Is it worth repairing an old phone?

Your phone screen is cracked, or the battery is dying by lunch, and you are wondering whether it makes more sense to repair it or just buy something new. It is a fair question. Here is how to think about it.

The cost comparison

Let us use an iPhone 12 as an example. It came out in 2020. Six years later, it still runs the latest version of iOS and handles everything most people need.

For most people, around $190 to get another 2 years out of a perfectly good phone is an easy decision. But there are situations where replacing makes more sense.

When repair is the right call

• The phone is less than 4 years old. Modern phones are built to last. An iPhone or Samsung flagship from 2022 or later will still receive software updates and run current apps for years to come.
• Only one thing is wrong. A cracked screen on an otherwise fast phone is the perfect repair candidate. Same for a tired battery. The rest of the phone is fine.
• The repair costs less than a third of a replacement. If the repair is $150 and a comparable replacement is $600, that is a clear win for repair.
• You have data, apps, and settings you do not want to set up again. Transferring to a new phone is never as smooth as the manufacturers promise. If everything is working except the screen or battery, a repair keeps your setup exactly as it is.

When replacing makes more sense

• The phone is 5+ years old and sluggish. If it already feels slow, runs out of storage, and apps crash regularly, a new battery or screen will not fix those problems.
• It has stopped receiving software updates. Without security updates, the phone becomes a risk for online banking and personal data. For iPhone, that usually means anything older than 6 years. For Samsung it depends on the model: older Galaxy phones got about 4 to 5 years of security updates, and Samsung promises up to 7 years for the Galaxy S24 and later flagships.
• Multiple things are broken. If the screen is cracked, the battery is dying, and the charging port is flaky, the combined repair cost starts approaching replacement territory.
• The repair cost is more than half the phone's current value. If your phone is worth $300 second-hand and the repair is $200, it is marginal.

The environmental angle

Every new phone requires mining rare earth metals, manufacturing in a factory, and shipping halfway around the world. Repairing a phone that still works fine is one of the simplest things you can do to reduce e-waste. New Zealand generates about 80,000 tonnes of e-waste per year. Keeping your phone going for another year or two genuinely helps.

What about mid-range phones?

Budget and mid-range phones (Samsung A series, Oppo A series, Huawei P series) are trickier. They cost less to buy new, so the repair-vs-replace calculation is tighter. A $400 phone with a $150 screen repair is borderline. But if the phone is only a year or two old and works well otherwise, the repair still makes sense.

The exception is very cheap phones under $200. At that price point, repair costs can exceed the phone's value. We will tell you upfront if that is the case.

Related reading: signs your battery needs replacing, aftermarket vs OEM screens, and phone repair vs insurance - which saves more? Check current repair prices to help you decide.