I Bought a $109 Phone — and Now My iPhone Feels Awkward

The $109 Phone

This wasn’t planned.

I wasn’t trying to prove a point.
I wasn’t doing a “budget experiment.”
I wasn’t mad at Apple.

I just needed a phone for my son.

So I walked into a store, pointed at something cheap, and walked out with a $109 Android phone.
(Something like an A03… or A06… honestly, I already forgot.)

Then something unexpected happened.

The Uncomfortable Part

The phone:

• Opens apps
• Browses the web
• Watches YouTube
• Takes photos
• Runs games
• Handles messaging just fine

Basically… everything my iPhone 16 Pro Max does.

No lag.
No drama.
No “this is unusable” moment.

Just… fine.

And that’s when the discomfort kicked in.

Wait — Why Am I Paying $70+ a Month?

I’ve been paying over $70 a month for my phone.
For years.
On autopilot.

So I asked myself a dangerous question:

What do I actually use my iPhone for?

Here’s the honest list:

• Messaging
• Browsing
• Notes
• Photos

That’s it.

No cinematic filmmaking.
No ProRAW workflows.
No Dolby Vision lifestyle.

Just… phone stuff.

The Only Feature I’d Miss

After sitting with it for a bit, I realized something awkward.

The only thing I’d genuinely miss is AirDrop.

Photo syncing.
That magical “send → done” moment.

Even that can be replaced with:

• Google Drive
• iCloud alternatives
• Literally any cloud sync

It’s just… less shiny.

The Screen Isn’t as Sharp — And That Might Be a Feature

Yes, the screen isn’t as crisp.
Yes, the colors aren’t iPhone-perfect.

But something unexpected happened.

Because it looks slightly worse, you:

• Stare at it less
• Scroll less
• Care less

Ironically, we pay more money for screens that keep us glued longer.

I didn’t expect that part.

This Is Not an Anti-iPhone Post

iPhones are great.
The ecosystem is smooth.
The hardware is excellent.

This isn’t about quality.
It’s about habit.

About never stopping to ask:

“Am I actually using what I’m paying for?”

The Broke Boss Financial Rule (Unofficial)

If you haven’t questioned something you pay for in years,
you’re probably overpaying for comfort, not value.

Phones.
Subscriptions.
Cars.
Software.

Same pattern.

Final Thought from The Broke Boss

I’m still using my iPhone.

I’m just no longer pretending I need it.

And that tiny realization?
That’s usually where better decisions start.