When the time comes to upgrade your iPhone, it can be both exciting and daunting: A brand new iPhone awaits, but which one? Multiple iPhone models are launched each year to complement the older ones still on sale, which might (and often do) offer better value for money.
Even if you think you’ve found the right iPhone, it will undoubtedly be replaced within the next 12 months. So, do you go ahead and make a purchase or wait for the new one to show up? If you’ve not been watching the market, you’d be forgiven for finding it all a little overwhelming.
Here at GeeksChalk, we keep a very close eye on the iPhone market and write about these devices every day, so we felt it was worth putting together some advice on the best times to upgrade your iPhone
When to buy older iPhones
Apple traditionally introduces its latest slate of iPhones in September, though this is evolving as the company shifts toward spreading releases throughout the year. As soon as a new iPhone appears, the current model that it’s replacing goes on sale at a cheaper price. That might be the perfect time to pick one up because it was top of the range just a few days prior. As the months go by, the price will go down further, but of course, the handset is getting out of date more and more.
By the time another 12 months have rolled by, there will be another launch, and then you’ve got more iPhones to choose from—all giving you different trade-offs between price and longevity. The more powerful an iPhone is, to begin with, the more years it will remain viable for, and it isn’t easy to make a case for buying a budget iPhone once it gets to 2-3 years old (by then, better budget iPhones will be available).
It’s not an exact science, but generally speaking, even when you buy an older iPhone, you want it to be as new as possible—if it started life as a high-end flagship, you can wait a little longer for the price to drop. Double-check when the iPhone first appeared, how many years of software updates it’s still guaranteed (Apple typically supports iPhones with major iOS updates for 5-7 years), and which new models you can get for the same price.
When to buy newer iPhones
Everyone is different in terms of their phone needs and budget; for some people, buying the latest and greatest iPhone model makes sense. Again, though, certain timings should be considered when purchasing the best iPhones. Right before (or after) the launch can be a good opportunity to pick up discounts or free accessories (like a pair of headsets, for example).
Once an iPhone is six months old, you might see more discounts introduced by. Expect the discounts to ramp up as the iPhone gets closer to being replaced, and once you’re at this stage, it’s usually best to wait. Any available discounts will get bigger once the new model shows up.
It’s important to remember that an iPhone comprises software and hardware. Apple pushes out new versions of iOS in September after previewing them in June at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).
Buy a current model, and you’re likely to be first in line for the current year of iOS updates, too, so make sure you’re up to date on what’s coming. If the same software features will be available on current models and models due to launch soon, it might be enough to convince you to buy now rather than wait.
See also: When to Upgrade Your iPhone
When to wait for upcoming iPhones
If your current iPhone has completely died, you might not have the choice to wait for an upcoming iPhone—but if you do have the option, it might be worth your while waiting for the next model of an iPhone to roll around, especially if the launch date is close or if major upgrades are rumored.
You don’t have to look far online to find rumors and leaks about upcoming iPhones. While their accuracy can never be guaranteed, they give us a good idea of what’s coming (especially when the same leak arrives from multiple sources). Whether you find those rumors underwhelming will give you an idea about the best time to upgrade your iPhone.
Even if you’re not convinced by what an upcoming iPhone is promising to bring with it, if the fall is close, you might be better off waiting anyway—because that’s when carriers are eager to attract new customers with abundant trade-in deals and promotions. And again, even if you don’t want the latest and greatest iPhone, you can at least snag an older version at a discount.
Bear in mind, too, that whenever you buy your iPhone, you’re only 12 months (or less) away from it being replaced, and you have to take the plunge sometime—there is a danger that you wait and wait and never upgrade. There will always be something better on the way, but with some research, you can understand how much better it will be and when it will appear.
See also: How long does an iPhone last? How to spot warning signs and lengthen its lifespan.
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