Apple’s new iPhone 16 Pros have bigger screens, better battery life and a new button to control your cameras. Google’s new Pixel 9 Pro Fold transfoms from a normal-feeling phone into a tiny tablet with a surprisingly big display. And some of Samsung’s fanciest new smartphones let you write on them with sophisticated styluses and translate phone calls in real-time.
These can sound pretty tempting, but do you actually need a new phone?
A new smartphone is a major purchase that can cost anywhere from $200 to $2,000. The companies that make and sell the devices would like you to believe it’s necessary to shell out for a new one every couple of years.
In reality, a smartphone can live a long and fulfilling life with proper maintenance and, if needed, a few repairs.
Go easy on your wallet and the environment by only buying new devices when you really need them. To help you decide when that time has come, the Help Desk has made this quiz to guide you.
Question 1 of 5
How old is your phone?
To find the date of purchase for a new iPhone, log into Apple's support site and select your device. For an Android phone, log into the Play Store or your Google Account. If you bought a used phone, use the year that model was released.
Question 2 of 5
Is anything wrong with your phone?
Select all that apply
Question 3 of 5
How important is camera quality to you?
Question 4 of 5
What features are you currently missing and willing to spend money for?
Select all that apply
Question 5 of 5
How important is it that you be seen with the newest phone?
You need to answer every question to see your result. You’re missing questions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.