Other Since the iPhone first launched how many iPhones have you owned?, What was your favourite iphone & Did you have any regret buys!

[Marty80]

I thought I start a little time waster thread, while people are waiting for the iPhone 16 launch.

Since the iPhone first launched I have owned 6 iPhones. My favourite iPhone was the X, it was the most epic update in Apples history. As it ousted the home button for a full screen phone, which many of us were accustomed to.

My regret buy was my current phone the iPhone 12 Pro Max, only because there was not much changes visually, and I could have hanged onto my X much longer.

 

[now i see it]

8 iPhones.
My favorite is the 6S Plus which I’m still using right now. It has the most eye friendly display of any iPhone ever made. The 7 got worse, the 8 Plus even worse than 7. The 11 screen is inferior to the 6S+ and all the rest have janky flickering OLED screens.

 

[MPclk2006]

I bought the first iPhone when it came out, well not on release day but shortly after. I always skipped the "S" releases so I had the 1st, 3G, 4, 5, 6, I think I switched to android and did not get the 7 and came back for the 8, X, 12 mini, 14 pro max so a total of 9. My favorite update was the X and my least favorite or regret was the 12 mini.

 

[blairh]

My iPhone journey.

3G
4
5
6 Plus
8 Plus
X
XS Max
12 PM
13 Mini
13
14 Pro
15 Plus
16 PM (next month)

In retrospect my favs were the 3G (amazing in-hand, first iPhone I owned), XS Max (large screen with a super thin bezel), and my current 15 Plus. Confident the 16 PM will be my favorite iPhone to date.

 

[ShadowGuardian87]

My iPhone history is as follows
-iPhone 3G ( 2008)
-iPhone 4 ( 2010)
-iPhone 5 ( 2012)
-iPhone 6 ( 2014)
-iPhone 7 Plus ( 2016)
-iPhone 11 Pro Max ( 2019)
-iPhone 14 Pro Max ( 2022)
-iPhone 15 Pro Max ( 2023)

As for my favorite of the bunch that’s hard to say as I enjoy each iPhone I got. But in terms of the iPhone launch experience I will say the iPhone 4 was my fondest experience: I made real friends standing in line for that phone and the Apple employees fed us breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I was also on the news all day cause the line was insane lol. But I think the Pro Max models are my favorites. I saw how small the iPhone 4 and 5 were recently and couldn’t believe I used those lol.

 

[Juicy Box]

iPhone models that I owned and personally used:

2007 original iPhone
2011 iPhone 4s - favorite design
2013 iPhone 5s
2015 iPhone 6s Plus - hated it
2017 iPhone SE1
2022 iPhone 13 Mini - the last great iPhone

 

[eyoungren]

7 iPhones…



Started with a 3GS as a Christmas gift in 2011. Phone was WiFi only for me because I already had long established service with Sprint at the time and a different phone.

Got the iPhone 5 on launch day in 2012. Upgraded to a 6 Plus in February 2015, a 6s Plus in late September 2015 and the 11 Pro Max in February 2021. In between the 6s Plus and the 11 PM was a Google Pixel 3a XL, which is the phone that took the above pictures.

I have a 3GS, a 4, a 4s, two iPhone 5's (one was my wife's, one is mine), a 6 Plus, a 6s Plus and my 11 Pro Max. My wife's old 6s is not in this picture as my daughter managed to crack the screen a couple years ago. But I have that one as well. Neither the 4 or the 4s were ever used as primary phones. I bought both much later at separate times and combined they cost me $45.

Every device here powers on and is fully functional, with the exception of the 4 which has a bad power button. That was a Reddit buy.

We don't trade in devices.

Oh! Favorite iPhone, the iPhone 5. I don't use it as a primary phone though as it's too small.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Just one... a "hand me up" iPhone 5s (daughter gave it to me after it was replaced). I used it to port a long-term landline number to a cell service line and then on to a VOIP provider (couldn't do that directly- had to make it a cell service number first)... so used an iPhone to accomplish that for only a few days.

Then I made my new cellular iPad mini 2 with VOIP app and buds become my "iPhone" for about 8 years... being replaced with cellular iPad Mini 6 for probably about 8 more. Perfectly happy with iPad Mini standing in as both tablet and phone in ONE device. I don't really feel like I'm missing a thing this way.

