The Oxford Dictionary defines “trend” as “a general direction in which something is developing or changing.” I don’t believe in following trends. I like to think outside of the box and create ideas for myself. With that being said, I have nothing against anyone who does. A long time ago, I believed I had to follow trends to fit in, which is where the iPhone vs. Android debate comes to my attention.
My parents were very adamant about getting me a phone before eighth grade, but somehow sixth grade was my year. I walked to and from school every day and my parents feared for my safety, even though we could see the school from our front window. Arguably, this is how the majority of kids get their first phones nowadays. I didn’t think much of having an Android phone. I was more just excited to Snapchat my friends and simply have a phone. It is the first stage of growing up. The time that was supposed to be exciting somehow turned into something I would forever become insecure about. My friends began to make jokes about my phone, which were all told in a lighthearted way and I know their intentions were nothing near bad. But still, what they said would stick with me and make me insecure about this small rectangle we had to store in our lockers each day. Since then, I’ve expanded my experiences beyond my Naperville bubble and have noticed that a lot of people have Androids, and this soothed my insecurities.
This past summer, my phone was getting old. It wouldn’t reach a full charge and started to run slowly. I began to do in-depth research on which phone was better, Android or iPhone. I would be paying for it myself so price wasn’t something I was too worried about, except I refused to go over $1,000. This automatically ruled out a lot of newer iPhones. Comparing the features, need for accessories and compatibility with other devices, I chose an Android.
This decision also became solidified quickly, as my old phone fully died before I had to embark on a five-hour solo road trip. Aside from that, I find my phone more compatible with other devices and I will laugh at my friends with iPhones when their phones are unable to do the same. From my observations, once you purchase an iPhone you get involved in all things Apple. AirPods, Macbooks, Apple Watches and there goes your college fund.
Genuinely, iPhones are very nice devices and carry good hardware, but don’t seem to last as long as they could. When having this conversation with my friends and family, they agreed that the iPhone tends to phase features out and won’t let users update their software over time. This forces the user to buy a new iPhone, from what most people have said, sometime after two years.
To conclude, I don’t believe that iPhones are worth their cost. But I do heavily enjoy the sleek design and the features of the device. I understand why the majority of the population enjoys them and can swallow their price. Maybe one day, when I don’t have college to pay for and become a millionaire, I will not blink at the cost of an iPhone. But for now, I’ll stick with my Android.
