As we prepare for yet another Apple launch — the iPhone 13 — you may be wondering whether you should jump on board and swap your device for a newer, shinier, more exciting product. Whether your current phone is as old as a relic or you’ve only had it for a little over a year, it’s difficult to ignore the hype around a new tech goodie. When can you actually feel good about tossing your iPhone aside and springing for a brand new device? Here’s how often you should actually be replacing your iPhone, according to tech experts.
There’s No Actual Date
If only it were as easy as saying you should toss your iPhone two years after it arrives and start over. But many tech experts agree: there is no one specific expiration date for your phone. “In general, an iPhone should be replaced when it is no longer able to download or update software,” says Efrain Torres, phone repair technician and owner of CellFix. “For iPhones, this is usually around seven years. Other telltale signs that it may be time for an upgrade are a diminished battery life or a sluggish operating system. Lithium batteries start to degrade instantly and last 3-5 years. Software updates are designed with newer phones in mind which can slow down older models.”
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From the point of view of Security Expert Rameez Usmani at Code Signing Store, you should replace your iPhone once iOS updates for that model are no longer available. “However, suppose you don't update to the latest iOS version. In that case, you'll be vulnerable to security flaws and viruses, and you won't be able to access the latest updates for your favorite apps, in my opinion,” Usmani says. “Suppose your smartphone maker isn't issuing new operating system updates for your device. In that case, it's likely quite old, and you'll want to upgrade because ancient operating systems, in my opinion, are more vulnerable to cyberattacks.”
At the end of the day, it’s smart to make judgements about your phone’s age based on the age of its operating system (and whether you can upgrade it) — and not just the age of the device itself.
