A phone is the one thing I can justify the cost for, because how much we actually use it. If you think about it, we use our phones probably more than any other piece of tech device to connect to the world around us every single day. So if that means I have to spend a little bit more money to enjoy something, then I know I'm justified in doing so being how much I actually use it.
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iPhone X is only for the Rich. (TRIGGER WARNING)
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A phone is the one thing I can justify the cost for, because how much we actually use it. If you think about it, we use our phones probably more than any other piece of tech device to connect to the world around us every single day. So if that means I have to spend a little bit more money to enjoy something, then I know I'm justified in doing so being how much I actually use it.
Completely agree. It's my main computing device that I use every day.
Maybe, but a nice income and/or decent liquid assets sure does make it easier. Let's not stick our heads in the sand here. $1000+ is an insane amount of $ to spend on a phone. It's not inexpensive. I say that and had no $ problem paying in full. But I still felt a guilt pang and my heart had a hell of a time bribing my brain.
A lot of people just pretend its not a luxury phone by paying it off in 12 or 24 bits. Surely, there is a good amount of consumers that bought the X that live in a crap home or apt., have no real savings or investments, and no business having one. But people live for now not the future and credit is easy.
None of this saying anything about the X itself. It's a great phone. A Porsche is a great car.
This was Michael Fisher's phone history back in 2012...
http://pocketnow.com/2012/06/15/where-were-coming-from-michael-fishers-device-history
I share the same view as Mr. Mobile aka Captain2Phones for a long time with iOS. He was actually a fan of the Windows Phone Metro UI like me. We don't like static grids of icons. Boring. Only way to customize the iOS homescreen is changing the wallpaper. No launcher to make it feel like our own. Stuck with ugly icons we can't change unless jailbreak.
He also is a Motorola fanboy but loved his Nokia Lumia 1020 for the camera. I also think old school where I respect the pioneers in Motorola and Nokia. Eventually when Fisher left PocketNow earlier last year, he had to be affiliated with Android Central. Toss in the fact the WP is dead, so Android became his preferred mobile OS.
I've liked his style since 2013 when he compared a Moto X vs HTC One. The only honest tech reviewer there is on YouTube. You can check iJustine, JMo, and Austin Evans but they're homers. They are not really going to be that real with you. Their opinion is based on emotions. And Michael Fisher is just funnier and not as annoying as the other ones.
Mr. Mobile
MKBHD
Dave Lee
JimsReviewRoom (best Pixel 2 XL review)
Again...
"Stay honest, my friend."
Eh..it depends on your perspective I guess.
In 2004, I had a $600 video camera, a $400 digital still camera, a $50 calculator, a $200 iPod, a $100 flip phone, and a $1000 laptop etc... Now I have replaced all of those things with a $1000 phone that also can do things that all those devices could never do.
Sometimes I think calling it a “phone” was a total marketing fail from a pricing perspective. That word frames the device as a phone and the price target is set in peoples minds that way. The phone is arguable the least important part of the smartphone, or at least just a very small part of what it can do.
In 2004, I had a $600 video camera, a $400 digital still camera, a $50 calculator, a $200 iPod, a $100 flip phone, and a $1000 laptop etc... Now I have replaced all of those things with a $1000 phone that also can do things that all those devices could never do.
Sometimes I think calling it a “phone” was a total marketing fail from a pricing perspective. That word frames the device as a phone and the price target is set in peoples minds that way. The phone is arguable the least important part of the smartphone, or at least just a very small part of what it can do.
I know more people who toss out over $50 worth of groceries a week versus those who purchased an iPhone. If you think $50 a month for a device that is on your person almost 16 hours a day isn't worth it, then I don't know how you can justify the many insane purchases society in general makes (overpriced coffee, cars, houses, clothing, sporting event tickets, etc.)
You don't need to be wealthy to have a $50 a month smartphone.
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Well stated. These smartphones have replaced multiple devices, something many people don't take into consideration either because of ignorance or age.
You don't need to be wealthy to have a $50 a month smartphone.
