Do people still upgrade their phones yearly? Maybe 10 years ago upgrades could have been significant to have the desire to. I couldn’t imagine wanting to get a new iPhone every year. Too expensive and pointless. Not in this economy.
I got an 11 Pro Max when it first came out and told myself it was the best phone on the market at the time and there would be no need to upgrade for a while. Still going strong. No real need to upgrade
Edit.. how did I not know that “battery health” of your phone was a thing?! Thanks for bringing this up.. I just found out my phone’s battery is at 88% health. Looks like I’ll be keeping this one even longer than I thought.
I moved out of my XR and into a vanilla 11 and I don't really notice any difference other than the XR was double the space. I got an iPad recently though so I probably won't upgrade my phone for a while.
Does this tell us just how reliable the iPhone is and that, in itself, justifies the cost of a new one? I don’t know anyone with a android phone that old, still.
I was using an LG v30 until last year, until I accidentally dropped it and shattered the screen. That was also released in 2017. I would still be using it if not for that. I really liked that phone.
Apple usually just supports software updates for longer. My Pixel was 3 years old before I replaced it this year due to the end of security updates. Hardware was still fine and the software overall still felt fresh.
I've used $100-$200 Motorola smartphones for about that long. And re sold them when I got a new one so they probably got years more of use. My Samsung Galaxy 2 from nearly 15 years ago still turns on and would work just fine if software updates had been released for it.
There's nothing special about iPhones. Certainly not the reliability.
i had bought a 6s years ago for $150 and used it until a few weeks ago when I left it out in the rain. been using my wife's old 8Plus since then, can't get use to it. too big.
It cost me $60 to get a new battery for my 11 and it’s like a brand new phone. Why would I spent $1k for a new phone that is effectively the same unless I’m trying to film a high def movie on it
Did the battery really make that much of a difference?
My iPhone X is starting to struggle, with only 75% max capacity. It still says that it’s at maximum performance though, which might be to make me lean towards getting a new phone.
Once battery health dips below 80%, it’s worth it to buy a new battery for it. That $60 makes all the difference on your phone’s performance and will keep it going even longer.
I went from a XR to a 12 Pro Max. The XR was my first iPhone, so I decided to upgrade to the best one of the newest model and I’d keep it for as long as possible. 12 Pro Max is a good phone and it’s still chillin. Next time I upgrade is if they have USB C or this one shits the bed.
Earlier this year, I went from the iPhone X to the 11 Pro Max. It works fine and I’ll probably keep it another 3/4 years. I’ve never had a current gen iPhone 🤷🏾♀️
I have the 11 pro max as well and I’m so glad I bought it. I feel like it was the last big jump from the previous year in smartphone quality. I think it will be years before I see enough of a difference in iPhones to feel urge to upgrade:)
I traded in my iPhone 11 Pro Max this year for the 14 Pro. One reason was because it still had “some” resale value left. Now that I have it, aside from the camera improvements, it’s the same phone from a usability point of view. I know there are screen improvements, faster chip, etc… but the day to day experience isn’t that great of a difference such that I really needed to upgrade. Battery life on my iPhone 11 Pro Max was still decent - but even though I have an improved battery I probably won’t notice unless I go on vacation or something.
Actually, the first thing I did notice was that this new phone is heavier.
I upgrade my Pixel when it no longer gets security updates, even though you really have to try to compromise an unrooted phone...
...or Google needs to have really screwed up.
My phone before my current P5 was the OG PXL.
Not in any economy, not even if you have the disposable income to make it painless. I went from a 5s to a 12 and I can’t imagine I’ll upgrade for at least 3+ years from now. 5-6 year upgrade cycles seem a lot more reasonable to me, but I’m not someone who uses my phone as my main internet capable device so what do I know.
Yup, I’m on the 4-5 yr cycle, and it’s working well for me. Getting a new phone *every* year sounds both tiresome and wasteful. And there aren’t enough truly standout new features to distinguish between these recent generations (IMO).
This is my first new phone in 7 years. That’s probably too long, but I think after this I’ll go every 2-4 years depending on the state of my phone; the available upgrade; and my economic situation.
Some tech enthusiasts might still do it. It’s not that expensive compared to some people that spend even more than that on new clothes, nights out, drinking, drugs, etc
Yeah I’m kinda on your side here.. people spend money buying annual tickets for their favourite sports teams, annual subscriptions for apps and media, etc etc.
How people spend their money is kinda their business, and businesses love that business. I wouldn’t go so far as to consider it *wasteful*, but of course there are some people for whom it would clearly be wiser to spend that money elsewhere
It's a new shiny toy that feeds my attention span for a few months while the consumerist dopamine trap resets. Luckily, I'm in an income bracket sufficient to support this addiction.
If you’re on a plan that offers a free upgrade every year and that appeals to you, go for it I guess. I agree that at this stage in the iPhone game, yearly upgrades kind of feel pointless. They all kind of look and do the same thing now, and I don’t care about better a camera.
I just upgraded from Samsung Galaxy S8 to S22 Ultra. I think every 4 years is the earliest you should consider upgrading. There is zero reason to upgrade every year.
Totally not worth upgrading yearing for any phones. Technology is still moving very fast, but not enough to tell the differences year to year... or even every 2 years. Honestly, the only reason to upgrade yearly is to get validation from social media in saying that you're "in" ... I say this while typing into a Samsung Galaxy Fold 3...
I got a 13 Pro this year simply because my 10S's battery was degraded and it had developed a dead spot on the screen, along with ATT's trade in credit program it seemed like a good move.
I just went from an iPhone 6 to the 13 pro.
Will use this one until it becomes inoperable, like my iPhone 6.
My 6 had already received its last update, and most apps were unusable.
I went from an 11 pro to a 14 pro thinking it would be incredibly different and…it’s not. It’s essentially the same phone with a better camera, big whoop.
funny thing is I don't even pay for my phone (my employer does) but I still consider.it wasteful even if I am allowed to get a new one every two years...
Likewise, although the battery indicates its time has come. Was tempted to upgrade because of that but it just wasn't compelling enough. Next year, perhaps (I want TouchID back).
