An Engadget guide sets out how to decide whether a damaged smartphone is worth repairing or should be replaced, as rising memory prices linked to the AI boom push new device costs higher and flagship phones now regularly exceed $1,000. The advice matters because repair costs can vary enormously depending on the fault, and getting the decision wrong can mean overspending on an old handset or ditching one that still has years of useful life left.

The guide suggests repairing issues like a cracked screen or weak battery if the cost is under 30% of the phone's current market value and you intend to keep it for at least another year, while pricier faults such as water damage or a broken motherboard are often not worth fixing on cheaper devices. It notes that iPhones typically get five to seven years of software support, and Samsung promises seven years for its S and Z-series flagships versus three years for its cheaper A-series. Replacement is recommended once a phone becomes noticeably sluggish, is out of warranty, or when switching between iOS and Android, since both platforms now offer easy data-migration tools; trade-in schemes, sometimes boosted around events like Black Friday, can also offset the cost of a new device.