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Other What factors make you decide to upgrade your iPhone?

Ubele

Ubele

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 20, 2008
906
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While the iPhone 13 models are very nice, I don't feel compelled to upgrade this year. I have a 2019 27" iMac, 2015 13" MacBook Pro, 2017 iPad, and 2018 iPhone XR, and my wife has a 2019 MacBook Air, 2017 iPad, and 2018 iPhone XR. Given the cost of Apple products, I have to be selective regarding when and why I upgrade one or more of them. My reasons for upgrading my iPhone are:
  • My current iPhone is getting too slow, whether it's slowing down due to new versions of iOS or because a new standard is out (e.g., 3G to 4G) that is much faster. Apple products have increasingly useful lifespans when it comes to the former. Our iPhone 6s Pluses were getting a bit pokey in 2018, but we figured we could wait for the 2019 models. Our iPhone XR's still feel fast, though.
  • The new camera is significantly better than my current one. The camera on the 6s Plus was fine in bright light, but after my wife and I took a series of unusably blurry photos in a dimly lit museum at the end of 2018, we thought that perhaps we should upgrade to a 2018 model. After the new year, Apple offered a $250 rebate for each of our 6s Pluses, so that was the deciding factor to upgrade to the XR, the camera on which is much better in low light. I know the current cameras are even better than that, but since we haven't gone out much since the start of COVID, we wouldn't take much advantage of a better camera.
  • Some compelling new feature is released, such as the Retina screen on the iPhone 4, the large size of the Plus, or the aforementioned upgrade from 3G to 4G.
We'll probably upgrade to one of the iPhone 14 models, though. My wife uses her iPhone for most tasks, whereas I use it mainly for phone calls and, when I'm out and about, surfing the web and using Maps for navigating. For media consumption at home, I prefer the larger size of the iPad. What makes you decide to upgrade your iPhone (or not)?
 
When there's a genuine gear shift in technology such as 5G or WiFi6 or simply when I've had my phone for a good while (3-5 years) and it can't keep up with the latest IOS/apps.

Both are the case for my iPhone SE 2016, which I'm replacing with an iPhone 12 Mini. I like to see a big jump in technology and performance to make it worth the cost to both my wallet and the planet.
 
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usually it's the camera. I'm excited about this year's camera upgrades. However when I look at the fine print, I see that cinematic camera mode works only with 1080p 30fps. The macro photography looks intriguing and better ultra wide is a plus as well. If there's a good trade in deal I'm in but I don't see that at the moment
 
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Ubele said:
While the iPhone 13 models are very nice, I don't feel compelled to upgrade this year. I have a 2019 27" iMac, 2015 13" MacBook Pro, 2017 iPad, and 2018 iPhone XR, and my wife has a 2019 MacBook Air, 2017 iPad, and 2018 iPhone XR. Given the cost of Apple products, I have to be selective regarding when and why I upgrade one or more of them. My reasons for upgrading my iPhone are:
  • My current iPhone is getting too slow, whether it's slowing down due to new versions of iOS or because a new standard is out (e.g., 3G to 4G) that is much faster. Apple products have increasingly useful lifespans when it comes to the former. Our iPhone 6s Pluses were getting a bit pokey in 2018, but we figured we could wait for the 2019 models. Our iPhone XR's still feel fast, though.
  • The new camera is significantly better than my current one. The camera on the 6s Plus was fine in bright light, but after my wife and I took a series of unusably blurry photos in a dimly lit museum at the end of 2018, we thought that perhaps we should upgrade to a 2018 model. After the new year, Apple offered a $250 rebate for each of our 6s Pluses, so that was the deciding factor to upgrade to the XR, the camera on which is much better in low light. I know the current cameras are even better than that, but since we haven't gone out much since the start of COVID, we wouldn't take much advantage of a better camera.
  • Some compelling new feature is released, such as the Retina screen on the iPhone 4, the large size of the Plus, or the aforementioned upgrade from 3G to 4G.
We'll probably upgrade to one of the iPhone 14 models, though. My wife uses her iPhone for most tasks, whereas I use it mainly for phone calls and, when I'm out and about, surfing the web and using Maps for navigating. For media consumption at home, I prefer the larger size of the iPad. What makes you decide to upgrade your iPhone (or not)?
Click to expand...
Factors:

1. I like the way it looks.

2. Apple has the color I want or one that I can at least live with.

That's pretty much it. I don't buy a phone or device because I need it. I buy because I want it. If getting it means I meet a need then so much the better. My needs are pretty simple - phone calls, text, email, light web browsing (for on the go).

