> As someone who buys a good smartphone then hangs onto it for 5 years, can someone help me understand the need for this? There's no need for it. However, the

> As someone who buys a good smartphone then hangs onto it for 5 years, can someone help me understand the need for this? There's no need for it. However, the cost difference between the two extremes (upgrading every year vs. upgrading every 5-6 years) might be less than you think. Last time I ran the numbers, I estimated that trading in every year for 5 years cost about $500 more than trading in once after 5 years. In other words, you pay ~$100/year to always have the newest phone. I think that many people replace after 2-3 years because 1) that's when the warranty runs out; and 2) you don't save much vs. holding on to the phone for longer.