New iPhones arrive, but you can keep your old phone longer by caring for it

The useful part

Apple's latest iPhones, unveiled this week, come with new features, better cameras and hefty price tags — including a folding model with a starting price of $1,999. If you're planning to splurge on a new iPhone 18, you will want to take care of it to make it last as long as possible. Or save money by holding on to your current device, whether it is Apple or Android, to get the most life out of it.

How it works

• The typical smartphone replacement cycle is now four years, according to Counterpoint Research.
• As smartphone technology has matured and innovations have become more incremental, people have stopped buying into the idea that they need to upgrade to the newest phone.
• There is also an environmental push to keep old phones out of landfills as electronic waste becomes a larger sustainability issue.
• Modern smartphones are also just sturdier and better able to survive dunks and drops.
• Some device owners boast in online forums that they have had phones last more than seven years.

What to take from it

The company says that as lithium-ion batteries chemically age, they hold less charge, which results in "reduced peak performance." Samsung warns against running a lithium-ion battery down completely, because that could shorten its life. Take care of your phone's battery The biggest factor in a phone's longevity is the battery. "The battery is absolutely often the first thing to go in most people's phones," said Elizabeth Chamber...

Details worth keeping

Here are some pointers on extending your phone's life: