iPhone 13 Stupidity of “Tech Reviewers”

[Racineur]

they complain about USB-C because they have to upload to their workstation and upload to youtube. the average joe doesn’t make youtube videos and couldn’t care less.

not to say phonebuff videos are pretty awesome .. so is jerry rig.. i enjoy seeing the internals

So as I said, they have made themselves into egocentric jerks who think the world revolves around their little person. Typical of millenials.

 

[Motionblurrr]

So as I said, they havemade themselves into egocentric jerks who think the world revolves around their little person.

lmao yup and trust me--in real life, at a party, gathering, family gathering, etc - that means absolutely nothing to anyone. I saw a video of most of them gathered at a Vegas hotel and they all looked like awkward geeks.

Not to say there's anything wrong with being awkward or a geek but in their little bubble they think they're the sh*t when in reality all they're doing is biased infomercials except its on youtube instead of on cable TV. 😂

 

[GuruZac]

Look at all of them whining about the ‘boring’ iPhone 13 Pro. I would argue having moved from an 11 Pro to my 13 Pro, the 13 Pro is the best iPhone I’ve had since the 7 Plus. It feels so refined, and Apple focused on all the parts to the user experience that matter. The display is stunning with ProMotion. The camera system is arguably the best out there and a serious leap forward in many ways. The battery is incredible. The design is the best out there in my opinion with build quality second to none. If I took the advice of a lot of YouTubers, especially with their preliminary reviews, I would never have upgraded. It’s a noticeable upgrade from my 11 Pro.

 

[Bustermd]

The moral of the story is... get what you want or need and don't be unduly influenced by anything or anyone.

Many online reviews are fake or biased, with the conflict of interest/bias not always disclosed, with the odd honest one thrown in there (even on aggregate ratings like on Google or what not).

The more I go on, the more I just trust my own judgement. It helps also when Apple has a pretty good return policy: if it doesn't meet your own personal standards, whatever they might be, send it back.

 

[PandaPunch]

Tech channels are weird. Not all of them do this, but quite a few of them do have this weird habit of hyper focusing on something I do not care about. I could've sworn I saw tech reviews of an okay device but it's the lack of USB type "holds it back" or some other small detail most won't care about. Or they compare phones with benchmark software like the average person is worried about that.

And the usual tropes are there; Apple is boring, Samsung or Motorola's new gimmick is the iPhone/iPad killer, etc.

 

[GuruZac]

Tech channels are weird. Not all of them do this, but quite a few of them do have this weird habit of hyper focusing on something I do not care about. I could've sworn I saw tech reviews of an okay device but it's the lack of USB type "holds it back" or some other small detail most won't care about. Or they compare phones with benchmark software like the average person is worried about that.

And the usual tropes are there; Apple is boring, Samsung or Motorola's new gimmick is the iPhone/iPad killer, etc.

The truth is, tech reviewers are tech nerds and review phones from their lens, forgetting that the overwhelming vast majority of smartphone users don’t care about such details.

 

[Racineur]

The truth is, tech reviewers are tech nerds and review phones from their lens, forgetting that the overwhelming vast majority of smartphone users don’t care about such details.

You said it. And this is the kind of people I "dislike". Self centred bastards who review important tech for themselves and their pairs. When I saw most of these reviewers now have a studio with special effects and lighting to match their mood or Gucci glasses, I get mad. Anyway, I have a grudge against people who think they are the center of the world. I could name a few in the world of online reviewers. One has even the name of an OS. He's the worst. Followed by the God of YT himself...the guy from New Jersey.

 

[Vazor]

My X has been an amazing device for a 4 year old phone. Never had any issues and I had Apple replace the battery last weekend, it feels like a new phone. I never noticed how much the battery had degraded over that time but after replacement it was apparent I should of had it done a year ago.. I'm still am considering a 13Pro or Pro Max in December but the X will stay as a backup device regardless ..

Do you notice any difference in the speed of the device after the battery replacement? Thinking of doing the same with my X.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Do you notice any difference in the speed of the device after the battery replacement? Thinking of doing the same with my X.

