Other How long do you keep your iPhone(s)?

[1rottenapple]

Feel like this thread questions pops up every 2 weeks

 

[JamesMay82]

The UK contracts run for 2 years so i usually upgrade every 2 years. Sometimes I’ll be sensible and downgrade to sim only contract but then I start craving a new model after a few months and usually cave.

Although my current logic is I’d rather get a newer computer on finance as opposed to a new phone on contract as they are similar payments. So once I’m out of contract I’ll be getting a new Mac

 

[headlessmike]

Barring hardware failure I use mine as long as it is supported. Currently on an iPhone 11 that just got a new battery after three years of service and it feels like a new phone again.

 

[graphitePro]

• iPhone 4S to iPhone 5S: 2yrs contract plan, new form factor, touchID, LTE.
• iPhone 5S to iPhone 6S: 2yrs contract plan, new form factor, 3D Touch, Retina HD display.
• iPhone 6S to iPhone 8: 2yrs contract plan, skipped the X because of the notch and price, glass back, wireless charging, ip67, stereo speakers, 7mpx selfie cam.
• iPhone 8 to iPhone 14 Pro: 5yrs no more contract plan, I skipped the notch design and got the 14 Pro. Had to replace my iPhone 8 battery 3 times and the home button broke once. The upgrade was huge, I really like that feeling.

Plan to keep the 14 Pro until 2027.

 

[adrianlondon]

Feel like this thread questions pops up every 2 weeks

Yeah, but someone might have upgraded their phone since then 😁

 

[splitpea]

When upgrading every two years (carrier subsidies) made a significant difference to the experience I did that. Since the SE, I’ve WANTED to replace it when OS slowness or security becomes an issue, but have held onto them longer because small phones are hard to come by. Replaced the SE with a mini when the SE’s power controller died, and might otherwise still be using the SE, because the mini is a smidge too big and heavy.

 

[leifp]

Feel like this thread questions pops up every 2 weeks

I did a search on the forums but nothing really popped up. I hardly exhausted my search options but what I found didn’t address my particular interests.

 

[contacos]

Used to update every 2nd year with the urge to update yearly but MOSTLY resisted. Now I am rocking my 12 Pro Max and I still don’t see a reason to upgrade this year. It is still running great and I’d just end up using the exact same apps, the exact same way. So why spent another 1,5k on a new iPhone only to do the same thing?

It was easier to justify when the new iPhone was like 600 Euro instead of 1,5k.

I think I went iPhone 3G > iPhone 4 > iPhone 4S (WHITE IPHONE) > iPhone 5 (bigger screen> iPhone 6 (bigger screen > iPhone 7 Plus (bigger screen) > iPhone XS Max (bigger screen) > iPhone 12 Pro Max

Now that I see it, I might be hooked on bigger screens haha Maybe the 16 Pro Max *Ultra* might be the one next year 😅

 

[Lioness~]

iPhones: 4, 5s, XR, 13 Mini - I buy when there's something I want and need.

XR was a compromise and not bought out of love. Can't say I ever liked it. Too big for me, but Apple just released phablets and no small iPhones at that time.
See how long it takes until Apple release another small phone again?
Because I wont buy a big one 😤

 

[Matsamoto]

I kept my 12 PM for 2 1/2 year.
My previous iPhones i use for 2 year.

My plan from the beginning was 3-4 years with the 12 PM, but i recently switched from ios to Android, and i couldn't be more happy about it.

 

[janitor3]

Just updated from iPhone 8+ to iPhone 14.
My spare phone runs Android, starting to prefer Android over Apple.

 

[glenthompson]

Somewhat varied. Started with a 5s then 6s, XR, and currently a 14 Pro. So 4 phones over 10 years. I expect my next phone will be a 17 unless some compelling feature comes along.

 

[BAZ1307]

I upgrade when there’s a reason to, which in my case is yearly. I’m even more in a hurry to upgrade this year though as I’m really not having a good time with the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It’s very glitchy and often slow, it’s also just not the ideal size for me. I could jump ship to android but I want to give Apple one more chance with the new phones later this year.

