How often does Apple bring out a new phone?

[Alpo]

Online stories.

 

In one this guy has just signed up with a financial consultant, and he said that he was thinking about buying one of those new iPhones, because he needs a phone with internet.

 

And the banker asked for one of the client gift boxes, and his assistant brings the box and it's an iPhone. The way the story reads to me, they bought several of these as client gifts.

 

Now if the client gift was a pocket knife, or an analog wrist watch, or a pair of hiking boots - you could buy a dozen of those and stick them in the closet and give them away over the next 5 or 10 years and it'll be fine because pocket knives and hiking boots and analog wrist watches don't change.

 

But a smartphone?

 

Different story. Girl is hired by the company, and they're going to give her a number to put in her phone and she said she didn't have a phone so they call down to the main office and tell them to send a phone over. One of the bennies of employment, like a company car. They give you a phone. So for that to work they must have several smartphones stuck in the drawer somewhere.

 

But again, this seems like it would only work if the phone technology doesn't update every other week. Which it seems to.

 

I realize that it is fiction, and therefore they can do whatever the hell they want to. But it caused me to wonder.

 

So if I wished to have a dozen or so smart phones in a drawer, to hand out to new employees, how often would they no longer be current?

 

I remember an episode of NCIS where Gibbs got mad and pounded on his phone, and then tossed it to McGee and told him to reboot it. And walked off. McGee looked over at Tony and said, "what does he mean 'reboot it'?"

 

And Tony opened up a filing cabinet drawer and took out a new phone. But that was a flip phone. It wouldn't change for years. Smartphones are different.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

They may not given an employee the newest. My iPhone 7 still works and 11 and the one I’m using, a 14.

 

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

I have a 13 Pro introduced in 2021. My son got a 16 and gave me this one. Love it!

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

Simple answer to the original question: they bring out a new model every year.
 

What Apple does better than the others is they support their phones for a long time, per MMH’s model 7 example. Mine is a 13. Current phone is a 17. 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

2 hours ago, Alpo said:

I remember an episode of NCIS where Gibbs got mad and pounded on his phone, and then tossed it to McGee and told him to reboot it. And walked off. McGee looked over at Tony and said, "what does he mean 'reboot it'?"

 

And Tony opened up a filing cabinet drawer and took out a new phone. But that was a flip phone. It wouldn't change for years. Smartphones are different.

That was a Palm Pilot. Tony and Kate convinced Gibbs that he needed one. Eventually he went as far as a flip phone and stopped there. As have I.

[Wild Eagle]

To answer your question, about once every year.  You seem to be wanting to know how long one of the old phones will still work.  That mostly depends on if the network has had any major changes that would not allow phones to work on it.  As an example, I had an iPhone 4 that I got new whenever it came out (I think around 2012) I used it until 2/22/22 when Apple switched to the new 5G network.  The iPhone 4 was not compatible with the 5G network, so Apple changed out my iPhone 4 for an iPhone 10 at no charge to me (they were supposed to give me an iPhone 8 but had run out) I'm still using the iPhone 10 even though the new model iPhone is the 17.  I expect that my iPhone 10 will continue working until Apple upgrades their network to 6G.

[Blackwater 53393]

My current iPhone is on its second Otter cover and ready for a third.  It’s four years old and I replaced the previous one, (just like it except the new one is 5G) because it got dropped and slammed in a car door!

 

I don’t change phones just ‘cause there’s something new!

[watab kid]

5 hours ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

Simple answer to the original question: they bring out a new model every year.
 

What Apple does better than the others is they support their phones for a long time, per MMH’s model 7 example. Mine is a 13. Current phone is a 17. 

