Yeah, I bought an iPhone 5

+Lewis Curdie Sep. 17, 2012 at 13:00 More articles by Lewis Curdie

Yeah, I bought an iPhone 5 Just to clarify: that headline isn’t me saying: “Yes! I’ve pre-ordered my iPhone 5 and I can’t WAIT to get my hands on it!” It’s more a case of: “Uh oh, I just caved in and pre-ordered my iPhone 5, and now I can’t afford the rent.” Anyone have a spare room?

In an extension of Thinking out loud: iPhone 5 reaction, I will now attempt to convince you – and more importantly me – that I’ve done the right thing.

Now, just to pre-empt any potential backlash, I’m being jocular when I say the “right thing”. There is no right or wrong thing when it comes to buying a smartphone. It’s entirely subjective. Otherwise we'd all be walking around with the same phone.

Like the look of the Nokia Lumia 920? Fire in, my friend. Aroused by the large display on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2? Makes sense. Prefer the comparative simplicity of a feature phone? Fair enough. Different strokes for different folks, and all that.

However, slightly worryingly, there are still a number of reservations swimming around in my head. Foremost, that I’m parting with a whopping £699 for a 64GB iPhone 5 (white and silver, incidentally).

That’s an obscene amount of money, any way you look at it. I’m consoling myself with the fact that the 64GB iPod touch is £329. So I’m effectively paying a few hundred quid extra to give it phone and text capabilities. Actually, when I put it like that… Oh dear. Moving on.

I’m hoping I can sort out a cheeky deal with the tax man, too. Heck, if I didn’t work for Mobot, I’d probably have a Nokia 100. But I feel obliged to keep up with smartphone tech, and I need a fast, reliable smartphone for work. Honest. (Having a lawyer as a mod may come in handy when John Tax kicks my door in.)

Another con I noted on Friday is that I’m now officially Mobot’s “Head Apple fanboy”, with a MacBook Pro, iMac, iPod touch, iPad 3, and now an iPhone 5. How the FUG did that happen?!

On the plus side, Jan’s love for the Nokia N9 (and growing fascination with the Nokia Lumia 920), combined with Matt’s Samsung Galaxy S II Androidness, gives us a nice balance. And Martin? Rumour is he’s still rocking that Panasonic X300. We’ve got all bases covered.

While we’re on the subject of the various operating systems, we’re looking to crank the handset reviews soon, so I’ll still be dirtying my fingers with smelly old Android and stinky wee Windows Phone. Bleurgh.

What were my other concerns? Ahh, size. Well, the iPhone 5 is only 0.3in smaller than my trusty (ahem) HTC Desire HD. And as for the point that I don’t use my phone much at present (thanks to the iPad), well, that could apply to any smartphone.

On Friday, I touched on the fact that my love affair with Android is over. I was being facetious when I said iOS “just works” (hence the quotation marks), but I’ve seriously never looked at my iPad home screen and thought: ‘Jeez, I wish I could install some widgets.’

Oh, and when I mentioned next year’s iPhone 5S possibly having a quad-core processor and NFC (Near Field Communication), that was meant as a plus. I’m certainly not going to be watching the keynote thinking: ‘Kerap, I really wanna make contactless paymeeeents!’

I’m one of the 2-week shipping guys, so I’m expecting my iPhone 5 a week on Friday(ish). Of course, I’ll have – what? – 14 days to change my mind, so at the very least, it’ll make a nice Why I returned my iPhone 5 feature.

uhmm not convinced

lewis....

heres the door

yes this is mobot its a cheap one... now leave and take your apple rubbish with you

no dont argue just leave... walk out that door... go and dont look back

maybe matt can start writing some articles

never looked at my iPad home screen and thought: ‘Jeez, I wish I could install some widgets.’
hahaha... I remember using SPB Mobile Shell on WinMo. Even back then I always ended up uninstalling all widgets. When I had the WP HD7, I killed all tiles, leaving just the main menu.
The power Android users waste on a weather widget that is outperformed by a look out the window - fascinating. If you like it, fine. But don't give me speeches about the kiln in which the bricks were burned, when all you want is crazy wallpaper.

The fact you have Macs, an iPad and iPhone doesn't make you a nutter. It means you're a pragmatist. If there were a phone and tablet that played nicely with Ubuntu, I'd be in a queue right now.
And what €1300 Win Laptop can you sell after 2 years for €1000+???
That said, how come so few fandroidians use Android on their notebooks?

Anyhoo - people, use whatever floats your boat.

