True. I edited my post to correct it but somehow it appeared out of nowhere.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Other How long do you keep your phone?
- Thread starter jcorbin
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I can't imagine keeping a phone 10 years, that's amazing and a MASSIVE $ savings. lol. I do think that the #1 problem with that today is that most apps say you have to upgrade even if you're a few iOS versions behind.
My wife and I are very committed to getting out of the yearly rat race. We're going to keep our phones at least a few years before we think about upgrading. That is... unless Apple's new product presentations sweep us off our feet... again.
My wife and I are very committed to getting out of the yearly rat race. We're going to keep our phones at least a few years before we think about upgrading. That is... unless Apple's new product presentations sweep us off our feet... again.
I owned 9 phones in 21 years, apparently it's an average of little more than two years each, but actually some lasted a few months and others for years:
- Panasonic GD90: 3-4 years, replaced with a much better one
- Sony-Ericcson T630: 2-3 years, died
- Samung [something with Symbian]: 2-3 years, died
- Eten [something with Windows Mobile]: 1 year, because worst-phone-ever, destroyed
- LG [something with Android 2]: 2-3 years, because found an offer on a iPhone 4, given to family
- iPhone 4: 1 year, loved it but wanted a bigger screen, sold
- Samsung Note 3 Neo: few months, then iPhone 6+ announced, given to family
- iPhone 6+: 6+ years, broken
- iPhone 8+: just got it
- Panasonic GD90: 3-4 years, replaced with a much better one
- Sony-Ericcson T630: 2-3 years, died
- Samung [something with Symbian]: 2-3 years, died
- Eten [something with Windows Mobile]: 1 year, because worst-phone-ever, destroyed
- LG [something with Android 2]: 2-3 years, because found an offer on a iPhone 4, given to family
- iPhone 4: 1 year, loved it but wanted a bigger screen, sold
- Samsung Note 3 Neo: few months, then iPhone 6+ announced, given to family
- iPhone 6+: 6+ years, broken
- iPhone 8+: just got it
I try to keep mine > 1 year but someone in my family is always looking for a "gift".
But that's the iPhone side.
For those on Android, they seem to keep them for a few years. Wonder why? I'm even guilty of that.
But that's the iPhone side.For those on Android, they seem to keep them for a few years. Wonder why? I'm even guilty of that.
For whatever reason, since the first iPhone, my phone-like device has always been the one I buy frugally and keep until it's barely workable. I'm still happily using my first-generation iPhone SE, which I think I snagged as an open-box unit for $150 at the time. No other more recent iPhone has struck me as a better overall proposition.
I used to upgrade every other year as well, this is my first one that's 3 years:
iPhone 3G - March 2009
iPhone 4 - June 2010
iPhone 5 - September 2012
iPhone 6 - September 2014
iPhone 7 Plus - September 2016
iPhone XS - September 2018
The XS is still fast for me and takes great photos, so I didn't feel upgrading to the 12 was worth it. I think I'm only going to upgrade to the 13 (or whatever it'll be called) if it has the faster display.
iPhone 3G - March 2009
iPhone 4 - June 2010
iPhone 5 - September 2012
iPhone 6 - September 2014
iPhone 7 Plus - September 2016
iPhone XS - September 2018
The XS is still fast for me and takes great photos, so I didn't feel upgrading to the 12 was worth it. I think I'm only going to upgrade to the 13 (or whatever it'll be called) if it has the faster display.
I have upgraded every year since the 3g. Currently on a 12 pro and plan on keeping it for more than just a year. After kids and a house I think it’s time to slow down on the upgrades. We’ll see how this holds up next September.
Nothing, there's no such thing, hahaha, how about a 6 plus.
Posting at that time of night (for me at least) is not conducive to accuracy.
iPhone 4S 32 Go (2 years 2011-2013)
iPhone 5S 64 Go (3 years 2013-2016, battery replaced for free in Apple Store juste before 2 years mark (in France it's possible if you are below 80-85% battery health in less than 2 years, sold at €260)
iPhone 7 128Go (4 years 2016-2020, battery replaced for free in Apple Store juste before 2 years mark, sold at €220)
iPhone 12 256 Go (expected : 3 years minimum, can be up to 4 years again, depending on innovation/leaks)
All iPhone bought day one with decent storage, since I don't like iCloud and use a lot of storage
iPhone 5S 64 Go (3 years 2013-2016, battery replaced for free in Apple Store juste before 2 years mark (in France it's possible if you are below 80-85% battery health in less than 2 years, sold at €260)
iPhone 7 128Go (4 years 2016-2020, battery replaced for free in Apple Store juste before 2 years mark, sold at €220)
iPhone 12 256 Go (expected : 3 years minimum, can be up to 4 years again, depending on innovation/leaks)
All iPhone bought day one with decent storage, since I don't like iCloud and use a lot of storage
iPhone 4S 32 Go (2 years 2011-2013)
iPhone 5S 64 Go (3 years 2013-2016, battery replaced for free in Apple Store juste before 2 years mark (in France it's possible if you are below 80-85% battery health in less than 2 years, sold at €260)
iPhone 7 128Go (4 years 2016-2020, battery replaced for free in Apple Store juste before 2 years mark, sold at €220)
iPhone 12 256 Go (expected : 3 years minimum, can be up to 4 years again, depending on innovation/leaks)
All iPhone bought day one with decent storage, since I don't like iCloud and use a lot of storage
What does the Go stand for? Gogabyte?
