People usually clown on Apple users specifically for doing this, but every Apple user I know uses their phone for multiple years. In fact, Apple was giving users multiple years of software support while Samsung and others were only doing 2 major Android updates for flagships. Google was the one to FINALLY change the status quo in the Android world, so that's good at least, others seem to be following suit. Previously, Android users I knew would just keep going without software updates. Luckily they mostly still receive security updates for a few years after the OS updates stop.

None of the manufacturers gives you a compelling reason to upgrade every year anymore. 10-15 years ago the changes were big because the first smartphones were shit compared to what you had just a few years later. Between the original iPhone and roughly the 5 or 5s, every upgrade was pretty major. Same on the Android side.

Now I think you'd have to go from an 11 Pro to 16 Pro to notice anything. And good news in that department, if you still have an 11 or 11 pro, that still got the iOS 18 update. Actually, so did the older XR and XS.

The only reason to buy a new phone every year nowadays is because Apple, knowing EXACTLY what they're doing, changes the camera arrangement every year so clout chasers would know you have last year's model. It's stupid as fuck, but luckily none of the people I know fall for it.