The only smartphone I've owned before today was an Android, a Samsung Galaxy S5 I purchased through Verizon in June, 2015. The wife got herself an iPhone 6 at the same time.

Over the past three or so years, I've slowly lost functionality with the phone, not because of any problems with the device itself, but because it's so old, the phone stopped receiving OS updates, and applications I've used stopped working because the phone wouldn't accept newer versions of these apps. This became a genuine pain in the ass. It seemed like every time I turned around, something else had stopped working on the phone.

For more than a year, I was getting offers from T-Mobile for couple age 55 or older, so we finally visited T-Mobile today and received prompt and excellent service. Both the wife and I ended up with free iPhone 13 phones, 128 GB and will now be paying 29.00 less per month than we had been with Verizon.

Despite my contempt for Apple, it was too good a deal to pass up, and it was becoming silly, trying to get a 7 year old phone to do what I needed from it.

Welcome to the dark side!

I have said many times that I would never have a IPhone or a Glock. I now have an IPhone and 2 Glocks.

I have a love/hate relationship with Apple. My first smart phone was a 6S and it worked great for years til I got my 11 last year. They make a quality product.

My Macbook Pro is going on about 13 years now and still great. Can't believe it!

Apple stock has also been very good to me.

Now if the company would only lose it's damn woke ways....that ain't happening.

ha

Steve Jobs is calling.....

If you like to jailbreak your phone, add functionality, personalize it at a “coding” level you will hate your iPhone. If you just want it to work, are willing to learn a different op system, and have it connect to other Apple device seamlessly you will love it.

A cell phone is just a device to me. iPhones work great. I had my 6+ for years and years and only updated it this year when my entire family did. It’s a 12 Pro. Works great. It’s more phone than I need and want probably. When it craps itself I will go back smaller.

All the tech companies are woke so don't let that part bother you.
The truth is, their operation is really great once you get over a short learning curve. Most of the time I was overthinking due to experiences with other phone brands, making things much harder than needed.
My most recent upgrade was from a 6 to a 12 and all I had to do was tack a picture of the QR code that came up on the screen of the old one and in less than a minute all my info and settings were in my new phone with zero other effort.

LOL

Never say never.

Buy a good case. They are pricey but you will not regret it.

Please ley us know your thoughts as I am also contemplating a switch from Android.

Strong is the Dark Side

I went though the exact same genesis as you, boss: Swore I'd never own a smart phone. Bought an Android smart phone. Swore I'd never own an iThing. Bought, first, an iPad, then an iPhone.

A word or two of advice: It won't operate quite like your familiar old Android device. In some ways it'll remain frustratingly different. In other ways it'll prove delightfully different.

After ±6 years with Android phones, followed by ±7 years with iPhones, there are still things about Android I miss, but I'm disinclined to go back (*).

One thing you'll probably like for sure: You'll continue to receive timely OS updates on the iPhone for... 5-6 years? And when the battery gets tired you'll be able to get it replaced at an Apple store relatively economically.

(*) I write "disinclined," rather than "I'll never" because I have become somewhat disillusioned with Apple, of late. Disillusioned to the point I've dropped a number of Apple subscription products, cancelled my Apple Card, and have suspended plans to buy any new/replacement Apple products.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Buy a good case. They are pricey but you will not regret it.

I've always bought an aftermarket case and they weren't all that expensive and there are an endless number to choose from.

Lifelock is a good one. Run over by a car, good as new.

Like the Glock, its hard to argue against the IPhone success.

Otter box is the way to go. I’ve dropped phones, they’ve leapt to certain doom in the parking lot, and just generally treated them badly (not intentionally). But I know my otter box has saved me from getting a new phone more than once.

Never had the problem when I was policing because my uniform shirt pocket was the perfect size for the phone. But now they’re bigger and I don’t wear shirts with pockets anymore….retirement has its perks.

Welcome to the Glock of smartphones

I've been in the Apple family for many years. Fan boy?... I wouldn't characterize myself as that, bbut I do appreciate the solid gear and innovation Apple brings. I also had Android phones in the past and as far as security, timely updates and general ease of use it's hard to beat a late version of the iPhone. Lot's to learn coming from Android. Maybe sign up for the daily iDrop news email which is everything Apple, but not from Apple. Good stuff.

I’ve been using iPhone. Not a fan boy as I’ve plenty of complaints. However, I choose the evil that is iPhone dramatically over the evil that is google and Samsung combined. I’ve no love for either google or Samsung or Korea in general. I acknowledge that they have positive traits as well but for now, apple is definitely the lessor of two - three evils for me. That being said, Samsung phones have some very cool features.

I find them extremely frustrating. I only use my work iphone for phone and email. Which they do just as well as an Android. For anything else I won't use it. I need a back button and finger print unlock.

I started out with Apple Computers when they were fairly new, around 1980 or so. When the first PCs came out, there was niche market engineering software that I needed and used, so I dropped apple and never looked back.

However, when the iPhones came out, I saw some great functionality plus ease of use which was important for Mrs. Flash.

So I went to the dark side with iPhones and I've been there ever since. I used one extensively in my business and still use one a lot when I travel. It's better and faster than the Airlines for finding out what's going on with Gates and baggage claim and stores inside the secure area and also for TSA's checkpoints and regulations.