A New iPhone Is Coming. Should You Upgrade or Just Fix Your Old One?

When the scent of pumpkin spice lattes starts to fill the air, I know it’s time for those texts from friends and family: “Should I get the new iPhone?”

My answer? Ehh, probably not. Temptation to upgrade will be high after Apple’s Sept. 9 launch event. And there are very good reasons to buy the new model.

But just because your oldie but goody suffers from sluggish performance, short battery life or a cracked touch screen, it isn’t doomed to become e-waste.

By spending a little on repairs, you could save hundreds of dollars and extend your current iPhone’s life by a year or more. Plus, it’s worth waiting for the imminent iOS 26 software update , which will add new tricks to recent older hardware—at no additional cost.

Upgrade, update or repair?

That all depends on your model and its condition. Is your current iPhone…

…more than six years old? Upgrade. Apple supports iPhones with new software updates for about seven years. The version of iOS expected next month doesn’t support iPhone XS, XS Max or XR, or any earlier models. These updates include crucial security fixes, and outdated software can put your data at risk, so yes, you’ll need new hardware.

…a 2019 or newer model? Update. iOS 26 comes with a live translator, spam-call screener and other helpful new capabilities, though the “liquid glass” redesign will require some adjustment.

A note: Even if your model is compatible with iOS 26 , some tricks are only available in the newest iPhones. Apple Intelligence, which includes access to ChatGPT via Siri and Genmoji, only works on iPhone 15 Pro, all of the iPhone 16 models (including the 16e ) and of course the iPhones Apple is about to announce.

… feeling slow? Or short on battery life? Repair. A battery replacement can help with performance and battery life. As your iPhone’s battery ages, the device is designed to draw less power, which means occasional unexpected shutdowns.

Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If the capacity is below 80%, you should replace your battery. That should cost $99 or less, depending on the model.

If your battery is above 80%, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Deleting unused apps or uploading photos to the cloud can help with speed too.

…cracked? Repair. The cost depends on your model and the damage.

Apple’s online tool can spit out an estimate for an Apple Store screen swap, which generally runs between $199 and $379. You typically make an appointment and then wait about 30 minutes.

Independent shops can offer you a lower price for a third-party aftermarket part, but quality can vary. While iPhones now have OLED screens, you can go cheap and replace yours with an LCD screen. But they don’t look as good and can cause rapid battery drain, said Jessa Jones, owner of iPad Rehab Microsoldering, a mobile-device repair and data recovery shop in Honeoye Falls, N.Y.

If you’re given the option, go for a “soft” OLED screen for the best combination of sharpness and durability.

Broken back glass is trickier. Apple charges between $199 and $499 for this repair. Jones said it often requires swapping the whole external housing to preserve water-resistance.

Cameras are one of the simplest repairs, Jones said. She replaced two different camera lenses on her iPhone 12 Pro, and the raw materials only cost her $1.43. Through Apple, this repair costs between $169 and $249. Jones’s shop charges $50 plus tax for a repair with aftermarket parts.

…not working properly? Repair or replace. Start with an Apple Store consultation. Issues such as water damage or a faulty charging port need a deeper assessment. For these trickier cases, Apple may recommend paying for a replacement phone. In that event, if you don’t have AppleCare, it might be better to buy one of the latest iPhones instead.

A local, independent shop might have more creative solutions. “For water damage, we’d tear down the entire phone, remove everything, and let it sit in a dehumidifier for a little while,” said Alex Hausfeld, a franchise consultant and former technician at uBreakiFix, which has over 680 repair locations.

Apple Store vs. repair shop vs. DIY

If you live near an Apple Store or an Apple-authorized service provider, a repair is straightforward. You can make an online reservation for in-person support , and often the repair can happen while you wait.

If you’re far from a store, Apple’s mail-in option can take up to nine business days, round trip.

There are also DIY kits from Apple , iFixit and others—a route for savvy tinkerers only, warned Jones. “Taking off a screen used to be like shucking an oyster. But they have become thinner and thinner. They’re easy to break, and really expensive.”

