Upgrading your phone/tablet every year?

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N

numble

Member
adamy said:
I don't upgrade my phone because it still results in me spending money. so you aren't "saving" anything. thinking you are "wasting money" by not using the upgrade subsidy is confused logic. If you are spending money, you are not saving money.

I have no interest in upgrading my phone just to sell my old one on Craigslist.
Click to expand...

You missed my post about how I come out in the black with my phones, and that is from buying them off-contract. Sell the iPhone 5 for $550, buy the next one for $650. In the meantime, I've earned over $100 from the iPhone just from iOS rewards programs.

I meant to sell the new one on Craigslist if you aren't going to use it. You pay $200 for a $650 device, and sell it on Craigslist for $650 to recoup the $450 subsidy.
 
J

JCizzle

Member
Phone every 2, have seen no need to upgrade my ipad 3 yet and it doesn't seem like there is any substantial upgrade coming for that in the near future.
 
popeutlal

popeutlal

Member
My Thunderbolt does everything that a newer phone can, but I mostly use it for phone calls, browsing and GPS. No need to spend money to buy a product with the same functionality.
 
S

SneakyStephan

Banned
Still using my 2007 samsung flipphone, which even has 3g :p

Still works, still holds a charge longer than your average touchscreen smartphone.
I don't see any reason to 'upgrade', don't fix what isn't broken.
 
W

WorldStar

Banned
numble said:
You missed my post about how I come out in the black with my phones, and that is from buying them off-contract. Sell the iPhone 5 for $550, buy the next one for $650. In the meantime, I've earned over $100 from the iPhone just from iOS rewards programs.

I meant to sell the new one on Craigslist if you aren't going to use it. You pay $200 for a $650 device, and sell it on Craigslist for $650 to recoup the $450 subsidy.
Click to expand...

ah I see

Ain-t-Nobody-Got-Time-Fo-Dat-sweet-brown-31241125-480-330.jpg


but seriously, I'm too lazy for that, and that is not at all what OP is describing..

quite the opposite actually, where he keeps the new one and sells the old one. hence my confusion.

also you gotta keep in mind at least here in CA we have to pay tax on the full price of the phone, which is significant. and you don't re-reap that tax $$$ when you sell the new phone on craigslist
 
M

mcfrank

Member
I have had iPhone 1, 3G, 4, and 5 so roughly every 2 years.

I have had iPad 1,2,3 and will buy the 5, so slightly over every year on the tablet (since I skipped the 4th gen).

I resell the previous model for 60 - 80% of what I paid for it typically, so this cycle works well for me.
 
M

mrkgoo

Member
It's not an entirely subsidised on contract world over here, so I pay for my phone myself completely.

I use it until it is run into the ground more or less.

I had the first iPhone released here, the 3G and used it until I got an iPhone 5. That was an upgrade, I can tell you.
 
S

Sound Deploy

Neo Member
numble said:
You missed my post about how I come out in the black with my phones, and that is from buying them off-contract. Sell the iPhone 5 for $550, buy the next one for $650. In the meantime, I've earned over $100 from the iPhone just from iOS rewards programs.

I meant to sell the new one on Craigslist if you aren't going to use it. You pay $200 for a $650 device, and sell it on Craigslist for $650 to recoup the $450 subsidy.
Click to expand...

Let's clarify this. Something seems off here.

I start a new activation with AT&T and get the iPhone 5.

I pay upfront, (assuming good credit and no deposit):

$200 + 35 (Activation Fee) + $53 (Using California tax) = $288.

According to you, I now need to sell this phone ASAP. You recommend approx $650, even though it is retailed at $700, we'll go with $650.

Sell for $650 - $288 = $362.

So, I have $362 and no phone.

Now you take it from here...
 
