Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Pepperfection

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 13, 2017
169
94
Since we know the foldable iPhone will be released next year, those who are supposed to have an upgrade cycle this year or planning to get the 17, will you still do or wait for the foldable?

OR GET BOTH?!
 
Honestly, not sure. I may go ahead with the 17… The reason being, my last phone upgrade (XS Max to 14 Pro Max) was such a long period of time that my trade-in was hardly worth anything. I would like to keep up just so I don’t end up in a situation like that.

Waiting for the foldable is very tempting, though…
 
The words 'upgrade cycle' doesn't have the same meaning to me as to most. I believe you are meaning a 'time period in which your carrier gives you promos or incentives to upgrade' - typically with a trade in.

As I do not do promos or trade-ins (I keep my phones/devices), I can upgrade any time I want. I don't need a cycle. It's simply a matter of having sufficient $$$ to go and get a new phone/device. T-Mobile (my carrier) will let me put as many devices on EIP (Equipment Installment Plan) as I have money to cover for. Whenever I want.

So, my 'upgrade cycle' is whenever I want it to be and is not dependent on my carrier.

But most people assume that your meaning of 'upgrade cycle' is the actual understanding of the words, because most people do promos and trade-ins.

Not me.

To answer the question though, we will be upgrading this year. To the 15 or 16 Pro Max. Not a fan of foldables.
 
No I kinda felt that the current era of iPhones are nothing more than spec bumps from the X. I ended up getting something else this year.
 
To me, the "fold" would have to be absolute top-tier, markedly better than anything currently available. More durable for one.

And really, I don't like mini-size tablets, nor do I like Max/Plus size phones. I think to meet my needs, it would have to be a "dual-hinge" folder like the Huawei Mate XT that in "phone" mode is the size of a non-Plus iPhone, but unfolded is not-mini iPad size. And has *FULL* iPad functionality. Now that iPadOS has major improvements over iOS, I don't just want iPhoneOS-but-bigger-screen. When unfolded, I want the full iPadOS experience. (Even if it's only "base iPad" not "iPad Pro" level.)

I'd be willing to pay the premium of (iPhone price + iPad Pro price + a little more) for it. But I think there is zero chance of Apple releasing such a device this year alongside the iPhone 17. And the first generation or two will likely not be something I'd be willing to take a gamble on. So not this upgrade cycle, but next time.

I usually upgrade my phone every 3-5 years. Currently using a 13 Pro, so this year is an upgrade year. And my iPad is getting really long in the tooth - a 10.5" Pro that is now stuck on iPadOS 17. I really don't want to upgrade both in the same year, though, since I hang on to iPads longer. Next year I'll likely upgrade the iPad, and if by some miracle Apple releases an "iPhone 18 Fold" that meets all my needs? I might just upgrade my phone two years in a row and ditch the iPad.
 
I'm stuck on the 13 series, and will be until Apple either releases a new Mini or support for the mini ends. I will look at the foldable, if it's about the same size as a mini when folded I may get one, but $2000 for a mini is steeper than I would like to spend.
Same for me with the iPhone 13 mini, but I’m 100% preordering the Fold. I MIGHT pick up the Air in the meantime if it’s light enough and unobtrusive enough in my pocket, and then trade it in on the Fold.
 
Since we know the foldable iPhone will be released next year, those who are supposed to have an upgrade cycle this year or planning to get the 17, will you still do or wait for the foldable?

OR GET BOTH?!
Since the iPhone Fold wont be released until September 2026, the only option this year would be the iPhone 17 series.

I’ll see what the 17 Pro Max has to offer and decide then if it’s worth it to upgrade from my 13 Pro Max, which even in 2025 is still an amazing device and handles nearly anything I need from it.

Same process will happen in 2026 as I don’t make plans ahead of time and psych myself up: I’ll simply see what the Fold has to offer, and weigh the pros and cons out to see if it’s worth it to upgrade.
 
15 pro to 17 pro. But only if they have a decent optical zoom as rumoured otherwise I won’t bother.

I don’t want a folding phone at all. I need something either very rugged or much larger. And a folding is neither.
 
  • Like
Reactions: uacd
Coming from 13 mini -> 16 standard I guess iPhone 19 is my next stop. Will it be foldable or directly implanted in my brain?
 
Honestly, not sure. I may go ahead with the 17… The reason being, my last phone upgrade (XS Max to 14 Pro Max) was such a long period of time that my trade-in was hardly worth anything. I would like to keep up just so I don’t end up in a situation like that.

Waiting for the foldable is very tempting, though…
That is some very strange logic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: maerz001
If I were to get a new phone it would probably be the Air or regular 17. I don't see there ever being a time or reason that I would ever get a Fold.
 
Last edited:
I’m due this year. If there is a price jump, as has been rumored, I’m probably going to get the Samsung S25+. I would be interested in an iPhone flip, but not a fold.
 
There is a sweet spot for being able to trade in/sell the prior model and still get a decent return.
Yes, basically this. The last two iPhones I’ve kept for 4-5 years, until they were very slow and the battery was pretty bad. So when I would finally upgrade, they were usually worth $100-$200 trade-in, sometimes less. Ended up eating practically the full cost of a new phone each time, so I want to keep semi-recent for decent returns.
 
I wanted to go from my 14 Pro to 16 standard last year but the screen at 60hz was a deal breaker so I waited for this year. I’ll let the reviews come in first to see if Apple crippled the rumored 120hz on the standard model. If so, I really can’t wait any longer, my 14 Pro has screen cracks, water issues and battery issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cjsuk and ladolcina
Since we know the foldable iPhone will be released next year, those who are supposed to have an upgrade cycle this year or planning to get the 17, will you still do or wait for the foldable?

OR GET BOTH?!
I'll wait for the iFold, and if it impresses me I'll buy it. Otherwise I'll go for a regular iPhone 18 next year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ladolcina
I usually upgrade every 2-3 years now since changes are so incremental. From the rumored iPhone 17 Pro upgrades,I will probably wait until next year for the iPhone 18. Not currently interested in the foldable.

My wife will get an upgrade, but she will want to visit the store and compare the models and colors.
 
  • Like
Reactions: transpo1
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.