How long do smartphones last? Getting the answer right

Nowadays, it is quite rare to see anyone who does not use a phone. They are just too convenient to let go. Even older people who used to frown at phones are now accepting of them. But if you are holding your phone right now, you are probably wondering how long do smartphones last. Because who knows, perhaps your phone has already reached its maximum life span or nearing it, and you might need to buy a newer one. In this blog post, we'll take a look at what factors affect the lifespan of your smartphone and how you can get the most out of it. Let's get started!

Average Lifespan of Smartphones

The question “how long do smartphones last” has been debated for years now. Some are saying that the average is 2.5 years, others say 3 years, and there are also some people who claim that it is actually 1.5 years. These figures are different from each other, which vary depending on the make and model of the phone, as well as how well it is taken care of. For example, phones that are frequently dropped or otherwise abused are more likely to break down sooner than those that are treated with care. Conversely, some high-end phones may last 4 or 5 years before they need to be replaced. But they share the same belief that once a phone is no longer functional, has a capacity below the original, and has hardware considered to be obsolete or outdated, then that phone has already reached its lifespan.

What affect smartphone’s life?

There are lots of factors that affect smartphones’ lifespan. Some of these factors are the ones below.

1. Damage. Like humans, phones can last long as long as they follow the “natural” process, but if accidents happen to them, their lifespan can become shorter. Accidents like falling, breaking, and having viruses cause damages that are sometimes so severe that it would be better for the user to buy a new one instead of having a repair.

2. Battery health and Charge Cycle. Batteries are an indispensable part of every smartphone. And unknowing to all, batteries have a definite number of charges (usually 500 to 800 cycle charges) , then they become ineffective. This means that a phone which is being charged multiple times a day is likely to “go” first.

Additionally, batteries are typically built-in now. When your batteries lose their ability to retain a charge, you may either take the risk of replacing them personally, which requires some skill, or you can pay someone else to do it for you, though this can be rather expensive. Hence, purchasing a new phone is more cost-effective.

3. Heat. Heat can make your phone work harder, and just like a domino, which will make the battery drain faster, making you charge more frequently, and as stated earlier, the more you charge your phone in a day, the faster it will “perish.”

4. Outdated Operating System. An operating system is necessary for every phone to function properly, so having the updated one is great. However, phone manufacturers will cut off support for earlier models in favor of newer ones. And if the phone’s hardware can no longer support the latest updates, it will be difficult for a user to use their phone as it will no longer be able to do its job properly.

How to extend a smartphone’s life?

Despite the estimated lifetimes, it is possible to extend a phone’s life even beyond five years as long as the users know how to give proper care. And part of this care is the following:

1. Battery and charging monitoring. Charging one’s phone up to 100% is not recommended as it does more harm than good. If it’s 100%, then it is already a full charge cycle, and since the cycle is finite, that one whole charge is a big thing. The same thing works for draining your phone up to zero. Hence, monitoring that your charge is between 20% - 80% is better. Also, having a phone with average to high battery capacity like the HONOR 70 is better as it ensures fewer times charging which means lesser use of the charging cycle. 2. Phone protection. Buy a screen protector and a durable phone case. These two are insurance in case accidents like falling happen. Falling can cause LCD damage, and changing LCD is quite expensive and unreliable sometimes.

3. Uninstalling some applications. Applications frequently run in the background, and this takes battery life. Given these, the battery gets stressed, which ultimately reduces its lifespan.

Conclusion

Phones have an average lifetime, and average does not mean certainty. So, if you are still asking how long do smartphones last, the answer is it depends. At the end of the day, the way you utilize and treat your phone is the more reliable determiner of its lifespan.

FAQs about smartphones’ lifespan

1. Can smartphones last 10 years?

Most smartphones have (on average) a lifespan of 2 – 4 years. There are some which reach more than 5 years, but during this period, the phone is already experiencing serious lagging and battery problems.

2. How long should an Android phone last?

Android phones typically last for 2 – 4 years before it degrades. The phone can still update its operating system during the latter years (given that it can still connect to the internet), but battery problems, memory, and operational issues will surely force you to have a new one.

3. How do you know if your phone is dying?

There are lots of warning signs that your phone is approaching its end. A battery that runs out quickly, crashing applications, slow operation, and scarce storage, among others, are some of the easy-to-notice signs of it.

Source: HONOR Club