Teen says dad is ‘ruining her life’ when he insists on buying her a $600 iPhone 13 instead of a $1200 iPhone 15

A teenager was furious that her father bought her a $600 iPhone 13 instead of the $1,200 iPhone 15 she so wanted, accusing him of “ruining her life.”

That’s why the dad took to Reddit to ask if he was really wrong not to buy the more expensive model, sparking a debate that many parents can relate to – after all, how many of them grew up without the latest technology or a $1,200 device in their hands?

Times have certainly moved on. For those growing up around the turn of the century, it wasn’t uncommon to beg for the latest pair of $200 Doc Martens or a trendy gadget like a discman.

Today, the stakes are higher, and tweens and teens are going for much more expensive items, like the latest iPhone for $1,200. This is a reflection of modern consumer culture, where the pressure to have the best technology has skyrocketed. In this case, the father’s daughter is exhibiting a classic “choosy beggar mentality” – turning down a perfectly good gift simply because it isn’t the most expensive option available.

The high price of keeping up: teenage trends and consumer behavior

As he explained in his Reddit post, they bought her an iPhone 8 two years ago, which she uses for calling, texting, and social media, but now she wants a newer model, which has caused considerable tension.

“Lately she’s been wanting a new phone because her phone was old and all her friends have new phones,” the father wrote. It’s no secret that an iPhone 8 is outdated by today’s standards, so it’s understandable why the daughter would want a newer model.

Since she is only 11 years old, the father reasonably thought the iPhone 13 would be suitable. It costs $600, has a good camera and battery life, and bears a striking resemblance to other iPhones. It seemed like a reasonable option.

His daughter specifically requested the iPhone 15 Pro Max because of its ability to play console-quality games and its 120Hz display. Previous reports suggest that it has a better selfie camera system compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

“My daughter is a gamer and she always complained that her phone can’t play games properly because it’s old,” the man wrote, going to great lengths to explain that buying the top-of-the-line iPhone model would be a waste of money.

Much to his chagrin, his daughter disagreed and threw a tantrum, accusing him of “ruining her life” because all her friends had iPhone 15 Pro Maxes. The situation escalated to the point where his wife suggested giving in and buying the phone she wanted as a “great gift.”

Experts comment

Experts point out that while these outbursts can be distressing, giving in is often not the best solution. “It’s hard to watch our teens deal with difficulties,” psychologist Dr. Alicia Clark told YourTango. “We often want to step in and solve their problems for them, but that’s usually not the best decision.”

Psychologist and Millennial Parenting Whisperer Dr. Becky Kennedy says teens need a strong leader who acknowledges their feelings while setting clear boundaries. This approach helps them feel safe and reliable.

While the debate over iPhone upgrades rages on, a recent survey shows that many Americans are holding off on purchases because they face a more pressing economic problem: inflation.

Impact of inflation on iPhone purchases

The release of each new iPhone model is a highly anticipated event for Apple and the economy as a whole, but with inflation rising, the decision to purchase a new iPhone, which can cost over $1,100, can be challenging for consumers.

Apple CEO Tim Cook explained that the company releases a new iPhone every year because it gives its customers the opportunity to trade in their old devices. These trade-in devices are then resold or disassembled to recover materials that can be used in the manufacture of new iPhones.

Unfortunately for the Cupertino-based tech giant, a recent nationally representative survey by WalletHub found that 63 percent of Americans are hesitant to buy a new phone because of inflation.

The survey examined how the current economic climate is affecting Americans’ cell phone purchasing behavior, their reasons for upgrading, the importance of smartphones and other related factors.

“This year, consumers are hesitant to upgrade their phones, with 63% of people saying they won’t buy a new phone because of inflation,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “When daily living costs are already high, many people find it difficult to justify an expensive phone upgrade,” he added.

“In fact, nine out of 10 Americans think the iPhone is overpriced, so Apple and other phone companies should consider lowering prices or offering greater differences between models to attract customers,” Lupo noted.

Key statistics

Impact of inflation: 63 percent of respondents said inflation would prevent them from buying a new phone this year.

• Price perception: Nine out of ten Americans believe iPhones are overpriced.
• Debt and purchase decision: Over 40 percent of Americans think it is worthwhile to take out a credit card loan to buy a new iPhone.
• Perception of iPhone owners: Thirty percent of respondents considered people who always own the latest iPhone to be wealthy, while 27 percent considered them wasteful.
• Self-image and technology: 42 percent of Americans believed that owning the latest smartphone was crucial to their self-image.
• Monopoly concerns: 65 percent of respondents believed that Apple has a monopoly position in the smartphone market.

The report is based on a nationally representative online survey of over 210 respondents. To ensure the sample accurately reflects the demographics of the United States, WalletHub normalized the data by age, gender and income.

The WalletHub survey highlights the growing economic pressures facing many Americans, including the decision to invest in a new smartphone. While the teen’s desire for a $1,200 iPhone may seem excessive to some, it reflects the broader societal trend of prioritizing technology and status symbols, even in the face of financial constraints. As inflation continues to weigh on households, the debate over whether such expensive purchases are justified will continue.