topic Re: iPhone in Electronics

iPhone

MorningLover — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:49:39 GMT

I read this on X. I can relate!

A guy worked as an Apple Store Genius for 5 years. He repaired over 10,000 iPhones. He taught over 15,000 customers how to use them. He said the same thing happened every single day: a customer would hand him a $1,200 iPhone, and he'd realize they were using it like a $200 phone from 2014.

"The iPhone has a built-in document scanner, a password manager, a sign language interpreter, a live translation system that works in real-time conversations, a sound recognition engine that alerts deaf users when a doorbell rings or a baby cries, a satellite emergency system that works with zero cell signal, a car crash detector, a text extraction tool that reads words from any photo, a background noise canceler for phone calls, and a health monitoring system that tracks everything from walking steadiness to hearing levels."

"Most people use it for texts, calls, Instagram, and a camera. That's a $1,200 computer running 5 apps."

He said Apple adds 50–100 new features with every major iOS update and never tells you about most of them. They're buried in Settings, hidden behind gestures, or tucked inside apps you've never opened.

"Apple builds the most powerful consumer device on earth. Then they ship it with a 2-minute setup wizard and hope you figure the rest out yourself. You won't. Nobody does."

Re: iPhone

4kitties — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:57:33 GMT

Oh this is so true!

For me, I only make phone calls, text, use the camera and use the map feature to get me to unknown places. I have absolutely no idea how to use it otherwise. And really have no idea how to learn.

My daughter always makes sure we have the up to date newer iPhones, but I am truly so ignorant of how to use 99% of the features.😩😩😩

Re: iPhone

Marp — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:57:04 GMT

My phones are Android but I have a similar situation. I neither want nor need the bells and whistles. I just use the basics and often reluctantly.

I have the same complaint about operating systems and browsers. I'd be thrilled with "light" (KISS) versions. Just give me the basics.

Re: iPhone

geezerette — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:05:56 GMT

Me too. I'd much rather have simple and basic, but secure devices. (Not to mention less expensive.) I don't need updates that give me 9,518 new emojis, most of which are too small too see and half of which I don't even know what they're supposed to mean. Concentrate on keeping the hackers out instead.

That goes for my tablet too. I'd rather have something with just the basics, not trying to replace a full blown business computer.

Re: iPhone

wagirl — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:20:37 GMT

I have the iphone 15 now, and have had Apple phones for the last 10 years and --altho I don't use my phone as my lifeline, I do use it's functions quite a bit--not nearly as many as there are, but a few more than the average bear. However--I have 2 grown kids that keep me on track and will help me out with things I can use. I am 72 and do enjoy the new tech--but they grew up with tech--I still had tin cans on a string. Had many other brands of cells and by far, I prefer the iphone.

Re: iPhone

Tricolor — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:31:35 GMT

This is so true. I bought a 17 a few months ago at the Verizon store. The sales person was extremely helpful but never mentioned any of that.

Re: iPhone

Still Raining — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:36:11 GMT

My iphone only exits to prove to the grandkids how inept I am 😜

Re: iPhone

kaydee50 — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:36:51 GMT

I have a Tracfone flip which I rarely use. Have no need of anything more sophisticated.

Re: iPhone

SportyShorty07 — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:47:40 GMT

I've had my iphone 5 for about ten years now. I only know how to call. text, take photos- and I use dating apps. Sometimes I ask siri to give me walking directions if I get lost when I'm walking to somewhere new. I'm not the best with phones and technology 😅.

Re: iPhone

MoonieBaby — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:36:47 GMT

I hate my apple phones. I despise android. I don’t need a hand held computer pretending to be a phone - but that is all my husband will buy. He buys the phones/pays for them/is responsible for them. (I do appreciate it, don’t think I’m ungrateful).

My new Acura is a computer on wheels. It’s a four cylinder and requires a sync with your smart phones to practically drive the thing.
I miss simpler times. Privacy was never a concern back then either.

Re: iPhone

SilleeMee — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:24:39 GMT

@kaydee50 wrote:
I have a Tracfone flip which I rarely use. Have no need of anything more sophisticated.

