texts and photos. I go overboard for storage, 256GB, which increases the price of the phone.
Let me show you pictures of my grandchildren. Lol.
(I had a bad experience with my green iPhone 5c with 4GB of storage! The pendulum has swung.)
4
@itsmildeyes Save to iCloud. All the storage you need and you can open the files on any of your other devices, especially Apple devices.
1
@itsmildeyes
Buy a Samsung S10 from last year. It has three cameras which are flush with the back. It has a user accessible SD card slot. I have a 1 Terabyte card in mine.
1
@itsmildeyes
Storage to the cloud does not work when you are in an area with no cell service or wifi. Plus the SD card can be plugged into a laptop or PC for faster transfer than can be done with cloud storage. Provided you bought a laptop that has an SD card slot which rules out MacBooks.
2
While I understand that every new phone, iPhone or one from another manufacturer, is not going to be an upheaval from the norm, these iPhone Pro models offer just what I'm seeking: better cameras and extended battery life. To assert that I should keep the phone I have and not consider an upgrade, is presumptuous on the part of the reviewer.
5
Dear Sugar...
Don’t loose sleep over Mr Chen’s recommendations. Run to Apple Store Friday, hurry!
5
@sugarandd I think Mr. Chen did a great job describing the advantages of the new phones as well as the reasons to hold onto existing ones. I would love wide-angle and low-light photo capabilities! And extended battery too. I have a 5s now and have been debating between the X and the 11 - what will be for me a super-upgrade - and his review has helped me decide to go for the 11. I am so pleased people are trying to get more life out of their phones (I've been doing it for years - ha!) but I'm also excited about these new phone features. There was helpful info in his review for all of us.
8
I would reccommend a refurbished Iphone X from apple. Smaller size, new battery, new shell, best display and same warranty and just $679.
I’ve had my 7 for three years and, although the features of the 11 may not be earth-shatteringly better, I ordered one simply for the new battery. I use my phone heavily, and can’t get through the day without carrying an external battery.
My main irritation is that in order to get a similarly small phone, I had to bump up to a Pro model. Not sure it was worth the upcharge, but I have small pockets.
4
Blind people can’t see the photos...Hard of hearing people definitely use phones. Technology assists for hard of hearing has improved dramatically and which phones have good speakers and available software for various externals is a big issue.
Please expand coverage on audio.
30
Thanks for a useful and sober article related to the perennial upgrade fetish — and I say this as a moderate upgrade fetishist.
However, one topic that I wished the article had addressed is the advertised improved durability of the iPhone 11. How valid are Apple’s claims of an IP68 rating? How does the durability of the iPhone 11 model line compare to, say, the iPhone 7 or 8 models? How does that compare to comparable Android phones?
1
I'm sorry that Mr. Chen did not factor in e-waste in his evaluation of how often to upgrade i-phones.
47
@Cathy yes, Apple is promoting trade-ins and straight-up recycling for its older phones - I'd love to read more about how they will go about recycling and re-use.
7
One thing phone makers NEVER, EVER, EVER brag about is the sound quality of their phones. Why is that? Because they all sound like garbage. And why do people who “test” these things never look and report about that? Again - garbage.
What good is spending all that hard earned money if you can’t understand the person on the other end? Sure, you can wear earbuds or some other device, but there are times when those are impractical, if not prohibited. Call me old fashioned but shouldn’t the first priority of a PHONE be that the person on one end can understand the person on the other end? Silly me!
I have a “phone.” It is several years old. I do not live on it. I actually receive calls from other people and, again, it would be nice if I could actually understand what they are saying without the inevitable “say that again,” or “what?” or “huh?”
Probably in the minority here on this matter, but so be it.
218
@Nick Pusloskie sounds like you might want to get a hearing screening. My dad had just this problem, recently got a hearing aid, and it’s made a huge difference to phone conversations with him.
17
@Ryan McDermott I don't agree. The sound on landlines is so much better than on cell phones. The art of conversation by phone is dying--and I think it's because even young people can't hear well on them.
40
It’s probably not discussed because it hasn’t been an issue for..the last ten years. What brick do you use as a phone? If you’re struggling to hear the other side please invest in a pair of good earphones.
