Weekly poll: how often do you change phones?

05 July 2020
Makers get credit for supporting their phones for more than two years, but do you actually use them that long?

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • qb4
  • 05 Jul 2020

Anonymous, 05 Jul 2020I upgrade my phone yearly. Having a phone for too long is ... moreMaybe get off your phone and enjoy real life?

    • N
    • Neel
    • fCZ
    • 05 Jul 2020

    Need better camera, fast chipset and good battery backup with 2 years of software updates.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • XmW
      • 05 Jul 2020

      Kriegsherr, 05 Jul 2020Maybe because of grown up people. normally Younger ones an... morehaha... most of us mature users find switching over to a new phone much of a hassle, hence we'll stick to what we used until its really critically needed for a change, mainly due to outdated software or app compatibility, or the main culprit which is the battery...

        • r
        • rustc
        • 6vx
        • 05 Jul 2020

        TLDR:I held only two phones for a two years, all others had to be replaced early for various reasons (not for a software support).

        Theoretically , I would hold my phones longer, but for every phone I had certain issues, which led mo to at certain point, abandon and seek replacement.
        My first ever phone SE T100 simply died (it was already old, when I got).
        Then I had SE R300, which got me for two uni years until grown frustration for its petite storage, small screen, just camera led me to abandon and bought Asha 306.
        It served year and half, before ultimately abandoning for android and Sony Xperia E Dual (My first ever dual sim phone).
        Well that was just smartphone, with camera worse than my previous phone (It took 3mp photos with bad quality, while Asha took 2mp photos at most quality possible). Sound also didn't impress at all. Screen was better though as well as touch response. It was also indeed slow. But smartphones were thing for me, so next phone should've been also a smartphone.
        It served just a year, before Next phone , which was used Nokia Lumia 520. WP was not dead yet, back then. It served me well with few shortcomings and I had this phone till it was supported (first of kind).
        Ultimately, MS pulled the plug for wp 8.1 , so with apps literally disappearing from store, it was time to upgrade.
        Bought Lenovo P2 . It was great phone, it is indeed great phone and still one of my favorites. But...
        Lenovo cut short for a support, meaning it was supported for just a year. A rather shady move for a today's standards, but just casual thing for Lenovo and to say for many companies. It was not a long ago, when 2 year support became common sense. I had phone for two years, but for the last eight months I had custom ROM, which for unknown reason, was sort of against my carrier's sim (data didn't work many times). I tried few solutions, till resented and bought my current phone, which is S10e.
        I like it, battery is little step down, but otherwise good. Another step down is glass back, which I found out to be frustratingly fragile, but since save for to say 2-3 phone , almost all premium phones have glass back and it's too early to replace and I'm curious to see how committed Sammy will be for this phone (It supported my colleague's S5 fine) and phone is just fine besides that, I'm keeping for at least two years (or more) before I search for all metal phone again.

          • R
          • Ronnie
          • tA$
          • 05 Jul 2020

          Ali Bashir, 05 Jul 2020Xperia x user since April 2017 with its original battery, s... moreI like MLBB and clash of clan/royal too 👍

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • XmW
            • 05 Jul 2020

            Akinaro, 05 Jul 2020After pushing fast charge most people ARE FORCED to change ... moreVOOC user here of two years here, battery degradation is normal even with normal charging and discharging cycle... the slightly lower battery standby is noticeable, but average daily usage don't see any issue to complain about...
            but it isn't as bad as potrayed by many who don't even use a phone with 'proper' fast charging... many only uses common off the shelves phones then throw shades on brands they're unfamiliar with...

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • rJ$
              • 05 Jul 2020

              There should be an option for "After the current one is unusable" because that's what I do. I am broke af and can't afford to buy a new one frequently.

                • E
                • Economist
                • MNx
                • 05 Jul 2020

                Akinaro, 05 Jul 2020After pushing fast charge most people ARE FORCED to change ... moreYou are so right! Great way to say the truth!

                  For me, it depends on the phone's successor especially when it comes to the camera. If it's worse than its predecessor, I wouldn't change it. My case in point: iPhone XS. I'm thinking of changing to the 11 Pro, but I am seriously not impressed with the 11 Pro's overall photo quality. That is why I'm keeping the XS.

                    After pushing fast charge most people ARE FORCED to change phone more often because battery after 1-2 years of using fast charge can barely keep 15-20h of moderate usage during the day.
                    Its nice and dandy to fast charge your phone but killing it in the process is tad stupid...

                      I had flagships, and it only lasts around 1 year. I had mid-tiers, and it only lasts around 1 year too. Most phones I buy already consider the bang for the value and made my mind to only buy mid-tiers since it's better for me financially

                        My rule: Buy the best and use till it breaks

                          • A
                          • ACE
                          • 7Xr
                          • 05 Jul 2020

                          It depends on savings. Some are rich they can change their phone anytime, Some are in middle class whose can afford to buy new phome depending on their savings amd last some are just wondering a new phone because they can't really afford to buy a new one for prioritizing the necessity goods.

                            geek-a-contra, 05 Jul 2020i work in r&d (optoelectronics + data processing, prett... moreMaybe because of grown up people.
                            normally Younger ones and teens are more interested to change their phones every year. people who are already in a professional life rarely has time to do geeky stuff. cycle of life. :)

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • 3Ap
                              • 05 Jul 2020

                              geek-a-contra, 05 Jul 2020i work in r&d (optoelectronics + data processing, prett... moreBecause when you are working in this kind of work you understand that there is not much change per year. If you buy (lets say last year) an S10 or an iPhone Xs then there is no need to "upgrade" to S20 or 11 Pro. Most of us know that after 3-4 years there are major changes on phones. For me there is no point to sell my S10e and buy an S20 for 0.002sec faster response and better camera.

                                • s
                                • sr777
                                • f}M
                                • 05 Jul 2020

                                I don't upgrade unless there is a must reason.

                                  • o
                                  • origon
                                  • 3Ap
                                  • 05 Jul 2020

                                  vrvly, 05 Jul 2020Basically even paying 300€ every half year will get you bet... moreso 150 euros every 6 months so thats 300 euros per year so thats 900 euros per 3 years. And you still buying a mid range phone. Why not buy a flagship at 700-900 euros and keep it for 3-5 years?

                                    Dunnowhatuntouse, 05 Jul 2020laptops can get to 5000 USD, how do you even make this comp... moreUsual price for laptop is 500€. From that come my comparison.

                                      • E
                                      • Essen
                                      • K6j
                                      • 05 Jul 2020

                                      Like your car, laptop, television, I see no reason why phones cannot last 4 years or more. Even without OS and security updates. If they haven't been through any physical damage, at the most they will need a battery replacement after the 2nd or 3rd year. Early smartphones had some element of planned obsolescence. For instance, my first smartphone was something I kept with me for 3 years. And the only reason I had to change was because it ran out of 16gb storage. But it still runs as a spare phone with its SD 400 SoC.

                                      My current phone with SD 435 has been ticking along fine and will be 3 in a couple of months. I needed to replace its battery a year ago. But with 64gb and an SD card slot, I don't see myself changing it unless it's damaged or something simply conks off. In fact, the black aluminium back now has a weathered, distinguished look.

                                      Moreover, I don't think compact, light phones are ever going to get made again. At this point, I am tempted to buy an S10e and keep it with me for the day my current compact flat lines. as the S10e might soon go out of stock. I shudder for the day I have to wield a 6.7-inch shovel weighing a good quarter of a kilo.

                                        Basically even paying 300€ every half year will get you better phone while you can sell old for at least half. So it's 150€ in the end, but new features as soon as they are out.