Other What is your usual upgrade strategy?

[chocolaterabbit]

Got my 14 pro 256gb for $1K new off market place , retail is $1900AUD here, was 6 months though. Mrs 12 max was 35% off at the time new, no need to pay apple full retail unless you have to have it day 1.

That's pretty lucky, usually on marketplace if it's cheap it's a scammer. Especially if it's supposedly new.

 

[Surfsalot]

That's pretty lucky, usually on marketplace if it's cheap it's a scammer.

Cash on pick up only, meet at their house no dodgy places, check serial and not locked, have bought heaps this way never had an issue, some I flip, the 14 pro I have turned out that I actually knew of him, local muso.
People upgrade contracts here and keep the old phones and sell the new one for the cash if they need it.
If they stop paying they chase you for the money owing not the phone.

 

[neutrino17]

I buy a new iPhone about every three years. I pass the old one on to a family member, usually the wife. I’d happily buy her a new iPhone as well but she likes to be frugal.

 

[grover5]

Since my first iPhone, 3GS, upgraded every 2 years. Now I’ve got a 14 PM 512 gb that I hope I will keep for at least 4 years.

I bought the 14 PM 1TB and I feel the same way. I’d like to at least use this for another couple years if I can control my upgrade urge.

 

[robertosh]

I don't need to change iPhone often, my current upgrade cycle is 6 years (!), i had the iPhone 6 and bought the 12 mini on launch 6 years after. Given its low value by then, i've kept the 6 for work usage.

So in principle next one should be the iPhone 18, assuming that my mini is unusable by then.

 

[fatTribble]

For the Watch, iPad and MacBook I make them last as long as possible.

For the iPhone I upgrade every year through the iPhone Upgrade Program.

While there have been a couple of iPhone updates that were not significant for me, there is usually some combination of upgrades that make it worth it to me:

• Greater maximum storage
• Camera/video upgrade
• Improved processor/battery
• Better screen
• Some other bonus features

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I replace mine when i’ve lost it in the lake or destroyed it out of clumsiness.

2g4, 2g8, 3g, 3gs, 6, 13promax, 8, SE1.

…though the last 2 were a descent back to a smaller size and a headphone jack, so i’m probably done upgrading.

 

[Warped9]

My first iPhone was a 4 which I used (as a phone) for about three years. Then I got a 6 and gave my 4 to my father. When Dad passed away I repurposed the 4 as an iPod after my ten year old iPod Nano finally gave out. I used the 4 for music until I got one of the last (7th?) generation iPod Touchs to replace the 4 which went into recycling.

The iPhone 6 went for some years until I got an 8+.The 6 was still in very good shape and I sold it privately. None of the phones I’ve had were current generation when I got them—they were usually about two generations back—cheaper that way. The 8+ went about four years before I recently upgraded to a 14 a few weeks ago. If I had followed my previous pattern than I should have gotten a 13, but I opted for a good promotion presenting itself so technically I have the current model although the 15 will soon be released in a few weeks. if the 14 does as well as the 8+ then the 18 or maybe 19 will be coming out when I next upgrade.

The 8+ was a great phone in excellent condition and working perfectly with 85% battery health. I upgraded because I wanted something new although I figured there was likely only one more OS update left to it. I intend to sell the 8 privately to make a little money back given the trade-in value was a joke.


My computer upgrades have been a bit different. My first Mac was a G3 I got in 2001. I loved it, but a power surge got through my surge protector and blew out the motherboard after three years. I replaced the toasted G3 with a G4 eMac which I used for seven years. The eMac worked well for seven years when I opted to upgrade to a 2011 21.5 iMac. The eMac went into storage and I sold it, still functional, three years later. I’m still using the 2011 iMac where the upgrading has been in the form of hardware upgrades rather than getting a new machine.

But while my 2011 presently runs better than new (due to the upgrades) and has never missed a beat all these years I am stuck at High Sierra and some incompatibilities have begun to crop up. Safari isn’t accepted by some websites (and I refuse to install Google Chrome) and I haven’t gotten any security or software updates for awhile. Even my Microsoft Office 2019 won’t update because it says I need a newer OS.

So I intend to finally replace my trusted and reliable 2011 soon. I’m waiting to see what the M3 iMac will be like, hopefully relatively soon. I’ll get either an M3 iMac or a Mac Studio if I’m not satisfied with the M3 iMac’s upgrade. If I do go for a Mac Studio I also just might splurge for a Studio Display. But I really would prefer an AIO iMac.

