Why do people say the S models are just minor upgrades?

[ToroidalZeus]

You think force touch is gonna impact the user experience more than a 4->4.7" screen?

I've had every single iPhone since the 3G and the S upgrades always feel minor and barely changed the user experience. Typically the high specs (cpu/gpu) only come into play years later far after I've already sold the phone.

With the 6S for instance the 2GB of ram will simply mean less reloading in Safari Tabs, which I admit is cool but def not groundbreaking.

 

[The Game 161]

because some think major means only a re-design

 

[jetlagged]

I've never owned an s model iPhone. I've only had the phone 4, and now currently sporting the iPhone 5 since 2012. But I'd want to get the 6S just for performance improvements, that alone is worth it

 

[bniu]

Typically the S model looks identical or very close to identical to its previous model. This makes it hard for some owners to get the affirmation they may seek, in return for having spent several hundred dollars on the new gadget. On the other hand, a new design, does make itself very conspicuous to everyone around - and therefore more satisfying to an owner seeking affirmation of his status/ affluence/ taste etc.

Hmm, I guess I'm different on this end, the thing I like about getting the 'S' models is that I can quietly upgrade my phone, have it look just like my previous phone, and no one would be the wiser! Essentially a "stealth" upgrade! With that said, the only iPhone I've never owned (not counting 5C) was the 5S. Looking back, I kinda wish I had upgraded to it, I think the one thing that held me back from upgrading to it was the lack of a 128GB option. Before that, both the 3GS and 4S had upgraded capacities, and that was actually my biggest reason for upgrading each S cycle (in addition to the number cycles too!).

 

[BSDanalyst]

Because people are stupid.

 

[andyp350]

You think force touch is gonna impact the user experience more than a 4->4.7" screen?

I've had every single iPhone since the 3G and the S upgrades always feel minor and barely changed the user experience. Typically the high specs (cpu/gpu) only come into play years later far after I've already sold the phone.

With the 6S for instance the 2GB of ram will simply mean less reloading in Safari Tabs, which I admit is cool but def not groundbreaking.

Without a doubt! Force touch actually changes the way the user can interact with the interface throughout the entire OS. Bigger screens, whilst nicer, do not actually let you do anything you couldn't do before, it just has a bit more space. I have the 6 Plus and still don't think it's big enough to do things on that I'd normally do on a tablet or laptop.

 

[Menel]

Looking back I like the iPhone 5, it was like a numbered model and an S model at the same time. Big power increase, new features and hardware, plus a new design. I hope the 7 is something similar, as opposed to the iPhone 4 or 6 which have more in common.

You mean like how the 6 had a big power increase (50%if I recall), new features (NFC, ApplePay, parger LCDs), and new hardware (new aluminum design, curved glass, thinner)

 

[JaySoul]

Apple changed a hell of a lot with the 6S, they seem to have done a pretty great job.

Might switch back from Android if the reviews are good.

 

[TheRealAlex]

iPhone 4S lets start there to iPhone 5 huge improvments

- better bigger size
- form factor best body ever
- thinner
- double the RAM
- much improved Radio LTE bands

I could go on But the Best way to summarize why I only buy Full Number Change upgrades and NOT the S lines
is because iPhones are a Status Symbol, your BMW is parked no one can see but everyone can see your new Shinny iPhone its the best Bling, and no one can tell you have a new phones vs the 6 to a 6s.

They are a social filter, you have all felt the angst of waiting in line or complaining about an upgrade because you want this new toy.

S lines are evolutionary, full number changes are Evolutionary.

 

[briand05]

I think it's mostly because Apple doesn't talk about specs much, while design they seem to hype a lot. Apple doesn't say the ram or much details about the processor/gpu. The S models are internal spec focused generally. The numbered are design focused, with the exception of the 5 which was significantly faster than the 4s.

To me I see them as just as big of upgrades as the numbered ones or sometimes bigger. The 6s with apparently 2GB ram, the A9, force touch, and a much better camera appears to be a huge upgrade over the 6 to me. The stronger aluminum and glass are also good upgrades. So even though the 6s looks the same on the outside, it appears to be a much better phone overall.

I think it's almost worse in the Android side lately with reusing designs, HTC has used the same One design for 3 phones now basically, LG used the same design as the G3 for the G4 and the G3 design wasn't that much different from the G2. Samsung used the same design for 3 phones, then basically copied the iPhone design this year. I have a G2 which I like and got a good deal on it a year ago but I'm ready to go back to iPhone (first time since the 5).

 

[KRG]

Seriously? The S models are stop gaps. The number models are the breakthrough tech.

iPhone 3G brought 3G
iPhone 4 brought retina display +all glass
iPhone 5 brought LTE and 4" display
iPhone 6 brought large screens, nfc/applepay

The number generations also bring massive egineering updates and are lighter/slimmer than their predecessors while increasing battery life. It's not simply "changing the design" it's re-engineering it from scratch to be better than ever.


That's not to say the S models don't bring big improvements to the table. I just don't think any S model has been what I'd consider a huge upgrade. They usually consist of a spec bump and one major new feature to differentiate them.

 

[mattopotamus]

Seriously? The S models are stop gaps. The number models are the breakthrough tech.

iPhone 3G brought 3G
iPhone 4 brought retina display +all glass
iPhone 5 brought LTE and 4" display
iPhone 6 brought large screens, nfc/applepay

The number generations also bring massive egineering updates and are lighter/slimmer than their predecessors while increasing battery life. It's not simply "changing the design" it's re-engineering it from scratch to be better than ever.


That's not to say the S models don't bring big improvements to the table. I just don't think any S model has been what I'd consider a huge upgrade. They usually consist of a spec bump and one major new feature to differentiate them.

