iPhone 15 Pro Smarter to not order on launch, or?

[Carlsberg69]

I’m fascinated over how many that can’t wait to order and get the new iPhone at every launch. In all fairness I can understand it to a certain extent, but if you have a couple of year old perfectly working iPhone, which you don’t directly have a “major” problem with, then why… ok, also understand of course if you’re on a plan which enables you to switch yearly/biyearly, but those plans comes with relatively higher costs don’t they?
Even if it’s fun to just switch every year isn’t a lot smarter to wait a little bit and see how the reviews and verdicts are on the new models, at least it’ll help you choose model better? It’s not like you are in a panic having a 13/14 reg/pro, unless you have a really good reason of course. I do fully respect everyone’s freedom of choice and all, but am I the only one that finds this enormous race of ordering the new iPhone every year I bit “fascinating”?

 

[aajeevlin]

It's a thing and people do their thing. They do things that makes them exciting and happy. You don't hear me complaining the need to celebrate every football game or people rush out to buy the newest cars (and yes I know someone who buy a new car on a yearly basis).

 

[rui no onna]

The deals are pretty much the same whole year round ($800-1000 off with trade-in). Might as well get it early so you finish the “3-year contract” and get all your credits earlier. Also, trading in a 3-4 year old phone, the battery’s probably starting to wear down or has gotten quite worn down already.

As for higher costs, not necessarily. For the Apple iPhone Upgrade Program, the only additional cost is AC+. If you’re getting that anyway, then it’s a wash.

 

[sjperformance]

It don't bother me. Its people money and time. Its an apple tradition. Enjoy what you want. I enjoy pre-ordering mine every year. I'm sure in the future things will change. Lets see. I mean people still get hyped on Jordans right? I know I still do on certain releases.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I always wait to upgrade until around mid November/December. Just have to keep your eye on the inventory of the Apple store in your area and move quickly when you find the device you're looking for

 

[MarkNewton2023]

Preordering iPhone to get it on a launch day is my annual Apple tradition. I am always looking forward to it every year and enjoying it. 😁

 

[Carlsberg69]

It's a thing and people do their thing. They do things that makes them exciting and happy. You don't hear me complaining the need to celebrate every football game or people rush out to buy the newest cars (and yes I know someone who buy a new car on a yearly basis).

Upgrading a car on yearly basis, wow, yes that’s in a whole other league isn’t it 😬 thanks for putting my question in another perspective 😀

 

[Carlsberg69]

The deals are pretty much the same whole year round ($800-1000 off with trade-in). Might as well get it early so you finish the “3-year contract” and get all your credits earlier. Also, trading in a 3-4 year old phone, the battery’s probably starting to wear down or has gotten quite worn down already.

As for higher costs, not necessarily. For the Apple iPhone Upgrade Program, the only additional cost is AC+. If you’re getting that anyway, then it’s a wash.

Ok thanks for input on the upgrade program. Don’t have it where I live.

 

[tekchic]

Those of us that aren't into the "sportsball" enjoy the preorder thrill, the tracking thrill, launch day delivery thrill. Some people are just into different things.

I'm going from a 12 Pro Max to a 15 PM this time, so I kept mine for 3 years, but I do use the IUP every time, just in case I feel like upgrading in a year if it's a big jump. I didn't see major jumps from my 12 PM to want to upgrade the past 2x, but the USB-C and dynamic island, action button, big camera upgrade -- that was enough for me to leap this time.

 

[AndrewS]

I usually do a 2y cadence. Enough to get some new tech on the phone and where the battery starts to wear a bit and actually affect battery life in my day to day usage. I then get a new battery in it and hand it down to my wife so she gets a newer one (I'm behind a bit as she has an iPhone Xr right now). I'm a tech guy so I like to keep up to date on a few items.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Even if it’s fun to just switch every year isn’t a lot smarter to wait a little bit and see how the reviews and verdicts are on the new models, at least it’ll help you choose model better? It’s not like you are in a panic having a 13/14 reg/pro, unless you have a really good reason of course. I do fully respect everyone’s freedom of choice and all, but am I the only one that finds this enormous race of ordering the new iPhone every year I bit “fascinating”?