Yes, not only speed but scrolling is smoother, opening and closing apps have no frame drops.. I'm very happy with the replacement and wished I did it sooner

 

[Nightspirit]

I still use my iPhone 8 Plus. I have it since day 1 and I’m happy with it. In terms of spec it’s essentially the same phone than the iPhone X. I dont mind about Face ID (I got it on my IPP tho) and I was happy to unlock my IPhone with Touch ID when I needed to wear a mask at the start of the pandemic started.

I don’t see how I should be disappointed about this phone. It’s great, works well, battery is nice, etc.

I’m gonna upgrade when the notch will be discontinued. I hate it. Period.

 

[barondebxl]

I truly don't see the point of this thread because tech reviewers can be right and wrong. Also, I think that the iPhone 8/8 plus made a lot of sense for ppl that still wanted touch id and wanted to stick with that design/form factor because the iphone X was something completely different. The iphone X introduced gestures and all that stuff and some ppl don't like that, they like familiarity so apple played it safe and released an iPhone 6 look alike with upgraded internals. Also this was there introduction of $1000 phones and not everyone was willing to spend that much, I most certainly wasn't. Made a lot of sense. To this day I love the iphone 8 plus, it's one of my favorite phones ever and I'm an Android guy. If apple releases an iPhone SE 2022 with upgraded internals but in an 8 plus body I'm definitely buying it.

 

[barondebxl]

Ummm. I just purchased an iPhone 8+ last week and I could have purchased any new iPhone 13.
For me - the iPhone 8+ is still the pinnacle of iPhone because of the screen.
The iPhone X is deeply flawed because of its horrible PWM flickering OLED screen. It has the worst screen (flicker wise) of any iPhone ever made. Current iPhone OLED screens flicker too, but the X was the worst.

100% agree

 

[DaffiDuck]

As I look back at the last 4 years I still vividly remember when the iPhone X came out and the various reactions. Almost every “tech reviewer” or website said you absolutely shouldn’t buy the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 was a great phone to buy. Even at the time, the average person could see how utterly stupid those “expert recommendations” were.
The iPhone 8 was probably the worst possible phone you could buy. It was on the 4th year of a cycle that began with the iPhone 6 and already looked incredibly dated. Everyone knows that whether is cars or phones, it’s always best to buy when there’s a redesign. If you had the bought the “terribly overpriced” iPhone X 4 years ago, today you would have a phone that still works perfectly and looks almost identical to the newest phone Apple has. If you had bought the iPhone 8, you would basically have an iPhone 6 that looks awfully in need of an upgrade. The iPhone X works out to be $250 a year and still looks and works great.
The lesson here is simple, most “tech review websites” and single “tech reviewers” never take time into account when recommending a phone. You should probably do the exact opposite of what they recommend or say.

"It’s always best to buy when there’s a redesign."

So why did people buy the iPhone 13 your post is really stupid. The 13 is on the 4th Cycle next year is a new redesign when the 14 launches the 13 will looked so dated as the 15 16 17 18 so on will all follow suit of the 14 .....

And I am still using the iPhone 8 Plus due to the fact the X - 13 Line up are still the same if you understood my post

You can see when all the changes took place and all follow a similar cycle

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...phone-14.2313936/?post=30370649#post-30370649

16 iPhone 8 (LAUNCH - September 22nd, 2017)
17 iPhone 8 Plus (LAUNCH - September 22nd, 2017)
18 iPhone X (LAUNCH - September 22nd, 2017)

19 iPhone XR (LAUNCH - September 21st, 2018)
20 iPhone XS (LAUNCH - September 21st, 2018)
21 iPhone XS Max (LAUNCH - September 21st, 2018)

22 iPhone 11 (LAUNCH - September 20th, 2019)
23 iPhone 11 Pro (LAUNCH - September 20th, 2019)
24 iPhone 11 Pro Max (LAUNCH - September 20th, 2019)

