One of the most annoying things was not having the ability to download software updates over the air, even when cellular data was on, it insisted on Wi-Fi. With unlimited data quotas on cellular networks these days, this is a stupid limitation but notwithstanding that, it should be my choice as the user how I update my device (particularly when annoyed with constant pop-ups about a software update).
My time with the iPhone has ended; A little over two weeks, but I'm glad I did it. It gave me a chance to experience something first hand, that I never would normally have done.
I can see Apple's appeal to some users, but are these handsets worth the money? In my opinion, no. Comparing the current line-up of Apple iPhones to the offerings of Samsung, LG, Motorola and even some of the Chinese phones, spec-for-spec, you get much better bang-for-buck with something other than an Apple handset (but that's not really a surprise to most people).
My biggest gripes over the last few weeks were with the operating system rather than the hardware. Even running the latest version of iOS available today (12.3.1) it still feels unrefined at times. Even small things like activating buttons or moving levers/progress bars, I was forced to literally drag them, rather than simply tap on them. Android gives me the option of both, drag or tap. I found myself double, triple something quadruple tapping things because they didn't respond "logically" to me (or responded in the wrong place). At first I thought this was application specific, but it seems to be the case across the board, even in the OS itself.
The obvious lack of customisation was also a huge negative for me. I totally understand that many users don't want to "fiddle" with their phones and that's perfectly fine. But I think even the most basic of users should have the option to if they wanted. One of the most annoying things was not having the ability to download software updates over the air, even when cellular data was on, it insisted on Wi-Fi. With unlimited data quotas on cellular networks these days, this is a stupid limitation but notwithstanding that, it should be my choice as the user how I update my device (particularly when annoyed with constant pop-ups about a software update).
As I mentioned in another post, I felt the UI itself was trying to make up for the lack of features or usability with pretty animations, swooshes, fades and jiggles, which while they might appeal to some people, were slowing me down. I just wanted to get the job done. Even activating the "reduce motion" option under "accessibility" did very little.
The mandatory requirement to sign up for an Apple ID was also a huge turn-off. I didn't want or need it or any of the other garbage that came along with it, but there was no option to skip.
Finally, the inability to connect the iPhone to a PC and use it as a mass storage device was a major disadvantage (although I could access the photos directly via gPhoto2 on Linux).
In terms of the hardware I used (iPhone SE), it was average at best and felt like I was back to using an Android, Motorola or Nokia handset from 2010. The audio from the loud speaker was very quiet by comparison and somewhat distorted (even at lower levels and it didn't matter what content I was playing), the colours on the genuine Apple LCD looked a little subdued or washed out, the touch response was awkward (I felt like it was making assumptions on where I was pressing which were often wrong) and the call quality over Bluetooth sounded like an AM radio regardless of the device I paired it to. I'm assuming all of these have improved in later models.
On the positive side, I did love the physical form factor and size of the SE and the overall fit and finish felt solid. The standby battery life was quite adequate and easily got me through the day. I did however find that once the battery was low (under 25%), it dropped off very quickly with even light use. The "Measure" application which is included with iOS 12 also worked very well. Installing and using applications was as easy as one would expect (but the constant advertising in the "App Store" is very disappointing).
Overall, if you're already a user who is stuck in the Apple "ecosystem" and you want a fairly basic handset that does a reasonable job at most things and has a respectable level of data security, then an iPhone is an excellent (but expensive) choice.
For those of us who use Linux and/or Windows and don't use Apple services or if you want greater control and flexibility of your device, then an iPhone will leave you feeling frustrated.
One of the most annoying things was not having the ability to download software updates over the air, even when cellular data was on, it insisted on Wi-Fi. With unlimited data quotas on cellular networks these days, this is a stupid limitation but notwithstanding that, it should be my choice as the user how I update my device (particularly when annoyed with constant pop-ups about a software update).
A lot of opinions here, fair enough, but this is simply wrong.