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Well stated. These smartphones have replaced multiple devices, something many people don't take into consideration either because of ignorance or age.
Apple currently sells iPhones starting at $350, but yes you will pay much more for the flagship phone... just as you will pay almost as much for flagship Samsung phone like the Note 8.
"for the rich" is a generalization. I plan to buy an X and I'm certainly not rich, although I'm certainly not struggling if I can even consider a $1,000 smartphone. Even though I use Windows on my desktop computers at the home and office, I consider iOS to be my primary platform. I spend a lot of time in meetings and in the field, using my iPad Pro that work pays for. I own my own iPhone 6 and Apple Watch that I rely on heavily for notifications and communicating from the field. I'm also an amateur photographer who would rather spend his money on cameras and lenses (and technology gadgets) rather than on expensive clothes, cars, etc. My iPhone 6 is the center of my technology universe, and it's showing its age. $1,000+ isn't a huge deal considering how much I rely on iOS and how improved the camera technology is compared to my 6. Sure I would rather it cost less, but we are talking about a device I use and rely on quite a lot. I will likely keep it for at least 2 years, so it's worth about a $1.50 a day to me. It won't actually even cost me that much if I end up selling it when I upgrade. If I break it down to average daily cost spread over two years, my iPhone and Apple Watch together cost less than a Starbucks latte or Americano. I make my own coffee, so there you go. I'll put the savings towards an iPhone X and leave Starbucks to the rich people.
"for the rich" is a generalization. I plan to buy an X and I'm certainly not rich, although I'm certainly not struggling if I can even consider a $1,000 smartphone. Even though I use Windows on my desktop computers at the home and office, I consider iOS to be my primary platform. I spend a lot of time in meetings and in the field, using my iPad Pro that work pays for. I own my own iPhone 6 and Apple Watch that I rely on heavily for notifications and communicating from the field. I'm also an amateur photographer who would rather spend his money on cameras and lenses (and technology gadgets) rather than on expensive clothes, cars, etc. My iPhone 6 is the center of my technology universe, and it's showing its age. $1,000+ isn't a huge deal considering how much I rely on iOS and how improved the camera technology is compared to my 6. Sure I would rather it cost less, but we are talking about a device I use and rely on quite a lot. I will likely keep it for at least 2 years, so it's worth about a $1.50 a day to me. It won't actually even cost me that much if I end up selling it when I upgrade. If I break it down to average daily cost spread over two years, my iPhone and Apple Watch together cost less than a Starbucks latte or Americano. I make my own coffee, so there you go. I'll put the savings towards an iPhone X and leave Starbucks to the rich people.
I find these arguments pointless and stupid, because it should be obvious that:
- The affordability of a product is relative to each individual’s income.
- People also assign different percentages of their income to different things, this also changes the affordability of a product to each individual.
- On tech forums, or even an apple fan forum like this a lot of people will dedicate more of their income to things like the iPhone X so it becomes more affordable to people here, than just random people on the street.
- Considering the previous three factors, if we average everything out, so average income and average dedication of income to smartphones, the iPhone X has poor value, and isn’t very affordable.
- To change the previous evaluation, either you consider people from a higher income class, or you consider people who will dedicate more income to phones. Since reviewers like Mr.Mobile are targeted towards the average consumer and not tech geeks, it makes sense to say that on average, the iPhone X will only be affordable to rich people.
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This. I've been saying for years that smartphones have slowly replaced other devices I used to carry. I'm trying to remember when I was at peak gadget. It was probably when I carried something like this:
- PalmOS device with a fold-up keyboard
- cell phone
- camera
- mp3 player
- Sometimes a laptop
- The iPhone 3G replaced my PalmOS device and my previous cell phone
- Somewhere around the iPhone 5 or 6 the increased storage capacity combined with Cloud-based music storage/streaming made me retire my mp3 player as well.
- By the time the iPhone 6 came along most of my stuff was in the Cloud and I stopped needing to carry a laptop to meetings just to be able to access work files. I usually use a work-provided iPad, but the iPhone will do in a pinch. They can both access Office 365 and Google Docs just fine.