Not really.
If someone is already dedicated to upgrading their phone every year, or they’re on one of the upgrade plans, they don’t really need a review to validate their decision.
The assumption is, since they are upgrading every year, they’re probably a fan of Apple technology in some way or another, and a review isn’t going to change their minds.
Also, most tech enthusiasts, who are the people that are going to be upgrading yearly more than likely already know what model of the phone they’re going to get because it’s probably a direct upgrade from the one they’ve got now.
If they’ve got the 14 Pro Max, they probably already know that they want the 15 Pro Max.

 

[thecautioners]

I do it because ultimately it makes the good brain chemicals do the thing.

I’m coming from a 14PM and my upgrade to 15PM cost me $90 up front. Its installment every month will replace the 14’s installment, which I’ve already been paying for a year, so no bill increase. I’ll do the same thing next year with the 16.

Anything to carve out a little joy in this otherwise abysmal existence. We’re here for such a short time, might as well experience good feelings.

 

[LongBall14]

I’ve enjoyed the launch day delivery before but I am aiming for an iPhone in November usually when they start the extended return dates for holidays on their products.

 

[Carlsberg69]

Not really.
If someone is already dedicated to upgrading their phone every year, or they’re on one of the upgrade plans, they don’t really need a review to validate their decision.
The assumption is, since they are upgrading every year, they’re probably a fan of Apple technology in some way or another, and a review isn’t going to change their minds.
Also, most tech enthusiasts, who are the people that are going to be upgrading yearly more than likely already know what model of the phone they’re going to get because it’s probably a direct upgrade from the one they’ve got now.
If they’ve got the 14 Pro Max, they probably already know that they want the 15 Pro Max.

Yes I can see your point on this, but I guess this is also partly what gets me a bit. It’s like Apple can release “anything” and millions will line up, roughly speaking. In the old days up to the 6 I was also very excited about the yearly keynote but that’s long gone… especially since 6’s “bendgate”, if you’ll remember, then I got very careful and have personally waited for long term verdicts before taking decisions. I do accept the thrills the hardcore Apple fans and early adopters get, I clearly belong to a later group lol. In fact, I’m quite thankful to them in the end of the day, so a lot of others can get a lot of reviews and reports from them before buying. 😀

 

[ctjack]

especially since 6’s “bendgate”, if you’ll remember, then I got very careful and have personally waited for long term verdicts before taking decisions.

That bendgate occurred to only people with round parking spots that loved to put them in the back pocket. If you decided to upgrade, then better do it early to get the full use of 365 days until next one.
If not decided to upgrade, then it really doesn't matter when to buy.
But you also dont want to end up as a person who bought 14PM 4 months ago.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

It doesn't bother me, but I never do. I like to read some reviews and see the device in person before buying; maybe I don't like the weight or the feel, or the colors. It's not just phones, though; I've always been the anti-early adopter and I don't upgrade yearly.

Do what you want, though!

 

[dmdcash]

Upgrading a car on yearly basis, wow, yes that’s in a whole other league isn’t it 😬 thanks for putting my question in another perspective 😀

Many many people lease cars, and leases can be from one year on, so in that case it isn't as big of a deal?

 

[mjpearce023]

I don’t see what the point of waiting would be. It’s not like Apple is going to find a hardware flaw and change the design of the phone after already producing 10 or 20 million units. Sometimes there are issues early but are addressed with a firmware update pretty quickly. I’ve got all my phones on launch day and my iPhone 7 was the only one that had an issue and was replaced under warranty.

 

[Carlsberg69]

That bendgate occurred to only people with round parking spots that loved to put them in the back pocket. If you decided to upgrade, then better do it early to get the full use of 365 days until next one.
If not decided to upgrade, then it really doesn't matter when to buy.
But you also dont want to end up as a person who bought 14PM 4 months ago.

Have to disagree a little bit there, happened to me just having it in the front pocket. And many with me.
And, looking down and kicking a stone on the ground, I upgraded from a 13 to a 14 PM in end of March… don’t regret it at all and got it for a good discount. Had to due to drastic change of work related needs. Why wouldn’t I want end up like a person like that?