A local repair shop can be more convenient and affordable than either of those options. But because quality varies, uBreakiFix’s Hausfeld suggests vetting the technician with these questions:

• Is the replacement a genuine original manufacturer or aftermarket option? If it’s the latter, ask about potential impacts to performance.

• After the repair, how will the water-resistance and durability of the phone change?

• What warranty do you offer for replacement parts? Many shops should guarantee their parts for at least six months; uBreakiFix has a one-year warranty.

This year, your best iPhone upgrade might be a fresh battery, a clean screen and some new software tricks. Plus, the extra cash you get to keep in your pocket.

Pure Amazon, an A&K Sanctuary, has officially launched its voyages into the 21,000-square-kilometre Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.

Designed for just 22 guests, the new vessel positions itself at the high end of wilderness travel, offering quiet, immersive, and attentive experiences with a one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio. The focus is on proximity to wildlife and landscape, without the crowds that have made parts of the Amazon feel like tourism has arrived before the welcome mat.

Where Architecture Meets the River

The design direction comes from Milan-based architect Adriana Granato, who has reimagined the boat’s interiors as part gallery, part observatory. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame rainforest scenes that shift hour to hour, and every space holds commissioned artworks by Peruvian artists.

The dining room’s centrepiece, Manto de Escamas de Paiche by Silvana Pestana, uses bronze and clay formations that mirror the scale patterns of the Amazon’s giant fish. Pestana’s works throughout the vessel reference environmental fragility, especially the scars left by illegal gold mining.

In each suite, hand-painted kené textiles by Shipibo-Konibo master artist Deysi Ramírez depict sacred geometry in natural dyes. Cushions by the BENEAI Collective feature 20 unique embroidered compositions, supporting Indigenous women artists and keeping traditional techniques alive in a meaningful, non-performative way.

Wildlife Without the Tame Script

Days on board are structured around early and late river expeditions led by naturalist guides. Guests may encounter pink river dolphins cutting through morning mist, three-toed sloths moving like they’re part of the slow cinema movement, and black caimans appearing at night like something from your childhood nightmares.

The prehistoric hoatzin appears along riverbanks, giant river otters hunt in packs, and scarlet macaws behave like the sky belongs to them. The arapaima — the same fish inspiring Pestana’s artwork — occasionally surfaces like an apparition.

A Regional Culinary Lens

The culinary program is led by a team from Iquitos with deep knowledge of Amazonian produce.

Nightly five-course tasting menus lean into local ingredients rather than performing them. Expect dishes like caramelised plantain with river prawns, hearts of palm with passionfruit, and Peruvian chocolate paired with fruits that would be unpronounceable if you encountered them in a supermarket aisle.

A pisco-led bar menu incorporates regional botanicals, including coca leaf and dragon’s blood resin.

A Model of Conservation-First Tourism

Pure Amazon’s conservation approach goes beyond the familiar “offset and walk away” playbook. Through A&K Philanthropy, the vessel’s operations support Indigenous community-led economic initiatives, including sustainable fibre harvesting and honey production in partnership with Amanatari.

Guests also visit FORMABIAP, a bilingual teacher training program supporting cultural and language preservation across several Indigenous communities. Notably, the program enables young women to continue their education while remaining with their families — a rarity in remote regions.

Low-intensity lighting, heat pump technology, and automated systems reduce disturbance to the reserve’s nocturnal wildlife.

The Experience Itself

Itineraries span three, four, or seven nights. Mornings often begin with quiet exploration along mirrorlike tributaries; afternoons allow for spa treatments or time on the open-air deck. Evenings shift into long dinners and soft-lit river watching as the rainforest begins its nightly soundtrack.

Granato describes the vessel as “a mysterious presence on the water,” its light calibrated to resemble fire glow rather than a foreign object imposing itself on the dark.

It is, in other words, slow travel done with precision.

A New iPhone Is Coming. Should You Upgrade or Just Fix Your Old One?

By improving sluggish performance or replacing a broken screen, you can make your old iPhone feel new agai

Pure Amazon has begun journeys deep into Peru’s Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, combining contemporary design, Indigenous craftsmanship and intimate wildlife encounters in one of the richest ecosystems on Earth.