- I still carry a dedicated camera, but I'm a camera dork. The iPhone 6 replaced my compact Point & Shoot, but not my interchangeable lens camera. The iPhone X won't replace my interchangeable lens camera either, but it will allow me to leave it at home more often.
True story. I once saw a panhandler using an iPhone X at a traffic stop. I was shocked. He said he makes monthly payments. Still don't want to believe this happened.
When was this "once"?True story. I once saw a panhandler using an iPhone X at a traffic stop. I was shocked. He said he makes monthly payments. Still don't want to believe this happened.
True story. I once saw a panhandler using an iPhone X at a traffic stop. I was shocked. He said he makes monthly payments. Still don't want to believe this happened.
True story. Many panhandlers make over $50k begging for money. Some make 6 figures.
For me, price includes how much use and enjoyment value I get from a device. Having paid over a grand each for 7+ and 12.9" iPP 2nd gen, both were a waste of money in my usage and enjoyment. That's money I wish I had right now. Hard lesson learned. Going forward I will buy as per needs rather than what I think want. For me, the X would be way overpriced because I wouldn't use many of the bells and whistles involved.
No financing or installment plans unless I absolutely have to. Being tied down to a phone company or bank loans is just not in my wheel barrel (after Verizon's absolutely obnoxious hard sales pitch and forcing me to do an installment plan on a Moto Z Droid which I talked them down to .24 cents on), I will not do that again.
I truly hope the competition from the other side pushes Apple into releasing less gimped, more up-to-date options at the 350-500 price point phone-wise (it would be madness for me to even think of updated Macs below a grand now.)
I like "Mr. Mobile", I think he's less bias (and certainly not as obnoxious and off-putting as some YouTube tech reviewers.) Even if I he only used Windows and Android phones, I'd still like him.
I won't judge other people who buy the X and other stuff - what you do with your money is not my business. I am critical of Tim Cook's double speak and smoke and mirrors about Apple's pricing.
No financing or installment plans unless I absolutely have to. Being tied down to a phone company or bank loans is just not in my wheel barrel (after Verizon's absolutely obnoxious hard sales pitch and forcing me to do an installment plan on a Moto Z Droid which I talked them down to .24 cents on), I will not do that again.
I truly hope the competition from the other side pushes Apple into releasing less gimped, more up-to-date options at the 350-500 price point phone-wise (it would be madness for me to even think of updated Macs below a grand now.)
I like "Mr. Mobile", I think he's less bias (and certainly not as obnoxious and off-putting as some YouTube tech reviewers.) Even if I he only used Windows and Android phones, I'd still like him.
I won't judge other people who buy the X and other stuff - what you do with your money is not my business. I am critical of Tim Cook's double speak and smoke and mirrors about Apple's pricing.
If your country doesn’t have indoor plumbing, or other taken for granted infrastructure, then in those areas might as well be talking about buying the moon. So paying 1K over time is less money than upfront? That’s a recipe for financial pain. Hey watching YouTube is free except the 1 to 2K per year data service plus phone payment.
Well, to be fair, in a more technical sense, paying the same amount over time can be somewhat cheaper than paying it right away. If you factor in having access to more money over that period of time, inflation, and use of that money, like even just getting some interest on it, then in the end you can be at least a little ahead as far as how much you got out of the money by paying it out over time vs. paying it out all at once in the beginning.If your country doesn’t have indoor plumbing, or other taken for granted infrastructure, then in those areas might as well be talking about buying the moon. So paying 1K over time is less money than upfront? That’s a recipe for financial pain. Hey watching YouTube is free except the 1 to 2K per year data service plus phone payment.
Mr. Mobile on the X: Part 1
Mr. Mobile on the X: Part 2
I checked out the X again today at Best Buy. The silver X is growing on me again although I would probably still pick the space gray over it. There is one major drawback for me and it isn't the price or as superficial as the boring homescreen that Fisher pointed out. It's the difficulty to tether with iPhone.
