When Should I Upgrade My Smartphone? How Will I Know If It's Time To Buy A New One?

When purchasing a new smartphone, we often look at the specs and features of the new handset options along with their price tags. However, most users forget to check whether they actually need to upgrade their smartphones or not.

Smartphone manufacturing companies naturally want users to upgrade their smartphones, and they often tempt the users with new features of the latest model. However, as informed consumers, the users need to check whether they need an upgrade instead of making an impulse purchase. It raises the question: How frequently should someone upgrade their smartphone?

What is the Lifespan of a Smartphone?

Smartphones are electronic devices that degrade over time. However, the degradation of the smartphone depends upon a variety of factors.

Above all, the longevity of the smartphone depends on the user. For instance, do you use your smartphone for basic tasks or heavily engage in Mobile Legends and other games? Other contributing factors that decide the smartphone's lifespan are how often you use it and whether you take care of the smartphone. 

Furthermore, the smartphone's hardware is crucial in deciding the lifespan. Most flagship smartphones use high-quality materials to design the hardware and, as a result, last longer compared to entry-level handsets. However, despite everything, at some point, you will have to upgrade your smartphone. Below are a few signs indicating that now is the right time to upgrade your smartphone. 

1. Slow Processing

Does your current smartphone lag or crash even while running basic apps like GCash? If yes, chances are that the handset's processor is now outdated. Most app developers work on newer versions of their apps and games to match the software update. Outdated processors just have a hard time matching the system requirements of newly updated apps and games.

2. The Smartphone No Longer Receives Software Updates 

Handset manufacturers roll out software updates for their smartphones for a certain period. iPhones generally roll out software updates for their users for up to five-six years. On the other hand, Android Smartphone manufacturers give software support to their users for only three years. However, Samsung is an exception, as it provides its users with four years of constant updates.

If you have stopped receiving the software updates, not only will your smartphone have serious lagging issues but security loopholes too. The fact also suggests that an iPhone user will have to upgrade their smartphone every six years, and the Android smartphone needs to be upgraded after every three years.

3. Battery Drain

Smartphone batteries have a finite life. It starts degrading the moment you switch on your smartphone for the first time. However, the degradation process is slow and is not noticeable for the first two years. Sooner or later a situation arrives where the user might find themselves plugging their smartphone every now and then because of battery drainage.

Replacing the battery of the smartphone is an option. However, you need to consider the investment and the return on investment to decide whether you will replace the battery or switch to a new smartphone.

4. Physical Damage

Needless to say, if you break your smartphone or inflict severe damage, you might need to switch to a new one altogether. It is especially true if the repair cost comes nearly close to the actual price of the smartphone. 

To prevent physical damage to the smartphone, we recommend you protect it with tempered glass and a back cover. Investing in a trusted and reliable shock-proof case can also help, especially if your smartphone is very expensive to begin with.

5. Attractive New Features

Aside from the dip in performance or any hardware damage on your current smartphone, another factor that can prompt you to upgrade is the availability of new and innovative features on fresh handset releases. These days, this is particularly true for flagship-level models that often come with enhanced imaging and video recording capabilities using AI. If you use your smartphone to create content and you always want to be at the forefront of utilizing the latest technology in your photos or videos, then it's understandable for you to consider upgrading your device almost every year.

Ways To Increase Longevity Of The Smartphone

Thankfully, there are numerous ways to extend the smartphone's lifespan. You can begin by deleting the apps that you do not use, especially those that constantly run in the background and degrade the battery's lifespan. Furthermore, only play games on your smartphone that it can run while not straining resources. Avoid playing graphic-intensive games or apps if your smartphone does not have the required hardware support for them as this can cause overheating, which can damage your device over time. If you think that you have become a power or heavy user and your needs have outgrown your entry-level smartphone, consider upgrading to a higher end model.

As discussed above, you can protect your smartphone from physical damage via a screen protector and protective case. Also, some experts advise avoiding overnight charging as it can potentially tamper with the battery's health. Do not download apps from unverified sources as these can have malware, which can mess up your handset's software and become a security risk. Additionally, clean your smartphone's junk files every now and then. Many Android smartphone models have built-in apps that can help you do this with a couple of taps on the screen. Lastly, restart your phone once a week to give it a much-needed break as this can flush down a build-up of memory and cache files.

Irrespective of all the precautions you take, your smartphone, like any other electronic device, will become slow, and the battery will start draining faster. Eventually, you will also stop receiving software and security updates from the manufacturer. Personally, I would advise most consumers to upgrade their smartphones every three or four years for productivity and security reasons.