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Is it becoming less of a status symbol to own an iPhone?
- Thread starter Raggsokk
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Do that while you hang out with the six people who actually want a galaxy note 2
If the iphone5 wasnt a status symbol then why does everyone have an iphone instead of a cheaper android phone with the same set of features? I even see poor people with an iphone 5 when an android device is financially more attractive.
You'd be lying to yourself if you think that the iphone5 is the only device capable of browsing the web, facebook, taking pictures, messaging and making phone calls.
You'd be lying to yourself if you think that the iphone5 is the only device capable of browsing the web, facebook, taking pictures, messaging and making phone calls.
Because the ones who get iPhones are typically the ones who have no clue about tech and just buy what others buy. That's why the tech-knows are mass exodusing, there is something better on the other side.
When I think of phones that were bought as status symbols it reminds me more of the kids who paid 300 dollars for RAZR and blackberry phones when a Nokia or Ericsson performed the same functions better.
With the iPhone maybe upon first release when you pay 4-600$ for a phone it was a status symbol. But the point is mute because I've seen people using ebt cards with newer iPhones than people I know that make good money, drive nice cars, etc.
I think the consensus across the board regardless of status is that an investment in a smart phone is much cheaper than individually buying a dumb phone, tablet, camera, iPod etc seperately.
As far as android being more popular at Starbucks lounges now its because:
Att offers better early upgrades on non iPhones
And
They tend to be cheaper
And
You have people not invested in the apple ecosystem that may garner a better experience for their setup.
In my case I never judge someone by the phone or anything they pull out of their pocket much less their car. Having a cheap car that's paid for is a larger status symbol than borrowing to the hilt for something nicer.
I also find that I have yet to see an android phone that functions well in my house hold with multiple MacBooks, Apple TV and the like. I also tend to think they look much nicer.
I would certainly not be ashamed to go to a coffee shop and pull out my MacBook Air and iPhone 4S. The person next to me may have a touch screen lenovo or hp laptop and the newest android phone but my equipment will still work in several years like the day I bought it. I'd rather have a product that works well than a few extra gimmicks. I do think without android phones you would not see as much push to make iPhones better from generation to generation.
But I digress, some like black coffee some like cream and sugar and some like a seasonal treat.
With the iPhone maybe upon first release when you pay 4-600$ for a phone it was a status symbol. But the point is mute because I've seen people using ebt cards with newer iPhones than people I know that make good money, drive nice cars, etc.
I think the consensus across the board regardless of status is that an investment in a smart phone is much cheaper than individually buying a dumb phone, tablet, camera, iPod etc seperately.
As far as android being more popular at Starbucks lounges now its because:
Att offers better early upgrades on non iPhones
And
They tend to be cheaper
And
You have people not invested in the apple ecosystem that may garner a better experience for their setup.
In my case I never judge someone by the phone or anything they pull out of their pocket much less their car. Having a cheap car that's paid for is a larger status symbol than borrowing to the hilt for something nicer.
I also find that I have yet to see an android phone that functions well in my house hold with multiple MacBooks, Apple TV and the like. I also tend to think they look much nicer.
I would certainly not be ashamed to go to a coffee shop and pull out my MacBook Air and iPhone 4S. The person next to me may have a touch screen lenovo or hp laptop and the newest android phone but my equipment will still work in several years like the day I bought it. I'd rather have a product that works well than a few extra gimmicks. I do think without android phones you would not see as much push to make iPhones better from generation to generation.
But I digress, some like black coffee some like cream and sugar and some like a seasonal treat.
Would like to think that was the case, but some of us who are extremely clue'd up are also making the switch over from Android when circumstances change.
For instance, if you have a lot of spare time, you can spend a fair while with Android just trying to de-bloat and remove background processes to obtain a better battery life. Using custom roms which are undervolted and such or monitor usage habits.
That was all good fun, if you have the time.
I also started using my phone more frequently for work purposes so security became an issue. Due to Android having an unfortunate track record with malware and such, that also pushed me towards an iOS device.
