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Did Apple build MagSafe so that cases can “stick” to the new iPhones?

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Re: Did Apple build MagSafe so that cases can “stick” to the new iPhones?

#61
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah it always struck me as bizarre - here is a technological marvel, beautifully crafted, polished and shiny, slim and elegant. But you have to put it in an ugly protective case or it'll be borked inside a year.

You really don't. I haven't used a case on for more than a total of a month in the last ten years. Even with dropping my phone fairly frequently, and sometimes onto concrete from head height, I've only had one phone receive more than minor cosmetic scratches.

You got extremely lucky.

Re: Did Apple build MagSafe so that cases can “stick” to the new iPhones?

#63
post #9

The more pertinent question, if you step back for a moment, is why the hell are we sacrificing everything for thinner phones and edge-to-edge displays only to then ship them with a more or less mandatory case to stick in.

Though it makes sense for phones to have a cheap shell that you can swap instead of the $1000 device itself taking damage. The alternative is to build insulation and bumpers into the case that you can't swap. I don't think that's better. I tried to go caseless back when I was 22 and thought anyone would care how pretty my phone was, but it was slippery and accumulated damage for no reason. My next phone, I kept a cas…

I just don't get what there is to show off. It's a phone. It's not like you built the thing! People are willing to address that these phones are "beautiful", whatever that means, without acknowledging that the differentiation mostly has class and not taste connotations.

Re: Did Apple build MagSafe so that cases can “stick” to the new iPhones?

#64

I hate cases and think they make the phone totally bulky. The strap for the 5th pen iPod touch is what should be on every iPhone. Apple often comes up with good ideas but fails to execute on them properly.

I hate breaking my phone. Cases may not be pretty, but they’re pragmatic. Also FYI: literally no one cares how your phone looks.

I have AppleCare+ so I don't worry about breaking my phone at all. If it happens I just drop it into the Apple Store and get it back about 2 hours later.

Re: Did Apple build MagSafe so that cases can “stick” to the new iPhones?

#65
post #9

The more pertinent question, if you step back for a moment, is why the hell are we sacrificing everything for thinner phones and edge-to-edge displays only to then ship them with a more or less mandatory case to stick in.

My OnePlus 7 Pro came with a "recommended" "buffer" in the box. It needs it.

Only because OnePlus design the backs of their phones to be as slippery as possible. Insanely so, even.

Re: Did Apple build MagSafe so that cases can “stick” to the new iPhones?

#66

Off topic but I am amazed at the PR generated by apple fanboys in media. I am seeing so many tweets praising apple for removing chargers and other accessories from the box for environment. Chinese companies have been doing that for years and they actually pass the savings to the consumer.

What makes you so sure these savings weren't passed on to the consumer?

I wouldn't be surprised if the addition of 5G alone ate into those savings, and they kept the prices largely the same in spite of it. At least it seems that way to me, given the fact that many Android phone manufacturers have a considerably more expensive 5G version of their phones.

Re: Did Apple build MagSafe so that cases can “stick” to the new iPhones?

#67

Off topic but I am amazed at the PR generated by apple fanboys in media. I am seeing so many tweets praising apple for removing chargers and other accessories from the box for environment. Chinese companies have been doing that for years and they actually pass the savings to the consumer.

What makes you so sure these savings weren't passed on to the consumer? I wouldn't be surprised if the addition of 5G alone ate into those savings, and they kept the prices largely the same in spite of it. At least it seems that way to me, given the fact that many Android phone manufacturers have a considerably more expensive 5G version of their phones.

Because they already increased the price for iphone 12 base model compared to 11.

Re: Did Apple build MagSafe so that cases can “stick” to the new iPhones?

#68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What makes you so sure these savings weren't passed on to the consumer? I wouldn't be surprised if the addition of 5G alone ate into those savings, and they kept the prices largely the same in spite of it. At least it seems that way to me, given the fact that many Android phone manufacturers have a considerably more expensive 5G version of their phones.

Because they already increased the price for iphone 12 base model compared to 11.

But not for the Pro or the Pro Max. Also, the iPhone 12 has an OLED screen now, a decidedly much more expensive screen.

To be clear I'm not saying you're wrong, I just don't share your certainty here.

Re: Did Apple build MagSafe so that cases can “stick” to the new iPhones?

#69
post #2

Apparently cases didn’t exist back when the same design was on the iPhone 4/5?!

There was significantly more screen bezel back then, giving cases enough space to curve around and latch onto the front of the device. It would seem the bezels on the iPhone 12 are too small to allow cases to wrap around and grip effectively in the same way as before.

Exactly.

Re: Did Apple build MagSafe so that cases can “stick” to the new iPhones?

#70
post #3
post #2

Apparently cases didn’t exist back when the same design was on the iPhone 4/5?!

From the Tweet (and also having had those phones): The cases on iPhones 4 and 5 had a lip over the screen, this was not an issue because bezels were large and there were few swipe gestures. However the iPhone 12 cases do not go beyond the screen.

Yep. First time we have BOTH flat sides AND "bezel-less" screens.
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