Question for Phone Nerds

[Mr White]

Do you phone nerds upgrade your phone every year. Be that Apple/Google/Samsung or other makers or do you skip a couple of years.

Just interested to know why and how many as myself I leave it for at least 5 years before upgrading.

[UserNotFound]

Sadly, I'm one of those who tend to upgrade at least one phone every year, longest I'd held on to a phone was my Fold4, which I'd gotten in 2022, sold in April/May this year. I'd gotten a 512GB S24Ultra at launch, so it replaced the Fold4 as my main phone. I'd gotten a Flip5 512GB last year, so it's been just about a year now.

Also bought a 1TB Fold6 as I'd gotten quite used to being a Fold user since I'd gotten OG Fold, Fold2 and Fold4. Also bought a Nothing Phone 2a just for the heck of it, it's a fun phone, love the glyph!

Edit - I do, however, plan to hold on to my Fold6, Flip5, S24U and Nothing Phone 2a for a while, minimum of 2 years at least....

[Andrius227]

I use iphones and upgrade every ~4 years. Thats usually when the battery drops <80% health. I would keep them even longer because they work perfectly, and i dont really care about slightly better camera or whatever, the only problem is the battery wears out.

I had 4s, 6, Xs and now 14 Pro.

[Agent]

I've dabbled back and forth between, samsung phones, pixel phones, and now back to iPhones. I tend to keep them for 5 to 6 years before upgrading.

Similar length of time I keep my gaming rig before swapping out all the parts.

[Agent]

Escrito originalmente por Andrius227:

I use iphones and upgrade every ~4 years. Thats usually when the battery drops <80% health. I would keep them even longer because they work perfectly, and i dont really care about slightly better camera or whatever, the only problem is the battery wears out.

I had 4s, 6, Xs and now 14 Pro.

I was considering the Pro for the higher refresh rate, since my monitor is 165hz, but I think I can live with the 60hz on the base 14.

How do you find such a high refresh on a phone, is it worth the extra money?

[Agent]

Escrito originalmente por Elucidator:

Where I live the only issue is companies and their 'service support'.

If your phone line provider is using G2 and G5, and they drop G2 support, you may be forced to upgrade. (or change provider)

If you want to change your subscription with a new provider, and they only offer those new eSIM on a subscription packaged phone, don't take it, just...leave the anticonsumer simlocking nonsense alone. But if you really need an eSIM phone then yes, you may need to upgrade as well.

If you need a new chat program to safely communicate with your family (without paying huge fees due to "roaming") then, sure, another good reason to upgrade (which is also nonsense google is doing/ version locking some stuff)

If you need to play the newest gacha games on phone and your current device can't handle it, even though you spend too many dollars on lootcrates and whatsnot already, then sure, buy a new one- .... no wait don't because you'll go bankrupt with those games.

Bad reasons to upgrade:
- My friends have newer models, I'm left out.
- My family has newer models, I'm left out.
- I'm using android and they are using iphones. I need iphone as well.
(In the US this is the worst) ... ugh- The states aren't swearing enough to apple, so they get away with creating discrimination and bully culture.

Stop using iMessage. Use discord, signal or whatever.

I think UK is a more interesting one than US market when it comes to iPhones. The most common app for messaging here is Whatsapp, yet Apple makes up 43% of the mobile phone market share.

This indicates that people are buying the iPhone for more than just purely "I need blue bubbles" like the US buyers are.

[proiectantul]

Will keep my S23+ until is obsolete and, hopefully, by the time I change my phone, I can find a device with headphone jack, micro SD and easy battery swap, a premium flagship :D

[Defective Dopamine Pez Dispenser]

No. I am old, out of touch with any tech trends not associated with PC, and only use phones for what they used to be used for: talking.

I don't even like smart phones. They were forced onto me. I miss buttons, tactile feedback, and simplicity. But since I had no choice as our building no longer supports a landline in terms of infrastructure, and since the jack adapter systems I've tried introduce audible latency and noise, I've been forced to accept them.

