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

[lordofthereef]

I don't see this year as similar to others, but that's possibly because I've never felt as strongly that I won't be getting the next device.

I, too, have had every phone except the 5C, and the rumors this year have just been disappointing.

As with every year, I don't ultimately decide until Apple makes their announcement, but in not expecting much.
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No offence, but I don't really see why that's something to be proud of.

I'm looking at it from the point of view that he is proud to have followed every step of the iPhone evolution. There are very few products these days that people can say that about.

Idk if I'm proud, per se, but it's cool to say I've had every one, since the first, for a decade.

If you don't think so, that's cool. No hard feelings, hopefully o neither side.

 

[nviz22]

Can't blame people for not wanting to get the 7/7+. I have the 6S Plus 128 GB model. I regret getting 128 over 64. The phone pricing is so expensive, that it makes it worth it for me to sell higher now or use it for another year since I have Apple Care to boot. The 6S Plus is good enough to get away to wait till 2017. I have my 4K camera, 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, A9 processor, 3D Touch, faster Touch ID, front facing flash w/ the screen, a large battery, latest software support.

I have pretty much planned on using one phone for the future or going two cheap ones. I am waiting for a substantial price drop on the 64GB iPhone SE at the very least because it's not worth it to me right now with what I could lose over the 6S Plus. I might even ditch my S7 Edge for a cheaper S7 during Black Friday, get a Nexus 6P or Nexus 2016 around Black Friday, or just go with the iPhone 7 Plus or Note 7 around Black Friday.

Samsung has the hardware and the software, but I like what iOS brings to the table plus the potential iOS 10 has in the messaging department along with the functionality with my MBP.

 

[joeblow7777]

I don't see this year as similar to others, but that's possibly because I've never felt as strongly that I won't be getting the next device.

I, too, have had every phone except the 5C, and the rumors this year have just been disappointing.

As with every year, I don't ultimately decide until Apple makes their announcement, but in not expecting much.
[doublepost=1467000471][/doublepost]
I'm looking at it from the point of view that he is proud to have followed every step of the iPhone evolution. There are very few products these days that people can say that about.

Idk if I'm proud, per se, but it's cool to say I've had every one, since the first, for a decade.

If you don't think so, that's cool. No hard feelings, hopefully o neither side.

No hard feelings at all. I just naturally think of taking pride in things that one has accomplished or earned. Buying a new phone every year isn't an accomplishment. At best it's an indulgence. But I have no problem with anyone who does so. We're all free to spend our money how we choose and if it makes a person happy without harming anyone, then that's great! I just thought that "pride" was an odd word to choose.

 

[ucfgrad93]

There is a sense of pride in the fact that I can say that I have owned every single iPhone generation since the beginning.

Why does this give you a sense of pride?

No offence, but I don't really see why that's something to be proud of.

Neither do I.

 

[Jimmy James]

I totally understand. This is the first year I haven't owned every model year of every Porsche 911. Change is hard.

 

[Drew wal]

I haven't purchased every release of iPhone , I started with a used 2g , then a used 3G, a 2nd hand ip4 , it was after the ip4 that I started to buy new in store by queueing .
Firstly the ip5 16gb/black, ip5s 64gb/gold ,ip6+ 128gb/gold and last year the ip6s+128gb r/gold and each and every one have been fantastic to use . I skipped the mid term release of the 5s rehash the 5se as it seemed a bit of a backward step however I guess it appeals to some people . Now this years september release will be a handset that is inline with my annual upgrade and it's again something I'm looking forward to .
I await the keynote but I'll definitely be in that queue again , it's also part of an annual upgrade commitment I have with my partner who always has my previous handset, so when I upgrade so does she , so I guess we're in that little cycle now and it works for both of us

 

[baypharm]

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.

Have you ever sat down and sketched out a design that you feel would make you happy?

 

[bigjnyc]

They'll have a killer feature that hasnt been leaked yet for you dont worry. They usually have one i.e. touch id, siri, 3d touch, etc...

 

[Flow39]

I haven't purchased every release of iPhone , I started with a used 2g , then a used 3G, a 2nd hand ip4 , it was after the ip4 that I started to buy new in store by queueing .
Firstly the ip5 16gb/black, ip5s 64gb/gold ,ip6+ 128gb/gold and last year the ip6s+128gb r/gold and each and every one have been fantastic to use

Haha the campouts are a ton of fun. I camped out for the 6 and I'm considering camping out again for the 7 this year.

