Other Why spend $1K every year on a phone?

[rui no onna]

Correct, makes zilch sense to buy the 12 for only $120 less.

I still got the 12 for one of the lines in our plan. AT&T offered $800 trade-in credit if we get the 12 versus just $700 on other models.

Without the trade-in deal, that line would still be on the XR. The XR still performed perfectly well including battery life. But hey, almost free upgrade so why not? Just needed to pay tax and upgrade fee.

My personal phone is the SE2 (I don't like bigger phones). Was planning on getting the 12 mini so I can test drive if its OLED gives me migraines but that hasn't really been a priority. The release of the Air 4 with TouchID power button has given me hope for a notchless iPhone (probably cheaper to boot).

 

[1rottenapple]

I've been reflecting on the awesome mass of technology at my daily command currently, an iP7+. Why would I want to spend a grand to buy a new phone? Yes, I know my carrier and others offer new-ever-so-often plans that make my annual investment more like $500 a year, but why continue to hang on every rumor of possible upgrades that only make micro-improvements to my daily use. If my next upgrade would have a battery that lasted two days of use without charging or a continuous solar charger, I'd spend a grand. If my next upgrade had a place to add additional sim card for backup and expansion, I'd spend a grand. If my next phone had dual sim cards for work and business and personal lines, I'd spend a grand. And the truth is the next upgrade should have all three of these and more.

I don't expect my next iPhone to take out the trash or feed the dogs, but spending crazy amounts of money to keep up with the latest and greatest little tweak of daily improvement is being a slave to the emperor wears no clothes. Let's expect more real improvements from our upgrades at a more reasonable price.

There’s people here and who just want the latest and greatest. I don’t get it frankly. Maybe they are the type who lease cars. But I’ve learned my lesson as was like that (yearly upgrades). I’d rather invest and grow money than and endless upgrade cycle. Case in point I got into investing instead of buying a 1k iPhone. It grew exponentially. It’s been an eye opening experience for someone who’s used to burning money on iPhone and the piece of mental depreciated 50% in 1 year and 70% in 2 years. iPhone X is now $399.

 

[dukebound85]

There’s people here and who just want the latest and greatest. I don’t get it frankly. Maybe they are the type who lease cars. But I’ve learned my lesson as was like that (yearly upgrades). I’d rather invest and grow money than and endless upgrade cycle.

yup

investing is much more satisfying than having the latest gadget

 

[MICHAELSD]

The funny part is all of OP’s feature requests more or less came to fruition.

I do think Apple does enough annually to make an upgrade justifiable for its most enthusiastic fans (especially the new colors).

 

[1rottenapple]

yup

investing is much more satisfying than having the latest gadget

Heck yah man. Quadruple my investment in 3 months HOT Damn!!!! I’m really into emerging technology and crypto. It’s pretty interesting and more satisfying than buying a phone and it’s cool for a few weeks but it just becomes a regular phone.

 

[MICHAELSD]

yup

investing is much more satisfying than having the latest gadget

Honestly zero-interest financing makes annual upgrades a worthwhile proposition for even investors. Or at least bi-annual.

 

[Stephen.R]

especially the new colors

Wat.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Wat.

We had gold on iPhone XS, then Midnight Green on iPhone 11 Pro, and now Pacific Blue on iPhone 12 Pro. So at least each year we get a new color to choose from.

 

[mantan]

Of the many lessons my late dad taught me, one of them was 'it's never your business how other people spend their money.'

If people want to spend their money on phones, clothes, investing, a cult or anything else. Unless they ask my opinion, it's not my place to give it.

Heck, I sometimes don't even question it in my own house, lol. My wife has to owns countless pairs of shoes....yet somehow always finds a pair 'she just had to buy.'

 

[HDFan]

I got into investing instead of buying a 1k iPhone. It grew exponentially.

investing is much more satisfying

Quadruple my investment in 3 months HOT Damn!!!!

Hope you all are ready for when the current bubble bursts and your investments drop substantially. Record market indexes will be followed by much lower ones. Not a question of if, but a question of when. It is way overdue. I am enjoying it while it lasts.

As for yearly upgrades I certainly wouldn't do it for a color change. I do upgrade yearly and each year there has been some feature that has made it worthwhile. This year it is 5G. I now get relatively speedy connectivity in places where had very slow bandwidth, or none.

 

[Hal~9000]

I upgraded to the 12 Max because the Intel modem in my 7 Plus was utter trash.

I went with the 12 Max is because I wanted the largest possible screen for consumption and the best battery life.

