What iPhone cycle are you on?

I just went from a 4s (2011) to a 6 today.

Way too many options in this poll, was expecting "S or Normal"; the options for android users are kind of unnecessary for example. So far, I've upgraded from the 5S to the 6 and plan on holding off until the 7, so i guess moved to the "normal" cycle

I'm typically yearly. I've had a 6 and 6+ on and off since September I just keep on going back to the 5c though.

2009 - iPhone 3GS
2010 - iPhone 4
2012 - iPhone 5
2014 - iPhone 6 Plus

When I first got an iPhone 3GS in 2009 I was sold.

Telecom provider offered a one-year early upgrade in 2010 so that's when I switched to the 'normal' cycle. The iPhone 4 was, for me, the most amazing iPhone upgrade ever: incredible hardware upgrades (Retina display, camera, etc.), big performance upgrades, amazing design and also big software enhancements (iOS 4 with multitasking).

Actually considering switching back to the -S cycle, as the -S iPhones are definitely the most refined ones.

I must also say, way too many poll options. "-S cycle", "regular cycle" and "yearly" (and perhaps "Switch between Android and iOS") are specific enough.

I would upgrade my phone twice a year if Apple could keep up!

When I bought the iPhone 5 I told myself that I would be content now that I have LTE and keep my phone for at least two years. I ended up buying the 5S and then the 6 the following year so from now on I've just accepted that I'm upgrading every year.

When I like the new offering and/or the old one is becoming a chore to use due to lag etc.


I got a 4 in 2010 and upgraded to the 5s in 2013. I currently have no plans to change my phone and if it broke tomorrow, I'd get another 5s as I don't like the form factor of the 6/6+.

I've been all over the board. I've went from original iPhone to 3G to 3Gs to 4s to 5 and now 6 and 6 Plus. I think I'm going to get rid of the Plus and get a 6s. Depending on how great the 7 is I may upgrade again or wait for the 7s. I'm starting to think the "S" may be the way to go now. The iPhone has become such a mature product I don't know if it's necessary to have every generation. I was sure glad I got the 4s over the 4 and 5s was definitely better than the 5.

I'm a sucker and upgrade every year. Unless the 6S Plus gives us something really exciting I may hold off this time.

I'm not on a cycle.
I replace my phone when it's inadequate or breaks.
I expect my 6 to be adequate for more than 2 years.

Jimmy James said:

I'm not on a cycle.
I replace my phone when it's inadequate or breaks.
I expect my 6 to be adequate for more than 2 years.

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Out of curiosity, do you always upgrade the iOS? Keep it on the iOS that came with it, or something in between?

Usually every year but think I'm going to hold off until the 7+ as the 6+ does everything I need

Normal 2 year cycle. The S cycle is definitely more refined, but on the normal cycle you get the latest and greatest with the modern design for two years. Now that I'm on AT&T NEXT, I may start upgrading every year by just paying off the remaining balance of my 6 Plus, then give it away to a family member(Giving the phone back to AT&T to upgrade after a year of paying payments is a ripoff, might as well just pay off the phone) then using the $0-down NEXT to upgrade again.

I have always been on the non-S cycle and have been happy to miss the incremental updates of the S models.
However, the 6+ is such an unrefined phone that I'm going to have to get the 6S this year. I can't stand a whole 24 months with my stuttery reloading machine.

TechZeke said:

Normal 2 year cycle. The S cycle is definitely more refined, but on the normal cycle you get the latest and greatest with the modern design for two years. Now that I'm on AT&T NEXT, I may start upgrading every year by just paying off the remaining balance of my 6 Plus, then give it away to a family member(Giving the phone back to AT&T to upgrade after a year of paying payments is a ripoff, might as well just pay off the phone) then using the $0-down NEXT to upgrade again.

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You could say the same thing about the S cycle. Those on the non-S cycle get the new look and feel. Those on the S cycle get the more refined, faster, smoother device.

I can see the appeal of both, but I'll take the S cycle any day.

nj-morris said:

Just wondering when everybody upgrades their phones.

Edit: By Android, I just mean not iPhone

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1st gen: 3G: 3GS: 4: 4S: 5: 5S: 6 Plus

Haven't owned a 5c

i'm on the regular cycle, however, i will be updated to the 6S+ for more RAM.

it's only a few hundred to upgrade (after you sell the 6+).

yaboyac29 said:

i'm on the regular cycle, however, i will be updated to the 6S+ for more RAM.

it's only a few hundred to upgrade (after you sell the 6+).

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Even by Apple prices, that's a lot of $$$ for 1GB of RAM.☺️

On the tick cycle. Usually upgrade every 2 years.

I only upgrade to get a desired feature, so it's a bit random, but I stick with iPhones.

Allin44 said:

You could say the same thing about the S cycle. Those on the non-S cycle get the new look and feel. Those on the S cycle get the more refined, faster, smoother device.

I can see the appeal of both, but I'll take the S cycle any day.

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*I guess*, but faster is to be expected from every new generation. So for me, that's simply a default cost for not having the latest chipset, regardless of cycle. Also, my iPhone 5 was smooth, even on iOS 8. Although more refined, The only real practical difference the 5S had over my 5 had was really the touch ID.

To each his own. Being stuck on the S Cycle and having to wait a whole year for the 5.5 display would irritate me a lot more than the seeing a 5S over my 5.

I'm on the "use my iPhone till it no longer fulfils my needs which is usually when it looses iOS support. I'm on the 5 now and hopefully will get to late next year or the year after it with it.

Nickpocalypse said:

Out of curiosity, do you always upgrade the iOS? Keep it on the iOS that came with it, or something in between?

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I upgrade iOS but usually not right away.