Most people wait 3-5 years before upgrading their smartphones

I'm still using my OG moto z play. I'd still have my note 4, with its brick battery, if I hadnt been screwed out of it by tmobile.

If I were to upgrade, it'd be to a midrange phone like the moto 7 power. There is no point in buying flagships anymore, the processing power is unnecessary, the designs are garbage, and why spend $1000 on a disposable device?
 
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You could wait 5 years with an older plastic device, but chances are that your newer glass phone wont last that long. So the companies in USA at least are forcing you to go cheaper devices or refresh 2 3 years tops.
My s8 plus developed a black spot on screen even though I never cracked it. I think the screens are more fragile these days
 
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Apple really hit their climax with the 6 PLUS. People wanted a big-screened-iPhone pretty badly and once they got one, they held onto it as long as possible before switching up to the newer models.

In many poorer countries, where income is low, Apple stores don't even exist and they are using the older models purchased at discounts.
 
Nobodysfool said:
The s10e meets your criteria perfectly.
Click to expand...

Yes, but did you read my last sentence? The S10 has a significantly better camera than the S10e. It was a very tough decision. It took me a couple weeks to decide it outweighed a fragile screen. I hope I didn't make a bad choice. :/
 
Planned obsolescence is what they do now to force you to upgrade after 2-3 years (no replaceable battery, ridiculously fragile phones, etc). I wouldn't be upgrading my S8+ if it weren't for all the cracks on the damn all-glass design, and a mysterious black spot that appeared on the side of the screen (guessing due to a drop).....and that's WITH a case! They're so fragile now that they hope it'll break on u and you have to upgrade or pay for device insurance. It's a scam. Why would anyone upgrade every 2 years when 2 year old phones still do everything and then some? I'm still rocking my 4790k from 5 years ago, and I'd still be rocking my S8+ for another year or 2 if it wasn't for all the cracks.
 
Until manufacturers GET IT, they will continue to pump out new phones with MINOR updates and flashy colors and still up the $#*% price. Consumers appear to be starting to figure out it isn't WORTH it to spend upwards of 1000 or more for a stupid phone, just to be "trendy".
If the sales really start to drop off due to market saturation and price, then one of two things will have to happen. Prices drop or something REALLY different and exciting will need to be released. And the silly folding phone is just another gimmick.
 
> Not what companies want to hear

They are asking 1000€+ so what do they expect? Especially when there are mostly minimal changes. I am looking at you Apple & Samsung
 
The one innovation that would compel me (and probably countless others) to give up my awesome 6S Plus is when either top player finds a way to manufacture their exact top of the line phones for less than $500.

Otherwise no, thank you very much and good luck!
 
ShagnWagn said:
Nobodysfool said:
The s10e meets your criteria perfectly.
Click to expand...

Yes, but did you read my last sentence? The S10 has a significantly better camera than the S10e. It was a very tough decision. It took me a couple weeks to decide it outweighed a fragile screen. I hope I didn't make a bad choice. :/
Click to expand...

I did read it multiple times, but nothing in your comment says anything about the s10e; it only says "I got a S10 instead of the S10," so you committed a typo there, buddy.
 
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Still using Note 2 here. Original battery and fully working. I have Galaxy S1 as well still being used as phone with double capacity battery.
 
I'm still on my S4 and Note 3 (using separate phones for personal and work), and have no reason to trade them for new devices other than the fact their batteries are beginning to show their age, and since about 1 year ago both have cracked screens. In both cases the screens just became cracked one day without having dropped or mishandled them, and I also rarely put them in my pockets. I suspect they just cracked due to natural stress because of the phones ages.

I'd be feeling a lot more compelled to get new phones if there were flagship models with removable batteries, expandable storage, 3.5mm jacks, physical buttons and no notch / bezeless / curved screens (all this screen crap pushed just so they are more fragile and break easier). As it is, I'll probably hold on to them for as long as I can and then just trade them for mid-range or even low-end models - where it's still easier to find at least some of these features. Camera in these models usually suck but then I'd just get a digital camera.
 
Physical buttons? Nope, those can break with use; better to be touch-buttons so that they don't break with age.

Removable batteries? OK, but prepared to lose the waterproofing. No matter how good you get the seal you're always going to have it screwed up when you put the cover back on.

Headphone jack? There's a number of very good wireless headphones that can be had for very good prices, there's no reason to not have one. That's one more port to break when you accidentally forget that you had your headphones plugged in and your phone goes flying.

Removable storage? Really? Is 64 GBs not enough for you? You know you don't have to store the whole of the Library of Congress on the go you know. Once you take the photos on the phone, offload them to your computer. Music? OK, but do you really need to take your entire library? Take the songs in your favorite playlist and that's it.
 
trparky said:
Physical buttons? Nope, those can break with use...
...prepared to lose the waterproofing...
...one more port to break...
...your phone goes flying....
Click to expand...
If you're that clumsy that you somehow manage to break all the physical buttons on your phone, and somehow snap off its headphone port, and regularly fling it round the room, and on top of all that want it to withstand the direct blast of a pressure washer, then it sounds like this is your ideal phone (link). ;-)
 
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I was once someone who lamented the loss of the 3.5mm jack in newer phones.

