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Some people obsessively upgrade their phone each year, while others prefer to keep their old beater going for as long as possible. But nothing lasts forever, so when is it time to ditch your old phone and splash out on a new one?

Obviously, a modern smartphone should last longer than a year, and there isn't a particularly large leap between generations. So you absolutely don't need to buy a new version of your device every time one is released. But there will be a point when you should consider getting something new. Not doing so could inconvenience you, make you miss out on the latest apps, and even leave you open to security risks.

Security Is Your Main Concern

A master lock securing the latch on a storage unit
Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

Security is the most important factor when it comes to phone upgrades. Even if a smartphone manages to survive five years without a scratch or dent, it will eventually become vulnerable to bugs, malware, and hackers.

This is due to a lack of firmware and security updates. Most phones receive just a few years of operating system updates, though they tend to get "security updates" for a while longer. These updates patch holes and eliminate bugs in your phone's code that hackers can exploit. But the security updates eventually stop coming---usually within three to five years of the device's launch.

Smartphones are used for more than just calls and texts these days. If you use your phone to shop, bank, or transfer money, a lapse in security could see your accounts compromised. So if your phone is no longer receiving security updates, you either need to change how you use it or buy something new.

Battery Life May Cause Problems

Batteries degrade over time. While you may have once gotten a day or two out of your device, it may now last for a few hours. Numerous factors cause battery degradation, but the most common one is simply charging and draining the battery repeatedly.

Your phone is likely in constant use, so it will go through more charging cycles than other devices. And, unlike most devices, your phone leaves home. It's exposed to changes in temperature every day, and this can reduce a battery's lifespan.

Generally speaking, a phone battery will start to feel "smaller" after two years. The battery itself may still be healthy, but it's a lot less useful than it used to be, and it will eventually become totally useless. While you can certainly replace a phone's battery, doing so may not be worth the effort, especially if the phone itself is already nearing retirement.

If Your Phone Is Damaged, Think About Dumping It

Like batteries, something like a cracked screen is a major issue. A drop or a bad scratch could essentially leave you typing on a glass cheese grater -- so something will have to be done about it.

With broken or degrading parts, like screens and batteries, repair is an option. You can pay to have a phone's battery or screen replaced, and if you're handy enough, you can even replace it yourself. Right to repair legislation, if it ever arrives, is only going to make things easier. Companies like Samsung are also ahead of the curve and are offering a home repair program.

This makes sense on a newer phone, where a screen or battery is far cheaper than the device itself. However, if your phone is getting long in the tooth, you're splashing out to keep a borderline obsolete device going for a little while longer. You may be better off treating the repair costs as a sort of discount on a new device and putting the money towards a new phone. If your phone worked well before the drop or the battery degraded, and it's still getting updates, consider repairing it. But it already frustrated you before you broke it, and it already stopped getting security updates; it's time to replace it.

Your OS Is Old, and Nothing Works With It Any More

Before security issues start to spring up, you'll likely be cut off from general operating systems updates. While this initially means you'll just miss out on some new features -- as the OS version you're stuck with gets older, you'll start to notice more problems.

App developers tend to aim their products at the majority of phone users, and the majority of users keep up to date with the latest versions of operating systems. So, needless to say, most apps aren't made for old phones. You may find that some new apps don't work on your aging smartphone, or that old apps suddenly drop support.

Similarly, accessories like earbuds, hearing aids, and smart home products may not work correctly with old phones. If you're having trouble using external devices with your smartphone, it may be a sign that you need to upgrade.

Modern Stuff Is Just Better

The Google Pixel 7a on concrete
Andrew Heinzman / How-To Geek

We may have hit a point where year-to-year upgrades are minimal, and even the two-year smartphone upgrade cycle many carriers market is excessive. But we are still in a period of rapid technological advancement, and that technology does trickle down.

If you bought a flagship phone a few years ago, today's mid-range devices may be far superior. Even low-end devices are arguably better in terms of computing power than flagships from three or four years ago. So if your phone seems slow four years on, you're not looking at a four-figure sum for something modern. You can upgrade to something more powerful for a few hundred dollars.

You're On an Old Standard

usb-cables
Jason Montoya / How-To Geek

Standards change every few years, and that leads to issues for the devices that are left behind. The majority of Android phones used to charge through a Micro USB cable, and older iPhones used a 30-pin connector to charge and interface with other devices. Now Androids tend to use USB-C, and Apple devices rely on the lightning cable (at least for a little while longer).

This causes problems if you're on an older device and vital parts like charging cables become obsolete. They become harder and more expensive to replace; you can't just head to a gas station to buy one. Instead, they slowly become very specialist online orders. If you're outside the house and have low battery, you have a reasonable chance of being able to borrow an iPhone charger, but the chances of you talking to someone with a 30-pin connector on their person is slim.

It's not just phones, either. I've genuinely considered replacing a perfectly functional Xbox controller and several power banks because Micro USB cables are on the endangered list in my house. I'm down to about four, and things get damaged/lost all the time. I don't even know how many USB-C cables I have. But they come with everything, so I'm fairly sure I could tie my collection together and rope the moon with it at this point.

What About Modular Smartphones?

Modular smartphones are built for repairability and upgradability. Break your screen? Just buy a new one and swap it out. Need a better camera? You can buy one of those and stick it in there too. Is everyone using a newer cable to charge their phones? Just get a new charging port. The parts are available cheaply, and the phones are designed to make at-home repair as easy as possible.

Fairphone is the premier modular phone brand, and it's even got a subscription plan which will send you out new parts you can upgrade your phone with and replacement parts for the bits that break. The subscription plan is based around you keeping your phone for as long as possible, and its price decreases as time goes on. Note that Fairphone is only available in the United States through third-party distributers, though it's widely available in Europe and the UK.

If you want to keep a phone for many years, a modular system is the way forward. You don't have to worry about pretty much any of the things I've mentioned in this article. If a modular system doesn't sound right for you, then traditional upgrades are still an option. Just make sure you aren't using a shattered phone with an outdated OS and 30 minutes of battery life.

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Murena Fairphone 4

The Fairphone 4 is finally available in the United States through Murena. This variant runs a de-Googled version of Android and is only recommended for T-Mobile's networks.


All phones need to be replaced at some point. You may be tempted to extend the life of your old phone by replacing its screen or battery, but if the device doesn't receive security updates or has trouble running apps, you're better off putting that repair money towards a new phone.

Your current financial circumstances and what you actually need the phone for also plays a part. If you don't want to spend hundreds on a new phone, you can look into trade-in deals, which are often quite generous. You could also buy a used phone, or simply do the best with what you've got---a power bank can help you deal with a crappy phone battery, for example.