Other Are you a dedicated upgrader?

[Ifti]

With the ever increasing cost of new iPhone models yearly, as well as [in my opinion] the more 'minor' upgrades, are you still a dedicated yearly upgrader??

I used to be but stopped since the iPhone X, after I switched to a 2 year cycle - so from X, to the 11PM, and now the 13PM. However, I'm actually considering skipping the 15 as well considering the rumors so far..... for me, there just doesn't seem to be enough of an upgrade to warrant the extra cost (I always purchase in full and have a separate sim-only plan).....I'm waiting for a bigger jump so that when I do upgrade, it actually feels like an upgrade!

 

[Andeddu]

I used to upgrade every second year however now the that the smartphone has been more or less perfected, there is no reason anymore for me to update my regular 13 to the 14 or even the 15.

I used a 2016 SE for 8 months last year and, other than the awful camera, I did not really miss out on anything. The old A9 chip is perfectly capable of doing the same tasks asked of modern smartphones. The only difference is QoL things such as wireless charging, surround sound speakers, OLED screen, faster chipset and a much better front/rear camera system.

 

[eyoungren]

I was never a dedicated upgrader. I upgrade pretty much when I get tired of the current phone. That usually works out to every 2.5 to 5 years.

My response to ever increasing costs is to buy one or two models behind. I get everything I want at a much reduced cost.

Currently using the 11 Pro Max, 512GB model - bought new in February 2021.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I used to upgrade every 2 years but since I received my X in 2017 I haven't upgraded. iPhone 15 Pro Max may be my replacement but I said that about the 14 Pro Max too and here I am still using my X..

 

[Jackbequickly]

I am guilty😢

 

[ian87w]

Upgraded from 7+ to 11Pro recently, and I can't think of anything that would make we want to upgrade anytime soon, although I might upgrade if the battery life becomes unusable for my needs.
Performance, camera, they all are great for me. Night mode is amazing. And this is a phone released 3 years ago. We are at peak smartphone.

 

[minik]

I get a new model every year and keep the old model around. Although the rumored iPhone 15 line up isn't that exciting, we'll see.

 

[compwiz1202]

I was between 1 and 2 in the beginning, and then 1 from XS Max to 13PM. Now it seems boring anymore, so I went to the flip side. Might come back depending on what new thing come to iPhone over time.

 

[RRC]

I upgrade every year but also keep my original SE because it’s still my favourite phone and is a tank. Works well as my music device and travel/ backup phone.

 

[MBAir2010]

I screwed up my vote, I thought the headline was software upgrade, not phone
im using a 12-mini, blue an will keep that until 2032.

 

[nburwell]

Up until this year, I was a dedicated yearly upgrader. However, with the increased cost and yearly upgrades being so small, I’m going to move to an every two year upgrade and keep my 14 Pro.

 

[onenorth]

I am primarily motivated by the carrier trade in deals that significantly reduce the cost of upgrading to the latest model. I don't mind being tethered to my carrier. I've been with them for 20 years and I have no compelling reasons to switch.

I see a lot of people rationalizing how the older models are just as good as if not better than (in some ways) the new models. All things being equal (which they are not quite) it just comes down to a spending decision since the technical evolution is incremental. And the trade in deals are best for phones that are one or two years old and have plenty of second life in them as refurbished phones.

So my answer is that I upgrade every two years contingent on the carrier deal being available, and I eat the relatively small costs (a few hundred dollars for each phone).

 

[Danfango]

Best total cost of ownership and aggregate risk profile is to buy AppleCare with whatever it is up front, then sell whatever it is immediately when AppleCare expires after the initial period and buy another thing. That has the lowest part of the depreciation curve as well.

That's 3 years for macbooks, imacs and displays. 2 years for phones, iPads and watches.

This only applies if you are ****ed without the device in question which I am as these are business devices. Otherwise the best option is to get rid of it the moment it starts getting cranky. Make it someone else's problem.

 

[VirtuallyInsane]

Bought a 14 plus late last year, from a regular 11 I got back when they came out because I wanted a bigger screen, without the need of the 'Pro' features. Hoping to hold onto this for as long as I can. It's a great phone for what I use it for, and I can't complain about the batter life either.

 

[Lioness~]

None of the options.

I upgrade when I want to, when Apple release a Phone I want.
Will probably have my Mini until they something similar comes, who knows when?
Last phone (XR) I had 4 yrs, maybe something like that, hopefully.
Don't need the latest of everything every year. Does anyone buy new Mac's every year?
I need a combination of good devices that works for me.

 

[HarryMudd]

I’ve been upgrading every year for a while now. I hate watching a video and having them say, “if you have the latest model pro version you can do x“. I know the OS is the same on all the phones, but not everything is the same. I guess I just like having the latest version. Probably a form of mental illness. For sure it’s not logical, or economical. Might be a little bit of the “Fear Of Missing Out”. But then lots of things aren’t logical or economical, in fact some of the things in my life that give me the greatest pleasure are neither. And I do enjoy my new phone.

