Tech Talks Today
You Don’t Need The Latest iPhone
Or Any Other Flagship, For That Matter
Buying a new flagship every year is just a waste of money, period. Let’s be honest here. You will use it to do the same actions and tasks you do on your current flagship.
You won’t notice Instagram or Facebook load 0.10 seconds faster, nor is it going to matter. The 20, 30, 50% claimed speed increase isn’t noticeable, as you will most likely not open tens of other applications apart from the ones you are already using, nor will it send a text message any faster.
Okay, I might have started a bit harsh, so let’s talk a bit more in-depth.
Progress Is Fantastic
Technological progress is an amazing achievement of humans. The last 20+ years or so have seen a leap in the domain. Different sorts of handheld devices, self-driving cars, renewable energy, to name a few.
These show how much humans have evolved and what their minds have been able to imagine and build.
I love tech and always like to see what new things people come up with in the latest tech products.
Smartphones dominate the world and are by far the most useful and popular tech item an individual has in their possession.
It only makes sense for large tech companies to continue building new smartphone devices with incremental improvements. Roll out each year, please. Cash is king.
Compared to 10 years ago, the difference is immense. You cannot even compare a flagship smartphone from 2021 to one from 2011. I mean, you could, but it makes no sense.
Overselling and Overspending
Smartphone flagships are great as a proof of concept. Top-tier devices show the best that can be done at a specific time. They are also great if you are a more intensive user and require the added performance.
Because they also cost a pretty penny, you can view them as an investment for the next 3–4 years.
People who have had a smartphone device for more than 3-years are the ones that will notice a difference in performance and gain from it.
The reality is, we live in a consumer’s world. As with everything, this is both good and bad. We have so many options and so many possibilities, but sometimes we waste them on insignificant things.
On the one hand, tech companies are here to make money for their investors, so they are very good at marketing and selling you their pitch. Once you are hooked, it is much easier to rationalize your actions and spending (it’s the best, the newest one, it has the most features). I need it, and I have to buy it. Apple, Google, Samsung, etc., please take my money.
You overspend your hard-earned money for an upgrade that’s not necessary. There are, of course, different psychological reasons that lead to this. No matter if it’s social pressure, a type of mindset, you’re overindulging, or you’re coping with something, it is a problem that you need to take control of.
I won’t go into the psychological motives, as I am not a psychologist and can only tell you my personal opinion. If it’s something that you are conscious about, it means that you are on the right path, and overspending might be easier to control for you.
We only bear a part of the guilt. The newest and shiniest new products need owners. The largest culprits are the tech companies that make these products and release them every year. They should limit themselves and be more aware of the entire ecosystem and the surrounding environment.
Final Thoughts
I love tech and evolution, but I hate wasting money. There are times when I wish I would get the latest and greatest flagship.
5-seconds later, on second thought, I realize that I would prefer to do something else with that money and that my almost 2-year old smartphone still works great and is as good as new.
So, the new iPhone seems cool, maybe I’ll get it in 2 years. I am sure I won’t be missing anything major.
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