Is the iPhone a middle class trap?

Is the iPhone a middle class trap?

Now almost 99% of the Indian population is eager to buy the new iPhone 15. Everyone is checking the prices of iphones and trying to get at least a good deal with lower variants. Many middle class people who are not having the salary of the apple iphone price brought the mobile through EMI and they are in the biggest trap of the middle class. Now I will discuss the disadvantages of owning an iphone over an Android phone. This blog is to educate the people regarding their own finances and Expenses which can be stopped and prevent them from financial crisis.

 

Disadvantages:

1.Extremely costly: If you check prices of the iphone compared to other Android phones it’s 4-5 times more costlier. Even though it is costlier, people are crazy about this iphone and they will buy it with EMI. This is the biggest trap. Apple ranked second in smartphone revenue in India last year, grossing around $6 billion, while Samsung captured the top spot with $8 billion from smartphone sales.(Livemint news aug 2023). Apple has just 10% of products when you compare it with Samsung.

 

2. Accessories are costly: Screen Guards prices are 10 times higher than the screen guards of Android phones. Because of rough use one should change the screen guard once in 2-3 months. So extra 3000-5000 rs for 1 year. Back case of an iphone costs around 20 times more when you compare it with Android. iPhone don’t have a 3.5mm jack to put on your old earphones, for this you have to buy airpods which cost around 10,000-15,000, where we can get the best Android phone at this price. Same thing happened with smart watches that cost around 50,0000. Where we can buy 3 good Android phones.

 

3.Iphone is relatively easier to hack when compared to Android: Most secure phone in the world is the iPhone . There is no doubt but when it comes to hacking it’s relatively easier when compared to Android. Here I am sharing the link of the article where you can read in detail.

(https://www.google.com/amp/s/tech.hindustantimes.com/amp/tech/news/android-phones-are-harder-to-crack-than-iphones-according-to-a-forensic-detective-story-zdnaQkVWTuZTudqECMEMXK.html).

 

4.You have to use iPhone for the rest of your life: Because in Android if you use a company phone you can shift easily because of synchronization of Gmail account, but this won’t happen in iOS(iPhone operating system) If you change your phone you should go for a new iPhone.

 

5.Annually money spent on iphone: Even though after paying high prices for iphone, every user tends to change 3 times a year screen guard and 2 times a year back cover. This is bare minimum, which will cost around 10,000- 15,000 rs expenses per year. At this expense we can buy a new Android phone every year.

 

6.Software update: iOS claims that they will give software updates till 5 years from the date of launch of the iPhone, but when you install that software update in your 5 years old hardware, it will slow your device eventually for which you want a new iPhone after 3 to 4 years or early. It’s a practical experience that a new software update in old hardware will make the system collapse. User thinks that my device is updated but in reality he has to update his EMI with higher prices to get a new iPhone.

 

7.Less iphone service center: In India there are less apple iphone service centers. If some problem happens with the phone they should go a long way to get to the service center. But in Android if you don’t have a service center, no problem, all the mobile repair shops will fix your problem at nominal charges.

 

9.iPhone prices in last 10 years: 

iPhone 4 – 2011- 34,500.

iPhone 5 – 2012- 45,500(31% ^)

iPhone 6 plus – 2014 – 62,500(37.5% ^)

iPhone 7 plus – 2016 – 72,000(15%°^)

iPhone 8 plus- 2017 – 73,000(1.3%^)

iPhone Xs Max – 2018 – 1,09,900(49%^)

iPhone 11pro max – 2019 – 1,09,900(zero).

iPhone 12 pro max. 2020 – 1,29,000(18%^)

iPhone 14 pro Max. 2022 – 1,39,900(8.3%^)

iPhone 15 pro Max 1Tb 2023 – 1,99,900(43%^).

 

After seeing this graph it is clear that iPhone prices are going very high. When you compare the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 4 it’s a 479% hike in the price. If someone starts investing the same amount he put on an iphone he can have at least a 4 wheeler vehicle for his family.

 

10.No Memory Card slot: iPhone doesn’t have a memory card slot as Android has. Because of memory cards it’s easy to save high-quality photos. If you want to increase storage space from 128Gb to 256Gb you have to pay an extra 10,000, which is not worth it.

 

 

Who should buy an iPhone?

1.Those people who can spend 10-30 percent of his /her monthly income to get an iPhone. Eg. If you are buying an iPhone of 1,00,000 your monthly income should be 4,00,000 per month then you should buy.

2.Say no to EMI on gadgets. Because gadgets are luxurious items, their percentage of depreciation is high.(30-40%) per year .You can get a good phone at much cheaper rates.

 

The conclusion:

1.Buy phones depending on needs not on what you like.

2.Needs have limits but wants don’t have limits.

3.You won’t be called a millionaire if you have an iPhone, many intellectual people don’t have it.

4.After reading this blog if 10-20 % of my readers get rid of this trap then I am very happy.

 

Disclaimer:

The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of Dr Saad Mohammad Athanikar.

Dr Saad Mohammad Athanikar does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.