25 iPhone SE (2nd generation) (LAUNCH - April 15th, 2020)
26 iPhone 12 mini (LAUNCH - October 13th, 2020)
27 iPhone 12 (LAUNCH - October 13th, 2020)
28 iPhone 12 Pro (LAUNCH - October 13th, 2020)
29 iPhone 12 Pro Max (LAUNCH - October 13th, 2020)

30 iPhone 13 mini (LAUNCH - September 24th, 2021)
31 iPhone 13 (LAUNCH - September 24th, 2021)
32 iPhone 13 Pro (LAUNCH - September 24th, 2021)
33 iPhone 13 Pro Max (LAUNCH - September 24th, 2021)

 

[HiVolt]

I bought the iPhone 8 because FaceID was unknown, untested in the real world. Touch ID was a proven technology.

FaceID turned out to be great tech, except when the pandemic hit, completely useless when forced to wear masks.

It took Apple over a year to come out with a "workaround" for unlocking the phone when wearing a mask, and it requires an Apple Watch. I'm grateful for it, because around here the indoor mask mandates are still a thing and will be for a while.

 

[Al Rukh]

As I look back at the last 4 years I still vividly remember when the iPhone X came out and the various reactions. Almost every “tech reviewer” or website said you absolutely shouldn’t buy the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 was a great phone to buy. Even at the time, the average person could see how utterly stupid those “expert recommendations” were.
The iPhone 8 was probably the worst possible phone you could buy. It was on the 4th year of a cycle that began with the iPhone 6 and already looked incredibly dated. Everyone knows that whether is cars or phones, it’s always best to buy when there’s a redesign. If you had the bought the “terribly overpriced” iPhone X 4 years ago, today you would have a phone that still works perfectly and looks almost identical to the newest phone Apple has. If you had bought the iPhone 8, you would basically have an iPhone 6 that looks awfully in need of an upgrade. The iPhone X works out to be $250 a year and still looks and works great.
The lesson here is simple, most “tech review websites” and single “tech reviewers” never take time into account when recommending a phone. You should probably do the exact opposite of what they recommend or say.

“iPhone 8 was probably the worst possible phone you could buy” - how so? It was the pinnacle of a tried and tested design with refinements such as the addition of a glass back so it could introduce wireless charging to iPhones.

If you’re a tech enthusiast then the iPhone X in 2017 was the phone for you but remember, it introduced a different way to interact with the phone and most people were unsure if they could get used to the new swipe gesture-based interactions. Plus the price didn’t help either. 999USD for a smartphone in 2017 was a lot to swallow. Battery life wasn’t stellar compared to the 8 Plus as well. It was the most innovative phone in that year’s lineup but the 8/8Plus were the safest models to get for someone doing a year on year upgrade.

 

[ian87w]

As I look back at the last 4 years I still vividly remember when the iPhone X came out and the various reactions. Almost every “tech reviewer” or website said you absolutely shouldn’t buy the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 was a great phone to buy. Even at the time, the average person could see how utterly stupid those “expert recommendations” were.
The iPhone 8 was probably the worst possible phone you could buy. It was on the 4th year of a cycle that began with the iPhone 6 and already looked incredibly dated. Everyone knows that whether is cars or phones, it’s always best to buy when there’s a redesign. If you had the bought the “terribly overpriced” iPhone X 4 years ago, today you would have a phone that still works perfectly and looks almost identical to the newest phone Apple has. If you had bought the iPhone 8, you would basically have an iPhone 6 that looks awfully in need of an upgrade. The iPhone X works out to be $250 a year and still looks and works great.
The lesson here is simple, most “tech review websites” and single “tech reviewers” never take time into account when recommending a phone. You should probably do the exact opposite of what they recommend or say.

Hmm, I thought I had a different impression. At that time, sure, the $999 price of the X was a head turner. However, most tech reviewers that I read did recommend people to just get the X. Most reviews that I read of the 8 said to hold off and wait for the X instead.

