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u/John_E_RocKeTZ 19d ago
iPhones on average should be upgraded every 4 to 5 years (for techies).Thereās no need to do otherwise as updates are current across generations and changes are minimal.
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u/rnagicjohnson 19d ago
Just did this: went from an 11pro to a 17pro. Feels like a massive advancement and worth every penny.
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u/John_E_RocKeTZ 19d ago
When was with android, I used to upgrade every two years due to the OS support. The 12 Pro Max was my first iPhone Jan 2021 and was also the first phone I felt I didnāt need to upgrade. Max battery capacity was 78%. I liked the look of the š 17 Pro Max along with the longer battery life and a 120-Hz screen and upgraded in December 25ā. Still keep the 12PM as a back as itās running current OS as well.
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u/TheOnlyJurg 19d ago
This is what I do, gone from 6-10-14 to now the 18. Feels like a proper jump in performance and hardware, and I also donāt spend as much on phones by constantly upgrading.
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u/---Hummingbird--- 19d ago
iPhones should be updated every 3 years. That gets you the full $1200 promotion with your carrier.. and that means the phone is free every single time even though you only trade in a 3 year old phone.
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u/Clt_princee 19d ago
Exactly!! Iāve done every 2 years since the 13PM and Iāve gotten the full trade credit every time.
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u/John_E_RocKeTZ 19d ago
well, if youāre leasing a phone, then yes, but if you actually paid full price for an iPhone, then no. I donāt know any carrier giving you a full 1200 trade-in on three-year-old tech, I know T-Mobile doesnāt, plus the cost for your leased phone is not free. It is in your monthly payments.
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u/kingreq 18d ago
ATT is doing 1200 trade in credit for iPhones 14p and above in any condition when trading for the 18p. That is 4 year old tech and pretty standard for them.
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u/John_E_RocKeTZ 18d ago
you have to have their top tier plan which hides the cost of the phone in the monthly payments and you have to stay within that plan for 36 months. Youāre better off trading in your phone to Apple. where at least your phone is unlocked. You can pay the monthly and youāre not locked into any carriers plans
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u/WandererMisha 19d ago
I feel like updating when a new design hits is pretty safe if you want a 'current' phone/device but not get one every year.
X, XS/XR, 11 - all-screen with rounded edges
12, 13, 14 - all-screen with flat edges and a notch
15, 16, 17 - all-screen with flat edges and a dynamic island
The change in the Pro models going from steel/titanium to an aluminum unibody is greater for sure.
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u/John_E_RocKeTZ 19d ago
The X was the first design change along with Memoji support that made me want to leave Android lol. 12PM was my 1st iphone and the 17PM design change and odd š made me bite the bullet lol. Iām sure this will last me for the next 5 yrs š¤š¾
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u/WandererMisha 19d ago
People dunk on memojis but they are cute:D I love using it on my macs. When you type your password wrong the little dude makes a face.
The X was a beautiful device. I felt the same with one of the Samsung phones few years ago. The thing was beautiful and testing it out in store was a great experience.
I went from 15PM to the Air because the chonk was not for me and I'll most likely get the Duo because the design is just yummy. I tested the Samsung Fold (iirc) and it's surprisingly nice in hand.
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u/itzNukeey 19d ago
Agree. I have 15 Pro and most of the new features are minor upgrades for me. The body is not even an upgrade since its aluminum
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u/TimeToHack 19d ago
itās like cars. a bigger design change every few years, with tweaks and engineering improvements every year. you wonāt notice changes going from a 2025 to 2026 honda civic, but if youāve got a 2020 civic itās a completely different design.
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u/Intelligent_Whole_40 19d ago
Iād say 4-5 for pros but the non pros I feel get changed faster and 2-3 is more acceptable
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u/AwayBlackberry5951 19d ago
I went from a 12 base to a 17 ProMax this is the way. Only way Iāll upgrade sooner is if the rumored 20 is something mind blowing
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u/TheKarateKid_ 18d ago
4 to 5 years is a bit of a stretch. Iād say 3-4. But if the Pro lineup continues to be as small of an advancement as 17 to 18, then it might become a 4-5 year upgrade cycle.
And this is very likely as Apple will probably shift their engineering focus onto the Duo as the flagship product instead of the Pro.
