Other Why Aren't we Keeping our iPhones for Years?

[Alpha Centauri]

I do keep my phones for years, year 3 is typically a battery replacement year. Year 5 - retirement

Yeah, that's me. After 3 1/2 yrs Mini 13 ownership there's a battery upcoming in a couple of months. The SE OG ownership before that (with its 6 years), just felt a tad too long. Was more of hardware vs software issue though. I think 5 years is optimal.

 

[FeliApple]

Yeah, that's me. After 3 1/2 yrs Mini 13 ownership there's a battery upcoming in a couple of months. The SE OG ownership before that (with its 6 years), just felt a tad too long. Was more of hardware vs software issue though. I think 5 years is optimal.

I don’t replace batteries but I agree.

The Software longevity of a device for my needs (iPhone or iPad) typically is about 5 years (or better said, five major versions).

I don’t update iOS, and my iPhone Xʀ runs iOS 12, I still have it. I distinctly recall that up until a few months passed following the release of iOS 17, my iPhone Xʀ could do absolutely everything I needed. The last 6 months were rough, and my Xʀ could now do the bare minimum to remain usable as a main iPhone for me. That’s where I would’ve upgraded.

I bought it Aug 2019, but going by date of release, Sep 2018-maybe May 2024 or so was utterly flawless. The final 10 months (upgraded Mar 2025 to my current 16 Plus on iOS 18) were rough, and I frequently needed to use other devices for a few things.

Sadly, today’s state of affairs would indicate that with my approach to iOS devices, I have about five years after release of comfortable iPhone use.

This may vary depending on the
overall longevity of the specific iOS version I run (iOS 14 would’ve been the worst in terms of longevity of recent iOS versions), but in general five years is the norm. Due to my approach, I absolutely cannot do six years, sadly. Which is sad because hardware longevity is ridiculous. Typing this from my flawless, 10-year-old 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

 

[Sosab123]

I used X until 17E. Now that I know I'm not a phone power user I stick with the $500 phone range.

 

[ElPaso]

I used X until 17E. Now that I know I'm not a phone power user I stick with the $500 phone range.

Agreed - I use a 16e - I am very happy with it ($599), so I guess I'm not a power user lol

 

[Sosab123]

Agreed - I use a 16e - I am very happy with it ($599), so I guess I'm not a power user lol

Very big battery along with good specs. I am a Phone + Tablet user. I figured I am better off just using a cheaper phone with a powerful tablet since I will likely use my tablet for more things than my Phone.

This became evident for me after I started using the iPad mini, I got my first one as a 6th generation, prior to that I was a fan of the 11" Pro. The mini was way more portable than the 11" Pro line I was accustomed to using so I kept it with me more often.

Now, I stand by budget phone + powerful tablet combination. This year I refreshed my iPhone X and Mini 6 to 17e and Mini 7. I paid less than $1000 cause I got really good deals on both, 17e for $499 and the Mini 7 for $389.

 

[rui no onna]

Very big battery along with good specs. I am a Phone + Tablet user. I figured I am better off just using a cheaper phone with a powerful tablet since I will likely use my tablet for more things than my Phone.

This became evident for me after I started using the iPad mini, I got my first one as a 6th generation, prior to that I was a fan of the 11" Pro. The mini was way more portable than the 11" Pro line I was accustomed to using so I kept it with me more often.

Now, I stand by budget phone + powerful tablet combination. This year I refreshed my iPhone X and Mini 6 to 17e and Mini 7. I paid less than $1000 cause I got really good deals on both, 17e for $499 and the Mini 7 for $389.

I got my iPhone Air for $4.99/mo on carrier promo. Does that count as budget?

Prior to the iPhone Air, I was using 7 -> SE2 -> SE3. I've always preferred the small phone + tablet combo.

Unfortunately, there are no small iPhones these days and I need longer battery life than my old SE3 can deliver. The thin and light Air is what I ended up liking best among the current options.

 

[RRC]

I had a 15 Pro when it launched, skipped the 16 as there didn’t seem to be enough to warrant a change then got the 17 Pro. However I sold that a few weeks back for almost full retail and bought another brand new old stock 15 Pro.

For my needs, it’s more than enough.

 

[DaveS86]

I keep them these days until either I break them, the battery wears out or I see something else I like. I like to remember that we went to the moon on something with many millions of times less computing ability, keeps me in check. For my usage, YouTube, little bit of social media, even an X would suffice. I just like the design of the newer phones more now

 

[Sosab123]

I got my iPhone Air for $4.99/mo on carrier promo. Does that count as budget?

Prior to the iPhone Air, I was using 7 -> SE2 -> SE3. I've always preferred the small phone + tablet combo.

Unfortunately, there are no small iPhones these days and I need longer battery life than my old SE3 can deliver. The thin and light Air is what I ended up liking best among the current options.

When I say "budget" I really mean specs that one will not waste by not doing anything high performance. TBH when it comes to the Air its design has viable purpose. You can hold an iPhone Air up over your face, longer, and more comfortably, than the other phones. This is a "Feature" that still makes the air price viable in my circumstance. I just dont want to pay for performance I will never use.

So even though I am a budget phone oriented user, I would still consider the Air, because its design helps you outside of digital performance.

 

[RichP74]

It just depends on the "gotta have" feature. The first few years of iPhone I upgraded every year because it was enormous leaps, but lately not so much. I did upgrade last year just to get the USB-C port as I was tired of dicking with lightning cables. I'm guessing Apple pulling off some insane supertechnical feat with their cellular chipset will prompt the next upgrade. It's not there yet, but five years from now, I assume they will beat the hell out of Qualcomm just like they did Intel with the M series chips.

