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DevinNj

macrumors 68000
Apr 27, 2016
1,761
1,780
New Jersey
One more obvious thing I'd like to point out, I do not spend $1K or more every year on a phone. It's not like I just throw it away each year and get a new one. I think those who do upgrade often are savvy enough that they either trade in or sell their phone to offset the new one. At least that's how I do it. So yeah, there's that...
 
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steelhauler34

macrumors 6502
Jul 23, 2019
345
251
Because you want a new phone. I mean really what is a grand in the scope of a year? You’re gonna piss away that much on something.
 

JW313

Suspended
Sep 16, 2020
167
312
To answer the OP, here are two arguments that could be made:

1. I spend $1,000/yr on a phone because I use it more than any other piece of technology I own and want to have the fastest, latest available for this use. Its also based on expendable income. To some people $1000/yr is like spending $10/yr. Its so insignificant that why would you not just upgrade?

2. I would not spend $1K every year on a phone. I buy the cheapest model I can when I need a new iPhone ( $399) and keep it for 2 or more years depending on how long it lasts before major software/hardware failure. It is a tool for calling, messaging and web browsing and I do not see a substantial increase in this tools functionality if I spend $399 or $1199. This person does not see value in the headache of upgrade or perhaps doesn't want to spend the money.


Neither of these are moral judgements. Macromers should not be a place to cast moral superiority onto someone else. (Unless the topic is of morality)

If you read into this thread as an opportunity to be this way, you are the problem.


I read the OP as asking why someone would or wouldn't spend this $ each year.
 
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satchmo

macrumors 603
Aug 6, 2008
5,216
6,090
Canada
It’s all down to how people prioritise what’s important I think. I don’t spend a grand a year on a phone and I don’t have a daily spend on coffees, booze or fags either. I do need a coffee throughout the morning more than I need my iPhone though lol.

With this pandemic and with the fact I’m working from home 90% of the time, I’m saving about £700 a month at the moment between myself and my wife. No day trips with the kids or meals out, not even takeaways. I still didn’t pay an extra £150 for the 12 Pro even if I could have. I have bought an iPhone 12 and an iPad Air4 in the past few months though so I have exceeded £1K. I also bought a new car lol. People have different priorities and interests most definitely :)

Agreed. Like you I could afford a 12 Pro, but chose not to buy it. I suppose I'm principled in that certain things have a ceiling price limit. Just like I wouldn't spend $10 on a fancy coffee, I wouldn't spend $1500 CAD on a 12 Pro.
Even if I had Elon Musk money, I don't think I would.

Everyone's situation is different and you should buy what makes you happy. After all, we're only on this earth for short time.
 
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MisterMillz

macrumors 6502a
Mar 12, 2011
671
571
FL, USA
I fully intend to hop off the annual upgrade train having purchased my iPhone 12 and iPad Air 4. Why did I do it all of this time? I wanted to. I could afford to. It was fun. I thoroughly enjoy mobile tech. However, after the XS came out I started seeing Apple products for what they are, incremental updates. Devices have matured and I’m less excited about a camera or frame “upgrade.” 2+ years allows for a fuller appreciation of what has changed.

Struggling between 256GB and 512GB of storage often had me going back and forth between the newest pro and non pro devices. I prefer physical storage to cloud based. Now that I have comfortably sized down my data I can save money by sticking with 256GB iOS devices over 512GB and use them until they break or my usage needs change. I will always enjoy tech, but priorities change.
 
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JCCL

macrumors 68020
Apr 3, 2010
2,037
4,625
This is the first year I skipped the upgrade, and I don't really think I am missing out of anything, my 11 Pro Max runs great, does everything I need from a phone, and since I am at home 99.99% of the time due to current situation, camera is more than good enough for me which I consider the only big upgrade (5G is not available on my country and even if it was being at home means my phone is always in Wi-Fi, so it would be useless for me).
 

1rottenapple

macrumors 601
Apr 21, 2004
4,755
2,774
Anyone with a spare $30 a week can afford a pro max here, doesn’t mean you are well off, people on benefits buy them.
I know someone who drives a car they paid $700 for and they just bought a used iPhone for $600 lol.
Some people are just not into Tech or see it as a waste of money even if they are loaded.
I know people at work buying cars more than their salary lol hey free country but its not something i'd tell my kid to do.
 

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,294
25,434
Wales, United Kingdom
Agreed. Like you I could afford a 12 Pro, but chose not to buy it. I suppose I'm principled in that certain things have a ceiling price limit. Just like I wouldn't spend $10 on a fancy coffee, I wouldn't spend $1500 CAD on a 12 Pro.
Even if I had Elon Musk money, I don't think I would.

Everyone's situation is different and you should buy what makes you happy. After all, we're only on this earth for short time.
Yeah my approach is based on principle too. I tend to ask the question; why spend a grand on an iPhone when I can do the same thing on another iPhone £200 cheaper?

I’d sooner but the iPhone I want, rather than pay a bit more just to get a load of specs I won’t use. That £200 I’ve saved can be put towards something else I like or on my kids.
 