But I will not accept buying a new model every year to keep up with the latest models. I don't do that with anything else, and I won't do it for phones either. Phones exist for talking and having access to emergency services if needed in my world. Not multimedia functionality. Just like I don't upgrade my GPU and CPU every year. I buy for my use case and needs and then stretch that until I can't anymore.

I do not chase the bleeding edge dragon. That is a path without end, in PC, and in all tech.

[Mr White]

Escrito originalmente por Defective Dopamine Pez Dispenser:

No. I am old, out of touch with any tech trends not associated with PC, and only use phones for what they used to be used for: talking.

I don't even like smart phones. They were forced onto me. I miss buttons, tactile feedback, and simplicity. But since I had no choice as our building no longer supports a landline in terms of infrastructure, and since the jack adapter systems I've tried introduce audible latency and noise, I've been forced to accept them.

But I will not accept buying a new model every year to keep up with the latest models. I don't do that with anything else, and I won't do it for phones either. Phones exist for talking and having access to emergency services if needed in my world. Not multimedia functionality. Just like I don't upgrade my GPU and CPU every year. I buy for my use case and needs and then stretch that until I can't anymore.

I do not chase the bleeding edge dragon. That is a path without end, in PC, and in all tech.

Fully agree I use Google Maps on my smartphone as useless at directions. But that's it

[Quint]

Been 4 years now. Custom ROMs serve me well. Root access is nice.

[Trout]

i change my phone as soon as i deem it obsolete (usually after 4-5 years with cheap phones). had a samsung galaxy a40, mid-range from 2019 that i paid 150 euros for, still hasn't slowed down but it stopped receiving security updates and there were no custom ROMs available for it. ended up replacing it with a pixel 7a 9 months ago since i wanted to buy something nicer for once. i suspect it will last longer with grapheneos' extended support and even longer once i flash lineage on it. likely won't switch my phone for a good 7-8 years lol

[Supafly]

I buy a used phone, that is 2-3 years old, and keep it for another 3+ years. Last phone was 2 years old when I bought it and I kept that for 4 and 1/2 years. Only replaced because it broke.

[76561199683733982]

I use iphone and tend to buy one every 3 years, so like XS -> 13 pro -> 16 pro etc

I use my phone a lot, the battery life degrades over time and usually theres a feature, which for me usually justifies the upgrade.

Im currently on the 13 pro, which over the XS has significantly better battery life, 120hz, triple camera. Which to me is a good enough justification, my XS after 3 years could hardly last more than 6 hours. I also just like the feeling of a new phone, its like getting a new pc or laptop its just nice

The current predicament I have is that my 13 pro actually is doing me completely fine, battery life is still usable and I dont feel like Im missing out on anything from the new phone asides from the USB-C port. Im hoping the 16 pro has something worthwhile otherwise i might hold off for another year

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

would like an iphone 11 or higher that works on tracfone

[Obsessive Power]

Every year or two? That's a bit crazy, I guess it depends on your point of view and your financial situation.

I bought a Google Pixel 8 Pro about 6 months ago and I have no intention of changing for tor a few years yet. It seems the technology has reached such a point that I no longer feel the need anymore. It doesn't excite me like it used to, the tech is so good I don't need to keep updating so often.

Calling these things 'phones' feels like a misnomer. These aren't phones, they're like pocket laptops. Well, the high end models are.

[OutlawNix]

As for carrier wise I always been with Verizon Wireless as they are the best where I live. The down side is the choice of phones is more limited compare to GSM carriers.

In the past I owned both iPhone 4s and iPhone 5s. After that point forward I went strictly Android smartphones.

My current smartphone is an Google Pixel 6A which I do like. I normally keep smartphones until the battery don't make it through the day. Currently only have to charge my Pixel 6A every couple days.

My last smartphone had an awesome battery life. Only had to charge that smartphone maybe once every 5 days. But the sim card slot ended up going bad for some reason.