E

enigmatic_alex44

Whenever a game uses "middleware," I expect mediocrity. Just see how poor TLOU looks.
I upgrade once every 2 or 3 years. Needless to say, the jump from my crappy old Iphone 3GS to the epiphany that was the Galaxy Note 2 was mind-blowing
 
K

Keyouta

Junior Member
I'm using a Galaxy Nexus I bought January last year, and no, I won't upgrade every year. The phone still works fine for what I do on it - browsing the net and chatting - so I have no real reason to. I'd like it to be faster but I can stand to wait a few more years.
 
B

BigDaddyFatSack

Banned
Eh, don't need to. I don't play games. Everything else I do work just fine on my S3. (E-mailing, texting, internet surfing, calling, etc...)


Daingurse said:
Still have a 3GS. I can't really justify an upgrade.
Click to expand...

My friend still has that phone and it works just fine believe it or not. I don't find this surprising considering the fact that it's just as fast as an iPhone 4.
 
T

tino

Banned
I had a very intense upgrade period from 2010 to 12, I went through 4 Android phones and 3 tablets.

After Android 4.0, I think both software and hardware innovations in the smartphone world have slowed way down. To be honest with you I know I can not tell the difference between 720p and 1080p just from normal distance.

From beginning of this year I went from wanting to replace my Galaxy Note very much to now don't really care either way.

I just don't think smartphones news are hitting my passionate spot anymore.
 
T

tino

Banned
Sound Deploy said:
Let's clarify this. Something seems off here.

I start a new activation with AT&T and get the iPhone 5.

I pay upfront, (assuming good credit and no deposit):

$200 + 35 (Activation Fee) + $53 (Using California tax) = $288.

According to you, I now need to sell this phone ASAP. You recommend approx $650, even though it is retailed at $700, we'll go with $650.

Sell for $650 - $288 = $362.

So, I have $362 and no phone.

Now you take it from here...
Click to expand...

If you are a frugal person why even get a contract at all. Just get prepaid.
 
N

numble

Member
Sound Deploy said:
Let's clarify this. Something seems off here.

I start a new activation with AT&T and get the iPhone 5.

I pay upfront, (assuming good credit and no deposit):

$200 + 35 (Activation Fee) + $53 (Using California tax) = $288.

According to you, I now need to sell this phone ASAP. You recommend approx $650, even though it is retailed at $700, we'll go with $650.

Sell for $650 - $288 = $362.

So, I have $362 and no phone.

Now you take it from here...
Click to expand...
If you are already on AT&T, and don't plan on using a new phone, you should go ahead and get the upgrade every 2 years and sell it. Use your old phone. There should be no activation fee if you are already on AT&T.

For example, say you got an iPhone 4 on contract in 2010 and don't plan on changing it for 4 years.

Do nothing until 2014:
Pay contract costs for 4 years until 2014.

Upgrade to iPhone 5 in 2012 and sell iPhone 5 on Craigslist, keep using iPhone 4:
Pay contract costs for 4 years until 2014 - (650-200-tax).

Otherwise, go on prepaid, because the big 3 charge you more because of a built in $450 subsidy every 2 years.
 
S

Sound Deploy

Neo Member
tino said:
If you are a frugal person why even get a contract at all. Just get prepaid.
Click to expand...

Because it has nothing to do with being cheap, it has to do with numble's method, which I am trying to understand why anyone would ever want to do it that way.

numble said:
If you are already on AT&T, and don't plan on using a new phone, you should go ahead and get the upgrade every 2 years and sell it. Use your old phone. There should be no activation fee if you are already on AT&T.[

For example, say you got an iPhone 4 on contract in 2010 and don't plan on changing it for 4 years.

Do nothing until 2014:
Pay contract costs for 4 years until 2014.

Upgrade to iPhone 5 in 2012 and sell iPhone 5 on Craigslist, keep using iPhone 4:
Pay contract costs for 4 years until 2014 - (650-200-tax).
Click to expand...

Couple things...

AT&T has an upgrade fee of $36 every time you resign your contract. Always. And second, you're not including your initial start up cost. You'd barely make a $74 dollar profit with the scenario presented in CA after your first upgrade at year 2.