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Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,724
13,244
UK
Oh this is a better answer. My phone is my main computing device. I have macs and iPads but my phone is the device I use most. I use it for everything. To male payments in shops, internet banking, online shopping, to pay bills, as a daily organiser, communication device, to control my TV, it’s my sole camera, its an entertainment device. So because my phone is so important to me I can justify upgrading it every year and buying the best to suit my needs.
 

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,294
25,434
Wales, United Kingdom
I think the truth is people do it because they want to and can. Modern phones are excellent for more than just 12 months and easily perform and provide features than we often never completely utilise. I upgrade every 2 years normally but could go longer. I use my phone pretty heavily as perhaps my second most used device during the day and I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I do the same things on an iPhone 12 that I did on my previous iPhone. Sometimes it’s nice to talk yourself into getting a new toy.

The whole £1k+ on a phone is something I’ve happily resisted as on principle I wouldn’t pay that sort of money for a smartphone. Not when the mid tier devices are so good.
 

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,966
20,163
UK
from my point of view I just like having the latest tech. I don't spend my money on anything else really so anything I have left each month goes towards tech. with apple's resale value you don't actually lose that much over the course of 12 months either. spending 1199 on a phone and know I can get 650-700 back for it a year later is more appealing.

if I wanted to do that on android it wouldn't be worth it as the resale value is so poor.
 

Fried_Gold

macrumors 68040
Feb 6, 2013
3,826
3,699
United Kingdom
Bought an iPhone 12, Apple Watch S6 and iPad Air 4 this year, these will be with me now until they are no longer supported or break, I'm done with yearly upgrades.
 

Matthew.H

macrumors 6502a
Sep 16, 2015
778
968
Norwich, UK
I could afford to upgrade my phone every year as I don't spend much money outside of bills and the like. However I choose not to as there's no need to with how good phones are now. I upgraded to the 12 Pro this year from a XR but could easily have kept the XR for longer. This upgrade was very much a want rather than a need. I had the 6S from launch before the XR and thought about upgrading to the X but decided not to as I was still perfectly happy with the 6S at the time.

I personally don't see why some people upgrade their Macs every couple of years when I'm still using a 2014 MBPr that still works fine but it's personal choice. Most likely will upgrade to a new Macbook Pro this year though.
 

MisterSavage

macrumors 601
Nov 10, 2018
4,841
5,739
Heck I dropped a ton on my garage gym.

So did I but now I'm enjoying not paying $30 a month for a gym membership!

Some folks travel, some buy rare whiskey, some hit Starbucks every morning while others like to drastically overpay for drinks for the social aspect of imbibing in bars. If you can afford it, what's wrong with buying a new phone every year to enjoy the new features?

I get into this discussion often with my co-workers. "How can you spend that kind of money each year on a cell phone?" For about a $1.50 a day USD, I think I can swing it. Funny how folks who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day or hit up Starbucks every morning on their drive in, don't seem to get it.

This x 1000! For $2 a day I can get the latest phone every year. It's a splurge, I enjoy it, and I can afford it. I know plenty of people who don't even blink at spending $5 a day on coffee while that's something that I wouldn't do.
 

Knowlege Bomb

macrumors G4
Feb 14, 2008
10,276
8,958
US
So did I but now I'm enjoying not paying $30 a month for a gym membership!





This x 1000! For $2 a day I can get the latest phone every year. It's a splurge, I enjoy it, and I can afford it. I know plenty of people who don't even blink at spending $5 a day on coffee while that's something that I wouldn't do.
I used to be one of those people. I get the addiction. Once I found the coffee I make at home is stronger and tastes better, Starbucks became more of a treat than a routine and nowadays the only time I go is when I have a gift card to blow.
 
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satchmo

macrumors 603
Aug 6, 2008
5,216
6,090
Canada
It really depends where you are in your life. This has been said, but it comes down to priorities.

If you have a growing family, your focus might be on them or paying bills. If you're close to retirement, you may be more apt to spend it while you can.

The same can be said with those who are still living with their parents and may have more disposable income.
 

pascaladjaero

macrumors newbie
Aug 10, 2017
22
11
Not doing that anymore. I've managed to get my pixel 4 XL past the one year mark and plan to use it for 3 more years. My 12 Pro Max should also last 4 years total before I consider upgrading them.
 

bushman4

macrumors 601
Mar 22, 2011
4,139
3,893
If Apple puts out a new iPhone with hardware that changes the spectrum than it’s worth purchasing especially considering all the finance plans that Apple and the carriers offer
Now if the iPhone is an “S” and you bought the previous years iPhone it may not be worth it depending on how much of a finatic you are about having the ‘latest and greatist’ and to have “bragging rights”
 

Robbosan

Suspended
Aug 21, 2020
2,071
1,837
I don’t know anyone that would or has bought a iphone for bragging rights, even thinking someone would seems weird to me, maybe I am getting old or don’t get out enough lol.
 
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