When is it no longer worth repairing your phone and buying a new one instead

Repair a phone only if the repair cost is under 30% of its market price and you plan to keep it for at least a year; otherwise replacement is cheaper. New models like the Pixel 11 and iPhone 17 add exclusive camera and video capabilities. Premium lines now receive up to seven years of software updates, making a switch sensible when performance drops or hardware fails. Trade-in programs and ecosystem migration tools lower the cost of buying a new device.