You're either part of the Apple ecosystem or you're not. Sure, there are still Android bros talking about the customability of that platform, but in truth a smartphone is now an appliance, and to argue which is superior is a waste of time. Having said that, many people get into the Apple ecosystem via the iPhone. Why do they purchase their first iPhone? Usually because their friends and family have them. And they want to be part of the blue bubble economy. And they don't want to feel left out at family gatherings while features are demonstrated. And frequently, after purchasing an iPhone, said newbie goes on to purchase a Mac, usually a MacBook Air, which is so advanced with Apple Silicon that most people require nothing more expensive.
Having said that, if you're into saving money, Apple is not your destination. But if you're a teen or college student, the iPhone is still a fashion item, you don't want to be without it. However, in the rest of the world Android dominates, frequently the iPhone is seen as a luxury product. But the bottom line is...
There are no breakthroughs here. Those evaporated somewhere back in the last decade. What we've got are minor improvements, and the question for most people is when do you upgrade.
Let's start with AirPods Pro, because that's the only product with true innovation, just like last year with hearing aid features. This time it's live translation, which is positively stunning. If you travel overseas it'll make you want these new AirPods Pro. But if you don't, is it worth it for better noise cancellation and better fit, incremental advances? Probably not.
As for the Watch... Once again, there's no need to upgrade unless yours is old. And there are two kinds of people, those who will wear a smartwatch and those who will not. Unlike a Swiss chronometer, there's no status in an Apple Watch. You buy one for the features, the other for the jewelry (the dirty little secret is mechanical chronometers keep lousy time, if you want accuracy, go with the Apple Watch).
Now if you've been standing on the sidelines...
They're busy selling the health features. Are they enough to get you to dip your toe? You can't be convinced to buy an Apple Watch, you wake up one day and decide it's time or you never do. Furthermore, no one testifies about their Apple Watch, no one testifies about any of these products anymore, this is not 2007 and the original iPhone, this is more like annual introductions of new cars like we had in the sixties.
All the breakthroughs are in AI.
Or are they?
If you want insight into the AI race, I advise you read this:
"The Fever Dream of Imminent Superintelligence Is Finally Breaking"
Free link: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/opinion/ai-gpt5-rethinking.html?unlocked_article_code=1.kk8.SHXK.idFAElqVzKzG&smid=url-share
Bottom line? Large language models will not satisfy AI's issues. ChatGPT5 is a disaster. The platforms still hallucinate (make mistakes), and all of the efforts burn up a ton of cash and electricity.
So what is the future?
Well, when it comes to coding...maybe think about a different major from STEM.
But when it comes to everyday life...
Minor benefits, like popping up the app you want on your phone without asking, those are here, and kindal cool, but minor. Summarization? I turned that off...I can't risk the inaccuracy.
But all we keep hearing is Apple is behind the 8-ball on AI and the smartphone may not even exist in a few years.
This is akin to the dotcom bubble. AI is not taking over the world. Productivity increases are yet to be recognized. AI can only regurgitate what is already known, so breathe a sigh of relief if you're a creator. Are there uses? Sure. But if accuracy is key, you absolutely cannot rely on AI, it is just too inaccurate.
Will there be a great leap forward in the future, AI that can think? It's possible, but not in the near future.
Sure, AI can stimulate your thoughts, put up an outline. Sure, AI can make a song that sounds like an old one. But if you want a breakthrough, look somewhere else.
So all this anti-iPhone posturing... It's fed by all the companies in AI and the press, often ignorant, that is caught up in the hype. Remember all the press about that AI pin you wore on your shirt? The company failed.
Speaking of which... Being able to talk to your devices and get a response sounds great, but Alexa did not live up to its promise and so far AI hasn't either, and won't soon, when it comes to accuracy.
So...
Do you need a new iPhone?
If you own an iPhone 8, 8 Plus or X or anything built before, you MUST get a new iPhone. Why? Because not only will they not get the new operating system, they won't get security updates. And I've got to ask you, how lucky do you feel?