If apps can make iDevices stand in as a flashlight, a map, a radio, a tape measure, etc, they can make them a phone too. Telephony is just an app. Anyone with any doubts should download 1+ VOIP app (they will usually offer a free phone number) and test it by calling your phone and using your phone to call your iPad... text yourself and then reply to your iPad. It "just works."

Why this? Among other reasons that matter to me, the most tangible is massive cost-savings. iPads have long-use legs without the mysterious "long in tooth" effect hitting. And 5G data for iPad (used by the VOIP app) can be had for as little as $25/year (yes that's YEAR). If one is buying this new "phone" every 6-8 years instead of every 2 or 3... and paying as little as $25/year for service, the savings over 5 or 10+ years is quite sizable.

 

[eyoungren]

Just one... a "hand me up" iPhone 5s (daughter gave it to me after it was replaced). I used it to port a long-term landline number to a cell service line and then on to a VOIP provider (couldn't do that directly- had to make it a cell service number first)... so used it as an iPhone for only a few days.

Then I made my new cellular iPad mini 2 with VOIP app and buds become my "iPhone" for about 8 years... being replaced with cellular iPad Mini 6 for probably about 8 more. Perfectly happy with iPad Mini's standing in as both tablet and phone. I don't really feel like I'm missing a thing this way.

If iDevices can be a flashlight, a map, a radio, a tape measure, etc, they can be a phone too. Telephony is just an app.

When I got my 3GS for Christmas I used it to familiarize myself with iOS. Since the iPhone was only with AT&T at that time and I was with Sprint I got a Google Voice number and the Talkatone app. Talkatone went paid later on but for some time I was able to have a 'phone' that made calls and sent/received text messages on WiFi. I also had iMessage in the stock app so covered both ways back then. Worked fairly well as most of the places I'm usually at have strong WiFi.

Of course now Google has it's own app for calls/texts, but I primarily use that for 2FA as the number isn't attached to a SIM card like my primary number is.

 

[gwang73]

OG iPhone
3G
4
4S
5
5S
6
6S
7
X
XS
11 Pro
12 Pro
13 Mini
14 Pro
15 Pro

I liked the 5/5S the most, then the X. My most disliked model was the 12/14 Pro. Wished I kept my 11 Pro longer. Now I really like the 15 Pro and don't think I'm going for the 16 Pro this year.

If the rumors are true about the 17 slim model next year, I'd upgrade to that.

 

[toobravetosave]

4s
5
6
7
8
X
12
15 plus

i have family who aggressively upgrade via carriers so ive gotten to play with quite a few hand me downs and also a fair bit of android devices too

my favourite iphone was probably the 7 but i’ll be honest my favourite phone ever might have been the htc incredible back when custom android roms were fun

also special mention to samsung s5 with a plastic removable back and battery that was still ip67 waterproof

 

[BugeyeSTI]

4S
5S
6
6S
X
15PM
All iPhones except the 6 were loved for different reasons. iPhone 6 was sold a month after I purchased it because my 5S was a better phone IMO. The 6S was the phone the 6 should of been and was a worthy upgrade to the 5S. I loved the X because it was a new design and got rid of TouchID which never worked well for me mostly because of my occupation. The 15PM was a substantial upgrade from my X. Although I miss my X, I'm happy with the larger screen, improved cameras and longer battery life the PM offers. The bump in ram didn't bother me either

 

[heretiq]

I thought I start a little time waster thread, while people are waiting for the iPhone 16 launch.

Since the iPhone first launched I have owned 6 iPhones. My favourite iPhone was the X, it was the most epic update in Apples history. As it ousted the home button for a full screen phone, which many of us were accustomed to.

My regret buy was my current phone the iPhone 12 Pro Max, only because there was not much changes visually, and I could have hanged onto my X much longer.

OG iPhone
3G
4S
5C
7
X <— Favorite iPhone of all time, but only realized it after switching to 12 Pro
12 Pro <— Big mistake in trading-in my iPhone X for this bulky, portable heater
13 Mini <— Current iPhone and Peak iPhone IMHO .. this will be my last iPhone if SFF iPhone is discontinued

 

[Neofox]

I was a late iPhone user personally. I was enjoying Android a lot but decided to give the iPhone a try to have an objective opinion on both systems.

