Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Annual iPhone Upgrades Spark Debate Over Costs and Convenience
Chirag Barjatya says he gets a new iPhone every year.
He pays in monthly installments instead of paying the whole price at once.
He also trades in his old phone while it still has a good resale value.
He says this makes upgrading feel a little like leasing a phone.
The benefits include a new battery, a new warranty and newer camera features.
He also says keeping cash available helps him run his business.
Some people agree that exchanging phones yearly can make the cost easier to manage.
Others say keeping one phone for four or five years is cheaper and that installment plans can encourage overspending.
The discussion grew after Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Chirag Barjatya says he upgraded annually from the iPhone X to the iPhone 17 Pro using no-cost EMI and exchanging his old phone.
He says his devices retained about 60–70% of their purchase price, making the arrangement similar to a lease.
Barjatya cites manageable monthly payments, fresh batteries, new warranties, updated cameras and preserving business cash as benefits.
Critics on X argued that zero-cost EMI can encourage unnecessary spending and that keeping a phone for four or five years costs less overall.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at ₹1,64,900 in India, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at ₹1,79,900.
- Who
- Chirag Barjatya, Apple, and X users discussing annual iPhone upgrades.
- What
- A debate over whether replacing an iPhone every year through no-cost EMI and trade-ins is financially worthwhile.
- When
- The discussion followed the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Where
- On X, with prices discussed for India.
- Why
- Barjatya says annual upgrades provide newer features, a fresh battery and warranty while preserving resale value and cash; critics say long-term ownership costs less.
Annual Upgrades Can Be Practical
Long-Term Ownership Costs Less
Managing the cost
Annual Upgrades Can Be Practical
Barjatya says no-cost EMI and a strong exchange value spread payments and reduce the immediate cost of a new phone.
Long-Term Ownership Costs Less
Critics say installment plans can create an ongoing payment cycle and encourage people to spend unnecessarily.
Value of the phone
Annual Upgrades Can Be Practical
Barjatya values a new battery, warranty, camera and other features for work, content creation and business management.
Long-Term Ownership Costs Less
Other users argue that iPhones are durable and that their value is best realized by keeping them for several years.
Overall expense
Annual Upgrades Can Be Practical
One X user argued that upgrading every year can be less costly than waiting five or six years, though the post did not provide calculations.
Long-Term Ownership Costs Less
Barjatya acknowledges that keeping the same phone for four or five years is cheaper overall.
- Upgrade history
- Barjatya says he upgraded annually from the iPhone X to the iPhone 17 Pro.
- Payment method
- No-cost EMI combined with exchanging the previous iPhone.
- Reported exchange value
- Approximately 60–70% of the original purchase price.
- Claimed benefits
- No large upfront payment, a fresh battery, a new warranty and newer features.
- iPhone 18 Pro price in India
- Starts at ₹1,64,900.
- iPhone 18 Pro Max price in India
- Starts at ₹1,79,900.
- Launch features
- The new Pro models include the A20 Pro chipset, C2 modem and a 48MP Fusion Main camera with physical variable aperture.