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Smartphones have evolved dramatically over the past decade. They have become powerful and fast enough to run heavy applications and handle multitasking with ease. They now offer high-quality photos and professional videos as if you were using a DSLR camera.
However, many of us are still hesitant to change our phones every year, despite the fact that we believe we require the latest breakthroughs and innovations seen in newer models. In this article, we’ll go over some of the reasons why might want to postpone your annual upgrade, especially if your phone is less than two years old and still works properly.
Smartphones get few upgrades these days
In the early years of smartphones, we noticed a significant change in the capabilities of phones year after year. We got bigger screens, higher resolution displays. In addition to huge improvements in the speed and performance of the phone, and great and desirable features in the camera capabilities. But today, the wheel of improvements is very slow, so you may hardly feel any noticeable difference between last year’s phone and this year’s phone.
Today’s smartphones all take high-quality videos and photographs, making it difficult to distinguish between them. While new technologies like 5G and WiFi 6 have emerged, depending on your specific usage patterns, you may not require them right now.
Your phone’s battery lasts for at least two years
Lithium-ion batteries in smartphones degrade with time, eventually losing their ability to hold a full charge, regardless of how diligently you care for them. However, proper phone use can extend their lifespan to at least two years. Even for users who prioritize gaming and disregard proper charging practices, the battery condition will likely deteriorate after a year. Fortunately, replacing the battery is a cost-effective alternative to replacing the entire phone. Therefore, lithium-ion batteries can be expected to last at their peak performance for two to three years, depending on usage patterns.
Most phones receive annual OS updates
Most Android phone companies offer a major OS update for two to three years. Although there are currently studies to extend this period to four years, companies like Samsung typically provide a major system update for two to three years, plus an additional two years of security updates.
As for iPhones, Apple provides extended software support for many models, often lasting 5 or 6 years. For example, the iPhone 7, released in 2016, still receives updates to iOS 16. However, it’s important to note that older devices may not run newer software as smoothly as newer models due to hardware limitations.
You will not receive new features at the amount you pay.
You will currently notice that all smartphone companies are raising the price of phones year after year. Although it is rare to notice any noticeable difference worth the difference. So as long as you don’t plan to change the same phone category, you won’t notice any noticeable difference in performance characteristics.
If you purchased a mid-range phone last year and want to buy a new phone this year, you must choose one of the flagship phones to notice a difference. However, if you purchased a phone in the same category as your current one (mid-range), you will notice no difference other than in appearance.
You will not feel a noticeable difference in performance
You might notice that manufacturers often portray their new phones as capable of time travel, but that’s simply not the reality. While processing chips do become more efficient and powerful with each year, the actual performance improvement they offer is typically quite small. In most cases, you can expect a gain of only 1% to 5% at most, which may not be noticeable in everyday use. While the desire to own the latest phone is understandable, it isn’t always worth the investment. Fortunately, you can often revitalize your current phone with a few simple steps. Consider upgrading your operating system or implementing practices to extend your battery life. Explore the tips mentioned in this article to discover ways to optimize your current phone and potentially rediscover its satisfaction.