I don’t have any debt and max out my 401k + Roth IRA every year so I think I’m good to treat myself 🙂

 

[Runs For Fun]

There’s people here and who just want the latest and greatest. I don’t get it frankly. Maybe they are the type who lease cars. But I’ve learned my lesson as was like that (yearly upgrades). I’d rather invest and grow money than and endless upgrade cycle. Case in point I got into investing instead of buying a 1k iPhone. It grew exponentially. It’s been an eye opening experience for someone who’s used to burning money on iPhone and the piece of mental depreciated 50% in 1 year and 70% in 2 years. iPhone X is now $399.

yup

investing is much more satisfying than having the latest gadget

People have disposable incomes and maybe they want to get the latest and best iPhone every year. So what? People spend this disposable incomes in all sorts of different ways. Hobbies, clothes, cars, whatever. This is no different. Honestly if someone wants to buy a new phone every year it’s really no one else’s business.

 

[MagnusTheDog]

I've been reflecting on the awesome mass of technology at my daily command currently, an iP7+. Why would I want to spend a grand to buy a new phone? Yes, I know my carrier and others offer new-ever-so-often plans that make my annual investment more like $500 a year, but why continue to hang on every rumor of possible upgrades that only make micro-improvements to my daily use. If my next upgrade would have a battery that lasted two days of use without charging or a continuous solar charger, I'd spend a grand. If my next upgrade had a place to add additional sim card for backup and expansion, I'd spend a grand. If my next phone had dual sim cards for work and business and personal lines, I'd spend a grand. And the truth is the next upgrade should have all three of these and more.

I don't expect my next iPhone to take out the trash or feed the dogs, but spending crazy amounts of money to keep up with the latest and greatest little tweak of daily improvement is being a slave to the emperor wears no clothes. Let's expect more real improvements from our upgrades at a more reasonable price.

I won't spend a grand on another phone by any maker that doesn't allow user replaceable batteries.

 

[Stephen.R]

We had gold on iPhone XS, then Midnight Green on iPhone 11 Pro, and now Pacific Blue on iPhone 12 Pro. So at least each year we get a new color to choose from.

I understand there were new colour choices. My 'Wat' was in reaction to the context of what you said:

I do think Apple does enough annually to make an upgrade justifiable for its most enthusiastic fans (especially the new colors).

So to clarify, you think a new colour justifies the purchase of a brand new phone every year?

 

[MICHAELSD]

I understand there were new colour choices. My 'Wat' was in reaction to the context of what you said:



So to clarify, you think a new colour justifies the purchase of a brand new phone every year?

No, my point was that in addition to all of the other features there’s a new color that’s typically exclusive to that year. I.e. Midnight Green was only available on the 11 Pro. It’s a nice bonus for those that upgrade annually.

 

[LFC2020]

Use to be every year, now it’s every 2 years.😊

I’ll be holding onto the beast 12 pro max until apple releases a rollable, foldable iPhone.

 

[Htsi]

I think every year on the watch and phone is worthwhile. I use them a lot.

 

[Seanm87]

I don't think its worth it but if people have the money and the desire then go for it. It's their decision no one is forcing anything on anyone.

 

[lordhamster]

I've been reflecting on the awesome mass of technology at my daily command currently, an iP7+. Why would I want to spend a grand to buy a new phone? Yes, I know my carrier and others offer new-ever-so-often plans that make my annual investment more like $500 a year, but why continue to hang on every rumor of possible upgrades that only make micro-improvements to my daily use. If my next upgrade would have a battery that lasted two days of use without charging or a continuous solar charger, I'd spend a grand. If my next upgrade had a place to add additional sim card for backup and expansion, I'd spend a grand. If my next phone had dual sim cards for work and business and personal lines, I'd spend a grand. And the truth is the next upgrade should have all three of these and more.

I don't expect my next iPhone to take out the trash or feed the dogs, but spending crazy amounts of money to keep up with the latest and greatest little tweak of daily improvement is being a slave to the emperor wears no clothes. Let's expect more real improvements from our upgrades at a more reasonable price.

I've gone from yearly upgrades or even mid-year platform switches to now moving towards a 2-3 year cycle. There was never any financially justifiable or "needs-based" reason to upgrade every year... for me it is a luxury/hobby. Modern phones will see diminishing returns and will all be supported for several years while performing well.

This past year, I went from a 2 year old XS Max to a Pixel 4XL to a 12 Pro Max (which I'll keep for 2-3 years). Doing this is wasteful and financially stupid, but I enjoy playing with new tech... so for me I see it as an entertainment expense. Where others may spend hundreds on attending concerts or going for fancy meals, I spend on technology and travel. With Covid raging, I've saved at least $15,000 this year by not traveling for leisure, so all things being equal "losing" ~$800 by upgrading phones isn't too bad.

