17 Reasons Why the iPhone Sucks (10 Years of Experience)

There is no perfect smartphone. Every device has its trade-offs, you always have to make choices.

I’m a loyal Apple customer myself. I have an iPhone, a MacBook, an iPad, an Apple Watch, and AirPods.

There are many things I love about Apple, especially the iPhone I use daily.

However, over the years, I’ve noticed points that are quite criticizable.

15 Worst reasons why the iPhone SUCKS

1) Phone Price

Apple’s brand and reputation have allowed them to charge very high prices for their phones for a long time. Essentially, you have to be wealthy.

In fact, Apple has the highest profit margins in the entire smartphone industry (and its turnover exceeds 1 billion dollars per day). Even their “entry-level phones” are expensive. So expensive that they are unaffordable for most of the world.

Take Africa, South America or south Asia, for example.

The poorer the country, the lower the iPhone market share is. (Check the map). There’s a reason for that.

Companies that produce phones out of reach for the majority of people on the planet are quite criticizable, right?

I get it, we live in a capitalist society. It’s not an ideal model, but it’s the best one tested so far. But can’t Apple offer a genuinely affordable iPhone option? Really?

I don’t think so.

They protect their brand and image, and a “cheap” phone would tarnish that image (in their view).

2) Closed Ecosystem

The term “Closed Ecosystem” simply refers to a closed system of products. Closed off from the outside.

Imagine you’re in a members-only club, where the benefits are exclusive and everything is synced up. That’s what we mean by a “Closed Ecosystem.” It’s like being in an exclusive group chat where only certain members can join.

Apple has this approach where their devices, like the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, work super smoothly together. So, you get one, and you’re tempted to dive deeper because everything just clicks.

Soon, you might find yourself hooked, with a whole set of Apple gear. Maybe you even snag a MacBook Pro for school. And bam, you’re deep inside Apple’s circle.

But the real magic? It’s not just the hardware; it’s their software game. Think iOS, MacOS, iPadOS, and others. They come with features that only work inside this Apple bubble.

Here’s some of their exclusive content:

• iCloud for all your files and photos
• AirDrop to send stuff quickly between devices
• AirPlay for streaming content
• iMessage, which might be your main chat app
• And the one and only Apple App Store

We say it’s like an “exclusive club” because there’s this allure. It’s trendy, sleek, and many love being part of it. How about you?

3) Support for Older Models

Apple is known to stop supporting older iPhone models after a few years.

This means that if you have an older iPhone, you won’t receive software updates, which can pose security risks.

Moreover, many app developers also stop supporting older iPhone models, which means you can’t use some of the latest apps or features.

It’s questionable for Apple not to support older iPhone models for a longer period.

4) Câbles iPhone: Lightning versus USB-C

L’iPhone d’Apple a longtemps utilisé le câble Lightning. Il a été introduit en 2012 avec l’iPhone 5. Compact et réversible, ce câble a permis à Apple de se démarquer.

Cependant, l’industrie s’oriente de plus en plus vers l’USB-C. C’est un standard universel. Même les MacBook Pro d’Apple l’ont adopté!

Mais l’iPhone? Il continue avec le Lightning. L’USB-C est polyvalent, rapide et utilisé par plein d’appareils modernes.

Alors, pourquoi Apple garde-t-il le cable Lightning pour l’iPhone? Certains pensent que c’est pour garder son écosystème bien fermé.

5) Water Resistance

Recent iPhones are water-resistant. That’s great, right?

But do you know the difference between water-resistant and waterproof? Big difference.

The latest iPhones have an IP68 rating, which means they can withstand being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. But water damage isn’t covered by Apple’s warranty!

You could be fooled by their ads, with the iPhone being used underwater, but the reality is different.

Here’s what’s missing from Apple’s website:

• If you expose your iPhone to pressurized water, or very high or low temperatures, it will fail. Do not take it into a hot tub or sauna.
• Swimming or diving with your iPhone can cause water damage.

In other words, you’re on your own if your iPhone gets damaged by water. The water resistance feature is nice, but it’s far from perfect.

6) Storage

Storage on the iPhone has always been a source of frustration for many.

A few years ago, Apple finally dropped the 16 GB storage capacity for its iPhones. But even today, the base iPhone only has 64 GB of storage.