 

[Nermal]

Originally three years (4S -> 6 -> 8). However, I hung onto the 8 for four and a half years before upgrading, and the new phone (2022 SE) didn't "feel" much better than the old one. I suspect it'll be quite some time before I even consider another upgrade (plus I don't want to give Apple any more money until they start reading the bug reports).

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Usually 2 years as i take out a 24 month contract. Never seen the appeal of upgrading annually, but most people I know tend to keep their phones several years until they slow right down. I've changed my car more often than my phone in the last 5 years.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

It used to be two years, but since the 8, I started buying my phone outright directly from Apple. I'm going to keep my 13 pro until it loses software support.

The only thing I found useful with the 14 was the satellite connectivity, but I already have a Garmin inReach I take on backpacking trips. Camera updates don't mean much because I have a mirrorless. I don't play games or stream video so promotion is kinda a wash. What else is there?

 

[Yuuuki]

Usually I upgraded every 2 years. I planned to keep my 13 Pro (bought at release) for a longer while this time.

buuut guess that will not happen for me. I’m not really happy with the battery life anymore. Idk if that is just that I use my phone a lot more now or that the battery is really that bad after 1 1/2 year. Anyway that’s the reason why I’ll go most likely for a 15 PM (hoping for a noticeable better battery)

 

[Ericdjensen]

I used to upgrade every two years. You used to be able to get a new phone for $200 with a 2 year contract. I would then sell the old one on eBay for at least $200. I’m going longer nowadays. I want the promotion display and might get the 15 pro. The other rumors are dull tho so idk if it’s worth the money. My 11 is still quite fast, pics and vids look great(except zoom of course), and battery is still above 80% according to iOS and coconut battery. Might just get a new battery soon tho. I’m hoping there’s something really cool on the 15 that hasn’t been rumored. I’ve had a 4, 5, 6, 8, and 11

 

[zapmymac]

I used to upgrade when my carrier contract was up: (except 3g bought outright) so 4,5,6,7 (carrier loopholes & switching carriers [I do not miss this anymore] 8❣️—>12pro🥰, then finally able to get with the Apple Card program, so I jumped to the 13promax——>16/17 (pending cameras and I/O throughout)

 

[tarsins]

I always say that I'm not going to get the new iPhone every year, and every year I do.

 

[janeauburn]

My 8 Plus will probably have to be replaced w/ a 15 later this year, not because it doesn't work great (it does) but because my work requires the latest iOS updates, and I hear that the 8 Plus drops off Apple's "supported" list at the next OS change.

 

[gary77]

iPhone path 3GS/4S/5S/6S/8/SE 2nd gen/12/13

6s to the 8 New features like fast charging wireless charging at the time wasnt sold on face ID

8 to SE 2nd gen was due to allowing esim which was ideal for me

SE 2nd Gen to 12 the SE battery life wasnt great with 2 networks and needed better battery life and eventually more storage up until this point i had only had 64gb models the 12 would be a 128gb

12 to 13 Needed more storage (from 128gb to 256gb) and i caved in as the 13 was sold in Green which i love

Unless there is some new features can't see myself upgrading anytime soon the iOS updates I've found seem to be more than enough for my needs

 

[christlinah]

I pretty much bought every single iPhone since the 5 but now - with AoD, ProRaw etc. - is the first time that I really don't know what a new iPhone could offer that would impress me.

 

[ABHB]

5, 6s, 8 (bought as a refurb around time X was released), 12 mini (upgraded for the size), 14 (just now)

So, probably on average around 3 years. I like to have some time with a paid off phone before getting a new one and there really isn’t much difference between old and new models these days. Deciding factor is usually replacing a battery vs. how good a deal I can get on an upgrade.

 

[Al Rukh]

Used to upgrade yearly since the iPhone 7 until I got the 11 PM. Kept the latter until Jan 2022 when I got the 13. Changed to SE3 for fun and went to 13 PM within a span of months and I intend to keep it past 2023.