Other 2019: The Year of the Skipped Upgrade?

[The-Real-Deal82]

This year will be no different to previous years: the new iPhones will be the best Apple has ever made. If you can afford it, you will buy it. If you can't, you'll be jealous of those who can.
There's no reason not to upgrade once a year. I've never been disappointed doing this, and will continue taking advantage of the latest and greatest iPhones as and when Apple releases them.

I used to be like you but the landscape has changed. iPhones are no longer vastly different year on year and they are a lot more expensive than they used to be. Unlike most of my friends and family I have an interest in technology to the point I discuss it in places like this, yet I’m happy using an iPhone 8+ despite having a good job and being able to afford whatever iPhone I want. It’s not as black and white as you make out and more and more people are extending upgrade periods or buying more economical options Apple offer.

Nobody is looking at your iPhone XS Max with overflowing waves of jealous mate lol. It’s just not everybody sees the value or desires the latest and greatest anymore.

 

[rjtyork]

I'd like to see them abandon the rounded edges from 2014. Give it up already, let's see some square edges that we can grip again.

Same here. My wife and I upgraded from 6+ to the 8+ and these phones are still absolute beasts. I seriously doubt we’ll be upgrading until the 2020 iPhones come out. Hopefully we’ll be back to square edges and a smaller notch by then. If not, I’m actually pretty sure these 8+ phones will last until at least 2022. I have no problem skipping the X generations. Not a fan of Face ID.

 

[wolfboy]

The market for 2019 iPhones will be 6s and 7 users, and they're probably still gonna perform well in 2019. But to be honest, people get bored of their phones after about 3 years regardless if its still viable or not.

So I guess the better question is: How itchy will 6s/7 users be to update? Will they settle for the same design with ugly triple camera bump or hold out another year for maybe I-hope-a-new-design in 2020??

My guess:
- 6s users are desperate for the new hotness. They will begrudgingly settle for the camera tumor and update this year cause they've been waiting a long long time and hitting that 4 year mark now. If not this year, for sure next year no matter what Apple puts in the 2020 one.
- 7 users are in the same boat, but have higher chance of resisting because they haven't been waiting that long.

It's all gonna depend how good the trade-in programs are. If this cycle's "limited" trade in is any indication, it should be a pretty decent deal.

 

[Chief Oddball]

My guess:
- 6s users are desperate for the new hotness. They will begrudgingly settle for the camera tumor and update this year cause they've been waiting a long long time and hitting that 4 year mark now. If not this year, for sure next year no matter what Apple puts in the 2020 one.

Yeah, guilty as charged. I've had a 6s Plus since launch and multiple factors have kept me out of a new iPhone since then. A combination of multiple recurring expenses ending before this fall, plus the age of my current phone, means I'm probably gonna spring for the 2019 iPhone.

I have always been on the "S cycle" since the 3GS and have been just fine, but even so, I am considering going on the iPhone Upgrade Program or whatever Apple calls it so I can trade up hassle-free to the 2020 if it really is a big departure.

 

[fourthtunz]

I can only speak for myself and I will not be upgrading for at least 2 years. More if my XS is still working well.

I have the Xr but may upgrade to the XS, we'll see what they come up with..I do miss the telephoto

 

[valinda]

I have an XS, and I'm not going to let myself buy anymore phones until this one is a minimum of 2 years old. Hopefully longer. It's a waste of money. Maybe I need to go to Smartphones Anonymous.
[doublepost=1556667080][/doublepost]

Same here. My wife and I upgraded from 6+ to the 8+ and these phones are still absolute beasts. I seriously doubt we’ll be upgrading until the 2020 iPhones come out. Hopefully we’ll be back to square edges and a smaller notch by then. If not, I’m actually pretty sure these 8+ phones will last until at least 2022. I have no problem skipping the X generations. Not a fan of Face ID.

The 8+ is a great phone. I bought one, then sold it in favor of the XS. Really, I should have keep it because it's nicer towatch youtube videos on, the 8+ screen is bigger than the XS. I am a fan of the Face ID though.

