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How futureproof are the new iPhones?
- Thread starter Benjobox
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True. With the shoddy update that was/is iOS 8, your phone could get bricked/slowed down thanks to terrible coding. It all really depends. Hardware-wise your phone should be set for a good amount of time, but any software can make it significantly worse.
I suppose it depends on what you consider future proof?
Will you get 5-6 years out of it? Unlikely. Will you get 2-3 years? Absolutely.
My iPhone 5 runs as well today (No lags etc) as it did the day I took it out of the box two years ago. When I install iOS 8.1 it will probably slow a little. But would be perfectly fine to use for the next year. The next iOS will probably make it very slow and the one after would no doubt bork it completely. If it was supported (doubtfull).
I expect the iPhone 6 to do the same. I know for some they think it should last longer but 2-3 years is plenty future proof for me as I intend to upgrade in two years.
Will you get 5-6 years out of it? Unlikely. Will you get 2-3 years? Absolutely.
My iPhone 5 runs as well today (No lags etc) as it did the day I took it out of the box two years ago. When I install iOS 8.1 it will probably slow a little. But would be perfectly fine to use for the next year. The next iOS will probably make it very slow and the one after would no doubt bork it completely. If it was supported (doubtfull).
I expect the iPhone 6 to do the same. I know for some they think it should last longer but 2-3 years is plenty future proof for me as I intend to upgrade in two years.
If you're into Apple products they are all the same. You get 2 solid years out of your purchase and you deal with the 3rd year if you want. By the 4th year you are definitely out of touch with how they design things and want the user to experience their products.
The iPhone 5 was the most future-proof. It is barely slower than the 5S and iPhone 6, and has the same amount of RAM as those two phones that superceded it. The iPhone 6 is no more future-proof than the two iPhones before it. Shocking really!
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Isn't it!
I did some side by side tests yesterday of the 5 and the 6. Opening apps. Web pages etc. and it was about 50/50. Some the 6 was quicker some the 5 was quicker.
Whilst I'm not disappointed in the 6 at all I do find it underwhelming as an upgrade. It should vastly out perform the two year old iPhone 5 but it doesn't.
A month or two ago, I would argue with this and say we reached a point where there are diminishing returns on the CPU/GPU for mobile phones....
And then Apple dropped the iPad Air 2 with a triple core processor, 8-core GPU, and 2GB RAM. That was a real slap in the face for the iPhone 6 customers whose 1-2 month old devices now seem more obsolete than ever.
I don't understand these "is it future proof" questions. No matter how good something is now, there will be something better within a year. The question is, do you care? Your phone will likely be able to do what it's doing now for at least 5 years. I know people still using an iPhone 4 or even 3Gs, with the original batteries and all. They don't get the latest iOS updates, but their phones still perform the tasks that they always have.
How futureproof are the new iPhones?
Would say no considering how fast smartphone technology improves today. 4 years can be expected. That said, the design of the phone is important in terms of obsolescence.
Would say no considering how fast smartphone technology improves today. 4 years can be expected. That said, the design of the phone is important in terms of obsolescence.
How Future-proof? Very.
I admit that until fairly recently, I was firmly in the 'iPhone 6/6 Plus not being future-proof' camp for the very reason (RAM) you have doubts. Then I reevaluated my priorities and decided that the iPhone 6 models will be the new baseline for all phones.
That is because the world is forcing us to no longer be 'average' users. Security breaches have made password managers, themselves accessed using a good password, a very strong recommendation. To keep from being driven crazy by continually having to enter a strong lockscreen password, then entering in another strong password to access your password manager, Touch ID or it's Android equivalent is becoming a must. The same for mobile payments. I doubt merchants can keep our credit/debit card data, and the associated information, safe. Tokenization is also recommended and Apple Pay/Google Wallet via NFC is currently the best model.
Those two features are now my highest priority and have made me decide, want it or not, my wife is not going to inherit my iPhone 5 when I upgrade, but will get an iPhone 6 for Christmas. Surprise!