7
I am reading/responding on my 6. It does everything I want it to - I can’t think what else I would need to be happy with a phone. It is disappointing that it will no longer be supported, because I don’t want to send it to a landfill. It takes pictures, plays music, has apps like The Times, and gps features that get me from a to be when I need directions. Best of all, it is paid for in full.
I like iPhones but I will definitely look at Androids for my next phone. The cost of new iPhones is hard to justify when there are great alternatives.
28
@Kristina
I also still have my 6, and I hope I get a few more years out of it!
12
@Kristina I’m also waiting until my 6 is five years old - another six months. I would love to consider another brand, but there is only one other operating system available and with that one I’d feel like I was walking around with my entire life on display. The ability to control privacy, or at least the illusion that the ability is there, is worth a lot to me.
(Also, new battery life may be better, but what about six months down the road?)
1
@Kristina Apple appears to now have a trade-in and recycling program, so please don't send your phone to a landfill when the time comes.
3
I have an IPhone SE that I bought 2 years ago and I am still finishing paying it off. Since that time, there have been many new generations of smart phones out there, and yet, I'm still happy with the one I have. Camera is good enough, I can watch videos, I can use my apps, including google maps and I can still surf the web at speeds fast enough to keep me happy. More important though: I still have my headphone jack, which apple in their hubris took away from us. I don't see myself upgrading now or any time soon. They can take my headphone jack out of my cold, dead hands.
140
The small size is great, too.
16
@Ben Agreed. I have an SE and it still works just fine. Paid for, battery still seems to be holding up. I love the size and am glad to have the headphone jack as well. Bigger and newer isn’t always better, at least for me!
7
@ben. Fighting for a headphone jack till your dying day. Wow. Be sure you play those records at night!
1
All the holier-than-thou commenters whining about the environmental impact of frequent upgrades need to understand that traded-in phones in working condition are put to use by other people. The used market enables folks who otherwise couldn’t afford it to have a smartphone, with no harm to the environment.
81
@Charlie B you are living in a dream world if you believe old iPhones are given to the needy. Check Apple’s store for refurbished phones, they are still obscenely priced.
Most old phones are tossed in the garbage or if recycled are dismantled in a very environmentally unfriendly way.
Does your little fantasy make you feel better about yourself?
12
@Paulie
I'm having trouble grasping your point. It's hard to see how the working iPhones that are traded in could be both sold for high prices AND thrown away.
I didn't say anything about the needy, just that the phones are going to people who can't afford new ones. The idea that a person who buys a used phone avoids the environmental entanglements of buying a new one seems like a tautology, not a fantasy.
Fortunately, no one is forced to buy an iPhone, new or used, so perhaps your rage could be more productively channeled elsewhere.
7
This is a much-needed dose of sanity. However, I'm concerned that as 5G is brought online, the cell phone companies won't maintain as rigorous support of 4G technology. We've already experienced this first hand in some locations where 3--4 year old 4G smartphones no longer have reliable connection and service once the 5G towers are installed.
Is it too much of a stretch to wonder if this isn't a ploy to get everyone to upgrade and buy yet another expensive device when it's not really needed?
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Yes it's called planned obsolescence... Why manufacturers stop making and offering the parts to repair an object that they are not planning to support even if it still works... My exact fear of 5g is that exactly. Yet there are already health concerns about, 5g.
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@Rose Functional 5G is at least five years away. Don’t worry about it.
@Donald Johnson: Worried because there are places where 5G enabled towers are already being implemented. These new towers aren't supporting 3G, even though 3G isn't supposed to be phased out until next year. And it's even messing with 4G service when connecting to the 5G enabled tower.
I got the original iPhone, then an iPhone 5 when they added video. My battery life is short but i just keep it plugged in. Because there are so many charging stations everywhere now, this is not hard. I won’t be upgrading to the 11 unless my phone completely dies. My original iPhone still works though if I plug it in so I could go back to that! Who needs all those silly apps? And on the plus side, neither of my phones has ended up in polluting some river in China
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@Agarre: Thanks for sharing this story! You are so right that the last thing the world needs is more electronic waste polluting some rivers in China -- or anywhere else.
Also, did you see the article in the Times recently about how to get a new battery for your iPhone?
