Why do people buy the latest iPhone/Samsung when they own last year's model?

[Saiyan Lusitano]

Call me an old timer but I don't understand the point in buying the newest model every year knowing that another iPhone/Samsung/etc will be released. Well, moreso to the point that they tend to be really expensive and to me that seems too much for a phone.

My eldest sister for example owns an iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPad Mini (her daughter broke the screen in half), Samsung Galaxy S7 and recently bought the iPhone 6S (or maybe it was iPhone 7.. they all look the same to me). She asked for my opinion before about it but obviously didn't matter since she bought it anyway.

The thing is, these phones are all relatively new still so they're not outdated by any means to be slow or what have you. I guess it's part of the trend to be 'in' like everyone else.

iPhones are of high quality-build so it's not as though they'd last only for a year or two, they're built to last.

 

[nero99]

It's usually because of the new added functions and other specs of the phone.

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

It's usually because of the new added functions and other specs of the phone.

iPhone 7 sort of takes away than add.

 

[Deleted User]

I want to upgrade my iPhone from the 6s to the 7 Plus. The 6s does everything I want it to, but I want a bigger screen for gaming and a faster CPU is a nice bonus. Given the amount of money this would cost me I'm not going to bother. I'll probably pick up the 7s in a few years time.

 

[Zero72463]

I want to upgrade my iPhone from the 6s to the 7 Plus. The 6s does everything I want it to, but I want a bigger screen for gaming and a faster CPU is a nice bonus. Given the amount of money this would cost me I'm not going to bother. I'll probably pick up the 7s in a few years time.

I heard they were just going to 8.

 

[VinsCool]

Because they're sheeps.
No point getting the latest model when the previous one is still being supported.

 

[queendude]

Cuz they can

 

[Tenshi_Okami]

It's usually because of the new added functions and other specs of the phone.

Most of them don't use those functions fully sadly... My mother wanted an S8 for honestly 5 stuff

• Facebook
• Hay Day(Game)
• SMS
• Pandora
• Pics

She wouldn't even lock her phone with a password or fingerprint lock

At the end we convinced her to get a Galaxy A7, and I made her use a fingerprint lock

 

[Deleted User]

I heard they were just going to 8.

I don't keep up with all the latest smartphone news. My logic is that something newer and better will be out next year.

 

[Garblant]

iPhone 7 sort of takes away than add.

I don't really understand why apple fans do it, but most new android phones usually get more improved features compared to the prior versions.

For example, right now I have a Samsung galaxy S6. I could stay with the S6, but there are features in the S7 that make it seem like a good reason to upgrade (and there's not that many Cons (compared to the Pros).

For Apple fans it's probably the same + hype generated by Apple.

 

[slaphappygamer]

Software kills hardware.

 

[Dionicio3]

People want to join the dick waving contest


Erm.. I mean the how rich are you contest

Wait that's worst

 

[Garblant]

Software kills hardware.

Yeah, that's why I'm getting a manufacturer unlocked phone so that I can avoid a lot of the bloatware that carriers shove in their phones...

 

[rileysrjay]

I'm one of those Android purists (meaning I like pure Android: no bloatware, not even carrier bloatware) and happily have a Nexus 6p. I usually try to upgrade at least once every two years at the very least. I really don't see the point in buying a new phone every year. It's just the mentality of having the best there is I guess.

