How old is your mobile/smartphone?

[bennkar]

What is this "smart phone" you speak of? I have the same phone I have used with Tracfone service for 8 years now. Its a simple phone - I think I can get text, but I don't text anyone. Its nice there is no tracking of my movements , and when you turn it off, its off . The battery is still going strong.

[Frugal_Cheap_Pants]

Still one of the few people who is actually phoneless

Same here.

[ua_guy]

I'm guilty of getting a new iPhone when my upgrade cycle through AT&T allows, although I've tried to exercise some restraint. I went from a 3S which I kept for about 2.5 years, to a 4, which I kept for 3 years, and now I've got a 5s. In other words, I don't upgrade every time a new model is released or even when a new model is released, but I've owned a phone from every generation of iPhone starting with the 3, and it's replaced when I feel the old one is on its last legs...either battery life, hardware capability, or general wear/tear.

I use my phone a lot for texting, email, and social media, but I try not to spend money on apps or mobile services other than what it takes to use the phone (cell contract and data service). It's truly a luxury of convenience and distraction and I think about when I never even had a cell phone, or WHAT IF I went back to carrying a dumb phone for just voice and text.

[SeanH]

I was using a Galaxy Nexus for 1.5 years. Great phone. Bought it directly from Google and used it on Straight Talk. Amusingly enough my monthly plan with unlimited everything cost less than what I was paying AT&T for an old phone with limited minutes. Anyway, it was my first smart phone and with that comes all the good and bad. Is it a good thing to be able to answer email anywhere... because I got by fine before. That said, I'm in school so accessing my calendar anywhere is a win. Driving across the country on GPS - a win. Spared the need to buy an MP3 player. Access to medscape in clinic on the go.

So, I had the opportunity to acquire a brand new Galaxy Nexus 5 for very little ($170 - no contract) and took it. I don't regret the decision, but I will say this. Once you have a great well functioning phone it is kind of difficult to really improve from there. In theory my new phone is faster in both processor and network speed and the camera has a bigger megapixel count, but I had absolutely no complaints on my prior phone. My life hasn't changed and that really has me wondering. The constant need for a bigger/better - its just marketing. I think we've hit a peak where well-made things work really well.

A few years ago my wife needed a new computer. We considered 2 computers - one top of the line and one multiple steps below. We bought the multiple steps below and it continues to do everything we need it to do without issue. The old days of the past where ever computer provided a huge upgrade in speed and options - I think we're past that for most people (unless you are a gamer).

Last comment - when your phone's battery seems to be burning out faster than usual - reboot the phone. Several weeks without rebooting - the batter would lose 80% of its charge with no use. Rebooted and the next day the phone sat in my pocket all day and was still in the 90%'s.

[greenskeeper]

4 year old LG flip phone. Upgrade on non-smart phones was free not too long ago. Now they want $30....no thanks....if it works I'll keep using it.

Call me (pun intended) old fashioned but I use a phone as a phone and it's $60/month for the wife and I.

No reason to waste my money on a smart phone.

[sblatner]

Great suggestion! I had not even thought the powering off issue could be related to the battery, duh!
I checked on Amazon and they sell new battery replacements for $4 with free shipping, marked down from $36, probably because the models that use this battery are all so old. So I just ordered it. Hey, for $4 it's worth a shot!

Thanks!

Great! Glad I could help. I only know this because I had a Motorola Startac years and years ago and had the same issue. Got a new battery and it helped. Eventually replaced the phone as I was out of contract and the battery was more expensive than a new phone!

[AggieLife]

My cell phone is now about 4 years old. It can call people and send text messages

Pretty crazy stuff. But, lately I've been looking at smartphones to buy/sell to see if I can make a bit of money like that. Smartphones are pretty neat.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Paid $650 outright for an iPhone 4S in July 2012 with Virgin mobile's $30 a month no contract plan.



AT & T would have cost $200 for the iPhone 4S in July 2012 with a 2 year contract at $80 per month.



At 24 month later (I'm currently at 21 months but for ease of calculation);

Virgin Mobile will be $30 x 24 months = $720 + $650 = $1370 (free activation)


AT & T will be $80 x 24 months = $1920 + $200 = $2120 (plus activation & early termination if needed)


I'm planning to keep the iPhone 4S with Virgin Mobile until I can get my maximum amount of money's worth out of it.

[snafu]

3 y/o HTC, no contract, no limits data, text, minute, better camera than I expected, good GPS, with more free apps than I have time to use. Went to this provider because it fulfilled all the features I knew I would use daily. The monthly fee is cheap compared to DH whose iPhone 4s cost 2/3 more per month. DH got his phone on the secondary market and gets a subsidy from work.

For anyone considering buying a phone/changing servers, I suggest you identify the features you need and will use regularly, consider the size and weight [with cover] and whether there is any real advantage to you for the newest, latest, upgrade as Sean outlined...before you go shopping. Don't let the clerk up-sell you, he's not paying the tab

[LivingAlmostLarge]

MotoX 6 months.

[Brad03]

ive still got the first iphone

[btctony]

ive still got the first iphone

I get a new iPhone every two years. Works well for me, because I buy the new one for $200 with another two year contract and then sell the old one for $200-225 on Craigslist.

[KTP]

I get a new iPhone every two years. Works well for me, because I buy the new one for $200 with another two year contract and then sell the old one for $200-225 on Craigslist.

<3

let me go check my Apple stock brb

[Permanent Temp]

I had had my last phone for many years. I only got a new one because we switched plans. I recently sent my old one in to one of those online recycle places and got some cash for it. I tended to hold on to the phone until I could update it for free.

I really liked my old one so I held on to it. Besides that there was an extra monthly $10 data charge for upgrading as they had restructured they fees. I wanted to hold the phone til it died to avoid the fee for as long as possible.

We decided to cut costs and my husband wanted to downgrade his phone, so I got a similar phone with the new company with which we save about 80 a month this phone is about a year old and again I will just hold on to it til it poops out.

[humandraydel]

Honestly, this is one area I have not been very frugal in. I must be very hard on phones because it seems like every 2 years I "need" a new phone. I usually buy from Amazon and get a slightly older model which is often free with a new 2 year contract.

But, our 2 year contracts are almost up and we are going to switch to something like Ting.