And then I realised I was using wireless headphones. Even though my current phone still packs a 3.5mm jack (and so has all my older phones).
 
DaveBG said:
Still using Note 2 here. Original battery and fully working. I have Galaxy S1 as well still being used as phone with double capacity battery.
Click to expand...
Not too many people would agree to having such an outdated device. And dont get me wrong, I dont mind having an older device, but not being able to run new apps/games is a bit disappointing. Plus the camera your device has is simply horrendous. There is too much money in mobile market. Meaning there are new better cameras, better speed etc every few years.
A 5 year PC is something I am alright with. But a device old as yours...
There are too many sacrifices made to own that phone. There is also a talk im hearing about mobile carriers like Tmobile adding new frequences making old phones obsolete.
I havent looked into that but if true, that is simply unacceptable. You are paying for new better coverage you cant use then.
 
Since my first smartphone none have had all their functions still working properly after 2 year with a couple failing completely (admittingly I dropped the LG down the stairs). I'm hoping the pixel 3a will break this trend, I'm even babying the battery by never fully charging it.
 
trparky said:
Nobina said:
Security updates are pushed through Google Play regardless of Android version, or so I've heard.
Click to expand...
Only some security updates are pushed via Google Play, mainly anything that is related to Google services.

If a vulnerability comes about that affects base-level software such as the OS kernel or even the baseband firmware then forget about it; the only way that can be patched is via an OTA update and for a lot of older Android phones, good luck with that.

As much as people hate on Apple at least they support their devices from a software update standpoint the right way. iOS 13 will be supporting devices even as far back as the iPhone 6S and that was released four years ago. Talk about an amazing software update track record.

What I do find to be amazing is that a lot of Android users practically forgive the OEMs for not supporting their older devices with a proper software update schedule yet if Microsoft did the same thing they'd be the first ones in Redmond, WA screaming bloody murder with pitchforks and torches. Double-standard much? I think so.
Click to expand...

That is why I have a Pixel, they update the security every month, would like the patch to go on for more than 3 years though especially that I have the Pixel 3 which is more than enough for me.
 
BSim500 said:
If you're that clumsy that you somehow manage to break all the physical buttons on your phone, and somehow snap off its headphone port, and regularly fling it round the room, and on top of all that want it to withstand the direct blast of a pressure washer, then it sounds like this is your ideal phone (link). ;-)
Click to expand...
You do know that physical buttons will fail with use, just normal use. Every-day like pressing of the buttons will eventually kill the buttons depending upon how well they're built.
 
I would agree with the subject line. I've been using my old Moto G5 that I originally picked up through Consumer Cellular for $150. It's still going strong, holds a charge well without needing a battery replacement and the camera is fine for 95% of the photo's I take. It's to the point now that I could drop and break it and not worry since there are later generations for around $200 that would be fine, but for now I'm holding out. Maybe by the time I'm ready for a new one the Note 10 will be down to the $200 mark .... hmmmmm, decisions, decisions ......
 
trparky said:
You do know that physical buttons will fail with use, just normal use. Every-day like pressing of the buttons will eventually kill the buttons depending upon how well they're built.
Click to expand...
I never had any button fail on my phone with "regular" use. So, from my own experience, they won't fail. Those joysticks on old Sony Ericssons were failing left, right and centre but nothing past that.
 
Physical buttons: Never had any physical button fail me in any phone I ever owned, either power/volume/camera buttons or physical keyboards. In fact, in mine and other people I know experiences, it's one of the components least likely to fail on any phone. Phones are a lot more likely to experience problems with touch sensors and thus, make them unusable due to the lack of buttons for essential functions. Planned obsolence at work, again.

Waterproofing: I don't need full waterproofing. I'm not clumsy and never dropped my phones on water, even though I have frequently taken them to the bathroom, tub, pool and beach. All I ask for is rainproofing, and models with removable batteries already have good enough rainproofing in my experience. Never had any issues from using any phone I ever owned even in torrential storms. Definitely not willing to easily swap batteries for this.

3.5mm Jack: Wired headphones are just way more practical to me (harder to lose or fall from your ears, no worries about charging, don't have to pair them with your phone - just plug them in and that's it), and will always be cheaper with better sound (compared to wireless in same price range).

Removable storage: I have needed, and used, extra storage a few times: When I loaded a 64 GB SD card with a few hd movies and series on my phone for a long multi-interstate bus trip (passing through long stretches with bad or no reception at all, and I was on a limited data plan, so streaming wasn't an option), and later I used that same SD card as emergency storage a few times when I needed to transfer large files from between 2 PCs on different sites and didn't have a thumb drive or portable hdd available for immediate use. Still, if there's one thing I'd be begrudgingly willing to concede, would be removable storage. But why take away options from consumers? It's another case of planned obsolence, since if you eventually need more storage for whatever reason, you'll have to buy another device.

In the end, this trend of taking away tried and true features from mobile devices is like if car manufacturers started taking away things like stereo, foldable seats, power windows, AC, while increasing their prices. I don't understand why any consumer would be an apologist towards this practice, unless they're astroturfing of course.
 
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You have to consider the source of the population pool. They were all ting customers so, by default, they are going to be more cost conscious.
Take these results with a grain of salt. Unfortunately, the majority of posts seem to be taking this data as gospel and theorizing why. Shame really
 
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