Thinking of ditching Apple

L'prof

I’ve been with Apple almost 10 years now and I’m thinking of jumping ship. Before my current iPhone 7 which I’ve had for the last 2.5 years I had the iPhone 5 for about 4 years before it became unusable. Now 4 years isn’t bad and I was planning on getting the same out of this phone. It’s the only way I can justify shelling out so much money on a phone. I generally buy the phone outright and spend €20 A month on credit

The problem is, now my iPhone 7 has started acting up. The mute switch at the side isn’t working and randomly the mute function will turn on and off for no reason resulting in my phone vibrating on and off. Very frustrating. I brought my phone in to be repaired but when I went back I was told that they could find nothing physically wrong with the phone but they couldn’t fix it as it appeared to be software related. They said it was very common with older iPhones and suggested I sell up and switch to Android as the majority of issues are fixable. I’m contemplating right now to be honest. I just wanted to get an idea on whether you guys believe that planned obsolescence is a thing or not or is there anything else I should try which I haven’t consedered?

Franz Von Peppercorn

Well it’s up to you. The guy in the store clearly has an android bias however. And it’s likely it is a hardware issue.

To me iPhones last much longer than my android phones. You just have to look at the people with iPhones - the X models probably aren’t in the majority even now. Lots of people sporting the 6,7 and 8 models. Apple supports fairly ancient phones with software. 80% of all active devices were on 12 last time I checked. So no, Apple doesn’t build in software obsolesce.

Hardware is a different thing - batteries are inevitably going to get worse and wear and tear is inevitable. The mute switch is fairly flimsy. Even there Apple phones last a lot longer.

So go somewhere else for an opinion.

L'prof

Mr.S wrote: »

Try and repair the phone via Apple directly. I wouldn't trust a lot of the repair shops here for anything more than standard fixes that screen repair or battery replacement.

Have you tried a full reset and update of the phone? Setup the phone as new, and don't restore from a backup.

I’ll give this a go when I get a chance. Have to make sure I get all my photos off it first. My NAS kicked the bucket a few months ago and I lost my laptop charger a few weeks ago :rolleyes:

As for an Apple repair, I thought they had a very high standard chearge because they give you a different refurbished phone back?

EDIT: Just checked there. €275 to repair it through Apple. That’s scandalous!

Franz Von Peppercorn

Some fixes mentioned here.

https://youtu.be/rvAtQcFltFE

Nonoperational

Tried the switch myself recently. Really didn't fancy it, got myself a XS max a few months later.

Blazer

Third party vendors are biased towards android as its easier for them to repair hardware faults etc.
With iphones replacing a screen by a third party disables the fingerprint scanner/faceid and only apple or authorised resellers can access the necessary progams to correct this.

Hardwarewise its not a problem jumping to Android.
Its the whole ios vs Android argument really. Yes Android allows you to do some really great things that I'd love on apple such as being able to download, torrent, tweak etc.
On the other hand I use my phone a lot for banking, paying bills etc so security is a must. And I trust Apple far far more than google with my information, plus my iphone receives regular updates.
Also apps tend to be a bit more polished on ios.
I'm still tempted by those huawei phones though

naasrd

Sadly Apple died along with Steve Jobs. Cook is no more an alpha male than the mouse under my kitchen sink. If you took adjectives out of his vocabulary he’d be mute. He stands for nothing and too many weak links appeared under his watch, too numerous to even mention. He scares and inspires nobody.

Monoke

I started out with Apple then moved to Android
I like both, definitely pros and cons either way, however Apple's system is very locked down. My favourite feature of Android is how easily you can access the file architecture. I use my phone as a portable drive as much as anything else and I love being able to get under the hood and move things around. Perhaps Apple have freed things up somewhat but I remember the hoops I used to have to go through to get things in and out of it.

beauf

I think it's more when they replaced the home button.

beauf

iPhones are premium products. You'll always pay more for them. They get updates for longer than android phones. Expensive to fix.

Top end Androids tend to have better hardware and obviously the cheaper ones are better bang for buck. But most don't get updates for long. Some models do like Google phones and Android one etc.

Pros and cons to both. Which compromise you pick is subjective opinion.

duridian

Mr.S wrote: »

Is that correct? I had a screen replaced by a third party repair shop and touchID remained active the same as before the repair - presumed they just keep the original home button?

