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nyy13251

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 26, 2018
112
41
Hey!
So I am starting Graduate School this summer (and getting married a week before school starts) and am going to be getting a new MacBook pro and an IPhone. I plan on getting both in June, right before everything begins. The problem is, I am having a hard time deciding which phone I want. I currently have an IPhone 6 which I got when it came out September 2014. I replaced the battery last year, which didn't help much. I have some minor issues with it. I want to upgrade before school begins so I know for the next few years, I am hopefully set with a solid phone. When the 6 first came out, I got the Plus and liked it but didn't love it. It was the first time I had a big phone, but I loved the battery. It was just big!

Now, with the impressive camera and desire to have a phone with a bigger and better battery, I am contemplating the 8 plus. I am concerned I will hate it but what's not to love. Bigger screen, battery and camera!

Yet, I cannot seem to decide what to get. IPhone X? IPhone 8? IPhone 8 plus? Or do I want until September for one of the updated phones, but do you really think things will be that different? The only thing that could get me to wait is if it is a tad smaller than the plus and has the same features.

How do you decide? I am saving up so by the time June comes, it will not be an issue to get any of those 3. I use it for the basics: email, internet, text, social media, pictures. I am guessing with school, I will be on it to look things up if I don't have access to my mac or Ipad, which is why a bigger screen may come in handy.

Thanks for the advice!
 

eyoungren

macrumors Penryn
Aug 31, 2011
29,497
28,189
How do you decide?

First…Unlimited Data plan acquired December 25, 2008. Check.

Sanyo Katana, bought late 2006, has camera, ability to text, ability to send email and ability to make phone calls…check.

Replacement phones over the years (HTC Touch Pro, iPhone 5, iPhone 6+, iPhone 6s+) are faster, more powerful, still have camera, the ability to text/email and the ability to make phone calls…check.

So…as the above has checked all boxes for what I need how do I decide what phone I wish to buy?

I look at the aesthetics of the phone. If I like how it looks, I buy it. If I don't like how it looks…I do not buy it.

Because nothing I do has changed since Christmas 2008 when I got an unlimited data plan.

I don't need a faster processor to send email quicker or text faster. I don't need a bigger, better camera to take better pictures of the product on Walmart's shelves so my wife can decide what flavor of ice cream to get.

Now that may not be you. I have access to computers 24/7 and sit in front of one for at least 16 hours a day. So my phone gets used as a phone and not as a gaming machine, a media device or a computer. Lots of people don't have that or do that, so their phone becomes their computer and specs therefore matter to them.

If that's you I can't really help on that.
 

jav6454

macrumors Core
Nov 14, 2007
22,303
6,262
1 Geostationary Tower Plaza
Hey!
So I am starting Graduate School this summer (and getting married a week before school starts) and am going to be getting a new MacBook pro and an IPhone. I plan on getting both in June, right before everything begins. The problem is, I am having a hard time deciding which phone I want. I currently have an IPhone 6 which I got when it came out September 2014.

[...]

Thanks for the advice!

I look at what I want or need from the next generation phone and take it from there.
 

TechNismo

macrumors 6502
Oct 22, 2017
285
133
6ix
1. Budget
2. Preferred Screen Size
3. How long will I use this device?
4. What will I use my iPhone for? (Eg. Taking a lot of vid/pictures =duel camera. Primary use for listening to Music,text and talk =iPhon SE/6s
 

TokMok3

macrumors 6502a
Aug 22, 2015
672
422
Make your decision based on the screen, because you are going to be looking at it all the time. That's my advice.
 

alphaod

macrumors Core
Feb 9, 2008
22,183
1,245
NYC
Honestly the iPhone 8 and X are mostly the same experience. It's just whether you want the Touch ID or the Face ID. Yes there are bezels on one and a notch on the other, but in the general scheme of things there is not much difference. The new Face ID takes getting used to especially Apple Pay which requires double clicking the side button which I still find awkward. Having using the regular iPhone, the Plus, and the X, I would only compare the X and the Plus since the bigger screen is really nice to have. The X is smaller with a "bigger" screen, but the reality the screen is still smaller than the Plus. I have gotten used to the iPhone X so going back to a iPhone 7 Plus felt very awkward.
 
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Reno Raines

macrumors 65816
Jul 19, 2015
1,473
777
I know this is cliche but get the phone that best suites your needs. I would look at what you expect to use your phone for and go from there. I too mostly use my phone as a phone so I don’t normally go for the new plus phones. Buying a phone these days is such a personal experience that it is difficult to give advice. Try the different ones you are interested in at a store and see which is a better fit. Either way I hope you enjoy it when you get it.
 

Deeds500

macrumors 6502
Aug 22, 2014
313
490
Have you thought about getting a Note?

All the iphones Will do the same thing but a Note will give you a bigger screen and more, in particular, the s-pen. Pull it out and start taking notes on the go, filibg system, a lot easier than an iphone to create word docs and spreadsheets, plus it has as good a camera than the X and does all the other things you said you need from a device.

