Buying a new phone has become the modern version of impulse shopping. One crack on the screen, one slower app, and suddenly you’re convincing yourself that your life will dramatically improve with the latest model. The spoiler here is that it probably won’t. Before you hand over a small fortune for a new phone, it’s worth pausing first to see whether your current phone actually deserves retirement or just a little more attention. It also helps to remember that you don’t necessarily need to buy a new phone because one comes out.
Most phone problems are annoyances, not deal breakers. A battery that drains faster than it used to, or a screen that looks like it lost a fight with concrete can be fixed. It doesn’t always mean it’s time for a new phone. Often a quick visit for phone repair can bring your device back from the brake and save you a lot of money and set up stress. Yes, setting up a new phone is way more work than ads make it look. Another sneaky trick that your brain plays is confusing boarding with brokenness. Phones are designed to make you feel like last year’s model is ancient technology, but in reality, if it still runs your apps and takes decent photos and it doesn’t burst into flames, it’s doing what it’s supposed to do. Sometimes all it needs is a software update, a storage clean out, or the courage to delete apps you downloaded during a phase.
How are you actually using your phone anyway? Not how you think you use it, but how you really use it. If most of your time is spent messaging, scrolling, or occasionally taking pictures of your dinner, you don’t need cutting edge technology for that.Most people choose to buy a new phone because it’s the latest thing to do and it’s the latest designer model in their pockets. But who’s that impressing other than nobody at your bank because your account is drained? Your current phone is probably already overqualified for what you want it for, so quietly rolling its eyes at your upgrade fantasies is what it will be doing to you.
There is also a financial reality check here. New phones are not just expensive upfront, but they come with cases, screen protectors and the emotional cost of treating it like a newborn for the first month. You also have to remember that there are some brands out there that are very popular – cough, Apple, cough – who don’t even supply the plugs or wires properly anymore and everything has to be bought separately. Gone are the days where they looked after us, right?
Avoiding a brand new phone isn’t about settling down for less, but about realising that new won’t always be better, it’ll just be shinier. When you stop chasing those upgrades and start taking care of what you have, you might find that your phone feels good enough again.