I think maybe it depends on the models involved.

iPhone 5s, 6 & 6 Plus, 6s & 6s Plus and SE models have an actual home button that is not part of the screen glass and can be separated.

iPhone 7 & 7 Plus, 8 & 8 Plus have an indentation on the screen glass that where the home button was on the previous models. It emulates the effects of an actual physical “clicky” button using same type of pressure sensitivity that Force Touch uses, plus haptic feedback vibrations which makes your finger feel like it’s pressing a button. I was amazed at how similar to a button it felt when I first got my iPhone 7.
As the fingerprint reader also seems to be built into this indented pseudo home button, I am not sure if non authorised repair shops can get the TouchID working on these models after screen replacement, so maybe this is what Blazer means.

Eire Go Brach

beauf wrote: »

iPhones are premium products. You'll always pay more for them. They get updates for longer than android phones. Expensive to fix.

Top end Androids tend to have better hardware and obviously the cheaper ones are better bang for buck. But most don't get updates for long. Some models do like Google phones and Android one etc.

Pros and cons to both. Which compromise you pick is subjective opinion.

I have the xs max. Can we call it a premium product? Premium in price. But no longer in spec. This is what is starting to annoy me. While I still prefer IOS over Android. The present XS camera is behind last years Google and Huawei phones. Never mind there latest ones. It no longer has best in Class screen either. Yet we pay premium price.

beauf

Premium simply means you pay more for it.

khaldrogo

Once you go Huawei you never go any other way....

Bigmac1euro

You're paying for IOS, you're not paying for the hardware as such IMO.
I prefer iPhones but as mentioned a million times. Pros and cons with both.
If you have a hardware issue with anything iphone 7 and newer then don't touch the 3rd party repair shops with a barge pole.

drunkmonkey

Paying extra for iOS, I don't see any pros iOS has over Pie.

Blazer

Mr.S wrote: »

Is that correct? I had a screen replaced by a third party repair shop and touchID remained active the same as before the repair - presumed they just keep the original home button?

6plus or older and they can keep the touchid intact.
The newer ones need both the cable and the home button intact. A lot of those places screw it up taking it out. Whereas the registered third party crowds has the necessary software to activate the new home button.

Blazer

Eire Go Brach wrote: »

I have the xs max. Can we call it a premium product? Premium in price. But no longer in spec. This is what is starting to annoy me. While I still prefer IOS over Android. The present XS camera is behind last years Google and Huawei phones. Never mind there latest ones. It no longer has best in Class screen either. Yet we pay premium price.

No phone ever maintains best in class.
At the time the xs max screen was the best screen out there.
Of course its been surpassed by newer models. This is expected so I don't know how you can complain about it.
Pricewise yep I agree Apple have gone crazy. But the top end Android phones are rapidly catching up.
I'm guessing they've copped on that regardless of Apple or Android people will lap up the latest phones and pay crazy prices for them.

Bigmac1euro

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Paying extra for iOS, I don't see any pros iOS has over Pie.

Security and more apps. Applications for iOS don’t randomly crash out nearly as much. Android has many security issues with this makes the phone customisable. But I don’t need to customise my phone I rather my data is secure.
By the way I use both an android and an iPhone.
The android is a year younger and the battery life isn’t as good. I could go on. I do love all things tech but IOS is a much more stable OS than anything google has come up with.

drunkmonkey

Disagree with you on every point there so best leave it. Your data is more secure on Pie by the way.

Bigmac1euro

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Disagree with you on every point there so best leave it. Your data is more secure on Pie by the way.

Sorry I was incorrect, more apps on Android. Everything else stands. A quick google should verify the security question

drunkmonkey

Have another look at the security in Pie you'll be surprised.

Bigmac1euro

It’s pretty clear android are still addressing security concerns over their ecosystem. This is brilliant as seen below but still nowhere near as secure as IOS. Plenty of apps with malware no doubt riddling the PlayStore. The fact they are still catching up is a security concern in itself. My point stands. I always said I would go back to Android more permanently when they address many of the issues they have. For now though the Android remains as a work phone for me. I am honestly looking forward to switching back and by the looks of it, it’s not too far away another year maybe.

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/venturebeat.com/2019/02/28/google-has-helped-300000-android-developers-fix-security-vulnerabilities-in-over-1-million-apps/amp/

3DataModem

I have had problems with the mute switch on my 6+, and I realised that it is usually caused by dust or grit in the switch itself.

My solution - AND I DON'T ADVOCATE THIS FOR YOU - is to get a tiny flexible piece of plastic or wood and gently slide it in behind the switch and move side to side. I've found this dislodges whatever has ended up in there.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/clean-inside-of-the-ring-silent-switch.1287273/

dhaughton99

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Have another look at the security in Pie you'll be surprised.

