Warning signs you need a new phone

Smartphones are a huge investment, so most people want to hang onto them for as long as possible. In fact, research by Strategy Analytics shows that smartphone users are now waiting up to almost three years before replacing their phones. While this can be a good strategy for your budget, keeping a phone longer than it is intended to be used can come with some consequences like poor sound quality, security issues, and more. Not sure if your mobile phone situation is dire? Here are the tell-tale signs that it’s time to part ways with your trusty companion.

If a full charge lasts only a fraction of the time it used to and your phone constantly needs to be charged, it’s time for an upgrade, says production support engineer, Jonathon Nantz. Over time, like anything else that’s used a lot, your mobile phone’s battery will wear out. If your phone doesn’t have a replaceable battery, then you’ll have no choice other than to buy a new phone.

Check out these tips to get a longer life from your phone battery.

Can you hear me now? If the answer is suddenly no, even when you’re in tried-and-true calling locations or have four service bars, the problem might not actually be your connection – it might be your microphone. When your mic starts to wear out, people on the other end of your calls will continuously complain that they can’t understand what you’re saying because your voice sounds very quiet or the sound cuts in and out.

Have you noticed that your touch screen is getting less compliant to your swipes? When the sensors on it are starting to fail, sometimes your phone will work just fine, and then other times you’ll need to swipe or tap repeatedly to get a response. When this starts happening, you’re not losing your mind or imagining things – it’s a sign that you need to start looking for a new phone. You can typically get your screen repaired, but if your phone is on the older side, it may cost more to make the repair than your phone is worth.

As well as repairing your screen, you may like to consider giving it a clean, it’s much filthier than you thought!

DIY phone fixes, like cleaning your charging port to improve charging and drying out a moistened phone, can keep your phone running for a long time. There’s a time, though, when not even troubleshooting will make a difference. If you’ve tried rebooting your phone, checking it for malware, and installing the necessary software upgrades and it still remains slow or laggy, it’s time to say goodbye, according to Nantz.

If your phone randomly reboots, it could be a sign that your phone has malware and that hackers may have access to it. If, however, you scan your phone with an anti-malware app like Malwarebytes or Bitdefender and you don’t find anything amiss, your phone may just be old and worn out. Worn out electronics can glitch, causing them to malfunction and randomly restart.

Don’t miss these hidden iPhone hacks you never knew about.

When you can’t update to the latest operating system due to outdated hardware, your phone can slow down and potentially be vulnerable to security threats, says Director of Content at Ting Mobile, Andrew Moore-Crispin. Google the latest OS for your phone type and check in your phone’s settings to make sure your device is updated. If it can’t download the latest update, it’s time to upgrade. Just FYI, it usually takes around three years for a phone to have an outdated operating system, though this isn’t a rule. It can happen sooner or later, depending on the phone manufacturer.

“Depending on how old your phone is, your manufacturer or local repair shop may think your device is considered obsolete,” says Moore-Crispin. When this happens, you won’t be able to get tech support or replacement parts for your phone anymore. That means if it’s glitching out, there’s really nothing you can do but get a new phone.

At this point, just about everyone uses their phone as their personal camera. If your photos are cringe-worthy, with grainy images and less-than-brilliant colours, it’s time to make a change. Even budget phones have great cameras these days. Typically, if your phone’s camera has single-digit megapixels (your phone will often say something like 5MP or 8MP beside the camera lens on the back of the phone), then you should probably consider replacing it. The more megapixels, the better the resolution. Camera phones today have up to 20 megapixels, which means they take photos just as well as many newer digital cameras, with clear, crisp images. You should also look for phones with zoom capabilities and the ability to take photos in low-light conditions.

Check out these smart uses for your mobile phone camera.

If your phone looks like it’s been dropped off a Ferris wheel, it’s time for it to rest in peace. “We all drop our phones occasionally, but if your device is experiencing internal damage that goes beyond a cracked phone screen, you may be due for an upgrade,” says Moore-Crispin. Signs of internal damage can include a touchscreen that doesn’t work properly, random phone reboots, or a screen with blacked-out pixels.