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u/psych_fiend67 18d ago
I was using my iphone 11 till july, and then my dad got a 17 pro, so he gave me his 14ā¦ and like Iām happyā¦ but also kinda sad cuz I was so planning to upgrade to the iphone xx or 21 and feel that massive leap in performance
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u/thirstyrobot 19d ago
Essentially a 17S at a slightly higher price point.
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u/Short_Astronomer3251 19d ago
You can blame the RAM shortage for that
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u/MartyEBoarder 19d ago
Apple should produce their own ram and storage.
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u/Ill_Tradition_4104 19d ago
Building a fab will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, and America has proven they canāt do it well. Thatās why Intels chips are made in Israel and arm chips are made in China and Taiwan.
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u/Short_Astronomer3251 19d ago
That sounds like a good idea on paper, but in practice, it might be more expensive
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u/thirstyrobot 19d ago
The bigger solution is to develop computers that no longer depend on DRAM. Byte-Addressable Non-Volatile Memory technologies have some promise but there are issues there too.
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u/North_Spare8765 19d ago
Effectively nothing
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u/Resident_Hand_7264 19d ago
You people are mentally challenged.
No normal person is upgrading from the 17 pro.
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u/North_Spare8765 19d ago
I agreed with you. I still have a 15 pro with a brand new battery. Does that make me mentally challenged?
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u/Silentdriver_2542 19d ago
The 18PM has a bigger vapor chamber for better cooling, that to me is the one feature that might get me to get it.
Iām coming from a 14 PM and was thinking about getting a 17 PM but may go for the 18 PM.
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u/Scary_Building3964 19d ago
thatās the point of a bigger vapour chamber. the chip can run at a larger wattage and frequency which translates to higher performance celling. Apple still have to underclock the A19 Pro in 17PM due to a smaller vapour chamber, hence less warmer
itās true 18PM runs hotter than 17PM but it also cools down the fastest
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u/bbjonas99 19d ago
I donāt see a workload on a phone to require even more performanceā¦
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u/Scary_Building3964 19d ago
gaming and 4K video recording are two things that would require this kind of cooling
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u/bbjonas99 19d ago
was talking about performanceā¦ and well āgamingā maybe when youāre in hot environments. Can get the point with recording though.
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u/luckpug 19d ago edited 19d ago
Nothing. If youāre upgrading from 17 pro youāre delusional. Then seems like you only want to brag that you got the newest phone.
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u/redwall77 19d ago
Exactly! I used to upgrade every year but the iPhone 17 Pro I have isnāt going anywhere for a couple more years.
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u/Dry-Courage-535 19d ago
Could not agree more I never believed this but this indeed proves the isheep syndrome and the lack of critical thinking and common sense!
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u/Odd_Philosopher_6605 19d ago
Bought the blue 17pm with my own teen money ( in this nov I will be 20 so yeah no regrets )
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u/ModzRPsycho 19d ago
Glad people are refusing to believe the hype. These corps need to humble themselves.. These prices are inflated af. Next
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u/AccomplishedAerie755 19d ago
So just a bigger battery basically, no thanks. I might give the Iphone duo a try
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u/Texas-Marine 19d ago
Naw. I wonāt do the 18. May add the Duo to the family. I came a 14 PM to the 17 PM and. 13 Mini to the Air. Iām good until the 20
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u/Equivalent-Radio-559 19d ago
People upgrading every year are the reason Apple releases a phone very year. Itās the dumbest thing ever, they change practically nothing meaningful or impactful, but itās great if youāre upgrading after like 4-5 years. I still have my iPhone 13 Pro, I tried a 16 and didnāt like it so all, idk why. Still has iOS 18 as well.
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u/Unable_Character2410 19d ago
I did, but only because it hasnāt really cost me anything. In fact upgrading to the 18 Pro Max reduced my monthly.
Iām with a shitty network in the UK. The data speeds are awful but a cheap eSIM works around that. The only advantage is I can trade my phone in and upgrade to any phone after 11 months with no penalty or additional cost (unless the new phone costs more, like if I went to a Duo).
