Other How long do you keep your iPhone before upgrading to a newer model?

[smirking]

It's usually 3-4 years leaning toward 4 years for me, but if the carrier offers an insane deal to upgrade after two years, I'll consider it, especially if they're not asking for my old phone in exchange because then I can pass my old phone as a hand-me-down to my wife. Of course, this means I have to extend my contract with Verizon for another two years, but in the area where I live and the places I travel, Verizon is the only reliable carrier. I'd be sticking with them regardless.

Even though this would be a deal, you're still shelling out an extra $20-$30/month for that "great deal" for another two years so a 2 year upgrade isn't likely to become a habit. Neither I nor my wife need an upgrade every 2 years. We don't live on our phones.

 

[ET iPhone Home]

4S, 5S, 6 Plus, and XS Max if that tells you how often I've upgraded. I don't need the latest, although it's nice looking at the new iPhones when they are released at the Apple Store.. Also, I'm working in a new company in the last 4 yrs where they drop about $100/month to a personal employee incentive credit card where I can actually upgrade to an iPhone and purchase outright, but I don't want to waste the money on a phone every year.

 

[Nacho98]

Used to be every 20 months or so back in the 2 year contract days where you were eligible after 20 months; so I'd basically get 2 out of every 3 phones, one on launch day and one mid cycle.

Then I sort of went every 18-24 months, and now in some sick twisted way it's like I want to upgrade every year more than I ever did before, out of boredom more than anything I suppose...

 

[iluvgadgets]

I’m on the yearly upgrade cycle

 

[subjonas]

There is no time schedule for me. I upgrade when my phone becomes inoperable or when Apple introduces a must-have feature.

- 4s upgraded to 5s because the 4s became bricked from an ios update (though the 5s’ Touch ID was also very welcomed).
- 5s upgraded to 6s plus because I wanted to read e-books more—must-have feature was the bigger screen.
- 6s plus downgraded to 5s because I found I hated carrying around and using a big phone (bought ipad mini for reading instead).
- 5s upgraded to SE because I wanted better security for purchases especially at gas stations—must-have feature was Apple Pay.

And on SE I will stay until it’s inoperable or until Apple makes another small phone with a new feature that I consider mission critical. If my SE becomes inoperable then I’ll use my backup SE until that’s inoperable. Hopefully by then Apple will make another small phone.

 

[Michael383]

My first iPhone was a 5 and after 2 years upgraded to a 6+. The 6+ has served me well for over 4 years now but I plan to upgrade this year.

 

[Stlcheer]

I like to upgrade every year.

 

[apolloa]

I think there are too many variables to answer this question. I kept my iPhone 4 for over 2 years I think. I’ve had a 6S on and off for I think 3 years, I’ve still got it actually and still use it now and then.
For me Apple is almost at the point where I can buy a model app and keep it long term.
I’ve had the 3GS and iPhone 7 twice and iPhone 8 once in between, still went back to the 6S then my current XR.

They are so fast now they will run iOS updates perfectly fine. I just need some hardware to match it and they are nearly there for me with that.
The cameras are so very nearly there, I am happy with my XR camera though. But I need better reception performance and for a new Apple device to stop dropping WiFi like my XR does, my 6S doesn’t do that.

So hopefully next year I’ll be looking to buy a new model and keep it for several years. That’s my plan now as they are too expensive. Hopefully we will get a new SE with a Qualcomm modem, and next years XR with a Qualcomm will go OLED and be a bit smaller thinner and lighter and with the dual camera, I’ll choose between the two for long term ownership.

 

[Acronyc]

Just got a new battery for my iPhone 7 and it’s running great. I’ve had it for two years now and think I will make it another two years. I love iPhones, but I don’t think I’ll purchase a new flagship model at full price. They are just getting too expensive.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Just got a new battery for my iPhone 7 and it’s running great. I’ve had it for two years now and think I will make it another two years. I love iPhones, but I don’t think I’ll purchase a new flagship model at full price. They are just getting too expensive.

I fully agree. Keep them for a few years with the way prices have escalated.

 

[reppans]

Interesting thread, and I expected to be way out on the bell curve.

iPhone3: 5 yrs (‘08-‘13)
iPhone5: 6 yrs (‘13-‘19)
iPad2: 7 yrs (‘12-‘19)
iPhoneXR: new (‘19-?)

iPhone3 still used as an MP3 player on my motorcycle. iPad2 still used for things (apps & data) I can’t do/use on XR, but the XR ‘phablet’ is intended to replace the iPad2 and iPhone5... need to figure out what to use the iPhone5 for next.

Yeah I keep stuff for a long time, and all on original batts (know how to take care of Li-ions). I sort of hate upgrading because there’s always some data loss, formatting issues, no longer supported apps, and painful set-up days/weeks involved. Course there’s also loads of new functionality too.... but I’m getting old and set in my ways.

 

[EugW]

2008: iPhone 3G
2010: iPhone 4
2013: iPhone 5S
2016: iPhone 7 Plus
2020: iPhone 12 Pro Max?

Yeah I keep stuff for a long time, and all on original batts (know how to take care of Li-ions).

I don’t specifically try to take care of my batteries. I just plug them in whenever and if it’s an iPad or MacBook I might leave them plugged in for days. Doesn’t seem to cause much problem.

Our two iPad Air 2’s batteries are still OK. My MacBook Pro’s battery needs to be replaced but it’s over a decade old now. Yes, my 2009 MacBookPro5,5 is still on its original battery.

 

[Momof2.1107]

From the iPhone 4, I upgraded every year up until the X. I kept the X for 18 months before upgrading to the XS Max for the bigger screen size. I passed the X onto my daughter. This year, I will upgrade if Qualcomm is back in the iPhones. The reception on my XS Max is horrible.

