People are now holding on to old iPhones as long as they did pre-COVID
New research data suggests that people are holding onto their iPhone for longer periods before upgrading, a shift from the trend observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The age of retired phones is increasing once again
Over the years, the average age of the last phone owned by iPhone buyers has steadily increased. For example, in March 2019, 26% of iPhone buyers held onto their previous phone for three years or more.
This trend began when full-price installment purchase plans replaced two-year subsidized-price contracts between 2015 and 2017 and has continued to grow, according to the latest report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).
From 2019 through the COVID-19 pandemic, the length of time that iPhone buyers kept their retired phones continued to rise. As of March 2021, 34% of iPhone buyers replaced a phone at least three years old.
However, the trend took a turn in the year ending March 2022, with only 20% of new phone buyers having a previous three-year-old or older phone. Conversely, 38% reported having a last phone that was two years old or less.

The age of previous phones
Then, by March 2023, the trend reversed again, and the age of retired phones increased. As of the year ending March 2023, 31% of buyers owned a previous phone that was three years old or older.
That age profile is nearly identical to the year ending March 2020, which marked the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. CIRP has an explanation of what could've happened.
During the pandemic, people were likely interested in obtaining or upgrading to the most current mobile technology since they were locked down and started working remotely. This, in combination with government financial assistance and generous trade-in initiatives, made it feasible for consumers to afford newer smartphones.
Read on AppleInsider

The age of retired phones is increasing once again
Over the years, the average age of the last phone owned by iPhone buyers has steadily increased. For example, in March 2019, 26% of iPhone buyers held onto their previous phone for three years or more.
This trend began when full-price installment purchase plans replaced two-year subsidized-price contracts between 2015 and 2017 and has continued to grow, according to the latest report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).
From 2019 through the COVID-19 pandemic, the length of time that iPhone buyers kept their retired phones continued to rise. As of March 2021, 34% of iPhone buyers replaced a phone at least three years old.
However, the trend took a turn in the year ending March 2022, with only 20% of new phone buyers having a previous three-year-old or older phone. Conversely, 38% reported having a last phone that was two years old or less.

The age of previous phones
Then, by March 2023, the trend reversed again, and the age of retired phones increased. As of the year ending March 2023, 31% of buyers owned a previous phone that was three years old or older.
That age profile is nearly identical to the year ending March 2020, which marked the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. CIRP has an explanation of what could've happened.
During the pandemic, people were likely interested in obtaining or upgrading to the most current mobile technology since they were locked down and started working remotely. This, in combination with government financial assistance and generous trade-in initiatives, made it feasible for consumers to afford newer smartphones.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
i don't need 15 cameras on the back, if i was a professional photographer, i would not be using a phone to take pictures
other than cameras, there isn't realy anything that makes me want to upgrade
i setup iphones at work and i have used the 12, 13, and 14
yeah they are a little faster, but worthy of $1000?
heck no
Given what I understand must be the challenges of making such an ultra compact UWA I ask if Apple might be better to increase the effective focal length (reduce the wide angle) if it improves the image resolution? I could see the softness even on the iPhone display so hard for me to consider it of 'pro' caliber... Video cropping was also an issue for me...
The 4th year of the iPhone 4, Apple's first CPU, the A4. It was getting really poky!!!! Some days, I just wanted to throw it and break it, giving me an excuse to just buy a new iPhone. The iPhone 6 in its 4th year was much better. It was still a bit poky, but overall not bad. With this Xs. It works pretty well. Not really slow at all. Which is why I'm into my 5th year with it. It still looks like new. Could I go into a 6th year with it? Maybe.
Smartphones are a mature market these days. Unless you are really hard on your phone, they can last you a long time.