Until recently, the smartphone renewal cycle was punctuated by contracts signed with telephone operators. The standard duration of the contracts was two years. Customers were therefore asked to replace their phone when the contract expired. Lately, however, the norm has been more on the side of no-contract plans that don’t require a commitment. Since then, users have been free to choose when to change smartphones, but this question does not have a single answer.
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The first and most important step is to assess your satisfaction with your phone. If certain elements make you unhappy, examine the problems. Much of what makes us unhappy with our phones can be fixed, so it helps to know the solutions. L’autonomy is probably the most common problem affecting the smartphones aging.
If the device seems sluggish or won’t last all day, one of the easiest and most affordable solutions is to replace the battery. Replacing the battery considerably prolongs the duration life of a device and makes it faster. As the batteries have a limited life, it is recommended to replace them every two or three years.
The thorny subject of updates
Phone manufacturers regularly release software updates that include new features but also fix security vulnerabilities, so it’s important to stay up to date to install them. A good general rule is to consider upgrading when you can no longer get software updates. On this account, all smartphones are not housed in the same boat.
The iPhone ofApple benefit from software updates for five to six years. For instance, iOS 15 (available since 2021) can be installed on theiPhone 6S from 2015. Devices android benefit from it for a shorter period: approximately two to three years depending on the manufacturer. Google tries all the same to get closer to Apple since the pixel 6 and later models are expected to receive five years of updates.
Other factors to consider
While security updates are important, it may not be practical for some people to upgrade as soon as software updates run out. First of all for economic reasons, but also for ecological reasons, even if the purchase of a refurbished smartphone can alleviate these two points.
These people should replace their smartphone for reasons other than simple support software. Here are some additional factors.
Whether it’s a shattered screen, a cracked camera lens, or a back damaged glass, if your phone is damaged, its life is limited. Natural wear and tear can also play a role. Your fingers may be pressing the buttons too hard physical from your old phone. It may also be that there is no obvious cause. Internal components like storage flash your phone can sometimes crash for no apparent reason.
Whether over a long period of time or immediately, the damage will affect the proper functioning of your phone. It’s up to you whether you can deal with a damaged phone that continues to work. However, broken components will eventually strain your hand and you may have no choice but to upgrade.
The norm for modern Android phones is to have at least 128GB of internal storage on the base model, which is more than enough for most users. However, if your Android phone is more than three to five years old, it may have 16, 32, or 64 GB of maximum storage, depending on the model.
If that was enough before, it is no longer the case today, given the increase in file sizes of almost all forms of media. The cameras of smartphones now take higher photos resolutionmobile games are more graphically intense and apps social media offers more features than ever.
All of this requires extra space to keep your phone serving you every day.
The lack of features
Last important point, but which remains rather subjective: the absence of functionalities. Nowadays, many technologies such as NFC or the augmented reality are making their way into real life and aren’t so gimmicky anymore. Thus, the purchase of a smartphone more recent and possessing wireless payment technologies or capable of storing and reading QR codes more justified.
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