8 Times It’s Worth It to Upgrade Your iPhone

Every year, Apple releases a shiny new iPhone, and every year, some of us clamor to be among the first to upgrade, regardless of whether we can save money shopping for one or not. 

The temptation to swap your dated phone for the latest version is real, but does an upgrade make financial sense? 

You might be surprised to hear that yes, sometimes it does. Here are eight instances when a new iPhone may be worth investing in.

You charged your phone all night, you barely touched it at work, and somehow, you’re on 12% by the time you clock out. 

When your iPhone doesn’t hold a charge like it used to, it could be a sign your battery’s at the end of its life. If your phone is older, upgrading to a phone with a newer, longer-lasting battery might be a better option.

Your older iPhone might not be able to download updates for individual apps. Over time, the outdated apps themselves may no longer function, which could be massively inconvenient. 

If you use banking apps or finance apps for managing your money, for example, you could lose access to those accounts until you upgrade your phone.

Even if you can install some of these updates, it might affect your iPhone’s usability. If your iPhone starts glitching after it’s updated — or if you can’t update it at all — it’s time to upgrade.

Limited storage space is the bane of every iPhone user’s existence. Older iPhones come with far less internal storage than the most recent models, so they fill up more quickly. 

And with no way to expand your device’s memory, once that storage is gone, it’s gone. Sure, you can take advantage of iCloud, but you might max out that space, too. 

When you’ve deleted everything you can, shifted everything else to the cloud, and still don’t have room for your virtual stuff, start budgeting for a new iPhone.

Sometimes, the best justification for an iPhone upgrade is simply whether or not it’ll make you happy. In general, newer iPhones have larger screens, clearer graphics, louder speakers, and better cameras.

These might sound like superficial reasons at first, but consider how much time we spend on our phones. 

A larger screen may help with viewing and an upgraded camera might help you capture your life’s journey in photographs better. Why keep using a device that no longer serves you when you don’t have to?

Even the most graceful, most coordinated, cellphone user has watched in terror as their glass-screened pocket computer slipped from their grasp in an unstoppable downward spiral toward the floor. Picking it up to check the damage? That’s a stress like no other.

Over time, those drops take a toll on your device. Small nicks in the screen grow into full-blown cracks. The busted camera lens delivers nothing but blurry photos. 

When your iPhone reaches this point, it’s quickly moving into unusable territory, and it’s a sound idea to consider upgrading.

Between the out-of-date software, the years of slips and falls, and the maxed-out memory, your heavily used iPhone simply isn’t going to function as well as it used to. Even the most well-maintained iPhone might, one day, succumb to wear and tear.

After a while, your device may start lagging or moving slower. Apps won’t open as quickly. It might take longer to launch Safari. Not only does this make your phone harder to use, but it’s also a telltale sign that your aging iPhone is ready for retirement.

If you suspect that your iPhone’s performance is on the decline, pop into your carrier’s nearest store. Test out the newest versions, and compare their functionality to old faithful. 

Have you noticed a decrease in call quality when you use your iPhone? Do your calls drop more frequently? Is it taking longer for text messages to go through or a website to load without WiFi? If so, your iPhone might not be able to keep up with faster network speeds.

Interestingly, when cell phone companies improve their mobile networks, not every phone reaps the benefits. 

If you’re already experiencing reduced performance, it might be worth upgrading your iPhone sooner rather than later.

All of these considerations aside, your primary concern should be whether or not you can afford the upgrade. iPhones are high-quality devices, and they can last for years when properly maintained. 

That longevity comes with a hefty price tag, though, with some iPhone variations valued at $1,000 or more.

If you can, wait to upgrade until you’re in a financial position to take on that cost. If you need to upgrade now but are limited by cash, you still might have options that can help you.

There are plenty of solid reasons to trade in your outdated iPhone for a new one. Justified or not, it’s still an expensive switch.

To maximize your return on investment (and recoup some of what you’ve spent on the upgrade), you can set up your Apple Wallet and look for ways to earn cashback on Apple Pay. 

That way, you can rest assured that your state-of-the-art iPhone was worth every penny.