The Siren Song of Product Updates
When does it actually make sense to upgrade your tech?
Here's a simple exercise we can all do. Think about the last time you upgraded some of your most important pieces of technology.
For most people this would obviously be a computer and phone. But beyond that, it could be things like smart watches, earbuds, tablets, etc.
I would surmise that many of you are on the yearly product update cycle. And there is no judgment on my part as I often fall into the same trap. Whether we use iOS or Android devices, we've been programmed to start to itch when our still fairly new devices hit that 8-10 month marker. When is the next new thing coming out we wonder? Will it be much of the same or will it knock my socks off with innovation?
Product Release Cycles
Personally, I love the spectacle of a big product release keynote. Yes, they've become somewhat predictable at this point, but there is still something special about people talking about whatever latest and greatest gadget they've been working on for the last year.
I've been thinking about this topic more this year as we head into the new phone release cycle of the late summer and early fall. Devices from Samsung, Google, and Apple will all be announced and released between now and November.
Google in particular appears to be shifting their new Pixel release schedule up from October to August. And I do still consider myself to be somewhat of a Google/Android/Pixel fanboy so I'm eager to see how the Pixel 9 series stacks up. But if you look at the comment section of any of the Pixel 9 coverage, you'll see plenty of people already moving on and pining for the Pixel 10. There is just always something better around the corner right?
Maybe it's just me, but I'm getting the sense that there are fewer super fans of these devices who will just upgrade to the new model each year without question. That's probably mostly due to the costs. These upgrades aren't decisions to be taken lightly. The norm for new phone costs has now crossed the $1,000 USD threshold and doesn't look like it's going back anytime soon.
When do you actually need a new phone?
So how does one properly evaluate if you need a new phone? Sure, the cosmetic cracks, scratches, or dents could be one indicator. A severely cracked screen is a dealbreaker for me, but I've seen people carry on for months still using it just fine so your mileage may vary. Aside from that, it's pretty hard to assign quantitative reasons to enable your expensive new phone purchase.
Sure, the software could feel a bit sluggish if you've been using it for a while and installing tons of apps. But those days are mostly gone now that phones have a suitable amount of RAM to easily handle almost anything you throw at them.
Let's face it, our impulse for upgrading our tech comes from marketing efforts and simply a fear of missing out on something shiny and new that other people have. It's usually a want and rarely a need. I've held onto phones for several years before sort of as a badge of honor. In some cases, I just legitimately didn't feel like the new options offered any tangible benefits. And that may still be the case this year with the Pixel upgrades.
And yet, if I sit and watch the Google Pixel keynote coming up in a few weeks, I'm not sure that I'll be able to resist the siren song to pre-order it. This is especially tricky if there are free watches and earbuds or compelling trade-in offers are available. You'd be a darn fool to not send in your old phone and upgrade to the new phone at a fraction of the MSRP and get free gifts right?
This also tugs at my sustainability heart strings too. Buying tech you don't need is inherently wasteful and bad for the environment no doubt. BUT! If I'm sending that old phone back and Google is doing...something with it...then that makes it ok! I'm not so sure. I suppose it's a conversation for another day about what these companies actually do with our traded-in devices. You can't really deny that we're contributing to the problem though by buying more and more devices every year.
Conclusion
As we head into this frenzy of new device leaks, announcements, and releases, I encourage all of you to stay strong! Take a moment to really evaluate the status of your current digital companion. Is it in good shape? Can it do everything that you need it to do? Will the upgrade option change your life in any meaningful way? It certainly could! Upgraded cameras to take better pictures of a new child or pet is a somewhat legitimate reason to buy a new phone.
Don't just click that buy button without giving it some real thought. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself to do. No promises...
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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