TLDR: All tech slows over time. The main culprits are usually, built up “cruft” in the software over the years, battery degradation, or simply lack of storage space. Addressing these issues can help breathe new life into an aging phone.
Apple may come out with a new phone every year but that doesn’t mean you need a new one so soon. As technology in smartphones continue to improve, the rate of improvement slows, meaning the phone you bought 2 or even 3 years ago is still perfectly capable of doing everything you want it to. If your phone is starting to feel a little long in the tooth, but you’re not ready to give it up, here are some things to try before biting the bullet and upgrading to a new phone.
1. Make sure you’re on iOS 12.
Make sure you’re on iOS 12. While there are so many reasons to install updates as soon as they come out, iOS 12 has the additional benefit of improving older devices. It’s reported that iOS 12 was initially slated to be a brand new design with major new features. Early-on that plan was shelved in favor of optimizing the software to run faster and more efficiently on existing hardware. According to independent tests by Ars Technica, they succeeded.
2. Check battery health.
Check battery health. Apple slows down the phone’s processor when the battery becomes too worn out to meet the processor’s demands. To check battery health, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. On that screen you will see a percentage labeled ‘Maximum Capacity’. As your phone ages, that percentage will decrease. If your phone’s battery degrades to the point of affecting speed and performance, the following message under the heading “Peak Performance” will appear:
This iPhone has experienced an unexpected shutdown because the battery was unable to deliver the necessary peak power. You have manually disabled performance management protections.
Apple offers out of warranty battery replacements for $49 on most models. Once your phone sees it has a fresh battery, it will go back to running the processor at full speed. This is the most expensive fix on the list. Even so, it is much cheaper than upgrading to a new phone, and it’s something you should only ever have to do once in the phone’s life. You can learn more about Apple’s battery management here.
3. Reset the phone and start fresh.
While not as badly as desktop computers of old, phones build up cruft over time. No matter how careful engineers are when designing software, things get left behind, quirks develop, code gets corrupted. There are two options when resetting your phone. You can back up the phone completely, reset the phone, and restore the phone to exactly the way it was before. This is the most convenient way since everything will be as you left it. It also means that some of the quirks may remain as well, but if starting over stresses you out, trying this method is a good place to start as it does give the operating system a chance to reset. It may be all your phone needed. If it doesn’t help, or you’re willing to take the plunge, I will have an article explaining the process step-by-step in the near future.
4. Buy more iCloud storage.
The only other part of this list that costs money, for less than $1 a month, you can get 10x more storage than the anemic 5gb apple gives people for free. Personally I think it’s ridiculous that apple doesn’t give more free storage even as phones get more and more internal storage, nevertheless, I recommend iCloud over other storage providers because of how much the iPhone can do with it. One of the biggest complaints I hear from people with older phones is that they keep running out of space no matter how much they delete. I truly think Apple made a mistake waiting so long to go from 16 gb on the base phone to 32 gb, but if you’re stuck with a full phone there is hope. iOS can now automatically store photos, videos, messages, and even unused apps on iCloud, freeing up space on your device. I will describe this process in greater detail soon. For most people, the 50 Gb plan will be enough to offload all their extra data, and at less than $12 a year, it’s still way cheaper than a new phone.
All devices die eventually, but with a little time and effort, your device can feel like new again. Sometimes, it’s not the device at all that is the issue. A good cleaning, a new case, and a shiny new wallpaper might be all you need to convince your brain what was once old and tired is now new again.
TLDR: Apple’s latest iPhones come in 3 models. iPhone XR for $749, iPhone XS for $999, and iPhone XS Max for $1,199. For most people, Please Just Work recommends the iPhone XR. Note that unlike past iPhones, the cheapest iPhone isn’t the smallest. The XS is slightly smaller.
iPhone XS (right) and iPhone XR (left)
Apple’s current iPhone line looks very different from years past. It isn’t just that all 3 models lack home buttons or have notches topping their screens. Before, one knew which was the cheapest vs the most expensive simply by size. Small meant cheap; large meant it had everything. Not true this year. Measuring in at 6.1” diagonally, the XR line, while the least expensive, sits right between the two more expensive options size-wise.
I find it helps to see XR and XS as two different lines, much like how the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are different prices even though you can buy 13” versions of either model. Unlike ‘Pro’ and ‘Air’, however, these new names are downright baffling to most, especially since they mix Roman numerals with letters (officially its pronounced Ten R and Ten S, but that hardly matters outside an Apple Store). While the ’S’ is how Apple traditionally designates a model year after a major redesign, according to Apple’s executive, Phil Schiller, the ‘R’ stands for absolutely nothing. Apple may not provide meaning for these letters, but if you need help remembering which is which I am happy to provide some: think ‘R’ for ‘Reasonable’ and ’XS’ for ‘excess’. I break down the differences between the two lines below.