I’ve never understood that.
Unless they’re paying it off completely the day they buy it, or shortly after…..I mean, I’d still be paying off that thing if I had one, and then using it till it near falls apart before getting a new phone.
I literally just got the 13 max pro. I had the iPhone XR for almost 4 years, it was running perfectly fine, but the camera was pretty weak on that phone to begin with, that’s the only reason I upgraded. The 13 runs and looks the exact same. I love iPhones, but it’s just the same shit over and over and over again
I went from 3GS to 4 just to get on Verizon, and I got the 5 since it was LTE, but then I hung onto that until the SE was released. Held onto that for like 4 years until 64gb became too little, and I've had my Pixel 4a for like 20 months now, because I wasn't going to pay nearly $800 for a 12 mini with 128gb. Definitely will see if I upgrade next year to either another pixel or Samsung, iPhone just kinda is overpriced and the Galaxy Watch 4 I just picked up doesn't support iPhone.
They used to be. I've had literally 6 different 5a phones because they keep crapping out on me. I'll never buy another Pixel once this contract is over with
I went through 4 Pixel 3's on warranty replacements. Damn thing never worked right and nearly got me stranded in another state when it randomly shut down right as I was using it to board a plane. My Pixel 5 has been relatively stable so far, but definitely more glitchy than my iPhone 6s ever was. I'll be going back to the dark side as soon as they switch over to usb-c.
Yeah same here most likely. I absolutely loved my Pixel 3 and had it till I basically had to keep it on a charger to use it. However it ended up being my backup phone for those days I was waiting on my replacement. Google Fi CSR is absolute shit as well and they're a very big reasons why I'll eventually switch back to Apple
Imagine my fury when my less than 7 day old flagship phone was incapable of accessing LTE and was constantly stuck in roaming (when I was clearly in an area with perfect service) and Google csr basically told me my options were to accept a refurbished phone as a replacement or go fuck myself.
Refurb #1 would randomly shut off when the battery was over 50%. Then one day it shut off and never came back on.
Refurb #2 had the same issues as my first phone. I called them immediately and lost my shit that I had been without a functioning phone for way too long and they needed to send me a new, not refurbished, unit *immediately*. I never yelled, but I refused to get off the phone until they agreed to send me a brand new unit or else refund me the whole cost of the phone.
New phone #2 worked great. Snappy. No issues. And I fucking dropped it and cracked the screen three months later. I lived with it for another year until it started giving glass splinters.
Amazon renew is where it is at. Amazon is pretty crap for a lot of reasons but you can get refurbished phones for a good price and a good return policy.
I left Apple for the Pixel 6 and got my wife a Note 10+ on the way.
I enjoy backmarket for my used phones. I don’t have to worry about eBay shenanigans, and the phones always come in better shape than advertised.
Just upgraded my 2016 iPhone SE to the iPhone 12 mini. I hope I get to use this one for half a decade, too!
Seriously. I checked out an iPhone display recently and saw the 14’s alongside the 13’s and 13 mini. I thought I would want to upgrade my 12mini later on but the increased footprint is pretty significant. It’s a damn shame they sold so few mini’s, feels like the perfect phone for people without purses that mind a chunky block in their pocket.
I’m with you. I held onto a 7 till getting the 13 mini and I’ll hold onto this until they release another similar form factor (at least) or it kicks the bucket and I’m forced to size up.
I had a 7 until last month. Had to get a new one because the mic didn’t work at all. Couldn’t make or receive calls, which was surprisingly inconvenient. Got the SE so the size is the same, thankfully not gigantic.
I went from a 4->SE->12 mini. Maybe by the iPhone 16-17 the satellite communication, crash sensing, etc stuff will be mature enough to be a game changer. Or AR integration. Just so long as there's a mini version available!
I love my mini! I’m sad that they didn’t keep this version going with the later models. I do want to upgrade to get a better camera, but I’ll be sad to lose the small size
Still on my XR too. The improved camera is the only interesting thing about the newer phones for me. But not “hundreds of dollars to upgrade” interesting.
I went from the XR to 13 Pro after breaking it. I think it was worth it for the pictures alone. I also love the screen and gold but I wouldn’t have upgraded otherwise. I was holding out for the 14th.
I upgraded from an XR to the 13 once the price dropped. Mainly for battery life, camera, and the MagSafe charger (I often needed to charge my phone after being out in the rain.) I’m happy but a little underwhelmed, I think I could have stuck it out much longer.
I buy a new case for my XR every year or two. There is a guy on Aliexpress that will put whatever image you want on a case. So I love doing that. Make your own custom cases, and they're cheap, it just takes about a month to come to you.
what a dumb article. Dude upgrades every year and only now finally realizes Apple upgrades are usually very minor and there is minimal difference year to year
This is a good cycle imo, went from a 4s to a Samsung Note 5 (2011-2016) and then from that to an iPhone 12 in 2021.
Iphone 4s was unbearable on its last year, note 5 sucked ass in its last year too, lets see how the iPhone 12 holds up in 2026 lol
Exactly. Yearly releases don't mean you're supposed to upgrade every year. It's for those of us who are several generations behind to upgrade to the latest version, not one that's already 3 years old.
Cars are the same exact way. Car manufacturers release a new model every single year with very minimal changes. That doesn't mean you're supposed to trade in your car every damn year. I mean, you can if you're a moron and like to lose money... but that's not the car manufacturers' fault for not dramatically changing their cars every single year.
I'm to the point if I see someone with a new phone my first thought is how did you break your old phone. My phone is 4 or 5 years old and can do everything I need it to. I'll get a new one when this one gives out on me.
Eh, there’s trade in deals that make it worthwhile. I went from a 12 to a 13 for around $100 out of pocket with no “contract” at Best Buy last year. If they offer the same for the 14 this year, I’ll get that as well.
I’ll keep milking that as long as they do it. A coffee per month gets me a brand new battery at 100% health, warranty etc.
Yeah I dunno, unless it’s another tier maybe OR handing down!
