<\/a><\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n \t\t Your phone can last longer than you think<\/p>\n The battery can make a perfectly good phone feel old<\/p>\n One aging component made me think of an upgrade<\/p>\n A phone doesn’t necessarily become outdated when its battery starts wearing out. The processor, cameras, display, and software can still do exactly what I need, but charging the phone more often can make the device feel past its prime.<\/p>\n That’s because battery degradation changes how long I can use the phone before I reach for a charger. Lithium-ion batteries lose capacity as they go through charge cycles, and shorter battery life is a normal sign of an aging battery.<\/p>\n This can easily be confused with the phone becoming outdated. When I have to charge it halfway through the day, carry a power bank, or worry about the battery percentage, a phone that otherwise works perfectly starts feeling like it’s time for an upgrade.<\/p>\n I checked the battery before blaming the phone<\/p>\n A dying battery isn’t the only reason a phone drains quickly<\/p>\n I still use an old OnePlus as my secondary phone, and every time I pick it up, I notice how much shorter the battery life has become.<\/p>\n Before deciding that a phone needs a new battery, I’d check what’s using the power. Android’s Settings > Battery > Battery usage section shows which apps consume the most battery, although the exact menu varies by manufacturer.<\/p>\n If one app is using an unusually large amount in the background, restricting it or changing its settings may make a noticeable difference without replacing anything.<\/p>\n Monitor battery behavior. A gradual decline in battery life over several years usually signifies normal wear and tear. However, if you notice a sudden change in battery performance, it’s worth looking into before concluding the battery has reached the end of its life.<\/p>\n Some newer phones make this easier by showing battery-health information. For example, Google provides a Battery health screen on Pixel devices that estimates remaining capacity compared with the battery’s original capacity.<\/p>\n Not every Android phone offers an equivalent feature, so on other devices, battery-usage behavior and manufacturer diagnostics may be more useful.<\/p>\n When a battery replacement can be better than replacing the phone<\/p>\n The repair cost made me rethink upgrading<\/p>\n When the battery is the main thing holding an otherwise good phone back, replacing it can be much cheaper than replacing the entire device.<\/p>\n I checked what a battery replacement would cost for my old phone where I live, and the quote came to around $40. That’s a very different proposition from spending several hundred dollars on a new phone because the battery no longer lasts as long.<\/p>\n That doesn’t mean a battery replacement is always the right choice. I’d still consider the phone’s age, remaining software and security support, overall condition, and whether anything else is starting to fail.<\/p>\n If the phone has a cracked display, poor performance, or is nearing the end of its software-support period, a battery replacement may not make as much sense.<\/p>\n Why replacing the battery isn’t as simple as it used to be<\/p>\n The biggest obstacle is getting to the battery<\/p>\n Replacing a phone battery used to be simple: remove the back cover, pull out the battery, and put in the replacement.<\/p>\n Modern phones are a different story. Batteries are often secured with adhesive, while the back panel or display may also be glued down.<\/p>\n Getting to the battery can mean carefully opening the phone, removing adhesive, disconnecting components, and making sure I don’t damage anything along the way.<\/p>\n Adhesive is commonly used for durability, water resistance, and to help manufacturers build thinner devices, but it can make repairs considerably more difficult.<\/p>\n There’s also a practical reason batteries aren’t sitting inside a removable plastic compartment anymore. Modern smartphone batteries are thin and flexible lithium-ion cells that need secure housing inside the phone. Adhesive helps prevent the battery from shifting or being damaged by other components.<\/p>\n That doesn’t mean every modern phone is equally difficult to repair. Some manufacturers have started using designs that make battery replacement easier.<\/p>\n iFixit’s current repairability database<\/a>, for example, lists the Fairphone 6<\/a> as having an adhesive-free battery replacement that takes only a few minutes, while other phones still use strongly glued batteries.<\/p>\n Taking a phone to a repair shop may not pose a problem. But for anyone who wants to replace a battery at home, the difference is significant.<\/p>\n What used to take a few seconds can now require the right tools, patience, and a willingness to open a device that wasn’t designed with repairability in mind.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n \t\t Settle for the right phone, not the most expensive one<\/p>\n A new battery can give an old phone a second life<\/p>\n A phone doesn’t become obsolete because its battery has lost capacity. That’s why I think it’s worth considering a battery replacement before automatically shopping for a new phone.<\/p>\n
\n ![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/a-galaxy-s23-ultra-an-iphone-15-a-google-pixel-7-and-a-oneplus-12r-side-by-side.png\"\/)
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\n\t\t\tThe surprisingly practical act of keeping your old phone
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Android](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/android-phone-in-a-pocket-beside-a-battery-warning-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
\n Credit:\u00a0Lucas Gouveia \/ Android Police | Nata Studio \/ Shutterstock<\/p>\n![\"Samsung](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/samsung-galaxy-phone-showing-battery-usage-and-remaining-charge.png\")
\n Credit:\u00a0Lucas Gouveia \/ Justin Duino \/ Android Police<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/a-google-pixel-phone-appears-beside-a-low-battery-and-an-android-system-error-icon.png\"){kind=tracking}
\n Credit:\u00a0Lucas Gouveia \/ Android Police<\/p>\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/google-pixel-11-opened-for-repair-with-tools-and-internal-components-visible.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
\n Credit:\u00a0Lucas Gouveia \/ Android Police | AnnaStills \/ Shutterstock<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fairphone-gen-6-plus-accessories.JPG\")
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\n ![\"Blue](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/blue-google-pixel-10-overlaying-a-calendar-icon-displaying-the-year-2030.png\"\/){kind=icon}
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\n\t\t\tThis phone is the only one I’d trust to last beyond 2030
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n