Poll: How often do you switch phones?

There was some theory going around that major phone manufacturers had to introduce brand new phone models every so often because survey says the average lifetime of a phone in the hands of consumers is about 8 months.

I’m not sure if there is truth in this but based on my observations with friends and relatives, that number is not very far off. People tend to switch phones very often so manufacturers have to hurry up introducing new ones before each cycle ends.

I’d like to take that theory into a test a do a little poll here — how often do you switch/buy/replace your primary phone?

Less than 6 months
Around 9 months
About a 12 months
18 months or a year and a half
I have a dinosaur of a phone — more than 2 years

My personal experience is a little off since I have 4 phones — E51, E71, 5800, iPhone 3G — which does not include the ones given to me. Normally, I would have just 2 or 3 to service both public, business and private numbers. All 4 phones were bought in a span of less than 6 months but the motivation there was more for review on this blog so they don’t count.

Please share your thoughts on the comments below and send me your vote/feedback on the poll.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

53 Comments

Ed says:

16 years ago

i switch every 9 months or so. Most of my friends in the states switch once every year or so.. usually, the ones that switch more often than 12 months are the ones that will buy the MAJOR releases (i.e. iphone, blackberry pearl/curve, etc) when they FIRST RELEASE.. however, most of my friends just have regular phones and won’t switch unless its something that they REALLY want.

makes me wonder how people in the philippines can afford to switch phones so often if what you are saying is true… i know for me, i hold off because i simply need to put my money elsewhere and my current phone works, so i personally dont have a need to change it.

also, many people wait for phone deals that come along with their 1/2 year postpaid contract expiring.. so if you take that into account, some people will wait even 2 years before their next phone.
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SNN says:

16 years ago

less than 6 months siguro..madali kasi akong magsawa.
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-anton- says:

16 years ago

close to 18 months… tama lang, hindi magastos.
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Obed says:

16 years ago

I still have my XDA IIs as my primary phone, maybe it will take me a year to switch my primary phone, I’m still waiting for the Palm Pre to be introduced in the market.
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wh@ says:

16 years ago

a year or 1 year and six mos… kasi po walang pambili..
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kill3rfill3r says:

16 years ago

mga 6 mos…ung SE P1I ko nalaglag sa toilet bowl..
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jhay says:

16 years ago

I’m more on functionality than on being ‘up to the latest’ in using phones. As long as it’s working fine and fulfilling my needs I’m going to stick to it.

My take is that phone manufacturers are not trying to catch up with consumers, they are the ones pushing the consumers to switch phones. Nokia is the number one culprit, buy a new model today, it’s antiquated in less than 6 months!
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Bam del Valle says:

16 years ago

I just get what comes free with Smart’s retention program every 18 months. Sometimes if I want a higher model than the free unit I’ll pay a minimal cash out. Hard to justify spending so much on something that’s worthless after a couple of years.

By the way, this little survey that you’re running – you have to realize people who frequent your site are techies so they will tend to switch phones more often than your average Pinoy. :)
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Marvin Paul Catalan says:

16 years ago

hmmm…..

believe it or not, every 2 weeks (since sept) :)
not being arrogant
Cellphone addict ako!!! sobra….
pero hindi naman nakatambak dito ung mga phone TRADE IN lagi
lahat ng nakakakilala sa akin unang tanong lagi “ano phone mo ngayon?” and ako ung INSTANT CELLPHONE REVIEWER nila hehehehe….. kaya anyone interested kunin akong “gadget reviewer?” hehehe..

I OWN:
-HTC DIAMOND
-IPHONE 3G
-5320
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franz says:

16 years ago

3310 then after four years 6600 then for about four years again which was about last december, an N96.
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