Why most people should skip this year's iPhone and Apple Watch
There is a lot left to be desired from this year’s new iPhones and Apple Watch. For most, I suggest you sit this one out.
iPhone
This year’s iPhone models tout camera improvements, minuscule battery improvements, a tougher exterior and better displays. That’s really it. Many of these, other than perhaps the battery improvement from iPhone 12 to 13, won’t even be noticeable to the day-to-day user.
Other than these upgrades to current features, there aren’t any major improvements compared to last year’s models. Therefore, if you recently purchased an iPhone in the last year or two, this isn’t the best time to upgrade.
However, if you find yourself with an iPhone that’s 4-5 years old, this will be a major improvement and this could certainly be the time to invest in something new (think larger screen in same size phone, faster app switching, better cameras). Last year, starting with the iPhone 12, the iPhone experienced its first major redesign in years to sharper edges aluminum or stainless steel frames.
Also, for those on an iPhone upgrade program, either through Apple or through your wireless carrier, it’s a no-brainer to upgrade to this year’s models. This is why you’ve opted in to the upgrade service; so that you can pay for your phone monthly and then upgrade every year without penalty (other than taxes and your carrier’s activation fee).
Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 7 announcement was a disappointment to many. Mostly because almost all Apple blogs, which seem to congregate around the same predictions as the announcement inches closer, were very wrong. It has been years since the Apple Watch has seen a redesign and after last year’s iPhone redesign and the iPad’s the year before, it was predicted that the watch would see a major overhaul and begin to match the exterior casing of the phones and iPads. See the pic in the tweet below for what was predicted.
It’s still unclear with just how off-base these normally spot-on predictions were, whether there was a different plan for the Apple Watch this year and it was abandoned, or if this was the plan all along. Long story short, the only new feature in the Series 7 is a slightly larger display. So difficult to discern that Apple actually put them up side-by-side on their website.
So, similar to the iPhones this year, a Series 7 Apple Watch purchase is for those looking to upgrade from a Series 3 or 4 (think EKG right on your wrist, larger display in same frame, better water-proofing), not for someone who has a relatively new watch. Bright side, next year is a very good guess as to when the Apple Watch will see a major redesign since it didn’t happen this year.
iOS 15 and watchOS 8
All is not lost on “new Apple things” for this year. There will likely be another event before the end of the year (new MacBooks? new AirPods?), and iOS 15 and watchOS 8 were released Monday, September 20. These two updates bring lots of cool new things to your current iPhone and Apple Watch.
WatchOS 8 brings much easier navigation in Messages with faster ways to send messages as well as other multi-media. It also introduces a new meditation app and portrait photo watch faces where the time sits in the background of whatever is in the foreground of your photo.
iOS 15 is not a total overhaul of how your phone looks, which can sometimes be jarring with some of these updates. This update is modest and purposeful. The Weather app gets a major update with radar and numerous other measurements for all you Minnesotans who LOVE the weather. Maps has also been improved with much more detailed map data and traffic measurements. Memojis have also been updated with the ability to dress your Memoji.
