How Long Do You Keep a Phone? (Nokia, Verizon, iPhones)

[rosecitywanderer]

As it says, about how long on average do you keep your phones?


I used to hold onto mine until they died but with the rise of non-user-replaceable batteries and the obscene cost to do a battery swap on an older device, I usually upgrade once the battery will no longer make it beyond a few hours. Thankfully my iPhone 11 Pro Max can still make it through the day with 40-60% remaining but I'm a pretty light phone user.

[RamenAddict]

Originally Posted by rosecitywanderer

As it says, about how long on average do you keep your phones?


I used to hold onto mine until they died but with the rise of non-user-replaceable batteries and the obscene cost to do a battery swap on an older device, I usually upgrade once the battery will no longer make it beyond a few hours. Thankfully my iPhone 11 Pro Max can still make it through the day with 40-60% remaining but I'm a pretty light phone user.

It is the same for me. Usually it is about 3 years. This one might be longer since I don’t go anywhere other than on occasional walks with the phone. I have an iPad too.

[cjseliga]

Still on my first phone, 8+ years!

It's a Samsung model SCH-R455C (Slider) that I bought at Walmart back in December 2012, when I was in my mid-30s, it's basically a Tracfone that piggybacks off of the Verizon towers, I pay $10.25 a month through Red Pocket for service.

I would honestly love to keep my phone for infinity, but sadly Verizon is slowly removing all of their 1x, 2x, 3x towers, so my phone will stop working eventually, but the good news is, they keep pushing that deadline back every year, it was supposed to be December 31st, 2019, then December 31st, 2020, now I think it's sometime in November 2021, when I might need to get a new phone.

I might switch to a 4x LTE flip phone then!

[Mary2014]

I bought my first phone in 1983, when you were first allowed to buy a phone rather than rent it! It was beige and the first time they offered a color other than black! I kept that phone until 2014 when I decided to sell my house and move. My brother wanted it because it was "vintage" and might be able to sell it! (You do remember rotary phones ?)

I added a push button wall phone in the kitchen in the early 90"s. By 2000 I upgraded the kitchen phone to a push button phone with no cord!

In 2005 after a dangerous trip home at night after work on flooded roads - I finally decided to get a flip phone to carry with me for emergencies. After 13 years and using it maybe 3 times a year (due to hearing issues on a cell phone) - in 2017 I bought hearing aids that work with bluetooth and I upgraded to an iphone 7.

Next phone upgrade will most likely be when I need to buy new hearing aids and their app will not work on my present smartphone.

[davebarnes]

Me = 2-3+ years
Wife = under 2. She craves new iPhones.

[fishbrains]

I used to change frequently because phones kept getting better. The old nokia chocolate bar phones, flip phones, blackberry then smart phones. Now, I wait until the phone is no longer usable, which for me means Apple no longer supports the iphone version and it will not upgrade the OS anymore, and apps start to become non-functional.

My last phone was an Iphone 6, which I got just after it was released in 2014, and I replaced it a few months ago. I anticipate keeping my current phone for 5+ years.

[dontaskwhy]

Originally Posted by Mary2014

I bought my first phone in 1983, when you were first allowed to buy a phone rather than rent it!

I am pretty sure that the topic is about cellular phones and not home phones.

[rstevens62]

Ive had my Samsung Galaxy for about 4 yrs now and I see no reason to buy another phone.


I hate it that all cell phones look exactly alike today! (I realize there are some that are larger in size, up to about 6" screen), but for the most part, they are all touchscreen rectangular phones.


I remember when cell phones first became popular, my wife and I were one of the first ones at our jobs at the time, to have cell phones, (the old Nokia phones), early 2000s, it wasnt long after, all sorts of different phones came to market, different sizes, shapes, colors, Blackberry types, flip phones, slider phones, etc.


Seems like we have sort of 'plateaued' with cell phones today, the new ones are not that much different than the previous model, (small changes).


Im waiting anxiously for the next BIG change in cell phones, for awhile they talked about 'foldable/flexible' smartphones, but Ive havent seen these come to fruition yet, in addition, holographic cell phones were said to be 'right around the corner'...but again, not seen any yet!

[Mary2014]

Originally Posted by dontaskwhy

I am pretty sure that the topic is about cellular phones and not home phones.

Yes, but, when I first saw the title "how long do you keep your phones" - I did not realize it was in the "cell and smart phone" discussion group. (I spend too much time hanging out in the retirement forum!)

As you can see from my phones over the years - I don't adapt to new gadgets until I have a real need to do so.

[phetaroi]

I tend to do what I do with lots of software (excluding Windows) -- buy new about once every other major upgrade. Bought the Pixel 2, then upgraded when along came Pixel 4.