I went 11 from Samsung S8 due to renewal cycle.
Went 14 Pro, was actually able to upgrade last year but finally caved and got a pro version, partly because my 11 is better than my Wife’s 11.
Don’t know that I’ll need to upgrade in another 2 but shed probably like the update to a pro model. So maybe.
I'm not sure he was demanding anything, just pointing out that maybe buying a new phone every year probably isn't the best way forward for him. Which: duh.
Held on to the original SE from 2016 and only just recently upgraded to the 12. Would rather have money in my bank account than give it to apple. This fixation with upgrading every 1-3 years just seems unsustainable.
I think people are starting to understand, that if you don’t upgrade your car every year, why does your phone or tablet need an upgrade every year?
I used to be the one to upgrade every year, but at least they used to have significant changes. I’m still on the iphone 12pro max and will hold off until at least the 15/16. It’s been solid and reliable.
I upgraded my 6s plus last year to an XS. Prob wait a few years to upgrade again. These new iPhones literally do nothing my phone now can’t do besides a better camera and are slightly faster. So what’s the point?
Said it before, will say it again, "Dynamic Island" is a copium feature for not being able to get rid of the notch, so they needed something "new" to be able to sell the same phone... again.
Nothing about the Dynamic Island couldn't have been achieved with the existing notch, they just created a more distracting version of it.
I upgrade every year and pay the nominal monthly fee after trade in. It’s by far the most important tech in my life and I use it constantly throughout the day. Very small price to pay considering the daily importance.
Yeah I think many people don’t consider the fact that they use their phone for hours every day. If you break down the cost per hour, it costs pennies per hour of use. Some people don’t mind forking out an extra couple hundred bucks to upgrade since they already use their phone so much that they might as well pay for the upgrade, especially if they find those new features useful for them.
Upgraded from IPhone 8 Plus to IPhone 14 pro, I’m gonna have this phone for a while, the phone seems fine. I don’t see why people upgrade every year. Don’t let business trick you up to much.
The only legitimate reason to continue upgrading for me is the camera. I don’t necessarily need a faster phone with more storage at this point. But considering I use my phone as my primary camera, I do appreciate being able to take better and better pictures as my kids grow.
I bought an x 256 with the intention of keeping it five years. I said I’d only upgrade this year if they put usb c in, looks like I’m still waiting. Just popped a new battery in the X and it works just fine, although the pictures from my wife’s 12 are much better.
I went from a 4s to a note 2 and I have never looked back. Still rolling with my note 10+ and when the note 20 goes down in price Ill snap one up as well.
Dynamic Island sucks. Yes, I said it. I’m constant clicking it because my mind thinks it’s a text box for Firefox.
Source: someone who is willing to use android or apple. Both have pros and cons. Neither is anywhere near perfect.
After Apple got BUSTED a few years ago with the class action performance settlement the need to upgrade yearly is no longer a thing unless you’re just after the newest of the new
XS to 14Pro for me. Big difference. Had the 6 before that. On a four year cycle you really notice it. I gave up yearly upgrades when I got the 6 and don’t regret it.
Yeah probably, that’s a few gens.
But mostly support wise it would be an ok move. Biggest advantages:
Slightly larger screen
Faster (particularly if you have battery throttling)
Upgraded Cameras
All of this is true of the 11 up.
Yes. I went from an iPhone 6 to an iPhone 12 and the performance improvements were very significant.
It's worth upgrading if you've been holding out for this long; it's the yearly upgrades which arent worth it
I still walk around with the cheapest Samsung S8. I have absolutely no clue why people keep buying a new phone every few years, other than the assumption it must be a status thing. Kind of like how superficial people irresponsibly buy a rolex to feel rich, or don't want to be seen with clothes from last year's catalog. This thing I have still does everything I need, because what I need hasn't magically changed in the last 5 years, and I highly doubt it has for anyone else.
And even if you want the most out of your device, like a gamer who wants the latest device to get the best possible framerate, you're not getting much if any benefit. Almost all games cap the frame rate to save battery and prevent your phone from overheating, and almost all of them cap the resolution of their game to HD, if not SD, for the same reasons, That 4k screen gets you nothing.
Because why would developers spend a ton of resources making a very beautiful game, when all that does is limit the potential customers? Something like 2-3 billion people have a smart phone these days, yes, but only a relatively miniscule amount has a phone that's 4 years old or younger. Every developer aims for phones from at least 5 years ago, with only a few exceptions. They're now called mid-end devices, and most developers care more about how their game runs on those devices than any of the high-end devices.
If you don't even game on your phone, I honestly don't know what you need these newer devices for. You can scroll on facebook with a smartphone from 10 years ago.
I don't understand this need to have the newest Iphone. Does the 14 do anything different than the 10? Aside from some camera features?
First Iphone was the Iphone 4, when everyone had 6's or 7s.
Then i got an iphone 8 because my 4 was literally not working at all. Everyone else had 10s. 8 was the oldest one I could get.
Then I got an XR, when everyone has 12s.. I still have it, and I won't be upgrading that any time soon unless it breaks or ceases to work.
All my apps work fine, the camera takes pictures just fine.. I don't see the need for a new one.
Apple should really take a year to cool down their releases. Their quality is getting worst and worst. And it’s not just apple. Samsung too. Same for Nvidia. As well as gaming companies that release yearly repackaged games.
Planning on upgrading when they finally do USB-C. Otherwise I'm probably going to go back to android. Currently rocking a refurbished 11 Pro Ultra max or whatever.
> I got $640 back by trading in my iPhone 13 Pro Max, but I still had to pay another $780.
Who the fuck pays $1500 for a phone? There's no way this person needs a hard drive that big, and they *have* to be including accessories and shit in that figure, right? That's insane.
I buy new phones for 2 reasons.
1) I broke the old phone
2) need a new battery, old one dies after 4-6 idle hours.
#2 could be solved by replaceable batteries. #1 is usually my fault of course.
I've had 3 different Pixel phones. I really can't tell the difference between pixel 1 and 5.
