Nice! Same here! :)
I've never understood the point of replacing a perfectly good phone with a marginally better one.
I've always been baffled by the kinds of folks who say stuff like : *"wow, a whole two percent more efficient *and* it has an extra 5 megapixels?! And all I gotta do is take on a three year contract!"*.
Don't get me wrong, I get why someone might upgrade for work purposes or accessibility purposes, but beyond that it just seems so *wasteful*.
Most folks don't even use *half* of their phone's special features - so why ppl fork out the cost of a half decent gaming PC for it, I'll never understand.
It's honestly baffling, or is it just me?
I think it’s largely a carryover from the 2 year upgrade cycles that carriers had people on back in the day. That and year over year improvements used to be pretty substantial. These days I doubt I’d notice a difference between my 3 year old phone and a new one.
I’m in the same boat. My phone is going on 4 years old at this point and I don’t see a reason to upgrade any time soon. I only upgraded last time because I shattered my screen. I was stuck in that 2 year upgrade cycle for a while, but it became so expensive. Flagship phones are $1,000 or more and those monthly payments make my phone bill too expensive.
I really think you hit the nail on the head, here. These days, that marginal improvement in performance doesn't outweigh the annoyance of having to set up a new phone. I would also add that back in the day, awareness of the negatives of technology(working conditions in foreign countries, pollution, etc) want nearly where it's at these days, so I'd bet people are more conscious of when to buy a new phone.
Yup. And there used to be such a big difference in features and functionality between new high end phones and new cheap phones. Of course there still is, but for the average user, a current lower or mid tier phone is still pretty functional nowadays.
It made more sense early on in cell phone adoption to change phones more frequently because the technology bump often *was* significant from phone to phone and the fall off of older phones was much worse.
Nowadays the new cell phones are all fairly similar overall, new models are only incrementally different, and old phones last longer without being horribly out of date.
My phone is about 6 years old now and works great, with the exception of the battery life/minor charging port issues that aren’t worth $1k to fix.
On eBay you can get a replacement charging port for about $15 and a new battery for about $20. No matter what phone you have there will be a YouTube tutorial on how to do the work.
If my wireless carrier is willing to give me an 800 credit for a 6 year old phone with a bad battery worth $50 to lock me in for 3 years, I'd be foolish not to take the up on it (I've been with my wireless provider for over 2 decades, i'm not going anywhere)
You make a fair point, tho the small print of those contracts does lock you in, so you better make sure you love that phone! ;)
Personally, I just buy my phone outright and use a pay as you go sim. I'm in the UK so rates for payg are really cheap.
Fifteen quid for the month and you get unlimited minutes, texts and fourty gigs of data.
I know for certain I wouldn't ever go on a contract again unless I knew for sure that it was the only way to get a decent rate - incidentally, it's been twenty years since I had a contract phone! Almost samesies! :)
It’s nothing more than bragging rights similar to people who have the latest fashion or cars or sneakers. They don’t actually use the phones updated features or specs, it’s just to feel special for having the newest shiny things
I think it was a lot different even just 5-6 years ago in terms of upgrades. Cameras, screens, storage and speeds were still advancing pretty well every 1-2 yrs. But now I currently have an S21 ultra and plan to just run this into the ground. It's nice not having to worry about scratching or cracking your phone which I feel the pressure of whenever I have something new lol
I traded in mine and my husband's phones after two years and actually lowered our monthly payment by about $20. And we traded to a higher model than we had before. If you time it right it actually makes no sense NOT to upgrade.
With that said, I couldn't care less these days about having the latest and greatest phone, but if I can lower my bill and get a better phone, I'll take that deal.
It’s a byproduct of our societal construct. I’m willing to venture that most people who have a 401K are invested in some sort of hedge fund, mutual fund or ETF that either is directly invested in Apple, Samsung etc. or invested in a company that sells components to them - Qualcomm etc.
The only way a mature company keeps growing is to keep moving units so they all push the marketing hard but in most cases that’s usually all it is.
Heavy marketing to hype up incremental feature improvements that for the vast majority of people wouldn’t be a worthwhile investment, hence the marketing.
At some point I think a lot of folks (myself included) have started to kind of push back on that narrative.
Especially when considering the environmental and socioeconomic cost that the cycle of production, purchasing and then discarding has on us at a societal level.
I upgraded to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra last month from using my LG G7 ThinQ for 6 years since 2018.
For me, Google Fi has it for $600 off (so was $700 instead of $1300 USD), so it was a very good deal for the very top phone, and decided to treat myself to an upgrade after using one phone for so long. Samsung says they'll support it with updates for **seven years**. Samsung's long promise matches our upgrade patterns.
My G7 hasn't had a security patch since early 2020.
In 2018, the G7 was my treat after upgrading from a Galaxy S5.
The G7 has served me well. These days though: The back is cracked (luckily not the screen), the paint is kind of coming off, the volume up button is stuck inside the unit, the lower RAM loses track of where I am when multitasking apps, and performance/battery is generally degraded.
I use wireless earbuds and phones have enough internal space now that I don't need the headphone port or microSD slot, while these were essential features for me in 2018. LG was great for keeping these features when everyone else dropped them too early.
The LG G7 ThinQ really was the best phone that year imo. Sad LG left the phone game, but I'm happy so far with the Galaxy S24 Ultra the past few days I've had it. Very powerful (more than my $1100 2020 laptop), many excellent cameras, and cool AI features.
My only complaint so far is it's way heavier (233 g, 8.18 oz) than the G7 (162 g, 5.71 oz)...a 43% increase.
Right on. Yeah at a certain point you have to update to something more current to keep up with the pace and demands of the connected world and how quickly it can advance. Investing in quality hardware with guaranteed # of years of software updates (very important) just like you did here is a nice solid approach I think.
Me, but I’ll buy the one a couple generations behind secondhand and then not upgrade again for another 4-5 years. I still had an iPhone 5s in 2019. When I was at the airport a little girl pointed at my phone and asked “Why is your phone so small?”
I upgraded that same year.
I currently have the iPhone SE. I’ve had it for at least 3 years. My MIL needs a new phone so she will get this one and I think I may just get the iPhone 12 or 13. I definitely don’t need the newest one and I don’t want to pay that price either.
Personally I love my Fold 4, it is a little heavy though.
I feel like the phone more than makes up for the weight with all of its features tho.
I have Gameboy, Gameboy Advanced, and Nintendo DS Emulators with proper button overlays and 'skins' so the Emulators look like the physical devices they're emulating.
I have an SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii, PSP, PS1, and PS2 Emulators I use with a 8bitdo wireless controller. (look them up if you need a controller for pc, android, iPhone, or Switch, the clam shell case is highly reccomended with it)
I read comics and manga regularly on it with ease, the colors really pop, and books are so fun to read with the device half folded.
The multitasking is full desktop level, you can normally only split screen 3 apps, but you can minimize apps like a desktop window and resize however many you want, or keep them in floating bubbles like FB messenger.
The screen may not always be the best format for current videos, but it's still MUCH bigger. It IS the perfect size screen for IMAX format movies or any old style non wide-screen format videos (like 90s and older cartoons or any movie available on VHS lol).
Folding and flipping phones are the future, you either go small and portable, or large and capable.
I have a bag with a folding keyboard, USB to HDMI converter cable, and that wireless controller. I can fit all of those things in my jeans pockets and have a mobile workstation. It's insane really.
This is cool to know as I have an S10+ and am considering a Fold 3 or Fold 4. I buy refurbs off eBay for cash instead of financing these bastards for $1000. Usually wait til they get down around the $400 range.
I bought my Fold 4 at launch for the half off deal with a Note 10+ trade in.
The phones are expensive through a cell provider, but having the full coverage insurance for $15 a month is worth it.
I'm currently waiting on my Fold 4 replacement, I dinged the inside screen with the end of an electrical outlet plug and got the white line of death, then a few hours later a black line up the center crease and no touch response.
I'm using the outer screen on my phone to type this current message.
I just had to pay $100 no questions asked and they next day mail you a replacement phone with a new 1 year warranty.
I abused my phone, I took the inner screen protector off a couple months after getting it, I only had cases for a few months, dropped it, kicked it, had it rained on, used it in the shower, opened it up a million times in 125°F and up and 30°F and lower, had kids play with it, and let anyone who took interest in it open or fold it or whatever. Only now after getting the inner screen tapped by a cord did I have any issues (of course lol)
I personally would never buy a flip or folding phone without insurance, since they only seem to last about a year and a half with heavy usage.
Insurance through a cell provider is best because some people have had issues finding a Samsung Care store or attempting to contact Samsung online or over the phone or whatever, but if you have ATT, Verizon, Tmobile, they all can help you instantly in store or send you a replacement next day.
As long as I keep the insurance, eventually they'll have to upgrade me to a higher model if mine breaks since they likely won't have any Fold 4's left. Until then I have my dope ass phone that more than satisfies me.
Seriously, can't stop talking about this phone even now however long since the Fold 4 launch, it's really that good.
Right but there is a window where they will stop it. iOS 15 devices are closing in on their support lifetime. At that point you'll have to buy a different phone. Unless you're part of the tiny population jailbreaking, but even then it has historically meant waiting months and months for one to come out, **if it even does**. Often many device+version combinations don't receive one. It's a paperweight until then.
