I try to upgrade my iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPads every other year (it get’s really expensive otherwise). This year is an off year, as I picked up the iPhone 12 Pro Max last year. I am not going to second guess people who upgrade every year. I think if you can afford it and it brings you joy, then you should go ahead and do it. However, I do follow the blogs, podcasts, and social feeds of many Apple fans to see the reaction each year to see if I should break my pattern.

I have only ever broken the pattern once once on the iPad (From the original to the 2nd gen) and once on the Apple Watch (From the series 1 to the series 2). As for the iPhone, I have broken it twice from the the original iPhone to the iPhone 3g, and from the iPhone 6 to the 6Plus.

What made me do it, looking back I can’t remember, but at the time the reasons were crystal clear. There was some compelling new sensor, or camera feature, that made it critical that I get that new toy!

This year, the only feature that would be compelling for the iPhone 12 Pro Max would be the battery improvement. 2.5 hours more battery is amazing! Of course, not having traveled in 18 months, it is not a feature I need. I end the day right now with between 60-70% of battery on my iPhone. I am just not using it as much as I used to. I think I have reached peek Apple toys in my life.

What would have made me open my wallet this year would have been a AR glasses developer kit. I would have dropped serious money to receive that, but at last it was not to be. Perhaps 2022 will be the year of Apple glasses!