When to upgrade your tech, according to our electronics editor

Let me know if this sounds acquainted: Your telephone’s battery begins draining sooner than normal a few yr after you purchase it. With a brand new mannequin releasing in simply a few months, you work the one logical plan of action is to upgrade. Just a few hundred bucks or a brand new long-term contract later, you’ve obtained a shiny new smartphone, solely you understand it’s rather a lot like your earlier one, full with the identical eventual issues.

The cycle continues.

What if we advised you it didn’t have to be this manner?

The onslaught of recent telephones, laptops and headphones releasing yearly can play to your worry of lacking out and make it exhausting to inform whether or not you really want an upgrade or have merely been satisfied you do. But as somebody who’s reviewed this stuff for a residing for effectively over a decade, I’m right here to inform you that you simply’re most likely upgrading extra typically than you want to and for causes which might be doubtless fixable with out spending a fortune on a brand-new system.

The actuality is you don’t have to bounce ship to the following large factor each time your favourite tech model (or service) says it’s time to. To that finish, I’ve distilled 13 years’ price of testing, researching and buying for almost each gadget beneath the solar — as well as to speaking to a number of tech specialists — to deliver you the next buying playbook. The aim? To provide help to diagnose precise issues, benefit from your current tech and purchase one thing that you simply actually love as soon as it’s the proper time to upgrade.

Everyone’s upgrade timeline is completely different, whether or not you’re changing a sluggish laptop computer or ditching an previous telephone that’s now not getting essential safety updates. Instead of simply assuming you want one thing new each few years, although, listed here are just a few key questions to ask your self about your system:

1. Is it holding you again from getting issues carried out? This is the obvious start line and the factor you’ll doubtless discover the soonest. Some occasional slowness may not be the top of the world, but when your laptop computer is constantly crashing in the midst of necessary work calls or your telephone is having critical issues loading apps or connecting to Bluetooth, it is perhaps time to take into consideration what’s subsequent.

2. Are you continue to getting the newest updates? If your telephone, pill or laptop computer is now not eligible for software program updates, you’ll miss out on key options and may lose help for safety fixes that present essential safety in opposition to cyberattacks. “I think the first [sign to upgrade] is that your device is no longer getting operating system updates or security updates, or both,” Anshel Sag, principal analysts at Moor Insights & Strategy, stated. “Additionally, when apps start to become incompatible with your OS version, that’s yet another time to upgrade.”

Brands like Apple, Google and Microsoft all present details about what units are supported by their newest software program. If yours isn’t on the listing, it’s time to transfer on.

3. Is your system fixable? Before you commerce up, it’s price seeing in case you can diagnose and repair your system’s points your self. According to Luis De Los Santos, senior refurbishment operations supervisor and lab knowledgeable at electronics reseller Back Market, you typically can.

“I used to work for an [Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)], and I can’t tell you how many people would walk in saying, ‘Hey, my speaker doesn’t work,’ and it just needed to be cleaned,” De Los Santos stated. “Or ‘My phone is not charging.’ We would just clean it out, and the charging port would start working all over again. So, I think maintaining and cleaning your device, having good charging habits and just taking care of your things would definitely make your devices last a lot longer.”

There’s a great likelihood you’ve upgraded your telephone just because its battery life began degrading (I do know I’ve), but it surely’s price noting that there are many official and third-party battery replacement options that always price a lot lower than the worth of a brand-new system.

Now, not each system is price fixing indefinitely. A $90 battery alternative that buys you two extra years may be very completely different from spending $400 changing elements on a seven-year-old laptop computer. When the price of repairs begins approaching a big proportion of a comparable alternative system, it’s price asking your self if that cash could be higher put towards an upgrade.

4. What are you making an attempt to get carried out? A more moderen laptop computer will doubtless be sooner, a more moderen telephone most likely takes higher photos, the listing goes on. But these are desk stakes, and in a lot of circumstances, these enhancements are so marginal that you simply may not discover them. Before you upgrade, ask your self if your new system will actually allow you to do stuff you couldn’t do earlier than.

