Weekly poll results: the upgrade cycle extends as people keep their old phones longer

12 July 2020
In 2018 the norm was buying a new phone every two years. Now most people want an extra year of use out of their phones.

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  • AnonD-893029
  • TkJ
  • 12 Jul 2020

ASUS ROG Phone 3, 12 Jul 2020Not everryone can theow money on building global services p... moreThat's right not everyone can, but Apple do and the business model for them is highly successful. The quality of those services is another matter, one in which there will be a varying degree of individual experience.

My point is Android has an issue where software support is concerned, always has had, and its not getting fixed anytime soon, despite google 's best efforts. That was also the point of the video.

As it states, and for a very simple comparison, take the S6 and the iPhone 6s, two average consumers in 2015 buy one of each. Today one of those people continue to enjoy software updates, the other hasn't seen one in several years at this point.

Why would Samsung update the S6 if doing so dissuades a customer from buying a newer model, Samsung unlike Apple have no other means of prying money out of that person.

This continues to be one of Androids biggest problems, and Apple's biggest strengths.

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    • Truther
    • XQP
    • 12 Jul 2020

    rx8, 12 Jul 2020won't change my phone from 2016 until someone releases... moreiPhone SE 2? More powerful than any android device ever?

      ASUS ROG Phone 3, 12 Jul 2020When was the last time i updated my laptop, i surely forgot... moreTrue!, I been using my laptop since 2013 and my smartphone since 2016.There is no functional reason to buy new devices unless you want the latest and greatest.

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        • UnsustainableShow
        • u1E
        • 12 Jul 2020

        The companies also know that the global smartphone market has almost saturated and most of the sales are from first time buyers (young generation kids, some leftover localized markets). And you can see the rush by top companies to diverge into other new businesses (Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi) or focus more on their other primary products like consumer electronics, electronic components (LG, Sony, Asus).

        The recent dramatic advances in AI and material science will create a new category of products to totally replace the smartphones probably in the next 5 years and that is what everyone company is betting on at this moment. Maybe it would be lightweight Mixed-AR glasses, wearable smartphones with flexible displays, brainhacking devices (prototypes of all we have witnessed) or something even more crazy like smartpets, live holographic projections.......the endless possibilities.

        The smartphone you buy in 2020 might end up being the last/second-last smartphone you'll ever buy. Well people still buy Nokia bricks so it's not like the market will completely end.

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          • Anonymous
          • PZa
          • 12 Jul 2020

          Kangal, 12 Jul 2020Most people don't need the latest (and often the case,... moreI tend to keep my old phones because there is a lot of personal info on there and I don't want to lose any I can't migrate to the new phone and I don't want anyone prying into any of my stuff. I know most info is encrypted these days but I'm not taking that chance.

            AnonD-893029, 12 Jul 2020It would make little sense for most Android oem's to o... moreNot everryone can theow money on building global services platforms without establishing brand names. Also Android OEMs are happy making what they without having to do something capital intensive and highly driven by expensive overheads in managing services. I see huge DIP in QoS by Apple in addressing by Apple with their growing footprints across the globe. Like me many are facing issues with their iPhone 11,11 Pro, 11 Pro Max where secondary SIM not working properly and it takes 10 days to fix appointment with Apple Support Engineer and even after that you dont get to hear anything even after repeated follow up! This is after paying $1800 for Apple!

              When was the last time i updated my laptop, i surely forgot! With ever increasing prices of mobile phones it won’t be a surprise that people won’t even bother to upgrade their mobiles for many years to come. The OEMs trying to milk as much as possible by increasing the prices of various Mobiles is the name of giving some unwonted features gimmicks and upgrades for people. Mobile phones have reached a maturity level in terms of Teck offerings and specs. For the last few years have been seeing that the innovations in mobile phones on slowly and steadily decreasing replaced with increased price points. This survey train clearly reflects the reality in my opinion but this site may largely be attributed for tech savvy folks and for the normal folks the time frame of replacing their mobile phones will be far more long than what we are seeing in tech sites

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                • AnonD-893029
                • TkJ
                • 12 Jul 2020

                It would make little sense for most Android oem's to offer longer software support. Most do not have a commercially viable corresponding 'services' suite to offer along side the device in order to retain a customer revenue stream past the initial sale of the device.

                That means the only way for most Android oem's to get back into your wallet and have a party, is to offer the next device and hope you buy. Samsung have tried to offer services in the past, but this has largely been unsuccessful for them.

                Apple on the other hand have a vibrant eco system that offers a strong degree of lock-in by way of subscription services and platform exclusive features, thus ensuring continued customer spending, so it makes good sense for them to offer a strong degree of continuing software support as long as feasible.

                What would be nice to see in the Android space is a far better degree of prompt software support, even when a device does get that shiny new version of Android (and in a lot of cases that's more like an if), often its months (some times the better part of a year ) after that version was released.

                This continues to be Android 's biggest weakness and turn off as far as I'm concerned. Here a good video by Android Authority on the subject:

                https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FZubFRQjAGE

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                  • Anonymous
                  • uSW
                  • 12 Jul 2020

                  I'll wait next year for flagship hopefully with under display camera. I decided to skip poco f2 pro (only viable no notch/hole flagship chipset non-gaming phone).

                  But if next year we're still looking at these abominations called punch hole displays with no fullscreen options to choose from, then I'll go for poco f2 pro with a should be lower price next year.