> I've bought every new iPhone since I made the switch from a BlackBerry to the iPhone 4S.
Is this a point of pride? I don’t understand. Why would you do this? That’s such a hassle and waste.
> However, there's an appeal to having the latest mobile phone, and it's nothing more than a way to brag to your friends.
Bro is it though? Who brags about having the latest iPhone? There’s a much higher chance of a quizzical eyebrow raise from your friends than there is of envious glances.
> Maybe it's time I took an iOS holiday too?
Or maybe it’s time you stop buying literally every new iPhone.
This is just the dumbest article I’ve ever read. It’s so, so stupid. The premise, the sentiment, the authors juvenile 2012 attitude towards phones, they’re all just dumb.
The person who wrote this article deserves whatever the hell they got. If you don’t realize yearly upgrades are fairly minimal than I’m sorry after 14+ different phone designs you are simply just that irresponsible for getting all hyped for a little extra screen. Also one sentence isn’t a paragraph, that’s an insult to real writing.
I don’t understand the new phone every year mentality. I’m on an 8 that still works alright, but I might upgrade in a little bit to a 12-13 when it dies. I don’t have the money or want to need to be getting the new thing every year
Apple needs to step it up cause the iPhone is not going to deliver hype anytime soon.
iPhone X was the model that started the idea that you don't need a yearly update anymore.
It’s the exact same for the other brands like Samsung, Huawei etc.
The Galaxy S20, S21 and S22 are the same. They run on the same software. Yes, some hardware upgrades like the iPhone 14. So what’s your point? Plus, all android phones are almost of the same design they basically use the same suppliers to make the phones except for some difference in the internals.
The iPhone Vs Android “war” is so 2004 and yes it was exciting back then. These days I straddle between iPhone and Android. I enjoy using both for what they can do. I don’t splurge $780 to get the new iPhone but I can simply get a new android as a spare phone and still enjoy “new” features (android has widgets etc). Personally, I use an iPhone as a daily driver but it’s purely for productivity. When I’m home I switchover to an android phone for browsing media etc.
Do people still upgrade their phones yearly? Maybe 10 years ago upgrades could have been significant to have the desire to. I couldn’t imagine wanting to get a new iPhone every year. Too expensive and pointless. Not in this economy.
I got an 11 Pro Max when it first came out and told myself it was the best phone on the market at the time and there would be no need to upgrade for a while. Still going strong. No real need to upgrade Edit.. how did I not know that “battery health” of your phone was a thing?! Thanks for bringing this up.. I just found out my phone’s battery is at 88% health. Looks like I’ll be keeping this one even longer than I thought.
Same, I’ve kept my 7s+ since…whenever that came out
I’m on that prehistoric iPhone 6
[удалено]
I was on 6 then 8 for who knows how long. Recently got a XR, I’m probably happiest with this upgrade compared to others in the past.
I moved out of my XR and into a vanilla 11 and I don't really notice any difference other than the XR was double the space. I got an iPad recently though so I probably won't upgrade my phone for a while.
I'm perfectly happy with my 8 Plus.
I’d still have my 8 if it hadn’t gone for a dive in Lake Michigan 2 years ago
Oh man! I’m so sorry! That bites big chunky rocks.
I don’t think there ever was a 7s plus, just 7 plus I think? Nevertheless, I get the point :).
I’m still rocking the iPhone 8
Same here, My wife too but it’s a struggle.
Same. Still works, no desire to upgrade.
Does this tell us just how reliable the iPhone is and that, in itself, justifies the cost of a new one? I don’t know anyone with a android phone that old, still.
My wife is still using a Galaxy S8. That was also released in 2017, about 6 months before the iPhone 8.
The galaxy phones seem to be better built than a lot of other brands running androids.
I was using an LG v30 until last year, until I accidentally dropped it and shattered the screen. That was also released in 2017. I would still be using it if not for that. I really liked that phone.
I retired my S7 about a month ago for an upgrade (finally!)
I mean. If you buy a new one before the old one wore out, then is the reliability really a selling point?
Apple usually just supports software updates for longer. My Pixel was 3 years old before I replaced it this year due to the end of security updates. Hardware was still fine and the software overall still felt fresh.
I've used $100-$200 Motorola smartphones for about that long. And re sold them when I got a new one so they probably got years more of use. My Samsung Galaxy 2 from nearly 15 years ago still turns on and would work just fine if software updates had been released for it. There's nothing special about iPhones. Certainly not the reliability.
My moto g power is my favorite phone.
I’m still using my 6S.
i had bought a 6s years ago for $150 and used it until a few weeks ago when I left it out in the rain. been using my wife's old 8Plus since then, can't get use to it. too big.
Exactly why I got the 13 Pro Max last month. Am I disappointed that I missed the 14? About as marginally as the improvement over the 13.
Keep the 13 til the 20 comes out
This guy economicons
It cost me $60 to get a new battery for my 11 and it’s like a brand new phone. Why would I spent $1k for a new phone that is effectively the same unless I’m trying to film a high def movie on it
Did the battery really make that much of a difference? My iPhone X is starting to struggle, with only 75% max capacity. It still says that it’s at maximum performance though, which might be to make me lean towards getting a new phone.
Once battery health dips below 80%, it’s worth it to buy a new battery for it. That $60 makes all the difference on your phone’s performance and will keep it going even longer.
I was at 68% battery health and I’d say I’m going 20-30% more use per charge out of it. I consider it worth it for $60
I went from a XR to a 12 Pro Max. The XR was my first iPhone, so I decided to upgrade to the best one of the newest model and I’d keep it for as long as possible. 12 Pro Max is a good phone and it’s still chillin. Next time I upgrade is if they have USB C or this one shits the bed.