You will still have your ipad and mac so it's not like you will be out of ios.

And they are not any more expensive than the X.
 

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
I just look at what all the pop stars and rap artist are using and get what they have!

Nah, I just look at the features if/how they can benefit me and cost then make what I feel is an informed decision.
 

GomerBoy

macrumors 6502
Jun 12, 2012
444
109
If you want better battery life and full screen with no notch...get the 8 Plus! If you want new technology and edge to edge screen...get the X.
 

MPclk2006

macrumors 6502a
Sep 20, 2013
523
358
Texas
Hey!
So I am starting Graduate School this summer (and getting married a week before school starts) and am going to be getting a new MacBook pro and an IPhone. I plan on getting both in June, right before everything begins. The problem is, I am having a hard time deciding which phone I want. I currently have an IPhone 6 which I got when it came out September 2014. I replaced the battery last year, which didn't help much. I have some minor issues with it. I want to upgrade before school begins so I know for the next few years, I am hopefully set with a solid phone. When the 6 first came out, I got the Plus and liked it but didn't love it. It was the first time I had a big phone, but I loved the battery. It was just big!

Now, with the impressive camera and desire to have a phone with a bigger and better battery, I am contemplating the 8 plus. I am concerned I will hate it but what's not to love. Bigger screen, battery and camera!

Yet, I cannot seem to decide what to get. IPhone X? IPhone 8? IPhone 8 plus? Or do I want until September for one of the updated phones, but do you really think things will be that different? The only thing that could get me to wait is if it is a tad smaller than the plus and has the same features.

How do you decide? I am saving up so by the time June comes, it will not be an issue to get any of those 3. I use it for the basics: email, internet, text, social media, pictures. I am guessing with school, I will be on it to look things up if I don't have access to my mac or Ipad, which is why a bigger screen may come in handy.

Thanks for the advice!


I do a lot of research before I make a purchase, in December I upgraded from the iPhone 7 plus to the iPhone X, one of the key reasons I didn't go for the 8 is because it felt like a "half-a$$" upgrade (in my opinion), plus the iPhone X has the "new toy" feel to it (OLED screen, etc). In the end you have to choose what you want and not what others got or say you should, if the 8 or 8 Plus is good for you, get it, if you think waiting for the new one is better, then wait.
 

Bobby dazzler

macrumors regular
Nov 17, 2013
112
17
Hey!
So I am starting Graduate School this summer (and getting married a week before school starts) and am going to be getting a new MacBook pro and an IPhone. I plan on getting both in June, right before everything begins. The problem is, I am having a hard time deciding which phone I want. I currently have an IPhone 6 which I got when it came out September 2014. I replaced the battery last year, which didn't help much. I have some minor issues with it. I want to upgrade before school begins so I know for the next few years, I am hopefully set with a solid phone. When the 6 first came out, I got the Plus and liked it but didn't love it. It was the first time I had a big phone, but I loved the battery. It was just big!

Now, with the impressive camera and desire to have a phone with a bigger and better battery, I am contemplating the 8 plus. I am concerned I will hate it but what's not to love. Bigger screen, battery and camera!

Yet, I cannot seem to decide what to get. IPhone X? IPhone 8? IPhone 8 plus? Or do I want until September for one of the updated phones, but do you really think things will be that different? The only thing that could get me to wait is if it is a tad smaller than the plus and has the same features.

How do you decide? I am saving up so by the time June comes, it will not be an issue to get any of those 3. I use it for the basics: email, internet, text, social media, pictures. I am guessing with school, I will be on it to look things up if I don't have access to my mac or Ipad, which is why a bigger screen may come in handy.

Thanks for the advice!
The 6S is a very good iPhone and the iPhone7 is pure Excellence!! Either will be be fine for you I'm sure.
However, if you want to make a big jump, go for the iPhoneX, because it is out there. It's extremely good.
not sure I can comment about the 8...sorry!
 

cyb3rdud3

macrumors 68040
Jun 22, 2014
3,809
2,494
UK
It is all different for all people, being a student is a great step in determining your own choices and what is important to you.

For example my criteria totally changed over time; when I was a student hell had more chance to freeze over than me giving money to a phone company. There is simply no need for that, but that is my choice.

Later when working across the EMEA region interoperability and battery live was key. So GSM tri band compatibility, and I was in places where electricity may not always be available. So the 5 days of my little Panasonic candy bar was fantastic.

Today, my criteria has changed, world standards have become common place, smart phones are common place, as are battery packs to charge them and my laptop. And cost is irrelevant. So an X is just fine...

The OP needs to define his/her own criteria..
 

44267547

Cancelled
Jul 12, 2016
37,642
42,494
I usually look at it in terms of where my current device is at now and what advantages does the newest device offer over the iPhone I currently have. Its mainly A comparison.
 
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