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

[Stephen.R]

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.

It definitely happens, (and from what I've seen here in SEA, it's often people who really can't actually afford it) but it is also definitely very weird.

But then I've also known about people here who will literally live in a single-room concrete box with a mattress on the floor and still not be able to afford petrol for the new car they had to buy.

People do weird things when they place a lot of value in the way other people perceive them.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Yeah I’ve never bought an iPhone for anybody else’s benefit other than myself. Having the latest and greatest doesn’t impress me to be honest so there’s no pressure there lol. Most of my friends and colleagues use older iPhones so I guess in my age group it’s not so important.

 

[Vegas33139]

If I wanted to, I could purchase a nice new shiny iphone every year - but what's the point? I buy my self and my wife the latest and best iPhone available every two years. That way the improvement in specs are much more noticeable and enjoyable.

 

[fs454]

$700/year on iUP with AppleCare included to experience the latest tech and, as a photographer, carry the best possible pocket camera at all times. Tech is a hobby for some and for a device you look at 200 times a day I think it's worth having the latest.

 

[Apple OC]

I don’t know anyone who buys a new iPhone every year.

I went 5c, 7+, 12Pro... my next iPhone will likely be 15+

 

[snipr125]

Ive never spent £1k on a phone, i always go for the mid range iphones (and entry level like the SE2). However if Touch ID only comes to the Pro models this year, then ill be reluctantly forking out the £1k for the 13/12S Pro in September (will probably get it slightly less on discount though). Nothing against the Pro models or anything, they are very nice, ultra premium phones but just way too expensive.

 

[Applefan2015]

Because we can’t take our money with us when we are dead so might as well spend it while we are alive 👀

 

[MisterSavage]

$700/year on iUP with AppleCare included to experience the latest tech and, as a photographer, carry the best possible pocket camera at all times. Tech is a hobby for some and for a device you look at 200 times a day I think it's worth having the latest.

Yep. $2 a day for something I enjoy and use constantly. It's a splurge without a doubt but I have no regrets.

 

[jwalker99us]

Let’s see...the telephone comes w a state of the art camera, email, browser, a digital Wallet so during Covid we don’t have to transmit the virus via paper currency, countess automation apps.

Look a nighttime picture of the moon over Miami. I have never shot night pics because they require a tripod,a few hrs , planning. This pic in 4 secs!

Loook

 

[Rhyalus]

People should buy what they NEED, or if they have the resources, what they WANT.

Some people fit into both categories.

I am a busy executive in a company... I review documents, emails, news, and I use many business apps. My needs and the choice of tools I own to achieve them drive my purchases.

I could have kept going with the Note 9 for a while, but the improvements in the S21 Ultra convinced me to move. I don’t know why it should be more complicated than that.

And if you have disposable income you should also buy whatever you desire.

R

 

[Ram65]

A 3 year upgrade is the sweet spot

 

[marty1980]

Why does this always come up? Is it kids who finally realize that upgrading every year is not the best option for everyone. Most adults will wait 2-3 years.

When you upgrade from a phone that’s 3-4 years old, you definitely feel the difference in many aspects. upgrading every year sounds exhausting and not worth the trouble. Back in the days of 2-year contracts, smartphones were improving exponentially within those 2 years. The progress isn’t as pronounced any more.

 

[Six0Four]

I spend $300/year on a phone. I buy it for $1000 and sell it a year later for $700.

 

[tbuzleski]

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 bought an 11 pro after it was released. Paid full price and while a nice phone its not worth the money in my opinion. I bought a Pixel 4A as a toy and it shows me that the difference between a flagship and a cheap/mid range device is not that much for what I use a phone for. When its time to get a new phone I probably will not buy a new flagship.

 

[Royksöpp]

No one needs an expensive iPhone. They all have the same core functionality. The newer models have more bells and whistles, but at the end of the day they all do the same thing. They run the same games and apps. Some have better cameras and screens, but they are all high quality if they are made by Apple. I had a launch XR that I sold after a year. It was the best iPhone I ever owned and my favorite. Now I'm on a 12 and I am far from impressed with it. It's nice, but functionally it's underwhelming. After the 12 I think I'll be done for a while, or at least until Apple shakes things up with something truly innovative.

