The iPhone 15 was available for preorder on September 15 and available in stores on September 22. Despite a delay, the model has now been released in all cell phone stores. However, it may still be inaccessible to the average person because of supply-chain issues.

However, those lucky enough to get their hands on the new iPhone have been experiencing a variety of issues.

Verizon representative Mikial Singh said, “We have not had many complaints about the phone itself, but [customers are asking] if we could help resolve some of the bugs to help the users of the phone.”

The concerns over the newest iPhone model is leading to debate on whether or not the phone is “worth the hype.”

Some users who may find their older iPhone does not support the newest technology and updates are beginning to question if it is worth upgrading to the new model since the iPhone 15 battery is also exhibiting age-related issues such as reduced battery capacity.

Every time Apple releases a new product, they include new features. Some of these include advanced camera quality, improvements with night mode and many basic features. The customer reviews of the new features are 50-50. Some enjoy the new features, while others think it is not worth the cost.

Some of the attempts at improving the older model have actually led to some unexpected issues. One of the iPhone 15 improvements includes a ability to detect car crashes according to CNET.

Local Frederick County student Aidan Wright says, “I wish I got the [iPhone] 14; the new titanium [in the iPhone 15] breaks so easily that it is almost a complete waste of money, but the other features make this phone relatively enjoyable.”

One of the key changes that makes the iPhone 15 different from the previous models would be the 48-megapixel camera which is a vast improvement on the older 12-megapixel camera available on standard version. This allows the average user not purchasing the more expensive pro model to capture better quality photos.

Having a longer and more suitable battery life is more preferable to the average phone user. Apple claims that the new products have a longer battery life compared to older iPhone models. According to CNN, the 15 has taken the overall spot for “best smartphone” of 2023.

Despite the improvements to the new iPhone model, there is still an issue many customers face in obtaining one.

Several models of the new 15 release have been sold out since they were first available. Delivery dates have been pushed back into late November to early December due to high demands. Of the various iPhone models, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is seeing the most sales and most demand.

The issue is compounded by scalpers who typically buy newly-released products or those in high demand or newly released products. Typically using bots,they managed to scalp over 2500 iPhone 15 in a single day. On average, the phones typically cost anywhere from $600-$700. Scalpers can make more than $750,000 just on reselling those phones.

Apple representative Jordan Sterns said, “We have been seeing a large number of our phones and products being rapidly bought all at once,no one buys over two phones for personal use.”

This type of shortage only happened one other time with the fourteen models. Apple could not make enough models due to the COVID-19 restrictions on most of their huge factories.

The iPhone 15 is not worth the hype because of the many problems the phone has. People want to have phones to use them,not having to constantly worry about whether or not their phone is going to break.

Although every time a new phone comes out, it seems to be better than the last one.