Apple took its time entering the smartphone market. They waited until they had a product that they believed would revolutionize the way people used their phones, and there isn't any denying that they accomplished that goal. Smartphones changed forever after the release of the iPhone. I think it's safe to say that we're all pretty happy with the results these days.

I will admit that I'm looking forward to seeing some changes when it comes to the design of our daily drivers. Whether that's just a reduction of bezels, like Samsung is already promoting with its upcoming Galaxy S8, or maybe something even more eye-catching in the future.

But, in the grand scheme of things, I'm happy with smartphones these days. They may not twist or look like communicators from popular science-fiction shows, but they offer so many other features that they've become indispensable for so many people all over the globe.

And each year, we get something new. Something that's (hopefully) exciting all over again.

Whether it's due to a hardware change, or because a company has shoved in a ton of new features in the software, there's typically something added to the mix from one year to the next. Companies like Apple, Samsung, HTC, and others would love if you invested a yearly purchase into their smartphone lineup. Apple wants you to buy a new iPhone every September. Samsung wants you to buy a new Galaxy S (or Galaxy Note for that matter) every year. HTC, LG, Motorola, and others all have the same goal.

Recently it was reported that the Google Pixel will have a successor, and that it will be a "premium device." Neither one of these details are surprising. I think everyone expected Google to follow suit with its own gameplay from the Nexus days, and with every other major competitor out there. A new smartphone every year. And, as near as anyone can tell the Google Pixel and Pixel XL are success stories for Google. If nothing else, a great start to their new ambitious smartphone plans.

So, yeah, it'll have a sequel.

It has me wondering, though: Is a new smartphone such a foregone conclusion for as many consumers as it used to be? I know that if we look at Apple's sales, it would seem at least that demographic is certainly buying phones on the regular (with a sizable hiccup last year), but even then I know quite a few iPhone 6s owners out there right now, waiting to see what Apple launches later this year.

Moreover, some analysts have speculated that quite a few owners of older model iPhones are also waiting to see if it's worth the upgrade this year. Apple has to convince those customers with aging devices to make the jump, while also putting enough "new stuff" in the upcoming flagship device to convince people who bought an iPhone 7 at the end of 2016 to fork over money again at the end of 2017.

So, I'm curious to know if you buy a new smartphone every year. It doesn't necessarily have to be a flagship, high-end device, either. Do you refresh your daily driver on a yearly basis? Or do you hold off for a couple of years, or longer? If you own an older model iPhone right now, waiting to see what Apple announces in a few months, which model do you have, and how long have you had it? Let me know!