[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

My 256G iPhone Xs trade in value is ~$550. A new 265G iPhone 11 Pro is $1150. So $600 or $50 a month. I spend more than that on music streaming (and related services) alone! I spend more than $50 on eating some days! You people saying the phone is expensive must be some super-frugal BMW owners. 🤷🏻*♂️

Perhaps the issue is you guys aren't upgrading often enough, and you're ponying up the entire $1050? Even then it's $95/month.

[grocerylist]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Now. I'm not buying my phone for today, I usually keep them two or three years. I'd imagine Austin will be covered in 5G by then.

I think that's pretty optimistic thinking to believe "Austin will be covered by 5Gin 2-3 years".
5G's higher frequency waves can't penetrate buildings, trees, walls, etc. From what I've seen, the carriers are going to have to put 5G cell towers almost 1 per every block or two for adequate coverage. Even then it's still almost like satellite where you almost need direct line of sight to the cell tower as any interference with objects and you'll likely be getting not much better than 4G speeds or you'll simply lose the signal and drop down to 4G.

[grocerylist]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

My 256G iPhone Xs trade in value is ~$550. A new 265G iPhone 11 Pro is $1150. So $600 or $50 a month. I spend more than that on music streaming (and related services) alone! I spend more than $50 on eating some days! You people saying the phone is expensive must be some super-frugal BMW owners. 🤷🏻*♂️

Perhaps the issue is you guys aren't upgrading often enough, and you're ponying up the entire $1050? Even then it's $95/month.

It's not about money, sure I could afford to upgrade every year but the hardware isn't advancing fast enough anymore to justify buying a new phone. The software/apps don't require faster processing. Other than face unlock or whatever it's called, stylistic changes with full screen vs chins and selfie camera notches, etc the new phones don't offer much difference. And a tiny improvement in phone camera clarity or gimmicky added features don't make sense to get rid of a phone that still works. The only reason to get a new phone now is if Apple via update slows your processor "to maintain battery life" which results in your phone essentially being unusable by Apple's scheduled obsolescence.

My profession was in IT, so I can appreciate wanting the latest and greatest but I also realize phones and computers have hit a bit of a road bump on real world performance advantages.

But yeah Apple and especially its stockholders love people like you that look down on others for not having the current release of phone, watch, iPad, laptop, etc.

Another reason I haven't upgraded in a couple generations is because I'm not prepared to give up my headphone jack as I won't compromise with Bluetooth's inferior sound quality and I can't be bothered with a pocket full of dongles.

[dinonz]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

My 256G iPhone Xs trade in value is ~$550. A new 265G iPhone 11 Pro is $1150. So $600 or $50 a month. I spend more than that on music streaming (and related services) alone! I spend more than $50 on eating some days! You people saying the phone is expensive must be some super-frugal BMW owners. 🤷🏻*♂️

Perhaps the issue is you guys aren't upgrading often enough, and you're ponying up the entire $1050? Even then it's $95/month.

I buy the latest every year, and I don't trade in - I hand the old one to our QA department for testing purposes.

[bayarea328xit]

I hand down my old phone to other members of my family. We're a family of 4 so each iPhone gets 4 years of use in our family before we sell it.

Not too bad ...

[NEFARIOUS]

I've been an Android guy since the G1 came out, but most of what killed the iPhone and made it worthwhile in the early years has become standard features on new phones on both platforms, and the rest of everything else isn't that impressive to me.

I got an XS Max for my birthday/Christmas last year... The camera quality is great, and it doesn't take a nosedive in speed and performance after its first year of ownership and a pile of hot garbage on its 2nd year (much like the phone the XS was replacing; the 6S company phone I also had still handled everything perfectly despite being a 5 year-old phone at the time... The rest of the reason I switched is a long story).

Although the night mode and 3rd camera is tempting (especially since I try to have a photographer's eye when I do take pictures... I don't claim to be a pro but do I regularly get compliments, so...), it's not enough to convince me to trade it in and spend an extra several hundred bucks to get the newest toy.

If the night mode for photos is made available across the board via the iOS 13 update (or at least to the XS), then all the temptation I have to switch phones is gone; I can make do without the 3rd camera, and everything else about it is kinda "meh" to me.

