How Long Do You Keep Your Smartphone Before You Upgrade?
Most people upgrade their mobile phones every two or three years in sync with their wireless contracts. Because I’m one of the idiots who obeys Apple’s forced march upgrade cycle (and because I’m on a month to month contract with my mobile phone provider), I usually get a new iPhone every fall. I did, however, decide to skip the iPhone 7 because my 6S was perfectly fine. And besides, I couldn’t justify the expense.
If you find yourself hanging on to your smartphone a little longer than before, you’re not alone. Check out this chart.
You will find more statistics at Statista
I wouldn’t say you are forced to upgrade every time a new phone is released (you just proved it by skipping the 7), but rather when support for the phone ends, which for Apple tends to run about four years, other manufacturers support ends anywhere from when the phone was made to a couple years.