If you have an iPhone or have ever seen one (that’s about everyone these days) before, then you probably know a bit about them. You know they run apps, can give directions, and be your Siri-powered digital friend. But what about the features that are less talked about? Like the environmental impact of an iPhone or how much of your salary is given over to Apple and the cell providers?
See Also: 5 Useful iPhone Apps For Student Bloggers
In an informative video, the folks over at Insurance Quotes have put together a series of videos they dubbed ‘Hidden Costs’ which take a closer look at a variety of things. A recent video about the hidden costs of light is quite interesting. But I’m more intrigued by the hidden costs of iPhones. Take a look at the video above or, if you’re at school and can’t listen, read the transcript below. You might just learn something!
Video Transcript
Health: (C)
Locally: (A)
The iPhone may have a positive impact on your personal health. The gamificiation of exercise through apps like Zombies, Run encourages people to be more active. To date, Zombies, Run has more than 150,000 players logging nearly a million miles.
Globally: (F)
The iPhone does the most damage to the people who manufacture them. More than 18 Foxconn employees attempted suicide in 2010 and in 2012, 150 workers threatened suicide to protest unfair working conditions.
Environment: (B-)
Locally: (B)
Though the original iPhone was called out by Greenpeace for containing hazardous chemicals, but the newest iPhones are some of the most ecofriendly mobile devices available, and in terms of power consumption, an iPhone 5 is going to cost you on average just 41 cents a year.
Globally: (B-)
Within a year, analysts project that sales of the iPhone 5 will reach 170 million. The electricity used annually for all these phones is the equivalent to powering 54,000 homes. That’s roughly the size of Cedar Rapids Iowa.
Economy: (B-)
Locally: (C+)
An iPhone 5 will cost you at least $1,800 once you factor in the costs of a service plan, accessories, and the average amount spent on apps. This is 4.2% of the average salary ($42,979) for a US citizen.
Globally: (B)
The iPhone alone added $1.9 billion to the US’s trade deficit with China. On the plus side, the iPhone 5 is predicted to boost the US GDP by .33% – an impressive feat for one product especially in a time of low consumer confidence.
Final Grade: C+
