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Automobiles are also on an annual cycle. Do you think most people buy/lease a new car every year--especially given that something like 11 years is the average length of time people hold onto their cars these days?

Even with trade-in incentives, the vast majority of people don't get a new phone every year.



Cars are nominally on an annual year cycle but many models go relatively unchanged for a generation which could be 5 years or more.


It is the same for iPhone. They even sell brand new phones that originally came out 5 years ago (SE).


I think they would if they could. The allure of the new shiny toy is strong.


Americans buy a new phone every 24 weeks though, so an annual release schedule makes sense even if they don't buy every year.


24 months in the US was historically driven by cellular carrier subsidies. I suspect it's increased since that is no longer as big a factor.


I think you mean every 24 months.


Source? I see lots of people using older iPhones, and even amongst the rich demographic I hang around, no one cares about new iPhones since at least a few years ago.

They simply do not change in a way that affects most people’s lives.




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