 

[Kottu]

I usually upgrade every two years along with operator contract. That's because, I usually get a discount from the operator and instalments are without any extra fee or interest. I was about to order a 14 PM last year but there hardly were any discount from the operators sides. So, I kept my 12PM. Even after 1060 cycles, battery life is at around 84%. If I don't get a good deal for 15PM, I might just change the battery and keep 12PM for another year or two.
May be because of the age, I don't feel the need to have the latest in my hands anymore.

 

[eyoungren]

For jeans, the back pockets were fine for me and the 6s Plus, but flex-gate was a thing, so I would try to avoid using them an accidentally sitting on my phone. Front pockets were tight, but it really depended on the brand of pants I was wearing at the time.

Dress pants for work were actually good to fit the phone in (all mine have deep front pockets, but once in, the large phone would stand out like crazy, like I was hiding a notebook in my pants. I never use the back pockets on my dress pants.

The real problem for me was with coats.

My favorite coat has breast pockets with buttoned flaps. I use the left breast pocket for my phone, and it was perfect size for my original iPhone and the 4s. The 5s and SE1 fits fine as well, although buttoning close the pocket (prevented the phone from falling out when leaning over) started to get a little tight.

The 6s Plus stuck out of the pocket, and I couldn't close it, not even close.

Not only did I have to be careful when leaning over, but the camera was often pointing away from my chest, since this was the natural way for me to put it back in my pocket after using it. It was not unusual for people to ask me if I was recording a video.

I went shopping for a new coat, and finding a breast pocket that was deep enough to hide the iPhone 6s Plus was the main criteria when shopping around, besides it being comfortable.


Shopping for clothing that specifically fit my giant iPhone wasn't the only downside of the 6s Plus' size, if this was the only thing I didn't like about it, I probably would have adjusted.

I have a lot of cars, and many of them are older cars that don't have a place to hold a large phone. I would often have to place it on the seat, which sometimes the phone would fly off when going around a turn fast.

I also had issues using the 6s Plus one handed, especially when trying to take photos.

This wasn't an issue with the original, 4s, 5s, and SE1.

Everyone is different and I will say that my daily routine and my lifestyle do not change much. I grew up in jeans and t-shirts. I took jobs that allowed for jeans and t-shirts (or at least jeans and collared shirts). Most of my professional employment has been with small companies of less than 20 employees where it doesn't matter what I wear. So I wear, jeans and t-shirts.

The brands have changed over the years, but I settled on carpenter jeans and black t-shirts early. I'm a graphic designer and although I once had a manager title (for a department of one (me)) I 'm not involved in any meetings or anything that impacts the company. I don't need to dress up. And now, working from home I can continue wearing…jeans and t-shirts.

As far as coats go, I have two that have an internal breast pocket. If I'm worried about rain my phone will go there. Otherwise, it goes where it always goes, in the back pocket of my jeans.

I don't use cases with my phones, so I found spots to set my phone down depending on where I am (I don't sit on my phones). I'd probably have the same issue as you if I had as many cars of the type you do, but I only have two and the oldest is a '97. I've found spots in the cars for my phone.

I am not invalidating your situation and experience, just explaining mine.

 

[0339327]

We upgrade our machines regularly for work. The older machines usually get passed down to other employees, and eventually to employees and their family members for personal use.

Personally, I haven’t sold a machine in years as I prefer to donate them to those in need.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I bought the 14 PM 1TB and I feel the same way. I’d like to at least use this for another couple years if I can control my upgrade urge.

Another 14 PM 1TB owner here. The resale values on the 1TB models are incredibly poor (with Apple). My intention with buying the 1TB iPhone through Apple Card financing was to get out of the yearly upgrade cycle I had been in since the Apple Upgrade Plan came out. I'd have kept my 13 PM 1TB had a family member not asked to buy it.

USB C really interests me. Screen/Battery are my biggest reasons to upgrade. But I'd like to get to the point where I'm keeping an iPhone at least 2 years before upgrading.

 

[xxray]

I mostly upgrade when I feel I can justify it. I have more disposable income now, and I still get really excited about new iPhone releases, so I’ve upgraded the past 2 years in a row. For that same reason, I plan to again this year and because I’m not the happiest with my 14 Pro Max so hoping this year’s models are better. Depending on what trade-in values are versus selling prices, I either trade-in with Apple or sell my phone.

