DJariya

So the question is in the title. What type of tech do you upgrade probably within a year of a new version being released? Like cellphones, game consoles, tablets, streaming devices and such? Or do you wait until you actually need it?

RichC2

Game Consoles (at least one) and VR headsets it seems.

DJariya

The last thing I upgraded within a year of it's release was the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE phone. I got it October 2020 pretty much when it came out to replace a low quality Samsung phone that I got in 2019 that I wasn't happy with. I've been really happy with it and don't anticipate upgrading again until 2022. That was the soonest I ever upgraded a new cell phone.

I'm contemplating getting the new iPad 2021 9th generation that just came out as it has a faster chip and more memory than my 7th gen version that I got in 2019.

Koby

I don't upgrade until I need to really... Other than my PC which I build a new one about every 5-6 years.

Josh-da-man

I don't upgrade anything until it stops working -- either breaks down, or becomes obsolete/unsupported.

DJariya

You mean your massively obsolete IPad Air 1 with 16 gigs of memory is still functioning?

DJariya

Oh I forgot. I did upgrade my Apple TV 4K to the new version that came out earlier this year. And it’s great.

E Unit

I used to be in this type of crowd, but stopped quite a while ago. I’m still on my iPhone XS, Dell XPS 13 laptop from 3 years ago, just bought an Apple TV, and finally got my first iPad - which is the Pro and quite awesome.

John Galt

I'm well past the point of trying to be on the bleeding edge of the tech spectrum. There's very few features in any of these products that make me run out and buy the newest version. I basically just stick with what I have until a good deal comes along, or it just becomes too slow or loses manufacturer support to even function properly.

Kurt D

Voted: don't upgrade unless needed.

Want to answer: Yo mama

milo bloom

We’ve always waited for things like game consoles to be out for a few months to see what the game library looks like.
As for smart phones, we usually lag a generation behind to save a few bucks but recently my son’s was damaged and I want him to have a working phone since he’s traveling for band events so I bought a new 13 to give him my XR.

Josh-da-man

Yes, it is.

I don't use it often, but it works (a few webpages are slower than shit) and the battery still gets between six and eight hours of use on a full charge.

I'm considering upgrading to a new model; I've had my eye on the latest model Air with 256GB in luxurious Sky Blue, but I don't know if I really need it. All I'd probably do is play fucking games on it.

D.Pham5GLTE (>60GB)

It used to be that newer models were significantly better than older ones but now really the difference isn’t that much year on year at least for phones, tablets, and watches. I just got the 13pm but before I had the xsm and honestly, the camera was the major upgrade but everything else, for me, was still acceptable.

for tablets, I have two iPads, one from 2017 and even one from 2015, both still work fine and no intention of upgrading unless they die. I had an iPad from 2014 which I gave to my parents and it surprisingly is still supported on the current iPadOS 15. Unlike my Samsung tablet from 2014 which is still on the android version released in 2014. Newer Samsung tablets are supposed to be better in terms of updates but they still fall far behind Apple.

fujishig

Somehow I can resist new iphones and ipads now but I can't resist new versions of Nintendo consoles and consoles in general.

Josh-da-man

Game consoles are different from phones, tablets, and computers because when a console comes out, you need it to play current games.

fujishig

Yeah, that's why my weakness for Nintendo is so weird. For their portable devices, I think I've owned pretty much every major iteration with the exception of the DSi.

And even with generational upgrades on game consoles, as milo bloom mentioned, it is way, way better to just wait it out because very very rarely are there more than a couple of incredible launch games (I think Dreamcast was the last time I was wowed by the launch, and that was back in the days when US launches were staggered from JP launches so the libraries were more matrue). So there is something to be said for constrained (whether intentional or not) supply driving up demand.

E Unit

That ended with me with this new generation ones. I still haven’t gotten a PS5 or XBox Series X.

fujishig

Is it lack of interest, or would you buy one if you happened across one?

AGuyNamedMike

I usually wait until I need it.
Most of my home tech is 4-5 or even 10+ years old.

zyzzle

Hey, my 41-year-old Apple II is still functioning!

Upgrading to bleeding-edge tech within a year of release tends to be foolhardy for several reasons. Better to wait 2-3 years to see if that new technology actually "sticks" and stands the true test of time. Allowing only a year, even in today's insanely-paced world doesn't give enough time for the bugs and the fads to be worked out -- or for the price to come down. Illustrating my point grandly is the so-called "paper" phones which can be folded. Right now, they're ridiculous rubbish, and a total sales gimmick. But, in five years? Personally, I hope the masses aren't stupid enough to adapt something as "disposable" as this in the main, but the only advantages to "foldable" tech will be less weight and perhaps more battery lift (energy conservation). In all other areas, the tech will fall way short. 8k TVs, on the opposite side of things, waste power and are nearly useless, since 99.9% of current video / media won't benefit -- only detriment thereby (more power consumption due to 4x more pixels to push around than 4k and 16x as many pixels as 1080p).

kd5

I don't feel compelled to upgrade anything unless something I need to use requires it or the old one breaks down.

morriscroy

hair dryer

DJariya

So much for DVD Talkers being up to date with all things cool. I guess none of you watch Tech YouTubers iJustine, Marques Brownlee or Brian Tong. Those guys get and review all the newest Apple, Microsoft and Samsung products and make you sad how empty your wallet is. They get most if not all the stuff they review through sponsorships. Justine Ezarik I assume is a millionaire.

Okay I'm not naive, I know it's simply way too expensive and not practical to keep up with all the newest tech every year. You're going to go broke doing so or can't make your rent payment.

fujishig

Plus unless you have money to spare, it makes no sense to upgrade everything all the time. It's like buying a new car every year.

zyzzle

Those folks are all in "the 1%" and surely live in glass houses. As in they get all of this cool stuff for free, review it, and are at a serious disconnect with just how different they are from the average joe-sixpacks of world, who have bigger fish in life to fry than worrying about the peccadillos of the latest bleeding-edge tech. Like meeting the rent, bills, raising the kids, and doing it all without cracking up!