About to buy my first smartphone. Landed on an Apple product due to the fact that my company will eventually provide a stipend to use an Apple product (in lieu of using Blackberry's).
So, tell me, what are the pros and cons of the "current" iPhones out there? What is the best value? Where is the best place to buy, new or used or refurbed? Phone will need to be unlocked.
5S is the best value. I don't find the upgrade to a 6 compelling. Sure the battery is bettery, but the processing power is about the same.
4 is history; it doesn't get iOS updates anymore. I'd look at the 5S as it's old enough to offer some value but is 'new' enough to offer updates for a long time.
pres589 wrote: 4 is history; it doesn't get iOS updates anymore. I'd look at the 5S as it's old enough to offer some value but is 'new' enough to offer updates for a long time.
What is a long time? I'd like to have this phone for at least 2.5 years, and preferably 3-4.
Big difference between the 5S and 6 is the screen size - I'd look at both to work out which screen size is more comfortable for you. Also, depending on your storage needs (and if you want to buy new) you may have to go 6 as the 5S are only available with 16GB at this point in time. If you're planning to, say, record a lot of video while data logging your track sessions, you'll need a lot more storage than 16GB.
Seems like the 5's will be around for a few years, but none the less, I would suggest that you just go play with them.
The 6 is bigger than the 5's, and the 6+ even more so. For some, that's worth the extra money, others less.
I got a 5 so that I could take the SIM card out and use it in Europe. Like it a lot. 6 is a good option, and the 6+ that my wife just got for work is pretty impressive. As far as I can tell, they all run pretty much the same.
mtn wrote:pres589 wrote: 4 is history; it doesn't get iOS updates anymore. I'd look at the 5S as it's old enough to offer some value but is 'new' enough to offer updates for a long time.What is a long time? I'd like to have this phone for at least 2.5 years, and preferably 3-4.
LoL you want to keep an iPhone for 2.5 yrs? It'll be obsolete Sir!
Always get the newest, biggest capacity phone you can. That way you can keep it for as long as you need to. And the protection plan from Apple is worth the money. Just walk in with at least the pieces of your phone, and they will replace it.
Battery life is significantly improved on the 6 versus the 5. To me, it was worth the upgrade for that alone. The huge-screen 6 versus the normal 6 is another choice to make. Without an iPad, I would go for the larger screen as it makes surfing and apps easier. It has a better camera as well. For talking on the phone a lot, it is awkward, so I would stick with a smaller version.
I got the 6. The 6+ was cool but actually didn't fit in my pocket so there is that to consider.
I had a 4S for a couple of years so the jump in screen size is REALLY nice. Honestly I hardly use my laptop anymore for general web surfing, the phone is that good.
As for longevity I'm still using my iphone 3s, so you can keep these things for a while. It can't handle any of the new apps, and I actually have to live my life without Siri ( I know.....it's tough using my brain and all...) --- but it does all the things I need a phone to do.
The only compelling reason for me to switch to a newer phone would be the camera---- the camera and video on the new iphone 6 is pretty amazing. I don't have any use for the rest of the gizmos though, so I get by with the old obsolete phone. As a bonus--- it actually fits in my pocket! I'll keep it until my carrier offers a newer phone for free--- or very little $$. The 3s cost me $50 back 5 or 6 years ago. I just can't see paying $800 for a phone--- and then paying another $100 a month to use it.
KyAllroad wrote: I got the 6. The 6+ was cool but actually didn't fit in my pocket so there is that to consider. I had a 4S for a couple of years so the jump in screen size is REALLY nice. Honestly I hardly use my laptop anymore for general web surfing, the phone is that good.
I still have my 4s, well out of contract, was thinking about the 6 and the 6+ but had the same thoughts as you once I saw it in person. That thing is gnarly huge. Maybe I'll make a move when the 6S comes out :P
I still have a 4, verizon decided that if I want to upgrade my phone I can't have my old unlimited plan. I've looked at the 5s and the 6 and really like the 6. Hard to justify the "cash" price of the darn things.
In reply to chandlerGTi:
You used to be able to pay full price for the phone and keep the unlimited plan, but at that point you may as well pay full price for the phone and go to a massively cheaper provider. We did the latter and ended up halving our cellphone bill for three lines.
Yeah, I get a discount (work) and the old plan was super cheap so I pay about what the no name providers charge.
Knowing what I know about cell phones I would get the newest you can afford. Just in the last couple years the battery life and charging time have improved dramatically. Cameras and screen resolutions are also better.
In reply to yupididit:
I've had my 4 for about 2.5 years now. It's not exactly a horrible situation, I just wouldn't pay new money for a phone that's already not getting updates. The situation seems a lot worse on Android.
As a 3 time iPhone owner, if this is your first and you plan on keeping it a while, just go with the 6. I currently have a 5S and while it is good and all, it will probably only take a one or two more updates before Apple stops with the updates.
I have had a lot of good luck with iPhones. Have kept them 2+ years each. I've already passed a year with my 5S and still running strong. My wife had had a 6 since they came out and loves it.
Whatever you get, buy the appropriate case for whatever you do. I had an Otterbox for my 4 and it was great. There's better stuff out there, but you're going to pay for it.
One thing to keep in mind here: I have a flip phone right now. The worlds worst cell phone camera is infinitely better than the camera I have--none. And the screen size? I'm currently working on a screen that is about 1x1.5. Maybe 256mb of memory.
I had the 4s for along time and just upgraded to a 6. What a difference!! The 6 screen is so nice and the speed is worth it. The 5s is worth it but you have the money just get the 6.
mtn wrote: One thing to keep in mind here: I have a flip phone right now.
The wife and I had flip phones until 6 months ago when we got 5C's. We don't do a lot of the app stuff. I never had any interest in texting (or the ability to do so) until I got this phone. Now I find that I do more texting than talking. The 5c works fine for us but if you want to do more the 5S or a 6 might be better.
Ive got a 6+ and I absolutely love it, it just works better than any other iPhone I've had (I've had many of them). Its a better device and a much better phone. I worried that I'd regret getting the + but I've never wondered for a moment if I made the right choice, it rocks.
I've had my 5 for over 2 years; doesn't yet feel obsolete, but it was also the highest end phone available at the time. Next time, I'll get the model with the most memory. I take a ton of photos for work and not work, so I barely have room for anything else.
This is an aside, but I have had great experience with Apple customer service. My sleep button broke a while back, so I was using on-screen commands as a workaround. I took it to the Apple store last month, and they fixed the sleep button free of charge, and gave me a loaner phone in the meantime. They threw in a new battery as well, without me having to pay a dime. Keep in mind that it was over two years old, well out of warranty.
yupididit wrote:mtn wrote:LoL you want to keep an iPhone for 2.5 yrs? It'll be obsolete Sir!pres589 wrote: 4 is history; it doesn't get iOS updates anymore. I'd look at the 5S as it's old enough to offer some value but is 'new' enough to offer updates for a long time.What is a long time? I'd like to have this phone for at least 2.5 years, and preferably 3-4.
I've had 2 iPhones so far, and I've never owned one for less than 3 years, with no problems.
chandlerGTi wrote: I still have a 4, verizon decided that if I want to upgrade my phone I can't have my old unlimited plan. I've looked at the 5s and the 6 and really like the 6. Hard to justify the "cash" price of the darn things.
AT&T had the same deal, but they throttled users with unlimited plans so much that the phone was essentially useless. Eventually everyone went to a newer plan. I hear there is a class-action suit, which there should be because that was not cool.
Yeah, they start throttling after 3gb supposedly but I've never noticed.
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