My mistakes are a warning not to upgrade your phone in 2022 | Digital trends (2024)

There's one thing that almost all smartphones released in 2022 have in common: if you have a 2021 smartphone, or in some cases even a 2020 smartphone, there is absolutely no reason to upgrade this year. This doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a new phone, or that there's something wrong with the phones coming onto the market this year. It's more of a statement that the two-year upgrade cycle is now relevant to all of us tech fans.

I realize that I need to substantiate all of this, and luckily I have no shortage of examples. But this is not just the result of a comparison of specifications. I speak with authority because I've paid to upgrade several phones this year and I can tell you it's definitely not worth it. I don't just look at the specs on paper and tell you not to worry about them - I actually live with them (and pay for them). Please learn from my lack of self-control.

iPhone, upgraded?

I'll start with the device I get asked about the most, namelyiPhone 14 Pro. “Should I upgrade to it?” is the frequently asked question and I use my own experience to answer it. I updated mineiPhone 13 ProUnpleasantiPhone 14 Pro, (a faceiPhone 12 Proto the 13 Pro for that) - blatantly ignoring the advice I'm about to give over the next few hundred words. I'll start by saying that the 14 Pro is a brilliant smartphone and you'll be very happy with it if you buy it. And then comes the 'but'.

If you have an iPhone 13 Pro, the only real difference between it and the iPhone 14 Pro is something you'll notice on a daily basisis the dynamic island. It's cool and will no doubt only become more useful over time, but right now it's just not that exciting because it's mainly just Apple's apps and services that benefit from it. There's no reason to upgrade unless you want totake care of a virtual pet, it is.

Outside the dynamic island,the camera is just as goodI didn't notice any real difference in performance with the new A16 Bionic processor compared to the A15 in the 13 Pro, and the shape, design, size and weight are all identical. The iPhone 13 Pro runs the same software and connects to the excellent Apple Watch in exactly the same way. I'll also go so far as to say that if you're happy with your iPhone 12 Pro, I'll keep it for now. It's still excellent, andI still love the camera.

If you have oneiPhone 11 Pro, it's youshallit feels like you're getting a brand new phone when you upgrade to iPhone 14 Pro. But not so much with the 12 Pro and 13 Pro. It's a similar story with my other example, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. Again, I upgraded mineGalaxy Z Fold 3UnpleasantGalaxy Z Fold 4, and honestly the differences in daily use are minimal.

Also small steps in the Android space

The Z Fold 4 is a great example of how technically significant differences (bezel bezel, durability and a processor upgrade) make it a better smartphone, but aren't really worth the financial cost if you have the Z Fold 3. It's even debatably worth upgrading fromGalaxy Z Fold 2, as they all share pretty much the same stunning 7.6-inch 120Hz display inside, which is the main reason anyone would want the phone in the first place.

What aboutPixel 7 Pro? No, you don't need to upgrade yoursPixel 6 Probecause you won't notice that many changes. I would also say there is an opportunity for youmay get a less reliable Pixel 7 ProUpgrading adds an unwanted risk factor to an already questionable financial decision. The Pixel 6 Pro is brilliant, just like the Pixel 7 Pro (in my experience), so stick with what you have, provided you're happy with it.

OfPixel 5sThe boring design makes it tempting to upgrade, as the Pixel 7 Pro is a much nicer and much more modern device. But the Pixel 5's small size makes it unique, and if you're considering getting the Pixel 7 as a replacement, there'sthere is not much difference between the camerasto seduce you.

It's not just these three phones. It applies to the entire world of smartphones - fromOppo Find X3 Proand the newer onesFind X5 Profor Samsung Galaxy A52S and newerGalaxy A53. It even applies to some smartwatches, with an upgrade fromApple Watch-serie 7UnpleasantApple Watch-serie 8are particularly noteworthy, andtablets such as the iPad ProAlso. If you're considering replacing a phone from last year with a phone from this year, think againRealdifficult why you do it.

The two-year upgrade cycle

Three smartphones – iPhone 14 Pro, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Pixel 7 Pro – are my favorites of 2022, and they replace three of my favorites of 2021. But they only replace them in the manufacturers' product lines, and they didn'tneedto replace them in my hand. The popular write-off of "iterative updates" that is common in this situation is a disservice to the work that goes into these phones, and dismissing them in this way is a misunderstanding of who new phones are today.

What I mean is this: In 2022, more than any other year, the phones released aren't really for you if you have a 2021 phone, and maybe not if you have a 2020 phone either. The technology, design and capabilities of the top phones of the past two years have been so impressive that unless your existing one- or two-year-old phone is broken in some way (screen, battery or case), it's probably all does what the very latest model can do, or comes very close to it.

For tech fans, there has always been an argument in the past to ignore a two-year upgrade cycle and leave it only to those forced to do so by carrier contracts. But today it makes sense not only from a monetary perspective, but also from a technical perspective. Wait two years to upgrade your phone and you'll likely notice a lot more of a difference than after just one year.

It makes sense, and there are people who are already doing it, but many are not techies interested in owning and experiencing the latest models. This year I spent my own money upgrading two of my favorite phones from last year, and while they are great and I am very happy with both and highly recommend them as a purchase, they have highlighted that for the first time the The biannual upgrade cycle now applies to everyone, including tech fans.

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