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I just got a new battery for my 5SE and plan on 2 more years with it. Prices for not the latest but still pretty good iPhones are falling.
My phone is not my only device and doesn’t need to do that much.
@Agarre I own a 5S as well. No reason to give it up just yet...
As a owner of the LG V20, which was good. I upgraded to the V50 which is great. It has a big powerful battery, excellent camera, and great sound quality, among others. Yes, it's price, but not as the iPhone.
Reading this article on a $75 Android, I wonder how much faster I could read on a $1,000 iPhone.
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@Keith crossley I get your point, but you may not be part of the target audience for high-end smartphones - and that doesn't make high-end smartphones or those audiences any less valid. There are vast differences between a $75 Android and a $1000 iPhone and to some people that matters.
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@Anthony
"Vast" differences? And these matter to vast numbers of people?
No and no. For the overwhelming majority of people, there is no significant difference, only incremental improvements and a lot of unnecessary and/or useless stuff.
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@Keith crossley which one do you have?
When my iPhone 6 didn’t survive an iOS update, Apple took responsibility for ruining my iPhone but refused to replace it. Instead the manager of the Apple Store offered me a loaner iPhone and a new iPhone XR that cost me over $1000.
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@Linda Sperry: That's awful. No company is taking true responsibility unless there is no cost burden to the customer -- and no environmental burden from the waste they needlessly create.
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Yep!
I'm upgrading.
To a Samsung.
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@Paul Torcello. You're completely free to switch platforms and you're not the only one. But there aren't a lot of you!
My camera is a camera. My stereo is a stereo. My writing machine is a typewriter. My phone is a phone. Each activity deserves its own mental space.
Sure, I wrote this comment on a tablet. I’m not a luddite for crying out loud.
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@Andrew M.
I gotta ask: Is your watch a sundial and does your reading lamp require whale oil?
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@Andrew M.
You say that as if there is something wrong with being a Luddite.
(And please note Luddite should be capitalized.)
For the record, I wrote this on papyrus and sent it in via Pony Express.
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@bassetwrangler
Yes. Apologies for the late response. I commuted by electric hansom cab today.
1
Budget phones are where it's at nowadays. you can get a Moto for under 300 that has a premier feel and operates just as well as flagship phones for everyday smartphone tasks.
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I Agree. I appreciate the article, but as a corporate IT Manager supporting staff including those in the Deaf Community and many remote workers, I feel it's important to review ALL cell phone brands and models. I need to consider specific staff requirements, published user ratings, and objective technical reviews for features such as: service providers and data costs, security, purchase price, tactile feedback, screen size, battery capacity, headphone jack, micro sd card capacity, control placement, ease-of-use, data and app transfer from old phone, cost of protective cases, durability, replacement/insurance costs and ease of transfer to a different user. Advancd camera functionality is just one of many considerations and not always the most important consideration for many users.
2
Also not upgrading my iPhone.
Although once in a while, I drop by at the apple store in 5th ave and show the so-called geniuses my cracked screen
and make a show of asking how much its repair costs.
The look on their faces as they glance at the broken glass of their false god is priceless.
An iPhone is not an iPhone until its screen cracks.
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@Opinioned!
I’ve had at least 7 iPhones since 2007 and never cracked a screen. Be careful out there!
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I just bought a used iphone 7 plus for $250 and replaced the battery and it works great. It is pretty much a “new” phone for $300. There were only a few minor scratches by the charging port. These scratches were covered up by a protective phone case.
I hope to get 2 years out of this phone. When it is too old to be in the ios update cycle, I will “upgrade” to another phone that is also 2 or 3 generations “too old.”
I use multiple apps for my work, including photo intensive ones. It runs fast and with the new battery maintains good battery life all day. The photos it takes are great. I don’t understand the need to shell out 1k or more (with applecare) for just a phone that may run just a little bit “better” or “faster” for one that already works well. You can buy a good apple laptop for that price!
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Yes but you are going to be doing the ios hustle on the laptop too! If you want a high quality laptop spend the money on a LENOVO...
The one feature that you omitted was the quality of the call - it's a phone. My experience(s) with iPhones (after 7) is that the calls are often garbled and lost signals - compared to android and google phones in the same environment.
13
My iPhone 5 still works just fine, thank you very much! Why should I spend any money at all replacing it? Does the new one do laundry?