I admit that until fairly recently, I was firmly in the 'iPhone 6/6 Plus not being future-proof' camp for the very reason (RAM) you have doubts. Then I reevaluated my priorities and decided that the iPhone 6 models will be the new baseline for all phones.
That is because the world is forcing us to no longer be 'average' users. Security breaches have made password managers, themselves accessed using a good password, a very strong recommendation. To keep from being driven crazy by continually having to enter a strong lockscreen password, then entering in another strong password to access your password manager, Touch ID or it's Android equivalent is becoming a must. The same for mobile payments. I doubt merchants can keep our credit/debit card data, and the associated information, safe. Tokenization is also recommended and Apple Pay/Google Wallet via NFC is currently the best model.
Those two features are now my highest priority and have made me decide, want it or not, my wife is not going to inherit my iPhone 5 when I upgrade, but will get an iPhone 6 for Christmas. Surprise!
A smartphone is only as good as its app support. Currently, most apps and games will go as far back as iPhone 4S.
As a mobile developer I can tell you that the iPhone 6 (and 6Plus) is a beast of a phone and actually runs laps around flagship Android phones, but it will be a while before apps actually start taking advantage of that power. I could certainly make a game specifically for the iPhone 6 specs with crazy good graphics and PS3 quality effects but I would be shooting myself in the foot. As a developer, I want to make sure my apps are available on as many devices as possible. Therefore, I have to keep my games downgraded just enough to support older devices.
More device support = More downloads = More $$$!!
With that in mind, I think I can safely say that the iPhone 6 will continue to be supported for at least 3-4 years. After that, you may see games and apps that require a higher device. Currently, the iPhone 6 is able to run most apps almost effortlessly but in time, developers will start to use more and more of the iPhone 6s power and eventually they will run out. At that point you will see app support drop and you will need a new phone.
Another thing that will really help out iPhone 6 future proofing is the fact that Apple still sells 2 A5 devices. One of which, the first generation iPad mini, has sold very well (when it first came out it was almost impossible to find) and therefore many developers will have to continue to make sure that their games run well on the A5 (which in turn gives the A8 much longer app support).
I could go on and on all day but the main point is that the iPhone 6 is plenty powerful and it should last you a fairly long time.
As a mobile developer I can tell you that the iPhone 6 (and 6Plus) is a beast of a phone and actually runs laps around flagship Android phones, but it will be a while before apps actually start taking advantage of that power. I could certainly make a game specifically for the iPhone 6 specs with crazy good graphics and PS3 quality effects but I would be shooting myself in the foot. As a developer, I want to make sure my apps are available on as many devices as possible. Therefore, I have to keep my games downgraded just enough to support older devices.
More device support = More downloads = More $$$!!
With that in mind, I think I can safely say that the iPhone 6 will continue to be supported for at least 3-4 years. After that, you may see games and apps that require a higher device. Currently, the iPhone 6 is able to run most apps almost effortlessly but in time, developers will start to use more and more of the iPhone 6s power and eventually they will run out. At that point you will see app support drop and you will need a new phone.
Another thing that will really help out iPhone 6 future proofing is the fact that Apple still sells 2 A5 devices. One of which, the first generation iPad mini, has sold very well (when it first came out it was almost impossible to find) and therefore many developers will have to continue to make sure that their games run well on the A5 (which in turn gives the A8 much longer app support).
I could go on and on all day but the main point is that the iPhone 6 is plenty powerful and it should last you a fairly long time.
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You'll get years out of it.
Even when you look at other i devices such as the iPad 3, comparatively weak performance yet still perfectly useable, just not as quick as it was new.
If you but the iPhone 6 (me recommendation coming from a 5) it will last you a fair while. I know of people still using 4S'!!
Even when you look at other i devices such as the iPad 3, comparatively weak performance yet still perfectly useable, just not as quick as it was new.
If you but the iPhone 6 (me recommendation coming from a 5) it will last you a fair while. I know of people still using 4S'!!