When Should I Upgrade My Smartphone?

Buying a new smartphone can be a heady experience. You take it out of the box, and it’s all shiny, thin, and light. You can’t wait to turn it on and unlock all of it’s potential!

Then, reality hits. It seems like the ink on your contract has barely dried before a more advanced option hits the market and your new phone is rendered obsolete. With all of the options to upgrade to the latest and greatest, the question quickly arises: “When should I upgrade my phone?”

The desire to keep up with technology is understandable. However, unless you have an unlimited technology budget, upgrading your smartphone every time a new model comes out can be unrealistic. Though the commercials may try to convince you that you can’t live without the newest option, in reality, there are just 3 questions to ask yourself before trading in your old model for something new.

Question #1: How much of an upgrade is it?

Smartphone companies are smart. They know how to make their newest model sound like the greatest thing ever invented. However, not all upgrades are created equal. If the only thing that is changing is the color or size, it’s probably best to wait to some more significant improvements. When you spend the money on upgrading, you want to make sure that you are increasing important things, such as battery life, memory, and speed of performance.

Question #2: What is the condition of my current phone?

We all fall victim to “smartphone envy” - the desire to have the access to the best product on the market. However, if your current phone works just fine, consider whether or not an upgrade is actually worth it. Are you merely falling prey to the desire to have the newest toy on the market? Or do you really have a need? On the flip side, if your battery doesn’t hold a charge, if your screen is severely cracked, or if your phone is running incredibly slow, it might be time to trade in your model for something new.

Question #3: How much will the upgrade cost?

It used to be that you had to wait two years in between phone upgrades. At that point, you could get a “free” or “low cost” upgrade to a newer model. However, most of the major carriers now have new plans that allow you to change your phone on a quicker timeline. Of course, those changes come with a price. You need to consider whether there are any upgrade fees, whether or not the new phone will be subsidized, and if you have to lock yourself into a new contract. It is important to take the overall cost of the phone into consideration - not just what you have to pay to take it out of the box.

Upgrading your smartphone is a big decision. By answering these three questions, you can make sure that you will upgrade your smartphone when the time is right for you.

[su_box title="Want to learn more?" style="soft" box_color="#f9d314" radius="8"]Each week, Bask sends fun, educational content to our thousands of members and email subscribers. Improve your technology know-how with tips, tricks, history, news and more by signing up for our newsletter today![/su_box]