Being afflicted with tech envy, one can find themselves easily convinced upgrades are necessary with every model release. While some people absolutely need new tech for their work, most of us can do without it. Here's how you can survive the vicious cycle of upgrades without unnecessarily breaking the bank...
Unlike bigger tech items like laptops and desktop computers, smaller devices like smartphones and tablets get updated frequently, at least once a year. There is a real benefit to users who upgrade regularly, since these are the devices that are used the most, especially when they are mobile.
1. Buy Your Tech at the Right Time: Some manufacturers, like Apple, stick to a somewhat predictable upgrade cycle. iPhones and iPads get updated once a year. The dates are well known. iPads are released each March and iPhones each October. If the dates vary, tech news sources will likely post the upcoming dates months in advance. The right time to buy your tech is a couple of weeks after it's first released. That way, it lets the manufacturer iron out the kinks that new tech usually has.
For those in need of a visual aid, check out this chart outlining "Knowing Exactly the Right Time to Buy a New Mac, iPhone or iPad"
2. Be Smart about the Upgrade: When the new iPad was released, I naturally was interested in upgrading. However, I had an iPad 2 3G 64GB that was only a couple of months old. The upgrade would make a difference, but the only way I would get the new iPad was if I sold my old one at the right price. I listed it on Facebook, Twitter and Yahoo, and within 2 weeks, it was sold. In total, after buying the new iPad, I spent $200 to use a tablet for six months. This was an acceptable cost, but your mileage and needs may vary.
3. Carrier Contract Features: Smartphones get regular updates, and changing them to a new one will usually make a difference to most people, as they use these devices a lot. That being said, most carriers have an agreement to take back some of your tech if you upgrade to a newer version on the same contract. Our carrier offers significant rebates when we do this, which is why upgrading our smartphone won't be problematic.
4. Highest Spec Devices: As a rule, I always buy the highest-spec devices available. If there is a 64GB version of a phone or a tablet available, I get it. The reasoning behind this is that these devices keep their value slightly longer than the ones with lower spec, allowing you to benefit in the long run.
5. Always Sell Your Device Before Upgrading: Upgrading tech is like an itch that can't be reached until you purchase that new device. It's hard to resist, but it makes a lot of sense to sell your old device before you buy a new one. It's not easy to adapt to life without it. I had to spend about 2 weeks without an iPad and it was problematic since I use a tablet for some work-related tasks.
MORE TECH UPGRADES ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• The Upgrade Cycle
• Buying Tech for the Long Run
• The Apple Product Cycle
(Images: Range Govindan, Flickr member Stesciuba licensed for use under Creative Commons and Flickr member LJRMike licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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"There is a real benefit to users who upgrade regularly" - really? there is such little difference over one year that the vast majority of users wouldn't notice the difference. 0.2" larger screen; 2Mhz faster processor...
"these devices keep their value slightly longer than the ones with lower spec, allowing you to benefit in the long run." - technology is the fastest depreciating product out there...the more money up front, the more goes to depreciation.
In my opinion, the physical technology has basically been perfected (e.g. iPad - the screen is as crisp as text-on-paper and its instant-fast) so that the only major difference users will notice are software upgrades (something android needs to work on...). This allows users to hold onto existing hardware longer, reducing the waste and manufacturing impacts that go along with these excessive upgrade cycles.
I agree ^. I'm 21 so everyone I know my age is absolutely obsessed with upgrading. It's just a waste of money TBH.
I used to be on the never ending iPod upgrade cycle back in the mid 2000's but that ended after the iPod Touch came out. Now I keep my tech for quite a few years before upgrading and dont feel like I am missing out on much of anything since many updates are minor.
For my Macbook Pro I have had it since 2006 and still use it to design. Unfortunately with its 2gb ram limit and inability to update to Adobe CS6 and OSX Mountain Lion I now have to think about a new laptop. I think I got my time/money out of the old MBP though!
I always try to stick to a regime where I only upgrade every OTHER upgrade. For instance, I have an iPad 2 which I got a few months after it came out, and while the iPad 3 is quite enticing, it will wait for the next version before upgrading. Other than "street cred", I don't see the big value or difference in upgrading every time. Definitely agree with Enviromodernist's view point above.