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5 signs it's time to replace your mobile phone
If your phone is let down by poor performance, missing security updates or a dire camera, you might want to consider upgrading
Your smartphone is key to helping you power through daily tasks, so it won't be long before poor performance, a lack of updates or a lack of space for your important files starts to grind.
We'll help you decide if it's time for an upgrade, and thanks to our rigorous lab tests, we can recommend high-scoring, feature-packed mobile phones that are a breeze to use. Plus, thanks to our Great Value recommendations, you can pick up a capable device on a sensible budget.
Keep scrolling to learn about the telltale signs your mobile needs replacing. With Black Friday right around the corner, we've also explained how to sniff out the best deals on a new mobile.
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1. It's getting slow or annoying to use
At a glance: low storage, outdated software and limited processing power can cause issues.
If you've noticed your current phone is slowing down, there are a couple of potential causes.
For one, you might be low on internal storage space – this can significantly impact your phone's performance as the OS needs space to store temporary files and manage background tasks effectively. If you need additional space and don't want to rely on cloud storage, investing in a higher-capacity alternative (or a phone with expandable storage) could be a good move.
Your ageing phone might be running outdated software, too, which can lead to compatibility issues and even security vulnerabilities. You might miss out on software features that you'd find genuinely useful – new settings, camera modes or AI features, for example.
Many older phones lack the power under the hood that modern mobiles can provide. In other words, a phone with limited processing power will struggle to run the latest games or even stream video content smoothly. You might notice lag when playing or jumping between apps if you're running lots of them at the same time.
Dealing with a sluggish mobile is a pain, so check in with our guide to the best smartphones.
We measure performance on the latest smartphones and this accounts for 10% of the overall score. Our experts benchmark the speed of each phone’s processor and also put them through a series of day-to-day tasks to see how well they hold up.
2. It's no longer receiving security updates
At a glance: older smartphones are vulnerable to hackers and our expert reviews reveal how long devices will be updated for.
Your smartphone needs to be protected against hackers – without important security patches, sinister third parties can exploit vulnerabilities in your phone's software. If you own an older phone, it might no longer receive those patches.
The risk of using an older device generally increases the older it is, so consider replacing your dated smartphone with a model that'll be supported by updates for years to come. You don't necessarily need to spend a huge amount to get a phone that's still supported, as our expert tests have uncovered Great Value picks under £300.
Fortunately, in part down to our campaigning, five to seven years of support from launch is becoming far more common.
While we're on the subject of phone security, make sure you avoid downloading apps from unofficial app stores. Be selective with the apps you download, too, as apps that contain malware do occasionally make their way onto official stores.
You can use our mobile phone security tool to see how long mobile phones are supported with important software and security updates.
All phones pass through our security tests to see how well they guard your data and whether or not they receive security updates. If manufacturers stop updating older phones, we remove any Best Buys and Great Value labels.
3. You want a better camera
At a glance: upgrading your phone could mean improved low-light performance and access to AI features that improve the colours in your photos.
Users who enjoy snapping pictures and taking videos on their phones deserve a camera that's up to the task. As phone camera technology continues to improve, older models might struggle to compete with the latest releases.
Compare an old smartphone with a brand-new model and there's a strong chance the newer device will offer a higher megapixel count, better performance in low light and AI-powered features designed to enhance colours. You might also find that video stabilisation is better on a replacement device.
Upgrading your current mobile could offer you access to lenses you haven't played with before – for example, a macro lens for up-close shots or an ultra-wide lens that captures rolling hills or large groups of people. Even the cameras featured on cheaper phones are far better than they used to be, although a bigger budget gives you access to the very latest technology.
You can explore all of our smartphone reviews and filter by models that score top marks in our camera tests.
Our experts use mannequins of different skin shades to see how well the camera picks up all skin tones, and shoot different objects to see how well it picks up texture and detail. We also assess colour accuracy and the quality of the zoom and auto-focus features.
4. You're running out of storage space
At a glance: if your phone is running low on storage, it might start to slow down – cloud storage, expandable memory and cleanup tools help manage this.
Over time, apps, photos and videos gradually consume more space on your device's internal memory. When you're nearing the limit, you'll start seeing notifications telling you to free up space as soon as you can. Phones can run slower if they're close to maxing out on storage.
One way of overcoming this issue is by using a cloud storage service, letting you store content online and access it from another phone or computer when needed. You'll get 5GB of space for free if you have an Apple iCloud or OneDrive account, or 15GB through Google Drive.
Whether you're using an iPhone or an Android, your device has handy, built-in tools for tackling digital junk. Try this:
- On iPhone – tap Settings, then scroll to General and choose iPhone Storage. Take a moment to identify the largest segments in the chart. You might see that installed apps are taking up more space than you'd like. Explore the Recommendations tab for tips on how to save space.
- On Android – open the Files by Google app, tap the Settings icon in the top-left corner, choose Clean and work through the suggested actions. Go back to your home screen and tap Settings > Storage to see how much internal storage is remaining on your device. Tap Apps and you can see which ones are taking up the most space.
Alternatively, you can use your device's expandable memory slot if it has one – a 128GB memory card costs around £10. Buying a new smartphone with higher base storage is another option, and our expert smartphone reviews can help you choose wisely.
All of our smartphone reviews compare total device memory with the amount of memory left once the operating system and pre-installed apps have been taken into account. We also mention if expandable storage is available.
5. The screen is damaged
At a glance: manufacturer repairs and third-party repairs are worth considering, but it might be cheaper to replace your phone entirely.
Using a smartphone with a damaged display can be frustrating – you might find that taps and swipes don’t register properly, and apps become difficult to navigate. There’s also a risk that small shards of glass could dislodge and cause injury.
Depending on the smartphone you're using and whether it's covered by warranty, you might be able to get it repaired. If you don't have access to an official repair service provided by the manufacturer, you can try a third-party service, but note that some brands won't give you a quote until they inspect the device in person.
If your phone is still reasonably new, it's probably worth getting it repaired instead of buying a new one. But if it's been a few years, you might want to treat the situation as an opportunity to upgrade.
Our extensive guide on mobile phone repair compares prices from both mobile manufacturers and third-party repair websites.
As part of our phone durability testing, we assess the quality of the display and make sure the device can withstand heavy scratching. And if the manufacturer claims the phone is waterproof, we submerge it in water, just to make sure.
Buying a new smartphone on Black Friday
If you're searching for a new mobile, you might want to wait for Black Friday sales to see if any deals pop up.
Stiff competition between the biggest manufacturers and contract providers means you can often find deals on even the most expensive handsets, including models from iPhone and Samsung.
But make sure you shop savvy – in previous years, our research has uncovered discounted phones that are no longer supported with important security updates, or modesl that have scored poorly in our performance tests. Buying these is a waste of money.
Best Black Friday mobile phone and Sim-only deals – our experts have picked the best contract and Sim-only deals, and tell you how to bag a bargain on an Android handset or iPhone.
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