Third, and I guess this is more of a personal thing, who would want to live like that if anyone considered their tech some level of relevance? I seriously question that. By year 4, you'd still need to spend money should you decide to spend on a new device. Which, consequently means, that subsidy you were so worried of devaluing, means jack since you would have to purchase at retail price.
 
C

Chinner

Banned
if you have the money yeah sure why not. otherwise i think a 2 year cycle makes sense, you save more money, get more out of your phone and see a bigger technological jump.
 
N

numble

Member
Sound Deploy said:
Because it has nothing to do with being cheap, it has to do with numble's method, which I am trying to understand why anyone would ever want to do it that way.



Couple things...

AT&T has an upgrade fee of $36 every time you resign your contract. Always. And second, you're not including your initial start up cost. You'd barely make a $74 dollar profit with the scenario presented in CA after your first upgrade at year 2.

Third, and I guess this is more of a personal thing, who would want to live like that if anyone considered their tech some level of relevance in their lives? I seriously question that. By year 4, you'd still need to spend money should you decide to spend on a new device. Which, consequently means, that subsidy you were so worried of devaluing, means jack since you would have to purchase at retail price.
Click to expand...
By the end of year 4 you would be on your second upgrade cycle, so you won't need to purchase at retail price.

Even based on your numbers, you are still out of pocket over $350 in years 3-4 if you keep the old phone without opting for an upgrade instead of upgrading and selling the new phone right away.

Your scenario:
2010: $288 + contract fees
2011: contract fees
2012: contract fees
2013: contract fees
2014: $288 + contract fees

Upgrading:
2010: $288 + contract fees
2011: contract fees
2012: contract fees + $288 - $650 => extra $362 in your pocket + contract fees
2013: contract fees
2014: $288 + contract fees

I fail to see how my scenario is not more economical than your scenario. Remember that the poster I responded to wants to keep their phone for over 4 years.
 
T

teh_pwn

"Saturated fat causes heart disease as much as Brawndo is what plants crave."
Nope. Don't have a tablet. I'm going to get a Broadwell based hybrid...with another die shrink it wouldn't make sense to have a dedicated tablet versus a hybrid because the hybrids will be barely larger than present day tablets. I'll probably keep that for 4-5 years.

Phone, every 2 years.

Desktop PCs, about every 1-2 years. I like controlling my ecosystem.
 
T

TwIsTeD

Member
I'm stuck in the new iPhone every 12 months game, but thanks to crafty tactics I dump the previous Gen for decent enough money...Tablets another story, I'm good for a few more years with my 3rd Gen iPad

hate on Apple all you want but their crap ages pretty well
 
T

tino

Banned
teh_pwn said:
Nope. Don't have a tablet. I'm going to get a Broadwell based hybrid...with another die shrink it wouldn't make sense to have a dedicated tablet versus a hybrid because the hybrids will be barely larger than present day tablets. I'll probably keep that for 4-5 years.

Phone, every 2 years.

Desktop PCs, about every 1-2 years. I like controlling my ecosystem.
Click to expand...

I am still on my original gen 1 Atom PC. I can't think of any reason to upgrade the desktop if I like XP.

Laptops and tabelt/smartphones have completely replaced desktop for me.
 
T

teh_pwn

"Saturated fat causes heart disease as much as Brawndo is what plants crave."
tino said:
I am still on my original gen 1 Atom PC. I can't think of any reason to upgrade the desktop if I like XP.

Laptops and tabelt/smartphones have completely replaced desktop for me.
Click to expand...

I use PCs as gaming PCs, software development, office stuff, remote desktop, HTPCs. Tablets will never do these things well or at all.

Windows XP? That's like using Windows 98 at this point.
 
G

Gamecocks625

Member
bro1 said:
I have an iPhone 4s and an iPad 3. I've always been one to updgrade every year and sell my old gear. I did this to ensure that I wasn't losing money by waiting too long to sell. Now though, I'm not sure I can be bothered to keep up with nearly annual upgrades. I'm not seeing a need for greater compute power in my devices nor do I see my current use of them increasing with greater compute power.

