Help Me Decide on a New iPhone

Hardware
21

A fair question. I do not feel pressure to replace my phone right now, but I expect the battery to decline more quickly as it ages. The newer models offer a faster processor, more memory, a brighter always-on display, an improved camera, and the Dynamic Island. Together these make it a good time to consider upgrading. For me the choice is less about immediate necessity and more about taking advantage of the progress since my iPhone 13.

In short, it is an immediate want that will soon become a need. :slightly_smiling_face:

22

With that being said, I wouldn’t do a thing until your 13 has a battery health of 80% or less.

2 Likes
23

I say go for the 17 Air. You said you might be interested in getting into iPhone photography and you certainly can still do that with the Air. The Air has the same battery life as the 16 Pro (we are told) and you can slap the small external battery on. You like the bigger phone but hate the bulk.

This seems like a perfect time to try the Air. If you truly hate it, sell it next year and get a Pro.

1 Like
24

I’m going to give this serious thought. I’ll make a decision once I can get my hands on all the phones at the Apple Store. :slightly_smiling_face:

25

I avoid buying V1 of an Apple product; V2 usually looks a lot tighter with the kinks ironed out. I don’t want to spend that kind of money to beta test for apple

2 Likes
26

I think they introduced the Orange for the Pro and discontinued Black solely for the joke “Orange is the new black”.

3 Likes
27

Back in the mid-90’s I had a boss who shared that same bit of wisdom with me. The only time I didn’t follow it, with the 1st gen MacBook Air, I got burned. Fortunately, after the third time a repair by Apple failed, I was able to replace it for free under Applecare with a 13" MB Pro.

Never again.

2 Likes
28

I certainly understand that, but thus far, I’ve never been burned with Apple hardware. Given my track record, I’ll take the chance if I decide I want to try the Air. :crossed_fingers:t3:

I’ll have 14 days to return it, which is easy for me as the Apple Store is only about 20 minutes from me. :slightly_smiling_face:

29

Same.

I bought the original MacBook Air. It had a ton of compromises - and I loved using that thing.
I bought the original iPhone. It had a ton of compromises - and I loved using that thing.
First iPad…
Original Apple Watch…
Original AirPods…
I can’t even count how many times I’ve had the first generation of a new laptop hardware revision.

I never bought HomePods (I’m a Sonos guy), but only one Apple product has ever disappointed me completely: the MacBook Pro with the butterfly keyboard and Touch Bar.

I bought a VisionPro as well, but I knew what I was getting in to and don’t regret that.

All that to say, my experience with Apple’s first-generation track record is that - if it’s something you want and have use for - it works out far more often than it doesn’t.

This go round I bought the Air and the Pro and will decide which one to keep. I use two sims anyway (one for work and one for home) so it will be easy to test them out together, except for the pocket-space.

3 Likes