Hi everyone, I own an iPhone 14 Pro 128GB. By April 2026, the phone will be 3 years old, with an 84% battery life. It's still working fine, I just have to charge it twice a day for my personal use. I've always changed phones quite often.
I have important trips planned for February and the end of March. I was thinking of taking advantage of the opportunity and purchasing an iPhone 16 Pro 256GB, perhaps even the Max.
I could spend €750-850. I'd sell mine for €350-400 and pay the remainder in installments over a maximum of 6 months.
Do you think this is a good move to avoid excessively depreciating my iPhone's value and still have a better-performing product for travel?
Thanks everyone.
Should I buy a used iPhone or keep my 3-year-old one?
byu/Grouchy-Push558 inFrugal
Posted by Grouchy-Push558
12 Comments
My rule for phones is to use them until I’m forced to upgrade. I still have a Pixel 5 from 2020. It works fine, it’s still compatible with modern apps, and I don’t currently need a better camera or a faster phone.
If you are getting bored, get a new case and swap the background and icon pack.
keep it until it dies
My iPhone is a couple years older than yours and similarly has a weakened battery. Instead of spending a lot of money on a replacement phone, I spent $25 on a battery case. The case protects my phone, and when the phone’s battery gets low I hit a button and the battery in the case charges it right back up to 100%. I’ve never had my phone die on me since!
That same phone you’re looking at now will only become cheaper over time. Hold onto yours.
I was in essentially the same situation as you, except at 80% battery health.
I considered the €109 battery replacement at Apple, however the appeal of upgrading to get the USB C charging port so I’m on one plug for all was high.
So instead, I sold my iPhone 14 Pro 128gb at 80% battery health for €400.
I then bought an iPhone 15 Pro 256gb at 90% health for €465.
So I got a better battery, better spec, double the storage, and USB C for €65 net 🤯.
I am very good at product photography, list items really clearly and well, communicate well to interested users on Marktplaats and I seem to retain value in all I sell and have 5 star feedback. I also have a good eye for bargains and don’t hesitate. These two skills combined lead to huge savings.
A new phone is definitely on my 2026 spending list. But as of today I am not really sure to change it because I am in the same point as you. I might buy one of those portable USB batteries in case I use it too much on a certain day and carry on until there are no more iOS uploads available.
Keep your existing phone until it no longer functions.
If I were you I’d buy an external battery for the trip. Your phone sounds like it would be fine but you may need an extra charge partway through the day, and at 84% well, even a new phone probably won’t make it the whole way, if you’re a heavy user.
As for depreciation etc… I personally don’t trade mine in so that’s never a concern lol.
Consider getting the battery swapped. I just did that on mine a few months back and it feels like a brand new phone.
It feels like you are just trying to find an excuse to upgrade, when deep down you know it isn’t worth it.
What should be noted here though is that you don’t have the money to upgrade, because you want to pay in installments. It’s just a phone, don’t put yourself in debt for it.
I had the 14 pro and just upgrade to the 17 pro yesterday since it was only $170 after trade in. Feels like im using the same phone lol
I buy every two years probably. But finances are not a concern for me me and everyone has different limits to their resources