Apple’s iPhone is one of the most powerful smartphones out there, however, it is still far from perfect. There are a ton of disadvantages of an iPhone, which include high price, limited storage, short battery life and much more.
Although some people prefer iPhone over Android, others are contemplating switching from iPhone to Android. This creates questions concerning the main disadvantages of Apple’s iPhones. Continue reading to learn about the main disadvantages of iPhones in 2024.
10 Disadvantages of iPhones
1. iPhones Are Overpriced
Apple increases the price of iPhones every year. iPhone is currently one of the most expensive smartphones out there usually due to its constantly updated physical appearance and tweaks made by engineers within the phone. Apple’s focus is on becoming more user-friendly, however, they turned out to be not so cost-friendly.
Users are quick to complained about the iPhone price but are still so quick to purchase newly released iPhones. Even the older models that are still in use today have higher price compared to other smartphones. There is no getting around the price for those wanting an iPhone.
See also: Why Are iPhones So Expensive? (10 Real Reasons)
2. iPhones don’t come with a Headphone Jack
There have been a ton of changes over the years on iPhones, but Apple getting rid of the headphone jack might be the worst mistake they ever did. Headphones will always be needed and without the jack, iPhone users need to purchase a separate lightening to 3mm jack connector.
This extra cost is an inconvenience to the user’s wallet. Without the headphone jack, the only available options are to either purchase the lightning to 3mm jack connector or purchase their true wireless earbuds, Airpods. The Apple company continues to make these changes, costing their users more than necessary.
3. Apple Ecosystem
The Apple Ecosystem can be a blessing yet a curse at the same time. Apple products are designed to allow the user a smoother experience with all of its other products such as the Macbook, Apple Watch or iPad.
It is a closed ecosystem, meaning the devices seamlessly work together and only together. One disadvantage of an iPhone is that once you purchase it, there is no going back. You’ll be trapped into Apple’s Ecosystem as long as you use the devices and care about compatibility. If one device works best with the same company’s device, it’s better to stick with it in the long run.
4. iPhones Have Fixed Storage
iPhones comes with a storage range of 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB. If more storage is needed, they offer 5 GB of free iCloud storage where users can store data within the online cloud rather than in their iPhone’s internal storage. It may seem like a decent amount but with the number of apps and better quality photos stored in a phone, those can be used up within a year or less.
With the better quality camera in these newer iPhones, the data required to keep the photos takes up more space than ever before. The only other way to get additional storage is to pay a monthly fee for more iCloud storage or look into buying an external hard drive. This can easily annoy iPhone users, especially those who work on their phones and need additional space for files. For those looking to save money, the lower storage is the better way to go, but it will cost more in the long run to purchase additional storage.
5. iPhone Apps Take Up Too Much Space
The App Store offers a ton of apps that users can easily download into their iPhones. The main disadvantage of iPhones is that the apps take up a huge amount of storage space that is considered unnecessary. Users have found themselves constantly deleting apps to create space for others, which is not ideal.
There are many features that exclusively work on iOS, creating a disadvantage with iPhone. The added data within the downloaded apps cause the storage to fill up pretty quickly. Although having a huge library of apps sounds great, the user might soon start removing some to make more space for files such as pictures and videos.
6. iPhones Have No FM Radio Built-In
One big disadvantage of iPhones is that they do not come preloaded with a FM radio or NFC. An NFC would allow communication between local devices, which is not possible with Apple products. The only way for users to use a FM radio on their iPhones would be to download a separate app for the App Store.
The difference could be life-changing for some users. Having an NFC or radio would significantly increase the chances of safety in case of an emergency. If there is no signal, iPhones would be a useless tool for communication. If a user were to compare with an Android, they win this round with their built-in radio.
7. iPhone Accessories are Expensive
Apple has created a ton of accessories that work perfectly with the iPhone, but all of them are very expensive. Most of them aren’t needed, but it is undoubtedly wanted. These accessories like Airpods are typically pleasing to the eye and can only connect to other Apple products.
Although people may opt to buy third-party accessories, and they may work, Apple has promised exclusively the best performance and compatibility with its own name-brand accessories. The user must decide if saving money and buying multiple third-party accessories is more worth it than biting the bullet and paying extra for the accessory that will work 100% of the time.
8. iPhones have Short Battery Life
The iPhone’s battery life can definitely be better, especially for its price point. Although Apple has updated it to be better than before, its battery life is still not up to par with other premium smartphones. The best battery life possible for iPhones would be the newest iPhone 14 sitting at 19 hours and 5 minutes.
This has been an ongoing problem throughout Apple’s history. The constant recharging is a common complaint by many iPhone users. Many users end up needing to purchase an external battery due to how quickly their phones lose charge throughout the day.
9. There Are Several Security Issues With The iPhones
There have been many instances of security issues with the new iPhone 14. There is no SIM card needed, which causes more trouble than they let on. It is much easier for hackers to hack on an e-SIM than an actual SIM card. This is also true with older models when connecting to the Internet in public. Hackers are able to easily steal data from the user’s iCloud.
Apple comes up with many updates throughout the year, it is highly encouraged to update it as soon as possible to lessen any hacker activity. Although the iOS operating system is well-protected, the simplicity of the system makes for easier access to hackers.
10. iPhones Can Break Easily
Other smartphones are typically very sturdy like Android, but one big disadvantage of iPhones is that they break fairly easily. This is due to their sleek and slim style that users love, which causes less durability over time. The new bigger iPhones, such as a Plus or Pro in particular, are more prone to cracked screens than the smaller ones.
Users who want a thinner phone are the main cause of iPhones becoming more brittle. If it’s thinner, it breaks more easily. Even the exposed rear camera and bigger screen could possibly allow them an easier possibility of breaking when the phone falls. It can be difficult for Android users to switch to iPhones, primarily due to how long its smartphone can last.