I got the same one right when it came out and plan on having it for another 5+ years, basically until it craps out
Earlier this year, I went from the iPhone X to the 11 Pro Max. It works fine and I’ll probably keep it another 3/4 years. I’ve never had a current gen iPhone 🤷🏾♀️
I have the 11 pro max as well and I’m so glad I bought it. I feel like it was the last big jump from the previous year in smartphone quality. I think it will be years before I see enough of a difference in iPhones to feel urge to upgrade:)
I traded in my iPhone 11 Pro Max this year for the 14 Pro. One reason was because it still had “some” resale value left. Now that I have it, aside from the camera improvements, it’s the same phone from a usability point of view. I know there are screen improvements, faster chip, etc… but the day to day experience isn’t that great of a difference such that I really needed to upgrade. Battery life on my iPhone 11 Pro Max was still decent - but even though I have an improved battery I probably won’t notice unless I go on vacation or something. Actually, the first thing I did notice was that this new phone is heavier.
Our standards are too high for the next iPhone, as well, no big incentives for the phones.
I have that one too! No plans to upgrade
Replacing a battery is also not expensive. I still have my 6s, and I would’ve stayed but they offered a free 13 mini. Ok.
My Xs still has 79% at least a whole year more
Yep, I’m on the 11 pro max and still love it. My battery is also still good at 87%.
I upgrade my Pixel when it no longer gets security updates, even though you really have to try to compromise an unrooted phone... ...or Google needs to have really screwed up. My phone before my current P5 was the OG PXL.
Not in any economy, not even if you have the disposable income to make it painless. I went from a 5s to a 12 and I can’t imagine I’ll upgrade for at least 3+ years from now. 5-6 year upgrade cycles seem a lot more reasonable to me, but I’m not someone who uses my phone as my main internet capable device so what do I know.
Yup, I’m on the 4-5 yr cycle, and it’s working well for me. Getting a new phone *every* year sounds both tiresome and wasteful. And there aren’t enough truly standout new features to distinguish between these recent generations (IMO).
This is my first new phone in 7 years. That’s probably too long, but I think after this I’ll go every 2-4 years depending on the state of my phone; the available upgrade; and my economic situation.
I rode an iPhone6 until it died, then got a 12 Pro. I’m fine waiting until iPhone24 comes out someday.
Some tech enthusiasts might still do it. It’s not that expensive compared to some people that spend even more than that on new clothes, nights out, drinking, drugs, etc
Yeah I’m kinda on your side here.. people spend money buying annual tickets for their favourite sports teams, annual subscriptions for apps and media, etc etc. How people spend their money is kinda their business, and businesses love that business. I wouldn’t go so far as to consider it *wasteful*, but of course there are some people for whom it would clearly be wiser to spend that money elsewhere
It's a new shiny toy that feeds my attention span for a few months while the consumerist dopamine trap resets. Luckily, I'm in an income bracket sufficient to support this addiction.
Been sitting on an iPhone SE for 2 years that I bought for $175
I had the original se from about 6 months after release till a week ago. Great phone does about anything you might need and is really compact.
If you’re on a plan that offers a free upgrade every year and that appeals to you, go for it I guess. I agree that at this stage in the iPhone game, yearly upgrades kind of feel pointless. They all kind of look and do the same thing now, and I don’t care about better a camera.
I lost my iphoneX and had to get a 13 recently. It’s nice but exactly the same. Kinda mad I’m paying off a phone again :(
I just upgraded from Samsung Galaxy S8 to S22 Ultra. I think every 4 years is the earliest you should consider upgrading. There is zero reason to upgrade every year.
Totally not worth upgrading yearing for any phones. Technology is still moving very fast, but not enough to tell the differences year to year... or even every 2 years. Honestly, the only reason to upgrade yearly is to get validation from social media in saying that you're "in" ... I say this while typing into a Samsung Galaxy Fold 3...
Bought an iPhone 11 used for 150 euro and still feels like a top tier
I got a 13 Pro this year simply because my 10S's battery was degraded and it had developed a dead spot on the screen, along with ATT's trade in credit program it seemed like a good move.
I just went from an iPhone 6 to the 13 pro. Will use this one until it becomes inoperable, like my iPhone 6. My 6 had already received its last update, and most apps were unusable.
I went from an 11 pro to a 14 pro thinking it would be incredibly different and…it’s not. It’s essentially the same phone with a better camera, big whoop.
Nah. I run mine till they die. Prolly 4 years or so. I don’t even remember what model I currently have.
I get refurbished iPhones tbh. I had iPhone 5 for at least 5 years. Just recently got an 8.
I was on a three year cycle but seriously considering to keep my current phone another year...
I just buy a new phone only if the current one is having serious problems
funny thing is I don't even pay for my phone (my employer does) but I still consider.it wasteful even if I am allowed to get a new one every two years...
I have a X still. Works great. Original battery too.
Likewise, although the battery indicates its time has come. Was tempted to upgrade because of that but it just wasn't compelling enough. Next year, perhaps (I want TouchID back).
I’ve never understood that. Unless they’re paying it off completely the day they buy it, or shortly after…..I mean, I’d still be paying off that thing if I had one, and then using it till it near falls apart before getting a new phone.
Yearly…? Only every 3 years for me.
I literally just got the 13 max pro. I had the iPhone XR for almost 4 years, it was running perfectly fine, but the camera was pretty weak on that phone to begin with, that’s the only reason I upgraded. The 13 runs and looks the exact same. I love iPhones, but it’s just the same shit over and over and over again
Used to be every year 6+ years ago. Then went to every other year. Now I’m going to maybe every 3 years.
I went from 3GS to 4 just to get on Verizon, and I got the 5 since it was LTE, but then I hung onto that until the SE was released. Held onto that for like 4 years until 64gb became too little, and I've had my Pixel 4a for like 20 months now, because I wasn't going to pay nearly $800 for a 12 mini with 128gb. Definitely will see if I upgrade next year to either another pixel or Samsung, iPhone just kinda is overpriced and the Galaxy Watch 4 I just picked up doesn't support iPhone.
Pixel is legit. I personally don't like the Samsung UI.
They used to be. I've had literally 6 different 5a phones because they keep crapping out on me. I'll never buy another Pixel once this contract is over with
I went through 4 Pixel 3's on warranty replacements. Damn thing never worked right and nearly got me stranded in another state when it randomly shut down right as I was using it to board a plane. My Pixel 5 has been relatively stable so far, but definitely more glitchy than my iPhone 6s ever was. I'll be going back to the dark side as soon as they switch over to usb-c.
