iPhone 5s

[FLA]

my parents are technologically challenged but fair well with Apple products. When we switched to Cricket they got $1 smartphones that are crap, even I can't figure them out half the time. Groupon has the 5s for $119. Is this too old to consider, like it won't get important updates and stuff like that? They both know how to use iPads so the learning curve would be not too bad. Otherwise, they just don't use their $1 phones. They found their old (very old) flip phones and want to see if they can go back to that, they can't even text on them. My mother lives on her iPad so I think she would love the phone for all the hours she spends waiting in MD offices.

I'm just worried the technology is too old

[ShawnaC123]

I have a 5S now. Supposedly iPhone stops supporting it with updates either next year or 2019. If I were to buy one now I probably would get at least an iPhone 6 to get the most out of it. Plus the screen is bigger on all models after the 5S and that would probably be better for older people.

[disneysteve]

I have a 5S now. Supposedly iPhone stops supporting it with updates either next year or 2019.

I agree with not getting a 5 at this point. It's only a matter of time before Apple stops supporting it. The whole reason I got my 5 was because they stopped supporting my 3 so it became unusable.

Any day now, I'll be looking to replace my 5 with a 6 or 7. Keep an eye on Target. They run deals where they give you money for your trade in and give a store gift card. For example, this week they're giving a $100 gift card when you buy a 7 (which I might actually take advantage of).

[james.hendrickson]

I have found that the quality of Target merchandise isn't always there.

Is this also reflected in their iPhones?

[creditcardfree]

I have found that the quality of Target merchandise isn't always there.

Is this also reflected in their iPhones?

Target doesn't manufacture iPhones (or any other product they sell). Apple manufactures iPhones. The phones are the same regardless of which retailer you purchase from.

[97guns]

Might be better off getting an android phone that is more current

[disneysteve]

I have found that the quality of Target merchandise isn't always there.

Is this also reflected in their iPhones?

Target doesn't manufacture iPhones (or any other product they sell). Apple manufactures iPhones. The phones are the same regardless of which retailer you purchase from.

I agree with ccf. James, an iPhone is an iPhone. The ones sold at Target are exactly the same as the ones sold at Apple or AT&T or Verizon or Best Buy or anywhere else.

Perhaps you've encountered quality issues with Target store brand items but that is not relevant when discussing brand name items.

[Jluke]

I agree with not getting a 5 at this point. It's only a matter of time before Apple stops supporting it. The whole reason I got my 5 was because they stopped supporting my 3 so it became unusable.

Any day now, I'll be looking to replace my 5 with a 6 or 7. Keep an eye on Target. They run deals where they give you money for your trade in and give a store gift card. For example, this week they're giving a $100 gift card when you buy a 7 (which I might actually take advantage of).

Probably obvious but pay attention to the amount of memory between the 6's and 7. Apple may have increased the memory on 6 by now but when I got the 7 I paid as much for the 128 as the 64gb was selling for
(On virgin mobile).

[FLA]

They can't afford a 6 or a 7. I want to keep it in the Apple family because they have laptops and iPads so they are used to the format of Apple. I think I might pull the trigger and get them a book from the library on iPhones for seniors. Even if Apple stops upgrading it, as long as they can dial, text and read email, they'd be happy.

I don't think I can even give away the ZTE smartphones from Cricket, there are reasons some things cost a dollar

[StormRichards]

I have a 5s and plan to keep it as long as it keeps working. As long as I can access the internet, google maps for soccer travel, and make calls, then I have no intentions of upgrading.

[disneysteve]

They can't afford a 6 or a 7. I want to keep it in the Apple family because they have laptops and iPads so they are used to the format of Apple. I think I might pull the trigger and get them a book from the library on iPhones for seniors. Even if Apple stops upgrading it, as long as they can dial, text and read email, they'd be happy.

If they don't plan to use any apps, then they'd probably be just fine with a 5.

The problems I had when they stopped supporting my 3 was that apps just stopped working and I could not get the updates anymore. I'm already having that problem to some extent with my 5 now. So far, I've been able to continue using the old version of the app but I know my days are numbered with that until they stop working entirely and it basically becomes an iPod touch.

[FLA]

won't it still work as a basic phone?

[disneysteve]

won't it still work as a basic phone?

Yes it will. But that served no purpose for me personally. If it couldn't do all of the other stuff, it was worthless. I very, very rarely use my phone to make phone calls. To me, it is a portable computer that happens to be able to make calls. Once it stopped functioning as a computer, I had to replace it.

[disneysteve]

I have a 5s and plan to keep it as long as it keeps working. As long as I can access the internet, google maps for soccer travel, and make calls, then I have no intentions of upgrading.

Makes sense. If that's all you use it for, you will be good for a lot longer than someone like me who uses it for many other purposes.

[phantom]

They can't afford a 6 or a 7. I want to keep it in the Apple family because they have laptops and iPads so they are used to the format of Apple. I think I might pull the trigger and get them a book from the library on iPhones for seniors. Even if Apple stops upgrading it, as long as they can dial, text and read email, they'd be happy.

I'd suggest considering an iPhone SE. That's the model that came out in the middle of last year between the 6S and the 7. It's basically the guts of a 6S in the body of a 5/5S, and it's a lot less expensive than a 6 or 7. At $399 for the 16GB model, it's still more expensive than the deal you're looking at. But, I think it'd be worth the extra cost.

I replaced my 5 with an SE about a month ago, and I'm really happy I did. The difference in performance is amazing. The 5 used to freeze up daily and all of my apps opened very slowly. Sometimes it'd freeze while I was unlocking it showing the last number of my passcode on the screen for several seconds. A 5S wouldn't be quite as bad as my 5 was, but I think you'd still be a lot better off with something newer.