# How long have you ever used the same cellphone?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-have-you-ever-used-the-same-cellphone/682891>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 5, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-have-you-ever-used-the-same-cellphone/682891 "2014-03-05T01:52:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Mumble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Captain\_Mumble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Mumble)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-have-you-ever-used-the-same-cellphone/682891/21 "2014-03-06T00:41:11Z")

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I had a Nokia 6190 from 1997 to 2009. Only changed it when a mate gave me one of his old ones when I complained about the battery not holding a charge.  
(I’m still using the original 64KB simcard)

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**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-have-you-ever-used-the-same-cellphone/682891/22 "2014-03-06T01:53:56Z")

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> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> I answered “0-2 years,” but you’re mistaken if you think that means I’m quick to embrace new technology. It means I only got a cellphone about a year ago.

point taken

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**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-have-you-ever-used-the-same-cellphone/682891/23 "2014-03-06T02:05:52Z")

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I’ve had 6 phones in 12 years, so almost exactly every 2 years. I almost always replace them when the line becomes eligible for upgrade. Never had one lost or stolen (_knocks on wood_), but I did snap a hinge once and had to replace it.

I’ve been eligible for an upgrade on my current iPhone for a couple months and haven’t gotten around to it yet.

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**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-have-you-ever-used-the-same-cellphone/682891/24 "2014-03-06T02:52:05Z")

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About 6.5 years; since 2001 I’ve owned two cellphones.

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**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-have-you-ever-used-the-same-cellphone/682891/25 "2014-03-06T03:24:33Z")

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I got my first cell phone in February 2012, a TracFone. So it just turned 2!  
I have no plans to upgrade it. It is useful a few times a month, but I’ve accumulated over a 1000 minutes that I have no use for.

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**Author:** ![buckgully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@buckgully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buckgully)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-have-you-ever-used-the-same-cellphone/682891/26 "2014-03-06T04:56:17Z")

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I had my Nokia 8260 from 1999 to 2008 when AT&T shut down the AMPS/TDMA network. Near the end it was actually more aftermarket parts than original.

Then I had a couple of phones so boring I don’t even remember their names, then an iPhone 3gs.

I still miss that Nokia.

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