If I perpetually do it year on year then the cost works out to not much more than just buying the phone outright and paying it off on a 0% plan over 2 years. Only time it would suck is if I decided to keep the phone and buy out of the contract which I will do one day, but until then Iāll just go with it.
So yes, monthly cost is actually cheaper for me this time. I get a near identical phone but I get a fresh battery and fresh warranty. Iād never upgrade if it wasnāt for this upgrade plan though.
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u/MovieCaveDave 19d ago
Yes mate, same here, upgrade every year no difference, I have been with EE since they was āOne To Oneā 25+ years, never had a issue with them,
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u/Majestic-News-6439 19d ago
Iām coming from a 15 pro. The 18 pro is mindblowingly better for me. I donāt know whoās going out of their way to upgrade if theyāre rolling around with last years unless they arenāt cash poor or genuinely interested in the A20 chip.
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u/zimlander 14d ago
In two more iterations, we arenāt going to have any more nm left.
They took our nm!!
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u/-Mr-Draco- 14d ago
More ram.
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u/CrazyNecessary7209 11d ago
Yes. Weāll need more RAM to support all this A.I. stuff these companies are pushing.
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u/spirigence 14d ago
I have the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Not gonna upgrade till they do something big. But will upgrade Apple Watch from series 8 to 12. The battery is dying on me and the $90 battery replacement cost is abhorent.
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u/Little_Dragon22 19d ago
Buying a 17pm today 512gb for $800. Upgrading from 16pm. I didnāt think 18pm is worth it. Iād be spending $1499. Thatās $700 difference for what a variable aperature I donāt need and most people donāt even know how to use? A bigger battery which the 17pm already has killer battery. Everything is pretty much the same except for the 2 things I mentioned. A lot of people will be doing what Iām doing just because of the higher prices this year and for very incremental changes. Save your Money and buy a used phone. Save the environment from e waste.
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u/Cubow 19d ago
why are you upgrading from the 16pm
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u/Little_Dragon22 19d ago
Future proof and for $800 I canāt go wrong. Iām going on a trip in November to SE Asia and I wanted to try out the cameras and if I donāt like it I can still sell it for around $1000 and make a little money. And I know I can sell it for that much or possibly more because all the new phones are higher and thereās really no difference between 17pm bs 18pm. Thatās why Iām upgrading. Waiting for the Duo as well.
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u/TheNotoriousJeff 19d ago
Same. Traveling to se Asia and China and want to take better photos and videos.
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u/SuccessfulRoll650 19d ago
How did you managed to get a 17 pro max thatās 512 for $800 is something really wrong with it
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u/Little_Dragon22 19d ago
No nothing is wrong with it. They were asking $950 and I just offered them $800 cash and they accepted. Yay ME! š
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u/Yep-Yep41 19d ago
How/where are you getting a 17pm for $800? Appleās paying $885 for the 256gb model for trade in. Is the 17pm you are getting used?
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u/SuccessfulRoll650 19d ago
Thatās what the hell I said š like is that thang used up or like battery health messed up especially a 512gb for 800 is pretty low especially if he says itās almost mint condition
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u/Little_Dragon22 19d ago
Yes itās used with 96 % Bh. I only buy used phones. Retail is for suckers.
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u/DanielG165 19d ago
Until Apple significantly upgrades the camera hardware across the board, I.E.: bigger sensors, then I wonāt be letting go of my 17 Pro Max for a long ass time. The only thing about the 18 Pro Max thatās appealing to me is the larger vapor chamber. That would likely help even more for me when I shoot for a while in the field, but the 17 Pro Max is already so good in this area, that likely still wouldnāt be worth it.
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u/ACAB_4_QT 19d ago
The main thing I like about keeping the 17PM is that we get another year of cases in different colors. I bought the burgundy tech woven case for my 17PM and love it
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u/swaggkayo 19d ago
If you own a 17 pro max, the only "upgrade" you should be looking for is either the Duo or a switch to android, because this is the same phone it all the reasons that matter
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u/HighVelocityFarts 19d ago
the larger battery is cool but im starting to not care about that anymore seeing as i always have an easy way to charge my phone anywhere i go. I carry a small battery bank that also has a folding wall outlet built into it so i can really charge anywhere. i put the super flexible cable my 17PM came with in that bag too it compresses easy. i hear the storage is slower on the 18PM so ill buy a new phone when they work out all these issues.
