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How often should you replace your phone: 5 important criteria

AndroidPIT living without smartphone 1
© nextpit

There are those people who like spicy food, or those who have a sweet tooth. Well, just like how people have different tastes in food, there are also different types of mobile users. So to answer the question of how often you have to change phones will depend on your taste and what kind of user you are. Although this article won’t reveal a magic recipe or secret formula, we’ll share some points that you should keep in mind when you’re thinking about replacing your smartphone.

Of course, we’d all like to have our hands on a top-range Samsung Galaxy S9 and exchange it next year for the new version, but not everyone has that kind of purchasing power, and as I already mentioned, this this all depends on the demands you place on your personal device.

1. It’s slower than a game of chess

It is a nightmare to turn on your smartphone and then have to wait an eternity for it to start. Or what about when the device takes a long time to respond to after a call? If you move from WhatsApp to Facebook and it feels like you’re watching grass grow, don’t think about it anymore and get a new mobile phone right now.

2. Your version of Android is outdated

When the manufacturer of your device refuses to release a new system update, it’s a clear sign that you need to change your smartphone. An outdated phone is more vulnerable to attacks, as you’ll lose support for security updates and the apps you use the most.

3. The battery runs out in the blink of an eye

The battery in any electronic device has a certain lifespan. The more you use it, the more it’ll wear out over time. This is a ‘natural’ process. If the battery is wearing down, it’s a clear sign that you’ll need to replace the battery… but if you’ve reached that point, it’s easier just to buy a new phone.

4. You’re out of storage

If you’ve run out of space on your device it doesn’t mean you should run to the mall and buy a new smartphone. If you’ve run out of storage, you can save photos, videos, or install more apps by expanding the device’s internal memory or simply by cleaning and deleting files and applications you don’t use or need.

5. Your photos are getting uglier

imagem camera mi 5
Not so pretty... / © NextPit

This might seen trivial to some, but for many people this will be a good enough reason to aim for a new smartphone. There’s a good reason why smartphones are leading to the extinction of digital cameras. It could be that your phone’s lens was scratched or bumped at some point, which can affect the quality of your photos and videos.

So what do you think? How often do you replace your smartphone?

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  • Comte 1
    Comte Jul 3, 2019 Link to comment

    I dont understand these comments that a smartphone should be renewed every 2 or so years. I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 which is about 6 or 7 years old and it works perfectly. The battery was replaced recently and there are no battery problems. A factory reset of the phone cleared the memory and now it has no problems of memory shortage. I cannot find any good reason to change this phone except that sometimes I find an app that cannot be installed because it is "not compatible with your smartphone" and this may possibly be due to the age of the android system.


    • Alvira Chowdhury 1
      Alvira Chowdhury Jun 15, 2022 Link to comment

      I really hope you have change your phone by now!


  • Erdem Yilmaz 1
    Erdem Yilmaz Sep 19, 2018 Link to comment

    I think you should get a new phone (everything on this list happened already) once every 2-3 years. Maybe even 4.


  • Rusty H. 33
    Rusty H. Apr 5, 2018 Link to comment

    I replace mine typically every 3-4 years.


  • 27
    Sorin Apr 5, 2018 Link to comment

    It is not a criterion, but a Great Opportunity to change the phone is at... Great Promotions!

    Deactivated Account


  • CJ Brown 29
    CJ Brown Apr 4, 2018 Link to comment

    I know it's the usual 2 answers you will get for the 'non removable battery' - water tight and thinner build - but c'mon! There are cases that can make a phone water resistant AND replaceable batteries don't require as much space as they used to .... so I end up replacing my phone by the 18th - 20th month just due to battery issues!

    No contract devices from ZTE and Honor seem to receive decent software updates (for me); but every 2 years there are leaps in technology (ie the camera, the OS) that will push you to update your phone.

    Sorin


  • Eileen Kramer 2
    Eileen Kramer Apr 4, 2018 Link to comment

    My BlU Studio 5+5C will someday die of planned obsolescence. It will be three at the end of May. It is on its second data card and battery. I have gone through countless charging cables and wall plugs. I am on my fourth set of earbuds. All these things wear out. I've cleaned my phone's charging/USB port more times than I can remember. I clear cache for the apps I use several times a day. It runs fast. Its camera was never that great. Its sound quality is excellent. It is fast and agile. I have no need to replace it until most apps won't run on it. That happened with my Sidekick which I had for five years.

    Sorin


  • 46
    Deactivated Account Apr 4, 2018 Link to comment

    Two of the reason can easily be fixed if you have a removable battery by changing it. Most older phones start running slower due to a loss of voltage as your battery ages. It loses voltage as well as MAH as it ages. Ask any computer geek who over clocks how important a small mount of voltage is in processor speed. the other is the battery life is quickly fixed by changing the battery. Non removable batteries are all about greed forcing you to get a new phone sooner my precious Note 4 still going strong after all these years thanks to a removable battery.

    Sorin


  • 26
    Andrew Burgin Apr 4, 2018 Link to comment

    People Use to love haVing a Top Class phone All the time when mobiles were more affordable,but with them better more expensive every year,more are keeping loyal to there phones as long as it does what is required,some will skint themselves out to make sure they stand out from the rest,but is really worth doing that,the Top companies are now losing consumers to cheaper chinese phones they can afford,who are catching up with with the Top brands,S5 and Note 4 still popular because of the Best function everyone wants the Removable Battery option,just wish Samsung would bring this back

    SorinDean L.Deactivated Account


    • 28
      itprolonden Apr 4, 2018 Link to comment

      They will continue to update often as long as they can finance it.

      Sorin

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