For those that upgrade their smartphones often...

[LSUtigers03]

I've been doing it for so long my family and friends have come to expect it as the norm. If they see me with the same phone for more than 2 months then they'll ask me why I haven't gotten a different phone because its odd for me to keep the same phone for that long.

 

[daneoni]

They're used to it now. Sometimes they even ask what i'm getting next and when.

 

[AppleRobert]

Awesome Avatar, Go Houston Texans, and JJ WATT!!!

Back on topic, do you guys buy them all off contract? Seems expensive, but I'll be buying the Note 3 off contract so it's all good! Love the responses here, as I usually get the same reaction. I work in a non tech related field, but even some of my customers will call me at work, or on my cell with tech related questions. I advice many with their smartphone, pc, and tablet voices. I don't upgrade as often as others, but bring on the Note 3!!!

Buying off contract is why I can do it. I had one two year contract which I bought out of after a year, I probably will never have a two year contract again since I can get more toys to tinker with. And now with what is being released, all the better.

Don't ask how many tablets I have.

 

[ChrisTX]

Honestly, before I made the switch to Android I always kept my iPhones for the duration of the 2 year contract. Now that there's a new Android phone every month, I always feel obligated to upgrade. The Note 3 will be my last for a while.

 

[ToyGun1]

Spent way to much this year on phones iphone 5 32gb Sim free Jan
Samsung galaxy s4 Sim free May.
iphone 5s 64Gb sim free.
Going to hold on to these three phone till the iphone 6s in 2015.

 

[The Game 161]

i'm called mad...and not having bills or a mortage.

 

[THE JUICEMAN]

Friends and family think I'm crazy also. But hey, everyone has their things! They have excepted it and come to me for phone/tablet advice though.

 

[dkersten]

Going to hold on to these three phone till the iphone 6s in 2015.

Sure you will

I check Craigslist nearly everyday. If I find a great deal on a phone I'll pull the trigger and either keep that one or sell it, depending on if I like it more. I really only keep two phones, my current one (right now a GS3) and an old iPhone 4 as a backup. I may have to retire the iP4 and find a new backup phone though soon.

As soon as I graduate and find a job, I'm sure I'll be just as bad as most of you though

 

[Sensamic]

I just don't see the point in changing between phones that are so similar in hardware and software.

Is there really a big difference between a phone released in the first half of the year (like HTC One, Sony Z or SGS4) and another one released in the second half (HTC One Max, Note 3, Nexus 5 or Z1)?

Most of them are on 4.2.2, produce the same quality pictures (despite one having 13Mpx and another 20Mpx), have the same quality screen, etc.

I don't see a huge difference in day to day use between Snapdragon 600 and 800 or Tegra 4 for example.

I change phones once every year if and only if it's really worth it. If you change phones in the same year you won't really see much improvements.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I just don't see the point in changing between phones that are so similar in hardware and software.

Is there really a big difference between a phone released in the first half of the year (like HTC One, Sony Z or SGS4) and another one released in the second half (HTC One Max, Note 3, Nexus 5 or Z1)?

Most of them are on 4.2.2, produce the same quality pictures (despite one having 13Mpx and another 20Mpx), have the same quality screen, etc.

I don't see a huge difference in day to day use between Snapdragon 600 and 800 or Tegra 4 for example.

I change phones once every year if and only if it's really worth it. If you change phones in the same year you won't really see much improvements.

In my case, if the Nexus 5 camera proves to be as good as the G2's, it'll be a worthy upgrade from my HTC One's camera, which I find abysmal.

 

[Spacial]

My friends are professionals that also have expensive interests.

Since I buy a wide variety of brands & platforms, they enjoy knowing I can answer their questions on any phone from first hand experience.

My wife loves it, I buy her lots of expensive jewelry without fail. Everyone wins.

 

[Sensamic]

In my case, if the Nexus 5 camera proves to be as good as the G2's, it'll be a worthy upgrade from my HTC One's camera, which I find abysmal.