 

[NickName99]

Sticking with 8+ till the notch is eliminated.

I switched from an 8 Plus to a X, felt like a big jump into the future. Highly recommended. The display is so tall that the notch just doesn’t matter. The only time the notch bugs me is while watching movies on plane trips, but I just bought an iPad Mini, so that won’t be an issue anymore.

 

[WinterWolf90]

Reference the bolded. I would re-think that, because there are many who _can_ afford the latest iPhones, but have chosen not to spend those prices on smart phones when their current smart phone does exactly everything else the larger/more expensive iPhones do. Isn’t that what directly affected Apple? I’d say it is, because Tim Cook openly admitted that consumers are retaining their older devices due to longevity/support.

The point is, current iPhone prices (XS/Max) are not attractive, consumers don’t need to spend that type of money on a phone when it’s a tool, not a luxury item. I can’t tell you how many members throughout these threads in the iPhone forum over the last six months have refused to upgrade because they don’t want to pay those prices that Apple has increased, thus resulting in lost sales. And yes, many of the members in here can afford The latest iPhones, and even those who upgrade annually, has stopped because the technology likely isn’t compelling enough for those specific prices Apple is charging.

[FYI, I’ve been upgrading my iPhone annually every single year for the last five years, and 2019 will likely be my first year I don’t need to upgrade, because my current iPhone does everything I need it to and more, and that’s called ‘market saturation’.]

I have always done every 2 years and will stick with my 8. I will probably do 2020 depending on price and features.

 

[Momof2.1107]

The last few days I realized, I could keep my XS Max for a year and upgrade in 2020. I love this phone so I will be satisfied with it until 2020.

 

[killhippie]

The days of major upgrades are over for a while. That being said I like to have the latest, greatest. I usually upgrade every year

I think these days Apple and other manufacturers just have the latest, nothing great about any of the handsets any more. We have reached a point where they are just good enough to do what people want them to, factor in cost and what is deemed as lack of innovation, well as I see it there is only so much you can do with a super powerful phone with current battery technology anyway.

So all we get are more powerful CPU's that get bragged about on benchmark tests, which mean little in real world usage. Then its its just gimmicks and services and apps to get people to spend more money again. No wonder people just don't upgrade as often and after buying the Xs I'm now in that camp too. I'm not even that hyped about 5G as living in a rural area in the UK, 800Mhz 4G is going to be better for for quite a while to come as it covers a greater area. With few homes around here, 5G wont arrive for quite a while as where I live is not the demographic to roll out expensive new 5G equipment.

 

[44267547]

I predict that iOS 13 will be a major upgrade with a new physics engine that only works on recent graphics chips - I predict that only recent iPhones will be supported (A9+).

Bolded: This Kinda gets said every year. I don’t necessarily see iOS being ‘major’ every year with upgrades, when it’s really more about stability, fluidity and adding various capabilities, like a re-designed control center, or maybe even adding dark mode. With iOS, it isn’t what they add for new features, it’s overhauling to make older/newe-er devices more stable through performance. Isn’t that what iOS is all about, performance? It seems it is, because that’s what keeps those keeping their devices much longer, because they do perform so well and they have extended support.

As example: When Apple introduced the redesigned control center, everyone though it was going to be the greatest thing and it was a major redesign, when really, that quickly faded to be an afterthought. In today’s world of software, it’s about [stability and security], that is what will push iOS moving forward, adding some tweaks along the way.

 

[Martyimac]

Bolded: This Kinda gets said every year. I don’t necessarily see iOS being ‘major’ every year with upgrades, when it’s really more about stability, fluidity and adding various capabilities, like a re-designed control center, or maybe even adding dark mode. With iOS, it isn’t what they add for new features, it’s overhauling to make older/newe-er devices more stable through performance. Isn’t that what iOS is all about, performance? It seems it is, because that’s what keeps those keeping their devices much longer, because they do perform so well and they have extended support.

