Record Number of Consumers Waiting to Upgrade Their Cell Phones

guest · Apr 23, 2019

Record Number of Consumers Waiting to Upgrade Their Cell Phones
April 23, 2019
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...g-on-to-older-mobile-phones-in-record-numbers

Wireless customers are hanging on to their old phones longer than ever.
That’s the message from Verizon Communications Inc., which said its upgrade rate fell to a record low last quarter -- a harbinger of tough times ahead for the iPhone and other devices.

“Incremental changes from one model the the next, hasn’t been that great, and it hasn’t been enough of an incentive,” Verizon Chief Financial Officer Matt Ellis said in an interview Tuesday after the company reported fewer-than-expected new customers for the first quarter. He expects replacement rates to be down for the year.

The trend started nearly five years ago, when carriers pinched by costly promotions stopped offering deeply discounted phones in exchange for two-year service plans. Instead, they marketed installment payment plans for new phones priced at up to $1,000.
“Our first data point from Verizon is not a positive sign for Apple,” said Walt Piecyk, an analyst with BTIG LLC. “It’s been more than four years since the iPhone 6 ‘super cycle,’ and the replacement cycle continues to lengthen.”
Click to expand...

guest · Aug 17, 2019

Buying a new phone every year is actually kind of crazy
The phone that was great last August is probably still great this August
August 17, 2019
https://www.androidcentral.com/buying-new-phone-every-year-kind-crazy

The temptation to pick one of them up is pretty strong, especially when we grab our current phone and see how it no longer has that new car smell.
Here's a crazy idea, though — those features that we want will still be there next year and that phone we already have probably still does all the things that made us want it in the first place.

New phones are fun and can be worth it. But your phone probably still works just fine
This might be an unpopular opinion on a smartphone enthusiast site, and I can imagine the people who work tirelessly to show off these new phones feel very differently, but you probably don't need to buy a new phone every year.
I'm not trying to claim that these improvements aren't worth having. I am saying that they will still be there when the phone we spent a lot of money on last year is so old we no longer appreciate it.

All the things I liked about it when it was new are still things worth liking and while a new feature or two is cool, they need to be cool enough to justify the costs of upgrading. In most cases, I don't see that reason from phone manufacturers now.
Click to expand...

trott3r · Aug 18, 2019

Surely the only reason nowadays to upgrade your phone is battery life is poor (no removable batteries) Had to charge my BB priv twice a day.
Along with it just being slow as it gets bogged down easily which unfortunately is deliberate from some phone manufacturers/Google/Apple with updates meant to slow your phone down.

Otherwise i would be happy with my old phone

guest · Aug 22, 2019

High prices and 5G extend the U.S. smartphone replacement cycle to 33 months
August 22, 2019
https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/22/...-s-smartphone-replacement-cycle-to-33-months/

If smartphone sales have indeed plateaued over the past year or so, the reason is becoming increasingly clear: More U.S. users are hanging onto their devices for nearly three full years rather than upgrading on an annual or biannual basis.
That’s the key takeaway from a new Strategy Analytics survey today, which appears to confirm anecdotal reports from Apple and other smartphone vendors of slowing upgrades — an issue attributed in part to rising prices and the dawn of the 5G era.

According to the research firm’s SVP David Kerr, consumers believe that there’s been too little major innovation between prior flagship device generations, reducing the need to upgrade more frequently.
Apart from affordable pricing, the firm suggests that phone makers face a “wow features” challenge — coming up with more than marginal innovations that will win over a third of U.S. customers, including premium customers.
Click to expand...

Log in or Sign up

Record Number of Consumers Waiting to Upgrade Their Cell Phones

guest Guest

guest Guest

trott3r Registered Member

guest Guest

Log in or Sign up

Record Number of Consumers Waiting to Upgrade Their Cell Phones

guest Guest

guest Guest

trott3r Registered Member

guest Guest

Useful Searches