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tonybarnaby

macrumors 68020
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Dec 3, 2017
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If you upgrade every year, you’re going to buy the 2019 iphone. Anyone who is looking to buy a phone to use for 3-4 years (like a lot of people have done with their 6s) would be much better served to buy a cheap phone to hold them over until 2020 when 5G is here, well as some huge improvements. I am not exactly thrilled with using my 8+ another year, but at this point it doesn’t make sense to buy the new xr and then have to sell it a year later for the huge leap the following year. The same thing is happening on Android. The one plus 7 pro is probably the best phone out right now, but I didn’t pick one up because it’s not 5G compatible. 2019 is a year to forget.
 
If you upgrade every year, you’re going to buy the 2019 iphone. Anyone who is looking to buy a phone to use for 3-4 years (like a lot of people have done with their 6s) would be much better served to buy a cheap phone to hold them over until 2020 when 5G is here, well as some huge improvements. I am not exactly thrilled with using my 8+ another year, but at this point it doesn’t make sense to buy the new xr and then have to sell it a year later for the huge leap the following year. The same thing is happening on Android. The one plus 7 pro is probably the best phone out right now, but I didn’t pick one up because it’s not 5G compatible. 2019 is a year to forget.

But you know what...Verizon gave me $700 for my iPhone X to get the XS. $300 loss in one year use...not too shabby...$25 / month. I figure if i skip dinning out once per month, then I break even.

We get this post every year.
 
If you upgrade every year, you’re going to buy the 2019 iphone. Anyone who is looking to buy a phone to use for 3-4 years (like a lot of people have done with their 6s) would be much better served to buy a cheap phone to hold them over until 2020 when 5G is here, well as some huge improvements. I am not exactly thrilled with using my 8+ another year, but at this point it doesn’t make sense to buy the new xr and then have to sell it a year later for the huge leap the following year. The same thing is happening on Android. The one plus 7 pro is probably the best phone out right now, but I didn’t pick one up because it’s not 5G compatible. 2019 is a year to forget.

Well according to ATT I am using 5Ge right now, which we know is not 5g. Gotta love sales and marketing.
 
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My phone is fast enough now so I’m in the seemingly minority who doesn’t care about 5G. I get on average 140mbps down. I remember the days when 5mbps was something to write about. So while others keep waiting on the future (5G and 3D depth camera in 2020, in display Touch ID and possible new screen tech in 2021), I’ll happily enjoy the new features of the 2019 phone and go from there.
 
But every year we aren’t 1 year away from 5G.
Tell us that you've never posted advice to avoid the first generation of anything? The first generation of 5G is likely to offer poor battery life, and the network to support it won't be built out for years to come. Then too, the benefits from the technology are more about increased network capacity, rather than providing enhanced performance to individual users.
 
Fight me, but I still think Apple's got something big under its sleeve. Even with their high prices and boring rumours about features, I'm thinking they're hiding something.

Most likely something to do with the camera - a feature that no one currently offers. And no, I'm not talking about wide-angle lens or Night Sight (tho they can't escape anymore not adding it).

Also, I kinda have a feeling they will revamp the FaceID sensors to work in any orientation just like the iPad Pro. This will finally enable landscape mode on the 11 Max.
 
Phones with 5G are just going to cost even more than how much they are now. LTE is completely fine for most. I’d rather save money and stick with LTE. Plus, the range of 5G is going to be awful and won’t be nationwide for at least a year... I’m betting 2. Look how long it took for LTE and they’re still not done yet. Why people need 100+ Mbps speeds is beyond me.

But, everyone has different desires, and that’s completely fine.

Also...

https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/co...orm_more/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app
 
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But you know what...Verizon gave me $700 for my iPhone X to get the XS. $300 loss in one year use...not too shabby...$25 / month. I figure if i skip dinning out once per month, then I break even.

We get this post every year.

$700 I said would be the magic number to "consider" upgrading. I think it's a crime storage sizes are no longer considered when trading in on the back end, but cost upfront when buying.

Very unscrupulous IMO.
 
Phones with 5G are just going to cost even more than how much they are now. LTE is completely fine for most. I’d rather save money and stick with LTE. Plus, the range of 5G is going to be awful and won’t be nationwide for at least a year... I’m betting 2. Look how long it took for LTE and they’re still not done yet. Why people need 100+ Mbps speeds is beyond me.

But, everyone has different desires, and that’s completely fine.

Also...

https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/co...orm_more/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

Out of curiosity I just ran a Speedtest on my XR. 196 mbps down / 40 mbps up.

Granted I’m not in the middle of Manhattan on a busy Wednesday, but it’s way speedier than even my home connection (120 mbps). I think I can hold off 5G for a year or two and not miss much.
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Did we not already see this with iPhone 4S?

Most consumers buy phones for today. Some will wait for LTE or 5G, but most consumers won't.

But that time it really made a difference - remember how in 2012 we were beginning to have Instagram, Spotify, Netflix and the like on our phones? The jump from 5-7 mbps on the 4S’ “4G” to the constant 30+ on LTE really made a difference.

Would you really be stunned by a jump from 180mbps to 300 in 2019?
 
But every year we aren’t 1 year away from 5G.
Which will make a difference to how I use my phone and what I can do with it, how exactly?

I can’t even saturate the bandwidth of my LTE connection doing the things I do with my phone. My connection is fine in the places I spend most of my time. What will I be missing out on without 5G?
 