 

[aue123]

best reviews are low count subs .. MKBHD has millions of subs.. he has a second channel “behind the scenes” at this point he’s only the face.. and everyone else does all the actual work. Lew has addressed this (kinda) but he’s the same .. CJ unplugged isn’t a sell out yet so he’s decent (for now) .. average consumer is a sell out and can’t take his reviews honestly, he’s making videos to support his kid and not have to pay child support .. jerryrig doesn’t give actual day to day reviews , he’s legit.. bless his wife 🤪 phonebuff is legit, stats and data..

 

[magbarn]

iPhone 8 Plus was a godsend when Covid first hit and you couldn’t use your watch to unlock Face ID while wearing a mask. Touch ID ftw in that scenario. The 8+ screen also was bigger and had a better screen ratio for websites at the time.

 

[Warped9]

I tend to think like you but I would like to know why you are sticking to your 8. Have you ever been tempted to upgrade in the past years?

I have looked at each new device, but I simply don’t see the logic of replacing something that works perfectly fine and fulfills my needs. Also, in Canada, I get my phone on a plan. As such I usually go with a model a few generations older than current to save money because I don’t need the latest and greatest. Indeed presently, now that I’ve had the phone for more than two years, my service rate has gone done by $15 a month so the phone is cheaper now than when I got it. When I got the 8 the X or 11 was the current new device. I was intrigued by the XR, but found the 8+ a better value for my needs. And I’ve been very happy.

I read about each new device‘s new features, but most are meaningless for me. I use my phone to call, text occasionally and look up info mostly while at work. The camera is fine for my limited needs. I’m happy with the battery life and the size of the display.

I have an iPad Pro 10.5 I bought when new. It works flawlessly and I use my tablet a lot. I’m intrigued by the new 9th GEN iPad 10.2 64GB, the current 10.9 Air or even Pro 11, but I don’t need a new tablet for what I use one for, especially since the one I have works perfectly fine for my needs. If my current device was giving me problems it would be different story.

My desktop computer is a little different. I have a mid 2011 iMac 21.5 I bought new. Over the years I’ve upgraded it hardware wise, and although I’m stuck at High Sierra the damn thing works great and I couldn’t be happier. I really like the new iMac 24, but for my desktop needs I‘m not desperate for a new computer. So I will wait-and-see what the new big iMac has to offer or the next upgrade to the 24 then I will seriously consider buying a new computer.

I still have my old iPhone 4. I had given it to my father when he needed to upgrade from a flip phone. After Dad passed away four years ago I retrieved the 4 and still use it as a glorified iPod to replace my then ten year old iPod Nano (I miss that device) that had finally stopped working. It’s my music entertainment device since I’m not keen on using my current phone or tablet for music. I am considering a new iPod Touch, but again the iPhone 4 is still good for what I use it for.

Lastly I inherited Dad’s 2004 Ford Crown Victoria LX. It is in excellent condition all around. When I took ownership it barely had 100,000 kms (about 62,000 miles). Presently it has less than 120,000 kms (about 74,000 miles)—I don’t put much mileage in a year. I’ve made a few changes to make it more my own and the car is solid. I like to look at new cars, and if I were buying new, for my needs, at the top of my list for consideration would be (in no order) a Mustang Coupe, Volkswagen Jetta GLI, Ford Bronco Sport or Kia Sportage. But like my desktop computer I’m not desperate for a new car. And a very good condition 2004 CrownVic is rather more distinctive than the current sea of new cars you see on the road and in any given parking lot. And with the upgraded wheels, suspension and dual exhaust it’s kinda badass. It also has sentimental value because it was my father’s. I can’t really justify replacing it.

I also like my car doesn’t have a damned infotainment system. I hate those things! Same with configurable instrumentations—totally useless and frustrating garbage that solves nothing. No one needs that crap. Only the backup camera has any value and that on certain cars. I want a car I enjoy to drive—not a damned iPad-on-wheels with distracting and frustrating controls. When driving controls should be tactile, easy and intuitive to use. Having to navigate some electronic middleman just to adjust the heater or air conditioning is the height of stupidity.

Thats my rant for the day.

 

[Bethanie21]

"It’s always best to buy when there’s a redesign."