With the 6 being my first iPhone, it kinda sucks that I missed out on all the cool releases of the iPhone every year until 2014. I wish I could've been part of the crowd that has been upgrading since the 2g.

 

[Smithwicks]

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.

Better sound? The brainwashing has already begun.

 

[ibookg409]

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.

I've had every new generation of iPhone, not the "S" models, but all the redesign models. This year I will not be doing so since AT&T is not doing 2 year subsidies anymore.

Sigh
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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.

I have the iPhone 6 Plus. Nothing that was introduced in the 6S offered anything I couldn't live without. I'm pretty sure the same will hold true for the 7. Only time will tell.

My 6 Plus offers everything I need. I may keep it for another 2 years.
[doublepost=1467078473][/doublepost]

Better sound? The brainwashing has already begun.

The Lightning port could produce better sound if you aren't listening to compressed MP4 recording and if you have a very good pair of headphones. Using the provided EarPods you won't be able to tell any difference.

 

[Shanghaichica]

It all depends on what the 7 brings to the table. I have a 6S plus which I bought sim free with apple care. The whole package cost me almost £900. A part of me is saying that I should keep the phone for longer than a year considering the amount I paid. However at the same time I'll be eligible for an upgrade with my carrier. So I basically have a choice of keeping my 6S plus and having a cheaper tariff, upgrading to the 7, or upgrading to another phone like the S7 edge/note 7 and keeping my 6S plus. However I don't think it's worth being tied into a two year contract for an android phone. So it's probably the iPhone 7 or staying with the 6S plus.

 

[Loco Emperor]

I just got the 6S plus and unless the 7 does something truly groundbreaking or amazing compare to it, i'll probably keep it for at least a year.

Then again I may just return back to Windows 10 mobile in the fall....

That being said, IOS 10 and whatever the iPhone 7 will be is of course likely going to be anything better than Android so for me it is going to be do I want to fully return full time to windows 10 mobile, do I want to get an iPhone 7 or wait longer.

 

[akash.nu]

A dual lens camera system opens up a lot of opportunities for the OS to do cool stuff like 3D pictures, selective focus. Metering, better picture contrast and a lot more. So all of you looking for a "killer" feature will surely have something.

Lightning port will only make a difference if one is listening via a monitoring system and uncompressed audio files. Which 99% of users won't.

I've had every iPhone until the 6 and since then my excitement with iPhones and smartphones have kind of died down. As long as I have the latest OS support & the device is able to meet my requirements daily and works predictably, I'm generally happy. I buy my phones outright from Apple. I'm not sure if I'm going to get the iPhone 7 but at present I'm more than happy with the 6.

 

[maflynn]

There is a sense of pride in the fact that I can say that I have owned every single iPhone generation since the beginning.

I'm not sure I understand that line of thinking. I think there were plenty of innovation to be sure, but that's an expensive endeavor.

I'm split between the idea that the iPhone 7 has less new features because of little innovation on Apple's part and the maturing of the mobile market. I suspect the truth lies between these two factors.

I think the market has slowed quite a bit concerning new features. There's only so much you can do, and I think we're at that point. With that said, I think Apple has been lax, maybe a tad over confident and certainly over confident. They've focused too much on the thinness of a design as opposed to adding actual features we'd like, say wireless recharging, or water proofing the phone, or curved displays. All of which are already in its competitor's phones.

As for buying a 7, I'm on the every other year plan (even if I don't get a subsidy, I still try to buy every other year. I did buy an SE, so that means I'll hold off on the 7, especially since I really like the SE. My wife seems content to keep the iPhone 6 plus another year, so in terms of this subject of this thread, she's in the same boat - not jazzed up about upgrading.

 

[TrueBlou]

Have you ever sat down and sketched out a design that you feel would make you happy?

No need, there's more than enough excellent concepts floating around.

 

[ABC5S]

No need, there's more than enough excellent concepts floating around.

Concepts mean nothing to me. They do not pan out, so I wait for the real deal.

 

[BLUEBLASTER]

As someone who has never owned an iPhone before would this year be the time for me to make the change?

 

[braddick]

As someone who has never owned an iPhone before would this year be the time for me to make the change?

As this point why not wait for a ten year anniversary iPhone (late 2017) instead? It'll be a game changer and will make an excellent first iPhone for you.

 

[TrueBlou]

Concepts mean nothing to me. They do not pan out, so I wait for the real deal.

Hey the ideas in my head rarely pan out how I'd like them to, doesn't mean it's not fun to look sometimes

 

[Kaspersky]

Ok