How Long Do Owners Say iPhones Usually Last?
How Long Do Owners Say iPhones Usually Last?
https://www.bgr.com/2191634/how-long-iphones-last-lifespan/
Publish Date: 2026-06-14 23:22:00
Source Domain: www.bgr.com
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In the early days of the smartphone era, the iPhone upgrade cycle was somewhat predictable. Every two years, iPhone owners would trade in their old device and purchase a new model, often at a subsidized price through their wireless carrier. It feels like ancient history now, but there was a time when iPhone upgrades were routinely available for free, provided users signed up for a 2-year mobile carrier contract.
At the time, the two-year upgrade cadence made perfect sense. Apple was releasing new hardware improvements and software features at a furious pace. Consequently, users who wanted to take advantage of Apple’s latest and greatest technologies had no choice but to upgrade. As a prime example, users who were interested in using Touch ID or Face ID had to upgrade to the iPhone 5s or iPhone X, respectively. Additionally, there was a time when older iPhone models noticeably got sluggish after a few years. Taken together, iPhone owners in the 2007-2012 era typically held onto their devices for about 2-3 years. Over the last decade, though, the upgrade dynamic has changed considerably.
iPhone users are holding onto their devices for longer than ever
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