I’ve picked up a few tricks to stop myself from chasing the latest phone. Funny enough, they’ve made me like my current one even more. Here’s what does the job for me.

8
Limit Consuming Phone Reviews

I noticed my strongest urge to upgrade always peaked right after watching phone review videos on YouTube. And that’s the entire point of phone reviews — to make you want a new device. Reviewers rarely say, “Hey, if your phone is only two years old, you’re fine.” Instead, they highlight what’s new, what’s better, and what you’re missing. Even when they say, “You probably don’t need to upgrade,” they’ve already planted the idea that you could. That seed grows every time you watch another video or read another breakdown of the latest model.

So, here’s a challenge: Avoid phone reviews for a while. Unsubscribe from the YouTube channels if you have to, skip the blog posts, and stop clicking on those “Best Phones of the Year” lists. If you’re not actively looking for a new device, why torture yourself? You wouldn’t walk through a bakery if you weren’t hungry, right?

7
Change Your Launcher, Theme, or Wallpaper for a Fresh Feel

Your home screen is the first thing you see every time you unlock your phone. If it feels stale, your whole phone is likely to feel stale. And you can do something about that. Start with your launcher. Unlike iPhones, Android phones let you replace the default launcher with something completely different, and we have a list of suitable options worth checking out.

Next, think about themes. Many phones let you install entire theme packs that overhaul icons, fonts, and colors. If you’re on a Samsung, check out the Galaxy Themes store. But even if your phone doesn’t have a built-in theme store, you can grab an icon pack from Whicons (minimalist). One good theme can make your phone feel like a brand-new device.

You can also change your wallpaper. For this, I suggest you use live wallpapers that shift with the time of day or change every time you unlock your phone. You can also consider changing your ringtone and notification sounds if you want to go further. Your brain ties sound to experiences, so hearing something new when a call or text arrives can make your phone feel brand new.

6
Sleep on the Idea of Upgrading (Your Craving Might Fade)

I love the idea of “save for later” button in online shopping carts. Every time I use it, more often than not, time steps in and crushes the urge to buy. What felt like a must-have yesterday often turns out I probably don’t need it at all. That same trick could work when you’re itching for a new phone.

But let me make this more concrete. Add the phone to your cart (if you are shopping online), then walk away. Set a reminder for two weeks. In the meantime, watch your current phone. Does it freeze when you need it most? Does the battery quit before midday? Or do you just want something new because it’s new?

Write down every issue. Be honest. When your reminder pings, you won’t just have a feeling—you’ll have proof. Maybe you still want the phone. Perhaps you don’t. Either way, you’ll know for sure.

5
Look Beyond Smartphones: Invest in Accessories or Other Gadgets Instead

Sometimes, the best upgrade isn’t a new phone. It’s making your current one work better. A great pair of noise-canceling earbuds can make your old phone feel brand new by transforming how you experience music, podcasts, and calls. A battery case or MagSafe power bank would mean you do not have to worry about dead batteries. A simple grip or stand can make your phone more comfortable to use.

If you do a lot of reading on your phone, consider getting an e-ink tablet, which is fantastic for reading, note-taking, and reducing screen fatigue. If you are after better pictures, a dedicated camera—like a pocketable Ricoh GR or a used Sony RX100—will outclass any phone camera and make photography fun again. And if you’d rather not check your phone every two minutes, a smartwatch can handle notifications, fitness tracking, and quick replies, keeping your phone in your pocket where it belongs.

4
Buy a New Case to Give Your Phone a Fresh Look and Feel

A fresh case, be it your first or just another in your collection, can trick your senses into thinking you’ve changed your phone. But don’t just grab any case. The goal is to make your phone look or feel different. If your phone has been wearing black-on-black for years, go for something bold—maybe a deep green, a translucent frosted look, or even a retro-style leather flip case.

For a change of feel, experiment with different design details like raised edges, a built-in ring holder, or a fabric finish. And if you really want to push the “new phone” illusion further, pair your case with a fresh screen protector. A smooth, fingerprint-free display can trick your brain into thinking your phone is fresh out of the box.

3
Declutter and Deep Clean Your Phone

It’s easy to think that you need a new phone because your current one feels slower than it was when you just bought it. You’d be surprised how much of that “this phone feels old” sensation is just digital junk weighing it down. Once you deep clean and optimize, your phone will feel lighter and faster, and that urge to upgrade might just disappear.

Scroll through your home screen. How many of those apps do you actually open? If you haven’t tapped it in the last month, delete it. If you think you might need it later, don’t trust yourself—just reinstall it when that day comes. For the apps you think you can’t do without and need to retain, clear their app caches. Some apps hoard gigabytes of useless data over time.

Also, go through your files, like camera roll, downloaded files, old messages, and documents. Chances are, you’re holding onto blurry photos, duplicate images, and random PDFs you’ll never open again. Deleting these frees up space and helps your phone run more smoothly like new.

2
Discover Hidden Features That Make Your Current Phone More Useful

You might be surprised how many powerful features your phone has that you’re not using—features that can make it feel fresh and more capable, reducing the temptation to upgrade. For example, did you know your phone might be able to charge another device wirelessly? If it supports reverse wireless charging, just place a friend’s phone, earbuds, or smartwatch on the back of yours to share power without any cables.

Multitasking is another area where many people barely scratch the surface with smartphones. Android’s split-screen mode lets you run two apps side-by-side, which is great for taking notes while watching a video or comparing prices between two shopping apps. And if you enable Quick Share (or Nearby Share on older devices), sending large files between Android devices is as effortless as AirDrop on iPhones.

Navigation can also be much smoother with gestures instead of tapping back buttons. If you struggle with one-handed use, you can enable one-handed mode or swipe input on your keyboard for easier typing. And if Google Assistant feels outdated, you could try replacing it with Perplexity AI for a smarter and more conversational experience.

1
Avoid Getting Targeted by Ads That Push You Toward a New Phone

Your clicks, searches, and even how long you linger on a product page feed a massive advertising machine. Each interaction tells marketers, “This person is interested—show them more!” To break this loop, start throwing off the signals. Search for random products. Look up blenders, umbrellas, or even car tires. This confuses the algorithm and makes advertisers unsure of what you actually want. The more unpredictable your activity, the less useful your profile becomes to ad networks.

Social media platforms and search engines let you control some of the ads you see—you just have to use the tools they hide in plain sight. On Instagram and Facebook, the next time you see a phone ad, tap the three vertical dots at the top-right edge of the ad post and select “Not interested” or “Hide ad.” Then, tell it the ad is irrelevant. Do this enough, and you’ll see fewer phone promotions.

I haven’t upgraded my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in two years now. I don’t foresee myself upgrading anytime soon because it’s still going strong—even with the latest release at the time of writing, the Galaxy S25, making its rounds. As tempting as new phones can be, these simple tricks have helped me stay content with what I have, and honestly, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on much.