Monday, September 10, 2018

Old iPhone, New Battery: Upgrade or Keep It?

Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about whether to keep my iPhone 6 after a battery replacement or switch to an affordable Android phone. I have rewritten it into a guide to deciding whether a new battery is enough.

I had used my iPhone 6 for more than three years, and I was neither fully satisfied nor dissatisfied with it. It qualified for Apple's battery replacement programme, and after the new battery it worked well again. The battery had been my only real complaint, so I had little reason to buy a new phone. Apps took a few seconds longer to open, which I could live with rather than paying monthly instalments on a new phone. Friends kept telling me that affordable Android phones performed much better, but I worried about their reliability and how long they would last.

When is a battery replacement enough?

When the battery is the main problem and the phone still receives security updates. A new battery restores battery life and, on iPhones, removes the performance management that iOS applies to worn batteries. That can make an old phone feel noticeably faster.

When is it time to upgrade?

Software support has ended: no more security updates, and apps start dropping support.
Storage is always full: and cannot be managed by clearing photos and apps.
A feature you need is missing: for example, reliable UPI apps, 5G coverage or camera quality.
Repairs cost more than the phone is worth.

Are budget Android phones reliable?

Many are, but update policies vary widely. Some brands now promise several years of Android and security updates even on mid-range phones, while others offer little. Check the promised update period before buying, as it matters more than the processor for how long the phone stays usable.

What does keeping an old phone save?

The price of a new phone, spread over the extra years of use, minus the cost of a battery. Keeping a phone for four or five years is usually much cheaper than upgrading every two.

Did I make the right call?

For the time, yes: a battery kept a working phone useful. The iPhone 6 later lost iOS support, which is the point at which any phone should be replaced.