I TOLD Him Not to Buy an iPhone

In this video, Elijah documents his decision to buy an iPhone 17 Pro Max and explains why, despite Linus’s long-standing criticisms of Apple, the social and experiential benefits of iPhone use ultimately drew him in. He reflects on buying the phone at what he considers a terrible time, just before major Android and Google announcements, and how the social dynamics around iPhones factored into his choice. The narrative centers on how AirDrop, smooth UI, and perceived luxury influenced his hesitation to go back to Android, even as he wrestles with the reality of setup frictions and feature tradeoffs. Throughout the clip, he emphasizes the social glue provided by Apple devices, such as effortless contact sharing, seamless handoffs, and the ecosystem’s ability to help content creators collaborate more effectively. He also candidly shares the challenges he faced during initial setup, including Move to iOS transfer hiccups and the need to manually configure many settings, which paradoxically helped him appreciate the iPhone’s refined polish. By the end, Elijah argues the device targets two kinds of users: those who simply want a reliable phone with strong social features, and creators who rely on iOS-first features and ecosystem exclusives for efficiency and collaboration. He remains open to future exceptions, like the Samsung fold, but makes clear his current preference for staying with iPhone due to the social and creator-centric advantages, while also plugging a sponsor and inviting viewers to compare with Linus’s iPhone 17 review. The overall takeaway is that the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a compelling social experience and polished hardware that can outweigh Android’s openness for certain users, particularly in the creator space, even as setup and customization continue to pose talk-worthy tradeoffs.

Topics · technology · smartphones · consumer electronics · video reviews · social media tech