Now this is one question that has bugged all of us at some time or the other – is it wise to get a new tablet or smartphone or just get your current one fixed?

With phones getting bigger, sleeker, better and smarter by the day, it makes very little sense to run and buy the latest gadget every time a new high-tech phone or tablet with the best features is launched. While your current device may be old by a few years, have some scratches and a less than stellar battery life, it may not be wise to spend hard-earned money in replacing a smartphone when you can repair your current one.

It is better to opt for repairing of your smartphone over its replacement when:

You have no idea how to use your smartphone even after owning it this long – If all that you have accomplished with your smartphone by now is sending and receiving phone calls and a few occasional selfies, it is perhaps time that you forfeit the idea of getting a new phone, and go to your nearest carrier store to expand your skills. Additionally, if you use iPhones, Apple stores have hold classes to ensure you are actually using your smartphone.

You don’t really have a valid reason to get the latest tech – Regardless of your tablet or smartphone’s perfect functioning, you may be tempted to buy the next big thing that’s on the market, only to spend serious cash and end up regretting it later. If you are on a strict budget or have a phone that is less than three years old, you can avoid this temptation by giving your old phone a cool new look by say, adding a sparkly new case to it.

It isn’t yet time for a carrier upgrade – You can be at a great disadvantage if you ditch your old phone for a new one when you are not in line for a discounted upgrade. Depending upon the time you have left on your current plan, you may end up paying for the device entirely or at least up to $40 on upgrades, if you are not careful. Whatever your provider may be, you can easily check your eligibility status for an upgrade.

Your phone has a cracked screen – Believe it or not, at least 1 out of 10 people use smartphones with cracked screens form our survey at our Hamilton phone repair location. If you are one of those who cannot tolerate a broken screen, you can simply get your screen fixed. On an average, it takes around $100 to replace a broken screen, which is admittedly much easy on the pocket than buying a new phone. Also, you can use the saved money for something you could really use – for instance, a case to protect your phone’s screen from cracks!!

You have no more storage left – You don’t need to spend oodles of cash on a new phone if the problem with your old one is simple as a memory crunch. If your smartphone has no more space to store any more of your apps and multimedia, you can buy yourself a storage card with a larger capacity if your gadget has a slot for it. Alternatively, you can also free up space by moving the files you use less to your computer.

Sometimes, however, it really is time to ditch your existing smartphone for a new one. It is better to replace than to repair your smartphone when:

You really never understood how to use your smartphone – If using your phone is still a nightmare, even after the visits to your carrier store, chances are strong that the phone is just not right for you. If you find your phone extremely difficult to use, perhaps it is time to replace it with a device that better fits with your lifestyle and requirements With the wide variety of phones out there, form the iPhone to the Android and even the Windows phones, it is not so difficult to find the right phone for you.

Is it impossible to use your phone – If your phone has features like a busted screen display, water damage, damaged camera lens, or malfunctioning internals that prevent it from functioning decently, you can consider a replacement to be in order. While you may check out repair sites, in cases such as these where the cost involved in repairs is equivalent to buying a new phone, it is more wise to opt for the latter. Not only will you have a brand new phone, you will also have a brand new warranty to boot should there be any damage.

Your phone is old – way old – If your phone is so old that you can’t play games without it hanging and restarting, or you will have to flip it to use it, it is definitely time that you go out and buy yourself a brand new smartphone. Progress in technology is growing by leaps and bounds, so if your phone is one that would rather belong in a museum, it is time that you pamper yourself and get a new up-to-date device for yourself.

An upgrade is just round the corner – If you are in line for an upgrade, it is perhaps better that you replace your phone instead of repairing it. Regardless of how faithful your phone has been to you, it is the wiser choice. If you own an iPad or iPhone, you can check out Gazelle, which may actually buy your old or broken gadget at a cost higher than your phone’s replacement.

Whatever the issue with your phone may be, you must at first assess and compare the costs involved and opt for the option that does not involve a heavy expense in the shape of smaller charges. For instance, it may seem profitable to buy a new phone, until you realize you will have to pay for other charges related to activation, carrier-service plan, as well the expense involved in sticking to your carrier for two years or even more.

Some factors that can help you decide whether to go for repairs or replacement would be busted touchscreens and stuck buttons. While it may be simple to find a site that can help you with these repairs with so-it-yourself tricks, they are not always so easy to follow.