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.
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
you either did something wrong, or need to stop overpaying apple for iphones. i’ve never heard of 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 like this.
And you are a dick.
stop calling people names because of products.
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.
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.
At least 4 years. The only exception will be when the Motorola+GrapheneOS phone launches next year, which will be replacing the phone I bought this year
I buy a new one when my current one is having so many problems it’s hard to ignore. I didn’t get a smartphone till 2020. Before then it was cheap pay-as-you-go phones. That phone was a moto g power and I had it till last year when it was getting to be too slow and the screen shattered when dropping it on my way out of work. I got a pixel 10 since my phone plan gave a massive discount on it.
4-5 years with a battery replacement at year 2-3 for a refresh. Now I’m trying to hold out for the new Motorola/graphene os phone
I think I have you all beat. I’m still rocking an iPhone 6S Plus released in 2015. The latest update was for iOS 15.8.8 on May 11, 2026.
genuinely impressive given how lots of apps (and increasingly more of them, but afaik messaging apps generally still fall behind?) seem to require iOS 16 or later nowadays
New phone? I only ever buy used.
As long as possible.
Either it dies, or the battery does and there’s no longer replacements available; or, the manufacturer stops updating it and a there’s no support for a third party OS.
Once every 2 or 3 years back when I was buying the stinky cheap ones. My current Pixel, however, is approaching 5 years strong. No good reason to buy a new one at this point, maybe until the GrapheneOS Motorola comes out since I don’t do anything computationally intensive on my phone.
4-5 years
About 5 years unless i lose it in the ocean. Which has happened twice in the last decade
I’ve had my iPhone 11 for 7 years. I have no strong desire for a new one either. I just need to replace the battery on this one and it should be good a for a few more years.
Somewhere between 3 & 4 years. Typically something has to go wrong with my current one.
I use them until they’re literally too broken to be worth fighting with anymore. Only then do I buy another one.
Every other day! I just can’t help myself! A new model is released and the hype machine starts up; updates are released to downgrade performance on older models–I just wag my tail non-stop! It’s so exciting! Those flashy lights and colours! Ooooo! This money belongs in their wallets and everyone’s going to get a hold them! And I tell myself pathetic lies: oh, the battery can’t be replaced… if only it had screws… it’s way too hard to heart up glue and put a new battery in. Besides–all my friends are going into debt too! Plus those new features: it can make phone calls and text! Look! E-mail access too!
