Do we need new phone releases every year

[The-Real-Deal82]

PS. Perhaps you meant to say leasing, instead of two year contracts? Because two year contracts are dead with the four US carriers. You can only get that at Apple or a non-major carrier that does that now.

That's my fear for the UK. There's talk about 24 month contracts being phased out because manufacturers are concerned that not enough people are buying phones yearly. Upgrade programs are being pushed but there is only one problem. Carriers want you to pay upwards of £50p/m and larger upfront costs because you need to pay the phone off in half the time. I like spreading the cost over 2 years with my monthly tariff at a manageable £30p/m. I can't see the point in having a new phone every year, especially when there is little difference in what they can actually do.

Only a few years ago carriers were begging for your business and you could negotiate a contract. Now it's becoming 'this is our price, take it or leave it..... But please please buy it!!'...

 

[oops1975]

For us Apple fanboys... even one year is too long of a wait.

 

[Cakefish]

I don't find it's that popular here in my experience, especially among people who buy flagships. Most of the people I've encountered with sim only contracts are those who have inherited older phones and aren't bothered spending lots of money on handsets.

I think putting out £800 - £1000 on a phone and buying a sim only rolling contract is one of the least popular options despite probably being the cheaper method over 2 years. A lot of people just haven't got the disposable income to purchase phones in one hit.

It’s popular enough that all major smartphone makers offer their phones to buy unlocked from launch day. In the USA this doesn’t happen all the time. That’s how we know it’s a more popular option in the UK vs the US. However, I won’t argue against 2 year contracts being the more popular option, I certainly think that’s true.

People could afford it if they were willing to save a little every month until they had enough to buy outright but many aren’t willing to do that. That’s cool, each to their own, but I prefer saving up in advance of phone launches and buying them outright and just getting a SIM only deal. I’m on minimum wage at the moment so it’s really nothing to do with disposables income at all and everything to do with poeple’s willingness to save a bit of money every month.

 

[Pnr2020]

You seem to be implying that because you believe a certain schedule is optimal that manufacturers and buyers should be forced into it.

I have a lot of opinions here on MR, but I'm not into forcing anyone to believe the same way I do. People can make their own decisions and choices about when and where they want to upgrade.

I upgrade every 2 to 3.5 years. It doesn't bother me at all that upgrades are released every year by Apple. I just ignore it if I am not in the market for it.

PS. Perhaps you meant to say leasing, instead of two year contracts? Because two year contracts are dead with the four US carriers. You can only get that at Apple or a non-major carrier that does that now.

I'm from the uk and a carrier contract is 2 years. So you can upgrade every 2 years

 

[joeblow7777]

I'm confused by this poll. Are people voting for 1 year because that's how often they want/get a new phone, or are people actually saying that there is a literal need for a new phone every year?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

It’s popular enough that all major smartphone makers offer their phones to buy unlocked from launch day. In the USA this doesn’t happen all the time. That’s how we know it’s a more popular option in the UK vs the US. However, I won’t argue against 2 year contracts being the more popular option, I certainly think that’s true.

People could afford it if they were willing to save a little every month until they had enough to buy outright but many aren’t willing to do that. That’s cool, each to their own, but I prefer saving up in advance of phone launches and buying them outright and just getting a SIM only deal. I’m on minimum wage at the moment so it’s really nothing to do with disposables income at all and everything to do with poeple’s willingness to save a bit of money every month.

I do save money every month but for holidays with my wife and children, car funds and home improvements. I think if I saved £1000 and wanted to buy a mobile phone with it, my wife would probably go mental lol. It's just easier for our phone contracts to go out with the rest of the bills each month and cheaper in the short term. Priorities are also very different when you have a family I suppose. Certainly Apples new direction with introducing this premium level phone have changed my buying habits. I could easily afford it, but just can't justify it on principle especially as all iPhones pretty much do the same thing.

