Phone: upgrade or wait one cycle

If battery health is above ~80% and storage is not full of 4K you never watch, wait. A new phone is a year of payments for a chip you will not feel in chat apps.

Upgrade if: the camera is the job (work, not stories), the OS is out of security updates, or the screen is cracked enough to snag a pocket.

Kill-filter: unlocked vs carrier lock, a charger in the box or not, repair price for the back glass. Trade-in quotes are opening bids.

US and APAC catalogs differ on bands and warranty. Buy the model that matches your country’s bands or you own a paperweight on travel.

Electronics hops appear when programmes approve. Do not buy “import” listings without a local warranty.