When Should You Upgrade to a New iPhone?

It's iPhone season once again. Should you upgrade to the latest and greatest? In this short video, I provide a practical roadmap to answer that question.

[RichardShelton]

When your iPhone can no longer handle new iOS updates, then it's time.

[luvvacupa]

Dear Rich I am a great fan of your content. Your video presentation is impeccable and the content thoughtful and compelling. I think that your pace and instructions are very clear which is not always the case in this medium. You are providing a wonderful service not only to the senior public but also to a wider more diversified audience. Keep up the sterling work. All the very best.

[douglawson]

You voice is very clear and easy to listen to. Thank you!

[VictoriaReginaAnn]

I have the iPhone 11. I’ll purchase the 16 pro max for the camera. It’s time! Love your videos, I’m 92 so I need all the help I can get!

[djschultz]

My wife and I have the iPhone 12 and will upgrade after the first of the year to a 15 or 16 because of the SOS feature. We are in our late 60’s and go out in the back country of Idaho and for safety reasons I think it will save us money from getting a subscription SOS device. Apple says for at least 2 years the SOS feature is free and then we will see what happens when they decide to charge for this service. Great videos Rich. Glad I found you.

[jb_buri]

My go to channel for senior tips. I have an iPhone 6 in the drawer, not supported anymore, shame... Now my daily runner is a basic 128gb iPhone 13. Cracking phone too.
Love the way you guys across the pond say 'route' - rowt. Here it is root....

[HALWG]

It's'm 73 years old. I still work and use my phone daily in doing my job. But I have an iPhone 13 and it still does everything I need and runs all of the apps I use daily. For that reason I have no need to upgrade and will probably hold on to this phone for 2 more years. I have grandkids, as well, but the camera in this phone takes great pictures. Battery life is at 91% and I charge once a day.

[joanmb]

I hate phones like bricks size. That’s why I’ll keep as long as possible my 13 mini which fits all my needs and pockets too😂

[baynesstreetblues]

Counter to the general reasoning about upgrading our tech devices, my wife and I bought recycled IPhone 8s three years ago and thought that they were ‘state of the art’. 😂 I am a little envious though of the quality of the photos you can take with the latest IPhone 15, or whatever they are up to now.

My MAC and IPad were purchased in 2017 and are still going strong!

[joehealey]

I keep my iPhone 3 or 4 years between upgrading and my upgrade is mostly based on battery capacity and performance.

[houseoflabs]

Now that I'm retired, I upgrade about every five years. I am going from a iPhone 11 to a 15 Maxpro. I have not had the pro version in the past bc I could not justify the cost just for the camera features when I have a DSLR. We have a cruise planned for Alaska and bought the new one anticipating not having to tote around my big camera on shore excursions. I'll use it for taking pictures of the coastline and Glacier Bay and am debating whether I take it at all. Probably won't upgrade from the 15 for many years as this thing cost almost as much as my MacBook Air!

[mxh]

I’m 77. I upgraded from 7+ to 15PM a couple of months ago. For exactly the reason you mentioned. Dead battery/better camera. Can’t say I notice much difference. How many ways can you phone or text someone after all.

[bobcochran]

Apple on its web site has a nice ability to compare iPhone models (and iPad as well). You select the models you want to compare then it lists the capabilities of each side by side. You can select the model you have and the one you think you might want and go down the list and ask yourself what the differences might mean to you (if any).

[Tailsnpaws]

Good advice Rich. You saved me a bundle. Thank you.

[CDanielChase]

As an IT professional, my rule from a security perspective is when Apple stops supporting my phone in the current version of iOS… it’s time to upgrade. I, like @readthebible88, am currently using an iPhone SE 2 (2020) which is still supported for the upcoming iOS 18 release. So, I’m most likely going to wait for the SE 4, expected in spring 2025.

Note, when Apple releases any update to iOS, whether a small point release like the current 17.6.1 or the upcoming 18, you should update iOS on your phone. As long as your phone supports the latest software version, no need to upgrade to a new iPhone.

[peterbrook]

I usually upgrade about every three years, that way you get a pretty good trade-in value. I currently have 13 and am planning to trade up to comparable 16 - I will get $250 on trade paying a total of $649, not bad.

[mrpmj]

Now. I have the 15pro max for a year now and I love it.

I tried a demo of the Apple Vision Pro and wow!
I'm gonna start filming on my iPhone 15 Pro Max in spatial 3D, and taking photos in panoramic, so that I can replay these moments when I get the Apple Vision Pro in the future.

$3.5k Apple Vision Pro (includes a 3D camera, many many virtual screens up to 100feet, builtin spatial audio speakers, 8k screen) is actually cheaper than my $17k 150 in Home Theater (7.4.4 setup, costs breakdown is below):

[janetjohnston]

Get new model when Apple says current model will no longer get upgrades. That can take 5-7 years.

[leegrant]

One other thing. I held on to my first iPhone for six years at some point in time they stopped doing iOS updates for it. Or I should say they had updates but only for late model phone specifically. So that would be another reason to upgrade.

[robertwilson]

Thanks Rich. I am pre- senior and enjoyed your video. Pace and clarity of speech was brilliant. 😊