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Other What were the best and worst upgrade years for iPhone?
- Thread starter xxray
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I think they were all good for the money you spent. I have been fortunate enough to have owned them all. Right from when they were introduced. I think the worst one for me was the 3GS. I did not like the form factor. And it felt bulky with it’s curved back. You could never lay it flat. To this day I think my 12 Pro Max is the best phone Apple has ever delivered for the price.
iPhone 7 without question was the worst "up"grade.
Worst buy for the money: iPhone 8 ($699)
It was basically a refreshed iPhone 7 with smaller battery and wireless charging. Apple increased base storage to 64GB, but increased base price by $50, which made it a wash.
Best buy for the money: iPhone 6s ($649) or iPhone 11 ($699)
iPhone 6s had A9, 2GB RAM, and series 7000 aluminum. It still works well to this day. iPhone 11 had the same A13, 4GB RAM, and base storage as iPhone 11 Pro but the price was still only $699.
It was basically a refreshed iPhone 7 with smaller battery and wireless charging. Apple increased base storage to 64GB, but increased base price by $50, which made it a wash.
Best buy for the money: iPhone 6s ($649) or iPhone 11 ($699)
iPhone 6s had A9, 2GB RAM, and series 7000 aluminum. It still works well to this day. iPhone 11 had the same A13, 4GB RAM, and base storage as iPhone 11 Pro but the price was still only $699.
I came in at the iPhone 5 and my experience was not great. That's mostly due to my carrier at the time, not the phone itself. That said, I have filled in phones around that model since then (3GS, 4, 4s, 6+, 6s+ and 11 Max Pro) and the iPhone 5 is easily the worst as far as replacements go. My 5 has been replaced 4 times now and my wife's 3 times. Except for a faulty speaker the first time, each replacement has been because the battery swelled.
In August 2015, I had to replace the 6+ I got in February 2015 and the replacement was one of the best iPhones I've ever had, next to my 6s+. It was solid and had the perfect weight. Unfortunately, I had it for all of a month before I traded it in to T-Mobile for my 6s+.
So far my 6s+ has been my best iPhone. Still original battery, still does well even after going through several Phoenix summers in a car with no A/C.
In August 2015, I had to replace the 6+ I got in February 2015 and the replacement was one of the best iPhones I've ever had, next to my 6s+. It was solid and had the perfect weight. Unfortunately, I had it for all of a month before I traded it in to T-Mobile for my 6s+.
So far my 6s+ has been my best iPhone. Still original battery, still does well even after going through several Phoenix summers in a car with no A/C.
Hmm. iPhone 5s was great for a solid 4 years for me until I dropped it. Now I happily own an 8+ but I think the best iPhone upgrade may have been iPhone 4. I remember how cool and new it looked compared to the 3GS.
Worst: iPhone XS. Price was still high for avg consumer after Apple admitted it was too high and it simply didn't warrant an internal boost enough for an upgrade.
Worst: iPhone XS. Price was still high for avg consumer after Apple admitted it was too high and it simply didn't warrant an internal boost enough for an upgrade.
Hard one. 🤔
Best, iPhone 4, 5, 6S plus, X, XS max, 12 pro max.
Worse, iPhone 6 Plus due to the 1gb ram, a lot of people were complaining about the phone slowing down because of the ram.
Best, iPhone 4, 5, 6S plus, X, XS max, 12 pro max.
Worse, iPhone 6 Plus due to the 1gb ram, a lot of people were complaining about the phone slowing down because of the ram.
Some of the best imho:
Some of the worst
Mostly due to feature support/chassis issues - e.g., in the 4 and 6 (or fixes mostly in the S models) and improved performance of the S models (the 7 was quite a leap over the 6/6s too).
edit:
I have not had to buy most of my phones (company supplied) so budget for me hasn't come into it. It's mostly based on performance, issues encountered and durability that I've experienced.
- 3GS (double the performance of the previous year's 3g? yes please!)
- 4s
- 7 - like a 6s but more durable. mine took WAY more knocks than my previous 6s and survived. the touchid was faster and the haptic home button felt more durable. performance was a step up too vs. the 6s.
Some of the worst
- 4 - screen was great, but performance was meh and there was antenna gate . the S was so, so much better the following year
- 5c
- 6 - bendy, performance was meh, much like the 4 vs. 4s. the "bug fix version" was way better, and the 7 was a better performing 6s with haptic feedback
Mostly due to feature support/chassis issues - e.g., in the 4 and 6 (or fixes mostly in the S models) and improved performance of the S models (the 7 was quite a leap over the 6/6s too).
edit:
I have not had to buy most of my phones (company supplied) so budget for me hasn't come into it. It's mostly based on performance, issues encountered and durability that I've experienced.