Come to think of it, I also would've loved to have USB-C since I have LOTS of things that are USB-C (flash drives, adapters, portable amp, and even Anker braided cables instead of the flimsy OEM ones from my Android days), but apparently Apple is still sticking to Lightning, which also would've swayed me a bit.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by grocerylist

Apple and especially its stockholders love people like you that look down on others for not having the current release of phone, watch, iPad, laptop, etc.

No no no. I don't look down at others for not having the current release. Not at all! I could give a shit about you or the phone your carrying. My posts are responses to people whom every year claim a new iPhone is too expensive. Im showing that it really isn't very expensive; especially considering all the time being used every day. I'm also bringing up the relevant point that it's likely that people here own a BMW that costs them a LOT more than $60-95/month... and I'm sure they use their phone more than their BMW.

One more point... I'd be willing to guess the majority of people who claim there's no technical NEED to upgrade their phone, upgrade their car before there's a technical need... and that's a purchase that's tens of thousands of dollars!

Get some perspective.

[Turkish Pickle]

I have a xr now, 128gb. somehow only have like 20gb left (34k pictures maybe?) wanted to look into pricing, but apple's giving me $370 for a phone I bought last year. i bought a locked iphone 6 from a buddy for $100, got t-mobile credit for it for $250 on a $799 phone, effectively the phone cost me $649
im waiting on the market to settle so i can sell my xr and get a 11 pro, honestly just for that green color might be worth it. plus, my face id doesnt work anymore even after replacing the screen (cracked it but face id still fried. the front camera works though so idk what's wrong with it) so i've been seriously considering taking a loss; but the math checks out id be out $279+screen replacement (or i'm stupid and am looking at it wrong)

[dinonz]

Ordered. Now just have to wait for it to arrive.

[qba335i]

Originally Posted by dinonz

Ordered. Now just have to wait for it to arrive.

I was thinking about upgrading my Xs Max, but will probably skip this release. The "upgrades" are so minor this year.

It's 27min since pre-order opened and the phones are still available for 09/20 delivery so it's not selling that well...

[dinonz]

Originally Posted by qba335i

I was thinking about upgrading my Xs Max, but will probably skip this release. The "upgrades" are so minor this year.

It's 27min since pre-order opened and the phones are still available for 09/20 delivery so it's not selling that well...

I really don't care if it sells well or not. Maybe they just have more stock this year?

[chicagob5]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

No no no. I don't look down at others for not having the current release. Not at all! I could give a shit about you or the phone your carrying. My posts are responses to people whom every year claim a new iPhone is too expensive. Im showing that it really isn't very expensive; especially considering all the time being used every day. I'm also bringing up the relevant point that it's likely that people here own a BMW that costs them a LOT more than $60-95/month... and I'm sure they use their phone more than their BMW.

One more point... I'd be willing to guess the majority of people who claim there's no technical NEED to upgrade their phone, upgrade their car before there's a technical need... and that's a purchase that's tens of thousands of dollars!

Get some perspective.

A $1000+ phone is expensive. Not every can afford the luxury of a new phone each year, and locking yourself into a $60-95 monthly payment year after year is one of the most expensive ways to buy (lease) a phone.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by chicagob5

...locking yourself into a $60-95 monthly payment year after year is one of the most expensive ways to buy (lease) a phone.

Please explain how this is "one of the most expensive ways" to acquire an iPhone.

[ptper]

Just upgraded from the 7 plus (started to act up)...if the major functionality changes are coming next year, then I'll upgrade next year (through the upgrade program). Then, I'm done for another three years or so.

[RickFLM4]

I bought an iPhone 6S 4 years ago. I believe the cost was $750 (ignoring any trade in). $750 / 48 = avg. $16 / mo. and I plan to keep using it. So I think I am ahead of getting a new phone every year.

[omasou]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

No 5G no care. I'll keep my X until they get with the program.

I wouldn't hold my breath for 5G. If the current tests are any indication, it looks like the 5G network will be stillborn.

[chicagob5]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

Please explain how this is "one of the most expensive ways" to acquire an iPhone.

Sure - YMMV however I'll use the lowest monthly payment you mentioned of $60 / mo for this example. I'll also use the XS MAX 256GB price point of $1250, since I believe that's likely the most popular model.