I started with the iPhone 6 and loved it so much I am using iPhones since then.
Switched for an iPhone X which was expensive but soooo worth it just for the screen alone.
Then switch to the iPhone 13 which I still own. I was a bit underwhelmed especially because I lost the telephoto lens and 3D touch which I really enjoyed using. but the form factor and the camera improvement where pretty nice.
Next month going for the iPhone 16 PM for the bigger/better screen and the cameras.

 

[stevemiller]

3g - first smartphone, loved it, felt like the future
4s - just an absolute joy of a phone. Form factor and aesthetics still unmatched imo
6 - yuck. Ugly, slow, batterygate. Worst ever.
7 - perfectly fine, but also kinda unremarkable
13 pro - I like some aspects like the screen and battery life, but it’s too big and heavy. I’d give up most of its perks for a smaller device, except promotion.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Since the iPhone first launched I have owned 6 iPhones. My favourite iPhone was the X, it was the most epic update in Apples history. As it ousted the home button for a full screen phone, which many of us were accustomed to.

Original 8GB
Original 16GB
3G
iPad I, II, III + Skype
iPad Mini 1/2/3/4/5 + Skype
iPad Mini 6 (returned)
iPhone 6 (inherited, final phone)
iPhone 8 (inherited, sold)
iPhone 8 (inherited, sold)
iPhone 13pm (inherited, selling)

My favorite was the Original 16GB iPhone, until the iPad Mini 4 & 5 came out, and I realized I had no desire to own a phone ever again. Except I destroy a mini in about a year using it as my phone. Also, I went through every level of hell with my Grandmother to buy her this iPhone 6 when it came out, and she loved using it for the rest of her life, & of course it ended up back on my desk eventually. It's the only object I'm really sentimental about since we both spent so much time on it, so I'm keeping it running and think of it as her phone every time I pick it up. Funny thing is, everyone else sees me with this ancient 6 and they keep giving me their much newer old phones out of charity. But none are as meaningful, plus hers has a headphone jack so it can always plug into anything everywhere I go: cars, boats, tv, hotels, etc.. the old 6 is slowww, but in the end, delivers where the new phones don't. I can't wait to get another iPad Mini 5 though, and kiss this overpriced cellular plan goodbye once and for all.

 

[cptcaveman]

3GS - I thought it was just OK. I had been into Windows Mobile HTC devices and remember thinking the 3GS was a little primitive. I missed the stylus and keyboards, and there was no multitasking.

4S - Pretty good - I loved the new physical design, even though it hurt my hand. Must have become a true Apple fan This system is going somewhere. First white phone. Look at me!

5 - Kinda like the 4. Bigger? Unmemorable?

6 Plus - Back to black. I loved it. The screen! Curvy, comfortable hand feel. Probably my favorite ever iPhone upgrade.

8 Plus - Dunno. More battery life?

XS Max - Loved the name. Max excess! That is exactly what it felt like buying it when it was pretty similar to the 8 Plus in my mind. Lol.

11 Pro - With children wanting hand-me-down phones, more upgrades were needed. Keenly felt the smaller battery and regretted not going with the Pro Max.

12 Pro Max - Back to great. Loved the updated shape and sore hand again My 2nd favorite.

14 Pro Max (Current) - Great. I am loving IOS 18 on it and am pondering the 16 Pro Max upgrade as the Apple Intelligence stuff seems like the first real actual productivity gain on these phones in a long time...

 

[Matsamoto]

iPhone 5
6
6s
8 Plus
Xs
Xs Max
12 Pro Max
15 Pro

Hard choice between 8 Plus and the 15 Pro, but I think I go with the 15 Pro for the best iPhone overall.

Worst iPhone was the 12 PM.
Constant Bluetooth connection issues with my AirPods and Apple Watch.
Constant WiFi and LTE problems.

Sold it and bought Samsung Galaxy S23.
Funny thing is that my ex Samsung phone connected better with my AirPods Pro 2 than my iPhone did.
And no WiFi/Lte problems.
Or maybe it was iOS.
Regardless I don’t have the connection issues with my 15 Pro that I have with the 12 PM.

