I'm not surprised. I still have family members with 12PM and 13PM and they are still running great.
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Apple Users Are Keeping Their Devices for Longer as Upgrades Slow
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Apple doesn't add new emoji, the Unicode Consortium does. Apple just adds support for new ones (just like every other vendor) so users don't see <?> boxes when other people send them.
Of all the things to be concerned about, this isn't one.
Can't blame people for this for the price that Apple charges for the equipment.
Most people can't afford to upgrade as frequently, mostly because of greedy corporations like Apple hoarding all the money in the world and not paying remotely fair salaries. That and there hasn't been a compelling reason to upgrade for at least five years.
As far as I'm concerned this is a win for everyone. Apple can use this info to advertise to potential new customers that use PCs or Chromebooks, letting them know that you are getting your money's worth, which I definitely think I am with all my current devices and all of them are quite a bit older than two years old. Although I definitely plan to upgrade my phone this year, and my MBP sometime in 2025-2026.
I used to upgrade every two years whenever a new design would launch. Now the iPhone tends to keep its design for four or so years and there are relatively few exciting new hardware features, so it seems a bit pointless to drop so much money on a phone that hardly changes. How long have we been waiting for them to put the notch under the screen now?
Most people I know can easily afford to upgrade, yet no one is with any regularity. It just doesn't matter anymore.
Hell, my manager, a women in her mid 30s that makes $250k/year, was complaining that she had to upgrade her iPhone 8 Plus because her bank app was cutting off support.
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This is how a mature product line works....
The only reason I upgraded/replaced our two 2016 MacBook Pros was because of the poor design/manufacturing. One has the monitor cable problem that would cost $700 to replace and the other known keyboard problem. I'm really disappointed that Apple with all of it's wealth doesn't stand behind their products.
Apple users are holding onto their devices for increasingly long periods of time as upgrade cycles slow, data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) suggests.
In recent years, a shift has occurred in the behavior of Apple customers, who are increasingly opting to retain their iPhones, iPads, and Macs for extended periods before upgrading. In the most recent 12-month period, 71% of iPhone owners and 68% of Mac owners reported that their previous device was over two years old, up from 63% and 59%, respectively, in 2020.
In the specific case of the Mac, CIRP indicates a substantial increase in the length of time users keep their devices. Currently, 56% of Mac customers hold onto their laptops or desktops for three years or more, a significant rise from 40% in 2020. This trend has led to a decline in shorter lifecycle lengths, with fewer users keeping their Macs for less than three years. CIRP's research suggests that the transition to Apple Silicon, which began in 2020 with the introduction of the M1 chip, has played a crucial role in this shift. Apple Silicon has delivered significant performance and energy efficiency improvements, making Macs more capable of handling demanding tasks for several years.
Age of previous Mac for Apple customers buying a new Mac (12 months ending March of each year)
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic also likely influenced consumer behavior. During the early stages of the pandemic, there was a surge in demand for technology to support remote work and online education, but economic uncertainy followed and many consumers became more cautious with their spending, opting to maximize the lifespan of their existing devices rather than investing in new ones. Battery life improvements in MacBooks have also reached a satisfactory threshold for many users, further reducing the incentive to upgrade frequently.
This phenomenon has similarly been noted by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who recently said that the percentage of iPhone and Mac users whose previous device was older than two years has risen sharply. He attributed the shift to several factors, including fewer significant features in new models, improved durability and reliability of devices, and changing user needs. The increased reliance on streaming services and web-based applications means that for many users, their current devices remain sufficiently powerful and capable for everyday tasks. As a result, the traditional motivations for frequent upgrades, such as the need for better cameras, more storage, or faster processing speeds, have diminished.
Article Link: Apple Users Are Keeping Their Devices for Longer as Upgrades Slow
Still rocking a 2012 MBP Retina. Did some upgrades/ minor repairs along the way, but still works great. Will upgrade when Wifi 7 and TB5 make it to the MBP along with more reasonable RAM and SSD costs, otherwise wait or go PC
The "two year" figure doesn't seem like a big deal -- I would have guessed most people keep their stuff longer than that, and indeed more than half the people have three years or longer. But I was surprised that back in 2020, less than half of people had their gear that long. Apart from the expense, who has the time to upgrade all the time?
I typically get 5-6 years out of my apple hardware
I typically get 5-6 years out of my apple hardware
I upgraded to the new phone every single year since the iPhone launched, all the way until the 12 family. I skipped the 13 and bought the 14, skipped the 15 and will buy the 16. I honestly am fine with the 14 Pro Max from a performance perspective and would prefer to keep it, but the battery has taken a major hit and I don't see the point in a battery replacement.
