How many years does a cell phone last and what does it depend on?

In this guide I discuss the factors that determine how long a user can use their device before replacing it with another device.

In this guide I explain all the details that you should consider about the life of a mobile phone. In addition, some Factors affecting the time a device can provide a service suitable for the user. Do you want to know how many years a cell phone can last? So, stay with me as I explain it to you in detail.

Let’s talk about its planned obsolescence

The Planned extinction A business strategy that intentionally involves designing and manufacturing products with a limited useful life. This practice aims to encourage a cycle of continuous use by making products obsolete or unusable after a certain period of time.

Planned obsolescence can manifest itself in several ways:

1. Functional obsolescence. Products are designed to stop working properly after a while, forcing consumers to replace them This can be achieved by using low-quality components or software updates that make older devices incompatible.
2. Sensory obsolescence. It refers to the strategy of making products look old or outdated compared to newer versions, which motivates customers to constantly search for the latest developments. Sometimes, it is possible to implement significant new features in a more current model, although this is almost always a marketing-related issue.
3. Stylistic obsolescence. Products are constantly updated in terms of design and style, leaving consumers to throw away perfectly functional products because they are no longer in style. It seems that this is something that has decreased in recent times, as the strongest companies in the sector take advantage of the design year after year, such as Apple with its iPhone or Samsung with the Galaxy S23 and previous generations.
4. Technological obsolescence. Products are designed in such a way that they are difficult or expensive to repair, making it more convenient to buy a new one than to repair an old one.

Undoubtedly, these are obvious practices that companies carry out Promote your product sales. Of course, I don’t mean that all companies use these four strategies in all their products.

Now, it is not difficult to spot some of them in the mobile phones currently sold. The Planned obsolescence is therefore present The mobile sector is closely related to the rest of the factors I mention below.

And what about updates?

Updates can come from the user or the manufacturer, depending on how they are applied.

And what about updates? Well, that’s a fine way to apply it Planned extinction. Companies may release updates that cause older devices to run slower or even become incompatible with newer versions of apps.

However, software updates are also available They are a way to extend the useful life of a deviceProvide new features, improve performance and resolve security issues.

For example, a button. Apple iPhones are the most supported today, with models that have been updated for over 7 years However, in the past the company released new versions that drastically slowed down older models.

Bodily Damage and Right to Repair

Broken screens are one of the most common damages to mobile phones today.

A mobile phone is a device that is prone to bumps and scratches. None of this should stop its operation, but there are damages that may require service intervention.

It is common knowledge that many products are made of fragile or difficult-to-repair materials, making them prone to damage and premature failure. This not only leads to the need to replace the product, But increasing waste generation. In addition, repairs are often expensive or impossible, as replacement parts may be expensive or difficult to obtain.

Currently, manufacturers seem to want to bet on Right to repair. For example, Samsung offers a repair kit so users can replace terminal parts themselves. Additionally, Apple’s latest models are easy to repair.

Evolution of technology and incorporation of technological innovation

Finally, I mention a key point that is generally encouraging Mobile device sales: The evolution of technology itself. Nevertheless, the evolution between devices has slowed down in recent years with less and less innovation from manufacturers.

A clear example is the iPhone 15 Pro, a device not worth buying if you have the previous generation.

So, how long does a cell phone last?

As you can see, the lifetime of a device varies depending on several factors. According to some researchWe Spaniards change our mobile phones almost every two or three years. Of course, in many cases this will be unnecessary and in others not so much.

The fact that a mobile device May last much longer if manufacturer and user suggest it. These would be some of the variables that can favor extending the useful life of a terminal:

• Better performance persists over time. If the general performance of the device is good, many users will be willing to use their mobile for more years.
• The latest features are not required. Every year, manufacturers have new things to put in their devices. If these new features are left aside, which are usually very small, extending the useful life of the current terminal will not be a problem.
• The phone is kept in good condition. By applying good maintenance to the device at both the hardware and software levels, it is possible to increase the usage time.

With the current power of many models, especially in the mid or high range, A mobile phone can last more than 5 years. Although it all depends on the efforts of the owner and manufacturer.