[NA]iPhone shopping[NA]

[Let'sgoflying!]

So Apple is going to win, with their optimizing software which slows devices down so much they get you to buy a new one.
My wifes iPhone5 is so slow now it is almost non-functional.
(as is my ipad 2)
There is plenty of free space, we have done all the recommended things to debug.

Anyway, give me a summary of the latest & greatest iPhones (yes, she wants and iPhone and only and iPhone)

Which models & features to look at?
Shoot your questions which will help with this.

Thanks

 

[flyingron]

The ones currently on the market is the SE, 6s, 7, 8, and X. (Don't know what happened to 9). The 6/7/8 are available in the standard and Plus (larger) model. The SE is a return to a smaller model (the 6 was significanly larger than the previous). The display and camera improved in the 7 and 8. The X is the "to the edge model" with facial recognition.

You have to decide with what technology you're happy with. Lots of people don't like the X (and it is pricy). I've got an 8. I'd shy away from the 6s is that's the next one that they'll drop iOS compatibility for and then you're stuck with apps you can't upgrade.

One option is to go to the refurb section of the apple store and get one of the models there.

 

[FastEddieB]

I am totally impressed with my iphoneX. The user interface is very elegant, it’s fast, has a great screen, and does a great job running WingXPro7 as my go-to navigator.

Yes, it’s expensive, but worth it to me. About $45/month is not outrageous for the amount of use it gets, moderated by the fact that it will have residual value at the end.

The iPhone 8 and 8+ are fine, but I suspect their physical layout may seem very dated very soon.

But new iPhones are due this fall, with rumors that the X in its current iteration is doomed. So waiting might be an option.

 

[Stewartb]

I have a 7 plus, daughter has an 8 plus, and wife has an X. They all do the same things. Wife appreciates an improved camera while mine works fine for me. I see no reason to upgrade my 7 yet.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

But new iPhones are due this fall, with rumors that the X in its current iteration is doomed. So waiting might be an option.

Looking for verification of this. If true, 8 would be the most feasible latest and greatest.

 

[FastEddieB]

My prediction is that even if the X is doomed in its current iteration, Apple will move away from having a home button on future models. Probably not all at once, but I think the home button is a goner - it’s nice having the a full screen, minus the notch, that is.

 

[GeorgeC]

Is the screen on a 6s plus big enough for casual VFR (ie, not approach plates) EFB use?

 

[AWACSEng]

I went from a 6S to an 8Plus shortly after the 8/8Plus were released. I love the performance increase, but I prefer the smaller size of the non-plus variants. When it's time to upgrade again, I hope there will still be something on the market that is not a mini iPad mini.

 

[FastEddieB]

Is the screen on a 6s plus big enough for casual VFR (ie, not approach plates) EFB use?

Yes. The key is to mount it reasonably close to your eyes.

6+ in this photo:

iPhone X running WingXPro7:

The actual screen size on the Plus models and X are very close:

X in the center, 6+ on the right, iPhone 7 on left.

 

[steingar]

My iPhone 5s is still fine, though my iPad mini (don’t know which iteration) is slow as can be. I’ll continue to use it for Foreflight for a long time, and will upgrade to the latest iPad mini after they deep six the whole thing. Should work for Foreflight for some time to come.

 

[Old97]

My iPhone 5s is still fine, though my iPad mini (don’t know which iteration) is slow as can be. I’ll continue to use it for Foreflight for a long time, and will upgrade to the latest iPad mini after they deep six the whole thing. Should work for Foreflight for some time to come.

Same for my 5. Its pretty small for composing emails or using the internet. But it will fit in every pocket you have. I really appreciate that, but thats not a big deal to women who carry a purse everywhere.

 

[Jim_CAK]

I went from the 5s to the 8 this winter. I wanted the bigger screen - but did not want to go all the way to the 10. I keep these phones a long time. I decided to go with the 8 - it was just introduced and should run the new iOS upgrades for several years.

 

[455 Bravo Uniform]

Is the screen on a 6s plus big enough for casual VFR (ie, not approach plates) EFB use?

Yes. Now that I have an 8, I have my 6sPlus dedicated to aviation and it gets mounted to the yoke. Day VFR is fine; As it gets dark I need to put my reading glasses on.

For the OP - one thing to consider is that the newer iPhones don’t allow you to charge and use the headphone jack at the same time. You could get the wireless headphones for that. Or maybe they make a dongle that allows both...I need to look for one...annoying when I’m on a conference call and run low on batt.

Also, to keep from the phone slowing down as it ages, don’t upgrade your OS (gasp, the security blasphemy!).

 

[rtk11]

I am shocked when Apple advised that I’ve had my IPhone 6 for almost 4 years. Doesn’t feel that long ago! But I just had the battery changed and it works well enough that I’ll keep it for another year. But with all the updated applications and need for additional computation, I may upgrade to the iPhone X (or whatever the next iteration is next year). If I wasn’t using it as an EFB, I would just use it until it croaked. But since I do use ForeFlight, I want something that’s responsive and a decent backup to my iPad Pro for EFB use.