 

[Faitt]

Nope. We don't. But the tech aficionados are always hunting for the next best thing.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I personally think new phones should released every 2 years. The reason is apple production delays and they didn't have time to figure out fingerprint scanner under screen. Same with Samsung they rushed and put fingerprint scanner in stupid place. And months of telling us how great bixby was and it didn't come to phones until months later. I think they rush these new phones and the user suffers

Why does it bother you that Apple announces a new phone every year? Unless you want to upgrade every year, what Apple is doing should be of no consequence to you.

 

[caligurl]

The reason I said 2 years is because most people can only upgrade every 2 years if on a contract

Do any of the carriers even have contracts anymore? I thought they've all gone to no interest installments, then you turn in the phone after making the required number of payments.....

 

[chriscrowlee]

I personally think new phones should released every 2 years. The reason is apple production delays and they didn't have time to figure out fingerprint scanner under screen. Same with Samsung they rushed and put fingerprint scanner in stupid place. And months of telling us how great bixby was and it didn't come to phones until months later. I think they rush these new phones and the user suffers

You don't have to buy one every year.

 

[DeltaMac]

Do any of the carriers even have contracts anymore? I thought they've all gone to no interest installments, then you turn in the phone after making the required number of payments.....

Really?
What do you do if you make all the payments, but Apple hasn't announced new iPhones yet? Do you turn it in, anyway?
I guess the phone automatically stops working when you have it paid off, so certainly of no use to anyone then.
Can you even sell it?
[/s]

 

[eoblaed]

If someone doesn't want to get a new phone every year, they don't need to. Simple.

For many of us, however, getting a new phone each year is a treat. I've had the new model every year since they first came out, and I see no reason to stop now. And yes, up until last year, they were all under two year contracts. Simple solution to that. Every odd year I'd get the contract price, every even year I'd pay full price.

I don't want to wait two years between phones. That's waaaaay too long.

So, for those that like to purchase one every year, we can.
And for those that like to purchase less frequently, you can do that too.

The current release schedule accommodates everyone.

 

[Pnr2020]

Why does it bother you that Apple announces a new phone every year? Unless you want to upgrade every year, what Apple is doing should be of no consequence to you.

It doesn't bother me. I'm just saying do we need to keep paying £800+ every year for virtually the same phone with slightly more power is it really worth it. I think phones are rushed just to make the companies money.
[doublepost=1505161011][/doublepost]

Do any of the carriers even have contracts anymore? I thought they've all gone to no interest installments, then you turn in the phone after making the required number of payments.....

They do in the uk
[doublepost=1505161290][/doublepost]

You don't have to buy one every year.

No your right. But people are going to pay £1000 for iPhone 8 then 12 months later probably £1100 for iPhone 8s which has slightly better spec is it really worth it.

 

[Apple_Robert]

It doesn't bother me. I'm just saying do we need to keep paying £800+ every year for virtually the same phone with slightly more power is it really worth it. I think phones are rushed just to make the companies money.
[doublepost=1505161011][/doublepost]
They do in the uk

Well, Apple is in the business to make money. And they make money by offering quality products that integrate well with the user and the rest of the ecosystem.

It doesn't matter to me whether Apple offers a new phone every year or not. What matters to me, is that when I need / want a phone, that it is a quality product. What other people here or anywhere else do, has no bearing on what I do.

 

[Pnr2020]

I do save money every month but for holidays with my wife and children, car funds and home improvements. I think if I saved £1000 and wanted to buy a mobile phone with it, my wife would probably go mental lol. It's just easier for our phone contracts to go out with the rest of the bills each month and cheaper in the short term. Priorities are also very different when you have a family I suppose. Certainly Apples new direction with introducing this premium level phone have changed my buying habits. I could easily afford it, but just can't justify it on principle especially as all iPhones pretty much do the same thing.

Totally agree with you phone prices are crazy. 3 years ago if you said a phone would cost a £1000 I would of said no chance. A contract is the only way I can afford a phone £50 a month is my max.

