I’ve never owned or used an iPhone – what am I missing?

My instinct has never been to follow the herd; it’s always been to observe and analyse a trend and then look for an alternative. So, when the world and his missus are getting excited each new successive iPhone generation and iteration, I take note but never feel a massive pull to be part of the club.

It’s not that I’m actively anti Apple. I’ve used Mac desktops and laptops for years – indeed they’ve always been the preferred choice of most creatives I’ve worked with, over and above PCs. I’m typing this very piece into one now. I’ve also owned iPads.

But an iPhone? Nah.

And yet, the constant churn of (very popular) iPhone related news items and thought pieces on this website and others has me wondering whether my indifference to the iPhone means my photography’s missed out – and whether, if at some stage I do own one, it one might sprinkle some magic on my image creation I’m not otherwise achieving via other means.

Yes, every now and then – chiefly around the hullabaloo of each new iPhone upgrade – admittedly FOMO creeps in.

For example, I might be tempted by a feature like the variable aperture control on the latest iPhone 18 Pro, starting out at a maximum f/1.48. Its ability to let 50% more light in than the previous iteration would help with those situations at a concert when I’m tempted to join in with the other mobile muppets and take a low light shot. Too often what looks OK in the moment on my Android handset is in the cold light of day revealed to be poorly exposed, or blurry. Maybe Apple could help me out there.

Something improper about iPhone photography?

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