When to upgrade or keep your phone

The short answer

Keep your phone if it still feels fast, holds a charge through the day and gets security updates. Upgrade when the battery, camera or software support is holding you back - or when a deal makes the jump unusually cheap.

Good reasons to upgrade

• The battery dies before evening even after a healthy charge
• Apps feel slow or refuse newer features you need
• The manufacturer has stopped security updates
• The camera no longer keeps up with how you shoot
• A contract or refurbished deal lands far below what you expected to pay

Good reasons to wait

• The phone still feels quick in daily use
• You are mostly unhappy with the plan, not the handset
• You are mid-contract with a painful exit fee
• The only upgrade itch is a new colour

Try these before you buy

1. Replace or service the battery if the phone is otherwise fine
2. Clear storage and update the OS
3. Move to a stronger SIM only plan
4. Check trade-in values so you know what waiting costs

Timing and money

Trade-in values drop fastest while a phone is still current. Waiting a year can save on the new handset and cost you on the old one. Run both numbers: the price of upgrading now versus keeping the phone and improving the SIM.

Pitfalls

• Upgrading every year out of habit
• Ignoring a mid-contract handset balance
• Buying storage you will never fill
• Skipping coverage checks on the new network

Next step

If the handset is the problem, shortlist phone deals or refurbished. If the plan is the problem, keep the phone and switch SIM. Ask Fin in the corner if you want that choice narrowed to your budget.