Buying a new iPhone

[Jay Bee]

Hi geeks,

Looking for any input / thoughts... I've recently become slightly obsessed with Woot and now they have some refurbished iPhones. I'm actually still rocking an iPhone 11 and I'm ready to upgrade... went through the process last year of changing carriers and it was super easy, so I'm hoping changing phones (just need an 'unlocked' phone?) will be smooth as well. [Note: "new iPhone" just means new to me.. considering refurbished]

Any thoughts on what phone to buy / not to buy? Definitely want 256gb... but after that not too picky. Better camera is cool, but not a big deal for me. Mostly I use the phone for checking Scoop approx. 18 times a day and doing research on naughty sites, but will occasionally take video of intense pickleball matches.

This particular Woot sale has everything from 11's up to 16's (including Pro and Plus versions)..

If I'm looking at the 14 to 16 range (or something newer).. is there one or some that I should lean toward? Any good experiences with buying refurbished phones (1 yr warranty)?

Thanks in advance for any worthwhile input.

[Hards Alumni]

They're all fine.  Refurbs are totally fine as well.  IMO, aim for a higher number and stop being a cheapskate.

Also, my two pennies is that iPhones are overrated.  I understand why people use them, but you can get better tech or a cheaper price on an equivalent android device.

Since we're discussing this, you should watch a video or two on the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold.

[JWags85]

They're all fine.  Refurbs are totally fine as well.  IMO, aim for a higher number and stop being a cheapskate.

Also, my two pennies is that iPhones are overrated.  I understand why people use them, but you can get better tech or a cheaper price on an equivalent android device.

Since we're discussing this, you should watch a video or two on the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold.

Despite being a multi-device Apple user, I actually don't disagree.  Ive had some iteration of an iPhone since the 4 back in like 2012.  Ive actually gotten pretty fed up with some of the recent models.  Some of the software updates have had great features, others have stunk.  And its no secret that iPhones are basically ticking timebombs to force you into upgrading models.

That being said, its an ecosystem argument for me.  I use an iPad for a decent amount of stuff, especially traveling, and having the cross device tie-in is big.  Ive tried a few other tablets before my most recent iPad upgrade and I didn't care for them as much.  And, probably more importantly, I'm a Macbook user (both preference and due to my company's app development work, having a MacBook to be able to plugged in to the development software for iOS apps) so that cross over is even more important.  Having both my iMessage and WhatsApp on my computer to respond to is pretty vital.

I'd also be curious if any long time users iPhone users switched to Android recently and what that switch was like.  My best friend has long been a Galaxy guy and when I'm abroad a number of my colleagues have Huawei or Oppo phones, so Ive played with them a bit, but for someone who is so used to iOS, its a bit foreign and I'm like "meh" in desire to switch to/learn a new operating system unless I had to.

[tower912]

I think you should obsess about the iPhone 18.

[mu_hilltopper]

Also, check out https://swappa.com

I've purchased a number of used phones there. All good.

Most of the sellers are high volume resellers.  They're in business, not screwing around. 

[Jay Bee]

Thanks for the input. Still not certain what I'm going to do, but may make a move as early as today.

New circumstances: (1) a buddy got a new Apple watch and is giving me his (pawz); (2) xfinity has an offer through May 10 for $300 off. This would require me paying over 36 months (monthly credits to get the $300 off). I hate "debt" but I don't think this gets reported anywhere unless you miss a payment, so I can get over it I suppose.

That said, an iPhone 17 256gb goes from $829 down to $529 which doesn't feel too awful. Leaning that way -- the Pro or Pro Max seems like overkill for my uses.

#pray

[Jay Bee]

I have purchased an iPhone 17. Arrives Friday, hopefully. Case comes this morning (pawz).

I think I purchased my last iPhone in 2019 or early 2020... it's been through a lot. Just disgusting when I think about it.

To setup the new one... I'm reading online and it looks too easy -- something like you put the new phone next to the old one and sh1t just transfers over nicely? Like will all my apps (and passwords) transfer over just fine and I'm good to go? Seems too good to be true.

[MU82]

OK, Boomer.

[The Lens]

Are you 10?

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

I have purchased an iPhone 17. Arrives Friday, hopefully. Case comes this morning (pawz).

I think I purchased my last iPhone in 2019 or early 2020... it's been through a lot. Just disgusting when I think about it.

To setup the new one... I'm reading online and it looks too easy -- something like you put the new phone next to the old one and sh1t just transfers over nicely? Like will all my apps (and passwords) transfer over just fine and I'm good to go? Seems too good to be true.

(I'll need to do this in 60 days or so.)

[GOO]

I have purchased an iPhone 17. Arrives Friday, hopefully. Case comes this morning (pawz).

I think I purchased my last iPhone in 2019 or early 2020... it's been through a lot. Just disgusting when I think about it.

To setup the new one... I'm reading online and it looks too easy -- something like you put the new phone next to the old one and sh1t just transfers over nicely? Like will all my apps (and passwords) transfer over just fine and I'm good to go? Seems too good to be true.

Don't delete or get rid of your old phone until you know all of the passwords etc have transferred. The last time I set one up two years ago, most stuff transferred but a few items did not and not having the prior phone resulted in some extra work due to how Facebook and instagram confirmed identity through the old phone.