 

[tranceking26]

I've never spent a grand on an iPhone. £699 for my 6s and £673.55 for my 11. New both times.

If you upgrade less often it's much more rewarding imo.

 

[lah]

Since the iPhone’s launch I’ve always upgraded every year. I was set to upgrade this year, but due to various reasons (some beyond my control), I procrastinated and now I’m here in April feeling no need to upgrade from my 11Pro. Might need a new battery soon, but the camera is just as good as the new phones so I will wait to see what the 13 will offer. Feels kind of weird not upgrading since it has been a yearly tradition for so long.

 

[blairh]

People are upgrading less often now as time passes. The changes year to year are less exciting and different now. I think 3 years is the sweet spot TBH.

 

[rui no onna]

People are upgrading less often now as time passes. The changes year to year are less exciting and different now. I think 3 years is the sweet spot TBH.

Personally, I find iPhones (and smartphones in general) have gotten good enough that I no longer have a "sweet spot" for upgrades.

Nowadays, I've mostly been upgrading because of bad battery and for carrier-related changes (more LTE bands, 5G support, etc).

 

[ericwn]

A 3 year upgrade is the sweet spot

For whom, your bank account?

 

[Bodhitree]

I basically buy a new iPhone when my old phone runs out of support these days. I’ve owned a 3G, a 4S, and a 7, which is my current phone.

That means I pay €1000 or so every 5-6 years, let’s make it 6, which comes to €166 a year plus €120 a year for my sim-only, unlimited minutes/texts/5 GB data plan. Now that is a price I can justify, compared to buying a new Android phone every 2 years. Which means that when I trade in I don’t get a lot of money back for my phone, usually €80-€100.

I am still enjoying my 7, it still gets new iOS upgrades and snaps a fair picture. I’ll probably get the 14 when it appears, looking forward to finally having a phone with Face ID.

 

[Bodhitree]

I should add, it’s not just cost which makes me hold on to my phones for longer, but also environmental ethics. I am not a fan of generating huge amounts of e-waste by buying a new phone every year or every two years, I just think it adds to the mountain of devices piling up at recycling sites.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

iPhones have become powerful enough that only screen issues or pro camera needs should necessitate a replacement.

I get mine from my company, and even then they're on a three-year cycle.

The rest of my family are still rocking xRs, without issues.

 

[Phuz01]

In earlier development cycles, advancements in technology were sufficient to justify upgrading every 1-2 years. I started with the iPhone 3 and found myself upgrading on the S cycle just because that typically came with a storage upgrade and I wanted to stop having to carry an iPod and an iPhone.

These days, I'm on a 2- to 3-year upgrade cadence. I continue to chase capacity upgrades because I have a lot of ripped physical media from my CD collecting days. I've been gradually updating my collection in Apple lossless, and cloud storage isn't accessible from the subway, which is where I do a lot of my listening. While camera and processor updates are a definite plus, and I will probably pick up the 13 to take advantage of my 5G plan, the deltas from one year to the next aren't sufficient to justify the yearly spend (especially when I'll always grab the top storage tier).

 

[flynz4]

I used to buy a new phone plus AppleCare every year, and hand down my 1 year old phone to my wife who absolutely doesn't care what she has. Hence, one new phone a year satisfied both of us.

When the AUP was introduced, I switched us both to the plan. Over the course of a year, I end up paying for 50% of each phone and 50% of AppleCare for each phone... so essentially, I am still buying the equivalent of one new phone with AppleCare per year, and we both get new phones yearly. Plus, we have the advantage of each of us getting exactly what we want (not that she really cares that much).

The downside is we don't get to sell a 2 year old phone every year, which is a fairly minimal, loss, and well below my threshold of caring about. We don't have sales tax in our state, so there is no tax penalty. Finally, we never have to worry about battery life getting crappy, and if we change our mind on which model we want, then on average, a new phone is only 1/2 year away.