There are two kinds of people: Those who upgrade to new devices anytime something shiny catches their eye and those who wait until their beloved gadgets finally bite the dust before upgrading.
When it comes to phones, there are warning signs yours is on the way out. My recommendation: Save your money and wait till you can say “Yes” to most of the tells on this list before buying a new one.
Lagging: Remember when your apps ran seamlessly? Now, transitions may feel like slow-motion replays. New phones come loaded with up to 12GB of RAM for swift multitasking. Older models with 2GB or less can’t compete.
- Action step: Regularly clear your phone’s cache and avoid overloading storage. If your performance doesn’t improve, you’re due for an upgrade.
Battery blues: If your phone’s gasping for juice by midday after being fully charged in the morning, it’s a big sign. The average smartphone battery retains up to 80% of its charge capacity after 500 full charge cycles.
- Action step: Dive into your phone’s battery health settings. If your battery capacity’s below 80%, it’s decision time.
Storage wars: The dreaded “Storage Almost Full” notification is more than an annoyance. With app sizes getting larger and high-res 4K videos becoming the standard, even 64GB of storage might feel cramped pretty quickly.
- Action step: Use cloud backups and offload unused apps. Still crowded? Time for a storage upgrade.
Camera woes: If the photos you’re snapping with your phone look like 2010 throwbacks, there’s an issue. Optical image stabilization and larger sensors have revolutionized phone photography.
- Action step: Regularly clean your phone’s camera lens(es) to get images as clear as you can.
Update agitation: If you’ve missed the last two operating system (OS) updates, whether you’re on an Android or an iPhone, you’re on borrowed time. Manufacturers typically support devices for about 4 to 5 years.
- Action step: No more updates? Sorry, but it’s time to say goodbye. This is a security nonnegotiable.
Connection frustration: Frequent signal drops aren’t always your provider’s fault. Newer phones boast better antennae and support more frequency bands.
- Action step: Check for software updates. If your signal is fine but your call strength is not, consider upgrading.
Bottom line: I upgrade with each new iPhone release (on my own dime) because it’s my job to stay up to date with the latest tech. For most people, that’s really not necessary. As long as your phone gets the job done and still receives OS updates, you’re fine.
What happens when you take a Chinese smartphone somewhere unsafe? You take the Huawei to the Danger Zone.