That's all well and good if you can claim it back from the tax man but for normal folks spending £700 on a phone is madness

And what €1300 Win Laptop can you sell after 2 years for €1000+??? You can't do that with an iPhone (or macbook even) if you expect to sell it, the market is already flooded with used iPhones from people who want the yearly refresh. Even a used 64GB iPhone 4s goes for under £400 now and that was £700 new less than a year ago

Last edited by barrybarryk, Sep. 17, 2012 at 13:45

That's all well and good if you can claim it back from the tax man but for normal folks spending £700 on a phone is madness It is. And dare I say: so is spending £400.
Ask random strangers in the street how much their phone is sim-free. Most people do not know.
But instead, they are paying off contracts they didn't research properly, getting inclusives they do not need... Lewis works at home... he probably spend a tenner a month on his phone bill. And next year he can sell the Iphone 5 for £500. It's all relative. And look how long he's held on to his DHD?! In that time, a lot of regulars here had 2 or three or more phones.

except me i keep my phones for 2 years and i did my research

except me i keep my phones for 2 years and i did my research
What happened to your Lumia and the 'surprise' about lack of apps and high prices for those available

^Still has DHD^

except me i keep my phones for 2 years and i did my research
What happened to your Lumia and the 'surprise' about lack of apps and high prices for those available

it was bought cheap less than retail the apps were an unknown but never bought :p and sold the phone later for nearly cost ;) end result not much down :p

“Yes! I’ve pre-ordered my iPhone 5 and I can’t WAIT to get my hands on it!”

I'm game as long as you write objective and thorough review about it. Then, you can proceed to worshiping ...

I bought a Samsung S3 a few weeks ago. Anyone want to pat me on the back?

...thought not....

However, there are people on my Facebook ALREADY updating me with the same "I ordered an iphone 5" updates. Gahhhhhhhhh.............

I put this reply, to redress the balance: http://www.b3tards.com/v/e24c5f2c5477ca531ba2/ifone-is-spelled-wrong-on-purpose.jpg

Ah, I feel better.

I bought a Samsung S3 a few weeks ago. Anyone want to pat me on the back?

...thought not....

If you're happy with it, you made the right choice. Simple as that.

"I’m now officially Mobot’s “Head Apple fanboy”, with a MacBook Pro, iMac, iPod touch, iPad 3, and now an iPhone 5"

Wow, I do have a lot of respect for the amount of money it took to collect all that!

TBH as has been pointed out, with iOS devices you quite often get a lot out of the money you put in in the first place, so its actually not a bad investment. Still must hurt the wallet tho

Yes, and it's not just the resale value - same apps etc etc... Applies to sticking with Android, too. If only they made tabs... ahem...

Yup, true, its expensive switching ecosytems and annoyingly complicated since even apps from the same company vary massively in both form and usability between platforms

Have just picked up a second hand TF300 in an attempt to ween myself off the ipad. However despite all the benefits (a physical keyboard, HDMI and SD slots without stupid adapters, possible to game using a bluetooth PS3 controller) ive got a horrible feeling im going to sheepishly crawl back to using the iPad...

Why do you think it's a good idea to put "Sort a cheeky deal out with the tax man" online? Should you be able to take about £150 out of the public purse by claiming it's a business expense when it's clearly not? Do you really think people will be endeared to you by talking about how you've bought the most expensive phone available (but you're not even sure if you want it) and now you want to get the tax back?

Unbelievable.
Actually, Lewis reviews iOS apps, on a paid basis, for Mobot.net. Therefore, his phone is a tool he uses for his job and therefore he can, perfectly legally, write off the VAT as it's a business purchase. Writing the fact he's claiming back VAT in a "cheeky" or colloquial manner does not make the practice itself fraudulent.

Also, Lewis uses his phone to contact other members of the Mobot team whilst he's out and about (aka, away from a computer), again aiding him in his work.

Whether people are, as you put it, endeared, by Lewis is an irrelevant matter in the eyes of HM Revenue and Customs.

Last edited by matt101101, Sep. 17, 2012 at 16:57

My point was more that Apple buyers seem determined to inform the wider world about their purchase...as seen by the Facebook updates I've been getting. I can't remember any "I bought an S3", or similar, appearing recently.

Though even I raised my eyebrows at the reclaiming expenses bit! But hey, if we could all do it, we would. Wouldn't bait a guy for that.

Last edited by louiselouise, Sep. 17, 2012 at 17:17

Though even I raised my eyebrows at the reclaiming expenses bit!
As long as he only claims for the business use (e.g 40% business use and 60% personal use would mean he could claim 40% of the VAT back; £46.60), it's perfectly legal and something that most businesses, if they're being run effectively, do.

Last edited by matt101101, Sep. 17, 2012 at 17:23

In UK you only get VAT back? No income tax?

Actually, it's irrelevant how you use your phone. If work does not provide you one and you are required to have in order to perform your duties you can tax deduct on entire amount. You cannot have 40% of an item.
Erm...

A good example is if you buy a mobile phone for your business. If you only use it for a third of the time for business purposes, you can only reclaim a third of the VAT on purchase and service plans.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/managing/reclaiming/private-use.htm

Should you be able to take about £150 out of the public purse by claiming it's a business expense when it's clearly not?
Someone who can't work out how much VAT you'd pay on a £699 purchase, probably shouldn't be lecturing anyone, anyway.

Lewis will be, perfectly legally, claiming back £116.50 maximum (that would be for 100% business use), not £150.

question how much vat could you claim as a business expense as vatat 20% would be 139.80
With VAT at 20% and a VAT inclusive price of £699, the amount of that which is VAT is £116.50; not £139.80 and not £150.

699/1.2=582.5

699-582.5=116.5 or converted into currency: £116.50

Sorry, this looks like it is for business owners. I don't think that Lewis is an owner of Mobot, is he?

Popular Phones

Active Discussions

Related News