Other How often do you feel the need to buy a new iPhone model?

[I8P'CS]

I don’t know that pictures look ‘stunningly better’ compared to 3 to 4 years ago ( And Yes, I have used every iPhone), where iPhone 6 pictures that look still amazing for that time frame during 2014 when it launched. For the record, There are even comparisons out where the average consumer can’t even tell the difference between an iPhone 6 photo and an iPhone X, but that would depend on the individual experience and understanding of Camera tech. I think smart phone cameras have progressively improved year after year, but I don’t know if it’s ‘stunningly better’ in the respect that Camera tech is not that drastic in Camera advances, aside from features like Portrait mode/Portrait Lighting, etc.

Now, if you want to compare camera technology I would say 5/6 years ago compared to a BlackBerry compared to the iPhone, that would be stunningly better in today’s applications and more of an appropriate example.

I agree in regards camera, funny enough I saw this a few days ago, made me think.....

 

[PhoenixFireless]

I don't have a very clear upgrade path, usually it's been when I hit a wall on performance.

so far it's been: iPhone, iPhone 3g, iPhone 5, iPhone 6s

Where previously I was an early adopter and walls were hit earlier, I'm not sure AR/Camera Tech is possibly worth an upgrade for me. Now it seems like my upgrade path is dictated more on the 6s not really being supported anymore in the next 2ish years.

let's face it: phone have been 'good enough' for quite a few years

 

[ahoydecoy]

So far I've gone every two years (since the 5) and avoided the S's, but made a jump after one year from 7 to X.

I'm now able to get a yearly upgrade for free, but only by refreshing my (kind of expensive) 2-year contract. I'm wondering if whatever the upgrade from the X is will feel worth it this year. I haven't seen much in the way of rumours, other than the X-plus, which doesn't appeal to me.

 

[Steve121178]

I buy a new iPhone each year.

 

[Jetcat3]

I have felt the urge every year. But this year may be different. I love the OLED.... have always wanted it in an iPhone. It’s the perfect size. Battery life is outstanding. iOS 12 is better on it than iOS 11 ever was. I’m guessing Apple will make minor changes to the current iP10 and make it out to be a big deal. Meh. I’m not really excited this year like I usually am.

I’ve felt the urge every year like you but I’m with you. The iPhone X killed it right out of the gate! Are you running the iOS 12 beta? Do you notice an improvement in speed throughout?

 

[rillrill]

Back when T-Mobile had a decent Jump On Demand program, I felt the need to switch phones every 4-6 months. Its easy to get hyped up by the Apple PR and KeyNotes. I've tried to curb my tech obsession in the past year. Since then, I switched back to an SE, which is a fantastic phone for the price. However, I will be upgrading both my phone and my wife's SE's to an X variant of some kind. The small screen is getting annoying, and we both want portrait mode to take pictures of our family. We will try to keep these phones for 4-5 years.

 

[naturalstar]

The 6 Plus was my first iPhone and I kept it for 3 years before upgrading. I would rather wait for a new redesign to change phones. The 6s and 7 seemed like the same phone to me so I skipped those years. I changed last year to the 8 Plus because of issues I was experiencing, but put myself on the carrier upgrade because I knew I’d want to change when the redesigned Plus model came out.

I may change again if 5G and the triple lens camera show up, but otherwise, I’ll keep the phone at least 2 years.

Definitely don’t feel the need to upgrade every year, though I do check every year to see if anything exciting enough is introduced to make the move.

 

[eyoungren]

Design left the building with Steve Jobs. I wonder why Johnny Ives is still with Apple.

Steve jobs didn’t design the products by the way. Just so you know. It was Ive throughout and 3, 3GS, 4, 4S was launched under Steve. That has always been their strategy.

I do believe Steve acted as a brake on Ive though. Jony Ive has had plenty of ideas since iOS 7 and the 6/6+ that I don't agree with. Tim Cook is not a designer, but Ive only answers to him now so I think Ive has been allowed to run with some ideas that Steve would have modified or put a stop to.

