How often do you upgrade your phone?

[BlackZeppelin]

Hi all. How often does everyone upgrade their phone? My first touch screen phone was a Nokia Lumia 520. It eventually stopped functioning so I got a Samsung Galaxy S5 which I am still using. It is still running perfectly so I am not tempted to replace it. I will consider the Note 8 next year which will make it 3 yrs before I upgrade.

Personally, I consider it a complete waste of money to replace a perfectly good phone every year or 2 just to get the latest model. In my case, if I do replace at 3 yrs and my S5 is still running well, I won't be supported with the latest operating system or security patches. And I am not prepared to root my phone. I am just not that confident to do that.

The other thing too is that each new model of phone usually has only incremental upgrades of features. Which I understand. You can't make each new phone a major upgrade every time, it is just not technically possible. So in my case, by leaving my next phone to at least 3 yrs, I look forward to having a big improvement of features from my last phone. I personally think that 3 yrs is minimum before you get significantly improved upgrades.

I will go from Snapdragon 801 to 821/830, from 2MP front camera to 5/8MP, from f2. 4 aperture to better than f1. 9, from a swipe fingerprint reader to a much improved press and hold reader plus iris scanner (assuming another Samsung) and on and on. So this is another reason why for me, 3 yrs is a minimum.

What about everyone else?

 

[SactoKingsFan]

Over the last 3 years I've purchased a new smartphone about every 6-9 months. Not that expensive since I usually buy a Nexus about a year after release and sell one of my old phones. Currently switching between Nexus 6 and 5x as daily driver. I'll probably get the 6p in a few months when price drops and keep the 5x or 6 as a backup.

 

[Carlo Villa]

I Upgrade a new version of the phone I'm using, Note2, Note3, Note4, Note5, and now Note7.

 

[Laura Knotek]

It depends. The earliest I've replaced a phone was 6 months. The longest without replacing a phone was 3 years.

 

[codeda]

Often. For me it isn't a waste. I sell my old phones. Someone gets a phone new to them at a discount and I get to recycle and money towards my next phone. Win win.

 

[Sam_Gs7]

My rule is : I won't change phone until either "Lost it or Dropped" and as result
it become useless. My 1st phone was a Samsung Galaxy..GT-17500 in 2009

One time I got ready to leave the Parking-building and Stepped out from the
car..To check a tire. I put the phone on the Car roof and left. I realised
missed the phone 5-Blocks away that happened in Mid 2013

In July 2013 had a Sam-Gs4: I lost it when got drunk in a Pub. I went to washroom and
checked a msge. Put the phone beside the Sink and left. Do am I careless user-Hehe!

The next-1 was SGs5: This one Started to slowdown and didn't get anymore Updates.
So I traded this year-2016 for a Mint SGs7. It works great..Keep it Up SAM-Gs7

 

[libra89]

So far, I haven't had any phone for more than a year, but each phone has had a major upgrade in one way or another to justify it. This year into next will be interesting. For now, I can see myself with this phone for the rest of the year possibly.

 

[Morty2264]

Great thread, OP! I'd say I usually upgrade every year and a half (or every 14 months... It varies). I try to stick to last year's flagship or look for a phone that's $0 so I'll be economizing in some way.

I don't see the need to have the latest and greatest, but I may keep an eye on specific flagships and if I really like them, I'll wait for them to drop in price and then consider grabbing them.

 

[kramer5150]

Shortest = 35 days
Longest = 5 years

 

[Scott Shrewsberry]

Once a year.

 

[XprincoX]

i upgrade usually about every 3 years or every 2 generations

 

[cliro]

Every year. I have 2 accounts. Mine and my son's. When I upgrade he gets the older of the 2 phones.

 

[Morty2264]

Every year. I have 2 accounts. Mine and my son's. When I upgrade he gets the older of the 2 phones.

That sounds like a good trade-off!

 

[omgitselaine]

Yearly !

I'm spoiled haaaa !!

 

[kmf1]

For my last three phones, it's been once a year.

 

[Carlo Villa]

I must have the latest and greatest of the device I use, so once a year

 

[Orion78]

Every two years. But this year will be the first time that I won't upgrade. I'm not really into the pixels so I'm holding on to my Nexus 6 awhile longer.

 

[jlarkins08]

In the past I would upgrade every year but now, due to better spending on my part, I upgrade when I feel the need to do so..
So far, I have been having the same device for over 2 years! The longest I have ever held on to a phone which is the HTC M8.. I cant get rid of it and I still compare this phone to every high-end release out there! The most recent devices doesn't seem like a major upgrade IMO and the price is way higher than it used to be!

 

[MikeyBugs95]

I plan on upgrading to the V200. It's going to be just my 2nd "smartphone." I've had a G3 for nearly 3 years now and it's doing me well. My previous phones that I used throughout middle school and high school (dumb phones) I usually upgraded every 2 or 3 years as well just because the phones were dirt cheap and got (very) boring after 2 or 3 years (they couldn't do anything except my last phone before this one which had a music player built in). Plus I was on my dad's plan so I didn't have to work about paying anything!

 

[middbrew]

I try to keep a device for about 3 years. But my last two have been only a year.