When to Upgrade Your Phone, and Buying Abroad

Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about deciding whether to replace my four-year-old iPhone 6, which had a new battery, with the iPhone XS, tempted by the camera and a relative travelling to the US who could buy it for less. I have rewritten it into a guide to timing a phone upgrade.

My iPhone 6 was four years old and had a new battery under Apple's replacement programme. The new iPhone was due on 12 September 2018, and the rumoured features did not excite me the way earlier iPhones had. The camera and the iPhone 6's ageing design were the only reasons to upgrade, while the high price and yearly model changes argued against. My uncle was also travelling to the US later that year, so I could buy the new phone for less and sooner. I was torn.

When is the best time to upgrade a phone?

• When software support ends: the clearest signal.
• When a feature you use daily is missing: such as camera quality or 5G.
• Just after a new model launches: older models often drop in price.

Is buying an iPhone abroad worth it?

It can be cheaper, but check the details. Customs duty may apply above the duty-free allowance when bringing it into India. Warranty service may be limited to the country of purchase. Some US models use eSIM only, with no physical SIM tray, so check that your Indian carrier supports eSIM before buying.

How much is a camera upgrade worth?

If you take a lot of photos, a newer camera can be a real improvement. Compare sample photos in low light, which is where older phones fall behind most.

What does waiting cost?

Very little while the phone is supported and works well. Each extra year of use lowers the yearly cost of the phone you already own.

What should you do with the old phone?

Back it up, sign out of your accounts, erase it, and then sell, trade in or recycle it.

Keep reading

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