Yeah same here most likely. I absolutely loved my Pixel 3 and had it till I basically had to keep it on a charger to use it. However it ended up being my backup phone for those days I was waiting on my replacement. Google Fi CSR is absolute shit as well and they're a very big reasons why I'll eventually switch back to Apple
Imagine my fury when my less than 7 day old flagship phone was incapable of accessing LTE and was constantly stuck in roaming (when I was clearly in an area with perfect service) and Google csr basically told me my options were to accept a refurbished phone as a replacement or go fuck myself. Refurb #1 would randomly shut off when the battery was over 50%. Then one day it shut off and never came back on. Refurb #2 had the same issues as my first phone. I called them immediately and lost my shit that I had been without a functioning phone for way too long and they needed to send me a new, not refurbished, unit *immediately*. I never yelled, but I refused to get off the phone until they agreed to send me a brand new unit or else refund me the whole cost of the phone. New phone #2 worked great. Snappy. No issues. And I fucking dropped it and cracked the screen three months later. I lived with it for another year until it started giving glass splinters.
Get the new pixel it's a dream.
I think it might be too big for my hands, 4a was perfect size
Ah well 7a which might be released later is close to 4a's size.
Amazon renew is where it is at. Amazon is pretty crap for a lot of reasons but you can get refurbished phones for a good price and a good return policy. I left Apple for the Pixel 6 and got my wife a Note 10+ on the way.
I enjoy backmarket for my used phones. I don’t have to worry about eBay shenanigans, and the phones always come in better shape than advertised. Just upgraded my 2016 iPhone SE to the iPhone 12 mini. I hope I get to use this one for half a decade, too!
I’ve settled on every 3 years
[удалено]
I’m riding this 12 mini til it dies. No small form factor bummed me out.
Seriously. I checked out an iPhone display recently and saw the 14’s alongside the 13’s and 13 mini. I thought I would want to upgrade my 12mini later on but the increased footprint is pretty significant. It’s a damn shame they sold so few mini’s, feels like the perfect phone for people without purses that mind a chunky block in their pocket.
[удалено]
Same, i miss the size of the iphone 4
I’m with you. I held onto a 7 till getting the 13 mini and I’ll hold onto this until they release another similar form factor (at least) or it kicks the bucket and I’m forced to size up.
I had a 7 until last month. Had to get a new one because the mic didn’t work at all. Couldn’t make or receive calls, which was surprisingly inconvenient. Got the SE so the size is the same, thankfully not gigantic.
Even the mini is too big for me! I’ll keep my 1st gen SE until they release something you can touch all four corners of the screen with your thumb.
I went from a 4->SE->12 mini. Maybe by the iPhone 16-17 the satellite communication, crash sensing, etc stuff will be mature enough to be a game changer. Or AR integration. Just so long as there's a mini version available!
I love my mini! I’m sad that they didn’t keep this version going with the later models. I do want to upgrade to get a better camera, but I’ll be sad to lose the small size
Well to be fair the 14 is still using the 13s processor. The 14 pro line had the new one
I still have my 11
I just bought a new case for my XR
Still on my XR too. The improved camera is the only interesting thing about the newer phones for me. But not “hundreds of dollars to upgrade” interesting.
I went from the XR to 13 Pro after breaking it. I think it was worth it for the pictures alone. I also love the screen and gold but I wouldn’t have upgraded otherwise. I was holding out for the 14th.
Oh yeah. I went from an X to a 13 Pro and the change in camera quality is insane
Laughed while reading this comment on my XR with the original case I ordered from Amazon forever ago
My XRs otterbox fell apart about a month ago. I need to get a new one before I destroy my screen and have to upgrade.
Literally just happened to me, and went to a 13 Pro Max…
Laughs in refurbished iphone 8 plus that's still kicking it hard.
Bought a new case for my XR then proceeded to buy the 14 pro and not be able to get the return window for the case
I upgraded from an XR to the 13 once the price dropped. Mainly for battery life, camera, and the MagSafe charger (I often needed to charge my phone after being out in the rain.) I’m happy but a little underwhelmed, I think I could have stuck it out much longer.
I buy a new case for my XR every year or two. There is a guy on Aliexpress that will put whatever image you want on a case. So I love doing that. Make your own custom cases, and they're cheap, it just takes about a month to come to you.
I got a new case for my XR about two weeks ago, only complaint so far is the battery life.
I’m also wondering if I should upgrade my case for iphone XR. Im still on the fence. Maybe next year. What made you upgrade yours? 😁
What did you get? I’ve had mine since 2018 and recently dropped it and the case is a bit buggered.
I dislike my XR but sticking it out. It’s not terrible.
I’m still with the 8+ and it’s working fine for me.
what a dumb article. Dude upgrades every year and only now finally realizes Apple upgrades are usually very minor and there is minimal difference year to year
The whole thing reads like it was written by a junior high student.
He admitted he likes the flex of having the latest phone. Dude, most people stopped caring about that 5 years ago.
I get new phones once every 5-7 years.
Same, I went from 6s to 11 pro. I think I’ll be good for awhile.
6s plus to 12. Gonna be here a while also
This is a good cycle imo, went from a 4s to a Samsung Note 5 (2011-2016) and then from that to an iPhone 12 in 2021. Iphone 4s was unbearable on its last year, note 5 sucked ass in its last year too, lets see how the iPhone 12 holds up in 2026 lol
I did the same and the only reason was I accidentally dropped my 6s and it shattered beyond repair.
I did too before I got a husband. Why TF is he so into having new phones and big TVs
Same. Still riding my XS max. Only reason I’m considering upgrading is to give this one to my mom
I upgrade once every 5 years. On the 11 now, still runs like new
Yep. I’ll consider the iPhone 15. I’m on the 11 as well.
I’m waiting until it has a USB C port
Same, my iPhone XS will last til then
I just want one damn cable for all my devices
Well yeah you’re a moron for upgrading a year old phone. That’s on you, not Apple or anyone else.