Same here. I like being 'un-connected' with the smallest digital footprint that I can live with.

Re: iPhone

judy0330 — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:44:21 GMT

@Tricolor I have to laugh. I had the opposite experience. I bought mine at the Apple store. The sales person spent quite a bit of time showing me some of the really great things the phone can do. I left the store and approximately 5 seconds later I had forgotten all of it!

Re: iPhone

ibook — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:57:08 GMT

Website.... MacMost.com. Lots of tutorials, especially when there is a major update.

Re: iPhone

Kachina624 — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:05:24 GMT

Don't they have all the features and tricks in instructions online somewhere? For what you pay for the darn things, they certainly should.

Re: iPhone

gardenman — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:02:21 GMT

A lot of phone buyers (Android and Apple) view them as status symbols more than tools. They want the latest and greatest model and use fewer features than I do on my $200 Moto G Stylus. (Which does everything I need a phone to do and then some. )

Kudos to the sales and marketing folks for both phone systems for making people think they need more, but in reality, 95+% of users can get by fine with a very basic smartphone. Kudos to the sales teams for getting people to spend over a thousand dollars on something when a $200 version will do, but what are people thinking? I understand kids wanting to impress, but adults spending their own money?

You see the same thing with computers. People will spend thousands to get a fully specced-out computer when a cheap Chromebook will do for how they use it.

Re: iPhone

gadgetgal613 — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:11:44 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
A lot of phone buyers (Android and Apple) view them as status symbols more than tools. They want the latest and greatest model and use fewer features than I do on my $200 Moto G Stylus. (Which does everything I need a phone to do and then some. )

Kudos to the sales and marketing folks for both phone systems for making people think they need more, but in reality, 95+% of users can get by fine with a very basic smartphone. Kudos to the sales teams for getting people to spend over a thousand dollars on something when a $200 version will do, but what are people thinking? I understand kids wanting to impress, but adults spending their own money?

You see the same thing with computers. People will spend thousands to get a fully specced-out computer when a cheap Chromebook will do for how they use it.

While you are entitiled to your opinion, I disagree. All of my computers, my phone and streaming devices are Apple products because I prefer the brand. They work well, work well together and rarely have issues. When I have a problem, Apple tech support is excellant. I owned Microsoft based computers from 1998 until 2013 and wouldn't go back if they were free. I have an iPhone 13 which works as good today as it did when I had it set up out of the box. I'm glad we have choices.

Re: iPhone

Ainhisg — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:50:07 GMT

I love technology! I have a new Macbook Neo, an iPad mini, a Chromebook, and an android phone. I use them all and for different purposes! As far as quality, you cannot beat an Apple product--cannot beat it. If a person wants reliability and beautiful images, well, once you go Mac, you never go back.

I stay with Tracfone android phones, because I don't have a lot of texts or calls. The cost is ridiculously cheap for what you get, and since I have numerous Google Home smart speakers and smart devices in the house, my Android phone pairs the calendar and phone options with them, since it uses Google. It also pairs with my Chromebook. So I like having an android phone. And my Apple products offer many Google apps, so I have notes, photos, and other apps synced with all my devices--Apple, Chrome, and android.

Since I'm retired and home a lot, I have no need to use my phone as a computer, but if a person didn't have easy access to devices like I do, I can see wanting the best of the best (Apple) if you're going to be spending a lot of time on it. Or if a person is invested in the Apple ecosystem only. As for me, when I have appointments or something out and about where I would normally spend a lot of time on a phone, I take my iPad mini.

I use my phone for calls, texts, the camera, downloaded trails for when we hike, to pickup prescriptions or grocery orders, a fitness tracker, and numerous other ways. It will do most everything a more expensive phone will do. I don't think anyone uses every single feature that a smartphone has, but I probably use more than most and am always up for learning new things it will do.

To each his or her own, but I have never understood people eschewing smart phones and technology in general--and practically bragging about it. Our world is going to rely on technology more and more, and a person's personal stance against it will make no difference except to make the world more difficult in which for them to live. My opinion only!