Should I Upgrade My iPhone? How to Know When It’s Time to Get a New Phone

These days, smartphone manufacturers release new models every year. In this constant cycle of rapid innovation, it can be tricky to determine when to upgrade. Should you switch to a new model of iPhone every year, taking advantage of Apple’s latest and greatest features? Or should you wait a few product release cycles for the truly revolutionary phones, skipping the more iterative improvements?

Of course, the answer is far from straightforward and relies on many personal variables. How much do you prioritize having the best battery life, most intuitive camera system, and latest AI features? Is it worth paying a premium for Apple’s new features?

In this guide, we’ll discuss all the important variables and determine whether you’re ready to upgrade to a new Apple iPhone.

Why Do People Upgrade to New iPhones?

There are quite a few reasons people upgrade their devices, especially if they’ve already owned them for a few years. The typical American upgrades their smartphone every two to three years, and these are some of the most common reasons why:

Sluggish Performance

Over the years, iPhone performance can dwindle. Especially when you’re doing some mobile gaming or using apps that demand significant processing power, an older iPhone can really slow down. Upgrading to the latest iPhone can get you back in the fast lane.

Longer Battery Life

One of the most persistent complaints we hear among iPhone owners is how dramatically the battery life fades with use. If you get a new one, you can take advantage of the latest advancements in lithium-ion battery technology.

Checking your battery health is a great way to determine whether you need an upgrade. To do so, open your iPhone’s Settings app, then navigate to the Battery menu. From there, tap “Battery Health & Charging.” The next screen will display your battery health score. If it’s above 90%, your battery still has a lot of life left in it. If it’s between 80% and 90%, you’re still in good shape, but it’s worth keeping an eye on. If it’s below 80%, it’s time for an upgrade - or, you can get your battery replaced.

Exciting New Features

Even the less-revolutionary iPhone releases have some great features added in. For instance, the iPhone 16 Series models include a new “Camera Control” button that gives users efficient access to the Camera app, along with an “Action Button” in place of the previous mute switch and new AI-driven writing tools.

Previous models’ advancements included the introduction of new AI features with Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Series), USB-C charging ports replacing Lightning ports (iPhone 15 Series), and the Dynamic Island interactive display (iPhone 14 Series). Some users might be satisfied to stick with the same features they’ve been familiar with for years, while others want access to the latest features ASAP.

Better Camera Systems

Each new generation of iPhone has its own improvements to the camera system - for example, recent years have seen the introduction of improved image quality, better Night Mode functionality, improved Portrait Mode, and more. The most recent iPhone models have brought massive improvements to the camera systems, as the current iPhone 16 Series was the first to introduce a 48-megapixel camera with up to 10x optical zoom range, by far the best camera setup ever seen in an iPhone.

iOS Compatibility

Apple promises to provide software updates for at least five years for every iPhone, and it often extends these iOS updates for an extra year or two beyond that. However, once your phone reaches the end of its iOS update life cycle, it’s probably worth upgrading. After all, iOS updates include vital security features - if you don’t have them, you’ll be susceptible to all sorts of digital threats.

There inevitably comes a time with any iPhone model when its hardware just can’t keep up with the processing demands of new apps and iOS updates. Significant lag and crashing apps are two other indicators that you might need an upgrade.

Storage Requirements

Storage capacity is another big driver of iPhone updates, even though the rise of iCloud and other cloud computing services makes on-board storage a bit less vital than it once was. The iPhone 16 models are available with up to 512 GB of physical storage, whereas the iPhone 6 Series was available with as little as 16 GB, for example.

Physical Damage

There are few things more annoying than trying to use an iPhone with a shattered screen or a broken Face ID function. In these situations, even just switching to another phone of the exact same model and specifications can feel like a huge upgrade, not to mention buying a newer iPhone or one of the Pro models.

How to Tell if You Don’t Need an Upgrade

Let’s be honest, much of the constant upgrade cycle with modern smartphones comes down to hype. In many situations, you don’t need a new phone at all. Let’s walk through some scenarios in which you can wait a while to get your next iPhone.

Your Phone Is Less Than 2-3 Years Old

iPhone models that are a couple of years old are still highly capable devices that can run just about any modern app with no problems at all. For instance, the iPhone 14 is still a really good phone for the vast majority of use cases. Apple devices are well-constructed and made to last for several years. If your iPhone is only a year or two old, chances are it has plenty of useful life left in it at peak performance.