 

[Starscape]

I always keep mine for a few years. The year-to-year updates are almost always not worth it. I just upgraded to a 17 PM from an S22 Ultra.

 

[ElPaso]

Maybe my memory is whacked, but now that I've been using the 16e for a few months, I'm seeing little difference (relatively speaking) between it and both my good ol' 8 Plus and my trusty 13. Keeping an iPhone for 4 or 5 years rather than spending extra cash for the "upgrade" makes sense in that light -- for me personally, anyway.

 

[Sosab123]

Maybe my memory is whacked, but now that I've been using the 16e for a few months, I'm seeing little difference (relatively speaking) between it and both my good ol' 8 Plus and my trusty 13. Keeping an iPhone for 4 or 5 years rather than spending extra cash for the "upgrade" makes sense in that light -- for me personally, anyway.

I went from a X/Xr combo to the 17e. If you are very casual it's hard to notice just browsing web and doing light tasks. However, recently I had to update my bank info and it required a link too upload my I.d. both my X and Xr struggled to complete it. That's when I knew it was time to upgrade. The X was my last $1000 phone cause both X and Xr held up the same over 8 years of use. I'll only be buying apple budget phones now.

 

[kevink2]

I still have my backup iPhone, a 12 pro, so it seems I keep it for years. And don't plan to upgrade my current use phone, a 16PM, for some time.

 

[cynics]

Been using an iPhone 11 Pro Max since launch. Battery isn't great but its fine enough, it's on its last version of iOS and I get slow downs especially when it's trying to manage storage space in the background.

Past few years I've been trying to use my phone less and less since it's more of a nuisance than a benefit or luxury. In that time I just didn't care about spending the money to upgrade. However this fall I'll get new iPhone 18 (probably Pro Max) just because I want to keep the OS up to date.

 

[cousintim]

Five years is about the economic and technology sweet spot.

I keep mine three years, but I'm delaying upgrading this year to wait for the iPhone 20.

 

[ElPaso]

Five years is about the economic and technology sweet spot.

I keep mine three years, but I'm delaying upgrading this year to wait for the iPhone 20.

Yes, I'm thinking 5 years for my humble 16e. I've had it for a mere 5 months now, and it sure is strong - I can see it lasting the 5Y.

 

[normieevee]

iPhone 3GS - 2009 to 2014. Got pickpocketed. Still heartbroken over it. 700+ pictures on there when it got stolen (I did have a backup except for some 20-30 recent ones I think, but 12 years later it's still painful to think about).
iPhone 5s - 2014 - 2018. Changed its battery once.
iPhone 7 Plus - 2018 - 2026. Changed its battery once.

Currently using an iPhone 17.

My phones do last me years and years. My MacBook Pro served me 13 years (mid 2010 - beginning of 2024) before the logic board died. The longer I hold onto my devices, the deeper my attachment to them.

 

[dan98]

Yeah, that's me. After 3 1/2 yrs Mini 13 ownership there's a battery upcoming in a couple of months. The SE OG ownership before that (with its 6 years), just felt a tad too long. Was more of hardware vs software issue though. I think 5 years is optimal.

Same here.
New battery in mini 13 and running 17.7 as it's quick and responsive even with power saving permanently switched on (2 days between charges).

it does everything required and fits better in the hand/pocket than anything released subsequently - pretty much the perfect phone as far as I'm concerned.

 

[darkblu]

Same here.
New battery in mini 13 and running 17.7 as it's quick and responsive even with power saving permanently switched on (2 days between charges).

it does everything required and fits better in the hand/pocket than anything released subsequently - pretty much the perfect phone as far as I'm concerned.

And here I thought I was alone running my SE2 on effectively permanent power saving.

 

[AppleFanatic10]

I have a iPhone Air and iPhone 12 Pro. Probably won’t upgrade since I’m not with US Mobile and don’t get discounted phones anymore. But tbh it’s probably for the better.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Same here.
New battery in mini 13 and running 17.7 as it's quick and responsive even with power saving permanently switched on (2 days between charges).

it does everything required and fits better in the hand/pocket than anything released subsequently - pretty much the perfect phone as far as I'm concerned.

On iOS 17 and even iOS 18...absolutely.

 

[BigMcGuire]

17 pages in and it's been interesting - I think there are way more people who don't upgrade regularly than those of us on Macrumors who upgrade frequently. My wife's work at universities - I see a lot of very old phones there from both students and professors even if they have means (UCLA/Stanford).

We here on Macrumors are a minority... an extreme minority.

I upgraded every 2 years (and for awhile, every year with the iUP plan). Trading in my previous phone helped offset the sting of a new purchase - but it was still a good chunk of change ($300-$500/year - getting more expensive as the years went on).

Now that iPhones are approaching $2000 and we're only getting $750-$550 or so for trade ins... I'm not upgrading every year, let alone every other year.

Like @AppleFanatic10 - I want to move to US Mobile - so that means I can no longer do payment plans? That's going to impact me upgrading as well. Phones just got too expensive. I'd have no problem upgrading if it was $300-$500/year. That's kind of my limit.

Yes, tech advancement has slowed, but price has increased so much. Seems the world is moving back to a terminal server compute environment where all we have are dumb terminals.

 

[Macdctr]

I tend to keep my iPhones forever but I'm not the normal iPhone owner either . . . I recognize this

Admission is the first step towards recovery 🤣🤣🤣

 

[thadoggfather]

With price increases and another year of what will be very samey notwithstanding the inordinate alleged price of the Fold, don’t tempt me with a good time by holding on 😉