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iPhone XS Regret? I wanted a cheap iPhone and I ended up with an iPhone XS 256 GB

Relentless Power said:
I think the OP raises a concern that many are having with these new iPhones, because they are so expensive, are they worth keeping? We all know the XS is a great iPhone, but many cannot justify the price because of all the features they may not use or appreciate. Which leads others to believe, would they have been fine with an older model iPhone that does everything they need it to or a substantially cheaper XR.

To me, this is the dilemma that consumers are facing, is Apple’s price points are not consumer friendly, at least without the help of monthly carrier payments. The technology is great, but it doesn’t change the fact ‘It still is a phone’’.
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If I was ballin on a budget i'd probably not even worry about higher ends at this point. I mean you can get an iPhone 7 or 7 plus and it'll work fine unless of course theres a defect or something.

and it'll pretty much do everything. i mean bokeh? really? that's become the hot new feature in 2018?

i miss the days when facetime was a new feature. or 3G. or the iPhone 5 which was just ludicrous compared to the 4.

now we just see new colors and few things that are need be for some but i mean i wan't something revolutionary.

the iphone X was pretty great though to me that was revolutionary tbh
 
Hieveryone said:
4 years feel like awhile to wait for me at least.

I think right now if there are some deals on a used iPhone X that might not be a bad idea if you’re ballin on a budget.

It’s season now for deals.

Or just the XR. Seems basically like an X if you don’t read the details too much and just use it. Like just use the screen instead of comparing it to the OLEDs, just use the camera and see if the pics are good instead of finding it’s short falls to better cameras on the market, just use the thing and see if it’s great and if not then try something else I guess.
Click to expand...
Ok admittedly I have brought every iPhone model so I’ll realistically wait 3 yrs which is long for me. The differences between 2 generations are to little these days.
 
Bro, Gb wise Apple are pretty good now. Whether it’s 64 or 256 you’re getting a lot of storage either way. Just base the decision on your previous purchases. If you found yourself using more than 50Gb go for 128, otherwise stick with 64. 256 is overkill for a lot of consumers, but again if someone has used a lot in the past, they most likely will again.

Iv never needed more than 64GB my self personally, but if the time comes where I NEED more storage, then I’ll upgrade. Options are good.
 
Good points.. it's all about usage... If I planned on keeping my phone long-term 3+ years, then I'd max it out. But, since I usually upgrade yearly, 256GB seems to be my sweet spot.

Now when it comes to TVs, I ALWAYS get the biggest\best I can afford.. I've never gone back and complained that I've should have gotten the smaller set!!! Never!

OTOH, my wife would probably complain!! But she's from an alternate universe! :confused:
 
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phido said:
I'm sitting here with an unopened box of the iPhone XS 256 GB in front of me. I can't believe how much I paid for it

I had a 6S but I gave it to my sister. Originally I planned to buy a used iPhone 7 for 350 USD as a replacement.

Then I thought it's better to buy a new XR 64 GB. I always wanted FaceID and the gestures. Of course upgrading to the XR 128 GB seemed like a pretty good deal. It's the perfect amount of storage for not much more money. And lots of reviewers said the same.

Then I started to doubt whether I shouldn't get the XS 64 GB instead because it's just more comfortable to use with one hand (although the XR was more manageable than I expected) and I love taking pictures. But it's pretty expensive. After agonizing over it for a few days, I decided the zoom lens on the XS could be convenient and I could survive with 64 GB.

Before I went to the Apple Store I started to think that the XS 256 GB would be nice too. On my iPhone 6S I used more than 50 GB and it made me worry a bit. And I could start taking 4K videos too. I couldn't justify the big jump in price however. It seemed ridiculous to pay that much more for a storage upgrade. I could buy a small tablet instead.

While I was waiting in line to purchase the XS 64 GB, I changed my mind at the last moment and ended up buying the XS 256 GB instead. I thought it would give me more peace of mind.

Looking back now, it just seems crazy I bought it. If you had asked me a few days ago if I wanted to pay 1250 USD for a phone or 150 USD for additional storage, I would have said no way.

My whole decision process was one big mess with lots of cognitive distortions. Every upgrade seemed small but the final price is not.

And still I don't know whether I should return it or not...
Click to expand...
You have until January 8, 2019, holiday extended return policy (check your receipt, the last date is printed for any returns), to enjoy the phone. Maybe, by then you will love it to keep it.

https://www.apple.com/shop/help/returns_refund
 
i went in the opposite direction and bought a new SE w/32 GB of storage (low for some) for $80. no interest in chasing hi tech for $700-$1500 for a phone. how much better are they anyway?
 
