Get tech confident for less
Solve your tech issues and get expert buying advice by chatting to our support team as often as you need. From only £4.99 a month.
Join Which? Tech SupportCancel any time
By clicking a retailer link you consent to third-party cookies that track your onward journey. This enables W? to receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase, which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.
5 signs it's time to replace your mobile phone
If your mobile is let down by poor performance, missing security updates or a dire camera, it might be time for an upgrade
Your smartphone helps you power through everyday tasks, so it won’t be long before poor performance, missing updates or limited storage space starts to become frustrating.
They don't last forever, but equally you'll want to avoid spending on an expensive new handset before you really need one.
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.
Dealing with a sluggish mobile is a pain, so check in with our guide to the best smartphones.
1. 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.
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.
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. You can use our mobile phone security tool to see how long mobile phones are supported with important software and security updates.
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. Fortunately, in part down to our campaigning, five to seven years of support from launch is becoming far more common.
On the subject of phone security, note that taking steps to keep your private information safe doesn't need to take long. You can make tweaks to your device settings in minutes that have a huge impact. See 10 things every smartphone owner should do to keep their data safe.
2. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
4. It's getting slow or annoying to use
At a glance: low storage, outdated software and limited processing power can cause issues.
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.
If you've noticed your current phone is slowing down, there are a couple of potential causes.
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.
In cases where 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 also be a good move.
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.
5. 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.
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.
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 free storage with an Apple iCloud or Microsoft OneDrive account, or 15GB if you use Google Drive.
Whether you're using an iPhone or Android, your device has handy, built-in tools for tackling digital junk.
- On iPhone – tap Settings, scroll down to General and choose iPhone Storage. Take a moment to identify the largest segments in the storage chart. Explore the Recommendations section for advice on how to save space. If there are multiple suggestions, you'll need to select Show all.
- On Android – Open Files by Google and tap the Settings icon in the top-left corner. Choose Clean and you'll see an overview of your internal storage allowance. Work your way through each section of the app – the app's suggestions vary depending on how much digital clutter you have.
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.
For more tips, see our advice on how to free up space on your phone in less than 5 minutes.
Buying a new smartphone on Black Friday
If you're searching for a new mobile, Black Friday is a great time to bag a bargain.
Stiff competition between the biggest manufacturers and contract providers means you can often find deals on even the most expensive handsets, including models from Apple, Samsung and Google.
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 models that have scored poorly in our performance tests. Buying these is a waste of money.
Best 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.
Join Which? Tech Support
Which? Tech Support can help you keep on top of your home tech. Our experts explain things clearly so that you can resolve issues and feel more confident using your devices.
Get unlimited 1-2-1 expert support:
- By phone – clear guidance in choosing, setting up, using and resolving issues with your home tech devices.
- By email – outline the issue and we’ll email you our answer.
- By remote fix – we connect securely from our office to your home computer and resolve issues while you watch.
- In print – Which? Tech Magazine, six issues a year delivered to your door.
You can join Which? Tech Support.