I appreciate the convenience of a camera, but I'm not a pro and camera specs do not move me. 99% of my pictures are sent to my wife so she can see what item on the shelf she wants me to bring home. The rest is usually something that gets posted here or on Reddit. I don't use my phone as a computer or a media device. I don't need to. Why?

I have a PowerMac G3 as my home server, a PowerMac G4 as a NAS, an actual NAS, a PowerMac G5 Quad, a dual-core PowerMac G5, a dual processor PowerMac G5, a 2009 MacPro, a 2006 17" MacBook Pro, a 2008 15" MacBook Pro, a 2003 17" PowerBook G4, a 2005 12" PowerBook G4, two Mac Minis (2008 and 2009) a Thinkpad PC, a 6th gen iPad (128GB, cellular), an iPhone 3GS, 4, 4s, 5, 6s+, a Pixel 3a XL, an HTC Touch Pro and my primary phone a 512GB iPhone 11 Pro Max.

My MacPro is connected to two 30" Cinema Displays, two 24" Cinema Displays (vertical) a 20" Acrylic Cinema Display and a 55" HDTV. My media is consumed on that and my iPad.

And the cherry on top? For work I use a 2015 MacBook Pro, which is essentially mine to use as I please.

There's really no motivating factor to move me to buy other than "I want that!"
 
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Only when Apple forces me to - refusing security updates. I have iPhone 6 and hoped to have Touch ID in iPhone 13.
I only use for phone calls and Map while traveling... so still need convincing to shell out > $1000 for new bells and whistles.
 
I'm still waiting (and will likely wait until kingdom come) for a large screen iPhone that doesn't flicker like every OLED iPhone has since the X.
I'm trapped in PWM limbo hell.. No where to upgrade to.
 
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have an iPhone 11 and i'm upgrading (early upgrade) this year to either the 13 Pro Max or the S21 Ultra. Main reason is that i'm making way too many mistakes typing on the 11 and, for some reason, my hands feel cramped (not sure if that's the right word) when using it.

The only reason why I would consider getting the 13 pro max is because of my movies I bought in the past (none in the last year btw) and imessage (parents have iphones still). Other than that I have no reason to stay with Apple as I have windows machines and a samsung tablet I recently bought (mom needed a new ipad so I get her my ipad mini, plus I wanted a bigger tablet) and absolutely love.
 
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Ubele said:
While the iPhone 13 models are very nice, I don't feel compelled to upgrade this year. I have a 2019 27" iMac, 2015 13" MacBook Pro, 2017 iPad, and 2018 iPhone XR, and my wife has a 2019 MacBook Air, 2017 iPad, and 2018 iPhone XR. Given the cost of Apple products, I have to be selective regarding when and why I upgrade one or more of them. My reasons for upgrading my iPhone are:
  • My current iPhone is getting too slow, whether it's slowing down due to new versions of iOS or because a new standard is out (e.g., 3G to 4G) that is much faster. Apple products have increasingly useful lifespans when it comes to the former. Our iPhone 6s Pluses were getting a bit pokey in 2018, but we figured we could wait for the 2019 models. Our iPhone XR's still feel fast, though.
  • The new camera is significantly better than my current one. The camera on the 6s Plus was fine in bright light, but after my wife and I took a series of unusably blurry photos in a dimly lit museum at the end of 2018, we thought that perhaps we should upgrade to a 2018 model. After the new year, Apple offered a $250 rebate for each of our 6s Pluses, so that was the deciding factor to upgrade to the XR, the camera on which is much better in low light. I know the current cameras are even better than that, but since we haven't gone out much since the start of COVID, we wouldn't take much advantage of a better camera.
  • Some compelling new feature is released, such as the Retina screen on the iPhone 4, the large size of the Plus, or the aforementioned upgrade from 3G to 4G.
We'll probably upgrade to one of the iPhone 14 models, though. My wife uses her iPhone for most tasks, whereas I use it mainly for phone calls and, when I'm out and about, surfing the web and using Maps for navigating. For media consumption at home, I prefer the larger size of the iPad. What makes you decide to upgrade your iPhone (or not)?
Click to expand...

