We are at that time of the year where it’s all about smartphone launches. Recently, Google unveiled its latest Pixel 9 series, and it certainly grabbed attention. Honor even took the opportunity to mock Samsung with some playful jabs. But amidst all the tech battles, there’s one launch that steals the spotlight every year—cue dramatic music—the iPhone. Set for its grand reveal on September 9, the iPhone launch has the tech world buzzing, from hardcore enthusiasts to casual consumers. But before you get too excited and start saving for that down payment (I mean, a new iPhone), let me just temper your expectations a bit: this year’s iPhone may not blow your socks off.
1. Same Old Design
You know the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Well, Apple has taken that to heart—maybe a little too much. The iPhone’s design has been on rinse and repeat for years now. The square camera module introduced with the iPhone 11 Pro? Yep, it’s still there—just bigger and chunkier, because why not? If you’re shelling out a cool $1,000+, you might expect something a little more… revolutionary? Maybe? Or at least, new. But hey, at least it’ll still look fabulous in that expensive case you’ll need to protect it.
2. No Real Innovation
The biggest “innovation” we saw recently was the transition from the infamous notch to the Dynamic Island in the iPhone 14 series. It was sort of exciting for about 15 minutes. But the buzz has fizzled out faster than a TikTok trend. Apple is sticking with Dynamic Island for another round, and honestly, there isn’t much else on the horizon. Some speculate bigger changes will come with the iPhone 16 lineup, but for now, we’re stuck with… slightly updated software animations? Thrilling.
3. Apple Intelligence—But Only for Select Regions
Apple has been hyping up its AI features and advanced intelligence systems, but there’s a catch: they won’t work in the EU or China. Apparently, these regions have some restrictions in place, leaving a significant chunk of Apple’s customer base without access to these “cutting-edge” features. So, if you live in one of these places, you’re basically getting a glorified slab of glass with some really expensive wallpaper.
4. They Might Dazzle You With Performance—But For What?
Every year, Apple spends a chunk of its keynote talking about how insanely powerful their new processors are. Last year, they even went on about how some Resident Evil games would be coming to the iPhone 15 Pro. Cool, right? Well, except that the majority of iPhone users probably won’t use all that horsepower. Those shiny games? They come with hefty price tags and will likely drain your battery faster than you can scream, “I need a charger!” So, while the iPhone may technically be a mini supercomputer, its real-world performance improvements might leave you scratching your head—unless you’re a mobile gaming diehard.
5. Action Button: A “Feature” or Just a Fancy Button?
And now, let’s talk about the rumored Action Button. Apple is reportedly adding a new button to the side of the iPhone that will make it easier to access features like the camera or flashlight. That’s it. A button. For $1,000+. I’m sorry, but when we’re listing buttons as exclusive features, it feels like we’re scraping the bottom of the innovation barrel. Sure, it’ll make life a tad more convenient for photographers, but should a single button really be a headline feature in a flagship device?