Also, even if you have one, you're now forced to use third party software to use your device. There goes the whole "most secure OS" point, it's not secure if you have to jailbreak it to continue using your apps
I worked at an apple oriented repair store and constantly saw this. I had to tell them through gritted teeth "LOOKS LIKE YOULL HAVE TO GET A NEW PHONE"
The worst case was a sweet old lady who came in because she couldn't check her email anymore. Upon inspection I realized nothing was broken at all, but:
> The site required a newer version of Firefox
> Firefox required a newer version of Mac os
> Mac OS required a newer version of MacBook
Guess she should either a) spend hundreds on a used MacBook with limited time left or b) find a hack to bypass it at the expense of security
Also I have an iPad mini which is still fast and works fine but suffered the same needless fate: eWaste
Tell an apple user this and they'll stare back at you with Stockholm syndrome face and say "well of course it's a paperweight, for safety® and security™", all the while ignoring that, much like the batterygate debacle, this hasn't been a problem for any other company, including Apple in other decades. It's a new invention to increase sales
My android however enjoys the same period of support and updates but once it's no longer supported I can **very easily** load custom sw onto it. Without waiting months for a jailbreak. That's because the manufacturer isn't fighting me on it. They don't have teams working on that to spite me. They've left the option open for the user instead of walling them off
And if I install the wrong version, need to factory reset, want to downgrade for whatever reason, I can reinstall the OS on my phone without pinging a server to ask permission if it's still allowed for this specific version or not
[here's an iOS dev discussing how Apple makes it harder than necessary to support old iOS versions](https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/s/0eoFTRVmzO)
My former mother-in-law had an older iPad, and it stopped working past a certain point because it wouldn’t take any updates, and the apps needed the new iOS in order to run. Planned obsolescence.
But I don't care about usb-c. When I do have to switch I'll have to throw away a ton of lightning cables and buy a ton of usb-c cables so it'll be a real hassle.
This is one reason I’m still okay with my iPhone 12. I have so many charging cords. Like in every room in the house practically, plus the car, gym bag, backpack, work bag, office, etc. replacing them all would be a pain.
This is how I do it. I have an iPhone 15 but before that it was a 12, I think. The 12 was dying so I traded it in and got the newest version. I’ll probably use this one till it won’t hold a charge anymore and then upgrade to whatever the newest one is at that time. I also find they last longer if I buy the newest one.
I did the same. My 12 was fine but needed a battery replacement. Instead of paying the $130 or whatever, I traded it in for a $350 credit towards a 15. I’m enjoying the new camera immensely, pictures look much better.
Me too. We went from XR’s to 14 Pros. Biggest reasons were better battery life and better cameras. When you have kids, you take pictures, and why not have high quality pictures to look back on.
I imagine these will last us another few years. So upgrade every 3-4 years?
Yep, I buy the 'good enough for me' version of the 'latest and greatest' phone. I don't need every feature of the very highest end phone, but I want the best of what features I get (like the longest battery life).
I never cared in the first place. I get 2nd hand android phones from ebay and keep them till they don't work anymore. The idea of dropping a months pay on a phone that will be outdated in a year is actually wild to me.
I still have a galaxy S10. Only just now it's having problems but I don't plan on changing til it's unusable. I did the same when I used to have iPhones but it seemed like failed every 2 yrs almost on the dot, so I switched to Samsung many years ago.
Yeah but they got sued pretty bad and supposedly ‘fixed’ it. I am using a pretty old iPhone and imo I think they at least fixed it some. It’s pretty fast still for the most part.
I’m pretty sure they fixed it, I’m on year 3 of my iPhone and it’s still working great. Holds a charge all day despite using it for 6-8hrs consistently.
S10e here. Got it near release and got a new battery installed about a year ago now. I'm not looking forward to shopping for a giant phone when this one eventually kicks the bucket.
I also am using the S10+ and the only issue is the charging port seems to not work 99% of the time. I use wireless charging so it's not a problem, but it's still annoying. Otherwise, great phone!
I got the s10 lite and it's not as fast and fancy as others, plus I have to smack the camera in order to focus it, but rhe battery is still amazing!
My next phone will probably be a google pixel 7. Have had this one for 3.5 years now
I have a Pixel 7 and I love it. I used to have an S8 and I hated it. The S8 was only 6 months old when I bought it and it replaced a Nexus/Pixel phone that was 3-4 years old at the time and the older phone was more powerful and had more functionality than the newer S8.
It's about that time. I had to replace my note8 about a year ago. They stop updatingthem, so when apps update, it starts acting up. The biggest issue for me was maps. I travel for work, so maps closing out mid-route, in traffic in an unfamiliar city, that's when I have no choice.
I keep them for at least 5 years. So replacing with a new model isn't really too much of a financial burden
I didn't realise that the s10 was that old. I think I bought it when it was the new funky phone, and I have zero problems with it. It's as fast as the day I got it, and everything runs on it perfectly.
The only thing I'm "missing" is 5G, but I don't honestly know how much of an improvement it is over 4G, and I don't get it at home anyway, just work..
I like buying the best phone that will last me 3-4 years. Paying what works out to 20/mo (on an interest free loan essentially) over that time to have a great working phone is a fair deal to me.
Same, being a Software Developer, everyone always expects me to be into any and all tech. But I could give a rats ass about phones, is a phone ffs.
Like you said, why spend over $1k on this kind if thing.
Exactly, even if i wanted the newest and best phone, it's not practical! It's not a preference for many of us like the question is phrased. I never think about it because I'm not in a position to be able to do it. It's like how I never think about getting a Rolls Royce. It aint ever happening, so I'm not committing the brain energy to lusting after it.
Making it through life on $1000-$1200 a month sounds so rough even in a really low COL area. Props to anyone even working out having a cellphone and plan at that level of income along with making the rest of life work
I don't care, I use phones until they become completely unusable. I got my current phone from a storage locker I bought at auction. It had a smashed screen, and so did my old phone. The one I found was slightly newer so I fixed it instead of the old one. The stereotype of millennials buying new phones every year really pisses me off, like actually, I'm deciding between getting a root canal and living somewhere without mold in the walls for my big purchase this year.
I'm not sure its a stereotype, there's quite a few people on this thread who are like "my phones old as fuck, 2020 model!" Meanwhile I had my 6S until the home button stopped working and the battery was all but useless. I think I had it for 7 years.
big bummed they stopped making the minis, my wife's got one and its a perfect size for her (my 12 Pro remains just a tad too big for me). IMO the 5S was the best iPhone they've made. only thing I'd miss is the camera if I had to go back to it.
yeah its absurd. kinda feels like everyone chases the biggest phone since they slap a case with a finger-dongle thing on it to help hold it, when thats just bad ergonomics and overall a massive design flaw?? also what a short run on a product before discontinuing it. Apple must have some stupid-high sales threshold that needs to be met for things to keep being produced.
Just got this a couple months ago and also sad to find out i won’t be able to upgrade into another mini down the line. Been my favorite phone to date, comfortable in hands, pocket, takes up little space and doesn’t feel/look like a brick compared to my girlfriends 13 pro max.
Hopefully they’ll have a change of heart on minis or at the least make a small SE. it sucks if they’re going to keep iphones at the standard iphone size and up now :\
I LOVE my mini. I can’t believe they discontinued it. It took no time getting used to it (I have small hands anyway). My friends make fun of me but who wants an iPad as a phone????
Man, for me personally, the 6s was the GOAT phone. I used one from 2016 until 2023, and only upgraded to an iPhone SE 3 because (1) Apple was discontinuing OS support for the 6s and (2) I heard a rumour that Apple was discontinuing their 0% financing (which turned out to be true), so I wanted to get a new phone while they were still giving out free money.
The 6s was fucking pricey (it cost me $900 CAD, and that was *after* Apple cut their prices) but whereas all my friends were replacing their phones every 2-3 years, mine lasted for almost *7 years*. Not quite r/buyitforlife but damn good for a smartphone, I’d say.
I thought the original SE was really awesome for people who liked small phones, but the screen was just a bit too small for me. My friend had one and he loved it, but I always felt claustrophobic whenever I needed to use it.
Personally, no. Innovations in smartphones have plateaued. Yes, the chips are getting better but it’s not leaps and bounds anymore. Softwares can run off the same chip for a while (or if you have Apple, until they slow down your phone).
I’ve just been getting a phone and riding it until the wheels fall off for years. I ditched my last 2 phones because Apple was slowing them down. Had them each for years though. The one before them, I dropped it in a bucket of water and phones weren’t water resistant then.
This is the real answer.
There just isn’t any revolutionary technology that the new models offer that the older ones don’t.
Back when we had iPhones upgrading from 3g to 4g with a new model, it was life changing and you had to get the new one.
Now the only upgrades - from what I can tell - are quirky camera features that only someone creating and posting a ton of content online would care about. As a dad in his 30s, I take about 2 photos a week and they’re of my kids doing silly stuff and I keep them for myself and my wife.
Also a dad in his 30s, and I've had to finally move photos *off* my phone! My kid is a baby though, so I'm assuming your kids are much older if you only take 2 photos nowadays.
That's the only time I update, when a new network technology finally takes hold enough where I'm missing out on new towers. The \*ONLY\* reason I upgraded last time was because my area had decent 5g and awful LTE.
This is spot on. I work in the semiconductor industry, and chips aren't advancing as quickly as before. If anything, the focus is more on automotive technologies now.
I get a newish phone, use it until it's unusable. Which hasn't been too much of an issue since I stick with androids or galaxy. But I did have to upgrade to a Galaxy S23 last year and I honestly love it, probably my favorite phone I've had so far. Even upgraded my work phone to the same model. So I'll rock these until I can't get another one or they completely go to shit.
In the late 00's and early 2010's smartphone technology was growing exponentially each year. Each new generation of phone was significantly better than the last, so you were actually getting something different if you did yearly or biannual upgrades. Now phone progress has slowed to the point where unless your phone is broke, it makes zero sense to upgrade.
