Edit: It has also just been proven that they have been secretly listening to us all this time...
I have mixed feelings about this phone (just like the previous generation 14pro max) and I definitely reached my limits once again with Apple’s phones. I want you to understand that the review is completely objective as I am not a fanboy of anyone other than smooth functionality.
As a device, it is very good! The materials and the raw specs are excellent and on par with competitors. Screen (in bright sunlight you can even edit photos), processor (it has never frozen on me), microphones (video in a club next to the sub and it’s like you’re listening to the song on Spotify), speakers (you can somewhat hear even the low frequencies), battery (9-11 hours screen on, obviously decreases drastically with video recording, games, and GPS) everything is excellent. The MagSafe is genius. So simple!
Let’s move on to the functionalities and quality of life which are the most important! Here we have many problems, none of which prevent the use of the phone, but all together create a bad user experience of a device more expensive than my premium Surface laptop, which should serve me and not me serve it!
1. Keyboard: iPhone user for almost 3 years and I still find it dreadful compared to everything else when these are on Android software because otherwise, they have limitations. I won’t go into great detail because I don’t have space or time, briefly bad design, reduced customizations, poor autocorrect, good cursor control but only the Apple way (tapping and dragging and not selecting with your finger) etc.
2. Notifications: downgrade from Android. Limited settings options that are sometimes in the app and sometimes in the settings.
3. Poor internet speed: I noticed this and just switched from Android recently (measuring from the same spot other devices get 300mbps, this one 50 if that). The problem persists with mobile networks as well. Also, 5G doesn’t work when you’re on a call (maybe because it’s Wi-Fi calling? I don’t know and it shouldn’t concern me).
4. Apple Intelligence: the only thing that could possibly convince me not to switch, is not available in Europe :). Siri, on the other hand, is frankly stupid.
5. Airdrop: Amazing feature...when it works!!! Otherwise, we all have to restart.
6. Other functionalities: Everything is done the Apple way which obviously won’t suit everyone. Examples include the placement of icons which now works but not with full control as many times when you move an app icon it will shake them all for no reason. The slow animations everywhere, which are indeed beautiful but not everyone wants them that slow and this doesn’t change. The lack of a setting for long presses (how long you need to press something for it to be considered a long press). The limited way you adjust sounds (ringtones, music...). The lack of a universal way to go one step back from anywhere you are. Contacts don’t let you choose the default phone number and very often when I tap to call a contact it may call the landline while I would want it to call the mobile (there is no setting for this). etc. etc. etc.
7. Bugs that Apple doesn’t care to fix: like when the clicks on the keyboard get messed up and go to 200% volume. As when you get a phone call and you can't answer because the touch stops working (I experienced this with the iPhone 6 too). Etc. etc.
8. Lack of features that help avoid mistakes and misuse: a prime example is the lack of a very simple indication of the time remaining for the alarm you just set. Etc. etc.
9. Ecosystem: Apple refuses to allow simple functions with other ecosystems like answering your messages from your computer (when it's not a Mac). It's not a software issue because Android isn't Windows, but it does it just fine.
10. Lack of screen cast: the only way is if you have an Apple TV as far as I know.
11. Cameras: The results are good but the software is cumbersome, bad, and doesn't allow for many manual settings. It also doesn't allow for quick feature adjustments within the app.... you have to go into the phone's settings.
12. Automations: maybe more advanced than Android but who knows what it is, raise your hand... They are cumbersome and require a lot of familiarity.
13. Poor RAM management: many times apps close on me just because I turned off the screen for a few minutes (5-10 minutes). And this happens over and over again, for example, I was looking for something specific on Facebook, turned off the screen for one reason or another for 10 minutes, opened it again and the app restarted forcing me to search again for what I was viewing. Many times it feels like RAM management is nonexistent.
14. I want to mention some good features which, although not necessarily original and unique, are more user-friendly than others: they have a good location tracking system among Apple devices even though it's locked in the ecosystem. Apple Pay/Wallet is quite useful and I believe it has no serious competitor even though it's not perfectly designed. The notes and reminders are quite good, perhaps among the best, but they are locked in the ecosystem so they are useless to me. Similarly, Safari is very user-friendly, locked in the ecosystem, which of course has issues with user privacy. I consider the security against malware and viruses top-notch, which of course limits you quite a bit with apps, etc.
I CONCLUDE that this phone is not for serious work, it's for showing off even though there are now other options for that. Very often I feel that I serve the needs of the phone and not the other way around. I have changed my habits and adapted to the way it works, and I now completely avoid certain processes/functions that are very annoying with this phone. For the above reason, I consider it an unacceptable device for its excessively high cost and I cannot justify it, nor recommend it to anyone.