Achievement unlocked.

This week, I came across some social media posts with sentiments I can relate to. Take this question from John Hodgins about the latest iPhone announcements: “Is feeling ‘meh’ about the iPhone Pro versus the standard edition a sign of age? Like, giving up a bit?” Elsewhere, I read similar thoughts on the relentless piling on of advanced features that most people neither care about nor need.

I used to upgrade my phone every year for the improvements in the camera. It’s incredible how much photography tech Apple has packed into such a small device, but now these phones have moved beyond what’s useful—or even aspirational—to me. Maybe it’s all the Stoic reading kicking in, but more, more, more doesn’t make for a better experience.

It’s a shame, really, to see Apple veer off the path to simplicity. Where they are now reminds me of the time Steve Jobs returned to Apple in the ’90s. When he took over, Apple had 35 different computer models and even more SKUs. One of his genius moves was cutting everything down to four models: two laptops and two desktops—one segment for most people and the other for professionals. You don’t have to be a marketing or product whiz to see how this made buying a computer easy, especially during a time when PC manufacturers were bombarding us with endless options that left your head spinning. Sure, Apple kept packing more power into that simple lineup year after year, but those upgrades actually improved performance in ways you could see, feel, measure, and compare.

We’ve long passed the tipping point where year-over-year improvements are noticeable. There are now rare moments—like the shift from Intel to Apple chips years ago—but after several years and generations into this platform, tomorrow’s tech doesn’t blow me away like it used to. And I know I’m not the only one thinking, feeling, and saying this. Our devices no longer present any real limitations to my ability to create and communicate.

A go-to response is that this is a “sign of age,” as John put it. But I don’t see it that way. It’s not about age; it’s about experience. After two decades of upgrading phones every year, the technology just doesn’t matter as much anymore—it’s boring.

I could say the same thing about gaming—a hobby I’ve enjoyed since grade school. The advancements in both hardware and software are nothing short of miraculous, but after 40 years of moving pixels around with a controller, there’s not much that feels new or innovative. It’s just more of the same, with one exception: the subscription model. Pay to play. And as you know, that’s everywhere now—even in appliances and cars. More crap no one asked for. I’ll save the new trend in the automotive industry to turn as much interior surface as they can into a computer screen for another post.

I don’t know about you, but after four decades, I’m exhausted by more features. I’m starting to feel like Roy Batty—rain dripping off his face—delivering his last monologue to Deckard. So, is that a sign of age?

No. It’s the exact opposite.

Knowing when enough is enough and it’s time to move on—that’s a sign of wisdom and intelligence gained through a lot of experience. We’re not old, John, we're smarter.