Buy a new phone or have it repaired?
What to do: buy a new phone or have it repaired?
As one in five smartphone users is walking around with a broken phone, we at ThePhoneLab er not surprised how often smartphones break down. Smartphones are fragile and this will probably not change for the new Galaxy S20or iPhone 11 Pro.
So you screen is completely cracked and your battery dies in no-time. You are wondering if it makes sense to repair your phone. Will I have it repaired or just buy a new one? The difference is a quick and easy calculation for one person, but a long and heavy decision for the other.
The most important question you have to ask yourself is: Is my phone worth the repair or could I just as well buy myself a new phone for the same amount of money? It is very tempting to buy the newest iPhone or Samsung instead of having your phone repaired. But is it the smartest decision? Every year there is going to be a new model that will be better than the old one. This time the camera is slightly better and have all sorts of technical gadgets been added that make the phone look super cool. However, a new phone usually comes with a high price tag. For example the new iPhone 11 Pro will cost you €1159 without a telephone provider.
To help you make your decision we have come up with some tips for you to read in this blog.
The environment
Greenpeace expects that we will have more than 50 million tons of e-waste due to the rapid circulation and depreciation of – in particular – iPhones. Buying a new phone annually doesn’t contribute to a world with less waste. Therefore, telephone reuse is better for the environment. So having your phone repaired means there doesn’t have to be a new one produced for you!
So if you really care about that beautiful earth of ours, just have your phone repaired or buy a durable phone like the one from the Dutch company called FairPhone.
BKR (Credit Registration Office)
Since the 1st of May 2017 you will have a BKR registration in your name when buying a phone together with a mobile subscription. The smartphone has to have a value more than €250 and is paid off monthly. This credit registration affect the application for a loan or mortgage. An expensive mobile subscription can quickly cost you up to€700 and is seen as a loan that you monthly pay to your telecom company like KPN or T-Mobile. So the phone is not “free” as the ads often make you believe.
An alternative is buying you phone separately from the subscription and add a Sim Only subscription instead. However, more and more people realize that buying their phone separately involves a significant investment. A repair often turns out to be the best and cheaper alternative.
Resale value
Your old iPhone 7 or Galaxy S7 with a normal 2 year subscription is your property once this subscription is over. In contrast to our phones back in the day, these phones are still worth some money. For example, we sell refurbished iPhone 7 models for around € 400. Meaning you could also sell your old phone on Marktplaats or to a company like ThePhoneLab! Daily customers visit us with their old or broken iPhone to sell it to us. We fix them up en sell them on our webshop. So selling your old phone is not a bad idea! You can invest this money and use it to buy a new phone.
Conclusion
A new phone is often exciting, but with a lot of hidden costs and a BKR registration it might be a better idea to look for more a sustainable solution instead. A repair is cheaper, better for the environment and – at ThePhoneLab – also done in 30 minutes!
If you are really crazy about the latest technology and are already standing in line at the Apple Store for the latest iPhone? Then we advise you to sell your old smartphone and spend the earned money on that latest OnePlus, iPhone, Samsung or other smartphone.
Bonustip
Do you have a pre-historic phone like an iPhone 5G or Samsung Galaxy S5? These are not worth more than € 20 or € 30. Therefore we advice to save yourself the trouble of trying to sell it. A better alternative is to donate it to a good cause.