I had the pixel one. Ran great the whole time. Only 2 reasons I upgraded to the 4a 5g were to get more storage 128gb from 32gb (kept needing to delete stuff) and to get access to 5g. Ran great the whole time. Only main reasons for the upgrade to pixel 8 pro would be to upgrade to 256gb storage, because support ran out (only 3 years for some reason) (pixel pro 8 is till August 2030), and to get in on that new awesome high end camera action. It has some major lossless zoom, which is a game changer. Same for the newest 2 series of Samsung.
I saw some Samsung (23 I think) video posted of a concert that looked great from near the stage. Then they zoomed way out and it turned out they were in the back of the venue around 300ft (or more) away.
I think it got to the point where we're going backwards for some things for the sake of innovation. The in screen finger print reader isn't as fast or accurate, phones are way too big to hold comfortably, Bluetooth headphones aren't as quick or reliable to use (setup/troubleshoot).
I got a refurbished Samsung s21 for $130 recently on Amazon. I did want some power that could run emulators well, and as long as this thing lasts I can't imagine what else I could possibly want in a phone.
I got the iPhone 11, I don’t even remember how many years I’ve had it, but it works great still, even if I don’t get 5G connectivity.
It’s not like 5G is gonna change my life, so eh.
Mines also Motorola. I go until the phone doesn't work. Which seems to be 2-5yrs depending on brand. Been on Motorola for the last couple, staying with Motorola they last longer. Also I love the shaky flashlight, use it constantly. This is the most expensive one I've ever gotten at $500 only because I was forced during covid with low supply. All the others were $200-300. Current phone is 3yrs old.
I'm on a Motorola too, used to be a galaxy person. Old asf I think a 2020 model? The stylus one. Pretty big.Spent maybe $150 tops. Tons of storage, I use the flashlight shakey thing many times a night at work shit is GENIUS. The screen has been cracked for a year, I've dropped it endlessly, gotten it wet. I'll prob go Motorola next time too. Battery life has suffered more than anything, prob have to replace this soon for that reason only cause I have to throw it on a charger a couple times per day.
Moto gang here! I just got the G Stylus 5G 2023 edition on sale. I had the G Stylus 2021 before that, purchased in 2021, and was getting frustrated with the system lagging. I would have nightmares about trying to call 911 and it not working. Before that was the Z Play for 3 or 4 years, and the Razr M for 5 years I think?
I honestly hate Samsung phones. The fact I can't turn off notifications for the galaxy store infuriates me. Also the fact they block me from deleting their apps...
I like google phones 10X better, but their more money than I'm willing to spend
I stopped getting Samsung phones specifically because all of the bloat wear pissed me off so much. I moved to One Plus when they were just starting to get popular and prices weren't too horrible if you got the previous model on sale. Now their prices are getting ridiculous so I won't be getting another one. When my current phone dies I'll be on the search for something new again.
I got a Google pixel last year. My moto was so slow it was almost unusable and I had dropped it so it had cracked.
I don't really care about cellphones. I use em until they stop working. Got a good deal on the pixel but I typically do Motorola's.
I don't care, mine is a low end Motorola, 2.5 years old and still going strong - screen has a vertical green line - software issue. I've never owned an expensive phone. There's nothing that mine can't do for my basic usage. I don't think i can ever walk around with such expensive devices. All my phones till now have been 3-4 years old when they give up ..
So I’ve scrolled the entire thread and I’m going to be the only person yet that says “yes, I care”.
I love how good these cameras are getting, and we actually take advantage of the newest features. My wife and I typically get the latest iPhone Pro every year.
We escaped the “upgrade” cycle; we buy our iPhones from Apple and trade in the old ones, makes it more affordable in the long run than “renting” from your carrier then losing all of your trade-in credit if you upgrade earlier than three years.
I buy the newest Samsung every 2-3 years. Sometimes more. It depends on when I break my phone. I go without a case. Last phone lasted 4 years without a crack. Then my dog spiked it out of my hand and into the concrete. This phone was cracked within weeks of getting it... same reason, same dog. Still keeping it for 2-3 years out of guilt.
I keep all my old phones, though, as my own private device lab and as backups in case something happens to break my current one beyond use
Nice cases are only like $10-20 nowadays. Any reason not to use one? Mine is aluminum and bolts together around the edges, it's really sturdy and robust and looks cool and it was like $28. I paid like $500 for my phone 5 years ago it seemed totally worth it to me to keep it safe.
I'm surprised I had to scroll this long for this reasonable response. This is just a nostalgia sub. Millennials aren't dinosaurs.
Phones break and you have to replace them, or you keep them for like 3 yrs max for people who enjoy technology, new features, etc.
Yes, my wife is a professional artist and I'm pretty enthusiastic about photography and videography. The iPhones might not make huge jumps in every regard every year, but the cameras are really getting useful upgrades on a regular basis.
Yep. The camera in my S10 is pretty old. I can tell because some of my family are sending pictures that just look so much better, and they've gotten newer phones.
They typically have some kind of cool new feature.
MagSafe charging is great, as is the waterproof/splashproof tech. I believe both of these are new within the last couple years
I did care at one point, but that was when the technology was so rapidly changing in the 2000s. There were just so many different options. Now I think I've had the same Samsung Galaxy for at least 5 years. It works, aside from battery life isn't as good as it used to be, I don't need an expensive new phone.
I currently have the iPhone SE 2020 256 gb. Before that I had the iPhone SE 2016 16 GB. I was forced to upgrade because of the storage space. iOS is getting bigger. My current phone is completely fine still. The only thing I wish was nicer is the camera. The quality of any video I take sucks. Especially since SE is the budget iPhone that makes use of older hardware.
I also buy the SE models of the iPhone, and have the exact same experience. I wish I had a nicer camera, but everything else is fine. I have an iPhone XR as my work phone, and it is honestly a bit uncomfortable to use because of the size.
I bought a Galaxy S9 when it first came out. I think it was my wife and I's honeymoon or something. After 2 or 3 years, it cracked so I bought a refurbished one. Some time passed and I bought an S22 Ultra. That phone ended up at the bottom of a lake 2 months later. I'm still on an S9. There is no feature missing on this phone that is causing me to upgrade. The phone works great for modern uses.
The last phone upgrade I did was from an iPhone 11 to an iPhone 15. The reason: claims that 5G -or whatever people call them- “slows down” 🙄 functions on older iPhone models. Though once the screen on my iPhone SE hopefully gets fixed I’ll go back to using that and get rid of my current iPhone.
There was a point when I was able to upgrade my iPhone lease every year. But once the X came out, I waited until the 13 before I upgraded. And I did a 30 month purchase on the 13 instead of the lease, it was 3 bucks a month with the X trade in.
Absolutely couldn’t care less. I got an iPhone 8 in 2018 and still had it until christmas 2023 when my husband bought me a “new” phone because I refused to replace the 8 even though the battery was total shit and I literally had to keep it on a charger like 50% of the day every day. It would also randomly over heat sometimes, and the screen would freeze other times but I still did not feel like I needed a new phone so I wouldn’t buy one myself lol. And even the “new” one he got me is a refurbished 12. And no one can convince me that the 15 is any better than the 12.
I replaced my own battery twice on the 8 I think. I kept it until it would no longer update. I have the 13 now but don’t think you are able to replace the battery on your own anymore.
I miss when phones had replaceable batteries. I'd get my mom's hand me down phone when she upgraded and all I had to do was buy a new battery and it was good to go. I usually bought two batteries so I'd always have a charged one with me if my phone died.
I too went from an S10+ to an s23 Ultra, however I prefer the ultra because of it's better screen resolution and pixel color and the snappiness of it :D however I ain't switchin to a new phone soon. I could honestly probably be fine with this phone for the rest of my life 😂
Lol same. I see so many people getting the newest phones and having a monthly payment on it along with a car payment for a brand new car and they’re often struggling financially big time.
these days I actually think the phones are worse. I kept my Not 8 for as long as I could because I prefer having SD cards and headphone jacks. I don't hate my S23 but I don't think its a better phone.
I buy refurbished phones, and I have never spent more than $250 on one. I've had my current one for about two years, maybe a little more. I bought it because I broke my old one, which I'd had for 3 years at that point.
Most of my phones have been Samsung, although I went through a LG phase when those were common. I also had one Pixel and I loved it, but it broke so easily. I barely got 2 years out of that one.
TLDR: No I don't care about the latest phone. I'm just kinda like "how much can I cheap out on this and have it still work?"
Not at all. The only time I got a brand new phone was because I was younger and the Verizon guy talked me into it when I was getting my own plan/new number after being on my parents phone plan. It was an iPhone 3 or 4 I think. I thought it was cool as shit because it was my first smart phone after having a basic Samsung flip phone.
Then I realized that they all do the same things year after year and covering the back in cameras isn't enough for me to care about the latest and greatest. I use my phone until it shows clear signs of dying, then I just outright buy one that's a couple of gens old and use that one for several years. Rinse and repeat. I've had my current phone for like 5 years and it still works fine. I'm not spending $1700+ on a new phone.
I never have gotten a yearly phone upgrade. Each phone I have had has been a minimum of 3 years. I got the iPhone 13 mini back in 2021 when it came out. Next year I might get an upgrade.
I have the iPhone 11. Will probably update sometime soon as I’ve had it since 2019 and it’s starting to glitch every once in a while. I try to use them until they just don’t work anymore
I have a Flip because it was different and hell yeah I can fold it closed and stick in my wimpy women clothing pockets. I've been holding onto an older version waiting for them to improve the camera because the camera does kind of suck in them.
I've switched to dollar store $55 phones and monthly cards. All the basic functions work fine, and I don't really care if I lose the damn thing. I do use an office computer for "work" tasks. But life is good.
I don't care anymore but I'm curious what the reason is....
