iPhone: Premium Look, But Where’s the Functionality?

The iPhone has long been seen as a symbol of prestige and design excellence. But beyond the aesthetic and branding lies a different reality for users—one that trades basic functionality for flair. From overbearing notifications to missing features users expect in 2025, here’s a grounded look at the not-so-glamorous side of Apple’s beloved smartphone.

Notifications or Noise?

iPhones are infamous for their relentless notification system. You might be on a call when one message arrives—and suddenly you’re bombarded with a string of alerts. The sound hits so sharply it could be mistaken for a design feature meant to wake the dead. No wonder most iPhone users keep their phones on silent—not because it’s elegant, but because they just can’t stand the noise.

Apple Wallet: More Gallery Than Wallet

In India, Apple Wallet isn’t actually a wallet. It can’t make UPI payments or tap-and-pay transactions. Instead, it works more like a glorified gallery to store boarding passes and event tickets. Compare that to Samsung Wallet, which supports widespread tap-and-pay, UPI transfers, and even utility bill payments. While Apple Wallet looks sleek, it lacks actual function in many key markets.

No Control Over Notifications

iPhone users know the struggle—there’s no way to selectively control notifications. You either get all alerts from an app, or none. That means you can’t filter out just the promotional spam. Android, on the other hand, allows users to toggle off specific types of notifications like marketing content while keeping the important ones. Apple’s system gives no such freedom, which quickly turns into an annoying mess.

Uploading to Google Photos? Good Luck

Uploading photos to Google Photos on an iPhone isn’t as seamless as you’d expect. After selecting your pictures and hitting “Share,” you’ll see apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Google Maps—but not Google Photos. In contrast, Android devices allow a simple, direct upload. On an iPhone, even basic tasks come with extra steps or limitations.

Hidden Settings for Basic Controls

Disabling auto-brightness on an iPhone feels like digging for buried treasure. Instead of a quick toggle like on Android, iPhone users have to navigate through Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → and finally find the auto-brightness switch hidden deep within. This kind of design makes a simple setting unnecessarily complicated.

Still No Fingerprint Option

Face ID is fast, but it’s not always practical. Whether you’re half asleep, under a blanket, or your phone is lying on a table, sometimes a fingerprint unlock just makes more sense. Yet, iPhones still don’t offer fingerprint sensors—even though most Android phones give users the option to choose between face and fingerprint unlock. Having no choice at all feels far from “premium.”

WhatsApp Storage Woes

One of the biggest pain points for iPhone users is WhatsApp. The app backs up to iCloud, but Apple only provides 5GB of free storage. Once that fills up, you’re left with two choices: constantly delete WhatsApp data or pay for more iCloud space. Android users get 15GB of free Google Drive storage, making it a far less stressful experience.

It gets worse when managing media. If you haven’t enabled the “Save to Photos” option in advance, saving WhatsApp images becomes a nightmare. You’re limited to saving just five photos at a time. If you’ve got hundreds to save, you’re in for a painfully repetitive task—over and over, for each chat.

Final Thoughts: It’s Got Vibes, Not Function

There’s no denying the iPhone looks and feels like a luxury device. For many, that alone is enough. But when it comes to actual user-friendly features, it misses the mark. If these shortcomings don’t affect your daily use, then yes—the iPhone can still be a great experience. But for those who value flexibility, control, and functionality, it’s worth taking a deeper look before joining the Apple ecosystem.