 

[Annv]

I used to upgrade every second year however now the that the smartphone has been more or less perfected, there is no reason anymore for me to update my regular 13 to the 14 or even the 15.

I used a 2016 SE for 8 months last year and, other than the awful camera, I did not really miss out on anything. The old A9 chip is perfectly capable of doing the same tasks asked of modern smartphones. The only difference is QoL things such as wireless charging, surround sound speakers, OLED screen, faster chipset and a much better front/rear camera system.

Agree. iPhone SE from 9 generations back does all I ask from a communication device, and does it fast. A9 with 2 GB of RAM is enough for modern web/apps.

I'd not miss any of the new features:
- wireless charger is not energy efficient and still has to be plugged into the wall;
- speakers don't matter as I use earphones anyway;
- OLED screens cause eyestrain for many people (including me);
- the camera is average, but I don't ask too much from it.

Upgrading would actually be a downgrade for me, as I'd lose a single-handed use and the headphone jack. Besides, I hate the notch/iLand.

 

[eyoungren]

I get a new model every year and keep the old model around. Although the rumored iPhone 15 line up isn't that exciting, we'll see.

I keep my old models around as well, I just don't upgrade every year.

Right now I have every phone I've used as a primary phone since 2009, except one - plus three I did not use as primary phones. That's eight phones, plus an iPad (which I've used since 2018 when I got it).

 

[smirking]

I absolutely hate upgrading. I hate it because I spend so much time and energy getting my devices exactly the way I want them and once I move to a new one, there will always be configurations that get lost or don't work anymore.

Given that I often tote around actual cameras, the promise of better photos doesn't move me much.

I decided last year it was time to move off of my iPhone X. I got on the ordering page, put an iPhone 14 Pro in the cart. I was about to check-out and couldn't remember my password. I didn't feel like looking it up.

Eh... nevermind. I'll wait for the 15. When the 15 comes around, I'll probably procrastinate for weeks or months.

 

[eyoungren]

I am primarily motivated by the carrier trade in deals that significantly reduce the cost of upgrading to the latest model. I don't mind being tethered to my carrier. I've been with them for 20 years and I have no compelling reasons to switch.

I see a lot of people rationalizing how the older models are just as good as if not better than (in some ways) the new models. All things being equal (which they are not quite) it just comes down to a spending decision since the technical evolution is incremental. And the trade in deals are best for phones that are one or two years old and have plenty of second life in them as refurbished phones.

I've been with our carrier for 7.5 years now. It's our second carrier. Before that, it was 16 years with our first carrier.

I don't rationalize, I just get what I want and I'm unwilling to spend a whole lot more for what I use my phone for. When I got my 11PM, the 13 was seven months from launching. I was once a network rollout guinea pig for Sprint's LTE and it was a horrible experience. My primary reason for going with the 11PM and not the 12PM (or waiting for the 13) was that T-Mobile (our current carrier) was early into 5G rollout. LTE is plenty fast in my market and isn't necessary for us (my wife and I). We use our phones as phones, with everything else secondary. By the time we get around to upgrading to 5G phones, T-Mobile will have this all worked out - and I won't have been a guinea pig.

I readily acknowledge that newer iPhones have better specs and features - I just don't care.

 

[eyoungren]

I’ve been upgrading every year for a while now. I hate watching a video and having them say, “if you have the latest model pro version you can do x“. I know the OS is the same on all the phones, but not everything is the same. I guess I just like having the latest version. Probably a form of mental illness. For sure it’s not logical, or economical. Might be a little bit of the “Fear Of Missing Out”. But then lots of things aren’t logical or economical, in fact some of the things in my life that give me the greatest pleasure are neither. And I do enjoy my new phone.

I used to be like that with software and OS, on the bleeding edge. Until the day I upgraded and everything broke. Pretty big irritation when it's your personal tech, but devastating when you've gone and done it to your work devices - on a deadline.

The product got out on time, despite my idiocy. But since that time, I've abandoned the 'gotta to be up-to-date' mentality.

 

[wproct]

I would like to run at least 4 years on a phone, but my wife and I both have phones and invariably one of the two will have issues by that time. However, I think in the future we are going to buy our phones outright rather than on a carrier plan, unless our timing is right and an absolutely fantastic offer is available through our carrier.

 

[cableguy84]

Up until a couple of years ago i was a day 1 upgrader. Now i have moved to a 2-3 year cycle, as the screen/processor/camera technology is so advanced now there isn’t a massive need to continually upgrade.
Will keep my 13 pro max till the 15, possibly 16

 

[Apple_Tiger]

It used to be a yearly thing but recently i find it not interesting so i will plan on doing the two year route. Currently rocking the 14 pro max

 

[valinda]

I have been getting a new model every year. I want to hold on to this 14 pro max for awhile.