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                    • geordie8t1
                    • 39x
                    • 12 Jul 2020

                    as the price of flagships continues to rise steeply, coupled with average updates, its getting more likely than ever that this gap will increase, 3 years will become more commonplace, especially in europe where top end flagships can hit £1300 on release now like the iphone and Huawei P40 pro plus, and possibly the Samsung note 20+ ultra or whatever it ends up being called...the prices are shockingly steep, I used to upgrade yearly when they were 500-700, then 2 yearly when they hit the £1000 mark, and shortly I can see myself going into the 3 year bracket with incremental updates

                      Shadocx, 12 Jul 2020Can you give me an example with another brand, because I ai... moreYou replied to the wrong comment, think it was to my comment but on another page.
                      https://www.gsmarena.com/newscomm-44221p5.php

                      Simple: Can't.
                      That is just how good South Korea/Samsung are. Most companies build one piece of technology, and require other technologies/parts/companies to bring it together. Besides, Exynos isn't that crappy. Imagine if Qualcomm never made any SoC's better than the Snapdragon 835, and if Apple never made any SoC's better than the Apple A10... in such a hypothetical universe, you would think Exynos was fantastic! We certainly think Samsung makes great RAM, great NAND, and great Displays... simply because the competitors aren't as good. If the competitors were much better, our perception of them would change.

                      I think it is possible that either Apple, or Sony, or LG can go this route.
                      Apple has the financial position to be able to purchase a lithography factory and make their own computerised silicon from Raw Materials. Not to mention do similar to camera sensors/lenses. And I already said they're getting into the Display Market (hedging their bets against Samsung).

                      LG... they do have a small division for cameras, and their displays are pretty good. They do have a software division, and R&D for chipset hardware (flash, cpu, gpu). If they got federal funding, they could perhaps start a small lithography factory... which would make them vertically aligned, but, not as good as Samsung/Apple. Still, LG is impressive.

                      Sony. I know they have their Holywood Studios, their PlayStation department, their Walkman division, their Triluminous TV department, and their camera department. They already can make their own software and design their own hardware. They can get into a "Japanese Partnership" with their competitor companies, sort of like a merge, and this can enable them to manufacture parts they aren't able to yet. So they could be impressive, but the modern Sony corporation, is simply a shell of its former world-leading self.

                        I'm using four smartphones with paired smartwatches: two iPhones and two running Android (currently both by Huawei).
                        I don't adhere to a cycle, rather to functionality. Switching from 4G to 5G may eventually be a cause to upgrade. An exceptional jump in battery life (especially when using GPS) would be far more tempting.

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                          • pIZ
                          • 12 Jul 2020

                          I'm still on OnePlus 3 bought on release, just last week I installed a custom ROM based on Android 10. Changed the battery last year, cost 30 euros at official OP repair center. With the next version of SafetyNet being uncrackable, meaning no more custom ROMs with everything working and no Android OEM giving more than 3 years of support I might go for iPhone this time instead.

                            Kangal, 12 Jul 2020Most people don't need the latest (and often the case,... moreCan you give me an example with another brand, because I ain't buying no shitty Exynos powered devices. 😅

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                              • Anonymous
                              • fIP
                              • 12 Jul 2020

                              i'm still using Xiaomi Mi max from 2016
                              SD652, 4gb ram, 128gb rom, headphone jack, 4800mah battery, ir blaster
                              I still can use it in 2020 very well, except for demanding game and camera
                              I don't see any need of upgrading because of the newer phone omits some of the features that I like (headphone jack, ir blaster,microSD slot)

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                                • Anonymous
                                • tZ4
                                • 12 Jul 2020

                                using s8, only got updated to android 8 and then android 9. no android 10 update.
                                so might as well get a cheaper phone this time around and keep it for 3 years using custom rom.

                                  Note7 owner, 12 Jul 2020The newer phones don't make people's Facebook or ... moreBetter camera
                                  Better battery life
                                  Faster charging

                                  Are kinda the reason

                                    Zac always says when he's testing a new mid range or budget phone: "" You can get more, fore paying less."
                                    Meaning IR blaster, headphone jack, bigger battery, expandable memory... This all can fit if the phone doesn't have 3 or four cameras on the back.

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                                      • Travis999
                                      • 39y
                                      • 12 Jul 2020

                                      As I've been saying for years now, phones hit a performance plateau several years ago, top end specs meaningless, it's a phone, not a lappy, mid range specs are so good now, flag ships are just a waste, nobody uses their full capacity.

                                        Most people don't need the latest (and often the case, the latest is NOT even the best).
                                        But while we're on the topic of value, getting a Used Ex-Flagship that is in good condition is better than getting a New questionable mid-ranger.

                                        For most of us in developed nations, I found the most efficient way is this:
                                        1 - Buy a USED ex-flagship phone that is 1.1 years old
                                        (eg/ Samsung Note4 released in Oct 2014 for $800, buy it used for $400 in Nov 2015)

                                        2 - Thanks to the timeframe, you can do your research and know which specific variant to get
                                        (eg/ enjoy the long-time reviews, best accessories, and use a great Custom Rom like EvoX)

                                        3 - Keep the phone for roughly 1.6 years
                                        (eg/ stay in the "goldilocks zone" of depreciation, and of software support and hardware)

                                        4 - Replace the phone with the next model, sell old phone asap
                                        (eg/ In April 2017, Sell Note4 for $300, buy S7+ for $400)

                                        5 - Rinse and Repeat the process!
                                        (eg/ Nov 2018 sell S7+, buy Note8...April 2020 sell Note8, buy S10+...Nov 2021 sell S10+ etc)

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