Not a big fan of Jony Ive's design ideas post Steve.
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A very fair criticism of "older phones with older camera technology". Pictures we take these days with modern iPhones look stunningly better compared to pictures we took with older phones just 3-4 years ago. And this is assuming the average user using the same camera-shooting techniques, not some photo professional.

Not a regret I have at all.

We have pictures, but I don't need a whiz bang cutting edge camera for it.

And I'm certainly not ever going to upgrade based solely on having the best cam to capture life's moments.

But we aren't big picture takers anyway, so there's that.
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From the 3G to the 8+ every year I’ve made a calendar of all our dogs as a Christmas present using photos from the phones (after not upgrading the 6+ for 2.5 year I went to a 6S/7/8+ within a couple months ). They’ve gone from cute novelty gifts to high quality calendars that look like they were bought from a high end store. It’s really affirmed my belief it’s right to upgrade every year as you can actually see the difference and it is astounding. I’m super excited for this year as I can already tell the 8+ is edging out the 7+ In its pictures.

You probably have way more quality photos of your dogs then my wife and I have ever taken of our kids (human).

They get a school picture once a year and that's usually enough for us.

 

[Sackofnickels]

I do believe Steve acted as a brake on Ive though. Jony Ive has had plenty of ideas since iOS 7 and the 6/6+ that I don't agree with. Tim Cook is not a designer, but Ive only answers to him now so I think Ive has been allowed to run with some ideas that Steve would have modified or put a stop to.

Not a big fan of Jony Ive's design ideas post Steve.

Personally from what I read, Steve appeared to be the motivator. He asked his staff to do things they did not think were possible. Steve was genius in the way he manipulated people into collaborating or stimulating their minds leading to creative new ideas. I remember reading about Steve doing things like putting the restrooms on one side of the building, thus forcing different departments to have to walk by each other on the way to the restroom, and as a result use the same restrooms. That sort of subtle manipulation promoted conversation and interaction, which he thought would lead to new ideas.

I think Ives has created some beautiful products for Apple, not trying to take that away from him. But in my opinion, if you put someone in a room with less stimulation, interaction, or motivation, you are not going to get the same level of creativity.

Ironically, using the building design idea as an example reminded me of another story I read where their new spaceship facility had so many windows and glass doors, people were walking into them and injuring themselves. Maybe the current management thinks blunt force trauma is a viable way to stimulate new ideas.

 

[eyoungren]

But in my opinion, if you put someone in a room with less stimulation, interaction, or motivation, you are not going to get the same level of creativity.

I think this is part of the problem.

He does have some good ideas, but the group that works with him is an echo chamber in my opinion.

 

[nburwell]

I typically upgrade my phone every year. However, this year I'm going to try and take a different approach since I doubt Apple will radically change the X this year (and I'm not interested in a phablet X). So I'm going to try and stick with an every two year upgrade.

 

[UltimateSyn]

I wasn't able to get an iPhone until 2011 due to carrier exclusivity. Since then, I have had:
iPhone 4S
iPhone 5s
iPhone 6 Plus
iPhone 6s Plus
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone X

So I've only skipped one year, the iPhone 5! Now I'm on the iPhone Upgrade Program, so I plan to upgrade every year until there are relatively diminishing returns, which doesn't seem like it will be anytime soon.

 

[acorntoy]

I do believe Steve acted as a brake on Ive though. Jony Ive has had plenty of ideas since iOS 7 and the 6/6+ that I don't agree with. Tim Cook is not a designer, but Ive only answers to him now so I think Ive has been allowed to run with some ideas that Steve would have modified or put a stop to.

Not a big fan of Jony Ive's design ideas post Steve.
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Not a regret I have at all.

We have pictures, but I don't need a whiz bang cutting edge camera for it.