Last edited:
Best:
- 11 Pro: huge battery life improvement over the Xs, USB-C to lightning cable with USB-C charger included, night mode, matte texture glass
- 6s: huge performance jump from the 6, is still supported today under iOS14.
Worst:
- Original iPhone: $499 with contract, 2G only
- 6: bendgate, 1GB RAM, GPU not powerful enough to drive the 6 Plus screen
Wasn't the 8 basically the X internals but with the 7 body?
iPhone 6.
Both the design and specs.
Design:
The antenna lines are bad as ****, also the paint gets oxidated, also super easy to bend.
Specs:
This has to be the worse upgrade of all iPhones forever.
The A8 only has minimal upgrade over the A7 (mere 25%)
Both phones kept at 1GB ram, which makes the iPhone 6/6 Plus get left out much earlier.
iPhone 6 Plus at 1GB ram actually make it's @3x assets lag
Lack of unique features, the keynote actually mentioned Barometer has a main feature, ain't nobody got time for that.
Promo of NFC apple pay, which only the US can use it (after November)
Well, but it has a larger screen. BOOM, best selling iPhone forever
Both the design and specs.
Design:
The antenna lines are bad as ****, also the paint gets oxidated, also super easy to bend.
Specs:
This has to be the worse upgrade of all iPhones forever.
The A8 only has minimal upgrade over the A7 (mere 25%)
Both phones kept at 1GB ram, which makes the iPhone 6/6 Plus get left out much earlier.
iPhone 6 Plus at 1GB ram actually make it's @3x assets lag
Lack of unique features, the keynote actually mentioned Barometer has a main feature, ain't nobody got time for that.
Promo of NFC apple pay, which only the US can use it (after November)
Well, but it has a larger screen. BOOM, best selling iPhone forever
Worst: 3GS. Complete and utter waste of time when the 3G was still great. Starting to think the 12 Pro also belongs on that list.
Best: 4S, 6S, 11 Pro.
Best: 4S, 6S, 11 Pro.
here my list
iPhone 3G never had
iphone 3GS never had
iphone 4 and 4S where grate phones
never had the iPhone 5 but the iPhone 5 was all so a grate phone
iPhone 5S was a grate phone has well
I had the iPhone 6 from AT&T and by far the iPhone 6 was the worst phone ever in my books
iphone 6S was supper fantastic
iPhone 7 2nd worst phone ever along with the 7 pluse
never had the iPhone 8 but had the iPhone 8 pluse and it was a grate phone much improved over the iPhone 7pluse in every way
never had the iPhone X XR XS or XS Max 1st gen
I think iPhone 11 screen could have been better it developed app screen burn in after a few mounth depending on what wallpaper you used
never had the iPhone 11 pro or 11 pro Max 2nd gen
had the iPhone 12 wish was a major upgrade over the iPhone 11 screen
never had the iPhone 12 Pro. But I have the iPhone 12 Pro Max 3rd gen and best phone out there in my book
iPhone 3G never had
iphone 3GS never had
iphone 4 and 4S where grate phones
never had the iPhone 5 but the iPhone 5 was all so a grate phone
iPhone 5S was a grate phone has well
I had the iPhone 6 from AT&T and by far the iPhone 6 was the worst phone ever in my books
iphone 6S was supper fantastic
iPhone 7 2nd worst phone ever along with the 7 pluse
never had the iPhone 8 but had the iPhone 8 pluse and it was a grate phone much improved over the iPhone 7pluse in every way
never had the iPhone X XR XS or XS Max 1st gen
I think iPhone 11 screen could have been better it developed app screen burn in after a few mounth depending on what wallpaper you used
never had the iPhone 11 pro or 11 pro Max 2nd gen
had the iPhone 12 wish was a major upgrade over the iPhone 11 screen
never had the iPhone 12 Pro. But I have the iPhone 12 Pro Max 3rd gen and best phone out there in my book
I didn't own either of them so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but I think that the X to Xs upgrade was the least significant upgrade ever. It offered the obligatory processor and camera bump (and even those were more modest than other years if I recall correctly), and really nothing else significant.
