European iPhones are now even more fun

Complaining about things is a favorite pastime of Americans, so allow me to chime in: the iPhone is now more fun in Europe, and it’s not fair.

they’re getting all kinds of things because they have Cold Regulators, not like regular regulators. Third-party app storesBrowser capabilities Run your own engines, Fortnite, and now the ability to Replace many default apps? I want that too! Imagine if Chrome on iOS wasn’t just a tiny Safari emulator! Imagine downloading a new dialer app with a soundboard of fart sounds and setting it as your default! Unfortunately, Apple isn’t interested in sharing these possibilities with everyone.

But in the emulator and outside it Reluctant adoption of RCSIt seems like Apple is only interested in doing the bare minimum to keep regulators off its back. It’s starting to feel like the company sells two different iPhones: one for people in Europe, and another that everyone else can buy. It’s weird, especially when keeping things simple and consistent is kind of Apple’s thing. But the company is so committed to keeping the two separate that it’s Won’t even let you update apps If you leave the EU for more than a month you won’t have to pay anything from third-party app stores.

The point is: Wouldn’t it be good business to give everyone the same options, no matter where they live? It’s not like Apple was making two different iPhones to appeal to different cultural preferences. It’s making one iPhone that’s more flexible and customizable, and another that isn’t.

Maybe, slowly, Apple will relent and offer parity the way it did with emulators. But the company seems to have to take an unusual step: drop the pretense and give everyone, everywhere, the same iPhone. That would be a bold move! Also courageous,! But most importantly, it’s going to be a lot of fun.