The neighbors kid found a Samsung something and It took me an hour to bypass the android ‘find my’ whatever equivalent lock is and I have never used an android. You won’t do that with iOS.

eagle eye

Since the death of the great man that was Steve Jobs it appears that Apple has become all about the money. Their phones are way overpriced now
I used the iPhone for a while and seamlessly switched over to Android, I had Android before.
My wife was an iPhone user from the get go but I bought her a new Android phone for her birthday a couple of weeks back. She has already settled in and is very happy she made the switch due to the amount of freedom she enjoys now compared to on an iPhone.

traco

Interesting thread, been an apple user since the 3GS and now on a 7+ 256GB but I think thats it for me. Mrs got a Mi A1 as a substitute while her 7 was back to apple for repair and refused to go back to the 7 so ended up selling it. Have played around with it and for 200 its very impressive and as far as I can see as fast as my 7+

One of the lads in work got the poco f1 and its equally impressive. I'm debating about selling the 7 now or holding on till it dies and then jumping but I'm 99% sure the next will be android.

The apple pricing just doesn't make sense to me and for what i need a 2/300 phone that does the same makes more sense to me.

dhaughton99

eagle eye wrote: »

Since the death of the great man that was Steve Jobs it appears that Apple has become all about the money. Their phones are way overpriced now
I used the iPhone for a while and seamlessly switched over to Android, I had Android before.
My wife was an iPhone user from the get go but I bought her a new Android phone for her birthday a couple of weeks back. She has already settled in and is very happy she made the switch due to the amount of freedom she enjoys now compared to on an iPhone.

He certainly wouldn’t be claiming new emojis are a reason to upgrade your OS.

Kilboor

Apple make great phones but do we need half the features? The Xiaomi Mi9 is probably the best bang for buck phone money can buy.

Excellent camera, 2 day battery life, super fast performance, and worlds fastest wireless charging, OS updates for at least 2 + years.

Can't go wrong really. 450 euro from Amazon, sim free.

Circuital

eagle eye wrote: »

Since the death of the great man that was Steve Jobs it appears that Apple has become all about the money. Their phones are way overpriced now
I used the iPhone for a while and seamlessly switched over to Android, I had Android before.
My wife was an iPhone user from the get go but I bought her a new Android phone for her birthday a couple of weeks back. She has already settled in and is very happy she made the switch due to the amount of freedom she enjoys now compared to on an iPhone.

Out of interest, what does she do with her Android phone now that she didn't with her iPhone? Just wondering what kind of freedom a presumably average person would have with Android.

drunkmonkey

Multitasking for starters..

Circuital

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Multitasking for starters..

Is that even something your average user would even notice? I know people who've switched to Android and they don't even know what that means.

Also, not really a 'freedom'.

Bigmac1euro

Kilboor wrote: »

OS updates for at least 2 + years.

Can't go wrong really. 450 euro from Amazon, sim free.

The fact you mention this means that the phone is not secure after 2 years and you paid 450 euro for A device that’s not secure with your whole life on it is pretty worrying.

Kilboor

Circuital wrote: »

Is that even something your average user would even notice? I know people who've switched to Android and they don't even know what that means.

Also, not really a 'freedom'.

I like Apple products but if you want freedom examples how about:

-Can install apps outside play store (which means easier to watch dodgy streams)
-Can torrent
-Can change the default browser that links open with
-Android supports Webm codecs
-Android is still capable of flash support
-Can install skins, launchers, icons and even flash new Roms
-Can use a mouse to control phone if screen ever breaks
-Can easily access file manager storage and use phone like a usb or computer if required
-Can send photos over bluetooth
-Dual sim card support


They're off the top of my head from using an iPhone he last while

Kilboor

Bigmac1euro wrote: »

The fact you mention this means that phone is not secure after 2 years and you paid 450 euro for it is pretty worrying.

I mean OS updates, not security patches.

Circuital

Kilboor wrote: »

I like Apple products but if you want freedom examples how about:

-Can install apps outside play store (which means easier to watch dodgy streams)
-Can torrent
-Can change the default browser that links open with
-Android supports Webm codecs
-Android is still capable of flash support
-Can install skins, launchers, icons and even flash new Roms
-Can use a mouse to control phone if screen ever breaks
-Can easily access file manager storage and use phone like a usb or computer if required
-Can send photos over bluetooth

They're off the top of my head from using an iPhone he last while

Yes I'm aware of all that, but what freedom's would your average joe use, presumable the persons girlfriend I initially replied to?

