Smartphones have been a huge part of everyone’s lives for years now, but it’s clear that not all steps forward are a true step forward for the people.

Last week Apple announced their newest releases for this year, unleashing many controversial thoughts. Complete with two new models, two new colors, more impressive camera technology, and plenty of storage, it would be easy to say Apple is on its game, but that’s on the contrary some say.

Junior Alice Tran feels that all these changes come with much too big of a price tag. “I believe that Apple is preparing some apps and features that may take up a solid 40-50% of the storage space, so that’s why they are providing so much memory, however this leads to higher prices. I am not a fan of their high prices, and am not in the need of that much storage space.”

Although, for many phone owners, Apple’s newest releases are more about status and having the most up-to-date features technology has to offer rather than price.

English teacher Lucas Little, current LGG4 owner, agrees as he sees it as a definite status symbol. Despite all that Apple’s reputation holds he, alike with Tran, believes their prices are climbing too high. “…I think that’ll be the beginning of the wrong direction for them [Apple]…not everyone is going to want to pay 1,000 dollars for a phone.”

Nevertheless, both see the phones doing well on the market solely based off of how far along the popularity of these products are.

The demands for many of Apple’s new updates have existed for quite some time. The numbers of iPhone apps available are constantly on the rise. Beloved streaming services are taking up space. Addicting games are driving our phone’s storage to bankruptcy. And the gazillion photos teenagers take every day barely allow the phone to function without saying ‘Not Enough Storage.’

So, it’s not a surprise when a recent CNN article pointed out that a 16GB option for new iPhones is just simply impractical for customers. There was an ancient time where the 16GB option for iPhones was a “luxury.” But, alas, that is no more.

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus are released Friday, September 16th, 2016. Make sure to watch out for some long lines, millions of pre-orders, and YouTube videos on the latest and greatest Apple has to offer.