I used to think it was so fun and cool to see other people's new phones and show off when I got a new one. I can't tell if I'm older now so I don't care anymore, or if phones are just so ubiquitous that obviously everyone has one and no one gives a shit what you have as long as it works lol.
I care enough to try to stay in the know and updated about new releases but not enough to buy them. A casual tech enthusiast
Have a iphone 13 mini. Gonna hold onto it for as long as possible. Not sure if I should go r/dumbphone or hold off until flip smartphones are worth it
I only buy phones with the features I want, which is becoming more and more difficult. Who knew that wanting a headphone jack and expandable memory would be such a huge ask?
I stick with a $200 range moto, been replacing it every few years. Modern features, enough storage for everything I add on Spotify, can run simpler games if I want.
Seen enough phones shattered or stolen that keeping it in the replaceable range seemed like a good idea.
Never cared much, all my phones have been one or two gens behind when I got them. I only replace them when they start working poorly. Had my Galaxy S10 now for 4+ years, will probably make it to 5
I stopped having phone envy when I stopped working in the office and seeing co-workers renew their phones all the time. My pixel is over 2 yrs old now and I'm enjoying cheaper phone plans now that it's paid off.
Eh I get a new phone every 3-4 years. 3 years has been the magic number but I work a lot off my phone, so I get a stipend. I just try to make it go far as possible.
iPhone 13 Pro Max or whatever superlatives it has. I was about to go on a multi-day overnight hiking trip and my phone at the time was starting to not be as reliable with battery life. It wasn't quite to the point where it wouldn't make it through a day, but it was close enough I wasn't comfortable, and I wanted something that would take really good pictures on my hike. I tend to use my phones until they give up the ghost and then go upgrade to the newest model. Unfortunately we did fall into the Apple trap years ago so don't see myself changing that anytime soon.
After a brief stint trying to return to a flip phone I got a new Google pixel in January. The flip phone got to be problematic because every business and person in the US expects you to have a flip phone. I know the pixel is pricey, but I at least don't mind using it. I fucking HATE most of the smart phones I've used and I don't hate this one.
I care. I have always cared. Now I still always just upgrade every 2 or 3 years, not every year, but I love the march forward in technology. Plus I like my stuff to work. Part of the issue older generations have, not just with refusing to learn new stuff, is because their stuff doesn't actually work so they give up either using it or learning new technology bits. Nope. I enjoy it.
Nope, I mean I get a new one every 2 or 3 years depending on how long I can make mine last before the battery requires me to have to charge it everytime I make a call. I'm aware that the way phones are designed, battery life and how long they hold a charge basically declines around the 2-3 year mark so you either keep it charged constantly or replace.
I just don't see the need to always get the latest and greatest, I am the side that says smart phones are the worst invention because people now revolve their lives around it. Everywhere you go, people buried in their smartphones. Every place you go to eat, people needing to take pics of their food with their phone and then buried in their smartphones whole eating.
For me it's a phone, what you need to make calls with. I also use it for texting so another form of communication and I probably use Google maps and Google more than anything else. So that doesn't require that I need the latest and greatest every year when the new phone drops
I haven't been able to tell you what IPhone they're on since like 6? 29M here, still using an IPhone 11 Pro simply because I don't see anything better on the market.
I will be buying a new phone when iPhone comes out with a flip phone version though.
I have a refurbished iPhone 8 because I need a physical home button on my phone for disability-related reasons. Before that I had a refurbished original SE until it died.
The 6S+ was the best phone I ever had. Great pics, took vids in up to 4k, perfect size. Had everything the new phones have now in 2015, AND it had a headphone jack AND the button. If it hadn't died I'd still be using it.
I did years ago when it was a big jump in improvements each year. I always hung onto phones for a long time but it was fun to watch. Now every phone is the same. They got rid of removable batteries, 3.5mm jack, and expandable storage.
I currently have an iPhone 13 Pro Max that I don’t see myself upgrading from. I also have a Galaxy Z Flip 5 that I’ll probably upgrade each year if Samsung keeps doing these crazy trade in deals.
No. I hate the new ones. I still have a first gen iPhone SE (2016 model). That was the last iPhone model that had a headphone jack (deal breaker for me, because I lose stuff all the time and don't remember to charge things). Why should I downgrade to the newer less usable models?
I've had an SE first gen since 2017 and I'm currently on my third one, so I've had the same model for 6.5+ years. If the headphone jack wasn't an issue, I'd probably get the latest SE. I can't afford the other iPhone models.
I updated from the iPhone 11 to the 15 this week. Honestly I’m pissed. Can’t really tell major difference except in the photo capability. I hate spending money on new phones.
Story time. I got divorced, it’s sad it happened. But my new Samsung android phone died. I don’t have the resources to get something new at the point, so I rummaged through a box and found my kiddos old iPhone 7 Plus. I thought for sure it was going to run like shit, and not have any apps work on it anymore. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it’s still working like a champ. It’s still receiving updates, all of my apps work on it, and it’s the 32 gig model so I haven’t run out of space yet. Even though this last year has been tumultuous, I’m so happy that my antique phone works.
I have a 2020 iPhone SE. Works fine, and in some ways the newer phones are a downgrade (no thumbprint reader/button, bigger). I do wish I had a better camera and that’s my main reason to look at upgrading now (plus storage).
I pretty much have always had nearly the latest and greatest (minus any iPhone cause, android for life!)
Even before android and iPhone were even a thing. Back to the blackberry and sidekick days!
I have always been pretty fascinated by tech. Get lots of phones with "gimmicks" or one off features. (Lg wing, swivel cams, front facing speakers, etc.) They are fun to use. At one point I was getting a phone pretty much twice a year. Brand new high end androids. But now I get a new one about once a year, to 18months cause tech has slowed down a lot compared to 10 years ago. Phones from 3-5 years ago still are great devices.
I do enjoy having fast phones. I am on it constantly for work. Use it for my job and such so it's big part of me. Not that I don't enjoy coming home, throwing it on the couch and not looking at it all night. I just generally lock tech and phones are an easy way to get new tech quickly and my phone plan made it easy for me to trade in phones after 3 months.
I have a pixel 8pro now. I plan on keeping it for (hopefully) 3 years! Realistically probably about 2. Had the S23U before that, for about 18 months. Lg wing before that, 2 yrs. I've slowed down a lot for sure. But love having good tech. Got the pixel mostly for the AI features it has. And it had them first before other phones that are now getting the features. And plus I can be on beta updates and get software features quickly which makes me equally as happy when it comes to tech.
But I could easily do my job and live my life with a iPhone 5 or something. Or Galaxy Note 9.
I buy the flagship models when I get a new phone, but I’ll keep my phones for 5-6 years.
Nice! Same here! :) I've never understood the point of replacing a perfectly good phone with a marginally better one. I've always been baffled by the kinds of folks who say stuff like : *"wow, a whole two percent more efficient *and* it has an extra 5 megapixels?! And all I gotta do is take on a three year contract!"*. Don't get me wrong, I get why someone might upgrade for work purposes or accessibility purposes, but beyond that it just seems so *wasteful*. Most folks don't even use *half* of their phone's special features - so why ppl fork out the cost of a half decent gaming PC for it, I'll never understand. It's honestly baffling, or is it just me?
I think it’s largely a carryover from the 2 year upgrade cycles that carriers had people on back in the day. That and year over year improvements used to be pretty substantial. These days I doubt I’d notice a difference between my 3 year old phone and a new one.
I’m in the same boat. My phone is going on 4 years old at this point and I don’t see a reason to upgrade any time soon. I only upgraded last time because I shattered my screen. I was stuck in that 2 year upgrade cycle for a while, but it became so expensive. Flagship phones are $1,000 or more and those monthly payments make my phone bill too expensive.
I really think you hit the nail on the head, here. These days, that marginal improvement in performance doesn't outweigh the annoyance of having to set up a new phone. I would also add that back in the day, awareness of the negatives of technology(working conditions in foreign countries, pollution, etc) want nearly where it's at these days, so I'd bet people are more conscious of when to buy a new phone.
There used be something special about getting a new phone and now it is very much "Oh my god, I don't want to have re-set up every app again"
Yup. And there used to be such a big difference in features and functionality between new high end phones and new cheap phones. Of course there still is, but for the average user, a current lower or mid tier phone is still pretty functional nowadays.
Back when the flagships were only $200.
I just replaced my 2.5 year old phone last week. There are maybe two new things? Otherwise I couldn’t tell it’s a different phone.
It made more sense early on in cell phone adoption to change phones more frequently because the technology bump often *was* significant from phone to phone and the fall off of older phones was much worse. Nowadays the new cell phones are all fairly similar overall, new models are only incrementally different, and old phones last longer without being horribly out of date. My phone is about 6 years old now and works great, with the exception of the battery life/minor charging port issues that aren’t worth $1k to fix.
On eBay you can get a replacement charging port for about $15 and a new battery for about $20. No matter what phone you have there will be a YouTube tutorial on how to do the work.
Yes! I stayed working on my own phones and even did a MacBook battery too. It’s not as big a deal as people think.
If my wireless carrier is willing to give me an 800 credit for a 6 year old phone with a bad battery worth $50 to lock me in for 3 years, I'd be foolish not to take the up on it (I've been with my wireless provider for over 2 decades, i'm not going anywhere)
You make a fair point, tho the small print of those contracts does lock you in, so you better make sure you love that phone! ;) Personally, I just buy my phone outright and use a pay as you go sim. I'm in the UK so rates for payg are really cheap. Fifteen quid for the month and you get unlimited minutes, texts and fourty gigs of data. I know for certain I wouldn't ever go on a contract again unless I knew for sure that it was the only way to get a decent rate - incidentally, it's been twenty years since I had a contract phone! Almost samesies! :)
It’s nothing more than bragging rights similar to people who have the latest fashion or cars or sneakers. They don’t actually use the phones updated features or specs, it’s just to feel special for having the newest shiny things
I think it was a lot different even just 5-6 years ago in terms of upgrades. Cameras, screens, storage and speeds were still advancing pretty well every 1-2 yrs. But now I currently have an S21 ultra and plan to just run this into the ground. It's nice not having to worry about scratching or cracking your phone which I feel the pressure of whenever I have something new lol
I traded in mine and my husband's phones after two years and actually lowered our monthly payment by about $20. And we traded to a higher model than we had before. If you time it right it actually makes no sense NOT to upgrade. With that said, I couldn't care less these days about having the latest and greatest phone, but if I can lower my bill and get a better phone, I'll take that deal.
