Week 1 - BALT 4396 - Phone Upgrades: When is it Time?

When should someone upgrade their phone?

With how advanced our phones are, there is debate on whether or not people should be upgrading every year. Granted, the first smartphone you ever owned was probably more powerful than any of the computers NASA used to go to the moon in the 60's. That being said, there is a growing concern about electronic waste because precious metals are toxic to the Earth's ecosystems and further enhance the damage humans are doing.

Signs it's time to upgrade

Just a couple years ago, people wouldn't think twice about upgrading their phone every year. However, this has changed drastically because a new phone can last years and years. Some keep their phones longer than 5 or 6 years, however, there are some telltale signs of when to upgrade.

Battery life can be a big factor when people upgrade because they cannot get through a full day without plugging in. Although there are ways around this such as getting the actual battery itself replaced, it might be more of a headache depending on which company makes the phone.

Cracked screens are some of the most common causes for people to get new phones because they are no longer able to interact with the phone like they once were. Getting a replacement screen is much easier with companies such as Apple because they offer Apple Care + where you can stop by one of their stores and likely get it replaced in the same day. However, many of those with Samsung or other brands aren't as lucky as they usually have to send their phone in to get it replaced which can take a couple weeks. In turn, just getting a new phone is usually the easier option.

Storage is another reason because once you run out, there is no creating more. iPhone has never offered SD card-style storage on any of their devices, but Samsung has, which gives them the edge in this comparison. In recent years, however, Samsung has begun to ditch this practice and people are more likely to purchase cloud storage for pictures and information. However, if you are someone who prefers local storage, a new phone with a larger storage capacity is likely the best bet.

Deciding for yourself

With so many options out there and companies releasing new models every year, one might be tempted to upgrade once they see the new features that come with it. Although, it's up to the consumer to decide whether or not they need a new phone. With so many useful recycling methods available, people can get trade-in value for their old phones, prompting them to be in the market more than before. At the end of the day, all of these things cost money so it's an important decision to decide whether or not it's worth it to have the most advanced features or if a simple repair could do the trick.