How to Tell When it is Time to Buy a New Smartphone

Plenty of high-quality manufacturers have released amazing new smartphone models recently. Just a few tempting features include 5G connectivity, HD resolution, and upgraded cameras. Even so, the most feature-packed smartphones tend to cost quite a bit, so plenty of frugal shoppers want to wait to replace their phone. Find out how to know for sure that it's time to consider buying a new smartphone.

Signs That It's Time to Buy a New Smartphone

CNBC noted that average smartphone users tend to keep their phones longer than they did just a few years ago. They said increased prices might contribute to this trend. For example, payment plans used to average about 24 months; however, now it's common to find plans of 36 months or even longer. The sellers increased the term of their payment plans in order to keep monthly payments about the same. Lots of consumers will try to make their phone last at least as long as the balance on their account does.
In any case, it's not always possible to perfectly time phone replacements. With that in mind, consider these signs that it's time to consider an upgrade:
  • Slow apps: Some phones have apps that clear memory and close unused apps to help improve performance. Still, if it's necessary to perform this kind of maintenance daily or even more than once each day, it's probably a sign that the user's needs have outgrown the phone.
  • Outdated operating system: If the phone can't run updates or the manufacturer doesn't even release them any longer, it's a clear indicator that it's time to go phone shopping. Upgrades keep phones secure and functioning without errors.
  • Low storage: As with performance issues, the phone user might delete unnecessary files or archive them to cloud storage. At the point when the phone only contains useful apps and files, it's time to get a new phone with more storage.
  • Weak battery: Of course, users can also replace the batteries of many phones; however, they're generally fairly expensive. Depending upon the circumstances, it may just be more cost effective to replace the entire phone.

How to Buy a New Smartphone That Lasts

Tom's Guide brought up a good point in an article about replacing phones. They mentioned that the big manufacturers generally include the latest tech and durable builds in their flagship smartphone models. Though these phones tend to cost the most, they're meant to last for least a few years.
Possibly because of the higher price, such companies as Apple, Google and Samsung tend to support the high-end phones for quite a few years. This means users can still get their phones updated with operating system and security upgrades. In any case, it's probably fair to assume that a phone that retails for close to $1,000 will last longer than a phone that sells for less than $400.
Tom's Guide also mentioned that batteries may not last as long as the phone does. That's true even when the battery came with a high-end smartphone. The author noted that he needed to replace his iPhone battery after only about 18 months. That might not describe a typical experience, but it's important to note these because lots of phones don't have removable backs to allow consumers to buy and replace their own batteries.

How to Keep a Phone in Good Condition Longer

In particular, people who decide to invest in a high-end, flagship phone should also consider buying a good extended warranty. Because Upsie keeps its warranty prices low and its coverage high, customers get the best protection at the best price.
Upsie's smartphone subscription warranties cost just $9.99 per month. In addition, Upsie doesn't pressure people into choosing their protection plan at the sales counter. Instead, customers can purchase an Upsie subscription warranty for old, used, and new phones, even if the phone is several years old. Upsie smartphone subscription warranties cover accidents like drops and spills, shorts, malfunctioning screens, and most other kinds of phone issues.

Learn More About Smartphone Warranties:

Updated 3/22/22

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