Best Cell Phone Buying Guide
Here are four cases where it might be wise to replace an old phone.
Your Phone’s Performance Is Lagging
You can replace a cracked display or an anemic battery, but when you start to notice performance issues like sluggish response times or frequent crashes, even when your phone’s OS is fully updated, then it’s probably time to replace your device.
Your Phone No Longer Receives Security Updates
Intermittent security updates help patch vulnerabilities and keep you and your private information safer. But manufacturers typically stop offering security updates for a specific model after a certain number of years. If your phone is so old that it’s no longer receiving these updates, it’s probably time to say goodbye.
The latest version of iOS 18, for example, supports iPhones dating back to the iPhone XS, which was released in 2018. This means you’ll get regular updates, including new features and security updates, if you have an iPhone XS or newer. Going forward, Samsung and Google now offer up to seven years of updates for most recent Galaxy phones, but the operating system and security update policies for other Android phone manufacturers often vary by device.
You’re Moving to a New Cell Phone Provider
You certainly don’t have to buy a new phone if you’re switching providers. Carriers are required to unlock your phone free of charge once you’ve paid off your device, which means you’re allowed to bring your device along to another carrier. (In fact, if you move to a small-budget carrier, doing so could save you lots of money.) But if you do want a new phone, it often makes sense to buy one when switching providers because of new customer offers with steep savings. You can trade in an old phone to offset the cost of a new one or even receive a replacement at no extra cost.
You Want a Top-Notch Phone Camera and Display
These days, the latest and greatest smartphones tend to offer only modest, iterative updates from the models released the year prior. Phone cameras and displays have been excellent in many smartphones for several generations now, so a device a few generations back is unlikely to disappoint you. For instance, the iPhone 13 is still recommended by Consumer Reports even though it was introduced years ago. Ditto for the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, which came out at the beginning of 2022.
But some things are changing. Most phones have multiple cameras now for better wide-angle, zoom, or macro photography. Screens are continuing to improve, too. More phones now have OLED screens, with vibrant colors and great contrast. And big-name manufacturers have begun integrating artificial intelligence features, like generative photo editing and writing and editing tools, into their newest models. Only you can say whether it’s worth buying a top-of-the-line model to get these newer features.
Consumer Reports maintains lists of phones with the best cameras and phones with the longest battery life, based on our extensive lab testing.
