Smartphones are obsolete before contracts end

When asked whether they felt their smartphone was obsolete or soon would be, 62% of respondents to Retrevo’s study said yes.

When Retrevo asked smartphone owners whether they would consider changing smartphones before their contract was up, 48% said they would if the terms were favorable. One in five said a two year contract on their device was fine. Others were unsure or considering purchasing an unlocked phone.

More than 120 smartphones were released in the last year from major vendors and consumers are quickly finding their smartphones lack the capabilities of one released just a few months before and users with contracts can feel tied to an obsolete device.

“The problem is that most carriers require you to hold onto a phone for two years before you can upgrade which has created a condition where new phones appear much faster than consumers are allowed to buy them,” says Retrevo’s blog on the topic.