 

[Matam]

OG 8gb - Well, was quite something. Being out of US, was the time when no choice but to JB to have it working. Was quite an epic start.
4 - Well, good memories, the front-back flat glass.
5S - One of my favorite. The form factor was glorious, handling, ... loved it, and touchID
XR - Didn't need the fanciness of the pro, but really enjoyed it, white one, although coming from the 5s, felt huge at first, big step forward, but steep in scale difference. But faceID was a treat
15 - Not as big step up, but "just fine"

After some times with the XR, had the 5S back in hand and felt so tiny though

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I’m on my third.

XR
11
14 Pro

No regrets, but I could have skipped the XR and gotten the 11 right away because I only used the XR for less than a year, I think before wanting the better cameras of the 11.
I for a long time didn’t want to spend Pro iPhone amounts. Until I did because I wanted the macro mode cameras.

 

[AlexJ092]

I have owned every iPhone since 2007. My favourite iPhone was the iPhone X which I still have in a draw and Is the only iPhone I did not trade in. I regret buying the iPhone 8 Plus as the X launched 2 months later so that was a very expensive year for iPhones as I got my X on launch day aswell.

 

[Deine Mudda]

8 iPhones.
My favorite is the 6S Plus which I’m still using right now. It has the most eye friendly display of any iPhone ever made. The 7 got worse, the 8 Plus even worse than 7. The 11 screen is inferior to the 6S+ and all the rest have janky flickering OLED screens.

Flickering? Did you ever have a modern iPhone in your hands outside of an Apple Store?
The displays are amazing, crisp, sharp letters and a wide arrange of colors with whitest whites and blackest blacks.
I think my eyes would feel insulted to ever look on an inferior LCD screen from back in the days.

 

[winxmac]

brand new iPhone 7 Plus 128GB in November 2020
brand new iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB in April 2023
pre-owned iPhone 11 Pro Max 512GB in August 2023
pre-owned iPhone 13 Pro 512GB in June 2024
pre-owned iPhone 5c 32GB in July 2024

several pre-owned units 2016-2019 [not in order]:
iPhone 4 16GB
iPhone 4s 32GB
iPhone 4s 64GB
iPhone 5 32GB
iPhone 5 64GB
iPhone 5c 32GB
iPhone 5s 32GB
iPhone 6s 64GB
iPhone SE 2016 32GB

Favorites:
iPhone 4s running iOS 6.1.3
iPhone 5 running iOS 6.1.3
iPhone 5c running iOS 8.4.1
iPhone 5s running iOS 8.4.1
iPhone 6s running iOS 10.3.3
iPhone SE 2016 running iOS 10.3.3

Regret not buying brand new:
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro

 

[Andeddu]

I’ve been an Apple loyal since 2016 when I purchased the 6S.

The 6S is my personal favourite Apple device because it was perfect at the time with no known faults. It’s also surprisingly usable in 2024 and supports pretty much the whole AppStore suite. I use mine as a media player, music player, web-browser, etc… I had the battery replaced by Apple in Nov 2023 and use it as a WiFi only device now.

I have an SE1 which is probably the best Apple phone ever made. It packs a punch for something so small and, similar to the 6S, has certainly stood the test of time. I used it as my daily driver for 8 months in 2022 and really enjoyed the portability.

I have an 8 which is the 6S perfected with surround sound, capacitive home button and IP67 water resistance along with a super quick A11 processor. It’s still a great phone today… I had the battery replaced by Apple in July 2024 and intend to use it as a WiFi only device once the 6S is fully retired.

My daily driver is a regular 13. It’s a great phone, so good that I don’t see any reason to replace it with anything newer. I will get an OEM battery replacement in Jan 2025 and continue using it on a SIM only contract.

 

[Warped9]

Since 2012.

- iPhone 4 (my first smartphone. It was okay, but small and Lifeproof case interfered with touchscreen sensitivity)
- iPhone 6 (improvement over 4 particularly with using a bumper style case over bulky Otterbox style)
- iPhone 8+ (significant improvement in every respect over previous phones and greatly appreciated bigger screen)
- iPhone 14 (current phone I am very satisfied with. No plans to upgrade anytime soon)