Most people like to upgrade their phone every other year.Resourceful people hold off for three or four.I blew right past that by keeping my last phone for over five years.
The truth is, I probably would’ve held on even longer if it weren’t for the phone that replaced it.Why I held on to my old phone for over five years It really wasn't that bad Back when I was still rocking the Realme X2 Pro, telling friends and family that I was still using an old phone from 2019 usually surprised them—everyone knows I love and write about tech, so why would I own a phone older than theirs? Close To understand why I didn’t feel the need to upgrade for so many years, it helps to know a bit about my old phone.I picked the Realme X2 Pro because it was basically a cheaper alternative to the OnePlus 7T.
Both brands are owned by Oppo, so they share a lot of the same hardware and software.Looking at the specs, it’s easy to see why it lasted so long—Snapdragon 855+ processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of fast UFS 3.0 storage, a 90Hz AMOLED display, and 50W fast charging.Even compared to a typical mid-range phone today, like the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G or Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025), it still holds up surprisingly well—at least if you compare AnTuTu benchmark scores for the SoCs.
Undoubtedly, the worst part of the phone was its 64MP camera and mostly useless telephoto and ultrawide lenses, but since I’ve never been a huge photography nerd, it didn’t bother me much.If I wanted nicer photos, I’d just grab my wife’s Samsung Galaxy S23+ instead.In terms of everyday use, the Realme X2 Pro was perfectly serviceable all the way to the very last day.
Despite running an older version of Android 11, modern apps ran fine, with only the occasional bug here or there.Speed was the factor that mattered most to me, and thanks to the overkill specs it packed in 2019, the phone stayed surprisingly snappy.Apps like Facebook and Instagram opened in just a few seconds, and thanks to the fast storage, the gallery app could load even old photos instantly.
I could even play games like on the phone without issues.Put simply, as the years went by, I just wasn’t compelled to upgrade to a newer phone for a marginally faster processor, a nicer display, or slightly better cameras.Related Why Android software support matters even if you don’t use your phone for many years Turns out you do need updates for years.
Posts By Arol Wright My phone was slowly falling apart, forcing me to switch Everything breaks eventually The first sign that you should upgrade your phone is when it stops receiving security updates.Google releases monthly Android patches, and once a phone is no longer updated, it’s exposed to all kinds of vulnerabilities.My old phone stopped receiving updates years ago, but since I’m a bit of a risk-taker, it wasn’t enough to make me switch (please, don’t be like me).
Even the severely degraded battery life that forced me to charge my phone twice a day wasn’t enough.50W fast charging made it much less of a chore, the only caveat being that I had to rely on my car’s fast charger or carry my phone charger everywhere I went.Really, the thing that pushed me over the edge was when I noticed that the battery had swollen so much it pushed both ends of the phone outside the frame.
The glue on the glass back had unsealed the phone, meaning water could enter, and I could even notice that the screen could be pushed down slightly at the bottom.Sometimes my phone’s touchscreen wouldn’t even react to my inputs until I locked and unlocked the screen, likely because the digitizer had warped so much that it stopped responding.Needless to say, the old phone was somewhat dangerous to continue using, at least without a battery replacement.
An upgrade was clearly due.The OnePlus 15 was the only phone worth upgrading to The only flagship that deserves my attention I postponed my phone upgrade for so many years because I was waiting for something to finally compel me to switch.I got very close to getting the OnePlus 13 in early 2025, but I had other priorities I needed to take care of at the time, so the upgrade had to wait.
By the time I had set aside $1,000 for a new phone, rumors about the upcoming OnePlus 15 started popping up: a new and improved Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, an even larger 7,300mAh battery, and a whopping 165Hz display made it clear that I had to wait for the release.OnePlus 15 9 SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Display 6.78-inch 2772*1272 (FHD+) The OnePlus 15 features the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC that enables gaming features never before seen on a smartphone.The 165Hz display is perfect for mobile gaming, and when not gaming, it runs at 120Hz, making it ideal for everyday usage.
The triple camera array is pretty great, and the 7,300mAh battery lasts multiple days on a single charge.RAM 12GB/16GB Storage 256GB/512GB Battery 7,300 mAh Operating System OxygenOS 16 Front camera 32MP Rear camera Triple 50MP sensors Colors Infinite Black, Ultra Violet, and Sand Storm Charge speed Up to 80W SUPERVOOC IP Rating IP66, IP68, IP69, IP69K Price $899/$999 Release date November 13, 2025 $1000 at OnePlus Expand Collapse It took me a few months to get my hands on the Chinese version, which is cheaper and packs 1TB of storage, but I eventually did.Subscribe to the newsletter for smart phone upgrade advice Make smarter upgrade decisions — subscribe to the newsletter for clear, hands-on coverage of phone upgrades, battery longevity, camera trade-offs, and practical comparisons that help you make confident choices and understand what truly matters in a new de Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe anytime.Needless to say, the phone has surpassed all of my expectations.It shares a surprising amount of its DNA with my old Realme X2 Pro, except it’s a modern flagship that does everything better—and yes, it’s even faster.
The camera upgrades were certainly a major improvement, but if I had to single out one feature that’s truly transformed how I use my phone, it’s the battery.Going from a degraded 4,000mAh battery to a fresh 7,300mAh silicon-carbon one has been a life-changing experience.I charge my phone to around 80% at night, and I can literally forget about charging it for the entire day, no matter how I use it—chatting, gaming, streaming content, social media scrolling, you name it.
Battery anxiety is a thing of the past for me.Every phone gets retired eventually Some of them sooner than others The Realme X2 Pro was an incredible phone that served me well for years.It went on more trips with me than I can count, including my engagement and honeymoon, but it was clearly time to move on.
I’m glad I waited for the OnePlus 15, because it shares a lot of similarities with my old phone, and I’m sure I’ll use it for many years to come.Related Expensive Phones Aren't the Flex You Think They Are Buying premium phones isn't about showing off.Posts 5 By Bertel King
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