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Which Launch Cycle are you on?
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You should add "neither" option to the list. I'm not living in the U.S. so every time I buy a phone, I purchase an unlocked version which doesn't tempt me to upgrade when my non-existing contract ends.
So I'm on a 3 year cycle. My first purchase was the 3G, which I've purchased Jan 2009, then it was October 2011 4S. Now it'll be late 2014 6. However when my 3G was as old as my 4S now, it was in far worse shape. We might associate that with either smartphone technology not advancing as rapidly as it was, or "S" phones have better internals resulting in longer lifespans. If it wasn't for the horrendous battery life and my Apple geekness, I sure could see my self using 4S for another year.
So I'm on a 3 year cycle. My first purchase was the 3G, which I've purchased Jan 2009, then it was October 2011 4S. Now it'll be late 2014 6. However when my 3G was as old as my 4S now, it was in far worse shape. We might associate that with either smartphone technology not advancing as rapidly as it was, or "S" phones have better internals resulting in longer lifespans. If it wasn't for the horrendous battery life and my Apple geekness, I sure could see my self using 4S for another year.
better of course but do you NEED it or do you LUST it?)))
I love the 5S features especially the camera improvements but being stuck on 4 for such a long time made me realise that I often want things instead of needing them and I changed my approach a bit now that I will try to upgrade once I actually need the upgrade.
I think if we all did that then there would be less waste and we would have way more money in our pockets
The problem with that way of thinking is that the iPhone (or any smartphone for that matter) isn't a need for most people. There are very few people who actually NEED a smartphone (as in could not function with a feature phone).
So if my smart phone is a want either way then I am going to continue to purchase the newest one unless I can't afford it financially I see no reason not to.
i try to tell myself, i don't need a new iPhone, this one works perfect. then i see the new one and I'm like i need it! I've even been putting some money aside each month to buy a new iPhone/ipad once they are released.
Haven't figured out yet if I'm on the "new iPhone" upgrade cycle or the "use it until it breaks" cycle. I got my first flip phone in 2005, replaced it in 2010 with a BlackBerry Storm2, and then the BB died in January 2013 when I got my iPhone 5. I'm on a share everything plan with Verizon, and my parents have bought all of my phones. They don't quite understand how subsidies and contracts work I'm hoping to save up for the iPhone 6 when my contact is up.
I'm hoping to save up for the iPhone 6 when my contact is up.With the 3GS and 4s the S cycles were much better do to processing power, The 3GS getting it's newest update this year while the 3G's was back in 2011. Or how much better iPhone 4S supports iOS 7 then iPhone 4. But I think the Non-S phones will be better from now on, the only problem is that number only iPhones often have some sort of manufacturing defect.
I was on the every year cycle. Right now I'm still with my iPhone 5 (went from an AT&T iPhone 5 to a T-Mobile iPhone 5). So, I'll be getting the iPhone 6 and will be staying on that cycle. I realized, at least for me, that there is no real need to upgrade to the new one every year.
I'm on the new phone cycle and I like it that way, to be honest. The new phone there is always something big and major that is different from the previous phones. The S cycles just adds something minor, doesn't really change anything drastic. I'm happy with my phone and can't wait for the new iPhone to come out!
I was on every cycle thru the 4, but then stayed on the "new phone cycle" after the novelty wore off
I'm currently on the new iPhone cycle, even though I know that it's probably better to be on the S cycle since Apple has had time to work out the kinks with the new design and improve the internals. But my desire to have the new design right away overpowers the logical side of my brain.
Original, 3GS, 4, 5 and whatever comes out this year.
Not really a specific pattern, but I guess I'm more on the 'new phone' cycle than the S.
Not really a specific pattern, but I guess I'm more on the 'new phone' cycle than the S.
I got the iPhone 4 in November 2010, a couple months after it came out. Even paid a Sprint ETF and dumped my Palm Pre after it was clear Palm was going to be no more.
iPhone 5 acquired on release day 2012. I was actually fairly desperate for that upgrade, as I really wanted LTE and my 4 was starting to have power button issues.
I feel like moving to the "S" cycle, as the "S" is always a more refined, perfected and faster version of the product. However, I don't know if I should do so by skipping the iPhone 6 and getting the 6s, or buying a 5s.
As I don't have $800 burning a hole in my pocket at the moment though it'll likely be the former.
iPhone 5 acquired on release day 2012.
I was actually fairly desperate for that upgrade, as I really wanted LTE and my 4 was starting to have power button issues.I feel like moving to the "S" cycle, as the "S" is always a more refined, perfected and faster version of the product. However, I don't know if I should do so by skipping the iPhone 6 and getting the 6s, or buying a 5s.
As I don't have $800 burning a hole in my pocket at the moment though it'll likely be the former.
I'm on the new phone cycle (bought my i5 Nov 2012) although I had an Original before and then got a hand-me-down 3GS that I had for a few moths when iOS 6 first came out. Will hopefully get a 6 in November but if it underwhelms me I can wait for the 6S.
Had a 4s since a few months before the 5 was released, so when this has finished, I'm going to be switching every year
With the new ATT plans effectively taking away subsidized upgrades, I am now on the "upgrade whenever the heck I feel like it cycle". I'll probably get an iPhone 6 unlocked later this year. Then maybe I'll get an unlocked 6S or whatever. No upgrades to worry about not using, just low monthly rates and upgrades whenever I feel like doing it.
I had a 3GS and then a 4S. When the 5 came out I upgraded early, mainly for the larger screen but also go get on the "new" phone cycle. My wife was already on that cycle and I hated that she always had the "new" phone because she couldn't care less, whereas I do!
i get mine on the design refresh because i usually get really bored with design and want something else. i care more about design changes than software upgrades mostly. nothing beats physical design changes when they come out fresh. if i don't do this, i tend to want to buy an android phone or something else because it gets pretty boring. and i've bought androids before and i came running back to iphone.
2G -> 3GS -> 4 -> 5 -> 5S
Technically, I also had a 4S of my own but my 4 had better battery life compared to my brother's 4S so I sold mine (BNIB) for more than full MSRP.
We've got 4 lines on a family account so with the old subsidy plans, we got 2 new iPhones every year while the other 2 would get the hand-me-downs. Just switched to AT&T MS Value so this time around, I don't feel compelled to upgrade to the latest model.
Technically, I also had a 4S of my own but my 4 had better battery life compared to my brother's 4S so I sold mine (BNIB) for more than full MSRP.
We've got 4 lines on a family account so with the old subsidy plans, we got 2 new iPhones every year while the other 2 would get the hand-me-downs. Just switched to AT&T MS Value so this time around, I don't feel compelled to upgrade to the latest model.