For instance, the AirPods Pro 3 don’t simply really feel higher and cancel extra noise out than their predecessors; in addition they launched significant new performance into my life through coronary heart price monitoring. Thanks to this instrument, I’m now monitoring my exercises commonly, which is one thing I hadn’t carried out a lot of earlier than since I’m not large on sporting smartwatches or fitness trackers. These earbuds additionally supply reside translation capabilities for speaking with people who communicate different languages, which is one thing you possibly can’t do on most older AirPods.

Those are true characteristic upgrades, not only a easy specs bump that makes issues work a little bit higher than earlier than whereas being functionally the identical. It’s the rationale most people maintain on to headphones “until they die or get lost,” according to Sag, who’s nonetheless utilizing his Sony WH-1000XM3 over-ears even when the corporate is up to the WH-1000XM6. To make issues easy, take into consideration what you are attempting to get carried out somewhat than merely in case you want a brand new system.

Worthwhile upgrades unlock one thing genuinely new. Maybe it’s a telephone digicam that gives exponentially greater zoom than what you had earlier than, permitting for pictures you merely couldn’t take previously. Or possibly it’s a built-in privateness show that permits you to preserve your information protected with out shopping for a third-party display screen protector, or a telephone just like the Google Pixel 10 that lastly opens Android customers up to the fantastic world of MagSafe accessories. Perhaps its a laptop computer that permits a number of exterior shows for your workflow or headphones with well being and translation options that change into a part of your every day routine.

If your new system allows you to do the identical stuff you did earlier than however just a bit sooner, you possibly can most likely wait to upgrade. But if it allows you to do one thing you need to do however at the moment can’t? It’s doubtless definitely worth the cash.

“If you’re someone who really loves photography, then the camera will mean more to you or make more of a difference than other features,” Back Market US normal supervisor and US director of selling Amanda Michel stated. “We found in the store that when people would come in and they talk to you about tech, they would almost always lead with their lives. Like, ‘Hey, I’m a designer, so this is really important to me.’ Or ‘I’m a student.’ And they tell you a little bit about themselves and then what they’re looking for in the technology. That’s not someone saying, ‘I’m looking for the latest thing.’ They’re looking for something that works for them.”

This could also be an important query of all, particularly at a time when many folks have tighter budgets than they might have had previously. You don’t need to drain your checking account on a brand new telephone, pc or pair of headphones, however on the similar time, getting good worth doesn’t simply come down to how a lot you pay for your tech. You additionally need one thing that’s constructed to final and ought to be conscious of the trade-in worth you will get for your older stuff whereas upgrading.

For starters, be certain that the following system you’re eyeing checks all of the bins we’ve outlined above. A product that’s obtained fashionable specs constructed for velocity, genuinely helpful options and (maybe most critically) is about to get software program help for a few years to come will get you essentially the most for your cash. Brands like Google and Samsung are fairly clear about how lengthy they promise to help their units; for instance, the tech specs for the Google Pixel 10 name out seven years’ price of characteristic and safety updates. Apple is rather less easy, however you possibly can look backward to get a good suggestion of what to count on from their new units. The firm’s newest iOS 26 software program works with units relationship again to 2019’s iPhone 11, so that you’re doubtless an analogous seven-year window for any new iPhone.

Also be certain to do some comparability buying. If you’re eyeing the newest MacBook, check out how its options and value evaluate to the best Windows laptops. Same goes for Apple iPhones, Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxy telephones, the newest top headphones from Apple, Bose and Sony and so forth. Customer help additionally performs a job right here; we advocate searching for not less than a one-year guarantee for fundamental restore and alternative.

Just since you’re prepared for a recent system doesn’t imply that it has to be the newest and most hyped one. Heck, it doesn’t even have to be brand-new. You can save your self some huge cash going with an older or refurbished mannequin, all with out sacrificing the options and efficiency that make for a real upgrade.

For instance, let’s say you’re coming from an iPhone 11 that’s on its final legs. You might upgrade to the present iPhone 17 for $799 (or no matter month-to-month funds your service asks for), or you will get a refurbished iPhone 15 for about half that value at a website like Back Market. You’ll nonetheless upgrade to fashionable, helpful iPhone options just like the programmable Action button and the Dynamic Island for at-a-glance information, however you received’t be paying flagship costs.