So why did people buy the iPhone 13 your post is really stupid. The 13 is on the 4th Cycle next year is a new redesign when the 14 launches the 13 will looked so dated as the 15 16 17 18 so on will all follow suit of the 14 .....

And I am still using the iPhone 8 Plus due to the fact the X - 13 Line up are still the same if you understood my post

You can see when all the changes took place and all follow a similar cycle

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...phone-14.2313936/?post=30370649#post-30370649

16 iPhone 8 (LAUNCH - September 22nd, 2017)
17 iPhone 8 Plus (LAUNCH - September 22nd, 2017)
18 iPhone X (LAUNCH - September 22nd, 2017)

19 iPhone XR (LAUNCH - September 21st, 2018)
20 iPhone XS (LAUNCH - September 21st, 2018)
21 iPhone XS Max (LAUNCH - September 21st, 2018)

22 iPhone 11 (LAUNCH - September 20th, 2019)
23 iPhone 11 Pro (LAUNCH - September 20th, 2019)
24 iPhone 11 Pro Max (LAUNCH - September 20th, 2019)

25 iPhone SE (2nd generation) (LAUNCH - April 15th, 2020)
26 iPhone 12 mini (LAUNCH - October 13th, 2020)
27 iPhone 12 (LAUNCH - October 13th, 2020)
28 iPhone 12 Pro (LAUNCH - October 13th, 2020)
29 iPhone 12 Pro Max (LAUNCH - October 13th, 2020)

30 iPhone 13 mini (LAUNCH - September 24th, 2021)
31 iPhone 13 (LAUNCH - September 24th, 2021)
32 iPhone 13 Pro (LAUNCH - September 24th, 2021)
33 iPhone 13 Pro Max (LAUNCH - September 24th, 2021)

How do yo know what the 14 will look like? What more can they realistically do to an iPhone? If you think it’s going to look drastically different to the current series I think you’ll be disappointed.

 

[smoking monkey]

As I look back at the last 4 years I still vividly remember when the iPhone X came out and the various reactions. Almost every “tech reviewer” or website said you absolutely shouldn’t buy the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 was a great phone to buy. Even at the time, the average person could see how utterly stupid those “expert recommendations” were.
The iPhone 8 was probably the worst possible phone you could buy. It was on the 4th year of a cycle that began with the iPhone 6 and already looked incredibly dated. Everyone knows that whether is cars or phones, it’s always best to buy when there’s a redesign. If you had the bought the “terribly overpriced” iPhone X 4 years ago, today you would have a phone that still works perfectly and looks almost identical to the newest phone Apple has. If you had bought the iPhone 8, you would basically have an iPhone 6 that looks awfully in need of an upgrade. The iPhone X works out to be $250 a year and still looks and works great.
The lesson here is simple, most “tech review websites” and single “tech reviewers” never take time into account when recommending a phone. You should probably do the exact opposite of what they recommend or say.

I remember plenty of tech reviewers saying the X was a great piece of expensive kit and the future. I think you're dabbling in confirmation bias.

The 8+ was a really good phone and it even still runs extremely well now. For people who prefer TouchID it was a worthwhile investment. I'm not one of them, but I understand it. I much prefer FaceID (except with a mask on).

As for tech reviewers, you're right, we shouldn't really trust them, because often they need clicks to buy their next Tesla and often prioritise cameras and video over actual phone usage, but they can be useful and often provide a slightly amusing diversion.

Have you got an axe to grind with a particular tech reviewer? Or just all of them in general?

 

[DaffiDuck]

I remember plenty of tech reviewers saying the X was a great piece of expensive kit and the future. I think you're dabbling in confirmation bias.

The 8+ was a really good phone and it even still runs extremely well now. For people who prefer TouchID it was a worthwhile investment. I'm not one of them, but I understand it. I much prefer FaceID (except with a mask on).

As for tech reviewers, you're right, we shouldn't really trust them, because often they need clicks to buy their next Tesla and often prioritise cameras and video over actual phone usage, but they can be useful and often provide a slightly amusing diversion.

Have you got an axe to grind with a particular tech reviewer? Or just all of them in general?

