The 50% rule of thumb
If a repair costs more than roughly half the price of a comparable replacement, upgrading is usually the better value, especially for older devices.
Consider what\’s actually failing
A single component issue (like a worn charging port or a cracked screen) is usually worth repairing; multiple simultaneous issues on an older device suggest broader wear that repair won\’t fully resolve.
Battery health matters independently
A device that\’s otherwise fine but has significantly degraded battery health is often a strong repair candidate — a battery-only fix is usually cheap relative to full replacement.
Factor in how much longer you\’d realistically keep it
Repairing a device you\’ll likely replace within the year anyway is rarely worth it; repairing one you\’re happy to keep for several more years usually is.
Get the repair quote before deciding
It\’s tempting to assume a repair will be expensive and skip straight to replacing — but an actual quote sometimes comes in lower than expected, so it\’s worth the five minutes to check first.