To Upgrade, Or Not To Upgrade? The iPhone 5 Dilemma

Photo credit: Ian Waldie, Bloomberg / SF

Did you pick one up? If so, you’re likely among the millions who also waited in line for the iPhone 3GS, 4, and 4S.

But, it seems like Apple’s having a hard time winning over new users. The seemingly staggering number of people (five million) who bought iPhone 5 last week actually proved to be a bit of a letdown for Apple: stock tanked and competitors’ sales remained strong.

What’s up with that?

For starters, it seems like Apple gloated a little too much about its “cutting edge” new toy. As Samsung humorously points out in the The Next Big Thing Is Already Here ad series, many of the iPhone 5 features touted by Apple are staples for other models.  And the much-discussed Maps app? Let’s just say it wasn’t everything we—and Apple—hoped it would be.

Caught an iPhone 5’er trying out the brand-spankin’-new panoramic photo feature? Sorry, Mac-philes; that’s been an option on Android phones and various Apple apps. But Apple’s done a great job of playing the feature up as a coveted iPhone 5 exclusive.

With every iPhone model thinner and sleeker than the last, it’s hardly a surprise that iPhone 5 outperforms iPhone 4S in envy-inducing design. But tiny alterations like the placement of headphone jacks? Apple surely understood changes like these were simply a badge of honor for iPhone 5 owners to passersby on the street—and knew it would be enough to make some drop serious cash on a new phone.

Should you upgrade to the iPhone 5? Sure! If you’re an Apple user and lover with the cash to support your craving, get in line and drool over the phone’s good looks and smart features. But it’s hardly a game changer. Plenty of other phones on the market feature similar capabilities and design, so shop around before paying to be part of the technology “in crowd.”

DISCLAIMER: I'm a Mac fanatic and proudly use my iPhone (just the 4), iPad, MacBook Pro, and iMac on a daily basis. I don't care for non-Apple products personally, but I do recognize that a tech solution for each person is different and unique. We can't all be awesome Mac users. :)