Because if we don’t get the newest model, our current phones turn into quesadillas.

It’s because I was eligible to upgrade, and could sell my old phone for MORE than I paid for it

They do kind of rot. At least, the batteries do. After a few thousand charges, they start to lose capacity. And unfortunately the companies that make the phones would prefer that we buy a completely new phone than replace the old one’s battery. In fact, some (if not all) manufacturers intentionally design their phones to wear out faster, so that we have to spend more money on buying replacement phones.

NO NEW PHONE IS BETTER HAN OLD PHONE

Eh. People have a tendency to sit on them, get them wet, or do other stupid crap and break them, and sometimes their provider goes out of business and they have to replace it – but mostly it’s preppies who have to have the new thing. I’ve been using my phone for like 6 years and it’s still good and has a way better battery life.

They break… REAL easy…

V couldn’t have said it better myself

There is no reason. Basically, it is the same with Rarity getting return customers: the “old” models just go out of fashion.

Whoa, what’s this I hear about artificial scarcity?
 
Sorry about that, I got kinda scared. Anyway, the phones themselves don’t rot, Twilight. The software they contain, however, rots in a manner of speaking. Bugs go unfixed as phone vendors devote attention to their newer products. Third-party developers are forced to choose between fancy new features and long-term compatibility as phone makers evolve their devices, orphaning perfectly capable applications and accessories.
 
Really, though, I think it’s horn envy.

To answer your question Twi, today’s American populace is a very different animal than it was even in 40’s. People from the late 40’s, early 50’s were brought up with an entitlement mindset, which they taught to their children, which they taught to their children, which they taught to us. So we’re products of a society that has, for 4 generations, believed subconsciously that they should have whatever they want, whenever they want it. That’s part of the reason our economy’s in shit-sack condition right now, because of all the gimmes who consume a lot, and produce jack-shit.  
That’s why we change our phones out so often. We don’t need to. But, after all, what’s the harm in collectively wasting tens of billions of dollars every year so that every 13 year old can follow the newest fad or trend. And by the same logic, what’s the harm in wasting a couple trillion dollars so every single American from the bum to the basement dweller, can continue to do just exactly what they want; Nothing of Value.

My phone don’t do shit except make phone calls and text.

It’s because they’ve got to have… MONEEEEY!
 
And because consumers are stupid.

I have some crappy five or six year old flip phone I very rarely use or need. It would be nice sometimes to have a phone I could browse the internet with but it’s definitely not necessary for me. I hate touchscreens so a fancy phone wouldn’t suit me anyway.

Ugh, because Twilight. They make the general mass into a mob of fucking dumbasses who can’t drive their cars and think they can multitask. Cell phones were made for one purpose, for calling. That’s it. Not fucking texting and being completely oblivious to reality.

iPhone? Eeugh… Government provided is good enough for me :/

as someone who uses apple products. I cannot for the life of me understand why some people are so devoted to them

Also, I like how they announced a year ago that the iphone 4 was going to be the last one yet this shows up…

I have a flip-phone that does nothing but make phone calls and because it can’t do extra stuff is why the battery last 72 hours.

I got my brick of a phone back in the August of 2009 and it’s still working…

Kind of? Planned obsolescence makes things have to be replaced relatively often, like every 2 or 3 years. Add in a locale placed in places that already see high traffic, artificial scarcity, and a very minor helping of Apple ‘superfans’, and you get a phenomenon that looks like more than it is.

Because humanity is not without it’s flaws.
 
And by that I mean we are susceptible to shiny things.

I got my current phone in 2008, still alive and kicking.

i don’t see the big deal about phones i use it too call and text and listen to music if i’m out an d about thats about it. as too why people buy new iphones when they have a perfectly good on eis beyond me

I still have my 3. I see no point in changing it what so ever.