I always sell my old one for almost 75% of the price. So I need to pay 250$ or so to upgrade each year.
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Other How do you justify, and pay for, an iPhone upgrade each year?
- Thread starter Cromulent
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I don't need to justify to anyone, I have the money and I want to I do it, otherwise i don't.
It all boiled down to prioritizing your expenses and managing your budget.
Used to change every year (till the 6) then moved to android for few years, and now bought the 13.
Won't upgrade to 14 as the 13 is all I really need now and the extra cash will go towards other stuff.
It all boiled down to prioritizing your expenses and managing your budget.
Used to change every year (till the 6) then moved to android for few years, and now bought the 13.
Won't upgrade to 14 as the 13 is all I really need now and the extra cash will go towards other stuff.
In that case, you don't NEED an iPhone in the first place when a cheaper device would do. It's not always about need, but want. Welcome to the free world where you can make personal, lawful choices. If I choose to buy a new iPhone every year, the only justification is that I want to. It pleases me. I don't need to justify it to anyone.
I tend to upgrade when my existing device can no longer do what I want. Because I don't fall for the marketing bull**** easily, that often means I tend to keep devices way way longer than Apple would like me to. Like, 11 years for my recently-retired iMac, and 9 years for my 2013 MPB which I've just passed up to my brother as his first Apple device. I kept my heavily-used iPhone 6S for five years, went through two batteries with it and only retired it because the Lightning socket had basically started to wear out. Likely I'll keep my SE2 for the same duration, because why upgrade for, in my case, no real reason? There are better things to throw my disposable income at than a new phone with which I'll do exactly the same tasks as my old one.
What I'm guessing yearly upgraders do:
- passing the older phone to family members, so saving money to just buying 1 new phone instead of 2
- trading in/selling the old phone while the value is still high, offseting the new phone price
- carrier deals offering higher trade in values for the old phone, or deals to recontract after just 1 year instead of having to wait until 2
- they're on the iphone upgrade program
- they're simply want the latest (FOMO, status symbol, etc) The phone becomes the substitute for a new watch, shoes, or handbag.
- they're YouTuber who buy a new phone for review and immediately return it within the return period.
Agree, and for many, the phone is a status symbol. So if they don't have the latest, then to them, the 1 year old phone is not doing its purpose/function anynore. Thus they have to have the newest phone.
Not everyone considers a smartphone to function as a smartphone.
The same with luxury watches, handbags, or even cars.This proves my point in one case, status symbol reflects narcissism. You will find it is also prominent among buyers who purchase limited edition products.Agree, and for many, the phone is a status symbol. So if they don't have the latest, then to them, the 1 year old phone is not doing its purpose/function anynore. Thus they have to have the newest phone.
Not everyone considers a smartphone to function as a smartphone.
I don’t upgrade every year but I did go from the 7 to the Xr to the 12 to the 13 Pro. My iPhone 7 cost me about $200. The upgrade to the Xr was free with a trade-in (I paid tax though). The upgrade to the 12 was $400+ tax with trade-in. The upgrade to the 13 Pro was $50 plus tax with trade-in. I paid $800 total (including tax) to have 4 different iPhones with trade-in and trade-ups.
If there’s a good trade-in promo, I’ll get a newer phone. If not, I’ll use my 13 Pro until there’s a good trade-in promo or it’s time to upgrade in a few years. If you get the right promo, it’s often less expensive to upgrade more regularly than to wait.
If there’s a good trade-in promo, I’ll get a newer phone. If not, I’ll use my 13 Pro until there’s a good trade-in promo or it’s time to upgrade in a few years. If you get the right promo, it’s often less expensive to upgrade more regularly than to wait.
Anyone who drives faster than I do is a maniac. Anyone who drives slower than I do is a moron.
-- Half of the responses in this thread.
-- Half of the responses in this thread.
Regardless, it's a segment ripe for business opportunities with high margins, aka Apple.
Not that I need to justify it but I use the iPhone Upgrade Program to purchase my phones. Normally I used to upgrade every two years just like the carriers trained me to do for years. However I realized that upgrading every two years via carrier and upgrading every year via the iPhone upgrade program had no cost or payment difference. I am still paying someone for two years. I don’t always take the latest and greatest, I skipped the iPhone 12 and if rumors are true, I will likely skip the iPhone 14, but if there is some killer feature I may choose to upgrade.
Which iPhone do you think is still as usable as any new iPhone? Of course, without taking into account the new features such as the cinematic mode. I’d draw that line, right now, on the A12 devices, such as the iPhone XS. I have an A12X iPad Pro but that SoC is on another league I think.
I have an A11 iPhone, mind you, and the performance is pretty good. But with just 2GB of RAM and a two-core neural engine, my iPhone 8 lacks all the AI powered features on iOS 15, and the performance is not as excellent as it was on iOS 14. No, my iPhone 8 isn’t slow, but it is not comparable to an A12 or newer devices. I had the opportunity to try an iPhone 13 and the A15 is absolutely impressive, but I don’t think I’d find differences between the iPhone 12, or even the iPhone 11 and the new 13.