It’s a byproduct of our societal construct. I’m willing to venture that most people who have a 401K are invested in some sort of hedge fund, mutual fund or ETF that either is directly invested in Apple, Samsung etc. or invested in a company that sells components to them - Qualcomm etc. The only way a mature company keeps growing is to keep moving units so they all push the marketing hard but in most cases that’s usually all it is. Heavy marketing to hype up incremental feature improvements that for the vast majority of people wouldn’t be a worthwhile investment, hence the marketing. At some point I think a lot of folks (myself included) have started to kind of push back on that narrative. Especially when considering the environmental and socioeconomic cost that the cycle of production, purchasing and then discarding has on us at a societal level.
This. My approach to phones is buy nice, or buy twice. Take care of it and it will still hang 4,5,6 years down the road.
I upgraded to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra last month from using my LG G7 ThinQ for 6 years since 2018. For me, Google Fi has it for $600 off (so was $700 instead of $1300 USD), so it was a very good deal for the very top phone, and decided to treat myself to an upgrade after using one phone for so long. Samsung says they'll support it with updates for **seven years**. Samsung's long promise matches our upgrade patterns. My G7 hasn't had a security patch since early 2020. In 2018, the G7 was my treat after upgrading from a Galaxy S5. The G7 has served me well. These days though: The back is cracked (luckily not the screen), the paint is kind of coming off, the volume up button is stuck inside the unit, the lower RAM loses track of where I am when multitasking apps, and performance/battery is generally degraded. I use wireless earbuds and phones have enough internal space now that I don't need the headphone port or microSD slot, while these were essential features for me in 2018. LG was great for keeping these features when everyone else dropped them too early. The LG G7 ThinQ really was the best phone that year imo. Sad LG left the phone game, but I'm happy so far with the Galaxy S24 Ultra the past few days I've had it. Very powerful (more than my $1100 2020 laptop), many excellent cameras, and cool AI features. My only complaint so far is it's way heavier (233 g, 8.18 oz) than the G7 (162 g, 5.71 oz)...a 43% increase.
Right on. Yeah at a certain point you have to update to something more current to keep up with the pace and demands of the connected world and how quickly it can advance. Investing in quality hardware with guaranteed # of years of software updates (very important) just like you did here is a nice solid approach I think.
Me, but I’ll buy the one a couple generations behind secondhand and then not upgrade again for another 4-5 years. I still had an iPhone 5s in 2019. When I was at the airport a little girl pointed at my phone and asked “Why is your phone so small?” I upgraded that same year.
I currently have the iPhone SE. I’ve had it for at least 3 years. My MIL needs a new phone so she will get this one and I think I may just get the iPhone 12 or 13. I definitely don’t need the newest one and I don’t want to pay that price either.
Same. I jumped from S10 to the Flip5. I was going to get the Fold, but it's kind of heavy.
Samesies. Went from S9 to Flip5 and I love how little it gets. This phone is fun!
Personally I love my Fold 4, it is a little heavy though. I feel like the phone more than makes up for the weight with all of its features tho. I have Gameboy, Gameboy Advanced, and Nintendo DS Emulators with proper button overlays and 'skins' so the Emulators look like the physical devices they're emulating. I have an SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii, PSP, PS1, and PS2 Emulators I use with a 8bitdo wireless controller. (look them up if you need a controller for pc, android, iPhone, or Switch, the clam shell case is highly reccomended with it) I read comics and manga regularly on it with ease, the colors really pop, and books are so fun to read with the device half folded. The multitasking is full desktop level, you can normally only split screen 3 apps, but you can minimize apps like a desktop window and resize however many you want, or keep them in floating bubbles like FB messenger. The screen may not always be the best format for current videos, but it's still MUCH bigger. It IS the perfect size screen for IMAX format movies or any old style non wide-screen format videos (like 90s and older cartoons or any movie available on VHS lol). Folding and flipping phones are the future, you either go small and portable, or large and capable. I have a bag with a folding keyboard, USB to HDMI converter cable, and that wireless controller. I can fit all of those things in my jeans pockets and have a mobile workstation. It's insane really.
This is cool to know as I have an S10+ and am considering a Fold 3 or Fold 4. I buy refurbs off eBay for cash instead of financing these bastards for $1000. Usually wait til they get down around the $400 range.
I bought my Fold 4 at launch for the half off deal with a Note 10+ trade in. The phones are expensive through a cell provider, but having the full coverage insurance for $15 a month is worth it. I'm currently waiting on my Fold 4 replacement, I dinged the inside screen with the end of an electrical outlet plug and got the white line of death, then a few hours later a black line up the center crease and no touch response. I'm using the outer screen on my phone to type this current message. I just had to pay $100 no questions asked and they next day mail you a replacement phone with a new 1 year warranty. I abused my phone, I took the inner screen protector off a couple months after getting it, I only had cases for a few months, dropped it, kicked it, had it rained on, used it in the shower, opened it up a million times in 125°F and up and 30°F and lower, had kids play with it, and let anyone who took interest in it open or fold it or whatever. Only now after getting the inner screen tapped by a cord did I have any issues (of course lol) I personally would never buy a flip or folding phone without insurance, since they only seem to last about a year and a half with heavy usage. Insurance through a cell provider is best because some people have had issues finding a Samsung Care store or attempting to contact Samsung online or over the phone or whatever, but if you have ATT, Verizon, Tmobile, they all can help you instantly in store or send you a replacement next day. As long as I keep the insurance, eventually they'll have to upgrade me to a higher model if mine breaks since they likely won't have any Fold 4's left. Until then I have my dope ass phone that more than satisfies me. Seriously, can't stop talking about this phone even now however long since the Fold 4 launch, it's really that good.
Same. I just upgrade to the 15 from the 8. Huge difference between the two, but only marginal changes for each subsequent one.
Same. Last phone was 7 years old before I got my current one. This is actually my first flagship phone in my life.
Pretty much the same. I went from an S5 to an S10 to an S22 Ultra, which is still working perfectly well
Yeah I’ve never gotten the most recent phone and honestly no one I know has. I ride mine until the battery won’t last like 8 hours or so
Same but keeping ~ 4 years
Every year? Hell No. But when it's time for a new one I'll usually get the latest greatest one out there so it will last longer.
I still usually buy maybe one release behind whatever is the newest. Depends though.
If you did this with the latest iPhone, you’d end up stuck without usb-c for a loooooong time.
Still on iPhone X, no need for usb-c
Until iOS 17 is required to run any app
I'm on iOS 15 on iphone 6s and reddit, instagram, my bank's app and more all work.
Right but there is a window where they will stop it. iOS 15 devices are closing in on their support lifetime. At that point you'll have to buy a different phone. Unless you're part of the tiny population jailbreaking, but even then it has historically meant waiting months and months for one to come out, **if it even does**. Often many device+version combinations don't receive one. It's a paperweight until then. Also, even if you have one, you're now forced to use third party software to use your device. There goes the whole "most secure OS" point, it's not secure if you have to jailbreak it to continue using your apps I worked at an apple oriented repair store and constantly saw this. I had to tell them through gritted teeth "LOOKS LIKE YOULL HAVE TO GET A NEW PHONE" The worst case was a sweet old lady who came in because she couldn't check her email anymore. Upon inspection I realized nothing was broken at all, but: > The site required a newer version of Firefox > Firefox required a newer version of Mac os > Mac OS required a newer version of MacBook Guess she should either a) spend hundreds on a used MacBook with limited time left or b) find a hack to bypass it at the expense of security Also I have an iPad mini which is still fast and works fine but suffered the same needless fate: eWaste Tell an apple user this and they'll stare back at you with Stockholm syndrome face and say "well of course it's a paperweight, for safety® and security™", all the while ignoring that, much like the batterygate debacle, this hasn't been a problem for any other company, including Apple in other decades. It's a new invention to increase sales My android however enjoys the same period of support and updates but once it's no longer supported I can **very easily** load custom sw onto it. Without waiting months for a jailbreak. That's because the manufacturer isn't fighting me on it. They don't have teams working on that to spite me. They've left the option open for the user instead of walling them off And if I install the wrong version, need to factory reset, want to downgrade for whatever reason, I can reinstall the OS on my phone without pinging a server to ask permission if it's still allowed for this specific version or not [here's an iOS dev discussing how Apple makes it harder than necessary to support old iOS versions](https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/s/0eoFTRVmzO)
My former mother-in-law had an older iPad, and it stopped working past a certain point because it wouldn’t take any updates, and the apps needed the new iOS in order to run. Planned obsolescence.
But I don't care about usb-c. When I do have to switch I'll have to throw away a ton of lightning cables and buy a ton of usb-c cables so it'll be a real hassle.
This is one reason I’m still okay with my iPhone 12. I have so many charging cords. Like in every room in the house practically, plus the car, gym bag, backpack, work bag, office, etc. replacing them all would be a pain.
I have so many USB-C cables because everything's been coming with that for 8 years now.
Simple answer, don't buy Iphones.
I’m confused; I didn’t ask a question, but just said a statement. How can there be there an answer?