Upgraded from an 8 to a 12-Mini on Release; VZ is my Carrier.

Also live in a rather-large city (ATL ('Metropolitan' #9)).

I upp'ed to the 12-Mini for the full-screen and new modem.

Even in such an Urban situ, I get 2-bars of LTE regularly, and--when I do get' "5G"--the only thing that makes me take-notice (if there *is* anything to take notice of (which is on the outlying .005% of all cellular transactions)) is "delay" . . . I just feel that the 'connection' is not being adequately relayed.

My Mini holds a charge throughout the Day, and I am never concerned that I'll "be without contact" . . . growing up, my family didn't have a home phone (if you can call such a thing that) until the middle-70's . . . if being without means I have time to do dishes, or vacuum the carpet, for an hour until Little Buddy get's 'is charge upped, so-be-it :)

I'm good for another two to three years, I think.

Regards, splifingate
 
I'm giving my XS MAX to a family member so getting the 13. I'm pretty disappointed with the 13 overall. It's not a bad phone, but the fact the notch is actually deeper and they didn't address faceID with Masks is a real disappointment. Sure the cameras are better, it's faster and the battery is better, but that's true for most every release. Plus the Pro colors are very average. That's 4 years of disappointing iPhone releases, Apple.
 
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I shoot & edit A LOT of family photos/videos, so having the best iPhone camera is important to me. The IUP has made it so easy to upgrade.
 
I‘m still using the 6s+. My reasons for updating this year are battery, camera, and 5G. The only thing that makes me hesitant is Face id. I’m going to miss the home button!
 
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Drosera said:
When there's a genuine gear shift in technology such as 5G or WiFi6 or simply when I've had my phone for a good while (3-5 years) and it can't keep up with the latest IOS/apps.

Both are the case for my iPhone SE 2016, which I'm replacing with an iPhone 12 Mini. I like to see a big jump in technology and performance to make it worth the cost to both my wallet and the planet.
Click to expand...
I’m the same way. Went from iPhone 6s to the 10, then from the 10 to the 12 Pro Max. My upgrade cycle flips between 2-3 years.
 
Now that iPhones are such a mature product, it’s whenever I get tired of my current phone. I love my XS Max. It’s been my favorite and longest-used iPhone ever. But here’s why I wanted to upgrade:

  • I’ve been wanting to downsize for the past 2 years. It’s supposedly the last year of the Mini, and the 13 Mini seems to have gotten a lot of great upgrades that addressed the shortcomings of the 12 Mini.
  • Cellular reception/5G. Now that Apple is back to Qualcomm and I saw videos showing how much better the reception and speeds were, in the same place, even on LTE, on the 12 series vs the 11 series (and I’m still on the XS series), I’ve really been eager to upgrade. I also want 5G, and I feel the X60 is a mature enough, more efficient product compared to the X55 that felt half-baked to me. I mean the fact that Apple had to build a feature that keeps you on LTE to save battery life is a sign that the X55 modem/12 Series wasn’t a good investment imo.
  • Ready to get caught up on the features I’ve been missing the past few years: night mode for camera, MagSafe, Wifi 6, ultra wideband chip, ultrawide camera
 
Security support. My phones are just phones for me. They don't make me gain a cpl of inches nor does my ego need stroking. I look to upgrade when I'm nearing the end of security updates.
 
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At this point I'm used to upgrading every year. Apple gave me more for my 12 pro max than I could sell if for without the hassle. Seems like no brainer.
 
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splifingate said:
I upp'ed to the 12-Mini for the full-screen and new modem.

Even in such an Urban situ, I get 2-bars of LTE regularly, and--when I do get' "5G"--the only thing that makes me take-notice (if there *is* anything to take notice of (which is on the outlying .005% of all cellular transactions)) is "delay" . . . I just feel that the 'connection' is not being adequately relayed.
Click to expand...

I'm from Atlanta, and when I visit my parents, who live in Lilburn, I sometimes get no cell reception in their house, so I have to go outside in the back yard, where I get one bar. I'm with T-Mobile. Lilburn is pretty densely populated now, so I don't know why it wouldn't have good cell coverage. My parents are elderly and only have a land line, so I don't know what other carriers are like there.
 
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Thanks for your thoughts, everyone! As I suspected, there are many different reasons for upgrading.
 
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