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iPhone 7 Could Be the First Time I Don't Buy the New iPhone After Owning Every Generation

MICHAELSD

MICHAELSD

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jul 13, 2008
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There is a sense of pride in the fact that I can say that I have owned every single iPhone generation since the beginning. But if Apple becomes stagnant in innovation, it is going to become more difficult to want to own every new iPhone generation. Don't get me wrong; I haven't owned every iPhone for my own ego even though upgrading each year has become a part of me, I've owned every iPhone because Apple did enough to warrant my wanting to own the newest model every time without fail. The major selling points down to the minor touches all ended up leaving me satisfied with my decision to upgrade -- even during S years. The problem with iPhone 7 is that the rumored version is losing more than it's gaining. Apple has to have a killer feature up its sleeve for the iPhone 7 to sell, especially since they are saving the radical redesign for iPhone 8. (That's assuming they even stick to the numbered moniker -- if Apple is indeed moving to a three-year cycle for new iPhones, now could be the time to come up with a new naming strategy beyond numbers. After all, we'll sound pretty ridiculous saying iPhone 14.)

Will iPhone 7 be par for the course: just a faster phone with a slightly-evolved camera and a similar chassis, with less new features than we're used to seeing even in S years? Or can Apple overcome the anti-hype that has built up for the iPhone 7 around the exclusion of the headphone jack and turn even that omission into a reason to own the phone? Right now it's looking like it will be the former, and it will be real shame if there isn't enough incentive for enthusiastic owners since day one of the iPhone to want the upgrade this time around.

It can be argued that there is less that can be done every year, but that is more reason to innovate and add new features people didn't realize they needed. Rather than become less innovative, Apple should take the fact the smartphone is reaching idealistic levels as an opportunity to do more.
 
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JayIsAwesome said:
This is shaping up to be the most controversial iPhone launch ever. I'm looking forward to the unveiling, just to hear and/or read the public's response.


"iPhone 7: The Most Amazingly Controversial iPhone, yet"
Click to expand...
It's good hype, that's for sure.

As far as the OP's point, I think we're at a time where hardware is pretty good and there's not as much room for improvement as opposed to software; where there's a lot of room for improvements. If you go back to previous devices we had a lot more reason to upgrade from a hardware perspective. Such as: (I apologize if I'm leaving anything out) 3.5" to 4.0" screen, LTE, 32 bit to 64 bit processor, Touch ID, Apple Pay, 4.7" and 5.5" screens, 1GB to 2GB RAM, and 3D Touch (although this one isn't as big for me, but for others it might be).

Apple needs to give people a reason to upgrade from a hardware perspective, something that we may or may not know we need or want until it's announced/released. But Apple is generally good at marketing their products so I'm sure it'll sell a lot as usual, but we will see.
 
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I don't know if "pride" is really what I would feel but I do sort of see OP's point in this statement. It's almost like a collector being proud of finding every item and having a complete collection.

I haven't owned every iPhone generation, but this fall is looking like it'll start the longest period I've went without upgrading. I went iPhone Original - 3GS - 4 - 4S - 5 - 6 Plus - and I'll probably be waiting for the 2017 iPhone. So I get the sentiment of this being a very strange year for iPhone hardware. I've always had the desire to upgrade each year, the years I didn't were me making financially smart decisions for myself... not to mention the ONLY reason I was able to get the 4 at the time is because I won it in a contest, and the only reason I got the 5 was because my older brother was going to use his upgrade to get a 4S so I gave him mine and used his upgrade to get the 5 at Walmart for 99 bucks. But this year I just feel sort of meh about it all.
 
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It took you after NINE generations to realize that. Only took me four. The innovation stopped when Steve Jobs kicked the bucket.

Android might be a downright copycat of iOS. It was originally a copycat of BlackBerry only for it to be the second coming of Microsoft Windows copying the Macintosh GUI which licensed it from Xerox. But this where the student surpassed its master. Army vs one. Ideas from several companies v an idea from one company.

The last innovative thing that came from Apple was in 2013 with the Touch ID which several Android OEMs decided to implement. Nine years later. I started noticing it by 2012 around the same time Android software and hardware were improving by leaps and bounds. Now every new feature I see from the latest iOS is just a ripoff from Android.

Best years of Apple were between 1997-2011 just like the best years for Nokia was between 1998-2010 when it was still #1 in sales. That was SJ's second reign. Like LeBron returning to Cleveland, the prodigal son returned and SJ resurrected the brand. Now I feel Apple is like what Sony was (circa 2006) years after their founders died and Sony became stagnant with innovation.

The best years from Apple when it comes to innovation are behind them now. Even the marketing is rather boring. None of the major heads at Apple don't care about innovating and wowing us. They only care more about the bottomline to please their shareholders. The innovation stopped when SJ's heart stopped.
 
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The financials of Apple do not agree with that post. TC is taking the company in a different direction. People who have an emotional connection with SJ (even through the netherworld) can't understand or like the current company.

The CEO has a fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders and investors. Giving the customer what they want is one way to ensure this responsibility gets met. Seems like this CEO is doing that.
 