Recently, iOS11 added the toggle for mobile data and hotspot for the Control Center. On iOS10, I have to keep going to Settings to turn both on. When I do turn them on, it will ask me to turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth? I hate that. Even if I did it, my other devices still won't connect right away. It's like I have to keep turning it off and on. Even my MBA won't connect instantly if my SE is the hotspot.
On Android, it's so much easier. There are toggles for data and hotspot in the notification shade. Turn both on and all my devices will connect instantly if their Wi-Fi is turned on. Battery life is also better on Android when they do tether. I don't have internet at home. My mobile plan is my only internet so whatever phone has my sim becomes my pocket Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi router at home.
The difficulty of tethering with iPhone is why I can't get the X. I could live with the Dasher and SwiftKey apps being inferior on iOS but not the tethering part. If tethering was much easier and more battery efficient on iOS, I would actually have the X right now. I like the device enough. I don't like that ugly gray background in the dock area. No custom launcher to rid of it.
Gotta stick to Android as the primary while iOS becomes secondary. With Android, we get new physical designs every year because of so many OEMs. You can use iOS and Windows Phone launchers if you want. You can make the homescreen look like it's your own creation. On iOS, you wait every 3-4 yrs for a hardware refresh with the same homescreen and only a different case to differentiate itself from others around you.
3 Strikes
Tethering - 80% of my reluctance
Dasher - worse menu
SwiftKey - less customization
If tethering was so much easier with iOS, I would be typing on my space gray X right now. Since it isn't, I don't want to spend $1000 for an iPhone that will end up being used more as an iPod touch. Because X without a sim to tether is utterly pointless.
^ I use an app called Notification Toggle on Android since 2011 which gives me toggle switches I want in the notification shade in case the custom skin shade lacks any I need. iOS11 just barely added toggles for mobile data and hotspot?
The iPhone X is very tempting though the more I see it. I just have to keep telling myself what a struggle with tethering, Dasher menu, and SwiftKey on iOS. Reminder that the X is going to end up being used as a $1000 iPod touch.
There are just things with Android many of us are already accustomed to doing. And I first started using iPhone OS since the 1.1.4 days to understand them both better than most people that either sides with one or the other.
Mr. Mobile on the X: Part 2
I checked out the X again today at Best Buy. The silver X is growing on me again although I would probably still pick the space gray over it. There is one major drawback for me and it isn't the price or as superficial as the boring homescreen that Fisher pointed out. It's the difficulty to tether with iPhone.
Recently, iOS11 added the toggle for mobile data and hotspot for the Control Center. On iOS10, I have to keep going to Settings to turn both on. When I do turn them on, it will ask me to turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth? I hate that. Even if I did it, my other devices still won't connect right away. It's like I have to keep turning it off and on. Even my MBA won't connect instantly if my SE is the hotspot.
On Android, it's so much easier. There are toggles for data and hotspot in the notification shade. Turn both on and all my devices will connect instantly if their Wi-Fi is turned on. Battery life is also better on Android when they do tether. I don't have internet at home. My mobile plan is my only internet so whatever phone has my sim becomes my pocket Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi router at home.
The difficulty of tethering with iPhone is why I can't get the X. I could live with the Dasher and SwiftKey apps being inferior on iOS but not the tethering part. If tethering was much easier and more battery efficient on iOS, I would actually have the X right now. I like the device enough. I don't like that ugly gray background in the dock area. No custom launcher to rid of it.
Gotta stick to Android as the primary while iOS becomes secondary. With Android, we get new physical designs every year because of so many OEMs. You can use iOS and Windows Phone launchers if you want. You can make the homescreen look like it's your own creation. On iOS, you wait every 3-4 yrs for a hardware refresh with the same homescreen and only a different case to differentiate itself from others around you.
3 Strikes
Tethering - 80% of my reluctance
Dasher - worse menu
SwiftKey - less customization
If tethering was so much easier with iOS, I would be typing on my space gray X right now. Since it isn't, I don't want to spend $1000 for an iPhone that will end up being used more as an iPod touch. Because X without a sim to tether is utterly pointless.