The New Features Don’t Seem Terribly Exciting

Not every iPhone release is a big jump from the previous one. Sometimes, Apple’s annual updates are more iterative, making small improvements while users wait for the big swings Apple takes every few years. For example, over the years, Apple has offered stuff like slightly bigger screens, macro photos, faster Wi-Fi, etc., that felt more like token gestures than major improvements. If you’re not excited about these advancements, you might as well save your money for next year’s new features.

Battery Replacement Might Solve Your Biggest Problems

Sometimes, you don’t need a new phone. You need a new battery. Apple says that any phone with lower than 80% battery health is eligible for a free battery replacement with AppleCare+, as long as you pay your deductible. Even if you need to pay full price for your new battery, Apple’s in-house replacement service usually costs $100 or less. If you want to save some money, you can get a third-party battery installed at a local repair shop, although this does have some performance issues and the potential to void your warranty or protection plan, if you have one.

Backing Up Your Data to iCloud Can Solve Your Storage Issues

As we mentioned before, on-board storage capacities are much less important than ever before, thanks to the rise of iCloud and similar cloud storage options. If you’re running out of space, try backing up your photos and videos to iCloud and deleting them from your device. Then, if you’re still low on storage, you can start to consider buying a new phone.

New Features of Recent iPhone Models

If you’ve had your old phone for a while, it might be helpful to know about some of the new features introduced for recent iPhone models. If any of these features tip the scales for you, it might be worth upgrading. Learning about these features could also help you decide whether to get an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15, for example.

• iPhone 16 Series: Apple’s latest smartphone has more AI integrations than previous models, along with the new Camera Control button that makes it easier to take great photos. The iPhone 16 Series also boasts a new ultra-wide camera and longer battery life.
• iPhone 15 Series: The 15 Series introduced a 48MP camera system, which was a massive upgrade from the previous models’ 12MP camera. The iPhone 15 was also the first base model to include the interactive Dynamic Island, previously only available on the iPhone 14 Pro. Crucially, the iPhone 15 was also the first Apple smartphone model to include a USB-C port, a significant upgrade from the much slower Lightning cable.
• iPhone 14 Series: The iPhone 14 included new safety features like car crash detection and satellite emergency SOS. In addition, these models ushered in improved low-light camera performance and video stabilization features.

Environmentally Friendly Alternatives to Buying a New iPhone

Keeping your existing iPhone instead of buying a new one has benefits for more than just your wallet. You’re also doing the planet a favor. Upgrading smartphones has a two-pronged effect on the environment - spoiler alert, neither of those effects is a good thing.

First, whenever you buy a new smartphone, you boost the demand for the production of these devices. Whenever Apple creates an iPhone, it needs to mine lithium and other valuable minerals, and mining is far from an eco-friendly activity. Furthermore, what happens when you discard your old iPhone? If you throw it in the trash, it will end up in the landfill, where it can leach harsh toxins into the environment, poisoning the air, water, and soil.

Instead of buying a new smartphone and generating e-waste, consider the following alternatives. Keeping your old phone for even one extra year can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

• Replacing the phone’s battery is significantly cheaper than buying a new phone. It also extends your phone’s useful life and reduces the amount of unnecessary electronic waste in our environment.
• Getting a new case and/or screen protector can protect an older device and extend its life by years. New accessories can also make an old iPhone feel less outdated.
• Performing a factory reset to restore the phone to its original factory settings can have a significant effect on its performance. If your favorite apps are running slowly or you’re having a hard time switching between them, a factory reset might provide the optimization you need to keep using the phone for another year or two.

If you decide that you truly must upgrade to a newer iPhone, buy a refurbished device instead of a new one. There are thousands of top-quality used iPhones available on the market today. Check out the refurbished iPhone inventory at Gazelle, our sister company, to see how many great pre-owned iPhones are available - and how inexpensive they can be compared to new models.

What to Do With Your Old Phone: Environmentally Friendly Options

Is it time to upgrade your phone? If so, it’s also time to figure out what to do with your current iPhone. You have quite a few options in this situation, so let’s discuss them and figure out which one is the right choice for you.