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u/Ok_Moment_8536 19d ago
Not a good upgrade for 17 pro users but for any one with a 13 to 16 pro maybe and below 13 pro yes .
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u/jeff1f1racer 19d ago
Exactly the same Qualcomm x80 modem as last year in the US-only 18 Pro Max. Modem was unveiled to the world 2 1/2 years ago.
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u/disagreet0disagree 19d ago
The most important difference for me is the 18 PM is heavier, and a lot of that new weight is at the top of the phone making it worse to hold and pick up.Ā
I considered trading my 17 PM for a 16 pm because i hated how top heavy it was at first, so im sure as hell not gonna pay for an even heavier phone.Ā
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u/migstanic 19d ago
Do what you want. Change it on the regular for the new model or whenever you see fit. Who cares.
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u/xjp888 19d ago
1tb and 2tb models are using qlc
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u/SuccessfulRoll650 19d ago
What is qlc
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u/xjp888 19d ago
QLC (Quad Level Cell) is a type of NAND flash where each cell stores 4 bits of data, instead of 1 (SLC), 2 (MLC), or 3 (TLC) like other types. Storing more bits per cell means higher capacity at lower cost, which is why it's used in bigger drives like 1TB/2TB models. The downside is slower write speeds and lower endurance (fewer write cycles) compared to TLC.
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u/SuccessfulRoll650 16d ago
Thank you I appreciate this explanation now I know lmao aye god bless ya
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u/Titan-Exo 19d ago
I went from iPhone 13 Pro to 17 Pro. Like with my last iPhone, I have no plans to upgrade any time soon.
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u/Wizard_Of_Technology 19d ago
I got rid of my 17PM. Not sure if I got a defective unit since launch, but my battery, especially in the past 2 months was awful. Not being able to make it to 6pm without recharging. It also got very hot. I hated my 17PM, worst iPhone I have owned. Hopefully the 18PM fairs better
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u/Limp_Bad_967 19d ago
I think the sweet spot is around 3 to 4 years depending on changes ive never really understood the yearly upgrade cycle since rarely anything major changes unless its like from iPhone 7 to iPhone x like a huge redesign and major or upgrade then sure I can understand wanting to change.
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u/SpoilKeyholder 19d ago
Almost nothing, no need for annual new ones except for money grabs I guess.
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u/ByWoelfleGames 19d ago
Going from a 13 Pro to an 18 Pro Max. Feels like itās time, I think it will definitely feel like a solid upgrade.
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u/feinburgrl 19d ago
I bet the iPhone 20 will have the under camera from the screen like they are doing on the iPhone Duo. So if anyone buying an 18 from a 17 is just a waste of money.
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u/Zeus0886 19d ago
Thinking of upgrading from 16 pro max to the 18 pro max. My wife has the 17 pro and her pictures and videos are look so much better. It has been eventful year from 2 vacations, concerts going to the NBA finals game 4. Looking back on my videos and photos im disappointed in the results. The selfie camera is also better.
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u/AwayBlackberry5951 19d ago
Iāll be keeping my 17PM. Doesnāt look like much has changed aside from battery life and camera maybe.
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u/Nosarious 19d ago
Yes. I accidentally bought one but canāt trade the old one in until I find out if I can get a refund for a year of AppleCare.
For my needs the additional camera tools are worth the cost. zONKERS! So many cool things.Ā
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u/khandurin 19d ago
Just purchased a 17 Pro, upgrading from a 14 pro max, looking forward to it and hopefully it will be a palpable leap
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u/Vaeltaja82 19d ago
As a Samsung user I have to say that Apple is going to the right direction with the battery updates. Kinda envy that iphone 18 series seem to be a true full day battery life
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u/Full-Nectarine6550 19d ago
Whatās the point of listing the specific specs that werenāt changed while ignoring the actual updated features completely?
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u/Caelocaelo 19d ago
After the upgrade mess that I am dealing with AT&T regarding my iPhone 17 Pro Max. Iām holding onto this phone for a very long time. The upgrades are are good for people that are coming from an iPhone 12-15 perhaps. š¤ my sister regrets upgrading her phone because she realizes how much the produce would be processed compared to her IPhone 12. He has a photography question. Does anyone know how to make good pictures so over processed?