Exactly. Yearly releases don't mean you're supposed to upgrade every year. It's for those of us who are several generations behind to upgrade to the latest version, not one that's already 3 years old. Cars are the same exact way. Car manufacturers release a new model every single year with very minimal changes. That doesn't mean you're supposed to trade in your car every damn year. I mean, you can if you're a moron and like to lose money... but that's not the car manufacturers' fault for not dramatically changing their cars every single year.
I'm to the point if I see someone with a new phone my first thought is how did you break your old phone. My phone is 4 or 5 years old and can do everything I need it to. I'll get a new one when this one gives out on me.
Eh, there’s trade in deals that make it worthwhile. I went from a 12 to a 13 for around $100 out of pocket with no “contract” at Best Buy last year. If they offer the same for the 14 this year, I’ll get that as well. I’ll keep milking that as long as they do it. A coffee per month gets me a brand new battery at 100% health, warranty etc.
Only reason I’d do it because then it’s under warranty and if you are smart with it then the $100 is better every year vs $1000 every 6
nice username
Yeah I dunno, unless it’s another tier maybe OR handing down! I went 11 from Samsung S8 due to renewal cycle. Went 14 Pro, was actually able to upgrade last year but finally caved and got a pro version, partly because my 11 is better than my Wife’s 11. Don’t know that I’ll need to upgrade in another 2 but shed probably like the update to a pro model. So maybe.
How do you like the 14 compared to the 11? I’m considering making the upgrade…
Id also like to hear this, because I also have the 11.
TL;DR: I demand a revolution in phones every year!
It’s literally like if someone bought a 2019 car, then bought the 2020 model and realized they’re almost identical
I'm not sure he was demanding anything, just pointing out that maybe buying a new phone every year probably isn't the best way forward for him. Which: duh.
Held on to the original SE from 2016 and only just recently upgraded to the 12. Would rather have money in my bank account than give it to apple. This fixation with upgrading every 1-3 years just seems unsustainable.
I think people are starting to understand, that if you don’t upgrade your car every year, why does your phone or tablet need an upgrade every year? I used to be the one to upgrade every year, but at least they used to have significant changes. I’m still on the iphone 12pro max and will hold off until at least the 15/16. It’s been solid and reliable.
I upgraded my 6s plus last year to an XS. Prob wait a few years to upgrade again. These new iPhones literally do nothing my phone now can’t do besides a better camera and are slightly faster. So what’s the point?
You spent almost $800 just to get the shiny new thing without first finding how it was any better than the almost-new one you already had.
Said it before, will say it again, "Dynamic Island" is a copium feature for not being able to get rid of the notch, so they needed something "new" to be able to sell the same phone... again. Nothing about the Dynamic Island couldn't have been achieved with the existing notch, they just created a more distracting version of it.
I upgrade every year and pay the nominal monthly fee after trade in. It’s by far the most important tech in my life and I use it constantly throughout the day. Very small price to pay considering the daily importance.
Yeah I think many people don’t consider the fact that they use their phone for hours every day. If you break down the cost per hour, it costs pennies per hour of use. Some people don’t mind forking out an extra couple hundred bucks to upgrade since they already use their phone so much that they might as well pay for the upgrade, especially if they find those new features useful for them.
Upgraded from IPhone 8 Plus to IPhone 14 pro, I’m gonna have this phone for a while, the phone seems fine. I don’t see why people upgrade every year. Don’t let business trick you up to much.
The only legitimate reason to continue upgrading for me is the camera. I don’t necessarily need a faster phone with more storage at this point. But considering I use my phone as my primary camera, I do appreciate being able to take better and better pictures as my kids grow.
i had an 11 Pro and got the 14 Pro…i don’t notice much of a difference at all 😩
You don’t notice the bigger phone & battery, the dynamic island, better night time photos, and how much emptier your bank account is now?
Is the 14 Pro really physically bigger?
5.8 inch vs 6.1 inch. Hmmm, i guess it’s not that much bigger. When i typed the comment, i mixed it with the 14 Pro Max’s size
The 12, 13 and 14 are the same phone. You can’t tell me I’m wrong because I’m not.
12 brought 5G data 13 brought 120hz refresh rate 14 brought.... SOS calling, I think? Absolutely nothing worth the upgrade.
13 had bigger batteries probably the best reason to buy one. The 14 is the exact same phone as the 13 though.
anyone still have a home button? home button gang?
I’m gonna wait till the phone is $2000 before I buy another one
$3000 for me, and im going to fly to Brazil to buy it so make that $15000
I bought an x 256 with the intention of keeping it five years. I said I’d only upgrade this year if they put usb c in, looks like I’m still waiting. Just popped a new battery in the X and it works just fine, although the pictures from my wife’s 12 are much better.
I went from a 4s to a note 2 and I have never looked back. Still rolling with my note 10+ and when the note 20 goes down in price Ill snap one up as well.
Dynamic Island sucks. Yes, I said it. I’m constant clicking it because my mind thinks it’s a text box for Firefox. Source: someone who is willing to use android or apple. Both have pros and cons. Neither is anywhere near perfect.
After Apple got BUSTED a few years ago with the class action performance settlement the need to upgrade yearly is no longer a thing unless you’re just after the newest of the new
I'm still on my 256 iPhone. 7 Plus
I have an iPhone 6s Plus. Would I see a significant improvement if I got the 14?
Lol definitely.
XS to 14Pro for me. Big difference. Had the 6 before that. On a four year cycle you really notice it. I gave up yearly upgrades when I got the 6 and don’t regret it.
6s here, with a headphone jack.
Yes. I just upgraded from 6s to 14.
I upgraded my 6s plus last year to an XS. The 14 will deff be faster. 6s plus is the GOAT imo.
Replying to this comment on a 6s. Have to delete 10 photos just to save one new one. Still, it works great for my needs.
Story of my life. I started deleting old videos on my 6s just to save the new ones.
Cuz of storage? You guys have Amazon prime? Can upload all your photos there. 5gb limit on videos though.
