BY SABRINA VICTOR
In a world where technology is constantly being updated, our consumerist society never seems to be satisfied with what they already have. People always want the new Apple or Samsung product and will do whatever it takes to get the new “it” product.
The release of the new iPhone has sent many scrambling to get the latest edition. Remarkably though, the old model is not so different from the new one. According to Apple.com, they both have the same design, screen, storage, software and build. The only difference in the design is the different color options. If the primary reason you enjoy your iPhone 5 is for the look there is no reason to update to the 5s. The major difference between the 5 & the 5s is the processor since the 5s has an A7 chip, whereas the 5 has an A6 processor. This is a distinguishing trait that probably wouldn’t even affect an average person’s life (unless they are very into technology).
Nevertheless, the product does have some notable improvements. The camera has a larger sensor, pixels, and aperture which results in more light and a better picture. However, these improvements aren’t special enough to end up spending another couple hundreds. Chances are if you’re that into top quality photos you probably have a professional camera. The TouchID, the fingerprint scanner, is another cool feature.
Paying nearly double or $100 more for ultimately the same product is absolutely absurd. Companies tend to make their newest models way more expensive than the older one, even if there is no major difference. According to t-mobile.com, the Galaxy S4 is selling for about $603.99 as compared to the older version, the Galaxy S3, which is about $501.99. Consumers are paying $100 more than the previous model to update to a phone that is nearly the same.
Worse though is the motive behind these purchases. Instead of buying these items for self satisfaction, a vast majority buy these products to impress others. Getting the new Galaxy or the new iPhone has become specifically a social issue, and we label what type of phone someone has as what type of person they are. People just want to be part of the hype and update to the latest device, not because it’s necessary, but because they want too.
As we continue to become a materialistic society we have failed to remember, it is not what a person owns that makes them who they are, but the content of their character that does so. Our society needs to veer away from this technological craze and learn to spot products out for being unnecessary and unreasonably priced. So think again, do you always need to desire the latest device?