,my 6s is still working fine with some recent updates , i dont change just because there is a new i=one either , this works fine till it doesnt , i just need a phone - the rest is gloss , oh - i dont really need a phone - other people need me to have a phone , id be fine if the dang thing was still attached to the wall with cords 

Edited October 21 by watab kid

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

11 hours ago, Wild Eagle said:

To answer your question, about once every year.  You seem to be wanting to know how long one of the old phones will still work.  That mostly depends on if the network has had any major changes that would not allow phones to work on it.  As an example, I had an iPhone 4 that I got new whenever it came out (I think around 2012) I used it until 2/22/22 when Apple switched to the new 5G network.  The iPhone 4 was not compatible with the 5G network, so Apple changed out my iPhone 4 for an iPhone 10 at no charge to me (they were supposed to give me an iPhone 8 but had run out) I'm still using the iPhone 10 even though the new model iPhone is the 17.  I expect that my iPhone 10 will continue working until Apple upgrades their network to 6G.

Apple doesn’t upgrade the network, the carriers do - Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T etc. They just make phones to run on a network. 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

7 hours ago, watab kid said:

 oh - i dont really need a phone - other people need me to have a phone , id be fine if the dang thing was still attached to the wall with cords 

I'm pretty much the same way. And most of the time when I need to make a call, I do so on my landline. When people need my phone number, I give them my landline. I tell them that it's a landline so don't try texting me or whatever. My cell is a flip phone, because I only use it for a phone. There isn't anything I need it to do besides that. If I want on the interweb, I use my desktop.

There's only about two people who might call me on it, my wife and daughter. My wife's usually at home with me, but I do carry it when I'm out and about. My daughter will always call my wife first, the landline second, and my cell out of desperation. When I'm at home, my cell sits on my dresser, I see no need to have it attached to me like an appendage like so many I see.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

I've hated Cell Phones since their inception as hand held devices.  For years I refused to have one.  Then, because of some medical problems, my sweetheart requested I carry one.  I just wanted one that made and received calls.  Then I needed "notes" as my short term memory got fried.  Updated from my flip phone to an iPhone just 'cause.  I now have an iPhone 15+ and see absolutely no reason to "upgrade" just to have the "latest and greatest."  It annoys me to no end to see near everyone walking around with a cell phone in their hand as if they can't live without the darn thing.  Stupid.  Became even more annoying when I noticed adults emulating their kids and carrying their cell around like an added appendage.  Also Stupid.  I still hate cell phones even though required to have one.  Balderdash.

[Rye Miles #13621]

I still work part time and my phone is a must. I call, text and use the IPhone map. Other than that I like the safety of having it with me for emergencies. 

[watab kid]

12 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

I'm pretty much the same way. And most of the time when I need to make a call, I do so on my landline. When people need my phone number, I give them my landline. I tell them that it's a landline so don't try texting me or whatever. My cell is a flip phone, because I only use it for a phone. There isn't anything I need it to do besides that. If I want on the interweb, I use my desktop.

There's only about two people who might call me on it, my wife and daughter. My wife's usually at home with me, but I do carry it when I'm out and about. My daughter will always call my wife first, the landline second, and my cell out of desperation. When I'm at home, my cell sits on my dresser, I see no need to have it attached to me like an appendage like so many I see.

i had a flip phone that i defended for years - i hated texts , fat fingers small screens and tiny letters and numbers just made me mad - i finally broke down and got the I-phone when they would not support or service my flip phone anymore 

 

im happy i did and i like it now that i can run most of it , i realize it has more technology than what put us on the moon but im just not that tech savy nor interested in space flight at my age , 

 

i think my wife maintained her business landline in our house [im not certain] but our home landline has been gone for decades , i do know that 90% OF THE CALLS I GET ARE FROM MY WIFE , i do get a few ytexts and calls these days but mostly spam or adds - thats annoying 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, watab kid said:

i had a flip phone that i defended for years - i hated texts , fat fingers small screens and tiny letters and numbers just made me mad - i finally broke down and got the I-phone when they would not support or service my flip phone anymore 

 

im happy i did and i like it now that i can run most of it , i realize it has more technology than what put us on the moon but im just not that tech savy nor interested in space flight at my age , 

I won't say that the tech isn't impressive and useful, I just don't need it. I don't text, don't really have anybody I need to text. I don't see any reason to do much else on one, I'm pretty sure that there's nothing going on in the world that I need to know about RIGHT NOW. It can wait until I get home to my desktop. This place is as much social media as I participate in, it can wait too. As can my email. And I DON'T play games. So for me, a flip phone is all I need. 