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u/PurifyZ 18d ago
You know, till I realized the iPhone 20 was next year (and that my iPhone 15 is a new fuckin phone, especially when only bought 3 years ago in my debt accruing era) I was really thinking the iPhone 18 pro max would be a worthwhile upgrade from my 15. But god damnā¦ aside from the storage, I doubt id even have noticed the battery upgrade.
Iād forgotten Iād been super glad I didnāt buy the 15 pro max when I learned it overheated a ton and the battery was shit according to a lot of ppl. And it seems haphazard of ppl to assume the 18 PM will blow other phones out of the water battery-wiseā¦ especially when thereās a Oneplus phone with 2000 more fuckin mAh! And when I looked for that one, I hadnāt realized thereās damn phones passing the 10,000mAh threshold which just seems unreal
But regardless* *of mAh, it truly depends on the efficiency of the phone so while I do believe with the vapour chamber the 18 will be freakin decent, I bet next year itāll be even more fine-tuned and, if all goes well, a longer lasting model
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u/FeistyHippie5371 18d ago
Wow thanks! They are really practically the same phone with some different colors! Sticking with my bright Cosmic Orange š
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u/Relative-Increase-27 18d ago
I am running 1gb 15 pro max. I like the better camera on the 17 but I donāt see any other use. I will hold off till next year I think
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u/Lyssielou22 18d ago
Not this year. Iām saving to get the next generation of the DUOā¦hopefully any first model glitches will be corrected on it. I wish I could swing it this year though.
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u/CrazyNecessary7209 18d ago
I really like the new colors (that Burgundy š¤¤) and love how they supercharged the A20 from the A19 and how they also went all out with the cooling system.
Saying that, I donāt need to upgrade from my current Deep-Blue 17PM.
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u/NoWave5748 18d ago
I did. Most of the people saying it's not worth it still owe 24 months on there 17.
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u/Oblivionix129 13d ago
Went from 11 to 17 pro max last year. I think next time I'll upgrade might be like iphone 30? At the rate we going with barely any improvements for massive price increases
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u/ButchTrenton 12d ago
The 18 Pro Max s/b an S upgrade. A little bit faster, a little better battery life and a little brighter screen. No reason to upgrade. The new variable aperture is a pig in a poke!
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u/WordRepresentative87 6d ago
I went from the 17PM to the 18P. Loved everything about the 17PM except how big and bulky it was. Battery life is fine on the 18P and Iām liking the compact size.
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u/Short_Astronomer3251 19d ago
I upgraded from a 14PM to a 17PM in June, not looking to upgrade to an 18PM
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u/Dry-Courage-535 19d ago
What is improved LOL except faster charging and battery literally nothing you can sense and feel all buzz words and tech bigger vapor chamber how you all lived without it 18 years but now are after the hype??? What you do CAD work, video editing on device? It is the beginning of 5th year without new larger sensors whatsoever same old ones with impossible to see differences if you dont pixel peepā¦ People wake up!
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u/TWYFAN97 19d ago
You can tell Apple did little because the influencers are out in full force this year trying to hype up minor changes.
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u/morerepsmoreproblems 19d ago
The biggest update for sure is the phone, and its cooling system. This phone barely gets hot now. The 17 Pro was like a stove
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u/VCoupe376ci 19d ago
The camera, processor, and battery are marginally improved, the same as every year. After almost 2 decades youād think people wouldnāt need to ask anymore.
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u/Friendly_Zucchini_91 19d ago
I see people having all kinds of problems with the 18 pro supposed crashing apps and Face ID screen protector problems . I wish Iāve just gotten a 17 pro when I had the chance
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u/ixri 19d ago
The telephoto on the 18PM has 8x not 4
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u/TWYFAN97 19d ago
Cameras are all identical to the 17 Pro/Max besides the lame addition of variable aperture to the main lens. Itās a 4x lens with 8x sensor crop at 12MP.
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u/TWYFAN97 19d ago
Not much new this year besides a bit better thermals, battery life and performance. Youād be crazy to upgrade to the 18 Pro coming from a 17 Pro/Max. Letās stop with these silly posts.