Is it worth it to keep your phone or buy a new one?
With new phone models coming out and seems like it’s a race to be the most expensive phone in the market.
But if you can still text, shop, share and maybe make a phone call with your current one, most likely it’s better to keep your phone running like new.
Check to see if it’s worth it.
The Phone is free and clear
Most likely your reading this and your phone is already paid, that is extra money for you. So, is it worth having the newest one?
Not really!
From Android phones and IOS phones updating and running the latest software are critical programs the phone needs to function flawlessly.
Same as a car, paying off the phone and riding it out until the features are lagging and do not help you anymore is a wiser decision than shelling out for a new one.
Let the hype die down and keep your current phone working like new with these tips and have more money in your savings account.
No more space for my pictures!
Apps are the culprit, not pictures. In the research done by Localytics, the survey shows that 80% do not use the apps they have downloaded after three months, across industry and demographics.
For iPhones delete apps that you don’t use, do this:
- Open Settings
- Tap General
- Scroll to iPhone storage
- The app that takes up the most memory will be on top. Just scroll and if you don’t remember using the app, ditch it.
Android devices vary but it’s almost the same method:
- Settings
- Choose storage
- Choose Free up space
- Delete the apps you haven’t used in the last 3 months.
For Photos, usually, we’d like to keep those.
You can download those to your computer or take advantage of cloud storage that you have already for free and free up space.
Apple photo is free until you use up to 5GB of iCloud storage, after that, you can purchase 50GB of storage for $.99 cents per month
Google Photos has free unlimited storage, but shrinks the number of pixels, thus lowering the quality of your photos. If you like your hi-res pictures, Google One plans are $1.99/month for 100 GB storage.
The Battery is a goner!
Usually, apps are the culprit for drained batteries (YouTube, Netflix). But you can check the health of your battery to keep your phone running like new.
For iPhone:
- Open Settings
- Tap Battery
- Choose battery health
Usually, 90% below your peak performance capacity can make usability difference. Apple has a battery replacement program for you to avail. Depending on your iPhone, ranges from $49 to $69.
Checking the health of your Android device varies, but try this:
- Settings
- Tap Battery
- Tap menu icon on the top right
- Scroll to battery usage
- You can see which apps use the most battery and delete them.
Unfortunately, battery replacement programs for Android devices are limited but reputable shops could handle the replacement for you.
Let the hype die down
Take these basic guides and see if you can stretch out your phone for another year before shelling out $25 to $50 a month for a new one and keep your phone running.
Actually, you can even save one to two generations down the line instead of buying the latest one.
Take a look at all the features that you need and ask yourself “Are the new features worth it compared to my current device?” Most of the time it really isn’t.
