Consumers love new technology. New iterations of iPhones or brand-specific Androids are embraced by devotees looking to analyze the latest features, dissect any potential flaws and conduct entirely biased comparisons to determine which device is best.

Beyond the high-profile advertising that accompanies emerging tech, however, is the underlying software update that typically addresses issues such as system performance, stability and security. But what does this mean for users who can’t or refuse to shell out for the latest versions of their devices? Is the increasingly rapid technology upgrade pace putting money-conscious consumers at risk?