^ I use an app called Notification Toggle on Android since 2011 which gives me toggle switches I want in the notification shade in case the custom skin shade lacks any I need. iOS11 just barely added toggles for mobile data and hotspot?
The iPhone X is very tempting though the more I see it. I just have to keep telling myself what a struggle with tethering, Dasher menu, and SwiftKey on iOS. Reminder that the X is going to end up being used as a $1000 iPod touch.
There are just things with Android many of us are already accustomed to doing. And I first started using iPhone OS since the 1.1.4 days to understand them both better than most people that either sides with one or the other.
what does this reviewer consider 'rich'..
if someone has, say, $13,000 in spending money, is that rich? or no?
is that someone who can afford iPhone X? or no?
if someone has, say, $13,000 in spending money, is that rich? or no?
is that someone who can afford iPhone X? or no?
Depends on metrics.
You could be living paycheck to paycheck because you're also paying off 5 mortgages and extended yourself a bit too far.
You could be living rent free in your parents basement, work a menial job but have no outgoing expenses hence lots of "play money"
Person 1 couldn't afford the X, Person 2 could, even though Person 1 is far richer than Person 2.
Android still looks like that? Damn I tested it many years ago and hated that look. Can't believe all this time later it still looks like rubbish.
There is such a thing as diminishing returns. Ok, so the most expensive models have the best cameras available on a cellphone so if cellphone photography is very important to you then it might be a worthy investment. But outside of that there are tons of cheaper phones, iOS or Android, that offer very much the same experience as the most expensive flagships.
Extending the screen a bit in height does not make reading something on the phone significantly better. It makes one handed use more difficult as you have to bend your thumb more to reach the bottom and probably have to use your other hand to reach the top unless you have very big hands.
Having the latest SoC does very little in terms of real world use performance compared to one that is maybe a generation older. The latest and greatest won't be significantly smoother overall as the older gen already achieved smooth, effortless performance for the apps most people use.
I get that iOS users are hungry for a new design because Apple sure has milked that iPhone 6 design with big bezels to death for several years now. It's unfortunate that it comes as a hugely expensive iPhone X instead of something that is more affordable. For me the best of the best camera is not a necessity and I can't think of any other thing that having the X (nearly 1200€ for the base model here in Finland) would improve over my current 400€ Oneplus 3.
While I don't think the iPhone X is something only the rich can afford, it is something that most people would consider a very expensive purchase. It is not up to me to decide what you spend your money on but it does set a dangerous precedent where phone manufacturers can see their phones still sell at high prices so why would they make a model that is any cheaper. It's bad for the consumer too as I have no doubt the iPhone X value will plummet heavily when the next generation XI and XI+ models come out.
I frequently agree with and respect your opinion: here I will have to politely disagree. I don't use my phone as extensively as most. I rely on my iMac a lot more. I am in the minority for certain, but that's another reason why I have to make sure I research, test and extensively look at my next phone before jumping in.
I hope everyone enjoys their phones no matter what they get (X, 8, 8+, Pixel 2 XL etc.)
I frequently agree with and respect your opinion: here I will have to politely disagree. I don't use my phone as extensively as most. I rely on my iMac a lot more. I am in the minority for certain, but that's another reason why I have to make sure I research, test and extensively look at my next phone before jumping in.
I hope everyone enjoys their phones no matter what they get (X, 8, 8+, Pixel 2 XL etc.)
Nothing wrong with disagreeing, that's part of discussion. Not every statement I make or somebody else makes has to agree with. But to your point, I don't rely on my laptop or iPad as much as I do my iPhone because of how mobile I am. But that's just my situation differing from yours.
Serious question. What advantage does the X bring to you that your 7 didn't have? Internet access? Check. Apps? Check. Texting/calling? Check.
Is the fancy camera something you need? Or the lack of home button? The animojis? Better battery? Smaller screen? Face ID because you don't have fingers? Sure the X has the cool factor and that could be an advantage albeit pretty superficial.
So, people buy laptops. There are 400 dollar laptops, and there are 3,500 dollar laptops. Are 3,500 dollar lap tops for the rich? You can't afford one, buy a cheaper one. geese..