Still holding on to your old tech? You’re not alone

According to a 2023 report, 31% of Americans own a phone that’s at least three years old, with some still using flip phone! NBC’s Joe Fryer explores the surprising reasons why some people still use – and love – their old phones.

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#technology #phones #flipphone

[theoblongbox]

I'm kind of glad to hear it. I feel like it should not be the norm to switch phones every year. The tech should be reliable and last for years.

[javianjohnson]

So happy to see that others are joining me in not upgrading for 2+ years. Really is no need to upgrade your phone every 12 months over such small upgrades

[AhmedSalem-wvvh]

The shift from a 20% to a 31% ownership rate of at least 3-year-old phones doesn't necessarily imply a widespread reliance on outdated phones. It signifies a notable change in consumer behavior, reflecting a departure from the trend of annual smartphone upgrades. This shift is not rooted in a preference for archaic devices; instead, it underscores the maturity of the smartphone market. Many individuals find that the smartphones purchased three years ago continue to meet their needs effectively, contributing to a more sustainable and economically prudent approach to technology consumption.

[anaymakan]

I’m glad there are people realising what the damage these phones are doing to society.

[melloweasel]

We’ve reached a point in tech where the cost of new devices continues to increase, while the capabilities of said new devices compared to old devices remain nearly the same. Sure, there may be a few new features here and there such as better camera quality, more capable chips, etc., but for many consumers those features just aren’t worth the cost of an upgrade.

[dontknownothing]

The tendency to replace the phone every two years is mostly related only to the U.S. I’m Italian and I can confirm that here in Europe it is unusual to replace the phone before 4/5 years, especially if it is an iPhone that has been fully paid

[roachtoasties]

The old phones don't get updates anymore. As far as old 2G and 3G phones, come April, the T-Mobile network will no longer support them. No matter how good operating condition the phone may be, it won't be able to do much other than be a doorstop.

[LazrCat]

The way I see it, it just makes more sense to keep using the same phone for as long as it'll still work for what you want it to do. It doesn't make sense to upgrade unless your older phone just can't do what you want it to do anymore. I'm still using my Samsung Galaxy S9 that I got in late 2018.

[icecreamhero]

If it ain't broke don't replace it.

[wastelandwanderer]

I realized that smartphones do actually make our lives way more convenient because of how many tools we use. Clock for alarms & timers, Email, internet browsing, GPS, calendar, calculator, video calls etc. There are some things that are for more entertainment purposes like Spotify and YouTube but the thing that is turning our society in to zombies is social media. I guess YT is considered social media but other apps like Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter are very harmful for the mind.

[shareofmoney]

I think simplifying life is what it is all about. Social media and the constant noise can weigh you down. It is important for us to detox from social media and all that comes with the constant attention cycle.

[gianniclaud]

The device isn't the problem. Your relationship to it is.

[coreysuffield]

pro-tip; having a smart phone does not mean you 'have' to install all those social media apps. having a new phone and paying more for at least mid range, better capabilities like a better camera/software is definitely worth, tap and pay, etc.

[DoctorVision]

My first 3 phones (out of a total of 4 overall) I kept for around 2-3 years, but my current phone I've used for the past five years. It just demonstrates that a flagship phone really can last if you're willing to hold on to it. Even the battery hasn't deteriorated that badly to a state where it is unusable, so I'll happily carry on. I probably will upgrade this year, however it has rarely given me any issues and it is the first smartphone I've managed not to crack the screen on so upgrading hasn't been a serious consideration for me so far. All being well, I do intend to keep future phones for a minimum of five years if I manage to look after it in the same way I have this one. Upgrading every year/two years is just wasteful in my opinion. Each to their own obviously, but it's just my nature to keep things in use as long as practically possible.

[demianpelos]

Social media depresses you with all the fake influencers lying about their life. Social media was supposed to connect us instead make us miserable

[pacthesir]

I still have an ORIGINAL iPhone from 2007! It still works... and yes it has the CRT TV YouTube icon

[Bassistking]

It's come to a point where even old phones and computers can really do a lot, and get an absurdly good deal while investing in it. For example you buy a 10 year old Mac for a little kid and you can get it cheap. Besides gaming, it'll still do the job for most modern things.

[TheFlareMind]

My mum had a phone from 2005 until October 2023! Similar to Peter said in the video, her view was why upgrade when just works and doesn't want to be connected all the time.

She has upgraded to a Samsung Galaxy S7 as family can reach out to her over WhatsApp which wasn't easily possible before.
She doesn't use YouTube or Social Media apps like FB, Insta etc. Only for Calls, Texts.

[BunnyMan-ecxg]

My samsung s10e is over 5 years old and works fine. It was on my dashboard when I was in a near death head on collision. It didn't even have a scratch on it. It did have lots of broken windshield particles all over.

[jgboys]

This gentleman is correct. I had thought I lost my iPhone one day and when I first discovered that it was missing, I panicked. I’m sure 99.9% of people would have done the same thing but as the day went on, I felt liberated and free for a few hours.