 

[EugW]

From the iPhone 4, I upgraded every year up until the X. I kept the X for 18 months before upgrading to the XS Max for the bigger screen size. I passed the X onto my daughter. This year, I will upgrade if Qualcomm is back in the iPhones. The reception on my XS Max is horrible.

Qualcomm won't be in there this year.

 

[Momof2.1107]

Qualcomm won't be in there this year.

I already know, which is why I’m not upgrading.

 

[Aftermath747]

Every year because the monthly payment is the same on AT&T Next Every Year. It’s actually getting even cheaper with the new Next Up plan so this year is a definite upgrade.

 

[macnmac]

every other year until the x, keeping the x until it breaks now... pointless to upgrade that frequently for me

 

[Dave245]

iPhone 3GS
iPhone 4S
iPhone 5S
iPhone 6 Plus
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone X

I don’t know if I’ll be tempted to upgrade to this years iPhone. It’s going to depend on what’s announced at the keynote. I like the idea of the new camera for catching memories when on holiday and general photos, I also like the bigger screen phones, I’m just not sure there will be a lot there to upgrade from my X.

 

[Jmausmuc]

you can see it in my signature.
I used to upgrade almost yearly with 1 or.2 exceptions but have since changed to a 2-3 year cycle.

i really regretted upgrading from the 6S to the 7 as it felt like almost exactly the same phone. Upgrade to iPhone X was amazing of course, it had that „brand new feel“. Now I will wait for the next major Redding as the iPhone X is still amazing.

 

[Crazyj414]

I was doing yearly since I had the yearly upgrades but I’ve kept my iPhone 8 Plus 2 years now and thinking of a third. I like new phones though and may just give in this year and next probably if they bring back Touch ID.

 

[mantan]

I was on a pace of every 2 years. I would have kept my current X another year but I am bumping against the storage (64 gig), so I'll likely upgrade this year.

 

[craigio85]

I kept my 4S for eighteen months. My 6 for 2 years and have upgraded every year since the 7.

It wouldn’t have panned out that way but I kept making errors.

- iPhone 7 Plus, I went for the silver model and realised after a while that I really didn’t like the white front plate.

- iPhone 8 I bought because I wasn’t fully sold on the iPhone X and wanted to see how it went (so this was the year I joined the upgrade programme and fully intended to upgrade after 12 months). In hindsight, I should have just gone with the X.

- iPhone XS. Without a doubt the best iPhone I’ve owned and I envisaged being happy to keep it for 2-3 years but I slowly came to regret going for the 5.8” size. I reasoned that I wanted a smaller form factor than the Plus models and was happy with it until held and used a Max properly for the first time. I was very surprised that the Max somehow seems less unwieldy than the old Plus models.

This alone wasn’t enough, but then my mother decided she wants to take my XS and pay the remaining 8 instalments on my plan.

So I’ll be going for the Pro Max (still can’t stomach that awful name), likely buying it outright.

 

[Techwatcher]

I've had my iPhone X since 2017 and didn't plan on upgrading until 2020 to the 5G version. But if the rumors are true about an iPhone 11 Pro Max with a stylus (Apple Pencil phone version) then I'm absolutely upgrading and will then upgrade again in 2020. XS was such a terrible update from the X so I just skipped that year entirely. But as a person with relatively big hands I needed the Max version of the iPhone since last year.

I've been doing everything in my power to not switch to a Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ lol. Have you guys seen it in person? Such a beautiful phone. I wish Apple would adopt Infinity screens already for some models.

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

I upgrade every year sadly. I said I wasn't going to upgrade this year but I am. Who am I kidding?

I’m honestly a little afraid I’ll end up upgrading this year. My iPhone X is totally fine and there are better things I could spend my money on. I don’t need a new phone. Gosh I hope I don’t buy one.

I make it sound a little dramatic. I can definitely afford it. My wife and I make around $180k /year so it’s not like it’s gonna cause financial hardship, but it would still be an irresponsible decision. We’re holding off on Disneyland passes right now because they’re like $1300 each. But that’s a whole year of fun with my daughter vs a new phone that does the same **** as my old one.

I don’t need a new phone. I just get my mind set on one thing and get all obsessed. I really like having a few days after the presentation to cool off because if preorders started right after the presentation it would be ridiculously hard not to buy one. Even when people talk trash about the presentations, I’m always stoked about the new gadgets. These stupid presentations get me high. It’s ridiculous really.

 

[Dave245]

I’m honestly a little afraid I’ll end up upgrading this year. My iPhone X is totally fine and there are better things I could spend my money on. I don’t need a new phone. Gosh I hope I don’t buy one.

I make it sound a little dramatic. I can definitely afford it. My wife and I make around $180k /year so it’s not like it’s gonna cause financial hardship, but it would still be an irresponsible decision. We’re holding off on Disneyland passes right now because they’re like $1300 each. But that’s a whole year of fun with my daughter vs a new phone that does the same **** as my old one.

I don’t need a new phone. I just get my mind set on one thing and get all obsessed. I really like having a few days after the presentation to cool off because if preorders started right after the presentation it would be ridiculously hard not to buy one. Even when people talk trash about the presentations, I’m always stoked about the new gadgets. These stupid presentations get me high. It’s ridiculous really.

I'm in a similar situation, i make a good living as a writer so i'm not going to pretend like i can't afford it, however i'm using and still loving my iPhone X. Before the presentation i'm thinking i won't upgrade, once they are on stage and showing off the new features and the device itself, i'm sure there will something that sells it to me.