Do you think it might be time to upgrade your cell phone? Chances are you are left wondering exactly how to tell when is the right time to upgrade your phone. This article is here to help you decide whether or not now is the right time. Read through these tips and see if any of them apply to you.
Every Two Years
Most cell phone companies are phasing away from the two-year contract to opt for two-year payment plans on devices. However, that doesn't mean that payment plans make the phones any different. When it comes to cellphones, the majority of them are designed to function optimally for two years. Chances are that at the end of two years it might be time to swap out your phone. You don't have to, though, as no carrier requires you to upgrade your phone.
When Your Screen Is Broken
If the screen on your phone is broken, it is obviously time to upgrade your phone. Many people will put this off though because they want to save money. It isn't safe to work with a broken screen, the shards can become detached and cut your hand or your face. Best practice is to upgrade or replace your phone whenever a part of it breaks.
The best ShowerThought posted on Reddit on this topic states:
"I cannot stand the smallest bubble or hair under my screen protector, but when my screen shatters I'll use my phone for months"
Whenever Something Breaks
During the first year of having your phone, any kind of factory defect or hardware defect is covered under a warranty. If, after that period, your phone breaks, it is time to upgrade your phone. Having a broken phone is no fun and can set a bad image when you are trying to impress new clients or a new boss.
When You Lose Battery Life
Batteries drain extremely fast as they start to get old. This is because they aren't capable of holding their juice like they once were. If you start to notice that you can't make it through lunch without charging your phone then it is probably time to upgrade your phone. However, playing games, using the camera, or reading on your phone might reduce the battery life so make sure that it is actually the battery that is causing the issue.
When Your Phone Tells You You Are Out Of Storage
While the most common reason for a phone to be out of storage is downloading too many apps or taking too many videos, there are times when an older phone simply can't handle its data right anymore. If you have tried a factory reset and have deleted all of the apps you don't use and your phone reports that it is still full, it is time to upgrade to a new phone.
When Your Phone Starts To Get Slow
If your phone has started to get slow, the first thing that you should do is do a reset. Should your phone still be slow after the reset it may be time to start looking at getting a new phone. There are other reasons that your cell phone might be running slowly, though, such as having too many apps. If your phone is less than one-year-old, take it to your phone company and ask them to take a look at it. If your phone is under two-years-old, try troubleshooting before you decide it is time to upgrade. The last thing that you want is to be making payments on two different phones.
When You Need Something More Durable
It isn't a secret that many of the phones on the market today aren't the most durable devices in history. Sometimes we get new jobs, new positions, or new hobbies that require us getting down and dirty. When we have jobs like this it is probably time to upgrade your phone to something more durable like the Samsung S7 Active or any of Verizon's durable phone series.
If Your Phone Doesn't Offer A Feature That You Want
Sometimes phones don't offer the latest features or don't offer a feature that we want. If there is a feature that we want for fun or need for work but our current phones don't have, it is probably time to upgrade your phone.
Having a new phone is sometimes considered a luxury by some but it is important to know when it is time to get a new phone and ditch your old one. If you have another sign that it is time to get rid of your old phone, leave it in the comments below.