A report from the Daily Mail Australia has stirred debate after Deputy News Editor Cameron Carpenter claimed Apple tricked him into buying a new iPhone. Carpenter said three buttons on his phone stopped working, so he went to an Apple Store. Staff quoted $700 for a repair or offered him an upgrade to a new device.
After transferring his data, Carpenter said his old phone’s buttons suddenly worked again. He described it as if his iPhone had “pretended to be broken until I bought a new one”.
Apple’s Position on Planned Obsolescence
Experts say the situation reflects poor troubleshooting rather than a corporate plot. Apple has official guides that explain how to fix button issues. Most of the time, a simple erase and reset resolves the problem—steps Carpenter admitted he did not try.
Critics of the report also note Apple’s long history of supporting older iPhone, iPad, and Mac models. Many devices continue receiving updates for years, often far longer than Android competitors. This record challenges claims that Apple designs devices to fail early.
The Bigger Picture
Instead of focusing on possible staff training issues, the tabloid story escalated into claims of global conspiracy. Carpenter even linked his experience to child labor in cobalt mining. Analysts argue that such leaps distract from the real issue: a reset could have saved him hundreds of dollars.
Lessons for Consumers
The story serves as a reminder for iPhone users. Before assuming the worst, always try basic troubleshooting. Apple has flaws, but its record shows long-term device support rather than intentional failure. The lesson is simple: when buttons stick, reset the device first—before rushing to the store or embracing conspiracy theories.