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rwh63 said:
i went in the opposite direction and bought a new SE w/32 GB of storage (low for some) for $80. no interest in chasing hi tech for $700-$1500 for a phone. how much better are they anyway?
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For the price you can't beat that

Still runs iOS. One handed and disappears in your pocket

SE has a special place. Only
Phone I've ever bought twice but the price factored in. Got my 2nd for that amount too couldn't resist
Paid full price for my first and still fiddle with it o iOS 10
 
phido said:
I'm sitting here with an unopened box of the iPhone XS 256 GB in front of me. I can't believe how much I paid for it

I had a 6S but I gave it to my sister. Originally I planned to buy a used iPhone 7 for 350 USD as a replacement.

Then I thought it's better to buy a new XR 64 GB. I always wanted FaceID and the gestures. Of course upgrading to the XR 128 GB seemed like a pretty good deal. It's the perfect amount of storage for not much more money. And lots of reviewers said the same.

Then I started to doubt whether I shouldn't get the XS 64 GB instead because it's just more comfortable to use with one hand (although the XR was more manageable than I expected) and I love taking pictures. But it's pretty expensive. After agonizing over it for a few days, I decided the zoom lens on the XS could be convenient and I could survive with 64 GB.

Before I went to the Apple Store I started to think that the XS 256 GB would be nice too. On my iPhone 6S I used more than 50 GB and it made me worry a bit. And I could start taking 4K videos too. I couldn't justify the big jump in price however. It seemed ridiculous to pay that much more for a storage upgrade. I could buy a small tablet instead.

While I was waiting in line to purchase the XS 64 GB, I changed my mind at the last moment and ended up buying the XS 256 GB instead. I thought it would give me more peace of mind.

Looking back now, it just seems crazy I bought it. If you had asked me a few days ago if I wanted to pay 1250 USD for a phone or 150 USD for additional storage, I would have said no way.

My whole decision process was one big mess with lots of cognitive distortions. Every upgrade seemed small but the final price is not.

And still I don't know whether I should return it or not...
Click to expand...

Hi OP you should return it and get an XR in 128gb because,

1. You did not intend to spend so much in the first place and the XR is the best value for the money at the moment, you will still be getting all the fancy new stuff like the A12 processor, the new camera with a bigger, deeper sensor(working with the A12 to product those amazing high dynamic range shots), amazing screen to body ratio, best stereo separation in a smartphone, face id and also the longest battery life even in an iPhone.

2. As you have stated, 128gb is the prefect size for not much more money. Totally agree with you. 128gb is prefect for me and from what you are saying, also for you.

3. The zoom lens does not kick in as often as most people think it does, it depends on the lighting condition. So unless you take a lot of sunlit pictures it’s not really going to matter.

4. The iPhone XR is the spiritual successor of the non plus size iPhones. In that it has the same PPI of 326 but more importantly requires only 2x render to draw on the screen compared to 3x render on the plus size iPhones, X, XS, XS Max. This means it requires less resources(cpu/gpu, ram, power, heat dissipation) to render an image on the screen. On screen benchmarks are showing that the iPhone XR is able to maintain the highest FPS be a good margin compared even to the XS and XS Max. It is currently the best iPhone for playing games, in terms of FPS and also length of gaming time before needing a recharge. Moreover with the current excess of power in the XR, it would probably be supported for a long time to come, considering it is the only 2x render device with not only the A12 processor but also 3gb of ram.

5. Many reviewers have tested all the latest iPhone and almost everyone is recommending the XR as the iPhone to buy. Most are saying the difference is not worth the additional $250. Something you have notice yourself. Totally agree with the majority of reviewers out there. The only noticeable difference would be the telephoto lens which works occasionally depending on how well lit the place is. For me, that’s not worth an additional $250. This is not even counting the top up to get 256gb since 128gb is not an option.

6. You don’t seem to have a problem with the size of the XR, as it turns out to be more manageable then you originally thought it was. So going with the XR would mean going with the biggest screen you find manageable.

7. So many beautiful color option. Mine is blue.

8. Most importantly, it’s good financial discipline to not over spend. Once you get into the habit of spending more than you sensibility should, it will inevitably lead to future heartaches. Seen too many people get caught in this trap.
 
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phido said:
I'm sitting here with an unopened box of the iPhone XS 256 GB in front of me. I can't believe how much I paid for it

I had a 6S but I gave it to my sister. Originally I planned to buy a used iPhone 7 for 350 USD as a replacement.

