Stop the smartphone upgrade myth and learn when you should buy a new smartphone.
Hold your horses! Don’t join the never-ending annual upgrade cycle by buying a new smartphone. Protect the environment and your wallet by considering these seven reasons why you should keep your smartphone a little longer.
1. Sale Season
Never buy a new smartphone without maximizing potential savings, unless you’re that rich. Always wait for the sale season or promo period, which can happen during launch or in the middle of the year. Here are some interesting events where can get massive discounts:
- Early bird
- Launch promo
- Warehouse sale
- Monthly online sale
- Live-streaming sale
Some of these are limited events that come with freebies and huge price cuts. Thus, always time your next big buy during sale seasons.
2. High Cost
With inflation, prices have gone beyond control. From rent to utility bills to meals, expensiveness is now synonymous with lunacy.
It’s impractical to buy a new smartphone annually if your budget is tight and if there’s nothing wrong with your device. Perhaps save your extra for a successor two to three years from now or invest it in something profitable.
If you’re in love with a specific model right now, consider buying it a year later and during a sale season. Don’t forget to check for reviews while you’re taking the time so you can learn if it’s worth every penny.
3. Software Support Period
Is your current smartphone already out of its support period? Apple has a long software support period of five years or more. Android has a standard of two years while certain brands have two to seven years.
Many mid-rangers are now getting promising support periods of up to two major upgrades and three years of security patches. This should be your baseline.
Get a new smartphone after three years if it’s a mid-ranger or seven to 10 years if it’s a flagship. If your current device is still getting updates, don’t be too quick to retire it.
4. Fully Operational
Let’s assume that your smartphone is within the software support period. Is the device working normally? No lags or stutters? No reboots or freezes? If none of these happened before, there’s no reason for you to rush a new buy.
Random reboots and freezes may be fixed by Factory Reset. It’s a recommended course of action every six months or every year. If your device received a major upgrade, consider a Factory Reset too.
There have been reports where various smartphones that got upgraded to a new major version experienced issues, such as battery drain and stutters. A Factory Reset is usually effective in clearing out system bugs.
5. Repairable or Replaceable Parts
Loose charging ports? Wobbly volume rockers and power key? Shorter standby time? These talk about repairs and replacements. After years of use, you can’t expect the device to be in perfect shape.
Batteries are consumable and will only last a few years after multiple charging each day. But it doesn’t mean you should give up on your phone. Repairs and replacements of certain parts can be friendlier on your wallet than buying a new phone, especially if it’s a flagship.
If we’re talking about an entry-level smartphone, you can choose between repair and a new purchase. Repair if you have other plans for it or a new buy if you want it to retire.
6. Mediocre Upgrades
The annual release cycle of tech giants is getting old and boring. They would advertise this and that and the audience would be in awe without knowing that the upgrades are mediocre at best.
Flagships are called like that for a reason: built to last. So, why would you retire a 2024 flagship model for a 2025 release other than it is brand new? Artificial intelligence?
Don’t forget that the 2024 flagship model is equipped with a flagship chipset and neural cores. It can run AI features locally, just wait for the AI features to arrive. Your device is guaranteed of it.
New camera sensors? Hardly different compared to the predecessor unless you’re using those cameras for professional work. That said, better get a professional-grade camera instead.
7. Eco-friendly
Let’s be eco-friendly. Every time you retire a smartphone, it becomes a toxic trash in the environment. With a flagship model, buy a new one after a considerable gap of at least five years.
The same goes for mid-ranger models. Have a gap of three years before opting for a new purchase. If you’re replacing an entry-level, perhaps it’s time to move up the ladder to help protect the environment.
That simple gap promotes a more sustainable setting that can reduce the negative impact of electronic waste. You can do more by buying second-hand phones, repairing your own phone, or picking a long-lasting model.