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@Nathan Hansard I'm a 5 as well! It's so small compared to the new ones that are like a piece of toast.
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@Nathan Hansard
Mine is a 4 (not even a 4S so I can't call up Siri). My wife has a 3S. They still work, and do what we need them to do. Eventually the battery will die or something and I'll get a newer one but there's no rush.
19
It won’t do laundry but you can put it in the laundry and it may come out ok
8
If you don't want to upgrade, Apple will try to force you to.
My father's IPhone 6S needed a new battery. The first thing the Apple rep did was check for water exposure in the SIM slot, quickly announcing the working phone had water damage, they won't replace the battery, and offered to sell him a new $1,000 phone.
Apparently this unpublished rule falls under a safety umbrella. This contradicts other Apple policy that merely states that the warranty is void. So we had a third party replace the battery. It's fine and I know that forcing upgrades is Apple's model.
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@Matt. Apple has never pressured me to upgrade. They want me to be a loyal customer and upgrade when I want to. That said, I've never brought in a water-damaged phone that may now have an increased risk of battery explosion.
1
Same happened to me. I went through the whole ordeal of signing up for a time and driving 30 minutes to the Apple store and then left it with them for an hour. When I came back he said there was indication of water damage and he wouldn't replace the battery - even though the phone was completely open and ready. I told him I didn't care about a battery warranty on a 4 year old phone and he said no - BUT - he said he would be happy to show me a new phone!
I took it across the hallway to one of those sketchy kiosks and they replaced the battery in 5 minutes. Sheesh. Worse than car salesmen.
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@KC Battery explosion is a big problem with these electronic devices and using a battery that is not authorized by Apple is to install a time bomb in your phone. Some of these third party batteries may be made by the same suppliers that make battery for Apple, but some may come from shabby places. Money not worth saving. There are also many examples of Apple going out of their way to fix and replace a phone. My 2-yr old iPhone 7 with a weak battery developed a "No network signal" bug, which is known to Apple so they replaced the logic board for free. They also replaced the battery. Thus they essentially gave me a new phone back. While my phone was being repair, they gave me a brand new iPhone 6 as a loaner. I could not be happier as an Apple customer which is why many people are willing to pay more for an Apple product because we do get what we pay for it.
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Still unlocked and does it have the auto SIM so I can get around VZW costs in the EU? The low light feature is a benefit for museums and sites where no flash rules exist so including that in your review was interesting and the only thing that would entice me to upgrade. Next year is my target once I review my upgrade path.
1
I love my year-old iPhone 7. Not only are these older models cheaper, but you can often find them priced even less on the refurbished section of Apple's web site. (Go to the Apple web site and search on "refurbished.")
7
Collectively, we all need to stop buying cell phones and other gadgets until the companies producing them clean up their act. Fair labor practices, ethical sourcing for materials, etc. Not that it will happen.
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Nailed it
3-4 year upgrade cycle for iPhones
5-6 years for Mac
7
Breathlessly, the question is posed - should I update?!?
Does your pocket computer - AKA phone do what you need? Do you REALLY need yet more features, most of which you will not use? How important is it really to be hip and current? Do you have anything better to do with $700?
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Apple is lagging at least a year behind leading Android phones in features.
3 cameras? 2018
charging smart watches on the phone? 2018
5g? 2018
You have to wonder when it's going to repeat the dark Macintosh history of being marginalized without Steve Jobs.
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@Avi
This is not new. Apple always waits until technology matured and ‘just works’. Remember 3G? Apple was at least a year behind.
3
Pretty much the decision I came to when I looked at my iPhone 7. Why would I need to change this phone? I don't. Even if I give it another year i'm not losing anything.
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Every two years was absurd advice already. Take a look around and see how people really use their phones and tell me that an incrementally better camera that primarily records images that are never going to leave the phone and/or will only be seen on small screens, is reason enough to upgrade for a better camera or that they would actually see the diffrence in processing speed between an A7 or an A25/whatever processor reading a text while they are driving. I updraded to a used 6S two years ago for about $250 (now about $150) and it's still plenty fast. Sure, as with any population, there are folks (that 20% that consume 80% of all phone usage) that may really need faster, better, more expensive, but I am in the faster, better, cheaper camp and buying a slightly used phone on Swappa is a much better path to new technology.