Then I thought it's better to buy a new XR 64 GB. I always wanted FaceID and the gestures. Of course upgrading to the XR 128 GB seemed like a pretty good deal. It's the perfect amount of storage for not much more money. And lots of reviewers said the same.

Then I started to doubt whether I shouldn't get the XS 64 GB instead because it's just more comfortable to use with one hand (although the XR was more manageable than I expected) and I love taking pictures. But it's pretty expensive. After agonizing over it for a few days, I decided the zoom lens on the XS could be convenient and I could survive with 64 GB.

Before I went to the Apple Store I started to think that the XS 256 GB would be nice too. On my iPhone 6S I used more than 50 GB and it made me worry a bit. And I could start taking 4K videos too. I couldn't justify the big jump in price however. It seemed ridiculous to pay that much more for a storage upgrade. I could buy a small tablet instead.

While I was waiting in line to purchase the XS 64 GB, I changed my mind at the last moment and ended up buying the XS 256 GB instead. I thought it would give me more peace of mind.

Looking back now, it just seems crazy I bought it. If you had asked me a few days ago if I wanted to pay 1250 USD for a phone or 150 USD for additional storage, I would have said no way.

My whole decision process was one big mess with lots of cognitive distortions. Every upgrade seemed small but the final price is not.

And still I don't know whether I should return it or not...
Click to expand...

Sleep on it. If you wake up and the first thing you think of tomorrow is that iphone, I think you should keep it.

I just bought a 256 XS max and used Verizon’s phone upgrade plan. I came from an iPhone 7. Before that I had a 6 plus.

I was NOT satisfied at all with the 7. Seemed like it was slightly better than my 6 plus.

This new XS max has made me happy to own an iPhone again.

For anyone curious, if you have the grandfathered UDP, you CAN keep it while also taking advantage of Verizon’s device payment plan. Just did so today.
 
Part of me thinks that the 2019 iPhone XS will be discounted , and I mean in the sense that they reduce the price of how it starts. With the amount of scrutiny that Apple is facing for their prices for their phones, and now that they are not reporting iPhone figures anymore, they have to make a move somewhere to keep the market ‘alive’ in the sense of enticing those to upgrade. And the only way to really do that is by price reduction, not by adding new features or hardware for the same price points.
 
Just buy a mint used 256gb 8 plus. Saves you a lot of money and it's a fantastic phone. That's what I did.

Screen is crisper than on the Xr, that's why I returned the Xr and went with the 8 plus.
 
thadoggfather said:
$800 for 128 XR vs $1150 for 256 XS

I think 128 XR is the way to go from 6s, or a refurbished 8/8+ if you wanna save even more and stay touchID/same design-ish
Click to expand...

I agree. The XR will be such a big improvement over the 6s you'll never miss the XS. And the much-maligned but absolutely beautiful XR display (almost every reviewer has conceded that the display, despite its specs, is terrific) will likely be more durable over time. And then there's the difference in price, with the XR 128 probably being the best iPhone deal in years.
 
In my opinion, if you are this undecided, the purchase was a mistake. These phones are priced way to high for anyone to be undecided. You would be better off with the XR 256GB. Apple is offering more at the moment for trade in's which wil also help you save some money.
 
I slept on it for a night and I decided to keep the 256GB XS. I didn’t buy it in the US so there is no trial period unfortunately.

Although it’s very expensive for a phone, the financial impact on my life is minimal. I can always skip eating out a few times.

I realized that the iPhone is an incredibly important tool in my life. I’m using at it more than 5 hours a day. It’s worth it to spend extra to get the phone I really desire.

I do prefer the smaller size of the XS. The XR with a protective case would be too big I fear.

I don’t need 256 GB but 64 GB is a bit on the small side for me. Micromanaging sucks.

Also I don’t want to go to the Apple store and go through the same agonizing experience again

[doublepost=1543936417][/doublepost]Good things about the XS
- I love the gesture based interface. When I had an iPhone 4 I would jailbreak it and add gestures. So this is really the perfect OS for me.
- it’s incredibly smooth

Bad points
- the battery life is quite disappointing (although I expected it). Better than the 6S but I definitely need to charge it in the evening.
- with a case (Ringke Onyx) it becomes quite big.
- the telelens doesn’t work for portrait photos of close objects.
 
