How Long Will You Have Your Smartphone?

Chances are pretty good that you’re reading this article on a smartphone. If you aren’t, you’ve probably used a smartphone for something else today—for anything from ordering a meal to hailing a ride. Long story short, we are more connected than ever, and more and more dependent on our phones.

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How long do you plan on keeping your current phone? When 3000 people were asked that very question, they estimated that they would be getting a new smartphone in about 1.8 years. Consider this: people estimate that they’ll get a new PC every 2.5 years. In reality, when all is said and done, we keep them for about 5 years. For the makers of PCs, this impacts sales in a big way. It means less sales over the long term.

For smartphone makers, it means that once you’ve landed on a model that has all the features you want, you’ll probably stick with it. Most people will hang onto their current phone for over 3 years.

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One thing that could have an influence on whether you buy new or not is innovation, or lack thereof. There’s no arguing that smartphones have gotten equipped with more and more of the things you need and want. There are large HD displays, amazing cameras, increased storage options, speedy connections, and a seemingly endless list of applications.

Who wants to start over after everything has been set up just right? This includes photos, music, settings—much more than your contact list. Needing to set everything up all over again is a hassle that is likely to keep people from upgrading their phone until they absolutely have to.

So enjoy your smartphone. Chances are, you’ll be using it awhile. What would it take for you to get a new one, anyway?