As example: When Apple introduced the redesigned control center, everyone though it was going to be the greatest thing and it was a major redesign, when really, that quickly faded to be an afterthought. In today’s world of software, it’s about [stability and security], that is what will push iOS moving forward, adding some tweaks along the way.

110% spot on. I would only add I wish they would quit making it more complicated with each release. Especially now that many folks aren't upgrading each year. I won't and like poster @killhippie 5G is not going to make it here for quite a while.

 

[rotlex]

I own an original x from launch week. It functions flawlessly and does more than I can need right now, including a great camera. I'll probably be holding to see what 2020 brings.

 

[Jimpilot]

I’m on the IPhone Upgrade program so I am motivated to upgrade this year just like past years. But if the cost of the new phone drives the payment way up I will reconsider. I can afford it but I got to this place financially by not throwing money away for very little upgrade.

 

[s15119]

I have a Max, I won't be upgrading my phone in 2019. MY wife is using an SE. She will likely upgrade this year. We also are both likely to replace or Ipads this year.
[doublepost=1556740494][/doublepost]

2018 was the year of the skipped upgrade. Three underwhelming devices with nothing compelling.

Except the XS Max is the best phone ever made.

 

[bluecoast]

Bolded: This Kinda gets said every year. I don’t necessarily see iOS being ‘major’ every year with upgrades, when it’s really more about stability, fluidity and adding various capabilities, like a re-designed control center, or maybe even adding dark mode. With iOS, it isn’t what they add for new features, it’s overhauling to make older/newe-er devices more stable through performance. Isn’t that what iOS is all about, performance? It seems it is, because that’s what keeps those keeping their devices much longer, because they do perform so well and they have extended support.

As example: When Apple introduced the redesigned control center, everyone though it was going to be the greatest thing and it was a major redesign, when really, that quickly faded to be an afterthought. In today’s world of software, it’s about [stability and security], that is what will push iOS moving forward, adding some tweaks along the way.

I agree but I do still think that this year Apple has to have a radical change to iOS (ie dropping out older phones she optimising it for Face ID phones) so people are inclined to upgrade.

 

[GuruZac]

I’m sitting this year out because the XR is a great phone and I’m waiting for 5G iPhones. I’m due to upgrade my Series 2 Watch which I will upgrade this year instead of the phone.

 

[MistrSynistr]

I went full potato and upgraded from an X to an XS and absolutely did not need to.

There is nothing compelling about moving into what will be the same design, notch, with a ridiculous camera that will "kinda sorta but it depends on your lighting" take better photos.

 

[chenhastwins]

I predict that iOS 13 will be a major upgrade with a new physics engine that only works on recent graphics chips - I predict that only recent iPhones will be supported (A9+).

I agree with you!
The 2019 has to be some innovative year!!!

 

[bluecoast]

I agree with you!
The 2019 has to be some innovative year!!!

The other part of my argument is that iOS 12 is going to be the ultimate ‘classic’ version of iOS for older phones and one which I suspect will be supported for longer than usual, which leaves Apple able to do more radical things in iOS 13.

 

[Wide opeN]

Everyone knows it's all about the 2020 iPhone and beyond.

iPhone 2019 = DOA

 

[rasputin1969]

I’ve a XS and will upgrade if the third lens is a 5x zoom, as I will gain real utility from that. If it’s a blah wide angled lens then I’ll hang on to my XS.

 

[bushman4]

Might as well wait for 2020 iPhone which will have 5G and hopefully a hardware design change
Only thing that might entice me would be Touch ID under screen

 

[Josieb1]

I’m on a 6S+. My iPhone just isn’t as important as my iPads. I’ll hang onto it as long as I can. I’m happy to get the battery replaced if I need to, currently it’s on 86%.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I won’t be upgrading this year as I like to keep a phone 2 years and get my monies worth out of it. There’s nothing wrong with my 8+ either and it’s not missing anything I wish I had or need. That’s the good thing with iPhones, the experience is pretty indifferent from model to model.