Are you on the number or "S" upgrade cycle?

[TheKevinFang]

I know this has been asked to death, but is now interesting considering the "S" variant is nearly out.

I am planning to switch from the normal 5 to the 6S, as the "S" brings a great improvement to an already good phone.

For those upgrading every year, do you prefer the new numbered iPhones or the "S" variants when they come out?

Thanks

 

[ric275]

Numbered cycle, occasionally i get an S model like i went for the 5s because gold and Touch ID but i generally prefer the number releases because new design

 

[Chundles]

The number cycle, although I switched carriers last year and part of the promo was that instead of paying extra a month to upgrade every year, they included it for new customers so I may switch myself onto the S cycle if there's enough to justify it.

Not sure though. I really do despise the design of the 6/6+ - the crappy-looking antenna lines, the volume and off button being opposite each other so if you're trying to take a picture there's a chance of putting your phone to sleep instead, the protruding camera, the pale grey instead of black colour, it's just not very nice in my eyes. I presume the 6S will look the same so I might hold off - see what they do with the 7 next year.

 

[Shadowbech]

Number cycle for me and sometimes the "S" cycle if I can justify that it's an upgrade. Either way the 7 will have all the features for the previous model plus a redesign.

 

[GoneDrinkin]

I had a 4 and it died the time the 5s came out, so I'm still stuck on the S cycle.

I initially planned on selling my 5s when the 6 came out, but with college I just didn't have the money. Now I do, so it's a 6s for me, and I hope to switch to a 7 after that.

I personally prefer the numbered cycle, I like the new designs more so than the refinements brought about by the S cycle.

 

[eyoungren]

Numbered. That's when Apple changes design. The 'S' model usually improves the design but you usually can't tell the difference physically between a 'S' model and a numbered model.

 

[AmazingTechGeek]

Numbered. Used to be an S, but I too enjoy the redesign of the phone every two years.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Numbered. Used to be an S, but I too enjoy the redesign of the phone every two years.

I'm with the numbered for the same reason.

 

[TWD98j]

Been on the "S" cycle since the 3GS back in 2009 and I have no intentions of switching sides/cycles. I'm fine waiting a year for a new design if it means the internal upgrades and design issues are hammered out.

Looking forward to jumping from launch day 5s to a launch day 6s+ next month!

 

[timeconsumer]

I'm on the upgrade every year bandwagon as of the 5. But if I wasn't able to do that I would be on the numbered as it's usually a redesign.

 

[eoblaed]

I know this has been asked to death, but is now interesting considering the "S" variant is nearly out.

I am planning to switch from the normal 5 to the 6S, as the "S" brings a great improvement to an already good phone.

For those upgrading every year, do you prefer the new numbered iPhones or the "S" variants when they come out?

Thanks

This is a good question, but one I don't know if I can answer easily.

I upgrade every year. The numbered upgrades have a tendency to be more exciting initially because of the new form factor, but the 'S' variants always have great internal upgrades which definitely enhance the experience of owning an iPhone.

The fact is, I get excited every year just before the announcement. The numbered upgrades have the extra 'oomph' of seeing what they look like, but even the 'S' upgrades will often add new hardware abilities (eg. the 5S adding Touch ID) in addition to the other internal updates.

 

[TheKevinFang]

This is a good question, but one I don't know if I can answer easily.

I upgrade every year. The numbered upgrades have a tendency to be more exciting initially because of the new form factor, but the 'S' variants always have great internal upgrades which definitely enhance the experience of owning an iPhone.

The fact is, I get excited every year just before the announcement. The numbered upgrades have the extra 'oomph' of seeing what they look like, but even the 'S' upgrades will often add new hardware abilities (eg. the 5S adding Touch ID) in addition to the other internal updates.

Thanks.

This is the problem I have, you see, I have the choice of either upgrading to a 6S from my 5, or buying a refurb 6 64GB for about 60% of the price, and wait for the 7 to come out, probably purchasing an iPad Air 3 to suffice myself through that year for home use.

Leaning towards "downgrading" to the numbered cycle, as I won't have an iPhone/iPad combo from the same year (don't know why but that bothers me somewhat)

 

[Andres Cantu]

I would have waited to upgrade to the iPhone 7 from an iPhone 5s in order to switch to the "regular" cycle, but I signed-up for the T-Mobile jump on demand and can now enjoy the iPhones 6 and 6s. After that, I plan on jumping every year no matter if the cost goes up from $15.

 

[dwfaust]

I know this has been asked to death, but is now interesting considering the "S" variant is nearly out.

I am planning to switch from the normal 5 to the 6S, as the "S" brings a great improvement to an already good phone.

For those upgrading every year, do you prefer the new numbered iPhones or the "S" variants when they come out?

Thanks

In a word, "yes". As Dad, I get the new phone, regardless of whose upgrade we're using... and pass them down. We call it the golden rule - the one with the gold (me) gets to make the rules.

The numbered releases bring a new design and there are definitely growing pains with that sometimes - but also excitement with the whole new device. The 'S' release brings new features and a certain sense of refining. I am looking forward to see what Apple brings to the table this year.

 

[Ih8reno]

Bought my first iPhone unlocked last year the 64gb 6 and planned to keep it for 2 years. I prefer the number cycles and plan on staying on them. The wife however had a 4 and got a 5C about 2 years ago, she may wait she told me to get a new form factor in the 7.

 

[AlliFlowers]

I'm on the S upgrade. By the time we get the S, good cases are around, and we get the good camera update. I can't wait for next month.

 

[timeconsumer]

In a word, "yes". As Dad, I get the new phone, regardless of whose upgrade we're using... and pass them down. We call it the golden rule - the one with the gold (me) gets to make the rules.

The numbered releases bring a new design and there are definitely growing pains with that sometimes - but also excitement with the whole new device. The 'S' release brings new features and a certain sense of refining. I am looking forward to see what Apple brings to the table this year.

This is exactly what I do. I get the newest phone each year and cycle the devices down. By doing this I save $100 per month in my phone bill and a new iPhone costs around $700ish so that works out to be approximately $500 in annual savings for me.

 

[TheKevinFang]

This is my thought in a nutshell (a long nutshell):

http://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-iphone-opinion/why-im-keeping-my-iphone-5-one-more-year

 

[laudern]

I have come around to the S cycle. If you can look past the year old design, the features of the phone are usually a lot better and make it a longer lasting phone.

 

[Trickhot3102]

Kinda odd for me. Got my 5s in July of 2014 and skipped the 6 and I'm planning on skipping the 6s and going for the 7. I'd have to see what the 6s has to offer, but as of right now, I'd like to wait for the 7

 

[aziatiklover]

I am on both since the iphone 2g.

 

[Applejuiced]

Im on the numbered releases usually.
Unless there's something really drastic or good feature that I want to have then I'll use another line's upgrade to get it.
But from the looks of it so far I'm sticking with my 6 Plus.

 

[huntnboy04]

I get a new phone when I need one. I went with a 4s when they were available on Sprint. I'm really looking forward to the next 6 version. Coming from a 4s that I have had since 2 weeks after launch, so going on 4 years. I was going to get a 6 and kept putting it off, then I finally just said I would wait until the newest one comes, in the hopes that my investment in a 128gb iPhone will last 4 years and I will be able to keep updating the software for a year longer (even though I am bad about updating).

 

[MacBoook160]

I've still got the 5, which is just fine for my purposes, other than an increasingly poor battery. I may try to use a supplemental battery for a while and see if I can make it work until the 7 is released. Unless the 6s really blows me away.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

Neither. I am on a sim free contract so the money I save on a phoneless contract plus the sale of my current phone means I ca upgrade every year