Then it goes back to battery life too. Apart from the RAZR Maxx, is there a reasonable sized device that can match iOS devices? I don't think there is.
I think that's more of product placement than status symbol. Even before the iPhone came along, Apple's other products such as the Mac and iPod were often shown on movies and tv series and majority of them still provide screen time to other Apple products besides the iPhone.
Actually, my experience is that the tech-clueless are typically getting whatever Droid-of-the-week Verizon is hawking, mainly because the Verizon salesDrones are aggressively pushing whatever model will give them the fattest paycheck at the end of the week, even if the person coming in is asking specifically for some other model.
And then they come to people like ME to get it to work they way they want it to.
iPhone users on the other hand, are a mix of people who know technology well, and people who don't. The difference is, I see a lot more iPhones out there, but rarely get calls for help about them.
Naw. Among the tech-savvy, there are two camps: people who want their tech to work, and people who have some strange axe to grind with Apple. The latter end up using Android devices.
I've also found that the Android users tend to be the ones who have a LOT of spare time on their hands, so they can spend days tweaking their phones: rooting and adding custom ROMs, changing the Ui, changing it again, and then changing it yet again.
Then there people like myself who usually want our mobile devices to do actual work on them. Like, actually getting work e-mails, and calendar appointment requests, and the like. I get plenty of that tweaking, fixing and adjusting on the linux servers and Windows desktops where I work and configuring co-workers Droid/Blackberry mobile devices, particularly when they see my MS Exchange sync working on my phone and want to know why there's isn't doing the same.
When I'm constantly fixing other people's broken systems, the last thing I'm willing to tolerate is my tech not working. So my desktop and laptop are Macs, and my tablet and phone are iOS devices. They're consistent and I can depend on them to communicate with, which is critical to me. And more and more of my coworkers are following my lead, and I'm now hearing from them about more work-related things, and less "can you fix my device?" type things.
And while I'm absolutely sure I could get an Android phone to work the way I want it (mainly because I've had so much experience doing it for other people), I won't be bothered to do it when I already have a superior alternative for my needs.
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At this point in time, with Apple and Android phones everywhere in everybody's hand, I'm pretty sure adults/grown ups don't notice or care a whole lot what phone someone has or doesn't have.
Like it or not, status symbols exist, should they? No, but they do. Phones however, really aren't. Except a Vertu, which IMO imparts the status of moron on its owner.
You need to separate the 2 things. Should status symbols exist? No, it's silly and shallow, but they do.
Are smartphones a status symbol? No, not anymore.
And even things that do rise to the level of status symbol, ie. expensive, exclusive, hard to afford or acquire, like a nice watch or car, still end up being relative and dependent on your environment.
In a poor urban neighborhood, an $8000 Rolex Sub might very well be a "status symbol", wear it to an exclusive country club where everyone else is wearing $50k-$200k Pateks, Langes, Forsey, etc. and that Rolex is viewed like a Timex. You might actually be embarrassed to be wearing such a "cheap" watch in that setting, if you're concerned with status. Rolex actually makes a great watch for the money, but status seekers are of course more concerned with appearances and cost than function, reliability and history.
So really anything, no matter the cost, can be a status symbol, or not, depending on circumstances.
Ultimately, in a perfect world, nobody would care about any of this, it's not a perfect world.
This all being said, I suppose younger people, who don't yet earn a good living, might notice and care about what phone people have, perhaps in this demographic, smartphones can still be at least an entry level, status symbol for status seekers in training. Start 'em young!
As was said, while the things you choose to buy and use do say something about you, defining yourself with material things leaves little room for spiritual growth and developing the parts of yourself that truly matter, like what kind of person you are and aspire to be.
Like it or not, status symbols exist, should they? No, but they do. Phones however, really aren't. Except a Vertu, which IMO imparts the status of moron on its owner.
You need to separate the 2 things. Should status symbols exist? No, it's silly and shallow, but they do.
Are smartphones a status symbol? No, not anymore.
