The way technology companies hook you up is sort of like drugs. The difference is they hook you into their ecosystem rather than a pharmaceutical product; but it’s the same in that it’s incredibly hard to get out of it once you’re in.
Apple has regressed to efficient — no longer excellent.
You might not like reading that if you’re an Apple fan. I get it… it pains me to write it too. I’ve loved Apple products for decades! But it seems that under Tim Cook’s helm, Apple is regressing. Still, I keep buying the products because I’m deep in my addiction to their ecosystem.
- iPhone ProMax 17 (latest & best phone offered)
- MacBook Neo
- Multiple iPads
- Mac desktop computer
- Apple watch
- Apple AirPods 3
I LOVE that I can sit at my MacBook Neo & desktop and text within messenger. I love seeing the battery life on my AirPods from my iPhone. The things I love about my Apple products are simply too many to list.
But my iPhone?
Living in a barndo means your cellular signal suffers. But as I sit here with my 2 phones — an older Samsung S22 Ultra that has 3 bars of service… and my iPhone 17 Pro Max a mere 3″ away that’s flatline no service — I die a little inside. 😉
A good camera in a phone is important to me.
I took selfies of Perry and me on Friday — just a few short days ago. I took one with the iPhone and another with the old Android. The 2 photos below are straight out of the camera… no manipulation and no filters. Ignore which photo you think is best of ole’ Perry and me and only compare the quality of the shots.
Which one do you think is superior based upon lighting, hue & saturation, and depth of field?
Selfie from iPhone Pro Max 17
Selfie from Samsung S22 Ultra
Maybe you don’t see a big difference, but I sure do. Samsung is killing it right now and I wish I would’ve chosen their latest Samsung S26 Ultra — or waited for the soon to be released Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (release date of August 2026) — instead of investing in yet another iPhone.
Are you hooked into the Apple ecosystem too?
And if so, are you thrilled with your iPhone?
Now you know: As of 7/4/2026, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max holds the top spot for overall best camera, offering unmatched video quality and point-and-shoot color accuracy. However, if you prefer Android or need the absolute best zoom capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is an equally impressive flagship that unseated its predecessor