How long do you keep your phone before buying a new one? It is based on this article that especially Apple fanboys, buy a new phone every year when the new one comes out.
Normally I keep a phone until severe hardware failure (spicy pillow, broken digitizer, not charging…)
The only thing that has gotten me to upgrade was the Boox Palma 2 Pro for it’s e-ink display specifically, due to eyestrain from reading on LCD, and my Galaxy A23 5G i received as a gift having its display start falling out (and fear of future storage/ram prices)
(technically almost a phone due SIMs only being supported for mobile data, but i use a flip phone for SIM-based calls/sms anyway)
- When I have to or 2) when I want to, whichever comes first.
I got my first smartphone in 2014, and I’m on my third now, so once every 4 years on average. Hoping the graphene motorola will be out when my current pixel goes EoL in 2027.
About every 4-5 years, depending on how the old one is lasting. Typically, it’s battery life that frustrates me enough to go shopping. I have an iPhone 17 now, and this will most likely be my last apple. Prices are beyond justification
you know batteries can be replaced right
Never had any success trying to replace an iPhone battery. Tried twice through the alleged Genius Store, and both times with an aftermarket supplier. Failed to have any success. Phones were an 8 and an X. Maybe in other markets, but had no luck in Australia
Brutal. What do they charge for an official repair in AuD $
?
Depends on the repair. Never used to be possible to even get an aftermarket screen, although you can now. I have walked in with a broken screen on a current model phone to be told it can’t be fixed and they would use it as a trade in.
Fortunately, you can now get genuine parts from third parties.
A third party repair of a screen is about $175. Apple is over $250. Last time I had it quoted was a couple of years ago though, so YMMV.
you either did something wrong, or need to stop overpaying apple for iphones. i’ve never heard batteries being this difficult on regular ones.
Judgemental much? Stop being a dick. You need to understand that every body has reasons for doing the things they do, and has different experiences.
Up until 2021, I wasn’t allowed an android device for work. I got, and still get, an allowance for bringing my own device.
Obviously, you have never had to have an apple device repaired in Australia.
you are way too defensive about your planned obsolescence phone. but eh, apple people tend to be worse at this.
And you are a dick.
stop calling people names because of products.
I stopped buying new phones when I started running GrapheneOS on my phone. I bought a used pixel 8 thinking it would be supported by Google for 8 years. Needless to say I greatly underestimated Google doing evil things and not being absolute obstinate weasels on abiding by the GPL. Currently looking for options on running a cheap Linux phone to weigh what to swap to in the future.
I used to upgrade every 2 years until I got an iPhone 15 Pro. I was going to ride or die with my 13 mini but I really wanted to get all my devices on usb-c. I splurged on my current phone with the intention to keep it for a long time. Going on 3 years now.
I used to go hard on the androids with rooting and customizing. I’ve since resigned myself to wanting a phone that “just works.”
I currently have a refurbished Pixel 8 (chosen because it’s the oldest phone recommended by GrapheneOS). I got it less than a year ago when my previous phone (a refurbished Pixel 7) started having screen problems. I got that one a few years before, when my refurbished Pixel 6 fell out of my pocket in a parking lot and got driven over by a car.
If it weren’t for breakages and Graphene system requirements (for security features, not performance), I’d probably still be using the Pixel 6, if not some phone I had even before that. It’s been at least half a decade or so since the last time I felt like upgrading because my phone wasn’t good enough.
The thing about rich people is that they don’t care about making responsible choices. $1000 is throwaway money to them when they have a $60,000 leased car and go to disney twice a year.
This depends a lot on the person. There’s plenty of rich people that earned it rather than being born into it, and still live frugally. I work at a big tech company and there’s plenty of people with mid to high six figure salaries that still use coupons, keep their phone for 4-5 years, and save as much money as they can. Living well within your means on a higher salary lets you retire early, and for some people that’s worth more than any frivolous spending.
If you’re getting a new phone every year, you’re not throwing away $1000. You can easily sell it after a year for $700 or more.
I’m not sure about Apple, but Samsung has some ridiculously good trade-in offers sometimes. My wife upgraded from an S21 Ultra to an S26 Ultra this year, and got something like $250 for trading in her old phone. About the same as what they were selling for on eBay. I’ve seen them offer $600+ for last year’s model.
Just smashed my iphone 11 in a derailer, which is a railroad related accident.
I had bought it used about 8 years ago, the iPhone 11, and took the opportunity to spend 500$ on a pixel 10a and put graphene OS on it.
Funny story: I set up the duress password, and afterwards, was setting up new users. Well one of the new users I setup us3d the same pin as as the duress password! D’Oh! Anyways… The duress pin works! Had to go to cricket to implement a new esim! Lol.
Love the phone tho!
You bought an iPhone 11 eight years ago?
It wasn’t even released 8 years ago. Much less available used yet.
When the old one is no longer suitable for use as a primary phone:
- Nexus 5 - broke the screen. Actually still mostly works to this day, and I have Android 9 on it.
- Sony X Compact - small onboard storage, Android’s crappy SD card support, and a lack of quality third-party ROMs after official support ended shortened this one’s service life.
- Pixel 4a - current phone, don’t want to “upgrade” to something that’s bigger and doesn’t have a headphone jack, mildly annoyed the fingerprint sensor broke.
I don’t understand why people would upgrade their phone every year. It’s so wasteful, and there’s barely any changes from year to year. Most of the larger upgrades these days are in software rather than hardware.
Somewhere between 3 & 4 years. Typically something has to go wrong with my current one.
New phone? I only ever buy used.
I use a phone till it stops working. Usually get 3-4 years out of it. I usually will buy a refurbished “flagship” phone from the previous year or two. I like a big screen and lots of memory. I’m currently using a pixel 9pro xl. It’s fine. I like the idea of using graphene, but haven’t yet summoned the energy to do it.
The GrapheneOS installation is ridiculously easy, you basically just click through the setup on their website. And once you’re accustomed to its features, you’ll never want to go back to stock Android.
Lmao why make shit up?
Android fanboys think about Apple more than anyone else.
Also, you’re just wrong. Apple users keep their phones longer
https://cirpapple.substack.com/p/iphone-owners-keep-phones-longer
