Ilandar

I'm not sure I'd call those methods easy. They are all way more time consuming and annoying than Android is currently.

If you're in the EU there is now at least one alternative app store. iOS hasn't opened up anywhere else in the world AFAIK, so it's still a pain for everyone else. You used to be able to use the AltStore without jailbreaking iOS (maybe you still can), but the process was annoying and didn't feel particularly secure as you had to provide your Apple account details.

I don't think people are doing it because the new phones have better specs. It's more a social status flex or because tech consumerism (buying new toys) is a default hobby now for many.

Relative to what? Better for the planet than what? I'm not really sure what your point is here, you seem to be implying that a secondhand market for Android phones doesn't exist (note: it does, and Android phones are still much better value secondhand because they lose value so quickly relative to iPhones).

I find it very strange how many people in the comments here think the solution is to buy an iPhone. Maybe you are all just rich and can afford to spend $1000+ based on vibes, but considering the Android market still has a massive value advantage I'm not really sure what the point of switching is. This all feels very similar to how some Westerners decided Chinese tech and even the Chinese government were suddenly problem-free just because Americans elected Trump for a second time.

In all fairness to smart watches, mine is what turned me on to regularly checking the UV index.

Can't you just do that on your phone? Surely if the UV is high, you just plan accordingly for the day? Sunscreen, wide brim hat, stick to the shade where possible, etc. I can't imagine what benefit constantly checking the UV on your watch gives you. Even if it did happen to fluctuate for some reason, you would be wasting so much time constantly ducking in and out depending on what your watch says at any given moment.

Sideloading being so easy on iphones

Is it easy? Apple has only made that change in the EU AFAIK, it's still a closed system all around the world.

I’m just saying Apple doesn’t make anything close to a cheap stripped down $200 model.

Yes, I think that's exactly the point people are trying to make to you.

I just can’t wrap my head around sinking that much into a phone when you replace it every year

Usually the people who replace their flagship phone every 1 - 2 years aren't paying full price for it, or at least not upfront. They are receiving trade-in and pre-order discounts, or spreading the cost out over a 12 - 24 month period through a plan with their telco.

Surely cost relative to income is more relevant than cost relative to the rest of the market? Something doesn't magically become cheap just because everything else is ridiculously expensive.