I just turned off my wifi, went to the AppStore and downloaded an update for an app on LTE.
Yeah, sorry... an SE nowadays is literally 4 (or 5?) generations out of date; it was deliberately made a generation behind everything else iPwn as an entry-level device. So that is hardly an Apple to apples comparison. You got exactly what you expected.
Yeah, sorry... an SE nowadays is literally 4 (or 5?) generations out of date; it was deliberately made a generation behind everything else iPwn as an entry-level device. So that is hardly an Apple to apples comparison. You got exactly what you expected.
Re-read my post, I said comparing current iPhone models to the other offerings, spec-for-spec, price-for-price, the iPhone isn't a great choice. I wasn't comparing the handset I used against current models. But you'll also note that most of my gripes were with iOS, not with the hardware itself. These problems/issues/limitations still exist in todays current iPhone models as it runs exactly the same OS.
I also acknowledged the fact that I was using older hardware, but come on, we're not talking a decade old, the iPhone SE was released just 3 years ago! If you want a fair comparison, put it side by side with a Samsung Galaxy S7 which is still a much more capable device.
I honestly don't know why people get so defensive about Apple products. If Samsung turned around tomorrow and dropped the ball and started producing crap hardware, I'd be looking at alternatives. I've kept every phone I've ever owned and it includes Nokia, O2, Sony, Motorola (pre-Google), LG, Samsung and Blackberry among others. I'm not so invested in a brand and perhaps more importantly I'm not tied to any particular brand or workflow. If you think my judgement or review of the iPhone is unfair, please, let me know, but as I said, I went into this with an open mind. I also made it quite clear that there were things about the iPhone which were unsatisfactory or mediocre, it doesn't mean everyone has to share my view point. If someone wrote a similar review about Android or Linux, I wouldn't be getting so defensive about it.
Basically if you want choice and flexibility both in terms of hardware or software, iPhone isn't the product for you. If you want a phone that's easy to use and works well with other Apple products, then it probably is. I'm not sure how anyone can legitimately dispute that?
People also commonly claim "oh well, Apple have better support". Yes, sure, maybe, in some cases this is true. In other's it's far from it. In the case of my primary phone which developed a fault, it was covered under warranty and Samsung replaced the handset, no questions asked. Then again, I looked after my phone, it was free of damage, none of the humidity indicators were tripped and I didn't try to lie and bullshit a company about something that I had caused.
Who's being defensive? You phrased the topic as an honest attempt to evaluate an iPhone, from an Android user's perspective. Yet your test mule is literally one that was designed to be a throwback, so people would buy the better model next time around. And even THEN, it's 4 generations out of date. Shockingly, you found its UI to be clumsy and dated.
the iPhone SE was released just 3 years ago! If you want a fair comparison, put it side by side with a Samsung Galaxy S7 which is still a much more capable device.
if you smash your phone, no big deal. You take it to the Apple bar, hand it to some agent who hands it to a tech, and go shopping or eat in the food court and when you come back a few hundred dollars lighter
As for Samsung... their business model is vertically integrated SHIT. They make a few flagship model products, which even THOSE eventually have some massive clusterflop issue happen... and the rest of their crap is... crap. They have fucked me personally too many times... too many phones, DVD/Blu-Ray players, toasters & TVs that eventually fucked themselves due to old unsupported software that NEVER NEEDED TO BE THERE, or worse yet, devices that EFFING BRICK THEMSELVES DOING AN UPDATE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE ABOUT.
if you smash your phone, no big deal. You take it to the Apple bar, hand it to some agent who hands it to a tech, and go shopping or eat in the food court and when you come back a few hundred dollars lighterif you watch rossman video earlier, if you got a smashed lcd, you'll have to go to food court everyday in 2 weeks or month until you get your phone back from apple factory. if their support is so amazing, why dont they just let you keep the new replacement phone, and they get to keep your damaged phone after repair? you can mirror image your system back from icloud into the new phone in 5 second right?