The only things I see a need for would be the camera in case of a vehicle accident, and to call 911 if I ever need to.

[watab kid]

this and a couple other sites are the extent of my social media as well , but , i do use my phone for work , i run the counter at our gun club a couple days a week , we track those that come and go at our range which is remote from the clubhouse which is a quarter mile away , i get constant texts of comings and goings of members entry and departure as well as the paid users i send down theres departures , this is a requirement of our CUP [conditional use permit] this time of year we have a lot of folks coming and going with deer hunting coming up in a couple weeks , 

 

i do have a few friends i communicate with every day and some that i touch base with periodically , ive not objected to those , im rather comforted by them as we live far apart , then there is family .....loosing a lot of the older ones these days - im not far behind , so its good to be able to touch base occasionally , 

 

i do appreciate the camera and 911 aspect [ive only needed that a couple times in life and only one in recent times], it was needed ,  

 

i wont say im a slave to my phone - im not , ive set it to not ring unless you are in my contacts list - others can leave a message and ill respond accordingly , but you have to leave a message or it gets deleted , if its worth calling its worth a brief message 

[Texas Maverick]

Just about the time you get your current one paid for they come out with new and better iphone that you just have to have.

 

TM

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

If the dont have a new iphone number they will have an cheaper version of the current latest and greatest, such as a smaller phone.

 

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

I have to admit that the only reason I consider upgrading my iPhone is for the improvements in the camera. The iPhone 13 I have takes better, higher resolution images than the Nikon SLR I bought several years back. And the video quality is better than the brick I used to carry for such things. I can carry it in my pocket instead of slung around my neck. I take a lot of photos, so the convenience is attractive to me. 

[John Kloehr]

A new one does come out every year, fortunately they do last a few years. I replace mine when battery life gets too short to generally make it  through a day.

 

My current phone is a 12, and I was thinking about an upgrade as I am more than eligible for a "free" one (another 2 year commitment to Verizon, but I'm not planning to switch  providers or stop having an iPhone. Anyway was thinking about it but the new ones have AI stuff and I'm not ready to make that jump, at least not until some time goes by for it to settle out. Battery does get low during the day and I have had to add some charge at times when I have used it a lot... Its days are numbered and I don't think battery replacement is a great value compared to the offered plans.

 

I do usually get double the memory each time I get a new one, as I get close to or have to trim out things after some time. I also do not necessarily get the latest and greatest phone, I like to stay in the  "free"(ish) menu.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

22 minutes ago, John Kloehr said:

I don't think battery replacement is a great value compared to the offered plans.

I don't think that you CAN replace the battery on the newer ones.

[John Kloehr]

37 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

I don't think that you CAN replace the battery on the newer ones.

Not as quick as a TV remote. Depends on how one defines "can." Here is the procedure for my 12:

 

 

As I am now at three or maybe five years and running low on memory, plus my Otter case will need replacement at some point... And a newer phone will basically be "free" (I know, built into the plan price). I'll just turn the old phone in to be reconditioned and sold to someone else.

Edited October 22 by John Kloehr
Otto

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, John Kloehr said:

Not as quick as a TV remote. Depends on how one defines "can." Here is the procedure for my 12:

 

 

As I am now at three or maybe five years and running low on memory, plus my Otter case will need replacement at some point... And a newer phone will basically be "free" (I know, built into the plan price). I'll just turn the old phone in to be reconditioned and sold to someone else.

I'll rephrase. They're not designed to be replaced. With older phones, you could, like your remote, pop the back off, remove the old battery, and insert a new one. 

[Matthew Duncan]

My first cell phone (Apple) I had for 8 +- years.  When it started to act wonky I bought another Apple, that was 5 years or more ago.