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I usually break my phone within 12-18 months because they're so damn cheaply made. Why so much glass?
If I could go back to a Treo600 I would do it in a hot second, that was a great phone. I had it for years, it was mostly plastic that I beat up quite a bit, but they use gsm bands that aren't supported anymore.
I havenβt gotten a new phone in the last 3 years and I donβt think that I will get one before the iPhone 15 comes out. Iβm well satisfied with my iPhone 13 mini.
The fact that most newly released phones donβt go that small annoys me so Iβll keep it until I find something worth while or of similar size.
I use my phones until the battery life is too degraded to be practical and the phone is too damaged to have the batt6replaced. My Samsung A71 is about 3 years old. Some months ago I noticed the battery was pillowing. Since it was still holding charge for more than a day, the guy at a repair shop (where I took it to get a new battery) just punched a pinprick to deflate it, and it's still going strong.
My current phone is 6. I have changed battery once. The only problem is internal memory.
I had to wait 6 years untill someone released a device that's atleast in some aspects better than the one I already had. If I were forced to switch every year I'd hate most of them.
Switched from LG V20 to Galaxy XCover 6Pro
I have a Note 10+
With the way it's measuring up today for performance and battery life, if it were going to keep getting OS updates and security updates it'd keep being a great phone for another couple of years yet.
...And compared to some I know, I'm updating frequently.
I really do wish they'd squeeze another 1-2 OS updates into it's life-span. But at this rate I'll still be replacing it with whatever its up-to-date peer is in another year or so...
...and re-purposing this one - it's still awesome (awesomer if it allowed root without losing updates and pay-services)
i upgraded from a samsung galaxy S9+ to a S21
Reason?
better battery. the old was too poor to last more than half a day.
the apps are the same, and honestly apart from the ultrawide camera, the pictures look so identical i cant really tell them apart.
i did notice a slight improvement in loading times of a game, but.. its 2 second difference. nothing major. and also the new screen is a bit brighter, but the resolution is lower.
i miss my S9+. it was great.
My S21 is 2 years old now, and still holding strong. It'll probably be replaced in 2025 or something. It'll all depend on the battery. but i live in EU, so i may be holding on till we see the EU law with replacable batteries come into effect. then i can use the same phone for even longer. spend my money on more interesting things, like graphics cards and mechanical keyboards.
I do it because it might fill the terrifying emptiness inside me for a moment or two. Looking forward to trading my Z Fold 4 in for a Z Fold 5 soon!
There's an actual reason for me, which is still not good enough of a reason for me to actually buy a new phone even if the old one is still working. Emulation! My Snapdragon 888 is good enough for 3DS, PS3 and Wii and all this stuff, but it can't keep up with the current develpments in Switch emulation. That's why I'm already looking forward to my next phone (as soon as my current one doesn't work anymore)
I only upgrade every 3-4 years, but there's a lot of subtle differences that make it worth it. For example my current phone is far more reliable with Bluetooth connections than the previous one. It's got a better camera with AI photo touching. It's waterproof. Its fingering sensor is more sensitive and quicker.
I refuse to upgrade past a pixel 4a, because as far as I'm concerned it has everything I need. When my last one broke I just brought another pixel 4a, why? Because they cost like 150 quid second hand on Amazon.
When I have shown the phone to friends and such, I get the same reaction to the price since it looks like a really good phone. And cost significantly less.
No intention of flipping back ever again
I bought a second hand (non-5G) specifically because I wanted a smaller phone.
For me, I just like "fun" phones. I don't update purely due to specs. I recently updated to a fold phone because I'm a bit bored with glass slab phones. A lot of phone manufacturers have decent trade-in deals where I'm at so I never pay full price for them. I might trade in this phone and get the new one if the build quality was improved but it needs to be a notable difference between versions.
Only reason I see is because of phones breaking. My current Mi 10T Lite was great for the first two years, then it started getting annoying. I can no longer use Wallpaper Engine because of a stupid system update, notifications started getting stuck, sometimes it has other minor annoyances. The hardware is still fine, there's no reason this phone shouldn't work, but it doesn't. Xiaomi clearly wants me to go buy another phone.
So I did. Just not from them. My Fairphone should be arriving any day now. My friend already got hers, and she got me super excited for it.
I used to get a new one every two years. Back then the changes were big enough to make it worthwhile. Nowadays there is not much to get from a new phone other than the hardware keeping up with the software and an improved camera.
I'd say, as with any device, keep it until it annoys you or doesn't get any more security updates.
My iPhone 11 from 2019 starts to feel laggy and the touch screen is not responding as well anymore. Battery health is still over 90% but due to higher energy demand of the newer OSs and apps I often still need to juice up during the day. So this year I'm finally going to get the new model but I'll keep the 11 as a webcam.
I like having high-end cameras and screens on my phones.
I keep my phones in excellent condition and sell them whenever I upgrade, which doesnβt make it a crazy expensive process.
I kinda have to buy a new phone every few years because I only get a handful of years in terms of updates (Pixel 5). After my phone is unsupported by GrapheneOS I might turn CalyxOS and by then maybe I'll buy a new phone.
Each year new products & models are launching, so that those in need of it can aquire them. These companies are delivering OS updates for these smartphones so they last longer as realistically possible.
If when yours is broken or far too old, then you should consider aquiring this year's model. So that you can use something that is compatible with studies, work, activities etc.
Obviously each individual/ family/ organization does their own analysis regarding if there is a need or desire to aquire said products. Also what for.
Sorry for hijacking this thread, how do you like the Poco F5? It's currently on my radar
To keep our corporate overlords in their elegant fineries. DUH-HOY
I don't. I usually buy something good (hardware wise) and use it until it dies. Repeat the process.
I follow my life rule of changing phone every 5 years. But my phone broke and become unusable after 4 years. Was xiaomi user for yrs, i bought s23 ultra now as xiaomi prices became expansive. Buy good phone mainly for the picture quality.
Also have a S23 Ultra because my old one died, the picture quality is incredible. I know i'll keep this phone for at least 5 years too
Every year no.... Every two maybe, most stop receiving updates after the 2 years, except for some brands and maybe top models...
Nowadays it's slightly better as usually there is a couple more years of security updates but that's it.
Of course if there is scene and you can get some custom ROM like lineage or similar it is slightly better.... But honestly most phones nowadays are locked down.