QOTW: How long do you expect a smartphone to last?

[3dcandy]

Mine is still as fast as it has always been, so although mine is two and a half years old currently, as long as custom ROM support continues (for reasons of keeping secure), I'd hope for at least another year and a half, but I'd expect five years to most likely be the limit and what I'd hope for (if custom ROM support even continues for that long).

The one I had before that lasted over three years, but that one was much more of a struggle to use as it had obviously slowed down (especially in terms of custom ROM development ceasing in such a short space of time) and the only reason I hadn't swapped so soon was a combination of stubbornness that it should have performed better and lasted longer, and wanting to make sure I had value for money when choosing a potential replacement.

Battery is the key...if it's non removeable you're onto a winner. Most people who have kept a phone here already have/had battery that were easy to replace. However I can see the positives - I've already used my sparkly new S9 in the rain and felt comfortable doing so, older phones would be kept safely warm and dry

[Wrinkly]

I'm still using a Nokia E63.

[peterb]

Battery is the key...if it's non removeable you're onto a winner. Most people who have kept a phone here already have/had battery that were easy to replace. However I can see the positives - I've already used my sparkly new S9 in the rain and felt comfortable doing so, older phones would be kept safely warm and dry

But there are a lot off poor quality after market replacement batteries out there. And while it’s posdible to have a non- consumer removable battery changed by a dodgy third party ‘repairer’ having a fixed battery replaced by the mfr or their agent gives some reassurance that the replacement will be up to spec.

[Percy1983]

I only upgrade when I need new features or my current one breaks.

Last phone lasted about 2.5 years (Lumia 735) and unfortunately went due to it not supporting an app I needed fort business, as it is the old phone is now my dedicated business line so still going.

Hoping to get 4-5 years out of my current one (Huawei P8).

As it is I run sim only (£4.99 a month) and buy phones when needed rather than the standard upgrade when your contract is up for a new 'free' phone each time.

[Friesiansam]

A year or two ago I read an article on a news site, that suggested that because so many owners are careless with their smartphones (breaking them, dropping them in the toilet etc) because insurance will pay, the average lifespan of a new smartphone was only around 6 weeks...

[imadaily]

I would hope for 4 years but that seems unrealistic with the poor designs of almost every phone on the market.

I've got a 3.5 yr old LG L20 (£20) which I've kept because of the amount of abuse it's been able to take.
Sadly the more technologically advanced phones are far less durable. I can't imagine ANY mid-range or flagship phone that would take a 14m fall unscathed!

Someone bring back small phones with plastic screens that last.

[Xlucine]

I would hope for 4 years but that seems unrealistic with the poor designs of almost every phone on the market.

I've got a 3.5 yr old LG L20 (£20) which I've kept because of the amount of abuse it's been able to take.
Sadly the more technologically advanced phones are far less durable. I can't imagine ANY mid-range or flagship phone that would take a 14m fall unscathed!

Someone bring back small phones with plastic screens that last.

The motorola Z2 force has a plastic screen

[big_hairy_rob]

Mine slow noticeably around 18 months. at 2 years apps once loading speedily feel geriatric. Battery is fine and the handset would be fine, but I loath paying nearly twice what I paid for this, for a nearly generation out of date handset.

Prices atm are ludicrous for new handsets, so I'm considering reverting back to a non smartphone...

[Output]

Battery is the key...if it's non removeable you're onto a winner. Most people who have kept a phone here already have/had battery that were easy to replace. However I can see the positives - I've already used my sparkly new S9 in the rain and felt comfortable doing so, older phones would be kept safely warm and dry

The battery is indeed non-removeable, but that was a sacrifice I decided to make at the time. As far as I am aware, battery life is still just as good as at the beginning, although it does of course still depend on what is being used at the time.

A big part of that is probably the fact that it has always been used mostly as a phone, with any app usage being minimal and more of a backup in case I'm not near my PC when needing to do something.

[hb904460]

At least every 4 years. My wife is on SIM only and we alternate getting a new phone on my contract every 2 years.

[DaMoot]

3-4 years realistically. Breakage is less of an issue for phones these days which is nice. Hard to break a screen unless you're unlucky or stupid.

[deepblue08]

My last few phones lasted 2-3 years.

[Myss_tree]

Phones tend to not last long in my work enviroment so i have two phones, work and out of work.
My One Plus 3T is for out of work and still looks in good nick, works fine and is on Oreo so no need to update (why use upgrade, implication is that the one you have is inferior. If it works its not inferior).
Use an old HTC 8X Windows phone at work which surprisingly is hanging on well despite regular drops (two small cracks on the screen edges), metal particles in the speaker and regularly coated in paint products. Must be at least 5 years old.

[aidanjt]

I usually get 3-4 years out of a phone before its performance degrades due to software bloat. Go apps may change that, but I may end up upgrading anyway since rechargeable batteries tend to tap out around the 4 year mark.

[azrael-]

3-4 years realistically. Breakage is less of an issue for phones these days which is nice. Hard to break a screen unless you're unlucky or stupid.

Or an iPhone user.

I mean, broken front glass on an iPhone is almost like a badge of honour...

[lodore]

I only replaced my LG G4 due to not getting any updates anymore and it had some bugs which were never fixed. I currently have a Pixel 2 XL which is guaranteed 3 years of updates but i suspect it will get more than that so will not replace until the updates stop. Phones are at the point that you do not have to keep upgrading.