The top 2 tech reviews are MKBHD and MrWhoTheBoss you can go off what they say all the time as they tell the truth

 

[cardfan]

best reviews are low count subs .. MKBHD has millions of subs.. he has a second channel “behind the scenes” at this point he’s only the face.. and everyone else does all the actual work. Lew has addressed this (kinda) but he’s the same .. CJ unplugged isn’t a sell out yet so he’s decent (for now) .. average consumer is a sell out and can’t take his reviews honestly, he’s making videos to support his kid and not have to pay child support .. jerryrig doesn’t give actual day to day reviews , he’s legit.. bless his wife phonebuff is legit, stats and data..

Have never heard of these guys besides MKHBJ and that’s only because he’s mentioned so much in these forums.

So far I’ve seen people don’t like negative apple reviews. Or too nerdy and they don’t cater to “normal” people even though we all post endlessly on a Macrumors forum. Or the YouTubers live in their own stuck up world. Or they’re biased and click happy to buy more teslas.

Basically for me the question is the reviewer worth watching or reading? Usually I only look at the ones that have been doing this since the palmos days. Usually mac ones. Who really researches iPhones anymore? (Well sure the average joe might but he’s not on macrumors daily either). It’s more of thing to see people you’ve read over the years reactions.

 

[Black Magic]

As I look back at the last 4 years I still vividly remember when the iPhone X came out and the various reactions. Almost every “tech reviewer” or website said you absolutely shouldn’t buy the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 was a great phone to buy. Even at the time, the average person could see how utterly stupid those “expert recommendations” were.
The iPhone 8 was probably the worst possible phone you could buy. It was on the 4th year of a cycle that began with the iPhone 6 and already looked incredibly dated. Everyone knows that whether is cars or phones, it’s always best to buy when there’s a redesign. If you had the bought the “terribly overpriced” iPhone X 4 years ago, today you would have a phone that still works perfectly and looks almost identical to the newest phone Apple has. If you had bought the iPhone 8, you would basically have an iPhone 6 that looks awfully in need of an upgrade. The iPhone X works out to be $250 a year and still looks and works great.
The lesson here is simple, most “tech review websites” and single “tech reviewers” never take time into account when recommending a phone. You should probably do the exact opposite of what they recommend or say.

Most "tech reviewers" are young adults with little to no technology background and main focus is to generate clicks/money. Some have paid sponsors and are basically sales folks (Samsung paying them to hate on Apple). Others try the controversial opinion to differentiate themselves and stand out. I typically avoid all of it unless I want to see the product before it hits the stores or know what's in the box.

 

[ian87w]

Have never heard of these guys besides MKHBJ and that’s only because he’s mentioned so much in these forums.

So far I’ve seen people don’t like negative apple reviews. Or too nerdy and they don’t cater to “normal” people even though we all post endlessly on a Macrumors forum. Or the YouTubers live in their own stuck up world. Or they’re biased and click happy to buy more teslas.

Basically for me the question is the reviewer worth watching or reading? Usually I only look at the ones that have been doing this since the palmos days. Usually mac ones. Who really researches iPhones anymore? (Well sure the average joe might but he’s not on macrumors daily either). It’s more of thing to see people you’ve read over the years reactions.

For real review of iPhones, Anandtech is the goto site. They're the only one actually doing an actual tech review, deep diving into the SoC. Literally nobody else did this. They are arguably the only real tech site if we want to get technical. The rest are just lifestyle sites.

MKBHD is a casual reviewer. What I like about him is that his opinions and views are well explained without going too much into either fanboy/hater sides. He's quite neutral, and usually hit some points more than just the marketing points. However, he seems to be more interested in doing other things now, and his reviews, although have excellent production value, are getting lighter and lighter.

The next one I like is mrmobile. He sounds quite genuine, and he will specify the gadgets he bought himself. He's a fan of foldables, and he actually buys them himself after getting a review unit.

Many "popular" sites like the Verge is just, excuse the word, trash. Their "reviews" are basically talking the exact same points as the marketing list put out by the manufacturer, and nothing more.