The best upgrade? I'm not sure... Even though there wasn't a design change, I think the 5 to 5s offered a pretty significant spec upgrade and introduced TouchID, which I think was huge. On the other hand, 5s to 6/6 Plus was a marginal spec upgrade but the larger displays were a big deal. In fact, 5s-6 was the only time I ever upgraded my iPhone after just 1 year, and I went on to keep the 6 for over 3 years.
The best upgrade? I'm not sure... Even though there wasn't a design change, I think the 5 to 5s offered a pretty significant spec upgrade and introduced TouchID, which I think was huge. On the other hand, 5s to 6/6 Plus was a marginal spec upgrade but the larger displays were a big deal. In fact, 5s-6 was the only time I ever upgraded my iPhone after just 1 year, and I went on to keep the 6 for over 3 years.
best iPhone upgrade will always be iPhone 4 until they make something as shocking and beautiful, say, a proper foldable.
2nd best is (gold) XS Max which imo is the closest thing to an iPhone 4 upgrade in beauty.
3rd pick 6S Plus as being solid solid solid and refined with performance, still decent enough in 2021.
//////
Worse by far is iPhone 6 (Plus), as from a performance standpoint it was a tiny hair faster 5S which would break phisically.
2nd worst 11 Pro Max, thicker, (basically) no performance increase a la 5S->6 and worse camera design.
3rd Worst would be 12 Pro Max as they made it wider and no matter how you spin it, straight edges are not as good as in 4". What I do LOVE about 12 Pro Max is the return of 2D flat screen, it's so modern and classy looking in 2021. Ever since Samsung started the trend in 2014 I always considered round corners/edges a gimmick a la Android with no actual benefit unless software done properly (which was never made). I think the "only" phone that made 2.5D actually good /stylish was Lumia 1520, which was the only phone I trully enjoyed besides an iPhone.
I actually liked the 2 year S cycle, as the normal one would please the hype people and Android mainstream scene and the S cycle would make the proper phone for the "Real" iPhone user. Apple should go back to that so they can have 2 years to develop a proper iPhone while also milking the scene and making money in an honorable-enough manner.
2nd best is (gold) XS Max which imo is the closest thing to an iPhone 4 upgrade in beauty.
3rd pick 6S Plus as being solid solid solid and refined with performance, still decent enough in 2021.
//////
Worse by far is iPhone 6 (Plus), as from a performance standpoint it was a tiny hair faster 5S which would break phisically.
2nd worst 11 Pro Max, thicker, (basically) no performance increase a la 5S->6 and worse camera design.
3rd Worst would be 12 Pro Max as they made it wider and no matter how you spin it, straight edges are not as good as in 4". What I do LOVE about 12 Pro Max is the return of 2D flat screen, it's so modern and classy looking in 2021. Ever since Samsung started the trend in 2014 I always considered round corners/edges a gimmick a la Android with no actual benefit unless software done properly (which was never made). I think the "only" phone that made 2.5D actually good /stylish was Lumia 1520, which was the only phone I trully enjoyed besides an iPhone.
I actually liked the 2 year S cycle, as the normal one would please the hype people and Android mainstream scene and the S cycle would make the proper phone for the "Real" iPhone user. Apple should go back to that so they can have 2 years to develop a proper iPhone while also milking the scene and making money in an honorable-enough manner.
Totally agree. After the iPhone 4S, those are the other two iPhones I have spent my money on. Due to the cost and drip fed iterations, it'll be a few years until I consider doing it again.
Had the following:
- 3GS
- 4S
- 5S
- 6
- X
- 11
I think the XS appeared to be the least significant upgrade for me personally. My uncle had it, and I could hardly tell the difference. Photos were sliiightly better but that's it.
The 12 looks like one of the best upgrades, on paper at least. 5G, OLED, and smaller and lighter than the 11.
- 3GS
- 4S
- 5S
- 6
- X
- 11
I think the XS appeared to be the least significant upgrade for me personally. My uncle had it, and I could hardly tell the difference. Photos were sliiightly better but that's it.
The 12 looks like one of the best upgrades, on paper at least. 5G, OLED, and smaller and lighter than the 11.
Best was the 6s imo, mine gave me almost 5 years of service, I could probably still use it as my main phone today if the battery life was better. Doubling the RAM compared to the 6 was a big jump.
I liked the IP11P the best. The last of its form factor, they nailed it. Battery for sure. If they had better modems in them I'd be using one right now. That 5.8 is the sweet spot for me.