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Your laptop slowing down, your phone overheating and your battery dying within an hour of you leaving the house, all familiar stories for tech consumers with all of these things usually blamed on the age of your devices. But according to Apple repair specialists Hoxton Macs, it’s not the age of devices that is the issue, they’re struggling because of everyday habits that people don’t realise are seriously damaging performance.
The UK’s most trusted source of refurbished Apple products say that the financial impact of replacing devices too early can often be underestimated. Keeping a phone or a laptop running for an extra year or two can save consumers hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds by avoiding unnecessary upgrades, especially when many performance problems are caused by easily fixable issues, rather than hardware that is dying.
Based on what they see daily, Scott Stone, Business Development Manager at Hoxton Macs has revealed the most common mistakes people make, the warning signs they ignore, and the simple changes that can keep phones and laptops running like new for far longer.
The number one mistake people make without realising
According to Scott at Hoxton Macs, the single most common mistake is letting device storage fill right up, with the majority of slow devices they see are running with less than 15% free storage remaining.
Experts say once storage creeps beyond around 85–90% full, performance can drop sharply. With little space left to work with, even simple tasks start to feel sluggish, apps hesitate, switching between windows slows down, and the whole system feels heavier.
Many people assume this means their device is “getting old”, when in reality it’s simply running out of breathing room and beginning to struggle to perform to its max capacity.
The invisible problem slowing devices down
When devices are sent in for repair, the issue is rarely one dramatic fault. Instead, experts say they’re often weighed down by digital clutter.
Technicians commonly see devices with very little free storage, dozens of apps opening automatically in the background, browsers packed with tabs, and heavy photo or video software left running without the user realising. Over time, all of this quietly eats away at performance and devices cause users huge frustrations.
The warning signs most people ignore
Experts say devices usually give early warning signs that something isn’t right, but most people adapt to them instead of acting.
Slower wake-up times, apps taking slightly longer to open, devices running warmer than usual, or battery life dropping even though usage hasn’t changed are often the first signs. Because these changes happen gradually, people tend to assume it’s just normal ageing rather than a fixable problem.
Experts say many phones are replaced not because they’re broken, but because they feel slow. With new smartphones often costing between £700 and £1,200, they warn that ignoring early warning signs can push people into expensive upgrades that could have been avoided.
Why waiting too long makes things worse
According to Hoxton Macs, most people wait six months to a year after problems start before seeking help.
By that point, devices are often overheating regularly and several small issues have compounded. In many cases, experts say early maintenance could have prevented the slowdown altogether.
Why some devices last years longer than others
The difference between a device that lasts three years and one that lasts six to eight years usually comes down to how it’s treated.
Long-lasting devices tend to belong to people who keep storage under control, stay up to date with software, monitor battery health, and deal with small problems early. Short-lived devices are often crammed full of data, pushed beyond what the hardware is designed to handle, rarely cleaned or maintained, and used hard until something finally gives way.
Experts say replacing a laptop unnecessarily can cost £800 to £1,500, when simple maintenance and better habits could keep many machines running well for years longer.
The tech myth people need to stop believing
Not all tech advice is equal, and experts say one area is misunderstood more than most.
Storage space matters far more for performance than people realise. When a drive is nearly full, the device struggles to juggle everyday workloads and slows down across the board. Closing heavy apps or browser tabs can help when memory is under pressure, while clearing cache is rarely the reason a device feels slow in real-world use. Battery habits affect how long a device lasts overall, rather than how fast it feels day to day.
Five simple changes to make today to keep your tech running like new:
1. Keep storage below the red zone
Try to keep at least 15% of your device’s storage free. Once storage fills up, performance drops quickly, even for simple tasks.
2. Close heavy apps when you’re not using them
Photo, video and design apps can keep working in the background. Shutting them down properly can make an immediate difference, especially on older devices.
3. Pay attention to early warning signs
Slower start-ups, warmer temperatures and battery life dropping faster than usual are often early signs of a problem – get them checked out to say yourself £££ in the long run!
4. Avoid constant overheating
Regular overheating quietly shortens a device’s lifespan. Make sure vents aren’t blocked, avoid using laptops on soft surfaces, and don’t push devices beyond what they’re designed to handle.
5. Give your battery some care
Avoid leaving devices unused for long periods with a completely drained battery. Keeping batteries healthy plays a big role in how long devices last overall.
The one thing everyone should do today
If there’s one simple step people can take immediately to improve performance, experts say it’s this: give your device room to breathe.
Clearing storage space and easing the load on memory is often the fastest way to make a noticeable difference, helping devices feel faster and run more smoothly without replacing them.
Together, the advice highlights how many performance problems aren’t caused by ageing tech at all, but by small, everyday habits that build up over time. Experts say that with a few simple changes, many people could keep their phones and laptops running well for years longer than expected, and avoid replacing devices that are still perfectly capable.
About Hoxton Macs
Hoxton Macs are Apple refurbishment specialists, working with MacBooks, iPhones, iPads and iMacs. Their technicians assess and repair devices daily, giving them first-hand insight into the everyday habits that shorten, or extend, the lifespan of modern tech.
Expert
Scott Stone is a Business Development Manager that has worked for Hoxton Macs for over 11 years.
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