I don’t know about peak, but we definitely hit a point where basically any phone is “good enough” for the average user. Much like personal computers hit a while back. There’s no longer a “need” to upgrade every year or two like there were in the early smartphone days. People can comfortably hold on to a phone for 4-5 years.

Smartphones have come a long way this past decade but there comes the point where we ask, what more can the mobile do? Having been pushed to the limits by the ever-growing mobile phone industry the mobile phone is at a place where upgrades are stagnant. Year-on-year features are added and upgraded but nothing revolutionary. 

Unless you are a tech enthusiast and want the latest and greatest tech or you just have the money to burn, having a yearly upgrade isn't worth it and here are 4 reasons why. 

1. Smartphones are only ever given minuscule upgrades annually
Every year we see a new iPhone and many new Samsung models but they all have minute hardware and software changes. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is very similar to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Technically for the general mobile phone consumer, it's worth holding on to their current smartphone as they all do similar things. Yes, new ones do the same but better but on the flipside for a person who just uses their mobile phone for the basics, it's simply not worth an upgrade. Saying this many people will definitely jump onto the iPhone 13 bandwagon. Apple and their pesky marketing, ughhhh! 

2. Your Smartphone battery can last up to two years
iPhones normally have a certain amount of charge cycles before they start disintegrating. With the newer smartphones, they last up to 500 charge cycles. Well, that's for the latest iPhones anyway. With bigger capacity batteries and more efficient battery usage, newer smartphone batteries last longer and are indeed built for the long term. So why not use them for long term!

3. Your smartphone will get software updates for years
You’ve spent over £1000 on your new smartphone. Why would companies like Apple and Samsung cut them off and not update them after a few years? Your smartphone will continue to receive updates for many years to come. The iPhone 6s is getting iOS 15 for crying out loud! 

4. You won't notice any performance differences 

Manufacturers like to boast about hardware specifications. It's a way of marketing. Apple loves to do this and is probably the industry's main culprit. Smartphones have reached the point that RAM and processor performance aren't as relevant as they once were. Unless you're a multitasking maniac. As a general mobile phone user, you will not notice the difference between a 6GB RAM and a 12GB RAM mobile device. Smartphone processors also improve each year in terms of efficiency and speed, but in reality, the performance difference is imperceivable when you normally use them. If you got a high-end phone within the last few years, you already have a solid processor to handle almost any task for the next year or two. So, don't be persuaded by the raw numbers of psychological marketing.

Ultimately it's about how much you want or even need a new phone when it's time to upgrade. If your phone is a few years old then consider upgrading but if you've had a phone recently I'd suggest sticking with what you have now because something tells me 2022 is going to be a monumental year for mobiles!