I traded in my XS Max with Apple when upgrading to the 13 Pro since trade-in value wasn’t much lower than selling prices. I think trade-in values are better after having the device for a few years. With the 13 Pro, selling prices were much higher than trade-in value, especially with higher storage models since Apple doesn’t give you any extra value for that.

I’m hoping with the rumors that Apple is expecting lower iPhone 15 sales that the trade-in values will be higher this year because I hate the stress of selling my older phone. I’m always worried I’m going to get scammed or have it lost in the mail or something.

 

[Margrave]

I get a new phone every year and pay for it outright, I have a list of friends who are always willing to buy my old phone, I generally sell it for what ever apple offers for a trade in price, which is close to half the cost of a new one. Being over 80 I enjoy new gadgets, and keeping a phone for 2-3 years may or may not be in the cards, live for today

 

[Warped9]

Upgrading year-to-year strikes me as absurd given the differences year-to-year are largely incremental. It’s spending a lot of money for very little genuine gain. Even changing every 2-3 years strikes me as pointless indulgence.

But, hey, if you can genuinely afford to do it…

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I don't have a strategy. Used to be "buy new phone when old phone becomes slow" but I haven't been an Apple user long enough for that to occur, I think.

In 2020 I bought my first iPhone - XR. In 2021 I decided I wanted a better camera and got the 11. I still have that now, but I'm tempted to pick up a 13 Pro sometime toward the end of the year or early next year. Once again for the camera - macro mode in particular. Would probably be a refurb directly from Apple because they seem to come with new batteries.
Unless I get a 14 Pro for a reasonable price.

 

[Sweet_Caroline]

I get a new one on launch and hold if for a 3 to 4 years.

 

[Speed38]

That's pretty lucky, usually on marketplace if it's cheap it's a scammer. Especially if it's supposedly new.

A pal was turning in his 13 Pro Max to get an iPhone 14. Apple offered him $666 for the trade in, it being in excellent condition. He asked me if I wanted it for that price and I took it. I turned around, found out that Apple would pay me $333 for my iPhone Xs Max and offered it to a neighbor and she bought it. Ergo, got an iPhone 13 Pro Max for $333. An Apple refurbished iPhone 12 Max would have cost me more. Of course I will eventually have to pay $89 for a new battery.

 

[Pepperfection]

Every 2 years since iPhone 3G. But recently, 3 years, cuz I really don't see the benefits in life for upgrading every 2 years except status symbol. I usually do it for the camera anyway.

 

[Lakersfan74]

I went from 6s to 12 Pro so not much history there. The 6s was financed from t-mobile since my sister is on the account. The 12 Pro the same but paid in full to get an unlocked one. I will get the 15 Pro Max from Apple. May do the 24 month 0% financing just because I hate to part with $1199 even though I can do it in full lol and might trade in my 12 Pro not sure yet. I need to build my credit so may do the former. The 15 looks like a decent upgrade for me.

 

[0423MAC]

I tend to upgrade whenever there is a new meaningful feature added or when my older device is slowing down enough to annoy me on a day to day basis.

USB-C is a must feature IMO, its been long overdue.

 

[ctjack]

People upgrade contracts here and keep the old phones and sell the new one for the cash if they need it.
If they stop paying they chase you for the money owing not the phone.

In US and EU at least, if you buy from someone on a contract, sure they will chase your seller to get the money if they stop paying. But the carrier will also blacklist your iphone, so that you can not use it anymore in US and EU. Though it works fine in other countries after that.

Personally i only sold fully unlocked phones or locked ones on a prepaid carrier, so that the phone is not a hostage of my cell carrier plan.

 

[Flamingdeathbolts]

Usually 2 to 4 years. Depends how much my cellular carrier offers me for my old phone. Last phone I only had for 2 years and Verizon offered me $800 towards iPhone 14 Pro with a 3 year contract.

 

[Jackbequickly]

I buy outright and trade in my previous. Another ProMax for me!

 

[Rainshadow]

I used to upgrade every 3 years for all my devices in a cycle. Apple Watch this year, iPad next, phone next. Repeat.

Now I was going 4 years for my watch and phone, but my iPad will probably take me longer than that by far. I have an iPad Pro 12” 2020.

But it’s pretty exciting after 4 years to upgrade a phone or watch. This year I’m due for a phone.