I think pretty much everyone should agree this is a really big upgrade. The only thing not new is literally the shell that houses the hardware: camera, cpu/gpu, 3d touch, touchID improvements, software that is only available on this phone because of 3d touch, always on siri.

 

[KRG]

I think pretty much everyone should agree this is a really big upgrade. The only thing not new is literally the shell that houses the hardware: camera, cpu/gpu, 3d touch, touchID improvements, software that is only available on this phone because of 3d touch, always on siri.

I do agree, which is why I upgraded this time. I'm excited! I don't remember what the 5S brought, but it didn't make me upgrade.

 

[mattopotamus]

I do agree, which is why I upgraded this time. I'm excited! I don't remember what the 5S brought, but it didn't make me upgrade.

I also do not think there has ever been software withheld from previous phones. I know certain features are withheld: siri, touchID, applepay, but the actual OS is going to function differently b.c of what 3D touch allows.

IOS 9 on the 6 and IOS 9 on the 6s will feel different.

 

[unclejamaal]

I actually think this S upgrade is worth the upgrade, with new features like force touch and Hey Siri (think, OK Google) LOL.

Maybe I think of it a s a big upgrade as the last iphone I had was the 5 until last year and since then Ive been on Android

 

[TheRealAlex]

I think it's mostly because Apple doesn't talk about specs much, while design they seem to hype a lot. Apple doesn't say the ram or much details about the processor/gpu. The S models are internal spec focused generally. The numbered are design focused, with the exception of the 5 which was significantly faster than the 4s.

To me I see them as just as big of upgrades as the numbered ones or sometimes bigger. The 6s with apparently 2GB ram, the A9, force touch, and a much better camera appears to be a huge upgrade over the 6 to me. The stronger aluminum and glass are also good upgrades. So even though the 6s looks the same on the outside, it appears to be a much better phone overall.

I think it's almost worse in the Android side lately with reusing designs, HTC has used the same One design for 3 phones now basically, LG used the same design as the G3 for the G4 and the G3 design wasn't that much different from the G2. Samsung used the same design for 3 phones, then basically copied the iPhone design this year. I have a G2 which I like and got a good deal on it a year ago but I'm ready to go back to iPhone (first time since the 5).

Seriously TRUTH. I wish I still had my 64GB 5S (it was gifted to me since I don't buy S models)

But Besides a Bigger Display by 0.7" my 5S did Everything and had a Dual Core 64-bit CPU 1GB RAM same as the iPhone 6.

That Being said the 6S (especially the 6S Plus because of SideView) the 6S with A9 CPU and 2GB DDR4 RAM, 3D Force Touch new Cameras better LTE are the BEST and BIGGEST Upgrades ever.

 

[urkel]

I've had every single iPhone since the 3G and the S upgrades always feel minor and barely changed the user experience. Typically the high specs (cpu/gpu) only come into play years later far after I've already sold the phone.

Exactly. One of the problems you see with people who tend to over justify things is that the big bright amazing new feature can do a whole lot more in their heads than in real life because Progress occurs faster in our imaginations than in Reality.

Imagination: "Siri is going to change the way you interact with your phone"
Reality: We still use our fingers to do everything"

Imagination: "TouchID will eliminate passwords and kill credit card payments"
Reality: We still deal with passwords and barely anyone takes ApplePay (which requires an iPhone 6 or higher)

Imagination: "The 6+ has so much screen space that it will change the way you use landscape mode"
Reality: Barely any devs (including Apple) created special 6+ features to utilize that extra space

We can go on forever with this. 64Bit, Thinderbolt, Fingerprints, Pencils, Force Touch, Watches, New Cameras that are better than old cameras in perfectly lit empty fields. But my point is simply that Seeing Gen 1 products is great but owning them right now is unnecessary since they won't actually be properly implemented until the next hardware revision. (Unless you're talking about screen size where imagination and reality are both fulfilled because "it's the same thing we know but bigger")

 

[AintDutchNotMuch]

For me personally I prefer getting the numbers model.

It's the anticipation that I love in the months before the launch of a model with a new design.
Also I like getting a model that actually looks new, not for others to see it but for myself.

People who bought the 5S at Fall 2013 own a phone that looks like a 5, a phone that's three years old.
And I don't like that at all.

 

[penajmz]

Because people are visual and the phones look he same. The masses don't know/care about internals.

 

[bchreng]

I actually think this S upgrade is worth the upgrade, with new features like force touch and Hey Siri (think, OK Google) LOL.

Maybe I think of it a s a big upgrade as the last iphone I had was the 5 until last year and since then Ive been on Android

That's most likely it

Which Android phone did you get?

 

[unclejamaal]

That's most likely it

Which Android phone did you get?

Note 4. Still have it. Once I get my hands on the 6S+ I'll post something on these forums regarding my experience with android and iphone You might have noticed me as a regular over on the 'other devices' forum on MacRumors

 

[Paddle1]

You mean like how the 6 had a big power increase (50%if I recall), new features (NFC, ApplePay, parger LCDs), and new hardware (new aluminum design, curved glass, thinner)

-The benchmarks of the 6 are actually only small increase over 5S. (Just like the 3GS and 4)
-The iPhone 4 also had a retina display and a new design.
-NFC and Apple Pay are the same feature. (At this point at least).
-The iPhone 4 was thinner than 3GS.

But the main reason they're not as comparable to me is the small power increase. The A7 and A8 score very similarly. Apple focused on making the A8 chip more efficient, not making it more powerful. Even less of a difference when you factor in that the 6 has a more demanding screen than the 5s, just like the more demanding retina display on the iPhone 4.