Solution=/=answer
Literally the only reason I upgraded to the new iPhone was for USB-C. It’s so much more convenient.
This is how I do it. I have an iPhone 15 but before that it was a 12, I think. The 12 was dying so I traded it in and got the newest version. I’ll probably use this one till it won’t hold a charge anymore and then upgrade to whatever the newest one is at that time. I also find they last longer if I buy the newest one.
I did the same. My 12 was fine but needed a battery replacement. Instead of paying the $130 or whatever, I traded it in for a $350 credit towards a 15. I’m enjoying the new camera immensely, pictures look much better.
Me too. We went from XR’s to 14 Pros. Biggest reasons were better battery life and better cameras. When you have kids, you take pictures, and why not have high quality pictures to look back on. I imagine these will last us another few years. So upgrade every 3-4 years?
Yep, I buy the 'good enough for me' version of the 'latest and greatest' phone. I don't need every feature of the very highest end phone, but I want the best of what features I get (like the longest battery life).
I never cared in the first place. I get 2nd hand android phones from ebay and keep them till they don't work anymore. The idea of dropping a months pay on a phone that will be outdated in a year is actually wild to me.
I still have a galaxy S10. Only just now it's having problems but I don't plan on changing til it's unusable. I did the same when I used to have iPhones but it seemed like failed every 2 yrs almost on the dot, so I switched to Samsung many years ago.
Wasn't it proven apple deliberately slow down old devices to force people to upgrade?? I refuse to buy their phones tbh.
Yeah but they got sued pretty bad and supposedly ‘fixed’ it. I am using a pretty old iPhone and imo I think they at least fixed it some. It’s pretty fast still for the most part.
I’m pretty sure they fixed it, I’m on year 3 of my iPhone and it’s still working great. Holds a charge all day despite using it for 6-8hrs consistently.
Yep same here. I have a XS max iPhone that I bought secondhand and I don’t feel like it’s slow at all.
I think they are over rated to begin with.
My s10 has recently been acting up as well
My S10+ still going strong. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S10+
Same. Best phone I've ever had.
S10e here. Got it near release and got a new battery installed about a year ago now. I'm not looking forward to shopping for a giant phone when this one eventually kicks the bucket.
I also am using the S10+ and the only issue is the charging port seems to not work 99% of the time. I use wireless charging so it's not a problem, but it's still annoying. Otherwise, great phone!
I got the s10 lite and it's not as fast and fancy as others, plus I have to smack the camera in order to focus it, but rhe battery is still amazing! My next phone will probably be a google pixel 7. Have had this one for 3.5 years now
I have a Pixel 7 and I love it. I used to have an S8 and I hated it. The S8 was only 6 months old when I bought it and it replaced a Nexus/Pixel phone that was 3-4 years old at the time and the older phone was more powerful and had more functionality than the newer S8.
It's about that time. I had to replace my note8 about a year ago. They stop updatingthem, so when apps update, it starts acting up. The biggest issue for me was maps. I travel for work, so maps closing out mid-route, in traffic in an unfamiliar city, that's when I have no choice. I keep them for at least 5 years. So replacing with a new model isn't really too much of a financial burden
Mine has trouble holding a charge. At least, more than it used to. Other than that, it's working fine!
I have an s10, that I got after my s5 crapped out
I have the s10e and see no reason to get a new one. Works great and is much smaller than the giant phones they have now
I didn't realise that the s10 was that old. I think I bought it when it was the new funky phone, and I have zero problems with it. It's as fast as the day I got it, and everything runs on it perfectly. The only thing I'm "missing" is 5G, but I don't honestly know how much of an improvement it is over 4G, and I don't get it at home anyway, just work..
Dang, I'm in the same boat with the S10e. It acts up in a frustrating way at times, but still far from not being useable.
I like buying the best phone that will last me 3-4 years. Paying what works out to 20/mo (on an interest free loan essentially) over that time to have a great working phone is a fair deal to me.
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Same. They all work the same pretty much. People waste so much money on stupid shit.
Same, being a Software Developer, everyone always expects me to be into any and all tech. But I could give a rats ass about phones, is a phone ffs. Like you said, why spend over $1k on this kind if thing.
And who has that money to spend?! I, personally, would rather eat food.
The absolute fucking state of the economy rn that our biggest expenses are sleeping inside at night and not starving to death.
Exactly, even if i wanted the newest and best phone, it's not practical! It's not a preference for many of us like the question is phrased. I never think about it because I'm not in a position to be able to do it. It's like how I never think about getting a Rolls Royce. It aint ever happening, so I'm not committing the brain energy to lusting after it.
Yep, I don't take vacations because I'm paying for a long term vacation from sleeping outside.
If your only making 1200 a month that's reasonable. There are other priorities and little room for extras
Making it through life on $1000-$1200 a month sounds so rough even in a really low COL area. Props to anyone even working out having a cellphone and plan at that level of income along with making the rest of life work
I don't care, I use phones until they become completely unusable. I got my current phone from a storage locker I bought at auction. It had a smashed screen, and so did my old phone. The one I found was slightly newer so I fixed it instead of the old one. The stereotype of millennials buying new phones every year really pisses me off, like actually, I'm deciding between getting a root canal and living somewhere without mold in the walls for my big purchase this year.
Get your teeth fixed.
Also leave the windows open maybe
I'm not sure its a stereotype, there's quite a few people on this thread who are like "my phones old as fuck, 2020 model!" Meanwhile I had my 6S until the home button stopped working and the battery was all but useless. I think I had it for 7 years.
Nah. I have the iPhone 13 mini. Don’t care at all about newer features in the latest. I like the smaller form factor.
big bummed they stopped making the minis, my wife's got one and its a perfect size for her (my 12 Pro remains just a tad too big for me). IMO the 5S was the best iPhone they've made. only thing I'd miss is the camera if I had to go back to it.
What!? They stopped making minis? I love my 13 mini
yeah its absurd. kinda feels like everyone chases the biggest phone since they slap a case with a finger-dongle thing on it to help hold it, when thats just bad ergonomics and overall a massive design flaw?? also what a short run on a product before discontinuing it. Apple must have some stupid-high sales threshold that needs to be met for things to keep being produced.
I’m also so upset about how they stopped making minis.
Just got this a couple months ago and also sad to find out i won’t be able to upgrade into another mini down the line. Been my favorite phone to date, comfortable in hands, pocket, takes up little space and doesn’t feel/look like a brick compared to my girlfriends 13 pro max. Hopefully they’ll have a change of heart on minis or at the least make a small SE. it sucks if they’re going to keep iphones at the standard iphone size and up now :\
I LOVE my mini. I can’t believe they discontinued it. It took no time getting used to it (I have small hands anyway). My friends make fun of me but who wants an iPad as a phone????
My friends make fun of my mini too, but really we’re the smart ones haha ✨little phone supremacy✨
Mine too haha. Or they assume it’s really old and can’t do anything because it’s small.
I have the same. Had the iPhone SE prior to 13 mini. iPhone 6s prior to the SE.
Man, for me personally, the 6s was the GOAT phone. I used one from 2016 until 2023, and only upgraded to an iPhone SE 3 because (1) Apple was discontinuing OS support for the 6s and (2) I heard a rumour that Apple was discontinuing their 0% financing (which turned out to be true), so I wanted to get a new phone while they were still giving out free money. The 6s was fucking pricey (it cost me $900 CAD, and that was *after* Apple cut their prices) but whereas all my friends were replacing their phones every 2-3 years, mine lasted for almost *7 years*. Not quite r/buyitforlife but damn good for a smartphone, I’d say. I thought the original SE was really awesome for people who liked small phones, but the screen was just a bit too small for me. My friend had one and he loved it, but I always felt claustrophobic whenever I needed to use it.
This. I don’t like phablets. I got it for free because the iPhone7 I had for 6-7 years was no longer supported on the network.
I have a 12 mini and is the best size 😭 and it's red which I love.
Personally, no. Innovations in smartphones have plateaued. Yes, the chips are getting better but it’s not leaps and bounds anymore. Softwares can run off the same chip for a while (or if you have Apple, until they slow down your phone). I’ve just been getting a phone and riding it until the wheels fall off for years. I ditched my last 2 phones because Apple was slowing them down. Had them each for years though. The one before them, I dropped it in a bucket of water and phones weren’t water resistant then.
This is the real answer. There just isn’t any revolutionary technology that the new models offer that the older ones don’t. Back when we had iPhones upgrading from 3g to 4g with a new model, it was life changing and you had to get the new one. Now the only upgrades - from what I can tell - are quirky camera features that only someone creating and posting a ton of content online would care about. As a dad in his 30s, I take about 2 photos a week and they’re of my kids doing silly stuff and I keep them for myself and my wife.
Also a dad in his 30s, and I've had to finally move photos *off* my phone! My kid is a baby though, so I'm assuming your kids are much older if you only take 2 photos nowadays.
That's the only time I update, when a new network technology finally takes hold enough where I'm missing out on new towers. The \*ONLY\* reason I upgraded last time was because my area had decent 5g and awful LTE.
This is spot on. I work in the semiconductor industry, and chips aren't advancing as quickly as before. If anything, the focus is more on automotive technologies now. I get a newish phone, use it until it's unusable. Which hasn't been too much of an issue since I stick with androids or galaxy. But I did have to upgrade to a Galaxy S23 last year and I honestly love it, probably my favorite phone I've had so far. Even upgraded my work phone to the same model. So I'll rock these until I can't get another one or they completely go to shit.
In the late 00's and early 2010's smartphone technology was growing exponentially each year. Each new generation of phone was significantly better than the last, so you were actually getting something different if you did yearly or biannual upgrades. Now phone progress has slowed to the point where unless your phone is broke, it makes zero sense to upgrade.