Err that's exactly what happens. When I had a minor screen fault they said come back in 2 hours. Sorted. Went shopping, came back. They said they couldn't recalibrate the screen afterwards properly so gave me a new handset. The invoice had the cost of two screens they tried to fit and the replacement handset cost and a refund for the full price so payable was £0. I walked out of there 2 hours later with a brand new 128Gb 6s. Same story over and over again on all our corp phones. If we smash the screen it's same day replacement and £25. If we destroy the handset, £79.
And there's this: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/iphone/repair/service/express-replacement
Err that's exactly what happens.
If you’ve already used both incidents of accidental damage that come with AppleCare+, you’ll pay an out-of-warranty fee for your replacement, as shown on our pricing page.
Yes it only lasts two years. Yes you can only smash it twice. Yes it costs money.
the iPhone SE was released just 3 years ago! If you want a fair comparison, put it side by side with a Samsung Galaxy S7 which is still a much more capable device.swmbo's samsung S4 and my KZoom are 5 years old and are still working fine. we had no issue with say dated OS or clumsy GUI, everything was just as smooth as todays galaxy A7, except A7 has faster cpu and alot larger internal storage, i still miss KZoom smartphone's super lens. durability is one of people's argument to choose iphone? lets say it can live 10 years, fun. but you are left with 10 years back dated smartphone technology. so people will inevitably change their phone before end of life, durability point is then moot. planned obsolescence got its point.if you smash your phone, no big deal. You take it to the Apple bar, hand it to some agent who hands it to a tech, and go shopping or eat in the food court and when you come back a few hundred dollars lighterif you watch rossman video earlier, if you got a smashed lcd, you'll have to go to food court everyday in 2 weeks or month until you get your phone back from apple factory. if their support is so amazing, why dont they just let you keep the new replacement phone, and they get to keep your damaged phone after repair? you can mirror image your system back from icloud into the new phone in 5 second right?As for Samsung... their business model is vertically integrated SHIT. They make a few flagship model products, which even THOSE eventually have some massive clusterflop issue happen... and the rest of their crap is... crap. They have fucked me personally too many times... too many phones, DVD/Blu-Ray players, toasters & TVs that eventually fucked themselves due to old unsupported software that NEVER NEEDED TO BE THERE, or worse yet, devices that EFFING BRICK THEMSELVES DOING AN UPDATE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE ABOUT.it only happened to you not us, maybe due to your climate condition? i'm not sure. but we have no trouble with samsung "not flagship" smartphone, but for computer lcd screen, yes it sucks to me personally. maybe their workflow or supply chain in smartphone production is ok, but others are so so... ymmv.
btw... i can walk faster than 5mph, if you cant cycle/motor more than that, please stay away from the road, be considerate, simply walk on your feet on the side otherwise you'll cause unnecessary road congestion, if your road is same as our road here. cheers.
Yes it only lasts two years. Yes you can only smash it twice. Yes it costs money.THIS is what I was saying when I said "If you fully buy into their ecology."
If you're a wingnut who can't stand the fundamental invasiveness of cloud backups, etc and have to harp on every "Security issue" (which by their essential nature, an internet-connected device with GPS in your pocket explicitly IS, no matter the brand) and insists on FIXING rather than REPLACING your phone... if you're like that, and you BUY an iPwn KNOWING these things about it then you ARE a wingnut... then you DESERVE to have a effing horrible experience. You're buying something that is explicitly NOT what you like, and then hating on it for not being what you like.
I quite liked the Windows phones at one time, I never bought one though because app support was spotty, Microsoft has a longstanding habit of abandoning product lines on a whim, and then I was so mad with the direction they took Windows starting with Win8 that I wanted nothing to do with the platform. They had a good thing going for a while though, I just don't think there is room for more than two big players in the smartphone market which is a shame really because I can't say I'm a fan of either one.