Why I Won’t Buy The iPhone 5 (And You Probably Shouldn’t)
I should start this post by disclaiming that I’m frugal first, then a gadget fan second. I own a couple of gadgets, but I do everything possible to avoid paying for them (within legal bounds of course). A couple of months back I got (note, not bought) the iPhone 4, and before that I had a Nokia E63, which I’d kept for 3 years.
When phone makers hype up new release phones, they’re probably not targeting me, but all the same, I like a good phone experience. Today, I tell you why I won’t buy the iPhone 5 this year, and why you shouldn’t. It doesn’t make financial sense.
1. It is not too impressive
When Apple released the iPhone 5, I didn’t expect anything earthshaking. It is actually a very well designed phone, met expectations of some, but as reviewed here, it didn’t wow the pundits. It is a great mass market phone.
Any gadget enthusiast will tell you that phone makers have almost done all that can be done to increase a smart phone’s hardware functionality, and the only place they can win on is the software. A clearer camera is great, but a professional photographer is more likely to just buy a camera, and really, how much premium should an ordinary Joe pay for a camera? When I was making the decision to go with the iPhone 4 instead of the iPhone 4s, I did a bit of research online, and asked users what benefits the 4s had over 4. The only truly different aspect was Siri. I don’t need Siri, and a few other tweaks that I wasn’t going to pay a premium for like a faster processor, better camera etc.
In terms of functionality, the iPhone 5 doesn’t do anything radically different from the iPhone 4s, or even iPhone 4. It sure has more bells and whistles, but I doubt it’s wise to spend your cash on that. And this takes me to the next point:
2. The older iPhones are fantastic phones
As I mentioned before, a good phone is more about the software than the hardware. During the iPhone 5 launch, Roomthinker tweeted that he’s not about to replace his iPhone 3Gs, as long as it’s running the newest OS. He’s a techie and is 4 generations behind and still loves his phone. The older phones are also dirt cheap now, so why not go for them, then upgrade to the latest iOS?
3. There are other good cheaper phones
You don’t have to own an iPhone, it is not the only super smart phone in the market. While iPhones are fantastic, and deliver an unmatched user experience, anyone will tell you that Apple charges quite a premium for that experience, especially here in Kenya where they’re not common. Instead of spending over $1,000 on a phone (in Kenya), go for other models that are much cheaper, and deliver the functionality that you require (some even better than the iPhone). I’ve read that the Lumia 920, and the Samsung Galaxy SIII are great, and could even be better than the iPhone 5. The iPhone cannot be the best phone for everyone, you may save some money by looking at other options.
4. The iPhone 5 will be cheaper next year
Yes, in about 12 months, another iPhone will be released, and you will be able to buy the iPhone 5 at 50% it’s current price. In my opinion, waiting 12 months to save 50% isn’t a big sacrifice.
Ultimately, like Sunny Bindra said, we have to realize that a phone doesn’t deliver happiness or satisfy a need inside us. It is a tool that should serve a purpose in our lives. If to you a phone is a toy, then you’re in a bit of a fix, because there will always be a shinier, louder toy out there. Actually, there will be enough toys to spend all your money on, and your happiness lasts as long as it takes for the phone makers to release a new version.
Evaluate why you’re going for that new phone before you pay for it.