I don't know a single woman interested in flashing roms, using custom launchers or downloading torrents so I was wondering what freedoms your 'presumably average user' would enjoy...genuinely.

Kilboor

Circuital wrote: »

Yes I'm aware of all that, but what freedom's would your average joe use, presumable the persons girlfriend I initially replied to?

I don't know a single woman interested in flashing roms, using custom launchers or downloading torrents so I was wondering what freedoms your 'presumably average user' would enjoy...

Oh of course for normal people stick to Apple. I'd recommend Apple to anyone who doesn't care about messing around with their phone or being able to do extra stuff.

The only one from above would be send photos via bluetooth that's it.

It's better for certain users to be locked down and monopolised to one ecosystem. Less hassle and way more user friendly, can't really **** anything up on iOS


I'm actually using an iPhone 5c currently, still going strong 6 years later. Fanastically built piece of phone but the OS is not user friendly for my needs that's the only issue I have ! Competition is always good.

mikemac2

Flash new roms

People here on a message board tech section are likely technically minded and like to play and try these things

An average user may not understand most of that list and certainly have no desire to do any of it

Edit: already addressed ^^^^

Hoboo

Switched from Apple after 10 years too, to a xiaomi. Best thing I ever did, and for €170. Android One so updates for the foreseeable, and when they stop, 170 won't break the bank.

The high horse brigade

The greatest freedom is being able to use a universal charging cable

Bigmac1euro

-Can install apps outside play store (which means easier to watch dodgy streams) - security concern. (You can stream most sites using the safari browser)

-Can torrent (deffo a plus but I’ve never wanted to torrent on a phone because I’ve a laptop for that)

-Can change the default browser that links open with
-Android supports Webm codecs
-Android is still capable of flash support - fair point

-Can install skins, launchers, icons and even flash new Roms (pretty cool, high chance of bricking a phone and losing imei)

-Can use a mouse to control phone if screen ever breaks ( are you telling me you carry a mouse)

-Can easily access file manager storage and use phone like a usb or computer if required
(iPhone does this)

-Can send photos over bluetooth ( because it’s 2004, Whatsapp man hahahahaha)



Look I understand it’s pretty handy being able to do certain things depending on the user entirely but some of the above examples are actually pretty funny. Thanks for that I got a good laugh out of the mouse one.

drunkmonkey

Circuital wrote: »

Is that even something your average user would even notice? I know people who've switched to Android and they don't even know what that means.

Also, not really a 'freedom'.

The freedoms to multitask using 2 apps at once, it's something I use the whole time.
You know people who switched to Android? Your average iPhone user doesn't have a clue how to use an iPhone either.
Android was a bit rough for years and people moved from Samsung's, Sony, Nokia etc and found the iphone experience better. That's all changed now. iOS is a pain in the ass now compared to Android excuse my french.
I wouldn't hate on it as much if it wasn't for the complete rip off pricing, your average iPhone user can't afford any of the new iPhones and when they see the price there not long about jumping ship to Android.

Kilboor

Bigmac1euro wrote: »

-Can install apps outside play store (which means easier to watch dodgy streams) - security concern. (You can stream most sites using the safari browser)

-Can torrent (deffo a plus but I’ve never wanted to torrent on a phone because I’ve a laptop for that)

-Can change the default browser that links open with
-Android supports Webm codecs
-Android is still capable of flash support - fair point

-Can install skins, launchers, icons and even flash new Roms (pretty cool, high chance of bricking a phone and losing imei)

-Can use a mouse to control phone if screen ever breaks ( are you telling me you carry a mouse)

-Can easily access file manager storage and use phone like a usb or computer if required
(iPhone does this)

-Can send photos over bluetooth ( because it’s 2004, Whatsapp man hahahahaha)



Look I understand it’s pretty handy being able to do certain things depending on the user entirely but some of the above examples are actually pretty funny. Thanks for that I got a good laugh out of the mouse one.

Ok clearly a fan boy. Remember competition is always good mate and ability to have more features is never a bad thing. You genuinely seem upset at competition, kind of worrying to be honest why anyone would fanboy over one ecosystem or another....

I based everything above off my own use cases. My phone digitiser of a cheap android phone (90 euro) had got wet but screen still turned on and I was able to easily recover all data using mouse.

Riesen_Meal

I have a Pixel 2, the camera is fantastic and is always due to get security updates every month from Google, I don't get the android is less secure line when you use a proper flagship phone and not a 200 quid android which won't get proper security updates, you get what you pay for I suppose...