Looking into 3 year costs of the "lease" - $60/mo = $720 a year. Assuming you upgrade every year using this model and your monthly stays the same - $720 x 3 = $2160

Now lets buy a new iPhone at $1250. Assuming this cost stays the same over the 3 years of our example, you sell your old phone for $800 (may be less, may be more but using what I think is the realistic lower value here just to make my point) and pay the $450 in upgrade costs. In 3 years time you pay $1250 + $450 + $450 = $2150.

Now this may not seem like a big difference but your saving go up by the amount of $720 minus the difference of your upgrade cost each year - in this example $270.

In my real use case example, I bought a brand new unlocked XS MAX 512gb ast year 2 weeks after launch for $1100. I sold my X for $800 - so my cost to upgrade was $300. I can now sell that phone for about $850 - 1000, so lets settle at $900 and upgrade to the 11 Pro 256GB for $350. By waiting until I can find one used a week or two after launch, I bring down that difference even further.

[Lenny_RDM]

I just ordered pro max, I'm using iPhones all of them from iPhone 3g, now got iPhone Xs ,time to upgrade reason?
1.cameras ( im truck driver in Us, many perfect videos and pics on cool places)
2. 5 hours more battery sounds nice
3. Face id, ok when owning motorbike im start to using that protection in case when I'm lose my phone when riding) bike sold but im still using faceid, only crap is u my be straight to phone to unlock, and new got different angles....finally
4. Yyyyy hmmmmm maybe faster processor

That's it

[dinonz]

Originally Posted by chicagob5

Sure - YMMV however I'll use the lowest monthly payment you mentioned of $60 / mo for this example. I'll also use the XS MAX 256GB price point of $1250, since I believe that's likely the most popular model.

Looking into 3 year costs of the "lease" - $60/mo = $720 a year. Assuming you upgrade every year using this model and your monthly stays the same - $720 x 3 = $2160

Now lets buy a new iPhone at $1250. Assuming this cost stays the same over the 3 years of our example, you sell your old phone for $800 (may be less, may be more but using what I think is the realistic lower value here just to make my point) and pay the $450 in upgrade costs. In 3 years time you pay $1250 + $450 + $450 = $2150.

Now this may not seem like a big difference but your saving go up by the amount of $720 minus the difference of your upgrade cost each year - in this example $270.

In my real use case example, I bought a brand new unlocked XS MAX 512gb ast year 2 weeks after launch for $1100. I sold my X for $800 - so my cost to upgrade was $300. I can now sell that phone for about $850 - 1000, so lets settle at $900 and upgrade to the 11 Pro 256GB for $350. By waiting until I can find one used a week or two after launch, I bring down that difference even further.

I think your whole view of Apple monthly payment is way off. For starters, the monthly payment for the 11 Pro 512GB (the biggest you can get) is $56.20 for 24 months, which comes to $1348.8 total - which is actually $0.20 cheaper than buying it outright for $1349.

That's why the comment about "the most expensive way to buy an iPhone" was incorrect.

[omasou]

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

Not trying to make this an argument about features thread, but I laid out the case for 4 features that Apple could implement to give many people a reason to consider the iPhone, without alienating its existing (and loyal) customer base. It's about options. To counter your points:

- Sure, 5G isn't widespread right now. For the price, shouldn't Apple be pushing this technology? Because it's usually true that whenever Apple implements a significant feature in the iPhone, the industry usually quickly follows to integrate that feature, Apple CarPlay and Apple Pay being 2 recent examples. I see no reason to keep this at the status quo..

I seriously doubt 5G will be useful until 2021 or later. Additionally, if providers decided to charge me a premium for 5G and/or it only works in dense urban area, they can keep it. At that point it is really only a marketing conversation.

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

- Expandable storage is pretty useless to you. I can make the same argument that I don't need cloud storage because I have expandable storage locally on my phone. I actually prefer this route, because it's still the fastest way for me to transfer media between devices, rather than uploading/downloading from the cloud. And I don't need to pay a subscription service to do it. Again, different philosophy, but it's about having options. One doesn't invalidate the other..

Personally, I buy the smallest amount of RAM and keep everything in iCloud. If you're in the ecosystem, it's really nice. Everything (documents, pictures, etc.) is available on every device and its backed up. Once my RAID dies, I seriously doubt that I'll replace the HDs again. That said I would prefer 128 but 256 is next smallest bump on the Pros. Like another poster mentioned I use the storage for music, photos, videos and movies.