And I'm certainly not ever going to upgrade based solely on having the best cam to capture life's moments.

But we aren't big picture takers anyway, so there's that.
[doublepost=1533659310][/doublepost]
You probably have way more quality photos of your dogs then my wife and I have ever taken of our kids (human).

They get a school picture once a year and that's usually enough for us.

I have a lot more quality photos of my dogs than my family I don't know why but I love taking pictures of the dogs and wildlife (have some amazing pictures of deer taken on the 2x lens, was never able to get a good picture before the 7+ zoom so i'm happy about that) it seems more genuine and fun to me than "Ok everybody lets take a picture, we gotta look happy...."

 

[eyoungren]

I have a lot more quality photos of my dogs than my family I don't know why but I love taking pictures of the dogs and wildlife (have some amazing pictures of deer taken on the 2x lens, was never able to get a good picture before the 7+ zoom so i'm happy about that) it seems more genuine and fun to me than "Ok everybody lets take a picture, we gotta look happy...."

One day my children will ask me why there are more photos of all the cats I've ever had than there are of them.

 

[vine-boating]

I have felt the urge every year. But this year may be different. I love the OLED.... have always wanted it in an iPhone. It’s the perfect size. Battery life is outstanding. iOS 12 is better on it than iOS 11 ever was. I’m guessing Apple will make minor changes to the current iP10 and make it out to be a big deal. Meh. I’m not really excited this year like I usually am.

how much battery do you get? I only get 8 hours with my X

 

[big samm]

Same here!

I buy a new iPhone each year.

 

[Easyflyer]

Notice the wording of the poll. It's asking you how often do you feel the need. Not how often you actually replace/upgrade your phone.

Personally, I feel the need to replace mine about every 3 years, which I feel is approximately the age of borderline-obsolescence for these things. Likewise, I feel the need to replace my Mac (iMac) roughly every 5+ years, but that's another poll and another topic altogether.

But I realize that many people could be tempted to buy one much sooner (including myself).

As long as I can sell the previous edition for about what I paid for it now, I'm in for the latest.

 

[bushman4]

upgrade when the Hardware and Sofrware show useful and innovative changes. The days of bragging rights are over What must people want now is something New not a refresh of an old model

 

[bingeciren]

Feel the need? Every year.

In reality, I keep them for 4 years.

 

[44267547]

upgrade when the Hardware and Sofrware show useful and innovative changes. The days of bragging rights are over What must people want now is something New not a refresh of an old model

Smart phones are progressively minimalistic with changes every year, it’s usually every three years you see the more significant changes in form factor and technology making leaps, but the competition is so tight between smart phone manufacturers today, that it really comes down to more of the software experience than it does hardware, at least in loyalty with iOS.

 

[tubeexperience]

I would have upgraded from iPhone 7 to iPhone X already if Apple didn't up the price to $999.

I guess Apple don't really want my money.

 

[44267547]

I would have upgraded from iPhone 7 to iPhone X already if Apple didn't up the price to $999.

I guess Apple don't really want my money.

It’s also possible as rumored that the 2018 5.8 iPhone X _might_ start at $899.

 

[Hater]

I bought them every year until 2016, when I sold my 6 month old 6S to buy an SE.

Haven't bought a new one since, lost interest in it in a big way. I camped out for the 6 and was enthralled with it, but by the time the 7, 8 and X came along I just found it all very boring. Also, the newer models are far too expensive for me, i'd much rather use the money elsewhere.

 

[geta]

Non of the above. As long as the correct one im using serves my needs and its not broken, i dont see the point of getting new one.

I kept my 6 for about 2.5 years during that time one of my families dogs sadly passed away. Every time I look at the pictures of her that are just ok I get mad at myself, because I know I could have better pictures had I upgraded.

Get yourself real camera and you will be safe for years to come...

 

[tarsins]

I always buy a new iPhone every year but I'm quite happy to wait multiple years between my other Apple stuff.