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Okay, I am going to admit, the brand new iPhone Air is actually cool. To not point out, the battery life on the 17 Professional Max is legitimately spectacular. And even the base mannequin iPhone 17 is a superb deal, providing pro-features and 256GB of storage at that very same $799. As soon as once more, Apple is tempting me with new iPhones.

It is regular to need the newest and biggest system, particularly when Apple is behind it. However in case you’re like me, you actually do not want a brand new iPhone. To be trustworthy, had it not meant an unintended premature finish, I would nonetheless be rocking with my pacific blue iPhone 12 Professional Max (RIP). My 15 Professional Max is alive and nicely, nonetheless, although it’s trying a bit classic towards Apple’s contemporary slate of units.

Slightly than shell out a big amount of cash on an iPhone 17 and unnecessarily retire a superbly working system, I counsel many people attempt to breathe some life again into our growing older iPhones.

Exchange the battery

In case your cellphone is a number of years outdated, you’re possible not getting the identical power-on time as you probably did if you first purchased it. A brand new battery often prices a fraction the value of even a mid-range cellphone, however it could possibly do extra than simply lengthen your time away from the charger.

Some telephones—particularly iPhones—gradual themselves down robotically when the battery will get too outdated. (Apple obtained in some sizzling water years in the past for not disclosing this follow.) The working system system does this to forestall your cellphone from shutting down unexpectedly, and when you can flip this characteristic off, you most likely gained’t see practically the identical efficiency you’d with a brand new battery. Even when it did, you run the danger of your iPhone crashing at a second’s discover. A contemporary battery can change all that.

To see whether or not your battery could be due for an improve, open Settings > Battery > Battery Well being. Right here, test your “Most Capability,” which is the quantity of cost the battery can maintain relative to when it was new. When this quantity reaches 80% or beneath, it is possible a good suggestion to exchange the battery. Be aware of any warnings that your battery has degraded. These are additionally wonderful clues that you simply most likely want a alternative.

Clear up some space for storing

Storage administration isn’t enjoyable, however it’s important irrespective of your system. In case you have apps, pictures, movies, and extra filling your cellphone to the brim, it’s going to trigger issues. That’s as a result of all computer systems want some further space for storing to perform correctly. In case your cellphone retains screaming at you that’s it’s practically full, imagine it.

The excellent news is, if it is time to clear some storage, you don’t have to clear a complete lot—simply no less than 5–10% of your complete reminiscence. Today, iOS makes it straightforward to see what’s taking on essentially the most storage in your system. Head to Settings > Normal > iPhone Storage. Right here, iOS will provide ideas for deleting giant information to unencumber room. For instance, once I head to this web page, I see options to “Assessment Giant Attachments” in Messages, which might save me as much as 40.55 GB, apparently; and “Offload Unused Apps,” which might filter out 16.31 GB. Whittle issues down till you see that you’ve got no less than a small chunk of free area accessible.

Clear out your charging port

When you discover that charging your cellphone is not possible, or that it expenses slowly or inconsistently, you don’t essentially want to purchase a complete new system. As a substitute, attempt cleansing out the charging port. You wouldn’t imagine how clogged these items get; lint and particles out of your pockets can get trapped and packed down into the port, blocking the charger’s capacity to correctly join.

To wash it, use a skinny piece of wire (like a SIM software or an untwisted paperclip) to fastidiously scoop any obstructions out of the port. The important thing phrase right here is fastidiously; this port is fragile, and in case you scrape the connections too laborious, you could possibly harm them irrevocably.

In case your port nonetheless will not cost after an excellent cleansing, all hope is not misplaced. In case your iPhone helps wi-fi charging, think about using one in all these chargers as a substitute of a wired connection. Even higher, use MagSafe, in case your iPhone helps it, so you may maintain your iPhone whereas its charging.

Swap out your wallpaper

Each time you have a look at your cellphone, you’re most likely trying on the similar Lock Display wallpaper. When you’ve gotten bored of it, that sameness may very well be influencing your want to improve.

It’s a small change, however see in case you really feel totally different after changing the wallpaper, ideally to one thing completely totally different from what you had earlier than. Decide one thing with an reverse colour scheme, topic, artwork model, and so on. If you have not modified your wallpaper shortly, you could be shocked by the quantity of customization Apple permits for now. You possibly can select to match your House Display’s wallpaper to your Lock Display, or have a distinct possibility altogether.

Your House Display format is probably going getting stale as nicely. As with the brand new wallpaper choices, Apple has made some vital modifications to the best way you may customise your House Display in recent times. Attempt including new widgets that you simply haven’t used earlier than and blend up the order of the apps you employ every day. You possibly can even put them anyplace you need now, a la Android.

Get a brand new case

A part of the enchantment of a brand new cellphone is the brand new look; as a substitute of shopping for a brand new system only for a brand new colour or as a result of your outdated one is dinged up, attempting slapping a brand new case in your current cellphone as a substitute. You’d be shocked how transformative this may be. A leather-based case could make your system really feel a bit extra premium, whereas a colourful silicone one can brighten up its look. You possibly can even discover one that may substitute your pockets.

Or, in case you’re feeling daring, attempt going caseless for a bit. You will put your iPhone vulnerable to harm, certain, however it’s good to be reminded of how these units actually feel and appear sometimes.

Exchange your display or display protector

Cease dwelling with that beat-up display protector. A very good one generally is a bit dear, however a cracked and scratched piece of plastic or glass is probably going taking its toll in your notion of your cellphone. Equally, in case your cellphone’s show has taken a beating, take into consideration getting it mounted, too. Relying on the cellphone, that may get actually costly (for newer units, Apple expenses as much as $379 for the favor), but when it’s between that or a $1,000 iPhone 17 Professional, there’s a transparent winner in your pockets. (It’s additionally value noting that you simply sometimes can’t commerce in a cellphone with a damaged display.)

Improve to iOS 26

iOS 26 is nearly to drop, and it marks arguably the largest design change for iPhones since iOS 7. That is largely on account of the brand new Liquid Glass design, and whereas it is probably not for everybody, I believe lots of people are going to seek out it refreshing. You possibly can even select to see your apps and widgets in clear mode, going again to House Display customization.

The factor about iOS 26 is, it would not require a brand new iPhone to run. In truth, it really works with iPhones as outdated because the iPhone 11, which dropped again in 2019. When you want an iPhone 15 Professional or newer to run Apple Intelligence options, I would wager most of us do not want these. As a substitute, the visible refresh of iOS 26, coupled with the brand new options that everybody will get, ought to make even an iPhone 11 really feel a bit newer.