XR line:
Apple wants you to know the XR is water resistant
Currently Apple only makes one phone in the XR line. One can imagine a future where there are different sizes (I know many dream of an iPhone SE sized device with edge to edge screen), but for now 6.1 is the only screen size. While cheaper, and made up of technically less expensive, easier to manufacture parts, it’s interesting to note that the iPhone XR has the same A12 processing chip as its more expensive cousins, as well as the same FaceID cameras and sensors. This means selfies from this phone should look identical to the XS line, and the phone should stay blazing fast for as long as its counterparts.
What you miss:
an OLED screen.
a second camera lens on the back
stainless steal band around the casing (it’s aluminum on the XR)
the ability to brag to your friends about how expensive your phone is.
What you gain:
colors! 😍
longer battery life than the iPhone XS Max (or any previous iPhone)
the ability to upgrade to 128 gb of storage (plenty of storage for most people and still cheaper than the 64 gb XS)
The XS line:
Apparently XS owners can afford umbrellas
The XS line comes in 2 sizes: the 5.8” iPhone XS and the giant 6.5” iPhone XS Max. The iPhone XS looks virtually identical last year’s iPhone X. It now comes in gold, however, and has a faster processor and better cameras than last year.
What you gain with the XS line:
two cameras on the back, enabling 2x optical zoom and providing more options and slightly better results in portrait mode (Portrait mode on the front camera is identical).
a stainless steel, shiny band around the phone.
an OLED screen and slightly smaller bezels
a 512 gb storage option
did I mention it comes in gold?
The XS max is identical except:
its 6.5″ screen is the largest iPhone screen ever
it’s larger size gives it a larger battery than the smaller XS (the XR still gets better Battey life than either)
Downsides to the XS line:
the cheapest XS is $250 more than the XR but still only has 64 GB of storage.
battery life isn’t as good as the XR
it only comes in silver, gold, and black
Choosing between the XR and XS Max: The struggle
For most people, the XR has everything they need and more. If you absolutely must have the largest screen possible and are willing to pay over $1k for a phone, the Max might be better. Likewise, if you need your phone to be as small as possible, you might find the XS a little more comfortable. Alternatively, one might consider looking for a good deal on a refurbished or used iPhone X.
If you still aren’t sure which phone to get, head to your nearest Apple store and ask to see them side by side. Hold each in your hand and compare the screens. Aside from price, the differences between designs are more subjective and are hard to evaluate without seeing them in person. If that sounds like too much work. Get the XR. It’s a huge upgrade from every other home-buttoned iPhone, and it comes in colors! 😍
Note: if color doesn’t matter, might I recommend choosing the red one rather than basic black or white? It looks the same in a case, and Apple donates a percentage of each red phone to product (RED)™: a nonprofit that helps combat the spread of HIV in Africa. The red phone is the exact same price and the money goes to a good cause. Learn more on Apple’s Product (RED)™ Page.
Please Just Work is a project I’ve been developing off and on over the past couple years. There’s still a lot to do, but with all the people buying or gifting tech this holiday, this is an ideal time to put all my advice in one place for those who would like it.
Best Phone for Most People
iPhone XR
With nearly all the features of the $1000+ Xs and Xs Max, and the Goldie Locks 6.1″ screen size the iPhone XR seems like the perfect phone for anyone looking to upgrade to the latest iPhone line without spending too much. If money is no object, and/or you want the biggest screen on an iPhone, the extra features the more expensive models have a few features that may be worth it for some. Read more in my full guide coming soon. The one exception is if you can still get an iPhone X and it’s the same or cheaper, I think that is a better buy. Apple is no longer making them though so at some point stock will run out. Personally, I find the most appealing thing about the XR are the color options. If color doesn’t matter to you, rather than the black or white, I’d recommend the product red model. Apple donates 30% of the purchase price to help fight AIDS in Africa. It’s a kind thing you can do this holiday and it doesn’t cost you anything extra.
Best Wifi Router
Eero
The most important thing when buying a new router is to get one with automatic updates from a company with a good track record. It’s also nice to be able to expand your network to reach those areas of your house that never seem to have strong WiFi. I’ve been recommending Eeros for over a year now, and everyone who’s taken me up on it loves it. The app gives plenty of functionality for those who want to fool around with settings and features, but it also works reliable behind the scenes for those who want to set it and forget it. Since updates are automatically installed in the background you can rest easy knowing your network is secure for years to come. Just make sure your neighbors can’t guess your password.
Best Tablet for Most People
iPad 9.7″
If you’re an artist or photographer with money to burn, an iPad Pro is your best bet. Either the newest, or last year’s model. However for everyone else, the $329 standard iPad will be all the tablet you need. With holiday deals bringing it as low as $249, this well built workhorse is nearly an impulse buy. Even if you have an android phone, the sheer number of tablet optimized apps in the Apple App Store, combined with Apple’s willing to support hardware for up to 5 years with software and security updates, there really isn’t any other tablet that comes close.
