The Holiday Season is upon us – and if you’re like me, I can’t remember the last Christmas morning, when someone in my family did not have the latest and greatest smartphone under the tree.

Fact is 96 percent of all Americans own a mobile phone. And, as mobile technology continues to grow and evolve, ‘smartphones’ will become an even more vital tool for everyday living – both at home and the workplace.

But with the cost of a new phone continuing to rise, does it make sense to stay up-to-date by purchasing the most current release of your favorite phone? These days, over half of consumers are holding on to their phones for more than three years rather than upgrading — should you be among them?

No matter whether you prefer iPhone or Android smartphones, or you use your device for work or for personal reasons only, you’ll want to make a sensible, cost-effective decision about upgrading your phone. Here are a few Pros and Cons to help you along the way:

Con: New Technology Can Mean a Steep Learning Curve

If you use your device for professional purposes, a new smartphone may cause a loss in productivity, at least temporarily, as you get used to the new operating system and features. In addition to figuring out the new bells and whistles, new phones — that are typically paired with a brand-new operating system release — can often present issues in the form of buggy software that can make using your favorite apps a headache.

Pro: New Technology Can Mean More Productivity

On the other hand, an upgrade can give you access to more feature-rich applications, greater functionality, and faster response time. Together, these factors can amp up productivity, make collaboration and communication easier, and even expand the ways you can use your phone to make life — and work — easier.

Con: New Phones are Expensive

It’s easy to get sticker shock when looking at the prices of some of the newly released smartphone models. With prices ranging up to $2000, a new phone can be a daunting purchase to consider. And, with large manufacturers releasing new models every year, “latest and greatest” becomes a relative term.

Pro: Consider the Hidden Costs of Your Old Phone

A new phone might be expensive at first, but it might save you money in the long run. With better battery life, faster performance, and enhanced security, you’ll be able to work smarter rather than harder on an upgraded phone.

Also, today’s hackers are targeting mobile devices like smartphones to launch cyberattacks that put your data at risk of loss or theft — both of which can be very costly professionally and personally. A new phone will be equipped with the most recent — and most protective — security protocols to keep your sensitive personal and work information safe.

For more information on upgrading your smartphone for office or personal use, contact The Solutions Team at info@mysolutionsteam.com.