Capacity	Description
64 GB	Limited storage capacity. Suitable for basic use like WhatsApp, calls, social media, and simple games. Does not allow 4K video recording and is limited in the number of photos and apps.
128 GB	Suitable for basic use. Ideal for storing a few photos, songs, and videos. Minimum capacity for the new iPhone 14.
256 GB	Suitable for the average user. Perfect for downloading apps, games, storing photos, videos, music without using iCloud. Recommended cleaning once a year.
512 GB	Ideal for storing a complete collection of photos, videos, and movies. No need to use cloud services. Offline access to series and songs.
1 TB	Hassle-free storage, ideal for photographers to store photos in Apple ProRAW format. Perfect for storing high-quality movies and series. Recommended for those who avoid cloud services and want the highest recording quality.

Note:

• The operating system also takes up space. So, for example, a 256 GB iPhone will not actually provide 256 GB of usable space.
• The storage capacity of an iPhone is not expandable.
• It’s recommended to add about 20% to calculate the actual required storage capacity.
• Only the iPhone 14 Pro (Max) and 13 Pro (Max) offer a 1 TB capacity.

For most people, 64 GB of storage is INSUFFICIENT.

And Apple knows it. That’s why they offer iPhones with more storage capacity, but at a much higher price.

The manufacturing cost for Apple is much lower than what they charge extra for an iPhone with more storage capacity.

It’s questionable for Apple not to offer more storage capacity on the base iPhone, especially knowing how much it costs and how much they charge for it.

7) Accessories

Apple sells a ton of accessories for the iPhone. And of course, they aren’t cheap.

But what’s truly questionable is that Apple often changes the design of the iPhone, making your old accessories incompatible with the new iPhones.

For instance, when the iPhone 7 came out, Apple removed the headphone jack. This meant if you had wired headphones that you loved, you either had to buy an adapter or get new headphones.

And let’s not forget the headphone jack adapter. Apple charged $9 for this adapter, even though it only cost a few cents to make.

It’s questionable for Apple to constantly change the iPhone design and force customers to buy new accessories.

8) Repairability

The iPhone is not user-repairable and its repairability index is less than ideal.

This means that if something goes wrong with your iPhone, you either have to send it back to Apple for repair or go to an Apple Store. And of course, that can be expensive.

There have been cases where Apple refused to repair a damaged iPhone, even if the owner was willing to pay for the repair.

And even if Apple agrees to fix your iPhone, the repair cost is often steep. For example, replacing the screen of an iPhone X costs $300 if you don’t have AppleCare+.

It’s questionable for Apple to make the iPhone so hard to repair and charge exorbitant prices for repairs.

9) AppleCare+

AppleCare+ is Apple’s extended warranty program for the iPhone. It’s expensive, but it can be helpful if you often break your phone.

But what’s truly questionable about AppleCare+ is that it doesn’t cover everything.

For instance, AppleCare+ does not cover damages from “misuse”, which is a very broad definition.

And even if your iPhone is covered by AppleCare+, you’ll still have to pay a “deductible” for the repair. This deductible can be as high as $100, depending on the nature of the repair.

It’s questionable for Apple to charge so much for AppleCare+ while not covering all types of damages.

10) Return Policy

Apple’s return policy for the iPhone is quite strict. You only have 14 days to return the iPhone if you are not satisfied, while others offer 30 days.

Many other retailers offer much longer return periods, giving customers more time to decide if they really like a product or not.

And if you exceed those 14 days, even by one day, Apple will make no exception. You’ll be stuck with your iPhone, whether you like it or not.

It’s questionable for Apple to have such a strict return policy for the iPhone.

11) Settings

Maybe it’s just my opinion, but I’ve always felt that the iPhone could simplify adjusting settings.

Having to search and find the Settings app every time I want to change my Bluetooth settings, for example, is annoying.

On an Android, you just swipe down from the home screen, click on Bluetooth, and you go straight to the Bluetooth settings.

On the iPhone, you can only turn Bluetooth on or off in this way. If you want to access the Bluetooth settings, you need to find the Settings app, then go into Bluetooth and search from there.

The same goes for the WiFi settings.

It’s not a deal-breaker, but it seems like another simple change that Apple could make requiring fewer actions on the user’s part.

12) Interaction with a Computer

When you plug an Android into a PC, it works like any other USB device or flash drive.