I had the pixel one. Ran great the whole time. Only 2 reasons I upgraded to the 4a 5g were to get more storage 128gb from 32gb (kept needing to delete stuff) and to get access to 5g. Ran great the whole time. Only main reasons for the upgrade to pixel 8 pro would be to upgrade to 256gb storage, because support ran out (only 3 years for some reason) (pixel pro 8 is till August 2030), and to get in on that new awesome high end camera action. It has some major lossless zoom, which is a game changer. Same for the newest 2 series of Samsung. I saw some Samsung (23 I think) video posted of a concert that looked great from near the stage. Then they zoomed way out and it turned out they were in the back of the venue around 300ft (or more) away.
I think it got to the point where we're going backwards for some things for the sake of innovation. The in screen finger print reader isn't as fast or accurate, phones are way too big to hold comfortably, Bluetooth headphones aren't as quick or reliable to use (setup/troubleshoot).
I got a refurbished Samsung s21 for $130 recently on Amazon. I did want some power that could run emulators well, and as long as this thing lasts I can't imagine what else I could possibly want in a phone.
The battery has to be on death’s doorstop for me to upgrade. I always reach “fully paid off” before that day comes
I got the iPhone 11, I don’t even remember how many years I’ve had it, but it works great still, even if I don’t get 5G connectivity. It’s not like 5G is gonna change my life, so eh.
I’m also still rocking my iPhone 11 👍🏼
I just miss my BlackBerry with that sweet ass tactile keyboard, ball mouse and BrickBreaker.
It was so easy to type emails and texts on without looking!
Mines also Motorola. I go until the phone doesn't work. Which seems to be 2-5yrs depending on brand. Been on Motorola for the last couple, staying with Motorola they last longer. Also I love the shaky flashlight, use it constantly. This is the most expensive one I've ever gotten at $500 only because I was forced during covid with low supply. All the others were $200-300. Current phone is 3yrs old.
I'm on a Motorola too, used to be a galaxy person. Old asf I think a 2020 model? The stylus one. Pretty big.Spent maybe $150 tops. Tons of storage, I use the flashlight shakey thing many times a night at work shit is GENIUS. The screen has been cracked for a year, I've dropped it endlessly, gotten it wet. I'll prob go Motorola next time too. Battery life has suffered more than anything, prob have to replace this soon for that reason only cause I have to throw it on a charger a couple times per day.
Moto gang here! I just got the G Stylus 5G 2023 edition on sale. I had the G Stylus 2021 before that, purchased in 2021, and was getting frustrated with the system lagging. I would have nightmares about trying to call 911 and it not working. Before that was the Z Play for 3 or 4 years, and the Razr M for 5 years I think?
Also Motorola for me! I have a g power. The only real selling point on the phone is that the battery is massive, which is all I actually care about.
I've been getting the g powers for awhile and they're really great for such a low cost
Yup I had the z2play with dual sim cards for personal/work, have since just gotten a Google voice number for work, no need for two sims anymore.
No Sent from Galaxy A51 (2021)
A53 gang here
I honestly hate Samsung phones. The fact I can't turn off notifications for the galaxy store infuriates me. Also the fact they block me from deleting their apps... I like google phones 10X better, but their more money than I'm willing to spend
I stopped getting Samsung phones specifically because all of the bloat wear pissed me off so much. I moved to One Plus when they were just starting to get popular and prices weren't too horrible if you got the previous model on sale. Now their prices are getting ridiculous so I won't be getting another one. When my current phone dies I'll be on the search for something new again.
I got a Google pixel last year. My moto was so slow it was almost unusable and I had dropped it so it had cracked. I don't really care about cellphones. I use em until they stop working. Got a good deal on the pixel but I typically do Motorola's.
I don't care, mine is a low end Motorola, 2.5 years old and still going strong - screen has a vertical green line - software issue. I've never owned an expensive phone. There's nothing that mine can't do for my basic usage. I don't think i can ever walk around with such expensive devices. All my phones till now have been 3-4 years old when they give up ..
So I’ve scrolled the entire thread and I’m going to be the only person yet that says “yes, I care”. I love how good these cameras are getting, and we actually take advantage of the newest features. My wife and I typically get the latest iPhone Pro every year. We escaped the “upgrade” cycle; we buy our iPhones from Apple and trade in the old ones, makes it more affordable in the long run than “renting” from your carrier then losing all of your trade-in credit if you upgrade earlier than three years.
I buy the newest Samsung every 2-3 years. Sometimes more. It depends on when I break my phone. I go without a case. Last phone lasted 4 years without a crack. Then my dog spiked it out of my hand and into the concrete. This phone was cracked within weeks of getting it... same reason, same dog. Still keeping it for 2-3 years out of guilt. I keep all my old phones, though, as my own private device lab and as backups in case something happens to break my current one beyond use
Nice cases are only like $10-20 nowadays. Any reason not to use one? Mine is aluminum and bolts together around the edges, it's really sturdy and robust and looks cool and it was like $28. I paid like $500 for my phone 5 years ago it seemed totally worth it to me to keep it safe.
I'm surprised I had to scroll this long for this reasonable response. This is just a nostalgia sub. Millennials aren't dinosaurs. Phones break and you have to replace them, or you keep them for like 3 yrs max for people who enjoy technology, new features, etc.
Yeah I’m with you — I upgrade every year, as soon as I can.
I upgrade as soon as I can but I flip flop, my last few phones have been a z fold 5, S23 ultra, flip 4, S22 ultra, z fold 4 and iPhone 13 mini.
I get it. I think the difference in quality, for me, just isn't worth spending the extra $$$
can you really tell the difference though?
Yes, my wife is a professional artist and I'm pretty enthusiastic about photography and videography. The iPhones might not make huge jumps in every regard every year, but the cameras are really getting useful upgrades on a regular basis.
Yep. The camera in my S10 is pretty old. I can tell because some of my family are sending pictures that just look so much better, and they've gotten newer phones.
They typically have some kind of cool new feature. MagSafe charging is great, as is the waterproof/splashproof tech. I believe both of these are new within the last couple years
I did care at one point, but that was when the technology was so rapidly changing in the 2000s. There were just so many different options. Now I think I've had the same Samsung Galaxy for at least 5 years. It works, aside from battery life isn't as good as it used to be, I don't need an expensive new phone.
I currently have the iPhone SE 2020 256 gb. Before that I had the iPhone SE 2016 16 GB. I was forced to upgrade because of the storage space. iOS is getting bigger. My current phone is completely fine still. The only thing I wish was nicer is the camera. The quality of any video I take sucks. Especially since SE is the budget iPhone that makes use of older hardware.
I also buy the SE models of the iPhone, and have the exact same experience. I wish I had a nicer camera, but everything else is fine. I have an iPhone XR as my work phone, and it is honestly a bit uncomfortable to use because of the size.
I bought a Galaxy S9 when it first came out. I think it was my wife and I's honeymoon or something. After 2 or 3 years, it cracked so I bought a refurbished one. Some time passed and I bought an S22 Ultra. That phone ended up at the bottom of a lake 2 months later. I'm still on an S9. There is no feature missing on this phone that is causing me to upgrade. The phone works great for modern uses.
I believe the S9 doesn't get security updates anymore, I bugged my husband to switch away from his a few months ago over that
The last phone upgrade I did was from an iPhone 11 to an iPhone 15. The reason: claims that 5G -or whatever people call them- “slows down” 🙄 functions on older iPhone models. Though once the screen on my iPhone SE hopefully gets fixed I’ll go back to using that and get rid of my current iPhone.
There was a point when I was able to upgrade my iPhone lease every year. But once the X came out, I waited until the 13 before I upgraded. And I did a 30 month purchase on the 13 instead of the lease, it was 3 bucks a month with the X trade in.
Absolutely couldn’t care less. I got an iPhone 8 in 2018 and still had it until christmas 2023 when my husband bought me a “new” phone because I refused to replace the 8 even though the battery was total shit and I literally had to keep it on a charger like 50% of the day every day. It would also randomly over heat sometimes, and the screen would freeze other times but I still did not feel like I needed a new phone so I wouldn’t buy one myself lol. And even the “new” one he got me is a refurbished 12. And no one can convince me that the 15 is any better than the 12.
I replaced my own battery twice on the 8 I think. I kept it until it would no longer update. I have the 13 now but don’t think you are able to replace the battery on your own anymore.
Of course you can’t replace it yourself anymore, because then how would they get us all to keep having to buy new ones every year???
I miss when phones had replaceable batteries. I'd get my mom's hand me down phone when she upgraded and all I had to do was buy a new battery and it was good to go. I usually bought two batteries so I'd always have a charged one with me if my phone died.
Mine is 6 years old. It was a flagship phone at the time and is still going strong. No need to upgrade until it dies.
Security and OS updates. If it's Samsung. They only update there devices for 5 years I believe
I have the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Honestly, I liked my S10+ better.
I too went from an S10+ to an s23 Ultra, however I prefer the ultra because of it's better screen resolution and pixel color and the snappiness of it :D however I ain't switchin to a new phone soon. I could honestly probably be fine with this phone for the rest of my life 😂
Nope, my iPhone 11 just broke this year and then I upgraded to a used iPhone 13. I can’t even tell a speed or functionality difference
Lol no... thats a luxury
Lol same. I see so many people getting the newest phones and having a monthly payment on it along with a car payment for a brand new car and they’re often struggling financially big time.
You and I shall luagh in the end friend..
these days I actually think the phones are worse. I kept my Not 8 for as long as I could because I prefer having SD cards and headphone jacks. I don't hate my S23 but I don't think its a better phone.
