iPhone XR For Teen Upgrade: XR for $109 or 11 for $217?

[dmk1974]

So for my 15 year old, I'm helping him to upgrade from his 7+ to either a XR or 11 via the Costco upgrade deal. HE has to pay for the net upgrade difference.

Basically for the math, I bought a used iPhone 7 for $140 that I will use for the $350 trade-in and then plan to sell his 7+ 128gb for about $275. The Costco XR 64gb is $550 pre-tax and the 11 XR 64gb is $650 pre-tax. Tax is 8%.

XR: $140+$550+$44-$350-$275=$109 net upgrade for him to pay
11: $140+$650+$52-$350-$275=$217 net upgrade for him to pay

He's leaning towards the XR since it's a nice 2-gen step up from his 7+. He only uses about 30gb so 64gb is plenty. And an extra $108 is a fair amount for his budget. Though he'd probably piss it away on a couple of PS4 games or something. Anyway, for a teen, which upgrade of these 2 do you think is the better choice? Thanks!

 

[MaskedCarrot]

Not to sound rude, but it sounds like you don't think your kid is worth the extra $108.

I have a young daughter and and I wouldn't hesitate to buy the better product for her. The thought of buying the cheaper one wouldn't have even crossed my mind.

 

[supergt]

Disagree with the comment above. The Xr is plenty of phone and will last for about as long as the 11. I would have been thrilled to have this caliber of phone at age 15. As with most things in life, upgrading costs money. It's a good lesson to be learned early on. If he wants the better phone let him pay the difference.

 

[chrismichael83]

You might as well get the newer model if it was a toss up right now over a 100 difference. Your gaining a slightly already great battery life, second camera, updated processor, and night mode which is amazing on an iPhone. I wish they kept the blue but whatever. My son got an XR earlier in the year and that will be his phone for the next couple of years until he can afford one on his own.

 

[xxray]

Not to sound rude, but it sounds like you don't think your kid is worth the extra $108.

I have a young daughter and and I wouldn't hesitate to buy the better product for her. The thought of buying the cheaper one wouldn't have even crossed my mind.

I don't like this attitude that OP must not love his/her kid as much as you do yours because he/she's not willing to spend more money. Very ignorant comment.

 

[i hate phones]

Not to sound rude, but it sounds like you don't think your kid is worth the extra $108.

I have a young daughter and and I wouldn't hesitate to buy the better product for her. The thought of buying the cheaper one wouldn't have even crossed my mind.

If your son is the one paying for it, I'd let him decide how he wants to spend his money. Both are good capable phones.

 

[scottcampbell]

Not to sound rude, but it sounds like you don't think your kid is worth the extra $108.

I have a young daughter and and I wouldn't hesitate to buy the better product for her. The thought of buying the cheaper one wouldn't have even crossed my mind.

So you'll be buying your daughter the nicest phone?
Do you fill her wardrobe with top of the line fashion?
Will you be buying her the most expensive car?
Sending her to the most prestigious university?
Paying for her wedding at the nicest venue?

Take that attitude of yours and get out of here.

 

[missbing]

I must hate my kids since I'm getting them the 6th Gen iPad instead of the 7th Gen.

 

[timeconsumer]

So for my 15 year old, I'm helping him to upgrade from his 7+ to either a XR or 11 via the Costco upgrade deal. HE has to pay for the net upgrade difference.

Basically for the math, I bought a used iPhone 7 for $140 that I will use for the $350 trade-in and then plan to sell his 7+ 128gb for about $275. The Costco XR 64gb is $550 pre-tax and the 11 XR 64gb is $650 pre-tax. Tax is 8%.

XR: $140+$550+$44-$350-$275=$109 net upgrade for him to pay
11: $140+$650+$52-$350-$275=$217 net upgrade for him to pay

He's leaning towards the XR since it's a nice 2-gen step up from his 7+. He only uses about 30gb so 64gb is plenty. And an extra $108 is a fair amount for his budget. Though he'd probably piss it away on a couple of PS4 games or something. Anyway, for a teen, which upgrade of these 2 do you think is the better choice? Thanks!

Both are good options but I’d recommend the 11 at $108 more. It has 4GB of RAM which is the same as the XS/11 Pro models, the XR has 3GB which doesn’t matter now but it might in 2-3 iOS versions and it sounds like he will keep this for some time. It also has a newer generation processor, and extra hour of battery life. But I agree with @i hate phones, let your kid decide what to buy as it’s his money.

