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What cycle are you on?


  • Total voters
    139

Mliii

macrumors 65816
Jan 28, 2006
1,126
5
Southern California
I wound up on the S cycle by accident because my 4 died unexpectedly and I had to get the 4s. I kind of like being on the S cycle because the S version usually irons out the bugs that appear in the regular upgrade version. At least, that's been my experience so far.
Going forward, I'm going to have to wait and see. I kind of like the smaller form factor of the 5s because of the ease with which it slips into and out of my pocket. For other things where I need more screen real estate, I use an iPad.
 

bandofbrothers

macrumors 601
Oct 14, 2007
4,779
328
Uk
Hi


I typically sell my iPhone back to my local  store and use the funds to offset against buying the next iPhone sim free.

That's if the new release ticks my wants and needs boxes. #
 

TRDmanAE86

macrumors 6502
Jan 27, 2015
310
51
New England
Personally, I am on a buy a new one when it breaks cycle. A new phone every single year is just overkill. I got my 4S back in 2012 and, am planning on keeping it till it breaks. However, since this year, I am having more problems with it,:mad: (4G lag, various wifi lag with all features turned off and only 1 app open, battery life issues [cannot switch battery], and a camera that is mediocre) I'm going to android!
 

Cozmosis

macrumors regular
Mar 2, 2011
100
44
Baltimore, MD
On a yearly upgrade cycle, but looking to move to a longer term once I get a device I'm 100% happy with.

It may be the 6s Plus if they up the RAM and video hardware power and fix some iOS8 bugs.
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,420
12,431
Random. I upgrade if there are features on newer models that I think will benefit me. Some of my upgrades were just so I don't leave subsidy on the table.

2007: iPhone
2009: iPhone 3GS
2010: iPhone 4
2011: iPhone 4S (sold this one brand-new for $650 and kept using my 4 because of better battery life)
2012: iPhone 5
2013: iPhone 5s
2014: iPhone 6
 

dukebound85

macrumors Core
Jul 17, 2005
19,131
4,110
5045 feet above sea level
I am on the S cycle but lag a generation behind. People seem to think old phones are worthless and see them for cheap when new ones come out. It's quite amusing. Also, more fun not being on the leading tech curve
 

laudern

macrumors 6502a
Jan 5, 2011
887
732
Ever since getting my iPad, my iPhone has taken a major back seat in terms of usage. I'm on an iPhone 5 had have been since launch. I don't see myself upgrading until 2017 (maybe 2018) or earlier if I break or lose the phone.
 

QCassidy352

macrumors G5
Mar 20, 2003
12,028
6,036
Bay Area
I have sometimes upgraded every year and sometimes every other. I think I'll stick with every other at this point because I never see that much improvement in a single year upgrade (except for 3GS to 4, but I don't think we'll see a jump that big again).
 

boomhower

macrumors 68000
Oct 21, 2011
1,570
56
I buy when the cost to upgrade is enough to justify what I am getting me. Started with the 4S and the larger screen of the five got me upgrade. Skipped the 5S and bought the iPhone 6. Doubt I will buy the 6S but final judgement will be held until it's announced.
 

Shirasaki

macrumors P6
May 16, 2015
15,615
10,922
Typically I want to upgrade randomly, because not all the features on a new device is valuable for me. Again, upgrading every year with thousands of dollars would kill me, whenever I can earn lots of money or not.

I now have an iPhone 6 Plus. So next step, I might upgrade at iPhone 8s plus, if they have such one and I can buy it.
 

Traverse

macrumors 604
Mar 11, 2013
7,688
4,400
Here
iPhone: whenever I choose to upgrade.

I had a 4S and the 5S didn't interest me. I got the 6 in September. I'll either do the 7 or 7S.
 

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,154
Random because my employer buys my phones when I ask for them. However I noticed I tend to stick to the S cycle.

I had a 6 and went back to the 5S because I prefer its size. So I'll probably end up skipping the 6S. By the time the 7 comes out my 5S will be getting long in the tooth so I'll probably go with whatever they offer regardless of size and just get used too it.
 

Kyotoma

macrumors 68000
Nov 11, 2010
1,996
46
Carnegie and Ontario
Oct 2009: 3GS
June 2011: 4
May 2013: 5
March 2015: 6 Plus

Now that I am on T-Mobile JUMP I may swap the 6 Plus out for it's S cycle and then iterate every other year.
 

GmDude66

macrumors 6502
Jul 29, 2010
312
26
PA, USA
2008: iPhone 3G
2010: iPhone 4
2012: iPhone 5
2014: iPhone 6 Plus

I guess you can say in on the normal cycle? No iPhone 2G, ever.
 

Denmac1

macrumors 6502a
Apr 22, 2007
679
749
Lost in Space
1st gen: 3GS: 4: 4S: 5S:

Generally stick with the S, but will upgrade depending on how well the iOS works or doesn't with the older phone.
I was happy with the 4S, but the Apple trade in offer made it cheap enough to go to the 5S. I will hold onto it for the time being as I am one of group that doesn't like the larger phones and would really only upgrade based on a substantial change in the OS. As of now, my :apple:Watch can handle Apple Pay.
 

Anand953

macrumors regular
Mar 28, 2015
205
42
My 2 cents -

I bought a 3GS in Aug 2011 (2 years after its release). That was my first iPhone.. Its still with me but runs very slow. Am only using it as a secondary phone these days for my personal number. My primary number (provided by my office) is put into BB z30 (as company has a tie up with a service provider and i get free unlimited data package)

I am looking forward to buy a 6s this September.. For me, the "s" series seems a more reasonable buy as it holds the most advanced features in a given number series.. Eg. 3GS, 4s, 5s and going by the rumours of 6s, its something worth purchasing and owning for atleast 2 years (till a 7s comes up).

Also in a "s" series, in addition to features enhancement and improvements, Apple gets a chance to rectify all shortcomings and issues found in the main phone..
 

AlphaGuitarist

macrumors 65816
Nov 12, 2014
1,099
1,518
So far, it appears that I'm the only one on this thread who's new to iPhone. I've been using Android phones since the first one was released in 2008 and became an iPhone convert when the 6/6+ were released. I've never been happier with a smartphone and don't see myself going back to Android. No bloatware, no carrier meddling, no software update delays, high quality apps and the best accessories. I couldn't ask for more.
 

BMcCoy

macrumors 68000
Jun 24, 2010
1,718
3,421
Might be more interesting to refine this sort of poll by location.
Outside the U.S., where we're not locked into expensive contracts, we upgrade phones when we want to...
 
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