Should You Really Upgrade? A Parent’s Approach to the iPhone
Why the iPhone X Was the Last Big Leap Forward (Until You Have Kids)
Quick Update: I started playing Astro Bot with my son this week, and it is awesome. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend buying a PS5 just to play it, but it’s the kind of game that might make you think about it.
My First iPhone
I bought my first iPhone in the summer of 2008 using money I earned mowing lawns. It cost only $300! (Although, to be fair, that price was heavily discounted by AT&T. The actual cost was over $500.)
I became obsessed. Over the years, I studied every detail of the iPhone upgrade cycle so I could sell my current phone at the perfect time and take advantage of the upgrades available through our family plan. Every September brought a new, exciting upgrade that (sometimes) made a meaningful impact on how the device worked. I didn’t upgrade annually, but if I could find a deal and last year’s models were reasonably priced, I was definitely up at 3 a.m., refreshing Apple’s website to grab one.
iPhone X: The Last Big Leap
Things changed in 2017 with the release of the iPhone X. It was a huge upgrade, introducing wireless charging and Face ID. Since then, though, the changes have been less significant.
This year’s model barely changed at all. Sure, there’s a new “shutter” button, but I doubt most people will even notice it, let alone use it. The biggest update seems to be Apple Intelligence, but my phone from last year will receive those features when they launch.
There are still some features that get me excited, but that’s not why I’ve upgraded in recent years. The main reason I’ve upgraded my phones, from the iPhone XS to the 12, and now to the 15, is the camera.
When Parents Should Upgrade: It’s All About the Camera!
As a parent with young kids, it’s hard not to justify upgrading when there’s a noticeable improvement in picture quality. Some changes are minor (Do I really need all 48 megapixels?), but every photo of my kids is priceless, and improving the quality of those pictures is worth the monthly cost of a new phone.
For example, I upgraded from the iPhone XS to the 12 Pro specifically for HDR video and 2x optical zoom. Last year, I went from the 12 Pro to the 15 Pro Max for the 5x optical zoom and 48-megapixel photos.
Can You Tell the Difference?
Is there really a difference in the photos and videos across these generations? The videos, definitely—HDR is very different from SDR. Photos are a bit trickier. The zoom makes taking pictures more convenient, and on my computer, I can distinguish between 12-megapixel and 48-megapixel images, but it’s not a dramatic improvement. The real reason to keep increasing photo quality is for the future. I expect the difference will be much more noticeable when I’m viewing them on whatever screen I’m using on my space shuttle to Mars in 20 or 30 years.
Should you upgrade this year?
If you have an iPhone 13 Pro or earlier, probably. If you have an iPhone XS or earlier, definitely. The quality of photos are much better on this year’s phone, and you’ll get a screen with a 120hz refresh rate, dynamic island, stronger front glass, etc.