> I hate this statement. I don't care if I can afford an expensive device if it doesn't provide the value over the lifetime of the product. Why do phones that only last 2-3 years cost as much as my laptop that can last longer than that and do so much more?
Hate is a strong word. Why should my opinions on iPhone upgrades provoke feelings of hatred in you?
I also disagree with the premise. My current phone is 4 years old, and as I mentioned I plan to give it to someone who will probably use it for another 3+ years. Or I could have traded it in or resold it to a someone else who can use it. So I wouldn't say modern phones last 2-3 years, more like 7+ years. The iPhone 6s, which was released 10 years ago, just got a security update from Apple this month - so someone must still be using it.
I also disagree that laptops can do more than smartphones. Smartphones have different hardware like GPS, cellular radios, and more advanced cameras. They are also more portable (and miniaturization is expensive). And recently smartphone hardware is just as powerful as can be found in many laptops. Apple is even rumored to be making a low-cost laptop powered by the same A-series chips that they use in iPhones. A smartphone is not necessarily any better or worse than a laptop, it's just a computer in a different form factor that excels in different use cases.
> it doesn't provide the value over the lifetime of the product
It does provide value to me. As a photography hobbyist, I'm primarily interested in the camera updates (side note: if you compare iPhone prices to standalone camera prices like the recently-released Fujifilm X Half at $849, I think the iPhone 17 Pro is actually a pretty good value when judged solely on its merits as a tool for taking photos and video). But there are a bunch of other nice-to-have updates (wifi 7, bigger battery, brighter screen, etc). If there were no value to me in upgrading, then I wouldn't upgrade. I'm not saying that people should upgrade every few years even if there is no compelling reason, but rather that the financial burden of upgrading every few years is minimal for lots of people.
I'd also point out that the iPhone Pro line is a premium device, and very few people need one (myself included). Apple sells other iPhone models starting at $599 (iPhone 16e) and going up from there. Or you can buy a refurb iPhone 14 on Amazon for $330, and probably get several years of use out of it at least. Or you can go with Samsung or Motorola and get a brand new, totally functional smartphone for under $200 (though these budget phones will probably turn into e-waste a lot sooner than a new iPhone). If you don't see any value in shelling out $1100 for the latest and greatest iPhone, then there's no need to. When it comes time to buy a new smartphone, I'm sure there will be something out there with a price and feature set that makes sense for you.
Value is very subjective depending on personal preferences/needs and budget. I don't see any point in hating that fact.