• ElectroVagrant@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Personally, although the terms have become increasingly blurred over the years, I refer to changing to a new version of software (including an OS, and both ideally with some improvements) as updating it rather than upgrading.

    I reserve upgrade more for changes of hardware with some form of improvement over its predecessor. I’d suspect I may not be alone in this, but I dunno how common it may be. When switching to a mix of both, I simply say I’m getting a new [insert specific device depending on which].

    Although I’d hesitate to call many new phones an all-around upgrade when they’re either removing features (headphone jack/expandable storage) or getting more cumbersome to hold (can you even call some modern phones a handset anymore?).

    • Lemmington Bunnie@aussie.zone
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      7 months ago

      I agree with your terminology - updating is for often small incremental software patches.

      Upgrade would be a complete program overhaul, or more commonly in my use of it, a change to a newer, better physical product.