I don’t get how people are replacing their phones so damn often. I buy used flagships that are usually a year or two old and rock them for another 4 years. Note 10+ here, and I’ve had it for around 3 years now, probably won’t upgrade for another 2 years, as it’s perfectly fine still.
My current phone is almost 3.5 years old and I have no intention on upgrading anytime soon, but in the past I did tend to have to replace a phone about every two years. Mostly because POGO (and my being rough with them). Ports being damaged (and me not knowing how to repair them myself and others wanting to charge the cost of a new phone to repair it), being dropped, etc.
I had a Sony Xperia something for years, no case. Then I upgraded to a Samsung and gave my Sony to my mum. She cracked the back of it almost immediately lol
I used my 6t for 4 years but it started bootlooping and I needed it for 2fa codes every login on some applications for work. I bought a 10t after a couple of days. Funny enough now the 6t appears stable again, oh well it’s the household backup if any others spontaneously die
Imagine being able to opt into an long term support branch when you feel your phone starting to lag, unlocked bootloader’s, and have user replaceable batteries.
Still mad about accidentally installing the newer version of iOS on my iPad pro. Such a meaningful feature to have security patches without slowdown from newer versions.
I wish more bootloader’s came unlocked these days. I got a Google pixel for that, the seven years of promised updates, and parts.
Though I think it would be cheaper to buy a used pixel 8 from eBay and the adhesive from ifixit if I end up braking the screen in a few years I’m more interested in being able to get a fresh battery without guessing if it was salvaged from a heavily used phone.
Edit: phones should be more like the laptops from the early 2000s damnit. I don’t care if my phone is a little thicker than a pencil at least it’ll hide the camera bump.
I am very anxious even with normal maintenance - heating adhesive up is not something I am capable of now. So was looking at new last-gen Pixels instead, and 7a is $300 :( People I know who have it say it’s good hardware, but that’s still an insane sum to spend on a phone.
Tbh it’s not a bad price looking at what other phones are out at that price. Your looking at a great screen, awesome camera, ok battery life, and snappy enough performance for everyday stuff.
At the end of the day it’s what you can afford and what you need. If you have a small repair shop nearby it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try, see how expensive the repair might bee. If your current phone is fine then keep using it, if you need a phone on a budget I’d go used, anything new under $200 will most likely be worse than anything you can get used, and if you want something new that pixel 7a wouldn’t be half bad tbh.
I just got a new phone despite my previous one being totally fine because it’s no longer getting security updates. I’ve had it for ~4 years with no issues, so I got a Pixel for longer security updates.
So yeah, they totally could last longer if they kept supporting them.
I bet smartphones could last 3 or 4 years even if companies let them 😏
What are you even doing, throwing your phone on the ground? How does your phone not last that long
I don’t get how people are replacing their phones so damn often. I buy used flagships that are usually a year or two old and rock them for another 4 years. Note 10+ here, and I’ve had it for around 3 years now, probably won’t upgrade for another 2 years, as it’s perfectly fine still.
My current phone is almost 3.5 years old and I have no intention on upgrading anytime soon, but in the past I did tend to have to replace a phone about every two years. Mostly because POGO (and my being rough with them). Ports being damaged (and me not knowing how to repair them myself and others wanting to charge the cost of a new phone to repair it), being dropped, etc.
Trade in value drops very rapidly for non-iphones after a year or two. You can often get 50% back on the purchase by trading in a functional phone.
If you buy a new phone every 2 years or every 4 years, it’s often about the same total out of pocket cost (with a lot of exceptions)
I’ve never paid more than $150 for a phone, and that’s recently for a 2 year old pixel.
I can keep multiple spares around for the price of a new phone.
I buy used, why would you pay 1k+ for a phone… that’s insanity.
I had a Sony Xperia something for years, no case. Then I upgraded to a Samsung and gave my Sony to my mum. She cracked the back of it almost immediately lol
I will say the back of my note10+ is shattered, even with a case, glass backs are the dumbest thing ever.
I’m still using my OnePlus 8t. Phones lifespans are fine. If you can’t keep your phone working for 4 years, that’s on you.
I see no reason to upgrade until support is dropped.
I used my 6t for 4 years but it started bootlooping and I needed it for 2fa codes every login on some applications for work. I bought a 10t after a couple of days. Funny enough now the 6t appears stable again, oh well it’s the household backup if any others spontaneously die
My Samsung a70 doesn’t get major software updates anymore. I’m OK with it. I’ll use this as long as possible.
For security reasons, don’t do that. Don’t use things older than the supported android version. It’s fucking Linux. It gets vulnerabilities.
Imagine being able to opt into an long term support branch when you feel your phone starting to lag, unlocked bootloader’s, and have user replaceable batteries.
Still mad about accidentally installing the newer version of iOS on my iPad pro. Such a meaningful feature to have security patches without slowdown from newer versions.
That’s kind of what LineageOS does.
I wish more bootloader’s came unlocked these days. I got a Google pixel for that, the seven years of promised updates, and parts.
Though I think it would be cheaper to buy a used pixel 8 from eBay and the adhesive from ifixit if I end up braking the screen in a few years I’m more interested in being able to get a fresh battery without guessing if it was salvaged from a heavily used phone.
Edit: phones should be more like the laptops from the early 2000s damnit. I don’t care if my phone is a little thicker than a pencil at least it’ll hide the camera bump.
I am very anxious even with normal maintenance - heating adhesive up is not something I am capable of now. So was looking at new last-gen Pixels instead, and 7a is $300 :( People I know who have it say it’s good hardware, but that’s still an insane sum to spend on a phone.
Tbh it’s not a bad price looking at what other phones are out at that price. Your looking at a great screen, awesome camera, ok battery life, and snappy enough performance for everyday stuff.
At the end of the day it’s what you can afford and what you need. If you have a small repair shop nearby it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try, see how expensive the repair might bee. If your current phone is fine then keep using it, if you need a phone on a budget I’d go used, anything new under $200 will most likely be worse than anything you can get used, and if you want something new that pixel 7a wouldn’t be half bad tbh.
They don’t?
Wait, are you saying my phone should last less time than it does?
My current phone is from 2017.
I just got a new phone despite my previous one being totally fine because it’s no longer getting security updates. I’ve had it for ~4 years with no issues, so I got a Pixel for longer security updates.
So yeah, they totally could last longer if they kept supporting them.
iPhones tend to last 5 or so years for me…