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Why should I upgrade my iPhone 5s?

M

manhattan212

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 7, 2014
11
3
I've had an iPhone 5s for a while now. It works fine. I'm thinking that I would like to get an iPhone 8+. Outside of the superior camera, I can't think of any sufficiently solid reason to forfeit my 5s. I know that hardware wise the 8+ is a completely different machine from the 5s. I get that I'd be getting a faster more powerful device with a better screen. But, it's not exactly like I find myself often feeling limited by my 5s. The only compelling argument I can come up with thus far is the camera. When I get devices, it all comes out of pocket (and it's not an insignificant amount of money to me) -and carrier deals are not an option for me. If the Apple Watch 3 LTE could hope across borders, then that would be another reason to consider the 8+. But as it stands, I cannot get the AW3LTE because I do travel across borders often for prolonged periods of time; so that does matter to me -ergo if I get an apple watch 3, it'll be GPS non-LTE. So that's one non-argument against my 5s.

What benefit, am I not considering?
 
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Advantage: Being current with iOS and all the security that you get with an up-to-date operating system.
 
Well depending on your current phone,
You could also get a bump in GB storage? I'm guessing you like to take pictures if the camera impresses you and it's always nice to have more room to do that without having to constantly backup and delete photos.
On top of that, better battery life, waterproofing, and your general faster over all phone.
 
eyoungren said:
????

iPhone 5s is 64-bit which means it can run iOS 11. Which means it's current and has all the security you get with an up to date operating system.
Click to expand...
Ok --

SE and 6S run the A9, which supports ARKit and all the newer apps, too. And, I'd wager, would be more likely to run iOS 12.

(I say all this and I still have my iPad 2 with iOS 9...)
 
I run iOS9 on my 5S and it runs very well. Design looks better than the 8 series IMO.

Only thing that excited me about the 8 series was the new chip.
 
pdxmatts said:
That is a huge jump in size and weight from a 5S, it might be quite a shock. Have you held a Plus and are ok with it?
Click to expand...
I also have a note 4. I am cool with either size/weight dimensions.
Hal~9000 said:
If youre content with what you currently have and don't feel a huge desire to upgrade, that kind of answers your question already ;)
Click to expand...
I don't suppose there is any flaw in the logic. But I just wonder whether there is something that I might be missing out on. Sometimes, being content or complacent with what is, can be merely resultant from ignorance. It's that ignorance, that I am hoping to address, by posing my question here. I wonder whether there is something that I am simply just not thinking of, because I am unaware of some significant feature or benefit.

I just don't know whether I want an iPhone 8+ out of pure capriciousness, or whether there really is something to be gained from it, over my 5s.
 
eyoungren said:
????

iPhone 5s is 64-bit which means it can run iOS 11. Which means it's current and has all the security you get with an up to date operating system.
Click to expand...

It could be isolated to my 5s but battery drain went way up in 11 with it draining faster than it could charge the other night. Also Maps won’t stay loaded while playing music. It crashes and refuses to give me directions in the middle of a trip.
 
blahbrah said:
It could be isolated to my 5s but battery drain went way up in 11 with it draining faster than it could charge the other night. Also Maps won’t stay loaded while playing music. It crashes and refuses to give me directions in the middle of a trip.
Click to expand...
That sounds like I should refrain from updating to iOS 11.

In the event that iOS 11 is bad for the 5s...
I wonder whether iOS 11 reason enough to get a new iPhone.
 
This is in my opinion the last iOS update the 5s will get. If that is true the 8 is obviously much more future proof. Also it is way faster and a much smoother experience on iOS 11.
 
theMaccer said:
Water resistence
Click to expand...

I would say water resistance is only advantage for those who use their iPhone regularly around water. But if the OP has survived with a 5S this long without water resistance, I don't think that will be a benefit in this situation.
 
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Italianblend said:
Sounds like you want us to convince you. Just keep your phone. First world problem solved!
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LOL

You may be right on two counts- I may have been looking for some persuasion; one way or the other. Also, when you say 1st world problem, it does put things in perspective.

Still, I feel it would be arrogant of me to presume that I know everything about the iPhone 8+ or that I could consider all the possible advantages or scenarios in which having an iPhone 8+ could be so advantageous as to make it worth the purchase.
 