So, where would you put the bar right now, when it comes to performance and usability? What’s the oldest device you think it has a great performance to the extent that you literally wouldn’t notice the difference in performance with an A15 powered iPhone?
I have an A11 iPhone, mind you, and the performance is pretty good. But with just 2GB of RAM and a two-core neural engine, my iPhone 8 lacks all the AI powered features on iOS 15, and the performance is not as excellent as it was on iOS 14. No, my iPhone 8 isn’t slow, but it is not comparable to an A12 or newer devices. I had the opportunity to try an iPhone 13 and the A15 is absolutely impressive, but I don’t think I’d find differences between the iPhone 12, or even the iPhone 11 and the new 13.
So, where would you put the bar right now, when it comes to performance and usability? What’s the oldest device you think it has a great performance to the extent that you literally wouldn’t notice the difference in performance with an A15 powered iPhone?
I think only status obssesed twenty somethings who are tasting new found financial freedom are doing this.
The only time I kept up with the new iPhone models was when I worked IT at NBC and was hip deep in dozens of iPhones. I always had my pick of whatever models were in circulation. Though the high spec models were only ever authorized for execs and some managers. So I only got a chance at a 128GB Max type when one of those girls or guys got axed.
Currently I rock a very thrashed 7+.
Almost never make phone calls. I play 2 games, and do social media.
It's mostly a hotspot for my laptop and the NAV on the car.
But then I'm in my 50s.
The only time I kept up with the new iPhone models was when I worked IT at NBC and was hip deep in dozens of iPhones. I always had my pick of whatever models were in circulation. Though the high spec models were only ever authorized for execs and some managers. So I only got a chance at a 128GB Max type when one of those girls or guys got axed.
Currently I rock a very thrashed 7+.
Almost never make phone calls. I play 2 games, and do social media.
It's mostly a hotspot for my laptop and the NAV on the car.
But then I'm in my 50s.
Very much the same for me - I use my iPhone as my primary computing platform (almost NEVER make phone calls on it, strangely), so it's in my pocket always and in my hand for much of the day. Essentially leasing a new one every year just makes sense to me and doesn't cost more than most streaming services, so ...
I know there’s a big difference between the A12 and A14 but I can only see it when playing games like Alien Isolation which is a demanding full on console title.
When it comes to day-to-day activities such as browsing, messaging and social media along with conference calls, I do not notice a difference in speed between my iPad Mini 5 and iPhone Mini 12. The iPad Mini 5 matches the iPhone XS so I would agree with your answer that the XS is still a perfectly usable phone and matches any subsequent phone on the current iOS firmware for at least 90% of tasks.
I personally focus on what I'm doing. If someone else is upgrading their phone every year... good for them?
In terms of the iPhone I mainly use it for calls or ocasionally streaming music/video. That's pretty much it. I have played one game on a 13 Pro Max(Little Orpheus). Before the 13 Pro Max I had an XR. In terms of tech there are other things far more interesting to me than upgrading my Phone. I honestly find phones extremely boring and barely use my iPhone outside of making phone calls.
In terms of the iPhone I mainly use it for calls or ocasionally streaming music/video. That's pretty much it. I have played one game on a 13 Pro Max(Little Orpheus). Before the 13 Pro Max I had an XR. In terms of tech there are other things far more interesting to me than upgrading my Phone. I honestly find phones extremely boring and barely use my iPhone outside of making phone calls.
Status symbol? What in the....Agree, and for many, the phone is a status symbol. So if they don't have the latest, then to them, the 1 year old phone is not doing its purpose/function anynore. Thus they have to have the newest phone.
Not everyone considers a smartphone to function as a smartphone.
Same way I pay for a new Mercedes every year.
Couldn‘t resist responding to the OP. I don’t get a new car every year… but I do have a car.
Couldn‘t resist responding to the OP. I don’t get a new car every year… but I do have a car.
Having the latest and greatest Apple gadgets is kind of one of my main hobbies. I like tinkering with new stuff, that's just who I am. So no, it's not needed at all, but I have disposable income that I decide to use on that. Just like other people like to afford expensive cars, watches or jewelry: they don't need it, they just like it.
Also, I of course don't throw the old phones away. I usually sell them after 1 year for about 70% of their original price.
Also, I of course don't throw the old phones away. I usually sell them after 1 year for about 70% of their original price.
You can justify it pretty easily if you look at the used price of your current iPhone on Facebook Marketplace.
In Australia I can reasonably expect to sell my iPhone 13 pro max for around 75% of what it cost me in September/October after one year. If I drag that out to 4 years, my last iPhone (iPhone X) sold for ~10%. So after one year, you don’t lose too much.
In Australia I can reasonably expect to sell my iPhone 13 pro max for around 75% of what it cost me in September/October after one year. If I drag that out to 4 years, my last iPhone (iPhone X) sold for ~10%. So after one year, you don’t lose too much.
Same reason why people buy a BMW, Nike, etc while there are plenty of cheaper alternatives that do the same function just fine.