 

[gamesquest1]

I usually end up staying like 2-3 years behind for a few reasons

A) cheaper to buy, I hate when people say "oh my phone was free on contract".....no....no it wasn't, your paying for it slowly over 2 years at double the retail price in most cases

B) less costs if anything breaks, nothing worse than getting a nice £500 phone only to crack the screen a month later and facing a £200 repair bill (I see people's faces drop when I tell them how much it's gonna cost to fix their phone), I like having a cheaper phone that I can repair for minimal costs if anything does go wrong or just replace with no major butt hurt if it's lost/unfixable

C) less desirable to thieves, when you hear crazy stories about people getting attacked for their phone (although it's less common now with activation locks etc) I still wouldn't want to be flashing a £500 phone around in some area's call me paranoid but I would prefer to never be faced with someone willing to attack me just so I can appear rich by flashing the latest phone every year

but recently got a really really good deal on a s7 edge, so that's probably the closest I have been to keeping up with the latest phones, funny enough I got it as my friend just bought out the contract and got the new galaxy s8

 

[Vipera]

A few reasons:

- Many people get phones under contract. Once the new model comes out, they often have an option to upgrade for a fee
- Some people get the latest model of the brand of their choice then resell the old one when the new comes out. In a way, they are effectively pay less. With covers and screen protectors, it's very possible to make a phone look like brand new after a year of daily usage
- Some people like to have the most up-to-date hardware there is. Also they receive more support
- Some people have problems with the previous hardware models and they are looking for an improvement.

Or I could write that they are dumb and you are the best because you still have a Galaxy S2. Whatever you want to hear.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

I usually end up staying like 2-3 years behind for a few reasons
less desirable to thieves, when you hear crazy stories about people getting attacked for their phone (although it's less common now with activation locks etc) I still wouldn't want to be flashing a £500 phone around in some area's call me paranoid but I would prefer to never be faced with someone willing to attack me just so I can appear rich by flashing the latest phone every year

I 100% understand you, but I hate thinking like that. A lot of people will quickly ship to victim-blaming because the person that was attacked "dared" to have something expensive with them. What the hell.

 

[ov3rkill]

A couple of things I could think of:
1. bragging rights and
2. features that most people don't even use.

 

[gamesquest1]

A few reasons:

- Many people get phones under contract. Once the new model comes out, they often have an option to upgrade for a fee
- Some people get the latest model of the brand of their choice then resell the old one when the new comes out. In a way, they are effectively pay less. With covers and screen protectors, it's very possible to make a phone look like brand new after a year of daily usage
- Some people like to have the most up-to-date hardware there is. Also they receive more support
- Some people have problems with the previous hardware models and they are looking for an improvement.

Or I could write that they are dumb and you are the best because you still have a Galaxy S2. Whatever you want to hear.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


I 100% understand you, but I hate thinking like that. A lot of people will quickly ship to victim-blaming because the person that was attacked "dared" to have something expensive with them. What the hell.

I will not apologise for realising we don't live in lollipop land

The thing with all this "victim blaming" bs is that it tries to negate that we don't live in some perfect utopia, that maybe if we all just leave out door open and flash out valuable nothing bad will ever happen, if your that naive you really need to grow up

At no point am I saying the theif is justified or right or anything other than a arsehole but seriously you can't honestly pretend to not understand that bad people target people who show a lack of awareness or have very valuable items openly on display

Again, not saying they aren't arseholes but you just have to see that we live in a world with a mixed bunch of people, most are nice, some are really really not, if me sticking with a s5/s6 can make me a less desirable victim to the bad guy they hey I'm glad

 

[Deleted member 361703]

I didnt see anyone actually mention what damn near 50% of people are using now...

There are two types of phones paid meaning you spent the full purchase price to OWN or a lease payment

Most phones are LEASES like a car and those people dont pay for the cell phone in full they just make a 15 to 20 dollar payment on top of their service

Most services like sprint allow you to upgrade from one flagship phone to the next after 12 on time payments...

So unless you enjoy spending 800$ once a year only to throw your old cell in a drawer instead of recycling or donating it you likely dont even own your phone

 

[Clydefrosch]

some just have a contract that gives them the latest model every year for free or a very small sum, leaving them with a device with more power and better batterylife.
others sell their old device to finance the new one or pass the old one off to a child or spouse who they'd buy a new one anyways.

and some just have that money and want to own pretty things. or feel better than someone else based on the phone as a status thing.