>

I keep my devices 4-5 years, so for me it's more about when they wear out I get a new one. I couldn't really care less about the new features, my main concern is battery life and longevity when I shop for a new device.
This is a friendly reminder to read our rules.
Remember, /r/Showerthoughts is for showerthoughts, not "thoughts had in the shower!"
(For an explanation of what a "showerthought" is, please read this page.)
Rule-breaking posts may result in bans. >

I keep my phones until they don't work anymore. About every three years. >

Same here. I go for flagship android devices because I emulate a ton of games on the go, but I do everything I can to stretch out their lifespan. I usually end up replacing the nutters once or twice, replacing the screen once or twice, and I even replaced the charging port on one.
Edit: I gave my phone testes as well as a new battery >


nutters 

? >

The fleshlight attachment for the back of the phone. >

Obviously uncultured swine! Who doesn't have one on their phone? >

You would be amazed at how many people haven't spent 1000 on phones in the last ten years and maybe even more amazed at how many people have never bought the newer phones at all >

Yeah this showerthought equates to “you’d be amazed at how car manufacturers convinced everyone to buy a brand new car every 2 years.” >

I buy a 20 year old car every 5 years lol. >

They have not found a way to do that to me.  I buy $200 phones every 5-6 years. >

Correct! They've found a way to do that to suckers. Don't be a sucker. >

Most of the phone companies know we aren't all suckers and that's why they have dozens of mid tier phones in their line ups as well. >

Not Apple. Apple wants all their users to be suckers. >

Even Apple have phones for 700aud. They aren't quite as low as other mid range phones but it's not a massive jump in price if you want to be part of their ecosystem >

Well, maybe this applies to the iPhone and iPhone wannabe companies, but there's a whole other world of $200 phones and $20/month plans which is way more affordable. >

This is the way. Also: Learn how to repair your phone and source good parts for cheap and you've got nothing to worry about. Heaps of sources online.
Having the latest and greatest is overrated. >

Had my LG G20 for years but finally had to ditch it last year because it was outside of security compliance. Upgraded to a Note 10+ that I found for cheap and since Samsung's Knox follows all compliance regulations mandated by my work, I'll probably run this phone into the ground. >

Phone companies, like many other companies, have found a way of presenting you with the option of buying the same product with slight modifications every two years.
Many of us are content using phones, cars, computers, fridges, washing machines and a host of other consumer goods for many years without changing. >

If I found people dumb enough to pay $1000 for the same product every two years, I'd sell it to them as well.
I prefer doing three to four years with a $400 phone though. >

Used to work at a large phone carrier. The people most in a hurry to get the new upgrade usually struggled to pay their bill. 
The biggest scam was the manufacturers sealing the battery inside so it's virtually disposable and marketing it as being "water resistant". I had an LG G4 for about 6 years before it stopped working. Best phone I ever had. >

I would MUCH rather have improved water resistance than a replaceable battery.
Phones I’ve lost to water damage: 2
Phones which have outlived their battery: 0 >

How many of the phones you lost to water damage were "water resistant?" >

None. >

That’s why I always get a hand me down phone from whatever relative is buying phones most frequently. People love to waste money on phones. >

Only if you're stupid enough to keep buying a new phone every two years. >

$1200 phone every time I break the last one, which I’m averaging like 5 years. >

*sell morons basically the same product with slight modifications for $1k every two years. 
I'll get a new phone when it starts running too slow for my liking, which is about every 4-5 years >

It’s not phone companies.  Apple, google, and Samsung seem to be the biggest players in hardware and thee as y aren’t really phone companies like AT&T and Verizon. >

My phone is like 8 years old at this point, still does most of the same shit as the newer ones