This is How Long You'll Probably Keep Your New iPhone

Chris Holmes Staff Writer

Updated 26 October 2018

In this Guide

Your Relationship Will Outlast Your iPhone
Your Job Will Outlast Your iPhone
Will You Stick With Apple When It's Time to Upgrade?
WhistleOut Phone Finder

Article Summary

Smartphone users tend to hold onto their devices for about 2.6 years
This shows that consumers trade in their devices roughly 6 months after they are finally paid off (at the 24-month mark)
By contrast, most U.S. millennials will stay in their romantic relationships for 3 years, while older 30 to 59-year-olds stay in relationships more than 10 years

So Apple's new devices, the iPhone 13 series, are out, and you can't wait to get your hands on yours!

While powering on one of these exciting new devices for the first time can feel like the beginning of an everlasting marriage, the truth is that you'll probably get divorced sooner than you think.

According to Daniel Research, consumers hold onto their phones for 2.6 years, or 31 months, on average; this is expected to decrease to 2.47 years, or roughly 30 months, by 2020. Most devices are fully paid off with carriers at the 24-month mark, so these figures show that the majority of people upgrade around 6 months after they finally own their devices.

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In other words, you're likely to turn in your iPhone XS or XR before you leave your current romantic relationship or transition to another job.

Your Relationship Will Outlast Your Phone

As mentioned, most people hold onto their phones for around 2.6 years. Compare that to the average length of romantic relationships for 18 to 29-year-olds (3 years) and 30 to 49-year-olds (more than 10 years) in the United States.

Who has the most phone handsets?

	Years
Smartphone Retention	2.6
Relationship Duration (18-29 yo)	17
Relationship Duration (30-49 yo)	5

Depending on which age bracket you fall into, and how far along in your relationship you are, that romantic relationship you're currently in will probably outlast your new iPhone.

Your Job Will Outlast Your Phone

You're also likely to switch out your phone before you switch careers. 2016 figures put the average employment tenure for Americans at 4.2 years, compared to the 2.6 years that people hold onto their smartphones for.

Emplyment vs. Smartphone Retention Duration

	Years
Smartphone Retention	2.6
Employment Tenure	4.2

Will You Stick With Apple When It's Time to Upgrade?

We know that most folks trade up phones after about 30 months, but how likely are iPhone users to buy another iPhone, and how does this compare to Android brands?

A 2018 survey from MSW-ARS Research puts iPhone purchases based on loyalty nearly 15% higher than runner-up Samsung. This finding surely resonates with anyone who's shuddered at the thought of jumping out of the Apple universe for their next smartphone.

However, it's countered by a 2018 report from CIRP, which indicates that people are actually 8% more loyal to Samsung than they are to Apple.

Are you planning on making the switch from Apple to Android or vice versa for your next device purchase? Let us know below in the comments!

WhistleOut Phone Finder

If you've made up your mind that you want one of the new iPhones, but want to compare plans for them, you're in luck. WhistleOut's industry-leading phone finder allows you to quickly pair devices and plans to see what you'll be left paying each month.

Here's a link to some plans for the 64GB version of the iPhone XS, for example:

Description	Apple's 2018 new generation of iPhone X with improved camera, 5.8" all-screen OLED display, faster Face ID, wireless charging and Gigabit-class LTE
Our Review	87/100
Screen Size	5.8"
Available On	0 Plans from 0 carriers
Available From
	View Full Details

And here's one to the 64GB version of the bigger iPhone XS Max:

Description	Apple's 2018 new generation of iPhone X with improved camera, large 6.5" all-screen OLED display, faster Face ID, wireless charging and Gigabit-class LTE
Our Review	88/100
Screen Size	6.5"
Available On	0 Plans from 0 carriers
Available From
	View Full Details

Chris Holmes

Staff Writer

Chris Holmes is a Contributing Writer for WhistleOut, where he covers the cell phone and internet industries. His work has been cited in publications like The Verge, The New York Times, and WIRED.

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