And even things that do rise to the level of status symbol, ie. expensive, exclusive, hard to afford or acquire, like a nice watch or car, still end up being relative and dependent on your environment.
In a poor urban neighborhood, an $8000 Rolex Sub might very well be a "status symbol", wear it to an exclusive country club where everyone else is wearing $50k-$200k Pateks, Langes, Forsey, etc. and that Rolex is viewed like a Timex. You might actually be embarrassed to be wearing such a "cheap" watch in that setting, if you're concerned with status. Rolex actually makes a great watch for the money, but status seekers are of course more concerned with appearances and cost than function, reliability and history.
So really anything, no matter the cost, can be a status symbol, or not, depending on circumstances.
Ultimately, in a perfect world, nobody would care about any of this, it's not a perfect world.
This all being said, I suppose younger people, who don't yet earn a good living, might notice and care about what phone people have, perhaps in this demographic, smartphones can still be at least an entry level, status symbol for status seekers in training. Start 'em young!
As was said, while the things you choose to buy and use do say something about you, defining yourself with material things leaves little room for spiritual growth and developing the parts of yourself that truly matter, like what kind of person you are and aspire to be.
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Couldn't give 2 bits worth a crap. It's a.....phone. This whole idea of "status symbol" is just dumb. The people who care are the ones who have fake: eyes, lips, tits, legs, hair, nose, etc etc. I've partied with them in the most superficial town, Los Angeles, they're a drag with nothing else to talk about than how they look and how much money they have. Granted there's a few real people out here, which it's a breath of fresh air to converse and party with them.
Along the same lines, wasn't there an app 4 years ago or so that was just a picture of a sparkling jewel, and it was something ridiculous like $1,000? Even the description had something along the lines of "show off to your friends your class with this classy app!"
Along the same lines, wasn't there an app 4 years ago or so that was just a picture of a sparkling jewel, and it was something ridiculous like $1,000? Even the description had something along the lines of "show off to your friends your class with this classy app!"
I never bought an iPhone because it's trendy or cool or whatever. I bought it because I like the design, performance and does what I need.
If you are embarassed of owning an iPhone because all of your friends have Androids, pardon me but you are ridiculous. It seems that you buy the latest smartphone just to show off to your friends and be cool in you friends circle.
This is according to what you said, which I interpreted my way. I could be wrong.
If you are embarassed of owning an iPhone because all of your friends have Androids, pardon me but you are ridiculous. It seems that you buy the latest smartphone just to show off to your friends and be cool in you friends circle.
This is according to what you said, which I interpreted my way. I could be wrong.
iPhone status
Buying an iPhone should never be about running with the masses. Sadly to say many iPhone users are actually just sheep following each other with no real clue of why they even own or want an iPhone. A real user buys an iPhone for the build, the iOS no matter how boring others may find it and for the Apps. I've used all brands alongside my Apple iPhones and whilst the Samsung, hTc and a few others and although the technology may be in some instances above par to Apple the lack in other areas of these products were not something I would be willing to sacrifice in a mobile device. Although I strongly hated the glass back of the iPhone 4 and 4S I hated even more the cheap feel of the Samsung Galaxy devices.
If you're going to buy an iPhone I believe it should be based on what you're looking for in a mobile device and not what reviews you might have read in some article somewhere on the web.
Decisions made should never be based entirely on someone elses opinion or experience but rather on your own preferences and requirements.
Buying an iPhone should never be about running with the masses. Sadly to say many iPhone users are actually just sheep following each other with no real clue of why they even own or want an iPhone. A real user buys an iPhone for the build, the iOS no matter how boring others may find it and for the Apps. I've used all brands alongside my Apple iPhones and whilst the Samsung, hTc and a few others and although the technology may be in some instances above par to Apple the lack in other areas of these products were not something I would be willing to sacrifice in a mobile device. Although I strongly hated the glass back of the iPhone 4 and 4S I hated even more the cheap feel of the Samsung Galaxy devices.
If you're going to buy an iPhone I believe it should be based on what you're looking for in a mobile device and not what reviews you might have read in some article somewhere on the web.