Yeah, but is it really worth changing phones in the same year just for a slightly better camera? Just for one feature?

I would wait for next year's top end smartphones. I'm sure those will have better cameras than now.

Even with the Nexus 5 you will want to upgrade to the HTC One 2, SGS5, etc.

 

[KentuckyHouse]

Yeah, but is it really worth changing phones in the same year just for a slightly better camera? Just for one feature?

I would wait for next year's top end smartphones. I'm sure those will have better cameras than now.

Even with the Nexus 5 you will want to upgrade to the HTC One 2, SGS5, etc.

Short answer, yes.

Long answer, yes. And if you can't tell a difference between the One's awful camera and the S4 or Z1 or 1020, then you're just not paying attention.

Besides, why worry about what other people do with their money or phones? Use what works for you and be happy.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Yeah, but is it really worth changing phones in the same year just for a slightly better camera? Just for one feature?

I would wait for next year's top end smartphones. I'm sure those will have better cameras than now.

Even with the Nexus 5 you will want to upgrade to the HTC One 2, SGS5, etc.

That wouldn't be the only benefit but I understand your point.

 

[adder7712]

I don't switch that often. I'm still holding on my S3 which I bought this year (yes I know).

 

[Sensamic]

Short answer, yes.

Long answer, yes. And if you can't tell a difference between the One's awful camera and the S4 or Z1 or 1020, then you're just not paying attention.

Besides, why worry about what other people do with their money or phones? Use what works for you and be happy.

I know the One has a terrible camera. I've commented it several times in this forum.

You're not getting my point. I understand it's a terrible camera, but why not wait for next year's smartphones?

Of course everyone can do whatever they want with their money. If I wanted I could change phones every year too, but we're having a debate here.

I have a SGS3 and maybe I will upgrade to the Nexus 5. Like I said I upgrade phones every year if it's worth it.

I don't see a huge improvement in the camera department this year compared to last year, like with my SGS3.

I knew the One had a terrible camera and that's why it didn't even make it to my list.

My point is today's smartphones are so powerful there's really no big improvements worth changing phones every year. That's why maybe I'll wait for next year if the Nexus 5 isn't enough of an upgrade compared to my SGS3.

 

[KentuckyHouse]

I know the One has a terrible camera. I've commented it several times in this forum.

You're not getting my point. I understand it's a terrible camera, but why not wait for next year's smartphones?

Of course everyone can do whatever they want with their money. If I wanted I could change phones every year too, but we're having a debate here.

I have a SGS3 and maybe I will upgrade to the Nexus 5. Like I said I upgrade phones every year if it's worth it.

I don't see a huge improvement in the camera department this year compared to last year, like with my SGS3.

I knew the One had a terrible camera and that's why it didn't even make it to my list.

My point is today's smartphones are so powerful there's really no big improvements worth changing phones every year. That's why maybe I'll wait for next year if the Nexus 5 isn't enough of an upgrade compared to my SGS3.

Fair enough, but I will say I also had the S3 and now have the S4 and there's a huge difference in the cameras, at least to my eye. The S4 is much sharper and has much better low-light photos. And that's not to say the S3 didn't have a great camera. It was absolutely a fantastic camera when it was released.

You are right, though. The gap between phones of one generation and the next is narrowing. I find this to be a good thing, though. While some people gripe phones aren't changing enough from one year to the next, I feel like it allows me to hold on to phones longer (as I'm more pleased with what I've got rather than lusting after the newer phones). Case in point...the Moto X. Yes, the camera isn't as good as my iPhone 5 or S4 (something the upcoming software update seems to fix), but this is the first phone in a while that I've not wanted to get rid of after a few weeks to try something else. Phones like this are what happen when the software and hardware are designed around each other to give you the ideal experience.

 

[TacticalDesire]

Some laugh at me for looking at so many phones. Others don't care. Others don't notice.