What was your Sony Xperia? I actually enjoy the Sony version of the Android OS. It is really stable, great RAM optimization, good UX in terms of settings organization, great battery life. I do not enjoy their cameras that much and yep Sony failed miserably on the mobile market so I am not sure that soon people outside of Japan will find Xperia phones.
In terms of my upgrade cycle it used to be 2 years I think. My first smartphone was Sony Xperia phone with full qwerty keyboard that I bought I believe in 2011 (to this day I must say that this was the best phone in terms of design I had, so compact and yet full keyboard). Loved that phone but man Android 4 got old really fast. Then I had LG for 2 years, then Sony Xperia Compact, then another Sony Xperia Compact and now the iPhone 12 Pro.
Last edited:
My bad, it's simply the french term.
Go stands for Gigaoctet, this term is used by everyone including Apple for storage in consumer electronics in France. It's just French version of Gb.
You know when your brain work mainly in French and you write stuff quickly, sometimes, you can find froggy terms that miraculously skipped the translation phase.
My bad, it's simply the french term.
Go stands for Gigaoctet, this term is used by everyone including Apple for storage in consumer electronics in France. It's just French version of Gb.
You know when your brain work mainly in French and you write stuff quickly, sometimes, you can find froggy terms that miraculously skipped the translation phase.
All good thanks much for the context!
I went:
Original -> 4s -> 6Plus -> XR
There was a brief flirtation with a Nokia Lumia Icon running Windows Phone, but it did not end well.
I hope my next iPhone will be a foldable with an 8" screen.
Original -> 4s -> 6Plus -> XR
There was a brief flirtation with a Nokia Lumia Icon running Windows Phone, but it did not end well.
I hope my next iPhone will be a foldable with an 8" screen.
Last edited:
I posted this and things changed. Suddenly my deaf ears couldn't hear the people when they called me. Nothing that I can see why but my dear husband told me to call apple. In reality it wasn't thought apple in the long run but through Verizon that I got a different phone and turning in my ipx for a trade in. I am not sure I am very happy with this iphone 12 just yet and nothing I have attempted has been easy as it was with my ipx.
My reply here is going to be a bit all over the shop, really.
me: 2010: 4 --> 2014: 6+ --> 2018: X
wife: 2017: 7, 2019: 11 Pro
2010, got a 4 as my first iPhone.
2011 got a 4s for work, kept the 4 as a personal phone.
2014 Upgraded to the 6+ for the camera, kept the 4s for work. Gave the 4 to my mother in law.
2016, my wife finally swapped her Blackberry for a 7. Gave the 4s to mother in law, since the 4 wasn't getting updates anymore. The 4, by the way, is still used sporadically at home in a Sony dock to play music.
2018, I traded in my 6+ for an X (refurbished). Still on the X. I'll probably get a battery replacement sometime.
In 2018, got the kids an original SE each. They're still using them, although I really need to get the batteries replaced.
2019, My wife upgraded to the 11 Pro for the camera. We gave the 7 to mother in law to replace the 4s.
That 4s has been a real work horse.
If / when my wife upgrades to a 12s / 13, I'll probably grab her 11 Pro. Not really itching to replace my X, I really like the size of the iPhone 12 mini but I know I wouldn't make the battery life work.
me: 2010: 4 --> 2014: 6+ --> 2018: X
wife: 2017: 7, 2019: 11 Pro
2010, got a 4 as my first iPhone.
2011 got a 4s for work, kept the 4 as a personal phone.
2014 Upgraded to the 6+ for the camera, kept the 4s for work. Gave the 4 to my mother in law.
2016, my wife finally swapped her Blackberry for a 7. Gave the 4s to mother in law, since the 4 wasn't getting updates anymore. The 4, by the way, is still used sporadically at home in a Sony dock to play music.
2018, I traded in my 6+ for an X (refurbished). Still on the X. I'll probably get a battery replacement sometime.
In 2018, got the kids an original SE each. They're still using them, although I really need to get the batteries replaced.
2019, My wife upgraded to the 11 Pro for the camera. We gave the 7 to mother in law to replace the 4s.
That 4s has been a real work horse.
If / when my wife upgrades to a 12s / 13, I'll probably grab her 11 Pro. Not really itching to replace my X, I really like the size of the iPhone 12 mini but I know I wouldn't make the battery life work.
My wife and I try to go 5 years. It was close to that long when I went from a 5S to my current 8 and I don't see myself replacing my current phone for at least another year. The battery's still good, I prefer touch id, it's still fast enough for me, and still supported by the latest version of iOS.