There are days when I miss when it took manufacturers a healthy stretch of time to create a proper sequel to a device. Sure, they released other handsets, sometimes just as good as what came before, but the sequel to a handset that you loved usually always stood out. And, sometimes, the release corresponded with your two-year upgrade date, if you were lucky. Release dates may not have been so obvious back then, but at least you had time with a device because the successor wasn’t potentially coming out six months later.

Now that we’re firmly in the years where the yearly refresh is an actual thing, and seeing successors to devices come out sometimes even before that yearly target, keeping a phone for a shorter length of time is now more common than ever. Of course, it helps that carriers are bending to the idea of monthly installment plans for devices. With these, it’s easier than ever to trade in a device that you’ve been paying monthly payments for, and get a new handset and pay monthly installments on that device moving forward.

Not including T-Mobile, the carriers are still likely to try and get you to pick up a two-year contract if you’re on the fence between the two options, but at least there are options now.

And it isn’t like there aren’t devices to upgrade to every year. The manufacturers out there are never satisfied with what they have on the market for too long, so the next great thing is always on the horizon. And why shouldn’t it be? With devices like LG’s G3, HTC’s One (M8), Motorola’s new Moto X, Apple’s iPhone 6, and Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4, the list is still growing of great handsets you can buy in 2014 (or will be able to soon).

But, as many have caught on to over the years, sometimes upgrading every year isn’t all that worth it, especially if you’re still a fan of the device you’ve been using for months already. Or, perhaps more accurately, the older device isn’t breaking on you.

More than that, I’ve seen so many times recently people asking, “Is it worth the upgrade?” These folks usually point out that they’ve got the previous year’s version, and looking at the new handset just doesn’t spring to life any real desire or need to upgrade just yet.

There are people out there that buy a phone just because it’s new, and they want it. And I’m not even talking about early adopters. With the option to easily upgrade every year now, they’re going to take advantage of it. And, let’s face it, neither option is wrong. If you want to wait, or if you want to get all the phones every year, whatever works for you is the right way to go.

I’m just curious: Do you upgrade every year? Specifically, do you often upgrade from one version of a device to the next year’s successor? Or do you wait an extra year to make sure you get the best bang for your buck? Let me know!