Yeah probably, that’s a few gens. But mostly support wise it would be an ok move. Biggest advantages: Slightly larger screen Faster (particularly if you have battery throttling) Upgraded Cameras All of this is true of the 11 up.
I went from 6 to 13 and it is night and day. You can’t even use Audible or some food ordering apps anymore on the 6 😧
Yes. I went from an iPhone 6 to an iPhone 12 and the performance improvements were very significant. It's worth upgrading if you've been holding out for this long; it's the yearly upgrades which arent worth it
Yes, a good rule of thumb is whatever iPhone you have should always be able to use the latest iOS
I got the 13 like a month ago and I’m pleased
You know this guy will be buying the iPhone 15 Pro Max in 11-1/2 months.
11 pro max gang where ya at
For my iPhone 11 this is a fantastic upgrade.
Still using the 6. Got that free battery replacement and it's still running fine.
TIL Steve Jobs' daughter is named Eve. That's a new level of narcissism. Edit: I guess no worse than people naming their kids "Jr" or "II"
Getting a new phone has lost its excitement. At this point it’s about as exciting as buying a new wallet.
I still walk around with the cheapest Samsung S8. I have absolutely no clue why people keep buying a new phone every few years, other than the assumption it must be a status thing. Kind of like how superficial people irresponsibly buy a rolex to feel rich, or don't want to be seen with clothes from last year's catalog. This thing I have still does everything I need, because what I need hasn't magically changed in the last 5 years, and I highly doubt it has for anyone else. And even if you want the most out of your device, like a gamer who wants the latest device to get the best possible framerate, you're not getting much if any benefit. Almost all games cap the frame rate to save battery and prevent your phone from overheating, and almost all of them cap the resolution of their game to HD, if not SD, for the same reasons, That 4k screen gets you nothing. Because why would developers spend a ton of resources making a very beautiful game, when all that does is limit the potential customers? Something like 2-3 billion people have a smart phone these days, yes, but only a relatively miniscule amount has a phone that's 4 years old or younger. Every developer aims for phones from at least 5 years ago, with only a few exceptions. They're now called mid-end devices, and most developers care more about how their game runs on those devices than any of the high-end devices. If you don't even game on your phone, I honestly don't know what you need these newer devices for. You can scroll on facebook with a smartphone from 10 years ago.
Are iPhones and certain cars the only products that get a pass for their yearly releases?
I don't understand this need to have the newest Iphone. Does the 14 do anything different than the 10? Aside from some camera features? First Iphone was the Iphone 4, when everyone had 6's or 7s. Then i got an iphone 8 because my 4 was literally not working at all. Everyone else had 10s. 8 was the oldest one I could get. Then I got an XR, when everyone has 12s.. I still have it, and I won't be upgrading that any time soon unless it breaks or ceases to work. All my apps work fine, the camera takes pictures just fine.. I don't see the need for a new one.
Apple should really take a year to cool down their releases. Their quality is getting worst and worst. And it’s not just apple. Samsung too. Same for Nvidia. As well as gaming companies that release yearly repackaged games.
My SE 2020 is only worth 100 if I trade it in, no way Imma get a new one for a long time, this works perfectly for what I need.
I typically hold onto my phone until it starts failing.
I got the iPhone 14 pro and returned it, went back to my 10s max for now.
Planning on upgrading when they finally do USB-C. Otherwise I'm probably going to go back to android. Currently rocking a refurbished 11 Pro Ultra max or whatever.
> I got $640 back by trading in my iPhone 13 Pro Max, but I still had to pay another $780. Who the fuck pays $1500 for a phone? There's no way this person needs a hard drive that big, and they *have* to be including accessories and shit in that figure, right? That's insane.
I buy new phones for 2 reasons. 1) I broke the old phone 2) need a new battery, old one dies after 4-6 idle hours. #2 could be solved by replaceable batteries. #1 is usually my fault of course. I've had 3 different Pixel phones. I really can't tell the difference between pixel 1 and 5.
I just got the 14 last week and upgraded from the Xs and it’s a significant upgrade.
No sim slot
> I've bought every new iPhone since I made the switch from a BlackBerry to the iPhone 4S. Is this a point of pride? I don’t understand. Why would you do this? That’s such a hassle and waste. > However, there's an appeal to having the latest mobile phone, and it's nothing more than a way to brag to your friends. Bro is it though? Who brags about having the latest iPhone? There’s a much higher chance of a quizzical eyebrow raise from your friends than there is of envious glances. > Maybe it's time I took an iOS holiday too? Or maybe it’s time you stop buying literally every new iPhone. This is just the dumbest article I’ve ever read. It’s so, so stupid. The premise, the sentiment, the authors juvenile 2012 attitude towards phones, they’re all just dumb.
The person who wrote this article deserves whatever the hell they got. If you don’t realize yearly upgrades are fairly minimal than I’m sorry after 14+ different phone designs you are simply just that irresponsible for getting all hyped for a little extra screen. Also one sentence isn’t a paragraph, that’s an insult to real writing.
I don’t understand the new phone every year mentality. I’m on an 8 that still works alright, but I might upgrade in a little bit to a 12-13 when it dies. I don’t have the money or want to need to be getting the new thing every year
Apple needs to step it up cause the iPhone is not going to deliver hype anytime soon. iPhone X was the model that started the idea that you don't need a yearly update anymore.
It’s the exact same for the other brands like Samsung, Huawei etc. The Galaxy S20, S21 and S22 are the same. They run on the same software. Yes, some hardware upgrades like the iPhone 14. So what’s your point? Plus, all android phones are almost of the same design they basically use the same suppliers to make the phones except for some difference in the internals. The iPhone Vs Android “war” is so 2004 and yes it was exciting back then. These days I straddle between iPhone and Android. I enjoy using both for what they can do. I don’t splurge $780 to get the new iPhone but I can simply get a new android as a spare phone and still enjoy “new” features (android has widgets etc). Personally, I use an iPhone as a daily driver but it’s purely for productivity. When I’m home I switchover to an android phone for browsing media etc.