I notice that too. I don't know how they can do it. Half the people I see that are struggling have a better iPhone than I do. I haven't changed my iPhone for a while. Still on the 13 and half the people I see have the 16 or 17.
I started dating a girl and she had the 17+. She claims she is struggling with rent and not making enough. I wonder how she has enough to get this $1,500 phone?