You should get a new iPhone every 3-4 years for a balance of new features and value, but it really depends on your usage: upgrade sooner (2 years) if you need cutting-edge tech or your phone slows down, or later (4+ years) if your current phone meets your needs, focusing on battery health and software updates. Signs to upgrade include poor battery life, lack of storage, slow performance, broken parts, or no longer receiving vital security updates.
iPhones generally last four years or more without any major issues. But unless you have a pressing need or a lot of disposable income, upgrading every year is just contributing to unnecessary waste — and let's be honest, it adds to the growing carbon footprint we should all be more mindful of.
According to the "40-80 Rule", lithium-ion batteries, like the ones inside iPhones, work best when they are between 40% and 80% of their capacity. When they are too full or too low, they experience more wear and lose their ability to hold a charge over time.
iPhones generally last 4-10 years, with most users upgrading around 3-4 years for new features, but Apple provides long-term software support (often 6+ years of iOS updates and security patches), meaning hardware can last much longer, especially with battery replacements and care, often reaching 5-7 years or more of solid use before major performance drops or app incompatibility issues arise.
When it makes sense to upgrade. Your iPhone is more than 3 years old. By this point, you're likely missing major improvements in cameras, performance, and features. Your battery is struggling.
Three-finger gestures on iPhone primarily activate accessibility features like VoiceOver (for screen reading and navigation) and Zoom (magnification), allowing scrolling, zooming, and text manipulation (copy/paste/undo) with specific taps and drags, though some text actions work without VoiceOver enabled for quick editing. Common gestures include three-finger double-tap to toggle VoiceOver speech, triple-tap for the screen curtain, and pinching/spreading with three fingers for copy/paste actions, notes this YouTube video.
Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago.
For example, streaming videos or music, making calls, and gaming on the go typically cause your battery to drain much more quickly. Other culprits of battery draining include active applications in the background or constantly updating, such as real-time weather apps.
The 20/80 battery rule suggests keeping lithium-ion batteries (in phones, EVs, etc.) charged between 20% and 80% for daily use to slow degradation and extend overall lifespan, avoiding the stress and heat from frequent full charges (100%) or deep discharges (near 0%). While not strictly necessary for short-term use, following this guideline minimizes battery strain, leading to better long-term health, though modern devices have built-in optimization features.
You can charge your iPhone every night even if the battery isn't fully depleted. iPhone automatically stops charging when the battery is fully charged, so it's safe to keep your iPhone connected to a charger overnight. Charging resumes automatically if your battery level drops below 95 percent.
For optimal battery health, the recommended battery percentage to charge your phone is between 20% and 80%. It's best to avoid extremes, such as letting the battery reach too low to 0% or consistently charging it to 100%.
iPhone battery's maximum capacity
It starts out at 100% (or just under), and as the battery ages, capacity decreases, which means you get fewer hours between charges. If the number you see under Maximum Capacity is more than 80%, you have a healthy battery, according to Apple.
The NSA recommends turning off your smartphone at least once a week. And not just a quick restart—power it down completely and leave it off for a few minutes before turning it back on.
iPhone Software Warning Signs
Rapid Battery Drain: This is one of the most common and frustrating symptoms of a failing iPhone battery.
Here are some of the most common ones for poor battery health:
Charging your phone battery to 100% consistently can damage the life of the battery over the long term. Many of us are in the habit of plugging our phones in to charge overnight so we start each day at 100%. However, you might not be doing yourself ― or your battery ― any favors in the long run.
While keeping your phone between 20% and 80% charge can extend battery lifespan, occasional full charges are not detrimental. In essence, today's smartphones are designed to handle 100% charging safely, and adhering to good charging practices can help maintain battery health for the long term.
WhatsApp. The app's constant background activity to sync messages and notifications significantly drains the battery. Its frequent use of media and real-time communication features also contribute to high battery usage, draining your phone's battery.
Also, look for apps with unusually high usage and consider force-stopping or uninstalling them if they're not essential. Restart your phone: Restarting your Android-powered phone can often resolve temporary software glitches that may be contributing to battery drain.
Background App Refresh allows apps to update content even when you're not using them. This feature can significantly impact battery life as apps continuously fetch new data in the background. Many users don't realise that apps are actively consuming power even when not in use.
iPhone 6S is the oldest iPhone supported with security updates because it runs iOS 15, which was last updated in August 2025.
The iPhone 16e and standard iPhone 16 (6.1-inch display) offer a great balance between screen size and usability. The discontinued (but still available in resale) iPhone 13 mini (5.4-inch display) is another excellent option for very small hands.
Apple has added the much loved iPhone SE, as well as the iPhone 6s range to its obsolete list.