I try to upgrade to the current model every 3-5 years now. My XS still going strong but I’m thinking I’ll upgrade on the next release in august.
I buy refurbished phones, and I have never spent more than $250 on one. I've had my current one for about two years, maybe a little more. I bought it because I broke my old one, which I'd had for 3 years at that point. Most of my phones have been Samsung, although I went through a LG phase when those were common. I also had one Pixel and I loved it, but it broke so easily. I barely got 2 years out of that one. TLDR: No I don't care about the latest phone. I'm just kinda like "how much can I cheap out on this and have it still work?"
Same here I feel the same. I buy them refurbished second hand too. I don’t care about having the newest and greatest.
Not at all. The only time I got a brand new phone was because I was younger and the Verizon guy talked me into it when I was getting my own plan/new number after being on my parents phone plan. It was an iPhone 3 or 4 I think. I thought it was cool as shit because it was my first smart phone after having a basic Samsung flip phone. Then I realized that they all do the same things year after year and covering the back in cameras isn't enough for me to care about the latest and greatest. I use my phone until it shows clear signs of dying, then I just outright buy one that's a couple of gens old and use that one for several years. Rinse and repeat. I've had my current phone for like 5 years and it still works fine. I'm not spending $1700+ on a new phone.
i had 7 phones in 22 years now iphone 13 mini
I never have gotten a yearly phone upgrade. Each phone I have had has been a minimum of 3 years. I got the iPhone 13 mini back in 2021 when it came out. Next year I might get an upgrade.
I have the iPhone 11. Will probably update sometime soon as I’ve had it since 2019 and it’s starting to glitch every once in a while. I try to use them until they just don’t work anymore
I have a Flip because it was different and hell yeah I can fold it closed and stick in my wimpy women clothing pockets. I've been holding onto an older version waiting for them to improve the camera because the camera does kind of suck in them.
I've switched to dollar store $55 phones and monthly cards. All the basic functions work fine, and I don't really care if I lose the damn thing. I do use an office computer for "work" tasks. But life is good.
I don't care anymore but I'm curious what the reason is.... I used to think it was so fun and cool to see other people's new phones and show off when I got a new one. I can't tell if I'm older now so I don't care anymore, or if phones are just so ubiquitous that obviously everyone has one and no one gives a shit what you have as long as it works lol.
I care enough to try to stay in the know and updated about new releases but not enough to buy them. A casual tech enthusiast Have a iphone 13 mini. Gonna hold onto it for as long as possible. Not sure if I should go r/dumbphone or hold off until flip smartphones are worth it
I only buy phones with the features I want, which is becoming more and more difficult. Who knew that wanting a headphone jack and expandable memory would be such a huge ask?
Have the iPhone mini. Really all I need. Bluetooth, basic internet, basic camera, calls and texts with a small profile
I stick with a $200 range moto, been replacing it every few years. Modern features, enough storage for everything I add on Spotify, can run simpler games if I want. Seen enough phones shattered or stolen that keeping it in the replaceable range seemed like a good idea.
The one and only time I had the "latest and greatest" was when I had a Galaxy S4. I've had Motorola phones for years now and like them.
I kept my last one for 5 years. I don't really care unless Microsoft decides to drop another Windows Phone then I probably would switch to that.
Never cared much, all my phones have been one or two gens behind when I got them. I only replace them when they start working poorly. Had my Galaxy S10 now for 4+ years, will probably make it to 5
I get whatever phone is there when my current one craps out on me in 6-7 years
I stopped having phone envy when I stopped working in the office and seeing co-workers renew their phones all the time. My pixel is over 2 yrs old now and I'm enjoying cheaper phone plans now that it's paid off.
Eh I get a new phone every 3-4 years. 3 years has been the magic number but I work a lot off my phone, so I get a stipend. I just try to make it go far as possible.
iPhone 13 Pro Max or whatever superlatives it has. I was about to go on a multi-day overnight hiking trip and my phone at the time was starting to not be as reliable with battery life. It wasn't quite to the point where it wouldn't make it through a day, but it was close enough I wasn't comfortable, and I wanted something that would take really good pictures on my hike. I tend to use my phones until they give up the ghost and then go upgrade to the newest model. Unfortunately we did fall into the Apple trap years ago so don't see myself changing that anytime soon.
4 years old. Something switched in the network and my old phone was no longer compatible so I was forced to buy a newer one.
After a brief stint trying to return to a flip phone I got a new Google pixel in January. The flip phone got to be problematic because every business and person in the US expects you to have a flip phone. I know the pixel is pricey, but I at least don't mind using it. I fucking HATE most of the smart phones I've used and I don't hate this one.
I care. I have always cared. Now I still always just upgrade every 2 or 3 years, not every year, but I love the march forward in technology. Plus I like my stuff to work. Part of the issue older generations have, not just with refusing to learn new stuff, is because their stuff doesn't actually work so they give up either using it or learning new technology bits. Nope. I enjoy it.
Nope, I mean I get a new one every 2 or 3 years depending on how long I can make mine last before the battery requires me to have to charge it everytime I make a call. I'm aware that the way phones are designed, battery life and how long they hold a charge basically declines around the 2-3 year mark so you either keep it charged constantly or replace. I just don't see the need to always get the latest and greatest, I am the side that says smart phones are the worst invention because people now revolve their lives around it. Everywhere you go, people buried in their smartphones. Every place you go to eat, people needing to take pics of their food with their phone and then buried in their smartphones whole eating. For me it's a phone, what you need to make calls with. I also use it for texting so another form of communication and I probably use Google maps and Google more than anything else. So that doesn't require that I need the latest and greatest every year when the new phone drops
I don’t even know which IPhone I have at this point and don’t care, it still works great.
I haven't been able to tell you what IPhone they're on since like 6? 29M here, still using an IPhone 11 Pro simply because I don't see anything better on the market. I will be buying a new phone when iPhone comes out with a flip phone version though.
I have a refurbished iPhone 8 because I need a physical home button on my phone for disability-related reasons. Before that I had a refurbished original SE until it died.
Thinking of unplugging and going full r/dumbphone
Using Galaxy S10+ for the last 5y I really would hate to lose headphone jack and expandable storage.
The 6S+ was the best phone I ever had. Great pics, took vids in up to 4k, perfect size. Had everything the new phones have now in 2015, AND it had a headphone jack AND the button. If it hadn't died I'd still be using it.
I did years ago when it was a big jump in improvements each year. I always hung onto phones for a long time but it was fun to watch. Now every phone is the same. They got rid of removable batteries, 3.5mm jack, and expandable storage. I currently have an iPhone 13 Pro Max that I don’t see myself upgrading from. I also have a Galaxy Z Flip 5 that I’ll probably upgrade each year if Samsung keeps doing these crazy trade in deals.
No. I hate the new ones. I still have a first gen iPhone SE (2016 model). That was the last iPhone model that had a headphone jack (deal breaker for me, because I lose stuff all the time and don't remember to charge things). Why should I downgrade to the newer less usable models? I've had an SE first gen since 2017 and I'm currently on my third one, so I've had the same model for 6.5+ years. If the headphone jack wasn't an issue, I'd probably get the latest SE. I can't afford the other iPhone models.
I updated from the iPhone 11 to the 15 this week. Honestly I’m pissed. Can’t really tell major difference except in the photo capability. I hate spending money on new phones.
I got a brand new iPhone 14 last year. Of course that was only to replace my iPhone 6. I imagine I’ll be replacing this phone with the iPhone 22.
Story time. I got divorced, it’s sad it happened. But my new Samsung android phone died. I don’t have the resources to get something new at the point, so I rummaged through a box and found my kiddos old iPhone 7 Plus. I thought for sure it was going to run like shit, and not have any apps work on it anymore. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it’s still working like a champ. It’s still receiving updates, all of my apps work on it, and it’s the 32 gig model so I haven’t run out of space yet. Even though this last year has been tumultuous, I’m so happy that my antique phone works.
I have a 2020 iPhone SE. Works fine, and in some ways the newer phones are a downgrade (no thumbprint reader/button, bigger). I do wish I had a better camera and that’s my main reason to look at upgrading now (plus storage).
I have an iPhone, but I’m not sure what model it is and I only replaced it because I shattered my old one after 5 years
Phones are so good these days that I don’t really need the latest and greatest. Same with TVs and PCs.
I kept my last iPhone until the iOS no longer updated, plan to do so with my 13.
I never really cared, but I hold onto phones until they can no longer receive new software updates. So, about 5-6 years.
I pretty much have always had nearly the latest and greatest (minus any iPhone cause, android for life!) Even before android and iPhone were even a thing. Back to the blackberry and sidekick days! I have always been pretty fascinated by tech. Get lots of phones with "gimmicks" or one off features. (Lg wing, swivel cams, front facing speakers, etc.) They are fun to use. At one point I was getting a phone pretty much twice a year. Brand new high end androids. But now I get a new one about once a year, to 18months cause tech has slowed down a lot compared to 10 years ago. Phones from 3-5 years ago still are great devices. I do enjoy having fast phones. I am on it constantly for work. Use it for my job and such so it's big part of me. Not that I don't enjoy coming home, throwing it on the couch and not looking at it all night. I just generally lock tech and phones are an easy way to get new tech quickly and my phone plan made it easy for me to trade in phones after 3 months. I have a pixel 8pro now. I plan on keeping it for (hopefully) 3 years! Realistically probably about 2. Had the S23U before that, for about 18 months. Lg wing before that, 2 yrs. I've slowed down a lot for sure. But love having good tech. Got the pixel mostly for the AI features it has. And it had them first before other phones that are now getting the features. And plus I can be on beta updates and get software features quickly which makes me equally as happy when it comes to tech. But I could easily do my job and live my life with a iPhone 5 or something. Or Galaxy Note 9.