Still, I don't want to lose money by not selling early enough. New iPads will be out this fall and while I don't need the new model, I think I would be dumb to not sell and buy a new one.
Click to expand...

I know that feel. Sold my iPad mini and I'm getting the 5th gen iPad this fall. Then calling it quits on the annual upgrade for the next couple years.
 
T

therapist

Member
I dont see the point.

Your cpu will be a bit better , but what is actually going to use it to its full potential?
Arent apps built with the lowest common denominator in mind?

I know two people who buy the newest galaxy every time it releases...and then do the same shit with it they were doing on their old phone...

I dont see the point personally , and i am a huge tech person , i buy consoles on launch etc.

The jump from the ipad 2 to 3 was a nice one(Screen res was non shitty in 3) , but like from ipad 1 to 2? No point imo.

To each his own however
 
D

Daingurse

Member
bro1 said:
You need to go to the 5s or 6 then. The overall speed and network will be an awesome upgrade. Shame that you won't get much for the 3gs though.
Click to expand...

I just don't use my phone enough to justify an upgrade really. I wish I had a higher resolution screen sometimes, but meh lol. 3GS gets the job done for me.
 
solomon

solomon

Member
Naw I only use my phone to text and make calls (Have a S1 :D ) as for my nexus 7 mostly got it for ebooks and browsing. I honestly don't play much games on them other than emulating.
 
R

ReturnOfTheRAT

Member
Corporate cellphone gets upgraded every 2 years. Wen't from a Blackberry to a Droid X to a Droid Razr. We (IT) only support iPhone and Android so you get your choice of phone.

I'm still on an iPad one for business purpose. Don't do anything exceptional with it so no reason to request or need an upgrade. It's slow as shit, I can admit that.

I have a Nexus 7 for personal, recreational use, day in and day out. I wanted a 10 last years, just couldn't justify the cost at the time. But I can see myself upgrading to whatever new revision of the 7 or 10 that is announced this month or later.
 
S

SpyGuy239

Member
OP this sounds like a case of WANT over NEED. Think about that.

It's hard to control, I'm trying myself with various tech/collectables but when you succeed, you save tons of cash!
 
K

kevm3

Member
Still using an Iphone 3. I have no intentions of upgrading. Now tablet is a different story. Galaxy Note 8... if they improve the screen to 1080p, I'll consider upgrading.
 
F

FoxhoundNL

Member
iPad 1 and 4S here.

I'm upgrading my iPad whenever it goes dead or if I ever feel like getting a new toy.
As for the 4S, I've had it for almost 2 years now, I'm not getting a new phone, but rather replace the battery myself and go for a cheaper phone sub. Phone still works like a charm other then the obvious decrease in battery life after two years of (almost) daily charging.
 
T

TxdoHawk

Member
It all depends on your priorities. I use my cell phone heavily, so yes, I see massive appeal in yearly upgrades.

Meanwhile, I don't have cable TV, I just finally upgraded my router from an old WRT54G, and I survived nearly ten years (with some minor upgrades here and there) from my previous desktop PC to my current one.

Bottom-line: I don't see any problem in spending your money on things you actually get mileage out of. The people I question are the people who spend $80 a month on a cable TV subscription they never watch, or upgrade their gaming PC every 6 months but never play anything on it.
 
S

snacknuts

we all knew her
I'm guilty of this with my phone, although I buy gently used devices off contract from people on CL and sell the previous device for not much less, so I don't lose much and I get to play around with new hardware and software. Right now I have a Galaxy S3 that I bought basically brand new for $300 in November, two weeks after my stepmom paid the same price on-contract from AT&T. I'm waiting to see what the Moto X officially offers before I decide what to do next. I'll either get one of those in a few months, or I'll buy a used GS4 if the X is a disappointment.

I got my first tablet in January (refurbed iPad 3) and have no intention of upgrading it anytime soon. If anything, I will probably just sell it and not replace it. I don't know why people like these things so much.
 
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