14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has finally unveiled its 2018 generation of iPhones, with three models included this time, namely the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR.
For people who have been keeping an eye on the leaks for the last several months, the launch has barely brought any surprise, as most of the reports that made the rounds lately proved to be extremely accurate.
Apple introduced its new iPhones as the best it ever created, praising the new A12 Bionic chip, the cameras, and pretty much every single upgrade that the company made on its devices.
Certainly, this isn’t totally unexpected, as Apple has used this marketing approach for every new iPhone generation. And needless to say, each iPhone was substantially more advanced than its predecessor, and every model was “the best iPhone ever” at its launch.
However, as it happens every time Apple takes the wraps of new iPhones, the excitement around the world is at record levels, and many can’t wait for the company to start accepting pre-orders on Friday.
For me, on the other hand, the iPhone XS, unfortunately, confirmed many of the concerns I discussed here in the last few months. Apple keeps making its smartphones more and more expensive with every generation, launching certain features which are only new to iPhones as something totally innovative.
The best example, in this case, is the stereo speakers on the iPhone XS and XS Max, which Apple has praised several times during the launch event. Stereo sound has been around for a couple of years already on an iPhone, and while I haven’t yet tried the XS, I don’t think they’re much better than the ones on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, which are tuned by experts at AKG and feature surround sound with Dolby Atmos technology.
Nevertheless, I have three different reasons why I won’t get an iPhone this year, or at least not right now, and I’ll discuss them below:
#1 – Way too expensive
Before anything, it’s important to highlight that I need a smartphone for both personal stuff and office tasks, so I can only go for the iPhone XS Max. I’ve never been a fan of Plus-sized models, but this is pretty much my only option given the said needs.
Since the iPhone doesn’t come with a microSD card slot, the 512GB configuration is the only one I can get to make sure I won’t run out of space.
And this particular version can be pre-ordered in the United States for no less than $1,449, which means here in Europe it’ll be even more expensive. The high price will probably be the main setback for many potential customers, though this doesn’t mean the device won’t sell well.
Furthermore, despite paying so much on an iPhone, you won’t even get a fast charger and a Lightning to 3.55mm audio adapter, as these accessories are only sold separately this year.
#2 – Not so many upgrades
Despite no longer on sale, my iPhone X still doesn’t feel old by any means, and to be completely honest, the size of the Max and the 512GB storage version are the only things I’m drooling after now.
However, the other new features that Apple announced with much fanfare a few hours ago aren’t reason enough for me to get a new iPhone, and when coupled with the price, I think it just makes sense to wait a bit more before an upgrade.
#3 – Not everything is ready
As someone told me on Twitter, the new iPhone launches are becoming to look a lot like WWDC, when Apple announces its product plans without actually releasing anything at the end of the event.
Things like the dual-SIM capabilities, the Watch ECG feature, Waze on CarPlay, these are all living proof that Apple sometimes just needs to buy more time to finalize new projects, but only wants to generate a bit more buzz with official announcements.
Many of these features come with vague release dates, as it’s the case of Waze on CarPlay. Apple said this is something that it’s working on, but it’ll only be shipped after iOS 12. No other specifics were shared.
I have absolutely no doubt the new-generation iPhone will be a hit, despite the high price and the other drawbacks that some people just ignore. But for now, I really don’t see a reason to give up on an iPhone X or on an Android flagship like the Note 9. At least, not with the Pixel 3 just around the corner.