A smartphone needs replacement over time, but these days it lasts much longer. So there’s really no reason to buy a new iPhone or Android device every year anymore.
There was a time when it seemed logical to buy a new Android or iPhone every year. Technological advances were happening at lightning speed: bigger screens, faster chips, better cameras. Each new smartphone brought hefty improvements.
But today, things are different. What was once a groundbreaking innovation now feels less and less impressive. Annual upgrades are losing their appeal, and there are some good reasons for that.
iPhone and Android bring small improvements that you barely notice
Differences between generations of smartphones used to be noticeable. Today, annual upgrades are often minimal. The latest flagship models closely resemble their predecessors, with only minor tweaks in design and performance.
Take, for example, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Except for a slightly more angular design, it hardly differs from the S23 Ultra. Foldable smartphones, once revolutionary, also receive only minor updates. The Z Fold 6 seems almost identical to the Z Fold 5 and Z Fold 4, except for a slightly wider cover screen.
(Image: Mark Hofman / WANT)
In terms of performance, modern smartphones are already so fast that a new chip makes little difference in daily use. Only in big games and benchmarks might you notice an improvement. For the average user, this means that a new iPhone or Android is rarely really needed.
Smartphone prices have risen excessively
Years ago, a flagship smartphone cost around €600. For example, the Nexus 6P was available for €499, and even the Galaxy S6 Edge started at €700. But these days, those prices are a thing of the past.
A high-end smartphone such as the Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 16 Pro Max quickly costs €1,200 or more. For a foldable phone, the price even rises above €1,500. This price tag is becoming increasingly difficult to justify, especially since the improvements from generation to generation are minimal.
How much does the most expensive iPhone cost?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max with 1 terabyte of storage costs $1,979, mainly due to its expensive storage capacity, similar to MacBooks. For professionals in video and photography, extra storage can be useful, but for most people, an external SSD or cloud storage is a more economical alternative.
Many flagship models from two or three years ago continue to perform excellently and still take great pictures. Instead of buying a completely new iPhone or Android, it is often more economical to just have the battery replaced, for example.
Longer software support extends lifespan
Whereas smartphones used to stop receiving updates after two or three years, things are different today. Android and iPhone now promise seven years of software updates for their latest devices. That means a device from 2024 will still receive support in 2031.
This longer support eliminates the need to upgrade regularly to access new software features. This explains why more and more users are keeping their smartphones longer.
(Image: apple)
Manufacturers focus on gimmicks instead of innovation
Smartphone manufacturers seem to be focusing less and less on real innovations. Instead, the focus is on small improvements and AI features that have little practical impact.
In the field of cameras, for example, mainly the number of megapixels is increased, while the sensor size hardly changes. This makes photos look more impressive on paper, but hardly any better in practice. Batteries also remain largely the same, while innovative technologies such as graphene batteries could have a much greater impact.
Instead of major hardware improvements, smartphones now receive mostly software optimizations that make little difference. This contributes to the diminished appeal of annual upgrades.
Waiting longer for a new iPhone or Android pays off
As smartphones continue to last longer and longer and software support has improved significantly, an annual upgrade is no longer worth it for most people. Instead of spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars every year on a new model, it makes more sense to keep a device for three to four years and upgrade only when the improvements are really noticeable.
Buying a new smartphone less often not only keeps the wallet better stocked, but also contributes to less electronic waste. At a time when smartphones are becoming less and less impressive, keeping a well-functioning device may be the best choice.
