Happy Nice Mall

It’s almost phone season again – the time of year when tech companies like Apple, Google and Samsung bombard us. flashy marketing campaigns to persuade us to upgrade.

Their new phones differ slightly, but the volume is always more or less the same: The phone you have is no longer good enough because this new one has a feature. curious camera and brighter screen, also faster. So, give the “old” one to a less tech-savvy member of the family, or trade it for a shiny new device for a loan.

This cycle of hype creates an annual dilemma: Is it time to upgrade? We all know that after a few years our phones no longer work as well as they used to. It may not be able to run the latest applications. He may feel sluggish. Some components, such as touchscreens, may begin to malfunction.

At some point, buying a new phone becomes impractical when too much negativity is added or the cost of fixing a broken part is too high. But most of the time, upgrades can be unnecessary because the elements that make us unhappy with our phones can be removed with a little care.

In any case, let your personal situation guide you, not the lure of phone season, and take time to think.

“Overall, the upgrade is ‘Hey, a new iPhone is out. Now is the time to think about it.” Wire cutter, The New York Times’ sister publication that tests products. “There’s nothing wrong with getting a phone call later.”

Here are some questions to ask yourself – and some practical advice to help you make that decision consciously.

Am I satisfied with my phone?

The first and most important step is to measure how satisfied you are with your phone. If there are factors that make you unhappy, delve deeper into the issues.

Many things that cause us dissatisfaction with our phones can be fixed so it helps to be aware of the solutions. Here are two of the most common frustrations and their solutions:

• If the device is slowing down or not lasting throughout the day, one of the simplest and most cost-effective solutions is to replace the battery. Apple stores will change replace iPhone battery Between $50 and $70, and many independent technicians can service batteries for Apple and Android phones for about the same price.

  Replacing the battery greatly extends and speeds up the life of a device. Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, a company that publishes instructions for repairing devices, said that since batteries have a limited lifespan, it’s recommended to replace them every two to three years.

• Another common problem is running out of data storage preventing people from taking more photos and downloading apps. A quick fix is ​​to clear apps you no longer use. On iPhones, Apple offers: iPhone Storage A tool that shows a list of apps that take the most data and when they were last used. On Android devices, Google offers a similar tool, Folders.

Some big problems can’t be solved easily. For example, replacing a broken touchscreen can cost $200 or more; that comes close to the price of a good new phone, for example. $400 iPhone SE or $300 Google Pixel 4A. If a repair is more than half the cost of a new phone, it may be time to consider exchanging your obsolete device for a new phone for a loan.

Can I get software updates?

Phone manufacturers regularly release software updates that include new features but also address security vulnerabilities, so it’s important to be knowledgeable about installing them. A good rule of thumb is to consider upgrading when you can no longer get software updates.

Apple phones receive software updates for five to six years. (Apple’s iOS 15 software, due this fall, will be compatible with phones going back to the iPhone 6S from 2015.) Android devices get them for a shorter period of time – about two to three years.

Sinan Eren, one of the directors of security firm Barracuda Networks, said that although security updates are important, it may not be practical for some people to update software as soon as they are finished. In countries like Turkey, a 100 percent tax is imposed on electronic products, meaning customers have an economic incentive to keep a device for more than five years.

“It is a difficult situation and therefore even thinking about safety is a luxury,” said Mr. Eren.

There are ways to work around this problem. anti-malware applications such as malware bytescan make older Android phones work a little more securely. Apple phones can also run apps like: 1Blocker, blocks malicious ads from loading on websites.

How would a new phone change my life?

Mr Guy of Wirecutter said it’s important to imagine what your life would look like with a new phone. If you have a newborn on the way and your phone’s camera is taking blurry shots, upgrading to a better camera will likely change your phone experience noticeably.

But if you mostly only use a phone for basic tasks like making calls, texting, and browsing the web, a newer, faster phone won’t make a big difference because phones have been so fast for years.

“Don’t change something that works fine just because a newer, brighter version is out,” said Mr. Guy.