If you have an iPhone this old and you buy a 17 you will be stunned at the increase in speed. If your iPhone is only a few generations old, you will not be wowed by the improvements.
Having said that, most older iPhones won't be able to take advantage of some new features, most notably AI features, but you probably neither need these new features nor want them.
So when should you buy a new iPhone?
When it's old and broken or you want the latest features/improvements. In truth, I wouldn't even think of upgrading unless you've got a 13 or earlier, UNLESS YOU WANT TO!
This is not the old days, there are not great leaps forward, only incremental ones, and despite the figures Apple touts in this presentation, most people won't even sense the difference. Used to be you did, but the 13 to 14 was the first time you didn't, and you haven't since, and I've had them all.
So, sit on the sidelines unless you've got a truly old iPhone or have a hankering for a new one, an emotional more than a statistical need.
But having said that...
There is one new iPhone, the Air. Which is pretty cool. It's thin and light, but you're sacrificing some features, most notably cameras and battery life. They say you can use it all day, but then they say how slim the additional battery pack is... Apple has never advertised added battery packs in presentations, meaning the Air cannot have great battery life, otherwise they wouldn't. So it's cool, but...
If you want an ultra-thin, light iPhone, maybe the Air is for you... But if it were me, I'd wait for field reports on the battery.
As for the 17s...
You always want to buy a Pro, ALWAYS! Yes, you're paying more, but you get more on the back end. Buy a regular iPhone 17 and you'll think you're saving money, but the truth is it's already one step behind technologically, which means you'll have to replace it at least one year earlier. As for Pro or Pro Max? If you do a lot of research on your iPhone, watch videos, go for the Max. Sure, the Max is bigger and heavier, but how addicted are you? My iPhone is the device I use most. Why sacrifice screen real estate?
So there you have it. If you're sensing a lack of emotion, you're right. There's very little to see here other than the live translation and thinner iPhone, just incremental improvements.
So what should we be excited about?
All the breakthroughs today come in software.
Having said that, if you're expecting the tech breakthroughs of the late nineties and first decade of this century, don't. That was a once in a lifetime experience. We all want useful devices, and that's what they truly are, tools, as Steve Jobs always sold them.
If you have an iPhone 17 with only two cameras instead of the three on the Pro will people judge you negatively? ABSOLUTELY! There are very few status markers left and that's one of them. Even worse is an Android. Yes, there are Android power users, kudos, but the truth is most Android users are cheap, that's why they bought their Androids, they don't use their devices for much, much less than the average iPhone user, and therefore they are objects of ridicule.
As for the elites, those in the "New York Times," saying the smartphone is the devil and to put it down, DON'T LISTEN TO THEM! What next, go back to rotary phones, the horse and buggy? The smartphone is not only how you connect, but how you do business, it's the world in your hand, DO NOT let the naysayers convince you otherwise. These are the same people who told us Biden was young enough and Kamala was good enough, the same people out of touch with the public. Furthermore, the latest research shows the smartphone DOES NOT cause depression, actually the opposite.
But I probably can't convince you of this, you can't change anybody's mind.
But if you want to truly operate in this world you must be digitally native, connected all the time, otherwise you're opting out, the joke is on you.
I'll give you an example. I was driving in the middle of nowhere in Colorado lamenting that I was no longer disconnected from society like I was back in the seventies. But that feeling of aloneness in nature? I'd sacrifice that in a heartbeat for connectivity, not only for emergencies, but mental stability. Do you know how lonely it used to be out in the middle of nowhere?
I'm convinced, you may not be.
But if you're listening to me... Have a recent iPhone, and I'd say pay the premium over the PC for a MacBook Air, because you'll get more productivity, but trying to convince an Android/PC user of this is like trying to convince a Republican to be a Democrat, or vice versa.
But if you are not an Apple person... I'd say to give the products a try, you can return them no questions asked, see if you prefer the easier functionality. You might not, but at least give it a chance.
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