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Maybe but technology has slowed down and it’s harder to improve from year to year. I wasn’t impressed by the note 10 really either. Some nice stuff but generally not much difference from the year before.
 
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But every year we aren’t 1 year away from 5G.

Name me ONE 5G tech from ATT, Verizon, Sprint, TMo etc that can work inside buildings or a few miles away from tower.

From what i have read, all the 5G to date is trash. (Correct me if i am wrong.) Short distance. Poor building penetration.

To me, that type of 5G is why i moved away from Sprint's 4G network...most worthless network.
 
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My phone is fast enough now so I’m in the seemingly minority who doesn’t care about 5G. I get on average 140mbps down. I remember the days when 5mbps was something to write about. So while others keep waiting on the future (5G and 3D depth camera in 2020, in display Touch ID and possible new screen tech in 2021), I’ll happily enjoy the new features of the 2019 phone and go from there.

I’m on the same boat as you.

But I can understand folks that are looking to hold their new $1k phone for longer than 3 years that they might as well hold one year longer and get a 5G model.

The biggest advantage of 5G is the availability/speed/latency in crowded areas/venues like downtown Manhattan or in a sports arena. But it will take another 2 years to be widespread as 4G (and even then you might not see 5G signals on highways or smaller cities.
 
You wanna know what’s really ‘irrelevant’? ,

Is the very minuscule amount of people on here who are so judgmental of the iPhone that will do anything to make it seem like it’s a complete mess before it even launches. But it doesn’t change the success of the iPhone altogether, because it still very dominant. But what will change the iPhone, has to be the pricing for the future, not the technology included. Market saturation and pricing are Apples to biggest hurdles right now.
 
You wanna know what’s really ‘irrelevant’? ,

Is the very minuscule amount of people on here who are so judgmental of the iPhone that will do anything to make it seem like it’s a complete mess before it even launches. But it doesn’t change the success of the iPhone altogether, because it still very dominant. But what will change the iPhone, has to be the pricing for the future, not the technology included. Market saturation and pricing are Apples to biggest hurdles right now.


Your point is well taken and solid. But price and perception are intertwined, always have and always will be. Apple opened up Pandora's Box when they went above $1000 for an iPhone.

Whatever happens, will be of their own doing. Good or bad, I have no sympathy as they have none for my wallet. So yes, of course everyone is being SUPER CRITICAL of the soon to be released 2019 iPhone, and they have every right to.
 
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So yes, of course everyone is being SUPER CRITICAL of the soon to be released 2019 iPhone, and they have every right to.

This happens every single year on forums like this. My point being, the majority of consumers don’t ponder about how ‘irrelevant’ an iPhone is even before it’s even released. You only have those to do that on sites like this, as I said, it doesn’t change the _overall_ success of the iPhone, but what will change/alter the iPhone, will be the pricing in the future.
 
Depending on what’s being offered I may be upgrading to one of the 2019 iPhones. My iPhone 8 gets a lot of page refreshes due to the 2GB ram. So I am hoping that I’ll like something with the new iPhones. And I’ll probably upgrade again in 2020 too.
 
This happens every single year on forums like this. My point being, the majority of consumers don’t ponder about how ‘irrelevant’ an iPhone is even before it’s even released. You only have those to do that on sites like this, as I said, it doesn’t change the _overall_ success of the iPhone, but what will change/alter the iPhone, will be the pricing in the future.

Honestly and historically we're in uncharted waters concerning iPhone.

Saturation and Pricing and Cynicism are at an all time high concerning iPhone. In 2019 it seems all have peaked, creating a sort of backlash and disdain for the top end models.

I've been here the entire ride, so yes I understand the iPhone is "unmatched" in it's success and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Doesn't alter the reality that there's a lot of pent up frustration by individuals towards Apple, for what seems to be obvious Price Gouging (in an effort to maintain margins, and keep Wall Street happy), especially concerning the flagship devices.

Let's face it, there's always been an Apple Tax to own their products, right... But when die hard's even start wincing at the price, you know we've reached critical mass.

My only point was that as long as prices remain high on iPhone's, so will the critiques; whether it be released, unreleased, rumored or otherwise. We don't have long now, but I'm not hopeful. If Samsung didn't drop prices, then surely Apple will not.
 
My only point was that as long as prices remain high on iPhone's, so will the critiques; whether it be released, unreleased, rumored or otherwise. We don't have long now, but I'm not hopeful. If Samsung didn't drop prices, then surely Apple will not.

Really, I get it, the pricing with the iPhone is not on par with what average consumer can afford today, even with subsidized payments through carriers. But if you remember back what Tim Cook said in January, that Apple would have to revamp/re-focus on pricing structures through trade-ins/services for the iPhone. Which means, there likely going to spend a significant part of the keynote to discuss what they’re going to actively change to make it more lucrative for someone to trade the phone in to upgrade to a newer model.

I don’t see Apple necessarily lowering the prices, but they have to create an alternative path point to make it more of an easier transition for a consumer to upgrade.
 
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I don’t see Apple necessarily lowering the prices, but they have to create an alternative path point to make it more of an easier transition for a consumer to upgrade.

Agreed, and if anyone can do it, it's Apple. So we wait with bated breath to see if they have any semblance of an empathetic pulse towards the market.
 
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