Decisions made should never be based entirely on someone elses opinion or experience but rather on your own preferences and requirements.
I understand that i cannot speak for the US, but I can, having worked part time as a phone salesman, speak for Norway. Thing is, when the iPhone 5 arrived (as with previous iPhones), it was KR 2000 + more expensive than the second most expensive phone on the market. Thats $370 give or take.
At the same time the norwegian reviews aren't great, we don't have LTE, and we miss out on just about every iTunes feature, which means that google play offers more content here.
So why did everyone rush to the stores to get one? You might not realize this in the US, but we europeans (most of us) have missed out on the "must have" feature in the iPhone for a couple of years now (siri, and LTE) but still even iPhone 4 tops the galaxy s3 on the sales list.
At some point it stops being just a phone. But the keynotes have gotten boring, and people aren't lining up anymore. But they still buy one, no matter what.
I'd be interested in some opinions, whatever they might be.
At the same time the norwegian reviews aren't great, we don't have LTE, and we miss out on just about every iTunes feature, which means that google play offers more content here.
So why did everyone rush to the stores to get one? You might not realize this in the US, but we europeans (most of us) have missed out on the "must have" feature in the iPhone for a couple of years now (siri, and LTE) but still even iPhone 4 tops the galaxy s3 on the sales list.
At some point it stops being just a phone. But the keynotes have gotten boring, and people aren't lining up anymore. But they still buy one, no matter what.
I'd be interested in some opinions, whatever they might be.
Well, one, because the phone is at the cutting edge of technology.
Two, because anyone who has a new iPhone obviously didn't need it, and therefore just bought it just have the latest and greatest.
That's status.
Yes, but wouldn't you say that this is an aftershock due of the (higher?) status associated with previous iPhones in its golden days?
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And to everyone commenting things like
"bla bla bla, I don't want strangers on the internet to dislike me, y u so shallow.."
Some of you are genuine, and some of you fool nobody but yourselves. Anyways you probably misunderstood my post, because this isn't about whether or not forum users buy smartphones to look cool, but if its becoming less (or more?) of a status item to whose who do.
EDIT: If anyone in here would admit to buying an iPhone simply because of the status (or whatever you may call it) associated with it, I'd really like to hear your opinion.
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Obviously status seekers should be painting gold and adding diamonds to their iphones for status now
They really are very common and don't really make you 'special' anymore.
It's about owning the best of everything. I don't think anyone is comparing a simple iPhone to a Koeningsegg, but the iPhone is the most expensive phone in most markets, apart from some 24-karat gold phones which, apart from the obvious swag, is useless.
So people with money with no tech interest or interest in smartphones for that matter, only see the price tag. And as we all know (or many like to believe) price === quality and even status.
(I use the term status quite loosely, but you get my point)
Although I bought my first iPhone to use it as a status symbol, I don't see it as one anymore. Probably because I think it's stupid to attach status to a phone and because I have more important things to spend money on.
The only reason I still use iPhone is that I like to have my contact list sync'ed with the address book on my Mac, accessible from the cloud any time. Plus, I think it's convenient to have an iPod integrated into my phone.
The only reason I still use iPhone is that I like to have my contact list sync'ed with the address book on my Mac, accessible from the cloud any time. Plus, I think it's convenient to have an iPod integrated into my phone.
The reason that the iPhone 5 is still a status symbol is because in a world where everyone has the older generation iPhone, (everybody) people are legitimately questioning whether or not they actually need the new phone. And only the selected few have it. Think of how many 5's you've seen
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See I don't agree, I thought the 4S was the least cool one as it showed you'd either missed the boat with the 4 or were dumb enough to buy one even though it was pretty much the same... Ah well...
I always saw the iPhone 4S as way more popular than just the 4. People definitely talked about Siri.
I mean the marketing of it was better when it first came out, they were pushing it as something legitimately futuristic. You thought you were actually talking to an AI.
Apart from the fact that a Rolex watch isn't a status symbol but just an overpriced make of watch that trades on its name, attracting attention doesn't equal status.