Buying from a good refurbished website doesn’t imply you’re getting somebody’s previous, crusty hand-me-down both. For instance, Back Market works with refurbishers to safe merchandise which have met an in depth multipoint inspection course of that checks for issues like battery well being, efficiency and total cleanliness.

“We work with them … to ensure that they’re testing all the hardware components that need to be tested, that the battery life meets what Back Market standards are set,” De Los Santos stated. “And then ensuring that the devices are being cleaned [and] data wiped so that when a customer purchases on Back Market, they don’t get something that has … let’s say, somebody’s iCloud account.”

If you really need to purchase new however nonetheless don’t need to pay full value, you possibly can typically save a couple of bucks by choosing a product that’s a era or two previous. For instance, the iPhone 16 continues to be formally out there from Apple for $699, a small however notable low cost from the $799 iPhone 17. And whereas many manufacturers sundown older merchandise after introducing new ones, you possibly can sometimes discover brand-new previous-generation fashions on sale for a short interval after their replacements hit shops. It’s a development I’ve seen with each new MacBook, iPad and Apple Watch launch, and one thing to test for each time there’s an enormous product drop. And it’s one thing customers appear eager on too.

“When Apple launches its next device, then we’ll also see a surge in interest in the former model,” Michel stated.

If you’re nonetheless undecided on whether or not you want the newest system versus one thing that’s refurbished or just a few generations previous, take into consideration which of those hypothetical customers sound most such as you. Here are some individuals who we expect could be effective with an older or used system:

Meanwhile, listed here are some forms of customers who might discover the splurge price it:

Finding a great buy value is necessary however so is getting as a lot again as potential for your older tech. Lots of carriers and retailers will encourage you to trade-in your previous system on the level of buy to be able to instantly use that credit score towards your upgrade, but it surely’s price exploring different choices first.

Let’s take the iPhone, for instance. At the time of this writing, Apple provides up to $560 in trade-in credit score for any model of the iPhone 16 Pro, whereas third-party resellers may give you extra based mostly on your system’s storage capability. The telephone goes for roughly $467 to $548 on Gazelle, $530 to $680 on It’s Worth More and $511 to $608 on Back Market. So whereas Apple beats numerous beginning provides, these with a dearer 1TB mannequin might give you the option to do higher. Of course, these costs are all assuming your system is unlocked and in nice situation, so trade-in values can range wildly. But simply as it is best to store round completely different retailers earlier than shopping for, it is best to do the identical for promoting.

The subsequent time a brand new telephone, laptop computer or pair of headphones launches, don’t simply ask if it’s higher than what you might have already. You must also ask if your present mannequin continues to be getting help, price repairing and nonetheless able to doing all of the stuff you want it to. If the reply is sure, you could have already got the whole lot you want. And if the reply isn’t any, be certain that to take a look at each possibility on the market that ticks these bins and never simply the latest, priciest and most hyped launch.

“Some people feel the need to push back, and I think we’ve reached a point where people upgrade when they need to rather than want to,” Sag stated.

Being good and selective will prevent cash in the long term, and the sustainability benefits of holding on to your units longer or buying refurbished definitely don’t damage both. I finally need you to purchase one thing you’ll actually love and get tons of use out of somewhat than one thing you bought for the sake of it, and if the steps above provide help to do exactly that, then I’ve carried out my job right here.

For this text, we consulted the next specialists to acquire their skilled insights:

NCS Underscored editors and writers guarantee each product included in an article is completely vetted and one thing we ourselves would really feel snug shopping for and utilizing. Our workforce has many a long time of collective expertise researching, testing and recommending merchandise throughout each class — from style and meals, to dwelling items and well being, to electronics and the whole lot in between — and we’re dedicated to utilizing that experience to provide help to benefit from your cash and reside a greater life.

For this text, NCS Underscored senior tech editor Mike Andronico drew from his 13 years of reviewing tech products, his lifelong expertise as a tech fanatic and shopper, and several other knowledgeable interviews with people within the expertise and retail areas, to offer you ideas to decide if it’s time to upgrade your tech.