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

- USB C absolutely does change things. If it didn't, Apple wouldn't have nuked all ports on the Macbook Pro for them, and now the iPad Pro has a USB C port. Having continuity in the entire lineup would have been nothing but well received. Nobody really complained when Apple switched from 30 pin to Lighting, or switched the iPad Pro to USB C due to the benefits both provided. I expect the same result if the iPhone made the switch as well..

They took the first step bundling the USB-C lighting charger with the phones. If they had moved to a complete USB-C solution we would have to listen to everyone cry and demand discounted dongles again, even though mostly everyone now is using wireless headphones. IMO they will eventually drop the port in favor of wireless charging and BT5 for file transfers to help improve the IPX rating of the phone.

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

- Face ID vs. Touch ID is subjective. Personally, the notch doesn't bother me, but I would greatly prefer notchless with an in-screen fingerprint sensor. Or have both. A lot of people weren't happy when Apple got rid of the Touch ID sensor. But now when the competition can do it, Apple can't really make the case that it's for form factor/bezel elimination anymore. My cousin's sister can open her iPhone X with Face ID. They look nothing alike. Again, about options..

My one friend seems to have a problem with FaceID. I loved it. I could never get TouchID to work first try. As for your cousin's sister opening the phone, I call BS. Have your cousin's sister face your sister, if she is shoulder surfing to see if it will work then the phone will open. I thought the same w/my kids until, I complete removed myself from the sensors.

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

Instead, Apple gave us a better camera and processor with claimed power optimizations and battery life. Isn't that par for the course? Aren't those the 2 things that basically need to be checked every time a new model is released? You may disagree with my points, but in my opinion, for the price Apple is asking for these flagship models, they could have tried a little harder this time around. It's not even a "S" year.

The camera lenses are really ugly and I was going to wait. Watching the keynote, I was planning to downgrade to the iPhone 11 but the Pro improvements in low light and other photo/video software enhancements changed my mind. Which I suppose some could argue isn't enough but it helps w/the kids school videos, etc. The improvements also cemented my decision to bag any future camera purchases, I was considering upgrading to the Nikon Z but no more. The improvements to the 4G/LTE speeds and battery life are just icing on the cake. Though my primary reasons is to keep my son's phone under AppleCare, which I do by giving him my current phone, buying a new phone and trading in his phone.

[Lenny_RDM]

Originally Posted by chicagob5

Sure - YMMV however I'll use the lowest monthly payment you mentioned of $60 / mo for this example. I'll also use the XS MAX 256GB price point of $1250, since I believe that's likely the most popular model.

Looking into 3 year costs of the "lease" - $60/mo = $720 a year. Assuming you upgrade every year using this model and your monthly stays the same - $720 x 3 = $2160

Now lets buy a new iPhone at $1250. Assuming this cost stays the same over the 3 years of our example, you sell your old phone for $800 (may be less, may be more but using what I think is the realistic lower value here just to make my point) and pay the $450 in upgrade costs. In 3 years time you pay $1250 + $450 + $450 = $2150.

Now this may not seem like a big difference but your saving go up by the amount of $720 minus the difference of your upgrade cost each year - in this example $270.

In my real use case example, I bought a brand new unlocked XS MAX 512gb ast year 2 weeks after launch for $1100. I sold my X for $800 - so my cost to upgrade was $300. I can now sell that phone for about $850 - 1000, so lets settle at $900 and upgrade to the 11 Pro 256GB for $350. By waiting until I can find one used a week or two after launch, I bring down that difference even further.

Sure at verizon I'm paying around 50$ per month 12 payments 600$ and upgrades every year...that solution works fot me

[chicagob5]

Originally Posted by dinonz

I think your whole view of Apple monthly payment is way off. For starters, the monthly payment for the 11 Pro 512GB (the biggest you can get) is $56.20 for 24 months, which comes to $1348.8 total - which is actually $0.20 cheaper than buying it outright for $1349.

That's why the comment about "the most expensive way to buy an iPhone" was incorrect.

Ah I see, my example also doesn't account for things like applecare since I dont get it anyway.

I believe the monthly may actually include Applecare if you buy from Apple? This method obviously varies and may not be for everyone, however over the years it's what I've used to get into new phones at the lowest cost long term. Now I use the same method to upgrade my wife and its saving us quite a bit of money while allowing us to have new shiny things.

Another thing to mention is, you're basically forced to upgrade each year using this method because if you wait too long you wont get the value out of your old device.