You can even use a simple drag-and-drop interface to access its internal memory AND an external storage device (like a micro SD card).

In contrast, the iPhone MUST interact with a computer using intermediary software (iTunes).

Sure, you could use an iPhone for years without having to use iTunes.

But if you need to connect your iPhone to your computer for any reason (like transferring music from your computer to your phone), then iTunes becomes a hassle.

The only exception is copying photos from your iPhone to your computer.

In fact, the computer sees the iPhone as a “read-only” camera. This means you can’t copy photos from your computer to your iPhone.

The point here is that the iPhone unnecessarily complicates simple tasks.

13) Slowing Down Older Phones

In 2017, iPhone users began complaining on social media and forums that their phones had become slower.

The slowdowns were so significant that many phones became unusable and had to be replaced (their possible strategy).

Apple faced a significant number of complaints, prompting them to address the issue. Initially, they completely denied any knowledge of the problem. They behaved as if they were unaware of the situation but committed to looking into it.

After much more public pressure, Apple finally admitted they were slowing down old phones. They said:  “Slowing down the processors allows older batteries to function better as they begin to lose capacity.”

Despite Apple’s response, the public remained skeptical. This skepticism culminated in a massive lawsuit. By 2020, Apple agreed to a settlement of $500 million, although they never acknowledged any fault.

Ultimately, after this prolonged situation, Apple took steps to rectify things. From 2018 onwards, iPhone users were given more control over their battery’s health, enabling them to turn off battery throttling and monitor its condition.

These types of stories lead many people to question Apple’s intentions to truly seek for the consumer’s interests.

14) No Memory Expansion

It seems that regardless of your iPhone’s storage capacity, you always find a way to reach its limit!

It’s amazing to me that the iPhone still doesn’t support storage expansion. Look at Android phones, over 350 different models have been launched with expandable storage!

In the end, this wouldn’t be such a big issue if Apple made it more convenient to transfer photos and media from your iPhone to your computer. But as I mentioned above, they make the process excessively complex!

15) The Back Button

For some reason, Apple uses multiple ways to navigate back to the prior screen.

Here are the different ways to “return” on an iPhone today:

• Tap “Back” in the top left corner.
• Tap “Back” in the bottom left corner (seen in browsers like Safari and Chrome).
• Swipe from left to right on the edge of the screen.
• Swipe from left to right at the screen’s bottom (in browsers).
• Swipe up from the screen’s base (for iPhones without a home button).

This approach can be confusing. iPhones would benefit from a single, consistent method for going back across all apps!

16) Apple TV

I don’t even know where to start with the Apple TV.

The only reason I bought an Apple TV is for its integration with my iPhone.

But there are so many confusion with the Apple TV that I sometimes wonder if anyone at Apple actually uses it.

Firstly, the remote is a joke. The touchpad is extremely sensitive, and it’s almost impossible to perform simple tasks like fast forwarding or rewinding.

Additionally, the Apple TV’s user interface is not optimized. They should not have given their app and their streaming service the same name. You end up paying for movies on the Apple TV app that you could have watched for free with your Apple TV+ suscription.

But even with your susbcription, you will still need to pay to watch most movies.

17) Innovation

This isn’t just my opinion. Apple is no longer innovative with its new iPhones.

Apple has built an incredibly stable consumer appetite for every new iteration of their existing products, so much so that Apple has stopped creating new products.

Every year, it’s about the next version of the iPhone or the iWatch. But often, the new features or additions don’t need a new product launch.

In my opinion, Apple is mostly looking for easy profits.

Conclusion

Apple has achieved incredible things over the years and has developed a comprehensive ecosystem of devices. However, there are many aspects of their products and their business that lead to question the public.

Remember, no company is perfect, but being aware of the issues and advocating for change can lead to a better user experience for all of us.

It’s always a good idea to conduct your own research and make decisions based on what’s best for your individual needs.

In conclusion, while the iPhone is an incredible and groundbreaking product, it’s not without its flaws.

Apple is a successful company, but it’s Iphone and products aren’t perfect. It’s important to stay informed and understand both the pros and cons before making a purchasing decision.

And now, I’d like to hear your thoughts. Do you agree with my reasons? Are there other aspects of Apple and the iPhone that you find annoying? Let me know.