I am tempted to try an iPhone for a while as I use a Mac for my day to day PC stuff, and I do enjoy using it...

My sister has the XR and it is a nice enough phone, I still think the pictures from Pixel tend to come out better though...

hetuzozaho

I use Apple and Android myself.

Like has been said, pros and cons. I've never understood the one or other, or the arguments about such things. But I do enjoy reading them ha!

ios has less customization etc, but it's a great os with great applications. As a software developer myself I have to respect it!

Android is great now too though from a stability point of view, and say app quality.

Both fantastic systems imo.

I think I'll always want apple for my tablet and laptop (as I can run every OS on it easily) and so far have stuck with android for my phone, but there's only a couple of things stopping me in ios, and apple will probably fix them soon the way they are going. As I do like the freedom in android that makes the phone a bit more like a PC in my pocket, but it comes with trade offs that someone less in to technology would not go for.

traco

Circuital wrote: »

Out of interest, what does she do with her Android phone now that she didn't with her iPhone? Just wondering what kind of freedom a presumably average person would have with Android.

Calls, messages, Whatsapp, Outlook, LinkedIn, bit of social media, some scrabble game??? Spotify, Netflix, camera and pics.



All the same stuff really but the odd thing and shes a complete luddite and finds the android one far easier to use and navigate so I'm as shocked as you are??



When I gave it to her I expected to be doing 24hr tech support. Initially I was concerned when I bought it about making the change and expected it to be complicated but I was really surprised at the simplicity. I think much of the ease of use and transfer is down to how powerful google really is. I find myself searching for settings on the iphone but the Android One has things where I expect them, its simple.



The hey google assistant runs rings around siri, voice recognition is vastly superior and googles big brother spying eye just seems to make everything slick, its predictive stuff is so clever its scary. Mind you we probably sold our souls to big data but in this world today unless you go off grid to a cave they own you anyway so you might as well get some benefits from it.


So - nothing different really, just simpler and more intuitive to use if you can believe that.

traco

hetuzozaho wrote: »

I use Apple and Android myself.

but it comes with trade offs that someone less in to technology would not go for.

Just finished my previous post and expressed the opposite comment, interesting how people perceive things

Micky 32

I’m always switching back and forth, currently using a iphone Max and will try the upcoming Note 10. To be honest though, all those extra android features i hardly use. I prefer quality over quantity. I also have a S10plus but i still prefer to use the Max. So far i think the max has the nicest screen , most colour accurate i have seen. When you view a photo on the screen it’s actually like viewing an actual photograph.

CalamariFritti

Hi OP,

I'm in the same boat and I feel like venting about it too. Great thread!

Have iPhones since the 3, have two MacBook Pros too.
And I love(d) them, especially the older MacBook is a great machine. It has all the ports you'll ever need, memory and hard disc is based on standard components, rock solid machine, especially since I upgraded the disc to SSD. Its 2011 but still plenty good enough today unless you do real heavy stuff.
But the newer MacBook already has the memory soldered on and the SSD is some crazy sh1t proprietary thing that costs about a grand for a 500GB upgrade. Needless to say only half the ports the older one had, Ethernet? Ha...
Same with the iPhones. The battery is the one thing that will degrade. So yes make it really hard to change. Memory cards? Why? You wouldn't buy our crazy price 128GB model then would you?

I don't get it. Why would you create good products and then ruin them with these shenanigans? You have good thing going. You make abetter product and people are willing to pay a little extra, you're making good money. Why the fvck do they think they need to push it over the brink for some more short time profit? It's idiocy.

What I currently have is going to be my last hurrays with Apple. I have an iPhone 6s that I keep changing the battery every year or so and the MacBooks are still fine. After that its bye bye Apple. When I need a stronger laptop its going to be some non Apple with Linux on it. I can probably get a non-apple with the same power for the half the price anyway and I have a much wider choice. Phones the same.

Apple are stupid.

Circuital

traco wrote: »

.

Interesting alright!

I do use Google assistant as we've a Google Home, it's brilliant.

I'm deciding whether to stick with Apple or not too. I'll wait and see what Apple and Google comes out with later this year and see.

Circuital

Micky 32 wrote: »

I’m always switching back and forth, currently using a iphone Max and will try the upcoming Note 10. To be honest though, all those extra android features i hardly use. I prefer quality over quantity. I also have a S10plus but i still prefer to use the Max. So far i think the max has the nicest screen , most colour accurate i have seen. When you view a photo on the screen it’s actually like viewing an actual photograph.

Ah, forgot about the Note 10! Looking forward to seeing this.