 

[dmk1974]

Thank you all for your comments. The thread went a little different way than I originally thought, but I get it

To MaskedCarrot: I absolutely can afford it. But I want him to start to learn some responsibility and to start to think about decisions on how to spend his money (which really hasn't been "hard earned" at this point). Next month when he turns 16, I can certainly pay for his car insurance and buy him a car. But am I going to? Hell no! He can get a jobby job and if he needs help to get to work and wants to maybe split it, I'd be more apt to help. But I've probably spoiled him too well to this point and want him to start to get ready for real world too. Man, I sound like my old man now 30 years later!

From a technical and need standpoint, I think the XR is just fine for him. Then again, the 7+ is still probably good for a while too. Mainly looking at the upgrade for him because of the good trade deal and the net cost to upgrade. Maybe I will help him out a bit to bump him to the 11, we'll see how he's behaving But even for me, I don't see enough "value" to bump from an 11 to a 11 Pro Max for an extra $432 (w/tax) since the 11 suits my needs. I also have better things I'd rather spend money on...like my kids

 

[BugeyeSTI]

OP, let your son make the choice, I’m sure he’ll choose wisely..

 

[Aibocyrus]

I’d let him decide himself. It’s his money, let him choose.

 

[moderniste]

If he's hard on his stuff, I think the 11 would be better because it's more water resistant and durable.

 

[tps3443]

iPhone 11 HANDS DOWN!

He keeps his phones for a while it looks like. If he’s upgrading, why not upgrade to the latest 2019 iPhone?

The A13 is a beast! Plus durability will be much better on the iPhone 11 over the XR.

 

[lloose]

I must hate my kids since I'm getting them the 6th Gen iPad instead of the 7th Gen.

I'm calling the police.

 

[Moriend87]

Not to sound rude, but it sounds like you don't think your kid is worth the extra $108.

I have a young daughter and and I wouldn't hesitate to buy the better product for her. The thought of buying the cheaper one wouldn't have even crossed my mind.

Wow! He isn’t skimping on healthcare for his teen by going to someone who says he’s a dr but runs his office out of his apartment.

I believe the Xr can call him or 911 just as good as the 11. Moron

 

[tillsbury]

Leave the call up to him. How is he going to learn if you keep doing it for him? I would have thought a 7+ was pretty overkill for a 15 year old anyway... so since it’s a want rather than a need, why are you even involved?

 

[Orangeman13]

If he has good grades then get the 11

 

[countryside]

OP - I say let him choose, however, net cost of $200 for 11 seems like a good deal for what you get.

Not to sound rude, but it sounds like you don't think your kid is worth the extra $108.

I have a young daughter and and I wouldn't hesitate to buy the better product for her. The thought of buying the cheaper one wouldn't have even crossed my mind.

A statement that OP does not love his/her kid as much as you love your daughter is completely uncalled for. If anything, one could argue he loves his kid more as he clearly is trying to not spoil his kid too much and foster a worth ethic, value for money/cost, and importantly hard work and effort. Not to mention good behavior.

 

[zea mays]

If your son is the one paying for it, I'd let him decide how he wants to spend his money. Both are good capable phones.

OP - I'd let the teen decide. I'd probably steer them towards the XR. I'm honestly not huge into my kid having a newer phone than I do. But, if they have the money and want to spend it that way, ultimately I'd be okay with it.

 

[superben79]

Not to sound rude, but it sounds like you don't think your kid is worth the extra $108.

I have a young daughter and and I wouldn't hesitate to buy the better product for her. The thought of buying the cheaper one wouldn't have even crossed my mind.

Kids need to do something to earn their toys. What did she do so she can have the best? You are ruining her life.

 

[dmk1974]

Well, I got him an XR 64 at lunch time. I triple checked and he didn't want to stretch his budget for the 11. I'm good with his decision. Hopefully he'll take good care of it as well.

 

[tekjunkie]

If you love your kids you won’t buy much of anything for them unless they are really young/preteen. How are kids ever going to know the value of mo eye and work if they just get everything handed to them. I love my kids but I’m not gonna have them cone whining to me about what they want especially at 15. That’s old enough for learning to drive and getting a job.

Now for the phone... let him choose since it his money. He/she needs to be able to make that choice and live with that decision.

 

[Rocko99991]

Whatever their job will pay for.

 

[bmac4]

Well, I got him an XR 64 at lunch time. I triple checked and he didn't want to stretch his budget for the 11. I'm good with his decision. Hopefully he'll take good care of it as well.

Smart kid! At that age, I would have gone for the best and then been broke later. Hard lesson to learn, but glad I did. He’s learning early and I respect you for helping him learn. Sounds like he will take good care of the phone. Hope he enjoys it!