 

[Falhófnir]

Hardware? Yes, I'd say there's still sufficient refinement improvements to be made year over year, but iOS could quite easily go out to a 2 year update cycle tbh. Polishing a version up over twice as many point releases would get us back to earlier levels of stability and refinement we've not really seen since iOS 8 came along and was unoptimised as hell on most devices for whatever reason.

 

[BeeGood]

I personally think new phones should released every 2 years. The reason is apple production delays and they didn't have time to figure out fingerprint scanner under screen. Same with Samsung they rushed and put fingerprint scanner in stupid place. And months of telling us how great bixby was and it didn't come to phones until months later. I think they rush these new phones and the user suffers

Releasing every two years wouldn’t solve that problem.

They would then need to squeeze twice as many upgrades into the release and it would still seem rushed to you.

 

[Gonzbull]

I don't mind new phones every year. Having said that I still use a 5S. Good to know that when I do decide to upgrade it will be to a new phone for that year.

 

[Pnr2020]

Hardware? Yes, I'd say there's still sufficient refinement improvements to be made year over year, but iOS could quite easily go out to a 2 year update cycle tbh. Polishing a version up over twice as many point releases would get us back to earlier levels of stability and refinement we've not really seen since iOS 8 came along and was unoptimised as hell on most devices for whatever reason.

Thank you for reply mate someone talking sense for once. There going to be short supply of iPhone 8 FACT. And then all the people will be complaining they can't get iPhone 8 call apple idiots and crying. If a phone was released every 2 years there would be no stock issues and released with probably no issues
[doublepost=1505162333][/doublepost]

I don't mind new phones every year. Having said that I still use a 5S. Good to know that when I do decide to upgrade it will be to a new phone for that year.

Nothing wrong with the 5s it is a great phone.
[doublepost=1505162439][/doublepost]

Really?
What do you do if you make all the payments, but Apple hasn't announced new iPhones yet? Do you turn it in, anyway?
I guess the phone automatically stops working when you have it paid off, so certainly of no use to anyone then.
Can you even sell it?
[/s]

This is my favourite post of the day I can't stop laughing. Perfect answer

 

[macTW]

I think a series of good phones every 2 years would be fine. Apple tend to stall features to justify yearly releases and that's good for profit I suppose. Their profit is of no interest to me though, I just want good quality and sensibly priced products.

nice to know you're on the board at Apple and know their business model of stalling features... just cuz it fits your imagination doesn't mean it's true.

 

[rui no onna]

Every year seems good to me. That way, they can continuously refine and fix issues. Companies can't test all scenarios these devices will be used in so sometimes, getting them out in the wild is the only option.

Mind, I don't buy every year but when I do, it's good to know that the issues from the last year or so have been fixed.

 

[Pnr2020]

Every year seems good to me. That way, they can continuously refine and fix issues. Companies can't test all scenarios these devices will be used in so sometimes, getting them out in the wild is the only option.

Mind, I don't buy every year but when I do, it's good to know that the issues from the last year or so have been fixed.

Isn't that what software updates are for to fix issues.

 

[cnotes2019]

2 years? Really? Don't like it than YOU can buy phones every two years

 

[DeltaMac]

I don't think you can assume that 2 years between new releases will somehow avoid stock issues. With any new release, you can expect some period of time that the manufacturer would have supply issues with a new product. The time period between releases really doesn't affect that.

 

[Starfyre]

Given the competition is fierce, Samsung is updating their phones every year along with a host of other companies... I think it makes sense to update every year. Apple making 2 year release cycles run the risk of Samsung (or any other company that makes decent phones that rival the iPhone) an extra year to get more sales and more traction.

I don't think Apple is at the point now where its phone is so good that companies like Samsung need 2 years to come out with something comparable if not better.

I try not to upgrade as long as I can, but if TouchID ends up in next year's iPhone model, that may be a good enough reason to upgrade more frequently? (among other things).

Competition is heating up, worst think Apple could do is stagnate and let the competition catch up and eventually maybe get ahead.