 

[macintoshmac]

I've gone from yearly upgrades or even mid-year platform switches to now moving towards a 2-3 year cycle. There was never any financially justifiable or "needs-based" reason to upgrade every year... for me it is a luxury/hobby. Modern phones will see diminishing returns and will all be supported for several years while performing well.

This past year, I went from a 2 year old XS Max to a Pixel 4XL to a 12 Pro Max (which I'll keep for 2-3 years). Doing this is wasteful and financially stupid, but I enjoy playing with new tech... so for me I see it as an entertainment expense. Where others may spend hundreds on attending concerts or going for fancy meals, I spend on technology and travel. With Covid raging, I've saved at least $15,000 this year by not traveling for leisure, so all things being equal "losing" ~$800 by upgrading phones isn't too bad.

The only justification you need for spending your money is your own voice inside you. Don't look for external validations. Enjoy the speed and design refresh with your 12!

 

[dukebound85]

People have disposable incomes and maybe they want to get the latest and best iPhone every year. So what? People spend this disposable incomes in all sorts of different ways. Hobbies, clothes, cars, whatever. This is no different. Honestly if someone wants to buy a new phone every year it’s really no one else’s business.

Good for them. No one is telling anyone what to do with their money and I really don't care about anyone's financial dealings aside from my own.

However, any opinion at odds with the OP in these types of threads is always met with "no one should tell others how to spend their money/not anyone's business". No one is but if people only want opinions that agree with them, then maybe don't start a thread asking for input maybe?

 

[lordhamster]

The only justification you need for spending your money is your own voice inside you. Don't look for external validations. Enjoy the speed and design refresh with your 12!

Only validation I need is from the CFO (wife).

 

[Harthag]

It’s been an eye opening experience for someone who’s used to burning money on iPhone and the piece of mental depreciated 50% in 1 year and 70% in 2 years. iPhone X is now $399.

I sold my 11 Pro Max a few months ago for $800, not sure where the 50% depreciation comes from? I upgrade every year and it doesn't really cost me anything out of pocket. I sell my old phone and use credit card rewards to cover the rest. Happy with my 12 Pro Max and will do it all again in the fall.

 

[1rottenapple]

People have disposable incomes and maybe they want to get the latest and best iPhone every year. So what? People spend this disposable incomes in all sorts of different ways. Hobbies, clothes, cars, whatever. This is no different. Honestly if someone wants to buy a new phone every year it’s really no one else’s business.

I'm responding and agreeing with OP post. People can do, buy, marry (Tom, Jane, Zyborg), join, what ever they want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. Join the proud boys, NRA, vote democrat or repub. I could care less.

I'm not trying to tell anyone how to spend their money. I'm just sharing my viewpoint as someone who used to buy every single iphone (13!), mac (7), ipod/mini (i've owned over 15 at least) that i've been through that view point in my life, and I've changed and saw the light that money spending on phones is not for me. Isn't this what forums are for is to exchage ideas.

This is not to say I am a penny pincher. I save, invest, but I also spend on experiences. I still go on vacations and travel and still enjoy experineces. AGAIN ITS MY VIEW POINT but phones are just not worth it to me anymore. Heck I dropped a ton on my garage gym.

 

[Runs For Fun]

I'm responding and agreeing with OP post. People can do, buy, marry (Tom, Jane, Zyborg), join, what ever they want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. Join the proud boys, NRA, vote democrat or repub. I could care less.

I'm not trying to tell anyone how to spend their money. I'm just sharing my viewpoint as someone who used to buy every single iphone (13!), mac (7), ipod/mini (i've owned over 15 at least) that i've been through that view point in my life, and I've changed and saw the light that money spending on phones is not for me. Isn't this what forums are for is to exchage ideas.

This is not to say I am a penny pincher. I save, invest, but I also spend on experiences. I still go on vacations and travel and still enjoy experineces. AGAIN ITS MY VIEW POINT but phones are just not worth it to me anymore. Heck I dropped a ton on my garage gym. Phones are kinda lame.

Ok so spending money on phones is not worth it to you. It is to me though. I shouldn’t have to defend it because it’s seen as the “wrong way” or “un-enlightened way” to spend my money. There is no wrong way to spend your disposable income. I’m not going to say you’re wasting your money on a home gym. People spend money on things they deem worth it and benefit them. For me phones are worth it. To you something else is.