If you are the kind of person who upgrades to a new smartphone every year, that is a rare case. Most people continue to use their smartphones longer than ever.

How long people keep their smartphones depends on who you count; according to Statista, the average replacement cycle for consumer phones in the U.S. is currently 2 years and 7 months and is expected to reach 3 years by 2026. But we're already there, according to Assurant, which manages cell phone trade-ins for wireless carriers. According to a recent report by Assurant, the average age of handsets handed in for trade-in and upgrade programs is 3.5 years.

By anyone's calculations, this trend is undeniable. Liam Howley, chief marketing officer of Decluttr, a company that sells refurbished cell phones and other products, said, "People are increasingly reluctant to jump into the market and upgrade their phones."

Here is a closer look at why people are not buying new phones with the fervor they used to and what you need to consider when buying a new device if you want your phone to stand the test of time.

Things have changed since Steve Jobs pulled the first iPhone out of his pocket 16 years ago. The phones being produced today are better than ever before, but they have also changed less year over year. iPhone 15 has a significantly enhanced camera, thanks to other changes such as a 48MP main shooter, a USB-C port, and a Dynamic Island cutout that replaces the notch. While it may have been enhanced, that model follows the iPhone 14, which is largely unchanged from the iPhone 13 that preceded it.

These days, the phone's updates feel more like the iPhone 14 than the iPhone 15.

"Smartphones are a mature technology and most consumers don't feel the need to upgrade every year or even every two years to get repetitive improvements," said Avi Greengart, chief analyst at Techsponential.

Smartphone pricing has also changed dramatically, with mobile carriers having long since discontinued the practice of subsidizing smartphone prices in exchange for multi-year contracts with customers. As a result, customers are paying more for their phones than ever before.

Let's return to the first iPhone in 2007. The price was $499, but it required a two-year contract with AT&T, the exclusive wireless provider of the iPhone at the time. Carriers dropped these contracts, and as a result, we pay more for our phones. These days, an entry-level iPhone costs as much as $799, while premium devices cost more than $1,000; even relatively inexpensive devices like the Pixel 7a and Galaxy A54 cost $450 to $500.

"The move away from two-year contracts in the U.S. has also somewhat discouraged regular upgrades," says Greengart. 'If your phone is paid off, it makes sense to hold onto it a little longer and keep the monthly cost down.'

There are other factors besides price, too: Howley of Decluttr noted that "consumers' growing environmental awareness is also playing a role in extending the length of cell phone ownership."

Handset manufacturers are also making it easier than ever to make their phones more durable and to keep them in use longer. Factors such as Gorilla Glass, which protects the screen from shattering, higher water resistance, and more durable smartphone materials mean that cell phones typically show less wear and tear over time.

Software support has also become more generous in recent years. Apple has always offered multi-year software support for the iPhone, and Android device makers are beginning to follow suit. Samsung currently offers four years of software updates and another year of security support for the Galaxy S, Galaxy A, and foldable devices; this was the standard for Android devices until the Pixel 8 launched and Google offered seven years of software and security updates This was the standard for Android devices until the Pixel 8 was launched and Google offered seven years of software and security updates.

But there are other factors smartphone shoppers should consider when buying a long-lasting phone. According to Biju Nair, President of Global Connected Living at Assurant, besides the preference between iOS and Android devices, the first thing to note is battery life.

"You absolutely have to look at battery life," he said. To me, that is one of the most limiting factors in a smartphone."

When Tom'sGuide reviews a phone, they run a battery test on each model and set the phone to keep surfing the web until the power runs out. The average smartphone lasts just under 10 hours in this test. About 12 hours or more would put it on our Best Smartphone Battery Life list.

Even a refurbished phone can prove to be a device that lasts a good long while, but it takes some due diligence among shoppers, Howley said. "Make sure you have a quality guarantee from the retailer," he said, adding that phones sold through Decluttr pass a 90-point check and feature a 12-month warranty. "We will also replace the battery if it falls below certain standards or is defective"

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The flip side of having a phone for years is that you also need to recognize when it's time to upgrade. And while in many cases it is a know when situation, your phone can provide some indication that it is about to give up the ghost.

In Nair's case, it is a matter of recognizing when his phone's performance is no longer up to snuff - for example, it takes several rings for caller ID to appear on the phone screen. I typically use it until I start to see a drop in performance," he said."

Just as batteries are an important factor in finding a longer-lasting device, shorter battery life can also be a sign that it's time to start buying a new device. Howley said, "In general, if your device's battery performance begins to decline, becomes unreliable or unpredictable, or if your phone stops receiving important security updates, it's often time for a new phone." Howley stated.

In addition to addressing battery issues from aging phones, Greengart notes that a well-timed upgrade can also result in other improvements.

"Carriers are rolling out 5G networks in new bands," Greengart says, "but to access these networks, you need a new modem in a modern phone." It can get faster download speeds, much better coverage, or both"