 

[eoblaed]

I upgrade every year and have since the original phone. I do this because I like to. I use my phone so much, having that device be the most capable one I can get is of value to me. And it's fun.

I also take good care of my phones. So the iPhone 6 Plus 'issue' ... wasn't. The iPhone 4 'antenna gate' was really blown out of proportion.

I've never been bitten by one of the so-called scandals and, as a result, I've been able to enjoy the latest and greatest every day of every year since June 29, 2007.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

That bendgate occurred to only people with round parking spots that loved to put them in the back pocket. If you decided to upgrade, then better do it early to get the full use of 365 days until next one.
If not decided to upgrade, then it really doesn't matter when to buy.
But you also dont want to end up as a person who bought 14PM 4 months ago.

Well that's just incorrect. My previous job had 6-plus phones as company phones and several of them bent over time, over 50% in my department, in an Otterbox and never in a back pocket.

I never saw a regular 6 bend, but I heard that it happened.

 

[compwiz1202]

Upgrading a car on yearly basis, wow, yes that’s in a whole other league isn’t it 😬 thanks for putting my question in another perspective 😀

Agree with an iPhone you can trade and keep the payments fairly low. With a car, maybe if you lease and follow all the contract terms, you can do ok, but buying straight out or constanly rolling in the new loan would be crazy

 

[rui no onna]

I upgraded from a 13 to a 14 PM in end of March… don’t regret it at all and got it for a good discount.

In countries where you can get discounts after a few months or when they’re soon to be replaced, then sure.

In the US, for most folks the carrier deals available at launch are the same as the ones available until the device is discontinued. Hence, the iPhone is essentially “full price” the entire time it is available for sale.

1-2 year old models usually drop $100 in price when the new iPhones are announced. Beneficial for those opting for ACMI or paying full price. Less so for folks going with the carrier trade-in deals.

Those on carrier deals are better off getting the latest model in order to maximize trade-in value since the contract duration is the same and you’re paying $0 (for base storage) either way.

 

[ctjack]

Have to disagree a little bit there, happened to me just having it in the front pocket. And many with me.
And, looking down and kicking a stone on the ground, I upgraded from a 13 to a 14 PM in end of March… don’t regret it at all and got it for a good discount. Had to due to drastic change of work related needs. Why wouldn’t I want end up like a person like that?

I am just counting straight from financial perspective. Having an asset bought and amortizing it for longer period is preferable in the business - you would not want your 1.5M dump truck that you bought in March to be valued at 650K in September only because new better one came out.

If you buy in May for $1200 and get $650 back in September, that is only 5 month out of 12 full use but your value goes down the same, your phone is in a better shape(no batter degradation) and so on. And then you have to jump on a new one for full amount less your $650.

Of course it doesn't apply if you don't upgrade at all or deem the money no issue at all - which is not the majority of buyer's feeling even here.

Well that's just incorrect. My previous job had 6-plus phones as company phones and several of them bent over time, over 50% in my department, in an Otterbox and never in a back pocket.

I never saw a regular 6 bend, but I heard that it happened.

We had all family iphone 6 and did not observe any problems. I agree that the plus version had it more pronounced.
But the initial question was as to "whether skip the model based on reviews" or not. We did not skip and it worked out great - iphone 6 worked out great for us for 6 years, 1500 battery cycles.

If you are skipping then we are back to the point: "Of course it doesn't apply if you don't upgrade at all or deem the money no issue at all - which is not the majority of buyer's feeling even here."

 

[Asiatic Black Hebrew]

Yes I can see your point on this, but I guess this is also partly what gets me a bit. It’s like Apple can release “anything” and millions will line up, roughly speaking.

There's a reason why Apple has more cash on hand than any other company. There's no doubt that people buy anything this company releases & Apple is well aware of it. This has been the case for years now & was proven true with the release of the Apple cleaning cloth. A regular microfiber cloth with an Apple logo, that people willingly paid $20 for. All while knowing full well, they could get the exact same product, minus the logo of course, for probably a buck. I won't even begin with the absurdity of there actually being 10+ minute long review videos for it.

This sort of blind allegiance is why Apple is able to release & price their products with impunity. It's fascinating to watch, really.