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I upgraded from a 5S to the Xs 256. Holds all the music I have (copied from my iMac) and many GBs of photos, etc., etc. On a recent trip, I took MANY photos of wonderful quality; many photos in museums where it's quite dark of course. Never using a flash was never a problem and photos seemed to be brighter than the view was in true life! What a wonderful camera. Often used the 2x 'button'. Fits easily in my pocket which was a big worry. If you're going to keep this phone for 3-5 years, why cheat yourself. Of course, if you're not taking many pics or don't have a lot of music to carry with you, your needs/wishes might be completely different.

On the other hand--how much are your carrier's fees each month? Maybe a cheaper plan with less data that you might not be using anyway each month could free up enough cash to make a higher priced phone not such a burden. The plan I could wish for and what I actually do have easily amounts to over $500 a year difference--year after year after year! Of course this is me and NO regrets for my Xs purchase.
 
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piimacmn said:
I upgraded from a 5S to the Xs 256. Holds all the music I have (copied from my iMac) and many GBs of photos, etc., etc. On a recent trip, I took MANY photos of wonderful quality; many photos in museums where it's quite dark of course. Never using a flash was never a problem and photos seemed to be brighter than the view was in true life! What a wonderful camera. Often used the 2x 'button'. Fits easily in my pocket which was a big worry. If you're going to keep this phone for 3-5 years, why cheat yourself. Of course, if you're not taking many pics or don't have a lot of music to carry with you, your needs/wishes might be completely different.

On the other hand--how much are your carrier's fees each month? Maybe a cheaper plan with less data that you might not be using anyway each month could free up enough cash to make a higher priced phone not such a burden. The plan I could wish for and what I actually do have easily amounts to over $500 a year difference--year after year after year! Of course this is me and NO regrets for my Xs purchase.
Click to expand...
I take tons of pictures too. With my normal camera (Canon g7x mark II) it has happened quite often that I ran out of storage space on the SD card. Not a pleasant experience if you still need to shoot the rest of the day.

I don’t have a monthly plan so I paid the full price.
 
phido said:
I'm sitting here with an unopened box of the iPhone XS 256 GB in front of me. I can't believe how much I paid for it

I had a 6S but I gave it to my sister. Originally I planned to buy a used iPhone 7 for 350 USD as a replacement.

Then I thought it's better to buy a new XR 64 GB. I always wanted FaceID and the gestures. Of course upgrading to the XR 128 GB seemed like a pretty good deal. It's the perfect amount of storage for not much more money. And lots of reviewers said the same.

Then I started to doubt whether I shouldn't get the XS 64 GB instead because it's just more comfortable to use with one hand (although the XR was more manageable than I expected) and I love taking pictures. But it's pretty expensive. After agonizing over it for a few days, I decided the zoom lens on the XS could be convenient and I could survive with 64 GB.

Before I went to the Apple Store I started to think that the XS 256 GB would be nice too. On my iPhone 6S I used more than 50 GB and it made me worry a bit. And I could start taking 4K videos too. I couldn't justify the big jump in price however. It seemed ridiculous to pay that much more for a storage upgrade. I could buy a small tablet instead.

While I was waiting in line to purchase the XS 64 GB, I changed my mind at the last moment and ended up buying the XS 256 GB instead. I thought it would give me more peace of mind.

Looking back now, it just seems crazy I bought it. If you had asked me a few days ago if I wanted to pay 1250 USD for a phone or 150 USD for additional storage, I would have said no way.

My whole decision process was one big mess with lots of cognitive distortions. Every upgrade seemed small but the final price is not.

And still I don't know whether I should return it or not...
Click to expand...
Should of gone for the Max! Better battery life, bigger screen and looks more upscale due to size!
 
Dang no trial period sucks. Well the money is spent, enjoy your phone. Take care of it and keep it for the next 3yrs to get your money’s worth. Don’t try to upgrade to the new phone next year and spend MORE money
 
Well, now that you bought it, why don't you see how you feel after using it and having it for a week or so? I have the XS and I love it. The general consensus online is that the XS isn't worth it, and I don't really understand why that is. It's a great size that doesn't cross into phablet territory, the camera is amazing, the screen is amazing, and it has gigabit-LTE, and I have found that since they've fixed the connectivity issues that my LTE seems pretty speedy. Maybe its all in my head, but I've had no problems after that initial issue regardless.

Also, for me, I plan on keeping this thing for years unless something drastic happens. The only thing massive I see on the horizon is 5G, but even that I currently question - everything I do on my phone seems to load up almost instantly on my phone with LTE. These phones have the power of computers now -- another thing that people generally forget about.

So, I say enjoy it :) -- unless it really isn't worth it to you, then just swap out for the XR lol.

Edit: keep in mind that the XR lacks 3D Touch, too, if that's something you're used to having.
 
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