Engadget: Repair a phone if the cost is below 30% of its market value
An Engadget guide says a phone repair is worthwhile when it costs less than 30% of the device's current value and the owner plans to keep it for another year.
Cost calculations are more relevant now as flagship phones routinely exceed $1,000 and repair bills typically run from less than $100 to a few hundred dollars. Engadget notes that the AI boom is pushing up memory prices across consumer tech, which can make replacement decisions feel harder. A cracked screen or weak battery falls into the category of repairs worth doing when the cost meets the 30-percent test, while a broken charging port or damaged camera lens may also be worth fixing. Water damage, by contrast, may not be a sensible repair.
Performance determines the replacement point as well. A damaged phone that has become visibly slow and is outside warranty is better replaced than repaired, according to the article. Repairing a cracked screen or water damage in that case will not bring back smooth operation. Multiple points of failure, such as a broken motherboard combined with a bent frame, tend to be expensive; protection plans such as AppleCare+ and Samsung Care+ can lower the cost. Trade-in programs, especially promotional periods around Thanksgiving and Black Friday, may offer better values for old or damaged devices.
Software support also extends the usefulness of repaired phones. Most iPhones receive system updates for five to seven years, and Samsung has promised seven years of updates since the S24 lineup for its S and Z-series flagships, although cheaper A-series models get only three years, Engadget reports.
Another reason to buy new is switching ecosystems. Apple and Android both provide migration tools that transfer photos, contacts and other data, making movement between platforms simpler. Consumers with commitments to one ecosystem can choose a familiar lineup.