 

[Everskyward]

There are rumors of an SE2, but only rumors. I was bummed that I couldn't wait for the original SE, since I like the small size. I have a 6S. I think I'll keep it for a while now since I got the free battery exchange. Mine was one of the serial numbers that qualified for the extended battery warranty. I didn't think it was slow to begin with, and don't notice that it's much faster, but it definitely has better battery life.

 

[Pilawt]

Is the screen on a 6s plus big enough for casual VFR (ie, not approach plates) EFB use?

I think it is. The display is bigger than that on a Garmin 430. I use an iPhone 6 on the yoke mount in my 172 all the time. For trips out of the local area I carry an iPad Mini 4 in the map pocket, and consult it for more detailed information, without interrupting the iPhone's magenta-line-following chores.



Last week I tried the iPad Mini 4 on the yoke mount just to see if I liked it. The phone's display seemed brighter and clearer, and the mass of the iPad was noticeable when moving the controls. And the iPad hid too much of the panel for my liking.

 

[FastEddieB]

You could get the wireless headphones for that. Or maybe they make a dongle that allows both...

They do.

As a head’s up, do not just buy the cheapest one you can find on Amazon - I did, and it would not charge properly and I returned it. Apple sells one, a Kensington I think, which does work.

As an aside, I do wish they had kept the headphone jack, but I suspect that will continue to be more and more scarce, and pretty soon will be as rare as floppy disk drives.

 

[kyleb]

There are rumors of an SE2, but only rumors. I was bummed that I couldn't wait for the original SE, since I like the small size. I have a 6S. I think I'll keep it for a while now since I got the free battery exchange. Mine was one of the serial numbers that qualified for the extended battery warranty. I didn't think it was slow to begin with, and don't notice that it's much faster, but it definitely has better battery life.

I have the SE. It is a -6 or 6S's guts in a 5's case. Love the small form factor.

 

[James331]

I like my X, but miss the fingerprint unlock, that said the all glass and stainless phone does feel like quality in your hands and has a killer phone and overkill processor

Thing is with apple devices just don’t update unless you REALLY need to, though there was a post about iOS12 actually being better performance than it’s predecessor

 

[benyflyguy]

I have a 6 and it is working fine. Has a crack on screen on nonvital area. It gets slow and dodgy at times. Few years ago with same problem and and out of contract I’d upgrade in a second. Just can’t justify dropping a grand on a new f’ing phone!! That’s a lot of time in the 182!!! For now I am playing waiting game.. phone has to force me to upgrade. Just don’t see any deals coming anytime soon. Any deal is on something that has such low memory anyway.

 

[CC268]

So Apple is going to win, with their optimizing software which slows devices down so much they get you to buy a new one.
My wifes iPhone5 is so slow now it is almost non-functional.
(as is my ipad 2)
There is plenty of free space, we have done all the recommended things to debug.

Anyway, give me a summary of the latest & greatest iPhones (yes, she wants and iPhone and only and iPhone)

Which models & features to look at?
Shoot your questions which will help with this.

Thanks

Actually Apple just stated in their recent iPhone reveal event that they want to start supporting the older phones more as they want to reduce the amount of mining they are doing for the new phones.

Btw I have a 6S Plus and it is awesome on iOS12

 

[SCCutler]

I just updated my 6 to iOS 12, based upon reports that 12 improved performance; mine had become very bad, very slow and delayed response, after prior upgrade.

Pleased to report that the phone works noticeably better, now. Very happy.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

I like my X, but miss the fingerprint unlock, that said the all glass and stainless phone does feel like quality in your hands and has a killer phone and overkill processor

Huh. I have the X too, and don't miss fingerprint unlock at all. The main drawback to Face ID vs. Touch ID is that I have to actually pick up my phone off the table to unlock it, or lean over so it can see my face. But I'm used to it now, so that hasn't happened in a long time. My habits have changed!

What got me to get the X, and the reasons I like it, are the Plus-sized screen in the smaller-sized body, and the camera. I'm not going to do the "Max" versions unless ForeFlight moves to having complete feature parity between iPad and iPhone and I can replace my Mini with it. But then, I won't have a backup device, so I'm hoping that Apple will "X-ify" the iPad and put a big edge-to-edge screen in a Mini-sized body.

Thing is with apple devices just don’t update unless you REALLY need to, though there was a post about iOS12 actually being better performance than it’s predecessor

I would disagree, for early in the device's life, especially because the only thing you can upgrade to is whatever the latest version is. New devices usually come with a new OS at the time time. When the device is a year old, DEFINITELY do that upgrade! In fact, if you're not getting a new device after 2 years, I would recommend doing the second upgrade as well. After that, yeah, think about not upgrading any more.

In the case of iOS 12, though, I think everyone should be upgrading again, as long as their hardware is supported at all. It's certainly not making anything worse despite more features, and it's making a lot of devices perform better than before.