Don’t just throw your phone in a junk drawer or toss it in the trash. Instead, you can do your part to participate in the circular economy and breathe new life into used devices by using a trade-in or resale service that responsibly recycles used phones.

When you discard an old cell phone in the trash, it’ll end up in the landfill. These devices are full of toxic materials that can leach into the environment, causing potential harm to our air, water, and soil. In addition, even a heavily used old phone has some valuable components left in it, which could be used for other purposes. In short, responsibly recycling your old phone not only cuts down on e-waste in landfills, but it also cuts down on the unnecessary mining and production of raw materials to make new ones.

Here are some eco-friendly options for your old phone.

iPhone Trade-In Programs

Apple Trade-In is a popular option for used iPhones, as you can exchange your old phone for credit toward a new one. Of course, this is only really a viable option if you’re planning on staying in Apple’s ecosystem, as you obviously can’t use Apple Trade-In credits toward an Android device.

You can also use similar programs with your wireless carrier or a retailer like Best Buy. Wireless companies often have 24- or 36-month payment plans for new devices, and when that period is up, you’re typically eligible for some sort of discount toward your next phone. Similarly, Best Buy offers store credit in exchange for used iPhones, which can be a good option if you’re looking for something other than another iPhone: You can use Best Buy credits on anything you want in the whole store.

That said, the big drawback with most iPhone trade-in programs is the fact that you’ll only get store credit, not actual money. However, these programs tend to have environmentally responsible policies regarding the refurbishing and resale of used electronics, which is something we’ll always appreciate.

ecoATM

Here at ecoATM, we’re proud to offer another solution for people looking to sell their old phones. Our eco-friendly practices have already resulted in more than 50 million smartphones and tablets recycled to date, and our goal is to recycle another 50 million in the next few years.

We’re proud to offer top dollar for a wide variety of used electronic devices, including iPhones, iPads, MP3 players, Android phones and tablets, and more. We also offer a simple selling process that puts instant cash in your pocket.

The process starts with getting a quote for your phone. You can do this by using the “Price Your Device” tool on our website, or you can visit your nearest kiosk for an evaluation. With over 6,000 kiosks located in safe and secure retail centers across the United States, there’s a good chance you already shop at a store with an ecoATM kiosk in it.

If you accept our cash offer, all you need to do is deposit your device in the kiosk and walk away with cold, hard cash in your pocket. If you’d prefer a digital payment, that’s an option, too! We’ll gladly pay you via PayPal or Venmo.

While we offer cash for many iPhones, some models are simply too old or beat up to hold any resale value. However, with ecoATM, we’ll still offer to recycle your device for free, keeping it out of landfills and giving some of its components new life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you wait for the next iPhone model before upgrading your current phone?

If you’re getting close to Apple’s next iPhone release cycle (which takes place annually in September), it might be a good idea to wait for a bit. When you time your purchase to coincide with the release of a new flagship device, you can often get great deals on the previous iPhone model. In addition, retailers, wireless carriers, and Apple itself often receive lots of trade-in devices at these times, so there’s likely to be a vast inventory of high-quality refurbished devices hitting the market as well.

How long does a battery last in an iPhone?

The exact battery lifespan for an iPhone varies considerably based on the battery’s original capacity and your usage trends. Interestingly, when we were researching this article, we got some competing estimates for an iPhone’s typical battery life. For instance, some sources said you can expect an iPhone battery to last for three to five years, while others said they only last for two to three years. That said, it’s easy to keep an eye on your iPhone’s battery health through the Settings app. If it ever dips below 80%, it might be time to consider a new phone, or at least a new battery.

How often should you upgrade your phone?

The typical person waits roughly two or three years between iPhone upgrades. That said, the right upgrade cycle for you depends on several variables. If you use your phone heavily and push it to its limits on a daily basis, you might want to be on the shorter end of that window, as your phone might wear down faster than it would for someone with normal use. On the other hand, if you mostly just use your phone for calls, texts, and the occasional scrolling session, your phone could last longer than three years between upgrades. It all comes down to how you use your phone and how badly you want the upgraded features of a new one.

Do refurbished phones actually work like new?

In general, yes, you can count on a refurbished phone to operate much like a new one. It might have some cosmetic scuffs or scratches, but it should be functionally identical to an unused phone of the same iPhone model.