The latest iPhone models for 2026, including the foldable iPhone Duo and flagship iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, are already making waves in the smartphone market. Despite their hefty price tags, many people are still eager to get their hands on the newest models. But if you already own an iPhone and your current device works perfectly well, why does the latest model suddenly feel so difficult to resist? What drives our constant urge to upgrade, even when we may not necessarily need to? In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Vinod Sreeram, sleep and deaddiction specialist and adult psychiatrist, explains why we feel the need to upgrade our iPhones every year.
This influences our decision to buy the new phone. We imagine feeling left out of a group of people who have bought the new phone, which would potentially mean that you cannot involve yourself in conversations about the new phone. We want to avoid this feeling. “ Social media usually amplifies FOMO. “Yes, buying the new iPhone can be linked to self-esteem. The possession of the latest mobile phone can serve as evidence of being up-to-date and successful in some regard. When self-esteem is tied to external validation, a new phone can offer a quick and short self-esteem boost. Absolutely. Upgrading a phone every year, especially when the previous one still works, often has more to do with one’s mood than an actual need. People buy new phones to cope with stress, boredom, or a bad day, in the same way they might shop for clothes or order food. The purchase gives a short-term emotional lift, which is exactly what makes it a spending pattern worth watching.
Because buying the new iPhone was never meant to satisfy an emotional need, satisfaction from buying a new phone rarely lasts long, and this is.
FOMO works by making us feel like we will regret not buying the new phone, according to Dr Vinod Sreeram. Seeing others unbox a new phone in real time creates pressure,” said Dr Vinod Sreeram. The items we possess become a representation of who we think we are and how we want the world to see us,” said Dr Vinod Sreeram.
