Does the iPhone last?

Naf

Hi, I've only been an iPhone user since the 4's release: love it and planning to get my wife one on her upgrade tomorrow (FaceTime, IMessage etc.) but am basically forced into 24 month contract.
I just want to know people's experiences if these things will actually properly stay the course for a full two years?

jayme1

hardware wise, then yes, if you take people with the iphone 1, 3G and 3GS all (if not abused) still work, the 3G was horrendously slowed down by software updates but the 3GS (which is about 2.5 years old) was made considerably better with iOS5, I would assume that the iphone 4 (because it is still being sold) will last perfectly well for the next 2 years both in hardware and software updates.

but if you can obviously getting the iphone 4s would likely prove more future proof.

Buzby

I still have an iPhone 3 and is still using its original battery and that's coming up to 4 years. The longest I've had a mobile. I think you'd be safe in your choice....!

grumbler

I always wonder why you have to pay Apple extra £61 for two years warranty that the majority of other manufactures offer as standard for free.

gjchester

grumbler wrote: »

I always wonder why you have to pay Apple extra £61 for two years warranty that the majority of other manufactures offer as standard for free.

Warranty is just an way to encourage the customer to buy and have faith in the product. If someone warranties anything for 5 years it doesn't men it will last that long, simply that the manufacturer will stand by it that long.

Theres a reason why the Pacific Rim car co's started to offer 3 year warranties, whereas Ford and GM offered 1 year. They need to compete and could not do it on percieved quality, GM/Ford cars tend to last, PR's tended to rust and fail after a few years, look around you'll find lots of old Fiesta, Corsa, Astra and Escorts around but very few older Hyundia/Kia/ Protons.

Ford/GM (and Apple) knew they were not the cheapest but the reputation for build quality meant they didn't need to offer longer warranties to be competative.

Bringing it back to the original point Apple know (right or wrong) people will pay a premium for an Apple device, they don't need to offer the extended warranty, discount the devices and can even sell extended warrnties as well when most people refused in the likes of Currys/Comet to buy warranties. If people refused to buy Apple devices, or Applecare they may change but until they do why should they?

grumbler

'Build quality' is far too vague term and usually has nothing to do with reliability. I think reliability of iPhones is a myth, e.g. the home button is notorious for failing.

Secondly if people buy iPhones it is not necessarily because of the reliability. The same applies to the high price.

We hear fewer complaints about iPhones because Apple can afford replacing big number of faulty handsets in their stores with no questions asked, but this is only during the first year.

gjchester

grumbler wrote: »

'Build quality' is far too vague term and usually has nothing to do with reliability. I think reliability of iPhones is a myth, e.g. the home button is notorious for failing.

I didn't say they had a high build quality I said they had a high percieved quality.

Your right quality has nothing to do with why people buy them, but Apple products are sold as premium devices, and as such the command a premium price. Part of that is the permium customer service.

Apples customer care *IS* head and shoulders above most other companies, even if it's just in warranty periods but that is where part of the "premium ness" comes from. Any problem gets resolved quickly and with the minimum of fuss in the warranty.

Even out of warranty Apple will effect repairs for a price, which is more than a lot of makers do for their older products.

neil40

As long as you look after the phone,they are usually very reliable.We have an old iphone 3g & 4.There have been no faults with both of them.

anonymousie

my iphone 3g is still working well with dd1 (It'll be 3yrs old in January) and it has been in my very careful and DD1s slightly less careful hands for 18 months each.

However, it was pretty much crippled speed wise by the last sioftwear update when the 4 came out (grrrrr!!!!) . I'd but just a little wary of that in the future, but not within a 2yr contract .

Margey

Hello,

Yeh iPhones tend to last a while. Only problem you may encounter is the battery draining quicker. But you'll probably notice that Apple bring out phones every year so in 2 years time you phone will be 2 models behind!

Naf

Thanks very much guys.
I have a 4 which is almost a year old and have noticed nothing wrong except the battery draining quicker. I just wanted to check the general situation, and it would seem its a pretty good option.
Thanks a lot!