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I've been an iPhone user since the beginning, but I have not purchased every phone whenever they came out with a new one. I tend to hang onto my phones for a few years before something comes along that really seems to justify an upgrade; I kept the original for three years (2007-2010), then got a 3GS on closeout (2010-2013), then a 5 (2013-2016), and just recently I purchased an SE. I find that life becomes much simpler if you don't stress about every decision a company makes about a product; enjoy what you have, so long as it works for you :)

Untitled.jpg
 
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I do know where your coming from, for me it's already happened.

After owing every single revision of the iPhone, I shocked myself and everyone I know by not upgrading my daily driver 6+ to the 6s+ because I didn't feel it justified the upgrade. I have a 6s for developing, but that's too small for me to use on a daily basis now.

And you know what, it hasn't bothered me at all, the 6+ still does everything I ask of it and iOS 10 has made it feel like a new phone again.

I am itching to upgrade now though and I'm looking forward to seeing what the 7+ (6se?) actually has in store for us. But if it's a bit hohum, I'm definitely prepared to rough it out for another year with the 6+ until the 7s (iPhone 8?) comes along next year.
 
I think it a routine now days people start bashing before the launch they like to have this,they should include this,they won't buy if they don't have this feature and the list goes on and at the end of the lauch these same people stand in queue for hours to have one
 
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Sunnysunnysingh said:
I think it a routine now days people start bashing before the launch they like to have this,they should include,they won't buy if they don't have this feature and the list goes on and at the end of the lauch these same people stand in que for hours to have one
Click to expand...



I don't think that's necessarily true, well it certainly is for a subset of the iPhoneists. But for me Ive just finally got to the point where the small improvements Apple are making just aren't justifying the upgrade. I've already held out on the 6s+ and I'm prepared to skip the 7 if its average in comparison.

Most of all though, I want a new design. I'm sick of this bloody thing that's more slippery than an oiled up seal. This is the first iPhone I've ever put in a case thanks to it being more difficult to keep a hold of and that bloody annoying camera bump. I know it's a necessary evil, but it just doesn't feel Apple to me.

I reckon the 7 will have one or two things from a technology standpoint that I want, but the design bores me now so I may wait for the 8 to satisfy my cravings. Though I'm rather hoping to be proved wrong and the 7 ends up being a good upgrade.
 
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Just as the iPhone 6S was not a huge must-have upgrade (for me, at least), I ended up upgrading anyway as I was able to hand-over my year old iPhone 6 to one of my kids. I'll probably do the same for the iPhone 7, this time letting my wife have my 128GB iPhone 6S, even though again it may not be a must-have upgrade.
 
MICHAELSD said:
There is a sense of pride in the fact that I can say that I have owned every single iPhone generation since the beginning. But if Apple becomes stagnant in innovation, it is going to become more difficult to want to own every new iPhone generation. Don't get me wrong; I haven't owned every iPhone for my own ego even though upgrading each year has become a part of me, I've owned every iPhone because Apple did enough to warrant my wanting to own the newest model every time without fail. The major selling points down to the minor touches all ended up leaving me satisfied with my decision to upgrade -- even during S years. The problem with iPhone 7 is that the rumored version is losing more than it's gaining. Apple has to have a killer feature up its sleeve for the iPhone 7 to sell, especially since they are saving the radical redesign for iPhone 8. (That's assuming they even stick to the numbered moniker -- if Apple is indeed moving to a three-year cycle for new iPhones, now could be the time to come up with a new naming strategy beyond numbers. After all, we'll sound pretty ridiculous saying iPhone 14.)

Will iPhone 7 be par for the course: just a faster phone with a slightly-evolved camera and a similar chassis, with less new features than we're used to seeing even in S years? Or can Apple overcome the anti-hype that has built up for the iPhone 7 around the exclusion of the headphone jack and turn even that omission into a reason to own the phone? Right now it's looking like it will be the former, and it will be real shame if there isn't enough incentive for enthusiastic owners since day one of the iPhone to want the upgrade this time around.

It can be argued that there is less that can be done every year, but that is more reason to innovate and add new features people didn't realize they needed. Rather than become less innovative, Apple should take the fact the smartphone is reaching idealistic levels as an opportunity to do more.
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat. I buy every one and I'll probably buy this one too. I will admit it's the first time I've ever thought about skipping a generation. I look forward to the Lightning headphones for the better sound and the dual lense camera sounds awesome. Still, it seems to be lacking that killer feature Tim Cook mentioned. We'll have to wait for the unveiling to know for sure.
 
I will say that I have not bought every generation because I am too young to do so. I only 23 and was only a Freshman in Highschool when the first iPhone came out. I will say that I have gotten every iPhone since I have graduated in 2011. Starting with the iPhone 4S. I have always had an iPod touch so I was already very familiar with iOS. Every single year, Apple has amazed me and I had to have the next iPhone. All my friends think I'm crazy and yet some of them go with me on day one to stand in line over night just to be one of the first to have the phone. This year, I don't think I will be upgrading. None of the rumored features seem that appealing.
 
I want to upgrade just because I'm getting a little tired with the 4.7" screen on my 6. If I was able to upgrade to the 6s+ in the fall last year like I planned, I wouldn't be upgrading to the 7 most likely. Since I didn't though, I'll probably upgrade this year and next year as well just to get the redesign.
 
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