If you read articles online, watch YouTube, or simply breathe, you’re going to be bombarded with adverts for the brand-new iPhone 17 Pro Max Plus Premium Maximus Maximillion … and every other new phone while you’re simply trying to exist. But what if, simply ignoring all this marketing-bs was better for you and the world…
Familiarity…
You know the old saying “better the devil you know” well the same applies to technology, the longer you’ve owned something, the more familiar you are with it. The easier it will be to find your favourite apps, as muscle memory comes into effect. The same goes for taking photos, you will become familiar with the limits of your camera, and you begin to learn what you need to do to get the most from your iPhone camera.
Environment…
Rare minerals and other components go into a cellphone, the longer you use the same one, the longer these things last, and the fewer new ones are needed. By continuing to use your phone, or repairing it if it breaks, means you can help keep the planet alive for even longer. And if you keep it running for longer, means that if you do upgrade at some point, you can keep it as a backup phone, or keep if for specific reasons. Every company will tell you how they are recycling and using paper packaging instead of plastic when they make new products, but this doesn’t detract from the simple fact that NOT buying a new thing is better for the environment.
Saving money…
The longer you keep your device, the more money you save, for example, if your phone “cost” $800, and you keep it two years, that’s cost you $400 a year. If you keep it 4 years or longer, that’s cost you $200 per year. Keep it even longer, and put off getting a new one, and the cost is even lower. If you are looking for a replacement, then a refurbished phone, or budget phone can be a good way to save money.
Build quality…
Is your iPhone made from Stainless steel, or Titanium? If you’ve got an iPhone made from stainless steel (iPhone X to iPhone 11 Pro, 12 Pro, 13 Pro, and 14 Pro models) or Titanium (iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro), then count yourself lucky, as the newest iPhone 17 models use aluminium. Ew. Nobody wants that. 😉 The iPhone 12 series was also the first to introduce “Ceramic Shield” to protect the screen, and every iPhone since then has had this.
Updates…
Old iPhones still get updates (as long as it’s not too old). Apple have an impressive track record when it comes to iPhones, of updating even old models, and currently, even the iPhone 11 from 2019 and 12 from 2020 are still getting updates, some 6-7 years later (correct as of March 2026).
So whatever you take photos of with your iPhone, you don’t need to upgrade if you’re still finding joy from the device.