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@Dvab. I agree, but I invite you and the author to source the "two year" advice. Where did that advice come from? Can you find it in any of Apple's literature?
The consequences of all these software adjustments are obvious on the low-light image: look at the upper part of the brown stick in the glass. It has been blurred by the computer as if it is part of the background, while it is inside the glass and should be sharp. A disaster.
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@Academic
Very true. Pixel phones have had a low-light mode for a year or two, and they never make those types of errors.
5
There is no iPhone 11s. It should be 11 Pro.
I‘d be grateful to know what Brian thinks is best model to upgrade to from my 6S. I definitely don’t need the newest but there are still many choices!
10
I’m keeping my 10s, but my wife’s 10 gets a 400 dollar trade in so that worked me. I also wonder after two years of salt air whether they are on borrowed time.
3
My partner's iPhone 7, which she bought at the same time as mine, was draining the battery in four hours...I took a leap of faith (in my technical abilities) and bought a replacement battery. With some effort and lots of help from a few YouTube videos, I successfully replaced her battery. The new battery rocks all day and still has 65% when she charges overnight. Twenty bucks well spent. iPhone 11 will just have to wait.
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And not even a hint of a nod to environmental concerns regarding our breathless rush to get the newest gadget that relies on mining metals and minerals that some argue, might better be left in the ground. Hmmmm.
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Can we also talk about how these same minerals may have been mined by Congolese children forced into labor?
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Are you sure they are forced? What would these kids, now employed in a factory and learning a real life skill, be doing otherwise? Are you familiar with Congo’s social context?
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@Ricardo222 I agree. Blew my mind that the author could have made these important points without mentioning the larger social cost of constant technology upgrading.
13
Apple will give you a $400 trade in value on an iPhone X with 256 GB.
1
i-11 326 dpi goes back about 11 years to genius of Steve Jobs seeing display much closer than standard arms-reach.
Evidently users like 500dpi for close-ups.
If you really want to upgrade your iPhone, switch to an Android. My mind boggles at those who cling to Apple's outmoded dinosaur and the enchanted prison to which it sentences you. If Apple users only knew what they were missing, that they were simply buying into mystique and a lot of hype for a severely inferior product, I doubt not that they would defect in droves.
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@APH
Apple products are well built and last longer. Moreover, the iPhone 7 still has the best design.
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I'm not concerned about my phone as an art object; I'm concerned about it's functionality. The fact that after more than 12 years of development the files on one's iPhone can still only be accessed via the ghastly, inhuman thing called iTunes is beyond travesty. The fact that one cannot simply plug it into a computer and mount it like any other drive -- as has been the case with an Android since day one -- is criminal. The fact that you cannot, for example, browse a normal folder structure to attach a file to an email is absurd. I could go on and on, but what's the point? Apple lovers need a form of deprogramming beyond anything mere logic can supply. They need professional help.
6
@APH
You are right. I do own a 7S iPhone, but that is only because my job paid for it. Before then I only used Android phones, and they offer many useful features unavailable on the iPhone.
On the other hand, I will not use a windoze based computer if I can avoid it at all, and the close integration of the iPhone with all my apple computers is sometimes convenient. When it works properly, that is.
4
I have a 6+ with a newer battery. Is this model newer or older than the 6s mentioned as the dividing point between keep and upgrade?
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Older. The 6 is the large screen version of the 6.
@Mark Richter the 6/6+ were released in 2014 and are not eligible for the iOS 13 update. The 6s was released the following year.
1
Older. 6s and newer get ios 13 upgrade.
I have a 6+ with a newer battery. Is this model newer or older than the 6s mentioned as the dividing point between keep and upgrade?
Games? Cameras? Stop having children review things like phones. This basically tells me nothing I need to know about a phone like memory, problems and faults which apple seems to excel on with new rollouts, will the podcasts actually be able to work for a change, etc.
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I upgraded immediately - the improved camera features should not be dismissed as incentive for many of us. From travel photos to work assignments to instagram shots, the telephoto and wide angle features are awesome. Also, the battery life improvement - at last! took long enough, still needs to get better. My X is out of battery easily during the day with conference calls and what not.
15