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How long do you keep an iPhone?
- Thread starter Ih8reno
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Every 2 years, don't need the newest one every year. Small incremental updates don't interest me, and the costs aren't worth the small upgrades with the "S" versions.
Usually about 1-1.5 years. I had my first iPhone (the 3G) from January 2009 until June 2010; my second iPhone (the 3GS) from June 2010 to October 2011; and then my third iPhone (the 4S) from October 2011 until September 2012. Originally I had planned on keeping my 4S longer, but when I saw an available upgrade, wanted additional storage space and a bigger screen, plus my mom needed a phone pretty urgently, I went ahead and preordered the 5. I'll probably keep the 5 at least 1-2 years.
Oh, and I've never paid the retail/unsub price for any of these. And never would.
Oh, and I've never paid the retail/unsub price for any of these. And never would.
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I have had my ip2g since July of 2007. I preordered a new ip5 since many of the financial apps are recently no longer supported. In general, I don't need the latest and greatest.
I've had every iPhone on launch day or within a week after launch day. So I don't keep them for much over a year.
Well I have had every iphone since the first. Since the 3G I have been given a full upgrade every year by AT&T. Since I could generally sell my current iPhone for about $200 more then it cost me to get the new one on subsidy I upgraded every year. This year to keep things going I opened a second line that will wind up costing me an extra $120 a year but I will still come out ahead by selling the iPhone and upgrading every year. So the short answer is I keep my iPhones for 1 year.
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You won't have to buy retail next year because next year your line should be eligible for the upgrade. Sell the 5 and upgrade to the 5S and make some money while doing it.
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You won't have to buy retail next year because next year your line should be eligible for the upgrade. Sell the 5 and upgrade to the 5S and make some money while doing it.
Although I didn't plan on doing this, mine seems to be on the two year track. That is going to change though with my 4S since I will be taking it with me to T-mobile once my contract is done. Now that iOS6 is fully compatible with the 4S and the 5, there is no reason for me to upgrade my device. I don't see why I wouldn't be able to continue using and enjoying my 4S for at least another 2 years when it will most likely not be supported with future iOS updates.
What I will eventually do with my phone is the same thing I do with my Macs, keep them for as long as possible as long as it is cost-effective.
I've always bought the phone sim free from apple .
started with a 3GS,then the 4S...it doesnt seem like I've had it that long.
But Im I've pre ordered the 5.
I convinced myself that I might as well sell the 4S and get the 5. Atleast i have the latest phone but they'll kill me again when the 5s comes with some feature that the 5 doesnt have.
apple products take all my money!
started with a 3GS,then the 4S...it doesnt seem like I've had it that long.
But Im I've pre ordered the 5.
I convinced myself that I might as well sell the 4S and get the 5. Atleast i have the latest phone but they'll kill me again when the 5s comes with some feature that the 5 doesnt have.
apple products take all my money!
I upgrade every single year. I've learned that iphones keep their value so well I can sell it for a very good amount (got $450 for my iPhone 4S 32gb) and put that toward the iphone 5, etc...~$300 a year to have a new phone isn't that bad especially considering I use it 70,301 times a day on average. It runs my life. work and personal.
Been getting the new one every year since the 3GS and plan on continuing the trend, barring anything unforeseen.
Same for me, but then we give the 2 year old phone to one of our parents for free. I've used this approach since 2007 with the very first iPhone. I'm willing to pay to get the newest one every year. My wife could care less, so she gets my old one.