How often do you change your phone?

[girlfriend44]

How often do you change/upgrade your phone?

When my contract is up, so every two years more or less. I've got an iPhone12 so catching up slowly!

When I'm due an upgrade with my contract, which is every 2 years. I don't care about having the latest model. As long as it's functional.

What type of phone do you have that is no longer functioning after 2 years?

I know it's in the interest of phone manufacturers to make customers think they need a new phone every 2 years but ime they all last a lot longer. Anecdata based on mine and my familys experience of many different phones

As infrequently as possible. Built in obseletion is a challenge to the environment and my purse.

When the battery becomes an issue. Around 5 years.

Is it a competition to have the oldest phone? 😉

When the contract’s up. Then I sell the old one. I got £150 last time.

As long as possible, I got 6 years out of my old phone (iPhone 5) until the battery gave up. Currently 2 years into owning a 12mini, I understand they now make these much easier to change the battery so as long as it’s supported and stays working , I’ll carry on with that. Ds is still using a 9 yo iPad that’s showing no signs of dying.

People do realise upgrades aren’t “free”?

the cost of the phone is factored into the contract. So all you’re doing is buying a new phone.

for example- dh has a 2 year contract including phone. The phone is worth £800- his monthly cost is £46

my contract is £10 a month for the same data etc. no phone. So dh’s contract costs £10, plus £36 toward the cost of the phone.

if I buy a phone out right and it lasts 4 years, or don’t take the “free” upgrade, I will save the cost of the “free” phone- so £800 over the next two years…

My current one is coming up to 4 years old - I usually buy them outright and keep them till they start getting too slow or malfunctioning.

My laptop is 6 years old (but I did replace the battery). My tablet is also 4 years old, so I have a tendency to keep them as long as possible.

iPads seem to last ages, I have a mini that is 10 years old and still working, I don't use it now but I see Cex will pay £20 for it people must still buy them that old. If they are really old though they don't get security updates any more.

Every 2-3yrs when it looses charge very quickly

It varies, depending on how long they last, or what happens. My longest lasting one was around 9 years! I only got a new one because it stopped charging. That was an old Nokia. My phone after that got lost on a train after abound 18 months. One after that (a cheap second-hand one) lasted about 3 years.
But my last phone only lasted about a month, as it fell in the bath! 🤭
I'm getting a waterproof Nokia next, an eco-friendly one, easily fixable, that I hope will last at least 4 years. I like to keep them as long as possible, as better for the planet, and I find setting up a new phone such a hassle!

I have just extremely reluctantly changed mine after 4 years as the battery was awful and it was constantly freezing

This. Spot on.

Every year, currently have an iPhone 15 pro max.

About every 5 years I'll upgrade to whatever iPhone it is, so I've got another 2 years with this one unless it breaks etc

I'm always reluctant to get rid of tech, fortunately DS has my four year old iPhone and will use it until it gives out. I wanted a nice shiny new iMac but it seemed wasteful to send my six year old one to recycling when it's still working ok, it's not the sort of thing I can palm off on DS, it's a bit big so I shall now keep that until it stops getting security updates.

Until it breaks or stops working. I have pay as you go.

When Dh can’t think of anything else to get me for my birthday, so roughly every 2 years.

At the end of my two year contract. Phone then goes to step son. Rinse and repeat.

Every two years, and then ds gets my old one. So it's still in pretty good condition when I pass it on, and we get 4 years use out of each phone.

Ds is 19 now, and might want to buy his own new phone at some point. When that happens I'll just keep using my phone until it dies.

When it breaks. I'm using a iphone 6s at the moment. Works fine.

I'm not a selfie-taker and have a proper camera for when needed. Everything else is the same.

If you ever decide to upgrade, please keep me in mind for your old 6 🤣 I miss the camera on it!

edit: Interesting to see lots still using older iPads. I have a mini that I can’t even get the iPlayer app on anymore, and safari freezes up. Zero trade in value, last I checked! Anyone have any suggestions on how to get it working a bit better for browsing only?