Some devices can even last upwards of five years if treated gently. However, you might start noticing a decline at around the three-year mark. It's usually at this point that your hardware becomes outdated, with no new operating system updates from developers.
Upgrading Your Phone Every Three Years
So, three years is enough time to consider upgrading your phone, but that's only so if you know that you'll actually benefit from a new phone and its features. If your current phone works fine after three years, you can just get its battery replaced to extend its life.
A smartphone that is made for longevity can be a real thing. Too bad that's not how most of them are designed.
Nonetheless, replacing your device every two years is still a good idea. Even if the phone functions well, the hardware and operating system are antiquated by the time the phone is two years old.
Operating Issues Affect How Long a Smartphone Lasts
Another significant issue is how well the phone continues to work over time. If its various functions continue to hold up well, then you can easily get more than 2-3 years out of the phone.
In 2015, research found that the average smartphone lasts almost five years (4.7, to be exact), but we all know that in reality the battery slows down, the screen cracks, the accessories disappear. So, if you are determined to keep your cellphone going for four years or beyond, read on.
Research director at Childwise -children and young people's research specialists – Simon Leggett says: “ Most advice is to wait until children start secondary school to get them their first phone, when they'll need it to keep in touch, but there are benefits from using digital technology at a younger age, such as ...
Some devices can even last upwards of five years if treated gently. However, you might start noticing a decline at around the three-year mark. It's usually at this point that your hardware becomes outdated, with no new operating system updates from developers.
When it comes to the lifespan of a phone, Apple has always been the clear winner. And by lifespan, I'm talking about software and security updates.
However when it comes to iPhones, you can expect between three to five years (maybe more) with proper care.
Your phone may start to slow down
Sometimes, updates aren't designed to fix problems or protect your device. Instead, they're made to improve its performance by streamlining the operating system or making the code more efficient. In some cases, this slowdown may occur over time, the more you use your phone.
According to the report by mobile comparison site WhistleOut, the average American will spend nearly nine years of their lifetime on their phone. Not surprisingly, Millennials spend the most amount of time on their phones, dedicating about 3.7 hours of their day to looking at their screens, according to the study.
In general, the average lifespan of a smartphone is 2 to 4 years. According to reports, the iPhone lasts 4-10 years, followed by Samsung units, which can last 3-6 years. Huawei and Xiaomi units have an average lifespan of 2-4 years, while OPPO units have 2-3 years.
If your phone's battery is draining faster than usual, it either means you're using a lot of energy or your phone is not using energy efficiently. This could mean you're overworking your phone by running too many applications, or something is physically wrong with the phone battery itself.
Per Samsung's recent support statement, they should be good to use until the middle of 2023. Another problem with Android devices is that older versions of the Android OS stick around for a lot longer than they should, as phone makers often ship second-tier or budget phones without the latest version of Android.
The phone settings
Go to 'About Phone' on Android or 'About' on iPhone and look for the serial number. Within this set of digits is your device's year and month of manufacturing.
Charge Regularly
Unlike the nickel batteries used in older phones, lithium-ion batteries do best when kept above a 50 percent charge. Repeatedly allowing the battery to drain fully may shorten its life and decrease its overall capacity.
Most iPhones last between 4 and 7 years, however this is not guaranteed. If your iPhone is more than a few years old, it's likely starting to become outdated and clunky, and it might be time to think about upgrading to a newer model for a better user experience.
That's because screens and sleep do not mix. The light emitted by the typical screen inhibits the production of melatonin in our brains. Melatonin is the chemical that allows us to fall and stay asleep. In other words, a screen is like a wake up call for our brains.
Many kids are ready for a phone by age 13, but this decision really boils down to your child's maturity and the phone's necessity. We'll walk you through some important considerations, the range of cell phones and smartwatches designed for kids, and some tips for controlling screen time.
When you give a kid a device will determine how long a parent is going to be monitoring them, though not all parents agree on when they should give up control. As we showed in our previous survey coverage, parents tend to agree that they have to monitor kids up to about age 10.
Depending on the actual resale value of the phone, you may choose to upgrade sooner or later than the 2-to-3-year mark. Dragging out your phone upgrade cycle to every 4 years is definitely most cost-effective, and it would be the most financially wise if you can bear the drop in performance.