I’m on that Apple program that where you pay for an iPhone over time and you get the opportunity to update immediately when a new model comes along, as it does every year.
While this is a very good deal for Apple, almost like a subscription service, it’s a good deal for me too. I hate the feeling of FOMO that comes along when a new computer, phone, or device is released. But with iPhones (and Android phones) it’s more than just a feeling. Missing out on the latest phone means missing out on important new features, security protections, and performance improvements.
FOMO used to be a big problem for personal computers as there were big performance jumps between PC models back when Moore’s Law was still in full effect. These days you can still get great results from a 5 year old PC or MacBook. Maybe you can’t play VR games but you email and browse the web like a champ.
Smart Phones are in a different place on the product evolution curve than PCs. They still have a long way to go before they settle down. Innovation in smart phones is driven by advances in displays, cameras, custom chips, and machine learning. Even incremental improvements in these technologies means far better user experiences, security, and even more epic cat photos.
I’m super happy with the jump between the iPhone 8+ and the XS Max. It responds faster, is easier on the eyes with its 6.5″ screen, and yet is basically the same size as the 8+. The name is kinda of silly. But I don’t care what Apple names their phones.
At some point phone hardware will cease to evolve and some new device will become our “primary interface” to the Internet. My guess is that it will be a watch of some sort with accessory glasses or screens. But these things are hard to predict.
I’m on the train as I type this post into my phone and one guy is still reading a paper news paper. I guess that iPhone XS Max just didn’t excite him.