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I have a 5s and am in the same situation as you. The only reason I'm upgrading is because I got lazy with OS updates since I'm jailbroken and got stuck on iOS 8. So many apps need 9 or higher now. I'm also only on a 16gb phone (still 1.3 gigs left). Basically I can't download apps because I'm on too low of an iOS version, and if I upgrade and download even half the apps I'm considering, 16gb wouldn't be enough anymore. I was trying to scan Craigslist for a 6 or 6s on a jailbreakable version of iOS but no luck for the past month or so. Slowly giving up and going to upgrade when the local Apple store has them in stock again.

No new features in the OS or phone itself that I'm even remotely interest in, just the ability to download apps again basically.
 
I have the iPhone 5s and I just cancelled my iPhone 8plus order and going to try and get the iPhone X. For only $8.33 a month extra, the iPhone X seemed like a better deal. I try to keep my phones for 4 years, and I think the iPhone X will future proof me for that time (not to mention the better camera, bigger screen, and smaller size). Hopefully it won't be too buggy and I can get it this year. My 5s battery is struggling, and the charging port is so bad that I have to wiggle the cord in there and then wrap it around my phone.
 
Even if the AW3LTE could hop across borders you wouldn't be able to use it with your 5s as the LTE version requires a 6 or newer iPhone.

  • Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) requires an iPhone 6 or later with iOS 11 or later. Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS) requires an iPhone 5s or later with iOS 11 or later. Apple Watch Series 1 requires an iPhone 5s or later with iOS 11 or later.
https://www.apple.com/watch/compare/


You mentioned the plus model. Have you used one? That is quite a big jump up in size.
I currently have a 7+ and I use my 5s as my main device for listening to music (headphone jack!), it fits perfectly into a small Panasonic stereo I have (dock area made for the 5s size w/lightning connector), as well as for when I'm running. Much easier doing things one handed on the 5s.

I'm not sure how ios11 is, but even ios10 feels a bit sluggish on my 5s. Though that could just be because everything is very smooth on my 7+. I'm not sure if I'm going to upgrade the 5s to ios11.

As for cameras, it is a very big jump up in quality. The newer plus models also have the dual cameras which are quite handy for a quick (optical) zoom in.

If price is an issue, but you still would like the bigger size plus model and the dual cameras along with water resistance, then you might consider going with the 7+ model. It had a price drop after the newer models were released and you'd probably be able to find a better deal on it compared to the just released 8/8+.
 
Main issue would be the RAM. 1GB means a lot of apps and Safari tabs refreshing in the background. I'm keeping my 6s Plus, in no small part because the 2GB hasn't been changed in the 8, and is fine for my needs.
 
Last edited:
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A lot has happened since the 5s.

Why not go to a nearby Apple Store and test drive all the models.

The 5s has 1 more year of support? So there's plenty of time to figure out what you want to do.
 
AaronM5670 said:
Main issue would be the RAM. 1GB means a lot of apps and Safari tabs refreshing in the background. I'm keeping my 6s Plus, in no small part because the 2GB hasn't been changed in the 8/8+, and is fine for my needs.
Click to expand...
The 7 plus and the 8 plus both have 3GB of RAM. The non-plus 7/8 models still have 2GB.

The extra RAM is helpful. I don't keep many tabs open on my 5s because of that.
 
GoGamecocks said:
I have the iPhone 5s and I just cancelled my iPhone 8plus order and going to try and get the iPhone X. For only $8.33 a month extra, the iPhone X seemed like a better deal. I try to keep my phones for 4 years, and I think the iPhone X will future proof me for that time (not to mention the better camera, bigger screen, and smaller size). Hopefully it won't be too buggy and I can get it this year. My 5s battery is struggling, and the charging port is so bad that I have to wiggle the cord in there and then wrap it around my phone.
Click to expand...

I am your UK twin! Could have written most of that post myself. I also have a 5S & replace my phone every 4 years - I bought the 3GS in 2009, the 5S in 2013. I've been telling myself since 2013 that I would buy the 2017 iPhone. As I replace my phone less frequently than most, it seems to make sense for me to skip 8, when X is coming later this year. Only hoping that my 5S can hold out till I can get hold of iPhone X, as with each day, it is getting more & more difficult to charge the 5S...really have to wiggle the cord to get the 5S to start charging. The same power cord works fine with my iPad, so I figure that the port on the 5S is getting to the end of its life....other than that, my 5S works fine & is happily running iOS 11.
 
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