Jason Hiner/ZDNET
It's that time of year again: a new iPhone makes its way through the rumor mill, and users wonder if they should buy what's currently available or wait until fall to see how things play out.
Based on past trends, there's a good chance Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 series in September. So, should you pick up an iPhone 16 from your local Apple store today or play the long game?
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Having tested every major smartphone release over the past several years and helped numerous family and friends overcome this exact dilemma, here's the decision tree I use that works every single time.
1. Do you need a new phone right now?
Elyse Betters Picaro/ZDNET
Pretty simple, right? If you're currently using a handset that's severely damaged or defected in a way that prevents it from completing your daily tasks, then it's time to buy a new phone right now.
I've had friends say that they'd be willing to power through another month with a heavily cracked iPhone if it meant they could just buy the next-generation model. However, that doesn't take into consideration the fact that Apple typically sells its newest iPhones weeks (if not longer) after they're officially unveiled to the public.
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