Find the new iPhone too expensive? With proper care, you can keep using your old phone for a long time.

 Find the new iPhone too expensive? With proper care, you can keep using your old phone for a long time.

Apple's recently unveiled iPhones feature new capabilities, improved cameras, and high price tags. The lineup includes a foldable iPhone starting at $1,999. While many users may want to upgrade to a new iPhone, the high cost might make an immediate purchase unfeasible. If you cannot afford to spend a large sum on a new iPhone 18 or a foldable iPhone Duo, proper maintenance is essential to extend the lifespan of your current phone.

Instead of buying a new device, you can save money by continuing to use your existing Apple or Android smartphone for a longer period.

As smartphone technology matures and improvements in new generations of phones become more incremental, the notion that one must upgrade immediately upon a new model's release is fading. Furthermore, with the rise of electronic waste (e-waste), there is a growing environmental imperative to prevent old phones from ending up in landfills.

Modern smartphones are more durable than their predecessors. They are built to withstand drops and water exposure with minimal damage, making long-term use a viable option.

According to Counterpoint Research, the average smartphone replacement cycle has now reached four years. Some users on online forums have even reported using the same phone for over seven years.

Here are some ways to extend your phone's lifespan:

Take proper care of your phone's battery.

The battery is one of the most critical factors determining a phone's lifespan. According to Apple, the lifespan of a rechargeable battery is linked to its "chemical age." This age is not determined solely by the date of manufacture of the phone or battery; factors such as temperature history and charging habits also play a role.

As a lithium-ion battery ages chemically, the amount of charge it can hold decreases. Apple states that this results in a reduction of the battery's maximum performance capacity. Samsung also advises against completely draining lithium-ion batteries, as doing so can shorten their lifespan.

Elizabeth Chamberlain, Director of Sustainability at the device repair website iFixit, told the news agency AP that the battery is often the first component to fail in most phones.

According to her, lithium-ion batteries typically begin to degrade significantly after 300 to 500 charging cycles. Beyond that point, the battery may no longer be able to power the phone for a full day without needing a recharge. "Many people complete 500 charging cycles in just two years. Heavy phone users reach that mark even sooner," she said.

Chamberlain notes that both fully discharging and fully charging a battery place stress on it. Therefore, to extend the battery's lifespan, it is beneficial to avoid repeatedly letting the phone's battery drain completely or charging it all the way to 100 percent. Therefore, Chamberlain suggests avoiding letting the battery drain completely and refraining from charging it to 100 percent unless absolutely necessary. She says, "Aim to keep the battery level between 20 and 80 percent, except when a full charge is truly required."

If you have a habit of plugging in your phone before going to sleep, both Apple and Samsung offer charging optimization features designed to extend battery life. These features delay the time it takes to reach a full charge based on the user's daily routine.

On iOS, this feature is enabled by default; it pauses charging once the battery reaches 80 percent and only completes the charge to 100 percent shortly before the user wakes up.

Prevent the phone battery from becoming too hot or too cold.

Device manufacturers advise against exposing phones to extreme heat or cold, as both conditions can damage the battery.

According to Apple, the heat generated during charging can shorten the battery's lifespan. The company warns against using or charging the phone in temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.

Samsung also advises against leaving the phone in places like a car's glove box during extreme heat or cold. The company notes that placing the phone in a freezer—under the misconception that it extends battery life—is not advisable.

Google, the maker of the Android operating system and Pixel phones, states that a hot battery drains faster even when not in use, which can lead to battery damage. Adjust your phone's power settings to extend battery life.

You can improve daily battery backup by adjusting settings so that apps and features consume less energy. This also reduces the need for frequent charging.

To achieve this, you can lower the screen brightness, enable "Dark Mode," and shorten the screen timeout duration. Additionally, you can activate the "Auto-Brightness" feature, which automatically adjusts the screen brightness based on ambient lighting.

It is also advisable to periodically check the battery usage details in your phone's settings. This allows you to identify apps that consume significant power and either close or uninstall them if they are not needed.

On iPhones, enabling "Low Power Mode" when the battery drops below 10% can help extend battery life until you can recharge the device. Samsung Android phones also offer similar power-saving... A power-saving mode is available.

You can keep this mode active at all times, though doing so may affect the phone's performance.

Use a case and screen protector to protect your phone.

Modern smartphones with smooth surfaces can easily slip out of your hand. Therefore, using a sturdy protective case is essential to minimize damage from drops.

However, Elizabeth Chamberlain, Director of Sustainability at iFixit, notes that some cases trap heat; even if the phone feels cool to the touch on the outside, it may remain hot internally.

It is also recommended to use a screen protector. According to iFixit, while plastic screen protectors are inexpensive, they scratch easily. To better protect the screen from scratches and drop damage, you can use TPU film or tempered glass.

Keep your phone clean.

Dust and dirt can accumulate in the ports and other small crevices when the phone is carried in a pocket or bag. Therefore, parts such as the charging port, speaker, and microphone grille should be cleaned regularly.

Chamberlain notes that when a phone stops charging, the issue is often caused by lint or debris in the charging port preventing a proper connection with the cable.

Special cleaning kits containing brushes, picks, swabs, and dust-removal tools are available on the market. If such tools are unavailable, you can carefully remove debris from the ports, speakers, and microphone grilles using a toothpick and a clean toothbrush. Update Software Regularly

Software plays a crucial role in extending a phone's lifespan. Experts recommend regularly updating the phone's operating system and applications. Doing so provides access to new features related to privacy, security, and battery management.

It has become easier to receive software updates even as phones age. Recently, some smartphone manufacturers have extended the period during which they provide software updates for their devices.

Google has committed to providing Android and security updates for the Pixel 8 and subsequent models for seven years. Previously, updates for older models were provided for only four to five years. Samsung also announced in 2024 that it would extend the operating system update period for its phones to seven years.

Apple released the iOS 17 update on September 14. This update is available for devices starting from the iPhone 11, which was originally launched in 2019.