It's happening because you used to see needed performance jumps at every generation. The performance jumps are virtually invisible now because the "older" chips still have so much power. The 14PM is still super smooth and fast. 10 years ago, a 2-year-old phone was barely usable and it's just not the case anymore.
Same with the Mac...even a base M1 has more power than the average person "needs".
It's happening because you used to see needed performance jumps at every generation. The performance jumps are virtually invisible now because the "older" chips still have so much power. The 14PM is still super smooth and fast. 10 years ago, a 2-year-old phone was barely usable and it's just not the case anymore.
Same with the Mac...even a base M1 has more power than the average person "needs".
Most Apple products are already way better than good enough even if you go back 3-4 years. There's not much need to upgrade anymore, it's more of a want. Having said that, I expect this to change when Apple Intelligence comes out and people with older devices want to have the new hot thing
still rocking 2012 unibody macbook pro from the good ol' days 
I also think it has to do with this horrendous economy filled with inflation. I saw the other day where to live comfortably a household would need to be making $186,000 with current times. The utilitarian mindset has set in with basically “my phone works, cool” and just try and survive in this. At least in the US anyway.
Well not only that, also enforce a limited lifespan. macOS swaps very liberally and once those SSD modules hit their TBW threshold, it's over.
What do they expect, in this economy?
This is hardly a surprise, and sure not a “phenomenon”…
We are not in”usual” times anymore, the pandemic drive laptop sales up very high, and now we are in a period of time with inflation and people scrambling to pay their regular bills, disposable income is not what it used to be so people think twice…
Also, technology enhancements are not that significant anymore …
We are not in”usual” times anymore, the pandemic drive laptop sales up very high, and now we are in a period of time with inflation and people scrambling to pay their regular bills, disposable income is not what it used to be so people think twice…
Also, technology enhancements are not that significant anymore …
I've been using SSDs in Macs for almost 15 years now, and one of those for over eight years in a single stretch. It never hit a write/rewrite limit.
I'm not concerned.
Turns out these devices aren’t cheap and inflation has taken a big bite out of everyone’s wallet. Annual iPhone upgrades were doomed when we lost carrier subsidized phones.
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While I have a M2 Mini as my home computer, I still have my 2017 Intel MacBook Air (with all the ports) as my travel / work laptop. And it still runs all the apps I need it to do.
Meanwhile, still rocking on with my iPhone 12 Mini - the current SE, 13 and 14 offering a slight processor bump from that, but otherwise only differentiated by "Squirrel!" features I most often don't need. Ditto too, the difference between the 14 and 15.
Meanwhile, still rocking on with my iPhone 12 Mini - the current SE, 13 and 14 offering a slight processor bump from that, but otherwise only differentiated by "Squirrel!" features I most often don't need. Ditto too, the difference between the 14 and 15.
Duhhh…. If you ain’t upgrade a product for years or the upgraded products that are new after years offer very little new technology… no reason to upgrade or throwing lots of money down the drain. Even cars introduce new models faster… for a tech company as rich as Apple it should be nominated in the Guinness book of records for its slowness and rebadging products from other tech companies with the Apple logo for 3x the price.
But spindoctor Timmy will probably say that people hold on to their products for longer because Apple’s “excellent quality and innovation”
Apple will soon be finished in China because there is much more creativity and drive to innovate.
Apple holds the candle for being the most boring overrated marketing company today.
Thanks Timmy!
But spindoctor Timmy will probably say that people hold on to their products for longer because Apple’s “excellent quality and innovation”
Apple will soon be finished in China because there is much more creativity and drive to innovate.
Apple holds the candle for being the most boring overrated marketing company today.
Thanks Timmy!
I think there are a number of factors at play, and not all of them are because of Apple. Devices got so good, and so fast, a few years ago that there's diminishing returns. There's been very little innovation in terms of hardware other than minimal improvements in speed.
But besides that fact, literally EVERYTHING costs so much more now. Ignoring the prices of Apple's devices (which have been surprisingly unaffected by inflation and are actually cheaper now than they have ever been), everything else that is required for day to day life costs more and so big, mostly unnecessary purchases are given more thought than they were in 2020. One doesn't need a new Mac as much as one needs food and utilities and insurance.
But besides that fact, literally EVERYTHING costs so much more now. Ignoring the prices of Apple's devices (which have been surprisingly unaffected by inflation and are actually cheaper now than they have ever been), everything else that is required for day to day life costs more and so big, mostly unnecessary purchases are given more thought than they were in 2020. One doesn't need a new Mac as much as one needs food and utilities and insurance.
My iPhone Xs Max still does everything I need and it is not giving me any issues, so I do not see a need to buy a current model iPhone.