Australians don’t upgrade their phone any more: New research reveals why
It's a smart money-saving strategy, but don't forget this extra step.
Haven't bought a new phone in a while? You're far from alone.
New consumer research from Finder shows that 76% of us are hanging on to our phones for 3 years or more.
Just 14% change their phone every two years, while 10% are shameless upgrade addicts who buy a new phone every single year.
Disclosure: While I'm a tragic tech geek, I'm firmly in the 3-years camp.
I upgraded to a Pixel 9 Pro XL this year from a Pixel 6 Pro, skipping two generations entirely.
And I waited until the phone had been on the market a few months so I could get it at a cheaper price.
Why we used to change phones more regularly
It wasn't always like this.
Slide back a decade and many of us were buying phones on a 2-year plan.
That saved having to pay thousands up front, and sometimes worked out cheaper than the cost of the phone plus the plan.
These days, there is often no saving from that strategy and you can end up locked in a plan that looks like bad value at the end of your contract.
On top of that, many of us are settling for cheaper sub-$500 phones like the Samsung A series, which are still plenty good enough.
The brutal truth is that improvements on phones in recent years can seem pretty incremental.
The camera is already better than we need, battery life hasn't changed much and sizes remain much the same.
So it's no surprise we're not rushing to change. Just 32% of Australians say they will buy a new smartphone this year.
What does make us upgrade our phones?
The most popular reason is that our phone breaks or becomes sluggish.
Our research found that 29% of Australians last upgraded their phone after damaging it, while 23% got tired or poor performance or degraded battery life. And 10% upgraded because their phone completely stopped working.
Only 10% moved to a new model because they saw a new phone they really liked
How to save even more on phone costs
Need a better mobile plan?
Find one with our easy quiz.
I'm all for not spending money on a new phone for the sake of it.
To save even more, make sure you're comparing your phone plan every 6 months.
The average Australian spends $54 on their phone plan each month, Finder's research shows.
But there are plenty of mobile plans available that cost much less and still have all the data you need.
Bonus tip: some home contents insurance policies include coverage for phone repair or replacement, as do some credit cards.
If you do smash your screen, that's worth checking out.
Final bonus tip: For goodness' sake, buy a hard case for your phone.
As a confirmed klutz, I never upgrade my phone without getting a case for the new model.
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